Old vs. new school: the best rap album debate at the Grammys
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby have blazed the Billboard charts, but Grammy voters gave the young hip-hop stars the cold shoulder in the best rap album category, instead, surprisingly nominating the genre’s more matured voices like Nas and Jay Electronica.
Some were baffled by the academy's decision to push through some lesser-known projects in the category instead of the popular chart-topping albums that have dominated streaming services with record numbers. Several hip-hop artists weighed in and called out the Grammys, including Drake, Killer Mike and 50 Cent, who said the awards show is “out of touch.”
In addition to Nas' “King’s Disease" and Jay Electronica's “A Written Testimony," this year's best rap album nominees include Freddie Gibbs & the Alchemist's “Alfredo," “The Allegory" by Royce da 5’9” and D Smoke's “Black Habits." The rappers are 35-and-up with Nas — who has never won a Grammy — being the oldest at 47.
Each of the nominated albums were reviewed as solid pieces of work, but some rap enthusiasts saw a clear divide between the seasoned rappers and the new generation of twentysomething hip-hop performers — sometimes referred to as “mumble rappers" who focus more on quick word play with heavy bass melodies instead of lyricism.
“First thing that came to my mind was rigged," said Twysted Genius, who produced four songs on Lil Baby’s sophomore album “My Turn," including the platinum-selling singles “Sum 2 Prove" and “Emotionally Scarred."
Billboard named “My Turn" the second-most successful album of 2020, besting projects by pop stars like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and The Weeknd, and easily out-selling the nominees for best rap album. Roddy Ricch's “Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial" ranked third on...