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Who will come out on top at the 60^th Grammy Awards? The Musical Hype makes our final picks for who will take home Grammys on January 28, 2018.

On November 28, 2017, the nominees/nominations were announced for the 60^th Grammy Awards.  The nominations as a whole represented relevancy, a step that the Recording Academy has been easing into over the last couple of years in particular.  Notably, there’s great diversity in the nominees, with few left-field surprises.  Arguably, this is the best crop of nominations yet because it matches the current musical climate, for better or for worse. Here are The Musical Hype final picks for the 60^th Grammy Awards.

 

Here’s the legend how to read our Grammy picks:  

✓ Projected Winner

+  Should Win

*  Dark Horse

Contenders within each category are also in boldface print.

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General Field

Legend:  

✓ Projected Winner

+  Should Win

*  Dark Horse

Record of The Year

“Redbone” (Childish Gambino)

✓ “Despacito” (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Ft. Justin Bieber)

“The Story of O.J.” (JAY-Z)
+ “HUMBLE.” (Kendrick Lamar)
* “24K Magic” (Bruno Mars)

Comments: Like the swing states in a presidential election, this one is a bit too close to call.  Likely, either Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar, or Bruno Mars go home victorious. My personal preference is “Humble” over both “Despacito” and “24K Magic,” but this might be the best shot for the 16-week reigning Hot 100 no. 1 Latin-pop hit to earn major recognition.

 

 

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Album of The Year

“Awaken, My Love!” (Childish Gambino)
4:44 (JAY-Z)

✓+ DAMN. (Kendrick Lamar)

Melodrama (Lorde)

* 24K Magic (Bruno Mars)

Comments: DAMN, it should hands-down go to Kendrick Lamar, but it’s not a done deal.  Third time’s charm never happened for Kanye West, who released his share of superb albums up for ‘the big one,’ and Eminem has also fallen short.  The last rap album to win? OutKast’s eclectic Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.  Bruno Mars has a legitimate shot at the perceived upset. He’s a Grammy darling and 24K Magic has widespread appeal beyond the rap audience.  Lorde is a consideration, but I’m skeptical of the lack of nominations for Melodrama beyond the coveted prize, as well as the cool impact of the album compared to other pop released in 2017 (Ed Sheeran was bigger for example, even if Lorde was arguably better).

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Song of The Year

* “Despacito” (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber)

“4:44” (JAY-Z)

“Issues” (Julia Michaels)

✓+  “1-800-273-8255” (Logic Featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid)

* “That’s What I Like” (Bruno Mars)

Comments: Personally, the social message of “1-800-273-8255” may be too big and relevant to pass up.  Still, Bruno Mars seems to be the artist with the most potential to sweep ROTY, AOTY, and SOTY, so it wouldn’t be shocking if no. 1 hit “That’s What I Like” won.  “Despacito” is also a contender. Not certain it wins both record and song though…

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Best New Artist

✓+ Alessia Cara

* Khalid

Lil Uzi Vert

Julia Michaels

* SZA

Comments: Three of five artists stand out here: Alessia Cara, SZA, and Khalid.  Likely, Alessia Cara wins by a nose, but SZA and Khalid are right there.  The fact that “Issues” oddly got a song of the year nod should give Julia Michaels some hope, but it feels like a stretch.  In regards to Lil Uzi Vert, it’s just an honor to be nominated… NOT HAPPENING.

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Pop

Legend:  

✓ Projected Winner

+  Should Win

*  Dark Horse

Best Pop Solo Performance

✓+  “Praying” (Kesha)

* “Million Reasons” (Lady Gaga)

“What About Us” (P!nk)

“Love So Soft” (Kelly Clarkson)

+ “Shape of You” (Ed Sheeran)

Comments:  Three performances are truly competitive in this category: “Million Reasons,” “Praying,” and “Shape of You.” As big as “Shape of You” was, it may be hard to vote against it.  That said, I like “Praying” for the upset, with “Million Reasons” in strong contention.  Point spread: -1 Kesha, + 1 Ed Sheeran.

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Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Something Just Like This” (The Chainsmokers & Coldplay)

✓+  “Despacito” (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber)

“Thunder” (Imagine Dragons)

* “Feel It Still” (Portugal. The Man)

“Stay” (Zedd & Alessia Cara)

Comments: This is the best shot for “Despacito,” but Portugal. The Man are highly deserving for “Feel It Still.”

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Best Pop Vocal Album

Kaleidoscope EP (Coldplay)

Lust for Life (Lana Del Rey)

Evolve (Imagine Dragons)

+ Rainbow (Kesha)

* Joanne (Lady Gaga)

✓ ÷ (Divide) (Ed Sheeran)

 

Comments: While I like Kesha for the upset in the Pop Solo Performance category (“Praying” over “Shape of You”), Ed Sheeran will win the Pop Vocal Album battle. Is ÷ better than Rainbow? No, but, it deserves some recognition. Lady Gaga is in this battle as well.

