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GRAMMYs
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2018 GRAMMYs Poll: Who Will Win Best New Artist?

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Alessia Cara, Khalid, Lil Uzi Vert, Julia Michaels, and SZA are officially the 60th GRAMMY nominees for Best New Artist — who will voters choose?
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Nov 28, 2017 - 5:42 am

Alessia Cara, Khalid, Lil Uzi Vert, Julia Michaels, and SZA: all five Best New Artist nominees for the 60th GRAMMY Awards are performers on the rise with promising futures.  

Who do you think GRAMMY voters will choose? Cast your vote now!

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Who will GRAMMY voters choose for Best New Artist for the 60th GRAMMYs?

60th GRAMMY Awards: Full Nominations List

The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28, 2018, airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.

GRAMMYs
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Here Are The Contenders For Best New Artist | 60th GRAMMYs

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Alessia Cara, Khalid, Lil Uzi Vert, Julia Michaels, and SZA are officially the 60th GRAMMY nominees for Best New Artist
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Nov 28, 2017 - 5:36 am

The Best New Artist category for the 60th GRAMMY Awards is positively stacked with talented creators who have built names for themselves on their own terms.

Best New Artist Nominees | 60th GRAMMY Awards

Some are songwriters who broke into the business penning hits for big-name artists before transitioning into their own solo careers; others are independent phenoms who leveraged their social media followings and artist amplification platforms such as SoundCloud to build a grassroots critical mass that made it impossible for the industry to ignore them.

All five will surely be names to watch in the coming years. Here's a closer look at this year's Best New Artist nominees:

Alessia Cara

Alessia Cara's debut single, "Here," became a sleeper hit in early 2015, and was dubbed by MTV as the "new song for everyone who secretly hates parties."

Her debut album arrived soon after, with the third radio single "Scars To Your Beautiful" becoming a chart hit late last year when it climbed to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100

Leaving no doubt that the Canadian singer has officially arrived, in 2017 she was tapped for some impressive marquee collaborations on Zedd's "Stay" and Logic's "1-800-273-8255." The former is nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, while the latter is up for Song Of The Year.

Khalid

Singer/songwriter Khalid's explosive viral success with self-released tracks on SoundCloud saw the young artist tapped for numerous "artists you need to know" lists by publications such as Billboard and Rolling Stone just months after his high school graduation.

His first official single, "Location," released before the end of his senior year. The video collected more than 17 million plays on YouTube by the time his debut album, American Teen, dropped last March, and he promptly sold out every tour date of his 2017 summer tour.

Khalid is also featured alongside Alessia Cara on Logic's Song Of The Year and Best Music Video-nominated "1-800-273-8255."

The 19-year-old is nominated for a total of five GRAMMY Awards this year, with his Best R&B Song-nominated "Location" and Best Urban Contemporary Album-nominated American Teen rounding out his nods.

Polls

Who will GRAMMY voters choose for Best New Artist for the 60th GRAMMYs?

Lil Uzi Vert

With a rapid-fire series of mixtapes starting in late 2015 and stemming across 2016, Lil Uzi Vert carved himself a noticeably standout niche into the exploding cloud rap genre. With a sound often meandering between rock and hip-hop stylings, Vert's music has been sometimes called "emo rap," though the 23-year old artist strives hard to avoid genre labels.

Released in August, his debut album, Luv Is Rage 2, hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

During his recent sit-down with Zane Lowe on Beats 1 Radio, Vert was quick to stir the pot when Lowe tried to nail down a name for his sound, summing himself up saying, "I think it's [unidentifiable] … I just pulled up in a UFO, that means I'm an alien. [laughs] That's all I can say."

Lil Uzi Vert is also nominated alongside breakout trap trio Migos for his feature verse on their summer smash hit "Bad And Boujee."

Julia Michaels

Prior to stepping into the solo spotlight with her breakout debut single "Issues," Julia Michaels had already built an illustrious songwriting resume packed with writing credits for top-tier artists including Demi Lovato, Fifth Harmony, Gwen Stefani, Hailee Steinfeld, Linkin Park, and Justin Bieber.

Speaking to the Recording Academy about "Issues," Michaels revealed that the song was originally written over two years previously with the intent of giving away to a songwriting client, but she felt it too personal to give up, and sparked her decision to make the jump into becoming a performing artist.

Julia Michaels On Writing "Issues"

"I just thought, 'I can't do that. I can't give this song to somebody'," Michaels explained.  "That was my very first feeling of wanting to sing my own words."

Michaels is nominated for two GRAMMY Awards this year, with "Issues" bringing the singer/songwriter an additional nod for Song Of The Year.

SZA

SZA began stirring up underground buzz as early as 2012, with her self-released debut EP, See.SZA.Run, which caught the attention of independent hip-hop label Top Dawg Entertainment, which signed her in early 2013.

After releasing a pair of acclaimed EPs over the next two years, Top Dawg kept a tight lid on any and all details about SZA's eventual debut album, Ctrl, which was eventually released this past June. Though the album's success — gold certification and a No. 3 peak position — has resulted in somewhat of a whirlwind for the singer/songwriter, it's given her a new perspective on her fans.

SZA's "Drew Barrymore" Connection

"Being noticed on a very different end of the spectrum is very intense, but it makes me feel like I have a responsibility because I feel like every person that I'm meeting at a meet-and-greet or at a show — or that's listening to my album or that I'm seeing on the internet — I see that they're genuine reflections of me," SZA told GRAMMY.com.

Along with her Best New Artist nod, SZA has also drawn a Best R&B Song nomination this year for "Supermodel."

The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28, 2018, airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.

60 Facts About The 60th GRAMMY Nominees

(L-R) Jay Z, Rapsody, Lady Gaga, Alessia Cara, Childish Gambino, SZA, Taylor Swift, Luis Fonsi, Bruno Mars, Cardi B
Photos: WireImage.com

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2018 GRAMMYs: Alessia Cara To Jay-Z | 60 Nominee Facts

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From Luis Fonsi, Bruno Mars, SZA, and Childish Gambino to Rapsody, Lady Gaga, Shakira, and Taylor Swift, get forensic with 60 interesting facts about the 60th GRAMMY nominees
Paul Grein
THE GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
Jan 3, 2018 - 4:56 pm

Looking for a different kind of New Year's resolution? How about pledging to become an expert on this year's nominees for the 60th GRAMMY Awards? We can help you do just that.

From first-time nominees and top nominees to GRAMMY history and potential records at stake, we've sliced and diced the 84 categories to bring you 60 delectable factoids about the 60th nominee class.

Make sure to read all 60 facts below and follow all the storylines during Music's Biggest Night at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday, Jan. 28.

1. Jay-Z

Jay-Z is this year's leading GRAMMY nominee with eight nominations. This is the third time the rapper has been the year's leading nominee (or at least tied for the lead). He tied for the lead for 2003 with Beyoncé, OutKast and Pharrell Williams. He held the lead outright for 2013.

Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake Win Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

2. SZA

SZA is this year's top female nominee with five nominations, including Best New Artist.

3. Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino is nominated for five GRAMMYs, including Record and Album Of The Year. The versatile performer, aka Donald Glover, won two Emmy Awards in September for his work on the FX series Atlanta. (He won Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series.)

4. "Despacito"

"Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber is this year's only work to be nominated for both Record and Song Of The Year. It's the first foreign-language hit to be nominated in both categories since "La Bamba," recorded by Los Lobos, 30 years ago.

5. "The Story Of O.J."

"The Story Of O.J." is Jay-Z's fourth single to receive a Record Of The Year nomination. It follows Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love," on which he was featured; Rihanna's "Umbrella," on which he was featured; and "Empire State Of Mind," a collaboration with Alicia Keys. Jay-Z is the first rapper to amass four Record Of The Year nominations.

6. Bruno Mars, Record Of The Year

Bruno Mars' "24K Magic" is nominated for Record Of The Year. It's Mars' fifth nomination in that category since 2010. That's more than any other artist in this decade. Mars and Beyoncé are the only artists to amass five nominations since 2000.

7. Kendrick Lamar

DAMN. is Kendrick Lamar's third consecutive studio album to be nominated for Album Of The Year. Kanye West is the only other rapper to receive nominations in this category for three consecutive studio albums.

8. Lorde

Lorde is among the nominees for Album Of The Year for her sophomore release, Melodrama. The young star has now been nominated in three of the General Field categories. Four years ago, her breakthrough hit, "Royals" was nominated for Record Of The Year and won for Song Of The Year.

Lorde, Joel Little Win Song Of The Year

9. Alessia Cara, Khalid, Julia Michaels: Song Of The Year

Three of this year's Best New Artist nominees — Alessia Cara, Khalid and Julia Michaels — are up for Song Of The Year. Cara and Khalid co-wrote "1-800-273-7255," the Logic hit on which they are featured. Michaels co-wrote her hit "Issues." This is only the second time in GRAMMY history that three Best New Artist nominees have also been nominated for Song Of The Year in the same year. It first happened 16 years ago with Alicia Keys ("Fallin'"), India.Arie ("Video") and Nelly Furtado ("I'm Like A Bird").

10. Alessia Cara, Best New Artist

Alessia Cara is the first artist who was born in Canada to receive a Best New Artist nomination since 2010, when both Justin Bieber and Drake were nominated.

11. Khalid, Best New Artist

Khalid, 19, is the first teenager to receive a Best New Artist nomination since Justin Bieber, who was 16 when he was a finalist for the 2010 award. Khalid will turn 20 on Feb. 11.

12. Michael Bublé

Michael Bublé lands his eighth nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Nobody But Me (Deluxe Version). He is a four-time winner in the category.

13. Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Triplicate. This gives the music legend a 55-year span of GRAMMY nominations. He received his first nomination for 1962, when his debut album was up for Best Folk Recording. Dylan received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 1991.

14. Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga's Joanne is among the nominees for Best Pop Vocal Album. She won in this category seven years ago for The Fame Monster. Gaga is vying to become the third two-time winner in the category's history, following Kelly Clarkson and Adele.

15. Kraftwerk

Electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk are nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album for the second time for 3-D The Catalogue. The German group was first nominated in this category 12 years ago for Minimum-Maximum. 3-D The Catalogue is also nominated for Best Surround Sound Album. Electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk are nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album for the second time for 3-D The Catalogue. The German group was first nominated in this category 12 years ago for Minimum-Maximum. 3-D The Catalogue is also nominated for Best Surround Sound Album. Kraftwerk received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2014.

16. Leonard Cohen, Chris Cornell

Leonard Cohen and Chris Cornell are posthumously nominated for Best Rock Performance. Another late, great artist, David Bowie, won the award posthumously last year for "Blackstar."

17. Body Count

Body Count are vying for Best Metal Performance for "Black Hoodie." Bandleader Ice-won a GRAMMY 27 years ago for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group, for his featured role on the title song from Quincy Jones' album, Back On The Block. He's vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

18. Best Metal Performance

Each of the five bands vying for Best Metal Performance — August Burns Red, Body Count, Code Orange, Mastodon, and Meshuggah — is looking to bring home their first GRAMMY Award.

19. Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters are nominated for Best Rock Song for "Run." The group won in the category six years ago for their similarly titled song "Walk." In addition, group members Dave Grohl and Pat Smear shared the 2013 award in that category for "Cut Me Some Slack," a collaboration with Paul McCartney and Krist Novoselic.

20. Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire lands their fifth nomination for Best Alternative Music Album for Everything Now. Only one other group or duo has amassed five or more nominations in this category. Radiohead have had eight.

21. LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem's American Dream is nominated for Best Alternative Music Album. The group's first two albums, LCD Soundsystem and Sound Of Silver, were nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album.

22. Kali Uchis

Kali Uchis receives her first GRAMMY nomination for Best R&B Performance for her featured role on Daniel Caesar's "Get You." At the recent Latin GRAMMY Awards, she received a Record Of The Year nod for "El Ratico," a collaboration with Juanes, who is also a current GRAMMY nominee.

