Reacting to the 2020 Grammys
For a Hip-Hop, rap and community wide blog that prides itself with being in tune with what people listen to appreciate today, the subject of the Grammys are discussed a lot. Partly, this is due to the fact that they are a part of the news cycle. As well, there is nothing that is better for a purist of the genre than to deliver hate to this facade of an organisation. While the last sentence may have been harsh, after this years edition of the ceremony, it is warranted.
This year's winners were from the many avenues of Hip-Hop. The Best Rap Performance was given to 'Racks in the Middle' by Nipsey Hussle featuring Ricch & Hit-Boy, something that makes sense given the circumstances of the late-great Nipsey's life and death, but not forcefully earned. My humble opinion would suggest 'Middle Child' by J. Cole. Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap Song were both given to their rightful winners, with 'Higher' by DJ Khaled featuring Nipsey and John Legend and 'A Lot' by 21 Savage and J. Cole respectfully. Where the controversy lies is in Best Rap Album, which was won by Tyler, The Creator's IGOR. While it is a musically impressive album that battles with the internal struggle of being the 'other person' in an affair, it's more of a pop album than Hip-Hop. I would've easily given the award to Meek Mill for Championships, as it was a fully Hip-Hop album from the first track to the last.
And that may be the biggest problem with the Grammys. In terms of Hip-Hop, they do not know what they are talking about. The BET Awards tends to be much more in tune with what people listen to and what people in the community tend to like. That comes from the variety and judges. In a message released by the Recording Academy's Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer Harvey Mason Jr, he says, "Too often, our industry and Academy have alienated some of our own artists -- in particular, through a lack of diversity that, in many cases results in a culture that leans towards exclusion rather than inclusion".
This is something that has been talked about in Hip-Hop for years: the Grammys are racist, on a systemic and pandemic level. How can Hip-Hop be the biggest genre in the United States but only receive seven nominations - all from the same two people - out of the thirty-two possible nominations in the general field? That's nonsensical and assonine to think about. The disparity in both race and genre in the Academy is alarming. Diddy said it as well during the Grammys : "Truth be told, hip-hop has never been respected by the Grammys [...] Black music has never been respected by the Grammys to the point that it should be."
These comments were made after the "bombshell" complaint made by the Recording Academy's first female president and CEO, Deborah Dugan, who spoke about it being a boys club. But black people have known this for years. Black people know that this boys club was not something that included people of other genders, or who do not listen to pop or rock. It's impossible to see it any other way as it is a fact.
Whatever the fallout comes from the complaints from artists and former associates of the Grammys this year will happen in due time. Whether that be serious reforms or a measly apology from the Recording Academy, it'll happen. But I do not believe that any change will come as long as people accept to believe that it is important. Artists, producers and engineers need to stop showing up, like Beyoncé and Jay Z did. To make a change today, you need to hit them where it hurts: their wallets.