Jay-Z and Rihanna perform in London on Monday
Photo: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Rihanna kicked off the promotion for her upcoming Rated R album on Monday (November 16) with a concert from London that featured loads of swagger, tons of flash and a pair of high-profile guests.

Broadcast online to a global audience, thanks to Nokia, the show marked one of the first times Rihanna had performed songs from R (which hits stores November 23) before a live audience, and she was clearly emboldened by the high stakes, strutting across the stage — which was decorated with busted TV sets and a mannequin or three — vamping for the camera and powering her way through a hit-packed set.

Of course, the songs from her new album got top billing: As the house lights dimmed (and the crowd chanted "Ri-hanna! Ri-hanna!"), the speakers crackled to life with a pre-recorded message: "Ladies and gentlemen, for those of you who are easily frightened, we suggest you turn around right now. For those of you who can take it, we say: Welcome to the mad house," and the band launched into "Mad House," the intro track from Rated R.

With an invitation of "Come on in," the house lights dimmed, and Rihanna appeared — lace mask covering her eyes, hair dramatically swooping, left arm gloved — and began stalking the stage as the herky-jerky rhythm of "Wait Your Turn" blasted from the speakers. She ad-libbed a bit (at one point singing, "I'm such a f---ing lady"), then, as a wheeling guitar solo blared, she pranced over to a waiting throne, crossed her legs seductively, and went headlong into current single "Russian Roulette."

The band worked the tune into a moody masterpiece, starting with just the spare sound of a chamber cocking, working in icy synthesizers and a stabbing, "Psycho"-style piano line. Rihanna emerged from her throne, reaching out to the crowd and pawing at her chest as she hit the chorus ("You can see my heart beating ... "). She then ascended a platform behind the stage and, silhouetted by a large video screen, brought her hand to her head — fingers mimicking a gun — and pulled the trigger as the stage went dark.

As the crowd cheered wildly, Rihanna took a tour through her earlier hits: a bubbly, club-ified version of "Don't Stop the Music" (which saw her getting frisky with one particularly lucky mannequin); a somber, pretty version of "Take a Bow"; and a gothy take on "Disturbia," slowed down to let the creepy synth lines wash across the stage.

She spit the opening lines of Rated R's "Hard," then welcomed Young Jeezy onstage so he could finish things off. As the song ended, her band performed a medley of "S.O.S." and "Unfaithful" (the perfect time for a costume change!), and Rihanna emerged in a black leotard and began singing her verse from T.I.'s "Live Your Life," which morphed into her verses on Jay-Z's "Run This Town," and Hov himself appeared onstage, launched into his verses, and sent the crowd into overdrive.

That, of course, led right into "Umbrella," with Jay rapping his intro then ceding the spotlight back to Rihanna, who belted the song out while Jay urged her to "Take 'em higher!"

The song crescendoed, the audience — some of whom had brought actual umbrellas for the occasion — cheering wildly, and Rihanna once again climbed to the top of the platform, thanking her fans around the world for tuning in. She cracked a confident smile, waved goodbye and strode offstage as the final chords of "Umbrella" echoed throughout the building. The message was clear: As she sang just a few seconds earlier, "I'll be here forever." And the countdown to Rated R had officially began.

• Rihanna's 'Russian Roulette' Premieres
• MTV News Extended Play: Rihanna

• Rihanna's Rated R Collaborators

• Rihanna
• Jay-Z
• Young Jeezy

Gucci Mane

One day after he was sentenced to 12 months in jail for violating his probation, Gucci Mane's video for "Worst Enemy" hit the Internet. The video is for the latest single from his forthcoming — and now all-too-appropriately titled — LP, The State vs. Radric Davis.

In the clip, Gucci wears all black and performs the pensive song. Special effects of television screens show various moments from Gucci's life, such as him on the mic early in his career, and his sentencing last year for probation violation.

"I'm my best friend and I'm my worst enemy," he raps on the record, which addresses both Young Jeezy and T.I. "And no one else can hurt me unless I let them/ Is you feelin' me?/ And misery loves company and I had my share of misery/ No mystery, my infamy got me in hip-hop history/ First Tupac died then Biggie died/ And it crazily impacted me."

In his verses, Gucci goes on to dole out his thoughts on his tumultuous relationship with both Tip (stemming from his T.I. dis song "What Kind of King") and the Snowman, with whom he's feuded for years.

"I wouldn't hurt a girl on purpose 'cause I feel they don't deserve it/ I admit my words can hurt, I dissed Tiny she didn't deserve it," he rapped, expressing remorse for his disparaging comments about T.I.'s fiancée in "What Kind of King."

"Me, Jeezy and T.I share one thing in common," Gucci adds. "Role model to young people, though at times man we still ignore it/ And y'all gonna owe respect to me and I don't like apologies/ Just dis me till you satisfied/ I swear it doesn't bother me ... Insults only show the world how y'all respecting me."

In an interview that hit the Internet Wednesday, Gucci told radio personality Miss Info that he had no more time to beef with artists.

"Growing up," he said of the song's inspiration. "Growth — musically and as a person. I feel like I owed it to my fans. There's a lot of die-hard fans that have been writing me, praying for me. I gave it to them ... What anybody else does, doesn't stop my serenity. I'm good."

• Gucci Mane
• T.I.
• Young Jeezy

Rihanna
Photo: MTV News

Celebrity Favorites

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!" When somebody is as consistent as Young Jeezy, it's tough to say he's in a zone. That's just him. The Snowman brings it repeatedly. ("Bag Music" is kinda sick too, by the way.) Singer Rihanna praised his work on her new record "Hard."

"When I first heard the song, I was in Paris," Rihanna said earlier this week of the track, which was written by The-Dream and produced by Tricky Stewart. "Dream and Tricky, they flew out and played me the record. They played me a few [songs], but this one stuck out to me. It had such an arrogance to it, which is so far from who I am ... which is part of why I wanted to do it. It was fun. It was bragging. A lot of attitude. Young Jeezy was the perfect person for the topic of the song. Just the vibe of the song. I love, love, love his verse. He added so much more to the record."

Streets Is Talking: News And Notes From The Underground

"If the good die young, then the greats go to jail," Pusha T raps on the Clipse's new single, "Doorman."

The duo have been reflecting on the incarceration of their manager and friend, Anthony "Geezy" Gonzalez. Last month, Geezy struck a plea deal for one federal drug conspiracy charge as well as one firearm charge. As much as it hurts to not have their friend with them, the Clipse said they have to go on with their lives and careers.

"The show don't stop, we know what we gotta do," Malice, who tweeted, "We luv u GZ!" in the wake of Geezy's court outcome, said. "So we're out here doing it. The situation has been hard as well as heartbreaking. But I got the faith everything is gonna work out for the best. I believe everything happens for a reason. We still take care of our fam. We never leave our fam behind."

"Geezy's good," Pusha insisted.

"Yeah, he's alright," Malice concurred.

"Everybody is good. It's Geezy, it's a few more too," Pusha detailed. "Y'all just know Geezy, but everybody is our brother."

"Every time we talk to them, nobody is hanging their head. Ain't no crybabies. We got real soldiers in the family. Everything is gonna work out alright."

According to The Virginian-Pilot, Geezy is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11.

The Clipse release their next LP, Till the Casket Drops, on December 8. Guests include Yo Gotti — not Drake — on "Showin' Out." Fabolous also appears on a remix of "Kinda Like a Big Deal." (Kanye West appeared on the original.)

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

• Mixtape Daily: Soulja Boy Tell'em, Kanye West, Rihanna, More

• Rihanna
• Young Jeezy

Rihanna and Young Jeezy
Photo: MTV News/ Getty Images

Yet another new song from Rihanna's upcoming Rated R album hit the radio Monday (November 2).

The track is called "Hard," and it matches the title. It has an abrasive party beat, and Rihanna and guest Young Jeezy aren't shy about discussing their elite status.

	Rihanna's Rated R Collaborators

"Tougher than a lion/ Ain't no need in trying/ I live where the sky ends, yup, you know this," Rihanna sings in a near-rap flow. "Never lying, truth telling/ That Rihanna reign just won't let up/ ... The hottest bi--- in heels right here."

Meanwhile, Jeezy talks about his progression. "I used to run my block like Obama and them," Jeezy raps. "Don't believe me, ask my momma and them/ Tell 'em give me back my swag/ They tried to clone me/ See my Louis Chucks, Louis flag, Louis flames, Louis belt/ What that make me, 'Louis Mane'?/ ... 'Hard,' if one word describes me/ If I wasn't doing this, you know where'd I be."

"Hard" writer The-Dream talked to MTV News about the track last week.

" 'Hard,' I want that song to explain itself," he said. "Most of the stuff I wrote — still to this day what I write — I try to find out through people what they're going through or what they gotta say. Then we put that in."

Another Rihanna song, "Wait Your Turn," leaked online Monday. Rated R comes out November 23.

• Rihanna's Rated R Collaborators

• Rihanna
• Young Jeezy

Rihanna
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — Rihanna's Rated R will come out November 23 and feature new collaborations with the man behind her biggest hit so far. The-Dream, who wrote "Umbrella," penned a couple of tracks for the new LP.

"Me and Rihanna, she just cut the last of the two records we did. It's a record called 'Rock Star,' " the singer-song writer divulged earlier this week, backstage at the Izod Center in New Jersey. "The first record is a record called 'Hard,' which features [Young] Jeezy. Both of those records are pretty insane."

Dream declined to go into much detail about the tracks, but said the Rihanna/ Jeezy collaboration is one for the record books.

