It was a little over an hour after the conclusion of the Grammy ceremony at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles when guests started congregating at Republic Records’ afterparty, held at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood, a brisk 20-minute ride from the venue thanks to the sweet serenity of light Sunday night traffic on otherwise unforgiving highways. As attendees began lining up on the stairs lined with black candles by 10 p.m., the crowds were promptly credentialed and let inside.