GR Hip-Hop Awards honor Wuzee, Affy, Huntchino, more-Local Spins

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Last weekend’s awards show hosted by Victor Williams, Jonathan Jelks, Willie the Kid & TECH TOGO also honored Ruben Martinez, Lady Ace Boogie, Push the City Cypher, Alfie Da Great & more. The recap.

Powerful Sets: Run Ru, at left, and Shadow The Sorce were among several impressive performances at the GR Hip-Hop Awards. (Photo/CertifiedQuisVisuals)

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Showcasing a culture ready to reach new heights, the 2025 Grand Rapids Hip-Hop Awards honored artists covering a lot of territory last weekend while also regaling a packed house at Wealthy Theatre with some electrifying performances.

The night’s big winners included Huntchino and Affy taking home separate artist of the year awards (with Huntchino also snagging “Next to Blow” honors), Sonny Ski winning Song of the Year and Video of the Year, Wuzee earning kudos for Lyricist of the Year and Album of the Year, and Gwopped Up Speedy earning respect with back-to-back recognition as Hustler of the Year and Live Performer of the Year.

Friday’s event also highlighted those shaping the region’s culture from behind the scenes, with Ruben Martinez recognized as music manager of the year, Lady Ace Boogie as hip-hop CEO/mogul of the year, and Camp Teo as promoter of the year.

Community-driven efforts were celebrated, too, with The Trauma Project honored for collaboration/partnership of the year, Push The City Cypher receiving the “Spirit of Hip Hop” award for their community building and amplifying, and 61syx Teknique Academy taking home the Breaking Barriers Award.

Award Winner: Sonny Ski on stage at Wealthy Theatre. (Photo/CertifiedQuisVisuals)

Hosted by Victor “Governor Slugwell” Williams, Jonathan Jelks, Willie The Kid and TEKH TOGO, the night also featured energetic performances from Sonny Ski, Alfie Da Great, A1 Loud Chief, Affy, Run Ru and Shadow The Sorce, with DJ Redd setting the tone through a diverse, crowd-pleasing set.

Williams thanked the audience for its support, emphasizing the significance of Grand Rapids hip hop, along with the vibrancy of its community that stresses collaboration above all else. The goal? Expand the reach of Grand Rapids’ hip-hop culture to new heights while honoring those who have spent decades cultivating its foundation across the city and the state.

He also premiered the trailer for the upcoming documentary “Live From The 616” which highlights the growth of Grand Rapids’ hip-hop scene over the past decade. The film is slated for release in fall 2026.

As the night carried on, host David Colbert kept the energy high with sharp comedy between award presentations, with each category reflecting the wide-ranging talent and hustle fueling the scene — from poets such as Antonio Taylor to entrepreneurs such as Designer Diamonds.

By the time it all closed out, it was clear that the awards were more than just recognition of individual talent: They were a snapshot of a culture thriving, evolving and preparing to grow to new levels.