Nas and Lil Wayne Inducted Into Billboard’s New Hip Hop Hall Of Fame
Rap luminaries Nas and Lil Wayne have taken their rightful places among the inaugural inductees of Billboard's freshly minted Hip Hop Hall of Fame.
The Grammy Award winners reflected on the honor, presented by Billboard‘s Executive Director of R&B/Hip Hop, Gail Mitchell, during the publication’s 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players event in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Wayne began his acceptance speech, giving thanks “to the man up above” and “those that we lost, those that we wish were here. We thank you as well…”
The “A Milli” emcee thanked his fans, noting, “I think I worded it the best way when I said I ain’t s—t without you. This is for y’all, y’all as in my fans, those in the crowd, my supporters, those that work for me, those that work with me, those that work around me, those that work like me. This is for us.”
Nas later took the stage, humbly sharing, “I didn’t get into it [rap] for awards; we got into it because we love the art form.”
The Queens native reflected on the genre’s journey and accomplishments over the last five decades. “50 years of Hip Hop, and we have a concert at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. 50 years of Hip Hop saluting some of the pioneers who inspired me…”
Nas also expressed how “honored” he was “to still be alive to see it be 50 years as a fan.” He continued, “So I want to thank you all for getting awards at 49, not when I was 29. But I appreciate you. I ain’t gonna lie; I stayed away from award shows back then; I thought that shit was the devil … But it ain’t. You make it what it is.”
