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Alicia Keys and Usher each earned eight, while the legendary Ray Charles, who died in June, garnered seven, followed by the surprise good showing of punk rockers Green Day, with six, and Norah Jones, Loretta Lynn, Prince, and engineer Al Schmitt with five.
West's debut album, The College Dropout, had been praised by critics for avoiding such typical rap subjects as sex and violence in favor of genuine social problems, as could be found in his single, "Jesus Walks" – which is up for song of the year.
In that category, West (who collaborated with C. Smith) will be competing with John Mayer for "Daughters"; Alicia Keys for "If I Ain't Got You"; Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman for "Live Like You Were Dying" (performed by Tim McGraw); and Daniel Estrin and Douglas Robb for "The Reason" (performed by Hoobastank).
Album of the year nominees are the all-star Genius Loves Company by Ray Charles and various artists; the punk rock opera American Idiot by Green Day; The Diary Of Alicia Keys; Confessions, by Usher; and West's The College Dropout.
In the record of the year contest: "Let's Get It Started" (the Black Eyed Peas), "Here We Go Again" (Ray Charles & Norah Jones), "American Idiot" (Green Day), "Heaven" (Los Lonely Boys), and "Yeah!" (Usher).
Usher had been favored to be the leading nominee, thanks to his megahit single "Yeah!" and his Confessions album, which has sold more than 7 million copies and spawned four hit singles.
The Grammys will air live on CBS Feb. 13 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Here's a rundown of the top categories:
Album of the Year
• Genius Loves Company, Ray Charles
• American Idiot, Green Day
• The Diary of Alicia Keys, Alicia Keys
• Confessions, Usher
• The College Dropout, Kanye West
Record of the Year
• "Let's Get It Started," Black Eyed Peas
• "Here We Go Again," Ray Charles and Norah Jones
• "American Idiot," Green Day
• "Heaven," Los Lonely Boys
• "Yeah!" Usher
Song of the Year
• "Daughters," John Mayer
• "If I Ain't Got You," Alicia Keys
• "Jesus Walks," Kanye West and C. Smith
• "Live Like You Were Dying," Tim McGraw (written by Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman)
• "The Reason," Hoobastank (written by Daniel Estrin and Douglas Robb)
Best New Artist
• Los Lonely Boys
• Maroon 5
• Joss Stone
• Kanye West
• Gretchen Wilson
Pop Album
• Genius Loves Company, Ray Charles
• Feels Like Home, Norah Jones
• Afterglow, Sarah McLachlan
• Mind, Body & Soul, Joss Stone
• Brian Wilson Presents Smile, Brian Wilson
Rap Album
• To The 5 Boroughs, Beastie Boys
• The Black Album, Jay-Z
• The Definition, LL Cool J
• Suit, Nelly
• The College Dropout, Kanye West
Rock Album
• The Delivery Man, Elvis Costello and the Imposters
• American Idiot, Green Day
• The Reason, Hoobastank
• Hot Fuss, The Killers
• Contraband, Velvet Revolver
Country Album
• Van Lear Rose, Loretta Lynn
• Live Like You Were Dying, Tim McGraw
• Tambourine, Tift Merritt
• Be Here, Keith Urban
• Here for the Party, Gretchen Wilson
R&B Album
• My Everything, Anita Baker
• I Can't Stop, Al Green
• The Diary of Alicia Keys, Alicia Keys
• Musicology, Prince
• Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds, Vol. 2, Jill Scott
Electronic Music/Dance Album
• Creamfields, Paul Oakenfold
• Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, Prodigy
• Kish Kash, Basement Jaxx
• Legion of Boom, Crystal Method
• Reflections, Paul Van Dyk
