J. Cole, Skrillex and Bon Iver have also been around for years before rookie Grammy nods. By Gil Kaufman Nicki Minaj Photo: Getty Images There are many reasons people love to bash the Grammys, but one of the most frequent punching bags is the Best New Artist category. Whether it goes to someone music fans have never heard of (2010’s Esperanza Spalding ), an act who’s been around forever (2001’s Shelby Lynne), or one that even at his or her peak seemed unworthy at best (notorious 1981 flash-in-the-pan Christopher Cross), Best New Artist is a perennial head-scratcher. By Recording Academy rules, the award is for a musician or band who releases an album during the year of eligibility that establishes their “public identity” as an artist. That doesn’t mean it’s their first album or that they suddenly appeared on the scene just that year, because, really, no act just materializes out of thin air and makes their way to the Grammys without years of unseen road, club and studio work. But a look at this year’s nominees is proof that in an age of mixtapes, YouTube, features and blog love such “new” acts as Bon Iver, Nicki Minaj, Skrillex and J. Cole are practically veterans by the time the Academy decides to shine its spotlight. In fact, of all this year’s nominees, only country trio the Band Perry are truly “new,” and they formed in 2005, then gigged around and dropped a few singles until their only full-length studio recording was released in late October of last year. Think Beyonc
‘That’s my fault for dropping Watch the Throne and Dark Fantasy the same year,’ Yeezy tells fans about coveted Grammy nom. By Rob Markman Kanye West Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/ Getty Images Everyone knows that Kanye West takes his awards very seriously, but those who were excepting a Yeezy meltdown for his Grammy Album of the Year snub will be disappointed. On Thursday during the Chicago stop of ‘Ye and Hov’s Watch the Throne Tour , the hometown MC, who is leading the 2012 nominees with seven Grammy nods , addressed the crowd. ‘Something I figured out earlier today, because you know everybody came to me last night like, ‘Congratulations,’ because you know I’m leading — I have the most Grammy nominations once again, like we always do at this time,” Kanye said, drawing thunderous applause from the United Center crowd. “But, you know, people focus, they say, ‘You ain’t have Album of the Year or Record of the Year,’ ” he continued as the fan cheers quickly turned to disapproving boos. Then the outspoken rap star did the unexpected. Instead of sending shots toward the Grammy committee, Kanye blamed himself: “I figured it out though. That’s my fault for dropping Watch the Throne and Dark Fantasy the same year. I should’ve just spaced it out, just a little bit more.” In November 2010, ‘Ye released his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, . The platinum LP was both critically acclaimed and a commercial success thanks to surefire singles like the rambunctious “Power,” the reflective sing-along “Runaway” and “All of the Lights,” which is nominated for Song of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Nine months after MBDTF, in August 2011, the Louis Vuitton Don hooked up with Jay-Z to release their tag-team album Watch the Throne . Both Yeezy LPs are nominated in the Best Rap Album category, but neither is in contention for the coveted Album of the Year Award. Instead Adele, the Foo Fighters, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and Rihanna will duke it out for the golden gramophone. Surprisingly Kanye West isn’t sweating it, though. “Don’t worry because me and Hov are gonna keep on making sh–,” he said to the crowd. Does this mean we can expect a Watch the Throne sequel? Guess we’ll have to wait till next year to see. What do you think of Kanye’s reaction? Should he have spazzed? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos Artists Shine At ‘Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!’ 2012 Grammy Nominees Related Artists Kanye West
Best New Artist nominees ‘really honored to represent country.’ By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias The Band Perry Photo: MTV News The Band Perry is up for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards this February. They are up against some stiff competition in the form of Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver, J. Cole and Skrillex. With artists from such a wide range of musical styles making the final cut, the category sets up one of the year’s most-interesting contests. The group’s leading lady spoke to MTV News on Wednesday night backstage at the Grammy Nominations Concert in Los Angeles, where artists including Lady Gaga took the stage . “Our parents were here with us tonight, so we all hugged, and I cried a little bit, and the second thing that popped into my mind was, ‘What a diverse category!’ ” Kimberly Perry shared. “There’s so many genres represented just in the new artist batch, and we’re just really, really honored to represent country in that.” The band, composed of three siblings, has been getting attention in the mainstream thanks to the success of their self-titled album, released in October 2010, and its breakthrough hit “If I Die Young,” a ballad about the perils of, well, dying young. But, the group was less focused on the morose and more focused on Nicki Minaj when they chatted with us. Think Beyonc
