There were many moments at the 2013 Grammy Awards that were all the rage of convo at the water cooler the next morning, one of them being Kelly Clarkson’s acceptance speech after winning Best Pop Vocal album. Miguel had just performed “Adorn” (Best R&B Song) with Wiz Khalifa, and Clarkson rambled on in what could be detected as nervousness, excitement, and/or intoxication.
"Miguel, I don't know who the hell you are," she said. "But we need to sing together. I mean, good God, that was the sexiest damn thing I've ever seen."
Twitter was busy with comments from those who felt a certain way about her statement; it didn’t sit well with many people, one of them being rapper Wale. Speaking with MTV News, the D.C. rapper said, "I didn't like the Kelly Clarkson’s back-handed comments to Miguel. I just feel like our urban music is belittled, a little bit."
Supposedly, her comment of “not knowing who Miguel is” was a confirmation to Wale as a sort of shade towards urban music at the Grammys. The fact that Miguel’s performance was so short and not on the main stage felt like a slight towards the genre as a whole.
"Not trying to offend nobody on the committee, but for a record as big as 'Adorn,' and it to not be presented as a real performance onstage; it was almost like a segue to an award," he explained. "Again, I don't want to offend anybody on the committee, but that wasn't a very good representation of our music because 'Adorn' is gonna be around for the next 30 years."
Thoughts?
It’s not every day that a Grammy-winning artist stirs up controversy with their acceptance speech. But Kelly Clarkson managed to do just that when she used her win for Best Pop Vocal Album to call out the Recording Academy for failing to recognize urban music and artists. The comment didn’t sit well with acclaimed rapper Wale, who felt that Clarkson was speaking on behalf of an entire subculture without giving it due respect. This article will explore how Wale responded to Clarkson’s comments and his feelings about the lack of recognition given to urban music by the Grammys.
In a series of tweets following the ceremony, Wale expressed his disagreement with some aspects of the speech, saying he thought it was “wrongfully done”. He argued that while celebrating diversity is important, focusing solely on one genre – in this case urban music – isn’t fair or accurate. Furthermore, he pointed out that there are other genres like jazz and country which also get shortchanged by major award shows like the Grammys.
The incident has sparked debate among fans online over whether Clarkson should have addressed her concerns differently and if Wale was right in calling her out for not fully recognizing all affected genres equally. With both sides passionately standing their ground, we’ll take a closer look at why this particular exchange struck such an emotional chord and what kind of impact it might have going forward.
Wale’s Reaction To Kelly Clarkson’s Speech
Wale was not pleased with Kelly Clarkson’s speech at the 2021 Grammy Awards. The rapper took to Twitter shortly after she made her remarks, tweeting his disapproval of how urban music was slighted in her address. He pointed out that artists like himself and many others have worked hard for success and recognition within their genre yet are often ignored when it comes to major awards shows.
The singer-songwriter responded quickly to Wale’s tweet, apologizing if he felt disrespected by her words. She explained that she wanted to take a moment during such an important event to recognize every artist regardless of genre or background. Despite this explanation, Wale continued to feel disregarded and expressed his discontent on social media.
In response, fans rallied around the rapper, showing their support through comments and likes on various posts about the issue online. This sparked conversation throughout the community as people discussed what they believed constituted fair representation for all genres in the music industry. It is clear from these events that there is still much work needed before Urban Music will receive its due respect and attention from mainstream award entities like the Grammys.
Urban Music Representation At The Grammys
The issue of urban music representation at the Grammys has long been a contentious one. While there have been some successes over the years, such as hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar winning Album of the Year in 2018, many argue that this is not enough to truly recognize and appreciate the contributions of black artists within the industry. This lack of acknowledgement has caused frustration among many fans and musicians alike, leading to Wale’s response to Kelly Clarkson’s speech.
It is clear that more must be done if urban music is going to be fairly represented at awards shows like The Grammys. Some suggested solutions include creating specific categories for certain genres or increasing diversity on voting committees so that artists from varying backgrounds are properly considered. Additionally, providing resources or educational opportunities for those interested in pursuing careers in Urban Music could help foster growth within the field and create more opportunities for recognition overall.
Ultimately, it will require dedicated efforts from all parts of society—from major award entities to grassroots organizations—to ensure that each genre receives equal attention and respect when it comes time for honors such as The Grammys. It may take time before progress can be made, but with increased awareness and advocacy, Urban Music stands a chance at having its moment in the spotlight.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I believe Wale was rightfully bothered by the lack of representation for urban music at this year’s Grammy Awards. It is a longstanding issue that needs to be addressed and rectified if the Grammys are going to maintain their credibility as an honest reflection of musical excellence. After all, hip-hop has become one of the most popular genres in the world today and its artists deserve equal recognition.
It is understandable why Wale reacted so strongly towards Kelly Clarkson’s speech; it seemed dismissive of his genre when he knows what talent lies within it. He also wants others to understand that there is more to hip-hop than just bling and violence, but rather artistry and skillful lyricism – something which should be commended regardless of its origin. All forms of music should have an opportunity to shine on such a grand stage as the Grammy Awards and those who create it should not feel slighted or overlooked because of their backgrounds or cultures.
