Grammy Predictions: Who Walks Away a Winner in Hip-Hop?
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards are set to broadcast live on Sunday, February 10. The ceremony will boast performances by artists such as Frank Ocean, Justin Timberlake, Rihanna and Taylor Swift, and is shaping up to be an awards show to remember. As a rap magazine, it’s only right we weigh in on the major categories for hip-hop: Best Rap Performance, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Album.
Here’s who we predict will walk away with a Grammy. We even threw in our two-cents on the marquee categories—Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. With just a handful of days away, continue reading to see if any of your favorite nominees made our cut.—Eric Diep (@E_Diep)
Best Rap Performance
Nominees:
Drake Ft. Lil' Wayne, "HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right)"
Label: Cash Money Records; Track from: Take Care
Jay-Z & Kanye West, "N****s In Paris"
Label: Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC; Track from: Watch the Throne
Nas, "Daughters"
Label: Def Jam; Track from: Life is Good
Kanye West Ft. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz, "Mercy"
Label: G.O.O.D. Music / Island Def Jam; Track from: Cruel Summer
Young Jeezy Ft. Jay-Z & André 3000, "I Do"
Label: Def Jam; Track from: TM 103: Hustler's Ambition
Prediction: Jay-Z & Kanye West, "N****s In Paris"
This is one of those categories where you wish it encompassed more underground talent. Regardless, the mainstream produced several hits that stayed heavily on your playlist. Again, it’s hard to pick a clear winner since all these songs are big for different audiences. However, we see Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Niggas In Paris” receiving the award for the Best Rap Performance.
Jay won one last year with Swizz Beatz for “On to the Next One.” Together with ‘Ye, he plans on going for a victory rap as The Throne based on the fact that “Paris” was so inescapable. Just on The Throne tour alone, watching them break record after record for consecutive performances of “Paris” was surreal. Who else can play a song 11 times and still get people hyped?
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Nominees:
Flo Rida Ft. Sia, "Wild Ones"
Label: Poe Boy/Atlantic; Track from: Wild Ones
Jay-Z & Kanye West Ft. Frank Ocean & The-Dream, "No Church In The Wild"
Label: Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC; Track from: Watch the Throne
John Legend Ft. Ludacris, "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)"
Label: Epic Records; Track from: N/A
Nas Ft. Amy Winehouse, "Cherry Wine"
Label: Def Jam; Track from: Life is Good
Rihanna Ft, Jay-Z, "Talk That Talk"
Label: Def Jam; Track from: Talk That Talk
Prediction: Nas Ft. Amy Winehouse, "Cherry Wine"
While Rihanna and Jay-Z have served up several smash hits in the past, you can’t deny the chemistry found between Nas and the late Amy Winehouse. “Cherry Wine,” produced by Salaam Remi, contains Nasir’s most intimate storytelling as he describes his ideal woman. On Life is Good that touches on a lot of personal topics, “Cherry Wine” standouts as a memorable collaboration about romance. It’s the perfect song to win this category.
Best Rap Song
Nominees:
Nas, "Daughters"
Label: Def Jam; Track from: Life Is Good
Wale Ft. Miguel "Lotus Flower Bomb"
Label: MMG/Warner Bros.; Track from: Ambition
Kanye West Ft. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz, "Mercy"
Label: G.O.O.D. Music; Track from: Cruel Summer
Drake ft. Lil Wayne, "The Motto"
Label: Cash Money Records; Track from: Take Care
Jay-Z & Kanye West, "N****s In Paris"
Label: Roc-A-Fella Records; Track from: Watch The Throne
Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa Ft. Bruno Mar, "Young, Wild & Free"
Label: Atlantic; Track from: Mac And Devin Go To High School: Music From And Inspired By The Movie
Prediction: Drake ft. Lil Wayne, "The Motto"
Put Drake’s new single on pause for a second. Remember, Drizzy’s “The Motto?” The song, which was a bonus cut off Take Care, grew into a larger phenomenon thanks to “you only live once” or YOLO. Plus, “The Motto” was fresh and fun, vastly different from what we were hearing from him back in 2011. The minimal production of 808s and handclaps–with Drizzy, Lil Wayne and a later add-on, Tyga, rapping about living fast–combined to make a song where you could feed off its energy. There’s no doubt that the YOLO anthem of the year will crown Drake a winner.
Best Rap Album
Nominees:
Drake, Take Care
Label: Cash Money Records
Lupe Fiasco, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1
Label: Atlantic
Nas, Life Is Good
Label: Def Jam
The Roots, Undun
Label: Island Def Jam
Rick Ross, God Forgives, I Don't
Label: Def Jam
2 Chainz, Based On A T.R.U. Story
Label: Island Def Jam
Prediction: The Roots, Undun
The legendary Roots crew’s 13th studio album, Undun, transcends the rest of the nominees for its originality. The album that follows the life of Redford Stephens is narrated through the expert storytelling of Black Thought. With ?uestove’s production reinterpreted through lush and vibrant 1970s soul, the combination allows the album to have many cinematic moments worth soaking in. Undun thrives as a piece of work that pushes boundaries for concepts project in hip-hop. The Roots, who have been the house band for Late Night With Jimmy Fallon since 2009, have a good chance of being the front-runner to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album.
Record of the Year
Nominees:
The Black Keys, "Lonely Boy"
Label: Nonesuch; Track from: El Camino
Kelly Clarkson, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"
Label: RCA Records/19 Recordings Limited; Track from: Stronger
Fun. Ft. Janelle Monáe, "We Are Young"
Label: Fueled By Ramen; Track from: Some Nights
Gotye Ft. Kimbra, "Somebody That I Used To Know"
Label: Universal Republic; Track from: Making Mirrors
Frank Ocean, "Thinkin Bout You"
Label: Def Jam; Track from: Channel Orange
Taylor Swift, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
Label: Big Machine Records; Track from: Red
Prediction: Frank Ocean, "Thinkin Bout You"
Hip-hop is largely unrepresented in this coveted category. However, the much-respected Frank Ocean could take the Grammy home with his endearing single, “Thinkin’ Bout You.” Ocean, who has six nominations this year, also reached another milestone with Channel Orange going gold. The R&B star is up against artists like fun., Gotye and Taylor Swift, who all had huge singles, too. It’s a tough call, but the momentum would be a good look for Ocean if he beats them out and wins.
Song of the Year
Nominees:
Ed Sheeran, "The A Team"
Label: Elektra; Track from: +
Miguel, "Adorn"
Label: RCA/Bystorm Entertainment; Track from: Kaleidoscope Dream
Carly Rae Jepsen, "Call Me Maybe"
Label: 604 Records/Schoolboy Records/Interscope; Track from: Kiss
Kelly Clarkson, "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"
Label: RCA Records/19 Recordings Limited; Track from: Stronger
Fun. Ft. Janelle Monáe, "We Are Young"
Label: Fueled By Ramen; Track from: Some Nights
Prediction: Miguel, "Adorn"
Miguel’s introductory track off his sophomore effort, Kaleidoscope Dream, is likely to win Song of the Year. "Adorn" burned up both the R&B and pop charts and gained mass appeal for its lyrics about favoring a significant lover. The crooner speaks on longing, yearning and protecting, where his sultry vocals welcomed you into his world. For R&B traditionalists, "Adorn" shows that someone like Miguel can channel the smoothness of Marvin Gaye with his own twist. He is also nominated for five Grammys elsewhere, but we expect him to win this honor.
Album of the Year
Nominees:
The Black Keys, El Camino
Label: Nonesuch
Fun., Some Nights
Label: Fueled By Ramen
Mumford & Sons, Babel
Label: Glassnote
Frank Ocean, Channel Orange
Label: Def Jam
Jack White, Blunderbuss
Label: Third Man/Columbia Records
Prediction: Frank Ocean, Channel Orange
Each of these albums has debuted high on the Billboard Top 200 during their first week sales. In terms of impact, Ocean’s follow-up to 2011’s nostalgia, Ultra mixtape was heralded for reinvigorating R&B by speaking about relationship, sex and drugs through a truth telling lens. Channel Orange has become one of the most well received projects in both hip-hop and R&B. In light of his open love letter he posted on his Tumblr last July, Ocean is aiming to change and break barriers in his music. With that said, he has a strong chance to take home a Grammy.
Best New Artist
Nominees:
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean
Prediction: Fun.
Fun., the indie band based out of New York, are strong contenders in this category. Two of their singles–“We Are Young” and “Some Nights”–dominated the radio and Billboard Top 100 for its classic bubble-pop sound. Those were the most unavoidable songs of 2012. Their sophomore set, Some Nights, also contained 10 tracks of catchy songs that were worth a listen. With the band’s journey to success marred by ups and downs, fun. has enough support to win Best New Artist.