Universal Republic Records and the Recording Academy’s Grammy Recordings have teamed to release the 2012 Grammy Nominees collection, which this year includes 22 tracks from the biggest names in music. The 18th edition of the always highly anticipated compilation offers one very lucky music fan the opportunity to win a trip for two to the 55th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in 2013. In addition, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the MusiCares Foundation and the Grammy Foundation – two charities established by the Recording Academy.

…And The Grammy Goes To: Hip-hop fans had a great deal to cheer about when the nominees for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards were announced back on November 30. Kanye West, one of 2011’s busiest artists, led all nominees with an astounding seven nods (the second straight year a hip-hop artist garnered the most Grammy nominees: Eminem had 10 in 2011), including Best Rap Album, where he will compete against himself, with his own My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy going up against Watch the Throne, his collaborative album with Jay-Z. Unfortunately, none of West’s tracks are featured on the 2012 Grammy Nominees set.

Bruno Mars scored six highly coveted nominations. The Hawaiian-born multi-talented artist enjoyed a breakout year thanks in large measure to the enormous success of his worldwide chart-topping single “Grenade” (featured on the 2012 Grammy Nominees set), which will vie for two of the top three most prestigious trophies – Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The smash single will compete with West’s “All of the Lights” for Song of the Year and his album Doo-Wops & Hooligans will go head-to-head with Rihanna’s Loud for Album of the Year.

Rihanna and Nicki Minaj (each with four nominations apiece) are represented on the 2012 Grammy Nominees compilation. Rihanna’s “What’s My Name?” featuring fellow four-time nominee Drake is nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and as previously mentioned her album Loud will compete for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, while Minaj, whose “Super Bass” is featured on 2012 Grammy Nominees, is nominated in the Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance (“Moment 4 Life” featuring Drake), Best Rap Album (Pink Friday), and Album of the Year (as a featured artist on Rihanna’s Loud) categories.

Finally, young rapper-producer J. Cole, who holds the distinction of being the first artist signed to Jay-Z’s label Roc Nation, has his hit “Work Out” featured on the 2012 Grammy Nominees album. Other popular acts whose work is found on the collection include six-time Grammy nominee Adele (“Rolling in the Deep”), three-time Grammy nominee Lady Gaga (“You and I”), and Katy Perry (“Firework”).

What’s In A Name?: Check out the video for Rihanna’s hit single “What’s My Name?” featuring the multi-Grammy nominated Drake:

As A Matter of Fact…

* Six-time Grammy nominee Bruno Mars was born Peter Gene Hernandez on October 8, 1985 in Honolulu, HI to a Filipino mother and Puerto Rican father.

* Four-time Grammy nominee Rihanna was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty on February 20, 1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados to a Guyanese mother and Barbadian-Irish father.

* Four-time Grammy nominee Nicki Minaj was born Onika Tanya Maraj on December 8, 1982 in Saint James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and at the age of five moved to Queens, New York.

* The 54th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 12 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.