Only five acts in Grammy history have won best rap album more than once: Eminem (6), Kendrick Lamar (4), Ye (4), OutKast (2) and Tyler, the Creator (2). Could Cardi B become the first woman to join this prestigious lineup?
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Competing with her Billboard 200-topping Am I the Drama?, Cardi is the closest thing to a lock for a nomination in this category. Not only did Drama house Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits like “WAP” (No. 1), “Up” (No. 1), and “Outside” (No. 10), but Cardi’s sophomore album also anchored one of this year’s biggest rap tours: her $70 million-grossing Little Miss Drama trek. The Bronx-born MC won this category for her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, at the 2019 ceremony, and she’s picked up four additional nods (but no wins) in the years since. With just one win from 11 career nominations, it’s far too early to say this award is Cardi’s to lose, but it would be a shock if her name didn’t appear in the final line-up of nominees.
Don Toliver (Octane) and A$AP Rocky (Don’t Be Dumb) are right behind Bardi. Toliver, who graced Billboard’s cover this March, soared to new career heights with Hot 100 top 20 hits “Body” (No. 14) and “E85” (No. 15), as well as his 70-date, arena-headlining Octane World Tour. He’s also in contention for best new artist, which bolsters his overall narrative. As for Rocky, Don’t Be Dumb made up for its lack of culture-moving hits with a massive three-continent arena world tour, and a splashy No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200, marking his first leader on that chart in over a decade. Neither rapper has been nominated in this category before, and that’s more than likely to change by mid-November.
Outside of those three near-sure bets, who else is in contention? Baby Keem is a one-time winner from seven career nominations, and he could pick up his first best rap album nod for Ca$ino, which became his highest-charting album on the Billboard 200 (No. 4) and spawned a best rap song and performance frontrunner in “Good Flirts” (with Kendrick Lamar & Momo Boyd). Rapsody, who picked up her first win in 2025 and was previously nominated here for Laila’s Wisdom in 2018, could also find herself in the final line-up with her ambitious, acclaimed God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops LP.
Wale scored a radio hit with Rhythmic Airplay-topping, Leon Thomas-assisted “Watching Us,” and that buzz, coupled with the strong reviews his Everything Is A Lot. album earned, could earn the DMV rapper his first Grammy nomination in over a decade. There’s also T.I.’s Kill the King, which houses “Let ‘Em Know,” a Hot 100 top 40 hit that gifted Tip a late-career radio smash. T.I. earned three consecutive nods in this category between 2007 and 2009 and never won. Could this be the year of his grand return?
Acts with outside shots include Isaiah Rashad (It’s Been Awful), Tierra Whack (Whack’s Museum), Dave (The Boy Who Played the Harp), and Ken Carson (Xperiment).
And what are we to do with the vets? The Recording Academy loves honoring OGs in this category — think: Nas’ triumph for King’s Disease in 2021 or Killer Mike’s win for Michael in 2024 — and there are a few albums that fit that bill this year. Keep an eye out for potential spoilers from Busta Rhymes & J Dilla (Dillagence II), Mobb Deep (Infinite), De La Soul (Cabin in the Sky), Nas & DJ Premier (Light-Years), Wyclef Jean (Clef Notes – Quantum Leap, Vol. 1), and Juicy J & Project Pat (Dem Goats).
Finally, Ye is entered with Bully (Deluxe). The controversial rapper formerly known as Kanye West made real strides in his attempts to rehabilitate his career this year. From kicking off the year with a full-page Wall Street Journal ad apologizing for his past antisemitic remarks to the release of his Bully LP and a staggering run of global stadium shows, Ye presented a solid argument for the Recording Academy to throw him a bone. And, to be fair, it’s not like the Grammys have ever completely abandoned Ye; he’s earned three new Grammys from seven nominations in the 2020s alone.
Our Fearless Forecast
Which rap albums will make the final five? Our predictions are: Am I the Drama? (Cardi B), Don’t Be Dumb (A$AP Rocky), Baby Keem (Ca$ino), Don Toliver (Octane) and Rapsody (God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops)
