Swizz Beatz
Photo: Peter Kramer/ Getty Images

Artist: We use this term very loosely when referring to Steve-O.

Representing: Comedy, monkey business and head-scratching wayward behavior

Mixtape: The Dumbest A--hole in Hip-Hop

411: "Ahhhhh yeah, dude!" It's not exactly the freestyle cipher we brought you months ago with Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Eve and Drag-On, but the footage we have this week was so foolish, we had to put it up. Proverbial jokester — this guy was actually a professional clown in a travelling circus for a while — Stephen "Steve-O" Glover is rapping again, and we just so happened to have cameras rolling while he and his bodyguard kicked rhymes in their apartment. That was, until the cops came. And oh yeah, former MTV host Tom Green was hanging with them as well. After watching this, no one can argue with O's mixtape's title, The Dumbest A--hole in Hip-Hop. If Sisqó can do country, guess Stevie can rap, huh? At least he is not trying to be too serious with it. We can thank Dave Chappelle for this too. Steve says Dave told him since he wasn't actually an MC, he had "diplomatic immunity" and could basically do whatever he wanted.

Joints to Check For:

» "Crack Cocaine (Feels So Good)." "I don't go by the rules, I go by the streets," O said. "I'm hot in the streets. You know who helped me with this mixtape? Red Spyda and Superstar J. You know who didn't lift a finger? Whoo Kid. Who is that? Punk!"

» If you thought the title of the first song was contemptible, well, let's just say he doesn't tone it down at all throughout the mixtape, whether it be in terms of tone, song names or cover artwork (yikes!). Definitely adult content here. There are songs such as "Steve O's Stupid Outro," "Poppin' Off" and "People Giggled." "Old Steve-O thought it would be funny to become a rapper. Turns out he's good," O said. "This is gonna be sweet."

Don't Sleep: Other Notable Selections This Week

» DJ Delz, Klassik & Profluent - DJ Delz, Klassik & Profluent Present: Pimp C - Trill Immortal
» DJ Delz, Klassik & Profluent - DJ Delz, Klassik & Profluent Present: Pimp C - Trill Immortal
» DJ Delz - DJ Delz Presents Twin Ghosts: A Tale of Two Families
» DJ Smallz - Texas Trafficking
» Plies and Rick Ross - Goon Music
» Big Mike and Trap-O-Holics - Big Mike and Trap-O-Holics Present: Jadakiss - Al Qaeda Jada (The Prequel)
» DJ Strong, 50 Cent, Whoo Kid and 40 Glocc -Outspoken 3: Infamous/ G Unit Edition

'Hood's Heavy Rotation: Bubbling Below The Radar

» G-Unit - "Paper Chaser"
» Jay-Z - "Ain't I"
» Talib Kweli - "Momma Can You Hear Me"
» D12 - "We Deep"
» Jadakiss - "Morning Was Hashbrowns"
» Prodigy - "New Yitti" and "Young Vet"

Fire Starter: Janelle Monáe

She's got a fashion sense that'll make Andre 3000 jealous and feet faster than Fonzworth Bentley. And last week in New York, Janelle Monáe made a name all for herself when she wowed a mostly veteran music-industry crowd at R&B Live with a high-octane performance of her retro single "Violet Starts Happy Hunting." Signed to Bad Boy thanks to Outkast's Big Boi (catch her cameo in 'Kast's "Morris Brown" clip), this ATLien kick-started her career by performing around the Peach State before starting her own production company, Wondaland Arts Society. To date, she has sold more than 10,000 copies of her independently released debut album, Metropolis, which caught the attention of Diddy. "She's the first person I chased after to sign myself since Biggie," he told the R&B Live crowd.

Celebrity Faves

Believe or not, the album name The Maniacal Musical Mind of Ryan Leslie doesn't quite sing like a self-titled one does, so the man behind the new hit "Diamond Girl" is going with his handle as the title for his June 10 debut.

Although "Diamond Girl" doesn't have a video yet, the radio airplay alone is exciting Leslie's peers to make their own unofficial remixes.

"We had a huge look with that G-Unit when they jumped on it," said Leslie, who is best known for producing Cassie's self-titled 2006 debut. "They put it on www.ThisIs50.com. Whoo Kid's been blasting it off. Then MIMS, Craig David, Estelle [all made remixes]. It's been a lot of support, especially from with the industry."

Leslie says don't look for any big remix to the song. He's gonna let everybody do their thing and have fun with his record on the Net and mixtapes much like they did with Cassie's "Me & U."

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

"I got Keith Sweat, Heavy D/ Today, [Kool] Moe Dee, [Al] B. Sure, and my man Bobby Brown ..."

Over the years, new jack swing creator Teddy Riley has worked with all the best, from Michael Jackson to his own group, the legendary Guy. After a long hiatus to raise his kids, Riley is making a comeback.

He's working on Snoop Dogg's upcoming Ego Trippin' LP and even has work with fellow uptown native Juelz Santana on deck.

"I just want him to know I wanna do his music," Riley said on the phone from L.A. last week. "I wanna work with him. I had to come out here [to work with] Snoop because he asked me to come out here first. But I support [Santana]. I support New York highly, and I'm gonna keep on doing it. It's gonna be amazing. Just doing records with Juelz Santana, I think we will definitely have that Harlem swinging song, man. I can't wait to do that."

Santana has already recorded more than a hundred tracks for his upcoming Born to Win, Built to Lose (The Reagan Era). "I'm an '80s baby. I call myself 'human crack in the flesh,' " Santana explained. "Because I feel like my music is crack, people get addicted — they want more, they want more, they want more. And the Reagan era was pretty much the biggest crack era/ drug era of all time. So I'mma bring that back. It's time for everyone to make money, ya dig?

"I realized it had to be that much better, when I got the title," he added. "We born to fail, we can't talk, we can't do nothing [when we born]. We have to strive to win, so that's what I'm about now."

Juelz's homie Cam'ron started the Diplomats — Santana told us last week that all its members will be on the upcoming Diplomatic Immunity 3 LP — and Jim Jones started the Byrd Gang, so it's only right that the youngest of the crew gets in on the act. The Harlem rhyme-spitter is gearing up to launch Skull Gang Records. His lead artist will be Rabbi, and Santana said he and Lil Wayne will be featured on the label's upcoming first single. ...

As Swizz Beatz told us, if you loved that rhyme for "Dr. Carter" that Lil Wayne kicked a cappella for us a few weeks ago, you will undoubtedly bang your head through a wall once you hear the finished song.

"I was like, 'Why the f--- they putting [an] a cappella [version] out?' " Swizz, the producer of the song, said. He noted how Web sites have picked up the exclusive audio Wayne gave Mixtape Monday. "That 'Dr. Carter,' I made [the beat] for Hov to save the game. He vibed with it, but he didn't jump on it. I was like, 'Hov Carter.' 'Wayne Carter.' It still works."

Swizzy says the actual beat has an old-school vibe, but you'll hear all types of hospital sound effects, including flat lines.

Speaking of flatties, the Bronx-bred One Man Band Man said Eve's Here I Am — despite constant push-backs — isn't dead. They're going back in the lab, and Swizz will produce some if not the entire project. Same thing for Cassidy's next album.

"It ain't over until it's out," he said. "Everybody wants the best for her. We just regrouping and starting back."

"It wasn't too many follow-ups that can follow up after 'Tambourine,' just like there wasn't too many follow-ups that can come after 'My Drink N' My 2 Step,' " he continued. "You get those type of records ... I'm sorry to make those type of records, but sh--, they're hard to follow up.

"I'mma get back to doing the [whole] album thing," he added. "It eliminates the problem of what we go through. I let the artist use who they wanna use, this and that, it's crazy. The following up [to the songs I produce], sh-- becomes hard. It's a formula and sound the people are looking for and want. You gotta stay in a zone. If I make 'Drink and 2 Step,' the next three beats I make will be not the same, but [I will make] the same vibe, where it's not too far off, where you can groove. When you get all these different producers, it messes up the formula."

Swizz masterminded the remix to Mary J. Blige's "Just Fine," which features Lil Wayne.

"You gotta just know how to change with time," he said. "I felt it needed a sample, being a DJ. I put it with [Chubb Rock's] 'Treat 'Em Right.' "

Swizz also just dropped one of his own records, "Hard Knocks," with Ruff Ryder Drag-On.

"People would normally expect to see Cassidy on the song with me, but Cass is already established," Beatz explained. "Drag's been in the cut, but he's got super songs. His bars are incredible. He's Mr. Flow. He'll flow on anything. Any way. With the launch of the Ruff Ryders movement on '08, he's gonna get his shine." ...

"I am the King of Bankhead," Shawty Lo told Mixtape Monday of the ATL 'hood last week while he was in New York. "Can't nobody tell you no different. No knock to nobody else, but no matter what I get, that's where I'm at. That where I'm from, that's where I'm comfortable. Ask anybody who's the real Bankhead."

