Hip Hop Over the Years

Let's take you back...way back!

6. Nike Cortez - Kendrick Lamar is wearing the aforementioned sneakers in this pic. The Cortez usually gets overlooked, but it's undeniably a West Coast classic in the same vein as Chuck Taylors. If you're ever looking to get the perfect pair, hit up Nike ID, as you can create custom ones with their interface. (Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage)

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Illest Bars Ever! - Hip Hop Awards 2013 — By far the most epic lines spit in a cypher had to be when Kendrick Lamar shut it down in last year's cypher featuring the TDE crew. You do remember, don't you? (Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage)

Real Talk - Kevin Hart and Uncle Snoop introduce the hilarious Real Husbands Cypher. Epic! (Photo: Rick Diamond/BET/Getty Images for BET) 

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Laughs on Deck - Hip Hop Awards 2013 — The funny ensued when Uncle Snoop and Kevin Hart introduced the hilarious Real Husbands cypher.(Photo: Rick Diamond/BET/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo: Rick Diamond/BET/Getty Images for BET

Heavy Hitters - This star-studded moment was brought to you by the BET Hip Hop Awards. Rick Ross and Diddy take center stage.(Photo: Rick Diamond/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Boss Central - Hip Hop Awards 2013 — A true boss moment was seen when Diddy and Rick Ross took the stage together.(Photo: Rick Diamond/BET/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo: Rick Diamond/BET/Getty Images for BET

2013 Hip Hop Awards, Acceptance Speech, MC Lyte

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Hip Hop Mainstay - Hip Hop Awards 2013 — All was right with the hip hop world when MC Lyte won the 2013 "I Am Hip Hop" Award.(Photo: Rick Diamond/BET/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo: Rick Diamond/BET/Getty Images for BET

They're Back! - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony members stayed true to form backstage before their performance.  (Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Meet 'Em at the Crossroads - Hip Hop Awards 2013 — Yes, that happened! Bone Thugs-N-Harmony hit the stage. In this pic, we caught up with the groundbreaking rap group right before they killed it on stage.(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET

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Real Recognize Real - Hip Hop Award 2013 — That moment a vet in the game (Q-Tip) posed for a pic with rap's rising star (Kendrick). Only at the Hip Hop Awards.(Photo: Chris McKay/Getty Images for BET)

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Real Recognize Real - Hip Hop Award 2013 — That moment a vet in the game (Q-Tip) posed for a pic with rap's rising star (Kendrick). Only at the Hip Hop Awards.(Photo: Chris McKay/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo: Chris McKay/Getty Images for BET

Salute the King - Hip Hop Awards 2012 — Hip hop made a huge statement when rap vet Rakim won the "I Am Hip Hop" Award in 2012. Salute!(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

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Salute the King - Hip Hop Awards 2012 — Hip hop made a huge statement when rap vet Rakim won the "I Am Hip Hop" Award in 2012. Salute!(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET

"The Introduction" - You knew this mash-up had to happen at some point: T.I. rhyming over a tastefully flipped sample from the 1972 Marvin Gaye classic that he named his album after. "I am who I am, fresh out of apologies, sometimes I ain't get in trouble, trouble got in me," T.I. raps hungrily over a busy bass line and Gaye's sampled cries, eager to confront his all-too-recent criminal past.  (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

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Epic Return - Hip Hop Awards 2012 — T.I. made an epic comeback to the Hip Hop Awards stage.(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

He Did It! - Hip Hop Awards 2011 — Rapper Big Sean sparked the night with his hits “I Do It” and “Marvin & Chardonnay.”(Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup)

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He Did It! - Hip Hop Awards 2011 — Rapper Big Sean sparked the night with his hits “I Do It” and “Marvin & Chardonnay.”(Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup

Breaking Barriers - Hip Hop Awards 2011 — Before Kendrick was flexing in cyphers, Eminem dropped a few hot lines, making the Slaughterhouse cypher the best of 2011. (Photo: BET)

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Breaking Barriers - Hip Hop Awards 2011 — Before Kendrick was flexing in cyphers, Eminem dropped a few hot lines, making the Slaughterhouse cypher the best of 2011. (Photo: BET)

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Best Tribute - Hip Hop Awards 2011 — The late Heavy D proved that hestill had it with some dances moves.(Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup)

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Best Tribute - Hip Hop Awards 2011 — The late Heavy D proved that hestill had it with some dances moves.(Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup

Video Director of the Year - Hype Williams - Hype Williams proved once again that nobody makes videos quite the way he can when he snatched the Video Director of the Year Award at the 2010 BET Awards.

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Please Believe the Hype - Hip Hop Awards 2011 — Known for creating the most iconic visuals for the hip hop elite, Hype Williams won the Video Director of the Year Award. (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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Feeling the Love - Hip Hop Awards 2011 — A star was definitely born when Steel City rapper Wiz Khalifa ripped through an amazing performance of his track "Taylor Gang."(Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo: Paul Abell/PictureGroup

Slick Mike Epps - Hip Hop Awards 2010 —  Mike Epps had the audience cracking up when he dressed like rap legend Slick Rick in 2010.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

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Slick Mike Epps - Hip Hop Awards 2010 —  Mike Epps had the audience cracking up when he dressed like rap legend Slick Rick in 2010.(Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo: Brad Barket/PictureGroup

Going Hard From the Gate - Hip Hop Awards 2010 — Rapper Wacka Flocka made a lasting impression on the Hip Hop Awards red carpet back in 2010.(Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images) 

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Going Hard From the Gate - Hip Hop Awards 2010 — Rapper Wacka Flocka made a lasting impression on the Hip Hop Awards red carpet back in 2010.(Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images) 

Photo By Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images

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"Boulevard" feat. Jahdan Blakkamoore - Snoop closes the standard edition of the album (there's three more tracks on the deluxe version) by duetting with long slept-on veteran dancehall-rap singer Jahdan. Perhaps inspired by his collaborator, he delivers one of his better singing performances, lamenting street life and once again apparently attempting to make amends for his violent past. (Photo: Ben Rose/PictureGroup)

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The Only Turn Up Around - Hip Hop Awards 2009 — It wasn't nothing but a gangsta party when Uncle Snoop performed classics “Gangsta Love” and “Gin and Juice” back in 2009.(Photo: Ben Rose/PictureGroup)

Blast From the Past - Hip Hop Awards 2009 — Our very own Rocsi Diaz stunted on the red carpet.(Photo: Moses Robinson/PictureGroup)

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Blast From the Past - Hip Hop Awards 2009 — Our very own Rocsi Diaz stunted on the red carpet.(Photo: Moses Robinson/PictureGroup)

Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) - "#WeVoteWeWin Obama" (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

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Uncle Russ - Hip Hop Awards 2009 — What a moment! The revolutionary Russell Simmons was honored with the "I Am Hip Hop" Award.(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

Photo By Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET

Common x Pharrell x N.E.R.D. - That time Common performed "Universal Mind Control" with Pharrell during the 2008 BET Hip Hop Awards and then N.E.R.D. surprised the audience! YUP! (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

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At Their Best - Hip Hop Awards 2008 — When Common and Pharrell Williams joined forces to perform "Universal Mind Control" and "Spazz," it was simply epic.(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

Midwest Swag - Hip Hop Awards 2007 — In this memorable moment, St. Louis native Nelly performed his hits "Wadsyaname" and "Go Lil' Mama," reminding us just why he's one of rap's most prized stars.(Photo: Frank Mullen/WireImage)

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Midwest Swag - Hip Hop Awards 2007 — In this memorable moment, St. Louis native Nelly performed his hits "Wadsyaname" and "Go Lil' Mama," reminding us just why he's one of rap's most prized stars.(Photo: Frank Mullen/WireImage)

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#1 Stunna - Lil Wayne proved in 2008 that you can't place him in a box when he dropped the unorthodox-sounding "Lollipop." The track earned Weezy his first No. 1 record and stayed at the top of the charts for five consecutive weeks. "Lollipop" sold more than 5 million copies and won Wayne a Grammy for Best Rap Song.(Photo: Frank Mullen/WireImage) 

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'Duffle Bag Boy' - Hip Hop Awards 2007 — Lil' Wayne went hard when he perfomed now classics "Duffle Bag Boy" and "Gossip."(Photo: Frank Mullen/WireImage) 

Photo By Photo: Frank Mullen/WireImage

Rick the Ruler Is Back - Rapper Rick Ross lets it flow live with a double dose performance of hits, "Push It" and "Hustlin."(Photo: Annette Brown/Getty Images)

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Start How We Finish - Hip Hop Awards 2006 — We must finish how we started, so we decided to take a major trip back down memory lane to when Rick Ross blazed the stage with his breakout hits "Hustlin" and "Push It" back in 2006.(Photo: Annette Brown/Getty Images)