31 Milestones in Hip-Hop Awards History: Star-Studded Grammy Salute, Super Bowl Halftime Show & More 

The announcement on Thursday (Feb. 2) that the Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5, will include a star-studded segment celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop is just the latest in a long series of milestone moments for the genre on awards shows.

LL Cool J will introduce the segment, which will include performances by Big Boi, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Mele Mel & Scorpio/Ethiopian King, Ice-T, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, The Lox, Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Rahiem, Rakim, RUN-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella, Scarface, Swizz Beatz and Too $hort.

“For five decades, hip-hop has not only been a defining force in music, but a major influence on our culture,” Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “Its contributions to art, fashion, sport, politics, and society cannot be overstated. I’m so proud that we are honoring it in such a spectacular way on the Grammy stage.”

While this segment is one of the most lavish celebrations of hip-hop to date on an awards show, rappers have been winning awards and earning plaudits for decades. In September 2022, The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent became the first Super Bowl halftime show to win a Primetime Emmy for outstanding variety special (live).

Below, take a look at 31 milestones in hip-hop awards history. We’ll keep adding to this list as more history-making moments happen.