Herbie Hancock’s 1983 instrumental “Rockit” won the Grammy for Best R&B Instrumental Performance.
“Rockit” was released on Hancock’s album Future Shock in 1983 and became one of his most recognizable electronic recordings. The track blends jazz-fusion musicianship with drum machines, synthesizers, turntable scratching, and production associated with Bill Laswell’s avant-garde funk approach. Its futuristic sound helped connect Hancock’s jazz background with emerging hip-hop and electronic production.
At the 26th Grammy Awards in 1984, “Rockit” won Best R&B Instrumental Performance. The award year reflects the ceremony date, while the recording itself belongs to 1983. The song also won Grammys for Best R&B Song and Best Instrumental Composition, making it a particularly important crossover success for Hancock.
The other options are earlier Hancock compositions or recordings, but they did not win this specific Grammy in 1984. “Watermelon Man,” for example, dates from Hancock’s early 1960s period, while “Cantaloupe Island” became especially influential through later sampling. “Rockit” remains notable for bringing turntablism and electronic textures into a Grammy-winning jazz-funk setting.