J-Kwon: Why He Doesn’t Get A Grammy Nom for Shaboozey’s ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’
Ahead of the 67th Grammy Awards happening on February 2, 2025, the 2025 Grammy nominations for J-Kwon (real name Jerrel Jones) and the writers of his 2004 hit “Tipsy” interpolated in Shaboozey’s hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” were rescinded by the Academy. The song was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Country Song. If it wins either or both awards, the “Tipsy” writers will only receive certificates, not Grammy trophies.
The Grammy Award Update Center
On December 12, the Grammy Award website posted an update for Category 3 (Song of the Year) and Category 41 (Best Country Song). The update reads, “Remove Jerrel Jones, Joe Kent, and Mark Williams as songwriters.”
A disclaimer is also visible on top of the Press List Changes, “Each year, the Recording Academy makes adjustments to the nominations list as necessary after the list is first published. Common changes are often the result of updated credits and may include spelling corrections, title modifications and the addition of nominees who were not included in the original submission, among other revisions. We are making these updates public to ensure transparency and accessibility to the most up-to-date and accurate information.”
Grammy Rules
Per Billboard, the Grammy rules for interpolated songs or “songs that contain samples” are eligible for Song of the Year. However, songwriters of the new song are eligible for Grammys but “publisher & songwriter(s) of sampled or interpolated material, if applicable” are only eligible to receive certificates.
However, all’s not lost since J-Kwon and the other writers were credited for the song. J-Kwon said in an April interview with Billboard, “It really ain’t even paying homage; I got a crazy percentage… Let’s say it like this, we did that together, and I’m proud of him.”
His manager added, “We were compensated. Basically, for the song, we do have credit, and a deal was worked out in both parties’ favor. Respect the artist and his craft. We license it to somebody, and the original artist has to be compensated. As far as the clearance process, artists have to clear their record… Shaboozey has [J-Kwon’s] blessing, and the label has his blessing.”
As for Shaboozey, he raised the idea of interpolating a vintage rap song during a songwriting session with producers Nevin Sastry and Sean Cook. As soon as he voiced his idea, the line from J-Kwon’s track “Everybody at the bar getting tipsy” flew out of his mouth, per Variety.
