The greatest storyteller in the history of Hip Hop Slick Rick named 2023 ‘Grammy Lifetime Achievement’ award recipient.
Diana Ross, Nirvana, The Supremes, Slick Rick, and More to Be Honored With Grammys Lifetime Achievement Award
Slick Rick have been announced as the show’s 2023 honoree.
The UK-born artist is among the honorees set to receive a 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award ahead of the upcoming 65th Annual Grammy Awards.
If you're talking the greatest storytellers in the hip-hop game, Slick Rick's name needs to be at the very TOP of your list. There's a reason why Outkast made sure to get a Slick Rick feature on "Da Art of Storytellin'." Slick Rick the Ruler weaved some of the most intricate tales around, and one of his greatest is his 1988 classic "Children's Story," which got turned into one of the illest story-driven videos EVER.
Slick’s Lifetime Achievement Award will be the first time the Recording Academy formally recognizes the UK-born artist, as he has never won a Grammy.
This week the Recording Academy released its list of Special Merit Awards honorees, who will be recognized during a separate Grammy Week ceremony on February 4 — Nirvana, The Supremes, Nile Rodgers, Slick Rick, Ma Rainey, Bobby McFerrin, and Heart’s Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson. The Recording Academy made the announcement via Instagram on Thursday (January 5).
“The Academy is proud to celebrate this diverse slate of influential music people spanning numerous genres and crafts as our 2023 Special Merit Awards honorees,” said the Academy’s CEO Harvey Mason Jr. in a statement.
“Each creator on this list has made an impact on our industry — from technical to creative achievements — representing the breadth of music’s diverse community,” he continued. “We’re excited to celebrate this group of legends next month that continues to inspire and shape the music world.”
The Special Merit Awards Ceremony takes place on Feb. 4 at Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. Trevor Noah is taking on hosting duties for the Grammys, which will take place a day later on Feb. 5 at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena and will air on CBS.
In addition to the special merit awards ceremony, Beyoncé leads all nominees at this year’s ceremony with nine nods, while Kendrick Lamars follows with eight, and Adele and Brandi Carlile both with seven. A few other artists earned six nominations each, including Future, Harry Styles, Mary J. Blige, DJ Khaled, and Randy Merrill.