Drake withdrew from Grammy nominations

Canadian rap superstar Drake withdrew his two nominations for this year's Grammy Awards, and the Recording Academy, the association of musicians and music professionals that organizes the awards, accepted his request.

The rapper was nominated in the category of best rap album for "Certified Lover Boy" and for best rap performance for the song "Way 2 Sexy".

So far, Drake's representatives have not given any explanation, and only four candidates will continue voting for the best musical achievements, probably because the ballots have already been sent to the members of the Academy.

Drake, who has won four Grammys so far, has repeatedly clashed with the organizers of the prestigious music awards.

A year ago, he said that they should be replaced by "something new that will be passed on to future generations".

He said that because the organizers of the award did not nominate the Canadian rapper Weeknd in any category for 2021, despite the fact that he had one of the best albums and one of the best singles in 2020.

At the same time, the singer is threatened with several lawsuits due to the rap concert (Astroworld Festival), held last month in Texas, where ten people lost their lives in a big crowd.

In 2017, he refused to submit his album "More Life" for the 2018 Grammy in any category, and resentment over the awards that year culminated in the following, as Jay-Z did not win any awards, although he was nominated in eight categories.

In an interview from 2017, he said that he was nominated for the award in the rap category only because he is black.

"The only category they can fit me into is the rap category, maybe because I've rapped in the past or because I'm black," he told Apple Radio Beats 1.

At the 2019 Grammy Awards, Drake again expressed dissatisfaction because black hip-hop artists are not always credited.

"We compete in a sport that is based on someone's attitude, and not in a sport that is based on facts. This is a job that sometimes depends on a group of people, who may not understand what a mixed race kid from Canada has to say… And you have already won if there are people who know your songs word for word, if they sing in your hometown. You're already winners, you don't need this here," Drake said as he picked up the award for best rap song "God's Plan."

Many other top black artists, including The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and Jay-Z, have declared the Grammys unimportant in recent years, highlighting the lack of recognition of the value of black artists.

The 64th Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on January 31st.