: LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lil Wayne didn't get "A Milli" Grammy nominations, but his total haul was still pretty amazing — eight.
Nominations for the prolific and ubiquitous rap MVP, who became pop's biggest success in 2008 with his top-selling album, "Tha Carter III," included a coveted album of the year bid.
Although the New Orleans rapper — who has been nominated for Grammys before but has never taken home a trophy — was the leading nominee, he wasn't the only big act to have a big night Wednesday.
Following close behind during the Grammys' first-ever nominations ceremony/concert combination was Coldplay, with seven nominations. The Chris Martin-led British group's "Viva La Vida," one of the year's best-selling CDs, is in album of the year contention along with Radiohead's groundbreaking "In Rainbows"; singer-songwriter Ne-Yo's "Year of the Gentleman"; and Robert Plant's collaboration with Alison Krauss, "Raising Sand."
Coldplay and Plant & Krauss were also nominated in the coveted record of the year category for the respective songs "Viva La Vida" and "Please Read the Letter." Other record of the year nominees were British songstress Leona Lewis for "Bleeding Love"; another British newcomer, Adele, for "Chasing Pavements"; and M.I.A. for her breakthrough hit, "Paper Planes."
Some surprising omissions: Katy Perry, who had one of the year's biggest hits with "I Kissed a Girl," was shut out of the top categories, including record of the year and best new artist. Still, she was excited about her nomination for female pop vocal performance: "I feel very grateful to be recognized by an institution of such iconic musical history. I can't believe it, but this year I won't be watching the Grammys in my jammies!" she said in a statement.
Metallica got three nominations, but their huge comeback record "Death Magnetic" didn't get a nod for album of the year despite being a top seller in 2008.
Nominations were announced in a new format this year, with an hourlong CBS concert special that featured a brisk procession of performers and LL Cool J and Taylor Swift as hosts.
Though she hosted and performed, Swift, last year's best new artist nominee, was shut out completely. The 18-year-old country artist has had a sensational year thanks to the continued success of her 2006 self-titled debut album and her latest top-selling CD, "Fearless." While neither was eligible for consideration, her recent singles were.
While "Tha Carter III" was not regarded by critics as his greatest CD, it was the album that made the highly regarded rapper — who has been on the scene for more than a decade — a certified superstar, thanks to massive hits like "Lollipop" and "A Milli" — Lil Wayne slang for "a million." Lil Wayne not only rapped on his own hits but seemed to be on just about every urban act's record, and that was reflected in his multiple nominations, some of which were for collaborations.
"Tha Carter III" was the only record this year to sell 1 million copies in its first week and is the year's top seller with 2.7 million copies sold.
Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," its first album in three years, was also a huge hit; it has sold 1.9 million copies to date.
Radiohead's "In Rainbows" didn't break sales records, but it was as revolutionary as it was critically acclaimed. First released last fall in a pay-as-you wish format on the band's Web site, "In Rainbows" was an instant viral sensation that shook up an industry struggling with its traditional business model (although Radiohead later released the album traditionally via a record label). The CD netted seven Grammys, including producer of the year for Nigel Godrich.
Plant linked up with Grammy darling and bluegrass artist Krauss for a CD that pushed both in different musical directions, while Ne-Yo, who has produced several smashes for other artists, had success with "Year of the Gentleman."
"When I was putting it together, I was trying to do something that everybody could get into, as opposed to just my pop and R&B core group," Ne-Yo, who got six nominations, said after the ceremony. "I was trying to do something that the world could enjoy and I think that the Grammy people paid attention to that."
Also nominated were The Jonas Brothers for the best new artist category. While they have already released two CDs, their latest, "A Little Bit Longer," was their biggest yet in their breakthrough year. The teen sensations join Duffy and Adele, both singers with a soul bent; singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan; and breakout country act Lady Antebellum.
Sullivan, who has drawn comparisons to Lauryn Hill with her hit "I Need You Bad," had a stellar night, with five nominations. Other multiple nominees included Jay-Z, Ne-Yo and Kanye West, who had six each; Krauss, who has numerous Grammy wins, got five nominations.
Another Grammy favorite, John Mayer, netted five as well, while Jennifer Hudson got four, including best R&B album for her self-titled CD.
The Recording Academy typically has announced nominations like most top awards shows, during a morning news conference. But in an era where awards shows are as commonplace as reality shows, even the top-tier events are finding it hard to stand out.
So they put on the prime-time event, included performances from past Grammy winners such as Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera and the Foo Fighters.
Held at the Nokia Theatre, the show also celebrated the Saturday opening of the new Grammy Museum next door.
The Grammy Awards are scheduled for live broadcast on CBS on Feb 8. Last year's show drew 17.2 million viewers, making it one of the least-watched Grammys and continuing the trend of shrinking awards-show audiences.
LUPE FIASCO ALSO RECIEVED 4 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS!!!! And he deserves to win in all four categories. Its so sad that chicken heads and thug niccas can't relate to the realness and prefer to be mocked through Wayne's "lyrics". When did Hip Hop become a long running joke laced with misogyny, buffoonery, jail credibility and reality shows??? I dare any of you to pick up The Cool if you don't have it already. I guarantee you would be enlightened.
MTO y'all need to quit hating on my boo!!!! But I'm glad he doesn't grace the web pages of MTO which shows he's doing his thang and making things happen in a positive light. All you got on him was his choice of wardobe......which is STILL over your heads!!!
yeah, so first of all, that's a sexy pic of weezy's face. i'm finna dust off my monitor so i can kiss it til i'm tired.
secondly, this post is way too *** long. my attention span pretty much dies after 3 sentences if within those first 3 sentences there is no mention of how i can make money doing nothing, or how i can get with weezy or pharrell... so... im just saying... keep it *** *** sweet.
Now I know Hip-Hop is dead...If this mush mouth marble soundin' cough medicine drinkin' motherfcker THAT MAKES NO FCKIN' SENSE can get eight nods...All I got to say is thank God for God Son whose Stillmatic than all these nuccas period!Real Talk.Brooklyn Lives-The Borough where the greatest rapper to ever bless the mic lived...NOTORIOUS..
little wayne is fake ! you guys are young and to say hes a lyrics what? this cat be mubblin on records talkin about c whooop gang , rap is nothing but drugs gangbangin and *** and it gets props like thats hiphop that ant hip hop and iam not happy at all! when you have money u can be a rapper and buy props lol!
Lil Wayne get no love on this thread I see..lol Yay for weezy...I hope he takes them all 8 home
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DQC writes: lmfao when Biggie died, he took all of NY with him. Nas is not even significant anymore. Get over it and move forward! hip hop aint dead cause Weeezeh is alive, boo. LOL ------------------------------------------ Sweetie you wouldn't know lyrically dexterity if it was interwoven in a Coach bag...Nas will always be relevant..Lil Wanye is like fast food at your local spot 'cheap & unfulfilling' Nasir is like a Steak dinner at Peter Luger's 'Rich, fulfilling,awarding,& most of all memorable'..Real Talk.Brooklyn Lives-The Borough that brought you Masta Ace...
The Grammys are voted by musicians peers (other artists, record execs, etc). For those who don't like rap turn the radio or get mad at the musicians, not other bloggers. Rap music is multi faceted just like any other music. There's something enlightening, something to dance to, gansta rap, etc. I feel you have to find what's for you.
Stop depending on music to make you concious of the world. It's entertainment, open a book. People get mad at rappers when they put real life in their music, yet when they use their voice (i.e., telling the young people how important their vote is) people get mad at them. Rap music isn't the cause of what happens in our communities, negligent citizens and sorry parents are. Stop allowing the tv to raise your kids and your awareness, and again, open a book.
IWISHANIQQAWOULD and willie_rag I SO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID!!! WAYNE IS GARBAGE HE IS ONE OF THE MAIN PEOPLE TEARING HIP HOP DOWN. THE SAD PART IS MANY OF THE YOUTH IDOLIZE HIM. 4 WHAT HE ACTUALLY HAS NO SWAGG ITS ALL DRUG INDUCED AND EVERYTHING HE RHYMES ABOUT MAKES NO SENSE. PPL NEED 2 HOP OFF THE WEEZY BANDWAGON CUZ HE IS A HOT MESS ALL THEM TATS AND PIERCINGS ARE ACTUALLY VERY DISGUSTING LOOKING. IM SCARED 4 FUTURE GENERATIONS BECAUSE OF PPL LIKE HIM WHO HAS NO SUBSTANCE. THE REAL EMCESS ARE NAS JAY BIG PAC QTIP TALIB. THE EARLY DAYS TIL THE 90S WERE THE REAL DAYS OF HIP HOP. THIS THING NOW UMMM IDK ITS DISGUSTING
Vic, be quiet. I'm not sure how old you are, but I think you may be nearing senility. Your logic is so off. It's very simple... who can sell almost 2,000,000 records within 1 week, during a recession, 1 week after his album was leaked, during a time where most people burn music free off the internet? I'm thinking it's time you go take your meds and relax.
sydonya1203 Flag post IWISHANIQQAWOULD and willie_rag I SO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID!!! WAYNE IS GARBAGE HE IS ONE OF THE MAIN PEOPLE TEARING HIP HOP DOWN. THE SAD PART IS MANY OF THE YOUTH IDOLIZE HIM. 4 WHAT HE ACTUALLY HAS NO SWAGG ITS ALL DRUG INDUCED AND EVERYTHING HE RHYMES ABOUT MAKES NO SENSE. PPL NEED 2 HOP OFF THE WEEZY BANDWAGON CUZ HE IS A HOT MESS ALL THEM TATS AND PIERCINGS ARE ACTUALLY VERY DISGUSTING LOOKING. IM SCARED 4 FUTURE GENERATIONS BECAUSE OF PPL LIKE HIM WHO HAS NO SUBSTANCE. THE REAL EMCESS ARE NAS JAY BIG PAC QTIP TALIB. THE EARLY DAYS TIL THE 90S WERE THE REAL DAYS OF HIP HOP. THIS THING NOW UMMM IDK ITS DISGUSTING ----------------------------------------- Amen to that!Looks like we have a full bus of passengers ridin' for real hip-hop..Real Talk.Brooklyn Lives-The Borough that drowns in Brown Water on payday Fridays..
full bus of *** who find safety in numbers. a number of haters. crabs in a bucket. but i would say i'll stand up to you and an army of old idiots... however, there is no debate. yall can hate all day; the fact still remains that he is great and is being recognized for it. nothing you can do! LOL later, losers!
@mzarrogance
actually I don't agree, here's why.....the media is a big influence on kids these days and adults as well, people minds are being controlled without them knowing, so I say whether your a rapper, singer, actor or what ever, and if your a voice that can speak to millions, why not use that to change things in this world, but yet complain when your not getting treated right, or when society is not the way you want it.
Ending with this...you say it's entertainment right?
Isn't stripping entertainment, prostituting, male escort service, boxing, dog fighting , but is it right? The thing is people watch and mimic.
I guess VicSage and I riding the *** yellow bus but we are mos def content w/ that!! O wellz I love being a non conformist and not having to bow down to what is "in" right now. If I'm old school lemme be that. And if NY is one big ghetto O wellz cuz my hood (BK STAND THE F*CK UP) has produced some of the greatest rappers! Most of whom lil wayne aspires to be so... WATEV! BROOKLYN IN THE HOUSE!!
so, thi is where music has gone, there used to be a time when the grammys mattered, when the grammys were a credible awards show, and when musicians who came straight from the cesspool were not rewarded for promoting garbage, but alas, there IS something that is worst than the source awards,i thought i would never see the day. hip hop as well as other generes used to present great music, these kids including the ones posting on here don't even have a clue.if this $hit u listen to now isn't retreaded music, its ***!t that has no quality or substance whatsoever.and its done by people who either aren't, haven't been, or will ever be $h!t when they are out of the music industry.yep, i dam sure won't be tuning in to the grammy(the show sucks anyway)and i'll use my money to buy a *** book.
this is just sad. after the grammy's an award to 36 mafia for that dumb @ss song i knew they was going to go down hill. there have been so many more deserving hip hop artists and groups that should have won awards than wayne its not even funny. the saddest thing is that people dont even know what a good MC is anymore. when wayne won "lyricist of the year" over nas and jay z and lupe wasnt even in that category on BET HIP HOP AWARDS its just a *** shame. if you call wayne a lyricist you dont know what a real MC is, its more than a few punch lines and rapping about being stoned and having an ego trip.
sydonya1203 writes: I guess VicSage and I riding the *** yellow bus but we are mos def content w/ that!! O wellz I love being a non conformist and not having to bow down to what is "in" right now. If I'm old school lemme be that. And if NY is one big ghetto O wellz cuz my hood (BK STAND THE F*CK UP) has produced some of the greatest rappers! Most of whom lil wayne aspires to be so... WATEV! BROOKLYN IN THE HOUSE!! --------------- --------------------------------- Preach Sis..718 to Omega...Real Talk.Brooklyn Lives-The Borough that keeps on takin' it...EARLY...
i aint a sexist person or whatever but honestly most females dont know *** about hip hop except whats on the radio and in there face on tv. for most of y'll your opinion about who is the "best rapper" is about as big as a grain of sand. most chicks judge who the "best rapper" is by who makes there *** shake the most, who they are attracted to, and there soo-called "swagger".
