The 2024 Grammy Awards witnessed a powerful moment when rapper Jay-Z – while accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award – publicly criticized the Recording Academy for its repeated failure to recognize his wife, Beyoncé, with the prestigious Album of the Year Award.
During his acceptance speech, the 54-year-old hip-hop mogul took the stage alongside his daughter, Blue Ivy, to express his gratitude towards Dr. Dre and the Black Music collective for the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.
He reminisced about the Grammy history, humorously referencing Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff’s 1989 Grammy win, which they followed by boycotting the ceremony due to it not being televised.
Jay-Z quipped: “It wasn’t a great boycott,” referring to Smith and Jeff watching the Grammys at a hotel.
However, the jokes then stopped and his tone grew more serious as he turned his attention to the Recording Academy.
Jay-Z was in his wife’s corner. Credit: Timothy Norris / Stringer / Getty
“I’m just saying, we want you all to get it right. We love y’all, we love y’all. We want you to get it right – or at least get it close to right,” he emphasized. “And obviously, it’s subjective… because it’s music and it’s opinion-based, but some things… I don’t want to embarrass this young lady but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album of the Year.
“So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work. Think about that. The most Grammys, never won Album of the Year.”
The camera then captured Beyoncé – who is still the most-nominated female artist in Grammy history with 88 career nominations and 32 Grammy wins – yet without an Album of the Year win.
She has been nominated in the category four times, but has been bested by Taylor Swift, Beck, Adele, and Harry Styles in previous years. Her sole win in the coveted “Big Four” categories (Album, Record and Song of the Year, and Best New Artist) came in 2010 for ‘Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)’.
Jay-Z continued his subtle jabs, suggesting that some attendees might feel robbed at the awards. He even stirred gasps from the audience when he remarked: “Some of you don’t belong in the category.”
Yeesh.
Jay-Z takes a drink from his Grammy. Credit: Johnny Nunez / Getty
He concluded his speech on a positive note, encouraging persistence. He told his fans and those in attendance: “Just in life, you gotta keep showing up.
“Just keep showing up. Forget the Grammys. You gotta keep showing up until they give you all those accolades you feel you deserve. Until they call you chairman. Until they call you a genius. Until they call you the greatest of all time.”
The ‘Encore’ star then celebrated his win by pouring a drink into his Grammy trophy and taking a sip, symbolizing a toast to his achievements and convictions.
So, what do you think? Does Beyoncé deserve an Album of the Year Award, or should the couple be content with her historic success at the awards show?
This year, Album of the Year was eventually won by Taylor Swift for a record fourth time.
