Per usual, the Grammys have prompted discourse about the coveted Album Of The Year award. Many viewers were disappointed that SZA’s critically acclaimed sophomore album SOS didn’t win the award, however, SZA herself didn’t seem to be fazed.
On the night of the 2024 Grammys, SZA won three awards — Best Progressive R&B Album for SOS, Best R&B Song for “Snooze,” and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her Phoebe Bridgers collaboration, “Ghost In The Machine.” In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, SZA expressed her gratitude for winning those three awards, despite not winning Album Of The Year.
“I’m grateful I won three,” SZA said. “I could have left with nothing and I didn’t, and I’m grateful. My parents got to see it and I didn’t bomb on live television, and that was so scary. And I faced some really big fears and I’m just happy that it all went well, genuinely. And I’m happy for everybody.”
Also on Grammy night, SZA delivered a killer performance of the SOS fan favorites, “Kill Bill” and “Snooze.” She also shared a new song, “Saturn,” which is said to appear on her upcoming album, LANA.
When asked about the new album, SZA remained tight-lipped, noting that she doesn’t want the energy of the album to change.
“I’m just kind of here while energy is forming and I’m just trying to allow it to do what it needs to do, and my voice just follows whatever the frequency is,” she said. “So I feel like I want to allow it to finish shaping itself and form itself before I speak on it and possibly change the trajectory of what it could be. But I will say I’m in a beautiful space creatively and I feel just very new.”
After sweeping the Grammys Hip-Hop categories, Killer Mike was spotted led through Crypto.com arena in handcuffs. With little official information available, Killer Mike released an official statement to The Source:
I first want to extend my appreciation to the Grammy’s Committee for recognizing me and my team for the work that went into ‘MICHAEL.’ We are incredibly proud and are basking in this moment. I am also grateful that one of my prayers has been answered – the day after my Grammy win – I learned that my son, who has been on the list for a kidney for years, finally has a match. Obviously, we are elated. I do want to note that last night, my team and I fielded a number of calls from concerned fans and colleagues wanting to know if I was OK. I greatly appreciate the concern and support, but I am better than OK. As you can imagine, there was a lot going and some confusion around which door my team and I should enter. We experienced an over-zealous security guard but my team and I have the upmost confidence that I will ultimately be cleared of all wrongdoing. Until that time, keep listening to ‘Michael,’ and keep going after your dreams.
– Killer Mike
Ahead of the statement, a source in Mike’s camp revealed the rapper was detained and charged with a misdemeanor while collecting his awards and navigating confusion on where to head for the next portion of the night. They believe Mike will be exonerated.
Congrats again to Killer Mike for a stellar Grammy weekend.
As if the night couldn’t get any more epic, Drake has decided to add another name to the fold. On February 5, the “First Person Shooter” rapper took his Instagram official to announce that Lil Durk will officially join the tour soon. Following Lil Durk’s recent win at the 2024 Grammys for Best Melodic Rap Performance, this is the perfect way for him to kick off his year.
Although Lil Durk hit the road in 2023 for his Sorry For The Drought Tour, he was forced to cancel multiple dates due to health concerns. With his health seemingly in a better place, Lil Durk can reunite with those who could not catch him live before. It also allows him and J. Cole to perform their now Grammy Award-winning collaboration, “All My Life,” nationwide.
At this time, it is unclear if Lil Durk will be a fixture on the tour until it wraps up in mid-April. So, be sure to stay tuned for further details. Continue below to view the It’s All A Blur Tour — Big As The What? schedule.
Drake And J. Cole’s ‘It’s All A Blur Tour — Big As The What?’ dates
2/7 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
2/8 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
2/12 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Arena
2/13 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
2/16 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
2/17 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
2/20 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
2/21 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
2/24 – Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
2/25 – Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
2/27 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center
2/28 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center
3/2 – Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
3/3 – Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
3/5 – Memphis, TN @ FedEx Forum
3/6 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
3/7 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
3/10 – Lexington, KY @ Rupp Arena
3/14 – San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center
3/15 – San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center
3/18 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center
3/19 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Paycom Center
3/23 – Sunrise, FL @ Amerant Bank Arena ~
3/24 – Sunrise, FL @ Amerant Bank Arena ~
3/27 – Birmingham, AL @ Legacy Arena at The BJCC ~
4/4 – Belmont Park, NY @ UBS Arena ~
4/5 – Belmont Park, NY @ UBS Arena ~
4/8 – Memphis, TN @ FedEx Forum ~
4/15 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
4/16 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
~ Dates without J. Cole
Drake And J. Cole’s ‘It’s All A Blur Tour — Big As The What?’ poster
The 2024 Grammy Awards were full of surprises. Killer Mike was one of the most discussed emcees in the rap categories for several reasons.
Firstly, the “Motherless” rapper shocked attendees when his album Michael swept three major categories (Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song for “Scientists & Engineers,” and Best Rap Performance again for “Scientists & Engineers”), which he didn’t mind pointing it out in his acceptance speech.
Breaking: Rapper Killer Mike has been taken away in handcuffs in https://t.co/aF2yiyTHol arena after winning 3 #Grammys during telecast (Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “Scientists & Engineers,” Best Rap Album for Michael) “Free Mike” someone shouts as he walks past. pic.twitter.com/4epfmzqMt8
However, today (February 5), Killer Mike has but the whispers to rest by releasing a statement regarding his arrest. According to Killer Mike, his arrest was the result of a rocky encounter with event security.
Read Killer Mike’s complete statement below.
I first want to extend my appreciation to the Grammy’s Committee for recognizing me and my team for the work that went into ‘Michael.’ We are incredibly proud and are basking in this moment. I am also grateful that one of my prayers has been answered – the day after my Grammy win – I learned that my son, who has been on the list for a kidney for years, finally has a match. Obviously, we are elated.
I do want to note that last night, my team and I fielded a number of calls from concerned fans and colleagues wanting to know if I was OK. I greatly appreciate the concern and support, but I am better than OK. As you can imagine, there was a lot going on, and there was some confusion around which door my team and I should enter. We experienced an over-zealous security guard but my team and I have the upmost confidence that I will ultimately be cleared of all wrongdoing. Until that time, keep listening to ‘Michael,’ and keep going after your dreams.
The Best New Artist category at the Grammys each year is one of the most coveted trophy. It’s an artist’s first time being nominated for a Grammy. For many of them, it’s their first foray into the awards circuit, kicking off a whirlwind of press, events, and other industry recognition. For others, it’s an acknowledgment that their years of hard work have paid off. Many past winners were budding artists who quickly made their way into superstardom, like Adele, Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, and Billie Eilish.
The 2024 Best New Artist nominees represent a wide assortment of genres, styles, and levels of fame. From a rapper being introduced as “the biggest artist in the world” (Ice Spice, of course), to an artist who beat the odds and has climbed the Country music charts (Jelly Roll), Spotify’s Best New Artist Party spotlighted the range of talent in this years’ Best New Artist category at the Grammys.
The event kicked off Grammy weekend by bringing each Best New Artist nominee to the stage (with the notable absence of Fred Again..) to give a taste of their catalog with a handful of songs. The husband and wife folk duo The War And Treaty were the first to take the stage, setting the tone for the remainder of the evening with stunning, soulful songs and messages of love and unity. The duo wasn’t the only Nashville-based artist represented on the stage. Rising country star Jelly Roll made it clear he’s come a long way since selling mixtapes from the trunk of his car. With his earnest charisma and confessional ballads that speak to addiction and finding faith, the musician had the crowd singing along to songs like “Need A Favor” and “Son Of A Sinner.” He even brought out fellow country singer Lainey Wilson, who, adorned in a cowboy hat and classic Western get-up, delivered their joint track” “Save Me.”
Getty Image / Getty For Spotify
Confessional music seemed to be the unofficial theme of the night as folk favorite Noah Kahan took the stage to the delight of many screaming fans in the audience. The Vermont-based singer whose 2022 album Stick Season catapulted him into fame showcased a few of his cutting ballads like “Dial Drunk,” which he clearly had a blast performing despite the somber subject matter. Kahan also brought out fellow Best New Artist nominee Gracie Abrams, who had taken the stage just before him, for a rendition of their recent collab “Everywhere, Everything.”
Other musicians like Victoria Monét and Coco Jones proved they were made to live in the limelight with their expertly choreographed sets. Jones, who has found success on the Disney-Channel-star-to-Grammy-nominee-pipeline showed off her impressive vocals with a swooning performance of “ICU” and “Double Back.” Monét gave perhaps the most energetic set of the night, managing to land challenging dance moves while putting her entire heart into a sultry rendition of “Jaguar” and the Grammy-nominated “On My Mama.” (She would go on to win the award for Best New Artist at the Grammy’s ceremony.)
Getty Image / Getty for Spotify
Ice Spice was perhaps the most-anticipated (and as it turned out, the shortest) set of the night, according to the snippets of conversations I picked up on in the crowd. The rapper, who has received cosigns from everyone from Taylor Swift to Nicki Minaj, took the stage with her usual swagger. Nearly everyone’s phone was up as she delivered her most recent track “Think U The Sh*t (Fart)” and TikTok hit “Deli” before thanking everyone for their support and sauntering off the stage.
Whether they were nominated for just one category or, like Monét, one of the most-nominated artists at the 2024 Grammys, each artist was beyond grateful to be a part of the lineup. Kahan thanked the audience and the Recording Academy for his recognition, while also joking he’s still waiting to hear back from the Kids’ Choice Awards: “I’m still waiting to get slimed.” Similarly, Abrams noted how much she idolizes everyone she shared the stage with. Jelly Roll was also honored to be a part of the lineup, but for different reasons. Straight from Nashville, Jelly Roll noted the difference between his humble Nashville beginnings and the ritzy Los Angeles industry event. “I’m surprised y’all are rocking with me,” he said to the crowd, many of whom knew every word to his songs.
Win or lose, being nominated for Best New Artist is an honor in of itself. But whoever wins, Spotify’s Best New Artist Party showed that any of the ten deserve the trophy.
In a night filled with celebration and recognition, the 2024 Grammy Awards took an unexpected turn as Jay Z, while accepting the prestigious Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, used his platform to call out The Recording Academy for what he perceived as a snub towards his wife, Beyoncé. The Brooklyn mogul didn’t hold back as he addressed the audience, highlighting the discrepancy between Beyoncé’s unparalleled success and the Academy’s failure to honor her with Album of the Year accolades.
During his speech he said, “I’m just saying, we want y’all to get it right. We love y’all; we love y’all; we want you to get it right, or at least get it close to right, and obviously it’s subjective … because it’s music and it’s opinion-based, but some things — I don’t wan to embarrass this young lady” — referring to Beyoncè — “but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won album of the year, so even by your own metrics that doesn’t work. Think about that. The most Grammys and never won an album of the year. That doesn’t work.
“Some of you are going to go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed,” he continued. “Some of you may get robbed, some of you don’t belong in the category — when I get nervous I tell the truth.”
His words resonated deeply with fans and fellow artists alike, igniting a conversation about the criteria used by The Recording Academy to determine nominees and winners.
In a seemingly unrelated but equally impactful statement, he made a comment about artists feeling “robbed,” a remark that some interpreted as a veiled reference to Nicki Minaj and her fanbase, the Barbz. This offhand comment quickly caught attention on social media platforms, with fans speculating about potential underlying tensions within the music industry.
The Barbz, known for their unwavering support of Nicki Minaj, took to social media to express their disappointment and frustration, interpreting Jay Z’s comment as a direct jab at their favorite artist. The controversy surrounding Jay Z’s speech added fuel to the ongoing debate about fairness and transparency in music award shows, with fans and artists alike questioning the integrity of the selection process.
While Jay Z’s intention may have been to advocate for greater recognition of artists like Beyoncé and highlight the need for a fairer system within The Recording Academy, his comments inadvertently spark
ed controversy within the music community.Thoughts?
Drake has had a contentious relationship with the Grammys over the past few years. His and 21 Savage’s album Her Loss spawned four nominations at the 2024 ceremony, which Drake, who has withdrawn Grammy nods before, presumably only allowed to not deprive Savage of the opportunity. He didn’t show up to last night’s (February 4) show, but he had a message for those who did.
In an Instagram Story posted shortly before the ceremony started, Drake wrote, “All you incredible artists remember this show isn’t the facts it’s just the opinion of a group of people who’s name are kept a secret (literally you can google it) congrats to anybody winning anything for hip hop but this show doesn’t dictate sh*t in our world.”
Drake’s message was shared alongside a clip of his acceptance speech at the 2019 Grammys, when he won Best Rap Song for “God’s Plan” (his most recent Grammy win). He said, “We play in an opinion-based sport, not a factual-based sport. […] You’ve already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you’re a hero in your hometown… Look, if there’s people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain, in the snow, spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don’t need this right here, I promise you. You already won.”
The 2024 Grammy Awards field for Album Of The Year included some stiff competition, even as the number of nominees in the “Big Four” General Field categories was reduced from ten to eight. From Jon Batiste to Taylor Swift to SZA, all of the albums could easily qualify for the award and put up a sturdy argument for winning it. But in the end, only one artist could walk away with the gold gramophone: Taylor Swift for her album Midnights.
During her speech, Swift gave praise to Lana Del Rey, who stood nearby, but downplayed the award, saying that she got the same feeling for every small achievement when it comes to songwriting and recording. With the award win, the Midnights singer became the most-awarded Album Of The Year winner with four wins. She has won for Fearless (at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards), 1989 (at the 58th Grammy Awards), Folklore (at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards), and now, Midnights. Ironically, earlier in the evening, Jay-Z read the Recording Academy the riot act while accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, criticizing the sheer number of snubs of his wife Beyoncé.
Watch Taylor Swifts’ Album Of The Year acceptance speech above and check out the rest of Uproxx’s 2024 Grammy coverage here.
Each year, music fans and critics alike try their best to guess who will walk away with a trophy during the Grammy Awards. This year was quite exhausting, considering the massive number of categories (98 in total). The 2024 Grammys most nominated acts, like SZA and Victoria Monét are shoo-ins for several major categories. But, the Best New Artist category is elusive.
During this year’s ceremony, Victoria Monét took home the win (as most predicted). The “On My Mama” singer beat out Coco Jones, Gracie Abrams, Fred Again, Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Noah Kahan, Victoria Monét, and The War And Treaty.
As she headed to the stage to accept the award, she couldn’t help but hold back tears. In her speech, she thanked her collaborators, including producers Deputy, D Mile, and more. When the nominations were first announced, Victoria and her family shared their live reactions to hearing that she secured seven nods (which made her the second most nominated act).
Earlier in the evening, Victoria’sJaguar II album snagged two wins for Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
Last year’s winner, jazz prodigy Samara Joy, did the honors of handing Victoria the ward this year.
View Uproxx’s complete coverage of the 2024 Grammy Awards here. Check out the complete list of winners during the evening here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Late last year, Uproxx called Burna Boy the perfect ambassador for Afrobeats to the rest of the world, especially the United States, after his sold-out arena tour stop in Los Angeles. Tonight, he continued in that role with a medly performance of his songs, “On Form” and “Sittin On Top Of The World” on the 2024 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
Burna was joined in the latter by Brandy, whose song was sampled her 1998 hit “Top Of The World,” and 21 Savage, who performed a laid-back verse in the vein of Mase, who was featured on the original.
The performance — and Burna’s four nominations this year — proved why Burna has held the role since Afrobeats’ breakout stateside, as his magnetism emanted off the stage. Burna’s been one of the genre’s biggest artists for the past seven years after singing to Atlantic Records in the US in 2017 and releasing a string of critically-acclaimed, fan-favorite albums, which includes African Giant, Twice As Tall, Love, Damini, and 2023’s I Told Them….
The latter garnered Burna his four nominations this year: Best Global Music Album; Best African Music Performance for “City Boys”; Best Global Music Performance for “Alone”; and Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Sittin’ On Top Of The World.” Going into tonight’s ceremony Burna held one previous win for Twice As Tall , which took home Best Global Music Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021.
Watch Burna Boy’s performance above and check out Uproxx’s full 2024 Grammy Awards coverage here.
Burna Boy is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
