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GRAMMYs

Grandmaster Flash

Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images

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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!!"
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

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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UHHM Names Chuck D Celebrity Chair universal-hip-hop-museum-names-chuck-d-celebrity-board-chair

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.

https://twitter.com/uhhmuseum/status/1075423604559486978

Chuck D to Chair Celebrity Board for Upcoming Universal Hip Hop Museum https://t.co/QE0OvghC7b via @billboard

— Universal Hip Hop Museum (@uhhmuseum) December 19, 2018

"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

GRAMMYs

D.J. Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith

Photo: Jason Squires/WireImage.com

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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

(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.)

GRAMMYs

Kanye West

Photo: Lester Cohen/WireImage.com

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Exploring The Rap Field

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Go inside the nominations in the rap categories for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

While rap typically thrives on the new — new artists, new styles and new crews — the nominees in the Rap Field this year include a bevy of veteran artists being recognized for making some of the best music of their careers. Jay-Z and Kanye West are in the running in several categories, as well as the prolific Lil Wayne, while a troop of new voices also made the cut, including Nicki Minaj, who is also up for Best New Artist, and prolific Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa, who topped the Billboard Hot 100 with his nominated "Black And Yellow."

Best Rap Performance

Rap's diversity is recognized in this all-encompassing category. Multiple GRAMMY winners Jay-Z and Kanye West are nominated for the propulsive "Otis" and the blockbuster rap/R&B trio featuring Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes are up for the sonically adventurous "Look At Me Now." GRAMMY newcomer Wiz Khalifa trumpets his hometown on the anthemic "Black And Yellow"; Nicki Minaj and Drake's "Moment 4 Life" encourages listeners to make the most out of their lives; and the politically minded Lupe Fiasco makes a strong case for perseverance with "The Show Goes On."  

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Nicki Minaj - Moment 4 Life (Clean Version) ft. Drake


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Lupe Fiasco - The Show Goes On


Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Femals make their mark in this category. Sixteen-time GRAMMY winner Beyoncé teams with OutKast's imaginative André 3000 for the celebratory "Party." Beyoncé's former Destiny's Child cohort Kelly Rowland teams with the omnipresent Lil Wayne for the sensual "Motivation," while Rihanna and Fergie help West and Kid Cudi navigate the frustration of a failed relationship in "All Of The Lights." Rihanna makes her second appearance in the category with the suggestive "What's My Name?" with Drake. Changing the focus from male-female relationships to internal struggle, GRAMMY winner Dr. Dre teams with Eminem and Skylar Grey for the reflective "I Need A Doctor." Rounding out the category is the boast-heavy "I'm On One" by DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne.

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Beyoncé - Party ft. J. Cole


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Kelly Rowland - Motivation (Explicit) ft. Lil Wayne


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Rihanna - What's My Name? ft. Drake


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Best Rap Song
Wordplay and sonic excellence are showcased in this category, which celebrates songwriters. There's the joy of flaunting your accomplishments on "Otis," written by rap's power duo Jay-Z and West, and the satisfaction that comes with realizing your own innate power on "Look At Me Now," written by Jean Baptiste, Chris Brown, Ryan Buendia, Lil Wayne, Trevor Smith, Wesley Pentz, and Nick Van De Wall. The mental struggle required to overcome adversity is exhibited on "I Need A Doctor," written by Alex Da Kid, Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Grey, while enjoying your success is the message in "Black And Yellow," written by Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen and Wiz Khalifa. The agony that comes when love is lost is the focus of "All Of The Lights," written by Jeff Bhasker, Fergie, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter, and West. Each of these songs earned a nomination in other rap categories, a testament to each song's power.

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Chris Brown - Look At Me Now ft. Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes


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Dr. Dre - I Need A Doctor (Explicit) ft. Eminem, Skylar Grey


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Wiz Khalifa - Black And Yellow [Official Music Video]


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Kanye West - All Of The Lights ft. Rihanna, Kid Cudi


Best Rap Album
A year after Eminem's win in this category for Recovery, a mix of established artists and newcomers will be vying for the trophy. Titans Jay-Z and West teamed for the landmark collaborative album Watch The Throne, which is competing against West's solo album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Minaj earned her first nomination in this category for her debut album Pink Friday. Repeat nominees Lupe Fiasco and Lil Wayne are in the running again for Lasers and Tha Carter IV, respectively. All of the releases nominated for Best Rap Album this year peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.


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Lupe Fiasco - Words I Never Said ft. Skylar Grey [Music Video]


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Lil Wayne - How To Love (Shazam Version)

Who will take home the awards in the Rap Field? Tune in to the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Feb. 12, taking place at Staples Center in Los Angeles and airing live on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).

Follow GRAMMY.com for our inside look at GRAMMY news, blogs, photos, videos, and of course nominees. Stay up to the minute with GRAMMY Live. Check out the GRAMMY legacy with GRAMMY Rewind. Keep track of this year's GRAMMY Week events, and explore this year's GRAMMY Fields. Or check out the collaborations at Re:Generation, presented by Hyundai Veloster. And join the conversation at Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

GRAMMYs

Halle Berry

Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

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LL Cool J, Britney Spears Join GRAMMY Salute To Whitney Houston

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GRAMMY winners will join actresses Halle Berry and Taraji P. Henson to introduce segments for one-hour TV special airing Nov. 16 on CBS
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

GRAMMYs

Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry, two-time GRAMMY winner and "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!" host LL Cool J, actress Taraji P. Henson, and GRAMMY-winning artist Britney Spears will introduce segments on "We Will Always Love You: A GRAMMY Salute To Whitney Houston." The show will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on Nov. 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

They join previously announced performers, four-time GRAMMY winner Yolanda Adams, five-time GRAMMY winner Celine Dion, GRAMMY and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson, seven-time GRAMMY winner Usher, and 10-time GRAMMY winner CeCe Winans, for the one-hour special that will celebrate Houston's life and artistry through performances and interviews with various artists paying homage to the six-time GRAMMY winner.

"We Will Always Love You" will also include highlights of nearly all of Houston's GRAMMY telecast performances, her classic performance of the national anthem at Super Bowl XXV in 1991, and her first-ever television appearance on "The Merv Griffin Show" in 1983, among other iconic performances and exclusive interviews.

Tickets to the general public for "We Will Always Love You: A GRAMMY Salute To Whitney Houston" are on sale now and available online or via phone at 800.745.3000. For more information on VIP packages and discounted group tickets, call 1.877.234.8425 or visit www.aegtickets.com.

"We Will Always Love You: A GRAMMY Salute To Whitney Houston" is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC. Ken Ehrlich is the executive producer. Louis J. Horvitz is director. Clive Davis, Tom Corson and Kevin Beisler are producers.

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

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.