5 Shocking Reasons Why Drake Skipped The 2025 Grammy Awards And His Explosive Response To The Ceremony

The question of whether Drake attended the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 2, 2025, has been a major point of curiosity among fans and music industry insiders. The definitive answer is a resounding no: the global superstar was neither nominated for any categories nor present at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles for the ceremony. His absence, however, was not due to a scheduling conflict alone but was a calculated, high-profile continuation of his long-standing, public protest against The Recording Academy, an institution he has repeatedly called out as "out of touch" and racially biased. This article breaks down the full context of his 2025 snub and the fiery comments he made from his concert stage.

As of today, December 18, 2025, the narrative around Drake’s relationship with the Grammys remains one of mutual disdain, a story that reached a new chapter with the 2025 ceremony. His decision to skip the event, a move he has made several times before, was a clear statement about where he stands with music's biggest night. The lack of nominations for his recent work further solidified the rift, leading to a ceremony where one of Hip-Hop's biggest names was conspicuously missing, shifting the spotlight entirely to other major winners like Kendrick Lamar.

Drake's Comprehensive Biography and Profile

Aubrey Drake Graham, known professionally as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is widely considered one of the most influential figures in contemporary popular music and is often credited for popularizing the fusion of R&B and Hip-Hop.

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• Full Name: Aubrey Drake Graham
• Born: October 24, 1986
• Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Genres: Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B, Pop
• Labels: OVO Sound, Young Money, Cash Money, Republic
• Years Active: 2001–present
• Key Albums: Thank Me Later (2010), Take Care (2011), Nothing Was the Same (2013), Views (2016), Scorpion (2018), Certified Lover Boy (2021), Her Loss (2022), For All the Dogs (2023)
• Grammy Awards Won: 5 (Out of over 50 nominations)
• Notable Achievements: Holds the record for the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100, the most simultaneous Hot 100 entries, and the most charted songs of all time.
• Business Ventures: Co-founder of the OVO Sound record label and the OVO (October’s Very Own) lifestyle brand.

The Definitive Answer: Why Drake Was Absent from the 2025 Grammys

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony on February 2, 2025, proceeded without the presence of the "God's Plan" hitmaker. This non-attendance was a two-pronged issue: he wasn't nominated, and he was geographically elsewhere.

Zero Nominations for the 67th Awards

For the 2025 ceremony, Drake did not receive a single nomination. This is not entirely surprising, as he has a history of intentionally refraining from submitting his work for consideration by The Recording Academy, a strategy he employed in previous years, including for his acclaimed projects like More Life and Scorpion. Even if he had submitted his work, the lack of recognition for a major artist of his caliber is often viewed as a snub by his fanbase, further fueling the narrative of the Grammys being out of step with popular music culture.

A World Away: The Australia Tour

At the time of the 2025 Grammys broadcast, Drake was on the other side of the world. He was engaged with his highly anticipated tour dates in Australia. While a touring schedule can be a legitimate reason for missing an awards show, for an artist with Drake's history, the timing was seen as a convenient and deliberate way to distance himself from the event, underscoring his lack of interest in the industry’s biggest night.

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The Real Reason: Why Drake Continues His Grammy Boycott

Drake’s absence in 2025 is less about a single snub and more about a systemic issue he has with the awards show. His strained relationship with The Recording Academy dates back years and is rooted in a belief that the Grammys fail to accurately represent the cultural impact of urban music, specifically Hip-Hop and R&B.

A History of Disrespect and Misclassification

The core of Drake's grievance is his feeling that the Grammys have consistently misunderstood and disrespected his work. One of the most famous examples is when his massive 2017 hit, "Hotline Bling," a clear Pop/R&B crossover track, was nominated and won in the Rap categories. This misclassification was seen by Drake as a slight, suggesting the Academy couldn't properly differentiate or acknowledge the nuances of his music outside of a singular, often marginalized, genre box. He even publicly stated he didn't want the awards for "Hotline Bling."

Calling Out the Institution

Over the years, Drake has become one of the most outspoken critics of the Grammys. He has publicly stated that the awards are "out of touch" and suggested they are racially biased, especially in how they treat Black artists and the Hip-Hop genre in major categories like Album of the Year. For Drake, winning a Grammy is no longer a measure of success or artistic validation. His focus is on album sales, streaming numbers, and his connection with the global audience, metrics he views as far more authentic than a committee vote.

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The "Submission" Boycott Strategy

In a powerful act of protest, Drake has chosen to simply not submit his music for consideration on multiple occasions. By withholding his most popular and critically acclaimed albums, he removes The Recording Academy's ability to use his star power for their show's ratings, thus undermining their cultural relevance. His 2025 absence, following a year of no nominations, perfectly aligns with this long-term strategy of detachment and defiance.

The Aftermath: Drake’s Concert Response to the 67th Grammys

While Drake was physically absent from the ceremony, he was not silent about the results. The 2025 Grammys saw his long-time rival, Kendrick Lamar, sweep the Rap categories for the viral diss track "Not Like Us." This victory was a major talking point, and Drake addressed the elephant in the room from his concert stage.

"Very Much Alive"

During his concert in Australia shortly after the Grammys, Drake took a moment to acknowledge the results, specifically Kendrick Lamar's major wins. He told the crowd that despite the outcome of the awards show and the perceived "death" of his career by some critics, he was "very much alive." This subtle but powerful message served as his official response to the 67th Grammys, asserting that his career trajectory and success are entirely separate from the validation of a single awards body.

This post-Grammy commentary reinforced his stance: The Recording Academy's decisions, whether they involve him or his rivals, do not dictate his emotional or professional well-being. Drake continues to prioritize his relationship with his fans and his domination of the charts over chasing industry trophies.