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and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and true musical C-listers like Brandy Clark and The Ting Tings.
For some years, a nominee (or four) even eclipsed the success of the chosen winner.
So, how much foresight did this award actually have atthe 2010s?
Nicki Minaj (2012 nominee)
Releases:4Hits:2 No.
1 albums, 0 No.
1 songs (Anaconda peaked at No.
Khalid (2018 nominee)
Releases:2Hits:1 No.
1 album, 0 No.
1 hits (1-800-273-8255 and Talk peaked at No.
Dua Lipa (2019 winner)
Releases:1Hits:0 No.
1 albums (Dua Lipapeaked at No.
27), 0 No.
1 hits (New Rules peaked at No.
Thats not to say she wouldnt have been a formidable challenge to the two, because she wouldve.
SZA (2018 nominee)
Releases:1Hits:0 No.
1 albums (Ctrlpeaked at No.
3), 0 No.
1 hits (All the Stars peaked at No.
Even if SZA never released another album, shed already have a permanent place in the culture.
Bon Iver (2012 winner)
Releases:4 (includingFor Emma, Forever Agobefore nomination)Hits: 0 No.
1 albums (Bon Iver, Bon Iverand22, A Millionpeaked at No.
2), 0 No.
1 songs (Monster, by Kanye West featuring Bon Iver peaked at No.
Mumford & Sons (2011 nominee)
Releases:4Hits:3 No.
1 albums, 0 No.
1 songs (I Will Wait peaked at No.
Sam Smith (2015 winner)
Releases:2Hits:1 No.
1 album, 0 No.
1 songs (Stay With Me peaked at No.
In the 20s, country music has a new queen.
Ed Sheeran (2014 nominee)
Releases:4Hits: 3 No.
1 albums, 2 No.
Later nominees like Khalid and Sam Smith have him to thank.
1 albums (The Big Daypeaked at No.
2), 1 No.
J. Cole (2012 nominee)
Releases: 5Hits:5 No.
1 albums, 0 No.
1 songs (Middle Child peaked at No.
Critics haverarely been on J. Coles side, something he and his fans are acutely and loudly aware of.
Hes found success thanks to those fans alone, who nearly guarantee him a No.
1 for every album and will yell in your face that he did it with no features!
Justin Bieber (2011 nominee)
Releases:4Hits:6 No.
1 albums (includingNever Say Never: The RemixesandBelieve Acoustic), 5 No.
Frank Ocean (2013 nominee)
Releases:4Hits:1 No.
1 album, 0 No.
1 songs (Slide featuring Frank Ocean peaked at No.
Even aftermissteps like his queer club night, his fans will still listen and the critics will still rave.
Drake (2011 nominee)
Releases: 7Hits:9 No.
1 albums (including Future collabWhat a Time to Be Aliveand compilationCare Package), 6 No.
Hed call it Gods plan.
Kendrick Lamar (2014 nominee)
Releases:6 (includingSection .80before nomination)Hits:4 No.
1 albums, 2 No.
No need to stay humble about that.
