Homecoming, an event that is mostly known for celebrating a collective return of university alumni, who return to their respective alma maters seeking to recapture their wonder years. While that tradition certainly holds true on most college campuses, Historically Black Colleges and Universities do things just a little differently. In particular, Howard University is known for taking their celebration to another level.

Some of the best and brightest in film, television, music, politics, sports, and more flock to Washington D.C. in astounding numbers just to enjoy a weekend of black excellence the biggest, flyest, flashiest, most TURNT up series of events the fall has ever seen.

Notorious B.I.G, Jay Z, Kanye West, Chaka Khan, Columbus Short, Tyrese, AJ Calloway, Lance Gross, Lala, Terrence J, Taraji P. Henson and even our very own Karen Civil–no one can ever resist being involved with HU’s homecoming.

This year, festivities run from Oct. 22 through Oct. 27, featuring yet another long list of heavy hitters: Juicy J, ASAP Ferg, Big Sean, Brandy, Erykah Badu and John Legend just to name a few. But before Bison from all around hit The Yard, here are the top five biggest moments in HU Homecoming history.

1. Bad Boy featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Diddy shut down Yardfest

Foxy Brown, Biz Markie, Howard alum Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and the late Notorious B.I.G. in a two minute video clip? Legendary. Not to mention this particular performance was also re-enacted for Notorious, the biopic executive produced by Mr. Combs in 2009.

2. Cam’ron Reportedly Gets Robbed and Shot on New York Ave.

‘Twas the shot heard around the world. Literally. On Oct. 22, 2005, after pulling up 30 deep at one of the former DC hotspots, H2O, for Diddy’s annual homecoming party, Cam’ron, the Dipset family and security were all turned away. As the story goes, Cam hopped in his royal blue Lamborghini and hit the DC streets, but as Killa pulled up to a light in the intersection of New York and New Jersey avenues, draped in over $200,000 in jewelry and diamonds, two men pulled up alongside the Lambo and fired off rounds, hitting Cam three times in both arms.

3. Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick Drop Knowledge for the Young and Old

A true homecoming celebration wouldn’t be appropriate without bringing the old and the new together on the same stage. In 2010, The Show, better known as Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, hit the stage to not only perform all their classics but to educate the crowd on what it was like to get a party popping back in ’85. Watching the original beatbox king hit is Dougie on stage during “Lodi Dodi” will never get old.

4. Wale Films “Nike Boots” Video with Bun B

DMV native Wale is no stranger to HU homecoming celebrations. From the earlier days in his career until now, he often references the campus as a place where he spent most of his years trying to break into the music business. Keeping that spirit, Mr. Folarin, along with Trill pioneer Bun B and renowned director Chris Robinson, hit the Yardfest stage in 2007 to film a video to one of Wale’s first big singles to kick off his rising career.

5. 2 Chainz Brings Out  Pusha T and Drake, Causes Pandemonium

By now, you can see that HU is no slouch when it comes to putting on a show. But last year may have been, by far, the most historic moment in recent homecoming books, when 2 Chainz hit the stage to rock the crowd for about a 45-minute set. Although the crowd was already on a high from hits like “Turn Up” and “Bands,” the B.O.A.T.S. rapper surprised a crowd of nearly 20,000 with Pusha T and Drake.

Later, Reggae/Dancehall legend Beenie Man took the crowd on a trip to the islands performing all his hits from past to present. Shortly after, MMG’s own Meek Mill performed in the pouring rain for a faithful crowd that braved the storm just enough for T.I. to come out and made a memorable experience.