50 Cent
Photo: MTV News

In his new video for "Baby by Me," which premiered Monday (November 2), 50 Cent meets an around-the-way Kelly Rowland and woos the singer, leading a life in suburban bliss before he realizes it's all make-believe.

"This video is great," 50 told MTV News during the filming of the clip. "Chris Robinson came up with a great treatment for it. It's obvious I wasn't in a hurry to make the music video until I found the right treatment, the right idea, to bring it to life."

The visuals start off with 50 meeting Rowland, the video's leading lady, in the street, and the two hit it off. Soon, 50 is in a snazzy suit and coming home from his 9-to-5 to the ex-Destiny's Child singer and his three kids. The pair even share a steamy bedroom scene.

But after all the promises 50 raps about on the song, he soon discovers he was actually daydreaming. Rowland is a taken woman, and the kids are hers by another man. A high-price car then pulls up to whisk 50 away, echoing the song's refrain: "Have a baby by me, baby, be a millionaire."

The video was shot between New York and Los Angeles and also features Ne-Yo, who sings the tune's chorus. His part was filmed in the Big Apple, and 50 shot his scenes out on the West Coast.

Rowland was recruited for the video after 50 ran into her at the Los Premios MTV awards in Los Angeles. The rapper approached the singer about the role, and hours later, she was on set ready to go.

• 50 Cent And Ne-Yo Release 'Baby By Me'

• 50 Cent
• Ne-Yo
• Kelly Rowland

50 Cent in "Baby By Me" video
Photo: Interscope

At the recent Los Premios MTV awards show in Los Angeles, 50 Cent met up with Destiny's Child alum Kelly Rowland. Several hours later, they were in each other's arms. Rowland plays Fif's leading lady in the upcoming "Baby by Me" video.

"I actually ran into her," 50 told us recently on the clip's set. "I said, 'Wow, it'll be great if I could get her to come tomorrow.' "

Fif said he also had his eyes on Columbian model/actress Sofia Vergara, who was at Los Premios too. "I had some ideas," 50 said. "Actually, I was talking to Sofia. I presented with her at the actual awards, and her schedule didn't allow for her [to participate]. Kelly was getting ready to fly back to Miami. I was lucky enough to catch her. I kinda begged my way into her doing it. I didn't want to do the normal video situation, where you have the vixen or somebody no one knows from anywhere. I think it intensifies the whole song."

As you'll see in MTV News' exclusive preview of the video, 50 and Kelly appear to have some kids together, and the world-famous rapper shows a wide grin when he carries his baby boys in his arms.

The full "Baby by Me" clip debuts November 2 on MTV, MTV2, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, mtvU, MTV Tres and MTV.com. 50's next album, Before I Self Destruct, comes out November 23.

On Monday (October 26), iTunes revealed the album's track list for pre-orders. Some of the records include "The Invitation," "Death to My Enemies," "Gangsta's Delight" and "Crime Wave," which has a viral video on the Net now.

• Kelly Rowland
• 50 Cent

50 Cent
Photo: MTV News

Kelly Rowland, what are you doing tomorrow? Want to get romantic with 50 Cent? Those probably weren't the exact words, but 50 Cent and his people did give singer Kelly Rowland less than two days' notice to be his leading lady in the video for "Baby by Me."

50 ran into the Destiny's Child co-founding member last Thursday, when he was presenting at the Los Premios MTV awards show in Los Angeles, and it occurred to him to snag the lovely songstress for his video, which was set to roll production on Saturday.

"This video is great," 50 said. "Chris Robinson came up with a great treatment for it. It's obvious I wasn't in a hurry to make the music video until I found the right treatment, the right idea, to bring it to life."

50 said he was dead set on having a celebrity, rather than an unknown model, star as the girl he falls in love with in the video.

"I had to find the right person to be my love interest in the music video," 50 added. "I found Kelly. It matches perfectly. The acting in the project is great. I think when people see it, they are gonna be surprised by it.

Ne-Yo, who sings on the hook, shot his part for the video in New York on Saturday, while Fif and Rowland filmed in L.A.

"Because of the technology there is no secret," he continued. "Right after we shot, I went in the trailer and looked on the computer and saw pictures on Twitter. Everybody will get to see it and enjoy it in its entirety when it's done."

