Grammys 2021

The Grammy For Record Of The Year Goes To Billie Eilish, Again

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As one of the big four categories, Record Of The Year is always a hotly contested race. This year, the field was very crowded with viable winners across all different genres. Contenders include the massive “Black Parade” by Beyonce, “Colors” by Black Pumas, the ever-ubiquitous 2020 hit “Rockstar” by DaBaby and featuring Roddy Ricch, “Say So” from Doja Cat, a newer track called “Everything I Wanted” by Billie Eilish, one of the early leadoff singles to her new album, Future Nostalgia, “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa, “Circles” from Post Malone, and finally, “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion. So it’s safe to say almost anyone nominated in this category would make sense as a winner.

Considering the “Savage” remix already picked up a win tonight for Best Rap Performance, making Beyonce and Megan the first two women to ever win in that category, and the Houston rapper also won Best New Artist, another victory would’ve been huge for Meg. But after HER won Song Of The Year earlier in the night for her protest song collaboration with Tiara Thomas “I Can’t Breathe,” it seemed like anyone’s game. But, Grammy favorite Billie Eilish came through in the end, picking up her second win of the night. She spent the vast majority of her speech dedicating the award to Megan Thee Stallion. But don’t worry, Billie, Megan had a great night too. Check out the full winners list here and check out Billie’s speech below.

Roddy Ricch’s Grammys Performance Of ‘The Box’ Was Literally Epic

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Roddy Ricch has become well-acquainted with the Grammy Awards committee and viewers, receiving three nominations and winning one at last year’s ceremony. This year, he not only added six new nominations to his growing collection but also performed at the ceremony, delivering a sweeping rendition of his song “The Box,” prefaced by a snippet of “Heartless.” The performance was literally epic, featuring a demolished Greek god statue, with Roddy playing a grand piano and backed by a harp.

The Compton rapper has certainly had more Grammy success than his youth and relative inexperience would suggest, thanks in large part to his proximity to the late, great Nipsey Hussle. Their 2019 collaboration “Racks In The Middle” won Best Rap Performance at the 2020 Grammys, just months after he released his debut album Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial. The song was also nominated for Best Rap Song, while Roddy’s Mustard collaboration “Ballin’” was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Performance.

This year, he’s got even more bites at the apple thanks to his two 2020 No. 1 hits. While his TikTok-favorite solo single “The Box” is up for Best Rap/Sung Performance, Best Rap Song, and Song Of The Year, Roddy’s collaboration with DaBaby, “Rockstar,” has them both anticipating potential wins for Best Rap Song, Best Rap/Sung Performance, and Record Of The Year. The duo performed the song with “Da Baby Boomers” earlier in the evening.

Watch Roddy Ricch’s performance above.

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

Megan Thee Stallion Was Shocked Beyonce Showed Up For Their Record-Breaking Grammy Win

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Last year Cardi B made history by winning Best Rap Album for her debut Invasion Of Privacy, becoming the first woman to ever do so. This year, Megan and Beyonce continued to pave the way for women in hip-hop by picking up the trophy for Best Rap Performance, and later on, for Best Rap Song for their collaboration on the “Savage (Remix).” That win puts Beyonce up to 27 Grammys total — including her earlier win with “Brown Skin Girl” for Best Music Video — and she has now tied a huge Grammys record.

This was what they looked like when the win was announced:

Pretty classic surprise expressions, right there. For her part, Megan didn’t even know Beyonce was present at the ceremony, so got another big surprise when she saw Bey walking up to the stage to help accept the trophy:

Finally, hearing from Beyonce in person was almost gift enough, and the way her and Megan have supported each other has been pretty inspiring, too.

But before they could even get off the stage, tonight’s host Trevor Noah stopped the pair to let them know with the addition of two more Grammys tonight, Beyonce has now tied the record for most awards any female artist has received. That doesn’t mean we’re not still mad Lemonade was snubbed, but it does help a little.

Beyonce Now Has More Grammy Wins Than Any Singer Ever

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When the Recording Academy unveiled their list of nominations for 2021, Beyonce led the pack at nine nominations. This made her the most Grammy-nominated female artist, with 79 nods to her name. But after Sunday’s ceremony, the singer boasts an exciting victory: Beyonce officially broke the record for the most Grammy Awards given to any singer, male or female, ever.

