00:00And we are back, and we are just minutes away from Missy Elliott taking the stage.
00:08It's been the moment that we've been waiting for.
00:11Right now, the moment that I've kind of been waiting for, I couldn't wait to have my brother,
00:16Chris, Mr. Luda, Lava Lava, whatever you, you almost got as many names as Puff now.
00:22You know, you need like one, two or more, and you're just right there.
00:24The longer you're in the industry, the more names that you have to have.
00:27So, nah, but this does feel good because we, you know, we're taking it back to the 106 days and all that good stuff.
00:32So, it's reminiscent on that.
00:34But, nah, it's a great night tonight.
00:36I'm just proud to be here.
00:3750 years of hip-hop.
00:39Essence is celebrating.
00:40We had to make sure that the South was heard tonight.
00:43Absolutely.
00:44And you definitely were heard tonight.
00:46It felt good up there.
00:47How did it feel for you, Chris?
00:48It's good.
00:48It's not often that, you know, we all get to perform together.
00:51Like, JD really curated something.
00:52He put everybody together.
00:53You had Gucci.
00:54You had Big Boy.
00:55You had Franchise Boys.
00:56You had Tiff.
00:57You had myself, Lil' John.
00:58To be able to do that and, like, you know, give people everything.
01:02And, of course, we were missing some Atlanta artists.
01:05But tonight, it was good enough.
01:07Hopefully, that's the start of doing more of that where everybody comes together and gives, you know,
01:11just a performance that people are going to remember for the rest of their lives.
01:15How did it feel, first of all, how did it feel coming out there tonight?
01:19Because you came out there and they went crazy.
01:20You, listen, you was operating like you was a young boy again.
01:24You were just going crazy.
01:25I'm still a young boy.
01:26What's up?
01:27You know what I'm just saying?
01:28How did they feel?
01:28He said, check my eye at all.
01:30You know what I'm just saying?
01:31No, it feels good.
01:32You know, I just, I literally just got off tour with Janet Jackson.
01:34So, I'm still in the halo phase of being on stage every single night.
01:39So, it felt great.
01:40But, of course, this was maybe three times the size of the crowds that we were doing.
01:45So, this being 50, what is it, 60,000 people in the Superdome, it feels amazing.
01:50That's the best word that I can give to you, man.
01:52Chris, celebrating 50 years of hip-hop, just for you, starting off as a radio personality first.
01:59And then transitioning to music, to acting and everything.
02:04For you, what does hip-hop mean for you in the longevity of your career?
02:07Man, it's the catalyst that started all of those other things that you just named.
02:12So, you know, me getting a call from John Singleton and him asking me to try out in Too Fast, Too Furious.
02:16And you saw where that went.
02:18So, it's just like, man, doing the music and just being able to creatively, you know,
02:24use this outlet to open up so many other doors in entertainment.
02:29Listen, hip-hop is life.
02:31Hip-hop is everything.
02:32And I'm just, it's funny that it's only 50 years old.
02:35You know, I just saw Ice-T perform.
02:37And, you know, this man is like 65 years old.
02:40And I say that with the most grace.
02:42Like, that proves to you and shows you how long you can be doing this.
02:46And he was up there going, like, going crazy.
02:48It was just good to watch that and Ice Cube and all the people that paved the way for myself.
02:52So, I can talk on and on about the 50 years of hip-hop.
02:55But I'm just proud to be a part of it and have a chapter in it.
02:59You know what I mean?
02:59That's how I feel.
03:00I really want to, from, I really just want to thank you for your contributions to hip-hop.
03:05Thank you, man.
03:05Because when you came in the game, you brought your individualism.
03:08And you left for splashes.
03:10When I see some of my favorite artists, like the baby now, I think about some of your creativities.
03:14The way you introduce these new ideals to videos.
03:18Right.
03:18You know, you wasn't playing, and then you just left an unbelievable mark, man.
03:22Bro, I couldn't have done that without people like Busta and, like, people like Missy and Redman.
03:27These were my heroes and still are my heroes.
03:29And, like I said, there's always somebody that paves the way.
03:32And then I got to do the same for those that come after me.
03:35So, again, man, just to be a part of this hip-hop is life.
03:38Well, let's talk a little bit about the woman of the hour, the birthday girl, Missy Elliott.
03:44Do you have a fond memory with Missy or, like, a funny story that you could tell?
03:48Yo, the memories with me and Missy, like, just being in the studio.
03:52And it's like she is the epitome of having fun in the studio.
03:55You never need to go to an after party.
03:57You never need to go do anything because studio time with Missy, everybody's enjoying themselves.
04:02And that's why she comes up with so much good music.
04:04And everybody being in the studio, I would say when I did One Minute Man, there are certain things I can't talk about.
04:10But let's just say that it was an experience that I'll cherish for the rest of my life because she's so much fun in the studio.
04:17Her and Snoop Dogg are the best people to be in the studio with for obvious reasons.
04:21For obvious reasons.
04:22Yeah.
04:22Listen, man, we thank you for being here, man.
