Tonight in Las Vegas: Kurtis Blow and The D.O.C. Take Center Stage at the 2026 Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards

Tonight, Saturday, October 24, 2026, the Paid In Full Foundation hosts its fourth annual Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards gala at the Tower Ballroom inside the Bellagio in Las Vegas. This year's Grandmaster honorees are Kurtis Blow and The D.O.C., two MCs whose work helped carry hip-hop from its early days to a global culture.

The night also honors two more foundational figures: Nile Rodgers receives the Quincy Jones Achievement Award, and Ralph McDaniels receives the Contributor Award.

What sets this gala apart is that the honor comes with real support. The foundation pairs public recognition with financial backing for pioneers and other creatives, and net proceeds from the gala go toward supporting the honorees and other artists working on new projects — recognition for people whose influence has not always brought matching financial rewards.

Kurtis Blow's place in history is built on firsts. He was the first commercially successful rapper and the first rapper signed to a major record label, joining Mercury Records in 1979. His 1980 single 'The Breaks' became the first gold-certified rap song, proving that rap records could move units on a national scale.

The D.O.C. represents a different, equally vital chapter. His 1989 debut album, 'No One Can Do It Better,' released through Ruthless Records, went platinum. And his songwriting for N.W.A. and Dr. Dre extended his reach far beyond his own records, helping shape the West Coast sound that defined an era.

Nile Rodgers' connection to hip-hop runs through the music itself. His work with Chic, including 'Good Times,' provided the musical foundation for the Sugarhill Gang's 'Rapper's Delight,' linking his playing directly to rap's early commercial breakthrough.

Ralph McDaniels gave the culture a home on television. His show 'Video Music Box,' which began in 1983, introduced hip-hop performances and videos to audiences when mainstream coverage of the genre was still limited. New York City's media office has credited McDaniels with helping advance artists including LL Cool J and JAY-Z, and he has worked on digitizing the show's archive so those performances can reach new viewers.

Last year's Bellagio class shows the standard this gala sets: Kool G Rap, Grand Puba, Kool Rock Ski, Jalil Hutchins and George Clinton were honored, with Rakim joining Clinton onstage. Tonight, the flowers — and the support behind them — go to Kurtis Blow and The D.O.C. while they are here to enjoy them.

Sources: AllHipHop's report on the gala | IAMHIPHOPMAG's preview | DJ League's awards preview