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Are they trying to win cool points here?

If you're a rap fan, it's good practice to take a deep breath and recite some calming affirmations before reading the annual list of Grammy nominations. That's because The Recording Academy never fails to miss the mark, and disappoint.

This year they took a step down the road to redemption by giving Kendrick Lamar 11 well-deserved nominations, but there will be no applause until he's actually handed some of those trophies. Maybe they realized how ridiculous they would look if Kendrick didn't rack 'em up after dropping To Pimp A Butterfly -- but what was their reason for nominating Drake's "Back to Back" dis?

Of course, the Innanets unanimously decided that the Toronto rapper crushed Meek Mill with that track, especially when it started to climb the charts and become a staple on playlists in clubs. It's fan favorite, that's a fact. But what does The Recording Academy, which has historically been out of touch with the heart of hip-hop, know or care about this record?

Did someone on the panel catch the memes on Twitter? Were they blown away by, "Is that a world tour, or your girl's tour?" I just find it difficult to believe that of all the misses they've had in the past decade, a Drake dis track organically made this list. Feels a bit contrived, no?

You probably don't need a reminder of how they've continued to miss the mark, but the most glaring example was two years ago, when Kendrick's masterpiece of an album good kid, m.A.A.d city lost the Best Rap Album Grammy to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' The Heist, and inspired the text message that was read around the world.

This year it feels like they're trying really hard to redeem themselves, but I'm not ready to believe that they've got it right just yet. For example, it's absurd that Fetty Wap -- the guy who had your grandma singing about whipping pies in the trap -- didn't receive a nomination for Best New Artist. That Future had zero nominations after dominating rap in 2015. That Big Sean didn't receive a Best Rap Album nod for Dark Sky Paradise.

Anyway, nice try Recording Academy. Let's see what happens on February 15.

In the meantime, take a look at the full list of hip-hop and R&B nominees below.

Album of the Year

Alabama Shakes, Sound and Color

Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly

Chris Stapleton, Traveler

Taylor Swift, 1989

The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness

Song of the Year

Kendrick Lamar, “Alright”

Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”

Little Big Town, “Girl Crush”

Wiz Kahifa feat. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”

Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”

Record of the Year

D’Angelo and the Vanguard, “Really Love”

Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk”

Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”

Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”

The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel my Face”

Best Rap Performance

J. Cole, “Apparently”

Drake, “Back To Back”

Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”

Kendrick Lamar, “Alright”

Nicki Minaj feat. Drake & Lil Wayne, “Truffle Butter”

Kanye West feat. Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom & Paul McCartney, “All Day”

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Big Sean feat. Kanye West & John Legend, “One Man Can Change The World”

Common & John Legend, “Glory”

Jidenna feat. Roman GianArthur, “Classic Man”

Kendrick Lamar feat. Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat, “These Walls”

Nicki Minaj feat. Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown, “Only”

Best Rap Album

J. Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive

Dr. Dre, Compton

Drake, If Youre Reading This Its Too Late

Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp A Butterfly

Nicki Minaj, The Pinkprint

Best Dance Recording

Above & Beyond feat. Zoë Johnston, “We’re All We Need”

The Chemical Brothers, “Go”

Flying Lotus feat. Kendrick Lamar, “Never Catch Me”

Galantis, “Runaway (U & I)”

Skrillex and Diplo with Justin Bieber, “Where Are Ü Now”

Best R&B Performance

Tamar Braxton, “If I Don’t Have You”

Andra Day, “Rise Up”

Hiatus Kaiyote, “Breathing Underwater”

Jeremih feat. J. Cole, “Planes”

The Weeknd, “Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey)”

Best Urban Contemporary Album

The Internet, Ego Death

Kehlani, You Should Be Here

Lianne La Havas, Blood

Miguel, Wildheart

The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness