On a Grammy night that made time to showcase the runaway Broadway success of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, it was rapper Kendrick Lamar who stunned with transcendent musical theater.
But when it came time for the actual, prime-time awards—album of the year and song of the year—mainstream heroes Ed Sheeran (“Thinking Out Loud”) and Taylor Swift (1989) elbowed Lamar from the frame to claim the trophies.
Album of the Year goes to @taylorswift13! #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/3fRNlZ3iS4
— The Daily Dot (@dailydot) February 16, 2016
The performance of To Pimp a Butterfly standouts “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright” was electric and shocked social media with its prison industrial complex-spotlighting flare of trembling raps from the Compton, California, rapper. He donned handcuffs as his sax player blared from inside a jail cell. Shimmering in white against a black backdrop, the continent of Africa—with “Compton” stenciled in the center—punctuated the spectacle’s baseline intent: Lamar was here to enlighten.
ICYMI, @KendrickLamar‘s epic #Grammys performance was one for the ages. https://t.co/cgxuFHMjwf pic.twitter.com/mQYd35pkWm
— MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) February 16, 2016
Kendrick Lamar saves the Grammys https://t.co/tm2yEa1QHU pic.twitter.com/QbnVFZC4bf
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) February 16, 2016
.@kendricklamar‘s #GRAMMYs performance was gripping from start to finish. pic.twitter.com/B57Y6dK1X6
— The Daily Dot (@dailydot) February 16, 2016
Kendrick Lamar’s backup dancers backstage at the #Grammys pic.twitter.com/MCneIniinI
— Live Tweeting (@BlavityLive) February 16, 2016
“Isn’t a song worth more than a penny?” asked National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences President Neil Portnow, standing alongside rapper Common. It was an awkwardly direct dig at streaming music—and the night’s second most political moment.
Elsewhere, Justin Bieber disturbed with a star-crossed mustache and indulged Skrillex’s rock roots.
.@Skrillex rocks out at the #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/Cxe5BlmXuy
— The Daily Dot (@dailydot) February 16, 2016
Justin Bieber performing his Grammy-winning song “Where Are Ü Now” with Diplo and Skrillex #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/2oUIKZUlpU
— Rap-Up (@RapUp) February 16, 2016
Lady Gaga paid tribute to the late David Bowie with an ample medley of his greatest hits, while the Eagles, B.B. King, Maurice White, and Lemmy Kilmister enjoyed celeb-loaded homages. (Lemmy’s featured Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, and Joe Perry’s sideband Hollywood Vampires kicking “Ace of Spades,” and it was boldly ridiculous.)
.@ladygaga transforms herself for a moving tribute to David Bowie. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/VRDlGGWkgW
— The Daily Dot (@dailydot) February 16, 2016
Johnny Depp as a pirate is great, but Johnny Depp as a rock star is next level #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/RnubrQAvKr
— The Daily Dot (@dailydot) February 16, 2016
Beyond the forced Grammy moments and tributes, viral “All About That Bass” YouTube goddess Meghan Trainer took home best new artist honors; Adele sang off-key; and Dave Grohl enjoyed the procedural Vegas-like structure of Lionel Richie’s tribute.
Adele ♥️♥️♥️ #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/wR9XYYHaky
— The Daily Dot (@dailydot) February 16, 2016
Could watch this gif of Dave Grohl rockin’ out to @LionelRichie all night long. #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/Teay1TuwKR
— The Daily Dot (@dailydot) February 16, 2016
But, perhaps most curiously, one particularly high-profile billed guest (no, not Rihanna, who publicly canceled a Grammy performance despite making the red carpet) was missing from the moment.
the Internet demands answers pic.twitter.com/UZcHaBDAtn
— nick (@nick_pants) February 16, 2016
Pitbull made it out to perform with a dazzling Sofia Vergara after the awards all went to pop magnets, quelling the Web’s restlessness once and for all.
@SofiaVergara with @pitbull dancing to #ElTaxi! Haha!! pic.twitter.com/MWYqweevl7
— HITS 97.3 FM (@HITS973) February 16, 2016
Screengrab via CBS.com
