The 67th annual Grammy Awards were held on Sunday, February 2, as a love letter to Los Angeles. The city was recently hit by massive wildfires that destroyed numerous homes owned by celebrities and ordinary people.
The Grammys partnered with MusiCares, and CNN reported that the award show raised at least $7 million in aid for those affected by the wildfires. Trevor Noah hosted the show, which had some stand-out moments throughout the night.
Doechii gave an amazing performance of "Catfish," and her latest single, "Denial is a River." She also got emotional after winning Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal. She is the third female rapper to win in the category, and Cardi B, who previously won, presented her with the award.
Doechii Wins Best Rao Album at 67th Annual Grammy Awards
"I know that there is some Black girl out there—so many Black women out there—that are watching me right now, and I want to tell you: 'You can do it.," she said during her acceptance speech. "Anything is possible. Don't allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you, tell you that you can't be here, that you're too dark, that you're not smart enough, or that you're too dramatic or you're too loud. You are exactly who you need to be, and I am a testimony."
It was also a big night for Beyoncé, who won three Grammys: Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter, Best Country Duo/ Group Performance for "II Most Wanted" with Miley Cyrus, and Album of the Year. The beloved artist has been nominated for Album of the Year five times.
Bey accepted the coveted Album of the Year award with her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, by her side. “I just feel very full and very honored. It’s been many, many years,” she said. “And I just want to thank the Grammys, every songwriter, every collaborator, every producer, all of the hard work.”
Beyoncé Wins Album of the Year at 67th Annual Grammy Awards
Here are some other Grammy highlights:
- After being banned from the Oscars following the infamous slap in 2022, Will Smith graced the Grammy Awards and paid tribute to Quincy Jones, who passed away in November 2024.
- Cynthia Erivo, Stevie Wonder, Lainey Wilson, and Janelle Monáe all paid tribute to Quincy by performing songs he helped made famous.
- The Weeknd surprised everyone after returning to the Grammys stage following past criticism of the show.
- Prince received a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.
2025 Grammy Winners
Kendrick Lamar wins big at 2025 Grammys
Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
- Kendrick Lamar won Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance and Best Music Video for "Not Like Us."
- Tems won Best African Music Performance for "Love Me JeJe."
- SZA won Best R&B Song for "Saturn."
- Chris Brown won Best R&B album for 11:11.
- Muni Long won Best R&B Performance for "Made For Me (Live on BET)."
- NxWorries (Anderson. Paak and Knxledge ) and Avery*Sunshine tied for Best Progressive R&B Album.
- Lucky Daye won Best Traditional R&B Performance for "That's You."
- Rapsody and Erykah Badu won Best Melodic Rap Performance for "3."
- CeCe Winans won Best Gospel Album for More Than This and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/ Song for "That's My King."
- Tasha Cobbs, Erica Campbell, Israel Houghton Featuring Jonathan McReynolds & Jekalyn Carr won Best Gospel Performance/ Song for "One Hallelujah."
- Dave Chappelle won Best Comedy Album for The Dreamer.
- Bob Marley: One Love Music Inspired By the Film won Best Reggae Album.
- Alicia Keys' Hell's Kitchen Broadway play won Best Musical Theater Album.
- Samara Joy featuring Sullivan Fortner won Best Jazz Performance for "Twinkle Twinkle Little Me."
- Tank and The Bangas won Best Spoken Word Poetry Album for The Heart, The Mind, The Soul.
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Feature image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
RELATED
But Shellie, I don’t like them. Sex feels better without them. In an unbelievably ideal world where everyone waited until marriage and then remained with their spouse until death, you could be out here raw-ing it. With that not being even close to the case, though, it’s time to stop trying to skirt around using condoms and, instead, it’s time to figure out which ones can give you maximum pleasure.
Believe it or not, I’ve got a few tips, in the rubber shopping department, that just might help you out.
First Up, Most Women Can Tell When a Condom Is On
GiphyMy guy friends and I tend to have the most random conversations, boy. Take the time when two of them were trying to debate me down about whether or not women can tell if a condom is on. Their vote is that we can’t. Mine was that we absolutely can. And I mean, shouldn’t the one with the vagina (me) have a say, fellas? LOL. Hey, they don’t have to take my word for it because science also states that based on the material that the condom is made out of and how well it fits on a woman’s partner (more on that in a sec), they definitely help her to know if a guy is wearing one or not.
Not only that but data also backs up that a condom can also diminish the sensation that women feel during sex to a certain extent — not to mention that, sometimes, rubbers can affect natural vaginal wetness too.
With condoms having a 98 percent success rate at preventing STI/STDs and unwanted pregnancies (when used correctly, that is), by no means am I even coming close to implying that you shouldn’t use them (especially if you’re not in an exclusive or monogamous relationship [check out “Why I Use The Word 'Monogamous' In Marriage And 'Exclusive' In Dating”] and you and your partner don’t get tested annually).
