Kanye West Wants To Fix The Grammys, Promises New Album This Summer
Kanye West cares deeply about the Grammys. That much has always been obvious. (I’ve written about why he probably shouldn’t, but he does.) And even though West has won a huge pile of rap Grammys, he always loses out on the important awards when he’s up against white artists; it’s been the case ever since he lost Best New Artist to country singer Gretchen Wilson in 2005. And now he’s saying that he wants to fix the awards, to make them less out-of-touch. Good luck, Kanye!
In a brand-new tweetstorm, West writes that the Grammys are important but also broken, and he writes that he’d like to sit down with National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences president Neil Portnow to talk about how the Grammys can be better. And he pulls the “most important living artist” card, threatening not to show up at next year’s ceremony, so you know he’s serious. Read what Kanye has to say below.
I would like to sit down with Neil Portnow right now
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
I think the Grammys are super important!!!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
I know so many cool artists whose hearts have been broken by the politics including mine.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
We need to fix this.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
I don't give opinions because they are commonly agreed upon. I say what I feel.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
I feel the Grammy awarding system is way off and completely out of touch.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
Hi Grammys this is the most important living artist talking.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
If I'm not at the show next year then there is no show.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
I don't want to just fix the awards for me but I want to fix it for Dexter Navy who directed A$AP Rocky’s LSD video.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
Everybody with any form of taste knows that was the best video of the year!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
Dexter didn't feel he even had a chance of winning and he was right!!!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
You guys are supposed to be all about taste.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
You like your black people a certain way also. You wouldn't have Future perform and that man owned the clubs last summer.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
Has anyone at the Grammys ever heard March Madness??? Yes I have a problem with the Grammys.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
All artists have a problem with it and I am going to fix it for us all starting right now.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
Neil please reach out as soon as possible so we can make the Grammys culturally relevant again.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
Us real music guys wanna have fun too
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
and always remember that rock and roll was stolen and don't try to hide behind Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis 😭😭😭 all positive vibes.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
First order of business. We the people need to see Future at the Grammys.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
We need to see Young Thug at the Grammys. Not just me and Jay in a suit.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
I would love to see a world where Future and Young Thug get Grammy recognition, but I can’t imagine how many things will have to change to make that happen.
And then, just when things seemed to be winding down:
New album coming this summer
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) February 24, 2016
Bless you, Twitter Kanye.
UPDATE: Grammy boss Neil Portnow has responded to Kanye West, issuing this statement to The FADER:
Kanye West is a creative pioneer who has been recognized and honored by The Recording Academy time and again. We value his input as a member of the creative community, and our doors are always open to him. I continue to welcome Kanye, personally, to engage in a direct and productive dialogue about the future of music and the important role that music creators play in shaping that future.