J. Cole, Drake, Cynthia Erivo, And More Lead NAACP Image Awards Nominations

The NAACP Image Awards has revealed nominations for the 2022 edition of the ceremony. The awards show highlights the achievements of people of color across television, music, literature and film, and the promotion of social justice through their creative endeavors.

This year’s NAACP Image Awards class includes artists across a number of disciplines, including Drake, Jonathan Majors, Ariana DeBose, Cynthia Erivo, Marsai Martin, J. Cole, Denzel Washington and more.

Winners will be revealed during the two-hour special, hosted by seven-time NAACP Image Awards winner Anthony Anderson, on Saturday, February 26 at 8/7c on BET. The full list of musical nominees can be viewed below.

It’s been an exciting run for both Drake and J. Cole, who were celebrated by Spotify’s RapCaviar playlist’s hotly contested ‘Mt. Rushmore of 2010s Rap,’ alongside Kendrick Lamarand Nicki Minaj.

To celebrate their reign, Spotify has partnered with local visual artists in each of the artists’ respective places-of-origin to unveil bespoke murals. Passerbys in Toronto, Los Angeles, Raleigh, and New York can be on the lookout for these ‘Mt. Rapmore’ works of art starting today (January 13).

Visit the NAACP Image Awards website for the full list of nominees.

NAACP Image Awards Recording Categories:

Outstanding New Artist

Cynthia Erivo
Jimmie Allen
Saweetie
Tems
Zoe Wees

Outstanding Male Artist

Anthony Hamilton
Drake
Givēon
J. Cole
Lil Nas X

Outstanding Female Artist

H.E.R
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Chlöe
Jazmine Sullivan

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album

Anthems & Glory – Todd Dulaney
Believe For It – CeCe Winans
Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A. – Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music
Overcomer – Tamela Mann
Power – Jason McGee & The Choir

Outstanding International Song

“Essence” – Wizkid feat. Tems and Justin Bieber
“Peru” – Fireboy DML
“Somebody’s Son” – Tiwa Savage feat. Brandy
“Touch It” – KiDi
“Understand” – Omah Lay

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

“Best Friend” – Saweetie feat. Doja Cat
“Essence” – Wizkid feat. Tems
“Fye Fye” – Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe
“Have Mercy” – Chlöe
“Leave The Door Open” – Silk Sonic

Outstanding Album

An Evening with Silk Sonic – Silk Sonic
Back of My Mind – H.E.R.
Certified Lover Boy – Drake
Heaux Tales – Jazmine Sullivan
When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time – Givēon

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album

Coming 2 America (Amazon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Eddie Murphy, Craig Brewer, Kevin Misher, Randy Spendlove, Jeff Harleston, Brittney Ramsdell
Judas and the Black Messiah (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Mark Isham and Craig Harris
Respect (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Jason Michael Webb and Stephen Bray
The Harder They Fall (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) – JAY-Z and Jeymes Samuel
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Music from the Motion Picture) – Salaam Remi, Andra Day, Raphael Saadiq, Warren “E” Felder, Downtown Trevor Brown

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song

“Believe For It” – CeCe Winans
“Help Me” – Tamela Mann feat. The Fellas
“Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)” – H.E.R. and Tauren Wells
“Overcome 2021” – Kirk Franklin
“Time for Reparations” – Sounds of Blackness

Outstanding Jazz Album – Instrumental

Forever…Jaz – Jazmin Ghent
Love Languages – Nathan Mitchell
Somewhere Different – Brandee Younger
Sounds from the Ancestors – Kenny Garrett
The Magic of Now – Orrin Evans

Outstanding Jazz Album – Vocal

Dear Love – Jazzmeia Horn and Her Noble Force
Generations – The Baylor Project
Ledisi Sings Nina – Ledisi
Let There Be Love – Freda Payne
SALSWING! – Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song

“Damage” – H.E.R.
“Be Alive” – Beyoncé
“Have Mercy” – Chlöe
“Leave The Door Open” – Silk Sonic
“Pick Up Your Feelings” – Jazmine Sullivan

Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song

“Best Friend” – Saweetie feat. Doja Cat
“Fye Fye” – Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe
“Industry Baby” – Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow
“My Life” – J. Cole feat. 21 Savage and Morray
“Way 2 Sexy” – Drake

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)

Anthony Hamilton feat. Jennifer Hudson – “Superstar”
Chlöe x Halle – “Georgia On My Mind”
Jazmine Sullivan feat. H.E.R. – “Girl Like Me”
Leela James feat. Anthony Hamilton – “Complicated (Remix)”
Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)

Chris Brown feat. Young Thug, Future, Lil Durk and Latto – “Go Crazy (Remix)”
Doja Cat feat. SZA – “Kiss Me More”
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”
H.E.R. feat. Chris Brown – “Come Through”
Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe – “Fye Fye”