Highsnobiety

The Grammy Awards will cease using the term “urban” in its awards and language, amid growing criticism in the music industry over the word's usage to refer to what is considered black music.

The Recording Academy made the announcement in a statement shared yesterday. Most notably the Academy is changing its controversial "Urban Contemporary" award to "Progressive R&B." The category was added to the Grammys in 2012 and has been the subject of increasing criticism ever since.

“We’re constantly evaluating our Awards process and evolving it to ensure the Grammy Awards are inclusive and reflect the current state of the music industry,” remarked Harvey Mason Jr., the Interim President of the Recording Academy.

The move follows Tyler, the Creator criticizing the term earlier this year when he described his Grammy win as feeling like a “backhanded compliment.” He said, “I don’t like that urban word. It’s just a politically correct way to say the N-word to me.”

The term "urban" is an antiquated umbrella term for popular black music genres hip hop and R&B. However, it is slowly being removed from the music industry. Just last week, Republic Records announced it would be removing the term from its verbiage.

We Recommend
  • These Perfumes Defined 2023, According to the 'Oscars of Fragrance'
    • Beauty
  • Dinner at the Chateau: Maison Kitsuné & Highsnobiety Host Music’s Last Supper
    • Culture
    • sponsored
  • And the Award for Best Costume Design Goes To... Poor Things!
    • Culture
  • Grammys Weekend With Highsnobiety: Polaroid Style
    • Culture
  • And the Grammy Award Goes to...the ‘Fits!
    • Style
What To Read Next
  • If the Shoe Fits: Footwear Phenom Paul Andrew Steps Into New Role at Sergio Rossi
    • Style
  • Chappell Roan Is Wary of Fame (& Dressing the Part)
    • Style
  • We Found the Best Outdoor Speakers for Summer So You Don’t Have To
    • Lifestyle
  • Pharrell’s $850K Bag & Mystery adidas Are an Olympic-Level Flex
    • Style
  • No One Saw Fashion's Camouflage Revival Coming — Literally
    • Style
  • Brutalist Beauties: Nike's New AJ4 Is a Monochromatic Masterpiece
    • Sneakers
    • sponsored

Web Accessibility Statement

Titel Media GmbH (Highsnobiety), is committed to facilitating and improving the accessibility and usability of its Website, www.highsnobiety.com. Titel Media GmbH strives to ensure that its Website services and content are accessible to persons with disabilities including users of screen reader technology. To accomplish this, Titel Media GmbH tests, remediates and maintains the Website in-line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which also bring the Website into conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that our efforts to maintain accessibility and usability are ongoing. While we strive to make the Website as accessible as possible some issues can be encountered by different assistive technology as the range of assistive technology is wide and varied.

Contact Us

If, at any time, you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any particular webpage on this Website, please contact us at accessibility@highsnobiety.com, +49 (0)30 235 908 500. If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the web page and nature of the issue in your email and/or phone call, and we will make all reasonable efforts to make that page or the information contained therein accessible for you.