Hip-hop was well-represented at this year's Grammys (news - web sites), with OutKast, producer-singer Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z and his girlfriend Beyonce (whose R&B album included plenty of rap lyrics and beats) leading all nominees with six each.
Not bad for a genre that wasn't even acknowledged by the Grammys until 1989. Here's a timeline of hip-hop's Grammy history:
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1989 — Grammys give out first rap award, for "best performance," to the lightweight "Parents Just Don't Understand" by Will Smith (news) (known then as The Fresh Prince) and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Rap community claims that voters ignored the best artists, like KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane and NWA, whose debut album "Straight Outta Compton" launched gangsta rap.
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1990 — MC Hammer's megaplatinum "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" nominated for best album; his "U Can't Touch This" wins best rap performance. Rap community still upset, especially by best rap performance nomination for Vanilla Ice, widely considered a fraud by knowledgeable fans. Public Enemy boycotts show despite nomination for best performance, accusing Grammys of racism.
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1993 — Arrested Development is first rap act to win best new artist trophy. They also win best group rap performance for "Tennessee."
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1999 — Lauryn Hill is first rap act to win best album category with "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," a mainly R&B album with rap and hip-hop touches. She sets a record with five awards, which was the most ever for a female artist. Jay-Z's "Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life" wins best album, but he boycotts awards show, saying the Grammys don't respect rap.
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2000 — Burying the legacy of Vanilla Ice, the well-respected Eminem (news - web sites) becomes first white rapper to win rap category, taking best rap album over Busta Rhymes, Nas, Missy Elliott and The Roots. Also wins best rap solo performance.
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2001 — Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP," which slurs gays and women, is focus of protests after being nominated for album of the year. Eminem loses best album to Steely Dan, but sweeps rap categories.
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By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer
