Ghostface Killah performs at the Nokia Theatre in New York City on Thursday
Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images

NEW YORK — Now there's a real rap fan: a lady wearing a dress and high-heel pumps, jumping up and down like Dwight Howard in a slam-dunk contest to the sounds of Method Man's "Bring the Pain." Thursday night at the Nokia Theatre, Meth and Redman and Ghostface Killah headlined a bill which also included Keith Murray and Duo Live.

Girls in pumps, sandals and sneakers joined an assortment of male Wu-Tang/ Def Squad fanatics at the Nokia to welcome three of hip-hop's historically dopest MCs.

The Ticallion Stallion and the Funk Doctor — who hit the stage last — started off with a bunch of new material from their current LP, Blackout 2.

Songs like "City Lights" and "Ayo" warmed up the crowd during their set. But the real action came when Meth and Red rolled out their classics. No knock to their new material, but the crowd seemed more eager to hear the songs that have stood the test of time. They were ready to embrace the classics. Even Red himself said he was ready for the "old sh--."

The set included an energetic exchange of the duo's solo hits. First Red hit hard with "Time 4 Sum Aksion." Method kept the energy level at its peak with "Method Man." Red followed up with "Tonight's Da Night," and just when you thought it couldn't get any higher, Mr. Meth dropped "Bring the Pain." The way the crowd was jumping, it felt like a vintage 1994 concert. The hits still sound fresh.

The only disappointment of Red and Meth's program was one of their biggest joint hits, "How High." Instead of running around the stage and bouncing off the walls as we've been accustomed to seeing, the two gave a very calm performance of the song, standing in place center stage doing a two-step.

"Da Rockwilder" was a more energetic end to the show.

Ghostface, who came on earlier in the night, paraded wall-to-wall hits. Special guest Raekwon came out to tag-team on the audience performing a gaggle of cherished gems like "C.R.E.A.M." and "Can It Be All So Simple."

There was a very genuine moment when Ghost hugged Rae and said, "I miss you, my brother."

"Me and this n---a made history with the 'Purple,' " Ghost added, talking about Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. Ironically Ghost's next LP, The Wizard of Poetry, and Cuban Linx II come out around the same time in early September.

Mr. Starks ended his set with "Chez Chez La Ghost" and "Back Like That."

• Ghostface, Redman, Method Man At The All Points West Kickoff Party

• Method Man
• Redman
• Ghostface Killah

Method Man and Redman
Photo: MTV News

LOS ANGELES — The good news for Eminem is that Method Man and Redman are coming on tour with him. The bad news? He doesn't know it yet.

"Hey, Eminem," Method Man barked into our mic recently, giving a heads-up to Sunday's MTV Movie Awards main act. "F--- that. Yo, Paul! We're on the tour, man!"

"Paul!" Redman chimed in, also addressing Em's manager, Paul Rosenberg, directly. "Hey, Paul, we're on the tour, baby!"

"You know my number," Redman said to Rosenberg. "Yo, Eminem. Yo, Paul — we on the tour, man."

"Even if he don't put us on, we're coming in through the back door, jumping onstage," he added.

Although the duo may not be fans of "Twilight," there are two things they love: Eminem and being on the road.

"We're gonna jump on Em's tour — we're putting it out there," Method Man revealed. "We do tour a lot. I'd say altogether 10, 11 months a year."

"Honestly, I'm gonna tell you exactly what that is — that's how we get our bread now," Red said. "That's how MCs make their money. Those royalty checks come like babies — every nine months.

"Plus, we enjoy doing shows," he added. "Anybody who's come to a Method Man and Redman show knows that we give 110 percent every time we're out there."

"Plus, our movie 'How High' branched us out to a different audience," Method Man agreed. "When we go around the world, the majority of our fans are a different descent than us — which is cool. I love it. That just shows we're more outgoing with our music."

And while Eminem seems to constantly be on the verge of wanting to retire, Method and Red say that they'll never get tired of touring.

"We're gonna be doing shows at 50, 55," Redman grinned.

"Redman wants to go to Vegas!" Method laughed, making reference to last year's "Soul Men," a comedy about two middle-aged musicians deciding to head back out on the road.

"I'm gonna be like Sam Jackson," Red grinned. "And he's gonna be like Bernie Mac!"

Watch Redman & Method Man gives their fans advice on MTV's Buzzworthy Blog.

• Method Man
• Redman
• Eminem

Method Man and Redman
Photo: MTV News

Redman and Method Man are finally putting out a sequel to their 1999 classic, Blackout!

"I had obligations. Doc had obligations," Method Man said, explaining why it's taken 10 years for the two of them to put out a new album. "There were things going on [with] the label. Staff changes. That's what happened."

Since that joint LP, Red and Meth have dropped solo LPs, toured together nonstop and starred in various film and TV projects, not to mention Meth's various Wu-Tang Clan albums.

"We was out venturing, starting other careers," Red said. "We can't just depend on this rap game. We did a movie, TV show — venturing out. Now we back. We ain't left. We're coming at the right time."

