Will the Grammys go west?

Will Kanye West graduate to the Grammy for album of the year?

The outspoken, critically revered rapper has loudly complained about not winning the big prize -- "I've been here two years in a row, and if I don't win, it's gonna be a problem," he said in 2006. On Thursday, his third CD, "Graduation," brought him eight nominations. He will compete for top album at the 50th annual Grammys along with Amy Winehouse's forward-feeling retro R&B "Back in Black," country stalwart Vince Gill's ambitious, satisfying four-disc "These Days," the Foo Fighters' versatile, rockin' "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" and jazz hero Herbie Hancock's all-star tribute to Joni Mitchell, "River: The Joni Letters."

With three hit singles, West's "Graduation" is the biggest seller of the bunch -- No. 3 among the year's top sellers. The hyper-creative superstar, 30, has dominated the Grammy nominations in three of the past four years while collecting six trophies in rap categories. In 2006 he got 10 nominations but lost the album-of-the-year trophy to U2, whose frontman, Bono, promised West: "You're next."

Winehouse, 24, the British singer who has won notoriety for her partying and concert cancellations, is up for six Grammys, including best new artist, and record and song of the year for "Rehab."

Other finalists for record of the year are Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable," the Foo Fighters' "The Pretender," Rihanna's "Umbrella" and Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around ... Comes Around."

Women rule the best-new-artist category: country teen sensation Taylor Swift; quirky Canadian chanteuse Feist; female-fronted Nashville hit rockers Paramore; critically loved hitmaker Winehouse, and Ledisi, a little-known, Nigerian-born San Francisco singer who has created a bit of a buzz with her organic R&B. Surprisingly, big-selling "American Idol" star Chris Daughtry was snubbed.

In another surprise, Bruce Springsteen -- always a respected, popular and safe choice with Grammy voters -- didn't receive an album of the year nod for "Magic." A blue-ribbon panel selects the finalists in that category as well as new artist, song and record of the year. In other categories, nominees are chosen by voting members of the Recording Academy.