The Grammy Nominees Are in: Black Artists Are Dominating the Nominations
The Recording Academy has made a major announcement and officially announced its nominations for the 68th Grammy Awards.
The categories are stacked, and the nominees exemplify why the talented music artists deserve the shiny gold gramophone with their name embedded on it. From up-and-coming artists to those who have consistently grinded their way to the top, this year’s Grammy Awards are confirmation that creativity, culture and devotion are recognized and honored.
Setting the tone for the awards, Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar is nominated for a whopping nine Grammy Awards as a result of his outstanding performance on his recent album.
Releasing his highly anticipated sixth studio album, GNX, on Nov. 22, 2024, the project featured tracks that excelled on the charts. Lamar advanced to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, having five of his songs in the top five, according to Forbes.
Squabble Up debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 100 charts. TV Off, charted at No. 2. The following was “Luther” featuring SZA, “Wacced Out Murals” and “Hey Now” featuring Dody6 at Nos. 3,4 and 5.
Across the Billboard Top 100 and now the Grammy nominations, Lamar is seeing tremendous success with GNX. Some of the categories he is nominated for are:
Record of the Year (“luther” featuring SZA)
Album of the Year (GNX)
Song of the Year (“Luther” featuring SZA)
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“30 for 30” SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar)
Best Rap Album (GNX)
Coming in hot, Nickelodeon star-turned-Grammy nominee and winner Leon Thomas is nominated for six awards this year. Transitioning from performing on hit shows like Victorious, Thomas had a breakout year in 2024 after releasing his viral track “MUTT.”
The song reached No.1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. After releasing “MUTT”, Thomas released his album, which would also be titled MUTT. This album, a blend of R&B, jazz and neo-soul, went straight from the Billboard Top R&B albums to multiple nominations at the Grammys— here are the categories Thomas is nominated for:
-Album of the Year (MUTT)
- Best New Artist (Leon Thomas)
- Best R&B Performance (“MUTT”, Live from NPR’s Tiny Desk)
-Best R&B song (“YES IT IS”)
-Best Traditional R&B Performance (“VIBES DON’T LIE”)
-Best R&B Album (MUTT)
Virginia Rap duo Clipse is also leading the pack in Grammy nominations. Brothers Pusha-T and Malice have been in the rap game for over 30 years and continue to make a lasting impact. Their most recent project, Let God Sort Em Out, is a moment in itself for Hip-Hop because the duo has not released an album together in 16 years. After over a decade, the brothers are still as impactful as they were on day one and are nominated for five Grammy awards.
-Album of the Year (Let God Sort Em Out)
-Best Rap Album (Let God Sort Em Out)
-Best Rap Performance (“Chains & Whips”)
-Best Rap Song (“The Birds Don’t Sing”)
-Best Music Video (“So Be It”)
American rapper and singer Doechii made history at last year’s Grammy Awards, becoming the third woman to win Best Rap Album, according to The Recording Academy. This year, she is coming back to show that she dominates the rap category.
At the previous Grammy Awards, she was nominated for Best New Artist; this time, she’s nominated in five categories, making her mark as an artist who is here to stay. Her hit song “Anxiety” is dominating all the categories for which she is nominated:
-Record of the Year (“Anxiety”)
-Song of the Year (“Anxiety”)
-Best Rap Performance (“Anxiety”)
-Best Rap Song (“Anxiety”)
-Best Music Video (“Anxiety”)
Two-time Grammy award winner, Tyler, The Creator, is proof that creativity and determination pay off. Dropping two albums in under one year, headlining a world tour, putting together his annual Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival and making music in the process, Tyler, The Creator is the epitome of a hard worker. His Grammy nominations are a testament to his dedication to the craft of music. For the 2026 Grammys, he is nominated for:
-Album of The Year (CHROMAKOPIA)
-Best Rap Album (CHROMAKOPIA)
-Best Rap Performance (“Darling, I”)
-Best Alternative Music Album (DON’T TAP THE GLASS)
-Best Rap Song (“Sticky” featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red, Lil Wayne)
Other artists who had exceptional years in music and are all nominated for at least one Grammy include R&B singers Durand Bernarr, Destin Conrad, Kehlani, Summer Walker, GIVĒON, SZA, Coco Jones and Teyana Taylor; and Rap artists JID, GloRilla and Cardi B.
Be sure to catch the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday. Feb 1, 2026, to see who scores a victory and carries out their legacy in front of millions of viewers
