LOS ANGELES — The rap committee at the Grammy Awards almost ousted Macklemore & Ryan Lewis from its categories — but the breakthrough act won three rap Grammys on Sunday.
The duo’s debut, “The Heist,” won best rap album, beating efforts from Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z, Kanye West and Drake. Their hit song “Thrift Shop” won best rap song and rap performance in the hours before the telecast.
Macklemore & Lewis are also nominated for album and song of the year. A source told The Associated Press that the rap committee rejected the duo — but that was later overruled by the general Grammy committee.
Justin Timberlake won two awards, including best R&B song for “Pusher Love Girl” and music video for “Suit & Tie,” which also earned Jay Z a Grammy.
Adele, who dominated the Grammys two years ago, was also an early winner. The British singer won best song written for visual media for “Skyfall,” which also won an Oscar and Golden Globe last year.
Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Imagine Dragons and Daft Punk were also early winners.
Macklemore & Lewis, like Lamar, had seven nominations, and the performers are competing in five of the same categories. The rap duo is up for best new artist, along with Lamar, and their gay-acceptance hit, “Same Love,” is nominated for song of the year.
The year marks a high note for hip-hop since album of the year and best new artist both feature two rap acts. OutKast and Lauryn Hill are the only two rap performers to win the coveted album of the year; Hill and Arrested Development are the only rap-based stars to take home best new artist.
A rapper has never won song or record of the year.
Jay Z, keeping up the decade-long Grammy tradition of rappers leading in nominations, was the front-runner with nine.
For top album, Macklemore & Lewis and Lamar’s platinum-selling debuts, “The Heist” and “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” will battle Taylor Swift’s “Red,” Daft Punk’s electronic adventure “Random Access Memories” and the surprise nominee — “The Blessed Unrest” from the piano-playing Sara Bareilles.
LL Cool J hosted the 56th annual Grammy Awards, which aired live on CBS at 8 p.m. EDT.