RollnSmokeRecords Covers the 2011 Grammy's

Rihanna. That’s it for the 2011 53^rd Annual Grammy’s Red Carpet. Rihanna.

Opening performance is a power quintet tribute to Grammy performer favorite, Aretha Franklin, with Christina Aguilera and her frosty-white hair like lip gloss, clearly seeking redemption for a gaffed Super Bowl performance.

Followed by the spectacle that is Lady GaGa who follows a sharp producer-instinct as she multi-tasks on stage, satirizing Madonna with her big blonde braid and tall black boots and bared belly and chest plate with breasts – no cones – rather, nipples, and her creepy plastic face.

Hewlitt Packard offers up a super advertising spot when they work a classic Lou Reed track. And the much-tweeted Detroit-Eminem-Chrysler spot from Sunday's Super Bowl reappears.

Muse shows up with solid Brit rock, and Mumford & Sons lays on some hearty folk grooves. Then there’s an unanticipated and out-of-place cameo by Gwenyth Paltrow in duet with Cee Lo Green. Crowd-pleaser “Teenage Dream” is made complete with fluffy valentines by Katy Perry. John Mayer teams up with Norah Jones and Keith Urban for an acoustic cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” and together they go on to present an anti-climactic Song of the Year (as well as Record of the Year) award to “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum.

The quick jab by Seth Rogen about getting high backstage with Miley Cyrus earns the crowd’s verbal cringe. First time ever on Grammy stage, Mick Jagger -- ever the professional performer with his endless energy – pays tribute to Solomon Burke.

The act we’re all waiting for -- Rihanna & Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” – is over-poised and dramatic, chopped and diced so that the performers are separate, and then the song is gone, blended into an unfamiliar duet. Then Dr. Dre appears and raps briefly with Eminem, and all the hype is followed by a huge upset in Best New Artist category, which is awarded to Esperanza Spalding (NOT Justin Beiber nor Drake). Rihanna returns to the stage with Drake to perform “What’s My Name.” Steamy grind moves and appealing stage props still can’t beat what sounds better out of the studio.

Night closes out with another shock -- Arcade Fire takes home Album of the Year.

RollnSmoke Scoop

Lil Wayne is scheduled to be released from Rikers prison on November 4th with a notebook full of rhymes for “The Carter IV” to be released later in 2011. Meanwhile, Atlanta MC, T.I., was sentenced to 11 more months in prison for violating the terms of his probation when he and his wife were arrested for possession of ecstasy and codeine cough syrup.

Prince is preparing for a New York residency at the Apollo Theater called “Welcome 2 America,” a series of shows where he will be joined by guests like Janelle Monae, Maceo Parker and Cassandra Wilson. Boston New Wave legends The Cars are reunited and working on their first album in 23 years and are considering touring in 2011. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are half-way finished with a follow-up album to 2006’s Stadium Arcadium to be released in March. And finally, alt-rock icons R.E.M. are also planning to release their 15th studio album this spring.

RollnSmoke Scoop

Lil Wanye, who is serving 8 months on a weapons conviction, has been sentences to a month of solitary confinement on Rikers Island (NY) for having headphones and an iPod charger in his cell. After being deemed ineligible to run for President of Haiti, Wyclef Jean has been named a visiting fellow at Brown University where he will participate on lectures, classes and faculty conversations about Haiti. Sade will kick off her first tour since 2001 in June, touring at least 35 cities.

Snoop Dogg is planning a sequel to his 1993 debut LP Doggystyle but Dr. Dre will not be the producer – Swizz Beatz will produce this time round. Between now and Christmas, Roll is looking forward to new album releases from Mark Ronson (9/28), KT Tunstall (10/5), Rihanna (11/16), Black Eyed Peas (11/16), Nelly (11/16) and Cee Lo Green (12/7).

RollnSmoke Scoop

Wyclef Jean’s stab at running for President of Haiti may be over now that the government’s electoral council declared the singer ineligible to run since Jean hasn’t lived in Haiti for the required five consecutive years. Erykah Badu was busted, fined and will serve probation for stripping in public during a video shoot at the site of JFK’s assassination in Dallas. Stevie Nicks has teamed up with Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) for an album to be released early 2011.