In a historic milestone for Indian regional hip-hop, Goan Konkani rapper, lyricist, and artist Amit Jaiwant Naik, popularly known by his stage name Waking Grunt, has been selected as a Voting Member of The Recording Academy for the Grammy Awards.

​​For those unfamiliar, the Recording Academy is the premier global organization of music creators and professionals, best known for presenting the prestigious GRAMMY Awards, widely considered the highest honor in the music industry. As a Voting Member, Waking Grunt joins an elite panel of peers eligible to submit work (contest for Grammy nominations), evaluate contenders, and vote to decide nominee and winner selections across various music categories, effectively bringing regional Indian art forms, independent hip-hop, and Goan culture onto international music panels.

He has become the first Konkani rap artist to be inducted as a voting member for the Grammy Awards. Waking Giant credits Goan filmmaker and Hollywood-based director Milroy Goes for his recommendation and guidance, along with his music producers and well-wishers.