Shyne Back In Belize, Happy To Be A Free Man

After being detained for almost four weeks by immigration officials following his incarceration for close to nine years for his involvement in a 1999 club shooting in New York, rapper Jamal "Shyne" Barrow is now a free man.

Barrow landed at about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 28) afternoon, and was greeted at the Phillip Goldson International Airport's VIP section by his father, Hon. Dean Barrow; uncle Hon. Michael Finnegan; brother Anwar Barrow; his grandmother; other family members and a slew of media and paparazzi, according to Belize newspaper The Guardian. Also there to welcome him were friends from New York City, who had taken the trip solely for the occasion.

"Shyne did not speak to the media based on the advice of his attorney, Prof. Ogletree, who believes that public statement may prejudice his ongoing case with the United States' immigration officials," said his uncle, Hon. Michael Finnegan, on his behalf, during a short press conference, reports the paper. "Prof. Ogletree is scheduled to arrive in Belize on Saturday, October, 31, and at that time he will be accompanied by Shyne as he speaks to the media."

The paper also reports that Barrow, who is fighting to return to the United States and plans on continuing his entertainment career, stopped at the Princess Royal Youth Hostel, where he spoke to troubled youths, right after exiting the airport.

On December 27, 1999, three people were shot inside Club New York, a midtown Manhattan nightclub. After authorities chased a sport utility vehicle that raced through red traffic lights, they found Bad Boy labelhead Sean "Diddy" Combs -- the label Shyne was signed to -- Combs' then girlfriend, singer/actress Jennifer Lopez, bodyguard Anthony "Wolf" Jones and chauffeur Wardell Fenderson.

A 9mm pistol was discovered in the car which resulted in all the passengers in the car being arrested.

Shyne was charged for attempted murder, assault, criminal use and possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment. All accused were acquitted of their charges except Shyne. He was acquitted of attempted murder and one count of assault but was found guilty of all other charges. On March 16, 2001, he was sentenced to ten years in prison, while Combs, who stood trial, was acquitted of all charges.

Barrow was most recently signed to Def Jam records, after splitting from Bad Boy in the aftermath of the incident.

Rihanna Recruits The-Dream, Young Jeezy For 'Hard'

'You know Young killed it,' Dream says of rapper's verse on Rated R track.
By Shaheem Reid

Rihanna


Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — Rihanna's Rated R will come out November 23 and feature new collaborations with the man behind her biggest hit so far. The-Dream, who wrote 'Umbrella,' penned a couple of tracks for the new LP.

'Me and Rihanna, she just cut the last of the two records we did. It's a record called 'Rock Star,' ' the singer-song writer divulged earlier this week, backstage at the Izod Center in New Jersey. 'The first record is a record called 'Hard,' which features [Young] Jeezy. Both of those records are pretty insane.'

Dream declined to go into much detail about the tracks, but said the Rihanna/ Jeezy collaboration is one for the record books.

" 'Hard,' I want that song to explain itself," he said. "Most of the stuff I wrote — still to this day what I write — I try to find out through people — what they're going through or what they gotta say. Then we put that in."

Dream also said that nobody has to worry about Jeezy's verse. The Snowman delivered as always.

'Oh, c'mon, he killed it! You know Young killed it,' Dream smiled. 'That's ATL right there. That's all we do.'

Last week, Rihanna released the single 'Russian Roulette,' which was written by Ne-Yo.

'I trust Rihanna to be Rihanna, and she trusts me to be me,' Ne-Yo recently told MTV News. 'That's the coolest thing about our relationship. I don't expect anything more from her. I must say this song is a step in somewhat of a different direction for both of us. We kind of both took a chance.'

Sean Garrett has also written for the album, with Polow Da Don lending production.

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Kid Cudi Wants Green Day, Kings Of Leon On Cudder Collabo Album

Rapper already has Snoop Dogg, Travis Barker and Clipse lined up for the LP.
By James Montgomery

Kid Cudi


Photo: MTV News

Kid Cudi went from mixtape phenom to the upper echelons of the Billboard albums chart in little over a year, so it's no surprise he wants to keep the ball rolling. What is a surprise is who he wants to keep it rolling with.

We already know he's hard at work on projects with rapper Chip Tha Ripper and Brooklyn electro duo Ratatat, but backstage at this past weekend's Ulalume Music Festival in Columbia, Maryland, he revealed details of another album, a compilation disc he's dubbed Cudder. And he's aiming extra high on this one.

'Cudder is basically an album of me working with artists that have inspired me or artists that have helped me grow and people who I've always admired," Cudi said. "So far, we've got Snoop, Travis Barker — trying to get Green Day onboard, hopefully, Kings of Leon, hopefully. I'm really trying to do all the collabs that I couldn't do for the [Man on the Moon] album, and then some, because the album was so themed that I had to strip a lot of features. We're going to have the Clipse on this compilation, Robin Thicke, hopefully we're going to get in the studio, I just did a record for his upcoming album; it's amazing.'

Cudi said he's aiming to have Cudder out by 'summertime at the latest,' and while the idea of him working with, say, Billie Joe Armstrong might seem a bit odd, he points to Moon tracks like 'Pursuit of Happiness' (his collaboration with Ratatat and MGMT) as proof that he can pull it off and as a possible preview of how the song might turn out.

'On the Ratatat song, you can hear Ratatat and you can hear me; we don't compromise each other. That's the same thing I want to do with anybody I work with. ... I don't want it to be, like, a Green Day song with me rapping over it,' he said. 'What I want to do is, have the triangle effect. Have Green Day involved and have them co-produce with someone like a Ratatat or my producers, do like a joint thing, and then we all create from the ground up. That way, it's like a fusion of each sound and each inspiration.'

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T.I. Talks To Ludacris From Prison About Lil Wayne Legal Trouble

Tip also sends a message to Chicago after 16-year-old Derrion Albert's murder, Luda tweets.
By Shaheem Reid

T.I.


Photo: Moses Robinson/ Getty Images

T.I. is still keeping an eye on things while serving his year-and-a-day prison sentence for felony weapons charges. On Wednesday, Ludacris tweeted that he spoke to his fellow Atlanta heavyweight.

Luda's messages reveal that Tip is keeping up on current events and feels for his peers Lil Wayne and Lil Boosie, who both have to go to prison at the top of their careers, much like Tip has had to do.

'Talking to TIP,' Luda tweeted. 'He says to tell Wayne and Boosie he Hates the situations y'all are in, but he's ridin' with the both of you.'

'Cris added that Tip had a message for the kids in the Windy City in the wake of the Derrion Albert murder: 'TIP also says to all my Chicago peoples, cut out all that damn nonsense!!! Sh-- has got to STOP!!!!!! I 2nd that!!!'

The 16-year-old Albert was killed in the streets of Chicago several weeks ago while trying to break up a fight. The tragedy was captured on cell phone video and posted on the Internet, horrifying viewers. The Reverend Jesse Jackson and Nation of Islam minister Louis Farrakhan both attended Albert's funeral earlier this month.

Tip had a chance to speak out publicly through fiancée Tameka "Tiny" Cottle during the recent BET Hip-Hop Awards. The King of the South reassured fans he would be home soon. Tip also won Best Hip-Hop Collabo and Best Hip-Hop Video for 'Live Your Life' with Rihanna and CD of the Year for Paper Trail.

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Accomplice In T.I. Friend's Death Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter

Padron Thomas testified against his brother in exchange for lesser charges.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Philant Johnson and T.I. in 2004


Photo: Ray Tamarra/ Getty Images

An Ohio man pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges as an accomplice in the 2006 slaying of a T.I. associate, according to The Associated Press.

Padron Thomas, 41, struck a deal with prosecutors, agreeing to testify against his younger brother, Hosea Thomas, the shooter, in exchange for lesser charges. The elder Thomas was originally facing a murder rap, but after pleading guilty, he will now be sentenced for manslaughter instead.

Thomas drove the car that was involved in the May 2006 shooting that killed Philant Johnson and injured three others. Thomas and his brother were in a skirmish with T.I. and his entourage after the rapper performed in Cincinnati and partied afterward at a local nightclub. The Atlanta superstar directed his crew to leave the venue in the wake of the scuffle, but a group of men followed them and began firing shots at the vehicles carrying the rapper and his camp.

Hosea Thomas was later found guilty of murder and several counts of assault and sentenced to 66 years in prison.

His fate was sealed via damaging testimony from Padron. It was the second time Hosea was sent to jail for publicly firing a gun. The first time occurred nearly 15 years ago in 1992, when Thomas shot wildly into a crowd during a bar fight and wounded a pregnant woman. The woman testified against Thomas after giving birth prematurely as a result of her injuries. He spent eight years in prison for the incident.

Padron Thomas is scheduled for sentencing in his case November 17. He is already serving 17 years in federal prison on separate drug charges. Thomas is expected to be sentenced to 10 years as part of his plea deal.

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Alicia Keys 'Grateful' To Jay-Z For 'Empire State Of Mind'

'I fell in love from the jump,' Keys says of the track, which she and Jay will perform before game two of the World Series.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Tim Kash

Alicia Keys


Photo: MTV News

Alicia Keys and Jay-Z are set to heat up the World Series on Thursday night (October 29) when they perform the New York ode 'Empire State of Mind' at the new Yankees Stadium before game two against the Phillies. It's a song Keys knew she had to be a part of as soon as she got the call from Jay himself.

'There was a first phone call, and Jay hit me up like, 'I feel like I have this record that's going to be the anthem of New York,' ' she told MTV News, adding that she was onboard immediately. 'He's like, 'The piano, the way the style [is], the whole flow, and it couldn't be the anthem of New York without you.' '

That was more than enough coaxing to get Keys on the track, which the duo also performed at the Video Music Awards back in September. 'Obviously, I'm very grateful to him for reaching out to me and for that type of ability to represent my hometown, like, that was crazy,' she said. 'So we went to the studio. I went to the studio, and ... I fell in love from the jump.'

Keys wanted to make sure she got the hook right. 'I did try it a couple of times, but it was more about capturing the kind of grand feeling of it,' she explained. 'With the way I sang it the first time, I was actually kind of sick, and I knew that he needed the record, so I was like, 'Let me get to it.' '

And she finally got it right. 'I came back and revisited it so that it could be what it is now,' she said. 'So it actually took a couple of times, but every time, the energy was just so high.'

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Fergie's Busy Working, But Not On A Solo Record

Black Eyed Peas singer says she's 'not even thinking about another solo album right now.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by Akshay Bhansali

Fergie


Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage for Avon

Fergie performed songs from her 2006 solo album, The Duchess, at the Avon Foundation for Women Awards Gala in New York City on Tuesday night, but she doesn't have plans to work on new solo music anytime soon. She's still riding high on the success of the Black Eyed Peas latest release, The E.N.D., and the group's touring schedule is keeping her busy these days.

She wasn't too busy, however, to attend the gala to show her support for women who are fighting breast cancer and to help end domestic violence. 'I'm performing my own songs, not Peas songs, 'cause I don't have the boys with me today,' she told MTV News on the red carpet about performing at the event sans bandmates Will.I.Am., Taboo and apl.de.ap. 'This is more about women.'

She also explained that her performance was in no way a tease for an upcoming solo record. 'Oh my gosh! I am so up to [the] top of my head in Peas land right now that I am not even thinking about another solo album right now. I'm knee deep in that and we're about to tour the world.'

In addition to recently being approved as part-owner of the Miami Dolphins football team, Fergie will be appearing on the big screen in the Rob Marshall-directed musical Nine. She'll star alongside a who's who of Hollywood that includes Sophia Loren, Daniel Day-Lewis and Nicole Kidman. 'It's a musical. It's wonderful,' she said. 'It's an art piece.'

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Rihanna Gets Serious On Rated R Album Cover

Black-and-white image features pensive close-up of singer's face
By Gil Kaufman

Rihanna's <i>Rated R</i>


Photo: Def Jam

After the deadly-game song title, razor's-edge logo and barbed-wire wrap she wore on the cover of her 'Russian Roulette' single, it wasn't unreasonable to expect that Rihanna's upcoming Rated R album would feature a similarly dangerous image.

But the grainy black-and-white cover shot that leaked Tuesday (October 27) finds the singer in a moody, contemplative pose reminiscent of outrageous 1980s avant-garde singer Grace Jones. Wearing what looks like a leather top, Rihanna is depicted with her hand covering her right eye, with each finger wrapped in an intricate set of rings that hug two knuckles.

The image for the album, due November 23, was shot by fashion photographer Ellen von Unwerth, who said Rihanna is "so beautiful, sweet and tough at the same time — and a pleasure to shoot," according to PopEater.com. Von Unwerth went on to say that Rihanna is "fantastic to work with — very giving, very creative, very involved in every aspect of the shoot and ready to push the boundaries." The photographer is known for her iconic album covers, including Britney Spears' Blackout, Christina Aguilera's Back to Basics and Janet Jackson's The Velvet Rope.

The picture, in which Rihanna wears thick, dark lipstick and dramatic eye makeup that gives her a feline look, is just the latest tidbit of information to leak out about the album, her first since 2007's Good Girl Gone Bad. The reveal of the cover also continues what promises to be a see-saw publicity battle between the singer and her ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown, who both have albums coming out in the fourth quarter.

Both singers are releasing their first efforts since Brown pleaded guilty in June to a felony-assault count stemming from a violent clash in February. And while Brown is barred from being within 100 yards of Rihanna for the next five years, the proximity of their album release dates (his disc, Graffiti, comes out December 15) has led to almost daily attention grabs by both sides for headlines over the past few weeks.

On the same day the Rated R cover emerged, Brown dropped the video for his song 'I Can Transform Ya' and was gearing up for his first major live performance since the assault, a headlining spot at Power 105.1's Powerhouse concert in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Tuesday night.

Just one week ago, Rihanna dropped the 'Roulette' single on the same day Brown announced the dates for his 'Fan Appreciation' tour, followed by the debut of Brown's second single, 'Crawl.'

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Rick Ross' Triple C's Get Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane, More On Album

'It was just love,' Miami MC says of the collabos on Custom Cars & Cycles.
By Shaheem Reid

Triple C's


Photo: Maybach Music/Def Jam

According to Rick Ross, October 27 is a tough day for all those who have wished him ill. "I have to thank all the haters who prayed this day never come — I rebuke you."

The Miami Bawse has released his second album this year, this time with his group Triple C's. Much like Eminem, Nelly and Notorious B.I.G. before him, Ross is an official member of the group, although the LP, Custom Cars & Cycles, serves to introduce his artists Gunplay, Torch and Breed. With Ross as executive producer and DJ Khaled working A&R on the project, you know the beats are going to be buoyant and the content catering to the streets.

On 'Erryday,' Ross reaches out to his labelmate and fellow street staple Young Jeezy for a cameo. 'Get my money on the back end/ All I do is front,' The Snowman raps. 'Erryday it's plenty bottles, errynight another club ...'

'Foreign cars, that's erryday/ Audemars, that's erryday,' Rick Ross chimes in. 'Erryday a n---a wanna kill me, beefin' erryday/ So we creep, that's erryday/ 40 deep, that's erryday.'

'I watched Jeezy establish a brand,' Ross explained to Mixtape Daily earlier this month. 'When you speak of successful executives coming out of the South that's still in the streets making moves, that's one of the dudes I look at. It was a huge record. I reached out to my family, he made it pop. Not only that, he let [Jeezy's Corporate Thugz Entertainment artist] JW shine on the record. That's from the crib, the bottom. It was just love. The streets feeling it, and that's what it's about.'

