Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly" lost out on the coveted album of the year. But it was his passionate, politically charged performance of "The Blacker the Berry" and "Alright," featuring chained black men in a prison, and African tribal dancers, that quickly stole the show.
"I'm African-American, I'm African, I'm black as the moon, heritage of a small village, pardon my residence, came from the bottom of mankind," rapped Lamar, 28, who hails from Compton, California, the birthplace of hip-hop.
Lamar's performance ended with a backdrop of a large map of Africa with the name Compton written across it.
National Public Radio's Eric Deggans called it "A performance that woke up a sleepy #Grammys" and entertainment website E! Online tweeted that "Kendrick Lamar just SHUT. IT. DOWN. at the Grammys."
Lamar wasn't the only rapper making waves.
Broadway's sold-out musical "Hamilton" which mixes rap, jazz, ballads and casts black and Latino actors as the U.S. founding fathers, performed live from New York. The show won the best musical theater album award and its creator, Lin Manuel-Miranda, delivered his acceptance speech in rap.
"Kendrick then Lin Manuel serving nonstop back to back black and brown genius," tweeted Daniel Jose Older.
Going into the Grammys, all eyes had been on Adele, who was returning to music's biggest night after a four-year absence and following the blockbuster success of her new album "25."
But the British singer's delivery of ballad "All I Ask," was marred by sound issues and uncharacteristic flat notes that dismayed many fans.
"The piano mics fell on to the piano strings, that's what the guitar sound was. It made it sound out of tune. Shit happens. X," Adele tweeted in response.
Instead, it was Lady Gaga who brought the audience at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to its feet with a psychedelic tribute to David Bowie, who died in January.
Rihanna pulled out at the last minute with bronchitis, disappointing fans watching at home who complained the 2016 Grammys lacked star power.
"But can we really blame Rihanna? If I was at the Grammys I would've left too," Twitter user Sophia commented.
Beyonce later made the briefest of appearances to present an award at the end of the 3-1/2-hour show, but did not perform.
Winner's list
Here's a look at the winners at this year's Grammy Awards.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift, 1989
RECORD OF THE YEAR
Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk"
SONG OF THE YEAR
Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"
BEST NEW ARTIST
Meghan Trainor
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
BEST RAP ALBUM
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly
BEST MUSICAL THEATRE ALBUM
Hamilton
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Taylor Swift, 1989
BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION
Arturo O'Farrill, The Afro Latin Jazz Suite
BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTAL OR A CAPPELLA
"Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"
BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTS AND VOCALS
Maria Schneider, "Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)"
BEST RECORDING PACKAGE
Still The King: Celebrating The Music Of Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys
BEST ALBUM NOTES
Joni Mitchell, 'Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced'
BEST BOXED OR SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION PACKAGE
The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume Two (1928-32)
BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM
The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11
BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, NON-CLASSICAL
Shawn Everett, Bob Ludwig, Sound & Color
BEST REMIXED RECORDING, NON-CLASSICAL
Dave Audé, "Uptown Funk (Dave Audé Remix)"
BEST SURROUND SOUND ALBUM
James Guthrie, Joel Plante, Amused To Death
BEST CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
Snarky Puppy, Metropole Orkest, Sylva
BEST NEW AGE ALBUM
Paul Avgerinos, Grace
BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO
Christian McBride, "Cherokee"
BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
Cecile McLorin Salvent, For One To Love
BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
John Scofield, Past Present
BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM
Maria Schneider Orchestra, The Thompson Fields
BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM
Eliane Elias, Made In Brazil
BEST REGGAE ALBUM
Morgan Heritage, Strictly Roots
BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM
Angelique Kidjo, Sings
BEST CHILDREN'S ALBUM
Tim Kubart, Home
BEST SPOKEN WORD ALBUM
Jimmy Carter, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety
BEST COMEDY ALBUM
Louis CK, Live At Madison Square Garden
BEST LATIN POP ALBUM
Ricky Martin, A Quien Quiera Escuchar (Deluxe Edition)
BEST REGIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC ALBUM
Los Tigres Del Norte, Realidades - Deluxe Edition
BEST TROPICAL LATIN ALBUM
Ruben Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orchestra, Son De Panamá
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS PERFORMANCE
Mavis Staples, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean'
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS SONG
Jason Isbell,"24 Frames"
BEST AMERICANA ALBUM
Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free
BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM
The SteelDrivers, The Muscle Shoals Recordings
BEST BLUES ALBUM
Buddy Guy, Born To Play Guitar
BEST REGIONAL ROOTS MUSIC ALBUM
Jon Cleary, Go Go Juice
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, CLASSICAL
Judith Sherman
BEST OPERA RECORDING
Seiji Ozawa, Isabel Leonard, Dominic Fyfe, "Ravel: L'Enfant Et Les Sortilèges; Shéhérazade"
BEST CHORAL PERFORMANCE
Charles Bruffy, Phoenix Chorale, Kansas City Chorale, "Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil"
BEST CHAMBER MUSIC/SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
Eighth Blackbird, "Filament"
BEST CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL SOLO
Augustin Hadelich, Ludovic Morlot, "Dutilleux: Violin Concerto, L'Arbre Des Songes"
BEST CLASSICAL SOLO VOCAL ALBUM
Joyce DiDonato, Antonio Pappano, Joyce & Tony - Live From Wigmore Hall
BEST CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL COMPOSITION
Stephen Paulus, "Paulus: Prayers & Remembrances"
BEST CLASSICAL SOLO VOCAL ALBUM
Joyce DiDonato, Antonio Pappano, Joyce & Tony - Live From Wigmore Hall
BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Antonio Sanchez, Birdman
BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Common, Rhymefest, John Legend, "Glory"
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, "Bad Blood"
BEST MUSIC FILM
Amy
BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG
Kirk Franklin, "Wanna Be Happy?"
BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE/SONG
Francesca Battistelli, "Holy Spirit"
BEST GOSPEL ALBUM
Israel and Newbreed, Covered: Alive In Asia [Live]
BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM
Toby Mac, This Is Not A Test
BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"
BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
Chris Stapleton, Traveller
BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"
BEST COUNTRY SONG
Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, "Girl Crush"
BEST DANCE RECORDING
Skrillex, Diplo and Justin Bieber - "Where Are Ü Now"
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM
Skrillex and Diplo, Skrillex And Diplo Present Jack Ü
BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
The Weeknd - "Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey)"
BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
Lalah Hathaway, "Little Ghetto Boy"
BEST R&B SONG
D'Angelo, Kendra Foster, "Really Love"
BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness
BEST R&B ALBUM
D'Angelo, Black Messiah
BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
Ghost, "Cirice"
BEST ROCK SONG
Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"
BEST ROCK ALBUM
Muse, Drones
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
Kendrick Lamar, "Alright"
BEST RAP/SUNG COLLECTION:
Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise, Thundercat, "These Walls"
BEST RAP SONG
Kendrick Lamar, Kawan Prather, Sounwave, Pharrell Williams, "Alright"
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars,"Uptown Funk"
BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap, The Silver Lining: The Songs Of Jerome Kern
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Jeff Bhasker
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
