Ciara
Photo: MTV News

Ciara must have liked what she heard on Fantasy Ride this year. After working with producer Christopher "Tricky" Stewart on four of her album's 13 tracks, the singer has given Tricky and his songwriting partner The-Dream domain over the entirety of her follow-up disc. But what we heard a lot on Fantasy — and what we likely won't be hearing much on the new album — are Ciara's high-profile collaborations with other artists.

"At this point in my career, it's important for my fans to get to know more about me and to really feel me," she told MTV News on the red carpet Saturday at Justin Timberlake's charity event. "I've done a lot of features over the course of my career. I'm not saying that I won't do any, but I want really my fans to come into my world. I've been very blessed to work with a lot of cool people, but this time it is about knowing me more and hearing more of me."

Of course, Fantasy featured Ludacris, Chris Brown, Young Jeezy, Missy Elliott and Timberlake. The video for "Love Sex Magic," which featured JT, nabbed a Best Choreography nomination at this year's Video Music Awards.

Tricky recently told Rap-Up.com the name of two records they've recorded — "Gifted" and "Speechless," which actually features Ciara with The-Dream — but Ciara said those two tracks are only the beginning of the "really crazy, really fun" album they're putting together.

"I got on Tricky because he was spilling all the beans," she laughed. "Those two records that he named are definitely awesome records, and there are some cool ones that I've done lately that are just even more amazing.

"It's kind of reminding me of how it was for me at the beginning of my career," she explained, "which is a really good feeling."

• Justin Timberlake & Friends Perform In Las Vegas, NV

• Ciara

Justin Timberlake performs in Las Vegas, NV
Photo: Bryan Haraway/ PictureGroup

LAS VEGAS — When it comes to attracting big names for charity, Justin Timberlake has no trouble. Saturday night in Las Vegas saw the wide reach of JT's star power, with a diverse lineup of artists from Snoop Dogg to Taylor Swift taking part in his second annual Justin Timberlake & Friends Concert, benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino. While last year's show boasted many onstage collaborations, Justin had high hopes for this year's event — which included the aforementioned Doggfather and country queen, plus Alicia Keys, TLC, Timbaland, Ciara and Jay Sean.

"There were a lot of acts this year that weren't able to get here till today, so there weren't as many collabs as I had in my brain," Timberlake told MTV News during rehearsals. "But I think that's always the case, it's kind of like [when] you do an album and you write, like, 40 songs, and then 12 of them make it. ... But still, just having everyone out and getting to see them do their set — there are a couple of things that have never been performed onstage. There's a new song from [Timbaland] tonight, from his record that we did together. I think Snoop's doing a new song from his new record. So it's kinda cool for them too, because it's like perfect test marketing."

The night saw Justin wearing many hats (including a fedora) — acting as emcee, performer and maestro. He even kept the crowd updated with the Yankees/Angels score in between sets. But the fans were there for music, and they sure got their money's worth.

Jay Sean kicked off the night's performances, accompanied by U.K. beatbox champion MC Zani. The duo took a different take on the British singer's current hit, "Down," starting off with a beatbox intro and acoustic guitar, until launching into a full version of the song with Justin's band — which served as the house band for the whole evening.

Next up was Taylor Swift, and Justin assured everyone that there would be no Kanye-style stage crashing on his watch. "Don't worry, guys, I got security on the sides, so no one can come up and ruin her set," Timberlake told the crowd.

As soon as Swift hit the opening notes of "You Belong With Me," she had the crowd on their feet. Her raucous set was full of hair tosses and hip swings, impressive for the silver dress she performed in, dripping with what looked like diamonds. Her set got even more dazzling when she strapped on a shimmery acoustic guitar for "Love Story."

Justin introduced the next artist as "one of the greatest musicians of my generation." Alicia Keys then strutted across the stage in a stunning pair of red pumps, and took a seat at her piano to belt out "Doesn't Mean Anything." After the song, Alicia addressed the crowd.

"I wanna tell you a little about myself, where I'm from," she said, launching into the hook from "Empire State of Mind" then going right into "Fallin'," which sounded even more impressive with the house band's backup singers. The Mandalay Bay Events Center could barely contain the energy.

For the next performance, JT told the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, asses up, give it up for the one and only, legendary T-L-C!" Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozanda "Chilli" Thomas' first performance in six years sent the crowd into a frenzy, as the duo tore through a barrage of hits — "FanMail," "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg," "What About Your Friends," "Baby Baby Baby," "Creep," "Waterfalls" and "No Scrubs." While founding member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes is no longer with us, her presence was still in the room as her vocals were filled in by live performance footage on the screen.

	Justin Timberlake & Friends Perform In Las Vegas, NV

The next performance brought the night's first on-stage collaboration. After Justin got the crowd moving to "Señorita," he welcomed Ciara onstage for "Love Sex Magic." The crowd stayed on their feet for the rest of Ciara's set — "Goodies" and "1, 2 Step."

Next up was Snoop Dogg, who performed "Drop It Like It's Hot," "What's My Name" and new single "Gangsta Love." Continuing the night's collaborations, Snoop told the crowd, "Since my homeboy Justin asked me to come out here tonight, I'm gonna ask him to come out right now." The guys broke into "Signs," doing a little two-step action.

Justin took the reins, jumping into a medly of "Summer" and "Chop Me Up," with Timbaland coming out to do his verse on "Chop." Tim stayed on stage for "Give It to Me," which had girls spilling into the aisles to dance. The duo then broke into the brand-new song that Justin had promised, the title of which they never announced. It features an anthemic chorus with the lyrics "Turn me on now" and a breakdown that repeats "What's your name?/ What's your number?/ I'm glad I came, so you can take my order."

Two hours into the show, it was time for Justin to take over. JT launched into an acrobatic mash-up of hits — both his and other artists'. It started with an acoustic rendition of "Like I Love You," then transitioned to Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" during the "Like I Love You" chorus. Next was Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody," mixed with the lyrics of "Cry Me a River," then going back to the KOL chorus. "Lovestoned" followed, blended with Coldplay's "Viva la Vida."

The night seemingly was coming to an end as Justin sat down at a piano for a heartfelt performance of "What Goes Around ... /... Comes Around," but although he announced it was his last song, he changed his mind.

"I'm in the mood," he told the Vegas crowd. He shouted to his band to freestyle on the next song, and they settled on "Until the End of Time."

The show ended just shy of midnight, capping off another successful year for Justin and his charity. Honors are especially due for Justin's bandmembers, who spent nearly three hours on stage backing up the night's performers.

• Justin Timberlake Takes Over Las Vegas

• Justin Timberlake & Friends Perform In Las Vegas, NV

• Justin Timberlake
• Taylor Swift
• Alicia Keys
• TLC
• Timbaland

Ciara
Photo: Mike Coppola/FilmMagic

Ciara and Justin Timberlake's sexy moves in the "Love Sex Magic" video seemed to impress — the clip is up for Best Choreography at this year's Video Music Awards.

"When I heard about the nomination, I was very happy," Ciara told MTV News about the nomination. "Just to be honored and acknowledged for this video in particular [is great], because we really had a lot of fun with the actual concept. It definitely meant a lot to be honored. I was elated. I was surprised, happy — everything all in one."

Although she couldn't help but be all smiles over the nomination, she had yet to discuss the good news with her co-star, Justin Timberlake, who brought his own share of sex appeal to the video. "I haven't [spoken to him] ... I'm actually going to reach out," she said. "We'll probably end up talking later or something. I'm sure he does know about it, but we haven't spoken yet."

Ciara explained that all that hotness between the two in the video was inspired by one very sexy Vegas act. "We actually got inspired from a show called Crazy Horse from Vegas. And when [me and choreographer, Jamaica] both went to the show, we were just, like, so in love with the idea of it and we were kind of like, 'How can we make our own Crazy Horse show?' So that's kind of where the inspiration came from — playing around."

But it wasn't just the sexy dancing from the show that inspired the video — the look of the Vegas show came into play as well. "We fell in love with the lighting and we kind of wanted to give it our own twist, create our own show," she explained. "Our own 'Love Sex Magic' show, I'll say."

And as if it wasn't clear enough that Ciara and Timberlake had no shortage of chemistry while filming the clip, the singer confirmed that the pair had an amazing time on set.

"It was really fun. Justin's so down-to-earth and he's so passionate about ... the energy he gives me is that he's very passionate about everything he does," she said. "And working together, it was just really cool and ... it was a very easygoing shoot. It didn't feel like we were working at all."

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards will take place September 13 at 9 p.m. ET. Nominees, celebrity presenters and additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks. To be the first to find out the inside scoop, follow the Inside MTV Twitter account at Twitter.com/InsideMTV.

• The 2009 VMA Nominations Are In!

• 2009 VMA Nominees

• Ciara
• Justin Timberlake

Ciara
Photo: Jason LaVeris/ FilmMagic

Onstage, on the red carpet and backstage during Sunday night's Michael Jackson-dedicated BET Awards, artists young and old — from elder statesmen the O'Jays to 23-year-old Ciara — shared their personal memories of the King of Pop. They spoke of their reverence for the man, his eccentric tendencies and how even the biggest of stars can get panicky in front of a musical legend.

"I actually talked to him on the phone," Ciara said backstage at a press conference after the show ended. "He was doing a song for Hurricane Katrina, and he wanted me to be a part of it."

She was so nervous in anticipation of the call that she turned up her music to calm herself and didn't hear the phone ring. Jackson's assistant ended up leaving her a message. When she called back and connected with the singer, she was speechless. "I couldn't even respond properly," she admitted.

"I'm very, very proud of [the call] because I was looking forward to meeting him, and I didn't get a chance to, so that's something I can hold on to," she added, before breaking down in tears.

Wyclef Jean did get a chance to meet Jackson face-to-face at a music studio, but he was no less nervous than Ciara. "I knew he was coming to see me," Clef said at the post-show presser. "So, the whole day, I'm preparing a speech on how I'm gonna meet him. I'm practicing in the mirror. But then he showed up, and I lost my voice completely. 'Hi, Michael.' He's the only musician — I'm not intimidated by people — but he was definitely one you could say had the voice of God."

The rapper Jazze Pha, whose father is the bassist for old-school soul band the Bar-Kays, got a chance to meet Jackson years ago when the pop star was still performing live. "When I went backstage with Mike with my pops, it's like he had everything in the dressing room," he told MTV News. "He had bearskin rugs. He had these different couches. He had stuff on the walls, like Indian. It's crazy. He had the whole world in the backstage area."

Throughout the evening, artists spoke about the impact Jackson had on their careers. For Ciara, watching and listening to Jackson made her believe she, too, could be a singer.

"I didn't grow up in music, and I realized by the time I was 13 that I could do something in music, and for me, he really is the reason why," she said through tears.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

• Michael Jackson's MTV Moments
• A Celebration Of Michael Jackson On MTV
• Michael Jackson Fans Pour Into The Streets
• The BET Awards Honor Michael Jackson

• Fans Mourn The Loss Of Music Icon Michael Jackson
• Michael Jackson: A Life In Photos

• Ciara
• Wyclef Jean

Janet Jackson at the 2009 BET Awards on Sunday
Photo: John Shearer/ WireImage

LOS ANGELES — From New Edition's scorching Jackson 5 nod opening the show to host Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo's closing number, Michael Jackson's legacy was well represented at the 2009 BET Awards. But most of the stars in attendance at the Shrine Auditorium were in awe of Janet Jackson's touching words expressing her family's grief.

