The envelope, please: It’s time for our editorial team to make predictions for the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, which airs live on Sunday, January 26 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Fifteen-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys returns for a second year as host.
For those who haven’t subscribed yet to Rated R&B, we’ve spent the last few days counting down to the biggest night in music with in-depth features on various artists and categories, including Brandy and Bryson Tiller pit against each other in the Best R&B Performance for their respective duets.
Beyoncé can make history for women of color in the Best Pop Vocal Album category, while the Best R&B Album honor is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Although the votes have already been cast for this year’s Grammys, we’re still taking a stab at who we think will take home trophies. But before we share our predictions, take a moment to revisit the nominees in each R&B category.
Best R&B Performance
For new vocal or instrumental R&B recordings.
“Love Again” – Daniel Caesar & Brandy
“Could’ve Been” – H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller
“Exactly How I Feel” – Lizzo featuring Gucci Mane
“Roll Some Mo” – Lucky Daye
“Come Home” – Anderson .Paak featuring André 3000
Best Traditional R&B Performance
For new vocal or instrumental traditional R&B recordings.
“Time Today” – BJ The Chicago Kid
“Steady Love” – India.Arie
“Jerome” – Lizzo
“Real Games” – Lucky Daye
“Built for Love” – PJ Morton Featuring Jazmine Sullivan
Best R&B Song
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
“Could’ve Been” – Dernst Emile II, David “Swagg R’Celious” Harris, H.E.R. & Hue “Soundzfire” Strother, songwriters (H.E.R. Featuring Bryson Tiller)
“Look at Me Now” – Emily King & Jeremy Most, songwriters (Emily King)
“No Guidance” – Chris Brown, Tyler James Bryant, Nija Charles, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Michee Patrick Lebrun, Joshua Lewis, Noah Shebib & Teddy Walton, songwriters (Chris Brown Featuring Drake)
“Roll Some Mo” – David Brown, Dernst Emile II & Peter Lee Johnson, songwriters (Lucky Daye)
“Say So” – PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton Featuring JoJo)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded contemporary vocal tracks derivative of R&B.
Apollo XXI – Steve Lacy
Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) – Lizzo
Overload – Georgia Anne Muldrow
Saturn – Nao
Being Human in Public – Jessie Reyez
Best R&B Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new R&B recordings.
1123 – BJ The Chicago Kid
Painted – Lucky Daye
Ella Mai – Ella Mai
Paul – PJ Morton
Ventura – Anderson .Paak
Anders’ Predictions:
Best R&B Performance
“Roll Some Mo” — Lucky Daye
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Steady Love” – India.Arie
Best R&B Song
“Could’ve Been” – Dernst Emile II, David “Swagg R’Celious” Harris, H.E.R. & Hue “Soundzfire” Strother, songwriters (H.E.R. Featuring Bryson Tiller)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) – Lizzo
Best R&B Album
Painted – Lucky Daye
Ella Mai – Ella Mai
Follow Anders on Twitter @andersdotcom
Antwane’s Predictions
Best R&B Performance
“Could’ve Been” – H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Built for Love” – PJ Morton featuring Jazmine Sullivan
Best R&B Song
“No Guidance” – Chris Brown, Tyler James Bryant, Nija Charles, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Michee Patrick Lebrun, Joshua Huizar, Noah Shebib & Teddy Walton, songwriters (Chris Brown Featuring Drake)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) – Lizzo
Best R&B Album
Painted – Lucky Daye
Follow Antwane on Twitter @9thwonderofPR.
Danielle’s Predictions:
Best R&B Performance
“Love Again” – Daniel Caesar & Brandy
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Built for Love” – PJ Morton featuring Jazmine Sullivan
Best R&B Song
“Say So” – PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton featuring JoJo)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) – Lizzo
Best R&B Album
PAUL – PJ Morton
Follow Danielle on Twitter DaniBKnowing_
Keithan’s Predictions:
Best R&B Performance
“Love Again” – Daniel Caesar & Brandy
Best Traditional R&B Performance
“Built for Love” – PJ Morton featuring Jazmine Sullivan
Best R&B Song
“No Guidance” – Chris Brown, Tyler James Bryant, Nija Charles, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Michee Patrick Lebrun, Joshua Lewis, Noah Shebib & Teddy Walton, songwriters (Chris Brown Featuring Drake)
Best Urban Contemporary Album
Cuz I Love You (Deluxe) – Lizzo
Best R&B Album
Ella Mai – Ella Mai
Follow Keithan on Twitter @iamKeithan.