Godsmack (file)
Photo: Greg Delman

Their new album may be unplugged, but Godsmack rock hard enough to break on through to The Other Side. Sully Erna and the boys go acoustic for the first time this week on a seven-song EP that features new tracks such as "Running Blind" and "Voices," as well as "Touche," which gets a little help from Sully's friends and new protégés Dropbox.

Big Tymers' Big Money Heavyweight: The Screwed and Chopped Album features guest appearances by Ludacris and Petey Pablo, while newcomer Cassidy is joined by Jadakiss on his album Split Personality.

The "Mayor of the Sunset Strip" soundtrack features contributions from some of the movie's stars, including David Bowie, Courtney Love, the Ramones, Alice Cooper, Chris Martin and even the subject of the film himself: Rodney Bingenheimer. And in other movie news, the soundtrack to Jim Carrey's new flick, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," features tracks by Beck, the Polyphonic Spree and the Willows.

David Byrne's quirky Grown Backwards ranges from opera — a duet with Rufus Wainwright — to a cover of Lambchop's "The Man Who Loved Beer." Meanwhile, Joe Jackson's Live: Afterlife cozies up next to Jackson Browne's The Very Best Of and Finley Quaye's Much More Than Love, with songs written by William Orbit and featuring Beth Orton.

And Jimmy Eat World frontman Jim Adkins represents for the Grand Canyon State, releasing fellow Arizona emo rockers Rubens Accomplice's latest, The Bull, the Balloon, and the Family, on his Western Tread label.

Out Tuesday, March 16:

• 36 Crazyfists - A Snow-Capped Romance (Roadrunner)
• Claudia Acuna - Luna (Max Jazz)
• Jason Anderson - New England (K)
• Ativin - Night Mute (Secretly Canadian)
• Beauty Pill - The Unsustainable Lifestyle (Dischord)
• Before the Dawn - My Darkness (Locomotive Music)
• Big Tymers - Big Money Heavyweight: The Screwed and Chopped Album (Universal)
  Buy Now: Big Money Heavyweight: The Screwed and Chopped Album (Universal)
• Blithe Sons - Arm of the Starfish (Family Vineyard)
• Jackson Browne - The Very Best Of (Elektra)
• Burd Early - Mind and Mother (Western Vinyl)
• David Byrne - Grown Backwards (Nonesuch)
• Calliope - Sounds Like Circles Feel (Thick)
• Cassidy - Split Personality (Full Surface/J)
• Coffin Lids - Rock 'n' Roll (Bomp!)
• Coma Star - Headroom of Conscience (Locomotive Music)
• Cropknox - Rock and Rot (Punkcore)
• Catie Curtis - Dreaming in Romance Languages (Vanguard)
• Grey DeLisle - The Graceful Ghost (Sugar Hill)
• Denial tha Danksta - Six Figure Dropout (Elephant Size)
• Gibson Brothers - Long Way Back Home (Sugar Hill)
• Gipsy Kings - Roots (Nonesuch)
• Godsmack - The Other Side (Republic)
  Read: "Godsmack Travel To The Other Side For New EP"
  Buy Now: The Other Side (Republic)
• Fred Hersch Trio - Fred Hersch Trio + 2 (Palmetto)
• Hunns - Long Legs Die Hunns (Disaster)
• Irish Tenors - Heritage (Razor & Tie)
• Joe Jackson - Live: Afterlife (Rykodisc)
• Simon Joyner - Lost With the Lights on (Jagjaguwar)
• Rebecca Luker - Leaving Home (PS Classics)
• New Black - New Black (Thick)
• Ozric Tentacles - Spirals in Hyperspace (Magna Carta)
• Finley Quaye - Much More Than Much Love (Sony)
• Rasputina - Frustration Plantation (Instinct)
• Enrico Rava - Easy Living (ECM)
• Dan Reeder - Dan Reeder (Oh Boy)
• Reubens Accomplice - The Bull, the Balloon, and the Family (Western Tread)
• Tad Robinson - Did You Ever Wonder? (Severn)
• Seventh Key - The Raging Fire (Inside Out)
• Shearwater - Winged Life (Misra)
• Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans (Sounds Familyre)
• The String Cheese Incident - On the Road: September 5, 2003 Morrison, CO (SCI Fidelity)
• The String Cheese Incident - On the Road: September 6, 2003 Morrison, CO (SCI Fidelity)
• The String Cheese Incident - On the Road: October 4, 2003 Philadelphia, PA (SCI Fidelity)
• The String Cheese Incident - On the Road: December 8, 2003 Redwood City, CA (SCI Fidelity)
• The String Cheese Incident - On the Road: December 14, 2003 Vancouver, BC (SCI Fidelity)
• Threshold - Extinct Instinct (Inside Out)
• Gibb Todd - Goin' Home (Compass)
• Ute - Ute (Ark 21)
• Vivisick/Mukeka Di Rato - Vivisick/Mukeka Di Rato (split LP, Sound Pollution)
• Richard Youngs - River Through Howling Sky (Jagjaguwar)
• Various artists - Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics (Walt Disney)
• Various artists - Beethoven's Wig 2: More Sing Along Symphonies (Rounder)
• Various artists - "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" soundtrack (Hollywood)
• Various artists - "Mayor of the Sunset Strip" soundtrack (Shout! Factory)
• Various artists - Six Degrees 100 (Six Degrees)
• DVD: Marc Anthony - The Concert From Madison Square Garden (Columbia)
• DVD: R.E.M. - Perfect Square (Warner Bros.)

March 23:

• N.E.R.D. - Fly or Die (Virgin)
  Read: "N.E.R.D. Step Up Their Game On Fly Or Die, Reminisce About Teen Years"
  Buy Now: Fly or Die (Virgin)
• Usher - Confessions (LaFace)
  Read: "Usher Lets Skeletons Out Of The Closet On Confessions"
  Buy Now: Confessions (LaFace)
• Vines - Winning Days (Capitol)
  Read: "Vines Saddle Up And 'Ride' To End Of The World"
• Various artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 15 (Capitol)

March 30:

• Aerosmith - Honkin' on Bobo (Sony)
  Read: "Aerosmith Blues Album Inspired By Bike Crashes And Funny Phrases"
• Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series 6: Concert at Philharmonic Hall (Sony)
• Janet Jackson - Damita Jo (Virgin)
  Read: "Janet Jackson Making Sexiest Album Yet, Producer Says"
  Buy Now: Damita Jo (Virgin)
• Various artists - Music From "The O.C." Mix 1 (Warner Bros.)

April 6:

• Barry Manilow - 2 Nights Live (BMG)
• Paul Oakenfold - Greatest Remixes (Topaz)
• Tamia - Still (Elektra)

April 13:

• Various artists - "Kill Bill 2" soundtrack (Maverick)

April 20:

• Hanson - Underneath (3CG)

May 4:

• Kimberley Locke - One Love (Curb)
  Read: " 'American Idol' Finalist Kimberley Locke Is Radio's '8th Wonder'"

• The Big Tymers
• Godsmack
• Cassidy
• David Byrne
• Jackson Browne

Baby and R. Kelly on the set of "Gangsta Girl"
Photo: Cash Money

MIAMI — The Birdman may get fly in any weather, but last week there was no need to worry about the weather or even taking flight for that matter. The temperature was borderline perfect, and Cash Money CEO and Big Tymers member Baby was busy getting his roll on.

He's nowhere as nice with the stuntwork as Lee Majors' bounty-hunting "Fall Guy" character, Colt Seavers, but Baby seemed oblivious to that when he was riding in South Beach on the outside of his crimson Cadillac Escalade while the cameras filmed his new Bille Woodruff-directed video, "Gangsta Girl." He had his butt on the roof, one leg draped over part of the windshield and his other foot on the passenger side of the window, rhyming to the record.

Meanwhile, the song's guest star, R. Kelly, draped in a Joe Montana, Kansas City Chiefs throwback, opted to stand, riding on the door of a red drop-top Benz and flanking Baby's ride on the left.

"You can catch me in the club with a gang-sta giiirrl," the R&B legend boasted, singing along with vocals he'd recorded earlier in the day.

During the scene, there were plenty of vehicles and sexy women in the background.

"When I ride I'm gonna ride with a gang-sta giiirrl," he continued with Baby and Fresh dancing beside him. "When I smoke I'm gonna smoke with a gang-sta giiirrl/ When I freak, I'm gonna freak me a gangsta."

Later on that night, with Woodruff still coaching from the set's sideline, the gangsta party continued on the beach, getting rowdy at times.

"At a gang-sta par-dee, she'll be drinking Bacardi," rapped Baby, bouncing to the guitars, chimes and flutes that the song's producer, Kelly, used to invoke a Middle Eastern feel. "And she pops her body/ Don't you hurt nobody.'

Fresh later jumped in with his humorous rap tale. "Once upon a time in this place called 'hood/ Where the beautiful girls shake it and they all smell good/ Lived this legendary pimp by the name of Fresh/ Fixed hair, fixed nails, fixed toes, fixed breast."

"Gangsta Girl" is the first single off the Big Tymers' next LP, Big Money Heavyweights, due July 29. Besides Kelly, the group also hosts appearances by most of the acts on Cash Money. As always, Mannie Fresh handled many of the tracks and Kelly and Jazze Pha also contributed beats.

The song and video are just a sample of what's to come from Kelly and Cash Money. No details are available yet, but according to the #1 Stunna, the two sides will also be teaming up to star in a movie.

• The Big Tymers
• Birdman
• R. Kelly

According to a source within the Cash Money camp, the Big Tymers have linked up with R. Kelly for a possible first single for their upcoming album, due later this year. Kelly's handiwork definitely will appear on the first single from the label's only singer, TQ: Kelly produced and wrote "Keep It on the Low," which features Baby, for TQ's next LP, Gemini. ...

Exceeding internal expectations, Apple Computer's online music store, iTunes, has sold more than 1 million tracks in the first week since its launch. The store currently has over 200,000 songs for sale at 99 cents a pop, which is part of its appeal over legit services like MusicNet and Pressplay that charge a monthly fee. It's also super compatible with the iPod. iTunes is only available for Mac users now, though a Windows version is due by the end of the year. ...

New Orleans rapper Juvenile won a federal copyright lawsuit Tuesday (May 6) for his 1998 hit "Back That Azz Up." He had been sued by a local DJ working with Take Fo' Records, who claimed that Juvenile used his song without permission. Both men testified in a five-day trial and Juvenile was declared the victor. As a result, Take Fo' was ordered to return royalties from BMI. ... Nothing says Happy Mother's Day like a free performance from Kurupt and the (recently re-renamed) Death Row's Back roster. Suge Knight will host his annual Single Mother's Day Brunch at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, Sunday with Crooked I, Danny Boy and jazz star George Duke performing. ...

In the upcoming video for "Perfect," Simple Plan perform in a nighttime rain storm on the roof of a house where a variety of stories are unfolding inside. "It's a very serious song, so it's going to be pretty intense," director Liz Friedlander said. "I did [Blink-182's] 'Adam's Song,' so I get all the downbeat ones from the power punk bands." ... Talib Kweli made not one but two Brooklyn connections for the remix of "Get By." Bedford-Stuyvesant's Jay-Z, and Busta Rhymes, who spent part of his life living in Flatbush, rap on the track that was just released. ... Evanescence, Run-DMC's DMC and Groove Armada have been added to the lineup of the Coors Light Mountain Jam featuring 50 Cent and others. The August 30 event at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, will also feature Gov't Mule and Toots and the Maytals. ...

Robbie Williams has a lion tattooed on his arm and he'll get to play a furry feline soon, too. The British pop star is set to provide a voice, opposite Kate Winslet ("Titanic"), in a BBC Television movie called "Pride" that will be built around actual footage of lions. ... Oasis leader Noel Gallagher recently surprised roughly 100 people in a small Liverpool club with a six-song acoustic set, together with fellow Oasis guitarist Gem Archer, after joining the Stand onstage for one song during their set. The pair reportedly unveiled a new tune, as well as such Oasis standbys as "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger."...

