Rick Ross Says Rap Grammy Is Out Of Touch And Iggy Azalea Doesn’t Represent The Rap Community At Large

During the Grammy Awards, Eminem won the award for Best Rap Album at a ceremony ahead of the main televised Grammy gala. Eminem has won the award six times now, and Rick Ross believes that this is because the Grammy Awards are out of touch when it comes to rap music. Rick Ross was interviewed by the Associated Press prior to his appearance at BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” panel at the 1Oak nightclub.

“The rap community doesn’t feel like the rap Grammy is in touch. Not at all… This is music that powers from the streets up… If anything, in the rap categories, that’s what should most definitely get recognized. Going to the root of it and not just certain artists, the Iggy Azaleas. I want to congratulate her on all her success, but that doesn’t represent the community at large.”

A while back, the rap community was up in arms over the misrepresentation of rap music in mainstream media. They blame the rise of rappers like Iggy Azalea (who was nominated in the Grammys) for appropriating what is predominantly a form of music associated with the black community.

Rick Ross was joined in the panel by songwriters Mannie Fresh (who has written with Rick Ross and Lil Wayne), Ester Dean (the hit-maker behind Katy Perry and Rihanna), David Hodges (who has worked with country stars Miranda Lambert and Kelly Clarkson), and Natalie Hemby (Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town). Ross revealed that he respects the Grammys from a songwriting aspect, admiring their songwriter awards.

“I respect the Grammys, being a writer,” Rick Ross said. “But me being an artist representing hip hop? No.”

Mannie Fresh also weighed in on the matter, talking about an unspoken curse of sorts that befalls rap artists who win Grammys.

“What it means is: If you get a Grammy, people kind of downplay you. Not (like you) really sold out, but it means your music is kind of watered down. And I’ve been nominated for Grammys. And believe me, if I would have won, I would have took it!”

The veteran hip-hop producer added that winning Grammys makes rappers seem too big for their community. “If you get a Grammy, people kind of think you’re out of reach, so it kind of hurts you in a way,” Fresh said. “It’s like, oh now he has a Grammy, he won’t be coming back to this (small venue) again.”

[Image via YouTube.]