In a recent interview, KRS-One was asked about The Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop which premiered via CBS on Sunday (Dec. 10)  and what he thought about it. He didn’t hold back.

KRS-One said he got a call from LL COOL J asking him to participate at the event and he said he instantly declined.
KRS-One stated he’s “insane with this culture,” he said he remembers Hip-Hop as being something “sacred.”

“I carry myself in a certain way because I know who I am in this culture,” he says. “You’re in the temple of Hip-Hop. This is our home. This institution can never side with, come under, understand the exploitation of our culture. Never will you ever see me standing in the environment while our culture is being exploited. Or, if you do see me there, the next moment this thing’s gonna fall. I’m there to bring this sh## down.”

He continued, “So when I got the call, I immediately said nah. First of all, it’s the Grammys – You get no respect here. None. Now, we respect your existence. We know you exist and we know you’re the Grammys. We understand, and we respect that. Your existence. But you ignored Hip-Hop for 49 years. At the 50th year, you wanna call us? The 50th year? That’s when you call? You wait ’til the 50th year to wanna call Hip-H0p’s authentic teacher? Nah, you don’t get that privilege.”

 

A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop premiered via CBS on Sunday (Dec. 10). The two-hour tribute special featured exclusive performances from hip-hop legends and GRAMMY-winning artists including Black Thought, Bun B, Common, De La Soul, Jermaine Dupri, J.J. Fad, Talib Kweli, The Lady Of Rage, LL COOL J, MC Sha-Rock, Monie Love, The Pharcyde, Queen Latifah, Questlove, Rakim, Remy Ma, Uncle Luke, and Yo-Yo. Newly announced performers include rap icons and next-gen hip-hop superstars 2 Chainz, T.I., Gunna, Too $hort, Latto, E-40, Big Daddy Kane, GloRilla, Juvenile, Three 6 Mafia, Cypress Hill, Jeezy, DJ Quik, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shanté, Warren G, YG, Digable Planets, Arrested Development, Spinderella, Black Sheep, and Luniz, Roddy Ricch, Chance The Rapper, Nelly, Coi LeRay, Akon, Mustard & More.

 

IT HAD TO BE SAID. SORRY. pic.twitter.com/Q9obx7ZyCv

— Daddy-O (@professordaddyo) December 13, 2023

 

Questlove, the drummer for the Roots and celebrated hip-hop curator who served as the show’s executive producer, lamented on social media that he was personally “hurt the most” that Bay Area legendary rapper MC Hammer also declined an invitation.

“We really wanted him to have his flowers,” Questlove said.

A viral clip reportedly recorded just last month and held in honor of 2Pac shows MC Hammer claiming he “got invited to every” hip-hop 50th-anniversary celebration this year but turned them all down because “I really don’t have the patience for the fakeness.”

Last month in Oakland at Tupac street ceremony. Hammer talked briefly about being invited to every one of these hip-hop 50th anniversary events. https://t.co/9W56hKW76C pic.twitter.com/L8VXtRHcqF

— Lonnie Norman (@Aquariuslonn) December 11, 2023