The video for 'Erryday' is out now, as is the clip for 'Trickn Off' with Gucci Mane.

"Gucci Mane called me all the time while he was incarcerated," Ross told MTV News. "We spoke on collabo — here it is! 'Trickn Off.' I'm proud of him."

Triple C's also recently filmed a video with Game for 'Gangsta Sh--.' 'Hustla' features Maybach Music Group singer Masspike Miles, and other guests on the album include Yo Gotti on 'Yams Pt. 2' and Birdman on 'Go.'

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Chris Brown's 'I Can Transform Ya' Moves Are 'Mind-Blowing,' Director Says

'Here's a guy who can literally do anything,' Joseph Kahn raves to MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena

Chris Brown in 'I Can Transform Ya'


Photo: Jive Records

Chris Brown came back hard and fast in his video for 'I Can Transform Ya.' The glossy, fast-paced clip, shot for two days last month in Hollywood, was the perfect chance for Joseph Kahn to work with the singer again after directing him in 'Forever,' his upcoming 'Crawl' clip and Ester Dean's 'Drop It Low.'

'I met with Chris when we were doing the 'Drop It Low' video, and he played me a couple tracks off his new album, and he already had a pretty clear idea of what he wanted out of 'Transform Ya,' ' Kahn told MTV News. 'And, obviously, him going in there and dancing and turning into cars and trucks is right up my alley.'

Kahn said the video allowed the pair to display their love of all things 'boy culture,' including fast cars and ninjas. 'His interests, in terms of kung fu and special effects and science fiction and all the boy-culture stuff, it falls directly in line with what I like,' Kahn said. 'So, we're kind of a great match.'

While Brown has faced a lot of negative attention over the past year — pleading guilty to felony assault after a February incident with then-girlfriend Rihanna — Kahn doesn't think that should take away from the 20-year-old's talent. "I know there's a lot of controversy with Chris," he said. "I would never, ever work with him unless he was the person I thought he was and he is, truly. The person that controversy happened to and the person that I know — there's a complete disconnect. Nothing can excuse all that stuff that happened, but everybody's human. That's a really big mistake, obviously, but he pays for [it] daily. When people say, 'Has he been punished enough?' Media crucifixion, check."

Kahn was willing to set that controversy aside for a chance to reunite with Brown. "Look, Chris Brown is — I should flat out say it — is probably the most talented person I've ever worked with in my many years of doing music videos," Kahn said. "His talent is phenomenal. I'm still struggling to try and capture that talent on film, and it's a challenge. Here's a guy who can literally do anything. If you watch this thing, he's doing nunchuck tricks, and I'm a huge kung fu aficionado, and they're mind-blowing. I've never seen stuff like that before in kung fu flicks."

Kahn made sure to put Brown's dance skills on display in the clip. 'I would say it's like a pure aesthetic dance video from the very fiber of it,' Kahn explained. 'Everything dances onscreen. Everything has movement. Everything has a certain mechanical rhythm. He actually created a dance style for this that is mechanical. It's sort of a hyper-intense version of the robot. Even the transformations go directly in line with the movements.'

Instead of taking the lyrics and being 'pretentious' about it, Kahn wanted to show the audience exactly what Brown was singing about. 'What if we just got ambitious and demonstrated the lyrics?' he said about the concept. 'The trick is to do it in a creative way. Let's try to display the lyrics and the feeling of the dance at the same time.'

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Watch Chris Brown Rehearse For Powerhouse Concert

We dropped in on his rehearsals in Virginia for Tuesday's New Jersey show.
By Eric Ditzian

Chris Brown rehearses in Virginia on Monday


Photo: MTV News

On Tuesday (October 27), the same day Chris Brown dropped a seriously cinematic video for 'I Can Transform Ya,' featuring shape-shifting 'Transformers'-like machines and martial arts moves, the singer is set to headline Power 105.1's Powerhouse concert in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Will his performance at all mimic elements of the video? What will Brown do for his first major event since his assault on former girlfriend Rihanna, and his first to promote his December 15 album, Graffiti?
MTV News got a sneak peek at his rehearsals in a Virginia dance studio, which went a long way toward answering some of those questions.

Throughout rehearsals, a yellow Bumblebee mask from the 'Transformers' movies sat on a desk nearby. As 'Transform Ya' began to play, Brown and his dancers stood in a straight line, their heads bowed. A line from 2007's 'Tranformers,' delivered by Optimus Prime, played over the speakers: 'They're a young species. They have much to learn.'

Optimus then called, 'Autobots, roll out!' and the dancers broke out into formation as Brown's song came on. Throughout rehearsals, Brown's dance lineup shifted. At times, he was joined by as many as six backup dancers, while at others only two toe-tapped next to him. For a few tracks, he alone danced to the beat.

Dressed in a black baseball hat, gray sweatshirt and T-shirt, rolled-up pants and high-top Nikes, Brown wasn't all business during his practice time. He joked around a bit, pulled off many nifty tricks with his hat and at one point sat down to check his Twitter account on a Mac laptop.

Brown ran through 'Wall to Wall,' 'Kiss Kiss' 'Yo (Excuse Me Miss),' 'Take You Down,' 'Gimmie That' and 'Back to the Crib' in front of our camera, but we didn't see him rehearse 'Crawl,' the new track he dropped last week.

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Jay-Z Reaches Out To New Audiences Through College Tour

While on his current outing, Hov's already thinking about the next, possibly with Young Jeezy.
By Shaheem Reid

Jay-Z


Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — Notorious B.I.G. had a classic line about, let's just say, mingling at Penn State in "It's All About the Benjamins." Earlier this month, Jay-Z finally got to hit the campus, reaching the students in a slightly more appropriate manner. Most of Hov's current tour stops are at higher-learning institutions because that gives him the chance to perform for new audiences, he said.

'This one, I wanted to gear specifically to colleges,' Jay explained on Monday at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, where he was promoting the 'DJ Hero: Renegade Edition' video game. "I wanted to get out and see a lot of the kids. Like playing Penn State — I never played Penn State or UCLA. I wanted to do something different. I'm always trying to reach people that I'm not typically in front of. Just like with 'DJ Hero.' It's like another thing to bring the music in front of the widest audience possible. A lot of times, people judge hip-hip and have never been to a live show or experienced hip-hop. How do you have an opinion of it unless you've sat through a concert or seen someone perform? We're all different. We're all individuals."

Jay is already mapping out yet another tour for the top of the year. J. Cole, N.E.R.D. and Wale are his openers this time around, but he says that his friend and collaborator Young Jeezy may be on the bill for the next jaunt.

'Yeah, that's a possibility,' Jay affirmed. 'Young Jizzle. I got a great relationship with him. I think he's one of those guys that's gonna be here for a minute. People are interested in what he has to say. It's not about a song, although he makes great songs. It's more about what he has to say or what he has to offer: Music that is sustainable, which is great and will be around forever.'

You can see Jay-Z and Jeezy perform 'As Real as It Gets' the BET Hip-Hop Awards which air on Tuesday, October 27, at 8 pm ET.

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Chris Brown's 'I Can Transform Ya' Video Hits The Net

R&B singer morphs into slick vehicles in the clip, alongside Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz.
By James Montgomery

Chris Brown in 'I Can Transform Ya'


Photo: Jive Records

On Tuesday (October 27), Chris Brown officially returned to the masses with the premiere of his 'I Can Transform Ya' video, a super-slick clip that showcases not just his dance moves, but his newfound sense of swagger.

The video, Chris Brown's first since pleading guilty to assaulting former girlfriend Rihanna, has no visible reference to his troubled year. Under the direction of Joseph Kahn — who has made memorable clips for Britney Spears ("Toxic," "Womanizer"), Eminem ("We Made You") and Lady Gaga ("LoveGame"), to name just a few — Brown pops and locks and croons about his Black Card and, thanks to the magic of special effects, changes form, morphing into, among other things, a sports car and a fire truck.

