It’s been more than half a decade since the Vh1 Hip Hop Honors last took place and a lot has changed. Ahead of Monday (July 11) night’s return of the award show, we’re taking a look back at the 7th annual celebration that aired June 7, 2010.
Unlike previous years, that last Hip Hop Honors came with a specific theme attached — The Dirty South. While some enjoyed that it gave the show a better chance to celebrate the genre’s often overlooked region and its hip-hop heavyweights, it also gave good opportunity for gripes about the show’s glaring omissions — Lil Wayne, Cash Money Records, Three 6 Mafia and Young Jeezy among them. OutKast and Goodie Mob were recognized, but could have been celebrated more. And Suave House Records founder Tony Draper and veteran Houston rapper Scarface likely would have received nods, but instead reportedly declined early invitations to be involved.
Those performers who did participate were still plentiful and a solid who’s who of hip-hop at the time. The show’s honorees included 2 Live Crew, Luther “Luke” Campbell, J. Prince, Jermaine Dupri, Master P, Organized Noise, Timbaland with performances by Lil Jon, Bone Crusher, Bun B, Missy Elliot, Nelly, Chamillionaire, Mystikal, Bow Wow, Dem Franchize Boyz, Slim Thug, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Asher Roth, Gucci Mane, Trina, Pitbull, Flo Rida, Silkk The Shocker and more. The Office‘s Craig Robinson hosted.
Drake was even there, still a relative newcomer then who had just released his breakout debut LP, Thank Me Later. During the show, the chart-topper-in-the-making channeled UGK‘s Pimp C on “Get Thawed” for the J. Prince/Rap-a-Lot Records tribute with his then frequent collaborator Bun B, earning big cheers even then from the audience. Though Lil Wayne wasn’t in attendance, Drake did rep his label boss and mentor with a “Free Wayne” T-shirt, as Weezy was then doing time at Rikers Island on gun possession charges.
“I always say the East Coast is one piece of bread, and the West Coast is another piece of bread, and the South is the meat. I describe it that way, ’cause everyone has roots in the South,” said honoree J. Prince during his tribute for one of the night’s most memorable quotes.
2 Live Crew’s Luther “Luke” Campbell also made a strong political statement that night. Following a segment on his group’s censorship battle from about 20 years prior, the Miami Bass forefather and record executive criticized those who had threatened his freedom of speech such as Tipper Gore and Al Sharpton and criticized America’s “right wingers and Tea Baggers” of the time. After the event, Campbell spoke to press that he had been disappointed with the ceremony only interviewing him as a member of 2 Live Crew, he felt disregarding his contributions to music with Luke Records, where he helped launch the careers of Trick Daddy, Pitbull, H-Town and others.
For more of a throwback, watch Billboard‘s red carpet interviews from 2010 with some of hip-hop’s biggest names at the time talking the Hip Hop Honors: The Dirty South and more: