Drake has put together one of the busiest stretches of his career in 2026, releasing three albums while continuing to dominate conversations across hip-hop and popular music. With ICEMAN, HABIBTI and MAID OF HONOUR all arriving during the year, the Toronto superstar has had more than enough material to generate Grammy consideration. ICEMAN in particular has produced major talking points, with songs such as “Shabang” and “Janice STFU” adding to the album’s profile. Some listeners even viewed the project as a potential contender for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Despite that momentum, Drake has reportedly chosen not to submit any of his music for Grammy consideration this year, continuing his long-running criticism of the Recording Academy.
Drake’s decision means that his 2026 releases will not be competing for Grammy nominations through the normal submission process. That is significant because artists and their teams typically use Grammy submissions to put specific recordings and albums forward for consideration. Without a submission, Drake’s new material will not be part of the standard awards campaign surrounding this year’s eligibility period. The decision also appears to be intentional rather than an oversight. Drake addressed the subject directly on his song “MAKE THEM KNOW,” suggesting that he had already decided not to participate in the Grammy process.
On “MAKE THEM KNOW,” Drake makes his position particularly clear by rapping about never submitting the album because he believes it would not receive fair consideration. The lyrics indicate that the decision was planned well before the current Grammy season developed. Rather than quietly stepping away from the awards, Drake used the song to explain his reasoning to his audience. That approach fits with his previous public criticism of the Recording Academy and its treatment of hip-hop artists. His decision therefore represents another chapter in a relationship with the Grammys that has become increasingly complicated over the years.
The timing is especially interesting because Drake has plenty of music that could have attracted attention from Grammy voters. ICEMAN has been one of the most discussed releases of his current run, while HABIBTI and MAID OF HONOUR have added even more material to his 2026 catalog. The FOMO Deluxe edition of HABIBTI has also given the project another promotional moment after its initial release. With three albums in circulation, Drake has created a substantial body of work that could have been considered across multiple categories. His choice not to submit means that the conversation about his Grammy chances will remain hypothetical rather than becoming an actual part of this year’s nominations.
The Best Rap Album category is where the discussion around ICEMAN has been particularly strong. Drake has a long history in the category and has remained one of the most commercially successful rappers in the world. A project containing multiple high-profile songs could naturally attract attention during awards season, especially when the artist behind it has an established history with the Grammys. Yet commercial success does not guarantee a nomination, and Grammy voters make their decisions independently of an artist’s sales or streaming performance. Drake appears to have decided that participating in the process is not worth it, even with a project that some fans believe could have competed.
His skepticism toward the Grammys did not begin with ICEMAN. Drake has criticized the awards institution at different points throughout his career, particularly over questions surrounding recognition for hip-hop and Black artists. His complicated relationship with the Grammys became even more visible after the 2025 ceremony, when Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” won both Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song was particularly significant because it emerged from the highly publicized feud between Lamar and Drake. The Grammy wins therefore carried a personal dimension for Drake that went beyond an ordinary awards result.
The 2025 Grammy ceremony also generated considerable attention because “Not Like Us” was performed and celebrated in the room while Drake was not present. Lamar’s performance and the song’s victories became major cultural moments, reinforcing the track’s dominance during that awards cycle. For Drake, watching a diss track centered on him receive two of the ceremony’s biggest awards could understandably add another layer to his existing skepticism about the institution. However, it would be inaccurate to claim that the 2025 results alone caused his current decision. Drake’s lyrics on “MAKE THEM KNOW” suggest that his decision had been considered in advance.
There is also an important distinction between refusing to submit music and claiming that an artist could not win. Drake’s decision removes his releases from the normal submission process, but it does not prove that Grammy voters would have rejected ICEMAN or his other albums. Any discussion about what Drake might have won remains speculative because the albums were never placed into that competition. Fans can debate whether ICEMAN deserved a nomination, but there will be no official Grammy result to settle that argument. The absence of a nomination would therefore reflect Drake’s choice not to participate rather than a direct rejection by Grammy voters.
The move also reinforces Drake’s broader argument about success outside of traditional industry recognition. He has built one of the largest audiences in contemporary music through streaming, touring, hit singles and an extensive catalog. His influence does not depend entirely on trophies or awards. That does not mean Grammy recognition is irrelevant to his career, but it explains why an artist of Drake’s stature can afford to take a position that could limit his chances at future awards. By continuing his boycott, Drake is emphasizing the value he places on his own relationship with listeners rather than allowing awards recognition to define the success of his releases.
At the same time, skipping the Grammys does not mean Drake has stopped competing for cultural attention. His three-album run has kept him heavily involved in music conversations throughout 2026. Songs such as “Shabang” and “Janice STFU” have helped give ICEMAN a recognizable identity, while HABIBTI and MAID OF HONOUR have expanded the amount of new material available from the rapper. His decision to release multiple projects also creates a different kind of statement about productivity and relevance. Instead of relying on a single awards-season album, Drake has spent the year maintaining a steady presence across the music landscape.
Ultimately, Drake’s Grammy decision appears to be a deliberate extension of his longstanding distrust of the institution. ICEMAN may have been viewed by some fans as a potential Best Rap Album contender, and his other 2026 releases could have created additional opportunities for recognition. Instead, Drake has chosen not to submit his music, even though doing so could have opened the door to nominations and potentially more Grammy wins. His comments on “MAKE THEM KNOW” indicate that this was not a last-minute decision but something he had already considered. Whether fans agree with his position or believe he is passing up legitimate opportunities, Drake has made his stance clear. For now, his 2026 music will have to stand on its commercial performance, cultural impact and audience reception rather than Grammy hardware.
