Beyond lending his vocals to Kanye West’s “Wolves”, singer Frank Ocean has been M.I.A. since winning a Grammy award for his 2012 release “Channel Orange”. According to Fuse, the singer may have hosted a secret VIP listening party  last night via a bi-coastal photographer who uploaded, then deleted some low quality audio of what sounded like new Frank Ocean songs. The photographer captioned the now deleted clips with “very, very secret Frank Ocean listening party” and “#FRANKOCEAN NEW ALBUM SOUNDING ANGELIC AS FUNK.” On the untitled track, Ocean can be heard singing, but it’s unclear when the unreleased material will see the light of day. Last April, the reclusive singer/songwriter posted  a photo to his Tumblr, hinting at what could be a potential new album. “I got two versions. I got two versions#ISSSUE1 #ALBUM3#JULY2015#BOYDONTCRY”, Ocean wrote, who sat with a stack of magazines titled “Boys Don’t Cry” in the picture. At press time, Ocean hasn’t commented. No days off for Kanye West. After releasing his seventh studio album “Life Of Pablo”, the Chicago born and bread rapper took to Twitter to announce album number 8, titled “Turbo Grafx 16, a salute to an old school video game console. West’s long time friend, Ibn Jasper, took a picture of the studio sessions yesterday, which showed Mr. West working with producers Mike Dean and Plain Pat, as well as Kid Cudi. West recently let is slip that he has other tracks featuring Drake, Future and Young Thug in the vault. He also previewed the Jay Z sampling track “Closet Thing To Einstein” at a VIP party at Los Angeles’ 1OAK Club. “Turbo Grafx is scheduled to be released this summer. Singer Ciara has decided to put a pin in her Jackie tour and head back to the studio. Much to the disappointment of her fans, the star took to Facebook to break the news. This isn’t the first time the songbird has cancelled a trek. Following the first leg last summer, she announced part two, which was scheduled to begin last November. Since then, she has rescheduled the leg to begin on March 30 in Anaheim, CA, but unfortunately, no dates have been added. The upcoming album, which she’s called the best album of her career, will be the follow up to 2015’s “Jackie”, which included the singles “Dance Like We’re Making Love” and “I Bet”. In the meantime, the 30-year-old has given her fans “Special Edition” and “Oh Baby”. No doubt the news of another album coming from CiCi is good news to fans. A$AP Rocky made headlines of a different kind when it was reported that he got into an altercation at a New Zealand  hotel with other guest. It now appears that all is well and everyone is moving on. The Harlem native told the Associated Press that he was involved in a “fist exchange” in Auckland, New Zealand last Wednesday, but was still able to perform later that evening. He also confirmed rumors of what happened but added that no one was hurt. Although everything is good now, you don’t mess with Pretty Flacko.

A year and a half ago, Bryson Tiller was sleeping in his car and working two jobs to support himself and his daughter. Now, his name has lit up the marquee of New York City’s Webster Hall as part of his 36-city Trapsoul tour to promote his namesake debut album. On an unseasonably warm Monday evening, Pen Griffey took the stage, clad in all black attire and his signature baseball cap. The Louisville native began his set with “Differences”, the intro to his RCA Records debut. The 23-year-old singer then followed with such standouts as “For However Long” and “Exchange”. After each song, a different color backdrop accompanied Tiller’s performance, which included a live band, a noticeable difference from previous shows. When he delivered the Sylvester Stallone-cosigned “Rambo”, the stage was painted neo green, dismissing the previous fire engine red hue. Tiller ended the night with the number “Right My Wrongs”. Backed by an illuminated sign that read “TRAPSOUL”, he celebrated his full circle moment before launching into “Don’t”, the Dope Boi produced love note that propelled him from internet favorite to R&B star. Tiller has an incredible stage presence and  a bright future ahead of him. A source close to rapper Kanye West confirmed that the rapper/designer will be hitting stages to promote his latest release “The Life Of Pablo”. Dates may be revealed within the next month. Earlier this month, West hosted a ticketed event at New York’s Madison Square Garden for a simultaneous Yeezy Season 3 fashion show and TLOP listening, which was attended by 20,000 people. Sources have previously reported that West was pondering several release strategies with Def Jam and Universal Music Group for “Pablo” as well as a possible physical version. West also announced via Twitter that another album is due this summer. He recently previewed a new track at Los Angeles’ 1OAK Club, where he played the braggadocious cut “Saint Pablo (Closest Thing to Einstein)”, a track not included on the Tidel version of “Pablo”. He will also headline the Governor’s Ball Music Festival at Randall’s Island Park in New York City June 3-5, his only festival appearance in the U.S. this summer. Music mogul LA Reid brought along special guest Andre 3000 to his recent Kidd Kaddick Morning Show interview to promote his memoir “Sing To Me”. The Outkast member, known for keeping  a low profile, hung out with Reid and shouted out several artist on his radar. Those artist being Kid Cudi, Young Thug and Future. He also gushed over his 18-year-old son, who may have inherited  his father’s gift. He added that he told his son to release new music without revealing who his father is. Reid also  praised Andre, calling him one of his favorites. Andre, who appears on the ABC crime drama “American Crime”, also weighed in on the art of freestyling and stated that  he may need social media one day. Seattle bred rap duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis released a visual for the single “Kevin” before the release of their sophomore effort “The Unruly Mess I’ve Made”. The black and white clip, directed by Jason Koenig and Lewis, accompanies the tribute track to Macklemore’s late rapper friend Kevin. According to MTV, the MC recalled his friend’s passing of an overdose in a January 2014 interview with the cable station. The follow up to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s Grammy winning debut “The Heist” includes previous releases “Downtown”, and “Buckshot”.

With Beyoncé releasing her new single “Formation” and announcing tour dates for late April,  all signs point to her next studio album “B6” being released in late April as well. While details regarding the highly anticipated disc have been safeguarded, contributing to the anticipation is producer Detail. Detail, who worked on “Drunk In Love” and “7’11”, posted a photo of he and Queen Bey while attending Kelly Rowland’s 35th birthday festivities. Although the emoji-laden caption was as mysterious as the album details, it did elude to the fact that the two have been working together again. The producer even commented on his own photo that “new music iz coming”. Naturally, this news didn’t get past the BeyHive. Nothing does. Rapper Drake has been making some international moves lately as the Canadian born MC recently performed with Rhianna at the Brit Awards and has now apparently signed on the dotted line of a new endeavor. According to his Instagram, Drake recently signed a deal with fellow rapper and close friend Skepta and his label Boy Betta Know. This news comes just after his performance with Britain’s Section Boyz and his collaboration with Rhianna. Skepta ‘s Instagram also confirmed the deal. No details regarding what Drake signed have been made public. We’ll keep you posted. Rapper M.I.A. got a head start on spring cleaning when she cleared her hard drive and dusted off the 2012 single “Boom ADD”. “Boom ADD” was recorded in 2012. The full length “Boom” skit, which was included on her 2013 album “Matangi”, begins with a phone call from a lawyer about a lawsuit stemming from her 2012 Super Bowl half time performance where she flipped the middle finger. The league demanded 16.6 million from the Sri Lankan MC before both sides reached a settlement in 2014. M.I.A.’s latest release is 2015’s politically charged “Borders”. FilmOn TV Networks and Emmis Communications’ New York radio station Hot 97 (WHQT) have signed an exclusive multi-year agreement to live stream the hip hop stations’ annual Summer Jam concert. The announcement was made today by FilmOn TV Networks CEO Alki David, Emmis New York GM Charlie Morgan and Hot 97 on air personality Ebro Darden. In addition to the free live steaming of the Summer Jam event, the deal also includes Hot 97’s Who’s Next Competition. Via FilmOn.com, fans will be able to vote for the emerging artist who will join Summer Jam’s lineup this June. The Who’s Next winner will also receive  a recording contract with FilmOn Music and its sister division, digital distributor Mondo Tunes. Submissions for the showcase competition will open in March.

Grammy Award winning singer Anthony Hamilton has returned to the spotlight with his latest project, “What I’m Feelin”, which is his fifth studio album and will be released by RCA Records on March 25. The disc reunites Hamilton with Mark Batson, who co-wrote and produced the singer’s Top 5 Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs single “Charlene” as well as the title track from his breakthrough second album “Comin From Where I’m From”. Previous Hamilton collaborators Salaam Remi and James Poyser recorded and produced the album’s remaining two tracks: the single “Amen” and “Take You Home”. Hamilton’s last studio album was 2011’s “Back To Love”. Featuring the No. 1 Grammy nominated No. 1 Adult R&B Songs single “Pray For Me”, the debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart and peaked at No. 3 on the R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. Hamilton released “Home For Holidays” in 2014. Thanks to Kanye West, veteran rock producer Bob Ezrin was a trending topic on Twitter last night. The rapper responded to Ezrin, who has worked on albums by Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Pink Floyd and Peter Gabriel, among others, who took the rapper to task in a post for Bob Lefsetz Letter. Among other offenses, according to West, are the was Erzin’s downplaying the rapper’s creative output and legacy. “Unlike other creators of his genre like Jay Z, Tupac, Biggie or even MC Hammer for that matter, it’s unlikely that we’ll be quoting too many of Kanye’s songs 20 years from now, ” Ezrin wrote. West wasted little time firing back. “Has anybody ever  heard of Bob Ezrin??? What the f*** does he know about rap. I’m tired of old people that have no connection with anything trying to comment on music!”. “Do something relevant. Please don’t speak on me bro ever again!!!”, he tweeted before sending another string of messages. Ezrin’s comments follow the release of West’s latest album “The Life Of Pablo”, which has been met with some controversy as it relates to a lyric in the song “Famous” about country star Taylor Swift and its stop start arrival on Tidel and kanyewest.com. Atlanta based Charlotte North Carolina born MC Well$ enters the Hip Hop arena with the single “Heaven’s Door” featuring Alec Lomami, which premieres on Billboard today. The song serves as the lead single from Well$’s upcoming EP “The Way I’m Living Makes My Mom Nervous”, due out in late March. The rapper will also kick off a short tour in support of the project tomorrow at the Cake Shop in New York City, with four dates in March also on the bill.

Rhianna’s latest single “Work” is on the iPod of many across the country, but the singer waited almost a month to give fans a video to go with it. The highly anticipated result, which was released yesterday, is a double offering, with two different creative and sartorial approaches. In director Tim Erem’s version, Rhianna sports long, sleek hair and a sparkly, nipple-baring top while grinding on Drake in  a “Hotline Bling”-esque neon pink lit room. But Direct X’s version feels more like the true visual match of the song and will no doubt have many ready for spring break. Filmed on location at Toronto’s Caribbean restaurant The Real Jerk, Rhianna wines in the dancehall setting wearing a Rastafarian-hued, slinky net dress by Tommy Hilfiger, along with a matching crocheted bikini top by the designer. Hilfiger was inspired by his many visits to Mustique for his spring collection, which also includes topical prints, mesh tops, crocheted bikinis, dresses and bucket hats. Paired with a dog collar choker, knee-high gold gladiators, rings on each finger and dark lips, Rhianna’s attire is a bit maximalist for a tropical vacation. But without the accouterments, it’s a bikini and matching cover up. Since the dress and swim suit are available in stores, it’s a safe bet that it will be a hit on the beach this season. Janet Jackson will take her “Unbreakable World Tour” to the Dubai World Cup on March 26. The singer announced the news via her Twitter account yesterday. Access to the concert, scheduled for 10:00 p.m. at the Apron Views concert stage that evening, is exclusive to ticket holders for the annual horse race. Four days later, the star will kick off the European leg of the “Unbreakable World Tour” March 30 in Birmingham, UK. Jackson will return stateside on May 14 in Las Vegas. The tour, her first since 2011, will end on Aug. 28 in Cleveland. With “Unbreakable”, Jackson became the third artist to earn No. 1 albums in each of the four decades. After leaving the major label system following the release of his ninth studio album “Paperwork” in 2014, rapper T. I. announced that he has signed a distribution deal with Rock Nation for his upcoming album, “Dime Trap”, and joins a list of artist who are co-owners of Tidel. A possible deal being made became apparent when T.I. announced during a  pop up performance at Greenbriar Mall in his hometown of Atlanta that the show would be live streamed on the service as part of  its Tidel X concert series. At the same time, he released  his new single “Money Talk” on the service as well. He joins the likes of Kanye West, Beyoncé, J. Cole, Nicki Minja, Rhianna, Usher and others who have stakes in the service and appeared at  its launch event last March. Rapper Lil Wayne joined in June.

