The man with the most nominations, Lil Wayne, took home four awards, most notably (and predictably) Best Rap Album for Tha Carter III, but also Best Rap Song for “Lollipop,” Best Rap Solo Performance for “A Milli” and his verse on “Swagga Like Us” scored him Best Rap Performance By A Group.
Whitney Houston got a standing ovation (and showed some leg) while presenting the Best R&B Album award, which went to a stunned-looking Jennifer Hudson for her self-titled debut album.
British songbird Adele, who won for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Chasing Pavements,” was named Best New Artist.
Justin Timberlake took the stage with his Memphis hero, soul great the Reverend Al Green, collaborating on “Let’s Stay Together” as Boyz II Men happily sang backup.
T.I. also took part in the night’s huge rap showcase as Tip, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and an extremely pregnant M.I.A. performed an extended “Swagga Like Us.”
The legacy of the Four Tops was honored as Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo, Smokey Robinson and original member Duke Fakir sang a medley of the quartet’s hits, including “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).”
Noticeably not performing, however, were Chris Brown, who was arrested this evening on suspicion of felony domestic battery, and his girlfriend, Rihanna, whom he’s accused of beating up on early Sunday morning.
Lil Wayne, joined by New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint on boogie-woogie piano and Robin Thicke lending his sugary vocals, paid tribute to his hometown with the somber “Tie My Hands,” as images of Hurricane Katrina unspooled on the screens above the stage.
Stevie Wonder got in on some of T-Pain’s vocal-blurring action, singing through a vocoder as he joined the Jonas Brothers for a funkafied run through their hit “Burning Up,” which segued into his classic “Superstition,” with guitar-slinging brothers Kevin and Nick flanking Wonder as he brought the tune home.
John Mayer, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Keith Urban paid tribute to Bo Diddley.
Finally, Lil Wayne wowed the crowd with his Tha Carter III track “Tie My Hands,” featuring Robin Thicke and fellow New Orleans native Allen Toussaint. Wayne then started a rave-up for his beleaguered hometown, featuring Terence Blanchard and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
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