Grammy night’s biggest winner was without a doubt Chance the Rapper.
The Chicago representative for #BlackBoyJoy collected not one, but three awards during the big night to celebrate music. And it turns out he made hip-hop history as well.
Perhaps his biggest accolade of the night was his award for Best New Artist. The rapper became the second Black male artist in Grammy history to win award behind John Legend and the first Black hip-hop artist since Lauryn Hill in 1999 to take home the prize.
Lauryn Hill took home the Best New Artist award following the release of her debut solo album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Hill is also the only Black woman since 1999 to receive the Album of the Year award. She’s been nominated for 19 Grammys througout her career, taking home eight.
Chance the Rapper is the first black hip-hop artist to win #GRAMMYs Best New Artist since Lauryn Hill in 1999
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) February 13, 2017
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“I know people think that independence means you do it by yourself,” he said in his speech after the ceremony music cut on. “But independence means freedom. I do it with these folks right here. Glory be to God! I claim the victory in the name of the lord! Let’s go!”
Chance beat out newcomers like Anderson .Paak and The Chainsmokers for the coveted award.