Here Are Our 2018 Grammy Predictions

From Best New Artist to Best Rap Song, here are our picks for who's going to come away from this weekend with some hardware.

bruno mars
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Image via Kevin Mazur/Getty

bruno mars

Let's not jinx it, but this might be the first year the Grammys get it right. 

After years—decades, really—of complaints about how the voting board behind music's biggest award show is missing the point, 2018's slate of nominees gesture towards and Academy that's shaking itself awake. From two rap albums in the Album of the Year category to Lil Uzi Vert, SZA, and Khalid vying for Best New Artist to Donald Glover potentially making the keynote speech, this year's award show promises to actually reflect the best music that came out last year. It may be too little, too late, but it's refreshing to see a slate of nominees that don't elicit automatic groans. 

We took a look at all the categories and picked the nominees most likely to come away with hardware, who would win in a perfect world, and which artists to keep an eye on in each category. These are our predictions for the 2018 Grammys. 

Album of the Year

bruno mars

Record of the Year

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Will Win: Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee f/ Justin Bieber, "Despacito"

It seems inevitable that the Grammys, always slow to pick up on what's happening in popular culture, will belatedly recognize that people listen to music in languages other than English. And the natural place to start is with a song that already has 4.7 billion views on YouTube. 

Should Win: Childish Gambino, "Redbone"

Donald Glover is a polymath: standup comic, actor, writer, rapper, Lando Calrissian, and creator and showrunner of arguably the best program on television. So it only makes sense that when he wants to make what is basically a P-Funk album, he's somehow able to do that too. What "Awaken, My Love!" highlight "Redbone" lacks in originality, it more than makes up for in soul, passion, and surprisingly convincing Prince-style screams.

Dark Horse: Kendrick Lamar, "HUMBLE"

Kendrick is owed at least two Album of the Year trophies by now. So it's possible, if unlikely, that acknowledgement of that fact will lead to K. Dot triumphing in this category

Song of the Year

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Will Win: Bruno Mars, "That’s What I Like"

Should Win: Jay-Z, "4:44"

Dark Horse: Logic f/ Alessia Cara & Khalid, "1-800-273-8255"

Best New Artist

alessia cara

Best Rap Album

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Best Rap Song

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Will Win: Cardi B, "Bodak Yellow"

It’ll be tough to top the sheer cultural force of “Bodak Yellow,” which feels like the undeniable lock in every category it’s nominated in. And you can’t knock Cardi B for it either; 2017 was her year, with “Bodak Yellow” leading the charge. But if we’re going off the credentials laid out for this particular category...

Should Win: Jay-Z, "The Story of O.J."

Jay Z’s “The Story of O.J.” has the merit to score the trophy. The lyricism, narrative, and execution of this song is top-notch. Hov has also won this award three times in the past, so familiarity could be key this time around.

Dark Horse: Kendrick Lamar, "HUMBLE"

It feels weird to call Kendrick’s “Humble” a dark horse pick considering it counts as his first No. 1 single as a lead artist and effectively kick-started the immense success of Damn. This category is stacked, and with K-Dot up for several other awards he’s worthy of, he could lose out here and still have a big night regardless. Or, this award could be the beginning of a historic night

Best Rap Performance

Cardi B "Bodak Yellow"

Best Rap/Sung Performance

jay z beyonce

Best R&B Song

bruno mars

Best R&B Performance

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Best Urban Contemporary Album

childish gambino

Producer of the Year

kurstin

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