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Nas to receive BMI Icon Award at the 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
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.
In short
- Nas named BMI Icon Award recipient for 2026 hip-hop awards
- Ceremony held in Los Angeles on 26 August
- Recognises his Illmatic legacy, 35m record sales and Grammy win
Explained simply
Nas is one of hip-hop's most established artists, with a career stretching back three decades. His debut album Illmatic, released in 1994, became hugely influential in the genre, and he has gone on to release 17 studio albums selling over 35 million copies worldwide. Beyond music, he has also worked as an investor in major companies and co-owns a media label.
The BMI Icon Award is one of the music industry's highest honours, celebrating artists who have made significant and lasting contributions to popular music through their songwriting and creative work. BMI is a performing rights organisation that represents millions of musical compositions, and the Icon Award recognises lifetime achievement in the industry. Previous recipients include James Brown, Janet Jackson, Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne.