2018 Grammy Predictions

The 60th GRAMMY Awards are upon us, and we, at BoldLatina, are ready to see Luis Fonsi perform, as well as the rest of our Brown and Black people represent on stage. This year, the industry will be sporting white roses to support #TimesUp.

Here are our predictions (in green below) for some of the major categories. How accurate are they? Tune in to the show on Sunday, Jan. 28 on CBS, check your local listings.

Record Of The Year
(Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s) and mastering engineer(s), if other than the artist.)

Redbone / Childish Gambino

Despacito/Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber

The Story Of O.J./ JAY-Z

HUMBLE./ Kendrick Lamar

24K Magic/Bruno Mars

This is a tough one because we love all these records, all four artists are great in their own way. But, we gotta go with our Puerto Rican, Luis Fonsi.

Album Of The Year
(Award to Artist(s) and to Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s) credited with at least 33% playing time of the album, if other than Artist.)

“Awaken, My Love!”/Childish Gambino

4:44/JAY-Z

DAMN./Kendrick Lamar

Melodrama/Lorde

24K Magic/Bruno Mars

Another difficult choice, but we gotta give it to Brooklyn native, Mr. Carter. 4:44 exposed JAY-Z’s vulnerabilities, and it opened the conversation on the importance of mental health, LGBTQ awareness, and infidelity. All taboo topics among men of color.

Song Of The Year

(A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

Despacito

4:44

Issues

1-800-273-8255

That’s What I Like

Rooting again for Puerto Rico on this one!

Best New Artist

(An artist will be considered for Best New Artist if their eligibility year release/s achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and notably impacted the musical landscape.)

Alessia Cara

Khalid

Lil Uzi Vert

Julia Michaels

SZA

This one is a toss-up between these two, we’ll be happy if either wins. If you are not familiar with their music, get on it!

Best Pop Solo Performance

(For new vocal or instrumental pop recordings. Singles or Tracks only.)

Love So Soft- Kelly Clarkson

Praying – Kesha

Million Reasons – Lady Gaga

What About Us – P!nk

Shape Of You – Ed Sheeran

Major girl power on this category, and we love it! This one is for Mother Monster.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

(For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative pop recordings. Singles or Tracks only.)

Something Just Like This – The Chainsmokers & Coldplay

Despacito – Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber

Thunder – Imagine Dragons

Feel It Still – Portugal. The Man

Stay – Zedd & Alessia Cara

While we would prefer Bieber not be part of this, we are still rooting for Puerto Rico. If Daddy Yankee doesn’t join Fonsi on stage, we will riot.

Best Pop Vocal Album

(For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal pop recordings.)

Kaleidoscope EP – Coldplay

Lust For Life- Lana Del Rey

Evolve – Imagine Dragons

Rainbow – Kesha

Joanne – Lady Gaga

÷ (Divide) – Ed Sheeran

Gaga took a leap of faith in the creative process of this album, she deserves the recognition.

Best R&B Performance

(For new vocal or instrumental R&B recordings.)

Get You- Daniel Caesar Featuring Kali Uchis

Distraction – Kehlani

High – Ledisi

That’s What I Like – Bruno Mars

The Weekend – SZA

Daniel Caesar is the artist you got to add to your playlists, and this collaboration with Colombian-American, Kali Uchis is one to play on repeat.

Best Rap Performance

(For a Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

Bounce Back – Big Sean

Bodak Yellow – Cardi B

4:44 – JAY-Z

HUMBLE. – Kendrick Lamar

Bad And Boujee – Migos Featuring Lil Uzi Vert

Cardi B, the Queen of the Billboard charts is our pick. Migos gets MAJOR thumbs down for Offset’s recent homophobic comments.

Best Rap/Sung Performance

(For a solo or collaborative performance containing both elements of R&B melodies and Rap.)

PRBLMS – 6LACK

Crew – Goldlink Featuring Brent Faiyaz & Shy Glizzy

Family Feud – JAY-Z Featuring Beyoncé

LOYALTY. – Kendrick Lamar Featuring Rihanna

Love Galore – SZA Featuring Travis Scott

Power to the Carters for addressing their marital issues in the form of two of the best albums ever recorded.

Best Rap Song

(A song must contain music and lyrics and must be either a new song or a song first achieving prominence during the eligibility year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.))

Bodak Yellow

Chase Me

HUMBLE.

Sassy

The Story Of O.J.

Give Cardi the Grammy already!

Best Rap Album

(For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new rap recordings.)

4:44- JAY-Z

DAMN. – Kendrick Lamar

Culture – Migos

Laila’s Wisdom – Rapsody

Flower Boy – Tyler, The Creator

Mr. Carter for the win.

Best Latin Pop Album

(For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new Latin pop recordings.)

Lo Único Constante – Alex Cuba

Mis Planes Son Amarte – Juanes

Amar Y Vivir En Vivo Desde La Ciudad De México, 2017 – La Santa Cecilia

Musas (Un Homenaje Al Folclore Latinoamericano En Manos De Los Macorinos) – Natalia Lafourcade

El Dorado – Shakira

Mexico for the win! Let’s talk about Natalia Lafourcade’s version of Coco’s “Remember Me” with Miguel, get the tissues ready.

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album

(For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new Latin rock, urban or alternative recordings.)

Ayo – Bomba Estéreo

Pa’ Fuera – C4 Trío & Desorden Público

Salvavidas De Hielo – Jorge Drexler

El Paradise – Los Amigos Invisibles

Residente – Residente

Please watch the documentary Residente on Netlix, and thank us later.

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)

(For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new regional Mexican (banda, norteño, corridos, gruperos, mariachi, ranchera and Tejano) recordings.)

Ni Diablo Ni Santo – Julión Álvarez Y Su Norteño Banda

Ayer Y Hoy – Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga

Momentos – Alex Campos

Arriero Somos Versiones Acústicas – Aida Cuevas

Zapateando En El Norte – Humberto Novoa, producer (Various Artists)

La madre de todas las bandas for the win.

Best Tropical Latin Album

(For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new tropical Latin recordings.)

Albita – Albita

Art Of The Arrangement – Doug Beavers

Salsa Big Band – Rubén Blades Con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta

Gente Valiente – Silvestre Dangond

Indestructible – Diego El Cigala

Rubén Blades already took the Latin Grammy, we are counting on him getting this one too.