Keepingitreal

BET Award Winners 2012

Chris Brown also snagged two awards. Here's how everyone else fared!

Centric Award
Common

Youngstars Award
Diggy

Best Group
The Throne (Jay-Z and Kanye West)

Best Actor
Kevin Hart, "Think Like a Man"

Best New Artist
Big Sean

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown

Best Collaboration
Wale (featuring Miguel), "Lotus Flower Bomb"

Best Gospel
Yolanda Adams

Best Female R&B Artist
Beyoncé

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Nicki Minaj

Lifetime Achievement Award
Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly

Video of the Year
The Throne (Jay-Z and Kanye West), featuring Otis Redding, "Otis"

Humanitarian Award
The Reverend Al Sharpton

Viewers' Choice Award
Mindless Behavior

Video Director of the Year
Beyoncé and Alan Ferguson

Entertainer of the Year
Chris Brown

 

Fly-Brotha by Tim'West

MP3/Video: Kool Keith – "Extra Thoughts" Ft. The I.M.O. + VICE Noisey Interview

The Song: Few rappers, if any, can hold a candle to the influence and staying power of Kool Keith. The veteran emcee's career spans over two decades, beginning with the release of Ultramagnetic MCs' Critical Beatdown in 1988, and includes a string of heralded solo releases. With each of those projects the Bronx-born rapper has solidified himself as one of the most intriguing characters in music and now, his latest album, Love & Danger, will be released on June 5th via Junkadelic Music. Today, Kool Keith is excited to release the album's latest single, "Extra Thoughts," featuring The I.M.O. "Extra Thoughts," produced by DJ Junkaz Lou, is built over a minimalist kick-and-snare production, with accents of psychedelic blips, beeps, and chimes that keep things interesting. It's a perfect fit for Kool Keith, who delivers a laid-back, stream-of-consciousness flow on a topic that few others than Kool Keith would or could attempt. "This song is about the inspiration of thoughts," says Kool Keith, in a purposefully vague tone. "Thoughts come like a million basketballs dropping out of the sky, but it’s the extra thoughts that count."  

In addition to the new single, Kool Keith recently sat down with VICE for an interview with the outlet's newly launched YouTube series, Noisey Rap Show. The show is hosted by Kool A.D. of Das Racist, who caught up with Kool Keith at the Sweetwater Tavern in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to discuss Keith's pioneering of horrorcore and pornocore, the dirtiest track Keith ever wrote, and so much more. 

Download "Extra Thoughts" Ft. The I.M.O. here: http://media.audibletreats.com/Kool_Keith-Extra_Thoughts_Ft_The_IMO.mp3

 

Chris Brown Releases Two New Songs: "Oh Yeah!" and "See Through"

Chris Brown - Oh Yeah! from Mechanical Dummy on Vimeo.

2nd Year Anniversary Issue Swagga Digital Magazine Winter 2011

Swagga Digital Magazine 2nd Year Anniversary Issue Winter Dec/Jan 2012

By Ronald Fulcher in Swagga Digital Magazine

108 pages, published 2 DEC 2011

Winter Issue Dec/Jan 2012 2nd Year Anniversary Our latest issue featuring art by Eve Harlowe, Special Music Insert illuminating local artists Planet B. Fashion editorial of West Coast Leather, designs by Emporium Armani, Kairon John Rise of the Phoenix, a Bi-Monthly publication illuminating people of color, from different backgrounds in four (4) areas, including fashion, lifestyle, culture and music. We feel there is a need for our publication f…

Fall Issue Swagga Digital Magazine 2011

Swagga Digital Magazine Summer Issue 2011

Grammy Awards 2011: Winners and nominees for 53rd Grammy Awards

GENERAL FIELD

Album Of The Year

(Winner) The Suburbs -- Arcade Fire
Recovery -- Eminem
Need You Now -- Lady Antebellum
The Fame Monster -- Lady Gaga
Teenage Dream -- Katy Perry

Record Of The Year

"Nothin' On You" -- B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars
"Love The Way You Lie" -- Eminem Featuring Rihanna
".... You" -- Cee Lo Green
"Empire State Of Mind" -- Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
(Winner) "Need You Now" -- Lady Antebellum

Best New Artist

Justin Bieber
Drake
Florence & The Machine
Mumford & Sons
(Winner) Esperanza Spalding

Song Of The Year

"Beg Steal Or Borrow" -- Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs)
"... You" -- Cee Lo Green, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Cee Lo Green)
"The House That Built Me" --Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
"Love The Way You Lie" -- Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters
(Eminem Featuring Rihanna)
(Winner) "Need You Now" -- Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

POP FIELD

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

"King Of Anything" -- Sara Bareilles
"Halo (Live)" -- Beyoncé
"Chasing Pirates" -- Norah Jones
(Winner) "Bad Romance" -- Lady Gaga
"Teenage Dream" -- Katy Perry

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

"Haven't Met You Yet" -- Michael Bublé
"This Is It" -- Michael Jackson
"Whataya Want From Me" -- Adam Lambert
(Winner) "Just The Way You Are" -- Bruno Mars
"Half Of My Heart -- John Mayer

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

"Flow" -- Laurie Anderson
(Winner) "Nessun Dorma" -- Jeff Beck
"No Mystery" -- Stanley Clarke
"Orchestral Intro" -- Gorillaz
"Sleepwalk" -- The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Best Pop Instrumental Album

"Pushing The Envelope" -- Gerald Albright
(Winner) "Take Your Pick" -- Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto
"Heart And Soul" -- Kenny G
"Singularity" -- Robby Krieger
"Everything Is Everything: The Music Of Donny Hathaway" -- Kirk Whalum

Best Pop Vocal Album

"My World 2.0" -- Justin Bieber
"I Dreamed A Dream" -- Susan Boyle
(Winner) "The Fame Monster" -- Lady Gaga
"Battle Studies" -- John Mayer
"Teenage Dream" -- Katy Perry

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

"Don't Stop Believin' (Regionals Version)" -- "Glee" Cast
"Misery" -- Maroon 5
"The Only Exception" -- Paramore
"Babyfather" -- Sade
(Winner) "Hey, Soul Sister (Live)" -- Train

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

"Airplanes II" -- B.o.B, Eminem & Hayley Williams
(Winner) "Imagine" -- Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Seal, Konono No. 1, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare
"If It Wasn't For Bad" -- Elton John & Leon Russell
"Telephone" -- Lady Gaga & Beyoncé
"California Gurls" -- Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg

TRADITIONAL POP FIELD

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

(Winner) "Crazy Love" -- Michael Bublé
"The Greatest Love Songs Of All Time" -- Barry Manilow
"Let It Be Me: Mathis In Nashville" -- Johnny Mathis
"Fly Me To The Moon…The Great American Songbook: Volume V" -- Rod Stewart
"Love Is The Answer" -- Barbra Streisand

DANCE FIELD

Best Dance Recording

"Rocket" -- Goldfrapp
"In For The Kill" -- La Roux
"Dance In The Dark" -- Lady Gaga
(Winner) "Only Girl (In The World)" -- Rihanna
"Dancing On My Own" -- Robyn

Best Electronic/Dance Album

"These Hopeful Machines" -- BT
"Further" -- The Chemical Brothers
"Head First" -- Goldfrapp
"Black Light" -- Groove Armada
(Winner) "La Roux" -- La Roux

ROCK FIELD

Best Rock Song

(Winner) "Angry World" -- Neil Young, songwriter (Neil Young)
"Little Lion Man" -- Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
"Radioactive" -- Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)
"Resistance" -- Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)
"Tighten Up" -- Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney, songwriters (The Black Keys)

Best Rock Album

"Emotion & Commotion" -- Jeff Beck
(Winner) "The Resistance" -- Muse
"Backspacer" -- Pearl Jam
"Mojo" -- Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
"Le Noise" -- Neil Young

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance

"Run Back To Your Side" -- Eric Clapton
"Crossroads" -- John Mayer
(Winner) "Helter Skelter" -- Paul McCartney
"Silver Rider" -- Robert Plant
"Angry World" -- Neil Young

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

"Ready To Start" -- Arcade Fire
"I Put A Spell On You" -- Jeff Beck & Joss Stone
(Winner) "Tighten Up" -- The Black Keys
"Radioactive" -- Kings Of Leon
"Resistance" -- Muse

Best Hard Rock Performance

"A Looking In View" -- Alice In Chains
"Let Me Hear You Scream" -- Ozzy Osbourne
"Black Rain" -- Soundgarden
"Between The Lines" -- Stone Temple Pilots
(Winner) "New Fang" -- Them Crooked Vultures

