Next Sunday (Jan. 26), a league of artists will gather on the Grammys stage to pay tribute to Nipsey Hussle. The late rapper is once again nominated for a Grammy Award, this time for his Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy collaborated “Racks in the Middle” as well as for his posthumous verse in DJ Khaled and John Legend’s “Higher.”
According to Vibe, the tribute will feature appearances by YG, DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch, John Legend and Kirk Franklin. In a press release, executive producer Ken Ehrlich said it was a unanimous decision to honor Nipsey during the awards ceremony.
“An activist, entrepreneur and rapper, Nipsey Hussle had a lasting impact on not just his community, but also the culture at large,” Ehrlich’s statement read. “There is no denying the influence he had and his legacy will be felt for generations to come. We are honored to bring together this amazing group of artists to celebrate Nipsey’s life and pay tribute to his many contributions to music. It’s sure to be a memorable performance.”
“I knew it was special out the gate,” Khaled said of the pair’s Grammy-nominated “Higher,” accordion to ABC News. “Working with Nipsey Hussle was special. I told Nipsey that God willing, we will get nominated for a Grammy … I spoke that into existence. We both felt the same. We knew making this record was Grammy-worthy.”
Last year, Nipsey’s Victory Lap was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 61st Annual Grammys.
“It’s bittersweet because he’s not here to physically receive it or to see it, but I know because of the type of man he was and how hard he worked, that it is a positive addition to his legacy,” Lauren London told the outlet. “I’m just proud of him. It’s not the happiest time of my life, but I know… what he wanted his message to be and it’s beautiful to watch that [it’s] still alive and strong.”
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday (Jan. 26).