The coveted Grammy Awards are right around the corner and the nominations for next year's biggest day in music have been announced. On Tuesday afternoon (Nov. 24), the Recording Academy unveiled the full list of nominees for the 2021 Grammy Awards. Harvey Mason Jr., the chair and interim Recording Academy President/CEO introduced the candidates—alongside a host of artists and celebrities—during a livestream.
Lil Baby received two nods for his anthemic protest track, "The Bigger Picture," for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. The late Pop Smoke was also nominated for Best Rap Performance with "Dior." Travis Scott snagged a Best Melodic Rap Performance nomination for "Highest in the Room."
DaBaby and Roddy Ricch are up for Record of the Year with their collaborative effort "Rockstar."
Also, 2020 XXL Freshman Chika received a nod for Best New Artist.
Within the list of gifted artists, Nas, Jay Electronica, D Smoke, Freddie Gibbs and the Alchemist and Royce Da 5’9” were all nominated for the Best Rap Album category.
Last year, J. Cole and his Dreamville collective were up for the award for their album Revenge of the Dreamers III. Meek Mill's Championships, Tyler, The Creator's Igor, 21 Savage's I Am > I Was and YBN Cordae's The Lost Boy were nominated as well.
The former Odd Future member took home the honor, but not without calling out the Grammy Awards for their voting process.
"I'm half and half on it," Tyler said. "Um on one side, I'm grateful that what I can make can just be acknowledged in a world like this but also it sucks that, whenever we, and I mean guys that look like me, do anything that's genre-bending or that's anything, they always put it in a rap or urban category, which is … and I don't like that 'urban' word. It's just the politically correct way to say the N-Word to me. So when I hear that I'm just like 'Why can't we just be in pop?.'"
He continued: "So I felt like half of me feels like the rap nomination was a backhanded compliment. Like, 'Oh, my little cousin wants to play the game. Let's give him the unplugged controller so he can shut up and feel good about it.' That's what it felt like a bit. But another half of me is very grateful that the art that I made can be acknowledged on a level like this when I don't do the radio stuff. I'm not playing in Target. I'm in a whole different world than what a lot of people here listen to so I'm grateful and like ehh."
The 2021 Grammy Awards, which will be hosted by Trevor Noah, is set to take place on Jan. 31, 2021 on CBS at 8 p.m. EST. Check out the full list of nominations for the 2021 Grammy Awards.
2021 Grammy Awards Nominees
Record of the Year
“Black Parade,” Beyoncé
“Colors,” Black Pumas
“Rockstar,” DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
“Say So,” Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted,” Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now,” Dua Lipa
“Circles,” Post Malone
“Savage,” Megan Thee Stallion
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 and Rickie “Caso” Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)
“The Box,” Samuel Gloade and Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)
“Cardigan,” Aaron Dessner and Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
“Circles,” Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Austin Post and Billy Walsh, songwriters (Post Malone)
“Don’t Start Now,” Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa and Emily Warren, songwriters (Dua Lipa)
“Everything I Wanted,” Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
“I Can’t Breathe,” Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. and Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.)
“If the World Was Ending,” Julia Michaels and JP Saxe, songwriters (JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels)
Best New Artist
Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion
Best Rap Performance
“Deep Reverence,” Big Sean featuring Nipsey Hussle
“Bop,” DaBaby
“What’s Poppin,” Jack Harlow
“The Bigger Picture,” Lil Baby
“Savage,” Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé
“Dior,” Pop Smoke
Best Melodic Rap Performance
“Rockstar,” DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
“Laugh Now Cry Later,” Drake featuring 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 and Rai’shaun Williams, songwriters (Lil Baby)
“The Box,” Samuel Gloade and Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)
“Laugh Now Cry Later,” Durk Banks, Rogét Chahayed, Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Ron LaTour and Ryan Martinez, songwriters (Drake featuring Lil Durk)
“Rockstar,” Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, Ross Joseph Portaro IV and Rodrick Moore, songwriters (DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch)
“Savage,” Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe and Anthony White, songwriters (Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé)
Best Rap Album
Black Habits, D Smoke
Alfredo, Freddie Gibbs and the Alchemist
A Written Testimony, Jay Electronica
King’s Disease, Nas
The Allegory, Royce Da 5’9”
Best R&B Performance
“Lightning & Thunder,” Jhené Aiko featuring John Legend
“Black Parade,” Beyoncé
“All I Need,” Jacob Collier featuring Mahalia and Ty Dolla Sign
“Goat Head,” Brittany Howard
“See Me,” Emily King
Best R&B Song
“Better Than I Imagine,” Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello and Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Robert Glasper featuring H.E.R. and Meshell Ndegeocello)
“Black Parade,” Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk and Rickie “Caso” Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)
“Collide,” Sam Barsh, Stacey Barthe, Sonyae Elise, Olu Fann, Akil King, Josh Lopez, Kaveh Rastegar and Benedetto Rotondi, songwriters (Tiana Major9 and Earthgang)
“Do It,” Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Anton Kuhl, Victoria Monét, Scott Storch and Vincent Van Den Ende, songwriters (Chloe X Halle)
“Slow Down,” Nasri Atweh, Badriia Bourelly, Skip Marley, Ryan Williamson and Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Skip Marley and H.E.R.)
Best Progressive R&B Album
Chilombo, Jhené Aiko
Ungodly Hour, Chloe X Halle
Free Nationals, Free Nationals
F**k Yo Feelings, Robert Glasper
It Is What It Is, Thundercat
Best Remixed Recording
“Do You Ever (Rac Mix),” Rac, Remixer (Phil Good)
“Imaginary Friends (Morgan Page Remix),” Morgan Page, Remixer (Deadmau5)
“Praying for You (Louie Vega Main Remix),” Louie Vega, Remixer (Jasper Street Co.)
“Roses (Imanbek Remix)” — Imanbek Zeikenov, Remixer (Saint Jhn)
“Young & Alive (Bazzi Vs. Haywyre Remix),” Haywyre, remixer (Bazzi)
Best Music Video
“Brown Skin Girl,” Beyoncé, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter & Jenn Nkiru, Video Directors; Lauren Baker, Astrid Edwards, Nathan Scherrer & Erinn Williams, Video Producers
“Life Is Good,” Future featuring Drake, Julien Christian Lutz, Video Director; Harv Glazer, Video Producer
“Lockdown,” Anderson .Paak, Dave Meyers, Video Director; Nathan Scherrer, Video Producer
“Adore You,” Harry Styles, Dave Meyers, Video Director; Nathan Scherrer, Video Producer
“Goliath,” Woodkid, Yoann Lemoine, video director
Best Music Film
Beastie Boys Story, Beastie Boys, Spike Jonze, video director; Amanda Adelson, Jason Baum & Spike Jonze, video producers
Black Is King, Beyoncé
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme, Freestyle Love Supreme, Andrew Fried, Video Director; Andrew Fried, Jill Furman, Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sarina Roma, Jenny Steingart & Jon Steingart, video producers
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound Of My Voice, Linda Ronstadt, Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman, video directors; Michele Farinola & James Keach, video producers
That Little Ol’ Band From Texas, ZZ Top, Sam Dunn, video director; Scot McFadyen, video producer
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 Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
“Asas Fechadas,” John Beasley & Maria Mendes, arrangers (Maria Mendes Featuring John Beasley & Orkest Metropole)
“Desert Song,” Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, Johnaye Kendrick & Amanda Taylor, arrangers (Säje)
“From This Place,” Alan Broadbent & Pat Metheny, arrangers (Pat Metheny Featuring Meshell Ndegeocello)
“He Won’t Hold You,” Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier Featuring Rapsody)
“Slow Burn,” Talia Billig, Nic Hard & Becca Stevens, arrangers (Becca Stevens Featuring Jacob Collier, Mark Lettieri, Justin Stanton, Jordan Perlson, Nic Hard, Keita Ogawa, Marcelo Woloski & Nate Werth)
Best Recording Package
Everyday Life, Pilar Zeta, art director (Coldplay)
Funeral, Kyle Goen, art director (Lil Wayne)
Healer, Julian Gross & Hannah Hooper, art directors (Grouplove)
On Circles, Jordan Butcher, art director (Caspian)
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
“Un Dia (One Day),” J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and Tainy
“Intentions,” Justin Bieber featuring Quavo
“Dynamite,” BTS
“Rain on Me,” Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande
“Exile,” Taylor Swift featuring Bon Iver
Best Dance Recording
"On My Mind," Diplo & Sidepiece
"My High," Disclosure Featuring Aminé & Slowthai
"The Difference," Flume featuring Toro y Moi
"Both of Us," Jayda G
"10%," Kaytranada Featuring Kali Uchis
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
See the full list of Grammy Award nominees here.
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