Diddy, Janet Jackson, Chuck D, Missy Elliot, Pharrell Williams, and Mariah Carey recorded a video tribute to Rhymes.

“Alright, Imma wear it on my sleeve. I do wanna cry,” Rhymes started his speech, as his eyes started to water. He talked about his six children, being kicked out from his hip-hop group Leaders of the New School, and learning how to rebuild by going into studios, sharing a cigar with whoever was in the studio, and “quickly whipping up a 16 bar verse. … By default, I pioneered the feature,” he said. “A lot of greatness from out people in our culture is by default. Because it’s just a magic we have.”

At the end of his acceptance speech, Rhymes urged the hip-hop community to “stop this narrative that we don’t love each other,” urging veteran musicians and newcomers alike to embrace one another.

An energetic tribute to Rhymes followed – the MC teamed up with Spliff Star for Ante Up Remix, Scenario, Look At Me Now and I Know What You Want.

Rhymes shifted gears to celebrate dancehall alongside Dexta Daps, who performed Shabba Madda Pot; Spice, So Mi Like It, Skillibeng, Whap Whap, and CuttyRanks’ A Who Seh Me Dun (Wait Deh Man).

Dancehall again took centrestage during the celebration of 50 years of hip-hop. Marking hip-hop’s reggae influence, Jamaica’s Doug E. Fresh and Lil ’Vicious did an a cappella version of Freaks, Mad Lion performed Take It Easy, and PATRA nailed Romantic Call.