While Hangout Music Fest always promises its patrons a sandy setting, the need for sunscreen, a laidback festival vibe and the picturesque landscape of Gulf Shores, this year also comes with the chance to see six Grammy nominees and, possibly, winners after this Sunday’s 60th Grammy Awards. Of the seven nominees, Kendrick Lamar and SZA lead in numbers with seven nominations for rap all-star Lamar and five nominations for R&B newcomer SZA. This year’s list of nominees for the Grammy Awards fully embraced Hip-Hop, a habitual criticism of previous years.
After this Sunday’s show, hopefully, Hangout Music Fest will have some Grammy Awards winners coming its way. Here’s who we think may come home with the win.
Kendrick Lamar
Nominations: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap/Sung Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Album, Best Music Video
Predicted outcome: Lamar should win all seven categories, but will only come home with six. Record of the Year will go to “Despacito” instead of “HUMBLE.” because of its longevity as No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, tying Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men in its longest No. 1 streak. Lamar will rightfully win the other six nominations with his largest competition being Jay-Z’s “4:44.”
SZA
Nominations: Best New Artist, Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, Best Urban Contemporary Album, Best Rap/Sung Performance
Predicted outcome: SZA will win Best New Artist. If she does not win, then this whole thing is rigged. SZA’s “CTRL” is the most cohesive and extraordinarily expressive in an undeniably fresh way. SZA will not win the other four categories, largely because she is up against Bruno Mars and Childish Gambino, two powerhouses in the R&B category.
The Chainsmokers
Nominations: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Predicted outcome: “Something Just Like This” will undeniably lose to “Despacito.”
Portugal. The Man
Nominations: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Predicted outcome: “Feel it Still” will also undeniably lose to “Despacito.”
Zedd
Nominations: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Predicted outcome: “Stay” has no chance against “Despacito.”
ODESZA
Nominations: Best Dance Recording, Best Dance/Electronic Album
Predicted outcome: Odesza’s “Line of Sight” and “A Moment Apart” will lose both categories because of the success of their competition.