(AllHipHop News) The nomination process for the 2017 Grammys is close to beginning.
Billboard caught up with three potential Best New Artist nominees – Alessia Cara, Maren Morris, and breakout Hip Hop performer Chance The Rapper.
The publication asked the three rising stars whether Adele’s 25 or Beyoncé’s Lemonade should be crowned Album Of The Year at the Grammys.
Chance gave a nod to Auntie Yoncé, but he also made an argument for his own critically acclaimed project.
“I thought Lemonade was a well-structured album, politically vocal, streets-ready and cohesive. Not to say that Adele’s album didn’t have any of those things, but I only heard it, I think, once,” replied Chance. “Coloring Book would be a strong contender for album of the year, too. I’m not coming for Beyoncé at all. She will be nominated but I’m just saying, why not Coloring Book for album of the year?”
The last few years have seen a lot of attention placed on what is perceived as a lack of diversity at major award shows like the Grammys and Oscars.
While the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has honored numerous people of color, there has still been criticism that the “Big Three” awards – Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Record Of The Year – rarely go to artists that are not white.
Chance spoke about the challenges that people of color face in relation to the Grammy Awards and the music industry.
“Colorism and racism don’t stop when you’re a musician or when you have wealth or when you’re in any given position,” said the Chicago representative. “Kendrick [Lamar] going home Grammy-less [in 2014, when he was nominated in seven categories] was an awesome moment for people to recognize that it plagues us regardless of talent or skill.”