Just recently the nominations have been revealed for the 2025 Grammys. The past couple years the Grammys have been stepping up their game for nominations, but this year they fumbled with some of them. I’m going to go over all the rap categories and give my suggestions for the categories. 

Best Rap Performance

For this year the list includes:

•  “Enough (Miami),” Cardi B
• “When the Sun Shines Again,” Common & Pete Rock feat. Posdnuos 
• “NISSAN ALTIMA,” Doechii 
• “Houdini,” Eminem
•  “Like That,” Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
•  “Yeah Glo!,” GloRilla 
• “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar

 This section I do not think has the worst nominations but they could have given the nod to a couple of more deserving candidates. They do not give any mentions to J. Cole, ScHoolboy Q, or even 21 Savage who has been nominated before, but was snubbed even after releasing his pretty solid album in January. You could make an argument for all of them for some of the best performances. J. Cole had a really great performance on his new song “Crocodile Tears” of his album Might Delete Later. He does a really hard hitting performance with clever wordplay and great production to back it up. ScHoolboy Q I think could have a spot for his song “Blueslides” were he was being transparent with his struggles with money. With 21 Savage, I think he should have been nominated for his song “redrum”.  His catchy flow and rhythm works so well with the production on the song. While this category is a pretty easy win for either “Like That” or “Not Like Us” it would have been nice to see a couple better performances get the spotlight.

Best Rap Song

The nominations for best rap song are: 

• “Asteroids” (Rapsody feat. Hit-Boy)
• “Carnival” (¥$ (Kanye West & Ty Dolla $Ign) feat. Rich the Kid & Playboi Carti)
•  “Like That” (Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar)
•  “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar)
•  “Yeah Glo!” (GloRilla)

 I think that Don Toliver’s song “Brother Stone” featuring Kodak Black should have gotten a spot. Don Toliver released an album this year, but I don’t think it could have a spot for best rap album mainly because it is more overall a R&B project. With this song, it uses unique piano based instrumental with Kodak’s and Don Toliver’s sporadic flows, making this a really creative song deserving of a nomination.

Best Rap Album

For this year the nominations are: 

• Might Delete Later – J. Cole
• The Auditorium, Vol. 1 – Common & Pete Rock
• Alligator Bites Never Heal  – Doechii 
• The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) – Eminem
• We Don’t Trust You  – Future & Metro Boomin 

With the best rap album I don’t think these are all bad picks, but they are not the strongest. Might Delete Later is not a bad album, but I don’t think it should have a spot next to We Don’t Trust You and even The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce). I think J. Cole’s nomination should have gone to Schoolboy Q with his fantastic and critically acclaimed BLUE LIPS album that was released in March of 2024. It features ScHoolboy Q reflecting on his career as a whole and considering where it took him. For me, I think Denzel Curry’s album King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2 deserves a spot. It had a couple hit songs with strong verses from Denzel Curry and some of the guest verses on the album. It experimented with Memphis style hip-hop and a more modern twist. I think that J. Cole’s Might Delete Later and Common and Pete Rock’s album The Auditorium, Vol. 1 are not the most deserving of nominations especially with the strong year for rap this year. The rest of the nominations I think are good picks that deserve the nod for the Grammy.

In conclusion the Grammys have been doing a somewhat poor job at giving quality nominations. They have not done the worst job in the selections, but they have been improving slowly over the past couple of years. Let us hope for improvement in the future, and let’s hope for more recognition for all artists in the music industry.