Mystikal (file)
Photo: Rosa Cole for MTV.com

Rapper Mystikal was sentenced Thursday by a district court judge in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to a six-year prison term for sexual battery for attacking his former hairstylist.

Judge Anthony Marabella also required Mystikal (real name Michael Tyler) to register with the state as a sex offender. Under Louisiana state law, Mystikal will be eligible for parole after two years behind bars.

Mystikal had originally been charged with aggravated rape and extortion on July 18, 2002, after police arrested him and two bodyguards for threatening to turn his former hairstylist in to police for cashing $80,000 worth of unauthorized checks from the rapper's bank account if she did not have oral sex with them (see "Mystikal Charged With Rape, Extortion"). In Louisiana, aggravated rape carries a mandatory sentence of life without probation. On July 19, police revealed that they had found a videotape of the assault (see "Mystikal Videotaped Alleged Rape, Police Say").

After numerous meetings with the state prosecutor, Mystikal's lawyer J. David Bourland was able to whittle the charges down to sexual battery in exchange for a guilty plea.

In early December, Mystikal's lawyer filed a motion to withdraw his client's guilty plea to sexual battery of the infirmed and no contest to extortion when he learned that prosecutors had given judge Marabella the videotape of the sexual assault. As part of their negotiation, the prosecutor agreed the tape would remain sealed and would not be admitted in the case as evidence. However, when the judge asked to see the videotape, the prosecution gave it to him to view.

"I cannot say in good faith the state deceived us, but there may have been a misunderstanding," Bourdin said. "They said they were not going to use the tape to increase the sentence and we took that to mean the tape would be held confidential forever. The state did not bring the tape up to the judge; he asked to see the tape before sentencing."

Though he is convinced he could have withdrawn Mystikal's guilty plea and started a new trial, Bourdin said he decided not to do so because the charges against his client would have been escalated back to aggravated rape.

Judge Marabella read Mystikal's sentence on Thursday with disdain. "The court is convinced that the defendant believes he is above the law and can take the law into his own hands," he said, according to the Baton Rouge newspaper The Advocate. "You received a significant break when the district attorney reduced the charges. ... If it weren't for the victim [agreeing to lesser charges in exchange for a guilty plea], the sentence would have been the maximum 10 years."

"We are satisfied with the sentence," Bourdin said. "Sometimes a bird in the hand is better than two in the tree. The videotape of the incident is so inflammatory that it would have been very damaging if it had been presented in an aggravated rape case."

Prosecuting attorney Sue Bernie is also happy with the decision even though the judge made it clear that he would have sentenced Mystikal to the full 10 years had he not copped a plea. Like Bourdin, she sought to keep the videotape out of the courtroom, but for a different reason.

"Our goal was to save our client's dignity, and if we could avoid that particular tape being made public and still get justice, that was the goal," Bernie said. "If we were to proceed with the aggravated rape charge, the videotape would have had to be played and it would have been made part of the public record."

Before criminal negotiations between Bourdin and Bernie began, Mystikal underwent sexual-assault counseling and did community service. He also settled with the woman for an undisclosed sum in order to prevent her from filing a civil suit against him.

As part of his decision, Judge Marabella also ruled that when Mystikal gets out of jail he will have to serve five years of probation for extortion. This means that Mystikal will have to pay $100 per month to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Division of Probation and Parole to defray the costs of supervision; remain employed; undergo substance-abuse evaluation and follow all recommended treatment; remain alcohol- and drug-free; submit to random urinalysis at his own expense; and maintain no contact with the victim or her family. If he violates any of the terms of probation, Mystikal will return to prison for up to 10 more years.

The two bodyguards who took part in the assault also pleaded guilty. Vercy Carter will spend up to four years in jail and Leland Ellis will remain in prison for up to three years.

• Mystikal

Mystikal's attorney has filed a motion to withdraw the rapper's plea of guilty to sexual battery of the infirmed and no contest to extortion after learning prosecutors gave the judge a videotape of the alleged incident. J. David Bourland said part of the rapper's plea agreement was that the tape be sealed. "The court has the right to ask for it; I just should have been informed," he said. The judge will determine whether the defense can withdraw the plea at a January 15 hearing. If so, the case will start over. Mystikal already received five years of probation for the extortion charge and was scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday (December 3) on the battery charge. Bourland said his client, who faces up to 10 years, turned down a two-year offer from the district attorney. ...

Expect the visual funk to flow as freely as its sonic counterpart on "Outkast: The Videos," a DVD collecting the group's music videos through its 10-year career. Due December 16, all the duo's clips will be included, like their first, "Player's Ball," directed by Sean "Puffy" Combs; the circus setting of "The Whole World" and the colorful landscape of "B.O.B." Also featured will be the group's latest videos, for "Hey Ya!" and "The Way You Move." ...

John Mayer will return to the road in February with a tour beginning Valentine's Day in Vancouver. Though the full tour itinerary has yet to be released, the singer/songwriter will hit at least seven cities in North America, with stops in Bozeman, Montana; Nampa, Idaho; Las Vegas, Nevada; Fresno, California; Tucson, Arizona; and Las Cruces, New Mexico. ... If you ever wished you could be Scott Stapp, here's your chance. Creed members Mark Tremonti and Scott Phillips are looking for a lead singer for their as-yet-unnamed side project. Interested parties should send demos to JHMP, P.O. Box 616608, Orlando, Florida 32861. ...

Congratulations are in order for No Doubt's Tom Dumont: He just got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Mieke, during a trip to New England last month. They plan to wed sometime next year. ... Russell Simmons and Motorola are teaming up to release the limited-edition Phat Farm II Signature Motorola i7333 mobile phone, a chrome-colored flip phone branded with the Phat Farm logo. It will feature screen wallpapers of Russell himself and the late Jam Master Jay, and will boast ring tones of such hits as Sean Paul's "Get Busy," 50 Cent's "In Da Club" and Missy Elliott's "One Minute Man." The phones will be released in time for Christmas and will retail for $399. ...

When Mötley Crüe decided to name their new box set Music to Crash Your Car To, they never even thought about singer Vince Neil's 1984 drunk-driving accident which killed his passenger, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley, who was the drummer for Hanoi Rocks, and seriously injured two others in another car, a spokesperson for the Crüe said. It was only after the musicians signed off on the title that Neil expressed some reservations, and by that time it was too late. Hanoi Rocks singer Michael Monroe and guitarist Andy McCoy were less than understanding. In a press statement, they called the name "the most tasteless and murderous gimmick to cash in on the past that we've ever heard of," and added, "There's nothing cool or funny about death. How low can you go?" ...

It'll be a slice of the old Minneapolis funk scene in Los Angeles on December 13 when the Family Jamm hits the Great Western Forum. The concert will feature performances (and presumably jam sessions) from Prince's old crew the Revolution, the Time, Apollonia and concert organizer Sheila E. The show benefits Lil' Angel Bunny Foundation, a group that helps abused children through the arts. ... Midwestern emo heroes the Get Up Kids are hard at work on a new EP and are firming up dates for a U.S. tour scheduled to begin March 1. The Wouldn't Believe It EP, due in January, will include the tracks "Wouldn't Believe It" and "Martyr Me" from their forthcoming album The Guilt Show (expected in March), a new mix of "Walking on a Wire," a demo recording of "Overdue" and an acoustic take on "I'll Catch You." ...

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger will be knighted by the Queen of England at Buckingham Palace on December 12. Guitarist Keith Richards has been public about his objection to the event, telling the U.K.'s Uncut magazine, "I thought it was ludicrous to take one of those gongs from the establishment when they did their very best to throw us in jail. It's not what the Stones is about, is it?" ... About a week after hip-replacement surgery, Ray Charles is recovering at his home in Beverly Hills, California. The 73-year-old veteran musician dropped off his tour in July because of intense pain in his left hip. It was the first time in 53 years that Charles has canceled a road stint. He is expected to recover in time to launch a new tour in March. ...

Carmen Rasmusen recently recorded the first single for the soundtrack to "Pride & Prejudice," which opens in limited release on Friday and includes the second season "American Idol" finalist in a small role. The song, "Be With You," is getting airplay in Utah. "That's where the movie was made and that's where I'm from," she said. "So that's why I came out for their first song." ... Meanwhile, fellow finalist Trenyce has been auditioning for two different Broadway musicals. "I'm just having a good time, trying to finish my CD as well," she said. "I'm not signed yet, although a lot of people think I am, so I'm just hoping for the best deal possible." ...

Warp Records will make its entire back catalog of music available for pay-per-song download in January through its own www.bleep.com. Songs from the popular to the obscure, B-sides to remixes will be available for purchase, from such artists as Aphex Twin, Autechre and Beans. …

12.02.03

50 Cent has been nominated in six categories at the 2003 Billboard Awards, which will be held December 10 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The rapper is up for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year and Hot 100 Single of the Year. R. Kelly and Beyoncé are each nominees in five categories, and Sean Paul and the Dixie Chicks are up for awards in four categories. Justin Timberlake, Chingy and 3 Doors Down are each nominated for three, while Aaliyah, Linkin Park, Audioslave, Floetry, Norah Jones and Shania Twain are finalists in two categories. ... Meanwhile, 50 and G Unit were scheduled to shoot a video in Los Angeles on Tuesday (December 2) for "Poppin' Them Thangs," the next single from Beg for Mercy. Veteran hip-hop video director Little X is helming the clip. ...

A Swiss prosecutor in Zurich is considering filing charges against Marilyn Manson for breaching laws protecting religion and for inciting violence during a show there in 2001. A criminal investigation was launched after a religious organization there filed a complaint about his onstage shenanigans. Christian groups and politicians in Zurich attempted to block a recent Manson concert, claiming his views are offensive to the majority of the city's inhabitants, but the concert went on as scheduled. ... Playboy TV is launching a hip-hop show January 9 that will include uncensored videos, trips to strip clubs with rappers and segments such as Sex Tip of the Day. "Buckwild," named after host Ken "Buckwild" Francis, will feature Outkast, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Lil Jon and Loon, among others, in the first six episodes. ...

Grammy sweeper Norah Jones will appear on two songs from the upcoming Wax Poetic album Nublu Sessions, due February 10. Jones' two tracks were recorded between 1997 and 1998 when she was a member of the group. The record will also contain guest performances by N'Dea Davenport, Saul Williams and U-Roy. ... On Tuesday original shock rocker Alice Cooper was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Look for his star at the corner of Orange Drive and Hollywood Boulevard by the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel — it's the one next to the dead birds. ... Big Tank, one of the primary producers behind the soundtrack to B2K's "You Got Served" movie, said the album, due December 23, will include guest spots from R. Kelly, Fabolous and Mario. "It's a dance movie, so all I had to do was try to make things that I would love to hear at a club and kind of go off that," Big Tank said. ...

Latin electronic musician Louie Vega of the duo Masters at Work will release a solo record, Elements of Life, in February. Vega will begin a DJ tour on December 11 in Chicago and will remain on the road through April. ... Metallica's revealing documentary "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" has been accepted by the Sundance Film Festival in the American Spectrum category. The movie, directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky ("Brother's Keeper," "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills"), is an unflinching fly-on-the-wall account of the creation of Metallica's St. Anger. Sundance begins January 15 in Park City, Utah. A theatrical release is planned for March. ... Pete Yorn, Phantom Planet, Lisa Loeb and Mellowdrone will headline the Gimme Shelter benefit concert December 11 at the Roxy in West Hollywood. Proceeds will go to the St. Joseph Center and New West School in Los Angeles. ...

Before opening for Linkin Park on a recent stint of U.K. dates, Welsh rap-rockers the Lostprophets shot a video in Los Angeles with director Brian Scott Weber (Trapt) for "Last Train Home." The song is the first single from Start Something, the follow-up to 2001's The Fake Sound of Progress, produced by Eric Valentine (Good Charlotte) and due February 3. ... Are you a onetime producer whose teen trio went from cash cow to broken mule once the pop market crashed? Maybe an aging rocker wondering why the check to the massage parlor bounced? Then EMI Music North America might be looking for you. The record company and publishing house has set up a Web site listing songwriters and producers they owe royalties to but can't seem to find. The AWOL artists include producer Salaam Remi (Fugees), QDIII (Quincy Jones' son) and the band Bigod20. …

Margarine Eclipse, Stereolab's first album since the death of Mary Hansen last December, is due January 27. The follow-up to 2001's Sound Dust was recorded at the band's own Instant 0 studio in France with longtime producer Fulton Dingley. ... Yellowcard have been tapped to headline MTV2's Handpicked Tour, which kicks off December 4 in the band's hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, and wraps up December 20 in Los Angeles. Seattle rockers Acceptance are opening. ...

• OutKast
• John Mayer
• No Doubt
• Creed
• The Get Up Kids

Monday's sentencing hearing for Mystikal, who pleaded guilty to extortion and sexual battery in June, was adjourned again until December 1. The rapper faces up to 10 years for his involvement in an attack on his hairstylist in July 2002. ...

He can teach you how to stunt, but 50 Cent knows that Allen Iverson can teach him how to ball. The two Reebok signees teamed up for a party Tuesday night at New York's Capitale to introduce A.I.'s Answer 7 and 50's G6 sneakers. Earlier in the day, the duo played a game of one-on-one. ... The adaptation of the semi-autographical book Britney Spears co-wrote with her mother is moving forward at ABC Family. Though no director is attached and the lead roles remain to be cast, the TV film version of "A Mother's Gift" — called "Holly" in its development stage — has a start date of January 7 in Toronto, according to a rep for the channel. Shooting will take place for four weeks for the two-hour movie of the week, which focuses on a singer from a small town in Texas who gets a music scholarship to a classical academy and moves across the country to begin a new life. Producers are looking for an actress who is able to sing and "move" well for the role of Holly Lovell, who is based loosely on Spears. The pop princess is not expected to appear in the movie, but both she and her mother are executive producers for the project. ...

Leaving her "Glitter"-paved trail far behind her, Mariah Carey will soon take on a new acting role. This time she'll star in a role originated by Marilyn Monroe for a stage production of "Sleeping Beauty" in London, according to Variety. The play is actually best known by its 1957 movie adaptation, "The Prince and the Showgirl," which starred Laurence Olivier and Hollywood's most famous blonde bombshell. ... Ever-ebullient Dirty South rapper Bone Crusher has moved the release of his next album, Fight Music, to January 27. The follow-up to this year's Attenchun! was originally slated for release in December. Its tentative first single, "Bachelor Party," was produced by DJ Smurf. ...

A video of late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton playing with his former band Trauma has been unearthed and is available for viewing at www.simulstream.com/cliff/. The 19-minute recording was made in 1982 a mere 24 hours before Metallica founder Lars Ulrich discovered him. ... Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken will perform at the 77th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which airs live from New York on November 27. Hilary Duff, Aaron Carter and Mya are also scheduled to sing atop floats. ...

A second Elliott Smith tribute concert in the Los Angeles area will take place at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival on Sunday at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Smith was scheduled to perform at the event, but in his place Lou Barlow will cover his songs, backed by Smith's band and featuring special guests, such as Minders frontman Martyn Leaper. ... A Perfect Circle have added five dates to their North American tour. The first is December 6 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Also added are shows in South Bend, Indiana (December 8), Grand Rapids, Michigan (December 9), Springfield, Missouri (December 11), and Lincoln, Nebraska (December 12). ...

Jason Mraz recorded a recent Milwaukee concert for a live CD and DVD due in early spring. Blues Traveler frontman John Popper and members of the Ohio Players joined the singer/songwriter during the show. ... Australia's Big Day Out touring festival is continuing to grow into a bigger day than first expected. Kings of Leon, the Darkness, Muse, Felix Da Housecat, Thursday, Afrika Bambaataa, Poison the Well, Sleepy Jackson, Audio Bullys and Lost Prophets have been added to an already huge roster of more than two dozen bands. The festival begins its trek through Australia and New Zealand January 16 in Auckland. ...

Mos Def has been tapped to star in "Something the Lord Made," an upcoming HBO film currently in production. The movie focuses on heart-surgery pioneers Alfred Blalock, a white surgeon played by Alan Rickman ("Harry Potter"), and Vivien Thomas, a black lab technician. ...The Color Red, a Riverside, California, band that released two records, including last year's Clear, have broken up. No reason was given for the split, and only drummer Preston Nash has announced future plans — he will continue working with his side project, Nash. ...

Outkast have discovered another benefit of recording separately. The duo's pairing of solo albums, Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below, which has shipped more than 1.5 million copies, has been certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, which considers each unit in a multidisc set when calculating figures. ... Also in October, the RIAA certified Faith Hill's Faith as six-times platinum, Pink's Missundaztood and Hank Williams Jr.'s Greatest Hits as five-times platinum, Jennifer Lopez's J. Lo as four-times platinum and Evanescence's Fallen as triple platinum. Reaching the double-platinum mark were 3 Doors Down's Away From the Sun and the "Chicago" soundtrack, while Dave Matthews' Some Devil, Hilary Duff's Metamorphosis, John Mayer's Heavier Things, Nickelback's The Long Road and Mary J. Blige's Love & Life were certified platinum. ...

The self-destructive members of S.T.U.N. have expanded their reign of chaos. The bandmembers, who regularly get so worked up in concert they do themselves bodily harm, sent a drum tech to the hospital on November 3 following a show mishap in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The accident occurred when singer Christiane J. swung the mic stand as the tech, Robby Kallenberger, ran onstage to untangle the mic cord. Kallenberger was nailed in the head and required eight stitches. ... Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds has created a new song, "It's Still Okay to Dream," for a Save the Children benefit album of the same name that comes out November 19. Other artists who donated tracks include Sarah McLachlan, Sting, Eric Clapton and Barbra Streisand. ...

11.04.2003

Snippets of songs from Britney Spears' forthcoming In the Zone are now available on Britney.com. Besides the album's first single, "Me Against the Music," featuring Madonna, fans can also hear portions of four other songs, including her next single, "(I Got That) Boom Boom," the more atmospheric "Breathe on Me," the R. Kelly-penned "Outrageous," and "Toxic." Although P. Diddy's track for Britney, "The Answer," won't be making the U.S. version of the LP, it's been designated as a bonus track for the U.K. release. A clip of that song is available on Britney fan site WorldofBritney.com. ...

The G-Unit shoe being designed by 50 Cent and Reebok's RBK line has an in-store release date of November 11. The red-white-and-blue sneakers are being launched in conjunction with the latest shoe from Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson, the Answer 7. ... Add Beanie Sigel to the ever-growing list of hip-hop artists coming out with a line of sneakers. Beans is bringing Pro-Keds back from the dead with his new State Property footwear, scheduled to hit stores in February. ...

Like getting hurt from running with scissors, this kind of disaster was bound to happen. A fan dressed up in a giant panda-bear costume passed out Friday during a Flaming Lips show in England, forcing the band to halt its show. Fans dressing up like oversized stuffed animals and dancing in the wings of the stage has been a Lips staple since they began promoting their latest album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. ... The White Stripes have announced that they'll perform a New Year's Eve show at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Jack and Meg recruited one of their favorite bands, the Flaming Lips, to open up the show. Tickets went on sale Tuesday (November 4). ...

Bob Guiney, better known as the man in demand from this season's "The Bachelor" TV show, has shot a video for "Girlfriend," the first single from his album, 3 Sides, due in November on Wind-Up Records. Director Nigel Dick (Britney Spears, Guns N' Roses) shot the video Monday and Tuesday in Los Angeles. ... Following the suicide of a teenager in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the FYE record store there temporarily pulled all copies of Insane Clown Posse albums. John Sullivan, vice president of Trans World Entertainment, FYE's parent company, said it was done out of respect for the teen's family. A school administrator for the teenager speculated that his suicide on October 13 was linked to the music and fandom of the Clowns. A spokesperson for the record chain told the local newspaper that the ICP albums would return to the shelves once the issue was sorted out. ...

A portion of the proceeds from the Thursday, Thrice, and Coheed and Cambria show Monday at San Diego's SOMA was donated to the San Diego Fire Relief Fund, a fund started by the NFL's San Diego Chargers to help the area's community recover from the devastating wildfires that burned down hundreds of homes. Island Records has matched the amount made by their bands, Thrice and Thursday. ... Jane's Addiction's first go at pulling a flashgig, an impromptu performance or art happening modeled after the flashmob phenomenon, proved a success. After their show in London Friday, fans were alerted to meet in front of Brixton Academy, where frontman Perry Farrell, wearing a jester's hat, led the crowd through a group sing-along of hits. ...

• Mystikal
• 50 Cent
• Britney Spears
• Elliott Smith
• Jason Mraz

The sentencing hearing for Mystikal, who pleaded guilty to extortion and sexual battery in June, has been adjourned until November 3. The rapper faces up to 10 years for his involvement in an attack on his hairstylist in July 2002. ...

3 Doors Down, Jason Mraz, Santana, John Popper, and DMC are getting in the zone. As part of a new ABC Sports feature, "Monday Night at the Mic," the musicians are competing with NFL players on their home turf in a round of guitar and MC battles. The competitions begin at halftime of the Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears Monday night game — with Popper and Mraz taking on Detroit Lions QB Joey Harrington and San Diego Chargers DE Marcellus Wiley — and will continue at select halftimes this season. ...

Courtney Love's not ready to be America's Sweetheart quite yet. She's pushed back the release of her upcoming solo album to February 10. Love collaborated with rock-songwriting-partner-du-jour Linda Perry for much of the album, along with Matchbox Twenty producer Matt Serletic, Limp Bizkit producer Josh Abraham and her former manager/boyfriend James Barber. ... Garbage drummer and producer Butch Vig's Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin, where parts of Nirvana's seminal Nevermind album were recorded, was demolished last week when a 10-ton truck crashed into it. No one was inside at the time. ... P.O.D. have set the track list for November 4's Payable on Death: "Wildfire," "Will You," "Change the World," "Execute the Sounds," "Find My Way," "Revolution," "The Reasons," "Freedom Fighters," "Waiting on Today," "I and Identify," "Asthma" and "Eternal." "I can't wait for everyone to hear the new record and come out to the shows," singer Sonny Sandoval said on the band's Web site. "I know the fellas and I are looking forward to hitting the road again and playing the new stuff." ... Alicia Keys, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Ray Charles and former Pink Floyd mainman Roger Waters will judge the Sir Charles Blues Lab Songwriting Contest for aspiring musicians 13-19 years old. The five winners will get to record in Los Angeles with Charles producing. ... On a far smaller scale than the annual Warped Tour, the Vans Off the Wall Club Tour, featuring Sick of It All, Avenged Sevenfold, Suicide Machines, T.S.O.L., and Death by Stereo, is set to launch October 8 in Pomona, California. The two-month trek concludes December 5 in San Diego. ... Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable has left the band. He has been temporarily replaced by ex-Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman, who will tour with the band through at least the end of the year. The group's latest record, You Gotta Go There to Come Back, came out September 9. ...

Mike Watt will be testing out material from his next album when he hits the road opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Flaming Lips next month. Watt will be on board from October 8 in Las Vegas through October 27 in Calgary, Alberta. ... Harmonizing Scottish pop darlings Belle & Sebastian are coming to the U.S. to support their sixth album, Dear Catastrophe Waitress, due October 7. The three-week trek begins October 26 in Atlanta and winds down November 14 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Then it's back to the U.K. through mid-December. ...

Orchestral composer Michael Kamen is planning to reunite with Metallica for another album. The two seemingly disparate entities collaborated on 1999's S&M, which paired the metal gods with the San Francisco Symphony. In the Hollywood Reporter interview in which he revealed those plans, Kamen also confessed to be living with multiple sclerosis for the past six years, though he said it isn't slowing him down. ... The most bizarre bunch in pop music, the Polyphonic Spree, who are enjoying mucho exposure from the iPod/Volkswagen TV spots, will release their Light and Day EP on September 30. The limited-edition record features Stereolab's remix of their The Beginning Stages Of ... album track "Soldier Girl." ...

Recently split from Rancid's Tim Armstrong, Distillers frontwoman Brody Armstrong is now using her former last name, Dalle. With a new album, Coral Fang, due October 14, the Distillers will hit the road with Queens of the Stone Age September 28 for a month-long North American trek. ...

9.24.2003

Outkast's Andre 3000 is in talks to play Jimi Hendrix in a biopic directed by Allen and Albert Hughes ("Menace II Society," "American Pimp"). But first the rapper will star in an HBO movie coinciding with his group's just-released Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below, and then a film with Morgan J. Freeman ("Hurricane Streets") called "Love Hater." ...

