Weigh In: 2019 Grammy Nominations’ Snubs & Surprises

Published: Friday 7th Dec 2018 by Rashad

It’s that time of year again!

Indeed, the air is still buzzing as today brought with it the highly anticipated 2019 Grammy nominations unveiled, per usual, via a special announcement weeks before the actual showing.  But, what also comes with the ‘per usual’ announcement are the jaw-dropping surprises, snubs, and all out “shut-outs” that accompany the annual spectacle.

Always a heated debate-starter, the coveted tally saw the likes of chart-toppers Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello, P!nk, and Taylor Swift go without mention in (as some fans argue) the correct categories, while hitmakers Sam Smith, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne got no mention at all.

Look inside for That Grape Juice‘s picks for the 2019 Grammy nominations’ biggest snubs and surprises:

Surprise:  Kendrick Lamar leads nominations’ tally…with no studio album

  • The ‘Black Panther’ soundtrack — curated by Lamar (featuring appearances from SZA, The Weeknd, etc.) – is only the 13th movie soundtrack in history to receive an album of the year nomination.  The ‘album of the year’ nod is one of 8 he’s received…

Snub:  Pop’s leading acts – Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha, Camila Cabello, Justin Timberlake, P!nk, & Taylor Swift – barely nominated, shut out of major categories

 

Surprise:  Drake – despite previous Grammy protests – nominated for 5 awards

  • Drake’s negative history with the Grammys (due to its lack of inclusive representation) has seen him make headlines for unapologetic slams of the Academy.  Yet, that didn’t stop them from honoring work found on his ‘Scorpion’ album (the best selling LP of 2018).

Snub:  Drake shut out of ‘Rap Album of the Year’ category

Surprise:  Cardi B & H.E.R. Drops Jaws with Whopping 5 Nominations Respectively

Snub:  Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and Sam Smith Get Zero Nods

  • Despite laying claim to some of late 2017 and 2018’s most anticipated projects, Nicki Minaj (‘Queen’), Lil Wayne (‘Tha Carter V’), and Sam Smith (‘The Thrill of It All’), won’t be anticipating Grammy wins to celebrate their works as none of them got any mention on the entire tally.

 

Surprise:  Chloe x Halle earn Best New Artist nod

Snub:  Mentor Beyonce &. husband Jay Z shut out of major categories

  • In the song ‘Apesh*t’ (found aboard the first duet album of Beyonce and Jay Z, ‘Everything Is Love’), the rapper proclaimed, ‘tell the Grammys f*ck that 0-8 sh*t.’  Now, the rapper and his Grammy-winning wife stand to go 0-2 as their critically acclaimed LP only nabbed two nods – in minor categories.

 

 

Surprise: So many damn nominees in major categories

  • In response to the hoopla over last year’s dearth of female nominees, The Recording Academy created a task force to increase inclusion and fairer representation across categories.  The result?  Some categories saw their nominee list expanded from 5 to 8.

Snub:  Do the Grammys just hate J. Cole or what?

  • Every year he’s released music eligible for nomination, J. Cole – one of rap music’s most prolific and celebrated modern artists – find himself on the snubbed list for exclusion from major categories or all out shut out.  This year proves no different.  Despite topping charts with his April 2018-released, ‘K.O.D.,’ the only mention he received on this year’s nomination tally was for work he did with other artists.

 

Surprise: Janelle Monae‘s ‘Dirty Computer’ nominated for ‘Album of the Year’

Snub:  Janelle Monae left out of every R&B, Urban-related category

  • We won’t dare act like Monae isn’t deserving of her ‘Album of the Year’ nod as ‘Dirty Computer’ was easily one of 2018’s best offerings.  Yet, how can one’s project be worthy of recognition as one of the best albums of any genre yet not be recognized in categories that celebrate its own genre?

 

Surprise:  Christina Aguilera & Toni Braxton score multiple nominations

  • Their latest respective projects, ‘Liberation’ and ‘Sex & Cigarettes,’ may be their worst commercial performers to date, but even the Academy recognized the efforts of Christina Aguilera and Toni Braxton lived up to their critical acclaim as both LPs scored multiple nods.

Snub:  Khalid & Normani‘s ‘Love Lies’ left nomination-less

Your thoughts?

