By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA
This year’s Grammy Awards included powerful performances from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Fantasia, Joni Mitchell and more, and Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter was honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. Though it was a celebratory, talent-filled celebration, there were behind-the-scenes drama and onstage moments that have people still talking after what is known as “music’s biggest night.”
Killer Mike spun around in disbelief and joy over his big Grammy Award wins. The hip-hop star saw his fortunes immediately turn, however, as Los Angeles Police Officers waited backstage and led him out of Crypto Arena in handcuffs.
“The suspect was placed under arrest and was transported to LAPD Central Division. The suspect has been identified as 48-year-old Michael Render and booked for Misdemeanor Battery 243(A) PC, and is in the process of being released,” authorities said a news release.
Other winners included: Taylor Swift’s “Midnights,” for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album; “Flowers,” by Miley Cyrus as Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance; “What Was I Made For?,” by Billie Eilish (from the motion picture “Barbie,”), written by Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell for Song of the Year; and Victoria Monet as Best New Artist.
The awards had several surprises, including Celine Dion presenting Swift with Album of the Year and Jay-Z using his wife Beyoncé Knowles Carter as an example to discuss the politics behind awards and the Recording Academy.
“I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than anyone, and never won album of the year,” he said about Beyoncé, the most-nominated female artist in history. “Even by your own metric, that does not work. Think about that, most Grammys, never won Album of the Year.”
Beyonce has received 32 Grammy awards and 88 nominations. Jay-Z has 24 Grammys. Between them, the Carters have won at least 56 Grammys. Jay-Z went beyond his wife, noting others are snubbed too.
“Some of you are going to 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,” he said to a roar of laughter.
“When I get nervous I tell the truth,” Jay-Z added, before offering a message that he emphasized goes beyond the Grammys.
“Just in life, you’ve got to keep showing up,” he said. “Forget the Grammys, you’ve got to keep showing up until they give you all those accolades you feel like you deserve. Until they call you chairman, until they call you a genius, until they call you the greatest of all time.”