"It was very, very strong; it was very courageous of her," Ciara, who also paid tribute to MJ in song during the night, told MTV News about Janet's speech. "That's what it's about, being strong for your family and being strong, period. Unfortunately, this was unexpected, and you just kind of step up to the plate. I think it was great. They seemed to have a good relationship growing up. ... I'm sure they both used to have each other's back when they needed to. It was beautiful."

Lil Mama, Wale, Teyana Taylor and Gabrielle Union were among the many that echoed Ciara's sentiments about Janet's appearance.

"I was even crying," Taylor said of Janet's brief speech. "I looked up to him. He's the reason why I dress the way I dress today."

Lil Mama, whose mother passed away in 2007, said she identified with Janet's emotions during her appearance on the show. "It was very emotional," she said. "I couldn't imagine losing my babies. My brother's here with me tonight. We already lost our mother. To lose a brother, to lose any family member, it hurts. Right then at that moment, I knew it's really happening. Mike is gone."

While the shock of Jackson's sudden death left many in dismay over the news, "From G's to Gents" host Fonzworth Bentley said Janet's appearance gave everyone a chance to let out some emotions.

"It was a bittersweet show," Bentley told MTV News from the red carpet of the SRC/BET afterparty. "I think I got a chance to get a lot of emotion out. Janet Jackson is one of my favorite artists, period, and to see her literally raise the hair on the back of everyone's neck, what courage. What that says to give of herself and not go into seclusion — [she was saying], 'I know you wanna hear from us, I know you wanna see us, so I'ma come.' And it's a very important awards show, and Michael would have shown up. He did before. It was just an amazing experience."

Alicia Keys said that sitting in the audience, she felt a wave of goodwill throughout the night from those in attendance who were shouting, yelling or doing whatever else they had to do to express their feelings about Jackson.

"There is no way this should have happened without saluting Michael Jackson," Keys said. "This is his foundation. We all grew up on him. He's loved all over the world. You can feel a very high energy here. This show is really genuine and beautiful."

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

• Ciara, Lil Mama Show Support For Janet Jackson
• The BET Awards Honor Michael Jackson
• Remembering Michael Jackson

• 2009 BET Awards Show
• 2009 BET Awards Red Carpet
• Michael Jackson: A Life In Photos
• Fans Mourn The Loss Of Music Icon Michael Jackson

• Teyana Taylor
• Wale
• Janet Jackson
• Michael Jackson
• Jamie Foxx

Michael Jackson
Photo: Ebet Roberts/ Getty Images

Entertainment and sports stars came together to remember Michael Jackson on the MTV News special "A Celebration of Michael Jackson on MTV" on Friday (June 26). The special — including several Video Music Awards performances as well as candid moments he spent on the network — brought together Kobe Bryant, Liza Minnelli and Usher, among others, to pay tribute to the departed pop icon.

"I think it's probably deeper than people would expect, actually," Kobe Bryant said. "Being out here in L.A., I had numerous conversations, just over the phone and also at his house, just talking about work ethic and paying attention to details. He was extremely inspirational for me because he helped me understand that it's OK to be different. And when I say different I mean different in the sense of being obsessed with your craft ... and working your tail off and being consumed by what you do. He helped mentor me in that department. I think we lost an absolutely brilliant, brilliant mind and just a genuine nice person."

Fabolous, who has sampled Jackson's music in his songs, said he learned a lot from watching Jackson as a kid. "I was just very disappointed the whole day ... I grew up on Michael Jackson," he said. "One of my first albums my mom bought me was Thriller, so just to see him pass was like a big loss to me and everyone who grew up around me."

JC Chasez, who performed with Jackson along with 'NSYNC at the 2001 VMAs, described the show as "a childhood dream come true." "It was kind of like my life had come full-circle at that point. First you dream about being able to dance like him and the next thing you know you're standing next to him while you're dancing. As a professional, you want to reach the top of your game. Then you find yourself on the MTV awards and you share that moment with him. He's a language. He's a piece of vernacular when you talk about dancing, singing ... entertainment."

