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2 Chainz, John Legend, MC Lyte, & Swizz Beatz Honored at Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball

2 Chainz and Marsha Ambrosius

Old school met new school at the Hip Hop Inaugural Ball II sponsored by Heineken at Harman Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C. On the eve of President Obama’s inauguration, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, 2 Chainz, Maxwell, Meek Mill, and more gathered to celebrate their peers and hip-hop’s impact on the election.

2 Chainz, who launched Respect My Vote! to educate convicted felons on voting, cleaned up nicely in a suit as he accepted the street soldier award.

“Doing my thing on the charts is one thing, but to be honored on another avenue, it just feels like a blessing,” he told Newsday. “I’m keeping my head leveled and staying humble.”

His fellow honorees Swizz Beatz and John Legend were also dressed to impress in suits. Lil Mama sported blonde bangs as she joined Yo-Yo and Smooth in a tribute to her idol MC Lyte, who received the lifetime achievement award along with Doug E. Fresh.

Legend was on hand to accept the humanitarian award and spoke about hip-hop’s role in re-electing Obama.

“I think hip-hop had a role in making sure we elected a black president in America because we made it so that black people were in people’s homes through our music and through our culture,” he told Newsday. “I think it made Barack Obama and more people like him possible, so I’m really thankful for hip-hop and the role it plays in society.”

Meek Mill and Marsha Ambrosius also took the stage to perform. The British songstress entertained with “Butterflies” and “Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player),” joking that it was Obama’s favorite song.

Photo credit: Getty Images + Instagram

Posted in 2 Chainz, John Legend, Lil' Mama, Marsha Ambrosius, Meek Mill, Photos, Swizz Beatz | Permalink

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18 Comments

  1. mumi
    January 21st, 2013 at 8:39 am

    What the hell is Lil Mama doing there? Nobody cares about her.

    [Reply]

    #BEENTRILL Reply:
    January 21st, 2013 at 9:17 am

    @mumi,

    LIL MAMA LOOKS LIKE SHE’S ABOUT TO RUN A COUPLE WALLS WITH THAT WIG THO!!!

    [Reply]

  2. Yuperz
    January 21st, 2013 at 8:43 am

    Why is Lil Mamma there?

    [Reply]

  3. hIPSTER
    January 21st, 2013 at 8:57 am

    This inaugural ball lost cred as soon as I seen Lil Mama there

    [Reply]

  4. Yep
    January 21st, 2013 at 9:02 am

    Lil Mama? Out of everybody they could have picked smh

    [Reply]

  5. kate
    January 21st, 2013 at 9:04 am

    jadakiss is the best

    [Reply]

  6. kate
    January 21st, 2013 at 9:06 am

    why do people hate lil mama?????????

    [Reply]

  7. troof
    January 21st, 2013 at 9:39 am

    is my mind playing tricks or IS THAT FKIN LIL MAMA OVER THERE ?????
    ahaahahahahahah

    [Reply]

  8. Schwag
    January 21st, 2013 at 9:49 am

    lil mama could possibly get it, she lookin fit

    [Reply]

  9. A$AP
    January 21st, 2013 at 10:37 am

    fo real tho i seriously think that most of these rappers dont belong there.the things that they rap bout or represent.it’s such a shame.

    [Reply]

  10. Sharp Tongue
    January 21st, 2013 at 10:53 am

    This is what you call Hip-Hop I’ll pass, and why the fuck is “Little Boy Blue” there? A.K.A Lil Mama…

    [Reply]

  11. kim
    January 21st, 2013 at 12:10 pm

    You fools need to stop with the negative comments on lil mama. I mean really if that was people saying something crazy about riri or cassie you fools would be on the verge of a stroke. Why the negative comments, lil mama has been througg a lot in life and is chosing to live it positively, she was invited good for her, she has the same right to be there too

    [Reply]

  12. Rein1
    January 21st, 2013 at 12:24 pm

    Lil Mama is Sexy! Daymn!

    [Reply]

  13. Abamson smart
    January 21st, 2013 at 1:49 pm

    Wtf is u feLLas talkin shit bout LiL mama,she was invited buh didnt invite yuL.if yuL don’t lyk,den hug a transformer

    [Reply]

  14. 2 CHAINZ, JOHN LEGEND, MC LYTE, & SWIZZ BEATZ HONORED AT HIP-HOP INAUGURAL BALL | 97.9 The Box
    January 21st, 2013 at 3:23 pm

    [...] READ MORE: RAP-UP.COM Share [...]

  15. Karen
    January 21st, 2013 at 8:56 pm

    No, John Legend, it’s because of people like you who come into our homes and make such good impressions on us that the president is here. It is despite hip hop the president was reelected.

    [Reply]

  16. DntJudgehim
    January 22nd, 2013 at 7:18 pm

    I believe that this was a big joke, why because most of the rapper there dont speak about nothing than (Stripper,money,weed,booty)hip-hop
    is story telling inspiring others to be great in life …
    But none of the rapper who got awards or even performed raps about that (were the hell is Nas, Common, T.I., Andre 3k ,Etc) they deserve Awards

    [Reply]

  17. Prouy of Uk 2013
    January 22nd, 2013 at 9:57 pm

    everybodys Look Nice but what the hell is Lil Mama is wearing?

    [Reply]

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