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Quality Control Music, home of Migos, Lil Baby and City Girls, Sold to Korean Music Giant HYBE in $300 Million Deal

Photo credit: Eric Ray Davidson
Pictured (from L-R): HYBE Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk, QC CEO Pierre "P" Thomas, QC COO Kevin "Coach K" Lee and HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun. 

Quality Control Music, the Atlanta-based record label that is home to chart-topping artists Migos, Lil
Baby and City Girls, has been acquired by South Korean Music company HYBE in a deal worth $300 million.

HYBE America shared the news on Wednesday, and while the company did not mention numbers in its announcement, a filing with Korean regulators indicates the company is paying a $250 million purchase price for the company and issuing $50 million in new stock to its founders Kevin "Coach K" Lee and Pierre "P" Thomas.

"HYBE are perfect partners for Quality Control as we come together to take our story and work global," Thomas, CEO of Quality Control said. "This partnership will create a global platform for our artists, which has been our goal since day one for them."

HYBE America is led by Scooter Braun, who has played integral roles in launching the careers of several pop and hip-hop stars, including Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. The move marks his first as CEO for the company, established in 2005 as Big Hit Entertainment, which is home to some of K-pop’s biggest acts including international superstars BTS.

Braun called Quality Control "one of the most significant independent labels in the world" and implied that the label would have some autonomy under the new arrangement.

"It's important to my team and me that P and Coach continue to have the freedom, and now our global resources, to continue to do what they do best," he said.

Quality Control Co-Founder and COO, Lee, who said he and Braun have cultivated real trust and a common way of looking at the world and culture over the years, added, "P and I are ecstatic about this partnership with Scooter and HYBE and are confident they can get us to our global ambitions we've had in our scope since the beginning of our company as nothing means more than our artists impacting world-wide."

Hip-Hop Stars Brand Power Shines in Trio of Super Bowl Ads


As Super Bowl LVI draws near, some of the most recognizable names in hip-hop are making an impact through commercials released ahead of the big event.

Diddy, Snoop Dogg, and Jack Harlow are among the stars appearing in these advertisements.

Ad space during the Super Bowl comes at a steep cost, with estimates putting the price tag for each 30-second ad slot at $7 million, excluding the talent's salaries.

Let's take a closer look at what these rap icons have in store:

Diddy, the CEO of Bad Boy Records, showcases his business expertise in an Uber Eats commercial. He's not only promoting the meal delivery service, but also his Love Records, CÎROC, and DeLeon Tequila brands.

In the ad the billionaire is on the hunt for the ideal jingle, which will feature remixed hits from artists like Montell Jordan, Donna Lewis, Kelis, Ylvis, and Haddaway.

Snoop Dogg brings his signature flair as the brand ambassador for Skechers Slip-Ins.

The vibrant spot feature fellow legends Martha Stewart, Howie Long and Tony Romo, and shows Snoop walking red carpets, performing at concerts, and cruising through L.A. on a beach cruiser, all while his hit song "Who Am I? (What's My Name?)" plays in the background.



The much-anticipated, following several teasers, Doritos commercial featuring Jack Harlow and Missy Elliott pulls out all the stops. The ad takes viewers on a journey through Jack's hypothetical career if he had incorporated Doritos into his stage performances, with appearances from Sway Calloway and Kelly Jackson of "Sway in The Morning" and a cameo from Sir Elton John.

Watch: Grammy Awards Tribute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop Sets Internet Ablaze

This year's Grammys had plenty of big moments, from Beyoncé becoming the most decorated award winner in Recording Academy history to a surprise win by roots-rocker Bonnie Raitt in the song of the year category.There was one moment on Sunday, however, that stood out above the others if the internet and media covering the 65th edition of music's premiere event are to be trusted.

The Recording Academy's celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, with a star-studded tribute directed by Questlove, has been the talk of the virtual water cooler today.

Introduced by LL Cool J, the electrifying set brought together a cavalcade of the art form's finest group and individual acts from across the generations.Hip-hop legends like Run DMC, Salt-n-Pepa, Flava Flav, Ice-T, Queen Latifah, Method Man and Busta Rhymes shared the stage with some of its newest stars including GloRilla and Lil Uzi Vert.

For nearly 15 minutes the music world stood at a standstill as the artists acted as a jukebox and recreated some of hip-hop's biggest hits.The three-part tribute included performances of "The Message," "I Can't Live Without My Radio," "Eric B Is President," "My Mind's Playing Tricks on Me, “U.N.I.T.Y.,” and "Lose Control" by the original artists along with a slew of other hits and collaborations.

Watch the performance below.

Viola Davis Becomes Third Black Woman to EGOT With Grammy Win

Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Viola Davis joined an exclusive club with her win for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards for her audiobook "Finding Me: A Memoir" on Sunday.

She became just the third black woman to reach coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) status, and one of only 18 entertainers to win all four of the awards comprising entertainment's holy grail.

The 57-year-old actor credited her younger self with the inspiration for the project.

“I wrote this book to honor the 6-year-old Viola,” she said. “To honor her life, her joy, her trauma, everything. And, it has just been such a journey – I just EGOT!”

The award was the latest in a long list of accolades for the talented thespian, singer and author.

Davis was the first Black woman to win an Emmy for best actress in a drama, as well as the first Black woman to receive four Academy Award nominations.

Her other EGOT wins include two Tony awards for her work on Broadway: Best Featured Actress in 2001 for her role in "King Hedley II", and Best Leading Actress in 2010 for "Fences," an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in "How to Get Away with Murder" and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the celluloid version of "Fences."

Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Hudson are the two other Black women that have reached EGOT status. Singer John Legend is the only Black man to EGOT.

Beyoncé Makes History at 65th Annual Grammy Awards

Photo Courtesy Getty Images for The Recording Academy
The BeyHive's Queen B secured another throne Sunday night at the 65th annual Grammy Awards.

Beyoncé — the most nominated artist coming into the night with nine — won four Grammys to become the most decorated artist in the awards show's history.

Her critically acclaimed record "Renaissance" won for best dance/electronic album to push her past the previous record holder – orchestra conductor Georg Solti – with 32 wins.

The superstar, who was already the most-awarded woman performer in Grammy history and who holds a tie with her husband, rapper Jay-Z for most overall nominations (88), received a standing ovation from the crowd at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena.

"Thank you so much. I’m trying not to be too emotional. I’m trying to just receive this night. I want to thank God for protecting me. Thank you, God. I’d like to thank my Uncle Johnny, who’s not here, but he’s here in spirit," she said in a teary-eyed victory speech.

"I’d like to thank my parents, my father, my mother, for loving me and pushing me. I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three children, who are at home watching. I’d like to thank the queer community for your love and for inventing this genre. God bless you. Thank you so much to the Grammys. Thank you."

Grammys host Trevor Noah added, “We can finally end the GOAT debate; it’s done now – it’s Beyoncé.”



The night was not perfect for the singer whose other award wins were for best R&B song (“Cuff It”), traditional R&B performance (“Plastic Off the Sofa”) and dance/electronic recording (“Break My Soul”).

"Renaissance" failed to win album or record of the year extending her streak of being shutout from some of the Grammy's major awards despite multiple nominations.

See the complete list of nominees and winners below:

Album of the Year
ABBA - Voyage
Adele - 30
Bad Bunny - Un Verano Sin Ti
Beyoncé - Renaissance
Brandi Carlile - In These Silent Days
Coldplay - Music of the Spheres
WINNER: Harry Styles - Harry’s House
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Lizzo - Special
Mary J. Blige - Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe)

Best New Artist
Anitta
Domi & JD Beck
Latto
Måneskin
Molly Tuttle
Muni Long
Omar Apollo
WINNER: Samara Joy
Tobe Nwigwe
Wet Leg

Record of the Year
ABBA - Don’t Shut Me Down
Adele - Easy on Me
Beyoncé - Break My Soul
Brandi Carlile Featuring Lucius - You and Me on the Rock
Doja Cat - Woman
Harry Styles - As It Was
Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5
WINNER: Lizzo - About Damn Time
Mary J. Blige - Good Morning Gorgeous
Steve Lacy - Bad Habit

Song of the Year
Adele - Easy on Me
Beyoncé - Break My Soul
WINNER: Bonnie Raitt - Just Like That
DJ Khaled Featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy - God Did
Gayle - ABCDEFU
Harry Styles - As It Was
Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5
Lizzo - About Damn Time
Steve Lacy - Bad Habit
Taylor Swift - All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (The Short Film)

Best Pop Solo Performance
WINNER: Adele - Easy on Me
Bad Bunny - Moscow Mule
Doja Cat - Woman
Harry Styles - As It Was
Lizzo - About Damn Time
Steve Lacy - Bad Habit

Best Dance/Electronic Music Album
WINNER: Beyoncé - Renaissance
Bonobo - Fragments
Diplo - Diplo
Odesza - The Last Goodbye
Rüfüs Du Sol - Surrender

Best Rap Album
DJ Khaled - God Did
Future - I Never Liked You
Jack Harlow - Come Home the Kids Miss You
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Pusha T - It’s Almost Dry

Best Música Urbana Album
WINNER: Bad Bunny - Un Verano Sin Ti
Daddy Yankee - Legendaddy
Farruko - La 167
Maluma - The Love & Sex Tape
Rauw Alejandro - Trap Cake, Vol. 2

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
ABBA - Don’t Shut Me Down
Camila Cabello Featuring Ed Sheeran - Bam Bam
Coldplay & BTS - My Universe
Post Malone & Doja Cat - I Like You (A Happier Song)
WINNER: Sam Smith & Kim Petras - Unholy

Best Country Album
Ashley McBryde - Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville
Luke Combs - Growin’ Up
Maren Morris - Humble Quest
Miranda Lambert - Palomino
WINNER: Willie Nelson - A Beautiful Time 

Best R&B Song
WINNER: Beyoncé - Cuff It
Jazmine Sullivan - Hurt Me So Good
Mary J. Blige - Good Morning Gorgeous
Muni Long - Hrs & Hrs
PJ Morton - Please Don’t Walk Away

Best Pop Vocal Album
ABBA - Voyage
Adele - 30
Coldplay - Music of the Spheres
WINNER: Harry Styles - Harry’s House
Lizzo - Special

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Boi-1da
Dahi
Dan Auerbach
Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II
WINNER: Jack Antonoff

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical
Amy Allen
Laura Veltz
Nija Charles
The-Dream
WINNER: Tobias Jesso Jr.

Best Music Film
Adele - Adele One Night Only
Billie Eilish - Billie Eilish Live at the O2
Justin Bieber - Our World
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - A Band a Brotherhood a Barn
Rosalía - Motomami (Rosalía TikTok Live Performance)
WINNER: Various Artists - Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story

Best Music Video
Adele - Easy on Me
BTS - Yet to Come
Doja Cat - Woman
Harry Styles - As It Was
Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5
WINNER: Taylor Swift - All Too Well: The Short Film

Best Song Written for Visual Media
Beyoncé - Be Alive
WINNER: Carolina Gaitán - La Gaita, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz & Encanto - Cast - We Don’t Talk About Bruno
Jessy Wilson Featuring Angélique Kidjo - Keep Rising (The Woman King)
Lady Gaga - Hold My Hand
Taylor Swift - Carolina
4*Town, Jordan Fisher, Finneas O’Connell, Josh Levi, Topher Ngo & Grayson Villanueva - Nobody Like U

Best Musical Theater Album
Original Broadway Cast - A Strange Loop
New Broadway Cast - Caroline, or Change
WINNER: ‘Into the Woods’ 2022 Broadway Cast - Into the Woods (2022 Broadway Cast Recording)
Original Broadway Cast - MJ the Musical
‘Mr. Saturday Night’ Original Cast - Mr. Saturday Night
Original Broadway Cast - Six: Live on Opening Night

Best Comedy Album
WINNER: Dave Chappelle - The Closer
Jim Gaffigan - Comedy Monster
Louis C.K. - Sorry
Patton Oswalt - We All Scream
Randy Rainbow - A Little Brains, a Little Talent

Best Folk Album
Aoife O’Donovan - Age of Apathy
Janis Ian - The Light at the End of the Line
Judy Collins - Spellbound
WINNER: Madison Cunningham - Revealer
Punch Brothers - Hell on Church Street

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album
Amanda Gorman - Call Us What We Carry: Poems
Amir Sulaiman - You Will Be Someone’s Ancestor. Act Accordingly.
Ethelbert Miller - Black Men Are Precious
WINNER: J. Ivy - The Poet Who Sat by the Door
Malcolm-Jamal Warner - Hiding in Plain View

Best Americana Album
Bonnie Raitt - Just Like That...
WINNER: Brandi Carlile - In These Silent Days
Dr. John - Things Happen That Way
Keb’ Mo’ - Good to Be...
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raise the Roof

Best American Roots Song
Anaïs Mitchell - Bright Star
Aoife O’Donovan & Allison Russell - Prodigal Daughter
WINNER: Bonnie Raitt - Just Like That
Brandi Carlile Featuring Lucius - You and Me on the Rock
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - High and Lonesome
Sheryl Crow - Forever

Best Americana Performance
Asleep at the Wheel Featuring Lyle Lovett - There You Go Again
Blind Boys of Alabama Featuring Black Violin - The Message
WINNER: Bonnie Raitt - Made Up Mind
Brandi Carlile Featuring Lucius - You and Me on the Rock
Eric Alexandrakis - Silver Moon [A Tribute to Michael Nesmith]

Best American Roots Performance
WINNER: Aaron Neville & The Dirty Dozen Brass Band - Stompin’ Ground
Aoife O’Donovan & Allison Russell - Prodigal Daughter
Bill Anderson Featuring Dolly Parton - Someday It’ll All Make Sense (Bluegrass Version)
Fantastic Negrito - Oh Betty
Madison Cunningham - Life According to Raechel