Sheryl Crow toured with Jackson for two years in the late '80s, and she was one of the people lucky enough to get to know the personal side of Jackson. "I did a couple of duets with him. He reached out to me on a couple of occasions and invited me to come up to his hotel room to watch movies," she recalled. "A big room with a couple of bodyguards and us throwing popcorn across the room at each other. He was just very childlike and loved to practical joke ... very childlike and innocent and then he'd walk out onstage and you'd see this magnetic, very strong artistic talent up there."

Teddy Riley, who worked with Jackson on both "Dangerous" and "Remember the Time," is still reeling from the loss, but feels honored to have had a chance to work with the King of Pop. "Such a huge impact he had. A lot of the major people out there, they've grown up to Michael Jackson., and I've grown up to Michael Jackson, and it's been a dream to work with him ... he made my dreams come true. It's a big impact and I think everyone out there is going to miss him," he said.

Liza Minnelli, who called in to the show along with Usher, remembered the days they'd spend together. "We would hang together when we were in New York. We would go to [dancer and choreographer] Martha Graham's. I would take him to Martha Graham and he'd say, 'Oh, I got to learn that,' and we'd run upstairs to practice. Anyway, I loved him."

Usher, who was significantly influenced by Jackson, added, "It's pretty hard right now, man. Michael Jackson transcended culture. He transcended love, man. He changed the barrier of life and the way we looked at things."

One woman who has definitely used some of the Jackson aesthetic in her own career, Ciara, admits that MJ was her biggest inspiration. "He was part of the reason why for me," she said. "Whenever someone asks me who inspires me to do what I do, I always say Michael. That's it for me. He's everything to me. He's really a part of the reason why. He's going to be remembered in so many ways for me. I feel it's important for me to continue to let my generation know how important he was to music."

MTV will be paying tribute to MJ throughout the weekend with music videos, exclusive performances and calls and tweets from celebrity admirers and friends. For everything we've got on the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

• A Celebration Of Michael Jackson On MTV
• Remembering Michael Jackson
• Michael Jackson's Video Legacy
• Michael Jackson's MTV Moments

• Michael Jackson's Greatest MTV Moments
• Michael Jackson: A Fashion Icon
• Michael Jackson: A Life In Photos

• Michael Jackson
• Usher
• Ciara
• Sheryl Crow
• JC Chasez

Ciara
Photo: MTV News

WESTWOOD, California — On Monday night, some of Hollywood's biggest stars descended on the Mann Village Theatre for a huge premiere, celebrating the summer's biggest, loudest, most high-profile movie. But on the "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" red carpet, moments before the film was unveiled, the day's news involving Chris Brown and Rihanna was on everyone's lips.

"Violence is never the answer — even if provoked," reasoned Aubrey O'Day, the former Danity Kane member and "Making the Band" star, who had just heard the news that Brown accepted a plea deal. "But with bigger issues like war, we just need to let go and forgive. Let people move on."

(Look back at a timeline of the five months that followed Chris Brown and Rihanna's altercation on February 8.)

"I just wish they were here," "Transformers" co-star Tyrese said of Chris and Rihanna, explaining that the escapism of a film like "Revenge of the Fallen" is helpful during difficult times. "[It would help them] to embrace this energy at this premiere."

Sure enough, a huge crowd had poured out for "Fallen" — but as the stars tried to promote their Friday release, it was hard to ignore the news that had broken just a few hours earlier.

"I wish [Chris Brown] luck," confessed "Gossip Girl" actress Taylor Momsen, who was doubtful that the plea deal was the final chapter in the Chris Brown-Rihanna drama. "People like to obsess over personal lives — so I'm sure it's not the end."

"I support both artists," said Ciara, who has toured and recorded with both Brown and Rihanna. "It's a very personal process."

All-American Rejects member Nick Wheeler, however, was a bit less diplomatic. "If it was just a regular dude, would [the sentence] have been the same?" he asked, posing a question on the minds of many who believe Brown's celebrity helped him in the courtroom. "No one should turn a blind eye to [abuse]. He should get what he gets.

