Grammys give nod to women, diversity

LOSANGELES: A bold streak of feminism ran through the Grammys gala as women artists dominated in the competition and on the concert stage while rappers Cardi B and Childish Gambino delivered a history-making night for hiphop.

Gambino, the musical alter ego of actor Donald Glover, posted four big wins for his provocative hit This Is America, but did not attend the ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday. In any event, the night belonged to the ladies. One year after they were largely snubbed in major categories, and the head of the Recording Academy sparked outrage for telling them to “step up,” they made their presence felt and heard. Country star Kacey Musgraves nabbed four prizes including an upset win for top Album of the Year honour for Golden Hour. English synth-pop star Dua Lipa bested a crowded field of female talent to take home the Grammy for Best New Artist. “I guess this year we really stepped up,” she said. And rap’s woman of the moment Cardi B certainly put her art out there -- she made history as the first solo woman to win a Grammy for Best Rap Album for her debut Invasion of Privacy. The trembling star, fresh off a rousing performance of her hit Money, delivered an emotional speech alongside her husband Offset of the rap trio Migos about making the album in the early days of her pregnancy. Gambino’s win marked the first time a rap track won either Song of the Year, which honours best songwriting, or the Record of the Year award for best overall song.

Musgraves’ third studio album bested a crowded field of heavyweights for top honours including rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake -- both of whom ended the night with just one win each. Gambino and Lamar skipped the ceremony, but Drake showed up, and vented his frustration over a common complaint that black hip-hop artists are not always given their due. “We play in an opinion-based sport, not a factual-based sport,” Drake said as he accepted his award for Best Rap Song for God’s Plan.