Honda Battle Of The Bands Spotlighted HBCU Band Culture

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Honda Battle Of The Bands (HBOB), an annual event by the automotive brand, puts a necessary spotlight on historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and their rich band culture. CASSIUS was on hand to witness Honda Battle Of The Bands’ first West Coast stop at SoFi Stadium in California, highlighting Honda’s deep commitment to HBCUs and diversity.

The Honda team graciously hosted several media professionals at the beautiful Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, and just before the HBOB, we were privileged to test drive the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid, the winner of the 2025 North American Car of the Year award. During our drive in the Sport Touring model through the rolling hills of Rancho Palos Verdes, the 2025 Honda Civic handled like a dream and exceeded our expectations of what the vehicle could deliver.

While considered an entry point to the wide array of Honda vehicles, our time with the Civic revealed to us that hybrids can be just as zippy and fun to drive as some of Honda’s higher-end offerings. Now equipped with a two-motor hybrid powertrain and delivering 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft. of torque, the acceleration in the Civic was responsive.

Considering that many are trying to find day-to-day savings, drivers can expect up to a 50-mpg city rating in the Sedan Sport and Sport Touring models. Premium touches like the auto-dimming rearview mirror, a handy 9-in. touchscreen display, and seamless integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the additional bells and whistles added to the overall pleasant nature of our first drive. And if our short time with the Civic was any indication, it won’t be a mystery if this continues to be the top-selling compact car in the continent for years to come.

After the drive, we had the pleasure of visiting the sprawling American Honda Motor headquarters in Torrance, Calif., and were greeted by retired Honda employees who graciously gave their time to show off vintage rides from the company’s collection of historic vehicles. Not surprisingly, the team of Honda historians spoke fondly of the brand, but the sincerity with which they did so confirmed that the company truly has invested in every facet of the company from the top execs down to the line workers.

As if there weren’t enough behind-the-wheel thrills, we also got to briefly test-drive the 2024 Honda Prologue, the brand’s first all-electric SUV. We didn’t take this vehicle on the road and instead drove around the American Honda campus at the proper speed, but even then, the car’s luxury feel and exceptional handling were on display.

We then visited the American Honda Collection Hall, which showcased the company’s development over the decades and included not only its cars but its motorcycle lineup as well. The hall was the location of a pre-HBOB reception and celebration, and it was invigorating to see so many high-ranking HBCU officials gathered in one place, which affirmed that Honda will continue to invest in their houses of education for years to come.

On February 1, the first day of Black History Month, we arrived at SoFi stadium for a brief Q&A with Nick Cannon, headliner GloRilla, and HBOB Jasmine Cockfield. Cockfield opened the session up by illustrating how Honda Battle Of The Bands is more than just a showcase for the bands. For more than 35 years, Cockfield shared that Honda awarded each of the HBCU bands a $50,000 grant to continue to develop their music programs, along with $500,000 to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. By way of the grant, those funds will be placed in scholarships for student musicians across the nation.

CASSIUS asked Nick Cannon his thoughts about HBCU band culture, considering his time at Howard University, and how the “battle” culture that he’s uniquely familiar with worked in concert with the HBOB.

“You’ve seen Drumline, so all of that comes from the field of edutainment, as we say,” Cannon explained. “It’s about attempting to be the very best you can be. Anybody who has ever picked up an instrument, especially in this space, knows it about being the best you can be every time.

He continued, “Some of these marching band directors have instilled in these young people that it’s all about excellence, and they take that with them when they’re no longer in the marching bands. And in that spirit of striving for excellence, I’m not competing with you, I’m competing with me.”

The HBOB officially kicked off with sounds provided by DJ R-Tistic, an alum of famed HBCU Florida A&M University. As R-Tistic warmed up the SoFi crowd, we saw the behind-the-scenes prep from the bands and their undeniable focus.

As SoFi Stadium filled with the proud supporting family members and friends of the bands, there were also curious young minds and HBCU alumnus aglow with pride and perhaps going back to their days of halftime performances. As Cannon said earlier in the press conference, halftime is game time, and the participating bands certainly delivered.

Below is a listing of all the bands who joined this year’s talented field of Honda’s Battle Of The Bands:

TheAlabama A&M University, Marching Maroon & White Band

Alabama State University, Mighty Marching Hornets

Hampton University, The Marching Force

North Carolina A&T State University, The Blue and Gold Marching Machine

Southern University, Human Jukebox

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South

After the bands put on a breathtaking display of marching band performances, GloRilla hit the field and delivered a crowd-pleasing set that proved she’s truly a legitimate superstar.

In the images above and the gallery below, we’re sharing footage from the 2025 HBOB, and we thank Honda for not only promoting Black excellence but marching band culture and education as well.

Learn more about the 2025 Honda Civic here.

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Photo: Honda/D.L. Chandler/@the_honda