PICTURES AND LIST OF WINNERS AT THE 52nd GRAMMY AWARDS

Listed below are some of the nominees:

Record of the Year:
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
Nothin’ On You – B.o.B. feat. Bruno Mars
Love The Way You Lie – Eminem feat. Rihanna
F You – Cee Lo Green
Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z and Alicia Keyes

Album of the Year:
The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
Recovery – Eminem
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry

Song of the Year:
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
Beg – Steal or Borrow – Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs
F You – Cee-Lo Green
The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert
Love The Way You Lie – Eminem – feat. Rihanna

Best New Artist:
Esperanza Spalding
Justin Bieber
Drake
Florence and The Machine
Mumford & Sons

Best Pop Vocal Album:
The Fame Monster – Lady Gaga
My World 2.0 – Justin Bieber
I Dreamed a Dream – Susan Boyle
Battle Studies – John Mayer
Teenage Dream – Katy Perry

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance:
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
Sara Bareilles – King of Anything
| Beyoncé – Halo (Live)
Norah Jones – Chasing Pirates
Katy Perry – Teenage Dream

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance:
Bruno Mars – Just the Way You Are
Michael Bublé – Haven’t Met You Yet
Michael Jackson – This Is It
Adam Lambert – Whataya Want From Me
John Mayer – Half of My Heart

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
Hey – Soul Sister (Live) – Train
Don’t Stop Believin’ (Regionals Version) – Glee Cast
Misery – Maroon 5
The Only Exception – Paramore
Babyfather – Sade

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals:
Imagine – Herbie Hancock – Pink – India.Arie – Seal – Konono No. 1 – Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare
Airplanes II – B.o.B – Eminem & Hayley Williams
If It Wasn’t For Bad – Elton John & Leon Russell
Telephone – Lady Gaga & Beyoncé
California Gurls – Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg

Best Dance Recording:
Only Girl (In The World) – Rihanna
Rocket – Goldfrapp
In For The Kill – La Roux
Dance In The Dark – Lady Gaga
Dancing On My Own – Robyn

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals:
Tighten Up – The Black Keys
Ready To Start – Arcade Fire
I Put A Spell On You – Jeff Beck & Joss Stone
Radioactive – Kings Of Leon
Resistance – Muse

Best Hard Rock Performance:
New Fang – Them Crooked Vultures
A Looking In View – Alice In Chains
Let Me Hear You Scream – Ozzy Osbourne
Black Rain – Soundgarden
Between The Lines – Stone Temple Pilots

Best Rock Song:
Angry World – Neil Young
Little Lion Man – (Mumford & Sons
Radioactive – Kings Of Leon
Resistance – Muse
Tighten Up – The Black Keys

Best Rock Album:
The Resistance – Muse
Emotion & Commotion – Jeff Beck
Backspacer – Pearl Jam
Mojo – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Le Noise – Neil Young

Best Alternative Music Album:
Brothers – The Black Keys
The Suburbs – Arcade Fire
Infinite Arms – Band Of Horses
Broken Bells – Broken Bells
Contra – Vampire Weekend

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration:
Wake Up! Everybody – John Legend – The Roots – Melanie Fiona & Commo
Nothin’ On You – B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars
Deuces – Chris Brown – Tyga & Kevin McCall
Love The Way You Lie – Eminem & Rihanna
Empire State Of Mind – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys n

Best Rap Song:
Empire State Of Mind – Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
Love The Way You Lie – Eminem & Rihanna
Not Afraid – Eminem
Nothin’ On You – B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars
On To The Next One – Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz

Best Rap Album:
Recovery – Eminem
The Adventures Of Bobby Ray – B.o.B
Thank Me Later – Drake
The Blueprint 3 – Jay-Z
How I Got Over – The Roots

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals:
As She’s Walking Away – Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson
Bad Angel – Dierks Bentley – Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson
Pride (In The Name Of Love) – Dierks Bentley – Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers
Hillbilly Bone – Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
I Run To You – Marty Stuart & Connie Smith

Best Country Song:
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
The Breath You Take – George Strait
Free – Zac Brown Band
The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert
I’d Love To Be Your Last – Gretchen Wilson
If I Die Young – The Band Perry

Best Country Album:
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
Up On The Ridge – Dierks Bentley
You Get What You Give – Zac Brown Band
The Guitar Song – Jamey Johnson
Revolution – Miranda Lambert

....and the WINNERS are ;

Album of the Year: "The Suburbs," Arcade Fire

Record of the Year: "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum

Song of the Year: "Need You Now," Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

New Arist: Esperanza Spalding

Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Bad Romance," Lady Gaga

Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Just The Way You Are," Bruno Mars

Pop Performance by a Duo or Group: "Hey Soul Sister," Train

Pop Vocal Album: "The Fame Monster," Lady Gaga

Alternative Album: "Brothers," The Black Keys

Traditional Pop Vocal Album: "Crazy Love," Michael Buble

Rock Song: "Angry World," Neil Young

Rock Album: "The Resistance," Muse

Rock Performance: "Tighten Up," The Black Keys

Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Helter Skelter," Paul McCartney (from Good Evening New York City)

Hard Rock Performance: "New Fang," Them Crooked Vultures

R&B Album: "Wake up!" John Legend & The Roots

Contemporary R&B Album: "Raymond V Raymond," Usher

R&B Song: "Shine," John Legend & The Roots

R&B Performance: "Soldier Of Love," Sade

Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "Hang On In There," John Legend and The Roots

Urban/Alternative Performance: "(Forget) You," Cee Lo Green

Rap Album: "Recovery," Eminem

Rap Solo Performance: "Not Afraid," Eminem

Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group: "On To The Next One," Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz

Rap Song: "Empire State of Mind," Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Empire State Of Mind," Jay-Z and Alicia Keys

Dance Recording: "Only Girl (In The World)," Rihanna

Electronic Dance Album: "La Roux," La Roux

Musical Show Album: "American Idiot," (Featuring Green Day)

Traditional World Music Album: "Ali And Toumani," Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate

Contemporary World Music Album: "Throw Down Your Heart, Africa Sessions Part 2," Bela Fleck

Latin Pop Album: "Paraiso Express," Alejandro Sanz

Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album: "El Existenial," Grupo Fantasma.

Tropical Latin Album: Viva La Tradicion, Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

Norteno Album: "Classic," Intocable.

Banda Album: "Enamorate De Mi," El Guero y su Banda Centenario.

Latin Jazz Album: "Chucho's Steps," Chucho Valdes and The Afro-Cuban Messengers.

Tejano Album: "Recuerdos," Little Joe y La Familia.

Male Country Vocal Performance: "'Til Summer Comes Around," Keith Urban

Female Country Vocal Performance: "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert

Country Album: "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum

Country Performance by a Duo or Group: "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum

Country Song: "Need You Now," Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

Country Collaboration With Vocals: "As She's Walking Away," Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson

Contemporary Jazz Album: "The Stanley Clarke Band," The Stanley Clarke Band

Jazz Vocal Album: "Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee," Dee Dee Bridgewater

Jazz Instrumental Album: "Moody 4B," James Moody

Improvised Jazz Solo: "A Change is Gonna Come," Herbie Hancock

Large Ensemble Jazz Album: "Mingus Big Band Live at Jazz Standard," Mingus Big Band

Traditional Blues Album: "Joined At The Hip," Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith

Contemporary Blues Album: "Living Proof," Buddy Guy

Traditional Folk Album: "Genuine Negro Jig," Carolina Chocolate Drops

Contemporary Folk Album: "God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise," Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs

Pop Collaboration With Vocals: "Imagine," Herbie Hancock and Larry Klein, arrangers (Herbie Hancock, Pink, Seal, Jeff Beck, India.Arie, Konono No 1 & Oumou Sangare)

Pop Instrumental Album: "Take Your Pick," Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto

Pop Instrumental Performance: "Nessun Dorma," Jeff Beck

Rock Instrumental Performance: "Hammerhead," Jeff Beck

Bluegrass Album: "Mountain Soul II," Patty Loveless

Americana Album: "You Are Not Alone," Mavis Staples

Hawaiian Music Album: "Huana Ke Aloha," Tia Carrere

Native American Music Album: "2010 Gathering Of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit's Dance,"(Various Artists) Derek Mathews, Dr. Lita Mathews & Melonie Mathews, producers (Gathering Of Nations Records)

Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album: "Zydeco Junkie," Chubby Carrier and The Bayou Swamp Band

Reggae Album: "Before The Dawn," Buju Banton

Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: "The Reason," Diamond Rio

New Age Album: "Miho: Journey To The Mountain,"Paul Winter Consort

Metal Performance: "El Dorado," Iron Maiden

Country Instrumental Performance: "Hummingbyrd," Marty Stuart

Musical Album For Children: "Tomorrow's Children," Pete Seeger with The Rivertown Kids and Friends

Spoken Word Album For Children: "Julie Andrews' Collection Of Poems, Songs, And Lullabies," Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Danger Mouse, for Broken Bells

Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: "One Love Club," David Guetta and Afrojack's remix of Madonna's Revolver

Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: "Love God. Love People," Israel Houghton

Gospel Song: "It's What I Do," Jerry Peters & Kirk Whalum, songwriters

Gospel Performance: "Grace," BeBe and CeCe Winans

Traditional Gospel Album: "Downtown Church," Patty Griffin

Rock Or Rap Gospel Album: "Hello Hurricane," Switchfoot

Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: "Still," BeBe and CeCe Winans

Classical Album: "Verdi: Requiem," Riccardo Muti, conductor; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus

Choral Performance: "Verdi: Requiem" Riccardo Muti, conductor; Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Chicago Symphony Chorus

Classical Contemporary Composition: "Michael Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony / Deus Ex Machina," Giancarlo Guerrero

Classical Producer: David Frost

Orchestral Performance: "Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony; Deus Ex Machina," Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Nashville Symphony

Opera Recording: "Saariaho: L'Amour De Loin," Kent Nagano, conductor; Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin; Rundfunkchor Berlin

Spoken Word Album: "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents Earth (The Audiobook)," Jon Stewart

Comedy Album: "Stark Raving Black," Lewis Black

Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media: "Crazy Heart," (Various Artists) Stephen Bruton & T Bone Burnett, producers

Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media: "Toy Story 3," Randy Newman, composer

Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media: The Weary Kind (From Crazy Heart) Ryan Bingham & T Bone Burnett, songwriters

Historical Album: The Beatles (The Original Studio Recordings)

TONI PAYNE DENIES "AFFAIR".......

Shortly after separation from her husband of one year, Abolore Akande popularly known as 9ice, embattled mother of one, Toni Payne has been in the news for one reason or the other over the past few months.

Last week, a picture of the American trained manager, Toni Payne and a slim tall gentle man, name unknown, were spotted hugging passionately, looking into each others eyes like lovers, started circulating around town. These photographs have left tongues wagging leaving several questions left in people’s minds.

Our sources have it that the picture has been seen as a screen saver on her Blackberry. 'Her picture with that of the tall gentle man was on her blackberry wallpaper for days and am sure it’s her newly found love because of the position they both are in the pictures' spilled our source.

When Rockshockent called Toni Payne for her own side of the story she had this to say:

'I am getting tired of the whole issue now. Someone stole the pictures from my phone and it’s a picture of a Photo shoot. Life is not that hard and that is not fear. I have seen the photographs as well and I am putting finishing touches to an arrangement with my lawyers to sue the source that I know. The source is also the genesis of all these problems. I cannot walk out with my brother or cousins as they will write, and the source did not even call to confirm the photographs, which is bad and unfair. I am working hard to face the future better, and put things behind me. I am sure this will also be put behind me as well. They should just let me be, as she concluded.

Rockshockent will keep you up to date as events unfold.

Dele Momodu dismisses cynics over Ovation TV

Sequel to the news making waves around town on the proposed cable television station planned for the National Conscience Party Presidential candidate and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Chief Dele Momodu. Sources last week have it that the celebrity publisher is currently waiting for grants from investors who are keen on his Presidential ambition and are ready to fund it. Stories also have it that part of the funds will be used to start up the delayed project which is supposed to have kicked off sometime last year.

'We know fully well that he can not win the Presidential election but he is still expecting some funds from the Labour Party in the U.K, which, a spilled a close source to the publisher said, he is almost through with the processing'.

When Rockshock Entertainment contacted him via a text message, his response via the same medium was as follows:

'Totally false bros.Was planning Ovation TV long ago but the collapse of world economy affected that. We were to use HiTV initially but negotiations broke down with Toyin. Then we opted for DSTV. And that has been in the cooler.I have no foreign donors. It is total falsehood.', he concluded.


                                                                                                                    Written by Biodun Ogundairo

50 facts No One Will Tell You About DAGRINS' Life, Death and Burial.....

1. He was taken into the cemetery for burial with a black Ebony Escalade Cadillac ESV 2007 model.
2. Candle lit procession in honour of the late rapper started from his former home at Emmanuel Dada Street, off Bello road, Surulere to Ojez, National stadium, Surulere at about 6pm on Thursday April 29, 2010.
3. His body was left for Twenty Four hours before embalmment.
4. The late rapper was buried at the Ebony Millennium private Vault, Atan cemetery.
5. He had 129 pictures in his four photo albums on Facebook.
6. The late rapper was buried wearing white hand gloves, white belt and a white T-shirt; and  black west coat, black bandanna around his neck, a black trouser and a black face cap.
7. The slabs on his tomb were four in number.
8. His body was brought into the cemetery 9.00am on Friday April 30, 2010.
9. He was finally interned at about 10.45 am on Friday April 30, 2010.
10. The late rapper’s car ran into a parked lorry in front of Alakara Police station, Mushin on Wednesday April 24, 2010.
11. He was Twenty Six years old.
12. His ill-fated Nissan Maxima was a 2008 model.
13. His father lives at number 43 Kola Oretuga Street, off Meiran Road, Iyana Meiran bus stop A.O.L.C.D.A.
14. He was the fourth child in a family of nine.
15. Dagrin was signed to his own label ‘Missofunyin Entertainment’ but managed by Edlyne Records.
16. He attended Meiran community primary school, Roseille Nursery and Primary School, Meiran Community high school and Egbado College.
17. The bandana on the late rapper’s neck for burial was the same as the one on his Manager Tunde Peters, Zeez, YQ and his close friends.
18. His father’s nickname is Nelly. He has a music store located at Meiran bus stop, ‘House of Nelly sounds’ store where he used to stay before moving to Surulere.
19. His father’s speech at the candle light ceremony was the rap he did to the song he was featured in by YQ titled ‘Efimile’.
20. His casket was coloured brown with a touch of gold.
21. Doctors at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital LUTH said he survived nine attacks before he finally gave up during the 10th attack.
22. He died 6.00 pm on Thursday April 22, 2010 where he died of severe head injuries.
23. He died 8 days after his car crash, and he was buried 8 days after he was pronounced dead.
24. Desperate fans almost tore down the Ebony gate at Atan cementary, when they were initially prevented from getting in; and refused to leave his grave after his burial.
25. The burial was originally designed to have only 150 people in attendance. Thousands ended up storming the cemetery to pay last respects.
26. The late rapper was born Olaitan Olaonipekun to Mr. and Mrs. Olaniyi Abolaji Olaonipekun
27. He got the nickname Barack O’Grin from the remix song he did with General Pype ‘Champion’.
28. Touts were seen at the burial smoking hemp and selling Dagrin T-shirts.
29. Julius Agwu and Omo Baba anchored his Candle Light ceremony held at Ojez, National stadium, Surulere on Thursday April 29, 2010.
30. His ill-fated car carried the number plate DAGRIN 03. He planned to buy two other cars to be numbered Dagrin 02 and Dagrin 01.
31. The accident that claimed his life happened 2.00 AM on April 14.
32. He was initially admitted at Tai Sholarin Private Hospital, Mushin, Baba Olosa bus stop.
33. He had three videos to his credit titled "Kilowale" – ft PK, Rap rules and Ponponpon.
34. He had 2 albums to his credit titled "Still on the matte" and "Chief Executive Omoita".
35. Dagrin’s mother, Mrs. Olaonipekun was the second of his father’s three wives.
36. He was a Yoruba lyricist; just like the older but less popular Lord of Ajasa.
37. The last time he logged on to twitter was on Thursday April 8, 2010.
38. The slab were the late rapper’s body was kept at the mortuary is tagged number 8.
39. The late rapper has three nominations at the forth coming Hip Hop World Awards.
40. His parents were –expectedly-  both absent at his burial.
41. His Twitter ID was "Dagrinfimile".
42. Two months before his death, Dagrin moved into block 10, flat 3 at the sun shine Estate, Oko Oba in Lagos.
43. Sources at Ebony Casket have it that his casket cost N150,000
44. His Facebook name was "Dagrin Fimilejo".
45. His email address was sendmimore@yahoo.com.
46. Striking Doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) resumed work the same day he was buried.
47. The late rapper had 4,930 friends on Facebook. There were underground speculations that Dagrin has a baby outside wedlock which he refused to accept respondsibility of before he became a rap star.
48. Artiste manager Sunday Are and comedian Tee A were part of logistics support team.
49. At the time of his entombment, there was still a vacant tomb opened beside his vault.
50. Apart from mortuary expenses, the total bill incurred during his stay at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) was about N800,000.                                                  compiled by Biodun Ogundairo

Commonwealth Prize for Adaobi Nwaubani, Chimamanda Adichie, Kachi A. Ozumba or Abidemi Sanusi.

Author of Purple Hibiscus and The Thing Around Your Neck, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Author of I Do Not Come To You By Chance- Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Author of The Shadow of a Smile, Kachi A. Ozumba and Abidemi Sanusi, who wrote ‘Eyo’ have been nominated for one Literary’s world most prestigious awards – The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.
The two latter writers are based in th UK. While Adaobi Tricia was shortlisted in the Best First Book (Africa) category for her debut novel, I Do Not Come To You By Chance, Chimamanda Adichie was shortlisted for Best Book for her collection of short stories titled The Thing Around Your Neck.
This year’s winners will be announced at a ceremony in New Delhi, India, on April 12.

THE MAKING OF MAGEGE THEOPHILUS

MAGEGE THEOPHILUS A.K.A Ex-O, Nigerian born and bred hails from Delta state and is a Music producer, song writer, artiste and Record label owner(Cash In). He has been doing music professionally for over a decade now. His writing skills inspired many youths to rap in his neighborhood, Ifako- Gbagada.

In 1999 his music career started professionally as a back up singer.

He is poised  Right now to shine as he debut his mixtape and then his single will follow, the mixtape titled "Hip Hop Speaks" is a manifesto of naija hip-hop as it has grown over the years through the eyes of an artiste hustling in the ever bustling entertainment industry in Nigeria today.The Mixtape features heavy weights of the music industry and also introduces all to new cats on the block that we all going to watch out for.

HIS SINGLE "BLACKBERRY", be on the watch because the song is already causing mad buzz in SouthAfrica, and many sites on the internet.

RECENT PRODUCTIONS TO HIS CREDITS 

Knight house Records - "The Finest"(Won Beri)

Sauce Kid: Airplane Mode Freestyle (African-American Album)

Terry da Rapman : No love - B.A.N.S Album

Slim T: Die Representing

Cool to Vote All stars: "I Go Vote" Ft Ex-O,Sound Sultan,Gen Pype, M trill,Wordsmith,Kel, Denzel,Skales, YQ, Waje, Inyanya,Timi Dakolo,Kel,MoChedda,Skuki,WizKid, EmmSong, Lami to mention a few of the star studded line up.

Big T: Naija Go Beta and dutty whine ,Ex-O: Girl On Face book, Igho (Get away, make me kolo- 9ja boi album), Proverb : Bless me dey go, Teeto Ceemos( Da freshness mix tape).

STAND UP FOR CANCER NAIJA

                                                              Julius Agwu.
Saturday 29th January 2011 at The Dome Entertainment center Abuja was the day many Nigerian celebrities used their celebrity status to raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. The event is the brain child of STAND UP FOR CANCER NAIJA, an NGO focused on the fight against breast cancer. The red carpet was lit up by celebrities like Uti, Ini Edo, Uche Jombo, Julius Agwu, Bryan Okwara, Coco Couture, James Lulu (bag designer) and many more.

Many media houses within and outside Abuja like, Studio 53 extra, Jara on Mnet, Sound City, Spice tv, Hot Fm, Bella Naija, Rhythm 94.7,wow magazine and many more, turned up to lend their support to the noble cause. Celebrities like Ini Edo, Uche Jombo and Uti Nwachukwu came with their team of bowlers to contest against each other in a bowling game and the winner had to square up against the best of Abuja bowlers, team uche won the bowling game.

When asked what her take was on the fight against cancer Uche Jombo said cancer had been happening to people she never knew until she met the lady that inspired her movie "Holding Hope"

“What we came here to do today is something real. Do you know there are people in very remote areas that when they examine their breast and see a lump, they’ll say it’s something spiritual; it’s the devil, but in reality it’s a cancer lump. Such women are the ones we’re really trying to reach out to”

Ini Edo on her part said cancer is a disease that takes away from every woman and needs to be stopped.

Mrs. Ada, a breast cancer survivor spoke on the need for all, including men to constantly examine themselves for possible traces of lumps as that remain the best and easiest way to detect early signs of the disease.

Caleb Egwuenu the Project Director of the Stand Up To Cancer Naija the host organization talked on how more awareness is needed in the grass root, he reiterated the fact that those in the grassroots are they reason the event Bowling for Boobs was organized.

In her vote of thanks, the Media Director of Stand Up To Cancer Naija Ms Debie Magnut said she was so happy that the celebrities took time out of their busy schedule to attend the occasion. She called on more celebrities to join in the campaign which will be held subsequently in Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg, London, Calgary and Houston.