During the 66th Annual Grammy Awards held on Sunday night, Jay-Z, the iconic rapper, music producer, and entrepreneur, took center stage not only to accept the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award but also to deliver a powerful speech that touched artists and fans alike.
During his acceptance speech, Jay-Z called out the Grammys for its shortcomings in recognizing Black artists. He highlighted the inconsistencies in the Grammy selection process, emphasizing that even by their own metrics, the system falls short.
Jay-Z referenced his wife, Beyoncé, who boasts an impressive collection of Grammy Awards.
However, despite her numerous accolades, including the most Grammys won by any female artist, she has never won the coveted ‘Album of the Year’ honour. Jay expressed his opinion by saying, “Even by your own metrics, it doesn’t work.”
The rapper urged the Recording Academy to rectify this oversight, urging them to “get it right” or at least “get it close to right.” His words represented countless artists who have felt overlooked or underrepresented within the Grammy framework.
He also made reference to the 1989 Grammys. Back then, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff boycotted the ceremony because the rap category wasn’t shown on TV. This omission still stings in Grammy history, especially for hip-hop artists.
Jay-Z also talked about how the Grammy Awards are subjective. He said, “It’s music, and it’s opinion-based.” While artistic evaluations involve personal preferences, he urged the Academy to be fair and transparent, especially when celebrating Black excellence.
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