Drake Reportedly Chose Not to Submit ‘More Life’ to the Grammys for Consideration
Despite the tremendous success of rapper Drake’s most recent “passion project” More Life, it is being reported that the Toronto native is choosing not to submit his work for consideration at this year’s Grammy Awards. If this is true, it could very well be a sign of the times – as the rap world and the Grammys have had longstanding issues. To state it plainly, many rappers do not feel that their work is appreciated or awarded accordingly – and acknowledgement by the words might not be cutting it anymore.
In terms of numbers, More Life, which was released in March of this year, made its debut on the Billboard 200 albums chart at number one. And at the time of its release, the playlist project sold 505,000 copies in its first week of sales. According to Neilsen Music, More Life has also gone multi-platinum, selling over two million units – album sales, single sales, and streams included. Additionally, it set streaming records with singles that have surpassed the one billion mark in streams, Billboard reports.
Drake is the latest artist to make a stand against the longtime awards show. He has long expressed feeling as though his work and even work of his peers are not awarded properly at the show. In doing so, he joins the likes of Kanye West and JAY Z, who have both had grievances with how the Grammys awards artists – particularly in the big name categories like Song of the Year and Album of the Year, when artists are put together no matter their genre.
For that reason, Frank Ocean also notably stated his issues with the Grammys via Tumblr this year of why he chose not to submit his critically acclaimed album Blonde for consideration in the 2017 show. In it, he questioned the relevance of the Grammys and its relation to his career among other things:
“Winning a TV award doesn’t christen me successful.”
“I’ve actually been tuning into CBS around this time of year for a while to see who gets the top honor and you know what’s really not ‘great TV’ guys? 1989 getting Album of the Year over to Pimp a Butterfly. Hands down one of the most ‘faulty’ TV moments I’ve seen. Believe the people,” Ocean added.
Despite the relevance and prominence of a lot of rap songs out there that in turn receive nominations, a rap single hasn’t won Song of the Year or Record of the Year – the AP reports.
The last and only times a rap-based act won Album of the Year was Lauryn Hill and Outkast.
The Grammys is the Oscars of music and many artists are humbled by what it means to be honored by earning those awards. By deciding not to submit his project, the “Fake Love” rapper is taking the power away from the Grammys to validate him and his contributions to the world as an artist. While the acknowledgment may be flattering, attending an award show year after year and being nominated for awards because your songs and/or album may have dominated the charts in the year leading up to the show is ultimately a waste if you’re never walking away from the show with anything to show for it.
And if memory serves correct, Drake has only been able to walk away from the Grammys with three of the 35 Grammy awards he has been nominated for in the past.
Nominations for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards will be announced on November 28.
Photo Credit: PR Photos
