Rap artistes win big, women take centre stage at the Grammys
LOSANGELES: Rap artists and women have felt shunned by the Grammy Awards in recent years. But this year, they both took centre stage.
Childish Gambino’s disturbing look at race relations, “This is America,” won record and song of the year on Sunday’s telecast. It was the first time a rap-based song won both of those awards, considered — with album of the year — the recording industry’s most prestigious.
Kacey Musgraves won top album and matched Childish Gambino with four Grammys total. A year after many women felt left out of the Grammy telecast, they delivered the night’s most memo- rable performances. The best new artist winner, British singer Dua Lipa, also cast major shade on the outgoing recording academy president. Lady Gaga and Brandi Carlile won three Grammys apiece, and former first lady Michelle Obama was a surprise guest at the top of the show on CBS. Childish Gambino and another prominent rap nominee, Kendrick Lamar, both declined invitations to perform or attend Sunday’s show.