The Grammys are what dreams are made of. Some dreams come true while some need a little more time to manifest. Record-breaking wins and many firsts were made at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards this year, hosted by James Corden, in New York City. Kendrick Lamar, who opened the award show with a riveting performance, won five Grammy awards (Best Rap Performance, Best Rap/Sung Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Album and Best Music Video). Bruno Mars also cleaned up nice with seven wins (Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical), and also performed Finesse with Cardi B; who was nominated for two awards. Both Kendrick and Bruno gave shout-outs to the legends that paved the way for them to be who and where they are today.
SZA, who was nominated for five Grammys performed Broken Clocks, while fellow nominee and winner in the category of Best New Artist, Alessia Cara performed 1-800-273-8255 with Logic and Khalid, for suicide prevention and awareness. Many went to social media to express their outrage of SZA’s loss to Alessia Cara who debuted Here in 2015. According to Grammy.com the requirements for Best New Artist are not as clear as one would expect. Jay-Z did not take home a Grammy tonight, but received the 2018 Salute to Industry Icons Award the previous evening.
As endearing as it is to see music and entertainment’s fellow peers celebrate each other for their accomplishments over the past year, it is even more powerful for Artists to use their star power to stand up for something. Camilla Cabella, the chart-topping, Havana singer summed it up with her speech “Tonight, in this room full of music’s dreamers, we remember that this country was made by dreamers, for dreamers, chasing the American dream.” “I’m a proud, Cuban-Mexican immigrant, born in eastern Havana, standing in front of you on the Grammy stage in New York City. And all I know is that just like dreams, these kids can’t be forgotten and are worth fighting for.” Janelle Monáe stood up for the “Time’s Up” campaign as she introduced Kesha who performed “Praying” with Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Andra Day, Bebe Rexha and Julia Michaels.
Dave Chappelle winner of Best Comedy Album for The Age Of Spin & Deep In The Heart Of Texas, who is known for speaking out against racism and staying true to who he is, as a man in his position, reminded the audience that “the only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America is being an honest black man in America.” While we thought for a moment former President Barack Obama would grace the stage as James Corden conveniently misread the teleprompter as he introduced the Recording Academy President, Neil Portnow, former Secretary of state and Democratic Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton did show up in the form of a cameo, in the spoof for the audio book auditions for the highly discussed book, Fire & Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff. We will wait for the tweets. In the meantime, for the full list of tonight’s winners, tributes, dedications and recaps click here.
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