Several rappers have voiced their discontent with the Grammy Awards, signaling a recurrent theme of dissatisfaction within the rap community. Notable figures who have aired their grievances include Eminem, Drake, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and now Jay-Z.
Eminem, the acclaimed rapper and lyricist, has had a contentious relationship with the Grammy Awards. Here’s why:
Stiffed by the process: Eminem has been nominated for Grammys multiple times but hasn’t always won. He feels that the Grammys use artists like him as a selling point for their show, only to disappoint them when it comes to the actual awards. Despite his impressive trophy collection, he remains critical of the process.
Bloods*cking Award Show: In an interview with Sway Calloway, Eminem expressed his frustration, stating that
“the Grammys “s*ck the blood out of artists” to get them to attend”
He criticized the predictability of the Album of the Year category and felt that deserving artists were often overlooked. He vowed never to attend the ceremony again, saying,
” My answer is no for a hundred million years”
Despite his boycott of the Grammys, fans did get to see Eminem perform at the Oscars in 2020, where he surprised the audience with a performance after nearly two decades.
Snoop Dogg, the legendary rapper and hip-hop icon, has consistently expressed his frustration with the Grammy Awards due to their failure to recognize his immense contributions. Here’s why Snoop Dogg has had issues with the Grammys:
Snubbed nominations: Despite being nominated a staggering 20 times, Snoop Dogg has never taken home a Grammy trophy. He has been vocal about this oversight, pointing out the discrepancy between his nominations and actual wins.
Related: Snoop Dogg throws shade at the Grammys on Instagram : Why the iconic rapper deserves more recognition
Lack of recognition: Snoop Dogg’s impact on hip-hop history is undeniable. His involvement in creating some of the most iconic records in the genre should have translated into Grammy victories. However, the lack of recognition has left him feeling overlooked and undervalued by the Recording Academy.
Songwriters Hall of Fame: Recently, Snoop Dogg received acknowledgment from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, alongside other Black music icons like Sade and Teddy Riley. This recognition highlights his significant influence as a songwriter and artist. Snoop expressed his joy and gratitude for this honor, emphasizing that
” he started as a “little kid from the East side of Long Beach with a big ass dream” and now shares this prestigious space with fellow legends
“
Snoop Dogg’s Grammy snubs have fueled his criticism of the awards system, and he continues to advocate for fair recognition of artists who have shaped the landscape of music.
Related: Joe Budden praises Eminem for dissing Benzino in new song
50 Cent never won a Grammy because he faced tough competition from other artists and genres in the categories he was nominated for. He also had a controversial image and style that may have not appealed to some of the Grammy voters. Some of the reasons why 50 Cent never won a Grammy are:
In 2004, he lost Best New Artist to Evanescence, a rock band that had a huge debut album and two Top 10 hits. 50 Cent was so upset that he walked onto the stage during their acceptance speech. He later said that he still hates Evanescence and that they disappeared after that night.
In 2006, he lost Best Rap Album to Kanye West’s Late Registration, which was critically acclaimed and commercially successful. Kanye West also outsold 50 Cent in their famous 2007 sales battle, when they both released their albums on the same day.
In 2008, he lost Best Rap Solo Performance to Kanye West’s Stronger, which was one of the biggest songs of the year and featured a sample from Daft Punk. 50 Cent’s song I Get Money was also a hit, but it was more of a street anthem than a mainstream crossover.
In 2010, he lost Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group to Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent’s own mentor, for their song Crack a Bottle. This was the only time 50 Cent was nominated with Eminem, who has won 15 Grammys in his career. 50 Cent’s song was also Crack a Bottle, but it featured Mobb Deep instead of Dr. Dre.
These are some of the possible explanations why 50 Cent never won a Grammy, despite having a successful and influential career in rap music. He has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and has won other awards, such as Billboard Music Awards, BET Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards. He has also diversified his business ventures into film, television, books, video games, and more.
However, he has not released a solo album since 2014, and he has not been nominated for a Grammy since 2010. Maybe he will make a comeback in the future and finally win a Grammy, or maybe he will continue to criticize the Grammys for snubbing him. What do you think?
Related: Rapper 50 Cent references Mary J. Blige’s income as supporting evidence to aid Taraji P. Henson
Jay-Z’s recent Grammy speech caused a stir on social media because he criticized the Grammys for never giving Beyoncé the album of the year award. He said that music is subjective, but Beyoncé has made the most influential albums of the past decade.
Related: Jay-Z tells Grammys to ‘get it right’; Slammed for drinking out of Grammy after Beyoncé speech
He also said that artists should keep showing up and demanding recognition until they get what they deserve. Some people praised Jay-Z for speaking his mind and defending his wife, while others accused him of being arrogant and disrespectful to the other nominees and winners.
His speech also sparked a debate about the Grammys’ history of snubbing Black artists and genres, especially in the major categories. What do you think of Jay-Z’s speech?
