Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB), the nation’s premier showcase for Historically Black College and University marching bands, today revealed the full lineup of participating schools and announced that multi-hyphenate entertainer and entrepreneur Nick Cannon will serve as the celebrity host for the event’s first-ever West Coast show on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The full HBOB 2025 lineup includes:
Alabama A&M University – Marching Maroon and White Band
Alabama State University – Mighty Marching Hornets
Hampton University – The Marching Force
North Carolina A&T University – Blue and Gold Marching Machine
Southern University – Human Jukebox Marching Band
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff – Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South
Honda will provide an institutional grant to each of the six schools for their respective music education programs and support the bands’ travel expenses to the Invitational Showcase in Los Angeles.
All 52 bands that participated in the voting process will also be awarded an HBOB Legacy Grant from Honda. “Honda is thrilled to continue our longstanding support of the HBCU community through HBOB, which is a core part of our Drive the Legacy initiative,” said Jasmine Cockfield, the project leader for Honda Battle of the Bands at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We congratulate each of this year’s participating HBCU bands and are confident that they will put on a memorable show for HBOB fans that promises to be a showcase for the ages.”
Honda has supported HBCUs for over 35 years, recognizing their critical role in providing higher education and opportunities for advancement to the Black community.
This support includes scholarships, programming, and initiatives that celebrate the dreams and potential of HBCU students and help shape them into future leaders.
Through HBOB and the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, Honda has awarded over $14 million in grants to support HBCU education programs and facility improvements, impacting the lives of more than 300,000 students.
Courtesy: Honda
