2024 Grammy: “We won’t let you have it all” — Hypeman fumes

Special Spesh, the hypeman for Nigerian artist Davido, has voiced his criticism against the organizers of the 2024 Grammy Awards after Davido and several other Nigerian nominees were overlooked for the prestigious accolade at the 66th Grammys on Sunday.

The likes of Ayra Starr, Burna Boy, Asake, and Olamide were snubbed, with the only non-Nigerian nominee, Tyla, winning the inaugural Best African Music Performance category.

Expressing his discontent with the outcome, Special Spesh accused the 2024 Grammy organizers of attempting to exert control over African music.

He asserted that Africans would not allow the Grammys to undermine the influence of Afrobeats or any other African genre.

Taking to his Instagram page, Spesh stated,

“We won’t give you the power to dumb Afrobeats down or Afrofusion or anything African! That’s (white) America’s problem! When things start to take over and get massive, they always want a part, then try to have a say, then try to control.”

Despite the disappointment, Grammy-nominated Nigerian artists Davido and Ayra Starr displayed sportsmanship by congratulating the South African winner, Tyla, for her historic victory in the Best African Music Performance category.

Davido, on his X page, wrote,

“Congratulations on your win @Tyllaaaaaaa! Big One for Africa! Keep soaring!”

Ayra Starr, on her X handle, also extended her congratulations:

“Congratulations to my babessssss @Tyllaaaaaaa.”

It’s worth noting that Tyla and Ayra Starr had collaborated on the hit song ‘Girl Next Door.’

In an interview conducted days before the award ceremony, Ayra Starr had mentioned that she had already prepared her Grammy acceptance speech, restating her optimism towards the event.