Music award
Drake calls for his Grammy nominations to be withdrawn
The rapper Drake accuses the organizers of the music award of pigeon-holing him as a black artist.
© Mark J. Terrill / DPA
The Canadian rapper Drake no longer wants to be considered when the 64th Grammy Awards are awarded. For years, black artists have criticized a systematic disadvantage at the American music award.
Canadian superstar Drake has apparently asked for his two Grammy nominations to be withdrawn that year. From circles close to the artist it is said that the decision was made by Drake and his management and accepted by the organizers of the prestigious US music award. A person familiar with the process at the organizer Recording Academy confirmed the information.
Drake was nominated for two awards
Drake’s nominations were therefore removed from the official Grammys website as the final round of voting for the awards began. The 64th Grammy Awards are due to take place in Los Angeles on January 31st.
Drake, one of the best-selling and most influential musicians in the world, has already won four Grammys. He was nominated again for two rap awards this year. His hit album “Certified Lover Boy” was skipped in the most important categories.
The 35-year-old commented on the topic in detail in his story: “I think we should stop being shocked every year about the decoupling of impressive music and these awards and simply accept that this formerly highest form of recognition will attract current and future artists no longer interested. ”
He justified his decision not to accept the nominations, among other things, with the fact that the Canadian singer The Weeknd was not included in the categories Album of the Year and Song of the Year. For the future, Drake spoke out in favor of a new music award: “Now is a great time to develop something new that will also affect future generations.”
Black artists feel disadvantaged
The artist has already competed with the powerful organizers of the Grammy Awards several times in the past. He accuses them of putting him in a drawer as a black artist. Other top performers like The Weeknd, Frank Ocean and Jay-Z have labeled the Grammys as irrelevant in recent years and also pointed out that they do not recognize black artists.
The singer is also currently facing mass panic lawsuits at a festival in Texas in early November that killed ten people.
Source:Variety