Beneath Calle’s street-driven grooves beats a strong political consciousness. Their first single, "Querido FBI" ("Dear FBI"), was a reaction to the alleged FBI ambush of Puerto Rican revolutionary leader Filiberto Ojeda Ríos. The song served as an instant introduction to a Puerto Rican audience hungry for homegrown stars.

In 2005, two back-to-back hits on local radio stations, "Se Vale Tó-Tó" and "Atrevete-te-te!,” propelled the pair further into the public consciousness, as did collaborations with other artists, notably Voltio for the song "Ojalai" (also known as "Chulin Culin Chunfly") and remixes with Three 6 Mafia. At the end of 2005, they finally released their self-titled album, which was lauded as a benchmark in Puerto Rico's rich musical history. In 2006, the band won three Latin Grammys (Best New Artist, Best Urban Album, and Best Short Version Video, for the song “Atrevete-te-Te!”) and in 2006 and 2007, Calle 13 continued collaborating with a diverse slate of international artists, including Nelly Furtado (Canada) and superstar Alejandro Sanz (Spain.)

These imaginative pairings continue on their just-released second album, Residente o Visitante, as they are joined by such diverse guests as the Cuban group Orishas, Argentinean Vicentico (from Los Fabulosos Cadillacs), and La Mala Rodríguez from Spain in the mix.

Although originally grouped under the reggaetón banner, Calle 13 has far exceeded the definitions of that genre with cumbia, salsa, and even bossa nova. Their lyrics are alternately funny and acerbic, greased with the oil of pure shock value. When they exhort their fans to "turn up the volume on satanic music," in the chorus for the new single "El Tango del Pecado” (The Tango of Sins), they may be kidding, but it’s proof that the duo doesn’t intend to veer away from the serrated edges. The song, a collaboration with Oscar-winning Argentinean producer Gustavo Santaolalla, is a pointed reference to René (Residente) Pérez’s controversial relationship with the wholesome former Miss Universe Denise Quiñone. “"I want people to think, to question things," Residente says. "The reality is that we have to record commercial songs, but we put a little sting into them."

Mariah Carey	Kanye West	John Legend

Mariah Carey's multi-platinum comeback album, The Emancipation of Mimi, and its smash single "We Belong Together," helped the pop singer score three of the most coveted Grammy nominations: Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The hit ballad also picked up mentions for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, while Mimi added Best Contemporary R&B Album to Carey's haul.

Presenters for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards nominations included BMI songwriter/artists John Legend, CeCe Winans, Mariah Carey, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger and Patti LaBelle. Photo by S. Lovekin/WireImage

Rapper Kanye West continued his red hot streak, also earning nominations in the Album and Record of the Year categories with his sophomore release Late Registration and the hit "Gold Digger," respectively. He will compete against himself for the Album of the Year title as a producer on Carey's disc. As a songwriter, West will battle for the Best Rap Song crown with his "Diamonds from Sierra Leone," as well as Best R&B Song as a co-writer on the Alicia Keys track "Unbreakable."

Black Eyed Peas	Brooks & Dunn

Soul singer John Legend is up for Best New Artist, Best R&B Album for his debut Get Lifted, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Song of the Year for "Ordinary People," which he also co-wrote. Legend joins his mentor Kanye West and rapper Common on the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ticket with "They Say."

Casting Crowns	Common

Coming in with six nominations was Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas who, as a songwriter, has a shot at Song of the Year and Best R&B Song as co-writer of Legend's "Ordinary People" and Best Rap Song for the Peas' hit "Don't Phunk with My Heart." The band is also up for Best Rap and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Death Cab for Cutie	Foo Fighters

In addition to Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Common earned three other mentions, including Best Rap Album for Be. Four nods also went to Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Billy Childs and BMI producer/songwriters the Neptunes, who have production credits on two Album of the Year nominees -- Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi and Gwen Stefani's Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

The Game	Gorillaz	John Williams

Earning three nominations apiece were Sheryl Crow, with Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Good is Good"), Best Pop Vocal Album (Wildflower) and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for the single "Building Bridges," featuring Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill; Eminem (Best Rap Solo Performance, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rap Album); and film composer John Williams, up for Best Score for Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, as well as for Best Instrumental Composition for both "Anakin's Betrayal" (from Revenge of the Sith) and "The Ferry Scene" (from the War of the Worlds soundtrack).

Maroon 5	Norah Jones	Sheryl Crow

Double nominees included rappers The Game and T.I., songwriter Marcus Hummon, singer Norah Jones and gospel diva CeCe Winans.

Other BMI songwriters and artists collecting Grammy nominations were Christina Aguilera, Dallas Austin, Casting Crowns, Eric Clapton (PRS), Death Cab for Cutie, Paquito D'Rivera, Danny Elfman, Fall Out Boy, Osvaldo Golijov, Dave Holland Big Band, Intocable, Keane (PRS), Maroon 5, Sugarland, Ying Yang Twins, and BMI Icons Charlie Daniels and Brian Wilson.

Sugarland		T.I.

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on February 8.

BMI's 2006 Grammy Award Nominees:

8 NOMINATIONS
Mariah Carey
John Legend
Kanye West

6 NOMINATIONS
William Adams

4 NOMINATIONS
Billy Childs
Common
Foo Fighters
Gorillaz (PRS)
The Neptunes

3 NOMINATIONS
Yolanda Adams
The Black Eyed Peas
Sheryl Crow
De La Soul
Eminem
Herbie Hancock
Faith Hill
Alison Krauss & Union Station
John Williams

2 NOMINATIONS
Bobby Boyd
Brooks & Dunn
Andrew Coleman
Andrew Dawson
Dixie Chicks
The Game
Michael Giacchino
Jeff Hanna
Marcus Hummon
Norah Jones
Delbert McClinton
Donnie McClurkin
Joel Moss
Willie Nelson
Al Schmitt
Fat Man Scoop
T.I.
The White Stripes
CeCe Winans

MORE NOMINEES
Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo O'Farrill
Christina Aguilera
Trey Anastasio
Audio Adrenaline
Audioslave
John August
Dallas Austin
Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos Del Norte
Marcia Ball
Ray Barretto
Steve Berkowitz
Big & Rich
Terence Blanchard
Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
Blue Highway
Printz Board
William Bolcom
Peter Boyer
Solomon Burke
Burning Spear (PRS)
Sam Bush
Gary Calamar
Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels Orishas (SACEM)
Kurt Carr
Casting Crowns
Christopher Cerf
Steven Curtis Chapman
Cherryholmes
The Chieftains (IMRO)
Willy Chirino
Eric Clapton (PRS)
Dorinda Clark-Cole
Conjunto Progreso
Ry Cooder
Stewart Copeland
The Crabb Family
Robert Cray
Bill Cunliffe
Rivers Cuomo
Daft Punk (PRS)
Charlie Daniels
Day of Fire
Death Cab for Cutie
Deep Dish
Mos Def
Jack De Johnette
The Del McCoury Band
Ani DiFranco
Jerry Douglas
Dave Douglas
Paquito D'Rivera
John Du Prez (PRS)
Jerry Duplessis
Nokie Edwards
Danny Elfman
Ahmet Ertegun
Bill Evans
Fall Out Boy
Sammy Figueroa
Béla Fleck
Floetry
David Foster
Jamie Foxx
Aretha Franklin
Kirk Franklin
Carlos Franzetti
Larry Gatlin
Joachim Garraud (SACEM)
Gilberto Gil
Vince Gill
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Osvaldo Golijov
The Grascals
Grits
Buddy Guy
Merle Haggard
John Hammond
Raiatea Helm
Dave Holland Big Band
Israel Houghton
Van Hunt
Eric Idle (PRS)
Intocable
Jamiroquai (PRS)
Jars of Clay
The Jazz Chamber Trio
Rodney Jerkins
Eric Johnson
George Jones
The Jordanaires
Ledward Ka'apana
Keane (PRS)
John P. Kee
Garison Keillor
Toby Keith
R. Kelly
B.B. King
Kitaro
Kraftwerk (GEMA)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo (SAMRO)
Las 3 Divas
La Secta Allstar
The Last Poets
La Tropa F
Donald Lawrence
Ricky Lewis
The Light Crust Doughboys
Lil Wayne
Harold Lily
Aaron Lindsey
Linkin Park
Little Joe
Los Lonely Boys
Los Pleneros de la 21
Andre Lyon
Maroon 5
Joeworn Martin
Martina McBride
Delbert McClinton
Vicky McGehee
Tim McGraw
Sarah McLachlan (SOCAN)
Meat Beat Manifesto
Pat Metheny Group
Luis Miguel
Mingus Big Band
Ministry
Keb Mo
Molotov
Rick Moranis (SOCAN)
Mudvayne
Martha Munizzi
Walter Murphy
Meshell Ndegeocello
North Mississippi Allstars
The Oak Ridge Boys
Claus Ogerman (GEMA)
Walter Ostanek (SOCAN)
George Pajon, Jr.
Eddie Palmieri
John Prine
Queens of the Stone Age
Rascal Flatts
Joshua Redman Elastic Band
Sonny Rollins
The Royal Jesters
Eddie Santiago
Marvin Sapp
Seal (PRS)
José Serebrier
Shakira
Wayne Shorter Quartet
Ron Sluga
Omar Sosa
Luciana Souza
Jimmy Sturr
Sugarland
Tierney Sutton
System of a Down
Ali Farka Touré (BUMDA)
Tiempo Libre
Turtle Island String Quartet
Keith Urban
Bebo Valdés
Marcello Valenzano
Louie Vega
Rhonda Vincent & the Rage
Brian Wilson
BeBe Winans
George Winston
Paul Winter Consort
Hugh Wolff
David Yazbek
Ying Yang Twins

BMI singer/songwriter Juanes was the big winner at this year's 4th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, held last night (9/3) at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. The Colombian-born Latin rock singer, who already has four Latin Grammys, added five of the coveted statuettes to his collection, winning every award for which he was nominated. His Gold-certified album, Un Día Normal (A Normal Day), which has been on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart for a record 67 weeks (currently #10), earned him awards for Album of the Year and Best Rock Solo Vocal Album, while his songs "Es Por Ti" ("It's For You") won Record and Song of the Year, and "Mala Gente" ("Bad People") was named Best Rock Song.

Juanes

Gustavo Santaolalla

Anibal Kerpel

BMI Latin rock producer Gustavo Santaolalla, also nominated for five awards this year, captured three wins including Album of the Year for producing Juanes' Un Día Normal and Record of the Year for production on the album's chart-topping single, "Es Por Ti." The Surco Records co-founder also won in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category for Bajofondo Tango Club, a unique collection of Latin tango/dance/electronica songs by various artists.

Paquito D'Rivera

Jorge Villamizar

Molotov

Other BMI stars who took home multiple awards included producer Anibal Kerpel, who earned two Latin Grammys for Album and Record of the Year, and Cuban jazzman Paquito D'Rivera, who won for Best Classical Album for Historia Del Soldado (History of the Soldier) and Best Latin Jazz Album for Brazilian Dreams. Latin alternative pop band Bacilos also captured two wins: one for Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group with Vocal for Caraluna, and the other to the band's lead singer and main songwriter, Jorge Villamizar, who earned a Best Tropical Song trophy for the album's hit, "Mi Primer Millón" ("My First Million"). Mexican rap-metal band Molotov, who received four nominations, took home the Best Music Video Latin Grammy for their controversial song, "Frijolero" ("Bean Picker").

BMI's 2003 Latin Grammy Winners

FIVE AWARDS
Juanes
Record of the Year
Album of the Year
Song of the Year
Best Rock Solo Vocal Album
Best Rock Song

THREE AWARDS
Gustavo Santaolalla
Record of the Year
Album of the Year
Best Pop Instrumental Album

TWO AWARDS
Anibal Kerpel
Record of the Year
Album of the Year

Paquito D'Rivera
Best Latin Jazz Album
Best Classical Album

ONE AWARD
Atrapado
Best Grupero Album

Bacilos
Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group

Jimmy González y El Grupo Mazz
Best Tejano Album

Molotov
Best Music Video

Orishas (SACEM)
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album

Caetano Veloso
Best Música Popular Brasileira Album

Jorge Villamizar
Best Tropical Song