Lupe Fiasco
Photo: Atlantic

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

Our Main Pick of the week had t be pushed back to Tuesday. Lupe Fiasco dropped a jewel to the Mixtape Daily famo on the red carpet of Diddy's 40th birthday bash. Lu is putting out a mixtape Thanksgiving night. Damn, Giants football and a Lupe mixtape after dinner? If only Vince McMahon still put on the Survivor Series on Thanksgiving too. Guess you can't have it all.

Back to Lupe. He told us he was inspired by the MTV News' Hottest MCs in the Game list, and he's about to go ham on the industry.

"The last six months, it's been like, 'I gotta really, really go out there and show that I'm nicer than all of them,' " Lupe said. "It's like, 'All right, so be it. If it takes three more albums to do it, then so be it.' That's what I got left with Atlantic. Three more after Lasers. I'm already done with two. The mixtape is coming Thanksgiving. It'll be another mixtape after that and an album after that. It's really to get that status and lock it in and [and have people] be like, 'Look at this positive dude, the underdog. The positive one who came and murdered all these dudes. And he's there, and he's good.' "

Lupe said he isn't concerned about what he has to do — he's going to prove he's the best.

"I'm finnin' to house every single mode and arena I can get into," Fiasco promised. "If y'all had somewhere where it's live performances, I'm finnin to have the best live performances. If it's mixtapes, I'm finnin' to have the best mixtapes. If it's albums again, it's gonna be the best verse. If it's the best dressed, I'm going hard as well."

Lupe said the yet-untitled mixtape will be him going in over other MCs' beats. "I got four days to figure it out," he said about the title. "I've been dabbling with some names. I don't know yet."

Concerning the production, Lupe said he's not going to let any original production go.

"Why waste it?" he said. "I still got my plan. I'm not finnin' to diverge off my plan and my career and how I wanna roll my music out."

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

• Mixtape Daily: Lupe Fiasco

• Lupe Fiasco

Photo: MTV News

• Lupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco
Photo: Graham Denholm/WireImage

If you headed out to your local record store Friday (October 16) to pick up a copy of the "New Moon" soundtrack on the first day of its release, you have a CD packed with fresh cuts from Muse, Death Cab for Cutie, Thom Yorke, the Killers and others. What you didn't get — and what you won't hear unless you download the soundtrack from iTunes — are songs from Lupe Fiasco, APM Orchestra and the Magic Numbers and Amadou & Mariam.

In a post on his MySpace page, Lupe opened up about the creative process behind the track, called "Solar Midnite," and why it's such a unique tune for him.

" 'Solar Midnite' is my first commercial release that I actually produced as well as wrote," he said in the post. "The 'New Moon' team asked me if I could do a song specifically for the film."

That invitation led to an opportunity that would make any "Twilight" fan's head explode: Lupe got to see "New Moon" before its November 20 release date. "They invited me to an early screening of the unfinished film, from which I pulled different elements that I thought would translate into a great song," he wrote. "I pulled in vocalist and bassist Graham Burris and acclaimed musician Matt Nelson to help fill out my vision musically and ... 'Solar Midnite' was born."

Lupe's track, as well as the other iTunes exclusives from APM and Magic Numbers, will play onscreen in "New Moon." The movie, of course, deals with a tricky love triangle between Bella Swan, Edward Cullen and Jacob Black. Lupe's tune taps right into such emotional complications.

"The song basically deals with the chaotic love story that takes place between the characters," he said. "It's more on the rock side of my musical catalog and comes straight from my die-hard fanhood of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Anthony Kiedis, one of my favorite rappers."

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• MTV News Extended Play: 'New Moon' Soundtrack

• The 'New Moon' Soundtrack Artists

• Lupe Fiasco

Michael Jackson and Madonna in 1991
Photo: Ron Galella / Getty Images

In the wake of legendary pop star Michael Jackson's death Thursday (June 25), musicians, actors and celebrities — including Jackson's ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley — have began to remember Jackson for all his contributions to pop culture.

"I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children, who I know were everything to him, and for his family," Presley told MTV News in a statement. "This is such a massive loss on so many levels. Words fail me."

"I can't stop crying over the sad news," Madonna told People. "I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless."

JC Chasez, who performed alongside Jackson with 'NSYNC at the 2001 VMAs, said, "Words can't begin to describe my sadness for the loss of Michael Jackson. I was honored and humbled to have the opportunity to perform with him several times, and he had a profound influence on my career. Michael forever changed the world of music and entertainment, and I will always remember him for his kind and sweet spirit."

"I'm hurt," Lupe Fiasco told MTV News in a statement. "But I'm celebrating his life and his music. Dancing and crying and dancing in public. Holding heart-to-heart conversations with complete strangers about one of the things, if not the only thing, we share in common, That Is The Legendary MoonWalker Himself. A white guy in a pickup truck pulled alongside me on the expressway and shouted to me, had I heard about Mike?!? It's surreal and it's everywhere!!! Every time I feel like getting sad, one of his songs comes on, and I'm just filled with happiness and start singing and smiling. He was the best to ever do it. Salaams, Peace & Blessings. May Allah have mercy on his soul. We Love You MJ!!!"

Other members of the hip-hop community are also reacting to the news. "I am f---ed up right now about this," Wale said. "He WAS the '80s, the '90s. He is arguably the most famous person of the last century, more so than any religious or cultural leaders. He was the originator of music for the world. I always thought I'd meet him one day. ... I'm at a loss of words."

Although he tweeted earlier about the Jackson's death, Pete Wentz also shared with MTV News his feeling of loss. "There will never be another. He was the royalty of American culture. I could measure the growth of my life based on him. I have never felt such public grief for someone I have never met. A legend. I practiced his moves in the mirror. ... We lost the last legendary entertainer of my generation. I feel lost without his presence. Sorry if this is kind of jumbled and emotional. I don't even know what to say."

Don't miss "A Celebration of Michael Jackson on MTV," airing at 6 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

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

• Remembering Michael Jackson
• Michael Jackson's Video Legacy
• Michael Jackson: A Tribute

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

• Michael Jackson
• Madonna
• JC Chasez
• Lupe Fiasco
• Wale

Lupe Fiasco
Photo: C. Flanigan/ FilmMagic

It's nothing out of the ordinary for a single to leak to the Internet before the artist is ready for the public to hear it. It is rather extraordinary, however, when the song can virtually disappear from the Internet shortly after it's leaked. But then again, there's nothing ordinary about Lupe Fiasco.

Hours after the leak of "Shining Down," the supposed first single from his next (and no longer final) album Lasers, the song was taken down by most of the Web sites that had posted it. On Tuesday, Lupe issued a statement on his LupE.N.D. Blog denying that he leaked the record.

"I DON'T LEAK MY OWN RECORDS!!! I'M NOT A FAN OF LEAKING RECORDS OR OF DOWNLOADING!!! My entire first album leaked and possibly cost me from going platinum my first time out as the final estimates of how many people actually downloaded that album illegally was well over half a million."

Fiasco's first album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor, leaked well before its September 2006 release date, so he's not too fond of sites where his "fans" post links for others to download leaked songs.

"If you come across it and you like it and keep it to yourself that's all cool with me but to make it where as other people are able to download it in a public forum is honestly an insult to me. Especially because of how much I love you guys. That sh-- is kinda like a slap in the face."

According to Lupe, the leak was the result of someone hacking his e-mail account.

"I was about to fire my entire staff and cut off relationships over 'Shining Down' leaking last night," Lupe said. "The only possible explanation is my e-mail chain with the mix studio ... which is air tight — the studio that is ... was hacked and that's where the record came from."

Fiasco closed the post addressing the leak by saying that this will be his best-received album.

"Lastly, the album is f---ing ridiculous. I don't like to brag or sh-- like that but the album is sooooo f---ing crazy ... I have the experience and the freedom now to make what I think will be the best received album of my career."

• Lupe Fiasco

Justin Timberlake and Lupe Fiasco
Photo: Jason Kempin/ Andrew H. Walker/ WireImage/ Getty

Justin Timberlake, rapper Lupe Fiasco and singer Kenna are teaming up to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, in an effort to raise awareness for the worldwide water crisis.

"My dad almost died as a child from waterborne diseases in Ethiopia, and he had talked to me about digging a well there, and I thought, 'I have too many friends who would be concerned with the subject of clean water. Maybe I can help out,' " Kenna told Elle magazine in a recent interview.

When asked about his motivation to hike up the 19,000-foot peak, Lupe Fiasco joked, "Part of the motivation is beating Kenna to the top. Sabotaging his tent, taking the lining out of his coat, lacing it with ants or something like that."

Kenna said there's a bit of friendly competition with Timberlake when it comes to training for the mission. "I refuse to work out with him, because he's way fitter than I am," Kenna told Elle. "I'm training in secret."

Timberlake is training like a pro, according to GQ. "I've been training four times a week to get my VO₂ [oxygen consumption] levels up to expand my lungs," he told the magazine. "We'll climb for a week straight, carrying 30 pounds on our backs. It's going to be intense, but it's going to be so rewarding. Plus, we're going to be ready for it."

The mission will bring the three artists to the highest point in Africa, which boasts breathtaking views and three inactive volcanic cones. Though the climb is popular among tourists, the altitude and low temperature make this a difficult and dangerous trek. Those who make the climb typically suffer from shortness of breath, headaches and discomfort due to the limited amount of breathable oxygen. The three are set to embark on their journey this fall.

Head to Think.MTV.com to find a community where you, your friends and your favorite celebrities can get informed, get heard and take action on the issues that matter to you most.

• Justin Timberlake
• Lupe Fiasco
• Kenna

Lupe Fiasco
Photo: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

For Lupe Fiasco, the "poppy" beats he used to make The Cool were the sugar to the complex lyrics' medicine.

"You gonna have mad poppy beats," Lupe explained to MTV News in September 2007 of his then-upcoming project. "Everyone is going to dance to them. But when you listen to the records, it's kind of ... you can enjoy it, but [you're] wondering, 'Should I really be dancing to this record?' "

Now the breakout LP has been nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards, where he'll face off against Lil Wayne.

"With this album, I think he shocked everyone because even his core fanbase expected the same intricate rhyme patterns, [but] he took it further," XXL magazine's Bonsu Thompson told MTV News. "With concepts like 'Hip Hop Saved My Life,' even his commercial records like 'Paris, Tokyo,' they were beautiful records. He focused more on instrumentation and [showed] that he really had an ear for music, just as sharp as ever."

The rapper proved his artistic heft could keep pace with his global buzz as a style icon in the Kanye West and Pharrell Williams mold. With songs about sexual abuse ("Intruder Alert") and the paradigm of dreams versus reality ("Hip Hop Saved My Life"), Fiasco tapped into emotions surely shared by some of his followers, creating a soundtrack for those dealing with challenges. Even his single "Superstar," featuring Matthew Santos, had a deeper message buried between the rhymes, according to the rapper.

"['Superstar' is] a macabre record," Fiasco said. "I took elements and compared them to other elements. Like, you'll see news footage of an execution, and you'll see people standing outside a death chamber with signs [that say], 'Yeah, Kill Him!' And those are the kinds of things you see when you go to shows too. So it was putting those things together and then coming up with a weird story, like, 'What if getting into heaven were like getting into a club — a posh, super-hot club?' So it's kind of a dark record, but the bigness of the hook makes it this weird little thing."

Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump produced Lupe's "Little Weapon," a take on gun violence and genocide. Fiasco has often spoken publicly about the violence in Darfur.

