So NARAS tried something new this year, instead of announcing this years crop of Grammy nominations at the butt crack of dawn (in front of just press) the nominees were alerted in the midst of a televisied concert. So essentially, the Grammy’s held a Grammy Nomination Ceremony…

I’ve got to tell you, there’s a diverse crop this year with lots of new commers and artists that have flown under the commercial radar finally getting the recognition they deserve. 

Of course, some of the bigger catergories come as no surprise. 

LIL WAYNE leads the pack with 8 nominations, including Album Of The Year for Tha Carter III. 

Newcomer JAZMINE SULLIVAN, along with TREY SONGZ, Sara Bariellas, Jason Maraz, RAHEEM DEVAUGHN also got their first noms. 

KANYE WEST, JAY-Z and NE-YO all follow with six a piece. Coldplay is close behind Weey with seven, including both Album Of The Year and Record Of The Year.

Album of the Year

• Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends, Coldplay
• Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne
• Year of the Gentleman, Ne-Yo
• Raising Sand, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
• In Rainbows, Radiohead

Song of the Year

• “American Boy,” Estelle featuring Kanye West
• “Chasing Pavements,” Adele
• “I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz
• “Love Song,” Sarah Bareilles
• “Viva La Vida,” Coldplay

Best R&B Song

• “Bust Your Windows,” Jazmine Sullivan
• “Customer,” Raheem DeVaughn
• “Heaven Sent,” Keyshia Cole
• “Miss Independent,” Ne-Yo
• “Spotlight,” Jennifer Hudson

Best R&B Album

• Love & Life, Eric Benet
• Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA, Boyz II Men
• Lay It Down, Al Green
• Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Hudson
• The Way I See It, Raphael Saadiq

Best Contemporary R&B Album

• Growing Pains, Mary J. Blige
• Back Of My Lac’, J. Holiday
• First Love, Karina
• Year Of The Gentleman, Ne-Yo
• Fearless, Jazmine Sullivan

Best Rap Solo Performance

• Jay-Z, “Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)…”
• Lil Wayne, “A Milli”
• Lupe Fiasco, “Paris, Tokyo”
• Nas, “N.i.-.-.e.r. (The Slave And The Master)”
• Snoop Dogg, “Sexual Eruption”

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

• Big Boi Featuring Raekwon And Andre 3000, “Royal Flush”
• Jay-Z & T.I. Featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne, “Swagga Like Us”
• Lil Wayne Featuring Jay-Z, “Mr. Carter”
• Ludacris Featuring T.I., “Wish You Would”
• Young Jeezy Featuring Kanye West, “Put On”

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

• Estelle Featuring Kanye West, “American Boy”
• Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain, “Low”
• John Legend & Andre 3000, “Green Light”
• Lil Wayne Featuring T-Pain, “Got Money”
• Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos, “Superstar”

Best Rap Song

• “Lollipop,” Lil Wayne Featuring Static Major
• “Low,” Flo Rida Featuring T-Pain
• “Sexual Eruption,” Snoop Dogg
• “Superstar,” Lupe Fiasco Featuring Matthew Santos
• “Swagga Like Us,” Jay-Z & T.I. Featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne