ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13 People & Places Music Old vs new school The best rap album debate at Grammys LOS ANGELES, March 8, (AP): Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby have blazed the Billboard charts, but Grammy voters gave the young hip-hop stars the cold shoulder in the best rap album category, instead, surprisingly nominating the genre’s more matured voices like Nas and Jay Elec- tronica. Some were baffl ed by the academy’s decision to push through some lesser-known projects in the cat- egory instead of the popular chart-topping albums that have dominated streaming services with record num- bers. Several hip-hop artists weighed in and called out the Grammys, including Drake, Killer Mike and 50 Cent, who said the awards show is “out of touch.” In addition to Nas’ “King’s Disease” and Jay Electronica’s “A Written Testimony,” this year’s best rap album nominees include Freddie Gibbs & the Alchemist’s “Alfredo,” “The Allegory” by Royce da 5’9” and D Smoke’s “Black Hab- its.” The rappers are 35-and- up with Nas — who has never Lil Baby won a Grammy — being the oldest at 47. Each of the nominated albums were reviewed as solid pieces of work, but some rap enthusiasts saw a clear divide between the seasoned rappers and the new generation of twentysomething hip-hop performers — sometimes referred to as “mumble rappers” who focus more on quick word play with heavy bass melodies instead of lyricism. “First thing that came to my mind was rigged,” said Twysted Genius, who produced four songs on Lil This image provided by Harpo Productions shows Prince Harry, (left), and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speaking about expecting their second child during an Baby’s sophomore album “My Turn,” including the interview with Oprah Winfrey. ‘Oprah with Meghan and Harry: A CBS Primetime Special’ aired March 7 as a two-hour exclusive primetime special on the CBS platinum-selling singles “Sum 2 Prove” and “Emo- Television Network. (AP) tionally Scarred.” Billboard named “My Turn” the second-most suc- cessful album of 2020, besting projects by pop stars like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and The Weeknd, and Royals easily out-selling the nominees for best rap album. Roddy Ricch’s “Please Excuse Me for Being Anti- social” ranked third on Billboard’s list and has won honors at the American Music Awards, BET Awards Race, title, anguish: Meghan, Harry explain royal rift and Apple Music Awards. Twysted Genius, 28, declined to offer names but the producer said he’d never heard of some of the rap album nominees. He struggled to understand why ‘I just didn’t want to be alive anymore’ hit singles like Roddy Ricch’s “The Box,” DaBaby’s “Rockstar” and Pop Smoke’s “Dior” were good LOS ANGELES, March 8, (AP): In a enough to receive nominations for best rap song or wide-ranging interview aired Sunday, best rap performance, but not their albums. Harry and Meghan described painful Queen stresses ‘importance’ of Process palace discussions about the color of their son’s skin, losing royal protec- “It kind of blew me,” Twysted Genius said. “I’ve tion and the intense pressures that led seen how big Lil Baby has become in the world. I, at the Duchess of Sussex to contemplate friends, family during pandemic least, knew that he would be up for a Grammy for best suicide. album. It’s just mind-blowing.” LONDON, March 8, (AP): Queen friends, family, colleagues, and The interview with Oprah Win- Elizabeth II highlighted the im- counterparts,” she said. Online The producer’s thoughts come a year after former frey was the couple’s fi rst since they Recording Academy CEO Deborah Dugan claimed portance of staying in touch with communication “transcends bound- stepped down from royal duties and friends and families during the aries or division, helping any sense that the awards are rigged and fi lled with confl icts of the two-hour special included numer- interests in the nomination process. She was ousted coronavirus pandemic in a mes- of distance to disappear.” In this photo made available Sunday ous revelations likely to reverberate on sage broadcast on Sunday. The queen also paid tribute to after reporting sexual harassment and pay disparities. March 7, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II both sides of the Atlantic. Despite the criticism, Royce da 5’9” believes the Britain’s monarch also touched the front-line workers helping in the poses for a photo while signing her Harry told Winfrey that he felt trapped on the role of technology in keeping fight against COVID-19 in Com- Grammys are heading in the right direction under the annual Commonwealth Day Message by royal life and was surprised