Hip-Hop pioneer Dr. Dre is being honoured by ASCAP – the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers – with their inaugural Hip-Hop Icon Award as a part of the Rhythm and Soul Music Awards Celebration of 50 Years of Hip-Hop in Los Angeles on June 22.
ASCAP president and chairman of the board Paul Williams spoke on Dr Dre saying, “Dr. Dre’s groundbreaking early work laid a foundation for hip-hop as we know it today. As a champion for some of today’s biggest artists and a successful entrepreneur, he changed the culture around Hip-Hop.”
In future the Hip-Hop Icon Award will be presented to the person who has “made an “indelible impact” on the art and culture of hip-hop” with their music.
Dre came onto to the emerging rap music scene as a part of the west coast group N.W.A.; along with Eazy-E and Ice Cube. He has since filled his trophy case with seven Grammy Awards, an Emmy for his Super Bowl halftime performance with Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Lamar and 50 Cent, and has an ASCAP Founder’s Award.
Over the course of his career he has worked with numerous musical artists including Jay-Z, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, and 50 Cent.
The musical entertainment for the gala event will be provided by DJ Kid Capri and DJ Drama.
Feature photo credit: Dr. Dre, backstage at Pussycat Dolls in Los Angeles