Jay-Z used his acceptance speech at the 2024 Grammys to call out the organization that honored him with a special award.
While accepting the 2nd annual Dr. Dre Global Impact Award — in recognition of his musical legacy — the hip-hop artist, 54, questioned the process behind the voted categories.
“We want y’all to get it right. At least getting close to right. And obviously it’s subjective. Y’all don’t gotta clap at everything. Obviously it’s subjective because, you know, it’s music and it’s opinion-based,” the artist started.
“But, you know, some things — I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, 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 continued.
While he didn’t mention the “young lady” by name, he appeared to be referring to his wife Beyoncé, who has been nominated for album of the year four times and never won. Beyoncé 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).
“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,” he added.
JAY-Z’s latest comments echoed ones he made at last year’s Grammys.
“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,” JAY-Z said in 2023 of Beyoncé’s Renaissance album, which lost to Styles.
He then called out his daughter, Blue Ivy, who joined him on stage for the award.
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?”
Cameras then went to the audience where Beyoncé was seen applauding.
Jay-Z released his first album, Reasonable Doubt, in 1996. Since, he’s shared hits The Blueprint, American Gangster, 4:44 and latest album HOV DID — and many more. He’s long been vocal about his wish to give back — not just through music.
“I think what matters most is, today, is, being a beacon and helping out… my culture. People of color,” he said in a 2023 conversation with Gayle King. “I think I pull the most satisfaction from that. Like making music earlier was, like—my first love. I could sit there for hours. It consumed me. Just finding words and figuring out words and how to say this and different ways to say that and different pockets and melodies and how to write this song. That consumed me.”
Along the way, things changed for the artist. “That’s why my pace was so fast. I had so much material… And I think now, you know, the idea of, of taking that platform and, you know, reproducing it for others or doing something like Reform… I think I derive the most joy from that,” he said.
In 2023, Dr. Dre was honored with the award for the first time. “What I love about this award is that it uses my name to inspire the next generation of producers, artists, and entrepreneurs to reach for their greatness and demand that from everybody around you,” Dr. Dre said during the acceptance speech. “Never compromise your vision, at all. Pursue quality over quantity, and remember that everything is important. That is one of my mottos. Everything is important.”
Alongside the musician, Missy Elliott and Lil Wayne, and music executive Sylvia Rhone were also honored with the Global Impact tribute.
