How to Watch ‘MTV Unplugged Presents: A Hip Hop 50th Celebration of Jersey’s Finest’ for Free

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

MTV Unplugged is back for a special toast to Queen Latifah, Wyclef Jean, Redman and other hip-hop legends from New Jersey. MTV Unplugged Presents: A Hip Hop 50th Celebration of Jersey’s Finest, premieres on Thursday (Dec. 14) at 9p.m. ET/PT.

Keep reading for ways for the most affordable ways to stream the special for free in the U.S. and globally.

How to Watch & Stream for Free

The MTV Unplugged special will air on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. If you miss the premiere, an encore presentation will air on Friday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. on BET and on VH1 on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m.

Viewers who don’t have cable can stream the special live with a free trial from DirecTV, Fubo or Philo. Streaming plans start at $25 for Philo and you’ll get access to 70+ cable channels. Fubo is currently on sale for just $20 first your first month.

DirecTV Stream plans start at $69.99/month for 75+ cable and local channels including MTV, BET and VH1, DVR storage and a free trial for the first five days. MTV is also available on Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV.

If you’d like to stream internationally, ExpressVPN unlocks access to a number of streaming platforms.

MTV Unplugged Presents: A Hip Hop 50th Celebration of Jersey’s Finest was taped at the historic Newark Symphony Hall in Newark, N.J. last month. The special will feature Redman, Jean, Queen Latifah, Naughty By Nature’s Treach, Poor Righteous Teachers, The Sugarhill Gang, Heather B, Lady Luck, Lords of the Underground and more.

Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere, Bruce Gillmer and Vanessa Whitewolf serve as executive producers. Emmy winner Adam Blackstone serves as musical director.

 The MTV Unplugged special closes out MTV’s celebration of hip hop’s 50th anniversary, which included an all-star tribute to close out the 2023 MTV VMAs and the documentary, Mixtape, featuring appearances from Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, Fat Joe, 2 Chainz, Big Boi, DJ Drama, Kid Capri, and KRS-One.