Hip-hop’s legendary lyricist Nas finally won his first ever Grammy last night after 13 nominations across more than two decades. The 47-year-old king of the New York City, won Best Rap Album for his 13th effort, titled “King’s Disease.”
Nas’ album bested “The Allegory” by Royce da 5′9”, Alfredo” by Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, “Black Habits” by D Smoke and “A Written Testimony” by Jay Electronica.
In an interview with British music magazine NME in November 2020, Nas revealed that he had attempted to create a record similar to James Brown’s 1968 classic “Say It Loud ― I’m Black and I’m Proud” and said it was necessary for Black artists to make similar anthems because of “the foot on our necks.”
Today the Grammys ceremony begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time, 5 p.m. Pacific. Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, BTS, Harry Styles, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion but for us, the most important part of the show comes in when they announce Best Rap Album winner, where our man Royce Da 5’9″ is up against some hip-hop heavyweights in the game: Nas, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist, Jay electronica and D Smoke.
We have collected some of the predictions from popular magazines below and NAS’s “King’s Disease” will most likely be a winner but who knows, Royce might grab it unexpectedly.
SOUTHPAWER
Should win: “The Allegory” by Royce Da 5’9″
Will win: “King’s Disease” by NAS.
VULTURE
Should win: “Alfredo” by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist.
Will win: “King’s Disease” by NAS.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Should win: “A Written Testimony” by Jay Electronica.
Will win: “King’s Disease” by NAS.
VERIETY
Should win: “A Written Testimony” by Jay Electronica.
Will win: “King’s Disease” by NAS.
COMPLEX
Should win: “Alfredo” by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist.
Will win: “King’s Disease” by NAS.
UPROXX
Should win: “Alfredo” by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist.
Will win: “King’s Disease” by NAS.
GOLD DERBY
Should win: “A Written Testimony” by Jay Electronica.
Will win: “King’s Disease” by NAS.
MEDIUM
Should win: “A Written Testimony” by Jay Electronica.
Will win: “A Written Testimony” by Jay Electronica.
Treach from Naughty By Nature has recently done an interview on Shade 45 where the legendary rapper expressed his desire to work with Eminem:
“Eminem keeps shouting me out. That’s my light-skined twin brother. I said I’m doing a solo album but I ain’t doing it unless he put it out. I’m his number one and he’s one of the greatest to me. We never worked together so imagine if we work. We gotta do it.”
Couple of days ago, Detroit legend Royce 5’9″ wasn’t sure why his smartphone was blowing up with text messages, Instagram & Twitter DMs and phone calls but few minutes later he found out that his 2020 album “The Allegory” received a Grammy 2021 nomination for Best Rap Album which marks his first every nomination throughout his +two decade career. The album is up against is up against D Smoke’s “Bad Habits,” Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist’s “Alfredo,” Jay Electronica’s “A Written Testimony” and Nas’ “King’s Disease.”
In an interview with The Detroit News, Royce 5’9″ says: “I was shocked. It was by far the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me. It is surreal. I am still taking it in. Somebody needs to pinch me. I feel like someone’s going to come and say ‘nah, psyche, we are just kidding.'”
“Everyone is beaming with pride. This album is my brainchild.” This is the album that has a lot of my ideologies, a lot of me wanting to point people in different directions, and getting them to see certain things and being able to place perspective on things for people. It is me putting the black mirror up to the world, and forcing the world to look at itself, and asking ‘what do you think about what you see?'”
“Of course I want to win but I am not gonna bang my head against the wall if I do not. I do not pretend like I am not used to being overlooked in this type of scenario. I look at it like it is a win already. One of the things about it is I really respect everybody that are in the category with me, so a loss is not a loss. A loss is still a win, for the culture.”
Few hours ago, The Recording Academy revealed the nominations for the 2021 Grammy Awards and Royce Da 5’9″ got the Best Rap Album nomination, which is up against Nas’ “Kings Disease” D’Smoke’s “Black Habits”, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist’s “Alfredo” and Jay Electronica’s “A Written Testimony.”
Eminem, Kxng Crooked, Joell Ortiz, Kid Vishis, Nasaan, Mr. Porter, Westside Gunn and more congratulated Royce for getting recognition from The Recording Academy. Check out their reactions below:
The Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. has just announced the nominations for 2021 Grammy awards ceremony. Eminem, Royce Da 5’9″ and the rest Shady Records crew were eligible for the following categories:
RAP FIELDS:
Best Rap Performance
Best Melodic Rap Performance
Best Rap Song
Best Rap Album
GENERAL FIELDS:
Record Of The Year
Album Of The Year
Song Of The Year
Best New Artist
AND GUESS WHAT? Royce Da 5’9″‘s “The Allegory” gets nominated for the Best Rap Album category! He’s up against NAS’ “King’s Disease” Freddie Gibbs’ & The Alchemist’s “ALFREDO”, Jay Electronica’s “A Written Testimony” and D Dmoke’s “Black Habits”
Watch the video for the full RAP and RnB nominations at the Grammys 2021 below:
