50 Cent
Photo: Rahman Dukes/MTV News

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

50 Cent insists that despite publicly expressing "disappointment" in Fabolous recently over Twitter comments, the two have no problems.

"Yeah, we're cool," 50 said recently on the set of his video for "Baby by Me." "Fab particularly is an artist I've interacted with twice. He's [opened] two international runs [for the G-Unit]. It wasn't specifically to try and help him broaden his international presence, but obviously it would help for him to be there and be in front of the audience internationally and put his best foot forward first. Give a good show and people become Fabolous fans at that point."

Via his Twitter, Fab questioned 50's motives for having former mic rivals like the Lox and the Diplomats perform at his ThisIs50 Festival that took place earlier this month. In the wake of his comments, Fab insisted that he was not dissing Fif.

"He reached out to tell me he didn't mean it in that derogatory way," 50 confirmed. "People misinterpret what you type in the text. I've misinterpreted what people were trying to send to me, sending me messages before as well. Before we utilize devices we use to communicate with each other intimately on Twitter and other Web sites, you can forget you're making a public statement. You can feel you're having barbershop talk or just saying your personal take on something, and it's a public statement and people start to resent you for it.

"He kind of felt a little backlash on it," 50 added about Fab. "People responded negatively to it because they were like, 'Finally [these artists are performing together]' and he's going, 'Wasn't I a part of dividing New York City?' I wasn't a part of dividing New York City. New York City wasn't accepting me initially."

50's Before I Self Destruct LP arrives on November 23, but the G-Unit General said he might drop another mixtape before then.

"I have a tape I didn't put out yet," he said. "It's called The 50th Law. I've been sitting on it. I'm gonna put it out soon. I've been so wrapped up in the presentation for this actual album, I haven't released it."

• Mixtape Daily: David Banner, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, RZA, Nipsey Hussle And More

• 50 Cent
• Fabolous

Young Jeezy celebrates his Birthday after the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta on Saturday
Photo: MTV News

ATLANTA — One of the BET Hip Hop Awards afterparties was a birthday party. After the big show, Young Jeezy hit ATL club Dreamz and welcomed guests Lil Boosie and Lil' Webbie to the VIP section.

DJ Don Cannon spun records from the stage as the three popped bottles of champagne in VIP. At around 3 a.m., the music inspired Jeezy to grab the mic and perform. First were his underground bangers "Trappin Ain't Dead" and "24, 23 (Kobe, LeBron)."

"Kobe, LeBron/ I used to pay Kobe, but now I pay LeBron," Jeezy rapped.

Cannon then put on Jeezy's CTE clique anthem "Biggest Movie Ever."

Out of nowhere, Fabolous appeared onstage and Cannon threw on Loso's Jeezy-featuring "Do the Damn Thang."

"What you wanna do," Young said. Fab — who had a drink in his hand instead of a mic — gave Jeezy the "I don't know" shoulder shrug, but the DJ soon handed him a mic. Fab and Jeezy went back and forth on that track as well as "Diamonds." Cannon turned the party into a concert, playing Fab's "Breathe" and "Throw it in the Bag" remix.

Fabolous had performed the original "Throw it in the Bag" during the BET Hip Hop Awards earlier in the night at the Atlanta Civic Center. Jeezy opened the show with Jay-Z, performing "As Real As It Gets."

The after-afterparty for Jeezy was at club Miami, where the MC continued to party well into the early morning.

• Soulja Boy, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg And More At The 2009 BET Hip Hop Awards

• Young Jeezy
• Fabolous

50 Cent and Fabolous
Photo: Jim Spellman/ WireImage/ Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

Fab, hip-hop's current Twitter king, started tweeting Tuesday morning (October 6) about Saturday's ThisIs50 Music Festival, during which the G-Unit united with some of their past foes, such as D-Block and the Diplomats.

"It's interesting to see 50 Cent unite with NY artists when he's one of the reasons NY hip hop became so isolated & crumbled.. Do u agree NY??" Fab said in his first tweet.

He followed up, pondering, "I wonder if this is a law in the '50th Law of Power' book? I guess it was a good show for New York.. But if you asked 50 a few years ago if he ever saw himself on stage with any of them, he would've said HELL NO!"

In another set of tweets, Fab made it clear his intention was not to dis 50, but to think aloud. "At 50's peak, his grind was unmatched, image was bulletproof, music was ignorantly motivational & catchy, even classic. Most never have that. ... So don't think I'm takin' shots at 50.. Just that NY show had me a lil' puzzled.. But I love NY so I couldn't knock it if I wanted to."

50 responded via his ThisIs50.com Web site, and he didn't take too kindly to Loso's words.

"Reading what Fab said about me on Twitter was disappointing," he said in a statement. "I have extended myself to Fab personally to allow him to expand himself as an international touring artist. I thought we were friends, but that's cool."

Fif also included an excerpt from his aforementioned book, "The 50th Law of Power." "Law #2: Never put too much trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies. Be wary of friends — they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them."

50 ended with a joke: "Am I 50 Cent or am I Machiavelli? Dammmm!!!"

• 50 Cent, The Diplomats, The LOX And More At Governor's Island, New York, 10.03.09

• 50 Cent
• Fabolous

Fabolous and Ne-Yo
Photo: BET

Behind The Beats: Play N Skillz

Do we really have to run down Play N Skillz' history for you again? We put you up on those fellas awhile back when we hit Dallas. The two-time Grammy winners aren't just doing music (Bun B, Nipsey Hussle, Ray J and a few others who'll you'll hear about soon are on their plate), they are making business moves.

"We wanna formally announce our new deal with the big brother Steve Rifkind and Gaby Acevedo," Play said. "Play N Skillz G4 Muzik, just did a nice situation over there with SRC/Universal."

"Play N Skillz have been trendsetters for a long time," SRC founder and chariman Steve Rifkind SRC in a statement. "The music that they make is incredible, and their innate knack for finding great talent is very impressive."

The guys are definitely looking for local talent in their hometown of Dallas but are open to signing groups from all over. "Were trying to take it more of a mainstream situation than concentrate on a regional situation," Play explained.

His brother Skillz added: "We're just going to do it so big. The first act is Dallas: His name is Inertia."

Next Wave of Flav

On Inertia: "The Dallas music has exploded in the last couple of months. It got crazier with Duro and everybody. With him, it's a little different. It's not dance; it's not 'D-Town Boogie.' It's more Flo Rida meets Ludacris meets Twista. We're trying to go that direction with Inertia and our new situation. His show, the homie is dead-on energy. I'm talking about Busta Rhymes energy. That's lacking today. That's one of the things that drew us to him." - Play

"Inertia is just a phenomenal artist to lead off with." - Skillz.

On Nelly: "We been in with Nelly the last couple of months. We been working with the big bro very tough, and his new album is out the box. He has a record with Akon called 'Angel Eyes.' He just killed it." - Play

On T-Pain: "His new album is crazy. I thought Play was crazy. The whole studio was jumping off." - Skillz.

"T-Pain is something different. We went in the studio, he had spotlights in there, porn everywhere, and all his cars parked outside: a Phantom, Ferrari and a hearse with a coffin that came out with speakers." - Play

Five-Star Stellar Hits

» Chamillionaire - "Ridin' "
» Lil Wayne (featuring T-Pain) - "Got Money"
» Lil' Flip - "Sunshine" and "Game Over"

Hottest Streak Thus Far

From 2007 to now, they've won two Grammy Awards.

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

Remember way back when we told you about a potential super duo made up of Fabolous and Ne-Yo? Well, it looks like the two have still been talking about making that project happen and bringing in a third member: Ryan Leslie.

"We're talking about a triple-team collaboration that's really gonna hurt the game," Leslie told us recently in New York. "Your boy Fab, the boy Ne-Yo and yours truly on the board. It's really gonna put a hurting on everybody."

"This guy is a creative genius," Fab said of Leslie. "I told y'all we was working."

Loso and Leslie said the trio are open to collaborating with others on the project. "The table is open," Leslie said. "If you're bringing something to the table, you can break bread."

"You just gotta bring some good food to the table," Fab co-signed.

"It's about conceptualizing," Ryan added about how the LP will shape up. "It's not gonna be a project that's thrown together. It's gonna be a real roundtable, and we're gonna talk about really putting something in the atmosphere that contributes something that's never been done before."

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

• Mixtape Daily: Fabolous, Raekwon, Drake, Jay-Z And More

• Fabolous
• Ryan Leslie
• Ne-Yo

Juelz Santana at Def Jam's 25th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday

NEW YORK — Bigger than an individual, bigger than a group and overshadowing any crew, Def Jam Records celebrated its 25th anniversary Saturday night at the M2 Ultra Lounge.

The historic label's acts such as Juelz Santana, NeYo, Fabolous and singer Adrienne Bailon, as well as celebs such as Claudia Jordan, Zab Judah, Melody Thornton, Malinda Williams, Polow Da Don, Eva Pigford, Ice-T and wife Coco came out for the party.

	Def Jam 25th Anniversary Party

DJ Cassidy started off the night spinning nothing but the hits from Def Jam's catalog: Onyx's "Slam," LL Cool J's "Jingling Baby," DMX's "Get at Me Dog," Jay-Z's "Can I Get A ..." and others. If you didn't already appreciate Def Jam for its trailblazing history and unprecedented longevity, you had to respect its consistent output of hits and stars.

Ice-T seemed especially to love Cassidy's brief EPMD set, standing at his VIP table while Coco and his daughter, Letesha, danced.

The night's nostalgia could be heard in the music and the conversation, as some debated over which rapper was the best at their peak, Jay-Z or LL Cool J, and over which EPMD album was the best. As the night progressed, the dancing got heavier and Cassidy began spinning records outside of the Def Jam umbrella, such as Diddy's "All About the Benjamins" and Jay-Z's "D.O.A (Death of Auto-Tune)" and "Run This Town" (Jay's post-Def Jam releases).

As you can imagine, Saturday night was buzzing with events building up to Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards. Jay-Z's new artist, J. Cole, had a concert at NYU earlier in the night, and MTV Jams' Buttahman threw a birthday party that was attended by industry execs, Power 105.1's Ed Lover and rapper Kia Shine, among others.

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

• The 2009 VMAs Are Taking Over NYC!

• Who Are The Landmarks Of The VMAs?
• VMA 2009: Behind The Scenes
• Ne-Yo, Juelz Santana, More At The Def Jam's 25th Anniversary Celebration

• Neyo
• Juelz Santana
• Fabolous

Eminem
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

It's the label that brought acts like LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Slick Rick, Jay-Z and Ludacris to the world, and now, 25 years after it launched in a New York University dorm room, Def Jam Records continues to lead the way, boasting a roster that includes the likes of Kanye West and Rihanna.

And on October 13, a host of elite artists — including Eminem, Rick Ross, Mary J. Blige, Young Jeezy, Ludacris and Fabolous — will celebrate Def Jam's 25th anniversary with performances at VH1's "Hip Hop Honors 2009" show. But they're not the only ones lining up to pay their respects. DMX, Method Man and Redman, the Roots, Kid Rock, Trey Songz, Ja Rule, Onyx, Warren G and Public Enemy are also scheduled to perform at the sixth-annual Honors, which will be taped at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House and premiere at 9 p.m. ET/PT on October 13 on VH1. "30 Rock" star Tracy Morgan will once again serve as host for the evening. Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon and Brett Ratner will be on hand as presenters.

Fans can go to HipHop.VH1.com now to comment on this year's lineup and to weigh in on what they'd like to hear at the show. Additionally, on Monday, September 14, VH1 will launch the full show site at HipHop.VH1.com with artist profiles, exclusive online programming, show information and more. Additional VH1.com and VH1 Mobile efforts for "VH1 Hip-Hop Honors" will be announced in the coming weeks.

• Eminem
• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)
• Mary J. Blige
• Young Jeezy
• Ludacris

Rakim
Photo: MTV News

Celebrity Favorites

Big ups to DJ Drama. We just had the homie in NYC the last few days. Look for something major from Drama and not one, but two of your favorite New York City rhyme murderers.

Last week, one of the Big Apple's most legendary MCs, Rakim, performed a gaggle of material from his new LP, The Seventh Seal, as well as his classics. Backstage, Ra sat down and reflected on our upcoming Hottest MCs in the Game list. (The 2009 Hottest MCs in the Game list has been rescheduled for October — so you, the fans, can have a seat at the table! The readers' poll now closes September 21. Head here for more info and voting information.) Rakim was voted on our Greatest MCs of All-Time list a few years back, and when looking at who's hot right now, the first name he says is another G.O.A.T.: Jay-Z.

"You gotta give it up to Jay. He's holding New York right now," Rakim said. "You have brothers like Fabolous that's holding New York right now. Rap is spread out right now. It's like the NFL last year. A lot of the teams we thought was going to the Super Bowl last year didn't make it. You have young teams that people sleeping on in the playoffs. It's the same thing in rap. New brothers is sprouting out. It's crazy. From Drake to you name it. I'm a fan of hip-hop as well. I like everybody who keeps the game on their toes and keep it pushing."

Rakim said he's a huge fan of 50 Cent's song "OK, Alright," and he co-signed another New York thumper: Jadakiss.

"Jada, he's the definition of the streets," the legendary MC said. "Jada, Styles P, the LOX, period. You throw on one of their joints ... I'm in the whip, I try to keep my cool in the whip. I don't like bouncing around, getting my crazy on, but it's certain joints you gotta wild out. Roll the window down, blast the joints, let it be heard. That's one of them groups that bang it out."

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

• Mixtape Daily: Tony Yayo, Cam'ron, Lil Scrappy, Rakim

• Rakim
• Jadakiss
• Fabolous

Fabolous' <i>Loso's Way</i>
Photo: Def Jam

Fabolous will have his way with the Billboard 200 charts next week, when his latest, Loso's Way, snags the top spot in a quiet week of album sales. According to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan, the Brooklyn MC will easily nab the top spot as the only debut in the top 10, with sales of almost 99,000.

The rest of the heap will remain largely unchanged, with Daughtry's sophomore effort, Leave This Town, resting comfortably again at #2 (62,000), a resurgent Maxwell hanging onto the #3 spot with BLACKsummers'night (55,000), followed by the Now That's What I Call Music! 31 compilation (#4, 53,000) and the Black Eyed Peas' The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) (#5, 49,000). While most of the usual suspects in the top 10 suffered either double-digit declines from the previous week or marginal losses/gains, band of brothers (and cousin) Kings of Leon continue their upward march with Only by the Night, which saw a 21 percent increase in sales to 47,000 and will move up two spots to #6.

The Hannah Montana 3 soundtrack settles in at #7 (41,000), trailed by Demi Lovato's Here We Go Again (39,000), which shed 64 percent of its business in week two. Taylor Swift's Fearless comes in at #9 with 38,000, and Lady Gaga's Fame, which holds tight at #10 (27,000).

Just outside the top, Ashley Tisdale's Guilty Pleasure debuts at #12 (25,000), while Kristinia DeBarge musters an initial bow down at #23 with her debut, Exposed (17,000). After a disappointing #7 entry last week, former "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks' second album, Battlefield, took a serious hit in week two (18,000), dropping down to #21 and shedding 63 percent of its first-week sales.

While Fab can celebrate his #1 debut in the top 200, over on the Comprehensive Albums chart, he'll have to settle for being #2, as Michael Jackson's Number Ones once again leads the overall sales parade with sales of 114,000 in a top five still dominated by three of the late pop star's albums, including Essential Michael Jackson (#3, 69,000) and the iconic Thriller (#5, 59,000).

The top 10 should remain relatively settled next week, as no major releases are slated to hit the charts.

• Ashley Tisdale's Big Week
• MTV News RAW: Jordin Sparks
• The Evolution Of Demi Lovato
• MTV News RAW: Demi Lovato

• Star Gazing: Ashley Tisdale

• Fabolous
• Ashley Tisdale
• Jordin Sparks
• Maxwell
• Daughtry

Fabolous
Photo: Arnold Turner/ WireImage

Fabolous couldn't wait to release his remix of "Throw It in the Bag" — he dropped the retooling of his hit single Monday, complete with a guest spot from Drake. The track also samples The-Dream's "Fancy."

"Me and Drake, we just met each other in passing on the road," Fab told MTV News. "We kicked it a few times. We kept ending up in the same circles. Eventually we figured out we wanted to work. I had the remix. I had the beat for a minute ... I also didn't just want to do the regular remix, have the same typical remix that everybody is doing where they keep the same beat and get the select few MCs [to appear]. Drake was new — everybody got wind of Drake behind the success of his mixtape and 'Best I Ever Had.' I figured that would an interesting move. I reached out and he was like, 'Yeah.' I just sent it to him."

The remix may be included with Loso's Way as a special iTunes bonus. As for the "Loso's Way" movie, it ends on a cliffhanger. The film revolves around an MC named Loso who navigates his way through the music industry, but faces antagonism from an up-and-coming rapper named Banged, played by Styles P.

"Styles gave a real street appeal," Fab said of his friend's performance. "It felt genuine. I wanted whoever the dude who did that part to feel genuine. Styles definitely gave that appeal to the role."

Although Styles came off authentic in his acting stint, Fab says it was humorous watching his real-life friend dis him.

"It was funny ... he was acting, but you had to make it feel genuine," Fab added. "Styles might go and get an Oscar behind that — just remember to say my name when he goes for the award."

• Fabolous
• Styles P
• Drake

Fabolous
Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

Fabolous woke up one morning handcuffed to a hospital bed. After being shot. Whatever happened to bedside manner?

Actually, this all happened to Fab's character Loso in the new film "Loso's Way," and we have an exclusive clip from the upcoming DVD.

The flick starts off with Fabolous and one of his hustling partners being chased through the streets. Loso evades the long arm of the law, but his homie isn't as lucky. The film then fast-forwards four years, and Loso has become a big rap artist while his friend serves time in prison and eventually gets out.

Chaos prevails momentarily when Los and his Street Fam are out one night, and before they all go to their respective vehicles, an unknown assailant shoots Loso in the leg. It's all very similar to when Fab was hit in the leg by a bullet a few years back.

Loso wakes up, handcuffed to a hospital bed and the police try to stick gun charges on him and his crew after they find firearms in the rapper's SUV.

Styles P plays an up-and-coming rapper named Bang, who tests Loso's resolve and street credibility by making a dis song against him. Ed Lover plays the shady head of Loso's record label, who coerces his artist to capitalize off the notoriety of being shot and turn around an LP quickly.

Swizz Beatz, Jadakiss, Ryan Leslie, Juelz Santana, Paul Cain and Albe Back are all featured in the film.

Fabolous' "Loso's Way" film and album hit stores July 28. Ne-Yo appears on the song "Makin' Love," while Trey Songz has hook duties on "Last Time," as does Jay-Z on "When the Money Goes." Lil Wayne is featured on "Salute."

• Fabolous
• Styles P

'VH1 Hip Hop Honors' 2009

• Eminem
• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)
• DMX
• Public Enemy
• Foxy Brown

Luda, Fab, Eve And More Show Up For VH1's 'Hip Hop Honors'

• Ludacris
• Fabolous
• DMX
• KRS-One
• Gym Class Heroes

Fabolous, Fefe Dobson, Twista And More At The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Press Forum

• Twista
• Raekwon
• Fabolous
• Jeremih

Def Jam Hosts New York Screening Of "Loso's Way"

• Fabolous
• Kristinia DeBarge

Ludacris, Fabolous, Rick Ross, Juelz Santana And More In The Dream's "Rockin' That Thing" Remix Video Shoot

• Fabolous
• Ludacris
• Juelz Santana
• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)
• Dream

Stars Descend On The VH1 Hip Hop Honors Red Carpet

• Busta Rhymes
• Kid Rock
• Cypress Hill
• De La Soul
• Eve

Stars Collide At The 2008 VMA Weekend Parties

• Colby O'Donis
• Korn
• Game
• Calle 13
• Paris Hilton

Nas, Fabolous, Swizz Beatz Celebrate Young Jeezy's 'Vibe' Cover

• Young Jeezy
• Nas
• Fabolous
• Swizz Beatz

Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Fabolous, More Party At New York's 40/40 Club

• Jay-Z
• Beyoncé
• Fabolous

Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, More Rock The American Airlines Arena In Miami

• Jay-Z
• Mary J. Blige
• Kanye West
• Young Jeezy
• Fabolous