Tupac Among the First Honorees of the VH1 Hip Hop Honors

In 2004, the music network VH1 was planning a new awards gala celebrating the history of hip-hop, and Tupac Shakur was part of it from the start. On August 27, 2004, Billboard reported the list of honorees for the first VH1 Hip Hop Honors: Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Tupac Shakur, KRS-One, the Sugarhill Gang, DJ Kool Herc, the Rock Steady Crew, DJ Hollywood, and the graffiti movement.

A Gala in New York

The event was scheduled for October 3, 2004, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, and VH1 planned to broadcast it on October 12. Confirmed performers included Public Enemy, the Sugarhill Gang, the Beastie Boys, Nas, and Chic. The network intended to make the gala an annual event.

Who Made the Selection

According to a VH1 spokesperson, the honorees were selected by a committee composed of network staff and the show’s consulting producers, author Nelson George and Fab 5 Freddy. Eight years after his death, Tupac was thus recognized alongside pioneers such as DJ Kool Herc and the Sugarhill Gang. Further honors: Awards.