23. The Weeknd

The Weeknd's Starboy is among the nominees for Best Urban Contemporary Album. The Weeknd's previous album, Beauty Behind The Madness, won in the category two years ago. He is vying to become the first two-time winner in the category.

24. Ledisi

Ledisi's Let Love Rule is nominated for Best R&B Album. This is Ledisi's fourth nomination in this category. She was previously nominated for Lost & Found, Turn Me Loose and Pieces Of Me. Ledisi was nominated for Best New Artist 10 years ago.

25. Bruno Mars, Best R&B Album

Bruno Mars' 24K Magic is nominated for Best R&B Album. Mars won Best Pop Vocal Album four years ago for Unorthodox Jukebox. He is vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

Bruno Mars wins 2014 Best Pop Vocal Album GRAMMY

26. Cardi B

"Bodak Yellow" brings Cardi B her first GRAMMY nominations for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. The title is a play on its musical inspiration: Kodak Black's 2014 hip-hop hit "No Flockin."

27. Jay-Z, Best Rap Album

Jay-Z's 4:44 is nominated for Best Rap Album. Jay-Z won in that category 19 years ago for Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life. If he wins, he'll have the longest span of wins in the category's history. Eminem currently holds that distinction, with a 15-year span of wins in the category.

28. Rapsody

Rapsody's Laila's Wisdom is nominated for Best Rap Album. Rapsody is the fifth female solo artist to be nominated in this category, following Missy Elliott (who has had four nominations in the category), Nicki Minaj (two) and Eve and Iggy Azalea (one each).

29. Tyler, The Creator

Tyler, The Creator's Flower Boy is up for Best Rap Album. It's his second GRAMMY nomination. He was nominated as a featured artist on Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, which was an Album Of The Year contender five years ago.

30. Alison Krauss

Alison Krauss is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for "Losing You" and Best American Roots Performance for "I Never Cared For You." Krauss is currently tied with Quincy Jones for the second most wins in GRAMMY history with 27. The late classical conductor Sir Georg Solti is the long-time GRAMMY leader, with 31 awards.

31. Little Big Town

Little Big Town are seeking their third win for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Better Man." The group won for "Pontoon" (2012) and "Girl Crush" (2015).

Little Big Town Win Best Country Duo/Group Performance

32. Taylor Swift, Best Country Song

Taylor Swift is vying to win for her third GRAMMY for Best Country Song. She is nominated for writing the Little Big Town hit, "Better Man." Swift previously won for co-writing "White Horse" and writing "Mean." She would become only the second three-time winner in the category. Josh Kear won for co-writing the Carrie Underwood hits "Before He Cheats" and "Blown Away" and the Lady Antebellum hit "Need You Now."

33. Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne

Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne are among the writers of two of this year's nominees for Best Country Song. They co-wrote Sam Hunt's "Body Like A Back Road" and Midland's "Drinkin' Problem." McAnally and Osborne won in this category four years ago for co-writing Kacey Musgraves' "Merry Go 'Round."

34. Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton is nominated for Best Country Album for From A Room: Volume 1. He won in the category two years ago for Traveller. Stapleton is vying to become the first male solo artist to win two awards in this category since the late Roger Miller did it more than 50 years ago.

Chris Stapleton Wins Best Country Album

35. Indie.Arie

Indie.Arie's SongVersation: Medicine is nominated for Best New Age Album. She won Best R&B Album 15 years ago for Voyage To India. India.Arie is vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

36. Jazzmeia Horn, Alex Han, Pascal Le Boeuf

Three alumni of the GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session receive their first GRAMMY nominations. Jazzmeia Horn is nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album, Alex Han for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and Pascal Le Boeuf for Best Instrumental Composition. The GRAMMY Museum program is designed for outstanding high school jazz musicians.

37. CeCe Winans

CeCe Winans lands two nominations for Best Gospel Album for Let Them Fall In Love and Best Gospel Performance/Song for "Never Have To Be Alone." These are Winans' first nominations in seven years. The gospel great is a 10-time GRAMMY winner.

38. Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire's Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope is among the nominees for Best Roots Gospel Album. This marks her first nod in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Field. She has 13 previous Country Field nominations and one prior Music Video/Film Field nod.

39. Shakira

Shakira's El Dorado is among the nominees for Best Latin Pop Album. Shakira won in that category 17 years ago for Shakira — MTV Unplugged. She is vying to become the first female artist to win twice in this category.

40. Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell is nominated for Best American Roots Performance for "Arkansas Farmboy." This gives the late music legend a 50-year span of GRAMMY nominations. He received six nominations (including four awards) for 1967 for his classic hits "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and "Gentle On My Mind." Campbell received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2012.

Glen Campbell: Lifetime Achievement Award Acceptance

41. Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit

Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit's The Nashville Sound is nominated for Best Americana Album. Isbell won in this category two years ago for his previous album, Something More Than Free. Isbell is vying to become the second two-time winner in this category, following Levon Helm.

42. The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album for Blue & Lonesome. They won Best Rock Album 23 years ago for Voodoo Lounge. They are vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

43. Yusuf/Cat Stevens

Yusuf/Cat Stevens lands his first GRAMMY nomination, more than 50 years after he released his first album. He is nominated for Best Folk Album for The Laughing Apple.

44. Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley is among the nominees for Best Reggae Album for Stony Hill. With two prior category wins, he's looking to join his brother Stephen Marley as a three-time Best Reggae Album winner. Another brother, Ziggy Marley, has the most wins in the category with seven.

45. Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is nominated in two categories with different albums. Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration is nominated for Best World Music Album. Songs Of Peace & Love For Kids & Parents Around The World is nominated for Best Children's Album.

46. Lisa Loeb

Lisa Loeb is nominated for Best Children's Album for Feel What U Feel. It's her second GRAMMY nomination. She was nominated 23 years ago for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Stay (I Missed You)," a chart-topping hit with her group, Nine Stories.

47. Carrie Fisher

The late Carrie Fisher scores her second GRAMMY nomination for Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling) for The Princess Diarist. The Star Wars actress was nominated in the same category eight years ago for Wishful Drinking.

