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\n\tLeading up to the Grammy nominations on Nov. 16, \u201cRolling Stone\u201d is breaking down 11 different categories<\/a>. For each, we\u2019re predicting the nominees, as well as who will (and who should) win on Grammy night.<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tThe Recording Academy\u2019s relationship with hip-hop has improved immensely over the past decade. Previously maligned for snubbing revered legacy artists and culturally acclaimed newcomers in favor of mainstream media darlings, voters have recently placed less emphasis on commercial success and crossover appeal in their selection process. <\/p>\n \n\tIn response to debacles such as Macklemore and Ryan Lewis\u2019 infamous Best Rap Album victory over Kendrick Lamar at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy addressed those criticisms, revamping its voting pool to reflect the inclusion and diversity requested by the public.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI\u2019ve witnessed the Recording Academy making meaningful strides in expanding and diversifying its voting membership,\u201d Phylicia Fant, Global Director, Black Music and Culture, Amazon Music, tells Rolling Stone<\/em>. \u201cHip-Hop is not simply a genre; it is a driving force in the evolution of music, fashion, art, and global culture.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tNow, consideration of an act\u2019s cultural currency is more relevant than ever, resulting in more accurate representations of the best music hip-hop has to offer. This has given newfound hope to acts vying to add a Grammy to their list of accolades who likely wouldn\u2019t have been considered in the past, making the field of potential nominees wider than ever.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI think hip-hop is in an interesting place because there are so many artists paving their own lanes in the genre,\u201d Tony M. Centeno, iHeartRadio\u2019s National Hip-Hop Editor, tells Rolling Stone<\/em>. \u201cTitans like Cardi B<\/a> and Drake constantly heat up the charts with their hits, while newer acts are constantly rejuvenating the genre in the streets and online.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tYet, in many regards, the Grammys remain a game of the usual suspects, as a certain level of visibility and proximity to mainstream America is seemingly required to claim a nomination, let alone a victory. Thus, albums like Isaiah Rashad\u2019s It\u2019s Been Awful<\/em>, and Wale\u2019s Everything Is a Lot<\/em>, while deserving of strong consideration, are dark horse candidates. However, Centeno holds out hope for those artists, as well as others, adding that he \u201cwouldn\u2019t be shocked to see Dave<\/a>\u2018s name,\u201d citing the U.K. standouts\u2019 critically acclaimed album The Boy Who Played the Harp<\/em>.<\/p>\n