• 50 Cent
• Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

Former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland couldn't help but be proud of the way her former bandmate handled herself on Sunday night at the VMAs. Rowland thinks that it was really "classy" of Beyoncé to invite Taylor Swift onstage with her while accepting her Video of the Year Mooman, after Kanye West interrupted Swift's speech for Best Female Video.

"Beyoncé is such a classy, gracious woman," Rowland told UsMagazine.com. "I actually tweeted that, and everybody was like, 'It's so true.' "

Rowland went on to say that she though that West's outburst about Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" video deserving the award more than Swift's was "disturbing." "I think that as ... a fellow artist, it's important to know that there is room for everybody," she added. "Kanye is a genius. No one takes that away from him, but [he should] be moral and be a [good] person."

Beyoncé's dad and manager, Matthew Knowles, also spoke about his daughter's actions at the show. "It wasn't my decision to bring Taylor out," he told UsMagazine.com. "It was all Beyoncé's decision. I want to be clear about that. My job is to execute and come up with some ideas, but ultimately, that was Beyoncé's decision. I can only say it was a proud night for me as a manager, but more importantly as a father."

After the show on Sunday, Swift spoke to MTV News about how she felt when West first jumped onstage. Initially, she was "excited" to see him up there with her, she said, but that feeling soon faded. She was grateful to Beyoncé for allowing her another chance to accept her award.

"It was just so wonderful and so incredibly classy of her and just gracious and wonderful to let me say something," Swift said. "She's just been my hero and one of my idols ever since I was little. She's a great person."

For his part, West has now apologized for his actions twice on his blog and a third time on Monday night's "The Jay Leno Show."

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards may have wrapped, but the party is far from over. Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes updates, party reports and much more.

• VMA 2009: The Entire Show On Demand

• VMA 2009: Show Highlights
• Kanye West's History Of Outbursts

• Beyoncé
• Kelly Rowland
• Destiny's Child
• Taylor Swift
• Kanye West

Kelly Rowland
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

Destiny's Child sang on their 2000 hit "Independent Woman" that they depend on themselves to pay their own bills. Perhaps founding member Kelly Rowland is taking that motto to heart.

The singer announced in a joint statement Wednesday (January 28) with Mathew Knowles that the two are severing their working relationship. Knowles is Beyoncé's father and manages her, in addition to her sister Solange, and Destiny's Child. He also oversaw Rowland's career since she released her first solo LP, 2002's Simply Deep.

"Mathew Knowles has been a positive influence in my career," Rowland said in the statement. "I have had great success under his guidance — both as a member of Destiny's Child and with my solo projects. Although we have decided to part ways professionally, the Knowles family and the entire Music World Entertainment team will always be my family."

Destiny's Child split in 2005 but have maintained the split is not permanent.

The move comes more than a year after Rowland's last album, 2007's Ms.Kelly. The album was delayed a number of times, but upon its release, the project was received well by critics. The album, featuring the single "Like This" with Eve, however, failed to live up to the commercial success of her debut, which sold over 500,000 copies and was certified gold.

Rowland was practically raised by the Knowles family, making the split that much more surprising. The singer moved into the Knowles' Texas home during the formation of Destiny's Child and often refers to Beyoncé as her sister. Mathew Knowles acknowledged their ties, saying Rowland will always continue to be a part of the Knowles clan.

He also stressed that no animosity was involved in this business separation.

"After a very positive meeting between Kelly Rowland and myself, we have amicably agreed to end our professional relationship," he said in the statement. "My company, Music World, will continue to manage Destiny's Child as a group. As an artist Kelly has incredible talent and I only wish her the best. We will always be family first and foremost, and as a dad I only have love for Kelly."

As of press time, it is unclear if Rowland has retained new management.

• Kelly Rowland
• Beyoncé
• Destiny's Child
• Solange

Kelly Rowland
Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — Kelly Rowland may have classed it up alongside Eve in the clip for "Like This," the lead single from her sophomore album, Ms. Kelly, but in her next video, for the Snoop Dogg-assisted "Ghetto," let's just say that Rowland is taking a decidedly less-proper approach.

"Oh my gosh, it's a really great feeling," Rowland told MTV News last week on the set of her ESPN college football promo collabo with Perry Farrell and 50 Cent (see "50 Cent, Kelly Rowland And — Huh? — Perry Farrell Team Up For ESPN Theme"). "I'm working with Andrew Gura on this video. It's very, I'd say ... gosh, I'm trying to get the right word out because I don't want to sound crazy. ... It's ghetto. It's really fly. I feel like everybody has some sort of element of ghetto in them. Think about it. Right? Wouldn't you say so? And everyone knows what the ghetto is."

Rowland just shot the video for "Ghetto" last Thursday in Los Angeles, but according to her, the song was actually written quite some time ago by crooner Tank and upstart Lonny Bereal. The former Destiny's Child singer cut the track a year ago. She said when it was time for Snoop to lay down his rhymes, the rapper came into the studio without skipping a beat (see "Kelly Rowland Scraps Sappy Story, Picks Up Snoop").

"He [just] put his Snoop-a-fied player-isms on the track," Rowland said. "It's hot."

Although Rowland has recorded two proper solo albums, she said she still finds herself adjusting to post-DC life. One of the benefits of each lady doing her own thing, Rowland said, is that the knowledge each member has gained could improve a reunion — should one ever happen.

"There's an element of freedom [in being on your own], but at the same time, of course, you miss your ladies," Rowland explained. "But there's always time for growth. And I feel like growth must take place, and that's definitely what's happened amongst all three of us: Michelle, with her doing Broadway; and Beyoncé doing the tour; and me going out and doing the record and performing at different places. So I feel that it's really great. All of us are basically doing everything on our own, so if we do decide to come back together as Destiny's Child, it just makes it even stronger."

But don't expect a reunion just yet.

"I said 'if,' " she joked. "If."

• Kelly Rowland
• Snoop Dogg
• Destiny's Child

Perry Farrell and 50 Cent
Photo: Ben Ritter/ Jason Campbell

First Hank Williams Jr. asked NFL fans if they were ready for some football.

Then the Black Eyed Peas told basketball fans to get it started for the NBA playoffs.

Now 50 Cent, Kelly Rowland and Perry Farrell and his group, Satellite Party, are adding to the list of music/sports-world promos.

The trio recently remixed Satellite Party's "Only Love, Let's Celebrate" for the upcoming 2007 college football season on ESPN.

"[ESPN] had the idea to bring in someone who can rap and a female who can sing, and then put it together [as a remix]," Farrell told MTV News on Thursday. "Coming from the world of rock and roll — and as a DJ — I felt that a lot of rock and roll was being ignored by DJs," he said. "I wanted to bring rock and roll songs into the nightclubs because DJs are always looking for new material, and hip-hop has predominately been what club music has been about over the last 10 years. So when I heard that ESPN was interested in that and they also wanted to get a rapper, they made a wise choice. Their ears were tuning in to the things that I was hoping for. And when they told me they were thinking about 50 on it? Wow, that could be amazing."

Farrell and 50 recorded their vocals together earlier this month in New York. Farrell said he didn't have to do too much work since the track was already his own composition, but he did rearrange and add lyrics with the help of his band. They did a quick jam session and looped the music in a five-minute interval to catch a vibe, and according to Farrell, that's when 50 caught on and started writing his lyrics to the track.

"He started writing once we were down there to kind of feel things out," Farrell explained. "I had my band jamming. And from there, his producer was sitting there and they were taking all that in, my free flows, and they were listening and kind of taking notes. So he was kind of responding to my stuff at first, but then kind of coming up with his stuff. I think we had the same plan; he didn't want to say anything that didn't suit us and had as much to do with our character as anything else.

"It's pertinent to football, but it could very much be its own thing," he continued about the track. "The music really suits crossover. I think that it's really good and I'm happy I got to do it and partner in it with 50 and Kelly, and I just look forward to rocking people on Saturday nights for the whole football season."

(For a report on Farrell and Satellite Party's appearances at Lollapalooza, see "Against Me! Deliver A Smashing Set, Daft Punk Land The Saucer: Lollapalooza, Day One.")

50 Cent, Farrell and Rowland are scheduled to shoot a clip for the track in New York, to be used as part of the opening to ESPN's NCAA game-night coverage.

Seen a great show? MTV News wants your photos, videos and reports from all the latest concerts for our new You R Here community. Check out the site to read, rate and comment on reviews from around the globe. We'll put the best stuff on our You R Here blog, and even in on-air news!

