The 65th Annual Grammy Awards saw multiple winners take home the famous Gramophones. In the same breadth, surprises in the shape of snubs were also imminent. Remixd Mag looks at the Top 5 snubs of the night.
- Beyoncé- RENAISSANCE (Album of the Year)
Although Queen Bey was the highlight of the night with her four-win sweep and record-breaking 32nd nod as a Grammy Award winner to become the most successful artist ever in Grammys history (surpassing Hungarian orchestra conductor Georg Solti), the award fans and the BeyHive alike were hellbent on was the Album of the Year. Scooped by Harry Styles with his Harry’s House opus, Bey stans ran amok for the biggest letdown of the night. Beyoncé who was aiming to join the likes of Whitney Houston, Natalie Cole, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, OutKast and more in being the coveted few black artists that have won the elusive prize fell short despite a night to remember. Perhaps her record-shattering performance might have mitigated the disappointment, but it will be a debate for the ages as to why her queer-forward, black empowered and daring work of art RENAISSANCE did not end up as a victor despite the creative risks she materialized on this opus.
- Pusha T – It’s Almost Dry (Rap Album of the Year)
In yet another shocker of the night, Virgina icon Pusha T was denied a chance at his first ever solo Grammy Award, again. Edged out in 2019 by Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy, his ominous effort, Daytona, could not match the Recording Academy’s preferential standards. Following his classic, Push returned with his second bite at the cherry tapping the virtuosic production of Pharrell Williams & Ye to bring back retribution for the former G.O.O.D Music lyricist. In a category that is often met with controversy, Push faltered yet again to Kendrick Lamar’s introspective and powerful Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.
- Burna Boy – Last Last (Global Music Performance)
Arguably the most recited number of the year, Burna Boy’s “Last Last” was the song on everybody’s lips uniting everyone through sheer song and dance. The Toni Braxton-sampled “He Wasn’t Man Enough” smash hit “Last Last” is Burna Boy’s most groundbreaking song ever and was almost a sure contender for one of the Big 4 of the night including song of the year, at least in the court of public opinion. But when it only made Global Music Performance category, this was certain the Recording Academy would receive some slack for their judgment. To add salt to injury, the song then got edged out by Zakes Bantwini’s “Bayethe” alongside Wouter Kellerman and Nomcebo Zikode, and Burna also got ignored in the Global Music Album category.
- Chris Brown – Breezy (R&B Album)
Chris was back outside with this album. Personally, this was the best Chris I had heard in a performance on an album. It felt inspired, nourished, balanced, fun, and thoughtful, whilst still retaining that edgy and authentic Chris Brown dynamism he is adored for. From the bedroom tantalizers in “Pitch Black”, or Chris letting go on “Catch a Body” with Fivio, and still appreciating other musical exploits he loves such as Afrobeats with Wizkid-assisted “Call Me Everyday” – it was well-rounded, felt like Chris, and he covered every angle. The loss to Robert Glasper’s masterful Black Radio III must have felt targeted, but Chris can hold his head high for putting in the work.
- DJ Khaled – God Did (feat. John Legend, Fridayy, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne & Rick Ross) (Song of the Year)
Maybe we’re too greedy but this stood a great chance. This was a song for the ages and showed rap’s coming of age in terms of song-making, content, musicality, and performance. Recruiting a multigenerational ensemble, it was almost like the Avengers had united. Perhaps, the element of having almost 50 Grammys between the cast themselves might have played a part, but quality is quality despite the variables. An 8-minute performance with barely any lows, this could have garnered the award on any other day. The stars just hadn’t aligned.
