Last year, J Tarin worked as an engineer on Tyrese’s “Open Invitation” and got a taste of the big time when the album debuted at #9 on the Billboard 200, at #2 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and at #1 on iTunes’ R&B/Soul chart.

Well, “Open Invitation” is the gift that keeps on giving for the still-unsigned Tarin: It just earned him his first Grammy nomination. Specifically, it was nominated in the Best R&B Album category.

The 55th Annual Grammy Awards will air on 02/10/12 on CBS.