2021 Grammy Winners
3.15.21
Last night was the 63rd annual Grammy Awards Night. Hip-Hop did not come to play with everyone and their outfits for the night. DaBaby and D. Smoke both showed off their mother’s in their custom fits. Lil Baby said he met Jay-Z, and when they were walking through the arena, Jay let security walk with Beyoncè, and he walked by himself. There were so many amazing performances, outfits and stories told during the Grammy’s.
While Billie Eilish took home Record of the Year, and Taylor Swift won Album of the year, Beyoncè and Megan the Stallion really did their thing. Beyoncè became the female artist with the most Grammy’s at twenty-eight. Between Black Parade and Savage, Beyoncè stole the night.
Record of the Year
Billie Eilish Everything I Wanted - Winner
Beyoncè Black Parade
Black Pumas Colors
DaBaby FT Roddy Ricch Rockstar
Doja Cat Say So
Post Malone Circles
Megan Thee Stallion FT Beyoncè Savage
For me, I am not super into Billie Eilish’s music. I respect the incredible amount of talent that she has, but it just is not my cup of tea. It is certain that she has a massive following and those that really love her music, and her genre feels a bit more aligned with the award show voters. Doja Cat did record breaking numbers with her song Say So. Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncè dominated in all other categories. I think Rockstar would hav been my vote, seeing what they’ve done with the song over the past year and all the epic performances to spread awareness about the police brutality situations we have seen over the pandemic. Truly, everyone in this category deserved to win.
Album of the Year
Taylor Swift Folklore - Winner
Jhenè Aiko Chilombo
Black Pumas Black Pumas Deluxe
Coldplay Everyday Life
Jacob Collier Djesse Vol. 3
HAIM Women In Music Pt. III
Dua Lipa Future Nostalgia
Post Malone Hollywood’s Bleeding
I am definitely not a Taylor Swift fan. However, I do not see an album in this lineup that stands a chance to beat Taylor in any category. Jhenè’s album is dope, but Taylor Swift and her fans really do not come to play. No chance for others.
Song of the Year
H.E.R. I Can’t Breathe - Winner
Beyoncè Black Parade
Roddy Ricch The Box
Taylor Swift Cardigan
Post Malone Circles
Dua Lipa Don't Start Now
Billie Eilish Everything I Wanted
JP Saxe FT Julia Michaels If The World Was Ending
I am so excited for the winner of this category. H.E.R. took home a multitude of awards for the song I Can’t Breathe, when discussing a song for a purpose, mainly in hip-hop categories. Not only did she deservingly win those, but she wins a Grammy for the song with nominations across categories including Taylor Swift, Beyoncè, Dua Lipa and Billia Eilish. This song is a huge deal, not just for music, but for educating and acknowledging what we went through this past year. All great songs here, but you could not justify give this win to anyone else.
Best New Artist
Megan Thee Stallion - Winner
Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
This definitely seems late to me, but I guess that happens sometimes during award shows that take place after year’s end. Megan has been around for well over a year - at least a year and half (two hot girl summers ago). Maybe she was a bit early last year when Billie Eilish took home the win, and you cannot deny Megan’s success is out of this world and worthy of being acknowledged with a Grammy. However, for me, I feel like it is a bit late. Doja Cat had an incredible year, Chika and D. Smoke both of talent that is out of this world incredible, and I know some others from the nominees had great years, as well. You put Megan in this category and no one compares. But, I would have just left her out.
Best Solo Performance
Harry Styles Watermelon Sugar - Winner
Justin Bieber Yummy
Doja Cat Say So
Billie Eilish Everything I Wanted
Dua Lipa Don’t Start Now
Taylor Swift Cardigan
Even just reading Justin Bieber Yummy, I get the song stuck in my head. I have never listed to a Harry Styles song, so I was surely going for Justin or Doja Cat here. But hey those Harry Styles fans are serious.
Best Duo/Group Performance
Ariana Grande & Lady Gaga Rain On Me - Winner
J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny & Tainy Un Dia (One Day)
Justin Bieber & Quavo Intentions
BTS Dynamite
Taylor Swift & Bon Iver Exile
This Justin Bieber and Quavo song has been nominated a couple of times in other award shows this year. No wins just yet, but a fun duo nonetheless. It is nice to see a lady duo take home the win for this one. I am a bit surprised that Megan and Beyoncè are not up there, however.
Best R&B Performance
Beyoncè Black Parade - Winner
Jhené Aiko FT John Legend Lightning & Thunder
Jacob Collier FT Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign All I Need
Brittany Howard Goat Head
Emily King See Me
While Jhenè and John Legend are just two vocal powerhouses that give you goosebumps just thinking about, Beyoncè takes home a win, and who would have been able to stop her? I see the competition but it is just not strong enough to even question the power of Bey.
Best Traditional R&B Performance
Ledisi Anything For You - Winner
The Baylor Project FT Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor Sit On Down
Chloe X Halle Wonder What She Thinks of Me
Mykal Kilgore Let Me Go
Yebba Distance
There were quite a handful of different ways you quote the R&B category. From traditional, I am actually on familiar with Chloe and Halle, but I still do not know their music well at all. Congrats to the winners, I am sure its as very well deserved.
