“F*k the Grammys,” said Lil Wayne on Twitter. The rapper was nominated in one category, Best Recording Package, for the art direction on his latest album Funeral. Aside from that, the legend was not nominated in any categories at the show. In fact, the last time he won a Grammy was in 2016, for his feature on “No Problem”.
At the end of last year, Wayne previously called out the Grammys, saying, “As an artist, when I see da Grammys coming up & I’m not involved nor invited; I wonder. Is it me , my musik, or just another technicality? I look around w respect & wonder competitively am I not worthy?! Then I look around & see 5 Grammys looking bak at me & I go to the studio.”
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From the fraught first year that the Grammys acknowledged hip-hop, it was clear that the then-emerging genre and the old-Hollywood music business establishment that puts the show on each year would never see eye-to-eye. Hip-hop is a youth movement; the average age of the Recording Academy was well into middle age until very, very (seriously, like 2018) recently. Hip-hop comes from the experiences of mainly underserved Black, Latin, and Asian creators; the Grammys — again, until recently — have always been very, very white.
And while the Grammys have made a concerted effort to address its shortcomings regarding its treatment of rap and hip-hop, the genre itself has undergone massive changes since The Fresh Prince first led a hip-hop boycott of the 1989 ceremony to protest the Grammys not televising the new Best Rap Performance award. For one thing, The Fresh Prince is now better known for his extensive filmography and the extreme dad energy of his Instagram and TikTok posts than he is for his mic skills.
Meanwhile, the very attributes a rap performer must display to be taken seriously have changed from night to day. Rather than reeling off rapid-fire punchlines about how “Fresh” you are, you’re more likely to switch breezily from chattering double-time cadences to cool crooning. The synthesizers and programmed drums of the early years have given way to cavernous 808s thundering away over warped samples from classical music and drumless soul loops spinning away behind intricate, ultra-violent drug tales.
So, it’d be difficult for the Grammys to “get it right” even under the best circumstances. Yet somehow, incredibly, that’s exactly what the show managed to do this year — even if no one will ever be truly satisfied with the results. The field, which included projects from California newcomer D Smoke, Midwestern coke rap kingpin Freddie Gibbs, New Orleans mystic Jay Electronica, New York veteran Nas, and Motor City rhyme mechanic Royce Da 5’9, represented one of the most balanced group’s in recent memory, pulling from multiple regions, generations, and sounds, with one thing in common: A commitment to the original tenets of “dope rhymes over dope beats.”
And while any rap fan could find plenty to complain about — once again, there was a dearth of women nominated, despite the sharp uptick in overall representation over the past several years, and no artist nominated was under 30 — there’s going to be a breaking point between having legitimate concerns and just plain moving the goalposts. In prior years, the complaint went, “The Grammys are too commercial,” only selecting projects from artists with sales numbers and widespread press, letting the importance streams overtake the value of artistic vision.
While this is a position that’s already hard enough to defend, considering the subjective nature of artistic vision in the first place, the fact remains that the Academy took long strides in addressing those concerns this year. Acknowledging longtime underground favorites like Freddie and Royce, paramount musicianship from D Smoke, and the bulletproof legacy of someone like Nas, the Grammys sent a clear message: That they heard those prior years’ complaints and took them seriously.
So, of course, it’s only natural that rap fans find something else to take issue with — namely, Nas’ win over Freddie. While both albums were collaborative efforts between two of rap’s top technicians and a pair of well-established producers in Alchemist and Hit-Boy, the fact remains that Nas is the more recognizable artist between the two among Grammy voters. He’s been a perennial contender for Best Rap Album, and while playing “what if” is always dicey, it’s almost certain that a win for Freddie over Nas would have drawn just as many vocal protests after the Queensbridge icon was once again “snubbed,” adding to his double-digit list of losses.
The fact someone like Freddie Gibbs could even receive a nod is a victory in itself — especially when you consider how many other artists were considered snubs this year. Lil Baby had one of the most-streamed albums of 2020, a No. 1 single in “The Bigger Picture,” and many rap fans’ hopes riding on him to legitimize the trap rap movement in the mainstream purview. Despite multiple female artists releasing worthy projects in 2020 or late 2019, none were nominated. No year’s field could ever be perfect, but the Gibbs nomination proves the Grammys are trying.
It also shows that maybe just adding more Black, female, or “young” voters isn’t quite enough. There’s no guarantee that these measures will ensure significant variance between voters’ tastes — after all, Grammy voters also tend to run more “intellectual” and “refined,” which helps explain why rough-edged rappers like Lil Baby might fly under their radars. That said, the show’s producers picked up the slack elsewhere; newcomers like DaBaby, Lil Baby, Megan Thee Stallion, and Roddy Ricch not only appeared on the show — one of the biggest platforms to help them launch their future bids for mainstream recognition — but Megan also won for other categories, while Chika and Doja Cat were mentioned among the Best New Artists of 2021.
