By Stacy M. Brown
This year’s Grammy Awards included powerful performances from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Fantasia, Joni Mitchell and more, and Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter was honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. Though it was a celebratory, talent-filled celebration, there were behind-the-scenes drama and onstage moments that have people still talking after what is known as “music’s biggest night.”
Fresh off his uninformed tirade two days earlier when he declared his more than three-decade animus toward President Joe Biden because the then-Senator pushed a highly consequential crime bill, Killer Mike spun around in disbelief and joy over his big Grammy Award wins.
The hip-hop star has, for some reason, refused to hold the twice-impeached and four-times indicted former President Donald Trump accountable for things like calling for the death of the Exonerated Five, continued racist attacks on Black and other women of color, caging infants and separating them from their families. But Trump apparently gets Mike’s vote over Biden.
“The suspect was placed under arrest and was transported to LAPD Central Division. The suspect has been identified as 48-year-old Michael Render and booked for Misdemeanor Battery 243(A) PC, and is in the process of being released,” authorities said a news release.
The Recording Academy and CBS Television have postponed the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards Show scheduled for January 31 at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo: grammy.com)
Jay-Z used his wife Beyoncé Knowles Carter as an example to discuss the politics behind awards and the Recording Academy.
“I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than anyone, and never won album of the year,” he said about Beyoncé, the most-nominated female artist in history. “Even by your own metric, that does not work. Think about that, most Grammys, never won Album of the Year.”
Beyonce has received 32 Grammy awards and 88 nominations. Between them, the Carters have won at least 55 Grammys. Jay-Z went beyond his wife, noting others are snubbed too.
“Some of you are going to go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don’t belong in the category,” he said to a roar of laughter.
“When I get nervous I tell the truth,” Jay-Z added, before offering a message that he emphasized goes beyond the Grammys.
“Just in life, you’ve got to keep showing up,” he said. “Forget the Grammys, you’ve got to keep showing up until they give you all those accolades you feel like you deserve. Until they call you chairman, until they call you a genius, until they call you the greatest of all time.”
The awards had several surprises, including Celine Dion presenting Taylor Swift with Album of the Year honors. Other winners included: Taylor Swift’s “Midnights,” for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album; “Flowers,” by Miley Cyrus as Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance; “What Was I Made For?,” by Billie Eilish (from the motion picture “Barbie,”), written by Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell for Song of the Year; and Victoria Monet as Best New Artist.
Here is a list of many of the winners:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Midnights, Taylor Swift
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Flowers, Miley Cyrus
SONG OF THE YEAR
What Was I Made For?, Billie Eilish (from the motion picture Barbie); Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell, songwriters
“BEST” AWARDS BELOW
NEW ARTIST
Victoria Monet
POP VOCAL ALBUM
Midnights, Taylor Swift
POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
Flowers, Miley Cyrus
MUSICA URBANA ALBUM
Manana Sera Bonito, Karol G
COUNTRY ALBUM
Bell Bottom Country, Lainey Wilson
R&B SONG
Snooze, by SZA; Kenny B Edmonds, Blair Ferguson, Khris Riddick-Tynes, Solana Rowe and Leon Thomas, songwriters
THE DR DRE GLOBAL IMPACT AWARD
Jay-Z
POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Ghost in the Machine, SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers
ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
The Record, Boygenius
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Theron Thomas
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Jack Antonoff
R&B ALBUM
Jaguar II, Victoria Monet
PROGRESSIVE R&B ALBUM
SOS, SZA
AUDIO BOOK, NARRATION AND STORYTELLING RECORDING
The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times, Michelle Obama
REGGAE ALBUM
Colors of Royal, Julian Marley and Antaeus
LATIN ROCK OR ALTERNATIVE ALBUM (tie)
Vida Cotidiana, Juanes and De Todas Las Flores, Natalia Lafourcade
LATIN POP ALBUM
X Mi (Vol 1), Gaby Moreno
RAP ALBUM
Michael, Killer Mike
RAP SONG
Scientists & Engineers, Killer Mike ft Andre 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane
FOLK ALBUM
Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live), Joni Mitchell
ROCK ALBUM
This Is Why, Paramore
ROCK PERFORMANCE
Not Strong Enough, Boygenius
ROCK SONG
Not Strong Enough, Boygenius
AMERICANA ALBUM
Weathervanes, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
METAL PERFORMANCE
72 Seasons, Metallica
JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
The Winds of Change, Billy Childs
JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
How Love Begins, Nicole Zuraitis
COMEDY ALBUM
What’s in a Name?, Dave Chappelle
GOSPEL ALBUM
All Things New: Live in Orlando, Tye Tribbett
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM
Church Clothes 4, Lecrae
AFRICAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Water, Tyla
