check out that video

T-Pain To Join Young Money?

A frequent collaborator of Weezy F Baby, T-Pain recently had a very pricey chain created that includes the "YM" logo.

R&B artist T-Pain has been known for his flashy and sometimes excessive chain-wearing. With a new year on the horizon, it looks as though he will be adding a new jewelry piece to the collection as he is expected to sign with Young Money Entertainment.
Gabriel “The Jeweler” Jacobs of Rafaello & Co. recently spoke with VladTV.com about the $100,000 chain he has designed for the singer/producer. Describing the center-piece pendant as the “new Nappy Boy/Young Money piece,” Jacobs announced, “T-Pain’s about to sign to Young Money…He better, after doing this [laughs].”
You can view a video clip of Jacobs unveiling the pendant below.

Black Eyed Peas Branch Out With Animated Cartoon, Memoir

While will.i.am lends his voice to a star studded animated feature, Taboo releases a book.

While the Black Eyed Peas are mainly known for music, a few of its members have decided to branch out. will.i.am, often touted as the leader of the group, will lend his vocal talents to another group of stars for Rio, an animated feature that will also include Tracy Morgan, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Jesse Eisenberg, George Lopez and more.
The film is about a fictional character named Blu, a domesticated macaw from Minnesota who meets another character, Jewel, and it follows them as they take a trip to Brazil's Rio de Janeiro. The film will hit theaters in April of 2011.
Another BEP member, Taboo, is releasing a book, Fallin' Up: My Story. The book is meant to take readers through his upbringing in East Los Angeles, California and then later through his rise to fame. The book is said to tackle issues including alcoholism and drug addiction while also showing the great highlights that music has provided for him.
Fans can begin pre-ordering the book now but it will be released on February 8, 2011.

Beyonce, Britney, Gaga Make Forbes' 2010 Hollywood Moneymakers List

The R&B/pop star's estimated 2010 earnings of $87 million were enough to make her the highest-ranking musician on the list, at No. 9. Spears came in at No. 13 with $64 million netted over the past year, while Gaga closely followed at No. 14 with $62 million earned.

Other musical artists who made the bottom half of the list include Madonna (No. 15 with $58 million), Cyrus (No. 18 with $48 million) and Taylor Swift (No. 19 with $45 million). Oprah Winfrey easily snagged the top spot on the list with a whopping $315 million netted in 2010, while "Avatar" director James Cameron came in second with $210 million.

With Beyoncé earning $87 million in 2010, she and husband Jay-Z further prove their status as an unstoppable power couple. In August, the rapper topped Forbes' "Hip-Hop Cash Kings" list after making $63 million over a 12-month period.

Mixtape Release Dates: Rick Ross, Asher Roth & Nottz, M.I.A., G-Side

The new year yields some exciting tapes ahead from a variety of stars.

With Julian Assange’s house arrest putting the freeze on his mobility, M.I.A. skis down the WikiLeaks’ avalanche of controversy, while Asher Roth and Nottz thaw out the weekend’s snowstorm with some new heat. Meanwhile, Devi Dev and Terrace Martin get steamy for a S*x-ual reunion, shortly before the Geto Boys’ Willie D claim his throne as the Gangsta Of Love.

Late Pass
Nieve – Playback EP [December 19]

December TBA
Frenchie & DJ Lazy K – New Atlanta

December 20
Diego Cash & DJ Burn One – Honorable Mention
Dre & DJ 5150 – NO To The BR 5
Eldorado Red, Bambino Gold & DJ 5150 – Warning Shots
Gerald Walker – A Gerald Walker Christmas
Hazel-E, DJ Infamous & Natalie Nunn – Diary Of A Valley Girl
J.NiC$ & DJ Sylent – Stroke Of Death 17 [Polar Bear Mack Edition]
Kampane & Superstar Jay – CPR: The Mixtape
Legacy, DJ Ill Will & DJ Rockstar – Your New Favorite Rapper
Mak Mustard, DJ Lazy K & Gain Greene – Tip Of The Ice Berg
MED – BangYaHead III Pt. 2
Spade, Nyce Da Future, DJ R Rated & DJ Woogie – R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta) [The R Edition]

December 21
Chris Webby & Big Mike – Best In The Burbs
Mello Music Group & Tommy Blak – Mello Music Volume One
Nipsey Hussle – The Marathon
Panama, DJ Boy Wonder & Karen Civil – Viva Panama
Ricky Shabazz & The Boom Bap Boys – Free Shabazz
Wu-Tang Clan, The Budos Band, Tekst, Cloud Kicker & Emilio Sparks – The Wudos Band

December 22
Diamond & DJ Holiday – Cocaine Waitress

December 23
Big Boi, The Black Keys & Wick-It The Instigator – The Brothers Of Chico Dusty
Deen & DJ Superstar Jay – Slumdog Serious
Diggy Simmons & DJ Premier – Past Presents Future
Jonny Shipes & Big K.R.I.T. – Good Talk Volume 9 [Curve Your Enthusiasm Edition]
Nas, Don Cannon & Cookin’ Soul – Lost Tapes 1.5
Plies & DJ Scream – No Chaser
Tech N9ne, DJ Scream & DJ Whoo Kid – Bad Season
Webbie, DJ Fletch & DJ E-Dub – Webbie’s Par Two
Willie Green – Red & Green

December 24
Carlitta Durand – Nostalgic Nights
Hit-Boy – A Hit-Boy Christmas
Parker & Kuddie Fresh – Between Struggles
Reek Da Villain – The Gift: The Mixtape Album
Remy Banks & Hannibal King – World Famous
Rick Ross – Ashes To Ashes
Teairra Mari & DJ Drama – The Night Before X-Mas

December 25
Don Cerino – Twelve Days
Gorillaz – The Fall
Smif-N-Wessun & Cookin Soul – Stockin Stuffers: Hood X-Mas

December 27
Asher Roth & Nottz – Rawth EP

December 28
r.O.b. & Don Cannon – Higher Learning: The South
Tity Boi & DJ Teknikz – Codeine Cowboy

December 29
Remedy – All Comes Down To This

December 30
Tone Trump – Worldstar Tony
Vonnegutt – Free.99

December 31
M.I.A. – Vicky Leekx
Sen City – Til The Lights Turn Out

January TBA
Alley Boy – Purgatory: The Story Of Judas
Dee Goodz – Floetic Justice II
Frank The Butcher & Statik Selektah – Concepts: Selektions
Koncept – TBD
Kid Sister – TBD
Killa Kyleon – Natural Born Killa 2
Meko McAfee – Anti-Virus
Money Making Jam Boys – Judgment Day
Travis Porter – TBD
Yung Nate – I Heart YN
Zumo Collie – Last Showing

January 1
Black Hippy – Setbacks
Dee-1 – I Hope They Hear Me 2
Gods’Illa – CPR Blendtape
G-Side – One…Cohesive
Gunplay – Valkyrie
Man-u-iLL – You Should Already Know
Red Café – Above The Clouds
Señor Kaos – The Most Interesting MC In The World

January 3
Fat Rat Da Czar – I Know You Don’t Love Me: Reloaded

January 4
B.X.C. – @BXCMusic
Roach Gigz & DJ Racks – Roachy Balboa 2

January 6
QuESt – The Reason: A Defense Mechanism

January 7
FowL – Live From The D
Pete G – The Lavish Life

January 11
RAtheMC – Victory Lap
Stalley – Lincoln Way Nights (Intelligent Trunk Music)

January 18
Collie Buddz – Playback
J.Y. – The Slave Shift: Waking Down

January 23
SL Jones – The Number 23

February TBA
ElZhi – Elmatic
Freddie Gibbs – A Cold Day In Hell
Hazardis Soundz – HazMat 2
Meyhem Lauren – Self Induced Illness

February 6
Dorrough & DJ Drama – Gangsta Grillz: Code Red

February 7
The NU Revolution Camp, DJ Vkcor & Statik Banks – Super Hero Theme Music Vol. 1

February 8
Amor – The Wake-Up Show

February 13
Devi Dev & Terrace Martin – The Sex EP

February 14
Yonas – TBD

February 15
Kalae All Day – Past Times & Crass Lines

March TBA
Fashawn – Higher Learning 2
Willie D – Gangsta Of Love Vol. 1

March 1
K-Hill – Motivational Speaker

March 11
Kida – The Redshirt Freshmen

A Lineage of Greatness – Willow Smith on 'Parents Just Don't Understand,' Following the Smith Legacy

While other 10-year-olds are learning multiplication tables and enjoying recess, Pop Princess Willow Smith is topping charts. The success of Smith’s first single “Whip My Hair” comes as no surprise. She hails from a family of award winning entertainers – parents Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and brother Jayden Smith together are responsible for a slew of blockbuster hits.

Smith, daring to be different chose the path of a musician as opposed to the rest of her family. When asked did she like acting or singing better in a Yahoo! Music interview, the budding superstar says, “I’m in the music world right now, so I don’t really focus on acting. But I love acting.”

There has recently been a buzz about the possibility of Smith remaking her father’s classic kid anthem “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” The singer hints that the speculations may be true but modestly avoids giving a definite answer.

The diva-in-training does however open up about the best advice her superstar parents have given her. They advise that, “If you’re not really having fun then there’s no point of really trying.”

Her parents continue to embed a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility in the young artist. Smith recalls wanting to go to the movies with her friends but was scheduled to be in the studio. She asked her mother, “Mom, can I not do recording?’ to which Jada responds, “Well, you have to because you want to do songs.” She expresses that it’s hard work – but it’s worth it.

The immediate success of Willow Smith’s first musical release has cemented her place in the Smith dynasty as a rising star. The drive and energy of this child star is evident. And for Willow the future is bright.

Jay-Z To Receive One Million Dollars For New Year's Eve Performance

Hov hits Las Vegas this week for seven-figure rates, which may be nice, as he reportedly spent $350,000 on a Christmas gift shopping spree last week.

Brooklyn, New York emcee Jay-Z will work this New Year's Eve - for a commanding sum of money. The Roc Nation founder will be in Las Vegas, Nevada, performing at the Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino for a private party of 2,500 attendees later this week. Per reports at OMG Music, the iconic emcee received $1,000,000 for the performance.
Reports indicate that Jay's wife, Beyonce, will be with him, though the singer will not perform.
Other acts performing specially on the year's final day include Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj and Rick Ross.
In somewhat related news, SOHH.com has reported that Jay-Z spent $350,000 at New York's Hermes boutique on Christmas gifts.

todays hottest song

Plies Feat. Chris Brown - Oh Yeah
http://www29.zippyshare.com/v/97271549/file.html

Legendary R&B/Soul Singer Teena Marie Dies At 54

Rick James' protege has passed at the age of 54.

R&B/Soul singer Teena Marie passed away yesterday (December 26) at the age of 54.
The announcement came from Mike Gardener, the singer's manager.
The singer, who grew up in Oakland, California, is notable for being one of the few white performers who found mainstream success in R&B. She signed with Motown Records in 1976, after which point Rick James became her mentor. In 1983, she signed to Epic/CBS records, where she recorded until 1990. After a 14-year sabbatical, Marie signed to Cash Money Records' Classics imprint, where she recorded La Doña, the highest-charting album of her career. She was signed to Stax/Concord Records from 2009.
"R.I.P. [Teena] Marie," Tweeted Bryan "Birdman" Williams in response to her death. The singer has been sampled by Hip Hop acts such as The Fugees, Jadakiss and many others.
No cause of death has been released as of press time. There are reports that she suffered a seizure last month is Los Angeles.
HipHopDX extends our condolences to the family and friends of Tenna Marie.

check out that video

Lupe Fiasko - The Show Goes on

todays hottest song

Rick Ross feat. Ludacris - Black Man's Dream
http://www13.zippyshare.com/v/8327454/file.html

Ne-Yo Voices More Frustration Over Libra Scale, Says Fans Deserve His Best

R&B singer Ne-Yo continues to voice his frustration around his latest album ‘Libra Scale.’ A few weeks ago he said he was a little disturbed by his first week numbers and now in a recent interview with BBC Newsbeat, he says he “lost focus” while creating the new set.

"It's just there was so much going on in regards to this album,” says Ne-Yo. “Writing the script, making sure it was good, shooting videos and being too hands on with the director, the artwork and everything.

