Jay-Z, Beyonce, Outkast, Pharrell Nab Most Grammy Nominations

Will Jay-Z continue his boycott of the Grammys, now that he and the Bonnie to his Clyde are among the top nominees?

After years of undervaluing hip-hop and R&B at the Grammy Awards — the reason Jay stayed away from the proceedings — the Recording Academy has pulled an about-face. The majority of acts up for the top two categories this year — Record of the Year and Song of the Year — hail from the hip-hop and R&B communities, as do all of the artists with the most nominations. Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Outkast and Pharrell Williams lead the pack with six nominations each, the Recording Academy revealed Thursday (December 4).

Following close behind the leaders are Eminem, 50 Cent, Missy Elliott, Evanescence, Chad Hugo, Justin Timberlake, Luther Vandross, Ricky Skaggs and Warren Zevon, who each garnered five nominations. With so many artists earning multiple nods, there'll be no clear favorite heading into the 46th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held February 8 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.


	46th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees List

The artists up for Record of the Year are Beyoncé with Jay-Z for "Crazy in Love," Black Eyed Peas with Justin Timberlake for "Where Is the Love," Coldplay for "Clocks," Eminem for "Lose Yourself" and Outkast for "Hey Ya!" The award for Song of the Year, which is given to the songwriter as opposed to the performer, will go to either Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful," Luther Vandross' "Dance With My Father," Avril Lavigne's "I'm With You," Eminem's "Lose Yourself" or Warren Zevon's "Keep Me in Your Heart." Zevon died this year after a battle with cancer.

Album of the Year nominees are Justin Timberlake for Justified, Missy Elliott for Under Construction, Evanescence for Fallen, Outkast for Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below and the White Stripes for Elephant.

"I'm in shock," Beyoncé said of her multiple nods. "What a great honor. These Grammy nominations came just a few days after my performance at the 46664 concert for AIDS awareness in South Africa (see "Beyonce, Bono, Others Perform At AIDS Benefit Show In Cape Town"). This has been one crazy, special year. I feel humbled and blessed."

"You never know what the Grammys are going to do," Evanescence singer Amy Lee said. "They sometimes totally shock you, and I am shocked, totally shocked."

"You know what, man," Pharrell said, "I'm just happy to be recognized. Me and my partner Chad [Hugo], we never expected for it to happen. It's a great feeling."

Of course, the 2003 nominations aren't all completely sensible — that would defy convention. The first head-scratcher of this year surfaces in the Best New Artist category with the nomination of Fountains of Wayne. The band formed in 1996 and its latest offering, Welcome Interstate Managers, is its third album. The other nominees in the category are the somewhat newer Evanescence, 50 Cent, Heather Headley and Sean Paul.

Another peculiarity is Blu Cantrell's nomination for Best R&B Album for Bittersweet, which received a lukewarm reception by critics and fans. Cantrell will be up against Erykah Badu, Aretha Franklin, the Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley a.k.a Mr. Biggs, and Luther Vandross in that category.

In addition to being up for Album of the Year and Best New Artist, Evanescence have been nominated for three awards in the rock categories, including Best Rock Album, and Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for "Bring Me to Life."

"Best New Artist is the coveted thing — I think that would be the end-all," Lee said. "But any of them. To win a single one of these is going to make my dad so happy. It's a really big deal."

While heavy music goliaths like Metallica, Marilyn Manson and Korn and break-out act Stone Sour are no surprise in the Best Metal Performance category, Spineshank's spot in that field is sure to turn some heads. It's a somewhat more eclectic mix in the Best Alternative Music Album category, where Flaming Lips, Radiohead, Sigur Rós, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the White Stripes will compete.

Nominees were announced Thursday by Pharrell, Amy Lee, Moby, Jason Mraz, Stacie Orrico, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Sarah McLachlan, Steve Vai, MC Lyte and Brad Paisley at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom in Beverly Hills, California.

Nominees for the 46th annual Grammy Awards:

Record of the Year

Beyoncé f/ Jay-Z - "Crazy in Love"
Black Eyed Peas with Justin Timberlake - "Where Is the Love"
Coldplay - "Clocks"
Eminem - "Lose Yourself"
Outkast - "Hey Ya!"

Album of the Year

Missy Elliott - Under Construction
Evanescence - Fallen
Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Justin Timberlake - Justified
White Stripes - Elephant

Song of the Year

Linda Perry, songwriter (Christina Aguilera) - "Beautiful"
Richard Marx and Luther Vandross, songwriters (Luther Vandross) - "Dance With My Father"
Avril Lavigne and the Matrix, songwriters (Avril Lavigne) - "I'm With You"
Jorge Calderón and Warren Zevon, songwriters (Warren Zevon) - "Keep Me in Your Heart"
J. Bass, M. Mathers and L. Resto, songwriters (Eminem) - "Lose Yourself"

Best New Artist

Evanescence
50 Cent
Fountains Of Wayne
Heather Headley
Sean Paul

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Christina Aguilera - "Beautiful"
Kelly Clarkson - "Miss Independent"
Dido - "White Flag"
Avril Lavigne - "I'm With You"
Sarah McLachlan - "Fallen"

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

George Harrison - "Any Road"
Michael McDonald - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"
Sting - "Send Your Love"
Justin Timberlake - "Cry Me a River"
Warren Zevon - "Keep Me in Your Heart"

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal

Bon Jovi - "Misunderstood"
Eagles - "Hole in the World"
Fountains of Wayne - "Stacy's Mom"
Matchbox Twenty - "Unwell"
No Doubt - "Underneath It All"

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

Christina Aguilera and Lil' Kim - "Can't Hold Us Down"
Tony Bennett and k.d. lang - "La Vie En Rose"
Bob Dylan and Mavis Staples - "Gonna Change My Way of Thinking"
Pink f/ William Orbit - "Feel Good Time"
Sting and Mary J. Blige - "Whenever I Say Your Name"

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

Ry Cooder and Manuel Galbán - "Patricia"
George Harrison - "Marwa Blues"
Dave Koz - "Honey-Dipped"
Randy Newman - "Seabiscuit"
Brian Setzer Orchestra - "The Nutcracker Suite"

Best Pop Instrumental Album

Jim Brickman - Peace
Mambo Sinuendo - Ry Cooder & Manuel Galbán
Kenny G - Wishes
Prince - N.E.W.S.
George Winston - Night Divides the Day -The Music of the Doors

Best Pop Vocal Album

Christina Aguilera - Stripped
George Harrison - Brainwashed
Annie Lennox - Bare
Michael McDonald - Motown
Justin Timberlake - Justified

Best Dance Recording

Cher - "Love One Another"
Groove Armada - "Easy"
Madonna - "Die Another Day"
Kylie Minogue - "Come Into My World"
Télépopmusik - "Breathe"

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang - A Wonderful World
Rosemary Clooney - The Last Concert
Bette Midler - Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook
Rod Stewart - As Time Goes By ... The Great American Songbook: Volume II
Barbra Streisand - The Movie Album

Best Female Rock Vocal Performance

Michelle Branch - "Are You Happy Now?"
Avril Lavigne - "Losing Grip"
Pink - "Trouble"
Bonnie Raitt - "Time of Our Lives"
Lucinda Williams - "Righteously"

Best Male Rock Vocal Performance

David Bowie - "New Killer Star"
Bob Dylan - "Down in the Flood"
Lenny Kravitz - "If I Could Fall in Love"
Dave Matthews - "Gravedigger"
Tom Waits - "Return of Jackie & Judy"

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal

Foo Fighters - "Times Like These"
Radiohead - "There There"
Train - "Calling All Angels"
White Stripes - "Seven Nation Army"
Warren Zevon and Bruce Springsteen - "Disorder in the House"

Best Hard Rock Performance

Audioslave - "Like a Stone"
Evanescence f/ Paul McCoy - "Bring Me to Life"
Godsmack - "Straight Out of Line"
Jane's Addiction - "Just Because"
Queens of the Stone Age - "Go With the Flow"

Best Metal Performance

Korn - "Did My Time"
Marilyn Manson - "mOBSCENE"
Metallica - "St. Anger"
Spineshank - "Smothered"
Stone Sour - "Inhale"

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

Allman Brothers Band - "Instrumental Illness"
Jeff Beck - "Plan B"
Linkin Park - "Session"
Robert Randolph & the Family Band - "Squeeze"
Steve Vai - "Essence"

Best Rock Song

David Hodges, Amy Lee and Ben Moody, songwriters (Evanescence f/ Paul McCoy) - "Bring Me to Life"
Charlie Colin, Pat Monahan, Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood, songwriters (Train) - "Calling All Angels"
Jorge Calderón and Warren Zevon, songwriters (Warren Zevon and Bruce Springsteen) - "Disorder in the House"
Jack White, songwriter (The White Stripes) - "Seven Nation Army"
Chad Kroeger, Mike Kroeger, Ryan Peake and Ryan Vikedal, songwriters (Nickelback) - "Someday"

Best Rock Album

Audioslave - Audioslave
Evanescence - Fallen
Foo Fighters - One by One
Matchbox Twenty - More Than You Think You Are
Nickelback - The Long Road

Best Alternative Music Album

Flaming Lips - Fight Test
Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
Sigur Rós - Untitled
White Stripes - Elephant
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

Ashanti - "Rain on Me"
Erykah Badu - "Back in the Day"
Beyoncé - "Dangerously in Love"
Mary J. Blige - "Ooh!"
Heather Headley - "I Wish I Wasn't"

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

R. Kelly - "Step in the Name of Love"
Brian McKnight - "Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda"
Ruben Studdard - "Superstar"
Tyrese - "How You Gonna Act Like That"
Luther Vandross - "Dance With My Father"

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals

Beyoncé and Luther Vandross - "The Closer I Get to You"
Stanley Clarke f/ Glenn Lewis and Amel Larrieux - "Where Is the Love"
Floetry - "Say Yes"
Roy Hargrove & the RH Factor f/ D'Angelo - "I'll Stay"
Isley Brothers w/ Ronald Isley a.k.a. Mr. Biggs f/ JS - "Busted"
TLC - "Hands Up"

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

Earth, Wind & Fire - "Hold Me"
Aretha Franklin - "Wonderful"
Anthony Hamilton - "Comin' From Where I'm From"
Patti LaBelle - "Way Up There"
Kelly Price - "He Proposed"

Best Urban/Alternative Performance

Erykah Badu - "Danger"
Kelis - "Milkshake"
Les Nubians - "J'veux D'la Musique"
Musiq - "Forthenight"
Outkast - "Hey Ya!"

Best R&B Song

Mark Batson and Anthony Hamilton, songwriters (Anthony Hamilton) - "Comin' From Where I'm From"
Shawn Carter, Rich Harrison, Beyoncé Knowles and Eugene Record, songwriters (Beyoncé f/ Jay-Z) - "Crazy in Love"
Richard Marx and Luther Vandross, songwriters (Luther Vandross) - "Dance With My Father"
Erykah Badu, J. Poyser, B.R. Smith and R.C. Williams, songwriters (Erykah Badu) - "Danger"
A. Douglas, I. Lorenzo and A. Parker, songwriters (Ashanti) - "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)"

Best R&B Album

Erykah Badu - Worldwide Underground
Blu Cantrell - Bittersweet
Aretha Franklin - So Damn Happy
Isley Brothers f/ Ronald Isley a.k.a. Mr. Biggs - Body Kiss
Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father

Best Contemporary R&B Album

Ashanti - Chapter II
Beyoncé - Dangerously in Love
Mary J. Blige - Love & Life
Anthony Hamilton - Comin' From Where I'm From
R. Kelly - Chocolate Factory

Best Female Rap Solo Performance

Da Brat - "Got It Poppin' "
Missy Elliott - "Work It"
Lil' Kim - "Came Back for You"
MC Lyte - "Ride Wit Me"
Queen Latifah - "Go Head"

Best Male Rap Solo Performance

Joe Budden - "Pump It Up"
Eminem - "Lose Yourself"
50 Cent - "In Da Club"
Ludacris - "Stand Up"
Sean Paul - "Get Busy"

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group

Missy Elliott f/ Ludacris - "Gossip Folks"
Lil' Kim f/ 50 Cent - "Magic Stick"
Nelly, P. Diddy and Murphy Lee - "Shake Ya Tailfeather"
Juelz Santana f/ Cam'Ron - "Dipset (Santana's Town)"
Young Gunz - "Can't Stop Won't Stop"

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Beyoncé f/ Jay-Z - "Crazy in Love"
Black Eyed Peas with Justin Timberlake - "Where Is the Love"
LL Cool J f/ Marc Dorsey - "Luv U Better"
Neptunes f/ Pharrell Williams and Jay-Z - "Frontin' "
Snoop Dogg f/ Pharrell and Uncle Charlie Wilson - "Beautiful"

Best Rap Song

Calvin Broadus, Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, songwriters (Snoop Dogg f/ Pharrell and Uncle Charlie Wilson) - "Beautiful"
Shawn Carter, Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, songwriters (Jay-Z f/ Pharrell Williams) - "Excuse Me Miss"
M. Elizondo, C. Jackson and A. Young, songwriters (50 Cent) - "In Da Club"
J. Bass, M. Mathers and L. Resto, songwriters (Eminem) - "Lose Yourself"
Missy Elliott and Tim Mosley, songwriters (Missy Elliott) - "Work It"

Best Rap Album

Missy Elliott - Under Construction
50 Cent - Get Rich or Die Tryin'
Jay-Z - The Blueprint 2 - The Gift & the Curse
Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
Roots - Phrenology

Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media

Christopher Bridges and Keith McMasters, songwriters (Ludacris) - "Act a Fool" (from "2 Fast 2 Furious")
U2, songwriters (U2) - "The Hands That Built America" (from "Gangs of New York")
Fred Ebb and John Kander, songwriters (Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger) - "I Move On" (from "Chicago)"
J. Bass, M. Mathers and L. Resto, songwriters (Eminem) - "Lose Yourself" (from "8 Mile")
Christoher Guest, Eugene Levy and Michael McKean, songwriters (The Folksmen, Mitch & Mickey, and The New Main Street Singers) - "A Mighty Wind" (from "A Mighty Wind")

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical