“When I get nervous, I tell the truth.”
Jay-Z used his acceptance speech at last night's Grammy Awards to launch a blistering on-stage attack at the Recording Academy, condemning them for never recognising his wife, Beyoncé, with the Best Album award, despite her 32 wins over the years. Yes, 32 wins – that's the most Grammy wins by an individual in Grammys history.
The billionaire rapper, producer and record label owner was honoured with the Dr Dre Global Impact Award for his phenomenal impact on the music industry. But it was his wife's equally phenomenal impact on the music industry that Jay wanted to highlight on stage.
With Beyonce sitting in the audience, dressed in head-to-toe Louis Vuitton by Pharrell Williams, Jay said:
"I don't want to embarrass this young lady," he told the audience, "but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album of the Year. So even by your own metrics, that doesn't work. Think about that. The most Grammys; never won Album of the Year. That doesn't work.
He added: "You know, some of you gonna go home tonight and feel like you've been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don't belong in a category. No, when I get nervous, I tell the truth."
And while he didn't mention the ‘young lady’ by name, it was clear he was referring to his wife of nearly 16 years, Beyonce, and cameras panned in on Bey in the audience who was applauding her husband. The former Destiny's Child singer has been nominated for ‘Album of the Year’ four times but has never won. She was up for Best New Artist in 2010 (losing to Taylor Swift), 2015 (losing to Beck), 2017 (losing to Adele) and 2023 (losing to Harry Styles).
Jay was also accompanied on stage by the couple's eldest child, 12-year-old Blue Ivy, who looked super cute in an off-the-shoulder white dress and matching mid-calf white boots, with daughter and daddy sweetly holding hands at one point during his onstage appearance.
While Jay noted that there are more important things in life than winning Grammy awards, he also spoke out about the importance of showing up as an artist:
"Outside of that, you know, we got to keep showing up and forget the Grammys for a second. Just in life. As my daughter just sits and stares at me nervous as I am. Just in life, you got to keep showing up. Just keep showing up. Forget the Grammys you got to keep showing up until they give you all those accolades you feel you deserve. Until they call you Chairman, until they call you a genius until they call you the greatest of all time," he concluded. "You feel me?"
It's not the first time that Jay-Z has alluded to the Grammy's failure at awarding his wife with a Best Album gong. Last year he said: "The truth is, we grew up wanting to be on the Grammys, and it was our goal. We just want them to get it right. That's what we want," in reference to Beyoncé's Renaissance album, which lost to Harry Styles.
Unsurprisingly, the BeyHive were quick to flood social media in support of Jay. One fan wrote: "Speak your truth and talk your s**t Jay-Z because Beyoncé, Lemonade, and Renaissance should have ALL won! ESPECIALLY Renaissance!"
Another added: "IT’S DA D**N TRUTH, Beyoncé is the most awarded artist in Grammy history yet not a single win in the biggest category of the ceremony? Clock that yea Shawn."
With another adding: "Jay-Z's point hits hard when you look at the stats. Surely, Beyoncé's influence and talent are unmistakable; it makes you wonder what criteria are prioritized in those decisions."
Here's hoping all this means a new Beyonce album in the pipeline can finally win the award at the 2025 Grammys.
The original article can be found on Glamour UK.