Best R&B Song
Robert Glasper Featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello Better Than I Imagined - Winner
Beyoncè Black Parade
Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG Collide
Chloe X Halle Do It
Skip Marley & H.E.R. Slow Down
I think Bey takes the back seat on this one because of category. Rob and H.E.R. truly bring this category to life and are incredibly talented, so I am happy for their win here.
Best Progressive R&B Album
Thundercat It Is What It Is - Winner
Jhené Aiko Chilombo
Chloe X Halle Ungodly Hour
Free Nationals Free Nationals
Robert Glasper F*** Yo Feelings
Jhené Aiko deserves a win. But I think the world just is not ready to give her her flowers just yet. She deserves them, incredibly so, but Thundercat takes the win here.
Best R&B Album
John Legend Bigger Love - Winner
Ant Clemons Happy 2 Be Here
Giveon Take Time
Luke James to feel love/d
Gregory Porter All Rise
John Legend is basically the R&B King and rightfully deserves Best R&B Album.
Best Rap Performance
Megan Thee Stallion FT Beyoncè Savage - Winner
Big Sean FT Nipsey Hussle Deep Reverence
DaBaby Bop
Jack Harlow Whats Poppin
Lil Baby The Bigger Picture
Pop Smoke Dior
The rap categories are of course my favorites and where I tend to have the most to say. Every single one of these songs was an extreme, massive hit record at different points in time over the past year. Of course, the world went crazy to see Megan and Beyoncè team up, for of course, a savage, girl power anthem. Big Sean dropping his album Detroit 2 alone was a huge deal. The Nipsey Hussle feature put people over the top with emotions, and the storytelling just made so much sense. The Bop has become one of the most popular dances in hip-hop today. What’s Poppin was an instant sensation and the remix was even better. The Bigger Picture was number one of radio charts week after week for it’s incredible message during tough times. Loosing Pop Smoke brought more tough times, but his music was played by every station there is, keeping his music and spirit alive.
Best Melodic Rap Performance
Anderson. Paak Lockdown - Winner
DaBaby FT Roddy Ricch Rockstar
Drake FTLil Durk Laugh Now Cry Later
Roddy Ricch The Box
Travis Scott Highest In The Room
When it comes to melody in rap music, Anderson. Paak is absolutely the first that comes to mind. It is definitely available in Rockstar, but not in a Grammy winning way. Drake and Roddy do fit the description, but this is just what Paak is known for, it is what he does best. Travis Scott has no melody. Just autotune.
Best Rap Song
Megan Thee Stallion FT Beyoncè Savage - Winner
Lil Baby The Bigger Picture
Roddy Ricch The Box
Drake FT Lil Durk Laugh Now Cry Later
DaBaby FT Roddy Ricch Rockstar
I also think that all of these songs were deserving to win this category. They all had huge success when releasing. From memes to chart topping and incredible performances, the ladies take this one. But, these songs will all continue to play for the months to come.
Best Rap Album
Nas King’s Disease - Winner
D Smoke Black Habits
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist Alfredo
Jay Electronica A Written Testimony
Royce 5’9" The Allegory
This was the category that I was the most excited for. I was thrilled to see the Grammy’s actually put together such a wonderful list of nominations from the rap category. Every single album on here is incredible, and would have been worthy of a win. The Allegory is my favorite album of last year. It released very early of 2020, so it likely was not on the top of everyone’s minds, like the rest that were only a few months old. I would have loved for Royce to win his first Grammy, but it is much well deserved for Nas. That album was so dope, and really showcased his versatility and ability to adapt to other artists - specifically, new ones.
Here are a few other categories that have some For the SoUle interests crossovers.
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Kanye West Jesus Is King - Winner
Cody Carnes Run To The Father
Hillsong Young & Free All Of My Best Friends
We The Kingdom Holy Water
Tauren Wells Citizen of Heaven
Best Latin Pop or Urban Album
Bad Bunny YHLQMDLG - Winner
Camilo Por Primera Vez
Kany García Mesa Para Dos
Ricky Martin Pausa
Debi Nova 3:33
Best Reggae Album
Toots & The Maytals Got To Be Tough - Winner
Buju Banton Upside Down 2020
Skip Marley Higher Place
Maxi Priest It All Comes Back To Love
The Wailers One World
Best Global Music Album
Burna Boy Twice As Tall - Winner
Antibalas Fu Chronicles
Bebel Gilberto Agora
Anoushka Shankar Love Letters
Tinariwen Amadjar
Best Music Video
Beyoncè & WizKid Brown Skin Girl - Winner
Future FT Drake Life Is Good
Anderson .Paak Lockdown
Harry Styles Adore You
Woodkid Goliath
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
James Taylor American Standard - Winner
(Burt Bacharach &) Daniel Tashian Blue Umbrella
Harry Connick, Jr. True Love: A Celebration Of Cole Porter
Rufus Wainwright Unfollow The Rules
Renée Zellweger Judy
Best Pop Vocal Album
Dua Lipa Future Nostalgia - Winner
Justin Bieber Changes
Lady Gaga Chromatica
Harry Styles Fine Line
Taylor Swift Folklore
Best Dance Recording
Kaytranada FT Kali Uchis 10% - Winner
Diplo & SIDEPIECE On My Mind
Disclosure FT Aminé & Slowthai My High
Flume FT Toro y Moi The Difference
Jayda G Both Of Us
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Kaytranada Bubba - Winner
Arca KiCk i
Baauer Planet’s Mad
Disclosure Energy
Madeon Good Faith