2019 Grammy Moments: The Winners, Losers and Absentees

Though the late rapper Mac Miller may not have won at the 2019 Grammy awards, he will be smiling from the grave. Winning the award for Best Rap Album, five-time nominated hip hop star Cardi B dedicated her win to the rapper who passed away last year to drug overdose. Basking in the moment of her win that sees her as the first solo female to earn the honour, Cardi B caught the attention of the internet in a video speech that has since gone viral.

She said; “I read an article that Mac Miller family said that he don’t win, they want me to win,” she said. “So I’m sharing this Grammy with you, motherfucker. Rest in peace.”

In another twist, ex-girlfriend of the deceased rapper Mac Miller didn’t fail to show her dismay towards the Grammy when Miller lost to Cardi B in the Best Rap Album category. In a now deleted tweet, the Nicki Minaj bestie wrote:

“F—,” she tweeted, as Cardi B was announced the winner. “Trash,” she continued, and “literal bulls—.”

This year, Childish Gambino and Country singer Kacey Musgraves lead the pack for most wins. Each earned four awards apiece for their efforts on This is America and Golden Hour respectively. Following behind with three wins are Brandi Carlile, John Daversa, Lady Gaga and Ludwig Göransson.

Surprisingly, The Carters (JAY Z & Beyoncé) secured a Grammy for their 2018 underrated album Everything Is Love in the Best Urban Contemporary Album over the likes of Miguel’s War and Leisure. Lady Gaga dominated the pop scene with her three-time win but it was Ariana Grande who the world cheered most for her first win at the awards for her fourth album Sweetener.

A slew of new faces who achieved limelight status in 2018 left with recognition. R&B songstress H.E.R and pop fusion artist Dua Lipa both won two Grammy awards. Dua Lipa now joins the league of recognised Best New Act at the Grammys. Fellow Best New Act nominee Greta Van Fleet also shone bright in the rock category with their album From the Fires.

In the rap categories, the males remain dominant with Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Childish Gambino scooping in almost all the category but Rap Album of the Year.

With Femi Kuti gaining nomination over the past years, the world watched with keen interest to see if  his younger brother Seun Kuti would bring glory to Nigeria, sadly, he lost to Soweto Gospel Band in the highly contested Best World Music Album. Other pleasant surprises came with Beck winning in the Best Alternative Album category for his album Colours.

Though the awards may have come to a close, let’s take a trip down the lane of artiste snubbed by the Grammy this year. They include Lady Gaga’s loss for Song of the Year with Shallow, exclusion of Ariana Grande’s Sweetener in the big three (Record, Album and Song of the Year), and zero recognition paid to Janelle Monáe’s funky tune Dirty Computer.

Also visibly absent were The Carters, Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Rihanna and of course Ariana Grande.