It shouldn't be about Race.
Thought I would use my sick day off work for something useful so here it goes!
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won best rap album, rap song, and rap performance at the 2014 Grammys. There are many people both famous and in the general public that don't think they should have won all or some of these categories- just do a quick google search or twitter search and you'll see all the backlash.
I have listened to all of the albums nominated for rap album multiple times, and have seen all of these artists live in concert (Jay-Z, Yeezy, and Drake before their latest albums). Are Macklemore and Ryan Lewis a talented hip hop duo?- Yes. But is The Heist as good of an album or better than Good Kid Maad City or Yeezus?- No. Although I really enjoyed Drake's 'Nothing was the Same' I do see how it beat that album out, and The Heist was arguably better than Magna Carta Holy Grail (Although Jay-Z is one of my favorite hip-hop artists I am not a huge fan of that album). Again these are my personal opinions :)
The biggest problem is that a lot of the backlash against Macklemore and Ryan Lewis is that they shouldn't have won because 'they aren't hip hop' or that because 'they are white.' That is not why they shouldn't have won. They are hip hop, and their race shouldn't be a factor. But unfortunately it always will be. I do think that race could have been a factor during the decision making process in choosing the winner. This isn't the first time it could have happened in the Grammys and definitely won't be the last. However we can't blame Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for that- we need to be putting our frustration towards the actual people that vote... who are they by the way?!... this is similar insight from a grammy voter that wanted G.K.M.C. to win.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis shouldn't have won those awards because of the quality of their album/ songs in comparison to those of some of the other nominees, and that is the only thing that should be a factor in critiquing them. I think it is also very important to say that I think Macklemore recognizes this as evident in his text message to Kendrick Lamar in which he apologizes for 'robbing' him. Text can be viewed here.
I don't think that Macklemore apologized to Kendrick because he is a white rapper that won hip hop categories and felt as though that wasn't okay. Yes hip hop has its origins in black culture and is primarily comprised of black artists, but that does not mean that white people cannot and shouldn't be recognized for their success in the hip hop industry and expressing themselves through rap. I think that Macklemore sent this text message to Kendrick because he truly thought that Kendrick Lamar should have won best rap album because of the album itself- NOT because of race. If it was a racial matter, he would have posted apologies to all of the other nominees. From another perspective I think he posted this text to show the general public that he knew the grammy nomination process was unfair and that raises the question of race always being a subconscious factor in award shows. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are talented, they just did not deserve those Grammys. However they did win and should be able to enjoy their success, however they will always have the burden of winning because of race weighing on them.
I love seeing diversity in music- people of all races expressing themselves however they seem fit. Darius Rucker, a black country singer, won best country performance for the song 'Wagon Wheel' and you don't see the world remarking on how a black country singer is imposing on a primarily white genre of music. Even though I am not a fan of country music and therefore don't have the extensive knowledge to comment on it thoroughly, I know that song is extremely popular so probably was deserving of the award! (Although if I hear that song in a certain bar that's underground one more time...)
Race will continue to be a factor in the Grammys for years to come. Race aside, there are always people winning Grammys for the wrong reasons.
As a black female that enjoys listening to a lot of music that many would deem as 'white music' (i.e. indie rock), I get extremely mad when people say that white people (or anyone that isn't black) can't rap because they are white. Personally I think one of the top 10 rappers of my generation is white. I also think that some of the worst rappers of my generation are black (i.e 2chainz). If there ever was a day where we could put race aside and focus on the music I'm sure our world would be filled with people of all races transcending the societal boundaries of the music industry.
Until next time,
Vanessa
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis won best rap album, rap song, and rap performance at the 2014 Grammys. There are many people both famous and in the general public that don't think they should have won all or some of these categories- just do a quick google search or twitter search and you'll see all the backlash.
I have listened to all of the albums nominated for rap album multiple times, and have seen all of these artists live in concert (Jay-Z, Yeezy, and Drake before their latest albums). Are Macklemore and Ryan Lewis a talented hip hop duo?- Yes. But is The Heist as good of an album or better than Good Kid Maad City or Yeezus?- No. Although I really enjoyed Drake's 'Nothing was the Same' I do see how it beat that album out, and The Heist was arguably better than Magna Carta Holy Grail (Although Jay-Z is one of my favorite hip-hop artists I am not a huge fan of that album). Again these are my personal opinions :)
The biggest problem is that a lot of the backlash against Macklemore and Ryan Lewis is that they shouldn't have won because 'they aren't hip hop' or that because 'they are white.' That is not why they shouldn't have won. They are hip hop, and their race shouldn't be a factor. But unfortunately it always will be. I do think that race could have been a factor during the decision making process in choosing the winner. This isn't the first time it could have happened in the Grammys and definitely won't be the last. However we can't blame Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for that- we need to be putting our frustration towards the actual people that vote... who are they by the way?!... this is similar insight from a grammy voter that wanted G.K.M.C. to win.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis shouldn't have won those awards because of the quality of their album/ songs in comparison to those of some of the other nominees, and that is the only thing that should be a factor in critiquing them. I think it is also very important to say that I think Macklemore recognizes this as evident in his text message to Kendrick Lamar in which he apologizes for 'robbing' him. Text can be viewed here.
I don't think that Macklemore apologized to Kendrick because he is a white rapper that won hip hop categories and felt as though that wasn't okay. Yes hip hop has its origins in black culture and is primarily comprised of black artists, but that does not mean that white people cannot and shouldn't be recognized for their success in the hip hop industry and expressing themselves through rap. I think that Macklemore sent this text message to Kendrick because he truly thought that Kendrick Lamar should have won best rap album because of the album itself- NOT because of race. If it was a racial matter, he would have posted apologies to all of the other nominees. From another perspective I think he posted this text to show the general public that he knew the grammy nomination process was unfair and that raises the question of race always being a subconscious factor in award shows. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis are talented, they just did not deserve those Grammys. However they did win and should be able to enjoy their success, however they will always have the burden of winning because of race weighing on them.
I love seeing diversity in music- people of all races expressing themselves however they seem fit. Darius Rucker, a black country singer, won best country performance for the song 'Wagon Wheel' and you don't see the world remarking on how a black country singer is imposing on a primarily white genre of music. Even though I am not a fan of country music and therefore don't have the extensive knowledge to comment on it thoroughly, I know that song is extremely popular so probably was deserving of the award! (Although if I hear that song in a certain bar that's underground one more time...)
Race will continue to be a factor in the Grammys for years to come. Race aside, there are always people winning Grammys for the wrong reasons.
As a black female that enjoys listening to a lot of music that many would deem as 'white music' (i.e. indie rock), I get extremely mad when people say that white people (or anyone that isn't black) can't rap because they are white. Personally I think one of the top 10 rappers of my generation is white. I also think that some of the worst rappers of my generation are black (i.e 2chainz). If there ever was a day where we could put race aside and focus on the music I'm sure our world would be filled with people of all races transcending the societal boundaries of the music industry.
Until next time,
Vanessa
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