• 50 Cent Vents Over 'Follow My Lead' Leak

• 50 Cent
• Kelly Rowland
• Perry Farrell
• Satellite Party
• Jane's Addiction

Kelly Rowland
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

Kelly Rowland collapsed onstage in Nigeria on Sunday during the ThisDay Music Festival as a result of dehydration, a spokesperson from her label, Columbia Records, said Monday (July 16). Rowland was taken to a nearby hospital in Lagos and is said to be in good condition. She's scheduled to return to the States on Monday; Shakira, Rihanna, Ne-Yo, John Legend and Diddy were also scheduled to appear at the second edition of the annual festival. ...

Snoop Dogg is getting real. The rapper has signed a deal with E! Entertainment Television to appear in a "hilarious and heartwarming" reality show that will show him juggling his hip-hop and parenting responsibilities. The Associated Press reported that the show will debut in late 2007. ... Wanna get your hands on Gwen Stefani? Huckleberry Toys is releasing 150 limited-edition dolls of the No Doubt frontwoman at San Diego's Comic-Con July 25-29. But if you can't get to SoCal, the toymaker will take phone orders beginning Monday (July 16) for the $100 doll. Call (818) 363-4500 for your own mini-Gwen. ...

Justin Timberlake's Southern charm — i.e. the Memphis-style restaurant, Southern Hospitality, that the singer is opening in New York with pals Trace Ayala and Eytan Sugarman — will open for business on Wednesday. ... Britney Spears has been reaching out to some of the hottest songwriters to work on her comeback album -- but she probably shouldn't give Pink a call. The punky pop star says she would never write a song for Spears, MSNBC reports. "[It's] not because I don't like [Spears] -- I do think she's crazy enough to do one of my songs," Pink said. "But it's very hard for me to let go of my songs and the only people I write for are real singers -- not that she's not a real singer, but she's more of an entertainer." Pink named Lauryn Hill, Faith Hill and Amy Winehouse as examples of who she'd like to write for, "because you need serious attitude to carry off the dumb stuff I write about." ...

Michael Jackson just can't seem to evade his creditors. The singer is being sued yet again for failure to pay, this time for approximately $30 million owed in commissions and fees for a $330 million loan. Transitional Investors claims in a suit filed in San Francisco on Friday that Jackson stiffed the company after it arranged to bail the pop star out of his financial mess, which began with Bank of America loaning Jackson $200 million in 1998 and another $72.5 million in 1999, secured by Jackson's interests in his own songs and the Beatles' catalog. In January 2005, Jackson received another loan of $330 million, which included a $3 million breakup fee for the larger loan, and 9 percent of the $330 million. Transitional is asking for the money owed as well as punitive damages for breach of contract, misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and fraudulent transfer. ...

In other legal news, Los Angeles DJ Samantha Ronson is suing blogger Perez Hilton for $20 million over his claims that she set up her pal Lindsay Lohan. In a post on his Web site, Hilton implied that Ronson had tipped off photographers for those infamous snooze shots, in which the open-mouth actress was asleep or passed out in the back of a parked car in May, and that Ronson allegedly planted the cocaine found in the car when Lohan was arrested. The suit also targets the paparazzi photo agency Sunset Photo and News. In the lawsuit, filed Thursday in L.A., Ronson claims that Hilton's depiction of her as a "disloyal, dishonest friend who 'sold out' and 'set up' her friend Lohan for personal financial gain" is nothing but libel. ... It looks like ABC's "The View" has been missing a taste of controversy since Rosie O'Donnell left the show. The answer? The always-entertaining "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul. The "Hey Paula" star will join the "View" ladies as a guest host on Thursday's show. ...

If voting for "American Idol" isn't enough for you, how about wearing it? In February, the production house behind the show will launch a line of clothing for girls and tweens consisting of denim jeans, T-shirts, dresses and vests in the $10-$40 range, according to a Reuters report. The line, Lyrix by Lyric Culture, will come with pink, white and black logos embroidered or painted onto the fabric, including a pair of jeans with a microphone cord snaking up the leg and other pieces with lyrics from songs by winners of the show. ... This has to be a "Jackass" prank, right? Steve-O announced on his MySpace page Saturday that he's working on a rap album. "To anyone that chooses to be critical of my decision to make this rap album, I've got bad news for you, it's a great album," Steve-O wrote in the blog post. "I've been recording it with the producers of the one and only G-Unit and it is, indisputably, incredible and made by the most talented people in rap music." ...

