The Paid in Full Foundation is set to honor legendary rappers Kool G Rap, Grand Puba, Kool Rock Ski of The Fat Boys and Jalil Hutchins of WHODINI on Saturday (October 18) In Las Vegas.

Hip Hop Pioneer Roxanne Shante will host the honorary ceremony. The Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards serves as the foundation’s annual fundraising gala. The event celebrates hip-hop artists who have not received recognition equal to their contributions to art and culture. Expected attendees include Nas, Ludacris and Doug E. Fresh and more.

 

THE 2025 HONOREES INCLUDE:

Kool G Rap – (Nathaniel Thomas Wilson) is a legendary MC from Corona, Queens, New York, known for his complex multisyllabic rhymes, vivid street narratives, and influence on gangsta rap.

He emerged in the mid-1980s as part of the Juice Crew, a collective led by producer Marley Marl.

His collaborations with DJ Polo, particularly on albums like Road to the Riches (1989), Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990), and Live and Let Die (1992), set a new standard for hardcore lyricism.

G Rap’s storytelling, filled with crime-laced imagery and cinematic detail, heavily influenced artists like Nas, Big Pun, Jay-Z, and The Notorious B.I.G. He is often regarded an one of the greatest MCs of All-Time.

GRAND PUBA –  (Maxwell Dixon) is the legendary MC from New Rochelle, New York, known for his charismatic flow, smooth delivery, and conscious yet playful lyricism. He first gained recognition in the late 1980s as a member of the group Masters of Ceremony before becoming the frontman of Brand Nubian, a pioneering group steeped in Afrocentric and Five-Percenter-influenced Hip-Hop.

Brand Nubian’s 1990 debut album, One for All, was highly acclaimed for its socially conscious themes and jazzy production. Puba pursued a solo career, releasing Reel to Reel in 1992, which featured the hit “360° (What Goes Around)”.

His style blended humor, braggadocio, and knowledge, making him a respected figure in both underground and mainstream circles.

The Quincy Jones Award – George Clinton

George Clinton is the mastermind behind Parliament-Funkadelic (P-Funk) and one of the most influential figures in funk music history. Clinton started in doo-wop before revolutionizing Black music in the 1970s with his psychedelic, bass-heavy, and heavily conceptual brand of funk.

With Parliament and Funkadelic, he created a universe of outlandish characters, spacey themes, and infectious grooves, blending funk, rock, and soul into a unique sound. That sound became foundational in funk and later Hip-Hop, with his music being widely sampled by artists like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and OutKast.

Known for his wild costumes, deep musical innovation, and legendary stage performances, Clinton remains a major cultural force, helping to shape funk’s evolution into Hip-Hop and beyond.

The Contributor award will be given to Kool Rock Ski of the Fat Boys and Jalil Hutchins of Whodini.

Over the past several decades, Hip Hop music and culture rose from a local niche New York art form into a global phenomenon. In doing so, it has created countless careers, many fortunes, and, most importantly, gave hope and aspiration to a generation of young people.

Unfortunately, many of the most impactful original artists never received recognition proportional with their exceptional contributions to arts and culture. The Paid in Full Foundation aims to rectify that through its grantmaking program, by both honoring the people who built Hip Hop and enabling them to pursue their creative and intellectual pursuits for the benefit of society.

The annual Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards honors and celebrates transformational artists. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, October 18th, 2025, at The Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. All net proceeds raised from this event will directly support The Paid in Full Foundation’s mission to empower hip hop pioneers and other creatives.

Past honaries include Grandmaster Caz, Scarface, and Rakim.