Nas will receive the BMI Icon Award at the 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. Away from music, Nas has backed technology companies through QueensBridge Venture Partners, the venture capital firm he co-founded in 2014. In becoming a BMI Icon, Nas joins past recipients including James Brown, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne and Babyface. Babyface received the honor at the 2024 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, and Lil Wayne was named a BMI Icon at the 2023 edition. BMI represents the public performance rights in more than 25 million works from over 1.5 million songwriters, composers and publishers.