Best Tropical Latin Album
Carlos Vives - Cumbiana II
WINNER: Marc Anthony - Pa’lla Voy
La Santa Cecilia - Quiero Verte Feliz
Spanish Harlem Orchestra - Imágenes Latinas
Tito Nieves - Legendario

Best Latin Jazz Album
WINNER: Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Featuring The Congra Patria Son Jarocho Collective - Fandango at the Wall in New York
Arturo Sandoval - Rhythm & Soul
Danilo Pérez Featuring The Global Messengers - Crisálida
Flora Purim - If You Will
Miguel Zenón - Música de las Américas

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Brad Mehldau - Jacob’s Ladder
Domi & JD Beck - Not Tight
Grant Geissman - Blooz
Jeff Coffin - Between Dreaming and Joy
WINNER: Snarky Puppy - Empire Central

Producer of the Year, Classical
Christoph Franke
Elaine Martone
James Ginsburg
Jonathan Allen
WINNER: Judith Sherman

Best Engineered Album, Classical
Anita Brevik, Nidarosdomens Jentekor & Trondheimsolistene - Tuvayhun — Beatitudes for a Wounded World
Anne-Sophie Mutter, Boston Symphony Orchestra & John Williams - Williams: Violin Concerto No. 2 & Selected Film Themes
WINNER: Edwin Outwater & Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Mason Bates: Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra & Manfred Honeck - Beethoven & Stucky: Orchestral Works
Third Coast Percussion - Perspectives

Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Andris Nelsons & Gewandhausorchester - Gubaidulina: The Wrath of God
Carlos Simon, MK Zulu, Marco Pavé & Hub New Music - Simon: Requiem for the Enslaved
Ian Rosenbaum & Dover Quartet - Akiho: Ligneous Suite
Jack Quartet - Bermel: Intonations
WINNER: Time for Three, The Philadelphia Orchestra & Xian Zhang - Puts: Contact

Best Classical Compendium
Christopher Tin, Voces8, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Barnaby Smith - The Lost Birds
WINNER: Kitt Wakeley - An Adoption Story
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Yannick Nézet-Séguin - A Concert for Ukraine
Seunghee Lee, JP Jofre & London Symphony Orchestra - Aspire

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
Il Pomo d’Oro - Eden
Nicholas Phan, Brooklyn Rider, The Knights & Eric Jacobsen - Stranger - Works for Tenor by Nico Muhly
WINNER: Renée Fleming & Yannick Nézet-Séguin - Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene
Sasha Cooke & Kirill Kuzmin - How Do I Find You
Will Liverman, Paul Sánchez & J’Nai Bridges - Shawn E. Okpebholo: Lord, How Come Me Here?

Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Daniil Trifonov - Bach: The Art of Life
Hilary Hahn - Abels: Isolation Variation
Mak Grgić - A Night in Upper Town - The Music of Zoran Krajacic
Mitsuko Uchida - Beethoven: Diabelli Variations
WINNER: Time for Three, The Philadelphia Orchestra & Xian Zhang - Letters for the Future

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
WINNER: Attacca Quartet - Caroline Shaw: Evergreen
Dover Quartet - Beethoven: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 2 – The Middle Quartets
Neave Trio - Musical Remembrances
Publiquartet - What Is American
Third Coast Percussion - Perspectives

Best Choral Performance
WINNER: The Crossing - Born
English Baroque Soloists & Monteverdi Choir - J.S. Bach: St. John Passion, BWV 245
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, The Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Ailyn Pérez, Michelle DeYoung, Matthew Polenzani & Eric Owens - Verdi’s Requiem: The Met Remembers 9/11

Best Opera Recording
Boston Modern Orchestra Project & Odyssey Opera Chorus - Anthony Davis: X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X
WINNER: The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & The Metropolitan Opera Chorus - Blanchard: Fire Shut Up in My Bones
The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & The Metropolitan Opera Chorus - Eurydice

Best Orchestral Performance
Berlin Philharmonic & John Williams - John Williams: The Berlin Concert
Los Angeles Philharmonic & Gustavo Dudamel - Dvořák: Symphonies Nos. 7-9
WINNER: New York Youth Symphony - Works by Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Valerie Coleman
Various Artists - Sila: The Breath of the World
Wild Up & Christopher Rountree - Stay on It

Best Roots Gospel Album
Gaither Vocal Band - Let’s Just Praise the Lord
Karen Peck & New River - 2:22
Keith & Kristyn Getty - Confessio - Irish American Roots
WINNER: Tennessee State University - The Urban Hymnal
Willie Nelson - The Willie Nelson Family

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Anne Wilson - My Jesus
Chris Tomlin - Always
Elevation Worship - Lion
WINNER: Maverick City Music - Breathe
TobyMac - Life After Death

Best Gospel Album
Doe - Clarity
Maranda Curtis - Die to Live
WINNER: Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin - Kingdom Book One (Deluxe)
Ricky Dillard - Breakthrough: The Exodus (Live)
Tye Tribbett - All Things New

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
Chris Tomlin - Holy Forever
Crowder & Dante Bowe Featuring Maverick City Music - God Really Loves Us (Radio Version)
Doe - So Good
For King & Country & Hillary Scott - For God Is With Us
WINNER: Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin - Fear Is Not My Future
Phil Wickham - Hymn of Heaven (Radio Version)

Best Gospel Performance/Song
Doe - When I Pray
Erica Campbell - Positive
WINNER: Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin - Kingdom
PJ Morton Featuring Zacardi Cortez, Gene Moore, Samoht, Tim Rogers & Darrel Walls - The Better Benediction
Tye Tribbett - Get Up

Best Regional Roots Music Album
Halau Hula Keali’i o Nalani - Halau Hula Keali’i o Nalani (Live at the Getty Center)
Natalie Ai Kamauu - Natalie Noelani
Nathan & The Zydeco Cha-Chas - Lucky Man
WINNER: Ranky Tanky - Live at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Sean Ardoin & Kreole Rock and Soul Featuring The Golden Band From Tigerland - Full Circle

Best Contemporary Blues Album
Ben Harper - Bloodline Maintenance
WINNER: Edgar Winter - Brother Johnny
Eric Gales - Crown
North Mississippi Allstars - Set Sail 
Shemekia Copeland - Done Come Too Far

Best Traditional Blues Album
Buddy Guy - The Blues Don’t Lie
Charlie Musselwhite - Mississippi Son
Gov’t Mule - Heavy Load Blues
John Mayall - The Sun Is Shining Down
WINNER: Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder - Get on Board

Best Bluegrass Album
The Del McCoury Band - Almost Proud
The Infamous Stringdusters - Toward the Fray
WINNER: Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway - Crooked Tree
Peter Rowan - Calling You From My Mountain
Yonder Mountain String Band - Get Yourself Outside

Best Country Song
WINNER: Cody Johnson - ’Til You Can’t
Luke Combs - Doin’ This
Maren Morris - Circles Around This Town
Miranda Lambert - If I Was a Cowboy
Taylor Swift - I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)
Willie Nelson - I’ll Love You Till the Day I Die

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Brothers Osborne - Midnight Rider’s Prayer
WINNER: Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde - Never Wanted to Be That Girl
Ingrid Andress & Sam Hunt - Wishful Drinking
Luke Combs & Miranda Lambert - Outrunnin’ Your Memory
Reba McEntire & Dolly Parton - Does He Love You (Revisited)
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Going Where the Lonely Go

Best Country Solo Performance
Kelsea Ballerini - Heartfirst
Maren Morris - Circles Around This Town
Miranda Lambert - In His Arms
WINNER: Willie Nelson - Live Forever
Zach Bryan - Something in the Orange

Best Historical Album
Blondie - Against the Odds: 1974 - 1982
Doc Watson - Life’s Work: A Retrospective
Freestyle Fellowship - To Whom It May Concern...
Glenn Gould - The Goldberg Variations: The Complete Unreleased 1981 Studio Sessions
WINNER: Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)

Best Album Notes
Andy Irvine & Paul Brady - Andy Irvine / Paul Brady
Astor Piazzolla - The American Clavé Recordings
Doc Watson - Life’s Work: A Retrospective
Harry Partch - Harry Partch, 1942
WINNER: Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
Black Pumas - Black Pumas (Collector’s Edition Box Set)
Danny Elfman - Big Mess
WINNER: The Grateful Dead - In and Out of the Garden: Madison Square Garden ’81, ’82, ’83
They Might Be Giants - Book
Various Artists - Artists Inspired by Music: Interscope Reimagined

Best Recording Package
Fann - Telos
Soporus - Divers
Spiritualized - Everything Was Beautiful
WINNER: Tamsui-Kavalan Chinese Orchestra - Beginningless Beginning
Underoath - Voyeurist

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
Chiquis - Abeja Reina
Christian Nodal - EP #1 Forajido
Marco Antonio Solís - Qué Ganas de Verte (Deluxe)
WINNER: Natalia Lafourcade - Un Canto por México - El Musical
Los Tigres del Norte - La Reunión (Deluxe)

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album
Cimafunk - El Alimento
Fito Paez - Los Años Salvajes
Gaby Moreno - Alegoría
Jorge Drexler - Tinta y Tiempo
Mon Laferte - 1940 Carmen
WINNER: Rosalía - Motomami