Lo's convictions are so staunch that he named his new DVD "The Real Bankhead Story."

"The DVD follows my life [for] about a month and half," he said. "I feel I'm the realest street figure in Atlanta. They might be rappers — I don't consider myself a rapper. I'm the realest street figure in Atlanta."

Lo was hoping to shoot the remix video for "Dey Know" last week in Atlanta with Ludacris, Plies, Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy, but clearing all the parties has turned into a quagmire. Now he's chosen to just go with visuals for "Dunn Dunn."

Video production commences Wednesday in ATL.

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

• Mixtape Monday Video: Steve-O, Juelz, Shawty Lo & More

• Mixtape Monday, 02.04.2008

• Swizz Beatz
• Eve
• Cassidy

50 Cent in his video for "I Get Money"
Photo: Universal

Like most of the media world, we here at MTV News obsess and argue relentlessly over our year-end top 10s. This year, we thought we'd share them! Our staff top 10s will be rolling out all this week, along with several less conventional lists we've come up with, like couples, guilty-pleasure songs, albums, hot messes, arrests and much more. Enjoy, and share your own top 10s in You Tell Us!

Shaheem Reid, hip-hop editor: Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums

1. Graduation by Kanye West
Consistent sonic excellence and a vastly improved lyrical artillery made West's third LP my numero uno. He smashed the game hard, and when he puts out a video for "Flashing Lights" in 2008, it'll be lights out for the comp (again).

2. American Gangster by Jay-Z
I'm not going to say too much about Hov that you don't already know. He's the Greatest MC of All Time, and AG is another classic. I know an album is a classic when my favorite track from it changes week to week. At first nobody could have told me that "Ignorant Sh--" wasn't the best joint, but my top pick varies every other time I hear the album: "Party Life," "Sweet," "Success." This is really a milestone for Jigga. L'chaim!

3. Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
Tortured excellence. I often hear Lauryn Hill in Amy's soul sound, but she reminds me so much of Mary J. Blige because the pain in her music obviously has no pretension. The album was my pleasant surprise of 2007. She dedicated a whole song to Nas, for goodness' sake.

The Best Of 2007 The Top Albums: MTV News Staffers Pick Their Top 10 Albums The Biggest Arrests: Paris Hilton, T.I. And More Had An Arrest-Ing 2007 The Hottest Couples: 50 Cent And Ciara And More Smoking-Hot Couples For the rest of MTV News' year-end top 10s, check out our Best of 2007 page, where you'll find the hottest hip-hop, catchiest singles and more.

4. Finding Forever by Common
I'm proud of Com and what he's become. The crazy thing is that he's always been talented and insightful ("Retrospect for Life" is still as stirring now as it was in the '90s), but those Kanye beats have finally placed Com in the upper echelon.

5. Curtis by 50 Cent
50 got so much flack for this album, but truth be told, if he would have cut a couple of songs off, his record would have been right in pocket. "I'll Still Kill" and "I Get Money" are unstoppable.

6. Timbaland Presents: Shock Value by Timbaland
Bow down to Timbo the King. He had so many hits on this album, how it hasn't gone platinum is one of the biggest question marks of the year. Hopefully he'll drop "Miscommunication" as his next single in 2008.

7. T.I. vs. T.I.P. by T.I.
The dual-personality thing threw some people off, but you have to really sit down and listen to what the King of the South is saying on his album. He does what a lot of MCs can't do right now: challenge the listener.

8. As I Am by Alicia Keys
The record is pretty new to me, but she's one of the most powerful voices out there right now. It's a one-listen showstopper.

9. Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman) by Styles P and The Big Doe Rehab by Ghostface Killah
I cheated. I'm sorry. Two albums for one spot. But yo, verbally, Ghost is as agile as I've ever heard him on his new album, and Styles P's effort is his most cohesive and best yet. SP would have had a classic had he left a couple of songs on the cutting-room floor.

10. Street Love by Lloyd
People slept on Irv Gotti's lil' homie, but I burned this album up so much at the top of the year. Lloyd had a great album and is definitely going to have a long career. He should have made videos for "I Don't Mind" and "Certified"!

Honorable Mentions

The Solution by Beanie Sigel
From Nothin' to Somethin' by Fabolous
Gangsta Grillz: The Album by DJ Drama

Jayson Rodriguez, hip-hop reporter: Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums

1. Graduation by Kanye West
His debut was all about proving himself as a lyricist, and his sophomore set upped the ante in terms of hip-hop production. So what did 'Ye do the third time around? He handily filled in all the blanks missing from his much-decorated résumé. Street banger? Check: "Can't Tell Me Nothing." Stadium anthem? Check: "Stronger." He made more than just a "Big Brother" proud.

2. American Gangster by Jay-Z
Say what you will about Kingdom Come, Hov's last proper set, but hand that album to any other Brooklyn, New York, hustler/rapper and accolades would rain down. Jay has set his own bar so high that his competition is his illustrious past. So for "American Gangster" he channeled his younger days and Young Hov reminded us all just how witty, charismatic and skillful he really is. Sweeeeet.

3. As I Am by Alicia Keys
From 'round-the-way girl to stunning young woman to one of the most important voices in music around the world, A. Keys as evolved into a passionate, thought-provoking songstress who is as comfortable rallying against injustice as she is doting over love lost. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" will make a thug turn teary-eyed.

4. Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
While most singers talk about it, Ms. Winehouse lives it. More than most rappers, her heart-wrenching songs about the trials of love are only amplified by her headline-grabbing antics with her boyfriend-turned-husband, Blake Fielder-Civil. Never did art come alive so vividly this year.

5. Finding Forever by Common
More compact, focused and condense than his previous effort with Kanye West, the 2005's heralded Be, Com Sense proved to be just as sharp on FF and brought just the right balance of his lyrical insight from the past coupled with his more recently developed global perspective.

6. Return of the Mac by Prodigy
P's bone-chilling rhymes over producer Alchemist's soul-drenched beats did as much as any album in the past five years to bring vintage New York rap back into consciousness. Big Apple upstarts, take notice.

7. Street Love by Lloyd
Little Lloyd proved his mettle to the Inc. camp with this one, temporarily (or maybe not?) becoming the top dog in Irv Gotti's house. Lush songs like his lead single, "You," with its saccharine-sweet melody hit big, but album cuts like "Hazel" and "Certified" bring depth to Lloyd's song catalog and show his light has only just begun to shine.

8. Just Like You by Keyshia Cole
The big-ticket lead single, "Let It Go" (featuring Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim), didn't exactly pan out as a summertime smash, but the follow-up, "Shoulda Let You Go," has all the traits K. Cole fans love about the ghetto songbird: sassy, vulnerable and full of courage.

9. The Big Doe Rehab by Ghostface Killah
Tony Starks has been carrying the Wu-Tang legacy on his back for so long now, it's downright amazing he hasn't crumbled from the pressure. Instead, even amid some pretty blistering bickering going on between him and the rest of his Shaolin brethren, Ghost pulls out another classic.

10. Double Up by R. Kelly
He started out as an oversexed crooner who seemed to rely on that crutch like a one-legged man. But Kells has managed to reinvent himself more times than Madonna and Mary J. Blige combined. This collection of sensual, sexual, hillerical (if he can name a song "The Zoo," I can use the word "hillerical"), and hip-hop-heavy tracks only showcases his troubled genius more than ever.

Honorable Mentions

Da Drought 3 mixtape by Lil Wayne
T.I. vs. T.I.P. by T.I.
Eardrum by Talib Kweli
Young Jeezy Presents USDA: Cold Summer - The Authorized Mixtape by USDA
Rich Boy by Rich Boy

Rahman Dukes, senior producer

1. Graduation by Kanye West
During the taping of the Hottest MCs in the Game in July, I scolded my Hip-Hop Brain Trust peers for not bumping up Kanye higher on the list. And that was only based off "Can't Tell Me Nothing" — not to mention I wasn't even feeling "Stronger" like that. But sure enough, when Graduation leaked, it was a proven fact 'Ye would be beating out the rest of the competition — including his "Big Brother"! — for best hip-hop album of '07.

2. Finding Forever by Common
Hands-down, Common's best album to date. J Dilla's passing and Kanye's beats truly inspired Com on Finding. Common had a helluva year on the movies front too, appearing in both "Smokin' Aces" and "American Gangster." Any hip-hop head will agree the Chi-town lyricist is at the top of his game.

3. From Nothin' to Somethin' by Fabolous
Can I start by saying I was the first MTV employee to bring Fab into our offices? Back then, I told him he was a star. His move to Def Jam proved to be a smart one. Shout out to DJ Clue and Desert Storm. "Make Me Better" was undoubtedly one of the biggest hits of the year, but the rest of the album packed more heat than them young boys on an episode of "The Wire." "Gangsta Don't Play" (featuring Junior Reid), "Yep, I'm Back" and "Joke's on You" (featuring Pusha-T) ... I can go on. Kudos, Fab!

