And the Grammy nomination goes to … Megan? Harry?
NEW YORK – Rappers and R&B singers tend to be the most-nominated acts at the Grammys thanks to producing their own hits and collaborating with others – sometimes from different genres – giving them a chance to qualify for more nominations than a pop or country singer who worked alone during the eligibility period.
Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Beyoncé, Jay-z and others are proof of this theory, and in a normal year, Megan Thee Stallion would be that rapper who leads in nominations thanks to her hits “Savage” with Beyoncé and “WAP” with Cardi B, along with her successful EP “Suga.”
But “WAP” wasn’t submitted for nominations this year – what has made sense in 2020?? – and when the Grammy nominations are announced Tuesday, Megan Thee Stallion will be honored, but not like she could have been. Her nominations will likely include record of the year, best rap song and best rap performance for “Savage” and she’s a shoo-in for best new artist. Had “WAP” – which became an instant-hit and was praised for its sex positive message – been included, she could have earned nominations for song and record of the year, best rap song, best rap performance and even best music video.
Womp, womp.
Here’s a look at what to expect when The Recording Academy announces the 2021 nominees Tuesday, with Roddy Ricch stepping into the leading nominee role that should have been Megan’s.
New kids on the block
Though Megan Thee Stallion is the front-runner in the best new artist category, she’ll have some stiff competition. Others who may earn nominations include Lewis Capaldi, Summer Walker, Morgan Wallen, Doja Cat, BLACKPINK, Ingrid Andress, Snoh Aalegra, Skip Marley, Mickey Guyton and CNCO.
Ricch boy
Roddy Ricch would easily be a nominee for best new artist, but he can’t since he won a Grammy this year.
The 22-year-old star won best rap performance for Nipsey Hussle’s “Racks in the Middle,” where he appeared as a guest artist alongside Hit-boy.
But Ricch, who topped the pop charts with “The Box” this year and has reached double platinum status with his debut album “Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial,” will likely earn nominations like album of the year, record of the year, song of the year, best rap song, best rap performance and best rap album.
Ricch should also earn nominations
“Mom, it’s Jack, your favorite son!” We would always joke around with our mom like this. Her eyes opened only to see four unrecognizable people standing over her in masks, gowns and gloves. Knowing we were COVID-19 negative thanks to rapid testing, we removed our masks and gloves. I held her hand. Her eyes lit up and she asked “Where have you been?” She squeezed my hand and never let go.
We talked, we laughed, we fed her coconut ice cream with a Starbucks latte, her favorites. After four days of daily visits with her four kids, she was back to baseline and no longer at “end of life.”
On my drive back, I reflected on my mom’s life. She has had a blessed life; however, we could not imagine her dying alone thinking all four of her children had abandoned her. I thought of all the other nursing home patients who might not die from COVID-19 but will die because of COVID-19 nursing home rules.
I am an infectious diseases pharmacist. I understand why these rules are in effect. But there’s no denying COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on nursing home patients in a multiplicity of ways. Not only have they had the highest death rate from COVID-19, but they also have suffered immense emotional pain from the lack of physical contact with loved ones.
According to the Centers for Medicaid Services, more than 63,000 nursing home patients have died from COVID-19. But these numbers will never be able to calculate the elderly who die in nursing homes during this pandemic from loneliness or a broken heart. How ironic is it that the restrictions put in place to protect nursing home patients from COVID-19 ultimately ended up killing many of them.
Death from a broken heart is real. It turned out that my mom’s “end of life” diagnosis actually saved her from dying from a broken heart.
Debbie Goff, 63, who lives in Westerville, is a professor of pharmacy practice and an infectious disease specialist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center as well as a global expert adviser to the World Health Organization.