Hip-hop has long dominated culture — what took so long for it to dominate the Grammys?
Once considered a passing fad, hip-hop has permeated American pop music and become the most influential sound in the genre over the last half century. Its artists have gone from being persecuted over lyrics to bona-fide pop stars, corporate pitchmen, Hollywood players, tech moguls and label executives.
And now, after being largely overlooked in major categories for nearly four decades, this latest crop of Grammy nominations finally reflect the genre's continued prominence.
"Rap is so big, people can't deny," said Joie Manda, executive VP of Interscope Geffen A&M. "The influence
