Every Black Performance You Might Have Missed At The Grammys
Motown-themed travesties aside, this year’s Grammy Awards made an effort to celebrate the culture at the podium and on the stage—and Black performers rose to the occasion each and every time.
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Yolanda Adams, Fantasia and Andra Day during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
This year’s Grammys made a bigger effort to nod towards the culture at the podium and on center stage—and Black performers rose to the occasion each and every time.
Missed all of the melanin flourishing?
Check out every performance from the 2019 awards below.
Janelle Monae powerfully repositioned the vagina while engaging her dirty computers in a sexy spectacle during a performance of “Make Me Feel” and “Pynk.”
H.E.R.
Initially signed at just 13 years old, it wasn’t until recently that H.E.R. took her rightful place at the top of the charts. Her enchanting performance of “Hard Place” sent the message that her evolution was worth waiting for.
Before becoming the first female solo artist to win the award for Best Rap Album, Cardi B wowed the crowd with a burlesque-style performance that included mirrored fans, a blinged-out piano, a healthy number of feathers, and one remorseful husband literally wagging his tongue in the crowd.
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys Paying homage to musician Hazel Scott, Grammy Awards host Alicia Keys performed a medley of songs she deemed so good she wished she had written them while playing two separate pianos. Included in the medley were songs from Nat King Cole, Lauryn Hill, Drake and newcomer Ella Mai.
The grandest diva of them all celebrated her 75th birthday a smidge early with a noteworthy performance of her song, “The Best Years of My Life,” after being introduced by her adorable nine-year-old grandson. Her presence was so powerful she even got the jaded industry crowd to participate when she transitioned into “Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand).” Nipsey Hustle was spotted swaying along as she sang. Before gliding off stage, she instructed viewers and attendees to “Learn, dream” and “unlock new doors.”
After sharing a moment with Phillip Bailey and James Blake, Travis Scott performed in a steel cage that was overrun by fans determined to make the most of their chance to go sicko on stage.
The three vocal powerhouses did right by our dearly departed Queen, earning a standing ovation for their performance of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”