48. Bernie Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) earns his first GRAMMY nomination alongside actor Mark Ruffalo for Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling) for the audio version of his book, Our Revolution: A Future To Believe In. Sanders is the fourth politician to be nominated in this category this decade, following fellow Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter (the 2015 winner).

49. Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen receives his 50th GRAMMY nomination for Born To Run, which is among the nominees for Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling). The audiobook shares its title with Springsteen's classic 1975 album, which was voted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 2003.

50. Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman is nominated for Best Comedy Album for A Speck Of Dust. She is vying to become the fifth female comic to win in this category, following Elaine May (who won for a collaboration with Mike Nichols), Lily Tomlin, Whoopi Goldberg, and Kathy Griffin.

51. Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are nominated for Best Musical Theater Album as composers/lyricists and co-producers of Dear Evan Hansen. They're also nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media for "City Of Stars" from La La Land (which they co-wrote with Justin Hurwitz). They previously won a Tony Award for Dear Evan Hansen and an Academy Award for "City Of Stars."

52. Hello, Dolly!

The New Broadway Cast Recording of Hello, Dolly!, starring Bette Midler, is nominated for Best Musical Theater Album. It's the third time a cast album from this durable show has been nominated. An album from the original production, starring Carol Channing, was nominated for 1964. An album from a previous revival, also starring Channing, was nominated for 1995.

53. Justin Hurwitz

Composer Justin Hurwitz's four nominations stemming from the hit film La La Land mark his second try for GRAMMY gold. He was up for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media for his work on Whiplash two years ago. Hurwitz worked with director Damien Chazelle on both films.

54. Game Of Thrones: Season 7

Game Of Thrones: Season 7 is nominated for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media. It's vying to become the first TV soundtrack to win in this category since Mission: Impossible won 50 years ago. Ramin Djawadi is the composer of Game Of Thrones. Lalo Schifrin did the honors on Mission: Impossible.

55. Common, Diane Warren

Common and Diane Warren are nominated for Best Song Written For Visual Media for their collaboration, "Stand Up For Something," from Marshall. Both songwriters are past winners in the category. Common won two years ago for co-writing "Glory" from Selma. Warren won 21 years ago for writing "Because You Loved Me" from Up Close & Personal.

56. Taylor Swift, Best Song Written For Visual Media

Taylor Swift, another nominee for Best Song Written For Visual Media, is also a past winner in that category. Swift, nominated this year for co-writing "I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)," won five years ago for co-writing "Safe And Sound" from The Hunger Games.

57. Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris receives his first Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical nomination. Harris won his first GRAMMY five years ago for "We Found Love," his smash collaboration with Rihanna. They shared the award for Best Short Form Music Video.

58. Greg Kurstin

Greg Kurstin, last year's winner for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, is nominated in that category again this year. He's vying to become the first producer to win it two years in a row since Babyface won it three years running from 1995 through 1997.

Greg Kurstin wins Producer Of The Year GRAMMY

59. Producer Of The Year, Classical

The Producer Of The Year, Classical category comprises five producers with previous nods in the category. Morten Lindberg, who now has 24 total GRAMMY nominations, is seeking his first win. Blanton Alspaugh, Manfred Eicher, David Frost, and Judith Sherman have each won the category previously.

60. Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar: Best Music Video

Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar are each vying for their second award in the Best Music Video category. Jay-Z, who is nominated for "The Story Of O.J.," won four years ago for "Suit & Tie," a collaboration with Justin Timberlake. Lamar, nominated for "HUMBLE.," won two years ago for "Bad Blood," a collaboration with Taylor Swift. To date, just four artists have won twice in this category: Peter Gabriel, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Johnny Cash.

The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28, 2018, airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.

(Paul Grein is a veteran music journalist and historian whose work appears regularly at Yahoo.com and Hitsdailydouble.com.)

(GRAMMY.com staff members Renée Fabian, Brian Haack, Nate Hertweck, Tim McPhate, and Philip Merrill contributed to this article.)

60th GRAMMYs First Time Nominees

(L-R) Nick Sanborn (Sylvan Esso), K.Flay, Cardi B, Kevin Hart, Logic, Kesha
Photos: Wireimage.com

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2018 GRAMMYs: Meet 15 First-Time Nominees

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Spanning pop, rock, jazz, R&B, rap, comedy, and more, go inside the stories and journeys of 15 first-time nominees for the 60th GRAMMY Awards
THE GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
Dec 4, 2017 - 3:57 pm

"It gets no higher than winning a GRAMMY, and it's the ultimate dream for every artist." — Beyoncé

Many firsts in music hold a special significance. The first time you heard your favorite song. The first album you purchased (or streamed). That first instrument. A first concert experience.

For a music creator, a first GRAMMY nomination represents not only an unforgettable career moment but a true form of recognition from one's peers.

The Recording Academy congratulates the entire field of nominees for the 60th GRAMMY Awards, including the complete roster of first-time nominees. Here is a look at 15 first-timers who are among those getting their first shot at the "ultimate dream."

Julia Michaels

Nominated for Song Of The Year, "Issues"; Best New Artist

Julia Michaels On Writing "Issues"

Yeah, she's got issues, and one of them is a pair of GRAMMY nominations.

Born in Davenport, Iowa, Julia Michaels first made a name for herself as a songwriter, penning hits for the likes of Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Rita Ora, Fifth Harmony, and Nick Jonas, among others. She's also been featured on collaborations with Kygo ("Carry Me"), Cash Cash ("Surrender") and Clean Bandit ("I Miss You").

"Me as an artist pretty much started last year," Michaels told GRAMMY.com. "I've always kind of hid behind people and felt very safe there. I've always had it in my head that I'm not good enough and I've always just kind of let the insecure part of me take over the confident side of me."

Michaels' confident side has certainly won out. The Best New Artist nominee released Nervous System EP in 2017, marking her solo debut. Tracks such as the Song Of The Year-nominated "Issues," "Uh Huh," "Pink," and "Worst In Me" show the 24-year-old as a vulnerable and relatable artist who is unafraid to put forth her honest feelings — either in a song or in a relationship.

"I'm such a relationship person. I just lose myself in that person," Michaels told Rolling Stone. And that is all I know how to write about in those moments."— Tim McPhate

Khalid

Nominated for Best New Artist; Song Of The Year and Best Music Video, "1-800-273-8255"; Best R&B Song, "Location"; Best Urban Contemporary Album, American Teen

The music world loves finding stars unlikely places, and 19-year-old Khalid Robinson's rise to stardom out of El Paso, Texas, is somewhat of a fairy tale. Khalid's day-in-the-life writing style captivated fans on his debut album, American Teen, which Rolling Stone calls, "a mix of slow-moving heartbreak and pop thrills, as if Drake had reworked Katy Perry's catalog as a soundtrack for late-night adventures."

Khalid's smash debut is led by the hit singles "Location," a commentary on modern communication, which peaked at No. 8 Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and the infectious "Young, Dumb & Broke," which went to No. 9 on the Hot 100.

But through his storybook rise to fame, Khalid's ability to be himself leads a new generation in the direction of authenticity and individuality in a pop world that sometimes demands perfection.

A testament to Khalid's sincerity came in the form of one of 2017's biggest songs. Khalid was featured alongside fellow Best New Artist Nominee Alessia Cara on Logic's life-changing single "1-800-273-8255," a plea for anyone who suffers from depression to reach out and get help. The song earned two GRAMMY nominations for Song Of The Year and Best Music Video.

From writing songs about his high school prom to earning a whopping five nominations at the 60th GRAMMY Awards, Khalid has had the kind of year many American teens dream about. — Nate Hertweck

Alessia Cara

Nominated for Song Of The Year and Best Music Video, "1-800-273-8255"; Best New Artist; Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, "Stay"

It's no surprise that Alessia Cara received her first four career GRAMMY nominations this year. The Canadian singer/songwriter broke through with her 2016 hit "Here," which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, but in 2017, her hits "Stay" and "Scars To Your Beautiful" really pushed her over the top.

Chart success aside, what makes Cara unique are the empowering messages in her music that resonate with fans. Take "Scars To Your Beautiful," for example: "You should know you're beautiful just the way you are/And you don't have to change a thing, the world could change its heart."

"I'll get messages … saying that they appreciate ['Scars …'] and they feel it and they understand, which is a beautiful thing," Cara told Cosmopolitan. "Even when I perform it, I feel like people just get really emotional in the audience, which is beautiful to me because again, that's why we made the song. I want people to feel something. I want people to feel like they're not alone."

It made perfect sense then, for Cara to also be featured on Logic's suicide prevention anthem, "1-800-273-8255," which earned her GRAMMY nods along with Logic and fellow first-time nominee Khalid. 

In addition, her collaboration with Zedd, "Stay," stuck in the minds of listeners. It's a catchy tune with ticking clocks, punctuated synth rhythms and Cara's signature vocals. It invites the listener to forget about growing up, and stay a minute locked in time — a concept many can get behind.

"Really honoured to be given this kind of acknowledgment," Cara tweeted about her GRAMMY nods. "I'm not sure what to say or feel at the moment, but for now, thank you to everyone in my corner for all your love." — Renée Fabian

SZA

Nominated for Best New Artist; Best R&B Performance, "The Weekend"; Best R&B Song, "Supermodel"; Best Urban Contemporary Album, Ctrl; Best Rap/Sung Performance, "Love Galore"

Adding to the R&B genre's foundations with prolific songwriting and diverse influences, SZA has applied the same intense personal investment of herself to creating art in music that led her to become a champion gymnast as a teen in New Jersey.

She has appeared as a featured artist on hits by DRAM, Lorde, Rihanna, and ScHoolboy Q, as well as Maroon 5, who also took advantage of her talents as a composer. But with her debut studio album, Ctrl, SZA found her own stride, garnering five GRAMMY nominations not only for her performances but also for her songwriting.

Beyond her deep musical talents that find inspiration in film, visual art and physical expression, the first-time GRAMMY nominee is also determined to make genuine music, and she is deeply attuned to that responsibility.

SZA's "Drew Barrymore" Connection

"I was quiet in high school and relatively unpopular, so being noticed is not something that I'm used to," SZA told GRAMMY.com. "Being noticed on a very different end of the spectrum is very intense, but it makes me feel like I have a responsibility because I feel like every person that I'm meeting at a meet-and-greet or at a show — or that's listening to my album or that I'm seeing on the internet — I see that they're genuine reflections of me.

With her first GRAMMY nomination arriving this year, her art will soon be inspiring a much wider audience as well as infusing listeners with a deeper sense of R&B's musical potential. — Philip Merrill

Logic

Nominated for Song Of The Year and Best Music Video, "1-800-273-8255"

Logic's meteoric rise to fame since the critical acclaim surrounding his 2013 mixtape, Young Sinatra: Welcome To Forever, landed him a contract with Def Jam Recordings. This year, his third studio album, Everybody, catapulted him to international fame when it became his first to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and the album's third radio single "1-800-273-8255" went Top 10 in more than 10 countries.

Rapper Logic on mental health

"What if I silenced my own fear and I say, 'I'm scared talk about my race. I'm scared to talk about the state of this country but I'm going to do anyway. I'm going to persevere.' Man, how many lives can I really save then?," Logic told Genius about the writing and inspiration for Everybody and his Song Of The Year-nominated "1-800-273-8255."

Titled after the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the song features Best New Artist nominees Alessia Cara and Khalid, and was released as part of an awareness campaign hosted by the non-profit that ultimately generated a 50 percent increase in the number of phone calls made to the hotline by people struggling with suicidal thoughts and mental illness.

Logic quickly took to Twitter following the official nominations announcement for the 60th GRAMMY Awards to celebrate his achievement.

"Today I was woken up by my wife calling to tell me I was nominated for Song Of The Year at the GRAMMYs and Best Music Video. I can’t even believe this tweet! Holy s***.  I HAVE TO GO BUY A SUIT NOW!" — Brian Haack

Jazzmeia Horn

Nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album, A Social Call

All signs are pointing in the right direction for Jazzmeia Horn.

