According to an official press announcement by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), legendary hip-hop and R&B producer Mustard has officially been crowned the 2026 Rhythm & Soul Songwriter of the Year. The highly coveted honor recognizes his monumental chart dominance over the past calendar year, driven largely by his production masterclass on Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping smash hit “tv off” as well as Ella Mai’s sleek contemporary R&B track “Little Things.”
Validating the major industry win, music data aggregate platform Luminate and PR Newswire carried the full list of victors from the exclusive VIP ceremony held in Los Angeles. The official ASCAP release detailed the massive commercial performance of Mustard’s work, stating, “’tv off’ reached #1 on the Billboard Rhythmic Airplay chart for four weeks and was on the Billboard Hot 100 for 31 weeks.” Concurrently, Billboard Magazine validated his peerless run by highlighting the other major collaborative wins of the night, quoting ASCAP’s official declaration that the track “’luther’ (Kendrick Lamar, SZA) earns the ASCAP R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap Song of the Year.”
Mustard’s resurgence as the definitive sound of modern hip-hop certifies his incredible longevity in a fast-evolving music industry. After orchestrating some of the biggest records of the mid-2010s, his recent collaborative synergy with Kendrick Lamar during high-profile rap feuds has catapulted him back to the absolute apex of pop culture. This award cements his legacy and guarantees he will remain the most sought-after hitmaker for major hip-hop and R&B studio albums heading into the latter half of 2026.
Source: PR Newswire / ASCAP — https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2026-ascap-top-rhythm–soul-music-award-winners-include-songwriter-of-the-year-mustard-rbhip-hop-and-rap-song-of-the-year-luther-gospel-song-of-the-year-rest-on-us-and-publisher-of-the-year-sony-music-publishing-302811308.html, June 26, 2026
Photo Credit: ASCAP
