Legend Award
Earlier this year the GRAMMY-winning, international music icon T-Pain released his acclaimed covers album On Top Of The Covers via Nappy Boy Entertainment which features an eclectic and unexpected mix of reimagined hits. His recently released song, “Baby Got Brap,” is the first musical collaboration with his Nappy Boy Motorsports President, Hert. T-Pain won the first season of FOX’s The Masked Singer after stunning audiences with his soulful, non-Auto-Tuned voice. He boasts one of the most-watched NPR Tiny Desk sessions of all time. He also recently released "People (Libianca T-Mix)," his re-working of “People” by Libianca”.
This summer, T-Pain embarked on his Escape from Wiscansin: The Invasion tour, kicking it off with his 2nd Annual Wiscansin Fest on the eve of “T-Pain Day” in the state of Wisconsin, featuring performances by T-Pain, Chance The Rapper, Tobi Lou, and many more. Since emerging in 2004, six-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist, producer, and songwriter T-Pain (born Faheem Rashad Najm) has not only changed the course of pop, hip-hop, and R&B, but has reshaped the fabric of the culture itself. T-Pain has sold over 50 million singles, accumulated billions of streams, racked up 10 iconic #1s on the Billboard Hot 100, and has sold out shows across multiple continents. The Tallahassee trailblazer’s influence transcends generations in music and more; he shines as a Twitch phenomenon and uber popular streamer, label head of his own independent Nappy Boy Entertainment and Nappy Boy Automotive, podcast host, expert drift driver, actor, and author.
Spirit of Soul Award
Janelle Monáe is without question one of the most celebrated artists of the modern era, a 10x GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer, songwriter, producer, performer, and fashion icon known worldwide for her inimitable style and visionary sound. With multiple celebrated albums, THE ARCHANDROID (2010), THE ELECTRIC LADY (2013), DIRTY COMPUTER (2018), and THE AGE OF PLEASURE (2023), numerous critically-acclaimed theatrical and television performances, and her unwavering activism for social justice and the LGBTQIA+ community, Monáe continues to be one of the most compelling and important artists of this generation.