Finally, the Grammy Awards is dropping the "Urban" category from its awards.

With racial issues gaining momentum on the internet and in the streets in recent weeks, many companies are being called to reconcile with controversial policies and topics encompassing these discussions are being rethought.

As it approaches its 63rd ceremony, some terms used in the award categories will be reformulated.
The category "Best Contemporary Urban Album" which was born in 2013 and originated from black music, will be renamed "Best Progressive R&B Album", because the term "Urban" used by the academy has been the target of criticism and controversies in the field.

In January, Tyler, the Creator, winner of the best rap album in 2019, criticized the definition of the category:

"I don't like the word 'Urban' - it's just a politically correct way of saying the 'N' word to me. Why can't we just be in Pop?"

Image: Frederic J. Brown / AFP

"It’s terrible that whenever we, and I mean guys who look like me, do something that transcends genres or anything like that, they always put it in some urban or rap category"

The category awards albums that contain at least 51% of playback time with progressive vocals derived from R&B attached with elements and samples from other genres like Rap, Hip-hop, Dance, electronic music, and Pop. Among its winners, we have already had Frank Ocean, Rihanna, Pharrell, Beyoncé, and The Weeknd, and the most recent winner is singer Lizzo, who received the award for her album Cuz I Love You, also nominated among the best albums of the year in 2019.

As part of its "commitment to evolve with the music scene" and with the intent to "remove a problematic word from a popular category and lead this to a more inclusive understanding going forward," this is one among other changes that were announced last week by the organization regarding terminology.

In summary, the criticisms are also a provocation towards the organization's resistance to include black artists in other genres. The change, though not so significant and insufficient, is a step forward for the black community and a possible reformulation in the structure of the awards showing how much institutions, companies, and organizations should be willing to change following the voices of the population.