"The birth of hip-hop completely changed the course of my life. Just imagine where a lot of Black men, including myself, would be without hip-hop," Dr. Dre questioned, as the audience at the Black Music Collective’s Recording Academy Honors event nodded and murmured in agreement. 

Hip-hop, and the genre’s 50th anniversary, was at the center of celebration during the second annual BMC event, held Feb. 2 at the Palladium in Hollywood. The night also paid respect to Black excellence throughout the music industry, with many leading lights in attendance.

"The creation of the BMC is one of the things that I'm most proud of," said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason, jr. "Establishing the BMC did more than just boost the number of Black members of the Academy; it did more than help make changes to the awards processes. It provided a platform to give Black music creators a voice, a powerful voice that can tell us the things we needed to hear…a voice to guide us as we expand opportunities and mentor the next generation of artists."

The BMC honored GRAMMY-winning artists Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott and Lil Wayne, as well as music executive Sylvia Rhone, each of whom was bestowed with the Global Impact Award and lauded for their personal and professional achievements. Each award was presented by the honorees’ close colleagues and friends , followed by a performance by an artist who had worked with or been influenced by the awardee. Busta Rhymes opened the night’s acts, issuing a quick and incredibly nimble set "Baby If You Give it To Me" and "Look at Me Now" before (literally) dropping the mic. 

Read more: Listen: Playlists To Honor Global Impact Award Honorees Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott, Lil Wayne, & Sylvia Rhone

For all the joy present, style on lock and flowers given, the BMC Honors were incredibly humbling — especially for the guests of honor.

"This doesn’t get old to me. I’ve won a lot of awards and feel the same way," a teary Elliott said upon accepting her award. "It hits different when you stand up here. We’ve been through a lot. I know Dre, Wayne, none of us rolled over into success." 

“It has been an honor putting together such a special event with MVD to commemorate some of the most innovative artists in Black music history, especially as we kick off the celebrations for Black History Month,” Ryan Butler, Recording Academy Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Black Music Collective Staff Advisor said in a release. “ I hope to continue helping give these creative geniuses the spotlight they deserve through our BMC programs.”

Read on to learn more about the Recording Academy Honors presented by the BMC and for six takeaways from the GRAMMY Week event. 

The BMC + Recording Academy Rolled Out The Black Carpet

One of the first GRAMMY Week events drew a bevy of stars to the black carpet, including PJ Morton, Robert Glasper, will.i.am, Lil Kim, and Swizz Beatz. And while honorees and big-name musicians looked stunning, the audience of executives, industry professionals and artists in the audience were equally fly.

Sylvia Rhone Is Celebrated As Everyone’s Champion

Busta Rhymes, Sylvia Rhone and Swizz Beatz | Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Sylvia Rhone may have had the biggest impact on the evening's honorees. A groundbreaking and glass ceiling-shattering woman, Rhone has been CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group and Epic Records — the first Black woman in either role. And while her rise to the c-suite is remarkable, her championing of artists and dedication to their vision is unparalleled. Rhone was thanked profusely by nearly everyone who crossed the Palladium stage.

"She put her job on the line to make sure we could be trailblazers," Busta said of Rhone, citing her support of expensive and now-iconic music videos. "Every dream I had, I could wake up, come into the office, and Sylvia went balls to the wall to make our dreams come true." Added Elliott, "she never told me 'you need to lose weight,' she never told me to change my records." 

Rhone has shepherded the success of everyone from  Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Jason Mraz, Pantera, and Metallica to Lil Wayne, Kelly Rowland, Akon, Kid Cudi, Nicki Minaj and A Tribe Called Quest, Fabolous. At Epic, she oversaw historic releases from Future, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, DJ Khaled and Camila Cabello. 

"This is a whole room filled of leaders of hip-hop, and I appreciate more than you could ever know to be recognized with these cultural icons," Rhone said during her acceptance speech. "But it’s nights like these that keep me revitalized. They serve as a powerful reminder that hip-hop was a calling. As we celebrate its 50th anniversary, it’s gratifying to see how far we actually have come….We have made history. We have changed lives. We are mighty. And we are worldwide." 

Missy Is Moved To Tears

Ciara and Mona Scott-Young | Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The second honoree of the night, Missy Elliott was introduced by longtime manager Mona Scott-Young and by friend and fellow singer Ciara, who described Elliott as both a legendary artist and human.

Onstage with a manila folder full of notes, an emotional Elliott described how Rhone — who dropped Elliott from a girl group and then signed her as a solo act — "saw something in me that I didn’t see myself." Rhone "never told us 'no,'" Elliott reflected, adding that she eventually recorded six albums for Rhone. 

"We are in this together, and I hope I can be an inspiration to somebody after me because there's so many that I know in here that have been an inspiration to me," Elliott said in closing. 

A testament to Elliott’s inspiring nature, Chloe Bailey nodded to the superstar’s production work in a performance of Aaliyah's "One in a Million" and Elliott’s own "One Minute Man"; Tweet covered "Oops (Oh My)"; and Ciara closed the segment with her Missy collabs "1, 2 Step" and "Lose Control."

Dr. Dre Receives An Eponymous Impact Award

Dr. Dre | Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

"To tell you the truth, I was a little bit nervous when Harvey called me about this award because I was wondering if he knew something I didn’t. I was thinking to myself that they usually give this type of s— to dead people," Dre quipped to uproarious laughter as he received the inaugural Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, which was also awarded on the 2023 GRAMMYs telecast. "I’m incredibly honored for my body of work to be recognized in this way."

Following a video that detailed Dre’s staggering production credits, streams and record sales, the visionary artist was lauded for business acumen and philanthropy, which focuses largely on Compton-area schools. But during a brief speech, Dre explained how it all comes back to music. 

"I was in junior high school when I had ever heard hip-hop for the first time," he reflected, continuing that he "couldn’t get enough of that sound. And once I got my hands on the turntables, I knew I had found my wings and I was determined to know how to fly." 

Dr. Dre has soared to great heights but, in tribute, Snoop Dogg kept it old school with his performance of 1992’s "Deep Cover" and "Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang" with Kurupt. Snoop brought up Ty Dolla $ign for "Ain’t No Fun (if the Homies Can’t Have None)" and casually blew smoke as they closed out their set. 

Lil Wayne Is Humbled

Lil Wayne | Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

DJ Khaled presented Lil Wayne with the Impact Award in his trademark braggadocious gassing-up, but not without getting real. Khaled recalled seeing a teenage Wayne while working at a New Orleans record store, and watching him grow into the forward-thinking artist who signed Drake and Nicki Minaj. "I was blessed to know Lil Wayne from the beginning. Lil Wayne is a rap god," he said.

In a pre-recorded video, Drake effused that "our careers, our cadences, our melodies, maybe our face tats or our outfits or our decisions in general would not have been the same without your natural gift to just be yourself."

Wayne kept his own speech brief, thanking his mother and the mothers of his four children — the eldest of whom was born when Wayne was a young teen — and lowered his eyes humbly.

"I don’t get honored where I’m from," he said, choking up briefly. "Where I’m from, In New Orleans, you’re not supposed to do this. We don’t get honored. I don’t know all of y’all tonight. Thank you. I ain’t s— without you." 

Honoring the rap icon, 2 Chainz covered early Wayne single "Duffle Bag Boy," one of Wayne’s first singles, and Tyga performed "A Milli."

 Rico Love Makes A Call To Action

BMC Chair Rico Love, a GRAMMY-nominated songwriter and producer, offered words of praise for the honorees while speaking to the larger impact of the Black Music Collective.   

"We need to stop allowing people to make us feel like they're doing us favors when they recognize us. We did everyone a favor when we came here and we changed the game and we built this building that they're thriving in," Love said. "Now it is time for us to capitalize off the riches of the land, and under my watch, [we] are going to make sure that we do just that."

Love encouraged the audience to become voting members of the Recording Academy, noting that the energy present that evening in the Palladium should continue throughout the year. The work the BMC does goes beyond awards, he said, noting grave mishandling of justice and a lack of respect for Black lives. 

"I'm committed to making it my business in the BMC to take a stand and use our resources to fight for change. This can't just be about music, this can't just be about lifting ourselves up; this can't be just about Instagram photos and vanity," he said. "It has to be about helping somebody. It has to be about encouraging people who are influenced by the work that we do. I'm holding everybody in this room accountable."

Head to live.GRAMMY.com all year long to watch all the GRAMMY performances, acceptance speeches, the GRAMMY Live From The Red Carpet livestream special, the full Premiere Ceremony livestream, and even more exclusive, never-before-seen content from the 2023 GRAMMYs.

