Hip-hop made history at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday (Feb. 5).
Ringing in the genre’s 50th birthday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, a total of 33 rappers — which included everyone from Flavor Flav to Lil Uzi Vert — took the GRAMMYs stage by storm for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
Assembled by the prolific Roots’ drummer Questlove, the 10-minute long performance saw sets from LL Cool J, Black Thought, Public Enemy, Run DMC, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot, Lil Baby, Glorilla, Lil Uzi Vert — who brought down the house with their smash-hit “Just Wanna Rock” — and much more.
This, though, wasn’t the only huge win for America’s most-listened genre, as Jay-Z performed at the GRAMMYs for the first time at since 2014 alongside Rick Ross and DJ Khaled. Shutting down the ceremony with the cinematic “GOD DID” off Khaled’s latest record, Hov impeccably rapped for five minutes straight, spitting his entire verse from the middle of a brooding candlelit table.
Watching Hov on live television was certainly jaw-dropping, whose performances are so rare they’re comparable to a blue moon. He and Beyoncé also hosted the Roc Nation Brunch earlier on Sunday, which saw guests like Tyler, The Creator, Joey Bada$$, Lil Kim, Khaled and others attend.
Among the night’s major headlines, the “CUFF IT” queen became the most decorated GRAMMY-winner in music history (32 awards), as Bey’s album Renaissance nabbed four wins: Best Dance/Electronic Album, Best R&B Song, Best Dance/Electronic Recording and Traditional R&B Performance.
Kendrick Lamar also made history of his own on Sunday, becoming the third-most awarded rapper in GRAMMYs history with 17 wins. He trails only Kanye West and Jay-Z, with the latter finding Lamar for a photo together last night.
“I would like to thank the culture for allowing me to evolve in order to make a song like ‘Mother I Sober’”, Lamar said in his acceptance speech for Rap Album Of The Year, as the Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers emcee took home three of his eight nominations. His thought-provoking track “The Heart Part 5” won honors for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.
Amid Lamar’s current status as rap’s undisputed GOAT, toxic king Future also snagged gold on GRAMMYs night. The I Never Liked You rapper won Best Melodic Rap Performance alongside Drake and Tems for their efforts on “WAIT FOR U.” Accepted by producer ATL Jacob, this is Future’s first GRAMMY win as a leading artist. INLY became a cultural phenomenon upon its release last April, with “WAIT FOR U” soaring into the hearts of listeners almost immediately.
As one of the most inescapable songs of 2022, Steve Lacy turned his “Bad Habit” into good fortune. The singer-guitarist’s album Gemini Rights won him his first-ever GRAMMY for Best Progressive R&B Album, as “Bad Habit” was also nominated in marquee categories for Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year. Although Lacy fell to Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” for ROTY, he was all smiles when performing his chart-topping single with Thundercat on stage.
Perhaps the most emotional performance of GRAMMYs night, Migos frontman Quavo took the stage to honor his fallen nephew Takeoff with his tribute track “WITHOUT YOU.” The rapper, who formed the “Unc and Phew” tandem for their joint album Only Built For Infinity Links, appeared in his element commemorating The Last Rocket — holding up Take’s chain during a portion of the set. Produced by Zaytoven, Murda Beatz and Mike Dean, “WITHOUT YOU” sees the 31-year-old rapper sing: “Out in the galaxy, up in the stars / Over the universe, it’s bigger than Mars / See you in heaven, see you heaven / When I see you in heaven, I’ma be with my dog.”
Offset was also in attendance at the GRAMMYs with Cardi B, and was reportedly asked to perform alongside Quavo for the tribute. However, emotions ran high as the two allegedly got into a fight backstage and had to be “pulled apart,” per a report from TMZ. Offset responded to this report via Twitter, quieting news of the kerfuffle. Nevertheless, Quavo turned in an unforgettable show in memory of Takeoff.
For what felt like the first time in years, the GRAMMYs wasn’t just all pomp and circumstance — it priortized the music that made 2022 as memorable as it was. The nominations reflected the core of the year’s influence, as its performances were a pure and unforgettable spectacle. It had me glued to the screen, as the cheeky, three-time returning host Trevor Noah didn’t steer the night towards awkward or unfunny moments. Perhaps the most deserving night for music’s biggest stars, the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards was an all-time ode to the talent that defines the culture with a record-breaking rhyme.
Check out the full list of winners here!
