5th February, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
American rapper Shawn Corey Carter, popularly known as Jay-Z has lambasted the Grammy Awards for “never giving” Beyonce, his wife, ‘Album of the Year’ category — despite her impressive record of 33 wins.
The award ceremony was held at the Peacock Theater. It was broadcast live on GRAMMY.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel.
The 54-year-old rapper queried the prestigious award during his acceptance speech after winning the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award which recognises personal and professional achievements in the music industry.
Standing on stage with his daughter 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy Carter, the rapper seized the spotlight to criticise the awards show for what he described as its snubs and inconsistencies in giving out honours to black artistes.
Jay-Z questioned why Beyonce, who has the most Grammy award wins, has never won in that category.
He also asked the Grammy organisers to think about it, adding that “that does not work”.
“We want y’all to get it right,” he said. “We love y’all, we love y’all, we just want y’all to get it right. At least get it close to right.
“Obviously it’s subjective because, you know, it’s music, and it’s opinion-based, but some things… I don’t want to embarass this young lady, 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. Some of you are gonna 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. Nah, nah, nah. When I get nervous I tell the truth!”
Jay-Z ended his speech by encouraging viewers to keep showing up, both at award shows and in life.
“You got to keep showing up. Until they give you all those accolades you think you deserve. Until they call you chairman. Until they call you a genius. Until they call you the greatest of all time,” he concluded as he raised his trophy with a smile. “You feel me?”
Beyonce has won the most Grammys in history, but has never taken home the Album of the Year award. She has been nominated for 88 Grammy Awards, winning 33 of them.
She has been nominated six times for the ‘Album of the Year’ category but has never taken the coveted prize home.
Many fans recalled when Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift’s MTV Video Music Awards speech.
Swift, 34, won her fourth Album of the Year award at this year’s Grammys, which further ignited West’s infamous interruption.