The Grammy Awards, the holy grail of music accolades, have been around for decades, celebrating the best talents from around the world. But with the good comes the bad.
Over the years, there have been several snubs that left music fans shaking their heads, questioning how the Recording Academy could overlook such massive talents.
If you think about it, the Grammys haven’t always been fair to everyone, and today we’re looking at 10 of the most controversial Grammy snubs in history that still have fans upset.
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Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2014)
In 2014, Kendrick Lamar dropped an instant classic with Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. Many fans and critics alike were certain it would bag the Grammy for Best Rap Album.
However, the Recording Academy handed the award to Macklemore’s The Heist instead. This decision shocked the world, especially since Good Kid, M.A.A.D City had set the rap world on fire, introducing a new wave of lyricism.
Macklemore himself admitted that Kendrick deserved the award. This snub still stings, especially for hip-hop heads.
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Beyoncé – Lemonade (2017)
We all thought Lemonade was a no-brainer for Album of the Year in 2017. This was more than just an album; it was a cultural movement, tackling themes of race, feminism, and empowerment.
Beyoncé’s masterpiece was everywhere, but when the award went to Adele for 25, many fans, including Adele herself, were left wondering how Queen Bey didn’t take home the top prize.
Adele’s tearful acceptance speech where she praised Beyoncé only solidified this as one of the biggest Grammy upsets ever.
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Nas – Never Winning Best Rap Album
The fact that Nas, one of hip-hop’s all-time greatest, has never won a Grammy for Best Rap Album is baffling. With classics like Illmatic and It Was Written, Nas shaped the genre, influencing generations of rappers.
Although he finally won a Grammy in 2021 for King’s Disease, the lack of recognition for his earlier work has always been seen as a major oversight. Many believe that Nas should have been recognized decades earlier.
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Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2012)
Love him or hate him, Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is often considered one of the best albums of the 21st century.
The 2012 Grammys saw this album up for just three awards, but surprisingly, it wasn’t even nominated for Album of the Year. Instead, the top prize went to Adele’s 21.
While 21 was undeniably a hit, the exclusion of Kanye’s magnum opus from Album of the Year left many scratching their heads.
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Bob Marley – Never Winning a Grammy
Bob Marley, the king of reggae, is one of the most influential musicians in history, yet he never received a Grammy during his lifetime.
Marley helped bring reggae to the global stage, and his music continues to inspire.
Though the Grammy Awards introduced the Best Reggae Album category in 1985 (four years after Marley’s death), the fact that he never received one while alive is a huge oversight.
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J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2016)
When J. Cole released 2014 Forest Hills Drive, it was clear that he had created a rap masterpiece. This album, with no features, was certified triple platinum, and fans were confident it would win the Grammy for Best Rap Album.
But once again, the Academy went in a different direction, awarding the prize to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly.
While Kendrick’s album was iconic, the lack of recognition for J. Cole’s work was a blow to fans who felt he deserved his moment.
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Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP (2001)
In 2001, The Marshall Mathers LP was the best-selling album of the year and a groundbreaking work in hip-hop. It was expected to sweep the Grammys. While Eminem did win Best Rap Album, he was snubbed for Album of the Year, which went to Steely Dan’s Two Against Nature.
The decision to give the top prize to a veteran rock band over one of the most culturally relevant albums of the year was baffling to many.
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Mariah Carey – Daydream (1996)
By 1996, Mariah Carey was at the peak of her career, with Daydream producing massive hits like “Fantasy” and “Always Be My Baby”.
Everyone expected her to sweep the Grammys, but surprisingly, she went home empty-handed. The Academy awarded the Album of the Year prize to Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill.
While Alanis had a great album, Mariah’s commercial success and vocal prowess made the snub a shock to many.
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Snoop Dogg – Never Winning a Grammy
Snoop Dogg is a household name and a pioneer in West Coast hip-hop. Despite being nominated 16 times, he’s never taken home a Grammy.
With iconic tracks like “Gin and Juice” and albums like Doggystyle, it’s surprising that the Recording Academy has continuously overlooked him. Snoop’s snub is one of the longest-running debates in Grammy history.
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Radiohead – OK Computer (1998)
Radiohead’s OK Computer is often regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time. Released in 1997, it pushed the boundaries of rock music, introducing new sounds and ideas.
However, at the 1998 Grammys, OK Computer lost Album of the Year to Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind. While Dylan is undoubtedly a legend, many felt that OK Computer deserved to win because of its groundbreaking nature.
These Grammy snubs have left fans and artists alike in disbelief over the years. While the Grammys remain one of the most prestigious awards in music, these snubs prove that the Recording Academy doesn’t always get it right.
Whether it’s a genre bias, political issues, or simple oversight, these moments in Grammy history remind us that even the biggest awards can miss the mark.
