Tyler the Creator Calls Out Recording Academy For Categorizing Black Artists As ‘Urban’: “It’s Just A Politically Correct Way To Say The N-Word”

Tyler the Creator Calls Out Recording Academy For Categorizing Black Artists As ‘Urban’: “It’s Just A Politically Correct Way To Say The N-Word”

Eclectic hitmaker Tyler the Creator used his platform for the greater good at last night’s (1/26/20) 62nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony. He shook up the industry with his groundbreaking performance of “Earthquake.”

TYLER THE CREATOR CAUSED A LITERAL EARTHQUAKE DURING HIS #GRAMMYS PERFORMANCE ???pic.twitter.com/xMuhuBjl83

— Odd Future Fans (@itsOddFuture) January 27, 2020

Tyler the Creator’s chart-topping album, “IGOR” took home the coveted award for “Best Rap Album” last night. He can be seen rushing the stage with his mother in tow.

However, his acceptance of the award was bittersweet, as Tyler the Creator proceeded to call out the issue of the Recording Academy’s categorization of Black artists. He feels that the way Black artists are immediately deemed “urban” or “rappers” is problematic. Tyler said:

“On one side I’m very grateful that what I made could be acknowledged in a world like this. But it also sucks that whenever we – and I mean guys that look like me – do anything that’s genre-bending or anything, they always put it in a rap or urban category. And I don’t like that urban word. It’s just a politically correct way to say the N-word to me.”

https://twitter.com/itsOddFuture/status/1221635664300650497?s=20

He continued:

“So when I hear that, I’m just like, ‘Why can’t we just be in pop?’ So half of me feels like the rap nomination was a backhanded compliment.”

These sentiments echo those of Drake‘s 2019 acceptance speech and even Diddy‘s Icon Award speech from the night before. Drake encouraged artists to create no matter who acknowledges their art, while Diddy seemingly threatened the Recording Academy to revise their voting processes this year.

https://youtu.be/vL_2-d-eIeE

What do you think about Tyler the Creator’s comments? Let us know in the comments.

Written by Miata Shanay