Podcast: "Reparations" (The BackBeat)

This Week on The BackBeat, we get into the 2018 GRAMMY nominations and talk through some of our favorite nominees. From Album of the Year to Best Urban Contemporary Album, we have you covered. Later we get into the passing of Lil Peep and the importance of discussing addiction and mental illness. We've been gone for too long but it's time we brought it back! ;)

Grammy News: 56th Annual GRAMMY Award Winners

While the GRAMMY telecast starts at 8pm EST, a lot of the awards are announced during the pre-telecast and you can see who's won below. The winners will be highlighted in red and you should check back as I will continually update throughout the night.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Random Access Memories – Daft Punk

The Blessed Unrest – Sara Bareilles
good kid, m.A.A.d city – Kendrick Lamar
The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Red – Taylor Swift

RECORD OF THE YEAR

"Get Lucky" – Daft Punk

"Radioactive" – Imagine Dragons
"Royals" – Lorde
"Locked Out of Heaven” – Bruno Mars
"Blurred Lines"- Robin Thicke feat. Pharrell and T.I.

SONG OF THE YEAR

"Royals" – Lorde

"Just Give Me a Reason" – Pink feat. Nate Ruess
"Locked Out of Heaven" – Bruno Mars
"Roar" – Katy Perry
"Same Love" – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert

BEST NEW ARTIST

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

James Blake
Ed Sheeran
Kendrick Lamar
Kacey Musgraves

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE

Something

Snarky Puppy With Lalah Hathaway

Track from: Family Dinner Volume One

Label: Ropeadope Records

Love And War
Tamar Braxton
Track from: Love And War
Label: Epic Records/Streamline Records

Best Of Me
Anthony Hamilton
Track from: Back To Love
Label: RCA Records

Nakamarra
Hiatus Kaiyote Featuring Q-Tip
Track from: Tawk Tomahawk
Label: Sony Music Ent./Flying Buddha

How Many Drinks?
Miguel Featuring Kendrick Lamar
Label: RCA Records / Bystorm Entertainment

BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE

"Please Come Home"

Gary Clark Jr.

Track from: Blak And Blu

Label: Warner Bros Records

"Get It Right"
Fantasia
Track from: Side Effects Of You
Label: RCA Records/19 Recordings Limited

"Quiet Fire"
Maysa
Label: Shanachie Entertainment

"Hey Laura"
Gregory Porter
Track from: Liquid Spirit
Label: Blue Note Records

"Yesterday"
Ryan Shaw
Track from: Real Love
Label: Dynotone Records

BEST R&B SONG

"Pusher Love Girl"

James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake)

Track from: The 20/20 Experience - The Complete Experience

Label: RCA Records

Publishers: Tennman Tunes/Universal Music- Z - Tunes/Virginia Beach Music/WB Music Corp./Jerome Harmon Publishing/Warner-Chappell Music, Inc./James Fauntleroy Music/Almo Music

Best Of Me
Anthony Hamilton & Jairus Mozee, songwriters (Anthony Hamilton)
Track from: Back To Love
Label: RCA Records
Publishers: Tappy Whyte's Music LLC/Songs Of Universal, Inc./Spuggy Bug Music

Love And War
Tamar Braxton, Darhyl Camper, Jr., LaShawn Daniels & Makeba Riddick, songwriters (Tamar Braxton)
Track from: Love And War
Label: Epic Records/Streamline Records
Publishers: EMI April Music Inc./Miserable Girl Inc./Campstar Music/The Book Productions/EMI Blackwood Music Inc./Janice Combs Publishing/Yoga Flames Music

"Only One"
PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton Featuring Stevie Wonder)
Label: Cash Money/Universal Republic
Publisher: Fly Nerd Music

"Without Me"
Fantasia Barrino, Missy Elliott, Al Sherrod Lambert, Harmony Samuels & Kyle Stewart, songwriters (Fantasia Featuring Kelly Rowland & Missy Elliot)
Track from: Side Effects Of You
Label: RCA Records/19 Recordings Limited
Publishers: H-Money Music/RJ Productions/EMI April Music, Inc./Aristocratic Destiny Music/Penmanship Publishing/Songs Of Universal, Inc./Jogloe Music Publishing/Mass Confusion Productions, Inc.

BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM

Unapologetic

Rihanna

Label: Def Jam Records

Love And War
Tamar Braxton
Label: Epic Records/Streamline Records

Side Effects Of You
Fantasia
Label: RCA Records /19 Recordings Limited

One: In The Chamber
Salaam Remi
Label: Flying Buddha / Masterworks

New York: A Love Story
Mack Wilds
Label: Louder Than Life / Sony Music

BEST R&B ALBUM

Girl On Fire

Alicia Keys

Label: RCA Records

R&B Divas
Faith Evans
Label: Prolific Music Group/Eone Music

Love In The Future
John Legend
Label: Columbia Records

Better
Chrisette Michele
Label: Motown Records

Three Kings
TGT
Label: Atlantic Records

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE

"Thrift Shop"
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Featuring Wanz

Track from: The Heist

Label: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis LLC

"Started From The Bottom"
Drake
Label: Young Money/Cash Money

"Berzerk"
Eminem
Label: Aftermath/Interscope/Shady Records

"Tom Ford"
Jay Z
Track from: Magna Carta...Holy Grail
Label: Roc Nation

"Swimming Pools (Drank)"
Kendrick Lamar
Track from: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
Label: TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION

"Holy Grail"

Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake

Track from: Magna Carta...Holy Grail

Label: Roc Nation

"Power Trip"
J. Cole Featuring Miguel
Track from: Born Sinner
Label: Roc Nation/Columbia Records

"Part II (On The Run)"
Jay Z Featuring Beyoncé
Track from: Magna Carta...Holy Grail
Label: Roc Nation

"Now Or Never"
Kendrick Lamar Featuring Mary J. Blige
Track from: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
Label: Aftermath Records

"Remember You"
Wiz Khalifa Featuring The Weeknd
Track from: O.N.I.F.C.
Label: Rostrum/Atlantic

BEST RAP SONG

"Thrift Shop"

Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis, songwriters 

Track from: The Heist

Label: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis LLC

Publishers: Macklemore Publishing/Ryan Lewis Publishing

"F***in' Problems"
Tauheed Epps, Aubrey Graham, Kendrick Lamar, Rakim Mayers & Noah Shebib, songwriters (ASAP Rocky Featuring Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar)
Track from: Long.Live.ASAP
Label: RCA Records / Polo Grounds Music
Publishers: ASAP Rocky Music Publishing LLC/Sony/ATV Songs LLC/Mavor & Moses LLC/Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Inc./Herbilicious Music/Black Fountain Music/Livewrite/EMI Blackwood Music, Inc./Ty Epps Music/Top Dawg Music/Hard Working Black Folks, Inc./WB Music Corp

"Holy Grail"
Shawn Carter, Terius Nash, J. Harmon, Timothy Mosley, Justin Timberlake & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl & Krist Novoselic, songwriters) (Jay Z Featuring Justin Timberlake)
Track from: Magna Carta...Holy Grail
Label: Roc Nation
Publishers: Carter Boys/Warner Chappell/WB Music Corp./2082 Music Publishing/Tennmann Tunes/Universal Music Z Tunes/VB Rising/ole/Jerome Harmon Publishing/Chrysalis Music/Let The Story Begin Publishing/EMI Virgin Songs Inc./Primary Wave Tunes/The End Of Music/MJ Twelve M

"New Slaves"
Christopher Breaux, Ben Bronfman, Mike Dean, Louis Johnson, Malik Jones, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, Che Smith, Kanye West & Cydell Young, songwriters (Anna Adamis & Gabor Presser, songwriters) (Kanye West)
Track from: Yeezus
Label: Def Jam

"Started From The Bottom"
W. Coleman, Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Bruno Sanfilippo, songwriter) (Drake)
Label: Young Money/Cash Money
Publishers: Sandra Gale/EMI Music Publishing/Mavor & Moses Inc./Kobalt

BEST RAP ALBUM

The Heist

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Label: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis LLC

Nothing Was The Same
Drake
Label: Young Money/Cash Money

Magna Carta...Holy Grail
Jay Z
Label: Roc Nation

Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
Kendrick Lamar
Label: TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records

Yeezus
Kanye West
Label: Def Jam

BEST ROCK SONG

"Cut Me Some Slack"

Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic & Pat Smear, songwriters (Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear)

Track from: Sound City - Real To Reel

Label: RCA Records / Roswell Records

Publishers: MPL Communications, Inc./M.J.-Twelve Music/Murky Slough Music/Kobalt Music/Ruthensmear Music/Bug Music

"Ain't Messin 'Round"
Gary Clark Jr., songwriter (Gary Clark Jr.)
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Publisher: Hotwire Unlimited LLC

"Doom And Gloom"
Mick Jagger & Keith Richards, songwriters (The Rolling Stones)
Label: Universal Music Enterprises
Publisher: Promopub B.V.

"God Is Dead?"
Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi & Ozzy Osbourne, songwriters (Black Sabbath)
Track from: 13
Label: Vertigo/Republic
Publishers: Aston Music/Blizzard Music Limited/Valallen Music

"Panic Station"
Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Publisher: Warner Chappell

BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA

"Skyfall"

Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)

Track from: Skyfall

Label: Columbia Records/ XL Recordings

Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Ltd./EMI Music Publishing Ltd.

"Atlas"
Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay)
Track from: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Label: Universal Republic
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing MGB Ltd.

"Silver Lining"
Diane Warren, songwriter (Jessie J)
Track from: Silver Linings Playbook
Label: Sony Classical
Publisher: Realsongs

"We Both Know"
Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw, songwriters (Colbie Caillat Featuring Gavin DeGraw)
Track from: Safe Haven
Label: Relativity Music Group/RCA/Universal Republic
Publishers: G Degraw Music Inc./Plummy Lou Music

"Young And Beautiful"
Lana Del Rey & Rick Nowels, songwriters (Lana Del Rey)
Track from: The Great Gatsby (Deluxe Edition)
Label: WaterTower Music/Interscope
Publishers: EMI Music Publishing Ltd./R-Rated Music/EMI April Music, Inc.

