New Zealand RnB artist Aaradhna doesn't want your ignorantly-labelled award.
Aaradhna Jayantilal Patel was awarded the Best Album in the Urban and Hip Hop category at Grammy Awards equivalent Thursday, for her album Brown Girl. Problem is, she's not a hip hop artist; she's a soul singer.
But upon taking the podium, the artist drew attention to the fact that she was being put in a box based on race -- declining the award and giving it to her well-deserving nominees, Swidt.
"So this song is 'Brown Girl' and it speaks on many things. It speaks on racism and being placed in a box and for me, I feel like if I was to accept this, I would feel like I'm not being truthful in my song," Aaradhna told the crowd.
"I feel like if you are putting a soul singer next to a hip hop artist, it's not fair. I'm a singer, I'm not a rapper. I'm not a hip hop artist," she said.
"It feels like I've been placed in the category of brown people. We need a soul R&B category."
Later that evening she took to the stage to perform the title song from the album, and got a standing ovation.
Topics Music
