Slick Rick, Cypress Hill, De La Soul Get All-Star Tributes at VH1’s Hip Hop Honors

Photo: Gries/Getty
While most of the country tuned into the Vice Presidential debate last night and wondered what the future holds, the crowd at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom looked back at rap history at VH1’s Fifth Annual Hip Hop Honors. But there was some politicking in the house: After a set from resident DJ Biz Markie, host Tracy Morgan opened the show with a bit about being the President of the People, while fans on the floor waved campaign signs endorsing SLICK RICK and CYPRESS HILL ‘08, two of the evening’s honorees alongside Too $hort, De La Soul and Naughty by Nature. The show premieres on VH1 October 6th and 10 PM.
Before the show, Slick Rick offered a personal political endorsement. “I want to thank Governor David Paterson, it’s a good thing we have a decent person in government,” he said of the New York governor who granted him a pardon for murder charges last May. Then the tributes began with a look back at Cypress Hills’ early days. Hip-hop was still rebel music when Cypress Hill rhymed about smoking weed and how they could just kill a man in the early ’90s. Fat Joe ignited the opening tribute to the group while B-Real, Sen Dog and crew nodded with approval from their seats. Jim Jones took over on “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That” before Gym Class Heroes lit up “Insane in the Membrane,” B-Real’s nasal delivery getting drowned out by the band as the scent of marijuana wafted through the balcony.
Next, Estelle and Q-Tip teamed up for “A Roller Skating Jam Named ‘Saturdays’ ” in honor of De La Soul. Mos Def and Public Enemy turned “Stakes Is High” into a battle cry before Cee-Lo entered, adorned in silver silk, followed by EPMD and De La Soul […]

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