Watch VH1 Hip Hop Honors

In 2004, VH1 debuted its Hip Hop Honors show, a night dedicated to honoring the icons and pioneers of hip hop music and culture. Hosted by the likes of Ice-T, Russell Simmons, Joseph Simmons, Tracy Morgan, and MC Lyte, the event was a celebration of the impact that hip hop had on popular culture and society as a whole.

The show featured performances from some of the most popular and influential hip hop artists of all time, including Run-DMC, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Sugarhill Gang, and Grandmaster Flash, as well as newer acts like Outkast, Missy Elliott, and Pharrell Williams. Each performance paid tribute to a different era or style of hip hop, from the old-school boom bap of the 80s to the futuristic sounds of the early 2000s.

Along with the musical performances, the show also included a series of tribute segments honoring the pioneers of hip hop. These segments featured interviews with artists, producers, journalists, and other influential figures in hip hop, who shared stories and memories of the people and events that helped shape the genre over the years. The honorees included figures like Grandmaster Flash, Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Run-DMC, each of whom was given a heartfelt and moving tribute.

Perhaps the most notable thing about Hip Hop Honors was its commitment to diversity and inclusivity. From its lineup of performers, which included artists of different genders, races, and backgrounds, to its honoring of pioneers from different regions and sub-genres of hip hop, the show celebrated the diversity that has always been at the heart of the hip hop community.

Over the years, VH1's Hip Hop Honors would go on to become one of the most anticipated and beloved events in the world of hip hop. It continued to honor and celebrate the legends of the genre, while also shining a light on up-and-coming artists and showcasing the latest trends and sounds in hip hop music and culture.

Overall, VH1's Hip Hop Honors was a groundbreaking and important event in the history of hip hop, one that paid tribute to the pioneers and icons of the genre while also celebrating its ongoing evolution and cultural influence.