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Grandmaster Flash To Deliver Special Message On GRAMMY Nominee Special

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Common, LL Cool J, Lupe Fiasco, and Rick Ross to join legendary rapper for a special performance on "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!"
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm
GRAMMY.com

Two-time GRAMMY winner Common, two-time GRAMMY winner LL Cool J, GRAMMY winner Lupe Fiasco, and rapper Rick Ross will join hip-hop innovator Grandmaster Flash, GRAMMY-winning hip-hop artist Melle Mel and rapper Scorpio for a special performance of "The Message" — the seminal recording by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five featuring Melle Mel and Duke Bootee newly inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame — on "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night." Actors Taraji P. Henson and Taylor Lautner are the latest presenters added to the one-hour special, which takes place live on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.

The show, which will also announce nominees in several categories as well as feature performances by past GRAMMY winners and/or nominees, will be broadcast live in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 10–11 p.m. ET/PT.

Previously announced performers are Jason Aldean, Lady Gaga, Ludacris, Rihanna, Valerie Simpson, Mike Stoller, Sugarland, the Band Perry, and Usher. Previously announced presenters are Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry. LL Cool J is once again set to host.

The concert special marks the fourth time nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards will be announced live on primetime television. In addition to unveiling nominations for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!" will feature a special live announcement from a truly iconic group regarding their historic band reunion set to take place on the GRAMMY stage on Feb. 12, 2012.

This year, for the first time ever, music fans can check out backstage coverage and reactions to the nominations by logging on to www.grammy.com/livestream or www.livestream.com/thegrammys immediately following the live telecast (11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT).

Following the one-hour live telecast, guests will enjoy an exclusive concert by the Band Perry. Tickets for "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" are on sale online and via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at 800.745.3000. For discounts on groups of 10 or more, and for more information on VIP packages, visit www.aegtickets.com or call 877.234.8425. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the GRAMMY Museum.

The road to Music's Biggest Night begins with "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!" and culminates with the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, live from Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 12, 2012, and broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

"The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC. Ken Ehrlich is the executive producer. LL Cool J is producer.

For updates and breaking news, visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.

Chuck D

Chuck D

Photo: Duffy-Marie Arnoult/WireImage

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Universal Hip-Hop Museum Names Chuck D Celebrity Board Chair

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The South Bronx development plans to break ground in one year and is raising funds and awareness for its 2022 launch
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 19, 2018 - 1:34 pm

New details on the planned 2022 Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx were reported on Dec. 19, expected to break ground in Dec. 2019. Rap pioneer Chuck D was announced as chairman of the museum's celebrity board and is expected to help lead outreach. Having raised $20 million with comprehensive plans in place, the UHHM is raising another $50 million for its launch.

UHHM Chairman of the Board Kurtis Blow and director Rocky Bucano led the development effort's plans for 50,000 square feet within a 25-floor high-rise at 69 East 149th Street in the South Bronx. Cultural ambassadors assisting UHHM include Big Daddy Kane, Fab Five Freddy, Grandmaster Flash,  LL Cool J and Rakim.

"The credibility he brings to our team is mammoth," said Kurtis Blow about Chuck D. "He also understands the importance of the UHHM and vows to let the world know via a star-studded celebrity board in the near future. Flame on!"

Museum and architectural designers behind the effort include Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Mike Ford and Hamilton Anderson Associates, with backgrounds including the Motown Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

"Hip-hop is 45 years old now, and it's the only cultural genre that doesn't have its own space to preserve and celebrate its history," said Bucano. "Cornell and Harvard have hip-hop archives; the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture is devoted to the African American experience in totality, not just hip-hop. The UHHM will be dedicated solely to hip-hop."

Hip-hop is still breaking new ground, and UHHM commemorates its beloved history while nurturing the continued growth of the genre. Check out the UHHM website for updates on the museum’s development.

Universal Hip-Hop Museum To Open In New York City

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Rap State Of Mind

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Tracing the legacy of rap music at the GRAMMYs
Matt Sycamore
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm
GRAMMY.com

(For a complete list of 53rd GRAMMY Awards nominees, click here.)

From old school to new school and beyond, there is power in numbers when it comes to rap artists and the GRAMMYs, in particular, the multitude of rap artists who have performed and won GRAMMYs.

The history of rap music and The Recording Academy dates back to 1988, when the genre was officially recognized with the addition of its first category: Best Rap Performance. In more than two decades since, this union has evolved to reflect the explosion of rap in not only the music industry, but our culture worldwide.

If you aren't convinced, take a good look at this year's nominees for Record Of The Year, arguably one of the highest-profile GRAMMYs. Three of the five nominated songs are rooted in rap/hip-hop: "Empire State Of Mind" by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, "Love The Way You Lie" by Eminem featuring Rihanna, and "Nothin' On You" by B.o.B featuring Bruno Mars. And one of the other two nominees, "F*** You," is by part-time rapper and full-time singer Cee Lo Green.

It's an impressive feather in the cap of a genre that continues to gain momentum as we head in to the second decade of the new millennium.

The genre's modest entrance at the GRAMMYs came when D.J. Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince's "Parents Just Don't Understand" took home the first Best Rap Performance award in 1988, winning against the likes of J.J. Fad, Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J, and Salt-N-Pepa. The category has since evolved into the makeup of the current Rap Field, which contains five categories: Best Rap Solo Performance, Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album.

Of course, this evolution wouldn't have been possible without the groundbreaking work of now-classic rap artists such as the Sugarhill Gang, DJ Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, Run-D.M.C., and Kurtis Blow, among others. A hall of fame-bound list of artists has since followed these trailblazers to find a pot full of GRAMMY gold.

In 1998 Lauryn Hill helped take rap to the next level at the GRAMMYs, cleaning up with five awards for her album The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. Hill not only became the first rap/hip-hop artist to win Album Of The Year, she became the first female solo artist to win five awards in one night. Rap hadn't just arrived at the GRAMMYs. It was also taking care of business.

The GRAMMY Awards that have taken place since have only provided an exclamation point for this bold statement.

Highlights include Eminem's Album Of The Year nomination in 2000 for The Marshall Mathers LP and his live telecast performance of "Stan" alongside the legendary Elton John; OutKast's big night in 2004, when the Atlanta duo won Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album for their double-disc masterwork Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for "Hey Ya!"; Kanye West's eye-popping 10 nominations in 2005, which were spawned from his 2004 album, The College Dropout, and eight and six nominations in 2007 and 2008, respectively; and Jay-Z's GRAMMY trifecta in 2009, winning awards for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song.

West stands as the top GRAMMY-winning rap artist in history with 14 statues, followed by Eminem (11) and Jay-Z (10), though Eminem's 10 nominations this year could tip the scales in his favor after Sunday.

Culturally, the rise of these multitalented artists continues to prove how meaningful and authentic the messages behind the music can be. For example, Eminem chronicles life changes for the better on his 2010 album Recovery.

And not to be forgotten is the remarkable story of Jay-Z, who has risen from the crime-riddled streets of New York to his well-earned perch in the rap penthouse, along the way earning critical acclaim and album sales in the millions. His 2009 album, The Blueprint 3, and the ubiquitous radio smash, "Empire State Of Mind," are further evidence that rap is only getting bigger and more important at the GRAMMYs.

As the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards approach on Sunday, Feb. 13, the artists in the mix for rap honors run the gamut of every subgenre within rap's ever-widening scope, from veterans such as Eminem, Jay-Z and Ludacris to newer players on the scene such as T.I., Drake, Big Boi, Bosko Cutty, and Mouche, plus acts that sit on the cutting edge, such as B.o.B, Common, the Roots, and West.

No matter who emerges on top, rap has impressively grown from its organic origins of emcees kicking it with beat boxes in Queens, N.Y., in the late '70s to an enormously popular, globally important art form and cultural touchstone. And driving home the point that there is power in numbers, The Recording Academy's voting members have stood up, listened, and acted to give the genre just representation within the GRAMMY Awards process.

(On Feb. 8 the GRAMMY Museum will host an exclusive premiere for Hip-Hop: A Cultural Odyssey, its latest exhibit showcasing the history of the genre through listening stations, video footage, rare photographs, and original artifacts. Attendees will include industry entrepreneur Russell Simmons and artists Afrika Bambaataa, Kurtis Blow and Everlast, among others. For more information on the exhibit, visit www.grammymuseum.org.)

(Matt Sycamore is a Pacific Northwest-based freelance music writer.)

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Jason Aldean, Lady Gaga To Perform At "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!"

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Hosted by LL Cool J, countdown to Music's Biggest Night to air live on CBS on Nov. 30
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm
GRAMMY.com

Country artist Jason Aldean and five-time GRAMMY winner Lady Gaga are the first performers announced for "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night." Two-time GRAMMY winner LL Cool J once again is set to host the one-hour special, which will take place live on Nov. 30 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles. The show, which will announce nominations in several categories as well as feature performances by past GRAMMY winners and/or nominees, will be broadcast in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network from 10–11 p.m. ET/PT.

The concert special marks the fourth time nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards will be announced live on primetime television. Last year's airing of the nominations special helped lead to increased ratings in all key demographics for the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast last February, delivering the show's best ratings in all key measures in more than a decade.

Tickets for "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" go on sale Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PT, and are available online and via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at 800.745.3000. For discounts on groups of 10 or more, and for more information on VIP packages, visit www.aegtickets.com or call 877.234.8425.