Sony BMG has filed a lawsuit against the company that made the "rootkit" software that caused the label so many headaches last year. The $12 million suit against Arizona-based Amergence Group claims that the company's MediaMax anti-piracy software — which was surreptitiously included on 32 Sony BMG releases and caused some users to suffer computer problems — ended up costing Sony nearly $6 million when it had to compensate users for those problems, according to a BBC News report. ... Web radio stations that said they were facing certain death if new royalty rates kicked in as scheduled on July 15 got a stay of execution last week: Royalty collector SoundExchange agreed to hold off on implementing the new rates while negotiations continue, BusinessWeek.com reported. The stations, which say the much higher rates will force them out of business, have already gotten at least one major concession, with SoundExchange agreeing to cap a new minimum royalty rate at $50,000 per station per year. This is instead of the $500 per music stream that was originally proposed, which would have charged them that amount for each stream created by each user.

07.13.2007

Do you want to be the next Fonzworth Bentley? Diddy is looking for a new assistant, and he's taking his search online. The music mogul posted a video on his MySpace page asking wannabe lackeys to upload a video of themselves explaining why they deserve the gig (college degree required, he specifies). Diddy will put the hiring process in the fans' hands once he has a pool of finalists. Check out the clip to upload your application video. ...

They've done gone and did it. They wiped the smile off Usher's face. In an open letter written by the singer and posted on People magazine's Web site Thursday, he denied reports that he harassed and threatened some people in the media; said he wanted to keep details about his upcoming marriage to Tameka Foster and the birth of their child private; and asked his fans to not believe all the rumors that have been floating around about him. "It's disturbing that the media and bloggers (under the guise as 'fans') continuously speculate on the personal aspects of my life, therefore making assumptions and wrong insinuations that my fans are subject to believe," he said in his letter. "I am happy, excited, completely clear and independent on my direction, feelings, decisions and I am NOT BEING LED," he added, responding to rumors that Foster has Usher on a short leash. "Some media and bloggers have been totally intrusive, they have misconstrued aspects of my personal life and, because of this, my 'true' fans are not sure about what is fact and what is fiction." ...

In other Usher news, the R&B superstar appears in the August issue of Stuff, and he tells the lad mag that he's growing up. "I used to be the guy who tore off his shirt during every show. Now I'm a little more comfortable in my skin, and I don't have to show my chest or my stomach every time I take a picture," he said. "As for the shirtless guy at the club, maybe he's having fun, but the real players and ballers, you don't see them coming. That guy who's in the back chilling, he's the one who always leaves with the hottest chick. And that's his reason for being out in the club anyway, right?" ...

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department launched an internal investigation on Thursday into whether Paris Hilton received special treatment during her time at Lynwood, California's Century Regional Detention Center, the Los Angeles Times reports. The department's union, which has clashed with Sheriff Lee Baca in the past, said deputies have complained about Hilton's access to a cell phone (while other inmates waited in line for pay phones) and her new jail uniform (while many inmates receive recycled ones). ... Janet Jackson is leaving Virgin Records for Island Def Jam, according to her boyfriend, music producer Jermaine Dupri. He confirmed to Billboard that Jackson was lured to the label by L.A. Reid, who previously recruited Dupri to his current post at Island Urban, a division of Island Def Jam. Dupri had been an executive at Virgin but resigned his post after Jackson's last album, 20 Y.O., failed to live up to expectations. Dupri executive-produced the project and blamed Virgin for the album's poor promotion. Dupri has said Reid would largely work with Jackson on her next album. ...

One of Marilyn Manson's bodyguards has won a court battle against a photographer who claimed he was beaten up at a concert. A Los Angeles judge has ruled that Ruben Navarrete failed to present enough evidence that he was injured by the security guard at a Manson show in 2004. Navarrete alleged the bodyguard "grabbed him and put him in a chokehold" and then demanded he "erase the portions of his videotape that contained the images of Marilyn Manson." The photographer initially named Manson as a defendant, but, according to TMZ.com, the judge threw that part of the case out. ... The countdown to Posh and Becks' takeover is over. Victoria and David Beckham arrived in the U.S. to throngs of paparazzi on Friday (July 13), and America may never be the same. W magazine is welcoming the power pair in its August Issue with a revealing article and equally revealing photo spread. (Check out the sizzling cover here.) Victoria says she wants to change Americans' perception of her ("I think they have this impression that I'm this miserable cow who doesn't smile"), while new Los Angeles Galaxy player David wants to change Americans' perception of soccer ("I do believe I can take it to another level"). The issue hits newsstands July 20. ...

