2023 Grammys

CBS Is Reportedly Reviewing Its Closed Captioning Practices For Live Events Following Bad Bunny’s Grammy Performance

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Bad Bunny‘s performance of his hit singles “Tití Me Preguntó” and “Despues De La Playa” was one of the most talked about of Grammy night last Sunday (February 5). However, despite the positive reception the performance received, many fans were frustrated by what appeared to be a technical era.

During the broadcast, the closed captions that appeared onscreen as Bad Bunny was performing read “[SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH]” and “[SINGING IN NON-ENGLISH].” The captions also read “[SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH]” later in the night, when Bad Bunny accepted the award for Best Música Urbana Album.

Following the show, U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) wrote a letter to CBS’ President and CEO and George Cheeks, according to Variety. In the letter, Garcia wrote that the error. “displays a lack of sensitivity and foresight. For too many Spanish-speaking Americans, it felt disrespectful of our place in our shared society, and of our contributions to our shared culture. For the hearing impaired community, this failure was hurtful.”

Cheeks has since responded to the letter, noting that CBS is taking measures to make sure no similar incidents take place in the future. According to a report from Variety, CBS is set to review its practices for close captioning live events.

“Regrettably, errors were made with respect to the closed captioning of his performance and subsequent acceptance speech,” Cheeks said. “We worked with a closed captioning vendor that did not execute at a standard to which we should rightfully be held. Regardless, we should have monitored the situation more closely. A bilingual (English and Spanish-language) real-time live captioner should have been utilized and the words used on the screen were insensitive to many.”

He continued, saying, “our teams are now re-examining the closed captioning process for all live entertainment events on the network to ensure we properly caption Spanish-language content. We will keep you updated regarding our efforts on this matter.”

Lizzo Finally Spilled About How She And Adele Got ‘Lit’ Together With ‘Two Flasks’ At The Grammys

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Lizzo is still on cloud nine over her Grammy win. Last Sunday (February 5), the hitmaker took home the Grammy Award for Record Of The Year for her hit single, “About Damn Time.”

Today (February 10), she appeared on The Graham Norton Show to discuss the events that went down when the cameras weren’t rolling. As one can expect, waiting to hear if you won an award can be anxiety-inducing. Luckily, Lizzo had just the fix to calm her nerves.

During Lizzo’s appearance on the show, Norton pointed out a jewelry-studded flask at Lizzo’s table in a picture taken at the awards ceremony.

“I had two flasks for me, and one for Adele,” she revealed. “It was lit.”

Norton then asked, “Why did you have to bring a hit flask?”

Lizzo replied, saying, “Because there’s not, like, a bar. I’m like, ‘Come on, y’all, we need more alcohol.’ It’s Grammys night, we’re all stressed.”

Shania Twain, who also appeared on Norton alongside Lizzo, and was seated at the same table as Lizzo during the Grammys, complimented Lizzo’s “shiny” and “bedazzled” flask.

You can check out the clip above.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Dee Barnes On Dr. Dre’s Grammys Honor: “They Named This Award After An Abuser”

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Days after the Recording Industry honored West Coast Hip Hop pioneer Dr. Dre. former host of Fox’s Pump It Up Dee Barnes condemns the Grammys’ choice to honor Dr.Dre.

Barnes slammed the decision to honor the N.W.A. co-founder with the inaugural “Dr. Dre Global Impact Award” at the Black Music Collective honors ceremony. Barnes spoke to Rolling Stone about the decision saying, “Everybody wants to separate the art from the artist, and sometimes that’s just not possible…They named this award after an abuser.”

Shecontinued, “It wasn’t just a one or two-time thing; these are choices. The first time, it’s maybe a mistake. The second time, okay. The third time, it’s a choice. I’m not saying he is the same person now, though. I don’t know. I’m not around him anymore. I haven’t talked to him.” She even said, “They might as well call [the honor] the ‘Ike Turner Award.’”

Barnes’ gripe comes from an alleged assault by Dr. Dre back on January 27, 1991 when Dre encountered Barnes at a record release party in Hollywood. According to Barnes, he picked her up by her hair and “began slamming her head and the right side of her body repeatedly against a brick wall near the stairway” as his bodyguard held off the crowd with a gun. After Dre tried to throw her down the stairs and failed, he began kicking her in the ribs and hands. She escaped and ran into the women’s restroom.

