When Janet Jackson staged her return to music this year, she did so not only preparing to release some of the best music she has crafted in nearly a decade, but also with the mindset of doing it strictly for her die hard loyal fans. For the legend it seemed as though record sales, notoriety, and public favor was the last on her check list, if it made the list at all.
The singer also made a deliberate attempt to prove this by releasing her album on Oct 2, one day after the Grammy submission cut off date of Oct 1. A move that some thought was frivolous while many thought was admirable, and as we saw this week when the 58th Annual Grammy’s nomination list rolled out-Janet was not recognized. Again, this was her strategic plan to do so.
On Wednesday, the official nominees list for the 47th annual NAACP awards rolled out and Janet is leading the pack. The outlet has always given their unwavering support of Janet and this year is no different as she leads with six nominations for her album ‘Unbreakable’ as well as the single ‘No Sleeep’.
Other nominees include The Weeknd, Big Sean, Tyrese, The Empire cast and more. Get into the partial list below and the full list HERE.
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
“Conqueror,” Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett (Columbia Records)
“Hamilton: An American Musical,” Original Broadway Cast (Atlantic Records)
“No Sleeep,” Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“One Man Can Change The World,” Big Sean feat. Kanye West and John Legend (G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Recordings)
“Sound & Color,” Alabama Shakes (ATO Records)
Outstanding Jazz Album
“BrotherLEE Love: Celebrating Lee Morgan,” Terell Stafford Quintet (Capri Records)
“Dee Dee’s Feathers,” Dee Dee Bridgewater, Irvin Mayfield, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (Okeh)
“Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4,” Miles Davis (Columbia/Legacy Recordings)
“The Complete Concert By The Sea,” Erroll Garner (Legacy Recordings/Octave Music Publishing Corporation)
The Epic,” Kamasi Washington (Brainfeeder)
Outstanding Gospel Album – (Traditional or Contemporary)
“A Different Place,” Kim Burrell (Shanachie Entertainment)
“It’s Personal,” Tina Campbell (Gee Tree Creative)
“Losing My Religion,” Kirk Franklin (RCA Inspiration)
“The Gospel According To Jazz – Chapter IV,” Kirk Whalum (Mack Avenue Records, Rendezvous, Top Drawer Records)
“You Shall Live,” Marvin Sapp (RCA Inspiration)
Outstanding Music Video
“Can’t Feel My Face,” The Weeknd (Republic Records)
“Freedom,” Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER)
“No Sleeep,” Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“Shame,” Tyrese Gibson (Voltron Recordz)
“Sound & Color,” Alabama Shakes (ATO Records)
Outstanding New Artist
Andra Day (Warner Bros. Records)
Judith Hill (NPG Records)
Jussie Smollett (Columbia Records)
The Weeknd (Republic Records)
Yazz (Columbia Records)
Outstanding Male Artist
Charlie Wilson (RCA Records)
Kendrick Lamar (Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope)
Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER)
The Weeknd (Republic Records)
Tyrese Gibson (Voltron Recordz)
Outstanding Female Artist
Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records)
Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)
Lalah Hathaway (Hathaway Entertainment/Entertainment One)
Lauryn Hill (RCA Records)
Outstanding Song – Traditional
“Back Together,” Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)
“Everytime I’m With You,” Seal (Reprise Records)
“Feeling Good,” Lauryn Hill (RCA Records)
“Goodnight Kisses,” Charlie Wilson (RCA Records)
“Let It Burn,” Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records)
Outstanding Album
“Beauty Behind the Madness,” The Weeknd (Republic Records)
“Empire (Original Soundtrack from Season One),” Empire Cast (Columbia Records)
“Forever Charlie,” Charlie Wilson (RCA Records)
“Unbreakable,” Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“Woman,” Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Song – Contemporary
“Conqueror, “Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett (Columbia)
“Freedom” – Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER)
“No Sleeep,” Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“Unbreakable,” Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“You’re So Beautiful,” Empire Cast feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz (Columbia Records)
