Ocean, Drake, Bieber, Kanye, no-shows at Grammys

Image: Frank Ocean

Four of music’s current A-listers look like they won’t be attending the Grammys this year.

Frank Ocean has confirmed he will not take part in the February 12 event at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles. He says it does not justly award young black artists.

“That institution certainly has nostalgic importance,” Ocean told the New York Times. “It just doesn’t seem to be representing very well for people who come from where I come from, and hold down what I hold down.”

Drake, who has eight Grammy nominations this year, will be performing in Manchester, England on the night of the awards ceremony.

Rumours are that Justin Bieber (four nominations) and Kanye West (eight nominations) are also considering sitting it out. They both say that the “music’s night of stars” doesn’t properly represent new music or young artists.

West had earlier threatened to boycott the Grammys if Frank Ocean was not nominated. He wasn’t – but only because Ocean refused to put the highly rated Blonde and visual album Endless up for consideration.

“As artists, we’ve got to come together to fight the bullshit,” West said. The rapper has won 21 Grammys but says he has lost when he was up against a white artist.

Bieber doesn’t think the Grammys are “relevant or representative, especially when it comes to young singers.”

Nevertheless, the 59th Grammys will continue with a star-studded bill. Adele has joined John Legend, Bruno Mars, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban, while other major names will be part of a Prince tribute, which will coincide with the late star’s back catalogue making a return to streaming services.