Earlier in the month, Brown posted a handful of photos from the 'Transform Ya' set, which showed him goofing around with Kahn, producer Swizz Beatz and guest star Lil Wayne; doing some ninjutsu (because, you know, why not?); and dancing in a military-esque get up. And now that the video's here, we're happy to report that all those things made the final cut.

'Transform Ya' is the first single from Brown's Graffiti album (due in December), and while it's already beginning its ascent up the Billboard Hot 100, it's not the only song fans can hear from the disc. Just last week, 'Crawl,' which is reportedly the second single from the album, leaked to the Web and is a decidedly different tune: a ballad, on which Brown pensively croons about a relationship gone awry.

'Everybody see it's you/ Well, I never want to lose that view,' Brown sings. 'Everybody says we're through/ I hope you haven't said it too.'

What do you think of Chris Brown's new video? Let us know below!

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Soulja Boy Tell'em Ready To Drop Paranormal Activity Mixtape

Soulja will drop three tapes on Halloween, in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid

Soulja Boy Tell'em


Photo: Jared Milgram

Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables

Mixtapes: Paranormal Activity, DatPiff and Cortez

Headliner: Soulja Boy Tell'em

Co-Starring: DJ Woogie and DJ Neptune (Paranormal Activity), DJ Holiday (DatPiff) and DJ Whoo Kid and DJ Scream (Cortez)

Essential Info: Soulja Boy is taking a page out of homie Gucci Mane's handbook and putting out three mixtapes at once — he's letting them thangs fly on Halloween. Utilizing the skills of five different DJs, Soulja said the tapes will feature three different varieties of his music.

'I wanted to have more music out and I wanted to have three different styles on three different tapes,' he explained. 'DatPiff, I'm just going in on all the beats. Holiday sent me a whole lot of jacked beats and said, 'Lets go in on whatever's hot,' you feel me? Zaytoven sent me 10 beats. I used, like, three. The other one [Cortez] is just how I am in the game right now and [has] all the features I did. Me and Gucci are doing all types of features together like the joint I did, Teairra Marí's new single, 'Sponsor,' then there's one with Sean Garrett called 'Throw Money' and, of course, the 'LOL :-)' joint with Trey Songz. And I have the 'Gucci Bandana' joint — all the features I recently did. The Paranormal Activity sh--, that's really the Halloween mixtape: dark beats that's gonna keep you vibing.'

For the latter, Soulja said he wanted to make his musical project 'better' than the hit movie.

"I actually went to the movies to see it," he said of the thriller. "But why I really wanted to drop one with that title was because it was like, 'I'mma make this one better than the movie.' The movie was straight, but I was on Twitter and the movie has been a trending topic on Twitter for, like, a month straight. Plus it's Halloween-themed — it's dropping on Halloween.

"Cortez is the beginning of a series," he added. "That's my middle name. If you go on the Web, they got my middle name listed as Ramon all over the Web sites. I don't know why. That's the beginning of a series — I might put out three or four more after I dropped that one."

DatPiff is a tip of the hat to the highly regarded mixtape site DatPiff.com, where all three mixtapes will be available for download.

Other Heat This Week

» Play N Skillz - Recession Proof

» Gucci Mane and Shawty Lo - Fright Night

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Lady Gaga Talks About Collaborating With Beyonce

'I don't want to be fashion Gaga in your video — I want to do you,' Gaga told Beyoncé.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga


Photo: George Napolitano/ WireImage

Although details are still scarce about just what Beyoncé and Lady Gaga will be doing to in the clip for B's song 'Video Phone,' Gaga did talk about the clip in a new interview.

'When I was doing her video with her, she called me and she said, 'What do you want to do?' ' Gaga explained in an interview with New York's Z100 radio station on Tuesday morning (October 27). 'And I'm like, 'I don't want to show up in some frickin' hair bow and be fashion Gaga in your video.' I said, 'I want to do you.' '

In a photo that emerged from the video shoot, Gaga was seen wearing a white strapless leotard with matching opera gloves, and her long hair is loose and flowing — the look is definitely more Beyoncé than Gaga. In fact, Gaga even scored a new nickname while on set. "I want to do my version of Beyoncé," she said. "So the whole time I was learning the choreography they were calling me Gee-yoncé."

As if fans weren't psyched enough about the video, Gaga did say that she and Beyoncé are working on music together. No additional details were given, however.

'We did collaborate recently,' she said, referencing the 'Video Phone' video, adding, 'And we are collaborating on my album, as well.' It was unclear whether Gaga was referring to the forthcoming expanded edition of her debut LP, The Fame: Monster, or her still-in-the-works second album.

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Jay-Z, Alicia Keys To Perform At World Series' Opening Game

Pair will perform 'Empire State of Mind' at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.
By Shaheem Reid

Jay-Z at the 'DJ Hero' event in New York on Monday


Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ Getty Images

Jay-Z loves to take hip-hop where it has never gone before — well, how about the World Series? Hov and Alicia Keys will be performing the Big Apple anthem 'Empire State of Mind' on Wednesday at the new Yankee Stadium before game one's first pitch is thrown, Jay confirmed to MTV News on Monday (October 26).

"First of all, the new [Yankee] Stadium — it's the Yankees and it's game one of the World Series," Jay said while promoting his 'DJ Hero: Renegade Edition' video game, which sees him teamed up with Eminem. The Yanks happen to be Hov's favorite baseball team.

'I'm beyond excited about it, and on top of that, it's a New York record. It's a record that pays homage to New York [and which was also performed at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards].
The timing of that couldn't be better,' Hov enthused.

Jay said his spot at game one has been in place for several days — all he needed was for the Yankees to wrap things up against the Los Angeles Angels.

'The whole time we knew we had the performance,' Jay laughed. 'We knew we had the performance last week. I think it was 3-1 [in favor of the Yankees] at the time. [The Yankees] lost that game to make it 3-2. I was like, 'Man!' I had to come in [the stadium] with the stage and all that. I was like, 'Man, these guys gotta come on.' It was almost selfish.'

Well, the Yankees sent the Angels home last night with a 5-2 American League pennant-winning victory at the stadium.

All through the playoffs, the Yankees have been showing love to Jay and his Blueprint 3. Derek Jeter has "Empire State of Mind" play during his at-bats, while Alex Rodriguez's theme songs have been "Already Home" and "Reminder." Meanwhile, Robinson Canó's at-bat are themed by 'Run This Town.'

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"

D4L's Fabo, Now A College Student, Doesn't Feel Outshined By Shawty Lo

MC has solo deal, plots D4L's return amid business studies.
By Shaheem Reid

D4L's Fabo


Photo: Taylor Hill

ATLANTA — D4L's Fabo seemed like he would be the breakout star from the group in the wake of its 2005 hit 'Laffy Taffy.' The cat was flamboyant with his stunna shades, spaced-out lingo and snap dancing. However, that was four years ago, and Fabo's music has come sporadically, while Shawty Lo has become the group's standout, with hits like 'Dun Dun' and 'Dey Know.' Fabo told us recently it's all good: He's about to make a comeback.

'I just got a fresh deal with Atlantic. Still on Bankhead [Records],' he said. 'D4L is out there now. We doing our thing, we working on a new album, we getting back together. Shawty Lo is doing his thing. I'm here in the streets.'

Fabo is also in the classroom. Yes, he's been going to college.

'I went back to school for business and management,' he revealed. 'I didn't have a high school degree at the time. It's all about bettering yourself. I got a high school diploma, now I go to school for business and management. I go to Ashworth College.' (A representative from the school told MTV News they are not allowed to divulge a student's enrollment status.)

Fab said his fellow students initially made a fuss, but it's all business as usual now.

'At first it was like, 'You Fabo! You Fabo!' he recalled. 'But after a while, I got such personality, I'm like your everyday next [door] cat. I'm getting great grades. I ain't no honor roll student or nothing like that, but I'm making it. I'm trying to better myself, not wanting this to be the last stop for me. Having a couple of more kids and watching them grow, being there with them. I been in the streets all my life, it's time to do something for me and my family, you feel me? So I went back to school. That's a great thing!'

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50 Cent Shows Off His Kids In Exclusive 'Baby By Me' Video Preview

Kelly Rowland is Fif's leading lady in the clip, which premieres November 2 on MTV.
By Shaheem Reid

50 Cent in 'Baby By Me' video


Photo: Interscope

At the recent Los Premios MTV awards show in Los Angeles, 50 Cent met up with Destiny's Child alum Kelly Rowland. Several hours later, they were in each other's arms. Rowland plays Fif's leading lady in the upcoming 'Baby by Me' video.

'I actually ran into her,' 50 told us recently on the clip's set. 'I said, 'Wow, it'll be great if I could get her to come tomorrow.' '

Fif said he also had his eyes on Columbian model/actress Sofia Vergara, who was at Los Premios too. 'I had some ideas,' 50 said. 'Actually, I was talking to Sofia. I presented with her at the actual awards, and her schedule didn't allow for her [to participate]. Kelly was getting ready to fly back to Miami. I was lucky enough to catch her. I kinda begged my way into her doing it. I didn't want to do the normal video situation, where you have the vixen or somebody no one knows from anywhere. I think it intensifies the whole song.'

As you'll see in MTV News' exclusive preview of the video, 50 and Kelly appear to have some kids together, and the world-famous rapper shows a wide grin when he carries his baby boys in his arms.

The full 'Baby by Me' clip debuts November 2 on MTV, MTV2, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, mtvU, MTV Tres and MTV.com.
50's next album, Before I Self Destruct, comes out November 23.

On Monday (October 26), iTunes revealed the album's track list for pre-orders. Some of the records include 'The Invitation,' 'Death to My Enemies,' 'Gangsta's Delight' and 'Crime Wave,' which has a viral video on the Net now.

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Kid Cudi Says Kanye West Is 'OK,' Not In Rehab Or India

'Rehab for what? Being awesome?' Cudi asks rhetorically of his friend and mentor.
By James Montgomery

Kid Cudi


Photo: MTV News

Ever since he rocketed from the mixtape circuit to the Billboard albums chart, Kid Cudi has relied on Kanye West for guidance, support and the occasional cameo. He considers West to be his friend, his brother and his mentor, so in the wake of Kanye's interruption of Taylor Swift's speech
at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Cudi decided it was time to take on some of the rumors swirling about his friend, too. In particular, the whispers that West has taken refuge in an Indian ashram, or that he's being pressured by those close to him to check into rehab.

'All that's definitely false. I mean ... rehab for what? Being awesome?' Cudi told MTV News backstage at the Ulalume Festival
in Columbia, Maryland, last weekend. 'We talk every once in a while. Like I said, he's like a brother to me, I worry just as much as the next person, but when I say Kanye is cool, believe me, Kanye is OK. He's a strong dude. I mean, we've seen him grow from College Dropout to now ... the things he's dealt with, the things he's been through. He's a strong dude.'

But until Kanye makes his return, Cudi will be honored to carry Kanye's mantle. Starting on November 27, when he'll be the opening act for Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour, which takes the place of West and Gaga's canceled Fame Monster outing.

"I didn't get his blessing or anything, I just agreed because it'd be an honor. From what I heard, Kanye backed out from the tour because he wanted to work on something — maybe a project — or just wanted to take some time off," Cudi said.

'And ain't nothing wrong with that. It's not like he got fired, and I was like 'I'm taking your job!' It's like, 'Ye fell back, and I was like 'OK.' '

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DJ Khaled Protege Red Rum Releases The Switch Spot Mixtape

Plus: Plies being coy about MCs featured on Goon Affiliated, in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes

Plies
Photo: Rahman Dukes/MTV News

804, 757, you already know, Mixtape Daily has love for y'all. Shout out to Quan, shout out to the Clipse, big up to all the artists from VA. Today, DJ Khaled shows he's been doing more than just scouting talent in MIA — he's been to VA as well. He scooped up a young cat from Richmond named Red Rum, the newest member of the We the Best record company.

This Week's Main Pick

Street King: Red Rum

Holding It Down For: Richmond, Virginia

Mixtape: The Switch Spot

Real Spit: Red Rum ran up on DJ Khaled. During the filming of the I'm So Hood (remix) video, Rum made his way onto the set and slid the energetic music man one of his early mixtapes. Khaled said he played it in his car that night and reached out. The two have been linked up ever since. Khaled is getting his new protégé warmed up in the street before the album comes sometime next year.

'He flew me down to Miami, but I wasn't no artist then,' Rum admits of his initial dealings with Khaled. 'I wasn't ready for this. So it took two years, but I ain't stop. My fan base got bigger without nobody helping me, but with the Khaled stamp.'

Rum's nickname, the 'Switch Man,' is pure Richmond, Virginia, slang.

' 'Switch Man,' ' he explained, 'that all comes about because of where I'm from. ATL calls it 'trappin,' we 'catch switches.' That's what it is, I was on the block. Now I'm catching switches with the music. I got fans, they're spending money to see me, they wanna see Red, dummy. 2010 we getting it in. I promise. The Switch Spot just lets everybody know I am an independent artist, as well as a mainstream artist. I'm independently trying to take over this game. I just don't wanna be no rapper. I'm in here, straight up.'

Joints To Check For

'On My Mama': 'That Defines my grind. On my mama, no lies. I'm not gonna sit here and lie on my mama, I put my heart into this. This is what you want, this is what you get. No fake stuff. My mama has no other choice but to hear the song. They play it all on the radio. She loves the grind. She knows where we come from and what we took it to. She has no choice but to respect it.'
'Get It In': 'That's with Yo Gotti,' he says. 'It lets you know every city I go to, I get it in. Every time I swing that corner in that Caddy, they know I get it in. Standing alone again.'

'One More Time': "It was inspired by DJ Kool from DC," Rum explains. "That made them 20,000 people — me being independent with no help, had 20,000 people — rocking. Wait till the world hears it — its gonna be number one on the charts."

Streets Is Talking: News And Notes From The Underground

Plies' Goon Affiliated should be out within the next few months, but he's playing it close to the vest as to which MCs are coming on the LP. He did give a clue when we saw him at the BET Hip-Hop Awards earlier this month.

'I'll just drop one in your lap. I didn't have the rap feature thing before so I'm doing something with a cat that's real, real big in Atlanta. Some people says it's this person, some people say it's that person. But it's a special situation. A major situation for this album.'

When asked if it's the person he got with on the song 'Wasted,' Pies just smiled and said, 'It could be. It could be.'

Although Plies wouldn't spill the beans — for real, for real — we've been hearing it may not be Gucci Mane but a man who's known for his motivational rap songs.

Plies says that regardless of who he collaborates with, you'll see his growth.

'We painted the best picture we can paint. You'll see the evolution of who I am as an artist from the production standpoint as well as the lyrical content side. I'm excited about this one. More excited than I was about my previous three. ... Let's put it all in the kitty and let the streets tell us what it is.'

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LMFAO Looking For Bikini Girl (Or Girls) For Upcoming Tour

Party-rock duo's first headlining jaunt includes support from Shwayze and Lady Gaga DJ Space Cowboy.

LMFAO
Photo: Steven Lawton/ FilmMagic

Somewhere out there — likely buried underneath a sticky, shot-soaked mound of fur coats, DayGlo T-shirts with Frankie Goes to Hollywood-style party-encouragement mantras and lots of brightly colored shorts — are the members of LMFAO. And while it might not seem like it from the dazed looks on their faces, they're probably hard at work finalizing the talent lineup for their first headlining outing, the soon-to-launch Party Rock Tour.

Specifically, Redfoo and Sky Blu are taking long looks at the entries for their just-finished contest in search of the next Polka Dot Bikini Girl (or, if they had their way, girls).

'There are so many girls that look good in bikinis,' 'Foo lamented as he chilled in an airport lounge in one of the aforementioned fur coats. 'Girls jump onstage when we do shows all over the world, so there's many different types, but we're just trying to expand the horizons and maybe have multiple girls.'

With the departure of original Bikini Girl (no, not the one from 'American Idol') Stephanie Arakel, the uncle/nephew duo were forced to cast a wide net to find a new female who looks good in a two-piece and has that ineffable 'it' quality that would complement their party-hearty stage show.

'We figured we'd have a contest for the tour and get one girl, or possibly a couple girls,' Redfoo said of the talent search that ended Sunday. 'They have to feel it and learn some of the moves. Of course, you gotta be cute in a bikini, but you can't drop it like it's hot. It has to be a [classy] 1940s vibe. ... We want someone with personality who can tell us why she should be LMFAO's Bikini Girl.'

Whichever of the 18 lovely ladies who submitted their bids wins, Blu promised they will be in for the trip of a lifetime when the tour kicks off November 5 in Reno, Nevada, and runs through December 20. Among the party-equipped support acts LMFAO is taking on the road are Shwayze, the Far East Movement, Paradiso Girls and Lady Gaga DJ Space Cowboy. The show will also feature nightly DJ sets between acts from Million $ Mano.

The electro-hip-hop duo, who have already scored dance-floor hits with 'I'm in Miami Trick' and 'La La La,' are particularly psyched about hitting the road with Shwayze, whose co-founder, Cisco Adler, is an old friend from Sky's childhood in Malibu, California. 'Shwayze is definitely a party animal,' Redfoo said of the group's MC, also named Shwayze. 'We call him the lion. If you leave your girl standing around, he will come up and take her.'

'He will grab her by the scruff of her neck and take her to his lair!' Blu growled.

Red said the idea of the tour is to share the duo's party-rock vibe and energy with as many people as possible, so the key was to pick support groups that have 'similar party antics and are down to support the whole party-rock movement.' In keeping with that tone, he promised pre-parties, onstage wildness, afterparties at the hotel and wherever the day takes them the next morning. 'We've been touring for a while, but this is the first tour where we'll get to architect everything that happens, from when the doors open to when the DJ goes on and what the lineup is.'

Appropriately, the pair just shot the video for the intoxicating chugging anthem 'Shots,' directed by 'La La La' lensman Mickey Finnegan (Tyga, Keak Da Sneak). The clip unrolls at a, yes, 'crazy' pool party at Tao Beach at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas and features a party assist from Lil Jon. 'They didn't know what hit 'em,' 'Foo said of the unwitting guests who were on hand as the shoot began.

Party Rock Tour dates, according to LMFAO's MySpace page:

» 11/5 - Reno, NV @ Pearl at Grand Sierra Resort
» 11/6 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
» 11/7 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
» 11/9 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
» 11/10 - Vancouver, British Columbia @ Gossip
» 11/12 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox
» 11/14 - Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
» 11/17 - Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
» 11/18 - Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
» 11/19 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
» 11/20 - St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
» 11/21 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
» 11/22 - Chicago, IL @ Congress Theatre
» 11/24 - Des Moines, IA @ People's Court
» 11/27 - Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargo's
» 11/28 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
» 11/29 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel
» 11/30 - State College, PA @ The Cell Block
» 12/1 - Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
» 12/3 - New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place
» 12/4 - New York, NY @ Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
» 12/6 - Farmingdale, NY @ Crazy Donkey
» 12/8 - Richmond, VA @ The National
» 12/9 - Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
» 12/10 - Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
» 12/11 - Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
» 12/14 - Orlando, FL @ Firestone
» 12/17 - Houston, TX @ House of Blues
» 12/18 - Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
» 12/19 - San Antonio, TX @ The White Rabbit
» 12/20 - McAllen, TX @ Las Palmas Event Center

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Chris Brown Posts Fan-Created Montage Of Rihanna

'Showing emotion doesn't make u weak,' Brown tweets after sharing video link.








Rihanna and Chris Brown in February, 2009


Photo: Rick Diamond/WireImage






Following his guilty plea to felony assault on former girlfriend Rihanna, Chris Brown is court-ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from his ex for the next five years. But the 20-year-old singer

Alicia Keys' delays new album by two weeks (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Billboard) – Alicia Keys has delayed the release of her new album by two weeks to December 15, the singer/songwriter said on Twitter.

"Luv having the freedom to create beautiful music, so I'm pushing the album back to DEC 15th. So many more amazing songs!!!" Keys tweeted about "The Element of Freedom," whose release was originally supposed to coincide with World AIDS Day.

Her J Records label confirmed the new date.

Chris Brown to release new CD on Dec. 15 (AP)

"

NEW YORK – Chris Brown has announced the release of his first CD since his February altercation with then-girlfriend Rihanna.

"Graffiti," the singer's third album, will be released on Dec. 15, he said via Twitter.

The CD's first single, "I Can Transform Ya," features Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz.

The 20-year-old will also kick off his "Fan Appreciation" tour in Houston on Nov. 14.

Brown was sentenced in August to five years' probation, six months of community labor and a year of domestic violence counseling after he pleaded guilty to felony assault in the attack on Rihanna. He's due to perform Tuesday in New Jersey at his first concert since the attack.

Jay-Z talks World Series, Broadway and DJ Hero (AP)

AP - The New York Yankees have been blasting Jay-Z's 'Empire State of Mind' during their playoff run. Now, the team is having the rap king perform the song live to kick off Game 1 of the World Series.

"

Rihanna's Rated R Is 'So Great,' Producer Says

'I think she's a pop icon, so her music should reflect that,' Chuck Harmony says.
By Jocelyn Vena

Rihanna


Photo: Rob Loud/Getty Images

When Rihanna released 'Russian Roulette,' the lead single from Rated R on Tuesday, a lot of people were surprised that it wasn't some empowering club banger.

And although reactions are mixed when it comes to the haunting song about an abusive relationship, Chuck Harmony, who produced it with Ne-Yo, insists that the track and the album are a reflection of Rihanna's growth as an artist.

Harmony told MTV News that no matter how you feel about the track, the album will prove that Rihanna is the Madonna of her generation. 'I sat through mix sessions and I heard some of the songs on the record. It fits in well,' he said of 'Russian Roulette.'

The song is a bit darker than some of Rihanna's past singles, but Harmony said that isn't indicative of the rest of the album. 'I think Rihanna has captured what her old fans are used to, as well as the growth of an artist. 'Russian Roulette,' to me, is a shining example of her growth and her artistic expression,' he said. ' 'Russian Roulette' is definitely taking her to another level. I think she's a pop icon, so her music should reflect that.'

Harmony added that he still can't believe his track was picked to kick off her comeback, because there was just too much great material to pick from. 'I was actually shocked I got the first single 'cause the album is so great,' he said.

Although Harmony is one of Rihanna's colleagues, he says he's just as interested as anyone in how the singer is marketing herself, including the single's provocative cover art. 'It fits in with the song,' he said of the photo. 'The way it's unfolding is so genius. Like, 'The wait is ova' [message on her site]. I was waiting too. I wanted to see the cover, I wanted to hear the song. It's one of those records where you just don't know. It's not a faith record. It's one of those thought-provoking records.'

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Lil Wayne's New York Gun-Possession Case Could Result In Prison Time

Rapper was in court Wednesday for hearing on DNA evidence in 2007 incident.
By Gil Kaufman







Lil Wayne


Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images






When Lil Wayne took the stage for his first major New York gig in July 2007, the rapper was on the cusp of greatness. With an unmistakable buzz building for his long-delayed Tha Carter III album and an avalanche of well-received mixtape and guest spots, Wayne (born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) was poised to cement his status as mainstream hip-hop royalty.

But the night ended with a trip to jail after he was arrested on a gun charge following a police search of his bus. Two years later, thanks to DNA evidence reportedly linking him to the weapon, Wayne could be on the cusp of cutting a plea deal that would send him to prison for eight months, according to some unconfirmed reports. The Associated Press reported that the hearings on the DNA matter, which began on Wednesday, are expected to last several days.

How did he get into this predicament? It all started when police pulled over Wayne's tour bus at around 11:30 p.m. on the night of the show at the Beacon Theatre. They arrested the rapper for criminal possession of a weapon — a .40-caliber pistol — and another man on the bus for criminal possession of marijuana. Even before his show that night, Wayne made repeated comments from the stage about being hassled by police prior to his set, and threatened not to perform in New York again.

Following his arraignment, Wayne was released on $70,000 bond on one count of criminal weapons possession and one charge of criminal possession of a loaded weapon that could send him to prison for anywhere from 3 1/2 years to 15 years. At the time, Wayne's lawyer, Stacey Richman, told MTV News that the arrest was puzzling to her.

'He [Wayne] was in the bus in his boxer shorts with a number of other people,' she said. 'Unless his boxer shorts had a pocket for this gun, I don't understand how he had it on him.' Though some reports quoted prosecutors describing a scenario in which Wayne tossed a bag containing the .40-caliber pistol as police entered the bus, Richman said her numerous witness interviews have not confirmed that version of events.

Richman's father and legal partner, famed hip-hop attorney Murray Richman, claimed the arrest was a result of an action by the NYPD's 'hip-hop squad,' which 'staked out the [tour] bus.' Murray Richman added that the gun was found in the same area in which Wayne was changing clothes and was a legally registered handgun that did not belong to the rapper. Both attorneys questioned why the other 12 to 20 people on the bus were not arrested along with Wayne, given New York laws that require that everyone in a vehicle with an unclaimed gun be charged if that vehicle is searched by police. At the time, police and prosecutors would not comment on the Richmans' assertions.

At an April hearing, Wayne's lawyers filed a motion asking the court to clear up an alleged inconsistency between the arresting officer's account and that of the detective that filed the police report. Richman questioned the exchange between the arresting officer and Wayne on the rapper's tour bus and why it differed from what was ultimately reported about the matter. There is also the question of whether events in the report unfolded before or after the bus had been stopped. The police contend that they smelled marijuana before they stopped the bus and entered the vehicle, where they eventually discovered an illegal firearm. Wayne's lawyers have asserted that police did not smell marijuana prior to stopping the bus and actually had no reasonable cause to search the bus.

Richman also filed an affidavit that sought to question DNA procedures used by the state to prove that the gun belonged to Wayne or was, in fact, a legal firearm registered to the rapper's manager, Cortez Bryant, as Richman claimed during a previous court date.

Now, after months of delays in the case, that DNA evidence could be the deciding factor in the matter. While Richman could not be reached for comment at press time, AllHipHop.com reported on Wednesday that Wayne, 27, is planning to accept a plea deal that would result in an eight-month jail term. Quoting an anonymous source close to the case, the site said the guilty plea could come as early as Thursday and would have Wayne beginning his bid in February.

The AP reported that the case hinges on a controversial process referred to as low copy number DNA — a highly sensitive method that sometimes uses miniscule amounts of repeatedly processed genetic material to obtain a DNA sample — in order to link Wayne to the gun. The trial on the gun charges is now slated to start on January 20. There is no mention of a plea deal in the AP report.




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Lil Wayne Pleads Guilty, One-Year Sentence Expected

Rapper pleads guilty in New York courtroom Thursday.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Lil Wayne leaves the Manhattan Criminal Court building on Thursday

Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to felony gun possession in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday (October 22) stemming from a July 2007 arrest following his first headlining concert in New York. The rapper will be sentenced to one year in prison as a part of his plea deal and must also give up his passport. Wayne quietly told the judge yes when asked if he understood the terms of the plea he was making.

Asked what type of gun he possessed, Wayne said, 'A .40-caliber semi-automatic.'

Wayne had black jeans, a gray coat, white T-shirt and blue Chucks. He was accompanied by the CEOs of his label, Cash Money Records, Bryan 'Baby' Williams and Ronald 'Slim' Williams.

The hearing began at 10:05 a.m. ET and was over in 20 minutes.

About 20 minutes after the hearing ended, Lil Wayne exited the building, covering his head with the hood of his coat. Photographers and reporters followed as court officials escorted him to his vehicle. In response to many reporters' questions, all Wayne said was, 'What's up?'

Wayne will be sentenced in February 2010 and is expected to serve eight to 10 months, assuming good behavior. He must also appear in court in December for a parole update.

The incident took place in July 2007, when police pulled over Wayne's tour bus at around 11:30 p.m. on the night of his show at the New York's Beacon Theatre. They arrested the rapper for criminal possession of a weapon and another man on the bus for criminal possession of marijuana. Even before his show that night, Wayne made repeated comments from the stage about being hassled by police and threatened not to perform in New York again.

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Lil Wayne's Legal Troubles: A Timeline

MC's plea deal Monday caps one of several cases.
By Kyle Anderson

Lil Wayne arrives at court on September 23


Photo: Newscom

Lil Wayne's guilty plea for felony gun possession in a New York court Thursday morning (October 22) is expected to result in a one-year prison sentence. The deal caps a case that began in the summer of 2007, when Wayne's tour bus was pulled over following his first-ever headlining concert in New York City. The police, who said they pulled the bus over because they smelled marijuana, searched the vehicle, found a gun and arrested Wayne on felony gun possession. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February of 2010.

But Wayne has been dodging legal bullets for a few years. As the rapper has ascended from journeyman MC in the Cash Money crew to one of the biggest stars in the world, trouble has followed him.

Back in August of 2006, Wayne was arrested in Atlanta
for possession of a controlled substance. While staying at the city's Twelve Hotel, management smelled marijuana and called the police, who found Alprazaloma (a generic form of Xanax) and hydrocodone. He posted bond but ran into trouble in October 2007 when he was arrested in Boise, Idaho on a felony-fugitive charge linked to the Atlanta arrest; because he was detained in Boise, he missed a scheduled concert there that night.

Wayne's lawyer blamed the Boise arrest on a paperwork mix-up, and those charges were dropped. As for the controlled-substance charges in Atlanta, that case was dismissed earlier this year.

But trouble didn't stop there. After his New York arrest in July of 2007, Wayne ran into trouble with the law again in January 2008. His tour bus was stopped by border-patrol agents near Yuma, Arizona, and a search yielded marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy. Wayne plead not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in March 2010.

Wayne has had his share of civil cases, as well. Last year, he was sued by the publishing company that handles the Rolling Stones'
catalogue because he sampled the Stones' song 'Playing With Fire' for his 'Play With Fire' (which was on Tha Carter III but was subsequently removed). That suit was settled for an undisclosed sum earlier this year.

Folksinger Karma-Ann Swanepoel brought up a suit that alleged that her song 'Once' had been illegally sampled in Wayne's 'I Feel Like Dying' (a song that never got an official release) and hip-hop producer Mali Boi alleged that Wayne took the beat for Tha Carter III's 'Mrs. Officer' from him; Wayne later sued Mali Boi.

Wayne has also been sued twice this year by concert promoters for taking advances and then failing to perform. Both suits — one stemming from a show in Rochester, the other from a performance in the Bahamas — are still pending.

And earlier this year, Wayne sued to block the release of a documentary called 'Tha Carter,' a film about the rapper that shows him repeatedly drinking syrup. But a California judge threw the case out, allowing the movie's producers to seek distribution.

As for his New York gun-possession case, the rapper is scheduled to return to the city on December 15 for a status hearing before he will formally be sentenced on a to-be-determined date in February of next year.

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Lil Wayne Fans Think Guilty Plea Won't Hurt His Career

'Lil Wayne makes a lot of music. His fort can hold it down till he comes back,' one fan says.
By Eric Ditzian

Lil Wayne


Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images

After pleading guilty to felony gun possession on Thursday (October 22), Lil Wayne is expected to be sentenced to one year in prison. How will this legal development affect his career as a recording artist and producer? Will fans stand by Weezy or stop buying his records? To get some insight into these questions, MTV News hit the streets of Times Square, where we ended up chatting with fans and local hip-hop artists selling their music.

Many maintained that the plea deal, stemming from a July 2007 arrest for criminal possession of a weapon, would not negatively impact the rapper's career. Though he may be spending time behind bars, they argued he's recorded enough tracks to continue releasing music while out of the spotlight.

'It'll be the same,' Andre Jackson said. 'He'll come back. Lil Wayne makes a lot of music. His fort can hold it down till he comes back.'

Antoine Tucker is one of those fans who will continue to stand behind the rapper. 'I'm gonna support him,' he said. 'Free Lil Wayne!'

Some suggested that jail time might even enhance Wayne's profile in the hip-hop community. 'The way the industry, the way people are today, it might boost his street credibility,' George Porter said. 'They might want to buy even more albums. They forgive anybody for the things they do.'

While that may turn out to be the case, Sam Smith called criminal behavior a big problem in the industry. 'During the current state of hip-hop, a lot of artists are going to jail,' he said. 'Lil Boosie has to do some time; T.I.'s currently in jail. So, I think it's just part of the industry, an epidemic.'

It may be a trend, but that's not exactly a good thing, Porter said. 'It makes the hip-hop community look bad, like we're encouraging violence,' he said. Porter was also one of several folks we talked to who believe Wayne won't end up serving a full year in prison.

Jackson summarized the feelings of many when he said that artists have to set a better example for their fans. 'When you're a superstar, you have to leave that stuff in the 'hood,' he said. 'You came from that. You got to overcome that 'cause you're not living that lifestyle anymore. It's just entertainment.'

Yet Smith pointed out that leaving such things behind is not always easy. 'We're all coming from impoverished environments,' he explained. 'This is what we go through on a daily basis. Sometimes it's hard to shake that even with money.'

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Rihanna 'Took A Chance' With Ne-Yo For 'Russian Roulette'

'It was just an interesting topic over a crazy beat, and who better to pull that off than Rihanna?' Ne-Yo says.
By Jocelyn Vena

Ne-Yo and Rihanna


Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Ne-Yo and Rihanna certainly have a special working relationship. After collaborating on some of Rihanna's most memorable hits, they came together, with the help of co-producer Chuck Harmony, for her latest single, 'Russian Roulette.' But the new track, off her upcoming Rated R album, sounds very little like 'Hate That I Love You' or 'Take a Bow.'

Ne-Yo said Rihanna requested the song's somber vibe. 'She wanted to be dark, but not just dark for the sake of being dark,' he told MTV News. 'Dark with kind of a meaning, dark with some kind of thing to it.'

Ne-Yo called the track 'my first ventures off into the fictitious,' as he explained how he came up with the haunting Russian roulette theme.

"I'm listening to the track, and all I can see is Rihanna and some random person sitting across from each other at the table with a gun sitting in the middle of the table and playing Russian roulette," he explained. "And I just started thinking, 'What would go through your mind if you was in that situation?' It just all started coming together, and Rihanna has never been one to be afraid to take a chance, especially with me. She's always game to do something a little different. I played it for her, and she loved it — went in and knocked it out. The rest is history."

The eerie ballad shows the world how both Ne-Yo and Rihanna have grown as artists, he said. And that growth stemmed from their 'absolute trust.'

'I trust Rihanna to be Rihanna, and she trusts me to be me,' he said. 'That's the coolest thing about our relationship. I don't expect anything more from her. I must say this song is a step in somewhat of a different direction for both of us. We kind of both took a chance.'

And to the fans who think the track is too dark for a club favorite like Rihanna, Ne-Yo suggests they look back into music history. 'It's definitely dark, but if you think about it, [Michael Jackson's] 'Thriller' was dark, but it's one of the biggest-selling records of all time,' he argued.

'Nobody's really going out to play Russian roulette or thinking about killing themselves or nothing like that. It was just an interesting topic over a crazy beat, and who better to pull that off than somebody like Rihanna?'

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Chris Brown 'Fan Appreciation' Tour Dates Confirmed

Domestic-violence intervention organization among nonprofits receiving portion of ticket sales.
By MTV News staff

Chris Brown


Photo: C. Brandon/ Redferns

Chris Brown's forthcoming tour, which the singer began publicizing weeks ago, was confirmed by his label on Tuesday (October 20). According to a press release, the trek will be 'a small, 19-city 'Fan Appreciation' tour to acknowledge and thank his fans for their on-going support. The tour is conceptualized for and with 'fans only' in mind, so intimate venues were selected for these concerts.'

The tour begins at the House of Blues in Houston on November 14 and ends December 15 in New York.

A portion of the proceeds from this tour will be donated to Best Buddies International. Founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver in 1989, Best Buddies is a non-profit organization devoted to providing friendships, jobs and leadership opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. While on tour, Chris plans to visit with Best Buddies participants, as well as encourage his fans to consider volunteering their time to work with those in their own communities who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, the release states.

The Jenesse Center, a domestic-violence intervention not-for-profit organization, will also receive a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales.

The singer recently filmed videos for two songs from his forthcoming Graffiti album: 'I Can Transform Ya' and 'Crawl.'

In addition to the tour dates, Brown will also perform at New Jersey's Giants Stadium next Tuesday.

Chris Brown tour dates, according to his label:

»11/14 Houston @ House of Blues

»11/15 Dallas @ Palladium

»11/18 Los Angeles @ Avalon

»11/19 San Francisco @ The Fillmore

»11/22 Richmond, Virginia @ Landmark

»11/25 Detroit @ Royal Oak

»11/26 Chicago @ House of Blues

»11/29 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida @ Revolution

»12/1 Atlanta @ CenterStage

»12/4 Washington, D.C. @Warner Theater

»12/5 Providence, Rhode Island @ Lupo's

»12/6 Boston @ House of Blues

»12/9 Sayreville, New Jersey @Starland

»12/11 Baltimore @ Sonar

»12/12 Wallingford, Connecticut @ Chevrolet Theater

»12/13 Philadelphia @ Electric Factory

»12/15 New York @ Nokia Theater

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50 Cent Says New LP Will Be 'Harder,' Despite Ne-Yo Track

Before I Self Destruct is 'like the prequel to Get Rich or Die Tryin', 50 says.
By Shaheem Reid

50 cent


Photo: MTV News

50 Cent has often criticized the rap game for being a little too soft lately. He's openly asked, where's the aggressive content? He's also pointed out how few hit hip-hop songs from the past couple of years don't have an R&B singer on the hook. Through mixtapes such as the War Angel LP, he's served up lethal doses of hardcore rap, so it was a little surprising to see him team with R&B singer Ne-Yo on his new single 'Baby by Me,' for which the two shot a video last weekend.

50 said that just because he's got a song with a crooning chorus doesn't mean he's abandoned a street edge for his upcoming Before I Self Destruct LP.

'Not particularly this song, but the entire project ... I meant for it to be a little harder and what I fell in love with about hip-hop and within hip-hop,' Fif said on the song's video set Saturday. 'I accomplished it. Before I Self Destruct is absolutely harder than Get Rich or Die Tryin' or other projects in between. The Massacre had some real aggressive content on it, but there were other things I wanted to do, like 'Ryder Music,' 'Baltimore Love Thing,' 'Build You Up,' featuring Jamie Foxx. This project [Before I Self Destruct], I kept all of those things out of it. I just made it what I wanted it to be. This album is my album right now. It's like the prequel to Get Rich — the things I missed on that project."

Before I Self Destruct is slated for a November 23 release.

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