Grammy Predictions: Rap & R&B

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

Should Win/Will Win: Beyonce "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)"
Commentary: Seriously is there really any competition.

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

Should Win/Will Win: Maxwell "Pretty Wings"
Commentary: Anthony Hamilton and Musiq Soulchild could put up a fight, but this may be the easiest category for Maxwell to finally win his elusive Grammy.

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Should Win: Musiq Soulchild & Mary J. Blige "Ifuleave"
Will Win: Jamie Foxx feat. T-Pain "Blame It"
Commentary: There are a lot of unknown songs to the general populist, and although the Auto-Tune reliant Blame It isn't exactly great vocals, its pretty damn catchy.

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Should Win/Will Win: Anthony Hamilton "Soul Music"
Commentary: Yes, I know Beyonce is nominated, but this is a chance for them to be different, and it's not really her style of R&B, but I'm probably wrong.

Best Urban/Alternative Performance

Should Win/Will Win: India.Arie & Dobet Gnahore "Pearls"
Commentary: To be honest, I only picked this song because it had India.Arie in it, I really have never heard any of them all year. That's usually not a good sign....oh well.

Best R&B Song

Should Win: Maxwell "Pretty Wings"
Will Win: Beyonce "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)"
Commentary: Sing both are nominated for Song of the Year, it's really a toss up. My guess is Beyonce who I think has the best shot at winning the big Kahuna of the two.

Best R&B Album

Should Win/Will Win: Maxwell "BLACKSummers Night"
Commentary: Should have been nominated for Album of the Year, so maybe this is it's consolation prize.

Best Contemporary R&B Album

Should Win/Will Win: Beyonce "I Am...Sasha Fierce"
Commentary: Duh

Best Rap Solo Performance

Should Win: Mos Def "Casa Bey"
Will Win: Jay-Z "D.O.A (Death Of Auto-Tune)"
Commentary: Watch out for Eminem, but Blueprint 3 is hot right now, and so is Hova.

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

Should Win: Beastie Boys & Nas "Too Many Rappers"
Will Win: Eminem, Dr. Dre, & 50 Cent "Crack A Bottle"
Commentary: They really do love Eminem, and 50 has never won a Grammy, I think this could finally be his place.

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Should Win: Beyone & Kanye West "Ego"
Will Win: Jay-Z, Kanye West, & Rihanna "Run This Town"
Commentary: I acutally love the choices in this category, but I think were going to see a two-year run for Blueprint 3

Best Rap Song

Should Win: C. Harris, R. Tadross & J. Timberlake "Dead and Gone"
Will Win: Shawn Carter & Ernest Wilson "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"
Commentary: Based on pure writing merits, Dead and Gone is the easy choice. but D.O.A. was "practically assault with a deadly weapon", and has the popularity to pull it off.

Best Rap Album

Should Win: Q-Tip "The Renaissance"
Will Win: Eminem "Relapse"
Commentary: If I had one wish this year, Q-Tip would take home the prize. But alas, the Grammys love Eminem so much, they'll even reward him for this uninspired, mediocre collection.