At the 49th NAACP Image Awards Non-Televised Awards Dinner, Roland Martin didn’t mince words when he addressed JAY-Z’s recent Grammy speech.
During the 2024 Grammy Awards, JAY-Z used his acceptance speech for the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award to criticize the Recording Academy’s treatment of hip-hop artists.
Martin, on his Unfiltered show, argued that JAY-Z should have taken a stronger stance by refusing the award until changes were made to include rap categories in the televised broadcast.
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“JAY-Z, if you want the Grammys to change, you should’ve said, ‘I will not accept this award nor will I attend until y’all put one of the rap categories on the televised broadcast,” Martin emphasized, his voice echoing the sentiments of many within the hip-hop community.
He urged JAY-Z and Dr. Dre to leverage their influence to push for meaningful reform within the Recording Academy.
Speaking directly to the camera, Martin stressed the power of celebrity influence: “You pull the star power, ratings go down. When ratings go down, they lose money. We know in America, when they lose money, stuff changes.”
JAY-Z’s Grammy speech itself touched on the Academy’s failure to recognize Beyoncé’s achievements, highlighting the discrepancy between her numerous Grammy wins and the absence of an Album of the Year award. “Think about that. The most Grammys; never won Album of the Year. That doesn’t work,” JAY-Z asserted onstage.
While JAY-Z’s words resonated with many, Martin’s response underscores the need for actionable steps toward change rather than just vocal criticism.
As the industry grapples with issues of representation and recognition, Martin’s call to action serves as a reminder that real change often requires more than just words.
As the conversation surrounding JAY-Z’s Grammy speech continues, stay tuned for further updates on HotNewHipHop.