Evan Dando, Semisonic singer Dan Wilson, the Rembrandts and the New Power Generation band appear on Mandy Moore's upcoming Coverage, produced by Minneapolis' John Fields. The covers album includes Elton John's "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and the Waterboys' "The Whole of the Moon," among others. ... Paper Cranes — featuring actress Rain Phoenix on lead vocals — had a bevy of celebs in the crowd for their showcase at New York's Mercury Lounge on Monday, including fellow thespians Julia Stiles and Liv Tyler, director Gus Van Sant, and Leona Naess, who got up to sing with the band for its encore ...

A longtime Guns N' Roses photographer has sued Axl Rose for allegedly reneging on a contract he made in January. Robert John, an established photojournalist in Los Angeles, said he agreed to supply the singer with hundreds of band photos taken since 1985 for a fee of $80,000, but that Axl has yet to cough up the cash. ... Newly revamped indie rock heroes Jets to Brazil will embark on a U.S. tour starting May 27 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, their first major outing with former MK Ultra drummer Matt Torrey, who recently replaced founding member Chris Daly. Retisonic and John Vanderslice reportedly will support different legs of the tour. ...

Lookout! Records recording artist Ted Leo has been forced to cancel several dates on his current tour in order to consult a doctor about his strained vocal chords. Leo wrote on his Web site that he lost his voice during a show in Urbana, Illinois, and that he'd prefer to deal with the problem sooner rather than later. He still intends to meet show commitments in late May and early June, and hopes to make up the affected dates. ...

05.05.03

Papa Roach are in pre-production on their record, which they hope to release late this year or early next. "We are skipping the whole summer tour circuit," Dave Buckner said at Saturday's "mtvICON: Metallica" taping. "We are saying, 'You know what? We are going to get back in the lab and come out with some crazy insane, on-fire, kick-ass metal.' " ... Also rushing out another album are Korn. "We have 10 tracks done," Jonathan Davis said Saturday. "Fieldy is almost done on bass and we are moving from guitars to vocals. We hope to have it done in late June." ...

Fuel also hit "mtvICON: Metallica." "We're just finishing up our third album right now," singer Brett Scallions said. "It's going to be a really good record. Hopefully it will be out sometime in September, so look out for it." ... And finally, the headliners shared their plans for the remainder of the year. "We're going to hit the Far East in October, November," drummer Lars Ulrich said. "Australia probably in January, and then [we'll] do indoors in America starting in February. We are really psyched about doing that." ... Encouraged by the enormous success of his S. Carter by Reebok sneaker, Jay-Z told MTV News that he will soon be following up the all-white first edition with red and blue versions. And never forgetting his female fans, Jay-Z also hopes to release pink and yellow S. Carters for ladies this fall. ...

After a trial session with producer Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck), the Strokes have decided to record their second album with Gordon Raphael, the man behind their debut, Is This It. The decision was reportedly amicable. ... Danish dance group Junior Senior will release their debut album, D-D-Don't Stop the Beat, August 5 on Atlantic Records. The LP, which features the quirky single "Movie Your Feet" — all the rage in the U.K. — was first released by Crunchy Frog, the imprint that first showcased the Raveonettes. ... Fieldy's Dreams will be a reality for fans lucky enough to catch the Korn bassist's side project on a string of five tour dates beginning Sunday in Anaheim. The Rock N Roll Gangster, as he referred to himself on his debut album, says he'll begin work on a second album sometime this year. ... They're not called Good Charlotte without reason. On Monday at Philadelphia's Theatre of Living Arts, Benji and Joel Madden will host and perform at the Acoustic Benefit for Positive Force, a show whose proceeds will go toward helping the homeless and elderly. The band will perform that night on "Late Night With David Letterman." ...

Brit wonder Robbie Williams, dancehall singer Sean Paul and comedian Mario Cantone have been added to the lineup of "100% NYC: A Concert Celebrating the Tribeca Film Festival" on May 9 at New York's Battery Park. They join previously announced performers the Roots and Norah Jones. ... Perhaps the thought of touring with Dashboard Confessional scared the Flaming Lips away, but Beck has assembled a stouthearted backing band to accompany him on his trek with Dashboard this summer. Steve McDonald of Redd Kross will play bass, Suzanne Vega drummer Jay Bellerose is on board, Greg Kurstin of Action Figure Party will play keyboards and Josh Klinghoffer will play guitar. ... Expect animation in the new Radiohead video for "There There." The band has tapped London's Black Dog studios — the art house behind Radiohead's "Pull/Pulk Revolving Doors" and "Pyramid" videos — to contribute. ...

Roc-A-Fella CEO Damon Dash celebrated his 32nd birthday on Saturday night at Manhattan's Supper Club. Besides his longtime cohort Jay-Z and the Jigga's current companion, Beyoncé, P. Diddy, Da Brat, Denise Rich and "X-Men" co-star Famke Janssen all came out. ... Ashanti is gearing up to shoot a video for "Rock Wit You (Awww Baby)" on Thursday and Friday in Miami with director Paul Hunter. Murder Inc.'s princess is down in Florida finishing up work on her sophomore album, Chapter II. So far there are no guests, and the entire LP has been produced by Irv Gotti and Chink Santana. "Rock Wit You (Awww Baby)" is said to be a heavy performance clip with plenty of beach scenes. ... Following in the footsteps of Rolling Rock's Town Fair, Coors Light is hosting the inaugural Mountain Jam at the Red Rocks Amphitheater outside Denver. 50 Cent, Korn, P.O.D., the Doors, the Roots and American Hi-Fi are headlining the August 30 event. ...

True Reflections, the debut solo album from the Dave Matthews Band's Boyd Tinsley, named after a DMB song the violinist has sung live for years, is due June 17. Matthews, Lisa Germano, Doyle Bramhall II, Corey Harris and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band guest on the record. ... Tim Armstrong, singer/guitarist in Rancid and the Transplants, is producing an animated movie called "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!," due in December. Armstrong also narrates the film, which features several voices from the punk rock world, including Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong, A.F.I.'s Davey Havok, Blink-182's Travis Barker, A Perfect Circle's Josh Freese, X's John Doe, and Rancid's Lars Frederiksen, Matt Freeman and Brett Reed. "Lord of the Rings" star Viggo Mortensen also voices a character. ...

• R. Kelly
• The Big Tymers
• Juvenile
• Evanescence

Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, and Nelly announce 2003 Grammy nominations
Photo: MTV News

When nominations for the 45th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday morning, reactions ranged from sincere congratulations to "What were they thinking?" (Click here for the list of nominees.)

Few readers writing to MTVNews.com's You Tell Us forum had sour sentiments about demure Norah Jones, the jazz-influenced singer/pianist who's got a chance to sweep the four biggest categories — Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist (see "Eminem, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, Norah Jones Nab Most Grammy Noms"). Jones is also among the eight artists who garnered five nominations. (Click for photos of this year's Grammy nominees.)

"I'm sooo happy for [Norah Jones]," wrote 18-year-old Lexi, from Seattle. "I know many people haven't heard her music, but those who have know how great it is. Big ups to the critics for giving this girl the credit she deserves."

Jones' Come Away With Me faces stiff competition from The Rising, Bruce Springsteen's return to form, and, to a lesser extent, The Eminem Show. Although the mainstream seems to have embraced the volatile rapper, with hardly a protest over his third major-label album or his fictionalized biopic "8 Mile," the Grammys might not be ready to bestow such a prestigious honor to a man who had a hit with a song that talks about killing the mother of his child and stuffing her in a trunk.

Then again, Eminem already has five golden gramophones in his trophy case (though none in the big four categories), and the Recording Academy did grant an Album of the Year Grammy to Steely Dan in 2001, for Two Against Nature, which featured the song "Cousin Dupree," about incest. But old guards like Donald Fagen and Walter Becker have always had Grammy odds in their favor, which is why Springsteen stands such a good shot. And even if The Eminem Show doesn't win for Album of the Year and "Without Me" doesn't lay claim to Record of the Year, Eminem is likely to make good on at least one of his other three nominations.

While Jones stands as the artist with the smallest presence at radio compared with fellow new-artist nominees R&B songbird Ashanti, singer/songwriter Michelle Branch, sensitive guy John Mayer and pop-rocker Avril Lavigne, most of you think the latter stands as her fiercest competition.

"I think Avril Lavigne definitely deserves Best New Artist," wrote 14-year-old Ashley of Thief River Falls, Minnesota. "She's worked so hard and accomplished so much this year."

"There is no doubt that Avril Lavigne should win Best New Artist," echoed 14-year-old Danielle, from Somerset, New Jersey. "She writes her own music, had three top 40 songs in 2002, sold over 4 million copies of her debut, Let Go, and hates Britney Spears. What more could you want in a Best New Artist?"

While statistics may garner gold records, they don't necessarily translate to a Grammy. Awards are (theoretically) doled out to those who demonstrate genuine artistry in their work. And that's Avril Lavigne, isn't it?

"Avril has no business being nominated for as much as she was," disagreed 19-year-old Andrea. "As far as music and creativity go, Britney is more creative — and you know that's a stretch, especially since Britney is nothing but manufactured bubble gum. Avril may have had something going with her and her ties but let's face it, MTV, that's all she has had."

After yesterday's announcement of the nominations, Lavigne has a lot more attached to her, namely a monumental mistake when she mispronounced David Bowie's last name. When reading the list of artists up for the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, she mispronounced Bowie as "bow-wie" (rhymes with oh, wowee!). An unnerving hush immediately enveloped Madison Square Garden.

"Am I the only person who realizes what a poser Avril Lavigne is?" queried 22-year-old Kim, from Denver. "First of all, she botched the pronunciation of David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of our time. ... Does Avril know anything about music? ... My point is, although everyone seems to be touting Avril Lavigne as some new prodigy, the fact is that she is not a true musician or artist and is just as fake and untalented as Britney Spears."

And here we thought Avril was the anti-Britney.

While Mayer's the only guy among the gals in the Best New Artist pack, his fans warn not to count him out just because he's outnumbered.

"John Mayer deserves to win the Grammy for Best New Artist," declared 18-year-old Tiffany Johnson, from Austin, Texas. "He is just on a different level from the rest of the nominees. The guy is brilliant."

Nelly, who's up for Album of the Year, Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Album honors, among others, is feeling the brunt of haters. For the nearly 5 million copies of Nellyville sold, the St. Louis rapper seems to have just as many, if not more, detractors.

"I want to know what the Grammy folks see in Nelly," demanded 19-year-old Jason Curtis of Seattle. "Everyone is hypnotized by his so-called 'skills,' which are by no means good. As far as I'm concerned, Nelly doesn't deserve a Grammy."

It wasn't all trash talk directed at the St. Louis rapper, however. Many have their fingers crossed that the Band-Aid bearing MC will leave with even more gold than he came in with.

"I'm really anticipating seeing Nelly take home the Grammy for best album," wrote 14-year-old Linzi, from Sandusky, Michigan. "I mean, his music is totally hot, and I'm pretty sure that I don't know anyone who isn't into Nelly."

Linzi, meet 21-year-old James, from New Haven, Connecticut.

"It is clear once again that the awards honor what is popular, not what is good," James began. "Nelly has sunk so far down in the talent pool that he's left rapping about sneakers and some sort of heat wave that has apparently swept Nellyville. Talk about meaningless music. Seriously, if it's that hot in 'herre,' then drink a glass of water. Don't make a freakin' song about it."

Fellow hip-hopper Petey Pablo, up for Best Rap Album with Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry, faced some harsh reactions, with fellow nominee Mystikal also catching some heat.

