Sunday, February 2, 2025

Beyoncé Wins Album of the Year, Kendrick Lamar and Doechii Score Historic Wins at 2025 Grammys

Beyoncé stunsin a promotional image for her "Cowboy Carter" tour, which she announced just a day before making history at the 2025 Grammy Awards Sunday. The singer became the first Black woman to win Best Country Album and finally secured her long-awaited Album of the Year win for "Cowboy Carter." (Photo: Beyoncé via X)
Beyoncé shattered barriers once again at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, winning Album of the Year for "Cowboy Carter"— her long-awaited victory in a category that had eluded her four previous times. The win, announced Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena, made her the first Black woman in 26 years to take home the Grammy's top prize, a feat last achieved by Lauryn Hill for "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" in 1999.
"I just feel very full and very honored," Beyoncé said onstage, standing beside her 13-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, as she accepted the award. "It’s been many, many years, and I just want to thank the Grammys, every songwriter, every collaborator, every producer."

Her victory capped off a historic night for Black artists, with Kendrick Lamar and Doechii also securing major wins.

Beyoncé’s 'Cowboy Carter' Breaks New Ground in Country Music

Beyoncé's history-making night began even earlier in the premiere ceremony, where she became the first Black woman in 50 years to win a country Grammy. She and Miley Cyrus took home the award for best country duo/group performance for "II Most Wanted." (The Pointer Sisters last won in a country category in 1975.) Later in the main telecast, Beyoncé made history again by becoming the first Black woman to win Best Country Album for "Cowboy Carter." 
Accepting the award from Taylor Swift, Beyoncé appeared momentarily stunned.

"Wow, I really was not expecting this," she said. "I think sometimes ‘genre’ is a code word to keep us in our place as artists. I just want to encourage people to do what they’re passionate about, and to stay persistent."

Her win follows the success of "Texas Hold ‘Em," which topped the Billboard Hot 100, and her collaboration with country pioneer Linda Martell on "Spaghetti," where Martell reflects on how musical genres often serve as barriers rather than creative spaces.

The moment also came just one day after Beyoncé announced her highly anticipated "Cowboy Carter" tour, sending the BeyHive into a frenzy online.

Kendrick Lamar Reaffirms His Grammy Dominance

Kendrick Lamar continued his reign as one of hip-hop's most decorated artists, securing Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Not Like Us." These wins bring Lamar's total Grammy count to 20, further cementing his legacy as one of rap's most critically acclaimed voices. 

In his acceptance speech, Lamar paid tribute to his hometown and family: "This is for Compton, straight up... My mom and pop out there doing front flips on the couch right now. My son is six years old. Go to sleep, it's past your bedtime right now." 

Doechii Makes History

Rising star Doechii made history by becoming the third woman to win Best Rap Album, securing the award for "Alligator Bites Never Heal." Her win represents a major milestone for women in hip-hop, breaking barriers in a category historically dominated by male artists. 
In her emotional speech, Doechii reflected on her journey: "This is for all the little Black girls who were ever told they weren't enough. We are enough. We are more than enough."

Rapsody and Erykah Badu's Collaborative Triumph

In another significant highlight of the evening, Rapsody and Erykah Badu clinched the Best Melodic Rap Performance award for their collaboration "3:AM." This victory marked Rapsody's inaugural Grammy win and Badu's first in two decades, underscoring their enduring influence in the music industry.

A Night of Legacy: Quincy Jones Tribute Brings Star-Studded Lineup

The Recording Academy also paid tribute to the legendary Quincy Jones, who died in November 2024 at age 91. The segment featured performances by Stevie Wonder, Will Smith, Janelle Monáe, and Herbie Hancock, celebrating Jones’ groundbreaking contributions to music.

The tribute included "Fly Me to the Moon," "Let the Good Times Roll," and "We Are the World," the 1985 charity single produced by Jones.

"He taught us that life is a feast, and you don’t stop ‘til you get enough," Smith said, referencing Jones’ collaborations with Michael Jackson.

For the full list of winners, go to GRAMMY.com.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

From Battle Raps to the Grammys: Roxanne Shanté’s Influence Recognized with Lifetime Achievement Honor

Roxanne Shanté speaks during an interview on "CBS Mornings" about her journey from pioneering battle rapper to Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree. The Queensbridge legend will make history as the first solo female rapper to receive the honor. (CBS Mornings via screengrab)
Hip-hop trailblazer Roxanne Shanté will make history on Feb. 1, becoming the first solo female rapper to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards Ceremony. The honor, recognizing her pioneering role in rap’s formative years, places Shanté among an elite group of 2025 recipients, including Prince, The Clash, Frankie Beverly, Taj Mahal, Dr. Bobby Jones and Frankie Valli.

For a culture that has often overlooked its female pioneers, Shanté’s recognition is a landmark moment. The Queensbridge native, who first gained fame at 14 years old with the groundbreaking 1984 single "Roxanne’s Revenge," helped lay the foundation for hip-hop’s global ascent. The track, a scathing response to UTFO’s "Roxanne, Roxanne," ignited The Roxanne Wars, inspiring more than 80 response songs and cementing Shanté’s reputation as one of rap’s fiercest lyricists.

2025 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Honorees

  • 🎤 Prince – Seven-time Grammy winner, musical innovator, and genre-defying icon behind Purple Rain and Sign o’ the Times.
  • 🎸 The Clash – British punk pioneers known for London Calling and politically charged anthems like Rock the Casbah.
  • 🎶 Frankie Beverly – Soul and R&B legend whose work with Maze produced classics like Before I Let Go.
  • 🙏 Dr. Bobby Jones – Gospel music trailblazer and longtime host of Bobby Jones Gospel, the longest-running original show on BET.
  • 🎷 Taj Mahal – Blues and world music visionary who helped redefine roots music over a six-decade career.
  • 🎤 Frankie Valli – The unmistakable falsetto behind Sherry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, and Big Girls Don’t Cry.
In a recent interview with CBS Mornings’ Gayle King, Shanté reflected on her journey.

"It took 40 years, but it's here. And now, all the young girls coming up in hip-hop will know that it’s possible," she said. “They’ll know that their contributions won’t be erased.”

A Battle Rap Prodigy Turned Pioneer

Shanté’s influence extended beyond the mic. She became a central figure in the Juice Crew, a legendary hip-hop collective that helped define the golden era of rap. Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, MC Shan, and Nas were all connected to her early impact on the Queensbridge rap scene.

However, despite her status as a teen prodigy and one of rap’s earliest female stars, Shanté saw little financial reward for her success.

"You had a record deal, you had a hit song, it was making money — but you weren’t making money," she recalled. "I was a girl. That was enough to make sure I wasn’t getting paid."

Frustrated by industry exploitation, she walked away from music in the early ’90s, choosing instead to focus on her family and education. She later earned a Ph.D. in psychology, proving that her battle spirit extended far beyond hip-hop.

A Long-Overdue Honor

In recent years, Shanté’s contributions have gained well-deserved recognition. In 2017, Netflix released "Roxanne Roxanne," a biopic chronicling her rise in hip-hop. In 2023, she received the NAACP Legacy Award and the Hip-Hop Grandmaster Award from the Paid in Full Foundation, a group dedicated to compensating hip-hop pioneers who never saw financial returns for their work.

Now, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award stands as the highest recognition yet of her impact. Shanté, however, sees it as more than just a personal win.

"It’s not about what I didn't get back then," she said. "It’s about making sure the next generation of girls in hip-hop never have to fight for their flowers."

Shanté’s honor comes amid a broader push to acknowledge hip-hop’s pioneers, with the Recording Academy inducting other rap icons like Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and Salt-N-Pepa in recent years. Her distinction as the first solo female rapper to receive the award highlights hip-hop’s evolution and growing recognition of its female architects.

Now a SiriusXM host on LL Cool J’s "Rock The Bells Radio," where she reaches seven million listeners daily, Shanté continues to amplify hip-hop’s history and the artists who helped build it. And despite stepping away from rap decades ago, her legendary skills remain sharp.

When asked if she could still freestyle on command, Shanté smiled and delivered an impromptu verse, proving that her quick-witted lyricism is as sharp as ever.

The Special Merit Awards Ceremony will take place at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles on Feb. 1. The 67th Grammy Awards will air live on CBS and Paramount+ on Sunday, Feb. 2.

Zig-Zag’s Surprise Turntable Drop Pays Tribute to Vinyl Culture and Hip-Hop Legacy

Photo Courtesy Zig-Zag
For more than a century, Zig-Zag rolling papers have been a staple in hip-hop culture, immortalized in lyrics, album covers, and the hands of artists from coast to coast. Now, in a move no one saw coming, the brand best known for its rolling papers has dropped a limited-edition suitcase-style record player — a release as unexpected as it is undeniably on-brand.

Retailing for $99, the Zig-Zag Record Player is a three-speed belt-driven turntable housed in an orange suitcase-style casing with built-in stereo speakers, RCA and headphone outputs, Bluetooth streaming, and a USB port for digital playback. Designed for both home listening and portable use, it’s the latest entry into the world of branded nostalgia marketing, following in the footsteps of collaborations like Supreme’s boom boxes or the Wu-Tang Clan’s limited-edition Crosley turntable.

A Smokin’ Tribute to Vinyl and Hip-Hop

While it may seem like an odd move for a rolling paper company to dip into the turntable business, Zig-Zag has deeper ties to hip-hop and vinyl culture than some might realize. The brand's iconic orange logo was prominently referenced in Dr. Dre’s "The Chronic" album art in 1992, cementing its place in hip-hop's golden era. Over the decades, Zig-Zag has been name-dropped in countless rap songs, from Notorious B.I.G. to Juicy J, often as shorthand for laid-back, weed-fueled creativity.


But it’s not just the rap world that has embraced the Zig-Zag aesthetic. The brand has built a multi-
generational presence in music culture, appearing in classic rock, reggae, and even jazz circles — anywhere vinyl, counterculture and smoke-filled rooms have intersected.

The turntable’s release coincides with the launch of Zig-Zag’s Limited Edition Vintage Collection, which includes retro-styled rolling papers and apparel. The campaign, featuring musicians Rohan Marley and YG Marley, leans into multi-generational nostalgia, much like vinyl’s resurgence.

Vinyl’s Resurgence Meets Brand Marketing

The record player’s release comes amid a massive vinyl renaissance, with LP sales surpassing CDs for the first time since 1987. While collectors and audiophiles might turn their noses up at mass-market suitcase turntables, they remain wildly popular with younger audiences and casual listeners who want a stylish, entry-level way to spin records.

However, Zig-Zag’s foray into turntables raises some interesting questions about brand identity and nostalgia-driven marketing. Is this a genuine celebration of music culture, or simply another example of a company leveraging its street credibility to sell a lifestyle product?

Whatever the answer, Zig-Zag has successfully sparked curiosity and conversation, which in today’s marketing world, is just as valuable as selling out a product line.


Where to Find It

The Zig-Zag Record Player is available now for $99 on Zig-Zag’s official website, but with limited quantities, it may not be around for long. Whether it becomes a sought-after collector’s item or just another gimmicky product drop, one thing’s for sure—it’s already a talking point in hip-hop and vinyl circles alike.

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