As for West, this seems like a letdown if he considers last year’s list. He led the pack back then with 10 nominations. He was the hot newcomer of 2004 and a strong bet for Best New Artist. He also had two nods in the Album of the Year category including one for his own The College Dropout and another for The Diary of Alicia Keys where he is a producer and songwriter. West won in only three categories, R& B Album, Rap Song and Rap Album.
I honestly believe that he has a better chance of getting more this year. For one, Usher and the late Ray Charles are not in the running. And then his Late Registration is certainly a better album. There are 20 cuts and all are fabulous with sure sellers like Gold Digger featuring Jamie Foxx and excellent production efforts like Heard Em Say with Adam Levine of Maroon5 is a No.1 seller. Thanks to the well-conceived melodies, it is also one rap album that appeals to a variety of listeners.
I listed down the pop and rock nominees last Monday. This time around, I have the R&B, jazz and rap categories.
Female R&B Vocal: 1 Thing by Amerie; Wishing on a Star by Beyoncé Knowles; We Belong Together by Mariah Carey; Free Yourself by Fantasia; Unbreakable by Alicia Keys.
Male R&B Vocal: Creepin’ by Jamie Foxx; Ordinary People by John Legend; Let Me Love You by Mario; Superstar by Usher; So What the Fuss by Stevie Wonder.
R&B Duo or Group Vocal: So Amazing by Beyoncé & Stevie Wonder; Cater 2 U by Destiny’s Child; If This World Were Mine by Alicia Keys featuring Jermaine Paul; So High by John Legend featuring Lauryn Hill; How Will I Know by Stevie Wonder featuring Alisha Morris.
Traditional R&B Vocal: Mine Again by Mariah Carey; Summertime by Fantasia; A House is Not a Home by Aretha Franklin; If I Was Your Woman by Alicia Keys; Stay with You by John Legend.
Urban/ Alternative Vocal: SupaStar by Floetry; Dirty Harry by Gorillaz; Dust by Van Hunt; Welcome to Jamrock by Damian Marley; Ghetto Rock by Mos Def.
R&B Song: Cater 2 U by Destiny’s Child; Free Yourself by Fantasia; Ordinary People by John Legend; Unbreakable by Alicia Keys; We Belong Together by Mariah Carey.
R&B Album: Illumination by Earth, Wind and Fire; Free Yourself by Fantasia; Unplugged by Alicia Keys; Get Lifted by John Legend; A Time to Love by Stevie Wonder.
Contemporary R&B Album: Touch by Amerie; The Emancipation of Mimi by Mariah Carey; Destiny Fulfilled by Destiny’s Child; Turning Point by Mario; O by Omarion.
Rap Solo: Testify by Common; Mockingbird by Eminem; Disco Inferno by 50 Cent; Number One Spot by Ludacris; U Don’t Know Me by T.I.; Gold Digger by Kanye West.
Rap Duo or Group: Don’t Phunk with My Heart by The Black Eyed Peas; The Corner by Common featuring The Last Poets; Encore by Eminem; Hate It or Love It by The Game featuring 50 Cent; Wait (The Whisper Song) by Ying Yang Twins.
Rap/ Sung Collaboration: 1,2 Step by Ciara featuring Missy Elliott; They Say by Common featuring Kanye West & John Legend; Soldier by Destiny’s Child featuring T.I. & Lil Wayne; Numb/Encore by Jay-Z featuring Linkin Park; Rich Girl by Gwen Stefani featuring Eve.
Rap Song: Candy Shop by 50 Cent featuring Olivia; Diamonds from Sierra Leone by Kanye West; Don’t Phunk with My Heart by The Black Eyed Peas; Hate It or Love It by The Game featuring 50 Cent; Lose Control by Missy Elliott featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop.
Rap Album: Be by Common; The Cookbook by Missy Elliott; Encore by Eminem; The Massacre by 50 Cent; Late Registration by Kanye West.
Contemporary Jazz Album: Keystone by Dave Douglas; Soulgrass by Bill Evans; The Way Up by Pat Metheny Group; The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel by Meshell Ndegeocello; Momentum by Joshua Redman Elastic Band.
Jazz Vocal: J’ai Deux Amours by Dee Dee Bridgewater; Blueprint of a Lady — Sketches of Billie Holiday by Nnenna Freelon; Good Night and Good Luck by Dianne Reeves; Duos II by Luciana Souza; I’m with the Band by Tierney Sutton.
Jazz Instrumental Solo: ‘Round Midnight by Alan Broadbent; Away by Ravi Coltrane; The Source by Herbie Hancock; A Love Supreme-Acknowledgement by Branford Marsalis; Why Was I Born? by Sonny Rollins.
Jazz Instrumental Album: Flow by Terence Blanchard; Lyric by Billy Childs Ensemble; Live at The House of Tribes by Wyntom Marsalis; Beyond the Sound Barrier by Wayne Shorter Quartet; What Now? by Kenny Wheeler with Dave Holland, Chris Potter & John Taylor.
Instrumental Composition: Anakin’s Betrayal by John Williams; The Ferry Scene by John Williams; The Incredits by Michael Giacchino; Into the Light by Billy Childs; Journey Home by Maria Schneider.
Short Form Music Video: Lose Control by Missy Elliott featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop; Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz featuring De La Soul; Feels Just Like It Should by Jamiroquai; God’s Will by Martina McBride; World on Fire by Sarah McLachlan.
Long Form Music Video of more than one song or track: No Direction Home with Bob Dylan; Trapped in the Closet with R. Kelly; End of the Century The Story of the Ramones with the Ramones; Devils & Dust with Bruce Springsteen; Brian Wilson Presents Smile with Brian Wilson.