Killer Mike’s arresting Grammy night and Jay-Z’s quest for validation
Photo submitted
By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior
National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia
This year’s Grammy Awards included powerful performances from the likes of Stevie Wonder, Fantasia, Joni Mitchell and more.
On the same stage, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter was honored with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.
Though it was a talent-filled celebration, there were behind-the-scenes drama and onstage moments that have people still talking after what is known as “music’s biggest night.”
Fresh off his uninformed tirade two days earlier when he declared his more than three-decade animus toward President Joe Biden because the then-Senator pushed a highly consequential crime bill, Killer Mike spun around in disbelief and joy over his big Grammy Award wins.
The hip-hop star has, for some reason, refused to hold the twice-impeached and four-times indicted former President Donald Trump accountable for things like calling for the death of the Exonerated Five, continued racist attacks on Black and other women of color, caging infants and separating them from their families. But Trump apparently gets Mike’s vote over Biden.
News of Killer Mike’s arrest came shortly after he received a Grammy.
“The suspect was placed under arrest and was transported to LAPD Central Division. The suspect has been identified as 48-year-old Michael Render and booked for misdemeanor battery 243(A) PC, and is in the process of being released,” authorities said a news release.
Jay-Z used his wife Beyoncé Knowles Carter as an example to discuss the politics behind awards and the Recording Academy.
“I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than anyone, and never won album of the year,” he said about Beyoncé, the most-nominated female artist in history. “Even by your own metric, that does not work. Think about that, most Grammys, never won Album of the Year.”
Beyonce has received 32 Grammy awards and 88 nominations. Between them, the Carters have won at least 55 Grammys. Jay-Z went beyond his wife, noting others are snubbed too.
“Some of you are going to go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don’t belong in the category,” he said to a roar of laughter. “When I get nervous I tell the truth.”
His message obviously goes beyond the Grammys.
“Just in life, you’ve got to keep showing up,” he said. “Forget the Grammys, you’ve got to keep showing up until they give you all those accolades you feel like you deserve. Until they call you chairman, until they call you a genius, until they call you the greatest of all time.”
The awards had several surprises, including Celine Dion presenting Taylor Swift with Album of the Year honors. Other winners included: Taylor Swift’s “Midnights,” for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album; “Flowers,” by Miley Cyrus as Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance; “What Was I Made For?,” by Billie Eilish (from the motion picture “Barbie,”), written by Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell for Song of the Year; and Victoria Monet as Best New Artist.
