Photo illustration by Kaushik Kalidindi.
Our Favorite Moments From the 66th Grammy Awards
In case you missed the biggest music event of the year, we’ve got you covered with our recap of the most memorable events of the night!
We’re only two months into the year, and we’ve already witnessed major music history be made! Yesterday evening’s 66th Grammy Awards were chock full of moments for the record books with stellar performances and well-deserved wins. From the rare performance by the legendary Tracy Chapman to Jay-Z calling out unfairness in the awards process, we’ve compiled a recap of the night’s most unforgettable events.
Killer Mike Sweeps the Rap Categories
Killer Mike Wins Best Rap Performance For "SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS" | 2024 GRAMMYs Acceptance Speechwww.youtube.com
Last night, Killer Mike took home accolades for all categories that he was nominated for, marking a clean sweep for the Atlanta native. He took home the gold for Best Rap Song, Best Rap Album, and Best Rap Performance — and the general consensus around the hip-hop universe is that these accolades went to the right artist. His 2023 self-titled album, Michael is a must–listen and an extraordinary body of work. If you haven’t soaked in yet, put that task on your calendar now, so you understand what the buzz is all about.
Tracy Chapman Takes the Stage
Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman's Epic Fast Car Duet at The Grammys 2024www.youtube.com
The audience at last night’s Grammys erupted in excitement and applause as Tracy Chapman graced the stage for the first time since 2015. She performed her Grammy award-winning song, “Fast Car” along with country singer, Luke Combs — Combs’s remake of her classic has sparked a major resurgence in admiration for the celebrated singer. It’s always great to see the enduring legacy and impact of a timeless song, and we’re glad to see her on stage again.
Victoria Monét Changes the Narrative
VICTORIA MONÉT Wins Best New Artist | 2024 GRAMMYswww.youtube.com
Winning Best New Artist at the Grammys is no small feat for anyone, and Victoria Monét made the accomplishment ten times more amazing with her emotional words and groundbreaking efforts. She is the first female R&B artist to win in the category since Alicia Keys won the award in 2002, definitely proving her hard work and perseverance in the industry. Monét also received Grammys for Best R&B Album as well as Best Engineered Album, no doubt making the night an unforgettable one for the gifted singer and songwriter.
Fantasia’s Awe-Inspiring Tina Turner Tribute
If there’s anyone who can do “Proud Mary” justice, it is definitely Fantasia Barrino! The absolute powerhouse of a singer put on a show that was worthy of the incredibly high standards of the late, great Tina Turner. Fantasia has been killing it recently, especially following the release of the movie musical, The Color Purple, and her performance last night proved her undeniable star power yet again. We’re excited to see what she has next in store for us!
SZA’s Sophomore Album Gets its Flowers
SZA Wins Best R&B Song For 'SNOOZE ' | 2024 GRAMMYs Acceptance Speechwww.youtube.com
With a five year gap between her last album, SZA’s latest work, SOS, amassed various nominations throughout the night. Her performance of her hit song, “Kill Bill” was a visual masterpiece complete with samurai-inspired choreography and graphics. It was certainly SZA’s coming out affair last night — the talented artist was nominated in 9 different categories, and ended up scooping the gold for Best Pop Duo Performance, Best Progressive R&B Album, and Best R&B song. Her acceptance speech for winning Best R&B song served up equal portions of emotion and inspiration. The sky is truly the limit for the prolific TDE songstress.
Jay-Z’s Message to the Academy
JAY-Z Accepts Dr. Dre Global Impact Award | 2024 GRAMMYs Acceptance Speechwww.youtube.com
Jay-Z received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, and his acceptance speech was unconventional and laced with more than a little venom. Hov took the stage with his daughter, Blue Ivy, to shed light on the inconsistencies that come with the awards. “We want y’all to get it right. We love y’all… but we want y’all to get it right,” he shared. We’re all familiar with awards season snubs, and hopefully this callout from Jay-Z will be enough to see some real change happening in the near future. But even with the stern words, he did manage to end with an optimistic message. "You got to keep showing up. Until they give you all those accolades you think you deserve. Until they call you chairman. Until they call you a genius. Until they call you the greatest of all time," he proclaimed. Wise words from Jay, as usual.
An Evening of Black Excellence
With February being Black History Month, last night’s 66th Grammy Awards were a bold testament of Black genius and creativity in the music industry. From us witnessing the perseverance and artistry of strong Black women like SZA and Victoria Monet being recognized to the star-studded tribute of Clarence Avant, "The Godfather of Black Music," it was a special evening indeed. Major kudos must also go to Trevor Noah for being the ultimate "host the most" — we’ll definitely be tuning in for next year’s Grammy celebrations.
