Estelle

Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu To Party At Black Girls Rock!

04 Nov 2011 20:09:20 EDT

Jill Scott, Estelle, Melanie Fiona and more also hit the stage to celebrate 'brilliance' of black women at show airing Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on BET.
By Rebecca Thomas

NEW YORK — On a windy Saturday last month, the Paradise Theater in the Bronx was an undulating sea of sequins, stilettos and star power as the 2011 edition of Black Girls Rock! got under way.

An annual celebration of the accomplishments of black women in a myriad of spheres, from science and technology to the arts and politics, the event is the brainchild of philanthropist Beverly Bond, a onetime model/DJ. Imagine balling up the sentiments of your favorite empowerment anthem into a fist and then sprinkling them like confetti over a gathering of girls, and you might begin to get an idea of what it felt like to sit in that majestic theater during the taping of the show that night. You'll get to see for yourself when it airs Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET on BET.

Actresses Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King opened their co-hosting gig — dressed in an ebony gown and an ivory sequined pantsuit, respectively — with some funny banter about their mutual connection to all-grown-up "Cosby" kid Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Ellis Ross plays Warner's wife on the brand-new BET sitcom "Reed Between the Lines," while King is his real-life leading lady). Over the course of the night, with assists from a series of celeb presenters like former MTV VJ LaLa Anthony and model Alek Wek, "BGR" '11 gave special nods to some much-deserving honorees. MTV News rode the D train to the Grand Concourse in the BX and previewed some of the highlights for you.

The Anthems
Any R&B diva worth her salt has at least one love-yourself tune to her credit, but if you're Mary J. Blige, the undisputed queen of hip-hop/soul, then you've got a catalog full of certified classics guaranteed to cure Superwoman syndrome. Fans were treated to a rousing, show-closing set that included MJB's "My Life" and "Just Fine." Soul sisters like Jill Scott (the poetic "Womanifesto") and Erykah Badu (an intergalactic "On and On") are just a few of the stirring performers who pass the baton to upstarts like Elle Varner and Melanie Fiona.

Who Run the World?
Yes, there was a 70-something gospel legend and a duo of trailblazing activists battling violence against women as part of the Rebecca Project, but some of the most impressive award recipients were girls barely out of their tweens. M.A.D. (Making a Difference) Girl honoree Leanna Archer, became CEO of her own natural hair-care products company at 13, and now just 15, heads up a foundation devoted to helping underprivileged kids in Haiti.

Girl 'Power'
While some of us are confronting the so-called "quarterlife-crisis" or maybe occupying Wall Street at 25, Angela Davis had just hit the quarter-century mark when she began building a formidable career as an activist, aligning with movements like the Black Panther Party. The Brandeis-educated Davis went on to spend the next few decades crusading for marginalized groups like African-Americans, women and prisoners.

The winner of this year's Icon Award admitted she used to feel "embarrassed" seeing her face staring back at her from T-shirts until she realized that the garments represented the "translation of the success of a movement." That's real girl power, and theatergoers thanked her (fists raised) with a standing ovation.

Screen Stars
Co-hosts Ellis Ross and King weren't the only big- and small-screen stars to grace the stage. Taraji P. Henson was honored with the Star Power prize. The actress was already a young mom to a son when she got to Hollywood, but it was her fictional role as mom to A-lister Brad Pitt in the "Curious Case of Benjamin Button" that earned her an Oscar nod in 2008 for Best Supporting Actress. In an upbeat acceptance speech, the extroverted Henson reminisced about praying for "longevity" back in those early casting call days.

Catch "Black Girls Rock!" Sunday on BET at 8 p.m. ET.

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Estelle Recalls Losing Her 'V-Card,' On 'When I Was 17'

04 Nov 2011 15:20:34 EDT

'Looking back, it was nothing like I thought it would be,' she says on upcoming episode, airing Saturday at 11 a.m. ET/PT on MTV.
By Sara Waber

English R&B singer Estelle shares a very personal milestone in her life on this week's episode of MTV's "When I Was 17," airing Saturday at 11a.m. ET/PT: She recalls losing her virginity, and it wasn't exactly what she hoped for.