" 'Hard,' I want that song to explain itself," he said. "Most of the stuff I wrote — still to this day what I write — I try to find out through people — what they're going through or what they gotta say. Then we put that in."

Dream also said that nobody has to worry about Jeezy's verse. The Snowman delivered as always.

"Oh, c'mon, he killed it! You know Young killed it," Dream smiled. "That's ATL right there. That's all we do."

Last week, Rihanna released the single "Russian Roulette," which was written by Ne-Yo.

"I trust Rihanna to be Rihanna, and she trusts me to be me," Ne-Yo recently told MTV News. "That's the coolest thing about our relationship. I don't expect anything more from her. I must say this song is a step in somewhat of a different direction for both of us. We kind of both took a chance."

Sean Garrett has also written for the album, with Polow Da Don lending production.

• Rihanna's 'Russian Roulette' Video Set

• Rihanna
• The-Dream
• Young Jeezy

Jay-Z
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ Getty Images

There's a lot of big mixtape news this week, including our full report Friday on Lil Wayne's No Ceilings tape. Make sure to come back later for a nice exclusive for your weekend. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, here's a little jewel from our sit-down with Jay-Z.

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

Young Jeezy and Young Hov have not yet filmed a video for "Real as It Gets." Earlier this month, Jeezy told us he and Jay-Z would be filming a decadent clip for the record.

"We just gonna go dumb," Jeezy forecasted. "Call Rick [Ross] up, everybody. [We'll have] cars, watches, blunts, money, just go dumb. Dumm-meeee! That's what we need to do."

We spoke to Jay-Z earlier this week, and Jigga said the clip is still in the cards; they just have to figure out scheduling.

"We're trying to do that now as well," Jay said of the video. "Hopefully, we'll shoot that. But it's difficult. I don't have too many gaps in my schedule. So I'll try to figure it out. I really wanna do it in Atlanta."

Jay is currently on a tour of mostly colleges, and the rap legend said he's already planning a tour for early 2010 that Jeezy might be going on as well.

"Yeah, that's a possibility," Hov said. "Young Jizzle — I got a great relationship with him. I think he's one of those guys that's gonna be here for a minute. People are interested in what he has to say. It's not about a song, although he makes great songs. It's more about what he has to say or what he has to offer: music that is sustainable, which is great and will be around forever."

Streets Is Talking: News And Notes From the Underground

Maino has become the go-to guy for artists who need a surprise at their New York shows. Alicia Keys, the Game, T.I., 50 Cent and, last night, Mario have all called on the Brooklyn MC. And Main said: Why shouldn't they?

"Like Jay said: People lie, but numbers don't," Main boasted in Mario's dressing room at the Izod Center in New Jersey during Power 105's Powerhouse '09 concert. "If you look at the numbers, I'm probably the most consistent new artist from New York. When you step outside of New York, I'm one of the only new artists from New York that get spins all over the country. My single is platinum; numbers don't lie. We bringing the plaque back to Brooklyn. I'm running around like I ain't never had nothing before. They gonna say, 'We seen Maino walking up Fulton [Street] with a platinum plaque.' Got-damn right!"

Maino is already working on a new LP.

"It's coming," he promised. "I'm putting out a new record next week. I ain't gonna talk about it; I'm just gonna put it out."

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

• Mixtape Daily: Polow Da Don, Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, More

• Jay-Z
• Young Jeezy

Mike Epps
Photo: MTV News

ATLANTA — Ice Cube and Mike Epps have reunited for their fifth film together, "Lottery Ticket," which comes out next year. As Epps told us during the BET Hip-Hop Awards taping, he and the rap icon are actually supporting another star rapper in the movie: Bow Wow.

"Bow Wow and Brandon T. Jackson [are the stars]," Epps said. "Me and Cube are actually almost doing cameos in this movie. It's for Lil' Bow Wow and them. But we all help each other out in this business."

Earlier this year, Epps and Cube shot the movie "Janky Promoters," which also stars Young Jeezy. The movie, which centers on two shifty music promoters, has yet to be released while Cube and company have been negotiating the comedy's distribution. Meanwhile, Epps is releasing the comedy/rap LP Funny Bidness ... Da Album (October 27) as well as a new stand-up special, "Under Rated & Never Faded" (November 10).

On the BET red carpet, Epps, who hosted the show, said he was looking forward to seeing Cube, Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy. He was also itching to crack jokes at the expense of the celebrity audience.

"Hey, man, I'm cracking everybody," he warned with a grin. "I gotta keep it secret [who I'm going to target]. ... It's gonna be family fun. Everybody knows the inside jokes of everybody around here. It's gonna be fun, though."

Check out everything we've got on "Lottery Ticket" and "Janky Promoters."

