2016 was a very strong year for hip-hop, and this year's Grammy nominations speak to that. This year's category for "Best New Artist" includes two of hip-hop's most creative up-and-comers, Anderson .Paak and Chance The Rapper. Both of these artists have incredibly unique ascension journeys, neither representative of a typical path to pop success. As of press time, we do not know if either of these artists have snagged the W, but we see their inclusion as a victory in and of itself.
In honor of these talented fellas, we decided to take a look at all the hip-hop/r&b artists who graced the list of Grammy nominees for "Best New Artist" over the years. Some of the names you won't ever have heard of, and some you probably bump on the daily.
Flip through the gallery, and enjoy.