The Grammys are considering adding an Afrobeats category to their nominations. But they’re being asked to add a couple of other new songs to the mix.
If all this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s what Beyoncé and Jay Z have been doing since they won the award. The only difference is that, according to Billboard, “The Grammys are considering adding an Afrobeats category, with Grammy-winning pop singer and songwriter Chance the Rapper’s ‘I Like It,’ in an effort to broaden the group’s awards exposure and appeal.”
“I like it” isn’t a traditional song, but it sounds similar to “Drunk in Love,” a song that went platinum in 1996 and is still one of the most popular songs of the past decade. And that is what we are looking at here — a pop song that plays well in a variety of social dynamics, from the club to the concert hall.
I would love to see Beyoncé and Jay Z add this to their already impressive list of awards wins. But I’m not sure this would serve their purposes any better than their Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album.
“I like it” is the kind of song that goes really well at parties, not in the studio. And there is no way that this is going to be an award-winning song. It’s so out there that if an artist can’t take it to the other person on the dance floor, there’s no hope for the song to be a hit record.
You could say the same thing about any number of songs that were nominated for awards. The problem with the song isn’t the song, it’s that it’s an incredible, infectious party song. There, I said it. It’s not a hit, but it’s an awesome song.
I would love to see Beyoncé and Jay Z add this to their already impressive list of awards wins.