Drake's 'Views' Is Already One Of The Biggest Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time.

It might still be relatively new to the world, but Drake’s  record Views has already earned its place in history as one of the biggest hip-hop albums of all time. Now, I’m not saying that the album is necessarily going to end up as one of the most influential or the most critically applauded works ever released, but nobody can argue with numbers, as they show how insanely popular Views is and has been ever since it hit the streets (and the streaming platforms).

Rapper Drake speaks during introductions before the NBA All-Star Game 2016 at the Air Canada Centre on February 14, 2016, in Toronto, Ontario.

Charts

Views has occupied the number one spot on the Billboard 200 ever since it originally debuted in the position with a very impressive 1.04 million equivalent units shifted. That’s the biggest opening in 2016, and it has spent week after week blocking new entries from some of the biggest names in the music industry.

The record has now been on top for eight consecutive weeks, and it is highly likely that there are at least a few more frames at number one in the album’s future. Not many titles can reign for that long, especially in a row. In fact, it has been well over a decade since any male solo artist has managed the feat, with the last being Eminem back in 2000.

While artists like Adele have easily bested Drake’s eight straight turns at number one, there are very few hip-hop titles that have done the same. In fact, according to Billboard, Drake’s latest is just the fourth hip-hop album in history to manage at least as many weeks at the top. The other three titles are Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP, Vanilla Ice’s To the Extreme, and M.C. Hammer’s Please Hammer Don’t Hurt 'Em. Having hit number eight, Drake is now tied with Eminem, and he will likely pass the latter's record, though don’t expect the "One Dance" rapper to best Vanilla Ice’s or M.C. Hammer’s winning streaks, as those albums spent 16 and 21 weeks atop the Billboard 200, consecutively.

Singles

Views might only be about two months old, but it has already performed better singles-wise than most albums ever do. So far, the LP has seen 19 of its 20 tracks make it onto the Hot 100, with six of them scooting past the top 40 marker. That’s the most slots on the singles ranking that any artist has controlled at one time by far, and Drake may very well own that record forever.

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“Hotline Bling” kicked off the promotional campaign for Views last summer, and after taking a little while to pick up steam, the track spent many frames in the runner-up position, never quite making it to number one, though it ended up as one of the most popular tunes of 2015. Since then, follow-up single “One Dance” has already ruled the singles chart for weeks, and its numbers are becoming greater and greater by the day. The hit, which features WizKid and Kyla, is a global smash, and it too seems like it may continue to run the show for some time to come.

Few albums see even one song match the kind of success that both “Bling” and “Dance” have enjoyed, and there is no telling how many more tracks could continue to rise on the charts.

Streaming

Every single week that Views has managed to remain in the peak position on the albums chart, it has racked up incredible figures from streaming sources. In fact, the number of streams that Views ends every week with typically land that frame on the list of the most plays for any one album in history.

When the album was first released, the twenty songs featured were played an almost-unbelievable 245 million times. That number is incredible on its own, but it’s made even more special considering the  fact that for the first seven days it was out, Views was only available to stream on one platform: Apple Music.

Before Views arrived, Beyoncé owned the record for the most streams in a week, as the tracks on her Lemonade record were played 115 million times in just seven days. Since then, Drake's Views has garnered over 100 million plays every single week, making each week-end number an almost historical occasion. No other hip-hop album comes even close to the number of plays that Drake receives week after week. The closest is Kanye’s The Life Of Pablo, which saw its songs listened to 99 million times in its first frame of availability, with that figure dipping since.

The artistic influence that Views inspires is yet to be seen, but numbers-wise, nothing can compare. The only area where Drake’s new album has been falling behind is in terms of actual sales. While millions of people may play the record on various streaming platforms every day, the number of copies it sells is low, and they are certainly not enough to make the title one of the best selling ever, though it is important to remember that the times have changed, and sales are down for almost every act. Now that the majority of people are accessing their music via streaming outlets, Drake's latest is truly one to remember.

HERE'S THE DEEPER MEANING BEHIND J. COLE'S NEW ALBUM '4 YOUR EYEZ ONLY'

J. Cole hasn’t spoken about the meaning of his new album 4 Your Eyez Only, but the title track repeatedly asks a important question:

For your eyes—do you understand?
For your eyes—do you understand me?
For your eyes—do you understand?
It’s not immediately clear what Cole means. But a close listen to the album reveals that there is an underlying narrative that connects the album’s tracks, and explains the title.

At the center of 4 Your Eyez Only is the murder of a friend of J. Cole’s named James McMillan Jr. who got caught up in the streets. On the song “Change,” Cole reenacts his funeral, and raps about seeing his murder reported on the news:

I made it home, I woke up and turned on the morning news
Overcame with a feeling I can’t explain
‘Cause that was my nigga James that was slain, he was 22
Whether it’s fiction or not is unclear, but the entire album seems to be a retelling of McMillan’s life to the young daughter named Nina he left behind. Cole explicitly spells this out on the album’s final track, when he reveals that McMillan told him to communicate his story to his daughter:

Write my story down and if I pass
Go play it for my daughter when she ready
And so I’m leaving you this record for your eyes only
Although this isn’t revealed until the very end, the whole album sets up this theme. The opening track “For Whom The Bell Tolls” is a reference to bells ringing at a funeral. On the second track “Immortal,” Cole assumes the perspective of a young man—presumably McMillan—who sells drugs as a means to escape poverty, despite the risks:

Kingpin nigga, put wings on a crack fiend
If they want a nigga, they gon' have to send a SWAT team
And I’m goin' out like Scarface in his last scene
A legend, what that mean—?
On the track “Ville Mentality,” Cole includes a spoken interlude from a young girl, presumably McMillan’s daughter:

My dad, he died—he got shot cause his friend set him up
And I didn’t go to his funeral—and sometimes when I’m in my room, I get mad at my momma when she mean to me
And she—
And she say, clean up—I say—
I get mad, I slam my door and go in my room—
And then, I get mad and I say, “I wish my dad was here”
A few of the albums tracks—like “Foldin Clothes” and the two “She’s Mine” songs focus on love, fatherhood, and their ability to make a man reconsider his priorities in life. This is a theme that likely applies to Cole’s own life, but also fits in with the McMillan narrative. On “She’s Mine Pt. 2,” Cole raps about the birth of a child inspiring him to turn his life around:

You are now the reason that I fight
I ain’t never did nothing thats right in my whole life
He finally lays everything bare on the album’s final song “4 Your Eyez Only,” revealing that McMillan’s biggest fear is his daughter coming home from school to see he was killed. Tragically, this fear came true:

My worst fear is one day that you come home from school
And see your father face while hearing ‘bout tragedy on news
I got the strangest feeling your daddy gonna lose his life soon
And sadly if you’re listening now it must mean it’s true
McMillan’s daughter is the one thing he’s proud of in life, and he wants Cole to tell her his story since he won’t be there to see her grow up:

Just call it visions from the other side
I got a feeling I won’t see tomorrow
Like the time I’m living on is borrowed
With that said, the only thing I’m proud to say I was a father
Write my story down and if I pass
Go play it for my daughter when she ready
And so I’m leaving you this record for your eyes only
Don’t you ever scratch or disrespect it
As the album ends, Cole explains that despite his life of crime—a life spurred on by the systemic oppression and lack of opportunity that Cole denounces throughout the album—McMillan was a good man because he loved his daughter. By referencing the story and saying it’s for her eyes only, Cole reveals that album is an allegory for McMillan’s life, told to his daughter from his own perspective:
Nah, your daddy was a real nigga
Not ‘cause he was hard
Not because he lived a life of crime and sat behind some bars
Not because he screamed, “Fuck the law,” although that was true
Your daddy was a real nigga 'cause he loved you
For your eyes only
It’s unclear if James McMillan Jr. is a real person, or simply meant to be an avatar for the millions of young men who have met a similar fate. In any case, it seems like Cole wants to tell their stories and become “the voice of the voiceless,” as Dreamville president Ibrahaim Hamad tweeted just hours after the album dropped.

Hopefully Cole will speak on the album’s meaning some day, but for now there’s plenty to parse. Read all the lyrics to 4 Your Eyez Only now.

Billboard 200 Chart Moves: 'Grammy Nominees' Series Scores 23rd Top 40-Charting Album

On the latest Billboard 200 albums chart (dated Feb. 11), John Mayer’s new EP, The Search for Everything: Wave One, debuted at No. 2 with 46,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Jan. 26, according to Nielsen Music. Meanwhile, The Weeknd’s Starboy stuck around at No. 1 for a fifth nonconsecutive frame, with 56,000 units (down 8 percent).

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the week’s most popular albums based on their overall consumption. That overall unit figure combines pure album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA).

Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the action on the latest Billboard 200 chart:

— Various Artists, 2017 Grammy Nominees - No. 16 — The 2017 Grammy Nominees compilation debuts at No. 16 with 18,000 equivalent album units (all from album sales) earned in the week ending Jan. 26, according to Nielsen Music. The album boasts selections by artists nominated for the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, which will be presented on Feb. 12.

2017 Grammy Nominees is the 23rd top 40-charting Grammy Nominees album in the series, stretching back to the 1995 Grammy Nominees effort, which peaked at No. 26. Every one of the series’ main titles have reached the top 40. (From 1999 through 2001, there were spin-off sets that focused on rap and/or R&B nominations. They did not reach the top 40.)

15 Grammy Nominees albums have hit the top 10, and the highest charting sets are the 2013 and 2014 editions, which both peaked at No. 2.

— Kidz Bop Kids, Kidz Bop 34 - No. 14 — Kidz Bop Kids’ new Kidz Bop 34 arrives at No. 14 on the Billboard 200, starting with 17,000 equivalent album units earned and 16,000 in traditional album sales. It is the 33rd top 40-charting effort from the long-running brand, and the 49th title to chart on the tally. The very first Kidz Bop album debuted and peaked at No. 76 on the Oct. 27, 2001-dated list. In total, the series has sold 17.1 million albums in the U.S. Over on the Kid Albums chart, the set starts at No. 1 -- the 36th leader for the line on the chart.

— Panic! at the Disco, Death of a Bachelor - No. 24 — The album rises 31-24 with a 21 percent increase in equivalent album units (rising to 15,000) following the act’s buzzy performance of the set’s title track on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Jan. 19.

— Jacob Sartorius, The Last Text EP - No. 32 — Former Billboard cover star Jacob Sartorius takes a bow at No. 32 on the Billboard 200 with his debut set, The Last Text EP (12,000 units; 9,000 sold). The set also enters at No. 1 on the Independent Albums chart and No. 5 on the Digital Albums chart. The 14-year-old rose to fame thanks to his popularity on the Musical.ly app, which led to him sharing cover space on the Oct. 29, 2016, edition of the magazine. Sartorius is currently on tour, with dates lined up in Europe and the U.S. through May 7 in New York.

— Young Thug, Jeffery - No. 152 — The album climbs with a 14 percent unit gain (to 5,000 units), owed in part to the popularity of its single “Wyclef Jean,” which collected 2.7 million on-demand audio streams for the week (up 25 percent).

VALENTINE DAY GIFT IDEAS..

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, an opportunity to show love, warmth and in addition to revive fellowships. It is a day put aside to accomplish something unique, for that unique individual. This is the ideal time to trade endowments between companions, relatives, sweethearts and couples.

With regards to getting the ideal blessing, it might show up somewhat difficult. There are a few points of interest to put into thought when looking for a blessing like the individual's identity, his or her preferences and above all guarantee it doesn't pass the wrong message.

