Take note that rap music continues to gain in importance as a music form. Last year saw the addition of the new category of Rap/Sung Collaboration. This year, the performance category was divided between male and female artists. This puts rap on the same level as Pop and Rock. Other categories added this year are Best Contemporary R&B Performance which goes to the likes of Brandy and Faith Evans and the Best Urban Alternative. I still cannot tell the difference but this must be for recordings that crosses over to other genres and therefore defy simple classification.
Female R&B Vocals: More Than a Woman by Aaliyah; Foolish by Ashanti; He Think I Dont Know by Mary J. Blige; Im Still Standing by Eartha; He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat) (Movements I, II, III) by Jill Scott.
Male R&B Vocals: Lets Stay Home Tonight by Joe; The Worlds Greatest by R. Kelly; Halfcrazy by Musiq; Take a Message by Remy Shand; U Dont Have to Call by Usher.
R&B By Duo or Group with Vocals: All the Way by Kenny G featuring Brian McKnight; Dont Mess with My Man by Nivea featuring Brian & Brandon Casey of Jagged Edge; More Than a Woman by Angie Stone & Joe; Girl Talk by TLC; Loves in Need of Love Today by Stevie Wonder & Take Six.
R&B Song: Be Here by Raphael Saadiq featuring DAngelo; Floetic by Floetry; Good Man by India. Arie; Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop) by Erykah Badu featuring Common; Take a Message by Remy Shand.
R&B Album: Voyage to India by India. Arie; Better Days by Joe; Juslisen by Musiq; Instant Vintage by Raphael Saadiq; The Way I Feel by Remy Shand.
Traditional R&B with Vocals: Whats Going On by Chaka Khan & The Funk Brothers; Put It on Paper by Ann Nesby featuring Al Green; Rocksteady by Remy Shand; Lady by The Temptations; Any Day Now by Luther Vandross.
Contemporary R&B Album: Ashanti by Ashanti; Full Moon by Brandy; Faithfully by Faith Evans; Floetic by Floetry; Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape by Mershell Ndegeocello.
Urban/Alternative Performance: Little Things by India.Arie; Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop) by Erykah Badu featuring Common; Getting Grown by Cee-Lo; Floetic by Floetry; Be Here by Raphael Saadiq featuring DAngelo.
Rap Solo Performance: Because I Got High by Afroman; Who We Be by DMX; Get Ur Freak On by Missy Misdemeanor Elliot; Izzo (H.O.V.A.) by Jay-Z; Ride Wit Me by Nelly.
Rap/Sung Collaboration: Whats Luv? By Fat Joe featuring Ashanti; Always on Time by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti; Po Folks by Nappy Roots featuring Anthony Hamilton; Dilemma by Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland; Like I Love You by Justin Timberlake featuring Clipse.
Rap Duo or Group Performance: The Essence by AZ featuring Naz; Still Fly by Bigg Tymers; Pass the Courvoisier Part II by Busta Rhymes featuring P. Diddy & Pharrell; Oh Boy by CamRon featuring Juelz Santana; The Whole World by OutKast featuring Killer Mike.
Rap Album: The Eminem Show by Eminem; Word of Mouf by Ludacris; Tarantula by Mystikal; Nellyville by Nelly; Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry by Petey Pablo.
Female Rap Solo Performance: Diary by Charli Baltimore; Screan A.K.A. Itchin by Missy Elliott; Satisfaction by Eve; Na Na Be Like by Foxy Brown; Mystery of Iniquity by Lauryn Hill.
Male Rap Solo Performance: Without Me by Eminem; Song Cry by Jay-Z; Rollout (My Business) by Ludacris; Bouncin Back (Bumping Me Against the Wall) by Mystikal; Hot in Herre by Nelly.
Compilation Soundtrack Album: Dogtown and Z-Boys; I Am Sam; Six Feet Under; Standing in the Shadows of Motown; Y Tu Mama Tambien.
Score Soundtrack Album: A Beautiful Mind; Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone; The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring; Monsters, Inc; Spider-Man.
Song Written for a Motion Picture or Television; Hero from Spider-Man by Chad Kroeger featuring Josey Scottt; If I Didnt Have You from Monsters, Inc. by Randy Newman; Love of My Life: An Ode to Hip Hop from Brown Sugar by Erykah Badu featuring Common; May It Be from The Fellowship of the Ring by Enya; Vanilla Sky from Vanilla Sky by Paul McCartney.
Short Form Music Video: Days Go By by Dirty Vegas; Without Me by Eminem; Knoc by Knoc-TurnAl featuring Dr. Dre & Missy Elliott; One Mic by Nas; My Culture by 1 Giant Leap featuring Robbie Williams & Maxi Jazz.