Jay-Z used his acceptance speech at the 2024 Grammy’s to call out the organization who honored him with his award. Jay-Z was awarded the second annual Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, in recognition of his musical legacy. During his acceptance speech, the hip-hip artist questioned the process behind the voted categories. “We want y’all to get it right. At least getting close to right. And obviously it’s subjective. Y’all don’t gotta clap at everything. Obviously it’s subjective because, you know, it’s music and it’s opinion-based,” the artist started. “But, you know, some things — I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won album of the year. So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work. Think about that. The most Grammys, never won album of the year. That doesn’t work,” he continued. “You know, some of you gonna go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don’t belong in a category. No, when I get nervous I tell the truth,” Jay-Z added.

While Jay-Z did not mention the “young lady” by name, he appeared to be referring to his wife Beyoncé. The singer has been nominated for album of the year four times and has never won. Beyoncé was up for best new artist in 2010 (losing to Taylor Swift), 2015 (losing to Beck), 2017 (losing to Adele) and 2023 (losing to Harry Styles).

Jay-z’s comments echoed his comments at last year’s 2023 Grammy’s. “The truth is, we grew up wanting to be on the Grammys, and it was our goal. We just want them to get it right. That’s what we want,” JAY-Z said in 2023 of Beyoncé’s Renaissance album, which lost to Styles. The 54-year-old then called out his daughter, Blue Ivy, who stood alongside her father as he accepted the award. “Outside of that, you know, we got to keep showing up and forget the Grammys for a second. Just in life. As my daughter just sits and stares at me nervous as I am. Just in life, you got to keep showing up. Just keep showing up. Forget the Grammys you got to keep showing up until they give you all those accolades you feel you deserve. Until they call you Chairman, until they call you a genius until they call you the greatest of all time,” he concluded. “You feel me?”