Deluxe edition of Beyoncé's <i>I Am ... Sasha Fierce</i>
Photo: Sony

In therapy, the goal would be to unite a fractured personality — but in music, putting your alter ego on display is all the rage. Beyoncé is giving hers, Sasha Fierce, some serious attention.

I Am ... Sasha Fierce, due out November 18, is a two-disc set. Part one, I Am ..., showcases the singer's more personal material, her Beyoncé side. The second part, Sasha Fierce, is intended to contain the more daring dance tracks.

"We thought outside of the box and did something different," said Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé's father and manager, during a listening session for the album in New York on Wednesday.

"The new record is a double album and has two covers, like a magazine would have two covers," Beyoncé said in a statement (read her full statement and see both album covers on the Newsroom blog). "Half the record, I Am ..., is about who I am underneath all the makeup, underneath the lights and underneath all the exciting star drama. And Sasha Fierce is the fun, more sensual, more aggressive, more outspoken side and more glamorous side that comes out when I'm working and when I'm onstage. The double album allows me to take more risks and really step out of myself, or shall I say, step more into myself, and reveal a side of me that only people who know me see."

But Beyoncé may have integrated these sides of herself far more than she realizes, for the I Am ... portion of her album is actually the more daring side, since it requires more bravery to step outside what she's known for — uptempo top-40 R&B — and try for a more timeless sound in a classic sense (perhaps the influence of playing Etta James in "Cadillac Records"?). And Sasha Fierce, fun though it might be, is mostly familiar-sounding dance tracks and doesn't stretch Beyoncé as an artist the way I Am ... does.

"If I Were a Boy" is the first taste of I Am ..., but as the only song on either album that Beyoncé didn't co-write, it's not very indicative of the rest of the tracks. Piano and strings dominate songs like "Halo," "Ave Maria" and "Broken-Hearted Girl," the latter of which she collaborated on with Babyface and Stargate. Her voice shows restraint, and singing in a lower register gives her more vocal power, even if it means that she sometimes sounds like Rihanna on the lush "Halo," the prospective second single from this side of the album (repeating "halo, halo, halo" makes the comparison even stronger).

"Smash Into You," co-produced by C. "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The-Dream" Nash, and "That's Why You're Beautiful" — both of which will only be available on the deluxe edition — are the highlights of the set, taking it slow and easy, building Beyoncé's vocals gradually, with a grungy guitar riff driving "Beautiful" as if it were an Alice in Chains power ballad. On these songs, Beyoncé transcends genre.

But then comes Sasha Fierce, who cares more for beats than ballads. Whereas all the songs on I Am ... are meant to make you feel, Sasha just wants to make you kick up your heels, all the while expressing shallower emotions. "Radio," with its skittering beat, is about listening to the radio ("I fell in love with my stereo"). The thumping "Diva," a collaboration with Sean Garrett, is about, well, being a diva ("Diva is a hustla/ I'm a hustla"). Another Garrett collabo, the bass-heavy "Video Phone," as you might guess, is about snapping images on your handheld ("Press record and film me"). Only "Sweet Dreams," with its rock drive and slinky vocals, seems "fierce" — as Beyoncé (or is it Sasha?) dares the listener to dream of her, warning that it might be a "beautiful nightmare."

The bonus tracks on the deluxe edition of Sasha Fierce include the piano-driven "Hello," in which Beyoncé takes "Jerry Maguire" to heart, with a "You had me at hello" hook — "Ego," where she sings that she loves her lover's "huge ego"; and the synthy "Scared of Lonely," co-written by Rodney Jerkins and her sister Solange. These three tracks seem more like a meeting ground between the album's halves — musically, they're with Sasha, but thematically and lyrically, they're full-on Beyoncé: vulnerable, wanting to love and be loved back, caring perhaps a bit more about her significant other than herself.

"There's what I call defining moments in our life," Mathew Knowles said, "and when we look back, in years to come, I think this will be the defining moment in Beyoncé Knowles' career as a recording artist. And there's more to come [from] Sasha Fierce."

• Beyoncé
• Rihanna
• Sean Garrett
• Babyface
• Solange

Nelly
Photo: Getty Images/ Michael Buckner

Nelly has set a tentative release date of October 16 for his first album in three years, Brass Knuckles.

Earlier this year, producer Jermaine Dupri — who said Nells is "the only person I go in the studio with and party all night" — said Nelly was looking to get Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and even Bruce Springsteen on the LP (see "Beanie's Staying With Jay-Z; Cam'ron Vs. Jim Jones In Dipset Bust-Up?").

While those names aren't confirmed, T.I., Akon, Snoop Dogg, UGK's Pimp C, Babyface and Derrty Entertainment artist Avery Storm have all jumped on the mic.

In addition to Dupri, Pharrell Williams and Bryan-Michael Cox are among the project's producers.

The first single, "Wadsyaname," just hit the streets and follows Nelly's tradition of allowing his Midwestern accent and slang to spill into his lyrics and spelling: He's saying, "What's your name?" to a lady he's approaching.

"Shawty, shawty, shawty, what your name is?" he asks on the chorus. "Shawty, shawty, shawty what's your sign?"

In the song's lyrics, Nelly doesn't have the best intentions, but he doesn't mean any harm either.

"I'm trying to stay respectful and polite/ You could tell me to go to hell if you like/ I ain't the one to be paying to do the do/ Before it's over you going to say, 'I should be paying you.' "

"Wadsyaname" was produced by Neff-U. Another track slotted for the album, "Cut It Out," featuring Pimp C and the Youngbloodz's Sean P., has hit the streets unofficially.

Seen a great show? MTV News wants your photos, videos and reports from all the latest concerts for our new You R Here community. Check out the site to read, rate and comment on reviews from around the globe. We'll put the best stuff on our You R Here blog, and even in on-air news!

• Nelly
• T.I.
• Akon
• Snoop Dogg
• Babyface

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Photo: Picturehouse

All eyes will be on Jennifer Lopez when she launches her first-ever concert tour September 29 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Husband Marc Anthony will co-headline the trek, which will take them through the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Dates will be announced next week. Each set will include English- and Spanish-spoken songs, and $1 from every ticket sold will go toward financial-services company ING's school-fitness program for kids, Run for Something Better ... Kelly Clarkson told Reader's Digest for the magazine's August issue that she got her way with her new album after a public battle with RCA, but the singer says in a new post on her Web site that she regrets feuding with label head Clive Davis over My December. "Contrary to recent characterizations in the press, I'm well aware that Clive is one of the great record men of all time," reads the post. "He has been a key advisor and has been an important force in my success to date. I really regret how this has turned out and I apologize to those whom I have done disservice. I would never intentionally hurt anyone. I love music, and I love the people I am blessed to work with." ...

Who needs a clothing line when you can have an umbrella range — especially if you're Rihanna? The singer has done the inevitable by partnering with British company Totes for a collection perfectly suited for her "Umbrella" single. Take your pick right here. ... Pink couldn't stomach her planned gig at Athens' recent Fly BEEyond Festival — she came down with a bout with gastroenteritis and had to bail hours before going onstage, according to the show's promoter, Hot Beez. The show will not be made up, but ticket holders are being offered cash refunds. ...

"Hallows" be thy name: The final installment of the Harry Potter series racked up some big numbers over the weekend (surprised?). Scholastic says roughly 8.3 million copies of the book sold in the first 24 hours upon its release Saturday, with Borders, Amazon and Barnes & Noble all reporting more than 1 million copies sold each. The sales were impressive in the U.K., where the book sold 2.7 million copies in the first 24 hours, and in Canada, where it moved about 812,000 in its first 48 hours. Daniel Radcliffe had his own reason to celebrate Monday (July 23): The actor turned 18, gaining access to a fortune that is the U.S. equivalent of roughly $40 million. ...

Freestyle king Lil' Flip turned himself in on a felony charge of credit-card abuse on Saturday after authorities said he tried to buy a $671 Southwest Airlines ticket to Baltimore from Houston in June using an American Express card held by someone else. Flip, 26 (born Wesley Eric Weston Jr.), was booked and released on $2,000 bond, according to the Houston Chronicle. Lil' Flip's attorney and manager addressed the allegations on Monday. "Flip had absolutely no involvement with any sort of credit card fraud," Sandy Lal said in a statement. "He never personally handles any travel arrangements; that is left to promoters and travel agents." His attorney Stanley Schneider added: "A complete investigation will easily show that Lil' Flip is innocent of all charges and is actually a victim of a scam." ... Cops working the John Mayer concert at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania, were busy on Saturday, arresting 63 fans, according to The Patriot-News. Among the arrests were 46 for underage drinking; 14 for disorderly conduct; and three each for public drunkenness, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. ...

It's all about "The Simpsons Movie" this week, as the much-anticipated flick opens Friday, but some people haven't forgotten about the show's upcoming 19th season — namely Jack Black, Lionel Richie, Topher Grace and MTV News' own Kurt Loder, all of whom will be paying guest appearances. Black will voice the character of Milo, who scares Comic Book Guy by opening up a competing store. In other "Simpsons" news, Matt Groening has finally 'fessed up to where he got the idea for Marge Simpson's blue beehive. He told The New York Times Magazine in an interview published Sunday that her 'do was inspired by "The Bride of Frankenstein" and his own mom's hairstyle in the '60s. ...

The Arcade Fire aren't burning out anytime soon — the indie-rockers have extended their tour with LCD Soundsystem with four additional dates: September 30 in St. Paul, Minnesota; October 3 in Louisville, Kentucky; October 5 in Columbus, Ohio; and October 6 at New York's Randall's Island. ... The Shins are tacking a cover of Pink Floyd's "Breathe" onto their "Turn Me On" U.K. single. ...

The Reverend Al Sharpton is supporting New York State Senator Antoine Thompson's idea to penalize record companies that don't crack down on denigrating lyrics by pulling the state's public investments from them, The Associated Press reports. According to Thompson, about $3 billion of the state's pension fund is invested in the entertainment industry. ... Iconic indie label Sympathy for the Record Industry — which has issued albums by the White Stripes, Hole, Rocket From the Crypt and a slew of others over the years — is up on the block, according to Idolator.com. Owner Long Gone John is pricing the label and its "questionable/nebulous rights to nearly 750 releases by over 550 bands" at "$625,000, or $700,000 if I don't like you." ...

There have been some lineup changes in Perry Farrell's Satellite Party project. Former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt jumped ship last week, saying, "I have always felt uncomfortable with the direction of the lineup and live show. I truly do believe in the songs and music on the album, and I wish Perry Farrell and any musician that remains on tour all the best." Drummer Kevin Figg also opted to leave, but no reason was offered for his departure. In their place, Farrell has recruited Silvertide guitarist Nick Perri and drummer Jordan Plosky, who has worked with Ryan Cabrera in the past. ...

Babyface, Queen Latifah, Garth Brooks and others will perform at a concert to raise funds for a Martin Luther King Jr. memorial at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on September 18. The event, set to take place at New York's Radio City Music Hall, will also feature previously announced artists Stevie Wonder, Robin Thicke and more. ... Jeff Beck's manager tells Billboard.com that, contrary to a report the site published Friday, the guitarist is not planning to tour with Jimmy Page and others as the Yardbirds this fall.

07.20.07

Jessica Simpson is a big spender, she recently admitted to Harper's Bazaar — big surprise there. But the singer/actress also revealed that while sister Ashlee "goes to a thrift store and can buy something for 20 bucks ... I have to go buy a black button-down at Barneys. For $900. Because it's a collector's item," she said in the magazine's August issue, which features Jessica on the cover. When asked which career she would pick if she had to choose between music and movies, she replied, "In my music career, there have been moments of failure, and with acting I haven't had that yet. But music is opening up my heart and every emotion inside of me." ...

Speaking of Ashlee, you might not want to wait around for that supposed Robert Smith collabo she's been raving about. "I would be hugely surprised if I end up working with Ashlee this year, but I haven't ruled it out," he told Billboard.com. He added: "I went to see her in 'Chicago.' ... I was impressed. The fact is, when she got onstage and sang, she was really good." ...

50 Cent has beef again — but this time, it isn't with a rival rapper. On Friday (July 20), he filed a lawsuit seeking at least $1 million in damages from online-ad company Traffix Inc. for using his image without permission in a graphic advertisement, Reuters reports. Even further, 50 says that the ad — which features a cartoon version of him and the message "shoot the rapper and you will win $5,000 or five ringtones guaranteed," according to the suit — promotes violence and threatens his safety. The suit cites the "vile, tasteless and despicable" use of the rapper's image and says it "quite literally calls for violence against" him. A lawyer representing Traffix declined to comment to Reuters. ...

"I'll just say no until I get my way, and I did," Kelly Clarkson told Reader's Digest for the magazine's August issue, in regards to conflicts with RCA over her new album My December. The singer added that label execs "hated 'Miss Independent' on my first album. ... The song I wrote that they hated the most was 'Because of You.' I fought and fought for it, it became successful and they finally got behind it." Clarkson also talked "American Idol," saying she did her own hair and makeup for the first half of the inaugural season. ...

Want a side of Ne-Yo with your Big Mac? If so, you're getting your wish — the R&B artist, along with Twista, Kenna and others, are going to be performing 10 free gigs at McDonald's restaurants ... in the parking lot. Billboard.com reports that the happy meal on wheels will begin Thursday at the Venice Beach Recreation Center in California, then hit up eight other cities before wrapping September 25 in Austin, Texas. ...

Lindsay Lohan turned herself in to police on Thursday in connection with her Memorial Day car accident, The Associated Press reports. Lohan was fingerprinted, photographed and booked on charges of driving under the influence and suspicion of misdemeanor hit-and-run at around 4 p.m. and was released about an hour later on $30,000 bail. Shortly after the Memorial Day crash, Lohan, 21, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving at a Los Angeles hospital, where she was taken for treatment. Police have still not revealed the results of tests on a substance they said at the time was believed to be cocaine found during the investigation. The singer/actress' blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was above the California legal limit of .08, but police have not said how high it was. A court date was scheduled for August 24. ...

J.K. Rowling posted a long letter to fans on her Web site on Friday saying she felt "a heady mixture of excitement, nerves and relief." (To read the full missive, in which she doles out a long list of acknowledgements, you'll have to go to JKRowling.com, use a "port key" and do some digging.) ... Annie Lennox has pulled out the big guns for an AIDS-prevention fundraising song on her upcoming Songs of Mass Destruction album, due in October. The album will feature a self-described "powerful feminist anthem" titled "Sing," which has a chorus of 23 iconic female singers, among them Madonna, Sarah McLachlan, Celine Dion, Fergie, Faith Hill, Pink, Dido, Shakira, Joss Stone and KT Tunstall. ...

The track list for James Blunt's forthcoming LP, All the Lost Souls, has been revealed. The disc, scheduled for a September 18 release, will boast 10 tracks: "1973," "One of the Brightest Stars," "I'll Take Everything," "Same Mistake," "Carry You Home," "Give Me Some Love," "I Really Want You," "Shine On," "Annie" and "I Can't Hear the Music." ... Afraid Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke might come down on you "like a ton of bricks"? Hopefully your name isn't Gordon Brown. Yorke is speaking out about carbon emissions in a new video post on TheBigAsk.com — the Web site for a climate-change virtual-march effort backed by Friends of the Earth. "I'm reminding my [member of Parliament] to remind [new British Prime Minister] Gordon Brown that he's committed to a bill to reduce our CO2 emissions double-quick-time, and if he doesn't, we're going to come down on him like a ton of bricks." ...

Korn avatars will perform the band's new single, "Evolution," in MTV's Virtual Pimp My Ride program this Monday, July 23. Fans will also be able to listen to the band's entire new album, Untitled, before it hits the streets July 31. In related news, Korn are said to be mulling a covers album, on which they'd tackle tracks including Nine Inch Nails' "Head Like a Hole" and "Love My Way" by the Psychedelic Furs. ... The Asbury Park Press reports that New Jersey State Police made 20 arrests on Wednesday at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, during a Tool concert. Police claim the arrests included charges of underage drinking and possession of marijuana but did not provide a more detailed breakdown of arrests. ...

Feist, My Morning Jacket's Jim James, the New Pornographers' A.C. Newman, author Sarah Vowell, Grizzly Bear and others are coming together to help "to try to settle the debate: words or music — which is better?" The one-night-only shindig will go down August 26 at the Beacon Theatre in New York, be hosted by comedian and "Daily Show" contributor Demetri Martin and benefit the free writing programs put on by literary hipster supreme Dave Eggers' nonprofit tutoring program, 826NYC. ...

New Order over? Uh, that's news to Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris, who said they will carry on with the group even though departed bassist Peter Hook recently said on Xfm that the band was through. "We would have hoped he could have approached us personally first," they said in a statement to BBC News. "New Order have not split up, they continue to exist." ... The Cure are working on a three-hour documentary film to celebrate their 30th year as a band. The film, which would be released as a DVD, will chronicle the group's career. ...

A source tells RollingStone.com that Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck will tour as the Yardbirds with the band's original bassist and drummer starting in October. The source added that Eric Clapton, another former member, will not be participating. ... Testament inked a deal with Nuclear Blast onstage in front of 20,000 fans at a concert in Germany on Wednesday. A new album featuring original members Eric Peterson, Chuck Billy, Alex Skolnick, Greg Christian and new drummer Nick Barker (Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth) is on the way. ...

Onetime Flavor Flav love interest Brigitte Nielsen has checked into rehab to treat an undisclosed condition, according to manager Steven Tempone. The AP reported that Tempone said the towering blond actress and 44-year-old co-star of the "Strange Love" reality show, "[checked in] on her own free will and we're proud of her and wish her very well." ... According to the San Jose Mercury News, many Ozzfest fans who scored free tickets to this summer's heavy-metal extravaganza are deciding to stay home. The paper claims only about 50 percent of the people who had tickets to recent shows actually showed for the concert. About 18,000 were expected at Thursday's Ozzfest date at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California, but the city took security precautions in the event that all 30,000 people who received free tickets made it out to the venue. ... Al Gore III, the 24-year-old son of former Vice President Al Gore, has been charged with possession of marijuana and prescription drugs, according to TMZ.com. He was arrested on July 4 in Laguna Niguel, California, after being stopped for speeding. ...

Fourteen years after three teens were sent to jail for the May 1993 murder of three 8-year-old boys in Arkansas, a lawyer for the so-called West Memphis Three has said new DNA evidence proves his clients' innocence. The Arkansas Times reported that police are conducting new interviews to determine how a hair from a stepfather of one of the boys ended up at the crime scene. Attorneys for the three convicted men — whose plight was highlighted on the 2000 Free the West Memphis 3 album on songs by Steve Earle, Tom Waits and late Clash leader Joe Strummer — said there was no DNA evidence at the scene that matches their clients'. The mother of one of the victims has stated recently that she now believes the three convicted men, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, are not guilty. ... One of the co-owners of the Station nightclub in Rhode Island, where 100 people were killed in a fire during a Great White show in 2003, has created a charity fund to help pay for educational expenses for children who lost parents in the blaze. The Providence Journal reports that club co-owner Jeffrey Derderian has asked people to set aside their anger over the tragedy and contribute to the Station Education Fund to help the 76 children, ages 4 to 23, who lost parents in the blaze.

• MTV Rough Cut: Daniel Radcliffe
• 'Harry Potter' Stars Don't Even Know How It Will End
• Jessica Simpson Steps Into 'Major' Role

• Jennifer Lopez
• Marc Anthony
• Kelly Clarkson
• P!nk
• Lil' Flip

Mariah Carey
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Everything is "flantastic" in Mariah Carey's world these days, she says in a new voicemail message on her Web site. She tells fans she recently bagged a 10th track for the follow-up to The Emancipation of Mimi, hopes to squeeze out the effort by the end of the year and is heading to Atlanta to work with "JD" — most likely Jermaine Dupri — on a "stone groove/ smash-hit wonder — or at least a stone groove, hopefully." Carey said she'll be holed up in the studio working on the effort for the next few months; she didn't elaborate on her new movie "Tennessee," though, "because [I want] the performance to speak for itself." ...

Britney Spears shot her first video in years at a warehouse in Los Angeles on Thursday (July 19). The song, "Get Back," leaked online this week. ... Eve showed up to court a day early and met all the conditions of her probation on Thursday, Los Angeles' KNBC reports. The rapper, whose real name is Eve Jihan Jeffers, pleaded no contest to a DUI charge last month and was sentenced to 36 months' probation. ...

Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Common, Mos Def, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, Saigon and Queen Latifah held an impromptu jam session at S.O.B.'s in Manhattan on Wednesday night following the Pepsi DJ battle hosted by Hot 97's DJ Enuff and DJ Kast One. 'Ye got things hot for the crowd when he kicked into "Can't Tell Me Nothing," and Mos and Kweli reunited onstage. Drag-On and Rah Digga also popped in for performances, and Just Blaze was in the house as a judge of the DJ battle. ...

Zac Efron and Amanda Bynes celebrated the premiere of "Hairspray" on Wednesday night in Baltimore, the city that inspired the film — and is home to its creator, John Waters. "It's very flattering," Efron said amid screaming fans, according to The Associated Press. "It feels great to be bringing this movie back to Baltimore." Waters also cropped up at the event, and when asked about the screaming teen girls, he remarked, "I look over there and many of them could be arrested if they saw my other movies, so times have changed."...

Say it ain't so — the Los Angeles Times reports that Nirvana music will be featured in the background during an entire episode of TV's "Cold Case." ... The Mitch Schneider Organization, the publicity firm that represents the Smashing Pumpkins, has issued a sarcastic response to a phony letter purportedly from Billy Corgan that appeared in last week's edition of The Stranger in Seattle. "Although this 'open letter' is apocryphal, there are some references and statements in it that do in fact make a few interesting points that should be pondered," the statement reads. "The letter states in Billy's words that there would be no My Chemical Romance or Panic! at the Disco without the Pumpkins. While this isn't so, it is a little-known fact the Pumpkins' music is responsible for the swing dance craze of 1997." ...

You've heard Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" covered by everyone from Guns N' Roses to Wyclef Jean to Avril Lavigne — now it's Babyface's turn. The R&B legend redoes that song — as well as Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight," Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle" and other rock classics — on his 11th album, Playlist. The set will christen the relaunched Mercury Records when it drops September 18. ... Michael Jackson took his children on a tour of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space and American Indian Museums on Wednesday, before either museum opened to the public. ...

Elliott Smith is anything but forgotten, with his posthumous LP New Moon debuting at #24 on the Billboard album charts not too long ago. Now his friend Autumn de Wilde is hoping to enrich the singer/songwriter's legacy with a new book filled with rare interviews and photographs. Simply titled "Elliott Smith" and due in November, the tome will also contain contain forewords by Beck and Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla, personal ephemera, handwritten lyrics, as well as a CD featuring five unreleased songs recorded at small L.A. gigs in 1997 — including covers of "All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down" by Hank Williams Jr. and "Clouds" by Quasi, the indie-rock duo who occasionally backed up Smith. A portion of the proceeds will go to two charities: Austin, Texas' Sims Foundation in Austin and Portland, Oregon's Outside In. ...

Wanted dead or alive: the makers of energy drink Mijovi. Well, the situation isn't that dire, but all the same, Jon Bon Jovi wants the owner of the coffee-based beverage to change its name, since he claims it's too similar to his, AP reports. A letter Jovi's lawyer sent to Marcos Carrington highlights the company's marketing terms "itsmijovi" and "itsmilife," the latter being the name of a Bon Jovi song. Carrington replied that the words are meant to mean "it's my jovial life" and that he named the drink after his girlfriend Jovita. ... The Reverend Al Sharpton, who had insisted that shock-jock Don Imus be fired for making racist comments, told AP in a telephone interview Wednesday that he wouldn't object if Imus were to return to the airwaves. "He has a right to make a living," Sharpton said, adding that he hoped any station that would hire Imus would make sure he wouldn't make insensitive remarks about race or gender. ...

M.I.A. is playing a smattering of festivals this summer, and along the way she's making a few pit stops and small clubs. She'll hit up Brooklyn, New York's Studio B (July 25); San Francisco's Rickshaw Shop (July 28); Los Angeles' Echoplex (July 30-31); and, after playing Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 3, she'll perform at the city's House of Blues the following day. ... Underground hip-hop prince Aesop Rock will tour heavy in support of his August 28 LP, None Shall Pass. He'll head out with Cage and Blockhead September 8 in Philadelphia and stay on the road with them through September 11 in Pittsburgh, after which he'll hook up with Octopus Project and tour with them and Blockhead from September 13 in Chicago through September 26 in Burlington, Vermont. Finally, he'll set out for his longest stretch, with Black Moth Super Rainbow and Blockhead, in San Francisco on October 10 and bring that run to a close November 20 in Atlanta.

07.19.07

Gwen Stefani has filed a lawsuit against Forever 21, claiming the retail chain stole a design from her Harajuku Lovers line. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, claims that Forever 21 is marketing, promoting and selling products featuring a design that is "virtually indistinguishable" from the cutesy heart logo used by Stefani's L.A.M.B. offshoot — with "Harajuku" simply changed to "Forever" and "Lovers" to "Love." Since the small text change is "inconspicuous," the lawsuit claims, it's "unlikely to go unnoticed by a consumer" and is "confusingly similar." Well, unless you look at the price, that is. Harajuku Lovers alleges false destination of origin, trademark infringement, dilution and unfair competition against the chain, and seeks not only monetary damages but also Forever 21's profits and gains, since the company claims the co-opting of design caused the originals to lessen in value. ...

50 Cent has a few words of advice for Nas in the new issue of XXL: put down the book. When asked, "What percentage of MCs in hip-hop do you think are actually intelligent?" 50 replied: "You have different kinds of people. You have people that are extremely book-smart that lack common sense, so they don't know what's going to affect their audience. ... For instance, Nas is a really smart guy. He reads books constantly. We were around him on the Nastradamus tour. He was almost weirder than me 'cause we would go to breakfast and he'd be there reading a book. Conceptually, I think that's what made him drift away from what his initial audience enjoys from him and why he's not hot right now." In the interview, 50 also insisted Jim Jones should be running Dipset — he's "a more credible artist than Cam'ron is," 50 said — revealed that he's been trying to hook up with M.O.P. and admitted that he doesn't eat cookies because he's looking after his weight. ...

Pras tells Billboard.com the forever-delayed Fugees reunion CD is now off the table altogether — and he's not afraid to point fingers, either. "We went in the studio and recorded a couple records that were incredible," he said. "But, to put it nicely, it's dead. Me and [Wyclef Jean], we on the same page, but Lauryn [Hill] is in her zone, and I'm fed up with that sh--. Here she is, blessed with a gift, with the opportunity to rock and give, and she's running on some bullsh--? I'm a fan of Lauryn's, but I can't respect that." ... Time to kick off those kicks — Lily Allen's Nike Air Max 90 is on the way. The limited-edition shoe will be available through exclusive promotions in the U.S. this summer and be colored red, white and blue. She's not the only one with new Nikes — underground rapper MF Doom has designed his own Dunk High Premium SB, which is on sale in very limited form. ...

Crisis averted, Fall Out Boy fans: Looks like the rumors of an engagement between Pete Wentz and his girlfriend Ashlee Simpson aren't true. And neither is the gossip that she's pregnant. Initial, uh, "reports" had Wentz proposing to Simpson before FOB's Live Earth gig at Giants Stadium (New Jersey = romance) and suggested that Ash was seen refusing to drink anything and rubbing her belly. But according to a spokesperson for Wentz, those reports are false. ... Blood spatter left by deceased actress Lana Clarkson is once again being contended in the Phil Spector trial. On Wednesday (July 18), defense witness James Pex, a blood expert, challenged the prosecution's claim that spatter can travel more than 3 feet, according to the Los Angeles Times. In other developments, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Larry Paul ruled Tuesday that convicted Hollywood madam Jody "Babydol" Gibson's testimony was "inadmissible and irrelevant" to the trial. ...

Though Avril Lavigne didn't directly address the plagiarism claims that have dogged her over her "Girlfriend" hit, she posted a message on her MySpace page on Tuesday thanking fans for their support and urging them to check out the new disc by her hubby's band, Sum 41. "I wanted to take this time to thank you, my fans, for all your undying support," Lavigne wrote. "You have been amazing and I can't express how much I appreciate it. Thank you all so much. I am so proud of this record and grateful for the response it has been getting from all of my fans. You made it go [#] 1." ... The White Stripes promised to play a show in every Canadian province and territory on their current tour and, technically, they now have. After secret gigs in bowling alleys, buses, flour factories and parks, the duo wrapped up their unconventional Great North experiment with a blink-and-you-missed-it surprise afternoon gig in St. John's, Newfoundland, on Monday before playing a real show that night. Taking the stage in front of a few hundred fans, the pair plugged in, hit a single note and then took a bow, with Jack White grinning as he said, "We have now officially played in every province and territory in Canada." According to reports, fans were clued into the gag. ...

Zach Braff working for Dunkin' Donuts? Wake up and smell the coffee — it's really happening. The "Garden State" director has helmed two ads for the chain, one featuring Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley and another featuring Naomi Campbell. ... Rilo Kiley's Under the Blacklight is still about a month away — it drops August 21, to be precise — but the band has already fleshed out a tour in support of the release. The indie-rockers hit the pavement September 6 in San Francisco and wind down the trek in their Los Angeles hometown on October 16. ... The title of the upcoming book "Would Someone Please Explain? The Best of Duran Duran's Ask Katy" pretty much says it all, so long as you're aware that "Ask Katy" is the fan-letter section of the band's Web site. Due in November, the tome features what Duran Duran consider to be the most outstanding questions fans have sent in since the site's inception 10 years ago, with answers from the band. ...

Comedian Dave Chappelle was briefly hospitalized over the weekend for exhaustion, checking into an emergency room on Saturday and checking out a few hours later after receiving fluids and a meal. Chappelle's publicist Carla Sims confirmed the ER visit to The Associated Press, saying the funnyman had been traveling and was suffering from exhaustion but is now "fine." She did not specify what hospital Chappelle visited or give any other details about his condition. ... Winona Ryder is finally speaking out about her shoplifting bust six years ago — and she says painkillers were the real culprit. "Two months prior to [the December 2001 incident], I broke my arm in two places and the doctor was giving me a lot of stuff and I was taking it at first to get through the pain," she said. "And then there was this weird point when you don't know if you are in pain but you're taking it. ... It isn't a reckless [state], like you're out of your head. It's just confusion." The actress added that she was especially embarrassed about the incident because it drew attention in the wake of 9/11.

07.17.07

That purported Britney Spears track floating around the Internet is the real deal, the song's producer, Nate "Danjahandz" Hills, has confirmed to MTV News. In May, the producer revealed to MTV News that one song set to be featured on her upcoming LP sounded like it belonged in a video game, and "Get Back" matches that description. "It's weird! It's catchy, but it's weird. It's hot," he said, adding that the hook and chorus made him laugh. But it isn't all laughs for Spears these days — the Humane Society of the United States has fired off a stern letter to Spears after it caught wind that she had reportedly dropped $3,000 for a Yorkshire Terrier puppy from Pets of Bel Air in California after spending less than 30 minutes in the shop, according to "Entertainment Tonight." "Choosing a dog is a major lifestyle decision that should not be taken lightly," HSUS Director of Outreach for Companion Animals Stephanie Shain said in a press statement. "We suggest that people take time to choose a member of their family and to be sure they are working with a reputable breeder ... Ms. Spears is setting a damaging example to the public. Most dogs sold in pet stores come from puppy mills -- factory-like facilities, churning out purebred and 'designer' puppies in large numbers." Brit also bought a Chihuahua puppy from Pets of Bel Air in January. According to "ET," the store is adamant that it buys from top breeders, not puppy mills. ...

The first benefit for the Kanye West Foundation will take place August 24 in the rapper/producer's Chicago hometown. The $125-a-ticket show will rock the House of Blues with a theme encouraging kids to stay in school. ... Snoop Dogg, Whodini and Missy Elliott are among the artists to be hailed at the fourth annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors. The show will be taped October 4 at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom and premiere October 8 at 10 p.m. ET. On Monday, VH1.com will launch the online contest "The Score" — the winner will create and produce the score for the event. Those interested can post their minute-long beats for consideration right here. ...

Not everyone loves "The Simpsons." In fact, England's pagan community is madder than a dog with bees in its mouth over a giant painting of Homer Simpson brandishing a donut. The painting, made to promote "The Simpsons Movie," was hung on a field in Dorset opposite a famous 17th century fertility symbol: the club-wielding, clearly excited Ceme Abbas. According to the Daily Mail, the giant underwear-clad Homer was painted with biodegradable paint that will dissolve when it rains, so some local pagans have vowed to unleash some "rain magic" to erase the drought. ... A Los Angeles Police Department officer who videotaped the Game in a holding cell waving a wad of cash and throwing hand signs after the rapper's arrest in May is under investigation by the department's internal-affairs division. The Associated Press reports that the unnamed officer could face disciplinary action for making the video on his cell phone; the footage was posted on the TMZ.com web site on May 12. ...

Smashing Pumpkins fans probably didn't expect to find photos of Paris Hilton inside copies of the band's Zeitgeist reunion CD, but just in case Billy Corgan didn't confuse them enough, a shot of the heiress is also featured on the cover of the band's new "Tarantula" U.K. single. So what gives? In an interview with Launch Radio, Corgan said he took the photos with Hilton, who he had met previously. "The original idea was we were gonna see if Lindsay, Britney and Paris would all shoot ... [but] Paris I knew personally, and hung out with her a few times, and so I asked her. ... And God bless her, she came, she showed up at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning, sat in the chair, got made up and [I] shot her." Hilton recently told E! Online that she has been meeting with producer Scott Storch to hammer out plans for her second LP. ...

Speaking of sophomore efforts, Carrie Underwood's forthcoming, yet-untitled album will street on October 23. The effort will succeed her 2005 debut, Some Hearts, which earned her a heap of awards. ... Brandon Flowers is a dad, People reports. The Killers frontman and his wife Tana welcomed a boy over the weekend. ... Producer Polow Da Don launched his Interscope Records imprint Zone 4 Inc. Monday night at Opera in Atlanta. The star-studded bash was presented by Zune and Universal Publishing, and featured performances by Polow's artists Rich Boy, Keri Hilson and i15. Also in attendance were Lil Wayne, Andre 3000, Young Jeezy, DJ Unk, Jim Jones, Soulja Boy, Jermaine Dupri and Ciara, who hosted the festivities. ...

Asda — the British arm of Wal-Mart Stores — apologized Tuesday (July 17) for criticizing "Harry Potter" publisher Bloomsbury of "blatant profiteering" for charging the U.S. equivalent of roughly $36 for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Bloomsbury had nixed the delivery of a half-million copies of the book to the stores, but Asda says the volumes will be on its shelves after all. Also in the U.K., copies of the book will come with a photo of a missing 4-year-old girl and a yellow ribbon in an appeal to help find her, Agence France Presse reports. Author J.K. Rowling has also asked that bookstores in 200 countries receive posters of the girl, who went missing at a Portuguese resort in early May. And on Tuesday, Britain issued seven postage stamps featuring the covers of the books. Roughly 340,000 people had pre-ordered them, snapping the record of 300,000 pre-orders set by a set of Beatles stamps in January. Meanwhile, on U.S. shores, Barnes & Noble is holding copies of the volume at a secret warehouse somewhere in the Northeast, Reuters reports. Security is being maintained around the building 24/7. ...

A friend of Lana Clarkson testified Monday in the Phil Spector murder trial that the actress had called her days before the shooting and said, "I can't take it anymore. I'm sick of [Hollywood]. I want out." Punkin Irene Elizabeth Laughlin, who cried while recalling the exchange, was due to continue testifying Tuesday. ... Michael Jackson must hand over more than $250,000 to a Southern California firm, a judge determined late last week, according to AP. Ayscough & Marar handled side issues for the singer during the 2005 child-molestation trial. ... Ricky Martin will soon be all over Dominican TV and radio — but he won't be singing. Instead, the artist will be issuing public-service announcements warning about sexual exploitation and human trafficking. ... Sting and his wife Trudie Styler must fork over $51,000 to compensate a former chef for sexual discrimination, AP reports. Jane Martin, who had worked for the singer for eight years, had claimed she was fired after she became pregnant. ...

The good news for concertgoers is that average ticket prices are only up about 50 cents (or 1 percent) over last year, according to mid-year numbers released by Pollstar. The scary news, though, is that tight-trousered '70s icon Rod Stewart is the top draw so far this year, with $48.1 million in ticket sales, beating out Justin Timberlake, who landed just behind at $42.3 million. Reunited rockers the Police were #3 at $41.9 million and are expected to top the list by year's end with a tour predicted to generated $100 million in North America. Christina Aguilera landed at #7 on the list with $30.6 million, just after former Pink Floyd leader Roger Waters and before a Cirque du Soleil show. ...

Iman has caused a stir or two with her graceful looks over the years, but if you ask the supermodel who she thinks is about to make a stir, she says it's Lenny Kravitz/ Lisa Bonet offspring Zoe Kravitz. Iman raved about Zoe in the new issue of Trace, which is on newsstands this week — Iman guest-edited the magazine's annual "Black Girls Rule" issue. (Check out pictures of Zoe in the mag.) "When I met her for the first time, with her dad and her late grandfather, I literally took her under my wings like she was my own daughter. Self-effacing, knowing and grounded is what makes her truly the new 'It' girl." Zoe Kravitz, who is set to act alongside Terrence Howard and Jodie Foster in this fall's "The Brave One," opened up in the mag about her Hollywood ambitions and what it was like to work with Foster. "Every time we did a take I would check if it was OK," Kravitz said. "[Jodie] would tell me to let go and just do it. She [just] taught me to be comfortable on set."

[This story was originally published on 7.18.2007 at 1:45 p.m.]

07.17.07

That purported Britney Spears track floating around the Internet is the real deal, the song's producer, Nate "Danjahandz" Hills, has confirmed to MTV News. In May, the producer revealed to MTV News that one song set to be featured on her upcoming LP sounded like it belonged in a video game, and "Get Back" matches that description. "It's weird! It's catchy, but it's weird. It's hot," he said, adding that the hook and chorus made him laugh. But it isn't all laughs for Spears these days — the Humane Society of the United States has fired off a stern letter to Spears after it caught wind that she had reportedly dropped $3,000 for a Yorkshire Terrier puppy from Pets of Bel Air in California after spending less than 30 minutes in the shop, according to "Entertainment Tonight." "Choosing a dog is a major lifestyle decision that should not be taken lightly," HSUS Director of Outreach for Companion Animals Stephanie Shain said in a press statement. "We suggest that people take time to choose a member of their family and to be sure they are working with a reputable breeder ... Ms. Spears is setting a damaging example to the public. Most dogs sold in pet stores come from puppy mills -- factory-like facilities, churning out purebred and 'designer' puppies in large numbers." Brit also bought a Chihuahua puppy from Pets of Bel Air in January. According to "ET," the store is adamant that it buys from top breeders, not puppy mills. ...

The first benefit for the Kanye West Foundation will take place August 24 in the rapper/producer's Chicago hometown. The $125-a-ticket show will rock the House of Blues with a theme encouraging kids to stay in school. ... Snoop Dogg, Whodini and Missy Elliott are among the artists to be hailed at the fourth annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors. The show will be taped October 4 at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom and premiere October 8 at 10 p.m. ET. On Monday, VH1.com will launch the online contest "The Score" — the winner will create and produce the score for the event. Those interested can post their minute-long beats for consideration right here. ...

Not everyone loves "The Simpsons." In fact, England's pagan community is madder than a dog with bees in its mouth over a giant painting of Homer Simpson brandishing a donut. The painting, made to promote "The Simpsons Movie," was hung on a field in Dorset opposite a famous 17th century fertility symbol: the club-wielding, clearly excited Ceme Abbas. According to the Daily Mail, the giant underwear-clad Homer was painted with biodegradable paint that will dissolve when it rains, so some local pagans have vowed to unleash some "rain magic" to erase the drought. ... A Los Angeles Police Department officer who videotaped the Game in a holding cell waving a wad of cash and throwing hand signs after the rapper's arrest in May is under investigation by the department's internal-affairs division. The Associated Press reports that the unnamed officer could face disciplinary action for making the video on his cell phone; the footage was posted on the TMZ.com web site on May 12. ...

Smashing Pumpkins fans probably didn't expect to find photos of Paris Hilton inside copies of the band's Zeitgeist reunion CD, but just in case Billy Corgan didn't confuse them enough, a shot of the heiress is also featured on the cover of the band's new "Tarantula" U.K. single. So what gives? In an interview with Launch Radio, Corgan said he took the photos with Hilton, who he had met previously. "The original idea was we were gonna see if Lindsay, Britney and Paris would all shoot ... [but] Paris I knew personally, and hung out with her a few times, and so I asked her. ... And God bless her, she came, she showed up at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning, sat in the chair, got made up and [I] shot her." Hilton recently told E! Online that she has been meeting with producer Scott Storch to hammer out plans for her second LP. ...

Speaking of sophomore efforts, Carrie Underwood's forthcoming, yet-untitled album will street on October 23. The effort will succeed her 2005 debut, Some Hearts, which earned her a heap of awards. ... Brandon Flowers is a dad, People reports. The Killers frontman and his wife Tana welcomed a boy over the weekend. ... Producer Polow Da Don launched his Interscope Records imprint Zone 4 Inc. Monday night at Opera in Atlanta. The star-studded bash was presented by Zune and Universal Publishing, and featured performances by Polow's artists Rich Boy, Keri Hilson and i15. Also in attendance were Lil Wayne, Andre 3000, Young Jeezy, DJ Unk, Jim Jones, Soulja Boy, Jermaine Dupri and Ciara, who hosted the festivities. ...

Asda — the British arm of Wal-Mart Stores — apologized Tuesday (July 17) for criticizing "Harry Potter" publisher Bloomsbury of "blatant profiteering" for charging the U.S. equivalent of roughly $36 for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Bloomsbury had nixed the delivery of a half-million copies of the book to the stores, but Asda says the volumes will be on its shelves after all. Also in the U.K., copies of the book will come with a photo of a missing 4-year-old girl and a yellow ribbon in an appeal to help find her, Agence France Presse reports. Author J.K. Rowling has also asked that bookstores in 200 countries receive posters of the girl, who went missing at a Portuguese resort in early May. And on Tuesday, Britain issued seven postage stamps featuring the covers of the books. Roughly 340,000 people had pre-ordered them, snapping the record of 300,000 pre-orders set by a set of Beatles stamps in January. Meanwhile, on U.S. shores, Barnes & Noble is holding copies of the volume at a secret warehouse somewhere in the Northeast, Reuters reports. Security is being maintained around the building 24/7. ...

A friend of Lana Clarkson testified Monday in the Phil Spector murder trial that the actress had called her days before the shooting and said, "I can't take it anymore. I'm sick of [Hollywood]. I want out." Punkin Irene Elizabeth Laughlin, who cried while recalling the exchange, was due to continue testifying Tuesday. ... Michael Jackson must hand over more than $250,000 to a Southern California firm, a judge determined late last week, according to AP. Ayscough & Marar handled side issues for the singer during the 2005 child-molestation trial. ... Ricky Martin will soon be all over Dominican TV and radio — but he won't be singing. Instead, the artist will be issuing public-service announcements warning about sexual exploitation and human trafficking. ... Sting and his wife Trudie Styler must fork over $51,000 to compensate a former chef for sexual discrimination, AP reports. Jane Martin, who had worked for the singer for eight years, had claimed she was fired after she became pregnant. ...

The good news for concertgoers is that average ticket prices are only up about 50 cents (or 1 percent) over last year, according to mid-year numbers released by Pollstar. The scary news, though, is that tight-trousered '70s icon Rod Stewart is the top draw so far this year, with $48.1 million in ticket sales, beating out Justin Timberlake, who landed just behind at $42.3 million. Reunited rockers the Police were #3 at $41.9 million and are expected to top the list by year's end with a tour predicted to generated $100 million in North America. Christina Aguilera landed at #7 on the list with $30.6 million, just after former Pink Floyd leader Roger Waters and before a Cirque du Soleil show. ...

Iman has caused a stir or two with her graceful looks over the years, but if you ask the supermodel who she thinks is about to make a stir, she says it's Lenny Kravitz/ Lisa Bonet offspring Zoe Kravitz. Iman raved about Zoe in the new issue of Trace, which is on newsstands this week — Iman guest-edited the magazine's annual "Black Girls Rule" issue. (Check out pictures of Zoe in the mag.) "When I met her for the first time, with her dad and her late grandfather, I literally took her under my wings like she was my own daughter. Self-effacing, knowing and grounded is what makes her truly the new 'It' girl." Zoe Kravitz, who is set to act alongside Terrence Howard and Jodie Foster in this fall's "The Brave One," opened up in the mag about her Hollywood ambitions and what it was like to work with Foster. "Every time we did a take I would check if it was OK," Kravitz said. "[Jodie] would tell me to let go and just do it. She [just] taught me to be comfortable on set."

• 'Hairspray' Exclusive Sneak Peek

• "Hairspray"

• Mariah Carey
• Kanye West
• Swizz Beatz
• Common
• The Smashing Pumpkins

Fall Out Boy
Photo: Universal

With sales of their breakthrough album, From Under the Cork Tree, now past the 1 million mark, Fall Out Boy have begun making serious headway on their next album, discussing demos and naming a producer who's likely to leave fans scratching their heads.

"The guy we really want and we're trying to lock it down with is very bizarre for Fall Out Boy," bassist Pete Wentz said. "It's Babyface. He said he wants to do it, but nothing's confirmed yet. I swear to God, he's going to do at least six songs with us."

A spokesperson for the producer could not be reached for comment at press time.

Wentz said he and the rest of the band have been kicking around the idea of working with Babyface for quite some time now, but it wasn't until a recent, um, face-to-'Face meeting that they were able to get the wheels in motion. What piqued their interest wasn't Babyface's string of A-list collaborations — he worked with basically every R&B name of note in the mid- to late '90s, including Toni Braxton, TLC and Boyz II Men — it was one of the producer/songwriter's lesser-known projects.

"He did the soundtrack to [the 2001 film version of] 'Josie and the Pussycats,' and it's amazing. So we're going to have him do it, and have someone who's really into heavy music engineer it," Wentz laughed. "We haven't confirmed him but we're looking to tap him for the job and we will be demoing a couple of songs with him for sure."

Not that the veteran knob-twiddler would have a lot of pre-production work to do on the album — the band has already written most of it (see "Fall Out Boy Nearly Done Writing 'Way Different' Next LP").

While they await word from Babyface, Fall Out Boy will keep busy with a variety of projects: Wentz is behind the upcoming "bizarro-Friendster" site FriendsOrEnemies.com, and frontman Patrick Stump will be producing the new album from Chicago's the Hush Sound.

They'll also keep churning out new tunes and perhaps even new beefs (see "Killers Get More Beef — This Time With Fall Out Boy"), since it turns out feudin' is good for the songwriting chops.

"We actually just wrote another song about all this beef sh--. It makes fun of us and the whole thing in general. The last line before the chorus is 'All the dot-coms refresh for a journal update,' " Wentz said, referring to his penchant for starting feuds via his online journals. "And we're going to start this gang where we just go and start beef with people. Because rock bands are scared of it."

• Fall Out Boy
• Babyface

Christina Aguilera
Photo: Chrissy L. Nguyen / MTV News

Christina Aguilera is coming out of hibernation — after holing up for months making her new album, she's going to sing in a televised appearance Friday morning on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." She's not singing her new tunes, but rather, she's teaming up with Herbie Hancock to perform "A Song for You," which appears on his new album, Possibilities. The show is syndicated; check local listings for airtimes. ...

The White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand, Iggy & the Stooges, AFI, Sleater-Kinney, Kings of Leon and the Mars Volta are among the first acts confirmed to take the stage at the 2006 Big Day Out musicfest. The trek kicks off January 20 in Auckland, New Zealand, and will hit a host of other cities Down Under before wrapping in Perth, Australia, on February 5. ...

Mars Volta will release Scabdates, a 74-minute live album, on November 8. The disc, with packaging boasting the photography of longtime Volta collaborator Danielle Van Ark, will include live renditions of songs captured during the band's tours between 2003 and 2005. Among the tracks on the album are "Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt" and "Cicatriz." ...

When he's not erecting orphanages for children in India or chatting with the guy upstairs, former Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch spends the bulk of his time hammering away on his solo debut, which, according to his Web site, he's been working on in Phoenix. Welch has recorded 23 songs with A Perfect Circle's Josh Freese on drums. "I can't stop writing," Head wrote. "I've never written so much music in my life. I am completely speechless when I listen back to these songs. It's so clear that I am only a vessel. Nine months ago, I could barely piece one song together. Trust that I will deliver the most intense music you've ever heard in your life." ... Babyface and his wife are separated — for good. The singer and his wife, Tracey Edmonds, released a statement Thursday (October 6) announcing that after being unofficially separated "for quite some time," they are making the move permanent. "We remain best friends, and will continue to work together in our companies, and our various business ventures," the statement read. They ask that the press and public respect their privacy, and they said they will answer "no further questions regarding this matter." ...

Angie Stone teamed up with "Pon De Replay" producer Vada Nobles for her new single, "I Wasn't Kidding," which appears on her upcoming greatest-hits album, Stone Hits: The Very Best of Angie Stone, due October 25. "It was a lot of fun working with such a talented artist," Nobles said. "I look forward to making more records with her in the future." ... Papa Roach have set a November 22 release date for "Live and Murderous in Chicago," a live DVD featuring 80 minutes of footage shot during the band's recent gig at Chicago's Vic Theatre. The effort will also include all of the band's videos, never-before-seen "all access" footage and photos, and more Roach goodies. ...

Punkvoter, the voter-registration organization founded by NOFX frontman Fat Mike, has a new compilation in the works, but this one is nothing like last year's Rock Against Bush album. It's called Protect, a benefit comp for the National Association to Protect Children, and it features songs from NOFX, Jawbreaker, Against Me! and MxPx. The album will be available through punk label Fat Wreck Chords' Web site starting on October 18. ... NOFX have been working on new material in San Francisco's Motor Studios for an upcoming 7-inch as well as a forthcoming LP — the untitled follow-up to 2003's The War on Errorism. According to the band's Web site, the record could surface in the spring, "if we're lucky." ...

A 19-track retrospective compilation chronicling the career of Southern California punk act Face to Face will hit stores on November 1. Called Shoot the Moon: The Essential Collection, the disc will feature two unreleased songs, extensive liner notes and rare photos snapped over the course of the band's 12-year career. ... Do you like screaming? How about "tour-bus humor" and "backstage commentary?" Well, do we have the DVD for you. It's called "The Zen of Screaming," and it's a combination vocal workout and documentary starring Melissa Cross, the heavy-metal voice coach who's worked with everyone from Slipknot to Andrew W.K. The DVD also comes with an audio warm-up CD to get those vocal cords primed for some punishment. For more information, check out MelissaCross.com. ...

10.05.2005

Is the honeymoon over for everyone's favorite newlyweds? The tabloids have been claiming for months that Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey's marriage is on the rocks, and now Us Weekly is reporting that the two are officially separated, citing an unnamed source the mag says spilled the beans at Ashlee Simpson's birthday party on Sunday night. No one, however, in the Simpson or Lachey camp is confirming any of this. Joe Simpson called the story the "usual bullsh--," while the couple's reps issued a joint statement saying, "Nick and Jessica have not separated. Rumors to the contrary are simply not true." ...

(Check out pictures of Nick and Jessica.)

One of rap's premier producers is proving his heart is just as big as his wallet by shelling out $1 million toward Hurricane Katrina relief. Dr. Dre donated the money to Houston's Julia C. Hester House, which will distribute the funds to 50 needy families devastated by the disaster. "I wanted to be sure that my donation did two things: went directly into the hands of hurricane victims and that it was an amount that could really impact their lives and make a difference," Dre said. ... Ashanti is launching a new fragrance, Precious Jewel, this week. "This project was very precious to me," Ashanti said. "I wanted everything to be perfect! I must've driven the fragrance developers nuts by making sure everything was exactly how I envisioned." Her rep describes the scent as being "fruity without being overpowering, powdery enough without giving a headache." It has top notes of bergamot, apple and peach; a middle layer of jasmine, ylang-ylang, rose, orchid and lily of the valley; and a base of sandalwood, musk and oak moss. It comes in perfume, mist and shimmer stick, and is available at Wal-Mart. ...

Green Day, whose current tour is sponsored by Xbox Live, are the latest band to participate in one of the company's Game With Fame sessions. On Thursday from 8-9 p.m. ET, the punk trio will be playing "Halo 2" against their fans using the gamertag greendaygwf. ... On November 1, Ozzy Osbourne will release an album's worth of cover songs. Under Cover, which will be available as a DualDisc, features 13 cuts, including Ozzy's take on such classics as John Lennon's "Woman" and "Working Class Hero," Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way," King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man," Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love," Mountain's "Mississippi Queen" and the Moody Blues' "Go Now." The DVD portion of the DualDisc will feature a video for Ozzy's rendition of the Beatles' "In My Life" and a half-hour program called "Dinner With Ozzy and Friends," during which Ozzy recalls some of his favorite stories for a number of guests, including son Jack Osbourne and Motörhead's Lemmy Kilmister. ...

Wyclef Jean is coming to the small screen. The Fugees leader has signed a deal with HBO to star in and produce a sitcom based on his life story, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Wyclef, who has appeared in four episodes of "Third Watch" this year, will also write and produce original music for the series, which is in its early stages of development and has not yet been scheduled. ... A Miami judge's ruling this week has cleared the way for Slip n Slide Records to release an album's worth of material recorded by rapper Pitbull years before he signed with his current label home, TVT Records. Slip n Slide had hoped to release Welcome to the 305 this past May, but TVT obtained a cease-and-desist order to block the album's release. Slip n Slide sued TVT, which, claiming it was the owner of all of Pit's songs past and present, countersued. According to a Slip 'n' Slide spokesperson, the judge's decision could mean Welcome to the 305 will be in stores before Christmas — but only if every single copy of the disc features a sticker affirming that the effort "contains previously unreleased material." The judge's finding needs approval from a U.S. District Court judge before the pressings can begin. ...

Mike Gibbins, the drummer for defunct Welsh rock act Badfinger, died in his sleep on Tuesday from undisclosed causes, according to a posting on the late musician's Web site. Badfinger released a string of classic hits during the 1960s and '70s, including "Come and Get It," "No Matter What," "Day After Day" and "Baby Blue." ... INXS — with new lead singer J.D. Fortune — are planning to hit the road for the first leg of their world tour early next year. The Switched On Tour kicks off January 18 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and will include more than 20 stops in the U.S. and two stops in Canada before it wraps February 18 in Washington, D.C. ...

Police guitarist Andy Summers has just inked a deal to write his memoir. "One Train Later" will be about his life in music, from his first guitar and earlier bands to his relationships and encounters with Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Burdon, John Belushi and of course, the Police. No release date has been slated yet. ... Talks between Microsoft and the four major record labels over licensing terms for the computer giant's new online music subscription service have reportedly broken down. The Associated Press reports that Microsoft broke off talks on Friday after it was unable to reach a deal with the labels over royalty rates. Microsoft already sells downloads on its MSN Music site, but has been working on a subscription service along the lines of Napster and Rhapsody. ...

• Christina Aguilera
• Franz Ferdinand
• The Mars Volta
• Babyface
• Korn

Jason Mraz's <i>Mr. A-Z</i>
Photo: Atlantic Records

Johnny Knoxville's cousin Roger Alan Wade has penned songs for country greats like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, but on his debut solo album, Wade borrows some of his cousin's crass humor on songs like "Butt Ugly Slut" and "Fryin' Bacon Nekkid." The "Dukes of Hazzard" star, who helped Wade get national attention when he sent some of his raunchy tracks to Howard Stern, produced Wade's All Likkered Up, due on Oglio Records.

Before starting his career as a singer/songwriter, Wade dabbled in forklift and milk truck driving. After almost two decades behind the scenes, Wade got a push into the mainstream in 2001 when his "If You're Gonna Be Dumb" appeared on "Jackass: The Music, Vol. 1."

Out Tuesday, July 26:

• Jason Aldean - Jason Aldean (Broken Bow)
• Babyface - Grown & Sexy (Arista)
  Buy Now: Grown & Sexy (Arista)
• Barcode - Showdown (Nuclear Blast)
• Jeff Black - Tin Lily (DualTone)
• Blessing the Hogs - The Twelve Gauge Solution (Goodfellow)
• Boondogs - Fever Dreams (Max)
• Boys Night Out - Trainwreck (Ferret)
• Brad - Brad vs. Satchel (Establishment Store)
• Bratz - Rock Angelz (Hip-O)
• Tom Braxton - Bounce (Rendezvous)
• Kai Brown - Better Now (How Now Brown Cow)
• Andy Caldwell - Late Night With Andy Caldwell (Swank)
• Eddie Cane - Presents (PR Records)
• The Cherry Valence - TCV3 (Bifocal Media)
• Chiodos - All's Well That Ends Well (Equal Vision)
• The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra - Live at MCG (MCG Jazz)
• The Commercials vs. Shadow Agency - The Split EP (Blackout!)
• The Concretes - Layourbattleaxedown (Astralwerks)
• Copperpot - Chapter Seven Instrumentals (EV Productions)
• Cru Jones - A Roadside View EP (Undecided)
• Brian Culbertson - It's On Tonight (Verve)
• Daphne Loves Derby - On the Strength of All Convinced (Outlook)
• The Dayton Family - Family Feud (Koch)
• Robert Deeble - This Bar Has No One Left EP (Fractured Discs)
• DJ Williams Projekt - Projekt Management (Harmonized)
• Dope - American Apathy (Artemis)
• The Dying Light - The Killing Plan (Willowtip)
• Danny Federici - Out of a Dream (V2)
• Fight Paris - Paradise, Found (Trustkill)
• Fruit Bats - Spelled in Bones (Sub Pop)
• Gary Higgins - Red Hash (Drag City)
• The High Dials - War of the Wakening Phantoms (Rainbow Quartz)
• Kids Like Us - Outta Control (Eulogy)
• King Elementary - Kudzu (Sweet Tea/Terminus)
• Ani Kyd - Evil Needs Candy Too (Alternative Tentacles)
• Latin Pimps - Me Voy (Basement Front)
• Emily Lord - Brand New Day (Jungle Queen)
• The Love Hall Tryst - Songs of Misfortune (Appleseed)
• Yngwie Malmsteen - Unleash the Fury (Eagle Rock)
• Mazarin - We're Already There (I and Ear)
• Mecca Bodega - Skin (Harmonized)
• Thee Minks - Are You Ready Now? (Steel Cage)
• Mon Frere - Real Vampires EP (Cake)
• Moonbabies - War on Sound (Hidden Agenda)
• Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill Acoustic (Maverick)
  Read: "Alanis Morissette Plots Jagged Little Pill Acoustic Tour"
  Buy Now: Jagged Little Pill Acoustic (Maverick)
• Bob Mould - Body of Song (Yep Roc)
• Jason Mraz - Mr. A-Z (Atlantic)
  Read: "Jason Mraz Turns His Tongue-Tripping Surname Into An Asset For Next LP"
  Buy Now: Mr. A-Z (Atlantic)
• Milton Nascimento - Pieta (Savoy Jazz)
• Nations by the River - Holes in the Valley (Astralwerks)
• Odiorne - Heavy Wish (File 13)
• Outspoken - Spotlight (Indecision)
• A Perfect Murder - Strength Through Vengeance (Victory)
  Read: "A Perfect Murder Survive Mutiny, Return With A Vengeance"
• Mike Phillips - Uncommon Denominator (Red Urban)
• Psalm One - Bio: Chemistry II: Esters and Essays (EV Productions)
• Brian Setzer - Rockabilly Riot! Volume One: A Tribute to Sun Records (Surfdog)
• Kevin Sharp - Make a Wish (Cupit)
• Brian Simpson - It's All Good (Rendezvous)
• Trey Songz - I Gotta Make It (Atlantic)
• Summer Lawns - First We Waited ... Then It Started (Stunning Models on Display)
• Third World - Black Gold Green (Shanachie)
• This Moment - Finding a Voice in the Dark (Uprising)
• Twiztid - Mutant (Vol. 2) (Psychopathic)
• The Unusual Suspects - The Unusual Suspects (Teflon Muzik)
• Yoko Utsumi - Yoko Utsumi (Asian Man)
• Gerald Veasley - At the Jazz Base! (Telarc Jazz)
• Veda - The Weight of an Empty Room (Second Nature)
• Roger Alan Wade - All Likkered Up (Oglio)
• Chris Whitley - Soft Dangerous Shores (Messenger)
• Denison Witmer - Are You a Dreamer? (The Militia Group)
• Jim Yoshii Pile-Up - Picks Us Apart (Absolutely Kosher)
• Young Jeezy - Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 (Def Jam)
  Read: "You Hear It First: Young Jeezy"
• Young Sicc - The Statement (PR Records)
• Various artists - Honey Love: Smooth Jazz Plays R. Kelly (Shanachie)
• Various artists - Last Tango in Buenos Aires (Milan)
• Various artists - reBOOT: Notes for the Next Generation (Om)
• Ruff Ryders - Redemption, Volume 4 (Artemis)
• Various artists -- "Marilyn's Man" soundtrack (Empire)
• Various artists -- "Sky High" soundtrack (Hollywood)
• Various artists - "The Island" soundtrack (Milan)
• DVD: "Maestro" (Sanctuary)
• DVD: Death Cab for Cutie -- "Drive Well, Sleep Carefully: On the Road With Death Cab for Cutie" (Plexiflim)
• DVD: Bruce Hornsby -- "Three Nights on the Town" (Columbia)
• DVD: S.O.D. - "20 Years of Dysfunction" (Megaforce)

August 2:

• Faith Hill - Fireflies (Warner Bros.)
  Buy Now: Fireflies (Warner Bros.)
• Michael Penn - Mr. Hollywood, Jr. 1947 (spinART)
  Read: "Free At Last, Michael Penn Attempts A Comeback With Mr. Hollywood Jr."

August 9:

• Hootie & the Blowfish - Looking for Lucky (Vanguard)
• Staind - Chapter V (Elektra)
  Read: "Staind Guitarist Has That Old Familiar Feeling About Chapter V"

August 16:

• The Click Five - Greetings From Imrie House (Lava)
  Read: "You Hear It First: Click Five"
• Cowboy Junkies - Early 21st Century Blues (Zoe Records)

• Jason Mraz
• Alanis Morissette
• Roger Alan Wade
• Young Jeezy
• Babyface

Babyface (file)
Photo: BMG

The cover of Babyface's first album in two-and-a-half years, A Love Story, depicts the sultry singer in white pajamas reclining on the edge of a bed while a girl in panties and a flimsy top leans against a wall. The suggestive image is a little misleading. Sure, Babyface is still all about pillow talk and bedtime embraces, but the lover man is putting the focus on love instead of sex.

"Unfortunately, where music has gone these days, it's really more about sex than it is about intimacy [for a lot of artists]," Babyface said. "It would be nice to see us get back to being in love and being intimate as opposed to just having sex."

A Love Story, which comes out March 23, is a concept album that chronicles a passionate relationship from beginning to end. The R&B crooner based the plot on a combination of personal stories and friends' experiences. But although he knew what he wanted to sing about, it took him a while to get the material down.

"I did about three albums' worth before I got it right," he said. "I did two full albums of the same concept and threw them away; then I finally came up with this third one that I liked."

Babyface wrote most of the final version of A Love Story alone in Lake Tahoe, California, last year. Being by himself allowed him to tap into the solitary vibe he wanted to express with some of the songs, including the first single, "The Loneliness."

"It's about the point in a relationship when she's gone, and you're left there by yourself, and you realize that maybe you lost the best thing you ever had in your life," he said. "I really wanted to communicate just how lonely that feeling is."

Other song titles include: "The Getting 2 Know U," "Makin' Love," "Wish I Could Tell You" and "Still My Boo." Some tracks are flavored with jazzy elements and include samples of licks by John Coltrane and Duke Ellington. "There's one song called 'Together Forever' where I actually used the Glenn Miller song 'Moonlight Serenade' as a backdrop and rewrote things on top of it," Babyface said. "It's got a real 1940s vibe to it."

• Babyface

Shaggy
Photo: Amy V. Cooper

It's show time for Shaggy. Not only is his own Big Yard record label releasing the soundtrack to the movie "Showtime" — an upcoming comedy starring Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy as LAPD detectives and unlikely partners — but Mr. Lover Lover himself is featured on three of the album's tracks.

Shaggy teams up with Alias Project for a song called "Caramel" and joins forces with Babyface for the film's title track, according to Universal Music, Big Yard's distributor. The album, set to drop March 19, includes such collaborations as Rik Rok with Brian and Tony Gold, Kardinal Offishall with Sean Paul and Jully Black, and a song called "Murderer" by Snoop Dogg and reggae star Barringon Levy.

"Showtime," which also features rapper Mos Def, opens March 15.

"Showtime" soundtrack track listing, according to Universal:

• Alias Project featuring Shaggy - "Caramel"
• Rude - "Why"
• Shaggy - "Mr. Lover Lover"
• Rayvon - "My Bad"
• Rik Rok with Brian and Tony Gold - "Your Eyes"
• Prince Mydas - "Still the One"
• Marsha Morrison - "Lie Till I Die"
• Gordon Dukes - "Fly Away"
• Housing - "Get the Cash"
• Barringon Levy and Snoop Dogg - "Murderer"
• The Kraft - "Honeysuckle Rain Drop"
• Shaggy and Babyface - "Showtime"
• Kardinal Offishall featuring Sean Paul and Jully Black - "Money Jane"

• Shaggy
• Babyface
• Mos Def

Babyface
Photo: Arista

You've seen him in the video for his Neptunes-produced "There She Goes." That new Babyface is some sort of character, isn't he?

Obviously, he can no longer be called a pretty boy at 42, and his low-cut beard shields some of that prettiness. Instead, with his woolly afro replacing that half-flattop-half-process hairdo and his new rock-star threads (witness the pearly-white tank top), Face — or Kenneth Edmonds, as he signs his tax returns — has transformed his image with new-millennium cool.

On September 11, when his new LP, Face 2 Face, drops, fans will get to hear a little of his vintage sounds as well as music to match his image facelift — chock-full-o' curses and Ebonics.

"After all the sh-- he put you through, why wouldn't you want to leave?" he asks on "Lover and a Friend," co-produced by Babyface and Buckwild of Black Rob's "Whoa!" fame. "Girl, I got mad love for you, why can't you be with me?" he continues in a high-pitched voice reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield. Meanwhile, Buckwild provides a funky soundscape filled with horns and bottom-heavy bass, similar to a '70s midtempo soul groove.

"What If" is one of those big, heartbroken-lover-man ballads we're more accustomed to hearing from Babyface. Here, he wishes he could turn back the hands of time after bumping into his ex-girlfriend. "What if we were wrong about each other?" he pines. "What if that was s'posed to be my house that you go home to every day? How can you be sure that things are better?"

The Neptunes' second production offering, "Stressed Out," is another party anthem, with the duo's Pharrell Williams adding his pimpish, high-pitched voice in the mix and helping Face on the hook: "It will happen/ If it's meant to be/ So don't stress out/ Things could work out, baby."

Babyface turns O.G. to give knowledge to a hotheaded youngster on "Baby's Mama," featuring Snoop Dogg and produced by the Megahertz (Three The ... 's "Bad Boy for Life").

Later in the album, the multimedia renaissance man continues his schooling, giving a naïve girlfriend advice on the jazzy "How Can U Be Down." Face gets caught up in an attraction that's not quite fatal, but unhealthy nonetheless, on the track, as his lover's best friend falls for him. "I told the girl no, no, no, but she still came knockin' at my door," he sings. "I told her to go, go home, but that made her even want me more."

It's the tank top, Face — no one can resist.

The Face 2 Face track list, according to Arista Records:

• "Baby's Mama" (featuring Snoop Dogg)
• "There She Goes"
• "What If"
• "U Should Know"
• "Outside In/Inside Out"
• "Lover and a Friend"
• "How Can U Be Down"
• "Still in Love With U"
• "Don't Take It So Personal"
• "Stressed Out"
• "Work It Out"
• "Wish U Were My Girl"
• "I Keep Callin' "
• "With Him"
• "I Just Wanna"

• Babyface

Jamie Foxx, Ashlee Simpson, Ciara, More At The Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party, 2.7.06

• Jamie Foxx
• Ashlee Simpson
• Ciara
• Mary J. Blige
• Ludacris

Grammy Parties 2006

• Britney Spears
• Kevin Federline
• Maroon 5
• Chingy
• Christina Milian

Jay-Z, Diddy, Mariah, Game, Lil Jon, Fergie, Others Party In Miami

• Diddy
• Pitbull
• Christina Milian
• Lil Jon
• Game