The Dallas native won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2013; two years later she took the 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition prize. In 2017 she released A Social Call, her debut album on Concord Records' Prestige imprint to wide acclaim.

A Social Call showcases an impressive artist with serious jazz pedigree and an inspirational flair for R&B and gospel. Horn's powerful voice permeates throughout the 10-song set, including freshly arranged standards such as "I Remember You" and new takes on familiar songs such as the Stylistics' "People Make The World Go Round."

"With A Social Call the idea I had was how my platform can bring light and healing and deep thought," Horn told ColeursJazz.com. "When I think about A Social Call it can be, let's be social and have a drink and listen to this music. [Or] let's be social to benefit the country, world and universe and see our problems and see if you can be aware of them."

Though her influences range from Cassandra Wilson and Erykah Badu to Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder and Brandy, it's clear that Horn is focused on putting her own unique stamp on contemporary jazz.

"[I prefer] the era that I am living in today, because my name is Jazzmeia Horn and that is not a mistake," she told Jazz.org. "God does not make mistakes." — T.M.

Sylvan Esso

Nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album, What Now

Comprised of singer/songwriter Amelia Meath and electronic producer Nick Sanborn, electro-pop duo Sylvan Esso threw out the playbook on their second studio album, What Now. The success of their 2014 self-titled debut hinged upon its experimentation with bare-bones instrumentation and relatable melodies, but their sophomore effort is more deliberate and natural.

"The first record was a series of experiments. Now we feel much more confident in getting a song to where we think it wants to be," Sanborn told GRAMMY.com. "These songs ask for a lot of different things than the songs on the first record did. We just tried to follow the thread but I think we felt more capable of going wherever it wanted to go rather than where our limited means took us the first time."

Sylvan Esso On Growing Up In "Die Young"

The outcome was something entirely new. Based on the strength of the single "Die Young," What Now garnered both critical acclaim and, along with several key festival appearances, a swelling of fan support.

Variety said of the album, "The hooks are bigger and more refined; the sound is direct and powerful enough to communicate from both festival stages and small computer speakers."

The North Carolina-based duo heads out on an international tour in late January 2018, and hope to take their first GRAMMY win with them as they go up against fellow first-time nominees ODESZA, Mura Masa and Bonobo as well as Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Kraftwerk. — N.H.

Cardi B

Nominated for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song, "Bodak Yellow"

Cardi B's smash "Bodak Yellow" was perhaps one of the most ubiquitous rap singles over the past year, and with good reason. The summer hit peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the highest-charting song by a female rapper since Lauryn Hill's 1998 "Doo Wop (That Thing)," topping even Nicki Minaj's record when "Anaconda" hit No. 2 in 2014.

On the song itself, it's a "brash flip" of a Kodak Black track called "No Flockin'." And Cardi B went in for the kill on this record. She told Billboard, "Every b**** I don't like came into my head." She spits her verses with verve and a killer flow that lands among the best of them.

"I wanted to do a song that is, like, 'You know what? I'm in a good place in my life right now and I want to stun,'" she continued. "I felt it in my soul — this song is going to be so popping."

And popping it is.

"My current guilty pleasure in music right now is Cardi B's 'Bodak Yellow'," singer/songwriter Bebe Rexha told GRAMMY.com. "I've been listening to that nonstop. … and I was telling everybody, 'Watch she's going to blow up,' and now 'Bodak Yellow' is so big."

More than just her musical success, the hard work Cardi B put into building her career has made the New York-based rapper a beacon of hope for her diverse fanbase who see themselves in her realness and are inspired by her journey and continued success. Cardi B's first career GRAMMY nominations just make this inspiration shine a little brighter.

"Seeing how hard she has worked for everything she has made me think, 'Well, if she can work hard to do the things she's done, I can work hard to help her get even further,'" fan Bri told Complex about why she supports the rapper. "This is a victory for herself, for her family and for women everywhere, especially women of color. So her doing this feels like we all won." — R.F.

The War On Drugs

Nominated for Best Rock Album, A Deeper Understanding

Frontman/songwriter Adam Granduciel's brainchild the War On Drugs celebrated their 12th year of existence and fourth studio album this year — the profound and melodically tactile A Deeper Understanding.

The album has received widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike, with Pitchfork's Mark Richardson labeling the album "[Granduciel's] most layered and meticulous album … a fascinating study in influence," and musing, "it's hard to think of a band with more obvious touchstones that also sounds so original."

The War On Drugs: How Neil Young Inspired New LP

"When you're working at a song, you just keep chipping away at it and you're kind of waiting for that feeling," Granduciel told Noisey of his approach to writing. "The sound of the music is that feeling, but it's tough when you're really inside of it, because you're like: 'Am I even capable of experiencing the feeling that I think I'm supposed to achieve?'"

A Deeper Understanding has already climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums charts, and reached similar chart status in at least seven other countries.

"Alright!!! A Deeper Understanding got nominated for a GRAMMY today for Best Rock Album!" Ganduciel said on Instagram upon learning of his GRAMMY nomination. "Most importantly, huge thanks to all of our awesome friends and fans who have been coming out to our shows, buying our records and making us feel so welcome all these years. We love ya!" — B.H.

Portugal. The Man

Nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, "Feel It Still"

The eighth studio album was a charm for Portland-based indie rockers Portugal. The Man, as their 2017 Woodstock release has garnered the band's first GRAMMY nomination in the form of the track "Feel It Still."

In an interview with GRAMMY.com, frontman John Gourley described how after years of paying dues with fellow bandmates bassist Zachary Scott Carothers, keyboardist Kyle O'Quin, guitarist Eric Howk, and drummer Jason Sechrist, the hit "Feel It Still" came out at the end of a long day as he was noodling a bassline.

Portugal. The Man Talk 'Woodstock'

"Asa Taccone from Electric Guest happened to be in this room, and he heard me playing this bassline," said Gourley. "Asa said, 'Hey, do you have a bridge?' I said, 'Yeah, it's music, man.' And he was like, 'Well, write a bridge.'"

