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By, Wendy Day
from Rap Coalition
Reprinted from The Source Magazine April 1993; page 20
In 1988, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. (NARAS)
added the rap music category into the annual Grammy Awards. Each year
since then, the nominations are made and a Grammy is awarded to the
"best" Rap Solo Performance and to the "best" Rap
Performance by a Duo or Group. So who gets to nominate, and who gets to
vote? Check it: In May, NARAS sends out entry forms to record labels,
its 6500 voting members, and 2500 nonvoting members. Entries-sometimes
totaling near 10,000-are then screened for eligibility and appropriate
category placement. The eligibility period for releases is October 1
through September 30 of the awards year. In November, NARAS sends out an
official list of all eligible entries, along with a ballot, to all NARAS
voting members. The votes from this first ballot will determine the five
nominees in each category. In January, the voting members receive the
final ballot listing all nominees. The results of this vote are
tabulated by Deloitte & Touche (one of the biggest accounting firms
in the country) to determine the Grammy winners. Then in the last week
of February, I get to sit in my living room and throw things at my
television, furious as I look at the sorry choices for Grammy Award
winners in the rap categories.
It appears that the rap music industry is totally under-represented in
NARAS. Any artist or technical professional who has six recorded and
commercially released selections can join NARAS and vote for the Grammy
Awards. You must shell out $65 per year (plus a one time initiation fee
of $20) and you must qualify within one or more of the following
categories: vocalists, singers, producers, engineers, songwriters,
composers, instrumentalists, musicians, art directors, photographers,
album notes writers, orators/poets, or music video directors and
producers.
Isn't it about time that the Grammy Awards for rappers were based on the
tastes of their voting peers? The hip-hop community needs to be heard,
and we need to exercise more voting power in the NARAS. For more
information or for an application, please write to Rap Coalition!
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