VH1 Sets Date for 5th Annual 'VH1 Hip Hop Honors'

Annual Must-See VH1 Salute to Hip Hop Pioneers Slated to Tape Thursday, October 2 at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom

NEW YORK, June 23 -- With just days until its star-studded "VH1 Rock Honors" concert event saluting The Who, VH1 has announced the upcoming date for its next A-List tentpole event the "VH1 Hip Hop Honors."

Now in its fifth year, "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" will once again pay tribute to the hip hop luminaries who broke new ground and propelled the genre into a truly global phenomenon. VH1 will fete this year's honorees at a high-energy event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York taping Thursday, October 2, 2008 and premiering on VH1 on Tuesday, October 7.

The music and influence of each of the honorees, to be named later this summer, 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.

Last year's show was hosted by Tracy Morgan and honored A Tribe Called Quest, Snoop Dogg, WHODINI, Missy Elliott, the film Wild Style and Teddy Riley and Andre Harrell for New Jack Swing. The star-studded 2007 edition also featured performances by the honorees, along with appearances by Ciara, Eve, Pharrell Williams, The Game, T.I., Timbaland, Bow Wow, Busta Rhymes, Common, T-Pain, Keyshia Cole and Nick Cannon as well as Chris Rock, Harvey Keitel, LL Cool J, Kerry Washington and Diddy. Salt -N- Pepa, Nelly Furtado, Ne-Yo, KRS-One The Teacha, Jermaine Dupri, Grandmaster Caz, Nelly, Mos Def, Kool Moe Dee, Grand Wizzard Theodore and The Chief Rocker Busy Bee.

"As we'll remind viewers with our upcoming 'VH1 Rock Honors' show saluting The Who, VH1's on-air tentpole events represent the best of music and pop culture entertainment. We work tirelessly and passionately to attract the biggest stars in the industry, create must-see buzz and engage record numbers of viewers," said Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President and General Manager, VH1.

"Our 'VH1 Hip Hop Honors' has grown into one of the most anticipated events in the hip hop community, drawing legends from back-in-the-day to the hottest stars of the genre today. This fifth edition will reflect the true power of hip hop while promising to deliver our best Hip Hop Honors show yet," he added.

In addition, VH1 announced today that it will televise the Broadcast Film Critics Association's 14th annual "Critics Choice Awards" gala live on Thursday, January 9, 2009 from the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

This coming July 12, VH1 will tape its 3rd annual "VH1 Rock Honors," celebrating the legacy of the legendary band The Who. This year's event, from the Pauley Pavillion on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles, will deliver a night of high-voltage tribute performances by Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters and The Flaming Lips all leading up to the spectacular grand finale performance by The Who as they rock the stage.

Once again, VH1 will expand elements of both shows online at VH1.com and on VH1 Mobile. Exclusive video footage from the event will include celebrity interviews, "behind-the-scenes" footage and more. Additional multiplatform plans will be announced closer to the event.

"VH1 Hip Hop Honors" is executive produced by Lee Rolontz for VH1 and Jac Benson for blacjac Entertainment Group. Louis J. Horvitz will direct. Nelson George and Fab 5 Freddy are co-executive producers.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.