Hosted once again by Tracy Morgan, this year’s musical celebration will give viewers a chance to step back and reminisce on a time when hip hop music began to make its greatest impact on American pop culture.

Premiering on Tuesday, October 7, generations of hip hop will bridge the gap for one exceptional night to set it off with the original style and flavor that sparked a revolution and continues to fuel an evolution around the world. Additional performances and appearances will be announced shortly.

Cypress Hill: With a driving rhyme style and brutally infectious
production, this L.A. based collective brought a welcomed Latino
perspective to hip hop storytelling, creating records like "Insane in the
Brain" that crossed all barriers and gave Cypress Hill fans in the rock, as
well as, rap world.

De La Soul: This Long Island trio brought a playful, smart, and
off-center style to hip hop, while pushing their suburban and bohemian
sensibility to the fore. Their innovative sound has influenced not only
other MCs, but helped inspire the entire underground movement in the
culture.

Naughty By Nature: Led by the strident style of lead MC Treach, Naughty
By Nature brought New Jersey hip hop into the mainstream by creating hit
singles that became anthems for a generation. "OPP" and "Hip Hop Hooray"
are two of the most popular records in rap history.

Slick Rick: With vivid storytelling and unique rhyme style Slick Rick
has always been one of the most unique and influential figures in the
culture’s history. When you combine Rick’s MC gifts with his gold chains,
eye patch and regal clothing the result is a figure who embodies the fun,
the danger and the flavor that is hip hop.

Too $hort: Too $hort started his career in the ’80s selling 12-inch
singles full of freaky tales on his own indie label in Oakland and has
remained true to his raw style, in the process becoming a legend in the
game while staying true to his hard core values.

Additionally, on September 19 VH1.com will launch its dedicated "VH1
Hip Hop Honors" Web site with honoree profiles, exclusive online
programming, show information and more at HipHop.VH1.com. Additional
VH1.com and VH1 Mobile efforts around "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" will be
announced in the coming weeks.

"VH1 Hip Hop Honors" is executive produced by Lee Rolontz for VH1 and
Jac Benson for Blackjac Entertainment. Louis J. Horvitz will direct. Nelson
George and Fab Five Freddie are co-executive producers.