Tyler, The Creator won his first Grammy Award on Sunday night (January 26) for IGOR, which earned a trophy in the Best Rap Album category. Despite his victory, the Odd Future mastermind was still outspoken about his mixed feelings toward the Recording Academy.
During a Grammys press conference, Tyler was asked if the recent controversy surrounding the show’s voting process has changed his views. He admitted he was torn.
“I’m half and half on it,” Tyler began. “Um on one side, I’m grateful that what I can make can just be acknowledged in a world like this but also it sucks that, whenever we, and I mean guys that look like me, do anything that’s genre-bending or that’s anything, they always put it in a rap or urban category, which is … and I don’t like that ‘urban’ word. It’s just the politically correct way to say the N-Word to me. So when I hear that I’m just like ‘Why can’t we just be in pop?'”
Tyler continued, “So I felt like half of me feels like the rap nomination was a backhanded compliment. Like ‘Oh my little cousin wants to play the game. Let’s give him the unplugged controller so he can shut up and feel good about it.’ That’s what it felt like a bit.
“But another half of me is very grateful that the art that I made can be acknowledged on a level like this when I don’t do the radio stuff. I’m not playing in Target. I’m in a whole different world than what a lot of people here listen to so I’m grateful and like ehh.”
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Tyler’s sentiments echoed Diddy’s speech during the Clive Davis and the Recording Academy’s Pre-Grammy Gala on Saturday (January 25).
“I say this with love to the Grammys because you really need to know this,” he said. “Every year y’all be killing us, man. Man, you talk about the pain. I’m speaking for all the artists and executives. The amount of time that it takes to make these records, to pour your heart out into it and you just want an even playing field.
“In the great words of Erykah Badu, we are artists and we are sensitive about our shit. Truth be told, Hip Hop has never been respected by the Grammys. Black music has never been respected by the Grammys to the point that it should be.”
This album was trash. Not hip hop Tyler is 1000% pop.
Urban is a good descriptor for music about the concrete jungle. It is not in any way like the N-word
coming from a guy who calls everybody and their grandma’s the N-Word and the F-Word. He even told non-blacks to call him the N-Word. I guess, once you make it to the big stage you have to sell out and get woke
Okay… Let’s pretend they got rid of the urban category and just called it pop. How quickly would the whitewashing accusations start?
That’s such a stretch! Urban is not a politically correct version of calling someone the N Word. Guess what is? Calling a black person and “Uncle Tom” because you’re mad that they don’t keep their ideology grouped to one party, in this case, democrats. Ever see how democrats treat black people who leave their party? Not very nice to them. Lots of slander.
You are misinterpreting what he said while trying to make a one-sided political argument.
Definitely not a one sides argument. I’m an independent who has a black father and a white mother. They have been democrats most of their lives, and guess what? They chose to vote republican in the last elections, and you wouldn’t believe the kinds of insults my dad gets! Slandered like crazy, even by his own family, but especially other democrats. When he was voting Democrat, he didn’t have Republicans harassing him. So, that may seem one sided, but it’s just my families life experience. Watch. Any black man who is well known who says he likes a republican, will be slandered by lots of people. Like CNN did to Kanye, calling him an “Uneducated NEGRO”. Second, in definitely not misinterpreting Tyler. He’s essentially claiming they group all black music together, for racist backed reasons. That’s complete BS, and if you disagree, then so be it. People uptight over an award show piss me off… On all sides. It’s a damn award show. Who cares? It’s all based on a judges opinion anyway… Who cares about a damn award? All they should care about is their fans.
It’s still one sided. What you are talking about is basic political homerism. EVERYONE who sides with a party and suddenly switches faces backlash from the party they broke from. GOP, Dem, doesn’t matter. Colin Powell is one of the most respected men (Black btw) on this planet and he is a Republican. I can’t believe you brought Kanye into this. Kanye IS an uneducated negro. Not because he supports Republicans but because of the minstrel show he performed in front of Trump, his claims that he doesn’t read, his reckless and disrespectful slavery statement, his unhinged public breakdowns blaming everything on everybody but himself, I mean where should I stop? Who cares about an award? Obviously the artists do.
You choose to purposely misinterpret people. Kanyes slavery comment was reffering to the fact that the largest barrier was a mental barrier. The second humans choose to risk all, and revolt… Well, the elite don’t really have the power. That applies to today’s world as well. Economic slavery is l what we have, since President Woodrow Wilson sold us out to the federal reserve, aka foreign banking. We are owned, and can NEVER get out of debt. Literally never. If that statement offended you, and you saw it as disrespectful, then you obviously are taking it the wrong way. Mental chains are much stronger than physical chains. There are 325 million of us in America. If we really wanted “change”, we would make it happen, not a politician. Power in numbers, power in unity.
Ur not really on topic, but you are correct. And also, LMAO. Urban’s like saying the N word? So Tyler is still dumb then?
You’ve clearly never studied the music industry. “Urban” is a codeword for black music in the industry. When you look at NY, LA, Miami, Atlanta and Nashville (The music industry capitols of the USA), the suits lay it out for you. Urban is a codeword for “black” and you don’t have to be a “victim” to see it.
Yo, I thought it was just us that gave little cousin the unplugged controller. We used to do this even with wired controllers during n64 Mario kart days
Jeezus…dont you guys ever get tired of pretending to be a victim all the time? It’s gotta be exhausting coming up with all of this nonsense constantly.
Just as exhausting as it must be for everybody else pretending to be victims. Difference is, minorities and women don’t have to pretend. Something majority will never understand.
Females are the majority in America dumbass haha… You really think women face discrimination? Bullshit, women got it so much easier than men. Most women make more than most men nowadays. And minorities? Man, quit playing victim. I would never be a bitch as victim. If you are, then stand up, and make yourself a success. Or, just sit back and whine, your choice.
I think you and Cut the Crap are missing the point. No one is trying to play victim they’re pointing out that something unjust is happening and it should stop happening. I find the notion that we as black people calling out when something is unfair means we’re resigned to it ridiculous. We can do both. We can call out a society and power structure that hinders us while still fighting for a successful life in spite of it. But, regardless of all that, maybe you should take more time to understand us and some of the things we’re saying instead of relegating it to the talk of “whiny victims”. To be black is to be discriminated against and keep working and striving.
-Urban
For a more effective clickbait he should have said he was gay and pregnant.
So, that country singers name that is Keith Urban should really be Keith N*****?
First, IGOR was so average so he should be happy that anyone mentioned it, nvm voted for it. Secondly, you can argue ppl say urban meaning black, but not N, that’s ridiculous and just trying to keep yourself in the spotlight because most of the time ppl forget you exist. He uses the wig and calls himself a F and does all kinds of wild shit because even when his music is acclaimed (again, so average but critics liked it) nobody actually cares about him or his music. Tired of this dude, I dont know how people arent.
Boy looks like he ready to carry someone’s luggage to their room
Just get rid of rap/hip hop from the Grammys, period. That award show use to be prestigious, now it’s a joke. You see trash like Re. T @rdi B and her t|ts hanging out….Anita Baker never had to do that. Send these hood people to the BET awards where they belong.
Eminem has never been put into an Urban catagory. He’s always rapped. Basically because he’s white. Nas/Jay/Kendrick. Even though they’ve made some pop shit a few waits they’re always considered hip hop or urban.