Released in November, Ne-Yo admitted the album is his "poorest selling album to date."

"I just wasn't paying attention to certain elements in making an album that I normally would. My fans deserve my best."

With that said, Ne-Yo has already started working on material for his forthcoming fifth album.

"I'm already working on my next album. I took two years off in between Year Of The Gentlemen and Libra Scale. I'm just going to get back to the basics and do what I do. My fifth album needs to be about the songs, I don't have a theme as such yet, it will be what life is, the black white and grey - what it is to be alive - that's what this album is going to represent."

In related news, it was announced today that Trey Songz will support Ne-Yo on his 2011 UK tour.

Full UK Tour Dates:

FEBRUARY 2011
Tuesday 22: Glasgow SECC
Wednesday 23: Liverpool Arena
Friday 25: Manchester MEN
Saturday 26: London O2

MARCH 2011
Wednesday 2: Birmingham NIA
Thursday 3: Newcastle Arena

Nicki Minaj Says Kanye West is Her Mentor

The Barbie describes her relationship with Kanye, saying he has become her mentor and explains how "Monster" came to be.

One of the year's highlights for Nicki Minaj has been her show stopping performance on Kanye West's "Monster." In fact, the cut has already earned her a Year-End Award Presented by HipHopDX for "Verse of the Year." But it seems Kanye is much more than another artist for Nicki as she recently spoke with RWD about her relationship with West, noting he has become her mentor.
"Well I was great friends with Amber Rose when they were dating and she hadrecommended me to him for his album and finally I guess he relented [laughs]," Minaj said of meeting West, before explaining how her "Monster" verse was created. "One day I got a call from her and she said Kanye wanted me to come down to Hawaii and record for the album. He told me I could pick what I wanted to be on. I heard the beat for 'Monster.' I fell in love with it and that’s how the "Monster" verse happened."
Their partnership did not end there. When Minaj was getting closer to releasing her own album, she said she needed Kanye West to be a part of it.
"When it came to me putting my album out, I was like ‘I can’t have an album without Kanye. He has to be a part of it.' He’s become my mentor, he gives meadvice, he hits me, takes random pictures off-line and says ‘Oh this is a good picture of you.' He’s really into fashion so he’s a good person to have a well-roundedconversation with."

songs of the day

Rick Ross feat. Wiz Khalifa - Retrosuperfuture
http://www57.zippyshare.com/v/18535389/file.html
Trey Songz feat. Fabolous - May I
http://www57.zippyshare.com/v/91012284/file.html

Sean Garrett Credits Beyonce For Record Deal, Talks Just Getting Started

singer/songwriter/producer Sean Garret is responsible for a ton of hits from several big name artists in music but now the new RocNation/Columbia signee is ready to put himself in the driver’s seat.

"I’m a performer first…fortunately producing and songwriting was something that took off really really big for me," Garrett says in a recent interview at a BET Music Matters concert. "I just had my seventeenth number one record last year for Usher. Ironically, my first number one record was Usher."

Garrett, who remains grounded for being in his current position, praises all the artists he has worked with, including superstar Beyonce.

"I wanna give a lot thanks and appreciation for every artist that I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of, they’ve been so instrumental in helping me in my life," Garrett says. "I wanna personally thank my girl Beyonce. Beyonce was definitely the one that helped me get my new deal. She called Hov, she called Ty…‘like yo I really love the song,’ so I just wanna thank her man. Between her and Hov, Hov gave me the name: The Pen, and Beyonce really helped me out in my artist career."

Garrett, who says continuing to produce and write for other artists is a “given,” says his career is just getting started and his work ethic will win fans over.

"A lot of people feel like I’ve done so many things but I’m really just starting," Garrett says. "Your career is a marathon, I look up to people like Lionel Richie, one of the great songwriters of all time and he’s still touring. He’s like my mentor. Kanye West man, very influential artist. I’m working on the artist perspective of my brand, it’s really important to complete your brand 360. I’m gonna work my ass off to prove that I’m one of the greatest hitmakers, singers, performers, etc."

today's hottest song

every body download (t-pain - merry Christmas)
http://www44.zippyshare.com/v/68407294/file.html

The billboard chart

1- trey songz (can't be friends)

2- rick ross feat. drake and chrisette michele (aston martin music)

3- waka flocka flame feat. roscoe dash and wale (no hands)

4- nicki minaj (right thru me)

5- rihanna feat. drake 
(what's my name)

6- chris brown feat. tyga and kevin mcCall (deuces)

 

7- lloyd (lay it down)

8- twista feat. chris brown (make a movie)

9- willow (whip my hair)

10- wiz khalifa (black & yellow)

Ludacris Paid $100,000 To Perform At Extravagant Holiday Party

Ludacris pockets an impressive check after performing at millionaire John Hope's holiday party.

Atlanta rapper Ludacris received quite the hefty check this week thanks to his performance at a millionaire’s holiday party. According to TMZ the rapper received an impressive $100,000 to perform a 45-minute set.
The extravagant party took place at the Arizona home of entrepreneur John Hope. Hope reportedly spent somewhere near half a million dollars on the party.
Other celebrities in attendance at the party were also paid, but did not receive nearly as much as Ludacris. Jersey Shore reality star Snooki received $17,500 while other celebrities including actor Dean Cain and Keeping Up With The Kardashian’s Bruce Jenner received anywhere from $5,000 to $12,500.
Hope, a known philanthropist, is currently pursuing endeavors in the technology and computer information systems sectors.

NEW RELEASES: Keyshia Cole, Keri Hilson, Jamie Foxx, More

Keyshia Cole, “Calling All Hearts” (Interscope)
The upcoming release of her fourth studio album 'Calling All Hearts,' allows the world to view this hit maker in a light she is rarely seen in. Keyshia Cole has earned three platinum albums by sharing her heartache but on this album, it’s about mending a broken heart and finding love. The “happy Keyshia” feels honest about her new direction and have no qualms about being vulnerable to her fans. “I think that's what music is all about. I think that is the reason why there are singers and people out there that express themselves artistically through their music it’s because it allows you to be a voice,” Cole tells Singersroom. “The better the music, the more personal it is. The more personal it is, the better the album.” ‘Calling All Hearts’ is lead by the singles “Long Way Down” and “I Ain’t Thru,” featuring Nicki Minaj.

Keri Hilson, “No Boys Allowed” (Interscope)
With the release of ‘No Boys Allowed,’ Keri Hilson is leaving the boys at home and bringing all the men to the yard. ‘No Boys Allowed’ is a deeply personal project designed to bring women to their feet. The provocative title, is not what you may think,” says Hilson. "It's not about excluding men. It's more about women understanding that there comes a time in your life when you want a man. A real man. A grown up. Not a boy. And that's not a bad thing." The set is Hilson’s follow-up to the Gold certified debut ‘In A Perfect World…,’ and is lead by the singles “Breaking Point,” produced by Timbaland and “Pretty Girl Rock,” which paid tribute to music greats like Janet Jackson, Diana Ross and TLC in the music video. The set also feature the raw and aggressive club track "The Way You Love Me" feat. Rick Ross and produced by Polow Da Don.

Jamie Foxx, “'Best Night of My Life” (J Records)
Multi-talented superstar Jamie Foxx releases his fourth studio album 'Best Night of My Life,’ lead by the hot new single “Fall For Your Type” featuring rapper Drake. Best Night's mix of sexy R&B ballads and R-rated raps gives a sense of what it's like to hang with or be hit upon by Foxx.

Other Releases:

Avant, “The Letter” (Verve Forecast)
Ghostface Killah, “Apollo Kids” (Def Jam)

Amazon's Album Discounts Don't Hurt iTunes, For Now

With Kanye West & Nicki Minaj albums for less than $5 on Amazon, iTunes still won out, according to a new article by the Wall Street Journal.

With iTunes being the leader in digital music, Amazon.com has tried to compete by slashing prices. The latest example of this occurred more recently when Apple presented the public with the Beatles' catalog. The move was so important because the Beatles have never been available to iTunes users. In a smaller capacity, Amazon decided to release Kid Rock's latest project for $3.99. Rock's music is also not available on iTunes. Still, despite all of these price cuts, it doesn't seem like Amazon is a threat to Apple for now. In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Geoffrey Fowler and Dan Gallagher discuss how this might change.
It seems Amazon's discounts on albums may allow it to prosper. At a time when album sales are down, digital albums seem to be booming, particularly more than single song sales. The article points to Kid Rock's latest disc, where Born Free sold 189,000 copies. Twelve percent of that came via digital sales, despite the album not being available on iTunes.
Amazon also has the Daily Deal, where an album could cost less than $4.00 and a monthly deal where 100 albums can be sold for $5.00 each. Amazon is currently eating the losses for some of these deals, as was most likely the case with Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but it may pay off in the end. That's because, as the article notes, these discounts win new customers for the brand.
The article further points out statistics to back its claim that digital album downloads have grown. It notes that sales of actual discs have fallen 20% this year. However, digital album downloads soared 13% to about 75 million.
On the flip side of this is the perspective of artists and others involved in creating the product. It seems some are worried that the lower price tags cheapen the value of the art. For more on the article, visit the Wall Street Journal.

today's hottest album

every body go ahead and download the album ( Wiz Khalifa - The Chronic 2010)http://www1.zippyshare.com/v/4920908/file.html

Former Cash Money Rapper Magnolia Shorty Murdered

Former Cash Money artist Magnolia Shorty was found dead earlier today after being shot 26 times.

Former Cash Money Records artist Magnolia Shorty, né Renetta Lowe, was recently shot and killed in her native New Orleans neighborhood.
Although few details have been revealed as of yet, AllHipHop revealed that the 28-year-old rapper was found shot 26 times in a New Orleans housing projects. Q93.3 FM's DJ Wild Wayne broke the story earlier this afternoon following wild speculation on Twitter.
"If y'all haven't heard, Magnolia Shorty was killed today," he said over the airwaves. "I'm just astonished. I need to get my head together for a minute." (Spinner.com)
Magnolia Shorty, who was given her name by the late Magnolia Slim, was first featured on Juvenile's "3rd Ward Solja" off 1997's Solja Rags. Most recently, she was featured in SXSW's 2010 line-up, where she discussed her origins in rap with Spinner.
"I wanted to be a rapper. I've been rapping since I was 12 years old," said Lowe. "I was working on mix tapes and my verse while rapping at block parties. I eventually got introduced to Cash Money Records and we just went from there." (Spinner.com)

Eminem to Broadcast "Home and Home" Concert on New Year's Eve

Eminem revealed on Shade 45 that he'll be broadcasting the Detroit leg of his and Jay-Z's "Home and Home" concert on New Year's Eve.

Following his being name MTV's Hottest Emcee of the Year and a host of Grammy nominations for his latest album Recovery, Eminem announced earlier today that he will be broadcasting the Detroit leg of his "Home and Home" concert with Jay-Z from earlier this year on his radio station Shade 45.
"As a special treat, for the listeners and the fans who missed the 'Home and Home' concerts with me and Jay-Z, Shade 45 is gonna air my performance from the Detroit show this New Year's Eve at 8 PM," said the Detroit rhymer. "If you weren't there, this is what it sounded like." (MTV.com)
The "Home and Home" concert series found Eminem and his "Renegades" rhyme partner Hova rocking venues in their respective hometowns of Detroit and New York City. Eminem described the experience of performance with Jay to MTV as a "bless[ing]."
"It felt great, man," he said. "It was crazy. The energy of the crowd. Just me being home, you know? I don't know, man - it's a good thing. Blessed." (MTV.com)

Chris Brown Talks Art and His Name Being Shot to Sh*t

In his latest webisode to onlookers, Chris Brown dives into his passion for art and how it helps him with his “creativity” in his music.

Brown, who says art helps him “stay young” and “youthful mentally,” began his artistic expression at young age.

“I fell in love with art about the age of six,” Brown states. “I always took pride in winning the coloring contest in school. I think that creative kind of feeling came from me just wanting to be different. “

This same creative reflection of wanting to be different is what helped Brown with his last album ‘Graffiti,’ which he named that way due to it’s expressive meaning.

