Last night in Los Angeles the 53rd Grammy Awards took place at Staples Centre. The show was packed full of shocks and disappointments, along with the expected performances from the top artists in the music business. Here at RapIreland.com we decided to take a look at the major winners and performers from the Hip-hop/R&B world.
The event kicked off with a timely tribute to Aretha Franklin, as female singers across all genres, R’n’B diva Jennifer Hudson, country singer Martina McBride, pop princess Christina Aguilera, gospel powerhouse Yolanda Adams and alternative chart topper Florence Welch, performed a medley of hits in honour of the queen of soul.
Jay Z ,who did not attended the bash, won 3 awards, including Best Rap Performance By Solo Or Duo for “On To The Next One”, and for his New York anthem “Empire State Of Mind” won Best Rap Sung/Collaboration and Best Rap Song. John Legend and The Roots also picked up 3 awards for Best R’n’B Album for the joint album “Wake Up”, Best R’n’B Song for “Shine”, and Best Traditional R’n’B Vocal Performance for “Hang On In There”
Eminem came home with 2 gongs, including Best Rap Solo Performance for “Not afraid” and Best Rap Album for “Recovery”. Eminem gave a spirited performance as he teamed up with Rihanna, Skyler Grey and Dr Dre for “Love The Way You Lie Pt 2” and “I Need A Doctor.” with Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levaine on piano.
B.o.B. and Bruno Mars reunited for another great performance of “Nothin’ On You”, with Mars giving a brilliant performance of “Grenade”, even getting a standing ovation. Bruno Mars later bagged himself his first Grammy award, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his number one hit song “Just The Way You Are”.
R&B superstar Usher won Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for his song “There Goes My Baby” and Contemporary R&B Album for “Raymond V Raymond”. Usher, with Justin Bieber on hand, later gave a medley of hits along with Jaden Smith joining the performance as parents Will & Jada Smith looked on .
After giving a solid performance with Eminem, Rihanna later returned to the stage, only this time for a sexy romp with Drake on their duet “Whats My Name”. The barbados beauty didn’t walk away empty handed from the bash ether, she won Best Dance Recording for “Only Girl (in the World)”
“F*** You” the Number one song from Cee Lo Green took home Urban/Alternative Performance for his smash record and he even performed the hit with Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow and some Puppets. Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals went to Sade, for “Soldier of Love,” . The award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance went to American singer Fantasia, for her song “Bittersweet”
Lady Gaga was talk of the night yet again but not for landing 3 awards but for Red Carpet Arrival. Gaga has worn outfits made of meat, Kermit the Frog dolls, and bubbles, but she may have just topped them all arriving on the Red Carpet being carried in a plastic EGG which contained an oxygen mask. THREE hours later she hatched out of her egg and performed her brand new single “Born This Way”
R&B:
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: Fantasia, “Bittersweet,”
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: Usher, “There Goes My Baby,” Raymond V Raymond
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: Sade, “Soldier of Love,”
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: John Legend & The Roots, “Hang On In There,”
Best R&B Song: John Legend & The Roots, “Shine,”
Best R&B Album: “Wake Up!”, John Legend & The Roots
Contemporary R&B Album: Raymond V Raymond, Usher“Empire State of Mind”
Rap/Sung Collaboration: Jay-Z & Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind”
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz, “On to the Next One,”
Rap Solo Performance: Eminem, “Not Afraid”
RAP:
Rap Song: Jay-Z & Alicia Keys,
Best Rap Album : Eminem “Recovery”
Urban/Alternative Performance: “F*** You” Cee Lo Green
You can catch all the the full show from last nights Grammy Awards on Rte 2 tonight from 7.30 cant wait till then as promised Rap Ireland.com have all the Hip-hop / R&B performances below.
B.o.B., Bruno Mars & Janelle Monae
Justin Bieber (with Jaden Smith) & Usher’s medley performance
Introduced by Seth Rogan, Eminem with guests Rihanna, Skylar Grey & Dr. Dre perform a medley of “Love The Way You Lie Part.2″ & “I Need A Doctor
Rihanna & Drake “Whats My Name”
Aretha Franklin Tribute By Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson, Christina McBride & Florence Welch
Cee Lo Green , Gwyneth Paltrow – F*** You
Eminem Acceptance Speech
