THE GRAMMYS WERE NEVER FOR US

We break down the Grammys, why they were never built for hip-hop, and how we slowly abandoned our own platforms like the BET Awards and Source Awards — only to turn around and chase inclusion elsewhere.

The crew debates:

Why conscious music gets rewarded more than street or bravado rap

Whether Kendrick Lamar has become a “safe rebel” for institutions

Why art doesn’t have to be political to matter

If chasing Grammys actually hurts hip-hop culture

How artists like Tyler, The Creator become “important” without cultural presence

And whether we confuse inclusion with equality

This isn’t about discrediting artists — it’s about questioning the institutions and the culture that props them up.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Vibes
02:48 College Memories and Nicknames
05:48 Grammys Discussion Begins
08:33 Beauty Standards and Celebrity Culture
11:25 The Impact of Awards on Artists
14:32 Conscious vs. Mainstream Music
17:23 Kendrick Lamar and the Grammy Debate
20:15 Tyler the Creator's Influence
23:00 The Role of Media in Music Recognition
26:01 The Future of Hip Hop and Awards Shows
59:23 The Universal Sound Debate
01:02:23 Artist Responsibility in Social Issues
01:10:22 The Role of Artists as Role Models
01:25:37 J. Cole's Mixtape Expectations
01:35:37 Mike Will Made It vs. Hit Boy Battle

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