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2023 Grammys Watch: Lively Pre-Parties, Amazing Performances, and Expectations

2023 Grammys Beyonce Photo
Beyonce Photo

By: Guru Jay

2023 Grammys Watch

2023 Grammys

Let’s start the 2023 Grammys countdown! Are you watching? What can a music lover expect from this year’s Grammys? There is so much on the table to discuss. But first, we must celebrate 2022. What a year it was in music. Then, we must do a watch like no other.  This 2023 watch is an exclusive. 

By now, you know that Bad Bunny is the main act. We’ll talk about performances even more in depth later. So, you also know that the Recording Academy has made it known the rapper will perform at the 65th Grammys. My last blog post highlighted this celebrity. His sound is hard to copy in rap music. Expect him to bring many of his girlfriends onstage and sing Titi Me Pregunto. Also, you watch as the show itself exceeds expectations. 

What else can a music lover expect from a 2023 Grammy? Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Adele are going to attend according to the latest sources. With the biggest stars on the biggest stage the night will certainly be big. Who can deny the star power of those three women? So, get prepared for a speech or two from the trio after they win. We will discuss nominations a little more later.

Lively Pre-Parties

In 2022, we saw the release of some amazing albums. Sunday the Recording Academy will tell us who had the best one. It’s not all about the cover art. Remember to never judge a book by its cover. If we only judged an album by its cover art or music video we would miss out on greatness. Some of the greatest songs of all time do not have official music videos.

Still, in the end, music is art. Music artists work hard honing their crafts. Fame doesn’t happen in a blink of an eye or a camera flash for that matter. Dedication is required and serious grit. Also, remember a picture is worth a thousand words. Did you know all this week there were pre-Grammy parties? Yes, it was all that you imagined and more. Who wouldn’t want to attend at least a couple of them?

Check out the photos from Rolling Stone and US Weekly. Going through the photos, you’ll find highlights which will serve as memories. Believe me, some celebrities will swear up and down something did or did not happen. But the camera doesn’t lie. After you browse through the pictures, come back for more of the Grammys watch. This story is far from finished.

Amazing Performances

Get ready for an extravaganza. If you thought the Recording Academy couldn’t outdo what it did last year, think again. Show business is no longer the same. Did you know you’re able to stream the Grammys on Paramount Plus? This is big business. What will they think up next? So, Sunday will only be the beginning for real music lovers. You can rewind, fast forward and pause all you want now that streaming is in the equation.

Where do the Grammys rank in the award season for you? Do you like the Golden Globe Awards? I wrote a blog post last month about it. I watched the red carpet and the live show and gave a 2023 recap. I felt it was a great show. I’m happy anytime the stars are shining.

Can’t you see the stars shining right now as bright as ever? Musicians are making footprints before they even walk on stage. Singers and producers will come away with stories about the nights leading up to THE NIGHT. As you can see, these are lively pre-parties. Later, you’ll see amazing performances.

Last summer, Beyoncé released her new album entitled Renaissance. Recently, she announced a world tour for said album. Everywhere fans are trying to buy up the tickets. What more can I say? Her creativity is still off the charts. The Grammys tweeted that Jay-Z is slated to perform. Might he bring Beyoncé up on stage? You never know. That’s why I’m excited and can’t wait.

The singer is nominated for nine Grammys. How many do you think she’ll win? Could Bad Bunny beat her for record of the year? There’s a lot of competition around the world. The music industry, especially, is full of competitiveness. Does it always have to be cutthroat and cold blooded? For what it’s worth, I think some things are changing. Entertainment is becoming a more collaborative space. You see more and more musicians collaborating. Some things that you would never see in the past are getting done now.

Finally, the Grammys are back and there’s no excuse for bad ratings. Everybody listened to some awesome music last year. Now it’s time to celebrate. Let’s close our eyes and dream before the stars come out and shine for the evening. Dream you were there. If you’re a rising star, now is your chance to visualize you are in the building.

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Is Bad Bunny the New Sound of Rap Music?

Bad Bunny Photo By: Creative Commons

Is Bad Bunny the New Sound of Rap Music?

Bad Bunny will perform at the Grammys Sunday February 5, 2023. Are you looking forward to watching the Puerto Rican rapper perform? It’s going to be all you thought and more. Isn’t he the man of the hour? Where are my Bad Bunny fans? Did you see his 2020 Super Bowl performance? Where do I start this discussion off at?

First, Bad Bunny is out to prove a point. That’s why his music is out there. Have you ever heard a bad Bad Bunny song? No, right? Also, the Grammys are only the tip of the iceberg of his resume. In addition to this, he’s the headliner of the Coachella festival in April along with Frank Ocean and BLACKPINK. This 28-year-old has built a strong fan base with millions of followers. His Instagram has 44 million followers and counting. For some reason, it’s private right now. There is a lot of good stuff to say about Bad Bunny. Despite his fame, he’s managing things quite well. Going into the Grammys, he’s probably the biggest name performing. 

