To say the 58th Annual Grammy Awards are set to be competitive would be an understatement.
For, while 2015 is yet to deliver any mega-sellers, it has seen Urban Contemporary ushered back into Pop’s courts by tastemakers who will now be tasked with placing a number of LPs from the genre in next year’s ‘Best Rap Albums Category.’
Which acts and their albums are likely to be recognised by the committee?
Find out below…
The eligibility period for albums to nab nominations stood between October 1st 2014 and September 30th 2015, ample time for potential nominees to launch albums they hope will not only score nominations but go on to win.
These include:
Nicki Minaj – ‘The Pinkprint.’
Kendrick Lamar – ‘To Pimp a Butterfly.’
J. Cole – ‘2014 Forrest Hills Drive.’
Dr. Dre- ‘Compton.’
Seem too competitive already?
Well, that’s too bad.
For, things are set to heat up thanks to a number of releases by Drake (reportedly launched to hasten his departure from the Cash Money music empire) and the Hip Hop vocalist Future.
Indeed, despite being touted as mix tapes Drake‘s ‘If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late’ and his Future-featured ‘What a Time To Be Believe’ made so much of a splash critically and commercially that both releases may find themselves thrown into the nominations pot.
If this comes to pass, his nominations may make life difficult for the likes of Big Sean‘s ‘Dark Sky Paradise‘ and Nicki Minaj‘s ‘The Pinkprint’, both of which failed to make as much noise despite being more “album” than Drake’s releases were.
The aforementioned Future is undoubtedly hoping this happens as he is unlikely to receive any nomination love for his solo ‘Dirty Sprite 2‘ release.
Why? The Grammy committee usually opts out of backing overtly-street rap projects and is unlikely to allow the project to take up room that could be occupied by projects that showcased more depth and lyricism.
With this in mind the aforementioned ‘Alive’ may stand as his best/only chance of securing any recognition in the category.
Sound exciting?
Click here to find out why the official nominations will be announced.
Random: We’re annoyed that Azealia Banks‘ ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ is unlikely to bag a nom.
The metaphor-charged project was released within this year’s eligibility period (November 7th 2014) and packs the storytelling, genre versatility and lyrical ability most music lovers look for when on the hunt for a Grammy-worthy LP.
I don’t care what no one say! Nicki Minaj album was amazing n Grammy worthy. Kendrick album was boring . J Cole could win as well
Chill please I like Nicki and all but no. This award should go to Kendrick or J. Cole. Ask any real hip hop fan and they’ll tell you too. No bs or hate. Just facts.
Even David (who loves her) had to admit that he doesn’t think she will win in the way he wrote this and that says quite a fair bit because he’s on the voting panel. Nicki’s album was good but nowhere near as musical as the other albums mentioned here. Like someone else said she has many supporters on the comittee like David who will make sure she gets nominated but I don’t think she’ll win. It’s going to Kendrick.
Correction JCole IS GOING TO WIN! Nicki s mediocre raps will never get her a Grammy! She’s desperate and the Grammies would be MAD desperate if they give it to her! This category is blasphemous lol future?? Nicki??? Something isn’t adding up! Oh Yea HIPHOP is dead
Drake is overrated. Nicki is ultra overrated
Another year that Oinknika will leave the Grammys empty-handed. She is a Grammyless flop! The Queen of Rap Lil’ Kim will win a second Grammy before Oinknika gets one. Hahahahahaha!
girl pls, Lil krim can’t even get her- asian lookin fat ass-self a BET, nor a Soul Train. how she gon get a Grammy?
You said what?
http://youtu.be/f9t9fJrGt70
Who the hell wants a BET award??They give those to the likes of Onika. Couldn’t be worth a dime.
In alla dat I hope my homegirl Onika gets at least 1 Grammy. It’s about time yo.
She’s a flop
She’ll win it
She caint even win adult fans..moo!!
Y’all judge the Pinkprint without even listening to it. The Pinkprint was such an amazing album that showed so much depth to her. This was a different side of Nicki. Her music and content were both different. This was truly her best album and it deserves recognition.
Azealias BWet is better though. no shade but it is.
to whom? loose bottom ny queens?
I have and it’s not. Some songs are good, but those songs are just Nicki random fun songs. As an album, there’s no concept, theme, depth nor emotions. Her style of rap is too random and too off subject for substance.
.
And if any song should had been a single, it should had been Get On You Knees. But she went with that dumb island song instead. Smh.
no concept, depth nor emotion? You’ve gotta be kidding me. All Things Go, I Lied, Crying Game, Bed of Lies, & Grand Piano ALL show depth and emotion. #TryAgain
My money’s on J. Cole
Ahhh not the fraud onika.
I like the producers of BWET but you can’t honestly say she’s a good lyricist. It sounds like she’s having a seizure when she raps.
Sorry. When you put Nickis hip-pop “bodies of work” up against real rap, it just doesn’t compare. And to be honest if she was just 100% pure HipHop she wouldn’t be able to compare on a numbers front. Her popularity depends on her pop stuff. Yes her urban singles get love but that’s because of her pop fans. Poor Onika. Always a bridesmaid, NEVER A BRIDE
It will come down to
Dr. DRE’S Compton
Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly or
J.Cole 2014 Forrest Hills Drive.
Remember folks it what the Grammy Academy wants not the fans and it’s about quality not quantity Nicki will walk home empty handed yet again
#I’mjustsaying.
I agree. Poor Nicki lacks quality and quantity. Almost one year and barely pushing platinum status.
Yep, that’s why Wackamore won two years ago. ????
Kendrick will win. His album was so deep and musical. The Grammys love s*** like that. Maybe J Cole will finally win a Grammy because his album was great also. Storytelling at its finest. Nicki won’t win per usual.
SCREAMING @ “Hip-Hop vocalist Future”!!!
J. Cole deserves to win. I loved his album from start to finish. He’s an excellent rapper and story teller. I like the theme of Kendrick’s album, he did a great job as well. I think either of them deserve to win. Quality.
If J.Cole or Kendrick Lamar don’t get nominated and win, the Grammys are officially a joke.
Kendrick already has two Grammys, one loss won’t hurt! Give this one to J Cole and give AOTY to Kendrick! As far as Nicki–joke….BYE!!
Jcole is gonna win sorry Flopnika
Damn for this to be a Nicki fan site you guys are finally speaking some truth that she has become nothing more than a gimmick and her antics will actually count against her rather than for her.
This isnt a Nicki fansite tho. Stop reaching
I honestly think Big Sean should get a nomination over Drake. Dark Skies Paradise was a solid album and his best work to date. Great production, lyricism, and storytelling. J.Cole should win but Big Sean deserves a nom
Although the GRAMMYs are nothing more than a popularity contest these days and suck at rightfully awarding hip-hop (see: Macklemore beating Kendrick a few years ago), I think they will do the right thing this year and give it to either TPAB or Dre. Don’t think J. Cole is winning even though his album was better than Compton imo.
For some reason I’m also interested in the rock/alternative categories this year. Those are the only categories that they seem to go based on quality and not popularity.
Poor Nicki 🙁
Yes poor Nicki. She’s accomplished more this year than ciara did in the last 5 yrs. Thats SOO sad right ? ????
But no Grammy or respect. SO SO sad!
J. Cole should win simply because 1. His album is platinum. 2. It’s a body of work. 3. He had no features, just Himself. 4. He didn’t promote heavy like everyone that still can’t pass gold! (Overexposure ain’t always good) 5. It’s long overdue since the last album ” Born Sinner ” . I will also say Kendrick too because of the TPAB is another masterpiece album. Nicki’s album can’t compare to theirs and yah know it. If Nicki was so serious release a Real HipHop album. Cause some of the barbies are acting like she had a Thriller/Ready Or Die, ME Against The World, The Score Fugees, MisEducation Lauryn Hill, HardCore, The BluePrint ect top of slayage that benefit the Rap culture when in fact it helped gain more pop fans. Like honestly she was upset over a pop category with the likes of Miley n Taylor.. com the f*** on it ain’t hard to see she rather embrace pop more.
R u dumb ? The Pinkprint didnt help gain more pop fans. All the pop singles from the album were outcharted/outsold by the Hip Hop singles. Nicki’s pop fans didnt buy this album, her hip hop fans did.
Apparently your the one whose dumb. The only hip hop song off that album I heard the most was Truffle Butter n only. Everything else was like leftover from Roman Reloaded –> ANACONDA, BANG BANG, FEELIN MYSELF, PILLS N S***, BED OF LIES, ARE POP singles that were played on pop stations and sold the most. You can’t compare those singles to Kendricks or J Cole or any other rap artists such as Big Sean, Wale ect..
???????? @ 100% of the comment being about QUEEN ONIKA. Her impact ! N lol, who cares about a grammy. Will it stop Nicki from having a bigger networth/brand than most of these rappers ? ???? will it stop her from gettin plat singles, top 10 hits, gold albums, semling out shows, habing successful fragrances etc? U guys are HILARIOUS
All that and it still hasn’t sold a million worldwide with 8 (?) singles. Welp.
8 singles ? PNP, Anaconda, Only Truffle Butter, FM n TNISY r the only singles. N its at 920k which is pretty good n also got certifications in the UK, US n Brazil. Worry about ur boring assss fave who was only relevant in 2012.
Nas has never won a Grammy. Macklemore won 4 in one night. Let that sink in before you start talking out your ass and saying the Grammys are quality and believing they actually mean anything
barbz are always the ones trying to discredit the Grammys lmaoooooooo
Proof that Grammys mean nothing : LIL KIM. LMAO b**** went from sharing a grammy to flopping on billboard, paypal n twitmusic. Nic accomplished MUCHHH more than lil k** without an overrated award.
Nic is currently on the hot 100 n 200 charts n forbes cash kings list. What about ur fave ? ????
Nicki ain’t winning no Grammy kee
Maybe Beyonce will buy Nicki a grammy for Fooling Myself.
.
I’m gagging like Slave_Hive in the restroom of a public park trying to pay off the loan for those Mrs. Carter tickets that Ciara submitted Jackie for Album of the Year. ???? #ImOut
@Markeisha, Kiii at your stupid ass coming for Beyonce when you were all about the “not pitting women against each other” rant in the J-Tribe post??? You can never closeted gays these days smh.
Who did I pit against in this post? Death at you trying so hard to push your agenda, even when there’s no evidence of such in the post.
Lmao@fooling myself????????????
When will Keri though f**?
Loool at the barbz for discrediting the grammys but they’ll be singing another tune if their fave eventually wins one
She list her ish over a VMA nod. You know she wants that golden sippy cup.
Nicki doesn’t need a Grammy to dictate her, she just had a very successful era with TPP and winning a Grammy won’t make or break her so…
The only people who care about charts and Grammys are basic b******
Hope Cole gets at least one Grammy for “Apparently” I love that song.
Y’all still hold this AMA award up so high. They will nom and ask the most popular to perform for ratings like always. Let me put it this way, DianNa Ross never won a grammy, she’s a freaking legend and the OG diva. Biggie lost this same award to Wil Smith in the 90s. No one holds a Will Smith album over Biggies. Lol
.
In the 90s, nothing or no one was bigger than Mariah. She won 3 on her first year and they paid her dust for the next 15. That how hard it was to win a grammy years ago. Now people win 4,5,6 a night and have 20 of them.
Reason for that, competition. You had Whitney, Mariah, Janet, Celine, Sade,Toni Braxton, Madonna, and other talented woman up against one another. In this day, there isn’t much competition.
The PinkPrint? No. That album is less acclaimed and has sold less than the rest. It’s pretty much a “no” across the board.
Chop!
Better luck next time Nicki.
That was super gay
Actually it has a high critic acclaim:)
Lol they only added nikki manaj cos they know she gonna play the race card and the “they don’t like curvy black women” card. Lol pathetic sore loser
Mark stfu with your hypocritical gay ass. No one takes you seriously f**.
But YESTERDAY you said Beyonce fans are insecure and like to bash other artists but here you are doing the same…
And I would like to know how exactly does Beyonce (who I am not a huge fan of) buy her grammie??Because at the end of every Grammy award show I always see this…….
RECORDINGS ARE ENTERED BY MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF RECORDING ARTS AND SCIENCES AND BY RECORDING COMPANIES. ENTRIES ARE THEN VOTED ON SOLELY BY THE ACADEMY’S 13,000 VOTING MEMBERS,THOSE WHO ARE CREATIVELY INVOLVED IN MAKING RECORDINGS…
THE FIRST ROUND OF VOTING DETERMINES THE NOMINATIONS; THE SECOND DETERMINES THE WINNER. THE RESULTS OF BOTH ROUNDS ARE TABULATED BY THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING FIRM OF DELOITTE…….
So please elaborate on how exactly Beyonce buys her Grammys Mark.
Even though the best rap album category will be a hard one this year, I think Nicki will bag a Grammy in the song categories experts on Goldderby (who predicts awards) are saying this might be Nicki’s chance being that she submitted Only, Truffle Butter & Feeling Myself. They also said Nicki also has a chance at the best rap album being that the comittie get to see and hear a more muture Nicki showing the public what she’s capable of… In my opinion that Grammy isn’t going to Kendrick that album is boring (in my opinion) but it’s all down to the voters I guess and not people’s ignorant opinions (saying she won’t win) kendricks album is just like any other hip-hop album.
TPAB is probably going to be the only rap album nominated for AOTY. If that happens, he will win Best Rap Album. If another rap album is nominated, it could be interesting (like when Macklemore won).
I like Nicki but she has ONE chance of winning a Grammy this year, which is in the best rap/sung collaboration category. In the other categories, no chance.
I’d say 2 Grammys. best rap/sung collab for Only and best rap song for feeling myself. And maybe her Pinkprint movie could have a chance too for best Music Film.
This is Onika’s. It has to be. Even though it wasn’t fully a RAP album, the songs on there really spoke on some real life s***; All Things Go, I Lied, The Crying Game, Buy A Heart, The Night Is Still Young, Bed of Lies, Grand Piano, those songs alone should get her this Grammy cause she was speaking on s*** people could relate to & All Things Go was just a part of her life in just under 5mins, not to mention commercial success of Anaconda added to that. Come on, we gotta get her this Grammy, she deserves it & we gotta show her that she’s earned it.
J. Cole deserves to win.