The duo started formulating the Blackout 2 last year when they had a stint on the Rock the Bells tour.

"A lot of it was written during the tour and the Canada tour," Meth said. "We came home and went right in. Within a month, month and a half, we had some solid joints."

"We're more advanced now than the first one," Red added. "We went in, had fun. I have my own studio now, so it's more relaxed. I engineer now. It ain't no rush for time, paying the studio and engineer. It's fun. We treated [the album] like a mixtape, really. If we really got in there and sat, it'll be a beast. But it's a beast now, and we treated it like a mixtape."

Red and Meth leaked a viral video called "Ayo" on Thursday, and a clip for "Miss International" will air soon.

"We wrote the record on the road," Redman said of "International." "It's a record we're dedicating to the women, whether you're fat, ugly, skinny — it don't matter. You're all beautiful inside."

" 'Miss International' is a state of mind," Meth added. "It's not around the way; it's around the world. You could be in a messed-up neighborhood or messed-up background — it doesn't mean you can't change for the better."

Erick Sermon and Pete Rock produced on the project, and Raekwon and UGK make appearances.

"[Red] had the record," Meth said of "City Lights," their UGK collaboration; Pimp C's voice is sampled on the chorus. "It had Pimp C's hook on it. It was only right we put Bun B on it."

Blackout 2 lands May 19.

• Method Man And Redman Go 'International'

• Method Man
• Redman

Redman
Photo: Scott Gries/ Getty Images

NEW YORK — Redman hasn't released an album in nearly six years, but if you ask him, he couldn't be any happier.

The New Jersey MC said the rap game has changed drastically since his last album, 2001's Malpractice — from the emergence of the South to the industry's dependence on mixtapes to stay relevant.

But Red thinks his new set, Red Gone Wild: Thee Album, which dropped Tuesday on Def Jam, is coming out at just the right time for fans looking to really have fun again — something he thinks has been missing the past few years.

"The business aspect of hip-hop done took over the real cultural side," he told MTV News recently from the W Hotel while promoting the "Def Jam Icon" video game. "I see where Nas was coming from with Hip Hop Is Dead, and I don't think mother----ers took him the right way when he said that. I think he meant hip-hop is gone. It's not dead; it just needs a little tweak, a little mix of culture where we making hip-hop albums again instead of singles. Just a little bit of the culture needs to be left, and everybody can agree on that.

"The new generation is doing their thing and I got much respect for them, but people are still wanting hip-hop, so why not come out and supply them with the sh-- I normally do anyway?" Red continued. "When you got white people coming up saying, 'Yo, what's going on with the music?' then you know something is wrong."

Redman definitely still has his sense of humor intact. And on Red Gone Wild, he shares his wry observations alongside collaborators Method Man, Keith Murray, Snoop Dogg , Nate Dogg and Biz Markie.

But more importantly, according to Red, he's featuring his Gilla House crew prominently throughout the project. That's the reason it took him so long to return with a new album, he said.

"If I was doing another regular Redman album, I probably would have been done by now. But I didn't want to do that," Red explained. "I have a crew to introduce now, Gilla House, which consists of my artists. And the reason why I named it Red Gone Wild is because I'm gonna be wildin' out here when that album comes out, most def, but I broke molds from the previous albums. I got other producers. Erick Sermon and Rockwilder are always gonna be my producers, but I got some others just to test the waters, 'cause I'm grown now. And I wanted to do it just to see how it is."

One of those other producers he's working with now happens to be Timbaland, who Redman worked with on the first single, "Put It Down." Red recently wrapped a video for the track with director Dale "Rage" Resteghini. Filmed throughout New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles, Redman parodies MTV's "Jackass" and "Yo Momma," along with VH1's "Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show" in the clip. The video is also scheduled to include cameos by Don Vito, Wilmer Valderrama and MC Serch. Red even ends up tossing Serch's sneakers over a clothesline, à la "The (White) Rapper Show."

Though Red's still relying on humor, he did make it clear he's not sticking to that as a one-track formula.

"If you and your boy were growing up together since [you were kids], y'all's conversations are gonna be different by the time you 35," Redman explained. "Yeah, you still gonna be talking about [a hot chick], but then you might also be talking about getting that next business. This album is more on that level now. The n---as that been listening to me then should be grown as hell right now along with me. So we can still have fun talking about some stupid sh--, but I'm gonna let them know what's really going down on this album.

"I want people to love the way I put this album together," he continued. "I still got my pen game, and my artists sound dope. I want them to wanna hear more from Gilla House."

• Redman
• Timbaland
• Snoop Dogg
• Method Man
• Nate Dogg

Taylor Hicks
Photo: Vince Bucci/ Getty Images

Taylor Hicks will use the Saturday and Sunday concerts in his Birmingham, Alabama, hometown to help those affected by a devastating tornado that hit Enterprise earlier this month. The "Idol" winner — who will be headlining shows in the city for the first time since he was crowned — has invited the Red Cross to collect money on site. While in Birmingham, Hicks will also be presented with the key to the city, which he is planning to dedicate to the tornado victims. ...

Jim Jones appeared at Game Stop in New York on Tuesday to take on challengers in EA's new "Def Jam: Icon" video game. Later on that night, Jones joined Russell Simmons, Redman, Chamillionaire and Funkmaster Flex at the release party at Ultra in New York. "This game is f---ing nuts," Redman told MTV News. "This is taking fighting joints to the next level." ...

Speaking of Redman, the rapper has set a March 27 release date for his latest album, Red Gone Wild - Thee Album. Guests include Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Erick Sermon, Keith Murray, Nate Dogg and Biz Markie, while Scott Storch, Timbaland and Rockwilder contributed production. Red, who is performing at South by Southwest on March 16-17, is releasing "Put It Down" as the first single. ... Korn are planning a tentative July 17 release for their yet-untitled new album, which they've been recording since late last year. The band's MTV Unplugged hit stores Tuesday. ...

Blues Traveler singer John Popper was arrested in Washington on Wednesday after police clocked his black Mercedes SUV going 111 mph on Interstate 90. The Associated Press reports that after they stopped him for speeding, police found a cache of weapons — including four rifles, nine handguns and a switchblade stashed in a series of hidden compartments — as well as a small amount of marijuana in Popper's car. Authorities also found a Taser and night-vision goggles in the vehicle, which had flashing emergency headlights, a siren and a public-address system. Popper, 39, is the owner of the car, which was being driven by another man and was seized by police. Authorities plan to charge the pair with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. "Popper indicated to troopers that he had installed these items in his vehicle because (in the event of a natural disaster) he didn't want to be left behind," the Washington State Patrol said in a news release. Popper also told officers he collected weapons. Both men were booked and released on their own recognizance. ...

Ozzy Osbourne, Genesis, Heart and ZZ Top have been named as this year's class for the second annual "VH1 Rock Honors." The ceremony will be taped in Las Vegas on May 12 and will air May 24 on VH1. ... Peter Gabriel will not join Genesis for the group's first tour in 15 years, Reuters reports. Expect to see singer/drummer Phil Collins, guitarist Mike Rutherford and keyboardist Tony Banks on the band's Turn It on Again Tour, which will hit Europe throughout the summer and arrive in North America on September 7. ... Hanson raised almost $3,500 through a LIFEbeat auction over the weekend. The funds will be used to help fight AIDS. ... O.A.R. are back on the road and will continue to be until May 5 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Later this year, the band is planning to release a DVD and double album recorded at its January 27 show at New York's Madison Square Garden. ... The Sword kick off their tour with Priestbird and Year Long Disaster Friday in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The jaunt runs through March 23 in Dallas. ...

Hard-rock rookies Flyleaf are celebrating their self-titled debut LP's gold status with their first headlining trek — and they're doing it for a good cause to boot. The Justice & Mercy Tour will raise funds for World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization fighting poverty and injustice, via a limited-edition EP and specially designed T-shirt the band is selling while on the road. The jaunt begins March 25 in Memphis and wraps April 30 in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. ... The Dismemberment Plan will reunite for a pair of gigs at the Black Cat in their native Washington, D.C., on April 27-28, three-and-a-half years after their breakup. The indie rockers will share the stage with Pilot to Gunner and the Oranges Band the first night, while Beauty Pill and Owls and Crows will open for the Plan the second night. The shows are being held to benefit Callum Robbins, the son of Jawbox frontman J. Robbins; the boy was recently diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, an incurable nerve disorder. Tickets for the shows, priced at $15, have sold out, with all proceeds going directly to the Robbins family. There is no word on whether the reunion will continue beyond these two benefit shows. ...

DJ Spooky has crafted music for "Stop the Clash of Civilizations," a political video designed to help resolve the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. Check it out here. ... The Bled will reissue their debut LP, Pass the Flask, March 20. The updated version of the disc will boast an additional 11 tracks, including rare and unreleased cuts. The band plans to work on its next offering this month at Baltimore's Salad Days Studio. The effort will be produced by Brian McTernan (Thrice, Texas Is the Reason) and hit stores this summer. ... The Blood Brothers have rolled out a slew of new dates as they continue to tour in support of last year's Young Machetes. The latest leg of the band's trek kicks off March 18 in Lawrence, Kansas, and is scheduled to make stops in Minneapolis, Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Los Angeles before wrapping up April 27 in Seattle. ... Former Cold frontman Scooter Ward's new band When November Falls has signed with I AM: Wolfpack, the label founded by producer Ross Robinson. The band will begin tracking its forthcoming debut, tentatively titled The Series of Emotion, in June for a projected fall release.

03.07.2007

Birthday cake, champagne and dope beats: Two hip-hop moguls held big birthday bashes for their friends Tuesday night in Manhattan, New York. The 40/40 Club was poppin', as Jay-Z called on Roc-A-Fella family members Freeway, Memphis Bleek and the Young Gunz to help celebrate longtime Roc artist Beanie Sigel's b-day. Sigel isn't letting it be known if he's still signed to Jay-Z's label, but from the looks of all the smiles Tuesday night, it didn't matter. Tyrese, model Melyssa Ford, Dres of Black Sheep and of course Beyoncé came out as well. Over at PM, Diddy was in the house for high-ranking Bad Boy executive Harve Pierre's birthday party. Cassie, Mario Winans, DJ Tony Touch, Joe Budden, D-Nice and former Bad Boy hitmaker Stevie J. were all there. ...

Jennifer Hudson is about to become the new Avon lady, Reuters reports. The Oscar winner will be the spokeswoman for the perfume company's Imari brand and new scent, Imari Seduction, it was announced Wednesday (March 7). ... Christina Aguilera's fan club closed down Thursday, according to an announcement posted on the singer's Web site. Former Baby Jane members can log in to the messageboards with their existing username and password, and new users may register for the boards for free. ... Lance Bass will open up about his life, music and sexuality in "Out of Sync," an autobiography due in October, The Associated Press reports. ...

Carrie Underwood is returning to "American Idol" Thursday to perform her latest single, "Wasted." The show will determine the coveted final 12 and is also expected to feature a major announcement from host Ryan Seacrest. Theories are rampant, but it could have something to do with a show executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told MTV News he pitched Fox earlier this year. The program would bring back former "Idol" champs to sing songs written by the finalists of the songwriting competition for this year's finale song. "Let's see Constantine Maroulis again, let's see Ace Young, let's see Tamyra Gray and all of the great people that we voted for over the years," Lythgoe said. "I'd love to do that. And with good reason at the end of the day for doing it, which is to produce the song that the next 'American Idol' is going to sing." ... In other "Idol" news, along with producing Travis Tritt's new album and managing Van Hunt and Nikki Costa, Randy Jackson is launching an independent label and plans to release a jazz-inspired solo record this summer. Jackson compared the project to collaborative efforts released by Quincy Jones. "He had more concept records where he had a bunch of different artists doing a bunch of things," Jackson said. ...

Britney Spears will have a big career comeback if Timbaland has anything to do with it. The producer told Entertainment Weekly that he'd like to work with Spears on new music — and his frequent collaborator (and Britney's ex) Justin Timberlake may be onboard as well. "I'm the type of person who tries to save the world," Timbaland said. "I just want to take her away, go overseas and work [it] out. ... I asked Justin, 'How would you feel about me working with Britney?' ... 'Would you do it with me?' " Timbaland told the magazine that JT was willing to get involved. "She's just gotta be serious."

Hawthorne Heights won a key court battle this week against their now-former label, Victory Records, when a federal judge ruled that Victory does not have an exclusive right to the band's services. "The band is free to record and release material either on their own or with any other record company," said Hawthorne attorney Rhonda Trotter. In an attempt to get out of its contract, the band sued Victory in August, claiming owner Tony Brummel's "scheming" actions had seriously damaged Hawthorne's reputation. Though the court ruled that their contract with Victory was nonexclusive, the judge asked for more time to decide whether HH or Victory own the copyrights to the band's first two albums. Lawyers for Victory filed a motion on Tuesday asking the judge to reconsider the ruling. Trotter said the band is reviewing its options but has not yet decided how it will release its next album. ...

Sacha Baron Cohen bum-rushed the White House last year as part of a publicity stunt for his "Borat" movie, but now his character might be finding an unlikely ally in Condi Rice, of all people. According to Reuters, Borat is cited in the State Department's annual human-rights report, which criticizes Kazakhstan — where Borat supposedly hails from — for numerous abuses, including increased restrictions on free speech. Among the abuses the report points out was the Kazakhstan government's revocation of Borat.KZ, a site it deemed offensive. ... Jimi Hendrix's family is suing a vodka seller for what, in a press release, it calls the "unauthorized, tasteless promotion" of the late guitarist's name in a marketing campaign. Experience Hendrix, the Hendrix family company, filed a federal lawsuit against Seattle businessman Craig Dieffenbach for using trademarked material to market Hendrix Electric Vodka and other products. ... Angelina Jolie will be united in three months or sooner with the Vietnamese boy she is adopting, an adoption official from the country has told AP. ...

After masquerading as the New Pantheon award for all of one year, the Shortlist Music Prize is back, and recently announced its panel of nine listmakers and the initial "long list" of nominees for the award. Panic! at the Disco, Franz Ferdinand, KT Tunstall and Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne are among the artists who have submitted lists of their favorite records of the past year, all of which have been compiled into an initial list of 61 nominees — including Beck's The Information, Hot Chip's The Warning, the Raconteurs' Broken Boy Soldiers and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Show Your Bones. That list will be whittled down to 10 finalists in April, with the Shortlist winner to be announced later this spring. Any album released during 2006 was eligible for the Shortlist, so long as it had not been certified gold (500,000 copies shipped) during the calendar year. Previous winners include Sigur Rós, TV on the Radio and Sufjan Stevens. ...

Tool have rescheduled the 10 tour dates they recently postponed after drummer Danny Carey tore his bicep. The band will play Reno, Nevada, on April 30; San Diego on May 2; Las Cruces, New Mexico, on May 5; Tucson, Arizona, on May 6; Albuquerque, New Mexico, on May 8; Southaven, Missouri, on May 15; Oklahoma City on May 19; San Antonio on May 21; Corpus Christi, Texas, on May 22; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on May 24. Additional tour dates are expected to be announced shortly. ... "American Idol" contestants aren't safe from judge Simon Cowell, even when they're long off the show. At the Museum of Television and Radio's 24th annual Paley Festival in West Hollywood, California, last week, Cowell targeted Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and "Idol" champ Taylor Hicks. "Hudson said 'American Idol' was a 'stepping stone' for her," Cowell said. "Stepping stone? It was her big opportunity to become noticed and she got noticed and she got 'Dreamgirls,' " he said, adding, "The reason people come on the show is because all the doors have been slammed in their face." As for "Idol" winner Taylor Hicks, "Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson loved him," Cowell said. "I couldn't stand him. Just because you win the show doesn't mean you will sell a lot of records. [Chris Daughtry] is the one who sold the albums, not Taylor." ...

A new law proposed by Connecticut legislators would require social-networking sites such as MySpace to verify users' ages and get parental consent for minors, AP reports. The bill was presented Wednesday, a day after a Connecticut man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for using MySpace to meet an underage girl he'd planned to have sex with. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal estimated that 10 to 20 other states are considering similar laws. "The technology is available," he said. "The solution is financially feasible, practically doable. If we can put a man on the moon, we can check ages of people on these Web sites." ... The future of many Internet radio stations could be in jeopardy thanks to a ruling Tuesday by an obscure panel of federal copyright judges. The decision by the Copyright Royalty Board significantly increased the royalties paid to musicians and record labels for streaming digital songs online, ending a discounted fee for small Internet broadcasters that some say could put them out of business, according to a Los Angeles Times report. Per the board's ruling, the current rate of 0.08 of a cent each time a song is played would more than double by 2010, resulting in fees that many small broadcasters say they cannot afford.

• Korn 'Unplugged' (Full Concert)
• Peep Show: 'Def Jam: Icon'

• Taylor Hicks
• Redman
• Jim Jones
• Russell Simmons
• Korn

Raekwon
Photo: Matthew Peyton/ Getty Images

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11.28.2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EPMD perform at B.B. King's on Saturday
Photo: Johnny Nunez

NEW YORK — EPMD haven't put out an LP or a single as a group in almost 10 years, but you would have thought they were in their prime judging by the crowd waiting to get into their concert Saturday. The group was performing the first of what it promises will be many comeback shows in the U.S. (A 10-date European tour is scheduled in the next few weeks as well.)

The line to get into the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill spanned nearly an entire city block. The duo of Erick Sermon and Parrish Smith and their DJ, Scratch, were back in town, and their fans, who catapulted them to the top of the rap heap in the late '80s and early '90s, waited patiently for an hour just to get through the door.  

"I didn't have the luxury of seeing them the first time they were out because I was only 11 years old," said superproducer Just Blaze, who had just made his way inside the club. "This is like getting to relive my childhood a little bit. When I got here and saw that turnout, I was happy to see that many people come out for a group that's been out for so long. That's a testament to the fact that they are one of the greatest groups in hip-hop history."

"To sell out someplace and get massive love 19 years in the game, it feels dope," Sermon said the day before the show. "It's bigger than us," Smith added. "God is great. We had a spiritual bond before music."

From 1987 to 1992, EPMD were a model of consistency and creativity with their distinctive, self-produced underground funk. Many songs from their catalog were flipped and sampled years later by their peers: Jay-Z sampled "It's My Thang" for "Ain't No N---a," DMX rapped over a beat similar to that of "Get the Bozack" for "Get at Me Dog" and even Mario Winans took parts of "You're a Customer" for his "I Don't Wanna Know." Many people also followed in Sermon's footsteps by using samples of Parliament, Funkadelic and Roger Troutman.

"We set the standard of what not to do, with being fake," Sermon said of another mark they made. "I remember when Vanilla Ice and Hammer was out, [some people] was trying to make it seem like that was the new hip-hop. We dropped 'Crossover' and put it back in line. We even had 'Gold Digger.' People was like, 'What's a gold digger?' 'A chick that's getting your money — watch out for her.' "

"We never were caught up in the hype," Smith said, explaining the group's popularity. "We always had a commitment to hip-hop. Keep your album tight, your image tight, never front on the fans."

Their 1992 breakup was one of the most disappointing in hip-hop history (the group temporarily re-formed in the late '90s). They had the game on lock at the time of their demise. Not only had they just put out their third and best album, Business Never Personal, but Sermon and Smith had set the business template for rap crews by breaking new artists, their protégés K-Solo, Redman and Das EFX (the Hit Squad), all of whom had recording contracts at different companies.

On Saturday, not only were EPMD coming back together, they brought the Hit Squad with them, with the exception of K-Solo. 

"It feels great because I haven't had my family around me in, like, 10 years," Redman said, standing outside of EPMD's dressing room. "It's an EPMD show, and it brought everyone. We gonna get a good laugh and a good show out of everything. I'm already buzzed."

"The sh-- is mad energy," said Keith Murray, an integral cog in Sermon's Def Squad crew, formed by Sermon, Murray and Redman after EPMD disbanded. "I get to open the show and tear everyone's asses up. We got everyone here from the golden era."

Not quite everyone, but almost. Backstage, among the swell of people, were members of the Ultramagnetic MCs, freestyle specialist Craig G, Lords of the Underground and Special Ed.

Murray started off the night by shouting, stagediving, freestyling — about slapping Prodigy from Mobb Deep and leaving Def Jam — and bringing back some of the classics from his catalog. The most energetic and well-received was his closer, "The Most Beautifullest Thing in the World."

EPMD came onstage looking as they had for much of their run, wearing fisherman hats, hoodies and boots. They started the show at the very beginning of their career, with hits from 1988's Strictly Business LP such as "You Gots to Chill" and "It's My Thang."

"I feel kinda amped 'cause I'm in NYC," Sermon said from the stage. "N---as is saying NYC is dead. But f--- all that, this is hip-hop music. New York City is the originator of hip-hop music. When I say n---as is coming back, we coming the f--- back. I'm not doing no popcorn-rap sh--. I ain't gonna be shake dancing and snappin' fingers. None of that."

"You gotta be yourself," Smith agreed.

After performing most of their catalog, the two MCs let their old friends rock. Das EFX came out for "They Want EFX," and Redman followed with "Tonight's Da Night" and "Time 4 Sum Aksion." Soon after, the crowd started screaming for the signature Hit Squad song "Headbanger." Finally, the Squad answered the fans' chants and performed the record.

As EPMD exited the stage, Red and Murray closed out the show. "You could feel the energy escalating," Smith said. "You had the old school, the young kids. It was great. This was a whole big reunion."

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

• EPMD
• Redman

"Def Jam Fight For NY: The Takeover"
Photo: EA Sports Big

Through the course of hip-hop history, some rappers have settled beefs with lyrical battles. Others get physical. The announcement of another game in Electronic Arts' "Def Jam" fighting game series means that gamers are going to be able to settle a few more hip-hop rivalries with the press of a button.

The third in EA's series and the first to be available on a handheld game machine, "Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover" will allow players to use rap stars such as Busta Rhymes, Lil' Kim, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg and Xzibit to battle through a series of fights set in the Big Apple. The game, which will feature a story that serves as a prequel to 2003's "Def Jam Vendetta" and 2004's "Def Jam Fight for New York," will be available for Sony's PSP in late March.

As with the previous games, "Def Jam" for PSP is being co-developed by EA Canada and the Aki Corporation, a wrestling-game specialty house that created WWF and WCW games in the late '90s and early 2000s.

While the game will feature a new story, EA promises that the graphics and gameplay will be a close match to the 2004 PS2, Xbox and GameCube versions of "Def Jam: Fight for NY." The soundtrack is also set to be the same, once again featuring tracks such as "America's Most" from Method Man and Redman, "Mama Said Knock You Out" from LL Cool J, and "Poppa Large" from the Ultramagnetic MC's. The game will also be adorned with licensed clothing from outfits such as Reebok, Rocawear and Phat Farm's Def Jam University.

One new gameplay feature will enable Def Jam players to throw dirt in opposing fighters' faces. The game will also feature a wireless mode for one-on-one PSP vs. PSP fighting. It was unclear at press time if that mode would be limited to in-person wireless multiplayer or whether it would work with online play.

There's also no word on whether the game will restore a feature that EA toyed with but never got around to including in the very first "Def Jam" game. According to an EA executive interviewed in 2004, the developers of that game thought players preparing to brawl with hip-hop's baddest stars might need a suitable punching bag to train on. The training victim who never quite made it out of the planning stages? Carrot Top.

PSP may even get a chance to brawl with hip-hop stars a second time this year. Last year Vivendi Universal announced that the 50 Cent console game "Bulletproof" would lead into a 2006 PSP "Bulletproof" title featuring the entire G-Unit in a "Final Fight"-style brawling game. A Vivendi representative was not available to confirm release details at press time.

• Snoop Dogg
• Busta Rhymes
• Ludacris
• Xzibit
• Lil' Kim

Redman
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Redman is ready for a life of "True Crime." The rapper has signed on to be the featured artist in Activision's upcoming "True Crime: New York City," the sequel to last year's "True Crime: Streets of L.A."

Due in November, the game will feature the debut of "Rush the Security" — a song from Red's upcoming album, Red Gone Wild (due November 8) — along with two other original songs, according to an Activision spokesperson. The rapper will also be immortalized in pixels as an unlockable character who rewards players when they reach certain levels.

Activision music exec Tim Riley said in a statement that Redman fit in with the eclectic group of artists on the soundtrack, which is aimed at capturing the spirit of New York. Among the 80 songs in the game are tracks by the Ramones, Jay-Z, Fat Joe, My Chemical Romance, A Tribe Called Quest, the Bravery, Bob Dylan and the Velvet Underground.

"As an East Coast artist who paid his dues performing in the clubs of New York City, Redman's inspired rhymes bring the gritty realism of the city to life in our game," Riley said. "His bold lyrics and hard-edged funk beats capture the vibes of the city from Washington Heights to Harlem and all the way down to Battery Park."

Last year's "True Crime: Streets of L.A." featured songs from Snoop Dogg, Westside Connection, Alice in Chains, Static-X, the Donnas, the Distillers, Killswitch Engage, Warren G and Jayo Felony (see "Snoop Dogg Pops Up On ESPN, Video Game, Knoc-Turn'Al Single").

• Redman

Fantasia (file)
Photo: Ray Mickshaw/Fox

Fantasia has selected "Truth Is," produced by Soulshock & Karlin (Tupac, Usher), as the first single from her debut album, Free Yourself, due November 23. The album will also feature Fantasia's "American Idol" show-stopping cover of George Gershwin's "Summertime," a version of "You Were Always on My Mind" (made famous by Willie Nelson) and three collaborations with Missy Elliott. ...

Nelly, Kanye West and Hoobastank are among the artists who will be on hand to read the nominations for the 47th annual Grammy Awards on December 7 at Hollywood's Music Box. ... Though they just starred together this week on "That '70s Show," Lindsay Lohan and Wilmer Valderrama have called it quits, according to People magazine. The couple had only recently made their relationship public, once Lohan turned 18 this July, and had also exchanged promise rings, according to Lohan's mother. They're said to still be friends. ...

Britney Spears is upsetting art critics in London, who've taken issue with an exhibition of pictures of the singer taken by David LaChapelle and Herb Ritts called "I Heart Britney" at the Institute of Contemporary Arts. In response to the criticism, the singer's record label reps have countered that the museum is the "most fitting place in London for a Britney Spears exhibition," since it's known for being "up-to-date, edgy and cool." ... After returning to the game a few months ago on the mixtape circuit, Shaquille O'Neal now has his own court to play in. Shaq is bankrolling the new imprint Deja34 Records, which will be distributed by Koch. The label's inaugural release will be a new album by DJ Kay Slay in April. Kay Slay also serves as the label's head of A&R. ...

Despite their #2 debut on the albums chart with eMOTIVe, Maynard James Keenan has put A Perfect Circle on the shelf for the time being. He's currently in the studio with his Tool bandmates working on the band's fourth album, the follow-up to 2001's Lateralus. The LP is expected to drop next year. ... "The O.C." is now more than just a TV show — it's also a game. "Skate the O.C." starts when the Cohens have left for Santa Barbara but have left their backyard gate unlocked. The show's familiar backyard — with its pool emptied and ramps in place — then becomes a skater's paradise at www.fox.com/oc/skatetheoc/. ...

Redman is eyeing a March release for his next album, Red Gone Wild. Around that time the rapper is scheduled to shoot a movie with Method Man where the two play undercover drug-enforcement agents. ... Ruben Studdard's has titled his upcoming gospel album I Need an Angel. Due November 23, it will feature the title track first single, produced by R. Kelly and Warryn Campbell. ...

On December 8, London's Royal Albert Hall will play host to the Refugee Voices for Darfur, a concert to benefit the 1.8 million displaced survivors of the bloody civil war in the African nation of Sudan. Musicians taking part in the concert include Franz Ferdinand (who have recorded a message to be played during the event), Chrissie Hynde and Mick Hucknall. The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will serve as the evening's backup band. ... Mary J. Blige, JC Chasez and Kelis are among the artists bringing holiday cheer to the Gap's winter TV campaign, called "How Do You Share It?" in which Sarah Jessica Parker runs into different musicians on the holiday party circuit. The ads debut next week. ... Mario's next album, Turning Point, is slated for a December 7 release. Besides Scott Storch's touch on first single "Let Me Love You," the R&B singer's second album features production from Lil Jon. ...

Want to spend quality time with Metallica? Or laze around on Nick Hexum's private Key West island? Those and other opportunities are being auctioned off to raise money for the T.J. Martell Foundation, which donates money for disease research. Artists such as Linkin Park, Simple Plan, Good Charlotte and Hilary Duff are each donating their time and memorabilia to be auctioned off beginning November 22 at www.fan2fan.com/ebayauction. ... Despite rumors to the contrary, Madonna told MTV Europe that she isn't planning to do a cameo in her husband Guy Ritchie's film "Revolver," currently shooting in London. Madge, however, does have other movie plans in the works — for her book "The English Roses." She said it would hopefully go into production this year. "It takes forever to get a movie made," she said. "So fingers crossed." As for her tour documentary that's supposed to hit theaters next year, she doesn't have a name for the project yet, but she hopes it'll be out by May. ...

11.11.2004

Lindsay Lohan has finished recording her debut album, which she's calling Speak, according to her Web site. The actress/singer is currently deciding which tracks will make the final cut. ...

Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz got in a tangle with two paparazzi on Saturday night in Hollywood, and ended up snatching one of the photographers' camera. According to an attorney for the couple, Diaz and Timberlake acted in their own defense and only took the camera to identify the photographers later. The LAPD says the department has received a complaint from one of the photographers, claiming battery and grand theft. The matter is under investigation. ... No Doubt's Tom Dumont has posted his wedding pictures on his Web site. The three photos, which can be found at http://tomdumont.com/photos.asp, showcase his bride Mieke Binzer's wedding dress, which Dumont's bandmate Gwen Stefani designed. ...

Devastated to learn of Ashlee Simpson's "Saturday Night Live" lip-synch snafu? If you were planning on tossing your copy of her album into the trash, hold up. New York music venue the Knitting Factory, in conjunction with Horrified Observers of Pedestrian Entertainment (H.O.P.E.), are offering unhappy customers a bit of musical solace. Drop by the Knitting Factory box office between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and exchange Ashlee's disc for an album by Elvis Costello, the Ramones, the Grateful Dead, Ray Charles or Aretha Franklin, among others, courtesy of Rhino Records. Don't live in New York? Check out www.hopeinamerica.com for other exchange information. ... Fantasia is about to be Fantabulous. The "American Idol" winner will have two M.A.C. lipglass shades named after her, Fantabulous 1 (a smoldering copper) and Fantabulous 2 (a full-on reddened bronze). Fantasia will launch the lipglasses at M.A.C.'s Harlem, New York, location on November 22, the day before her debut album, Free Yourself, hits stores. ...

The KCRW annual benefit concert in Los Angeles, A Sounds Eclectic Evening, featuring Coldplay, Café Tacuba, Van Hunt, Nellie McKay and others, has been rescheduled for March 12. The event, which was supposed to take place on November 20, was moved due to scheduling and logistical conflicts; Rilo Kiley and Ben Watt, originally slated to perform, will be unable to do so now. Tickets for the original sold-out show will be honored for the rescheduled date. ... In the three-against-one battle of the Beastie Boys versus jazz flutist James Newton, the rappers have emerged victorious. A U.S. appeals court decided on Tuesday that it would not reconsider its 2003 decision which allowed the group to use a six-second sample from Newton's 1978 composition "Choir," according to Reuters. The original decision said that the band paid a license fee to use the recording in their song "Pass the Mic" from 1992's Check Your Head, and therefore had abided by copyright protections and did not have to pay an additional fee. ...

American Hi-Fi's new album, Hearts on Parade, is available for streaming on the band's Web site, www.AmericanHi-Fi.com. The group's third studio album, the follow-up to last year's The Art of Losing, will be released March 1. ... Twenty-five years after the Cure released their first album, Three Imaginary Boys, in the U.K., the British version of the band's landmark debut will get its first domestic release December 7. The double-disc reissue, which includes a full disc of rarities, also marks the beginning of Rhino Records' reissue campaign of the band's entire catalog. ...

The Big Day Out Tour just got a little bigger with the addition of the Hives, Slipknot, the Polyphonic Spree, the Blues Explosion, Hatebreed and Le Tigre. The new acts join an existing lineup of the Beastie Boys, the Donnas, System of a Down, the Chemical Brothers and the Streets, on the six-date trek of Australia and New Zealand that kicks off January 21. ... Though Justin Guarini announced only a week ago that he was joining the Broadway production of the Beach Boys musical "Good Vibrations," the former "American Idol" runner-up has already left the cast. In a statement issued Wednesday, the producers of the show announced that they've "parted company." His replacement will be announced soon. ...Meanwhile, the off-Broadway They Might Be Giants musical, which opened November 4, has extended its limited run through December 11. "People Are Wrong!" stars TMBG member John Flansburgh. ...

• Fantasia
• Nelly
• Lindsay Lohan
• Britney Spears
• Tool

Ghostface, Redman, Method Man At The All Points West Kickoff Party

• Ghostface Killah
• Raekwon
• Redman
• Method Man

Run's House: Rev's Birthday Suit (Ep. 307)

• Rev Run
• Naughty By Nature
• Redman

Sucker Free on MTV: Winter 2007

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

Lauryn Hill, Wu Tang Clan, Mos Def And More At Rock The Bells | 08.05.2006

• Wu-Tang Clan
• Lauryn Hill
• Mos Def
• Talib Kweli
• Method Man

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

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

Onstage And Backstage With DMX, Busta, More In New York

• DMX
• Drag-On
• Ruff Ryders
• Busta Rhymes
• LL Cool J

2003 MTV Video Music Award Performers And Presenters

• 50 Cent
• G-Unit
• Good Charlotte
• Diddy
• Kelly Clarkson

Power 105.1's Powerhouse

• R. Kelly
• Nas
• Ja Rule
• Ashanti
• Fat Joe

Redman: Photos from the 2001 Interview

• Redman

• Jay-Z
• Michael Jackson
• OutKast
• Nelly
• Missy Elliott