While the world was fighting with a disease of pandemic proportions in 2020, Hip Hop had a hell of a year. Roddy Rich came out of nowhere and used his smooth-but-funky style to top the charts. Meg Thee Stallion’s name was on everyone’s lips with her hit ‘Savage’ [and getting Beyonce on the remix], as well as tag-teaming ‘WAP’ with Cardi B. These performers and more will be hitting the stage at the 2021 Grammy Awards on March 14.

For many years, Hip Hop has been treated like the little brother at the Grammys even though Hip Hop sales have always been high. In 2020, Hip Hop outsold all other kinds of music, and seven of the top 10 streaming artists were Hip Hop related.

Which brings us to one glaring omission by the Grammys - The Weeknd. With After Hours, The Weeknd ignored advice about delays and put out an album at the beginning of a pandemic that was about loneliness, abandonment, and sadness, and it became a quarantine masterpiece. After Hours dominated 2020 in streaming and even got The Weeknd a gig at the Super Bowl - but zero Grammy nominations. Because of this, The Weeknd called the Grammys ‘corrupt’ and hinted that because he took the Super Bowl Halftime show, the highlight of any artist’s career, he was shut out of nominations.

This year’s Grammy telecast was delayed from January because of Covid-19 and will feature a mix of live sets and pre-recorded ones. There will be no crowds to see the show, but millions of viewers around the world will be able to see what Hip Hop brings to the table this year.

UPDATED
Megan Thee Stallion won THREE awards [Best New Artist/Best Rap Performance/Best Rap Song]
Anderson .Paak Won one award [Best Melodic Rap Performance]
Nas won one award [Best Rap Album]