Sean Combs Slams the Grammys Over Treatment of Black Music

Last updated: January 27, 2020 6:19 AM

3 Min Read

Sean Combs slammed the Recording Academy and the Grammys ahead of the show’s big Sunday night awards ceremony while accepting an award as the 2020 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons honoree at Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammys Gala.

He had ALOT to say because his speech lasted 50-minutes.

“There’s something that I need to say to the Grammys — and I say this with love,” Diddy told the crowd. “Every year y’all be killing us. I’m speaking for all the artists and executives: in the great words of Erykah Badu, ‘We are artists and we are sensitive about our shit.’ For most of us, this is all we’ve got. This is our only hope.”

“Truth be told, hip-hop has never been respected by the Grammys. Black music has never been respected by the Grammys,” Diddy continued.

Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Sean "Diddy" Combs - Arrivals — Honoree Sean “Diddy” Combs attends the Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Sean “Diddy” Combs on January 25, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

“So right now, with this current situation, it’s not a revelation. This thing been going on — not just in music, but in film, sports, around the world. And for years we’ve allowed institutions that have never had our best interests at heart to judge us — and that stops right now,” Diddy said while the crowd cheered, Variety reports.

“I’m officially starting the clock: you’ve got 365 days to get this sh— together. We need the artists to take back control, we need transparency, we need diversity. This is the room that has the power to [force] the change that needs to be made. They have to make the changes for us: They’re a non-profit organization that is supposed to protect the welfare of the musical community. That’s what is says on the mission statement: they work for us,” he added.