The 2026 GRAMMYs put hip-hop and R&B in the spotlight, with Kendrick Lamar leading the pack. Check out the top nominees and key highlights from the year’s most significant awards.

The 2026 GRAMMY nominations prove what fans already knew — hip-hop and R&B are the pulse of modern music (Even though the Billboard charts have been saying otherwise lately). From Kendrick Lamar’s punchiness to Leon Thomas’ genre-blurring soul, this year’s crop of nominees captures an era where vulnerability, rhythm, and innovation coexist seamlessly.

Rap Returns to the Top

For the first time this decade, three rap albums have landed nominations for Album of the Year:

• “GNX” by Kendrick Lamar,
• “Let God Sort Em Out” by Clipse,
• and “CHROMAKOPIA” by Tyler, The Creator.

Each of these projects reflects a different dimension of modern hip-hop. Kendrick’s GNX dives deep into classic California vibes, Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out resurrects their cinematic storytelling, and Tyler’s CHROMAKOPIA fuses bold production with emotional self-reflection.

Kendrick Lamar also leads all artists this year with nine nominations, solidifying his reign as one of the most consistently acclaimed rappers of his generation.

Women of Wordplay: Doechii, SZA, and GloRilla

The women of hip-hop and R&B continue to command attention. Doechii earns multiple nods for “Anxiety,” a standout in both Best Rap Song and Record of the Year. GloRilla’s GLORIOUS and the viral hit “TGIF” also make appearances.

Meanwhile, SZA, who already conquered R&B, extends her reach through the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category for “30 for 30” alongside Kendrick Lamar, and appears again on “luther” — a smoky, melodic rap cut nominated for Song of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance.

Soulful Storytelling in R&B

R&B thrives this year with a blend of tradition and progression. Leon Thomas dominates with MUTT, earning nominations for Best R&B Album, Best Traditional R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song. His Tiny Desk rendition of “MUTT” also lands him a Best R&B Performance nod.

Summer Walker, Kehlani, Coco Jones, and Durand Bernarr bring a mix of intimacy and flair to the field, while Teyana Taylor’s Escape Room and Ledisi’s The Crown highlight the ongoing evolution of R&B’s sound and storytelling.

Progressive R&B continues to blossom too, with albums like LOVE ON DIGITAL (Destin Conrad) and Come As You Are (Terrace Martin & Kenyon Dixon) bridging neo-soul, jazz, and electronic textures.

Collaboration as a Core Theme

Many of this year’s standout records blur the lines between genres — and continents. PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake’s “SOMEBODY LOVES ME” and Terrace Martin, Kenyon Dixon & Rapsody’s “WeMaj” redefine what melodic rap can sound like (If we’re being real, “SOMEBODY LOVES ME” is nowhere near rap). Even Justin Bieber, a pop titan, makes a strong R&B showing with “YUKON” nominated for Best R&B Performance.

From the intimate to the anthemic, the 2026 GRAMMYs are celebrating a year where hip-hop and R&B don’t just dominate — they define the conversation.

2026 GRAMMY NOMINEES (Full List)

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.