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The Recording Academy and CBS are celebrating 50 years of hip-hop with one of the biggest musical events of the year, and ET is exclusively giving fans a peek into the magic behind the scenes.<\/span><\/p>\n A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop\u00a0<\/span><\/em>features a star-studded lineup of hip-hop legends and GRAMMY-winning artists coming together, including Black Thought, Bun B, <\/span>Common<\/a>, De La Soul, Jermaine Dupri, J.J. Fad, Talib Kweli, The Lady Of Rage, <\/span>LL COOL J<\/a>, MC Sha-Rock, Monie Love, The Pharcyde, <\/span>Queen Latifah<\/a>, <\/span>Questlove<\/a>, Rakim, Remy Ma, Uncle Luke, Yo-Yo, and many more.<\/span><\/p>\n The music superstars will grace the stage to honor the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and showcase the genre’s profound history and monumental cultural impact worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\n As LL Cool J asks in ET’s exclusive look backstage, “Are you ready to celebrate the music that changed the whole world forever?”<\/span><\/p>\n The two-hour concert special will feature some of the genre’s biggest pioneers reuniting on the stage to give once-in-a-lifetime performances, including Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, who will reunite onstage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n “We’re celebrating 50 years of hip-hop. The goal was always to elevate and really celebrate the culture,” LL Cool J, who serves as a performer and executive producer of the concert special, tells ET. “I just wanted to take a step back and bring these artists to the forefront, give them their moment to shine.”<\/span><\/p>\n He added, “I’m here as a fan, singing every song. A lot of people are going to rediscover a lot of music they fell in love with many years ago.”<\/span><\/p>\n Jesse Collins, Shawn Gee and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of Two One Five Entertainment, Dionne Harmon, Claudine Joseph, Fatima Robinson and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay serve as executive producers alongside LL Cool J, and Marcello Gamma serves as director of the special.<\/span><\/p>\n The\u00a0<\/span>2023\u00a0GRAMMY Awards<\/a>\u00a0hosted <\/span>a similar celebration earlier this year<\/a>, with\u00a0LL Cool J serving as an emcee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The 65th annual awards show’s tribute featured\u00a0The Roots’ Black Thought offering powerful words before the performances commenced. From\u00a0Run-D.M.C.,\u00a0Rakim and\u00a0Public Enemy’s\u00a0Chuck D and Flavor Flav to Ice T, Queen Latifah, Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man and Too $hort, they all took part in a hip-hop medley showcasing their best hits.<\/span><\/p>\n From Busta Rhymes proving he’s still the fastest rapper alive to Nelly bringing back the Band-Aid on his cheek, it was a sight to see.\u00a0Performers also included\u00a0Big Boi, 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, Rahiem, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella and Scarface.<\/span><\/p>\n “Multi-generational. Fifty years. From the Bronx to TikTok, to the whole world. We love you, baby,” LL Cool J said to wrap the incredible tribute to hip-hop. “We started in the Bronx and ever since\u00a0then it’s gone everywhere — to the Five Boroughs, to the West Coast, to the heartland, overseas, to Europe, to Africa, to Asia, TikTok. What else is next?!”<\/span><\/p>\n