Popular Nigerian rapper and reality TV star, Olamilekan Agbeleshe better known as Laycon, says performing for Grammy Recording Academy is a big deal and has made his price go up.
The Afro rapper on Thursday, July 1 performed ”All Over Me’‘ from his ”Shall We Begin” album at the latest episode of Grammy Recording Academy’s Press Play At Home.
Speaking in an interview with Channels TV on Saturday, Laycon said he is grateful for the opportunity.
It is big. I am not even going to try and be modest about it. It is a very big deal to me. That is where people want to be. There are bigger things coming, yea, but I appreciate this, I am very grateful for it.
“My price just went up,” he said.
Grammys, describing Laycon on its websitewrote: “He comes from a line of young Afrobeat singers keeping the genre on the lips of many. Meet Laycon, a Nigerian Afrobeats/Afrorap artist who makes performing this music seem as natural as breathing.”
Nigerian Grammy Award-winner, Damini Ogulu, also known as Burna Boy, says that at a point in his life, he had to choose between greatness and death, and that was what led to his recent successes on the global stage.
He made the statement in a recent interview with British GQ Magazine.
The ”Ye” crooner said; “Following several collaborations with foreign artistes of African heritage, I just made up my mind that I wanted it all. I wanted to be the greatest. That’s when it hit me really hard that I had to do it. It was that or death.”
Burna Boy also stated that winning a Grammy award broke the mental cycle of people who felt that certain things were unachievable.
He added; “I was not celebrating because of myself. It was almost as if I had broken a mental cycle of our people. Our people had been very mentally oppressed to feel like they could not do certain things, and that certain things were unreachable.”
The self-acclaimed African Giant also noted that he felt he had to think for a whole generation.
“Every day, I realise more that things are bigger than me. I have to think for a lot of people – basically a whole generation – before I think of myself,” he said.
Nigerian Hip Hop artiste, Yung6ix, real name Onome Onokohwomo has made a case for music superstar, Burna Boy to receive a memorable in honour in light of him winning a Grammy Award.
Recall that Burna won his first-ever Grammy award for his album, ‘Twice as Tall’ on Sunday, March 14, 2021.
The ace singer emerged winner of the Best Global Music Album category, beating other nominees including Malian band Tinariwen and U.S. band Antibalas.
Speaking on how Burna made Nigeria proud by bringing home the award solely on the oars of his personal work, Yung6ix said he needs to be honoured in a memorable way.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote;
”No cap Billed cap Burna needs to be honored in a memorable way for bringing the Grammy home in our generation.”
See his tweet:
No cap 🧢 Burna needs to be honored in a memorable way for bringing the Grammy home in our generation.
Grammy award winning artiste, Burna Boy has taken to social media to drag those who prayed for him to never emerge victorious at the recently Grammy ceremony.
In a lengthy post on the social media platform, Twitter, Burna Boy declared that he did it all alone.
The Afrobeats star stated that he was proud of himself and his offsprings will undeniably validate the success and height attained by their father.
Burna also made snide remarks about other celebrities who failed to support his artistry.
Read what the 29-year-old Grammy award winner posted on social media;
GOD is most definitely NOT A MAN. I will never forget how so many of you prayed that I don’t win. Too dumb to understand that you also win if I win. No worry, this is just the beginning. God is Great.”
He continued;
“God bless everyone/ anyone who has stood with me! Let’s keep making history!
“Every single person that worked on the project, my incredible team that works 24/7, and my OUTSIDERS!! Big love always.”
Recall Burna Boy won the award for the Best Global Album at the recently concluded Grammy awards ceremony on Sunday, March 14.
The Federal Government has congratulated Nigerian Afrobeat superstars, Burna Boy and Wizkid for their success at the 63rd Grammy Awards edition.
The Federal Government revealed that it was specifically impressed with the efforts of Damini Ogulu better known as Burna Boy following his win on Sunday, March 14.
Burna Boy won the Best Global Album award at the 2021 Grammy Awards.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Adeyemi, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the award represents a global endorsement for the Afrobeat genre of music that has propelled Nigeria’s increasing dominance of the music world.
The statement reads
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has congratulated music stars Burna Boy and Whizkid over their Grammy Award victories.
“In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday, the Minister described the much-deserved awards as fitting rewards for the persistent hard work of the duo.
“He said the awards also represented a global endorsement for the Afrobeat genre of music that has propelled Nigeria’s increasing dominance of the music world.
“Alhaji Mohammed expressed the hope that the clinching of the prestigious awards by the two music stars would not only spur them to greater heights but would also serve as a source of inspiration for others.”