“My last album Graffiti…it’s a couple different meaning,” says Brown. “When you think about Graffiti you think about art but it’s illegal sometimes in certain places so you think about vandalizing, defaming and messing up sh*t. I feel like in that error of me doing my album, my name was kinda being thrown and slandered and kinda vandalized…shot to sh*t. That’s why I wanted to name it Graffiti, its for me to express my form of art, which is music, which brings all those elements of my creativity and my imagination to life.”

Brown also says that his new album F.A.M.E will carry on this same expression of art.

“I appreciate other artists who have that talent, who have that eye for detail, an eye for their own imagination and I just think it’s great that art is a part of my life,” says Brown.

Trey Songz Speaks On Conversations With Drake and Gay Rumors

Fresh off his New York stop on Usher's “OMG Tour,” Trey Songz visited New York’s Power 105.1 and sopke with the newly formed "Breakfast Club" about the tour, his phone conversations with Drake and gay rumors.

Songz and Drake has collaborated on several hits including “Unusual” off Passion, Pain & Pleasure and “Successful,” off Drake’s hit mixtape. Now songs says he has conversations with Drake, because he understands him.

“For two young men going thru the same thing in life right now as far as woman, as far money and endorsements, shows, records popularity; it’s definitely cool to have somebody to talk to,” Songz tells the Breakfast Club. “No matter how many people I got around, how many homeboys I got or homeboys he got….nobody understands this unless you’re living it. So to have conversations like women, money or whatever like I said, I talk to him about everything I’m going through right now and he talks to me about the same.”

Trey Songz also revealed that he was angry when rumors surfaced suggesting that he is gay.

“The first I heard about it was on a blog about a year ago and I remember the actual day because I was with my manager Kevin,” says Songz. “He said, did you her about this? He said we ignore stuff like that but I was hot because I love the ladies. What I’ve learned in this business is that people will make their own reality of whatever they want to. What I encourage my fans to do, and people that just have a sensible mind,… is you can’t allow whatever someone else says to be your truth. Just because it’s written on an internet blog that has so many viewers or so many hits it doesn’t make it true. I just keep living my life, you know the truth always comes to light.”

TODAYS HOTTEST SONG

everybody download shaggy's new song (girls dem love we feat. mavado)
exclusive on HIP-HOP CASTLE
http://www46.zippyshare.com/v/30893386/file.html

Kanye West, Lil Wayne Top Entertainment Weekly's Best & Worst Album List

Kanye tops yet another Albums of the Year list while Wayne pulls in a dubious honor

Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy isn't just being called the best Hip Hop album this year by critics, but it is racking up nods as the best album of any genre. After earning the top spot on Time Magazine's list, Kanye has also scored the number one slot on Entertainment Weekly's Best Albums of 2010 list.
Big Boi's critically acclaimed Sir Lucious Left Foot also made the list, as did Cee Lo Green's The Lady Killer. Big Boi's frequent collaborator Janelle Monae also made the list for her latest effort The ArchAndroid.
Lil Wayne didn't fare so well, his rock-rap hybrid The Rebirth topped their list of worst albums. The full lists are below:
Best Albums of 2010

1. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
3. Robyn – Body Talk
4. The Black Keys – Brothers
5. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
6. Sleigh Bells – Treats
7. Cee Lo Green – The Lady Killer
8. Janelle Monáe – The ArchAndroid
9. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
10. Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can

Worst Albums of 2010

1. Lil Wayne – Rebirth
2. Santana – Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time
3. Liz Phair – Funstyle
4. Bret Michaels – Custom Built
5. Christina Aguilera – Bionic

Nicki Minaj Alleged S*x Tape To Leak, Says She'll Get On "6'7" Track

An alleged Nicki Minaj s*x tape is on its way, and the emcee says she'll be on Lil Wayne's new single.

Months of speculation regarding a possible Nicki Minaj s*x tape have culminated in a leaked photo which would seem to indicate that one will be hitting the internet soon.
A mediatakeout.com report, which shows the suggestive photo, has already been dismissed by many fans, who believe the photo is from another, unrelated pornographic film that does not feature Minaj.
There has been no word from Nicki's camp regarding the video thus far.
In other news, the Young Money emcee plans to get on (presumably) a remix of Lil Wayne's latest single, "6'7."
Taking to Twitter, Nicki (@Nickiminaj) addressed both Lil Wayne (@liltunechi) and Cory Gunz, writing, "Oh word @liltunechi? Oh word cory?"
"Yall wanna come off w/o Roman?!?!" she added, referring her alter-ego, Roman Zolanski. "I think Roman finna jump on dat. Pauz"

Audra The Rapper Says She's Signed To Rick Ross' Maybach Music

Virgina's Audra joins Triple C's and Rick Ross at Maybach Music, as Wale and others may soon be in tow.

Although a lot of talk has gone towards Miami, Florida's Rick Ross signing Wale to Maybach Music, another Virginia artist has been confirmed this week to have joined the rapper's fledgling imprint. Audra The Rapper announced her signing with the Def Jam subsidiary this week, joined by Detroit, Michigan emcee Big Sean for a Sweet N Sour video vignette. "As of today: December 15, 2010, I'm officially on the roster of Maybach Music," said an elated Audra.
Asked later about the significance of the signing, the emcee said. "I can't explain this; I don't think I've felt this feeling. It's anxiety - like I'm anxious for the future, but it's also a feeling of accomplishment." Noting her years on the grind, Audra added, "It just feels good that somebody else was recognizing my grind."
Maybach Music presently includes Rick Ross and Triple C's.

Eminem To Become First Artist To Have Year's Top-Selling Album Twice

Eminem is well on his way to breaking another sales record.

Eminem's considerable commercial success is no secret; the Detroit rapper is Hip Hop's top-selling act. Now, the emcee is on the verge of breaking yet another sales record.
According to music.yahoo.com, Eminem is about to become the first artist to have the year's best-selling album twice since the beginning of the Nielsen/Sound began tracking sales for Billboard in 1991.
The emcee's album, Recovery, has sold 3,146,000 copies since its release in June, putting it ahead of Lady Antebellum's Need You Now and Taylor Swift's Speak Now.
The other time Em's album outsold all of the competition for the year was in 2002, with his critically-acclaimed The Eminem Show.

Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa Join 2011 Bamboozle Festival

Rappers Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa have been added to The Bamboozle Festival, a three-day musical festival taking place this Spring in 2011.
Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa have been added as main stage performers, along with Motley Crue, Taking Back Sunday, The Gaslight Anthem, Bruno Mars, LMFAO, Chiddy Bang and Dashboard Confessional.

Previously announced performers for the festival include Waka Flocka Flame, RX Bandits, New Found Glory, Boys Like Girls, A Day To Remember and others.

This year, The 2011 Bamboozle Festival will debut several new events, including a breakdancing battle, a DJ battle and "The Break Contest," which is an unsigned band competition.

Over 80,000 fans are expected to fill the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey for The Bamboozle Festival, which takes place April 29th, 30th and May 1st.

For more information or ticket prices contact: http://www.thebamboozle.com/

a very hot single by the lonely island and my boy akon

that song was just recorded this morning and it's called (I JUST HAD S*X).
to download it just enter the following link : http://www53.zippyshare.com/v/23977570/file.html

everybody download akon's newest song (NO LABELS)

http://www42.zippyshare.com/v/73370420/file.html

exclusive on hip-hop castle: the nominees of the 2010 grammy awards

1. Record Of The Year

Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s), if other than the artist.

Nothin' On You

B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars

The Smeezingtons, producers; Ari Levine, engineer/mixer

Track from: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray

[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

Track from: Recovery

[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

Track from: The Blueprint 3

[Roc Nation]

Need You Now

Lady Antebellum

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

Track from: Need You Now

[Capitol Records Nashville]

2. Album Of The Year

Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.

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, featured artists; Alex Da Kid, 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, 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 Wetling & Frank Wolff, 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, C. "Tricky" Stewart, Sandy Vee & Greg Wells, producers; Steve Churchyard, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Sam Holland, Jaycen-Joshua, Damien Lewis, Chris O'Ryan, Carlos Oyanedel, Paris, Phil Tan, Brian Thomas, Lewis Tozour, Miles Walker, Emily Wright & Andrew Wuepper, engineers/mixers; Brian Gardner, mastering engineer

[Capitol Records]

3. Song Of The Year

A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Beg Steal Or Borrow

Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs)

Track from: God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise

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

F*** You

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

[Elektra]

The House That Built Me

Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)

Track from: Revolution

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

Love The Way You Lie

Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem

Featuring Rihanna)

Track from: Recovery

[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

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

Antebellum)

Track from: Need You Now

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

4. Best New Artist

For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist.

Justin Bieber

Drake

Florence & The Machine

Mumford & Sons

Esperanza Spalding

5. Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

King Of Anything

Sara Bareilles

Track from: Kaleidoscope Heart

[Epic]

Halo (Live)

Beyoncé

Track from: I Am...Yours An Intimate Performance At Wynn Las Vegas

[Columbia Records/Music World Music]

Chasing Pirates

Norah Jones

Track from: The Fall

[Blue Note Records]

Bad Romance

Lady Gaga

Track from: The Fame Monster

[Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope]

Teenage Dream

Katy Perry

Track from: Teenage Dream

[Capitol Records]

6. Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

Haven't Met You Yet

Michael Bublé

Track from: Crazy Love

[143/Reprise]

This Is It

Michael Jackson

Track from: This Is It

[Epic]

Whataya Want From Me

Adam Lambert

Track from: For Your Entertainment

[RCA Records / 19 Recordings LLC.]

Just The Way You Are

Bruno Mars

[Elektra]

Half Of My Heart

John Mayer

Track from: Battle Studies

[Columbia Records]

7. Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

For established duos or groups, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

Don't Stop Believin' (Regionals Version)

Glee Cast

Track from: Journey To Regionals

[Columbia Records]

Misery

Maroon 5

Track from: Hands All Over

[A&M/Octone]

The Only Exception

Paramore

Track from: Brand New Eyes

[Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic]

Babyfather

Sade

Track from: Soldier Of Love

[Epic]

Hey, Soul Sister (Live)

Train

[Columbia Records]

8. Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.

Airplanes, Part II

B.o.B, Eminem & Hayley Williams

Track from: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray

[Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic]

Imagine

Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare

Track from: The Imagine Project

[Hancock Records]

If It Wasn't For Bad

Elton John & Leon Russell

[Decca]

Telephone

Lady Gaga & Beyoncé

Track from: The Fame Monster

[Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope]

California Gurls

Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg

Track from: Teenage Dream

[Capitol Records]

9. Best Pop Instrumental Performance

For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

Flow

Laurie Anderson

Track from: Homeland

[Nonesuch]

Nessun Dorma

Jeff Beck

Track from: Emotion & Commotion

[Rhino]

No Mystery

Stanley Clarke

Track from: The Stanley Clarke Band

[Heads Up International]

Orchestral Intro

Gorillaz

Track from: Plastic Beach

[Virgin Records]

Sleepwalk

The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Track from: Don't Mess With A Big Band

[Surfdog Records]

10. Best Pop Instrumental Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.

Pushing The Envelope

Gerald Albright

[Heads Up International]

Take Your Pick

Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto

[335 Records, Inc.]

Heart And Soul

Kenny G

[Concord Records]

Singularity

Robby Krieger

[Oglio Records]

Everything Is Everything: The Music Of Donny Hathaway

Kirk Whalum

[Rendezvous Music/Mack Avenue]

11. Best Pop Vocal Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

My World 2.0

Justin Bieber

[Island]

I Dreamed A Dream

Susan Boyle

[Sony/SYCO Music/Columbia Records]

The Fame Monster

Lady Gaga

[Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope]

Battle Studies

John Mayer

[Columbia Records]

Teenage Dream

Katy Perry

[Capitol Records]

12. Best Dance Recording

For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances. Vocal or Instrumental. Singles or tracks only.

Rocket

Goldfrapp

Alison Goldfrapp & Will Gregory, producers; Mark 'Spike' Stent, mixer

Track from: Head First

[Mute]

In For The Kill

La Roux

Elly Jackson & Ben Langmaid, producers; Serban Ghenea & John Hanes, mixers

Track from: La Roux

[Cherrytree/Interscope/Polydor/Big Life]

Dance In The Dark

Lady Gaga

Fernando Garibay & Lady Gaga, producers; Robert Orton, mixer

Track from: The Fame Monster

[Streamline/KonLive/Cherrytree/Interscope]

Only Girl (In The World)

Rihanna

Kuk Harrell, Stargate & Sandy Vee, producers; Phil Tan & Sandy Vee, mixers

[Island Def Jam]

Dancing On My Own

Robyn

Patrik Berger & Robyn, producers; Niklas Flyckt, mixer

Track from: Body Talk Pt. 1

[Konichiwa Records/Cherrytree/Interscope]

13. Best Electronic/Dance Album

For vocal or instrumental albums. Albums only.

These Hopeful Machines

BT

[Nettwerk Records]

Further

The Chemical Brothers

[Astralwerks]

Head First

Goldfrapp

[Mute]

Black Light

Groove Armada

[OM Records]

La Roux

La Roux

[Cherrytree/Interscope/Polydor/Biglife]

14. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

Crazy Love

Michael Bublé

[143/Reprise]

The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time

Barry Manilow

[Arista Records]

Let It Be Me: Mathis In Nashville

Johnny Mathis

[Columbia Records]

Fly Me To The Moon…The Great American Songbook: Volume V

Rod Stewart

[J Records]

Love Is The Answer

Barbra Streisand

[Columbia Records]

15. Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance

For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

Run Back To Your Side

Eric Clapton

Track from: Clapton

[Duck/Reprise]

Crossroads

John Mayer

Track from: Battle Studies

[Columbia Records]

Helter Skelter

Paul McCartney

Track from: Good Evening New York City

[Hear Music/Universal/Concord]

Silver Rider

Robert Plant

Track from: Band Of Joy

[Rounder]

Angry World

Neil Young

Track from: Le Noise

[Reprise]

16. Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

Ready To Start

Arcade Fire

Track from: The Suburbs

[Merge Records / Sonovox]

I Put A Spell On You

Jeff Beck & Joss Stone

Track from: Emotion & Commotion

[Rhino/ATCO]

Tighten Up

The Black Keys

Track from: Brothers

[Nonesuch]

Radioactive

Kings Of Leon

[RCA Records]

Resistance

Muse

Track from: The Resistance

[Warner Bros.]

17. Best Hard Rock Performance

For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

A Looking In View

Alice In Chains

[Virgin Records]

Let Me Hear You Scream

Ozzy Osbourne

Track from: Scream

[Epic]

Black Rain

Soundgarden

Track from: Telephantasm

[A&M/UMe]

Between The Lines

Stone Temple Pilots

Track from: Stone Temple Pilots

[Atlantic]

New Fang

Them Crooked Vultures

Track from: Them Crooked Vultures

[DGC/Interscope]

18. Best Metal Performance

For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

El Dorado

Iron Maiden

Track from: The Final Frontier

[UMe]

Let The Guilt Go

Korn

Track from: Korn III: Remember Who You Are

[Roadrunner Records]

In Your Words

Lamb Of God

Track from: Wrath

[Epic]

Sudden Death

Megadeth

[Roadrunner Records]

World Painted Blood

Slayer

Track from: World Painted Blood

[Columbia Records/American Records]

19. Best Rock Instrumental Performance

For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal. Singles or Tracks only.

Hammerhead

Jeff Beck

Track from: Emotion & Commotion

[Rhino]

Black Mud

The Black Keys

Track from: Brothers

[Nonesuch]

Do The Murray

Los Lobos

Track from: Tin Can Trust

[Shout! Factory]

Kundalini Bonfire

Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds

Track from: Live In Las Vegas

[RCA Records/Bama Rags Recordings LLC]

The Deathless Horsie

Dweezil Zappa

Track from: Return Of The Son Of...

[Z Tornado/Razor & Tie Entertainment]

20. Best Rock Song

A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Rock, Hard Rock & Metal songs. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Angry World

Neil Young, songwriter (Neil Young)

Track from: Le Noise

[Reprise; Publisher: Silver Fiddle Music]

Little Lion Man

Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford &

Sons)

Track from: Sigh No More

[Glassnote Records]

Radioactive

Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill,

songwriters (Kings Of Leon)

[RCA Records]

Resistance

Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)

Track from: The Resistance

[Warner Bros.; Publisher: Warner Chappell]

Tighten Up

Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney, songwriters (The Black Keys)

Track from: Brothers

[Nonesuch; Publisher: McMoore McLeest Publishing]

21. Best Rock Album

Vocal or Instrumental. Includes Hard Rock and Metal.

Emotion & Commotion

Jeff Beck

[Rhino/ATCO]

The Resistance

Muse

[Warner Bros.]

Backspacer

Pearl Jam

[Monkeywrench]

Mojo

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

[Reprise]

Le Noise

Neil Young

[Reprise]

22. Best Alternative Music Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

The Suburbs

Arcade Fire

[Merge Records / Sonovox]

Infinite Arms

Band Of Horses

[Columbia Records/Brown/FatPossum]

Brothers

The Black Keys

[Nonesuch]

Broken Bells

Broken Bells

[Columbia Records]

Contra

Vampire Weekend

[XL Recordings]

23. Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

Gone Already

Faith Evans

[E1 Music]

Bittersweet

Fantasia

Track from: Back To Me

[J Records / 19 Recordings LLC / S Records]

Everything To Me

Monica

Track from: Still Standing

[J Records]

Tired

Kelly Price

[My Block/ Sang Girl!/ Malaco]

Holding You Down (Going In Circles)

Jazmine Sullivan

[J Records]

24. Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

Second Chance

El DeBarge

[Geffen]

Finding My Way Back

Jaheim

Track from: Another Round

[Atlantic]

Why Would You Stay

Kem

[Universal Motown]

We're Still Friends

(Kirk Whalum &) Musiq Soulchild

Track from: Everything Is Everything

[Rendezvous Music/Mack Avenue]

There Goes My Baby

Usher

Track from: Raymond V Raymond

[LaFace/Jive]

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

For duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

Love

Chuck Brown, Jill Scott & Marcus Miller

Track from: We Got This

[Raw Venture Records & Tapes, Inc.]

Take My Time

Chris Brown & Tank

Track from: Graffiti

[Jive Records]

You've Got A Friend

Ronald Isley & Aretha Franklin

[Island/Def Jam Recordings]

Shine

John Legend & The Roots

Track from: Wake Up!

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

Soldier Of Love

Sade

Track from: Soldier Of Love

[Epic/Sony Music]

26. Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

When A Woman Loves

R. Kelly

[Jive Records]

Hang On In There

John Legend & The Roots

Track from: Wake Up!

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

You're So Amazing

Calvin Richardson

[Shanachie Entertainment/Numo Records]

In Between

Ryan Shaw

Track from: In Between

[45 Records/Form Records]

Go [Live]

Betty Wright

[MsB Records]

27. Best Urban/Alternative Performance

For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

Little One

Bilal

Track from: Airtight's Revenge

[Plug Research Music]

F*** You

Cee Lo Green

[Elektra]

Orion

Carolyn Malachi

[Carolyn Malachi/Smart Chicks Inc.]

Tightrope

Janelle Monáe & Big Boi

Track from: The ArchAndroid

[Bad Boy/Wondaland/Atlantic]

Still

Eric Roberson

[Blue Erro Soul]

28. Best R&B Song

A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Bittersweet

Charles Harmon & Claude Kelly, songwriters (Fantasia)

Track from: Back To Me

[J Records/19 Recordings/S Records; Publishers: Chuck Harmony's House/Normaharris Music Publishing/Strauss Co./EMI April Music,Studio Beast Music/Warner Tamerlane Publishing, 3M Holdings]

Finding My Way Back

Ivan "Orthodox" Barias, Curt Chambers, Carvin "Ransum" Haggins, Jaheim Hoagland

& Miquel Jontel, songwriters (Jaheim)

Track from: Another Round

[Atlantic; Publishers: Tetragrammation Music/Universal Music, Nivrac Tyke Publishing, Miquel Jontel Publishing, Curt Chambers Publishing, Jasane Dramma Publishing]

Second Chance

E. DeBarge & Mischke, songwriters (El DeBarge)

[Geffen; Publishers: myElmusic, mischemusic/Universal Music]

Shine

John Stephens, songwriter (John Legend & The Roots)

Track from: Wake Up!

[G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia Records/Home School Records; Publisher: John Legend Publishing]

Why Would You Stay

K. Owens, songwriter (Kem)

[Universal Motown]

29. Best R&B Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

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]

30. Best Contemporary R&B Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

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]

31. Best Rap Solo Performance

For a solo Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.

Over

Drake

Track from: Thank Me Later

[Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Motown]

Not Afraid

Eminem

Track from: Recovery

[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]

How Low

Ludacris

Track from: Battle Of The Sexes

[DTP/Def Jam Recordings]

I'm Back

T.I.

[Grand Hustle/Atlantic]

Power

Kanye West

[Def Jam Recordings/Roc-A-Fella]

32. Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

For duo, group or collaborative performances of Rap only. Singles or Tracks only.

Shutterbugg

Big Boi & Cutty

Track from: Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son Of Chico Dusty

[Def Jam Recordings]

Fancy

Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz

Track from: Thank Me Later

[Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Motown]

On To The Next One

Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz

Track from: The Blueprint 3

[Roc Nation]

My Chick Bad

Ludacris & Nicki Minaj

Track from: Battle Of The Sexes

[DTP/ Def Jam Recordings]

Lose My Mind

Young Jeezy & Plies

[Def Jam Recordings]

33. Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

For a Rap/Sung collaborative performance by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.

Nothin' On You

B.o.B & Bruno Mars

Track from: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray

[Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic]

Deuces

Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall

[Jive Records]

Love The Way You Lie

Eminem & Rihanna

Track from: Recovery

[Aftermath/Shady Records/Interscope]

Empire State Of Mind

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys

Track from: The Blueprint 3

[Roc Nation]

Wake Up! Everybody

John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common

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

34. Best Rap Song

A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Empire State Of Mind

Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic

& Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters (Sylvia Robinson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Alicia Keys)

Track from: The Blueprint 3

[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

Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters (Eminem & Rihanna)

Track from: Recovery

[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

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

(Eminem)

Track from: Recovery

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

Nothin' On You

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

& Bruno Mars)

Track from: The Adventures Of Bobby Ray

[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

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

songwriters) (Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)

Track from: The Blueprint 3

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

35. Best Rap Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

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]

36. Best Female Country Vocal Performance

For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

Satisfied

Jewel

Track from: Sweet And Wild

[The Valory Music Company]

The House That Built Me

Miranda Lambert

Track from: Revolution

[Columbia Records]

Swingin'

LeAnn Rimes

[Curb]

Temporary Home

Carrie Underwood

Track from: Play On

[Arista]

I'd Love To Be Your Last

Gretchen Wilson

Track from: I Got Your Country Right Here

[Redneck Records]

37. Best Male Country Vocal Performance

For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.

Macon

Jamey Johnson

[Mercury Records]

Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song)

Toby Keith

Track from: American Ride

[Show Dog-Universal Music]

Turning Home

David Nail

Track from: I'm About To Come Alive

[MCA Nashville]

'Til Summer Comes Around

Keith Urban

[Capitol Records Nashville]

Gettin' You Home

Chris Young

Track from: The Man I Want To Be

[RCA Records Label]

38. Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

For established duos or groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

Free

Zac Brown Band

Track from: The Foundation

[Home Grown/Big Picture/Atlantic]

Elizabeth

Dailey & Vincent

Track from: Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers

[Rounder]

Need You Now

Lady Antebellum

Track from: Need You Now

[Capitol Records Nashville]

Little White Church

Little Big Town

[Capitol Records Nashville]

Where Rainbows Never Die

The SteelDrivers

Track from: Reckless

[Rounder]

39. Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.

Bad Angel

Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson

Track from: Up On The Ridge

[Capitol Records Nashville]

Pride (In The Name Of Love)

Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers

Track from: Up On The Ridge

[Capitol Records]

As She's Walking Away

Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson

Track from: You Get What You Give

[Southern Ground/Atlantic]

Hillbilly Bone

Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins

Track from: Hillbilly Bone

[Warner Bros.]

I Run To You

Marty Stuart & Connie Smith

Track from: Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions

[Sugar Hill Records]

40. Best Country Instrumental Performance

For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.

Tattoo Of A Smudge

Cherryholmes

Track from: Cherryholmes IV Common Threads

[Skaggs Family Records]

Magic #9

The Infamous Stringdusters

Track from: Things That Fly

[Sugar Hill Records]

New Chance Blues

Punch Brothers

[Nonesuch]

Willow Creek

Darrell Scott

Track from: A Crooked Road

[Full Light]

Hummingbyrd

Marty Stuart

Track from: Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions

[Sugar Hill Records]

41. Best Country Song

A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

The Breath You Take

Casey Beathard, Dean Dillon & Jessie Jo Dillon, songwriters (George Strait)

Track from: Twang

[MCA Nashville; Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing/Unwound Music, Immokalee Music/Bluebird In My Heart Music, Six Ring Circus]

Free

Zac Brown, songwriter (Zac Brown Band)

Track from: The Foundation

[Home Grown/Big Picture/Atlantic; Publisher: Weimerhound Music]

The House That Built Me

Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)

Track from: Revolution

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

I'd Love To Be Your Last

Rivers Rutherford, Annie Tate & Sam Tate, songwriters (Gretchen Wilson)

Track from: I Got Your Country Right Here

[Redneck Records]

If I Die Young

Kimberly Perry, songwriter (The Band Perry)

[Republic Nashville; Publisher: Pearlfeather Publishing]

Need You Now

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

Antebellum)

Track from: Need You Now

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

42. Best Country Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Up On The Ridge

Dierks Bentley

[Capitol Records Nashville]

You Get What You Give

Zac Brown Band

[Southern Ground/Atlantic]

The Guitar Song

Jamey Johnson

[Mercury Nashville]

Need You Now

Lady Antebellum

[Capitol Records Nashville]

Revolution

Miranda Lambert

[Columbia Records]

43. Best New Age Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Ocean

Michael Brant DeMaria

[Ontos Music]

Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai, Volume 4

Kitaro

[Domo Records]

Dancing Into Silence

R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton & Will Clipman

[Canyon Records]

Miho: Journey To The Mountain

Paul Winter Consort

[Living Music]

Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 4

Zamora

[Z-Records]

44. Best Contemporary Jazz Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.

The Stanley Clarke Band

The Stanley Clarke Band

[Heads Up International]

Never Can Say Goodbye

Joey DeFrancesco

[HighNote Records]

Now Is The Time

Jeff Lorber Fusion

[Heads Up International]

To The One

John McLaughlin

[Abstract Logix]

Backatown

Trombone Shorty

[Verve Forecast]

45. Best Jazz Vocal Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee

Dee Dee Bridgewater

[Emarcy]

Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B

Freddy Cole

[HighNote Records]

When Lights Are Low

Denise Donatelli

[Savant Records]

Ages

Lorraine Feather

[Jazzed Media]

Water

Gregory Porter

[Motéma Music]

46. Best Improvised Jazz Solo

For an instrumental jazz solo performance. Two equal performers on one recording may be eligible as one entry. If the soloist listed appears on a recording billed to another artist, the latter's name is in parenthesis for identification. Singles or Tracks only.

Solar

Alan Broadbent, soloist

Track from: Live At Giannelli Square: Volume 1

[Chilly Bin Records]

A Change Is Gonna Come

Herbie Hancock, soloist

Track from: The Imagine Project

[Hancock Records]

Body And Soul

Keith Jarrett, soloist

Track from: Jasmine

[ECM]

Lonely Woman

Hank Jones, soloist

Track from: Pleased To Meet You

[Justin Time Records]

Van Gogh

Wynton Marsalis, soloist

Track from: Portrait In Seven Shades (Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra)

[Jazz At Lincoln Center]

47. Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.

Positootly!

John Beasley

[Resonance Records]

The New Song And Dance

Clayton Brothers

[ArtistShare]

Historicity

Vijay Iyer Trio

[ACT Music + Vision]

Moody 4B

James Moody

[IPO Recordings]

Providencia

Danilo Perez

[Mack Avenue Records]

48. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

For large jazz ensembles, including big band sounds. Albums must contain 51% or more INSTRUMENTAL tracks.

Infernal Machines

Darcy James Argue's Secret Society

[New Amsterdam Records]

Autumn: In Moving Pictures Jazz - Chamber Music Vol. 2

Billy Childs Ensemble Featuring The Ying String Quartet

[ArtistShare]

Pathways

Dave Holland Octet

[Dare2 Records]

54

Metropole Orkest, John Scofield & Vince Mendoza

[Emarcy/Universal]

Mingus Big Band Live At Jazz Standard

Mingus Big Band

[Jazz Workshop, Inc./Jazz Standard]

49. Best Latin Jazz Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Tango Grill

Pablo Aslan

[ZOHO]

Second Chance

Hector Martignon

[Zoho]

Psychedelic Blues

Poncho Sanchez

[Concord Picante]

Chucho's Steps

Chucho Valdés And The Afro-Cuban Messengers

[Four Quarters Entertainment]

¡Bien Bien!

Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet

[Patois Records]

50. Best Gospel Performance

For solo, duo, group as collaborative performances. Singles or tracks with vocal containing Gospel lyrics. All genres of Gospel music are eligible.

He Wants It All

Forever Jones

Track from: Get Ready

[EMI Gospel]

You Hold My World

Israel Houghton

Track from: Love God. Love People.

[Integrity Music]

Nobody Greater

VaShawn Mitchell

Track from: Triumphant

[EMI Gospel]

He's Been Just That Good

Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway

Track from: The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter III

[Rendezvous Music/ Mack Avenue Records]

Grace

BeBe & CeCe Winans

Track from: Still

[B&C/Malaco]

51. Best Gospel Song

A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Beautiful Things

Lisa Gungor & Michael Gungor, songwriters (Gungor)

Track from: Beautiful Things

[Brash Music]

Better Than A Hallelujah

Sarah Hart & Chapin Hartford, songwriters (Amy Grant)

Track from: Somewhere Down The Road

[Amy Grant Productions/ Sparrow Records; Publishers: River Oaks Music, spiritandsong.com Publishing, Sony/Tree Music Publishing, Michael Puryear Music]

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]

Our God

Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris

Tomlin)

Track from: Passion: Awakening

[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords; Publishers: Thankyou Music, sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Said And Done Music/Vamos Publishing/Jonas Myrin/SHOUT! Publishing]

Return To Sender

Gordon Kennedy, songwriter (Ricky Skaggs)

Track from: Mosaic

[Skaggs Family Records; Publisher: GlennJoy Music]

52. Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

Church Music

David Crowder Band

[Sparrow Records / Sixstepsrecords]

For Those Who Wait

Fireflight

[Flicker Records]

Beautiful Things

Gungor

[Brash Music]

Rehab

Lecrae

[Reach Records]

Hello Hurricane

Switchfoot

[Atlantic Recording Corp/ Credential Recordings]

53. Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

Beauty Will Rise

Steven Curtis Chapman

[Sparrow Records]

Love God. Love People.

Israel Houghton

[Integrity Music]

Pieces Of A Real Heart

Sanctus Real

[Sparrow Records]

Mosaic

Ricky Skaggs

[Skaggs Family Records]

Tonight

TobyMac

[ForeFront Records]

54. Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

Times Like These

Austins Bridge

[Daywind Records]

The Reason

Diamond Rio

[Word]

Expecting Good Things

Jeff & Sheri Easter

[Spring Hill Music Group/She Loved Music]

Journey On

Ty Herndon

[FUNL Music]

Live At Oak Tree: Karen Peck & New River

Karen Peck & New River

[Daywind Records]

55. Best Traditional Gospel Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

The Experience

Vanessa Bell Armstrong

[EMI Gospel]

A City Called Heaven

Shirley Caesar

[Light Records]

Downtown Church

Patty Griffin

[Credential Recordings]

Here I Am

Marvin Sapp

[Verity]

All In One

Karen Clark Sheard

[KaRew Records/ EMI Gospel]

56. Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

Get Ready

Forever Jones

[EMI Gospel]

Love Unstoppable

Fred Hammond

[Verity]

Triumphant

VaShawn Mitchell

[EMI Gospel]

Aaron Sledge

Aaron Sledge

[EMI Gospel]

Still

BeBe & CeCe Winans

[B&C/Malaco]

57. Best Latin Pop Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Poquita Ropa

Ricardo Arjona

[Warner Music Latina]

Alex Cuba

Alex Cuba

[Caracol Records]

Boleto De Entrada

Kany Garcia

[Sony Music Latin]

Paraiso Express

Alejandro Sanz

[Warner Music Latina]

Otra Cosa

Julieta Venegas

[Sony Music]

58. Best Latin Rock, Alternative Or Urban Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Oro

ChocQuibTown

[Nacional Records]

Amor Vincit Omnia

Draco

[Sony Music Latin]

El Existential

Grupo Fantasma

[Nat Geo Music]

Bulevar 2000

Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich+Fussible

[Nacional Records]

1977

Ana Tijoux

[Nacional Records]

59. Best Tropical Latin Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Sin Salsa No Hay Paraiso

El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico

[Sony Music Latin]

Asondeguerra

Juan Luis Guerra 4.40

[Capitol Latin]

Irrepetible

Gilberto Santa Rosa

[Sony Music Latin]

Viva La Tradición

Spanish Harlem Orchestra

[Concord Picante]

100 Sones Cubanos

(Various Artists)

Edesio Alejandro, Nelson Estevez & Juan Hidalgo, producers

[J&N Records]

60. Best Regional Mexican Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

NO NOMINEES

There were fewer than ten artists entered into this category, so per Academy rules The Recording Academy will not be announcing nominations or presenting a GRAMMY Award in this category this year.

61. Best Tejano Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Recuerdos

Little Joe & La Familia

[TDI Records]

Sabes Bien

Juan P. Moreno

[Q-Vo Records]

In The Pocket

Joe Posada

[Baby Dude Records]

Homenaje A Mi Padre

Sunny Sauceda Y Todo Eso

[Solstice Records]

Cookin

Tortilla Factory

[Tortilla Records]

62. Best Norteño Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Indispensable

Angel Fresnillo

[Disa Universal Music]

Classic

Intocable

[Sony Music Latin]

Ni Hoy Ni Mañana

Gerardo Ortiz

[Sony Music Latin]

Desde La Cantina Volumen 1

Pesado

[Disa Universal]

Intensamente

Principez De La Musica Norteña

[A.R.C. Discos]

63. Best Banda Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Ando Bien Pedo

Banda Los Recoditos

[Disa Records]

Caricias Compradas...

Cuisillos

[Balboa Records, Co.]

Con La Fuerza Del Corrido

El Chapo

[Disa Universal]

Enamórate De Mí

El Güero Y Su Banda Centenario

[A.R.C. Discos]

Todo Depende De Ti

La Arrolladora Banda El Limon

[Disa]

64. Best Americana Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

The List

Rosanne Cash

[Manhattan Records]

Tin Can Trust

Los Lobos

[Shout! Factory]

Country Music

Willie Nelson

[Rounder]

Band Of Joy

Robert Plant

[Rounder]

You Are Not Alone

Mavis Staples

[ANTI-]

65. Best Bluegrass Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Circles Around Me

Sam Bush

[Sugar Hill Records]

Mountain Soul II

Patty Loveless

[Saguaro Road]

Family Circle

The Del McCoury Band

[McCoury Music]

Legacy

Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band

[Compass Records]

Reckless

The SteelDrivers

[Rounder]

66. Best Traditional Blues Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Giant

James Cotton

[Alligator]

Memphis Blues

Cyndi Lauper

[Mercer Street Records]

The Well

Charlie Musselwhite

[Alligator]

Joined At The Hip

Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith

[Telarc]

Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites

Jimmie Vaughan

[Shout! Factory]

67. Best Contemporary Blues Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Nothing's Impossible

Solomon Burke

[E1 Music]

Tribal

Dr. John And The Lower 911

[429 Records]

Living Proof

Buddy Guy

[Silvertone/Jive]

Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook

Bettye LaVette

[ANTI-]

Live! In Chicago

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Featuring Hubert Sumlin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith,

Bryan Lee, And Buddy Flett

[Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records]

68. Best Traditional Folk Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Genuine Negro Jig

Carolina Chocolate Drops

[Nonesuch]

Onward And Upward

Luther Dickinson & The Sons Of Mudboy

[Memphis International]

Memories Of John

The John Hartford Stringband

[Compass Records/Red Clay Records]

