Photo: J. Balvin/Instagram. Inset: Xavi Torrent/WireImage
Is this the Latino equivalent ofKanye Westvs.Drake?
It all started when Balvin, 36 — whose tracks “Agua” is up for song of the year and best urban song and “Tu Veneno” for best reggaetón performance — called out the Latin Recording Academy for “not valuing” reggaetón musicians.
“The Grammys don’t value us, but need us. It’s my opinion and I have nothing against other genres because they deserve all the respect, but this is getting tiring,” he wrote in a set of now-deleted tweets. “We give them ratings but they don’t give us respect. P.S. I’m nominated so don’t come saying I’m hurt.”
Neilson Barnard/Getty; Europa Press Entertainment/Europa Press via Getty
Puerto Rican rapper and musician Residente — who formerly formed part of Calle 13, the rap group behind “Atrévete-Te-Te” — defended the awards show in a now-deleted Instagram video, where he compared Balvin’s music to a “hot dog stand.”
“This year, they’re dedicating it to Rubén Blades. You’re telling people in the urban genre to boycott the awards and not celebrate Rubén Blades, f—er. A man who made history for Latin American music, who unlike you, wrote his songs and feels them,” Residente, 43, said in the video. (Blades is a beloved Panamanian musician and trailblazer behind songs like “Pedro Navaja” and “Amor y Control.) “I would believe your boycott if, last year, when you were nominated 13 times, you didn’t go, but then you didn’t boycott.”
“It’s as if a hot dog cart got upset for not getting a Michelin star. And don’t misinterpret me, everyone loves hot dogs,” he added in his video. “Your music is like a hot dog cart: a lot of people may like it but when those people want to eat good, they go to a restaurant and that restaurant wins the Michelin stars.”
Under Residente’s now-deleted Instagram post, Balvin simply commented, “I respect your opinion” with a set of emojis.
“Go out andperrea,” he captioned the photo, alongside a hotdog emoji.
“That’s how you respond: with grace and elegance which your enemies lack,” wrote Colombian model and broadcaster Alejandra Azcárate.
“Let’s nominate this hot dog for a Michelin star,” wrote reporter and dancer Mariela Encarnación.
“😂😂😂😂😂,” added Valentina Ferrer, the mother of Balvin’s son Río.
Residente is the most celebrated artist in Latin Grammy history, earning 27 trophies in his lengthy career. Meanwhile, Balvin has earned 5 Latin Grammys, including two last year: one for best urban music album forColoresand another for best urban song for “Con Altura.”
Balvin’s tweets aren’t the first time that reggaetón artists have critiqued the awards show. Artists including J Balvin, Becky G, Daddy Yankee and Nicky Jam called out the awards show for excluding much of the genre from its nominations.
“I don’t agree with the way that our genre is treated,“wrote Yankeeat the time. “This is more than an award. This is about culture, credibility, belonging and respect.”
source: people.com
