Grammys 2020: Nipsey Hussle posthumously wins Grammy award for Best Rap Performance for 'Racks in the Middle'
The super-talented, late, great rapper Nipsey Hussle plus his collaborators Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy have claimed the Grammy for Best Rap Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. It was the last single that Hussle released, while he was still alive.
This Best Rap Performance award is typically presented to rap artistes who have released quality solo or collaborative efforts in hip-hop music - the very first being DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (yup, that was the actor Will Smith) for their hit 'Parents Just Don't Understand' in 1989. This is also the rapper Nipsey Hussle's very first Grammy Award. John Legend, YG, and DJ Khaled are slated to perform a medley of the rapper's songs alongside Meek Mill, Roddy Ricch and Kirk Franklin as part of a tribute to the deceased star at this year's main ceremony.
An interesting bit of trivia - after 1990, the original award for Best Rap Performance had actually been split into two categories: Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. But these two categories were once again recombined in 2012, and the award has continued to be given out the way it was originally conceived in 1989. There even used to be separate recognitions for Female and Male Rap Solo Performances, which first started in 2003. The categories remained like this until 2005 after which they were combined into the genderless category better known as Best Rap Solo Performance.
There were also separate rap categories for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song, which had been established in 2002 and 2004, respectively.
With hip-hop being one of the biggest and most popular music genres in the world right now, there are plenty of popular names on the list of artistes who have picked up this award in the past - some of these influential performers included Kendrick Lamar, Anderson.Paak, Chance The Rapper, Jay Z and Kanye West.
Nipsey Hussle was included in an illustrious list of nominees, which included:
'Middle Child' - J. Cole
'Suge' - DaBaby
'Down Bad' - Dreamville Featuring J.I.D, Bas, J. Cole, Earthgang & Young Nudy
'Racks In The Middle' - Nipsey Hussle Featuring Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy
'Clout' - Offset Featuring Cardi B
The family of the deceased rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was tragically shot and killed outside his clothing store in Los Angeles in March 2019, offered some touching words during the acceptance speech. His grandmother thanked the audience for “showing all the love” to Nipsey Hussle “that I have felt for him all of his life and will always live in my heart, so thank you.”
The influential hip-hop star was known as a hometown legend and arbiter of change who believed in giving back to the community that he lived in. This shall come as a fitting culmination to his lasting legacy. Fans were also grateful for his contributions, with many of them saying on social media that this award was "well deserved" and many others posted well wishes to the memory of this "great man" and his family.