Taking home the award for Best Rap Album of 2019, for his album “IGOR”, Tyler the Creator criticized the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences after receiving such a massive award. While it may push his career into more popular categories, Tyler suggests that his award was a generalization because of his race. “It sucks that whenever we — and I mean guys that look like me — do anything that’s genre-bending or that’s anything they always put it in a rap or urban category. I don’t like that ‘urban’ word — it’s just a politically correct way to say the n-word to me,” he states.

Sarah Waldych, Junior in Oakdale High, offers her opinion on the speech.“I agreed with what he said; I think that Tyler the Creator’s music is pop music. The urban category can seem like a generalization, Where, I guess what he’s saying is, why can’t it just be pop, because it is pop.” 

When asked why Tyler the Creator may have made the “urban” comparison, Waldych explains her point. “If you look at a lot of cities or urban areas, there are higher concentrations of African Americans, and where a lot of rap music comes out, so it’s a huge generalization where really his music is. It’s pop, so he’s just saying, ‘Why am I urban music, and why am I not in pop music?’”

Maddy Fritts, another Junior at Oakdale, predicts what may come in future nominations due to Tyler’s criticisms: “I think he will inspire future rising stars that are following in his footsteps, and that will push them in the right direction to becoming successful.”

Tyler admits that his win was like a “backhanded compliment.” His speech suggests change in future nominations, and Waldych seems to agree.  “[Nominations and their genres of music] may be reconsidered if they’re under the urban category. They may change to their desired categories, which they rightfully deserve to be in.” She emphasizes. 

Hopefully, Tyler the Creator’s speech will inspire other rising stars. Being such an influential figure, younger contenders who look up to him will be able to bend genres and explore new styles of music despite where they come from and who they are.

#music #grammys  #tylerthecreator