The 35-year-old was nominated for two Grammy Awards in November. Several sources familiar with the case told the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse that Drake and his administration were behind Monday’s decision to withdraw the nominations.

According to sources, the Recording Academy, which is behind the Grammy Awards, has already accepted the application, and the nominations are no longer listed in the filter list.

Drake, who has won four Grammy Awards before, was nominated this time for Best Rap Album for “Certified Lover Boy” and Best Rap Performance with “Way 2 Sexy”.

No artist will have the opportunity to take up the vacant position in the rap category. Four remaining candidates will compete for the award.

The sources gave no justification for Drake’s desire. But Drake has criticized the Grammy Awards in previous years. Among other things, he showed his dissatisfaction with not being nominated outside the rap category.

– He said in an interview in 2017, that the only category they were able to let me into is rap, maybe because I sang before or because I’m black. Artists have not always received the respect they deserve.

This is a critique that has been endorsed by several black artists, including The Weeknd, Frank Ocean, and Jay-Z, in recent years.

The Grammy Awards will be presented on January 31.