Maria Muldaur & Her Garden Of Joy

Maria Muldaur

[Stony Plain Records]

Ricky Skaggs Solo: Songs My Dad Loved

Ricky Skaggs

[Skaggs Family Records]

69. Best Contemporary Folk Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Love Is Strange - En Vivo Con Tino

Jackson Browne & David Lindley

[Inside Recordings]

The Age Of Miracles

Mary Chapin Carpenter

[Zoe Records]

Somedays The Song Writes You

Guy Clark

[Dualtone]

God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise

Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs

[RCA Records]

Dream Attic

Richard Thompson

[Shout! Factory]

70. Best Hawaiian Music Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Huana Ke Aloha

Tia Carrere

[Daniel Ho Creations]

Amy Hanaiali'i And Slack Key Masters Of Hawaii

Amy Hanaiali‘i And Slack Key Masters Of Hawaii

[Peterson Productions]

Polani

Daniel Ho

[Daniel Ho Creations]

The Legend

Ledward Kaapana

[Rhythm & Roots Records]

Maui On My Mind - Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar

Jeff Peterson

[Peterson Productions]

71. Best Native American Music Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

XI

Bear Creek

[Canyon Records]

Temptations: Cree Round Dance Songs

Northern Cree

[Canyon Records]

Woodnotes Wyld: Historic Flute Sounds From The Dr. Richard W. Payne Collection

Peter Phippen

[INAFA Productions]

2010 Gathering Of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit's Dance

(Various Artists)

Derek Mathews, Dr. Lita Mathews & Melonie Mathews, producers

[Gathering Of Nations Records]

72. Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Zydeco Junkie

Chubby Carrier And The Bayou Swamp Band

[Swampadellic Records]

En Couleurs

Feufollet

[Feufollet Records]

Happy Go Lucky

D.L. Menard

[Swallow Records]

Back Home

The Pine Leaf Boys

[Valcour Records]

Creole Moon: Live At The Blue Moon Saloon

Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole

[Valcour Records]

73. Best Reggae Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Before The Dawn

Buju Banton

[Gargamel Music, Inc.]

Isaacs Meets Isaac

Gregory Isaacs & King Isaac

[King Isaac Music]

Revelation

Lee "Scratch" Perry

[Megawave Records]

Made In Jamaica

Bob Sinclar And Sly & Robbie

[Yellow Productions/Universal Music France]

One Pop Reggae +

Sly & Robbie And The Family Taxi

[Phase One Communications/Taxi Records]

Legacy An Acoustic Tribute To Peter Tosh

Andrew Tosh

[Box10/Tuff Gong]

74. Best Traditional World Music Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Pure Sounds

Gyuto Monks Of Tibet

[New Earth Records]

I Speak Fula

Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba

[Sub Pop / Next Ambiance]

Grace

Soweto Gospel Choir

[Shanachie Entertainment]

Ali And Toumani

Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté

[World Circuit-Nonesuch]

Tango Universal

Vayo

[Big Dream Music]

75. Best Contemporary World Music Album

Vocal or Instrumental.

Throw Down Your Heart , Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks

Béla Fleck

[Acoustic Planet Records]

All In One

Bebel Gilberto

[Verve]

ÕŸÖ

Angelique Kidjo

[Razor & Tie Entertainment]

Bom Tempo

Sergio Mendes

[Concord Records]

Om Namo Narayanaya: Soul Call

Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon

[Soul Chants Music]

76. Best Musical Album For Children

For albums consisting of predominantly music or song vs. spoken word.

Here Comes Science

They Might Be Giants

[Disney Sound]

Jungle Gym

Justin Roberts

[Carpet Square Records]

Sunny Days

Battersby Duo

[TBD 2010]

Tomorrow's Children

Pete Seeger With The Rivertown Kids And Friends

[Appleseed]

Weird Things Are Everywhere!

Judy Pancoast

[Mamanook Music]

77. Best Spoken Word Album For Children

For albums consisting of predominantly spoken word vs. music or song.

Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl: The Definitive Edition

Selma Blair

[Random House Audio/Listening Library]

The Best Candy In The Whole World

Bill Harley

[Round River Records]

Healthy Food For Thought: Good Enough To Eat

(Various Artists)

Jim Cravero, Paula Lizzi, Kevin Mackie & Steve Pullara, producers

[East Coast Recording Company]

Julie Andrews' Collection Of Poems, Songs, And Lullabies

Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton

[Hachette Audio]

Nanny McPhee Returns

Emma Thompson

[Macmillan Audio With Universal Studios]

78. Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)

American On Purpose

Craig Ferguson

[HarperAudio]

The Bedwetter

Sarah Silverman

[HarperAudio]

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook)

Jon Stewart (With Samantha Bee, Wyatt Cenac, Jason Jones, John Oliver &

Sigourney Weaver)

[Hachette Audio]

A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Future...

Michael J. Fox

[Hyperion Audio]

This Time Together: Laughter And Reflection

Carol Burnett

[Random House Audio]

The Woody Allen Collection: Mere Anarchy, Side Effects, Without Feathers, Getting Even

Woody Allen

[Audible Inc. and Dylan & Satchel Productions]

79. Best Comedy Album

For comedy recordings, spoken or musical

Cho Dependent

Margaret Cho

[Clownery Records]

I Told You I Was Freaky

Flight Of The Conchords

[Sub Pop]

Kathy Griffin Does The Bible Belt

Kathy Griffin

[Donut Run, Inc.]

Stark Raving Black

Lewis Black

[Comedy Central Records]

Weapons Of Self Destruction

Robin Williams

[Columbia Records]

80. Best Musical Show Album

Award to the Album Producer(s), and to the Lyricist(s) & Composer(s) of 51% or more of a new score. (Artist, Lyricist & Composer names appear in parentheses.)

American Idiot (Featuring Green Day)

Billie Joe Armstrong, producer (Green Day, composers; Billie Joe Armstrong,

lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast With John Gallagher, Jr., Michael Esper & Others)

[Reprise]

Fela!

Robert Sher, producer (Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, composer; Fela Anikulapo-Kuti,

lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast With Sahr Ngaujah, Lillias White & Others)

[Knitting Factory]

A Little Night Music

Tommy Krasker, producer (Stephen Sondheim, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist)

(2009 Broadway Revival Cast With Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angela Lansbury & Others)

[Nonesuch - PS Classics]

Promises, Promises

David Caddick & David Lai, producers (Burt Bacharach, composer; Hal David,

lyricist) (New Broadway Cast With Sean Hayes, Kristin Chenoweth & Others)

[Masterworks Broadway]

Sondheim On Sondheim

Philip Chaffin & Tommy Krasker, producers (Stephen Sondheim, composer; Stephen

Sondheim, lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast With Barbara Cook , Vanessa Williams, Tom Wopat & Others)

[PS Classics]

81. Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

Award to the Artist(s) and/or Producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album, or, in the absence of either, to the individual(s) actively responsible for the concept and musical direction and for the selection of artists, songs and producers, as applicable.

Crazy Heart

(Various Artists)

[New West Records]

Glee: The Music, Volume 1

(Glee Cast)

[Columbia Records]

Tremé

(Various Artists)

[Geffen]

True Blood - Volume 2

(Various Artists)

[Elektra]

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

(Various Artists)

[Summit Ent/Chop Shop/Atlantic]

82. Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

Award to Composer(s) for an original score created specifically for, or as a companion to, a current legitimate motion picture, television show or series or other visual media.

Alice In Wonderland

Danny Elfman, composer

[Walt Disney Records]

Avatar

James Horner, composer

[Fox Music/Atlantic Records]

Inception

Hans Zimmer, composer

[Reprise/WaterTower Music]

Sherlock Holmes

Hans Zimmer, composer

[WaterTower Music]

Toy Story 3

Randy Newman, composer

[Walt Disney Records]

83. Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

A Songwriter(s) award. For a song (melody & lyrics) written specifically for a motion picture, television or other visual media, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Down In New Orleans (From The Princess And The Frog)

Randy Newman, songwriter (Dr. John)

Track from: The Princess And The Frog

[Walt Disney Records; Publisher: Walt Disney Music]

I See You (From Avatar)

Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell & James Horner, songwriters (Leona Lewis)

Track from: Avatar

[Fox Music/Atlantic Records; Publishers: Franglen Lupino Music, Horner Music in Motion, Suga Wuga Music, Sony/ATV Harmony & TCF Music]

Kiss Like Your Kiss (From True Blood)

Lucinda Williams, songwriter (Lucinda Williams & Elvis Costello)

Track from: True Blood: Music From The HBO Original Series - Volume 2

[Elektra; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane, Lucy Jones Music]

This City (From Tremé)

Steve Earle, songwriter (Steve Earle)

Track from: Treme Soundtrack

[Geffen; Publisher: Exile On Jones Street Music]

The Weary Kind (From Crazy Heart)

Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett, songwriters (Ryan Bingham)

Track from: Crazy Heart

[New West Records; Publishers: Lost Bound Rails Publishing/Henry Burnett Music/Bug Music]

84. Best Instrumental Composition

A Composer's Award for an original composition (not an adaptation) first released during the Eligibility Year. Singles or Tracks only.

Aurora

Patrick Williams, composer (Patrick Williams The Big Band)

Track from: Aurora

[ArtistShare]

Battle Circle

Gerald Clayton, composer (Clayton Brothers)

[ArtistShare]

Box Of Cannoli

Tim Hagans, composer (The Norrbotten Big Band)

Track from: The Avatar Sessions

[Fuzzy Music]

Fourth Stream...La Banda

Bill Cunliffe, composer (Temple University Symphony Orchestra)

[Boyer College Of Music And Dance]

The Path Among The Trees

Billy Childs, composer (Billy Childs Ensemble)

Track from: Autumn: In Moving Pictures Jazz - Chamber Music Vol. 2

[ArtistShare]

85. Best Instrumental Arrangement

An Arranger's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Carlos

Vince Mendoza, arranger (John Scofield, Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest)

Track from: 54

[Emarcy/Universal]

Fanfare For A New Day

Patrick Williams, arranger (Patrick Williams The Big Band)

Track from: Aurora

[ArtistShare]

Itsbynne Reel

Gil Goldstein, arranger (Dave Eggar)

Track from: Kingston Morning

[Domo Records]

Monet

Ted Nash, arranger (Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra)

Track from: Portrait In Seven Shades

[Jazz At Lincoln Center]

Skip To My Lou

Frank Macchia, arranger (Frank Macchia)

Track from: Folk Songs For Jazzers

[Cacophony]

86. Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)

An Arranger's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

Baba Yetu

Christopher Tin, arranger (Christopher Tin, Soweto Gospel Choir & Royal

Philharmonic Orchestra)

Track from: Calling All Dawns

[Tin Works Publishing]

Baby

Roger Treece, arranger (Bobby McFerrin)

Track from: Vocabularies

[Emarcy]

Based On A Thousand True Stories

Vince Mendoza, arranger (Silje Nergaard & Metropole Orchestra Strings)

Track from: A Thousand True Stories

[Sony]

Don't Explain

Geoffrey Keezer, arranger (Denise Donatelli)

Track from: When Lights Are Low

[Savant Records]

Imagine

Herbie Hancock & Larry Klein, arrangers (Herbie Hancock, Pink, Seal, Jeff Beck,

India.Arie, Konono No 1 & Oumou Sangare)

Track from: The Imagine Project

[Hancock Records]

87. Best Recording Package

Brothers

Michael Carney, art director (The Black Keys)

[Nonesuch]

Eggs

Malene Mathiasson, Malthe Fischer, Kristoffer Rom, Nis Svoldgård & Aske Zidore,

art directors (Oh No Ono)

[Friendly Fire Recordings]

Hadestown

Brian Grunert, art director (Anaïs Mitchell)

[Righteous Babe Records]

What Will We Be

Devendra Banhart & Jon Beasley, art directors (Devendra Banhart)

[Warner Bros.]

Yonkers NY

Andrew Taray, art director (Chip Taylor)

[Train Wreck Records]

88. Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package

Light: On The South Side

Tom Lunt, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, art directors (Various Artists)

[The Numero Group]

Minotaur (Deluxe Edition)

Jeff Anderson & Vaughan Oliver, art directors (The Pixies)

[Artist In Residence]

A Sideman's Journey (Limited Collector's Super Deluxe Box Set)

Daniel Reiss & Klaus Voormann, art directors (Voormann & Friends)

[UMe/USM/Mercury]

Story Island

Qing-Yang Xiao, art director (Various Artists)

[Wind Music]

Under Great White Northern Lights (Limited Edition Box Set)

Rob Jones & Jack White III, art directors (The White Stripes)

[Third Man/Warner Bros.]

