HIP HOP HONORS THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. AND OTHERS

The late Notorious B.I.G., Big Daddy Kane, Salt-N-Pepa, LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Ice-T, and the 1991 film Boyz N The Hood were all ho…

The late Notorious B.I.G., Big Daddy Kane, Salt-N-Pepa, LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Ice-T, and the 1991 film Boyz N The Hood were all honored at the second annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors show which was taped at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Thursday, September 22nd. The show, which is slated to air Monday, September 26th, at 9:00 pm ET on VH1, featured performances by Nelly, Ciara, Snoop Dogg, En Vogue, Salt-N-Pepa, Big Daddy Kane, T.I., the Roots, Biz Markie, Common, Kanye West, Faith Evans, Ludacris, Lil’ Cease, and Fat Joe. Reverend Run and Russell Simmons hosted the show while Pete Rock provided the musical backdrop.

Backstage Voletta Wallace talked about how her son, the Notorious B.I.G. and his influence on rap music. She said,

“All I can say is he paved the way for many. He was honest in his lyrics. He told beautiful stories and I don’t know if any followed him. But I knew they loved him, they loved his music and I’m sure that’s why he was so loved. On that note I’m sure that’s the influence he had.”

LL Cool J shared his thoughts on Nelly and Ciara’s tribute to him. He said,

“You know the whole night for me was very humbling. I’m very grateful you know to have a moment like this. It was very unexpected. it kinda blindisded me. But I’m very thankful and appreciative and all I can say is, ‘Wow.’ So to see Nelly and Ciara out there performing my music and serenading me with my own music, I mean come on man. I mean you know can you imagine, you know, being in your basement and rapping and then one day twenty years later you have superstar artists singing your music to you. It’s crazy. I’m thankful.”