After they were rumored to perform at the 2016 Grammy Awards, The Weekend and Lauryn Hill made that a reality when they took the stage to perform his latest single “In The Night” on “The Late Show With Jimmy Fallon”. The Weeknd was the musical guest, while Hill was his surprise guest. While many were disappointed that Hill didn’t perform during The Weeknd’s Grammy set, Hill’s camp stated that her appearance was never confirmed and  that she was, in fact, bothered by the fact that her appearance was hyped as certain. At any rate, the two entertained the crowd quite well, to say the least. With a career spanning six decades, legendary soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples has witnessed first hand what our country has gone through, as both an artist and civil rights activist. The singer recently released her 14th studio album, “Livin On A High Note”, and at the age of 76 is using her amazing voice to brighten a dark world that is reminding her of the 1960s more these days. She told Billboard magazine, “We’ve been living in some pretty dark places lately. I’ve seen a lot of riots. Makes you think you’re still living in the 60s sometimes.” She added that Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. would be disappointed if he were alive today. “Everything he died for hasn’t been carried through”, she said. She also pondered whether today’s youth will sing songs that make the world better, adding that their minds aren’t on what she grew up singing about and that the world isn’t tuned in and ready. In the meantime, Staples is working on a documentary, titled “Mavis!”, which will air on Feb. 29 on HBO. It will detail her family’s history and her career accomplishments, which include performing at civil rights rallies along with her family the Staples Singers. She went on to say that she’s proud of the documentary. It’s been a long time coming for sure. Atlanta rapper Trinidad James’s “All Gold Is Everything” is incorporated into Bruno Mar’s chorus on Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk”. The dance track won Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Grammys  for Mars, Ronson and the rest of the production team behind the smash hit. All except for James. “Songwriters do not share in the nomination for a Grammy award for Record of the Year”, a Grammy representative told Complex magazine. A song of the year win would have apparently given James the honor as a songwriter. Not to worry. James will receive an 8 percent financial cut of the song. That means 150K out of $2 million.

Although the Anti-Beyoncé rally planned for earlier this week proved to be a bust, surprising no one in the BeyHive, it has  now been reported that another boycott is in the works. The organizers are members of Lodge #20 of the Miami Fraternal  Order of Police. Javier Ortiz, president of the group, which represents 1,100 officers, issued a statement saying the he did not watch the singer’s performance during Super Bowl 50 “out of respect for our profession”, and went on to add that the union voted in favor of all law enforcement boycotting her upcoming concert in Miami this April. “The Miami Fraternal Order of Police has voted to have all law enforcement officers boycott Beyoncé’s concert, which is being held at the Miami Marlins Stadium on Wednesday, April, 26, 2016, ” Ortiz said. “The fact that Beyoncé used this year’s Super Bowl to divide Americans by promoting the Black Panthers and her anti-police message shows how she does not support law enforcement.” Ortiz added that he mistakenly watched the video for Beyoncé’s new single “Formation”, which features the singer singing from atop a sinking police car. Ortiz then shared a meme with the Huffington Post that depicts Beyoncé, along with her husband Jay Z, being protected by a police detail, calling her out for being a hypocrite by being anti-police. Meanwhile, Major Delrish Moss, spokesman for the Miami Police Department, responded to Ortiz’s comments saying that the group doesn’t speak for the department as a whole, and that the venue where Beyoncé will perform will be protected during her concert. Moss added that nothing’s been said to indicate that officers won’t work the job. Following her Grammy Award performance cancellation due to a bout with bronchitis, it’s been reported that several dates of Rhianna’s   “Anti” tour, which was initially scheduled to begin later this month, have bee postponed. Eight dates on the tour have been rescheduled, including stops in San Diego, Houston, Austin, Dallas, Atlanta, Phoenix, New Orleans and Oakland and San Jose California. A source in San Jose stated that the second show on the tour scheduled for Feb. 28 and later moved to May 8 was having production problems and wouldn’t be ready on time, which was known for a  few weeks. A representative for Rhianna confirmed that production delays were behind the postponement. The tour is now slated to begin on March 12 in Jacksonville FL. Rapper Killer Mike has joined forces with Erik Nelson, an assistant professor at the University of Richmond to pen a op-ed, where they argue that free speech should be extended to hip hop in all cases. This stems from a case where Taylor Bell, a student at Itawamba Agricultural High School, had been punished for writing a song about two coaches who had allegedly harassed females students sexually. The two compare cases of public persecution, like those of Eminem and Ice Cube and others such as those involving rock stars and movies directors, who often don’t field public, let alone receive criticism for their work. Each citizen’s first amendment right to free speech should be protected, not matter how offensive it may be to some. It’s one of the principles upon which the country was founded.

2016 began with the sad news that legendary R&B singer Natalie Cole had passed away at 65. The late singer, also the daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, accomplished a great deal during her lengthy career, including winning nine Grammy awards and becoming a major star in her own right with the release of her debut album “Inseparable” in 1976. She was also the first black musician to win the Grammy for Best new Artist that same year.  Her hit single “Unforgettable” from 1991 is a duet with her late father and saw some air time during the 2016 Grammy telecast. The clip was  included a minute-and-a-half long video tribute to other fallen stars. Many viewers expressed their dissatisfaction with the tribute, including the singer’s sisters Casey and Tomlin Cole as well as her son, Robert Adam Yancy. “Words cannot express the outrage and utter disappointment at the disrespectful tribute, or lack thereof, to a legendary artist, such as our sister”, the two said in a statement. Robert Adam Yancy told Entertainment Tonight, “Here is a woman who has been in the business for four decades, had 21 Grammy nominations and won nine. She deserves more than a minute-and-a-half tribute. It’s shameless the way they minimized her legacy. We will find solace in her legacy as well as her endless fans around the world.” The Grammys responded to the comments and stands by its decision to honor the singer in the manner they did. One would expect nothing less. According to Gothamist, hip hop icon, Rakim will hit the B.B. King stage to perform his debut album (with Eric B.) in its entirety. Released in 1987, “Paid In Full” has been heralded as an influential hip hop classic and features the hit single of the same name. The album peaked at No. 58 on the Billboard 200, and is often sited as one of the greatest rap albums of all time. Rakim will perform on July 13 and will also play the Brooklyn Bowl on Feb. 27. Tickets for Rakim’s throwback concert will go on sale tomorrow. While not available for purchase, Beyoncé’s “Formation”, which she released via You Tube on Feb. 6 and performed at Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7, is off to a running start on R&B/hip hop radio. Although the song hasn’t been promoted to radio stations by its label, Columbia, the song has become Beyoncé’s highest career debut on the R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart (dated Feb 27), entering the chart at No. 11 with 16.3 million in audience (from 88 stations that played the song), according to Nielsen Music. No doubt there’s more to come.

It was initially reported that bronchitis and concern for her vocal chords kept Rhianna from performing at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards on Monday night, but that may not be the whole story. TMZ is now reporting that anxiety caused the singer to cancel her set as multiple sources told the website that she was “screaming and hysterical” before she was scheduled to take the stage. It’s uncertain what triggered the outburst. A few individuals, both connected to Rhianna and working on the show, stated that she wasn’t happy with her rehearsal. Meanwhile, others are sticking with the bronchitis story, but add that she was so upset by the fact that she wasn’t able to perform that she had to leave. At any rate, if it is bronchitis, here’s  hoping she gets well soon. Her “Anti” tour begins next week. In response to singer Beyoncé’s Super Bowl 50 halftime performance where she and her squad of black women were dressed in black outfits proudly paying homage to the Black Panther Party, an appalled group quickly appeared online and expressed their outrage, saying the performance was a “race baiting stunt” that was offensive and anti police. The comments grew to a group called Proud of the Blues, appearing out of nowhere to start planning an anti-Beyoncé protest. Although it was scheduled to take place yesterday, it seems more people hid behind their keyboards than there were those enthusiastic enough to leave their homes to get into a #Formation of their own. Only a few came to protest against Beyoncé and her Super Bowl performance, with those who organized the rally nowhere to be found. Beyonce supporters were present as well, and quickly realized that the scenario was an automatic win and a waste of a Tuesday morning. The Eventbrite description stated that the event would take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST outside of the NFL headquarters building and called for all attendants to wear as much blue as possible in support of the police, as well as be peaceful and non-aggressive. As it turns out, there were more police on the scene than protestors during the heavily hyped event. It’s safe to say that the only place Beyonce fans will see those “outraged” by the star is on Twitter. Shortly after landing a deal with Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music, rapper Desiigner received another seal of approval from Lil Kim and Maino, who also remixed his hit single “Panda”. The Queen Bee can be heard shouting out the rapper on the Soundcloud offering. After Ice Cube presented the Grammy for Best Rap Album to Kendrick Lamar along with his son O’Shea Jackson Jr. during the Grammy Awards, he quickly headed  home. He even posted a hilarious video on Instagram saying “If any of ya’ll thought I was gonna stay through that whole three hour bull s***t, you  out your batt-a** mind.” I’m back in the car b****.” While he may have missed the epic performance from K Dot, Snoop Dogg caught it from the comfort of his own home. He shared on his Instagram “I got seats to the Grammys, but f*** that”, with a mouthful of snacks and putting both his dog and Adele’s performance equally in the frame. You have to admit both are definitely boss moves.

The 58th Annual Grammy Awards was telecasted last night and it was an evening filled with many high as well as low lights. Without question, many viewers will remember some moments more than others. It’s safe to say that some reconsideration as to the performers chosen should be given. Whether that ever happens or not remains to be seen. Now to the highlights. Rapper Kendrick Lamar gave a powerful performance, which went from a jailhouse set intended to make a statement regarding the incarceration rate of African Americans, to a production number that few would argue is Broadway bound. A plus was the fact that Lamar added so much sax that it felt like he was sneaking jazz back on to the Grammys. Lamar received a well deserved standing ovation after his performance. The cast of the Broadway show “Hamilton”, which is a musical about the life of Alexander Hamilton, took the stage before Kendrick Lamar and treated the crowed to a rousing number, which incorporated hip hop. The show is currently open in New York City and the cast’s performance was well received by the all in attendance. New country sensation Chris Stapleton proved to be just as gritty as partners Bonnie Raitt and Gary Clark Jr. during a tribute to blues legend B.B. King. The three performed “The Thrill Is Gone”, it’s just a shame the moment didn’t last longer. Gwen Stefani stole the show during a live Target ad which had the singer collide with some fellow roller skaters on a garage ramp. The stunt had to win curiosity if not hearts. Stevie Wonder joined newcomers Pentatonix for a tribute to the late Maurice White which gave one the impression that voices were in session. Little Big Town performed a version of their single “Girl Crush” that left the crowd mesmerized. It also brought up the possibility of a new Grammy category: Best Country/Classical/Gospel Performance. Newcomer Andra Day performed a rendition of her hit single “Rise Up”, but left one feeling that she set a standard her duet partner Ellie Goulding couldn’t possibly meet. Country stars Carrie Underwood and Sam Hunt dueted,, which has to be a first. Hunt matched Underwood note for note, even looking into her eyes at one point as if to say “you will have on screen sex with me in front of millions of people.” To the lowlights. During what many most likely assumed would be the most vocally unassailable moment of the night, something went horribly wrong as  Adele performed. Rumor had it that a piano microphone  had fallen into the instrument, causing the clanging at the beginning of the song. Whatever the case, Adele was, in a word, pitchy at best. She later tweeted that “the piano mics fell onto the strings, that’s what the guitar sound was. It made it sound out of tune. S*** happens. Because of it though, I’m treating myself to an in n out. Maybe it was worth it.” Although it’s unclear whether it was the Weeknd’s decision or Grammy producers, he performed a  snippet of “Can’t Feel My Face” before launching into a slowed-down, cello driven version of “In The Night”. That set characterized much of the show’s underwhelming first hour. Demi Lavoto’s verse of “Hello” during an all star tribute to Lionel Richie should have been it’s climax, but it was sandwiched between snoozier performances by the likes of John Legend. Justin Bieber opened his set by accompanying himself on acoustic guitar on “Love Yourself”, which he smashed on stage. He then joined rock group Diplo and Skrillex. While it wasn’t unlike the rockers Madonna and Taylor Swift have had on their tours, Bieber just looked out of place slumming as an indie rocker. It’s unclear why host LL Cool J showed clips of past shows at the beginning of the  broadcast. As much as many love LL Cool J, it’s also unclear why the Grammys won’t hire anther comedian to host the show. Rapper Pitbull closed the show with a set that is as familiar as any late night newscaster in your local market. There’s always room for improvement, so let’s hope the Grammy producers take heed.