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Best Spoken Word Album Nominees | 2020 GRAMMY Awards

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From a former First Lady to a two-time cancer survivor, here are the 2020 nominees
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Nov 22, 2019 - 12:33 pm

The Best Spoken Word GRAMMY Award goes to notable poetry, audiobooks and storytelling recordings. In the past, political and cultural figures including Maya Angelou, Jimmy Carter, Martin Luther King, Jon Stewart and Hillary Clinton have taken the award. The 2020 GRAMMY nominees are people who earned the nod for audiobooks based on their own lives, a musician/songwriter that made an album about coping with a life-threatening disease and an author who ignites the spoken-word world with his fusion style.

Becoming — Michelle Obama

Former First Lady Michelle Obama surprised the world when she made an appearance last year during the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards. This year, she has earned her own GRAMMY nod for her audiobook, Becoming, which shares her journey from a little girl from the South Side of Chicago to lawyer and the First Lady of the United States.

Beastie Boys Book — Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, Scott Sherratt and Dan Zitt

Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, Scott Sherratt and Dan Zitt, who have all been nominated for a golden gramophone, are up for Best Spoken Word Album for Beastie Boys Book. The book is a memoir sharing details and stories behind the GRAMMY-winning band's musical journey with anecdotes of their friendship and growing up in New York amidst the growth of hip-hop. 

I.V. Catatonia: 20 Years As A Two-Time Cancer Survivor- Eric Alexandrakis

Eric Alexandrakis' I.V. Catatonia: 20 Years As A Two-Time Cancer Survivor is based on Alexandrakis' journey with the disease. He made the album as a way to escape while he had a tumor in his chest and was going through chemotherapy. For Alexandrakis, the album ended up being more than an escape: it sparked his career.

Mr. Know-It-All — John Waters

Filmmaker, writer and comedian John Waters, known for his humor and films like 1988's Hairspray, isn't receiving his first nomination in this category. Waters was nominated for Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America during the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards. His 2020 nomination is for Mr. Know-It-All, in which he offers thoughts and anecdotes around Hollywood life—and everything else.

Sekou Andrews & The String Theory — Sekou Andrews & The String Theory

Two-time National Poetry Slam winner Sekou Andrews earns his first-time GRAMMY nomination with Sekou Andrews & The String Theory, a spoken-word album touching on themes including love, music, and poetry with his mix of humor, spoken-word style and writing featuring the artistic collective The String Theory. 

2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List

Sharam

Sharam

Photo: Yoshitoshi Records

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PREMIERE: Sharam Debuts "Exodus" Mix Featuring James Baldwin

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"Dance music is and has always been about inclusion and acceptance. I wanted to celebrate that by shining light on James Baldwin's legacy as a writer and civil rights activist," Sharam writes in this exclusive, personal letter
GRAMMYs
Oct 29, 2020 - 10:00 am

At Coachella 2019, GRAMMY-winning house legends Deep Dish, consisting of Iranian DJ/producers Sharam and Dubfire, reunited for a set in the Sahara tent. During Weekend Two, they played Sharam's techno banger "Exodus," released a month later on his Yoshitoshi imprint. Now, Sharam revisits the track with a powerful 2020 update—a sample of one of author and civil rights activist James Baldwin's speeches—and reflects on the early house tracks that introduced him to other racial justice leaders as a young immigrant in America. You can pre-order "Exodus (Pin Drop Mix)" here.

When I came to America as a young kid I didn't know much about it, other than what I had seen on television in Iran—shows like "Sesame Street," "Fat Albert" or a few American movies that made their way to TV in Iran pre-revolution, which typically starred Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson and Clint Eastwood. I also knew about Muhammad Ali, as my father and brothers used to stay up late to watch him fight.

When we immigrated to the U.S. and I started to attend school, I studied American history but didn't really grasp or understand much other than topical information because of the language barrier. My sole focus was to learn the language as quickly as I could, so the television became my best friend again, this time mostly MTV. I soaked up as much music as I possibly could. I would write down and track the MTV Top 20 countdown every week like a trainspotter to see how the songs did in the charts from week to week.

Pop culture was my pathway to learning about American culture and to understanding the language. I had an insatiable appetite for discovering new music, almost an obsession, which led me to become a DJ and producer. I recall a few tracks I came across in the record stores early on featuring the spoken word. These unique records started doing the rounds at the stores I frequented. Little did I know that those songs were serving as an educational device for me and so many others. I was introduced to Martin Luther King, Jr. and to Maya Angelou. Speech and poetry over house grooves. Those records were my entry point to learning about these great American historical figures. Those pivotal spoken word house records opened my eyes and ears to the civil rights movement.

Fast-forward to 2020 where awareness surrounding racial equality has witnessed a new awakening. I thought this would be a great opportunity to use the medium with which I was introduced to civil rights, to bring awareness to another civil rights titan James Baldwin, one of the great writers, orators and civil rights leaders of the 20th century. His poetry, novels and speeches brought to light the racial and sexual discrimination issues facing our society throughout his lifetime.

I'm honored to present this reworked version of my 2019 track "Exodus" featuring Baldwin's remarks from his famous debate with William F. Buckley in 1965 at Cambridge University about Race In America. His powerful words illustrate the divide in accomplishing the American dream, something that is still present in today's world and something that has resonated with me.

I hope this record can help shed light on his work and inspire others to discover his important work. I will donate all proceeds from this song to Hampshire College's James Baldwin Scholars Program, a fund which supports students who have great potential but who, because they have attended under-resourced and underperforming schools, might otherwise lose the opportunity to attend college.

2020: a defining moment for everyone who cares about equality in America and around the world. Dance music is and has always been about inclusion and acceptance. I wanted to celebrate that by shining light on James Baldwin's legacy as a writer and civil rights activist who has inspired many of today's great minds.

EXCLUSIVE: Wale Pens Personal Letter About His Powerful "Sue Me" Video: "There Are Two Different Americas"

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Watch The Recording Academy's Inspiring "Change Music" Summit In Full

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Alongside Color Of Change, The Recording Academy hosted the virtual industrywide #ChangeMusic Summit, which welcomed leaders in music and media for panels on shifting culture, amplifying diverse voices, driving systemic change and more
Recording Academy
Oct 2, 2020 - 11:38 am

On Thursday (Oct. 1), the Recording Academy joined Color Of Change, the nation's largest online racial justice organization, to host a virtual industrywide #ChangeMusic Summit with leaders in music and media. The digital event is part of an ongoing series of initiatives facilitated by the Recording Academy to help accelerate equity and diverse representation within the organization and to further support inclusion outcomes across the wider music industry. 

Watch the #ChangeMusic Summit in full below. 

ChangeMusic: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit

The four-hour event brought together leaders, executives and experts for panels on shifting culture, amplifying diverse voices, putting leadership in action and driving systemic change throughout the music community. As well, prominent culture trailblazers and music business leaders openly discussed best practices and strategies to encourage systemic change and elevate women, Black and Latinx, as well as all underrepresented music creators and professionals.

Some of the event's participants included singer-songwriters Ledisi and Maimouna "Mumu Fresh" Youssef; television personalities Rocsi Diaz and Jeff Johnson; music culture influencer Karen Civil; award-winning poet and president of the Recording Academy's Chicago Chapter J. Ivy; and prominent executives and industry professionals including Tuma Basa (YouTube), Ingrid Best (Combs Enterprises), Binta Brown (omalilly projects; Black Music Action Coalition), Shari Bryant (Roc Nation), Jeff Burroughs (Def Jam Recordings), Ryan Butler (Recording Academy), Valeisha Butterfield Jones (Recording Academy), Harvey Mason jr. (Recording Academy), Rashad Robinson (Color Of Change) and many others. See the full list of participants below.

