Ready for action, nip it in the bud
We never relaxin’, OutKast is everlastin’…

Everlasting indeed! Best Urban/Alternative Performance – Outkast! Best Rap Album – Outkast! The biggest award of the night, Album of the Year – Outkast! Who’d of thought, two country boys from “stankonia” ATL would help further propel hip hop into the stratosphere.

The 2004 Grammys, or as I like to call it “Beyonce’s Night” was truly an event she will never forget. Ms. Knowles opened the show with Prince and they launched into a four song medley that set the place on fire. She returned later in the show to perform her self-penned “Dangerously in Love”. It is obvious that this girl truly is in love because she sang her heart out like never before and the feathered friend she had join her at the end of the set clenched it for me; she is no longer a diva in training, Beyonce has arrived. As if that wasn’t enough, the talented Ms. Knowles walked away with five awards that night, Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Crazy in Love”, Best R&B Contemporary Album for Dangerously In Love, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group, for her collaboration with Luther Vandross, “The Closer I Get to You,” and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for the song “Dangerously in Love 2”.

This puts Beyonce in the company of Lauryn Hill in 1999, Alicia Keys in 2002 and Norah Jones in 2003 as the only women to win five Grammys in one night.

Sean Paul fulfilled industry expectations with his award for Best Reggae Album. His win solidified 2003 as the Year of Dancehall.

The biggest surprise of the night was the shut out of last years biggest artist, 50 Cent. Going into the awards he had six nominations and sold in the ballpark of 9 million records worldwide. Yet we were all shocked when he was not called to the stage. Best Rap Song, which we expected him to get for “In Da Club” was given to his mentor Eminem for “Lose Yourself” as well as Best Rap Male Solo Performance. 50 knew for sure that he would leave empty handed when his final category and the one all experts pegged him to win in, Best New Artist, was announced and the winner was rock band Evanescence. All jaws dropped to floor after that one including 50 who took it upon himself to walk across the stage just to make his presence known. He and the rest of the Gorilla Unit were promptly removed from the venue by security.

Other big winners that night were Luther Vandross who won in four out of his five categories and was given a tribute by Alicia Keys and Celine Dion. Luther suffered from a stroke in April of last year and he had hoped to be well enough to attend the festivities but at the 11th hour his doctors advised against it. He did however send a taped message to thank the scores of fans and friends for all their well wishes, he then showed us that his soulful voice is still beautiful. We continue to wish him a speedy recovery.

Lastly, Neptunes were finally given the recognition they deserve as they walked away with Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.