2021 Grammy Winners

3.15.21

The 63rd Grammy’s 3.14.21

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