Tyla won her second Grammy last evening, in as many years. ‘Push 2 Start’ was named Best African Music Performance. A few Nigerians have mis-referred to the category as Best Afrobeats Music- they are mostly displeased, those Nigerians. Some Librarians as well. South and east Africans are proud, racking stream numbers on their way to work, Gabonese are disinterested, the Congolese couldn't be reached for comment.
'Push 2 Start' is a great record, on a timeless topic from a timelessly hot popstar, off her 2024 Tyla+ album. Tastefully produced, no complaints. Not her biggest performance on that project, ‘Water’ is. Chike's ‘Push 2 Start’ was deeply executed, you judge that to be point or Tyla-hating. It was definitely not the grooviest or most impactful song by an African last year, or in the year it was released. The real hot take is, so what?
Recording Academy’s Grammy is a reward system created to distinguish outstanding American music. Before Afro Americans reconceived that music it used to pretty much mean oyibo people stuff. This 68th edition, hosted by none other but Trevor Noah, recognized 96 categories, up an additional two from last. Of these, there are two which (for now) an African may win; for Global music and African music. (For now, or until Eric Bellinger records enough ‘Don’t shut off the Lights’ to get it right). Those genres and what the awards mean are truly relevant only to an American audience. The chance crumbs on Africans is nothing; a reflection of increased consumption of our most popular genres there, which is a reflection of increased American business interests in those genres in recent time, which is a reflection of the thankless work of our executives, promoters committed to making music a profitable career path amidst adverse socio economic conditions.
The GRAMMY is no more significant to the industry or how we perceive our artists than MAMA or BET. We understand some of why we like to think they matter but this a good vibes place- Someone won a Grammy. Not worth headlines about South Africa 'beating' Nigeria, it's nothing about nothing, no news there. Go about your day. ‘Push 2 Start’ if it rocks your boat, stream the other category nominated pop stars as well. Their managements have to keep submitting Academy entries because Grammy-nominated reads dope on Wikipedia.
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