Grammy 2022 Nominees

11.24.21

64th Annual Grammy Awards: Monday, January 31, 2022

Award shows nowadays are plentiful, but if there is one that everyone tunes in to in hopes to win, it has got to be the Grammy’s. Now, the statement may come with some backlash, as many think the Grammy’s purposely leave out certain people in specific categories. But in the end, they really started it all and have built an enormous platform for artists to share their music, and be recognized. The 2022 Nominees have finally been released, leaving many in honor, and others in disbelief.

Last year, the Grammy Snub heard around the world was The Weeknd not being nominated for any Grammy’s, while his album After Hours was chart topping and taking home multiple awards at every other award show there was. This year, it is said that The Weeknd decided for the first time, not to submit his own music for the opportunity to be nominated. Coincidently, he has been nominated for three Grammy Awards this year.

It is late for After Hours, so it is not exactly a re-do. This year, the Grammy’s have in a way changed their ruling, to where every featured artist, writer, producer, etc. involved in the nominated project will have a Grammy nomination themselves. So, The Weeknd’s nominees come from his featured tracks for Planet Her Deluxe by Doja Cat, nominated for Album of the Year, Donda by Kanye West, nominated for Album of the Year, and Hurricane by Kanye West, nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance.

Some are still upset by their snubs, most recently noted, Machine Gun Kelly and Miley Cyrus. Machine Gun Kelly just went to the AMA’s with his daughter, and won an award for Best Rock Artist. Without a Grammy nominee, he took to Twitter to ask ‘wtf is wrong with the Grammy’s.’ Miley shared an article about ‘30 artists whom have never won a Grammy’, while writing out “in good company.” Two very talented artists whom seem to have not made the cut, for one reason or another.

The Rap category has four dedicated categories. J. Cole, Drake and Kanye West seem to be the top nominated artists, along with Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. Lil Nas X makes and appearance, and Baby Keem has two nominations along with his cousin, Kendrick Lamar. Tyler, The Creator also has two nominees in this Rap category, which feels even better than Igor two years back. It will certainly be interesting to see how these categories play out.

Best Rap Performance
For a Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.

• Family Ties, Baby Keem Featuring Kendrick Lamar

• Up, Cardi B

• M Y . L I F E, J. Cole Featuring 21 Savage & Morray

• Way 2 Sexy, Drake Featuring Future & Young Thug

• Thot S***, Megan Thee Stallion

This category is a bit weird to me. Because is the performance the song recording, or when they’ve actually performed live? If that is the case, J. Cole is out. However, I did like that track. Baby Keem and Kendrick bring the energy on all levels, but I do not think they are granting Baby Keem with a Grammy just yet. Way 2 Sexy was a cultural phenomenon when the track and video dropped, but it had a mainly comedic message behind it, so I do not think this wins Best Rap Performance, maybe music video or something somewhere else, but not here. Once again, it will come down to the two ladies whom have the rap game at the palm of their hands, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. I feel like Meg would have a better shot with a different track of hers, so I think Up takes it.

Best Melodic Rap Performance
For a solo or collaborative performance containing both elements of R&B melodies and Rap.

• P R I D E . I S . T H E . D E V I L, J. Cole Featuring Lil Baby

• Need To Know, Doja Cat

• Industry Baby, Lil Nas X Featuring Jack Harlow

• Wusyaname, Tyler, The Creator Featuring Youngboy Never Broke Again & Ty Dolla $ign

• Hurricane, Kanye West Featuring The Weeknd & Lil Baby

These songs are all heavy hitters, but also feel like they could all be in different categories. I would have to say that if Kanye West wins a Grammy again, it would be here. However, you are up against Doja Cat, who pulls votes in award show settings. Tyler, The Creator, whom had one of the best albums of the year, that will appeal to a larger audience. Lil Nas X, who has never missed and went viral with the music video and Jack Harlow feature, and J. Cole, whose nominated song was the greatest track on the album, that people went nuts for. My vote is for Kanye, but it is truly anyone’s game.

Best Rap Song
A Songwriter(s) Award.  A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

• Bath Salts, Shawn Carter, Kasseem Dean, Michael Forno, Nasir Jones & Earl Simmons, songwriters (DMX Featuring Jay-Z & Nas)

• Best Friend, Amala Zandelie Dlamini, Lukasz Gottwald, Randall Avery Hammers, Diamonté Harper, Asia Smith, Theron Thomas & Rocco Valdes, songwriters (Saweetie Featuring Doja Cat)

• Family Ties, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Hykeem Carter, Tobias Dekker, Colin Franken, Jasper Harris, Kendrick Lamar, Ronald Latour & Dominik Patrzek, songwriters (Baby Keem Featuring Kendrick Lamar)

• Jail, Dwayne Abernathy, Jr., Shawn Carter, Raul Cubina, Michael Dean, Charles M. Njapa, Sean Solymar, Brian Hugh Warner, Kanye West & Mark Williams, songwriters (Kanye West Featuring Jay-Z)

• M Y . L I F E, Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph & Jermaine Cole, songwriters (J. Cole Featuring 21 Savage & Morray)

Jail was my favorite song on Donda, and I think it showcased a lot of versatility in what he still had in him as an artist. It was rap music, mixed with all other sub-genres of the art. It was nothing but story-telling, thought provoking, emotion throughout. His performances from his album-release parties were electric. I believe that if Jail does not win, then they it is just wrong, and I would not be surprised if we got another Kanye West episode. Bath Salts is a good one, but I do not think it’s something the Grammy’s are ready for. MY . LIFE wins elsewhere, but just not here. Family Ties is really fun, energetic song, but if we’re being honest, they did not say anything to make this THE best song. Best Friend is a viral hit, but it cannot win in this category.

Best Rap Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new rap recordings.

• The Off-Season, J. Cole

• Certified Lover Boy, Drake

• King's Disease II, Nas

• Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, The Creator

• Donda, Kanye West

I think that Tyler, The Creator takes home his second Rap Album of the Year Award. I do not think that Nas goes back-to-back. King's Disease was immaculate, I do not think the sequel did as much for the culture, maybe it was just a bit too soon. Will Kanye West ever win a Grammy again? I think he will with all the current nominations, but not this one. Certified Lover Boy was not great, no matter what the kids are saying, I do not think he gets Best Album. J. Cole had a good album for fans, but it stopped there. He did not do much else with it, other than his pre-release freestyle on the LA Leakers. Tyler took this album, promoted the heck out of it, did multiple incredible performances at other shows throughout the year, I really think this one goes to him. While in 2020 Igor felt like it was the wrong category, this one feels better, and it feels right.