Kanye West has been known to take exception to award ceremonies, most notoriously the VMA Awards vowing to never go back on MTV after being shut out on the big prize multiple times. Sunday night Kanye had a great streak of success at the 2008 Grammy Awards 50th Anniversary, and rightfully so, as his Graduation album gained him four awards. Kanye won Rap Album of the Year, Best Solo Performance for “Stronger”, best Rap Song for “Good Life” with T-Pain, and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group with Common for “Southside”.

Four awards is what he left with (of eight nominations) and he wanted at least one more in particular. The “Grammy’s” hosed Kanye on the Album of the Year by giving it to Herbie Hancock. No disrespect to the winner, but COME ON. The only real threat for Kanye should have been Amy Winehouse… who tore it up too. Kanye was SO relevant this year. He forced 50 Cent into retirement. His singles have ripped up charts. His album artwork by Takashi Murakami was dominant. His fashion was imitated. This should have finally been the time for him and he got ripped off in a bad way. Again no hate on Herbie Hancock and his album… but that wasn’t “the one”.

Kanye also gave an amazing performance with Daft Punk during the awards show. Kanye’s glasses were glowing and Daft Punk emerged in a pod looking like they just stunt-doubled in Tron. (If anyone has any idea what controllers they were using during that performance, please comment back here.) After “Stronger” was done, Kanye sang a somber tribute to his recently deceased mother Donda West. He sang a slowed down version of “Hey Mama” that will likely be bootlegged across the internet from today on. It seemed like a very genuine tribute, more so than carving “MAMA” into his hair like he did for the show. It reminded me of the Puff Daddy / Sting / Faith Evans / 112 tribute to Big Poppa a few years back.

During Kanye’s acceptance speech for Best Rap Album, the orchestra started to play in an attempt to get him off the stage. Kanye kept going over the music and began to say a little something about his mother and at that point Kanye said, “It would be in good taste to stop the music.” They stopped immediately and let him finish. Kanye got hosed again regardless.

Watch the Videos of the performance and cut off speech at Celebridiot.com