The Gryphon Gazette

By Eliza L. ‘25

The 66th annual Grammy Awards took place on February 4th, 2024 in Downtown Los Angeles. Whether it was Olivia Rodrigo’s impressive live performance of her song “Vampire” or Trevor Noah’s joke about Taylor Swift and her high amount of NFL screentime, the event was a whirlwind of iconic moments. 

Although all the artists nominated for the Grammy Awards are talented musicians, there was a majority opinion of disappointment towards this year’s winners. Killer Mike’s award for “Best Rap Album”  was very controversial as his album’s top competitor, “Utopia” by Travis Scott, was considered the true “best rap album.” Travis Scott aimed to show his audience through “Utopia” that there are “experiences where utopian things can exist, and you can enjoy yourself and have a good time” (Billboard News). His seamless production and haunting back vocals made his album a huge success and started a trend in rap towards taking inspiration from previous artists in the 1980s. While Killer Mike had a few hits, such as Scientists and Engineers, with over 16 million streams, his impact does not compare to that of Travis Scott. The huge controversy of Mike’s win had to do with his reach through the world, as he was so unknown by the broad audience of people who questioned whether his rap album could have truly swayed people as “Utopia” did; for example, Travis hosted a worldwide tour of “Utopia,” while Killer Mike is unknown. 

Another controversial win was in the category of “The Best Album of The Year.” Many felt the album did not deserve to win best album, calling it “staged” or “rigged,” as “Midnights” was not Taylor’s most successful or satisfying album. One huge issue with Taylor’s victory was the amount of Grammys she received compared to the other artists competing with her, such as Lana Del Ray and SZA. For instance, Lana Del Rey has been nominated for a Grammy 11 times in her career, but she has never won an award. Taylor’s win this year allowed her to break the record for most “Best Album of the Year” Grammys, as Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra previously held the record at 3 Grammys. Her controversial win brought Taylor hate from many reporters and spectators, while her fans strongly supported her. I felt SZA’s album “SOS” deserved the award, as all of the songs in the album were consistent and elegant. Her slow but impactful rhythm made me fall in love with the album, even if many songs, such as “Kill Bill,” may be overplayed. Regardless of the overplayed nature of some of the albums nominated, the Grammys this year made indelible impacts on the music industry and American culture.

Overall, the Grammy’s may have been controversial, but it was also a memorable event that shifted the music culture for 2024. Although Killer Mike was unknown, he gave hope to rising artists to win career-changing awards. However, his story ended quite abruptly after the Grammys, where he was arrested; yet, his achievements still hold strong, opening the Grammys to less-known artists to win these selective nominations. Finally, although Lana Del Rey did not win a Grammy, her strong fanbase and talent encouraged her to win an award. She has already announced this year that she plans to release another album, “Lasso,” including that there will be country elements to her new music. Hopefully, with such new work, we can see some new faces on the stage holding a Grammy next year.