Hot97 and WLBS-FM recently hosted a celebratory event to honor hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. DJ Funk Flex curated the lineup and performances from artists that include Mary J. Blige, Wu-Tang Clan, Diddy, EPMD, and more.
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On Friday, September 15, Hot97 and WLBS-FM hosted a celebratory event at Madison Square Garden to honor hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. The eagerly awaited event started with Funk Flex setting the stage on fire with his incredible musical sounds and mixes. It was the perfect way to pay homage and recognize the pioneers and trailblazers of hip-hop.
This was followed by awards presented to Marley Marl, DJ Red Alert, and Chuck Chill Out. Popular Jamaican rapper and singer Sean Paul took the stage and delivered energetic performances of his hits “Get Busy,” “Like Glue,” and his newest single “Temperature.”
Next up, EPMD performed their classic hits and paid homage to legendary artists including, Tupac, Biz Markie, The Notorious B.I.G., and Phife Dawg. DJ Funk Flex returned to the stage for his set, joined by CL Smooth, Coi Leray, Greg Nice, Audio Two’s Milk Dee, French Montana, and DJ Kool.
Maxwell then took the stage to introduce the iconic rap group Wu-Tang Clan. While Ol’ Dirty Bastard was dearly missed and GZA couldn’t be present, the rest of the members delivered an unforgettable performance. They performed fan-favorite songs such as “Protect Ya Neck,” “Method Man,” “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’,” “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing To F*** Wit,” “Ice Cream,” and “Da Rockwilder,” leaving the audience in awe.
Diddy, who was speculated to fill in for Mariah Carey, followed with a performance from his newly released album The Love Album: Off The Grid. The hip-hop mogul also treated the audience to throwbacks from Bad Boy Records, including “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Warning,” “Mo Money Mo Problems,” and Black Rob’s “Whoa.”
Mary J. Blige closed the show with an electrifying performance, bringing the crowd to life with her legendary discography and iconic dance moves. She even brought out WanMor, the sons of Boyz II Men’s Wanya Morris, who are signed to Mary’s Beautiful Life Productions.
Method Man joined her on stage for their collaboration “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By,” while Jadakiss joined for “Back To Life 2001.”
Sheek Louch and Styles P of The Lox performed “We Gonna Make It” and “Wild Out.” The night ended with a memorable collaboration between Mary J Blige, Jadakiss, and Fabolous on “Family Affair.” It was truly a night to remember for hip-hop lovers everywhere.
Speaking of Diddy, on Friday, September 15, the music mogul released his highly anticipated music video for “Another One Of Me,” to accompany his newly-released album, The Love Album: Off The Grid. Featuring The Weeknd, 21 Savage, and French Montana, the music video served a futuristic and robotic vibe and has quickly gained popularity, amassing over 100,000 views within 15 hours of its release.
In July 2023, New York City geared up for a monumental celebration as the legendary Wu-Tang Clan prepared to return to their roots for a headlining performance at the “For the Love” concert. The iconic rap group honored hip-hop’s 50th anniversary with a performance that promised to be historic.
In related news, the Hip Hop 50 Live concert, co-produced by Mass Appeal, Live Nation, and the New York Yankees, also celebrated hip hop’s 50th birthday. The star-studded event included performances from Run-DMC, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Ice Cube, and more, creating an unforgettable experience for hip-hop fans worldwide.
BiggieBiz MarkieDiddyEPMDFunk FlexMary J. BligeWu-Tang Clan
Written by Kynedei Iman Hobbs
Kynedei Iman Hobbs is a recent college graduate from the renowned Prairie View A&M University, with a major in Mass Communications. She possesses a deep passion for both News and Entertainment and aspires to excel as an exceptional Entertainment News Reporter, Writer, and Personality. With her sights set on greatness, she is driven to make a significant impact in the field.