Ella Mai

Ella Mai

Photo: Gus Stewart/Redferns/Getty Images

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Ella Mai On "Boo'd Up," Her Dream Collab, Lauryn Hill & More

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The soulful songstress shares about the positive impact of her hit single back home, her biggest influences, how she'd love to work with Khalid, and more
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Sep 27, 2018 - 2:26 pm

British R&B sensation Ella Mai started building an excited buzz around her name earlier this year, as her incredibly catchy "Boo'd Up" was one of the biggest songs of the summer in the U.S. and had us singing along to her angelic vocals. This is just the beginning for the soulful singer/songwriter, whose debut self-titled studio album comes out on Oct. 12.

Ella Mai On Feeling Proud Of "Boo'd Up" & More

Mae sat down with the Recording Academy to tell us a little more about the positive effects of the success of "Boo'd Up" instilling hometown pride in London, how she'd love to work with Khalid (who had a cameo in the song's music video), how her style is very inspired by the '90s and early-2000s, and a bit about her new music.

She also explains how impactful growing up listening to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was to her, and how thrilled she is about the excitement around the 20 year anniversary of Lauryn Hill's iconic album. "That album is everything, it's my favorite album of all time," she shares. "I don't think there's a project that beats it, and she's so raw and authentic."

Essence Fest: 7 Female R&B Acts You Need To Know

6LACK at Lolla 2019

6LACK at Lolla 2019

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

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6LACK On His New "Seasons" Video Featuring Khalid, Getting Back In The Studio & More

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The Atlanta alt-R&B singer told us that pairing with his fellow GRAMMY nominee is like "two brothers working, it's super easy, super natural"
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Aug 9, 2019 - 6:12 pm

While On The Road at Lollapalooza 2019, the Recording Academy caught up with Atlanta alt-R&B artist 6LACK to talk about playing Lolla, recent collabs and when we can expect new music. We also learned more about his latest video for "Seasons" and how it felt to reunite with his fellow GRAMMY nominee Khalid.

6LACK On Reuniting With Khalid For "Seasons"

Having originally linked up on 2018's "OTW," 6LACK revealed that reuniting with Khalid was like "two brothers working, it's super easy, super natural." He also said that the new, heartfelt video is a visual representation of seasons changing and focuses on capturing joyful moments.

"It's a video that isn't really focused too much on me and what I'm doing or what I'm wearing, or anything like that," he said. "It's more so about capturing moments that make me happy, that make me feel like seasons are changing, with other people involved."

He also talked about what he learned from working with J. Cole, another collaborator on his second studio album, East Atlanta Love Letter, as well as being ready to record new music again:

"I just got back in the mood to start recording, so I don't even know what to expect at all. I just know it's been a full year since I've made a full song of my own, and that's the longest I've ever gone without making music. But I had to spend time with my daughter and actually live for a second, and now I'm ready."

J.I.D. Talks Lollapalooza Debut, Working With J. Cole & Dreamville, New Music & More

GRAMMYs

Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

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Your Favorite Artists React To Their 2019 GRAMMY Nominations

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Share in the excitement as this year's nominees take to social media to react to the good news
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Dec 8, 2018 - 9:05 am

The past 24 hours have been filled with celebration, gratitude and even some tears of joy, after the nominees for the 2019 GRAMMY Awards were announced bright and early on Dec. 7.

Nominated artists took to social media to share their reactions with fans, fellow artists and the Recording Academy, leaving everyone feeling the positive glow as the excitement for the 61st GRAMMYs continues to build.

Read on to see the reactions from some of your favorite artists, including first-time nominees Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa, Ella Mai, Greta Van Fleet and H.E.R., return nominees like Cardi B and Pusha-T and past GRAMMY winners such as Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Pharrell Williams and Zedd.

But first, let's check in with the 2019 Best New Artist contenders: Bebe Rexha, Chloe X Halle, Dua Lipa, Greta Van Fleet, H.E.R., Jorja Smith and Margo Price all took to Twitter to celebrate, with sisters Chloe and Halle sharing a video of them holding each other and crying, while Rexha shared a teary clip as well. Lipa shared several posts, including one that summed it up well: "TWO NOMINATIONS TWO GRAMMY NOMINATIONS IM SO HAPPY BUT I CANT STOP CRYING I CANT BELIEVE IT!!!!"

Bebe Rexha

Chloe X Halle

Dua Lipa

Greta Van Fleet

H.E.R.

Jorja Smith

Margo Price

In addition to Best New Artist nominees, there were quite a few more first-time GRAMMY nominees this year, and their joy about the news was equally palpable. Cabello, like Lipa, shared several posts on Twitter, one of which reading: "I usually can't shut up but right now I’m speechless. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU."

Camila Cabello

Ella Mai

Florida Georgia Line

Missy Mazolli

Shawn Mendes

Next up, let's take a look at a few artists who have been nominated in the past: Pusha-T, who is nominated for Best Rap Album for Daytona, shared this message with his fans: "12/7/18: From this day forward it's, 'The GRAMMY Nominated' Pusha-T. Thank you for your cooperation... #Daytona."

Meanwhile, Cardi learned about her nominations in an unconventional way, but she was excited about her second round, nonetheless.

Cardi B

Pusha-T

6LACK

Finally, we looked to some of your favorite past GRAMMY winners who are up for additional awards this year: Zedd has added three more nominations to his tally for the hit single "The Middle" featuring Maren Morris and Grey, including Record Of The Year, posting "holy f*** I just woke up to 3 (!) GRAMMY nominations."

Multi-hyphenate Pharrell may already have quite a few wins under his belt, but is still stoked to be nominated for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, sharing: "THANK YOU @RecordingAcad. Truly honored."

Kacey Musgraves

Lady Gaga

Mark Ronson

Pharrell Williams

Zedd

Congratulations to all of the nominees! Come back to grammy.com for more 61st GRAMMY Awards content with your favorite artists and tune in to Music's Biggest Night on Feb. 10 for even more excitement as we find out who the winners are.

2019 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominations List

Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa

Photo: Luc Coiffait | Design: F Inomata

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Dua Lipa On Calvin Harris, Other Dream Collabs, "New Rules," & More

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We go behind-the-scenes to hear what it was like for the pop star to work with Harris on his throwback-inspired "One Kiss," her gratitude for "New Rules" giving her "so many opportunities," and more
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 5, 2018 - 6:15 pm

Dua Lipa has been on fire lately and she's ready for more. Following the viral success of her catchy girl-power anthem "New Rules," released last summer from her debut self-titled album, she's brought more hits in the form of big-time collabs. In April, dance music powerhouse Calvin Harris dropped the summer-ready jam "One Kiss" featuring Lipa, and in September Silk City, the new Diplo and Mark Ronson production duo, gave us another dance-floor gem from the pop star with "Electricity."

Dua Lipa Talks Calvin Harris, "New Rules," & More

She visited the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles on Sept. 28 to give fans an intimate conversation and performance, and we caught up with her beforehand to learn more about what it was like working with Harris, who else she would love to collab with (Frank Ocean is on her list), what song she currently has on repeat, the success of "New Rules," and more.

The star is humble about her success and grateful for the positive reception she has gotten so far. She reflects on her breakout hit single "New Rules" with gratitude for what it's allowed her to do since then.

"It was something that I wanted, but never something that I expected. It really took me by surprise," Lipa shares. "I feel like it definitely took ten steps bigger and it just gave me so many opportunities."

Shawn Mendes On Being Authentic And Connecting With Fans

Jermaine Dupri

Jermaine Dupri

Photo: Rebecca Sapp/WireImage/Getty Images | Design: F Inomata

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Jermaine Dupri On The Real Story Behind Turning Kris Kross Into Stars

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In an exclusive conversation at the GRAMMY Museum, the So So Def founder shares the two-year journey from meeting the teens "with swag" at the mall to developing them into breakout rap stars
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Sep 26, 2018 - 5:27 pm

Jermaine Dupri, along with a stellar crew of friends and label-mates, visited the GRAMMY Museum on Sept. 20 for an exclusive conversation looking back on and celebrating the impact of 25 years of his record label, So So Def Recordings. We learned a lot about how Dupri's vision and focus allowed him to turn so many different artists into stars over the years, and in the case of Kris Kross, how he saw the rap stars in them before they ever did.

Jermaine Dupri on Turning Kris Kross Into Stars

Dupri clearly has an eye for talent and how to best showcase it. While most people have likely heard some version of the story that he discovered young teens Kris Kross at the mall and turned them into rap stars with their hit debut single "Jump," the details of how all of it happened and what it took to get there are often left out.

In conversation with the museum's Artistic Director Scott Goldman, Dupri shares how much more in-depth the story really is, and that the young boys weren't trying to be rappers when they first met, so he really had to get to know them to shape them into the stars he knew they were. This personalized process became  how he worked with all future So So Def artists, and  played a huge part in the label's – and each artist's – success. Kris Kross was So So Def's first artist and first success story, and they paved the way for Dupri's continued excellence.

"You gotta understand people out there, Kris Kross weren't rappers. They weren't kids walking around with demos. They weren't trying to be rappers. They weren't trying to be singers. When I met them I said, 'What do y'all do?'" Dupri explains. "'We just cool.' I was like, 'Damn. Get these guys a record fast.'"

The conversation with Jermaine Dupri and Friends kicked off of the opening of the GRAMMY Museum's newest exhibit, Jermaine Dupri & So So Def: 25 Years of Elevating Culture, which will be on view until Jan. 2019.

Jermaine Dupri On The Most Game-Changing Song He's Worked On & More