Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance

The Best Rap Performance category was first presented at the 31st Annual Grammy Awards in 1989. NARAS President Mike Green said in Billboard that the music genre has "matured into several kinds of music, with several kinds of artists doing it".{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ITozAAAAIBAJ&pg=6676,191192&dq|title=Rap becoming 'the sound of young America'|date=July 1, 1988|access-date=March 3, 2011|first=J.D.|last=Considine|page=3D|work=The Register-Guard|location=Eugene, Oregon}} Diane Theriot, a representative of the awards department for the academy, recalled being "inundated with eligible rap entries during the first few years of having the category".{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1A0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46|title=Rap's Swelling Influence May Add Grammy Categories, NARAS Says|page=46|magazine=Billboard|date=February 5, 2000|access-date=March 2, 2011|volume=112|number=6|first=Marci|last=Kenon}} In 1991, the category was split into the categories Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Recognizing that both categories were continuing to receive numerous entries, the Best Rap Album recognition was established for the 38th Grammy Awards in 1996—the inaugural award was presented to Naughty by Nature for Poverty's Paradise. In 2003, the Best Rap Solo Performance category was divided into separate recognitions for Female and Male Rap Solo Performances. The categories remained separated by gender until 2005 when they were combined into the genderless category originally known as Best Rap Solo Performance. Additional rap categories include Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song, established in 2002 and 2004, respectively.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4011170|title=Hip hip hopit, you don't stop|first=Eric|last=Olsen|publisher=msnbc.com|date=February 6, 2004|access-date=March 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927183854/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/4011170/ns/today-entertainment/|archive-date=September 27, 2012|url-status=live}}

Image:Will Smith.jpg award winner and 1990 nominee Will Smith of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince at the Emmy Awards in 1993]]

Image:Young MC at the 1990 Grammys.jpg at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards (1990)]]

For the 31st Grammy Awards (1989), Best Rap Performance nominees included DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince for "Parents Just Don't Understand", J. J. Fad for "Supersonic" (from the album of the same name), Kool Moe Dee for "Wild Wild West", LL Cool J for "Going Back to Cali", and Salt-n-Pepa (the duo consisting of Cheryl James and Sandra Denton) for "Push It".{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/02/01/will-smith-grammys-1989/|title=Great Grammy Moments: DJ Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince Break Ground In 1989|publisher=MTV|access-date=March 2, 2011|date=February 1, 2011|first=Kyle|last=Anderson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714131055/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/02/01/will-smith-grammys-1989/|archive-date=July 14, 2011|url-status=dead}} The duo known as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince consisted of DJ Jazzy Jeff (birth name Jeffrey Townes) and actor Will Smith, whose nickname also appeared in the American television sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in which he starred.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1689234,00.html|title=The Legend of Will Smith|first=Rebecca Winters|last=Keegan|date=November 29, 2007|access-date=March 3, 2011|magazine=Time|pages=1–2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201152117/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1689234,00.html|archive-date=December 1, 2007|url-status=dead}} "Parents Just Don't Understand" appeared on the duo's 1988 album He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r27779|title=He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper|website=Allmusic|access-date=March 3, 2011}} "Going Back to Cali" appeared on the soundtrack to the film Less than Zero as well as LL Cool J's 1989 studio album Walking with a Panther.{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/less-than-zero-r1898067|title=Less Than Zero|website=Allmusic|access-date=March 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110064628/http://allmusic.com/album/less-than-zero-r1898067|archive-date=November 10, 2010|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://allmusic.com/album/walking-with-a-panther-r28044|title=Walking with a Panther|website=Allmusic|access-date=March 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218091109/http://www.allmusic.com/album/walking-with-a-panther-r28044|archive-date=December 18, 2010|url-status=live}} Kool Moe Dee's "Wild Wild West" and Salt-n-Pepa's "Push It" appeared on the albums How Ya Like Me Now and Hot, Cool & Vicious, respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r28012|title=How Ya Like Me Now|website=Allmusic|access-date=March 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622185404/http://www.allmusic.com/album/r28012|archive-date=June 22, 2011|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r28233|title=Hot, Cool & Vicious|access-date=March 3, 2011|website=Allmusic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304124627/http://allmusic.com/album/r28233|archive-date=March 4, 2011|url-status=live}}

