The sixty fifth Grammy Awards was an enormous evening for the tradition.

Beyonce was topped the “Grammy GOAT” after scoring her record-breaking thirty second Grammy win. Hip hop followers had been delighted with a electrifying tribute in celebration of the style’s fiftieth anniversary, that includes performances from legendary rappers like LL Cool J, Queen Latifa, and Run DMC together with new acts like Lil Uzi Vert and GloRilla. In the meantime, Viola Davis’ Grammy win for her audiobook memoir “Discovering Me” earned her entry into the elite EGOT membership, making her certainly one of solely a handful of Black entertainers to ever win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award. Plus, Lizzo was lauded with Report of the Yr, one of many largest awards of the evening, for her tune “About Rattling Time,” whereas Dr. Dre was honored with the International Influence Award.

Nevertheless, the celebration of Black musicians began days earlier than “Music’s Greatest Evening.” Throughout Grammy Week — a constellation of occasions that led as much as the award present on Feb. 5 — The Recording Academy, together with different manufacturers and organizations, paid tribute to main Black artists in a collection of dwell occasions.

Right here’s a roundup of among the most notable occasions that acknowledged Black artistry throughout Grammy Week.

The Black Music Collective’s Recording Academy Honors

Held on Feb. 2 on the Hollywood Palladium, the Black Music Collective’s Recording Academy Honors celebrated Black excellence and the legacy of hip hop. Throughout the occasion, rap icons Lil Wayne, Dr. Dre, and Missy Elliott together with music govt Sylvia Rhone had been bestowed with a International Influence Award. Every award was introduced by the honorees’ shut colleagues and pals, adopted by a particular efficiency by artists who had labored with or been influenced by the awardee. Artists like Snoop Dogg, Ciara, Busta Rhymes, and Chloe Bailey carried out throughout their particular person tributes.

“The beginning of hip hop fully modified the course of my life. Simply think about the place quite a lot of Black males, together with myself, could be with out hip hop,” Dr. Dre mentioned throughout his acceptance speech.

Established in 2020, The Black Music Collective (BMC) is comprised of Black executives and music professionals devoted to the inclusion, recognition, and development of Black music and its creators inside the Recording Academy and the music trade at-large. Every year, the group hosts the Recording Academy Honors, a concert-style occasion that options dwell tribute performances and A-list attendees to rejoice the achievements of Black artists.

“The creation of the BMC is without doubt one of the issues that I’m most happy with,” mentioned Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason, Jr., in accordance with Grammy.com. “Establishing the BMC did extra than simply increase the variety of Black members of the Academy; it did greater than assist make modifications to the awards processes. It offered a platform to provide Black music creators a voice — a robust voice that may inform us the issues we wanted to listen to.”

MusiCares 2023 Individuals of The Yr Gala

The Recording Academy’s MusiCares 2023 Individuals of The Yr Gala honored Motown legends Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson with heartfelt tributes and show-stopping performances. Held on the Los Angeles Conference Heart on Feb. 3, the star-studded tribute featured a variety of acts from Stevie Surprise to the Temptations to Brandi Carlile to Chloe and Halle Bailey and Sheryl Crowe. Robinson additionally carried out a ballad that he devoted to his fellow award recipient and greatest pal.

“In my life, I’ve been blessed sufficient to get just a few awards, however this one is actually probably the most particular to me as a result of I’m getting this award with my highest pal on the planet,” Robinson mentioned referencing Gordy. “I’m standing right here tonight as a result of after I first met this man, it was the start of my dream come true. I wished to be a singer, to be in present enterprise, write songs, and make music. I by no means thought it could be potential for me from the place I grew up. However he took me below his wing,” he continued. “I really like you man. You’re so valuable.”

For the final 32 years, the MusiCares gala profit has paid homage to a collective of music icons whereas elevating proceeds to help music professionals with well being and human providers throughout a spectrum of wants.

