Chance The Rapper has pledged his support for remarkable mixtapes to finally be eligible for a Grammy nomination. Recently, a Change.org petition was created to insist that the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences allow monumental mixtapes, such as Chance’s debut project Acid Rap, to be submitted for an opportunity to receive the coveted honor.
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences : Allow free music to be eligible for Grammy nominati… https://t.co/qgcVIgzFLw via @Change
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) May 8, 2016
“Ridiculously talented artists who are releasing free mixtapes and projects are not getting the recognition they truly deserve,” said the petition’s creator Max Krasowitz.
Krasowitz breaks down the current NARAS requirements to be eligible for a Grammy nod and highlights the flaws behind it. He also defends artists like, Chance The Rapper, J. Cole, Lil Wayne and others who’ve all released classic projects for free, and explains why they shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to be eligible for the prestigious award.
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“It’s obvious that these artists are making their music more accessible to people who deserve it even if they can’t afford it, as well as decreasing pirating and illegally downloading music,” Krasowitz said at the end of the petition. “Not all artists should be forced to release their music for free, but the ones who do should not be punished for doing so.”
As of now, the petition is only 1,500 signatures away from their expected goal of 25,000. As the petition continues to spread and gain momentum, it will only a matter of time before we find out if NARAS will take the plight of 25,000 hip-hop heads into serious consideration. If you’re all for mixtapes getting a shot at a Grammy award, sign the petition here.