Dre pleaded no contest to the assault. He was fined $2,500, placed on two years’ probation, and ordered to perform 240 hours of community service and produce an anti-violence public service announcement. The lawsuit was settled out of court.

The post Dee Barnes On Dr. Dre’s Grammys Honor: “They Named This Award After An Abuser” appeared first on The Source.

Pusha T Told Ice-T His Name Came From His 1988 Classic

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Rappers often pay homage to artists that they admire, and Pusha T is revealing how a Hip Hop icon inspired his moniker. Push is a well-respected lyricist in his own right, but he doesn’t have a problem giving pioneers their flowers. He especially honored Ice-T, revealing that “Pusha T” was derived from one of the “Colors” hitmaker’s songs.

A clip from Pusha’s appearance at the Grammys hit the internet, specifically a moment he had with Revolt on the red carpet. “An Ice-T song, ‘I’m Your Pusher,’” he revealed. Push was asked if Ice-T was aware of his influence. “You know what? I seen him standing outside of a hotel one day and I actually did tell him.”

ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 15: Rapper Pusha T performs During It’s Almost Dry Tour Phase 2 at Coca-Cola Roxy on October 15, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
Read More: Pusha T On Drake’s Subliminal Disses: “I Love It”

It was an unforgettable moment that Pusha T was grateful for. “I actually gave him all his flowers, right then and there, I had to,” he added. So, what did Ice have to say about it? “Listen, he told me he was actually a fan of my work, and that was enough for me.” When it was noted that Ice-T was a “real G,” Pusha didn’t hesitate to reply, “One thousand percent!”

After catching the clip on social media, Ice-T reposted the kind exchange. In the caption, he had nothing but praise for the Virginia hitmaker. “Absolutely nothing but Respect to @PUSHA_T Love is love,” he stated. “Plus he’s one of the Best to ever do it.” Fans praised the feel-good moment, especially as Hip Hop has been littered with division.

Read More: Consequence Blasts Pusha T For Abandoning Ye: “There Was No G.O.O.D Music President”

Meanwhile, Ice-T was one of the dozens of Hip Hop pioneers and hitmakers to take to the Grammys stage last weekend. The Los Angeles entertainer’s reach has gone far beyond music, as he’s now more recognized for his Law & Order character than his Gangster Rap days. In fact, he revealed he had to put his television filming on pause to make the Hip Hop 50th Grammy tribute.

“Questlove calls me up and he says, ‘All right, you gotta come to L.A. this weekend… It’s a big performance, I got you in the lineup,’” he recalled. “And I was still hesitant ’cause it’s a long travel, But then he says, ‘You don’t want to be sitting at home watching this show, saying you should’ve been there. I was invited but I didn’t show up.’ And I got my Black a** on a plane.”

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Madonna Checks Critics, Calls Out “Ageism” After Grammys

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Grammy weekend was a movie for Madonna, who always knows how to get people talking. The music icon is getting ready to embark on a worldwide tour, but it’s just light work for the 64-year-old singer. She stopped by the Grammys last weekend to reunite with a few of her famous friends—and to introduce one of the most controversial performances of the evening.

Sam Smith and Kim Petras delivered their smash hit “Unholy,” and Madonna prefaced their performance. However, audiences were more interested in Madonna’s appearance. Soon, social media was taken over with comments about her face and conversations about cosmetic surgery.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Madonna speaks onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Read More: Madonna’s Grammys Appearance Confuses Fan On Social Media

Following the chatter, Madonna returned to Instagram to show off her Grammy celebrations. She was joined by several celebrities, including Ab-Soul. In the caption to her post, she addressed the “ageism” she’s experienced. She called it an “honor” to introduce Smith and Petras while calling out her critics.

“Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim,” Madonna began. “Many people chose to only talk about Close-up photos of me.” She added, “Taken with a long lens camera By a press photographer that Would distort anyone’s face!! Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny That permeates the world we live in. A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45. And feels the need to punish her If she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous.”

Read More: Madonna Biopic Axed After World Tour Announcement

She continued: “I have never apologized for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress and I’m not going to start. I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come.

Madonna then quoted Beyoncé: “You-won’t break my soul” and “Bow down b*tches!” Check out her post in its entirety above.

