Rapper decided against the nominations
Drake has withdrawn his name from two Grammy nominations, Variety reports. The Recording Academy has honored the rapper’s request, although no motive has been unveiled as of press time.
Drake’s long-awaited Certified Lover Boy was one of five nominations for “Best Rap Album” while “Way 2 Sexy” featuring Future and Young Thug was up for “Best Rap Performance,” along with four other nominees.
These two categories will now have four nominees, likely due to voting began Monday (Dec 6th), when the rapper made the request.
Grammy nominations are typically submitted by an artist’s record label, but a label will not submit it if an artist doesn’t want to be considered.
It is unclear if Drake has changed his mind about the nominations after being named in a number of lawsuits surrounding the Astroworld Festival tragedy last month. However, on Thursday (Dec 9th), the rapper is set to reunite with Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, to host the Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert, presented by Donda Touring, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Despite winning in the past, Drake has had a negative history with the organization. Last year he claimed it was a “great time for somebody to start something new that we can build up overtime and pass on to the generations to come” in his Instagram Story after The Weeknd was snubbed. The Weeknd has permanently boycotted the annual show.
In 2018, Drake refused to let his 2017 album More Life be in contention for an award. However, he won the following year when “God’s Plan” was named “Best Rap Song,” but his mic was cut off by producers after he declared awards hold no value.
