The final time Sean Combs’ music competed on the Grammys, a then-unknown Mark Zuckerberg had simply created Fb, Nipplegate occurred on the Tremendous Bowl and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King garnered a record-tying 11 Oscars. It was 2004, and Combs, aka Diddy, received finest rap efficiency by a gaggle or duo — his third Grammy — for the thumping hit “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” that includes Nelly and Murphy Lee. The observe appeared on the Dangerous Boys II soundtrack, which Diddy government produced and launched on his Dangerous Boy label.
So his return to the Grammys, twenty years later with a nomination for finest progressive R&B album for his The Love Album: Off the Grid, is a significant feat — and a proud second for the artist. Some would even name the nomination a win (although we should always notice that there’s zero likelihood his album can compete with SZA’s game-changing SOS).
Although Diddy isn’t nominated within the main Grammy classes, his bid for finest progressive R&B album is noteworthy because the award honors R&B-based tasks created by modern acts who blaze trails, together with vital darlings like Steve Lacy and Thundercat. Seventy albums had been submitted for the award this yr, and the 54-year-old Diddy beat out revered acts like Daniel Caesar, Kelela, Jungle and Kali Uchis, whose Crimson Moon in Venus ranked second on THR’s finest albums of 2023 listing.
Diddy’s massive comeback to music’s largest awards present didn’t final lengthy: Lower than every week after the Recording Academy unveiled its nominees, singer Cassie sued her former document label boss and boyfriend, alleging he used his energy to topic her to years of sexual and bodily violence. Cassie and Diddy settled two days later, however extra lawsuits from ladies adopted with claims of rape and sexual assault. Combs has denied all the allegations.
The severity of the allegations forged a shadow over the artist — and over the awards present that acknowledged him. Diddy’s consultant instructed THR that he received’t attend the Feb. 4 Grammys. Everybody nominated for a Grammy is invited to the present, and the Academy revealed in a Dec. 11 assertion to RadarOnline that it’s “taking this matter very significantly and we’re within the technique of evaluating it with the time and care that it deserves.”
Up to now, the Academy has been fortunate, in that such controversial nominees as Dave Chappelle, Dr. Luke and Louis C.Ok. have opted out of attending (though three years after his home violence incident with Rihanna on the eve of the Grammys practically ended his profession, Chris Brown returned to the present in 2012, incomes his first Grammy and performing through the reside occasion). And whereas it’s unclear what the Academy’s present-day stance is on celebrating the notoriously nominated, when THR requested about Chappelle’s and C.Ok.’s noms final yr, Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. stated: “We don’t management who the voters vote for. If voters really feel like a creator deserves a nomination, they’re going to vote for them. If there’s somebody that’s been nominated that we don’t essentially agree with, we’re not going to take away a nomination.
“We’re by no means going to be within the enterprise of evaluat[ing] them on the size of morality,” he continued. “Our job is to judge the artwork and the standard of the artwork. The factor that we will management is ensuring that folks that attend our occasions really feel secure … and don’t really feel threatened by anybody.”
With its 91 classes, disinviting Diddy might imply having to use a vetting course of to all of its 450 nominees.
As a backdrop, whereas the allegations are excessive profile, Diddy’s nomination was not. Some folks don’t even know that he launched a brand new document in September. The Love Album solely debuted at No. 19 on Billboard’s 200 albums chart, and its single, “One other One among Me,” spent a single week on the Scorching 100 chart, touchdown at No. 87. In a approach, that’s what makes the nomination that rather more particular — the album didn’t dominate streaming companies or earn excessive vital acclaim, nevertheless it nonetheless was acknowledged by music professionals and confirmed up on the awards present.
And although Diddy’s identify is on the heart of The Love Album, it’s a gaggle undertaking. The collaborative effort was constructed on the backs of others, and it options high artists like Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Herb Alpert, H.E.R., 21 Savage, Jazmine Sullivan, Burna Boy, Summer time Walker, Teyana Taylor, Babyface, Busta Rhymes, Coco Jones and others. Producers embody Stevie J, Timbaland, London on da Observe, Metro Boomin, D’Mile, the Stereotypes, Nova Wav and extra. That’s most likely why it landed a nomination — as a result of everybody concerned within the album voted for it.
Diddy doubtless would have been in a super-celebratory temper the week of the awards present, launching an all-star pre-Grammy occasion to honor the nod and salute his collaborators on the undertaking. He would have attended the present and made a TV second out of it, regardless of not profitable.
However that received’t occur now. For all events concerned, the love for The Love Album feels extra like heartache.
This story first appeared within the Jan. 10 subject of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.
