The Bluff City was the center of the hip hop world Sunday, August 17, as the first People’s Hip Hop Awards Experience made its debut at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts. The highly anticipated event drew fans from across the region and brought together some of the culture’s most recognizable names for a night of music, movement and history.
Actor Omar Gooding hosted the awards, guiding the crowd through a lineup that showcased Memphis’ talent and its influence on hip hop culture. On the red carpet, Big Boogie, La Chat, and Diamond from Crime Mob stopped to speak with media and fans, all echoing the same message that Memphis is one of the genre’s most important cities and continues to raise the bar for what hip hop can be.
Inside, the stage was alive with nonstop energy. The Memphis Jookers delivered a set that blended dance with rhythm, while Kinfolk Thugs hit the stage with a raw, authentic performance that had the audience moving in unison. The Eastside Boyz kept the energy sky-high, turning the Cannon Center into a full-on party.
One of the evening’s most emotional moments came during a heartfelt tribute to the late Gangsta Boo, a pioneering member of Three 6 Mafia whose influence on hip hop continues to resonate. Her best friend and fellow group member La Chat honored her legacy with a powerful performance that had the audience cheering and tearing up at the same time.
“I’m very happy to be here,” La Chat said following the tribute. “It feels like my career just started all over again.”
The show also paused to honor another trailblazer: Mia X, the groundbreaking first lady of No Limit Records, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Sharing the stage with her protégé Silkk the Shocker, Mia X reflected on her journey and the state of hip hop today.
“Hip hop is constantly growing, constantly evolving — especially when you’re talking about the transitions of women in this genre,” she told The Tri-State Defender. “Artists like La Chat and GloRilla are just a few that come out of Memphis that’ve definitely changed the game, and I’m happy to be a part of this celebration.”
Her words drew cheers from the audience, many of whom had grown up listening to her music. The award presentation and the tribute to Gangsta Boo stood as reminders that hip hop’s future is deeply rooted in the legacies of its past.
The People’s Hip Hop Awards Experience made clear from its very first year that it is more than just another award show. By centering on fans — the people — it created an atmosphere where artists and audiences celebrated side by side. Organizers say the event will return, aiming to grow into one of the country’s premier hip hop gatherings.
For Memphis, the night was more than entertainment. It was validation of the city’s longstanding contributions to the culture, and a signal that its role in shaping the sound of hip hop is far from finished.
