Watch LL Cool J, Lil Dicky, Cedric the Entertainer, and More Open Emmys With Biz Markie Tribute

Cedric the Entertainer made his Emmy hosting gig official with a tribute to one of the best in the biz. 

When the 73rd annual Emmys kicked off Sunday night, with a limited number of guests in attendance at the Event Deck at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, Cedric jumped right into things with some help from a few famous friends. 

Honoring late hip-hop giant Biz Markie, who died at the age of 57 back in July, Cedric and some notable rappers-turned-actors broke into Biz’s classic “Just a Friend” to open the ceremony. Cedric was joined by Lil Dicky—who has been celebrating the success of his show Dave—LL Cool J, and actress Rita Wilson, who spit a few memorable bars back in 2020 at the start of lockdown. 

The performance featured a few freestyles with the song’s classic chorus and lyrics, twisted to make it a proper Emmy moment, as Cedric sang “Oh TV, you, you got what I need” Other nominees and attendees joined in, too, taking their turn at the camera while at their seats. 

If you’re not keeping up with the ceremony, check out our list of 2021 Emmy winners here.