Macklemore claims the cover of The Source’s fourth annual Man of the Year issue defending his stance in the realm of hip hop. Acutely aware of some of the ill will that may present itself come Grammy night, the Seattle rapper is ready to feel the heat when they announce who claims the Best Rap Album.

“[In the Best Rap Album category], we’re up against Kendrick, who made a phenomenal album. If we win a Grammy for Best Rap Album, hip-hop is going to be heated,” Macklemore told The Source.

The “Same Love” rapper is up for seven Grammy awards and is ok with letting K. Dot walk away with the Best Rap Album in the name of hip hop. 

“In terms of [that category], I think it should go to Kendrick. He’s family. TDE is family, and I understand why Hip-Hop would feel like Kendrick got robbed [if he didn’t win]. I’m not trying to compare albums; I think you can make an argument for both,” he explains. “With that being said, I am a huge supporter of what Kendrick does. And because of that, I would love to win in a different category. We obviously had massive success on commercial radio, and I think that, in ways, The Heist was a bigger album, but Kendrick has a better rap album.”

Pick up The Source’s January issue for the full interview.