Entertainment
Nas Named Icon and Kendrick Lamar Honored as Top Songwriter at 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
The annual ceremony in Beverly Hills recognized top music creators, including producer O Lil Angel and publisher Sony Music Publishing.
The short version
- Rapper Nas received the BMI Icon honor, presented by previous recipient Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds.
- Kendrick Lamar was named R&B/hip-hop songwriter of the year for co-writing six top-performing tracks in 2025.
- The hit track 'Luther' won song of the year after spending 23 weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
- Producer O Lil Angel and Sony Music Publishing were among the evening's other primary honorees.
Key facts
- Nas received the BMI Icon award at the annual BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards held at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Beverly Hills.[Billboard]
- Kendrick Lamar was named R&B/hip-hop songwriter of the year for co-writing six of the 2025 calendar year's most-performed songs.[Billboard]
- The track 'Luther' was named R&B/hip-hop song of the year following a 23-week run at the top of Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[Billboard]
- O Lil Angel was selected as R&B/hip-hop producer of the year for work with artists such as Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR.[Billboard]
- Sony Music Publishing earned the publisher of the year distinction by representing 27 of the most-performed R&B and hip-hop songs of the past year.[Billboard]
- Rijah Banerjee received the inaugural BMI Foundation Babyface Award, a grant and mentorship initiative for emerging music creators.[Billboard]