2023 Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala

The legendary Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala returned to the Beverly Hilton on Feb. 4 following a two-year pandemic-induced hiatus, bringing out a variety of A-list stars from Lizzo to Janelle Monae to Cardi B.

Kevin Costner kicked off the evening with transferring remarks about pop icon Whitney Houston, who tragically handed on the Beverly Hilton resort again in 2012 simply hours earlier than Clive Davis’s annual pre-Grammy bash.

“We each had been struck by Whitney the primary time we ever noticed her,” Costner mentioned of his Bodyguard co-star. “Thanks for being her bodyguard, Clive.”

Davis, a 90-year-old music trade titan, additionally addressed the gang a number of occasions all through the night, calling out elite members of the viewers like Earth Wind and Hearth and former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Earlier than the gala, Gospel singer Kim Burrell turned emotional reflecting on Houston’s stunning demise, admitting that she had “blended” emotions in regards to the annual fete. “I can’t deny the love I really feel returning again right here as a result of I’ve the power to do it and the braveness to do it. And [Whitney] would need me to,” she advised BLACK ENTERPRISE.

The evening was topped off with performances from Lil Wayne, Lil Child, Jennifer Hudson, Latto, and Tony Award-winning star Myles Frost amongst others.

 The Whitney Houston Resort

The W Resort in Hollywood was remodeled into the “Whitney Houston Resort” throughout Grammy Week to honor the pop icon’s life and extraordinary profession.

Major Wave Music, the Property of Whitney E. Houston, and Sony Music teamed as much as rejoice what would have been Houston’s sixtieth birthday yr in a collection of occasions and activations held on the resort. Extra sponsors included M·A·C Cosmetics, Proflowers, and Metropolis Nationwide Financial institution.

The occasions kicked off with the opening of Sony’s 360 Actuality Audio Immersive Listening Lounge, which allowed listeners to expertise Whitney Houston’s music like by no means earlier than. There have been additionally a number of dwell performances of Houston’s largest hits from artists like Michelle Williams of Future’s Little one, actress and Grammy-nominated singer Amber Riley, Warner Information artists Child Tate and Teddy Swims, and Def Jam Recordings’ Coco Jones.

One other spotlight on the resort was a memorabilia exhibit that includes photographs of Houston in addition to a number of career-defining robes that she wore along with a pop-up store with unique merch and electronics.

On Friday, there was a non-public panel dialogue and brunch catered by famend chef Deborah VanTrece. Well-known for including a global flare to conventional southern meals, VanTrece’s eight-course buffet included Angus beef short-rib hash, grilled salmon and fried inexperienced tomato Benedict, pimento cheese grits, a Cajun frittata, and a southern tofu scramble with black-eyed peas and collard greens.

The occasion continued with a touching panel dialogue moderated by Leisure Tonight’s Kevin Frazier. Houston’s brother Gary Houston and his spouse Pat Houston, who was Whitney’s supervisor; music producer and shut pal Rickey Minor; recording artist Narada Michael Walden; and award-winning songwriter Gordon Chambers shared intimate accounts and reminiscences with the beloved singer.

“There have been so many magic moments rising up with Whitney,” Gary Houston advised the gang. “At 3 years outdated, she was within the basement sporting my mom’s wig – broom, robe, mimicking our mother Cissy Houston. She had no concept anyone was watching her. I knew at that second she was a prodigy.”

Jazmine Sullivan Performs at The Gray Goose Essences: Sound Classes Brunch

Gray Goose vodka hosted their hit Grammy weekend brunch occasion titled: ”GREY GOOSE x GRAMMYs: Sound Classes Brunch.” The rooftop affair was held on the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles on Feb. 4 and featured a dwell efficiency from two-time Grammy winner Jazmine Sullivan, who belted out 4 of her soulful songs. Together with Sullivan’s sultry voice, visitors had been handled to scrumptious mild bites and The Ardour Drop, a citrusy-sweet martini cocktail that served because the official drink of the Grammy Awards.

Insecure actor Jay Ellis, mannequin Jasmine Sanders, British singer-rapper Estelle, actress-singers Laura Marano, Amber Riley, Serayah, actress Lana Condor, The Actual Housewives of Potomac castmember Candiace Dillard Bassett, and extra had been in attendance.

Afrozons Pre-Grammy Nomination Celebration

Afrozons, a Chicago-based Afrobeats radio present created by worldwide media character Sheila O., celebrated African Grammy nominees in a daytime soiree on Feb. 4. Throughout the occasion, Nigerian-American rapper and singer Tobe Nwigwe, who was nominated for Greatest New Artist, together with The Recording Academy Board of Trustees Vice Chair Rico Love confused the significance of illustration and inclusion of Black artists from across the diaspora.

“We got here and bought concerned in order that we are able to change the best way that the institution is run,” mentioned Love, who was elected as Vice Chair final yr. “The one approach we are able to change issues is by getting concerned. So, lots of people may say, ‘f–okay the Grammys. They don’t present us love.’ However the one option to change that’s to get inside [of the organization] and disrupt all the things that’s happening.”

Sheila O, a voting member of the Recording Academy, held a pre-Grammy nomination celebration in Lagos, Nigeria, late final month to rejoice Nwigwe and Ghanaian artist Rocky Dawuni, who was nominated within the “Greatest International Music Efficiency.”

The Annual Roc Nation Brunch

The essence of Black excellence, high-fashion, and trade heavyweights reached its peak on the annual Roc Nation Brunch hosted by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Beyonce Knowles-Carter. A slew of stars throughout music, leisure, and sports activities dressed their greatest for the unique soiree held in a non-public location in Bel-Air the day earlier than the Grammys. Upon arrival, visitors had been greeted by an orchestra on the trail resulting in the outside venue. The roofless lobby was embellished with photographs from previous Roc Nation Brunches, together with a portrait of Lauren London and Nipsey Hussle taken in 2019.

Dubbed as “a celebration of the very best elevation of self,” Kelly Rowland, Tyler The Creator, Ella Mai, Chlöe and Halle Bailey, June Ambrose, Lil Kim, Tems, Babyface, Jimmy Jam had been among the excessive profiled visitors in attendance.

MasterCard Launches “She Runs This”

MasterCard teamed up with Femme It Ahead to launch the “She Runs This: Celebrating Entrepreneurship in Enterprise and Hip-Hop” program throughout Grammy Week. The three-day occasion collection included a holistic marketing campaign inclusive of an immersive “Small Enterprise Metropolis” in Meta Horizon Worlds, a TikTok problem, the kickoff of a Fearless Fund grant contest, and a nationwide advert marketing campaign will additional the model’s influence on serving to Black girls entrepreneurs thrive.  Lil Kim, Salt-N-Pepa, MC Lyte, and Coi Leray had been featured in panel discussions about entrepreneurship, girls in enterprise, and hip hop. Mastercard ambassador Jennifer Hudson additionally made a particular look.

“Just like the musical expertise who formed Hip-Hop, Black girls small enterprise homeowners proceed to embrace the facility of perseverance, going above and past to attain their desires and empower their communities, regardless of going through deep-rooted inequalities,” mentioned Rustom Dastoor, EVP of Advertising and marketing and Communications, Mastercard North America, in a press launch. “We’re proud to help these fearless Black girls artists and enterprise homeowners of their pursuit of redefining what’s potential, and we’re excited to look at them take their stage, comply with their passions and thrive.”

The GRAMMY Home Social Pop-Up

In effort to have interaction and amplify younger music lovers, the Recording Academy and CBS introduced the first-ever GRAMMY Home: The place The Stars Align on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame. For 3 days, the GRAMMY Home hosted programming, performances, DJs, and multimedia artwork installations.

The invitation-only expertise additionally featured a particular tribute to the fiftieth anniversary of hip hop that included a treasure trove of hip-hop historical past together with in style lyrics and catchphrases plastered on the partitions. In the meantime, the principle stage was embellished like a subway station, with graffiti naming hip hop pioneers.