• Since the beginning of the Grammy Awards, African American musicians have had to claw their way into sustainable recognition.
• There is an old saying we were taught and Olivia Pope hears it from her father on Scandal all of the time, “We have to be ten times better, ten times faster, to get ahead.”
• Unfortunately, race does play a role in how people see themselves over others. Let’s clear that part of the table right away. Some people are taught this tragic way of thinking from childhood and it shifts their adult focus into how they see people who do not have the same shade as theirs.
• This form of racism was been in the grammy awards stratosphere for as long as the awards themselves have been given out.

• This year, with the voting delegates becoming more inclusive, that dream is a seeable reality.
• After Beyonce’ was shut out last year, the Grammys learned a valuable lesson, the beyhive stings back.
• Social media campaigns were energized against the Grammys due to their exclusion of artist in rhythm and blues, rap and hip hop categories for artist in categories whose music never made it to radio, or the music was released more than a year prior.
• Shucks, Adele even said Beyonce’ was better than her album that won last year.

Here are the nominations for this year’s Grammy categories:

The 60th annual Grammy Awards will take place on Jan. 28 at Madison Square Garden. See the full list of nominees below.

Record of the Year
“Redbone” – Childish Gambino
“Despacito” – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber
“The Story Of O.J.” – JAY-Z
“HUMBLE.” – Kendrick Lamar
“24K Magic” – Bruno Mars

Album of the Year
“Awaken My Love!” – Childish Gambino
“4:44” – Jay-Z
“Damn.” – Kendrick Lamar
“Melodrama” – Lorde
“24K Magic” – Bruno Mars

Song of the Year
“Despacito” – Ramón Ayala, Justin Bieber, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Erika Ender, Luis Fonsi & Marty James Garton (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber)
“4:44” – Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson (JAY-Z)
“Issues” – Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Julia Michaels & Justin Drew Tranter (Julia Michaels)
“1-800-273-8255” – Alessia Caracciolo, Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, Arjun Ivatury & Khalid Robinson (Logic feat. Alessia Cara & Khalid)
“That’s What I Like” – Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip (Bruno Mars)

Best New Artist
Alessia Cara
Khalid
Lil Uzi Vert
Julia Michaels
SZA

Best Pop Solo performance
“Love So Soft” – Kelly Clarkson
“Praying” – Kesha
“Million Reasons” – Lady Gaga
“What About Us” – P!nk
“Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran

Best Pop Duo / Group Performance
“Something Just Like This” – The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
“Despacito” – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
“Thunder” – Imagine Dragons
“Feel It Still” – Portugal. The Man
“Stay” – Zedd & Alessia Cara

Best Pop Vocal Album
“Kaleidoscope EP” -Coldplay
“Lust For Life” – Lana Del Rey
“Evolve” – Imagine Dragons
“Rainbow” – Kesha
“Joanne “– Lady Gaga
“÷ (Divide)” – Ed Sheeran

Best Dancing Recording
“Bambro Koyo Ganda” – Bonobo feat. Innov Gnawa
“Cola” – Camelphat & Elderbrook
“Andromeda” – Gorillaz feat. DRAM
“Tonite” – LCD Soundsystem
“Line Of Sight” – Odesza feat. WYNNE & Mansionair

Best Dance / Electronic Album
“Migration” – Bonobo
“3-D The Catalogue” – Kraftwerk
“Mura Masa” – Mura Masa
“A Moment Apart” – Odesza
“What Now” – Sylvan Esso

Best Rock Performance
“You Want It Darker” – Leonard Cohen
“The Promise” – Chris Cornell
“Run” – Foo Fighters
“No Good” – Kaleo
“Go To War” – Nothing More

Best R&B Performance
“Get You” – Daniel Caesar feat. Kali Uchis
“Distraction” – Kehlani
“High” – Ledisi
“That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars
“The Weekend” – SZA

Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Laugh And Move On” – The Baylor Project
“Redbone” – Childish Gambino
“What I’m Feelin’” – Anthony Hamilton Featuring The Hamiltones
“All The Way” – Ledisi
“Still” – Mali Music

Best R&B Song
“First Began” – PJ Morton
“Location” – Khalid
“Redbone” – Childish Gambino
“Supermodel” – SZA
“That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars