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Kendrick Lamar & Drake Lead 2019 GRAMMY Award Nominees

blame it on Shake December 7, 2018

Photo: Joe Klamar

The nominations for the 61st annual GRAMMY Awards have been revealed and it’s Kendrick Lamar (8), Drake (7), and Cardi B/Childish Gambino (5) who lead the pack.

With an eligibility window that spans from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018, the association did their best (heh) to select what they felt best represented each category (and who would bring them the most attention, knowing damn well they aren’t winning).

Below, you can find a run down of the categories that actually fit with our audience. For a full list of nominations, you can visit the official website.

Album of the Year

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

Record of the Year

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

Song of the Year

  • Drake, “God’s Plan”
  • Kendrick Lamar & SZA, “All the Stars”
  • Ella Mai, “Boo’d Up”
  • Shawn Mendes, “In My Blood”
  • Brandi Carlile, “The Joke”
  • Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey, “The Middle”
  • Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper, “Shallow”
  • Childish Gambino, “This Is America”

Best Rap Album

  • • Pusha-T, DAYTONA
  • • Travis Scott, ASTROWORLD
  • • Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy
  • • Mac Miller, Swimming
  • • Nipsey Hussle, Victory Lap

Best Rap Song

  • • Drake, “God’s Plan”
  • • Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future & James Blake, “King’s Dead”
  • • Travis Scott & Drake, “Sicko Mode”
  • • Eminem & Joyner Lucas, “Lucky You”
  • • Jay Rock, “Win”

Best Rap Performance

  • • Drake, “Nice for What”
  • • Cardi B, “Be Careful”
  • • Travis Scott & Drake, “Sicko Mode”
  • • Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future & James Blake, “King’s Dead”
  • • Anderson .Paak, “Bubblin”

Best Rap/Sung Performance

  • • Kendrick Lamar & SZA, “All the Stars”
  • • Childish Gambino, “This Is America”
  • • 6lack & J. Cole, “Pretty Little Fears”
  • • Christina Aguilera & GoldLink, “Like I Do”
  • • Post Malone & 21 Savage, “Rockstar”

Best R&B Album

  • • Toni Braxton, Sex & Cigarettes
  • • Leon Bridges, Good Thing
  • • Lalah Hathaway, Honestly
  • • H.E.R., H.E.R.
  • • PJ Morton, Gumbo Unplugged

Best R&B Song

  • • Ella Mai, “Boo’d Up”
  • • Miguel, “Come Through and Chill”
  • • Childish Gambino, “Feels Like Summer”
  • • H.E.R., “Focus”
  • • Toni Braxton, “Long As I Live”

Best R&B Performance

  • • Toni Braxton, “Long As I Live”
  • • The Carters, “Summer”
  • • Lalah Hathaway, “YOY”
  • • H.E.R. & Daniel Caesar, “Best Part”
  • • PJ Morton, “First Began”

Best Urban Contemporary Album

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

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

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

Best Music Video

  • • The Carters, “APESHIT”
  • • Childish Gambino, “This Is America”
  • • Joyner Lucas, “I’m Not Racist”
  • • Janelle Monáe, “PYNK”
  • • Tierra Whack, “Mumbo Jumbo”

Best New Artist

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

I’m gonna reserve any extra judgment and just chop it up to the GRAMMYs being the GRAMMYs. Take it how you wish and feel free to share your own thoughts.