My 2018 Grammy Hopefuls

The Grammy's are tomorrow!

I gotta be honest. 2017 was a really good year in music. I say this as a music lover a whole different era: the late 80's-early 90's R&B and Hip Hop. But, oh, the music of 2017 had me listening to new music and the radio every chance I could get. Here's who I hope gets those little gramophones tomorrow night.

Record of the Year - this category is actually very hard this year. For once, I have listened to all of the nominations and enjoyed them all for different reasons. "24K Magic" is my jam, and "Redbone" sometimes has me in my feelings, but "HUMBLE" should take it all. Beat is sickening, lyrics are flame emojis, and everyone knows this part: "My left stroke just went viral!"

Album of the Year - There aren't too many albums that I can listen to from beginning to end, and honestly that's what I did to 24K Magic. However, DAMN. was so damn good. You have to really listen and let his words digest in your soul. Also, I don't have Tidal. How you gonna do me like that, Jay-Z?

Song of the Year - I'm going to be a little simpler here. My 2 year-old cousin loves "That's What I Like." Nuff said.

Best New Artist - Hands down, SZA came through with her smooth, challenging sound made her more of a sensation than I thought. I thought all of the quirky girls loved her, but oh no. Everyone does. She has this in the bag.

Best R&B Performance - this is a hard category for me because I love R&B more than anything else. "Get You" became a new wedding song for Millennials, but "The Weekend"? Simply put, it's relate-able. SZA explores the myriad of thoughts and emotions that people have when in that type of situation. No matter where the universal moral compass is steered, her experience was made into art.

Best R&B Song - Another hard category because all of the songs are great, but "Supermodel" kinda hits you in the gut. I love a powerful female voice, and she fearlessly expresses all of those girly emotions that we feel sometimes. Raw, uncut, and strong.

Best Rap Performance - Several of these songs I can easily bump to, but the top dog? "HUMBLE." Also, see Record of the Year. Side note: the music video is bananas.

Best Rap/Sung Performance - I know people are more than likely fawning over Family Feud by the Carters, but two other songs grabbed my attention: "LOYALTY" and "Love Galore." Both heavy-hitting songs. "LOYALTY" I think should get it. If nothing else, Rihanna was done dirty last year after putting out such a good album, ANTI.

Best Rap Song - For a good while, I really didn't know who Cardi B was, and that was during her reality TV days. "Bodak Yellow" was her official introduction. She's one of the songwriters, and some of her lyrics are her life. She really doesn't dance anymore. Them two mixtapes released in six months? You can find them on Spotify. The mixing and mastering of this song does not follow the normal flow of a song, and she only has two verses. This woman earned the Grammy for this one.

Best Rap Album - Look, I don't have Tidal, and I haven't been convinced to really so otherwise, I would possibly listened to 4:44 if given the chance. Besides all that, I hope Kendrick wins for DAMN. It was easier to digest for the average music listener, and he came even harder in his lyricism and overall theme.

Those are all of my hopefuls. Only five or so will be televised live tomorrow night, but the big categories are saturated with urban music selections, so we're in for a very good show. Do you have any hopefuls? Let me know in the comments!