Is a Kendrick Lamar 2025 Grammy Sweep Really That Certain?

Even as the Greater Los Angeles Area continues to reel from destructive wildfires and starts to survey the damage, the show must go on, as per the Recording Academy.

“We understand how devastating this past week has been on this city and its people,” Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a press release last Wednesday (Jan. 15). “This is our home, it’s home to thousands of music professionals, and many of us have been negatively impacted. So, after thoughtful consideration and multiple assurances from state and local elected leaders, public safety agencies and with support from our incredible artist community, we have decided to go ahead with the Grammy telecast and some select events. Grammy Week 2025 will not just be about honoring music, it will be about using the power of music to help rebuild, uplift and support those in need.”

As previously announced, this year’s Grammy telecast will go forward live on CBS “with a renewed sense of purpose.” On Feb. 2, the ceremony will raise “additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.”

Next month, all eyes will be on the rap field, where Kendrick Lamar could sweep the single categories with either “Not Like Us” or “Like That” (with Future and Metro Boomin) — a potentially seismic moment in the wake of Drake‘s new lawsuit. Last Wednesday, Drake accused UMG, his longtime label home, of defamation for distributing and promoting “Not Like Us,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 last year and is in the running for both record and song of the year at this year’s ceremony. In our General Field predictions, Billboard named “Not Like Us” the projected winner of record of the year.

Lamar is the year’s most-nominated rapper with seven nominations between “Like That” and “Not Like Us”; Future and Metro Boomin follow with four nods each and an impressive number of female MCs earned nominations, including Doechii who earned three nods.

Here are our best guesses as to who will win in the rap field categories.