Eminem performs at the VH1's "Hip Hop Honors"
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images

BROOKLYN, New York — Usually when hip-hop heads new and old gather to celebrate someone being recognized as a "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" inductee, it's a pioneering act like LL Cool J, Rakim or Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

However, on Tuesday night (October 13), during the telecast of the sixth-annual production, the Tracy Morgan-hosted event broke new ground, honoring an entire record label.

And it was only right that the label was Def Jam, the most influential rap imprint in history. The 25-year-old label was founded by Rick Rubin and cultivated by the likes of Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen and so many other prominent figures in hip-hop. LL Cool J was the face of the label for so many years, so it was fitting that his music kicked off the event.

	"VH1 Hip Hop Honors" 2009

The Roots started things off with "Rock the Bells," but the Philadelphia band's frontman, Black Thought, wasn't alone. Thought ripped through the first verse before he gave way to a surprise guest: Slim Shady. Eminem has long been a Todd Smith fan, and he didn't disappoint when he got his chance to prove it to the world.

"Now I'm worldwide known/ Whether you like it or not/ My one-man band is Cut Creator/ When he's on the fader/ What's my DJ's name?"

"Cut Creator!" the crowd yelled as they finished the line.

Kid Rock also paid homage to Uncle L with "I'm Bad." The Detroit rocker was decked out in a red Troop tracksuit with matching Kangol bucket hat. Rock also manned the turntables during the night, splitting House DJ duties with Ed Lover.

The second performance of the night was from one of Def Jam's signature groups, Public Enemy. Chuck D immediately captured the crowd's attention with the opening lines of "Rebel Without a Pause": "Yes, the rhythm, the rebel." Chuck still has one of the most recognizable and commanding voices in all of music, not just rap.

Flavor Flav came out wearing a white tuxedo jacket, matching top hat and a black bow tie. PE arguably had the performance of the night with help from the Roots, S1W and the Coup's Boots Riley. The Long Island-bred rap chiefs were just born for the stage and had the entire crowd on their feet.

Another bricklaying squad for the house that Russell and Rick built was, undoubtedly, the Beastie Boys. KRS-One, Wale and the Gym Class Heroes did a rocking rendition of "No Sleep Till Brooklyn." The song was well-received at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where the event was held — marking the first time the show took place outside of Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom.

Travis McCoy, who wore a black T-shirt with the names DJ AM and Roc Raida in the shape of the Run-DMC logo, took on the first verse. The Blastmaster, who is a former HHH honoree himself, took verse two and ended by saying, "Adam, get well soon," referring to Adam Yauch, who is currently battling cancer. Wale finished off the song and later in the night paid tribute to new jack Def Jam artist Kanye West by wearing a backpack and performing "Touch the Sky."

Throughout the night, Simmons and Rubin traded pre-taped memories of their days as '80s music hustlers. Cohen, who has a reputation for being temperamental, also testified about his experiences at the legendary label, even briefly poking fun at his militant demeanor. Former Def Jam executives Kevin Liles and Julie Greenwald also shared stories about their time at the House that Russell Built.

When Def Jam alumni Onyx performed their monstrous cut "Slam," it felt like the group had stepped out of a time capsule: They looked almost exactly the same and still had the insane energy that made them famous.

Sticky Fingaz climbed on top of a large speaker toward the side of the stage, forcefully delivering his closing verse — one of the most memorable in Def Jam's catalog. Rather than descend from the speaker after the performance, Sticky just climbed into the balcony seats for his exit.

Other performers included Rick Ross, Fabolous, Foxy Brown, Redman, Method Man, Mary J. Blige, EPMD, Ghostface Killah, Chrisette Michele, Warren G, Trey Songz, the reunion of Ashanti and Ja Rule, Ludacris and DMX — many of whom teamed up with the Roots for a show-closing medley of Def Jam hits.

(Check out photos from the "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" red carpet right here!)

Offstage, friends-turned-foes Ja Rule and DMX had their own reunion of sorts. The two came up together through Def Jam and, along with Irv Gotti and Jay-Z, helped breathe new life into the label in the late '90s before the gravel-voiced MCs began dissing each other on records. As X was walking out Ja was returning to his seat, and the pair saw each other, hugged and talked for a few moments.

Chris Rock, Eve, Jazzy Jeff and director Brett Ratner were among the many notable names in attendance.

• 'VH1 Hip Hop Honors' 2009
• Luda, Fab, Eve And More Show Up For VH1's 'Hip Hop Honors'

• Eminem
• LL Cool J
• Public Enemy
• Kid Rock

The Killers' Brandon Flowers performs at Coachella on Saturday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

INDIO, California — In a recession year, it was only fitting that Coachella would come to an end with a power outage.

And perhaps even more fitting that the Cure continued on for two more songs — with no speakers or lights, just the help of thousands of backup singers (a.k.a. the audience).

Yes, this will be remembered as the year Coachella soldiered on. As the pocket guide put it, "On this 10th Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, take comfort in knowing that for at least 72 hours, we can put aside the woes of the world to revel in it. After all, there's a Beatle here."

There were 129 acts at this year's Coachella — a drop from the planned 131, after Glasvegas and the Clipse canceled at the last minute — but the one that mattered most was the 66-year-old music icon who lived and let die and let it be for a two-and-a-half-hour set that will go down in festival history.

(Check out photos from the Coachella festival here.)

Paul McCartney's show featured a dozen or so Beatles favorites, especially the encores (yes, there were many), along with songs from Wings, his solo material (the recent ukulele jam "Dance Tonight" was a highlight), dedications of fallen Beatles and even tracks from his side project, the Fireman.

Yes, Paul McCartney has a side project — maybe he even has a Twitter account too.

Speaking of micro-blogging artists ... Michael Franti closed his set on Saturday by telling the audience, "See you on Twitter."

It's a new world where bands are updating their fans on their every move, so the ability to make a connection through music has never been more important. McCartney and the Cure did that with ease, as did dozens of others, from the angelic-voiced Jenny Lewis to My Bloody Valentine, who connected via blistering guitar feedback.

And then there were some who struggled. M.I.A., in her first post-childbirth gig, phoned in a seven-song set full of annoying banter, an even more annoying horn sound every few seconds, and a big mess of music not unlike an earlier set from N.A.S.A.

	M.I.A., Killers, More At Coachella 2009

Girl Talk drew one of the dance tent's largest crowds, and as hard as he tried to entertain them with props and dancing on the table, all he really did was push "play" on a laptop.

Zane Lowe has a similar mash-up style and a lesser name, but the live elements (a few machines and scratching) in his show made a huge difference. And then along came DJ AM and Travis Barker, who took it to a whole 'nother level, with one of the most intense, awesome sets of the festival. Again, it was about soldiering on.

On Friday, keeping up with the lineup felt more like navigating a zoo, between Noah and the Whale, Dear and the Headlights, the Bug and Cage the Elephant. The latter band play hip-hop-infused blues rock (Kid Rock meets the White Stripes) and made their mark thanks to frontman Matt Shultz, a rock star-in-the-making.

The Ting Tings' set felt a bit slow, but they were still super fun to dance and sing along to. It was much of the same for Franz Ferdinand, thanks to their collection of party-starters, and Morrissey kept the party vibe in his following slot (as much as Morrissey parties, anyway).

Saturday was more serious, with challenging bands like TV on the Radio and Thievery Corporation (who brought out honorary Coachella mayor Perry Farrell for a song) rocking the Main Stage. Fleet Foxes and Band of Horses did the high-pitched-voice thing back-to-back on the Outdoor Theater.

The Killers wisely opened their headlining set with hits "Human" and "Somebody Told Me," reeling in fans before they could make an early run for the parking lot. It's not easy when Paul McCartney headlined the night before, but Brandon Flowers commands a stage no matter who he's competing with.

On Sunday, while the Cure worked through their catalog, Public Enemy saluted their 21-year-old landmark album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by playing it from beginning to end. Chuck D's "how low can you go" voice is still as powerful as ever, and it felt good to see Flava Flav on a stage instead of a reality show.

On the Main Stage, Peter Bjorn and John showed they are continuing to improve as a live band, especially on their latest singles, "Lay It Down" and "Nothing to Worry About," both candidates for Coachella anthems of the year.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs know a thing or two about anthems and they proved a perfect soundtrack to the beautiful Sunday sunset.

Audrina Patridge from "The Hills" was among those spotted dancing to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Paris and Nikki Hilton hung out during M.I.A.'s performance, and Zac Efron took pictures with fans while waiting for My Bloody Valentine. Emile Hirsch, Tara Reid, Dita Von Teese and Chloë Sevigny were also in attendance.

Outside of the Empire Polo Fields, Kanye West attended the ultra-exclusive Frank Sinatra house party, and Jared Leto was seen dancing onstage at the Music Loves Fashion event at Hotel Riviera. Kid Cudi performed at the URB Magazine pool party, while Doug E. Fresh got on the mic at Viceroy Hotel party.

• M.I.A., The Killers, Lupe Fiasco, More At Coachella 2009

• The Killers
• Public Enemy
• Travis Barker
• DJ AM
• Girl Talk

Young Jeezy and Nas on the "My President" video set
Photo: Exclusiveaccess.net

ATLANTA — On June 3, at 2:08 a.m., Young Jeezy created a new hip-hop national anthem. And at the very end of that song, "My President," Jeezy reminded everyone exactly when he recorded it: "June 3, 2008."

"[That's] why I chose to timestamp it," Young said about recording the tribute to President-elect Barack Obama. "A lot of people do things for gimmicky reasons. I ain't no gimmicky dude. I just decided to do it to show I had faith in him.

"I had faith in the whole situation," he added about the presidential election. "It was more so saying, 'This man is gonna win. There's nothing to do to stop him.' Yes we can. Yes we did. It takes a nation of millions to hold us back."

Jeezy and Nas finally filmed a video for the song last weekend in Atlanta. (There were some delays due to Nas' international touring.) The whole community came out to support.

"This is Martin Luther King's 'hood," Young said with a smile, standing in front of his tour bus during a break in filming. "I don't know if y'all know it or not. Auburn Avenue. A very monumental spot. Probably one of the most monumental, historic spots we've got in Atlanta. It's a monumental video, so I wanted to do it in a monumental spot. Auburn Ave., Ebenezer Baptist Church."

Ebenezer was the church where Martin Luther King Jr. preached, and it's located just minutes from the house he grew up in. Forty years after his death, MLK's dream came to fruition with Obama heading to the White House. Jeezy paid homage to both leaders in the video, as well as to Public Enemy. He shot some of the performance scenes with the neighborhood's residents in the background, similar to what PE did in 1989 in Brooklyn, New York, for the "Fight the Power" clip.

"I did [the video] with the 'Fight the Power' concept because I remember, back in the day, Flavor Flav and Chuck D marching down the street," Jeezy explained. "They had the old people, the young people, store owners, they had picket signs, everything. It was a sense of black pride, a sense of pride, period."

In another performance scene, Jeezy and Nas rap in front of Obama — at least a picture of the president-elect.

"This what I'm all about," Nas said. "It's a celebration. The celebration of the first black president on the song from a perspective of the streets. You can't get more 'hood than my man Young Jeezy. So this is the prefect combination."

"Nas been hitting on [political] subjects even before I started thinking that way," Jeezy added about his partner. "So I thought it was only right I reach out to him and see if he wanted to do it. We made history."

Young Jeezy was one of the more vocal voices in the hip-hop community urging people to go out and vote this year. His campaigning didn't stop on November 4, however. On Monday night, Jeezy, T.I. and Ludacris were at the Georgia Capitol campaigning to get Democrat Jim Martin elected to Congress in a runoff election against Republican Saxby Chambliss.

"We won the battle," YJ said in statement. "Now it's time we win the war. Vote Jim Martin."

Jeezy, 'Cris and Tip are all slated to appear together during a December 27 concert in New York. Luda told MTV News recently that he would love for the trio to turn their allegiance into a full-fledged tour. Jeezy seemed to be down with it.

"You never know about us. The Georgia boys might put something together," he said. "We've been talking about a tour, so don't be surprised if you see it real soon."

• Young Jeezy And Nas On The 'My President' Video Set

• Young Jeezy
• Nas
• Public Enemy
• Ludacris
• T.I.

Kanye West performs at the Hot 97 Summer Jam on Sunday
Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — Fans living in the New York tristate area might as well swallow that sour pill and face facts. We probably will never see a Summer Jam concert with Jay-Z and 50 Cent both on the bill.

50 Cent is banned from Giants Stadium due to that infamous, onstage chair- (or shall we say chair-aaaairs?) throwing incident with Bang 'Em Smurf and some rivals from his neighborhood a few years back. Other than a brief cameo during Kanye West's set several years ago, Young Hov hasn't performed at SJ since he brought Michael Jackson out and dissed Nas and Mobb Deep way back in 2001.

That void is always going to be felt. You could hear it last night, as 40,000-plus were yelling "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa" in unison when one of the stations threw on G-Unit's "Rider Part 2." Everyone was singing 50's lines as if to say, "We want the Unit!" C'mon, somebody get Michael Strahan to work something out.

That's not to say Hot 97 couldn't pull off a quality show with a lineup that boasted hip-hop's MVP and the man just named the Hottest MC in the Game. Lil Wayne and Kanye West headed up the roster that also included T-Pain, Ray J and Yung Berg, D-Block, Alicia Keys and, surprisingly, Public Enemy.

The most energetic Summer Jam moments came in the first half of the show. If you were fashionably late, you missed out. Alicia Keys was onstage at 7:05 p.m., just 35 minutes after the official showtime and third in the lineup behind Ray J and The-Dream.

Keys started off with the reggae-tinged "Ghetto Story" and had the whole stadium going "Rah! Rah! Rah!" "Teenage Love Affair" followed, and then she started paying homage to Mary J. Blige, singing "Be Happy" a cappella. The beat for the remix to "Be Happy" kicked in, and out came Brooklyn's Maino. His current street thumper "Hi Hater" shamelessly jacks the beat from the Queen of R&B soul's classic.

Thousands waved their arms side to side with open palms. Imaginary foes were greeted with sarcastic adoration, "Hi, hata! Hi, hata. You see me. Hi, hata." Ms. Keys then pulled out her trump card with one of her favorite groups, the Wu-Tang Clan. First, Raekwon the Chef came out for "Incarcerated Scarfaces." Method Man and Ghostface Killah appeared a couple of minutes later and helped Rae on "Ice Cream." Method Man jumped in the crowd during "Method Man." Keys' set was showered with applause as she set the standard for the night early on.

If you weren't familiar with hip-hop, you would think D-Block had sold twice as many records as Keys in their career. They are just that big in New York. They always get that Diamond Awards-winning reception at Summer Jam. Styles P, Sheek Louch and DJ Kid Capri started out with a medley of their concreted embedded smashes, such as "F--- You" and "Wild Out." Jadakiss finally joined his troupe during the "Paper Touchin' " remix. D-Block brought out Red Cafe, Fabolous and Fat Joe, who all perform on Jadakiss' record. It was absolutely an SJ snapshot to go on the bulletin board of fame. The mics were dripping with NYC pride. The LOX threw it way back to 1998 next. They brought out former Firm member Nature and the always-wild N.O.R.E. for "Banned From TV." The show-stealer of the Lox's set, though, was LL Cool J. Uncle was a major surprise, coming out to "Rock the Bells" and murdering the night with "Headsprung."

"A lot of people been sleepin'. Y'all gonna wake up this year," Cool J declared about his new projects before he walked off.

T-Pain's show was full of plain-old tomfoolery, action and more guest spots. T-Pain started off doing more dancing than singing, popping and locking and doing the two-step with his two hypemen. Pain's first guest was Shawty Lo, who did "Dey Know." Almost immediately, the crowd started mimicking L.O.'s running-in-place dance. "Bankhead, still been pulling capers!" they all shouted during his song. Miami's DJ Khaled and Rick Ross came out for "I'm So Hood." Ross appeared wearing nothing but his tattoos from the waist up, but the Southern Don had so much swagger, you would think he was as chiseled as 50 Cent when he strolled on. Pain ended triumphantly with Akon, Ross and Fat Joe for "We Takin' Over."

When one of the station's DJs asked the crowd who they came to see, Lil Wayne got the loudest cheers. He kicked his set off with "A Milli," an agitated gumbo of metaphors and Weezy's raw-dog presence. Wayne's set held the guests to a minimum. Playaz Circle's Tity Boi came out for the well-received "Duffle Bag Boy," and Kanye helped him close out on the remix to "Lollipop," a rousing Wayne highlight. The Birdman Jr. once again performed his naughty ode to oral sex, "Pu--- Monster."

When was the last time you heard Kanye West concede his show wasn't the best? Ever? Kanye got that coveted 9 p.m. Summer Jam spot, and he did bring a spectacle like we'd never seen on a stage with explosive lights, pyrotechnics and a multi-piece band. It felt like we were at a Kanye concert instead of a hodgepodge of who's hot and their random guests.

West started with "Diamonds From Sierra Leone," "Champion," "Get 'Em High" and "Jesus Walks."

"It took me a long time to get to this stage, to be able to close this," Kanye said. He shared recollections of seeing Jay-Z tear the show down years before. "I keep trying harder to raise this sh-- up a notch and do what I gotta do to be the best artist in the world. ... Y'all gonna see why I'm the number one f---in' artist in the world right now. Let's do our show."

"Homecoming" and "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" with Consequence followed, but it seemed to mellow out the crowd. "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and "Flashing Lights" brought the energy back up. Young Jeezy was Kanyeezy's big cameo. They did their new collaboration "Put On." "I put on for my city," Jeezy rapped, wearing a T-shirt that read "F--- Bush."

But the overall reaction to his set seemed to fall short of Kanye's expectations.

"I'll take this one on the chin," he said. "I seen n---as catch it before closing out. I'll take this one on the chin."

He pledged to go in the studio and make new hits. Even after "Good Life," when everyone was singing "Throw your hands up in the sky," West was disappointed with his Summer Jam showing.

"NYC, thank y'all for this," he said. "I'm about to go back to the muthaf---in lab. [I'll] take it like a man."

Public Enemy brought knowledge, wisdom and understanding with them on the set. Even though most of the younger audience members seemed indifferent to PE classics such as "Welcome to the Terrordome" and "Can't Trust It," Flavor Flav and Chuck D left them with food for thought, speaking on racial injustice and the presidential race.

Though Rihanna had been advertised on the bill for weeks, she chose instead to attend the MTV Movie Awards with Chris Brown. Hot 97 failed to explain why she wasn't at the show, but they did have a fill-in: New York cult heroes, the Diplomats. Minus Cam'ron, Jim Jones and the crew ended the night with their underground breakthroughs like "Santana's Town" and "We Fly High."

For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports. And send your own concert pics, videos and reviews to MTV News You R Here!

• Kanye West At Hot 97 Summer Jam

• Kanye West, Alicia Keys & More Heat Up Hot 97 Summer Jam In New Jersey

• Kanye West
• Lil Wayne
• Alicia Keys
• Public Enemy
• LL Cool J

Lindsay Lohan on the cover of the March issue of <i>Harper's Bazaar</i>
Photo: <i>Harper's Bazaar</i>

Lindsay Lohan just spoke publicly for the first time since leaving rehab in early October — she gave an interview to the U.K. edition of Glamour for its new cover story — but the starlet has more to say. She told Harper's Bazaar for its own LiLo cover story that she'd like to have a low-key relationship, that she's trying to smoke cigarettes less often and that she's "always been a homebody." She also spilled who she would like to make music with next — "I'd love to work with Timbaland. I'd love to work with Kanye West, 50 Cent if I could" — and admitted, "When I look back on this last year, it's like, what was I thinking?" Harper's Bazaar's March issue, in which the story appears, hits stands February 19. ...

Christina Aguilera just made her first public appearance this week since giving birth in January, and now comes news that the singer is already digging into her next album. "This whole incredible thing has taken place in my life," the new mom recently told Ryan Seacrest on his radio show, so there's "so much in me to write about. The next record, I want to have a lot of fun with it. [I've been] brainstorming for the last nine months. This next album will have a whole new me, a different me, so it's a lot to look forward to." She also spoke about her son, Max Liron Bratman — "he's constantly changing, and doing these incredibly cute things and stinky things" — and even touched on Paris Hilton spilling the beans about Aguilera's pregnancy during VMA weekend last year. "It was funny," Aguilera said, taking the high road. "We all looked at each and laughed it off. She did it in a sweet way. It wasn't a tattle-on-me sort of thing." ...

Britney Spears' father, Jamie, had previously been granted temporary conservatorship powers over the singer for a week, during which time it was expected when the powers were granted that she would be in the hospital. Now that she's out, some legal questions were raised in court Thursday (February 7) when Spears' co-conservator, Andrew Wallet, and the attorneys for the conservatorship appeared for an emergency ex parte hearing. Since the hearing was closed and the court documents were sealed, according to a court clerk, no one could say what happened in the hearing. But Adam Streisand, who tried to represent the singer at a previous hearing, only to be ejected from the court, was definitely not present on the singer's behalf, since prior to the hearing, his firm released a statement that he "has decided he will not represent her at this time." Streisand met with Britney Spears on Wednesday "to discuss her legal rights in connection with the conservatorship over her person and estate," but following the meeting, he learned that there was a court order preventing the singer from retaining counsel of her own choosing. ... Despite all Britney Spears' troubles, she still has Danjahandz on her side. The producer recently told MTV News that he'd like to hook up with the singer in the future. "I would work with her again. Hopefully she'll get better," he said, admitting that he hadn't heard of her recent hospitalization. "I definitely have ideas [of] what I would do with her." ...

