The Grammy’s Snub

11.25.20

The Grammy’s 2021 1.31.21

Yesterday, the Grammy’s announced their lineup of the 2021 categories and nominees. To the world’s surprise, The Weeknd was left without a single nomination. This is not the first time, by any means that the Grammy’s have truly shocked some fans, and artists, by not recognizing the work of some incredible artists. Many artists have received the news about the nominees, and while some are celebrating, others are in rage.

The Weeknd himself has been topping tickets of award shows across the board for his recent album Blinding Lights. From the VMA’s, the AMA’s, and everything in between, The Weeknd had had numerous nominations and wins, from the album, singles off the album, and just as a male R&B artist overall. On top of this, he has executed stellar performances and unique avant-garde attire playing the role of his character from the album, in each of his appearances at these awards shows. His album has went platinum in the United States. It went eight times platinum in Canada, six times platinum in Australia, and is certified diamond in Poland and France. With a whole zero nominees for Grammy’s this year, The Weeknd calls out the Grammy’s and asks for transparency.

While personally, I am not the greatest fan of Abel’s, numbers do not lie, and it is a pure shock to see that The Weeknd has zero Grammy nominations. Are the numbers not how they nominations come to life? Where do you get the information from? Why do we not have transparency to these things?

Many have since called out the Grammy’s, claiming they are not in tuned with the culture, and they are not what hip-hop is about. There have been many that announce they feel this way, for years, when not recognized by the largest award show in music. The Grammy’s are too mainstream for hip-hop, and it shows, so they are right to feel this way. However, The Weeknd does not really fall into that bucket. His music is played on an array of radio stations and musical television channels, so it does seem odd.

Nicki Minaj tweeted to remind us of a similar situation she was in, when nominated for best new artist after dropping Pink Friday.

So, who is noimateed for this year’s Grammy’s? There are eighty three categories overall, so let’s go through the relevant hip-hop, rap and R&B related categories.

Record Of The Year
BLACK PARADE - Beyoncé
COLORS - Black Pumas
ROCKSTAR - DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch
SAY SO - Doja Cat
EVERYTHING I WANTED - Billie Eilish
DON'T START NOW - Dua Lipa
CIRCLES - Post Malone
SAVAGE - Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé

With eight nominees for Record of the Year, hip-hop holds five of the nominees. Truly incredible and a step in the right direction. I never see Beyoncé loosing, but the real anthem of the year goes to her featured nominee with Megan, if you ask me.

Album Of The Year
CHILOMBO - Jhené Aiko
BLACK PUMAS (DELUXE EDITION) - Black Pumas

EVERYDAY LIFE - Coldplay
DJESSE VOL.3 - Jacob Collier
WOMEN IN MUSIC PT. III - HAIM
FUTURE NOSTALGIA - Dua Lipa
HOLLYWOOD'S BLEEDING - Post Malone
FOLKLORE - Taylor Swift

Not as many options in Album of the Year, but congrats to Post Malone and Jhené Aiko who really does have an incredible project out right now.

Song Of The Year
BLACK PARADE - Beyoncé
THE BOX - Roddy Ricch
CARDIGAN - Taylor Swift
CIRCLES - Post Malone
DON'T START NOW - Dua Lipa
EVERYTHING I WANTED - Billie Eilish
I CAN'T BREATHE - H.E.R.
IF THE WORLD WAS ENDING - JP Saxe Featuring Julia Michaels

Roddy Ricch is nominated for Song of the Year, and best Hip-Hop Song of the Year. I think he should win both, but we’ll see how it goes. Beyoncé may still take home everything.

Best New Artist
INGRID ANDRESS
PHOEBE BRIDGERS
CHIKA
NOAH CYRUS
D SMOKE
DOJA CAT
KAYTRANADA
MEGAN THEE STALLION

We have got a lot of numbers in Best New Artist as well. Chika recently made the XXL Freshman Class list and is one to look out for. Doja Cat has been winning Best New Artist in all of Awards Shows past this year of 2020. D Smoke has yet to be recognized, but an incredible talent who is nice to see here. I find Megan Thee Stallion to be old news here, but perhaps this is redemption for snubbing Nicki Minaj in years past.

Best R&B Performance
LIGHTNING & THUNDER - Jhené Aiko Featuring John Legend
BLACK PARADE - Beyoncé
ALL I NEED - Jacob Collier Featuring Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign
GOAT HEAD - Brittany Howard
SEE ME - Emily King

A performance from Jhené Aiko and John Legend is all I need from this crazy year. It is a them or bust for me.

Best Traditional R&B Performance

SIT ON DOWN - The Baylor Project Featuring Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor
WONDER WHAT SHE THINKS OF ME - Chloe X Halle
LET ME GO - Mykal Kilgore
ANYTHING FOR YOU - Ledisi
DISTANCE - Yebba

These R&B categories are not even doing this for me. I hope Chloe X Halle take it!

Best R&B Song
BETTER THAN I IMAGINE - Robert Glasper Featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello
BLACK PARADE - Beyoncé
COLLIDE - Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG
DO IT - Chloe X Halle
SLOW DOWN - Skip Marley & H.E.R.

It is Beyoncé’s show for the taking.

Best Progressive R&B Album
CHILOMBO - Jhené Aiko
UNGODLY HOUR - Chloe X Halle
FREE NATIONALS - Free Nationals
F*** YO FEELINGS - Robert Glasper
IT IS WHAT IT IS - Thundercat

I am going with Jhené on this one.

Best R&B Album
HAPPY 2 BE HERE - Ant Clemons
TAKE TIME - Giveon
TO FEEL LOVE/D - Luke James
BIGGER LOVE - John Legend
ALL RISE - Gregory Porter

I previously wrote about R&B falling off, but perhaps I just do not know them anymore? Gotta be John Legend with this one.

Best Rap Performance
DEEP REVERENCE - Big Sean Featuring Nipsey Hussle
BOP - DaBaby
WHAT'S POPPIN - Jack Harlow
THE BIGGER PICTURE - Lil Baby
SAVAGE - Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé

DIOR - Pop Smoke

If we are truly talking about performances, I would say Lil Baby takes this home for The Bigger Picture. This song is relatively new and has received awards for the story behind it, and the performances he have given, as they tell a story about what pain we have went through this year, and our whole lives, and how we must overcome it. I hope that Lil Baby is recognized during this night of celebration. He comes from a tough past, and while from the outside it may seem like just another troubled rapper from the south, I truly believe Lil Baby is out to do bigger and better things for the community.

Best Melodic Rap Performance
ROCKSTAR - DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch
LAUGH NOW, CRY LATER - Drake Featuring Lil Durk
LOCKDOWN - Anderson .Paak
THE BOX - Roddy Ricch
HIGHEST IN THE ROOM - Travis Scott

I am not so sure I would call Travis Scott a “melodic performance.” I would truly love for DaBaby to take this home for what he did with the Rockstar live performances and music video. Though, when I think about melodies in rap music, Anderson. Paak just feels like the go to pick overall. I am happy with just about anyone taking this home - just not Travis Scott. Autotune is not a melody.

Best Rap Song
THE BIGGER PICTURE - Lil Baby
THE BOX - Roddy Ricch
LAUGH NOW, CRY LATER - Drake Featuring Lil Durk
ROCKSTAR - DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch
SAVAGE - Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé

I have been waiting for Roddy Ricch to go home with the award for best song for The Box all year. I am guessing it will go to Megan Thee Stallion, mainly because of Beyoncé, but never forget the door screech at the beginning of The Box. That was 2020 in a nutshell.

Best Rap Album

BLACK HABITS - D SMOKE
ALFREDO - Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
A WRITTEN TESTIMONY - Jay Electronica
KING'S DISEASE - Nas

THE ALLEGORY - Royce Da 5’9"

I probably see Nas winning this award, and that makes sense. His album was super dope, and he is somewhat of a legend in hip-hop. I love to see D Smoke and all his nominations, he his pure talent and deserves everything he has received thus far. The Allegory, is my absolute favorite album of 2020. It tells a story, it means a lot, and it is just absolutely incredible. Pure hip-hop, with truth, education, storytelling and nonstop bars. You cannot get better than this. Always Best Rap Album to me.

Best Latin Pop or Urban Album
YHLQMDLG - Bad Bunny

POR PRIMERA VEZ - Camilo
MESA PARA DOS - Kany García
PAUSA - Ricky Martin
3:33 - Debi Nova

Bad Bunny should take home this award. He has definitely had an amazing year and was expected to be a winner in this category. Although, J Balvin, Ozuna, Karol G are others we would have anticipated in this category this year, as this genre begins to take over the music space, however, they are nowhere to be found.