Building Hip Hop’s Forever Home: The Hip-Hop Museum’s 2025 Black Tie Benefit Gala

Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Ciprani Wall Street, Manhattan — The Hip-Hop Museum’s 2025 Annual Black Tie Gala, held on October 15, 2025, at Cipriani Wall Street, gathered the architects, innovators, and next-generation leaders of hip-hop for an unforgettable night celebrating the genre’s enduring legacy and limitless future.

A Night of Legacy, Luxury, and Cultural Celebration

Presented under the theme “Building Hip-Hop’s Forever Home,” the star-studded evening honored trailblazers whose work has shaped the culture from its Bronx beginnings to its global resonance.

The gala also marked a defining milestone on the road to the museum’s highly anticipated grand opening in Fall 2026—a world-class, 55,000-square-foot cultural institution dedicated to celebrating, preserving, and inspiring hip-hop’s global story.

Hosted by Hip-Hop Royalty: Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker

The prestigious event was hosted by Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker, the Grammy-nominated rapper, actress, and educator best known for her empowering 1991 anthem “You Can’t Play with My Yo-Yo.” Mentored by Ice Cube, Yo-Yo rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one of the first female MCs to champion self-respect and sisterhood in hip-hop.

Beyond her music, Yo-Yo continues to impact culture through her nonprofit, the Yo-Yo School of Hip-Hop, which mentors youth in performance, leadership, and music education. Her warmth, wit, and commanding presence grounded the night in authenticity—bridging the golden era with hip-hop’s ever-evolving future.

“Yo-Yo embodied the spirit of the night—graceful, grounded, and forever hip-hop.”

Honorees & Awards: Celebrating the Culture’s Architects

Hosted in partnership with Hot 97 as the official media sponsor, the gala spotlighted artists, activists, scholars, and philanthropists whose work continues to define and advance the culture.

• Andre Harrell, founder of Uptown Records and former CEO of Motown Records – Legacy Award (posthumous)
• Slick Rick – Hip-Hop Legend & Storytelling Vanguard Award
• Fat Joe – People’s Champ Vanguard Award
• Sal Abbatiello, founder & CEO of Fever Enterprises – All the Way Up Award
• Adam & Mindy Silverstein – One Love Philanthropy Award
• The Hon. Carl Heastie, Speaker of the NY State Assembly – Changemaker Award
• Dr. Michael Eric Dyson – Hip-Hop Scholar Award
• Golnar Khosrowshahi, founder & CEO of Reservoir Media – Trailblazer Award
• Elizabeth Vélez, president of The Vélez Organization – Foundation to the Roof Award
• La Reezy – Next Up Award 

A Defining Moment: Nas & Mass Appeal Pledge $1 Million

One of the evening’s defining highlights came when rapper, entrepreneur, and cultural philanthropist Nasir Jones (Nas) announced that both he and his label, Mass Appeal, would be donating $1 million to the Hip-Hop Museum.

The generous contribution underscores Nas’s lifelong commitment to preserving the culture that shaped him—furthering the museum’s mission to create a permanent home for hip-hop’s history, art, and innovation.

“This moment reminded everyone that hip-hop’s greatest investors are its own architects.”

Performances & Highlights: A Celebration of Sound

The gala featured electrifying performances by DJ Cassidy, surprise guest appearances, and a moving tribute to Andre Harrell, whose visionary leadership helped define the sound and soul of modern urban music.

“This gala celebrates not only the legends who built hip-hop but the leaders carrying its spirit forward,” said Rocky Bucano, CEO of The Hip-Hop Museum. “If your business touches the culture, this is the moment to invest in the home that safeguards its history and empowers its future.”

Confirmed Attendees: Icons & Innovators Unite

The guest list read like a who’s who of hip-hop excellence, included Big Daddy Kane, Jim Jones, Zeddy Will, Maino, 2 Chainz, Kurtis Blow, Kid Capri, Havoc, Yolanda ‘Yo-Yo’ Whitaker, DJ Cassidy, Kool DJ Red Alert, Slick Rick, Fat Joe, Sal Abbatiello, Adam & Mindy Silverstein, The Hon. Carl Heastie, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Golnar Khosrowshahi, Elizabeth Vélez, Smack White, Eric Beasley, Pretty Lou, Wé Ani, Sainted, Peter Gunz, Rayyy Rayyy, Da Youngstas, Iman Nunez, Rsonist, Paradise Gray (Co-Curator, The Hip-Hop Museum), Prime Minister Pete Nice (Co-Curator, The Hip-Hop Museum), Ruben Diaz Jr. (Chairman of the Board), La Reezy, Susan Taylor, Kim Osorio, Mike McArthur, Yale ‘Henny the Barber’ Hansen, and Rocky Bucano himself—alongside a vibrant mix of artists, executives, and cultural influencers. 

Also in attendance was Locksmith, a lyricist closely connected with Fat Joe, whose craft embodies the lyrical integrity of hip-hop’s golden era. Rising artist Rome Streetz, of Griselda Records and newly signed to Mass Appeal, expressed his admiration for icons like MF DOOM, Nas, and Wu-Tang Clan, reflecting the night’s intergenerational spirit. Journalist Swaggy Sie—known as The Voice of Now—and TT Torrez of Hot 97, who co-hosted portions of the evening, added contemporary voices and journalistic flair to the celebration.

Sponsors & Support: Investing in the Future

Sponsors for the 2025 gala included Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Proskauer Rose LLP, Reservoir Media, and MediaCo’s Hot 97.

“Hot 97 was shaped by hip-hop and everything we do is rooted in that culture,” said Albert Rodriguez, President and CEO of MediaCo. “Supporting the Hip-Hop Museum and its Forever Home is our way of honoring the pioneers, celebrating the icons, and inspiring the next generation.” 

Proceeds from the event will benefit the museum’s mission to construct Hip-Hop’s Forever Home—a permanent institution in the Bronx that merges traditional exhibits with immersive, interactive experiences. Visitors will explore rare artifacts, digital installations, and live performances designed to reflect the kinetic energy of hip-hop itself.

Legacy & Impact: A Home for the Culture

As the night came to a close, one truth reverberated through Cipriani’s golden hall: hip-hop is more than music—it’s a movement, a language, and now, a home built to last forever.