Lindsay Lohan was cleared of any wrongdoing in a 2005 crash in which she hit a van, TMZ.com reports. A Beverly Hills judge dismissed the case when the van's owner didn't show up to court. The owner had sued Lohan for $3,624.84 in damages following the October 4, 2005, incident. ...

Nelly is coming out swinging. The St. Louis rap icon has titled his new album Brass Knuckles. Universal has set a release date of September 18. ... In its August issue, Blender magazine has an interview with Kelly Clarkson in which she reveals details surrounding her face-to-face confrontation with music legend Clive Davis over her album, My December. "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell had a chat with TV's "Extra" and shared some advice for Kelly and Clive: "Kiss and make up, decide what's best, get on with it!" About Clarkson's comments in the magazine, Cowell added, "Clive Davis at 80 is better than 99 percent of the people in the music business in their 20s, 30s and 40s. And he's not 80, he's less than 80." Cowell admits that Clarkson is "one of the best, and she always will be" but that Davis is "the boss of the record company and it's his job to advise." ...

And in yet another magazine article, Kanye West talks about his style ("Everything about me is pop and luxury."); his swagger ("I'm really shy. ... Why do you think I'm so cocky?"); and meeting his fiancee, Alexis Phifer ("I had on this throwback jersey, and the first thing I said to her, because I could tell she was stylish, was, 'I don't normally dress like this!' ") in the August issue of Harper's Bazaar, on newsstands July 24. ... Everyone knows that kids love Harry Potter — but did you know about the boy wizard's huge senior-citizen following? A retirement community in Silver Springs, Maryland, launched the resident-based blog Golden Wizard, where residents speculate about the outcome of the final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," and debate different theories on the series. ...

On July 28, ex-Guns N' Roses drummer Steven Adler and former guitarist Tracii Guns will perform at Hollywood's Key Club, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the release of 1987's Appetite for Destruction. ... Canadian metal act 3 Inches of Blood have hit a snag, just one date into this summer's Ozzfest. "We are unfortunately one member short," the band said in a statement. "[Frontman] Jamie Hooper has been experiencing problems with his voice and thus his ability to sing. Under the recommendation of doctors, Jamie has been advised not to perform until his voice has healed. As a result, Jamie will not be appearing with us on Ozzfest. [Guitarist] Justin Hagberg will be pulling double duty, playing guitar and singing most of Jamie's parts. We hope Jamie's recovery is as painless as possible and is back in the fold by the fall."

• Kelly Rowland
• Snoop Dogg
• Usher
• Diddy
• Gwen Stefani

T.I.'s <i>T.I. vs. T.I.P.</i>
Photo: Grand Hustle/Atlantic

Consider for a moment the kind of pressure Grammy-winning rapper T.I. must have faced during the recording of his latest opus, T.I. vs. T.I.P. His previous release, 2006's King, debuted at #1 on Billboard's albums chart, moving more than 522,000 units during its first week of commercial release. The LP earned the distinction of being one of the year's top sellers, and it was far and away the best-selling hip-hop offering of 2006, with nearly 1.6 million copies sold.

Needless to say, expectations have been high for T.I. vs. T.I.P., and to T.I.'s credit, he delivered. With first-week sales of 467,700, the disc doesn't replace Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight (which sold 623,000 copies in its first week) as 2007's best-performing debut to date, but it trounced sales of Norah Jones' Not Too Late, which scanned 405,000 copies to take second-place honors.

T.I. knocks last week's #1, Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus — the latest release from pop artist Cyrus, star of the Disney Channel original series "Hannah Montana" — to #2. The disc sold 187,600 copies, falling 42 percent from last week, according to the latest SoundScan totals.

T.I. wasn't the only newcomer to next week's chart to make a top 10 bow. Debuting at #5, with sales reported at 93,400 and change, is Velvet Revolver's sophomore LP, Libertad, followed closely at #6 by former Destiny's Child songstress Kelly Rowland's Ms. Kelly, which generated sales of close to 82,500. The fifth-place finish has to be disappointing for the Revolver, considering the band's 2004 debut, Contraband, opened at #1 with 256,000 scans. Rowland, on the other hand, must be thrilled: Her first album, 2002's Simply Deep, debuted at #12, clocking sales of 77,300.

Falling one spot this week to #3 is Kelly Clarkson's new one, My December, which sold another 113,300 units, even after taking a 61 percent sales hit. Interestingly, Clarkson's album, in just two weeks, has managed to outsell Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad, even without the benefit of a top 40 radio single. Clarkson's disc has cleared the 405,000 mark, while Rihanna's album, which has been in stores for five weeks and boasts the hit songs "Umbrella" and "Shut Up and Drive," has sold just 382,600 units.

Sales of Bon Jovi's Lost Highway remain strong, earning the New Jersey rockers the chart's #4 position, thanks to 93,600 scans. Following Rowland at #7 is Brad Paisley's 5th Gear, with 59,500 copies sold, and at #8 this week, sliding two spots, is Amy Winehouse's Back to Black, which sold to the tune of 57,000. Linkin Park's Minutes to Midnight follows at #9, with 56,500 units scanned, and rounding out the top 10 with 55,600 copies sold is the White Stripes' latest, Icky Thump.

Eight other albums make their debuts on next week's chart, including the soundtrack to the summer blockbuster "Transformers." The set features contributions from Linkin Park, Smashing Pumpkins, Disturbed, Taking Back Sunday and others, and it bows at #21 with 32,300 scans. Silverstein's Arrivals and Departures follows at #25, having sold 27,000 copies during its first week at retail, while Twiztid's Independent's Day opens at #57, with 12,600 sold. Reggae artist Collie Buddz's self-titled debut takes the chart's #68 position, with 10,800 scans, while rapper Pastor Troy's Tool Muziq claims the #91 slot, thanks to 8,300 scans.

Finally, there's Pearl Jam, whose live box set, Live at the Gorge 05/06, debuted on last week's chart at #36, with 19,150 units flying off store shelves during its initial sales week. But like most box sets, second-week sales took a dive, dropping the set to #191 on next week's chart.

• MTV News RAW: T.I.

• T.I.
• Velvet Revolver
• Kelly Rowland
• Kelly Clarkson

T.I.'s <i>T.I. vs. T.I.P.</i>
Photo: Atlantic Records

Fireworks are happening everywhere this week — can T.I. bring some to the record racks, too? With the competition at a bare minimum, the rapper is trying to get his ego crisis under control so he can Tip the charts and blow away the contenders. They include Velvet Revolver, who are firing off a new release of their own this week; Kelly Rowland, who gave her fresh material some shine (with help from Eve) at the BET Awards; and Silverstein, whose label has just slightly high expectations for the band's new LP. Let the festivities begin ...

Who Is This Man?: T.I. vs. T.I.P. revolves around the rapper's dueling identities, but he/they are hardly the only ones trying to sort things out on the LP — Eminem, Jay-Z, Nelly, Busta Rhymes, Mannie Fresh and Wyclef Jean are also onboard for the 18-track outing. (Sad news for fans: Slices with Justin Timberlake, Ciara and others didn't make the final cut.) Warner Music Group CEO Lyor Cohen is also spotted on the three-act disc, playfully warning Tip not to mess with his money, but it's not all fun and games — early in the album, the rapper reflects on his daughter's miscarriage and the shooting of a friend.

Bang Bang Baby: It hasn't all been smooth sailing for Velvet Revolver — the band scrapped a concept-album concept for its second disc and changed producer plans too when Brendan O'Brien took the helm instead of Rick Rubin. "We really kind of flat-lined for a while," Scott Weiland told Billboard. All the same, fans can scream for Libertad, now that it's arrived three years after its predecessor, Contraband. The latter LP opened at #1 on the Billboard albums chart — but so did T.I.'s last one, King. VR's new single "She Builds Quick Machines" hasn't been doing terribly well at rock radio, but maybe their head-scratching cover of Electric Light Orchestra's "Can't Get It Out of My Head" will attract some more curious buyers and help the disc debut with a bang.

Cirque de Rock: VR drummer Matt Sorum has been slapping some extra skins this year — he played on the first effort by Circus Diablo, which features other current and past members of the Cult — Billy Duffy and Billy Morrison — as well as Fuel's Brett Scallions and the Almighty's Ricky Warwick. (Tying everything together, Sorum and Weiland are in another Morrison project, Camp Freddy.) Songs include "Red Sun Rising," "Mad Parade" and "Commercial Break."

