Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance

In 1991, the Academy began to honor individual rap performances with the Best Rap Solo Performance category. The category name remained unchanged until 2004 when it was split into separate categories for Female and Male Rap Solo Performances. The categories remained separated by gender for one additional year. In 2005, they were merged into the genderless category originally known as Best Rap Solo Performance.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20228841,00.html|title=BET and VH1 Present…Awards Shows Without Women|date=September 26, 2008|access-date=February 22, 2011|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=Time Inc.|first=Margeaux|last=Watson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020230944/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20228841,00.html|archive-date=October 20, 2012|url-status=dead}} Female rapper MC Lyte has campaigned for the reinstatement of the female-specific category and believes that "it destroys [hip-hop] culture to not have the perspective of a woman". Bill Freimuth, Recording Academy Vice President of Awards,{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/photos/bill-freimuth|title=Flashback: Bill Freimuth|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=February 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410223030/http://www.grammy.com/photos/bill-freimuth|archive-date=April 10, 2011|url-status=live}} claimed that the category was eliminated because "[there] wasn't enough competition essentially, due to the lack of the number of releases in that category."{{cite news|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/aug/18/nicki-minaj-revives-female-voice-in-rap/|title=Nicki Minaj revives female voice in rap|first=Mesfin|last=Fekadu|date=August 18, 2010|access-date=February 22, 2011|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|publisher=Platinum Equity|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628202828/http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/aug/18/nicki-minaj-revives-female-voice-in-rap/|archive-date=June 28, 2011|url-status=live}} Black Entertainment Television (BET) executive Stephen Hill cited a similar reason for the elimination of the female categories by the BET Hip Hop Awards and VH1's Hip Hop Honors, reflecting a lack of female representation in the hip hop music scene for several years. As of 2011, the category name has not changed since 2005.

Image:Nelly 2.jpg award winner Nelly in 2007]]

For the 45th Grammy Awards (2003), Best Male Rap Solo Performance nominees included: Eminem for "Without Me", Jay-Z for "Song Cry", Ludacris for "Rollout (My Business)", Mystikal for "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)", and Nelly for "Hot in Herre".{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/2003-01-08/entertainment/17470880_1_vanessa-carlton-norah-jones-steve-mcqueen-sheryl-crow/3 |title=Complete list of Grammy nominees; ceremony set for Feb. 23 |date=January 8, 2003 |access-date=February 23, 2011 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |page=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716050318/http://articles.sfgate.com/2003-01-08/entertainment/17470880_1_vanessa-carlton-norah-jones-steve-mcqueen-sheryl-crow/3 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }} Additionally Eminem was nominated for: Record of the Year and Best Short Form Music Video for "Without Me" as well as Album of the Year and Best Rap Album for The Eminem Show.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/topics/g/grammy/2003/nominees/index.html|title=MTV News: 45th Annual Grammy Awards|publisher=MTV|access-date=February 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629170557/http://www.mtv.com/news/topics/g/grammy/2003/nominees/index.html|archive-date=June 29, 2011|url-status=dead}} Ludacris' Word of Mouf and Mystikal's Tarantula were also nominated for Best Rap Album. Nelly also earned nominations for Album of the Year and Best Rap Album for the album Nellyville as well as Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for the song "Dilemma" (featuring Kelly Rowland), for a total five. Regarding his nominations, Nelly commented: "It's always good to be nominated, especially for something as big as the Grammys. Just the recognition itself is an award. But you want that little gold record player. You just want to take it home."{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1470065/artists-react-their-grammy-nods.jhtml|title=From 'Damn!' To Disbelief: Artists React To Their Grammy Nods|date=February 21, 2003|access-date=February 22, 2011|publisher=MTV|first=Joe|last=D'Angelo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629165722/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1470065/artists-react-their-grammy-nods.jhtml|archive-date=June 29, 2011|url-status=dead}} Note: Additional reporting by John Norris, Minya Oh, and Shaheem Reid. The award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance was presented to Nelly at Madison Square Garden in New York City, though not broadcast on television.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1470107/norah-jones-sweeps-grammys.jhtml|title=Norah Jones Sweeps Grammys, Boss Wins Three, Avril Shut Out|first=Joe|last=D'Angelo|publisher=MTV|access-date=February 22, 2011|date=February 24, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629165733/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1470107/norah-jones-sweeps-grammys.jhtml|archive-date=June 29, 2011|url-status=dead}} His performances of "Hot in Herre" and "Dilemma" alongside Rowland at the awards ceremony included pyrotechnics.{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lb0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54|title=India.Arie, Nelly, B.B. King, Herbie Hancock Are Double-Grammy Winners|pages=54–55|date=March 10, 2003|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|volume=103|number=11|access-date=February 24, 2011|journal=Jet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223141030/https://books.google.com/books?id=Lb0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54&lpg=PA54&dq|archive-date=December 23, 2016|url-status=live}} In addition, Nelly received the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Image:Eminem at DJ hero party with d12.jpg award winner Eminem performing in 2009|left]]

Nominees for the 46th Grammy Awards included: 50 Cent for "In da Club", Joe Budden for "Pump It Up", Eminem for "Lose Yourself", Ludacris for "Stand Up", and Sean Paul for "Get Busy".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/ref/arts/music/08grammy-list.html|title=Grammy Award Winners|access-date=February 24, 2011|work=The New York Times|date=December 8, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211072900/http://www.nytimes.com/ref/arts/music/08grammy-list.html|archive-date=December 11, 2010|url-status=live}} 50 Cent's other nominations included Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (with Lil' Kim), Best Rap Album for Get Rich or Die Tryin', and Best Rap Song for "In da Club", for a total of five. "Lose Yourself" also earned Eminem nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/topics/g/grammy/2004/nominees/nominees.jhtml |title=2004 Grammy Winners |access-date=February 24, 2011 |publisher=MTV |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502134948/http://www.mtv.com/news/topics/g/grammy/2004/nominees/nominees.jhtml |archive-date=May 2, 2015 }} Ludacris was also nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Gossip Folks" (with Missy Elliott), while Paul was nominated for Best New Artist and received the award for Best Reggae Album for Dutty Rock. The award was presented to Eminem, who also received the award for Best Rap Song. "Lose Yourself" also earned Eminem an Academy Award for Best Original Song, marking the first rap song to receive the honor.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11593167|title='It's Hard Out Here' for a good Oscar song|first=Helen A.S.|last=Popkin|publisher=msnbc.com|date=March 5, 2006|access-date=February 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125155441/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/11593167/ns/today-entertainment/|archive-date=November 25, 2010|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/movies/23john.html?pagewanted=print|title=Hollywood's One Remaining Taboo Found in 'Black Snake Moan'|date=April 23, 2006|access-date=February 24, 2011|work=The New York Times|first=Ross|last=Johnson}} In 2004, the American Film Institute included the song at No. 93 on their list of "America's Greatest Music in the Movies" list and Rolling Stone ranked the song No. 166 on their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/2|title=The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=February 24, 2011|page=2|date=December 9, 2004|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622142703/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/2|archive-date=June 22, 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/songs100.pdf?docID=244|title=America's Greatest Music in the Movies|page=3|format=PDF|access-date=February 24, 2011|date=2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716072059/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/songs100.pdf?docID=244|archive-date=July 16, 2011|url-status=live}}

Prior to the separate female and male categories, Eminem received the award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 2000 for "My Name Is" and in 2001 for "The Real Slim Shady".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1424819/.jhtml|title=Santana Rolls On Grammy Night; TLC, Eminem, Aguilera Hit Gold|first=Robert|last=Mancini|date=February 23, 2000|access-date=February 25, 2011|publisher=MTV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629171312/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1424819/.jhtml|archive-date=June 29, 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steely-dan-u2-top-grammys-20010222|title=Steely Dan, U2 Top Grammys|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=February 22, 2001|access-date=February 25, 2011|first=Richard|last=Skanse|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628202741/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steely-dan-u2-top-grammys-20010222|archive-date=June 28, 2011|url-status=live}} Nelly earned nominations in 2001 for "Country Grammar (Hot Shit)" and in 2002 for "Ride wit Me".{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=92379|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912081552/http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=92379|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2012|title=More Grammy nominees – Sounds Familiar by Baby Gil|date=January 12, 2001|access-date=February 25, 2011|work=The Philippine Star|location=Manila, Philippines|publisher=PhilStar Daily, Inc.}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/complete-list-of-grammy-nominees/|title=Complete List Of Grammy Nominees|date=January 4, 2002|access-date=February 25, 2011|publisher=CBS News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031010122104/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/04/entertainment/main323197.shtml|archive-date=October 10, 2003|url-status=live}} Following the return to the genderless category, Eminem earned nominations in 2005 for "Just Lose It",{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/2004-12-07/entertainment/17455270_1_joss-stone-ray-charles-kanye-west/3|title=Complete list of Grammy nominees|access-date=February 25, 2011|page=3|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=December 7, 2004}} in 2006 for "Mockingbird",{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammys/2005-12-08-grammy-list-nominations_x.htm|title=Complete list of Grammy Award nominations|date=December 8, 2005|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|access-date=February 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628201857/http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammys/2005-12-08-grammy-list-nominations_x.htm|archive-date=June 28, 2011|url-status=live}} and in 2010 for "Beautiful".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8392665.stm|title=Grammys 2010: Selected winners|date=February 1, 2010|access-date=February 25, 2011|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002210340/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8392665.stm|archive-date=October 2, 2013|url-status=live}} Eminem was presented the award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 2011 for "Not Afraid".{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/homeentertainment/la-et-env-grammys-nominees-2010-list,0,2090144.htmlstory|title=Grammy Awards 2011: Winners and nominees for 53rd Grammy Awards|access-date=February 25, 2011|publisher=Tribune Company|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317080257/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/homeentertainment/la-et-env-grammys-nominees-2010-list%2C0%2C2090144.htmlstory|archive-date=March 17, 2011|url-status=live}}

{{clear}}

• Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance
• History of hip hop music
• List of awards and nominations received by Eminem
• List of awards and nominations received by Nelly

{{refbegin}}

;General

• {{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search|title=Past Winners Search|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=March 4, 2010}} Note: User must select the "Rap" category as the genre under the search feature.
• {{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/grammy/rapperf.htm|title=Grammy Awards: Best Solo Rap Performance|publisher=Rock on the Net|access-date=February 23, 2011}}

;Specific

{{refend}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.grammy.com/ Official site of the Grammy Awards]
• {{YouTube|id=GeZZr_p6vB8|title=Nelly – Hot In Herre}}

{{Grammy Award years}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grammy Award For Best Male Rap Solo Performance}}

Category:2003 establishments in the United States

Category:2004 disestablishments in the United States

Category:Awards disestablished in 2004

Category:Awards established in 2003

Male Rap Solo Performance

Category:Rapping