Bark + Bite

Photo Op: Bruno Mars, Rihanna and Fergie bring their moms to the Grammys

Fergie Ferg went without her Peas to the Grammys, but she did bring along her mom. And she wasn't the only one who brought mama to the Grammys. Bruno Mars brought his mom to the big show at the Staples Center as well.

Rihanna also brought her mother to the Grammys and posed for a quick flick with Fergie and her mom.

Bruno Mars is stacking up hits and breaking records

Photo: Andreas Laszlo Konrath

Bruno Mars is the king of the world! No Titanic.

The Hawaiian-born singer was recently crowned the king of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)'s 2011 worldwide digital singles charts, taking both the number 1 and 2 slots.

The #1 best-selling digital single of the last year was Mars' "Just the Way You Are," which racked up an impressed 12.5 million digital sales, according to a press release from Atlantic Records. The #2 best-selling digital single, "Grenade," also belonged to Mars and sold a whopping 10.2 million copies.

"The Lazy Song," his third single from his debut album Doo-Wops and Hooligans, which is 25 times platinum worldwide according to his label, came in at #10 the IFPI chart with 6.5 million copies sold. This triple feat makes Bruno the first artist to have 3 songs in the digital singles top 10 in one year. Bruno makes hit records and smashes records on the charts. Call him the Demolition Man.

In related news, Bruno is also featured on UK rapper Master Shortie's latest single, "All I Need." For American Hooligans, this should be a rare treat as there's no word on when or if this will ever officially make its way to the States.

Listen to Bruno on the new Master Shortie track below

Bruno Mars talks drug incident, Motown drop on Piers Morgan

While Bruno Mars has proven himself to be a consistently nice guy in the public arena, he's gone through his fair share of not-so-peachy moments. Bruno sat down for an extended interview with Piers Morgan on Friday for the former tabloid editor's CNN show, Piers Morgan Tonight.

Piers brought up the uncomfortable subject of Bruno's cocaine bust in Las Vegas, which happened back in 2010. While Bruno visibly tensed up at the subject, he answered the question with humility and insisted that the embarrassing incident was a one-time mistake that he hoped would be put behind him for good. So far, so good. He's definitely not turned into a Lindsay Lohan or Bobby Brown.

Bruno also touched on his brief stint as a Motown Records signee back in 2004. He was later quietly dropped. Again, being extremely gracious, Bruno said it wasn't really Motown's fault, as he claims he "wasn't ready" yet. Not so sure that the record execs at Motown feel the same. They're probably more sour than grapefruit about missing out on the best thing that they briefly had.

Watch clips of Bruno's interview with Piers below

Sizing up the 2012 Grammys Album of the Year category

The hottest and most prized category in the Grammys each year is without a doubt, the Album of the Year category.

Many were rightfully upset that Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, one of the year's most widely praised albums, was shut out of the category. But the remaining contenders in the category are all worthy in their own way. For the most part.

Let's size up the albums that made it into the Album of the Year category. We'll take a look at the quality of the album and rate the likelihood of it taking the trophy home.

2011 has been good to Bruno Mars

Photo: Andreas Laszlo Konrath

Bruno Mars is 2011's little (no offense, Bruno) engine that could. The Hawaiian-born singer dropped his debut album, Doo-Wops and Hooligans, last year after a string of successful collaborations and hit singles. But the first-week numbers didn't blow the doors off the hinges, as it sold 55,000 copies.

But like the tortoise who beat the hare step by step, Bruno managed to squeeze out a platinum album over time, winning new hooligans all over the world with his lush, warm, romantic singles.

After winning a Grammy in the beginning of the year for "Just the Way You Are" in the Best Male Pop Vocal category, Bruno now finds himself nominated in 6 categories for the 2012 Grammys, including Album of the Year. Mr. Mars also scored well in the Billboard Year-End honors, walking with the prize for Top Male Hot 100 Artist of the Year, Top Hot 100 Producer of the Year (The Smeezingtons), Top Male Radio Songs Artist, Top Male Digital Songs Artist, Top Male Adult Pop Songs Artist and more.

Oh, and did we mention he scored the lead single ("It Will Rain") for the latest Twilight movie?

After putting in all that work in 2011, Bruno is taking it easy for now in his native Hawaii. The singer recently tweeted while on vacation that he was grubbin' and chillaxin' this Christmas.

Man there so much good food in hawaii I can't stop eating... Imma look like santa clause for Xmas

— Bruno Mars (@BrunoMars) December 11, 2011

I'm home yfrog.com/ny6cbwj

— Bruno Mars (@BrunoMars) December 12, 2011

Bruno should rest up while he can. 2012 might be even bigger than 2011 at the rate he's going.

Ranking the Voices of 10 Men in Pop

What's in a voice? A powerful voice in pop music can leave a lasting legacy, eternal popularity, and cultural relevancy.

We've examined 10 male voices in pop music and we break them down according to their vocal abilities, or lack thereof. Sure, no one can touch Michael Jackson on stage but what about in the studio? Who is the 'Falsetto King' — Usher or Justin Timberlake? And what grade does Trey Songz's yelped ad-libs and seemingly painful technique warrant him as a singer?

Serving as perfect material for stan wars or just solid background info for the less rabid pop music fan, find out where your favorite male vocalist landed on the list and sound off below. And be sure to revisit the female edition of this feature, which ranked 10 women in pop.

Bruno Mars spills his broken heart on X Factor USA in "It Will Rain" performance

Eff your light show, will.i.am. This is how you put some video technology to work.

Not only did Bruno Mars spruce up his performance of "It Will Rain" with an impressive light show, he also remixed it musically, adding a new intro and switching up the melody in places and adding electronica effects during the second verse. Shout out to the girl who broke Bruno's heart, cause she's inspired greatness in our favorite Martian.

Watch Bruno Mars perform on the X Factor below

Bruno Mars paints X Factor UK red with his red-hot performance

Bruno Mars and his band used to be blue men, but they traded in their signature all-blue blazers for some hot tamale red numbers for his performance of "Runaway Baby" on the UK edition of X Factor.

Mars, who's overseas on his Hooligans tour, tore up the stage with his James Brownified rendition of "Runaway Baby," which you may have already seen if you caught him on his Stateside tour with Janelle Monae. Kelly Rowland, who's a judge on the UK talent show, could not control herself as Bruno proceeded to break it down on Londontown.

The former child of destiny was up and on her feet in applause with a broad smile on her face. It appears that Bruno knows how to dance his way into a woman's heart.

Watch Bruno Mars and his band perform on the X Factor below