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Grammys 2015: Predicting 'Best Rap Song'

Kathy Zerbib |
February 8, 2015 | 12:04 p.m. PST

Senior Entertainment Editor

Nicki Minaj's hit "Anaconda" samples Sir Mix-A-Lot's iconic "Baby Got Back" (Twitter/@RepublicRecords).
Nicki Minaj's hit "Anaconda" samples Sir Mix-A-Lot's iconic "Baby Got Back" (Twitter/@RepublicRecords).
This year's "Best Rap Song" Grammys category features five major radio hits: Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda," Kanye West's "Bound 2," Kendrick Lamar's "I," Wiz Khalifa's "We Dem Boyz" and Drake's "0 to 100/The Catch Up."

Easily, we can cross off one contender - Kendrick Lamar's "I." This feel-good beat and bubbly lyrics is not one of his most memorable and seems better suited for the pop classification.

READ MORE: Grammys 2015: Predicting 'Best R&B Performance'

Another nominee seems less impressive than its peers - Kanye West's "Bound 2." Though a popular jam when first released, this pick has become most famous for its music video (Sidenote: The music video is quite a work of art - both the original featuring Kim Kardashian and the parody featuring Seth Rogan and James Franco).

Our top three are "Anaconda," "We Dem Boyz" and "0 to 100/The Catch Up." 

Drake's song is nominated for "Best Rap Performance" and "Best Rap Song." It landed the number nine spot on the US Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart and was listed as number 35 on Billboard's Hot 100. It's a catchy tune with tweetable lyrics, but is ultimately overshadowed by "Anaconda" and "We Dem Boyz."

Wiz Khalifa's hit was listed as number four on the US Billboard's Hot Rap Songs. It's the unofficial anthem for Dallas Cowboys fans. It also deserves an unofficial second place in this Grammy category.

READ MORE: Grammys 2015: Predicting 'Song Of The Year'

The true winner of this year's "Best Rap Song" category could only be Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda." The music video is jaw dropping. The sample from Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back" is eloquently used. The cover art is unforgettable (even with a Parental Advisory sticker plastered across). The beat is still stuck in your head (though the song was released back in August of last year). The rapping is quotable. We're still saying, "Oh, my god, look at her butt. Look. At. Her. Butt." And, yes, we do know "this dude named Michael" who "used to ride motorcycles." 

The song was and still is a hit - it reached number two on the US Billboard's Hot 100. It's Nicki's highest charting single on the US charts thus far. "Anaconda" reveled in the top ten of the Hot 100 listing for eight straight weeks.

"Anaconda" is raunchy, hilarious and in-your-face. It should (and probably will be) your "Best Rap Song" of 2015.

READ MORE: Grammys 2015: Biggest Snubs And Surprises

Catch the Grammys on CBS on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 8/7c.

Reach Senior Entertainment Editor Kathy Zerbib here. Follow her on Twitter here.



 

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