"I didn't have a boyfriend, per se," she says in the episode, which also features Mike Posner and AnnaLynne McCord. "I definitely fancied a few guys. There was one particular guy that I fancied. He was cute, he was short, he had a gold tooth."

Like all good friends, Estelle's mates blabbed to him. "My friends told him I fancied him, and then he knew where I lived, and he would just start hanging out outside my house," the "American Boy" singer recalls. "So this guy was, like, my first full-out crush, all that good stuff."

Maybe she didn't like his baggy jeans, but she was about to find out what's underneath them. "Eventually, I lost my V-card. Looking back, it was nothing like I thought it would be. It was horrible."

Needless to say, Estelle and her mystery man didn't have a fairy-tale ending. "We actually got along as friends, and then we did it and it was ... ehh. And then we split up.

"In hindsight I should have waited," she added.

"When I Was 17" — this week featuring Estelle, Mike Posner and AnnaLynne McCord — airs on Saturday at 11a.m ET/PT on MTV.

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Amy Winehouse 'Deserved Better,' Estelle Says

27 Jul 2011 17:56:32 EDT

Fellow Brit soul singer tells Sway, 'I cried for about two days,' after hearing news of star's death.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Amy Winehouse's death has hit her fans hard. From her friends and family to her musical contemporaries, many have expressed their love and condolences for the fallen soul singer who died in her London home on Saturday.

On Wednesday's (July 27) satellite radio broadcast of "Sway in the Morning" on Shade 45, Estelle opened up about her feelings on Winehouse's death.

"I'm sad, I'm disappointed, I'm angry — I can't. I'm really upset, I think I cried for about two days," the British singer told Sway.

Estelle, who frequently crossed paths with Winehouse during the pair's rise across the pond and then here in the States, steered clear of any judgment concerning Amy's documented battles with drugs and alcohol. While it has been widely speculated that Amy's addiction led to her death, an initial autopsy reportedly came up inconclusive.

"Amy's been Amy — that's Amy, a bit drunk, a bit high. My thing is, again, you can't tell from the inside-out what is going on with an artist," Estelle said. "This fame is a juggernaut: It slaps you in the face and you don't know what you're doing. You don't know who has your back, who is your support system."

Estelle, who won a Grammy in 2009 for her single "American Boy," knows the pressures that being in the spotlight can bring and said she didn't want to condemn anyone for how they deal with it.

"I don't want to judge her, having similarly been through that explosion of everything, [becoming] famous all at once," she said. "And then having to deal with my stuff in public in front of people that I never knew and I know don't care about me and are just after whatever they are going to get from me.

"It's hard," Estelle said before getting a bit choked up. "We came out with albums at the same time, so I'd always see her. I just know she deserved better than that."

Catch MTV's Sway on "Sway in the Morning," on SIRIUS XM Radio's Shade 45, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon ET.

Celebrate Amy Winehouse on Wednesday night (July 27) at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT, when MTV will air an encore presentation of a performance she taped in the MTV studios in 2007.

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Nicki Minaj, Ludacris, Estelle, More Take Stage At 'Rip The Runway'

15 Mar 2010 20:02:00 EDT

Soulja Boy Tell'em, Trina and more perform on the BET show, airing Monday.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Nicki Minaj is hip-hop's leading lady at the moment and the Young Money rapper proved she's adept at handling that spotlight during her turn as co-host of BET's "Rip the Runway."

The femcee was joined by "The Game" actor Pooch Hall, and delivered her trademark sass both in rhyme and in jokes.

"Pooch, you haven't even complimented me on my shoes yet," Nicki said during the opening minutes, teasing the actor as the pair introduced the show, set to air Monday (March 15) on BET and Centric.

