The 2016 Grammy Awards nomination were announced this morning and they seem a lot less controversial than the last two previous years. Of course, Kendrick Lamar scoring eleven nods makes him the second behind Michael Jackson in getting the most recognitions for a ceremony. One of the most ironic surprises included Drake becoming the first rapper in history to receive a nomination for a diss track. That’s right, if Meek Mill wasn’t embarrassed already by getting bodied by a “singin’ nigga,” he has to deal with the possibility of his nemesis getting rewarded on the world stage for it as well. Those aren’t the only surprises, though. Without further ado, Features Editor Andre Grant and Senior Features Writer Ural Garrett deliver their opinions on this year’s Grammy nominations.
Best Rap Performance
“Apparently” – J. Cole
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“Back To Back” – Drake
“Trap Queen” – Fetty Wap
“Alright” – Kendrick Lamar
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“Truffle Butter” – Nicki Minaj Featuring Drake & Lil Wayne
“All Day” – Kanye West
Ural: Though I didn’t like the album much, Yelawolf’s “Till It’s Gone” should have gotten a nod over “All Day” which sort of just came and went. Considering its overwhelming popularity this year, “Trap Queen” was shoe-in. If “Back To Back” wins Best Rap Performance, it’ll cement Drake’s Meek Mill diss as one of the greatest-of-all-time. At this time, “Alright” has transitioned from intricate single within the narrative trappings of To Pimp A Butterflyto the key statement of this generation’s civil rights movement. “Truffle Butter” is an interesting choice as Big Sean could have easily taken that spot with “Blessings.” Sure, personal bias gives K.Dot the edge, but J Cole has a shot through “Apparently.” However, “No Role Modelz” could have been a better alternative for Jermaine.
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Andre: The “Best Rap Performance” category is known for being stocked, and this year is another one with some veracity behind it. “Apparently” is J. Cole’s most negro spiritual record, and I’m not going to draw a direct line between that and its nomination, but, yeah. “Back To Back” is the diss record that might win a Grammy, which is absurd and delightful in its own right. “Trap Queen” is the runaway hit of the year. It dominated the Billboard charts and thrust Fetty Vandross into the mainstream stratosphere. “Alright” will be probably be played at every single Civil Rights rally, protest, and whatever from L.A. to Tunisia, and then there are the cool kid picks. Nicki Minaj’s “Truffle Butter” is a surprise considering it didn’t break the Billboard 100 top 10 and, well, Kanye West’s “All Day,” while it is a good record and did chart into the top 15, it didn’t seem to achieve the kind of cultural saturation that Kanye is used to. Honestly, it comes down to “Back To Back” and “Alright.” In terms of cultural importance, Kendrick wins hands down. But the beef may be too much to overcome.
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
“One Man Can Change The World” – Big Sean Featuring Kanye West & John Legend
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“Glory” – Common & John Legend
“Classic Man” – Jidenna Featuring Roman GianArthur
“These Walls” – Kendrick Lamar Featuring Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat
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“Only” – Nicki Minaj Featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown
Andre: Part of me wants “Only” to win because it’s just so damn ratchet. Wait, no. I take that back. Despite standout verses from Nicki Minaj and Drake, the song is slathered in World Star. The other four are more mainstream picks. “Classic Man” gets the boot because of the Iggy Azalea sample, and “These Walls” isn’t a stand alone masterpiece. It’s better experienced as part of the twelve-course meal that’s TPAB. That means the rock should pass to “Glory.” I’m not holding my breath, though.
Ural: How awesome would it be for “Glory” to not only win an Oscar but Grammy as well? Considering the nature of the film it’s inspired by, Common and John Legend winning the prize would be historic almost. “Classic Man” was a huge hit inspired by Hip Hop’s most hated individual Iggy Azalea. Meanwhile, “Only” and “One Man Can Change The World” are the lower profile choices. Don’t be surprised if Lamar takes this one for “These Walls” as well.
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Best Rap Song
“All Day” – Kanye West
“Alright” – Kendrick Lamar
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“Energy” – Drake
“Glory” – Common & John Legend
“Trap Queen” – Fetty Wap
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Ural: I’d take Vince Staples “Norf Norf” or “Senorita” over “All Day.” In fact, I think Ye is just getting the nominations for just being Ye. “Energy” may be one of Drake’s many hits for the year, the fight looks like it’ll be between “Alright,” “Trap Queen” and “Glory.” Hip Hop sort-of dismissed “Glory” for some strange reason, but this could be Common and John Legend’s “Lose Yourself” moment.
Andre: “Trap Queen” will probably get this one. The man seemingly created the Trap&B lane. What was singing to your lady about introducing her to your stove before Fetty Pendergrass? It didn’t really exist. Now, it feels like a direct extension of Drake’s Netflix and Chill type of tunes. His songwriting, though, is his true talent. The only other true choices are K. Dot’s “Alright” and Drake’s “Energy.” The latter had a definite moment, to be sure, but it didn’t have the staying power of, say, “Hotline Bling.”
Best Rap Album
2014 Forest Hills Drive – J. Cole
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Compton – Dr. Dre
If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late – Drake
To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
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The Pinkprint – Nicki Minaj
Andre: The best rap album this year is To Pimp A Butterfly. There isn’t another album this year that has lived as long or as well as K. Dot’s masterpiece. IYRTITLhad a moment, but it mostly disappeared into the ether on the back of Meek Mill’s accusation. Compton, too, is an album that was initially lauded and now feels like not a soul listens to.2014 Forest Hills Driveis its only true competition, here, as The Pinkprinthad a few moments on that album that missed the mark despite being Nicki’s best. If 2014 does get the nod, no one will rail the way they did with Macklemore, but it will still be a true disappointment. And one he’s already experienced at the hands of his cohorts at the BET Awards. The clock is ticking, Grammy’s. Are you folks going to get this one right?
Ural: This is going to be a slugfest between Kendrick and J Cole. By now, To Pimp A Butterfly has dominated everyone’s year-end list. There isn’t an album released this year’s that been unanimously decided upon. Then again, many said this about K.Dot’s major label debut Good Kid m.A.A.d. City and we all know how that ended. Compton is one of the year’s best albums, but it doesn’t hold a candle to either Kendrick or Cole’s works. ITRTITLand The Pinkprint are merely just placeholders for albums better albums released within the calendar year.
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Album Of The Year
Sound & Color – Alabama Shakes
To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
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Traveller – Chris Stapleton
1989 – Taylor Swift
Beauty Behind The Madness – The Weeknd
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Andre: K.Dot has the chance to pull off the hat trick that is winning Best Album, Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song at the Grammy Awards this year. Has that even ever been done? A short inquiry says no. How monumental would it be if Kendrick was able to both break his own streak and make history in the process?
Ural: Album Of The Year is always filled with reality and fantasy. To Pimp A Butterfly is the highest reviewed album on the list of nominees besides Sound & Color. If Taylor Swift wins for 1989, something tells me that Hip Hop will probably approach the Grammy offices with flaming sticks and pitchforks. Traveller may have a shot, but Alabama Shakes has that category covered. The battle of pop supremacy is between 1989 and Beauty Behind The Madness. Who know’s what side the voting members may lean to but critical analyst puts To Pimp A Butterfly at the top.
Andre Grant is an NYC native turned L.A. transplant that has contributed to a few different properties on the web and is now the Features Editor for HipHopDX. He’s also trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot. Follow him on Twitter @drejones.
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Ural Garrett is a Los Angeles-based journalist and HipHopDX’s Senior Features Writer. When not covering music, video games, films and the community at large, he’s in the kitchen baking like Anita. Follow him on Twitter @Uralg.
