By Zachary Leeman | February 11, 2019
Rapper Drake was cut off during Sunday night’s Grammy Awards after he threw some mild shade at Hollywood awards shows and how much they actually matter to art and the culture.
Winning a Grammy Award for his song “God’s Plan,” Drake took the stage — and spoke far more seriously than likely anyone expected.
Drake addressed “the kids watching, those aspiring to do music, and all my peers that make music from their heart, that do things pure and tell the truth.”
He reminded them to “know [that] we play in an opinion-based sport, not a factual-based sport. It is not the NBA … This is a business where sometimes it is up to a bunch of people that might not understand what a mixed race kid from Canada has to say … or a brother from Houston right there, my brother Travis. You’ve already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you are a hero in your hometown. If there [are] people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain, in the snow, spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don’t need this right here. I promise you, you already won.”
Check out part of Drake’s time on stage below:
“You don't need this right here." – Drake at the #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/IIHvLKypeD
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 11, 2019
Drake then began another thought — but the telecast cut him short.
While some on social media speculated it was because Drake’s speech was about the empty nature of awards shows, producers claimed they were unaware that Drake intended to keep talking.
“During Drake’s speech, there was a natural pause and at that moment the producers did assume that he was done and then cut to commercial,” said Grammy representative Michael Samonte, according to Variety.
“However, the producers did speak with Drake following his speech and did offer him [the chance] to come back on stage to finish whatever his thoughts were. But Drake said he was happy with what he said and didn’t have anything to add.”
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Despite all that, many viewers took to Twitter to celebrate Drake’s words about the importance of fan reactions to art over Hollywood award accolades.
Check out some of the reactions below:
Drake keeping it real at the #grammys! https://t.co/XYA8WWjjtd
— Jonathan Choi (@jonathanch0i) February 11, 2019
they cut off Drake cause he was speaking some real talk. YOU Don't need a trophy to know you're a winner. the real can always feel it #GRAMMYs
— C.G. (@Courtneyg964) February 11, 2019
An amazing acceptance speech by Drake.
PS: His ability to deliver cogent speeches like this is why so many people in hip-hop hate him. Don’t @ me.#GrammyAwards #Grammys pic.twitter.com/ZVCg01lbIH
— No Hipsters Allowed (@nohipstersblog) February 11, 2019
Black History month lesson: @Drake is the first rapper to ever write a diss to the Grammys and perform it for the first time at the #Grammy2019 pic.twitter.com/eWL4ePyTbE
— Nathan Allen Pirtle (@workwthecoach) February 11, 2019
The Grammys is cancelled for cutting off Drake.
— Jaclyn Hill (@Jaclynhill) February 11, 2019
For more, check out the video below:
This piece originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.
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