Could Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ Becomes His Fifth Song to Win Best Rap Song & Performance Grammys?

Kendrick Lamar, already a 17-time Grammy Award winner, could add more accolades to his name with his hit single “Not Like Us” potentially dominating the upcoming Grammy nominations on November 8. The Billboard Hot 100-topping diss track is a frontrunner in categories such as Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and the rap-specific categories of Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.

If Lamar’s “Not Like Us” wins both Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance, it will join the ranks of his previous Grammy-winning tracks such as “I” (2015), “Alright” (2016), “Humble” (2018), and “The Heart Part 5” (2023), making it his fifth song to sweep these categories. This would continue a trend in the rap field where many songs have triumphed in both performance and songwriting categories since the consolidation of categories in 2012.

Could “Like That” Double Up Lamar’s Grammy Sweep?

In addition to “Not Like Us,” Lamar’s “Like That,” a collaboration with Future and Metro Boomin, is also a top contender. Should both tracks secure nominations, Lamar would notch 10 career nods in the Best Rap Song category, the fourth most in Grammy history. Future could land his fourth nomination in this category, while Metro Boomin would be eyeing his first.

Other Strong Contenders in the Rap Categories

Several other top-charting tracks could give Lamar stiff competition. Among the leading contenders are:

• Megan Thee Stallion with “Hiss”, marking her potential return to the rap field. Megan made history as the first female rapper to win this category and looks to add to her Grammy collection.
• Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) with “Carnival”, a collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign. Ye holds the record for most wins in Best Rap Song with seven, and a nomination for “Carnival” could extend his reign. This track also opens the door for first-time nominations for Don Toliver and Playboi Carti.
• Travis Scott’s “FE!N,” which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Jack Harlow’s “Lovin On Me,” a No. 1 hit, are also strong contenders for Grammy nods.

Dark Horses and First-Time Nominees

While Lamar, Megan Thee Stallion, and Ye dominate the predictions, other notable songs to watch include:

• Rapsody’s “Asteroids”, which could earn her a second Grammy nomination in this category.
• ScHoolboy Q with “Thank God 4 Me”, and Eminem with “Tobey” (featuring Big Sean and BabyTron). Both tracks have a shot at earning their artists nominations.
• Common’s “When the Sun Shines Again” with Pete Rock and Posdnuos could also sneak into the nominations, showcasing a mix of veteran and new voices in the rap field.

Our Fearless Forecast for Best Rap Song Nominations

Here are the five songs most likely to secure Best Rap Song nominations:

1. “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
2. “Lovin On Me” – Jack Harlow
3. “Like That” – Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
4. “Asteroids” – Rapsody
5. “Carnival” – Ye, Ty Dolla $ign, Don Toliver & Playboi Carti

Best Rap Performance Predictions

Given the historical overlap between Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance, many of the aforementioned tracks are expected to appear in both categories. Additional contenders for Best Rap Performance include:

• Bryson Tiller’s “Whatever She Wants”
• Eminem’s “Houdini”, which reached No. 2 on the Hot 100
• Megan Thee Stallion and Yuki Chiba’s “Mamushi”, which could earn Chiba their first Grammy nod.

Our Fearless Forecast for Best Rap Performance Nominations

1. “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
2. “HISS” – Megan Thee Stallion
3. “Like That” – Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
4. “Murdergram Deux” – LL Cool J & Eminem
5. “Yeah Glo” – GloRilla

With such strong contenders in both Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance, the upcoming Grammy Awards are shaping up to be an exciting and competitive event in the rap categories.