If
Wale,
Michelle Obama, and Smithsonian Folkways ever teamed up, they’d probably have a really weird collaboration
on their hands that would nevertheless dominate at the Grammys. The list of nominations
for the January award ceremony was released last night, and Wale got one (Best Rap
Song for “Lotus Flower Bomb”), the First Lady got one (for Best Spoken Word Album
for her book
American Grown), and Folkways got five (Best Latin Rock, Urban, or Alternative Album; Best Children’s
Album; Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package; Best Album Notes; Best Historical
Album).
The Kennedy Center also got props with a nomination for the Broadway cast of
Follies for Best Musical Theater Album (the show originated at the Kennedy Center and was
directed in New York by Signature Theatre’s
Eric Schaeffer). Also nominated (although not from the Washington area) is violist
Kim Kashkashian, who is in no way related to the reality TV star but can now trump her by waving
around her nomination for “Kurtag & Ligeti: Music for Viola” (I mean, did you hear
the other Kim K’s collaboration with The-Dream?).
See the video for Wale’s “Lotus Flower Bomb” below, and check out the full list of
Grammy nominees on the website.
