This week has seen the nominations for the 2016 Grammy Awards, containing more than a few surprise entries and omissions, to be inevitably, endlessly debated in the weeks leading up to the ceremony on February 15.
However, few have appeared more surprised than Oakland singer Kehlani, who is nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album alongside The Internet, Lianne La Havas, Miguel and The Weeknd.
In an interview with The Fader, the songstress revealed that it was a massive shock to receive the nomination.
“When they said my whole mixtape was nominated in a category full of albums, I basically started crying. I called my mom, I called my grandma, I called my friends. I haven’t stopped freaking out yet.
It’s crazy because I created most of my mixtape before I got signed. I’m just proud of the fact that my team did it themselves, and I wrote 100% of the lyrics. All the glamorous stuff is really cool, but getting recognized by your peers is a whole other ball game. So the Grammys are so important to me.”
When asked what the nomination meant to her, she replied that “I honestly didn’t expect [a Grammy nomination] this early. I haven’t even made my first album. I didn’t expect one to come for a while, so it’s completely ridiculous. I’m at a loss for words.”
https://twitter.com/chancetherapper/status/673913481767157760
Kehlani released her second mixtape You Should Be Here in April 2015 with guest spots from a range of artists including BJ The Chicago Kid and Chance The Rapper.