The 2023 BET Awards Honor Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary With an Evening of Epic Performances

The 2023 Guess Awards just gave hip-hop the greatest tribute in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, culture’s greatest evening honored the genre’s milestone birthday (Aug. 11) with an night of performances from an unparalleled lineup of hip-hop icons and recent stars.

The Sugarhill Gang, MC Lyte, Large Daddy Kane, Warren G, Yo-Yo, Tyga, E-40, Trick Daddy, Trina, Uncle Luke, Chief Keef, Ying Yang Twins, Jeezy, T.I., and Grasp P strike the stage to rap some of their most important hits. Kane led a quick Biz Markie tribute in honor of the late hip-hop icon. Meanwhile, hip-hop pioneer Busta Rhymes shipped an epic medley performance in honor of him receiving this year’s lifetime achievement award, featuring artists like M.O.P., Coi Leray, BIA, and Scar Lip.

Other acts like Erick Sermon, Keith Murray, 69 Boyz, Redman, Unwanted fat Joe, Remy Ma, Fabolous, Types P, Ja Rule, Child ‘N Enjoy, Doug E. Refreshing, King Combs, Dem Franchize Boyz, Soulja Boy also performed throughout what Guess known as a “wall-to-wall party” curated by legendary DJ Kid Capri.

Ahead of the award display, Connie Orlando — BET’s EVP, specials, audio programming and audio technique — released a assertion with its hip-hop 50 general performance slate that go through, “We have an remarkable lineup of performers who will get us on a musical journey, masking hip-hop spanning every decade, model, and location. From new music to dance and vogue, we are digging by means of every single crate as we celebrate 50 yrs of hip-hop and its diversity, evolution, and world-wide impact.”

Guess also teased “an unforgettable evening of reunions and surprises as we rejoice hip-hop’s loaded heritage, enduring legacy, and promising foreseeable future.”

Scroll forward to look at out the hip-hop 50 tribute performances from the Wager Awards.