4. American Gangster by Jay-Z
Let the hate begin. At the first listen, I wasn't impressed with Jay's second "comeback" album. He was definitely spitting Reasonable Doubt-style, but the beats didn't quite match the content. But after taking one good listen to "Say Hello," where he goes: "And if Al Sharpton is speaking for me/ Somebody get him the word and tell him I don't approve/ Tell him I'll remove the curses/ If you tell me our schools gon' be perfect/ When Jena Six don't exist/ Tell him that's when I'll stop saying b---h — B---H!" Now that's what I'm talking about: hip-hop giants tackling more serious issues in their raps instead of telling me why they're flyer than kids. I was so impressed by that line that I sent it to Sharpton's VP of Communications.

5. The Big Doe Rehab by Ghostface Killah
Just when you thought Tony Starks was making a bad move by releasing another album, he showed us once again why he's the Wally Champ. With the major disappointment of Wu-Tang Clan's 8 Diagrams album, Ghost outlines exactly why he's needed in the rap game.

6. Curtis by 50 Cent
Queens all day! The Kanye vs. 50 battle clearly backfired on the controversy king, and his war of words with Cam'ron clouded things a bit leading up to his release. Whoever gave Curtis the green light to call his album Curtis should be served with a pink slip. But don't get it twisted: Fif had joints on Curtis, and the Sabrina's Baby Boy mixtape G-Unit put out filled the void of gutter hip-hop tracks that were missing on his studio release.

7. Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman) by Styles P
Anything associated with the LOX is a go as far as I'm concerned. I'm a die-hard New York hip-hop head. Artists like Styles don't come quite often. He shows up for interviews on time, his music actually has substance, and he spits. With the flood of hip-hop albums dropping this quarter, Styles' stands out by far. Rap artists could learn a thing or two from the Yonkers, New York, native (hello Jadakiss.)

8. Free at Last by Freeway
So what he didn't crack 50,000 units in his effort's first week. So what he decided to pull in 50 Cent to co-executive produce the album alongside Jay-Z. So what he didn't have a video to support the album. Freeway may have lacked the promotion for Free at Last, but it doesn't change the fact the Philadelphia rap monster hasn't missed a beat.

9. T.I. vs .T.I.P. by T.I.
T.I.'s latest album didn't sit too well with his cult following, but it raised my antennae for someone not that familiar with his body of work. Even more, so he went gold in a week at a time when music artists are giving away their albums for free. For that alone he deserves a spot on my list.

10. The Real Testament by Plies
Shout out to my dude Saigon on this one. When he tells you to listen to an album, you listen. It took a cold day in Brooklyn and advice from the Abandoned Nation Foundation member for me to realize Plies has a story to tell. If you're a fan of real hip-hop music, go get this album. Anyone who has witnessed one of Plies' live shows will tell ya the lil' homie has a movement behind him also.

Shaheem Reid, hip-hop editor: Top 10 Hip-Hop Singles

1. "I Get Money" by 50 Cent
The best beat of the year, unbridled stunting, endless riches and unplanned parenting to boot: "Have a baby by me, baby, be a millionaire/ I'll write the check before the baby comes, who the f--- cares."

2. "Can't Tell Me Nothing" by Kanye West
Easily the most relatable song of the year. Everybody needs to get their money right. Even A-Rod wanted more dough in 2007, and he was getting over $25 million a year. Kanye's hardest street anthem to date and, line by line, one of his most lyrical songs ever.

3. "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" by UGK (featuring Outkast)
Andre 3000's verse alone is worth the price of admission, although Pimp C probably rides the track the best (R.I.P. Sweet Jones!). Both legendary hip-hop pairs proved that skills and passion don't necessarily deteriorate over the years.

4. "Make Me Better" by Fabolous (featuring Ne-Yo)
It's fly to love your girl. Scratch that, it's fly to love your girl and not be ashamed to tell her and the world she has you open. At least, that's what Fab and Ne-Yo made everyone believe with their monster duet.

5. "It's Me B---hes" remix by Swizz Beatz (featuring Lil Wayne, Jadakiss and R. Kelly)
Arguably the best rapper (Wayne), producer (Swizz) and singer (Kelly) in 2007 are featured on this track. No way to lose on this one. Of all the millions of Lil Wayne verses this year, this had to be the most fun to listen to. Weezy rapped in different languages, vernaculars and switched flows in less than 30 seconds.

6. "We Takin' Over" by DJ Khaled (featuring T.I., Rick Ross, Akon, Lil Wayne, Baby and Fat Joe)
With a murderers'-row lineup like this, who dared dispute Khaled's claim that "We da besss!"? Each MC tried to outdo the other, but everyone kept the competition friendly. Also, with this song, Khaled kicked off a plethora of songs featuring a combination of all-star guests.

7. "Duffle Bag Boy" by Playaz Circle (featuring Lil Wayne)
So compelling, it almost felt biblical. Tity Boi and Dolla Boy's ode to corner couriers had the most legs on our list, terrorizing the underground for months until it recently erupted everywhere. Birdman Jr.'s hook captivated every club.

8. "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is ...)" by Jay-Z
He's in the howww, howww, howwwse! You know you have a hit on your hands when you have black kids from the 'hood yelling, "L'chaim!" Hov's celebratory second single from American Gangster was delivered with excitingly complicated wordplay and the Jigga's trademark royal swagger. That type of talk is reserved only for the bosses.

9. "My Drink N' My 2 Step" by Cassidy
Besides a dance partner, what else do you really need in a club besides what Cassidy called out in this song title? The Philadelphia MC snuck in a serious story about his downfall and comeback while drinking Patrón and enlisting Swizz Beatz for a simplistic but enlivening chorus.

10. "Wipe Me Down" by Lil Boosie, Webbie and Foxx
"Shoulders, chest, pants, shoes." Who knew you could get so clean being dirty? Down-bottom bravado and bracing bass help the Trill Fam fortify their spots as popular Southern young guns.

Shaheem Reid, hip-hop editor: Hip-Hop Catchphrases

1. "(Insert superhero's name here) that ho/ You'll!"
After Soulja Boy blew up with his "Crank That" lyric "Superman that ho," he spawned a nation of biters who made songs with choruses that replaced the Man of Steel with his day-saving peers such as Batman, Spider-man, Wolverine and the always-slept-on Aquaman.

2. "We da besssss!"
DJ Khaled once again proved that DJs don't have to stay in the background, wearing headphones while scratching records. He turned himself into a bona-fied hip-hop brand name this year. "We" is probably the most apropos thing he could have said, because he brought together so many artists for his singles "We Takin' Over," "Brown Paper Bag" and the remix to "I'm So Hood." He probably got offers to book talent for the Grammy Awards.

3. "Showwwtime"
Why? Well after the MTV News team shot a special segment called "A Day in the Life of Swizz Beatz," just about half the people in our newsroom started saying it. Plus, Swizz had so many hits this year, you really couldn't escape his slogan.

4. "Throw some D's on that b---h."
All praises go to Rich Boy for not only giving us a fresh song with a hot hook, but for giving us an instant LOL punch line whenever we talked about something that needed to be fixed or pimped out. Sometimes it didn't even have anything to do with a car. You got a bad perm from the hairdresser? "Throw some D's on that b---h." They put mustard on your sandwich instead of mayonnaise? "Throw some D's on That b---h." Equally nonsensical and humorous.

5. "Party like a rock star."
Kanye West, Lil Wayne, the Diplomats — a bunch of hip-hop acts were bringing that rock mentality and swagger to rap this year. And it didn't hurt that the Shop Boyz's hit record "Party Like a Rockstar" exploded, either.

6. "Currr-tisss"
Oh, the hilarity started by Cam'ron. He began dissing 50 Cent by starting an antagonizing name-calling campaign on the Internet. 50, ever the business-minded messiah, figured that there's no harm in people calling him by the name his momma gave him and turned it into the platinum-plus Curtis.

7. "This is why I'm hot."
Unfortunately MIMS' flame fizzled when his "This Is Why I'm Hot" single died down, but boy was he running with it when the record was at its peak. You could see the saying on T-shirts, blogs and coming out of the mouths of your favorite celebrities. Well, maybe you couldn't really see the words coming out of their mouths, but you catch our drift.

8. "A bay bay"
Originally we thought this was some crass-but-catchy pickup line, but after closer scrutiny — well, maybe just after a five-minute interview with Hurricane Chris — we found out it was just his way of paying homage to one of the Louisiana rapper's hometown DJs, Hollywood Bay Bay.

9. "L'chaim"
Cheers! Don't think for one second you had to stack your paper illegally to revel in Jay-Z's "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is ...)," which is colored with black bar mitzvahs, apples from a rare orchard, Britney Spears references and generous hustlers. At the height of the celebration, everybody in the club yells out, "L'chaim!"

10. "My Man"
Credit Denzel Washington for this one: He said he came up with his "American Gangster" character Frank Lucas' now-infamous two words. Although his smile can be as bright as all of Times Square, when you hear him say that in the movie — look out.

Shaheem Reid, hip-hop editor: Hip-Hop Dances

1. Every dance Beyoncé did in her "Get Me Bodied" video
We never heard of most of the dances before the video hit, but B was doing 'em and looked great. And shout-out to Solange for getting in there too. We see you!

2. The Superman
Soulja Boy's "Crank That" launched a laundry list of copycats, from the Army Boy to the Batman. But it was his thinly veiled line about the Superman that lit the Internet on fire like Tay Zonday.

3. Whatever Chris Brown was doing at the VMAs
He leaped onto tabletops in a single bound, channeled a young Mike Jack, and damn near burst out of viewers' TV sets with his electrifying moves. And he barely broke a sweat.

4. Toe Wop
Lil Mama brought this dance to life with her video for "Lip Gloss." Another dance fresh from the streets of Harlem, New York, this one is mixed with some hand movements from "Grease."

5. 2 Step
It ain't the same ol' two-step, that's for sure. The frenetic bounce number has more steps than the pyramids, but with DJ Unk's track of the same name, it doesn't look like this one is going away anytime soon.

6. The "I Get Money" Dance
It's official: Tony Yayo has replaced Dame Dash as hip-hop's top club/video shaker. Fif's success never made him feel more alive.

7. Pop, Lock and Drop It
Huey got love nationwide for this booty-bouncing, trunk-rattling (get it?) step.

8. Wipe Me Down
Brush that dirt off your shoulders. And your chest, pants and shoes while you're at it. Flossin' was never so much fun down South.

9. "Aunt Jackie"
Jason Fox and his Harlem crew brought the old-school boogie back for the kiddies with this kick-step.

10. The Wu-Tang
We're still not sure why in the world this crazy dance would be named after our favorite Shaolin soldiers, but trust us — these moves have nothing to do with the group. Take the funky chicken, the Pee Wee Herman, Hillbilly Jim's foot shuffles and you have half the dance down pat.

• 50 Cent
• Kanye West
• UGK
• OutKast
• Fabolous

Jay-Z's <i>American Gangster</i>
Photo: Roc-A-Fella

Wednesday (November 14) marks a professional milestone for hip-hop heavyweight Jay-Z. With 425,000 copies of his latest release, American Gangster, flying off shelves during its first week, the MC/ Def Jam president has earned himself the 10th chart-topping debut of his career.

Now, while that's certainly an impressive feat for any artist these days, it's an even more monumental achievement than you'd think. Thanks to American Gangster, a concept album inspired by the Ridley Scott-directed film of the same name, Jay's now tied with Elvis Presley in second place for most career #1 albums; only the Beatles have more, with 19 overall.

And to think the man wanted to retire after 2003's The Black Album.

Gangster is Jay-Z's second full-length project in a year's time, following up 2006's comeback album, Kingdom Come. Both The Black Album and Kingdom Come entered the Billboard top 200 at #1, with 463,000 and 680,000 scans, respectively. According to SoundScan, Hov has had seven other studio offerings open at the chart's peak, including 1998's Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life (with 352,200 scans); 1999's Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter (462,700); 2000's The Dynasty: Roc la Familia (557,800); 2001's The Blueprint (426,500); 2002's The Blueprint 2: The Gift & the Curse (545,200); his 2004 collaboration with R. Kelly, Unfinished Business (215,000); and 2004's Collision Course, a mash-up set featuring Linkin Park (368,300).

While most figured Jay was a lock for the #1 position on next week's chart, some put their money on R&B heartthrob Chris Brown's sophomore release Exclusive to deliver a mind-bending upset — after all, the ladies do love him. Others had Garth Brooks' two-CD/ DVD collection The Ultimate Hits finishing in first. Of course, they were wrong. In fact, Jay's closest competitor was last week's #1, the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden, which sold another 359,300 copies for the chart's #2 opening. Brooks' best-of generated 351,800 scans to open at #3, while Brown's LP sold 294,500 units and follows in the #4 spot.

Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride slipped two spots to #5, with sales reported at 120,780, and at #6, up two places from the previous week, is Josh Groban's Noël with 115,600 copies sold. Britney Spears' Blackout nosedives five positions to #7, selling another 86,700 units (second-week sales of the disc suffered a 70 percent decline), while Taylor Swift's self-titled LP follows at #8 with 67,600 scans.

All told, five new releases entered next week's chart in the prestigious top 10, including Angels & Airwaves' sophomore LP, I-Empire, which sold 66,500 copies to take the #9 slot, and Cassidy's first post-prison outing, B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story, which scanned 63,200 copies to debut at #10. Meanwhile, a dozen other titles are making their first appearances on the chart this week, including Latin reggaetón duo Wisin & Yandel's Los Extraterrestres, which enters at #14 with 52,600 copies sold. Country act Little Big Town follow at #24, selling 34,600 copies of their new one, A Place to Land, while the soundtrack to "American Gangster" takes the #36 spot with 21,000 scans.

Still on Top: The Greatest Hits, the third compilation album to be issued by Van Morrison in 2007, debuts at #48 with 17,900 copies snatched up, while Jimmy Buffett's Live in Anguilla sold 15,350 copies to enter at #54. Hvarf/Heim, Sigur Rós' double-CD compilation, follows at #58 with 14,500 scans, and coming in at #85 with 10,500 copies sold is Demon Hunter's Storm the Gates of Hell. Nas' Greatest Hits comes in at #124 with 6,900 sold.

Nonpoint return from obscurity at the #130 position, having sold 6,400 copies of their new one, Vengeance, while Aliados de la Sierra's Con Los Ojos Cerrados follows at #137 with 6,000 scans. American songstress Sara Groves' Tell Me What You Know debuts at #194 with 4,300 scans, and at #196, with sales of 4,200, it's Andrea Bocelli's The Best of Andrea Bocelli: Vivere.

• Jay-Z, Nas, Beanie Sigel, LeBron James, More Live At The Apollo Theatre

• Jay-Z
• Chris Brown
• Eagles
• Carrie Underwood
• Angels & Airwaves

Jay-Z's <i>American Gangster</i>
Photo: Roc-A-Fella

With 55 days left in the year, here's your quintessential guide to new releases this week ...

The Top Five:

Jay-Z's American Gangster: Like Roger Clemens, Jay keeps coming back out of retirement so he can play again — and he decides on his own watch when it's best to do so. While it's not officially connected with the film of the same name, his perfectly timed American Gangster is sure to enjoy some of the runoff from the film's marketing — did you forget that Jay is a businessman? For proof of how much the music mogul's LP has already been talked about, look no further than Jim Jones, who has already put together a mixtape in response, Harlem's American Gangsta. Jay's sweetheart, Beyoncé, joins him on the concept album, as do Diddy, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Pharrell, Beanie Sigel, Jermaine Dupri, Bilal, Nas and more.

Chris Brown's Exclusive: Like Jay, fast-rising R&B singer Brown has also been doubling up on publicity — while his new album drops this week, he's going to be chasing it with the November 21 flick "This Christmas." "I am still going to keep it so my younger fans can continue to listen to my music, but I got a couple of joints on there that's for some of the older people," he previously told MTV News of his intentions for the album. And while that supposed Michael Jackson collaboration didn't make it onto the disc, Lil Wayne, Game, Big Boi, Will.I.Am and T-Pain are on the guest list, with Swizz Beatz, Dre & Vidal, Scott Storch and others lending their production talents too. Don't miss the limited-edition version, which also contains a DVD.

Cassidy's B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story: "It's called B.A.R.S. 'cause I was locked behind bars, I was known for spittin' bars and Barry Adrian Reese is my biological name, so I just felt like it was the perfect title," the rapper recently told MTV News about his new release. Cass already has a club monster on his hands in "My Drink N' My 2 Step" — adding to the album hype, a remix of the track featuring Kanye West, Ne-Yo and Swizz Beatz has also already slipped out, as has the second single, "Innocent Man" (featuring Mark Morrison). John Legend also plays a role on the album, as a guest star on "Celebration."

Angels & Airwaves' I-Empire: That's a lot of hip-hop weight for one week, but repping the rock front is Tom DeLonge's band, which is putting out its second album this week. With an album cover resembling some '80s space movie for kids and a title that already feels outdated, but as DeLonge insisted to MTV News, the band has a "grand vision." A&A fans might want to head over to Best Buy to pick up the package — the version the retail chain is selling has bonus acoustic versions of "Do It for Me Now" and "Everything's Magic."

