Travis Scott made a powerful statement during his performance at the 2024 Grammys. As the 66th annual Grammy Awards took place on February 4th, Scott used the opportunity to express his frustration with his continuous absence of Grammy wins. Despite being nominated for a total of ten Grammys throughout his career, Scott has yet to bring home the prestigious award.
Scott's latest album, 'Utopia,' released in 2023, was in the running for Best Rap Album this year. However, the award ultimately went to Killer Mike's 'Michael' during the untelevised portion of the ceremony. Clearly disappointed, Scott unleashed his pent-up emotions on stage at the Crypto.com Arena.
After performing 'My Eyes' and 'I Know?,' Scott delved into 'FE!N' and made a powerful alteration to its lyrics. He shouted passionately, surrounded by flames, proclaiming that he had been nominated a whopping ten times but had never been rewarded with a Grammy win. It was a moment of catharsis for the artist.
Scott's Grammy journey began in 2014 when he received his first nomination for Best Rap Song with 'New Slaves.' He later achieved an Album of the Year nomination in 2017 for his involvement in Justin Bieber's 'Purpose.' In 2018, his collaboration with SZA on 'Love Galore' garnered a Best Rap/Sung Performance nomination. The following year, his album 'Astroworld' amassed three nominations: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song with 'Sicko Mode,' and Best Rap Performance with the same song.
The pattern continued with another nomination at the 62nd Grammys in 2020 for Best Rap/Sung Performance on Young Thug's 'The London.' In 2021, 'Highest in the Room' was in the running for the newly introduced Best Melodic Rap Performance category. And in the following year, his participation in Kanye West's 'Donda' secured Scott one more nomination. Unfortunately, Scott's losing streak extended to 0-10 with his most recent shutout.
Before his performance, Scott shared his reflections on 'Utopia.' He described the album as his quest for a fleeting feeling of utopia, where everything can be calm even when the world is in turmoil. It is an exploration of stillness amidst chaos, a theme that resonates strongly with him.
However, Scott's performance received mixed reviews from critics. Many argued that it stood in stark contrast to the night's overall soft and emotionally poignant performances from artists like Billie Eilish, Joni Mitchell, Olivia Rodrigo, and Luke Combs with Tracy Chapman.
Moreover, the choice to include Scott in the Grammy broadcast drew significant backlash from critics. This criticism stemmed from the tragic incident that occurred at Scott's Astroworld festival in November 2021, where ten people lost their lives. During the show, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. paid tribute to fans who had perished during terrorist attacks at music events. While Mason did not mention the Astroworld tragedy, some deemed Scott's involvement in a show with such a memorial as 'tone-deaf' and criticized the Recording Academy for their decision.
Despite the mixed reception and the ongoing absence of a Grammy win, Travis Scott continues to push forward with his music career. He remains a prominent figure in the rap industry and promises to keep delivering his unique artistic vision to his devoted fans.
