Blogging the 61st Grammys Category 70 – Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

A Producer’s Award.

BOI-1DA – Be Careful – Cardi B (T), Diplomatic Immunity – Drake (S), Friends – The Carters (T), God’s Plan – Drake (S), Heard About Us – The Carters (T), Lucky You – Eminem Featuring Joyner Lucas (T), Mob Ties – Drake (T), No Limit – G-Eazy Featuring A$AP Rocky & Cardi B (S)

LARRY KLEIN – All These Things – Thomas Dybdahl (S), Anthem – Madeleine Peyroux (A), The Book Of Longing – Luciana Souza (A), Can I Have It All – Thomas Dybdahl (S), Junk – Hailey Tuck (A), Look At What We’ve Done – Thomas Dybdahl (S), Meaning To Tell Ya – Molly Johnson (A)

LINDA PERRY – Harder Better Faster Stronger – Willa Amai (S), Served Like A Girl Music From And Inspired By The Documentary Film – Various Artists (A), 28 Days In The Valley – Dorothy (A)

KANYE WEST – Daytona – Pusha T (A), Kids See Ghosts – Kids See Ghosts (A), K.T.S.E. – Teyana Taylor (A), Nasir  – Nas (A), Ye – Kanye West (A)

PHARRELL WILLIAMS – Apes*** – The Carters (T), Man Of The Woods – Justin Timberlake (A), No One Ever Really Dies – N.E.R.D (A), Stir Fry – Migos (T), Sweetener – Ariana Grande (A)

Well here’s an odd combination of veterans and newer folks. Larry Klein has been producing records for a long time – Linda Perry has been writing hits since the 80’s, Pharrell has been making hits for 20 years, and Kanye – yeah he stays in the news. Only producer here I haven’t heard of is BOI-1DA. The only track produced by BOI-1DA I like is the Eminem – his entire record really dropped my jaw and made me laugh many times. He’s great when he’s mad, and these days he’s mad about being old. Good stuff. He also makes fun of face tattooes.

Of the Larry Klein productions I liked the first Thomas Dybdahl track, didn’t really care for any of the rest of it.

The Linda Perry nominees didn’t really do much for me, I’ve never been a big fan of her music. I like her, though.

Now for the real surprise. The Kanye West productions really caught my attention. They all are 7-track e.p.’s on the streaming service I use – not sure if there are longer versions elsewhere. But wow – I loved the Pusha T record. I haven’t loved a hip hop record in a decade. Kanye’s production is absolutely insane. Kind of like him. This is like Syd Barrett level hip hop production. Dude is flying close to the sun. The Kids See Ghosts release is also really great. I don’t know who the artists are on this – I recognise Kanye. I’ve never liked Kanye – but hearing these records makes me want to backtrack and listen to other stuff he’s produced. I didn’t like his album, or the Nas record, or Teyana Taylor – but the first two on this list of nominees are well worth checking out.

Now for the biggest letdown. There was a time not too long ago when every time I heard a song on top 40 radio that I liked – it was produced by the Neptunes or Pharrell. But ever since “Happy” I haven’t heard anything I like. The Justin Timberlake does not have one memorable moment. The N.E.R.D. record is unfocused and boring. Same for Migos and Ariana Grande. Where have the hooks gone? My vote goes to Kanye, and I’m as astonished by that as anyone.

Blogging the 2017 Grammys Category 22 – Best Rap Performance

Bounce Back Big Sean

He cashed a check and bounced back. He doesn’t have any hobbies. He took his dogs on a plane. He is reliable. God talks to him. He took on air last night but cashed a check and bounced back. Don’t mess with his glory. He’s seen courtrooms and courtside. Boring and slow. Haven’t heard anything I like yet.

Bodak Yellow Cardi B 

I discussed this in another category. She sounds mean.

4:44 JAY-Z

He is sorry he cheated on Beyonce. She’s not answering the phone. I guess he listened to Lemonade.

HUMBLE. Kendrick Lamar

I discussed this in another post. I like the video.

Bad And Boujee Migos Featuring Lil Uzi Vert

I discussed this in another post. The rap with elipses.

Blogging the 2017 Grammys Category 25 – Best Rap Album

4:44 JAY-Z

Jay-Z fooled around on Beyonce, now he’s sorry. Has he ever been interesting? Throughout this thing he gives investment advice, apologizes to his wife, and what else? He has a song about watching his wife on the Super Bowl. I think that’s what it’s about. Would you rather be old rich me or new you? Don’t be Eric Benet. Steve Harvey. I think. I hope this doesn’t win.

DAMN. Kendrick Lamar

Everybody loves Kenrick Lamar. George Clinton was on his lat album. U2 is on this one. Hello old man, why don’t you like this, or even find any value in it? Are you too old? Has music passed you by? Nah, you like lots of new music. You just don’t understand this or like it. DNA. gets me bobbing my head a little. Is that what you’re supposed to do? He has a punk-sounding voice. A real John Lydon sneer. Let me sit back and see if old man will enjoy any of this while I eat a waffle. I hear Geraldo. My earbuds can’t handle the bass. I like this better than I did the first time. I like HUMBLE. ok. I prefer the clean versions of these songs. Not a big fan of the B word and N word and any of the words. Tired. I don’t get it. Poor Me.

Culture Migos

Everything is so slow. The hihat sounds like a aprinkler. They are rich now. Everyone underestimated Migos. Look at Migos now. They are rich and they are nominated for a Grammy. They have an Uzi. They have a blunt in the ashtray. They use elipses in their rhymes. Dot dot dot. They have a reverb unit. This is so boring. I don’t get it.

Laila’s Wisdom Rapsody

I’ve been bankin’, check my balance. Out of these, I like this the most. Rapsody has a lot on her mind. She must have notebooks full of rhymes. It felt like this record would never end. There’s a P-Funk vibe on Power. There’s Kendrick Lamar! I listened to the clean version in the car with the family. I like it better than the explicit version. It’s still all pretty slow. Why doesn’t anyone get above 100BPM? Pay Up boosts the tempo a little. Sassy is cool and a little faster. I guess I should give up on there ever being another Tribe Called Quest. Why weren’t they nominated? Because Grammys.

Flower Boy Tyler, The Creator

I didn’t find one thing on this mess that I liked.