"I am very upset to see that Pete Pablo has been nominated for Best Rap Album," expressed 25-year-old Curtis, from Tallahassee, Florida. "Also, Mystikal's Tarantula album was very disappointing. How come someone like Trick Daddy or Cee-Lo never gets nominated? He is pure trash, and I understand why people like Jay-Z protest the Grammys. If we want to make it mainstream for all these old white people, let's nominate Will Smith. Even though his album sold probably 200 copies, he does not curse."

Such outrage over those who were nominated couldn't rival the furor over those who were left out: uber-producers the Neptunes and anyone from the neo-garage school, such as the Hives, the Vines, the Strokes or the White Stripes.

"How did Dr. Dre get nominated in the Producer of the Year category, while the Neptunes were ignored?" wondered Venni, 18, from Blacksburg, Virginia. "Dre didn't do anything in 2002. Every single song on the radio was produced by the Neptunes."

OK, Venni may be exaggerating a bit, though Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are responsible for Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)," all of which are Grammy-nominated.

"I'm surprised the new 'the' bands didn't get major nods," typed an aghast CJ, 18, from Newmarket, New Hampshire. "I'm sad that the White Stripes were shafted, when overrated Avril Lavigne gets all the credit. Well, the Grammys are pretty lame either way."

If the nominations aroused such fervent feelings in these folks, they'd better be prepared for the shock of February 23. While some surprises can be expected with the nods, utter jaw-droppers like the over-the-hill Jethro Tull winning for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 1988 are unmatched.

Stay tuned and stay calm.

For a look back at previous big Grammy winners, red carpet photos and much more, visit our Grammy News Archive.

• Eminem
• Norah Jones
• Nelly
• Dixie Chicks
• Bruce Springsteen

Nelly
Photo: Universal

With eight artists grabbing five nominations each, this year's Grammy Awards looks to be one of the most competitive in the ceremony's 45 years. (Click here for the list of nominees and for photos of this year's Grammy nominees and performers.)

Three relative newcomers, Ashanti, Norah Jones and Avril Lavigne, join Sheryl Crow, Eminem, Nelly, Raphael Saadiq and Bruce Springsteen as the artists with the greatest chances of leaving New York's Madison Square Garden on February 23 with the most golden gramophones in their arms.

All eyes will be on Norah Jones, who stands to reign supreme on Grammy night with four of her five nominations arriving in the big four categories: Best New Artist; Album of the Year, for Come Away With Me; and Song of the Year (given to the songwriter Jesse Harris) and Record of the Year for "Don't Know Why." Jones and her full-length debut album also received nods in the categories Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, while the LP's producer, Arif Mardin, scored one in the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category to give the Norah Jones camp a whopping eight nominations combined.

Eminem, Nelly, Springsteen and Lavigne received two nods apiece for the big awards. Em's "Without Me" is up for Record of the Year, along with Nelly's "Dilemma" (which features Kelly Rowland), Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" and Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles." The Eminem Show will vie for Album of the Year honors against Come Away With Me, the Dixie Chicks' Home, Nelly's Nellyville and Bruce Springsteen's The Rising.

Springsteen was also nominated in the Song of the Year category for "The Rising." The Boss' tune, which resonated with many after the events of September 11, 2001, will face off against another song inspired by the tragedy, Alan Jackson's "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)."

The Best New Artist category finds John Mayer the sole male amidst a quartet of ladies, Ashanti, Michelle Branch, Jones and Lavigne, whose single "Complicated" is also up for Song of the Year. (Last year, Alicia Keys walked off with the prestigious honor. Who do you think should win Grammy's equivalent to Rookie of the Year? Take our poll.)

"Chauvinists unite!" Mayer joked at Madison Square Garden, in a half-hearted attempt to strum up support for his cause. "I'm just going to go to sports bars and lobby.

"It's cool," he continued sincerely. "I look at the list and say, 'It makes sense to me.' "

While Ashanti is likely to have her fingers crossed for the big Best New Artist win, she'll be doubly excited when the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category is awarded. Besides receiving a nod for assisting Fat Joe with "What's Luv?" the songbird with the second-best-selling debut album of 2002 has increased her chances of winning with "Always on Time," her collaboration with Ja Rule. Ashanti likes both songs, but she looks to the phrase "blood is thicker than water" when deciding whom to root for.

"I don't necessarily have a preference, but it I had to choose, it would have to be my brother Ja," she said. "That's my family, Murder, Inc. Records."

Nominations for the 45th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday (January 7) at a press conference held in Madison Square Garden. Among the artists on hand to read the roster of those hopeful for Grammy gold were Ashanti, country singer Kenny Chesney, '80s faceplate Cyndi Lauper, Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, Nelly and producer Jimmy Jam, who filled in for a previously scheduled but absent Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

The artists each took the podium in turn to announce the contestants for two of the categories, which made for some interesting pronunciations. Ashanti (pronounced a-shan-tee) became the faux-fabulous sounding "A-shan-tay" whenever most on hand mentioned her name; and Lavigne, in announcing the nominees for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance botched David Bowie's name, pronouncing it 'Bow-wee" (as in the dog sound "bow-wow"). The flub is not likely to go unnoticed among Lavigne's critics, and it just might go down in pop-star infamy, the way Britney Spears' remark that suggested Pat Benatar sang "I Love Rock 'N Roll," a song Joan Jett made famous, did in a fall 2001 interview.

Four nominations fell on the Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, R&B singer Remy Shand and Chad Kroeger, who scored one with his band Nickelback, and three others for his song "Hero," penned for the soundtrack to "Spider-Man."

Besides two in the big four, Vanessa Carlton's other nomination came in the Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s). While most categories in the Composing/Arranging field are often overlooked in favor of more artist-specific ones, the 21-year-old pianist doesn't consider her third nod to be any less important. In fact, considering that she's the only nominee who's also an artist in that category, she said she's perhaps most proud of that honor because it shows her as the well-rounded artist she is.

"I am most excited for that nomination because it is recognizing the process, something other than the vocal and the song itself," she explained. "It kind of acknowledges how the puzzle fits together. I think [Be Not Nobody] is a beautiful record and I'm really proud to know that people recognized that. I was totally surprised, though. I really was."