I believe we can compare him with Pitbull and Drake. Like Pitbull, he represents his heritage well. And like Drake, he presents a lover boy image too. His future is bright. The star is not only shining but rising. What is more, the music artist does not need to sing in English. If you want to listen to the rapper and understand his lyrics, it will help if you spoke a little Spanish. 

What’s Up?

Are you a fan? What are some of your favorite songs and music videos by this music artist? You can find him on Youtube and Spotify. And if you really want to get to know about him, check out his Wikipedia and Britannica pages. There’s so much I learned about the rapper from reading these sources.

So far, did you know his discography includes 5 studio albums, 94 singles, 1 Extended Play and 1 Compilation? He’s put in a lot of hard work and the effort shows. That’s a lot of content the celebrity has been building since 2013. Make no mistake about it, the entertainer isn’t going away despite taking a break from social media. In fact, his Grammys and Coachella performances tell a different story.

I came up with an idea of a Bad Bunny and BLACKPINK collaboration. Together they could appeal to a huge audience uniting Latinos and Asians. Don’t you feel music needs something like this? What is more, it’s only a matter of time before Bad Bunny sings in English. Hold up for a minute. Imagine the possibility of a Spanish, Korean, and English single. How wild would that music video be?

Experimenting

Entertainment is an experimental space full of possibilities. Music can take us places only dreams do. We are familiar with his collaborations with J Balvin and Jennifer Lopez. What if he performed with country music singers? By now in 2023, you should know anything could happen. Did you see Sam Smith and Kim Petras Saturday Night Live performance? Bad Bunny isn’t afraid to make a statement himself. Go back through the archives and you’ll find he’s a risk taker.

His latest album, Un Verano Sin Ti, translates in English as A Summer Without You. This album is number one on the U.S. and U.S. Latin music charts. Tití Me Preguntó released on June 1, 2022, was the song of the summer. Please tell me you’ve seen the music video by now. To wrap it up, with his album going 5 x platinum, Bad Bunny is the new sound of rap music. 

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Does Macklemore Make Your Top 10?

BY: GURU JAY


Do you like Hip Hop music? Who are your favorite rappers? Does Macklemore make your top 10 rappers today?

Without question, the 33 year old rapper has raving fans across the globe. From Washington D.C. to Rio de Janeiro, the celebrity is highly regarded. With 2.8 million Twitter followers, it’s easy to see why people are mentioning his account right now.

I first learned about Macklemore after hearing Thrift Shop play on the radio 4 years ago. Since then, I’ve seen the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis music video many times. Sometimes I think “I’m gonna pop some tags,” especially when I only have 20 dollars in my pocket.

You see Macklemore has a message to deliver. It isn’t a fast or slow message. But the message he has for you is right on time.


He raps about what he knows. Moreover, the celebrity aka Professor educates listeners on a variety of topics. Some of his songs are entertaining and others are informative.

He doesn’t rap about living a hard knock life because he grew up living comfortably. You’ll find you don’t necessarily need wealth in order to be comfortable. But having a net worth of $18 million like Macklemore isn’t uncomfortable at all!

Right now, the rapper has emerged on the scene with more than just money in his pocket. He has lyrics in them that can spark a fuse. Songs such as: Kevin open people’s eyes to serious issues facing America and the world. He’s Not Afraid like Eminem to tell not only his story White Privilege, but also the stories of millions without a platform.

Macklemore represents Seattle better than some Senators. Respect Ryan Lewis too, because he contributes to creating that high quality content you receive. He reminds me a lot of Calvin Harris when it comes to collaborations.

Photos By: Wikimedia Commons

Final thoughts, I like great hip hop music. Macklemore is one of my favorites because of his creative flow and timely lyrics. Macklemore definitely makes my top 10.

I am Guru Jay launching into orbit in 5-4-3-2-1!
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The Explicit Lyrics of Kendrick Lamar

BY: GURU JAY
Kendrick Lamar crafts clever wordplay like a Scrabble champion. His music can rile up and/or rejuvenate the masses. Don’t tempt him unless you want the repercussions. Like Ice Cube said, “check yourself.” You see like Common, Kendrick’s voice registers with Joe Public and that means something.
So, where do you rank Kendrick Lamar among the best in the rap game? I feel he is a highly rated player on par with Tyga. Actually, he is better than Tyga (who is great btw) I just couldn’t resist writing that cool sentence. You see Kendrick Lamar doesn’t have many equals in Hip Hop and it’s an injustice.
Combine talent, naturally/ God-given gifts, and work ethic and you get Kendrick Lamar. It doesn’t take Einstein to solve the K-Dot equation. Staying committed to the cause/ provides a way out of the clause.

