The nominations for the 2026 Grammy Awards are officially here, and the hip-hop categories are packed with heavy hitters! After fans eagerly awaited the list of submissions, the Recording Academy’s livestream on November 7th unveiled an interesting slate of nominees, featuring some predictable powerhouses and a few welcome surprises.
Best Rap Album Nominees Revealed
The race for Best Rap Album is heating up with Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX,’ Tyler, The Creator’s ‘CHROMAKOPIA,’ GloRilla’s ‘GLORIOUS,’ Clipse’s comeback ‘Let God Sort Em Out,’ and JID’s ‘God Does Like Ugly’ all making the cut. This list mirrors many fan predictions, though the absence of Playboi Carti’s ‘MUSIC’ has sparked discussion.
It’s noteworthy that three of these albums were released in 2024, continuing a trend seen in recent Grammy nominations. This selection highlights the diverse sounds and established artists that dominated the hip-hop landscape.
Key Nominations Across Rap Categories
Beyond Album of the Year, several artists are recognized across multiple rap categories. Kendrick Lamar’s ‘tv off’ (featuring Lefty Gunplay) and GloRilla’s ‘TGIF’ are nominated for Best Rap Song, alongside Tyler, The Creator’s ‘Sticky’ (with Glo, Lil Wayne, and Sexyy Red), and Clipse’s ‘The Birds Don’t Sing’ (featuring John Legend and Voices Of Fire). Doechii’s ‘Anxiety’ also earned a nod in this category.
In the Best Melodic Rap Performance category, K.Dot and SZA’s ‘luther’ and J.I.D.’s ‘Wholeheartedly’ (with Ty Dolla $ign and 6LACK) are contenders. Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s ‘SOMEBODY LOVES ME’ also received a nomination. For Best Rap Performance, ‘tv off’ and ‘Anxiety’ reappear, joined by Clipse’s ‘Chains & Whips’ (featuring Kendrick Lamar), Cardi B’s ‘Outside,’ and Tyler, The Creator’s ‘Darling, I’ (with Teezo Touchdown).
Hip-Hop’s Presence in General Fields
Hip-hop’s influence extends beyond rap-specific categories. Doechii’s ‘Anxiety’ and Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s ‘luther’ are nominated for Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year. Furthermore, ‘Let God Sort Em Out,’ ‘GNX,’ and ‘CHROMAKOPIA’ are all in the running for Album Of The Year. Sounwave’s production work on ‘GNX’ earned him a nomination for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical.
- Best Rap Album: Kendrick Lamar (‘GNX’), Tyler, The Creator (‘CHROMAKOPIA’), GloRilla (‘GLORIOUS’), Clipse (‘Let God Sort Em Out’), JID (‘God Does Like Ugly’)
- Best Rap Song: Kendrick Lamar (‘tv off’), GloRilla (‘TGIF’), Tyler, The Creator (‘Sticky’), Clipse (‘The Birds Don’t Sing’), Doechii (‘Anxiety’)
- Best Melodic Rap Performance: Kendrick Lamar & SZA (‘luther’), J.I.D. (‘Wholeheartedly’), Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR (‘SOMEBODY LOVES ME’)
- Best Rap Performance: Clipse (‘Chains & Whips’), Cardi B (‘Outside’), Tyler, The Creator (‘Darling, I’), Doechii (‘Anxiety’)
Beyond the Main Categories
The recognition continues with SZA and Kendrick Lamar’s ’30 For 30′ nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Tyler, The Creator’s ‘DON’T TAP THE GLASS’ is up for Best Alternative Music Album. Other nominations include Rod Wave’s ‘Sinners’ for Best Song Written For Visual Media, and Doechii’s ‘Anxiety’ and Clipse’s ‘So Be It’ for Best Music Video. Mac Miller’s ‘Balloonerism’ and ‘The Spins’ vinyl are nominated for Best Recording Package, while Tyler is also nominated for Best Album Cover for ‘CHROMAKOPIA.’
Who do you think will take home the biggest rap awards at the 2026 Grammys? Let us know your predictions in the comments below!
