Feel sorry for anyone who tried to release a new single/project today; today’s buzz was all about the Grammy nominations. Particularly because of recent upsets in rap categories (Macklemore over Kendrick, Iggy even being nominated, etc.) rap fans have been on edge for the past couple of years about nominations and winners. This year however, people seem generally pleased. Seemingly to make up for a past snub, although actually just because of a fantastic album, Kendrick Lamar leads everyone with a stunning 11 nominations. That’s not just in the rap categories; Kendrick has more nominations than any other artist this year, with Taylor Swift and The Weeknd unsurprisingly coming in next with 7 each.
Other notable nominees include Flying Lotus (of course featuring Kendrick Lamar) for Best Dance Recording with “Never Catch Me,” and Kehlani and The Internet, each with nominations for best Urban Contemporary album. Kehlani’s nom is especially impressive considering the fact that You Should Be Here is technically a mixtape. Hiatus Kaiyote (!), Jeremih, and of course The Weeknd stand out in the Best R&B Performance category, and everything you’d expect to appear in the rap categories is pretty much covered. One surprise is Drake’s “Back To Back” for Best Rap Performance, which felt like just an Internet-hyped diss track. Apparently the Academy felt differently. Perhaps the most difficult category for hip-hop fans is Best Rap Album. We don’t talk enough about how incredible this year was for rap music. Forest Hills Drive. IYRTITL. To Pimp A Butterfly got rave reviews from pretty much every publication. Anything Nicki Minaj spits is fire. And a Dr. Dre comeback after 15 years?! Much deserved for every artist nominated, and it’s going to be a tough one. Let’s just hope that unlike last year, the rap categories are televised. These artists have had way too much of an impact on 2015 to not be recognized. Check the rest of the nominees here. The Grammy Awards will be held on February 15th, 2016.