Bright Eyes' Motion Sickness: Live Recordings: The lauded folk-rock group has issued every one of its releases through Saddle Creek, an indie label out of Omaha, Nebraska, that owes its very existence to the band. But Conor Oberst decided to release their new concert effort on the Team Love label he co-founded in 2003. The 15-track CD — the sixth one Team Love has put out so far — overviews Bright Eyes' early-2005 tours in support of I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning and features a pair of noteworthy cover songs, of Feist's "Mushaboom" and Elliott Smith's "The Biggest Lie."

Five Face-Offs:

Nas and Nazareth: The rapper's controversial new album is still more than a month away, but fans can whet their appetite this week with Greatest Hits, which has two new tracks: "Less Than an Hour," the theme to "Rush Hour 3"; and "Surviving the Times," which features Cee-Lo. But while Nas is going to have to elbow past Jay-Z and Cassidy this week, he should beware another opponent who isn't a rapper: cheesy hard-rock vets Nazareth, whose Hair of the Dog - Live album is getting reissued this week in remastered form.

Ashley Tisdale and the Who: If you never see Nas and Nazareth mentioned in the same sentence, try this one on for size: both the "High School Musical" star and the classic-rock vets are telling tales this week. "There's Something About Ashley: The Story of Headstrong" traces Tisdale's growth from when the writing process for her debut album began through its release and her subsequent tour with the "HSM" gang. "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" follows the band throughout its entire career and features interviews with not just the bandmembers but with fans U2, Eddie Vedder and others as well. Fittingly, the Who's two-DVD set runs just slightly longer than Tisdale's: It's 237 minutes long, while hers is roughly an hour.

Ricky Martin and Imani Coppola: Ricky Martin has an interesting strategy this week. He's putting out three versions of his Live: Black & White Tour concert set — a CD, a DVD and a combined CD-plus-DVD package — and yet, according to the Sony Music store, the standalone DVD actually retails for four bucks more than the CD-plus-DVD edition. Curiously, singer/violinist Imani Coppola drops The Black & White Album this week via Mike Patton's Ipecac label (she toured with his Peeping Tom collective). And, believe it or not, the Hives' Black and White Album drops next week.

Demon Hunter and Monster Magnet: One heavy-rock band is battling evil creatures this week while the other is attracting them. Storm the Gates of Hell, the fourth album by Christian metal band Demon Hunter, features a DVD and two bonus tracks on select editions — "No Reason to Exist" and "Grand Finale" — while MM's 4-Way Diablo has 13 doses of slabby goodness.

Kasper Bjørke and Kim Hiorthøy: Two artists with strokes in their names releasing albums the same week? Who woulda thunk it?

Song Title of the Week:

"Candy Sun Smiles" from Oh Astro's Champions of Wonder

Album Cover of the Week:

Kasper Bjørke's In Gumbo

New Releases:

· 60 Watt Kid - 60 Watt Kid (Absolutely Kosher)
· Angels & Airwaves - I-Empire (Geffen) [Buy Now]
Read: "Angels & Airwaves' Revolution Has Begun — Just Wait 29 Years, Tom DeLonge Insists"
· Arp - In Light (Smalltown Supersound)
· Barenaked Ladies - Talk to the Hand: Live in Michigan (enhanced; Shout! Factory) [Buy Now]
· Bear in Heaven - Red Bloom of the Boom (Hometapes)
· Kasper Bjørke - In Gumbo (Plant Music / Defend Distribution)
· Black Swans - Change (digipak; La Société Expéditionnaire)
· Mike Bones - The Sky Behind the Sea (The Social Registry)
· Bottomless Pit - Hammer of the Gods (Comedy Minus One)
· Bright Eyes - Motion Sickness: Live Recordings (Team Love) [Buy Now]
· Chris Brown - Exclusive (deluxe edition comes with DVD; Jive) [Buy Now]
Read: "Pharrell, Will.I.Am Joining Chris Brown's Exclusive Club"
· Buckethead - The Elephant Man's Alarm Clock (TDRS) [Buy Now]
· Jimmy Buffett - Live in Anguilla (two CDs and one DVD; Mailboat) [Buy Now]
· By the End of Tonight + Tera Malos - Complex Full of Phantoms (Temporary Residence)
· Captain & Tennille - The Secret of Christmas (Retroactive Entertainment)
· Cassidy - B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story (enhanced; RCA) [Buy Now]
Read: "Cassidy Talks About Car Crash, Fatal Gunfight — And Explains Why He's Better Than Ever"
· Citay - Little Kingdom (Dead Oceans)
· The Classic Crime - Seattle Sessions (EP; Tooth & Nail) [Buy Now]
· Clipd Beaks - Hoarse Lords (Lovepump United)
· Imani Coppola - The Black & White Album (Ipecac)
· Cops - Free Electricity (Control Group)
· Demon Hunter - Storm the Gates of Hell (also available as a CD/DVD set or Deluxe Fan Edition; Solid State) [Buy Now]
· Dion - Son of Skip James (Verve Forecast)
· The Dream Jam Band - The Dream Jam Band (two CDs; Dream Jam Band)
· Dri - Smoke Rings (Range Life) [Buy Now]
· The Drift - Ceiling Sky (live; Temporary Residence)
· Alex Dupree & the Trapdoor Band - Los Meridanzas (Belle City Pop)
· Dust Galaxy - Dust Galaxy (Eighteenth Street)
· Einstürzende Neubauten - Alles Weider Offen (Potomak) [Buy Now]
· El Capitan - Stickeen (Grass Roots)
· Five for Fighting - Back Country Live (special edition comes with DVD; Columbia) [Buy Now]
· The Frantic - Audio & Murder (Empyrean)
· Rob Gee - Rob Gee (Rock Ridge)
· God Forbid - Sickness and Misery (Koch) [Buy Now]
· Grizzly Bear - Friend (Warp) [Buy Now]
· Sara Groves - Tell Me What You Know (INO/Columbia)
· Kim Hiorthøy - My Last Day (Smalltown Supersound)
· Infamous Mobb - Reality Rap (Sure Shot) [Buy Now]
· Jeremy Jay -- A Place Where We Could Go (EP; K)
· Jay-Z - American Gangster (Roc-A-Fella) [Buy Now]
Read: "Jay-Z's American Gangster: A Guided Tour By Jigga, Jermaine Dupri, Pharrell And Others"
· Kanekoa - Under the Coconut Sky (Artist Garage)
· Lauren Kennedy - Here and Now (PS Classics)
· Brad Laner - Neighbor Singing (digipak; Hometapes)
· Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - A Very Ping Pong Christmas: Funky Treats From Santa's Bag (Ubiquity)
· Little Big Town - A Place to Land (Equity) [Buy Now]
· London After Midnight - Violent Acts of Beauty (limited-edition version also available; Metropolis)
· Ricky Martin - Live: Black & White Tour (also available with DVD; Sony International) [Buy Now]
· Minipop - New Hope (Take Root)
· Monster Magnet - 4-Way Diablo (SPV) [Buy Now]
· The Mother Truckers - Broke, Not Broken (Funzalo)
· Neomenia - Luna Nueva (Locomotive)
· Nonpoint - Vengeance (Bieler Bros.) [Buy Now]
· Oh Astro - Champions of Wonder (Illegal Art)
· Pedro - You, Me & Everyone (Mush)
· The Pine Hill Haints -- Ghost Dance (K)
· John Sebastian/ David Grisman - Satisfied (live; Acoustic Disc)
· Statik Selektah - Spell My Name Right (The Album) (Showoff/Brick)
· Sigur Rós - Hvarf/Heim (with DVD; XL Recordings) [Buy Now]
· Silent Fate - The Autumn Machine (TMS)
· Sissel - Northern Lights (Denon)
· Rick Springfield - Christmas With You (Gomer) [Buy Now]
· Sylver - Cross Roads (Toucan Cove)
· Tokyo Police Club - Smith (EP; Paper Bag) [Buy Now]
· The Valley Arena - Sesso Vita (SideCho)
· White Williams - Smoke (TigerBeat6)
· White, Blue, Yellow and Clouds - Introducing: White, Blue, Yellow and Clouds (I and Ear)
· Richard Youngs - Autumn Response (Jagjaguwar)
· Zookeeper - Becoming All Things (Belle City Pop)
· Various artists - A Christmas Celtic Sojourn Live (Rounder)
· Various artists - "Downtown 81" soundtrack (Recall)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· Aerosmith - 20th Century Masters: The Best of Aerosmith - The Millennium Collection (Geffen/UMe)
· Garth Brooks - The Ultimate Hits (two CDs and one DVD; Pearl)
· David Byrne - The Knee Plays (two CDs; Nonesuch)
· Neko Case - Black Listed (Anti-) and Fox Confessor Brings the Flood (with bonus CD; Anti-)
· Neko Case & Her Boyfriends - Furnace Room Lullaby (Anti-)
· Nat King Cole - Cole Español/More Cole Español; Just One of Those Things/ Let's Face the Music; Love Is the Thing/ Where Did Everyone Go?; Nat King Cole Sings for Two in Love/ Ballads of the Day; Penthouse Serenade/ The Piano Style of Nat King Cole; Ramblin' Rose/ Dear Lonely Hearts; Songs From St. Louis Blues/ Looking Back; The Touch of Your Lips/ I Don't Want to Be Hurt Anymore; Welcome to the Club/ Tell Me All about Yourself (Collector's Choice)
· Dr. Dre - Death Row Classics: Chronicles - Deluxe (two CDs; Death Row/ Koch)
· Excessive Force - Gentle Death (Metropolis)
· Lisa Gerrard - The Very Best of Lisa Gerrard (4AD)
· Gram Parsons - Archives Volume One: Gram Parsons With the Flying Burrito Brothers Live at the Avalon Ballroom 1969 (Amoeba)
· Merle Haggard - Legends of American Music: Merle Haggard - The Original Outlaw (three-CD box set; Time Life)
· Barrington Levy - Barrington Levy in Dub: The Lost Mixes From King Tubby's Studio (Cooking Vinyl)
· George Lynch - Guitar Slinger (Cleopatra)
· Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full (deluxe edition with DVD; Hear Music)
· Van Morrison - Still on Top: The Greatest Hits (Hip-O/Ume)
· Moby Grape - Moby Grape '69 and Truly Fine Citizen (Sundazed)
· Nas - Greatest Hits (Columbia)
· Nazareth - Hair of the Dog - Live (Cleopatra)
· Operation Ivy - Operation Ivy (Epitaph)
· Teddy Pendergrass - The Essential Teddy Pendergrass (two CDs; Philadelphia International Records/ Legacy)
· Plain White T's - Stop (Fearless)
· Lou Rawls - The Essential Lou Rawls (two CDs; Philadelphia International Records/ Legacy)
· Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift (with DVD; Big Machine)
· Bobb Trimble - Harvest of Dreams and Iron Curtain Innocence (Secretly Canadian)
· Upsetters - Upsetters 14 Dub Blackboard Jungle (Cooking Vinyl)
· Stevie Ray Vaughan & Friends - Solos, Sessions & Encores (Epic/Legacy)
· Russell Watson - The Voice: The Ultimate Collection (Decca)
· John Williams - The Music of Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition (Sony Classical)
· Robin & Linda Williams - Radio Songs (Red House)
· Various artists - 100 Greatest TV Themes, Vol 2 (four-CD box set; Silva)
· Various artists - An Introduction to Blues Harp (Fuel)
· Various artists - Putumayo Presents: Tango Around the World (Putumayo World Music)
· Various artists - Ultra 2008 (two CDs; Ultra)

Music DVDs:

· Barenaked Ladies - "Talk to the Hand: Live in Michigan" (Shout! Factory)
· Blackfield - "Black Live in New York City" (Koch)
· Michael Bolton - "Best of Michael Bolton Live" (Adrenaline)
· Five for Fighting - "Back Country Live" (Columbia)
· Barry Manilow - "The First Television Specials" (five-DVD box set; Rhino/ Stiletto New Media)
· Ricky Martin - "Live: Black & White Tour" (Sony International)
· Oasis - "Lord Don't Slow Me Down" (two DVDs; Hip-O)
· Keali'I Reichel - "Kukahi: Keali'I Reichel Live in Concert" (also available in HD format; Punahele Productions)
· The Rolling Stones - "Just for the Record" (five DVDs; Passport)
· Ashley Tisdale - "There's Something About Ashley: The Story of Headstrong" (Reprise)
· Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - "Pride and Joy" (Epic/Legacy)
· Paul Weller - "As Is Now" (Adrenaline)
· The Who - "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" (Universal)
· Andy Williams - "The Best of the Andy Williams Show" (Time Life)
· Various artists - "Bang Your Head" (two DVDs; Locomotive)
· Various artists - "The Best of the Jammys, Volume Two" (Image)

Digital Releases:

· A.P. - Still Naughty (All Bets Down)
· Blue Scholars - Joe Metro EP (MassLine/Rawkus)
· Cy Curnin - The Returning Sun (self-released)
· Great Northern - Sleepy Eepee (EP; available exclusively on iTunes; physical release due in February; Eenie Meenie)
· Maoi - Carbon Dioxide (Kitty-Yo)
· Rhythm King and Her Friends - The Front of Luxury (Kitty-Yo)

Coming Attractions:

November 13:
· Alicia Keys - As I Am (J)
· The Killers - Sawdust (Island)
· Led Zeppelin - Mothership (also available with DVD; Atlantic)

November 20:
· Beyoncé - "The Beyoncé Experience Live" DVD (Columbia)
· Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City (digital-only reissue with bonus tracks; Vice) and Flux (digital-only EP; Vice)
· Daft Punk - Alive (enhanced two-CD deluxe edition; Virgin)
· Gorillaz - D-Sides (special two-CD, glossy-box edition due same day; Virgin)
· Nine Inch Nails - Y34RZ3R0R3MIX3D (with DVD; Interscope)

November 27:
· Christina Aguilera - "Back to Basics: Live" DVD (RCA)
· Common - ThisIsMe Then: The Best of Common (Relativity/Legacy)
· Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds: Deluxe Edition (with DVD; Jive)

• Britney Spears Falls Short Of #1; Jay-Z Prepares For Billboard Battle

• Jay-Z
• Chris Brown
• Cassidy
• Angels & Airwaves
• Ashley Tisdale

Cassidy
Photo: MTV News

The way Cassidy described the fatal April 2005 gunfight he was involved in sounds like something out of "The Bourne Ultimatum." He had moved to Philadelphia's quiet Providence Street right next door to his mother to escape the carnage that has often plagued the busier areas in his hometown. He just had a newborn son, so why not keep the whole family together? It was supposed to be peaceful and serene, a hideout from the craziness of the music biz as well as the streets.

But what happened on that day was catastrophic. His onetime close friend, 22-year-old Desmond Hawkins, was part of an entourage of men who Cassidy said were in a minivan, posted up in a very narrow alleyway behind Cass' house, in front of his garage. When Cassidy and his friends pulled up in a Yukon Denali, gunfire erupted. Several dozen bullets lay on the ground, in cars, even in some people's homes.

"Since the minivan was parked, there was no way to get past it," Cassidy said, standing in the alley, replaying the whole scenario. "You had to back up or turn around to get out. The dudes went through it ... boom, hit my house. I don't really wanna get into details, but at the end of the day, there were like 90 shells [lying all over]. My truck had holes in it, a bunch of driveways, windows, people's homes got shot up. Then there was also a bag found right here by the truck, a plastic bag found with a bunch of shells in it. The cases were the same shells that were fired. Eventually they got a warrant for the house I was living in, and they found an SK clip and a lot of bullets. The bullets they found were the same as the bullets in the house and in the bag."

Cassidy admits that the bullets the police found in his house belonged to him.

"That's the reason why they had a case against me," explained Cassidy, who served eight months in Philadelphia's Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility for Hawkins' death in the incident before being released in March 2006. "That's why I did the time for involuntary manslaughter. That's the reason why they said I was tied in. My team went through it with somebody, so they were my bullets, I'm not gonna deny that. But everything else, I don't wanna get into detail about. But that's why they even had a case, or I would've beat the case altogether.

"I don't have no regrets or remorse," he added. "I believe that everything happened for a reason. I don't believe that I initiated anything, I always tried to bring a solution to the table. The guy that died used to be my friend. I took him to Jamaica and places that people around here have never been, and maybe never even gonna go. I used to take him around for free. It cost money, but he was just cool with me. It's not like I used him for anything — he didn't rap, he didn't produce — I just did it off the love, so I definitely had love for him, and I'm definitely sad that it had to happen like that and wish it went a different way. At the end of the day, that's how it happened, and I just wanna send respect out to his family. Regardless, if either one of us could've made different decisions, they had nothing to do with it. I know they probably hurt from losing somebody in their family, so that's the only people I'd like to give respect out to. And if there's anything I could do to help them out, I'm willing to do it. I've never had a problem with no one in his family. I just was protecting myself, and that's why I'm able to be on the streets right now."

The court case was just the beginning of Cass' troubles. His life was put in jeopardy and almost lost once again when he was involved in a horrific car accident in October 2006. He was on his way to the studio and traveling with friends. Cassidy was the only one seriously injured. He still has a scar by his left eye that goes all the way around to the back of his head. There's a small dent in his head, and some of his hair hasn't grown back yet.

(Check out Cassidy's post-crash hospital photos here.)

"I was in a coma for about seven or eight days," he said. "And then they put me into a medicated coma, so that if I woke up I wouldn't be traumatized by what I went through. When I first woke up out of my coma, I had amnesia, so I couldn't really remember everything. I didn't have full amnesia; I could remember certain things. The only people I really knew were my mom, my son, people that's real close that you knew all your life. I knew their names but even certain experiences I couldn't remember at first. I couldn't remember none of my raps, even the songs I performed — 'Hotel,' 'I'm a Hustla,' none of that. The doctor told me that I suffered brain damage, but it was temporary, it wasn't permanent. So the same way it takes time for your body to heal, he said it's gonna take your brain time to heal."

The Philly rapper was informed it would take at least four to six weeks for his brain to get back to normal. After a month, he remembered everything — including his rhymes, of course.

"It was a crazy rap," he said about the first song he wrote coming off the hip-hop disabled list. "Actually, I think I put it out on a mixtape or something, but everyone was impressed. They were like, 'Wow, how did you come back from all of that and just write a rap and have it sound incredible? You might've just stepped it up even more.' It was hard for people to believe. Even family, people like Swizz [Beatz], were questioning if I was gonna be able to go in the studio again. He was asking the doctors questions [like that]. 'Cause at first it wasn't looking good, it wasn't looking like I was gonna be able to rap again."

Cassidy has quashed all questions about his comeback with another wave of heralded underground freestyles and his club monster "My Drink N' My 2 Step," the first single from his upcoming release, B.A.R.S.: The Barry Adrian Reese Story, which hits stores Tuesday. (The album title features his real name.)

"I didn't want to come back from my trials and tribulations and go too in depth because there wasn't time," he said about leading off with a party joint. "You know, my project wasn't gonna come yet, my album wasn't gonna be done, I wasn't gonna be on TV. I had to get my buzz back in the 'hood, because you can't just rely on one song, I'm attacking the 'hood, dropping freestyles — three, four, five freestyles every week. Not only do I have a successful radio song and a successful club song, but I've got a street-song smash. I wanted them to know that I went to jail, I wanted them to know that I got in the accident, but I still wanted them to have fun. It was summertime, people wanna go to the clubs, they wanna party."

Cassidy's second single, "Innocent Man," features an unbelievable — unbelievable as in where did he find him? — collaboration with Mark Morrison, who made the popular '90s jam "Return of the Mack."

"Swizz Beatz put something together," he said, sitting in the 609 Studios while Beanie Sigel and Freeway were listening to each other's music in another room. "We were fighting hard for it for a minute. It actually was a record that he already had out overseas similar to that with similar type of words, and we just flipped it around and did it our way. And, you know, dealing with Swizz, he has a lot of connects, so he put it together.

" 'Innocent Man,' " he added, " is talking about the situation I went through when I was locked up for the murder and two attempts. It talks about what I was going through and how I was feeling before it happened, after it happened, and how I feel now. I think it says a lot, and it tells you a lot about me. It's definitely going to be my second single because it brings my story to light. And this is what the album is based on — the Barry Reese story. I wanted to tell my story, my real life story, not just about being an entertainer, but the story about [being] Barry Reese."

Cassidy once again mixes up alter egos to start off the album, as he did on his I'm a Hustla album with "Problem vs. the Hustla." He goes at it with himself again on "The Hustla vs. B.A.R.S."

"That's just the intro, something I give the streets 'cause I really don't wanna battle nobody else because I feel as though I'll just be taking advantage of them because I'm so experienced," he bragged. "I know how to do this. And there's no one worth battling any more than myself. So I just do that on every album and go at myself, hard as anyone could ever go at me."

Other than Cass himself, John Legend is also featured on the album, on a track called "Celebrate."

"It's just a big record, man," Cassidy said. "I've always wanted to work with John Legend — he's a good artist. He has plenty of fans, and I've always loved how he puts emotion and feeling into his music. So we put together something crazy — big music. And it's something different, something that you're not used to hearing me do, and something you wouldn't expect from me. But we didn't do this together. He sent me the record with the hook already done. And then I did my verse and sent it back to him. But we did two records together. We did another record that Swizz produced called 'Searching,' but I just felt as though this record was the best for now."

On Tuesday, another banger from B.A.R.S. hit the streets: the remix to "My Drink N' My 2 Step" featuring Kanye West, Ne-Yo and Swizz.

"I got a flow that sits right next to Big, and all these old rappers don't know where the exit is," Kanye raps on the remix.

Ne-Yo laughs about men who have questioned his sexuality: "All these shots that I can't see straight, all these women around cats still saying he can't be straight/ Give me your girl and some platinum Patrón/ When she comes home, you can ask her, 'Is me straight?' "

"You know a lot of dudes say their album's hot, but then when you hear it, it's like, 'Eh,' so they come up with a gimmick to try to get you to buy it?" Cass said. "It's my third album. It's the best project I've ever put together. It's called B.A.R.S. 'cause I was locked behind bars, I was known for spittin' bars and Barry Adrian Reese is my biological name, so I just felt like it was the perfect title."

• Cassidy Ready To Tell His Story After A Tumultuous Two Years
• 'He Ain't As Hungry As Me'
• Cassidy Talks About Car Crash, Fatal Gunfight -- And Explains Why He's Better Than Ever

• Cassidy's Hospital Photos Revealed

• Cassidy
• Kanye West
• Ne-Yo

Photo: Dj Thoro/Big Mike

• Cassidy

Photo: Lenny S.

• Nas
• Jay-Z
• Wu-Tang Clan
• Cassidy

• Swizz Beatz
• Kanye West
• Pharrell Williams
• Eve
• Cassie

Photo: MTV News

• Lil Wayne
• Dr. Dre
• Stat Quo
• Cassidy
• Lloyd Banks

Raekwon
Photo: Matthew Peyton/ Getty Images

Even though it's at the top of the Billboard albums chart, Raekwon doesn't seem to be feeling Jay-Z's Kingdom Come. At the New York stop of the Rock the Bells tour on Tuesday night, the co-headliner told the audience in the middle of his set that he didn't care for Hova's new LP adding, "I don't give a f--- about him." The Chef did say he respects Jay's business acumen, though. Opening act Smif-N-Wessun brought out the whole Boot Camp Clik during their set, while Redman, the last performer of the night, took it all the way back to 1992's Whutt? Thee Album. He also played some new material with his Gilla House crew as Julito McCullum from "The Wire" and others stood in attendance. ...

Britney Spears will host New Year's Eve at the nightclub Pure in Las Vegas. "She's going to do the countdown, a champagne toast and watch the fireworks from the terrace," a club rep said. Nick Lachey will be holding the mic at Pure the night before to host a "goodbye 2006" party. Cheers. ... And while conflicting reports suggested Spears and Paris Hilton were in line to co-host the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, the show's spokesperson said late Wednesday (November 29) that neither is confirmed. In the meantime, however, Pharrell and Young Jeezy will join previously announced performers Gwen Stefani, Ludacris and the Killers for the ceremony, set to air Monday at 8 p.m. on Fox. ...

There's more Lachey news too: The sports enthusiast now has a professional team to call his own. On Wednesday, Lachey was announced as part of the new ownership group for the Tacoma Rainiers, the Washington state AAA affiliate of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners. Lachey was introduced at a press conference along with other representatives of the Schlegel Sports Group, a Dallas organization that already owns minor-league teams in Texas and Iowa. "When I was given the opportunity to purchase the Rainiers with [SSG founder] Kirby Schlegel, I jumped on it," Lachey said in a statement. "Baseball is a true passion of mine, Tacoma is a growing city and I have every intention of playing an active ownership role in the Rainiers as we continue to grow." ...

"Destiny's Child Groove" — a mobile-phone game featuring images of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — will pit players against game characters in a dance battle. The game — which includes "Survivor," "Bug a Boo," "Say My Name" and "Lose My Breath" — is due to roll out on cellular carriers in the winter. ... Tyrese is trying to put together a collaboration between himself, Mary J. Blige and Lauryn Hill that, he said, would find them "singing and rhyming all on the same record." In the meantime, his half-rap/half-R&B album, Alter Ego, is due December 12 and will feature Game, Lil Jon, David Banner, Method Man and R. Kelly, among others. ...

Chris Brown has been working on his second album for the past three weeks, including sessions with production team Dre & Vidal. "I think I am going to name the next album Graduation because I'm 18, last year of high school and stuff like that," he told MTV News. "I am still going to keep it so my younger fans can continue to listen to my music, but I got a couple of joints on there that's for some of the older people." ... Celebrity-covered tote bags featuring the faces of Ludacris, Avril Lavigne and Good Charlotte's Joel and Benji Madden are currently available for $5 at Aldo stores and YouthAIDS-Aldo.org. Proceeds from the bags — along with Hear, See, Speak campaign tag necklaces — support the efforts of the YouthAIDS initiative. ...

Hanson have released an Internet-exclusive song in recognition of World AIDS Day. "Great Divide," which was recorded on the group's trip to Africa this summer and features a South African children's choir, is available for download via iTunes. Proceeds from the song, priced at 99 cents, will benefit the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. ...The massive electronic-music gala Giant is returning to Los Angeles for its annual New Year's Eve. Now called Giant Maximus, the eight-hour event will boast three "big tops," under which Sasha & John Digweed, Armin van Buuren and other electronic heavyweights will spin. ...

DJ Clue will release The Professional, Part 3, the long-awaited follow-up to 2001's The Professional 2, on December 19. Kanye West and Fabolous appear on the first single, "Like This," while Snoop Dogg, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Game, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, M.O.P., Mobb Deep, Beanie Sigel, Cassidy, Styles P. and Jagged Edge also guest on the disc's tracks. ... Human-rights groups that expressed concern over Madonna's adoption of 1-year-old Malawian boy David Banda will have a say in the court's decision, The Associated Press reported. The judge who granted Madonna and husband Guy Richie an interim adoption last month — allowing the couple to take custody of the child and bring him to their London home — ruled Wednesday that rights organizations will have a say in the court's assessment of the couple, which is due in May. Under Malawian law, adoptive parents must remain in the country for an 18-month evaluation, a process that the rights groups say they are trying to protect in an effort to combat child exploitation. ...

The winners of YouTube's underground-band contest were announced on "Good Morning America" Wednesday morning. Nashville pop quintet Greenland nabbed Best Song honors for their tune "The Way It Is"; Maldroid's A-Ha-inspired "He Said, She Said" clip earned them Best Music Video; Los Angeles hip-hop/soul collective Ostrich Head notched Best Creative Work for "Freak Show Carnival"; and Philadelphia rockers Pawnshop Rose landed Best Live Performance for "Gets So Hard." Among the prizes were Gibson instruments, trips to NYC and more. ... The Matches, I Am Ghost, Escape the Fate and the Higher are heading out next year to support the punk label the bands currently call home. The 2007 Epitaph Tour starts February 1 in San Diego and winds down March 18 in Las Vegas. ...

"Pelt-wearing party girl" Nicole Richie tops the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' worst-dressed list for 2006. Actresses Ashley Olsen, Christina Ricci and Eva Longoria were also named for wearing fur. Missing from this year's list is PETA's 2005 worst-dressed celebrity, Paris Hilton, who said she's had a change of heart since watching a fur-trade exposé, according to the organization. ... My Morning Jacket, the New Pornographers and Cat Power have been added to the fifth annual Langerado Music Festival, held in Sunrise, Florida, from March 9-11. O.A.R., Matisyahu, Cut Chemist, the Hold Steady, Widespread Panic and former Phish frontman Trey Anastasio are also on the bill.

11.28.2006

Hilary and Joel are no longer an item. Madden confirmed to MTV News on Tuesday (November 28) that his relationship with Duff is over. He said there are no hard feelings between the two, and that he is focusing his energy on Good Charlotte's Good Morning Revival, due next year. ...

Game and Snoop Dogg are in talks to co-headline a second How the West Was One Tour. "We have to get the paperwork right and the money and the promoters and the agents and all that stuff, but once we figure that out, we will hit it," Game said. And speaking of the rapper, he's thrilled with the reviews Doctor's Advocate has earned. "As long they love the record then I'm good," he said. "I don't care about being #1 or #2, it's just about making a good record, making classic music and having longevity in hip-hop." The album recently opened at #1 on the Billboard albums chart, with 358,000 copies sold. ...

Fergie will perform on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2007" as well as host the Hollywood portion of the event. Natasha Bedingfield and Meat Loaf will also perform in Hollywood. ... Another Black Eyed Pea, founding member Apl.De.Ap, is using his birthday celebration Tuesday night in Hollywood to support a worthy cause. Apl and his indie label, Jeepney Music, announced that proceeds of his bash will go to Operation Smile, an international medical charity that originated 24 years ago in Apl's home country, the Philippines. The Peas play Los Angeles' Staples Center on Friday. ...

A book report from Britney Spears' junior high days can be in your hands Monday if the price is right. No, the singer isn't going into the term-paper business, but she has donated her take on a translation of Sophocles' "Antigone" — which scored her an 88 and a reminder to "write more neatly" — to be sold via a Christie's auction. One of 170 items Spears donated to go up on the block, the single page is expected to draw a winning bid ranging from $500-700, with proceeds benefiting the singer's charity foundation. ... Christina Aguilera has commissioned Italian designer Roberto Cavalli to exclusively design the '40s- and '50s-style costumes for her Back to Basics tour, according to a report in Women's Wear Daily. Think white satin tuxedos, white fox stoles and silk bustiers with tails for the onstage look of Aguilera's U.S. run, which kicks off in February. ... In other fashion news, young startlets' takeover of the modeling world continues, with Lindsay Lohan recently shooting the spring 2007 ad campaign for Miu Miu, the girlier, lower-price line from Italian fashion label Prada. ...

New Jersey's Eyeball Records will reissue My Chemical Romance's debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, on December 12. The updated version of the 2002 LP, which was produced by Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly, will feature two previously unreleased videos from the band. ... A Guns N' Roses concert scheduled to go down Tuesday at Milwaukee's Bradley Center has been canceled due to Axl Rose suffering an ear infection and strep throat, according to a press release. Doctors have ordered the singer to rest for several days. "I have been fighting this off for a long time but the doctor told me tonight that the only way not to jeopardize the balance of the tour is immediate rest," Rose said in a statement issued Monday. "We will now have three days off before continuing Friday. We are sorry to miss the fans in Milwaukee." ...

Connecticut state police arrested two men Tuesday in connection with the shooting of a 21-year-old man waiting to purchase a PlayStation 3 earlier this month, The Associated Press reports. William J. Robertson and Andrew Patnaude were charged with attempted murder, robbery and assault, and are being held in lieu of $1 million bail pending court appearances. Michael Penkala, who was shot outside a Wal-Mart in the early hours of November 17 when he refused to give up a wallet containing more than $2,500 in cash, is still recovering from his injuries. ... Comedian Tracy Morgan of "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock" note was arrested early Tuesday in New York on charges of drunk driving, AP reports. Police told the news outlet that the 38-year-old failed a breathalyzer test at a police station, after which he was allowed to leave without posting bail but had to surrender his driver's license. ...

The reunited Dinosaur Jr. commence a series of gigs starting Tuesday night in Portland, Maine. The band will stage four more U.S. shows before heading overseas to play the All Tomorrow's Parties "Nightmare Before Christmas" shindig, some concerts opening for Sonic Youth and more. The band also has set a May 8 release date for its first-ever DVD, "Dinosaur Jr.: Live From the Middle East," which was filmed at the Boston club of the same name. The trio's first studio album in 18 years is also due around that time. ... Nirvana's breakthrough single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" has been named the best pop song of the last 20 years by Britain's Q magazine, besting the likes of Madonna, U2 and Britney Spears. "The thing about 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' it was a watershed moment in rock music. It changed everything," Q's deputy editor, Gareth Grundy, said. "It put heavy music back on the map in the early '90s, really, that combination of punk-rock anger and the heavy Black Sabbath '70s metal. It was something new. Sulky kids everywhere loved Nirvana and continue to do so." ...

Metallica's James Hetfield jammed with Alice in Chains during the band's Sunday night set in San Francisco. Hetfield joined the band band onstage for a rendition of "Would?" ... An exhibit curated by Franz Ferdinand guitarist Nick McCarthy will open Saturday at Los Angeles' Lightbox Gallery. Featuring the works of Manuela Gernedel, Celia Hempton, Shana Moulton, Jo Robertson, Niklas Schechinger and Hank Schmidt in der Beek, Lucy Stein and Anna Witt, the exhibit is expected to run through January 20. ... The reunited Glassjaw will play a handful of shows next month, hitting Nashville (December 14); Fort Worth, Texas (December 16); Tulsa, Oklahoma (December 17); Kansas City, Missouri (December 18); Minneapolis (December 19); and New Haven, Connecticut (December 31). ... Buckcherry and Three Days Grace will tour together early next year. The road trip's routing will be announced next month. ... After a few weeks of work, hardcore icons Agnostic Front have written 10 songs for their forthcoming LP. The band will track the effort before February, and have East Coast gigs lined up through January.

• Raekwon
• Jay-Z
• Redman
• Britney Spears
• Pharrell Williams

Drumline Stars

• Nick Cannon
• Cassidy
• Biz Markie

Wild 'N Out: Season 1

• Nick Cannon
• Biz Markie
• Cassidy
• Christina Milian
• Common

Images From 50 Cent's "Piggy Bank" Video

• 50 Cent
• Game
• Jadakiss
• Cassidy
• Nas

Hip-Hop Week '05: Cassidy

• Cassidy

Hip-Hop Week '05 Portraits

• Ludacris
• Ciara
• Bobby Valentino
• T.I.
• Cassidy

Direct Effect Presents: Straight Up Hip-Hop All Week Portraits

• J-Kwon
• Twista
• Cassidy
• Miri Ben-Ari
• D12