The 66th annual Grammy awards have come and gone. It was another celebration of music with many flares of misunderstanding and memorable moments.
Cultural icon and rap-genius Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Sunday. He brought his daughter, Blue Ivy, to the stage with him to accept the award. In his acceptance speech, Carter called out the recording academy for ‘obvious objectivity’.
“I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone, and never won Album of the Year,” he said, referring to his wife [Beyonce’]. “So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work. Think about that. The most Grammys, never won Album of the Year. That doesn’t work.”
He continued, “Some of you are gonna go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don’t belong in the category,” before clarifying: “When I get nervous, I tell the truth.”
It’s pretty much a guarantee that Taylor Swift is going to win big at the Grammys. She’s done-so enough to have the record for ‘Album of the Year’ wins, after winning her fourth on Sunday for Midnights. Her award was presented by the legendary songstress, Celine Dion, who made a rare appearance after announcing her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome.
Music fans began to speculate Swift’s appreciation for the moment as she seemingly ignored Dion while accepting her award.
Despite an embarrassing corner of the internet asking ‘who is Killer Mike?’, the rapper and activist won 3 Grammys for Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album. These awards were distributed during the pre-show Premiere Ceremony.
It’s disgusting that the highlight of his big moment was anchored by a “random” arrest.
Shortly after accepting his awards, he was detained for questioning and escorted off of the premises, according to responding officers.
The Los Angeles Police Department said “a man” was detained and handcuffed Sunday afternoon in connection with a “physical altercation.” He was then placed under arrest and taken to LAPD’s Central Division, the department said on X.
The world awaits the details surrounding his arrest.
Let’s take a look at who else walked away with hardware at the Grammys:
“Flowers,” Miley Cyrus
“Midnights,” Taylor Swift
“What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie,” Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
Victoria Monét
Jack Antonoff
Theron Thomas
“Flowers,” Miley Cyrus
“Ghost in the Machine,” SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers
“Midnights,” Taylor Swift
“Rumble,” Skrillex, Fred again.. and Flowdan
“Padam Padam,” Kylie Minogue
“Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022),” Fred again..
“Not Strong Enough,” boygenius
“72 Seasons,” Metallica
“Not Strong Enough,” Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, songwriters (boygenius)
“This Is Why,” Paramore
“This Is Why,” Paramore
“The Record,” boygenius
“ICU,” Coco Jones
“Good Morning,” PJ Morton featuring Susan Carol
“Snooze,” Kenny B. Edmonds, Blair Ferguson, Khris Riddick-Tynes, Solána Rowe and Leon Thomas, songwriters (SZA)
“SOS,” SZA
“Jaguar II,” Victoria Monét
“Scientists & Engineers,” Killer Mike featuring André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane
“All My Life,” Lil Durk featuring J. Cole
“Scientists & Engineers,” André Benjamin, Paul Beauregard, James Blake, Michael Render, Tim Moore and Dion Wilson, songwriters (Killer Mike featuring André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane)
“Michael,” Killer Mike
“The Light Inside,” J. Ivy
“Tight,” Samara Joy
“How Love Begins,” Nicole Zuraitis
“The Winds of Change,” Billy Childs
“Basie Swings the Blues,” The Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart
“El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2,” Miguel Zenón and Luis Perdomo
“The Omnichord Real Book,” Meshell Ndegeocello
“Bewitched,” Laufey
“As We Speak,” Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia
“Some Like It Hot,” Christian Borle, J. Harrison Ghee, Adrianna Hicks and NaTasha Yvette Williams, principal vocalists; Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Bryan Carter, Scott M. Riesett, Charlie Rosen and Marc Shaiman, producers; Scott Wittman, lyricist; Marc Shaiman, composer and lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)
“White Horse,” Chris Stapleton
“I Remember Everything,” Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves
“White Horse,” Chris Stapleton and Dan Wilson, songwriters (Chris Stapleton)
“Bell Bottom Country,” Lainey Wilson
“Eve Was Black,” Allison Russell
“Dear Insecurity,” Brandy Clark featuring Brandi Carlile
“Cast Iron Skillet,” Jason Isbell, songwriter (Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit)
“Weathervanes,” Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
“City of Gold,” Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
