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See VH1 Hip Hop Honors’ Biggest Performances: Rich Homie Quan’s Slip Up, Plus Lil’ Kim, Queen Latifah and Missy Elliot Honored

Posted byBy Kiersten Willis | Published on: CommentsComments (0)
VH1

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The 2016 “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” returned live last night for the first time since 2010. Hosted by rapper Eve, it showcased a slew of female powerhouses in the genre. At the event, dubbed “All Hail The Queens,” there were tributes to — as well as performances by — Queen Latifah, Lil’ Kim, Missy Elliot and Salt-N-Pepa.

Queen Bee took in a tribute performance that included French Montana, Teyana Taylor and Lil Mama.

Twitter especially raved about Taylor.

Brianna Smith pointed out the singer’s wig that was left on stage after the energetic performance.

https://twitter.com/BriannaCobain/status/752688153786474496

Lil’ Kim also performed a hits melody with Dej Loaf and Rich Homie Quan. But the most notable moment came when Quan – decked out in a Coogie sweater – forgot the lyrics to The Notorious B.I.G.’s verse on the Junior Mafia track, “Get Money.”

Quan’s gaff had Twitter in a humorous uproar.

It also spurred the hashtag, #RichHomieKaraoke.

https://twitter.com/Poochda63/status/752870685681324033

User @homegirl_flexin gave her take on how Quan might perform Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.”

https://twitter.com/homegirl_flexin/status/752860845986709508

Missy Elliot’s tribute performance came from Fantasia, Monica and Tweet, who each sang “Free Yourself”, “So Gone” and “Oops (Oh My)” before wrapping up with “Lady Marmalade.” The songs were all originally produced or performed by Elliot, who sang along to each performance.

Twitter user @TAJrani praised Fantasia for her vocal skills.

https://twitter.com/TAJrani/status/752695540564000769

And Sherri Williams was in awe of Missy’s musical impact.

Salt-N-Pepa were previously recognized by Hip Hop Honors in 2005, but they were also a part of this year’s lineup. Their tribute featured host Eve, Ashanti, Dreezy and Keke Palmer singing their timeless hits.

Twitter praised the tribute.

https://twitter.com/TheLatifah/status/752684589525536769

Queen Latifah was the last performer of the night, but she did not walk away from the show before making a statement on racism. The MC couldn’t ignore the latest police brutality events that ended fatally for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.

“It’s so much going on out here in the world,” she began. “I just really appreciate a night that we can just pause and celebrate something that’s really great.”

“I’m hoping that we can somehow manage to channel all of these emotions that we have in a positive way,” she continued. “I don’t care how much things I have, or Puff has,” Latifah said, referring to soon-to-be-retired Diddy, who surprised Kim with a birthday cake on stage. “If I go outside and try to hail a cab and he passes me for the white woman standing right there, that racism is still alive and kicking. And we have to change that. And I’m not blaming the white lady, she needed a cab, too.”

She added, “I’m just saying we need to change this attitude.”

Fitting of her plea for unity, Latifah closed the show with her 1993 Grammy Award-winning song, “U.N.I.T.Y.”

She performed with Rah Digga, Monie Love, The Lady of Rage, Da Brat and YoYo in a widely praised melody.

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