Hip Hop is coming home in a major way. Legendary rapper Nas and Resorts World New York City have announced a $2 million investment to help complete the construction of The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, set to open in 2026, according to Complex.
The news was revealed at the museum’s 2nd Annual Benefit Gala earlier this month, marking another monumental step toward creating a space dedicated to celebrating the global impact of Hip Hop.
“Building this Hip Hop Museum is something our culture has needed for a long time,” Nas said via statement. “It’s powerful to see a space being created to preserve that history and to educate and inspire the next generation. Being able to contribute alongside Resorts World to help bring this vision to life is an honor. This museum stands as a reminder of where we came from, and a celebration of everything Hip Hop continues to be.”
The museum, which will stand proudly in the Bronx, the birthplace of Hip Hop, will serve as a cultural epicenter for connection, creativity, and collaboration. Designed to be more than just an archive, the space will include a world-class performance center, an on-site HOT 97 studio, and rotating galleries, workshops, and community-driven programming.
According to the museum’s mission, it will “sit at the intersection between an appreciation of Hip Hop’s past and the need to always innovate and contribute something to its future.” It’s envisioned as a living, breathing tribute to the culture, welcoming casual fans and lifelong Hip Hop heads from every corner of the globe.
This latest announcement adds to a growing list of visionary projects from Nas, who continues to invest in New York’s future. He recently launched a “Legends” comic series with Marvel, honoring Hip Hop legends, and just last month, he won a proposal to build a $5.5 billion casino and entertainment complex in Queens with Resorts World Casino. This comes on the heels of his epic 50th anniversary celebration of the musical genre, spearheaded by Nas’ Mass Appeal brand a couple of years ago.
“The future is not something you wait for,” Nas said in the video announcing the partnership. “It’s something you build… We’re committed to Queens, and in Queens, the future is now.”
For The Hip Hop Museum’s co-founder and CEO, veteran entertainment exec Rocky Bucano, this is the fulfillment of a dream decades in the making. “What was all a dream becomes real in 2026,” the museum’s site reads. “Built in the Bronx, open to the world.”
As construction continues, anticipation is high for what promises to be the ultimate homecoming for a culture that has shaped generations. From the block parties of the Bronx to stages across the globe, Hip Hop will finally have a space built by the people, for the people, just as it should be.
“l’m extremely proud to contribute, alongside my @resortsworldnyc team, to support @thhmuseum and the incredible work Rocky and the squad are doing to build a permanent home for Hip Hop.
This is history in the making. Let’s preserve what built us. thhm.org/support,” Nas captioned a video announcing the donation on social media.
Cover photo: Nas & Resorts World Pledge $2 Million Toward Building of The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx/Photo credit: Complex