Best Latin Pop Album
Camilo - De Adentro Pa Afuera
Christina Aguilera - Aguilera
Fonseca - Viajante
WINNER: Rubén Blades & Boca Livre - Pasieros
Sebastián Yatra - Dharma +

Best Global Music Album
Angélique Kidjo & Ibrahim Maalouf - Queen of Sheba
Anoushka Shankar, Metropole Orkest & Jules Buckley Featuring Manu Delago - Between Us... (Live)
Berklee Indian Ensemble - Shuruaat
Burna Boy - Love, Damini
WINNER: Masa Takumi - Sakura

Best Global Music Performance
Arooj Aftab & Anoushka Shankar - Udhero Na
Burna Boy - Last Last
Matt B & Eddy Kenzo - Gimme Love
Rocky Dawuni Featuring Blvk H3ro - Neva Bow Down
WINNER: Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini & Nomcebo Zikode - Bayethe

Best Reggae Album
WINNER: Kabaka Pyramid - The Kalling
Koffee - Gifted
Protoje - Third Time’s the Charm
Sean Paul - Scorcha
Shaggy - Com Fly Wid Mi

Best Alternative Music Album
Arcade Fire - WE
Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
Björk - Fossora
WINNER: Wet Leg - Wet Leg
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Cool It Down

Best Alternative Music Performance
Arctic Monkeys - There’d Better Be a Mirrorball
Big Thief - Certainty
Florence and the Machine - King
WINNER: Wet Leg - Chaise Longue
Yeah Yeah Yeahs Featuring Perfume Genius - Spitting Off the Edge of the World

Best Rock Album
The Black Keys - Dropout Boogie
Elvis Costello & The Imposters - The Boy Named If
Idles - Crawler
Machine Gun Kelly - Mainstream Sellout
WINNER: Ozzy Osbourne - Patient Number 9
Spoon - Lucifer on the Sofa

Best Rock Song
WINNER: Brandi Carlile - Broken Horses
Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Jeff Beck - Patient Number 9
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Black Summer
Turnstile - Blackout
The War on Drugs - Harmonia’s Dream

Best Metal Performance
Ghost - Call Me Little Sunshine
Megadeth - We’ll Be Back
Muse - Kill or Be Killed
WINNER: Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Tony Iommi - Degradation Rules
Turnstile - Blackout

Best Rock Performance
Beck - Old Man
The Black Keys - Wild Child
WINNER: Brandi Carlile - Broken Horses
Bryan Adams - So Happy It Hurts
Idles - Crawl!
Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Jeff Beck - Patient Number 9
Turnstile - Holiday

Best Rap Song
DJ Khaled Featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy - God Did
Future Featuring Drake & Tems - Wait for U
Gunna & Future Featuring Young Thug - Pushin P
Jack Harlow Featuring Drake - Churchill Downs
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5

Best Melodic Rap Performance
DJ Khaled Featuring Future & SZA - Beautiful
WINNER: Future Featuring Drake & Tems - Wait for U
Jack Harlow - First Class
Kendrick Lamar Featuring Blxst & Amanda Reifer - Die Hard
Latto - Big Energy (Live)

Best Rap Performance
DJ Khaled Featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy - God Did
Doja Cat - Vegas
Gunna & Future Featuring Young Thug - Pushin P
Hitkidd & Glorilla - F.N.F. (Let’s Go)
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5

Best R&B Album
Chris Brown - Breezy (Deluxe)
Lucky Daye - Candy Drip
Mary J. Blige - Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe)
PJ Morton - Watch the Sun
WINNER: Robert Glasper - Black Radio III

Best Progressive R&B Album
Cory Henry - Operation Funk
Moonchild - Starfuit
WINNER: Steve Lacy - Gemini Rights
Tank and the Bangas - Red Balloon
Terrace Martin - Drones

Best Traditional R&B Performance
Adam Blackstone Featuring Jazmine Sullivan - ’Round Midnight
Babyface Featuring Ella Mai - Keeps on Fallin’
WINNER: Beyoncé - Plastic Off the Sofa
Mary J. Blige - Good Morning Gorgeous
Snoh Aalegra - Do 4 Love

Best R&B Performance
Beyoncé - Virgo’s Groove
Jazmine Sullivan - Hurt Me So Good
Lucky Daye - Over
Mary J. Blige Featuring Anderson .Paak - Here With Me
WINNER: Muni Long - Hrs & Hrs

Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording
Jamie Foxx - Act Like You Got Some Sense
Lin-Manuel Miranda - Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World
Mel Brooks - All About Me!: My Remarkable Life in Show Business
Questlove - Music Is History
WINNER: Viola Davis - Finding Me

