As the Staples Center sets up to host the 57th Grammy Awards, the public continues to tear down the show for its nominations in the rap categories. The criticism primarily stems from the decision to include Iggy Azalea’s “The New Classic” as a nominee for Best Rap Album. Iggy Azalea has been accused of profiting off the gentrification of hip-hop culture by a number of hip-hop-based media outlets. She has replied to most accusations hurled her way with social media.
Last year at the Grammys, Macklemore faced similar criticism from hip-hop media during the time he was nominated for Best Rap Album. The criticism was so severe the committee debated whether to place Macklemore in the rap category. Macklemore ended up predictably sweeping the rap category, winning both Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “Thrift Shop.” The award for Best Rap Album was assumed to go to Kendrick Lamar’s “Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City,” but Macklemore’s “The Heist” won the award instead. Macklemore apologized to Kendrick Lamar saying that Kendrick was “robbed,” and hip-hop media concurred. The people in hip-hop felt the art form was being disrespected.
This feeling of disrespect and neglect is nothing new to rappers and fans. Kanye West went on rants over the fact that his album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” was not in contention for Album of the Year, despite being widely regarded as such by a multitude of publications. Jay-Z has boycotted the Grammys before, stating that “too many major rap artists continue to be overlooked.”
Overall, I completely understand the frustration with the Grammys regarding rap music. They have undermined the genre in many ways: not broadcasting some of the awards, hosting ceremonies where no rappers performed and making some questionable decisions when giving out awards — i.e. Will Smith’s “Gettin’ Jiggy With it” beating Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life” for Best Rap Solo Performance. I don’t expect this to change anytime soon.
When the Grammys were invented, rap music didn’t exist. Rap only became a part of the Grammys once its popularity could no longer be ignored. When the Grammys finally included the genre in the award show, it gave its first rap award to Jeffrey Townes and Will Smith. This was a sign of things to come.
I expect Iggy Azalea to win any rap category she is nominated for Feb. 8. Despite lackluster reviews and a lack of sales, “The New Classic” produced massive hits in the form of “Fancy” and “Black Widow.”
I understand the frustration with these decisions. What I don’t understand is why rap fans expect anything different. I also don’t understand why rap fans and artists don’t do something about this situation. The same people who claim Kendrick Lamar was robbed last year will certainly not be protesting the Grammys this year.
Hip-hop used to have its own award shows that were held in reverence. The Source Awards no longer exist, and the BET Hip-Hop Awards are consistently skipped by most of hip-hop’s biggest artists without explanation. If people decided to celebrate the hip-hop award shows we currently have, then the genre can be better represented.
I also don’t understand why people hold the Grammys in such high regard when it comes to rap music. Tupac never won a Grammy. Nas has never won a Grammy. The Notorious B.I.G. has never won a Grammy. These rappers all had wildly successful careers, and not having a Grammy didn’t hinder their abilities to influence future rappers and sell records.
If rap fans are upset, they should protest the Grammys and invest in a hip-hop award show. When Iggy Azalea wins the Grammy for Best Rap Album, what will it mean? Nothing. One’s legacy in rap is not measured in Grammys.
Emanuel Griffin is a UF journalism freshman. His columns appear on Tuesdays.
[A version of this story ran on page 6 on 2/3/2015 under the headline “Hip-Hop: the Grammy’s black sheep"]