10 Must-See Moments From The 2023 GRAMMYs: Beyoncé Makes History, Hip-Hop Receives An Epic Tribute, Bad Bunny Brings The Puerto Rican Heat

Six years after her last solo studio album, Beyoncé returned to the music industry with a bang thanks to RENAISSANCE. In homage to her late Uncle Johnny, she created a work of art inspired by the sounds of disco and house that wasn't just culturally impactful — it was history-making.

At the 2023 GRAMMYs, RENAISSANCE won Best Dance/Electronic Album. Marking Beyoncé's 32nd golden gramophone, the win gave the superstar the record for most gramophones won by an individual act.

In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, revisit the historic moment Queen Bey took the stage to accept her record-breaking GRAMMY at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

"Thank you so much. I'm trying not to be too emotional," Beyoncé said at the start of her acceptance speech. "I'm just trying to receive this night."

With a deep breath, she began to list her praises that included God, her family, and the Recording Academy for their continued support throughout her career. 

"I'd like to thank my Uncle Johnny, who is not here, but he's here in spirit," Beyoncé proclaimed. "I'd like to thank the queer community for your love and inventing this genre."

Watch the video above for Beyoncé's full speech for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2023 GRAMMYs. Check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind. 

Tune into the 2024 GRAMMYs on Sunday, Feb. 4, airing live on the CBS Television Network (8-11:30 p.m. LIVE ET/5-8:30 p.m. LIVE PT) and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

A Timeline Of Beyoncé's GRAMMY Moments, From Her First Win With Destiny's Child to Making History With 'Renaissance'

Since the start of her career, four-time GRAMMY winner Lizzo has been making music that radiates positive energy. Her Record Of The Year win for "About Damn Time" at the 2023 GRAMMYs proved that being true to yourself and kind to one another always wins.

Travel back to revisit the moment Lizzo won her award in the coveted category in this episode of GRAMMY Rewind. 

"Um, huh?" Lizzo exclaimed at the start of her acceptance speech. "Let me tell you something. Me and Adele are having a good time, just enjoying ourselves and rooting for our friends. So, this is an amazing night. This is so unexpected."

Lizzo kicked off her GRAMMY acceptance speech by acknowledging Prince's influence on her sound. "When we lost Prince, I decided to dedicate my life to making positive music," she said. "This was at a time when positive music and feel-good music wasn't mainstream at that point and I felt very misunderstood. I felt on the outside looking in. But I stayed true to myself because I wanted to make the world a better place so I had to be that change."

As tracks like "Good as Hell" and "Truth Hurts" scaled the charts, she noticed more body positivity and self-love anthems from other artists. "I'm just so proud to be a part of it," she cheered.

Most importantly, Lizzo credited staying true to herself despite the pushback for her win. "I promise that you will attract people in your life who believe in you and support you," she said in front of a tearful audience that included Beyoncé and Taylor Swift in standing ovation, before giving a shout-out to her team, family, partner and producers on the record, Blake Slatkin and Ricky Reed. 

Watch the video above for Lizzo's complete acceptance speech for Record Of The Year at the 2023 GRAMMYs. Check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind, and be sure to tune into the 2024 GRAMMYs on Sunday, Feb. 4, airing live on the CBS Television Network (8-11:30 p.m. LIVE ET/5-8:30 p.m. LIVE PT) and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on-demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on-demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

10 Must-See Moments From The 2023 GRAMMYs

After a wildly successful debut and sophomore record, you'd think it was impossible for Harry Styles to top himself. Yet, his third album, Harry's House, proved to be his most prolific yet.

The critically acclaimed project first birthed Styles' record-breaking, chart-topping single, "As It Was," then landed three more top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Late Night Talking," "Music for a Sushi Restaurant" and "Matilda." The album and "As It Was" scored Styles six nominations at the 2023 GRAMMYs — and helped the star top off his massive Harry's House era with an Album Of The Year win.

In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, revisit Styles' big moment from last year's ceremony, which was made even more special by his superfan, Reina Lafantaisie. Host Trevor Noah (who will return as emcee for the 2024 GRAMMYs) handed the mic to Lafantaisie to announce Styles as the winner, and the two shared a celebratory hug before Styles took the mic.

