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Jay Z questions the Grammys over Beyonce’s failure to win the Album of the Year
Jay-Z took a stand at the Grammy Awards, expressing his dissatisfaction with the Recording Academy for not honoring his wife, Beyoncé, with an Album of the Year accolade. The 99 Problems hitmaker, who was bestowed with the Dr. Dre Global Impact award during the ceremony, seized the moment to critique the Recording Academy’s track record of what he perceived as significant oversights.
In his acceptance speech, Jay-Z, a 24-time Grammy winner and the most decorated rapper (a record he shares with long-time collaborator Kanye West), channeled the spirit of Kanye West as he transformed his speech into a passionate critique. The rapper questioned the Recording Academy’s credibility, highlighting what he sees as consistent failures in their decision-making.
Jay-Z also shared his own Grammy-related disappointments, recounting his early heartbreaks, including his decision to boycott the Grammys in 1998 due to the Recording Academy’s failure to nominate DMX for Rap Album of the Year. This vocal critique reflects Jay-Z’s commitment to addressing perceived injustices within the Grammy Awards system.
“We just want you all to get it right but at least close to right,” Jay Z chided the recording academy while accepting the award alongside his daughter Blue Ivy.
“I don’t want to embarrass this young lady,” he told the audience, “but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album of the Year. 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.”
Jay-Z's #Grammys speech pic.twitter.com/AWl6snvaPO
— JAY-Z Daily (@JAY_Z_Daily) February 5, 2024
He acknowledged that the honor is subjective, but he thinks some choices—like Beyonce’s loss of the Album of the Year award—are just plain inexcusable.
The boycott by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, who won the inaugural hip-hop Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance for their 1988 smash song, “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” was brought up by Jay-Z in his address. Because the Recording Academy declined to broadcast the award presentation on television, the pair chose to abstain from the event.
Artists have been criticizing the Recording Academy for years for mishandling their works, classifying them incorrectly, and not giving their goods the recognition they deserve.