‘WAP,’ Silk Sonic and social justice highlight an amazing Grammy night
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion made a splash with their sex-positive performance of “WAP” at the Grammys on Sunday, but they weren’t the only amazing act. Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak honored the late Little Richard with a cover of “Good Golly, Miss Molly” and performed together for the first time as Silk Sonic. They sang their hit song “Leave the Door Open.”
And while the evening was filled with big acts, from groups like BTS and superstar singers like Billie Eilish, there were also acts that reminded viewers of police brutality and the importance of social justice. Justice advocate Tamika Mallory and activist Killer Mike joined Lil Baby during his powerful performance of “The Bigger Picture.”
H.E.R. took home a Grammy for her song “I Can’t Breathe,” which was written to honor victims of police violence, like George Floyd. During her acceptance speech she reiterated the import
“I didn't imagine that my fear and that my pain would turn into impact,” said H.E.R. “And that it would possibly turn into change. And I think that is what this is about. And that's why I write music.”
Video Transcript
[WHOOSH]
[MUSIC - CARDI B FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION, "WAP"]
CARDI B: (RAPPING) [INAUDIBLE].
MEGAN THEE STALLION: (RAPPING) Get your boots and your coat [INAUDIBLE] through this wet, wet, wet.
CARDI B: Now get a bucket and a mop. That's some wet, wet-- that's some wet. I'm talking WAP, WAP, WAP. That's some wet.
MEGAN THEE STALLION: (rapping) Now make it rain if you want to see some wet, wet, wet--
KYLIE MAR: Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion made a splash with their sex positive performance of WAP at the Grammys on Sunday. But they weren't the only amazing act. Not only did Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak honor the late Little Richard with a cover of "Good Golly Miss Molly," but they also made their TV debut as "Silk Sonic" performing their new single, "Leave The Door Open."
[MUSIC - BRUNO MARS FT ANDERSON PAAK, "LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN"]
- (SINGING) We should be dancing, romancing in the east wing, in the west wing of this mission. What's happening? I ain't playing no games. Every word that I say is coming straight from the heart.
KYLIE MAR: And while the evening was full of fun performances, including one from the supergroup BTS, there were also acts that reminded viewers of police brutality and the importance of social justice. Justice advocate Tamika Mallory and rapper slash activist Killer Mike joined a Lil Baby during his powerful performance of "The Bigger Picture."
[MUSIC - LIL BABY, "THE BIGGER PICTURE"]
- It's bigger than black and white.
LIL BABY: It's a problem with the whole way of life. It can't change overnight. But we got to start somewhere.
I might as well go ahead and start here. We done had a hell of a year. I'm going to make it count while I'm here. God is the only man I fear.
KYLIE MAR: And HER took home the Grammy for song of the year with "I Can't Breathe," which was written to honor victims of police violence like George Floyd.
HER: I think the first thing I want to say is that I've never been so proud to be an artist. I didn't imagine that my fear and that my pain would turn into impact. And it would possibly turn into change. And I think that's what this is about, and that's why I write music.
[WHOOSH]
