Drake withdraws his 2022 Grammy nominations from ballot

LOS ANGELES — Rapper Drake has withdrawn his nominations for next year’s Grammy Awards, multiple news outlets are reporting.

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Two sources who spoke on condition on anonymity told The Associated Press that the 35-year-old, who previously won four Grammy Awards, withdrew his two nominations – best rap album for “Certified Lover Boy” and best rap performance for “Way 2 Sexy” featuring Future and Young Thug – from the final 2022 ballot.

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As of early Tuesday, Drake, who has criticized the Grammys in the past, had not commented publicly on the move.

Drake’s nominations no longer appear on the website for the Jan. 31 award ceremony. The remaining nominees for best rap album include “The Off-Season” by J. Cole; “King’s Disease II” by Nas; “Call Me if You Get Lost” by Tyler, the Creator; and “Donda” by Kanye West, according to the Grammys website. In the best rap performance category, the remaining nominees are “Family Ties” by Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar, “Up” by Cardi B, “My Life” by J. Cole featuring 21 Savage & Morray, and “Thot [Expletive]” by Megan Thee Stallion.

News of Drake’s withdrawal came the same day the Recording Academy removed Taylor Swift, St. Vincent and Jack Antonoff as songwriters from the nomination for album of the year for Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour.” Swift and Antonoff are still nominated in the category for Swift’s album “Evermore,” Variety reported.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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