“All My Love for You,” Bobby Rush
“Blood Harmony,” Larkin Poe
“Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live),” Joni Mitchell
“New Beginnings,” Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. and the Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band
“Live: Orpheum Theater Nola,” Lost Bayou Ramblers and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (tie)
“All Things,” Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, songwriter
“Your Power,” Lecrae and Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“All Things New: Live in Orlando,” Tye Tribbett
“Church Clothes 4,” Lecrae
“Echoes of the South,” Blind Boys of Alabama
“X Mí (Vol. 1),” Gaby Moreno
“Mañana Será Bonito,” Karol G
“Vida Cotidiana,” Juanes
“De Todas Las Flores,” Natalia Lafourcade (tie)
“Génesis,” Peso Pluma
“Siembra: 45° Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022),” Rubén Blades con Roberto Delgado and Orquesta
“Pashto,” Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Zakir Hussain featuring Rakesh Chaurasia
“Water,” Tyla
“This Moment,” Shakti
“Colors of Royal,” Julian Marley & Antaeus
“So She Howls,” Carla Patullo featuring Tonality and the Scorchio Quartet
“We Grow Together Preschool Songs,” 123 Andrés
“What’s in a Name?,” Dave Chappelle
“The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times,” Michelle Obama
“Barbie: The Album” (Various Artists)
“Oppenheimer,” Ludwig Göransson, composer
“Star Wars Jedi: Survivor,” Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab, composers
“What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie: The Album,” Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
“I’m Only Sleeping” (The Beatles), Em Cooper, video director; Jonathan Clyde, Sophie Hilton, Sue Loughlin and Laura Thomas, video producers
“Moonage Daydream” (David Bowie), Brett Morgen, video director; Brett Morgen, video producer
“Stumpwork,” Luke Brooks and James Theseus Buck, art directors (Dry Cleaning)
“For the Birds: The Birdsong Project,” Jeri Heiden and John Heiden, art directors (Various Artists)
“Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos,” Robert Gordon and Deanie Parker, album notes writers (Various Artists)
“Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos,” Robert Gordon, Deanie Parker, Cheryl Pawelski, Michele Smith and Mason Williams, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer; Michael Graves, restoration engineer (Various Artists)
“Jaguar II,” John Kercy, Kyle Mann, Victoria Monét, Patrizio “Teezio” Pigliapoco, Neal H Pogue and Todd Robinson, engineers; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer (Victoria Monét)
“Contemporary American Composers,” David Frost & Charlie Post, engineers; Silas Brown, mastering engineer (Riccardo Muti and Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Elaine Martone
“Wagging Tongue (Wet Leg Remix),” Wet Leg, remixers (Depeche Mode)
“The Diary of Alicia Keys,” George Massenburg and Eric Schilling, immersive mix engineers; Michael Romanowski, immersive mastering engineer; Alicia Keys and Ann Mincieli, immersive producers (Alicia Keys)
“Helena’s Theme,” John Williams, composer (John Williams)
“Folsom Prison Blues,” John Carter Cash, Tommy Emmanuel, Markus Illko, Janet Robin and Roberto Luis Rodriguez, arrangers (The String Revolution featuring Tommy Emmanuel)
“In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning,” Erin Bentlage, Jacob Collier, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye, Kendrick and Amanda Taylor, arrangers (säje Featuring Jacob Collier)
“Adès: Dante,” Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
“Blanchard: Champion,” Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; Ryan Speedo Green, Latonia Moore and Eric Owens; David Frost, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
“Saariaho: Reconnaissance,” Nils Schweckendiek, conductor (Uusinta Ensemble; Helsinki Chamber Choir)
“Rough Magic,” Roomful of Teeth
“The American Project,” Yuja Wang; Teddy Abrams, conductor (Louisville Orchestra)
“Walking in the Dark,” Julia Bullock, soloist; Christian Reif, conductor (Philharmonia Orchestra)
“Passion for Bach and Coltrane,” Alex Brown, Harlem Quartet, Imani Winds, Edward Perez, Neal Smith and A.B. Spellman; Silas Brown and Mark Dover, producers
“Montgomery: Rounds,” Jessie Montgomery, composer (Awadagin Pratt, A Far Cry and Roomful of Teeth)
It was great to see some of our favorite stars dressed in their Sunday’s best, receiving honors for their hard work. This year’s show left a sour taste in music lover’s mouths, just like many others. So many questions surrounding the industry.
We would be remiss not to mention how bright of a moment it was to have Trevor Noah hosting the show (again). His natural charisma guided the night so well. The Grammy tribute to fallen musicians was fantastic, also.
Politically, the academy has got a ways to go.
