The 23-year-old rapper becomes the first black hip-hop artist to win the award since 1999.
- Feb 13, 2017
AceShowbiz - The 59th Annual Grammy Awards has officially started. The Weeknd and Daft Punk kicked off the event hosted by James Corden at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 12 with a performance of "Starboy" and "I Feel It Coming".
Jennifer Lopez presented the first award of the night for Chance The Rapper who won Best New Artist. The 23-year-old rapper became the first black hip-hop artist to win the awards since Lauryn Hill in 1999.
During his acceptance speech, Chance acknowledged his parents, his girlfriend Kirsten Corley and their 16-month-old daughter as well as Pete and Pat. "I want to thank God for putting amazing people in my life, like Pete and Pat, who have carried me since 2012," he said. "I know a lot of times I talk about my independence and people think it has something to do with."
Congrats Best New Artist winner @chancetherapper #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/oxkukX8hhY
— Recording Academy (@RecordingAcad) February 13, 2017
"Oh, I'm going to talk. You all can play the music if you want," he continued, "I know people think that independence means you do it by yourself, but independence means freedom. I do it with these folks right here. Glory be to God! I claim the victory in the name of the lord! Let's go!"
Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban performed "The Fighter" before Nick Jonas presented Best Pop Duo/ Group Performance to Twenty One Pilots. Ed Sheeran, meanwhile, performed his new hit "Shape of You".
