The heartfelt performance, introduced by Ava DuVernay, began with the late rapper's friends and fellow musicians, Mill and Rich taking the stage to start off "Letter to Nipsey." With the assistance of a choir group wearing all white, DJ Khaled, Legend, YG and Franklin got the crowd up on their feet for their performance of "Higher" that played Hussle's verse of the song, while a video of him from the music video hovered from above the stage. They ended the performance collectively with a picture of Hussle and Kobe Bryant, who died Sunday morning, on the screen.