Diddy's <I>Press Play</I>
Photo: Bad Boy Records

Mo' Diddy: It's been five years since we last heard a batch of new material from Diddy — even though he's been doing just about everything else in the meantime, between the clothing lines, record-label signings and humanitarian efforts. The mogul/artist/fill-in-the-blank is re-entering in style, getting big names to help with the Press Play festivities: Christina Aguilera ("Tell Me"), Nas and Cee-Lo ("Everything I Love"), Mary J. Blige ("Making It Hard"), Jamie Foxx ("Partners for Life"), Mario Winans ("Through the Pain (She Told Me)"), Brandy ("Thought You Said"), and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger. Plus, behind the boards he's got Kanye West, Will.I.Am, Big Boi, Mobb Deep's Havoc, Timbaland and the Neptunes. Now there's a guy with a few friends.

This week's second most impressive guest list belongs to Hi-Tek, who roped in Nas, Busta Rhymes, Common, Talib Kweli, Jadakiss, Papoose, Bun B and Ghostface Killah for Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip. Going above and beyond the call of duty, he tapped Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Slim Thug and Raphael Saadiq for three tunes that appear on a special edition only available at Best Buy stores. That set also comes with a bonus DVD loaded with videos, a documentary and more.

JoJo's Mojo: Expect to see a lot of JoJo this week — on MTV, "The Today Show" and beyond — as she hops back from the big screen to the music world for The High Road. Her "Too Little Too Late" single is skittering up the charts, but — shocker! — there are other tracks on the album as well: "Let It Rain," "Good Ol' " and "Note to God," among others. Oh, and there's a bonus DVD with plenty of JoJo fruits as well.

Circling Around: Xzibit has some mighty hip-hop competition this week in the form of Diddy, but his fans should be coming around for Full Circle. Too Short ("Movin' in Your Chucks"), Kurupt ("Say It to My Face," "Movin' "), DJ Quik ("Poppin' Off") and T-Pain ("On Ball") have all hopped onto the affair, which furthers Xzibit's pattern of releasing an album every two years since he burst onto the scene in '96.

Murder Is the Case: Also in the rap mix is C-Murder, the criminally prone younger brother of Master P who is reservicing his LP The Truest Sh-- I Ever Said with five additional cuts he laid down after getting out of prison: "I Want It," "I Live in the Ghetto," "Calliope," "On My Block" (featuring Bootleg of the Dayton Family) and "Die for Mine" (featuring B.G.). There's also a bonus DVD with a 60-minute documentary hosted by B.G., plus behind-the-scenes material and videos to boot.

			MTV News RAW: Diddy The rapper/producer tells MTV why listeners have no choice but to 'Press Play', and explains why there's a bed in his studio.

Studly Efforts: He's won "Idol," Grammy-nomination honors and sold more than 3 million albums, but Ruben Studdard clearly has an appetite for more. On The Return, he redoes "If Only for One Night" — Rube's version has more in common with Luther Vandross', as opposed to original singer Brenda Russell's — as well as three songs he co-wrote: "I'm Not Happy," "Blow Ya Mind" and "To Tha Crib." The velvet teddy bear gets some production boosts from Scott Storch, Ne-Yo, Bryan-Michael Cox and Dre & Vidal. As it turns out, Ne-Yo and Cox also lend support to Latin R&B prince Frankie J with his Priceless album, which is peppered with guests Chamillionaire, 112's Slim and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Weird Stuff: This week's crop of new releases is a strange one indeed:

When it comes to being odd, no band does it better than Primus, and they don't fall short this week with their Primus Singles: They Can't All Be Zingers CD and "Blame It on the Fish" DVD releases. On the DVD is a 30-minute documentary in which leader Les Claypool, playing a 102-year-old, talks about what life has been like for Primus into the year 2065.

Badly Drawn Boy is also pretty batty, and to coincide with the release of his Born in the U.K. LP this week, he's put up a contest on his Web site that asks viewers to choose their favorite fish-and-chips restaurant in England. Or, more specifically, "the chance to vote for your favourite local 'Batterie' and gamble the fishy reputation of your regular chish 'n fip shop." The contest prize? Nothing.

It Dies Today haven't exactly made a reputation for themselves as a family-friendly band, after touring as part of Ozzfest and with Trivium, Machinehead and other brutal bands. But as it turns out, "Sacre Coeur" — a song featured on their new release, Sirens — is actually named after a Parisian church where singer Nick Brooks says, in a press release, "I hopefully plan on proposing to someone there someday."

A mishmash of "Whatever Happened To ... ?" musicians — including members of Jellyfish, the Candy Butchers, Self, Semisonic and Papas Fritas — have joined forces for L.E.O. It isn't exactly a cover band but tries its best to channel prog-rock legends ELO all the same with Alpacas Orgling. It's doubtful that when those guys headed to the studio they limited themselves to ingesting only bread, water, eggs, coffee and whiskey, but that's exactly what Denison Witmer did for Safe Away, which is being reissued this week with a bonus EP.

To close out a 30-year career that has seen way too much hair and too many half-hearted reunions, Twisted Sister are regrouping one last time for ... a Christmas album? Yes, it's true: With singer Dee Snider leading the pack, the band bizarrely runs through "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Heavy Metal Christmas (The Twelve Days of Christmas)" and other selections that will lead fans to say, "Uh ... OK." Can you take it?

Toronto quartet the Sadies have crafted the soundtrack to "Tales of the Rat Fink," a film that lives up to its odd mantle: It revolves around cartoonist/custom-car designer Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and his anti-Mickey Mouse character, Rat Fink. The soundtrack is heavy on instrumental surf music, while the film features vocal contributions from "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, the Smothers Brothers, John Goodman, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and other people you wouldn't expect.

Also getting back together — a whopping 27 years after issuing their last studio LP — are all-women punks the Slits, with frontwoman Ari Up leading the pack. Equally surprising is that they've only come up with enough new material for an EP, Revenge of the Killer Slits, although it does feature appearances from such question-mark contributors as Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook and Adam and the Ants axeman Marco Pirroni. Oh, three daughters also help out: Cook's child Holly, Mike Jones' daughter Lauren, and Phoebe, who calls Slits guitarist Tessa Pollitt mom. Even if it's just an EP the Slits are putting out, it'll give them a good excuse to tour with Dmonstrations next month. That San Diego band has a CD of its own coming out this week — Night Trrors. Shock! Songs include "Hair Pretzel," "Polyp" and "Coelcanth Shower" and, according to the press release, lyrics revolve around "food, sexual politics and international playgirls."

On the subject of unusual lyrical subject matter, Houston trio the Scattered Pages invoke children's authors Lewis Carroll and J.M. Barrie on Lazy Are the Skeletons, which features "Alice to Wonderland" and the less whimsical "Annie Get Yer Gun" and "You Were Depressing Me." And Sharam — one-half of Grammy-winning electronic duo Deep Dish — spends his double-disc Sharam GU29 - Dubai focusing on a country that usually comes up in a conversation about port security, not dance music. Paul van Dyk, Felix Da Housecat and Armin van Buuren lend him a hand. And Doleful Lions obsess over pro wrestler Terry Gordy on "Oriental Spike," featured on their album Song Cyclops Volume Two, which also features Beach Boys and Misfits covers.

Other strange highlights: KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza finds the singer/songwriter covering Beck's "Golden Age," of all things; Jack White has called neoclassical musician Dexter Romweber a major influence, and Romweber's 13-track Piano was produced by Le Tigre collaborator Chris Stamey; clothing designer Todd Oldham is really into the Changes, who drop their debut LP, Today Is Tonight, this week; and Anticon one-man-band Dosh — who courted Andrew Bird and members of Tapes 'N Tapes for his LP The Lost Take — was raised by a onetime priest and mother who almost became a nun. And last but not least there's the imitable Glenn Danzig, whose Black Aria II is a classical operatic piece based on the mythological first wife of Adam. Why bother being normal?

Song Title of the Week:

"Gutrot Hogfrenzy" from Regurgitate's Sickening Bliss

Other Notables:

Bert Jansch's The Black Swan: The towering British folk musician has made the surprising leap to Chicago indie label Drag City for his first album in four years. But a cadre of luminaries are helping brighten the set all the same, including Beth Orton and Devendra Banhart. Tracks include "Maddalina's Dance," "Texas Cowboy Blues" and "Bring Your Religion."

Jeremy Enigk's World Waits: Rumors of another Sunny Day Real Estate reunion are floating around again, but in the meantime, fans will have to be satisfied with the second solo effort by the angel-voiced frontman. "Been Here Before," "Wayward Love" and "Dare a Smile" bulk up the disc, although some were written more than 10 years ago, shortly after the release of his solo debut.

Elanors' Movements: Chicago spouses Noah and Adriel Harris have been doing the orchestral-pop thing for a couple of years now, but for this outing, they convinced Judah Johnson drummer Daniel Johnson and bassist Rodrigo Palma to join the fun. Using pre-1960s music as their guide, this political-protest LP features "Counsel of Bodies," "Thieving Kings" and "Drifters."

New Releases:

• Alrights - High School (City Canyons)
• Annuals - Be He Me (Ace Fu)
• Avalon - Faith: A Hymns Collection (Sparrow)
• DJ Baby Anne - Baby Anne Rocks! (System)
• Badly Drawn Boy - Born in the U.K. (Astralwerks)
• Barzin - My Life in Rooms (Monotreme)
• Dierks Bentley - Long Trip Alone (limited-edition version with bonus DVD also available; Capitol)
• Blut Aus Nord - Mort (Candlelight)
• Ayla Brown - Forward (CBUJ)
• Cage9 - El Motivo (Long Live Crime)
• Barton Carroll - Love & War (Skybucket)
• Changes - Today Is Tonight (Drama Club)
• Cradle of Filth - Thornography (Roadrunner)
• Glenn Danzig - Black Aria II (Megaforce)
• Kevin Devine - Put Your Ghost to Rest (Capitol)
• Diddy - Press Play (Bad Boy)>
• Dmonstrations - Night Trrors. Shock! (GSL)
• Doleful Lions - Song Cyclops Volume Two (Parasol)
• Dosh - The Lost Take (Anticon)
• Earl Greyhound - Soft Targets (Some)
• Elanors - Movements (Parasol)
• Jeremy Enigk - World Waits (Reincarnate)
• The Esoteric - Subverter (Prosthetic)
• Victor Fields - Thinking of You (Regina)
• Renée Fleming - Homage: The Age of the Diva (Decca)
• Frankie J - Priceless (Columbia)
• Vince Gill - These Days (four-CD box set; MCA Nashville)
• Michael Hall - The Song He Was Listening to When He Died (Freedom)
• Hi-Tek - Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip (Best Buy limited edition features bonus tracks and DVD; Babygrande)
• Imitation Electric Piano - Blow It Up, Burn It Down, Kick It 'Til It Bleeds (Drag City)
• Insomnium - Above the Weeping World (Candlelight)
• It Dies Today - Sirens (Trustkill)
• Bert Jansch - The Black Swan (Drag City)
• JoJo - The High Road (with DVD; Blackground)
• George Jones and Friends - God's Country (Category 5)
• Eartha Kitt - Live From the Café Carlyle (DRG)
• Klaxons - Xan Valleys (enhanced EP; Modular/Interscope)
• L.E.O. - Alpacas Orgling (Cheap Lullaby)
• Layzie Bone - Cleveland (Koch)
• Little Ones - Sing Song (EP; Astralwerks)
• Lonestar - Mountains (BNA)
• Matt Mays + El Torpedo - Matt Mays + El Torpedo (Reincarnate)
• Maria McKee - Maria McKee Live: Acoustic Tour 2006 (Cooking Vinyl)
• Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong (Arista)
• Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Love Their Country (Fat Wreck Chords)
• Doug Moreland - Doug Moreland (Double Xxposure)
• Regurgitate - Sickening Bliss (Relapse)
• Dexter Romweber - Piano (Orange Sound)
• Sadies - "Tales of the Rat Fink" soundtrack (Yep Roc)
• Scattered Pages - Lazy Are the Skeletons (Three Ring)
• Sharam - Sharam GU29 - Dubai (two CDs; Global Underground)
• Shimmers - The Way You Shine (Transit of Venus)
• Shiny Toy Guns - We Are Pilots (Universal)
• Slits - Revenge of the Killer Slits (EP; SAF)
• Squarepusher - Hello Everything (Warp)
• Ruben Studdard - The Return (J)
• Thunderball - Cinescope (Eighteenth Street Lounge Music)
• Tribaljazz - Tribaljazz (Hidden Beach)
• Trucks - The Trucks (Clickpop)
• KT Tunstall - KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza (with DVD; Virgin)
• Twisted Sister - A Twisted Christmas (Razor & Tie)
• Unwed Sailor - The White Ox (Burnt Toast)
• Rhonda Vincent - Beautiful Star: The Christmas Collection (Rounder)
• Michael "5000" Watts - The Day Hell Broke Loose 3 (Swishahouse)
  
• Xzibit - Full Circle (Koch)
• Youngblood Brass Band - Is That a Riot? (Layered Music)
• Your Black Star - Sound From the Ground (Wonka Vision)
• Various artists - Infamy: Music Inspired by the Film (Image)
• Various artists - She Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute to Barbara Mandrell (BNA)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

• Aerosmith - Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith (Columbia)
• Davie Allan & the Arrows - Cycle Breed (Sundazed)
• Black Oak Arkansas - The Definitive Rock Collection (Rhino)
• Blind Melon - Live at the Palace - Hollywood, CA, October 1995 (Capitol/EMI)
• Billy Bragg - Don't Try This at Home, England, Half English (with the Blokes; enhanced) Volume II (box set with eight CDs and one DVD), William Bloke and Workers Playtime (Yep Roc)
• C-Murder - The Tru Story ... Continued (limited-edition version with DVD and bonus tracks; Koch)
• Dick Dale and His Del-Tones - Surfers' Choice (Sundazed)
• Dokken - The Definitive Rock Collection (Rhino)
• Esteban - Best of Esteban (Strip City)
• Everly Brothers - 36 Unreleased Recordings From the Late '50s and Early '60s (Varèse Sarabande)
• Fat Jon & Styrofoam - The Same Channel (Morr)
• Feathers - Synchromy (Hometapes)
• Foghat - The Definitive Rock Collection (Rhino)
• Lowell Fulsom - In a Heavy Bag (Sundazed)
• Goldfrapp - We Are Glitter (Mute)
• Gomez - Five Men in a Hut (A's, B's & Rarities: 1998-2004) (two CDs; Virgin/EMI)
• Charlie Gracie - The Best of Charlie Gracie: Cameo Parkway 1956-1958 (ABKCO)
• Earl Hooker - The Genius of ... (Sundazed)
• Love - The Definitive Rock Collection (Rhino)
• Willie Nelson - 54 Songs: Songwriter Sessions (three-CD box set; DBK)
• Primus - Primus Singles: They Can't All Be Zingers (Interscope)
• Todd Rundgren - The Definitive Rock Collection (Rhino)
• Jimmy Smith - Bluesmith (Lilith)
• Sweet - Sweet Chronology (Friday)
• Frank Tovey - Fad Gadget by Frank Tovey (box set with two CDs and two DVDs; Mute)
• Denison Witmer - Safe Away (original CD plus the Are You a Sleeper? EP; Militia Group)
• Link Wray and His Ray Men - White Lightnin': Lost Cadence Sessions '58 (Sundazed)
• Dwight Yoakam - Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. (two CDs; Rhino)
• Various artists - Cameo Parkway: The Greatest Hits (ABKCO)
• Various artists - The Ultimate James Bond Film Music Collection (four-CD box set; Silva America)

Music DVDs:

• Cars - "The Cars Unlocked - The Live Performances" (with bonus CD; New Video Group)
• Diplomats - "The Diplomats Present: 140th & Lenox, Vol. 1" (Koch Vision)
• Face to Face - "Shoot the Moon (The Essential Collection)" (two DVDs; Image)
• Kinks - "One for the Road" (Velvel)
• Primus - "Blame It on the Fish" (Frizzle Fry)
• Rolling Stones - "Rock Files: Truth and Lies" (Eagle Vision)
• Neil Sedaka - "The Show Goes On: Live at the Royal Albert Hall" (Eagle Vision)
• Various artists - "Carlos Santana Presents Blues at Montreux 2004" (three DVDs; Eagle Vision)

Coming Attractions:

October 24:

• My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade (Reprise)
• Sparta - Threes (Hollywood)
• Various artists - "The Nightmare Before Christmas" soundtrack (special two-CD edition; Disney)

October 31:

• Deftones - Saturday Night Wrist (Maverick)
• Lady Sovereign - Public Warning (Def Jam)
• Kevin Federline - Playing With Fire (Reincarnate)

November 7:

• James Blunt - Back to Bedlam (limited-edition version with bonus CD; Atlantic)
• Foo Fighters - Skin and Bones (RCA)
• Jim Jones - Hustler's P.O.M.E. (Product of My Environment) (Koch)
• Dave Matthews Band - The Best of What's Around, Vol. 1 (two CDs; RCA)
• Ol' Dirty Bastard - A Son Unique (Def Jam)

• Diddy
• JoJo
• Xzibit
• C-Murder
• Ruben Studdard

Sarah Mason, Taylor Cole and Ciara in "All You've Got"
Photo: MTV Studios

"Bring It On" brought in millions by exposing the sassy lives of sexy cheerleaders. "Stick It" is currently earning high scores for its eye-popping portrayal of cut-throat, leotard-flaunting gymnasts. With people finally appreciating the high-demand lives of women who are both athletes and students, moviegoers seem to be saying to these kinds of stories: "Give us 'All You've Got.' "

Now a pop singer with delicious "Goodies" and a "Napoleon Dynamite" dork are all too happy to oblige.

"The one thing about this to me is that it's real," Ciara said of her acting debut in the offbeat volleyball drama "All You've Got," which lands on DVD May 23. "It's a coming-of-age movie, and I think it talks about things teenagers go through."

The film tells the story of upper-class high school volleyball players who, after a fire scorches their campus, are forced to relocate to their rivals' school in the barrio.

For "Dynamite" actor Efren Ramirez, his first major post-breakthrough role had him stealing scenes again, this time from sexy ladies like Ciara and co-stars Adrienne Bailon and Sarah Mason. "['All You've Got' is] about girls not getting along with each other. You see, these girls get into catfights all the time, and I guess I'm the Casanova," Ramirez laughed. "To be working with this team, inside that jungle gym, it was great, man."

	"All You've Got" Photos  In Focus: Ciara  Ciara's a nice girl  Ciara glows about the cast  Efren Ramirez finds a cure for boredom  Efren's advice: Follow your heart

"I love these girls. Ciara is an amazing woman with an incredible heart," grinned Mason, a TV veteran. "We all meshed together really well. It was funny because we all started becoming friends, learning volleyball, and then it was like, 'We need to fight with each other — we'd better back off a little bit.' "

"I can honestly say that this movie is filled with a lot of great talent," Ciara insisted, giving props to co-stars Marques Houston and Frankie J. "And I gained a newfound respect for volleyball."

The stars were trained intensely so that every spike, set and stuff rang as true as the film's high school story line. "You have to remember your form," remembered Bailon, who previously appeared in "Coach Carter," another film that merged athletic skill with life lessons. "You want to make it as realistic as possible. You don't want people watching the film and being like, 'Oh my God, she don't play volleyball. She's not a true athlete.' So we actually worked with our doubles to really get the form correct and, even when we're calling plays, make it as real as possible."

The chance to step into another person's sneakers is, according to Ciara, one of the reasons she was so eager to act in the first place. "I was an athlete before this, and now I'll add volleyball as one of my hobbies to do," the 20-year-old said. "I'm also happy that it didn't involve my musical talents. When people see me on the screen, I want them to be able to discern the difference between [when I'm] acting and [when I'm making] music. ... That's my goal."

	Looking for the newest, hottest trailers? Check out "All You've Got," "Superman," "Pirates" and more, on Overdrive.

"I knew Ciara was going to be in the movie, so I was excited already," Bailon gushed. "They called me 'Thug Passion' on the set, because I love hip-hop music. I swear, my trailer was moving from the vibrations."

Ciara said she appreciated working with experienced actors who, along with the similarities she shared with her character, made her feel right at home. "It went back to elementary school with me. I was taller than a lot of females, and it was hard for me to accept that. I wanted to be shorter, I couldn't take it," the leggy star recalled. "I've learned now to accept it and embrace it. Accept yourself for who you are and love it ... being around these girls and seeing how they work their height and use it to their benefit, it really just made me say, 'Oh my goodness, thank you for blessing me.' It just made me feel even better, and I embraced it. [The filmmakers] made it look so beautiful."

Movies like "Bring It On," "Stick It" and now "All You've Got" are continuing to make audiences appreciate female athletes. For Ciara, it also made the star appreciate all she's got.

See everything we have on "All You've Got."

Check out movies.MTV.com for Hollywood news, photos, reviews, interviews and more.

Want trailers? Visit Movies on MTV Overdrive for the newest, scariest and funniest coming attractions anywhere.

• Ciara
• Marques Houston
• Frankie J

Shakira performs at KIIS-FM's Jingle Ball Tuesday
Photo: Mark Mainz/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — It may have been a brisk December evening in Southern California, but with Shakira, Sean Paul, Frankie J, Chris Brown, Rihanna and the Pussycat Dolls working to heat up the stage at KIIS-FM's Jingle Ball on Tuesday, there wasn't a case of winter blues to be found at the Shrine Auditorium, where thousands of KIIS Club VIPs packed the sold-out show.

Headliner Shakira generated the most commotion as she took the stage straight after jetting in from the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas (see "Green Day And 50 Cent Dominate Billboard Music Awards"). The pint-sized powerhouse, who donned a black and gray tank tied at the waist to show off her most-wanted abs and tight black pants to highlight those signature dance moves, closed out the show with her husky vocals and sultry shimmies, belting out tunes including "Hey You," from her new album, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, and "La Tortura." Shakira slowed the pace down midway through by launching into a haunting rendition of "Underneath Your Clothes," from her 2001 English-language breakthrough, Laundry Service, and ended with her latest single, "Don't Bother." While her half-hour set was cut short, the Colombian crooner returned to the stage and did an encore of two more songs before disappearing into the night.

R&B newcomer Chris Brown proved why he was the new face to watch as he easily ran through his four-song set to screams from many young ladies. The suave crooner arrived less than an hour before he was set to hit the stage, coming straight from the awards show in Las Vegas as well. Brown, who wore a black sweatshirt with a portrait of late rapper Notorious B.I.G. airbrushed on the front, performed tracks from his debut self-titled LP including "Gimme That," "Run It!" and his latest single, "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)."

Pussycat Dolls were among Brown's many female admirers, spilling to MTV News that they were most looking forward to seeing the debonair youngster perform live. Appropriately for the holiday celebration, some members donned festive candy-cane-striped belly shirts and red-and-green capri pants. It's been quite a year for PCD, who were just newcomers at KIIS-FM's Wango Tango back in May (see "Old Meets New As Gwen, Ciara, Simple Plan, Peas, J. Lo Rock Wango Tango"). With two hit songs behind them, the girls returned to the stage like seasoned pros. The group performed four songs including their singles "Don't Cha" and "Stickwitu," along with "Wait a Minute," a serious contender for their next single, the Dolls revealed.

