JAY-Z And Kendrick Lamar Dominate 2018 Grammy Nominations

JAY-Z continues to stake his claim as the holy grail of musical performers.

The hip hop mogul dominated Tuesday's Grammy nomination announcements, leading all artists with eight nods, including nominations in each of the three major categories.

His highly personal "4:44" is up for album of the year, while its titular track is nominated for song of the year. Another song from the album, "The Story of O.J.," is a finalist for record of the year.

In the wildly popular album, which was released on June 30, JAY-Z seems to cover highly publicized topics like his alleged infidelity and his falling out with Kanye West, while also providing social commentary on race.

Bruno Mars was also well-represented during Tuesday's reveal, as he earned nods in the three major categories, with "24K Magic" named a finalist for album of the year. The titular track is up for record of the year, while another single, "That's What I Like," is up for song of the year.

Kendrick Lamar, meanwhile, was nominated for album of the year for "DAMN." and record of the year for "HUMBLE." He finished one behind JAY-Z with seven nominations overall.

Should "DAMN." or "4:44" win album of the year, it would mark the first time a hip hop record earned the honor since OutKast did so in 2004 with "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below."

The ultra-catchy Spanish-English hit "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee and featuring Justin Bieber was another big winner, earning nods for song of the year and record of the year.
Ed Sheeran was among the biggest snubs, as he didn't earn a nomination in any of the top three categories, despite his wildly popular song "Shape of You" and his album "÷" being eligible.

Other stars set to descend upon Madison Square Garden Jan. 28 for the ceremony's return to the Big Apple include Lorde, whose "Melodrama" is a contender for album of the year, Alessia Cara, who's up for best new artist, and Childish Gambino, who is a finalist for album of the year ("Awaken, My Love!") and record of the year ("Redbone").

The award show will mark the first time since 2003 that the Grammys will take place in New York, with the past 13 shows each being held in Los Angeles. The Grammys had alternated between New York and Los Angeles for years, but that seemed to change following a memorable public feud in 1999 between Mayor Giuliani and Michael Greene, the head of the Recording Academy at the time.

Every Grammys from that point on was held in Los Angeles, aside from the 2003 show that took place at the Garden.

See below for the full list of nominees.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

4:44 — JAY-Z

Damn. — Kendrick Lamar

24K Magic — Bruno Mars

Melodrama — Lorde

"Awaken, My Love!" — Childish Gambino

RECORD OF THE YEAR

The Story of O.J. — JAY-Z

HUMBLE. — Kendrick Lamar

Redbone — Childish Gambino

24K Magic — Bruno Mars

Despacito — Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber

SONG OF THE YEAR (Songwriter's award)

Despacito — Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee, Justin Bieber

4:44 — JAY-Z

Issues — Julia Michaels

1-800-273-8255 — Logic feat. Alessia Cara, Khalid

That's What I Like — Bruno Mars

BEST NEW ARTIST

Alessia Cara

Lil Uzi Vert

Julia Michaels

Khalid

SZA

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE

Praying — Kesha

Million Reasons — Lady Gaga

Shape of You — Ed Sheeran

What About Us — P!nk

Love So Soft — Kelly Clarkson

BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE

Thunder — Imagine Dragons

Feel It Still — Portugal. The Man

Stay — Zedd and Alessia Cara

Something Just Like This — The Chainsmokers and Coldplay

Despacito — Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber

BEST ROCK ALBUM

Hardwired... To Self-Destruct — Metallica

Villains — Queens of the Stone Age

Emperor of Sand — Mastodon

The Stories We Tell Ourselves — Nothing More

A Deeper Understanding — The War On Drugs

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM

Everything Now — Arcade Fire

Humanz — Gorillaz

Pure Comedy — Father John Misty

Sleep Well Beast — The National

American Dream — LCD Soundsystem

BEST RAP ALBUM

4:44 — JAY-Z

DAMN. — Kendrick Lamar

Flower Boy — Tyler, The Creator

Laila's Wisdom — Rapsody

Culture — Migos

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