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        Jay-Z photographed onstage in 2017

        Jay-Z

        Photo: Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images

        Feature
        Billionaire Dreams: Inside Jay-Z's Business Empire life-and-times-jay-z-rapper-music-mogul

        The Life And Times Of Jay-Z: From Rapper To Music Mogul

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        A look at how the GRAMMY-winning rapper has built his brand and parlayed a hard-knock life into industry icon status
        Kathy Iandoli
        GRAMMYs
        Jan 23, 2018 - 10:29 am

        "I'm not a businessman. I'm a business, man." — Jay-Z

        Jay-Z would utter that line on the remix to Kanye West's "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" in 2005.

        That lyric predated Jay-Z's forming his entertainment company, Roc Nation, in 2008 — before buying and selling his stake in the Brooklyn Nets in 2013 (only after bringing them from New Jersey to Brooklyn), prior to acquiring Ace of Spades champagne in 2014, before becoming stakeholder of Tidal in 2015, and before reportedly reflecting a net worth of $810 million in 2017.

        Raised in the gritty Marcy Houses housing project in the backwaters of the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, N.Y., Shawn Corey Carter didn't have the most idyllic upbringing. His early life of drug dealing in the '80s included tinkering with rap before it ultimately became his bread and butter in the mid-'90s. In 1995 Roc-A-Fella Records was born from the hive mind of Jay, Damon Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. 

        In 1996 Jay-Z released his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The project became a pillar of New York City rap, as artists like Jay, Nas, Mobb Deep, the Notorious B.I.G, and Dipset were curating a new, authentic sound for hip-hop.

        "[Jay-Z] was one of us. He was one of the n***as I used to go out and do business with, one of the n***as I used to hang out with," says Jim Jones, a founding member of Dipset (alongside Cam'Ron) and now a Roc Nation artist. "His music reflected the things we all did: throw parties, take a risk and sell drugs, the shootouts, the violence, pull all the pretty ladies."

        By 1998, Jay-Z earned his crowning musical achievement of the '90s with his third studio album, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. The project propelled him to the mainstream, netting him his first GRAMMY for Best Rap Album at the 41st GRAMMY Awards and selling more than 5 million copies. The following year he launched Rocawear, his first lucrative pivot from music, capitalizing on the gems of business tutelage he received early on in his dealings on the streets and behind closed doors.

        "I think there are a couple of guiding philosophies [for Jay-Z] and one of them is 'Don’t give away your advertising,'" says Forbes editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg, who is also the author of the upcoming book 3 Kings: Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z and Hip-Hop's Multibillion-Dollar Rise. "If you're gonna rap about a clothing line or liquor, either start your own or pay somebody to do it because he learned early in his career he was building up all these companies like [fashion line] Iceberg and a couple of others — boosting their sales — but when he tried to get endorsement deals they laughed him out of the room. That's why he started Rocawear."

        As he entered into the early aughts, Jay-Z's music flipped from guarded mystique to more overt and direct, especially on the Nas diss track "Takeover" in 2001. His music was evolutionary, as each project introduced a new iteration of Jay-Z, yet remained consistent to his credo of authenticity.

        "We adopted this mantra with him: 'If somebody else did it, we're not doing the same thing somebody else did,'" says Kevin Liles, former Def Jam President and co-founder of 300 Entertainment. "We're gonna do it the Jay-Z way."

        Jay-Z purchased his first 40/40 Club in 2003, but would seriously change the face of hip-hop the following year by becoming the first rap artist to turn executive as president of Def Jam.

        "A lot of people have to realize that Jay has always been a businessman and because I left [Def Jam] in 2004, they consulted me on decisions of who should run," Liles explains. "At the end of the day you're talking about an iconic figure, a guy who never wanted to sign to a label — who wanted to be his own label — and now has an opportunity to be the fifth president of the most iconic label in hip-hop. The stars were aligned.”

        After releasing The Black Album in 2003 — and announcing a retirement that would last only three years — Jay-Z spent the next decade and a half focusing on building his brand. The music would be an accompaniment, though as he evolved into a leader, his life traveled further and further from transparency. After marrying Beyoncé in 2008, his private life became even more distant from the public eye, only enhancing his "larger than life" status. That same year, he formed Roc Nation, a boulder that was derived from Roc-A-Fella Records pebble. Roc Nation Sports soon followed, and it wasn't long before he was dictating moves beyond hip-hop and in the mainstream sphere.

        Jay-Z and Kevin Durant in 2013

        Jay-Z with Roc Nation Sports client Kevin Durant
        Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic/Getty Images

        "It was not saying 'yes' to everything that came across the table," says Lenny Santiago, senior vice president, A&R, artist management for Roc Nation. "It was more so thinking of what exactly he wanted, and how he wanted to revolutionize this industry and change the game, and make music to last forever, and business deals that would change the culture."

        Jay-Z was now a minted mogul, known for only solid wins and shielded losses.

        "I think Jay-Z is someone who really takes inventory of his wins and losses, because very rarely do I see him, at least publicly, lose in the same manner twice," says Tracy G, on-air personality on "Sway In The Morning" and host of "She’s Beauty And The Beast" podcast. "It just doesn’t seem to happen."

        O’Malley Greenburg footnotes that sentiment with an anecdote from his first book, Empire State Of Mind: How Jay Z Went From Street Corner To Corner Office — where he details Jay-Z arranging a Rucker Park Tournament with the likes of basketball players LeBron James and Lamar Odom — but canceling the documentation of the event when his team forfeited.

        "In the beginning, there was this sort of 'I will not lose ever' mentality as indicated in his lyrics," O’Malley Greenburg explains. "And you can see by some of his ventures and what he chooses to publicize and not publicize that if the result of whatever it was didn't end up as a complete victory, he didn't want anybody to hear about it. The new JAY-Z of 4:44 is different. He says, 'A loss ain't a loss, it's a lesson’ [on 'Smile']."

        Released in 2017, the Album Of The Year-nominated 4:44 arguably serves as the culmination of everything Jay-Z has come to be. As rumors of a stormy marriage and shaky investment in Tidal loomed overhead, he chose to be his most maturely intimate on his latest LP, even admitting to missteps in both his personal and professional life.

        "He's now reached this status where he's comfortable revealing some of his failures in addition to his many successes," O’Malley Greenburg notes. "I think this was his way of making 'lemonade,' if you will."

        Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake Win Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

        At the heart of his remarkable history and his growth, Jay-Z has scaled the heights by keeping one notion in mind: to keep his circle small.

        "He's true to himself, true to his friends. He's a good dude,” says former Roc-A-Fella and current Roc Nation artist Freeway. "Being around him, you wouldn't know he accomplished all of the things he accomplished. He's just … cool."  

        Some might say Jay-Z used The Secret and manifested his wins into existence; others would credit his work ethic and faith in his abilities and that of his winning team. The reality is that Jay-Z — like he claimed 13 years ago — in and of himself is the business. His music has withstood the test of time — as the 48-year-old reigning champ of rap has proven false the tagline that hip-hop is a "young man's game." His business acumen has been benchmarked by peers, where even predecessors like Diddy learned from Jay's business model. Jay-Z doesn't win for winning's sake. He wins to change the industry he entered and leave it better than he received it.

        "The best piece of advice Jay-Z ever gave me was, 'Let's bet on ourselves,'" Liles reflects. "It's why he started Roc-A-Fella, it's why he took on the position as president at Def Jam, it's why he was one of the first artists to do a Live Nation deal, and one of the first artists to perform a concert in front of a Mike Tyson fight. He constantly bets on himself."

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        (Kathy Iandoli has penned pieces for Pitchfork, VICE, Maxim, O, Cosmopolitan, The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and more. She co-authored the book Commissary Kitchen with Mobb Deep's late Albert "Prodigy" Johnson, and is a professor of music business at select universities throughout New York and New Jersey.)

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        Jay-Z AOTY Oral History
        News
        The Oral History Of Jay-Z's '4:44' jay-z-no-id-more-making-444-album-year

        Jay-Z, No I.D. & More On Making '4:44' | Album Of The Year

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        Take a look back at the making of Jay' GRAMMY-nominated magnum opus album with key collaborators
        Kathy Iandoli
        GRAMMYs
        Jan 25, 2018 - 2:04 pm

        The legend of Jay-Z's 13th solo studio album preceded the actual work.

        Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake Win Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

        Following 2014's "Elevator Gate" and Beyoncé's candid GRAMMY-winning project Lemonade, rumors swirled that Hova would release his own album in response.

        Once the New York City buses with 4:44 emblazoned on the sides started rolling around in late spring 2017, speculation ran rampant about the title being informed by the incident —  a hotel elevator camera capturing Solange attacking him as Beyoncé looked on. (The address of Le Bain, the hotel's rooftop bar, is 444 West 13th Street. Meanwhile, Jay-Z's favorite number is 4.)

        Just how intimate was Jay-Z planning to be?

        On June 30, 2017, we found out.

        4:44 is much more than the sum of its parts. On one hand, it's the quintessential one artist/one producer masterpiece, as Jay and super producer No I.D. pieced the LP together (with famed engineer Young Guru) until perfection was achieved. On another hand, it's a coming of age project for not just Jay-Z, but hip-hop in general. 4:44 travels beyond the ageism crossroads rappers have often reached and lost their way. Jay-Z proved that grown rap music can exist and punctuated it by being an open book and stripping away his mystique. He admitted past sins, acknowledged failures (for perhaps the first time in two decades) and the result was his most personal project to date — yielding eight 60th GRAMMY nominations, including Album Of The Year.

        No I.D., Jimmy Douglass, Chaka Pilgrim and other key participants revisit the making of the album and how the magnum opus came together.

        *Jay-Z (artist/co-producer): Before I started this album I studied — not just hip-hop — any genre. I studied Prince, I studied Mike [Jackson], Bono had "Beautiful Day" [when] he was like 40, I think. Just like from the beginning of someone's career, and that sort of album that really means something that touches the culture. The touchpoint that moves, that starts a conversation, and be really f***ing good. It's a hard thing to do because you're so removed from where you were at the beginning.

        No I.D. (producer): We had discussed this type of project for a couple years. When he first came to me — two, two and a half years ago — he told me he wanted to do something that was a little more revealing. I think at the time I didn't have a sonic direction; he didn't have a sonic direction. It kind of led to us running back and forth into each other. I really was just trying find something sonically to do that would be different, but familiar.

        *Jay-Z: No I.D. came to me with a technique. He said, "I got this thing. … I got your next Blueprint. … I know that's a lot to say."

        No I.D.: I told him, "I got something," and played him tons of beats that kind of had the technique, and some of the stuff we ended up using was in that batch.

        *Jay-Z: We were at the Roc Nation offices here in L.A., and he played me what he was working on, and I was like, "That's amazing."

        "4:44 was putting all of the marbles on the table on every front — between the home front, the fan front, all of it. It's like, 'Here it is: all or nothing.'"

        No I.D.: As we began to actually hone in and work and [Jay-Z] knowing I had the specific technique, I was like, "What direction do you want to go in?" He had a playlist, and he was saying, "This is what inspires me at this moment." I was like, "Give it to me and let me work off this template, so to speak."

        Ron Gilmore Jr. (keys/bass/vocoder): When I came in, a lot of the samples were already done — a lot of the drums were already done, and what I was doing was embellishing, maybe adding a bassline here or there.

        No I.D.: For the majority of the time it was me, [Jay-Z], and [Young] Guru, and it would either be at my studio or his house, which automatically made it super intimate. No one knew that we were even doing it. So once he made an announcement — if we really got going in January, then he kind of walked in by April and told everybody "Hey, I've got an album." And it was out by June.

        Dave Kutch (mastering engineer): It was pretty close to the release date that we did everything. It all happened very, very fast.

        Jay-Z: We kind of moved on the fly because in the beginning, I wanted to drop the title — which we did, we put the 4:44 all around on buses and on billboards.

        Will Perron (creative director): We went back to the old way of doing things — billboards and posters and subways.

        Jay-Z's 4:44 album title on a bus

        *Jay-Z: By the night it was like on the Channel 11 News everywhere. CNN was like, "I think Jay-Z is dropping an album." I dropped the billboard and it got figured out in 24 hours, and I was like OK we've got three more weeks.

        Jimmy Douglass (engineer): The nature of it was quite simple: There's only one surprise element, one time.

        Chaka Pilgrim (video producer): Jay came up with the deeper meaning of the songs on the project overall, and we kind of figured what was the visual accompaniment to it. We wanted to do something that was non-traditional, not music videos but a little more esoteric that allowed you to put yourself in the place of [Jay-Z] in being honest and open on where that can lead.

        Kutch: The first song I worked on was "Kill Jay-Z," and I was like "Oh my god." It was similar to the first time I got to listen to Lemonade entirely when I mastered that. When you heard the full lyric, and you heard the full storyline. It hits you like a ton of bricks. This much honesty. This much difficult honesty coming through in a project. It shows you why Jay-Z is Jay-Z.

        Douglass: At first I was like, "This is an amazing piece of work. It's amazing that he can actually be able to bare his soul and be able to apologize to his wife for his ill behavior. This was a really unique way of doing that, and it's amazing that he's in a position to have a platform like this to do that instead of bringing roses and chocolate home." That was my first impression. As I listened more, I was like, "He's saying some real s***." I was blown away.

        Jay-Z: I've never been so open for so long; usually it's been one song, two songs, three songs on an album — then it's sprinkled in other songs. But for an entire album, to make 10 "You Must Love Mes" is new and kinda makes people uncomfortable.

        Pilgrim: It's like the song ["Kill Jay-Z"] says, "You can't heal what you never reveal."

        4:44. WOW. MASTER TEACHER.

        — Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar) June 30, 2017

        Perron: Originally, we'd thrown some ideas around about what the album was going to be called. It was meant to be this really stripped away record, very didactic and super honest. We threw around ideas of doing like these grotesquely honest photos, and throughout the exploration of this — and the record was getting closer and closer to being done — it seemed obvious that "4:44 was the lead song on the record and what the record was anchored on. We landed on that being the title."

        Douglass: I was awestruck by what he was doing and the courage that he had. It was putting all of the marbles on the table on every front — between the home front, the fan front, all of it. It's like, "Here it is: all or nothing."

        *As told to Rap Radar podcast

        (Kathy Iandoli has penned pieces for Pitchfork, VICE, Maxim, O, Cosmopolitan, The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and more. She co-authored the book Commissary Kitchen with Mobb Deep's late Albert "Prodigy" Johnson, and is a professor of music business at select universities throughout New York and New Jersey.)

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        Host James Corden at the 60th GRAMMY Awards

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        Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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        James Corden: Top 7 Moments At The 60th GRAMMYs jay-z-subway-karaoke-kesha-james-cordens-top-7-highlights-2018-grammys

        Jay-Z, "Subway Karaoke," Kesha: James Corden's Top 7 Highlights | 2018 GRAMMYs

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        From the hilarious to the poignant and in between, revisit these seven unforgettable highlights from James Corden's second turn as GRAMMY host
        Chuck Crisafulli
        GRAMMYs
        Jan 29, 2018 - 11:18 am

        Last year, James Corden began his debut as GRAMMY host with what looked like the most epic of fails: a shocking tumble down the grand, center-stage staircase that left him awkwardly sprawled among some oblivious backup dancers. The seemingly distraught host rose to his feet (one of which had lost a shoe), dismissed the dancers and proclaimed, "This is a disaster."

        James Corden Subway Carpool Karaoke | 2018 GRAMMYs

        Of course, the 59th GRAMMY Awards telecast turned out to be anything but disastrous, and Corden's introduction was just the first of many moments in which the "Late Late Show" host made his freewheeling, comedic spirit an unforgettable part of Music's Biggest Night. The Emmy winner appeared pantless after Twenty One Pilots' notably pantless acceptance for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and showed up in spectacular, concert-ready costume as a "member" of DNCE, among other highlights.

        At the milestone 60th GRAMMY Awards show, Corden kept his tux on, but the laughter and energy that he brought to his first turn as host was in great supply, and he again helped turn Music's Biggest Night into an incredible, fun-filled, one-of-a-kind celebration.

        Here are seven highlights from Corden's GRAMMY encore:

        1. "Carpool Karaoke" With A NYC Spin

        This year, Corden added a Big Apple twist by introducing a remote "Subway Carpool Karaoke" sketch. He, Sting and Shaggy boarded a New York City D train and attempted to entertain passengers with renditions of the Police's "Every Breath You Take," Shaggy's "It Wasn't Me," and the duo's new collaboration, "Don't Make Me Wait." The tough crowd did not appreciate the musical interruption, and Corden ended up getting belted in the nose by an angry construction worker.