To make the current year's Valentine's Day a huge one for you and your accomplice, here are some blessing thoughts:

Gift Ideas for Her:

Valentine's Day to most ladies is a major ordeal, from gifting chocolates, cards, red roses and pleasant night feasting, they need the entire works. To make this year additionally energizing, sentimental and unique, here are some blessing thoughts to get you arranged.

Fragrances: Perfumes can be extremely individual, here is the ideal time to complement her style with another aroma. They fluctuate, from botanical aromas, to fruity and even fiery fragrance. There are additionally signature big name aromas; Reb'l Fleur by Rihanna, Rise by Beyonce, Pink Friday by Nicki Minaj that any woman would love. Blessing sets scents are flawless so you may consider brands like Perry Ellis, Calvin Klein, Gucci, YSL and parcels more. For moderate and first class planner fragrances you may click here to shop.

Fashion Items: Most ladies could never concur they have enough design wears. In accordance with this, getting a design thing would remain an extraordinary decision. Get her that dress, a couple of shoe, explanation wristwatch or even a satchel she has constantly needed.

Jewelries: Jewelry are extras that help upgrade a lady's style. This valentine, find ideal here amazing and rich hoops, pieces of jewelry and armlets to make her emerge. Advance her style with in vogue articulation adornments for all season.

Spa Treatment: Dare to do things another way, give her a treat! Give her a chance to be spoiled with a spa treatment which is perfect for this season. This can even be a unique regard for both of you as Konga.com has an uncommon Valentine spa offer.

Gift Ideas for Him

Your man's identity is exceptionally basic with regards to getting the ideal blessing this season. In as much as men act macho, leaving the feeling that they think less about blessings, this is so untrue. Men likewise need to feel adored and acknowledged also and a blessing from their accomplice will go far.

So for the bustling agent who invests the majority of the energy at the workplace, an eager foodie, fashionista, stalwart game, music or computer game significant other, there is certainly something only for him from the tips beneath:

Jewelry: A tasteful adornments to mirror his feeling of style is a flawless present for the man in your life. It's a blessing he would treasure and appreciate. A portion of the gems choices incorporate decent sleeve buttons, arm ornaments and lapels.Wristwatches are likewise customized endowments and perfect this season.

Gadget: Gadgets may come as gadgets which he can use to lift his aptitudes, and additionally to make more diversion for himself. For the stalwart aficionados of game, a club pullover or game gear would be valued. Earphones, computer games or consoles would dependably be a win!!

Cologne: A masculine cologne is an incredible go-to present for folks. It's additionally a flexible blessing alternative, they differ by fragrances; woody, crisp or even citrus. Cologne can be modern and smooth, enthusiastic and vigorous, fragrant and fun, or reviving and clean. You simply need to settle on your choice for your man from the wide fury. There are blessing sets from big name marks and in addition post-shaving astringent and preparing packs.

Fashion Item: Fashion wears for men would be an incredible decision. You may consider an all around custom fitted suit/jacket, a shirt, a couple of shoe, boxers, vest, or even sweatshirt. Corresponding style adornments are additionally basic, an announcement pack, belt or wallet.

Book: When you purchase a book, you are thusly putting resources into information. So whether it is a motivational, rousing, Non Fiction, Educational, or in the event that it includes business and administration this would be esteemed.

Make the most of this present Valentine's Day this year, conceive brand new ideas a little to shock and joy your accomplice.

How nigerain artistes are losing millions because of international deals.

How Nigerian artistes are losing millions because of  international deals

By marking global arrangements, our artistes are losing millions in neighborhood gushing income.

In 2015, Sony Music appeared at the entryway ventures of our landmass with crisp new arrangements and a longing to work with the top demonstrations from Nigeria.

This move was joyfully grasped by the A-rundown stars who had accomplished everything that there is on the landmass, and had turned out to be tainted. They had as of now began longing for the treats that lay over the seas and diverse markets.

The US advertise, which is one of the greatest music showcases on the mainland was dependably the Holy Grail of the business sectors. Everybody needed a bit of the cake, a share of the crown jewels, and for our artistes, a cut at that brilliance.

These business sectors didn't simply bolster their vanity and stroked their personality, if legitimately done right, it was a significant business open door for every one of the artistes who needed to experience the unattainable rank and solid entryways that kept them down.

Sony Music gave a look at that open door, employing tailor-made contracts that were intended for each artiste and each level. Ayo Jay had an arrangement that was intended to open up and create benefit for his humming single 'Your Number'. Davido was put on a recording bargain, Wizkid has comparative, Tekno's was intended for a three-single recording arrangement, Ycee got contracted to discharge his EP with them.

While it has all the earmarks of being incredible news that these artistes are marked to global arrangements, they are additionally surrendering certain parts of their business. They are losing millions in nearby gushing income.

The Nigerian music industry is keep running on a free structure, which gives our artistes adaptability and control over their music. We could sign manages anybody and everybody, contingent upon what they were conveying to the table. We could likewise unreservedly contend locally and on the mainland, appropriate our music to wherever we need it to hit, and the sky is the limit from there.

Our specialists lose the greater part of that opportunity and adaptability when they sign to a composed name structure. They are presently bound by various guidelines, contracts and arrangements from the parent body. This gives them zero control over their music. From the recording procedure, down to the way the music is disseminated and tuned in.

For circulation, they are as yet offering their music in the worldwide computerized stores and gushing stages, for example, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer, Spotify and others, similarly as they were before the Sony bargain.

Be that as it may, Davido and Wizkid can't offer their music in the neighborhood markets and stages. Davido's 'Child Of Mercy' EP or any of its singles can't be found on MTN Music Plus, neither can Wizkid's 'Daddy Yo'. A similar thing is going on for Ycee's 2016 single 'Connection up', which is his first discharge under Sony Music Africa.

Without the capacity to offer their music in the neighborhood advertise, these Sony Artistes are losing millions in nearby income.

Computerized music downloads and spilling in Nigeria have turned into the most good wellspring of income for nearby artists. A report by reviewing firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) in 2015 said income from music deals in Nigeria, Africa's most crowded nation, was $56 million that year, and anticipated it would develop to $88 million in 2019.

PwC likewise said Nigeria's amusement and media industry had an expected aggregate income of $4.8 billion in 2015 and was probably going to develop to $8.1 billion in 2019, making it "the quickest growing real market all around".

Ringback guest tones as of now create no less than a third more income for Nigerian artistes, than spilling on worldwide computerized stores.

Be that as it may, Sony Music craftsmen are passing up a major opportunity for tha

Michael Ugwu, general administrator for Sony Music Entertainment West Africa, told Reuters in 2016, that Sony Music is chipping away at setting up association bargains in Nigeria with telecoms organizations MTN, Airtel and Etisalat [ETELZS.UL] since opening an office in business capital Lagos in February 2016.

Yet, that arrangement is yet to be finished, and fixed.

This is on account of Sony Music is still stuck on working out an arrangement with the nearby media transmission organizations, and they are pushing for another model for income partaking in the neighborhood markets. Being a universal record With Sony Music paying special mind to utilization of their material on the web, Nigerian artistes marked to them would need to relinquish natural advancement by means of online networking. Instagram and Facebook now hails recordings that contain parts of their music. So additionally does YouTube, and for the most part every other stage where fans can demonstrate love and spread the news about the music.

"Sony Music is as yet working its way up to work at the nearby level in Nigeria. That is the reason they don't have these arrangements which would help give their artistes more use", an industry insider who requested that not be named said.

So yes, our artistes have marked an arrangement with a global music monster. In any case, by marking on to these agreements, they are losing the capacity to work at various neighborhood levels, and furthermore losing millions in nearby gushing revenue.d name, with a colossal inventory of the best artistes, they trust they are in a solid position to impact that, and improve bargain than the neighborhood players.

A staff of a nearby spilling administration who addressed Pulse on state of namelessness, uncovered that Sony's proposition is still in the pipeline. "They are hoping to change the set up progression of income sharing of the framework, and these things will take more than just gatherings."

