In 1999, Jay-Z decided to boycott the Grammys and he's finally explaining what changed for him and made him return to the show in 2004.
In regards to his decision to boycott, he explained to MTV News in 2002, "I didn't think they gave the rightful respect to hip-hop. It started that they didn't nominate DMX that year. DMX had an incredible album. He didn't get a nomination. I was like, 'Nah, that's crazy.'"
Jay-Z was very serious about the boycott, even snubbing the award show as they awarded him with one of their highest honors, best rap album, for his album, "Vol.2…Hard Knock Life."
However, he ended up returning the show in 2004 on Beyoncé's arm, as he explained at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy gala on Jan. 27 in New York City.
"I didn't come back until 2004 when a beautiful, young lady whom I love dearly had a solo album, the beautiful Miss Beyoncé," he explained. That year she was nominated for six Grammys including Record of the Year for her song "Crazy in Love" with now-husband Jay-Z. She ended up taking home five Grammys, winning in every category other than Record of The Year.
"I realized, 'Man, art is super subjective and everyone is doing their best, and the Academy, they're human like we are and they're voting on things they like and it's subjective,'" the 48-year-old continued. "And if we believe in [the Grammys], we care, because we've seen the most incredible artists stand on that stage and we're inspired to be that, so I was like, 'I have to be here.'"
The father of three wrapped up his explanation by saying, "That is the idea for all of us to get involved and to push this thing further no matter what happens at the Grammys, it's going to be what it is. Bob Marley is going to be Bob Marley, whether he's nominated for a Grammy or not. Tupac is going to be Tupac, Biggie is going to be Biggie."
This year, Jay-Z was nominated for eight Grammys. Since 1999, he has won 21 times.