An awards show, by nature, is all about competition. But this year’s Grammy Awards, set to air on Feb. 10, may decide several music industry feuds of 2007.
One of the most public battles in the rap industry this year was between 50 Cent and Kanye West, who both scheduled album releases on September 11, 2007. 50 Cent proclaimed that if he were outsold by West, he would retire as a solo artist.
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West easily sold more albums than 50 Cent in the first week his album hit stores. It seems 50 Cent should be gearing himself up for retirement by the outcome of this year’s Grammy nominations, as well.
Kanye West is the most nominated artist of the year, with eight nominations including album of the year and rap album of the year. Based on Grammy figures, the loser in this battle is 50 Cent, who received only two nominations: best rap solo performance, and best rap song. He’ll face off against West in both categories.
2007 was also a year of British invasion, although the tabloids have revealed that the most popular British pop stars on the American music scene don’t have a united front. Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen have been long rumored to dislike each other, despite having shared Grammy-nominated producer Mark Ronson.
Allen fueled feud rumors when she posted on her Myspace blog that she felt “fat, ugly and shitter (sic) than Winehouse.” Allen also divulged to Entertainment Weekly that Winehouse “goes to all those parties . . . and hangs out with Kelly Osbourne and Kate Moss. I don’t understand that need to become famous.”
As far as the Grammys go, Winehouse is the clear winner. Winehouse’s second album, Back to Black, racked up a total of six nominations in major categories including album of the year, song of the year, record of the year, and best new artist. Allen’s Alright, Still… is nominated only for best alternative music album.
It will also be interesting to see who Jay-Z is cheering for at the Grammys when his long-time girlfriend, Beyonce Knowles, faces off against his protege, Rihanna.
Beyonce is nominated for record of the year for her hit Irreplaceable. Rihanna is nominated for her single Umbrella, which features Jay-Z’s rap skills. Jay-Z, president of Def Jam records, discovered and signed Rihanna. Although hip-hop gossip blogs have speculated that Rihanna could have been a romantic distraction for Jay-Z, and the inspiration for Beyonce’s raging song Ring the Alarm, any romantic involvement between Rihanna and Jay-Z has not been confirmed.
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