New York, NY (August 12, 2023) – Hip hop celebrated its 50th anniversary in style on Friday night with a star-studded concert at Yankee Stadium. The Hip Hop 50 celebration featured appearances and performances from over three dozen artists, including Run-DMC, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Wu-Tang Clan, Lauryn Hill, EPMD, Lupe Fiasco, Common, Ice Cube, Lil Kim, Fat Joe, and more.
The concert was a fitting tribute to a genre that has had a profound impact on popular culture around the world. The artists who performed at the concert represented the diversity and richness of hip-hop, and they brought the crowd to their feet with their energetic performances.
Famed artists such as Nas and Snoop Dogg not only illuminated the night with their performances but also paid homage to the foundational figures who paved the way before them.
In an unforgettable moment during his set, Nas shared the stage with DJ Kool Herc, one of the founding fathers of hip-hop, and told the crowd: “This is our love. This is our bloodline.” Kool G Rap also joined Nas onstage, and the latter expressed his reverence, referring to him as “my ultimate inspiration.”
Lauryn Hill made an unexpected appearance, delighting the crowd by performing her collaborations with Nas, including “If I Ruled the World” and “Nobody.” She then gave a fiery performance of some of her past hits, including “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and the Fugees’ “Killing Me Softly” and “Ready or Not.”
Nas paid a heartfelt tribute to Hill, bowing down to her as she left the stage, while Hill herself declared, “Happy Birthday hip-hop!” Nas reciprocated, declaring his admiration, “I love you, queen.”
Wiz Khalifa’a performance of “See You Again” was even more poignant as faces of rappers who have died appeared on the larger screen, including the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, DMX, Nipsey Hussle, Nate Dogg, Takeoff, Pop Smoke, XXXTentacion and more.
Other performers included Snoop Dogg, Too Short, Lil Wayne, Ghostface Killah, Ice Cube, Lil Kim, T.I., Cam’ron, Mobb Deep’s Havoc, Trina, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Ashanti, Lola Brooke, Flo Milli, Run DMC and more.
Watch the full concert below.