Burna Boy clinched his first Grammy Award after winning the ‘Best Global Music Album’ category for ‘Twice As Tall‘, his 2020 project.
Beyoncé’s 28th Grammy was presented in honour of Black Parade, a celebration of black power and resilience, which she released on June teenth last year.
“As an artist, I believe it’s my job to reflect the times, and it’s been such a difficult time,” she said as she collected the award.
“So I wanted to uplift, encourage, celebrate all of the beautiful black queens and kings that continue to inspire me and inspire the world”.
The star has now equalled super-producer Qunicy Jones’ total of 28 Grammys. Only classical conductor Sir Georg Solti has more, with 31.
Beyoncé was also part of another historic moment – when Megan Thee Stallion became the first female artist to win the best rap song award.
The Houston musician picked up the prize for her breakout hit Savage (Remix), on which Beyoncé delivers a guest verse.
image captionH.E.R. also won best R&B song for Better Than I Imagine
Black Parade was not the only award-winner song to reflect the Black Lives Matter movement: R&B Singer H.E.R. won song of the year for I Can’t Breathe, which quotes the last words of George Floyd.
The 46-year-old died while being arrested by police in Minneapolis last year. His death, along with that of Breonna Taylor, sparked a global wave of protests.
Accepting the prize, H.E.R. said she never imagined “that my fear and my pain would turn into impact”.
“That’s why I write music,” she added, “and I’m so, so grateful”.
The singer, whose real name is Gabriella Wilson, was accompanied by her co-writer Tiara Thomas, and she recalled how they’d written I Can’t Breathe “over FaceTime” last summer.
“I recorded this song by myself in my bedroom at my mom’s house,” she said. “And I want to thank my dad – he cried, he was in tears when I wrote the song and I played it for him. He was the first person I played it for.”
“But remember,” she concluded. “We are the change that we wish to see and you know that fight that we had in us the summer of 2020, keep that same energy. Thank you.”
‘Bringing the concert to you’
Aside from the awards, the four-hour ceremony deliberately put the focus on live music.
“I know that you haven’t been able to go to a concert in a long time,” said host Trevor Noah. “So tonight we’re bringing the concert to you.”
image captionHarry Styles was the first performer of the night
The show kicked off with three back-to-back performances from Harry Styles, Billie Eilish and Haim, who performed from a circle of stages that recalled the set-up of Jools Holland’s BBC TV show.
Styles raised the curtain with his hit single Watermelon Sugar, sporting a lime green feather boa and an open-chested leather jacket.
The song went on to win best pop solo performance later in the ceremony, making him the first member of One Direction to win a Grammy – either as a solo artist or as part of the group.
“It’s crazy to think someone that talented and handsome is from the same place as Boris Johnson,” joked Noah as Styles’ performance ended.
Billie Eilish, who dominated last year’s ceremony, followed with her ballad Everything I Wanted; while Haim played The Steps from their album-of-the-year nominated Women In Music Pt III.
Earlier in the day, Eilish was awarded best song written for visual media, for her Bond theme No Time To Die.
“It was a dream to make the song,” said the singer. “I have no words. I can’t believe this is real. I couldn’t believe it was real then…”
image captionElish won the “big four” Grammy prizes last year: Album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best new artist
The majority of the ceremony was held in a marquee outside the LA Convention Center, with nominees sitting at socially-distanced tables.
“So there’s more tension in that tent than at a family reunion at Buckingham Palace,” joked Noah, who added: “Tonight is going to be the biggest outdoor event this year, besides the storming of the capital”.
Other prize-winners included Dua Lipa, who picked up best pop vocal album; and Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande, who became the first female duo to win best pop collaboration for Rain On Me.
image captionMegan Thee Stallion’s speech for best new artist was interrupted by passing traffic
One of the most emotional speeches came from Megan Thee Stallion, who dedicated her best new artist prize to her mother, who died of a brain tumour in 2019.
“She couldn’t be here with me tonight,” she had said on the red carpet earlier in the night. “But she always knew that I would be at the Grammys, and I would be like, ‘Oh mom, that’s so far away’ but it came so quick.
“And I’m just so appreciative that I’m here.”
Performance highlights included Taylor Swift, who sang a medley of songs from her lockdown albums Folklore and Evermore, from an enchanted forest set.
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion got together for the first ever TV performance of their X-rated single WAP. While Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak unveiled their new “supergroup” Silk Sonic, channelling the 70s soul sounds of Earth, Wind And Fire.
The show also highlighted the plight of music venues by having staff from venues, including New York’s Apollo Theater and LA’s Troubador, present some of the awards.
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