By Ericka Alston BuckSpecial to the AFRO
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is ready to be a groundbreaking evening, particularly for African-American artists throughout a number of genres.
With the awards ceremony scheduled for Feb. 2, 2025 on the Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles, all eyes are on the Black creatives pushing the boundaries of recent music.
The 2025 nominee listing consists of large names like Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, however native artists—particularly in classes that don’t all the time get as a lot consideration– additionally landed on the listing.
“I used to be within the bookstore at Morgan State College once I obtained a name from Carolyn Malachi saying the album we labored on for Queen Sheba obtained a Grammy nomination,” mentioned Powe, who helped produce a spoken phrase album titled “Civil Writes: The South Received One thing To Say.”
For Powe, the nomination isn’t only a private milestone– it’s a proud second for Baltimore, a metropolis brimming with expertise, but typically neglected.
“I used to be grateful for the chance to work on the album. This award nomination was surprising and gave me hope to maintain going as a producer in Baltimore Metropolis,” mentioned Powe. “I believe it’s essential for artists from my metropolis to obtain one of these recognition as a result of for much too lengthy Baltimore’s greatest rappers, singers and producers have been within the shadows of the music business.”
“Issues are altering within the business, and I’m proud to be part of the brand new wave,” he mentioned.
Whereas many issues are changing- some issues stay the identical.
Beyoncé, for instance, emerged as soon as once more as a high nominee after incomes a staggering 11 nominations for her genre-blending nation album, “Cowboy Carter.” These newest nods convey her profession complete to an unprecedented 99 Grammy nominations, securing her place as probably the most nominated artist in Grammy historical past. Beyoncé is competing in a number of classes. She is up for Document of the Yr with “Texas Maintain ‘Em” and Album of the Yr for “Cowboy Carter,” showcasing her versatility and redefining what it means to cross style boundaries in as we speak’s music panorama.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar is true behind Beyoncé with seven nominations, together with Document of the Yr for “Not Like Us” and Greatest Rap Music for a similar observe. Recognized for his thought-provoking lyrics and highly effective beats, Lamar’s music continues to resonate deeply with followers and critics alike. His collaborations, particularly his characteristic with Future and Metro Boomin on “Like That,” spotlight his versatility and affect in hip-hop.
This 12 months’s Greatest New Artist class can be full of Black expertise, together with Doechii, RAYE, and Shaboozey. Doechii’s album “Alligator Bites By no means Heal” has earned her a number of nominations, together with for Greatest Rap Efficiency, and he or she is shortly establishing herself as a daring new voice in rap. In the meantime, RAYE’s nomination as Songwriter of the Yr is a nod to the craftsmanship behind her music, proving that she’s greater than only a performer—she’s a drive behind the scenes as nicely.
Within the R&B classes, acquainted names like SZA, Coco Jones, and Muni Lengthy are within the highlight. SZA’s “Saturn” is nominated for each Greatest R&B Music and Greatest R&B Efficiency, solidifying her place within the style. Coco Jones, who has transitioned from Disney fame to an R&B powerhouse, obtained a complete of 5 nominations, together with a nod for “Right here We Go (Uh Oh),” a music popularized by its wealthy vocals and emotional depth.
The 2025 listing of Grammy nominations displays range of expertise, from globally acknowledged superstars to native innovators.
Because the nominees solidify their respective locations within the business, the 2025 listing of Grammy Award nominees is a reminder of the transformative affect of Black creativity.
