Fantastic Voyage Generic Graphics Updated Nov 2023
Black America Web Featured Video
CLOSE

NEW YORK (AP) — VH1 has celebrated pioneering women hip-hop stars Queen Latifah, Missy Elliot, Lil’ Kim and Salt-N-Pepa in its Hip Hop Honors event, held amid the racial tension that has gripped the nation.

Lil Kim attends the arrivals at VH1's Hip Hop Honors at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center on Monday, July 11, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP)

Missy Elliott attends the arrivals at VH1's Hip Hop Honors at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center on Monday, July 11, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP)

From left, DJ Spinderella, and Cheryl "Salt" James and Sandra "Pepa" Denton of Salt-N-Pepa attends the arrivals at VH1's Hip Hop Honors at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center on Monday, July 11, 2016, in New York. (Photo by Brad Barket/Invision/AP)

In accepting the honor Monday night, Latifah remarked that “racism is still alive and kicking, and we have to change that.” Rapper Common used his appearance to praise Diamond Reynolds, the woman who livestreamed the aftermath of her boyfriend’s fatal shooting by police in Minnesota last week.

Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza opened the show alongside activist Darnell Moore. Garza says the movement “is grounded in black people’s dignity, justice and freedom. It’s about love, not violence.”

“VH1 Hip Hop Honors” returned following a six-year hiatus. This year’s all-female installment was dubbed “All Hail the Queens.”

Watch a few tributes below.

Who had the best performance?

The 2016 BET Awards In Photos
22 photos

Like BlackAmericaWeb.com on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

(Photo Source: AP)