Drake is coming to The Weeknd’s defense.
Days after the “Binding Lights” crooner was surprisingly shut out of the nominations for the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, the Toronto rapper is voicing his thoughts about the Grammys and how the awards show continues to disappoint.
“I think we should stop allowing ourselves to be shocked every year by the disconnect between impactful music and these awards and just accept that what once was the highest form of recognition may no longer matter to the artists that exist now and the ones that come after,” Drake wrote on Instagram Stories. “It’s like a relative you keep expecting to fix up but they just can’t change their ways.”
Like many, Drizzy thought The Weeknd would be a shoo-in for the major categories like Album or Song of the Year. “The other day I said @theweeknd was a lock for either album or song of the year along with countless other reasonable assumptions and it just never goes that way,” he added.
He also called for the start of a new award show. “This is a great time for somebody to start something new that we can build up over time and pass on to the generations to come.”
In a separate IG Story, Drake recognized Lil Baby, Pop Smoke, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Popcaan, saying they too deserved recognition. “Too many missing names to even name…” he said.
Drake, who has won four Grammys throughout his career, has had his issues with the organization in the past. Last year, while accepting the award for Best Rap Song, he seemingly took a shot at the Recording Academy.
“If there’s people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain, in the snow, spending their hard-earned money to see your shows…You don’t need this right here…You already won,” he said.
The Weeknd put the Grammys on blast for shutting him out of all categories, despite the commercial and critical success of his album After Hours.
“The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…” he tweeted.
The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 25, 2020
Collaboratively planning a performance for weeks to not being invited? In my opinion zero nominations = you’re not invited!
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) November 25, 2020
Others like Kid Cudi also expressed their shock and disappointment after The Weeknd received zero nominations. “Abel was robbed man this shits weak,” he tweeted.
Harvey Mason Jr., the Recording Academy’s chair, later addressed the snub. “We understand that The Weeknd is disappointed at not being nominated,” he told CNN. “I was surprised and can empathize with what he’s feeling. His music this year was excellent, and his contributions to the music community and broader world are worthy of everyone’s admiration.”
Abel was robbed man this shits weak
— The Chosen One (@KidCudi) November 24, 2020