From Phoebe Bridgers To Megan Thee Stallion, Get To Know The Grammys Best New Artist Nominees

Last year, the Grammys were all about Billie Eilish. The young artist walked away with wins in the so-called Big Four categories (Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist), and her Best New Artist acceptance speech was marked by a shout-out specifically to the fans. "They're the only reason that any of us are here at all," she said.

As a result, this year's crop of nominees includes eight talented artists who all feel like fan favorites. Ingrid Andress, Phoebe Bridgers, Chika, Noah Cyrus, D Smoke, Doja Cat, Kaytranada, and Megan Thee Stallion are all up for Best New Artist, nevertheless only one can succeed Eilish because the reigning champ. Ahead of the show, here's what you have got to know about each artist — and where to begin with their music. Who will win? Tune in on Sunday night, March 14, to find out.

Ingrid Andress

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=j_A8Zjwr9m0

Rising country-pop star Ingrid Andress has long captivated with her a cappella prowess, appearing on NBC's The Sing-Off in different groups and eventually graduating from Berklee College of Music. She's since put that training to good use: On teary, twangy ballad "More Hearts Than Mine," she displays the knack for melodic storytelling she's honed within the past few years, elements that make her 2020 debut, Lady Like, so endearing. For a canny Best New Artist connection, spin her moody piano cover of "Don't Begin Right now by 2019 winner Dua Lipa.

Phoebe Bridgers

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=WJ9-xN6dCW4

Punisher, the devastating sophomore LP from Phoebe Bridgers, was one of the big key hits of 2020; it also felt like the 26-year-old singer-songwriting making good on a streak of escalating creativity. Right after her soft, sad 2017 debut, she linked up with Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus to form Boygenius, then paired with Conor Oberst for 2019's Better Oblivion Community Center. The tales on Punisher, which finds Bridgers up for three other Grammys, span from apocalyptic to intimate and sweet, and it's all segment of what she told MTV News would be called "trauma representation." "There's like a weight lifted because it's just someone that you look up laying all this out that you relate to."

Chika

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=jzJxo1I8a6c

What sets Alabama rapper Chika apart from her peers isn't so much her progressive politics, nor her exceptional flow, nor her propensity to speak truth to power — whether that's calling out Kanye West for supporting of Donald Trump, spreading body positivity with a viral challenge, or taking a anti-gun violence stance. Case in point, it's all the above. With 2020's Industry Games, she rightfully flexed about all her buzz ("I met Hov last week, that shit was hella cool," she raps on "Songs About You," "Diddy introduced me as 'best of the new school.'") As well as a song like "U Should" showcases how her latest ventures fall distinctly in the "vibe" category. As she told us last year, "As long as you're overjoyed of what you're making of yourself and also you don't just give up on it because of a hard fight and it's tedious work, you have to be fine."

Noah Cyrus

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=KhjTa_7Nq6Y

within the past few years, Noah Cyrus has developed an artsy identity distinctly different from the easy "sister of Miley" descriptors that characterized her begin. However how did she do it? Constant developments. Once she dips into her nation roots on 2020's The End of Everything standouts "I Got So High That I Saw Jesus and "July," Cyrus spent time making big pop with MØ and skeletal grandeur with Labrinth before leaning into her own songwriter-y side. Her future looks rustic and promising: Last month's "Dear August" is built around circular acoustic strumming and, obviously, Cyrus's bombastic voice.

D Smoke

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=Sy9glE0OACo

Soon after winning Netflix's hip-hop competition show Rhythm + Flow in 2019, Inglewood's D Smoke kept charging forward. The lifelong musician and former educator place on Earth Daniel Anthony Farris is up for both Best New Artist and Best Rap Album at the Grammys, and collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Ari Lennox, and SiR have sustained his momentum, as well as last year's expansive and jazzy Black Habits debut album. Nevertheless one of the greatest and most heartfelt summations of his rise and subsequent popularity comes, needless to say, from a YouTube comment on "Gaspar Yanga" that reads: "This man was my high school Spanish teacher ... I'm happy [you're] following your dreams Mr. F."

Doja Cat

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=pok8H_KF1FA

What didn't Doja Cat do last year? Soon after her summery disco jam mention So" took off on TikTok, it hit No. 1 and got a Nicki Minaj remix, catapulting Doja to plenty of awards recognition, including a VMA win for Push Best New Artist. Doja's star power comes thanks to a discography boasting key team-ups with Saweetie, City Women, and Ariana Grande, though plenty must be mentioned about her ability to get eyeballs online as well. With extra nominations for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Efficiency, it can be hard to believe it was only a number of years back she was mooing in a cow suit for millions of views. Her Grammys attire will probably be a little bit more... Elevated.

Kaytranada

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=02KzxLGcNJg

Louis Kevin Celestin has only released two studio albums under his Kaytranada moniker, nevertheless the Montreal electronic artist can boast about two dozens mixtapes, collaborative assignments, and EPs released within the past decade, also. As such, Kay is the archetype for the age-old "Best New Artist?" Question that tends to pop up in this category visualize also: Bon Iver, Lizzo, etc.). Although as he recently put it on Twitter about his 15 years in back of the boards: "[I] have an entire lifetime to create music so that's pretty new in the event you do the math." It's all a testament to his work ethic and drive; during both 2016's 99.9% and 2019's Bubba, his exploratory, funky, and effervescent beats are heightened by vocal contributions from Tinashe, Kali Uchis, Anderson .Paak, and more. Bubba is up for Best Dance/Electronic Album, and the energizing, hypnotic "10%" scored a nom for Best Dance Recording.

Megan Thee Stallion

https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=7PBYGu4Az8s

In so several ways, 2020 belonged to Megan Thee Stallion. The year saw her break through any remaining separations keeping her out of the best tier of pop stars and become a household name, netting her two No. 1 hits (with fellow icons Beyoncé and Cardi B) and also a slew of Grammy noms (including Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Efficiency. Nevertheless Meg also became an outspoken voice for protecting Black women soon after her own assault and dropped her long-awaited debut album, Good News. What's next for 2021? Only Meg is aware, although for now, she's already off to a tremendous start.