The 2020 GRAMMYs are just around the corner, and now the nominations are in for the coveted honor of Best Urban Contemporary Album. While we'll have to wait until the 62nd GRAMMY Awards air on CBS on Jan. 26 to find out who will win, let's take a look at which albums have been nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Apollo XXI - Steve Lacy
Apollo XXI is the solo debut studio album from lo-fi funk performer Steve Lacy, arriving in May of this past year. Lacy was nominated in the Best Urban Contemporary Album field at the 58th GRAMMY Awards for Ego Death.
Cuz I Love You – Lizzo
The third studio album and debut major label LP by flute-playing rapper/singer Lizzo was released through Nice Life and Atlantic Records on April 19, 2019. Featuring guest appearances from Missy Elliott and Gucci Mane, Cuz I Love You covered a host of topics the singer holds near and dear, such as self-love and positivity. "Vulnerability and strength is what this album is all about," she recently told the Recording Academy in an Up Close & Personal interview.
"When you write these songs you get really excited about them and mind you, I had a song like 'Juice' just under my armpit in the darkness and nobody knew what it sounded like," the singer continued. "Or keeping it a secret that I had Missy Elliott on a song, at that point you just want to explode and when the album was out, I was so excited to just share the songs with people and the world."
Overload - Georgia Anne Muldrow
Overload is the 17th studio album by L.A. experimental funk musician Georgia Anne Muldrow, released in October 2018.
Saturn - NAO
Saturn is the second studio album from British singer-songwriter Nao, released in October 2018 and housing the singles "Another Lifetime" and "Make It Out Alive.”
Through her two albums, For All We Know and Saturn, the singer has transitioned from a sound she called "wonky funk" (because there was no other way to describe her mix of R&B, electronic and funk) to what she called a more solidified sound on her sophomore effort.
Regarding being open and honest in the studio, she recently told the Recording Academy, "Being vulnerable is really easy when you're in the studio on your own, and I guess I kinda forget that. But in general what we understand about being vulnerable is how much it helps other people. I really understand now the power of music and the power of healing and the power of sharing your story in your words and how it can comfort so many people."
Being Human In Public - Jessie Reyez
Canadian singer/songwriter Jessie Reyez’s sophomore EP Being Human In Public came out in October 2018 and featured the singles “Apple Juice” and “Sola,” among others.
"Canada has this really cool way — specifically Toronto — of encouraging you to wave both flags, if you've been born there, like wave your flag and then wave your parent's flag too and be proud of it," she told the Recording Academy in 2018. "Some people's parents listened to the Beatles ... but my family is Alquimia, Celia Cruz and Carlos Vives, this old, rich Colombian music. I loved hearing that while I was growing up."