The Grammys announced their nominations this week, and just like every year, there was outrage.
Who Was Missing From The Grammys?
The Weeknd recieved zero nominations. His album sold more than any other album in the US in the first half of 2020. I have to say, that is wild from the Grammys. Summer Walker has girls from all backgrounds blasting her music on snapchat, and her album didn't make the cut for the Best R&B Project. She also took the top spot for the most streams from a female R&B artist. Lil Baby wasn't selected for the Best Rap Album category. Anyone that follows rap music, knows this man has ran 2020 with his 4x platinum album and his crazy run of features.
What Does This Tell You?
Award shows are not in touch with black music so we as consumers should not be surprised when award shows snub deserving artists. Every year fans are outraged by what establishments like the Grammys, The Brits, and XXL produce. Insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results.
What's Next?
There needs to more be BLACK OWNED award shows because to my knowledge BET is not black owned its ran by Viacom (A US mass media company). Its a shame when black culture doesn't get reprsented properly when the artists put in hard work and the stats clearly show it. 6/10 of top streamed in America were rap acts in 2019. There should be more people with hip hop backgrounds orchestrating the grammys but this is the world we live in.
I think Award shows are slowly starting to become less and less of a trusted voice in black music. I think its time for more Black social media/youtube platforms to put on awards and artists need to celebrate that like that is a Grammy. This way your investing into the CULTURE not the mainstream machine which chews you up and spits you out (Words from Poet on Halfcast Podcast). Grammys and other award shows are going to let us down, but look around of the world, and where culture respresented best? In its origin.
Talk da tings 👏🏾👏🏾
Great writing! More please!