5 Legendary Hip-Hop Concert Moments
- Allan Aziz
- Nov 21, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 21, 2019
2Pac and Biggie Freestyle at Madison Square Garden
Date: 10/24/1993
Live recordings are barely a factor in hip-hop, but there's one exception. Back in 1993, Big Daddy Kane invited 2Pac and his then-unknown homie Biggie Smalls (he was still called that at that point) onstage to freestyle during his set at Madison Square Garden. Mister Cee, who later ended up becoming Big's mentor, luckily had the wherewithal to press record. The result is the only truly timeless live hip-hop recording, and with the exception of DJ Kool's "Let Me Clear My Throat," the only live rap record you'll ever hear in a club. Where Brooklyn at? Everyone knows when this song comes on.
Jay-Z, Kanye West, 50 Cent, T.I. and Diddy Join Forces at Screamfest
Date: 8/22/2007
Getting one rapper to commit to being in a particular place at a particular time can be challenging enough. But five superstar rappers all on stage at once? That's next level. The planets aligned back in 2007, when Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Diddy, T.I., and Kanye West all got on stage at Madison Square Garden when the Screamfest, headlined by T.I. and Ciara, came to New York. Tip had pulled out Kanye, who pulled out Jay, and 50 and Diddy who were both in the building sensed a moment and decided to cash in on it.
For T.I., it was a priceless welcome to New York (it was his first headlining show there) from the biggest rappers in the city. For Kanye and 50, it was a welcome moment of congeniality in the run-up to their much-hyped album release date showdown (both dropped LPs on September 11 that year). For hip-hop, it was straight-up history.
Kendrick Lamar Crowned West Coast King by L.A. Legends
Date: 8/19/2011
Sometimes seemingly iconic musical moments start to fade a little bit as time goes on. But the significance of this night is only growing proportional to Kendrick Lamar's impact on hip-hop. In other words, quickly.
A month after Section.80 dropped, Kendrick packed the Music Box in Hollywood with already devoted fans. Game and Snoop Dogg each emerged with a surprise performance, and then told Kendrick that he was carrying "the torch" for West Coast hip-hop now. Kendrick choked up, and was engulfed in a group hug by Snoop, Game, Warren G, and Kurupt while the crowd erupted. Some called the coronation premature...but then good kid, m.A.A.d. city came out. In retrospect, this was prophecy.
Jay-Z Unveils "Takeover," "Ballerina P," and Michael Jackson at 2001 Summer Jam
Date: 6/28/2001
It's hard to even remember Hot 97's Summer Jam before 2001, when Jay-Z made history-twice. First he debuted "Takeover," the best diss track of all time, taking mercilessly accurate shots at Nas and Prodigy—the latter supplemented by an infamously unflattering childhood pic complete with sequins and tights.
Hip-hop had simply never seen rap beef on this scale (50 was obviously taking notes); the show temporarily dimmed Mobb Deep's career and set off Hov's legendary standoff with Nas.
It was such a singular historical moment that everyone forgets the night's other highlight: Jay bringing out none other than Michael Jackson, who roamed the stage and even struck a b-boy stance. Even though Nas put Jay back on his heels with "Ether," this is arguably the night that Jay officially became the Best Rapper Alive.
2Pac Rises From the Dead at Coachella
Date: 4/15/2012
16 years after his murder, 2Pac is still making history on stage. Well, sort of. At last year's Coachella, headliners Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg unveiled a shockingly realistic 'Pac hologram, which performed pitch-perfect versions of "Hail Mary" and "2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted."
Holo-Pac even introduced himself by shouting, "What up, Coachella?" It was amazing and bizarre all at once, stunning the crowd and possibly starting a new trend: Rock the Bells this year will be headlined by holograms of two other late legends, Eazy-E and Ol' Dirty Bastard.
Comments