Last Updated on October 17, 2022 by Scott Shetler
This award was known as “Best Rap/Sung Collaboration” and “Best Rap/Sung Performance” until the 2021 Grammy ceremony, when it was updated to Best Melodic Rap Performance. As of 2018, both solo artists and collaborations are eligible for the category, as long as the tracks include both singing and rapping.
Most career Best Melodic Rap Performance nominations
Kanye West 15
Jay-Z 12
Rihanna 9
Beyonce 8 (includes 1 with Destiny’s Child)
John Legend 7
Most career Best Melodic Rap Performance wins
Jay-Z 7
Rihanna 5
Kanye West 5
Grammy Awards: Best Melodic Rap Performance Winners and Nominees By Year
Winners in bold; other nominees listed beneath.
2022: Hurricane, Kanye West featuring The Weekend & Lil Baby
Pride is the Devil, J. Cole featuring Lil Baby
Need to Know, Doja Cat
Industry Baby, Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow
WusYaName, Tyler the Creator featuring Youngboy Never Broke Again & Ty Dolla Sign
2021: Lockdown, Anderson .Paak
Rockstar, DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
Laugh Now Cry Later, Drake featuring Lil Durk
The Box, Roddy Ricch
Highest in the Room, Travis Scott
2020: Higher, DJ Khaled featuring Nipsey Hussle & John Legend
Drip Too Hard, Lil Babby & Gunna
Panini, Lil Nas X
Ballin, Mustard featuring Roddy Ricch
The London, Young Thug featuring J. Cole & Travis Scott
2019: This is America, Childish Gambino
Like I Do, Christina Aguilera featuring GoldLink
Pretty Little Fears, 6lack featuring J. Cole
All the Stars, Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Rockstar, Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
2018: Loyalty, Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna
Prblms, 6lack
Crew, GoldLink featuring Brent Faiyaz & Shy Glizzy
Family Feud, Jay-Z featuring Beyonce
Love Galore, SZA featuring Travis Scott
2017: Hotline Bling, Drake
Freedom, Beyonce featuring Kendrick Lamar
Broccoli, DRAM featuring Lil Yachty
Ultralight Beam, Kanye West featuring Chance the Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream
Famous, Kanye West featuring Rihanna
2016: These Walls, Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat
One Man Can Change the World, Big Sean, Kanye West & John Legend
Glory, Common & John Legend
Classic Man, Jidenna featuring Roman GianArthur
Only, Nicki Minaj featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown
2015: The Monster, Eminem featuring Rihanna
Blak Majik, Common featuring Jhene Aiko
Tuesday, iLoveMakonnen featuring Drake
Studio, Schoolboy Q featuring BJ the Chicago Kid
Bound 2, Kanye West featuring Charlie Wilson
2014: Holy Grail, Jay-Z & Justin Timberlake
Power Trip, J. Cole & Miguel
Part II (On the Run), Jay-Z & Beyonce
Now or Never, Kendrick Lamar & Mary J. Blige
Remember You, Wiz Khalifa & The Weeknd
2013: No Church in the Wild, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Frank Ocean & The-Dream
Wild Ones, Flo Rida & Sia
Tonight, John Legend & Ludacris
Cherry Wine, Nas & Amy Winehouse
Talk That Talk, Rihanna & Jay-Z
2012: All of the Lights, Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
Party, Beyonce & Andre 3000
I’m on One, DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
I Need a Doctor, Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
What’s My Name?, Rihanna & Drake
Motivation, Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne
2011: Empire State of Mind, Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys
Nothin’ on You, B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars
Deuces, Chris Brown featuring Tyga & Kevin McCall
Love the Way You Lie, Eminem featuring Rihanna
Wake Up Everybody, John Legend featuring the Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common
2010: Run This Town, Jay-Z featuring Rihanna & Kanye West
Ego, Beyonce featuring Kanye West
Knock You Down, Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo
I’m on a Boat, Lonely Island featuring T-Pain
Dead and Gone, T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake
2009: American Boy, Estelle featuring Kanye West
Low, Flo Rida featuring T-Pain
Green Light, John Legend featuring Andre 3000
Got Money, Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain
Superstar, Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos
2008: Umbrella, Rihanna featuring Jay-Z
Kiss Kiss, Chris Brown featuring T-Pain
I Wanna Love You, Akon featuring Snoop Dogg
Let it Go, Keyshia Cole featuring Lil Kim & Missy Elliott
Good Life, Kanye West featuring T-Pain
2007: My Love, Justin Timberlake featuring T.I.
Smack That, Akon featuring Eminem
Déjà vu, Beyonce featuring Jay-Z
Shake That, Eminem featuring Nate Dogg
Unpredictable, Jamie Foxx featuring Ludacris
2006: Numb/Encore, Linkin Park & Jay-Z
Rich Girl, Gwen Stefani featuring Eve
Destiny’s Child featuring T.I. & Lil Wayne
They Say, Common featuring John Legend & Kanye West
1,2 Step, Ciara featuring Missy Elliott
2005: Yeah!, Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon
All Falls Down, Kanye West featuring Syleena Johnson
Dip it Low, Christina Milian featuring Fabolous
Why, Jadakiss featuring Anthony Hamilton
Slow Jamz, Twista featuring Jamie Foxx & Kanye West
2004: Crazy in Love, Beyonce featuring Jay-Z
Where is the Love?, Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake
Luv U Better, LL Cool J featuring Marc Dorsey
Beautiful, Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell & Charlie Wilson
Frontin’, Pharrell featuring Jay-Z
2003: Dilemma, Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland
What’s Luv?, Fat Joe featuring Ashanti
Always on Time, Ja Rule featuring Ashanti
Po’ Folks, Nappy Roots featuring Anthony Hamilton
Like I Love You, Justin Timberlake featuring Clipse
2002: Let Me Blow Ya Mind, Eve featuring Gwen Stefani
Livin’ it Up, Ja Rule featuring Case
Where the Party At, Jagged Edge featuring Nelly
Area Codes, Ludacris featuring Nate Dogg
W, Mystic featuring Planet Asia
Find the Grammy Awards at grammy.com.
