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If 1991 was the year that punk broke, 1993 was the year that Alternative took hold. Nirvana and Pearl Jam delivered follow-ups to their blockbusters, rock radio was ruled by their imitators Stone Temple Pilots, pop radio saw more guitars than it did in years thanks to R.E.M. and their followers like the Gin Blossoms. Thanks to PJ Harvey, Liz Phair, Belly, Luscious Jackson, Juliana Hatfield, and the Breeders, it was the year of Women in Rock -- so coined by papers looking hard for a trend -- but Guyville didn't cower either, thanks to major-label debuts by Urge Overkill and the Afghan Whigs. And that was just in the U.S.!

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Flint, MI's MC Breed -- one of the first Midwestern rappers to achieve national success with his 1991 single "Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin'," passed away Saturday at age 37 from kidney failure. [Associated Press via Google]Chris Brown and Kanye West were among the winners at Sunday night's American Music Awards, with Brown winning Artist of the Year and Favorite Male Artist in the Pop/Rock and R&B/Soul categories, and West snagging Favorite Male Rap/Hip-hop Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album for Graduation. [PopEater.com]The family of Manic Street Preachers singer/guitarist Richey Edwards has officially declared him "presumed dead" nearly 14 years after his disappearance from a London hotel. The band's next album will feature lyrics penned by Edwards. [NME.com]

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