The discussions on the arrangements have delayed everlastingly, and until they are sorted, Nigerian artistes would need to relinquish that income stream. This implies no guest ring-back tunes (CRBT) and others.

Likewise, there's the little matter of advancement via web-based networking media. Facebook has built up a robotized framework to distinguish and expel copyrighted substance, much like YouTube's Content ID. This has significantly influenced fan-made cover forms, whose makers are probably not going to have cleared their utilization with lyricists and distributers.

How Major Lazer Finally Landed the 'Untouchable' Nicki Minaj for 'Run Up': Diplo Tells the Story

The track also features PartyNextDoor.

Major Lazer's latest banger arrived last week with the electronic trio teaming up with Nicki Minaj and PartyNextDoor for the club-friendly, danceable tune "Run Up."

While Major Lazer fans are excited about such a star-studded collaboration (and a seriously catchy tune to boot), it may have been ML's Diplo who was the most thrilled to finally have a project with Minaj. Major Lazer has been trying to work with the hitmaking rapper for a couple of years now, Diplo told Beats 1's Zane Lowe, and the timing was finally right this time.

Diplo chatted with Billboard about the new song, sharing his thoughts on the "untouchable" Minaj -- who wrote 16 verses for the song -- and how PartyNextDoor's verse triggered it all. Check out an edited transcript of the story behind the collaboration below.

We’re always working on music, we probably have between 30, 40 songs at any moment, just building ideas. This one, PartyNextDoor had the chorus and we had the song -- a demo of it -- and we decided to try something different with the production. I think once we did this kind of futuristic, afrobeat, dance house kind of production, Nicki Minaj was really interested in that. She’s always someone to jump on new and cool beats and styles, so once we had the production, she was into it. Then after that, it was pretty easy to get everything else done.

It was simple: Five people helped build the idea of the song. Sometimes it takes three or four songwriters -- like "Cold Water" was a vocal and a chorus written together. But with hip-hop, you kind of throw things together -- a verse becomes a chorus or a word becomes a chorus. But the production [with "Run Up"], when that got unique enough, it was ready to send out to Nicki and people like that.

Major Lazer's 'Run Up' Debuts at No. 4 on Billboard + Twitter Top Tracks Chart
[Nicki] seems like so untouchable to me, like she seems so far away and untouchable. But when you get in reach of her, she’s so down to earth. It’s really cool to finally meet an artist like that who really understands how to perfect a verse. Because I have so many songs now, like four or five a week, and go through them real quick. And she takes her time on the record -- I like that vibe too. Artists like her or Madonna, some of the people I’ve worked with, are perfectionists and I can appreciate that a lot more when some hip-hop artists just run through songs so quickly. It’s cool to take some time to finish a song.

I was happy with the first [verse]. [Laughs] I was definitely like, "Ooh, I’m good," but she was like, "Nah, let me try again, let me try again," and it kept going until the last time when I was like, "Yo, we’re mixing this tomorrow." I was like, "You can’t write any more, I gotta mix this, we gotta release this now. This is it." But the final one’s perfect. She’s so good with her timing and style and adding an extra bar or whatever. She’s the master.

[PartyNextDoor] has been doing stuff with Drake -- his last single, “Not Nice,” was very futuristic, Jamaican, kinda Caribbean. So we thought, why don’t we have him do a record for us? He’s been doing the dancehall sound and we just have a bunch of songs that have been bubbling up, so we decided it was the perfect way to launch it. Major Lazer is always about cutting edge and new artists, and he just seemed like a new artist for a lot of people.

We’re always bouncing around until we find the right people who can work with us, who the labels will let us work with. There’s a lot of politics involved too, so we’re just at the mercy of everybody. We’re still a small group -- a lot of people want to work with us, but sometimes labels don’t, so it’s hard to find the right timing and the right politics that work for us.

