Crib Notes

1. Spaceships, “Oblivion” and heavy metal? Only in the world of Mastodon. (video via Rolling Stone)

2. Jay-Z’s got 99 problems but Auto-Tune ain’t one — Atlanta rappers beware! (via Spin)

3. Poor Wavves lead Nathan Willams. You know your career is on shaky ground when Jared Swilley of the Black Lips calls you out for being a dick onstage. (via Pitchfork)

4. Danger Mouse refuses to compromise creativity of Dark Night of the Soul, despite dispute with EMI. (via New York Times)

5. Dear Chris Brown, we’re not scared of someone who does Doublemint commercials, we just like Rihanna more than you. (Listen to Brown and rapper Maino’s new, oddly-timed release, “Don’t Be Scared” via Spin)

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Seems like there was more action behind-the-scenes than onstage, despite the 20-plus performances at this year’s Grammy Awards.

Chris Brown reportedly got gangsta with his girlfriend Rihanna, causing them both to cancel their performances. The alleged reason behind the smackdown should bring a whole new meaning to their upcoming collabo, “Bad Girl,” produced by Atlantan Polow da Don for the Confessions of a Shopaholic soundtrack. Meanwhile the real “gangstas,” Lil Wayne and T.I., delivered upstanding, redemptive performances — neither of which required NARAS President Neil Portnow to excuse their inclusion in the program, the way he had to when Eminem performed to the chagrin of gay rights activists in 2001.

Of course, the Recording Academy continued this year with the ultra-lame generational mashup theme that made for some of the oddest pairings ever.

Surely, Stevie Wonder would’ve been insulted if only he could’ve seen how silly he looked on stage with the Jonas Brothers. The Al Green/Justin Timberlake pairing was quite a yawner, but perhaps we should be thankful that Timberlake didn’t attempt to rip Green’s shirt off for a grand finale. And did we really need to see B.B. King and John Mayer trade ugly guitar faces for the second year in a row?

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