Pitchfork just set the rap world on fire, predicting an Eminem Grammy win for Best Rap Album—and leaving J. Cole, Future, and Metro Boomin looking like kids who just dropped their ice cream.

The countdown to the Grammy Awards is on, and predictions are rolling in. Everyone’s hoping their favourite will take home a trophy, while critics and journalists are busy putting their bets in writing.

One of the most surprising takes was published in Pitchfork — an outlet famously critical of Eminem. They predict that Em will win Best Rap Album. Despite their well-documented disdain for his work, they expect “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)” to beat out their preferred pick, Doechii’s “Alligator Bites Never Heal”. In their breakdown, Pitchfork did not hold back:

“Unfortunately for everyone nominated for Best Rap Album this year, they’re up against the reigning champion of the category: Eminem — who’s won this exact award six times before, the most of any artist — and his lackluster comeback record “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)”. A concept album about killing his alter ego, the LP digs its heels into the same mischievous antics that Eminem did when he was half his age, but it feels twice as long and tedious. That should take it out of contention, but there it is”.

While industry experts are largely split between expecting Eminem to win and hoping for a Doechii upset, few are considering his complicated history with the Recording Academy. Eminem has been openly critical of the Grammys for years, making it awkward if the institution not only nominates him but also hands him another award. If he skips the ceremony entirely, it might actually be a relief for the Academy — but probably not the kind of moment they want during a live broadcast.

Best Rap Album Nominees:
Common & Pete Rock – “The Auditorium Vol. 1”
Doechii – “Alligator Bites Never Heal”
Eminem – “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)”
Future & Metro Boomin – “We Don’t Trust You”
J. Cole – “Might Delete Later”

Eminem is also up for Best Rap Performance and Best Music Video for Houdini, but in both categories, he’s facing Kendrick Lamar — who is widely expected to dominate this year. And if you ask Em himself, that is exactly what he wants to see happen.

The 2025 Grammy Awards air live on February 2 from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Tune in to see if Eminem will add another trophy to his record-breaking collection — or if the Academy finds itself in an even trickier situation.