89. Best Album Notes

Alan Lomax In Haiti: Recordings For The Library Of Congress, 1936-1937

Gage Averill, album notes writer (Various Artists)

[Harte Recordings]

Keep An Eye On The Sky

Robert Gordon, album notes writer (Big Star)

[Rhino]

Side Steps

Ashley Kahn, album notes writer (John Coltrane)

[Prestige Records]

There Breathes A Hope: The Legacy Of John Work II And His Fisk Jubilee Quartet, 1909-1916

Doug Seroff, album notes writer (Fisk University Jubilee Quartet)

[Archeophone Records]

True Love Cast Out All Evil

Will Sheff, album notes writer (Roky Erickson With Okkervil River)

[ANTI-]

90. Best Historical Album

Alan Lomax In Haiti: Recordings For The Library Of Congress, 1936-1937

Jeffrey A. Greenberg, David Katznelson & Anna Lomax Wood, compilation producers;

Steve Rosenthal & Warren Russell-Smith, mastering engineers (Various Artists)

[Harte Recordings]

The Beatles (The Original Studio Recordings)

Jeff Jones, compilation producer; Paul Hicks, Sean Magee, Guy Massey, Sam Okell

& Steve Rooke, mastering engineers (The Beatles)

[Capitol/Apple]

The Complete Mother's Best Recordings...Plus!

Colin Escott, Mike Jason & Jett Williams, compilation producers; Joseph M.

Palmaccio, mastering engineer (Hank Williams)

[Time Life]

Not Fade Away: The Complete Studio Recordings And More

Andy McKaie, compilation producer; Erick Labson, mastering engineer (Buddy

Holly)

[UMe/Hip-O Select/Geffen]

Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968

Alec Palao, Cheryl Pawelski & Andrew Sandoval, compilation producers; Dan Hersch

& Andrew Sandoval, mastering engineers (Various Artists)

[Rhino]

91. Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

An Engineer's Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses.)

Battle Studies

Michael H. Brauer, Joe Ferla, Chad Franscoviak & Manny Marroquin, engineers

(John Mayer)

[Columbia Records]

Dirty Side Down

John Keane, engineer (Widespread Panic)

[ATO Records]

Emotion & Commotion

Steve Lipson, engineer (Jeff Beck)

[Rhino/Atco]

God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise

Ryan Freeland, engineer (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs)

[RCA Records]

Pink Elephant

Seth Presant & Leon F. Sylvers III, engineers (N'dambi)

[Stax Records]

92. Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

A Producer's Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses.)

Rob Cavallo

• Brand New Eyes (Paramore) (A)
• Hang Cool Teddy Bear (Meat Loaf) (A)
• Happy Hour (Uncle Kracker) (A)
• Music Again (Adam Lambert) (T)
• Soaked (Adam Lambert) (T)
• Sure Fire Winners (Adam Lambert) (T)
• Time For Miracles (Adam Lambert) (T)
• When It's Time (Green Day) (T)

Danger Mouse

• Broken Bells (Broken Bells) (A)
• Dark Night Of The Soul (Danger Mouse And Sparklehorse) (A)
• Tighten Up (The Black Keys) (T)

Dr. Luke

• California Gurls (Katy Perry Featuring Snoop Dogg) (T)
• For Your Entertainment (Adam Lambert) (T)
• Hungover (Kesha) (T)
• Kiss N Tell (Kesha) (T)
• Magic (B.o.B. Featuring Rivers Cuomo) (T)
• Take It Off (Kesha) (T)
• Teenage Dream (Katy Perry) (T)
• Your Love Is My Drug (Kesha) (T)

RedOne

• Alejandro (Lady Gaga) (S)
• Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) (S)
• The Fame Monster (Lady Gaga) (A)
• I Like It (Enrique Iglesias Featuring Pitbull) (S)
• More (Usher) (T)
• We Are The World 25 For Haiti (Artists For Haiti) (S)
• Whole Lotta Love (Mary J. Blige) (S)

The Smeezingtons (Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine

• Billionaire (Travie McCoy Featuring Bruno Mars) (T)
• Bow Chicka Wow Wow (Mike Posner) (T)
• F*** You (Cee Lo Green) (S)
• Island Queen (Sean Kingston) (T)
• Just The Way You Are (Bruno Mars) (S)
• Nothin' On You (B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars) (T)

93. Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

A Remixer's Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses for identification.) Singles or Tracks only.

Fantasy (Morgan Page Remix)

Morgan Page, remixer (Nadia Ali)

[Smile In Bed]

Funk Nasty (Wolfgang Gartner Remix Edit)

Wolfgang Gartner, remixer (Andy Caldwell Featuring Gram'ma Funk)

[Uno Recordings]

Orpheus (Quiet Carnival) (Funk Generation Mix)

Mike Rizzo, remixer (Sergio Mendes)

[Concord]

Revolver (David Guetta's One Love Club Remix)

David Guetta, remixer (Madonna)

[Warner Bros.]

Sweet Disposition (Axwell & Dirty South Remix)

Axel Hedfors & Dragan Roganovic, remixers (The Temper Trap)

[Glassnote/Columbia Records]

94. Best Surround Sound Album

For vocal or instrumental albums. Albums only.

Britten's Orchestra

Keith O. Johnson, surround mix engineer; Keith O. Johnson, surround mastering

engineer; David Frost, surround producer (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony)

[Reference Recordings]

The Incident

Steven Wilson, surround mix engineer; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer;

Steven Wilson, surround producer (Porcupine Tree)

[Roadrunner Records]

Parallax Eden

David Miles Huber, surround mix engineer; David Miles Huber, surround mastering

engineer; David Miles Huber, surround producer (David Miles Huber)

[51bpm]

Songs And Stories (Monster Music Version)

Don Murray, surround mix engineer; Sangwook Nam & Doug Sax, surround mastering

engineers; John Burk, Noel Lee & Marcus Miller, surround producers (George Benson)

[Concord Records/Monster Music]

Trondheimsolistene - In Folk Style

Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering

engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (TrondheimSolistene)

[2L]

95. Best Engineered Album, Classical

An Engineer's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.)

Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina

Mark Donahue, John Hill & Dirk Sobotka, engineers (Giancarlo Guerrero &

Nashville Symphony Orchestra)

[Naxos]

Have You Ever Been...?

Robert Friedrich, engineer (Turtle Island Quartet, Stefon Harris & Mike

Marshall)

[Telarc]

Mackey, Steven: Dreamhouse

David Frost, Tom Lazarus, Steven Mackey & Dirk Sobotka, engineers (Gil Rose,

Rinde Eckert, Catch Electric Guitar Quartet, Synergy Vocals & Boston Modern Orchestra Project)

[BMOP/sound]

Porter, Quincy: Complete Viola Works

Leslie Ann Jones, Kory Kruckenberg, Brandie Lane & David Sabee, engineers (Eliesha Nelson & John McLaughlin Williams)

[Dorian Sono Luminus]

Vocabularies

Steven Miller, Allen Sides & Roger Treece, engineers (Bobby McFerrin)

[Emarcy]

96. Producer Of The Year, Classical

A Producer's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.)

Blanton Alspaugh

• Corigliano: Violin Concerto 'The Red Violin' (Michael Ludwig, JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina (Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony)
• Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 (Leonard Slatkin & Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
• Tower Of The Eight Winds - Music For Violin & Piano By Judith Shatin (Borup-Ernst Duo)
• Tyberg: Symphony No. 3; Piano Trio (JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Wind Serenades (Gregory Wolynec & Gateway Chamber Ensemble)

David Frost

• Britten's Orchestra (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony)
• Chambers, Evan: The Old Burying Ground (Kenneth Kiesler & The University Of Michigan Symphony Orchestra)
• Dorman, Avner: Concertos For Mandolin, Piccolo, Piano And Concerto Grosso (Andrew Cyr, Eliran Avni, Mindy Kaufman, Avi Avital & Metropolis Ensemble)
• The 5 Browns In Hollywood (5 Browns)
• Mackey, Steven: Dreamhouse (Gil Rose, Rinde Eckert, Catch Electric Guitar Quartet, Synergy Vocals & Boston Modern Orchestra Project)
• Meeting Of The Spirits (Matt Haimovitz)
• Two Roads To Exile (ARC Ensemble)

Tim Handley

• Adams: Nixon In China (Marin Alsop, Tracy Dahl, Marc Heller, Thomas Hammons, Maria Kanyova, Robert Orth, Chen-Ye Yan, Opera Colorado Chorus & Colorado Symphony Orchestra)
• Debussy: Le Martyre De Saint Sébastien (Jun Märkl & Orchestre National De Lyon)
• Dohnányi: Variations On A Nursery Song (JoAnn Falletta, Eldar Nebolsin & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Harris: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 (Marin Alsop & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra)
• Hubay: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 And 2 (Chloë Hanslip, Andrew Mogrelia & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra)
• Messiaen: Poèmes Pour Mi (Anne Schwanewilms, Jun Märkl & Orchestre National De Lyon)
• Piazzolla: Sinfonía Buenos Aires (Daniel Binelli, Tianwa Yang, Giancarlo Guerro & Nashville Symphony Orchestra)
• Ries: Works For Flute And Piano (Uwe Grodd & Matteo Napoli)
• Roussel: Symphony No. 1 (Stéphane Denève & Royal Scottish National Orchestra)
• Shchedrin: Concertos For Orchestra Nos. 4 & 5 (Kirill Karabits & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra)
• Stamitz: Flute Concertos (Robert Aitken, Donatas Katkus & St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra)
• Strauss, R: Josephs-Legende; Rosenkavalier; Die Frau Ohne Schatten (Orchestral Suites) (JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)

Marina A. Ledin, Victor Ledin

• Brubeck: Songs Of Praise (Lynne Morrow, Richard Grant, Quartet San Francisco & The Pacific Mozart Ensemble)
• Cascade Of Roses (Janice Weber)
• Gnattali: Solo & Chamber Works For Guitar (Marc Regnier)
• If I Were A Bird (Michael Lewin)
• Kletzki: Piano Concerto (Joseph Banowetz, Thomas Sanderling & Russian Philharmonic Orchestra)
• Porter, Quincy: Complete Viola Works (Eliesha Nelson & John McLaughlin Williams)
• Rubinstein: Piano Music (1852-1894) (Joseph Banowetz)
• Rubinstein: Piano Music (1871-1890) (Joseph Banowetz)
• 20th Century Harp Sonatas (Sarah Schuster Ericsson)

James Mallinson

• Mahler: Symphony No. 2 (Bernard Haitink, Duain Wolfe, Miah Persson, Christianne Stotijn, Chicago Symphony Chorus & Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
• Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet (Valery Gergiev & London Symphony Orchestra)
• Shchedrin: The Enchanted Wanderer (Valery Gergiev, Evgeny Akimov, Sergei Aleksashkin, Kristina Kapustinskaya, Mariinsky Chorus & Mariinsky Orchestra)
• Strauss, R: Ein Heldenleben; Webern: Im Sommerwind (Bernard Haitink & Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
• Strauss, R: Eine Alpensinfonie (Bernard Haitink & London Symphony Orchestra)
• Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations; Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante (Gautier Capuçon, Valery Gergiev & Orchestra Of The Mariinsky Theatre)
• Wagner: Parsifal (Valery Gergiev, Gary Lehman, Violeta Urmana, René Pape, Evgeny Nikitin, Alexei Tanovitski, Nikolai Putilin, Mariinsky Chorus & Mariinsky Orchestra)

97. Best Classical Album

Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s) if other than the Artist.

Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4

Mariss Jansons, conductor; Everett Porter, producer; Everett Porter, mastering

engineer (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)

[RCO Live]

Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Blanton Alspaugh, producer; Mark Donahue, John

Hill & Dirk Sobotka, engineers/mixers (Terrence Wilson; Nashville Symphony Orchestra)

[Naxos]

Mackey, Steven: Dreamhouse

Gil Rose, conductor; Rinde Eckert; Catch Electric Guitar Quartet; David Frost,

producer; David Frost, Tom Lazarus, Steven Mackey & Dirk Sobotka, engineers/mixers; Silas Brown, mastering engineer (Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Synergy Vocals)

[BMOP/sound]

Sacrificium

Giovanni Antonini, conductor; Cecilia Bartoli; Arend Prohmann, producer; Philip

Siney, engineer/mixer (Il Giardino Armonico)

[Decca]

Verdi: Requiem

Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master; Christopher Alder,

producer; David Frost, Tom Lazarus & Christopher Willis, engineers/mixers (Ildar Abdrazakov, Olga Borodina, Barbara Frittoli & Mario Zeffiri; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus)

[CSO Resound]

98. Best Orchestral Performance

Award to the Conductor and to the Orchestra.

Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4

Mariss Jansons, conductor (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)

[RCO Live]

Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor (Terrence Wilson; Nashville Symphony)

[Naxos]

Mackey, Steven: Dreamhouse

Gil Rose, conductor; Rinde Eckert (Catch Electric Guitar Quartet; Boston Modern

Orchestra Project; Synergy Vocals)

[BMOP/sound]

Salieri: Overtures & Stage Music

Thomas Fey, conductor (Mannheimer Mozartorchester)

[Haenssler Classic]

Stravinsky: Pulcinella; Symphony In Three Movements; Four Études

Pierre Boulez, conductor (Roxana Constantinescu, Kyle Ketelsen & Nicholas Phan;

Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

[CSO Resound]

99. Best Opera Recording

Award to the Conductor, Album Producer(s) and Principal Soloists.

Berg: Lulu

Antonio Pappano, conductor; Agneta Eichenholz, Jennifer Larmore, Klaus Florian

Vogt & Michael Volle; David Groves, producer (Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House)

[Opus Arte]

Hasse: Marc' Antonio E Cleopatra

Matthew Dirst, conductor; Jamie Barton & Ava Pine; Keith Weber, producer (Ars

Lyrica Houston)

[Dorian Sono Luminus]

Saariaho: L'Amour De Loin

Kent Nagano, conductor; Daniel Belcher, Ekaterina Lekhina & Marie-Ange

Todorovitch; Martin Sauer, producer (Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; Rundfunkchor Berlin)

[Harmonia Mundi]

Shchedrin: The Enchanted Wanderer

Valery Gergiev, conductor; Evgeny Akimov, Sergei Aleksashkin & Kristina

Kapustinskaya; James Mallinson, producer (Orchestra Of The Mariinsky Theatre; Chorus Of The Mariinsky Theatre)

[Mariinsky]

Sullivan: Ivanhoe

David Lloyd-Jones, conductor; Neal Davies, Geraldine McGreevy, James Rutherford,

Toby Spence & Janice Watson; Brian Pidgeon, producer (BBC National Orchestra Of Wales; Adrian Partington Singers)

[Chandos]

100. Best Choral Performance

Award to the Choral Conductor, and to the Orchestra Conductor if an Orchestra is on the recording, and to the Choral Director or Chorus Master if applicable.

Bach: Cantatas

Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor; Erwin Ortner, chorus master (Bernarda Fink,

Gerald Finley, Christian Gerhaher, Werner Güra, Julia Kleiter, Christine Schäfer, Anton Scharinger & Kurt Streit; Concentus Musicau Wien; Arnold Schoenberg Chor)

[Deutsche Harmonia Mundi]

Baltic Runes

Paul Hillier, conductor (Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir)

[Harmonia Mundi]

Haydn: The Creation

René Jacobs, conductor; Hans-Christoph Rademann, choir director (Julia Kleiter,

Maximilian Schmitt & Johannes Weisser; Freiburger Barockorchester; RIAS Kammerchor)

[Harmonia Mundi]

Martin: Golgotha

Daniel Reuss, conductor (Judith Gauthier, Marianne Beate Kielland, Adrian

Thompson, Mattijs Van De Woerd & Konstantin Wolff; Estonian National Symphony Orchestra; Cappella Amsterdam & Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir)

[Harmonia Mundi]

Verdi: Requiem

Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master (Ildar Abdrazakov, Olga

Borodina, Barbara Frittoli & Mario Zeffiri; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus)

[CSO Resound]

101. Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra)

Award to the Instrumental Soloist(s) and to the Conductor.

Daugherty: Deus Ex Machina

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Terrence Wilson (Nashville Symphony)

Track from: Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony

[Naxos]

Dorman, Avner: Mandolin Concerto

Andrew Cyr, conductor; Avi Avital (Metropolis Ensemble)

Track from: Dorman, Avner: Mandolin Concerto; Piccolo Concerto; Concerto Grosso; Piano Concerto

[Naxos]

Kletzki: Piano Concerto In D Minor, Op. 22

Thomas Sanderling, conductor; Joseph Banowetz (Russian Philharmonic Orchestra)

Track from: Kletzki: Piano Concerto

[Naxos]

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24

Mitsuko Uchida (The Cleveland Orchestra)

[Decca]

Porter, Quincy: Concerto For Viola & Orchestra

John McLaughlin Williams, conductor; Eliesha Nelson (Northwest Sinfonia)

Track from: Porter, Quincy: Complete Viola Works

[Dorian Sono Luminus]

102. Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra)

Award to the Instrumental Soloist.

Chopin: The Nocturnes

Nelson Freire

[Decca]

Hamelin: Études

Marc-André Hamelin

[Hyperion Records]

Messiaen: Livre Du Saint-Sacrement

Paul Jacobs

[Naxos]

Paganini: 24 Caprices

Julia Fischer

[Decca]

20th Century Harp Sonatas

Sarah Schuster Ericsson

[Dorian Sono Luminus]

103. Best Chamber Music Performance

Award to the Artists.

Beethoven: Complete Sonatas For Violin & Piano

Isabelle Faust & Alexander Melnikov

[Harmonia Mundi]

Gnattali: Solo & Chamber Works For Guitar

Marc Regnier (Tacy Edwards, Natalia Khoma & Marco Sartor)

[Dorian Sono Luminus]

Ligeti: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2

Parker Quartet

[Naxos]

Porter, Quincy: Complete Viola Works

Eliesha Nelson & John McLaughlin Williams (Douglas Rioth; Northwest Sinfonia)

[Dorian Sono Luminus]

Schoenberg: String Quartets Nos. 3 & 4

Fred Sherry String Quartet (Christopher Oldfather & Rolf Schulte)

[Naxos]

104. Best Small Ensemble Performance

Award to the Ensemble (and to the Conductor.)

Ceremony And Devotion - Music For The Tudors

Harry Christophers, conductor; The Sixteen

[CORO]

Dinastia Borja

Jordi Savall, conductor; Hespèrion XXI & La Capella Reial De Catalunya (Pascal

Bertin, Daniele Carnovich, Lior Elmalich, Montserrat Figueras, Driss El Maloumi, Marc Mauillon, Lluís Vilamajó & Furio Zanasi; Pascal Bertin, Daniele Carnovich, Josep Piera & Francisco Rojas)

[Alia Vox]

Trondheimsolistene - In Folk Style

Øyvind Gimse & Geir Inge Lotsberg, conductors (Emilia Amper & Gjermund Larsen;

TrondheimSolistene)

[2L (Lindberg Lyd)]

Victoria: Lamentations Of Jeremiah

Peter Phillips, conductor; The Tallis Scholars

[Gimell]

Whitacre, Eric: Choral Music

Noel Edison, conductor; Elora Festival Singers (Carol Bauman & Leslie De'Ath)

[Naxos]

105. Best Classical Vocal Performance

Award to the Vocal Soloist(s).

Ombre De Mon Amant - French Baroque Arias

Anne Sofie Von Otter (William Christie; Les Arts Florissants)

[Deutsche Grammophon]

Sacrificium

Cecilia Bartoli (Giovanni Antonini; Il Giardino Armonico)

[Decca]

Turina: Canto A Sevilla

Lucia Duchonová (Celso Antunes; NDR Radiophilharmonie)

[Haenssler Classic]

Vivaldi: Opera Arias - Pyrotechnics

Vivica Genaux (Fabio Biondi; Europa Galante)

[Virgin Classics]

Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder

Measha Brueggergosman (Franz Welser-Möst; The Cleveland Orchestra)

Track from: Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder; Preludes & Overtures

[Deutsche Grammophon]

106. Best Classical Contemporary Composition

A Composer's Award. (For a contemporary classical composition composed within the last 25 years, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year.) Award to the librettist, if applicable.

Daugherty, Michael: Deus Ex Machina

Michael Daugherty (Giancarlo Guerrero)

Track from: Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony

[Naxos]

Henze, Hans Werner: Appassionatamente Plus

Hans Werner Henze (Stefan Soltesz)

Track from: Appassionatamente Plus Lulu-Suite

[Cybele Records]

Lindberg, Magnus: Graffiti

Magnus Lindberg (Sakari Oramo)

Track from: Lindberg: Graffiti; Seht Die Sonne

[Ondine]

Pärt, Arvo: Symphony No. 4

Arvo Pärt (Esa-Pekka Salonen)

Track from: Pärt: Symphony No. 4

[ECM New Series]

Shchedrin, Rodion Konstantinovich: The Enchanted Wanderer

Rodion Konstantinovich Shchedrin (Valery Gergiev)

Track from: Shchedrin: The Enchanted Wanderer

[Mariinsky]

107. Best Classical Crossover Album

Award to the Artist(s) and/or to the Conductor.

Meeting Of The Spirits

Matt Haimovitz (Amaryllis Jarczyk, Jan Jarczyk, John McLaughlin, Dominic

Painchaud, Leanna Rutt & Matt Wilson)

[Oxingale Records]

Off The Map

The Silk Road Ensemble

[World Village]

Roots - My Life, My Song

Jessye Norman (Ira Coleman, Steve Johns, Mike Lovatt, Mark Markham & Martin

Williams)

[Sony Classical]

Tin, Christopher: Calling All Dawns

Lucas Richman, conductor (Sussan Deyhim, Lia, Kaori Omura, Dulce Pontes, Jia

Ruhan, Aoi Tada & Frederica von Stade; Anonymous 4 & Soweto Gospel Choir; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)

[Tin Works Publishing]

Vocabularies

Bobby McFerrin

[Emarcy/Universal]

108. Best Short Form Music Video

For an individual track or single promotional clip. Award to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer.

Ain't No Grave / The Johnny Cash Project

(Johnny Cash)

Chris Milk, video director; Jennifer Heath, Aaron Koblin & Rick Rubin, video producers

[American/Universal]

Love The Way You Lie (Explicit Version)

Eminem & Rihanna

Joseph Kahn, video director; Maryann Tanedo, video producer

[Aftermath]

Stylo

Gorillaz, Mos Def & Bobby Womack

Pete Candeland & Jamie Hewlett, video directors; Cara Speller, video producer

[Virgin Records]

F*** You

Cee Lo Green

Matt Stawski, video director; Paul Bock, video producer

[Elektra]

Bad Romance

Lady Gaga

Francis Lawrence, video director; Kathy Angstadt, Nicole Ehrlich &Heather Heller, video producers

[Streamline/Interscope/KonLive/Cherrytree]

109. Best Long Form Music Video

For video album packages consisting of more than one song or track. Award to the Artist and to the Video Director/Producer of at least 51% of the total playing time.

No Distance Left To Run

Blur

Will Lovelace, Dylan Southern & Giorgio Testi, video directors; Thomas Benski, Laura Collins & Lucas Ochoa, video producers

[Parlophone/EMI]

When You're Strange

(The Doors)

Tom Dicillo, video director; John Beug, Jeff Jampol, Peter Jankowski & Dick Wolf, video producers

[Eagle Vision]

The Greatest Ears In Town: The Arif Mardin Story

(Arif Mardin)

Doug Biro & Joe Mardin, video directors; Doug Biro & Joe Mardin, video producers

[Nunoise Records]

Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage

Rush

Sam Dunn & Scot McFadyen, video directors; Sam Dunn & Scot McFadyen, video producers

[Zoe]

Under Great White Northern Lights

The White Stripes

Emmett Malloy, video director; Ian Montone & Mike Sarkissian, video producers

[Third Man/Warner Bros.]