1998 Ad

Jet, Jan 26, 1998

Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds has done it again. For a second consecutive year, the music wizard received more Grammy nominations--eight--than any other artist. Hip hop big-man Sean "Puffy" Combs trailed closely behind Edmonds, receiving seven nominations, while R. Kelly was also among this year's top nominees.

This year Babyface received two nominations as a producer: Album of the Year (The Day) and Producer of the Year, Non-Classical; three nominations as an artist: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance (Every Time I Close My Eyes), Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals (How Come, How Long with Stevie Wonder) and Best R&B Album (The Day); one nomination as a songwriter: Best Song Written Specifically For A Motion Picture Or For Television (A Song For Mama-Soul Food soundtrack-Boyz II Men); one nomination for engineering: Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical (The Day); and one nomination for video: Best Music Video-Short Form (How Come, How Long).

Combs, who uses the stage name Puff Daddy, received five nominations as an artist: Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance By Duo or Group (I'll Be Missing You featuring Faith Evans and 112), Best Rap Performance By Duo or Group (Can't Nobody Hold Me Down featuring Mase), Best Rap Performance By Duo or Group (Mo' Money Mo' Problems-The Notorious B.I.G. and Mase) and Best Rap Album (No Way Out-Puff Daddy & The Family); one as a songwriter: Best R&B Song (Honey performed by Mariah Carey); and one as a producer: Best Rap Album (Life After Death-The Notorious B.I.G.).

Chicago native R. Kelly nabbed five Grammy nominations each for his inspirational tune I Believe I Can Fly: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song and Best Song Written Specifically For A Motion Picture or For Television (Space Jam soundtrack). Hot newcomer Erykah Badu and contemporary gospel superstar Kirk Franklin both earned four nominations. Badu was nominated for Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (On & On), Best R&B Album (Baduizm) and Best R&B Song (On & On). Franklin was nominated for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal (Stomp-God's Property Featuring Salt), Best R&B Song (Stomp-God's Property Featuring Salt) and Best Gospel Album By A Choir or Chorus (God's Property From Kirk Franklin's Nu Nation).

Mariah Carey received three nominations, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (Butterfly) and two for the song Honey: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. Slain rapper Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace received three posthumous nominations: Best Rap Solo Performance (Hypnotize), Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group (Mo' Money Mo' Problems) and Best Rap Album (Life After Death). The following artists each received two nominations: Boyz II Men, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Wyclef Jean, BLACKstreet, Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Grover Washington, Jr., Take 6 and John Lee Hooker. Legendary great Ray Charles' compilation project, Ray Charles Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection, also received two nominations.

Others who received nominations include Curtis Mayfield, Chaka Khan, Maxwell, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Az Yet, Wu-Tang Clan, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Will Smith, Tina Turner, George Benson, Kenny Lattimore, Joe Sample, Patrice Rushen, Roy Hargrove, Shirley Caesar, T. D. Jakes, Sounds of Blackness, Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, Steel Pulse and Aswad. Award-winning poet-author Maya Angelou was nominated for Best Spoken Word Album for Even The Stars Look Lonesome. Comedian-actor Chris Rock received a nomination in the Best Spoken Comedy category for his album, Roll With The New.

The 40th Annual Grammy Awards Show is scheduled to broadcast on Feb. 25 at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Kelsey Grammer of NBC's "Frasier" fame will host the prestigious event.