While the Grammy awards were fun, starting right off with U2 in full tilt playing "Get On Your Boots" (why were they performing when they're not up for any awards? oh yea--rating, album sales, that's the point of the Grammy awards), they ended up being pretty predictable on the big awards. So what did I love? This collaboration between the best rappers in the world on a song I'd never heard, "Swagga Like Us."
While I don't particularly like the song, which features a section each from hip-hop stars Jay-Z, Kanye West, T.I. and Lil' Wayne, each set apart by a sample from MIA's "Paper Planes," I loved the performance. First of all, the men all wore tuxes. Here's Kanye, in a MTV interview:
"I'm gonna wear a pink tuxedo!" Kanye West jokingly told Sway Friday afternoon in Los Angeles. "No, I'm wearing a black tux," he immediately clarified. West hinted that his song-mates would be wearing similar outfits on the Grammy stage. "Yeah, everybody is gonna be fresh," Kanye promised. "Everybody is gonna be fresh to def. I mean, first of all, other than the fact that you got four — in my opinion — four of the freshest rappers making records right now. Aside from Jeezy, you got four of the freshest people consistently. When you see them, they look nice ... they're super fresh. So, it makes complete sense for us to get up there, do the 'Swagga' record at the Grammys and represent hip-hop. Represent black people, especially, in a really good light.
West seems bent on breaking stereotypes (for example, the 'gangsta' image in hip-hop), opening up new space for his music, and this is just one more episode.
Then, of course, instead of having the sample from MIA, she showed up nine months pregnant with an outfit to highlight the fact and sang her own sample. She stole the show and it was so amazing to see her dancing, showing the men how to do it, all the while shouting out with her body, "I am woman!" Cool.
Anon and peace,
Chris
What did you think of Robert Plant and Allison Krauss taking home so many, and especially album of the year?
Posted by: Jon | February 09, 2009 at 02:50 PM
I do think it is interesting that the producer was T. Bone Burnett. He's a Christian, long-time friend of Bono, and influential force in the music business. He also produced O Brother, Where Art Thou? that won a couple years ago (also with Krauss and others). So the guy has a sense of what is meaningful, deeper that pop candy music. I personally didn't get into the Krauss/Plant album--I tried it out but haven't really given it my full attention. Guess I'd better now!
CS
Posted by: Chris | February 10, 2009 at 05:15 AM