2023 WINNERS
Album of the Year
Voyage — ABBA
30 — Adele
Un Verano Sin Ti — Bad Bunny
Renaissance — Beyoncé
Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe) — Mary J. Blige
In These Silent Days — Brandi Carlile
Music of the Spheres — Coldplay
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers — Kendrick Lamar
Special — Lizzo
WINNER: Harry’s House — Harry Styles
Record of the Year
“Don’t Shut Me Down” — ABBA
“Easy on Me” — Adele
“Break My Soul” — Beyoncé
“Good Morning Gorgeous” — Mary J. Blige
“You and Me on the Rock” — Brandi Carlile feat. Lucius
“Woman” — Doja Cat
“Bad Habit” — Steve Lacy
“The Heart Part 5” — Kendrick Lamar
WINNER: “About Damn Time” — Lizzo
“As It Was” — Harry Styles
Song of the Year
“abcdefu” — Gayle
“About Damn Time” — Lizzo
“All Too Well (10-Minute Version) (The Short Film)” — Taylor Swift
“As It Was” — Harry Styles
“Bad Habit” — Steve Lacy
“Break My Soul” — Beyoncé
“Easy on Me” — Adele
“God Did” — DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend, and Fridayy
“The Heart Part 5” — Kendrick Lamar
WINNER: “Just Like That” — Bonnie Raitt
Best New Artist
Anitta
Omar Apollo
Domi & JD Beck
WINNER: Samara Joy
Latto
Måneskin
Muni Long
Tobe Nwigwe
Molly Tuttle
Wet Leg
Best Music Video
Easy on Me — Adele
Yet To Come — BTS
Woman — Doja Cat
The Heart Part 5 — Kendrick Lamar
As It Was — Harry Styles
WINNER: All Too Well: The Short Film — Taylor Swift
Best Pop Solo Performance
WINNER: “Easy on Me” — Adele
“Moscow Mule” — Bad Bunny
“Woman” — Doja Cat
“Bad Habit” — Steve Lacy
“About Damn Time” — Lizzo
“As It Was” — Harry Styles
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Don’t Shut Me Down” — ABBA
“Bam Bam” — Camila Cabello feat. Ed Sheeran
“My Universe” — Coldplay & BTS
“I Like You (A Happier Song)” — Post Malone & Doja Cat
WINNER: “Unholy” — Sam Smith & Kim Petras
Best Pop Vocal Album
Voyage — ABBA
30 — Adele
Music of the Spheres — Coldplay
Special — Lizzo
WINNER: Harry’s House — Harry Styles
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
WINNER: Higher — Michael Bublé
When Christmas Comes Around… — Kelly Clarkson
I Dream of Christmas (Extended) — Norah Jones
Evergreen — Pentatonix
Thank You — Diana Ross
Best Dance/Electronic Recording
WINNER: “Break My Soul” — Beyoncé
“Rosewood” — Bonobo
“Don’t Forget My Love” — Diplo & Miguel
“I’m Good (Blue)” — David Guetta & Bebe Rexha
“Intimidated” — Kaytranada feat. H.E.R.
“On My Knees” — Rüfüs Du Sol
Best Dance/Electronic Music Album
WINNER: Renaissance — Beyoncé
Fragments — Bonobo
Diplo — Diplo
The Last Goodbye — Odesza
Best Rap Performance
“God Did” — DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy
“Vegas” — Doja Cat
“Pushin P” — Gunna & Future feat. Young Thug
“F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” — Hitkidd & Glorilla
WINNER: “The Heart Part 5” — Kendrick Lamar
Best Melodic Rap Performance
“Beautiful” — DJ Khaled feat. Future & SZA
WINNER: “Wait For U” — Future feat. Drake & Tems
“First Class” — Jack Harlow
“Die Hard” — Kendrick Lamar feat. Blxst & Amanda Reifer
“Big Energy (Live)” — Latto
Best Rap Song
“Churchill Downs” — Jack Harlow feat. Drake
WINNER: “The Heart Part 5” — Kendrick Lamar
“Wait For U” — Future feat. Drake & Tems
“God Did” — DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy
“Pushin P” — Gunna & Future feat. Young Thug
Best Rap Album
God Did — DJ Khaled
I Never Liked You — Future
Come Home the Kids Miss You — Jack Harlow
WINNER: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers — Kendrick Lamar
It’s Almost Dry — Pusha T
Best Música Urbana Album
Trap Cake, Vol. 2 — Rauw Alejandro
WINNER: Un Verano Sin Ti — Bad Bunny
Legendaddy — Daddy Yankee
La 167 — Farruko
The Love & Sex Tape — Maluma
Best R&B Performance
“Virgo’s Groove” — Beyoncé
“Over” — Lucky Daye
“Hurt Me So Good” — Jazmine Sullivan
“Here With Me” — Mary J. Blige feat. Anderson .Paak
WINNER: “Hrs & Hrs” — Muni Long
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Do 4 Love” — Snoh Aalegra
WINNER: “Plastic Off the Sofa” — Beyoncé
“Good Morning Gorgeous” — Mary J. Blige
“Keeps On Fallin'” — Babyface feat. Ella Mai
“‘Round Midnight” — Adam Blackstone feat. Jazmine Sullivan
Best R&B Song
WINNER: “Cuff It” — Beyoncé
“Good Morning Gorgeous” — Mary J. Blige
“Hrs & Hrs” — Muni Long
“Hurt Me So Good” — Jazmine Sullivan
“Please Don’t Walk Away” — PJ Morton
Best Progressive R&B Album
Operation Funk — Cory Henry
Drones — Terrace Martin
Red Balloon — Tank and the Bangas
WINNER: Gemini Rights — Steve Lacy
Starfruit — Moonchild
Best R&B Album
Watch The Sun — PJ Morton
WINNER: Black Radio III — Robert Glasper
Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe) — Mary J. Blige
Breezy (Deluxe) — Chris Brown
Candydrip — Lucky Daye
Best Music Film
Adele One Night Only — Adele
Our World — Justin Bieber
Billie Eilish Live at the O2 — Billie Eilish
Motomami (Rosalía TikTok Live Performance) — Rosalía
WINNER: Jazz Fest: a New Orleans Story — Various Artists
A Band, A Brotherhood, A Barn — Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Best Alternative Music Album
WE — Arcade Fire
Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You — Big Thief
Fossora — Björk
WINNER: Wet Leg — Wet Leg
Cool It Down — Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Best Rock Song
“Black Summer” — Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Blackout” — Turnstile
WINNER: “Broken Horses” — Brandi Carlile
“Harmonia’s Dream” — The War on Drugs
“Patient Number 9” — Ozzy Osbourne feat. Jeff Beck
