Instead of Kendrick Lamar dominating each of these categories as similar to 2016, there’s a lot more Drake than I anticipated which could lead to a few upsets for some of rap’s biggest nominees (see 2016 list here).

Best Rap Performance (Category 22)
Chance The Rapper (feat. Lil’ Wayne and 2 Chainz) – No Problem
Desiigner – Panda
Drake (feat. The Throne) – Pop Style
Fat Joe and Remy Ma (feat. French Montana and Infared) – All The Way Up
ScHoolboy Q (feat. Kanye West) – That Part

Who Should Win: Fat Joe and Remy Ma (feat. French Montana and Infared) – All The Way Up

Who Will Win: ScHoolboy Q (feat. Kanye West) – That Part

The ten year comeback of Remy Ma proved to be her most profitable move since 2005’s “Conceited”, but ScHoolboy Q’s first collaboration with Kanye is one of the best rap performances of the year.

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Best Rap/Sung Performance (Category 23)
Beyoncé (feat. Kendrick Lamar) – Freedom
Drake – Hotline Bling
D.R.A.M. (feat. Lil’ Yachty) – Broccoli
Kanye West (feat. Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin, and the The-Dream) – Ultralight Beam
Kanye West (feat. Rihanna) – Famous

Who Should Win: Kanye West (feat. Rihanna) – Famous

Who Will Win: Drake – Hotline Bling

While Kanye and Rihanna always mesh effortlessly together, Drake utilizes his singing and rapping combined to deliver his most profitable single of all-time – a figure that’s sure to go rewarded at this year’s ceremonies.

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Best Rap Song (Category 24)
Fat Joe and Remy Ma (feat. French Montana and Infared) – All The Way Up
Songwriters: Joseph Cartagena, Edward Davadi, Shandel Green, Karim Kharbouch, Andre Christopher Lyon, Reminisce Mackie, and Marcello Valenzano
Kanye West (feat. Rihanna) – Famous
Songwriters: Chancelor Bennett, Ross Birchard, Ernest Brown, Andrew Dawson, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein, Kejuan Muchita, Patrick Reynolds, Kanye West, and Cydel Young
Drake – Hotline Bling
Songwriters: Aubrey Graham and Paul Jefferies
Chance The Rapper (feat. Lil’ Wayne & 2 Chainz) – No Problem
Songwriters: Chancelor Bennett, Dwayne Carter, and Tauheed Epps
Kanye West (feat. Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin, and The-Dream) – Ultralight Beam
Songwriters: Chancelor Bennett, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Kirk Franklin, Noah Goldstein, Samuel Griesemer, Terius Nash, Jerome Potter, Kelly Price, Nico “Donnie Trumpet” Segal, Derek Watkins, Kanye West, and Cydel Young

Who Should Win: Kanye West (feat. Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin, and The-Dream) – Ultralight Beam

Who Will Win: Fat Joe and Remy Ma (feat. French Montana and Infared) – All The Way Up

As well as “Ultralight Beam” did for both Kanye and Chance, I didn’t it was the best written song by either artist. “All The Way Up”, however, is an all-out lyrical assault and should be awarded greatly for its songwriting.

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Best Rap Album (Category 25)
Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book
De La Soul – And The Anonymous Nobody
DJ Khaled – Major Key
Drake – Views
ScHoolboy Q – Blank Face LP
Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo

Who Should Win: Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo

Who Will Win: Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book

This category is one of the most bothersome because of the lack of female albums nominated. In a male-dominated category where women are undermined, Chance the Rapper shines the brightest for his self-released ‘Book’ tape.