Photo: Matthew Peyton/ Getty Images

• Lil' Kim
• Raekwon
• M.O.P.

Raekwon
Photo: Matthew Peyton/ Getty Images

Even though it's at the top of the Billboard albums chart, Raekwon doesn't seem to be feeling Jay-Z's Kingdom Come. At the New York stop of the Rock the Bells tour on Tuesday night, the co-headliner told the audience in the middle of his set that he didn't care for Hova's new LP adding, "I don't give a f--- about him." The Chef did say he respects Jay's business acumen, though. Opening act Smif-N-Wessun brought out the whole Boot Camp Clik during their set, while Redman, the last performer of the night, took it all the way back to 1992's Whutt? Thee Album. He also played some new material with his Gilla House crew as Julito McCullum from "The Wire" and others stood in attendance. ...

Britney Spears will host New Year's Eve at the nightclub Pure in Las Vegas. "She's going to do the countdown, a champagne toast and watch the fireworks from the terrace," a club rep said. Nick Lachey will be holding the mic at Pure the night before to host a "goodbye 2006" party. Cheers. ... And while conflicting reports suggested Spears and Paris Hilton were in line to co-host the 2006 Billboard Music Awards, the show's spokesperson said late Wednesday (November 29) that neither is confirmed. In the meantime, however, Pharrell and Young Jeezy will join previously announced performers Gwen Stefani, Ludacris and the Killers for the ceremony, set to air Monday at 8 p.m. on Fox. ...

There's more Lachey news too: The sports enthusiast now has a professional team to call his own. On Wednesday, Lachey was announced as part of the new ownership group for the Tacoma Rainiers, the Washington state AAA affiliate of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners. Lachey was introduced at a press conference along with other representatives of the Schlegel Sports Group, a Dallas organization that already owns minor-league teams in Texas and Iowa. "When I was given the opportunity to purchase the Rainiers with [SSG founder] Kirby Schlegel, I jumped on it," Lachey said in a statement. "Baseball is a true passion of mine, Tacoma is a growing city and I have every intention of playing an active ownership role in the Rainiers as we continue to grow." ...

"Destiny's Child Groove" — a mobile-phone game featuring images of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams — will pit players against game characters in a dance battle. The game — which includes "Survivor," "Bug a Boo," "Say My Name" and "Lose My Breath" — is due to roll out on cellular carriers in the winter. ... Tyrese is trying to put together a collaboration between himself, Mary J. Blige and Lauryn Hill that, he said, would find them "singing and rhyming all on the same record." In the meantime, his half-rap/half-R&B album, Alter Ego, is due December 12 and will feature Game, Lil Jon, David Banner, Method Man and R. Kelly, among others. ...

Chris Brown has been working on his second album for the past three weeks, including sessions with production team Dre & Vidal. "I think I am going to name the next album Graduation because I'm 18, last year of high school and stuff like that," he told MTV News. "I am still going to keep it so my younger fans can continue to listen to my music, but I got a couple of joints on there that's for some of the older people." ... Celebrity-covered tote bags featuring the faces of Ludacris, Avril Lavigne and Good Charlotte's Joel and Benji Madden are currently available for $5 at Aldo stores and YouthAIDS-Aldo.org. Proceeds from the bags — along with Hear, See, Speak campaign tag necklaces — support the efforts of the YouthAIDS initiative. ...

Hanson have released an Internet-exclusive song in recognition of World AIDS Day. "Great Divide," which was recorded on the group's trip to Africa this summer and features a South African children's choir, is available for download via iTunes. Proceeds from the song, priced at 99 cents, will benefit the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa. ...The massive electronic-music gala Giant is returning to Los Angeles for its annual New Year's Eve. Now called Giant Maximus, the eight-hour event will boast three "big tops," under which Sasha & John Digweed, Armin van Buuren and other electronic heavyweights will spin. ...

DJ Clue will release The Professional, Part 3, the long-awaited follow-up to 2001's The Professional 2, on December 19. Kanye West and Fabolous appear on the first single, "Like This," while Snoop Dogg, Young Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Game, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, M.O.P., Mobb Deep, Beanie Sigel, Cassidy, Styles P. and Jagged Edge also guest on the disc's tracks. ... Human-rights groups that expressed concern over Madonna's adoption of 1-year-old Malawian boy David Banda will have a say in the court's decision, The Associated Press reported. The judge who granted Madonna and husband Guy Richie an interim adoption last month — allowing the couple to take custody of the child and bring him to their London home — ruled Wednesday that rights organizations will have a say in the court's assessment of the couple, which is due in May. Under Malawian law, adoptive parents must remain in the country for an 18-month evaluation, a process that the rights groups say they are trying to protect in an effort to combat child exploitation. ...

The winners of YouTube's underground-band contest were announced on "Good Morning America" Wednesday morning. Nashville pop quintet Greenland nabbed Best Song honors for their tune "The Way It Is"; Maldroid's A-Ha-inspired "He Said, She Said" clip earned them Best Music Video; Los Angeles hip-hop/soul collective Ostrich Head notched Best Creative Work for "Freak Show Carnival"; and Philadelphia rockers Pawnshop Rose landed Best Live Performance for "Gets So Hard." Among the prizes were Gibson instruments, trips to NYC and more. ... The Matches, I Am Ghost, Escape the Fate and the Higher are heading out next year to support the punk label the bands currently call home. The 2007 Epitaph Tour starts February 1 in San Diego and winds down March 18 in Las Vegas. ...

"Pelt-wearing party girl" Nicole Richie tops the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' worst-dressed list for 2006. Actresses Ashley Olsen, Christina Ricci and Eva Longoria were also named for wearing fur. Missing from this year's list is PETA's 2005 worst-dressed celebrity, Paris Hilton, who said she's had a change of heart since watching a fur-trade exposé, according to the organization. ... My Morning Jacket, the New Pornographers and Cat Power have been added to the fifth annual Langerado Music Festival, held in Sunrise, Florida, from March 9-11. O.A.R., Matisyahu, Cut Chemist, the Hold Steady, Widespread Panic and former Phish frontman Trey Anastasio are also on the bill.

11.28.2006

Hilary and Joel are no longer an item. Madden confirmed to MTV News on Tuesday (November 28) that his relationship with Duff is over. He said there are no hard feelings between the two, and that he is focusing his energy on Good Charlotte's Good Morning Revival, due next year. ...

Game and Snoop Dogg are in talks to co-headline a second How the West Was One Tour. "We have to get the paperwork right and the money and the promoters and the agents and all that stuff, but once we figure that out, we will hit it," Game said. And speaking of the rapper, he's thrilled with the reviews Doctor's Advocate has earned. "As long they love the record then I'm good," he said. "I don't care about being #1 or #2, it's just about making a good record, making classic music and having longevity in hip-hop." The album recently opened at #1 on the Billboard albums chart, with 358,000 copies sold. ...

Fergie will perform on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2007" as well as host the Hollywood portion of the event. Natasha Bedingfield and Meat Loaf will also perform in Hollywood. ... Another Black Eyed Pea, founding member Apl.De.Ap, is using his birthday celebration Tuesday night in Hollywood to support a worthy cause. Apl and his indie label, Jeepney Music, announced that proceeds of his bash will go to Operation Smile, an international medical charity that originated 24 years ago in Apl's home country, the Philippines. The Peas play Los Angeles' Staples Center on Friday. ...

A book report from Britney Spears' junior high days can be in your hands Monday if the price is right. No, the singer isn't going into the term-paper business, but she has donated her take on a translation of Sophocles' "Antigone" — which scored her an 88 and a reminder to "write more neatly" — to be sold via a Christie's auction. One of 170 items Spears donated to go up on the block, the single page is expected to draw a winning bid ranging from $500-700, with proceeds benefiting the singer's charity foundation. ... Christina Aguilera has commissioned Italian designer Roberto Cavalli to exclusively design the '40s- and '50s-style costumes for her Back to Basics tour, according to a report in Women's Wear Daily. Think white satin tuxedos, white fox stoles and silk bustiers with tails for the onstage look of Aguilera's U.S. run, which kicks off in February. ... In other fashion news, young startlets' takeover of the modeling world continues, with Lindsay Lohan recently shooting the spring 2007 ad campaign for Miu Miu, the girlier, lower-price line from Italian fashion label Prada. ...

New Jersey's Eyeball Records will reissue My Chemical Romance's debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, on December 12. The updated version of the 2002 LP, which was produced by Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly, will feature two previously unreleased videos from the band. ... A Guns N' Roses concert scheduled to go down Tuesday at Milwaukee's Bradley Center has been canceled due to Axl Rose suffering an ear infection and strep throat, according to a press release. Doctors have ordered the singer to rest for several days. "I have been fighting this off for a long time but the doctor told me tonight that the only way not to jeopardize the balance of the tour is immediate rest," Rose said in a statement issued Monday. "We will now have three days off before continuing Friday. We are sorry to miss the fans in Milwaukee." ...

Connecticut state police arrested two men Tuesday in connection with the shooting of a 21-year-old man waiting to purchase a PlayStation 3 earlier this month, The Associated Press reports. William J. Robertson and Andrew Patnaude were charged with attempted murder, robbery and assault, and are being held in lieu of $1 million bail pending court appearances. Michael Penkala, who was shot outside a Wal-Mart in the early hours of November 17 when he refused to give up a wallet containing more than $2,500 in cash, is still recovering from his injuries. ... Comedian Tracy Morgan of "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock" note was arrested early Tuesday in New York on charges of drunk driving, AP reports. Police told the news outlet that the 38-year-old failed a breathalyzer test at a police station, after which he was allowed to leave without posting bail but had to surrender his driver's license. ...

The reunited Dinosaur Jr. commence a series of gigs starting Tuesday night in Portland, Maine. The band will stage four more U.S. shows before heading overseas to play the All Tomorrow's Parties "Nightmare Before Christmas" shindig, some concerts opening for Sonic Youth and more. The band also has set a May 8 release date for its first-ever DVD, "Dinosaur Jr.: Live From the Middle East," which was filmed at the Boston club of the same name. The trio's first studio album in 18 years is also due around that time. ... Nirvana's breakthrough single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" has been named the best pop song of the last 20 years by Britain's Q magazine, besting the likes of Madonna, U2 and Britney Spears. "The thing about 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' it was a watershed moment in rock music. It changed everything," Q's deputy editor, Gareth Grundy, said. "It put heavy music back on the map in the early '90s, really, that combination of punk-rock anger and the heavy Black Sabbath '70s metal. It was something new. Sulky kids everywhere loved Nirvana and continue to do so." ...

Metallica's James Hetfield jammed with Alice in Chains during the band's Sunday night set in San Francisco. Hetfield joined the band band onstage for a rendition of "Would?" ... An exhibit curated by Franz Ferdinand guitarist Nick McCarthy will open Saturday at Los Angeles' Lightbox Gallery. Featuring the works of Manuela Gernedel, Celia Hempton, Shana Moulton, Jo Robertson, Niklas Schechinger and Hank Schmidt in der Beek, Lucy Stein and Anna Witt, the exhibit is expected to run through January 20. ... The reunited Glassjaw will play a handful of shows next month, hitting Nashville (December 14); Fort Worth, Texas (December 16); Tulsa, Oklahoma (December 17); Kansas City, Missouri (December 18); Minneapolis (December 19); and New Haven, Connecticut (December 31). ... Buckcherry and Three Days Grace will tour together early next year. The road trip's routing will be announced next month. ... After a few weeks of work, hardcore icons Agnostic Front have written 10 songs for their forthcoming LP. The band will track the effort before February, and have East Coast gigs lined up through January.

• Raekwon
• Jay-Z
• Redman
• Britney Spears
• Pharrell Williams

Ashlee Simpson's <i>I Am Me</i>
Photo: Geffen Records

Doing Her Own Thing: Ashlee Simpson breaks at least a couple of trends on her second one, I Am Me, in that no bonus enhancements have been announced, and a DualDisc doesn't appear to be on the horizon. And while her hair's gone from black to blond, Ashlee is a shadowy, somber-looking figure centered in front of a pitch-dark background — a far cry from her spunky image on Autobiography's cover. Tracks include: "Eyes Wide Open," "L.O.V.E." and "Coming Back for More."

Check out "Ashlee Simpson: Everyone Has Moments" for the singer's I Am Me inspiration.

The Brood Is Back: Depeche Mode appear to have returned to true form after their 2001 misfire, Exciter. A special version of Playing the Angel — the fuzzy figure on the front is red instead of black — has a second disc with 5.1 surround-sound mixes, a video for "Precious," photo gallery and more.

Bun's in the Oven: With UGK co-conspirator Pimp C in a legal morass, Bun B steps up with Trill. He finds plenty of buds to keep him company: Lil Jon ("Trill"), Too Short ("Who Need a Bitch"), Scarface and Young Jeezy ("Gun Talk"), T.I. ("I'm a G"), Mannie Fresh ("I'm Fresh") and Jazzy Pha ("I'm Ballin' "). As a pseudo grand finale of sorts, the penultimate track, "Draped Up," features Mike Jones, Lil' Flip, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Devin the Dude and Z-Ro.

Ten Years' Time: The stars come out to shine on Stevie Wonder's first album in a decade, A Time to Love: Paul McCartney (acoustic and electric guitar on the title song); Prince and En Vogue ("So What the Fuss"); India.Arie ("A Time to Love"); and Kirk Franklin ("Shelter in the Rain"). Bonnie Raitt plays some licks, and Wonder's daughter Aisha Morris duets with him on two songs too.

Twice Thrice: The light orange color of the limited-edition Vheissu — as opposed to the standard one's olive-green shade — differentiates the two versions of Thrice's new one, as does a 32-page booklet written by the band that sheds light on the recording process (take that, in-studio video footage!). Tracks include: "Earth Will Shake," "Like Moths to Flame" and "Of Dust and Nations."

You Down With M.O.P.?: The hardcore rap squad returns from its longest hiatus yet (five years) on a new home (Koch) and with a few heavyweight guests. M.O.P. First Family Salutes the St. Marxmen finds Jay-Z un-retired again on "Put It in the Air," ODB undead again on "Pop Shots Remix" (produced by DJ Premier) and Wyclef Jean patrolling on "Hip Hop Cops."

Smooth Sailing: Artists are taking the smooth-remake route this week, starting with Simply Red, who rely on just piano and vocals for oldies ("Holding Back the Years") and newbies ("Perfect Love") on Simplified. Sixties folkster Eric Anderson relives the Greenwich Village era on with Tim Buckley and Phil Ochs covers; for good measure, Judy Collins, Arlo Guthrie and Tom Rush lend him a hand on a concert take of Anderson's own "Thirsty Boots." Still, jazz trumpeter of choice Chris Botti has Anderson beat as far as the guest list goes on his new album of standards, To Love Again: Sting, Steven Tyler, Michael Bublé, Gladys Knight and Jill Scott. Last but not least, the irrepressible Rod Stewart is logging yet another chapter in his smooth-standards series, Thanks for the Memory ... The Great American Songbook Volume IV. Diana Ross sings with him on "I've Got a Crush on You," Chaka Khan chimes in on "My Funny Valentine" and — wouldn't you know it — Chris Botti surfaces on "My One and Only Love."

Omnipresent Alkaline: Comp-happy Chicago punks Alkaline Trio are really outdoing themselves this week. They crop up along with Serj Tankian, Avenged Sevenfold and other metalheads on the two-disc soundtrack to Showtime's "Masters of Horror"; they also sidle up alongside My Chemical Romance and Hot Snakes on the "Tony Hawk's American Wasteland" soundtrack. For good measure, frontman Matt Skiba goes solo for a good cause on Protect: A Benefit for the National Association to Protect Children, which also features NOFX, Darkest Hour and Jawbreaker.

Song Titles of the Week: "Bing Bang Bang Bong Kong," "Diabolik Boogie" and "Make Music, But Not Trash" (Messer Chups' Crazy Price)

New Releases:

• Eric Andersen - Great American Song Series Vol. 2 (Fat Cat)
• Animal Collective - Feels (Fat Cat)
• Beautiful New Born Children - Hey People! (Domino)
• Black Rob - The Black Rob Report (Bad Boy)
• Boards of Canada - The Campfire Headphase (Warp)
  Buy Now: The Campfire Headphase (Warp)
• Chris Botti - To Love Again (enhanced; DualDisc also available; Columbia)
• Bun B - Trill (Rap-a-Lot)
• Cirque Du Soleil - "Kà" soundtrack (Cirque Du Soleil)
• Cryptopsy - Once Was Not (Century Media)
• Billy Currington - Doin' Somethin' Right (Mercury Nashville)
• Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel (Reprise)
  Buy Now: Playing the Angel (Reprise)
• Faded Me - When It's Over (Bungalo)
• Julian Fauth - Songs of Vice and Sorrow (Electro-Fi)
• Fireball Ministry - Their Rock Is Not Our Rock (Liquor & Poker)
• Mick Harvey - One Man's Treasure (Mute)
• Johnny Society - Coming to Get You (Messenger)
• Lakota - Hope for the Haunted (Pop Up)
• Brie Larson - Finally Out of P.E. (Casablanca)
  Buy Now: Finally Out of P.E. (Casablanca)
• Erik Larson - Faith, Hope, Love (Small Stone)
• Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra With Winton Marsalis - Don't Be Afraid ... The Music of Charles Mingus (Palmetto)
• Lovetones - Meditations (Tee Pee)
• The Peter Malick Group featuring Norah Jones - The Chill Album (Koch)
• Marah - If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry (Yep Roc)
• Master P - Ghetto Bill, Vol. 1: Chopped & Screwed Version by Paul Wall (Koch)
  Buy Now: Ghetto Bill, Vol. 1: Chopped & Screwed Version by Paul Wall (Koch)
• Martina McBride - Timeless (RCA)
• Messer Chups - Crazy Price (Ipecac)
• Mest - Photographs (Maverick)
• Jane Monheit - The Season (enhanced; Epic)
• M.O.P. First Family - M.O.P. First Family Salutes the St. Marxmen (Koch)
• Mr. Shadow - Drama (P.R.)
• Odetta - Gonna Let It Shine (M.C.)
• Play N Skillz - The Process (Universal)
• Robert Pollard - Bubble (EP' Recordhead)
• Lou Pride - Keep on Believing (Severn)
• Primal Fear - Seven Seals (Nuclear Blast)
• Propagandhi - Potemkin City Limits (Fat Wreck Chords)
• Rev Run - Distortion (enhanced; RSMG/Def Jam)
• Ribeye Brothers - Bar Ballads ... and Cautionary Tales (Times Beach)
• Scarface - The Product (Koch)
• The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Dig That Crazy Christmas (Surfdog)
• Silver Jews - Tanglewood Numbers (Drag City)
  Buy Now: Tanglewood Numbers (Drag City)
• Simply Red - Simplified (Verve)
  Buy Now: Simplified (Verve)
• Ashlee Simpson - I Am Me (Geffen)
  Read: "Ashlee Remembers 'SNL' Incident But Forgets Boys On New LP"
  Buy Now: I Am Me (Geffen)
• Eddie Spaghetti - Old No. 2 (Digipak; Mid-Fi)
• Rod Stewart - Thanks for the Memory ... The Great American Songbook Volume IV (J)
• sunn0))) - Black One (Southern Lord)
• Sworn Enemy - Beginning of the End (Abacus)
• Thrice - Vheissu (Island)
  Read: "Thrice Going Underground — In A Sense — For Enigmatic Vheissu"
  Buy Now: Vheissu (Island)
• Timeout Drawer - Nowonmai (Consumers Research)
• Unfold - Aeon-Aony (Earache)
• Voltage - Building the Bass (Flameshovel)
• Wheatus - Too Soon Monsoon (MRI)
• Brian Wilson - What I Really Want for Christmas (Arista)
• With Honor - This Is Our Revenge (Victory)
• Stevie Wonder - A Time to Love (Motown)
  Buy Now: A Time to Love (Motown)
• Various artists - A Skaggs Family Christmas (Skaggs Family)
• Various artists - Dreddy Kruger Presents ... Think Differently Music: Wu-Tang Meets the Indie Culture (Babygrand)
• Various artists - The Next Level: Independence Day - The Album (Warlock)
• Various artists - Protect: A Benefit for the National Association to Protect Children (Fat Wreck Chords)
• Various artists - Sound of the World (Warlock)
• Various artists - To Kate: A Benefit for Kate's Sake (Western Beat/ Emergent)
• Various artists - VH1 Classic Metal Mania Stripped Volume 2: The Anthems (Sidewinder)
• Various artists - "The Chumscrubber" soundtrack (Lakeshore)
• Various artists - "Masters of Horror" soundtrack (two CDs; Immortal)
• Various artists - "Stubbs the Zombie" soundtrack (Shout! Factory)
• Various artists - "Tony Hawk's American Wasteland" soundtrack (Vagrant)
  Read: "Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance Ollie Onto 'Tony Hawk' Soundtrack"

Notable Reissues:

• ? and the Mysterians - The Best of ? and the Mysterians: Cameo Parkway 1966-1967 (ABKCO)
• Bryan Adams - Anthology (two CDs with DVD; A/M)
  Buy Now: Anthology (A/M)
• Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - Christmas Album (Shout! Factory)
• The Briefs - Steal Yer Heart (BYO)
• Chubby Checker - The Best of Chubby Checker: Cameo Parkway 1963-1964 (ABKCO)
• Joe Cocker Mad Dog & Englishmen - Mad Dogs & Englishmen (A&M)
• The Dovells - The Best of the Dovells: Cameo Parkway 1961-1965 (ABKCO)
• Melissa Etheridge - Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled - Deluxe Edition (Island)
• King Crimson - The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson, Vol. 2: 1981-2003 (box set; Discipline Global Media)
• Bobby Rydell - The Best of Bobby Rydell: Cameo Parkway 1963-1964 (ABKCO)
• Dee Dee Sharp - The Best of Dee Dee Sharp: Cameo Parkway 1963-1964 (ABKCO)
• Six Feet Under - A Decade in the Grave (five-disc box set; Metal Blade)
• Supertramp - Retrospectacle: The Supertramp Anthology - Gold (A&M)
• Unearth - The Oncoming Storm (special edition with DVD; Metal Blade)
• The Tymes - The Best of the Tymes: Cameo Parkway 1963-1964 (ABKCO)

DVDs:

• Chick Corea Elektric Band - Live at Montreux 2004 (Eagle Rock)
• Gwar - Four Pack (four DVDs; Metal Blade)
• Jerry Lee Lewis - Jerry Lee Lewis and Friends (Eagle Rock)
• Queen + Paul Rodgers - Return of the Champions (Hollywood)
• Suzanne Vega - Live at Montreux 2004 (Eagle Rock)
• Franz Zappa - Dub Room Special (Eagle Rock)

Coming Attractions:

October 25:

• Chamillionaire - The Sound of Revenge (Universal)
• Destiny's Child - #1's (DualDisc; Columbia)
  Read: "Destiny's Child Look Back With #1's Before Going Their Separate Ways"
  Buy Now: #1's (Columbia)
• Fefe Dobson - Sunday Love (enhanced; Island)

November 1:

• Nirvana - Sliver: The Best of the Box (Geffen)
• Blink 182 - Greatest Hits (Geffen)
• Santana - All That I Am (Arista)
  Read: "Guest List For New Santana LP: Big Boi, Mary J., Will.I.Am, Bo Bice And More"
  Buy Now: All That I Am (Arista)

November 8:

• Limp Bizkit - Greatest Hitz (Geffen)
• The Mars Volta - Scab Dates (Universal)
• Young Buck - T.I.P. (Mass Appeal)

• Ashlee Simpson
• Depeche Mode
• Stevie Wonder
• Thrice
• M.O.P.

50 Cent (file)
Photo: Interscope

NEW YORK — While Mobb Deep and M.O.P. are both widely regarded as two of hip-hop's most consistently excellent groups, neither has been burning up the sales charts. For years they've said, and their fans have echoed, that with the right label push, the upper reaches of the Billboard charts could become familiar territory.

Both acts, now free agents, may be getting their best shot at moving those elusive units by aligning with 50 Cent and his G-Unit Records. On Saturday in Brooklyn, where 50 was directing — yes, directing — singer Olivia's new video for "Twist It," he told MTV News that pretty soon O may lose the distinction of being the newest addition to his label.

He said he's "very close" to signing both M.O.P. and Mobb Deep. "I'm ready to expand and do other things," he explained. "Creatively, there are certain artists out there I respect. I've been listening to their music for a long time. I wanna work with them. I want to be able to put my full effort into it, but I can't work for it unless it's in both of our best interests, and that's with them being signed to G-Unit as a record company. It'll be serious. We've got a chance to go do some exciting things."

Mobb Deep's Havoc agreed.

"We've been talking to 50 for a minute, maybe a month," he said. "Initially we were gonna sign to Interscope. After a while we saw it best [to sign] with 50 because of the style of music [we do]. We sat down with 50 and he let us know what he could do for us. We're satisfied with the move. I don't know how other people are gonna feel about the move. It's probably gonna be a lot of hate in people's blood, but we don't give a f---. We're gonna continue making our music. I feel we have a bigger platform. I can't wait. The adrenaline is pumping. I just wanna get it started."

Earlier this month, Laze E. Laze, who helps to guide the career of M.O.P., confirmed his guys are also in talks with 50 but did not elaborate on how those talks were going.

One of the most appealing elements about the Mobb and the Mash Out Posse is that both duos — especially the Mobb — have been heating up the mixtape circuit with an abundance of records.

"The material I've been hearing from both of those ends lately, it's dead right," 50 said. "It's exactly where it needs to be right now. I know I can put them in a good position where they could become priority."

50 reiterated that neither group is officially signed, but if he does woo them in time, he may bring one or both on tour with him on Anger Management 3 (see "Eminem, 50, Lil Jon, G-Unit, D12 Team Up For Anger Management 3 Tour This Summer").

Of course, the Mobb's close affiliate Alchemist has already been tapped to join the tour as Eminem's DJ (see "Eminem Hires Alchemist To Replace DJ Green Lantern"). Al replaced Green Lantern, who said he resigned from the Shady family in the wake of his appearance on the street DVD "The Come Up, Vol. 5," where he was taped having a phone conversation with Jadakiss about the 50/ Jada battle.

50 said the story Green has been telling the public is not accurate. According to the G-Unit general, Green did not quit.

"Green Lantern was fired," Fif scoffed. "He said something he wasn't supposed to say. I never did anything [to him], I'm always supportive of everything in our circle. When I say 'our,' I mean me, Em and Dre. To have him say [what he said on the DVD], it just was a bad decision. Having him say things about me, it's not just saying it about me, it's saying it about the entire thing — everything we do together."

• 50 Cent
• Mobb Deep
• M.O.P.
• G-Unit

Jay-Z (file)
Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

Jay-Z set radio station Hot 97 on fire a couple of months ago when he debuted the rhymes for his song "Dear Summer" on the air, and now Roc-A-Fella has leaked a studio version to mixtapes and made plans for an official release.

The song's producer, Just Blaze, says if you were surprised when Jay rapped the song on the radio, you should've been there when Hov rapped the record for the first time over a year ago (see "President Jay-Z Feels 'That Artist Pain,' Readies First Release Under His Watch").

"First time I heard it was when he did the last S. Carter [mixtape]," Blaze explained. "[He was rapping] to that beat for the tennis shoe commercial Green Lantern did the beat for. When he finished the song, [engineer Young] Guru went to stop the beat and Jay was like, 'Nah, keep it going.' He started spitting that rhyme out of nowhere. So it just sat there forever and then he spit it that one day on the radio. Then he was like, 'I want to do it as a song, but I have nowhere to put it.' "

Turned out Jay had the perfect outlet in his younger homie, Memphis Bleek. Back in '98 on Jay's Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life, Memphis had a solo record called "Hand It Down (Intro)" that served as the intro to the album. Jay decided to return the favor by letting "Dear Summer" serve as the intro to Bleek's upcoming 534 LP.

"He's just bringing it full circle," Blaze said. "The record is so crazy we was going to put it out the day after he went to radio, but Jay was like, 'Nah, chill.' Doing that record was kinda like old times. It was nobody in the room but me, Guru and Jay. I could tell it was getting to [Jay] because he had to leave. He was sitting in the studio listening to it over and over and he said, 'I'm outta here. I know what y'all are trying to do.'

"That's the running joke," he continued. "We keep trying to get him to come back. Obviously, the artist bug is still there. If it wasn't, he wouldn't even be in the booth. It's not like he needs to do the intro to Bleek's album. When you're an artist, you're always gonna be an artist even if that's not your main job anymore."

Just said there were certain beats he would save or even tailor-make for Jay back when Jay was actively recording, but now that Hov has declared retirement, Blaze said he doesn't do that anymore — or at least not as much.

"Who knows what's gonna happen?" Just said. "When I see the artist bug coming out, all I can say is, 'I see where he's going' and hope for the best. Me, as a producer, that's my favorite artist to work with. We make really good records together."

For now, though, Just has to find a new favorite. The producer has been in the lab concentrating on the debut of Saigon, the first artist on his Fort Knox Entertainment imprint. Saigon is expected to drop the album later this year.

Besides Jay-Z, Memphis Bleek's 534 also has guest spots from the Young Gunz, M.O.P. and new singer Denim.

• Jay-Z
• Memphis Bleek
• Young Gunz
• M.O.P.

M.O.P.'s Billy Danzenie (file)
Photo: Walik Goshorn

"I want you to understand that Dame Dash doesn't own Roc-A-Fella any more, and as of December 13, we actually obtained our release" from the label, said M.O.P. manager Laze E. Laze. "We saw the company was going in a different direction. To me, Roc-A-Fella's over."

Laze's announcement late last week served as public notification of the group's split from both the Damon Dash Music Group and Roc-A-Fella Records, although it apparently occurred some time ago.

The duo — consisting of MCs Lil' Fame and Billy Danzenie — had been on the label for more than three years, but have just a few unofficially released tracks to show for it. The only album they've released in that time, the Mash Out Posse rock mash-up album, was released on their own First Family label (through Koch).

"We need to be somewhere comfortable, and we wasn't really comfortable over there," Danzenie said.

Now, M.O.P. are looking to join forces with a label that's willing to release and support the four albums the group says it recorded during its Roc tenure. The album's titles are Ghetto Warfare, The Last Generation, a mixtape called The St. Marksman and the longwindedly titled Kill N---a Die Slo Bluckka Bluckka Bloaoow Blood Sweat Tears and We Out.

The group is hoping to release Ghetto Warfare first, in the fall, and Danzenie said the duo are considering making The Last Generation their final release. "I think that I'm going to let the people decide if that should be that last M.O.P. album," he said. "But we got like 60 or 70 songs, and we still do two or three a week."

And despite his strong words, Laze noted that he hasn't closed the door entirely on either Dash or the Roc. "We're still talking to DDMG about doing something with him, more from a label standpoint," he said. "And [we'd consider] even Jay, if he came to us with a situation that's not just an artist on the Roc assembly line." Laze said he's also talking with Koch, Atlantic, the Warner Music imprint Asylum and G-Unit Records.

"50 was shooting Get Rich or Die Tryin' in Canada and he calls Fox," Laze recalled, referring to M.O.P.'s female auxiliary member. "He said, 'I'm hearing records on the radio, you guys are killing it. What the f--- are they doing with you?' So after that, we met with 50 and had a great conversation where he said, 'You may think I'm crazy in the controversy that I'm in, but I haven't failed yet. We sell millions of albums, I wanna do a deal.' I can actually say that we were talking on a day-to-day basis with 50 about possibly doing a deal. Our doors are open."

An Interscope representive declined comment, while a Koch spokesperson confirmed that the label is interested in the Brooklyn duo. Asylum, however, denies that they are talking with the newly freed agents.

And after acting in Dame Dash Films' "State Property 2," the duo are gearing up to shoot a reality show called "Boot Camp Cold Turkey" in Pennsylvania, through their Blaze Films production company. The show, which they plan to shop to television networks when it's finished, details their experiences in a four-week boot camp at the hands of Navy SEALs. Of course, the duo have other projects in the works.

"We're getting into the beverages now," Danzenie said. "We got a coconut rum liquor called XXX. And we're doing movies, starting on a project called 'Creepers' — porn. We're not acting, but we are producing it."

And interestingly, amid the fallout from their Roc-A-Fella deal, Billy seemed downright wistful about Jay and Dame's split. "I don't think it's right, because these guys built an empire together," he said (see "Dame Dash Says He's Staying Involved With Roc-A-Fella Roster"). "I had conversations with both of them and they appear strong enough to stand on their own, but nobody wants to see Jay without Dame, or Dame without Jay. That's what M.O.P. is built on anyway — we're loyalists. If we don't got each other then we ain't got nothing."

• M.O.P.

Alchemist (file)
Photo: Koch

What do you do when producing for Nas, Jadakiss, Mobb Deep and Snoop Dogg isn't enough? Well, if you're the Alchemist, you return to the lab and start building your own career.

The result is 1st Infantry, an album that the Los Angeles-based producer said he's been planning for years.

"Coming from L.A., I always looked to Dr. Dre and the way he focused on The Chronic as the way I wanted to do my album," the Alchemist said. "I didn't want to play too much of a vocal role, but rather serve as the orchestrator."

For the album, which was released recently on his ALC Records imprint, the Alchemist enlisted a host of those aforementioned famous friends — including Game, M.O.P. and Lloyd Banks — to guest on the set. While many artists might have had problems putting together such a lineup, the Alchemist says the process was "pretty organic."

"There was no wish list of artists or red tape in getting the people I wanted to be involved," he said. "Everyone was within reach due to my relationships. Plus, I had a whole lot of favors that I could call in."

On his debut single, "Hold You Down," the Alchemist teams with Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Nina Sky and newcomer Illa Ghee.

"It's about loyalty," the Alchemist said of the hypnotic single. "It has a sample [of Al Kooper's 'Love Theme From "The Landlord" '] that was used before, so I wanted to take it and put my own twist on it, [so] I got with Nina Sky to give the song a vocal twist."

1st Infantry isn't the producer's first turn as an artist. When he was 16, the Alchemist signed with Tommy Boy Records as a member of the Hooligans. That experience led him to start ALC. "I didn't want to be locked down by any one label again, or have people on my back." he said.

The producer has had his hands full over the last few months — he's worked with Mobb Deep, Nelly, Styles P., Snoop Dogg and Tony Yayo on recent or forthcoming projects — but said that the release of 1st Infantry is a new beginning.

• Lloyd Banks
• Game
• M.O.P.
• The Alchemist

Indiana Pacers' Ron Artest and Mobb Deep at New York nightclub Spirit.
Photo: Johnny Nunez

NEW YORK — "A big shout-out to Queens!" Those words were repeated throughout Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning as the Q-Borough's most renowned duo, Mobb Deep, celebrated the release of their sixth album, Amerikaz Nightmare, at the New York nightclub Spirit.

The major news stemming from the event, however, wasn't about Havoc and Prodigy's current project. It was about an upcoming one: Mobb Deep and M.O.P. are working on a joint album together.

Both groups performed at Spirit, as did Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon the Chef, and an old-school freestyle cipher also ensued. Hip-hop luminaries such as Kool Herc and Kurtis Blow were present, as were Lil Jon, Jadakiss, Styles P., J-Hood, Kangol Kid, former Inc. member Vita, Grandmaster Caz, Talib Kweli, Game, Black Moon's Buckshot, Doug E. Fresh and C.L. Smooth.

After DJ Mister Cee spun classics from the 1992-96 golden era of hip-hop, some of the others rappers were apparently inspired and started tossing the mic around in a freestyle free-for-all.

First, the Roots' Black Thought and Dead Prez's M-1 exchanged verses, then Naughty by Nature's Treach, Shyheim and Heltah Skeltah's Sean Price added to the cipher.

Raekwon kept the steel to himself during a brief set that started with "C.R.E.A.M." then went into "Incarcerated Scarfaces" and ended with an a cappella rendition of his verse from Mobb's classic album cut "Eye for an Eye." "Shaolin and Queensbridge be robbin' n---as for fun/ But still, write my will out to my seeds, then build/ Mahalia, sing a tale, but the real we still kill."

The love M.O.P. get at their shows is obviously real. What other group do you know that can get onstage and tell the cheering fans to "shut the f--- up" and be rewarded with more applause?

After the Mash Out Posse riled up the crowd even more with selections such as "Cold as Ice" and "Fire," Billy Danze told everyone to be quiet after they started cheering for the remix of "U Don't Know." Of course, they later complied. Busta Rhymes walked through the ocean of people in M.O.P.'s entourage and, as you would expect, animatedly yelled his verse, then stopped before he was done. "We gonna do this sh-- again. We gonna do this sh-- again!" he yelled.

The clock started to knock on 3 a.m.'s door when the guests of honor hit the stage. It was advertised that the Mobb, M.O.P. and Rakim would all perform, with the Roots as the house band for the night. But with Alchemist on the turntables and Hav and P's Queensbridge faithful flooding the stage — barely leaving two centimeters for the Mobb, let alone a backing band — it was obvious that was not going to happen.

It didn't seem to matter at all to the fans, some of whom had been at Spirit since 9 p.m., when the Mobb opener, "Get Away," started playing. They followed up with another 'hood favorite, "Survival of the Fittest," and continued to slay the audience with "Shook Ones Part II."

Another Queensbridge alum, Indiana Pacer Ron Artest, came from the side of the stage to join the Mobb at the forefront for pictures. This is "Ron Ron," Prodigy said as he took sips of his Lil Jon energy drink.

Finally the QB tag team brought the proceedings to an end with "Got It Twisted."

"Y'all fools got it twisted huh?" they rapped. "That liquor up in you, you charged."

Nope. No liquor: Crunk!!! juice.

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

• Mobb Deep
• M.O.P.

Kanye West at New York's Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday
Photo: MTV News

After a strong start this year with albums by Kanye West and the Young Gunz, Roc-A-Fella hasn't put out any product. M.O.P. have had to turn to rock and roll to keep their names out there, and despite a mean buzz, Beanie Sigel's LP has been pushed to late September and Cam'ron may not drop until the end of the year.

Plus, due to some recent staff restructuring, there have been rumors that the unfathomable is about to go down — that the Roc is about shut down. Other chatter has the Roc leaving Def Jam and finding distribution elsewhere.

On Friday the label's mouthpiece and CEO, Damon Dash, stopped by MTV and denied that his company was closing its doors. "It ain't like Roc-A-Fella could ever fold," he scoffed. "We've made too much money to fold. That's impossible." But he did say he may be putting up a "for sale" sign in the future.

The Roc is at a crossroads.

"After a decade of success and consistent good music and quality individuals, there comes a time when you can extend your contract or you could sell your company and you can still run things like Russell [Simmons] did with Def Jam and Jimmy Iovine did with Interscope. That's what's happening with us now. The question is, if we do decide to sell the rest of the equity in Roc-A-Fella, how do we move forward?"

Dash said he and his partners, Jay-Z and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, have talked about the company's future, but even if they sold their equity in the company, Dame still wants to call the shots.

"All that is paperwork. We'll never break up," he insisted. "It's Roc-A-Fella for life. I would never pass the torch or leave any of my artists. I look at them like my family, almost like my children. I would never leave them with anybody else. Who else could run Roc-A-Fella but me?

"I signed Kanye personally. I'm just gonna walk away from my man? Couldn't happen." added Dash, who said he and his company have been negotiating with Def Jam for years. "Who else could deal with Beanie Sigel's life and Cam'ron? They have to be understood. We're very unique individuals, and each person get marketed a different way. That's impossible. All we can do is expand and get more money. The purpose of business is to build equity in it and sell it and start another one. But the Roc is something that's my heart, my life, my soul."

On Sunday in New York, Dame had most of his family and a few friends in tow during the city's annual Puerto Rican Day Parade (click for photos). Dash assembled three floats, and by noon he and the Roc were lined up and ready to roll out. The float in front was was supposed to carry Dash, Biggs, West, Juelz Santana and new Roc artist GLC; the second was for artists from Roc-A-Fella's soul division, NBA baller Carmelo Anthony and middleweight boxing champ Winky Wright; and the third was for Beanie Sigel's chain gang of Philly rappers, State Property.

	Roc-A-Fella Puerto Rican Day Parade Photos

As the day started to progress, the floats lined up on 45th Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue just sat there, but the activity was poppin' nonetheless as the Roc's stars interacted with each other and the fans.

"Of course I got a little bit in my blood — I'm Puerto Rican — but I just came out to support [Roc-A-Fella]," said Carmelo, who was the first to arrive. When the Roc arrived, it was anarchy. Kanye, Dame and Beanie were swarmed by fans seeking autographs and hugs.

"It's not the Puerto Rican Day Parade, it's the entire world," Dame said with his arms around Sigel and West. "We're paying appreciation to everybody that pays appreciation to us."

Kanye was drained from performing at Summer Jam and then filming the third version of his "Jesus Walks" video until 7 a.m. that morning, but he still found time to come out and show team cohesion.

"This is the reason why I'm able to stand here and do a parade," he said of his Roc-A-Fella brethren. "My whole family helps me out with so many situations. [Roc-A-Fella] helped with my respect and validity I needed to move to the 2 million units I'm at now."

While the floats remained stuck on 45th Street, the party remained in full swing. Christina Milian, Nina Sky, MTV's La La and members of the Terror Squad danced to "Lean Back" on the Hot 97 float while Fat Joe walked around in the street hollering at fans.

"I was the first person to bring hip-hop to the Puerto Rican Day parade," Joe said, wearing a Big Pun T-shirt. "I'm proud of that. The youth is out here crazy. We always have a great time."

Down the block on the Roc float, DJ Envy spun records, but Dame wanted to give the fans a little more, so he had Peedi Crakk and Beanie Sigel perform their new record "Flatline." "Fresh out the federal, cases I got several," Sigel lip-synced as the music blasted, using hand gestures to add emphasis to his raps.

After about the third time the duo performed the record, the police came by and said the music was too loud, then shut the power down for several minutes. When the juice came back on, Freeway and Young Chris of the Gunners stood at the bottom of the float and joined in. "Frontline of the Roc take over your block!" Freeway rapped.

About 45 minutes later, the floats on 45th Street finally joined the parade, and at the end of the procession, Dame and Biggs presented organizers with a check for $15,000. "As you can see, I'm tired, I'm hoarse, but we put it down," Dash said before leaving. "We're all one big family, and whenever you need us we'll be there."

• Kanye West
• Jay-Z
• Young Gunz
• M.O.P.
• Beanie Sigel

It seems like the door hasn't completely closed on Bill Ward. Two days after posting a note on his Web site (www.billward.com) claiming that he was as surprised as anyone to find out he will be replaced by Mike Bordin when Black Sabbath take the stage for Ozzfest, the band's original drummer posted a second note on Thursday saying he "received a positive response" from Sharon Osbourne and is moving ahead with negotiations. ...

Before she launches her summer tour, Jessica Simpson's offering fans a chance to get premium passes via a ticket auction on www.stubhub.com. Winners get tickets in the first two rows, T-shirts, autographed photos, VIP laminates and meet-and-greet passes, which will allow them to get their picture taken with the singer. ... Rakim is not done talking about his recent arrest for allegedly failing to pay child support, or about the troubles with his baby's mother, either. The MC has recorded a freestyle about the drama over the beat from the Ghostface track "Run." Expect the track, which DJ Kay Slay played Thursday night on New York radio station Hot 97, on mixtapes soon. ...

"A Raisin in the Sun," starring Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, is turning out to be Broadway's biggest success this spring. Though the production has received mixed reviews, it grossed $570,000 in ticket sales in the week that ended on Sunday, according to The New York Times. Normally, a successful play in New York will pull in closer to $200,000 a week. ... Diddy helped launch a new razor by Gillette in New York Thursday — by shaving some of his whiskers. He was given a commemorative version of the vibrating blade plated in white gold and encrusted with diamonds, courtesy of Jacob the Jeweler. The regular, non-blinged-out razor will retail for $15. ...

Add another tour to the summer concert calendar. Hoobastank and Phantom Planet are hitting the road together in July in support of their albums The Reason and Phantom Planet, respectively. No dates have been announced yet. ... While the MTV Video Music Awards move to Miami, the awards show's European counterpart is also headed South. The Europe Music Awards will take place in Rome, at the Tor Di Valle, on November 18. It marks the first time the event has been held in Italy since 1998's ceremony in Milan. ...

Alanis Morissette didn't have a scheduled performance at the Absolutely Fourth bar in New York on Monday, but gave one anyway — as "Tammy Reynolds." Dressed in disguise, the singer surprised patrons when she took the mic to sing karaoke. ... The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins has undergone throat surgery and is recovering well. The singer went under the knife for a hiatal hernia and acid reflux problems. If his recovery continues at its current pace, the Darkness will be able to play all previously scheduled North American dates. ...

A concert in Albany, New York, featuring Slayer, Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Hatebreed, Chimaira, Superjoint Ritual, Shadows Fall and Life of Agony is under attack by the local community. A woman named Susan Balfour has distributed a petition to cancel the Aggressive Music Festival, which is scheduled for July 17 and 18 at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Balfour has traveled the region showing people some of the more graphic lyrics by Slayer, Slipknot and some of the other bands in an effort to build a support network to have the event canceled. ...

M.O.P. have been added to the second stage of the Projekt Revolution Tour. The outing will make 32 stops in North America this summer. Linkin Park, Korn, Snoop Dogg, the Used, Less Than Jake, Ghostface and Funeral for a Friend will also perform. ... Downset have postponed their tour because singer Rey Oropeza's mother is in declining health. Five shows have been affected — May 21 in Seattle through May 26 in Denver. However, Downset are still expected to take part in the Projekt Revolution Tour, which launches July 23 in Cincinnati. ...

Coinciding with the June 8 release of Sonic Youth's 19th album, Sonic Nurse, the band will also issue a DVD, "Corporate Ghost - The Videos 1990-2002." More than three hours of commentary and interviews accompany the 23 videos included on the disc. ... Former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty will tour this summer for the first time in almost four years. The tour will open on June 25 in Saratoga, California, and run through August 8 in Houston. Fogerty's first studio album since 1997's Blue Moon Swamp is scheduled for release by the end of September. ...

5.20.2004

It's no surprise that Lloyd Banks is lining up the big guns for his upcoming solo album. He's planning on releasing a new street single, "Warriors Part 2," that features both Eminem and 50 Cent, over a beat produced by Em and a chorus sung by Nate Dogg. "It's me in between the twin towers," Banks said of the track. "It's real aggressive." ...

After shopping around a variety of book ideas, Alicia Keys has sold two of them to Putnam. She'll release the book "The Diary of Alicia Keys," her reflection on her childhood in New York's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, her early musical education and rise to stardom, as a hardcover by fall of next year, with a paperback edition to follow in 2006. Her book of poetry, "Songbook," will be published as a hardcover this November. ... In anticipation of Jadakiss' upcoming album, Kiss of Death, the rapper is launching a promotional tour that will keep him on the road for the next month. Jadakiss will be in Atlanta on Friday and then hit up cities through the south Atlantic coast, Florida and then back up to the Northeast. He'll celebrate the release of his album with a June 12 performance at New York's Hot 97 Summer Jam and then wrap up with a June 18 show in Detroit. ...

A jury has cleared Marion "Suge" Knight of battery in a 2001 attack but still awarded $162,000 in damages to a man who claimed he was beaten up by associates of the onetime hip-hop mogul. Dwayne H. Baudy said he was assaulted outside a recording studio by Knight and his bodyguards on November 6, 2001. The jury found Knight's bodyguard, Reginald Wright Jr., negligent and responsible for the damages. ... A day before her new album, Under My Skin, drops, Avril Lavigne will play a free concert at New York's Webster Hall. The show will be broadcast on AOL as part of its Broadband Rocks series. ... A doctor has advised drummer Ryan Dusick to sit out while his band, Maroon 5, continues to tour. Dusick needs to rest his shoulder, injured from two years of constant touring, and undergo some rehabilitation. Matt Flynn, who has played drums for the B-52's and Gavin DeGraw, will fill in. ...

Pity the poor Toronto Blue Jays fans, and not just because of their team's losing record (17-24 at press time). "American Idol" castoff and Koch recording artist William Hung will perform "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch at the game against the Texas Rangers on Sunday. ... The Vandals are looking for their very own William Hung to join them at this year's Warped Tour. Beginning June 1, perspective tin-ear tenors and abominable baritones can download songs off the band's forthcoming album, Hollywood Potato Chip, due June 29, and videotape themselves performing the tracks. The standouts may get the chance to perform with the band onstage this summer. ...

The 11th annual Vans Warped Tour will go out with a bang on August 20. Bands who've played the tour in years past, including Rancid, Pennywise, Good Charlotte, New Found Glory, Less Than Jake, Unwritten Law, Face to Face and Sick of It All, among others, will reconvene for the tour's 10th anniversary reunion show at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. ... The Beastie Boys will headline influential Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM's 12th annual Weenie Roast, scheduled for June 12 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California. The Hives, the Strokes, Velvet Revolver, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, New Found Glory, Hoobastank, Yellowcard, Bad Religion, Cypress Hill, Modest Mouse, Story of the Year and the Killers are also on the bill. ...

Julian Casablancas' head is ringing — but it's not from the after-show party that followed the Strokes' return from a two-month tour. It's wedding bells that have the New York rocker rejoicing. Toward the end of the band's set at New York's Central Park on Wednesday, Casablancas announced that he was set to be wed. Juliet Joslin is the lucky lady. ... Though Madonna had hoped to include a stop in Israel on her Reinvention Tour, the singer is avoiding the country because of the political climate, according to her spokesperson. Madonna is instead including more European markets on the outing. ...

Phish have finalized the details of their first home-state festival. The event will be held August 14 and 15 at the Newport State Airport and adjacent fields in the rural town of Coventry, Vermont. Phish, whose Undermind is due June 15, will perform three live sets each day. ... Former Jayhawks singer Mark Olson has recorded an album of songs critical of the Bush administration called Political Manifest. One of the tunes, a call for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to be removed from his post called "End of the Highway Rumsfeld," is particularly relevant after the Iraqi prison scandal, although Olson actually wrote it months ago. The album is available only at shows but will soon be sold at Olson and wife Victoria Williams' Web site, www.politicalmanifest.com. ...

Black Label Society have hired James Lomenzo to play bass during the band's Ozzfest shows. Lomenzo was one of several bassists who played on the band's most recent album, Hangover Music Vol. VI, which came out last month. Black Label Society founder and guitarist Zakk Wylde was originally scheduled to play with Ozzy Osbourne's band as well, but since Ozzy will be taking the Ozzfest stage with Black Sabbath, there will be no Ozzy solo performance. ... Swedish doom metal pioneers Candlemass have snuffed their flame once and for all. The band, which over the years has been on-again, off-again, has stated on its Web site, "There will be no more gigs, no new album, no more doom! This is it ... Finished ... Zero ... Nada ... Out." The band called it quits because the members had different goals and couldn't agree on a direction. Meanwhile, a Candlemass tribute album, due in 2005, will feature Opeth, the Hellacopters, the Haunted, Cathedral, Satyricon and others. ... Cannibal Corpse have hired Jeremy Turner (ex-Origin) to be their second guitarist. Turner replaces Jack Owen, who left early this month after 14 years with the band. ...

• Black Sabbath
• Jessica Simpson
• Rakim
• Diddy
• Hoobastank

Paid In Full Tour Photos

• Cam'ron
• M.O.P.
• N.O.R.E.