Kendrick Lamar, Women Leads Grammy Nominations, Shows Current Dominance Of Hip-Hop and R&B

We’ve reached that time of the year yet again, where everybody gets in to arguments about who did and didn’t deserve nominees, as the nominations for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards were announced on CBS’s This Morning show early this morning.

Leading the nominations this year was Kendrick Lamar with eight, thanks in large part to his contributions to his role as executive producer to the soundtrack for the blockbuster hit, Black Panther.  Which was nominated for the coveted, Album of the Year, award, as well as two of the other big four categories in Record and Song of the Year, for the lead single from Black Panther: The Album, All the Stars featuring his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmate, SZA.  The record also being nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.  Lamar also being nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for the other Black Panther soundtrack single, King’s Dead.  A collaboration with his longtime TDE labelmate and partner in-rhyme, Jay Rock, with whom he was also nominated for Best Rap Song for their collaboration, WIN.

Next year’s 61st Annual Grammy Awards, which will also air on CBS in a little over a couple of months on Sunday Feb. 10, 2019 from the Staples Center in Lamar’s hometown of Los Angeles.

Following close behind Lamar with seven nominations is Drake, as well as Americana artist Brandi Carlile surprising with six nominations, including in the categories of album and record of the year.  Childish Gambino and Instagram turned Reality star turned viable rap star, Cardi B following close behind with five.  Continuing to show Hip-Hop and R&B’s dominance in not only the scope of music as a whole, but the Grammys themselves.  You may remember years ago most of Hip-Hop boycotting, The Grammys.  Though they still have a long way to go, they got a lot right and have come a long way from the regular boycott’s of the show most Hip-Hop artists had back in the late 80’s to early 90’s.

Women, who were nearly shut out with only one win (coming from Alessia Cara for Best New Artist) in last year’s four major categories dominated the nominations too.  With Janelle Monáe being nominated for Album of the Year for her groundbreaking latest solo album, Dirty Computer.  While Cardi was nominated for Album of the Year and Record of the Year.  Six of the eight names notably nominated for women, ironically being for, Best New Artist in which the most noteworthy names are, Jorja Smith, H.E.R. and Chloe x Halle.

H.E.R. getting four nominations herself, which include the very coveted , Album of the Year, shows the great diversity of not only women, but new acts and blood to receive first time nominations such, as Nipsey Hu$$le, Ella Mai, among others.  Notable names to be completely shut out or only receive a single nomination included Eminem and Kanye West.  While veteran legendary acts you expect to be there like Toni Braxton and JAY-Z and Beyoncé (as The Carters) received multiple nominations.

A partial list of the nominees can be seen below and the full list here.

Album of the Year

Invasion of Privacy – Cardi B
By the Way, I Forgive You – Brandi Carlile
Scorpion – Drake
H.E.R. – H.E.R.
Beerbongs & Bentleys – Post Malone
Dirty Computer – Janelle Monáe
Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
Black Panther: The Album, Music From And Inspired By– Kendrick Lamar

 

Record of the Year

“I Like It” – Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin
“The Joke” – Brandi Carlile
“This Is America” – Childish Gambino
“God’s Plan” – Drake
“Shallow” – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
“All the Stars” – Kendrick Lamar and SZA
“Rockstar” – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
“The Middle” – Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey

Song of the Year

All the Stars” – Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Mark Spears and Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar and SZA)
“Boo’d Up” – Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai and Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)
“God’s Plan” – Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels and Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)
“In My Blood” – Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes and Geoffrey Warburton, songwriters (Shawn Mendes)
“The Joke” – Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)
“The Middle” – Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha and Anton Zaslavski, songwriters (Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey)
“Shallow” – Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper)
“This Is America” – Donald Glover and Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)

Best New Artist

Chloe x Halle
Luke Combs
Greta Van Fleet
H.E.R.
Dua Lipa
Margo Price
Bebe Rexha
Jorja Smith

Best Pop Solo Performance

“Colors” – Beck
“Havana (Live)” – Camila Cabello
“God Is a Woman” – Ariana Grande
“Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)” – Lady Gaga
“Better Now” – Post Malone

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Fall in Line” – Christina Aguilera featuring Demi Lovato
“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” – Backstreet Boys
“‘S Wonderful” – Tony Bennett and Diana Krall
“Shallow” – Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
“Girls Like You” – Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
“Say Something” – Justin Timberlake featuring Chris Stapleton
“The Middle” – Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey

Best Pop Vocal Album

Camila – Camila Cabello
Meaning of Life – Kelly Clarkson
Sweetener – Ariana Grande
Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes
Beautiful Trauma – Pink
Reputation – Taylor Swift

Best Rock Performance

“Four Out of Five” – Arctic Monkeys
“When Bad Does Good” – Chris Cornell
“Made an America” – The Fever 333
“Highway Tune” – Greta Van Fleet
“Uncomfortable” – Halestorm

Best R&B Performance

“Long As I Live” – Toni Braxton
“Summer” – The Carters
“Y O Y” – Lalah Hathaway
“Best Part” – H.E.R. featuring Daniel Caesar
“First Began” – PJ Morton

Best Traditional R&B Performance

“Bet Ain’t Worth The Hand” – Leon Bridges
“Don’t Fall Apart On Me Tonight” – Bettye LaVette
“Honest” – MAJOR.
“How Deep Is Your Love” – PJ Morton Featuring Yebba
“Made For Love” – Charlie Wilson Featuring Lalah Hathaway

Best R&B Song

“Boo’d Up” – Ella Mai
“Come Through And Chill” – Miguel Featuring J. Cole & Salaam Remi
“Feels Like Summer” – Childish Gambino
“Focus” – H.E.R.
“Long As I Live” – Toni Braxton

Best Urban Contemporary Album

Everything Is Love – The Carters
The Kids Are Alright – Chloe x Halle
Chris Dave and the Drumhedz – Chris Dave and the Drumhedz
War & Leisure – Miguel
Ventriloquism – Meshell Ndegeocello

 

Best R&B Album

Sex & Cigarettes – Toni Braxton
Good Thing – Leon Bridges
Honestly – Lalah Hathaway
H.E.R. – H.E.R.
Gumbo Unplugged (Live) – PJ Morton

Best Rap Performance

“Be Careful” – Cardi B
“Nice for What” – Drake
“King’s Dead” – Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake
“Bubblin” – Anderson .Paak
“Sicko Mode” – Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk and Swae Lee

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

“Like I Do” – Christina Aguilera Featuring Goldlink
“Pretty Little Fears” – 6lack Featuring J. Cole
“This Is America” – Childish Gambino
“All The Stars” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
“Rockstar” – Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage

Best Rap Song

“God’s Plan” – Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels and Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)
“King’s Dead” – Kendrick Duckworth, Samuel Gloade, James Litherland, Johnny McKinzie, Mark Spears, Travis Walton, Nayvadius Wilburn and Michael Williams II, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future and James Blake)
“Lucky You” – R. Fraser, G. Lucas, M. Mathers, M. Samuels and J. Sweet, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Joyner Lucas)
“Sicko Mode” – Khalif Brown, Rogét Chahayed, BryTavious Chambers, Mike Dean, Mirsad Dervic, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer, Aubrey Graham, John Edward Hawkins, Chauncey Hollis, Jacques Webster, Ozan Yildirim and Cydel Young, songwriters (Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk and Swae Lee)
“Win” – K. Duckworth, A. Hernandez, J. McKinzie, M. Samuels and C. Thompson, songwriters (Jay Rock)

Best Rap Album

Invasion of Privacy – Cardi B
Swimming – Mac Miller
Victory Lap – Nipsey Hussle
Daytona – Pusha T
Astroworld – Travis Scott

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media

Call Me By Your Name – Various Artists
Deadpool 2 – Various Artists
The Greatest Showman – Various Artists
Lady Bird – Various Artists
Stranger Things – Various Artists

Best Song Written For Visual Media

“All the Stars” – Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Alexander William Shuckburgh, Mark Anthony Spears and Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar and SZA)
“Mystery of Love” – Sufjan Stevens, songwriter (Sufjan Stevens)
“Remember Me” – Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, songwriters (Miguel Featuring Natalia Lafourcade)
“Shallow” – Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper)
“This Is Me” – Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, songwriters (Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman Ensemble)

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

Boi-1da
Larry Klein
Linda Perry
Kanye West
Pharrell Williams

Best Music Video

“Apes**t” – The Carters
“This Is America” – Childish Gambino
“I’m Not Racist” – Joyner Lucas
“Pynk” – Janelle Monáe
“Mumbo Jumbo” – Tierra Whack