India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Dr. Dre, Randy Newman, Arif Mardin and No Doubt also nabbed three nominations each.

Touting over 100 categories, the Grammys is the most comprehensive music awards show, but even with classifications such as Best Polka Album (for which Jimmy Sturr's Top of the World looks to be the odds-on favorite) and Best Remixed Record, Non-Classical, there just aren't enough designations for some folks.

"Actually, one they didn't mention was best haircut-changing-style every year,' a near-bald Timberlake kidded. "I'm hoping I get the Victrola for that."

Maybe next year, Justin. In the meantime, the 'NSYNC star must be content with just one nomination, for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, for the Clipse-featured "Like I Love You," the first single from his solo debut, Justified.

Super production duo the Neptunes were puzzlingly absent from the Producer of the Year category, which instead found Dr. Dre, Nellee Hooper, Arif Mardin, Rick Rubin, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis attempting to stake their claim to the title. After producing a number of Grammy-nominated tracks, including Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)," it's a mystery why Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams didn't receive any love from the Recording Academy.

"For the second year in a row, can you imagine that?" Williams said of his Grammy dis. "All the work we've done? For whatever reason, nobody thought to put us on the ballot."

The 45th annual ceremony marks the Grammys' return to New York, after Los Angeles hosted the previous four events. The show will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Before the show, catch MTV's pre-show telecast "Backstage at the Grammys," airing at 7 p.m. ET.

MTV's parent company, Viacom, also owns CBS.

For more Grammy news, check out the MTV News Grammy Archive.

• Nelly
• Avril Lavigne
• Norah Jones
• Eminem
• Vanessa Carlton

DMX and Jet Li in "Cradle 2 the Grave"
Photo: Claudette Barius/Warner Brothers

While DMX is in the studio finishing his fifth solo LP, It's Not a Game, the soundtrack to his "Cradle 2 the Grave" is moving closer to completion.

The soundtrack's first single, "X Gon' Give It to Ya," produced by newcomer Shatek, has already hit mixtapes, and the barking MC plans to shoot a video soon. Besides "X Gon' Give It to Ya," the rhyming canine also contributed the title track and a song called "Right or Wrong" to the project.

According to a spokesperson for DMX, the Clipse, Big Tymers, Fat Joe, Puffy and Mario Winans, Carl Thomas, Bazarre Royale, and 50 Cent and his G-Unit crew appear on the album as well.

50 is also among the guests appearing on It's Not a Game along with the likes of Cam'ron, who features X on the Diplomats' mixtape missile "What's Really Good." PK, Kanye West, No ID, DJ Envy and Dame Grease are among the producers X enlisted to provide beats for It's Not a Game, the first release on his Bloodline imprint.

The movie "Cradle 2 the Grave," which stars DMX and Jet Li, hits theaters on February 28, preceded by the soundtrack on February 11. It's Not a Game still doesn't have a firm release date, but a rep for the Yonkers native said checking for it sometime this spring would be a safe bet.

• DMX
• Clipse
• The Big Tymers
• Fat Joe
• Diddy

Baby
Photo: Cash Money/Universal

"I ain't never heard of it," Baby said in New York earlier this month about the animated counterpart to his latest nickname, "Birdman." "I may have to watch it."

Baby's moniker has nothing to do with the ability to soar out of volcanoes or even have wings, though he insists he's the flyest.

"To me, the Birdman is a street thing," he opined. "I feel I'm fly. There's no limit to what I do in life. The way I flip in the game, it's like hood rich, neighborhood superstar, because you always got a balla. I just call a balla a Birdman. He ain't necessarily gotta be shuffling, but he's the Birdman."

Baby plans to release the first volume in a series of Birdman albums, The Birdman, on October 15. ("I'mma do 10 volumes and I'm [done being an artist]," Baby explained before changing his mind. "I might just do five and say f--- it.") A second one will possibly follow on Christmas Eve. The Birdman and the D-Boys, which features members of his clique, and a duet LP with Lil' Wayne, Like Father, Like Son, are due to come next year.

"I never really got a chance to fully explore myself and the stuff I been through," Baby said about being in the group Big Tymers. "As far as the Birdman thing, I had a chance to reach out to people I wanted on my album. [My partner] Mannie Fresh said it was cool for me to reach out to a few different producers that he felt would be up to par to do the album."

The Neptunes, Timbaland, Jermaine Dupri, Swizz Beatz, Jazze Pha and Fresh supplied beats, while the Clipse, Cam'ron, 8Ball, Too Short and P. Diddy make guest spots on the mic.

"It's a club song called 'Get the Flow,' " Baby said about his collaboration with Puff. "It's real hot. We still shuffling the first single 'cause I got a lot of hot songs. I'mma let [my brother] Slim and Fresh pick it.

"Volume one is so strong, I wanted volume two to be as strong or stronger," he continued about his still-in-production second solo album. "On volume two, me and Fabolous doing a song together. DJ Clue is doing me a beat and a couple of different producers who didn't make volume one are making volume two."

Baby, who has guested on remixes for Cam'ron and Foxy Brown the past few months (see "Big Tymers' Baby Keeps Busy With Foxy Brown, Cam'ron Remixes"), is continuing to make his rounds through the industry. He's featured along with Scarface on Trick Daddy's "Gangsta" off the Thug Holiday album, and Baby recently joined Mr. Cheeks on an upcoming Brian McKnight song produced by Mario Winans. "Brian is a smooth dog," Baby said. "He was chilling in his world, just doing him. More on the pimp, playa partnership."

The New Orleans stunner cites God as the main catalyst for his improving mic skills. "I always been the coach. I taught Juvenile, Wayne, BG and them. They always had the talent, I taught them how to format [rhymes]. I learned how to do that, change my [rhyme] pattern. I start out one way, go into a whole other situation. I learned how to stay more on point with subjects. I'm into stuntin,' I'm a gangsta and a hustla, I know how to put that in my game, plus the fashion. It's just my turn, homie. I do practice a lot because I'm always writing, but at the end of the day it all comes from God."

