Pioneering rapper Dr. Dre Thursday evening received the inaugural Hip-Hop Icon Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in recognition of his impact on the genre, industry and culture of hip-hop.
"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," ASCAP board chairman and President Paul Williams said in a statement before ASCAP's Rhythm"Dre continues to be a pivotal figure in the music industry and we are thrilled to recognize him with the inaugural ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award as we mark 50 years of hip-hop.
Dre and Jimmy Iovine created Beats Electronics in 2008, and in 2013, they helped establish the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation. The also partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District to create the Iovine and Young Center Integrated Design, Technology and Entrepreneurship Magnet.