Each year, once the Grammy nominations are announced, the writers at LiFTED take a deep look at the artists and have a long conversation about who could win, who should win, and why. Then we write about it. We only choose the categories that apply to us like the Hip Hop and big ones because who wants to listen to seven Rock albums, right? Here we go.
Best Rap Album
J. Cole — Might Delete Later
Common & Pete Rock — The Auditorium, Vol. 1
Future & Metro Boomin — We Don’t Trust You
Eminem — The Death Of Slim Shady
Doechii — Alligator Bites Never Heal
This is the one category that Kendrick Lamar doesn’t dominate, so we won’t pick him. The Auditorium is an amazing piece of work with Common really flowing over a top-notch selection of Pete Rock beats. Might Delete Later is a pretty amazing album that often gets overlooked because of the Kendrick versus Drake battle. Deep down, though, we know that the Grammys are going to pick Eminem for this one because it’s him.
Best Rap Song
Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar – Like That
Glorilla – Yeah Glo!
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Rapsody & Hit-Boy – Asteroids
¥$, Kanye West, Ty Dolla $ign & Rich the Kid feat. Playboi Carti – Carnival
Kendrick is battling himself here and he’ll win with ‘Not Like Us.’ The Cali banger has been the biggest Hip Hop song of the year and has had influence on everything from sports teams to presidential campaigns. Ku Fu Kenny for president 2028!
Best Rap Performance
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
GloRilla – Yeah Glo!
Eminem – Houdini
Cardi B – Enough [Miami]
Doechii – NISSAN ALTIMA
Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar – Like That
Common, Pete Rock, and Posdnuos – When The Sun Shines Again
We are confused why Cardi B’s ‘Enough’ is on here, but happy that Pos from De La Soul gets a Grammy nomination. Again, it’s Kendrick versus himself versus Eminem. We choose Kendrick.
Best Melodic Rap Performance
Jordan Adetunji feat. Kehlani – Kehlani
Beyoncé feat. Linda Martell and Shaboozey – Spaghettii
Future and Metro Boomin feat. The Weeknd – We Still Don’t Trust You
Latto – Big Mama
Rapsody feat. Erykah Badu – 3:AM
Who makes up these categories? What is a Melodic Rap Performance? It would be amazing for ‘3:AM’ by Rapsody and Erykah Badu to win but are the Grammys that forward-thinking? It’s doubtful. They need to give some hardware to Beyoncé to get her to actually show up, so let’s give ‘Spaghetti’ the award here.
Album of the Year
André 3000 — New Blue Sun
Beyoncé — Cowboy Carter
Sabrina Carpenter —Short n’ Sweet
Charli XCX — Brat
Jacob Collier — Djesse Vol. 4
Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft
Chappell Roan — The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
Taylor Swift — The Tortured Poets Department
André 3000’s New Blue Sun is definitely something, but it’s not Album of the Year. Bravery of the Year? Chillout while getting LiFTED of the year? Album of the Year is pushing it for sure. While Country music is not our favorite, Cowboy Carter getting the Album of the Year would be a big FU to the Country Music Awards who didn’t even nominate Beyoncé.
Song of the Year
Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe!
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – Die With a Smile
Sabrina Carpenter – Please Please Please
Shaboozey – A Bar Song [Tipsy]
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – Fortnight
Just say no to Taylor Swift! While we know we should bet on Kendrick, Shaboozey’s remake of ‘Tipsy’ has sat at the top of the charts for a record amount of time this year and should earn him Song of the Year.
Record of the Year
The Beatles – Now And Then
Beyoncé – Texas Hold ’Em
Billie Eilish – Birds of a Feather
Chappell Roan – Good Luck, Babe”
Charli XCX – 360
Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us
Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – Fortnight
This is Kendrick’s year so we’re going all in even though this feels like just an excuse to give The Beatles another Grammy. No! No! No! They not like us!