The Queens lyricist doubled as a performer also, joining Ludacris onstage for his hit "My Chick Bad."

"My chick bad, tell me if you seen her," Luda rapped. "She always bring the racket like Venus and Serena." Minaj stormed onstage for the third verse, much to the delight of her fans — there were plenty of Barbiez onboard — in a snakeskin bodysuit and pink wig.

"Trash talk to them then I put them in a Hefty," she rhymed. "Running down the court, I'm dunking on them Lisa Leslie."

Along with the "Rip the Runway" performances, new designers' spring and summer lines were presented and showcased throughout the broadcast.

BET's "106 & Park" co-host Rocsi Diaz, Sean John model Miguel Perdomo and artist Amanda Diva were among those strutting down the catwalk.

Upstart MC B.o.B. a.k.a. Bobby Ray performed his first single, "Nothin' on You," as the Tennille White Chicago line was showcased.

Trina was partnered with Haute Couture during her performance and newcomer Roscoe Dash and Soulja Boy Tell'em had the rowdiest performance of the night, hands down, with "All the Way Turnt Up." The song was paired with sporty clothing line Protégé and featured a model in high heels frantically dribbling a basketball to the beat.

A solo turn by Minaj and performances by Janelle Monáe and Estelle featuring Kardinal Offishall ("Freak") rounded out the festivities.

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Estelle Addresses Use Of Black Makeup In 'Freak' Video

01 Mar 2010 16:29:00 EST

'I could defend myself, but it's just silly,' singer says of 'blackface' criticism.
By Hillary Crosley

After her breakthough album Shine, British songstress-rapper Estelle has returned with a new single, "Freak," from her forthcoming album, All of Me. However, the song's video — segments of which show her wearing black makeup on her face and body — did not go over well with some of her fans online.

"Those comments were the first thing I saw after we released the video trailer," Estelle told MTV News on Monday (March 1). "It's like, 'Are you joking?' "

The "Freak" clip was directed by frequent Kanye West collaborator Nabil Elderkin and the song itself is a bouncy dance-track produced by David Guetta, featuring Canadian MC Kardinal Offishall. The lyrics address people releasing their individuality and the clip features Estelle in a multitude of looks, including black body paint. However, the director said it's meant to be in fun.

"We are making a video about Estelle acting freaky and we're gonna do lots of things: turns, fingers, beauty looks, freaky looks, fast dancers, it's gonna be hot," Elderkin says in the clip's promotional trailer. (The director was unavailable for comment at press time.)

Estelle said she and the director are longtime friends and he understands that her creative vision is "coming from a place of art versus just trying to be different." She also declined to address the online chatter directly.

"I think they need to wait to see the clip. I could defend myself, but it's just silly," Estelle said of the comments. "I'm black, so how do I do blackface? Missy did the same thing [with her video] "She's a Bitch." I refuse to defend it, I didn't put any white ring around my mouth — never that."

Estelle said the "Freak" video will hit the web this week and her album will hits shelves this summer.

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Estelle Taking Next Album To 'A Whole Different Level'

01 Dec 2009 14:43:00 EST

'I hate having to always prove myself, but sometimes you got to just do it,' singer says of new LP.
By Steven Roberts

Estelle's second album, 2008's Shine, was lauded by critics and spawned the ubiquitous hit single "American Boy" featuring Kanye West. It also featured production from Will.I.Am, Wyclef Jean and Swizz Beatz and it put everyone on this side of the Atlantic on notice about the London-born singer.

Estelle talked to MTV News about taking things to a new level with her third album, the tentatively titled All of Me.

"It's feeling real good," she said. "It's a whole different level of performance, a whole different level of singing, a whole different level of just me — so I'm happy I can't wait for you to hear it."

Although she worked with a variety of new producers this time around, she stuck with a few old favorites like Swizz and Wyclef. The album currently doesn't have a definite release date, but the first single is tentatively titled "Back to Love Again" — however Estelle said she may drop something else to build anticipation for the LP.

