Jay-Z

Jay-Z is one of the most feted artists in Grammy history, but also one of its fiercest critics. In 1999, he boycotted the awards altogether, despite being nominated for three Grammys and winning best rap album. "I am boycotting the Grammys because too many major rap artists continue to be overlooked," he said at the time, also noting that the rap categories would not be televised. "Rappers deserve more attention from the Grammy committee and from the whole world. If it's got a gun everybody knows about it; but if we go on a world tour, no one knows." He continued to avoid the ceremony through at least 2002 -- and though he won three out of a possible six Grammies last year, the rapper was once again nowhere to be seen. We expect him to show up this year, though as his Kanye West collab 'Watch the Throne' competes against Yeezy's solo effort, ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.’