Baby is gearing up to bring all of the Cash Money Millionaires on the road for the upcoming Nellyville tour (see "Nelly Planning Back-To-School Spectacular For U.S. Tour" ).

"I knew of him before he became famous because I used to come through [St. Louis] and they used to tell me about him," Baby recalled of Nelly, who he has toured with before. "Every time I used to come through the Lou, he used to open up for us. Old boy blew up like he was supposed to, but he's cool. It's all love for real."

Cash Money's co-CEO isn't sure how his stage set is going to shape up, but says, "It's gonna be a birdcage somewhere around there, believe that."

Maybe Rodney Jerkins will be joining CMR this fall on tour as well — Jerkins' Dark Child Records signed a partnership deal with Cash Money in July.

"I met Rodney a couple of months ago," Baby said. "I really ain't know the cat was so strong. My brother turned me onto him. He always wanted to do something with us. He said he always thought it would be a hot situation for him. Rodney put out hits, I could see no way I could lose. I'm a hustla, he's got to be a hustla to be so successful. I think we gonna have a big situation as long as Rodney do his thing."

• The Big Tymers
• Cam'ron
• Diddy
• Fabolous
• DJ Clue

Big Tymers
Photo: Universal

There's no disputing Cash Money Records is on a roll, and on August 20 the hip-hop label is looking to ride the momentum of the Big Tymers and Lil' Wayne to another high chart debut with the "Undisputed" soundtrack.

The album features tracks from the Cash Money stable, along with friends ranging from Trick Daddy to Carl Thomas to Bubba Sparxxx to Petey Pablo.

Cash Money Millionaires Lil' Wayne, Big Tymers, Lac and Mikkey collaborate on the soundtrack's first single and title track. Director Terry Heller (K-Ci and JoJo) recently filmed a video for "Undisputed" at the Nashville State Penitentiary, where much of "The Green Mile" was shot.

"Undisputed" the movie, which opens August 23, stars Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames as boxers behind bars who are thrust into an underground prison boxing match. Master P also has a small role in the film (see "Master P, Lil' Romeo To Tour After Finishing Movie Roles").

Undisputed track list, according to Universal:

• Cash Money Millionaires - "Undisputed"
• Big Tymers - "We Drop It"
• Trick Daddy - "Let Me Ride"
• Lil' Wayne - "Real Talk"
• Carl Thomas - "How Did I"
• Bubba Sparxxx - "Hungry"
• Mikkey - "Everyday"
• Teena Marie - "Shorty Down"
• Gilly f/ the Major Figgas - "So Gangsta"
• Boo and Gotti f/ Baby Da #1 Stunna - "Ride Together"
• Stone, Gilly and Lac - "I Walk It"
• TQ - "Think About You (Looking Through the Window)"
• Erick Sermon - "If You Don't Know by Now"
• Petey Pablo - "Que La Cosa"
• Benzino - "Go Hard"
• Cristina - "Daddy's Little Girl"
• Baby Da #1 Stunna f/ Kandi, Duke and Big Gee - "Bout My Paper"

• The T-Players - "Time Has Come Today"

• The B.E.C. - "In Here"

• Universal and the B.E.C. - "If U Wanna Know"

• The Result - "Man Up"

• Lil Wayne
• The Big Tymers
• Bubba Sparxxx
• Carl Thomas
• Trick Daddy

Girls around the country are going to have to content themselves with screaming for one less teen dream, as Mario won't be going on the Scream 2 Tour with Bow Wow, B2K and IMX, which kicks off this week. The 15-year-old singer released a statement saying he's going to be hitting up a myriad of radio stations this summer to help his single, "Just a Friend 2002," blow up even bigger instead. ... Rappers Cam'ron, Big Tymers, Lil' Wayne, Juvenile and Noreaga, and producers Rockwilder, Mario Winans and Mike City will be attending the first BMI Urban Awards on August 6 at Club Tropigala in Miami Beach. The Neptunes, Rodney Jerkins and Dallas Austin are producing a musical tribute to James Brown, who is receiving the Icon award at the ceremony, which will also recognize the songwriters and publishers of the most-played urban songs of the year. ...

Lil' Romeo has been captured by aliens! In the new video game "The Romeo Files" on his Web site, www.lilromeo.com, fans can free the young rapper to save the world by answering various math and history questions. ... Aspiring pop stars will soon get the chance win an all-expense paid trip for two to L.A. and record a demo tape for Britney Spears' record producers and just by singing along to their favorite Britney songs on the Samsung Superstar Karaoke Tour. Britney will not be along for the ride on the tour, which makes stops at Best Buy stores in 24 cities across the country from July 22 to August 30 and also offers the chance to appear as an extra in an upcoming Britney video. ... An under-the-weather Lenny Kravitz canceled his gig at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Massachussetts, on July 20 after opening act Abandoned Pools had already finished their set, according to the Boston Herald. The Tweeter Center show has been rescheduled for August 5. ...

P.O.D. are releasing a special-edition two-disc version of last year's Satellite on August 27. The collection will include remixes of "Alive," "Youth of the Nation" and "Boom," along with a DVD of a live show performed recently in Hamburg, Germany. ... The second season of "Sonic Cinema" will launch on the Sundance Channel in October with four 30-minute episodes airing each Friday night at 11 p.m. ET/PT. Each installment profiles the people who bridge the gap between music and film, such as the Snorri Brothers, directors of R.E.M.'s "Daysleeper" video; "Crossroads" director Tamra Davis, creator of the infomercial to promote Hello Nasty by her husband's band, the Beastie Boys; and Randall Poster, music supervisor for films "Rushmore," "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "Velvet Goldmine." ...