Diplo Clarified What He Really Said After Beyoncé’s Grammy Win

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Beyoncé took home three awards from the 2023 Grammys last Sunday, February 5, bringing her career total to an all-time most 32. She won Best Traditional R&B Performance (“Plastic Off The Sofa”), Best Dance/Electronic Recording (“Break My Soul“) and Best Dance/Electronic Music Album (Renaissance). And many people feel strongly that she should have also won Album Of The Year, but that’s a discussion for a different article.

The Best Dance/Electronic Music Album victory broke the record, and because Beyoncé was nominated, the category was televised. On the CBS broadcast, Diplo was seen in the audience saying something after Renaissance was announced as the winner. Some fans speculated that he said, “They bought that.” He was also nominated in the category for his self-titled album.

Diplo set the record straight on Instagram this week. The final slide of the Instagram carousel is the same clip that’s been making the rounds online, except Diplo included a closed-captioning of “I’m glad to be a part of this.”

Diplo’s lengthy caption gushed over Beyoncé. Read it below.

“This is a post to honor the dance music community. Thank your for being my purpose in this life and shaping my career .. and much love to all the wonderful people that worked on my album 🧡.. Grammy night was great night for all of us. Dance music has and will be the most Inclusive music of our generation .. I have been in the industry for over 20 years releasing club music ..djing over 1000 different clubs and cities – u can find me everywhere, the slums of Rio, warehouses in North Philly where I started to the fanciest night clubs and yachts in st tropez, ibiza.. Our community has always been gay / straight, but icy , poor.. white black brown purple .. it’s the music that had united the world during my lifetime and i’m glad to just be one part of it🌎 you don’t need to be a savant or a great musician to be part of dance music u just have to love to move and have confidence.

“Tonight was the first time the dance / electronic category was televised and it was rightfully so.. between me, rufus beyoncé, odesza bonobo… was one of the strongest years for electronic music. Beyoncé album was legendary (i’m a beyonce a stan remember I produced some classic dance songs for her like ’til the end of time’ and ‘girls run the world.’ what’s important to understand was that her intention was 100%. she did the work found the real producers and she made classics .. so she deserves her flowers . and when she won i was just proud to see my nomination on the screen in the huge arena.. (swipe to the end to see what i said) but the best part was my friends and the other artists in the genre still out raving until sunrise somewhere in La : that’s what’s the music is really about 😎”

During her acceptance speech, Beyoncé was visibly emotional and paid homage to “the queer community for your love and for inventing the genre.” Watch the historic moment above.

Queen Latifah Doesn’t Want Women In Rap To Be Used As Pawns

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When the Queen drops off advice—Latifah, that is—Hip Hop listens. She is widely respected as a Rap pioneer who aided in changing the game, especially for women on the scene. There weren’t many ladies taking to the microphone when Queen Latifah emerged, but now that she has a successful career in and out of music, she’s delivering advice for other women making waves in Rap.

“Don’t be a pawn, control your career, speak from the heart, say what you want to say, represent us, and let’s go. Let’s get this,” she told Laverne Cox on the Grammys red carpet. Latifah was one of dozens of artists who performed during the Grammys’ Hip Hop 50th tribute. She’s ready for another 50 years, and she hopes women in Hip Hop will steer clear of letting the industry take advantage of their talents.

Read More: Lizzo Tells Nardwaur About Her Love For Queen Latifah

Like the men in the genre, women are often seen fighting with one another. Whether online or throwing subtle jabs lyrically, it’s easy to find artists with deep-seated tensions. “I would say to you, now is the time for you to do whatever the F you want with your career because we had that done to us,” Latifah told E! News. “A lot of crews kind of claimed, like, the one female in the group and wouldn’t kind of let us all work with each other sometimes.”

“Then the smart ones, of course, we got to jump on each other’s records and make smash hit music and elevate the whole genre,” she added. “So, if you have the power, or if you want to work with somebody, go work with them. It’s all ego… And most of the time, it’s not our ego. It’s somebody else’s ego competing against someone else’s, and we’re just the pawns.”

Read More: Queen Latifah Recollects Going To A Gay Club With 2Pac

Of course, Latifah didn’t speak on anyone specifically, but it didn’t take long for people to weigh in. For those who didn’t focus on naming names, they were happy to see an icon take a stance against division in Hip Hop and advocate for unity.

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Fat Joe Says Grammys “Jerk” Around Artists “On Purpose”

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Each year, the Grammys is hit with some sort of backlash, and Fat Joe believes The Recording Academy does it on purpose. Although Beyoncé became the most awarded artist in Grammy history at this year’s ceremony; still, fans weren’t happy about Album of the Year. The title went to Harry Styles, and debates were launched about whether Bey’s Renaissance was a better choice. Other talked about categories were Song of the Year and Best New artist. Those went to music legend Bonnie Raitt and newcomer Samara Joy.

Fat Joe is the Hip Hop commentator that we all know and love, and he took to social media to weigh in. He touched on Raitt and Joy’s wins specifically. “The thing that does really bug me out is when a woman that I don’t really know wins Song of the Year,” said Joe. “The Grammys do that sh*t on purpose. [Joy] is a jazz singer but she won over the biggest records and the biggest artists we know.”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Fat Joe attends the 65th GRAMMY Awards on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Read More: Lil Wayne Watches Skateboarding Videos During Grammys Party

He added that it’s a controversy that the Recording Academy does every year. “And they always do it. This is consistently they do this, this is a trademark,” Joe continued. “‘We’re gonna jerk at least two or three people that should win.’” A similar sentiment was shared by Jay-Z during his interview with Elliott Wilson for TIDAL.

“Even with Bey, I felt like they missed the moment. Not just LEMONADE; [also] when Beck won over her [for Album of the Year at the 2015 show]. I was like, ‘Oh, y’all missed it,’” said Hov. “For the culture, I love this sh*t so much I want them to get it right. I want to experience those moments when it’s the culmination of when Michael popped off. That moment left an indelible mark on us forever.”

Read More: Snoop Dogg Calls Out Grammys For Lack Of Recognition

He added, “Or when Lauryn Hill came through and it was Miseducation and she won those joints [five Grammy Awards in 1999]. We knew that was her moment. We wanted to witness that moment and celebrate her. She made something that’s going to stand the test of time.”

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Dee Barnes Calls Out Grammys For Honoring Dr. Dre With “Global Impact Award”

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At this year’s Grammy Awards, the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award was given to the Aftermath mogul, but Dee Barnes wasn’t applauding the honor. Dre’s award was a part of The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective, and while fans believe he deserved the tribute, Barnes recalled her experience with the Rap giant back in 1991. It was then that the music journalist was in the thick of her career, often interviewing some of Rap’s most influential voices. At 19, she hosted the Hip Hop show Pump It Up! On the show, she highlighted the then-tension between N.W.A. and Ice Cube.

Barnes alleged that Dre confronted her about a segment on her show. She previously detailed the ordeal, stating, “He picked me up by my hair and my ear and smashed my face and body into the wall… Next thing I know, I’m down on the ground, and he’s kicking me in the ribs and stomping on my fingers.” More recently, Barnes spoke with Rolling Stone about the incident and seeing Dre receive an award holding his name.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK–OCTOBER 08: Host Dee Barnes (aka Sista D) and MC Lyte (aka Lana Moorer) appear backstage at the “Sisters In The Name Of Rap” concert and television special at The Ritz on October 8, 1991 in New York City. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives)
Read More: Dee Barnes Is “Triggered” After Dr. Dre’s Wife Denied Restraining Order

“Everybody wants to separate the art from the artist, and sometimes that’s just not possible,” said Barnes. “Most people without a knowledge of [Dr. Dre’s] history are going to say, ‘Oh, he must deserve that. He must be such a great person for them to put an award in his name.’ But they named this award after an abuser. It wasn’t just a one or two-time thing; these are choices.”

Barnes recognizes that Dre may not be the same person she interacted with. “I don’t know. I’m not around him anymore. I haven’t talked to him. But to name an award after someone with that type of history in the music industry, you might as well call it the ‘Ike Turner Award.’ She also mourned watching the Grammys Hop Hip tribute. Barnes mentioned that she and Dre can’t be in the same space. “I was thinking, ‘I would’ve been there. I would’ve been there on the red carpet.” She believed she “would’ve been interviewing some of those artists.’ In fact, I’ve interviewed most of them before.

