The Paid in Full Foundation hosted its third annual Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards celebration on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the prestigious Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. This year's fundraising gala honored hip hop legends Kool G Rap and Grand Puba with the esteemed Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards, recognizing their significant contributions to the culture. In a moment of profound gratitude after accepting his award, Grand Puba exclaimed, “Amazing! This was the BET, VH1 and the Grammy Awards all rolled into one. It’s the biggest honor I could have ever imagined.”

The 2025 event also marked the introduction of two new distinguished accolades. The inaugural Quincy Jones Award was presented to funk icon George Clinton, while the Contributor Award honored pioneers Kool Rock Ski of the Fat Boys and Jalil Hutchins of Whodini, further expanding the recognition of influential figures across music genres impacting hip hop.

The gala, a vibrant convergence of music artists and celebrities, was expertly hosted by Roxanne Shanté, a 2025 Grammy Lifetime Achievement honoree and a recipient of the 2024 Hip Hop Grandmaster Award. Shanté encapsulated the essence of the evening with a descriptive rhyme: “A night of fun with family and friends. Dancing and singing from beginning to end. You can’t stay in your seat, every moment on stage is a hip hop treat. The smiles, the energy, the room filled with cheer. It was an honor to host. I can’t wait until next year. That’s the Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards.” The star-studded guest list included notable personalities such as Dr. Dre, Nas, Ludacris, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Gayle King, Fab 5 Freddy, Rakim, Scarface, Kool Moe Dee, L.A. Reid, Chris Tucker, and Doug E. Fresh.

The Paid in Full Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2022 by Ben and Felicia Horowitz and based in Las Vegas, continues its mission of supporting hip hop pioneers. Doug E. Fresh, a prominent attendee, highlighted the immense importance of the annual awards show in an email to Billboard. He revealed, “I turned down a major HBCU Homecoming show this weekend because the Paid in Full Grandmaster Awards are that important. You clear your calendar for something this powerful that it should be televised.” He further emphasized the event's unique quality: “In my nearly 45 years in the music business, I’ve never seen an awards show with this much class, integrity and genuine love for hip hop pioneers.”

Doug E. Fresh lauded the Horowitzes for establishing a formal structure for recognition and support that previously fell to individuals. He explained, “Before the Paid in Full Foundation, supporting fellow pioneers was something that naturally fell to those of us who have had the ability to assist. Now, thanks to what Ben and Felicia Horowitz have formed, more pioneers can get the proper recognition and support they deserve — not just to live, but to continue creating beautiful art. To whom much is given, much is required; that’s why I will always show up.” This sentiment underscores the foundation’s critical role in ensuring that the architects of hip hop receive ongoing recognition and resources to continue their legacy.