New Rory & MAL – Episode 450: "2026 GRAMMYS Recap"

Date: February 3, 2026
Hosts: Rory & Mal (w/ Damaris)

Overview

This episode is a lively, candid, and occasionally chaotic deep dive into the 2026 GRAMMY Awards. The hosts—Rory, Mal, and Damaris—unpack the ceremony's performances, snubs, notable wins, new format changes, and viral moments, mixing music analysis with inside jokes and hot takes. They also touch on genre representation, award show evolution, and broader pop culture, serving equal parts critique, celebration, and hilarity.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Pre-Grammys Banter and Weekend Recap

• Jokes about Mal’s uncanny ability to guess Damaris’ weight lead to jokes about hidden talents and Black History Month (02:20–04:10).
• Casual catch-up on weekend outings and who didn’t invite whom to a Harlem gathering (05:02–09:54).
• Discussion of NYC nightlife, party etiquette, and Mal’s refusal to party with football players:

  “I tell y’all all the time, I do not party with football players. No, sir. Not me... They gonna take the shirt off, flip the table over, fight security, be on the Daily News…” – Mal (09:55–10:32)

• Commentary on Kanye West’s Mexico performance and his daughter North’s presence onstage, segueing into talks about nepotism in music (11:02–12:23).

2. 2026 GRAMMYs: First Impressions and Critique

(12:27–14:53)

• Rory and Damaris note a stronger GRAMMYs energy this year and better diversity among nominees:

  "There were a lot of Black people nominated this year... when that happens, there is a different energy." – Damaris (13:39)

• The show felt “more balanced,” blending genres without forced marketing ploys (13:39–14:45).
• Hosts reflect on the diminishing regard for GRAMMYs in culture but admit the show remains a big moment for artists.

3. Host Change and Future of the GRAMMYs

(15:11–17:09)

• Discussion of Trevor Noah's multi-year run as host and his “final term.”
• Nikki Glaser and Nicki Minaj are thrown out as possible future hosts, prompting laughter:

  “Let her host and we’ll just sit there… You want to see the ratings go through the roof?” – Rory (15:47)

• Jamie Foxx emerges as the hosts' dream choice.

4. New Format: ‘Best New Artist’ Medley

(17:11–18:48, 25:10–26:26)

• New “artist versus” medley highlighted each Best New Artist nominee.

  “Everyone that was nominated for Best New Artist did a medley of their own songs together… Even if you weren’t a winner, you got to perform.” – Rory (17:11)

• Real musicians (esp. Leon Thomas) stood out against more pop-flashy acts.

5. Celebrating and Critiquing Performances

(18:09–22:24)

• Leon Thomas’ dual GRAMMY win lauded as a major highlight and his set praised for pure musicianship:

  “When Leon steps on the stage… It’s different. Bentley pulls up to Chrysler.” – Rory (18:04)

• New Artist medley draws hot takes, particularly first-time performer Addison Rae, whose set gets roasted for awkwardness and secondhand embarrassment.
• Contrast: Leon Thomas watched raise the room with just a guitar, emphasizing authenticity over spectacle.

6. Snubs, Surprises, and the R&B Conversation

(25:41–29:44, 41:08–45:31)

• Damaris and Rory critique the GRAMMYs for not televising R&B awards and omitting Kehlani’s "Folded" from the main show:

  “Not televising the R&B awards and then not having Kehlani perform ‘Folded’—that’s where my hate is.” – Damaris (41:18)

• Recognition that this year’s R&B winners (Leon Thomas, Kehlani, Duran Bernard) feel deserved, with rare consensus:

  “...They got it right. With the R&B... I don’t know who they got in the voting [room], but they got that right.” – Damaris (44:43)

• Duran Bernard’s “Bloom” wins Best Progressive R&B Album. Hosts gush over his talent and vocal acrobatics.

7. Pop Moments & Hot Takes on Icon Status

(25:49–38:40)

• Rory goes on an extended defense of Justin Bieber, who performed in boxers.

  “We take you for granted, Justin Bieber! …He stripped himself down. You didn’t see the genius in it?” – Rory (26:43)

• Damaris and Mal pushback, saying Bieber is not underrated, just sometimes extra.
• Lighthearted debate comparing Lady Gaga’s performance and career to Taylor Swift’s, suggesting Gaga is “who everyone thinks Taylor is” in terms of raw talent (36:02–36:31).
• Quick convo about Bruno Mars’ “lazy” set:

  “...Bruno is so much better than that for what I’ve seen him do.” – Rory (47:10)

8. RAP & Big Category Discussion

(47:54–55:28)

• JID’s Best Rap Album nod—hosts savor his “ascension moment.”
• Best Rap Album goes to Kendrick (GNX1), with acknowledgment of the young LA talent on his album getting their own recognition, notably Lefty Gunplay.
• Mal laments missing out on a CLIPSE win, but praises their style.
• Several rap categories debated, with consensus that recent years’ selections have gotten “mostly right.”

