Grammy Nominations 2012: Kanye, Nicki, Bruno Earn Nods

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards will kick off 2012 with a musical bang and the nominees for music's biggest night have been announced.

On Wednesday night (Nov. 30) in Los Angeles, an all-star set of performances were put on display at the Nokia Theatre to celebrate the rap stars, R&B songstresses and soul crooners, among others, that earned nods in their respective categories. To be eligible for nomination, an artist's work must have been released between Oct. 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2011.

The night began with Record of the Year, which was presented by 'Super Bass' rapper Nicki Minaj. Bruno Mars' 'Grenade' earned a nod in the category, a song that debuted off his first LP, 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans.' The crooner sees competition from Adele for 'Rolling in the Deep,' Bon Iver for his track 'Holecene,' Mumford & Sons with 'The Cave' and Katy Perry's 'Firework.'

In the Song of the Year category, announced by actress Taraji P. Henson, Mars scored another nomination for 'Grenade,' but he goes head to head with animated lyricist Kanye West for 'All of the Lights,' his smash with Rihanna and Kid Cudi. Bon Iver, Mumford & Sons and Adele round out the category.

A hat-wearing Mars, after bringing in two acknowledgements for 'Grenade,' stepped out to unveil which entertainers landed the coveted Best New Artist spot. In one of the biggest surprises of the evening, two rappers landed here: J. Cole and Nicki Minaj. The former for his work on 'Cole World: The Sideline Story,' while the latter was recognized for her debut LP 'Pink Friday.' The two face off against The Band Perry, Scrillex and Bon Iver.

For the last category revealed on television that night, Katy Perry let loose with Album of the Year. Bruno Mars brought in his fourth nomination for a Grammy award with 'Doo-Wops & Hooligans.' Rihanna's fifth album, 'Loud,' was also named as a contender while Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way,' Foo Fighters' 'Wasting Light' and Adele's '21' are the rest of the competitors.

Check some of the 2012 Grammy Award Nominees below. The 54th Annual Grammy Awards air live from the Staples Center at 8PM EST on Feb. 12, 2012. For a full list of nominees, visit grammy.com.

Record Of The Year
'Grenade,' Bruno Mars
'Rolling in the Deep,' Adele
'Holocene,' Bon Iver
The Cave, ' Mumford & Sons
'Firework,' Katy Perry

Song Of The Year
'All of the Lights,' Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi
'Grenade,' Bruno Mars
The Cave,' Mumford & Sons
'Holence,' Bon Iver
'Rolling in the Deep,' Adele

Best New Artist
Nicki Minaj
J. Cole
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
Skrillex

Album Of The Year
'Loud,' Rihanna
'Doo-Wops & Hooligans,' Bruno Mars
'21,' Adele
'Wasting Light,' Foo Fighters
'Born This Way,' Lady Gaga

Best R&B Performance
'Far Away,' Marsha Ambrosius
'Pieces of Me,' Ledisi
'Not My Daddy,' Kelly Price
'Is This Love,' Corinne Bailey Rae
'You Are,' Charlie Wilson

Best Traditional R&B Performance
'Sometimes I Cry,' Eric Benet
'Fool for You,' Cee Lo feat. Melanie Fiona
'Radio Message,' R. Kelly
'Good Man,' Raphael Saadiq
'Surrender,' Betty Wright feat. the Roots

Best R&B Song
'Far Away,' Marsha Ambrosius
'Fool for You,' Cee Lo feat. Melanie Fiona
'Not My Daddy,' Kelly Price feat. Stokely
''Pieces of Me,' Ledisi
'You Are,' Charlie Wilson

Best R&B Album
'F.A.M.E.' Chris Brown
'Second Chance,' El DeBarge
'Love Letter,' R. Kelly
'Pieces of Me,' Ledisi
'Kelly,' Kelly Price

Best Rap Performance
'Look at Me Now,' Chris Brown feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne
'Otis,' Jay-Z & Kanye West
'The Show Goes On,' Lupe Fiasco
'Moment 4 Life,' Nicki Minaj feat. Drake
'Black and Yellow,' Wiz Khalifa

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
'Party,' Beyonce feat. Andre 3000
'I'm on One,' DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
'I Need a Doctor,' Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Sklyar Grey
'What's My Name?' Rihanna feat. Drake
'Motivation,' Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne
'All of the Lights,' Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi

Best Rap Song
'All of the Lights,' Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Kid Cudi
'Black and Yellow,' Wiz Khalifa
'I Need a Doctor,' Dr. Dre feat. Eminem & Sklyar Grey
'Look at Me Now,' Chris Brown feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne
'Otis,' Jay-Z & Kanye West
'The Show Goes On,' Lupe Fiasco

Best Rap Album
'Watch the Throne,' Jay-Z & Kanye West
'Tha Carter IV,' Lil Wayne
'Lasers,' Lupe Fiasco
'Pink Friday,' Nicki Minaj
'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,' Kanye West

Best Reggae Album
'Harlem-Kingston Express Live!' Monty Alexander
'Reggae Knights,' Israel Vibration
'Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life,' Stephen Marley
'Wild And Free,' Ziggy Marley
'Summer In Kingston,' Shaggy

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
The Smeezingtons
Danger Mouse
Paul Epworth
Ryan Tedder
Butch Vig