News Analysis
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, who for some reason won’t 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, saw his fortunes immediately turn, however, as Los Angeles Police Officers waited backstage and led him out of Crypto Arena in handcuffs.
“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 in a news release.
The awards had several surprises, including Celine Dion presenting Taylor Swift with Album of the Year honors and Jay-Z ripping the Grammys for his wife, Beyonce, being snubbed in every category she was nominated. Between them, the power couple has won an astounding 55 Grammys but apparently, Jay-Z continues to seek validation for his immensely decorated family but seemingly could care less about those who look like him and instead wishes to honor and celebrate his greatness.
Yes, the Brooklyn-born former drug dealer has reached the pinnacle of success, the personification of “Black Excellence,” yet his companies continually lack Black representation and he’s surrounded himself with those who repeatedly say no to interviews and other requests from the Black Press of America.
Here is a list of many of the winners:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Midnights, Taylor Swift
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Flowers, Miley Cyrus
SONG OF THE YEAR
What Was I Made For?, Billie Eilish (from the motion picture Barbie); Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell, songwriters
BEST NEW ARTIST
Victoria Monet
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Midnights, Taylor Swift
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
Flowers, Miley Cyrus
BEST MUSICA URBANA ALBUM
Manana Sera Bonito, Karol G
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Bell Bottom Country, Lainey Wilson
BEST R&B SONG
Snooze, by SZA; Kenny B Edmonds, Blair Ferguson, Khris Riddick-Tynes, Solana Rowe and Leon Thomas, songwriters
THE DR DRE GLOBAL IMPACT AWARD
Jay-Z
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Ghost in the Machine, SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
The Record, Boygenius
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Theron Thomas
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Jack Antonoff
BEST R&B ALBUM
Jaguar II, Victoria Monet
BEST PROGRESSIVE R&B ALBUM
SOS, SZA
BEST AUDIO BOOK, NARRATION AND STORYTELLING RECORDING
The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times, Michelle Obama
BEST REGGAE ALBUM
Colors of Royal, Julian Marley and Antaeus
BEST LATIN ROCK OR ALTERNATIVE ALBUM (tie)
Vida Cotidiana, Juanes and De Todas Las Flores, Natalia Lafourcade
BEST LATIN POP ALBUM
X Mi (Vol 1), Gaby Moreno
BEST RAP ALBUM
Michael, Killer Mike
BEST RAP SONG
Scientists & Engineers, Killer Mike ft Andre 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane
BEST FOLK ALBUM
Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live), Joni Mitchell
BEST ROCK ALBUM
This Is Why, Paramore
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
Not Strong Enough, Boygenius
BEST ROCK SONG
Not Strong Enough, Boygenius
BEST AMERICANA ALBUM
Weathervanes, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
72 Seasons, Metallica
BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
The Winds of Change, Billy Childs
BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
How Love Begins, Nicole Zuraitis
BEST COMEDY ALBUM
What’s in a Name?, Dave Chappelle
BEST GOSPEL ALBUM
All Things New: Live in Orlando, Tye Tribbett
BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM
Church Clothes 4, Lecrae
BEST AFRICAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Water, Tyla
Stacy M Brown is the NNPA Newswire national senior correspondent.