One of the most critically acclaimed albums of 2022, Renaissance pays homage to post-1970s dance music and the Black and queer pioneers who brought those styles into the mainstream. Queen Bey recorded the entire album during the pandemic (while the rest of us were doing significantly less during lockdown) and dropped the 16-track set at the peak of summer 2022, seemingly welcoming us all back to the clubs and into the post-Covid life. With seamless transitions and an eclectic blend of musical influences, Renaissance is a thoroughly invigorating listen from start to finish – and if this isn’t the album which finally wins Beyoncé Album of the Year, the Recording Academy has some explaining to do.

The other major contender for the Grammys’ (arguably) biggest prize would be Un Verano Sin Ti, which smashed Spotify streaming records and became the first Spanish-language album to earn a nomination for Album of the Year. Bad Bunny pushes his limits as an artist with this latest offering, exploring more Caribbean genres while staying true to his classic formula of reggaeton and Latin-infused hip-hop. And the fans have responded in kind, leading to sold-out stadiums and sending several singles from the album – “Moscow Mule,” “Titi Me Preguntó” and “Party,” just to name a few – straight to the top of the charts.

Related article: Bad Bunny, Blackpink, Frank Ocean To Headline Coachella 2023

One of the most highly-anticipated collaborations of 2021 also earned another Grammy nomination for artists BTS and Coldplay. The dreamy synth-pop track and ode to love features English verses from Chris Martin and RM, who both trade off with Korean verses from Jungkook and V, while rappers J-Hope and Suga bring their signature flow to the song’s second half. Creative, catchy and full of feel-good vibes, the song also came with an adorable music video featuring the boys of both bands just casually having fun together in outer space.

Swifties around the world were shook when Taylor Swift dropped the ten-minute extended version of her hit 2012 song “All Too Well” nearly ten years later, accompanied by a ten-minute short film nonetheless. Starring actors Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien, the film beautifully plays out the doomed relationship Swift sings about in the track, which has achieved near-legendary status among Swift’s legion of fans. Rumoured to have been written about Swift’s ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal, the ten-minute version of the song is even more devastating, with lyrics about weeping in the bathroom at a party and hopelessly waiting for him on the night of her 21st birthday.

Related article: Taylor Swift Makes AMAs History With 40 Total Wins

Few rappers in the game today have accomplished as much as Kendrick Lamar has over the past decade. All of the West Coast-born hip-hop star’s studio albums have been critically acclaimed, but he continues to break new ground with Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, stripped back significantly from his previous records. Rooted in minimalist production, Lamar explores difficult topics lyrically, from fatherhood to infidelity and generational trauma. Known as much for his innovative and intellectual music videos as much as he is for his songs themselves, Lamar is definitely a top contender for this year’s Best Rap Album award, which he has already won twice (in 2018 for DAMN. and in 2016 for To Pimp A Butterfly).

See the full list of nominees here.

Read Next

Get Ready For The Grammys With These Iconic Fashion Moments

All The Best Looks From The 2023 Sundance Film Festival

All The Worst Golden Globe Red Carpet Looks Ever