
October 18, 2025
The Hip-Hop Museum held a Black Tie Gala to boost cash for the group and to honor choose Hip-Hop figures.
Because the Hip-Hop Museum readies to launch in 2026, Rocky Bucano, the CEO of the upcoming homage to Hip-Hop, held a fundraiser/gala that additionally doubled as an occasion to honor a number of esteemed people concerned within the style of Hip-Hop.
The Black Tie occasion occurred at Cipriani Wall Avenue in New York Metropolis Oct. 15, as many followers of the style, artists, executives, and supporters gathered to have fun the honorees of the evening. The people who had been celebrated included Slick Rick, Fats Joe, Kool DJ Pink Alert, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Sal Abbatiello, La Reezy, Golnar Khosrowshahi, Adam & Mindy Silverstein, Carl Heastie, and Andre Harrell (posthumously).

The gala occurred with the anticipation of the Hip-Hop Museum’s opening, which is slated to occur in a few 12 months, with an October 2026 date pending.
The occasion started with the sounds of classic hip-hop from way back to the ’80s, with the choice reminding those that had been round on the inception of the style of how the sounds of the town had been earlier than the commercialization of Hip-Hop. As attendees vibed to the music and folks had been bumping into different hip-hop heads they could not have seen shortly, the environment was good, with no trace of “bougieness” from the eclectic and numerous crowd.

Luminaries of the tradition had been in attendance, like Massive Daddy Kane, Christopher Williams, Jeff Redd, Father MC, DJ Cassidy, Peter Gunz, The D.O.C., Kim Osorio, Reuben Diaz, Jr., Doug E. Contemporary, Nelson George, Mr. Cheeks (Misplaced Boyz), Grandmaster Caz (The Chilly Crush Brothers), Prime Minister Pete Good (third Bass), Paradise Grey (X-Clan), and so many others that everybody can’t be listed. A number of of the aforementioned artists grabbed the mic in celebration of the style.

When Yo-Yo took the stage to start out her duties as host of the occasion, the gang was already pumped as much as proceed to have fun the power of hip-hop. With a number of performers dancing and singing earlier than Yo-Yo’s entrance, the joy for the awards ceremony had reached a peak, just like the principle act at a live performance about to take the stage.
In fact, being that this was additionally a fundraiser, calls had been made for attendees to donate to assist with the development, improvement, and every thing related to the Hip-Hop Museum. Evidently, one in all Queens’ favorites and arguably, the borough’s greatest, or at the very least, most considerate lyricists, Nasir Jones, AKA Nas, who was in attendance, stepped up and knowledgeable the gang that he was so moved by what he had already witnessed that he pledged $1 million to the museum.
As each honoree was offered to the viewers as they acquired their awards, the electrical power continued late into the evening, even happening for at the very least an hour previous the scheduled finish time. As a result of Hip-Hop power expressed all through the viewers, it felt just like the evening would by no means finish.

Kool DJ Pink Alert’s look and recognition for all he has executed for the tradition weren’t misplaced on him.
“This 12 months’s gala was subsequent stage because it reached greater & greater, resulting in the official opening of The Hip Hop Museum in 2026. I’m humbly honored to be acknowledged for my ardour for this tradition we name Hip-Hop! Thanks for receiving this award!”
The World’s Biggest Entertainer, Doug E. Contemporary, was ecstatic to current his pal and rhyming associate, Slick Rick, along with his honor, as he additionally hosted the performances on that evening, particularly for the performers who repped Uptown Information for Andre Harrell.

“It was an evening to recollect! So many buddies and so many nice recollections! And most of all, very honored to present Slick Rick his award and to honor the reminiscence and legacy of Mr. Andre Harrell and Uptown Information! This museum goes to show individuals issues about hip hop they by no means knew!!”
With the promise of the subsequent gala being held on the accomplished museum, the anticipation of one of many best issues to occur to Hip-Hop seems like it’ll surpass no matter expectations the tradition has as we look ahead to the opening within the Bronx, residence of Hip-Hop.
Honorees and the awards they acquired on the gala:
●Andre Harrell—Founding father of Uptown Information & Former CEO of Motown Information, Legacy Award (Posthumous)
●Slick Rick— Hip Hop Legend & Storytelling Pioneer, Storytelling Vanguard Award
●Fats Joe— Leisure Icon & Entrepreneur, Individuals’s Champ Vanguard Award
●Sal Abbatiello— Founder & CEO, Fever Enterprises, All of the Method Up Award
●Adam & Mindy Silverstein— Philanthropists, One Love Philanthropy Award
● The Honorable Carl Heastie— Speaker, New York State Meeting, Changemaker Award
●Dr. Michael Eric Dyson— Writer, Professor, and Cultural Critic, Hip Hop Scholar Award
● Golnar Khosrowshahi— Founder & CEO, Reservoir, Blaze the Path Award
●Elizabeth Velez— President, The Velez Group, Basis to the Roof Award
●LaReezy— Artist & Cultural Voice, Subsequent Up Award
●Kool DJ Pink Alert- Legendary Hip Hop Deejay, Sound of the Tradition Award
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