The 67th Annual Grammy Awards occurred in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 2. Just a few weeks ago, the Eaton fires ravaged parts of LA and Altadena, raising questions about the reality of this event. However, the Grammys are not only important for the artists in attendance; they provide jobs to all who set up, cater, and ensure that the overall event runs smoothly. Major events like this impact the greater LA community and, in times of uncertainty, provide a sense of unity. Throughout the evening, they promoted MusiCares, a non-profit collecting donations in collaboration with the Recording Academy to help victims of the fires. They raised almost $9 million dollars on Sunday night and have continued their efforts in helping the city of LA.
The night’s first performance came from Billie Eilish, who sang her summer hit “Birds of a Feather,” but the artist who set the tone for the night was Miss Sabrina Carpenter. From her look on the red carpet, which paid homage to actress Shirley Maclaine in What a Way to Go! (1964), to the stage, where she channeled Goldie Hawn’s performance of “Nobody Does It Like Me” (1978). Her performance gave us old Hollywood glam and camp, not taking herself too seriously and looking stunning while doing so. After singing her hit songs of the summer, “Espresso” and “Please, Please, Please,” Sabrina went on to win Best Pop Vocal Album for “Short ‘n Sweet” and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Espresso”. For all her fans who remember her from her Disney Channel days, it was great to see all her hard work pay off and not just make it to the Grammys, but to score two wins!
Sabrina wasn’t the only pop princess to grace the stage and snag a win at their first Grammys. Midwestern Princess Chappell Roan brought the Pink Pony Club to the Grammy stage (no, seriously, there was a giant pink pony on stage) and rocked her first Grammy performance. After getting everyone to spell “HOTTOGO” all summer, Chappell quickly became loved not just for fun lyrics and colorful style but for their outspoken and proud character. Embracing her lesbian identity and shutting down disrespectful photographers on red carpets, she represents many young women who are not afraid to be themselves and demand the same respect as their male counterparts. Even in her acceptance speech for Best New Artist, Chappell called out the music industry for not giving up-and-coming artists insurance and livable wages. It can be easy to forget that not every celebrity starts out as wealthy, so for the young men and women who are working hard to pursue their passion, Chappell was representing them in that moment.
Representation is so important, especially in this climate. So, what do you do when you look at a space and don’t see yourself represented? You become that representation for others. Doechii has become the representation she needed; a queer black woman from the South with a creativity that knows no bounds. Her album, “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” provided a unique sound with comedic lyrics that sound different from all mainstream rap we have heard in the last few years. Her breakout hit, “DENIAL IS A RIVER,” has a Broadway-style flow with music playing behind a dialog. She recently recreated the track with Issa Rae and even performed at NPR’s Tiny Desk. To see an artist like Doechi not only get recognized by the Grammys but to win Best Rap Album is proof that listeners don’t want formulaic rap or songs that only talk about guns. The Swamp Princess has continued to be unapologetic in her lyrics and her style, putting faith in her own ability and not doubting the star power she possesses. The moment when she was presented her Grammy was also symbolic, as the presenter, Cardi B, was the last woman to win Best Rap Album. Following Lauryn Hill and Cardi B, Doechii is only the third woman to achieve this recognition. During her acceptance speech, Doechii said, “I know there is some black girl out there, so many black women out there, that are watching me right now. And I wanna tell you, you can do it. Anything is possible. Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you.” Genres, particularly rap, can be a very confining space for Black and artist. Doechii’s album and her Grammy performance of her songs “CATFISH” and “DENIAL IS A RIVER”, show that there is no one way to be a rapper. Her expressive and Broadway inspired performance signaled a shift in the rap industry – the return of individuality and creativity.
While Doechii is The Swamp Princess, 2024 solidified who the current King of Rap and Rap Beef is. Kendrick “when they go low, I go lower” Lamar. Who would have thought that a rap beef would lead to the rap of the summer, five Grammy wins, and the end of Drake’s career? If you had told me last January that a room full of Grammy award winners and nominees, including Taylor Swift, would be yelling out “a minorrrrrr” in reference to Drake and his scandalous behind-the-scenes activities, I would have said you were crazy. Except, that is exactly what happened. Kendrick and MUSTAAAAAAAAARD (sorry I had to do it) swept the Grammys, walking away with Record of The Year, Song of The Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video. As someone who endorses petty behavior, I must admit that seeing this song’s traction and overall global success was a sight to behold. Congratulations, Kendrick, for proving that you do not always have to be the bigger person.
The grande finale, Album of The Year. For the last few years, this category has been better known as Taylor Swift v. everyone else. With four Album of The Year wins under her belt, more than any other artist, she is almost expected to win in this category and any other category she is nominated in. After being snubbed for BeyoncĂ© [Self-Titled], Lemonade, and Renaissance, the perspective of victory seemed bleak. Most fans were just happy to be getting a tour, which was announced the night before the Grammys. However, after winning Best Country Duo Performance for “II MOST WANTED” with Miley Cyrus and Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter, there was hope that maybe BeyoncĂ© could score her first Album of The Year Award. After 25 years in the industry and being snubbed from the Country Music Awards in 2024, BeyoncĂ© got the last laugh when she finally won Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter. This album was not only a love letter to Houston and BeyoncĂ©’s upbringing, but it spoke to so many Black Americans who have a connection to the South. A connection that at its core is dark but through perseverance and strength, created a beautiful culture. Country, Rock, and many other genres would not be the same without the influence of Black sound. BeyoncĂ©’s dedication to highlighting the beauty of being Black and never being shy about the pride she has for Texas upbringing is what makes her such an icon. Including artists like Linda Martell, Rhiannon Giddens, and Brittany Spencer – blending the past with present to take us to the future is just one of the pieces that makes this album such a work of art. I could on about this album but all I will say is BeyoncĂ©, thank you.
I may be biased, but I believe this is one of the best Grammys we have seen. I could not argue against most of the artists who won their respective categories, and it truly felt like a night that celebrated and rewarded excellence. There was something for everyone, whether it was a song of the summer, a diss track, or a revolutionary country album. There was camp, glamour, Black excellence, and corny jokes from Trevor Noah. Thank you, Grammys. Same time next year?