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

• Bow Wow
• Young Jeezy

Rick Ross, Jay-Z and Young Jeezy
Photo: Getty Images

Celebrity Favorites

Young Jeezy and Rick Ross are like DMX and Jay-Z back in the day. They are carrying on a new era of Def Jam. On Tuesday night, VH1 aired "Hip Hop Honors," a celebration of the label's silver anniversary. The Southern giants say they are proud to keep the label's legacy alive.

"To be a part of Def Jam, I feel that the biggest legacies have been lived at Def Jam," Ross said. "From the dudes I love like EPMD, of course the LL Cool Js, of course Jay-Zs — but this is that next run. When you think of the classic tours, the Ruff Ryders, Cash Money tours, I feel like we bubbling and building these brands too. Most definitely, with the moves we making, we both bosses, we gonna keep it like that."

"We're the new generation of hustlas," Jeezy added. "New generation of entrepreneurs. We're the new generation of going out there and getting it from the streets. We're selling a lifestyle. This is how we live every day. The better you live like that, the better music you sell. ... He put on Triple C's; I put USDA on. That's real tough music. We doing it the right way. We connected. If we was doing something else, it would have been the same thing. He hit me for a video — he could have hit me for anything.

"That's the homie," he added. "I hit him up a few [years] back, for the USDA tape: 'I need a remix for the "White Girl." ' He sent it back next-day air. So he hit me [recently] and told me what he was doing. I'm in! 'Erryday.' "

Ross and Jeezy brought both their families to a soundstage Sunday night to film the video for "Erryday." That song is the next single from the Triple C's album Custom Cars & Cycles.

"I watched Jeezy establish a brand," Ross said. "When you speak of successful executives coming out of the South that's still in the streets making moves, that's one of the dudes I look at. It was a huge record. I reached out to my family, he made it pop. Not only that, he let [Jeezy's Corporate Thugz Ent. artist] JW shine on the record. That's from the crib, the bottom. It was just love. The streets feeling it, and that's what it's about."

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

• Mixtape Daily Video: Lil Boosie, Big Gates, Young Jeezy More

• Young Jeezy
• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)

Young Jeezy and Rick Ross
Photo: MTV News

ATLANTA — Young Jeezy made another onstage connection with Young Hov on Saturday night, when the Snowman brought out Jay-Z during the BET Hip-Hop Awards. The following night, Young told MTV News that their performance of "As Real as It Gets" was the setup for an even bigger event, the song's video.

"Opened up the BET Awards, me and Jay-Z," Jeezy said on set of Triple C's and Rick Ross' new video for "Erryday." "Shouts out to the homie, man, he stopped through. He was on his way to another show. But that's what we do. Real ones do real things. I just wanted to do something big for the city. Since the song is on both of our albums, we gonna shoot the video. It's gonna be crazy. We said, 'Let's go ahead and break it in at the BET Awards.' "

Jeezy explained that the video is going to display some of their riches. "We just gonna go dumb," he said. "Call Rick [Ross] up, everybody. [We'll have] cars, watches, blunts, money, just go dumb. Dumm-meeee! That's what we need to do."

Jeezy also said he wouldn't mind doing some more shows with Jay-Z.

"I'mma keep it all the way live, homie. At this point in my career, I'm like, whatever, I do this from the heart," Mr. 17.5 said. "Everything I do is real to me. If it's some strings and orchestra with it, and we still talking about what we supposed to be talking about, I'm all for it."

• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)
• Jay-Z
• Young Jeezy

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

Rihanna's Rated R Collaborators

• Rihanna
• Young Jeezy
• Will.I.Am

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

• Soulja Boy Tell'em
• Ludacris
• Snoop Dogg
• Goodie Mob
• OutKast

Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne At America's Most Wanted Stop In Cincinnati

• Lil Wayne
• Young Jeezy
• Snoop Dogg
• Soulja Boy Tell'em

Is Young Jeezy One Of The "Hottest MCs"?

• Young Jeezy

Young Jeezy, LeBron James At 'America's Most Wanted' Festival

• Young Jeezy

Lil Wayne, Drake, More Kick Off 'Young Money Presents: America's Most Wanted' Tour

• Drake
• Young Jeezy
• Soulja Boy Tell'em
• Nicki Minaj
• Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Mary J. Blige And More Come Out For Hot 107.9's Birthday Bash 2009

• Lil Wayne
• Trey Songz
• Plies
• Shawty Lo
• Pleasure P

Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, T-Pain, More At Hot 97's Summer Jam 2009

• Maino
• Movado
• Jim Jones
• Jadakiss
• Young Jeezy

T.I., Nas, Common, More At BET Inaugural Ball

• Common
• Nas
• T.I.
• Young Jeezy
• Nick Cannon

Young Jeezy's "Presidential Status" Inaugural Ball

• Young Jeezy
• Jay-Z
• T.I.
• Wale
• Bow Wow