Album of the Year is undeniably the most prestigious award category presented at the annual Grammy Awards. Considering the amount of music that was eligible for nomination for the 2019 iteration of the star-studded awards show, this one is certainly going to be a tight race.

The nominees for the 2019 Album of the Year category are Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B; Scorpion, Drake; Beerbongs and Bentleys, Post Malone; Dirty Computer, Janelle Monae; H.E.R., H.E.R., Black Panther, Official Motion Picture Soundtrack, Featuring Kendrick Lamar; Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves; and Brandi Carlile, By The Way, I Forgive You.

Seeing Cardi, Drizzy and Post get these big-time nominations has to be welcome sight for any rap fan. In the past, folks from across the world of hip-hop have said that the folks responsible for choosing the nominees and the winners have neglected the world of hip-hop.

Last year, at the 2018 Grammy Awards, Hip-hop's relationship was put into further turmoil by the shut-out of Jay-Z and R&B diva SZA, adding to a long-running complaint that the awards show were not operating in a way that equally reflected popular culture at large. However, the Recording Academy is making strides to improve the inclusivity of the long-running awards show, forming a committee to implement some #NewRules that may help the beloved genre to be given its due credit.

This year's nominees for Album of the Year have certainly represented for hip-hop, with majority of the acts having a hand in pushing the culture forward with their many contributions. The 2019 Grammy Awards also marks the first time Cardi B, Post Malone and H.E.R. found themselves nominated for the coveted trophy. In years' past, Monae, Lamar and Drake have been nominated for a chance to take home the top-tier prize.

See Every Hip-Hop Song That Topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2018

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