 

 

 

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  1. SMH December 7, 2018

    Is there a specific reason that Nicki Minaj is pictured front and center-other than to be childish and petty?

    • King z December 7, 2018

      Tgj loves Nicki. I’m sure they are just crying foul on her behalf

    • drixx December 8, 2018

      the post is literally titled snubs & surprises. Nicki was subbed and its a surprise to some, fans or not.

  2. i hate whytee and blacck bitchess December 7, 2018

    its obvious lil wayne and nicki are not kissing nobody a** and just selling records…f*** the grammys

    • The Wig Snatcher December 7, 2018

      That’s because they’ve been f-cked for an entire decade to still not being able to win big. Who wants to f-ck those two tired loose bottoms when Cardi is better than the two combined???

    • Cbeylive December 7, 2018

      Your only saying that because she wasn’t nominated had she been you’d been saying something totally different ??

    • Jasmine December 7, 2018

      That is NOT true. Nicki and Wayne had Grammy submissions this year. They just did not get enough votes to make it as a nominee. Both of them DID NOT have a song or album worthy of best rap song or best rob album or best rap performance. STOP WHINING. NOBODY is ENTITLED to awards. There is always next year. Let some new artists get a chance like Cardi B this year.

    • juni December 7, 2018

      umm shes kissed all of MTV ass for the award she on in Europa!

      People not feeling queen it simply wasnt that good get over it
      her toxic attitude is to blame you get what you put out all she gave was Crap! an

  3. Jasmine Da Bi Asian iBully TROLLmine Rasuptia (hermaphrodite) on the daily December 7, 2018

    HER is definitely the most deserving of any artist on this list. As someone who plays multiple instruments, writes all her own (AMAZING) music and is even better live than on cd, she is the definition of what the Grammys USED to be about. I hope SZA wins as well, as the song with her and Kendrick is epic. Janet Jackson, also. Everything else seems to be popularity contests with majority of the nominees not the most talented or ground breaking in their genres but really just popular. The Grammys were so amazing in the 80’s, 90’s and early 00’s. They suck now.

    • TAMMAH December 7, 2018

      Damn, You Slayed The First Two Sentences. I STAN

  4. Jasmine Da Bi Asian iBully TROLLmine Rasuptia (hermaphrodite) on the daily December 7, 2018

    And nobody was going to nominate the same Nicki Minaj album with the same Nicki Minaj subject content and the same lil Kim 1999 outfits. She’s done that the last ten years and not won so who’s REALLY surprised? Nobody.

    • FAF December 7, 2018

      Lil Kim ghostwriters could never that’s why y’all been waiting for an album over a decade ???

      • i hate whytee and blacck bitchess December 7, 2018

        lil kim bleach ya skin brown darliung…..that why you not selling….

      • Jasmine Da Bi Asian iBully TROLLmine Rasuptia (hermaphrodite) on the daily December 7, 2018

        As y’all attempt to rag on Lil Kim your fav (nicki) is currently perched on her newest forgotten album in a 1997 Lil Kim VMA’s costume in all her GRAMMYLESS, #1-less glamour???? i’d be mad too. Queen is dead already

    • Slave4u December 7, 2018

      Hahahahaha dead on!

  5. B2B December 7, 2018

    All I have to say is somebody at Atlantic Records has the juice. I don’t get it. Cardi album was cute but AOTY worthy? Cmon! GTFOH

    • Slave4u December 7, 2018

      Zzz. It’s a cohesive album full of bops, with singles still on billoard almost a year later #albumOfTheYear

      • B2B December 7, 2018

        How does hits or having a song on billboard correlate to the Grammys? If I remember it correctly, When Bey lost in 2014 Beck’s flop album won. Now it’s about sales? GTFOH. Someone like Quincy Jones should create a musical award show.

      • Jasmine Da Bi Asian iBully TROLLmine Rasuptia (hermaphrodite) on the daily December 7, 2018

        @B2B I agree Quincy definitely should. But even if he did, just to be clear, Nicki still wouldn’t have the award. Quincy supports originality

    • Jasmine December 7, 2018

      AOTY is usually given to the album that has touched the most people in that given year. Invasion of Privacy did just that so have several seats. Just because it is in the rap category does not make it any less inferior to pop or rock albums.

