Woop-woop, that’s the sound of a lifetime achievement honor! Make that two.
Late last week, President Joe Biden honored hip-hop pioneers KRS-One and Kurtis Blow with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Hip-Hop Museum in Washington, D.C.
According to AllHipHop, 300 guests attended a ceremony at the RIAA headquarters, where the Rev. Dr. George Holmes delivered a rousing speech in celebration of the two icons. “There are two ways for a leader to go through life: as a thermometer or as a thermostat,” Holmes declared. “The thermometer merely measures the climate, but the thermostat sets the tone and creates it. That’s who you are, KRS-One and Kurtis Blow.”
In the absence of a physical appearance from President Biden, a letter from the White House addressed to the two hip-hop pillars was read.
“As it is with Kurtis Blow, as it is with you, America’s story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us,” read the note. “On behalf of the American people, President Biden extends his heartfelt appreciation to you for your volunteer leadership, and he encourages you to continue to answer the call to serve. The country is still counting on you.”
In addition the groundbreaking careers and contributions to American music and culture, KRS-One and Kurtis Blow were also honored for their commitment to community service and leadership.
The honors come less than a year after hip-hop celebrated its 50th anniversary, with 2023 boasting a bevy of specials celebrating hip-hop’s history, including A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop, to which KRS-One turned down a personal invite from LL Cool J.
“I was asked about two months ago; they asked me to do it and I turned them down,” he told Harold St. Louis. “And reason being is because I know people don’t understand this — and I say this respectfully. KRS-One is a Hip Hop extremist. I’m not violent, a violent extremist. I’m insane with this culture. I know I must have lost my mind in this.”
Kurtis Blow also did not attend the telecast, but he, like KRS-One, celebrated Hip-Hop 50 with other institutions.
KRS-One has earned three career entries on the Billboard Hot 100: 1994’s “Sound of da Police” (No. 89), 1995’s “MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know” (No. 57) and 1997’s “Step Into a World (Rapper’s Delight)” (No. 70). On the Billboard 200, he’s notched eight entries, including his sole top 10 title, 1997’s I Got Next (No. 3).
Kurtis Blow landed a pair of Hot 100 hits over the course of his career: 1980’s “The Breaks (Part I)” (No. 87) and 1985’s “Basketball” (No. 71). He has also sent six titles onto the Billboard 200, reaching as high as No. 71 with his eponymous 1980 LP.
Click here to watch a clip of the ceremony.
