LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby have blazed the Billboard charts, but Grammy voters gave the young hip-hop stars the cold shoulder in the best rap album category, instead, surprisingly nominating the genre’s more matured voices like Nas and Jay Electronica.

Some were baffled by the academy’s decision to push through some lesser-known projects in the category instead of the popular chart-topping albums that have dominated streaming services with record numbers. Several hip-hop artists weighed in and called out the Grammys, including Drake, Killer Mike and 50 Cent, who said the awards show is “out of touch.”

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3. When Bruce Forsyth hosted the show, he would close each episode with the You Bet! Rap, with the audience shouting the show's name in between lines. The rap went like this: Do you wanna bet on it?
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In addition to Nas’ “King’s Disease” and Jay Electronica’s “A Written Testimony,” this year’s best rap album nominees include Freddie Gibbs & the Alchemist’s “Alfredo,” “The Allegory” by Royce da 5’9” and D Smoke’s “Black Habits.” The rappers are 35-and-up with Nas — who has never won a Grammy — being the oldest at 47.

Each of the nominated albums were reviewed as solid pieces of work, but some rap enthusiasts saw a clear divide between the seasoned rappers and the new generation of twentysomething hip-hop performers — sometimes referred to as “mumble rappers” who focus more on quick word play with heavy bass melodies instead of lyricism.

Another prime time Saturday Night classic. You Bet ran for 10 series over 101 episodes between 1988 and 1997. It was a British game show that was based around the format of German show Wetten, dass.? Developed by Frank Elstner. Initially the show was hosted by Saturday Night TV legend Sir Bruce Forsyth, with co host Ellis Ward.

“First thing that came to my mind was rigged,” said Twysted Genius, who produced four songs on Lil Baby’s sophomore album “My Turn,” including the platinum-selling singles “Sum 2 Prove” and “Emotionally Scarred.”

Billboard named “My Turn” the second-most successful album of 2020, besting projects by pop stars like Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and The Weeknd, and easily out-selling the nominees for best rap album. Roddy Ricch’s “Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial” ranked third on Billboard’s list and has won honors at the American Music Awards, BET Awards and Apple Music Awards..

Twysted Genius, 28, declined to offer names but the producer said he’d never heard of some of the rap album nominees. He struggled to understand why hit singles like Roddy Ricch’s “The Box,” DaBaby’s “Rockstar” and Pop Smoke’s “Dior” were good enough to receive nominations for best rap song or best rap performance, but not their albums.

“It kind of blew me,” Twysted Genius said. “I’ve seen how big Lil Baby has become in the world. I, at least, knew that he would be up for a Grammy for best album. It’s just mind-blowing.”

The producer’s thoughts come a year after former Recording Academy CEO Deborah Dugan claimed that the awards are rigged and filled with conflicts of interests in the nomination process. She was ousted after reporting sexual harassment and pay disparities.

Despite the criticism, Royce da 5’9” believes the Grammys are heading in the right direction under the leadership of Harvey Mason jr., the academy’s interim president and CEO. Last year, the producer-songwriter took on the role with aspirations to diversify the academy’s staff, membership and outreach to the music community.

“They are doing a good job,” said Royce da 5’9”, who is nominated for his first Grammy in a decade. “(Harvey is) a good addition to the Grammys. I think just adding more Black people to the board in different states would really help. I think that’s key.”

Royce da 5’9” said he believes the best rap album nominees perfectly reflects the genre, though he added that Lil Baby and Roddy Ricch’s albums should compete for the Grammys’ top prize — album of the year — instead of best rap album.

“I think if they break it down like that, that would be great,” the 43-year-old said. “Everybody in the rap album category, I (support) them.”

D Smoke — who has been lauded for his Kendrick Lamar-like rap style — believes the rap album nominations opens a “conversation of what our culture needs and wants.” The rapper said the mature voices in the category speak to a broader audience on a “deeper level,” but he adds that the younger generation of rappers need to be heard as well to push the genre forward.

“Their music is successful for a reason. I hope they are not using this as a measuring stick of how successful their year was,” said 35-year-old D Smoke, who rose to fame in 2019 as the winner of Netflix’s music reality TV series “Rhythm + Flow.”

“I’m sure their bank accounts are telling another story,” continued D Smoke, who is also nominated for best new artist along with Megan Thee Stallion and Chika. “I don’t knock them, I just know the quality of music and the people nominated are different — I’m not saying better or worse.”

Freddie Gibbs thinks there should be no reason to complain. The rapper said he’s waited to become Grammy-nominated after years of believing he was overlooked as an artist who made waves in the underground scene.

“We can all complain about not getting recognition, but we all live blessed lives doing something that we love to do,” said Gibbs, 38. “It’s not too much to really complain about. When you’re making music on this level, you’re rich. So, whatever.”

He added: “I’ve never been nominated for (anything), but I’ve never complained about it either. When it’s your time — it’s your time.”

