During his acceptance speech for the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Jay-Z, the multifaceted American artist, took a moment to voice his concerns and reflections on the Grammy Awards.
Standing beside his 12-year-old daughter Blue Ivy, Jay-Z began by acknowledging the progress the music industry has made since the notable boycott in 1989 when Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff protested the non-televised rap awards at the Grammys.
Recalling that historic moment, Jay-Z humorously remarked, “And then they went to a hotel and watched the Grammys. I ain’t even understand… it wasn’t a great boycott.” He went on to share his own history with boycotting the Grammys, citing the year 1998 when he chose not to attend due to DMX not receiving a nomination, despite having two successful albums that year.
Expressing both love and frustration, Jay-Z emphasized the need for the Grammy Awards to “get it right.” He turned attention to his wife, the iconic Beyoncé, who, despite being the most awarded artist in Grammys history with an impressive 32 wins, has never secured the coveted Album of the Year accolade. He challenged the subjective nature of the Grammy voting system, stating, “Even by your own metric that does not work. Think about that, most Grammys, never won album of the year, that doesn’t work.”
Highlighting Beyoncé’s historic achievement at the previous year’s ceremony, where she became the most awarded artist with a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album, Jay-Z underscored the consistent disappointment felt by Beyoncé’s supporters over her exclusion from the Album of the Year category.
In a moment of candor, Jay-Z playfully remarked, “Some of you are going to go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed.” He continued, “Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don’t belong in the category.” Amidst audience laughter, Jay-Z emphasized, “When I get nervous I tell the truth.”
Shifting the focus beyond the Grammys, Jay-Z delivered a motivational message urging artists to persevere in their pursuits. He encouraged them to “keep showing up” not only in the music industry but in life, until they receive the accolades they believe they deserve. “You got to keep showing up until they give you all those accolades you feel you deserve. Until they call you chairman, until they call you a genius, until they call you the greatest of all time. You feel me?” he passionately declared, concluding his thought-provoking acceptance speech.