Nas Named BMI Icon at the 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
Nas was celebrated for his legendary songwriting and transformative influence on the genre when he received the prestigious BMI Icon Award at the 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
On August 26 at Beverly Hills’ Fairmont Century Plaza, industry leaders gathered to honor the Queensbridge lyricist for his 30-plus-year career.
Nas joins James Brown, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, LA Reid, Nile Rodgers, Snoop Dogg, The Jacksons, Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, Babyface and more as recipients of the prestigious honor.
BABYFACE PRESENTS NAS WITH THE BMI AWARD
Presented the award by Babyface, Nas delivered a heartfelt speech on his childhood dreams and the music that shaped him.
“When I bought my first .22 caliber gun illegally, Babyface’s music was playing religiously. The rap albums were great, but Babyface’s music was hustler music,” Nas recalled. “We would fight over Babyface [cassette] tapes. This is fact. You got us through it. This is more than anything I could’ve ever imagined. That Babyface, Kenneth Edmonds, the greatest writer since Smokey Robinson, said my name. Thank you. I appreciate you, my King. You still look 17. God bless you. “
“Staring at records on wax, I saw the three letters: B-M-I. 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,” Nas continued. “It just shows you that the things you dream about could really happen.”
Paul Anka also earned the BMI Icon Award for his 70-year songwriting legacy. Taylor Swift (her third consecutive win) and Sabrina Carpenter shared Pop Songwriter of the Year, while Kendrick Lamar’s “luther” (feat. SZA) took Pop Song of the Year. Sony Music Publishing was named Publisher of the Year with 24 of the most-performed tracks