The 2021 Grammys: Octopizzo, the Controversy & the Glam

Dubbed as the biggest night in music ;The Grammys are already scheduled for 14th March 2021. The Grammys always prove to be an exquisite event as winning a Grammy is a hallmark for being super successful in the music industry in the world.

This year's nominations have come with their equal share of surprises,snubs and new kids on the block.Beyoncé comes in hot with the most nominations, bagging 10 of them,followed by Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift and Roddy Ricch with 6 each. 

Here is a list of some of the nomination categories :

Song of the Year Nominees:
Don't Start Now - DUA LIPA
cardigan - Taylor Swift
Black Parade - Beyonce
The Box - Roddy Ricch
I Can't Breathe - H.E.R.
Circles - Post Malone
If the World Was Ending - Julia Michaels & JP saxe
everything I wanted - Billie Eilish

Best R&B Song Nominees:
Do It - Chloe x Halle
Black Parade - Beyonce
Better Than I Imagine - Robert Glasper, H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello

Collide - Tiana Major9 & EarthGang 

Slow Down - Skip Marley

Best Progressive R&B Album Nominees:
Ungodly Hour - Chloe x Halle
CHILOMBO - Jhene Aiko
Free Nationals - The Free Nationals
F*** Yo Feelings - Robert Glasper
It Is What It Is - Thundercat

Best Rap Song Nominees :

The Box - Roddy Ricch

The Bigger Picture - Lil Baby

Laugh Now, Cry Later - Drake & Lil Durk 

ROCKSTAR - DaBaby & Roddy Ricch 
Savage - Megan Thee Stallion & Beyonce

Some of the surprise nominations are D Smoke, the winner of Netflix's Rhythm and Flow being nominated for Best New Artist. Other newbies this time round are Megan thee Stallion, who's bagged 4 nominations. 

There's actually a total of 83 nomination categories.You can check out the complete nomination list at grammys.com

The Controversy
This year's nominations have had its grim share of controversy.

Artists have openly spoken their minds about this. 

For starters, this is how nominations are done. Artists, producers, music engineers or any other concerned party are required to submit entries to the Recording Academy to be considered for nomination. The Recording Academy then vets the entries and picks the entries with the greatest impact that year for nomination.

The Recording Academy is a group of music peers consisting of music artists,producers, music engineers who deal with picking nominations and eventually Grammy winners.

Some notable music artists have come out guns blazing at the Recording Academy for being biased in picking this year's nominations.The Weeknd expressed his disappointment in missing out on the nomination list.In spite of having chart topping tracks like Heartless, Blinding Lights and a successful album like After Hours, he wasn't nominated in any single category. 

The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency...

— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 25, 2020

This year's nominations reminded Nicki Minaj of the pain she went through in 2010 when she lost to Bon Iver. 

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

— Mrs. Petty (@NICKIMINAJ) November 24, 2020

Halsey also weighed in on the matter saying that the Recording Academy is so convoluted to the extent that it's not the best but the most favored that get awarded.

halsey on the grammy nominations process.....shes right and she should say it!!! pic.twitter.com/yQgAao8ixY

— 💛OWEN💛 (@xowenm) November 29, 2020

 

 Justin Bieber also came out faulting the Recording Academy of nominating him in the wrong category ;that is Best Rnb Album for his latest album Positions instead of Best Pop Vocal Album category. 

The Recording Academy hasn't replied yet so it seems 'the show is gonna go on' , as they say.

Africa up in Grammys
The continent has also received recognition in the 63rd Grammy Awards.Most notable is Trevor Noah, the famous South African born comedian being chosen to host the event. 

Octopizzo, one of the best rappers in East Africa, is also up for 4 Grammy considerations including Best Rap Performance for Wakiritho. This is actually the second time that he's being considered for a Grammy. 

A good Time yo let you know that am up for Grammy Consideration this Year.
For those who doubted the 8.
It’s about that Time.#LELA OUT NOW https://t.co/BaIqCvGYZ1#Don 🐐 pic.twitter.com/q2ui7wz9v0

— OCTOPIZZO (@OCTOPIZZO) November 6, 2020

Burna Boy is also up for nomination of Best World Album with his latest album Twice as Tall.

All the best to these fearless African stars.

The performers for the night are yet to be announced.Whether there will be in-person attendance of the night? I think that's a no-brainer because Corona Virus is still ravaging the world.So most probably the show will go on virtually. 

I'd like to know your thoughts on the controversies and the nominations. Who do you think will be the stars of the night?
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