        2. The Host's Parents Arrive Late

        Last year, Corden's parents were in the crowd and as he introduced them he noted that their 45th wedding anniversary actually fell on GRAMMY Sunday — only to discover that his father had Heidi Klum sitting on his lap and that his mother was snuggling with Nick Jonas. This year, his parents were again in attendance and their moment of introduction seemed to be going more smoothly until Corden spotted a telltale theater program. His parents admitted that they'd snuck out to see "Hamilton" rather than watch their son’s entire hosting performance. "Thanks for your support," said an exasperated Corden. "We'll talk about this later."

        3. Puppy Love For The Best Comedy Nominees

        After Dave Chappelle won for Best Comedy Album, Corden told the audience, "I don't want anyone to be upset tonight, so the good news is nobody goes home empty-handed." He then announced that the nominees who did not win in their category would receive "consolation puppies." The camera cut to baby pugs being handed to Chappelle's fellow nominees — Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, and Jim Gaffigan. Corden warned Seinfeld, "Be careful — that's Roxy. She's a biter."

        James Corden Presents Comedy Nominees With Puppies

        4. Corden Goes Toe To Toe With Hova

        Early in the show, Corden attempted to bond with Jay-Z, the recipient of this year's Salute To Industry Icon honors at the Pre-GRAMMY Gala, offering to show him around the streets of New York if Jay-Z needed a guide. "Guys like me and you, we're hood forever," said Corden, who swaggered a bit as he tossed off lines from Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' "Empire State Of Mind." "I got my stash spot on 560 State Street. Gypsy cab. Holla back." As Jay-Z cracked up, Corden added, "You call it the Big Apple. I call it the concrete jungle where dreams are made of. It’s just something that I made up"

        5. A "Despacito" Funny

        After Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee performed "Despacito" — arguably 2017's most ubiquitous song with nearly 5 billion YouTube views to its credit, Corden said, "That is a catchy song. I have not heard that song before. I'm telling you if they can just get that song on the radio they've got a hit on their hands."

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        6. Creating A Concert Feeling

        Corden spoke of the excitement of being in Madison Square Garden and told TV viewers that he'd come up with a unique way for them to "really experience that live concert feeling." As he spoke, eight hands holding cellphones trained on Corden suddenly lurched in front of the camera, completely blocking Corden from view.

        7. Kesha's Performance Resonates

        Janelle Monáe spoke pointedly on the issues of equality and harassment, encouraging the music industry to become a pivotal part of the Time's Up initiative. She was followed by perhaps the most emotional performance of the evening, as Kesha delivered a searing version of "Praying." Afterward, a visibly moved Corden had to take a deep breath and gather himself before speaking. "Music often resonates more than spoken word ever could," he said. "That was an incredibly powerful and relevant performance that comes in the midst of a movement that commands our attention and support. Thank you, Kesha."

        Janelle Monaé's "Time's Up" Speech

        (Chuck Crisafulli is an L.A.-based journalist and author whose most recent works include Go To Hell: A Heated History Of The Underworld, Me And A Guy Named Elvis, Elvis: My Best Man, and Running With The Champ: My Forty-Year Friendship With Muhammad Ali.)

        60th GRAMMY Awards Performances
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        Kesha "Praying": 2018 GRAMMYs Performance

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        Pink's "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" On GRAMMYs

        Embedded video media on Ooyala

        DJ Khaled "Wild Thoughts": GRAMMYs Performance

        Logic "1-800-273-8255": GRAMMY Performance

        Logic "1-800-273-8255": GRAMMY Performance

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        Kendrick Lamar: 2018 GRAMMYs Performance

        Embedded video media on Ooyala

        "Tears In Heaven" Las Vegas Tribute On GRAMMYs

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        Ben Platt, Patti LuPone: 2018 GRAMMYs Performance

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        Ben Platt "Somewhere": GRAMMY Performance

        Sting "Englishman In New York": GRAMMY Performance

        Sting "Englishman In New York": GRAMMY Performance

        Elton John, Miley Cyrus: "Tiny Dancer" | 2018 GRAMMYs Performance

        Elton John, Miley Cyrus "Tiny Dancer": GRAMMYs

        Embedded video media on Ooyala

        Childish Gambino Performs "Terrified" | GRAMMYs

        "Wildflowers": GRAMMY Performance

        "Wildflowers": GRAMMY Performance

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        Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Perform "Despacito"

