Killer Mike has picked up all three of the 2024 Grammys for which his critically acclaimed album MICHAEL was nominated, while J. Cole & Lil Durk have also nabbed some hardware during the early portion of the awards show.
The early awards were presented as part of the GRAMMY Premiere Ceremony, which kicked off at 3:00 p.m. EST and was livestreamed on the Recording Academy’s website.
Killer Mike took home the coveted Best Rap Album trophy for MICHAEL, while the Andre 3000 and Future-assisted “Scientists & Engineers” earned him the Grammys for both Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.
While the Run The Jewels won in the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group category alongside Outkast in 2003 for “The Whole World,” these mark his first Grammys for his own body of work.
Lil Durk’s “All My Life,” which earned him his first nomination as a solo artist, has also landed him his very first Grammy. The win marks J. Cole’s second, having won Best Rap Song for “A Lot” in 2020.
“Atlanta, it’s a sweep,” Mike said onstage upon winning his third award of the night. “You cannot tell me that you get too old, you can’t tell me it’s too late, you can’t tell me dreams [don’t] come true. It is a sweep.
In November, Killer Mike celebrated his three Grammy nods with an open letter to his family, writing: “To my Mother, Denise, and Grandparents: I know y’all are with our ancestors, talking to the Lord and lobbying for me!” he began his post, praising his late mother before celebrating his late grandmother.
“Miss Bettie, you and Willie Burke are gonna be proud. I promise. Denise aka Mommy, thank you for allowing and encouraging my love of art and music. You especially encouraged my love of Hip Hop. Lord willing, I’m gonna bring home some trophies as a tribute to y’all, baby!”
Mike then went on to list “all the creatives and professionals who have worked tirelessly to make this moment a reality,” before signing off: “I am humbled, honored, and grateful. #NiecysBoy #MissBettiesBabyBoy #MICHAEL.”
In the weeks following, a number of artists and public figures voiced their support and belief that MICHAEL was the only plausible choice for Best Rap Album at this year’s Grammys.
On a December episode of The Brilliant Idiots, his podcast with Andrew Schultz, Charlamagne Tha God opened up about his pick for the category.
“I know Killer Mike is gonna win Rap Album of the Year,” Charlamagne said. “Grammy, Recording Academy: if Killer Mike does not win Rap Album of the Year, something is wrong. If he does not win Rap Album of the Year for Michael, something is wrong. He definitely should win something for ‘Scientists & Engineers,’ but there’s no better rap album than Killer Mike all year long.”
MICHAEL also won the Rap Album Of The Year category in the 2023 DX Awards, a win which he predicted when he spoke to HipHopDX at ONE Musicfest in Atlanta back in October.
“I don’t say that lightly, when I say, ‘Album of the Year,’” Mike said. “This album pushed the emotions of masculinity past where rap had prior. It acknowledges women — Black women — that evolved me in a different way. It acknowledges addiction in a radically different way.”
He concluded: “So when I say that, I don’t say that lightly. And I don’t say that to play. Because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t say it.”