Plus Kendrick Lamar makes some of the best music videos in the industry. His Poetic Justice video featuring Drake deserves an honorable mention. And Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood is one featuring Kendrick that should get recognized more often. 
Society needs music in order to thrive. Music keeps humanity off the brink of extinction. What would you do without art?    
Who knows? In a couple of years, Kendrick will be the number 1 favorite overtaking the likes of Drake. He can record underground mix tapes and mainstream pop songs alike. 
 Photos By: Wikimedia Commons
The explicit lyrics and originally creative content of Kendrick Lamar defines his greatness. Replay the Recipefeaturing Dr. Dre for the full whammy as he pours out his overflowing juices. Rhyme comes easy to the Compton rapper because it’s hard enough “living just enough for the city.”
Sometimes, I swear he should be a comedian because of his sound effects. Martin Lawrencehas an entertainment effect. “Martin had a dream. Martin had a dream. Kendrick have a dream.”   

I am Guru Jay launching into orbit in 5-4-3-2-1!
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Why Diddy’s Brand Is Ever-Changing

BY: GURU JAY

How many times has Diddy (Puff Daddy, Puffy) changed his brand name? The Hip-Hop impresario reinvents and expands his businesses. Sure you know that he maintains Sean John, a fashion company. But did you also know in October 2013, Diddy founded a digital cable television network named Revolt?
These days some people see Diddy as the Ciroc playboy. In actuality, Puffy’s empire crosses over into a variety of industries. Furthermore, Diddy represents diversity. That’s why Diddy conducts business with all kinds.
More so than Jay-Z, Diddy influences Kanye West and the Hip-Hop world. Master P was unsuccessful as an agent but there’s no doubt he inspired Jay-Z’s formation of Roc Nation Sports. If Jay-Z is the Warren Buffett of Hip-Hop, then Diddy is Bill Gates, and Dr. Dre is Carlos Slim. At the end of the day, they’re all about the Benjamins, baby!

The entertainment business has enough entertainers but not enough businessmen. What should be done to reverse this course? How about stopping young men from only thinking in the temporary mindset? What if they invested in themselves instead of buying Bentleys, Maseratis, and Ferraris?
There’s nothing wrong with splurging and flossing when you’re financially educated. Diddy owns fancy cars, clothes, and gems but he’s also highly invested in lucrative businesses. How many stars own stocks?
Diddy’s brand is ever-changing because the rap icon understands living in a violent world. Harlem’s globetrotter realizes that rough and tough circumstances make you stronger and don’t dictate unfavorable outcomes. While predicting the future is fool’s gold, preparing for the worst is not only best but also wise.
Photos By: Wikimedia Commons

Look beyond Puffy’s personas and you’ll find class and personality. In every instance, Diddy makes mention of his family. Oscar winning music artist Common was right, “Even in this generation living through computers, only love…can reboot us.” What is more, Diddy recognizes the common thread bridging together both prosperity and posterity.

I am Guru Jay launching off into orbit in 5-4-3-2-1!
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Snoop Dogg Vs. T.I. and the Dying Breed of Gangsta Rap

BY: GURU JAY

In 2006, Nas claimed Hip-Hop was dead. Two years later, Lil Wayne made a bold statement, via his Dr. Carter song, “he saved Hip-Hop’s life.” They’re both wrong. Hip-Hop is alive and kicking. But Gangsta rap died a long time ago.
Snoop Dogg recognizes Tupac as the greatest rapper in history. When Tupac was living, he represented “thug life” every chance. The slain rapper developed a strong connection with Snoop Dogg. Sit back and listen to 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.
T.I. has stated that Notorious B.I.G. is a better rapper lyrically than Tupac. Check out Notorious for an inspirational movie detailing his lifestyle. T.I. took over where Biggie left it.
Photos By: Wikimedia Commons

Snoop Dogg and T.I. are the last of a dying breed. They lived “thug life” by experiencing hardships and adversities before fame. They came of age during a different time, when gang affiliation was necessary. 
Sensual Seduction and Big Things Poppin’ (Do It) are my favorite Snoop and T.I. songs. Snoop Dogg isn’t scared to switch up his style. I’ve never heard a more motivational rap song than Do It. If Nike shoes adopted T.I.’s anthem, the company could sale a million additional units.
Additionally, rounding out T.I.’s greatest hits are: Whatever You Like, I’m a King, Bring Em Out, Go Get It and What You Know. Moreover, my other Snoop Dogg favorites consist of: Drop It Like It’s Hot, Next Episode, Lodi Dodi and Gin and Juice. Great rappers consistently create dynamic and distinct sounds.
Will Snoop and T.I. ever collaborate?
Apparently, Doggy Dogg and T.I.P. abide by the Refrigeration Niche. This means they’re cool like fish sticks, lobsters, and Barack Obama. Before Snoop Dogg and T.I. built durable brands on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, they built reputations, notoriety, and street credibility via word of mouth.

I am Guru Jay launching off into orbit in 5-4-3-2-1!