VH1’S FIFTH ANNUAL HIP HOP HONORS JUST WON’T STOP!  BUSTA RHYMES, CEE-LO, CHUCK D, ESTELLE, EPMD, FAT JOE, FLAVOR FLAV, GYM CLASS HEROES, JIM JONES, JUELZ SANTANA, LUKE CAMPBELL, MACK 10, MICHAEL RAPAPORT, QUEEN LATIFAH AND THE ROOTS JOIN THE CELEBRATION

BIG BOI, BIZ MARKIE, BUN B, DJ KAOS, GHOSTFACE KILLAH, KID ROCK, MC LYTE, LIL’ JON, Q-TIP, SCARFACE, WYCLEF JEAN, AND SANAA LATHAN ARE SCHEDULED TO ROCK THE HOUSE IN HONOR OF CYPRESS HILL, DE LA SOUL, NAUGHTY BY NATURE, SLICK RICK AND TOO $HORT

**NEW AIRDATE OF BROADCAST IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 6 AT 10PM ET/PT**

Comedian/Actor Tracy Morgan Returns As Host
 
Join the online hip hop celebration at HIPHOP.VH1.COM

NEW YORK, NY, September 22, 2008 – The party is not going to stop at VH1’s fifth annual “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” celebration!  The talent list continues to grow with the addition of Busta Rhymes, Cee-Lo, Chuck D, Estelle, EPMD, Fat Joe, Flavor Flav, Gym Class Heroes, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Luke Campbell, Mack 10, Michael Rapaport, Queen Latifah and The Roots.   Along with previously announced talent Big Boi, Biz Markie, Bun B, DJ Kaos, Ghostface Killah, Kid Rock, MC Lyte, Lil’ Jon, Q-Tip, Scarface, Wyclef Jean, and Sanaa Lathan, hip hop’s finest will turn out to pay homage at VH1’s annual tribute to hip-hop luminaries who broke new ground and pioneered the genre into a true cultural phenomenon.  This year’s honorees include Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Naughty by Nature, Slick Rick and Too $hort.

The “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” broadcast will premiere on VH1 and VH1 Soul on Monday, October 6 at 10PM ET/PT.* (PLEASE NOTE NEW AIRDATE AND TIME).  Tracy Morgan will once again host this year’s VH1 Hip Hop Honors festivities which will tape at New York City’s famed Hammerstein Ballroom on Thursday, October 2.  Additional performances and appearances will continue to be announced.
 
The music and influence of each of the honorees will be recognized through performances in collaboration with some of today’s hottest talent.  Generations of hip hop will bridge the gap for one exceptional night to set it off with the original style and flavor that sparked and inspired the evolution of the music. 
 

"VH1 Hip Hop Honors" on VH1.com and VH1 Mobile:
Tuesday, September 16, marked the launch of VH1.com’s dedicated hip hop site, HIPHOP.VH1.COM, which showcases on-demand content leading up to and post “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” including:
 

With Honors – The honorees sat down with the producers of “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” to speak in-depth about their ambitions, influences, careers and everything in between. Extended clips from all the honoree’s interviews tell the stories behind the songs, major moments in their careers and what it means to be honored.

Backstage Coverage – VH1.com goes behind-the-scenes for exclusive interviews with all the performers, presenters and honorees.

Tales From The Road – Confessional interview packages in which the honorees set the record straight on their greatest touring stories.  From Cypress Hill’s security pranks to Naughty by Nature’s “Naughty Nigeria” experience in Africa, VH1.com has all the juicy details from the artists themselves.

·       Box Sets – VH1.com combed the archives and found the quintessential interview clips and music videos from this year’s honorees and performers .
 
·       Music Playlists – Extensive video playlists compiled from Hip Hop Honors honorees past and present including several “MY PLAYLIST” installments where artists walk viewers through their 10 favorite videos of all time. New playlists, including fan created lists will be added each week.

HIPHOP.VH1.COM – FOLLOWING THE SHOW ON OCTOBER 7:

Watch the complete “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” in Full- For the first time in “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” history, the full show will be available in its entirety the day after the on-air premiere.

“VH1 Hip Hop Honors” Highlights: Select moments from the on-air show.

VH1 MOBILE:

VH1 Mobile will offer “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” content including ringtones from all honorees and performers and a dedicated WAP site available by entering HIPHOP.VH1.COM into your mobile’s browser. Select video footage from “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” will be available on VH1 Mobile following the on-air broadcast.

“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 5 Freddie are co-executive producers.

“VH1 Hip Hop Honors” is sponsored by T-Mobile USA and Taco Bell Corp., Sears and Tag RecordsTM.

*All times ET/PT