Last night, ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, presented its inaugural ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award to music industry legend Dr. Dre, at a private party on the rooftop of the London West Hollywood. The award was presented by rap star Snoop Dogg.
Dr. Dre was honored for his musical contributions that have made an indelible impact on the art and culture of hip-hop. He is an eight-time Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. His groundbreaking solo debut album, The Chronic, has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA, reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 and won a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance (“Let Me Ride”). As head of Aftermath Entertainment, Dre discovered hip-hop superstars such as 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak and Eminem. He went on to establish Beats Electronics in 2008, and later Beats Music, both acquired by Apple in 2014.
Celebrities in attendance included hip-hop luminaries, platinum-selling rapper Snoop Dogg, and hip-hop veteran Big Daddy Kane. Other notable attendees included singer-songwriter Varren Wade, Grammy Award-winning producer Warryn Campbell and gospel superstar Erica Campbell, Grammy Award-winning songwriter and artist Joelle James, Chicago legend George Daniels, television industry maverick Mona Scott-Young, Grammy-nominated rapper Wale, songwriter artist Muni Long, ASCAP President Paul Williams, ASCAP Senior Vice President of Membership and Executive Director of The ASCAP Foundation Nicole George-Middleton, genre-blending artist TT The Artist, songwriter Denisia “Blu June” Andrews, multi-award-winning artist Malik Yusef, North America Warner Chappell Music Publishing President Ryan Press, rising New York hip-hop artist Scar Lip, and recording artist Apollo Liberace. Music was provided by Grammy Award-winning DJ Kid Capri.
