Beyonce Breaks Grammy Record With Best R&B Performance Win at 2021 Grammys
“At Sunday night's Grammy Awards (March 14), Beyoncé officially broke the record for most Grammy wins by a female artist, or by any singer, when she took home her 28th Grammy for best R&B performance for her song "Black Parade." ...Beyoncé is now tied with Quincy Jones as the second-most awarded person in Grammy history.” - Stephen Daw, Billboard
Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Win Best Music Video at 2021 Grammys
“Beyoncé has won Best Music Video at the 2021 Grammy Awards. Her visual for “BROWN SKIN GIRL” took home the award over videos by Future and Drake (“Life Is Good”), Harry Styles, (“Adore You”), Anderson .Paak (“Lockdown”), and Woodkid (“Goliath”). It marks the first Grammy Award for Beyoncé’s daughter and the song’s featured artist, Blue Ivy. Jenn Nkiru co-directed the video with Beyoncé; the song also features SAINt JHN and WizKid.” - Madison Bloom, Pitchfork
Yes, Beyoncé made Grammys history, but the Recording Academy still failed her
“Beyoncé lost the song and record awards — both nominations were for her song “Black Parade,” which she released on Juneteenth amid last summer’s nationwide racial-justice protests… What’s still missing is the academy’s aligning the history books — as embodied in the big awards that people remember — with the dimensions of her career.” - Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times
H.E.R. Wins Song of the Year, Declares on Stage: "We Are the Change We Wish to See"
“Backstage in the press room, Wilson spoke further on the song. ‘It really means the world because when we wrote the song it came from a conversation and we honestly were coming from the perspective of our own personal feelings and then it turned into being part of the movement and being part of history.’ She added, ‘I think this song is going to be a stamp in time and people are going to think of this song when they think of George Floyd, when they think of Breonna Taylor, when they think of all these people that we're still fighting for.’” - Trilby Beresford, The Hollywood Reporter
Lil Baby Enlists Kendrick Sampson, Tamika Mallory and Killer Mike for Social Justice-Focused Grammys Performance
“Following an intro from James Baldwin, the performance opened with Sampson’s character being gunned down by a police officer. The scene seemed to echo the killing of Rayshard Brooks, who was shot by police at a Wendy’s in Atlanta, Ga. in June 2020. Mallory and Killer Mike appeared during interludes of Lil Baby’s performance, decrying police brutality and calling for equality and safety for Black people, with Mallory standing at a lectern surrounded by a group of protestors and demanding action from the Biden administration specifically.” - Michele Amabile Angermiller and Angelique Jackson, Variety
Watch the epic Grammys performance here and the original music video below:
Fans Celebrate Nas Winning First-Ever Grammy
“Nas’ King’s Disease beat out D Smoke’s Black Habits, Jay Electronica’s A Written Testimony, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist’s Alfredo and Royce da 5’ 9”’s The Allegory.Historically, Nas has come close to taking home the Grammy but could never manage to edge out the other nominees. He has 14 total nominations. In 1996, he was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance for “If I Ruled The World (Imagine That).” In 1999, 2007, 2008, and 2012, he was nominated for Best Rap Album for projects I Am, Hip Hop Is Dead, Untitled, and Life Is Good. 2012 saw Nas getting noms for “Daughters” (Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance) and “Cherry Wine” with the late Amy Winehouse (Best Rap/Sung Collaboration).” - Eric Diep, Complex
Fisk Jubilee Singers win first Grammy in 150-year career
“[T]he vocal group's "Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album)" was named Best Roots Gospel Album, earning them their first Grammy since forming in 1871… The winning album was recorded live at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium and featured guest artists Ruby Amanfu, Keb’ Mo’, Lee Ann Womack, The Fairfield Four, Rod McGaha, Derek Minor, Shannon Sanders, Rodney Atkins, Jimmy Hall and CeCe Winans.” - Dave Paulson, Nashville Tennessean
NOLA singer, songwriter PJ Morton wins Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album
“On Gospel According to PJ - his first full-length gospel project, which debuted #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Album chart - Morton finally returns to those roots with an impressive list of collaborators: Brian Courtney Wilson, Commissioned, Darrel ‘MusiqCity’ Walls, J Moss, Jermaine Dolly, Kim Burrell, Kirk Franklin, Le’Andria Johnson, Lena Byrd Miles, Mary Mary, Smokie Norful, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, The Clark Sisters, Travis Greene, Yolanda Adams, Zacardi Cortez, and his father Bishop Paul S. Morton.” - Fox 8 New Orleans