‘Who gives a f–k about a goddamn Grammy?” – Public Enemy
Well, lots of people, actually, if you look at the Neilsen Ratings.
It’s that time of year again – the time where rap fans take a look at the Grammy nominations, see if their favorite artist is there, and go back to what they were doing. The 2014 Grammys are just a couple of weeks away, and rap fans’ excitement is heating up. Who will steal the show this year with a performance? Who will cause the most controversey? Many questions surround the 56th Grammy Awards…
Despite the fact that 2013 was, in the eyes of some, a mediocre in hip hop, the 2014 Grammys feature some heavy hitters in the Best Rap Album category, and BAMP has you covered! Let’s look at the contenders this year, and who has the best chance of walking away with a Grammy for the best album in their genre.
Magna Carta…Holy Grail – Jay-Z (Roc Nation)
Résumé: ‘Album of the summer’…528,000 copies sold in first week…bolstered by “Tom Ford“, “F*ckwitmeyouknowigotit“, and “Holy Grail“…received possibly most exposure thanks to partnership with Samsung…hailed as a top ten rap album of 2013 by many fans and media members…over 1.104 million copies sold so far.
Yeezus – Kanye West (Def Jam)
Résumé: It’s a Kanye West album…lacked major single, although “Black Skinhead” and “New Slaves” did get a fair amount of airtime…sold 327,000 copies in first week…recently declared platinum for one million copies sold…received near universal acclaim for brash lyrics and attempts to shy away from the norm of hip hop…it’s a Kanye West album.
Is Jay-Z in line for another Grammy award?
Good Kid, M.A.D.D City – Kendrick Lamar (Aftermath/TDE/Interscope)
Résumé: Quite possibly the best album of 2012…featured singles “Swimming Pool (Drank)“, “The Recipe“, “Poetic Justice“, and “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe“…introduced world to Kendrick Lamar…received “rave reviews” from fans and reviewers…over 1.13 million copies sold as of January 2014…won Album of the Year at 2013 BET Awards.
Nothing Was The Same – Drake (Young Money/Cash Money)
Résumé: Most recent album out of these five (dropped September of 2013)…featured hit single ‘Started From The Bottom‘, which is up for nominations in Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance…sold over 658,000 copies in first week and 1.385 million total…arguably most popular rapper on list as of right now…won last year’s Best Rap Album with 2011’s Take Care.
The Heist – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis LLC)
Résumé: Surprise album of 2013, despite being released in October 2012…led by hit singles “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us“…may lose credibility with some voters for “Same Love“…propelled Macklemore to the front of hip hop…has sold 1.2 million copies as of January 2014.
Projected Winner: Nothing Was The Same by Drake. As it stands, Drake’s album was probably the best of 2013 that was eligible for The Grammys (if The Marshall Mathers LP 2 was eligible, it would win). As good as GKMC was, it’s more likely that the voters go along with NWTS for the sole reason that it’s Drake. We’ll see though on January 26th; we’ll also see if hip hop fans boycott any future Grammy Awards if Macklemore wins.
Bump Magazine 