Reflecting on the award and her personal affect, Elliott mentioned, “I was that child that was speaking and rapping to Run-DMC or UTFO … I simply didn’t know I’d get this far if you happen to would’ve requested me again then. To be part of hip-hop historical past…particularly as a result of at one level, folks thought this was going to be a fad. And we speaking about 50 years of hip-hop … I simply suppose it’s superb to be part of one thing like that as a result of it’s one factor to come back out as an artist, however to depart an impression is one other complete factor. It’s a blessing as a result of it’s an unbelievable milestone for any artist that [has] been part of this 50 years of hip-hop.”
Whereas simply 4 of essentially the most outstanding names in music might be celebrated through the occasion, the BMC hopes to proceed to acknowledge and symbolize extra Black artists via their work.
“It’s no secret that the Black music group has felt shortchanged or misrepresented by the Academy prior to now. And for me, being a Black particular person and a Black music creator, [the BMC] was actually vital,” mentioned Mason Jr., noting that the Grammy Awards have suffered backlash for not correctly championing BIPOC artists—particularly in main classes. “I ran as chair actually on the platform of change and taking a look at how the Academy might be higher as a result of I knew how vital the Academy was. I knew the work that the Academy did past the Grammys and nominations, round Music Cares…these are the issues that I knew have been nice. However I knew we have been being hampered or clouded by this impression of the Academy, that we weren’t as in contact with Black music as we wanted to be.”
When requested about adjustments inside the business because the plight of 2020, Mason Jr. mentioned whereas there have been some “seismic shifts” there’s nonetheless a variety of work to be accomplished.
“Once I took the function … it was with the intention that we might do extra, we might evolve, we might change as an Academy, for the great of the business, for the great of the group, for the great of society, actually, as a result of I imagine that’s how vital music is. So I like what’s occurred. I hate that it needed to introduced on by unlucky occasions that happened, however this was a route that we have been headed, I used to be headed, the Academy was headed just a few years in the past, however I nonetheless suppose that there’s a lot extra work that may be accomplished.”
Rico Love, who has produced hits for everybody from Usher to Beyoncé and serves as vice chair of the Recording Academy board of trustees and BMC chair, careworn the significance of spreading consciousness about what the BMC is and the work they’re doing to alter the business.
“I feel that it’s vital to grasp that the BMC is a year-long, 365 group and group inside the Academy. So it is not nearly, Okay, let’s gown up and have this cool social gathering. It’s about what can we do to ensure that we elevate consciousness about who we’re as an academy and unfold that phrase to younger folks,” he mentioned.