"I love how this one worked," Stump told MTV News in November 2007. "We had a few snags, but in general it was awesome, because I got to ask him about feel, like, 'What type of vibe do you want for this song?' And then I got to hear him take it to different places. I didn't have to steer too much, which is awesome. ... And I didn't sing on [the track], so this is a real test to see if I can make real music without my voice."

For Fiasco, who in the past couple of years has had to deal with his manager's imprisonment and his friend Stack Bundles' death, The Cool could be seen as his own personal statement of strength. He told MTV News that the concept for the album was taken in part from Princeton University professor Cornel West. The rapper said the two had a discussion, and it left Fiasco with the idea to use his album for a greater platform.

"He made a statement. He said, 'If you really want to effect change in the world, you gotta make those things that are cool uncool,' " Fiasco recalled. "He's saying that the cool things are what's destructive and what's got us down and depressed. And if you can make it hip to be square, you might really effect some actual social change in the world. So this is, like, my attempt, a very blatant over-attempt [at that], by naming the album The Cool."

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.

• Who Will Win At The Grammys?

• Lupe Fiasco
• Lil Wayne
• Kanye West

Lupe Fiasco
Photo: C Flanigan/FilmMagic

Normally, it would be rude to call someone weird, but that may not hold true for Lupe Fiasco. The Chicago MC broke onto the scene rapping about robots, skateboarding and his unique view of the world.

While it may have been weird to hear a rapper talking about kick-flips, he made it work. He secured a spot on Kanye West's Glow in the Dark Tour; garnered critical acclaim for his sophomore album, The Cool; performed at the VMAs; and landed at #7 on our Hottest MCs in the Game list.

But here's where it gets weird again: News broke over the weekend of a new "British" indie-rock band called Japanese Cartoon, and the band's frontman sounded a lot like Lupe with a faux-British accent. Some music sites, including NME.com, are suggesting that the rapper has gone in a new musical direction. But according to Japanese Cartoon's MySpace page, the lead singer is actually a bloke named Percival Fats.

"Percival Fats (Born Percival Hindenburg-Fats) Is NOT Lupe Fiasco (Born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco)," a MySpace blog post reads. "Although he is a dear friend."

While the post is about the band's MySpace being hacked, it does go on to elaborate about Lupe's relationship with the group. "Lupe does finance the band but is NOT I REPEAT NOT THE SINGER IN JAPANESE CARTOON. He is however the producer and we value his participation very much."

The band reiterated the point in another blog post early Monday, signing off with the line "Lupe Does Not Post On This Site. So please don't message him here. Thanks."

While Fats denied that he is Lupe Fiasco, Japanese Cartoon still could be a new creative outlet for the rapper. Fiasco told MTV Base in April that he was planning to retire. "It's going to take me about two years to put [my last album] together right. I'm 85 percent sure that my next album, LupE.N.D., will be the end-all."

• Lupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco and Common
Photo: Lupe Fiasco

Artist: Playaz Circle

Representing: College Park, Georgia

Mixtape: The Campaign

411: The title of Playaz 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."

Ludacris, Lil Wayne and Jagged 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.'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 Leslie (featuring Fabolous and Keri Hilson) - "Addiction" remix
» T-Pain (featuring Chris Brown) - "Freeze"
» Bobby Valentino (featuring Yung Joc) - "Beep Beep"
» Scarface - "Emeritus"
» Rick Ross - "Swagga Like Us" freestyle
» David 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, Estelle, 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, Coldplay, Santogold 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, Common 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 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 doing both passionately and do them well, people can respect them. I'mma do my best at that. I'mma create my music. Overall, I feel that both [my professions] sharpen each other." ...

It's one of the worst-kept secrets, at least to those of us who are really in the know in the industry (ahem!), but Jadakiss was supposed to announce that he was joining the Roc-A-Fella family years ago, during Jay-Z's "I Declare War" concert in New Jersey. Jada and the other two members of the LOX — Sheek Louch and Styles P — were poised to make the jump from Interscope to Roc-A-Fella/ Def Jam back then, but the paperwork wasn't finalized in time.

"That was something Louch had set up," Jada told us. "[Jay] was supposed to bring out the Roc chains. It didn't happen, but Steve Stoute and Hov reached back out to me [years later], and we made it happen. Def Jam and Interscope are in the same system. It's just a matter of passing the contract over there and them saying, 'Don't call this number; call this number.' Ruff Ryders let it go down, but they still involved in the equation."

The Black Babe Ruth's Kiss My Ass is being cooked right now. Lil Wayne, the LOX and a few others are on the set.

"I got Ghost and Rae on there," he said. "I'm trying to get some of that Purple Tape element on there. It's gonna be good. [But Def Jam] ain't even letting me mold my joint. I keep going to these dinners at Mr. Chow's. Once I get another good week in the studio by myself, we gonna wrap that thing up. Plus, I got a few mixtapes coming. The West Coast joint, and of course I'm gonna do one for New York. Maybe another R&B joint. I'm just doing joints, baby.

"I got that M.O.P./ Statik Selektah joint," continued the cameo king, who recently jumped on New Kids on the Block's "Summertime." "I did something with Juelz Santana. The new Ross album. I should be on that new Hov album, The Blueprint 3. It's like a trickle-down effect. If we come back and do this same interview in two or three weeks, I'mma have a whole bunch of stuff to tell you. My BlackBerry, my Sidekick is filled up. My Gmail is filled. Everybody is calling. Everything is falling in line. I know how to get it hot. Hop on everything! You see me on the Slim joint, the 'Hi Hater' remix. I gotta catch one or two more big R&B joints, and we should be where we need to be in the next couple of months or so."

The first official single off Kiss My Ass is "By My Side" with Ne-Yo.

"It's for the ladies," Jadakiss said. "We trying to make big music. We're trying to do it big for the ladies. [The women] still gonna cop before they get their hair and nails done, so we gotta cater to them. We gonna always show love to the streets, but we gotta show the ladies we acknowledging them this year. Heavy!" ...

Lupe Fiasco is determined not to be the "Superstar" on his record label, 1st & 15th. He has his third album on freeze for now while he helps to cultivate albums by his artists.

"Matthew Santos, Sarah Green — I'm actually working on putting their records together, so I won't start working on my album until next year," he explained recently in Los Angeles. "I gotta be CEO. It's my company, so I got to step back, because if I start doing my stuff and their stuff, I'd be like, 'Yo, why don't you come do this hook? Why don't you give me that song?' So I'm just trying not to be selfish."

Lu is giving all his acts hands-on training. "I actually take them out on tour with me, let them perform, let them open up for me," he said. "Everything I do, I bring all my artists to do it. So I don't even give them advice as much as put them in an arena where it works, where it's real time. It's them, and they get a chance to see it in real life, and they take from it what they need."

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

• Mixtape Monday Video: Common, Lupe Fiasco, Estelle & More

• Common
• Kanye West
• Lupe Fiasco
• Jadakiss
• Estelle

T.I. (file)
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

NEW YORK — Yeah. There was going to be a good show Tuesday night. And not just because it was T.I., who's proven himself time and time again as a not just a bankable artist in the studio, but as an electrifying stage showman as well. Even though he was performing at the tiny (compared to the major arenas you normally catch him in) Highline Ballroom, the atmosphere felt like something major was about to go down. Something you immediately write about on your Twitter page, blog, Facebook or plain old text message. It just felt like one of those nights when you should be right where you are.

As the line filled out, stretching from the velvet ropes at the door, past Western Beef and the nearby housing projects, our expectations were immediately confirmed when Jay-Z pulled up in his Maybach (well, his driver actually pulled up) and casually strolled to the front of the building like he was on a red carpet. Screams ensued, and Jigga and company were quickly escorted to a VIP entrance.

Jay's appearance meant one thing: Tip was going to big-dog it and pull out some guests. Not that the songs he did by himself on Tuesday night weren't welcomed, but NYC means extra special. So, after surprising the fans with guest spots from Swizz Beatz, Lupe Fiasco and the whole Grand Hustle clique, Tip and Jay performed their track "Swagger Like Us" onstage for the first time ever.

Tip, who demanded his sunglasses before the music played, started the song with his verse (which is last on the record) and after a taste of the chorus, Jay came from the back. "Ho-oh-vaaaaaah," the people started calling out within seconds, going along with the playful singing Jay does on the verse. Yes. A classic moment. No Kanye or Lil Wayne, the other stars of the track — that historic moment is probably planned for a major stadium appearance to come — but Tip and Hov did very well on their own.

Tip's most energetic surprise of the night, however, was Swizz Beatz, hands-down. The "Monsta" was a beast onstage during "Bring 'Em Out," singing the chorus and even beat-boxing at one point. After Swizz was given the floor for his own "That Oprah" and "Money in the Bank," Tip politely asked, "Do you have a rag?" The two then went into "Swing Ya Rag," which caused several audience members to wave bandannas of various colors in the air. Swizz and Tip waved theirs hankies as well.

T.I., of course, was celebrating the release of Paper Trail, which is already being heralded by some as his best yet, certainly the strongest since his bust-out album Urban Legend.

Old favorites, like "Big Things Poppin' " and "U Don't Know Me," were accepted with the same zeal as new bangers such as "Live Your Life" and "What Up, What's Happenin'."

"All I got to say is thank you for all the love and support I've been getting from New York since day one," he told the crowd. "Whenever I was comin' up here doing my thing, ni---as always held me down."

When DJ Drama signaled to everyone that it was time to go home after "What You Know," a bona fide closer, Tip pulled the concert encore, running out with no shirt for "Whatever You Like."

Brooklyn's own Maino, one of Tip's good friends, opened the concert with his hit "Hi Hater."

• T.I.
• Jay-Z
• Lupe Fiasco
• Swizz Beatz

Woodie Awards 2007 Performers

• Fall Out Boy
• Lupe Fiasco
• The Academy Is...
• Rilo Kiley
• Tokyo Police Club

Woodie Awards 2006 Winners and Presenters

• 30 Seconds To Mars
• Angels & Airwaves
• Plain White T's
• Lupe Fiasco
• Ghostface Killah

M.I.A., The Killers, Lupe Fiasco, More At Coachella 2009

• The Killers
• M.I.A.
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs
• Franz Ferdinand
• Public Enemy

2009 Grammy Weekend Parties

• Lil Wayne
• Rihanna
• Akon
• T.I.
• Cassie

Paramore, Lil Wayne, More At Virgin Mobile Festival 2008

• Lil Wayne
• Paramore
• Lupe Fiasco
• Wilco
• Bloc Party

Lollapalooza 2008

• Duffy
• Rage Against the Machine
• Radiohead
• Katy Perry
• Raconteurs

Fall Out Boy, Lupe Fiasco, Boys Like Girls, More At 2007 mtvU Woodie Awards

• Fall Out Boy
• Lupe Fiasco
• Gym Class Heroes
• Angels & Airwaves
• Talib Kweli

Pearl Jam, Amy Winehouse, Lupe Fiasco, M.I.A., More At Lollapalooza 2007

• Pearl Jam
• M.I.A.
• Daft Punk
• Perry Farrell
• Against Me!

Red Carpet Spectacular: Photos From The 2007 Grammy Awards

• Pussycat Dolls
• Wolfmother
• Ministry
• Jamie Foxx
• Rihanna

Best of 2006: Live Performances Highlights

• Christina Aguilera
• AFI
• Gnarls Barkley
• My Chemical Romance
• Lady Sovereign