Diplo Talks New Major Lazer and Nicki Minaj With Zane Lowe: Listen
I think [with "Run Up"], we’d done pop music with the last record, so it was time to do something l
like club and very urban, something progressive, something that feels like now. It’s a song for the spring and summer, but it was important that we put it out now because it takes, like, four or five months for people to listen to us. We know that now, so we always put stuff out early.

I want to take time and concentrate on each song one by one. We’ve always been singles guys -- even our last album [2015's Peace Is the Mission] only had nine songs on it. And I don’t think people listen to albums as much as they used to; some people just don’t have the attention span to listen to 16 songs. I think that hurts artists sometimes -- like pop albums having 12 to 20 songs is overkill, you know?

We have an uphill battle -- we’re independent, we don’t have a label behind us, so each song takes a lot of time and money for us to promote. Pop stars put out an album, they work on it for a year, tour for two years and promote it for two years. That’s the cycle, right? We’re DJs that travel around the world, we’re always on cycle and always working at the same time. It’s a different timing than what a regular artist would do -- they write, they promote, they tour. We do all of it at once all year 'round, so we can’t do it the old, classic way.

True Confessions of a Grammy Voter: An Industry Insider Spills the Truth on Beyonce & Adele's Chances

A leading songwriter and longtime Recording Academy member checks the boxes for Drake (won’t win) and Chance (a lock), and says it’s the kids vs. the alte kakers at the academy.
Who’s On First?
If you’re Neil Portnow and Ken Ehrlich, you open the show with Beyoncé. You open with Beyoncé, but you bring out Chance the Rapper during her performance. You stack the deck. It’s very “F— you, Trump.” And isn’t that what everything will be about? The speeches will be chock-full of that. And everyone will be “overrated” in his tweets the next day.

Business As Usual
As this business continues to evolve and crumble, it’s funny that it still feels so incredibly corporate at the top of the Grammys. The big four album of the year nominations are certainly deserving, but they all feel industry-generated. And the fifth “prestige” nom, Sturgill Simpson, feels like the beneficiary of a big label push.

Free Lunch
It’s hard for me to understand who the Grammy voter really is because I don’t know if most of them have aged out... died, that is. At the end of the day, the Grammys are a TV show. They realize that they need to pull in that young audience and nominate popular artists. I picture representatives from The Recording Academy standing outside studios, signing up a 21-year-old kid who has his first 3 percent of a Rihanna C-side. But the older guard doesn’t want to give up their free annual lunch at the academy.

Album Of The Year
I voted for Drake, but Lemonade will win. Drake’s the most influential artist in music today. And I’m rewarding a billion Spotify plays, or whatever the amount is. But Lemonade is a political record, which feels dangerously appropriate right now. Adele’s her biggest competition. And while I think [Adele’s] stuff is beautifully constructed and the vocals are impeccable, it’s harmless, you know? And everyone knows 25 isn’t as memorable as 21.

Record Of The Year
I voted for [Twenty One Pilots’] “Stressed Out,” but it’s not going to overtake “Hello.” Here’s the thing with “Hello” -- and I know it’s sacrilege not to praise this one -- but it felt like the fourth single from the previous record! I didn’t get it! I still don’t get it! What I loved about both “Rolling in the Deep” and “Rumour Has It” were the tempos. Leading with a tempo record is more exciting. “Hello” isn’t exciting.

Bey Vs. Riri
I’m ADHD. Actual diagnosis. With that in mind, I love that “Formation” is so skittery and jumpy, because that’s how my brain works. It has the best 45 seconds ever at the top of the song. Lyrically, it’s great. That said, I just don’t think it’s melodically memorable enough for song of the year. Beyoncé is an incredible artist. But song-wise, she’s a bit overrated. She’s so iconic at this point that it’s become less about songs. I’ll take Rihanna’s singles over Beyoncé’s every day.

The Nader Vote
Chance is a lock. My personal favorite is Anderson Paak, but I don’t think he has a shot. I voted for him. It was like voting for Ralph Nader. Chance is an absolute movement. And it’s an indie record, which is even crazier.

Parting Thought
If the Hollywood Vampires don’t perform, then the night is a success.