Grammy Family Week | Best R&B Performance & Best American Roots Performance
The Grammys are in less than a week. GeniusTalk loves music. GeniusTalk loves making predictions. GeniusTalk loves saying ridiculous things on the internet. We’ve been doing all three this week during Grammy Family Week.
Starting this past Monday, each of us has reviewed a category we know well and a category we know nothing about then on Friday, we’ll collectively publish our picks for Record of the Year.
Also, in case you missed it, check out Dayo’s picks for “Best Rap Song” & “Best Rock Song” and Mae’s picks for “Best R&B Song” & “Country Song of the Year”
*Predicted winners in bold.*
BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
Permission — Ro James
This is a major look for the 24 year old singer. His debut album, ELDORADO was a really solid piece of work and it’s refreshing to hear an R&B singer singing about love again. This is definitely one for all my brothers out there on their Homer SIMPson. I love the Willie Mack sample, especially cuz Lloyd used it on “Feels So Right”, one of my personal favorites from 2004. This song is a banger but I don’t think Ro takes it home this year.
Cranes in the Sky — Solange Knowles
The more talented Knowles sister emerged from the elevator..err Earth to drop one of the most timely/woke albums since To Pimp A Butterfly. “Cranes in the Sky” is a phenomenal song with phenomenal production as well as a phenomenal video. I love Rihanna but I think this song deserves to win just off the pure artistry. When you can have grown men jamming out to a song about the dissonance and rejection experienced as a black woman in America, you know you’ve done something right.
I Do — Musiq Soulchild
This is Musiq Soulchild’s first single since 2011! Not bad for a first single in about 5 years. This song is quintessential Musiq Soulchild. He really talks about how love really is — i.e “you can annoy the shit out of me sometimes but I love you so it is what it is.” No one does it better honestly. Musiq already has three Grammys under his belt but I don’t think he will be adding a fourth this year.
Turnin’ Me Up — BJ the Chicago Kid
I’m personally a big fan of BJ the Chicago Kid ever since I first heard him on “Kush & Corinthians” on Kendrick’s Section.80. This joint is sooo smooth — like Marvin Gaye was reincarnated in 2016! I’m actually surprised this was nominated for a Grammy but shoutout to BJ. This is a major look and I predict big things for the kid in the years to come however I think he’s happy just to be nominated because I don’t think this song was good enough to overthrow some of the more well known names on this list.
*Editor’s note: In my research, I found out that BJ was featured on Kanye’s Impossible back in 2006. I also discovered that that song was never officially released and no explicit version exists on the web. The More You Know!
Needed Me — Rihanna
Goddamn if this song don’t make you want to cry, turn up, and chill out all at the same damn time! Once I heard that “muzzidondatbeathoe”, I knew it was gonna be a wrap and don’t even get me started on the video!!! Rihanna is the rightful Queen in my opinion and she deserves all the awards…as well as all these inches too.
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS PERFORMANCE
Ain’t No Man — The Avett Brothers
I fuck with The Avett Brothers simply because their music was featured a couple times on one of the best shows in TV history, Parenthood. “Ain’t No Man” is a definitely a feel good, empowering joint. It makes you want to clap in rhythm while smiling and laughing with a big group of strangers in a circle on a sunny day. Also a major look for this group because this is their first Grammy nom ever. Shoutout to Rick Rubin on the beat.
Wreck You — Lori McKenna
Considering she helped co-write “Girl Crush” with Little Big Town, which was nominated for “Song of the Year” last year, it doesn’t surprise me that this song has a super country sound. I didn’t think this song was anything special. The lyrics are simple and the acoustic guitar is pretty basic. Surprised this song is nominated for 3 awards this year but Lil Yachty is also nominated this year so I got nothing.
Mother’s Children Have A Hard Time — The Blind Boys of Alabama
The Blind Boys of Alabama are a group of old blind African American men from Alabama who started signing gospel music in 1944. Had no idea that was a thing. I’m not into gospel, unless little Natalie is giving a sermon, but much respect to these old timers.
They won’t win this year but for their greatest Grammy moment ever, see below:
Factory Girl — Rhiannon Giddens
I wonder how many hits on Google Rhiannon gets from people who can’t spell Rihanna or vice versa. Nevertheless, Rhiannon may have just as an amazing voice as her Bajan counterpart. I love Rhiannon’s voice even if I’m not big into the Celtic-banjo-folksy sound. Even with her voice, I don’t think this song is that crazy. I’m also super surprised how hard it was to find this song online. Not even on Spotify and nominated for a Grammy? Shoutout to your management.
House of Mercy — Sarah Jarosz
Shoutout to Texas. This song is actually pretty good. Definitely more of a country than folk vibe but that’s expected. The lyrics are pretty savage too:
“This house wasn’t meant for strangers
But you come knocking anyway
I can hear you knocking on the door
I won’t leave it open for you anymore”
This is basically “Needed Me” for the middle American rural chicks. I dig it! This is my pick to take home the Grammy this year. Book it.
Even after listening to all the songs on this list, I still have no idea what “American Roots” is. I highly doubt you do either. Pretty sure it just means lots of acoustic guitar.
Tomorrow, Yvonne *Liberian middle name* Wilkins will publish her picks for Best Traditional R&B Performance and Best Rock Performance. Stay tuned…