Beyonce was awarded four 2021 Grammys, bringing her Grammy win total to 28. This means that Beyonce has the most Grammys out of any singer. She was awarded for Best Music Video for her song “Brown Skin Girl,” Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for her verse on Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage (Remix),” and finally, Best R&B Performance for “Black Parade.” In her speech accepting the Best R&B Performance Grammy, Beyonce thanked all the “Black kings and queens” that inspire her artistry:

“As an artist, I believe it’s my job, and all our jobs, to reflect the times. It’s been such a difficult time, so I wanted to uplift, encourage, and celebrate all of the beautiful Black kings and queens that continue to inspire me and inspire the whole world. This is so overwhelming. I’ve been working my whole life, since I was nine years old. I can’t believe this happened, it’s such a magical night. I know my daughter is watching, Blue, congratulations. She won a Grammy tonight, I’m so proud of you and I’m so honored to be your mommy — all your mommies. Y’all are my babies.”

Watch Beyonce’s acceptance speech below and check out the full list of 2021 Grammy winners here.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Doja Cat Pulled Out All The Stops For A Futuristic Grammys Performance Of ‘Say So’

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Doja Cat‘s given some memorable performances of her No. 1 hit “Say So” over the past year, but when it came to “Music’s Biggest Night,” she pulled out all the stops. Doja, who’s earned a reputation for innovative and elaborate award show performances, made sure her Grammys performance would top them all as she enters the album cycle for her third full-length LP, Planet Her. Elaborate choreography, dazzling lasers, and a Janet Jackson-esque vinyl outfit defined Doja’s performance.

While “Say So” is nominated for two awards — including Best Pop Solo Performance and Record Of The Year — Doja herself is also nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy after winning the same award at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. Ironically, she was nominated for both after dropping her second major-label album Hot Pink, which was a commercial and critical success after her debut, Amala, was mostly overlooked the year before.

Everything changed when Doja released the meme-rap, troll-baiting single “Mooo!” for fun, garnering a massive wave of attention for that first project. As more fans realized that she was a serious artist with a lot more to offer than quirky bovine puns, they tapped into her smart, genre-blending proclivities and streamed Hot Pink to the top 10 of the Billboard 200. A TikTok trend using “Say So,” a timely remix of the song featuring Nicki Minaj, and a risque promise from Doja Cat herself helped turn “Say So” into a No. 1 hit — and earn it a place on the 2021 Grammy nominations shortlist.

Watch Doja Cat’s performance above.

Lil Baby’s Fiery Grammys Performance Of ‘The Bigger Picture’ Recreates A Familiar Scene

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Whether or not you believe Lil Baby was snubbed for major music awards throughout 2020, there is absolutely no denying that he’s racked up the wins where they count. Case in point, even if he doesn’t win a Grammy Award at tonight’s show, he still got a massive platform from which to perform his nominated song, “The Bigger Picture,” exposing him to thousands of potential new fans. The Atlanta trapper delivered a cinematic performance, bringing his sincere words to life with an unexpected cameo from fellow ATLien Killer Mike.

Lil Baby was nominated for both Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “The Bigger Picture.” While Megan Thee Stallion took home the golden gramophone for Best Rap Performance already — incensing fans who are already convinced that Baby was snubbed for awards at all the other major shows, including the BET Hip-Hop Awards, the AMAs, and the Billboard Music Awards — Baby has already made it clear he doesn’t care much about which awards he wins or loses, so long as he gets paid.

With the increased attention that comes with performing on one of television’s most-watched nights, combined with Baby’s first Super Bowl advert earlier this year, those checks are sure to come — even if he was overlooked for the 2021 Presidential inauguration.

Watch Lil Baby’s performance above.

Post Malone Gave A Somber, Gothic ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’ Performance At The 2021 Grammys

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Taking the stage at tonight’s 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, Post Malone transformed his song “Hollywood’s Bleeding” into a Gothic ballad, leaning into the song’s murky subject matter all the way for perfomance that made him look like a vampire hunter. The Texan genre-bender went with a Gregorian choir for backing, appearing in an all-black ensemble, his leather trenchcoat adorned in silver crosses.

Post Malone is once again nominated for a variety of Grammy Awards at tonight’s ceremony, competing for Album, Record, and Song Of The Year for Hollywood’s Bleeding and “Circles,” respectively. Hollywood’s Bleeding, which was the top-selling album of 2019, wasn’t eligible for the 2020 Grammys due to its release after the cutoff in September. However, the album — which also featured the hits “Take What You Want” featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Travis Scott, “Goodbyes” featuring Young Thug, and “Sunflower” featuring Swae Lee — continued its chart dominance through 2020, remaining in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 all 52 weeks of the last year. Meanwhile, “Sunflower,” which also appeared on the soundtrack from Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, was eligible for the 2020 Grammys, receiving nominations for Record Of The Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Aside from competing for Grammys, Post’s had a busy year. He performed in a virtual concert for Pokemon Day 2021, celebrating the 25-year anniversary of the original video game’s release and its resulting legacy of cultural ubiquity. He also hopped on the NFT trend, offering fans a chance to join him for a game of beer pong.

Watch Post Malone’s performance above.

Cardi B And Megan Thee Stallion’s Wild 2021 Grammys Performance Combined ‘Savage’ And ‘Up’ With ‘WAP’

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After a whirlwind summer that saw their collaboration go No. 1, take over the national discourse, and “piss off a bunch of Republicans for no reason,” Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion finally got to perform a watered-down version of the raunchy “WAP” on the Grammys.

Opting to use the clean version — which contains one of the three words Cardi says she hates the most — Cardi and Meg hit the stage together for a smashing, roaring 20s-inspired performance. Opening with a jazzy medley of Meg’s “Body” and “Savage,” Cardi appeared via a wild, LED screen, dancing in a gleaming futuristic ensemble to start her performance with her new song “Up.” Then Meg joined her after a very quick costume change for a performance of “WAP” backed by a giant stripper shoe with a heel that doubled as a pole.

After releasing “Up,” the follow-up to “WAP,” Cardi commented on the reaction to her and Meg’s hit, saying she was surprised because it was “really mild” compared to the continuum of randy sex raps from previous female stars like Lil Kim and Trina. The song’s title was censored at the Emmys, confusing and delighting fans, while “WAP” became a political lightning rod, drawing responses from the likes of Republican Congressional candidates, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Cardi even joked she was originally supposed to perform the song at the 2021 Presidential inauguration.

“WAP” isn’t nominated for an award this year, but Cardi made sure to congratulate overlooked, under-the-radar nominees ahead of the ceremony. Meanwhile, Megan actually did win an award before the televised portion of the ceremony for her “Savage” remix with Beyonce, making them the first women to win the Best Rap Performance award.

Watch Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s performance above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Bruno Mars And Anderson .Paak Gave A Lively Tribute To Little Richard At The 2021 Grammys

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The Grammys are a time to celebrate all of the achievements in music, from up-and-coming artists to legendary stars. It’s also a time that the Recording Academy pays tribute to all of the iconic musicians that have passed away in the previous year. Unfortunately, 2020 saw the death of venerable songwriters like John Prine, Little Richard, Kenny Rogers, and Bill Withers. In order to honor Little Richard’s legacy, Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars performed a lively medley of the late musician’s classics.

In front of a glimmering backdrop, .Paak and Mars, who together form the new duo Silk Sonic, were joined by The Free Nationals for the set. They opened the performance with an energetic rendition of Little Richard’s “Tall Sally” before swiftly moving into a version of “Good Golly Miss Molly.”

Their tribute wasn’t the only time Silk Sonic took the Grammys stage Sunday night. Ahead of honoring Little Richard, .Paak and Mars performed their Silk Sonic debut single “Leave The Door Open.”

Watch a clip of Mars, .Paak, and The Free Nationals pay tribute to Little Richard at the 2021 Grammys above, and find a full list of all the winners here.

Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

HER’s ‘I Can’t Breathe’ Wins Song Of The Year At The 2021 Grammys

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Of all the awards the Recording Academy awards at the Grammys, one of the most coveted is for Song Of The Year. This year, they’ve given the sought-after Grammy to HER for her outstanding protest track “I Can’t Breathe.”

While HER’s “I Can’t Breathe” is the official Grammy winner for Song Of The Year, she was facing some major competition in the category. Beyonce was nominated for “Black Parade,” Roddy Ricch for “The Box,” Taylor Swift for “Cardigan,” Post Malone for “Circles,” Dua Lipa for “Don’t Start Now,” Billie Eilish for “Everything I Wanted,” and JP Saxe and Julia Michaels for “If The World Was Ending.”

HER released “I Can’t Breathe” during the Black Lives Matter protests last June. At the time, HER said she wanted to track to promote equality and peace:

“I really want to recognize all of the people across various communities that are promoting justice and equality and peace and passion. We need that unity right now, so this first song is called ‘I Can’t Breathe.’ Just by the title, you know that it means something very painful and very revealing, and I think it’s necessary. These lyrics were kind of easy to write because it came from a conversation of what’s happening right now, what’s been happening, and the change that we need to see. I think music is powerful when it comes to change and when it comes to healing, and that’s why I wrote this song, to make a mark in history. And I hope this song does that.”

Of course, last year’s Song Of The Year Grammy was awarded to Billie Eilish after her track “Bad Guy.” The song had gone No. 1 shortly after it release and knocked Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” off the top spot after it had been there for a record-breaking 19 weeks straight.

Find the full list of this year’s Grammy winners and nominees here.

Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.