Nas walked away with the BMI Icon Award on August 26 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, but the moment that had people talking was how he got there.
Babyface, the man Nas described as “the greatest writer since Smokey Robinson,” was the one who handed him the award, and the Queensbridge rapper made sure everyone in the room understood what that meant to him personally.
In his acceptance speech, Nas went somewhere unexpected, pulling from his teenage years on the streets rather than his rap resume. When I bought my first .22 caliber gun illegally, Babyface’s music was playing religiously,” he told the crowd, adding that kids in his neighborhood would literally fight over Babyface cassette tapes.
It was a raw, specific kind of tribute, the sort of thing you can’t script, and it landed differently because of it.
Nas also reflected on what BMI meant to him long before he ever thought of himself as a songwriter. He recalled staring at record labels as a kid and always seeing those three letters, never imagining he would one day be in business with the organization.
“Never in a million years did I think I would be partners with BMI,” he said. “It just shows you that the things you dream about could really happen.”
Before he took the stage, the room was already buzzing. Evelyn “Champagne” King performed “I’m In Love” and “Love Come Down,” both of which were sampled on the 1997 Nas and Capone-N-Noreaga collab “Calm Down,” giving the tribute a live, full-circle energy.
Large Professor followed with a DJ set running through Nas’ catalog, and by the time the man himself walked up, the crowd was well and truly warmed up.
The night was not just about Nas, though. Kendrick Lamar picked up BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year for co-writing six of the previous year’s most performed songs, including “squabble up,” “tv off,” and “peekaboo.”
Lamar also shared the R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year honor for “luther,” which he co-wrote alongside SZA, Mark “Sounwave” Spears, Sam Dew, and several other BMI writers.
Producer O Lil Angel took home R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year, credited on tracks across Drake’s recent run of projects including Habibti, Made of Honour, and Iceman, as well as hits like “Spider-Man Superman” and “Somebody Loves Me.” D’Mile, Finatik and Zac of FNZ, and Jahaan Sweet were also recognized as top producers during the ceremony.
One of the more sobering moments of the night came when the family of the late Tay Keith accepted the 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year award on his behalf.
It was a quiet but heavy reminder of what the genre lost, placed right in the middle of an evening otherwise full of celebration.
Performances came from Sinners star Miles Caton, who played his song “Lean On,” alongside sets from Tone Stith, Tiana Major9, Real Boston Richey, and Belly Gang Kushington with YKNiece.
Sony Music Publishing was named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Publisher of the Year, representing 27 of the previous year’s most-performed songs.
Nas closed his speech by turning to the other artists honored that night, saying, “Every one of the artists who were appreciated tonight, I appreciate you more.”
For someone who grew up watching BMI credits roll on records he could barely afford, the room at Fairmont Century Plaza on Tuesday night was a long way from Queensbridge, and he seemed to know it.
