Kendrick Lamar Dominates 2026 Grammy Nominations, Hip Hop Ascendant
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The 2026 Grammy nominations arrived on Friday, November 7, revealing Kendrick Lamar as the frontrunner with an impressive nine nods for his album GNX, solidifying his momentum following a successful 2025 awards season. This year’s nominations signal a significant moment for Hip Hop, with a robust presence across major categories, including Album of the Year.
The nominations reflect a year of critically acclaimed releases, with Clipse also earning substantial recognition, securing five nominations for their album Let God Sort Em Out. Lady Gaga follows closely behind Lamar with seven nominations, while Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, and others are tied with six each. SZA, Doechii, and Clipse each received five nominations apiece. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 1, 2026, and will also be available for streaming on Paramount+.
A Year of Hip Hop Excellence
The announcement was particularly anticipated by Hip Hop enthusiasts eager to see how the Recording Academy would acknowledge the wealth of exceptional projects released over the past year. GNX by Kendrick Lamar, Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse, and Chromakopia by Tyler, the Creator were among the most discussed albums leading up to the nominations. These artists, alongside a diverse range of talent, will compete in several key categories.
Here’s a look at some of the major contenders:
Album of the Year
- Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny
- Swag – Justin Bieber
- Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter
- Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse
- Mayhem – Lady Gaga
- GNX – Kendrick Lamar
- Mutt – Leon Thomas
- Chromakopia – Tyler, the Creator
Best Rap Performance
- “Outside” – Cardi B
- “Chains & Whips” – Clipse featuring Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams
- “Anxiety” – Doechii
- “TV Off” – Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay
- “Darling, I” – Tyler, the Creator featuring Teezo Touchdown
Best Rap Song
- “Anxiety” – Doechii
- “The Birds Don’t Sing” – Clipse
- “Sticky” – Tyler, the Creator featuring GloRilla, Lil Wayne and Sexyy Red
- “TGIF” – GloRilla
- “tv off” – Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay
Best Rap Album
- Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse
- Glorious – GloRilla
- God Does Like Ugly – JID
- GNX – Kendrick Lamar
- Chromakopia – Tyler, the Creator
Best Music Video
- “Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter
- “So Be It” – Clipse
- “Anxiety” – Doechii
- “Love” – OK Go
- “Young Lion” – Sade
Clipse Aiming for Grammy Glory
For the duo Clipse, a Grammy win would represent a landmark achievement. They previously received a Best Rap/Sung Collaboration award in 2003 for their work on Justin Timberlake’s “Like I Love You.” In a recent interview with Complex, the duo reflected on the significance of a potential win.
“We have already been validated with our art form, you know, and the music that we put out,” one member of the duo stated. “So, to be able to walk it into a Grammy nomination… You know, you [have to] first have the product, then you connect to the plug.” His brother added, “Bringing home that hardware would mean everything… We’re going for it… We made the album, we looked at it, and was like, ‘Oh, this is that strong.’ We need to take something home for this.”
Regardless of the ultimate winners, the 2026 Grammys promise to be a celebration of Hip Hop’s continued evolution and influence. With Kendrick Lamar leading the charge and Clipse making a triumphant return, the awards ceremony will serve as a fitting culmination to a remarkable year for the genre.
