The Weeknd vs. The Grammys, Two New Rappers You Need to Know, and the Next Season of Atlanta

Your weekly dose of music discovery from Pigeons & Planes has landed. [Pigeons Planes ](#) This year's Grammys took place last weekend, and there were some heartwarming moments and interesting storylines. Thundercat won a Grammy, Freddie Gibbs had [the best reaction](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiNOG6P0UBMUTbaHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPTNlZjA2OTk5ODgtNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9MmM4MWU0MjAzYjEwZWJjJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3d3dy5pbnN0YWdyYW0uY29tL3AvQ01hdk1MRXN6dEwvJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzYzMjE2VwNzcGNCCmBSulxSYD2OCNNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) to not winning, and Beyoncé broke the record for most wins by a singer. But one of the biggest stars in the world wasn't there, and publicly noted that he doesn't even want his music be considered in the future. “Because of the secret committees, I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys.” - The Weeknd via [The New York Times](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiNOG6P0UBMoQAAWh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD0zZWYwNjk5OTg4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPTJjODFlNDIwM2IxMGViYyZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8wMy8xMS9hcnRzL211c2ljL2dyYW1teXMtdGhlLXdlZWtuZC1iZXlvbmNlLmh0bWwlM0Z1dG1fc291cmNlJTNEaGl2ZSUyNnV0bV9tZWRpdW0lM0RlbWFpbCUyNnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbiUzRGhpdmVfZW1haWxfaWRfNjMyMTZXA3NwY0IKYFK6XFJgPY4I01IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTJAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) The Weeknd had an astronomical year with his March 2020 album After Hours breaking records, racking up huge sales figures, and receiving positive reviews from fans and critics. "Blinding Lights" has spent an entire calendar year in the Billboard Top 10! We're well accustomed to Grammy night snubs (sorry to Kendrick, Frank, Beyoncé, and so many others), but The Weeknd didn't even make it that far—he wasn't nominated in a single category, and no one can explain why. The issue is with the anonymous committees who vote behind closed doors on the nomination choices made by the Recording Academy voting members in each category. The overall membership numbers thousands of artists and industry professionals, but the committees who make the final decision on nominees is kept confidential. Harvey Mason, the Recording Academy's interim leader, told The New York Times that the committees were established in 1989 “to eliminate the potential for a general-awareness bias that might favor artists who enjoy greater name recognition over emerging artists, independent music and late-year releases." But when Black Pumas, Jacob Collier, and Coldplay are nominated in three of the biggest categories and The Weeknd doesn't even get a look, it's hard not to feel like there are major flaws in the process. [THE BEST AND WORST MOMENTS OF THE 2021 GRAMMYS](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiNOG6P0UBM0TvaHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPTNlZjA2OTk5ODgtNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9MmM4MWU0MjAzYjEwZWJjJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3d3dy5jb21wbGV4LmNvbS9tdXNpYy8yMDIxLWdyYW1teXMtYmVzdC13b3JzdC1tb21lbnRzLyUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RpbnN0YWdyYW0lMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEc29jaWFsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEcGFwc29jaWFsaWdXA3NwY0IKYFK6XFJgPY4I01IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTJAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Image](#) [Image](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiNOG6P0UBNUTPaHR0cHM6Ly9hcHAuaGl2ZS5jby9lbWFpbC9lbHQvP2hfc2lkPTNlZjA2OTk5ODgtNWE4Zjg0ZmRmYmQ5OWI3MDY0OWQwMTE3Jmhhc2g9MmM4MWU0MjAzYjEwZWJjJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0EvL3lvdXR1LmJlL1lnMWl6R2Y4RUZRJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzYzMjE2VwNzcGNCCmBSulxSYD2OCNNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Image](#) [Nardwuar](#) JAHMED on His 5 Biggest Influences California rapper JAHMED has been one of our favorites ever since we heard [his first couple of singles in early 2020](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiNOG6P0UBOIQKAWh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD0zZWYwNjk5OTg4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPTJjODFlNDIwM2IxMGViYyZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy93d3cuY29tcGxleC5jb20vcGlnZW9ucy1hbmQtcGxhbmVzLzIwMjAvMDEvYmVzdC1uZXctYXJ0aXN0cy1qYW51YXJ5LTIwMjAvamFobWVkJTNGdXRtX3NvdXJjZSUzRGhpdmUlMjZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtJTNEZW1haWwlMjZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ24lM0RoaXZlX2VtYWlsX2lkXzYzMjE2VwNzcGNCCmBSulxSYD2OCNNSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkyQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Since then, he's also proven that he's one of the most consistent. With his latest project ARMANI, the rising rapper's respect for the art shines, but most impressively, he manages to showcase his craft while also keeping things incredibly entertaining. No words wasted, no dull moments. We asked JAHMED to break down some of his biggest influences, and here's what he shared. 