Grammy Black Renaissance: The artist leading the pack with nine Grammy nominations this year is a Black woman, marking a significant moment in the industry.
This takes us back to 2017 when the Recording Academy faced scrutiny over racial considerations after Adele beat Beyoncé for the coveted album of the year Grammy. Despite widespread belief that Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” deserved the win, Adele herself acknowledged this, tearfully expressing her admiration for Beyoncé during her acceptance speech.
Former Recording Academy President Neil Portnow dismissed claims of racism, but the debate persisted among the Black community.
Fast forward to the 2024 Grammy nominations for album of the year, and the conversation on race is set to reignite. While #GrammysSoWhite may not have gained as much traction as #OscarsSoWhite, the perception that Black artists, especially women, face challenges in winning Grammys still lingers.
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The spotlight will be on the album of the year category in February, with three Black artists nominated: SZA, Janelle Monáe, and Jon Batiste. If Batiste secures the win, it would be a notable achievement, having won the same category in 2022. SZA winning would make her the first Black woman to triumph in the category since Lauryn Hill in 1999, and Monáe would be the first Black and nonbinary artist ever to win. In the 66-year history of the Grammys, Black performers have only clinched the events top prize 11 times.
Both SZA and Monáe embrace their Blackness openly in their art and interviews. SZA, reflecting on her childhood experiences as the only Black girl in gymnastics, emphasized the cultural influence of Black women in a 2016 interview with Complex magazine. Monáe, in a 2020 interview with Harvard Business Review, discussed the challenges she faced early in her career when stylists and record label executives questioned her Black identity and unique artistic expressions.
As these artists continue to assert their voices, the question remains whether the Grammys voters will truly listen.
Our Reader’s Queries
Is Renaissance eligible for GRAMMYs?
Beyoncé has made history by winning the Best Dance/Electronic Music Album award at the 2023 GRAMMYs for her album “Renaissance.” Her acceptance speech was a testament to her hard work and dedication to her craft. This win solidifies her position as one of the greatest artists of our time. Congratulations to Beyoncé on this well-deserved achievement.
What Grammy did Renaissance win?
Beyoncé has set a new record for the most GRAMMY wins of all time, with a total of 32 awards. Her latest win was for Best Dance/Electronic Album, ‘RENAISSANCE’. This achievement solidifies her position as one of the most successful artists in music history.
Has a black artist ever won a Grammy?
In 1992, Natalie Cole made history as the first black woman to win Album of the Year for her 12th studio album, “Unforgettable… With Love”. Quincy Jones holds the record for the most Grammy nominations with 80, and he is also the black artist with the most Grammy wins. With a total of 28 Grammy wins, he is second only to one other artist in history.
Who is the first black person to win a Grammy?
While “Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book” was recognized for its exceptional jazz performance, Count Basie made history as the first Black man to win a Grammy. He took home two awards that year, one for best jazz group performance and the other for best performance by a dance band.