Suffice it to say, there have been a few oversights on the part of the National Academy of Recording and Sciences when it comes to Hip Hop. Many fans were in an uproar Sunday night when Macklemore & Ryan Lewis took home the “Best Rap Album” Grammy Award over Kendrick Lamar. You could hear the sound of dozens of hack writers cuing up The Heist jokes as Macklemore posted a text message he sent to Kendrick Lamar telling him, “You got robbed. I wanted you to win. You should have. It’s weird and it sucks that I robbed you…”
If you’ve been following the Grammys since the inception of the “Best Rap Album” award at the 38th Grammy Awards, you know there have been plenty of oversights. Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince decided to boycott the 31st Grammy ceremony because the presentation of the “Best Rap Performance” award was not televised. The following year, Chubb Rock and Howie Tee named their album, And the Winner Is… and included the following shots at the Grammy Academy on the title track:
“That’s some shit / What our raps ain’t valid / Whitney sang some B.S. ballad / Our records could’ve sold 50 million if it had to / But they won’t give us no statue, that’s the Grammys…”
HipHopDX’s staff looked back at the history of the “Best Rap Album” award with 10 of the biggest snubs since the category was instituted in 1995. Individual staff members weighed in with their own picks using the same criteria as the Grammy Academy. Picks were made by DX’s Features Editor, Omar Burgess; DX’s News Editor, Soren Baker; and DX’s Senior News Writer, Andres Tardio. Albums must have been released during the Grammy eligibility window. For the 2013 Grammys, that window was from October 1, 2011 through November 30, 2012. An eligible album must contain at least 51% playing time of tracks with newly recorded rapped performances. And voters shall not be influenced by personal friendships, company loyalties, regional preferences or mass sales. With that said, you’ll find our picks below. Not that you’ve ever needed an invitation, but feel free to disagree and/or include your picks in the comment section.
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38th Annual Grammy Awards: Naughty By Nature Wins “Best Rap Album”
Grammy Winner: Naughty By Nature – Poverty’s Paradise
HipHopDX Staff Picks:
Omar Burgess (@omarburgess): Bone thugs-n-harmony – E. 1999 Eternal
Soren Baker (@SorenBaker): Mobb Deep – The Infamous
Andres Tardio (@AndresWrites): Nas – Illmatic
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40th Annual Grammy Awards: Puff Daddy Wins “Best Rap Album”
Grammy Winner: Puff Daddy & The Family – No Way Out
HipHopDX Staff Picks:
Omar Burgess (@omarburgess): Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
Soren Baker (@SorenBaker): Wyclef Jean Featuring Refugee Allstars – The Carnival
Andres Tardio (@AndresWrites): Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
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41st Annual Grammy Awards: Jay Z Wins “Best Rap Album”
Grammy Winner: Jay Z – Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
HipHopDX Staff Picks:
Omar Burgess (@omarburgess): OutKast – Aquemini
Soren Baker (@SorenBaker): OutKast – Aquemini
Andres Tardio (@AndresWrites): OutKast – Aquemini
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42nd Annual Grammy Awards: Eminem Wins “Best Rap Album”
Grammy Winner: Eminem – The Slim Shady LP
HipHopDX Staff Picks:
Omar Burgess (@omarburgess): The Roots – Things Fall Apart
Soren Baker (@SorenBaker): Mobb Deep – Murda Muzik
Andres Tardio (@AndresWrites): Eminem – The Slim Shady LP
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45th Annual Grammy Awards: Eminem Wins “Best Rap Album”
Grammy Winner: Eminem – The Eminem Show
HipHopDX Staff Picks:
Omar Burgess (@omarburgess): Talib Kweli – Quality
Soren Baker (@SorenBaker): Cee-Lo – Cee-Lo Green And His Perfect Imperfections
Andres Tardio (@AndresWrites): Atmosphere – God Loves Ugly
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49th Annual Grammy Awards: Ludacris Wins “Best Rap Album”
Grammy Winner: Ludacris – Release Therapy
HipHopDX Staff Picks:
Omar Burgess (@omarburgess): Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
Soren Baker (@SorenBaker): Ghostface Killah – Fishscale
Andres Tardio (@AndresWrites): The Roots – Game Theory
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51st Annual Grammy Awards: Lil Wayne Wins “Best Rap Album”
Grammy Winner: Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III
HipHopDX Staff Picks:
Omar Burgess (@omarburgess): Nas – Untitled
Soren Baker (@SorenBaker): DJ Muggs vs. Sick Jacken feat. Cynic – Legend Of The Mask And The Assassin
Andres Tardio (@AndresWrites): DJ Muggs vs. Sick Jacken feat. Cynic – Legend Of The Mask And The Assassin
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52nd Annual Grammy Awards: Eminem Wins “Best Rap Album”
Grammy Winner: Eminem – Relapse
HipHopDX Staff Picks:
Omar Burgess (@omarburgess): Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Part II
Soren Baker (@SorenBaker): Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…Part II
Andres Tardio (@AndresWrites): Brother Ali – Us
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53rd Annual Grammy Awards: Eminem Wins “Best Rap Album”
Grammy Winner: Eminem – Recovery
HipHopDX Staff Picks:
Omar Burgess (@omarburgess): Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty
Soren Baker (@SorenBaker): Reflection Eternal – Revolutions Per Minute
Andres Tardio (@AndresWrites): The Roots – How I Got Over
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56th Annual Grammy Awards: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Wins “Best Rap Album”
Grammy Winner: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – The Heist
HipHopDX Staff Picks:
Omar Burgess (@omarburgess): Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
Soren Baker (@SorenBaker): Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
Andres Tardio (@AndresWrites): Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
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