KANYE WEST
After a devastating personal blow (the recent death of his mother, Donda), the Chicago-bred rapper hit a career high with a ceremony-leading eight nominations — including one for Album of the Year for his third release, Graduation). As uber-producer James ''Jimmy Jam'' Harris (he's helmed hits for Janet Jackson, Usher, and Mariah Carey, among others) told EW at the official nominees announcement in L.A. Dec. 7: ''[Here] you have a situation where the voters have agreed with the critics, who have agreed with the public. He is a quintessential music maker.''