India.Arie Pens Open Letter on Grammy Awards

Well just add India.Arie to the growing list of artists speaking out against the Grammy committee and Macklemore’s Best Rap Album win. The singer penned an open letter yesterday addressing both on her personal Tumblr page:

@Kendricklamar WAS robbed, BUT he was not the only one who was robbed. Personally, I was pleased he was able to perform and they KILLED! IT! One of the FEW moving moments of the night for ME.
Though it’s called “Music industries biggest night” the #Grammys are NOT about the music, it’s a popularity contest. The voting process allows people, to vote on name recognition alone – the music industry politics is a whole NUTHER conversation. Too much to go into here.
The American Music Awards is a show that awards sales and popularity – the #Grammys are SAID to be about the music.

If the hip hop community voted on hip hop – r&b COMMUNITY the same – same for each category – we’d see winners that reflect the MUSIC ITSELF. We all know that’s just not the way it goes.

NOW the BIGGER losers, are ALL of black music. Where was the black music community represented in last nights #Grammy show? Performers and Winners (or not) … Where were the black artists?

And this isn’t the first time the #Grammy’s has had a show all but excluding young black America and black artists in general, although we set the worlds musical trends. Why NOT televise the lifetime achievement awards of the Isley Brothers? SURELY they deserved to be on televised stage LAST NIGHT! While other artists were on stage TWICE?

SMH. I can’t deny the problems in the voting system. However, the person who I feel bad for is Macklemore. Like every other artist, he just set out to do his best. And wouldn’t you know his message was heard and appreciated. Whether you like him or not, he deserves to celebrate not feel the need to defend himself. Just place yourself in that man’s shoes. Furthermore, didn’t India going on a similar rant when Alicia Keys swept her at the Grammys. I recall her alluding to Alicia’s good looks. What a low blow. I recognize India’s talent however sometimes we need to appreciate the talent in others.