"We did a show with Rihanna a couple years ago," Wheeler added. "And she was nice."

"I wish them well," explained Anthony Anderson, a star of the original "Transformers" film, who said that he'll continue to buy Chris Brown albums whenever the troubled singer decides to move forward. "I'm not going to let a personal instance taint my opinion of someone musically."

"He's incredibly talented," Aubrey O'Day agreed. "Regardless of his personal decisions, I will always support his music."

Go here for domestic violence resources, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse.

• Stars React To Chris Brown's Plea
• Chris Brown And Rihanna: The Aftermath

• Rihanna And Chris Brown: A Photo Timeline
• Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, More At The "Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen" L.A. Premiere

• Chris Brown
• Rihanna
• Ciara
• Danity Kane

Kelly Clarkson at Zootopia in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday
Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — At the Izod Center on Saturday (May 16), fans gathered for a night filled with pop music from Kelly Clarkson, Ciara, Jesse McCartney and the Black Eyed Peas, rock from the All American Rejects and hip-hop from Soulja Boy Tell'Em.

Hometown boy Jesse McCartney got the party started with "Leavin'," but it was when he took off his sunglasses and sang "Beautiful Soul" that the sing-along really began. Jesse slowed it down for "It's Over," which he called his favorite song off his album depature. But it was clear the fan fave was "How Do You Sleep?"

Soulja Boy Tell'Em played a very short set, which included "Crank That" followed by "Turn My Swag On." Then he requested all cell phones out as he took off his shirt to perform "Kiss Me Thru the Phone."

"Gossip Girl" star Taylor Momsen surprised the crowd, coming out to introduce the All American Rejects — while also plugging her band, the Pretty Reckless. AAR rocked the show with "Dirty Little Secret." Lead singer Tyson Ritter wanted to hear everyone scream for "Swing, Swing," and he showed some love for kids in the cheap seats before "Move Along." Then he broke into a spoken-word version of "Gives You Hell" before the band kicked in. After doing their new single, "The Wind Blows," Tyson did his best Nixon impression and walked out.

Ciara brought some girl power with ironically titled "Like a Boy." Then she showed everyone how limber she is by doing splits as she went into "Goodies." Unfortunately, her "Love Sex Magic" collaboration was left Justin Timberlake-less, but the sexy moves she performed along with her dancers (which included a Lady Gaga lookalike) more than made up for it.

Keeping the girl power alive, Kelly Clarkson's killer voice rocked the room with "Since U Been Gone." The set included lots of new songs off her new album, All I Ever Wanted, peppered with older hits, like "Miss Independent." Before "I Do Not Hook Up," Kelly listed her exceptions to that rule: Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. "Walk Away," "Already Gone" and "If I Can't Have You" also were fan favorites leading up to her finale "My Life Would Suck Without You."

Sean Paul graced the stage to introduce Flo Rida, who then made everyone dance to "In the Ayer." Flo asked the crowd to sing along for "Jump." He brought some female fans onstage for "the record that made him international," "Low," and dedicated "Right Round" to all the single ladies.

The Black Eyed Peas were the night's final act. Their set was filled with hits like "Don't Phunk With My Heart" and "Let's Get It Started." Their theme of the night was all about finding the party people in the house, and "Pump It" helped in the search. After determining the "Humps" were controlling the room, they sang that song. Calling their L.A. crowd at last week's Wango Tango "wiggity wiggity wack," the Peas dedicated "Where Is the Love?" to the room, just before bringing the "Boom Boom Pow.

• Kelly Clarkson, Ciara And More Go Wild At Zootopia

• Kelly Clarkson
• Black Eyed Peas
• Flo Rida
• Ciara
• Soulja Boy Tell'em

Ciara
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Justin Timberlake is known for his amazing dancing skills, but he didn't bust a move last Saturday night when he performed with his "Love Sex Magic" partner, Ciara, on "Saturday Night Live." When it came time to shimmy and shake, he left all the hot moves up to Ciara and her backup dancers while he played the keyboard. Not that anyone was complaining about watching Ciara dance.

