Grammy Family Week ’19 | Best New Artist & Record of the Year
The grand finale. Thanks for rockin’ with us. Enjoy.
BEST NEW ARTIST
Chloe x Halle
Dayo: The first time I heard these two sisters sing was during Sunday’s Super Bowl. (Patriots forever. TB12. GOAT Talk. SIX OF THEM THINGS!!!) *clears throat* Singing on that big of a stage is a good look. I know them as the “twins” on Grown-ish even though they’re not really twins in real life. It’s a little offensive that the showrunners think we assume all black girls look the same, but they were kinda right as no one has openly complained, so two points for you. Also, I’m reading now they got the Beyonce cosign so…[end of positive sentiment].
Kenny: I can’t name one song these girls sing. I thought they just did covers on the internet, but I do know these girls are Beyonce’s proteges and they’re fresh off the Super Bowl appearance so issa major look. As much as it would be dope, I can’t see the Academy giving one sister an award for BNA, let alone two!
Mae: I love these two and for the culture, I really want them to win. They’ve worked their asses off from Youtube fame to Beyonceness to Grown-ish to the Super Bowl. I know the Super Bowl had slim pickens this year as far as performers go, but even so… their voices are beautiful, their music is inspiring, they’re chocolate as fuck and quite honestly, they really deserve it. Still can’t believe they’re not twins tho.
Luke Combs
Dayo: Tell me you ain’t see this name and think this was one of Diddy’s kids. I was feeling hella proud for a hot second. Luke got a song with 200 million spins on Spotify and this shit is more poppin’ than half them country songs I reviewed on Tuesday. With that said, I really don’t think you can win this award if you walk down the streets of New York City and have not a single person recognize you. He’s ugly is what I’m trying to say. BUT. As an ugly person myself, I stan for people like him who have the raw talent to overcome that.
Kenny: Disappointed that this wasn’t one of Diddy’s kids. On the contrary, my man looks like he ate at least two of Diddy’s kids. Definitely not the prototypical look for a country star but respect to the big boy. Not that I’m a connoisseur of country music, but even I can tell that the faces of the genre are shifting and today’s country artists look and sound nothing like they did when we grew up. I’m all for the gentrification of the genre like this.
Mae: Ima just say right now that I’m biasly going into this category. If I haven’t heard of you, that’s probably for a reason. With Spotify’s help, I’m gonna listen to a bit of each artist tho…EXCEPT Luke Combs. I just hit play and nope, Nope, NOPE! Ya girl just can’t really get down with country and Luke Combs isn’t gonna change that.
Greta Van Fleet
Dayo: Kenny told us yesterday 1 ) this isn’t one person and 2 ) none of the said people are women. I had to re-Google it because I still didn’t believe him. Great job on the naming convention. It’s gotta really boost their search engine rankings, even on Bing and shit. They strike me as a band that has a very small, but loud and passionate base. If they don’t win on Sunday, I feel like there will be thousands of Twitter fingers going off. At the same time, no one will care. Does that make sense?
Kenny: Talked about this guys yesterday as nominees for Best Rock song. I respect their grind. All four members are from MoTown and all originally bonded over blues, but they have been getting hella comparisons to Led Zeppelin, which isn’t a terrible thing. I don’t see this group winning this award, but I think their ceiling is Imagine Dragons-level.
Mae: Thanks, Kenneth for the GVF catch up. Another group/artist/whatever that I’m not really tryna get to know. I can easily see how mofos looove this group/whatever they are and I can kinda get down with it, but I don’t care enough. Def sounds movie soundtrack worthy, but is that really what the GRAMMYs are rewarding?
H.E.R.
Dayo: What’s left to say that I haven’t already said? She’s the rare child prodigy who actually came to fruition. She was destined for greatness and has lived up to the hype. Focus. Lost Ones. That chune with Daniel Caesar. Baby girl can sing sing, no cap.
Kenny: Mini-Ella Mai has been buzzing for a little bit and apparently she’s been a child prodigy but H.E.R music doesn’t do anything for me (see what I did there?) IMO, female Bryson Tiller isn’t bringing anything new to the table that SZA or Solange hasn’t done, but she has FIVE GRAMMY noms. FIVE! So whatever she’s doing is apparently working.
Mae: My older sister first put me on to H.E.R. which is cray because I stay on top of music and she doesn’t. I instantly fell in love. Her moody tracks about how men have once again failed her have become the soundtrack to many moody nights for black women, myself included. I still CANNOT believe she’s so young and honestly, it makes me feel a little bad about myself. Am I immature? Have I not been through enough pain and suffering? Do I need to date even more trash men so I can create content like H.E.R.’s? I wouldn’t go as far as Kenny to say that she’s a female Bryson because she actually has talent, but I am surprised that the mainstream music world seems to fuck with her heavy. I’d be super happy if she got this win.
Dua Lipa
Dayo: So I didn’t really know who she was until September 2017. She opened up for the best male performer of our generation, Bruno Mars. You know when you go to concerts and the whole crowd is waiting for the main act so they pay the opening acts no mind? Yeah, the opposite of that happened. Madison Square Garden gotta hella live to her set. I say all that to say she’s pretty dope and I hope she doesn’t come and go like many before her. Basically, if you have an accent, I will love you. I’m shallow.
Kenny: Oddly enough, the one artist on this list I feel very “meh” about is the one artist that I also believe will win this award. Go figure. I think that’s pretty symbolic of everyone’s feelings towards the GRAMMYs nowadays. They very seldom get it right and the legit best artists usually never win.
Mae: I kinda feel like Dua Lipa should have been nominated for this last year, especially since she been Brit-famous. New Rules was my MOTHER FUCKING SHIT. I played it no less than 273 times in a row and the video? 😍#anthem Unfortunately, the follow-ups failed to captivate me accordingly and I forgot that she existed. Idk what her success has been in the States since, but meh.
Margo Price
Dayo: OMFGGGG. Hurtin’ on repeat forever. Close your eyes. No, close them. Stop reading this post and close your eyes. Don’t make me ask again. Now I want you to read this next sentence with your eyes closed. This song was made SPECIFICALLY for a family shot montage on the TV show Parenthood. Open your eyes. Couldn’t you picture it? You never watched Parenthood? Jesus Christ. Well, they don’t appreciate you like I do Margo. They never did and they never will.
Kenny: Never heard of Margo Price before today, but all I know is she looks like a country Meghan Trainor so that might work in her favor considering Meghan won BNA in the past.
Mae: No idea who this chick is. Am I lost because I don’t live in America? Maegan is my name and music is my game so I don’t understand where all of these no names came from. I just hit play and omg more country music? GRAMMYs — please note that there are other genres of music. Please?
Bebe Rexha
Dayo: It’s just me, myself and I. Bebe has a very unique voice. Like I can’t even describe it. Hollow sounding? It’s really unique. If I was blindfolded and she committed a crime, I would be walking into the SVU precinct hella confident. Even more impressive is she writes for a lottttt of your favorite artists (if Iggy Azalea is one of your favs). She’s 2019 Ne-yo. But can you be a new artist if you’ve technically been writing for people for years? IDK. But as someone who is older than her (by seven days), I had some wise words of advice — keep up the good work kid.
Kenny: Fun fact: her actual real name is Bleta Rexha. I thought the “X” in her last name was a stylistic choice. Her EP All Your Fault Pt. 2 has some slappers on there and to me, Bebe Rexha is if Ellie Goulding and Rihanna had a little ethnic Albanian baby. Also, did you know that Beba Rexha was in an experimental band with Pete Wentz? Not many people did.
Mae: I didn’t really pay attention to this chick until the Breakfast Club mentioned her a few weeks ago. With that said, I do like her voice and her music, from the little of it that I’ve heard. I’m a Mess & Say My Name I know the best and my love of J Balvin clouds my judgment, but so far, Bebe’s my winner.
Jorja Smith
Dayo: My my my. I had a whole version of this where I wrote 500 words objectifying her, but that would be a disservice to her actual talent. The skincare goodness won’t get confused with a classically trained singer, but she’s a hell of a songwriter and her debut album went all the way in. Her name is Jorja and she has a song called On My Mind which is also a random thing I love. I’m the New York chapter president of her fan club, but I’m like 90% sure Kenny is gonna say some sassy Drake shit in reference to her.
Kenny: Why did you have to drag Drake 2 hours to your family’s house? For what!? How you got a new guy who does the same thing he does for a living but way less wavy? Why must you hit him up only when you make it? You had potential damnit! He could’ve shaped it!! But you know what? Most of these things I don’t want to say. Jorja is a certified ting, but she ain’t new and she ain’t the best artist.
Mae: I really hope Dayo doesn’t kill me for this, but aside from Jorja’s contribution to one of my fave Drake albums, I really don’t get homegirl’s appeal. I could drink 3 Americanos back-to-back (hehe) and still instantly knock out listening to her music. Her voice sans Drizzy’s harmonizing is….uneventful? Boring? Lackluster? All of the above.
PREDICTED WINNERS — BEST NEW ARTIST
Dayo — H.E.R.
Kenny — Dua Lipa
Maegan — Chloe x Halle
RECORD OF THE YEAR
I Like It — Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
Dayo: Pa-pa-paparazzi like I’m Lady Gaga. The only “queen” I acknowledge. I know Nicki Minaj and Beyonce stans are BIG MAD reading that, but Cardi B had arguably the biggest year of anyone in music. Which is something because she done come a longggg way. I am, more than anything, proud of her. When middle America talks about the American dream — how if you just work hard enough, you can make it in this country — I imagine Cardi B is what they envisioned. A former stripper spitting that hot fire. This song is flames. Everyone knows it. I be getting my Spanglish off during Bad Bunny and J Balvin’s verses. Shouts to my Boricuas, Colombianas, Dominicanas, et ceteranas.
Kenny: TODOS MIS LATINOS, STAND UP!!! This record is the hands down winner. You can’t tell me nothing else. I don’t even want to discuss the other songs on this list. If this song doesn’t win, it means that MAGA and the Alt-Right have won. This song is for all the “Dreamers”. This is for all of us first generation kids! This song is for every kid whose bare skin has ever come in contact with the bottom of a flip-flop attached to the hand of their parent. THE REVOLUTION WILL BE TELEVISED!
Mae: “I SAID I LIKE IT LIKE THAT!” Whether or not this gets ROTY, let’s be clear that this is def Sample of the Year. There is no one (at least on the Western Hemisphere) — regardless of race, age and gender — who doesn’t know Pete Rodriguez’s “I Like It Like That” and that alone made it a guaranteed hit. On top of that, the fact that Cardi collabed with Latino superstars Bad Bunny & J Balvin basically guaranteed that this would be an international hit. From Thailand to Morocco to Cambodia, I heard this track EVERYWHERE last year and I only spent a month of it in America. Major props to whoever made this happen. IN CARDI WE TRUST. I haven’t looked at the other noms yet, buttt I’m leaning toward this being my winner.
The Joke — Brandi Carlile
Dayo: Listen….actually read cause you’re technically reading this. I fuck with the piano. I fuck with this soulful vibe. I fuck with that baby violin. Anyone who knows me knows this has the elements of the weird indie shit I listen to when I’m alone, but if this shit wins ROTY, I’m going apeshit, no Carters. I feel like she’s talking shit, but she’s doing so in the most deadpan of ways. It’s like if Michael Cera said he was gonna shoot me. I would just laugh and knock the gun out of his hand. Just like I wanna knock whoever nominated this.
Kenny: Is the joke that this song is nominated? I’m being serious. When I first saw this song listed, I did the Snoop Dogg “WHO!?”
Mae: Never heard of this song in my fucking life, but ok… I’m bored as fuck from jump, especially after just listening to “I Like It”, but I’m trying to give this a fair chance. [three minutes later] Her voice is cool I guess, but no. Just no.
This is America — Childish Gambino
Dayo: I’ve read some things that the video makes this song. While the music video was the best of 2018 in my opinion, this song still goes. I hear this song while I’m on the subway and it takes all my restraint NOT to gwara gwara on these bitches. I’d argue there is no more diverse musical act right now in music than Childish Gambino. I’m pretty sure he’s finna dabble in country music and make a smash a la Nelly just to prove he can. Which makes news of him “retiring from music” even harder to swallow.
Kenny: It’s no secret that we here at GT are self-proclaimed Donald Glover lovers. If you haven’t already, peep my post about Bino’s Top 5 Underrated Songs. This Is America was undoubtedly the video of the year and it burned the internet to the ground immediately upon its release. Unfortunately, I feel like this joint is too real for the YT’s to recognize it as ROTY.
Mae: Gambinoooo. If you’re unaware, Dayo, Kenny and I are day one Gambino stans. With that said, without the video, this song wouldn’t get me as hype as it does. It was seriously the music video seen all over the world and as a day one, I’m super proud of him. I loooove the content and the video is arguably the most extraordinary of the year, buttt as a track, I think it’s way too conscious for the GRAMMYs to award as the winner. Sidenote: My fave part of this track remains all of the adlibs from rappers like 21 Savage, Young Thug, Quavo, etc. I still remember cyber-dissecting the track/video with these 2 dudes above. (Btw, if you haven’t heard, our Gchat is lit. Invite only tho; sorry kids).
God’s Plan — Drake
Dayo: Ahh yes, one of my favorite music videos from this past year. (Karena Evans is the one.) The Drake formula has been much discussed, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Rappers rap A LOT about other people wishing for their downfall. Is this really a thing? Do people gather around and make a list of people they hope stop succeeding? If so, I would like to be invited to these meetings moving forward. Top of the list? Tonald Drump. Tummy Tea salespeople. I’m-not-racist-I-have-black-friends-people. R.Kelly. McDonald’s employees who get stingy with the sauces. Anyway, if nothing else, this song beats the competition in terms of meme-ability.
Kenny: I think I speak for everyone when I say we all remember where we were when this joint dropped. A very monumental video for a song that was made for radio. I can’t say enough great things about the 6 God, but since I feel like a majority of hip-hop artists have pretty much banned the GRAMMYs, it’s not in God’s plan for this song to win.
Mae: Might go down as G-O-D! To be clear, just in case you aren’t already lol, this is my fave video of 2018. It gives me allll the feels, but again, we’re here to talk about the track, not the vid (and not the amazing double album). As a track, it gets me dumb hype and emo at the same time which is just a mindfuck. I think I love this song so much because it just makes me wanna be home with my homies and to watch us all win. As the great Harriet Tubman once said, “I win, we win.” With that said, of all the 2018 Drizzy hits out there, In My Feelings DEF should have been fucking nominated for Record of the Year. Idk how the fuck God’s Plan got nominated instead, but GRAMMYs, you fucked up.
Shallow — Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
Dayo: I once said I had seen 100 pictures of Lady Gaga and still had no idea what she looked like. That has since changed. I ain’t peep the movie, but I seen her on her press junket looking like a contributing member of society instead of like this. She shows off some nice vocal range on this joint from the A Star is Born soundtrack. Also, this is a good look for my son Bradley. I didn’t even know this dude could semi-sing. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if you told me any actor/actress was a world-class vocalist. Oh, Kevin Hart got his start as a child star on Broadway? Believable. Big ups to LG & BC for this nice little joint.
Kenny: Despite all the rave reviews from the movie, I honestly have no desire or intention to watch it. I’m sure it is great. BCoop is a good actor. I love Gaga without makeup. I love a good love story, but maybe the fact that I haven’t seen the movie yet limits me from fully appreciating the song. With that being said, watch this shit win.
Mae: Never heard this song in my life, have no intention of ever watching this movie. I’m not even tryna be salty, I just genuinely don’t give a fuck, you know? From what I hear, it’s a love story of sorts and everyone bawls their eyes out when they watch it? Sounds like a lot of shit that my black heart gives no fucks about. Anywho, as a track, issa no for me dawg. Gimme techno R&B Gaga or I don’t want it.
All The Stars — Kendrick Lamar & SZA
Dayo: I, like Maegan, struggle a bit to get allll the way into Kendrick Lamar because I wholeheartedly believe he has a terrible rap voice. Like actively bad. I assume it is intentional, but it’s tough for me to put the amount of focus required to listen. With that said, his voice is palatable on this song, where he shows off what we already know — he is an amazing rapper. (I’ll save my peak Lupe is a better lyricist than him for another day.) SZA also floats on this, but that’s what Afua’s doppelgänger does. With that said, a little surprised this is up for ROTY. It’s good, but one of the best eight records from last year? That’s gonna be a no from me dawg.
Kenny: They played this song constantly on the radio and I changed stations every single time it came on. I love Kendrick. I like SZA. I don’t love this song. I did, however, see Kendrick and SZA perform this song in person and I will say that it actually sounds a lot better live. The Black Panther soundtrack might be one of the dopest movie soundtracks in a while though so shoutout to K.Dot for that. RIP T’Challa..
Mae: More Kendrick, yayyy 😑. I love the Zapp & Roger influence on the track tho and SZA on the chorus. I’m actually kinda shocked that this is nominated for Record of the Year. Idk who the GRAMMY committee is, but they need us geniuses. As much as I can vibe with the track and I can see how it’s a radio hit, it’s not worthy of the win.
Rockstar — Post Malone (ft. 21 Savage)
Dayo: POST. MALONE. DOES. NOT. MISS. He’s a dirty looking motherfucker, but that’s why audio-only platforms were created. Mr. White Iverson himself had himself a hell of a year and Rockstar is no exception. I’ve never partaken in the rockstar behavior detailed in this song, but it sounds disgusting and degrading to women (in case #bae is reading this). I’m glad Post didn’t go the country music route like he was planning on doing. I don’t think that community would have accepted a grill wearing, face tattoo having, weekly showerer, 23-year-old attending the CMAs. P.S. #Free21Savage and #AbolishICE.
Kenny: Free the bloke 21 Savage bruv! Ya’ll already know I fucks with Posty the long way (pause), but there ain’t no way in hell the GRAMMYs are going to award a song ROTY with lyrics like “Ayy, I’ve been fuckin’ hoes and poppin’ pillies, man, I feel just like a rockstar”. Not in Trump’s America.
Mae: K so, Posty’s confusing culture-vulture comments aside, I’ve never understood the hate. I don’t feel like he’s out here tryna be the next Pac and really he doesn’t even rap, he just does that like singing/talking thing that I’m convinced is here to stay (French artists do it better tho). Additionally, THIS SONG WAS MY SHITTT. I was late to Post wave, but wypipo doing what wypipo do eventually made me fall in love with it. Even now as I sip vodka on this tropical Thai island, this shit is a viiiibe. Also, this is actually one of my fave 21 verses. #fuckICE I don’t *think* this is Record of the Year worthy, but honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it wins.
The Middle — Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
Dayo: Rhyming ‘middle’ and ‘little’ was really a groundbreaking moment in 2018. I classify this as one of those songs you could actively try and avoid and still hear in on the daily. I’m pretty sure Rob Lowe heard this song. This is very catchy though, no arguing it. It doesn’t make me feel anything per se, but hearing it is strangely comforting. Like seeing an old friend. Or like that fresh laundry smell. Or like that perfect balance between Jameson and ginger ale. I do think it is a little bit shady that Maren Morris does all the heavy lifting on this song, but gets equal billing with Zedd and Grey. She’s the song. The big winners are Walmarts, Targets, and malls who now have another song to torture us with for years to come.
Kenny: Shoutout to DFW’s own Maren Morris on another nom. I actually really like this joint. This is a big look for Maren’s visibility being a country singer. This is the type of song I wanna hear when I’m day drinking on a Saturday afternoon ordering my 4th Frosé at the bar.
Mae: How many fucking songs can be nominated for one category because I swear we just reviewed like 14 tracks, but whatever. It’s a radio bop so I get the nom, but I seriously cannot fucking stand this song after hearing it so much which is annoying because I would like it otherwise. It’s def winner worthy under other circumstances, but considering the competition? Meh.
PREDICTED WINNERS — RECORD OF THE YEAR
Dayo — I Like It
Kenny — I Like It
Maegan — I Like It
Enjoy the Grammys this Sunday — we’re rooting for everybody black.