Radio Personality Dee Barnes arrives at the Hennessy and Honey Collective party at The Vanguard on October 29, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Maury Phillips/WireImage)
Read More: Dr. Dre Addresses And Apologizes For Dee Barnes Incident

She also addressed the blacklisting she received after reporting the incident to the police. Further, Barnes is working on a documentary about her experiences in the industry. However, several artists have shunned speaking with her. “The blacklisting I’ve faced still feels active, and it took me a long time to accept that,” she also revealed. “For the longest time, I was like, ‘That’s not what’s happening. It’s not that.’ But it’s definitely that. I see it. I’ve had plenty of people who will support me privately, but they don’t want it to be publicly known because of their business associations, dealings, or whatever.”

“I’m not the bad guy, but I am made into the villain,” Barnes added. “Very much like how they did Megan Thee Stallion during the trial against her attacker, Tory Lanez. I watched what happened to my little sister Megan, and it just was heartbreaking to me because we have not changed in all these years.”

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All Of The Grammy Wins That Made Beyoncé The Most Awarded Artist Of All Time

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Many of us are still shocked at Beyoncé’s surprising Album Of The Year loss at the 2023 Grammys this past Sunday (February 5). Beyhivers are, however, excited at the fact that while she didn’t get the coveted AOTY honor for her seventh studio album Renaissance, she did make history that night. On Grammy night, Beyoncé took home the Grammy awards for Best Dance Recording with her hit single, “Break My Soul,” Best R&B Song with “Cuff It,” Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance with “Plastic Off The Sofa,” and Best Dance/Electronica Album with Renaissance.

These wins brought the total amount of Grammys she’s earned in her career up to 32, which has made her the most Grammy-awarded artist of all time.

Let’s break down the Grammys she has won over the course of the past two decades.

Bey won her first two Grammys in 2001 at 43rd Grammy Awards as a member of Destiny’s Child. She shares the win with her bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal with their hit single, “Say My Name.” The following year, the group won again for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal with “Survivor.”

Her first wins as a solo artist came in 2004, when she took home the awards for Best Contemporary R&B Album for her solo debut album, Dangerously In Love. On that album is the song “Dangerously In Love 2,” for which she won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Her Luther Vandross duet “The Closer I Get To You” won the Grammy for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals. And of course, her solo breakthrough, “Crazy In Love,” which features Jay-Z, won Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

In 2006, she, alongside her Destiny’s Child bandmates, took home the award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for their song “So Amazing” from their last album, Destiny Fulfilled.

The following year, her sophomore album, B’Day, won Best Contemporary R&B Album.

In 2010, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” won three Grammys, including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, and Song Of The Year. “Halo” won the award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Both of these songs come from Beyoncé’s third solo album, I Am…Sasha Fierce, which won the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album. Her cover of Etta James’ “At Last,” which she performed in the movie Cadillac Records, Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.

In 2013, Love On Top from her fourth studio album 4 won Best Traditional R&B Performance. Later that year, she would release her game-changing self-titled fifth album by surprise.

With Beyoncé, she released a music video for each track, and several artists followed suit with the surprise release strategy. Given the album’s cultural impact, it seemed as though the Album Of The Year award was a given for the 57th Grammy Awards in 2015.

That year, she and Jay-Z took home the Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song award for their collaboration, “Drunk In Love.” Beyoncé also won the award for Best Surround Sound Album, however, her loss for Album Of The Year sent the world into a big shock.

Two years later, the world was equally shocked when her sixth album, Lemonade, lost the Album Of The Year award again. She did, however, take home the Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album, as well as Best Music Video for Lemonade single “Formation.”

In 2019, she and Jay-Z won the Best Urban Contemporary Album for their joint album, Everything Is Love. The following year, her Netflix documentary, Homecoming, which goes behind the scenes of her 2018 Coachella performance, won the award for Best Music Film.

At the 2021 ceremony, her Megan Thee Stallion collaboration, “Savage,” won the Grammys for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. “Black Parade” and “Brown Skin Girl,” which are featured in her Disney+ short film Black Is King, won the Best R&B Performance and Best Music Video awards respectively.

So although Bey has not won the coveted Album Of The Year award, each of her solo albums have won Grammys in other categories. As the artist who hold the most Grammys, its safe to say the music speaks for itself.