Kanye West, Jay-Z, Frank Ocean, Nas & Miguel Lead The 2013 Grammy Award Nominations

The 2013 Grammy nominations were announced yesterday by LL Cool J and Taylor Swift, and it seems as thoughthis year, a lot of artists who have been overlooked are getting their due shine. Newcomer Frank Ocean has a lot to celebrate as he is one of the top leaders with an amazing six nods for his Channel Orange debut album which is up for Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Album of the Year. Joining him are Kanye West and Jay-Z who are also two of the top contenders with six nominations apiece, including Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Collaboration for their work on Watch The Throne. Miguel was overlooked last year by The Grammys but this yearmade up for it as he’s up for five Grammys, including Song Of The Year for “Adorn.” He also has a nomination with Wale for their track, “Lotus Flower Bomb” and will go head-to-head with Chris Brown and Frank Ocean for the Best Urban Contemporary Album Of The Year. Nas also ties Miguel with five nominations including, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Album. Life is definitely good.

Janelle Monae had a phenomenal year and her hard work has definitely paid off. She snagged three nominations for her work on “We Are Young” with fun. including Song of The Year and Record Of The Year. Congrats girl!

Other notable nominees include Rihanna (3), Trey Songz, SWV, Estelle, Elle Varner, R. Kelly, Luke James, Tamia, Anthony Hamilton, and Tyrese. R&B is definitely back and getting it’s due shine. Big Sean, Lil Wayne, Drake, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa (for his work with Maroon 5), 2 Chainz, Lupe Fiasco and Wale round out the rap nominees while Nicki Minaj is noticeably missing this year.

Check out some nomination highlights below:

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
Estelle, “Thank You”
Robert Glasper Experiment, “Gonna Be Alright”
Luke James, “I Want You”
Miguel, “Adorn”
Usher, “Climax”

BEST R&B SONG
Miguel, “Adorn”
Tamia, “Beautiful Surprise”
Trey Songz, “Heart Attack”
Anthony Hamilton, “Pray For Me”
Elle Varner, “Perfectly Imperfect”

BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
Chris Brown, Fortune
Miguel, Kaleidoscope Dream
Frank Ocean, Channel Orange

BEST DANCE RECORDING
“Levels” – Avicii
“Let’s Go” – Calvin Harris featuring Ne-Yo
“Bangarang” – Skrillex featuring Sirah
“Don’t You Worry Child” – Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin
“I Can’t Live Without You” – Al Walser

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON CLASSICAL
Dan Auerbach
Jeff Bhasker
Diplo
Markus Dravs
Salaam Remi

BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO
“Houdini” – Foster The People
“No Church In The Wild” – Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream
“Bad Girls” – M.I.A.
“We Found Love” – Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris
“Run Boy Run” – Woodkid

BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
“Shake It Out” – Florence + the Machine
“We Are Young” – fun. featuring Janelle Monáe
“Somebody That I Used To Know” – Gotye featuring Kimbra
“Sexy And I Know It” – LMFAO

“Payphone” – Maroon 5 & Wiz Khalifa

BEST R&B ALBUM
Robert Glasper Experiment, Black Radio
Anthony Hamilton, Back To Love
R. Kelly, Write Me Back
Tamia, Beautiful Surprise
Tyrese, Open Invitation

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
Drake feat. Lil Wayne, “HYFR”
Jay-Z and Kanye West, “N***** In Paris”
Nas, “Daughters”
Kanye West feat. Big Sean, Pusha-T & 2 Chainz, “Mercy”
Young Jeezy feat. Jay-Z & Andre 3000, “I Do”

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
Flo Rida feat. Sia, “Wild Ones”
Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream, “No Church In The Wild”
John Legend feat. Ludacris, “Tonight”
Nas feat. Amy Winehouse, “Cherry Wine”
Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, “Talk That Talk”

BEST RAP SONG
Nas, “Daughters”
Wale feat. Miguel, “Lotus Flower Bomb”
Kanye West, “Mercy”
Drake, “The Motto”
Jay-Z & Kanye West, “N***** In Paris”
Snoop Dogg feat. Bruno Mars, “Young, Wild & Free”

BEST RAP ALBUM
Drake, Take Care
Lupe Fiasco, Food & Liquor II
Nas, Life Is Good
The Roots, Undun
Rick Ross, God Forgives, I Don’t

2 Chainz, Based On A T.R.U. Story

RECORD OF THE YEAR
The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger”
fun., “We Are Young”
Gotye, “Somebody I Used To Know”
Frank Ocean, “Thinkin Bout You”
Taylor Swift, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
The Black Keys, El Camino
fun., Some Nights
Mumford & Sons, Babel
Frank Ocean, Channel Orange
Jack White, Blunderbuss

BEST NEW ARTIST
Alabama Shakes
fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean

SONG OF THE YEAR
Ed Sheeran, “The A Team”
Miguel, “Adorn”
Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”
Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger”
fun., “We Are Young”

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
Adele, “Set Fire To The Rain (Live)”
Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger”
Carly Rae Jepsen, “Call Me Maybe”
Katy Perry, “Wide Awake”
Rihanna, “Where Have You Been”

See the full list over at Grammys.com