      • Jasmine Da Bi Asian iBully TROLLmine Rasuptia (hermaphrodite) on the daily December 7, 2018

        @trollime I AGREE! “Of the year” awards are usually given to those who have touched the most people of that year. You DEFINITELY TOUCH LOTS OF ppl, daily so you def deserve hermaphrodite street walker of the year #YouGoGirl(boy)

      • Jasmine December 7, 2018

        LEAVE ME ALONE WOMAN ABUSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Men who cyberbully women are women abusers! Get some mental help TROLL and leave me alone. Stop STALKing my comments TROLL. #WeToo movement b|tch. Cyberbullying will NOT BE TOLERATED YOU woman abuser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • Jasmine Da Bi Asian iBully TROLLmine Rasuptia (hermaphrodite) on the daily December 7, 2018

        TROLLmine so when your boy side seethes on multiple users on this site you are contributing to the cyber bullying you’re accusing of? Interesting, girl(boy) ? interesting.

      • Jasmine December 7, 2018

        LIES and NONSENSE! I have NEVER bullied anyone on this site nor do I have a “boy side” you LIAR! Back to YOU, my obsessed MALE fan, STOP ATTACKING ME. I have done nothing to YOU to warrant you bullying me nor will I tolerate it. My interactions (or lack thereof) with other users on this site IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS and NONE OF YOUR CONCERN. Please GET A LIFE and get MENTAL HELP because you continuously profess your obsession with me. I know you want to be me but damn face the mirror and see you can NEVER be me.

        KEEP SEETHING AND STAYING MAD but leave me alone!

      • Lurdes Tina December 8, 2018

        #wetoo?
        Nobody will stand with a Troll like this jasmine or your other alter ego Rasputin darling!
        If was up to me you would have been suspended already, you bully and abuse others here.
        Ohh and you were exposed this year as a troll cat fishing with some beautiful model girl here so you take several sits.

  6. Mhmmmm December 7, 2018

    “Well if you s*** the right d***”…..

  7. Bam December 7, 2018

    Very surprised at Toni’s noms but they are truly deserved and I hope she wins.

    Happy the carters got so little (they better not win over Toni) let’s see if they’ve really let it all go to their head or if they be good sports and show up.

    Didn’t think about Love Lies sucks it didn’t get nominated.

    If Camilla or Taylor win over Kelly Clarkson for pop vocal that would be a joke.

    This year actually looks less like a popularity contest then previous years. Of course popular artist are still nominated they just aren’t dominating every category.

    • B2B December 7, 2018

      Why would they show up for two awards when they’ve already masses over 40 Grammys (more than most labels).

      • Bam December 7, 2018

        You should show up for the big wins and the small ones cause there will be a day when a non will be damn near impossible for either of them no matter how great the work.

    • Francis December 7, 2018

      Kelly’s album is amazing, truly her best body of work, I hope she wins, but I think they will give the Grammy to Taylor or Camila.

    • Kyle December 7, 2018

      I agree with EVERYTHING Bam said. I hope Toni wins one of her Grammy’s. And I hope Kelly Clarkson or Ariana win for Best Pop Album…please NOT Taylor.

  8. pat December 7, 2018

    teyana taylor gonna love me
    ciara level up
    definitely seemed like obvious r and b/dance noms to me

    • Meme December 7, 2018

      This the Grammys, not the BET awards sweetie.

      • Jasmine Da Bi Asian iBully TROLLmine Rasuptia (hermaphrodite) on the daily December 7, 2018

        Ciara has a dance Grammy already though. So ru trying to shade the black music awards because what.. it’s black? That’s sad. Most of these artists on here wouldn’t be making the culturally appropriated they’re making of it wasn’t for the BET community so. Not sure about the stale shade

    • Charli Cheer Up December 7, 2018

      I agree Ciara’s Level Up really got snubbed. So underrated despite the warm reception SMH

  9. Meme December 7, 2018

    Lord Jesus it’s 1 show. Everyone can’t be norminated.

    I would say that they got it closest to right this time. However there extreme efforts for inclusive left out pop acts that actually deserve to be recognized.

    Don’t get me wrong, Travis, drake, her and Cardi did their da*m thing and needs to clean up this year. But Camilla and Taylor deserves something.

