Douglas Markowitz is a GRAMMY.com contributor.
See the full list of winners and nominees from the 2026 Grammys. Watch highlights and exclusive Grammys content from the 2026 Grammys all year long. At the 2026 Grammys, winning artists took to the stage with much more than gratitude on their minds. Grammy winners such as Lady Gaga and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Cher supported rising artists,…
Bolstered by a massive post-pandemic tourism boom and explosive international adoration of Japanese culture, Japan is having a moment — and so is its music industry. J-pop's biggest acts — YOASOBI, Creepy Nuts, Utada Hikaru, and Kenshi Yonezu, among others — are riding a wave of obsession to international acclaim and global hits. Yonezu's "KICK BACK" and Creepy Nuts' "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,"…
They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but what about an album? Cover art is often our first impression of a record, giving the listener a first impression of what might be inside. It’s an important thing to get right, which is why certain musicians have looked to the art world for expertise. Some, like Patti Smith, hire…
Three decades ago, a close-knit rap collective from the Midwest sent a powerful statement through the culture of hip-hop. Fusing hardscrabble, horror-influenced rhymes with slick G-funk production and an inventive approach to rap vocals, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony — a five-member Cleveland-bred group signed to Los Angeles-based Ruthless Records — struck lightning with their sophomore album E. 1999 Eternal. Released on July…
One of rap’s most dangerous duos has returned to the fore with one of the most high-profile, controversial hip-hop releases of the year. Brothers Pusha T and Malice have finally reunited as Clipse and reconvened with longtime producer and friend Pharrell Williams to deliver Let God Sort Em Out, a blistering comeback album reestablishing their place among rap royalty. The…
One might not expect a mix of Afrobeats and "sexy drill" to work out, but BNXN may see something that the rest of us don’t. The Nigerian musician's single "Cutesy" takes heavy influence from the burgeoning New York-centered hip-hop subgenre, and managed to turn heads all the way across the Atlantic. "After dropping ‘Cutesy,’ Cash Cobain texted me," he says.…
Lil Wayne once had plenty of good reasons to call himself the Best Rapper Alive. In the 2000s, the proud New Orleanian evolved from a promising Hollygrove street rapper signed to Cash Money Records into one of the most exciting voices in hip-hop. His boundless lyrical creativity and talent for clever, brilliantly raunchy raps delivered in a distinctively gravelly voice…
For the first 20 years of Will Smith's career, he was nearly as prolific in the acting world as he was in the music industry. Even his initial identity as the Fresh Prince dabbled in both: first as one half of the trailblazing, GRAMMY-winning hip-hop duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff, and later on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." As his…
Watch highlights from the 2025 GRAMMYs on live.GRAMMY.com. The 2025 GRAMMYs telecast was reimagined to raise funds to support those impacted by the wildfires in the greater Los Angeles area. The Recording Academy and MusiCares launched a dedicated campaign to support affected music professionals, and we need your help. Donate now. With awe-inspiring performances and incredible cultural moments, the 2025…
Watch highlights from the 2025 GRAMMYs on live.GRAMMY.com. The 2025 GRAMMYs telecast has been reimagined to raise funds for MusiCares Fire Relief, a dedicated campaign to support the people affected by the recent wildfires in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Donate now. So many extraordinary moments made the 2025 GRAMMYs particularly unforgettable. But with so much going on during Music’s…
"You could be anywhere in the world, but you're here tonight," Playboi Carti's DJ said on Sunday night of the 2024 iteration of Rolling Loud Miami, reflecting what many performers and attendees were likely thinking — the 10th anniversary edition of the massive hip-hop festival felt more meaningful than usual. Artists shared fond memories of their past performances and mused…
The 2025 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 67th GRAMMY Awards, will air live on CBS and Paramount+ on Sunday, Feb. 2. Watch highlights from the 2025 GRAMMYs on live.GRAMMY.com. The 2025 GRAMMYs telecast will be reimagined to raise funds to support wildfire relief efforts and aid music professionals impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles. Donate to the Recording Academy's…
If there’s one thing Nigerian singer Oxlade believes in, it’s the power of Afrobeats as a world-conquering musical movement. “Afrobeat is beyond the music. Afrobeats is who we are,” he says. “Afrobeats is the trends, the fashion, what we eat. Afrobeats is an identity.” The Lagos native, born Ikuforiji Olaitan Abdulrahman, has good reason to believe in Afrobeats, considering he’s…
Before Afrobeats icons Burna Boy, WizKid, and Tyla became globally recognized household names, Yemi Alade was the continent’s biggest pop star. On July 26, she will release her sixth studio album, Rebel Queen, which expands her repertoire with a world of adventurous pop sounds. The Nigerian singer/songwriter burst onto the African pop music scene in 2014 with "Johnny," a now-classic…
It takes a lot of guts to declare yourself the "King of Afro-pop," but Tekno has the hits to back it up. The Nigerian artist is a staple of the country’s Afrobeats scene, responsible for massive hits such as "Pana" (over 66 million Spotify streams). He’s collaborated with massive artists across the world, starting in 2012 when he enlisted Davido…
At this year’s Coachella, Japan’s music industry made a statement: out with the old, in with the new. Where previous years hosted legacy acts like Utada Hikaru and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, up-and-coming hitmakers YOASOBI and cult favorites Atarashii Gakkou! played to sizable crowds in 2024. They represent just the tip of the iceberg for Japanese musicians touring stateside: J-R&B star…
Bobi Wine has been shot at, tortured, beaten, and bombed in his quest to unseat Uganda’s dictatorial president Yoweri Museveni. But before he became the leader of the opposition in the East African nation of over 47 million people, he was the country’s biggest musical icon. Born and raised in the Kamwokya slum in the capital city of Kampala, Robert…
After Dua Lipa kicked off the 2024 GRAMMYs with an awe-inspiring medley of her two new songs, country star Luke Combs followed with a performance that spawned one of the most memorable moments of the night — and one that exemplified the magic of the 66th GRAMMY Awards. Combs was joined by Tracy Chapman, whose return to the stage marked…
The 2024 GRAMMYs have come and gone, but viewers haven’t stopped talking about their favorite highlights from the show. But between backstage, the red carpet and on the show floor itself, there were plenty of candid moments between music’s biggest stars that rival the biggest performances. The internet has already taken off running with some of the night’s best underseen…
Late into the festivities at the 66th GRAMMY Awards, an African giant took the stage. Burna Boy — the king of Afrobeats, a massive star of the continent’s pop music industry, and a national hero of his home nation of Nigeria — brought down the house at Crypto.com Arena with a formidable show that bridged the cultures of Africa and…
