On a wet but noisy Thursday evening before Grammy Awards 2024the leading lights of the music industry gathered for 3rd Annual Recording Academy Awards presented by Black music group. Along the black carpet of the event, sTar and industry insiders were showing up – taking photos, reconnecting with friends and collaborators, and talking with the press.
the official Grammy Week 2024 The event was held on February 1 — The first day of Black History Month — at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles and sponsored by Amazon Music and City National Bank. Each year, BMC presents the Global Impact Award to legendary musicians working to advance culture, and to the 2024 honorees. Lenny Kravitz And Mariah Careylooming all evening before their arrival.
Flava flava, who was wearing his patented watch necklace, was also ecstatic about the evening. “Being at the GRAMMYs tonight means everything. This is big,” Flav told GRAMMY.com. The rapper then spoke about honoring the two superstars. “I feel so great about the honorees. Mariah Carey, she was always so proud of her and I love her songs… Lenny Kravitz is my friend. This is my husband. So congratulations Lenny!”
The importance of the event was felt from the first foot that stepped on the black carpet. Afrobeats star Fireboy DML has commented on the importance of the night. “I'm honored. It feels good. It's always important to be in places like this,” Fireboy told GRAMMY.com, adding that he is excited about his upcoming fourth album. “It's important to the culture.”
As attendees inside the crowded ballroom eagerly awaited the night's main guests, the CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr Talk about the momentum being built through Black Music Collective.
“[Last year] She talked about how great it was to hold the 2nd annual BMC event. For me it meant that we created a new tradition. And now the tradition proudly continues,” Mason Jr. told the crowd, emphasizing how the influence of black culture is found all over the world and across musical genres.
Performance by Nigerian star Davido, A Grammy nominee for the first timeHe spoke about the power of musical diversity at the Academy and BMC. Although the audience sat with their appetizers, many stood to enjoy Davido's performance The nominated song is “Not Available”.
by the time Andhra Day, wearing a bright red leather coat, reached the end of her performance of “Strange Fruit” with support from trumpeter Keon Harold, and everyone in the hall was on their feet. It was a big moment for Day, who was his cover Billie HolidayThe 1939 cry for justice emphasized the relationship between black artists across genres and across time.
Gaby Samone got her second standing ovation of the night for her work Nina Simone“Four Women.” Simone had a number of major labels as her star became brighter, and among her fans Jennifer Hudson And none other than Mariah Carey. Samone's performance was followed by a powerful song from Erica Campbellfor whom I love you It was nominated for Best Gospel Album this year.
Set by DJ Mannie Fresh, Kravitz took the stage to collect the first BMC Global Impact Award of the night. Submitted by the trainee HaShe spoke about the influence of American Woman on her career and Kravitz's influence from childhood. “The fashion, the confidence, the serious walk, and the killer singing, had me at six years old saying to my parents, 'I want to play guitar.' 'I want to be a rocker.' “I want to be like Lenny Kravitz,” she said.
She then listed some of Kravitz's other accomplishments including work on “Rustin,” the new Netflix film about critical civil rights architect Bayard Rustin, as well as Kravitz's work in philanthropy through the Let Love Rule Foundation.
Once the noise died down, Kravitz took a trip back to childhood as well. He shared how, when he went to see Jackson 5 With his family, he was so hooked that he dreamed of becoming part of the storied band. “I imagined I was their long-lost brother, and I turned the Jackson 5 into the Jackson 6,” he said.
Kravitz also talked about the different types of music that helped shape him, drawn from different angles. From “his grandfather's building in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn,” where he “witnessed the birth of hip-hop,” to its formation by legends like Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye And Nina Simone. He also shouted out his godmother, the late great actress Cicely Tyson.
In a particularly remarkable combination of genre and generation, Quavo He provided vocals for “Fly Away” surrounded by the P-funk all-stars George Clinton, Earth, wind and fire Guitarist Verdine White and Hot red pepper Drummer Chad Smith. At the end of the show, Kravitz went up to each performer and hugged them.
After a short break, record producer and president of BMC Rico love cried leadership, including the Recording Academy Board of Trustees and Ryan Butler, vice president of DEI. Love spoke of Black Music Collective as a space where everyone can feel at home. “The life of a creator is very difficult and lonely. That's why it's important to build community,” he stressed.
The Black Music Collective's scholarship program, in collaboration with Amazon Music, will once again support HBCU students who aspire to be in the next generation of influential players in the music industry, Love said. In 2023, scholarships were offered to students at Florida A&M University, Texas Southern University, Norfolk State University, and others. Love remembers the mentors he had when he was coming up and is glad that BMC is also paying him forward.
Last night's show found one of the few people on the planet who even Mariah Carey might be a star-struck star. Before the pop legend received the Global Impact Award, Stevie Wonder He appeared and sat down at the keyboard.
“I'm so excited to be here celebrating someone who's been a friend and been a fan of since I first heard her voice,” he said, before serenading Carey with “I Called to Say I Love You.” He ended the rendition with “I love you, I love you, you're my hero.”
It looks like Mariah Carey was surprised and amazed herself. Once she got over the dread, Carey detailed the pressure she faced early in her career to avoid leaning into black music. “When I first started in the music industry, I was often asked to conform to certain expectations. I was not encouraged to focus on my love for black music,” she told the audience.
Later, some of Carey's friends and other collaborators performed, including baby face, who once sang backing vocals on Carey's song “Melt Away.” (Carey then returned the favor by singing on “Every Time I Close My Eyes.”) Another Carey collaborator, Busta Rhymes, she performed the fan favorite “I Know What You Want” and offered her sincere thanks to Carey for her boldness and desire to “run with the wolves.” Tori Kelly also sang “Vision of Love” during the segment and earlier in the night, gospel legend Yolanda Adams performed “Make It Happen.” The 3rd Annual Recording Academy/BMC Honors Event for sure an act This was achieved, as attendees left the hall and took to the streets full of pride.
Grammy Awards 2024: See the full list of nominees and winners
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