Justin Bieber (file)
Photo: Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images

Fans of 15-year-old singing sensation Justin Bieber might typically run a bit younger than most chart-toppers — but as the "One Time" singer learned Friday (November 20), that apparently doesn't make them any less dangerous.

A young girl was hospitalized after fans mistakenly started a stampede at the Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island, New York.

Moments after the incident, Bieber updated his fans with a message on his Twitter account. Alluding to a difficult day for himself, his fans and security team, he tweeted, "The event at roosevelt mall is cancelled. please go home. the police have already arrested one person from my camp. I dont want anyone hurt."

According to TMZ, which spoke with employees at an Abercrombie Kids store near the melee, someone in the mall falsely screamed that Bieber was inside their store, causing a flood of young kids rushing toward his mistaken location. In addition to the young girl's hospitalization, several fights allegedly occurred.

In addition, Newsday reported that by 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, the crowds had grown so big and unwieldy that Nassau County police were called in. The crowds had gathered for a performance at the tween clothing store Justice, where Bieber was scheduled to perform songs from his eight-song CD My World, which just came out on Tuesday.

After many fans had waited in line for a day or more, Bieber (who recently co-starred with Diddy in the YouTube clip "Justin Bieber's 48 Hours with Diddy") learned that many of them hadn't left the mall, even after the incident with the injured girl. As the Nassau County police attempted to get the crowd to disperse, Bieber used Twitter to ask his followers to leave.

"[The girls] are inside crying," fan Alexandra Levine told Newsday. "They don't want to come out because they think he will still show up."

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Justin Bieber
Photo: Michael Loccisano/ Getty Images

It's isn't every day that a 15-year-old kid from a small town in Canada has Usher and Justin Timberlake battling for the chance to make him a pop star. By now, everyone knows that kid's name: Justin Bieber. The pop newcomer dropped his debut album, My World, on Tuesday (November 17) after Usher scooped him up and gave him a record deal.

Although Bieber likes singing about girls, he isn't afraid to broach deeper subjects on the album. "There's a lot of stuff that's not just about love. There's songs that teens can relate to, as far as parents not being together and divorce," he told MTV News. "And just stuff that happens in everyday life. There's a lot of [artists] my age, [and] their whole album [is], 'Everything is perfect.' "

Bieber noted that his life before fame wasn't quite so glamorous, and he wants to make sure that is captured on the album. "Real life isn't perfect, so my album kind of portrays that," he said. "You just have to make the best of what you have."

His singles, "One Time," "Love Me" and "One Less Lonely Girl," have focused on the ups and downs of puppy love.

"It's basically about my world and what I want in my world kind of thing. ... There's a lot of different songs about girls. Yeah, a lot about girls," he laughed. "But there's a lot of stuff about real life and stuff that I've gone through — just stuff [that] teens in general can relate to."

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Justin Bieber performs on NBC's "Today"
Photo: Andrew H. Walker/ Getty Images

NEW YORK — At 5:30 a.m. on a chilly 40-degree morning, Rockefeller Plaza was nonetheless filled with screaming teenage girls (many with the accessory of a cooperative parent) who spent their Columbus Day holiday checking out 15-year-old Justin Bieber's appearance on the "Today" show.

The crowdmembers sported homemade T-shirts, bedazzled sunglasses, giant posters and many tearful eyes.

The Canadian teen sensation was in town to perform three songs from his forthcoming album, My World, which is scheduled to drop on November 17. While the show (and Rockefeller Plaza) sees plenty of celebrities, Monday morning's (October 12) appearance was especially over the top: Girls were crushed against the barricades and camped out across the street just to catch a glimpse of Bieber on his way to his trailer.

Bieber came out and unexpectedly picked up an acoustic guitar. Donning a pair of dark shades, he dubbed himself "Bieber Cash" (presumably in reference to the late, great Johnny Cash) and began playing a blues scale while his rhythm guitarist threw him a jazzy blues shuffle peppered with seventh chords. After the warm-up jam, Bieber performed his hit single "One Time."

After the song, Bieber talked with Matt Lauer and introduced the world to his mom. As if showing off his mom wasn't enough to solidify himself as a teenage heartthrob, Bieber followed up with a love song, "Lonely Girl." He brought up two lucky girls and seated them in stools while he serenaded both of them with a constant smile and whisk of his bangs from his eyes.

To close his set, Bieber debuted a new song, a stripped-down acoustic ballad called "Favorite Girl" that is quite different from many of his other songs.

Even though the crowd had been there for hours (and the temperature had not warmed up in the least), the girls' ardor never relented.

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Justin Bieber
Photo: MTV News

The release of Justin Bieber's debut album, My World, is still several weeks out, but the 15-year-old singer is already receiving accolades. He has already netted himself plenty of Twitter followers and Facebook friends, but on Sunday night he got his first official stamp of approval from a professional body: Bieber's debut single, "One Time," was certified platinum in Canada, by selling at least 10,000 copies.

While on a trip to Wonderland Canada (an amusement park in Toronto), Bieber received his first platinum plaque, which he celebrated via Twitter. "2nite was incredible," Bieber wrote. "I got surprised with my first Canadian Platinum plaque for 'One Time!' I will never forget 2nite."

Bieber is originally from a tiny town in Ontario called Stratford, but he has since moved to Atlanta to work on his album and to be closer to his mentor, Usher. It's been a big transition for the singer, who is still settling into his new surroundings.

"In my town [in Canada], there were only 30,000 people, but in Atlanta there are millions," he told MTV News backstage at last week's "Tiki Rocks the Square" benefit for the Children's Miracle Network at the Hard Rock Café in New York. "And I don't know anybody [in Atlanta], but everybody knows everybody in my town in Canada."

Still, he considers his newfound worldliness to be one of the main benefits of his sudden stardom. "I didn't really get to travel before this whole experience, so that's a bonus."

In addition to his album, Bieber is also preparing to release his new single "Lonely Girl," for which he just completed a video. The clip, directed by Roman White (who also lensed Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me"), was shot in Nashville and features, according to Bieber, "a lot of cool stuff."

Bieber said he hopes that the song's message gets out to those who need it. "I think it's important that these girls have something," he said. "So there can be one less lonely girl."

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Justin Bieber
Photo: MTV News

Justin Bieber is Usher's protégé, so one would think there's a good chance that his mentor might make an appearance Bieber's debut album, My World, which hits stores on November 17. But if he does, Bieber isn't exactly letting info about the collaboration out of the bag.

"You might just see Usher on the album — you'll have to see November 17," Bieber told MTV News. And as for any other collaborations, he also kept his answer vague: "Again, you'll have to see November 17."

The 15-year-old promises that although the album will sound a lot like his single "One Time," a catchy, up-tempo pop tune, it will also touch on subjects other than puppy love. "It's basically about my world and what I want in my worldkind of thing. ... There's a lot of different songs about girls. Yeah, a lot about girls," he added. "But there's a lot of stuff about real life and stuff that I've gone through. Just stuff [that] teens in general can relate to."

He says that his choice to sing about subjects that go deeper than teenage crushes stems from his own life experiences and the fact that he doesn't see enough of other artists his age doing that. "There are a lot of people, especially young artists, that are just, like, they make songs that are cookie cutter — everything is perfect — and real-life things aren't perfect," he explained.

"There's a song on my album called 'Down to Earth' that is just, like, my relationship with my dad and how my mom and dad split up ... at a very young age," he continued. "So there's just a lot of stuff that they can relate to and it's just going to be a lot of fun."

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VMA red-carpet shout-out competition winner Tricia Matibag
Photo: Your.MTV.com

Justin Bieber has found his ultimate fan. Tricia Matibag has been named the winner of Bieber's VMA red-carpet shout-out competition. And the high school student couldn't be more excited by the chance to have the teen sensation give her a holler when he graces the carpet at the VMAs tonight.

"I was so happy! I called my best friend because she is, like, a fan. She was just at my house and I was screaming really loud," she said. "I love him and it made my whole entire year."

Matibag lives in Ottawa, Ontario, and found out about the competition through (what else?) Bieber's Twitter page. "It started off me talking about just a guy and then how incredible he is, and I said, 'Can you guess who it is?' " she explained, describing her video submission. "And then after that I explained why I am such a big fan."

Matibag admits that she wasn't completely sure she'd win. "Well, I didn't know what they were looking for. I just tried my best 'cause I really wanted to win," she said. "But I wasn't exactly sure. I never thought, 'Oh, I am going to win.' "

Once Bieber steps out there and says her name, she's pretty sure it will be "life-changing." "That will be amazing and life-changing. I know I sound obsessed, but I am just a big fan," she said. "It means a lot [to win]. There's no words to describe it. I was, like, shaking [when I heard]."

Matibag said she became a fan of the pop singer through Facebook. "I was looking at my friend's profile on Facebook in June and saw his music video, and ever since then I've been a huge fan," she said. "I love that he's just a normal guy that came from Canada like me and his dream came true. Also he's really cute and an amazing singer."

The 10th-grader added that even though she may have found him through her friend, her own efforts have made Bieber a household name among the students at her school. "Well, mostly just the girls," she said. "But actually most of them heard about him through me 'cause I am just really obsessed with him."

Watch the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Preshow this Sunday, September 13, at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the big event, live at 9 p.m. Check out our interactive map of New York to see how the city is celebrating the VMAs all week long, and stay tuned for party coverage, concert reports, behind-the-scenes updates and more.

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Justin Bieber
Photo: MTV News

Justin Bieber's life seems picture-perfect right now. After being chased down by Justin Timberlake and Usher, the 15-year-old soon-to-be pop star eventually signed a record deal with the latter.

On top of that, he already has a huge following online, where he is currently being followed by more than 200,000 people on Twitter. And the kids already love his song "One Time." On Sunday (September 13), he'll be making his big debut at the VMAs, where he plans to shout out a lucky fan's name on the red carpet.

And yet, things will get even better for Bieber when he releases his album My World on November 17. "It's gonna be a fun album," he told MTV News. "It's a lot about love and teen love and what would be in my world."

The teen said that the album isn't just a bunch of songs about girls; he also touches on some deeper subjects that he hopes will allow other teens to relate to his music. "There's a lot of stuff that's not just about love. There's songs that teens can relate to, as far as parents not being together and divorce," he explained. "And just stuff that happens in everyday life. There's a lot of kids my age [and] their whole album [is] 'Everything is perfect.' "

Bieber noted that in his world, the outlook just isn't that sunny. "Real life isn't perfect," he said, "so my album kind of portrays that. You just have to make the best of what you have."

Watch the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Preshow this Sunday, September 13, at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the big event, live at 9 p.m. Check out our interactive map of New York to see how the city is celebrating the VMAs all week long, and stay tuned for party coverage, concert reports, behind-the-scenes updates and more.

• Discovering Justin Bieber

• Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber
Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images

Justin Bieber is poised to become pop music's next big thing, thanks to his rabid Internet fanbase. And at 15, he's already been sought after by Justin Timberlake and Usher. Usher eventually won the label bidding war and signed the young artist, who has more than 200,000 fans following him on Twitter.

But that doesn't mean he's a household name just yet. That all could change once he steps onto the red carpet at the Video Music Awards on Sunday. So how did he make it to this point in his career?

"My manager found me on YouTube," he told MTV News. "He actually flew me out to Atlanta for the first time. I was going to the studio to meet some people."

But that initial encounter didn't work out the way he might have wanted it to. "Usher happens to roll up in his Range Rover, so I was like, 'Man, that's Usher.' So I ran up to him." Unfortunately, Usher turned down the chance to hear Justin sing right there on the spot. But the "Yeah!" singer eventually came around.

"He actually watched my videos and was like, 'Man, I should have let this kid sing,' " he said. "And he flew me back to Atlanta. I got to sing for him, and then a week later, I had a meeting with Justin Timberlake. They both kind of wanted me."

People are still competing to win Bieber's attention, but now they're the ones posting videos online. Come VMA night, the fan who posts the video Bieber likes the most will get a shout-out on the red carpet. (Want to be that person? Let us know why you're Justin Bieber's biggest fan!)

"Being able to have them all participate just makes me feel good," he said about the contest. "Having them make videos for me is awesome. I mean, without my fans, I wouldn't be here, so I definitely am thankful for my fans. You guys keep coming up with the videos. They're awesome, so just keep coming with them."

Watch the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Preshow this Sunday, September 13, at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the big event, live at 9 p.m. Check out our interactive map of New York to see how the city is celebrating the VMAs all week long, and stay tuned for party coverage, concert reports, behind-the-scenes updates and more.

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Justin Bieber
Photo: MTV News

Justin Bieber is ready to take his fame to the next level at the 2009 Video Music Awards.

While the Usher protégé has a few fans of his own — more than 200,000 on Twitter — there's one lady he still gets excited about. And he's hoping that when he graces the carpet at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, he'll get the chance to meet the nine-time-nominated star.

"I'm very excited to be able to walk the red carpet," the 15-year-old pop singer told MTV News. "I actually went to the Kids' Choice Awards awhile back, but this is the first big red-carpet experience, so I'm very excited. And I'm really looking forward to seeing Beyoncé. That's going to be great."

Bieber — who names Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Boys II Men as the influences for his album My World, out November 17 — will be making one of his fans very happy at the VMAs. He'll shout out one fan's name on the red carpet, which he's really looking forward to. (Want to be that person? Let us know why you're Justin Bieber's biggest fan!)

"Being able to have them all participate just makes me feel good," he said about the contest. "Having them make videos for me is awesome. I mean, without my fans, I wouldn't be here, so I definitely am thankful for my fans. You guys keep coming up with the videos. They're awesome, so just keep coming with them."

Watch the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Preshow this Sunday, September 13, at 8 p.m. ET, followed by the big event, live at 9 p.m. Check out our interactive map of New York to see how the city is celebrating the VMAs all week long, and stay tuned for party coverage, concert reports, behind-the-scenes updates and more.

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