Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
The late, great Phife Dawg famously rapped, “I’ll never let a statue tell me how nice I am,” on “Award Tour.” The words ring true when it comes to the Grammy Awards, which often have been lacking when it comes to its respect for Hip-Hop culture.
Back in the day, the Grammys wouldn’t even air the Rap category winners during the proper show. To many the slights still continue, like Jay-Z sitting in the front row only to go 0-8 in Grammy wins in 2018. Every year it’s a guarantee, the Hip-Hop heads will be upset, about something, justifiably so.
Needless to say, the Grammys’ relation with the culture is still strained at best, with artists like Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino all essentially curving the show after being asked and passing on performing.
Considering the amount of Hip-Hop legends, who have dropped quality material, only to never take home a Grammy Award, you can’t blame them. Like Phife insinuated, a Grammy Award will never make you a great MC, but the acknowledgment would still be cool.
As evidence, check out the eyebrow-raising list of Hip-Hop artists who have never won a Grammy in the gallery.
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Photo Getty
No Trophies: Rappers Who Have Never Won A Grammy was originally published on hiphopwired.com
1. KMEL Summer Jam 1992 – Tupac Shakur
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Tupac Shakur backstage at KMEL Summer Jam 1992 at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View CA on August 1st, 1992. Image By: Tim Mosenfelder/ImageDirect arts culture and entertainment,usa,concert,california,stage,holiday,tupac shakur,shakur,mountain view – california,shoreline amphitheatre,kmel summer jam
2.
3. 2016 Winter X Games Aspen
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ASPEN, CO – JANUARY 28: Nas performs at Winter X Games 2016 at Buttermilk Mountain on January 28, 2016 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Brent Lewis/The Denver Post via Getty Images) photography,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,performance,nas,aspen – colorado,buttermilk mountain,winter x-games
4. Snoop dogg at Tech Crunch
Source:Tech Crunch
snoop dogg
5. The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live! – Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night – Show
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 30: Singer Nicki Minaj speaks onstage during The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live! Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 30, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) vertical,microphone,celebrities,people,one person,embellishment,arts culture and entertainment,strapless,usa,adult,one woman only,adults only,topics,topix,bestof,music,concert,smiling,singer,blue,california,city of los angeles,talking,human body part,dress,fashion,curly hair,three quarter length,bracelet,mini dress,strapless dress,long hair,nicki minaj – rapper,necklace,bangs,form fitted,form fitted dress,speech,knee length,pink hair,wig,grammy awards,nomination,sleeveless dress,cleavage,bodice,barbie,blue dress
6. DMX Featuring N.O.R.E., Jim Jones, Jadakiss & Friends With DJ Scram Jones In Concert – New York, New York
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NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 05: DMX performs DMX Featuring N.O.R.E., Jim Jones, Jadakiss & Friends With DJ Scram Jones In Concert – New York, New York at The Apollo Theater on August 5, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic) photography,arts culture and entertainment,friendship,horizontal,usa,new york city,music,concert,performance,dj,apollo theater – new york,dmx,jadakiss,scram jones
7. The Game seen leaving The Westbury
Source:WENN
The Game seen leaving The Westbury Hotel. The US rapper plays gigs in Galway tonight and The Wright Venue tomorrow night, Dublin, Ireland – 22.03.18. paparazzi
8. Rakim Live In Concert
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CHICAGO – 1988: Rapper Rakim from Eric B. & Rakim performs at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) microphone,photography,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,topix,bestof,waist up,music,performance,1980-1989,archival,artist,rap,illinois,chicago – illinois,compact disc,performing arts event,jr,rakim,stage – performance space,hip-hop,eric b. & rakim
9. A Tribe Called Quest
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NEW YORK – JULY 1991: (L-R) Q-Tip, Phife Dawg and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of the hip hop group ‘A Tribe Called Quest’ pose for a portrait session in July 1991 in New York . (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) photography,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,topix,bestof,looking at camera,waist up,portrait,music,event,1990-1999,hip hop,q-tip,a tribe called quest,phife dawg,ny,ali shaheed muhammad,94174688aptcq,phife diggy
10. BET Hip Hop Awards Show
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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 09: Ludacris (R) presents award to Scarface onstage at the BET Hip Hop Awards Show 2015 at the Atlanta Civic Center on October 9, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/BET/Getty Images for BET Networks) photography,celebrities,people,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,topix,bestof,two people,atlanta,award,three quarter length,georgia – us state,ludacris,presenting,bet hip hop awards,boisfeuillet jones atlanta civic center,scarface,2015
11. 2016 Lollapalooza – Day 1
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CHICAGO, IL – JULY 28: J. Cole performs on day one of Lollapalooza 2016 at Grant Park on July 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Josh Brasted/FilmMagic) photography,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,music,performance,illinois,chicago – illinois,grant park,music festival,j. cole,day 1,lollapalooza
12. Premiere Of Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Fist Fight’ – Arrivals
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WESTWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 13: Actor/rapper Ice Cube attends the premiere of ‘Fist Fight’ at Regency Village Theatre on February 13, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic) photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,horizontal,usa,looking at camera,portrait,actor,ice cube – entertainer,rapper,headshot,california,sunglasses,premiere,film premiere,westwood neighborhood – los angeles,regency village theater,incidental people,red carpet event,fist fight – film
13. 1997 MTV Video Music Awards
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Wu-Tang Clan during 1997 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage) arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,new york city,music,television show,1990-1999,award,radio city music hall,mtv,mtv video music awards,indigenous culture,wu-tang clan
14. BET Hip Hop Awards 2016 – Alternative Views
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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 17: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white) Busta Rhymes attends the 2016 BET Hip Hop Awards at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on September 17, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/BET/Getty Images for BET) vertical,photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,looking at camera,waist up,portrait,music,black and white,incidental people,georgia – us state,busta rhymes,bet hip hop awards,performing arts center,cobb energy,alternative view,atlanta – georgia
15. Budlight Event – 2017 SXSW Conference and Festivals
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AUSTIN, TX – MARCH 18: Rapper Redman and The Roots perform during the Budlight Event 2017 SXSW Conference and Festivals on March 18, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SXSW) photography,celebrities,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,waist up,performance,texas,gulf coast states,incidental people,austin – texas,south by southwest,redman
16. Mobb Deep In Concert – New York, NY
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 12: (L-R) Prodigy and Havoc aka hip hop duo Mobb Deep backstage at Blue Note Jazz Club on April 12, 2016, in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage) photography,celebrities,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,new york city,music,hip hop,backstage,partner,mobb deep,prodigy,blue note jazz club,havoc
17. notorious b.i.g.
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the notorious b.i.g. biggie smalls,notorious b.i.g.,christopher wallace
