Grammy Showdown: 2012

Best New Artist

The Band Perry

Bon Iver

J. Cole

Nicki Minaj

Skrillex

The Experts Say

Mark Hoppus It's so strange that Bon Iver is nominated as a new artist. Skrillex had a phenomenal year. From playing small clubs to headlining giant festivals, he seems to be on everybody's brain lately.

Kelly Clarkson  I'm a big fan of Nicki Minaj, but the Band Perry has a good chance. Their song "If I Die Young" crossed genres.

Avicii  Skrillex mainstreamed dubstep, which is a remarkable accomplishment. I know him, and his life this year has been insane.

Adam Lambert  Nicki Minaj is a star. I love how she's really aggressive when she raps, and she has a point of view both lyrically and visually. "Super Bass" was a great move for her.

Vegas Odds Favor

The Band Perry 7-5

Who Should Win: Skrillex

A nomination for dubstep is historic enough, but with the genre peaking right on time, Skrillex could shock Nicki Minaj superfans. He's the sound of now.

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Song Stories

“Too Close”

Next | 1998

Next was formed in Minneapolis when the uncle of Terry "T-Low" and Raphael "Tweety" Brown, who was a gospel choir director, introduced the brothers to Robert Lavelle "R.L." Huggar. Sounds of Blackness singer Ann Nesby groomed the R&B group before handing them over to Naughty by Nature's KayGee, who wrote and produced "Too Close." The idea for the song was sparked "from a conversation we had with several girls at a nightclub," explained T-Low. "It's talking about the club scene, with guys getting out of hand and the female telling him to back up, asking, 'What are you doing?'" 

More Song Stories entries »

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