By Edem Latsu Nukafu
Hip-Hop legends such as Redman, Queen Latifah, Treach, and other New Jersey Hip Hop icons will be part of a special MTV Unplugged celebration of Hip Hop, the network has disclosed.
According to Billboard, MTV Unplugged Presents: A Hip-Hop 50th Celebration of Jersey’s Finest will air on Thursday, December 14, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
The show was held on November 15 at Newark’s Symphony Hall. Additionally, rap icons such as Redman, Latifah, and Treach, the bill included Wyclef Jean, The Sugarhill Gang, Poor Righteous Teachers, Heather B, Nikki D, Lady Luck, and Lords of the Underground.
Among others, Adam Blackstone, the Emmy-winning music director renowned for his collaborations with Eminem, Rihanna, and Janet Jackson, helmed the band.
Those who miss the first broadcast of the special will have other chances. BET will broadcast it on Friday, December 15, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. At the same time on Tuesday, December 19, it will be on VH1.
MTV Unplugged, New Jersey and Hip Hop have intersected before, most famously at Newark native Lauryn Hill‘s 2001 performance for the franchise, which was released as an album the following year.
Queen Latifah, who is an executive producer on the new special, has been celebrating Hip Hop’s half-century mark in other ways as well.
The Queen and Whoopi Goldberg worked together back in August to curate a unique exhibit that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop.
Hypebeast disclosed that the two women co-curated the show, which was held at the Morrison Hotel Gallery Sunset Marquis in Los Angeles and Morrison Hotel Gallery 116 Prince Street in New York City.
The exhibit featured 50 iconic images from the Hip Hop scene, per the outlet. And each image “create[d] a visual odyssey that captures the essence of Hip Hop’s evolution from its birth in the Bronx to its global prominence.”
Other sizzling superstars such as Run-DMC, 2Pac, JAY-Z, and Eminem were all included, and works by Lynn Goldsmith, Josh Cheuse, and Mike Miller were prominently featured.
Writer’s email: edemlatsu093@gmail.com