Best Rock Song

"Angry World" -- Neil Young, songwriter (Neil Young)
"Little Lion Man" -- Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters
(Mumford & Sons)
"Radioactive" -- Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters
(Kings Of Leon)
"Resistance" -- Matthew Bellamy, songwriter (Muse)
"Tighten Up" -- Dan Auerbach & Patrick Carney, songwriter (The Black Keys)

Best Metal Performance

(Winner) "El Dorado" -- Iron Maiden
"Let The Guilt Go" -- Korn
"In Your Words" -- Lamb Of God
"Sudden Death" -- Megadeth
"World Painted Blood" -- Slayer

Best Rock Instrumental Performance

(Winner) "Hammerhead" -- Jeff Beck
"Black Mud" -- The Black Keys
"Do The Murray" -- Los Lobos
"Kundalini Bonfire" -- Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
"The Deathless Horsie" -- Dweezil Zappa

ALTERNATIVE FIELD

Best Alternative Music Album

The Suburbs -- Arcade Fire
Infinite Arms -- Band Of Horses
(Winner) Brothers -- The Black Keys
Broken Bells -- Broken Bells
Contra -- Vampire Weekend

R&B FIELD

Best R&B Song

"Bittersweet" -- Charles Harmon & Claude Kelly, songwriters (Fantasia)
"Finding My Way Back" -- Ivan "Orthodox" Barias, Curt Chambers, Carvin "Ransum" Haggins, Jaheim Hoagland & Miquel Jontel, songwriters (Jaheim)
"Second Chance" -- E. Debarge & Mischke, songwriters (El DeBarge)
(Winner) "Shine" -- John Stephens, songwriter (John Legend & The Roots)
"Why Would You Stay" -- K. Owens, songwriter (Kem)

Best R&B Album

The Love & War Masterpeace -- Raheem DeVaughn
Back To Me -- Fantasia
Another Round -- Jaheim
(Winner) Wake Up! -- John Legend & The Roots
Still Standing -- Monica

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

"Gone Already" -- Faith Evans
(Winner) "Bittersweet" -- Fantasia
"Everything To Me" -- Monica
"Tired" -- Kelly Price
"Holding You Down (Going In Circles)" -- Jazmine Sullivan

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

"Second Chance" -- El DeBarge
"Finding My Way Back" -- Jaheim
"Why Would You Stay" -- Kem
"We're Still Friends" -- (Kirk Whalum &) Musiq Soulchild
(Winner) "There Goes My Baby" -- Usher

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

"When A Woman Loves" -- R. Kelly
(Winner) "Hang On In There" -- John Legend & The Roots
"You're So Amazing" -- Calvin Richardson
"In Between" -- Ryan Shaw
"Go [Live]" -- Betty Wright

Best Urban/Alternative Performance

"Little One" -- Bilal
(Winner) "... You" -- Cee Lo Green
"Orion" -- Carolyn Malachi
"Tightrope" -- Janelle Monáe & Big Boi
"Still" -- Eric Roberson

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

"Take My Time" -- Chris Brown & Tank
"Love" -- Chuck Brown, Jill Scott & Marcus Miller
"You've Got A Friend" -- Ronald Isley & Aretha Franklin
"Shine" -- John Legend & The Roots
(Winner) "Soldier Of Love" -- Sade

Best Contemporary R&B Album

Graffiti -- Chris Brown
Untitled -- R. Kelly
Transition -- Ryan Leslie
The ArchAndroid -- Janelle Monáe
(Winner) Raymond V Raymond -- Usher

RAP FIELD

Best Rap Solo Performance

"Over" -- Drake
(Winner) "Not Afraid" -- Eminem
"How Low" -- Ludacris
"I'm Back" -- T.I.
"Power" -- Kanye West

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

"Shutterbugg" -- Big Boi & Cutty
"Fancy" -- Drake, T.I. & Swizz Beatz
(Winner) "On To The Next One" -- Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz
"My Chick Bad" -- Ludacris & Nicki Minaj
"Lose My Mind" -- Young Jeezy & Plies

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

"Nothin' On You" -- B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars
"Deuces" -- Chris Brown, Tyga & Kevin McCall
"Love The Way You Lie" -- Eminem & Rihanna
(Winner) "Empire State Of Mind" -- Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
"Wake Up! Everybody" -- John Legend, The Roots, Melanie Fiona & Common

Best Rap Song

(Winner) "Empire State Of Mind" -- Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Burt Keyes, Alicia Keys, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh, songwriters (Sylvia Robinson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Alicia Keys)
"Love The Way You Lie" -- Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters
(Eminem & Rihanna)
"Not Afraid" -- M. Burnett, J. Evans, Marshall Mathers, L. Resto & M. Samuels, songwriters (Eminem)
"Nothin' On You" -- Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Bobby Simmons Jr., songwriters (B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars)
"On To The Next One" -- Shawn Carter, J. Chaton & K. Dean, songwriters (G. Auge & X. De Rosnay, songwriters) (Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)

Best Rap Album

The Adventures Of Bobby Ray -- B.o.B
Thank Me Later -- Drake
(Winner) Recovery -- Eminem
The Blueprint 3 -- Jay-Z
How I Got Over -- The Roots

COUNTRY FIELD

Best Country Song

"The Breath You Take" -- Casey Beathard, Dean Dillon & Jessie Jo Dillon, songwriters (George Strait)
"Free" -- Zac Brown, songwriter (Zac Brown Band)
"The House That Built Me" -- Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
"I'd Love To Be Your Last" -- Rivers Rutherford, Annie Tate & Sam Tate, songwriters (Gretchen Wilson)
"If I Die Young" -- Kimberly Perry, songwriter (The Band Perry)
(Winner) "Need You Now" -- Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

Best Country Album

Up On The Ridge -- Dierks Bentley
You Get What You Give -- Zac Brown Band
The Guitar Song -- Jamey Johnson
(Winner) Need You Now -- Lady Antebellum
Revolution -- Miranda Lambert

Best Female Country Vocal Performance

"Satisfied" -- Jewel
(Winner) "The House That Built Me" -- Miranda Lambert
"Swingin'" -- LeAnn Rimes
"Temporary Home" -- Carrie Underwood
"I'd Love To Be Your Last" -- Gretchen Wilson

Best Male Country Vocal Performance

"Macon" -- Jamey Johnson
"Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song)" -- Toby Keith
"Turning Home" -- David Nail
(Winner) "'Til Summer Comes Around" -- Keith Urban
"Gettin' You Home" -- Chris Young

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

"Free" -- Zac Brown Band
"Elizabeth" -- Dailey & Vincent
(Winner) "Need You Now" -- Lady Antebellum
"Little White Church" -- Little Big Town
"Where Rainbows Never Die" -- The SteelDrivers

Best Country Instrumental Performance

"Tattoo Of A Smudge" -- Cherryholmes
"Magic #9" -- The Infamous Stringdusters
"New Chance Blues" -- Punch Brothers
"Willow Creek" -- Darrell Scott
(Winner) "Hummingbyrd" -- Marty Stuart

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

"Bad Angel" -- Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson
"Pride (In The Name Of Love)" -- Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers
(Winner) "As She's Walking Away" -- Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson
"Hillbilly Bone" -- Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
"I Run To You" -- Marty Stuart & Connie Smith

NEW AGE FIELD

Best New Age Album

Ocean -- Michael Brant DeMaria
Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai, Volume 4 -- Kitaro
Dancing Into Silence -- R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton & Will Clipman
(Winner) Miho: Journey To The Mountain -- Paul Winter Consort
Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 4 -- Zamora

JAZZ FIELD

Best Contemporary Jazz Album

(Winner) The Stanley Clarke Band -- The Stanley Clarke Band
Never Can Say Goodbye -- Joey DeFrancesco
Now Is The Time -- Jeff Lorber Fusion
To The One -- John McLaughlin
Backatown -- Trombone Shorty

Best Jazz Vocal Album

(Winner) Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee -- Dee Dee Bridgewater
Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B -- Freddy Cole
When Lights Are Low -- Denise Donatelli
Ages -- Lorraine Feather
Water -- Gregory Porter

Best Improvised Jazz Solo

"Solar" -- Alan Broadbent, soloist (Track from: Live At Giannelli Square: Volume 1)
(Winner) "A Change Is Gonna Come" - Herbie Hancock, soloist (Track from: The Imagine Project)
"Body And Soul" -- Keith Jarrett, soloist (Track from: Jasmine)
"Lonely Woman" -- Hank Jones, soloist (Track from: Pleased To Meet You)
"Van Gogh" -- Wynton Marsalis, soloist (Track from: Portrait In Seven Shades (Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra) )

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group

Positootly! -- John Beasley
The New Song And Dance -- Clayton Brothers
Historicity -- Vijay Iyer Trio
(Winner) Moody 4B -- James Moody
Providencia -- Danilo Perez

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album

Infernal Machines -- Darcy James Argue's Secret Society
Autumn: In Moving Pictures Jazz - Chamber Music Vol. 2 -- Billy Childs Ensemble Featuring The Ying String Quartet
Pathways -- Dave Holland Octet
54 -- Metropole Orkest, John Scofield & Vince Mendoza
(Winner) Mingus Big Band Live At Jazz Standard -- Mingus Big Band

Best Latin Jazz Album

Tango Grill -- Pablo Aslan
Second Chance -- Hector Martignon
Psychedelic Blues -- Poncho Sanchez
(Winner) Chucho's Steps -- Chucho Valdés And The Afro-Cuban Messengers
¡Bien Bien! -- Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet

GOSPEL FIELD

Best Gospel Performance

"He Wants It All" -- Forever Jones
"You Hold My World" -- Israel Houghton
"Nobody Greater" -- VaShawn Mitchell
"He's Been Just That Good" -- Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway
(Winner) "Grace" -- BeBe & CeCe Winans

Best Gospel Song

"Beautiful Things" -- Lisa Gungor & Michael Gungor, songwriters (Gungor)
"Better Than A Hallelujah" -- Sarah Hart & Chapin Hartford, songwriters (Amy Grant)
(Winner) "It's What I Do" -- Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters (Kirk Whalum & Lalah Hathaway)
"Our God" -- Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman, Jesse Reeves & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)
"Return To Sender" -- Gordon Kennedy, songwriter (Ricky Skaggs)

Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album

Church Music -- David Crowder Band
For Those Who Wait -- Fireflight
Beautiful Things -- Gungor
Rehab -- Lecrae
(Winner) Hello Hurricane -- Switchfoot

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album

Beauty Will Rise -- Steven Curtis Chapman
(Winner) Love God. Love People. -- Israel Houghton
Pieces Of A Real Heart -- Sanctus Real
Mosaic -- Ricky Skaggs
Tonight -- TobyMac

Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album

Times Like These -- Austins Bridge
(Winner) The Reason -- Diamond Rio
Expecting Good Things -- Jeff & Sheri Easter
Journey On -- Ty Herndon
Live At Oak Tree: Karen Peck & New River -- Karen Peck & New River

Best Traditional Gospel Album

The Experience -- Vanessa Bell Armstrong
A City Called Heaven -- Shirley Caesar
(Winner) Downtown Church -- Patty Griffin
Here I Am -- Marvin Sapp
All In One -- Karen Clark Sheard]

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album

Get Ready -- Forever Jones
Love Unstoppable -- Fred Hammond
Triumphant -- VaShawn Mitchell
Aaron Sledge -- Aaron Sledge
(Winner) Still -- BeBe & CeCe Winans

AMERICAN ROOTS FIELD

Best Americana Album

The List -- Rosanne Cash
Tin Can Trust -- Los Lobos
Country Music -- Willie Nelson
Band Of Joy -- Robert Plant
(Winner) You Are Not Alone -- Mavis Staples

Best Traditional Blues Album

Giant -- James Cotton
Memphis Blues -- Cyndi Lauper
The Well -- Charlie Musselwhite
(Winner) Joined At The Hip -- Pinetop Perkins & Willie "Big Eyes" Smith
Plays Blues, Ballads & Favorites -- Jimmie Vaughan

Best Bluegrass Album

Circles Around Me -- Sam Bush
(Winner) Mountain Soul II -- Patty Loveless
Family Circle -- The Del McCoury Band
Legacy -- Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band
Reckless -- The SteelDrivers

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Nothing's Impossible -- Solomon Burke
Tribal -- Dr. John And The Lower 911
(Winner) Living Proof -- Buddy Guy
Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook -- Bettye LaVette
Live! In Chicago -- Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band Featuring Hubert Sumlin, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Bryan Lee, And Buddy Flett

Best Traditional Folk Album

(Winner) Genuine Negro Jig -- Carolina Chocolate Drops
Onward And Upward -- Luther Dickinson & The Sons Of Mudboy
Memories Of John -- The John Hartford Stringband
Maria Muldaur & Her Garden Of Joy -- Maria Muldaur
Ricky Skaggs Solo: Songs My Dad Loved -- Ricky Skaggs

Best Contemporary Folk Album

Love Is Strange - En Vivo Con Tino -- Jackson Browne & David Lindley
The Age Of Miracles -- Mary Chapin Carpenter
Somedays The Song Writes You -- Guy Clark
(Winner) God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise -- Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs
Dream Attic -- Richard Thompson

Best Hawaiian Music Album

(Winner) Huana Ke Aloha -- Tia Carrere
Amy Hanaiali'i And Slack Key Masters Of Hawaii -- Amy Hanaiali'i And Slack Key Masters Of Hawaii
Polani -- Daniel Ho
The Legend -- Ledward Kaapana
Maui On My Mind - Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar -- Jeff Peterson

Best Native American Music Album

XI -- Bear Creek
Temptations: Cree Round Dance Songs -- Northern Cree
Woodnotes Wyld: Historic Flute Sounds From The Dr. Richard W. Payne Collection -- Peter Phippen
(Winner) 2010 Gathering Of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit's Dance -- (Various Artists)

Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album

(Winner) Zydeco Junkie -- Chubby Carrier And The Bayou Swamp Band
En Couleurs -- Feufollet
Happy Go Lucky -- D.L. Menard
Back Home -- The Pine Leaf Boys
Creole Moon: Live At The Blue Moon Saloon -- Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole

LATIN FIELD

Best Latin Pop Album

Poquita Ropa -- Ricardo Arjona
Alex Cuba -- Alex Cuba
Boleto De Entrada -- Kany Garcia
(Winner) Paraiso Express -- Alejandro Sanz
Otra Cosa -- Julieta Venegas

Best Latin Rock, Alternative Or Urban Album

Oro -- ChocQuibTown
Amor Vincit Omnia -- Draco
(Winner) El Existential -- Grupo Fantasma
Bulevar 2000 -- Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich+Fussible
1977 -- Ana Tijoux

Best Tropical Latin Album

Sin Salsa No Hay Paraiso -- El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico
Asondeguerra -- Juan Luis Guerra 4.40
Irrepetible -- Gilberto Santa Rosa
(Winner) Viva La Tradición -- Spanish Harlem Orchestra
100 Sones Cubanos -- (Various Artists)

Best Regional Mexican Album

There were fewer than ten artists entered into this category, so per Academy rules The Recording Academy will not be announcing nominations or presenting a GRAMMY Award in this category this year.

Best Tejano Album

(Winner) Recuerdos -- Little Joe & La Familia
Sabes Bien -- Juan P. Moreno
In The Pocket -- Joe Posada
Homenaje A Mi Padre -- Sunny Sauceda Y Todo Eso
Cookin -- Tortilla Factory

Best Norteño Album

Indispensable -- Angel Fresnillo
(Winner) Classic -- Intocable
Ni Hoy Ni Mañana -- Gerardo Ortiz
Desde La Cantina Volumen 1 -- Pesado
Intensamente -- Principez De La Musica Norteña

Best Banda Album

Ando Bien Pedo -- Banda Los Recoditos
Caricias Compradas... -- Cuisillos
Con La Fuerza Del Corrido -- El Chapo
(Winner) Enamórate De Mí -- El Güero Y Su Banda Centenario
Todo Depende De Ti -- La Arrolladora Banda El Limon

REGGAE FIELD

Best Reggae Album

(Winner) Before The Dawn -- Buju Banton
Isaacs Meets Isaac -- Gregory Isaacs & King Isaac
Revelation -- Lee "Scratch" Perry
Made In Jamaica -- Bob Sinclair And Sly & Robbie
One Pop Reggae + -- Sly & Robbie And The Family Taxi
Legacy An Acoustic Tribute To Peter Tosh -- Andrew Tosh

WORLD MUSIC FIELD

Best Traditional World Music Album

Pure Sounds -- Gyuto Monks Of Tibet
I Speak Fula -- Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
Grace -- Soweto Gospel Choir
(Winner) Ali And Toumani -- Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté
Tango Universal -- Vayo

Best Contemporary World Music Album

(Winner) Throw Down Your Heart , Africa Sessions Part 2: Unreleased Tracks -- Béla Fleck
All In One -- Bebel Gilberto
ÕŸÖ -- Angelique Kidjo
Bom Tempo -- Sergio Mendes
Om Namo Narayanaya: Soul Call -- Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon

CHILDREN'S FIELD

Best Musical Album For Children

Here Comes Science -- They Might Be Giants
Jungle Gym -- Justin Roberts
Sunny Days -- Battersby Duo
(Winner) Tomorrow's Children -- Pete Seeger With The Rivertown Kids And Friends
Weird Things Are Everywhere! -- Judy Pancoast

