R2HM reviews the grammy nominations

Justin Timberlake(R) applauds singer Mary J. Blige as one of her eight Grammy nominations is announced at the press conference for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. The Grammys will take place in Los Angeles 11 February 2007.”

For the most part, the Grammys got the urban categories right, though there were instances where they fell back on the usual suspects instead of making a bolder move.

The most glaring omission was in the rap album category — Ghostface Killah’s Fishscale — and his single Back Like That, featuring Ne-Yo, should have been tapped for rap/sung collaboration. The Wu-Tang Clan vet delivered some of the most inventive, but not necessarily radio-friendly, rhymesof the year and should have been recognized for not coloring by the numbers. They could have gotten by with just one Eminem collaboration.

The rap-album category was tougher, with two powerhouse stars in T.I. and Ludacris and the more artistic Lupe Fiasco, Pharrell and The Roots as competition. The rap song category was representative of what hip-hop had to offer this year, with Yung Joc’s snap music anthem It’s Goin’ Down and Fiasco’s skateboard tale Kick, Push at opposite ends of the spectrum. Chamillionaire’s Ridin’ was among the most ubiquitous songs of the year, along with Rick Ross’ Hustlin’, which wasn’t nominated.

The female R&B vocal category may have been better served by newcomer Keisha Cole’s Love than veteran Natalie Cole’s cover of Day Dreaming, and room could have been made for Teena Marie’s Ooh Wee. Lyfe Jennings’ S.E.X. would have added some edge to the male R&B nominations, which rightfully gave a nod to Lionel Richie, but didn’t have to settle on Luther Vandross and Prince. Of the traditional R&B nominees, it would be nice to see soul legend Sam Moore take home a trophy. Contemporary R&B album offers a nice mix, with rising male stars Ne-Yo and Chris Brown battling it out with Janet Jackson, Kelis and Beyonce.

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