As had been previously rumored, when Beyoncé takes the stage at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night, she'll be joined by none other than reclusive rock legend Tina Turner, the Recording Academy has announced. Other additions to the show's lineup included Kid Rock, who will perform, as well as presenters Akon, Nelly Furtado, Prince, Jason Bateman, Tony Bennett, Cher, Tom Hanks, Quincy Jones, Joe Mantegna, Ringo Starr, Dave Stewart and Stevie Wonder. ...

Can't remember the last time you bought a CD single? Well, here's a reason to consider picking one up: Ashlee Simpson will meet fans and sign copies of her new "Outta My Head" single February 14 at a Walmart in Dallas. ... Sevendust have a friend in ... Chris Daughtry? Yup, it's true: The Daughtry frontman recently teamed with the hard-rockers to chip in a guest vocal for the band's new song "The Past." The track will be included on Sevendust's April 1 LP, Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow, which will also feature contributions from Alter Bridge's Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy. ... This year's South by Southwest festival just got a little more hip-hop-friendly. Ice Cube and N.E.R.D. have hopped onto the sprawling roster for the Austin, Texas, shindig, which will go down March 12-16. ... The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund — a group that helps career musicians in need — is putting up for auction an original Clash T-shirt printed by bassist Paul Simonon. The item will be up for bidding on eBay for 10 days starting Saturday. As MTV News reported late last year, Simonon originally gave the shirt to punk poet Patti Smith 30 years ago, and after she passed it to her drummer, Jay Dee Daughtery, he in turn donated it to Sweet Relief — but the group was not able to raffle the tee because of sweepstakes laws. ...

Don't believe those stories about how infighting and personal disputes are the reason the Spice Girls have canceled most of the remaining dates of their reunion tour. Trying to combat the rumors, the Girls posted a one-minute apology video to fans on their Web site on Wednesday, reiterating that the decision to cancel shows in China, South Africa, Australia and Argentina was due to "family and personal commitments." In the video, Mel C explains: "There has been a lot of rubbish in the media over the last few days, so we wanted you to hear it from the horse's mouth. We're very sorry not to be able to get to all the places we really, really wanted to get to." Several members say that the tour went a month longer than they had actually intended when they first announced the reunion last year. Victoria Beckham adds, "Our kids need to go back to school, and we always said our families are our priorities. So we want to thank all our fans. Sorry we haven't got to see everybody." The singers then get into a mock fight before Mel B screams, "We hate each other? Are you kidding? We love each other!" ...

A star-studded gala organized by Madonna at the United Nations in New York on Wednesday night to benefit sick and poor children around the world raised $3.7 million. Hosted by Chris Rock, the $2,500-to-$10,000-a-plate dinner and live auction attracted guests Drew Barrymore, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Dita Von Teese, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Amy Adams, Brooke Shields and Salma Hayek. But, according to The Associated Press, the event also made some officials, including U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, a bit uncomfortable with its mix of charity and commercial promotion. The event was paid for by luxury-goods maker Gucci, which used the occasion to promote the opening of its flagship store in New York's Manhattan borough on Friday and put its logo along with UNICEF's behind the walkway on the red carpet. Rihanna, Timbaland and Alicia Keys performed at the event. The night's most expensive auction item was a $600,000 bid to tour with Madonna and take a dance class with her and Gwyneth Paltrow. ...

Eva Mendes left rehab briefly on Thursday. "Eva is attending to some personal business in Los Angeles and intends to return to complete her treatment shortly," a representative for the actress who was not named told TMZ.com. ... Having conquered the reality-TV world, Public Enemy court jester Flavor Flav has signed on to try his hand at scripted comedy. The sometime rapper will star in a new half-hour comedy series on MyNetworkTV called "Under One Roof," which creators call a classic "fish-out-of-water" story. In the show, for which 13 episodes have been ordered, Flav will play Calvester Hill, a former convict who moves in with his wealthy, conservative brother and, predictably, wreaks havoc by parading his old prison cronies through the house, teaching his nephew to be a gangsta rapper and butting heads with Walter's uptight wife, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series is slated to launch in the spring.

2.06.08

According to The Associated Press, police in London have questioned Amy Winehouse about a video that surfaced online two weeks ago that purportedly shows the Grammy-nominated singer smoking crack cocaine. No charges have been filed against the singer, but an investigation into the video is said to be ongoing. The video shows Winehouse inhaling fumes from a small pipe during a party at her home. Winehouse checked into a rehabilitation center in late January. ...

Avril Lavigne fans can expect to see outfit changes, backup dancers and the singer covering Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation" on her upcoming five-month world tour, which starts March 5 in British Columbia, RollingStone.com reports. She plans to hole up in L.A. with husband Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 and work on some new material when the tour comes to a close in June. "I want to do more acoustic stuff," she said. "It doesn't mean that's what my next record is going to be, but I'm doing it to get it out." The Canadian singer also chimed in on the presidential election, saying, "I wish I could vote" in the U.S. "I think Hillary might [win]. It'd be f---ing awesome if a chick won!" ...

It took Linkin Park four years to follow up 2003's Meteora with last summer's Minutes to Midnight, but Chester Bennington says fans won't have to wait around as long for LP's next, er, LP. "We sparked a new kind of life into what we do during the writing of ['Midnight']," the frontman told Billboard.com. "We want to keep that going. I think we're in the mode, and I have a good feeling we're going to put another record out really quickly." The four-year break "seemed like a really, really long time to our fans, and it seemed like a really, really long time to us. I don't see that happening again," he added. Bennington also revealed that the band will assemble another edition of its Projekt Revolution tour, which also featured My Chemical Romance and others last year. Bands and dates will be announced in the coming months. Linkin Park head out on a tour with Coheed and Cambria starting Tuesday in Omaha, Nebraska. ...

The latest album-sales figures are in, and Alicia Keys' As I Am will reclaim Billboard's #1 spot, after selling another 61,300 copies. The " Juno" soundtrack — last week's #1 — follows at #2, while the Mars Volta's The Bedlam in Goliath debuts at #3, having sold 54,000 copies in its first week. According to SoundScan, 18 new releases will enter next week's chart, including Bullet for My Valentine's Scream Aim Fire, which opens at #4 with 53,200 sold, and the 2008 Grammy Nominees compilation — which features Amy Winehouse, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake and the Foo Fighters, among others — debuting at #5 with 50,000 in sales. Hannah Montana 2: Non-Stop Dance Party bows at #7 with 40,000 scans, and Vampire Weekend's self-titled debut enters at #17 with 27,500 sold. Opening at #95 with 7,500 copies snatched up is Protest the Hero's latest, Fortress. ...

Eddie Vedder, Tom Morello, Serj Tankian and Bright Eyes have ponied up songs for "Body of War: Songs That Inspired an Iraq War Veteran," a two-CD collection due March 18 that is a companion piece to the documentary "Body of War." The first single is a version of Vedder's "No More" performed with Ben Harper at Pearl Jam's Lollapalooza set last year. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Iraq Veterans Against the War. ... Bright Eyes mainman Conor Oberst sure is getting his fill of politics. Beyond his appearance on the aforementioned comp, he'll also perform at a free rally for Senator Barack Obama on Thursday to help raise awareness about the Democratic presidential candidate. The event — which will also feature M. Ward, Sparta frontman Jim Ward and Secret Life of Sparrows — will go down at Omaha, Nebraska's Slowdown, a venue owned by Saddle Creek Records, Bright Eyes' label. Oberst played a gig in Iowa for the Illinois senator prior to his victory in that state's caucus in early January. ...

Jennifer Lopez is indeed expecting twins — news that was first reported back in October — her father recently confirmed during an appearance on a Spanish-language television show, according to People en Español. "Yes, twins," the actress/singer's father, David Lopez, said on Escándalo TV when asked about the rumor, according to the report. "The thing is, in my family, my sister also had twins, so it's a hereditary thing." He reportedly added that he was thrilled about the news, saying, "Jennifer has yearned to be a mother for many years." Lopez confirmed her pregnancy during a Miami concert in November. ... Striking members of the Writers Guild of America will meet with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers in Los Angeles and New York on Saturday in an effort to end the three-month strike. The WGA presidents said they wouldn't ink a contract with the movie and TV producers until they have met with WGA members and reviewed the terms. ...

Beastie Boys are planning to headline a Music Has Power concert to give a funding boost to New York's Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, which specializes in music-therapy treatments and research. Moby will host the March 4 event. ... R.E.M. premiered their new song "Supernatural Superserious" on New York radio station 101.9 RXP on Tuesday. The track is the first single from the veteran rockers' new album, Accelerate, which is due April 1. ... According to the Toronto Star, a Canadian radio host has filed a lawsuit against the White Stripes, seeking $70,000 for a sample the group used eight years ago. The sample appears on the track "Jumble, Jumble" from the Stripes' second album, 2000's De Stijl. Quebec radio host Dominique Payette claims the Stripes did not have permission to use the 10-second clip of her teen call-in show, in which she talks to an unidentified young girl, and the host believes her privacy has been violated. The suit seeks an injunction that could force the band and its label to remove copies of the album from stores. ... In more upbeat Stripes news, the group will release a Spanish-language version of its third Icky Thump single, "Conquest," on CD and 7-inch on February 19. "Conquista" — credited to "Las Rayas Blancas," amusingly enough — features the duo's first non-English vocal, sung by Jack White of course, and the single features an acoustic mariachi version of "Conquest" on the flipside. ...

American Hi-Fi are plugging away at their fourth studio album, which doesn't have a title or release date yet, in a Los Angeles studio. Singer Stacy Jones is taking on production duties for the effort, which will feature the rockers' reunited original lineup. If you're in Southern California, swing by West Hollywood's Troubadour on April 11, when the band performs at the venue, to get a taste of the new material. ... Swedish progressive-metallers Opeth have christened their next LP Watershed. The record has been slated for a June 3 release and will include the tracks "Heir Apparent," "The Lotus Eater" and "Porcelain Heart." ... Little Rock, Arkansas, Christian metal outfit Living Sacrifice have reunited. Singer Bruce Fitzhugh and drummer Lance Garvin have rejoined guitarist Rocky Gray and bassist Arthur Green and are currently writing material for a new album, due to land in stores later this year.

• 2008 Grammy Awards Performers And Presenters
• 2008 Grammy Award Nominees: Akon, Fergie, T.I., More

• Lindsay Lohan
• Christina Aguilera
• Tina Turner
• Beyoncé
• Public Enemy

UGK's <i>Underground Kingz</i>
Photo: Jive

Talk about a summer drought — even though it's only halfway through the season, there are hardly any heavy hitters left on the horizon until the fated September 11, when Kanye West and 50 Cent square off for their epic back-to-school battle. But between now and then, expect ripples to be made by the "High School Musical 2" soundtrack, Yung Joc and his Hustlenomics, and that's about it — save one big release this week, that is ...

Fit to Be Kingz?: Bun B and Pimp C formed UGK in Texas 20 years ago, if you can believe it, and while age usually isn't kind to hip-hop vets, the duo could make the biggest debut of their career on the strength of their huge summer single, "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" (featuring Outkast). Only two of the group's seven studio albums have opened in the top 20 on the Billboard albums chart, but with T.I., Lil Jon, Three 6 Mafia, Young Jeezy and Rick Ross scattered across the two-CD Underground Kingz, the chart-topping glory could be theirs.

Soul Food: Public Enemy have a year or two on UGK, and their first album came out much earlier — if you're keeping score at home, that would be Yo! Bum Rush the Show, which dropped in March 1987. It probably isn't a good sign of sales to come that Chuck D recently gave away vouchers for free copies of the group's new album, How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?, in New York. Equally foreboding is that the group's last effort, 1999's There's a Poison Goin' On, didn't even make it onto the Billboard albums chart. But PE do get a boost from Bomb Squad's Gary G-Wiz, who reunited with the crew to produce the LP; and KRS-One, who helps grease "Sex, Drugs and Violence." Don't miss "Frankenstar," "Head Wide Shut" and "Black Is Back," too.

The New Testament: Coming from the other end of the age spectrum is Fort Myers, Florida, rapper Plies, who is stepping out with his first major-label effort, The Real Testament. The LP features another summer banger, "Shawty" (featuring T-Pain), as well as contributions from Akon, Tank and producer J.R. Rotem, but give Plies credit for being creative: "Ain't Slippin' " features a bonus verse from a fan who won a lyrics contest the rapper held earlier in the year.

He's No Keanu: Speaking of music contests, "American Idol" fans no doubt recall fourth-season finalist Constantine Maroulis, who is finally delivering his long-in-the-works solo disc, Constantine. Issued through his own Sixth Place Productions banner, the set features a songwriting assist from Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas and also includes "Everybody Loves," a track soap-opera aficionados might recall from "The Bold and the Beautiful."

They're Frontin': Lots of activity on the frontmen front this week. Drowning Pool usher in a new singer, Ryan McCombs, on their new album Full Circle. The first 500 fans who preordered the disc through the band's Web site received autographed copies of the disc, which boasts "Reasons I'm Alive," "Upside Down" and "37 Stitches." Hard-rock kindred spirits Fuel have a new singer of their own: Toryn Green, who is introduced on the band's Angels & Devils.

Hot Water Music frontman Chuck Ragan is stepping out with his first solo album, Feast or Famine, which guests Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba, Jolie Holland and James Fearnley (the Pogues). And former Azure Ray co-frontwoman Orenda Fink is putting her energy these days into Art in Manila, whose Set the Woods on Fire debut comes courtesy of tastemaking indie label Saddle Creek. But it's psych-pop four-piece 54 Seconds who have probably the most unique frontman of the bunch: Bee Gee Robin Gibb's son Spencer. The band's Postcards From California features "Pocket Full of Numbers," "My Crazy Life" and "Dirty Little Secret."

Comp Troller: If you're into the whole various-artists thing, this is the week for you. For the soundtrack to the new Ethan Hawke movie "The Hottest State," Feist, Bright Eyes, Cat Power, M. Ward and others chalked up newly recorded versions of songs written by Grammy winner Jesse Harris, who co-produced the disc. The musical accompaniment to "The Trials of Darryl Hunt" is also packed with coffeehouse-worthy tracks, including unreleased cuts from Andrew Bird, Mark Kozelek, Portastatic and Califone. It reps the rap set too, with new songs from Dead Prez, Ras Kass and the Last Poets (featuring Dälek). Last but not least is Little Steven's Underground Garage Presents: The Coolest Songs in the World! Vol. 2, a new comp drummed up by Steven Van Zandt of E Street Band and "Sopranos" note. The set runs the garage-rock gamut from Joey Ramone and Buzzcocks to the Donnas and the Raveonettes.

Song Title of the Week:

"Let's Undress and Listen to CSS" from All Teeth and Knuckles' Club Hits to Hit the Club With

Album Cover of the Week:

Tarentel's Ghetto Beats on the Surface of the Sun

Other Notables:

Magnolia Electric Co.'s The Sojourner Boxset:
Why record one album when you can record three? That's apparently the Magnolia Electric Co.'s MO these days — the Secretly Canadian group's ridiculously ambitious new release encompasses three full-lengths, one EP and one DVD created by more than a dozen people. The LPs are Nashville Moon, which features the Jason Molina-led Ohio collective's most consistent lineup and was recorded with Steve Albini; Black Ram, featuring a much different lineup and recorded by Cracker's David Lowery; and Sun Sessions, tracked at Memphis' legendary Sun Studios. The EP, Shohola, is just Molina with a guitar and microphone; and the DVD, "The Road Becomes What You Leave," trails the band through Canada and "shows the loneliness and isolation one can feel even when traveling in a pack," according to a press release.

Okkervil River's The Stage Names:
The Texas band is on Secretly Canadian's sister label Jagjaguwar and faces high expectations with its fourth album, which succeeds 2005's critically beloved Black Sheep Boy. Frontman Will Sheff wrote the nine tracks — including "A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene" and "You Can't Hold the Hand of a Rock and Roll Man" — while traveling across the States, and to ensure that fans are along for the ride, the deluxe edition has a second disc brimming with solo demo versions of each song.

Two Dollar Pistols' Here Tomorrow Gone Today:
Hitting the digital sphere this week is the latest by the country/R&B/rockabilly crossover crew, which was aptly produced by Southern Culture on the Skids main man Rick Miller. On its first album in three years, the group coaxes SCOTS bassist Mary Huff for "Stranger Things Have Happened," while members of Tres Chicas lend support on "Anyone Else but Me." And for good measure, the group busts out a Farfisa organ for the less-than-amicable "I Don't Know You (But I Don't Like You)."

New Releases:

· 54 Seconds - Postcards From California (Rock Ridge)
· All Teeth and Knuckles - Club Hits to Hit the Club With (Lujo)
· Art in Manila - Set the Woods on Fire (Saddle Creek)
· Sam Baker - Pretty World (BlueLimeStone)
· Benzos - Branches (Stinky)
· Dave Brubeck - Indian Summer (Telarc)
· Brunettes - Structure & Cosmetics (Sub Pop)
· Buck-O-Nine - Sustain (Asian Man)
· Peter Case - Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John (Yep Roc)
· Copperpot - WYLA? (EV Productions)
· Kat DeLuna - 9 Lives (Sony) [Buy Now]
· DeSol - On My Way (Adrenaline)
· Christopher Denny - Age Old Hunger (Megaforce)
· Drifting in Silence - Fallto (Labile)
· Drowning Pool - Full Circle (Eleven Seven)
· Falu - Falu (Monsoon)
· The Fire the Flood - Truth Seekers (No Sleep)
· Robben Ford - Truth (Concord)
· Donovon Frankenreiter - Recycled Recipes (EP; only available at indie retailers and online; Lost Highway)
· Fuel - Angels & Devils (Epic) [Buy Now]
· Ezra Furman & the Harpoons - Banging Down the Doors (Minty Fresh)
· Gwendolyn - Lower Mill Road (available through CD Baby; Whispersquish)
· Bruce Hornsby, Jack DeJohnette, Christian McBride - Camp Meeting (Legacy)
· Johnny Irion - Ex Tempore (Rte 8/RCAM)
· Jonas Brothers - Jonas Brothers (enhanced; Hollywood) [Buy Now]
· June - Make It Blur (Victory)
· Magnolia Electric Co. - The Sojourner Boxset (box set with three CDs, one CD EP and one DVD; Secretly Canadian)
· Constantine Maroulis - Constantine (6th Place)
Read: " 'American Idol' Vets Bo Bice, Constantine Maroulis Can't Stop Rockin' "
· Mirah and Spectratone International - Share This Place: Stories and Observations · Marissa Nadler - Song 3: Bird on the Water (Kemado)
· National Product - Luna (Innovative Distribution Network)
· Nedelle - The Locksmith Cometh (available at indie stores only; Tangram 7s)
· Oh No Oh My! - Between the Devil and the Sea (EP; Dim Mak)
· Okkervil River - The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)
· People - Misbegotten Man (enhanced; I and Ear)
· Plies - The Real Testament (Atlantic) [Buy Now]
Read: "Akon Might Have Made Plies' Song Into A Hit — Without Him — But There's No Beef"
· Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - This Is Somewhere (Hollywood)
· The Pretty Things - Balboa Island (Zoho)
· Public Enemy - How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul? (with DVD; Slam Jamz) [Buy Now]
· Chuck Ragan - Feast or Famine (Side One Dummy)
· The Receiving End of Sirens - The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi (Triple Crown)
· Inga Rumpf & Friends - Rockpalast (MVD Audio)
· Luther Russell - Repair (Adrenaline)
· Schooner - Hold on Too Tigh (54-40 or Fight)
· Secret Stealth - Hooked on You (Kosmic)
· Simple Kid - 2 (Yep Roc)
· Spokane - Little Hours (Jagjaguwar)
· Slighty Stoopid - Chronchitis (Megaforce)
· Still Remains - The Serpent (Roadrunner)
· The Stabilisers - Wanna Do the Wild Plastic Brane Love Thing? (Wicked Cool)
· Tarentel - Ghetto Beats on the Surface of the Sun (two CDs; Temporary Residence)
· Testa Rosa - Testa Rosa (Latest Flame)
· Throwdown - Venom and Tears (Trustkill)
· Tiger Stripes - Safari (MVD Audio)
· Castor Troy - Patience Above (EP; Rock Ridge)
· UGK - Underground Kingz (two CDs; Jive) [Buy Now]
Read: "Ex-Con Pimp C Juiced For UGK Album, Says He Has Lessons To Teach"
· Underminded - Eleven: Eleven (Uprising)
· The Warriors - Genuine Sense of Outrage (Victory)
· Yakuza - Transmissions (Prosthetic)
· Zap Mama - Supermoon (Heads Up)
· ZO2 - Ain't It Beautiful (Riker Hill)
· Various artists - Land of a Thousand Rappers (Asthmatic Kitty)
· Various artists - True Colors: The Tour CD (Tommy Boy)
· Various artists - "The Hottest State" soundtrack (Hickory)
· Various artists - "Superbad" soundtrack (Lakeshore)
· Various artists - "The Trials of Darryl Hunt" soundtrack (Young American)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· Andy and the Bey Sisters - 'Round Midnight (Prestige)
· Chet Atkins - The Early Years: 1946-1957 (five-CD box set; JSP)
· Drake Bell - Telegraph (Backhouse)
· Bitter: Sweet - The Remix Game (Quango)
· James Brown - The Singles, Volume Three: 1964-1965 (two CDs; Hip-O Select)
· John Coltrane - Stardust (Prestige)
· Miles Davis Quintet - Steamin' With the Miles Davis Quintet (Prestige)
· Diamond Rio - 16 Biggest Hits (Arista)
· The Dickies - Second Coming (Captain Oi!)
· Bo Diddley - You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover (Music Avenue)
· Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends - Ladies and Gentlemen (two CDs; Shout! Factory)
· Art Farmer - Farmer's Market (Prestige)
· Red Garland - Soul Junction (Prestige)
· Billie Holiday - Remixed & Reimagined (RCA/Legacy)
· Alan Jackson - 16 Biggest Hits (Arista/Legacy)
· Mississippi Fred McDowell - An Introduction to Mississippi Fred McDowell (Fuel)
· Ju Suk Reet Meate - Solo 78/79 (De Stijl)
· Magic Sam - An Introduction to Magic Sam (Fuel)
· Gretchen Peters - Burnt Toast & Offerings (Thirty Tigers)
· Rivingtons - Papa Oom Mow Mow: Rockin' R&B and Boss Ballads (Shout! Factory)
· Diana Ross - Last Time I Saw Him - Deluxe Edition (two CDs; Hip-O-Select)
· Joe Satriani - Surfing With the Alien: Legacy Edition (with DVD; Epic/Legacy)
· Third Day - Chronology, Volume Two: 2001-2006 (two CDs; Essential)
· Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat: The Songs of Leonard Cohen - 20th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)
· Various artists - The Best of Newport '57 - 50th Anniversary (Verve)
· Various artists - Classic Bluegrass Collection, Vol. 1-4 (eight-CD box set; Time Life)
· Various artists - Classic Soul Ballads (10-CD box set; Time Life)
· Various artists - Lifetime of Country Romance and Lifetime of Romance (10-CD box sets; Time Life)
· Various artists - Little Steven's Underground Garage Presents: The Coolest Songs in the World! Vol. 2 (Wicked Cool)
· Various artists - The Soul Story (10-CD box set; Time Life)
· Various artists - Superstars of Country (10-CD box set; Time Life)

Music DVDs:

· GG Allin & the Murder Junkies - "Hated" (MVD Visual)
· David Bowie - "The Plastic Soul Review" (Sexy Intellectual)
· Solomon Burke - "The King Live at AVO Session Basel" (MVD Visual)
· Larry Coryell, Al Di Meola and Bereli Lagrene - "Live At Montreux 1989" (Eagle Eye)
· Deftones - "The Complete Story" (Video Music)
· The Delfonics - "Live in Concert" (Soul Concerts)
· Fleetwood Mac - "Videobiography" (Classic Rock Legends)
· George Jones - "Greatest Hits: Live Recordings From the Church Street Station" (MVD Visual)
· Led Zeppelin - "Videography" (two DVDs; Classic Rock Legends)
· Harold Melvin - "Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes: Live in Concert" (Soul Concerts)
· Melba Moore - "Melba Moore: Live in Concert" (Soul Concerts)
· Musical Youth - "This Generation: Musical Youth Live in the U.K." (MVD Visual)
· The Platters - "The Platters With Special Guests the Crickets & Lenny Welch" (MVD Visual)
· Elvis Presley - "Memories of the King" (Classic Rock Legends)
· Inga Rumpf & Friends - "Rockpalast" (MVD Visual)
· Edwin Starr - "Live in Concert" (Soul Concerts)
· Barbra Streisand - "Inside the Actors Studio" (Universal)
· Uriah Heep - "Transmissions" (with CD and book; Classic Rock Legends)
· The White Stripes - "The Document" (with CD; Video Music)
· Various artists - "A Night at the Family Dog" (Eagle Vision)
· Various artists - "Blues, Rags & Hollers: The Koerner, Ray & Glover Story" (MVD Visual)
· Various artists - "Vintage Reggae Bash" (MVD Visual)

Digital Releases:

· Sportsguitar - Cicadas' Chirping; Fade/Cliché; Happy Already; Married, 3 Kids; and Surface (reissues; Kitty-Yo)
· Two Dollar Pistols - Here Tomorrow Gone Today (8th House)

Coming Attractions:

August 14:
· Blaqk Audio - Cexcells (Interscope) [Preorder]

Read: "AFI Members Have Another Fire Inside: Side Project Blaqk Audio"
· Wayne Wonder - Foreva (VP)
· Various artists - "High School Musical 2" soundtrack (Disney)
Read: " 'High School Musical' Stars Dish On Sequel's Showstoppers, Love Triangles"

August 21:
· As I Lay Dying - An Ocean Between Us (Metal Blade)
· Cartel - Cartel (Epic) [Preorder]
Read: "Pop-Punks Cartel Show Off Grandma's Digs, Borrow Benz For 'Cribs' "
· Talib Kweli - Ear Drum (Reprise) [Preorder]
Read: "Stung By Criticism Of Last LP, Talib Kweli Promises No Sting Samples This Time"
· New Pornographers - Challengers (Matador)
· Swizz Beatz - One Man Band Man (enhanced; Motown) [Preorder]
Read: "Beyonce Hitmaker Swizz Beatz Defies Radio Rules With Two-Minute Single"

August 28:
· Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass (Def Jux)
· Ice Water - Raekwon Presents: Ice Water - Polluted Water (Babygrande)
· Yung Joc - Hustlenomics (Bad Boy) [Preorder]

• UGK
• Plies
• Public Enemy
• Okkervil River
• Constantine Maroulis

Rihanna on the August 2007 cover of <i>Vibe Vixen</i>
Photo: "Vibe Vixen"

Seems like Rihanna may be listening to too much T.I. (or is that T.I.P.?) lately. In the August/September issue of Vibe Vixen, the cover starlet told the magazine about resolving her own split-personality issues, one being her crafted stage persona, Rihanna (her actual middle name), and the other being her given namesake and usual self, Robyn. "It wasn't that [my management or the label] told me what to do," she explained. "It was more of what I couldn't do. I couldn't wear red lipstick. I couldn't wear my hair in a ponytail; all kinds of stupid things. Being 'Rihanna' wasn't natural. So I rebelled. I'm doing me. Now, Robyn and Rihanna are much more similar." In the issue, hitting newsstands August 7, the Bajan singer also addressed the Jay-Z rumors once more, revealing at one point she couldn't even look him in the eye she was so embarrassed by all the gossip. But, according to Rihanna, Jay approached her and told her to just ignore the lies. " 'It is what it is,' " she quoted him as saying. ...

On Thursday (July 26) the Santa Monica Police Department in California released the 911 call made by the mother of Lindsay Lohan's former personal assistant — in the three-minute call, which was made at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, the woman begged for help after a GMC began trailing her and appeared not to know that Lohan was driving it. When the dispatcher asked where she was, the woman said she was heading to the police station, and she wound up parking at the nearby Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Muffled yells can be heard near the end of the call, after which the woman can be heard apparently identifying people to the police. According to The Associated Press, police said Lohan and the woman were having a heated debate when they showed up, and that two men had accompanied Lohan in the car. ...

The Lohan debacle is getting even messier: In an e-mail sent Wednesday to 24/Sizzler's David Caplan, Ali Lohan defended her mother against father Michael Lohan, who has been making the media rounds to comment on Lindsay's arrest. "My father is telling all lies to people and saying he was such a great dad and was always there for us, my father was never there for us. I think that the whole reason why my sister is upset with herself and not as confident is because of my dad not being around and always staying out late and not coming home for days." ...

And Dina Lohan isn't too happy about Rob Schneider spoofing her daughter Lindsay on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" Tuesday night. A statement issued to "Access Hollywood" and attributed to "Dina and family" reads: "We have a great respect for Jay Leno, but we are disappointed in the path he chose to allow a guest to make light of a very serious situation concerning Lindsay. Thank you to Craig Ferguson for not making a mockery of such a serious situation to which teens and young adults are facing across the country." ...

Maroon 5 have been tapped to join previously announced performers Alicia Keys, Usher, Avril Lavigne and Fall Out Boy at this year's Fashion Rocks event, taking place September 6 at New York's Radio City Music Hall. The event will be hosted by "Entourage" star Jeremy Piven and air the following day on CBS at 9 p.m. ET. ...

Chuck D handed out vouchers for free copies of Public Enemy's new album, How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?, at Union Square in Manhattan, New York, on Thursday (July 26). The project, due August 7, is being released by the PE frontman's label, SlamJamz Records, and TuneCore, a digital distribution company that offered fans at the event a chance to make their own music available on online stores like iTunes. ...

Island Def Jam Records launched a campaign on Thursday for Ronald "Mr. Biggs" Isley in hopes of securing an executive pardon for the singer, who was indicted on tax-evasion charges in September. A federal judge originally ordered Isley to three years in prison, but his sentencing hearing had been postponed until next month. The label is citing Isley's declining health and his efforts to pay down the IRS debt as reasons for the pardon. ...

Don't expect to see a sexy starlet in the new Marc Jacobs ad campaign — Michael Stipe is doing the honors, RollingStone.com reports. The bare-and-hairy-chest R.E.M. frontman wears baggy blue pants in the ad. He's not the only rocker cropping up in clothing ads these days: John Mayer is part of the new Gap ad campaign. ... Jamie Reynolds of the Klaxons broke his leg stage-diving at a show in France over the weekend, and the band has had to table four concerts in Australia as a result, according to its MySpace page. ... Take a bite out of this: Apple shipped 9.82 million iPods last quarter, helping boost profits 73 percent. The company expects to ship 1 million iPhones this quarter. ...

A man who demanded $1 million not to publish stolen photos of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding has been arrested, The Associated Press reports. David Hans Schmidt was caught Tuesday, a bail bond was set at $100,000 and he is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. The FBI had been contacted after Schmidt approached Cruise's representatives six weeks ago with the photos. ... Naomi Watts gave birth to a baby boy on Wednesday. The dad is longtime boyfriend and actor Liev Schreiber. ...

Izzy Stradlin fan site ChopAway.com says the guitarist sent along an e-mail letting it know that he might turn up for the 20th anniversary celebration of Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction, set to take place Saturday at West Hollywood, California's Key Club. In the note, Stradlin added that Appetite drummer Steven Adler will be performing, and, according to RollingStone.com, L.A. Gun Tracii Guns will also be there. The site reports that Slash and Duff McKagan are "maybes." ...

To mark the 30th anniversary of the release of the Sex Pistols' Never Mind the Bollocks ... Here's the Sex Pistols, the band is planning to release a special edition of the LP on October 29 — but not on plastic. The album will be reissued in heavyweight vinyl with a 7-inch insert of "Submission" and a poster — just as the record was originally released October 28, 1977. The Pistols will also reissue their four classic singles "Anarchy in the U.K.," "God Save the Queen," "Pretty Vacant" and "Holidays in rhe Sun" on vinyl as well throughout the month of October. ...

Veteran rock/industrial drummer Martin Atkins, who has played with Ministry, Public Image Ltd. and Killing Joke, has compiled his 30-plus years of knowledge about how to survive on the road into a 530-page bible called "Tour: Smart ... and Break the Band." Due in September, the book has tips on everything from how to write contracts, pick tour vans and market yourself to making a guest list, decorating the stage, getting paid and what to do when your gear gets stolen. Among the contributors to the book are Steve Albini, Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, Henry Rollins and former Marilyn Manson guitarist Zim Zum.

07.25.07

Don't believe Kanye West has a sense of humor? He's posted a hilarious new "Can't Tell Me Nothing" clip, starring underground comedian Zach Galifianakis and indie-folkie Will Oldham, on his site. According to Billboard.com, the hilarious low-budget clip — which features Galifianakis and Oldham mouthing the words to the song while they hang with cows and gyrate against tractors — was filmed at Galifianakis' farm in North Carolina. Galifianakis also made a memorable appearance in Fiona Apple's "Not About Love" video, but he recently told Impose Magazine that it was his clip for Anita Baker's "You Bring Me Joy" that won over West. ...

Beyoncé took a big spill at her concert in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday night, tumbling headfirst down 12 steps at Amway Arena. Video capturing the gaffe is making the rounds on the Web — even though the singer told the crowd not to post the clip on YouTube. "Beyoncé's fall onstage last night ... was a case of her coat's hem getting caught in her shoes," her publicist Yvette Noel-Schure said in a statement issued Wednesday (July 25), "but Miss Knowles picked herself right up, without missing a beat, showing to all that she is the best." ... The Backstreet Boys have pegged October 30 as the release date for their new, yet-untitled album, which will be led by first single "Inconsolable," Billboard.com reports. Don't expect to hear Kevin Richardson on there, though — he left in June 2006 (and wasn't replaced). ...

Wyclef Jean has snatched up Akon, Lil Wayne and newcomer Niia for "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)," the first single from his forthcoming album Carnival II (Memoirs of an Immigrant). The Columbia release will hit stores in November. ...

Has "Deathly Hallows" left you with a question or two? You might be able to get an answer from the author herself — on Monday, "Harry Potter" publisher Bloomsbury will hold a live chat with J.K. Rowling on Bloomsbury.com. In other Potter news, publisher Scholastic says a few hundred of the 12 million copies of "Deathly Hallows" are missing pages, The Associated Press reports. The company said defective books can be replaced by bringing them back to point of purchase, but some fans are stowing them away as keepsakes. ...

Lindsay Lohan might have even more problems on her hands — according to TMZ.com, she pulled an illegal U-turn in April in Los Angeles that wound up causing an accident between vehicles driven by her bodyguard Jaz Bennett and another woman, Signe Dupuy. Dupuy says Bennett gave her a fake name and number after the accident and that she's considering filing suit against him and Lohan. A representative for Lohan told TMZ that a letter sent by Dupuy was filed away because it was assumed that it would also be sent to Lohan's lawyers. In yet another legal case involving Lohan, TMZ.com reports that she filed documents in Los Angeles County Superior Court last week pertaining to the October 2005 car crash in which she hit a parked van in Beverly Hills, California. Last month, Raymundo Ortega, the owner of the van, filed a lawsuit claiming Lohan was drunk at the time of the accident. In the documents she filed, Lohan claims the suit is "nothing more than an attempt to extort money from a celebrity by setting forth false and scurrilous allegations in a complaint." She said the police report claims, "Ms. Lohan had not been drinking. I did not observe any objective signs of either alcohol or drug intoxication and determined that no further investigation regarding intoxication was warranted." ...

It might not be showtime for Swizz Beatz if police in Camden, New Jersey, get their way. According to AP, authorities are threatening to drop their sponsorship of a peace rally due to the producer's scheduled appearance and his perceived anti-snitching stance on his single "It's Me Snitches." But Swizz released a statement to AP explaining the track, which has no anti-snitching content, was renamed for radio from its original title "It's Me Bitches." "If I supported violence or the 'Stop Snitching' campaign, I wouldn't have agreed to be a part of the event [in the first place]," he said in the statement. ...

Devo can't get any satisfaction these days — thanks to Korn. The New Wavers are lashing out at Jonathan Davis and the gang for allegedly biting the group's "devolution" concept in a fake movie trailer posted on EvolutionDevolution.com. "We denounce this as imposters playing with fire," Gerald Casale wrote in a post on Devo.com. He told RollingStone.com that Korn fans have been sending him hate mail since he posted the note on the site. "We went, 'Wow, this is insane. This is a perfect example of devolution. ... Gee, I'm sorry we thought all this up 30 years ago and have been putting it out there and preaching it ever since.' " ... A medical examiner was "hasty" in calling actress Lana Clarkson's death a homicide, forensic pathologist Dr. Werner Spitz testified for Phil Spector's defense on Wednesday (July 25), AP reports. "In my opinion, it was most likely a suicide," said Spitz, who added that he has seen autopsy reports. Spitz testified that Clarkson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the mouth. ...

Mya and Claudette Ortiz, formerly of City High, headlined the weekly R&B Live showcase at Spotlight Live in Manhattan, New York, on Tuesday night. Music industry bigwigs Steve Stoute, Sylvia Rhone and Jacob "The Jeweler" Arabo were in attendance as D-Nice manned the DJ booth. ... Don't worry about calling Bartman — the Simpsons have the United Nations on their side. The World Intellectual Property Organization, a UN agency, ruled Wednesday that the ownership of the domain name TheSimpsonsMovie.com must be turned over to 20th Century Fox after the company complained about the address registered to Keith Malley of Brooklyn, New York. Malley had demanded a $50,000 fee to cede the domain name, but the WIPO found that he "has no rights or legitimate interests" to it. ...

Pearl Jam will perform an intimate concert at Chicago's Vic Theatre on August 2 — which will warm the guys up for their headlining set at Lollapalooza three days later. Tickets will go on sale Thursday, but only for members of the band's Ten Club fan organization; tickets won't be made available to the general public. ... Chevelle have rolled out a new set of tour dates for the late summer and early fall. The first show is set for August 25 in Grayslake, Illinois, and the tour is scheduled to run through September 16 in Dayton, Ohio. ...

In a recent interview, Disturbed guitarist Dan Donegan discussed the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's next album. "Musically, [the next LP will be] a lot ballsier," he said. Donegan added that there will be "those signature things that are us, just 'cause stylistically that's the way we perform, and [frontman] David [Draiman], vocally, is always going to sound like him, so ... he's got some big melodic moments, but there's some still aggressive stuff. [We're] trying to get a good blend of the elements of the past three CDs to try to evolve into something fresh and new for us as well." The band will hit the studio in the fall and is planning an early 2008 release for the yet-untitled offering. ...

Indie "death-rapper" Necro has bailed from the Sounds of the Underground Tour because "the tour's demographic was not receiving hip-hop well," he said in a statement. "I was facing hostile, disrespectful crowds and was returning the same energy back tenfold by being more aggressive than them. It was making a lot of people in the tour crew nervous and there was concern someone might get hurt (not me)." ... The Eagles of Death Metal are starting to write material for the follow-up to 2006's Death by Sexy. According to frontman Jesse "The Devil" Hughes, the guys "hear your cries for boot-skootin', guitar-rock-tootin', sex-rock music, honeybabies," and promise a 2008 release for their next set. "EODM will quench your musical thirsts with a burst of mantastic-fantastic!!! Album #3 will be the greatest EODM release to date." ...

Don't expect to see the cast of "High School Musical" lighting up anytime soon — Disney has become the first major Hollywood studio to ban depictions of smoking in its family-oriented films, Reuters reports. In a letter to Representative Edward Markey — whose House committee recently held a hearing on how movie images affect children — Disney Chief Executive Robert Iger said Disney would "discourage" smoking in films distributed by its labels Touchstone and Miramax. He added that anti-smoking public-service announcements would appear on DVDs of films that do depict smoking and would encourage theaters to show similar PSAs along with such films. Markey called the move "groundbreaking."

• Rihanna Opens Up Umbrellas, Becomes Vibe Vixen

• Rihanna
• Jay-Z
• John Mayer
• Guns N' Roses
• The Sex Pistols

Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst
Photo: MTV News

Well, it took them long enough.

More than six years into the presidency of arguably the most polarizing leader in U.S. history, and four grindingly long years into the second-least-popular American war ever, a wave of musicians is finally speaking — or at least singing — up.

How quiet they had been. With few exceptions — the Dixie Chicks' refusal to "shut up and sing" in 2003 and willingness to pay for it by losing their largely red-state fan base, and Green Day's tour de force American Idiot, which was either about a disaffected teen or man in the White House operating with messianic purpose — the music community had been largely silent about George W. Bush, effectively giving the president and his policies — including the Iraq War — a pop pass.

Of course, without a concerted mass protest movement against the war, the rise of any significant amount of protest music was never likely. And where was it gonna come from? Certainly not pop or R&B. Hip-hop? The genre seems to have drifted from the voice that Public Enemy's Chuck D once called the "CNN of the streets."

So that left the old standby: rock. Today, it's as fractured and as embattled as it's ever been, and it hasn't been given to political commentary. The emo dudes (the Wentzes and Ways of the world) can summon plenty of angst, but generally don't look past their own navels to the wider world; so-called "mainstream rock" (Nickelback, the Fray, the Chili Peppers, etc.) didn't seem to be interested; the U.K.'s arena men (Coldplay, Snow Patrol, etc.) served more as musical balms than rabble rousers; and as erudite as many of them are, indie rockers were mostly addressing other concerns — definitely not the war or its architects.

Well, no more! At least not judging by the flurry of albums that have come out in the first half of 2007. From Arcade Fire, Sum 41, Bright Eyes, Smashing Pumpkins ... the voices and the lyrics — some literal and pointed, some far more subtle — run the gamut, but the overall message seems clear, and it ain't pretty.

"I think it's great for anyone to become more aware of those ideas and, if they're compelled to, share them with their audience," Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst said.

(See why Conor Oberst has been outspoken about the Iraq war, President Bush and more, right here.)

And yes, they are sharing. From Arcade Fire's "Intervention" ("No place to hide/ You were fighting as a soldier on their side/ You're still a soldier in your mind/ Though nothing's on the line") to Rufus Wainwright's searing "Going to Town" ("You took advantage of a world that loved you well/ I'm going to a town that has already been burned down/ I'm so tired of you, America") to Sum 41's remarkably blunt "March of the Dogs" ("Ladies and gentlemen of the underclass/ The President of the United States of America/Is dead!"), tongues have been unleashed up and down your radio dial (or all over your iTunes — pick your poison). The lyrics seem to echo a growing majority of public opinion, but while the origin seems clear, the timing — and why it all took so long — is a bit harder to pin down.

"Not many bands today are speaking their minds on issues", Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington told MTV News. "We've been noticing some things that we're not too stoked on and we feel like we're at a place now where we can speak out about it."

Some artists say they've been speaking their minds all along, but the message may have been lost until now. "As for me, I felt really, extremely angry and frightened and crazy over it a few years ago," Oberst said. "I think that's when I was writing the most overt songs about it. Now I've sort of reached a point of overload, where I just didn't want to think about it anymore, which I guess is sort of chicken sh--."

Perhaps. Even Sum frontman Deryck Whibley backpedaled on the "the President of the United States of America is dead" thing, telling MTV News' James Montgomery that the lyrics are "a metaphor" for how "ineffectual and incompetent" Bush is as a president. Whibley also insisted the upcoming Sum 41 album Underclass Hero would not be a "political record" (see "Sum 41 Kill President In New Song — Deryck Whibley Says It's 'A Metaphor' s").

But if Whibley won't go there, plenty of others have. You'd be hard pressed to find a more "political record" than Year Zero from Nine Inch Nails. Trent Reznor traded in angst for social commentary, drumming up a bleak look at where America is — and, sadly, where it could be 15 years from now. You'd be hard pressed to find a darker record out there. "I got my propaganda/ I got revisionism/ I got my violence/ In hi-def ultra-realism/ All a part of this great nation/ I got my fist/ I got my plan/ I got survivalism," he howls on "Survivalism." Later, on "Capital G," he sings, "Well I used to stand for something/ Now I'm on my hands and knees/ Turning in the god of this war/ And he signs his name with a capital G" (see "Nine Inch Nails' Year Zero Preview: Beginning To Solve The Mystery").

The man who "signs his name with a capital G" also takes some knocks from a less expected place than Reznor: some former purveyors of nu-metal who've found a newly political voice. Linkin Park have never been viewed as a political band, but on the Mike Shinoda-penned track "Hands Held High," the band definitely goes there (see "Linkin Park's Minutes To Midnight Preview: Nu-Metallers Grow Up" and "Could Linkin Park, Green Day, Nine Inch Nails Be The Next U2?"). "For a leader so nervous in an obvious way/ Stuttering and mumbling for nightly news to replay/And the rest of the world watching at the end of the day/ In the living room, laughing, like, 'What did he say?' " Elsewhere on their latest, Minutes to Midnight, the band remembers the victims of Hurricane Katrina and takes aim at the government that failed to help ("Hope decays, generations disappear/ Washed away, as a nation simply stares").

At the same time, Bennington adds, the band will only go so far: observation, yes; incitement, no. "That was a difficult process with these particular songs because ... we don't want to preach, you know?" he said. "We just want to kind of speak our minds without telling you what to do." But there is no mistaking the origin of Linkin Park's new album title. Minutes to Midnight is a reference to the Doomsday Clock, the theoretical clock that portends the possibility of nuclear armageddon. (That clock, by the way, is currently "set" at five minutes to midnight).

And they aren't the only ones watching the clock. Smashing Pumpkins finally returns to us with the appropriately titled "Doomsday Clock" ("Is everyone afraid? Is everyone ashamed?/ Apocalyptic scream, they're bound to kill us all"). Main Pumpkin Bill Corgan isn't doing interviews for the upcoming Zeitgeist, preferring to let the music "speak for itself," we're told, and with tracks like "For God and Country" and the 10-minute epic "United States" ("I don't know what I believe/ But if I feel safe, what do I need?/ Revolution! Revolution!"), the music is speaking loud and clear.

The parade doesn't end there. Montreal's Arcade Fire returned in March with another album full of urgent, exuberant rock — only this time, as the twisted title Neon Bible suggests — they took their megaphones in a darker direction, one more informed by that uniquely American place where God, guns and gall intersect ("Don't wanna live in my father's house no more/ Don't wanna fight in a holy war/ Don't want the salesmen knocking at my door/ I don't wanna live in America no more," the band sings on "Windowsill").

And, of course, there is Bright Eyes. Oberst has been raising his voice and growing more politically indignant (about the state of the world and particularly about the Bush administration) since 2000 (see "Bright Eyes Slam 'Off-The-Leash Administration'; Give Details On New Albums"). He drew praise — and a degree of outrage — when he performed the vitriolic "When the President Talks to God" on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in 2005 (moral of the story: know your audience). He tells us that his latest, Cassadaga, is less "overtly political," saying its essence is "just sort of trying to make peace with everything, to be comfortable in your own skin."

Still, there are undoubtedly political themes throughout. He concedes politics is "always in the background" and "hard to escape completely." And Oberst does manage to come up with at least one incendiary couplet on "Four Winds": "The Bible's blind, the Torah's deaf, the Koran's mute/ If you burned them all together, you'd get close to the truth."

Them's fatwa words, son. Was Oberst not at all hesitant to go there, in a world where a cartoonist can be a marked man for offending religious sensibilities? Apparently not. "I guess I didn't think about it too much," he said. "I haven't really gotten much angry feedback or anything." And, while he says he means no disrespect to anyone's faith, he makes no apologies for the lyric. "For me, religion is ... if it enhances your life and it's something that, you know, gives you compassion or comfort or makes you empathetic toward other people or anything which religion should do in its pure form, then I think it's great. But it's hard not to look historically and just not think that it is the worst thing to ever happen to the human race. It really is."

Amid all of this, we also get the return of Rage Against the Machine, hardly a coincidence. But where were they during most of Bush's time in office? Squabbling? Not speaking to each other, when their powerful voice of dissent would seem to be just what the times called for? For that matter, where was anyone in music who thought this country was headed in the wrong direction? Clearly, Rage hopes to make up for lost time, telling the crowd at Coachella, "Our current administration needs to be tried, hung and shot. We need to treat them like the war criminals they are" (see "Rage Against The Machine's Ferocious Reunion Caps Coachella's Final Night").

Alrighty then. But will it any of this incite revolution? Not likely. This remains a nation of CD burners, not flag burners. As for Iraq, "surge" or no "surge," there is no end in sight. As the Florida punk rockers Against Me! point out in "White People for Peace" — a new song that the band says celebrates the nobility and futility of protesting war — "protest songs in a response to military aggression/ Protest songs to try and stop the soldier's gun/ But the battle raged on."

But neither is there any reason to think the protest lyrics will let up any time soon. You'd hate to think these artists simply waited until public opinion — in opposition to the war and to the Bush presidency in general — was overwhelmingly on their side. Whatever the reason, the flood gates seem to have opened. Better late than never, I guess. The march of the dogs as the doomsday clock counts down the minutes to midnight and year zero, and it's kill or be killed. It's coming, so keep the car runnin'.

Zeitgeist, indeed.

• Bright Eyes And The State Of The Nation

• Bright Eyes
• Arcade Fire
• Nine Inch Nails
• The Smashing Pumpkins
• Rage Against the Machine

David Bowie
Photo: Virgin

Landing the #1 spot on the Billboard albums chart is pretty easy — provided your name is Elvis, the Beatles or, uh, Now That's What I Call Music! For anyone else, it's a rather difficult thing to accomplish because, despite some of the "luminaries" who've occupied the top spot this year (Pretty Ricky, Daughtry), the #1 album club is a pretty exclusive one.

Up until this week, Johnny Marr — whose ringing guitar tones were first heard nearly 25 years ago on the Smiths' "Hand in Glove" — wasn't a member. Then We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, the new album from Modest Mouse, debuted in the top spot, selling an impressive 128,000 copies (see " Modest Mouse Felt 'No Pressure' To Be #1 — But They Got There Anyway "). This gave Marr, who joined MM before this album, his first-ever Stateside #1.

And while it might have taken Marr a quarter-century to get his first Billboard chart-topper, at least he got there. Because there's a whole list of rock, pop and hip-hop heavyweights who haven't, and — unless they decide to record a duet with someone like Jay-Z — probably never will.

We've compiled some of them here, though it bears mentioning that we're only talking about #1 albums on the Billboard 200, mainly because it ranks the top-selling albums in the country, regardless of genre (plus it's been around — under various handles like the "Stereo Action Charts," "Top LPs" and "Top Pop Albums" — since 1945), but also because landing the #1 album on the Top Contemporary Jazz chart just doesn't seem like all that great of an accomplishment (unless, of course, you're Motörhead).

David Bowie: The Thin White Duke has accomplished much in a career that spans more than 40 years, including countless #1 albums in the U.K., yet the top spot on the Billboard albums chart has continued to elude him. He's come close in the past: 1976's Station to Station made it to #3, and '83's Let's Dance got to #4 based on the strength of the title track (which made it to #1 on the singles chart). The following year, his Tonight album peaked at #11 — and he hasn't made it higher since.

Tom Petty: Be it as a solo artist, along with the Heartbreakers or as a member of the Traveling Wilburys, Petty's never had the #1 album on the Billboard chart. Damn the Torpedoes got to #2 in early 1980, a position it would hold for seven straight weeks (Pink Floyd's The Wall, in the midst of a 15-week run at #1, kept it from taking the top spot). Full Moon Fever made it to #3, and Wildflowers got to #8. The Traveling Wilburys' Vol. 1 — which Petty recorded with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne — peaked at #3 in 1989. Last year, his third solo effort, Highway Companion debuted at #4.

Kiss: As the commanders of the Kiss Army — and the sheer purchasing power contained therein — it's rather shocking to learn that Gene Simmons and company have never made it to #1. Thanks to the crossover appeal of "Christine Sixteen," 1977's Love Gun got to #4 on the chart, and it wasn't until 1998's Psycho Circus that they made it higher: That album topped out at #3.

Public Enemy: Perhaps it was the political slant, the blaring production or the fact that Chuck D just scared the crap out of most of America, but PE have never had a #1 album on the Billboard 200. Fear of a Black Planet scraped the top 10 in 1990, and Apocalypse 91 ... The Enemy Strikes Black powered its way to #4 (Apocalypse did, however, go to #1 on the R&B/hip-hop chart). Since then, they've released a pair of albums that didn't dent the top 10, and 2002's Revolverlution peaked at #110.

Duran Duran: They ruled the '80s with pulsing synths and razor-sharp cheekbones, but the Durannies could never quite strut their way to the top of the albums chart. The decade-uniting Rio made it to #6 in 1983 (back when Michael Jackson's Thriller was the reigning chart champ) and stayed in the top 200 for 129 consecutive weeks. The live album Arena, recorded during their '83-'84 world tour, actually charted higher — it got to #4. The boys' self-titled 1993 comeback record made it to #7, but they haven't caressed the top 10 since.

The Who: They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as "prime contenders, in the minds of many, for the title of World's Greatest Rock Band," but the Who have not made it to #1 on the albums chart. They got close with 1973's Quadrophenia and 1978's Who Are You, both of which peaked at #2. Last year's Endless Wire — the band's first studio album in more than 20 years — debuted at #7.

Neil Diamond: He's written hit singles for everyone from Deep Purple to the Monkees and had his own fair share of singular success, but — somewhat inexplicably — Diamond's never had a #1 album in a career that's spanned nearly 50 years. His soundtracks to "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" and "The Jazz Singer" (the latter of which contained his ultra-schmaltzy hit "America") got to #2 and #3, respectively, and a host of his late-'70s efforts made the top 10. In 2005, his Rick Rubin-produced 12 Songs debuted at #4.

Ozzy Osbourne: Whether running solo or as a member of seminal metal act Black Sabbath, the Ozzman never managed to battle his way to the top of the Billboard albums chart. Sabbath's Master of Reality made it to #8, and a host of Osbourne's solo albums landed in the top 10 (most notably 1995's Ozzmosis, and his 2001 follow-up, Down to Earth, both of which debuted at #4).

The Cure: Robert Smith and his mascaraed marauders debuted at #2 with 1992's Wish, but that's as close as they ever came to the top spot. And we suspect they've been depressed about it ever since.

Motörhead: OK, while this one doesn't exactly fall into the "shocking" category, we'd like to state for the record that it's a crime of monumental proportions that Lemmy and his mates have not had a #1 album on the Billboard chart (though 1991's 1916 did reach #142). In fact, Mr. Kilminster's biggest chart success came in 2001, when WWF: The Music, Vol. 5 — featuring Motörhead's "The Game," which wrestler Triple H used as his entrance music — sold 176,000 copies and debuted at #2, proving once again that you should never doubt the broad cross-market appeal of Hunter Hearst Helmsley.

The Smiths/ Morrissey: Marr's former bandmates — and his former musical foil — must be hella jealous about his recent chart success, because none of them has ever gotten close to sniffing #1 on the top 200. The Smiths' final album, 1987's Strangeways, Here We Come, topped out at #55, and the Mozfather never got higher on the charts than he did with 2004's You Are the Quarry, which debuted at #11. Then again, all that could change if the Smiths would just go ahead and reunite already ... hint, hint.

• Modest Mouse's Immodest Debut

• Artists Who've Never Been #1: Ozzy, Kiss, The Cure, More

• David Bowie
• Public Enemy
• Kiss
• Modest Mouse
• Pretty Ricky

Eminem
Photo: Getty Images

Eminem and Kim Mathers agreed not to criticize each other in public on Monday (March 26), The Associated Press reports. The couple agreed that fighting publicly could be harmful to their 11-year-old daughter, Hailie. Eminem, who had previously filed a motion seeking to stop his ex-wife from making "derogatory" comments about him in public, was not at the closed-door court hearing but spoke by telephone. ...

Ciara, Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, Steve Harvey and the O'Jays — with Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill — have been added to the Essence Music Festival lineup. They join previously announced participants including Beyoncé, Chris Brown and Mary J. Blige. The fest takes place July 5-7 in New Orleans. ... Slayer are planning to hit the road yet again in support of last year's Christ Illusion, this time with Marilyn Manson as the co-headliner. The full schedule hasn't been announced, but expect the metal madness to hit 25 cities, starting July 25 on the East Coast and ending in early September on the West Coast. Two support acts will be added. ...

Nas, Public Enemy, the Roots, Mos Def, EPMD, Cypress Hill and Pharoahe Monch are among the artists joining the Rock the Bells lineup, which features previously announced headliners Rage Against the Machine and Wu-Tang Clan. Tickets go on sale Saturday for shows at New York's Randall's Island (July 28); San Bernardino, California's NOS Events Center (August 11); and San Francisco's McCovey's Parking Lot (August 18). Organizers also announced Monday that the tour will be extended with 15 more shows, featuring co-headliners Nas and Wu-Tang Clan — but not Rage. Details on the added dates will be revealed in the coming weeks. ...

Mary Weiland, wife of Scott, was arrested Monday for allegedly setting fire to the Velvet Revolver singer's clothes outside their home in Toluca Lake, California, AP reports. She was later booked for investigation of felony arson vandalism, and their children, ages 4 and 6, were placed in custody of family friends. That wasn't the only weekend incident involving the couple, though — on Saturday, police were called to the Graciela Hotel in Burbank after the Weilands were found brawling there. ... Rapper DG Yola was shot in a failed robbery attempt while his vehicle was stopped at a red light in Atlanta on Saturday night; the bullet went through one cheek and out the other. Yola is currently recovering at an Atlanta hospital, where doctors are optimistic that he will make a full recovery. "He is already up and about and writing. Yola ain't gonna let up," his family said in a statement. "We respectfully request privacy and appreciate the well-wishes and prayers of Yola's fans during this time." Yola's debut album, Gutta World, is scheduled to be released on Power Hittas/ Atlantic in June. ...

Kal Penn, UPenn prof? The actor, who stars most recently in "The Namesake" but is better known as Kumar from "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle," will teach two undergraduate courses at the University of Pennsylvania during the school's spring 2008 semester, AP reports. Penn will guest-instruct "Images of Asian Americans in the Media" and "Contemporary American Teen Films." ... Sean Lennon is taking to the road for a monthlong tour in support of his recent release Friendly Fire. The string of dates spans a Friday gig in Dallas through an April 29 show in San Francisco. ...

Arcade Fire have been forced to cancel the last eight dates of their European tour after lead singer Win Butler succumbed to a nagging sinus/bronchial infection while in Norway. In a post titled "Heavy Heart" that went up on the band's Web site Saturday, the singer explained, "I am backstage at the venue in Oslo and I just had to make the very sad decision to cancel the rest of the European tour. I have been suffering from a sinus and bronchial infection for the last three months, and last night in Stockholm I finally pushed my voice and body farther than they are able to go. Last night I kept yelling at the monitor guy because I didn't recognize the sound that was coming out of the monitor as my own voice, and it took me until the second song to realize that the sound was coming from me. Today I can barely speak or make any sound, so finishing the shows is no longer possible." Butler said several doctors advised him to cancel the tour weeks ago and he tried to press on but must now have sinus surgery to begin healing. It's not known if Butler will recover in time for the planned April 26 kickoff of the group's U.S. tour. ...

Elton John celebrated his 60th birthday Sunday night by extending a Madison Square Garden record with his 60th concert at the New York arena. John was introduced by former President Bill Clinton, who noted the efforts of the singer's foundation to fight HIV/AIDS. The show also featured a round of "Happy Birthday" sung onstage by John's longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin along with comedians Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg. John also paid tribute to late Beatles singer John Lennon, recalling that Lennon joined him onstage at MSG in November 1974 for what would be Lennon's last concert appearance. ... Estradasphere, an eclectic and adventurous outfit from Santa Cruz, California, has posted a live video for "A Corporate Merger" at TheEndRecords.com. The group begins a North American tour Monday in Petaluma, California, with dates scheduled through April 23 in its hometown.

03.23.2007

Eminem wants his ex-wife to stop criticizing him in public, and he's taking the fight to court. The Associated Press reports that the rapper is scheduled to appear in front of a judge on Monday after filing a motion last week in Michigan's Macomb County Circuit Court calling for an end to "derogatory, disparaging, inflammatory and otherwise negative comments" about him from Kim Mathers. According to the filing, Eminem is concerned that his ex's recent interviews discussing the problems in their marriage could negatively impact their daughter, Hailie Jade. "Complicating the situation for the child is the fact that her father is an internationally known public figure," the motion reads. "It is simply impossible for her to be shielded from the kind of media campaign currently being waged by [Kim Mathers] against [Eminem]." ...

50 Cent's drag-racing film "Live Bet" is driving forward. Variety reports that Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Lozano will direct the movie, which will be set in New York, Las Vegas and Philadelphia and produced by G-Unit Films' Chris Lighty. Universal Pictures plans to start work on the action flick, which 50 Cent signed up for 10 months ago, this summer. ...

Gwen Stefani will work with the top 10 finalists on Tuesday's "American Idol." The theme will be pop songs, with contestants choosing their favorite tracks from the genre. Stefani will perform with Akon on Wednesday's results show. ... Rupert Grint and Emma Watson have signed on for the final two "Harry Potter" films, reprising their roles alongside previously announced returning star Daniel Radcliffe. The last two installments will be "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," with the fifth film — "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" — slated for a July 13 release. ...

There's no place like Home. Literally. The New York nightclub was off the hook Thursday night as producer Swizz Beatz took on the role of DJ for a while, spinning records such as his own "It's Me Bitches" remix and Ne-Yo's "Because of You." As people danced, a slideshow exhibition showed works by industry photographer Johnny Nunez on the walls — among those spotted in the images were Jay-Z, Diddy, Fat Joe and MTV News' own Shaheem Reid and Rahman Dukes. ...

Vivica A. Fox was charged Friday (March 23) for driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit, AP reports. The actress, who was arrested late Tuesday in Los Angeles, faces a maximum six-month stay in jail and/or $1,000 fine if convicted of the misdemeanor charges. ...

Kid Rock has sued a woman who accused him of assault, the Detroit Free Press reports. The lawsuit, filed Monday in Michigan's Oakland County Circuit Court, states that the assault allegation that 28-year-old Kelly Kozlowski made earlier this month — which Oakland County prosecutors did not pursue after deciding that evidence didn't support her claim that the singer grabbed her by the neck and shoved her into a snow bank — harmed Rock's reputation. The suit seeks unspecified damages. ... Iconic '70s rock band Boston are reportedly in turmoil after losing lead singer Brad Delp to suicide two weeks ago. AP reports that current members of the band were not invited to Delp's funeral, while early members did attend. In a tearful phone call to the news service on Friday (March 23), founder Tom Scholz — who opposed the band's early members in a legal battle that transpired in the 1980s — said he had been told only immediate family members would be allowed to go to the funeral. Boston have canceled their summer plans, although Scholz expressed a desire for the band to be a part of a public memorial service that Delp's family has said is in the works. ...

Former Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch will release his debut book, titled "Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Speed and Lived to Tell the Tale," July 1. ... Björk has booked several U.S. and Canadian gigs for May in support of her forthcoming album Volta. The Icelandic songstress hits New York for three shows (May 2, 5 and 8), followed by performances in Chicago (May 12); Morrison, Colorado (May 15); Mountain View, California (May 19); and Vancouver, British Columbia (May 23). ... Eric Clapton has corralled some of the world's greatest guitarists to play his second Crossroads Guitar Festival, which will take place July 28 at Toyota Park in Chicago. Among the artists scheduled to participate alongside Clapton are John Mayer, Robert Cray, Sheryl Crow, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin, Willie Nelson, Los Lobos, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Jimmie Vaughan and Steve Winwood. All the profits from the show will benefit the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a rehab facility founded by Clapton which was in the news recently when Britney Spears quickly checked in and out for treatment. ...

Six months after lead singer Justin Hawkins quit the group, the Darkness have confirmed that they are breaking and will re-form under a new name. In a note on the band's site, bassist Richie Edwards wrote, "I can absolutely confirm here and now that we will NOT be carrying on under the name 'The Darkness.' We are literally days away from announcing our new name, when this is done we will be launching our new Web site and we sincerely hope that you guys will be paying it a visit!" The reconfigured group is in the midst of finishing a new album. ... As part of its ongoing attempt to root out illegal file trading on college campuses, the Recording Industry Association of America recently sent out 36 letters targeting students at the University of Nebraska in which they give the alleged infringers a chance to pay up before being sued. Only this time, the RIAA can't figure out who the students are because the university's computer system was unintentionally designed to automatically change a computer's IP address each time the machine is turned off, according to the Omaha World-Herald. So far, the RIAA has only been able to track down nine of the students, and the trade organization representing the major record labels has slammed the university for not keeping records for more than a month. After receiving more than 1,000 cease-and-desist letters from the RIAA during the current school year — more than all but two other U.S. universities — the university is asking to be reimbursed $11 for each warning letter it processes. The RIAA has refused the request.

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