The album will again feature equal parts rapping and singing, with a song produced by No I.D. that will showcase Estelle's flow. "I did a song with No I.D. which I think ... people from London ain't going to be surprised to hear it, but people from [the States] I think are going to be like, 'Ooh,' "she joked. "I'm just rapping on it, and I think people are going to be like, 'She really raps.' I hate having to always prove myself, but sometimes you got to just do it."

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Kanye West And Estelle, Miley Cyrus To Perform At Grammys

03 Feb 2009 09:25:00 EST

Taylor Swift, Ne-Yo, Jamie Foxx, Chris Brown, Adele and Sugarland also added to the lineup.
By Gil Kaufman

Music's biggest night just keeps getting bigger. The 51st annual Grammy Awards, which air on Sunday night on CBS, have added yet another round of performers to the roster: Kanye West will appear with Estelle (most likely for their Song of the Year nominee "American Boy"). Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift are teaming up. Adele, Chris Brown and Sugarland have been added to the list. And there will be a tribute to legendary Motown group the Four Tops featuring Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo and original last living original member, Duke Fakir.

The latest additions join a list that already included Jennifer Hudson, the Jonas Brothers, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Radiohead, Rihanna, T.I. with Justin Timberlake, U2, Carrie Underwood, Kid Rock, Paul McCartney with special guest drummer Dave Grohl, Kenny Chesney and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. The show will also feature a solo performance from Lil Wayne, the night's most nominated artist, and he's expected to throw down his verse on T.I.'s "Swagga Like Us," alongside Jay-Z, Tip and Kanye.

The addition of Ne-Yo to the live roster of talent on the show means that all five of the contenders for Album of the Year — which also include Radiohead, Coldplay, Lil Wayne and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss — will now be performing on the show.

Among the newly added presenters are Sheryl Crow, Queen Latifah, T-Pain, Al Green, actor Jay Mohr and late-night talk-show host Craig Ferguson. They join a list of previously announced presenters that includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Samuel L. Jackson, Jack Black, Duffy, Josh Groban, Simon Baker and jazz musician Charlie Haden.

Will Lil Wayne grab all the gramophones? Is Katy Perry going to tell her girl rivals to kiss off? Can Coldplay march off with a win? MTV News is all over the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, so stay tuned for interviews, analysis and more before, during and after the big night, Sunday, February 8.

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The Best Songs Of 2008, In Bigger Than The Sound

10 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST

The year's best party starters, pop hits, somber ballads and a few that defy definition.
By James Montgomery

Music-wise, perhaps the best thing about 2008 was that it wasn't 2007. Unlike last year — which could generously be described as "catastrophic" — there were decidedly fewer "Oh my God, the industry is f---ing collapsing" moments in '08 ... instead, we had artists selling 1 million albums in a week (Lil Wayne), intelligent pop stars with establishment-tweaking radio hits (Katy Perry) and long-in-the-tooth vets striking back with industry-defying successes (Kid Rock). If there was one theme, perhaps it was that, for the first time in a long time, things didn't look so terrible.

Of course, that's overly optimistic. Things are still plenty bad. And they might get worse. But 2008 definitely had its moments — moments of hope and genuinely excellent music — and I've collected the 33 best below. Because rather than focus on the rather terrifying future, let's celebrate the year that was — a year that generally wasn't all that bad. And to help us do that, here's my list of the Best Songs of 2008 ... a collection of party starters, pop hits and somber ballads, plus a few that defy any and all definition. Oh, and no Britney. Sorry.

It's a long list, but if you make it all the way through, I'd love to hear some of your picks, too. Feel free to send them to me at BTTS@MTVStaff.com, or sound off below.

33. Katy Perry, "Hot N Cold"
This is the Katy Perry song that wasn't offensive to GLAAD.

32. The Silver Jews, "Party Barge"
A honky-tonk song about a wayward party pontoon, as sung by a nasally poet/cartoonist from Virginia and his wife who used to work in an office park. It opens with a bit of bathroom-wall philosophy ("Father drove a steamroller/ Mama was a crossing guard/ She got rolled when he got steamed/ And I got left in charge"), goes on to mention "Satan's jeweled lobster" and "chicken-fried pigeon," and features more nautical sound effects than any other tune released this decade. There is nothing not to love.

31. Jay-Z, "Jockin' Jay-Z"
The Run-DMC sample. The hellishly gnarled guitar line (which might not actually be a guitar at all). The snarling, simplistic backbeat. The shout-out to Barack Obama. The dis of Noel Gallagher. The hunger, the humor, the anger, the swagger. Basically everything you'd expect from a Jay/Kanye collabo, only so much more. And less. At the same time.

30. Atlas Sound, "Quick Canal"
A stunning, skittering and slightly water-logged 13-minute soundscape that probably wouldn't have been heard this year, if not for the MediaFire mishaps of Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox. In August, he accidentally posted an entire DH album and an unmastered Atlas Sound record (his side project, FYI) on his blog, and within hours, both spread like wildfire throughout the Internets. Cox got pissed, then apologized, then said that "Canal" was supposed to feature vocals, only he hadn't gotten around to recording them yet. And while the backstory is pretty great, the song itself is even better. Full of gently undulating electronic pulses, snapping drums and a barely there guitar, it eventually erupts like a bottle rocket, sending sparks flying through my headphones and reminding me of Stereolab, Tortoise and Mogwai and anything else I was getting baked and listening to in 2001. The best mistake of '08.

29. The Airborne Toxic Event, "Sometime Around Midnight"
I have had several nights exactly like the one detailed in this song, except most of them ended with me throwing up in a cab/vestibule/New Jersey.

28. Tom Gabel, "Random Hearts"
On his own, Against Me! frontman Tom Gabel has always followed the acoustic, "This-Machine-Kills-Fascists" ethos of Woody Guthrie, so it's surprising that the first things you hear on "Random Hearts" — the lead track from his solo album Heart Burns — is a series of staccato handclaps, muscle-y chords and Gabel's husky growl. Then the whole thing builds to a chorus so mean it'll steal your lunch money, and you get the feeling that Fascists aren't the only people Gabel wants to kill. He'd do anything for love, but he won't do that. Actually, he probably would.

27. Panic at the Disco, "Northern Downpour"
If a tree-shaped bong falls in the woods surrounding a Nevada cabin, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? If it does, I bet it sounds like this song — somber and stony and genuinely pretty, not to mention probably the best thing Panic will ever do. The harmonizing between Ryan Ross and Brendon Urie is worth the price of admission alone; the fact that Ross spends the majority of the "Downpour" video dressed like an attendee at the Memphis Insurance Adjusters' 1973 Winter Conference is just icing on the cake.

26. Beck, "Modern Guilt"
A shambling, rambling take on 21st-century alienation, courtesy of a guy who's been alienated since the late 20th century. "Guilt" wouldn't seem out of place on any of Beck's earlier, uh, "quieter" albums (One Foot in the Grave, Sea Change, etc.), except that here — for perhaps the first time in his 15-year career — he's playing it straightforward, looking (and sounding) very much like a guy edging gracefully into his 40s. It's a logical step ... obsolescence has never sounded so good.

25. Wye Oak, "Please Concrete"
Textbook dreamy indie-folk from a Baltimore duo, "Concrete" sounds like 6 p.m. on a Sunday, until the two-minute mark, when the whole thing arches its back and positively hisses. Guaranteed to terrify your stoned roommate when he dozes on the futon.

24. The Plastic Constellations, "Phantom Canyon"
Big, dumb hooks and even bigger, dumber lyrics (about, apparently, "one of Northern Colorado's last roadless canyons"), from the broadswords and brains of TPC, the greatest rock band no one ever gave a sh-- about. After battling industry indifference for more than 13 years, they called it quits in April, which is a shame, because considering the wallop "Canyon" packs, there were only bigger things on the horizon. Even the bravest (or drunkest) of warriors can't fight forever, but it would've been awesome if the guys in TPC gave it a shot.