"I've been so, so inspired by every artist in this category," said Styles, who was up against other industry titans like Beyoncé, Adele, Lizzo and Coldplay. "On nights like tonight, it's important for us to remember that there is no such thing as 'best' in music. I don't think any of us sit in the studio, making decisions based on what will get us [an award]."

Watch the video above to see Harry Styles' complete acceptance speech alongside his collaborators Kid Harpoon and Tyler Johnson. Check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind, and be sure to tune into the 2024 GRAMMYs on Sunday, Feb. 4, airing live on the CBS Television Network (8 -11:30 p.m. LIVE ET/5-8:30 p.m. LIVE PT) and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).

Here Are The Album Of The Year Nominees At The 2024 GRAMMYs

This year marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, a cultural movement that rose from humble beginnings in New York to fuel a worldwide phenomenon.    

Scholars may debate whether its roots precede Aug. 11, 1973, when DJ Kool Herc debuted his "merry-go-round" technique of playing funk breaks back-to-back to a roomful of teenagers in the Bronx. However, there’s little doubt that this event sparked a flowering of activity throughout the borough, inspiring DJs, breakdancers, graffiti artists, and, eventually, pioneering MCs like Coke La Rock and Cowboy.  

The music industry eventually caught wind of the scene, leading to formative 1979 singles like the Fatback Band’s "King Tim III" — the funk band featured MC and hypeman Timothy "King Tim III" Washington — and the big one: the Sugarhill Gang’s "Rapper’s Delight."   

Today, rap music is the most popular genre of music, led by superstars such as Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Eminem, and many others. Despite its massive success, many artists retain their strong ties to communities of color, reflecting the genre’s origins as a form rooted in the streets. 

To mark hip-hop’s 50th anniversary, press play on the playlist below, or head to Amazon Music, Apple Music and Pandora for a crash course in this quintessential stateside artform — further proof of the genius of Black American music.

At the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards, the Recording Academy showcased the breadth of hip-hop's influence via a star-studded, generation-spanning performance. Curated by Questlove and featuring legends such as Grandmaster Flash, Run-D.M.C., Ice-T, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Nelly, and GloRilla, the 2023 GRAMMYs' hip-hop tribute showed that hip-hop remains one of the most exciting music cultures — and will likely remain so for the next 50 years. 

A Timeline Of Hip-Hop's Development 

1973 – On Aug. 11, 1973, Clive "Kool Herc" Campbell DJs a back-to-school party organized by his sister, Cindy Campbell, in the rec room at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx, New York. The event is widely considered to be the beginning of hip-hop culture.    

1979 – Longtime R&B star and producer Sylvia Robinson launches Sugar Hill Records with her husband, Joe. She discovers their first act in New Jersey, a trio of rapping teenagers — Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank, and Master Gee — and brands the Sugarhill Gang. The Gang’s first single, "Rapper’s Delight," sells millions of copies and becomes the first global rap hit.    

1982 – Co-written by Duke Bootee and Melle Mel and produced by Clifton "Jiggs" Chase, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’s hit single "The Message" becomes a turning point in the genre. Bootee and Melle Mel’s stark descriptions of poverty signal to fans and critics that hip-hop is capable of more than just party music.    

1984 – Russell Simmons’ Rush Management organizes Fresh Fest, a groundbreaking arena tour featuring hot rap acts like Run-D.M.C., Whodini, Kurtis Blow, the Fat Boys, and Newcleus as well as b-boy crews such as the Dynamic Breakers. Held during the next two years, it signifies hip-hop’s growing popularity.    

1986 – After bringing frat-boy chaos as the opening act on Madonna’s Virgin Tour, Def Jam understudies the Beastie Boys collaborate with producer Rick Rubin on Licensed to Ill. Spawning the hit single "Fight for Your Right," the album is certified diamond in 2015. 

Beastie Boys in 1987 | Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images

1987 – Thanks to a remix by the late DJ/producer Cameron Paul, rap trio Salt-N-Pepa get teens everywhere twerking — and worry parents and school administrators — with the electro-bass classic, "Push It."   

1988 – Public Enemy release their second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Reportedly featuring over 100 samples and focused on Chuck D, Flavor Flav and Professor Griff’s revolutionary lyrics, it’s often cited as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.    

1989 – DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince win the first hip-hop GRAMMY Award for Best Rap Performance for their 1988 hit single, "Parents Just Don’t Understand."  

