Most Grammy rap committee members felt that Macklemore & Ryan Lewis should not qualify for rap Grammys, according to a person who attended the general Grammy committee meeting, per abcnews.com.
The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Grammy rap committee members said the duo shouldn’t be in the rap categories because of their success on mainstream radio and their pop appeal, the story says.
A vote among the general Grammy committee eventually said that the Seattle duo should be in the rap categories.
“It’s not that they don’t think he’s a rapper,” the person said of the rap committee’s decision. “It’s just that when you’re trying to protect categories and someone has become popular, it should be judged as much…Where does their music exist? Who are their fans?”
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Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ The Heist is up for album of the year and the pair is nominated for best new artist. The pair is up for a total of seven Grammy Awards.
Macklemore said earlier this month that if The Heist wins Best Rap Album at the Grammys later this month, Hip Hop will be “heated.”
“We’re up against Kendrick, who made a phenomenal album,” Macklemore said. “If we win a Grammy for Best Rap Album, hip-hop is going to be heated.”
RELATED: Macklemore Says Hip Hop Will Be “Heated” If He Wins Best Rap Album Grammy
