The rap mogul and his daughter Blue Ivy accepted the prestigious honor with an inspiring speech.
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter became the second-ever recipient of the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award for his many achievements across a career that has spanned decades. A 24-time GRAMMY winner and 88-time nominee, Jay-Z was presented the Global Impact Award after being introduced by host Trevor Noah.
With his daughter Blue Ivy at his side onstage, Jay-Z first joked that his latest golden gramophone is no longer needed as the “gold sippy cup” like the one he won in 2014. He then delivered a powerful speech that touched upon hip-hop’s history, discussing its struggle to get recognized by the Academy and his own decision to boycott the show in 1998. He also thanked Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg for opening up opportunities for himself and other East Coast Rap artists and encouraged artists to keep pushing.
“You gotta keep showing up. Just keep showing up until they give you all those accolades you feel you deserve, until they call you genius, until they call you chairman, until they call you the greatest of all time. Feel me?” he said.
The Dr. Dre Global Impact Award was first awarded at the 2023 GRAMMYs to its namesake, Dr. Dre. The award recognizes artists who have made significant contributions to the global culture of music and entertainment.
Jay-Z’s speech was met with a standing ovation from the audience, which included his wife Beyoncé, who also won four awards at the ceremony. The couple’s daughter Blue Ivy also made history as the youngest GRAMMY winner ever, for her feature on Beyoncé’s “Brown Skin Girl”.
The 2024 GRAMMYs also featured performances from other hip-hop and R&B stars, such as Usher, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Wayne, Karol G, and Logic. The show was broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024.
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