The MAMAs

Traditionally, the MAMAs will be celebrated between Halloween and Thanksgiving. The Friday before Columbus Day will normally serve as the annual cut off for nomination eligibility. Consequentially, for the 2025 MAMAs, we are rating albums and songs released from October 25th of 2024 to October 10th of 2025. For a song to be eligible, it has to meet any of the following criteria: (1) come out as a single during the eligibility period, (2) be part of an album released during the eligibility period, or (3) be promoted as a single during the eligibility window even if its parent album came out the previous year, provided that album did not win an award. The above ruling can get difficult, but similar to other award voting, the feeling/era a song belongs in is more important sometimes than it's exact timing. For instance, "Truth Hurts" by Lizzo was initially released in 2017, but didn't gain mainstream consciousness until 2019 and was a part of her 2019 album, Cuz I Love You. As such, it would be eligible during the 2019 MAMAs cycle. An opposing recent example is Leon Thomas' Mutt. Released in the summer of 2024, the song didn't reach peak popularity until 2025. The song, however, was nominated at the 2024 MAMAs. Ultimately, there's nuance here and if there is ever a song that teeters between years, we will hold criteria 1 as gospel. For an album to be eligible, it has to be have at least 7 songs in its track list, exceed 20 minutes in track time, and be released in the eligibility window. EPs and Mixtapes that fit the listed criteria are eligible.

Once the eligibility window for the respective award year has passed, the Scales and Sheets committee will evaluate the various contenders. Nominations will be posted on this website and corresponding Scales and Sheets platforms no later than the week before Halloween. While the nominations are decided by the committee, all voters will have a "voter's choice" in each category to choose a song or album of their own. The winners are chosen by a point system. First place votes garner 5 points, 2nd-place gets 4 points, and so forth. The nomination with the most points, wins the category.

General

• Best Album:

• Best Song: This award honors

• Best Record: This award celebrates 

• Best Collaboration: This award honors duets, features, and any form of partnership that results in quality music.

R&B, Rap, and Pop all have an album of the year category. The below listing highlights the individual awards for songs.

R&B

• Best Song & Performance: This award celebrates extraordinary vocal talent and excellent writing displayed in a song. Recent examples of song that fit this category include Plastic Off the Sofa, ICU, and Best Part.

• Best Record: This award celebrates the catchiness, production, and overall arrangement displayed in a song. Recent examples of songs that this category include Cuff It, Boo’d Up, and All Mine.

• Please note: The above categories will be overlap at times as there are songs that have great writing and vocals, but also offer great production and mainstream appeal. In short, think song as in what you may play for a partner, and record as what you may play in the car. Records are chart toppers, while songs are heart stoppers. SZA's Snooze is a great example of a song that would fall in both categories.

• Best R&B Collaboration: This award celebrates pairings that showcase vocal chemistry and prowess. 

Rap

• Best Rap Song: This award celebrates strong technical rap, literary devices, and rhythmic choices displayed in a song.

• Best Rap Record: This award celebrates contemporary rap that still honors the core elements of hip hop.

• Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: This award celebrates records that display both high level rapping and vocal performances. 

Pop

• Best Pop Record: This award celebrates the catchiness, production, and overall arrangement displayed in a song.

Every year, major sports leagues like the NFL and NBA honor players with All-Pro selections. While one player stands tall as the MVP, great seasons can still be properly honored and celebrated. The same should ring true for music. As such, as the nominations for the MAMAs are released, the Scalesandsheets team will also release the All-Music 1st and 2nd teams for R&B and Rap respectfully. Selections will be based on performance during the award window. Chart performance will not be a main driving force, but will be evaluated. 

2024:

• R&B

  • Album of the Year: Algorithm - Lucky Daye

  • Best Traditional Song/Performance: That’s You - Lucky Daye

  • Best Record of the Year: MUTT - Leon Thomas

  • Best R&B Collaboration: Same Mistake - Destin Conrad & Alex Isley

• Rap

  • Album of the Year: Dark Times - Vince Staples

  • Best Rap Song/Performance: Euphoria - Kendrick Lamar

  • Best Rap Record of the Year: Not Like Us - Kendrick Lamar

  • Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: Worth It - Offset ft. Don Toliver

• General

  • Album of the Year: Hit Me Hard and Soft - Billie Eilish

  • Popular Song of the Year: Birds of a Feather - Billie Eilish

  • Popular Record of the Year: Die With a Smile - Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga