Lloyd
Photo: Denise Truscello/ WireImage

Last month, Irv Gotti told us he was severing ties with one of his franchise artists, Ashanti. Gotti revealed he was dropping the singer from his label, The Inc. Now, another Inc. singer, Lloyd, has said he wants to leave the label as well. On Wednesday, Lloyd's rep sent out a press release that was headlined: "R&B Superstar Lloyd Ready To Part Company With The Inc."

"I'm ready for a change," Lloyd said in the statement. "There's no bad blood. I just feel I need to take more control over my career and get a fresh start. Hopefully Irv can understand my position."

Henry "Noonie" Lee, Lloyd's manager, chimed in, saying, "We find ourselves in limbo for the second time in three years. It's frustrating to know that opportunities to advance Lloyd's career are out there but we can't exploit them due to our current situation. Even though Lloyd is appreciative of the opportunity that has been afforded him by The Inc., he feels it's time for him to move on and seek opportunities that will allow him to build and enhance his brand."

Lloyd echoed the sentiments in his statement while talking to MTV News on Thursday.

"I'm not blaming it on album sales. I'm more focusing on just growing in general," he described of his goal. "There's a lot that's yet to be done on our part that we would like to experience, and I think that as far as my relationship with The Inc., it's run its course and they've basically done all that they can do for me at this point."

The singer said his relationship with the label has changed and although he and Gotti have communicated about parting ways via e-mail, they haven't seen each other in person in over a year. Hence, Gotti saw the press release at the same time as the general public.

"I feel like sometimes instead of the old-fashioned steps of 'let's talk,' maybe I'll just let people know how I really feel because I've been talking since I was 18," he said. "I'm not gonna say it's gotten lower because that would be a silly thing to say because I've come a long way. But I think that at this point I'm done talking about it. Sometimes I don't wanna talk. I just wanna do, get out there and do it."

Lloyd says ideally he would get his release from The Inc. and secure a deal for his production company Young Goldie through a major label.

"What I know, is that it's evident of the times that record labels and artists don't have the same relationship as they once did," he explained. "I'm not speaking as far as actually putting out the record is concerned. I'm speaking more in terms of productivity with that artist, with the project. When I first came in Murder Inc., it was kind of a record company and a production company. There was a lot of producers working. But now, it's not like that. There's no production coming out of the camp. That leaves me no music, which ultimately has forced me to become a lot more self-productive, like with Street Love and Lessons in Love.

"I was doing most of the production myself and the arrangements of the music was basically just me and my friends, my team, in Atlanta," he added. "I didn't really see where The Inc.'s involvement was in the project besides just kinda like being a name."

Gotti told MTV News that he's confused, because on one hand Lloyd says he needs more creative control, then on the other hand he says he needs more support from the label. Either way, it seems like Irv is open to letting Lloyd go.

"He is still signed with Murder Inc. and I will make a decision shortly on what I am gonna do with him," Gotti responded in a statement he sent to MTV News. "His last record didn't sell well at all. And, once again, he had his CREATIVE freedom to do whatever he wanted to do. But for some reason the people did not respond to the album or to him. But I will decide what I wanna do! As always when it comes to me, it's Murder For Life! And anyone who doesn't wanna be a part of that, I will take into consideration."

This isn't the first time Lloyd had tried to leave The Inc. In 2006, a press release was sent out that he left Murder Inc. for Atlantic Records. That deal quickly got quashed by Gotti and company, and whatever fence that was broken between the two seemed to have been mended. Lloyd even appeared on the first season of Irv's TV show "Gotti's Way" while prepping his album Lessons in Love.

Lloyd just dropped a new mixtape building off of his LP called Lessons in Love 2.0. He also appears on Drake's mixtape So Far Gone.

The singer said that regardless of his contractual status, he wants to start work on his new album soon.

• Lloyd

Yung Berg
Photo: MTV News

He already scored with "Sexy Lady," but that was last year. In a world where you can be hot one minute and virtually unknown the next, you've got to live up to — and hopefully exceed — the hype.

So as he unveiled tracks from his debut LP, Look What You Made Me, last week at Legacy Recording Studios in Manhattan, Yung Berg knew that the stakes were high. He's kept his momentum rolling with a spot on Ray J's "Sexy Can I" this year, and he credits Ray for the song that "changed his life."

But Berg is out to prove he's here to do more than churn out catchy hooks. As he unveiled his debut album, he boasted that at just 22, he has his own label (Yung Boss) and he writes, raps and produces music for himself and others.

"I don't know nobody that's signed to their own label," he said. "Twenty-two years old and producing their own records with their tight buddies and [has] millions of downloads."

He's also revealing himself to be a singer. Many of the cuts on Look What You Made Me are slower and feature some of the most prominent names in the genre. Trey Songz lends his vocals on "One Night," and Lloyd turns up on "Manager." He even uses his next single, "The Business," to get some shine for Casha, the first artist signed to his label.

"Its called 'One Night,' " he said of his collabo with Songz, which is a strong contender to be the single. "It's produced by me and my boy J.F.K. It's a real big record. One of them joints that's about the ladies, but all my dudes gonna feel it. All the dudes gonna rock with it. It's got a lot of live instrumentation. Me and the boy J. took it to a whole 'nother level, brought to you by [samples of] Wah Wah Watson. It's a whole 'nother level showing that young-boss swag."

But Berg mixes it up, seemingly having a song (and guest artist) for every occasion. Amerie helps out on the club banger "Get Your Number." "Do That There" is his self-proclaimed "street anthem," and the reggae-influenced "Victory Lap" features Eve and Collie Buddz. But Berg said his favorite song on the album may be "Outta Space," an almost hypnotizing voice-box-drenched track reminiscent of songs by T-Pain and Lil Wayne.

"I'm an R&B dude at heart," Berg revealed. "And I like rap. I started with [DMX]. My craft has evolved. I try to be a jack-of-all-trades where I can sing R&B and write R&B as well as me doing my rap thing and producing as well. I'm multitasking."

But the party didn't end after the new tracks got their world premiere. Berg worked the room, relaxed and in good spirits, soaking up the atmosphere and encouraging everyone to enjoy themselves (imploring guests to stick around and "enjoy the Hennessy"). The party continues when Look What You Made Me drops August 12.

• Yung Berg Talks Dating And Diamonds

• Yung Berg
• Eve
• Trey Songz
• Lloyd

Photo: MTV News

• Young Jeezy
• Lloyd
• Young Dro

Fabolous
Photo: MTV News

For the second night in a row, Jay-Z and L.A. Reid ventured out to Sony Studios in Manhattan, New York, on Tuesday, as another one of Def Jam's summer albums was presented to VIPs. While Monday was all about Young Jeezy and the USDA's Cold Summer, Fabolous took the spotlight on Tuesday as he gave a sneak peek of his June 12 release, From Nothin' to Somethin'.

Jay and Uncle Murda are slated to appear on a record called "Brooklyn," while T-Pain sings the hook on the Jermaine Dupri-produced "Baby Don't Go." Pusha T of the Clipse gives a guest verse on "All Jokes on You," dropping several comedic references, and Murder Inc's Lloyd croons on "Real Playa Like." Rihanna give a female's perspective on "First Time" and Junior Reid's check-in on "Gangsta" will have the squarest nerd feeling like a rude boy. Jeezy appears on "Diamonds," R. Kelly assists on "Foggin' Up the Windows" and Swizz Beatz guests on "Return of the Hustle."

"We got an all-star album," Fabolous said last week in L.A. on the set of his latest video, "Make Me Better." "We got to work with a lot of people we felt would make the album better. Production-wise, the lineup is like the Yankees: Timbaland, Akon, Jermaine Dupri, Just Blaze, Polow Da Don, Neo 'The Matrix.' ... We got great features, too. Each person, I could hear them making the song better. Lil' Mo, Cassidy ... we got a very deep, well-rounded album."

From Nothin' to Somethin' is Fab's fourth album and first since 2004's Real Talk. The MC says he hopes people hear how he's evolved as a person over the past two and a half years (see "Fabolous Album Moved Up To December After Arrest, Shooting").

"I been through situations I never been in before in my life," he said. "I got shot, been arrested, been in a relationship. I'm past really rapping for my block or my projects. I'm trying to grow. We been working really hard. I took two months and worked in Miami, then I came back to New York and worked another three months."

The highest-impact cameo on the effort — at least for now — comes courtesy of Ne-Yo, who sings the hook on "Make Me Better" (see "Ne-Yo Gets Frisky With An 'Ex,' Avoids K-Fed Songs For Britney"). You can call it fate that Fab is putting the single out — it passed through a few hands before the Brooklyn MC got to make it his own.

"Timbaland produced the track," said Ne-Yo, sitting in a dressing room in an all-white outfit at the video shoot. "The way the song came together, it's actually a track that Jay-Z brought to my attention. He said, 'Tim gave me this track, but it sounds more like an R&B track than a hip-hop track. I really think you should do something to it.' So I wrote the hook, did some verses, and Fab heard it. He said, 'You should let me get on that with you.' Then Fab did some verses and I liked some of his stuff more than my stuff, so I was like, 'You should just take the damn song.' The rest is history. The chemistry is so right, it sounds like we were there [in the studio] together."

(Watch Ne-Yo explain how the track got passed along from Timbaland to Jay-Z to him — and eventually to Ne-Yo.)

What time they didn't spend together recording the song, they made up for by performing it on the video set. During the afternoon, the two were surrounded by cuties as they got across the point of the song.

" 'Make Me Better' is a great swagger feeling, ultra-magnetic," Fab said of the song. "It's a great record, I'm trying to make big words to make it sound bigger than it is, but it's a great record. We get a lot of love across the country everywhere we play it. It leans towards the ladies, but it's a swagger record. The fellas could dig it too. The fellas are picking up lines from it. They telling ladies, 'I'm cool, but you make me a better person.' I'm happy everybody is receiving it well.

(See Fab talk about his "ultra-magnetic" new single.)

"When you make a relationship song, it's relatable," continued Fab, who has had the most success with records geared toward dealing with women. "A lot of people have been in the position when you've been the main person or the mistress. Or maybe you had somebody on the side ... at least once in their life. It's just relatable music. Same thing with 'Make Me Better.' You find that person in your life, then the haters, their antennas go up."

Besides Ne-Yo, you can look for cameos from DJ Clue and Mr. Pose for the Camera himself, Ray J, in the clip. Ray was mum on his rumored romance with Whitney Houston or a much-talked-about alleged sex tape but did say he was elated to come and support one of his favorite rappers.

"It feels good for me to be in the building," he said.

Look for Clue and possibly Fab to appear on Ray J's next project.

• Fabolous
• Jay-Z
• Young Jeezy
• Rihanna
• Ne-Yo

Sanjaya Malakar
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Fox

The news happens all the time, even while you're enjoying your weekend. Check out this brief rundown to bring you up to speed this morning — a quick heads up from your friends at MTV News.

Here's what we've got:

Footage of Tru-Life dissing Snoop Dogg has surfaced on YouTube, but Snoop, who is helping to launch Tru's debut album, tells us he isn't sweating it. "Why not let Snoop Dogg executive produce his album and stand behind him and let him know the West Coast loves him?" Snoop explained. "We all gotta understand this music thing could be taken away from us if we don't react the right way." ...

Say you wrote a song that your brother might want to record, but you want it too. By the way, you're J-Lack and your brother is Usher. Fat chance winning that battle, right? Well, Lloyd pulled it off. The singer told us that after bugging J-Lack and Usher about the track — and refusing to give in — he finally got it for himself. "I would go as far as to say, yeah, 'Get It Shawty' was probably for Usher's album," he said. ...

Shia LaBeouf beat Halle Berry and Bruce Willis over the weekend, as "Disturbia" scored #1 at the box office, earning more than twice what "Perfect Stranger" pulled in for #4. "Blades of Glory" skates into second place after two weeks on top. ...

Quote of the Day: "If a girl getting her eye cut off on camera, a guy getting his leg sawed off with a chainsaw on camera ... and kids bashing in a skull with a rock on camera isn't gory enough for you, then I think you need help." — Eli Roth

Here's what everyone else is talking about:

If Hillary Clinton wants to be president, she's got to answer the tough questions, like one posed on a New Hampshire radio call-in show station on Saturday: What can we do about Sanjaya Malakar? "That's the best question I've been asked in a long time," Clinton said. (We really hope that isn't true.) "People can vote for whomever they want," she continued, according to The Associated Press. "That's true in my election, and it's true on 'American Idol.' " ...

You're not going to like Edward Norton when he's angry. Marvel Studios has cast the actor as Bruce Banner in "The Incredible Hulk," Variety reports. The movie, which is expected to follow the tone of the comic more closely than Ang Lee's 2003 "Hulk" film, will shoot this summer for a June 13, 2008 release. ...

Harry Potter fans may soon be able to live the magic — and wait on some really long lines. Deadline Hollywood Daily reports that there's a Harry Potter World theme park in the works at Universal Studios Florida. ...

Would Will Smith really give up his blockbuster movie career for another shot with DJ Jazzy Jeff? World Entertainment News Network says he would, at least temporarily. "Right now, the plan is we are supposed to go out on tour together at the end of this year," Smith said, according to the report. ...

"American Idol" vets Kimberley Locke, Bucky Covington, Vonzell Solomon, Jon Peter Lewis and Carmen Rasmussen are lined up to be teachers at Idol Camp, E! Online reports. Camper applications are due Wednesday — and they're only accepting Idol wannabes age 12-15. ...

If you make it to Idol Camp, you probably won't be practicing your scales with Paris Bennett. The season-five finalist spoke out in a Minneapolis radio interview last week (TMZ.com posted an MP3 of her comments) to say that the show "isn't going for talent anymore," so she is aligning with VoteForTheWorst.com — and risking sounding like a seriously sore loser while implicating, but not naming, other season-five finalists in the plot. "We want to see [Sanjaya] win because it'll kind of prove that 'American Idol' is kind of losing its taste," she said. ...

Romeo is going to college — on a full athletic scholarship, AllHipHop.com reports. He will attend the University of Southern California and play for the school's basketball team while pursuing a degree in business administration. ...

And Blabbermouth.net reports that Gilby Clarke released a statement insisting that he hasn't left Rock Star Supernova, despite ET Canada's report to the contrary. Here's hoping ET's name-change story is true.

• Why Is Sanjaya Still Singing?
• 'Harry Potter' Book Cover: You Told Us!
• Flick'd: 'Disturbia'

• The Many Faces Of Sanjaya On "American Idol"
• "Disturbia"
• Shia LaBeouf, The Cheetah Girls, Sarah Roemer, More At "Disturbia" Premiere
• "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows" Cover Art
• "Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix"

• Snoop Dogg
• Lloyd

Lloyd
Photo: The Inc.

Lloyd's latest single "Get It Shawty" is currently climbing the charts and will most likely be the Inc. crooner's second top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 from his sophomore album, Street Love (the first was "You" featuring Lil Wayne). But it turns out shawty almost didn't get it. The song, that is.

"I was working in the studio with Jazze Pha one day and Usher's brother [James] 'J. Lack' [Lackey] came by," Lloyd explained. "[We] recorded a song called 'Hazel,' and because of our vibe, he accidentally played me another song called 'Get It Shawty.' Usher was there and he kind of waved him off, like, 'No, what are you doing? You're not supposed to play that.' I was just so in love with the song that I had Jazze kind of call them every day and tell them how much I wanted to record it. They actually invited me to the crib, Usher and J. Lack, and we recorded it at their studio. Originally, their stance was, 'I know you like it, but how about this one?' And I was like, 'No, no, no, I want that one!' [He laughs.] 'I need that one. That's the one for me.' I know Usher wants to showcase J. Lack's talent on his next project. So I would go as far as to say, yeah, 'Get It Shawty' was probably for Usher's album."

So with that nugget in mind from Lloyd, MTV News decided to find out five other things you may not have known about the Atlanta-by-way-of-New-Orleans singer.

Mom Knows Best

While most artists may be comfortable with a party-like atmosphere in the studio, the only lady crashing Lloyd's sessions is ... his mom?

"I always invite my mom to come by," Lloyd said. " 'Cause she inspires me. She reminds me why I first started. She wasn't in the studio for 'You,' but she was for most of the [other] songs on the album. She came by and kind of gave me her thumbs up. When I was a kid, she taught me how to harmonize when old-school songs came on. She would say, 'Here, Lloyd, grab this note and I'm gonna do this note.' It's just so funny, because my father ... used to make her do that kind of thing with him before he passed. She turned me on to a lot of music growing up. And I kind of just invite her down to let her know how I'm making my mark."

A Rap Role Reversal

When Lloyd and Lil Wayne collaborated on "You," Lloyd said he was surprised when Weezy told him he was a big fan. To prove his point, Wayne started belting out a tune from Lloyd's first album, which made Lloyd crack: next time you sing and I'll rap.

"Oh yeah, I can rap," Lloyd said. "Ask Akon about me. I just taped '[Nick Cannon Presents:] Wild 'N Out' a few days ago and I killed him. I'm telling you, my rhyme skills are mean. Actually, when I write my songs, I write them in the rhyme format almost as if I'm rapping. And then I go back later and put melodies to them. They used to call me DJ Sweet'N Low. Like the package of sweetener, 'cause the package had music symbols."

From Dorville to Madison Square

From singing as a young buck to joining R&B troupe N-Toon as a teen, Lloyd's been performing music about as long as Don Imus has been offending folks on the radio. But his very first time onstage as a kid — and his first time performing after joining Murder Inc. — were as different as night and day.

"My very first solo performance on a stage was at a neighborhood arts theater called the Dorville Arts Theater," Lloyd said. "We would do renditions of Broadway musicals. At the time, I was 8 years old. The music director told my mom I was too young to join, but she begged him and said, 'Let him try' ... she finally talked him into it and I ended up with my first solo. It was in a play called 'Up With Kids.' [The music director] was charmed by my ability to rock the crowd. [He laughs.] I did this song where I would say [sings], 'Moms, Dads, what do they know about kids?' I was scared, man.

"From there, I joined [N-Toon] and we did our first real performance at a showcase for Dallas Austin and some local Atlanta executives. I was really nervous back then. Now the more I perform, the more anxious I get. My very first solo performance [as a professional] was at the Ringling Bros. circus with Ashanti at Madison Square Garden. I was nervous for that, too. Know what's crazy? Those same people that booked me then invited me, just a few weeks ago, to perform again at the Ringling Bros. circus at Madison Square. But by myself this time."

Secret Admirer?

Lloyd has had the chance to work with Wayne and Ashanti, and has upcoming collabos in the can with Fabolous, DJ Khaled and DJ Drama, but one person you might not expect him to work with is John Mayer. Lloyd professes to be a huge fan.

"The most-played song on my iPod right now would probably by 'Vultures' by John Mayer," Lloyd explained. "I kind of turned myself onto John Mayer [a few years ago]. I loved his first songs, and then he came out with 'Your Body Is a Wonderland.' I just think it's really cool the way he composes his music. I'm just really drawn into it. He's very advanced [even though he's] so young. ... He keeps getting better and better. He's smooth, man. He's one person I would collaborate with if I could."

Body Language

Like most rappers, Lloyd is covered in tattoos. So far, he has a tat for every year he's lived: 21. But the first time he got marked was a family affair. After his grandmother passed, he and everyone from uncles to cousins decided to pay tribute to her in ink.

"My grandmother had such a huge influence on us, like Big Momma," Lloyd said. "So the whole family — maybe like 11 or 12 of us — were in the tattoo shop and we all got something in memory of her. So from my older uncle at like 50-something years old to one of my younger cousins at like 16, and everyone in between, got tattoos.

"I was 17 at the time. Mine is a cross — I got it done over, but it has these big rosary beads wrapped around my shoulders. I got this big tribal sign going up my shoulder. And I've got the cross, there's a sun made of roses and it says, 'May peace be with you.' And it has her name on there: Rosemary. The fact that I could be creative and express individualism is what attracted me to tattoos. ... I'll keep getting one every year."

• Lloyd
• Usher
• John Mayer

Musiq Soulchild
Photo: Atlantic

When it comes to predicting which artist will end up topping Billboard's albums sales chart, some weeks are easier than others.

Many were counting on urban crooner Lloyd to mop the floor with the competition last week, and thought him a lock for a #1 debut. But Philadelphia-born R&B artist Musiq Soulchild came out of nowhere with his latest, Luvanmusiq, and just narrowly edged Lloyd out of contention, by a margin of fewer than 5,000 scans.

Luvanmusiq — which sold 149,000 copies — becomes Musiq Soulchild's second studio effort to open in Billboard's #1 spot; his 2002 LP Juslisen was the first, selling more than 260,000 units.

Lloyd's Street Love finished a close second, selling 144,000, according to the latest SoundScan figures. At #3 is another new release, rapper Rich Boy's self-titled LP, which generated close to 112,000 scans its first week in stores.

In all, there were six newcomers to the latest top 10, including Neil Young's Live at Massey Hall 1971 at #6 with 57,000 sold, and British songstress Amy Winehouse's Back to Black at #7, selling 51,000 copies. Bowing at #8 is 8Ball & MJG's Ridin' High, which netted 50,000 scans.

Meanwhile, six other new releases made the top 200, including James Morrison's Undiscovered, which opens at #24, with close to 24,000 sold. Type O Negative's Dead Again follows at #27, with sales topping 22,000.

The Fratellis' Costello Music debuts at #48 with 15,000 sales, while Aqualung's Memory Man takes the #88 slot with 9,000 scans. Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration, a double-disc, 50-track celebration of the birth of Stax Records — featuring tracks by the Mar-Keys, Booker T. & the MGs, and Otis Redding — enters the chart at #120, selling 7,000 copies.

Daughtry, the debut disc from "American Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry's rock band, leads the pack of chart veterans, dropping one spot to #4 with nearly 80,000 copies sold. Akon's Konvicted, which racked up 71,000-plus scans, follows at #5. Fall Out Boy's Infinity on High finishes out the week at #9, selling 43,000 units, and Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts returns to the top 10 at #10, with 42,000 copies sold.

Last week's #1, Notorious B.I.G.'s Greatest Hits, suffered the typical second-week slump, with sales skidding 61 percent, dropping the disc to #15 on the chart with close to 39,000 copies sold. Similarly, the Arcade Fire's Neon Bible, which debuted at #2 on the previous week's chart, slips to #18 thanks to a 60 percent sales dip; the disc sold fewer than 37,000 units its second week in stores.

• Musiq Soulchild
• Lloyd
• Rich Boy
• Akon
• Neil Young

Lloyd's <I>Street Love</I>
Photo: Motown

"Beware the ides of March," Titus once told Julius Caesar. The Roman leader disregarded the warning — and was fatally stabbed by conspirator Brutus a few days later. Harsh. While we're hoping a similar fate doesn't befall any of the artists putting out new releases this week, in the interest of friendly competition, we've paired them off as rivals. No conniving!

Lloyd's Street Love and Musiq Soulchild's Luvanmusiq - Lloyd got some assistance from Lil Wayne, Ashanti and Ja Rule on his 2004 debut, Southside. Weezy's back to give the Atlanta R&B crooner another leg up — this time on "You" — and Nas is also climbing into the action with a spot on the album-closing remix of "I Want You." Another singer, Philadelphia's Musiq, flies totally solo on his fourth effort, which he's hoping will follow in the platinum and gold tradition of his albums past. His first item for Atlantic features "Buddy," "Today" and "Ridiculous."

Rich Boy's Rich Boy and 8Ball and MJG's Ridin High - Atlanta's Rich Boy tapped a wealth of friends for his debut: Nelly; Outkast's Andre 3000 and Big Boi, who guest on separate tracks; Jim Jones; Pastor Troy; Polow Da Don; David Banner; and even John Legend, who performs on "Ghetto Rich." Another Southern rap act, Memphis' 8Ball and MJG, are seeing stars too — their seventh outing is underscored with guest appearances by Diddy, Three 6 Mafia, Yung Joc, Juvenile, Killer Mike, 112's Slim and Notorious B.I.G.

Various artists' Radio Disney Jams 9 and Girl Authority's Road Trip - On what CD can Rascal Flatts cozy up to Gwen Stefani and Weezer? Why, on a Radio Disney Jams comp, of course — this week's installment of the popular kids' series also calls on Hilary Duff, Jesse McCartney, Daniel Powter and the cast of "High School Musical" to kick out the jams. An accompanying DVD features five clips, most notably of Hannah Montana, the Cheetah Girls and Aly & AJ. Girl Authority's new one also comes with a video disc, furthering the collection of family-friendly tunes ("The Loco-Motion," "We Are Family," etc.) as sung by nine girls. Sprinkled among the cover songs are a few new tracks written specifically for Girl Authority by none other than Vince Clarke (Erasure, Depeche Mode) and Tanya Donelly (Breeders, Throwing Muses).

The Fratellis' Costello Music and the Sterns' Sinners Stick Together - You Hear It First-ers Jon, Barry and Mince Fratelli hail from Scotland — and met while working at a carnival! — but recorded their first release in Los Angeles with Beck buddy Tony Hoffer. The Brit Award winners' LP has already charted high in their homeland, on the strength of songs like "Everybody Knows You Cried Last Night," "Got Ma Nuts From a Hippy" and "Henrietta." While all three Fratellis share that last name, only two of the four members of another act have their band's name on their driver's licenses. The Sterns rally against the Bush administration on "Supreme Girl" — written from the perspective of failed Supreme Court nominee Harriet Myers — "Papa, You're in Your Prime" and "About the Author."

William Tell's You Can Hold Me Down and Marc Ford's Weary and Wired - Tell broke from Something Corporate three years ago to pursue a solo career, and he's dishing up the 10 fruits of his labor in the form of You Can Hold Me Down. Co-produced and mixed by Thom Panunzio (U2, No Doubt), the set includes "Slipping Under (Sing Along to Your Favorite Song)" — which was featured in an "American Idol" promotional spot — and "Fairfax (You're Still the Same)." Ford also split from his former troupe, the Black Crowes — but according to a statement, he did so to stay sober. A year and a half after leaving that band, Ford dishes up his second solo entry, which features his son Elijah Ford plus "Featherweight Dreamland," "Just Take the Money" and more.

Aqualung's Memory Man and Matthew Jordan's Horizon - Matt Hales — better known as Aqualung — steps up with his second Statewide set and first since being named a VH1 You Oughta Know artist in 2005. With help from brother Ben Hales, mixer Eric Valentine (Good Charlotte, Queens of the Stone Age) and others, Matt Hales brings "Something to Believe In," "Vapour Trail" and "Broken Bones." Jordan is another solo artist with a VH1/MTV background — he was in Five for Fighting's "100 Years" video and was a finalist on MTV's "Duets" with Vanessa Carlton. His first opus features "I'm on My Way," "Eventually" and more.

Jon Rauhouse's Steel Guitar Heart Attack and Paula Frazer and Tarnation's Now It's Time - Pedal-steel genius Rauhouse is backed by Calexico, who he has collaborated with before, throughout his new release, which also features some chanteuse action courtesy of Neko Case, Kelly Hogan and Visqueen's Rachel Flotard. While Rauhouse's third effort is a mostly instrumental affair, he does step to the mic for a special occasion: to sing the theme song to "The Andy Griffith Show." Frazer gets back together with her former group, Tarnation, for Now It's Time, although Frazer handled most of the instrumentation at her Victorian house in San Francisco. The singer, the daughter of a minister, also includes her name on the release because she had "walked away from the name 'Tarnation' in order to free herself from the structure that the band concept inevitably imposed," according to a press release. In other words, they broke up.

Hubert Selby Jr.'s "It/ll Be Better Tomorrow" and Guns N' Roses' "November Rain in Paradise City" - It's doubtful you know Selby Jr. by name, but if "Requiem for a Dream" and "Last Exit to Brooklyn" ring a bell, then you're more familiar with the controversial author than you realize. Paying a visit on "Tomorrow" — a chronicle of Selby Jr.'s battles with tuberculosis, drugs and financial ruin — are Jared Leto, Henry Rollins, Lou Reed and Robert Downey Jr., who narrates. Way more unauthorized is the GN'R documentary, which traces the band's entire career — its "rise, fall and rise," if you will, in the parlance of a press release.

The Tragically Hip's World Container and Uncle Earl's Waterloo Tennessee - The Hip — who recently opened for the Who — enlisted Metallica conspirator Bob Rock for their new one, which is being powered by the top 40 single "In View." In terms of producer prestige, they'll have to duke it out with Uncle Earl, who roped in Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones to help hammer out their second offering. Jones did his best to capture every sound the Waterloo, Tennessee, band made with fiddles, banjos, mandolins, crystalline tender harmonies and wobbleboard.

Song Title of the Week:

Tie between "No Cuts, No Butts, No Coconuts" and "High School Was Like Boot Camp for a Desk Job" from Death by Stereo's Death Alive

Other Notables:

Rosie Thomas' These Friends of Mine
Thomas is quiet and spare as usual on her fourth album, but before this goes under your radar, be aware that there's a little fellow by the name of Sufjan Stevens helping her throughout the effort. Odd for an indie stalwart like Thomas, her LP's already been getting play on TV's "Grey's Anatomy" and "Bones." The album features "All the Way to New York City," "Why Waste More Time?" and a cover of R.E.M.'s "The One I Love" with Stevens.

Ken Andrews' Secrets of the Lost Satellite
Andrews has been involved in music to varying degrees for decades — as the leader of Failure, as a member of a side project featuring members of Tool, and as a producer/mixer for Beck, Tenacious D and wife Charlotte Martin. His first solo affair as "Ken Andrews" — and the first release from his own Dinosaur Fight label — was actually produced by Beck's live musical director, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, and features "Secret Things," "Write Your Story" and more.

Chuck E. Weiss' 23rd & Stout
Cuban surf guitar, lounge swing, alt-rock and other sounds come together to form "discom-bop-ulated jive," the self-described blend Weiss is responsible for. The Denver, Colorado, musician — who had the honor of playing with Lightnin' Hopkins, Willie Dixon and others — ganged up with longtime drummer Don Heffington to produce his fourth effort. It marks the first time the singer/songwriter has used the digital format and features a detective theme throughout proving that after all these years, Weiss knows what he's doing.

New Releases:

· 8Ball and MJG - Ridin High (Bad Boy) [Buy Now]
· Alternate Routes - Good and Reckless and True (Vanguard)
· Ken Andrews - Secrets of the Lost Satellite (digipak; Dinosaur Fight)
· Aqualung - Memory Man (Columbia) [Buy Now]
· Artimus Pyle - Artimus Venomous (Cleopatra)
· Wendy Atkinson - Pink Noise (Get to the Point)
· Baby Teeth - The Simp (Lujo)
· Black Milk - Popular Demand (Fatbeats)
· Brazzaville - East L.A. Breeze (Vendlus)
· Johnny Bush - Kashmere Gardens Mud (Icehouse)
· Cadence Weapon - Breaking Kayfabe (Upper Class)
· Death by Stereo - Death Alive (Reignition)
· Dollyrots - Because I'm Awesome (enhanced; Blackheart)
· Spencer Durham - Much More Than Words (Burnside)
· Thomas Dybdahl - Science (Rykodisc)
· SJ Esau - Wrong Faced Cat Feed Collapse (Anticon)
· Marc Ford - Weary and Wired (Blues Bureau)
· The Fratellis - Costello Music (Cherry Tree) [Buy Now]
· Paula Frazer and Tarnation - Now It's Time (Birdman)
· Marty Friedman - Loudspeaker (Shrapnel)
· David Galas - The Cataclysm (Vendlus)
· Girl Authority - Road Trip (with DVD; Zoë/Rounder)
· Grand Champeen - Dial T for This (In Music We Trust)
· Grayceon - Grayceon (Vendlus)
· Green Lizard - Las Armas del Silencio (I Scream)
· Heavenly - Virus (Locomotive)
· The Innocence Mission - We Walked in Song (Badman)
· The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Live at Oslo Jazz Festival (Alternative Tentacles) [Buy Now]
· Glenn Jones - Against Which the Sea Continually Beats (Strange Attractors)
· Matthew Jordan - Horizon (Quiet Thunder)
· Lucy Kaplansky - Over the Hills (Red House)
· Jorma Kaukonen - Stars in My Crown (Red House)
· Lloyd - Street Love (Motown) [Buy Now]
· Lodger - Hi-Fi High Lights Down Low (Rykodisc)
· Brad Mehldau - Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz Radio Rebroadcast (Jazz Alliance)
· Pat Metheny and Brad Mehldau - Quartet (Nonesuch)
· Minmae - 835 (Greyday)
· Monarch - Dead Men Tell No Tales (two CDs; Crucial Blast)
· Eddie Money - Wanna Go Back (Big Deal)
· James Morrison - Undiscovered (Interscope) [Buy Now]
· Musiq Soulchild - Luvanmusiq (Atlantic) [Buy Now]
· Nadja - Touched (Alien 8)
· Nakatomi Plaza - Unsettled (Reignition)
· Graham Parker - Don't Tell Columbus (Bloodshot)
· Steve Porter - Porterhouse Vol. 2 (two CDs; EQ)
· Jon Rauhouse - Steel Guitar Heart Attack (Bloodshot)
· Rich Boy - Rich Boy (Interscope) [Buy Now]
· The Roches - Moonswept (429)
· Shadetek - Pale Fire (Sound Ink)
· Alex Skolnick Trio - Last Day in Paradise (Magnatude)
· Starcastle - Song of Times (Progrock)
· The Sterns - Sinners Stick Together (Omnirox)
· William Tell - You Can Hold Me Down (New Door)
· Rosie Thomas - These Friends of Mine (Nettwerk)
· The Tragically Hip - World Container (Fontana)
· Tricky Bizzniss - Tricky Bizzniss (EsNtion)
· Type O Negative - Dead Again (SPV) [Buy Now]
Read: "Type O Negative Remember Dimebag Darrell On 'Positive' New LP"
· Uncle Earl - Waterloo Tennessee (Rounder)
· Unsane - Visqueen (Ipecac) [Buy Now]
· Chuck E. Weiss - 23rd & Stout (Cooking Vinyl)
· Hayley Westenra - Celtic Treasure (Decca)
· Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (Republic) [Buy Now]
· Various artists - If You Ain't Got the Do Re Me: Songs of Rags and Riches (Smithsonian Folkways)
· Various artists - Radio Disney Jams 9 (with DVD; Disney)
· Various artists - Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of the Beatles, Björk and Bob Marley (Baby Rock)
· Various artists - VIP 01 (two CDs; Swank)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:
· Agnostic Front/ Discipline - Working Class Heroes (live; I Scream)
· Tracy Byrd - The Definitive Collection (MCA Nashville)
· Guy Clark - Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years (Sugar Hill)
· The Corrs - Dreams: The Ultimate Corrs Collection (Rhino)
· Floyd Cramer - Pop Classics - Volume One (Yell)
· Dokken - From Conception: Live 1981 (Rhino)
· Jerry Douglas - Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years (Sugar Hill)
· José Feliciano - Live at the Blue Note New York (Ryko)
· G.B.H - Race Against Time: The Complete Clay Recordings (three CDs; Castle)
· Gillie Da Kid - The Best of the GDK Mixtapes (Babygrande)
· Merle Haggard - The Definitive Collection (MCA Nashville)
· Holy Moses - World Chaos (Locomotive)
· Looking Forward - What This Means To Me (with DVD; Blood & Ink)
· James McMurtry - Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years (Sugar Hill)
· Wilson Pickett - Hey Jude (DBK Works)
· Shiner - Making Love E.P. (Sidecho)
· Tankard - Kings of Beer (Locomotive)
· Traffic - The Definitive Collection (Hip-O/UMe)
· Jack Wagner - All I Need (Friday) · Chely White - The Definitive Collection (Hip-O/UMe)
· Mark Wills - The Definitive Collection (Island/Mercury)
· Neil Young - Massey Hall 1971 (with DVD; Reprise)
· Various artists - Hollywood Hits: 70 Years of Memorable Movie Music (three CDs; Shout! Factory)
· Various artists - Northern Stars: A Canadian Singers & Songwriters Collection (Time Life)
· Various artists - Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration (two CDs; Stax)

Music DVDs:
· Big Audio Dynamite - "Live: E=MC2" (MVD Visual)
· Charms - "Easy Trouble: Bird's Eye View of a DIY Band" (MVD Visual)
· Eric Clapton - "Layla: Interviews" (MVD Visual)
· Albert Collins & the Icebreakers - "In Concert: Ohne Filter" (MVD Visual)
· Damn Yankees - "Uprising Live!" (Rhino)
· Dokken - "Unchain the Night" (Rhino)
· Egilsson, Perdersen, Darling - "Live in Vienna" (MVD Visual)
· Einstuerzende Neubauten - "Palast der Republik" (MVD Visual)
· Crystal Gayle - "Live in Tennessee" (Immortal)
· Genesis - "In Their Own Words" (with book; Classic Rock Legends)
· Guns N' Roses - "November Rain in Paradise City" (Locomotive)
· Kinks - "In Their Own Words" (with book; Classic Rock Legends)
· Led Zeppelin - "In Their Own Words" (with book; Classic Rock Legends)
· Metallica - "Phantom Puppets: Interviews" (MVD Visual)
· Oasis - "Morning Glory: A Classic Album Under Review" (MVD Visual)
· Oscar Peterson Trio - "The Berlin Concert" (MVD Visual)
· Hubert Selby Jr. - "It/ll Be Better Tomorrow" (Eclectic)
· Frank Sinatra - "Stage & Screen Collection" (Passport)
· The Smiths - "Still Ill: Interviews" (MVD Visual)
· Mary Wells - "Greatest Hits" (MVD Visual)
· Various artists - "Appetite for Deconstruction: A Punk Rockumentary" (MVD Visual)
· Various artists - "Favela Rising" (Genius Products)

Coming Attractions:

March 20:
· C-Murder - Screamin' 4 Vengeance (Capitol) [Preorder]
· Decemberists - "A Practical Handbook" DVD (Kill Rock Stars)
· LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver (Capitol) [Preorder]
· Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (Epic) [Preorder]

March 27:
· Good Charlotte - Good Morning Revival (Epic) [Preorder]
Read: "Good Charlotte Don Their Dance Shoes For Feel-Good Revival"
· Jennifer Lopez - Como Ama Una Mujer (Epic) [Preorder]
Read: "Jennifer Lopez Says New Single Came From Marc Anthony's Dream"
· Tha Dogg Pound - Dogg Ch-- (Koch) [Preorder]
· Young Buck - Buck the World (Interscope) [Preorder]

April 3:
· The Academy Is ... - Santi (Atlantic) [Preorder]
Read: "The Academy Is ... Say New Album Sounds Nothing Like Fall Out Boy"
· Beyoncé - B-Day - Deluxe Edition (with bonus CD; Columbia)[Preorder]
Read: "Beyonce Turns Heads With Sports Illustrated Cover, Shakira Duet"
· Chevelle - Vena Sera (Epic) [Preorder]
· Paul Wall - Get Money - Stay True (Atlantic) [Preorder]
Read: " 'Mature' Paul Wall Still Raps About Girls, Grills With Mariah, T.I."
· Shadows Fall - Threads of Life (Atlantic) Read: "Dave Grohl's Party Calls Can't Distract Shadows Fall From Recording LP"

• You Hear It First: The Fratellis

• Lloyd
• Musiq Soulchild
• The Fratellis
• Rich Boy
• William Tell

Lloyd
Photo: Peter Kramer/ Getty Images

Things are going pretty well for Lloyd lately.

The Inc. crooner recently celebrated his 21st birthday at Atlanta's Velvet Room with Cee-Lo, Lil Wayne, T.I., Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, label boss Irv Gotti (see "Irv Gotti Maps Out Inc. Comeback With Vanessa Carlton, Lloyd, Ja Rule") and new manager Jazze Pha. And then there's his sophomore project, Street Love, due March 20 on the Inc./ Universal Records, which has spawned Lloyd's biggest hit to date: "You" featuring Lil Wayne.

According to the singer, he leaked the track himself because he didn't want to be the only one to hear it. A few friends at Atlanta radio stations played "You," and the next thing he knew, a release date was set for his album. "[The song] spread to a lot of secondary markets outside Atlanta," Lloyd recalled. "And from there, I remember everybody kind of calling, wanting to work with me. And Street Love is really about the best of both worlds — hip-hop and R&B — to create a popular sound."

Another new sound that he's particularly excited about is his next possible single, "Get It Shawty," produced by Usher's younger brother J-Lack. The up-tempo number features stirring strings over a brooding bass line and finds Lloyd fantasizing about getting a lady to spend some quality time with him.

"I remember calling Usher" after overhearing the instrumental for the song in his manager's studio one day, Lloyd explained. "I had Jazze call Usher, and we begged him for it every day. And I finally got it. I remember they invited me to their house, and I recorded it at Usher's crib in Atlanta. ... It's hot. Something unlike anything I've ever released before."

Lloyd also said he's looking to take his music in another direction with his second album. Originally, the singer was looking to part ways with Gotti and the Inc. over creative differences and sign to Jazze Pha's label. But after reconciling with Gotti, Lloyd instead brought the Atlanta beatsmith on board as his manager and mentor. "I always wanted to work with him," Lloyd said of Jazze Pha. "He's like the black Santa Claus. He's just got joy and happiness for everyone. I remember the first time we worked [together]. The first few records were special."

In addition to Gotti and Jazze's production prowess, Street Love will feature collaborations with newcomer Johnta Austin, Big Reese & Jasper ("They're gonna be like the new Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis," Lloyd exclaimed) and Bryan-Michael Cox.

Now that things are going better for Lloyd, he said he's going to make the most of his time in the spotlight with his new album. He has no time to rest after waiting three years in between projects. "For me, I feel like a player," Lloyd said. "I hate being on the bench, I hate sitting on the sidelines, I hate watching the game from the sidelines.

"I just want to kind of spark some kind of energy in the building," he said.

• Lloyd

Irv Gotti and Ja Rule
Photo: Bryan Mitchell/ Getty Images

As he has for most of his career, Irv Gotti said he's going to have the last laugh very soon. Heck, he's laughing so much right now, he can barely get a whole sentence out.

"God!" he answered recently with a huge laugh about how he came to sign pop singer Vanessa Carlton to his infamous record label, the Inc. (see "Yeah, Irv Gotti Knows Who Vanessa Carlton Is — He Just Signed Her"). "God himself [oversaw] this project. He's executive-producing all of my projects into 2007."

Gotti's laughter has been bolstered with what he called blessings bestowed upon him over the past few months. First, his artist Lloyd almost left his label — which was in limbo without a distribution deal at the time — to go to Atlantic. The R&B singer returned to the Inc with the heat rock "You," featuring Lil Wayne (see "Irv Gotti Rebuilding The Inc. With A Little Help From Lloyd"). Then Gotti inked a new deal with Universal Records and the Universal Music Group, not only getting the millions he wanted, but also a brand-new distribution deal. Then the proven Carlton joined his label — which already has Ja Rule, Ashanti and hitmaking producer 7 Aurelius, who Gotti described as "Prince if he f---ed with hip-hop."

"I'm gonna make a prediction," I.G. said. "Don't be shocked and amazed if at one time, you're looking at the Billboard top 200, and in the top 20, you see four or five Murder Inc. records. You're gonna be like, 'I thought them f---ers was over.' "

The only place Gotti and company have been is in the boardroom making deals and in his studio making music. After Gotti was acquitted of money laundering last year, he severed ties with Def Jam and the Universal Music Group. Although he had nothing but great things to say about Def Jam, he spit what he called justified venom at some of the Universal Music Group executives, namely Jimmy Iovine and Doug Morris. He accused them of sabotaging his project, being ungrateful for the millions of dollars he made for the company and turning their backs on him as friends. Gotti maintains that he never had any beef with executive Zach Horowitz.

A few months ago, Horowitz and Morris contacted Gotti's lawyers about a meeting. "They wanted to sit back down and discuss things with me," Irv said. "At first my lawyer [asked the Universal execs], 'Are you crazy? You're going to get me fired. You know Irv ain't f---ing with y'all.' But then the lawyer said an interesting thing. He [told Universal's lawyers], 'Maybe I can get Irv to the meeting if you offer him his masters.' They were like, 'If you get him to the meeting, we want to talk to him.' "

Gotti said his talk with the two was "quintessential, real talk." "Doug explained the level of what I was getting myself into [with] the federal investigation," Gotti said. "He put it to me like, 'Irv, you put my job at risk. What did you want me to do? ... I'm the chairman. You put me in harm's way.' How he explained it to me, he made a lot of sense. No bullsh--."

Irv accepted Morris' apology — but not before he conveyed one last emotion. "I turned it back to him like, 'I understand, but f---, man, you could have been my man still,' " Gotti said. " 'You could have called me and said, "I'm praying for you, I hope you get through this." ' We went at it. To be honest, after we went at it, I understood where he was coming from. He understood where I was coming from."

With everyone on the same page, all Gotti had to do was turn down an offer from the Warner Brothers Music Group and sign back with Universal — which wasn't too difficult, because Warner underwhelmed him.

"The deal they put on the table wasn't even comparable. It was like night and day," he said. "I remember telling Dame Dash [about the Universal deal]. He said, 'What? Nobody is getting deals like this anymore. Sign that now!' I swear to you."

With the business done, all Gotti has to do is get back to making records. He said Carlton, Lloyd, 7, Ashanti and Ja Rule are all working on their 2007 releases now. Gotti's especially excited for Ja's comeback.

"He has a [song] he did that I made him a $100,000 bet on," Gotti said. "I said, 'We'll put the money in escrow and wait till we're 50 years old and we'll collect on the bet.' I said, 'Rule, you will not make a bigger [song] than this one we just made.' It's called 'Father Forgive Me.'

"Everybody says, 'Can Rule do it? Can he come back?' I say Rule is the best songwriter I have ever been around," Gotti said. "This guy makes big records in his sleep that people would love to have. You better not ever count me and Rule out. It's too much talent. I'm saying that through experience of me being around the best rappers alive."

The working title for Ja's next album is Love Is Pain. "It's a sequel of sorts to Rule's biggest-selling album, Pain Is Love," Gotti said. "Vanessa's album is tentatively called Heroes and Thieves. The title track is about how we don't know who comes in our lives, whether they be good or bad. A lot of her songs sound like they should be title tracks of movie soundtracks.'

Gotti said he and 7 will produce Carlton's project along with Rick Rubin and 3rd Eye Blind's Steven Jenkins. Linda Perry is writing some material too. Carlton also will appear on a sure single from Aurelius' album, Channel 7. "Sixty percent of his album is done," Gotti divulged. "Every song is like the biggest record anyone has ever heard. His first record is gonna be called 'M-A-K-E-L-O-V-E-T-O-M-E.' The record is like a Gwen Stefani 'Hollaback Girl' vibe, and we took the Hall and Oates' 'Method of Modern Love' hook. Instead of 'M-E-T-H-O-D-O-F-L-O-V-E,' Vanessa is singing, 'M-A-K-E-L-O-V-E-T-O-M-E.' "

The only project Gotti didn't give too much info on is Ashanti's next record. The label's princess is recording on her own, unlike her first three albums, which I.G. oversaw.

"She's the captain of her ship," he said. "With her project, I wouldn't even comment on it. I would say get [the info] from her. Bust she's still on Murder Inc., and it's still coming in '07, and it's all good."

• Irv Gotti
• Ja Rule
• The Inc. Records
• Vanessa Carlton
• Lloyd

MTV.com Exclusive: Lloyd

• Lloyd

Flo Rida, Ashanti, More At R&B Live

• Flo Rida
• Ashanti
• Lloyd

Plies, Rick Ross, Lloyd, More At 2nd Annual Ozone Awards

• Papoose
• Rick Ross (Hip-Hop)
• Trey Songz
• Lloyd
• DJ Drama

Spankin New Music Week Performances 02.05.07

• Katharine McPhee
• Fall Out Boy
• Gym Class Heroes
• Lloyd
• Akon

Sucker Free on MTV: Winter 2007

• Chris Brown
• Lloyd
• Styles
• Jadakiss
• Just Blaze