VH1’s “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” will return for a seventh time this June with a tribute to Southern Hip-Hop music.
Rappers Jermaine Dupri, J. Prince of Rap-A-Lot Records, 2Live Crew and Luther “Luke” Campbell will be honored during the ceremonies, which will tape June 3rd.
All three men have established ground breaking Hip-Hop labels, which have sold tens of millions of records over the years.
Jermaine Dupri founded Atlanta’s So So Def imprint in 1993, J-Prince launched Rap-A-Lot in 1986 and Luke Campbell started Luke Skyywalker Records in 1985.
Both J Prince and Campbell helped break down the barriers of censorship in Hip-Hop music during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.
Campbell’s case involving his usage of Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman” went all the way to the Supreme Court, where the rapper won a victory, when a judge ruled a parody of a record can qualify as “fair use.”
“I am happy for my fans, they have sent the people that run the VH1 Hip Hop Honors show emails for years now, asking why a person that started his own record label and went to the Supreme Court can’t get honored, so I am happy for them,” Campbell told AHH in an exclusive statement.
Others being recognized for their contributions to Hip-Hop during the evening include Master P. who founded the groundbreaking No Limit Records imprint, as well as Atlanta production team Organized Noise.
While Luke was happy about being honored, the outspoken rapper was a bit upset that his recognition comes so late into the annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors franchise.
“We are the outcasts on that day, the outcasts will get their five minutes. I am sure the show will be about the others,” Campbell told AHH.
“My fans are the only reason I am doing this. I said f**k this after they did Too Short before me.”
VH1’s Hip Hop Honors airs June 7th at 9:00 PM ET.