VH1’s Hip Hop Honors celebrated a formidable group of women last night in a show aptly themed “All Hail the Queens.” Eve hosted the event, the first in six years, which paid tribute to Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, Lil’ Kim, DJ Spinderella, and Salt-N-Pepa.
Several guests addressed last week’s deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile on the red carpet: Rapper DeJ Loaf wore a green STOP KILLING US jacket, while Johnny Ray Gill sat on his knees in a STOP POLICE BRUTALITY tee, as if he’d been arrested. Inside, Black Lives Matter organizers Alicia Garza and Darnell Moore opened the show, while Latifah, Common, and other presenters spoke out against racism and the recent violence.
“If I go outside and try to hail a cab, and he passes me for the white woman, that racism is still alive and kicking,” Latifah said. “And we need to change that. And I’m not blaming the white lady, she needed a cab too. … I’m just saying we need to change this attitude.”
Michelle Obama appeared in a video tribute. Models like Jessica White walked a runway show of Lil’ Kim’s looks. Keke Palmer, Lil Mama, Ashanti, Faith Evans, Trina, Remy Ma, and more artists performed. Click ahead to see the best looks from the night, from Lil’ Kim’s adorable 2-year-old on the red carpet to Eve’s glittering jumpsuit.