Naming their album after the historic music festival was meant to indicate music's special strength to thrill and unite, as singer/songwriter Richie Havens did back at the original festival. Portugal. The Man picked up the baton and ran with it long before their latest, but Woodstock the 2017 album, has proved to have special strengths all its own. — P.M.

Code Orange

Nominated for Best Metal Performance, "Forever"

In 10 years' time, Code Orange have graduated from the streets of Pittsburgh to first-time GRAMMY nominees. The metalcore group's third studio album, Forever, is full of menacing mayhem driven by bone-crushing guitar riffs, booming bass, huge drums, and eerie vocals.

The quintet — Eric Balderose (guitar), Reba Meyers (vocals/guitar), Jami Morgan (drums), Joe Goldman (bass), and recent arrival Dominic Landolina (guitar) — had the specific goal of taking their sound on Forever to new levels of heavy. The title track showcases this new level in all its punishing splendor, with dark atmospheric moods, industrial colorings and jarring textures combining to form a type of cohesive chaos.

Fittingly, it's this distinct mixture that has helped Code Orange find their place in the overarching metal genre, while yielding a mission statement of sorts.

"Everywhere we've turned, we've met a lot of 'You're not this enough for this, or that enough for that,'" Morgan told Rolling Stone. "'Forever' opens it up by saying, 'F*** you, we're here. We're gonna do whatever the f*** we wanna do, and there are no rules.'" — T.M.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Nominated for Best Music Film, One More Time With Feeling

Although this is Nick Cave's first career GRAMMY nomination, the Australian singer/songwriter has been conjuring hauntingly audacious rock and roll since the early '80s with his band the Bad Seeds and, before that, with Birthday Party. Equal parts Edgar Allen Poe and Jim Morrison, Cave's devilish musical concoction of blues, rock, poetry and psychedelia has earned him the most elite of underground cult hero status.

One More Time With Feeling, the film that earned him his first GRAMMY nomination, is a documentary focused on the process of making 2016's Skeleton Tree, the most recent album by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. The backdrop for the film — and the album — is the tragic death of Cave's 15-year-old son. The result is an exhibition of grief, fragility and musical brilliance, or as NME puts it, "There's deep, if bittersweet pleasure to be had from observing the inner workings of possibly the most enigmatic man on the planet. Altogether, a moving portrait of a man brought down to earth."

An enigmatic man indeed, Cave is also an accomplished author, screenwriter and film composer, making it somewhat fitting that his first-ever GRAMMY nomination comes for Best Music Film, and for a project that showcases the full scope of his persona as songwriter, bandleader, musician, father, and human.

Directed by Cave's longtime friend Andrew Dominik, One More Time With Feeling candidly details the recording sessions for Skeleton Tree shot in striking black-and-white 3-D, providing a powerful visual portal into the intensity of human experience, all expressed the way Cave does best: through his bold, moving music. — N.H.

Kevin Hart

Nominated for Best Comedy Album, What Now?

On Aug. 30, 2015, 53,000 people at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field attended the historic stand-up comedy performance called What Now? that has resulted in Kevin Hart's first GRAMMY nomination.

In the film version, now online and on DVD, preparations for that big event take Hart into an alternate reality as Agent 0054, trying to make his upcoming performance a smash. (Spoiler alert: It was a smash.)

In theaters, What Now? zoomed to more than $23 million, faster out of the gate than Hart's 2013 film, Let Me Explain, but lighter on the bottom line --the movie was never expected to make more than $15 million, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

Accustomed to breaking boundaries and records, Hart has been No. 1 on The Hollywood Reporter's ranking of top comedians in social media. His book I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons was published earlier this year, stunning many readers with profound insights to go along with the comedy that helped Hart laugh all the way to a first-time GRAMMY nomination. — P.M.

Kesha

Nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance, "Praying"; Best Pop Vocal Album, Rainbow

Kesha's journey has been one of the great comeback stories of 2017. In the midst of a lengthy and painful legal battle, we hadn't heard a note from Kesha since 2012's Warrior.

While dance/pop party bangers have defined Kesha since her debut, her GRAMMY-nominated album Rainbow sees the singer/songwriter taking a slightly different approach. In fact, Kesha has written her way back to the top with grace and wisdom on this album, which started with the first single, "Praying."

"'Praying,' my first single in almost four years, comes out today," Kesha wrote for Lenny Letter. "This song is about coming to feel empathy for someone else even if they hurt you or scare you. It's a song about learning to be proud of the person you are even during low moments when you feel alone. It's also about hoping everyone, even someone who hurt you, can heal."

This sentiment, finding meaning in life's darkest moments, propels the rest of Rainbow, whether it's the soul-wrenching "Praying," the reflective but catchy "Learn To Let Go," the empowering foot stomper "Woman," featuring the Dap-Kings, and the Dolly Parton cover with the lady herself, "Old Flames (Can't Hold A Candle To You)." And yes, there's still a little classic party Kesha on the album.

"I've written every song on this album, and they're all so personal," Kesha said on "Good Morning America." "I think this record is quite literally saving my life. And I hope you guys like it, and I hope you can hear it, and I hope it helps people." — R.F.

ODESZA

Nominated for Best Dance Recording, "Line Of Sight"; Best Dance/Electronic Album, A Moment Apart

Seattle-based electronic duo ODESZA's third studio album, A Moment Apart, made a big splash this year for the two young producers, debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.

Odesza Talk New Album, 'A Moment Apart'

As they began to approach the writing phase for A Moment Apart, the pair — comprising Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight — made sure to keep their minds open and their ears to the ground via artist incubator platforms like SoundCloud to search out other potential young artists to build new collaborative relationships.

"We really wanted to try new things and collaborate in a new way. It was a lot of actually going into the studio, vibing it out with the song, and trying to find a new route together," said Mills in an interview with GRAMMY.com.

Knight was quick to echo the sentiment, adding, "It was more collaborative this time, as opposed to In Return, where it felt like there was more space between us and the other artists."

Billboard called A Moment Apart, "ODESZA's most grandiose offering to date. It's a fully-fleshed concept with a strong, hopeful point of view — the uplifting sort of magic the world can really use."

"HOLY S*** - Just found out we’re nominated for 2 GRAMMY awards!" Clayton and Mills said in a celebratory tweet earlier this week. "Thank you to everyone involved in making this album and to everyone who supported it." — B.H.

GRAMMYs
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Who Are The Song Of The Year Nominees? | 60th GRAMMY Awards

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Preview and learn more about this year's Song Of The Year nominees: "Despacito," "4:44," "Issues," "1-800-273-8255," and "That's What I Like"
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Nov 28, 2017 - 5:36 am

There's a little something for everyone among this year's 60th GRAMMY Awards Song Of The Year category nominees, including an infectious Latin remix ("Despacito"), straight hip-hop (Jay-Z's "4:44"), two pop smashes (Julia Michaels' "Issues" and Bruno Mars' "That's What I Like"), and a hip-hop collaboration with an inspirational message ("1-800-273-8255").

Song Of The Year Nominees | 60th GRAMMY Awards

Take a closer look at this year's Song Of The Year nominees and the songwriters who made these unforgettable tracks possible:

"Despacito," Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber

Ramón Ayala, Justin Bieber, Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd, Erika Ender, Luis Fonsi & Marty James Garton, songwriters

Fresh off its Latin GRAMMY success, "Despacito" is up for three GRAMMY Awards this year including Song Of The Year for the remixed version of the track. Written by Ramón Ayala, Bieber, Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd, Erika Ender, Fonsi, and Marty James Garton, the Latin crossover hit made it big on the charts and in the hearts of millions of fans. But it turns out one of the biggest hits of the summer was written in an afternoon.

"I woke up one morning with this despacito in my head, and it was pretty much that chorus melody and … that's all I had," Fonsi told E! News. "Then we were at the studio in my house with Erika Ender …  and that's where I said … 'It's a feel-good song and let's just mess around with the word despacito.' That was where we started, and that afternoon we finished the song."

From here, Daddy Yankee added his unforgettable rap verse to the track, and when Bieber heard the track in Colombia and saw fan reactions, he just had to get in on the action. The "Sorry" singer took the time to learn the correct Spanish pronunciations and added his spin on what is now a ubiquitous Latin pop hit.

"It says a lot about where Latin music is nowadays and where our culture is," Fonsi said. "We're breaking barriers down. I think that's the biggest win out of all of this."

"4:44," Jay-Z

Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson, songwriters

An eight-time nominee for the 60th GRAMMY Awards, Jay-Z paired with Dion Wilson — aka producer No. I.D. — to pen "4:44," the title track off his Album Of The Year-nominated project.

The song, which touches on infidelity, the way he has treated women in the past and the birth of his twin children, per Billboard, "throws all pride out the window and uses the nearly three-minute confessional to apologize for his wrongdoing, addressing Beyoncé's miscarriage and his absence."

Jay-Z doesn't shy away from the personal on this album, and "4:44" is arguably the centerpiece. In fact, for Hov, the song is the pinnacle moment of his entire album.

"'4:44' is … the crux of the album, just right in the middle of the album. And I woke up, literally, at 4:44 in the morning … to write this song," Jay-Z told iHeartRadio. "It's the title track because it's such a powerful song, and I just believe one of the best songs I've ever written."

"Issues," Julia Michaels

Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Julia Michaels & Justin Drew Tranter, songwriters

Michaels has worked as a songwriter for other artists, including Selena Gomez, Bieber, Fifth Harmony, Gwen Stefani, and many others. But "Issues," written with collaborators Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, and Justin Drew Tranter, marks her first foray as a performer.

The impetus behind her move from behind-the-scenes to the front of the stage (and now first-time GRAMMY nominee) came because this song — which Michaels wrote about a fight she had with a boyfriend — felt too intimate for somebody else to sing.

Julia Michaels On Writing "Issues"

"When I had written it, someone else was going to sing it, and I just thought, 'This feels so weird. This is my life,'" Michaels told GRAMMY.com. "I've never had something so personal want to be sung before by somebody else. And I just thought, 'I can't. I can't do that. I can't give this song to somebody.'"

"1-800-273-8255," Logic Featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid

Alessia Caracciolo, Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, Arjun Ivatury & Khalid Robinson, songwriters

Each songwriter behind this inspirational and life-saving track — Logic, Alessia Cara, Khalid, and Arjun Ivatury — are first-time nominees for  "1-800-273-8255." (The song's video is also up for Best Music Video.)

Titled after the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number, this track sheds light on mental health by creating an emotional dialog between a suicidal caller and a crisis worker who helps the caller find a glimmer of hope by song's end.

Logic decided to write a song that deals with this difficult subject because of the feedback he got from fans — he was frequently told on tour that his music had saved his fans' lives. He wasn't trying to save anybody's life, but he wondered what would happen if he purposely set out to do so. Enter "1-800 …"

Rapper Logic on mental health

"Who really wants to write a song about suicide," Logic said about the impactful song with a hopeful message. "But I was like f*** it, I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna make this sh** an anthem."

"That's What I Like," Bruno Mars

Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, songwriters

No stranger to the Song Of The Year category, "That's What I Like" — from his Album Of The Year-nominated 24K Magic — marks Mars' fourth career nod in the category. He was previously nominated for the tracks "F*** You" (2010), "Grenade" (2011) and "Locked Out Of Heaven" (2013).

Composed with songwriters Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus, and Jonathan Yip, Mars' sultry "That's What I Like" is about living the high life with his lady — a condo in Manhattan, lobster tail for dinner, Cadillacs, strawberry champagne on ice, the works.

Combining hip-hop, soul and smooth R&B that goes down just like that perfectly chilled champagne, Rolling Stone said this hit song "brings the silky vibes of 12 Play-era R. Kelly into the boom of modern trap."

Mars has stated that tracks like "That's What I Like" are all about his penchant for delivering feel-good vibes for his fans. "We're creating this positive vibe and everyone's dancing and it feels like we're all in love," Mars told PBS. "I'm creating my America. I'm creating what I want to feel every day."

The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28, 2018, airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.