Kool G Rap, Grand Puba Among Legends Being Honored At 3rd Grandmaster Awards

Four pioneering Hip-Hop artists will receive long-overdue recognition at the third annual Hip-Hop Grandmaster Awards on October 18 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

The Paid in Full Foundation will honor legendary rappers Kool G Rap and Grand Puba with their top awards. Kool Rock Ski of The Fat Boys and Jalil Hutchins of WHODINI will receive the Contributor Award, while George Clinton of Parliament-Funkadelic will receive the Quincy Jones Award.

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Recipient Roxanne Shante will host the ceremonies. Expected attendees include Nas, Ludacris and Doug E. Fresh. 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.

"The award includes a financial stipend for the honorees and is intended to empower the artists to further their creative and artistic endeavors," according to the foundation.

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Kool G Rap, born Nathaniel Thomas Wilson, is considered one of hip-hop's most skilled lyricists. The Corona, Queens native pioneered mafioso rap in the mid-1980s as part of Marley Marl's Juice Crew collective. His complex rhyme schemes influenced countless rappers over several releases with DJ Polo and his solo work.

Grand Puba, whose real name is Maxwell Dixon, first gained attention with Masters of Ceremony in the late 1980s. He later found success with Brand Nubian in the early 1990s. Puba's clever wordplay and unique delivery style made him a standout performer. He also earned recognition as a fashion innovator in hip-hop culture.

The inaugural Contributor Award celebrates artists whose talents helped expand hip-hop's reach and expression. Additionally, George Clinton will receive the inaugural Quincy Jones Award, which honors individuals who provided hip-hop's building blocks.

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The Paid in Full Foundation launched its awards program in 2023. The organization focuses on giving hip-hop's originators their deserved recognition and financial support.

Previous honorees have included other hip-hop legends who helped shape the genre during its formative years. The foundation's work addresses a long-standing issue in hip-hop: many pioneering artists never received proper compensation for their groundbreaking contributions.

The Las Vegas ceremony represents the foundation's commitment to celebrating Hip-Hop's rich history while supporting its creators.





























via: https://allhiphop.com/news/kool-g-rap-grand-puba-among-legends-being-honored-at-3rd-grandmaster-awards/