LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dr. Dre will need to make room in his trophy case for another prestigious award.
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers said on Tuesday that Dr Dre will receive the first-ever ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award. He’ll be honoured at the organisation’s Rhythm & Soul Music Awards Celebration of 50 Years of Hip-Hop on Thursday in Los Angeles.
“Dr Dre’s groundbreaking early work laid a foundation for hip-hop as we know it today,” said Chairman of the Board and President at ASCAP Paul Williams. “As a champion for some of today’s biggest artists and a successful entrepreneur, he changed the culture around hip-hop.”
The honour Dre is receiving will be presented to ASCAP members whose musical contributions have made an “indelible impact” on the art and culture of hip-hop.
DJ Kid Capri and DJ Drama will provide music for Thursday’s event.
Dre, a seven-time Grammy winner, has produced big hits for Jay-Z, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Nas and 50 Cent. He won his first Emmy for last year’s Super Bowl halftime performance with Eminem, Mary J Blige, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent.
The prolific producer emerged from the West Coast gangster rap scene alongside Eazy-E and Ice Cube as part of the group NWA, which made a major mark in the hip-hop culture and music industry with controversial lyrics in the late 1980s.
Earlier this year, Dr Dre celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Chronic with a re-release of his highly acclaimed debut studio album. In 2010, he was honoured with the ASCAP’s Founders Award.