Linkin Park will have to tone down their act when they play Malaysia on October 15. The government has granted the band permission to play a 50,000-seat stadium in Kuala Lumpur on the condition they don't jump around onstage, swear or wear shorts, according to wire-service reports. Officials in the conservative Islamic nation regularly prevent Western rock acts from playing there. ... Korn's sixth album, Take a Look in the Mirror, the first LP fully produced by the band, will drop November 18. In the meantime, fans can catch the first single, "Right Now," rocking radio early next month. ...

Beyoncé Knowles will play herself in an episode of the UPN sitcom "All of Us," airing October 7. ... Next year, the Grammy Awards will return to Los Angeles. The ceremony will take place February 8 at the Staples Center. The show was scheduled a few weeks earlier than usual so it wouldn't bump up against the Oscars and other awards programs. ...

Soulfly bassist Marcello D. Rapp, drummer Roy Mayorga and guitarist Mike Doling have left the band, the group's label confirmed. No reason was given. They have been temporarily replaced by bassist Bobby Burns (ex-Primer 55), guitarist Marc Rizzo (ex-Ill Nino) and drummer Joe Nunez. "This is no big deal," frontman Max Cavalera said in a statement. "Soulfly is always evolving. I'm always going to introduce new musicians to the fans. In fact, there has never been the same band on any consecutive Soulfly record." ... Following up performances in New York and San Juan Capistrano, California, Gina Gershon and current backup band Girls Against Boys will take their act to the House of Blues Sunset in West Hollywood on September 25 to promote the "Prey for Rock & Roll" soundtrack, due October 7. Seven additional dates will follow, and the trek wraps in Philadelphia on October 15. ...

Latin rock and electronic band Kinky have set a November 18 release date for their second album, Atlas. Cake singer John McCrea, who met the band on the recent Unlimited Sunshine Tour, is featured on the first single, "The Headphonist," while Itaal Shur, who won a Grammy for co-writing Santana's "Smooth," co-wrote another tune on the album, "Not Afraid." ... After a dynamic performance for 14,000 fans in Lima, Peru, Alanis Morissette ended the show by shouting, "Thank you, Brazil!" In a press conference in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Morissette said she had been drinking before making the gaffe. "I don't remember saying that," she said at the conference, according to the BBC. "I think I was drunk." ...

Hardcore metal band Life of Agony will release a double CD of their January reunion shows, River Runs Again: Live 2003, on October 14. And the reunion looks like it won't be short lived: The band has booked shows in Long Island, New York, for December 11 and 12 and will start working on a new studio album before the end of the year, which is tentatively scheduled for release in 2004. ... AC/DC's 1991 Monsters of Rock festival performance at Donington Castle in the U.K. is captured on the DVD "AC/DC Live at Donington," due November 11. In addition to the concert, the disc features remastered sound, band commentary and the ability to focus on just one member throughout an entire song. ...

The Sunday accident that caused David Lee Roth to get 21 stitches in his face and forced the cancellation of a handful of shows turned out not to be a run-of-the-mill concert misstep. No, it was "a very fast, complicated 15th-century samurai move" gone wrong that put the former Van Halen singer out of commission, according to his publicist. ... E should hope for straight A's when his band, the Eels, embarks on its Fall Tour of College Duty on October 16 in Lawrence, Kansas. The traipse through mostly college towns winds down November 8 in Brooklyn, New York. ...

• Mystikal
• Courtney Love
• P.O.D.
• Alicia Keys
• 3 Doors Down

Mystikal
Photo: Jive Records

It's not against the law to say "We gon' pass a good time, yeah, cher," or "You gotta suck da head on dem der crawfish," the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined last week.

And no one more than Louisiana rapper Mystikal is breathing a sigh of relief.

Last year, New Orleans entrepreneur Steve Winn sued Mystikal for copyright infringement, claiming that the rapper used the exact phrases from Winn's keychain/toy Cajun in Your Pocket on the 2000 hit "Shake Ya Ass" (see "Mystikal Sued For Advocating The Sucking Of Crawfish Heads").

Even though Winn's company, Emanation, Inc., had the sayings from Cajun in Your Pocket copyrighted in December of 2000, the court ruled that they could not be protected under U.S. copyright laws.

"We felt from the beginning [Mystikal] would be vindicated and he was," Mystikal's lawyer, Roy Maughan, Jr. said. "The experts in the origins of Cajun colloquialisms retained on the case determined that the phrases were not original to Emanation and could be traced to long before the copyright. The phrases were not created by Steve Winn and he therefore could not enforce the copyright against Mystikal."

• Mystikal

Mystikal
Photo: MTV News

Mystikal pleaded guilty to sexual battery of the infirmed and no contest to extortion Thursday in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, district courtroom, dodging a rape charge that carried a potential life sentence.

The rapper was charged with aggravated rape in July for allegedly forcing his hairstylist to have sex with him and two bodyguards on the condition that he wouldn't turn her over to police for stealing his checks (see "Mystical Charged With Rape, Extortion").

As part of the plea bargain, Mystikal (real name Michael Tyler) will serve five years probation for the extortion charge, and may receive up to 10 years in jail for the battery charge, according to prosecutor Sue Bernie. He'll be formally sentenced on both charges September 25.

"We entered a true best-interest plea," Mystikal's attorney J. David Bourland said of the extortion plea, "saying we don't agree that he's guilty of anything in that regard. ... We will accept that [plea] on the basis that probation is guaranteed for that particular matter."

As opposed to sexual battery, which carries a minimum two-year jail sentence, the lesser charge of sexual battery of the infirmed is applied when the victim is incapable of resisting by reason of a stupor, or abnormal condition of mind, from any cause, and the offender should have known of the victim's incapacity.

"One way of committing the crime of sexual battery of the infirmed is if it's committed against somebody who is of advanced age or physical infirmity, and that's what most people think," Bernie said. "But there are other ways of committing it."

A sexual battery of the infirmed charge comes with a possibility of probation.

"If I were to go to trial on this matter, that is not the charge I would have selected," Bernie said, "because I believe they were guilty of rape. [We took the plea] so that there would be no trial. So that the victim doesn't have to go through the additional trauma of a trial."

