Jay-Z was living his best life while attending the Grammys’ celebration of hip hop’s 50th anniversary.
The 65th Grammy awards put together a star-studded celebration to honor the history and continued influence of hip-hop music, ET reported. The special segment included performances by rap icons and pioneers like Run-D.M.C., Rakim and Chuck D and Flavor Flav of Public Enemy, Ice T, Queen Latifah, Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man, and Too $hort.
LL Cool J shared the history of the music genre he helped put on the map as one of the early stars of the genre.
“Multi-generational. Fifty years. From the Bronx to Tiktok, to the whole world. We love you, baby,” LL Cool J said.
“We started in the Bronx and ever since then it’s gone everywhere — to the Five Boroughs, to the West Coast, to the heartland, overseas, to Europe, to Africa, to Asia, TikTok. What else is next?!”
Questlove served as producer and musical director, and performed as part of The Roots. Group member Black Thought spoke power into the audience as the narrator for the segment.
Busta Rhymes and Nelly reminded attendees why their fanbases run so deep, with performances of their hits.
Others who performed included Big Boi, Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio/Ethiopian King, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, The Lox, Rahiem, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella, and Scarface.
Jay Z and DJ Khaled couldn’t hold back their pride and excitement, with Hova standing throughout the show and rapping lyrics with a bottle of his Dousse seated under him. Khaled held his lighter in the air throughout parts of the show.
Questlove revealed that Will Smith was supposed to perform at the event alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff, but was busy filming with Martin Lawrence.
“But they started shooting Bad Boys 4 this week, so he couldn’t make rehearsals,” Questlove explained. “But he wanted to do it.”
Will Smith was the first rapper to win a Grammy in the hip-hop genre.