The Grammys will air from Los Angeles on March 14.

You Bet ! – 1988

Another prime time Saturday Night classic. You Bet ran for 10 series over 101 episodes between 1988 and 1997.

It was a British game show that was based around the format of German show Wetten, dass..? developed by Frank Elstner.

Initially the show was hosted by Saturday Night TV legend Sir Bruce Forsyth, with co host Ellis Ward.

However over the show’s nine year run there would be two changes in host, when initially Brucie stepped down in 1990 to re-join the BBC presenting The Generation Game, Matthew Kelly (Game For A Laugh) stepped in, he stood down in 1995 to concentrate on Stars In Their Eyes and was replaced by Darren Day.

It wasn’t just the hosts that changed over the years, so did the co-hosts. First was Ellis Ward, who had stayed on after Bruce Forsyth’s departure, she was not initially replaced until Darren Day took up presenting duties in 1996 and was joined by Diane Youdale for one series and in the final series Sarah Matravers became co-host.

In 1991 ITV moved the show to a Friday night, it was re-instated to it’s Saturday slot in 1994.

Summary

A panel of celebrities would bet on the ability of members of the public to achieve unlikely challenges and stunts. Usually these had been planned and rehearsed many times, within a limited amount of time.

The studio audience also got to bet on the outcomes. Panellists would receive points for each outcome they predicted correctly, based on the percentage of the studio audience that also placed a correct bet.

The celebrity sponsoring the challenge always had to bet that their challenger would be successful. The accumulated total of points achieved by the celebrities would be added to the points totalled by the studio audience, increased several times over, converted into pounds and donated to a charity chosen by the celebrity panellist who had achieved the highest score.

Format

1988

Each week there would be four challenges, some in the studio and some on location presented by Ellis Ward.

The panellists would each “sponsor” a challenge, and Bruce Forsyth would also sponsor one.

In the event of the challenge not being achieved, that sponsor would have to do a forfeit. (e.g., being a golf caddy or air steward for the day).

In the case of Bruce Forsyth’s challenge, the majority vote determined his prediction; an incorrect prediction forced Forsyth to do his forfeit. His explanation for this part was usually, “You’re now betting for the fate of Forsyth in the form of a forfeit. If you’re right, I’m alright; but if you’re wrong, I’m right in it!”) It was either broadcast in the studio on the same show or broadcast on location on the following week’s show.

You Betrayed Shiva

For series 2 a new theme tune was introduced

1991

Following the departure of Bruce Forsyth, some major changes were introduced. A new logo was introduced, Matthew Kelly stepped up as host to replace Bruce Forsyth. Also, the challenges went up from four to five, which meant that Ellis Ward got involved, with her sponsoring challenges as well. Matthew Kelly also got involved in doing the work on location challenges, as well as Ellis Ward. Finally, if Matthew Kelly’s challenge ended in failure, he had to do his forfeit, regardless of the audience’s prediction.

1992 – 1993

The departure of Ellis Ward as co-host led to the number of celebrity guests being increased from three to four per show and Matthew Kelly doing all the work on location challenges. She would not be replaced until 1996.

1995

The show decided there would be no more forfeits for the celebrities and Matthew Kelly when sponsoring their challenges.

Instead, they introduced the celebrity challenge, where the lowest celebrity scorer would do only one forfeit challenge, which would be broadcast the following week’s show. The public then got to vote in at home to donate £1,000 to a charity of their choice if the celebrity succeeded or failed the challenge.

The set was replaced by a new “arena” that allowed much more floor space for the challenges. Matthew Kelly announced his intention to leave the show and concentrate on hosting Stars in Their Eyes after transmission of Series 8. The viewers’ phone vote was dropped after Series 8 was shown.

1996

With a new host in Darren Day and the return of the co-host it was time for more changes. The co-host worked on location challenges, the forfeits also returned to the show, but they were not chosen by the celebrity guests. This time they were automatically chosen by the crew at the end of each show for the celebrity who got the lowest score in the show.

1997

Hip Hop Awards

The final series and another set of changes.

The show introduced a new item for the celebrities, they could play their YOU BET! BONUS CARD, which meant their points would be doubled if they successfully guessed the outcome of a challenge (which can only be played once in the entire show). The celebrity challenge returned to the show, and the audience got to choose which challenge they would choose for the lowest scoring celebrity at the end of the show from two choices with cryptic clue titles (e.g., “Ooh! That’s better!” or “Dangling Down”).

Clips

Presented By:

Bruce Forsyth (1988–90)
Matthew Kelly (1991–5)
Darren Day (1996–7)

Co – Presnters

Ellis Ward (1988–91)
Diane Youdale (1996)
Sarah Matravers (1997)

Details

Channel: ITV
Produced By: London Weekend Television
Original Transmission Dates: 20th February 1988 – 12th April 1997