Earlier today the nominations for the upcoming 2021 GRAMMYs was announced and leading the pack was Beyoncé with nine. Followed closely by upcoming Hip-Hop star, Roddy Ricch with six nominations. As well as Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift with six. In a group that included several already decorated nominated artists. That includes Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z. Whose three nominations ties him with Quincy Jones for the most nominations in GRAMMYs history with 80. Putting him one ahead of his wife, who has 79. That’s most ever among women.
Beyoncé’s nine nominations come mostly from her Black pride anthem, BLACK PARADE. She released on Juneteenth and in honor of the holiday that most people outside the Black community know little about. With it being nominated in two of the Big Four categories of Record and Song of the Year. Beyoncé actually competing against herself in those categories for her feature on the remix to first time GRAMMYs-nominated rapper, Megan Thee Stallion’s, smash hit single, Savage. The Carters keeping it in the family too. As Blue Ivy gets a nod as well for being featured on, BROWN SKIN GIRL. For which Beyoncé is nominated for Best Music Video.
Hip-Hop and R&B’s dominance of music for the past several years to really almost last decade or longer. Is very much shown in the 13 nominations over the Major Four categories too. That includes already three time GRAMMYs nominated singer and songwriter, Jhené Aiko. Adding three more nominations to her resume. Including being nominated for Album of the Year for the first time with her very critically-acclaimed latest solo album, CHILOMBO. Megan, D Smoke, Chika and KAYTRANADA also being nominated for Best New Artist, among several first time nominees.
For the first time really in the tumultuous history between Hip-Hop/Rap and the GRAMMYs. The Recording Academy got it mostly all right with the nominations for Best Rap Album. That includes first time nominees, Freddie Gibbs, The Alchemist, and D Smoke. As well as veterans Royce Da 5’9 and Jay Electronica, who have previously been nominated for being featured on other artists work. Getting their first nominations as artists for their own solo work. All traditional Rap albums in Gibbs & Alchemist’s collaboration album, Alfredo, Royce’s, The Allegory, Nas’, King’s Disease, Electronica’s, A Written Testimony and Smoke’s, Black Habits.
In a sign of the times going on and how they’re reflected in today’s music. Beyoncé’s, BLACK PARADE, as well as already GRAMMYs Awards-winning artists Anderson .Paak and H.E.R. With their powerful singles Lockdown and I Can’t Breathe. Are among records that resulted from the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor protests that are nominated for GRAMMYs. I Can’t Breathe nominated for, Song of the Year. While Lockdown is nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance. One of three nominations for H.E.R. Who has had five nominations each of the last two years and won two just a couple of years ago.
Speaking of R&B and Beyoncé. Her protégés, who are signed to her Parkwood Entertainment label, Chloe x Halle. Received three nominations as well for their very mostly critically-acclaimed sophomore album, Ungodly Hour. The album itself being nominated for Best Progressive R&B Album. While their single, Do It, is nominated for Best R&B Song and Wonder What She Thinks of Me, nominated for, Best Traditional R&B Performance.
Going back now to hometown Chicago connections. Lil Durk is multi nominated for his role as a feature on Drake’s, Laugh Now, Cry Later single. That’s nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Melodic Rap Performance. While Kanye West is nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for, Jesus Is King.
A full list of most categories can be seen below:
RECORD OF THE YEAR
“Black Parade” – Beyoncé
“Colors” – Black Pumas
“Rockstar” – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
“Say So” – Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted” – Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa
“Circles” – Post Malone
“Savage” – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Chilombo – Jhené Aiko
Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition) -Black Pumas
Everyday Life -Coldplay
Djesse Vol.3″ – Jacob Collier
Women in Music Pt. III – HAIM
Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa
Hollywood’s Bleeding – Post Malone
Folklore – Taylor Swift
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Black Parade” – Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)
“The Box” – Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)
“Cardigan” – Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
“Circles” – Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Austin Post & Billy Walsh, songwriters (Post Malone)
“Don’t Start Now” – Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa & Emily Warren, songwriters (Dua Lipa)
“Everything I Wanted” – Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
“I Can’t Breathe” – Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.)
“If the World Was Ending” – Julia Michaels & JP Saxe, songwriters (JP Saxe feat. Julia Michaels)
BEST NEW ARTIST
Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
“Yummy” – Justin Bieber
“Say So” – Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted” – Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa
“Watermelon Sugar” – Harry Styles
“Cardigan” – Taylor Swift
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
“Un Dia (One Day)” – J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny & Tainy
“Intentions” – Justin Bieber feat. Quavo
“Dynamite” – BTS
“Rain on Me” – Lady Gaga With Ariana Grande
“Exile” – Taylor Swift feat. Bon Iver
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Changes – Justin Bieber
Chromatica – Lady Gaga
Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa
Fine Line – Harry Styles
Folklore – Taylor Swift
BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
“Lightning & Thunder” – Jhené Aiko feat. John Legend
“Black Parade” – Beyoncé
“All I Need” – Jacob Collier feat. Mahalia & Ty Dolla $Ign
“Goat Head” – Brittany Howard
“See Me” – Emily King
BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
“Sit On Down” – The Baylor Project feat. Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor
“Wonder What She Thinks of Me” – Chloe X Halle
“Let Me Go” – Mykal Kilgore
“Anything For You” – Ledisi
“Distance” – Yebba
BEST R&B SONG
“Better Than I Imagine” – Robert Glasper feat. H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello
“Black Parade” – Beyoncé
“Collide” – Tiana Major9 & Earthgang
“Do It” – Chloe X Halle
“Slow Down” – Skip Marley & H.E.R.
BEST PROGRESSIVE R&B ALBUM
Chilombo – Jhené Aiko
Ungodly Hour – Chloe X Halle
Free Nationals – Free Nationals
F*** Yo Feelings – Robert Glasper
It Is What It Is – Thundercat
BEST R&B ALBUM
Happy 2 Be Here – Ant Clemons
Take Time – Giveon
To Feel Love/D – Luke James
Bigger Love – John Legend
All Rise – Gregory Porter
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
“Deep Reverence” – Big Sean feat. Nipsey Hussle
“Bop” – DaBaby
“What’s Poppin” – Jack Harlow
“The Bigger Picture” – Lil Baby
“Savage” – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
“Dior” – Pop Smoke
BEST MELODIC RAP PERFORMANCE
“Rockstar” – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
“Laugh Now, Cry Later” – Drake feat. Lil Durk
“Lockdown” – Anderson .Paak
“The Box” – Roddy Ricch
“Highest in the Room” – Travis Scott
BEST RAP SONG
“The Bigger Picture” – Dominique Jones, Noah Pettigrew & Rai’shaun Williams, Songwriters (Lil Baby)
“The Box” – Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore, Songwriters (Roddy Ricch)
“Laugh Now, Cry Later” – Durk Banks, Rogét Chahayed, Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Ron Latour & Ryan Martinez, Songwriters (Drake feat. Lil Durk)
“Rockstar” – Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, Ross Joseph Portaro Iv & Rodrick Moore, Songwriters (DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch)
“Savage” – Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe & Anthony White, songwriters (Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé)
BEST RAP ALBUM
Black Habits – D Smoke
Alfredo – Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
A Written Testimony – Jay Electronica
King’s Disease – Nas
The Allegory Royce – Da 5’9″
BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM
Run To The Father – Cody Carnes
All Of My Best Friends – Hillsong Young & Free
Holy Water – We The Kingdom
Citizen Of Heaven – Tauren Wells
Jesus Is King – Kanye West
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
Dave Cobb
Flying Lotus
Andrew Watt
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
“Brown Skin Girl” – Beyoncé
“Life Is Good” – Future feat. Drake
“Lockdown” – Anderson .Paak
“Adore You” – Harry Styles
“Goliath” – Woodkid