Dave Chappelle came out once again to the Grammys stage to present best rap album — but first he took a moment to honor A Tribe Called Quest, whose memorable performance at last year’s awards did not result in a nomination at this year’s event.
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“I have so much love and respect to all the nominees tonight,” Chappelle began, “And I just want to take a moment to honor Jarobi, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Q-Tip, sometimes Busta, sometimes Consequence, and of course always and forever Phife Dawg. Can we kick it?”
The award was one of several that was chock full of deserving winners, with JAY-Z‘s 4:44; Kendrick Lamar‘s DAMN.; Migos‘ Culture; Rapsody‘s Laila’s Wisdom; and Tyler, The Creator‘s Flower Boy all in contention. But eventually, Chappelle announced that Lamar’s DAMN. won the honor, his fifth win of the evening, which also completed his sweep of the rap categories at the event.
“[Hip-hop] is what got me on the stage, this is what got me to tour around the world. Most important it showed me what a true artist is,” Kendrick said while accepting his award. “It’s really about expressing yourself and putting that paint on the canvas for the world to evolve for the next generation and the next.”
Then, in both a nod to one of his competitors and the man who has most recently caused Donald Trump to tweet inanities into the ether, Kendrick acknowledged JAY-Z: “Jay for president!”
Check out Kendrick’s acceptance speech below.
