A rap tribute for the ages, Beyoncé triumph

As he accepted an innovator’s award named for him, Dr. Dre mused about what he had in frequent with lots of the folks he noticed from the Grammy Awards stage.

“The place would lots of people in right here be with out hip-hop?” the r enowned rapper, producer and entrepreneur stated.

The 2023 Grammy Awards might finally be remembered because the yr the music business’s prime occasion tried to embrace rap, whose leaders have regarded the establishment with suspicion for nearly so long as the 50 years of historical past that have been celebrated on Sunday.

It was solely 4 years in the past that music of the yr winner Infantile Gambino boycotted the present over perceived disrespect for rap. Kanye West and Eminem have been amongst previous stars with groundbreaking work neglected for extra middling fare and, for years, rappers complained their work was banished from TV.

The 15-minute Questlove-curated journey by means of time was a pleasure that introduced dozens of stars to the stage, together with Grandmaster Flash & the Livid 5, Run-DMC, Public Enemy, Ice T, Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Methodology Man, Salt-N-Pepa … the record goes on, and nonetheless there have been these you wished have been there.

Almost as essential was the eight-minute model of DJ Khaled’s “God Did” that closed the present — Khaled took public word of the size — that featured a spellbinding look by Jay-Z.

Quavo’s tribute to Takeoff of Migos was arguably the spotlight of a packed and memorable “in memoriam” section to artists who died over the previous yr.

Kendrick Lamar gave an incisive acceptance speech after “Mr. Morale & the Huge Steppers” received a Grammy for greatest rap album, his third trophy on this class.

It was an evening it appeared the Grammys lastly accepted rap as music’s dominant kind. Will rappers lastly settle for the Grammys? That is still to be seen.

QUEEN BEY’S HAUL

Beyoncé took a place in history on Sunday when her 4 Grammys gave her a profession whole of 32, higher than anybody else.

And but…

The Grammys have a transparent pecking order, with 4 of its awards probably the most prestigious: music, report and album of the yr, and greatest new artist. Beyoncé has received solely a type of awards, when “Single Women (Put a Ring on It)” was named prime music in 2010.

She’s been nominated eight instances for report of the yr, and by no means received. Her most memorable Grammy moments got here when two friends stood onstage with their very own trophies and saluted her: when A dele said Beyonce’s “Lemonade” should have won as a substitute of her in 2017, and Sunday when Lizzo spoke of skipping college in fifth grade to see Beyoncé carry out.

Thirty-two trophies. It is nonetheless arduous to shake an empty feeling.

TRIVIA QUESTION

Whose report did Beyoncé beat? That might be classical composer George Solti.

RAITT’S TRIUMPH

It might take Bonnie Raitt just a few days to lose that look of shock. The 73-year-old guitarist received greatest music for “Simply Like That,” a bit impressed by a narrative of a coronary heart transplant, the place she tried to emulate the writing fashion of the late John Prine. It was particularly gratifying as a result of Raitt is extra of an interpreter. “I do not write quite a lot of songs, however I am proud that you simply respect this one,” she stated. It was 33 years after “Nick of Time” was named album of the yr.

NOAH’S NIGHT

Show host Trevor Noah skillfully performed the function of a fan, as a substitute of serving snark from the stage, shifting by means of the viewers “like a floating Chinese language balloon,” he stated. And why not? With Adele, Lizzo, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Harry Kinds and the like round, there was loads of star energy. Noah was neither insulting nor obsequious. And one pleasant gadget — having followers discuss their favourite albums — paid off when a memorable grandma received to announce Kinds’ album of the yr win.

HARRY’S STYLE

OK, whereas he was performing “Because it Was” Kinds was dressed a little bit like a type of vacation tinsel decorations you thought you’d put away. The graceful pop composition clearly served him effectively. Later, he marveled on the high quality of the competitors and the way arduous it’s to select a winner. “You by no means know with these things,” he stated backstage. “I do not assume you’ll be able to have a look at any of the nominees and never really feel as in the event that they’re deserving. I am actually grateful they selected us.”

PETRAS’ MOMENT

In accepting a Grammy for her duet on Sam Smith’s “Unholy,” Kim Petras proudly took word of her standing as a transgender lady and paid tribute to heroes just like the late transgender singer Sophie and Madonna. The latter returned the favor by introducing a efficiency of the music. Petras and Lizzo, who received report of the yr for “About Rattling Time,” made robust, joyful statements about accepting variations. “I felt on the skin wanting in and I stayed true to myself as a result of I needed to make the world a greater place,” Lizzo stated.

INTRODUCING…

One aspect that labored much less effectively was an effort to have household or mates introduce performances. You lose the concept of “actual folks” when Madonna is without doubt one of the decisions. The perfect was the primary — Catherine Shepherd, the proud spouse, and the 2 youngsters of Brandi Carlile (the youngsters additionally debuted in a resort advert). “I am a really, very fortunate queer,” Carlile stated backstage.

WHY AM I HERE?

The Rock as one of many Grammy presenters? Jill Biden? James Corden? No less than the outgoing discuss present host famous the incongruity of him giving an award for dance and digital music. There’s sufficient musical firepower within the room that will absolutely relish the chance to current an award. And whereas we’re asking why somebody was there, Ben Affleck turned himself into an undesirable web star when the digicam panned to him within the viewers and it appeared like he’d fairly be wherever else. Do not actors know find out how to pretend wanting like they’re having an excellent time?

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Related Press author Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

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For extra protection of this yr’s Grammy Awards, go to: https://apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards