Busta Rhymes, Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Dr. Dre and more!
The 65th Grammy Awards on February 5th celebrated the history of hip-hop with an epic performance. Following the presentation of the first-ever Dr. Dre Global Impact Award to Dr. Dre, numerous artists took to the stage to showcase the evolution of hip-hop over the past 50 years. Curated by The Roots’ Questlove, the Grammys hosted a diverse group of all-star musicians and transformed the ceremony into a lively party.
The performance covered every era, starting with Grandmaster Flash’s “Flash to the Beat” and “The Message.” The 80s was electrifying with performances from the genre’s most iconic pioneers, including Run-D.M.C. (“King of Rock”), LL Cool J (“I Can’t Live Without My Radio”), Salt-N-Papa (“My Mic Sounds Nice”), and Public Enemy’s Chuck D & Flavor Flav (“Rebel Without a Pause”). DJ Jazzy Jeff also delivered a rendition of “Rock the Bells” during the quick-hitter performances.
The 90s was equally exciting, as a host of top performers matched the energy and intensity of their predecessors. Queen Latifah thrilled the crowd as she sauntered onto the stage to rap “U.N.I.T.Y.” before Busta Rhymes took over with his frenetic flow. He performed “Put Your Hands Where Your Eyes Can See” and his fast-paced feature from Chris Brown’s 2011 hit “Look at Me Now” before handing over to Missy Elliott for a quick performance of “Lose Control.”
Queen Latifah guided viewers through the 2000s, as Nelly and City Spud started with “Hot In Herre,” followed by Too Short’s West Coast hit “Blow the Whistle.” The East Coast also had a moment of nostalgia when The LOX teamed up with Swizz Beatz for “We Gonna Make It.”
The performance also featured new-generation stars, such as GloRilla and Lil Baby, who performed their hits “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” and “Freestyle,” respectively. To close the show, Lil Uzi Vert appeared as “Just Wanna Rock” filled the air, and LL Cool J rallied all the performers. “We started in the Bronx. And ever since, we’ve gone everywhere,” he declared.
