Way, Way Too Early Grammy Predictions for 2017

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?