S. Samuel
After days of speculation and reports, fans finally got to see former music rivals Fat Joe and 50 Cent formally dismiss their past feud and unite in honor of late music executive Chris Lighty on tonight's BET Hip Hop Awards airing.
Uniting for Lighty, their tribute also featured other renowned artists who shared a connection to the Violator Management co-founder.
Chris Lighty may be gone, but the trailblazing music mogul will never be forgotten. A number of Lighty-managed hip-hop stars banded together in a star-studded send-off for the mega-manager at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards, which aired Tuesday (October 9). After a heartfelt video intro from LL Cool J, Q-Tip and Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest buried the hatchet and set things off, performing their 1993 classic “Award Tour.” As the iconic hip-hop group threw their L’s up for Chris, pictures of the fallen rap hero flashed across the stage’s main screen. “If it wasn’t for Chris, then you wouldn’t hear music like this,” Tip said before passing the mic to another Lighty protégé Busta Rhymes, who marched up and down the stage to the tune of “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See.” Lighty’s influence on the culture became increasingly apparent with each rapper who stormed the stage. Fat Joe was next up with his banger “Lean Back,” and then Missy Elliott was next with her 2001 party-starter “Get Ur Freak On.” (MTV)
Last week, Joey Crack explained what went down at the BET Hip Hop Awards taping.
“He always wanted me and 50 Cent to make peace forever but we were just being stubborn and ignoring him,” Fat Joe revealed in an interview referring to the late Chris Lighty. “I came to do the tribute, I knew 50 Cent would be there but I came there like, ‘We’re going to do this for Chris.’ And while we were there, 50 whispered some things in my ear that was like gentleman-like, you know what I’m saying? I’m a gentleman. I don’t dislike people. I’m one of the most loveable dudes in hip-hop, believe it or not. But you know, he just said the right things, a handshake was involved and that was that. It was two grown men to say ‘Yo, this is Chris Lighty, this is for hip-hop, let’s move on with our lives.’ This is Israel-Palestine. I don’t want to talk crazy but this was going to go bad no matter what. … Unfortunately, it took somebody I love very much and [50] love so much, somebody who tried effortlessy to squash the beef for years.” (Hot 107.9)
Last month, 50 also confirmed a truce had been called at the event.
“Thanks Chris would have wanted joe thereRT @NoupsDream: @50cent yo man, good job. u feed people n now u make peace. Salute!!!,” he tweeted Saturday (September 29).
“Ill check it outRT @AR_Knight: Now that @50cent & fatjoe squashed things a dope collabo would be nice….” (50 Cent’s Twitter)
On Fat Joe’s “Goodbye” remix Lighty ode, he even acknowledges the late music executive’s attempt to cease their beef.
“I know you couldn’t stop the 50 sh*t/But I ain’t never look at you no different Chris/You was my mentor, you started me/That’s why you’ll forever be a part of me/I pray to God to forgive him/And when you get the heaven tell Pun we’ll miss him” (“Goodbye” Remix)
Check out the Chris Lighty tribute below:
