Entertainment Staff | For The Post
Album of the Year by Austin Yau
Predicted Winner: “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” by Bad Bunny
The premier award of the Grammys is the Album of the Year Award. This year features eight nominees across different genres and languages. The field for this year’s ceremony is Bad Bunny’s “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” Justin Bieber’s “SWAG,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend,” Clipse’s “Let God Sort Em Out,” Lady Gaga’s “MAYHEM,” Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX,” Leon Thomas’ “MUTT” and Tyler, The Creator’s “Chromakopia.”
There are four strong options to win this award. The least likely here is “Chromakopia.” It is vulnerable and innovative, but the precedent of not picking a hip-hop album in recent years has been set. Picking between the final three is difficult. Both “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” and “GNX” rank much higher than “MAYHEM” on Album of the Year’s 2025 Music Year-End List Aggregate List. Last year was somewhat of a career recognition award for Beyoncé, while also recognizing the talent of “Cowboy Carter.” These two things make it unlikely Gaga will take this award.
Both “GNX” and “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” are great representations of the year in music. “GNX” is a great album that was a victory lap for Lamar, but it doesn’t have the same levels of depth that Lamar’s previous albums have. Bad Bunny’s evolution in both topic and sound, as well as his global stardom, will be what wins him the Album of the Year award in a stacked field.
Song of the Year by Luke Ream
Predicted Winner: “Golden” by HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, KPop Demon Hunters Cast
The Song of the Year category features the same nominees as Record of the Year, except for the replacement of “The Subway” by Chappell Roan with “Golden” from Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters.” Despite not being in the Record of the Year nominations, “Golden” will be the Song of the Year winner.
“KPop Demon Hunters” has been year-defining, with “Golden” standing as its lead single for the film. The track stands as one of the only songs that truly was a defining song of 2025. Only “Luther,” “Manchild” and “Golden” spent any time at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, but only one came from a film that defined the culture of 2025.
“Golden” is also the favorite to win Song of the Year on GoldDerby, Kalshi and Polymarket, the major betting and predicting platforms. “Golden” is definitely the song to beat, but Grammy darlings Carpenter and Lamar have a chance to spoil its golden moment.
Record of the Year by Grace Schmidt
Predicted Winner: “luther” by Lamar & SZA
The nominations for Record of the Year are stacked with viral music industry moments like Docheii’s “Anxiety” and Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower.” It is important to note the difference between Record and Song of the Year. Record of the Year is based on the artists, engineers and producers of the song; Song of the Year focuses strictly on songwriting.
Last year, Lamar swept the two major categories with his hit single “Not Like Us.” His album GNX, which contains the hits “luther” and “tv off,” is nominated for Album of the Year. There is a chance, after Kendrick’s sweep, the academy will steer away from having him win again to avoid favoritism, but “luther” was an unignorable hit from his album this year.
His work with SZA is often a fan favorite, but “luther” became a mainstream hit after performing it with SZA at the 2025 SuperBowl Halftime show. That success launched their joint Grand National Tour, and the song charted No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks. With the snowball of his viral halftime performance, tour and his ability to recreate mainstream moments right after his hit “Not Like Us,” it is likely the academy will find it hard to ignore his major success this year and acknowledge it with the win for Record of the Year.
Best New Artist by Sophia Anness
Predicted Winner: Olivia Dean
This year saw a lot of new artists break into the music scene, and eight were nominated for Best New Artist: Olivia Dean, Sombr, Addison Rae, Thomas, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, The Marias and Lola Young. Although this year's class brings a lot of talent, Olivia Dean is my predicted winner.
Sombr, Warren and Rae have all put out some hits this year. However, none of them stand out as Best New Artist. Dean brings a new sound unlike many of her fellow nominees, and her art triumphs over the rest.
Dean’s album, “The Art of Loving,” gained a lot of traction this year, with her songs flooding everyone’s ears. Songs such as “The Man I Need” and “I’ve Seen It” have blown up in the last few months, giving her a great chance of winning Best New Artist.
Pop Vocal Album by Leanne Abel
Predicted Winner: “MAYHEM” by Gaga
The nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album go to Bieber for “SWAG,” Carpenter for “Man’s Best Friend,” Miley Cyrus for “Something Beautiful,” Gaga for “MAYHEM” and Teddy Swims for “I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy – Part 2.”
It’s so hard to say Carpenter and Cyrus might not win with their albums because they were both excellent. Cyrus shows once again her vocal range is unmatched, and Carpenter brings humor to pop that might even be too funny to be pop music.
“MAYHEM” stood out as the best album in this category. With “Abracadabra” and “Die With A Smile” topping the charts, the album had such a beautiful mix of range and coherence. Bringing Bruno Mars to sing a ballad with her was one of Gaga’s best ideas. Gaga made up words, showed her incredible voice and made some funky beats. “MAYHEM” is a top contender for this Grammy, which would mark her 15th award.
Best Rap Album by Nyla Gilbert
Predicted Winner: “Let God Sort Em Out” by Clipse
Since its creation in the early 1970s, rap has prevailed as a raw, fresh art form. The past two years have been rejuvenating for the rap industry, seeing newcomers in deserved rises in fame and the returns of legends. Many of this year’s “Best Rap Album” nominations are well-deserved.
The rap duo Clipse, composed of rappers Pusha T and Malice, released one of, if not the best, rap albums of the year. Returning after 15 years, the duo’s returning album “Let God Sort Em Out” debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 charts, at number one on both the Independent Album and the Vinyl Record charts.
With features from artists like Lamar, NAS, Tyler, The Creator, John Legend and Pharrell Williams, this album was a statement on hip-hop and rap as an art form, showcasing the raw creative storytelling ability of rap. The first track on the album, “The Birds Don’t Sing,” is part of mega music history, as the duo performed it at the Vatican’s Grace for the World event, making it the first rap song ever performed at the Vatican.
Clipse’s “Let God Sort Em Out” spotlighted the rap industry, solidifying the industry’s impact in consequential global spaces, showing that rap can change the world. This was truly the best rap album of the year.
Best Rap Song By Michael Dorwaldt
Predicted Winner: “The Birds Don't Sing” by Clipse featuring Legend
When looking at the nominees for Best Rap Song, big names such as Tyler, The Creator and Lamar fill the minds of listeners. However, when looking at the true meaning of the category and the genre of rap as a whole, “The Birds Don't Sing” by Clipse featuring John Legend stands out as the top contender.
The song, which peaked at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2025, focuses on deeply personal storytelling rather than the most catchy hook or mainstream appeal, which is exactly what this Grammy category values.
Best Rap Song is awarded based on lyrics and composition, rather than its accompanying category Best Rap Performance, which covers the delivery and cadence of the song.
What makes “The Birds Don’t Sing” a strong Grammy contender is its lyrical depth and emotional honesty. Pusha T and Malice, the iconic hip-hop duo, use vivid imagery and lifelong reflection to explore loss and memory in a way that feels intimate and universal, making the song impactful beyond its beat and performance.
Best Album Cover By Michael Dorwaldt
Predicted Winner: “Chromakopia”
For the first time in the Grammys’ 68-year history, album covers have their own category. Best Album Cover recognizes the work of art directors and, in many cases, reflects the artist’s creativity and the album’s overall message.
After listening to the album and revisiting the artwork, the cover for “Chromakopia,” created by Shaun Llewellyn and Luis Pere in collaboration with Tyler, The Creator, stood out. Straying from Tyler, The Creator’s catalog of colorful album covers, the art for “Chromakopia” channels a 1930s and ’40s film noir aesthetic.
The cover depicts the two-time Grammy Award-winning rapper wearing a mask of his own face, his right hand reaching toward the camera. Although open to multiple interpretations, the mask reflects the album’s themes of authenticity, identity and the tension between public and private life.
Although others in this category such as William Wesley II for “The Crux” and Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” bring meaning to the project through the art, the vulnerability attached to the “Chromakopia” album cover sets it over the other nominees.
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance by Emily Frank
Predicted Winner: “APT” by ROSÉ and Mars
When it comes to Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, there seems to be an agreement among fans of all the different nominees that KATSEYE’s “Gabriela" is not even in competition. Though “30 for 30" did really well this year, it seems unlikely that it will win in comparison to other songs in the category.
The “Wicked" films and the press tour have had a big impact on pop culture the past few years. Now “Defying Gravity” is nominated for the category of Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Some fans believe it should not win the category because it is not an original song.
Netflix has been campaigning hard for “Golden," yet some fans believe that despite “Kpop Demon Hunters” remaining in Netflix’s “Top 10 Movies in the U.S. Today” since the film’s release in June, the song does not align with how votes for the category typically turn out.
ROSÉ and Mars’ “APT” seems to be leading in multiple betting polls with “Golden” coming in second. Either of these songs winning would be a historic first, as there has never been a K-pop idol or group that has won a Grammy.
