Do Artists Have The Right To Complain About GRAMMY Nominations?

2022 MTV Video Music Awards - Show

Source: Christopher Polk / Getty

The 2023 GRAMMY nominations have just been announced, and reactions from music fans and the nominated artists themselves have been interesting to say the least.

However, there’s also been some discussion coming from those not even nominated, resulting in many snubbed stars speaking out against the annual music awards ceremony for what they feel is an ongoing problem within the Academy who choose the coveted nominee slots.

RELATED: 2023 GRAMMYS: The R&B Nominations Are In!

As you’ve probably already seen, rap queen Nicki Minaj has spoken out vehemently about her number one hit “Super Freaky Girl” getting zero nominations. Then, R&B sensation Summer Walker and LVRN co-founder Justice Baiden spoke out after the Still Over It singer was snubbed for two projects in a row, which got a supportive co-sign from R&B icon Kelly Rowland. “Things that make you go Hmmm???,” the Destiny’s Child superstar wrote on one of her Instagram Stories, clarifying her confusion by adding, “Why was @summerwalker’s Album not nominated For a Grammy? It was damn GOOD!! PERIOD!!”

Recently, hip-hop vet Fat Joe joined the conversation as well by bringing up a few snubs from the past. Speaking with Elliott Wilson in a profile for GQ, the “Lean Back” rapper boldly declared that his 2004 New York summer anthem, in addition to the more recent 2017 smash “All The Way Up,” both deserved GRAMMYs for “Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group” and “Best Rap Performance,” respectively.

See below for his full take on the situation, via GQ:

“I should have won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance 2017. Chance is a cool guy. But the Grammy should have come my way. ‘All the Way Up’ was bigger. Not only that, if people understood the culture, Remy and I were like Robin Hood and Cinderella. They could have done the ‘hood a favor and given ‘All the Way Up,’ the fuckin’ Grammy. You understand? They gave it to Chance the Rapper—and for what? I’m not going to be disrespectful, but they gave it to him for a record I don’t even know no more. This is my point. I don’t even know what he beat us with. Do you understand? Same thing happened to us with ‘Lean Back.’ We lost Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group in 2005 to, what’s these guys? What’s the guy with the girl, Fergie?”

“Let’s give the underdogs the Grammys,” Fat Joe later says in the interview, and he’s definitely not alone in his qualms about not just the nomination process but in determining a winner as well.

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When looking at the bigger picture, a handful of major artists were snubbed this year, including Megan Thee Stallion’s sophomore album, Traumatize, and its hit singles “Her” and “Plan B.” On a similar front, even with 10 Latin GRAMMY nominations to his name, global Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny garnered only one nom for “Album of the Year” despite breaking many records with Un Verano Sin Ti.

However, what does critiquing the nominations say about the actual nominees? Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Doja Cat and Lizzo are all vying for “Record Of The Year,” with three out of the four also nominated for “Album Of The Year.” Kendrick Lamar is rightfully getting his flowers for the impeccable hip-hop masterpiece Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, and new stars like Muni Long, Latto, Tobe Nwigwe and jazz sensation Samara Joy are bringing representation to “Best New Artist.”

…and those are just the Big Four categories!

It’s perfectly fair to say Summer Walker deserves a nomination for “Best R&B Album,” but who’s to say Good Morning Gorgeous, Black Radio III, Candydrip, Watch The Sun or Breezy didn’t deserve theirswell, maybe that last one, but we’ll leave that up to opinion! Same with the Queen emcee: is “Super Freaky Girl,” be it a pop or rap record, comparable to equal chart darlings like nominees DJ Khaled, GloRilla, Future and cookout-invitee Jack Harlow?

In short, there’s no real answer. The reality is that majority, if not all musicians making hit music in this era can make an argument for why they deserve a GRAMMY. Some like Snoop Dogg, Brian McKnight and The Supremes queen Diana Ross have each been nominated over a dozen times and never took home a trophy. Deceased legends like Aaliyah, 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. never won a single GRAMMY before or after their untimely deaths.

The best way we can all look at it is to not allow an accolade to determine your worth as an artist, your status as one of the music elites or, in the case of Minaj, bring you to get out of character by throwing shade at a nominated artist.

Take a look below at what some people are saying when it comes to the GRAMMYs snubbing some artists, and let us know where you stand in the buzzing music debate:

1. So glad Summer Walker is calling out the Grammys for the snub she unwarently received, however I can’t help to notice is that when Nicki called out the snub she was called a bitter black woman?!?

via @_BIG_BARBIE

2. The Grammys got Summer Walker FUCKED UP!!! That’s the biggest snub! this is the 2nd time

via @LikeINeverLef

3. Nicki Minaj fans: “we don’t need the Grammys, Nicki is the queen of rap” The Grammys snubs Nicki. Her fans:

via @peter_ngli

4. y’all acting surprise like the grammys don’t snub ppl every year

via @xoxoneeyah

5. The Grammys is literally politics and snubs black art every time yeah I said it

via @secily_

6. “grammys are known for snubs female artist” you just made that up the most nominated artist is a female artist & after this year most wins will be by a female artist too so be fr

via @iloveranrating

7. Summer Walker is the biggest snub from the Grammys this year imo. Still Over It is such an excellent album.

via @ChampagnePuthy

8. lots and lots of snubs this year like wtf is the grammys doing?

via @igiveit2weeks

9. if artists know that grammys always snub them then why do they still go on and submit their work to it every year

via @blueshashke

10. They are. Grammys have always been a snub.

via @SkinnyRamenKid

11. I don’t slam on the Grammys cuz there are a lot of dope peers that I respect who serve as members of the Recording Academy. That said, we have this SNUB conversation quite often. Yearly, actually.

via @itsceddyp

12. stopped taking the grammys seriously ever since the after hours era was completely snubbed, the recording academy is just a whole circus at this point.

via @bluesuitabel

13. so many #GRAMMYs snubs this time around. my heart hurts for the artists that have put out some of their best work and got no recognition.

via @supportingwoc

14. I am FLOORED that they actually nominated Mary J on this category! The Grammys tend to snub full on R&B projects in the main categories! #GRAMMYs

via @melvinjtk

15. I promise if the Grammys snub Beyoncé for AOTY again somebody is gonna have to get me the names of the people casting these votes because a conversation will need to be had. I’m so tired of the blatant racism.

via @LaurynJohnay

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