The Real Reason Drake Skipped The 2025 Grammys: A Deep Dive Into His Complicated Boycott And The Kendrick Lamar Drama

The question of "Was Drake at the Grammys?" has become a perennial headline, and in 2025, the answer was a definitive and highly-publicized "no." The superstar rapper was conspicuously absent from the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, a decision that was less about a scheduling conflict and more about a calculated continuation of his years-long, acrimonious relationship with the Recording Academy. This absence, coupled with a major event that unfolded during the ceremony, turned a simple non-attendance into one of the biggest talking points of the music world's biggest night.

The 2025 Grammys marked a significant period in Drake’s career, not just because of his absence, but because he received zero nominations for the ceremony. This lack of recognition, whether intentional due to his own submission choices or a snub by the Academy, provided the perfect backdrop for him to maintain his distance. His decision to skip the event was further amplified by the night's biggest winner, creating a dramatic narrative that overshadowed many of the actual awards handed out on the night.

Aubrey "Drake" Graham: A Profile of the Grammy's Most Complicated Nominee

To understand the depth of Drake's relationship with the Grammy Awards, it is essential to first look at the man himself. Aubrey Drake Graham is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor who has dominated the music industry for over a decade. His career is one of unparalleled commercial success, yet his accolades from the Recording Academy have often felt disproportionate to his global influence.

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• Full Name: Aubrey Drake Graham
• Born: October 24, 1986 (Age 39 as of late 2025)
• Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Occupation: Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Entrepreneur
• Debut Album: Thank Me Later (2010)
• Career Grammy Nominations: 55 (The third most for any rapper, behind Jay-Z and Kanye West).
• Career Grammy Wins: 5 (Including Best Rap Album for Take Care and Certified Lover Boy).
• Key Accolades: 41 Billboard Music Awards, 6 American Music Awards, and multiple world records for streaming and chart performance.

The Two Main Reasons Drake Was Not at the 2025 Grammys

While the immediate answer to his absence is straightforward, the context is layered, involving both logistical reasons and a long-standing philosophical disagreement with the awards body. His non-attendance at the 67th Grammy Awards was a culmination of these factors.

1. Zero Nominations: The Lack of Invitation

The most crucial factor in Drake's absence from the 2025 ceremony was the simple fact that he was not nominated in any category. While he has a history of skipping the event even when nominated, a lack of a direct stake in the evening makes attendance highly unlikely for an artist of his stature. The eligibility period for the 2025 Grammys would have covered his work released in the preceding year. Drake has a history of selectively submitting—or outright refusing to submit—his work for consideration, often citing his belief that the awards do not properly recognize Black artists, particularly in the Hip-Hop and R&B categories.

His 2022 album, *Her Loss* (with 21 Savage), was submitted and received nominations, marking a temporary end to a previous boycott. However, for the 2025 cycle, his major releases either fell outside the eligibility window or were intentionally withheld from the submission process, leading to the rare outcome of zero nominations for the global superstar. This lack of formal recognition solidified his decision to stay away from the Los Angeles event.

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2. The Global Tour Schedule: A Logistical Conflict

Beyond the political reasons, Drake had a very real logistical conflict that prevented him from attending the 2025 Grammys. At the time of the ceremony, the rapper was on the Australian leg of his global tour. For an artist with a touring schedule as demanding as Drake’s, a cross-continental flight, a red-carpet appearance, and a full awards show is simply not feasible, especially when he has no nominations to celebrate. The tour dates confirmed his location on the other side of the world, providing a concrete, non-controversial reason for his physical absence.

The Shadow of Kendrick Lamar: A Grammy Night of Irony

What made Drake's 2025 Grammy absence truly historic was the dramatic context surrounding the night's biggest winner: Kendrick Lamar. The 67th Grammys took place mere months after the highly publicized and intense rap beef between the two artists. During the ceremony, Kendrick Lamar's diss track aimed at Drake, "Not Like Us," achieved a monumental sweep.

The track, which became a cultural phenomenon, won all five of the awards it was nominated for, including the coveted Song of the Year. The irony was palpable: a song that was explicitly a takedown of Drake became one of the most celebrated records of the year by the very institution Drake often criticizes. The moment was further intensified by the sight of numerous celebrities in the audience enthusiastically chanting the song's lyrics, a powerful public endorsement of Lamar's victory in the feud.

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While Drake was thousands of miles away, the Grammys effectively became a public celebration of his rival's triumph. Following the ceremony, Drake addressed the situation at a concert, assuring the crowd that he was "very much alive" after Lamar's five-Grammy sweep, acknowledging the drama without directly engaging with the awards show itself. This event served as a powerful reminder of the complex, competitive landscape of modern hip-hop and how the Grammys often act as a stage for these rivalries.

Drake's Long-Standing Boycott and Complicated History

Drake’s decision to skip the Grammys in 2025 is just the latest chapter in a decade-long saga of conflict with the Recording Academy. His relationship with the awards has been described as increasingly acrimonious, rooted in a belief that the institution consistently miscategorizes and undervalues Hip-Hop and R&B artists.

• The "Hotline Bling" Incident (2017): Drake publicly renounced his two Grammy wins for "Hotline Bling" (Best Rap/Sung Performance and Best Rap Song). He felt the song should have been nominated in a pop category, arguing that being placed in the rap category was a way to sideline successful Black artists.
• Refusing Submission (2018): Following the "Hotline Bling" frustration, Drake refused to submit his critically acclaimed album *More Life* for any Grammy consideration. This was a direct protest against the Academy's perceived bias and lack of cultural understanding.
• Calling for Replacement: In a 2018 interview, Drake went further, calling for a new, more relevant awards show to replace the Grammys, stating that the awards "may not matter anymore" to the younger generation of artists.

Despite this history, the submission of his 2022 album *Her Loss* suggested a potential thaw in his relationship with the Academy. However, the 2025 zero-nomination outcome and the dramatic Kendrick Lamar sweep reaffirmed his long-held skepticism. The narrative surrounding Drake and the Grammys is less about winning awards and more about a powerful artist challenging the cultural relevance and fairness of a legacy institution.

What the Future Holds: The 68th Grammy Awards and Beyond

As of late 2025, the focus shifts to the upcoming 68th Grammy Awards, which will take place in early 2026. Early reports suggest that Drake is "on" for submission, meaning his latest work may be put forward for consideration. This potential move indicates that the artist may once again be willing to engage with the awards process, possibly due to new music or a strategic shift in his public stance.

Whether he attends or not, the "was Drake at the Grammys" question will continue to be a litmus test for the Recording Academy's relationship with one of the most commercially successful artists of all time. His absence in 2025 was a powerful statement, amplified by the night's events, cementing his status as the Grammys' most influential and complicated absentee.