Tonight’s
Album of the Year
- Alabama Shakes, Sound and Color
- Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly
- Chris Stapleton, Traveller
- Taylor Swift, 1989
- The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness
soulhead Pick:
Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly
Between the fearless vocals of Brittany Howard & the confident vision of Kendrick Lamar…….both albums are fresh & focused for our musical world. Although this is a toss up, we feel Kendrick will take this award!
Song of the Year
- Kendrick Lamar, “Alright”
- Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”
- Little Big Town, “Girl Crush”
- Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
- Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”
soulhead Pick:
Kendrick Lamar – Alright
In this society of the young & seasoned lives of Black Men in America, this song became an anthem not just for these communities throughout the nation but it also gave people on the outside looking in a clear picture of how a young Black man & his peers are feeling. Every emotion is intertwined into every lyric on this song.
Record of the Year
- D’Angelo and the Vanguard, “Really Love”
- Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk”
- Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”
- Taylor Swift, “Blank Space”
- The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel my Face”
soulhead Pick:
Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
The entire summer belonged to this song right here. The old school funk of that bassline & Bruno Mars’ passoniate vocals…….made everyone get funky.
Best New Artist
- Courtney Barnett
- James Bay
- Sam Hunt
- Tori Kelly
- Meghan Trainor
soulhead Pick:
Tori Kelly
………if you’ve never heard of her, investigate now.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
- Florence + The Machine, ” Ship to Wreck”
- Maroon 5, “Sugar”
- Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk”
- Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar, “Bad Blood”
- Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
soulhead Pick:
Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
The entire summer belonged to this song right here. The old school funk of that bassline & Bruno Mars’ passoniate vocals…….made everyone get funky.
Best Urban Contemporary Album
- Ego Death – The Internet
- You Should Be Here – Kehlani
- Blood – Lianne La Havas
- Wildheart – Miguel
- Beauty Behind The Madness – The Weeknd
soulhead Pick:
The Internet – Ego Death
This album was the best kept secret of last year & hopefully them winning, the secret will be finally be out.
Best R&B Album
- Coming Home – Leon Bridges
- Black Messiah – D’Angelo And The Vanguard
- Cheers To The Fall – Andra Day
- Reality Show – Jazmine Sullivan
- Forever Charlie – Charlie Wilson
soulhead Pick:
D’Angelo And The Vanguard – Black Messiah
With songs like “Another Life, The Charade, 1000 Deaths & Really Love”, The Academy will award him for his 15 year musical hiatus.
Best Rap Performance
- Apparently – J. Cole
- Back To Back – Drake
- Trap Queen – Fetty Wap
- Alright – Kendrick Lamar
- Truffle Buttter – Nicki Minaj Featuring Drake & Lil Wayne
- All Day – Kanye West Featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom & Paul McCartney
soulhead Pick:
Drake – Back To Back
Everyone in Hip-Hop doubted Drake was all in shock when “Back To Back” dropped. This if I’m not mistaken is the first “DISS” track ever nominated for a Grammy & it’s well deserved.
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
- One Man Can Change The World – Big Sean Featuring Kanye West & John Legend
- Glory – Common & John Legend
- Classic Man – Jidenna Featuring Roman GianArthur
- These Walls – Kendrick Lamar Featuring Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat
- Only – Nicki Minaj Featuring Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown
soulhead Pick:
Kendrick Lamar Featuring Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat: These Walls
Amazing song with outstanding collaborations.
Best Rap Song
- All Day – Kanye West Featuring Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom & Paul McCartney
- Alright – Kendrick Lamar
- Energy – Drake
- Glory – Common
- Trap Queen – Fetty Wap
soulhead Pick:
Kendrick Lamar – Alright
Close race but it should be Kendrick’s night.
Best Rap Album
- 2014 Forest Hills Drive – J. Cole
- Compton – Dr. Dre
- If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late – Drake
- To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar
- The Pinkprint – Nicki Minaj
soulhead Pick:
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
Hands Down, this record should win.