Loud Records founder Steve Rifkind celebrated the 25th anniversary of his renowned hip-hop imprint at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall on Thursday night (Jan. 30). The celebration turned back the clock to the early to mid-90s where the street label was a prominent force in the industry. The label was responsible for introducing the culture to some of hip-hop’s most legendary acts, including Mobb Deep, Big Pun, Dead Prez, Twista, the Wu-Tang Clan and more.
The celebration brought fans of all ages to the middle of Manhattan for a night of nostalgic performances by some of Loud Records’ biggest acts, with fans rocking back and forth to the sounds of Xzibit, The Liks (also known as the Alkaholiks), Dead Prez, Beatnuts and more inside Radio City's legendary walls.
From the many special guests to the moving tributes for the late Big Pun, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Prodigy, Billboard compiled a list of the five best moments from the night’s festivities. Check out our list below.
dead prez and Tha Liks Lead the Charge With Opening Performances
Loud Records is one of hip-hop’s most iconic labels and to open its 25th anniversary celebration, dead prez and Tha Liks kicked off the show on a high note. Each group held their own in their respective sets and the crowd roared with each song that played inside Radio City Music Hall. The loudest responses came when dead prez’s “Hip Hop” and Tha Liks’ “Daaam!” rocked the venue.
Fat Joe and Remy Ma Pay Homage to Big Pun
Fat Joe and Remy Ma held it down in a big way for Big Pun during their grand tribute to their late friend. Dressed in all-white fur outfits, both Joe and Remy had the audience on their feet with an energetic set that ran through some of their biggest hits, including "YES" and "Lean Back." The most exciting part of the set came when Joe brought out some of his good friends to honor Pun, who died in Feb. 2000 at age 28. Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star showcased their dynamic chemistry while Jadakiss and Styles P unleashed their ironclad verses off "Banned from T.V." and "We Gon Make It." Tony Sunshine brought a smooth, melodic vibe by singing the chorus to Pun's "100%" to close out the set.
Havoc and Friends Hold It Down For Prodigy
In the second tribute of the night, Mobb Deep's Havoc honored his late brother Prodigy with a gritty performance that took fans back to the middle of Queensbridge projects. Accompanied by a large group of people on stage, Havoc ran through some of the Mobb's iconic hits, such as "Eye for a Eye (Your Beef Is Mine)," "Survival of the Fittest," "Burn" and more. Dave East joined Havoc on stage to rap Prodigy's verse on "Shook Ones Part II" but it was Lil Kim who stole the show with her surprise appearance on "Quiet Storm (Remix),” as she busted out her trademark robot dance moves to the joy of the crowd.
DMX’s Bark is Still Loud & Strong
The fans at Radio City Music Hall were treated to a huge surprise as they waited for the Wu-Tang Clan to take the stage and close out the party. While Pete Rock warmed the patient crowd up, DMX's "Ruff Ryders Anthem" crept through the speakers inside Radio City causing everyone to stand up and see if the Dog would come out. As expected, X made his appearance in a spectacular fashion: The 49-year-old rapper looked great and didn't miss a step as he demolished his verses to the 1998 classic. He even dropped a fiery acapella of his 2016 single "Blood Red."
Wu-Tang Clan End The Celebration With Help From Mary J. Blige, Redman
The Wu-Tang Clan emerged on the stage in front of a raucous crowd that was hyped for their hometown heroes. All living members except for GZA showed up and the group's signature hand-sign was raised high in the sky by nearly everyone in the audience. The legendary crew performed renditions of the hits from their 1993 debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), including “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthin ta F’ Wit” and “C.R.E.A.M.” Method Man elevated the show with throwback essentials such as “Da Rockwilder” and “I’ll Be There For You / You’re All I Need” with appearances by Redman and Mary J. Blige, respectively. The clan closed their set with the victorious “Triumph” that led the crowd to chant “Wu-Tang” for an encore.
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