The Recording Academy rolled out the 2021 Grammy Award nominees on Tuesday (November 24) and sparked a contentious debate on social media.
Fans were outraged The Weeknd wasn’t nominated for a single award despite releasing the No. 1 Billboard 200 album After Hours in March and Quality Control CEO Pierre “Pee” Thomas couldn’t believe Lil Baby’s My Turn album didn’t get a nod for Best Rap Album. 50 Cent and Teyana Taylor also took their grievances with the Recording Academy to social media.
Taylor, who wasn’t nominated for her latest project The Album, expressed her outrage in a Twitter post with, “Y’all was better off just saying best MALE R&B ALBUM cause all I see is dick in this category.”
Fiddy’s previous prediction also came true. Last week, he told the Rap Caviar podcast there was no way Pop Smoke’s posthumous debut Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon was getting nominated.
“Best Rap Album,” he said followed by several grinning emojis. “They out of touch this shit ain’t it, get the fuck outta here. 50cent #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi.”
But there was a lot to celebrate too. The Best Rap Album nominees included some welcome surprises for a lot of classic Hip Hop fans, including D Smoke’s Black Habits and Royce Da 5’9’s The Allegory. Other nominees in the Best Rap Album category include Jay Electronica’s A Written Testimony, Nas’ King’s Disease and Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist’s Alfredo.
Like many other artists, celebrated producer 9th Wonder took notice of the list and applauded all of the nominees — almost. Shortly after the list was unveiled, 9th fired off a tweet congratulating everyone but Nas and The Alchemist, leading some to wonder if 9th has beef with the notorious MC given their history. The Alchemist omission also raised a few eyebrows.
Man…Congrats to @Royceda59, @DSmoke7, @JayElectronica, AND @FreddieGibbs for their nomination of Best Rap Album,” he wrote. “Man….what a time to be alive.”
The tweet elicited some passionate responses from Hip Hop fans. As one Twitter user posted, “@9thwonder not only tweeted this but as you can see he put it on his IG page. Mr. Duke University Professor and Grammy board member is wack for this. How do you not mention @alanthechemist who is nominated with #Gibbs. And how do you not mention @nas the elder statesman in the category?
“You know the man that paved the way for you and every artist in this category. Now I see why Q-Tip called you out when the Grammys played Tribe a few years ago. Also, I see why @phontigallo and @rapperbigpooh of #LittleBrother backed away from you as well. Grow up bro and stop being petty and bitter.”
The comment suggests 9th is still bitter about some beats Nas left on the cutting room floor, but the North Carolina beatsmith has yet to address the comment.
While it’s unclear exactly why 9th would choose to leave Nas and Alchemist out of his tweet, it’s important to note 9th and Nas have never completed a collaboration, despite being in close proximity for years. Nas is also noticeably absent from 9th’s Nas remix album God’s Stepson.
During a 2010 interview with Beats, Boxing, Mayhem, 9th revealed the Illmatic legend had selected some of his beats but was unsure if they were going to be used.
“Nas is an anomaly, man,” he said. “He wants to get so far away from Illmatic, and everybody wants him to go back. I think he thinks we’re talking about his subject matter. We’re mostly talking about the sound. Nas is one of the few artists from our generation that’s keeping our generation alive from a mainstream perspective. For a mainstream standpoint it’s Nas and JAY-Z, there’s not too many others like them left.”
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“I spoke with him,” he continued. “I was actually in Atlanta when I played beats for him earlier this year. He picked some, [but] it’s a waiting game, brah. Unless they come down to my studio and specifically request me, it’s always a waiting game. People ask me ‘when are you going to work with so and so?’ It’s not when I want to work with this person, it’s when they want to work with me. So Nas is a tough cookie to get to.”
9th Wonder has been a member of the Recording Academy for years — which includes voting duties — and has one nomination under his belt in the Album of the Year category for Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly.
Who is this washed up guy name 9th Wonder? No one knows this guy. They all jealous of Nas. They will cement history in rap like Nas. It is Nas, Biggie, Jay Z and 2Pac all rest who cares man!
You. Are. Hilarious.
Can’t leave out Em in the top 5
Em won’t crack Top 10. Here you are throwing a fit over Top 5. Tell me who he’s better than on this list: Nas, Kiss, BIG, Ra, G Rap, Black Thought, BDK, Treach, Pac, Pun, Common, Redman, Pharoahe Monch…and that’s just me going off the dome. Yea, right, Top 5 my arse.
My post is meant for “One more” and not “Steve Stoute”
you just hating. at least give Em credit he deserve. Tell me what rapper that have different style/voice/flow pattern/ rhyme scheme every different year on every different album. He may not your top 10 but stop with all the hate. Also Ghostface, Lupe and MF Doom is top 10. Cheers
Hate? What hate? He’s not Top 10, period. Notice how you conveniently fail to name which emcee on my list he bests. Because once you do, you’d have to defend it and that’s when the real debate would start. It’s easier to hide behind hate than explain how he’s a Top 10 emcee above everyone on my list. But it’s nothing new, it’s always the same reaction once it comes time to back up claims like this in Hip-Hop.
This post is for Steve stoute, I wanne suck you dick!
I like to drink coochie juice
This dog face fool jealous of Nas because his girl want Nas.
What up Nas? Dudes be hating on you for no reason because their stuff is not hot. Nas do a perfect album and here comes the hate!
Klller Mike please get it Nas do not want to F with you! We all see why now. You backstabbing gorilla face looking bum!
9th Wonder is definitely a bum!!!
Gods Stepson was dope, just wish it wasnt the clean version on the 12″ records I got it on
I think he was a Nas groupie. Remember what Nas said about him doing that God’s Step Son album and putting his face over his.
Read the NAS autobiography, he states in 2001 both 9th Wonder and Foreign Exchange were slated to do a track with Nas, and when they got to the studio 9th Wonder, who has clinically diagnosed IBS, would walk into the recording booth and pass gas in front of Nas and then go back to the mixing board and watch his reaction. That inspired him to write “Ether”. He never forgave him for that shit
what book was this?
Hahahhahahahaha.
9th Wonder’s beats are so basic and wack. Weak drums with the same types of soft sounding sample loops over and over….It’s 2020, that wannabe 90s fruity loops bullshit isn’t going to fly anymore. He knows Nas would never work with him and he’s hurt. Shit, even Jay-Z would never work with this guy again. Music has evolved past what he’s capable of.
Lol…nah dude
Threat may possibly be the best Cut on The Black Album! I doubt anybody would turn down a Beat From 9th Wonderful Mann!!
Nas my top guy but I’m not pissed at 9th like u guys!! LMAO….pause and think 4 a nano…u really think Nas gives a fuck?
word this article and these comments are funny, interesting how no one brings up the possibility that 9th left him out of the tweet (sad we read articles about tweets smh) just cause it’s not thaaat remarkable that Nas is nominated, while the others are surprises
9th is a clown. A total hobo!
So many years have passed and Nas never bother these dudes but they always attack Nas. Hmmmmm… I wonder why? Anyone heard of GOAT status???
Bro it’s hate I swear. And these are primarily Jayz producers. Smh go to Jayz for a damn beat
Does anyone know this guy?
Fail, 9th Wonder is one of the most known and greatest producers in Hip Hop. Songs you heard have been produced by 9th Wonder
Nas is an overrated washed up rapper. I still love Illmatic and the next two albums, but he constantly jumps on any trends. He was down with R Kelly when it was his time, he made crunk when Lil Jon had the limelight, he made an album with Kanye because Ye’s always in the headlines, he performed with Lil Nas X, so this guy would do anything for the money and the fame. He’s so far from the street smart kid he represented on Illmatic. He’s a money-hungry businessman in baggy jeans. Moreover he didn’t do any revolutionary. Illmatic is hella good, but not revolutionary. If Nas, Jay, Em, Pac or Big is in your top 5, you don’t know a lot about hiphop.
Huh? Pac deserves top 5 easily…. Eminem does to but he’s white so dont expect you to give him props, who do you like fucking q tip and ll cool J ? Lol please just because the old timers created rap does not make them the best at it.
Q-TIP and LL are legends. I’m a that supposed to be an insult?
Shut TF Up, Hoe. Nas is the GOAT. They study his lyrics at Harvard. You’ve never accomplished anything in your life. You’re a worthless troll posting crazy about a genius on the Internet. I hope Jungle slaps you with Nas’s AOTY Grammy after he wins it. Bish.
Working with a producer that’s hot at the time doesn’t mean ur attempting to be trendy…if I recall the only R.Kelly collab was the Street Dreams remix and Did You Ever Think remix(ahh the irony lol)….he did a verse on Lil John’s Grand Finale and hopped on a beat for the Bravehearts which John produced….as far as money hungry dude turns down alot of shit you don’t know about lol all I’ve heard of the guy doin is making MAJOR investments to increase his bank….just wanted to drop facts to refute cha bullshit…..
You are the bum of the year!
You are talking shit Nas is a legend so stfu with the bullshit your coming out with I been listening to hip hop from the early 80s and your saying Nas over rated lol fool
I wonder…have any of those artists been nominated before? I know for a fact that Nas has. Maybe 9th was just showing love to the first time nominees/guys you would expect to be nominated.
damn. wrong reply I meant for people above ‘Malik’
The last time this guy made a beat that charted was back in 2003
Cool man, but the fact he’s been on FL doesn’t mean shit. It’s producer/artist that makes a difference not so much the tool he/she’s using.
Why is this news, stop reaching
Who is this bum a%* dude? Don’t you never disrespect Nas fool!
Nas never have to say anything and dudes be coming out the woodworks sly dissing him! All these bum a.. dudes! Always jealous of Nas… I do know why, their girl wants to be with him. Haters!!! They always arrive!!! Nas GOAT
Take a look at that picture. Look at “Zero” Wonder compared to Nas… Now you see why he is hating?
King Disease will win partner!
Nas not worried about this bum! This hobo clown a— nukka!
Who is this guy?
This idiot need to slow his role.
Yall needta do yer research on 9th, leave their business their business
Buncha trolls w nothin to do do do