Kanye West

Kanye West received the most Grammy nods so far, with eight nominations. According to the Chicago Sun Times:

West is up for album of the year and best rap album for his third disc “Graduation.” The 30-year-old artist — who recently made headlines for mourning the loss of his mother, Chicago educator Donda West — was also honored with nods for best rap solo performance (“Stronger”), best rap song (“Can’t Tell Me Nothin’ ” and “Good Life”), best rap collaboration (“Good Life”) and best rap performance by a duo or group (“Better Than I’ve Ever Been” with Nas, Rakim and KRS-One and “Southside” with fellow Chicagoan Common).

Congratulations, Kanye!

Ever since his mother’s shocking death a little over a week ago, Kanye West has avoided crowds and the paparazzi by staying home from events like the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and even the memorial service. That’s why it was a surprise that he went through with his concert in Paris last Saturday, which was abundantly full of his usual energy until he got to the end of the concert, when he broke down upon dedicating a song to his mom. People says:

“He just cracked,” one attendee tells PEOPLE, “He was at the end of his concert and had just started to dedicate the song and then he just lost it completely.”
“He said the word, ‘Mother’ and just couldn’t go any further,” Le Parisien journalist Meddy Magloire said. “A back-up singer, the DJ and a guitar player came over to console him. It looked like he might collapse. He just couldn’t continue. He just stood there in a spotlight, crying while the band continued playing.”

West returned to the stage fifteen minutes later and finished up with a highly energized version of his song “Stronger,” which the crowd applauded wildly.

Someone give Kanye West an astronaut doll already. The rapper was nominated for five MTV Video Music Awards and when he lost all five times, he reportedly threw a hissy fit and starting ranting and whining backstage.

Billboard has some of his pity party:

“That’s two years in a row, man … give a black man a chance,” West said, stomping around his entourage and directing his comments at a reporter. “I’m trying hard man, I have the … number one record, man.”

Dude, its the VMAs, you didn’t just lose the Noble Peace Prize. Go cash your royalty checks and buy yourself something pretty.