Rap and heavy metal categories were introduced the same year (along with Best Bluegrass Album),{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8j5TAAAAIBAJ&pg=5798,4121133&dq|title=Crammy categories hit 76|work=Deseret News|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|date=June 10, 1988|access-date=March 3, 2011}} but, according to the show's producers, time constraints prevented both categories from being televised.{{cite web|url=http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/02/14/did-jay-z-boycott-the-grammys-again/|title=Did Jay-Z Boycott The Grammys Again?|first=Paul|last=Cantor|date=February 14, 2011|access-date=March 2, 2011|publisher=MTV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217005333/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/02/14/did-jay-z-boycott-the-grammys-again/|archive-date=February 17, 2011|url-status=dead}} Nominee Kool Moe Dee performed during the ceremony, but the rap award was presented during the "usually fast-paced pre-televised ceremony".{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GgtTAAAAIBAJ&pg=3889,5146564&dq|title=Grammys too cool for rap music?|date=February 22, 1989|access-date=March 3, 2011|work=The Prescott Courier|publisher=Prescott Newspapers, Inc.|page=7A|location=Yavapai County, Arizona}} DJ Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith led a boycott of the ceremony and were joined by fellow nominees LL Cool J and Salt-n-Pepa. Salt-n-Pepa issued the following statement: "If they don't want us, we don't want them." Adding to the controversy surrounding the category, some members of the rap community believed artists such as Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, and N.W.A (whose debut album Straight Outta Compton "launched gangsta rap") were overlooked. Awards were presented to Jeff and Smith at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rSYEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA68|title=VMIX: The Grammy Are Always a Trip|date=February 2007|magazine=Vibe|volume=15|number=2 |page=68|access-date=March 3, 2011}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} While Smith was absent from the ceremony, Jeff was present to accept his award.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,634445_630644,00.html#630647|title=Top 10 Grammy Moments: There's No Will|date=April 7, 2004|access-date=March 2, 2011|magazine=People|first=Serena|last=Kappes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211163824/http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,634445_630644,00.html#630647|archive-date=February 11, 2012|url-status=live}} In 2004, Serena Kappes of People magazine ranked Smith's ceremony boycott number eight on its list of Top 10 Grammy Moments. Jeff and Smith were also recognized by the American Music Awards in 1989 with awards for Favorite Rap Artists and Favorite Rap Album, and "Parent's Just Don't Understand" also earned the duo the first MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JhHwinlu7gMC&pg=PA23|title=Will Smith: Box Office Superstar|first=Matt|last=Doeden|pages=23–24|date=2009|publisher=Twenty-First Century Books|isbn=9780761342656|access-date=March 3, 2011}} Note: Page 24 contains a copy of James T. Jones IV's USA Today article from October 16, 1989 titled "Rap duo delivers with punch". Smith later earned Best Rap Solo Performance awards in 1998 for "Men in Black" and 1999 for "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", and was nominated again in 2000 for "Wild Wild West".{{cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/grammy/rapperf.htm|title=Grammy Awards: Best Solo Rap Performance|access-date=March 4, 2011|publisher=Rock on the Net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218110043/http://rockonthenet.com/grammy/rapperf.htm|archive-date=December 18, 2010|url-status=live}}

Nominees for the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards included De La Soul for "Me Myself and I", DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince for "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson", Public Enemy for "Fight the Power", Tone Lōc for "Funky Cold Medina", and Young MC for "Bust a Move".{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/02/16/wholl-win-the-grammys/|title=Who'll Win The Grammys?|date=February 16, 1990|first=Jan|last=DeKnock|page=3|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=March 4, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724012215/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-02-16/entertainment/9001140110_1_milli-vanilli-pick-wings/3|archive-date=July 24, 2012|url-status=live}} "Me Myself and I" appears on De La Soul's studio album 3 Feet High and Rising and in 2008 was ranked number 46 on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs Ever!!!{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r27752/review|title=3 Feet High and Rising|website=Allmusic|access-date=March 4, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://blog.vh1.com/2008-09-24/100-greatest-hip-hop-songs-ever/|title=100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs Ever!!!|access-date=March 4, 2011|publisher=VH1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224084558/http://blog.vh1.com/2008-09-24/100-greatest-hip-hop-songs-ever/|archive-date=December 24, 2012|url-status=dead}} "I Think I Can Beat Mike Tyson", written by the duo along with Pete Harris, appears on DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's third album And in This Corner....{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r27780/review|title=And in This Corner...|website=Allmusic|access-date=March 4, 2011}} "Fight the Power" appeared on the 1988 soundtrack for the film Do the Right Thing and later on Public Enemy's third studio album Fear of a Black Planet (1990).{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r189173|title=Do the Right Thing (Soundtrack)|website=Allmusic|access-date=March 4, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r28190/review|title=Fear of a Black Planet|website=Allmusic|access-date=March 4, 2011}} The song ranked number one on VH1's aforementioned list, number 40 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs list,{{cite web|url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/songs100.pdf?docID=244|title=America's Greatest Music in the Movies|format=PDF|page=2|publisher=American Film Institute|date=2005|access-date=March 4, 2011|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}} and number 322 on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4|title=The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|page=4|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 9, 2004|access-date=March 4, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621075825/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4|archive-date=June 21, 2008}} "Funky Cold Medina", written by Young MC, Michael L. Ross and Matt Dike, first appeared on Tone Lōc's debut album Lōc-ed After Dark.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r159307|title=Loc-ed After Dark|access-date=March 4, 2011|website=Allmusic}} "Bust a Move" appeared on Young MC's debut album Stone Cold Rhymin'.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r28418|title=Stone Cold Rhymin'|access-date=March 4, 2011|website=Allmusic}} Allmusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song as "unabashed catchy" due to its "skittish, rhythmic guitar riff, looped beats", backing vocals, and "funny" rhymes.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/bust-a-move-t4323379|title=Bust a Move|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|website=Allmusic|access-date=March 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210072613/http://allmusic.com/song/bust-a-move-t4323379|archive-date=December 10, 2010|url-status=live}} The award was presented to Young MC. In 2010, Joshua Ostroff of Spinner included Young MC's win on his list of "The Grammy Awards' Biggest Mistakes", asserting that "Bust a Move" was merely a "fun little hip-pop song" while "Fight the Power" was a "revelatory single that still stands tall as one of music's greatest (and funkiest) political statements and perhaps hip-hop's finest moment".{{cite web|url=http://www.spinner.com/2010/01/27/the-grammys-mistakes/|title=The Grammy Awards' Biggest Mistakes|access-date=March 4, 2011|date=January 27, 2010|first=Joshua|last=Ostroff|publisher=Spinner|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912051953/http://www.spinner.com/2010/01/27/the-grammys-mistakes/|archive-date=September 12, 2012|url-status=live}}

File:Salt-n-Pepa 2013 (cropped).jpg were the first female rappers to be nominated in the category.]]

File:Jay-Z Kanye Watch the Throne Staples Center 7 (cropped).jpg and Kanye West held the record for most wins until 2018 with two awards as a result of their collaborative album Watch the Throne.]]

File:Pulitzer2018-portraits-kendrick-lamar (cropped).jpg, the most in the category.]]

File:Drake July 2016.jpg is the most nominated act of the category with 11, without a win.]]

File:Megan Thee Stallion (cropped).jpeg became the first female rapper to win the award, alongside Beyoncé.]]

;7 wins

• Kendrick Lamar

;2 wins

• Future
• Jay-Z
• Kanye West

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

;11 nominations

• Drake

;10 nominations

• Kendrick Lamar

;7 nominations

• Jay-Z {{small|(1 shared with The Throne)}}

;6 nominations

• Kanye West {{small|(1 shared with The Throne)}}

;5 nominations

• Cardi B
• Future
• Lil Wayne

;4 nominations

• J. Cole

{{col-break}}

;3 nominations

• Big Sean
• Eminem

;2 nominations

• Nicki Minaj
• André 3000
• Baby Keem
• DaBaby
• DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
• GloRilla
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Offset {{small|(1 shared with Migos)}}
• 2 Chainz
• 21 Savage
• Nipsey Hussle
• Young Thug

{{col-end}}

• History of hip hop music

{{clear}}

{{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/rapgroup.htm|title=Grammy Awards: Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group|publisher=Rock on the Net|access-date=March 2, 2011}}

;Specific

{{refend}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6gC1GkSRr0gC&pg=PA80|title=Somebody Scream!: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power|page=80|publisher=Macmillan|date=2009|first=Marcus|last=Reeves|isbn=9780865479975|access-date=March 3, 2011}}

• [http://www.grammy.com/ Official site of the Grammy Awards]
• [http://www.grammy.com/videos/32nd-annual-grammy-awards-best-rap-performance Video: 32nd Annual Grammy Awards – Best Rap Performance]
• {{YouTube|id=jW3PFC86UNI|title=Parents Just Don't Understand}}
• {{YouTube|id=xy4FXhkm6Nw|title=Young MC – Bust a Move}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance}}

{{Grammy Award categories}}

{{Grammy Award years}}

Category:1989 establishments in the United States

Category:Awards established in 1989

Rap Performance