Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Childish Gambino all turned down performance slots at this year’s Grammy Awards, show producer Ken Ehrlich told The New York Times. The artists’ respective representatives also “declined to comment on whether they would attend the show.” Pitchfork has reached out to reps for Kendrick, Drake, Childish Gambino, and the Grammys for more information.
According to Variety, Ariana Grande has also turned down a performance slot because she was reportedly “insulted” after producers did not want her to perform her new single “7 rings.” A source told CNN, “The producers were dictating what songs she could sing.” Pitchfork has contacted representatives for Ariana Grande.
Kendrick is up for eight Grammys in total this year, including Record of the Year (“All the Stars” with SZA), Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. Gambino is up for five awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year (“This Is America”. Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino both performed at last year’s Grammys.
Drake has seven nominations this year. He did not submit his playlist More Life for Grammy consideration last year. Previously, at the 2017 Grammys, Drake won Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Hotline Bling.” He did not attend the ceremony that year, and, in an interview following his victories, criticized the Grammys: “Even though ‘Hotline Bling’ is not a rap song… the only category they can manage to fit me in is a rap category,” he said.
Read “The Best and Worst Songs Nominated for a Grammy This Year” over on the Pitch.
Follow all of Pitchfork’s coverage of this year’s Grammy Awards.
https://pitchfork.com/news/grammys-2019-kendrick-drake-and-childish-gambino-turned-down-performances-producer-says
