FILE - In this June 27, 2015 file photo, Canadian singer Drake performs on the main stage at Wireless festival in Finsbury Park, London. Rap has easily dominated the pop charts and on streaming services in the last few years, and thatâs reflected at the 2018 American Music Awards. Drake and Cardi B are the leading nominees with eight each. The AMAs will air live Oct. 9 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jonathan Short/Invision/AP, File)
The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - Rap has easily dominated the pop charts and on streaming services in the last few years, and that's reflected at the 2018 American Music Awards.
Drake and Cardi B are the leading nominees with eight each. The AMAs will air live Oct. 9 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Drake, with the top-selling album "Scorpion" and three No. 1 hits, will compete for artist of the year alongside Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons and Post Malone.
Rapper-singer XXXTentacion, a streaming juggernaut before his death in June and afterward, earned nominations for new artist of the year and favorite soul/R&B album for his 2017 debut, "17."
Cardi B's "Invasion of Privacy" was surprisingly shut of the favorite rap/hip-hop album category, where nominees include Drake, Malone and Lil Uzi Vert.
FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2018 file photo, Cardi B attends the Warner Music Group pre-Grammy party in New York. Rap has easily dominated the pop charts and on streaming services in the last few years, and thatâs reflected at the 2018 American Music Awards. Drake and Cardi B are the leading nominees with eight each. The AMAs will air live Oct. 9 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this April 22, 2018 file photo, Cardi B performs at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Rap has easily dominated the pop charts and on streaming services in the last few years, and thatâs reflected at the 2018 American Music Awards. Drake and Cardi B are the leading nominees with eight each. The AMAs will air live Oct. 9 from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
The Associated Press