Brian Stokes/Getty Images
Woop woop, that's the sound of a lifetime of achievement! Make it two.
President Joe Biden presented the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award to hip-hop pioneers KRS-One and Curtis Blow at the National Hip Hop Museum in Washington, D.C., late last week.
According to AllHipHop, 300 guests attended the ceremony at RIAA headquarters, where pastor Dr. George Holmes gave an impassioned speech celebrating the two icons. “There are two ways a leader can live life,” Holmes asserted, “either as a thermometer or as a thermostat.” “A thermometer merely measures the climate, but a thermostat sets the atmosphere and creates it. That's you, KRS-One and Curtis Blow.”
Although President Biden was not present, a letter from the White House addressed to two pillars of hip-hop was read aloud.
“In the case of Curtis Blow and in your case as well, America's story rests with all of us, not any of us, or some of us,” the memo said. Ta. “On behalf of the American people, President Biden would like to express our sincere gratitude to you for your volunteer leadership and encourage you to continue to answer the call to service. Our country still depends on you.”
In addition to their groundbreaking careers and contributions to American music and culture, KRS-One and Curtis Blow were also recognized for their commitment to community service and leadership.
This honor comes less than a year after hip-hop celebrated its 50th anniversary, and 2023 has a number of features planned to celebrate hip-hop's history. Grammy Awards Salutes 50 Years of Hip-HopKRS-One declined a personal invitation from LL Cool J.
“I got a question about two months ago. They asked me to do it and I said no,” he told Harold St. Louis. “The reason is because I know people don't understand this, and I say this with all due respect. KRS-One is a hip-hop extremist. I don't like violence. I'm not a target, I'm a violent extremist. I'm crazy about this culture. I know I must have lost my mind over this.”
Curtis Blow also did not attend the telecast, but like KRS-One, he joined other organizations in celebrating 50 years of hip-hop.
KRS-One released 1994's “Sound of Da Police” (#89), 1995's “MC's Act Like They Don't Know” (#57), and 1997's “Step Into a “World'' has earned her three career entries on the Billboard Hot 100. (Rapper's Delight)'' (No. 70). It has eight entries on the Billboard 200, including its only top 10 title in 1997. The next one is done (Part 3).
Throughout his career, Curtis Blow had two Hot 100 hits: 1980's “The Breaks (Part I)” (No. 87) and 1985's “Basketball” (No. 71). He also landed six of his titles on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 71 with his eponymous 1980 LP.
Click here to watch a clip from the ceremony.
