Virginia artists posted a range of honors at the Grammy Awards, highlighting the state’s influence across music genres. 

Mad Skillz, the Richmond-based rapper and spoken word artist, won the Grammy for best spoken word poetry album for “Words For Days Vol. 1.” It was his second consecutive nomination in the category after a nod last year for “The Seven Number Ones” and his first win. 

Shaboozey, the Woodbridge-born singer and rapper, earned a best country duo/group performance Grammy for “Amen” with Jelly Roll, marking his first win at the awards. 

Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, a special Recording Academy honor recognizing his influence on music and culture. 

Nate Smith, also from Virginia, won best jazz instrumental album for “Kinfolk 2: See the Birds,” celebrating his skill as a drummer and composer in the contemporary jazz scene. 

The hip-hop duo Clipse, rooted in Virginia Beach, took home best rap performance for “Chains & Whips,” a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell, their first Grammy as a group. 

The ceremony also featured a tribute to the late D’Angelo, the Grammy-winning R&B singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for blending soul, funk and jazz in contemporary music. Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean performed in his honor, celebrating the Richmond native’s contributions to music and his influence on generations of artists. 

D’Angelo