We take a look at the surprises — and outright outrages — of the Grammy nominations, in Bigger Than the Sound. By James Montgomery Lady Gaga Photo: Leon Neal/AFP Here’s about all you need to know about the nominations for the 54th Grammy Awards , which were announced Wednesday night in Los Angeles: Bon Iver got more of them (4) than Lady Gaga did (3). So did Mumford & Sons, Radiohead and Skrillex. Call it the residual effects of Arcade Fire’s Album of the Year triumph at the previous Grammys or perhaps the first creaks of a seismic shift in voter tastes, but there’s definitely something going on with this year’s field of nominees … it’s just difficult to say exactly what. Because, sure Gaga got shunted. But Kanye didn’t. In fact, he’s this year’s most-nominated artist, collecting seven of them (though his My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, by all accounts a commercial and critical success, failed to pick up an Album of the Year nod) in a move by the Grammy voters that certainly poked a lot of holes in what everyone believed would be the story line of these awards: Namely, that women would dominate, since, you know, they’ve basically done that on the charts all year long. Adele, who you’ve probably heard of (and whose 21 album you probably own), ended up snagging six nods, including Album, Record and Song of the Year. But most expected her to get more, or at least be the most-nominated act. Instead, she’s tied with a bunch of dudes ( Bruno Mars and those old Grammy faves the Foo Fighters) in second. Nicki Minaj ended up with five noms, while Rihanna — who is usually the one left out at these kinds of shows — got four. And then the drop off begins. Taylor Swift, who won Album of the Year not too long ago, and whose Speak Now sold a million copies in a week, was shut out of the so-called “Big Four” categories and ended up with just three nominations total, all of which came in the country categories. Katy Perry, who has three #1 singles to her name this year, earned two noms. So did Beyonc
‘I just wanted to deliver something that was worth the wait, and that’s what I feel like I done,’ Jeezy tells ‘Rapfix Live’ about upcoming release. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Young Jeezy Photo: Getty Images It’s not that Young Jeezy pulled a disappearing act since his 2008 LP The Recession . The Snowman has dropped a number of singles and mixtapes since then, but those releases haven’t satisfied the thirst for his upcoming TM 103: Hustlerz Ambition . Jeezy’s long-awaited album has been three years in the making, but the ATL trap star promises it will be worth the wait. “I ain’t the one for making excuses. I was always taught as a youngin by the OGs that you can’t take your problems and make them somebody else’s if you promised them something,” Jeezy said about his album delay on Wednesday’s “RapFix Live.” “I went through a lot of trials and tribs and different things, but I gotta take that and endure that.” Jeezy didn’t clarify what those problems were, but he told MTV News’ Sway Calloway that he had some real distractions that could’ve cost him everything. Still, the Snowman made no excuses — after all, he considers himself a mascot for the streets and one of the hood’s chief motivators. “I was dedicated every day. I put out a few mixtapes because I wanted them to know that I wasn’t being lax, or I wasn’t comfortable,” he said. ” The Real is Back 1 and 2, Trap or Die 2: By Any Means Necessary , The Last Laugh , all of that was an effort to show them that I’m really working, and I was working on the album as well.” In addition to all the free music he delivered his fans since 2008’s Recession , Jeezy also joined Lil Wayne on his America’s Most Wanted Tour and Jay-Z on his Blueprint 3 Tour. Ultimately, the “Put On” rapper just wanted to make TM 103 a quality album. “I just wanted to deliver something that was worth the wait, and that’s what I feel like I’ve done,” he said. The album is due out December 20, but a number of tracks already have been released, including the rambunctious “Lose My Mind” featuring Plies and the soul-bearing “F.A.M.E.” with T.I. Last month, Jeezy leaked “I Do,” a metaphoric song featuring Jay-Z and Andre 3000 that talks about hustling in the streets and marriage in the same breath. Then Thursday (December 1), the Snowman leaked another track, the Eminem- and Freddie Gibbs-featuring “Talk to Me.” The slow-rolling jam finds Jeezy rapping about his inner-most feelings, while Em eerily sings, “Somebody better explain why my ears are ringing so loud/ If someone’s got something to say, grow some balls and say it to my face,” on the song’s hook. It might have taken a few years to finish the album, but Young Jeezy said that doesn’t matter. “I feel like it wasn’t time. I felt like I was being rushed, and one thing I was taught is you don’t rush greatness,” he said. “I don’t care about no radio or no label or no date or no deadlines or no quotas — this is for my people.” Are you awaiting TM 103: Hustlerz Ambition ? Tell us in the comments below! Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Young Jeezy And Big K.R.I.T. Related Artists Young Jeezy
‘Hold It Against Me,’ ‘Lucky’ weren’t so lucky as fans cast more votes in our ’30 for 30′ tournament for two steamy Spears clips. By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker Britney Spears in her video for “I’m a Slave 4 U” Photo: Jive And then there were two! Fans have been voting in MTV News’ Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years , and the 30 contenders have been narrowed down to the final two: “I’m a Slave 4 U,” and “Criminal.” Voting in round four kicked off on Wednesday and by Thursday morning (December 1) “I’m a Slave 4 U” music video had breezed past Britney’s Femme Fatale hit “Hold It Against Me” with 67 percent of the vote. “Criminal,” which features Britney’s real-life boyfriend Jason Trawick had a tougher time, squeezing past younger Britney’s big hit “Lucky” with a lead of only 53 percent in the final-four round. Now, “Slave” and “Criminal” are battling it out for the title of best Britney Video of All Time; hundreds of thousands of votes were cast as the two clips made it through four competitive rounds. Head over to Britney30.MTV.com and vote for your favorite music video in MTV News’ Britney Spears Tournament: 30 Videos for 30 Years. Britney super fan and founder of BreatheHeavy.com, Jordan Miller, weighed in on why “Criminal” has made it this far, defeating the likes of “… Baby One More Time,” “Stronger” and “I Wanna Go” in the process. “I think ‘Criminal’ ‘s made it really far because it’s her latest music video that’s out,” Miller told MTV News. “I think if that music video came out years ago, I don’t think it would be doing so well. It’s being promoted right now on TV and radio, but I think because it’s new to fans, it’s made it this far.” The final round of voting closes at 7 a.m. on Friday . Vote for your favorite video as many times as you would like; the winner will be announced tomorrow morning, which also happens to be Britney’s 30th birthday! Which Britney video is going to win it all? Let us know in the comments section below! What’s your favorite Britney video? Make sure to vote at Britney30.MTV.com or the MTV Newsroom blog, and share your picks in the comments below! Related Videos Britney Spears: 30 Videos For 30 Years Related Artists Britney Spears
Mars and the Smeezingtons also recognized for Doo-Wops & Hooligans at Wednesday’s Grammy Nominations Concert. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias Bruno Mars backstage at the Grammy Nominations Concert Photo: MTV News Bruno Mars is up for six Grammy Awards, including such marquee noms as Album of the Year for Doo-Wops & Hooligans as well as Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for his ballad “Grenade.” Shortly after the singer learned he and his team, the Smeezingtons, were recognized for their breakthrough album and track, Mars chatted with MTV News backstage after the Grammy Nominations Concert in Los Angeles, and he seemed pretty overwhelmed by all of it. “Incredible. We worked really hard,” he said. “We worked hard in the studio right down the street, actually. And it’s a little tiny shack, but for the two years we were in there, we just locked ourselves in that room and came up with Doo-Wops & Hooligans .” All the hard work on the album, which also features hits “The Lazy Song” and “Just the Way You Are,” seems to have paid off with recognition not only for the release, but also for its crowning jewel of a track. “Worked extremely hard on ‘Grenade.’ That was the hardest song on the whole album to finish because we knew we had something, and to get all that emotion out,” he said. “I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we’re really happy that that song is being recognized because that’s like our trophy song.” While Mars seemed pretty poised backstage, he admitted it was a little hard for him to keep his cool while they were announcing the nominees during the telecast, which included two performances by Lady Gaga . “They kept cutting the camera to me every time. I wanted to jump up and punch [Smeezingtons partner Philip Lawrence] in the face and knee him, noogies, but I’m trying to be cool ’cause I know mom’s watching,” Mars joked. The 54th annual Grammy Awards will air February 12 on CBS. Will Bruno Mars win a Grammy? Share your thoughts below! Related Photos Artists Shine At ‘Grammy Nominations Concert Live!’ Related Artists Bruno Mars
One writer makes the case for why you should be watching Simon Cowell’s latest import. By Gil Kaufman, with additional reporting by Jim Cantiello “X Factor” judge Simon Cowell Photo: Ian Derry / FOX Imagine a reality competition that mixes the drama of “Dancing With the Stars,” the variety-show feel of “America’s Got Talent,” the weekly singing battles of “American Idol” and the cutthroat competition between celebrity judges of “The Voice.” That would be amazing, right? Well, guess what? It exists, and it’s called “The X Factor.” But chances are you’re not watching it. Simon Cowell’s bid to make “Factor” the new “Idol” hasn’t taken off as quickly as he brashly predicted earlier this year. The show is pulling in a solid 9-plus million viewers per night, which is about half of the 20 million Simon promised. But Nielsen recently reported that the strong ratings helped the Fox Network — which also airs “Idol” — win the November “sweeps” period among the coveted 18-29 demo by grabbing the top spot among unscripted programs. And yet, even as “Factor” drills down to its final seven contestants this week, the show has failed to develop that must-see-TV aura that “Idol” has enjoyed for nearly a decade. After covering “Idol” for nine seasons, I was exceedingly reluctant to take on yet another musical competition show, but somehow “Factor” has wormed its way into my TiVo and I’ve become a major fan. So in case you haven’t been watching, here’s what I think you’ve been missing: Stars Forget for a moment that Cowell remains the biggest name in reality-TV judging, or that he recruited his Paul McCartney — Paula Abdul — to join him on the judging panel. So far, the show has hosted eye-popping performances from Willow Smith, Jessie J, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Bruno Mars and, this week, Tinie Tempah. Yes, “Idol” also lands big names, but it’s often saddled with giving up prime-time slots to snoozy former winners and finalists like Constantine Maroulis, Crystal Bowersox and David Cook, whose careers have not exactly set the charts on fire. The Stage If nothing else elevates “Factor” above “Idol” or “The Voice,” it’s the elaborate, over-the-top staging. “Idol” pulls out the big guns for the finale, but from the very first live show, “Factor” has been giving us VMA/Grammy-worthy production numbers complete with backup dancers, constantly varying sets and a massive video-screen-covered stage that makes each performance feel like an event. The craftsmanship is so bombastic at times that it’s easy to forget that you’re essentially watching nobodies on a game show. Watch the remaining “X Factor” finalists explain what makes their show so unique. Variety Because of the format (which includes groups, boys, girls and over 30’s), so far this season we’ve seen rappers, country groups, pop stars, boy bands, R&B crooners and hip-hop/soul hybrids on “Factor.” Quality While “Idol” has struggled over the past few seasons to launch a bona fide star and has frequently been saddled with top 12 groupings larded with substandard singers, almost without exception, the acts that made it to the live shows on “Factor” had some legitimate commercial potential. From such eliminated groups as New Jack revivalists Stereo Hogzz to manufactured country act Lakoda Rayne and soul singer LeRoy Bell, even the early castoffs from “Factor” have a legitimate shot at making it in the industry. Add in such easily packaged finalists as cutie diva Rachel Crow, next Chris Brown-type Marcus Canty, power vocalist Melanie Amaro and hip-hop tween Astro and you have a top seven silly with possible future stars. And I’ll put former-addict rapper/crooner Chris Rene up against Lee DeWyze any day. Judges As much as we hate to love him, Cowell really is the best at this, and his banter with a more subdued Abdul was missed. Add into the mix opinionated, no-BS veteran music man L.A. Reid and weepy ex-Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and you have a panel that is fun to watch and quick to scrap. With each judge competing against each other as well, you also get some seemingly legitimate sniping and griping among them that adds more drama to the show. And who can forget Abdul’s painfully long on-air near breakdown when pressed by annoying host to Steve Jones to choose between two of her groups during week three? Drama With all of that going on, producers have also ceaselessly hammered the rich backstories of the contestants, from fresh-out-of-rehab young dad Chris Rene and shockingly overconfident Brooklyn teen MC Astro to formerly homeless soul rocker Dexter Haygood and scrappy 13-year-old Crow. The white-knuckle moments each week when the judges are forced to potentially toss one of their own overboard — not to mention back-to-back double-elimination episodes — amps up the drama even more. “It shows people’s lives, it shows who they are … it shows what they’re about, what they represent,” finalist Rene told MTV News. “It doesn’t just show an artist or a singer. They go into your life and they’re like, ‘So who are you? What are you about? What do you do?’ … If I wasn’t me, and I was watching the show and I’d seen all the stuffs that’s going on with all the different contestants, I would be like, ‘Wow this is crazy! What’s going on here? What is this? Did they set this up? Like, is this real?’ ” Have you been watching “X Factor”? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: ‘X Factor’ Judges Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid
Kardashian Sisters hit their blogs to congratulate the ‘greatest mom in the world’ on her pregnancy. By Jocelyn Vena Scott Disick, Kourtney Kardashian and son Mason Photo: Getty Images Kim Kardashian is ready to be an aunt again. The reality star has taken to her blog to send love to her big sister Kourtney, who just announced she’s pregnant with her second child. Kourtney and boyfriend Scott Disick already have a son, Mason . “I have some amazing news to share with you all! Kourtney and Scott are expecting their second child!!” Kim wrote in a post on Wednesday (November 30). “This is such a blessing and the whole family is beyond thrilled! I just know Mason will make the best big brother and I can’t wait to meet my new little niece or nephew! Congratulations Kourtney and Scott.” Kourtney’s sister Khlo
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