ArchStanton
All Star
The Grammys are a joke and yet I still want Nas to win one. Go figure.
Official Nas Thread
- Thread starter Ronald
- Start date
Its crazy because in the past you could look at the Rap categories, pick out who sold the most, and that was the winner. They kind of subverted those expectations last year as Tyler won whilst Meek Mill was the biggest seller of that year. Tyler however, was WAY more critically acclaimed and celebrated.
Nas has the name recognition. Nas has also “played the game” more in these last couple of years than he EVER has. I don’t mean playing the game as a bad thing. He successfully fused his own lyricism and artistry with a modern day producer (Hit Boy) and modern day popular artists (Lil Durk, Big Sean, Asap Feeg, Anderson.Paak) whilst ALSO keeping in line with traditional rap ingredients (bringing back The Firm, the inclusion of Brucie B and Dr Dre)
His lead single was also an ode to blackness, which in 2020 proved especially poignant.
Also like you said, Nas has the “brand recognition” as an established legend and veteran. He performed last year with Lil Nas X and got acclaim for it. For voters who are just going on name recognition Nas has the most of any nominee. He also sold the most out of all the nominees (for the FIRST time in his 13 nominations he’s the highest selling artist in the category)
This should be a shoo in. Even Jay Electronica doesn’t get the “Jay-Z Stimulus” package because Jay’s name ironically is NOWHERE on the album, not even listed as a feature for any of the songs he’s on. They didn’t even go the Only Built For Cuban Linx “Co-Starring” route. So voters who are going on name recognition won’t just see “Jay-Z” and check the name.
Piff Perkins
Veteran
Songwriters, musicians, agents, music execs...lot of people. It's heavily weighted towards songwriters though, many from the pop and rock fields which is why you'll almost never see a rap album win AOTY. I mention it every year but a friend of mine's mom is on the committee, and she's "just" a piano teacher who played on a few records decades ago. She's basically a former jazz musician who only listens to jazz and some soft pop/rock, yet gets to vote on everything. And yes, she voted for Eminem and Jay multiple times for rap AOTY solely because of the name.
And don't discount the fact that since most of the people voting are "industry" people, they hand out favors or vote based on what can help their friends. "Little Johnny Weinstein from down the street grew up and is managing such and such? Well I'm gonna vote for his little group to win!" That type of shyt. Lot of people I used to work for would vote like that.
That year where it was Kendrick vs Taylor Swift I kept telling people not to get their hopes up lol. Although I gotta say, he still almost won which shocked me. This year it'll be Coldplay vs Taylor Swift, unless somebody guilts a bunch of white liberals into picking Jhene Aiko as a protest for the lack of diversity...
If Coldplay wins Album Of The Year the entire industry might riot lmao. Literally NOBODY listened to that shyt. This ain’t 2003 and a “Clocks” remix ain’t walking through that door.
Taylor is gonna win that shyt. I might even go as far as to say that one of the reasons The Weeknd was completely snubbed is to ENSURE that Taylor wins.
Tell your homeboy’s mom to go ahead and vote for Nas lol.
I also remember you being shocked the year Childish Gambino won both Song and Record Of The Year. What are your thoughts on that?
Spidey Man
Superstar
Let's take it back a bit.
Nas, Shaq, Jay and Lord Tariq
Nas, Shaq, Jay and Lord Tariq
Piff Perkins
Veteran
I asked him about his mom today. He's still in the music business...working at Warner. Said his mom doesn't know who she's voting for yet but is tired of Taylor Swift lol. She's heard Ultra Black and while she liked it, said she wanted Robert Glasper on it to spice up the chords lol. This is an old white woman btw lmao.
In terms of Childish Gambino yea, that surprised the hell out of me. Any time a black artist who isn't an established legend wins one of the major awards, I'm surprised. That year, Lady Gaga had already won an Academy Award and BAFTA award for the song from that A Star Is Born movie. I thought she'd clean up the Grammys too. She ended up winning a couple for the song, just not the big award. Very impressive, and remember...Gambino's song wasn't from an album. Making it even more shocking. He put a track out, released a video...and that shyt lit a fire.
I think the general consensus is everybody BUT white people are tired of Taylor Swift lol.
I think she cleans up this year and then goes on a loonnggggg General Field drought her next couple of album cycles. She’ll be replaced at these award ceremonies with another young white girl (I already feel Billie Elish is primed to take over as the new white princess)
I have no earthly idea who the fukk keeps nominating Post Malone
this is what? His third STRAIGHT Aoty nomination?!!?!! Are you kidding me
Enough’s already been said about the Weeknd being snubbed. But i was also shocked that Summer Walker didn’t get any love. Maybe they jist weren’t onboard with her brand of Thot music but that album was pretty good.
Jhene Aiko’s come up is pretty impressive this year. Her album was really good.
Nas would actually be the oldest rapper to ever win Rap Album Of The Year
incredible achievement
for the GOAT to finally get that coveted (wishful thinking) Grammy
What’s next? After the Grammys, win or lose, what’s Nas next project! What do you think? Put out the Nas Album Done project? Put out the one rumored Firm Project? Go right back in with Hit Boy and try to capitalize off of their success and obvious chemistry with another album? Lost Tapes 3?
what?
what?
He’s got a “secret project” in the works that I assume will be up next.
My GUESS is that Dr Dre or Premo are involved in that project
“Nas Album Done” will probably never see the light of day. That was a Def Jam project.
Lost Tapes 3 is probably a few years away.
