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Three of the hottest acts in hip-hop — Drake, Cardi B and Kendrick Lamar — are among the acts battling it out in the record of the year category at the 61st annual Grammy Awards.
The field has expanded from the traditional five nominations to eight in 2019 in this category, as well as in the other three general-field races — album of the year, song of the year (awarded to songwriters) and best new artist.
More nominees means more storylines, more chances of an upset and, organizers are hoping, more reasons for you to watch when the Grammys are broadcast live on CBS beginning at 5 p.m. Feb. 10 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Let’s break down the field and see who has the best chance of winning the Grammy for record of the year.
Nominees:
“I Like It,” Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin; “The Joke,” Brandi Carlile; “This Is America,” Childish Gambino, “God’s Plan,” Drake; “Shallow,” Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper; “All the Stars,” Kendrick Lamar & SZA; “Rockstar,” Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage; “The Middle,” Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
The Breakdown:
Grammy voters have never once affirmed a hip-hop track as record of the year, preferring to honor bland blockbusters from the likes of Celine Dion, Phil Collins and Bruno Mars instead.
So, that might lead one to believe that they will once again go with an overplayed, mainstream pop tune. But which one is the leading candidate? Well, “The Middle” is mediocre (even though Maren Morris is not) and “The Joke” seemingly has a better shot for song of the year (a songwriter’s award). “Shallow” is an attractive bet, for sure, since Grammy folks can beat their Oscar counterparts to the punch in honoring this song.
Yet, the feeling here is that a hip-hop song will finally break through in 2019, with the one delivered by a Pulitzer-winning artist being the most likely suspect.
Prediction:
“All the Stars” will win the Grammy Award for record of the year.
