The nominations for the 61st Grammy Awards were announced on Thursday (December 6) and among them was late rapper Mac Miller’s first ever nod.
Three months after his death at the age of 26, Miller earned his first ever Grammy nomination as his final album Swimming is up for best rap album at the upcoming 2019 awards show.
In the category Swimming is up against Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy, Nipsey Hussle’s Victory Lap, Pusha T’s Daytona and Travis Scott’s Astroworld.
Swimming was released in August, debuting at number three on the Billboard 200 albums chart before it returned to the top 10 in September following his death.
Many fans have been celebrating via social media, sharing their delight with some lamenting Miller isn’t alive to enjoy his achievement.
Kaitlyn thought the nomination was well deserved tweeting:
Cannot believe Mac Miller is nominated for a Grammy and he’s not even here to see it. So much love for that man. He deserves it.
Another user tweeted their sincere hope Miller will win the award posthumously writing:
I Hope Mac Miller Wins Best Rap Album For ‘Swimming’
That Album Is Incredible…
Other were sceptical about the Grammys giving Miller his first nomination following his death claiming the awards body have ignored his previous work.
One user wrote:
After years of ignoring Mac Miller’s great work, the Grammys finally decided to nominate him. After he’s dead? I don’t think this man needed these sympathy points. People don’t scatter roses when artists are alive. Then try to acknowledge them when they can’t collect the trophies.
And they weren’t alone…
On September 7 Miller was found in his San Fernando Valley home at around noon. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the early hours of the day of his death, Miller had been tweeting to fans about his upcoming tour, saying he wished it ‘started tomorrow’, and how every show would be ‘special’.
He told fans:
Go get tickets for tour. Thundercat. J.I.D. I’m bringing a band.
The show is going to be special every night.
I wish it started tomorrow. It starts October 27th.
Earlier that week Vulture had published a candid profile with Miller, who addressed public perceptions of his lifestyle, saying:
You know what’s funny? I feel like the public perception of me varies on who you ask. But there’s a bit of a freedom in knowing that people are going to think all types of sh*t, no matter what.
It actually makes me less stressed about how my actions are perceived. It’s out of my control. I mean, to a degree… I could control it. I could live this squeaky clean life and everything. I could try to control the media. But I’ve been finding freedom in just living and letting people say whatever the f*ck they want.
The 61st Grammy Awards air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 10.
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