Music

What Do We Lose Every Time The Grammys Get It Wrong?

Getty Image Even in the moments of celebration when this notoriously off-the-mark awards show gets things right, the shadow of what’s lost is lurking. …

Towards the beginning of Taylor Swift’s Miss Americana documentary, the cameras capture her reaction on Grammy nomination day back in 2018. For the first time since Speak Now (2010), she hadn’t received a nomination in any of the big three categories, Album, Song or Record Of The Year. “This is fine,” Taylor said, while clearly shattered. “I just need to make a better record.” Though it was actually a small blip in the tenure of her success, the snub made one thing clear — Grammy nominations are never something to be taken for granted. At the 2020 awards, the title track off Swift’s album Lover was up for Song Of The Year, and with the 2021 nominations coming through yesterday, Folklore has restored her to an accustomed perch — this year’s release is up for Album Of The Year, and its lead single, “Cardigan,” for Song. I’m a Taylor fan through and through, so no one will mistake this for shade: I would take every single song off Reputation over “Cardigan.”

For an artist like Swift, who is one of the biggest musicians in the world, Grammy nominations are an expected part of the process. For plenty of other women, though, the struggle to be recognized, even in smaller, genre-specific categories, has been much more in-depth than a single off-year. In the rock categories, for instance, women have been shut out many times, and as the genre has fallen out of popularity in favor of hip-hop, it’s hard not to pin some of that on the Academy routinely choosing to spotlight bland, commercial-centric male acts. This year, they did an about-face, nominating only women for the Rock Performance category, leading to big looks for critic’s darlings like Phoebe Bridgers, Fiona Apple, and Big Thief. Bridgers got another huge look in the Best New Artist category and in Best Alternative Album for her sophomore release, Punisher.

But that Fiona album, which caused more commotion this year than most other records put together, was notably absent from the Big Four. And even when Beyonce picked up nine nominations, not an unusual number for an artist of her caliber, it’s hard to take the gesture seriously. We’ve been down this road before, Bey is frequently nominated but rarely awarded actual wins, despite her monumental impact on the music industry at large, and pop culture on a scale that’s basically unparallelled. If you were only using Grammy wins as a metric, Bey’s actual influence would never come across.

Still, to see that many women nominated in the Alternative and Rock categories was unusual enough that it caused a mini-celebration on Twitter among fans, who have long been noting that female musicians are making some of the most interesting, groundbreaking music in those areas. And anytime an award show’s selections line up with critically-acclaimed artists who are at the beginning of their careers, or seen as underdogs because they’re on independent labels, the reaction is warm and welcoming. So the nominations laid upon Chloe x Halle, young proteges of Beyonce herself, for Best R&B Song (“Do It”) and Best Progressive R&B Album were also met with enthusiasm. But within the positive reactions to this year’s shifts, I kept thinking back to Taylor’s words in Miss Americana, and her internalized reaction that the problem was within her, not the system. Is Folklore really that much better of an album than Reputation? Or does it, instead, represent the more familiar elements of folk-rock that the Grammys always prefer to honor over harsher, more inventive pop and hip-hop sounds?

My point is much larger than Swift, but she’s the perfect example of how the Grammys can function as a vise on what kind of music gets made, and who gets rewarded for making it. All of the women who were nominated for rock music this year are excellent at what they do. But are they so markedly better than the women who released albums last year, or the year before, and went completely snubbed, that it logically makes sense they’re nominated? No, of course not. Yet, the glow of a Grammy nom has the power to potentially change a musician’s careers forever, particularly if they’re a smaller artist, and definitely if they’re a young woman. So even if the Grammys are finally beginning to listen to the overwhelming pushback from fans, critics and music lovers, who are hammering them on very predictably only rewarding white guys playing guitar, the small over corrections still aren’t enough to acknowledge how the award show continues to function.

Artist Spotlight

“Young Man” by Highrise echoes soul-stirring lessons from the flames of his past

Produced entirely from his home studio in Kansas City, Highrise crafts chapters of life experiences, transforming into the spotlight with “Young Man,” a song that sparks an open conversation we all recognize but often try to forget. This rap-rock anthem features smooth guitar arpeggios woven together with clean vocals, modern hip-hop drums, and hard-won wisdom that resonates with emotion and intention.

At first listen, “Young Man” radiates like one part heartfelt advice tossed to the wind, a cautionary tale directed at the younger men of the next generation as they navigate chaos. But dig a little deeper, and it’s revealed this song is a mirror reflecting Highrise’s own younger self, haunted by the echoes of choices made and paths taken. The production balances rawness and refinement, giving the track a lived-in yet polished musical quality.

Vocally, Highrise shines with a melodic and emotionally charged delivery, comfortably occupying a sonic space that fans of MGK, Bryce Vine, or Ryan Caraveo will find familiar, yet it feels uniquely his own. The standout bridge hits hard: “Take it from me, I’ve been down this road…” a poetic gut-punch for anyone who’s been too stubborn to listen before learning the hard way.

Inspired partly by his late grandfather, the track carries a weight of generational reflection. It tiptoes through the complexities of enduring legacy and shifting perspectives with age, acknowledging the scars of youthful mistakes while nodding to the lessons passed down. “Young Man” doesn’t preach; it empathizes, and humility makes it particularly impactful. It is an anthem for anyone who looks back at their younger self and wishes they could whisper, “Slow down.”

Highrise has established his influence in making music and building a legacy, one brutally honest track at a time, telling truths that echo long after the song ends.

CLICK HERE TO STREAM Highrise’s “Young Man“ on Spotify.
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Music

Jake Paul Sets the Stage for His Toughest Test Yet Against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28

When Jake Paul put on a pair of boxing gloves for the first time, everyone laughed. Some dismissed him as just another YouTube celebrity looking for clout. But whether you love him or loathe him, Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) has transformed from a viral novelty into a bona fide figure in the fight game. His biggest challenge is on tap—a faceoff with former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (54-6-1, 34 KOs) on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

The 10-round fight, which was announced Friday by Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) in conjunction with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, will take place at a 200-pound catchweight and be shown live on DAZN pay-per-view. This is not some other novelty fight. This is a risky maneuver, a high-stakes bet, and a pivotal moment in Jake Paul’s career.

Chavez Jr., the son of Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., is no stranger to secrecy or controversy. The 38-year-old has done it all by now, with more than 60 professional fights and a WBC title. But though his name still resonates, recent outings have caused fans to wonder if he’s genuinely committed to the sport. He has gone from bursts of brilliance to maddening inconsistency. Enter Jake Paul. He is 27, a decade younger, and he’s made his brand shocking the world one fight at a time. By knocking out former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and beating seasoned veterans of the sport in his last couple of fights, Paul has demonstrated that he’s a fighter who trains hard, shows up in the ring, and improves fight after fight. “I am not here to be dismissed anymore,” Paul said. “One, people believed this was a gimmick. I’m at a point where I want to fight world champions, and Chavez Jr. is the first step towards that.”

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The Paul-Chavez Jr. fight is a cultural moment. It is the crossroads of old-school boxing lineage and new-age promotion. It’s just the sort of fight that has traditionalists chatting and TikTok fans watching. For Paul, this is a significant step toward title contention. Critics will say he hasn’t faced a “real boxer” yet, but Chavez Jr. destroys that narrative. In addition to being a seasoned veteran, he’s also a former world champion with a deep boxing IQ and hammers of his own.

“Chavez Jr. is everything I’ve been working toward,” Paul said. “He’s a true fighter. He’s been in there with everybody. And now he’s getting in there with me.” For Chavez Jr., it’s an opportunity to regain relevance and silence the critics who have questioned his heart and discipline over the past few years. Defeating Jake Paul, who boasts a huge following and considerable media coverage, would not only represent a win but a comeback. What’s interesting is the agreed weight of 200 pounds. It’s a step up from Chavez Jr.’s most of his career, and well within the cruiserweight realm, where Paul is comfortable. Physicality will matter in this fight. That sort of mass isn’t how Paul is accustomed to moving, but it is how Chavez Jr. is used to moving, and he’ll need to adjust.

“This isn’t my first time going up in weight,” Chavez Jr. said. “I’ve fought big guys before. Jake Paul is powerful, yes, but he’s inexperienced. He’ll find that out.” With both fighters possessing knockout power and a penchant for the dramatic, the matchup promises to bring the fireworks from the opening bell. And for the crowd at Honda Center, it will be a night they don’t forget. This is being promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, led by Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya, which adds an additional layer of credibility to the proceedings. A stamp from Golden Boy, in partnership with Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, suggests a merging of boxing’s golden age with a viral, digital future.

“Jake Paul has proven he has his act together for boxing,” De La Hoya said. “This is not a joke anymore. He is up against someone with pedigree, experience, and power. This is what boxing needs: big moments, big personalities, and high stakes.” A victory over Chavez Jr. would be a career-defining achievement for Jake Paul, potentially even thrusting him into title consideration at cruiserweight. For someone who started as an internet personality, that kind of narrative arc is nothing short of wild, but it’s also very real.

For Chavez Jr., this is an opportunity for redemption. But his final years were defined by intermittent appearances, issues with training, and criticism. A loss to Paul would be a devastating blow to his legacy, but a win? It’s only one thing that could start a comeback.“This fight is legacy-defining for both guys, just in completely different ways,” said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of MVP. “Jake wants to be treated like a future world champion. Chavez Jr. wants to show people who he is and what he can do.”

Expect bold entrances. Expect a packed Honda Center with fight fans, influencers, celebrities, and boxing purists. Expect talk trash, social media activity, and maybe more drama inside the ring. But above all, expect a real battle. “I’m not underestimating him, and he better not underestimate me,” Paul said. “This is not for YouTube views. This is for respect.”

Training camps are already in full swing, with both fighters bringing in the best accessible sparring partners and conditioning coaches. The excitement is building, but rest assured: When June 28 comes, the two men will be ready to risk it all. Boxing has long sought a way to connect older fans with younger viewers. Whether intentionally or not, Jake Paul has been a catalyst for that evolution. His fights draw millions, many of whom are new to boxing.

And with the legends of the sport, like Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, now retired or in exhibition-mode, Paul vs. Chavez Jr. is a different kind of spectacle: entertaining, unpredictable and strangely meaningful. And signed by politicians royals Oscar De La Hoya among others, the boxing world has finally accepted that not only is this not a fad — it’s the future. Jake Paul Is Out to Prove He’s More Than a YouTuber-Turned-Boxer. He’s on a mission to show he belongs on the same poster as champions. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is out to show that bloodline and battle-tested experience can still mean something in this shifting fight landscape. When they face off June 28, it won’t all be about punches thrown. It will be about statements, respect, and narratives.

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