Black excellence was on full display at the Grammys yesterday, Feb. 2. We got to see the return of many of our favorite stars to the Grammys last night. The Weeknd finally ended his Grammy boycott and even brought Playboi Carti with him. Beyonce returned to the Grammys as well and this time Jay-Z didn’t have to call out the Recording Academy either. We saw a Black queen take home her first Grammy and it was well deserved too. And of course, King Kendrick had him an unforgettable night as well. Let’s deep dive into some of the Blackest moments of last night’s show.
4. Doechii wins best Rap Album
Doechii’s acceptance speech is exactly why she is receiving the light and praise she is currently getting. After winning her first-ever Grammy, she took the time to motivate other girls who look like her.
“I know that there’s some Black girl out there, so many Black women out there, that are watching me right now, and I want to tell you: You can do it. Anything is possible. Anything is possible,” she said.
The 26-year-old Floridian, who combines R&B, hip-hop, jazz, avant-garde sounds and samples, and theatricality, has had an incredible few years culminating in this victory. She refers to herself as the “swamp princess” in jest. Alligator Bites Never Heal, her 2024 mixtape, peaked at No. 8 on the Top Rap Album list, No. 9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop chart, and No. 33 on the Billboard 200. Over a dozen dancers in similar Thom Browne suits supported the singer-songwriter during her electrifying Grammy performance of “Catfish” and “Denial Is a River.” She eventually stripped down to a white two-piece set.
3. Ye West and Bianca Censori’s red carpet appearance
You know when Ye hits the Grammys, it’s always going to be one of the most memorable moments of the night. This year was no different. No, he wasn’t drunk of Hennessy and snatching microphones in the name of Beyoncé. Instead, he opted for a quieter night of just walking the red carpet, but in typical Ye fashion, somehow, he was still one of the loudest in the room. Ye hit the red carpet with his wife and like usual she was naked or as naked as can be. She had some sort of see-through dress on, and together a fashion statement was definitely made.
2. Beyoncé wins her first Grammy and wins a few more
After boycotting the Grammys for nearly a decade. After Jay-Z admonished the Recording Academy last year for the treatment of Beyoncé at the awards. The most coveted award in music, the Grammy for Album Of The Year, finally went to Beyoncé for her Cowboy Carter album. Beyoncé also made history as the first Black woman to win Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter, and the award was presented by Taylor Swift, who previously won best country album in 2010 for Fearless. After Swift read her name, the camera cut to Beyoncé, who seemed shocked to hear her name called, and she doubled down on her surprise during her acceptance speech. “Wow, I really was not expecting this,” she says after she hugged Swift on stage.
1. Kendrick Lamar sweeps Grammy awards
Drake, turn away. Kendrick Lamar might have had the greatest night of all with his sweep of the Grammys. Lamar’s hit song “Not Like Us” won every single category that it was nominated for, included the coveted Record Of The Year award. Later in the evening, the rapper also won song of the year for “Not Like Us,” sweeping two of the top Grammy categories. He also won the Grammys for best rap performance, best rap song and best music video, caping off a stellar night for the rapper. He thanked Los Angeles for the Grammy win and dedicated his speech to his hometown.
