In 1989, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff made history by becoming the first rap duo to win a GRAMMY for their song “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” The song was released in 1988 and was the first single from their album He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper. The duo’s win was a major milestone for the rap genre, which had only recently begun to gain mainstream recognition.
However, despite their groundbreaking achievement, Smith and Jeff chose to boycott the GRAMMY ceremony. The reason for their boycott was that they felt the rap category was not being taken seriously by the GRAMMYs. They argued that rap was not being given the same respect as other genres, and that it was not being judged on its own merits.
In an interview with The Guardian, Smith said, “We felt that the GRAMMYs weren’t recognizing rap as a legitimate art form. We wanted to make a statement that rap is a real art form and should be judged on its own merits.”
The boycott was a success, and the GRAMMYs began to take rap more seriously. In 1990, the first rap album, 3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul, was nominated for Album of the Year. In 1991, Public Enemy won Best Rap Performance for their song “Fight the Power.”
The success of Smith and Jeff’s boycott also paved the way for other rap artists to be nominated and win GRAMMYs. In the years since, rap has become one of the most popular genres in music, and many of its artists have been recognized with GRAMMY awards.
Today, Smith and Jeff’s boycott is remembered as a major milestone in the history of rap music. It was a bold move that demonstrated the power of rap music and the importance of recognizing it as a legitimate art form. It also showed that rap artists could use their platform to make a statement and push for change.
Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff’s boycott of the 1989 GRAMMYs was a major turning point in the history of rap music. It showed that rap was a genre worthy of recognition and respect, and it opened the door for other rap artists to be nominated and win GRAMMYs. Their boycott was a powerful statement that paved the way for rap to become one of the most popular genres in music.
