Jay Sean
Photo: MTV News

Just before he kicked off a star-studded roster of performers at the Justin Timberlake & Friends Concert in Las Vegas last weekend, MTV News caught up with Jay Sean, who was beaming with pride. After all, not only is Sean basking in the success of his "Down" single, on Saturday night, he would share the stage with some of the biggest names in music: Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg, Timbaland, Ciara and Justin Timberlake.

"I was like, 'What are you talking about? Me? I'm brand new to America,' " Sean said when asked about the lineup. "You could choose anybody and I'm from England, so this is incredible. To be up there with such amazing, Grammy Award-winning artists is an honor."

Indeed, for Sean, his success story continues to play out in fairy-tale fashion. In a matter of months he has accomplished what many in music seldom do: his single and video for "Down," featuring labelmate Lil Wayne, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart recently and its popularity continues to spread.

Sean also divulged that his official second single will be a song called "Do You Remember" and features bars from Jamaican rapper Sean Paul and crunk king Lil Jon. The feature of Sean Paul on the track is largely due to their meeting last month on the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet.

"On the red carpet, doing an interview," he recalled. "Sean Paul is over there and he goes, 'Yo! Yeah man, Jay Sean!' And I said, 'Hi Sean ... Paul.' This was the first time I'd ever met him. And he just said, 'Me and you need to work together.' Two days later I called him and sent him the track, and sent it back to me the same day — and he was in Jamaica."

Sean plans to shoot the video for "Do You Remember" in two weeks, and he revealed a bit of the theme to come.

"Again, this is a fun track. It's an uplifting song and I want the video to match that, so expect a universal theme."

Jay Sean's U.S. debut album, All or Nothing, is set to drop on November 24.

• Justin Timberlake & Friends Perform In Las Vegas, NV

• Jay Sean
• Sean Paul
• Lil Jon

Jay-Z performs at the Power 106 Powerhouse Concert in Anaheim on Saturday
Photo: Jared Milgrim/FilmMagic

ANAHEIM, California — It seemed like a perfect opportunity for the lines to be drawn. After all, the lineup for the evening would play perfectly on a variety of rivalries in the world of urban music: rookie vs. veteran, electro-hop vs. sample-driven and even baggy vs. skinny trouser selection.

But instead, the artists that took the stage Saturday night at Los Angeles radio station Power 106 FM's annual Powerhouse concert served as a sampling of the cultural convergence that has trended so heavily over the metropolis' airwaves as of late. In true Powerhouse form, a Latino-dominated crowd filtered in from around Southern California to Anaheim's Honda Center and got their first glimpse at a handful of new artists that have been in that heavy rotation.

	Jay-Z & BEP Play Powerhouse

While the Powerhouses of previous years have boasted bills brimming with rap's heavy hitters (Eminem, Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, Nelly, the Game), this year saw a host of skinny-jeans-wearing up-and-comers, some ringtone/radio-ready favorites, a special surprise performance and, of course, Jay-Z.

While Hova, a little over a month away from the release of his highly anticipated The Blueprint 3, was certainly the man most came to see, many of opening acts set out to make their first performance in front of thousands memorable — and to stake a claim for their own brand of hip-hop.

Brief, electro-fused, neon-clad performances by jerk movement leaders New Boyz, the Bay area's Ya Boy, Asian-American hip-hop collective Far East Movement and Cleveland's Kid Cudi ran like the radio station sponsor's drive-time playlist and were well-received by the throngs of young concertgoers.

"Embrace it, don't try and erase it," LMFAO's Redfoo said immediately following a performance of their L.A.-tagged rendition of "I'm in Miami," in reference to Jay Z's anti-Auto-Tune anthem. "I think he should go along with it. Evolve with the sound. It would be interesting to see someone of his caliber embrace what we're doing."

With hit after hit, Sean Paul, Flo Rida and Pitbull (who had the advantage of rambunctious hypeman Lil Jon) ripped through sets that read like an iTunes singles chart, before a surprise performance from the Black Eyed Peas. A night after their tour stop at the neighboring Orange County Fair, the foursome's two-song set ("Boom Boom Pow" and "I Got a Feeling") came complete with a full stage design with giant inflatable robots and tickertape.

The irony in the air was noticeably thick as Jay-Z began his outing with a no-holds-barred rendition of "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" to set the mood for his performance. He was armed with his requisite JumboTron and full backing band (whose usual "Reservoir Dog"-inspired getups were noticeably replaced by black fatigues emblazoned with the same three horizontal red stripes that will adorn his coming album cover).

Hov nimbly maneuvered through his well-worn catalog of classic material. From the old ("Can I Get A ...") to the brand new ("Run This Town"), in his vintage style, Jay served hit after hit, rarely pranced around the stage and often allowing the thousands on hand to deliver his punch lines. In stark contrast to the night's earlier performances, Jay almost seemed amused at how easy it was to invite the intro to one of his many memorable ditties and let the nostalgia seduce concertgoers into doing his work for him.

"How many of you all are waiting on that Blueprint 3?" Jay asked before getting a bellowing response from the packed house. After a prolonged pause, Jay delved into the a cappella freestyle with an in-passing mention of the Game that he's been giving his audiences at several recent shows. Since this performance was so near the Compton MC's hometown, there had been Internet speculation before the show that Jay would address Game's recent rebuttals.

Instead, while rumors of a possible "Summer Jamming" (the mention did incite some boos, however) and various "secret" guest appearances fizzled, Jay reeled in the crowd by picking dozens of random audience members and individually thanking them for their support during his long and illustrious career.

No matter if you were draped in a baggy jersey or purple skinny jeans, it was hard not appreciate not only the well-crafted performance of a hip-hop icon, but also the unanticipated cohesiveness of the night as a whole.

• Jay-Z And Black Eyed Peas Play Powerhouse In California

• Jay-Z
• Sean Paul
• Lmfao

Sean Paul
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — It's hard to expect a dark album from a guy who made a song called "Gimme the Light." But last time Sean Paul spoke with MTV News in 2007, the dancehall star said his next project would deal with some serious topics, particularly the violence in his native Jamaica.

Well, his new album will still be "meaningful," he said, but SP has been able to relax a bit more as he finished up Imperial Blaze.

The lead single "So Fine" has been buzzing on radio, and just last week Sean Paul was in Brooklyn, New York, filming a video for the next single, "Press It Up."

He explained the latter track is "rent-a-tile" music.

" 'Rent-a-tile' means when you go to a dance hall, some people take the middle of the dance floor and do their thing," he explained to us on the clip's set. "This is still dancing, but it's more like you take your one tile in the ground [on the dance floor] and you and your lady are in that space. It's kind of sensual. It's dirty dancing without having to move the feet too much — it's all in the waist. This is how me, as a Caribbean person, grew up. It's how you get to know a lady up close."

The clip was directed by longtime Sean Paul choreographer Tanisha Scott, who is helming her first video.

Although "So Fine" and "Press On" are the summertime burners SP fans are accustomed to, with Imperial Blaze, due August 18, the international star is progressing from his past work.

In addition to the heavier fare, Sean Paul has turned to production — he manned the boards for a track on his new album.

"I don't want to do something unproductive with my time, so I decided to do something musical. So it felt good to say, 'Yeah, I'm producing.' It gave me a fresh vibe — inspiring in a different way."

• Sean Paul

Kelly Clarkson at Zootopia in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Saturday
Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — At the Izod Center on Saturday (May 16), fans gathered for a night filled with pop music from Kelly Clarkson, Ciara, Jesse McCartney and the Black Eyed Peas, rock from the All American Rejects and hip-hop from Soulja Boy Tell'Em.

Hometown boy Jesse McCartney got the party started with "Leavin'," but it was when he took off his sunglasses and sang "Beautiful Soul" that the sing-along really began. Jesse slowed it down for "It's Over," which he called his favorite song off his album depature. But it was clear the fan fave was "How Do You Sleep?"

Soulja Boy Tell'Em played a very short set, which included "Crank That" followed by "Turn My Swag On." Then he requested all cell phones out as he took off his shirt to perform "Kiss Me Thru the Phone."

"Gossip Girl" star Taylor Momsen surprised the crowd, coming out to introduce the All American Rejects — while also plugging her band, the Pretty Reckless. AAR rocked the show with "Dirty Little Secret." Lead singer Tyson Ritter wanted to hear everyone scream for "Swing, Swing," and he showed some love for kids in the cheap seats before "Move Along." Then he broke into a spoken-word version of "Gives You Hell" before the band kicked in. After doing their new single, "The Wind Blows," Tyson did his best Nixon impression and walked out.

Ciara brought some girl power with ironically titled "Like a Boy." Then she showed everyone how limber she is by doing splits as she went into "Goodies." Unfortunately, her "Love Sex Magic" collaboration was left Justin Timberlake-less, but the sexy moves she performed along with her dancers (which included a Lady Gaga lookalike) more than made up for it.

Keeping the girl power alive, Kelly Clarkson's killer voice rocked the room with "Since U Been Gone." The set included lots of new songs off her new album, All I Ever Wanted, peppered with older hits, like "Miss Independent." Before "I Do Not Hook Up," Kelly listed her exceptions to that rule: Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. "Walk Away," "Already Gone" and "If I Can't Have You" also were fan favorites leading up to her finale "My Life Would Suck Without You."

Sean Paul graced the stage to introduce Flo Rida, who then made everyone dance to "In the Ayer." Flo asked the crowd to sing along for "Jump." He brought some female fans onstage for "the record that made him international," "Low," and dedicated "Right Round" to all the single ladies.

The Black Eyed Peas were the night's final act. Their set was filled with hits like "Don't Phunk With My Heart" and "Let's Get It Started." Their theme of the night was all about finding the party people in the house, and "Pump It" helped in the search. After determining the "Humps" were controlling the room, they sang that song. Calling their L.A. crowd at last week's Wango Tango "wiggity wiggity wack," the Peas dedicated "Where Is the Love?" to the room, just before bringing the "Boom Boom Pow.

• Kelly Clarkson, Ciara And More Go Wild At Zootopia

• Kelly Clarkson
• Black Eyed Peas
• Flo Rida
• Ciara
• Soulja Boy Tell'em

Sean Paul
Photo: Vince Bucci/ Getty Images

Sean Paul scored a hit single with "Gimme the Light" in 2002, but now he's looking to the darkness for inspiration with his next solo project, which he hopes to release this summer.

The dancehall star is a third of the way into his yet-titled album, the follow-up to 2005's platinum The Trinity. He says he's going to address heavier topics on the LP this time around, particularly the problems he sees confronting children in his Jamaica homeland.

"The content is just a little different than what people expect from me," Sean Paul told MTV News last week. "[On] one or two of the songs ... it's not about partying, it's not about ladies; it's about the kids with the guns in the streets. It's more reality. [On] 'Sufferer,' I'm talking about the younger generation that has no other option for success than to find a gun somewhere. I try to appeal to them: 'I know you a sufferer, but it doesn't mean that you can't or shouldn't expect any better.' It's a lot different than from what I usually say, like, 'Get busy, shake that thing.'

"Sometimes when I write something that's more personal to me," he continued, "it's a weird situation."

Since Sean Paul began recording in September, two people close to him have passed: One was a founding member of his Dutty Rock crew and one was a younger music aficionado who was killed in November, the night after he and Sean Paul attended a party together.

"The next day he goes back to his community and gets shot to death," Sean Paul explained.

"It's upsetting to see these kids' lives ... [getting] wasted," he continued. "I saw potential in these two kids and many others. It really hit home. And I'm thinking of a voice, I need to say something to people. [All the while] I'm trying to keep the party people parting and keep them happy, [because] that music is a release, to chill the hell out and wild out and do your thing. But also, it's reached a point where I know have this voice that people listen to, so I have make people think a little more than they may be used to."

In the meantime, Sean Paul hopes to keep the dance floors packed with his verse to the upcoming remix of Akon's "I Wanna Love You" (featuring Snoop Dogg). He recently laid down his vocals and confirmed the song should be hitting airwaves soon.

But even with his Snoop collabo in the can and an assortment of lighter material he's working on for his next album, Sean Paul said heavy fare would be prominent for him.

"I feel like I have things to say," he said. "And that's what I'm looking forward to."

• Sean Paul

Sean Paul
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

UNIVERSAL CITY, California — Just as Bob Marley was opposed to "Waiting in Vain," so is his 21st-century torch-carrier, Sean Paul.

"My new single's about askin' the ladies, 'Please give me some love,' " Paul said of his latest smash,"(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me," which appears on the soundtrack for the dance flick "Step Up." "You know, 'It's my time. I've been waiting in line. I don't want to wait in vain.' That's what it's about."

The single, which features Keyshia Cole, has risen to #6 on Billboard's Hot 100, making it Paul's third successful release from 2005's The Trinity, after "We Be Burnin' " and "Temperature."

And if it's up to Paul, there will be a fourth this fall.

"I would love to release a song called 'Never Gonna Be the Same,' " Paul said of a tune he's already released overseas. "It's a song I wrote about a friend who passed away. I did a video for it already in Jamaica, in the streets and the neighborhoods that we used to walk together. And so it's a real special video. And I hope to have it here."

Paul wrote the song after a fellow musician named Daddigon was gunned down early last year on the streets of Kingston. The lyrics also mention others he has lost over the years, including an aunt and girlfriend. Violence in Jamaica is a topic Paul plans to address on his fourth album, which he's writing now and will release in the spring.

In the meantime, he's still on the road with Mariah Carey. "I'm very proud to open for her," Paul said backstage at Sunday's Teen Choice Awards (see "Britney Introduces K-Fed, Nick Lachey Scores 'Awkward' Award At Teen Choice 2006"). "I'll be doin' the tour with her until September 11. I've been away from home a long time, so in September I'm gonna try to go back home and chill out in the sun and do my own thing."

His own thing will likely include some recording sessions, but Paul has no intentions of following in the footsteps of so many American rappers by heading to the big screen. "I don't have a strong desire to really do movies unless it would match my part," he said.

"So maybe if somebody wrote a movie about the best artist in the world. Maybe," he added with a smile.

• The Teen Choice Awards Red Carpet

• Sean Paul

Ashlee Simpson on the cover of <I>Teen People</I>'s June/ July issue
Photo: Teen People

Ashlee Simpson has been scandal-free since November, and she tells Teen People for its June/ July "25 Hottest Under 25" cover story that the shift can be attributed to now-serious boyfriend Braxton Olita, the guitarist in her band. "He's the yin to my yang," Simpson told the magazine. "People call him my little Buddha. When he comes around, everything changes. ... I'm more peaceful and chilled out. I honestly couldn't be more content." Though she's "absolutely in love and in a committed relationship," Simpson says she's in no rush to speed up the pace, especially after what she's seen happen with her sister's much-publicized marriage and divorce. Instead, "We live day to day," she said. "Marriage is definitely not on my mind. There's a lot of growing up you do in your 20s, and I definitely want to wait until my late 20s or 30s or whenever the time is right." Ashlee's big sister Jessica Simpson also made the cut for Teen People's "25 Hottest Under 25" list, along with Amanda Bynes, Beyoncé, Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, Ciara, Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, JoJo, Kristin Cavallari and Natasha Bedingfield. ...

The Red Hot Chili Peppers will headline KROQ's annual Weenie Roast festival in Irvine, California. The May 13 event will also feature Matisyahu, AFI, Dashboard Confessional, Angels & Airwaves, Rob Zombie, She Wants Revenge, Panic! At the Disco, Taking Back Sunday, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, H.I.M., Wolfmother, Atreyu, Matchbook Romance, the Academy Is ... and Rock Kills Kid. ... Gap stores in four major cities are giving away tickets to a handful of summer concerts through a Rock Color instant-winner game-piece contest. Participating stores in New York and Chicago will have tickets to John Legend, Panic! At the Disco and Counting Crows with Goo Goo Dolls shows; ones in Los Angeles and San Francisco will offer shoppers a shot at those shows, plus Dave Matthews Band. ...

American V: A Hundred Highways, the final album Johnny Cash recorded before his death, is due July 4. Like the rest of the American series, it was produced by Rick Rubin; this album features the last song Cash ever wrote plus others written by Bruce Springsteen, Hank Williams and more. ... My Morning Jacket will collaborate with conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra on June 21 and 22 at the Boston Symphony Hall. The band is otherwise touring this summer with Pearl Jam beginning May 9 in Toronto. ... The Blood Brothers have entered Robert Lang Studios in Seattle — where they recorded 2004's Crimes — with Fugazi guitarist Guy Picciotto (Blonde Redhead) and John Goodmanson (the Like, Bikini Kill), who'll co-produce the band's yet-untitled disc. While the LP isn't slated for release until this fall, the Brothers will issue an EP to tide them over. Love Rhymes With Hideous Car Wreck will hit stores May 23 with a live version of the title track, an alternate version of "Crimes," a remix of "Peacock Skeleton With Crooked Feathers," a couple of British B-sides ("Ladies and Gentlemen" and "Metronomes") and the band's remix of the Gang of Four track "Anthrax." ...

Sonic Youth will kick off their summer tour beginning June 13 at the seminal New York rock club CBGB. The trek will span 22 dates, including festival appearances at Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, opening for Pearl Jam as well as straight-up SY headlining shows in support of their forthcoming album, Rather Ripped, due the same day their tour kicks off. Additional dates are expected shortly. ... Another prolific indie-rock band, the Fiery Furnaces, just released two full-length CDs within the span of seven months. Now the duo's male half, Matthew Friedberger, is releasing his solo debut, Winter Women/ Holy Ghost Language School, August 8. The double-disc was recorded over the course of three years and was co-produced by Bill Skibbe, who engineered, mixed and performed on the Fiery Furnaces' Bitter Tea. Friedberger wrote and performed the entire album, minus some drumming help from Tortoise's John McEntire, who plays on a few tracks. ...

"You Hear It First" veterans Danko Jones have a North American tour planned in support of their upcoming LP, Sleep Is the Enemy, due May 23. The road trip — which is currently scheduled to kick off in Montreal on May 5 and finish up in Buffalo, New York, May 28 — will hit cities including Chicago, Cleveland and Philadelphia, as well as New York's CBGB. ... You think your life is a mess? Just wait for the debut this fall of "The Carters," an E! Entertainment show chronicling the life of pop singers and brothers Nick and Aaron Carter as they work through family conflicts. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Backstreet Boy, his kid brother and three sisters will be the subjects of an eight-part half-hour series in which they live together and try to figure out their futures. ...

Napster is launching a new service Monday (May 1) that allows users to stream any complete song in their library up to five times for free. "It's the first time we've gotten back to the original Napster roots," Laura Goldberg, Napster's Chief Operating Officer, said Friday. "We see it as an exciting way to introduce people to what a subscription service is like, with the unlimited access and listening to anything you want." ... The only thing we know for sure is that Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards suffered a concussion on the island of Fiji at some point in the past few days and is recovering in New Zealand. Though she's not denying it, the band's publicist wouldn't confirm that Richards, 62, suffered the injury after falling out of a coconut tree, as widely reported by the media. ... British glam rocker Gary Glitter will appeal his three-year jail sentence for molesting children in Vietnam on May 19, according to a Reuters report. The 61-year-old singer was sentenced on March 3 in the resort town of Vung Tau and was imprisoned there for sexually abusing two 11-year-old girls.

04.28.2006

Jessica Simpson loses her mind in an upcoming Keith Barry magic special, in which the magician and psychological illusionist performs stunts on Eve, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, Wilmer Valderrama, Elijah Wood and others. Barry drives while blindfolded, induces memory loss and takes control of Simpson's mind in a series of stunts on "Keith Barry: Extraordinary," which will air May 12 at 8 p.m. on CBS. ...

Nick Lachey, Sean Paul and Jagged Edge will provide "Style Stage NYC" — the self-proclaimed "largest shopping party in the U.S." — with some musical entertainment. The event will be held Friday and Saturday at the Metropolitan Pavilion and Altman Building at 125 and 135 W. 18th St. ...

Oprah Winfrey gathered a who's who of urban artists for what you might call "Oprahpalooza" over the course of one recent weekend. First, the talk-show host held a private luncheon at her Montecito, California, home, where music legends such as Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Dionne Warwick were honored by Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Brandy, Natalie Cole, Janet Jackson and Missy Elliott. Winfrey also invited Usher, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones and others for a white-tie ball the next night. And to cap the weekend, Winfrey held a gospel brunch the next morning with performances by LaBelle, Knight, Warwick and Chaka Khan. Winfrey's "Legends Ball" special airs May 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. ... Jewel is getting a facelift of sorts — by performing on an upcoming episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." In an episode called "Arena Family," the show renovates the home of a husband and wife in Somers, New York, who recently lost their only son. New York Yankee Jorge Posada donates an item for the house, while Jewel performs at a memorial. The episode airs May 14 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. ...

Shakira is calling ahead for her upcoming tour, sending multimedia personal video invitations to each city she's hitting on her Oral Fixation jaunt. The messages, which will come through on Verizon Wireless phones, give users the option to buy barcode tickets that can be scanned to get them into the show. Shakira's also inviting fans to text which songs they want to hear on the tour, and a select few concertgoers will be picked to head backstage. The arena tour, which was announced Friday (April 28), kicks off August 9 in El Paso, Texas, at the Don Haskins Center, and wraps September 25 in McCallen, Texas, at the Dodge Arena. ... The singer lit up the stage in Hollywood, Florida, on Thursday night for the Latin Billboard Awards, scoring six awards and performing "Hips Don't Lie" with Wyclef Jean. Shakira took Latin pop album of the year for Fijacion Oral Vol. 1, while her single "La Tortura" won four awards, including hot Latin song of the year. She was also presented with the Spirit of Hope Award, honoring her work through the Pies Descalzos (Bare Feet) Foundation, aiding children in Colombia. Daddy Yankee, who scored three awards at the ceremony, opened the show performing "Rompe" and took prizes for Latin album artist and top reggaetón album. He was also honored along with collaborators Baby Ranks, Tonny Tun Tun, Wisin y Yandel and Hector "The Father" for "Mayor Que Yo." ...

With a little one on the way, Gwen Stefani is planning to expand her L.A.M.B. line to include baby tennis shoes. "Little gold ones, you wouldn't believe it. They're so cute," the singer told Women's Wear Daily. She's also widening her footwear line for adults to include boots and stilettos, as well as adding other accessories, such as a watch line. "I want to do lingerie and makeup at some point," she said. "I want to do everything, eventually." ... While the tabloids love to link Jessica Simpson and Adam Levine, Victoria's Secret thinks the Maroon 5 frontman and Shakira would make a better match, according to their "What Is Sexy" list — the two singers won sexiest male and female musicians, respectively. But Simpson wasn't entirely shut out. Her "These Boots Are Made For Walkin' " clip still gets mileage, nabbing sexiest video. Meanwhile, the sexiest real couple honors went to Seal and Heidi Klum.

An exclusive Beck remix is available as part of a comic manga series. "Go It Alone," remixed by Superthriller, is a free download in the fourth volume of "Mongolian Chop Squad," to be released in June. But once the page goes live at the end of May, the download will be available at www.tokyopop.com/beckvsbeck. ... The Allman Brothers Band and Cheap Trick filed suit Thursday in New York against Sony BMG alleging that they were being shortchanged by the Sony Music division on profits from digital downloads. According to the Los Angeles Times, the suit by the two classic rock acts seeks class-action status and contends that Sony currently counts downloads sales as "physical phonorecords," with the standard 20 percent deduction for packaging even though the downloads are electronic. It also claims that Sony Music deducts 15 percent for a standard "breakage" fee, as it would with CDs or cassettes. The suit alleges that bands should be getting 30 cents per download from Sony Music versus the 4.5 cents they get now. ...

Apparently you shouldn't mess with Hoboken, New Jersey, indie rockers Yo La Tengo. Their 12th album, due September 12, is called I Am Not Afraid of You, and I Will Beat Your Ass according to a spokesperson for Matador Records. The 15-track LP includes the songs "Pass the Hatchet," "Black Flowers" and "The Story of Yo La Tango" (You read that right — it's "Tango"). Having done movie-soundtrack work for the films "Junebug" and "Old Joy" recently, the group has also written music for "Shortbus," John Cameron Mitchell's directorial follow-up to "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." ... Montreal rockers the Dears have completed work on their third record, the self-deprecatingly titled Gang of Losers. Tentatively due August 29, the 12-track record has been described by the band as a more stripped-down and raw affair than its past expansive orchestral work. Tracks include "The Ballad of Humankindness," "Find Our Way to Freedom" and "Death or Life We Want You." The track "Fear Made the World Go 'Round" can currently be heard on the group's MySpace page.

• Ashlee Simpson
• Nick Carter
• Aaron Carter
• The Rolling Stones
• Keith Richards

Sean Paul
Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images

Sean Paul has brought the heat with recent smashes "We Be Burnin' " and "Temperature," but he's apparently not waiting until the summer to work U.S. crowds into a sweat.

The dancehall king announced spring dates for the U.S. leg of his Trinity world tour on Tuesday. The 19-date trek — which also includes one stop south of the border in Mexico — will kick off March 15 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and wind down April 11 in Hollywood.

Sean Paul will tour alone, with no supporting acts, according to his record label. Expect him to weave his way through a sizable set list that includes current bangers from his latest effort, The Trinity, as well as a slew of megahits from his platinum 2002 Dutty Rock ("Gimme the Light," "Get Busy") and 2000 debut, Stage One ("Hot Gal Today," "Deport Them").

Tickets for most of the shows are already available on Ticketmaster, with the rest of the dates going on sale by the end of this week.

Sean Paul's tour dates, according to his publicist:

• 3/15 - Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
• 3/16 - Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
• 3/17 - Atlanta, GA @ Dekalb Event Center
• 3/19 - Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
• 3/21 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
• 3/22 - Torrington, CT @ Webster Theater
• 3/23 - New York, NY @ Nokia Theatre Times Square
• 3/26 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Electric Factory
• 3/27 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
• 3/29 - Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
• 3/30 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue Theater
• 3/31 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
• 4/1 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
• 4/3 - Minneapolis, MN @ Quest Club
• 4/5 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium
• 4/7 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
• 4/8 - Rosarito Beach, Mexico @ Club Maya
• 4/10 - Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues
• 4/11 - Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues

• Sean Paul

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Sean Paul
Photo: Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — With "We Be Burnin' " still burning up the charts, Sean Paul plans to keep the heat wave going with "Temperature."

"It's about ladies, as usual," the rapper explained. "[I'm] telling the ladies I got the right temperature to keep them warm."

Although the song was inspired by the sweltering heat of his native Jamaica, Paul went to a place better known for cooler weather to make the video.

"We just shot the video with Little X in Canada," he said. "In the video we go through different months, and we just show you the temperature is getting hotter and hotter."

When he's not melting the ladies, Sean Paul is hoping to carry a deeper message with some of his tracks, such as "Never Gonna Be the Same," a dedication to a close friend he lost earlier this year.

Equally emotional is "Time Rolls On," which was recorded over a year ago (see "Sean Paul Spurns The Big Time, Tackles 'Deeper Social Issues' ").

" 'Time Rolls On' is my most political piece so far," Paul said. "It's not on my album because people didn't support it. My own team was saying that's not going to sell. So I got a deal out with Target stores 'cause it's my self-expression and I want people to hear it. There's verses in it that say, 'Muslim and Christian, Buddhist and Hindu, Rastafari and Jew/ Will we ever share one God?/ Bloods and the Crips, all these poli-tricks ... the blood is on your hands.' "

Even though he's not exactly known for serious lyrics, Paul wishes they were more prevalent in hip-hop.

"I know some very political people who rap, and they say very political things and they'll never get a deal," Paul explained. "I think it's just because people don't see money in it, and they're afraid sometimes [of] the truth these kids are saying. So I'm trying to do conscious music ... to remind people that we are human beings that socialize and try to have a good time instead of animals at war."

"Time Rolls On" is Paul's first attempt at politically driven lyrics, though it's not the first time he's faced roadblocks with his music.

"A lot of people put barriers in my music in that they cannot understand what I'm saying," he said. "I like music when it makes you feel. ... I appreciate music even though I don't understand what they're saying."

Despite a few obstacles, Paul's goal is a simple one: "I just want to be in the music industry as long as possible."

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