India.Arie Sounds Off On The GRAMMYs; Calls It A Popularity Contest
As the GRAMMY Awards wrapped on Sunday night, so many were left in disbelief over the show’s snubs. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis dominated this year’s rap categories, while Kendrick Lamar (nominated for seven) went home empty-handed.
India.Arie is sounding off on the issue, addressing not only Kendrick being shut out of the GRAMMYs, but how the black music community in general, is often overlooked:
Kendricklamar WAS robbed, BUT he was not the only one who was robbed. Personally, I was pleased he was able to perform and they KILLED! IT! One of the FEW moving moments of the night for ME.
Though it’s called “Music industries biggest night” the #Grammys are NOT about the music, it’s a popularity contest. The voting process allows people, to vote on name recognition alone – the music industry politics is a whole NUTHER conversation. Too much to go into here.
The American Music Awards is a show that awards sales and popularity – the #Grammys are SAID to be about the music.
If the hip hop community voted on hip hop – r&b COMMUNITY the same – same for each category – we’d see winners that reflect the MUSIC ITSELF. We all know that’s just not the way it goes.
NOW the BIGGER losers, are ALL of black music. Where was the black music community represented in last nights #Grammy show? Performers and Winners (or not) … Where were the black artists?
She also pointed out how the Isley Brothers received Lifetime Achievement Award but it wasn’t televised:
And this isn’t the first time the #Grammy’s has had a show all but excluding young black America
She continued saying how it’s no longer a surprise, but it’s not fair to those who are overlooked. And in closing out her letter, she notes that Nelson Mandela was not mentioned once:
The truth is in a perfect world diversity would matter, and respect would be rampant, but the TRUTH is, The #Grammys is a television show, and in THAT world ratings reign supreme. So, in general, bigger names take the stage, and sadly the biggest names often times ARE BIGGER drawn along racial lines from the release of an album. i.e. marketing dollars, and just general support. It’s unfortunate.
I don’t even get surprised any more, but, it still hits my sense of fairness, because I KNOW many of the artists who are overlooked. I LIVE in that world. We keep showing up and subjecting ourselves to the game, hoping MAYBE we’ll win. I was so HAPPY to see @Kendricklamar take that stage – because it is a FORM of winning, at LEAST, he was SEEN.
Speaking of diversity, congratulations to my PERSONAL favorite albums of the year – @I_GregoryPorter #LiquidSpirit @Realsnarkypuppy and @lalahhathaway on your win and THANK YOU! @pharrell for acting RIGHT in the presence of the greatness that is @Nilerodgers and #StevieWonder
Love to all #SoulBirdsWorldWide
@IndiaArie
P.S. No mention of Nelson Mandela at ALL? … and THIS is why we NEED the Image Awards AND the BET awards.
Following the show, K-Dot received some encouraging words from Jay Z and Ty Ty.
No comments:
Post a Comment