Nas received the top honour at the 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards in recognition of his prolific songwriting and influence on hip-hop and beyond.
The rapper took the BMI Icon Award at last night's ceremony, held at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California.
The private event was hosted by BMI CEO Mike O’Neill, BMI EVP & chief revenue & creative officer Mike Steinberg and BMI VP, creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.
“Nas didn’t just raise the bar, he reset it," said Steinberg. "For what hip-hop could be. For what songwriting could accomplish. For how deeply an artist could observe, think and write.”
Following a performance by Evelyn “Champagne” King, 2024 BMI Icon Babyface took to the stage to praise Nas for being “a pioneer, trailblazer and a true icon”. “He’s not an ordinary rapper. He’s a poet and a philosopher,” he added.
Every one of the artists who were appreciated tonight, I appreciate you more
Nas
In his acceptance speech, Nas said: “Staring at records on wax, I saw the three letters, BMI. No matter the legends I was listening to, I saw BMI. Never in a million years did I think I would be partners with BMI. It just shows you that the things you dream about could really happen.
“Every one of the artists who were appreciated tonight, I appreciate you more. I’m going to stream you more because your genius inspires me, and your genius inspires the whole globe.”
Nas joins past BMI Icon Award recipients including James Brown, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, LA Reid, Nile Rodgers, Snoop Dogg, The Jacksons, Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne.
Meanwhile, the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter Of The Year went to Kendrick Lamar for co-writing six of the previous year’s most performed songs, including 30 For 30, Hey Now, Peekaboo, Squabble Up, TV Off and the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year, Luther, with BMI co-writers Matthew “MTech” Bernard, Atia “INK” Boggs, Sam Dew, Roselilah (BUMA), Mark “Sounwave” Spears and SZA.
Elsewhere, O Lil Angel was named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Producer Of The Year, with D’Mile, Michael “Finatik” Mulé and Isaac “Zac” De Boni of FNZ, and Jahaan Sweet also named top producers during the ceremony.
Sony Music Publishing was named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Publisher of the Year for representing 27 of the previous year’s most-performed songs.
BMI also recognised the producers and songwriters of the previous year’s 35 Most-Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in the US, which featured 63 first-time winners.
The organisation also remembered the late Drake and Travis Scott producer Tay Keith, who died in June. His family came onstage to accept his 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter Of The Year award on his behalf, which was announced at last year’s event.
Before the 2026 ceremony, the inaugural BMI Foundation Babyface Award – a competitive grant and mentorship programme – was presented to Jersey City-based songwriter and producer Rijah Banerjee.
PHOTO: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI
