Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Big Sean ft. Kanye West and John Legend – “One Man Can Change the World”
Common and John Legend – “Glory”
Jidenna ft. Roman GianArthur – “Classic Man”
Kendrick Lamar ft. Bilal, Anna Wise, and Thundercat – “These Walls”
Nicki Minaj ft. Drake, Lil Wayne, and Chris Brown – “Only”
Who Will Win: Kendrick Lamar ft. Bilal, Anna Wise, and Thundercat – “These Walls”
Who Should Win: Kendrick Lamar ft. Bilal, Anna Wise, and Thundercat – “These Walls”
“These Walls”. Because, come on. It’s one of the best songs on one of the best albums of 2015, featuring one of the best rappers (if not the best), one of the best vocalists, and one of the best bassists of the decade. And if this is not enough, add a never-equaled chemistry to it, ill verses and crazy instrumentals. The judges shouldn’t be “conflicted” for that one.
Best Rap Performance
J. Cole – “Apparently”
Drake – “Back to Back”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Wayne – “Truffle Butter”
Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
Who Will Win: Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Who Should Win: Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
“Trap Queen” exploded in 2015, about a year after its release, and as a song, it’s pretty damn good. However, in terms of performance, K-dot is the ultimate master, and “Alright” is his finest work. From the silences, to the verses, the quotes and the chorus Kendrick Lamar is strong and amazing. It’s actually quite impressive to be able to put in such variety in barely three minutes. Wether in terms of emotions and feeling (from realization to revolt and hope) or in terms of lyrical references and musical spectre. It must be worth something… hopefully a Grammy.
Best Rap Song
Kanye West ft. Theophilus London, Allan Kingdom, and Paul McCartney – “All Day”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Drake – “Energy”
Common and John Legend – “Glory”
Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
Who Will Win: Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
Who Should Win: Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
OK, so we said “Trap Queen” was a pretty good song. And of course, the judges agree (it wouldn’t be on that list if they didn’t). But it seems to us, the only true -let alone best- rap song in there is Kendrick Lamar’s anthem. It really looks like most, if not all the other nominees are simply “poppified” rap tracks. Furthermore, “Alright” actually stands for something, it’s an anthem to the same degree as “Glory”. Only Kendrick Lamar exhibits the issue in the rawest way possible, beautifully attacking the perpetrators.
Best Rap Album
J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive
Dr. Dre – Compton
Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Nicki Minaj – The Pinkprint
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Who Will Win: Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
Who Should Win: Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
The fact that Kendrick Lamar has been nominated for nearly half of all the categories really is a sign of his greatness. To Pimp a Butterfly is one of the best albums of last year and certainly the best rap album of 2015. Perhaps, only Drake or J. Cole could give Lamar a run for his money; not even Dr. Dre (Compton was considered by many to be an OK album, but a disappointment coming from such a great artist), and certainly not Nicki Minaj’s Pinkprint because… never mind.