2025 Grammy Predictions: Who Will Dominate Music’s Biggest Night?
The 67th Grammy Awards represent the range of phenomenal music released from Sept. 16, 2023 to Aug. 30, 2024. Last year was considerably one of the best years for music in the 2020s and competitive 2025 Grammy nominees reflect that. The FOCUS Magazine team reviewed the nominees for select genre categories, and the big four general field categories to compile our choices for who we think should win. We evaluated who had the most cultural impact in their genre Here are our choices and why we picked them:
Image Credit: Apple Music
The Nominees for Best R&B Performance: “Guidance” by Jhené Aiko, “Residuals” by
Chris Brown, “Here We Go (Uh Oh)” by Coco Jones, “Made for Me (Live on BET)” by Muni Long, and “Saturn” by SZA
Our Choice for Best R&B Performance: “Saturn” by SZA
The first single independent from SOS, “Saturn,” signaled a new project from SZA. SZA notably worked with progressive R&B, utilizing alternative, pop and rock influences SOS. Eventually, “Saturn” was released as a part of SOS Deluxe: LANA, but before that, the song found mainstream success as a stand-alone single. The song debuted at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and was an instant hit on streaming, debuting at number three on the daily Spotify chart.
“Saturn” is a soft melody utilizing production that imbues SZA’s performance with earthy elements. She looks to astrology for guidance, specifically selecting the symbolic Saturn to be the centerpiece of her song.
Image Credit: Apple Music
The Nominees for Best Música Urbana Album: Bad Bunny – nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana by Bad Bunny, Rayo by J Balvin, Ferxxocalipsis by Feid, Las Letras Ya No Importan by Residente, and Att. by Young Miko
Our Choice: nadie sabe lo que va pasar mañana by Bad Bunny
In nadie sabe lo que va pasar mañana, Bad Bunny explores music through the lens of his success with Un Verano Sin Ti. He celebrates the milestones of his career while actively working through the criticisms of being successful and how it entraps us in a cycle of being reactive. Integrating imagery of cowboy culture with regional Mexican music and his trap roots, Bad Bunny aimed to balance his responsibilities to fans, the music industry, homeland and himself.
Image Credit: Bruno Mars
The Nominees for Best Pop Duo Performance: “Us” by Gracie Abrams featuring Taylor Swift, “Levii’s Jeans” by Beyoncé featuring Post Malone, “Guess” by Charli XCX featuring Billie Eilish, “The Boy Is Mine” by Ariana Grande with Brandy and Monica, and “Die with a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
Our Choice: “Die with a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars return in a crooning duet about surviving alongside someone. “Die with a Smile” brings together two notable musicians in a moving and affecting ballad. A sleeper hit, the song dominated streaming. Imagining a world falling apart, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars seek out love to ensure survival, yearning to be absolved by true love. Alongside a harmonious vocal delivery, there’s a theatrical element to Gaga’s and Mars’ vocals. The crescendos of Gaga’s voice meet Mars’ crooning, delivering a powerhouse vocal performance. Together they both aid in conveying the wistful mood of the song’s composition.
Image Credit: Apple Music
The Nominees for Best African Performance: “Tomorrow” by Yemi Alade, “MMS” by Asake & Wizkid, “Sensational” by Chris Brown featuring Davido & Lojay, “Higher” by Burna Boy, and “Love Me JeJe” by Tems
Our Choice: “Love Me JeJe” by Tems
Tems burst onto the American music scene with “Essence” by Wizkid, amplified by Justin Bieber’s feature. Her deep smooth vocals crafted a unique artist persona which would make her a new focus of the American music industry alongside her songwriting for Rihanna’s comeback song “Lift Me Up.” “Love Me Jeje” works with a classic Nigerian hit “Love Me Jeje” by Seyi Sodimu ft. Shaffy Bello. A call and response in the chorus and outro brings the listener into the song, amplifying the song’s effortless energy. The song’s production is reminiscent of a sun-soaked beach summer vibe that partners well with the lyrics’ innocent romantic longing.
Image Credit: Billie Eilish
The Nominees for Best Pop Vocal Album: Short n' Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter, Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish, Eternal Sunshine by Ariana Grande, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan, and The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift
Our Choice: Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish’s ethereal vocals and her songwriting and production partnership with her brother Finneas O’Connell return in Hit Me Hard and Soft. Under an hour, Eilish’s third studio album is considered one of her most acclaimed. The album ended up in the top ten of year-end lists for Billboard, Rolling Stone, and the Hollywood Reporter. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. “Birds of a Feather,” one of the album’s songs, was a viral summer hit. Eilish takes time to play around with her vocals on this album, showcasing how her beautiful vocals are versatile and still have something interesting to bring, especially when paired with a production that elicits very specific sensory experiences in each song. A close listen of this album reveals the intricacies of what makes this album unique in Eilish’s discography.
Image Credit: Apple Music
The Nominees for Best New Artist: Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Khruangbin
Raye, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims
The Nominees for Best Rap Album: Might Delete Later by J. Cole, The Auditorium Vol. 1 by Common and Pete Rock, Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) by Eminem, and We Don't Trust You by Future and Metro Boomin
Our Choice for Best New Artist and Best Rap Album: Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii
In summer 2023, “What It Is (Block Boy)” were the initial collective stirrings about Doechii. By fall 2024, critics and music listeners couldn’t help but wonder who Doechii was, where she came from, and why her music was making her a new rising star. In Alligator Bites Never Heal, Doechii’s rap flow has intricate rhymes intertwined with interesting cultural references. Her delivery on the album evokes a 90s East Coast hip-hop scene with moments of a Southern hip-hop funk, a deep and low tone reminiscent of Lil’ Kim and Biggie. This style allows her to stand out in a crowded female hip-hop scene, bringing a fresh approach to how contemporary female rap can sound. Alligator Bites Never Heal is a strong display of Doechii’s writing skills and ability to create her own voice while situating herself in hip-hop traditionalists’ lyrical frameworks. Alongside her own music release, Doechii was featured on other long-awaited albums, most notably Chromokopia by Tyler, the Creator.
Image Credit: Sabrina Carpenter
The Nominees for Record of the Year: “360” by Charli XCX, “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish, “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone, “Good Luck Babe!” by Chappell Roan, “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, “Now and Then” by The Beatles, and “Texas Hold ‘Em” by Beyoncé
Our Choice: “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter
“Espresso” is among the songs that aided in returning us to good fun pop music. A cheeky tone with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, makes the song catchy and an inescapable earworm. The production sounds light and airy, easing us into the laidback playful atmosphere of “Espresso.” Stacked vocals add varying textures to the song and pair well with alternating melodies and instrumental harmonies. Everything that makes “Espresso” sound good is a masterclass in crafting an engaging production that doesn’t just make people dance, but stay in your head for as long as possible.
Image Credit: Apple Music
The Nominees for Song of the Year: “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey, “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish, “Die with a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone, “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan, “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, “Please Please Please” by Sabrina Carpenter, and “Text Hold ‘Em” by Beyonce
The Nominees for Best Rap Performance: “Enough (Miami)” by Cardi B, “When the Sun Shines Again” by Common and Pete Rock ft. Posdnous, “Nissan Altima” by Doechii, “Houdini” By Eminem, “Like That” by Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar, Yeah Glo!” by GloRilla, and “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
The Nominees for Best Music Video: "Tailor Swif" by ASAP Rocky, “360” by Charli XCX, “Houdini” by Eminem, “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone
Our Choice: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
In a year where the music industry and music critics tried to write off hip-hop as waning, Kendrick Lamar returned to remind us that hip-hop is far from dead. “Not Like Us” is Lamar’s victory lap in a beef with Drake. “Not Like Us” isn’t just catchy, but addresses a history of Black music in cities like Los Angeles and Atlanta. He deconstructs how appropriations of hip-hop culture have watered down the genre’s image among mainstream audiences and distanced the genre from its cultural traditions. With “Not Like Us,” Lamar re-inserts hip-hop’s origin stories. The accompanying music video is a love letter to Compton, utilizing community leaders from the LA area and featuring the people of Compton singing along with the song’s lyrics, while integrating clear visual storytelling that goes hand-in-hand with the lyrics.
Image Credit: Atlantic Records
The Nominees for Album of the Year: brat by Charli XCX, Cowboy Carter by Beyonce, Djesse Vol. 4 by Jacob Collier, Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish, New Blue Sun by Andre 3000, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan, Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter, and The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift
Our Choice for Album of the Year: brat by Charli XCX
When Charli XCX proclaimed that she was our “favorite reference,” she predicted exactly that. brat became a cultural phenomenon that shaped the social landscape. Beloved by critics and listeners alike, her sixth studio album defined pop culture in 2024. The album coined “brat summer,” had people putting generational trauma in a viral dance form for “Apple,” and even influenced Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. From unabashed confidence to spiraling insecurity, brat embodied our multiplicities, making it a relatable and engaging listen. brat pushes the boundaries for what pop music can sound like and how female artists can express themselves. This is an album that left an undeniable mark on 2024 and the music of the 2020s era. As Charli would say, “it’s so obvious I’m your number one.”