that he people connected amid the global monwealth nations. leadership of Harvey Mason jr., the academy’s interim inside St George’s Hall at Windsor was cut off fi nancially and lost his se- pandemic, in her royal address be- Her message of unity stood in president and CEO. Last year, the producer-songwrit- Castle, England, Friday March 5. (AP) curity last year. He also said he felt his fore Commonwealth Day on Mon- contrast to the turmoil in the royal er took on the role with aspirations to diversify the family did not support Meghan, who ac- day. family before the interview, which academy’s staff, membership and outreach to the mu- knowledged her naivete about royal life She made no mention of Oprah promises to provide an unprec- sic community. before marrying Harry, as she endured Winfrey’s interview with Prince Har- edented glimpse into the couple’s “They are doing a good job,” said Royce da 5’9”, Variety tabloid attacks and false stories. ry and his wife, Meghan - the Duke departure from royal duties and the who is nominated for his fi rst Grammy in a decade. Meghan, who is biracial, described and Duchess of Sussex - which is strains it has put them under. “(Harvey is) a good addition to the Grammys. I think that when she was fi rst pregnant with set to air Sunday evening in the Harry and Meghan departed just adding more Black people to the board in different FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla: Carla Wal- son Archie, there were “concerns and US, and on Monday in the UK. royal life a year ago over what they states would really help. I think that’s key.” lenda, a member of “The Flying Wallen- “The testing times experienced described as the intrusions and conversations about how dark his skin by so many have led to a deeper racist attitudes of the British media Royce da 5’9” said he believes the best rap album das” high-wire act and the last surviving might be when he’s born.” The state- nominees perfectly refl ects the genre, though he added child of the famed troupe’s founder, has appreciation of the mutual support toward the duchess, who is biracial. ment led Winfrey to incredulously ask and spiritual sustenance we enjoy It’s unclear what public reaction, that Lil Baby and Roddy Ricch’s albums should com- died at the age of 85. “What?” pete for the Grammys’ top prize — album of the year Her son, Rick Wallenda, said on by being connected to others,” the if any, the queen and other royal — instead of best rap album. social media she died Saturday in Sara- Struggled queen said in her audio message. family members will have to the sota, Florida, of natural causes. She was People have become used to interview. The UK’s Sunday Times “I think if they break it down like that, that would While Winfrey sat in silence, “connecting and communicating newspaper, citing an anonymous be great,” the 43-year-old said. “Everybody in the rap the daughter of Karl Wallenda, who had Meghan said she struggled to under- founded the troupe in Germany before by our innovative technology” that source, reported that the queen album category, I (support) them.” stand why there were concerns within allows them to “stay in touch with wouldn’t watch it. D Smoke — who has been lauded for his Kend- moving to the United States in 1928 to great acclaim. She was the aunt of aerial- the royal family about her son’s skin rick Lamar-like rap style — believes the rap album color. She said it was hard for her to nominations opens a “conversation of what our cul- ist Nik Wallenda. Carla Wallenda was born on Feb 13, “compartmentalize” those conversa- Winfrey at various points in the in- frey, Harry said he wouldn’t have left ture needs and wants.” The rapper said the mature 1936, and appeared in a newsreel in 1939 tions. terview ran through headlines about royal life if not for his wife. He said voices in the category speak to a broader audience on as she learned how to walk the wire, with Meghan, the actor formerly known Meghan and at one point asked about the their relationship revealed the stric- a “deeper level,” but he adds that the younger genera- her father and mother, Mati, looking on. as Meghan Markle who starred in the mental health impact. Meghan respond- tures of royal life. tion of rappers need to be heard as well to push the But she said her fi rst time on the wire TV drama “Suits,” said she grew con- ed that she experienced suicidal thoughts “I wouldn’t have been able to, be- genre forward. was much earlier. cerned about her son not having a royal and had sought help through the palace’s cause I myself was trapped,” Harry Nominated “Actually, they carried me across the title because it meant he wouldn’t be human resources department, but was said.