Dr. Dre, the renowned rapper and producer, is set to receive the first-ever ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award, according to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. The award will be presented to ASCAP members whose contributions have made an "indelible impact" on hip-hop culture and art. Dr. Dre is widely regarded as one of hip-hop's pioneers, having produced big hits for a host of artists, including Jay-Z, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Nas and 50 Cent. He has also won seven Grammy Awards and an Emmy for his work in the music industry.
Paul Williams, ASCAP's chairman of the board and president, praised Dr. Dre's contributions to the genre, stating that his "groundbreaking early work laid a foundation for hip-hop as we know it today." Williams also highlighted Dr. Dre's role in changing the culture surrounding hip-hop, adding that he is a "champion for some of today's biggest artists and a successful entrepreneur."
The award will be presented at the Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Celebration of 50 Years of Hip-Hop on June 22 in Los Angeles, where DJ Kid Capri and DJ Drama will provide the music. Dr. Dre was also honored with ASCAP's Founders Award in 2010, and earlier this year, he celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut studio album, "The Chronic," with a re-release. Dr. Dre emerged from the West Coast gangster rap scene as part of the group N.W.A. in the late 1980s, alongside Eazy-E and Ice Cube, and has since made a significant mark in the music industry.