As a proper lead-in to the 60th annual Grammy Awards in New York, the mayor’s office of NYC is honoring one of their own. Nas will receive the Spotlight Award for his genre-shifting contributions to the hip-hop community spanning the past three decades.
Saturday’s presentation is scheduled to take place at Lucian Grainge’s artist showcase, which will be hosted by Universal Music Group.
The humbled Queens native reflected on the recognition via a press release: “I’m really honored by this award,” Nas said. “Anyone who knows me, knows what New York City means to me and this is special because of that connection. I want to send a special thank you to the Mayor’s office, Lucian and Michele.”
Michele Anthony, who serves as an executive at Universal Music, believes the 44-year-old exemplifies what it means to dedicate your life to a craft, while becoming a well-rounded individual in the process.
“Nas personifies New York. A storyteller of urban life straight out of Queensbridge, his recordings and songwriting are storied, Grammy-nominated and platinum-selling. But even that doesn’t encapsulate who he is: a rapper; producer; poet; philanthropist; and entrepreneur,” Anthony continued. “On behalf of all of us at UMG, congratulations to Nas on his well-deserved recognition as recipient of the New York Spotlight Award.”