West leads with 10 Grammy nominations

PRODUCER-turned-rapper Kanye West collected a leading 10 Grammy nominations yesterday, including album of the year for The College Dropout, which avoided boasting of sex, money and crime in favour of rhymes about everyday life.

The performer, who isn't afraid to sing his own praises after claiming he was "definitely robbed" when he picked up no trophies at the American Music Awards, also had a nomination for best new artist and shared a songwriting bid for song of the year with Jesus Walks.

Usher and Alicia Keys followed West with eight nominations each, including album of the year for Keys' The Diary of Alicia Keys and Usher's Confessions.

Ray Charles, whose posthumous duets album Genius Loves Company, became the biggest selling album of his long career, had seven nominations, including album of the year and record of the year for Here We Go Again, sung with Norah Jones.

Green Day garnered six bids for its hard-driving rock-punk album American Idiot which satirised culture, politics and apathy.

The group was nominated for record of the year and best rock song, for the title track, and best rock album.

U2 earned three nominations, in the best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal, best rock song and best short form music video, all for Vertigo.

Other record of the year contenders were the mellow love song Heaven by Los Lonely Boys, the jumpy party song Let's Get It Started by the Black Eyed Peas and Usher's hit Yeah!

The winners will be announced on February 13 in a ceremony at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.