Those moments count too. After all, Nas’ win was as much a result of his stature among Academy voters as it was a consolation for all the other golden gramophones he never got to display on his mantel. Cardi B pointed out as much before the show; just giving these under-the-radar artists the look helps them further their careers, which is the real goal. The Grammys aren’t the be-all, end-all. Like Nipsey Hussle — another Best Rap Album “snub” who won a different award posthumously the next year — said, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Perhaps that’s the view rap fans should take with the Grammys’ halting progress toward a more perfect relationship with hip-hop. While rap is too broad and diverse a genre to ever be able to honor every artist in every nook and cranny of rap’s various versions, there’s nothing wrong with giving them credit where it’s due, even as we ask them to consider angles they haven’t yet. That’s what they’re trying to do — heck, it’s what we should all aspire to do — and when even getting “snubbed” helps artists so much, that’s an effort that should be appreciated.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
A few weeks ago, Azealia Banks was bashing Doja Cat at every turn, calling out the rapper on social media and body-shaming her, calling her fat and bullying her on Instagram. After realizing that Doja had previously praised Azealia’s music publicly, her opinion of the “Say So” hitmaker seemingly changed. While Azealia has held less malice toward Doja Cat, she clearly still doesn’t love the Los Angeles-based singer. Still, she recognizes that Doja probably should have won a Grammy Award at Sunday night’s ceremony.
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“Dojacat deserved a Grammy,” wrote Azealia on Instagram Stories, before theorizing that she wasn’t awarded because of her work with Dr. Luke, who was previously involved in a year-long legal war with Kesha, who accused the producer of sexual, verbal, physical, and emotional abuse. “It’s def the Dr. Luke politic.”
Azealia’s commentary over the night was entertaining, including her reaction to Beyoncé winning her record-breaking twenty-eighth Grammy, which Banks says was “deserved”. She also spoke about her arch-rival Kanye West’s win, which she says gives her hope after the artist shared a video of himself urinating inside one of his Grammy Awards last year. “The fact that Kanye won a Grammy after peeing on one in the toilet gives me hope,” wrote Azealia. “I’ve gotta make a gospel song and pee on someones leg.”
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Instagram
While she previously seemed peeved that Doja Cat didn’t win a Grammy, Azealia later switched her tone again, calling out the rapper for allegedly texting her and asking her to stop body-shaming cupcakKe. “But tbh the nerve of doja to try and check me via text about body shaming cupcakKe (who threatened to shoot sukihana’s three children in the head and also called me a skinny crackhead before I even knew what a cupcakKe was) when doja works for an entire rapist. Maybe that’s the karma she gets for trying to get smart with her mother (me) and not staying in a child’s place. Hmmmph.”
Chadwick Boseman has earned his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor In A Leading Role. The nomination arrives seven months after his tragic death on August 28th, when he passed away at the age of forty-three. The entire list of 2021 Academy Award nominees can be found here.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Boseman’s Best Actor nod came following his appearance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which secured a total of five nominations; co-star Viola Davis received one for Best Actress In A Leading Role, while the film took home nods for Best Costume Design, Best Makeup And Hairstyling, and Best Production Design. While it did not receive one for Best Picture, the impressive number of nominations earned by Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom speaks to the film’s quality nonetheless.
In Boseman’s case, he’ll be joined by some prestigious company. Also nominated for Best Actor In A Leading Role as Gary Oldman for Mank, Riz Ahmed (making history as the category’s first Muslim nominee) for The Sound Of Metal, Steven Yeun for Minari, and Anthony Hopkins for The Father. It should be noted that Boseman took home the Best Actor Golden Globe a few months ago, and while they don’t always foreshadow the Oscars, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Boseman’s turn as trumpet prodigy Levee Green take home the prize.
The last actor to win a posthumous Academy Award was Heath Ledger in 2008, who won Best Actor for his iconic role as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Should you be interested in catching the 2021 Oscars, look for the ceremony to air on April 25th. Rest in peace to Chadwick Boseman — do you think he’ll secure the win for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom?
Well, today, boxing fans finally got what they wanted as boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who works for Joshua, officially told ESPN that the two have signed on for two fights. Essentially, we are guaranteed to see a rematch no matter what happens in the first fight.
This fight will help unify the Heavyweight division and give us an undisputed champion. If the match were to happen today, it’s safe to say that most people would have their money on Fury, although Joshua is still a great technical fighter, and seeing these two in the ring would be a whole lot of fun.
For now, it remains to be seen when these fights will take place although one would have to think that summer of 2021 would be a great time. This would set up a rematch in the following year, and it’s a timeline that goes along well with COVID-19 vaccinations.
Let us know who you think will win this fight, in the comments below.
The death of Breonna Taylor occurred on March 13, 2020, when officers Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove forced entry into the apartment because they suspected that Kenneth Walker was running a drug-dealing operation. Kenneth claims that the officers did not announce their entrance, so he fired one warning shot that wounded an officer in the leg. The police fired 32 shots back, six of them hitting Breonna and tragically resulting in her death. Police did not find any drugs in the apartment.
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“In view of these manifold failures by LMPD, the events that led to Ms. Taylor’s death and Mr. Walker’s injuries on March 13, 2020 — and other incidents like it — were all but inevitable,” the lawsuit said, according to the Courier-Journal.
Read the complete list of 2021 Oscar nominees below.
Best Picture The Father Judas and the Black Messiah Mank Minari Nomadland Promising Young Woman Sound of Metal The Trial of the Chicago Seven
Actor in a Leading Role Riz Ahmed, Sound of Metal Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Anthony Hopkins, The Father Gary Oldman, Mank Steven Yeun, Minari
Actress in a Leading Role Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday Vanessa Kirby, Pieces of a Woman Frances McDormand, Nomadland Carey Mulligan, Promising Young Woman
Actor in a Supporting Role Sacha Baron Cohen, The Trial of the Chicago Seven Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah Leslie Odom, Jr., One Night in Miami Paul Raci, Sound of Metal Lakeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah
Actress in a Supporting Role Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm Glenn Close, Hillbilly Elegy Olivia Colman, The Father Amanda Seyfried, Mank Yuh-Jung Youn, Minari
Best Director Thomas Vinterberg, Another Round David Fincher, Mank Lee Isaac Chung, Minari Chloe Zhao, Nomadland Emerald Fennell, Promising Young Woman
Best Cinematography Judas and the Black Messiah Mank News of the World Nomadland The Trial of the Chicago Seven
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) Borat Subsequent Moviefilm The Father Nomadland One Night in Miami The White Tiger
Best Writing (Original Screenplay) Judas and the Black Messiah Minari Promising Young Woman Sound of Metal The Trial of the Chicago Seven
Best Film Editing The Father Nomadland Promising Young Woman Sound of Metal The Trial of the Chicago Seven
Best International Feature Film Another Round Better Days Collective The Man Who Sold His Skin Quo Vadis, Aida?
Best Animated Feature Film Onward Over the Moon A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon Soul Wolfwalkers
Best Animated Short Film Burrow Genius Loci If Anything Happens Opera Yes People
Best Music (Original Song) “Fight For You,” Judas and the Black Messiah “Hear My Voice,” The Trial of the Chicago Seven “Husavik,” Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga “Io Si,” The Life Ahead “Speak Now,” One Night in Miami
Best Music (Original Score) Da Five Bloods Mank Minari News of the World Soul
Best Sound Greyhound Sound of Metal Mank News of the World Soul
Best Documentary Feature Collective Crip Camp The Mole Agent My Octopus Teacher Time
Best Documentary Short Subject Colette A Concerto Is a Conversation Do Not Split Hunger Ward A Love Song For Latasha
Best Makeup and Hairstyling Emma Hillbilly Elegy Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Mank Pinocchio
Best Costume Design Emma Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Mank Mulan Pinocchio
Best Live Action Short Film Feeling Through The Letter Room The Present Two Distant Strangers White Eye
Best Production Design The Father Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Mank News of the World Tenet
Best Visual Effects Love and Monsters The Midnight Sky Mulan The One and Only Ivan Tenet
Drew Brees is officially a retired man. Now, he will get to enjoy the fruits of his labor, while also getting to broadcast with the likes of NBC. Brees had a Hall of Fame career and at this stage, it was clear that it was time to move on and try something new. Retirement is never an easy decision although Brees has a ton of support at home, and it only made sense for him to want to branch out.
Now, the Saints will have to figure out who their quarterback for next year. Reports surfaced that Taysom Hill would be getting a $140 million contract extension although it was immediately made clear that this was voidable and only done for cap purposes. According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, Jameis Winston is still a huge part of the Saints franchise and that heading into training camp, they want Hill and Winston to battle each other for the starting role.
Winston is a much better passer than Hill although the latter is a better all-around player given what he can do as a tight end and special teams player. With this in mind, the Saints’ decision is going to be very difficult. However, if Winston gets the starting job, they can still use Hill how they’ve been doing so for the last few years.
Let us know who you think should be the Saints QB, in the comments below.