Greatness X Wes Grand!!!: April 2011

Friday, April 8, 2011

Though music industry vet Steve Stoute and Recording Academy president Neil Portnow vowed to work together to increase diversity at the Grammy awards -- as a result of Stoute's claim that the awards were "losing touch," it looks hip-hop and R&B artists are losing again.

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences made more than 30 modifications to the awards on Wednesday, April 7, a move which Stoute has referred to as "a step in the right direction, but still a Band-Aid on the problem."

On the contrary, the newly restructured Grammys will be cutting down the amount of hip-hop and R&B awards, eliminating gender distinctions in the R&B categories and merging Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Performance for a Duo or Group into one category.

By consolidating the male and female R&B awards, they have cut the number of R&B awards presented by half, ensuring that, despite Stoute's claims, hip-hop and R&B artists will be walking away with even fewer awards next year.

Meanwhile, the classical and American roots music genres have had an equal amount of categories trimmed without the support of a former industry heavyweight, losing four awards in each division.

At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards earlier this year, Jay-Z won for Best Rap Performance for a Duo or Group for his work alongside Swizz Beatz on the track 'On to the Next One.' Eminem won Best Rap Solo Performance for 'Not Afraid,' a song off his Best Rap Album win, 'Recovery.' According to the recent change in awards categories, only one of the two would have walked away with a golden award under the new revisions had the new categories been put into effect this year.

Lil Wayne Says Being Sober Is a 'Great Feeling'

According to the terms of his probation, Lil Wayne has been ordered to refrain from drinking or using drugs for the next three years, a major adjustment for the New Orleans MC who previously relied heavily on weed and cough syrup as part of his writing process.

Though Wayne has noted that his straight edge lifestyle has made recording more difficult, he appears to have finally come to terms with his court-enforced sobriety, revealing that it's a "great feeling" during a recent interview at the Providence, R.I. stop on his I Am Still Music tour.

"It's a big difference. I almost jumped in the crowd," the '6 Foot 7 Foot' rhymer told MTV. "I'm sober, I'm sweating. I'm tasting my sweat. My sweat taste different. My sweat used to taste like weed. But now it's just, I'm like I don't know what it is ... I'm out there, my eyes big, my eyes all wide. I had threw my glasses, I don't even need these. I could see everything right now. But yeah man, it's a great feeling."

Wayne's not the only one noticing the positive change. Tour mate and fellow Young Money member Nicki Minaj recently remarked that her boss is a "joy to be around" now that he's clean. "He's nicer. He's more calm," Nicki said. "I guess when you're not getting high you have to deal with reality and I think he likes his reality now ... The couple (of) times I've seen him, it's just a joy to be around. He's easier to get along with and easier to talk to, I feel, now."

Wayne and Nicki are currently midway through their sold out 24-city I Am Still Music Tour with Rick Ross and Travis Barker, whose next date is in Greensboro, N.C. on April 8.