50 years of hip-hop: 2023 Grammy Awards performance

LOS ANGELES — Accepting the innovator award that bears his name, Dr. Dre mused about what he had in common with the many people he saw on the Grammy Awards stage.

“What would a lot of people here be like without hip-hop?” famous rapper, producer and businessman said.

The 2023 Grammy Awards can finally be remembered as the year that the music industry’s flagship event attempted to embrace rap music, whose leaders have cast doubt on the institution in its nearly 50-year history. held on Sunday.

Just four years ago, song of the year winner Childish Gambino boycotted the show, claiming rapping was disrespectful. Kanye West and Eminem were among past stars whose breakout work was overlooked for its more average ticket prices, and for years rappers complained that their work had been banished from TV.

The 15-minute time travel curated by Questlove is a delight that has brought dozens of stars to the stage, including Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Ice T, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Method Man, Salt -K-Pepa… the list goes on, and there are still people you wish were there.

Almost as important as DJ Khaled’s eight-minute version of “God Did” ended the show — Khaled noted the length to the public — featuring Jay-Z’s mesmerizing appearance.

Quavo’s tribute to Migos’ Takeoff is said to have been the highlight of a crowded and memorable “memorial” segment dedicated to artists who have passed away over the past year.

Kendrick Lamar delivered his edgy acceptance speech after “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” won the Grammy for best rap album, his third trophy in the category.

It was a night when it seemed the Grammys had finally accepted rap as the dominant form of music. Will the rappers finally accept the Grammys? That remains to be seen.

Beyoncé made history on Sunday as her four Grammy Awards brought her a total of 32 in her career, better than anyone else.

The Grammy Awards have a clear ranking order, with the four most prestigious awards: song, record and album of the year, and best new artist. Beyoncé won only one of those awards, when “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” was named the top song of 2010.

She has been nominated for record of the year eight times and has never won. Her most memorable Grammy moments came when two of her peers stood on stage with their own trophy and saluted her: when Adele said that Beyonce’s “Lemonade” should have been won instead. her in 2017, and Sunday when Lizzo talks about skipping school in fifth grade to see Beyoncé perform.

Thirty-two titles. It’s still hard to shake a feeling of emptiness.

Whose record did Beyoncé beat? That would be the classical composer George Solti.

Bonnie Raitt may take a few days to lose that shock. The 73-year-old guitarist won best song for “Just Like That,” a piece inspired by a heart transplant story where she tries to imitate the writing style of the late John Prine. That was especially gratifying because Raitt was more of an interpreter. “I don’t write many songs, but I’m proud that you appreciate this song,” she said. It’s been 33 years since “Nick of Time” was named Album of the Year.

Host Trevor Noah, he said, skillfully played a fan who, instead of serving growls from the stage, moved through the audience “like a Chinese balloon in the air.” ,” he say. And why not? With Adele, Lizzo, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and the like all around, there’s plenty of star power. Noah neither insulted nor stooped. And a fun device — for fans to talk about their favorite albums — paid off when a memorable grandmother announced the win for Styles album of the year.

Okay, while he was performing “As it Was” Styles dressed up a bit like one of those holiday glitter ornaments you thought you’d put away. The smooth pop layout clearly served him well. Then he marveled at the quality of the competition and how difficult it was to pick a winner. “You never know with these things,” he said backstage. “I don’t think you can look at any candidate and not feel like they deserve it. I’m really grateful that they chose us.”

When accepting a Grammy Award for Sam Smith’s duet song “Unholy,” Kim Petras proudly acknowledged her identity as a transgender woman and paid tribute to heroes like transgender singers too. late Sophie and Madonna. The latter responded to the favor by recommending a performance of the song. Petras and Lizzo, who won the record of the year for “About Dam Time,” made strong and cheerful statements about accepting difference. “I feel like I’m on the outside looking in and I stay true to myself because I want to make the world a better place,” says Lizzo.

A less effective factor is the effort to get family or friends to recommend performances. You lose the idea of ​​”real people” when Madonna is one of the options. The best is the first – Catherine Shepherd, the proud wife and two children of Brandi Carlile (the kids also made their debut in a hotel commercial). “I’m a very, very lucky gay man,” Carlile said backstage.

The Rock as one of the Grammy Awardees? Jill Biden? James Corden? At least the extroverted talk show host noted the absurdity when he gave awards to dance music and electronic music. Having enough musical firepower in the room is sure to delight with the chance to award prizes. And while we were asking why anyone was there, Ben Affleck turned himself into an unwanted internet star when the camera panned at him in the audience and it looked like he wanted to. anywhere else than that. Actors don’t know how to pretend they’re having fun?

Associated Press writer Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.