How to watch the star-studded ‘A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop’ concert special

As hip-hop commemorates five decades of shaping culture, music and history, the Grammy Recording Academy is set to culminate this milestone year with a two-hour concert special, “A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop,” which is set to air at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10 on CBS and will stream on demand on Paramount+. The star-studded concert event was filmed at YouTube Theater in Inglewood on Nov. 8.

“To think it’s already been 50 years within the evolution of hip-hop is astounding to me. There was no better time to honor the genre that’s birthed so much of our culture than right now,” Harvey Mason Jr., the Record Academy CEO, said during a recent phone call. “And we have to acknowledge hip-hop is the driving force in our industry. It’s some of the most consumed and creative music of any genre. So this program is long overdue.”

The special comes as a follow-up to the 65th Annual Grammy Awards show held at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles back in February. During that event, a monumental 15-minute medley curated by The Roots’ anchor Questlove featured a fusion of iconic figures such as Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Rakim, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Nelly, Too Short, Run-DMC and Salt-N-Pepa. The assembly was accompanied by the newer class of artists like Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, Future and others, creating a blend of hip-hop’s past and present.

As the anticipation for the televised “A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop” grew, so did the challenge for Mason when it came to putting together a heavyweight lineup. Curating it became extremely delicate as Mason and his team took months to carefully select around 40 artists. The goal was to choose key players that would seamlessly weave together the rich tapestry of hip-hop’s diverse legacy.

The result is an ensemble that pays homage to the genre’s past, but also celebrates the present and future on a grand stage.

“At the end of the day, the whole goal of this program is to show off all that hip-hop has been and is,” he said.

Artists on the bill included 2 Chainz, T.I., Gunna, Too Short, Latto, E-40, Big Daddy Kane, Juvenile, Three 6 Mafia, Cypress Hill, DJ Quik, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shanté, Warren G, YG, Digable Planets, Arrested Development, Spinderella, Common, De La Soul, Jermaine Dupri, LL COOL J, The Pharcyde, Queen Latifah, Questlove, Remy Ma and many more.

There have been some big moments in hip-hop history at the Grammys, including Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff snagging the very first Grammy presented in the best rap performance with “Parents Just Don’t Understand” in 1989. Adding to the legacy, Arrested Development secured a historic win in 1993 as the first hip-hop group to be honored with the best new artist award. Lastly, Three 6 Mafia left a mark in 2006 as the first hip-hop act to perform a nominated song, “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp,” on the awards telecast. The group not only won a Grammy that night, but also picked up an Academy Award for best original song.

For Mason, producing a televised celebration of this caliber was crucial, driven by a desire to rectify historical inaccuracies and address past misrepresentations by the Academy. Taking charge as the newest CEO of the Academy in 2020, Mason’s primary objective has been to foster inclusivity, steering the organization toward a more representative and equitable approach.

Setting the stage in Inglewood was important, too. It pays homage to the genre given the city’s rich history of birthing hip-hop greats. Through a strategic partnership with the venue, the YouTube Theater emerged as the perfect spot to showcase talent for the one-night event.

“During the taping, which was about three hours, I don’t think I sat down for more than 15 minutes,” Mason said. “I mean, the camaraderie amongst the artists, fans and workers at the venue was insane. Everyone who was set to play was in the crowd, just remembering old songs or cheering on someone they loved. It’s an energy viewers are going to feel the minute they watch it.”

After putting so much time, effort and careful planning into this program, Mason said his hope is that viewers find an appreciation for the hip-hop genre.

“I truly believe viewers are going to walk away knowing the importance of this genre, the power of this genre and what it means to our society,” Mason said. “My hope is that you’ll fall more in love with hip-hop and possibly fall in love with someone you didn’t expect to. Whether that’s someone new or one of the pioneers set to play, there’s something for everyone.”