“Hip Hop has always reflected the culture of New York City, from its emergence in the Bronx to Queens’ own, Nas,” said Kevin Jones, Chief Legal and Chief Strategy Officer at Resorts World New York City. “We are so excited to support the opening of The Hip Hop Museum as a tribute to where Hip Hop has come from as well as where it is headed. Resorts World New York City believes in our cultural institutions, which make this city so special, and are proud to be their partner.”

“Building this Hip Hop Museum is something our culture has needed for a long time,” said Nas. “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.”

“Receiving this generous $2 million donation from Nas and Resorts World at our benefit gala was a major highlight of the evening,” said CEO and Founder of The Hip Hop Museum, Rocky Bucano. “His generosity supports our capital campaign, and brings us closer to opening our doors in 2026. Nas is leading by example which inspires others to preserve Hip Hop’s global legacy, and to help us celebrate and protect this powerful culture.”

For photos and videos of the announcement, click here.

The Hip Hop Museum is the global rhythmic epicenter for connection, collaboration, community and creativity on all things Hip Hop culture. The museum will fittingly make its home in The Bronx, where Hip Hop first emerged more than 50 years ago. Its mission is to sit at the intersection between an appreciation of Hip Hop’s past and the need to always innovate and contribute something to its future.

The museum is slated to open in 2026, when Resorts World New York City has said it can also open as an expanded casino. On Tuesday, Resorts World New York City submitted its supplemental bid to the Gaming Facility Location Board that promised a total investment of $7.5 billion and approximately 100,000 jobs. Included in that sum is $2 billion in community support that includes:

• $750 million toward the construction of up to 50,000 units of workforce housing across New York City
• $750 million toward the Resorts World Innovation Campus, which will be anchored by a sports and media complex developed by Kenny “The Jet” Smith
• $300 million toward the debt and equity raise for the Innovation Campus Community Investment Fund
• $150 million to expand the long-running RW Gives philanthropic program
• $50 million in upfront seed capital for the Innovation Campus Community Investment Fund

New Yorkers from Staten Island to Long Island will also benefit from the economic activity Resorts World New York City seeks to generate. With a commercial casino license in hand, the company projects it will pay up to $18.8 billion in state and local taxes over the first 10 years of expanded operations. Those funds will support the MTA – including $600 million upfront in its proposed license fee – as well as the state education system, which has already received more than $4.5 billion from Resorts World New York City – solidifying it as New York’s biggest taxpayer.

Resorts World has also sought to ensure its success was shared with its neighbors. RW Gives, which launched in 2011 as the company’s philanthropic arm, has invested more than $10 million into more than 300 cultural, community, and educational groups across New York State. This program will only grow with Resorts World New York City’s expansion, at a rate of $5 million annually for the next 30 years.

Source: Resorts World