Just like your feisty abuelita, the Grammys remain an unstoppable celebration of music and sound. The ultralight beams are returning to New York City for the first time in over ten years, and though our 2017 music wrap up featured some of these Grammy noms the full list reads from greats to newbies. Lover of life Residente and body-inspo Shakira are up for their latest albums and a lit array of performances are set to show stop including last year’s greatest crossover “Despacito” and the colorful Bruno Mars X Cardi B collab “Finesse”. The show’s revamp has Latin flavor on stage and in its categories reflecting a dope year of singles and albums we loved to listen to, watch or sing along with. Shout outs to the producers, writers, engineers and mixers who could bring these artists to a gold phonograph this Sunday night.
Despacito | Slow & Steady Wins the Race
No summer memory is complete without “Despacito” blaring somewhere in the background making its nominations for song and record of the year even sweeter. With Justin Bieber on the chorus the track made it to record-breaking levels and proved Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi can be the best crossover duo since Cafe con Leche. Should their reign continue with a Song of the Year or Record of the Year it would make “Despacito” the first Grammy-winning Spanish-language song, and the crowd yells – buena suerte!
Bodak Yellow | Bronx Barbie
Two seconds into the beat “Bodak Yellow” was destined for Grammy greatness. Rookie raptress Cardi B is up for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song with big leaguers in the same categories, to which I’m sure she’d say “Okurrr!”. A true Billboard baby, Belcalis Almanzar owned this year as the first female rapper to top their charts and the first mujer gracing half of their coveted top 10 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop spots. The stage is her stomping grounds and the carpet is just her color, we shmell a win!
Shakira | As Good As Gold
Up for best Latin Pop Album Shakira hasn’t stopped poppin’ since her first Grammy win for the same title in 2000. El Dorado gave us fan favorites, featuring fellow Colombianos, like “Chantaje” with Maluma and “La Bicileta” highlighted by vallenato king Carlos Vives and surprisingly she ran into writer’s block before the creative juices overflowed. With the tour grind starting this upcoming summer Sha is taking her talents international and probably with a new addition on her award shelf.
Residente | Still Street
René Juan Pérez Joglar lived up to the power of a self-titled, single named album with Residente. A man of the people Residente’s first project outside of the Calle 13 realm is rightfully nominated for Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative album, and gave us a bird’s eye view of worldly rhythm and rhyme. Last year the album won two Latin Grammys and was crowned one of Rolling Stone’s Best 50 albums, not bad for a boy from la isla.
Bruno Mars | Front Row in a ‘Fro
Backed by his aptly named production duo Shampoo Press & Curl, performer Bruno Mars is one of #Grammy2018 most nominated artist with his electrifying album 24K Magic. Third album’s a charm for Mars whose no stranger to a Record of the Year nomination and has an aptly titled LP ready to grab Album of the Year. With hits like the album-titled single and “That’s What I Like” the smooth-talking artist told NME “95 per cent of music is about love. For me, this album, I can’t do better.” A phenom on stage (Hello! TWO Superbowl Half-Time Shows?!) we know he’ll finesse his performance before the big wins.
If this story caught your interest check these out: The Year in Music | 2017; New School Latino Singers You Need to Know