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Rock/Alternative

Legend:  

✓ Projected Winner

+  Should Win

*  Dark Horse

Best Rock Album

Emperor of Sand (Mastodon)

✓+ Hardwired…To Self-Destruct (Metallica)

The Stories We Tell Ourselves (Nothing More)

* Villains (Queens of The Stone Age)

A Deeper Understanding (The War on Drugs)

Comments: Queens of the Stone Age vs. Metallica.  Metallica comes out on top.

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Best Alternative Music Album

* Everything Now (Arcade Fire)

Humanz (Gorillaz)

✓ American Dream (LCD Soundsystem)

+ Pure Comedy (Father John Misty)

* Sleep Well Beast (The National)

 

Comments: You never know with this category.  It’s always tough to win.  The most deserving is Father John Misty. LCD Soundsystem made a comeback, which may tickle the fancies of the recording academy.  The National have a great album on their hands with Sleep Well Beast.  Then there’s always Arcade Fire. Odd man out: Gorillaz. Too close to call.

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R&B

Legend:  

✓ Projected Winner

+  Should Win

*  Dark Horse

Best R&B Performance

“Get You” (Daniel Caesar featuring Kali Uchis)

“Distraction” (Kehlani)

“High” (Ledisi)

✓ +  “That’s What I Like” (Bruno Mars)

* “The Weekend” (SZA)

Comments: This is a race between Bruno Mars and SZA. Both “That’s What I Like” and “The Weekend” are great R&B records.  Personally, I wish both could win.  But, likely Bruno Mars comes out on top.

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Best Traditional R&B Performance

 

“Laugh and Move On” (The Baylor Project)

✓ +  “Redbone” (Childish Gambino)

“What I’m Feelin’” (Anthony Hamilton featuring The Hamiltones)

“All the Way” (Ledisi)

“Still” (Mali Music)

Comments: “Redbone.”  It should be noted that these other performances are excellent.

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Best Urban Contemporary Album

Free 6LACK (6LACK)

✓ +  “Awaken, My Love!” (Childish Gambino)

American Teen (Khalid)

* Ctrl (SZA)

Starboy (The Weeknd)

Comments: Album of the year nominee Childish Gambino comes out on top, but SZA is right on his heels. Khalid is right on her heels.

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Best R&B Album

* Freudian (Daniel Caesar)

Let Love Rule (Ledisi)

✓ +  24K Magic (Bruno Mars)

Gumbo (PJ Morton)

Feel the Real (Musiq Soulchild)

Comments: It’s not even close. Bruno Mars, 24K Magic FTW.  For the sake of argument, Freudian would be the dark horse.

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Rap

Legend:  

✓ Projected Winner

+  Should Win

*  Dark Horse

Best Rap Performance

“Bounce Back” (Big Sean)

“Bodak Yellow” (Cardi B)

* “4:44” (JAY-Z)

✓ +  “HUMBLE.” (Kendrick Lamar)

“Bad and Boujee” (Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert)

Comments: “4:44” is a great song – good enough to win.  But, if things go as expected, Kendrick Lamar wins the heavyweight battles with Jay-Z throughout the course of the Grammys.

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Best Rap/Sung Performance

“PRBLMS” (6LACK)

“Crew” (Goldlink featuring Brent Faiyaz & Shy Glizzy)

* “Family Feud” (JAY-Z featuring Beyoncé)

✓ “LOYALTY.” (Kendrick Lamar featuring Rihanna)

* “Love Galore” (SZA featuring Travis Scott)

 

Comments: Toss-up. Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, or SZA have a great shot at this one.  If you consider Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar the frontrunners, SZA could pull off the upset.

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Best Rap Song

* “Bodak Yellow” (Cardi B)

“Chase Me” (Danger Mouse featuring Run the Jewels & Big Boi)

✓+  “HUMBLE.” (Kendrick Lamar)

“Sassy” (Rapsody)

* “The Story of O.J.” (JAY-Z)

Comments: This is a tight one. My guess is it breaks for either Jay-Z or Kendrick Lamar. I’ll keep to the theory that this is Kendrick Lamar’s year, even with more Jay-Z nominations.  Cardi B shouldn’t be ruled out, but both Kendrick/Jay have the better songs.

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Best Rap Album

+ *4:44 (JAY-Z)

✓+ DAMN. (Kendrick Lamar)

Culture (Migos)

Laila’s Wisdom (Rapsody)

Flower Boy (Tyler, The Creator)

 

Comments: It comes down to Jay-Z or Kendrick Lamar.  DAMN., I wish it could be a tie, but it’s going to be a DAMN. victory for Kendrick Lamar.  Jay-Z is in it to win it by all means.  Hard to see a giant killer (Tyler, the Creator, Migos, Rapsody).

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Country

Best Country Album

Cosmic Hallelujah (Kenny Chesney)

Heart Break (Lady Antebellum)

The Breaker (Little Big Town)

Life Changes (Thomas Rhett)

✓+  From A Room: Volume 1 (Chris Stapleton)

Comments: Chris Stapleton. Mark it.

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