"You've Got Time"
Regina Spektor, songwriter (Regina Spektor)
Track from: Orange Is The New Black
Label: Sire
Publishers: Soviet Kitsch Music/EMI Blackwood Music Inc.

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
"Royals"

Lorde

Track from: Pure Heroine

Label: Universal Republic

"Brave"
Sara Bareilles
Track from: The Blessed Unrest
Label: Epic Records

"When I Was Your Man"
Bruno Mars
Track from: Unorthodox Jukebox
Label: Atlantic

"Roar"
Katy Perry
Label: Capitol

"Mirrors"
Justin Timberlake
Track from: The 20/20 Experience - The Complete Experience
Label: RCA Records

BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE

"Get Lucky"

Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams

Track from: Random Access Memories

Label: Columbia Records

"Just Give Me A Reason"
Pink Featuring Nate Ruess
Track from: The Truth About Love
Label: RCA Records

"Stay"
Rihanna Featuring Mikky Ekko
Track from: Unapologetic 
Label: Def Jam Records

"Blurred Lines"
Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell
Track from: Blurred Lines
Label: Star Trak/ Interscope

"Suit & Tie"
Justin Timberlake & Jay Z
Track from: The 20/20 Experience - The Complete Experience
Label: RCA Records

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM

Steppin' Out

Herb Alpert

Label: Shout! Factory

The Beat
Boney James
Label: Concord Records

Handpicked
Earl Klugh
Label: Heads Up International

Summer Horns
Dave Koz, Gerald Albright, Mindi Abair & Richard Elliot
Label: Concord Records

Hacienda
Jeff Lorber Fusion
Label: Heads Up International

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM

Unorthodox Jukebox

Bruno Mars

Label: Atlantic

Paradise
Lana Del Rey

Label: Polydor UK / Interscope

Pure Heroine
Lorde
Label: Universal Republic

Blurred Lines
Robin Thicke
Label: Star Trak / Interscope

The 20/20 Experience - The Complete Experience
Justin Timberlake
Label: RCA Records

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM

To Be Loved

Michael Bublé

Label: 143/Reprise

Viva Duets
Tony Bennett & Various Artists
Label: Columbia Records


The Standards
Gloria Estefan
Label: Masterworks

Cee Lo's Magic Moment
Cee Lo Green
Label: Elektra

Now
Dionne Warwick
Label: Blue Horizon

BEST GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE

"Break Every Chain [Live]"

Tasha Cobbs

Track from: Grace [Live]

Label: EMI Gospel/ Motown Gospel

"Hurricane"
Natalie Grant
Label: Curb Records

"Lord, I Need You"
Matt Maher
Track from: All The People Said Amen (Live)
Label: Essential Records

"Overcomer"
Mandisa
Track from: Overcomer
Label: Sparrow Records

"If He Did It Before... Same God [Live]"
Tye Tribbett
Track from: Greater Than [Live]
Label: Motown Gospel

BEST GOSPEL SONG

"If He Did It Before... Same God [Live]"

Tye Tribbett, songwriter (Tye Tribbett)

Track from: Greater Than [Live]

Label: Motown Gospel

Publisher: Everything Fresh Entertainment LLC

"Have Your Way"
Calvin Frazier & Deitrick Haddon, songwriters (Deitrick Haddon)
Label: RCA Inspiration
Publishers: Deitrick Vaughn Haddon Publishing/Calvin Frazier Publishing

"If I Believe"
Wirlie Morris, Michael Paran, Charlie Wilson & Mahin Wilson, songwriters (Charlie Wilson)
Track from: Love, Charlie
Label: RCA Records / P Music Group Inc.
Publishers: Nephew Wirlie Music/EMI Music Publishing/Pacific Coast Pirate Publishing/Mamas Pebbly Publishing

"A Little More Jesus"
Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Erica Campbell)
Label: My Block Inc / Eone Music
Publishers: That's Plum Song-EMI April/It's Tea Tyme-EMI April/Campbell Kids

"Still"
Percy Bady, songwriter (Percy Bady Featuring Lowell Pye)
Track from: Kingdom Inspirations
Label: Maranatha! Music/K-Bizz Ent.
Publisher: Kingdom Bizz Songs BMI

BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC SONG

"Overcomer"

David Garcia, Ben Glover & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Mandisa)

Track from: Overcomer

Label: Sparrow Records

Publishers: Ariose Music/9T One Songs/Meaux Mercy/LarryDavid Music/Capitol CMG Publishing/Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing/D Soul Music

"Hurricane"
Matt Bronleewe, Natalie Grant & Cindy Morgan, songwriters (Natalie Grant)
Label: Curb Records
Publisher: Razor & Tie Music Publishing

"Love Take Me Over"
Steven Curtis Chapman, songwriter (Steven Curtis Chapman)
Track from: The Glorious Unfolding
Label: Reunion Records

"Speak Life"
Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore & Ryan Stevenson, songwriters (Tobymac)
Track from: Eye On It
Label: Forefront Records
Publishers: Achtober Songs/EMI CMG Publishing/Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing/Songs Of Emack/Jamnu Music/Hole-Steen Music

"Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies)"
Ed Cash, Scott Cash & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)
Track from: Burning Lights
Label: sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records
Publishers: Sixsteps Songs/Worship Together Music/A Thousand Generations Publishing/EMI CMG Publishing/Alletrop Music/McTyeire Music

BEST GOSPEL ALBUM

Greater Than [Live]

Tye Tribbett

Label: Motown Gospel

Grace [Live]
Tasha Cobbs
Label: EMI Gospel/ Motown Gospel

Best For Last: 20 Year Celebration Vol. 1 [Live]
Donald Lawrence
Label: Quietwater Entertainment/EOne

Best Days Yet
Bishop Paul S. Morton
Label: Tehillah Music Group/EOne

God Chaser [Live]
William Murphy
Label: RCA Inspiration/ Verity Gospel Music Group

BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM

Overcomer

Mandisa

Label: Sparrow Records

We Won't Be Shaken
Building 429
Label: Essential Records

All The People Said Amen [Live]
Matt Maher
Label: Essential Records

Your Grace Finds Me (Live)
Matt Redman
Label: sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records

Burning Lights
Chris Tomlin
Label: sixstepsrecords/Sparrow Records

Grammy News: 55th Grammy Nominations

The official Grammy nominations for the 55th Grammy Awards were announced earlier tonight in Nashville and Frank Ocean seemed to be one of the biggest winners of the nomination night with nominations in Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best Urban Contemporary Album. With that said, even Miguel got some great shine working out with a nomination for Song of the Year for "Adorn."

See the list of nominations for the 55th Annual Grammy Awards below from the R&B categories, which added a few more categories back this year in addition to the top 4 of the night and lookout for the Grammys when they air live on CBS Sunday, February 10, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Record Of The Year

Lonely Boy – The Black Keys

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson

We Are Young – Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe

Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye Featuring Kimbra

Thinkin Bout You – Frank Ocean

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together – Taylor Swift

Album Of The Year

El Camino – The Black Keys

Some Nights – Fun.

Babel – Mumford & Sons

Channel Orange – Frank Ocean

Blunderbuss – Jack White

Song Of The Year

The A Team – Ed Sheeran

Adorn – Miguel

Call Me Maybe – Carly Rae Jepsen

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) – Kelly Clarkson

We Are Young – Fun.

Best New Artist

Alabama Shakes

Fun.

Hunter Hayes

The Lumineers

Frank Ocean

Best R&B Performance

Thank You – Estelle

Gonna Be Alright (F.T.B.) – Robert Glasper Experiment Featuring Ledisi

I Want You – Luke James

Adorn – Miguel

Climax – Usher

Best Traditional R&B Performance

Lately – Anita Baker

Love On Top – Beyoncé

Wrong Side Of A Love Song – Melanie Fiona

Real Good Hands – Gregory Porter

If Only You Knew – SWV

Best R&B Song

Adorn – Miguel

Beautiful Surprise – Tamia

Heart Attack – Trey Songz

Pray For Me – Anthony Hamilton

Refill – Elle Varner

Best Urban Contemporary Album

Fortune – Chris Brown

Kaleidoscope Dream – Miguel

Channel Orange – Frank Ocean

Best R&B Album

Black Radio – Robert Glasper Experiment

Back To Love – Anthony Hamilton

Write Me Back – R. Kelly

Beautiful Surprise – Tamia

Open Invitation – Tyrese

Grammy News: Grammys Add R&B category

After slashing the total number of Grammy Awards for R&B releases from eight to four, the Recording Academy has decided to instate the "Best Urban Contemporary Album" for albums that mix traditional R&B with other musical elements. Peep the official press release below for the announcement and lookout for the revamped Grammys when they go down next year.

Best Urban Contemporary Album is for albums containing 51percent playing time of newly recorded contemporary vocal tracks derivative of R&B. This category is intended for artists whose music includes the more contemporary elements of R&B and may incorporate production elements found in urban pop, urban europop, urban rock, and urban alternative. 

The eligibility year for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards is Oct. 1, 2011, to Sept. 30, 2012. 

The submissions process for the 55th GRAMMY Awards begins on July 2, 2012, and will be followed by various Academy Screening Committee meetings later this year. Nominations for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be announced as part of “The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music’s Biggest Night®,” a one-hour special that sets the stage for the annual GRAMMY Awards telecast with nominations announced in several categories and performances by past GRAMMY winners and/or nominees. This year’s nominations special will be broadcast live on CBS on Wed., Dec. 5, 2012.

Grammy News: Whitney Houston Grammy Moments

In honor of Whitney Houston's impact on music, a compilation of some of her Grammy remarks have been compiled from her 6 wins during her legendary and record-breaking career.  With that said, watch this touching tribute to Houston below and lookout for the Grammys to honor Whitney later tonight.

Grammy News: 54th Grammy Winners!

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards is underway and the pre-telecast has already given out numerous awards. Take a peek below to see who's already won in their fields and lookout for this page to refresh throughout the show with the updated list of winners in the major categories and the R&B, Rap, and Pop categories.


Album of the Year

"21" – Adele

"Wasting Light" – Foo Fighters

"Born This Way" – Lady Gaga

"Doo-Wops & Hooligans" – Bruno Mars

"Loud" – Rihanna

Record of the Year

"Rolling in the Deep" – Adele

Paul Epworth, producer; Tom Elmhirst & Mark Rankin, engineers/mixers

"Holocene" – Bon Iver

Justin Vernon, producer; Brian Joseph & Justin Vernon, engineers/mixers

"Grenade" – Bruno Mars

The Smeezingtons, producers; Ari Levine & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers

"The Cave" – Mumford & Sons

Markus Dravs, producer; Francois Chevallier & Ruadhri Cushnan, engineers/mixers

"Firework" – Katy Perry

Stargate & Sandy Vee, producers; Mikkel S. Eriksen, Phil Tan, Sandy Vee & Miles Walker, engineers/mixers

Song of the Year

"Rolling in the Deep" - Adele & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)
"All of the Lights" - Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Really Doe, Kanye West & Malik Yusef, songwriters (Kanye West featuring Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)

"The Cave" - Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)

"Grenade" - Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, The Smeezingtons & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Bruno Mars)

"Holocene" - Justin Vernon, songwriter (Bon Iver)

Best New Artist

The Band Perry

Bon Iver

J. Cole

Nicki Minaj

Skrillex

Best R&B Performance

"Is This Love" – Corinne Bailey Rae

"Far Away" – Marsha Ambrosius

"Pieces of Me" – Ledisi

"Not My Daddy" – Kelly Price featuring Stokley Williams

"You Are" – Charlie Wilson

Best Traditional R&B Performance

"Fool for You" – Cee Lo Green featuring Melanie Fiona

"Sometimes I Cry" – Eric Benét

"Radio Message" – R. Kelly

"Good Man" – Raphael Saadiq

"Surrender" – Betty Wright & The Roots

Best R&B Song

"Fool for You" - Cee Lo Green & Jack Splash, songwriters (Cee Lo Green featuring Melanie Fiona)

"Far Away" - Marsha Ambrosius, Sterling Simms & Justin Smith, songwriters (Marsha Ambrosius)

"Not My Daddy" - Kelly Price, songwriter (Kelly Price featuring Stokley Williams)

"Pieces of Me" - Chuck Harmony, Claude Kelly & Ledisi, songwriters (Ledisi)"

You Are" - Dennis Bettis, Carl M. Days, Jr., Wirlie Morris, Charlie Wilson & Mahin Wilson, songwriters (Charlie Wilson)

Best R&B Album

F.A.M.E. – Chris Brown

Second Chance – El DeBarge

Love Letter – R. Kelly

Pieces of Me – Ledisi

Kelly – Kelly Price

Best Rap Performance

"Otis" – Jay-Z & Kanye West (featuring Otis Redding)
"Look at Me Now" – Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes

"The Show Goes On" – Lupe Fiasco

"Moment 4 Life" – Nicki Minaj featuring Drake

"Black and Yellow" – Wiz Khalifa

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

"All of the Lights" – Kanye West featuring Rihanna, Fergie & Kid Cudi

"Party" – Beyoncé featuring André 3000

"I'm On One" – DJ Khaled featuring Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne

"I Need a Doctor" – Dr. Dre featuring Eminem & Skylar Grey

"What's My Name?" – Rihanna featuring Drake

"Motivation" – Kelly Rowland featuring Lil Wayne

Best Rap Song

"All of the Lights" - Jeff Bhasker, Fergie, Really Doe, Kanye West & Malik Yusef, songwriters (Kanye West featuring Rihanna, Fergie & Kid Cudi)

"Black and Yellow"Wiz Khalifa & Stargate, songwriters (Wiz Khalifa)

"I Need a Doctor"Alex da Kid, Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey, songwriters (Dr. Dre featuring Eminem & Skylar Grey)

"Look at Me Now"Jean Baptiste, Chris Brown, Ryan Buendia, Diplo, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes, songwriters (Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes)

"Otis"Jay-Z & Kanye West, songwriters (with James Brown, Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, Roy Hammond, J. Roach, Kirk Robinson & Harry M. Woods, songwriters) (Jay-Z & Kanye West) (featuring Otis Redding)

"The Show Goes On"Dustin William Brower, Jonathon Keith Brown, Daniel Johnson, Kane & Lupe Fiasco, songwriters (with Isaac Brock, Dann Gallucci & Eric Judy, songwriters) (Lupe Fiasco)

Best Rap Album

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West

Watch the Throne – Jay-Z & Kanye West

Tha Carter IV – Lil Wayne

Lasers – Lupe Fiasco

Pink Friday – Nicki Minaj

Best Pop Solo Performance

"Someone Like You" – Adele

"Yoü and I" – Lady Gaga

"Grenade" – Bruno Mars

"Firework" – Katy Perry

"Fuckin' Perfect" – P!nk

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

"Body and Soul" – Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse

"Dearest" – The Black Keys"Paradise" – Coldplay

"Pumped Up Kicks" – Foster the People

"Moves Like Jagger" – Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera

Best Pop Vocal Album

21 – Adele

The Lady Killer – Cee Lo Green

Born This Way – Lady Gaga

Doo-Wops & Hooligans – Bruno Mars

Loud – Rihanna

Grammy News: Adele Slated to Perform

Adele is slated to perform at the Grammy Awards this February marking her first performance in over five months and also the first performance she shall give after having surgery on her throat. Though there is no word yet on what she will perform, it would appear logical that Adele would perform one of her three number one singles "Rolling In The Deep," "Someone Like You," or her current chart-topper  "Set Fire To The Rain."

Grammy News: Lifetime Achievement Award (Diana Ross)

The Boss Ms. Ross has been selected as one of the 2012 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipients for her contribution to music as both a member of the trailblazing Supremes as well as her solo career. Though Diana Ross has been nominated countless times for the coveted Grammy Award, this iconic Diva has yet to lay claim to a statue of her own. Taking place on February 12th, 2012, Ms. Ross will be honored along side the Allman Brothers Band, Glen Campbell, Antonio Carlos Jobim, George Jones, the late Steve Jobs, the Memphis Horns and the late Gil Scott-Heron.

Grammy News: Overhaul on Categories

Usher and Fantasia should cherish their Grammy Awards for Best Male and Female R&B Vocal Performance as their awards were the last of their kind. Moving forward, it's been announced that the Grammy Awards have trimmed the field of 109 Awards down to 78. A whopping 31 categories have been eliminated for the forthcoming ceremonies in an effort to maintain the prestige of the Grammy Awards.

While an overhaul was needed for the Grammys, the R&B field has been cut in half with the elimination of the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, Best Urban/Alternative Performance, and Best Contemporary R&B Album. While I understand the rational given to maintain the prestige of the Grammy Awards, I don't agree with the merger of the different vocal performances categories into one. Male, female, and group vocals merit their own awards in my opinion. Also the loss of the Best Urban/ Alternative Performance and Best Contemporary R&B Album mean that Soul singers, R&B singers, and R&B/ Pop singers will now all compete for the same awards.

In my opinion I do believe that some of the 31 cut categories deserved to be cut or reinterpreted, but the already small R&B filed didn't deserve to be cut down so much. With the narrowed R&B field, one can only hope that true R&B/Soul singers will be nominated in these categories and Urban Pop will find its way into the Pop categories then.

Time will tell how the music community will respond to the sharp decline in categories and how it impacts the perception of the Grammys.

Interview: Esperanza Spalding

Grammy Award winning Best New Artists Esperanza Spalding revisited her alma mater, Portland State University where she talks about learning from her musical elders, facing criticism, and the boundaries of Jazz music. Watch this insightful interview bellow.

Grammy News: Rap Winners

Check bellow for the nominees and winners in the Rap category. Most of the winners were announced during the pre-telecast, while Best Rap Album was announced during the show. The winners are in yellow.


Best Rap Solo Performance:

Over  

Drake 

[Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Motown] 

Not Afraid  
Eminem 

[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope] 

How Low  

Ludacris 

[DTP/Def Jam Recordings] 

I'm Back  

T.I. 

[Grand Hustle/Atlantic] 

Power  

Kanye West 

[Def Jam Recordings/Roc-A-Fella] 

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group:

 Shutterbugg  

Big Boi, Bosko, Cutty & Mouche 

[Def Jam Recordings] 

Fancy  

Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz 

[Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Motown] 

On To The Next One  

Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz 

[Roc Nation] 

My Chick Bad  

Ludacris & Nicki Minaj 

[DTP/ Def Jam Recordings] 

Lose My Mind  

Young Jeezy & Plies 

[Def Jam Recordings] 

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:

Nothin' On You  

B.o.B & Bruno Mars 

[Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic] 

Deuces  

Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall 

[Jive Records] 

Love The Way You Lie  

Eminem & Rihanna 

[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope] 

Empire State Of Mind  

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys 

[Roc Nation] 

Wake Up Everybody  

John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common 

[G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia Records/Home School Records] 

Best Rap Song:

 Empire State Of Mind 

(Jay-Z & Alicia Keys)

Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters

[Roc Nation; Publishers: Carter Boys Music/Al Shuckburgh/Global Talent Publishing/Foray Music/Masani Elshabazz Music/EMI April Music/J Sewell Publishing/Lellow Productions/Twenty Nine Black Music/Gambi Music] 

Love The Way You Lie 

(Eminem & Rihanna)

Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters 

[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Shroom Shady Music/Universal Music Publishing/Universal Music-Z Songs/Hotel Bravo Music/M. Shop Publishing] 

Not Afraid 

(Eminem)

M. Burnett, J. Evans, Marshall Mathers, Luis Resto & M. Samuels, songwriters

[AftermathShady Records/Interscope; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Shroom Shady Music/Resto World Music/1damentional Publishing/Sony ATV Tunes/1daniable Publishing] 

Nothin' On You 

(B.o.B & Bruno Mars)

Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Bobby Simmons Jr., songwriters 

[Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic; Publishers: Ham Squad Music/Songs of Universal/Shady Music Publishing/Mars Force Music/Northside Independent Music/Bug House/Roc Cor Publishing/Music Famamanem/Toy Plane Music/Art For Arts Sake Music/Bughouse] 

On To The Next One

(Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)   

Shawn Carter, J. Chaton & K. Dean, songwriters (G. Auge & X. De Rosnay, songwriters) 

[Roc Nation; Publishers: Carter Boys Music/Swizz Beatz/Universal Tunes/Irish Town Songs/Blue Mountain Music/Universal Music-MGB Songs] 

Best Rap Album:

 The Adventures Of Bobby Ray  

B.o.B 

[Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic] 

Thank Me Later  

Drake 

[Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Motown] 

Recovery  

Eminem 

[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope] 

The Blueprint 3  

Jay-Z [Roc Nation] 

How I Got Over  

The Roots 

[Def Jam Recordings]

Grammy News: The Big Four Winners

Known as the big four, Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist, are the most coveted awards of the night spanning across several different genres. Bellow you can see you was nominated and who the winner is in each category. As always, the winners will be in bold and yellow and each category will be updated after its announcement.

Record Of The Year: 

Nothin' On You  

B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars 

The Smeezingtons, producers; Ari Levine & Mike Wilson, engineer/mixers Track from: 

[Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic] 

Love The Way You Lie  

Eminem Featuring Rihanna 

Alex Da Kid & Makeba Riddick, producers; Alex Da Kid, Eminem, Mike Strange & Marcos Tovar, engineers/mixers 

[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope] 

F*** You  

Cee Lo Green 

The Smeezingtons, producers; Manny Marroquin & Graham Marsh, engineers/mixers 

[Elektra] 

Empire State Of Mind  

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys 

Angela Hunte, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Shux, producers; Ken "Duro" Ifill, Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton & Ann Mincieli, engineers/mixers 

[Roc Nation] 

Need You Now 

 Lady Antebellum 

Lady Antebellum & Paul Worley, producers; Clarke Schleicher, engineer/mixer 

[Capitol Records Nashville]

Album Of The Year: 

The Suburbs  

Arcade Fire 

Arcade Fire & Markus Dravs, producers; Arcade Fire, Markus Dravs, Mark Lawson & Craig Silvey, engineers/mixers; George Marino, mastering engineer 

[Merge Records] 

Recovery  

Eminem 

Kobe, Lil Wayne, Pink, Rihanna & Slaughterhouse, featured artists; Alex Da Kid, Mark Batson, Boi-1da, Nick Brongers, Dwayne "Supa Dups" Chin-Quee, DJ Khalil, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jason Gilbert, Havoc, Emile Haynie, Jim Jonsin, Just Blaze, Magnedo7, Mr. Porter, Robert Reyes, Makeba Riddick & Script Shepherd, producers; Alex Da Kid, Dwayne "Supa Dups" Chin-Quee, Kal "Boogie" Dellaportas, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mauricio "Veto" Iragorri, Just Blaze, Brent Kolatalo, Ken Lewis, Robert Marks, Alex Merzin, Matthew Samuels, Joe Strange, Mike Strange, Marcos Tovar & Ryan West, engineers/mixers; Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, mastering engineer 

[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope] 

Need You Now  

Lady Antebellum 

Lady Antebellum & Paul Worley, producers; Clarke Schleicher, engineer/mixer; Andrew Mendelson, mastering engineer 

[Capitol Records Nashville] 

The Fame Monster  

Lady Gaga 

Beyoncé, featured artist; Ron Fair, Fernando Garibay, Tal Herzberg, Rodney Jerkins, Lady Gaga, RedOne, Teddy Riley & Space Cowboy, producers; Eelco Bakker, Christian Delano, Mike Donaldson, Paul Foley, Tal Herzberg, Rodney Jerkins, Hisashi Mizoguchi, Robert Orton, Dan Parry, Jack Joseph Puig, RedOne, Teddy Riley, Dave Russel, Johnny Severin, Space Cowboy, Mark Stent, Jonas Westling & Frank Wolf, engineers/mixers; Gene Grimaldi, mastering engineer

 [Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope] 

Teenage Dream  

Katy Perry 

Snoop Dogg, featured artist; Ammo, Benny Blanco, Dr. Luke, Kuk Harrell, Max Martin, Stargate, Chris "Tricky" Stewart, Sandy Vee & Greg Wells, producers; Nick Chahwala, Steve Churchyard, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Sam Holland, Jaycen-Joshua, Damien Lewis, Ian MacGregor, Chris O'Ryan, Carlos Oyanedel, Paris, Phil Tan, Brian Thomas, Pat Thrall, Lewis Tozour, Miles Walker, Emily Wright & Andrew Wuepper, engineers/mixers; Brian Gardner, mastering engineer 

[Capitol Records]  

Song Of The Year:

Beg Steal Or Borrow 

(Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs) 

 Ray LaMontagne, songwriter 

[RCA Records; Publishers: Sweet Mary Music/Chrysalis Music] 

F*** You 

(Cee Lo Green)

Brody Brown, Cee Lo Green, Ari Levine, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters

 [Elektra] 

The House That Built Me  

(Miranda Lambert)

Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters  

[Columbia Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Tomdouglasmusic, Built On Rock Music] 

Love The Way You Lie

(Eminem Featuring Rihanna)  

Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters

 [Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Shroom Shady Music/Universal Music Publishing/Universal Music-Z Songs/Hotel Bravo Music/M. Shop Publishing] 

Need You Now  

(Lady Antebellum)

Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters 

[Capitol Records Nashville; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing/DWHaywood Music/Radiobulletspublishing, EMI Foray Music/Hillary Dawn Songs, Year of the Dog Music, Darth Buddha Music]

Best New Artist: 

Justin Bieber  

Drake  

Florence & The Machine  

Mumford & Sons  

Esperanza Spalding

Grammy News: R&B Winners

Check bellow for the nominees and winners in the R&B category. Some of the winners were announced during the pre-telecast, while others will be announced during the show. The winners are in yellow.

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance:

Gone Already  

Faith Evans 

[E1 Music]

Bittersweet  

Fantasia 

[J Records / 19 Recordings LLC / S Records] 

Everything To Me  

Monica 

[J Records] 

Tired  

Kelly Price 

[My Block/ Sang Girl!/ Malaco] 

Holding You Down (Going In Circles)  

Jazmine Sullivan 

[J Records]

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance:

Second Chance  

El DeBarge 

[Geffen] 

Finding My Way Back  

Jaheim 

[Atlantic] 

Why Would You Stay 

Kem 

[Universal Motown] 

We're Still Friends  

Musiq Soulchild 

[Rendezvous Music/Mack Avenue] 

There Goes My Baby  

Usher 

[LaFace/Jive]

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:

Love  

Chuck Brown, Jill Scott & Marcus Miller 

[Raw Venture Records & Tapes, Inc.] 

Take My Time  

Chris Brown & Tank 

[Jive Records] 

You've Got A Friend  

Ronald Isley & Aretha Franklin 

[Island/Def Jam Recordings] 

Shine  

John Legend & The Roots 

[G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia Records/Home School Records] 

Soldier Of Love  

Sade 

[Epic/Sony Music]

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: 

When A Woman Loves  

R. Kelly 

[Jive Records] 

Hang On In There 

 John Legend & The Roots 

[G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia Records/Home School Records] 

You're So Amazing  

Calvin Richardson 

[Shanachie Entertainment/Numo Records] 

In Between  

Ryan Shaw 

[45 Records/Form Records] 

Go [Live]  

Betty Wright 

[MsB Records]

Best Urban/Alternative Performance:

Little One  

Bilal 

[Plug Research Music] 

F*** You  

Cee Lo Green 

[Elektra] 

Orion  

Carolyn Malachi 

[Carolyn Malachi/Smart Chicks Inc.] 

Tightrope  

Janelle Monáe & Big Boi 

 [Bad Boy/Wondaland/Atlantic] 

Still  

Eric Roberson 

[Blue Erro Soul]

Best R&B Song: 

Bittersweet 

(Fantasia)  

Charles Harmon & Claude Kelly, songwriters

Finding My Way Back 

(Jaheim)

Ivan "Orthodox" Barias, Curt Chambers, Carvin "Ransum" Haggins, Jaheim Hoagland & Miguel Jontel, songwriters

Second Chance 

(El DeBarge) 

E. DeBarge & Mischke, songwriters

Shine 

(John Legend & The Roots)

John Stephens, songwriter 

Why Would You Stay 

(Kem)

K. Owens, songwriter 

Best R&B Album: 

The Love & War Masterpeace 

Raheem DeVaughn 

[Jive] 

Back To Me  

Fantasia 

[J Records / 19 Recordings LLC / S Records] 

Another Round  

Jaheim 

[Atlantic] 

Wake Up!  

John Legend & The Roots 

[G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia Records/Home School Records] 

Still Standing  

Monica 

[J Records]

Best Contemporary R&B Album:

Graffiti  

Chris Brown 

[Jive] 

Untitled  

R. Kelly 

[Jive] 

Transition  

Ryan Leslie 

[Universal Motown/Casablanca] 

The ArchAndroid  

Janelle Monáe 

[Bad Boy/Wondaland/Atlantic] 

Raymond V Raymond  

Usher 

[Jive]

Grammy News: Gospel Winners

During the Grammy Awards, the majority of the awards are given out during its  pre-telecast. Here are the winners in the Gospel category.

Best Gospel Performance:

Grace  

BeBe & CeCe Winans 

Track from: Still 

[B&C/Malaco]

Best Gospel Song:  

It's What I Do  

Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway)

 Track from: The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter III 

[Rendezvous Music/ Mack Avenue Records; Publishers: Whalumusic/Jerry Peters Music]

Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album: 

Hello Hurricane  

Switchfoot 

[Atlantic Recording Corp/ Credential Recordings]

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: 

Love God. Love People.  

Israel Houghton 

[Integrity Music]

Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album: 

The Reason  

Diamond Rio 

[Word]

Best Traditional Gospel Album:

Downtown Church  

Patty Griffin 

[Credential Recordings]

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album:

Still  

BeBe & CeCe Winans 

[B&C/Malaco]

Grammy News: Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Hudson Honoring Aretha Franklin

According to sources, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, and three currently unidentified women will be opening up this year's Grammy Awards on sunday by honoring The Queen of Soul. Franklin, who was the first woman ever to be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and who won a record setting 10 consecutive Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, is a vocal legend and it is great that the Grammys and these talented women have come together to honor such a great. Word is that the other women will come from different genres. Here's hoping that Adele, Kelly Clarkson, Ledisi, Fantasia, and/or Carrie Underwood are included in the mix. Can't wait to see who takes the stage to honor The Queen this sunday, February 13th at the 53rd Grammy Awards which CBS will air at 8 PM EST.