    • LB December 7, 2018

      Taylor deserves nothing for that generic garbage. She’s so overrated.

  10. Maxx December 7, 2018

    Go Toni!!!! Go Cardi B…keep doing you girl!! I love me some J. Cole!!!

  11. Maxx December 7, 2018

    Nicki has some club bangers, but it doesn’t seem like she evolves or even tries new sounds. She is yawn…borinnngg

  12. Charli Cheer Up December 7, 2018

    YASS Xtina and Toni. Thanks Grammy’s. Janelle Monaelle is in same position as Lorde this year and Bebe Rexha is a ‘New Artist’ yet her collab with Nicki came out 2016 ok. Also congrats to H.E.R., Shawn Mendez and Camilla for their first ever noms.

  13. King of King’s December 7, 2018

    ?ya’ll can hate Nicki all you want but Chun Li was the highest charting solo female single this year so joe Be careful got nominated over it or even Barbie Dreams is B*******?‼️?they only nominated Mac Miller cuz he died tbh smh the GP only wants 1 rap female on top @ a time

    • Jasmine Da Bi Asian iBully TROLLmine Rasuptia (hermaphrodite) on the daily December 7, 2018

      Barbie dreams as in the 1996 Lil Kim remake with “crush on you” video treatment? Girl there’s a reason Queen has been paid dust by everyone and currently sits at the bottom half of the billboard charts after only a short time.. NEXT

      • King of King’s December 7, 2018

        Barbie Drema is a remake of Biggie’s Dreams song actually you dumb bitcch. No lyrically Chun Li & Barbie Dreams were better rap songs & were both bops & hit songs & u a hating ass bitcch if u think otherwise. The only Grammy Kim ever one was for a feature on Lady Mamalade. & they Only nominated Ol girl cuz she’s popular right now cuz of her personality. No them other albums that were nominated for best rap album are actually @ bottom of the charts or not even on them & haven’t even came close to selling as much as Queen.

      • Jasmine Da Bi Asian iBully TROLLmine Rasuptia (hermaphrodite) on the daily December 7, 2018

        Lady Marmalade is a legendary collaboration of Lil Kim, Xtina, Pink and Mya. The idea was Missy Elliot’s and features nobody- it is equally everyone’s NUMBER 1, GRAMMY WINNING, CLASSIC REMAKE, LIVE SLAYING song. Not everyone has that to their credit, girrrrrllll. And again, ol girls remake of lil Kim’s 1996 “dreams” with video treatment of lil Kim’s video “crush on u” is the reason she’s being paid dust. She’s a boring redundant lil Kim wannabe. Time for her to grow up and try something original for a change. Pretending to be 25 year old lil Kim is not working for her

      • Jasmine Da Bi Asian iBully TROLLmine Rasuptia (hermaphrodite) on the daily December 7, 2018

        Lol “Barbie dreams” the one and only song Lil Kim EVER remade of biggies, Nicki just so happened to remake too and use the “crush on you” video treatment to accompany it. Lol she really really wants to be 1996-2003 lil Kim. LIKE FOREAL. FOREAL

    • Me December 7, 2018

      I’m certain you didn’t have this “GP only wants 1 rap female on top @ a time” mentality for the past decade. New queen on the throne. Give it up, sis.

  14. Moe December 7, 2018

    Oh wow so xtina got nominated ? What abt Jlo ft cardi and dj khaled . F*** u grammys

    • Rob December 8, 2018

      Lol, those three combined couldn’t hit a single Aguilera’s note!!! Lol ?

  15. #TeamTinashe Stan (New Nashe Music Coming Soon ?) December 7, 2018

    Nicki is FINISHED out here.
    She came out with no good songs and just relied on making colorful naked music videos. Next time show a nipple…

    Tinashe’s “Joyride” I’ve heard ppl say it should get nominated but I think otherwise. Not her best work but she has it in her for that next album!!!
    J Cole is someone that Grammys always forgets like he isn’t a big deal but again… awards ain’t sh*t. It’s all a PLOY to get you to watch and think this is some glorious award show. They nominate Beyonce for everything and will definitely make her win 1 award for the night to make social media buzz about it; same thing with Drake.

