Tonight’s Grammy Awards should be a fun time especially with Kendrick Lamar leading the way with 11 nominations. We are really looking forward to the performances and general drama around the ceremony. In advance, here are our staff picks for the awards:
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.
