Home / Arts and Entertainment / HBCU Honors Celebrates Trailblazers: Kool G Rap, Grand Puba, and More Honored
HBCU Honors Celebrates Trailblazers: Kool G Rap, Grand Puba, and More Honored
5 Nov
Summary
- Hip-hop legends Kool G Rap and Grand Puba honored at Paid in Full gala
- Artist David Banner, Pastor Shirley Caesar, and entrepreneur Janice Bryant Howroyd to be saluted
- HBCU Honors implementing new initiatives to discover and develop next-gen creative talent
On November 30, 2025, the third annual HBCU Honors celebration will take place, with BET returning as the presenting partner. The event will honor several trailblazers, including hip-hop legends Kool G Rap and Grand Puba, who will be recognized for their influential careers.
The gala will also salute artist David Banner, an alumnus of Southern University, with the Cultural Impact Award. Pastor Shirley "The First Lady of Gospel" Caesar, a Shaw University graduate, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her six-decade career and numerous accolades. Additionally, Janice Bryant Howroyd, founder and CEO of The ActOne Group and an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University, will be presented with the Visionary Founder Award.
This year, HBCU Honors is implementing two new initiatives to discover and develop the next generation of creative talent. The HBCU Honors Rising Star National Talent Search will give HBCU students the chance to perform live on the HBCU Honors stage, with a panel of industry experts serving as judges. The HBCU Honors Media Futures Fellowship is a workforce development and mentorship program for students from various HBCUs.
The event, which will be taped at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., will be hosted by Emmy-nominated actress, comedian, and podcaster Kym Whitley, a Fisk University alumna.