"You know what? It was perfect because ... he wanted to kind of say, 'You rock,' " Ciara told MTV News at Maxim's Hot 100 party. "And I just kind of felt cool, 'cause Justin can play [piano] real well and he really gets into the music and it was, like, 'Hey, let's make you part of the band.' "

Having Justin in the background for the live performance was very different from the music video for the song, where the two dance quite provocatively with one another. "[We wanted to] do something different and make it fun. It was awesome to see him pick up the keys."

Earlier this month, Ciara told MTV News all about the video's most memorable moment — when she licks Justin Timberlake. "Let me tell you — it's so funny, I have to say this," Ciara said. "I had to lick his ear and do all that fun stuff and bite it. And he had a moment where he was kind of licking on my neck. We were both going back and forth. We were really just freestyling. And Miss Diane [Martel, the director] wanted something edgy, and we all wanted to find a cool way to do it. And that just felt right."

• Maxim's Hot 100 Celebration With Ciara, Speidi And More

• Ciara
• Justin Timberlake

Ciara
Photo: MTV News

When Jay-Z hits the road this summer, he will be joined by "Love Sex Magic" singer Ciara. The singer says she can't wait to tour with the rapper, starting July 3 in Las Vegas.

"When they reached out to us to be a part of it, I was like, 'Absolutely,' " she told MTV News at the Maxim Hot 100 party. "I know more details are coming, so I don't know exactly every little thing."

What she does know is that the duo have five confirmed dates, and she says she's looking forward to hanging with Jay. "It's [going to be] something fun, and I think it's gonna be cool. I've kind of been in the rap settings before, so those are environments I love, 'cause it's somewhat of a challenge — but a fun one."

The challenge, Ciara explains, is mixing rap music with her pop-savvy R&B. "I love mixing the worlds together," she said, adding that after her work with Jay-Z is done, she'll be overseas with Britney Spears on her Circus tour, which she says is "all about the range."

Before talking to MTV News about the tour, Ciara let the cat out of the bag Monday night on her Twitter: "I will say it because the information has been leaked. Me and Jay-Z will be doing a 10-city tour run together! More details coming soon!" (A rep for Jay-Z told MTV News that the tour would not include 10 cities.)

Jay-Z and Ciara's five confirmed dates:

» 7/3 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl at the Palms Casino
» 7/4 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl at the Palms Casino
» 7/7 - Chicago, IL @ Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island
» 7/10 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
» 7/12 - Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park Amphitheatre

• Maxim's Hot 100 Celebration With Ciara, Speidi And More

• Ciara
• Jay-Z

Kelly Clarkson, Ciara And More Go Wild At Zootopia

• Kelly Clarkson
• Jesse McCartney
• Flo Rida
• The All-American Rejects
• Soulja Boy Tell'em

Maxim's Hot 100 Celebration With Ciara, Speidi And More

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• DJ AM
• Nick Lachey

MTV Featured Artist: Ciara

• Ciara

Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, More At The At Metropolitan Museum Gala

• Rihanna
• Ciara
• Justin Timberlake
• Madonna
• Kanye West

Ciara Performs On "Good Morning America"

• Ciara

MTV.com Exclusive: Ciara

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Evan Rachel Wood, 50 Cent, Ciara, More At The Premiere Of "The Wrestler"

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2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards Red Carpet

• T-Pain
• N.E.R.D.
• T.I.
• Soulja Boy Tell'em
• Plies

Ciara, LL Cool J, Snoop, More At 2008 Hip-Hop Summit Action Awards

• Ciara
• LL Cool J
• Jim Jones
• Jinx
• Chrisette Michele

Snoop, Pharrell, Diddy, Ciara And More At The 2007 VH1 Hip Hop Honors

• Snoop Dogg
• Pharrell Williams
• LL Cool J
• T-Pain
• Ne-Yo