        Embedded video media on Ooyala

        U2 "Get Out Of Your Own Way" | GRAMMY Performance

        Embedded video media on Ooyala

        Bruno Mars & Cardi "Finesse": GRAMMY Performance

        Embedded video media on Ooyala

        Little Big Town Perform "Better Man" 2018 GRAMMYs

        Sam Smith: "Pray" | 2018 GRAMMY Awards Performance

        Sam Smith "Pray": GRAMMY Performance

        Catching Up On The GRAMMY Awards Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? Just Say "Talk To GRAMMYs"

        ​

        Luis Fonsi

        Luis Fonsi

        Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

        News
        Inside The 2018 Pre-GRAMMY Gala cardi-b-jay-z-inside-2018-pre-grammy-gala

        Cardi B To Jay-Z: Inside The 2018 Pre-GRAMMY Gala

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        Check out the stars on the red carpet, inside the exclusive GRAMMY party and the performers who made the evening come to life
        Renée Fabian
        GRAMMYs
        Jan 27, 2018 - 9:10 pm

        Clive Davis' and the Recording Academy's annual Pre-GRAMMY Gala is one of the hottest tickets of not only GRAMMY Week, but the whole year. This year's edition on Jan. 27 at Sheraton New York Times Square in New York City did not disappoint.

        Watch Spike Lee's Star-Studded 'NY Stories' Film

        The preliminary festivities boasted a who's who of musical royalty on the red carpet, with the likes of Cardi B, Pink, Julia Michaels, Zayn Malik, the Chainsmokers, Logic, Camila Cabello, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Rita Ora, and Bebe Rexha, among others.

        It wasn't all just brushing elbows at a swanky hotel — don't forget the performances. Luis Fonsi gave it his all on a rendition of "Despacito" while Alicia Keys sang her heart out on a Jay-Z medley. Vocal powerhouse Gladys Knight showed the crowd how it's done with "Stand By Me" and "Midnight Train To Georgia." Khalid took the audience through his "Young, Dumb & Broke." And that's just a taste.

        Jay-Z And Alicia Keys
        2018 Pre-GRAMMY Gala

        The evening also paid special tribute to 21-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Jay Z, who received the annual 2018 Salute To Industry Icons Award for his significant contributions to the music industry and philanthropic endeavors. He joins past honors such as Herb Alpert, Irving Azoff, Lucian Grainge, Debra L. Lee, and Berry Gordy, among others.

        The Life And Times Of Jay-Z: From Rapper To Music Mogul

        So shimmy on over here and see for yourself what went on at the best party in town, and don't forget to tune into the 60th GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 28 on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.

        More 2018 GRAMMY Week Events
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        Stars Honor Jay-Z, Clive Davis at Pre-GRAMMY Gala

        Stars Honor Jay-Z, Clive Davis At Pre-GRAMMY Gala

        Jay-Z at the 2018 Pre-GRAMMY Gala
        Jay-Z
        Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

        Pre-GRAMMY Gala: 12 Things That Happened

        Luis Fonsi
        Luis Fonsi
        Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

        Inside The 2018 Pre-GRAMMY Gala

        Embedded video media on Ooyala
        MusiCares

        Fleetwood Mac's Person Of The Year Acceptance

        Embedded video media on Ooyala
        MusiCares

        Go Inside The 2018 Person Of The Year Gala

        Mastodon's Brann Dailor
        Mastodon's Brann Dailor
         Photo: Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

        How 11 GRAMMY Nominees Are Feeling Right About Now

        Lorde, 2018
        Lorde
        Photo: Jeff Kravitz
        MusiCares

        MusiCares Gala: Who Performed For Fleetwood Mac?

