In an acceptance speech at the Grammys, rapper Jay-Z called out the Recording Academy for his wife Beyoncé never winning Album of the Year despite having the most Grammys ever.
With their daughter Blue Ivy by his side, Jay-Z acknowledged the voting is “subjective” but highlighted the contradiction that Beyoncé has won over 30 Grammys yet has never took home the top album prize.
“I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone, and never won Album of the Year,” he said, referring to his wife. “So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work. Think about that. The most Grammys, never won Album of the Year. That doesn’t work.”
Jay-Z has 24 Grammy wins himself, tying the record for a rapper. But he doubled down on calling out the Academy, saying some people would feel robbed and that he tells the truth when nervous.
Beyoncé holds the all-time Grammy record with 32 wins despite zero Album of the Year victories. Fans reacted strongly online, with many supporting Jay-Z’s speech calling out the snub of his wife.
The speech highlighted longstanding criticisms of the Grammys failing to properly award Black artists. Jay-Z used his platform to speak out against the questionable voting results that have marked the Grammys for Beyoncé and other Black artists.
At one point in his speech to accept the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, Jay-Z, “Some of you are gonna go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don’t belong in the category.
“When I get nervous, I tell the truth.”
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