The 60th Grammy Awards aired this Sunday, January 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and music’s biggest celebration was a night to remember. The prestigious, star-studded event, which recognizes and honors musical excellence, was jam jacked with exciting and jaw-dropping moments (like SZA’s ‘Best New Artist’ snub and Jay Z’s zero wins). This year’s ceremony in particular was a hip-hop takeover with rappers dominating the nominations list. Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Rapsody, and Childish Gambino, were among the top contenders on the roster.
Kendrick Lamar opened the Grammys with an explosive performance of “XXX” featuring legendary rock band, U2. Dancers dressed as soldiers covered the stage as the Compton rapper spit bars, and U2 graced the stage. K.Dot then transitioned to “DNA” with a special appearance from comedian Dave Chappelle, who interjected every few verses with commentary. Chappelle made a memorable statement regarding black men in America, which was one of the many major highlights of the night.
“The only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America is being an honest black man in America.”
Kendrick kept it all the way real towards the end of his performance with a powerful, compelling message. Gunshots rang on the track and knocked down dancers one by one, as a representation of police brutality in America.
Aside from his killer performance, Lamar swept up an astounding five Grammys including, Best Music Video for “HUMBLE.,” Best Rap Performance for “HUMBLE.,” Best Rap Song for “HUMBLE.,” Best Rap/Sung Performance for “Loyalty” featuring Rihanna, and Best Rap Album for DAMN. Congrats to Kendrick Lamar on his numerous wins!