        On The Red Carpet At Fleetwood Mac MusiCares Gala
        MusiCares

        Keith Urban, Imagine Dragons, Haim Support Fleetwood Mac & MusiCares

        Fleetwood Mac
        Fleetwood Mac
        Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images
        MusiCares

        See Inside The MusiCares Person Of The Year Gala

        Essence Entertainment Director Cori Murray, Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson, and producer Mona Scott-Young
        Essence Entertainment Director Cori Murray, Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson, and producer Mona Scott-Young; Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images

        Janet Jackson Honors Missy Elliott At Essence

        Embedded video media on Ooyala

        Janet Jackson Honors Missy Elliott At Essence

        Allen Grubman, Neil Portnow, Michael Reinhart, 2018
        (L-R) President's Merit Award winner Allen Grubman, Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow, 2018 Entertainment Law Initiative Service Award recipient Michael Reinert
        Photo: Michael Kovac/WireImage.com

        ELI Program Takes A Stand In New York

        Isabel Leonard
        Isabel Leonard
        Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

        GRAMMY Week Salutes Music Of Leonard Bernstein

        Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys at the 2018 P&E Wing GRAMMY Week Celebration
        Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys
        Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

        Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz Feted During GRAMMY Week

        Inside The 2018 P&E Wing Celebration

        Inside The 2018 P&E Wing Celebration

        Alicia Keys & Swizz Beats Accept 2018 P&E Honors

        Alicia Keys & Swizz Beatz Accept 2018 P&E Honors

        Veronica Leahy performs at GRAMMY In The Schools Live! in New York
        Baritone saxophonist Veronica Leahy
        Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

        GRAMMY Week Celebrates Music Education

        Embedded video media on Ooyala

        What Happened At 2018 GRAMMY In The Schools Live!

        Odesza
        Odesza
        Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images

        Go Inside The 2018 Billboard Power 100 Event

        Jon Batiste speaks to GRAMMY Camp jazz students during 2018 GRAMMY Week
        Jon Batiste
        Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

        7 Tips GRAMMY Campers Learned During GRAMMY Week

        Neil Portnow, Mayor Bill de Blasio and John Poppo in New York
        Neil Portnow, Mayor Bill de Blasio and John Poppo cut the ribbon on the Recording Academy's new headquarters in New York Photo Cindy Ord/Getty Images

        New York City Is Ready For GRAMMY Week

        Poll
        Poll: Who Will Win Record Of The Year? poll-who-will-win-record-year-2018-grammys

        Poll: Who Will Win Record Of The Year? | 2018 GRAMMYs

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        It's the first category on the nominations list and one of the "Big Four" General Field categories — who will GRAMMY voters choose as the winner?
        Renée Fabian
        GRAMMYs
        Jan 27, 2018 - 3:52 pm

        With 84 categories, the 60th GRAMMY Awards will recognize the year in music across all genres, craft categories and even visual mediums. But do you know what the first category listed on the nominations list is each year? Record Of The Year.

        Rewind The Record Of The Year GRAMMY Winners

        Not only is the category one of the "Big Four" General Field categories, the GRAMMY win goes to the artist, producers, recording engineers, and mixer and mastering engineers. Also, it's not to be confused with the songwriter category, Song Of The Year.

        What's The Difference? GRAMMY Record Of The Year Vs. Song Of The Year

        This year's esteemed nominees for Record Of The Year include Childish Gambino's "Redbone," Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee's "Despacito," featuring Justin Bieber, Jay-Z's "The Story Of O.J.," Kendrick Lamar's "HUMBLE.," and Bruno Mars' "24K Magic."

        Now it's your turn to weigh in. Who do you think GRAMMY voters will choose as the winner for Record Of The Year? Cast your vote now!

        Polls

        Who will GRAMMY voters choose for Record Of The Year for the 60th GRAMMYs?

        The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28, airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.

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        60th GRAMMYs Best Country Solo Performance Nominees

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        Best Rap Album nominees, 60th GRAMMY Awards Photos: Wireimage.com

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        Best Metal Performance nominees, 60th GRAMMY Awards Photos: WireImage.com

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        Nominees For Best Dance Recording, 60th GRAMMY Awards
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        Best R&B Performance nominees
        (L-R) Kehlani, Bruno Mars, Ledisi, Kali Uchis, SZA, Daniel Caesar

        Who Will Win Best R&B Performance?

        60th GRAMMY Awards: Best Alternative Music Album Nominees
        60th GRAMMYs: Best Alternative Music Album Nominees
        Photos: Getty Images/WireImage.com

        Who Will Win Best Alternative Music Album?

        Who Will Win Best Pop Vocal Album?

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