Introduced as a "rap pack," by Queen Latifah, the four giants of contemporary rap put on the most energetic performance of the night, if not the most even. Jay-Z and T.I. never could find the rhythm, while Lil Wayne who rasped through his verse with the wit and control of Miles Davis continued to put distance between himself and everyone else in the contest for best rapper on the planet. But the most praise goes to nine-months pregnant M.I.A. for performing in a polka dotted unitard ON HER DUE DATE! Amy Poehler must feel like such a wuss.
Grade: A-
Grammy Awards 2009
TIME music critic Josh Tyrangiel grades the performances of the 2009 Grammy Awards