    • Caracoleta December 8, 2018

      What people?
      I only read your comments complaining about her not being nom.
      Show me the receipts who have shared that opinion here? ???
      Delusional fan god

  16. I HATE WHYYYTE AND BLACCCK BITCHEZZ BOTH NOT SHT December 7, 2018

    What 5 nominations for cardi FCK the grammys

  17. JOHNVIDAL December 7, 2018

    yay for Janelle Monae´s big nomination for album of the year!!!! Didn´t expect that. So deserved. FINALLY! Half of the nominees in that category are not good though. Yay for Gaga too. I don´t like how they pay dust to some artists sometimes when they don´t top the charts. Now that Gaga is on top again they nominate her more again.

  18. Steve December 7, 2018

    Toni deserves her nominations. S** & cigarettes is a coercive body of work. long as I live is a classic RnB song. Too bad the American audience have lost it for good music but the Grammys still listens .

  19. DC December 7, 2018

    Camilla is overrated Grammys got that right

  20. Lisa December 7, 2018

    Christina Aguilera deserves the awards. Liberation is flawless. Janelle Monae, H.E.R. and Cardi all deserved their nominations too. Disappointed J. Cole wasn’t nominated for his KOD album.

  21. Anne December 7, 2018

    This is incorrect. The Carters have three noms, not two.

  22. T-southafrican guy December 8, 2018

    Gongrats to toni…well deserved on her 3 nominations the album and long as i live was fire..im happy to see the grammys recognising real talent too.toni will win most definate i have a good feeling about it

  23. Mich Lo December 11, 2018

    I think when you can nominate a KPOP group but not artists who have been in the market for years who have touched the masses, something is wrong with your system. BTS is nomiated in the category of Album packaging. It is a visual nom but still a nom. First, I like BTS but I don’t feel they’ve done nearly the work of some snubbed artists. I’ve been their fan for over 5 years. They are indeed hard workers but a Grammy nom is premature to me when the only American award they’ve been able to snag is Social artist. They came in at number 1 on BB200 twice because their label released their cd when they would have no competition. The next week they drop because the US mass support isn’t there. Their US career has been strategically mapped. Shows which could subject them to not so favorable fan responses were pre-recorded with mainly their fandom. Truthfully, I don’t want BTS to get booed etc, but it is something other artists go through in our market so to ensure Army are in the audience is not a true performance to me. I believe they will always gain a few fans but they also should be treated just like any other artist in our market. After US media praised their Billboard performance as amazing,US buyers spoke differently. Many artists who performed saw massive percentage gains on sales of their music in the US. Who didn’t? BTS. Idol got RIAA certification, yet was a massive FLOP on Billboard. It came in at 11, dropped to 89 the next weekand gone the 3rd week. So how could it certify? Free streaming which their fandom ARMY are kings and queens of. The recording industry counts 150 streams as a sale. That’s nothing to Army. BTS gets high video views because Army play the video again and again 24/7 for view count. their fanbase isn’t as massive as even some of them believe. All kpop fandoms do fake youtube views. They will resort to any means to make their fav successful. Korean labels themselves will make fans buy upwards of 50 + of the same CD just to meet their favs in a fan meet or chat. That includes BtS’s label. To me, it’s simply false success and manipulation. BTS are great performers. They do have fans in a variety of countries however, their Army manipulate like all other fandoms. They are indeed the biggest boy band even though overall success for like bands such as 1D, Backstreet etc, they are far below them in concert attendees, cd sells etc. Army bulk bought cds for BTS to chart on Billboard. They found out BB won’t count it because it’s fake sales then posted links for fans to contact person(s) who would mail them money throughout the US to buy the cd to help them chart. So I had to ask myself, who has that kind of money to mail out just so people can help BTS chart? Imagine how US artists would get slammed and trashed by media if their label make fans bulk buy cds for a meet or chat. Imagine the ridicule they would get if some “entity” was sending people money to go buy a Drake, taylor, etc. cd to help them chart. I think BTS would be worthy of a Grammy nom when they chart going up against artists just like other US artists. When their music is truly embraced by the masses even like when Psy had the viral hit. I don’t support manipulation for BTS or anyone else. I believe BTS will get a bigger fanbase and continue to grow. They appreciate their blessings. They train like crazy to be where they are. I simply dislike the schemming side of kpop.

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