Iconic Def Jam To Receive VH1 Hip Hop Honors Tribute

Celebrating its sixth year of saluting the best in Hip Hop, the 2009 VH1 Hip Hop Honors will take a turn and celebrate the accomplishments of Def Jam this October !

Set for October 13, the forthcoming Hip Hop Honors event will be hosted by comedian Tracy Morgan and mark the first time that the show has honored a record label.

"This year, the music, the influence and the artists from Def Jam's history past and present 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 this now global music phenomenon," a release from VH1 read Wednesday.

Since its launch nearly 25years ago, Def Jam has and is home to many of Hip Hop's leading artists and trendsetters including LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Kanye West, and Slick Rick.

However, the men behind the scenes are as legendary as its artists, including Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons, LA Reid and Jay Z. The Def Jam brand didn't just innovate in music, it also launched a breakthrough comedy show (Def Comedy Jam), a dynamic spoken-word showcase (Def Poetry Jam), and set trends in fashion, film and advertising. Def Jam led a cultural movement that changed the world.

"It is impossible to pay tribute to the best in hip hop without recognizing Def Jam Records. Throughout the years VH1 has honored numerous artists from the Def Jam label, but due to the magnificent impact that Def Jam as a company has made on not only hip hop culture but pop culture as a whole, we thought they definitely deserved the opportunity to be honored," says Lee Rolontz, EVP of Music Production.

The VH1 Hip Hop Honors 2009 will air Tuesday, October 13 at 9pm ET/PT.

Performers and presenters will be announced at a later date.

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