9. Tributes & Legacy Performances

(60:01–64:23)

• The D’Angelo & Roberta Flack tribute (presented by Lauryn Hill) hailed as a show-stopper.

  “Can this go on the road?... Lucky Day doing ‘Brown Sugar’—that’s intimidating. He understood the assignment.” – Rory (61:08, 61:24)

• Damaris singles out Bilal as her favorite of the performance.
• Playful ribbing about Lauryn Hill inviting her ex (Wyclef) just to play bass.
• Further props for the closing Wyclef & Lauryn tribute to “Killing Me Softly.”
• Cher’s confused presentation during the Luther Vandross tribute gets recapped for comic relief.

10. Other Performances, Mariah Tribute, and Award Show Tropes

(67:17–70:33)

• The Mariah Carey tribute is seen as lackluster (“She deserves better than what she got. And I’m happy she was screwing her face up at all those people.” – Damaris, 70:33)
• Discussion on who should perform tributes, with notes on the pressure of honoring icons.

11. Pop Culture, Internet Hot Takes, & Jay-Z/Epstein Rumors

(81:42–97:55)

• Rant about viral conspiracy theories tying Jay-Z, Pusha T, and others to Epstein files:

  “...This is so ridiculous… People are suggesting that Jay was... in the room...” – Rory (83:10)

• The hosts distinguish between valid inquiry and wild, baseless speculation:

  “People gotta be very careful… not everyone who found success did so doing nasty shit.” – Mal (96:22)

• Damaris appeals for media literacy and proper skepticism regarding “tip line” rumor-mongering.

12. Sports, Boxing, and Mixed Bag Wrap-Up

(97:55–108:34)

• Quick congrats to Shakur Stevenson; boxing spectacle (wig comes off mid-fight) laughed about at length—a lighthearted cap to music talk.
• Brief nods to classic football conspiracies, Bill Belichick Hall of Fame status, and some personal banter.

Notable Quotes (w/ Timestamps)

• On the new GRAMMY energy:
  “It just felt like a good balance of every genre of music and who should actually be nominated this year.”—Rory (14:45)

• On R&B representation:
  “...We were nominated in a lot of big categories this year, which a lot of the times with the GRAMMYs doesn’t happen.” —Damaris (13:43)

• On genuine artistry:
  “It’s different when a real musician pulls up. Shit just looked different.”—Rory (22:20)

• On internet conspiracy chatter:
  “This is so beyond ridiculous at this point… 1996, Jay Z and Harvey Weinstein? Stop.”—Mal (83:57)

• On tribute performances:
  “Can this go on the road?... I’ll pay top dollar.” —Rory, on D’Angelo/Roberta Flack tribute (61:08)

• On taste and GRAMMY fashion:
  “Was it the GRAMMYs last year where they did that weird Last Supper thing? I used to defend a lot of the demonic stuff. It’s getting hard to defend.” —Rory (35:00)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• GRAMMYs recap begins: 12:27
• Host discussion: 15:11–17:09
• New Artist medley: 17:57–26:26
• R&B awards & snubs: 41:08–45:31
• Pop stars, Lady Gaga & Taylor Swift: 36:02–36:31
• Bruno Mars critique: 46:36–47:27
• Rap Album Category: 47:54–55:28
• D’Angelo/Roberta Flack Tribute: 60:01–64:23
• Jay-Z/Epstein file discourse: 81:42–97:55

Tone & Style

• Conversational, sharp, and freely opinionated—true to the “barbershop” style
• Hosts are unfiltered about industry trends, pop culture rumors, and musical performances
• Regular doses of playful grilling, especially about personal R&B opinions or New York pride
• Episode is filled with inside jokes, call-backs to older show themes, and meta-commentary on music fandom (especially Stan culture)

For Listeners New to This Episode

This is an ideal episode if you want:

• An informal, passionate take on the 2026 GRAMMYs—who won, who flopped, what felt new
• Insights on the evolving state of music awards, and why they still matter (or don’t)
• Smart but irreverent discussion of pop culture, conspiracy, and musical legends
• Laughs, lighthearted arguments, and memes you’ll see repeated everywhere this week

Skip it if: You need a strictly fact-based, interview-heavy, or ad-free GRAMMYs roundup—this one is personality-driven and loaded with quirky sidebars.

Note:
Ads, sponsor reads, and intros are omitted from this summary. For full segments and in-depth context, refer to the episode at: New Rory & Mal – Episode 450