Is Jay-Z right telling Grammys to ‘get it right’ over Beyonce never winning album of the year?

Elisa (No)

While Beyoncé broke the record with her 32nd Grammy, there are absurd claims that she has been snubbed because she did not get one for album of the year. Beyoncé has had a total of 32 Grammy awards and 88 nominations, which clearly indicates there is no bias against her. As the saying goes, 'You can't win 'em all.'

There is a real and reliable process where artists are taken under careful consideration when it comes to Grammy nominations and awards. Members are expected, for example, to vote only in areas of expertise, making all awards directly reflect expert decisions. While Rolling Stone magazine says the awards Beyoncé won are 'not good enough,' this is an insult to artists like Taylor Swift, who has worked and is working just as hard as Beyoncé and is just as deserving of the award. 

Many in the media found Swift's 'Midnights' a pop masterpiece, showcasing her versatility, creativity, and maturity as a songwriter and producer, making her win well deserved. This pop album was diverse, including sound influenced by genres like indie rock, folk, and electronic music, deviating and standing out from her previous work. Both critics and fans praised it for its edgy step into dark, emotionally potent territory while furthering a new and electric sound.

The claim that Beyoncé was snubbed reflects the entitlement and audacity of modern celebrities and supports many psychological stereotypes about celebrities in the modern age. Beyoncé has won the most Grammy awards in history, winning four awards on February 5th. This is clearly not a snub but perhaps a controversial statement to keep Jay-Z relevant and in the news. As the Grammy award-winning Rolling Stones once said, 'You can't always get what you want.'

Emily (Yes)

Jay-Z was justified in standing behind the fact that his wife and mega music artist, Beyoncé, has not received an Album of the Year award at the Grammys. Over the years, Beyoncé has undeniably stood out amongst artists, being the most nominated female artist in Grammy history with an impressive 88 Grammy nominations and 32 wins in different categories. As Jay-Z highlighted in his speech, '[she has] The most Grammys…Never won Album of the Year. That doesn't work.' At each award ceremony, Beyoncé has demonstrated that she isn't just a fan favorite but is also beloved among celebrities.

For instance, at the 2017 Grammys, Adele's album '25' won several Grammy awards over Beyoncé's 'Lemonade.' As Adele took the stage, she said she couldn't accept the award and that it was Beyoncé's time to win. Adele even referred to Beyoncé as the artist of her life and called Beyoncé's 'Lemonade' monumental. Additionally, many celebrities recognized Beyoncé in their speeches during the 65th Grammys. 

Furthermore, an evident shock occurred during that same Grammys when Harry Styles' album 'Harry's House' won over Beyoncé's album 'Renaissance.' Following this win, fans couldn't help but highlight the snub. Unfortunately, it's become apparent that black artists, especially black women, have been severely overlooked in this category, which first debuted in 1959. Since then, only three black women have achieved this accolade. Singer and rapper Lauryn Hill was the last black woman to be a recipient—and that was in 1999. Since Lauryn Hill's win, only 16 black women have been nominated for this category. It's a shame that talents like Beyoncé often don't receive the recognition they deserve.