23. Hercules and Love Affair, "Hercules Theme"
Sumptuous — and strangely dirty — post-house (or, if you prefer, neo-disco) that's full of slutty horns, sleazy bass and horny background vocals. If this doesn't make you wanna grab that special lady (or fella) in your life, chances are you're dead. Or a member of Focus on the Family.

22. Ida Maria, "Oh My God"
Norwegian-born Ida Maria Børli Sivertsen (just call her Ida Maria for short) possesses a voice that can shift tectonic plates, and here — backed by a spazzy three-piece — she sounds as if she's teetering on the brink of doing just that. At song's end, when she finally lets loose, the results can be measured on the Richter scale.

21. Crystal Castles vs. Health, "Crimewave"
Over a beat that sounds like Tetris blocks falling (or an NES melting), Alice Glass mumbles about "dark eyelids" and "nice breasts" and I have no idea what else. Not that it really matters.

20. TV on the Radio, "Golden Age"
A disco shuffle. A supple falsetto. Charging horns. Electronic frippery. Backward-looking. Forward-thinking. At the same time. Rock. R&B. Soul. And a little PM Dawn, too. A Golden Age indeed.

19. Leona Lewis, "Bleeding Love"
It's certainly debatable whether Lewis will be the Mariah Carey for the new millennium, but the fact is, you could swap her for Mimi on this song, and it would remain exactly the same ... which is as big a testament to the British "X-Factor" champ as you can possible get. Where she goes from here is anybody's guess, though it will be hard for her to match the swooning mastery she pulled off on "Love." That the song was co-written by a dude who used to be on "Summerland" only makes Lewis' accomplishments on it all the more amazing.

18. She & Him, "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"
Speaking of amazing, who knew albums involving actors could be any good? Dishy Zooey Deschanel pulls it off, thanks in no small part to her partner in crime, indie master M. WardM. Ward. "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"

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Kanye West, Usher, Rick Ross, More React To Barack Obama's Historic Victory

05 Nov 2008 12:12:00 EST

Fat Joe, Nick Cannon, Young Jeezy also celebrate the new president-elect.
By Shaheem Reid

The hip-hop community was one of, if not the cross section of people most vocal about their diligent support of Barack ObamaBarack Obama. For many, including 18-year-old Soulja Boy Tell'emSoulja Boy Tell'em, 36-year-old Busta RhymesBusta Rhymes, not to mention Juelz SantanaJuelz Santana, MainoMaino, Bow WowBow Wow and NasNas, Tuesday marked their first time voting. Others, such as DiddyDiddy, Mary J. BligeMary J. Blige and Jay-ZJay-Z, worked tirelessly both online and in person, encouraging people to get out to the polls. Young JeezyYoung Jeezy made a tremendous record called "My President,""My President," while Will.I.AmWill.I.Am wrote a trio of proudly pro-Obama tracks. Their faith paid off when Obama was announced the president-elect.

"Obama!" Fat JoeFat Joe yelled, watching the news of the Illinois senator's win from his home in Miami. Joe was shaking in his chair like a little kid. "That Latino vote!"

"It's just incredible to know that Barack Obama is our president," UsherUsher told MTV News. "Can I say this? The coolest sh-- ever!"

Kanye WestKanye West acknowledged the win on his blog, posting an image of the senator under the headline "Hi Mom, Obama Won!"

"The vision of the hip-hop generation and its young people is in full and glorious effect tonight," Russell Simmons said in a statement released to MTV News Tuesday night. "While many older Americans, who marched and struggled so hard so Senator Obama could run for president of the United States, never dared to believe in his candidacy's real potential, young people, particularly the hip-hop community, had faith, and their imagination became our reality.

"Obama's election as president is a beautiful testament to the American collective consciousness that is flowering," the statement continued. "This more loving consciousness will be necessary to protect us from some of our hurtful human choices and tendencies. We will need it to create balance with the constantly emerging advances in technology so, going forward, we can use these advances in a positive way to lift up Mother Earth and all her inhabitants."

"This is my proudest day as an American," Nick CannonNick Cannon said via e-mail. "We have elected a leader that represents change and unity. Barack Obama has carved his place in history as a true beacon of hope!"

Even artists from outside the country were eager to share their reactions. "I am ecstatic!" EstelleEstelle told us in an e-mail. "I just got the news arriving in the U.K. I'm so proud of Americans for making that change happen!!! Let's go towards a great new future!!!!"

Rick RossRick Ross has been persevering through the tragic loss of his friend and business partner record exec Shakir Stewart for the past few days, but he found hope once again through the election results. He was so pleased and overwhelmed with Obama's win on Tuesday, he was at a very rare loss for words.

"I'm just ... to be honest, I'm speechless," he said. "I think we all should be. It's time for action. I'm one of the people that really think life can be a mind game at times. To see this obstacle that us, as men of color, have overcome. ... There are a lot of mind games that people played on us, or we used as an excuse for not being successful. I think the picture that Barack will paint for black males will be phenomenal. [The world] is finnin' to see us as being compassionate, as far as being leaders, as far as having the potential to be great as president."

The Boss also commended Obama's acceptance speech.

"He showed his level of class," Ross opined. "He commended John McCainJohn McCain. He thanked his team, his political adviser for putting together maybe the best campaign in the history of the presidential race. I would say he has the support of the people. One of the lines that touched me the most was when he said it doesn't make sense for Wall Street to be on top and Main Street suffering more than ever. That's the nerve of the problem in the United States for the past few years."

"My president is black," Jeezy triumphantly told MTV News via e-mail upon hearing of the Obama victory. The Atlanta native — who, as recently as Sunday, was on the phone working with the Obama camp to encourage registered voters to get out to the polls — was going out to celebrate.

Jeezy has a video for "My President" coming out in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, Nas dropped a mini song called "Election Night""Election Night" on Tuesday. He recorded it in the early morning of November 4 while on tour in Norway. Will.I.Am will release his latest Obama song and video, "It's a New Day," on Wednesday (November 5).

MTV News was on the ground in all 50 states to cover this historic election, and now we want to hear from you! Share your voting experience and your reaction to the results in the comments area below, upload video at yourhere.mtv.com, or text VOTE to 66333 with your first name, age, state and comment.

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Common Praises Kanye's Singing; Lupe Fiasco Plays CEO: Mixtape Monday

06 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EDT

Plus: 'Everbody' is calling Jadakiss; Estelle plans new mixtape; Playaz Circle get political.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes, Jennifer Vineyard and Sway Calloway

Artist: Playaz Circle

Representing: College Park, Georgia

Mixtape: The Campaign

411: The title of Playaz CirclePlayaz Circle's new mixtape, The Campaign, has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the entire country is talking about the upcoming presidential election.

Of course it does! Don't be ridiculous.

"We chose that title to keep it conceptual with the election year," Tity Boi told us, live from the group's adopted headquarters at Riverdale, Georgia's Frozen Palace club. "We felt like we were campaigning for the streets. This is just the first of many. It's going down major. We brought DJ Scream on the Southside. We decided to twurk with shawty because he's one of the hottest DJs in the street. I said, 'Let me and Dolla do our footwork. Wrap it up. It's about to be a Saran [wrap].' "

"This is the prelude to our album, Flight 360," Dolla Boy added. " 'The Campaign' itself is just a mixtape song that didn't make the album that still needed to be fed to the public. Me and Tit did our thing on a major stage. We done been across the country. We seen different fans; we know what they want. Flight 360 is just a collection of great music of any generation from the smallest to the biggest."

LudacrisLudacris, Lil WayneLil Wayne and Jagged EdgeJagged Edge all appear on the album. "Look What I Got" is the first single.

Joints To Check For

"D-Boys R Us" (featuring J-Hard). "The title is self-explanatory," Tity said. "I'm a D-Boy, duffle-bag boy." "You just gotta see the swag," Dolla added. "Swag? What is it? How do you get it? It has to be a natural thing. It has to be inherited through birthrights. Check me out from head to toe, custom-made."

"Boyz Iz Back." "You might be familiar with it because it uses the same beat from [T.I.T.I.'s 'What Up, What's Haapnin' ']," Dolla explained. "T.I. put it out, did his song to it. It's a Drumma Boy track. Real hot. I heard it. We had it for a long time, too, though. ... It shows the diversity — that each artist is able to come up with a hot song in your region."

'Hood's Heavy Rotation: Bubbling Below The Radar

» Ryan LeslieRyan Leslie (featuring Fabolous and Keri Hilson) - "Addiction" remix
» T-PainT-Pain (featuring Chris BrownChris Brown) - "Freeze"
» Bobby ValentinoBobby Valentino (featuring Yung JocYung Joc) - "Beep Beep"
» ScarfaceScarface - "Emeritus"
» Rick RossRick Ross - "Swagga Like Us" freestyle
» David BannerDavid Banner - "When You Hear What I Got to Say"

Celebrity Faves

U.K., big up. Ya mahhhhhh-sivvvvvvvve! We had a great time in London last week. Our current favorite British heroine, EstelleEstelle, has gotten kudos for singing the mainstream hit "American Boy," but she hasn't forgotten where her career blew up: the mixtape scene. She promises a CD for the streets soon.

"It's coming," she promised. "I've done mixtapes forever. I've been in the game almost 10 years. When I started, [mixtapes] were just picking up. I feel [making them] is a good way to get to the kids who are not sold on your album and might not like the single you put out. They get to figure out whether they like you or not."

Estelle — whose favorite DJs include Drama, Clinton Sparks and Neil Armstrong — is still not sure whose material she'll use to craft the mixtape.

"I don't know who I wanna put on there," she said. "I'm having this moment of Marvin Gaye, ColdplayColdplay, SantogoldSantogold and really old-school reggae. God knows what's gonna be on there. I mean, primarily on a mixtape, you take a bunch of songs and just rip them. But I'm having a real Coldplay moment right now. I'd love to sing on a [new] Coldplay song. And I use one of the Coldplay songs in my set, 'God Put a Smile Upon Your Face.' "

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

After all these years, CommonCommon still has a huge smile on his face when talking about his critically panned, fan-shunned Electric Circus. He says he wouldn't change anything about that album, because it showed he couldn't be contained to one musical format. Although he expects Kanye WestKanye West's 808s & Heartbreak to get a warm reception, Com nevertheless thinks that Kanye is having an Electric Circus moment: Yeezy is singing all over his new LP instead of rapping.

"I love it," Common said of West's upcoming project. "Let me tell you, as an artist, you wanna be free. You gotta do what you feel. You can't just cater to the audience. You gotta say, 'Hey, y'all, this is where I'm at.' For him to do an album called 808s and Heartbreak, you know that's where he is at this moment. I heard some songs, and I think it's fresh. I think the people are ready for it."

Common's own album Universal Mind Control drops in November.

"Last couple of albums, I felt a little more free," he said of the evolution in his songwriting. "I just wrote whatever comes to me. [In the past], I would overthink things. I'd be like, 'OK, I did a song for the ladies, so I shouldn't do that again.' I was at a point where I was like, 'Man, I want to make people move and enjoy the music.' "

Although Common's been busy working on the next "Terminator" film and had to push back the release of his album, he doesn't think fans will color him neglectful.

"I'm not concerned with it," he said. "I feel I've established who I am as a hip-hop artist. I think people respect that people are multitasking. If you're doi

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