Nas will receive the BMI Icon Award at the 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, honouring his songwriting achievements and lasting influence on hip-hop. The private ceremony takes place in Los Angeles on 26 August, hosted by BMI's Mike O'Neill, Mike Steinberg and Catherine Brewton, and will also recognise the songwriters, producers and publishers behind the past year's 35 most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs from BMI's catalogue of more than 25 million works.

Born Nasir Jones in Queensbridge, New York, Nas released his acclaimed debut album Illmatic in 1994 and has since put out 17 studio albums, selling more than 35 million records and earning 17 Grammy nominations, including a win for Best Rap Album with King's Disease in 2021. Beyond music, he co-founded QueensBridge Venture Partners, an early backer of firms including Coinbase and Robinhood, and co-owns Mass Appeal, the media company and label part-owned by Universal Music Group. He joins previous BMI Icon recipients such as James Brown, Janet Jackson, Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne.