2021 GRAMMYs Nominations Unveiled

It’s been an odd year to say the least, as a lot of the big name artists held off on releasing albums due to the pandemic but the show must go on. The Recording Academy reveals the 2021 GRAMMY Awards nominees.

The 63rd annual awards will be hosted by comedian Trevor Noah on January 31st in Los Angeles; although it’s still up in the air if there will be a live audience as usual.

Although the Recording Academy may not say it, shout out to Tyler, the Creator for the comments that he made at the last GRAMMYs regarding “urban” albums and applying that pressure. Moving forward the “Best Urban Contemporary Album” will be called “Best Progressive R&B Album” and “Best Rap/Sung Performance” will be known as “Best Melodic Rap Performance.”

Beyoncé leads all nominees with a total of nine nods, followed by six from Roddy Ricch. Big looks for D Smoke as he managed to get two nominations without a major label.

Check out the list of nominations for all the Hip-Hop/R&B acts.

Record of the Year

“Black Parade” – Beyoncé
“Colors” – Black Pumas
“Rockstar” – DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch
“Say So” – Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted” – Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa
“Circles” – Post Malone
“Savage” – Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé

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” – Beyoncé
“The Box” – Roddy Ricch
“Cardigan” – Taylor Swift
“Circles” – Post Malone
“Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa
“Everything I Wanted” – Billie Eilish
“I Can’t Breathe” – H.E.R.
“If The World Was Ending” – JP Saxe ft. Julia Michaels

Best New Artist

Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion

Best R&B Performance

“Lightning & Thunder” – Jhené Aiko ft. John Legend
“Black Parade” – Beyoncé
“All I Need” – Jacob Collier ft. Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign
“Goat Head” – Brittany Howard
“See Me” – Emily King

Best Traditional R&B Performance

“Sit On Down” – The Baylor Project ft. Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor
“Wonder What She Thinks of Me” – Chloe X Halle
“Let Me Go” – Mykal Kilgore
“Anything for You” – Ledisi
“Distance” – Yebba

Best R&B Song

“Better Than I Imagine” – Robert Glasper ft. H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello
“Black Parade” – Beyoncé
“Collide” – Tiana Major9 & Earthgang
“Do It” – Chloe X Halle
“Slow Down” – Skip Marley & H.E.R.

Best Progressive R&B Album

Chilombo – Jhené Aiko
Ungodly Hour – Chloe X Halle
Free Nationals – Free Nationals
F*** Yo Feelings – Robert Glasper
It Is What It Is – Thundercat

Best R&B Album

Happy 2 Be Here – Ant Clemons
Take Time – Giveon
To Feel Love/D – Luke James
Bigger Love – John Legend
All Rise – Gregory Porter

Best Rap Performance

“Deep Reverence” – Big Sean ft. Nipsey Hussle
“Bop” – Dababy
“What’s Poppin” – Jack Harlow
“The Bigger Picture” – Lil Baby
“Savage” – Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé
“Dior” – Pop Smoke

Best Melodic Rap Performance

“Rockstar” – DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch
“Laugh Now, Cry Later” – Drake ft. Lil Durk
“Lockdown” – Anderson .Paak
“The Box” – Roddy Ricch
“Highest in the Room” – Travis Scott

Best Rap Song

“The Bigger Picture” – Lil Baby
“The Box” – Roddy Ricch
“Laugh Now, Cry Later” – Drake ft. Lil Durk
“Rockstar” – DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch
“Savage” – Beyoncé

Best Rap Album

Black Habits – D Smoke
Alfredo – Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
A Written Testimony – Jay Electronica
King’s Disease – Nas
The Allegory Royce – Da 5’9″

Best Music Film

Beastie Boys Story – Beastie Boys
Black Is King – Beyoncé
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme – Freestyle Love Supreme
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound Of My Voice – Linda Ronstadt
That Little Ol’ Band From Texas – ZZ Top

Best Music Video

“Brown Skin Girl” – Beyoncé
“Life Is Good” – Future ft. Drake
“Lockdown” – Anderson .Paak
“Goliath” – Woodkid
“Adore You” – Harry Styles

Producer of the Year (Non-Classical)

Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
Andrew Watt
Dave Cobb
Flying Lotus