It all went down this weekend on the popular social media platform Instagram when Fanbase app owner Isaac Hayes III, son of the legendary Isaac Hayes made a controversial post in support of the Grammys show while many high profiles musicians have stated that they don’t plan on attending this year’s event.

“My post today about the Grammys has nothing to do with white supremacy because even though the Grammys are created by white people it is the celebration and recognition of all music genres and how that comes about is by voting.”

Hayes has taken the position that the award show is less about whites excluding blacks from winning and more about black participating in the voting process. Hayes also cited some of the black artists who have actually won Grammys which included Jay Z, Beyonce, his father Isaac Hayes as well as Smokey Robinson plus several others. His argument in support of the Grammys didn’t sit well with other notable celebrities and industry influencers which included rapper Snoop Dogg who stated the following:

“We don’t control the votes and I heard from a lil bird that snoop dogg got nominated for 18 grammys and have one. Zero so explain that one Mr. Hayes?? Fuck the Grammys and the system it was built on. They delinquent with my for fathers and as well it’s here nor there I’m the peoples champ and that’s my award!”

“I was robbed for a Grammy that was undeniably mine. Your logic doesn’t make sense from an artist perspective. You really didn’t make a point in your statement. Speaking on accolades that occurred 30 years ago in a world that has seen no change doesn’t make sense when people are taking a stand. Are you telling me some guy who makes a hit in his closet, that’s the clear winner, should already know who to shake hands with? Or are you saying no matter what talent the individual have, this is a certain class and the award shouldn’t be afforded to him?

Critisim of the Grammys isn’t just limited to Snoop Dogg or Fabo. There have been several best album wins that have been questioned including Beyoncé‘s loss in 2015 to Beck for Album of the Year and her subsequent 2017 Album of the Year loss to Adele. Other cited examples, include Michael Jackson‘s Off the Wall and Prince‘s 1999 failing to be nominated, Frank Ocean‘s Channel Orange losing to Mumford and Sons, Kendrick Lamar losing Album of the Year and Best Hip Hop Album to Daft Punk and Macklemore in 2014, his defeat to Taylor Swift in 2016  and Bruno Mars in 2018.

Others have argued that non-white artists mostly win in smaller “racialized” categories. Beyoncé has 18 of her 22 within genre-specific categories, such as rap and R&B, categories that are primarily dominated by people of color. Ann Powers, an accredited writer for the National Public Radio, accused the 2017 Grammy Awards of systematic racism due to Chance the Rapper and Beyoncé being the only black artists who won televised awards. According to Powers, there is a general notion that music made with “real” instrumentation is superior to synth or sampled music, or that “stand-still” performances are superior to performances that incorporate dance.

The Grammys has also been criticized in the past for failing to nominate popular artists of color, such as The Weeknd. The Academy’s failure to nominate The Weeknd’s work came as a major surprise considering the widespread success of his 2020 album After Hours and its single, “Blinding Lights“. The track set numerous records, including spending 40 weeks within the top 10 in the US, 4 of which the song was at number one, and for spending 28 weeks in the top 5. After it received no nominations from the Recording Academy, The Weeknd wrote “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency”.

J. Michael Butler wrote for Cambridge University about the late musical legend Isaac Hayes:

“Isaac Hayes provides a vital public figure through which scholars can analyze, evaluate, and more fully understand the comprehensive nature of the black freedom struggle as it progressed into the 1970s. Hayes merged the integrationist political objectives of mainstream civil rights organizations and leaders with the notions of racial pride, assertiveness, and autonomy that characterized the popular appeal of the black power movement. Hayes, through his “Black Moses” persona and LP of the same name, moved those freedom struggle promises and opportunities into the cultural realm, where he personified African American artistic self-determination.”

The question of the day is has Isaac Hayes son Isaac Hayes III been compromised as it relates to black independence and modern day civil rights struggles?

Source: Wiki