(AllHipHop News) With today’s announcement that VH1 is bringing the classic awards show back, we’ve decided to highlight a few classic moments.
Over the years the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors proved itself to be a staple in Hip-Hop from 2006-2010.
Over that period of time VH1 was able to pull together some of Hip-Hop’s most epic performances for a live audience and viewers at home.
VH1 network president at the time Christina Norman told the Associated Press the event would be annual and was a perfect fit for the network and their new push into pop culture.
“This is a way for us to acknowledge the unsung heroes of hip-hop,” she said in 2004. “When you think of all of the influence hip-hop has had on our culture,it’s a hugely impactful art form. Hip-hop definitely needs to get its due.”
A variety of noteworthy events and performances occurred as a result of the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors show.
Check out 15 great moments from the VH1 Hip-Hop Honors Show below as we look forward to a new era of VH1 Hip-Hop Honors.
15. Rev Run and Russ Simmons host the 2nd Hip-Hop honors show, marking a historic moment for the two brothers who have been involved a host of ventures together from music to shoes.
“The pioneers are not yet in the history books,” host Russell Simmons told AllHipHop.com. “This show should help position them so they can share in the good fortune that Hip-Hop has had.”
14. Phife Dawg spoke on his complications with diabetes and receiving dialysis. It was one of Hip-Hop’s first times learning about the true severity of Phife’s condition.
“For the last three years I’ve been a dialysis patient,” said Phife in 2007. “The first two years I was on peritoneal dialysis, which caused me to gain a great deal of weight.”
”For the last seven months I’ve switched over to hemodialysis, which has caused me to lose weight and has me feeling a whole lot better,” continued Phife Dawg. “Most people aren’t used to seeing me at this weight. Initially, I weighed too much for my size and height and now I’m where I need to be.”
13. Scarface honors the late-Isaac Hayes as Scarface rapped his verse on “My Mind’s Playing Tricks on Me,” which utilized a sample from Hayes’ track “Hung Up On My Baby,” from the album Tough Guys. (2008). Later on Scarface turn down an offer to be a 2010 honoree for the Dirty South Edition calling it “disrespectful” to be categorized as “Dirty South.”
12. Timbaland was honored during the seventh annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors: The Dirty South edition. Timbaland was honored for contributions to Hip-Hop in the form of hit records by artists like Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Jay-Z, Gnarls Barkley, Missy Elliot and numerous others. (2010)
11. Bushwick Bill was absent from the Hip-Hop Honors Dirty South. The rumor was that Bushwick was caught “soliciting, nevertheless, the cops jammed him up and he was not able to make the Rap-A-Lot / J. Prince dedication. (2010)
10. Eazy-E was commemorated with a performance by his son, Lil’ Eazy-E, as well as Young Jeezy and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. (2010)
9. Faith Evans, Lil’ Cease, Ludacris & Kanye West perform “Juicy”/ “One More Chance”/ “Hypnotize” in a rare Kanye appearance. (2005)
8. Uncle Luke takes issue with the Dirty South nominees. Uncle Luke was outspoken about not being recognized as an entrepreneur. (2010)
“We are the outcasts on that day, the outcasts will get their five minutes. I am sure the show will be about the others,””Uncle Luke told AllHipHop.com. ““My fans are the only reason I am doing this. I said f**k this after they did Too Short before me.””
7. Ice T hosts the 3rd annual awards show honoring Wu-Tang Clan, Afrika Bambaataa, Russell Simmons, MC Lyte, Rakim, Beastie Boys and Eazy- E. Bam is the only living act NOT to perform. (2006)
6. Fat Joe and the Terror Squad performed a rendition of KRS-One and the Boogie Down Production’s “South Bronx.” Fat Joe was reportedly tired and winded during the rendition but got heavy props from KRS. “To have Joe do it, who I used to spray paint with, and Pun was the lookout, it was perfect.” (2004)
5. Eric B and Rakim are honored as Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Styles P. and Raekwon perform a classic version of “Paid In Full”/”Eric B. For President” (2006)
4. Eminem The Roots and DJ Jazzy Jeff honor legendary imprint Def Jam as they performed LL Cool J’s “Rock The Bells” in a tributary performance (2009)
3. Jay Z refuses to appear at the awards show after an unnamed event occurred, nobody from the Roc was at the Def Jam 25th Anniversary honorary awards hosted by Tracy Morgan. (2009)
2. A Tribe Called Quest Is Honored as Busta Rhymes, Common, Lupe Fiasco, and Pharrell perform “Bonita Applebum”/”Electric Relaxation”/”Scenario” (2007)
1. Public Enemy rocks the stage with the Beastie Boys and Anthrax performing “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”/”Fight the Power”/”Bring the Noise” (2004)