Frankie J scored one of the night's highlights by bringing out longtime friend and surprise guest Baby Bash to accompany him on live renditions of hits "Suga Suga" and "Obsession (No Es Amor)." Decked out in stylish evening wear fit for the occasion — a black blazer over a slightly unbuttoned black dress shirt, jeans and shades — Frankie J was in the mood to celebrate on the eve of his 27th birthday. "I'm going to rock the show, and then at midnight, we're going to party," he boasted before his performance. Frankie made a lucky young lady's night when he handpicked her from the crowd to serenade with his hit "How to Deal," and drew screams of approval from fans as he closed with "Don't Wanna Try" and his cover of Extreme's "More Than Words."

Rihanna opened the show with an energetic set that included "Pon De Replay" and "If It's Lovin' That You Want," while the cast of MTV's "Laguna Beach" mingled with dozens of star-struck teens in between acts, posing for photos and signing autographs with throngs of fans.

And the Laguna posse wasn't above some good-natured ribbing, as KIIS DJs Ryan Seacrest and Ellen K. grilled Talan Torriero on his 11-day engagement to Kimberly Stewart. Seacrest pried for details on the proposal itself, but the reality-show star swiftly dodged the question, only opting to reveal that it took place at his home in Laguna. Meanwhile, Seacrest tried to hook fan favorite Stephen (sans old girlfriend Kristin Cavalleri, who was a no-show) up with a young lady from the audience but he opted to be a good boy, only pretending to be caught in a passionate embrace with the blonde.

Dancehall king Sean Paul, who plans to spend the holidays in his home country of Jamaica after two years on the road, took home the award for most songs squeezed into a set as he breezed through nearly a dozen old and new tracks. Accompanied by his brother on the mic — as well as four bootylicious back-up dancers — Sean Paul got the crowd on its feet, opening with a handful of oldies including "Like Glue," "Gimme the Light," "I'm Still In Love With You," "Get Busy" and "Shake That Thing" from his 2002 debut LP Dutty Rock and topping off with "We Be Burnin'," "Breakout" and "Temperature" from The Trinity. Paul even threw in a couple of wild cards, channeling Beyoncé's "Baby Boy" and a portion of Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps."

For more sights and sounds around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Shakira, Sean Paul And More Warm Up KIIS-FM's Jingle Ball

• Shakira
• Sean Paul
• Pussycat Dolls
• Rihanna
• Frankie J

Frankie J
Photo: Chrissy L. Nguyen / MTV News

If you thought you had Frankie J pegged, think again. The charismatic R&B crooner is about to pitch a few curve balls.

"I've been working with a few different people," the Tijuana, Mexico-born singer said. "I'm actually on my way to Atlanta to do a song with JC Chasez for his new record. I know his manager through a mutual friend. He told me JC was working on some new stuff, so we met up for lunch one day to talk business and we just clicked."

The as-yet-untitled track will be penned by Frankie, Chasez and songwriter Sean Garrett (Aaliyah, Usher, Ricky Martin), and it will be produced by Timbaland, who has already laid down several tracks for Chasez's sophomore solo effort due out next year (see "JC Chasez Promises Next Solo Outing Will Be Less Schizophrenic").

"I've heard some of JC's stuff and it's very different," Frankie said. "He's not really following the sound of what's popular on radio today, which is good because he's not trying to be anyone else. He just wants to be JC. I'm not sure what to expect when I go in, but I know I'm looking forward to what comes out of it."

Frankie also recorded recently with another Timbaland protégé, Dirty South rapper Bubba Sparxxx, who is working on the follow-up to his 2003 LP, Deliverance. The track "Run Away" was produced by Basement Beats, the same crew that garnered hits for Nelly and his St. Lunatics.

"It was funny working with Bubba," Frankie recalled. "That guy is just crazy. The thing about him is that he doesn't write down his lyrics. It's all in his mind. It's a lot like what JC does in the studio, too. He just records it off the top of his head, so it was interesting to watch him flow."

A self-professed stickler when it comes to recording, Frankie says he's bitten the bullet and learned to be more of a free spirit behind the mic. "Sometimes I'll find myself just going into the booth, writing the melody, and building on whatever lyrics pop up. I've never done that before, but now I'm seeing that the best magic happens that way."

Finally, Frankie teamed up with Play N Skillz for "Are You Still Alone," a hip-hop-tinged track featured on the boys' new album, The Process. According to Frankie, the song's basically about hollering at your girl.

"It's about a guy who's been looking to hook up with this woman for a long time and he wonders if she's still available. Because if she is, then let's link up," the singer said. "It says, 'I'm not a player, but if you're alone, let's do something.' "

While Frankie has a way to go before he starts work on his next English-language LP, he already has several beatmakers in mind. "Jermaine Dupri is at the top of my list," he said. "What he's done with Usher, Mariah, Jagged Edge — it's brilliant. He really studies you as a performer, and he knows his music and knows what he's doing. He's a hitmaker."

He also wants to recruit Pharrell ("simply for his uniqueness") and of course the man of the moment, Kanye West. "Anything that man touches turns to gold," Frankie said. "I'm not trying to jump on the bandwagon of people saying he's the 'it' thing right now, but he's very talented. I love what he did with Adam from Maroon 5."

Frankie has also been putting the finishing touches on his still-untitled Spanish album due January 10. It will include four English-to-Español translations off his latest album, The One, including "Obsession (No Es Amor)." "How to Deal," "Without You," and his current single, "More Than Words," a remake of Extreme's early-'90s hit (see "Frankie J Keeps The Buzz Alive With Extreme Cover Version"). The rest of the LP will contain fresh material, including a cover of LL Cool J's old-school jam "Around the Way Girl," featuring New York-based Latino rappers the Barrio Boyzz.

• Frankie J

Frankie J (file)
Photo: Ray Tamarra/ Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — After crooning R&B tunes like "Obsession (No Es Amor)" and "How to Deal" to the ladies, Frankie J is taking it back to the old school with his third single, a rock ballad.

The singer pays homage to the early-90s band Extreme by releasing a remake of their 1991 hit "More Than Words," an Everly Brothers-style soft-rock ballad with an acoustic strum.

"I basically reinvented it in my own way," Frankie explained. "I rewrote it in Spanish, and nobody has ever done that song in Spanish, so I'm very excited."

Those not fluent in Español needn't worry. Frankie plans to release the song in English as well, and both versions are expected to hit radio airwaves in August. No word on when he'll shoot a video, but the 24-year-old singer will incorporate a simple concept to do it justice.

"We're trying to capture the same exact vibe of the original video," Frankie said, "and basically reinvent it with me and my guitar players. I think it's gonna be interesting."

The single is only a taste of what's to come. Following the lead of Marc Anthony and Christina Aguilera, the Tijuana, Mexico-born singer will return to his Latin roots on his next album, slated for a fall release. As he gets ready to travel to Europe, Australia and Japan to promote his most recent album, The One, Frankie has already begun writing songs for his Spanish album.

Frankie is talking about collaborating with bands like Latin pop duo Sin Bandera, but he has his eye on one particular hip-gyrating hottie.

"We're working to hopefully get a duet with Shakira," Frankie said. "I'm praying for that. I've always admired her work. She's a beautiful person and an incredible talent. So I hope to at least be a part of something with her. Even though we're labelmates, I haven't gotten to meet her. I was at the Virgin Megastore in New York to buy my own CD, and it turned out she was there doing an in-store. I wasn't able to get in because she was surrounded by all these people. I've never had the privilege of meeting her yet, but if you're out there, Shakira, please holla at your boy!"

In the meantime, Frankie recently stepped off his North American tour with Baby Bash and Natalie. And he just wrapped up his first movie cameo in the MTV film tentatively titled "Rumble," starring Ciara.

"The scene I was involved in was basically me being myself, being onstage performing the song 'Obsession (No Es Amor),' " Frankie said. "It gave me more of a sense of what it's like to be on set. It was interesting for me to see, and I had fun with it. So movies are definitely something I want to do."

"I'm still grinding, still hustling, still working out there, and still trying to create this buzz and keep the buzz going."

• Frankie J

Frankie J
Photo: MTV News

When it comes to tugging on female heartstrings, Frankie J has it down pat.

The Tijuana, Mexico-born R&B singer — who's last single, "Obsession (No Amor)," climbed to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 — is banking on heartbreak again with "How to Deal," the second single off his latest LP, The One (see "Frankie J Brings Obsession, Irv Gotti To New LP — But Not At The Same Time").

"[The song] deals with personal experience," Frankie said. "It's about a broken relationship of somebody that's struggling so much in the business. He's been with this girl so long because of his career, and he's coping with it."

In "How to Deal," a man witnesses his former flame moving on to someone else. "Sometimes a man has to choose and do something he doesn't want to do," Frankie sings. "Do I live my life with you as my wife, or do I go on and pursue my lifetime dream?"

"He's trying to deal with the fact that [his girl] is gone, and even though there's an opportunity to stay with her, he chose his career over his love," Frankie said of the autobiographical track. "She basically gave him that choice, you know what I mean? So he's trying to deal with being by himself because he's trying to pursue his lifelong dream."

Frankie wrote the song — for which he shot a video May 2 in Los Angeles — with Brian Michael Cox, who Frankie said was going through a similar scenario at the time.

"It's a real situation," Frankie admitted. "That's probably why [Brian and I] clicked. People are going to like the song because it's a realistic story that people out there [can relate to]."

As a Latino artist, Frankie has encountered other struggles, as well (see "Frankie J Can Do Without The Pigeonholing"). But these days Frankie is finally reaping the success of all his tenacious hard work. He was recently named one of People en Español's 50 Most Beautiful People and is selling out venues on his tour with Baby Bash and Natalie.

"I do get homesick [sometimes]," he said. "I miss my son. I miss my family and friends. But you know, you gotta do what you gotta do. [There are times] when I get so tired of being on the road, and sometimes you run into problems, [but] you just know you gotta deal with everything."

There is no rest for the weary, as tour dates continue to be added. The singer will tour through mid-July and then begin a whirlwind world jaunt that will reach Europe, Australia and Japan.

Frankie J tour dates, according to his tour manager:

• 5/20 - Pueblo, CO @ Colorado State Fairgrounds
• 5/21 - Mansfield, MA @ Tweeter Center (WXKS-FM radio show)
• 5/22 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden (Z100 Zootopia)
• 5/26 - Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theatre
• 5/27 - Lexington, KY @ Rupp Arena
• 5/28 - Buffalo, NY @ The Pier
• 5/29 - Hyannis, MA @ Pufferbellies
• 5/30 - Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
• 6/2 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electronic Factory Ballroom
• 6/3 - Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
• 6/4 - Toms River, NJ @ Ritacco Center
• 6/5 - Fishkill, NY @ Dutchess Stadium
• 6/7 - Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights
• 6/9 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Hall
• 6/10 - Johnson City, NY @ Magic City Music Hall
• 6/14 - Gurnee, IL @ Six Flags
• 6/15 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Bricktown Event Center
• 6/16 - Dallas, TX @ Escapade 2009
• 6/17 - Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
• 6/18 - San Angelo, TX @ San Angelo Convention Center
• 6/19 - San Antonio, TX @ Sunset Station
• 6/23 - Nashville, TN @ Riverfront Park
• 6/24 - Cleveland, OH @ Odeon Concert Club

• Frankie J

Frankie J
Photo: MTV News

Frankie J is a man who has a lot to be thankful for these days.

His second English-language disc, The One, just debuted at #3 on the Billboard albums chart, he's about to kick off a tour with fellow crooners Baby Bash and Natalie, and he got to roll around in the sack with a bootylicious FHM model in the video for his smash single, "Obsession." But the climb to the top hasn't been easy for the Tijuana, Mexico-born singer, who has struggled for years to break in the U.S.

"It's been a hard [road]. It's not a common thing for us Latinos to try and do the R&B thing, so it was pretty difficult," he said recently. "I had a lot of people tell me I couldn't do it, but when people tell you that you can't do something it only makes you stronger."

The 26-year-old singer struggled through a legal battle to emancipate himself from the Texas-based Latin-pop group Los Kumbia Kings in 2003, and said the experience has made him much savvier about the callous ways of the business. ("There are a lot of sharks out there that try to take a bite at you," he said.) He eventually won the court case and released his debut solo album, What's a Man to Do?, in 2003. His single "Don't Wanna Try" was a top 40 radio staple. But Frankie insists that his solo efforts were not always met with open arms.

"I once had an interviewer say to me, 'Shouldn't you be sticking to your Latin roots instead of trying to do something so urban?' To be honest with you, that made me mad, and I said a lot of things I shouldn't have said," he recalled. "I told him, 'No, this is what's in my heart, and this is what I want to do. Why are you asking me this question?' "

The singer got some good advice on how to deal with being pigeonholed from the Inc. boss and beatmaker Irv Gotti, who produced The One's title track (see "Frankie J Brings Obsession, Irv Gotti To New LP — But Not At The Same Time".) "We were talking about me being Latino and doing R&B, and he told me, 'You gotta follow your heart. If this is what you want to do, you gotta do it. People are going to expect a lot from you, and you just have to get over that hump.' " So what would he consider as getting over that hurdle? One word: Grammy.

"I still need to get that Grammy," he said with a grin.

Someone who never questioned Frankie's dreams — or talent — was his late grandfather, to whom he dedicated his latest LP. "He was the one who planted the seed of music in the family, and I just needed to give him something back since I couldn't when he was alive," he said. The singer still cherishes one of his grandfather's old violins that was given to him after his grandfather's passing, a gift that will eventually be passed down to Frankie's 4-year-old son, who has already begun to show an interest in music. "I've seen him singing these songs before, and I don't even know what he's singing," Frankie said. "He just goes into his own world."

Frankie's two-month spring tour kicks off April 29 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Once the trek wraps in June, he plans to release his second Spanish-language album in September, then embark on a world tour.

• Frankie J
• Irv Gotti

50 Cent (file)
Photo: Greg Delman

It's good to be the king, and rapper 50 Cent clearly knows the feeling — at least when it comes to record sales. According to SoundScan figures released most valuable playa climbs once again to the top of next week's Billboard heap, where he's been looking down at the rest of the record industry for the four weeks since The Massacre hit the streets.

50's latest sold more than 325,000 copies during a week of heavy retail activity, pushing the MC's second LP well beyond the 2.5 million mark.

March has been a good month for 50. Not only has his album outrun the competition, he also became the first artist in more than 40 years to score four simultaneous top-10 hits on Billboard's singles chart last week, with his tracks "Candy Shop" and "Disco Inferno" as well as his guest appearances on the Game's "Hate It or Love It" and "How We Do." The Beatles were the last act to pull off such a monumental feat.

Following 50 is the 18th incarnation of the intimidating singles-compilation franchise Now That's What I Call Music! which features contributions from Gwen Stefani, U2, Nelly, Destiny's Child, Good Charlotte and Ashanti. Now 18 holds at #2, but the album did suffer a 21 percent drop in sales, moving just over 265,000 copies.

Tijuana, Mexico-born R&B artist Frankie J notched the week's highest debut by selling more than 130,000 copies of One, the former Los Kumbia Kings member's solo debut, to come in at #3. Green Day's American Idiot stays put at #4, thanks to a 37 percent sales boost that drove retail scans of more than 100,000 units. Rock and roll saviors Queens of the Stone Age failed to cripple The Massacre's sales with their latest, Lullabies to Paralyze. The follow-up to 2002's earth-rattling Songs for the Deaf sold nearly 97,000 copies for a #5 ranking in its debut week, besting top-10 wonderboy and sixth place finisher Jack Johnson's In Between Dreams by close to 2,500 discs.

Coming in at #7 is "American Idol" alum Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway, which sold more than 91,000 copies thanks to a 38 percent sales jump. The Killers land at #8, selling more than 73,000 copies of their debut disc, Hot Fuss. Gwen Stefani's solo debut, Love, Angel, Music, Baby, creeps back into the top 10, finishing at #9 thanks to a 69 percent sales surge that yielded more than 68,000 scans. Lifehouse's new self-titled effort grabs the #10 spot with sales of almost 63,000.

Next week's Billboard albums chart is teeming with debuts, including Tweet's It's Me Again, which takes the #17 slot with sales of close to 55,000; Moby's Hotel, which comes in at #28 with almost 37,000 scans; Trust Company's True Parallels, which claims the #32 position with sales of 34,000 plus; and Ozzy Osbourne's Prince of Darkness, which sold more than 32,000 to finish at #36. C-Murder's Truest Sh-- I Ever Said sold more than 29,000 copies to take #41, while Billy Idol's Devil's Playground managed to sell just over 27,000 copies, coming in at #46.

Sure, March has been all about 50 Cent, but it's almost April. The latest releases from Beck, Beanie Sigel, Will Smith, another from G-Unit castaway the Game, and the debut album from the Bravery could threaten 50's claim to the crown.

Making Gwen
Boutique clothing lines and pirate-themed music videos will only get you so far. The formula for chart success is much more complex, made of hundreds of interlocking parts. All of which seem to be clicking into place for Gwen Stefani. Not only has the video for her most recent single, "Rich Girl," gotten tons of play, but the single was distributed to both pop and (thanks to guest star Eve) urban radio stations. And the same is true for her brand new single, "Hollaback Girl" (produced by the Neptunes). Add to that a string of Stefani appearances on TV — "Saturday Night Live," "Late Show With David Letterman," "TRL" — within the past few weeks, and you've got total market saturation. And it's working: Stefani's Love, Angel, Music, Baby album has climbed from #17 to #9 on the chart, with sales jumping by 69 percent.

Indie-riffic
Not everyone can post 50 Cent-caliber numbers week after week. There are plenty of mere mortals occupying the rest of the Billboard 200, artists on indie labels with promotion budgets that probably don't equal the cost of 50's pinkie ring. These acts largely depend on critical acclaim to shift units. Take, for example, theatrical popsters the Decemberists, who reside on tiny label Kill Rock Stars. Based primarily on strong reviews and word-of-mouth buzz, their new album, Picaresque, sold more than 10,000 copies in its first week, to debut at #128. Victory Records' Hawthorne Heights, also hailed by critics, continue to build sales thanks to a relentless touring schedule. Their The Silence in Black and White album has been in the top 200 for 13 weeks now and has sold more than 233,000 copies. Then there's critical faves the Arcade Fire, whose Funeral topped many year-end lists and sits at #197 on next week's chart, with total sales of more than 122,000 copies. Other indie artists making an impact on the chart (though helped by major-label distribution deals) include Bloc Party (#114 next week), Louis XIV (#160) and M.I.A. (#199).

• 50 Cent
• Frankie J
• Green Day
• Queens of the Stone Age
• Kelly Clarkson

Frankie J (file)
Photo: David Decoteau/Getty Images

There's a fine line between being in love and being obsessed, and Frankie J crosses it with his new single, "Obsession."

"It's about a guy who's obsessed with a girl," Frankie said. "He's been seeing her for quite awhile and he thinks it's love but, at the same time, he's knows it dangerous for him because she's playing mind tricks on him.

"It's a cover of a song done by a group named Aventura," he added. "The original is a bachata version — it has a very Latin-polka feel to it. When my manager brought the song to me, he asked me if I could change it to make it a pop/R&B song. He gave it to Happy Perez, who produced [Baby Bash's] 'Suga Suga,' and we basically flipped it and did our own thing to it."

In addition to re-teaming with Perez, Frankie also reconnected with Baby Bash for the song that serves as the first single from his forthcoming second LP, The One, which is due March 8. The two first connected when Frankie sang the hook for "Suga Suga."

"We've known each other for a couple of years now," Baby Bash said of the collabo. "We did 'Suga Suga' and it took off, so our chemistry is 100 percent. So when he asked me to be on this record, I felt privileged to add my little saucy flow to let people know what's up. Right now, Frankie and I could do a whole album in a week because we work so well together."

For the female lead in the "Obsession" video, directed by Gil Green and Dayo Harewood, Frankie enlisted video model du jour Vida Guerra. The video features the two in a variety of compromising positions in the backseat of a car and in a bathtub.

"My manager brought her to my attention," Frankie recalled. "And when we decided to go with 'Obsession,' I knew Vida would be the girl."

For her part, Vida says "Obsession" is something many people can relate to. "He's thinking about her, and he's not sure if he's just obsessed with her or if he's in love with her," she said. "It's something that most men go through."

With "Obsession" already getting attention at radio and a video on the way, Frankie looked to the Inc. honcho Irv Gotti to produce his second single. "The One," a duet with 3LW's Adrienne Bailon, will serve as the next offering.

"He played me some tracks, and the one that stood out was 'The One,' " Frankie recalled. "The track was just incredible — it was real commercial and real R&B. I started writing to it and I wrote the song in 30 minutes: We finished it then and there."

In addition to working with the aforementioned producers and artists, Frankie also worked with Lil' Flip, Play N Skillz and Bryan-Michael Cox on the album. And he collaborated with Mario Winans on two songs, "So Gangsta" and "Can't Say It's Love."

"On this record, I wanted to work with different people and just get a different feel and different vibe from the first album," Frankie said. "I wanted to get more urban, and get in more with bigger names. It's just better to work with people who are where you want to be, and Irv Gotti was just one of those people."

• Frankie J

Gwen, Beyonce, Paris, Game, More At The 2006 American Music Awards

• Gwen Stefani
• Beyoncé
• Weird Al Yankovic
• Game
• Josh Groban

TRL Guestbook

• Beyoncé
• Justin Timberlake
• Christina Aguilera
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Nelly Furtado

My Super Sweet 16 (Season 3)

• Frankie J
• Lucas Prata
• Diddy
• Kanye West
• The Format

Shakira, Sean Paul And More Warm Up KIIS-FM's Jingle Ball

• Shakira
• Sean Paul
• Frankie J
• Rihanna
• Pussycat Dolls

Lindsay, Paris, Hilary, Chingy And More At The 2005 American Music Awards

• Lindsay Lohan
• Hilary Duff
• Chingy
• Pharrell Williams
• Bow Wow

Photos From The Front Row For The Week Of 11.5-11.11

• Madonna
• Ricky Martin
• Frankie J
• U2
• Kelly Clarkson

Lindsay, Usher, Snoop, Game, Gwen And More Hit The 2005 VMAs White Carpet

• Fall Out Boy
• The Bravery
• Nick Cannon
• David Banner
• Rihanna

Jesse, JoJo, Chingy, More Arrive At The Hope Rocks Concert

• Jesse McCartney
• JoJo
• Frankie J
• Chingy
• Aly & AJ

The 2005 BET Awards Red Carpet Gets Hot With Beyonce, Bow Wow, Paul Wall, Ciara, More

• Bow Wow
• Fat Joe
• Will Smith
• Beyoncé
• Omarion

Gwen, Jen, Kelly, Jesse, Backstreet At Z100's Zootopia 2005 Show

• Gwen Stefani
• Jesse McCartney
• Frankie J
• Gavin DeGraw
• Black Eyed Peas