The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards are set to air live from Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 12, 2012, on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

"The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC. Ken Ehrlich is the executive producer. LL Cool J is producer.

Additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly. For updates and breaking news, visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook.

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Exploring The Rap Field Nominees

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Go inside the nominations in the Rap Field categories for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm
GRAMMY.com

You've seen the list of nominees, now take a closer look at the artists nominated in the Rap Field categories for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

This year's rap nominees span GRAMMY veterans and those looking to win their first GRAMMY statue. Three of this year's artists — Jay-Z, Frank Ocean and Kanye West — are among the top nominees overall, with six nominations each. Jay-Z and West return with nominations from their collaborative effort, last year's Best Rap Album nominee Watch The Throne. Additional nominated collaborations include Drake and Lil Wayne, Flo Rida and Sia, Nas and the late Amy Winehouse, and John Legend and Ludacris, among others. A troop of new voices also made the cut, including Ocean, who is also up for Best New Artist, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, and Australian vocalist Sia.

Best Rap Performance

Drake Featuring Lil Wayne, "HYFR (Hell Ya F***ing Right)"

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Drake - HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right) (Explicit) ft. Lil Wayne

Drake is up for three nominations this year. He has 10 prior GRAMMY nominations. Lil Wayne is up for two nominations this year. He has 18 prior GRAMMY nominations and four GRAMMY wins.

Jay-Z & Kanye West, "N****s In Paris"

Dec 2, 2014 – 10:58 pm

Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as In Paris (Explicit)

Jay-Z is up for six nominations this year. He has 46 prior GRAMMY nominations and 14 prior GRAMMY wins. West is up for six nominations this year. He has 46 prior GRAMMY nominations and 18 prior GRAMMY wins.

Nas, "Daughters"

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Nas - Daughters

Nas is up for four nominations this year. He has nine prior GRAMMY nominations.

Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz, "Mercy"

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Kanye West - Mercy (Explicit) ft. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz

West is up for six nominations this year. He has 46 prior GRAMMY nominations and 18 prior GRAMMY wins. Big Sean is up for two nominations this year, marking the first GRAMMY nominations of his career. Pusha T is up for two nominations this year. He has one prior GRAMMY nomination. 2 Chainz is up for three nominations this year, marking the first GRAMMY nominations of his career.

Young Jeezy Featuring Jay-Z & André 3000, "I Do"

Young Jeezy is up for one nomination this year. He has three prior GRAMMY nominations. Jay-Z is up for six nominations this year. He has 46 prior GRAMMY nominations and 14 prior GRAMMY wins. André 3000 is up for two nominations this year. He has 20 prior GRAMMY nominations and six prior GRAMMY wins with OutKast.

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Flo Rida Featuring Sia, "Wild Ones"

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Flo Rida - Wild Ones ft. Sia [Official Video]

Flo Rida is up for one nomination this year. He has four prior GRAMMY nominations. Sia is up for one nomination this year, marking the first GRAMMY nomination of her career.

Jay-Z & Kanye West Featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream, "No Church In The Wild"

Dec 2, 2014 – 10:58 pm

No Church In The Wild

Jay-Z is up for six nominations this year. He has 46 prior GRAMMY nominations and 14 prior GRAMMY wins. West is up for six nominations this year. He has 46 prior GRAMMY nominations and 18 prior GRAMMY wins. Ocean is up for six nominations this year, marking the first GRAMMY nominations of his career. The-Dream is up for two nominations this year. He has eight prior GRAMMY nominations and three prior GRAMMY wins.

John Legend Featuring Ludacris, "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)"

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

John Legend - Tonight (Best You Ever Had) ft. Ludacris

Legend is up for one nomination this year. He has 20 prior GRAMMY nominations and nine prior GRAMMY wins. Ludacris is up for one nomination this year. He has 19 prior GRAMMY nominations and three prior GRAMMY wins.

Nas Featuring Amy Winehouse, "Cherry Wine"

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Nas - Cherry Wine (Explicit) ft. Amy Winehouse

Nas is up for four nominations this year. He has nine prior GRAMMY nominations. The late Winehouse is up for one nomination this year. She has seven prior GRAMMY nominations and six prior GRAMMY wins.

Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z, "Talk That Talk"

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Rihanna - Talk That Talk (Audio) ft. JAY Z

Rihanna is up for three nominations this year. She has 18 prior GRAMMY nominations and five prior GRAMMY wins. Jay-Z is up for six nominations this year. He has 46 prior GRAMMY nominations and 14 prior GRAMMY wins.

Best Rap Song

Nas, "Daughters" (Patrick Adams, Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer, Nasir Jones, Paul Leka, & Ernest Wilson, songwriters)

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Nas - Daughters

Nas is up for four nominations this year. He has nine prior GRAMMY nominations. Wilson is up for one nomination this year. He has two prior GRAMMY nominations and one prior GRAMMY win. Adams, DeCarlo, Frashuer, are Leka are up for one nomination each this year, marking the first GRAMMY nomination of their careers.

Wale Featuring Miguel, "Lotus Flower Bomb" (Olubowale Akintimehin, S. Joseph Dew, Jerrin Howard, Walker Johnson & Miguel Jontel Pimentel, songwriters)

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Wale - Lotus Flower Bomb ft. Miguel (Official Video)

Miguel is up for five nominations this year. He has one prior GRAMMY nomination. Wale, Dew, Howard, Johnson are up for one nomination each this year, marking the first GRAMMY nominations of their careers.

Kanye West Featuring Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz, "Mercy" (Sean Anderson, Tauheed Epps, Stephan Taft, James Thomas, Terrence Thornton & Kanye West, songwriters)

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Kanye West - Mercy (Explicit) ft. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz

West is up for six nominations this year. He has 46 prior GRAMMY nominations and 18 prior GRAMMY wins. 2 Chainz is up for three nominations this year, marking the first GRAMMY nominations of his career. Pusha T is up for two nominations this year. He has one prior GRAMMY nomination. Big Sean is up for two nominations this year, marking the first GRAMMY nominations of his career. Taft and Thomas are up for one nomination each this year, marking the first GRAMMY nominations of their careers.

Drake Featuring Lil Wayne, "The Motto" (Dwayne Carter, Aubrey Graham & Tyler Williams)

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Drake - The Motto (Explicit) ft. Lil Wayne, Tyga

Drake is up for three nominations this year. He has 10 prior GRAMMY nominations. Lil Wayne is up for two nominations this year. He has 18 prior GRAMMY nominations and four GRAMMY wins. Tyler Williams is up for one nomination this year, marking the first GRAMMY nomination of his career.

Jay-Z & Kanye West, "N****s In Paris" (Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis & Kanye West)

Dec 2, 2014 – 10:58 pm

Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as In Paris (Explicit)

Jay-Z is up for six nominations this year. He has 46 prior GRAMMY nominations and 14 prior GRAMMY wins. West is up for six nominations this year. He has 46 prior GRAMMY nominations and 18 prior GRAMMY wins. Dean is up for one nomination this year. He has five prior GRAMMY nominations and four prior GRAMMY wins. Hollis is up for one nomination this year, marking the first GRAMMY nomination of his career.

Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa Featuring Bruno Mars, "Young, Wild & Free" (T. Bluechel, M. Borrow, Calvin Broadus, Chris Brody Brown, Peter Hernandez, T. Griffin, K. Jackson, Philip Lawrence, N. Lee, Ari Levine, M. Newman, & Cameron Thomaz, songwriters)

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa - Young, Wild and Free ft. Bruno Mars [Official Video]

Wiz Khalifa is up for two GRAMMY nominations this year. He has two prior GRAMMY nominations. Bluechel is up for one nomination this year. He has six prior GRAMMY nominations. Brown is up for one nomination this year. He has two prior GRAMMY nominations. Snoop Dogg is up for one nomination this year. He has 13 prior GRAMMY nominations. Borrow, Hernandez, Griffin, Jackson, Lee, and Newman, are up for one nomination each this year, marking the first GRAMMY nominations of their careers.

Best Rap Album

Drake, Take Care

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Drake - Headlines (Explicit)

Drake is up for three nominations this year. He has 10 prior GRAMMY nominations.

Lupe Fiasco, Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

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Lupe Fiasco is up for one nomination this year. He has 11 prior GRAMMY nominations and one prior GRAMMY win.

Nas, Life Is Good

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May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Nas - The Don (Explicit)

Nas is up for four nominations this year. He has nine prior GRAMMY nominations.

The Roots, Undun

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

The Roots "Make My" (official video)

The Roots are up for one nomination this year. They have 13 prior GRAMMY nominations and three prior GRAMMY wins.

Rick Ross, God Forgives, I Don't

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

Rick Ross - Ten Jesus Pieces (Explicit) ft. Stalley

Rick Ross is up for one nomination this year. He has one prior GRAMMY nomination.

2 Chainz, Based On A T.R.U. Story

May 15, 2017 – 2:36 am

watch%3Fv%3DuQZMaG1eO74%3Flist%3DUUeTDWSJawSuNbBEURTC6w_A%26amp%3Bhl%3Den_US

2 Chainz is up for three nominations this year, marking the first GRAMMY nominations of his career.

Who will take home the awards in the Rap Field categories? Tune in to the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 10, 2013, taking place at Staples Center in Los Angeles and airing live on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). (Note: The videos embedded reflect official videos available through official artist and record label channels.)