All I’m saying is if you want to get the most out of your condom use experiences, you shouldn’t just assume that whatever condom the guy has on tap is what will work well for you — and figuring out what will bring you the most (pun intended) pleasure means that you should consider the following points.
Make Sure the Condom Fits Your Partner Well
GiphyWith the average size of a man’s penis being a little over 5” when it’s erect (relax, vaginas are around 4” unless stretched), it really is time to let all of the Magnum dreams go. And what I mean, specifically, by that is, guys bringing those just to fit into some stereotype of “packing” is doing no one any good because if it’s too big for him, it will result in slippage and if it’s too big for you, it could make sex a bit uncomfortable.
And what if it’s too small? Well, that could be semi-painful for him which could cause his performance to struggle. Bottom line here: condoms should have a snug fit and cover the entire penis.
And if you want to purchase some for your own collection — well, if y’all are close enough for him to be inside of you, you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable talking to him about which kind/brand of condoms you should have on tow at your house. By the way, for tips on how to choose the right condoms, check out verywellhealth’s “Condom Size Chart: Finding the Brand and Style That Fits Best.”
Opt for Condoms That Are Free of the Following Things
GiphyWhile reading an article on what many doctors consider to be the best condoms, what stood out most to me was a female doctor who said that women must keep in mind that whatever goes into their vagina, also gets absorbed. This includes ingredients that condoms may be made out of including parabens, fragrances, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), synthetic dyes and flavors, and glycerin (for starters).
And gee, when you’ve got that stuff, not only inside of you, but moving around at a semi-rapid pace (at least some of the time), there’s a pretty good chance that your vagina isn’t gonna be very happy about it.
The remedy? Consider investing in some organic/vegan condoms — ones that are free of all-a-dat. Loveability makes some (here). Smile Makers make some (here). HANX makes some (here). And that’s just a few options to choose from. This point is a very valid one to keep in mind because, sometimes, it’s not the condom that’s pissing us off — it’s what it’s made out of that’s the actual issue.
Pre-Lubricated Condoms Can Improve Your Partner’s Stroke
GiphyIf you’ve never tried pre-lubricated condoms before, you definitely should because they can have your back, on the sexual pleasure tip, on a few different levels. For one thing, these types of condoms can definitely decrease the chances of a rubber breaking which can give you the peace of mind that you seek during the act. Also, condoms that have lube in them can make it easier for your partner to put it on, can make it more comfortable when it’s time for his penis to go inside of you and can reduce the amount of friction that you feel (especially if you’re not naturally wet enough) while you’re having sex.
While we’re on this topic — I don’t know why (so many) people think that they can’t get an STI/STD from oral sex because they absolutely can. So, if you are going to use a condom during fellatio (or a dental dam during cunnilingus), adding some flavored lube to an already flavored condom (like perhaps this brand here or this brand here) can make the experience much more…satisfying.
Polyisoprene or Polyurethane Condoms MAY Reduce Yeast Infections
GiphyOkay, this point is a bit tricky because, technically, condoms can’t give you a yeast infection; in fact, since they prevent sperm and semen from entering into your vagina which can potentially throw off your pH balance, rubbers usually play a role in preventing them.
Still, I wanted to include this due to what I said earlier about all of the “extras” that can sometimes go into making a condom — because those things? They might irritate your vagina which could ultimately lead to a yeast infection. Plus, if on the off chance, you’ve got a latex allergy, condoms that are made from that material could give you a yeast infection too.
The solution to both? Consider going with alternatives like polyisoprene or polyurethane. Although polyisoprene is more expensive than latex condoms, they are super comfortable and latex-free (although you can use them the same way that you would a latex condom, including when it comes to oral and anal sex).
Meanwhile, polyurethane deserves a shout-out because it’s actually stronger than latex and it can even handle oil-based lubricants (which is something that latex is not able to do). Polyurethane is also thinner than latex and polyisoprene which means that sex can end up feeling more intense for you with those.
Textured Condoms Are Bomb If Orgasms Are Your Goal
GiphyUh-huh. I keep trying to tell y’all that if you want your partner to be sensitive about and thoughtful towards how your vulva appears (check out “Did You Know That There Are 10 Different Kinds Of Vaginas? Yep.”), the jokes about uncircumcised men really need to cease; especially since word on the street is the extra skin can actually make sex more intense for them while giving women more orgasms in the process.
And that actually helps to make sense of why textured condoms can cause women to cum more often and consistently as well. Thanks to the tiny ribs and dots on textured rubbers,they have the ability to stimulate the nerves that are inside of your vagina far more and easier than “regular” condoms do. Oh, and if you add someCBD lube to them? LOOK. OUT.
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I’ll be real with y’all — when it comes to condoms, I think it’s always important that their purpose is protection over pleasure as far as how they are made. Still, with all of the advances in them out here — and now that you have this info as far as what your vagina would prefer — rubbers don’t have to feel like a downer. The right one can have you and your vagina climbing walls — plus, you can have the peace of mind that your health and family planning preferences aren’t being compromised in the process.
Music to your vagina’s ears. 90s R&B, to be exact…I bet. LOL.
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