Mystikal, 37-year-old Leland "Poke" Ellis and 35-year-old Vercy "V" Carter threatened to tell authorities that the woman, 40, was cashing the rapper's checks without his approval unless she would have sex with them. After arresting Mystikal and searching his home, police found a videotape of the act (see "Mystikal Videotaped Alleged Rape, Police Say").

Extortion charges against Ellis and Carter were dropped when they pleaded guilty to sexual battery. They are scheduled to be sentenced September 25 as well.

This story was updated at 2:45 pm ET.

• Mystikal

Mystikal
Photo: Rosa Cole for MTV.com

Mystikal is close to settling with the hairstylist who accused him of raping her in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in July.

The rapper's lawyer, J. David Bourland, would not go into detail on Thursday (January 23), but he said the matter is being resolved in a way that satisfies both parties.

"We're not making any admission of guilt," Bourland said. "Sometimes you just have to swallow a bitter pill in order to move on with your life and your career."

MTV News was unable to reach lawyers for the 40-year-old woman, whose name was not released.

Mystikal, whose real name is Michael Tyler, was arrested on July 18 after his hairstylist told police he had forced her to have sex with him, allegedly threatening to turn her in for cashing unauthorized checks from his bank account if she refused (see "Mystikal Charged With Rape, Extortion").

During a search of the rapper's home, authorities confiscated a video of the alleged sexual assaults, which also involved two other men, Leland Ellis and Vercy Carter (see "Mystikal Videotaped Alleged Rape, Police Say"). According to the arrest warrant, the tape shows all three men having sex with the woman.

Detectives were originally presented an affidavit signed by the victim stating that the intercourse was consensual, though the woman later said she was tricked into signing it and still wished to pursue the case.

Mystikal was also arrested for extortion, though he has not yet been indicted on either charge.

Bourland said the court has delayed formally pressing charges in order to give the two parties time to settle the issue, which he said would happen in "the very near future."

Mystikal was released on $250,000 bond and was later granted permission to leave the court's jurisdiction to record his next album. If convicted on the rape charge, he would face a mandatory life sentence. Extortion carries a prison term of one to 15 years.

Tarantula, the rapper's 2001 album, is nominated for the Best Rap Album Grammy, while the single "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)" will compete for Best Male Rap Solo Performance (see "Eminem, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, Norah Jones Nab Most Grammy Noms").

• Mystikal

The Neptunes
Photo: Virgin

The Recording Academy is notorious for at least one giant Grammy snub every year. When nominations were announced Tuesday, all eyes were on the omission of the Neptunes from the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category(Click here for the list of nominees and for photos of this year's Grammy nominees and performers.)

As the masterminds behind Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre," Busta Rhymes and P. Diddy's "Pass the Courvoisier Part II," Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)" — all Grammy-nominated — and hits for Jay-Z, Britney Spears, N.O.R.E., Snoop Dogg, Beenie Man, Beyoncé Knowles, the Clipse and their own group, N.E.R.D., the Neptunes would seem guaranteed to get a Producer of the Year nomination. Nope.

The snub, however, wasn't the fault of the Recording Academy, but rather the many record labels that released Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo-produced tracks during the year.

"Nobody thought to put us on the ballot," Williams said angrily. "It's usually CEOs that do it. And for whatever reason, none of them motherf---ers, as much money as we made for all those guys this year, none of them put us on the ballot to be voted for. I'm pretty sure we would have gotten some votes."

A spokesperson for the Recording Academy confirmed on Thursday that nobody had entered the Neptunes in the Producer of the Year category.

According to the official voting rules, record labels and academy members are responsible for entering albums, songs, videos and artists that are eligible to compete for Grammys. Academy voters then vote on the top four, five or six entries to become nominees, except in craft categories, including Producer of the Year, which are determined by special committees.

This year's committee did not have the choice to nominate the Neptunes because they were not entered. Instead, it nominated Dr. Dre, Rick Rubin and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, all big-name producers who were hardly as productive in 2002 as in years past, along with Arif Mardin, a veteran whose sole contribution to the year was Norah Jones' debut, and Nellee Hooper, whose biggest hit in 2002, it turns out, was co-written by the Neptunes — No Doubt's "Hella Good."

"[This is] the second year. Can you imagine that?" Williams said. "All the work we've done?"

Just why no one entered the Neptunes remains a mystery. A few industry insiders pointed to Virgin Records as the obvious label to enter them, since they released N.E.R.D.'s In Search Of ... The finger could also be pointed at Williams and Hugo, who could have registered to become academy members and entered themselves.

Nobody at the labels would go on record on the topic. A spokesperson for Jive, the label behind Timberlake's and Mystikal's hits, said, "We love the Neptunes and support them in everything they do."

Though upset about the situation, Williams said he isn't bitter at the nominees in the category. "I'm sure they're all worthy," he said. "There's a lot of great producers."

The Neptunes could still share a part of several Grammys, including the prestigious Album of the Year, should Nellyville win.

For more Grammy news, check out the MTV News Grammy Archive.

• The Neptunes
• N.E.R.D.
• Justin Timberlake
• Nelly
• Mystikal

Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, and Nelly announce 2003 Grammy nominations
Photo: MTV News

When nominations for the 45th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday morning, reactions ranged from sincere congratulations to "What were they thinking?" (Click here for the list of nominees.)

Few readers writing to MTVNews.com's You Tell Us forum had sour sentiments about demure Norah Jones, the jazz-influenced singer/pianist who's got a chance to sweep the four biggest categories — Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best New Artist (see "Eminem, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, Norah Jones Nab Most Grammy Noms"). Jones is also among the eight artists who garnered five nominations. (Click for photos of this year's Grammy nominees.)

"I'm sooo happy for [Norah Jones]," wrote 18-year-old Lexi, from Seattle. "I know many people haven't heard her music, but those who have know how great it is. Big ups to the critics for giving this girl the credit she deserves."

Jones' Come Away With Me faces stiff competition from The Rising, Bruce Springsteen's return to form, and, to a lesser extent, The Eminem Show. Although the mainstream seems to have embraced the volatile rapper, with hardly a protest over his third major-label album or his fictionalized biopic "8 Mile," the Grammys might not be ready to bestow such a prestigious honor to a man who had a hit with a song that talks about killing the mother of his child and stuffing her in a trunk.

Then again, Eminem already has five golden gramophones in his trophy case (though none in the big four categories), and the Recording Academy did grant an Album of the Year Grammy to Steely Dan in 2001, for Two Against Nature, which featured the song "Cousin Dupree," about incest. But old guards like Donald Fagen and Walter Becker have always had Grammy odds in their favor, which is why Springsteen stands such a good shot. And even if The Eminem Show doesn't win for Album of the Year and "Without Me" doesn't lay claim to Record of the Year, Eminem is likely to make good on at least one of his other three nominations.

While Jones stands as the artist with the smallest presence at radio compared with fellow new-artist nominees R&B songbird Ashanti, singer/songwriter Michelle Branch, sensitive guy John Mayer and pop-rocker Avril Lavigne, most of you think the latter stands as her fiercest competition.

"I think Avril Lavigne definitely deserves Best New Artist," wrote 14-year-old Ashley of Thief River Falls, Minnesota. "She's worked so hard and accomplished so much this year."

"There is no doubt that Avril Lavigne should win Best New Artist," echoed 14-year-old Danielle, from Somerset, New Jersey. "She writes her own music, had three top 40 songs in 2002, sold over 4 million copies of her debut, Let Go, and hates Britney Spears. What more could you want in a Best New Artist?"

While statistics may garner gold records, they don't necessarily translate to a Grammy. Awards are (theoretically) doled out to those who demonstrate genuine artistry in their work. And that's Avril Lavigne, isn't it?

"Avril has no business being nominated for as much as she was," disagreed 19-year-old Andrea. "As far as music and creativity go, Britney is more creative — and you know that's a stretch, especially since Britney is nothing but manufactured bubble gum. Avril may have had something going with her and her ties but let's face it, MTV, that's all she has had."

After yesterday's announcement of the nominations, Lavigne has a lot more attached to her, namely a monumental mistake when she mispronounced David Bowie's last name. When reading the list of artists up for the Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, she mispronounced Bowie as "bow-wie" (rhymes with oh, wowee!). An unnerving hush immediately enveloped Madison Square Garden.

"Am I the only person who realizes what a poser Avril Lavigne is?" queried 22-year-old Kim, from Denver. "First of all, she botched the pronunciation of David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of our time. ... Does Avril know anything about music? ... My point is, although everyone seems to be touting Avril Lavigne as some new prodigy, the fact is that she is not a true musician or artist and is just as fake and untalented as Britney Spears."

And here we thought Avril was the anti-Britney.

While Mayer's the only guy among the gals in the Best New Artist pack, his fans warn not to count him out just because he's outnumbered.

"John Mayer deserves to win the Grammy for Best New Artist," declared 18-year-old Tiffany Johnson, from Austin, Texas. "He is just on a different level from the rest of the nominees. The guy is brilliant."

Nelly, who's up for Album of the Year, Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Album honors, among others, is feeling the brunt of haters. For the nearly 5 million copies of Nellyville sold, the St. Louis rapper seems to have just as many, if not more, detractors.

"I want to know what the Grammy folks see in Nelly," demanded 19-year-old Jason Curtis of Seattle. "Everyone is hypnotized by his so-called 'skills,' which are by no means good. As far as I'm concerned, Nelly doesn't deserve a Grammy."

It wasn't all trash talk directed at the St. Louis rapper, however. Many have their fingers crossed that the Band-Aid bearing MC will leave with even more gold than he came in with.

"I'm really anticipating seeing Nelly take home the Grammy for best album," wrote 14-year-old Linzi, from Sandusky, Michigan. "I mean, his music is totally hot, and I'm pretty sure that I don't know anyone who isn't into Nelly."

Linzi, meet 21-year-old James, from New Haven, Connecticut.

"It is clear once again that the awards honor what is popular, not what is good," James began. "Nelly has sunk so far down in the talent pool that he's left rapping about sneakers and some sort of heat wave that has apparently swept Nellyville. Talk about meaningless music. Seriously, if it's that hot in 'herre,' then drink a glass of water. Don't make a freakin' song about it."

Fellow hip-hopper Petey Pablo, up for Best Rap Album with Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry, faced some harsh reactions, with fellow nominee Mystikal also catching some heat.

"I am very upset to see that Pete Pablo has been nominated for Best Rap Album," expressed 25-year-old Curtis, from Tallahassee, Florida. "Also, Mystikal's Tarantula album was very disappointing. How come someone like Trick Daddy or Cee-Lo never gets nominated? He is pure trash, and I understand why people like Jay-Z protest the Grammys. If we want to make it mainstream for all these old white people, let's nominate Will Smith. Even though his album sold probably 200 copies, he does not curse."

Such outrage over those who were nominated couldn't rival the furor over those who were left out: uber-producers the Neptunes and anyone from the neo-garage school, such as the Hives, the Vines, the Strokes or the White Stripes.

"How did Dr. Dre get nominated in the Producer of the Year category, while the Neptunes were ignored?" wondered Venni, 18, from Blacksburg, Virginia. "Dre didn't do anything in 2002. Every single song on the radio was produced by the Neptunes."

OK, Venni may be exaggerating a bit, though Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo are responsible for Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)," all of which are Grammy-nominated.

"I'm surprised the new 'the' bands didn't get major nods," typed an aghast CJ, 18, from Newmarket, New Hampshire. "I'm sad that the White Stripes were shafted, when overrated Avril Lavigne gets all the credit. Well, the Grammys are pretty lame either way."

If the nominations aroused such fervent feelings in these folks, they'd better be prepared for the shock of February 23. While some surprises can be expected with the nods, utter jaw-droppers like the over-the-hill Jethro Tull winning for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 1988 are unmatched.

Stay tuned and stay calm.

For a look back at previous big Grammy winners, red carpet photos and much more, visit our Grammy News Archive.

• Eminem
• Norah Jones
• Nelly
• Dixie Chicks
• Bruce Springsteen

Nelly
Photo: Universal

With eight artists grabbing five nominations each, this year's Grammy Awards looks to be one of the most competitive in the ceremony's 45 years. (Click here for the list of nominees and for photos of this year's Grammy nominees and performers.)

Three relative newcomers, Ashanti, Norah Jones and Avril Lavigne, join Sheryl Crow, Eminem, Nelly, Raphael Saadiq and Bruce Springsteen as the artists with the greatest chances of leaving New York's Madison Square Garden on February 23 with the most golden gramophones in their arms.

All eyes will be on Norah Jones, who stands to reign supreme on Grammy night with four of her five nominations arriving in the big four categories: Best New Artist; Album of the Year, for Come Away With Me; and Song of the Year (given to the songwriter Jesse Harris) and Record of the Year for "Don't Know Why." Jones and her full-length debut album also received nods in the categories Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, while the LP's producer, Arif Mardin, scored one in the Producer of the Year, Non-Classical category to give the Norah Jones camp a whopping eight nominations combined.

Eminem, Nelly, Springsteen and Lavigne received two nods apiece for the big awards. Em's "Without Me" is up for Record of the Year, along with Nelly's "Dilemma" (which features Kelly Rowland), Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" and Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles." The Eminem Show will vie for Album of the Year honors against Come Away With Me, the Dixie Chicks' Home, Nelly's Nellyville and Bruce Springsteen's The Rising.

Springsteen was also nominated in the Song of the Year category for "The Rising." The Boss' tune, which resonated with many after the events of September 11, 2001, will face off against another song inspired by the tragedy, Alan Jackson's "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)."

The Best New Artist category finds John Mayer the sole male amidst a quartet of ladies, Ashanti, Michelle Branch, Jones and Lavigne, whose single "Complicated" is also up for Song of the Year. (Last year, Alicia Keys walked off with the prestigious honor. Who do you think should win Grammy's equivalent to Rookie of the Year? Take our poll.)

"Chauvinists unite!" Mayer joked at Madison Square Garden, in a half-hearted attempt to strum up support for his cause. "I'm just going to go to sports bars and lobby.

"It's cool," he continued sincerely. "I look at the list and say, 'It makes sense to me.' "

While Ashanti is likely to have her fingers crossed for the big Best New Artist win, she'll be doubly excited when the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category is awarded. Besides receiving a nod for assisting Fat Joe with "What's Luv?" the songbird with the second-best-selling debut album of 2002 has increased her chances of winning with "Always on Time," her collaboration with Ja Rule. Ashanti likes both songs, but she looks to the phrase "blood is thicker than water" when deciding whom to root for.

"I don't necessarily have a preference, but it I had to choose, it would have to be my brother Ja," she said. "That's my family, Murder, Inc. Records."

Nominations for the 45th annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday (January 7) at a press conference held in Madison Square Garden. Among the artists on hand to read the roster of those hopeful for Grammy gold were Ashanti, country singer Kenny Chesney, '80s faceplate Cyndi Lauper, Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, Nelly and producer Jimmy Jam, who filled in for a previously scheduled but absent Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.

The artists each took the podium in turn to announce the contestants for two of the categories, which made for some interesting pronunciations. Ashanti (pronounced a-shan-tee) became the faux-fabulous sounding "A-shan-tay" whenever most on hand mentioned her name; and Lavigne, in announcing the nominees for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance botched David Bowie's name, pronouncing it 'Bow-wee" (as in the dog sound "bow-wow"). The flub is not likely to go unnoticed among Lavigne's critics, and it just might go down in pop-star infamy, the way Britney Spears' remark that suggested Pat Benatar sang "I Love Rock 'N Roll," a song Joan Jett made famous, did in a fall 2001 interview.

Four nominations fell on the Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, R&B singer Remy Shand and Chad Kroeger, who scored one with his band Nickelback, and three others for his song "Hero," penned for the soundtrack to "Spider-Man."

Besides two in the big four, Vanessa Carlton's other nomination came in the Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s). While most categories in the Composing/Arranging field are often overlooked in favor of more artist-specific ones, the 21-year-old pianist doesn't consider her third nod to be any less important. In fact, considering that she's the only nominee who's also an artist in that category, she said she's perhaps most proud of that honor because it shows her as the well-rounded artist she is.

"I am most excited for that nomination because it is recognizing the process, something other than the vocal and the song itself," she explained. "It kind of acknowledges how the puzzle fits together. I think [Be Not Nobody] is a beautiful record and I'm really proud to know that people recognized that. I was totally surprised, though. I really was."

India.Arie, Erykah Badu, Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Dr. Dre, Randy Newman, Arif Mardin and No Doubt also nabbed three nominations each.

Touting over 100 categories, the Grammys is the most comprehensive music awards show, but even with classifications such as Best Polka Album (for which Jimmy Sturr's Top of the World looks to be the odds-on favorite) and Best Remixed Record, Non-Classical, there just aren't enough designations for some folks.

"Actually, one they didn't mention was best haircut-changing-style every year,' a near-bald Timberlake kidded. "I'm hoping I get the Victrola for that."

Maybe next year, Justin. In the meantime, the 'NSYNC star must be content with just one nomination, for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, for the Clipse-featured "Like I Love You," the first single from his solo debut, Justified.

Super production duo the Neptunes were puzzlingly absent from the Producer of the Year category, which instead found Dr. Dre, Nellee Hooper, Arif Mardin, Rick Rubin, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis attempting to stake their claim to the title. After producing a number of Grammy-nominated tracks, including Timberlake's "Like I Love You," Nelly's "Hot in Herre" and Mystikal's "Bouncin' Back (Bumpin' Me Against the Wall)," it's a mystery why Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams didn't receive any love from the Recording Academy.

"For the second year in a row, can you imagine that?" Williams said of his Grammy dis. "All the work we've done? For whatever reason, nobody thought to put us on the ballot."

The 45th annual ceremony marks the Grammys' return to New York, after Los Angeles hosted the previous four events. The show will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Before the show, catch MTV's pre-show telecast "Backstage at the Grammys," airing at 7 p.m. ET.

MTV's parent company, Viacom, also owns CBS.

For more Grammy news, check out the MTV News Grammy Archive.

• Nelly
• Avril Lavigne
• Norah Jones
• Eminem
• Vanessa Carlton

Nelly, Kim, LL, Sean Paul, More On Source Awards Red Carpet

• Nelly
• Lil' Kim
• LL Cool J
• Sean Paul
• Clipse

• Mystikal

Mystikal

• Mystikal