With her powerful vocals and superstar appeal, Beyonce has sold millions of records, both as a solo artist and with the now-disbanded Destiny's Child. With the latter group having disbanded in 2005, Beyonce returned to the solo ranks in 2006 with "B'Day," which has spawned the monster Hot 100 hit "Irreplaceable.

"Fellow album track "Ring the Alarm" is up for best female R&B vocal performance, while "B'Day" is nominated for best contemporary R&B album. "This is about female empowerment," she told Billboard last June. "This album is different, it's conceptual, and I do things with my voice that I haven't done before."

Beyonce arranged, wrote and produced all the songs with her dream team -- Sean Garrett, Rich Harrison, Rodney Jerkins, the Neptunes and Swizz Beatz. She may have chosen five of the hottest producers in the biz, each with a discography of hits that reads like the track listing to a "NOW" compilation. But it did not stop her from shrewdly playing each producer off the other.

"I called up Sean, Rich and Rodney. I got them each a room at Sony Studios, and we went to work." Beyonce recalled. She says she would leave Harrison's room and go check on Garrett and say, "Wow, Rich has some great beats." It was healthy competition," she says.

LINKS:
Beyonce, Chicks, Chilis Set For Grammy Performances
Beyonce Not Budging From Atop The Hot 100
'Dreamgirls' Takes No. 1 In Sluggish Sales Week
Beyonce, Blige Top Image Award Music Nominees
Underdogs Begin Busy Year With 'Dreamgirls' Soundtrack

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