Dr. Dre will be presented with the first-ever Hip-Hop Icon Award at the ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards 50th Anniversary Hip-Hop Celebration.
The 58-year-old music and tech mogul can be credited as a trailblazer in the genre.
ASCAP Chairman and President Paul Williams commented: Dre’s early, groundbreaking work laid the foundation for hip-hop as we know it today.
“As an advocate for today’s great artists and a successful entrepreneur, he changed the culture around hip-hop. And we are thrilled to recognize him with the inaugural ASCAP Hip Hop Icon Awards.”
Former co-founder and co-owner of Death Row Records, he began his career as a member of the World Class Wreckin’ Crew in 1985 before rising to fame with gangsta rap group NWA. In 2010, he received ASCAP’s Founder’s Award.
Dre co-founded Beats Electronics with Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine and is known as a pioneer of the hip-hop subgenre of West Coast G-funk.
West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg became Death Row’s new owner last year.
The 51-year-old star shot to fame after appearing on Dre’s seminal 1992 LP, The Chronic. Snoop was released on the legendary label, with which Snoop signed and released his debut album, Doggystyle, in 1998. later.
Dre will be honored at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Thursday (June 23).
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