04:25Stopping by because, you know, just to bless us, man.
04:27But tonight, you killed it.
04:29Oh, I appreciate that.
04:30You went in.
04:31I appreciate it.
04:31I thought you were going to bring the big speakers out there.
04:33You know, I only had like 10 minutes tonight.
04:36Otherwise, I'd have brought the sneakers.
04:37We were on a time limitation.
04:39But those sneakers are here to stay.
04:40Believe that.
04:41Wait.
04:41Wait.
04:42Who found those sneakers?
04:43They must have been custom made.
04:44I can't give you my sneakers.
04:45Oh, come on now.
04:46These are ludicrous secrets.
04:47I got to cherish these.
04:48I'm going to be like Ice-T, 65, wearing them big-ass sneakers on stage.
04:52You better believe it.
04:53Don't worry.
04:54I know who's connected.
04:55I know exactly who to ask for those type of things.
04:57Chris, it's so much fun to see you here.
04:59So much fun to see you at Essence.
05:01This is not your first Essence being around here.
05:03What does Essence mean to you?
05:05Man, listen.
05:06It means everything that we start trend-wise and how beautiful black is.
05:11And when we come together like this, I just think it reminds people of how powerful we are when we come together.
05:17And so now it's networking.
05:18There's so many different business things going on.
05:20And we're marketing to each other.
05:22And we're showing the possibilities.
05:24So to me, it means everything.
05:26It means everything of what the future needs to be.
05:28And we need to continue to collect and build.
05:31And while I was giving you your flowers, I got to give you your flowers, too, because you've always been the same across the board, no matter how huge your star is on the Hollywood Walk of Fame right now.
05:43We did just get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
05:44You did just get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
05:46It's such a beautiful thing.
05:47But thank you for always just being you and you know he was the one that made me try out for 106 Apart.
05:54If it was not for Ludacris, Roxy Diaz would not have made it all.
06:00Would not have tried out for 106 Apart.
06:02If it wasn't for Roxy's talent, that's what got you.
06:05I wouldn't have tried out, though.
06:07He was the one who was like, go on the audition.
06:09What are you doing?
06:09I didn't even know.
06:11So I owe him a lot.
06:12You got everything to gain.
06:13Nothing to lose.
06:14We all support each other.
06:16And that's what it's all about.
06:17You did amazing tonight.
06:18Thank you so much for even stopping by.
06:20Thank you, guys.
06:20Thank you for having me.
06:21I appreciate this.
06:21I appreciate you.
06:22And tonight has been, I mean, let me give you your flowers.
06:26First of all.
06:26Let's definitely give him his flowers.
06:28This man, this is his first time ever hosting live television for over five hours.
06:34Never read a teleprompter.
06:36And he has killed it.
06:38Walo, you were absolutely amazing tonight.
06:41Thank you so much, my friend, for sitting next to me.
06:43I appreciate you.
06:44That means more jobs to come, by the way.
06:46For real.
06:46But I want to give her props for training me beforehand and giving me to get it.
06:51She gave me a million dollars worth of hand.
06:52Walo, this is how you had it.
06:53This is going to be cool.
06:54Just be calm.
06:55So I want to salute you, Roxy, for just schooling me.
06:57You know, because this is your world.
06:58You're schooling me.
06:59I appreciate it.
06:59I had so much fun with you, Chris.
07:01I wouldn't want to end the show with nobody else but you.
07:04Tonight has been amazing because every performer left it all on the stage.
07:09Shout out to all of tonight's performers, including Coco Jones, Monica, our sister Monica, the West Coast All-Stars, the South got something to say.
07:18Yes, yes.
07:18One and only Jill Scott.
07:20And be sure you tune in tomorrow for the third and final night of Essence Fest Primetime, hosted by Big Tiddy and Pretty V.
07:29They are going to have so much fun tomorrow.
07:30Listen, they're also going to have Money Long, Angie Martinez, and the legendary women in hip-hop, Tim's Wiz Kids, and the headliner, Megan Thee Stallion, will be hitting the stage tomorrow night.
07:42That's right.
07:42They'll close out the weekend.
07:43I got to go take these shoes off so I'm sure that my knees and everything is working tomorrow for Megan Thee Stallion because I got to be.
07:48I got to come right with it, Chris.
07:50You're going to work.
07:51I ain't built like I used to be.
07:52I can't get down like that anymore.
07:54You had it tonight.
07:55All right, guys, right now we got to get ready because the Super Duper and Forever Fly.
08:00Actually, you know what, Chris, why don't you do us the honors and you introduce her on the stage?
08:05Listen, it's very hard, difficult to introduce this person.
08:08She is everything, man.
08:09We've done a lot of records together.
08:11So extremely talented, so creative.
08:14I'm talking about when you said unique, you're talking about I'm unique.
08:17This might be the most unique individual in hip-hop for many reasons.
08:20Visuals, her style, everything.
08:22I'm just going to give it up.
08:23Let's go.
08:24Missy Elliott is hitting the stage right now.
08:27Let's go.
08:28Good night, y'all.
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