India Arie blasts the Grammys for Kendrick Lamar snubs
theGRIO REPORT - While the hip-hop community is still reeling from Kendrick Lamar being snubbed at the Grammys, if there’s one artist who can truly relate to the feeling of not even being acknowledged on music’s biggest stage, is neo-soul singer India.Arie...
While the hip-hop community is still reeling from Kendrick Lamar being snubbed at the Grammys, there’s one artist who can truly relate to the feeling of not even being acknowledged on music’s biggest stage; neo-soul singer India Arie.
2001 was an amazing year for the “Brown Skin” singer and eerily similar to Kendrick’s 2012.
Her debut, Acoustic Soul, was heralded as an instant classic and also nominated for 7 Grammys, yet she was shut out.
Utilizing her personal tumblr, India has spoken frequently about the inconsistency of recognizing black music culture at the Grammys and this year was no different.
And no punches were pulled:
@Kendricklamar WAS robbed, BUT he was not the only one who was robbed. Personally, I was pleased he was able to perform and they KILLED! IT! One of the FEW moving moments of the night for ME.
Though it’s called “Music industries biggest night” the #Grammys are NOT about the music, it’s a popularity contest. The voting process allows people, to vote on name recognition alone – the music industry politics is a whole NUTHER conversation. Too much to go into here.
The American Music Awards is a show that awards sales and popularity – the #Grammys are SAID to be about the music.
If the hip hop community voted on hip hop – r&b COMMUNITY the same – same for each category – we’d see winners that reflect the MUSIC ITSELF. We all know that’s just not the way it goes.
Ouch. Read the rest of her response and let us know what you think in the comments below.
You can check out Kyle’s musical coverage on theGrio’s music page, and follow Kyle on Twitter@HarveyWins