Best Spoken Word Album For Children

Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl: The Definitive Edition -- Selma Blair
The Best Candy In The Whole World -- Bill Harley
Healthy Food For Thought: Good Enough To Eat -- (Various Artists) Jim Cravero, Paula Lizzi & Steve Pullara, producers
(Winner) Julie Andrews' Collection Of Poems, Songs, And Lullabies -- Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton
Nanny McPhee Returns -- Emma Thompson

SPOKEN WORD FIELD

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)

American On Purpose -- Craig Ferguson
The Bedwetter -- Sarah Silverman
(Winner) The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook) -- Jon Stewart (With Samantha Bee, Wyatt Cenac, Jason Jones, John Oliver & Sigourney Weaver)
A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To The Future... -- Michael J. Fox
This Time Together: Laughter And Reflection -- Carol Burnett
The Woody Allen Collection: Mere Anarchy, Side Effects, Without Feathers, Getting Even -- Woody Allen

COMEDY FIELD

Best Comedy Album

Cho Dependent -- Margaret Cho
I Told You I Was Freaky -- Flight Of The Conchords
Kathy Griffin Does The Bible Belt -- Kathy Griffin
(Winner) Stark Raving Black -- Lewis Black
Weapons Of Self Destruction -- Robin Williams

MUSICAL SHOW FIELD

Best Musical Show Album

(Winner) American Idiot (Featuring Green Day) -- Billie Joe Armstrong, producer (Green Day, composers; Billie Joe Armstrong, lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast With John Gallagher, Jr., Michael Esper & Others)
Fela! -- Robert Sher, producer (Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, composer; Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast With Sahr Ngaujah, Lillias White & Others)
A Little Night Music -- Tommy Krasker, producer (Stephen Sondheim, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist) (2009 Broadway Revival Cast With Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angela Lansbury & Others)
Promises, Promises -- David Caddick & David Lai, producers (Burt Bacharach, composer; Hal David, lyricist) (New Broadway Cast With Sean Hayes, Kristin Chenoweth & Others)
Sondheim On Sondheim -- Philip Chaffin & Tommy Krasker, producers (Stephen Sondheim, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast With Barbara Cook , Vanessa Williams, Tom Wopat & Others)

FILM/TV/VISUAL MEDIA FIELD

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

(Winner) "Crazy Heart" -- (Various Artists)
"Glee: The Music, Volume 1" -- (Glee Cast)
"Tremé" -- (Various Artists)
"True Blood - Volume 2" -- (Various Artists)
"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" -- (Various Artists)

Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

"Alice In Wonderland" -- Danny Elfman, composer
"Avatar" -- James Horner, composer
"Inception" -- Hans Zimmer, composer
"Sherlock Holmes" -- Hans Zimmer, composer
(Winner) "Toy Story 3" -- Randy Newman, composer

Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

"Down In New Orleans" (From "The Princess And The Frog") -- Randy Newman, songwriter (Dr. John)
"I See You" (From "Avatar") -- Simon Franglen, Kuk Harrell & James Horner, songwriters (Leona Lewis)
"Kiss Like Your Kiss" (From "True Blood") -- Lucinda Williams, songwriter (Lucinda Williams & Elvis Costello)
"This City" (From "Tremé") -- Steve Earle, songwriter (Steve Earle)
(Winner) "The Weary Kind" (From "Crazy Heart") -- Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett, songwriters (Ryan Bingham)

COMPOSING/ARRANGING FIELD

Best Instrumental Composition

Aurora -- Patrick Williams, composer (Patrick Williams The Big Band)
Battle Circle -- Gerald Clayton, composer (Clayton Brothers)
Box Of Cannoli -- Tim Hagans, composer (The Norrbotten Big Band)
Fourth Stream...La Banda -- Bill Cunliffe, composer (Temple University Symphony Orchestra)
(Winner) The Path Among The Trees -- Billy Childs, composer (Billy Childs Ensemble)

Best Instrumental Arrangement

(Winner) Carlos -- Vince Mendoza, arranger (John Scofield, Vince Mendoza & Metropole Orkest)
Fanfare For A New Day -- Patrick Williams, arranger (Patrick Williams The Big Band)
Itsbynne Reel -- Gil Goldstein, arranger (Dave Eggar)
Monet -- Ted Nash, arranger (Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra)
Skip To My Lou -- Frank Macchia, arranger (Frank Macchia)

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)

(Winner) Baba Yetu -- Christopher Tin, arranger (Christopher Tin, Soweto Gospel Choir & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
Baby -- Roger Treece, arranger (Bobby McFerrin)
Based On A Thousand True Stories -- Vince Mendoza, arranger (Silje Nergaard & Metropole Orchestra Strings)
Don't Explain -- Geoffrey Keezer, arranger (Denise Donatelli)
Imagine -- Herbie Hancock & Larry Klein, arrangers (Herbie Hancock, Pink, Seal, Jeff Beck, India.Arie, Konono No 1 & Oumou Sangare)

PACKAGE FIELD

Best Recording Package

(Winner) Brothers -- Michael Carney, art director (The Black Keys)
Eggs -- Malene Mathiasson, Malthe Fischer, Kristoffer Rom, Nis Svoldgård & Aske Zidore, art directors (Oh No Ono)
Hadestown -- Brian Grunert, art director (Anaïs Mitchell)
What Will We Be -- Devendra Banhart & Jon Beasley, art directors (Devendra Banhart)
Yonkers NY -- Andrew Taray, art director (Chip Taylor)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package

Light: On The South Side -- Tom Lunt, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, art directors (Various Artists)
Minotaur (Deluxe Edition) -- Jeff Anderson & Vaughan Oliver, art directors (The Pixies)
A Sideman's Journey (Limited Collector's Super Deluxe Box Set) -- Daniel Reiss & Klaus Voormann, art directors (Voormann & Friends)
Story Island -- Qing-Yang Xiao, art director (Various Artists)
(Winner) Under Great White Northern Lights (Limited Edition Box Set) -- Rob Jones & Jack White III, art directors (The White Stripes)

ALBUM NOTES

Best Album Notes

Alan Lomax In Haiti: Recordings For The Library Of Congress, 1936-1937 -- Gage Averill, album notes writer (Various Artists)
(Winner) Keep An Eye On The Sky -- Robert Gordon, album notes writer (Big Star)
Side Steps -- Ashley Kahn, album notes writer (John Coltrane)
There Breathes A Hope: The Legacy Of John Work II And His Fisk Jubilee Quartet, 1909-1916 -- Doug Seroff, album notes writer (Fisk University Jubilee Quartet)
True Love Cast Out All Evil -- Will Sheff, album notes writer (Roky Erickson With Okkervil River)

HISTORICAL FIELD

Best Historical Album

Alan Lomax In Haiti: Recordings For The Library Of Congress, 1936-1937
(Winner) The Beatles (The Original Studio Recordings)
The Complete Mother's Best Recordings...Plus!
Not Fade Away: The Complete Studio Recordings And More
Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968

PRODUCTION, NON CLASSICAL FIELD

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

(Winner) Battle Studies -- Michael H. Brauer, Joe Ferla, Chad Franscoviak & Manny Marroquin, engineers (John Mayer)
Dirty Side Down -- John Keane, engineer (Widespread Panic)
Emotion & Commotion -- Steve Lipson, engineer (Jeff Beck)
God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise -- Ryan Freeland, engineer (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs)
Pink Elephant -- Seth Presant & Leon F. Sylvers III, engineers (N'dambi)

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical

Rob Cavallo -- Brand New Eyes (Paramore) (A); Hang Cool Teddy Bear (Meat Loaf) (A); Happy Hour (Uncle Kracker) (A); Music Again (Adam Lambert) (T); Soaked (Adam Lambert) (T); Sure Fire Winners (Adam Lambert) (T); Time For Miracles (Adam Lambert) (T); When It's Time (Green Day) (T)

(Winner) Danger Mouse -- Broken Bells (Broken Bells) (A); Dark Night Of The Soul (Danger Mouse And Sparklehorse) (A); Tighten Up (The Black Keys) (T)

Dr. Luke -- California Gurls (Katy Perry Featuring Snoop Dogg) (T); For Your Entertainment (Adam Lambert) (T); Hungover (Kesha) (T); Kiss N Tell (Kesha) (T); Magic (B.o.B. Featuring Rivers Cuomo) (T); Take It Off (Kesha) (T); Teenage Dream (Katy Perry) (T); Your Love Is My Drug (Kesha) (T)

RedOne -- Alejandro (Lady Gaga) (S); Bad Romance (Lady Gaga) (S); The Fame Monster (Lady Gaga) (A); I Like It (Enrique Iglesias Featuring Pitbull) (S); More (Usher) (T); We Are The World 25 For Haiti (Artists For Haiti) (S); Whole Lotta Love (Mary J. Blige) (S)

The Smeezingtons (Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine) -- Billionaire (Travie McCoy Featuring Bruno Mars) (T); Bow Chicka Wow Wow (Mike Posner) (T); ... You (Cee Lo Green) (S); Island Queen (Sean Kingston) (T); Just The Way You Are (Bruno Mars) (S); Nothin' On You (B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars) (T)

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

Fantasy (Morgan Page Remix) -- Morgan Page, remixer (Nadia Ali)
Funk Nasty (Wolfgang Gartner Remix Edit) -- Wolfgang Gartner, remixer (Andy Caldwell Featuring Gram'ma Funk)
Orpheus (Quiet Carnival) (Funk Generation Mix) -- Mike Rizzo, remixer (Sergio Mendes)
(Winner) Revolver (David Guetta's One Love Club Remix) -- David Guetta, remixer (Madonna)
Sweet Disposition (Axwell & Dirty South Remix) -- Axel Hedfors & Dragan Roganovic, remixers (The Temper Trap)

SURROUND SOUND FIELD

Best Surround Sound Album

(Winner) Britten's Orchestra -- Keith O. Johnson, surround mix engineer; Keith O. Johnson, surround mastering engineer; David Frost, surround producer (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony)
The Incident -- Steven Wilson, surround mix engineer; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Steven Wilson, surround producer (Porcupine Tree)
Parallax Eden -- David Miles Huber, surround mix engineer; David Miles Huber, surround mastering engineer; David Miles Huber, surround producer (David Miles Huber)
Songs And Stories (Monster Music Version) -- Don Murray, surround mix engineer; Sangwook Nam & Doug Sax, surround mastering engineers; John Burk, Noel Lee & Marcus Miller, surround producers (George Benson)
Trondheimsolistene - In Folk Style -- Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (TrondheimSolistene)

PRODUCTION, CLASICAL

Best Engineered Album, Classical

Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina -- Mark Donahue, John Hill & Dirk Sobotka, engineers (Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony Orchestra)
Have You Ever Been...? -- Robert Friedrich, engineer (Turtle Island Quartet, Stefon Harris & Mike Marshall)
Mackey, Steven: Dreamhouse -- David Frost, Tom Lazarus, Steven Mackey & Dirk Sobotka, engineers (Gil Rose, Rinde Eckert, Catch Electric Guitar Quartet, Synergy Vocals & Boston Modern Orchestra Project)
(Winner) Porter, Quincy: Complete Viola Works -- Leslie Ann Jones, Kory Kruckenberg & David Sabee, engineers (Eliesha Nelson & John McLaughlin Williams)
Vocabularies -- Steve Miller, Allen Sides & Roger Treece, engineers (Bobby McFerrin)

Producer Of The Year, Classical

Blanton Alspaugh -- Corigliano: Violin Concerto 'The Red Violin' (Michael Ludwig, JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra); Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina (Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony); Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 (Leonard Slatkin & Detroit Symphony Orchestra); Tower Of The Eight Winds - Music For Violin & Piano By Judith Shatin (Borup-Ernst Duo); Tyberg: Symphony No. 3; Piano Trio (JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra); Wind Serenades (Gregory Wolynec & Gateway Chamber Ensemble)

(Winner) David Frost -- Britten's Orchestra (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony); Chambers, Evan: The Old Burying Ground (Kenneth Kiesler & The University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra); Dorman, Avner: Concertos For Mandolin, Piccolo, Piano And Concerto Grosso (Andrew Cyr, Eliran Avni, Mindy Kaufman, Avi Avital & Metropolis Ensemble); The 5 Browns In Hollywood (5 Browns); Mackey, Steven: Dreamhouse (Gil Rose, Rinde Eckert, Catch Electric Guitar Quartet, Synergy Vocals & Boston Modern Orchestra Project); Meeting Of The Spirits (Matt Haimovitz); Two Roads To Exile (ARC Ensemble)

Tim Handley -- Adams: Nixon In China (Marin Alsop, Tracy Dahl, Marc Heller, Thomas Hammons, Maria Kanyova, Robert Orth, Chen-Ye Yan, Opera Colorado Chorus & Colorado Symphony Orchestra); Debussy: Le Martyre De Saint Sébastien (Jun Märkl & Orchestre National De Lyon); Dohnányi: Variations On A Nursery Song (JoAnn Falletta, Eldar Nebolsin & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra); Harris: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 (Marin Alsop & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra); Hubay: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 And 2 (Chloë Hanslip, Andrew Mogrelia & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra); Messiaen: Poèmes Pour Mi (Anne Schwanewilms, Jun Märkl & Orchestre National De Lyon); Piazzolla: Sinfonía Buenos Aires (Daniel Binelli, Tianwa Yang, GiancarloGuerro & Nashville Symphony Orchestra); Ries: Works For Flute And Piano (Uwe Grodd & Matteo Napoli); Roussel: Symphony No. 1 (Stéphane Denève & Royal Scottish National Orchestra); Shchedrin: Concertos For Orchestra Nos. 4 & 5 (Kirill Karabits & Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra); Stamitz: Flute Concertos (Robert Aitken, Donatas Katkus & St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra); Strauss, R: Josephs-Legende; Rosenkavalier; Die Frau Ohne Schatten (Orchestral Suites) (JoAnn Falletta & Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra)

Marina A. Ledin, Victor Ledin -- Brubeck: Songs Of Praise (Lynne Morrow, Richard Grant, Quartet San Francisco & The Pacific Mozart Ensemble); Cascade Of Roses (Janice Weber); Gnattali: Solo & Chamber Works For Guitar (Marc Regnier); If I Were A Bird (Michael Lewin); Kletzki: Piano Concerto (Joseph Banowetz, Thomas Sanderling & Russian Philharmonic Orchestra); Porter, Quincy: Complete Viola Works (Eliesha Nelson & John McLaughlin Williams); Rubinstein: Piano Music (1852-1894) (Joseph Banowetz); Rubinstein: Piano Music (1871-1890) (Joseph Banowetz); 20th Century Harp Sonatas (Sarah Schuster Ericsson)

James Mallinson -- Mahler: Symphony No. 2 (Bernard Haitink, Duain Wolfe, Miah Persson, Christianne Stotijn, Chicago Symphony Chorus & Chicago Symphony Orchestra); Prokofiev: Romeo And Juliet (Valery Gergiev & London Symphony Orchestra); Shchedrin: The Enchanted Wanderer (Valery Gergiev, Evgeny Akimov, Sergei Aleksashkin, Kristina Kapustinskaya, Mariinsky Chorus & Mariinsky Orchestra); Strauss, R: Ein Heldenleben; Webern: Im Sommerwind (Bernard Haitink & Chicago Symphony Orchestra); Strauss, R: Eine Alpensinfonie (Bernard Haitink & London Symphony Orchestra); Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations; Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante (Gautier Capuçon, Valery Gergiev & Orchestra Of The Mariinsky Theatre); Wagner: Parsifal (Valery Gergiev, Gary Lehman, Violeta Urmana, René Pape, Evgeny Nikitin, Alexei Tanovitski, Nikolai Putilin, Mariinsky Chorus & Mariinsky Orchestra)

CLASSICAL FIELD

Best Classical Album

Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 -- Mariss Jansons, conductor
Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina -- Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor
Mackey, Steven: Dreamhouse -- Gil Rose, conductor
Sacrificium -- Giovanni Antonini, conductor
(Winner) Verdi: Requiem -- Riccardo Muti, conductor

Best Orchestral Performance

Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 -- Mariss Jansons, conductor (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)
(Winner) Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina -- Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor (Terrence Wilson; Nashville Symphony)
Mackey, Steven: Dreamhouse -- Gil Rose, conductor; Rinde Eckert (Catch Electric Guitar Quartet; Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Synergy Vocals)
Salieri: Overtures & Stage Music -- Thomas Fey, conductor (Mannheimer Mozartorchester)
Stravinsky: Pulcinella; Symphony In Three Movements; Four Études -- Pierre Boulez, conductor (Roxana Constantinescu, Kyle Ketelsen & Nicholas Phan; Chicago Symphony Orchestra)

Best Opera Recording

Berg: Lulu -- Antonio Pappano, conductor; Agneta Eichenholz, Jennifer Larmore, Klaus Florian Vogt & Michael Volle; David Groves, producer (Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House)
Hasse: Marc' Antonio E Cleopatra -- Matthew Dirst, conductor; Jamie Barton & Ava Pine; Keith Weber, producer (Ars Lyrica Houston)
(Winner) Saariaho: L'Amour De Loin -- Kent Nagano, conductor; Daniel Belcher, Ekaterina Lekhina & Marie-Ange Todorovitch; Martin Sauer, producer (Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; Rundfunkchor Berlin)
Shchedrin: The Enchanted Wanderer -- Valery Gergiev, conductor; Evgeny Akimov, Sergei Aleksashkin & Kristina Kapustinskaya; James Mallinson, producer (Orchestra Of The Mariinsky Theatre; Chorus Of The Mariinsky Theatre)
Sullivan: Ivanhoe -- David Lloyd-Jones, conductor; Neal Davies, Geraldine McGreevy, James Rutherford, Toby Spence & Janice Watson; Brian Pidgeon, producer (BBC National Orchestra of Wales; Adrian Partington Singes)

Best Choral Performance

Bach: Cantatas -- Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor; Erwin Ortner, chorus master
Baltic Runes -- Paul Hillier, conductor (Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir)
Haydn: The Creation -- René Jacobs, conductor; Hans-Christoph Rademann, choir director
Martin: Golgotha -- Daniel Reuss, conductor
(Winner) Verdi: Requiem -- Riccardo Muti, conductor; Duain Wolfe, chorus master

Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra)

Daugherty: Deus Ex Machina -- Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Terrence Wilson (Nashville Symphony)
Dorman, Avner: Mandolin Concerto -- Andrew Cyr, conductor; Avi Avital (Metropolis Ensemble)
Kletzki: Piano Concerto In D Minor, Op. 22 -- Thomas Sanderling, conductor; Joseph Banowetz (Russian Philharmonic Orchestra)
(Winner) Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24 -- Mitsuko Uchida (The Cleveland Orchestra)
Porter, Quincy: Concerto For Viola & Orchestra -- John McLaughlin Williams, conductor; Eliesha Nelson (Northwest Sinfonia)

Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra)

Chopin: The Nocturnes -- Nelson Freire
Hamelin: Études -- Marc-André Hamelin
(Winner) Messiaen: Livre Du Saint-Sacrement -- Paul Jacobs
Paganini: 24 Caprices -- Julia Fischer
20th Century Harp Sonatas -- Sarah Schuster Ericsson

Best Chamber Music Performance

Beethoven: Complete Sonatas For Violin & Piano -- Isabelle Faust & Alexander Melnikov
Gnattali: Solo & Chamber Works For Guitar -- Marc Regnier (Tacy Edwards, Natalia Khoma & Marco Sartor)
(Winner) Ligeti: String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2 -- Parker Quartet
Porter, Quincy: Complete Viola Works -- Eliesha Nelson & John McLaughlin Williams (Douglas Rioth; Northwest Sinfonia)
Schoenberg: String Quartets Nos. 3 & 4 -- Fred Sherry String Quartet (Christopher Oldfather & Rolf Schulte)

Best Small Ensemble Performance

Ceremony And Devotion - Music For The Tudors -- Harry Christophers, conductor; The Sixteen
(Winner) Dinastia Borja -- Jordi Savall, conductor; Hespèrion XXI & La Capella Reial De Catalunya (Pascal Bertin, Daniele Carnovich, Lior Elmalich, Montserrat Figueras, Driss El Maloumi, Marc Mauillon, Lluís Vilamajó & Furio Zanasi; Pascal Bertin, Daniele Carnovich, Josep Piera & Francisco Rojas)
Trondheimsolistene - In Folk Style -- Øyvind Gimse & Geir Inge Lotsberg, conductors (Emilia Amper & Gjermund Larsen;TrondheimSolistene)
Victoria: Lamentations Of Jeremiah -- Peter Phillips, conductor; The Tallis Scholars
Whitacre, Eric: Choral Music -- Noel Edison, conductor; Elora Festival Singers (Carol Bauman & Leslie De'Ath)

Best Classical Vocal Performance

Ombre De Mon Amant - French Baroque Arias -- Anne Sofie Von Otter (William Christie; Les Arts Florissants)
(Winner) Sacrificium -- Cecilia Bartoli (Giovanni Antonini; Il Giardino Armonico)
Turina: Canto A Sevilla -- Lucia Duchonová (Celso Antunes; NDR Radiophilharmonie)
Vivaldi: Opera Arias - Pyrotechnics -- Vivica Genaux (Fabio Biondi; Europa Galante)
Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder -- Measha Brueggergosman (Franz Welser-Möst; The Cleveland Orchestra)

Best Classical Contemporary Composition

(Winner) Daugherty, Michael: Deus Ex Machina -- Michael Daugherty (Giancarlo Guerrero)
Henze, Hans Werner: Appassionatamente Plus -- Hans Werner Henze (Stefan Soltesz)
Lindberg, Magnus: Graffiti - Magnus Lindberg (Sakari Oramo)
Pärt, Arvo: Symphony No. 4 -- Arvo Pärt (Esa-Pekka Salonen)
Shchedrin, Rodion Konstantinovich: The Enchanted Wanderer -- Rodion Konstantinovich Shchedrin (Valery Gergiev)

Best Classical Crossover Album

Meeting Of The Spirits -- Matt Haimovitz (Amaryllis Jarczyk, Jan Jarczyk, John McLaughlin, Dominic Painchaud, Leanna Rutt & Matt Wilson)
Off The Map -- The Silk Road Ensemble
Roots - My Life, My Song -- Jessye Norman (Ira Coleman, Steve Johns, Mike Lovatt, Mark Markham & Martin Williams)
(Winner) Tin, Christopher: Calling All Dawns -- Lucas Richman, conductor (Sussan Deyhim, Lia, Kaori Omura, Dulce Pontes, Jia Ruhan, Aoi Tada & Frederica von Stade; Anonymous 4 & Soweto Gospel Choir; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra)
Vocabularies -- Bobby McFerrin

MUSIC VIDEOS

Best Short Form Music Video

"Ain't No Grave / The Johnny Cash Project" -- Johnny Cash; Chris Milk, video director; Jennifer Heath, Aaron Koblin & Rick Rubin, video producers
"Love The Way You Lie (Explicit Version)" -- Eminem & Rihanna; Joseph Kahn, video director; Maryann Tanedo, video producer
"Stylo" -- Gorillaz, Mos Def & Bobby Womack; Pete Candeland & Jamie Hewlett, video directors; Cara Speller, video producer
"... You" -- Cee Lo Green; Matt Stawski, video director; Paul Bock, video producer
(Winner) "Bad Romance" -- Lady Gaga; Francis Lawrence, video director; Heather Heller, video producer

Best Long Form Music Video

"No Distance Left To Run" -- Blur; Will Lovelace, Dylan Southern & Giorgio Testi, video directors; Thomas Benski, Laura Collins & Lucas Ochoa, video producers
(Winner) "When You're Strange" -- The Doors; Tom Dicillo, video director; John Beug, Jeff Jampol, Peter Jankowski & Dick Wolf, video producers
"The Greatest Ears In Town: The Arif Mardin Story" -- Arif Mardin; Doug Biro & Joe Mardin, video directors; Doug Biro & Joe Mardin, video producers
"Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage" -- Rush; Sam Dunn & Scot McFadyen, video directors; Sam Dunn & Scot McFadyen, video producers
"Under Great White Northern Lights" -- The White Stripes; Emmett Malloy, video director; Ian Montone & Mike Sarkissian, video producers

iPhone Music Chatter 08.27.10

Even if Fantasia Barrino hadn't tried to commit suicide two weeks before her latest album was released, Back to Me would have been an album worth hearing. But in the wake of her suicide attempt, many people will be listening to the album on a deeper level as they look for clues in her lyrics as to why she'd want to try ending it all. But with or without the subtext of what's gone down in her personal life in recent weeks, Back to Me, which was released in the U.S. on Aug. 24, 2010, is a good, solid album that manages to properly harness Fantasia's formerly wild and raw voice. For more, click the link for the full review of Fantasia's Back to Me....For whatever reason, Cleveland-area R&B songstress Conya Doss has never become a household name in the music world, despite being a very strong vocalist. Usually when an indie artist fails to hit it big, it because they simply aren't talented enough, or good looking enough or charismatic enough. But that's definitely not the case with this lovely woman, who has consistently put out great, mostly self-released, music since her debut album, A Poem About Ms. Doss, dropped in 2002. And her latest single, "All in You," a lovely testimony about finding the love of your life is evidence of that. If she was on a major label and worked with veteran producers and song arrangers, there's no doubt that she'd be a bigger star. But since that isn't the case, your R&B Guide is spreading the word about Conya and her mellow, soothing brand of R&B. "All in You," which will be on her upcoming album, Blu Transition, can be streamed by clicking the link below....Read Full Post

It's official: R&B superstar Usher Raymond IV has regained his mojo. After struggling with lower than expected sales and fan disappointment with his more mature 2008 album, Here I Stand, Usher made a strong comeback with his March 2010 album, Raymond v. Raymond. But even though that album spawned five hit singles, Usher didn't rest on his laurels. And on Aug. 24, 2010 - just five months after Raymond v. Raymond hit record stores - Usher has dropped a nine-song EP of mostly-new music called Versus. And fortunately, Versus isn't just a collection of remixes, outdated material or mediocre songs that weren't hot enough for Raymond v. Raymond. For more, click the link to read the full review of Usher's Versus....Read Full Post

In Rotation: Mickey Factz, Raekwon, M.I.A., Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, Rakaa, Nappy Roots & More

SOURCE: BALLERSTATUS.COM ~ Ready to train your eardrums again? Today we bring new mixtapes by both Cee-Lo and Christian Rich, an interesting new duo that is being mentored by Pharrell Williams. Chamillionaire, Nappy Roots, Rakaa and Mickey Factz drop new music from their upcoming albums, while Paul Wall throws in a remix by Travis Barker. Enjoy these tracks, as well as two days of rest and relaxation.

Nappy Roots - "P.O.N." - Listen Here
The album Pursuit of Nappyness will hit stores June 22nd.

Mickey Factz - "Paradise" - Listen Here
The first single from his upcoming, long awaited solo debut album, The Achievement.

M.I.A. ft. Jay-Z - "XXXo (Remix)" - Listen Here
Here's some brand new M.I.A. for that ass. Here's the remix for her single, "XXXO," the first from her new album /\/\/\Y/\.

Nipsey Hussle ft. Lloyd - "Feelin' Myself" - Listen Here
Nipsey lands Lloyd for his first single, "Feelin' Myself," off his highly anticipated debut South Central State of Mind.

Raekwon - "Super High Freestyle" - Listen Here
New Raekwon freestyle over Rick Ross' "Super High" instrumental.

Christian Rich - The Decadence (Mixtape) - Listen Here
Up-and-coming duo Christian Rich have hooked up with Clinton Sparks, Mick Boogie, Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream to drop The Decadence, a new mixtape which finds brothers Kehinde and Taiwo Hassan tossing out old concepts to bring fans a new musical sensation.

Cee-Lo - Stray Bullets (Mixtape) - Listen Here
A 14-cut mixtape on the verge of the new album Lady Killer.

Rakaa ft. Aloe Blacc - "Crown Of Thorns" - Listen Here
Off Rakaa’s debut solo album, dropping July 20th.

Capone-N-Noreaga ft. Rick Ross, Triple C's, Sho, & Imam T.H.U.G. - "CCC Vs. CNN" - Listen Here
Off the DJ Green Lantern & Capone-N-Noreaga Camouflage Season mixtape.

Janelle Monae ft. B.o.B. & Lupe Fiasco - "Tightrope (Remix)" - Listen Here
Fresh off the success of the original versions comes the highly anticipated remix featuring B.o.B. and Lupe Fiasco.

Raekwon - "Super High (Freestyle)" - Listen Here
The Chef drops a verse over Rick Ross ft. Ne-Yo's "Super High".

Shiest Bubz - "Haters" - Listen Here
"Haters get your hater on!" Brand new track from Shiest Bubz' upcoming Everydaze My Birthday.

Paul Wall ft. Yelawolf - "Live It (Travis Barker Remix)" - Listen Here
Off of Paul’s Sole Music mixtape.

Kevin Rudolf ft. Lil Wayne - "Spit In Your Face" - Listen Here
Kev's album To The Sky drops June 15th.

Curren$y ft. Fiend - "Executive Brass" - Listen Here
Enjoy this newly formed duo.

Chamillionaire ft. Twista & Lloyd - "Make A Movie" - Listen Here
Check out the first single off Venom.

Brandon Carter

Rapper/Producer Brandon Carter was born and raised on the South side of Chicago, IL, until relocating to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. While pursuing his degree at Howard, Brandon began his performance career, by opening for Hip Hop headliners, such as: Kanye West, Fabolous, LL Cool J and T.I. Upon graduating, Brandon then moved to New York, career driven! While a few offers by major labels fell through, Brandon continued to pursue his dreams.

He released several mix tapes as well as performed throughout the local East coast Hip Hop scene. But soon, rough times hit hard, and Brandon found himself homeless and jobless. While living out of his car, he was able to find a below minimum wage job until finally being scouting by one of New York’s premiere modeling agencies. In a matter of months, he went from being homeless to being on billboards all over New York City and doing fashion shows all over the world. Brandon has done work for Sean John, Puma, Nike, Akademick and many, many more. This allowed him to be able to get his recording career back on track.

He independently, released his first album, South Side Bravado in 2008. Once again, tough times befell Brandon. The very same week that South Side Bravado was released on iTunes, his father committed suicide. But you can’t keep silent a true artist. Just a year after the tragic passing of his father, Brandon went on to release two critically acclaimed mix tapes: The Audacity of Dope and Black Friday. Now, a year later, Brandon is back at it and ready to drop his second full length studio album, Never Gave A F%ck. Not only is he the featured artist on the LP, he also produced every track on it. This new album showcases Brandon’s growth as a man, as an artist and as a producer, and has been held as, “…his best work yet!”

Donnie Klang of Bad Boy Records on Conversations LIVE!

EXCLUSIVE: Conversations LIVE! Radio is pleased to announce that Donnie Klang of Sean "Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy Records will be making his first appearance on the show, originally broadcasted on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at a special time 11a.m. CST/12p.m. EST/9a.m. PT. In this special interview host Cyrus A. Webb talked with Klang about his humble beginnings, what it has been like to have his entire career chronicled through a reality show and what he wants his fans to know about him that maybe television doesn't show. Because of Webb's commitment to literacy and his special campaign in 2009, he will also talk with his guest about the importance of reading and what he wants his fans to know about feeding their minds. Listen to the interview live by visiting http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive or through the switchboard at 1.347.426.3645.

Monday Soul |Free..Networking Party| Air Lounge

Recording artists with The Write Stuff get support from www.hiphopgive sback.org

Another organization that has been created to showcase the positive side of Hip Hop is www.hiphopgivesback.org. Created by Mike D and Konata J, HipHopGivesBack.org has set itself as the premiere catalyst committed to cultivating the awareness of the positive efforts, endeavors,and accomplishments of Hip Hop Culture and its communities. Through its website it hopes to remove negative reinforcements that have been placed upon Hip Hop Culture and its communities by bringing you stories of programs, events and priceless moments that are the result of positivity within. It is now supporting The Write Stuff Reality Show and the artists that are a part of it. "The world is not going to fix itself," says Mike D. "I think it is necessary for those of us who have been blessed in certain positions, to get the ball rolling. This collaboration is the start of a movement that will assist the future(children) in forming the future." Konata J adds this: "The collaboration between www.HipHopgivesBack.org & The Write Stuff is an example of the forward thinking that will bring about progress and change in essential areas, including literacy with urban youth and the promotion of programs. This will contribute to the overall improvement of literacy excellence in our communities." Hip Hop Gives Back will be cross-promoting the artists from The Write Stuff through its site as well. Dj Down South, a recording artist from Mississippi is also pleased to see the marriage of music and reading. "I'm glad to be a part of projects that can show more than one side of the music that Hip hop produces. The Write Stuff is going to break alot of records, and I think that will include those that have to do with Hip Hop as well." Other organizations that have partnered with Shadow Play Entertainment and The Write Stuff in their effort to show the positive side of music include For The People Productions, Crunk Magazine, Hype Magazine, Industry Standard Magazine, The Common Ground Foundation and The Hip Hop Chronicle.  To find out more about those who are working to make a difference along with The Write Stuff or to see how you can get involved, visit http://www.thewritestufftv.com

Kanye West Covers The April/May Issue Of Complex!

No matter how many times we collaborate with him, we can always count on Kanye to come with a completely original idea when it’s time do a cover story. And as you probably guessed from the preview he posted on his blog back in January, we’ve got something really special planned for our April/May 2009 issue.

The magazine officially hits stands on April 7, but you can check out the full story now, along with the futuristic photo shoot, co-created with photographer/director Chris Milk. How did we make the hi-tech computer generated imagery? Watch the video below to see the whole process…

• CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL KANYE WEST COVER STORY!
• CLICK HERE FOR THE “MAKING OF THE AIR YEEZY” STORY!

Oakland Rappers find refuge

Tim'm West: In Security: The Golden Error

In Security: The Golden Error ~ is Tim'm's 3rd solo project following critically acclaimed projects "Songs from Red Dirt", the more recent "Blakkboy Blue(s)", and several projects with the now defunct Deep Dickollective The album, not unlike the first two, is an autobiographical lens through Tim'm's life as a black man, a black gay man, and a Hip Hop head. It examines what it means to be in security with insecurities-- taking on everything from his speech impediment issues as a young kid, to growing up in Arkansas, or the cosmetic cyst/bump on his forehead he has not been vain enough (yet) to have removed Says Tim'm in the song Bump: "faced with any insecurity, i use it. one emcee who gone' always do me". Other strong points on the album include tracks like "Old School", "Full Moon", "Nappy", "Against the Grain", and  "Walking Contradiction". Tim'm, being among the foundational "out emcees in Hip Hop also pays tribute to the Golden Era of Hip Hop (1987-1993) that was most influential in his own Hip Hop history and when he began rhyming. Not unlike other of his projects, it already contains multiple favorites, evidence of a balanced project where expectations for all songs are high and there are few "fillers". With original production by a strong cast of both straight and LGBT emcees/vocalists and producers, Tim'm has began to see a broadening of his fan base without making compromises in content With vocal collabs with Last Offence, Bryn't, The Qure, Maia Papaya, Tru, Deadlee Mid*One, Tim Dillinger, TwiZza, William Scott, and Sarafina as well as production by Dirty Bird (CA), Eddy J. Free (Cincinnati), DJ Sirrah (Cincinnati), Tru (Atlanta), and Lil Biggie (ATL) the album is Tim'm's most polished and upbeat project to date. Says Tim'm: "I'm known for being that deep bohemian who is too old school and conscious to have fun with music With this project, I saw an opportunity to remember the joy I found in Hip Hop during its Golden Era... Hip Hop was great party music AND had a lot of meaningful content I don't think of it as either/or but both/and ... you can be a fun, conscious emcee. This was perhaps an error of previous projects... so caught up in my pain that I let it color entire projects Truth is... I am learning to love life and am a happy guy who loves to love and who loves flirting. I hope people begin to see me a bit differently: no less deep, all the more fun, if lyrically tough and "hard" at times. After all, what if you began to see your errors and insecurities as golden, as opportunities to grow and change. That's what the project is about."

Def Jam Celebrates 25 Year Milestone With Record Store Day

With a long history of producing stars in hip-hop -- from LL Cool J and Slick Rick, all the way down to Rihanna, Jay-Z and Kanye West -- Def Jam Records has held down the genre for a quarter of a decade. Now, in celebration of their 25th anniversary, the legendary record label is set to launch Def Jam 25, and Record Store Day. "25 years as a thriving, successful hip-hop and R&B label -- a company that has always put its artists first and maintained deep roots in the Urban community -- is a giant accomplishment in anyone's book," said Antonio "L.A." Reid, Chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group. "From a personal standpoint, I can say that Def Jam had tremendous meaning and significance in my own career as a musician, producer and independent label head, long before I actually arrived at these offices five years ago. Let's celebrate the next 25 years of Def Jam right now."

To assist in the celebration of Record Store Day, Def Jam plans to release a limited edition 4-LP deluxe set --Def Jam 25: DJ Bring That Back Volumes 1 and 2.

Below is the tracklists:

Vol 1

"Disturbia" - Rihanna
"I Luv Your Girl" - The-Dream
"Hustlin'" - Rick Ross
"Go Crazy" - Young Jeezy
"Jesus Walks" - Kanye West
"Splash Waterfalls" - Ludacris
"Foolish" - Ashanti
"Put It On Me" - Ja Rule ft. Vita
"Just Friends (Sunny)" - Musiq Soulchild
"What's My Name" - DMX
"Money Ain't A Thang" - Jay-Z ft. Jermaine Dupri
"Big Bad Mama" - Foxy Brown ft. Dru Hill

Vol 2

"Whateva Man" - Redman
"This Is How We Do It" - Montell Jordan
"Bring The Pain" – Method Man
"Slam" - Onyx
"Deeper" - Boss
"Hip Hop Junkies" – Nice & Smooth
"911 Is A Joke" - Public Enemy
"Pop Goes The Weasel" - 3rd Bass
"Children's Story" - Slick Rick
"I Need Love" - LL Cool J
"The Rain" - Oran Juice Jones
"My Radio" - LL Cool J
"It's Yours" - T la Rock ft. Jazzy Jay

Delicious Vinyl Feeds Dilla Freaks In Need Of Beats With Yancey Boys - The Instrumentals

(January 28, 2009 - Brooklyn, NY) Mental for Dilla beats? We got you covered. Hot on the still-smokin' heels of Illa J's debut album Yancey Boys, comes...Yancey Boys - Instrumentals.  Thirteen beats created by the one and only James Yancey (aka Jay Dee aka J Dilla). Raw uncut Jay Dee goodness, heard first on Illa J's debut album Yancey Boys. These beats date from 1995-98, created during Jay Dee's tenure at Delicious Vinyl including his work on the Pharcyde's sophomore LP, Labcabincalifornia. Madly prolific, Jay Dee left these previously untouched beats behind. They were in the Delicious Vinyl vault for a whopping thirteen years before, in a case of manifest destiny, Dilla's younger brother John "Illa J" Yancey added his vocals to them to make the album Yancey Boys. Now fans can get the raw material that Illa J worked with. From "We Here"'s kraut-tastic sizzle to the bumpadelic rumpus of "R U Listenin'.” From the dusted satin of "Sounds Like Love" to the torqued out dreamscape of "All Good,” these beats are all keepers. They’re available on your favorite format (double vinyl LP, CD, or digital download) online an in stores everywhere. As an added bonus, San Francisco's DJ King Most (www.myspace.com/kingmost) whipped up a Mega Mix of the instrumentals: http://media.audibletreats.com/King-Most-Yancey_Boys_Instrumental_Megamix.mp3.

10th S.F. Hip Hop DanceFest locks, pops, spins

BY Rachel Howard, Chronicle Dance Correspondent -- The San Francisco Hip Hop DanceFest's audience isn't shy about its predilections: The mob screams for a fat beat, claps along when a crew breaks out old-school James Brown or vintage '80s Janet Jackson and shouts "work it out!" when a dancer starts slamming. But like any crowd that knows how to have a good time, the festival's fans rarely err in taste - and neither does founder, director and producer Micaya. I wasn't able to catch the 10th anniversary festival's Program A on Friday at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, but that was surely my loss, because Saturday's Program B was sick, buck, dope, stupid - insert whatever other hip-hop accolade you wish - the best of the eight editions of the festival I've been fortunate enough to witness through the years. Just when we thought Micaya's international scouting had shown us everything possible in hip-hop, along comes Indiana's Breaksk8 Dance Crew. These five guys dance on roller skates, and this ain't no roller derby. They do tight, hard-hitting moves that most crews would kill to pull off with their feet on the ground. Then they do more, throwing themselves into b-boy spins, scissoring their legs in handstands. Also on the novel side was Philadelphia's MopTop Music and Movement, led by Buddha Stretch, a repeat visitor to the festival. For "HipHop/Beebob" he took a Charleston-grooving song by Common and staged a 1920s speakeasy bash. You haven't seen street tough redefined until you've seen B-girl Bounce whirl through a corkscrew in a flapper dress and heels. But some crews didn't need a gimmick, just a good booty-shaking. Oakland's young company Diamond/Sparkle took the prize for fierceness, relentlessly ripping into the limb-flailing choreography by Corey Action, Teela Shine-Ross and Eddie E. Action is already a hip-hop dance celebrity in these parts, known for his infectious work with New Style Motherlode. Diamond/Sparkle (it appears to be a combination of two troupes, the older Diamond crew and the junior Sparkle) has a lot of very young boys with very flexible legs, and Action put them to work with their feet up by their ears, or bouncing to the beat in side splits. A special shout out to Jalen Preston of the incredible noodle-like back. Funkanometry SF Dance Company was the most modern-dance-influenced of the crews, with the most slickly rehearsed, all-around-well-trained ensemble. San Jose's DS Players made their mark with the night's cleverest mix, stepping like mad to bluegrass banjo, to huge comic effect. Like any party, Saturday's show had its lulls, and usually they came when a crew tried to substitute artsy concepts and props for high quality dancing. Vancouver's Over the Influence had big panels with portraits of hip-hop stars and lots of costumes, but few memorable steps; Eric Fenn's Loose Change staged a gloomy and, for long stretches, dance-less hubbub of soulless corporate commuters. Human Creature tried something more original in their symbiotic partnering between Derek Harris and Meegan Hertensteiner, but their act could use a lot more popping - and the two should be better at it. CONTINUE READING...