Gus Dudgeon, a producer whose credits include Elton John, David Bowie, the Bonzo Dog Band and XTC, died July 21 in a car crash in western England, according to Associated Press. Dudgeon, 59, was pronounced dead at the scene, as was his traveling companion, who could not be identified at press time. ... Mudhoney will release Since We've Become Translucent on August 20 and are planning a tour, according to Sub Pop's Web site. The outing kicks off August 23 in Anaheim, California, and dates have been announced through September 21 in Chicago. ... Singer/songwriter Howie Day is filming his first video in Los Angeles this week, for the single "Ghost" from Australia. Day will also perform the song on "The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn" on August 1, after performing at the Hollywood Virgin Megastore on July 30 and the San Francisco Virgin Megastore on July 31. ...

Santana is hard at work putting together the follow-up to Supernatural and is hoping to have it completed in time to meet an October 15 release date. Carlos and the band are currently trying to tighten the album from 22 songs to 16 and plan to head back out on the road from July 31 to October 11. ... Just when you were about to ask "Where is he now?," Coolio plans to release El Cool Magnifico on October 15 through D3 Entertainment. The video and single for "Shake It Up" will hit TV stations and radio waves in August. ... Devo are performing Saturday at the opening of Airstream Diner, a "trailer park diner" in Beverly Hills. The restaurant is the brainchild of Los Angeles chef Fred Eric. ...

07.22.02

Whitney Houston will shoot the video for "Whatchulookinat" ("What You Looking At") in the next couple of weeks, according to her spokesperson. It is the first single from her still-untitled LP, which drops September 17. ... Toni Braxton has her new album ready — well, almost. Braxton's yet-to-be-titled LP will be in stores on October 1, her spokesperson said, while her Irv Gotti-produced single, "No More Love," has been getting play on some radio stations. ... One lucky (and rich) Metallica fan bid $23,200 to emerge the winner of an eBay auction to spend a day in the studio with the band. All proceeds from the auction, which ended Friday, will go to the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research. ...

Lenny Kravitz will appear in the season premiere of "The Simpsons," on November 10, "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation," in which Homer goes to rock and roll fantasy camp. The patriarch will rub animated shoulders with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in the same episode. ... Dave Hollister has a new album to go with his new label. The first offering of his Goodfellas Entertainment joint venture with Motown, Things in the Game Done Changed, is scheduled to hit stores on September 17. Hollister, whose first two albums were released by DreamWorks, will feature tracks by Joe and Tank, who also sing on the album. ...

Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell and U.S. Rep. Richard Prombo (R-California) joined forces to dust the competition at the celebrity race of the Cadillac Grand Prix in Washington, D.C. on July 21. Other unlikely match-ups included the second-place team of Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford and actor Tim Matheson ("The West Wing") and third-place team Coolio and veteran astronaut Pierre Thuot. ... The Isley Brothers and Afrika Bambaataa will be honored with Billboard magazine's first-ever Founder's Awards, according to the Associated Press. The awards, which will be presented at the second annual Billboard-AURN (American Urban Radio Networks) R&B/Hip-Hop Awards show on August 9 at Billboard Live in Miami Beach, honor musicians for their artistic achievements and influence on others.

• Cam'ron
• Capone -N- Noreaga
• Mario
• The Big Tymers
• P.O.D.

Baby Williams and Foxy Brown
Photo: Walik Goshorn

Cash Money Records co-CEO Brian "Baby" Williams rides with dashboards made of "swine" and sits on "alligator seats with the head in the inside" when he's rolling in one of his hot wheels around New Orleans.

But hip-hop's #1 stunna has had to do without the luxuries of his toys for a good portion of the past few months. "The Birdman" has been flying.

"I damn near live there," he said recently of New York. "I 'm always out there."

It hasn't been all about stunning up in clubs like Cheetah and Lot 61 while Baby's been visiting NYC. He and a few of his Cash Money cohorts have been putting in work on remixes for Foxy Brown and Cam'ron.

"She wasn't there," he said about recording his verse for Brown's "Stylin'," which also features her brother Gavin, Loon and Noreaga. "They just called for me, and I just ran over and did the muthaf---er. [The chorus' references to Burberry] was right up my alley."

He was also a fan of Cam's "Oh Boy" and had no problem jumping on that song's reworking. "He reached for me, and I was gonna reach for him anyway for my solo album," he explained. "We switched it from 'Oh Boy' to 'Oh Girl.' That was his idea — that was all Cam. TQ is singing the hook. I was already on that 'Oh Boy' sh-- anyway. I like that a lot. I just flipped it and done me."

Baby also appears on a remix of the Clipse's "Grindin' " with Noreaga and Lil' Wayne. "I like the Clipse," Baby said. "Them n---as can rap they ass off, and with Pharrell [Williams'] music they gonna be all right. I like that beat. When I first saw the video, I said them cats gonna blow up. They talk that sh-- I like to hear, that ghetto sh--. I'm shining on the remix. A little hustling, but I'm more shining. I keep it basic, dog."

On Baby's upcoming double album solo debut, The Birdman, he followed one of the basic practices of American society: calling on people to return favors.

"When I do something for a muthafu--er, I don't want no money, 'cause you never know when you might need that hand," he explained. "I'm doing my thing now, 'Holla back homey, I need some love.' I been reaching for people. Everybody's been trying to give me a beat or do a verse. Me and Puffy doing one together right now. I did one on his [upcoming] album. I'm supposed to be getting a beat from Pharrell with the Clipse on there. Me and Nelly are talking about doing one."

Others pledging to spit game alongside Baby include Cam and Foxy, 8Ball, Too Short and of course the Cash Money Clique. Swizz Beatz and Jazzy Pha have already contributed two tracks apiece, but as with all CMC releases, Mannie Fresh, who Baby said is going to ultimately decide the album's first single, is handling the bulk of the board work.

Baby and Fresh, the Big Tymers, start a club tour of the West Coast on June 25 with labelmate Mack 10.

• The Big Tymers
• Foxy Brown
• Cam'ron
• N.O.R.E.
• Lil Wayne

• Cash Money Millionaires
• The Big Tymers
• Lil Wayne
• Nelly
• Fabolous

• Jennifer Lopez
• Foxy Brown
• The Big Tymers