Black Grammy Moments We’ll Never Forget

Beyoncé Becomes the Most Awarded Performer in Grammy History (2023)

Beyoncé won her 28th gramophone at the 63rd Grammy Awards in 2021, securing her title as the most-awarded woman in Grammy history. She later extended that record in 2023 when she won Best Dance/Electronic Album for Renaissance, bringing her total Grammy wins to 32 and making her the most Grammy awarded performer of all time.

Despite her record-breaking success, a major controversy remains: Beyoncé has never won Album of the Year, despite having multiple nominations. This ongoing “snub” has led to much criticism of the Recording Academy’s treatment of Black artists in major categories. However, Beyoncé’s Grammy legacy remains undeniable with 88 total nominations (tied with Jay-Z for the most ever).

 Michael Jackson’s Eight Grammy Wins In One Night (1984)

The Thriller era was unstoppable for Michael Jackson, as he made history at the 26th Grammy Awards by winning eight gramaphones in one night—the most ever at the time. Jackson took home Grammys in the categories of Record Of The Year (“Beat It”), Album Of The Year, and Producer Of The Year (Non-Classical), all of which Jackson shared with Thriller co-producer Quincy Jones.

Jackson also nabbed trophies for Best Pop Vocal Performance (“Thriller”); Best Rock Vocal Performance (“Beat It”); Best R&B Song, Best R&B Vocal Performance (“Billie Jean”) and Best Recording for Children (The E.T. Storybook). The accolades helped cement his already stellar legacy as the King of Pop.

Jay-Z Calls Out the Grammys for Beyoncé’s Continuous “Snubs” (2024)

At the 66th Grammys, Jay-Z received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award and took the opportunity to call out the Recording Academy for repeatedly snubbing his wife, Beyoncé. Hov had much to say about Bey’s continuous Album of the Year dismissal, despite her record-breaking stats. Jay’s speech highlighted a long-standing issue of Black artists being overlooked in major categories.

“We love y’all. We want y’all to get it right,” he addressed the Recording Academy. “I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than anyone and never won album of the year. So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work.”

Beyoncé has lost four times in the category for her top-charting albums I Am… Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé, Lemonade and Renaissance. Fans are anticipating to see how her most recent album, Cowboy Carter, will do this year.

Lauryn Hill Wins Album of the Year (1999)

Lauryn Hill made herstory at the 41st Grammy Awards in 1999 when she became the first female Hip-Hop artist to win Album of the Year for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The moment was monumental for Hill and the culture, as she opened doors for women in Hip-Hop to be acknowledged by the Academy in “Big Four” categories (Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist).

Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” Performance And Political Statement (2016)

The 2016 Grammys featured one of the most powerful performances in its history: Kendrick Lamar’s politically charged medley of “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright.” The performance featured prison imagery, African dance, and a blazing backdrop spelling out “Compton”—addressing systemic racism and Black empowerment.

The urgent and relevant performance came at a time when movements like Black Lives Matter were gaining momentum as more Black people were unjustly dying at the hands of police officers. Kendrick deservingly won Best Rap Album that night while simultaneously holding up a mirror to the Grammys—which has been accused of sidelining Hip-Hop and Black artists in other categories.

K. Dot’s set used the prestigious night in pop culture to spotlight an uncomfortable but necessary conversation about police brutality and the alarming rates of Black mass incarceration. The iconic performance has since been washed from the internet for undisclosed reasons.

Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” Performance (1994)

Whitney Houston proved exactly why she’s called “the voice” during her performance of the iconic ballad “I Will Always Love You” at the 36th Grammy Awards in 1994. Houston floored the entire room with her fermatas and range, giving a legendary show that would go on to cement her as one of the greatest vocalists of all time.

The leading single from The Bodyguard soundtrack went on to become the world’s best-selling single of 1992, while also winning a Grammy for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female.

Beyoncé And Prince’s Electric Opening Performance (2004)

Beyoncé and Prince set the stage ablaze at the 46th Grammy Awards in 2004. The two icons opened the show with a legendary duet and tribute to the Purple One. The late legend, who was known for being selective about collaborations, personally invited Beyoncé to perform with him. He opened the show playing his purple guitar, as the Queen Bey entered the stage in a stunning, shimmering pink dress, matching Prince’s signature flamboyant style.

Together, they performed a medley that included “Purple Rain,” “Baby I’m a Star,” and “Let’s Go Crazy” from Prince’s 1984 album Purple Rain. Beyoncé then added her hit “Crazy in Love” to the mix, blending her modern R&B sound with Prince’s classic rock and funk. The performance was filled with high energy, playful interaction and incredible vocal moments, ultimately ranking among the best Grammy performances of all time. It was also one of Prince’s most memorable TV appearances before his passing in 2016.

Kanye West’s Emotional Speech After Winning Best Rap Album (2005)

Following the tragic passing of his mother, Kanye West won Best Rap Album for The College Dropout at the 2005 Grammys, and gave one of the most heartfelt speeches that simultaneously became one of his most viral moments. Upon accepting the award, Ye told the crowd: “I know everybody asked me the question. They wanted to know, ‘What Kanye? I know he’s gon’ wild out and he’s gon’ do something crazy.’ Everybody wanted to know what I would do if I didn’t win… I guess we’ll never know.”

The moment was more than just an acceptance speech for the Yeezy creator, but a defining moment in his career. Although many chopped his response up to plain “arrogance,” Ye’s winning speech radiated resilience and testimony as he touched on his 2002 nearly-fatal car accident that inspired his hit song “Through The Wire.”

Will Smith And DJ Jazzy Jeff Boycott the Grammys (1989)

In 1989, the 34th Grammys introduced the Best Rap Performance category for the first time, but the award wasn’t televised—which was deemed a slight to Hip-Hop. Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, who won the award for “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” boycotted the ceremony because of the alleged snub.

The duo highlighted the Grammy’s reluctance to fully highlight Hip-Hop, and also paved the way for future artists to challenge the Recording Academy’s decisions. At the time, Smith responded to the snub in an interview, stating: “We don’t have the problem with the Grammy as an award or the Grammys as an institution, we just had a problem with the 1989 design of the awards show. We chose to boycott. We feel that it’s a slap in the face.” Salt-N-Pepa and LL Cool J were amongst the Hip-Hop stars who backed the rap group’s sentiments.

Megan Thee Stallion & Cardi B’s “WAP” Performance (2021)

At the 2021 Grammys, Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B performed their hit song “WAP” in a bold, high-energy performance that sparked major commentary. The set featured steamy interactions between the two rappers, vulgar lyricism and a level of raunchiness rarely seen on the Grammy stage. The performance has been regarded as one of the most memorable moments in Grammy history ever, as it sparked conversations that divided audiences. Some praised the performance for celebrating the freedom to be female, as others criticized it for being too provocative for TV.

However, the set seemed to have serious consequences, as Cardi B revealed that she was “almost sued” by the FCC. “Y’all remember when the FCC almost sued me cuz I performed WAP at the Grammys?” she asked her following on X in 2023. “What about when all the republicans literally harassed me over it? On the news everyday… Y’all remember? Oooohhh cuz I do.”