JAY-Z is now the most-nominated artist in Grammys history. On Tuesday (Nov. 23), the hip hop mogul received three nominations for the upcoming 2022 ceremony, raising his career total to a whopping 83 nods. Hov was previously tied with legendary producer and composer Quincy Jones, who has been nominated 80 times.
Two of JAY-Z’s nominations came from his contribution to Kanye West’s album Donda, which earned placement in the Album of the Year category. Hov’s song on Donda, “Jail,” is also up for Best Rap Song. The Brooklyn native was nominated again in the Best Rap Song category for his collaboration with DMX and Nas, “Bath Salts,” which landed on the late rap star’s posthumous album, Exodus, earlier this year.
JAY-Z won his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1999 for his third record, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life. That year, he was also nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Throughout his career, Hov has collected a total of 23 Grammys.
The 51-year-old has also been a vocal critic of the awards ceremony. His first year being nominated, JAY-Z boycotted the Grammys because DMX was not nominated despite the Yonkers native releasing two albums that charted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 that year.
He also spoke out against the Grammys on his song “APESHIT” after receiving eight nominations and zero wins at the 2018 ceremony.
Earlier this year; nominations for the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards also prompted backlash from Teyana Taylor, The Weeknd and more. The organization responded by updating some of its rules and guidelines and getting rid of its secret committee.
“This is a new academy, one that is driven to action and that has doubled down on the commitment to meeting the needs of the music community,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. previously stated. “While change and progress are key drivers of our actions, one thing will always remain — the Grammy Award is the only peer-driven and peer-voted recognition in music. We are honored to work alongside the music community year-round to further refine and protect the integrity of the awards process.”