Some may consider today's hip-hop music scene to be dead due to lack luster lyrics and sales. However, that wasn't the case last night when fans packed New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom for the fifth annual 'VH1 Hip Hop Honors.'Hosted by funnyman Tracy Morgan, this year's guests and honorees (which included Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, Slick Rick, and Too Short) raised the bar to another level!
When it came to bringing a fresh, nostalgic sense of style to this year's show, Slick Rick is hip-hop's royal highness. Spending his early years in England heavily influenced Rick the Ruler (born Ricky Walters) to fuse the countries lavish lifestyle to hip-hop culture.
Bringing his English roots mixed with his associations with fellow New York MCs Dana Dane and Doug E. Fresh helped spawned a string of classic hits including 'Young World,' 'Children's Story,' and 'La Di Da Di.'
Philadelphia native Eve and MC Lyte took a new meaning onto Rick's legacy when they graced the stage for 'Mona Lisa' and 'The Ruler's Back,' while Biz Markie provided his signature style beat box for Ghostface Killah's rendition of 'Lodi Dodi.'
Following the tribute sets of Busta Rhymes, Fabolous, and Dana Dane, MC Ricky D (as he is also known as) graced the Hammerstein Ballroom draped in all of his gold jewelry to tell everyone his 'Children's Story.'
Some were thrown in a loop, once the rapper walked off the stage after just performing one song from his extensive catalog.
2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors
Rapper Cee-Lo Green performs during the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors show in New York October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Rapper Treach of the group Naughty By Nature performs during the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors show in New York, October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Rapper Fat Joe performs during the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors show in New York, October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Singer Estelle performs during the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors show in New York, October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Rapper Slick Rick performs during the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors show in New York, October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Rapper Too Short performs during the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors show in New York, October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Rapper Slick Rick performs during the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors show in New York, October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Rapper Biz Markie performs during the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors show in New York, October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Rapper Big Boi performs during the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors show in New York, October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Rapper Big Boi performs during the 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors show in New York, October 2, 2008. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
Going by Estelle's charismatic stage presence you would've thought she was Vinia Mojica, who was the original singer on the 1991 hit.
2004 honorees Public Enemy, Mos Def, Cee Lo Green, and EPMD followed the duet performance with 'Stakes is High' and 'Ego Trippin' before the Grammy Award-winning trio took the stage for 'Me, Myself and I.
The 'Buddy' MCs' throwback set had a few people in attendance, such as hip-hop pioneer KRS-One hoping the night would influence a new generation of hip-hop groups.
"Tonight hopefully that'll be inspired," he said prior to the show. "If we can inspire more hip-hop groups. I tell you as we get more technological not just in hip-hop but in the world, you're going to see more individualism. 'I don't need this, I don't need to be a brother, a sister, a team player.' But I think the group idea in hip-hop is very much needed, and De La Soul is a shining example of that."
The highlight of the night came from an all-star musical tribute lead by The Roots to late soul icon Isaac Hayes, which featured Estelle, Cee Lo Green, Mos Def, Scarface, and Public Enemy performing classic hip-hop songs that have sampled Hayes' music.
Prior to the show BlackVoices.com caught up with the Academy Award-winner's son Darius Caston Hayes, who explained his thoughts on the tribute.
"Actually I'm very, very proud to be here and it's amazing the out pouring of love and support that my family have received since my father's death," he said. "And just the tribute here alone tonight is an honor for all of us."
Wyclef Jean, Too Short, Naughty By Nature, Kid Rock, and Lil Jon were also on hand among others.
The fifth annual 'VH1 Hip Hop Honors' is set to air October 6 at 10PM ET on VH1.
1. Anybody who has followed "Rap" has stumbled across the magical lyrics of Slick Rick. Who don't know the meaning of water nor soap is a classic in my eyes. The man tells a story about the Ghetto from a perspective few would dare try. He even added manners into a criminal act told as a Children's Story. That's Black at it best or worst. That's a classic by Rick the Ruler.
Cecil Jones at 8:41AM on Oct 4th 2008