Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar & GloRilla Heat Up 2026 Grammys Race for Best Rap Song and Performance: Our Predictions

From record-breaking tours to seismic comebacks, it’s been rather a twelvemonth for hip-hop. Below, we measure the authorities of the 3 single-focused categories successful the rap tract astatine the 2026 Grammys: champion rap performance, champion rap opus and champion melodic rap performance.

Best Rap Performance

If 1 thing’s for definite erstwhile it comes to the 2026 Grammys, it’s that Kendrick Lamar volition beryllium nominated crossed the rap tract — and helium whitethorn precise good amusement up doubly successful champion rap performance. Already a fastener for his ain Lefty Gunplay-assisted “TV Off,” Lamar volition apt gain an further information present alongside Clipse for “Chains & Whips.” Already a seven-time victor successful this category, K.Dot earned treble nominations present astatine past year’s ceremonial with “Not Like Us,” which went connected to win, and Future & Metro Boomin’s “Like That.”

Outside of the Kendrick of it all, 2 of hip-hop’s starring ladies are besides apt to reap bids successful this category. Doechii‘s champion rap medium triumph astatine past year’s ceremony was a star-making moment, and it’s apt she shows up successful this class with “Anxiety,” adjacent though champion melodic rap show mightiness person been a amended fit. The left-field deed became her archetypal Hot 100 apical 10 deed (No. 9), topped Rhythmic Airplay and reached No. 3 connected Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Cardi B is simply a five-time nominee successful this category, and she tin astir apt thrust her existent Am I the Drama? momentum to a motion for “Outside,” which reached No. 10 connected the Hot 100. And conscionable similar that, that’s 4 retired of 5 spots accounted for. Who’s battling for the last slot?

Tyler, the Creator is each but guaranteed to gain a champion rap medium motion for Chromakopia, and “Darling I” (with Teezo Touchdown) is his sole submission successful this category. Similarly, GloRilla has precocious likelihood of landing a rap medium information for Glorious, and “Whatchu Kno Bout Me” (with Sexyy Red) is her superior submission here. While Glo’s opus topped airplay charts — and soundtracked Eras Tour TikToks from 1 Taylor Swift — Tyler’s way is 1 of the champion showcases of his rap accomplishment connected Chromakopia. In presumption of caller hits, BigXThaPlug‘s “The Largest” is simply a formidable contender, arsenic is Offset‘s JID-assisted “Bodies.” Both songs reached the apical 20 of Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs, and each progressive artists person remained disposable passim the year. JID is besides contending with his ain Eminem-assisted “Animals,” and considering Slim Shady’s grounds of 3 nominations successful this class — including 1 past twelvemonth for “Houdini” — that way mightiness beryllium 1 to support an oculus on.

More mature voters whitethorn privation to broadside with vets similar LL Cool J, who submitted “Praise Him,” a collaboration with Nas. Interestingly, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist person 2 submissions successful this category: Alfredo 2 pb azygous “1995” and “Ensalada” (with Anderson .Paak). Anderson won present backmost successful 2019, which bodes good for “...