As part of the summit, the Recording Academy and Color Of Change announced the forthcoming #ChangeMusic Roadmap, a tool to help people at all levels of the music industry take action to enact racial and social justice within the industry. The full roadmap will be released before the end of the year, however, the first aspect of the roadmap discussed was a needed commitment to transparent reporting on Black representation. 

Read: The Recording Academy & Color Of Change Team Up To Promote Positive Change In The Music Industry

"This is a crucial moment in our world, our nation and our society and it is now more important than ever that we bring people together to make progress on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion," Recording Academy Chair and Interim President/CEO Harvey Mason jr. said. "As leaders in the music industry, we have an opportunity as role models to lead by example and set a progressive tone for culture and society. We are honored that so many from the industry joined this important conversation and we're committed to the work ahead."

"Black artists' rich contributions have undeniably shaped the music industry into what it is today. The industry must tear down the systems that silence, harm and pigeonhole Black artists for profitable gains," President of Color Of Change Rashad Robinson said. "Everyone has the responsibility to work towards progress. The #ChangeMusic Roadmap will begin the process of giving the industry the tools to challenge injustice and enact tangible change now. The Recording Academy is setting a strong example for the industry from the inside, holding those in power accountable to change. Together, we can propel music into the equitable future Black artists have earned, and always deserved."

Participants in the #ChangeMusic Summit included: singer/songwriters Ledisi, Rico Love and Maimouna "Mumu Fresh" Youssef; television personalities Rocsi Diaz and Jeff Johnson; music culture influencer Karen Civil; poet J. Ivy; and prominent executives and industry professionals including Tuma Basa (YouTube), Ingrid Best (Combs Enterprises), Binta Brown (omalilly projects; Black Music Action Coalition), Shari Bryant (Roc Nation), Jeff Burroughs (Def Jam Recordings), Ryan Butler (Recording Academy), Valeisha Butterfield Jones (Recording Academy), Qiana Conley (Recording Academy), Caroline "Baroline" Diaz (Interscope Records), Michelle Edgar (Epic Records; Music Unites; XX Project), Ethiopia Habtemariam (Motown Records; Capitol Music Group), Erin Hall Harris (Combs Enterprises), Tammy Hurt (Recording Academy), Jeriel Johnson (Recording Academy), Debra Lee (formerly BET Networks), Harvey Mason jr. (Recording Academy), Adam McFarland (Blacksmith Recordings; #TheShowMustBePaused), Riggs Morales (Atlantic Records), Jessica Rivera (YouTube), Rashad Robinson (Color Of Change), Travis Robinson (Universal Music Group), Lenny Santiago (Roc Nation), Rashid Shabazz (Color Of Change), Dr. Maurice Stinnett (Warner Music Group), Tiffany R. Warren (Omnicom Group; ADCOLOR), and Roe Williams (KWL Enterprises).

The Recording Academy's strategic alliance with Color Of Change and solidarity with ongoing social justice movements, such as #TheShowMustBePaused, was also a highly prioritized conversation topic among attendees. 

Learn more about the progress and future announcements regarding the Recording Academy's Diversity & Inclusion efforts.

The Recording Academy Establishes Black Music Collective

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GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center To Launch Fall Music Industry Program

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The classes aim to continue empowering students around the N.J. area and "develop the next generation of GRAMMY Award winners" 
GRAMMYs
Sep 18, 2020 - 12:49 pm

The GRAMMY Museum Experience Prudential Center in New Jersey is launching a fall session music industry program for students 13–18 years old. From Oct.10–Nov. 21, students can enroll for Contemporary Songwriting 101, Contemporary Songwriting 201, Audio Mixing 101 and Intro to Careers in Music Business. Leading the courses, Mark Conklin, Director of Artist Relations and Programming and other guest professionals in the industry will share their knowledge via Zoom. 

