A Legend of This Day ...

"A fish stick nigga. Now we messin with Grammys, We messin with Oscars" ~ Kanye in Jamie Foxx's Extravaganza

This day can't pass without me giving mad props to John Stephens bka John Legend. If you didn't know, John is up for eight Grammys, as he well should be.

I'm telling you now - Get Lifted was the best album I heard all year, and Legend has the most upside of any new artist out (see his new DVD with the second album's first song Again). Yes, better than Late Registration or The Emancipation of Mimi - both great albums in their own respect, and they're up for Album of the Year, rightfully.

If you get the chance to hear the man live like I did (Sept 2004, Nov. 2004, July 2005, Aug. 2005) do it. You won't hear a better voice live. If you don't have the album, buy it tomorrow. I'm saying all of this because I guarantee you a lot of people didn't even know dude's name until this morning when he was headlined with Mariah Carey and Kanye West as receiving the most Grammy nominations.

Example: I went to www.johnlegend.com just after I saw the story on Yahoo! and it took damn near two minutes just to load. It was a trip. Needless to say, if he doesn't take home four Grammys in February - including best R&B album and best new artist - I wouldn't be mad if he went "Kanye at the AMAs" on that ass.

What he's up for:
* Song Of The Year - Ordinary People (This should win)
* Best New Artist (A win)
* Best Male R&B Vocal Performance - Ordinary People
* Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals - So High ft. Lauryn Hill
* Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance - Stay With You
* Best R&B Song - Ordinary People (A Win)
* Best R&B Album - Get Lifted (A Win)
* Best Rap/Sung Collaboration - They Say w/ Common & Kanye West (A Win)

The only thing that tripped me out about the nominations were the slew of nominees given to the Tribute to Luther Vandross compliation - Forever, For Always, For Luther. The album was an unbelievable success and idea. But the best track on the album - Legend's interpretation of "Love Won't Let Me Wait, which they should have let Jamie Foxx do (You understand me) - didn't even get a nod.

I understand the idea of givign a tribute to Luther, and I don't have a problem with it. But five nominations - Creepin, Jamie Foxx.; Superstar, Usher; So Amazing, Beyonce & Stevie Wonder; If This World Were Mine, Alicia Keys & Jermaine Paul; and A House Is Not A Home, Aretha Franklin - is a lot.

It really just makes you understand how bad we (black people) are hurtin for some really GOOD Music of today. We have songs with nukkas comparing women to f-ing Laffy Taffy and Chicosticks and Bubble Gum. Go figure. So I ain't that upset.

Peep game, though. Common slid through with four nominations as well. So the GOOD Music crew came through with 20 nominations in all. Not bad. You need to get hip to the game if you're not. Getting Out Our Dreams, them boys are not eating fishstcks or Chicosticks anymore. www.kanyewest.com www.johnlegend.com www.com-mon.com