BEST MUSIC POLL
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NATIONAL
Best R+B Act in National
Alicia Keys
As surprised as we are that alt-obsessed Phoenix readers picked the manufactured Alicia Keys over the authentic likes of Sharon Jones and Black Joe Lewis, that's exactly what happened, so let's try and figure out why. Well, for one, she is hella sexy, but it must be more than that. Okay — she also dropped her mostly well-received The Element of Freedom (J-Records), which, in moving away from her more traditional R&B roots and into full-out cheese-pop territory, exposed her to an even larger audience than before (and got her candy rewarded with yet another Grammy). Oh, and she sang the hook on that Jay-Z song we can't get away from. Of course you picked her — she's the only thing you heard on commercial radio and television all year. Again.
Runners-up
2. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
3. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears
4. Maxwell
by CHRIS FARAONE
Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys (born Alicia Augello-Cook; January 25, 1981) is an American Soul/r&b singer-songwriter, composer, record producer, pianist, cellist and actress. Keys is a renowned artis
