Jay-Z, Megan Thee Stallion and T.I. Honored at the EBONY Power 100 Gala

The stories we shape — that was the theme, and the room matched it. EBONY’s 2026 Power 100 Gala took over the Hollywood Palladium on Monday night, November 9, and hip hop was not a guest at this table. It was the table.

Music Innovator honors went to Jay-Z, Megan Thee Stallion and T.I. — the mogul who turned rap into a boardroom language, the Houston superstar carrying the current era’s commercial crown, and the Atlanta trap pioneer who helped build the sound the world now runs on.

Common and Vic Mensa were recognized as Community Crusaders; Questlove was named an Entertainment Powerhouse.

Kirk Franklin opened the night, and T.I. doubled his presence with the closing performance — honoree and headliner in the same evening.

Gala stories can read like press releases, so here is the plain version: EBONY has been documenting Black excellence for generations, its Power 100 is one of the culture’s standing honors, and this year’s list put hip hop’s architects and its current rulers in the same frame.

HipHopStories salutes the honorees. Full photo coverage from the night is in the gallery coverage linked from our socials — and yes, Megan’s look is in there.