
Best Rap Album:
Too Close to call
Likely nominees: Kanye West, The Life of Pablo; Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book; Kendrick Lamar, Untitled Unmastered; Drake, Views
Rap album will be tough this year – period. Any of the four nominees stand a shot (you’d have to check into Chance the Rapper’s eligibility of course), but choosing which direction the recording academy will go for is tough. Kanye West hasn’t won the category in years, while Kendrick Lamar won last year for To Pimp A Butterfly. Drake has been victorious once with his best album, Take Care. Views isn’t considered to be Drake’s best, but it’s been a juggernaut nonetheless.

Best Country Album:
Maren Morris, Hero
Other likely nominees: Sturgill Simpson, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth; Dierks Bentley, Black; Keith Urban, Ripcord
At times, in the country category, newcomers have been awarded. While Morris has released several albums, Hero is her biggest of note. Sturgill Simpson definitely deserves recognition, but his previous album didn’t receive any from the Grammys. Could A Sailor’s Guide to Earth be his time?

Way, Way Too Early Grammy Predictions for 2017
Published by the musical hype on
Best Rap Album:
Too Close to call
Likely nominees: Kanye West, The Life of Pablo; Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book; Kendrick Lamar, Untitled Unmastered; Drake, Views
Rap album will be tough this year – period. Any of the four nominees stand a shot (you’d have to check into Chance the Rapper’s eligibility of course), but choosing which direction the recording academy will go for is tough. Kanye West hasn’t won the category in years, while Kendrick Lamar won last year for To Pimp A Butterfly. Drake has been victorious once with his best album, Take Care. Views isn’t considered to be Drake’s best, but it’s been a juggernaut nonetheless.
Best Country Album:
Maren Morris, Hero
Other likely nominees: Sturgill Simpson, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth; Dierks Bentley, Black; Keith Urban, Ripcord
At times, in the country category, newcomers have been awarded. While Morris has released several albums, Hero is her biggest of note. Sturgill Simpson definitely deserves recognition, but his previous album didn’t receive any from the Grammys. Could A Sailor’s Guide to Earth be his time?
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the musical hype
The Musical Hype (he/him) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education and music theory/composition, respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Music and writing are two of the most important parts of his life.
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