Every music fan’s favorite topic of bitter and indignant conversation is here: the Grammy Awards. The ceremony will take place just a few days from now on Sunday, March 2 at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com arena, with broadcasts from CBS and the Paramount+ streaming network. Also, the event will specifically focus on raising funds for the city’s wildfire relief. In any case, there’s a lot more conversation around these Grammys that goes beyond anger over what they get right and wrong.
Whether it’s diss tracks poised to (maybe) take home some big awards, award season snubs with their last chance to hit it big, or emerging industry darlings, the 2025 Grammy Awards have a lot to live up to. So, from a hip-hop and R&B-centric perspective, let’s take a look at the relevant awards, predict who will win, and pick who we think deserves the golden gramophone.
The Best R&B Performances
First up we have the Best R&B Performance category, which includes nominees like Jhené Aiko with “Guidance,” Chris Brown with “Residuals,” and Coco Jones with “Here We Go (Uh Oh).” While these are all pretty solid selections, we’d have to pick SZA with “Saturn” for the award thanks to its multiple sticky vocal runs, additional harmonizations, and well-fitting dreaminess given the instrumental. However, when it comes to what the Grammys will pick, we’re predicting Muni Long with “Made For Me (Live On BET).” It just fits better with the precedent of previous winners, boasts the most expressive and powerful vocal performance, and its live recording adds that extra award season kick.
Next, for Best Traditional R&B Performance, the race is a bit tighter due to strong showings from Lucky Daye, Marsha Ambrosius, and another Muni Long highlight (she’s got big chances!). When talking about that classic soul, the tenderness of the cut leads us to pick Kenyon Dixon with “Can I Have This Groove.” We wouldn’t be mad at all, though, if our prediction of Lalah Hathaway with “No Lie” featuring Michael McDonald comes true, which is more dramatic. They’re both very warm records with rich musicianship, so no love lost there.
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