Best Children’s Music Album
WINNER: Alphabet Rockers - The Movement
Divinity Roxx - Ready Set Go!
Justin Roberts - Space Cadet
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band - Los Fabulosos
Wendy and DB - Into the Little Blue House

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Diana Ross - Thank You
Kelly Clarkson - When Christmas Comes Around...
WINNER: Michael Bublé - Higher
Norah Jones - I Dream of Christmas (Extended)
Pentatonix - Evergreen

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
John Beasley, Magnus Lindgren & SWR Big Band - Bird Lives
Remy Le Boeuf’s Assembly of Shadows - Architecture of Storms
Ron Carter & The Jazzaar Festival Big Band Directed by Christian Jacob - Remembering Bob Freedman
Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez, Ronnie Cuber & WDR Big Band Conducted by Michael Abene - Center Stage
WINNER: Steven Feifke, Bijon Watson & Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra - Generation Gap Jazz Orchestra

Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride & Brian Blade - LongGone
Peter Erskine Trio - Live in Italy
WINNER: Terri Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Linda May Han Oh, Nicholas Payton & Matthew Stevens - New Standards, Vol. 1
Wayne Shorter, Terri Lyne Carrington, Leo Genovese & Esperanza Spalding - Live at the Detroit Jazz Festival
Yellowjackets - Parallel Motion

Best Jazz Vocal Album
The Baylor Project - The Evening : Live At Apparatus
Carmen Lundy - Fade to Black
Cécile McLorin Salvant - Ghost Song
The Manhattan Transfer & The WDR Funkhausorchester - Fifty
WINNER: Samara Joy - Linger Awhile

Best Improvised Jazz Solo
Ambrose Akinmusire - Rounds (Live)
Gerald Albright - Keep Holding On
John Beasley - Cherokee/Koko
Marcus Baylor - Call of the Drum
Melissa Aldana - Falling
WINNER: Wayne Shorter & Leo Genovese - Endangered Species

Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album
Cheryl B. Engelhardt - The Passenger
Madi Das, Dave Stringer & Bhakti Without Borders - Mantra Americana
WINNER: Mystic Mirror - White Sun
Paul Avgerinos - Joy
Will Ackerman - Positano Songs

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
Becca Stevens & Attacca Quartet - 2 + 2 = 5 (Arr. Nathan Schram)
Cécile McLorin Salvant - Optimistic Voices / No Love Dying
WINNER: Christine McVie - Songbird (Orchestral Version)
Jacob Collier Featuring Lizzy McAlpine & John Mayer - Never Gonna Be Alone
Louis Cole - Let It Happen

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
Armand Hutton Featuring Terrell Hunt & Just 6 - As Days Go By (An Arrangement of the Family Matters Theme Song)
Danny Elfman - Main Titles
Kings Return - How Deep Is Your Love
WINNER: Magnus Lindgren, John Beasley & The SWR Big Band Featuring Martin Auer - Scrapple From the Apple
Remy Le Boeuf - Minnesota, WI

Best Instrumental Composition
Danilo Pérez Featuring The Global Messengers - Fronteras (Borders) Suite: Al-Musafir Blues
WINNER: Geoffrey Keezer - Refuge
Miguel Zenón, José Antonio Zayas Cabán, Ryan Smith & Casey Rafn - El País Invisible
Tasha Warren & Dave Eggar - African Tales
Tasha Warren & Dave Eggar - Snapshots

Best Immersive Audio Album
Anita Brevik, Nidarosdomens Jentekor & Trondheimsolistene - Tuvayhun — Beatitudes for a Wounded World
The Chainsmokers - Memories...Do Not Open
Christina Aguilera - Aguilera
Jane Ira Bloom - Picturing the Invisible: Focus 1
WINNER: Stewart Copeland & Ricky Kej - Divine Tides

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Baynk - Adolescence
Father John Misty - Chloë and the Next 20th Century
WINNER: Harry Styles - Harry’s House
Robert Glasper - Black Radio III
Wet Leg - Wet Leg

Best Remixed Recording
Beyoncé - Break My Soul (Terry Hunter Remix)
Ellie Goulding - Easy Lover (Four Tet Remix)
The Knocks & Dragonette - Slow Song (Paul Woolford Remix)
WINNER: Lizzo - About Damn Time (Purple Disco Machine Remix)
Wet Leg - Too Late Now (Soulwax Remix)

Best Dance/Electronic Recording
WINNER: Beyoncé - Break My Soul
Bonobo - Rosewood
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha - I’m Good (Blue)
Diplo & Miguel - Don’t Forget My Love
Kaytranada Featuring H.E.R. - Intimidated
Rüfüs Du Sol - On My Knees

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media
Austin Wintory - Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Bear McCreary - Call of Duty®: Vanguard
Christopher Tin - Old World
Richard Jacques - Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
WINNER: Stephanie Economou - Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök

Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television)
WINNER: Germaine Franco - Encanto
Hans Zimmer - No Time to Die
Jonny Greenwood - The Power of the Dog
Michael Giacchino - The Batman
Nicholas Britell - Succession: Season 3

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Various Artists - Elvis
WINNER: Various Artists - Encanto
Various Artists - Stranger Things: Soundtrack From the Netflix Series, Season 4
Lorne Balfe, Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga & Hans Zimmer - Top Gun: Maverick
Various Artists - West Side Story

Grammys To Celebrate Hip-Hops 50th Anniversary With Star-Studded Segment

Courtesy Photo The Recording Academy
The Recording Academy will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop on Sunday with a star-studded tribute.

To showcase the rich history of the genre and its continued global influence, the 65th Annual Grammy Awards will feature performances by a slew of its most exciting, eclectic and impactful artists.

“For five decades, hip-hop has not only been a defining force in music, but a major influence on our culture,” Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “Its contributions to art, fashion, sport, politics, and society cannot be overstated. I’m so proud that we are honoring it in such a spectacular way on the Grammy stage. It is just the beginning of our yearlong celebration of this essential genre of music.”

Big Boi, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Mele Mel & Scorpio/Ethiopian King, Ice-T, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, The Lox, Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Rahiem, Rakim, RUN-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella, Scarface, Swizz Beatz and Too $hort will perform.

Rapper LL Cool J — who will also perform and give a dedication to the art form — will introduce the Questlove-produced segment. The Roots will provide backing music, and the hip-hop ensemble Black Thought will provide narration.

CBS will broadcast the show live from Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena. In addition, it will be available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+.

Check your local listings for further information.

Charlie Thomas, Member of Legendary Soul Group the Drifters, Dies at 85

SoloEntCC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Charlie Thomas, a prominent member of the golden-era lineup of the R&B group the Drifters in the 1960s, died on Tuesday (Jan. 31). He was 85.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who sang on two of the group's top 40 hits — 1961's "Sweets for My Sweet" and "When My Little Girl Is Smiling" (1962) — had been battling liver cancer.

Originally formed as a backing group for Clyde Lensley McPhatte, one of the doo-wop and R&B circuit's most popular acts in the ’50s, the Drifters have played an outsized role in music history through the group's various incarnations, lineups and spin-offs.

Thomas was an original member of the second iteration of the band, formed in 1958 when the vocal group he was part of (The Five Crowns) was hired to become the new Drifters by the group's manager George Treadwell following a falling out with the original members over low pay and other issues.  

The group featured legendary singer Ben E. King and was popularly known as Ben E. King and the Drifters. Thomas remained in the group until 1967, only to return to a different lineup later.

Eventually, he formed his own version of the group. Charlie Thomas' Drifters toured incessantly around the world throughout the new millennium until sickness sidelined the singer.

The Lynchburg, Virginia, native was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of fame in 1988, along with six other former members of the Drifters, whose membership spanned three eras of the band.

Missy Elliott Nominated for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott
Her hometown Portsmouth, Virginia, named a street after her last year but now hip-hop trailblazer Missy Elliott is in the running for a slightly bigger honor.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame revealed its 2023 nominees on Wednesday, and the rapper was selected to compete for one of music's most prestigious accolades in her first year of eligibility for induction.

In its bio for the musician, the Rock Hall credited Elliott, who sometimes utilizes the sobriquet "Misdemeanor," with crafting the Virginia Beach sound that took over radio's airwaves in the late 1990s and 2000s.

She established herself as an in-demand songwriter and producer and founded her own record label, all before breaking out as a platinum-selling solo star. Elliott forged new paths for women in the music industry and society at large through her behind-the-scenes mastery and unapologetic ownership of her body, her sexual desires, and her Blackness in her music.

Elliot was joined in representing hip-hop and R&B on the list of nominees by eclectic, genre-defying hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest and 1970s soul supergroup, The Spinners, in their second and fourth appearances respectively after previously falling to make the cut.
The Spinners
A Tribe Called Quest

An individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination to be eligible.

Other first-time nominees on the list were country music legend Willie Nelson, pop princess Cyndi Lauper, rock singer-songwriter Cheryl Crow and Detroit rock duo The White Stripes, English rockers Joy Division/New Order, dance-pop icon George Michael and singer-songwriter Warren Zevon.

“This remarkable list of Nominees reflects the diverse artists and music that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors and celebrates,” said John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “These artists have created their own sounds that have impacted generations and influenced countless others that have followed in their footsteps.”

The inductees will be announced in May, with the induction ceremony set to take place later this fall.

Find the complete list of 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees pictured below:



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