Behind The Board: Natalia Ramirez

The classes aim to continue empowering students around the N.J. area and "develop the next generation of GRAMMY Award winners," Conklin said in a statement.

He continued: “Building upon our extremely successful Summer Session program we’ve designed new offerings to provide high school students the building blocks for what it takes to succeed in the music business, both on and off the stage.”

The Contemporary Songwriting 101 and Contemporary Songwriting 201 classes will run for seven weeks every Saturday  starting on Oct. 10 from 9:30 a.m. EST until 12:30 p.m. EST. Tuition is $100 for each class.

Audio Mixing 101 will run for six weeks on Tuesdays, Oct. 13– Nov. 17, from 7 p.m. EST to 8:30 p.m. EST. Tuition is set at $75.

Intro to Careers in Music Business, for 11th and 12th grade students only, will run for four weeks Oct. 19– Nov. 9 on Mondays from 3:30 p.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST. Tuition is set at $50. 

A limited number of free scholarships are available for Newark residents for all classes. For more info on each class, their requirements and other aspects of the program, visit the museum website.

Santana's Seminal Second Album 'Abraxas' Turns 50 | For The Record

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The Recording Academy Establishes Black Music Collective

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The newly launched collective comprises a group of prominent Black music creators and professionals who share the common goal of amplifying Black voices within the Recording Academy and the wider music community
Recording Academy
Sep 3, 2020 - 6:30 am

The Recording Academy has today (Sept. 3) announced the creation of its Black Music Collective (BMC), a group of prominent Black music creators and professionals who share the common goal of amplifying Black voices within the Academy and the wider music community.

As part of the Recording Academy's commitment to evolving hand-in-hand with its membership, BMC will serve as a space for members to speak openly about new and emerging opportunities in Black music across all genres and identify ways to drive more representation.

The launch of BMC follows the Recording Academy's recent partnership with Color Of Change, the nation's largest online racial justice organization, in July, which set forth to create a Black music advisory group. The BMC fulfills this promise and is bringing together creators and business leaders to create a pipeline of future industry trailblazers. Leaders will meet regularly and initiate programs that will encourage participation and accelerate Black membership in the Recording Academy.

Jeffrey Harleston, Jimmy Jam, Quincy Jones, Debra Lee, John Legend, and Sylvia Rhone will serve as honorary chairs of the BMC. A distinguished leadership committee will be confirmed in the coming weeks and will work in sync with the honorary chairs to propel the collective's mission. Recording Academy Trustee Riggs Morales and Washington, D.C., Chapter Executive Director Jeriel Johnson will lead the initiative internally. 

"The Black Music Collective is necessary to help drive the Recording Academy into a new era. Creating an open space for Black music creators can only benefit our membership as a whole," Harvey Mason jr., Chair and Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy, said. "Through the past few months, I've been personally invested in propelling this collective along with Chapter leadership within the Academy. Together, we will elevate Black music creators within our organization and the industry at large." 

"As Black music continues to drive culture, it is essential we grow and maintain representation within the Academy and the music industry," Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer of the Recording Academy, said. "We're thrilled to help develop the leaders of tomorrow with impactful educational and experiential programs that we will announce in coming weeks."

In March 2018, the Recording Academy established a third-party task force to examine issues of diversity and inclusion within the Academy and the broader music community. The Academy has since taken action on the Task Force's initial assessment and recommendations and has made additional strides to facilitate a culture of belonging while recognizing the need to focus on underrepresented communities. Recent initiatives include the hiring of a Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, a $1 million donation to Color Of Change, alignment with #TheShowMustBePaused movement created by Jamila Thomas (Atlantic Records) and Brianna Agyemang (Platoon), and the development of an industry Inclusion Rider and Toolkit to be released later this year.

Stay up to date on the Recording Academy's progress, future announcements and recent initiatives on diversity and inclusion.

Recording Academy Invites & Celebrates Its 2020 New Member Class

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