1/30/18

#BlackPanther Star-Studded Premiere Showcases The Black Excellence of Hollywood! ♚🌟🌟♛


#BlackPanther Star-Studded Premiere Showcases The Black Excellence of Hollywood! ♚🌟🌟♛
Marvel’s “Black Panther” world premiere, held Monday night at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, was a celebration of black excellence, and a who’s who of artists in film and music who coordinated to wear colorful, African-themed fashion.
Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther” is the first Marvel film to feature a black superhero in a titular role, played by Chadwick Boseman, who was first introduced in “Captain America: Civil War.”

Coogler is best known as director of “Fruitvale Station” and “Creed,” which starred Michael B. Jordan, cast as villain Erik Killmonger, in “Black Panther.” Coogler also wrote the film with Joe Robert Cole.

The latest entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe picks up where that “Civil War” left off, following T’Challa — a.k.a. Black Panther — who, after the death of his father, the king of Wakanda, returns home to assume the throne. In short order, T’Challa is called on to protect the people and way of life of Wakanda, an isolated, technologically advanced African nation.

Angela Bassett, who plays T’Challa’s mother, Ramonda, was jubilant on Monday night, saying that the most special aspect of “Black Panther” was “just seeing all these beautiful, talented black people in one place, this black nation, coming together, technologically advanced, un-colonized with so much swag and brilliance.”

Women played indispensable roles in the film and in the fictional Wakanda, Bassett said. T’Challa, for instance, relies on the Dora Milaje, his royal security detail of fierce female warriors. “He can’t do it without them,” she said. “There is no king without a queen is the thought and sentiment in African nations. That queen is his mother, his sister, his all-female guard. Behind the scenes, it’s Ryan Coogler with his first (assistant director), his director of photography, his costumer designer, his production designer. They are kings because of the queens.”

The premiere featured a royal purple carpet under a tent on Hollywood Boulevard. Security was heavier than usual, but it had no impact on the celebratory mood of stars. Kendrick Lamar, who produced and curated the soundtrack, was on hand. Other attendees included Donald Glover; the cast of “Black-ish,” including Anthony Anderson and Yara Shahidi; Ava DuVernay; Don Cheadle; Laurence Fishburne; and Tessa Thompson. 

See all the pics!
“Black Panther” aslo stars Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis. Film opens Feb 12th!

#BREAKING: Mark Salling Dead:Former ‘Glee’ Alum Dies From Apparent Suicide at 35! 😭


#BREAKING: Mark Salling Dead:Former ‘Glee’ Alum Dies From Apparent Suicide at 35! 😭
Mark Salling has died from an apparent suicide, the Los Angeles Police Department confirms to the press. He was 35.
An LAPD PIO has stated that officers responded to a death investigation near the Glee alum’s home in the Sunland-Tujunga neighborhood of Los Angeles at 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday, January 30, but could not identify him.

Salling had been awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in December to possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor. He had previously agreed to serve four to seven years in jail, in addition to registering as a sex offender and staying 100 feet away from schoolyards, parks, public swimming pools, playgrounds and video arcade venues. His sentencing in the case was set for March 7.
TMZ reported that the actor previously attempted suicide by cutting both of his wrists in the bedroom of his home in late August 2017. He was reportedly rushed to the hospital and underwent a psychiatric evaluation. However, Salling’s lawyer denied the story at the time, telling TMZ, “Mark is physically fine and … spending his time atoning and working on himself.”

Salling was best known for his role as bad boy Noah “Puck” Puckerman on the Fox dramedy Glee, which aired for six seasons from May 2009 to March 2015. The series won six Emmys, four Golden Globes and a SAG Award for best cast in a comedy series.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

1/29/18

The Daily Buzz For Jan 30 ☕📰☕


Lupita Nyong'o for The Hollywood Reporter! She speaks on Black Panther: "African People Are in Charge of Their Own Destiny"
Black Panther will premiere in theaters nationwide on Feb. 16, and industry analysts say the Marvel movie is on track to earn between $100 million and $120 million at the U.S. box office. As the first comic book adaptation to feature a largely black cast, Black Panther stars Angela Bassett, Chadwick Boseman, Winston Duke, Martin Freeman, Danai Gurira, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, Andy Serkis, Forest Whitaker and Letitia Wright. Nyong'o met director Ryan Coogler on the award circuit in 2013, and three years later, as she was starring on Broadway in Eclipsed, "Marvel called and said that Ryan was interested in me for a role in Panther," she tells The Hollywood Reporter. "I talked to him about it, and obviously everything was hush-hush, but he walked me through his initial ideas, and I thought, 'Wait a minute? This is a Marvel movie?'"

Nyong'o agreed to star in the movie without reading the script—and she didn't receive it until shooting began. "She's an incredibly serious actress. She does a lot of homework, asks a lot of hard questions. At the same time, she's got an incredible sense of humor. She'd poke fun at me a lot," Coogler reveals in the magazine's Jan. 25 issue, out now. "On one of our last days, she and [co-star] Letitia Wright got the crew T-shirts with all the things I said collected on the back."

Nyong'o plays the warrior Nakia, whom she describes as both a "loyalist" and a "rebel."

"She wants to go her own way but also wants to serve her nation." The film centers on "what it means to be from a place and welcome others into it. T'Challa is the leader of an isolated nation that has managed to keep its autonomy and be self-determining because it has shielded itself from colonization," she says, "and how does that nation now relate with the rest of the world?"

Nyong'o was intrigued not only by the film's political themes, but also by what it represents. "We were creating an aspirational world where an African people are in charge of their own destiny. And that really appealed to me and had the little girl inside me jumping for joy," she admits. "To just have African people, black people, at the center of that narrative is so exciting."

The actress, who was raised in Kenya, found it easy to relate to Nakia. "My father raised us to stand up for what we believe in and to fight for what is right. We were always told, 'You need to make a difference in the world,'" the Oscar winner says. "I live with that insistence all the time."
In addition to adopting the same accent Boseman had used in captain America: Civil War ("There's three different clicks, like three different letters," she says), Nyong'o signed up for a six-week boot camp to get into shape. "It started off four hours a day, then it was reduced to two when I started bulking up—I remember coming home for Christmas and I couldn't fit into my clothes," Nyong'o recalls. "We would have warm-ups together, then break off and do our individual techniques. Nakia is a street fighter, so I had jujitsu and capoeira and ring blades."

It was tough, but Nyong'o—similar to her character—makes it sound easy. "I have dabbled in martial arts all my life, since I was 7, maybe—tae kwon do, capoeira, Muay Thai. It's always been an interest because in martial arts there is a mind/body relationship," she says. "You can't do it right if you're angry; how you can exert your power with a clear mind really interests me."

For more on Nyong'o, pick up a copy of The Hollywood Reporter's Jan. 25 issue.


#RHoA: What's The Tea?☕ Does Cynthia’s New Boyfriend Have Another Girlfriend?
The forecast was shady in Atlanta. Cynthia Bailey had her new maybe-boyfriend Will over for dinner at her house. During their romantic meal, she told him that she trusted him, despite what her friends were saying. Will assured her that he was committed to her, and only her, and added that his goal for his next stage of his life was to “have a family and be successful at that.” Cynthia then admitted she was actually still on a dating site, and he didn’t like that so much.
Meanwhile, Kenya went shopping for a birthday gift for her absentee husband. In between picking out workout equipment, she revealed she hoped her husband would relocate from New York to Atlanta soon. “I’m hoping he’ll move because I do want to have a baby in the near future,” she said. She then joked that she should use his credit card to buy his birthday gift.

Cynthia, Will, Kandi, Todd, Kenya, Kim, Porsha, Sheree Whitfield, Nene Leakes and Nene’s friend Eva Marcille (who won the third cycle of America’s Next Top Model) all gathered to celebrate Kandi’s Essence magazine cover. On the way to the event, Eva told Nene that she had met Will at a cigar bar a few months back and he had introduced a woman he was with to her as his girlfriend. Cut to Will telling Cynthia he had been single for over two years.

Naturally, it didn’t take long for Nene to tell Kandi, Kenya, Marlo and anyone else who was in earshot that Eva had seen Will with his girlfriend. Cynthia was already feeling awkward since her ex-husband Peter had also dropped by the event, and things got worse for her after she heard this piece of news. “I know that we’re not exclusive. I know that we’re just dating. But I don’t want to date you if you have a girlfriend,” Cynthia said to Will.

Will got defensive and said he didn’t like being ambushed. Cynthia said that made two of them. They called Eva over, and she and Will got into it pretty quickly. Nene, Kenya, and Kandi were all convinced Will was up to no good, but Cynthia said she was just “confused.”

Tell Us: Do you think Cynthia is being played?


#EMPIRE: Woman Puts 'Empire' Star Bryshere Gray On Full Blast For Greasily Sliding Into Her DMs
Empire's Bryshere Gray recently had a DM failure with the woman on the other end of the exchange airing their conversation out to the world, completed with a little something extra.
The woman in question posted a slew of screenshots showing her numerous exchanges with Empire's resident bad boy, seemingly initiated by the actor himself.
It seems as the two have history as she responds to one of his messages with, "I don't have your number no more."
Their conversation got a bit more heated once numbers were exchanged — again — with the woman labeling him a "psycho" after he asked if she would "hold him down" if she moved in with him. Their convo was seemingly cut short after the actor expressed his disapproval of her lack of interest.

"God bless I made a huge mistake giving u my number take care," he wrote.

This was followed by a proclamation by the woman stating that she is "NO groupie or a h*e," followed her her leaking his number for all her "n****s who wanna get on the show."

Messy.
Take a look, below:
Fameolous posted a photo of the woman in question, but her social media identity remains a mystery, for now.


#RNBFLASHBACK: Teena Marie - "Deja Vu (I've Been Here Before)"
This is a wonderful song from Teena Marie's first album "Wild & Peaceful" 
It is a standout track. It has Teena's amazing vocals singing with pride about being a queen of people of many colors and being different people in different lifetimes. 
I had first heard this song at a young age not knowing what it was. I finally found it. This song is so beautiful.

LISTEN HERE

So beautiful, the flipside of Tina Marie's first single, "I'm Just a Sucker for Your Love," was a favorite in its own right on urban stations and bar jukeboxes when released in 1979. Tina sings the enchanting, reflective lyrics about being here before to the sounds of ocean waves, a sweet strumming rhythm guitar, a perky flute, a sterling saxophone run, and ultra soulful female voices.


#HIPHOPNEWS: Why was Jay Z was SHUT OUT at The Grammys?
Jay Z lead the pack of musicians as the most nominated person at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards Sunday night.
Centered front row – with his daughter Blue Ivy and superstar wife Beyoncé – black audiences across the globe were assured he’d take home a few trophies or at least one of the eight he was up for. He left with none.

While the Academy‘s voters did recognize the greatness that is Kendrick Lamar by awarding him Best Rap Song, Best Video, and Best Rap Performance, they failed at the opportunity to celebrate Jay-Z’s most honest, culture-moving body of work to-date. How pathetic!
Mr. Carter skipped the Grammys in years prior for its lack of inclusion of Black music during the biggest night in music. Baiting him with an enormous amount of nominations in hindsight seems to be more of a marketing ploy for the royal family to appear: increasing ratings and the award show’s immediate benefit through media and social engagement. It’s an old trick that, unfortunately, still gets the best of powerful musicians of color.

At this point in Jay-Z’s career and with a masterpiece like ‘4:44’ under his belt, it’s not certain if he’ll ever return to the Grammys. But he doesn’t really need to.


#UGH: Omarosa Cast on ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ and Julie Chen speaks on it!
Former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault returns to her reality show roots on Celebrity Big Brother…
According to reports Omarosa Maingualt is set to appear on the first Celebrity Big Brother US edition on CBS. And Julie Chen is sounding off on former Trump aide Omarosa Manigault being one of the contestants.

This won’t be Omarosa‘s first time on reality television. She was of course one of the most infamous stars of The Apprentice.

“It’s a good thing the word ‘brother’ is between ‘big’ and ‘house’ so it’s not from the White House to the Big House,” Julie told Page Six TV. “We know Omarosa likes a microphone. She likes a camera. She has something to say.”
“After spending one year in the White House — and if you believe what you read in Page Six — I don’t think it was the most pleasant exit when asked to resign…” she added. “I do think she’s going to speak her truth in the House.”

Other contestants include Real Housewife Brandi Glanville, former Cosby kid Keisha Knight Pulliam, Tony winner Marisa Jaret Winokur, MMA star Chuck Liddell, Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath, former NBA All-Star Metta World Peace fka Ron Artest, Miss Universe 2015 Ariadna Gutiérrez, actress/poker pro Shannon Elizabeth, E!’s Ross Matthews and actor/singer James Maslow.

Celebrity Big Brother premiers on CBS Feb. 7th.


#SPORTSNEWS: The LA Clippers Traded Blake Griffin To Detroit Pistons!
Blake Griffin will soon have a harder time getting guest appearances on Comedy Central shows, because according to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers have traded Griffin to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, and a pair of picks.

Griffin has spent the duration of his career in L.A., and he’s made five All-Star teams. Despite losing Chris Paul, the Clippers have remained competitive this season, largely thanks to Griffin’s excellent play. He has struggled with nagging injuries over the past few seasons, and he signed a five-year, $171 million deal with the Clippers this summer. The details of Los Angeles’ free agency pitch are funny in retrospect, since they traded him only a few months after simulating his number being retired:

When Griffin arrived at Staples Center for his free-agency pitch meeting on July 1, he found the Clippers had erected something of a maze for him with temporary walls. Griffin walked his 3-year-old son, Ford, through the art gallery-style corridors, and found photos hanging at each turn: Griffin on his green Huffy bike with his brother, Taylor, when they were kids; Griffin playing in college; Griffin as a Clipper.

The maze spit Griffin out onto a couch overlooking the Staples Center court, above the lower bowl. Crowd noise pumped in. The team’s public address announcer declared the Clippers were retiring Griffin’s number. Team employees raised an actual banner into the rafters — a vision of the future they wanted.

Despite hovering around the playoff periphery and looking like a solid bet to make it now that DeMarcus Cousins is out with a torn Achilles, the Clippers are blowing it all up. Griffin has been the face of the franchise for almost a decade, and he’s been there throughout the Clippers’ rise from total joke owned by Donald Sterling to Western Conference contender. The team seems to be starting a full rebuild, however.


Jennifer Hudson will be portraying Aretha Franklin for her Biopic!
Clive Davis at his Grammy party last weekend announced that Jennifer Hudson will be playing Aretha Franklin in an upcoming biopic about the life of the Queen of Soul. Hudson was in fact hand picked by Franklin to play the role. It was appropriate that Davis introduce all this, since he has such a long professional relationship with Franklin. 

Producing the film will be Straight Outta Compton‘s Scott Bernstein and music producer Harvey Mason Jr., who has worked with Franklin and also produced music for the film Dreamgirls, on which Hudson won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, alongside Beyonce. Hudson has gone on to a strong career that included the premiere of Monster, which premiered in Sundance.

Hudson seems one of the few actresses with the vocal range to do justice to Franklin’s soaring classics. MGM will move quickly to set a filmmaker and a screenwriter.


Andrew McCabe, FBI deputy director, quits after Trump criticism
Andrew McCabe was forced to step down ahead of his official retirement date on 18 March, reports CBS News.
Mr McCabe's exit from the top law enforcement agency comes a week after a report that Mr Trump wanted him out. He was also reportedly pressured to quit by FBI Director Christopher Wray ahead of an internal agency report.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Monday's daily press briefing: "This decision was not made by the White House."
"The president wasn't part of this decision making process," she added.
Mr McCabe briefly became acting FBI director last May after Mr Trump fired its previous chief, James Comey. Mr Comey had been overseeing the bureau's investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Mr Trump eventually nominated Christopher Wray as the new FBI director, and he was confirmed by the Senate in August.
Mr Wray recently threatened to resign after being pressured by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to fire Mr McCabe, Washington DC news outlet Axios reported last week.

He reportedly had expressed an interest in moving Mr McCabe to another job, which would have been a demotion, ahead of a forthcoming inspector general report about the 2016 election, according to the New York Times. CBS News later reported that an internal communication authored by Mr Wray showed Mr McCabe's early departure was the result of an upcoming inspector general's investigation that concluded the FBI must perform at the highest standards.

Mr McCabe, 49, who was already expected to step down in early 2018 upon becoming eligible for his pension, instead chose to step down now and is on leave ahead of his official retirement date, CBS News reports.


Chrissy Teigen & John Legend Are Expecting A Baby Boy
Looks like Baby Girl Luna Simone is getting a baby brother. Chrissy Teigen revealed she and John Legend are expecting a baby boy on Sunday night.
The expectant mother posted a photo of herself at the Grammys with the caption, “mama and her baby boy.”
Congrats to the happy family.


‘Superfly’ remake Adds Michael K. Williams And More!
DEADLINE is reporting that “Bessie” actor Michael K. Williams is joining the cast of “Superfly.” The versatile TV and film star will portray Scatter in the project that includes “Grown-ish” star Trevor Jackson and “The Chi” actor Jason Mitchell.  In addition, veteran actor Esai Morales will also star in the film as Adalberto.

As previously reported, “Superfly” follows Priest, a New York City drug dealer who decides that he wants to get out of his dangerous trade. Working with his reluctant friend, Eddie, Priest devises a scheme that will allow him make a big deal and then retire. Jackson will portray Priest and Mitchell will star as Eddie.

Rounding out the cast is Lex Scott Davis as Georgia, Andrea Londo as Cynthia, Jacob Ming-Trent as Fat Freddy and Allen Maldonado as Litty.

Hip hop stars 21 Savage and KiaShine are also attached to the film + Future and Zaytoven are curator’s of the soundtrack. Director X is on board as the film’s director.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘GAME OF THRONES’
When you have Game of Thrones on your mind 24/7 even though the new season doesn’t come out for another 6 years or something like that.


EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Mr. BOLO
Meet Mr. BOLO! So you know what to do to see more. Just CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PICS and remember they’re NSFW!

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN NOR ALTER any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.

You’re Welcome!


HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

1/28/18

Is Kandi Burruss Broadway Ticket Sales Plunging? 😲 🙊


Is Kandi Burruss Broadway Ticket Sales Plunging?
Kandi don't write Xscape off just YET! The Word on the curb is that Kandi Burruss' Broadway debut has underwhelmed at the box office...
“Chicago boasts sizzling songs, seductive dance numbers, a show biz story that packs a powerful punch and now a Real Housewife, but tickets sales have been soft with Kandi.”

The show ticket price has been reduced from a high of $149 to just $33 on discounted site Goldstar.
“What is making matters even worse is that YouTube sensation and RuPaul judge, Todrick Hall, has joined Kandi in the cast. And neither one of them has set the box office on fire.”

You still have time to support Kandi, her role in Chicago runs until March 11th.

The Daily Buzz For Jan 29 ☕📰☕


Oprah Knows for InStyle Magazine!
Oprah Winfrey is truly living her best life. On the heels of receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes earlier this month, her inspiring and now-iconic speech incited rumors that the media mogul was gearing up to throw in a bid for the 2020 presidential race. Now, the 63-year-old is serving us Fashion Girl™ on the March cover of InStyle magazine — and she knows it too.

In the behind-the-scenes video for her cover shoot, the A Wrinkle in Time star goes full-on diva as she models the best spring looks from Gucci, Versace, Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, and Balenciaga. “This is the most fash-on, not off,” she says in the clip. “This is the most fashion I’ve ever been, I mean, pink tights, pink shoes, pink lips, pink earrings. I mean, I don’t even know myself!”

Oprah then speaks to those among us who are maximalists at heart. “I have to say, nothing feels like getting dressed up in sequins,” Winfrey explains to the camera in a floor-length sequined Marc Jacobs dress. “When you are wearing a sequin gown, you better know where you’re goin’!” After she poses with a gorgeous cocktail ring, she alerts viewers to how one should dress to harvest the crops we imagines she grows at the Promised Land. “Nothing says ‘Harvest Day’ like pink velour,” as its “great for picking peppers,” she says of her Versace gown. And you know something is really making Winfrey’s heart sing when she wants to give it away like one of her favorite things. When she put on a dramatic hunter green trench from Oscar de la Renta, she adds: “I just love this coat so much. I just want to say, everybody gets a coat.”


Before the video ends, Winfrey drops one last gem while in head-to-toe Gucci: “Every girl needs red roses and to know, I am love and loved.” And all we have to say is: Let the church say ‘amen.’


The Grammys 2018 Winners: The Complete List!
The 60th annual Grammy Awards are a wrap!

While JAY-Z entered Sunday as the top nominee, it was Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar who left the night's biggest winners. But with 80-plus awards to hand out, there were plenty of victors. Check out all the winners below.

*Winners in RED

GENERAL FIELD

Album of the Year:
"Awaken, My Love!" — Childish Gambino
4:44 — Jay-Z
DAMN. — Kendrick Lamar
Melodrama — Lorde
24K Magic — Bruno Mars -- WINNER

Record of the Year:
"Redbone" — Childish Gambino
"Despacito" — Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber
"The Story Of O.J." — Jay-Z
"HUMBLE." — Kendrick Lamar
"24K Magic" — Bruno Mars -- WINNER

Song of the Year:
"Despacito" — Ramón Ayala, Justin Bieber, Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd, Erika Ender, Luis Fonsi & Marty James Garton, songwriters (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber)
"4:44" — Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson, songwriters (Jay-Z)
"Issues" — Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Julia Michaels & Justin Drew Tranter, songwriters (Julia Michaels)
"1-800-273-8255" — Alessia Caracciolo, Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, Arjun Ivatury & Khalid Robinson, songwriters (Logic Featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid)
"That’s What I Like" — Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, songwriters (Bruno Mars) -- WINNER

Best New Artist:
Alessia Cara -- WINNER
Khalid
Lil Uzi Vert
Julia Michaels
SZA

POP FIELD

Best Pop Solo Performance:
"Love So Soft" — Kelly Clarkson
"Praying" — Kesha
"Million Reasons" — Lady Gaga
"What About Us" — P!nk
"Shape Of You" — Ed Sheeran -- WINNER

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:
"Something Just Like This" — The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
"Despacito" — Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
"Thunder" — Imagine Dragons
"Feel It Still" — Portugal. The Man -- WINNER
"Stay" — Zedd & Alessia Cara

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:
Nobody But Me (Deluxe Version) — Michael Bublé
Triplicate — Bob Dylan
In Full Swing — Seth MacFarlane
Wonderland — Sarah McLachlan
Tony Bennett Celebrates 90 — (Various Artists) Dae Bennett, Producer -- WINNER

Best Pop Vocal Album:
Kaleidoscope EP — Coldplay
Lust for Life — Lana Del Rey
Evolve — Imagine Dragons
Rainbow — Kesha
Joanne — Lady Gaga
÷ (Divide) — Ed Sheeran -- WINNER

DANCE/ELECTRONIC FIELD

Best Dance Recording:
"Bambro Koyo Ganda" — Bonobo Featuring Innov Gnawa
"Cola" — Camelphat & Elderbrook
"Andromeda" — Gorillaz Featuring DRAM
"Tonite" — LCD Soundsystem -- WINNER
"Line Of Sight" — Odesza Featuring WYNNE & Mansionair

Best Dance/Electronic Album:
Migration — Bonobo
3-D The Catalogue — Kraftwerk -- WINNER
Mura Masa — Mura Masa
A Moment Apart — Odesza
What Now — Sylvan Esso

CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL FIELD

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album:
What If — The Jerry Douglas Band
Spirit — Alex Han
Mount Royal — Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge
Prototype — Jeff Lorber Fusion -- WINNER
Bad Hombre — Antonio Sanchez

ROCK FIELD

Best Rock Performance:
"You Want It Darker" — Leonard Cohen -- WINNER
"The Promise" — Chris Cornell
"Run" — Foo Fighters
"No Good" — Kaleo
"Go To War" — Nothing More

Best Metal Performance:
"Invisible Enemy" — August Burns Red
"Black Hoodie" — Body Count
"Forever" — Code Orange
"Sultan’s Curse" — Mastodon -- WINNER
"Clockworks" — Meshuggah

Best Rock Song:
"Atlas, Rise!" — James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich, songwriters (Metallica)
"Blood In The Cut" — JT Daly & Kristine Flaherty, songwriters (K.Flay)
"Go To War" — Ben Anderson, Jonny Hawkins, Will Hoffman, Daniel Oliver, David Pramik & Mark Vollelunga, songwriters (Nothing More)
"Run" — Foo Fighters, songwriters (Foo Fighters) -- WINNER
"The Stage" — Zachary Baker, Brian Haner, Matthew Sanders, Jonathan Seward & Brooks Wackerman, songwriters (Avenged Sevenfold)

Best Rock Album:
Emperor Of Sand — Mastodon
Hardwired…To Self-Destruct — Metallica
The Stories We Tell Ourselves — Nothing More
Villains — Queens Of the Stone Age
A Deeper Understanding — The War On Drugs -- WINNER

ALTERNATIVE FIELD

Best Alternative Music Album:
Everything Now — Arcade Fire
Humanz — Gorillaz
American Dream — LCD Soundsystem
Pure Comedy — Father John Misty
Sleep Well Beast — The National -- WINNER

R&B FIELD

Best R&B Performance:
"Get You" — Daniel Caesar Featuring Kali Uchis
"Distraction" — Kehlani
"High" — Ledisi
"That’s What I Like" — Bruno Mars -- WINNER
"The Weekend" — SZA

Best Traditional R&B Performance:
"Laugh And Move On" — The Baylor Project
"Redbone" — Childish Gambino -- WINNER
"What I’m Feelin'" — Anthony Hamilton Featuring The Hamiltones|
"All The Way" — Ledisi
"Still" — Mali Music

Best R&B Song:
"First Began" — PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton)
"Location" — Alfredo Gonzalez, Olatunji Ige, Samuel David Jiminez, Christopher McClenney, Khalid Robinson & Joshua Scruggs, songwriters (Khalid)
"Redbone" — Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)
"Supermodel" — Tyran Donaldson, Terrence Henderson, Greg Landfair Jr., Solana Rowe & Pharrell Williams, songwriters (SZA)
"That’s What I Like" — Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, songwriters (Bruno Mars) -- WINNER

Best Urban Contemporary Album:
Free 6LACK — 6LACK
"Awaken, My Love!" — Childish Gambino
American Teen — Khalid
Ctrl — SZA
Starboy — The Weeknd -- WINNER

Best R&B Album:
Freudian — Daniel Caesar
Let Love Rule — Ledisi
24K Magic — Bruno Mars -- WINNER
Gumbo — PJ Morton
Feel the Real –Musiq Soulchild

RAP FIELD

Best Rap Performance:
"Bounce Back" — Big Sean
"Bodak Yellow" — Cardi B
"4:44" — Jay-Z
"HUMBLE." — Kendrick Lamar -- WINNER
"Bad And Boujee" — Migos Featuring Lil Uzi Vert

Best Rap/Sung Performance:
"PRBLMS" — 6LACK
"Crew" — Goldlink Featuring Brent Faiyaz & Shy Glizzy
"Family Feud" — Jay-Z Featuring Beyoncé
"LOYALTY." — Kendrick Lamar Featuring Rihanna -- WINNER
"Love Galore" — SZA Featuring Travis Scott

Best Rap Song:
"Bodak Yellow" — Dieuson Octave, Klenord Raphael, Shaftizm, Jordan Thorpe, Washpoppin & J White, songwriters (Cardi B)
"Chase Me" — Judah Bauer, Brian Burton, Hector Delgado, Jaime Meline, Antwan Patton, Michael Render, Russell Simins & Jon Spencer,
songwriters (Danger Mouse Featuring Run The Jewels & Big Boi)
"HUMBLE." — Duckworth, Asheton Hogan & M. Williams II, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar) -- WINNER
"Sassy" — Gabouer & M. Evans, songwriters (Rapsody)
"The Story Of O.J." — Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson, songwriters (Jay-Z)

Best Rap Album:
4:44 — Jay-Z
DAMN. — Kendrick Lamar -- WINNER
Culture — Migos
Laila’s Wisdom — Rapsody
Flower Boy — Tyler, The Creator

COUNTRY FIELD

Best Country Solo Performance:
"Body Like A Back Road" — Sam Hunt
"Losing You: –Alison Krauss
"Tin Man" — Miranda Lambert
"I Could Use A Love Song" — Maren Morris
"Either Way" — Chris Stapleton -- WINNER

Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
"It Ain’t My Fault" — Brothers Osborne
"My Old Man" — Zac Brown Band
"You Look Good" — Lady Antebellum
"Better Man" — Little Big Town -- WINNER
"Drinkin’ Problem" — Midland

Best Country Song:
"Better Man" — Taylor Swift, songwriter (Little Big Town)
"Body Like A Back Road" — Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Sam Hunt)
"Broken Halos" — Mike Henderson & Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Chris Stapleton) -- WINNER
"Drinkin’ Problem" — Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne & Mark Wystrach, songwriters (Midland)
"Tin Man" — Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert & Jon Randall, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)

Best Country Album:
Cosmic Hallelujah — Kenny Chesney
Heart Break — Lady Antebellum
The Breaker — Little Big Town
Life Changes — Thomas Rhett
From a Room: Volume 1 — Chris Stapleton -- WINNER

NEW AGE FIELD

Best New Age Album:
Reflection — Brian Eno
SongVersation: Medicine — India.Arie
Dancing On Water — Peter Kater -- WINNER
Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai, Volume 5 — Kitaro
Spiral Revelation — Steve Roach

JAZZ FIELD

Best Improvised Jazz Solo:
"Can’t Remember Why" — Sara Caswell, soloist
"Dance Of Shiva" — Billy Childs, soloist
"Whisper Not" — Fred Hersch, soloist
"Miles Beyond" — John McLaughlin, soloist -- WINNER
"Ilimba" — Chris Potter, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album:
The Journey — The Baylor Project
A Social Call — Jazzmeia Horn
Bad Ass and Blind — Raul Midón
Porter Plays Porter — Randy Porter Trio With Nancy King
Dreams and Daggers — Cécile McLorin Salvant -- WINNER

Best Jazz Instrumental Album:
Uptown, Downtown — Bill Charlap Trio
Rebirth — Billy Childs -- WINNER
Project Freedom –Joey DeFrancesco & The People
Open Book — Fred Hersch
The Dreamer Is the Dream — Chris Potter

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album:
MONK’estra Vol. 2 — John Beasley
Jigsaw — Alan Ferber Big Band
Bringin’ It — Christian McBride Big Band -- WINNER
Homecoming — Vince Mendoza & WDR Big Band Cologne
Whispers on the Wind — Chuck Owen And The Jazz Surge

Best Latin Jazz Album:
Hybrido – From Rio To Wayne Shorter — Antonio Adolfo
Oddara — Jane Bunnett & Maqueque
Outra Coisa – The Music Of Moacir Santos — Anat Cohen & Marcello Gonçalves
Típico — Miguel Zenón
Jazz Tango — Pablo Ziegler Trio -- WINNER

GOSPEL/ CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC FIELD

Best Gospel Performance/Song:
"Too Hard Not To" — Tina Campbell
"You Deserve It" — JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise Featuring Bishop Cortez Vaughn
"Better Days" — Le’Andria
"My Life" — The Walls Group
"Never Have To Be Alone" — CeCe Winans -- WINNER

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song:
"Oh My Soul" — Casting Crowns
"Clean" — Natalie Grant
"What A Beautiful Name" — Hillsong Worship -- WINNER
"Even If" — MercyMe
"Hills And Valleys" — Tauren Wells

Best Gospel Album:
Crossover: Live From Music City — Travis Greene
Bigger Than Me — Le’Andria
Close — Marvin Sapp
Sunday Song — Anita Wilson
Let Them Fall in Love — CeCe Winans -- WINNER

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album:
Rise — Danny Gokey
Echoes (Deluxe Edition) — Matt Maher
Lifer — MercyMe
Hills and Valleys — Tauren Wells
Chain Breaker — Zach Williams -- WINNER

Best Roots Gospel Album:
The Best Of the Collingsworth Family – Volume 1 — The Collingsworth Family
Give Me Jesus — Larry Cordle
Resurrection — Joseph Habedank
Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope — Reba McEntire -- WINNER
Hope for All Nations — Karen Peck & New River

LATIN FIELD

Best Latin Pop Album:
Lo Único Constante — Alex Cuba
Mis Planes Son Amarte — Juanes
Amar Y Vivir En Vivo Desde La Ciudad De México, 2017 — La Santa Cecilia
Musas (Un Homenaje Al Folclore Latinoamericano En Manos De Los Macorinos) — Natalia Lafourcade
El Dorado — Shakira -- WINNER

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album:
Ayo — Bomba Estéreo
Pa’ Fuera — C4 Trío & Desorden Público
Salvavidas De Hielo — Jorge Drexler
El Paradise — Los Amigos Invisibles
Residente — Residente -- WINNER

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano):
Ni Diablo Ni Santo — Julión Álvarez Y Su Norteño Banda
Ayer Y Hoy — Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Momentos — Alex Campos
Arriero Somos Versiones Acústicas — Aida Cuevas -- WINNER
Zapateando En El Norte — Humberto Novoa, producer (Various Artists)

Best Tropical Latin Album:
Albita — Albita
Art of the Arrangement — Doug Beavers
Salsa Big Band — Rubén Blades Con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta -- WINNER
Gente Valiente — Silvestre Dangond
Indestructible — Diego El Cigala

AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC FIELD

Best American Roots Performance:
Killer Diller Blues — Alabama Shakes -- WINNER
Let My Mother Live — Blind Boys Of Alabama
Arkansas Farmboy — Glen Campbell
Steer Your Way — Leonard Cohen
I Never Cared For You — Alison Krauss

Best American Roots Song:
"Cumberland Gap" — David Rawlings
"I Wish You Well" — The Mavericks
"If We Were Vampires" — Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit -- WINNER
"It Ain’t Over Yet" — Rodney Crowell Featuring Rosanne Cash & John Paul White
"My Only True Friend" –Gregg Allman

Best Americana Album:
Southern Blood — Gregg Allman
Shine On Rainy Day — Brent Cobb
Beast Epic — Iron & Wine
The Nashville Sound — Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit -- WINNER
Brand New Day — The Mavericks

Best Bluegrass Album:
Fiddler’s Dream — Michael Cleveland
Laws Of Gravity — The Infamous Stringdusters -- WINNER (TIE)
Original — Bobby Osborne
Universal Favorite — Noam Pikelny
All The Rage – In Concert Volume One [Live] — Rhonda Vincent And The Rage -- WINNER (TIE)

Best Traditional Blues Album:
Migration Blues — Eric Bibb
Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio — Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio
Roll And Tumble — R.L. Boyce
Sonny & Brownie’s Last Train — Guy Davis & Fabrizio Poggi
Blue & Lonesome — The Rolling Stones -- WINNER

Best Contemporary Blues Album:
Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm — Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm
Recorded Live In Lafayette — Sonny Landreth
TajMo — Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo' -- WINNER
Got Soul — Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Live From The Fox Oakland — Tedeschi Trucks Band

Best Folk Album:
Mental Illness — Aimee Mann -- WINNER
Semper Femina — Laura Marling
The Queen Of Hearts — Offa Rex
You Don’t Own Me Anymore — The Secret Sisters
The Laughing Apple — Yusuf / Cat Stevens

Best Regional Roots Music Album:
Top Of the Mountain — Dwayne Dopsie And The Zydeco Hellraisers
Ho’okena 3.0 — Ho’okena
Kalenda — Lost Bayou Ramblers -- WINNER
Miyo Kekisepa, Make A Stand [Live] — Northern Cree
Pua Kiele — Josh Tatofi

REGGAE FIELD

Best Reggae Album:
Chronology — Chronixx
Lost In Paradise — Common Kings
Wash House Ting — J Boog
Stony Hill — Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley -- WINNER
Avrakedabra — Morgan Heritage

WORLD MUSIC FIELD

Best World Music Album:
Memoria De Los Sentidos — Vicente Amigo
Para Mi — Buika
Rosa Dos Ventos — Anat Cohen & Trio Brasileiro
Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration — Ladysmith Black Mambazo -- WINNER
Elwan — Tinariwen

CHILDREN’S FIELD

Best Children’s Album:
Brighter Side — Gustafer Yellowgold
Feel What U Feel — Lisa Loeb -- WINNER
Lemonade — Justin Roberts
Rise Shine #Woke — Alphabet Rockers
Songs Of Peace & Love For Kids & Parents Around The World — Ladysmith Black Mambazo

SPOKEN WORD FIELD

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling):
Astrophysics For People In A Hurry — Neil Degrasse Tyson
Born To Run — Bruce Springsteen
Confessions Of A Serial Songwriter — Shelly Peiken
Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In (Bernie Sanders) — Bernie Sanders And Mark Ruffalo
The Princess Diarist — Carrie Fisher -- WINNER

COMEDY FIELD

Best Comedy Album:
The Age Of Spin & Deep In The Heart Of Texas — Dave Chappelle -- WINNER
Cinco — Jim Gaffigan
Jerry Before Seinfeld — Jerry Seinfeld
A Speck Of Dust — Sarah Silverman
What Now? — Kevin Hart

MUSICAL THEATER FIELD

Best Musical Theater Album:
Come From Away — Ian Eisendrath, August Eriksmoen, David Hein, David Lai & Irene Sankoff, producers; David Hein & Irene Sankoff, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Dear Evan Hansen — Ben Platt, principal soloist; Alex Lacamoire, Stacey Mindich, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, producers; Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast Recording) -- WINNER
Hello, Dolly! — Bette Midler, principal soloist; Steven Epstein, producer (Jerry Herman, composer & lyricist) (New Broadway Cast Recording)

MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA FIELD

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media:
Baby Driver — (Various Artists)
Guardians Of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Awesome Mix Vol. 2 — (Various Artists)
Hidden Figures: The Album — (Various Artists)
La La Land — (Various Artists) -- WINNER
Moana: The Songs — (Various Artists)

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media:
Arrival — Jóhann Jóhannsson, composer
Dunkirk — Hans Zimmer, composer
Game Of Thrones: Season 7 — Ramin Djawadi, composer
Hidden Figures — Benjamin Wallfisch, Pharrell Williams & Hans Zimmer, composers
La La Land — Justin Hurwitz, composer -- WINNER

Best Song Written For Visual Media:
"City Of Stars" — Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters (Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone)
"How Far I’ll Go" — Lin-Manuel Miranda, songwriter (Auli’i Cravalho) -- WINNER
"I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (‘Fifty Shades Darker’)" — Jack Antonoff, Sam Dew & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Zayn & Taylor Swift)
"Never Give Up" — Sia Furler & Greg Kurstin, songwriters (Sia)
"Stand Up For Something" — Common & Diane Warren, songwriters (Andra Day Featuring Common)

COMPOSING/ ARRANGING FIELD

Best Instrumental Composition:
"Alkaline" — Pascal Le Boeuf, composer (Le Boeuf Brothers & JACK Quartet)
"Choros #3" — Vince Mendoza, composer (Vince Mendoza & WDR Big Band Cologne)
"Home Free (For Peter Joe)" — Nate Smith, composer (Nate Smith)
"Three Revolutions" — Arturo O’Farrill, composer (Arturo O’Farrill & Chucho Valdés) -- WINNER
"Warped Cowboy" — Chuck Owen, composer (Chuck Owen And The Jazz Surge)

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella:
"All Hat, No Saddle" — Chuck Owen, arranger (Chuck Owen And The Jazz Surge)
"Escapades For Alto Saxophone And Orchestra From Catch Me If You Can" — John Williams, arranger (John Williams) -- WINNER
"Home Free (For Peter Joe)" — Nate Smith, arranger (Nate Smith)
"Ugly Beauty/Pannonica" — John Beasley, arranger (John Beasley)
"White Christmas" — Chris Walden, arranger (Herb Alpert)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals:
"Another Day Of Sun" — Justin Hurwitz, arranger (La La Land Cast)
"Every Time We Say Goodbye" — Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Clint Holmes Featuring Jane Monheit)
"I Like Myself" — Joel McNeely, arranger (Seth MacFarlane)
"I Loves You Porgy/There’s A Boat That’s Leavin’ Soon For New York" — Shelly Berg, Gregg Field, Gordon Goodwin & Clint Holmes, arrangers (Clint Holmes Featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater And The Count Basie Orchestra)
"Putin" — Randy Newman, arranger (Randy Newman) -- WINNER

PACKAGE FIELD

Best Recording Package:
El Orisha De La Rosa — Claudio Roncoli & Cactus Taller, art directors (Magín Díaz) -- WINNER (TIE)
Mura Masa — Alex Crossan & Matt De Jong, art directors (Mura Masa)
Pure Comedy (Deluxe Edition) — Sasha Barr, Ed Steed & Josh Tillman, art directors (Father John Misty) -- WINNER (TIE)
Sleep Well Beast — Elyanna Blaser-Gould, Luke Hayman & Andrea Trabucco-Campos, art directors (The National)
Solid State — Gail Marowitz, art director (Jonathan Coulton)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package:
Bobo Yeye: Belle Epoque In Upper Volta — Tim Breen, art director (Various Artists)
Lovely Creatures: The Best Of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds (1984 – 2014) — Tom Hingston, art director (Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds)
May 1977: Get Shown The Light — Masaki Koike, art director (Grateful Dead)
The Voyager Golden Record: 40th Anniversary Edition — Lawrence Azerrad, Timothy Daly & David Pescovitz, art directors (Various Artists) -- WINNER
Warfaring Strangers: Acid Nightmares — Tim Breen, Benjamin Marra & Ken Shipley, art directors (Various Artists)

NOTES FIELD

Best Album Notes:
Arthur Q. Smith: The Trouble With The Truth — Wayne Bledsoe & Bradley Reeves, album notes writers (Various Artists)
Big Bend Killing: The Appalachian Ballad Tradition — Ted Olson, album notes writer (Various Artists)
The Complete Piano Works Of Scott Joplin — Bryan S. Wright, album notes writer (Richard Dowling)
Edouard-Léon Scott De Martinville, Inventor Of Sound Recording: A Bicentennial Tribute — David Giovannoni, album notes writer (Various Artists)
Live At The Whisky A Go Go: The Complete Recordings — Lynell George, album notes writer (Otis Redding) -- WINNER
Washington Phillips And His Manzarene Dreams — Michael Corcoran, album notes writer (Washington Phillips)

HISTORICAL FIELD

Best Historical Album:
Bobo Yeye: Belle Epoque In Upper Volta — Jon Kirby, Florent Mazzoleni, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton & Maria Rice, mastering engineers (Various Artists)
The Goldberg Variations – The Complete Unreleased Recording Sessions June 1955 — Robert Russ, compilation producer; Matthias Erb, Martin Kistner & Andreas K. Meyer, mastering engineers (Glenn Gould)
Leonard Bernstein – The Composer — Robert Russ, compilation producer; Martin Kistner & Andreas K. Meyer, mastering engineers (Leonard Bernstein)
Sweet As Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes From The Horn Of Africa — Nicolas Sheikholeslami & Vik Sohonie, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
Washington Phillips And His Manzarene Dreams — Michael Corcoran, April G. Ledbetter & Steven Lance Ledbetter, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Washington Phillips)

PRODUCTION, NON-CLASSICAL FIELD

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical:
Every Where Is Some Where — Brent Arrowood, Miles Comaskey, JT Daly, Tommy English, Kristine Flaherty, Adam Hawkins, Chad Howat & Tony Maserati, engineers; Joe LaPorta, mastering engineer (K.Flay)
Is This The Life We Really Want? — Nigel Godrich, Sam Petts-Davies & Darrell Thorp, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Roger Waters)
Natural Conclusion — Ryan Freeland, engineer; Joao Carvalho, mastering engineer (Rose Cousins)
No Shape — Shawn Everett & Joseph Lorge, engineers; Patricia Sullivan, mastering engineer (Perfume Genius)
24K Magic — Serban Ghenea, John Hanes & Charles Moniz, engineers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer (Bruno Mars) -- WINNER

Producer Of the Year, Non-Classical:
Calvin Harris
Greg Kurstin -- WINNER
Blake Mills
No I.D.
The Stereotypes

Best Remixed Recording:
"Can’t Let You Go (Louie Vega Roots Mix)" — Louie Vega, remixer (Loleatta Holloway)
"Funk O’ De Funk (SMLE Remix)" — SMLE, remixers (Bobby Rush)
"Undercover (Adventure Club Remix)" — Leighton James & Christian Srigley, remixers (Kehlani)
"A Violent Noise (Four Tet Remix)" — Four Tet, remixer (The xx)
"You Move (Latroit Remix)" — Dennis White, remixer (Depeche Mode) -- WINNER

SURROUND SOUND FIELD

Best Surround Sound Album:
Early Americans — Jim Anderson, surround mix engineer; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Jim Anderson & Jane Ira Bloom, surround producers (Jane Ira Bloom) -- WINNER
Kleiberg: Mass For Modern Man — Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Eivind Gullberg Jensen & Trondheim Symphony Orchestra And Choir)
So Is My Love — Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Nina T. Karlsen & Ensemble 96)
3-D The Catalogue — Fritz Hilpert, surround mix engineer; Tom Ammermann, surround mastering engineer; Fritz Hilpert, surround producer (Kraftwerk)
Tyberg: Masses — Jesse Brayman, surround mix engineer; Jesse Brayman, surround mastering engineer; Blanton Alspaugh, surround producer (Brian A. Schmidt, Christopher Jacobson & South Dakota Chorale)

PRODUCTION, CLASSICAL FIELD

Best Engineered Album, Classical:
Danielpour: Songs Of Solitude & War Songs — Gary Call, engineer (Thomas Hampson, Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony)
Kleiberg: Mass For Modern Man — Morten Lindberg, engineer (Eivind Gullberg Jensen, Trondheim Vokalensemble & Trondheim Symphony Orchestra)
Schoenberg, Adam: American Symphony; Finding Rothko; Picture Studies — Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony)
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Barber: Adagio — Mark Donahue, engineer (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra) -- WINNER
Tyberg: Masses — John Newton, engineer; Jesse Brayman, mastering engineer (Brian A. Schmidt, Christopher Jacobson & South Dakota Chorale)

Producer Of the Year, Classical:
Blanton Alspaugh
Manfred Eicher
David Frost -- WINNER
Morten Lindberg
Judith Sherman

CLASSICAL FIELD

Best Orchestral Performance:
Concertos For Orchestra — Louis Langrée, conductor (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
Copland: Symphony No. 3; Three Latin American Sketches — Leonard Slatkin, conductor (Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
Debussy: Images; Jeux & La Plus Que Lente — Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 — Osmo Vänskä, conductor (Minnesota Orchestra)
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5; Barber: Adagio — Manfred Honeck, conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra) -- WINNER

Best Opera Recording:
Berg: Lulu — Lothar Koenigs, conductor; Daniel Brenna, Marlis Petersen & Johan Reuter; Jay David Saks, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra)
Berg: Wozzeck — Hans Graf, conductor; Anne Schwanewilms & Roman Trekel; Hans Graf, producer (Houston Symphony; Chorus Of Students And Alumni, Shepherd School Of Music, Rice University & Houston Grand Opera Children’s Chorus) -- WINNER
Bizet: Les Pêcheurs De Perles — Gianandrea Noseda, conductor; Diana Damrau, Mariusz Kwiecień, Matthew Polenzani & Nicolas Testé; Jay David Saks, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
Handel: Ottone — George Petrou, conductor; Max Emanuel Cencic & Lauren Snouffer; Jacob Händel, producer (Il Pomo D’Oro)
Rimsky-Korsakov: The Golden Cockerel — Valery Gergiev, conductor; Vladimir Feliauer, Aida Garifullina & Kira Loginova; Ilya Petrov, producer (Mariinsky Orchestra; Mariinsky Chorus)

Best Choral Performance:
Bryars: The Fifth Century — Donald Nally, conductor (PRISM Quartet; The Crossing) -- WINNER
Handel: Messiah — Andrew Davis, conductor; Noel Edison, chorus master (Elizabeth DeShong, John Relyea, Andrew Staples & Erin Wall; Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Toronto Mendelssohn Choir)
Mansurian: Requiem — Alexander Liebreich, conductor; Florian Helgath, chorus master (Anja Petersen & Andrew Redmond; Münchener Kammerorchester; RIAS Kammerchor)
Music Of the Spheres — Nigel Short, conductor (Tenebrae)
Tyberg: Masses — Brian A. Schmidt, conductor (Christopher Jacobson; South Dakota Chorale)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance:
Buxtehude: Trio Sonatas, Op. 1 — Arcangelo
Death & The Maiden — Patricia Kopatchinskaja & The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra -- WINNER
Divine Theatre – Sacred Motets By Giaches De Wert — Stile Antico
Franck, Kurtág, Previn & Schumann — Joyce Yang & Augustin Hadelich
Martha Argerich & Friends – Live From Lugano 2016 — Martha Argerich & Various Artists

Best Classical Instrumental Solo:
Bach: The French Suites — Murray Perahia
Haydn: Cello Concertos — Steven Isserlis; Florian Donderer, conductor (The Deutsch Kammerphilharmonie Bremen)
Levina: The Piano Concertos — Maria Lettberg; Ariane Matiakh, conductor (Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin)
Shostakovich: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 — Frank Peter Zimmermann; Alan Gilbert, conductor (NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester)
Transcendental — Daniil Trifonov -- WINNER

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album:
Bach & Telemann: Sacred Cantatas — Philippe Jaroussky; Petra Müllejans, conductor (Ann-Kathrin Brüggemann & Juan de la Rubia; Freiburger Barockorchester)
Crazy Girl Crazy – Music By Gershwin, Berg & Berio — Barbara Hannigan (Orchestra Ludwig) -- WINNER
Gods & Monsters — Nicholas Phan; Myra Huang, accompanist
In War & Peace – Harmony Through Music — Joyce DiDonato; Maxim Emelyanychev, conductor (Il Pomo D’Oro)
Sviridov: Russia Cast Adrift — Dmitri Hvorostovsky; Constantine Orbelian, conductor (St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra & Style Of Five Ensemble)

Best Classical Compendium:
Barbara — Alexandre Tharaud; Cécile Lenoir, producer
Higdon: All Things Majestic, Viola Concerto & Oboe Concerto — Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Tim Handley, producer -- WINNER
Kurtág: Complete Works For Ensemble & Choir — Reinbert de Leeuw, conductor; Guido Tichelman, producer
Les Routes De L’Esclavage — Jordi Savall, conductor; Benjamin Bleton, producer
Mademoiselle: Première Audience – Unknown Music Of Nadia Boulanger — Lucy Mauro; Lucy Mauro, producer

Best Contemporary Classical Composition:
Danielpour: Songs Of Solitude — Richard Danielpour, composer (Thomas Hampson, Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony)
Higdon: Viola Concerto — Jennifer Higdon, composer (Roberto Díaz, Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony) -- WINNER
Mansurian: Requiem — Tigran Mansurian, composer (Alexander Liebreich, Florian Helgath, RIAS Kammerchor & Münchener Kammerorchester)
Schoenberg, Adam: Picture Studies — Adam Schoenberg, composer (Michael Stern & Kansas City Symphony)
Zhou Tian: Concerto For Orchestra — Zhou Tian, composer (Louis Langrée & Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)

MUSIC VIDEO/FILM FIELD

Best Music Video:
"Up All Night" — Beck
"Makeba" — Jain
"The Story Of O.J." — Jay-Z
"Humble." — Kendrick Lamar -- WINNER
"1-800-273-8255" — Logic Featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid

Best Music Film:
One More Time With Feeling — Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Long Strange Trip — (The Grateful Dead)
The Defiant Ones — (Various Artists) -- WINNER
Soundbreaking — (Various Artists)
Two Trains Runnin' — (Various Artists)

CONGRATS to all the winners!


#RHoA: Sheree Whitfield says she Is NOT Looking Forward To The ‘RHOA’ Reunion
 “Real Housewives of Atlanta” is in the middle of a very controversial season as usual. Everyone knows that most of the fallout is done off camera after episodes are already aired and the ladies give feedback on what was shown.

The conflict from the events that happened during filming mesh with the conflict that happened in current time to come together in a monumental multi-part reunion and Sheree Whitfield is not looking forward to it at all.

At every “RHOA” reunion show, many shocking things are revealed, epic shade is thrown, and it’s every housewife for herself. All of the drama will be addressed with the help of resident trouble-starter and producer Andy Cohen and the viewers of the show.
In seasons past, Porsha Williams attacked Kenya Moore and Phaedra Parks was revealed to be the source of a nasty rumor about Kandi Burruss that ended up getting her fired from the series! One can only imagine what will happen on the upcoming one now that Nene Leakes and Kim Zolciak, who both feuding with multiple co-stars and each other, have returned.

Sheree Whitfield is also involved in a juicy storyline. She’s dating Tyrone Gilliams, a man who is currently serving a decade-long prison sentence for a white-collar crime.
The ladies have already put her on the spot for falling in love with a criminal.
On a recent installment of “RHOA,” Nene and Sheree have a falling out over Nene’s comment that Tyrone is a “felon.” Whitfield fires back by stating that she also has a mugshot.
It’s later revealed that Leakes and Gilliams used to talk. The 50-year-old reality star stated that it was one date where they didn’t click.
After catching wind of Sheree’s mug shot comment, Leakes went on “WWHL” and threw shade. Sheree did the same weeks later.

Whenever the reunion show films, it’s obvious that the ladies will have to meet face-to-face to hash it out and we can’t wait to see how it all plays out.


#EMPIRE and #STAR Return with All-New Episodes Beginning Wednesday, March 28, on FOX!
EMPIRE returns at a new time on Wednesday, Sept. 27 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. On the Season Four premiere, Lucious makes his first public appearance after the explosion in Las Vegas, while all members of the Lyon family have their own interests in Lucious regaining his physical and mental faculties. Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning actor, director and producer Forest Whitaker ("The Last King of Scotland," "Arrival," "Lee Daniels' The Butler") will guest-star in a multi-episode arc on EMPIRE, beginning this fall on FOX. Whitaker will play "Uncle Eddie," a charismatic music icon and bonafide hitmaker, who gave an unknown Lucious (Terrence Howard) his first radio airplay. Decades later, Eddie steps up for Lucious at a critical moment during his rehabilitation, and a grateful Cookie (Taraji P\. Henson) invites him to produce a song in celebration of EMPIRE Entertainment's 20th anniversary.

IN case you may have forgot: EMPIRE is a powerful drama about a family DYNASTY set within the glamorous and sometimes dangerous world of hip-hop music. The show revolves around the Lyon family and their media company, EMPIRE Entertainment. The founder, LUCIOUS LYON (Terrence Howard), is the king of hip-hop, but his company and reign are constantly threatened by his family, including his ex-wife, COOKIE LYON (Taraji P\. Henson); his sons, JAMAL (Jussie Smollett), HAKEEM (Bryshere "Yazz" Gray) and ANDRE (Trai Byers); and a volatile and competitive music industry.


#NEWMUSICVIDEO from PJ Morton – First Began
PJ Morton releases a touching video for new single “First Began”.

The video is all about love. Morton enlists celebrity couples Omari Hardwick and his wife, Tamera Mowry and her husband, and Sterling Brown and his wife. Each shares a brief moment of when they initially “First Began” their journey to marriage.

WATCH HERE

The visual comes to a close highlighting Morton’s beautiful family, and is a great reminder of the power of love, in a time when it’s not always highlighted in the mainstream.

This is from his Award Nominated Album ‘GUMBO’



#HIPHOPNEWS: The Roots Crew Black Thought Is Working On his Solo EP
NEW YORK, NY –While Black Thought was hosting an edition of Black Thought Cinema Presents The Roots MC revealed he was working on an EP with 9th Wonder.

In a video clip posted to Twitter, Black Thought can be heard saying, “Be on the look out for the music we about to hit y’all with.”

Fans have been salivating over the possibility of a Black Thought solo project for a long time and the demand exponentially increased once the Hip Hop vet’s Hot 97 freestyle went viral last December. So now the time has come for Black to deliver. Stay tuned for more updates!


Katie Holmes & Jamie Foxx was Lovey Dovey at Clive Davis' Grammys Party!
Jamie Foxx and Katie Holmes looked like they were having a great time together at Clive Davis‘ annual Pre-Grammys Party on Saturday night (January 27) in New York City.
The pair have been a rumored couple for years, but have never confirmed their relationship despite the rumors. Katie was seen celebrating with Jamie at his 50th birthday party last month, and they were finally seen in public together this past September.
A source told Us Weekly about their night out, “Katie looked really carefree and happy. Jamie had his hand on her leg and they looked very much like a coupl


Kandi Burruss Broadway Ticket Sales Plunging?
The Word on the curb is that Kandi Burruss' Broadway debut has underwhelmed at the box office...
“Chicago boasts sizzling songs, seductive dance numbers, a show biz story that packs a powerful punch and now a Real Housewife, but tickets sales have been soft with Kandi.”
The show ticket price has been reduced from a high of $149 to just $33 on discounted site Goldstar.
“What is making matters even worse is that YouTube sensation and RuPaul judge, Todrick Hall, has joined Kandi in the cast. And neither one of them has set the box office on fire.”

You still have time to support Kandi, her role in Chicago runs until March 11th.


Monica Rocking the A Symmetrical Boots at Clive Davis’s Grammy Party. HOT or NOT?
Monica attended Clive Davis Annual Grammy Party and she rocked these fabulous boots. Take a look and YOU DECIDE are they HOT or NOT!
We like em’.


Jemele Hill leaving SportsCenter to move to 'The Undefeated'
Anchor Jemele Hill is leaving SportsCenter to head to The Undefeated, ESPN's site about the intersection of sports, race and culture.
A source familiar with the issue confirmed the change to CNNMoney. The move to The Undefeated was her choice, according to the source.
Hill began anchoring the 6:00 pm showing of SportsCenter in February alongside co-host Michael Smith. He will continue to anchor the show, but it's unclear whether he will host solo or if ESPN will fill Hill's spot.
However, she made news in September for tweets she posted about President Donald Trump, calling him a "white supremacist."

Hill apologized for the tweets and said she regretted that her comments "painted ESPN in an unfair light."
ESPN released a followup statement, saying that "Jemele has a right to her personal opinions, but not to publicly share them on a platform that implies that she was in any way speaking on behalf of ESPN."

The network said it had accepted Hill's apology.
After a second violation of ESPN's social media policies in October, Hill was suspended for two weeks.

The shakeup to SportsCenter comes as ESPN is also looking for a replacement for John Skipper, who resigned from his role as president in December. Skipper, who promoted the Hill-Smith pairing and the SportsCenter show, left the network citing a substance addiction.


'Maze Runner' Beats out 'Jumanji' for the TOP SPOT at the Box Office!
Despite a 25% decline compared to the opening for its predecessor, Fox's Maze Runner: The Death Cure still managed a #1 finish at the weekend box office. Meanwhile, Entertainment Studios saw Hostiles deliver a solid performance as it expanded nationwide, Sony's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and The Greatest Showman continue to hold strong, The Shape of Water expands with strong numbers on the heels of its 13 Oscar nominations and Viva's Padmaavat secures a spot in the top ten despite playing in just 324 theaters. All told, the weekend's top twelve was still down ~7% compared to last year as January has slowed to a crawl.

With an estimated $23.5 million Fox's Maze Runner: The Death Cure topped the weekend box office. Carrying the largest budget of the three films ($62m) in the franchise, while not an unexpected debut, it remains a disappointing one as Death Cure comes in ~$7 million behind the debut for Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials and $9 million behind the first film, which debuted in September 2014. Based on these numbers it becomes clear the franchise failed to gain much of an audience outside the core fanbase and the on-set injury to star Dylan O'Brien, which delayed the film's release by nearly a year, didn't help either.

Like Scorch Trials, Death Cure received a "B+" CinemaScore and for the most part the film played similarly across gender lines to its two predecessors with females making up 51% of the total audience. However, it did play slightly older than both the first and second film with 43% of the audience coming in at 25 years or older compared to 33% for Scorch Trials and 36% for the first film.

Internationally, Death Cure began playing overseas last weekend, bringing in $15 million from four markets. This weekend it added nearly 70 markets and brought in an estimated $62.7 million pushing its worldwide cume to $105.5 million.


Courtney B. Vance To Star In FX Pilot ‘Compliance’
My man 50 grand, Courtney B. Vance been cast as the lead of the FX pilot “Compliance.”
According to Variety, the half-hour comedy is centered around a private equity manager (Vance) and his government appointed-compliance monitor, played by Mary-Louise Parker (“Weeds”).

Courtney is also set to star in the forthcoming TV movie, “Heist 88,” directed by Anthony Hemingway.


AND FINALLY FROM THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART FILES
‘YARDS OF YARN’
You know how many Cat’s Cradles I’d be able to pull off with that type of hair at my disposal?!?!


EGGPLANT NATION: MEET MR. THICKEM’S
Meet Mr Thickem's. You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.

Enjoy!


HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD
EFREM