2008 Grammy Predictions (Rap Categories) - Page 2

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

• "Southside" - Common featuring Kanye West [Geffen]
• "Make It Rain" - Fat Joe featuring Lil’ Wayne [Terror Squad Entertainment]
• "Party Like A Rockstar" - Shop Boyz [OnDeck/Universal Republic Records]
• "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" - UGK featuring OutKast [Jive]
• "Better Than I've Ever Been" - Kanye West, Nas & KRS-One [Nike]

Although "Party Like A Rockstar" is the only recognizable hit from the Shop Boyz, the song, without a shadow of doubt, was one of the year’s most successful hits. The song topped Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks chart and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. [SIDENOTE: The only reason "Party" didn't reach #1 on the Hot 100 is due to the long, successful run of Rihanna's "Umbrella."]

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

• "I Wanna Love You" - Akon featuring Snoop Dogg [SRC/Universal Motown]
• "Kiss, Kiss" - Chris Brown & T-Pain [Jive]
• "Let It Go" - Keyshia Cole featuring Missy Elliott & Lil' Kim [Confidential Records/Geffen]
• "Umbrella" - Rihanna featuring Jay-Z [Def Jam Recordings]
• "Good Life" - Kanye West featuring T-Pain [Roc-A-Fella]

Kanye West has been nominated in this category three times, without winning: "Slow Jamz" (2005), "All Falls Down" (2005) and "They Say" (2006). Under normal circumstances, I would expect a fourth loss for Kanye West, but voter sentiment may be in his favor. Ultimately, a win for "Good Life" will depend on the answers to the following two questions: (1) Will Rihanna's "Umbrella" be blessed and win in the Grammy’s general field, as Song of the Year or Record of the Year? (2) Will Academy voters throw sentimental support behind Kanye West, due to Grammy history and his mother's death? If so, "Good Life" will reign supreme. My money is still on Rihanna's "Umbrella."

Best Rap Song

• "Ayo Technology" (performed by 50 Cent featuring Justin Timberlake) - Nate (Danja) Hills, Curtis Jackson, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake [Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records; Publishers: 50 Cent Music Publishing/Virginia Beach Music/Danjahandz Music/WB Music Corp./Tenman Tunes]
• "Big Things Poppin'" (performed by T.I.) - Clifford Harris & Byron Thomas [Grand Hustle/Atlantic; Publishers: Crown Club Publishing/Warner Chappell Music, Fresh Is The Word]
• "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (performed by Kanye West) - Aldrin Davis & Kanye West [Roc-A-Fella; Publishers: Very Good Beats/Hip Hop Since 1978]
• "Crank That" (performed by Soulja Boy Tell'Em) - Soulja Boy Tell'Em [Collipark/Interscope Records; Publisher: Element 9 Recordings]
• "Good Life" (performed by Kanye West featuring T-Pain) - Aldrin Davis, Mike Dean, Faheem Najm & Kanye West [Roc-A-Fella; Publishers: Yellow Brick Road Music/Eiseman Music/EMI Blackwood Music/Please Gimme My Publishing/Careers BMG Music Publishing, Warner-Tamerlane Publishing]

Kanye West has been nominated in this category two times. Luckily for West, both nominations (2005's "Jesus Walks" and 2006's "Diamonds from Sierra Leone") spawned a Grammy win. This year, I would expect another win; however, I expect a split of votes between "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and "Good Life" that will leave Kanye West empty-handed. Oh, what a sad day it will be, when Soulja Boy accepts the Best Rap Song Grammy for "Crank That."

Article Author: Clayton Perry

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