50 CENT Key Words: Global Influence, Confidence "50 Cent was the first superstar I ever witnessed. I was 6 years old, and looking back I still remember the importance of what he embodied for hip-hop. The moment 50 Cent created in the early 2000s was monumental, and exemplified what it takes to become a global artist. Now that I’m older, I have also learned to appreciate how he was able to make way for his homies. It’s been 18 years since the release of Get Rich or Die Tryin' and it’s still in heavy rotation." BEYONCÉ Key Words: Work Ethic, Visuals, Impact "Beyoncé was the balance in my household. We grew up on a lot of West Coast and Southern Hip-Hop, but my mom also loved Beyoncé. I remember listening to B'Day every day after school, and it’s amazing to look back and acknowledge how her impact at the time has shaped my direction as an artist. Outside of being one of the biggest stars in the world, her work ethic also inspires me. You can easily tell that she works harder than most. Her discipline comes across as passion for her art, and I know she’s human, but her career has been close to flawless." JAY-Z Key Words: Strategy, Longevity, Business "Jay-Z found a way to do it all. My earliest memories of Jay-Z have to do with American Gangster, which showed me how to structure a body of work and put importance on giving my fans an experience of an album. Outside of his influence on my lyricism, he’s been able to tap into countless different businesses, breaking down previous barriers and gaining the respect from multiple industries. He gave us Rihanna and J. Cole as an executive, and we are still witnessing one of the longest running rap careers in the history of music. Jay- Z is something we have never seen before." 2PAC Key Words: Message, Delivery "I remember listening to Pac at a young age, and as a kid, it didn’t make much sense to me until I got older. I wasn’t going through the things he was speaking on until I was old enough to understand them. In high school, I was able to interpret his impact through his words. We’ve been having a huge moment around Black Lives Matter in the last few years, but this is nothing new. His music will illustrate that for decades and decades to come. In a lot of ways, Pac was like a prophet, way ahead of his time. I was an infant when he was writing these words that still apply perfectly to what we’re going through today." NIPSEY HUSSLE Key Words: Selfless w/ Information, Unity, Independent "There’s no higher example. Nipsey came from a divided neighborhood and still found a way to be a symbol for unity. He did everything his own way and never compromised his artistry or his ownership. He was a voice for so many that didn’t have one. His selflessness with information enlightened so many artists to understand what goes on behind industry doors. Nipsey gave me a blueprint on how to do things yourself, directly from the mud." [Image](#) [Image](#) Photo by Lauren Davis 454 You might recognize 454 from his appearances in TransWorld Magazine as [Willie Wilson](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiNOG6P0UCMTFE1Wh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD0zZWYwNjk5OTg4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPTJjODFlNDIwM2IxMGViYyZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9zcXVpbGxzLyUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF82MzIxNlcDc3BjQgpgUrpcUmA9jgjTUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~), teenage skating whiz from Orlando. Three years ago, Wilson followed his love for ‘90s New York hip-hop all the way to the city, where he now lives. In 2020, the Florida-born 454 pivoted to music. He dropped the lively “LATE NIGHT,” followed quickly by “FACETIME” and “ANDRETTI,” which are all tied together by pitched-up vocals and his own psychedelic production. With a Brent Faiyaz sample here and a triplet flow there, 454’s music is grounded in rap, R&B, and electronic music (some have compared his frenetic vocals to 100 gecs). Based off his first few releases, it’s difficult to pin 454 to any specific genre—not that he wants to be placed in a box, anyways. “I want to spread my production out to different worlds and not have a box to be placed in,” he tells us. “I just wanna put out a lot of sounds and show my down South state of mind.” “In 2021 I hope to be able to go deeper and become a better artist,” he adds. 454 is growing and honing his sound in front of our eyes, and his debut project 4 REAL is out now. [WATCH "ANDRETTI" MUSIC VIDEO](~/AAJOsQA~/RgRiNOG6P0UCMTJEz2h0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmhpdmUuY28vZW1haWwvZWx0Lz9oX3NpZD0zZWYwNjk5OTg4LTVhOGY4NGZkZmJkOTliNzA2NDlkMDExNyZoYXNoPTJjODFlNDIwM2IxMGViYyZuZXh0PWh0dHBzJTNBLy95b3V0dS5iZS96X2lwTTQ2dVdfWSUzRnV0bV9zb3VyY2UlM0RoaXZlJTI2dXRtX21lZGl1bSUzRGVtYWlsJTI2dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduJTNEaGl2ZV9lbWFpbF9pZF82MzIxNlcDc3BjQgpgUrpcUmA9jgjTUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MkBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Image](#) 2 Up, 2 Down looks at a couple things we like and a couple things falling out of favor. This week we're talking SNL and Elton John hitting people. 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