Roland has announced that Prince Paul will receive the 2026 Roland Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing a career that reshaped hip-hop production, musical storytelling, and the creative use of music technology. The award will be presented during The NAMM Show 2026 on Friday, January 23, at 4:30 p.m. from Roland’s booth in Room 202, Level 2.
The Roland Lifetime Achievement Award honors artists whose creative impact and long-term influence have helped define modern music, often through close relationships with Roland instruments and production tools. Prince Paul’s work has been central to expanding the artistic vocabulary of hip-hop, helping move the genre beyond early conventions through inventive rhythm programming, narrative structure, and musical range.
Redefining Hip-Hop Production and Storytelling
Prince Paul first emerged in the late 1980s as the DJ and primary producer for Stetsasonic, where he played a key role in advancing hip-hop’s musical complexity. He later helped define an era through his groundbreaking production work with De La Soul, crafting albums that blended humor, experimentation, and emotional depth while earning Grammy recognition and long-term critical acclaim.
His career also includes co-founding influential groups such as Gravediggaz and Handsome Boy Modeling School, alongside solo releases, film and television composition, and collaborations across music and media. Across these projects, Prince Paul developed a distinctive production identity rooted in rhythmic precision and creative sound design.
Roland instruments played a foundational role in that evolution, particularly the TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines, which helped define the swing, weight, and sonic character of his productions. His early experiences programming Roland gear shaped a workflow centered on immediacy, experimentation, and musical feel, elements that continue to influence producers across genres.
A Legacy Intertwined With Music Technology
Prince Paul joins a distinguished list of previous Roland Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, including Gary Numan, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jean-Michel Jarre, DJ Pierre, Omar Hakim, and Nick Rhodes. The annual award reflects Roland’s ongoing commitment to honoring artists whose creative legacies align with the evolution of music technology.
In addition to Prince Paul, Roland’s family of brands will recognize several other artists during NAMM 2026. BOSS will honor Adam Granduciel of The War on Drugs, Drum Workshop will recognize drummer Josh Freese, and Latin Percussion will honor Santana percussionist Karl Perazzo. All awards will be presented during the same ceremony on January 23.
By honoring Prince Paul, Roland highlights a career defined by innovation, adaptability, and creative independence, reinforcing the lasting connection between forward-thinking artists and the tools that help shape modern music.
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