With just few a hours before commencement of the 64th Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, calls for its boycott have again been brought in focus. The boycott, is reportedly in response to the uninviting of Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) by the awards organizers.
The ‘Praise God’ singer who was reportedly set to perform, was pulled from the show’s line following and online feud between himself and comedian Trevor Noah.
However, founder of Rap-a lot-records J. Prince, believes the organizers were wrong in their decision to renege on Ye’s invitation.
“Hip-hop vs. the Grammys. I’ve been watching the Grammys control and dictate our culture to their benefit up close and personal for the past 30 years that I’ve been in the music business,” the veteran hip hop personality said in a March 25, Instagram video featuring Variety’s report of Kanye’s ban.
“And all the artists, managers and executives would do is complain. But never have the nuts to come together and do anything about it. Even though the latest episode deals with Trevor Noah and the canceling of Kanye, this racist act is so much bigger than them” he added.
“So they canceled Kanye, discriminated against Drake, The Weekend, Nicki Minaj and many others over the years. This will only be broken by us uniting our powers to bring about change moving forward.”
As show of defiance in protest, J Prince wants to prove that they can make an impact of the own by hosting their own show the same time as the Grammy awards which in proposed to be shown via undisclosed streaming platform.
“I recommend that the artists that I’ve mentioned above and more come together in Las Vegas and perform at the same time as the Grammys on a special network and streaming platform to prove that ratings will change where the Grammys are concerned when the #1 selling genre in the music hip-hop comes together ” he continued.
Young Money rapper Nikki Minaj is seemingly in support of the move after adding prayer hands under the comments. In 2020 she tweeted how the Grammy snubbed her for the Best new artist in 2011 while she dominated the charts.
“Never forget the Grammys didn’t give me my best new artist award when I had 7 songs simultaneously charting on billboard & bigger first week than any female rapper in the last decade, – Went on to inspire a generation. They gave it to the white man Bon Iver. #PinkFriday ” the massive attack tweet read.
Fellow Young Money rapper Drake who had withdrawn his two nominations for his Certified Lover Boy album in November was also among those named by Prince who wants to part of concert.
Prince’s prominence again came to fore recently after brokering the peaceful squashing of the beef between Drake and Kanye West in 2021. Both rappers later went on to perform together at Kanye’s Free Larry ‘Big Meech’ Hoover benefit concert.
Migos rapper Quavo was also reportedly on when quizzed about his views on Prince’s proposed concert by American media outlet TMZ:
“We need to make our own awards. Awards that appreciate the real shit that’s going on in the streets, that appreciate the culture. That appreciate when guys are the best new artist ” he added.
While Noah for his part doesn’t agree with the Ye’s banishment, the organizers have yet to announce a change of heart so it remains a wait and see if the boycott is successful or if the alternative concert actually happens.
Ye’s ‘Donda’ album has been nominated for four awards: Album of the year, Best Rap Album Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Hurricane” featuring The Weeknd and Lil Baby, and Best Rap Song for “Jail,” featuring Jay-Z.
