Kanye West, Alicia, Usher Win Big At The Grammys

[Walter Cronkite]

Compared to last year, the Hip-Hop offerings at the Grammys were sparse at the 47th annual event. But Sunday evening (Feb. 13), the night saw rapper/producer Kanye West and Usher take away three awards, and Alicia Keys three.

"Everybody wanted to know what I would do if I didn’t win," West shouted after claiming his third Grammy of the night for Best Rap Album. Holding the golden statuette high above his head, West replied, "I guess we'll never know."

West also gave a hair-raising performance of "Jesus Walks," complete with a gospel choir, a congregation and legendary support in The Staple Sisters and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

"Y'all look like y'all just seen a ghost," West joked after "resurrecting" to finish his routine.

West's testament followed an emotional speech in which he praised Roc-A-Fella founders Jay-Z (who was seen in the audience) and Damon Dash for signing him to a deal.

West also thanked his tragic car accident, which inspired the song "Through the Wire" from his debut album College Dropout.

Visibly excited, the producer proclaimed, "I'm going to celebrate and scream and pop champagne, because I'm at the Grammys, baby."

Altogether, West won three awards -- best rap album for The College Dropout, best rap song for "Jesus Walks" and a songwriter Grammy for co-writing Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name," which won best R&B song.

Wests' 10 nominations were the most the Recording Academy has ever delivered to one artist since Carlos Santana in 2000.

West has already returned to the studio to work on his sophomore album titled Late Registration.

Black Eyed Peas opened the Grammy's, performing their hit "Let's Get It Started' and Eve performed the collaboration "Rich Girl" with rock diva Gwen Stefani.

Most of the evening leaned to odes to Southern Rock and a number of dedication to the late Ray Charles.

Charles won eight awards, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year for his double platinum opus Genius Loves Company.

Source: allhiphop.com