Roxanne Shanté was honored with the Hip-Hop Grandmaster Award in Las Vegas Nevada earlier this week alongside Grandmaster Caz and Kool Moe Dee.
Sponsored by the Paid In Full Foundation, founded by Ben and Felicia Horowitz in 2022, the awards carried on the organization's mission of rewarding "transformational Hip-Hop artists who have not received economic rewards proportional to their exceptional contributions to art and culture."
The Hip-Hop Grandmaster Award includes a financial stipend for the recipients in an effort to "empower the artists to further their creative and artistic endeavors.”
The Paid In Full Foundation shared a clip of Shanté accepting the award as Doug E. Fresh performed into the mic. The caption read: "One word: EPIC. Last night, Roxanne Shante closed out the @PaidInFullFoundation Hip Hop Grandmaster Gala with a surprise freestyle that took us all back! As Doug E. Fresh laid down the beat, Roxanne brought the house down, reminding us all why she’s a legend in the game.
"Moments like these are what the Hip Hop Grandmaster Gala is all about—celebrating the pioneers who paved the way and continue to inspire generations. Roxanne and Doug E. Fresh delivered a legendary moment we’ll never forget."
Nas, who was also in attendance and part of the Paid In Full Foundation's Advisory Board, shared several photos of the event to Instagram. He wrote: The 2nd @paidinfullfoundation Grand Master Awards Congratulates pioneers Roxanne Shante, Grand Master Caz and Kool Moe Dee! These innovators were at times uncredited , slept on and if not for them there would be no us in Hip Hop. They changed the World. We thank you. Thanks to The Horowitz’s, and many other’s who helped make this possible."
The honorees for the inaugural Hip-Hop Grandmaster Awards were Rakim and Geto Boys' Scarface. Read more about the Paid In Full Foundation here.