1988 – Thanks to lyrics criticizing law enforcement and depicting raw life in Compton, California, N.W.A spark national controversy with their influential second album, Straight Outta Compton.    

1991 – Ice-T appears in New Jack City, becoming one of the first rappers to headline a major Hollywood film. That same year, he appears on the Lollapalooza tour with his metal group, Body Count, and performs an early version of "Cop Killer." The song becomes a flashpoint in the 1992 presidential election.    

1993 – Wu-Tang Clan release their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). With nine members led by rapper/producer the RZA, the highly unique Staten Island-based collective spawned dozens of solo albums and affiliated acts over the following decades.   

1996 – Naughty by Nature earn the first GRAMMY Award for Best Rap Album with their third album, Poverty’s Paradise. The 1995 set includes a major radio hit in "Feel Me Flow."    

1996 – After dominating most of 1996 with his fourth album, the diamond-certified double album All Eyez on Me, 2Pac is killed in Las Vegas. The unsolved murder of one of the greatest rappers of all time remains a watershed moment in music culture.   

1997 – Days before the release of his diamond-certified second album, Life After Death, the Notorious B.I.G. is killed in Los Angeles. The slaying of two of hip-hop’s biggest artists prompts soul-searching across the music industry and inspired Biggie’s friend, Puff Daddy, to release the GRAMMY Award-winning hit, "I'll Be Missing You."  

1997 – After writing and producing hits for MC Lyte and Aaliyah, Missy Elliott debuts as a solo artist with Supa Dupa Fly. With production help from Timbaland and kinetic music videos, Elliott establishes herself as one of the most innovative acts of the era. 

Missy Elliott | Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images 

1998 – After scoring multi-platinum hits with the Fugees, Lauryn Hill strikes out on her own with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The diamond-certified album earns her several GRAMMY Awards, including Album Of The Year.    

1999 – Dr. Dre releases 2001, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential rap producers ever. The album features numerous collaborators, including longtime homie Snoop Dogg and rising lyricist Eminem.    

2001 – On Sept. 11, Jay-Z releases his sixth album, The Blueprint. It becomes a career highlight for the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame rapper, and a breakout moment for rising producers Just Blaze and Kanye West.    

2003 – Hit-making duo OutKast split their double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below into separate sides for Big Boi and Andre 3000 — the latter focusing on singing instead of rapping. Their fresh approach results in a diamond-certified project and a GRAMMY for Album Of The Year.    

2008 – Lil Wayne mania peaks with Tha Carter III, which sells over 1 million copies in its first week and earns him a GRAMMY for Best Rap Album.    

2010 – Nicki Minaj releases Pink Friday. The hit album makes her a rare female rap star during a dearth of prominent women voices in the genre.    

2017 – By landing a Top 10 Billboard hit with "XO Tour Llif3" and topping the Billboard 200 with Luv Is Rage 2, Lil Uzi Vert signifies the rise of internet-fueled trends like "SoundCloud rap" and "emo rap."   

2017 – With his fourth album Damn., Kendrick Lamar not only wins a GRAMMY for Best Rap Album, but he also becomes the first rap artist to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music, leading to the fanciful nickname "Pulitzer Kenny."    

2018 – Cardi B releases her debut album Invasion of Privacy, scoring Billboard No. 1 hits such as "Bodak Yellow" and "I Like It." As the best-selling female rap album of the 2010s, the LP won Best Rap Album at the 61st GRAMMY Awards in 2019, making Cardi the first solo female rapper to win the Category.  

Cardi B at the 61st GRAMMY Awards | Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy 

2020 – In early 2020, rising star Pop Smoke is killed in Los Angeles. Months later, his posthumous debut album, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, tops the charts, signifying the rise of drill as a major force in hip-hop culture.  

2021 – At the 63rd Annual GRAMMY Awards in 2021, the Recording Academy introduced the Best Melodic Rap Performance Category, formerly known as the Best Rap/Sung Performance Category, to "represent the inclusivity of the growing hybrid performance trends within the rap genre." 

2023 - At the 2023 GRAMMY Awards, seven-time GRAMMY winner Dr. Dre became the recipient of the inaugural Dr. Dre Global Impact Award for his multitude of achievements through his innovative, multi-decade career. Dre was first presented with the award at the Black Music Collective's Recording Academy Honors ceremony. 

50 Artists Who Changed Rap: Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Dr. Dre, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem & More