Nominations for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards were announced today by the Recording Academy and for the Album of the Year category, alone, represents a diverse taste of musical styles. For hip-hop, rock, pop and jazz – the Academy held a press event at the Music Box in Hollywood and read the nominations that included Akon, Chester Bennington (of Linkin Park), Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, Jay-Z and Timbaland – just to name a few.
Kanye West leads the pack during a banner year with an incredible eight nominations (including the only Hip Hop entry for “Album of the Year”). Amy Winehouse garners six nominations while Jay-Z, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and T-Pain each earn five nods. Akon, Ne-Yo and Rihanna received four each.
“This year’s nominations truly reflect a diverse and talented community of artists and creators who represent some of the most exceptional music of the year,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy.
As hip-hop is being more in the mainstream with this year’s award show will the artist’s who represent and win show up for the occasion. HipHopDX.com echoes the similar statement made by Portnow:
AD LOADING...
“The Grammy Awards process once again has yielded a comprehensive group of excellent nominees and coupled with the fact that it’s our milestone 50th year, this year’s telecast promises music fans a spectacular show filled with stellar performances and unique ‘Grammy Moments’ for which Music’s Biggest Night™ has come to be renowned.”
Below are a few of the categories of interest…
Nominees for Album Of The Year are:
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace — Foo Fighters
AD LOADING...
These Days — Vince Gill
River: The Joni Letters — Herbie Hancock
Graduation — Kanye West
Back To Black — Amy Winehouse
AD LOADING...
Nominees for Record Of The Year are:
“Irreplaceable” — Beyoncé
“The Pretender” — Foo Fighters
“Umbrella” — Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z
AD LOADING...
“What Goes Around…Comes Around” — Justin Timberlake
“Rehab” — Amy Winehouse
Nominees for Song Of The Year are:
“Before He Cheats” — John Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
AD LOADING...
“Hey There Delilah” — Tom Higgenson, songwriter (Plain White T’s)
“Like A Star” — Corinne Bailey Rae, songwriter (Corinne Bailey Rae)
“Rehab” — Amy Winehouse, songwriter (Amy Winehouse)
“Umbrella” — Shawn Carter, Kuk Harrell, Terius “Dream” Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z)
AD LOADING...
Best Urban/Alternative Performance nods go to:
“Make A Baby” — Vikter Duplaix
“That’s The Way Of The World” — Dwele
“Daydreamin'” — Lupe Fiasco Featuring Jill Scott
AD LOADING...
“Fantasy” — Meshell Ndegeocello
“Dream” — Alice Smith
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration nods go to:
“I Wanna Love You” — Akon Featuring Snoop Dogg
AD LOADING...
“Kiss, Kiss” — Chris Brown & T-Pain
“Let It Go” — Keyshia Cole Featuring Missy Elliott & Lil’ Kim
“Umbrella” — Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z
“Good Life” — Kanye West Featuring T-Pain
AD LOADING...
Nominees for Best Rap Song are:
“Ayo Technology” — N. Hills, Curtis Jackson, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (50 Cent Featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland)
“Big Things Poppin’ (Do It)” — Clifford Harris & Byron Thomas, songwriters (T.I.)
“Can’t Tell Me Nothing” — A. Davis & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West)
AD LOADING...
“Crank That (Soulja Boy)” — Soulja Boy Tell’Em, songwriter (Soulja Boy Tell’Em)
“Good Life” — A. Davis, F. Najm & K. West, songwriters (Kanye West Featuring T-Pain)
For Best Rap Album, the nominees are:
Finding Forever — Common
AD LOADING...
Kingdom Come — Jay-Z
Hip Hop Is Dead — Nas
T.I. vs T.I.P. — T.I.
Graduation — Kanye West
AD LOADING...
The GrammyAwards will be broadcasting live on February 10th, 2008 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