Dear Ms. Kelly: With testosterone dominating this week, don't forget about Ms. Kelly — Ms. Kelly Rowland, that is. She might have some trouble planting her second album in people's brains, though — the follow-up to 2002's Simply Deep was supposed to come out last year but got shelved and reworked. Here it is at last, and Eve ("Like This"), Tank ("The Show") and Snoop Dogg ("Ghetto") are propping up the former Destiny's Child singer with guest spots. Look for a ringtone, cell phone wallpaper, a digital track download and more to accompany the release.

Andre the Giant: As huge as Andre 3000's reputation is, you might have trouble finding him in the racks this week — he sneaks up on the soundtrack to "Class of 3000," the animated series he created and produced. Andre can be heard on the disc via the voice of Sunny Bridges, the music teacher, although all the tunes on the set were actually written by Mr. Benjamin — yup, even "The Crayon Song," "UFO Ninja," "Oh Peanut" and "Banana Zoo."

Silver and Bold: In what has to be one of the ballsier hype sheets in recent memory, Victory Records declares outright: "Silverstein will debut in the top 10 on Billboard's top 200 on July 11." The Canadian post-hardcore act did manage to get rid of more than 300,000 copies of its last album, Discovering the Waterfront, and it sided with Blink-182 producer Mark Trombino for the follow-up, Arrivals and Departures. The album, which leaked a couple of weeks ago, features "The Sand Will Turn to Glass," "Vanity and Greed" and "Love With Caution"; the Best Buy edition has a couple of goodies too: "Rain Will Fall" and "Falling Down." Don't tell Michael Douglas!

Watch Out: If the record racks are too bare for you this week, turn on your computer — there's a bit going on in the digital sphere. Tom Morello — oops, the Nightwatchman — is tacking "Alone Without You," a tune featured in pal Michael Moore's new "Sicko" flick, onto his recently released debut, One Man Revolution. "Sick 'cause this hammering litany of sins/ Is bangin' and burnin' and I can't stand the din," he sings on the track, which is told from the viewpoint of a dying man. "Sick 'cause the darkness keeps seepin' on in/ Sick to be leaving my family and friends." Also floating around online is Sedated Times, a seven-track EP by Norwegian experimentalists 120 Days. The set consists of "So This Is Suicide," "Sleepless Nights #11" and a bonus tune, "Come Out Come Down Fade Out Be Gone," reconstructed by Secret Machines.

Song Title of the Week:

"Tomorrow's Another Day" from Collie Buddz

Album Cover of the Week:

Twiztid's Independent's Day

New Releases:

· Sara Bareilles - Little Voice (Epic)
· Circus Diablo - Circus Diablo (Koch)
· Collie Buddz - Collie Buddz (Epic)
· Damien Dempsey - To Hell or Barbados (United Opportunity)
· Erik Mongrain - Fates (MVD Audio)
· Kelly Rowland - Ms. Kelly (Columbia) [Buy Now]
· Marvin Sapp - Thirsty (Verity)
· Silverstein - Arrivals and Departures (Victory) [Buy Now]
· T.I. - T.I. vs. T.I.P. (Atlantic) [Buy Now]
Read: "T.I. Taking On T.I.P. With Help From Eminem, Justin Timberlake"
· Twiztid - Independent's Day (Psychopathic) [Buy Now]
· Velvet Revolver - Libertad (RCA) [Buy Now]
Read: "Scott Weiland Pumped For Velvet Revolver LP, Solo Collabo With Pharrell"
· Various artists - "Class of 3000" soundtrack (La Face) [Buy Now]
· Various artists - "Talk to Me" soundtrack (Atlantic)
· Various artists - "Transformers" soundtrack (Warner Bros.)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

· 2Pac - Evolution: Duets and Remixes (Koch)
· The Climax Blues Band - 20 Greatest Hits (Fuel)
· John Coltrane - My Favorite Things: Coltrane at Newport (Impulse) [Buy Now]
· Joe Ely - Honky Tonk Masquerade and Joe Ely (CBuJ) [Buy Now]
· Widespread Panic - Choice Cuts: The Capricorn Years - 1991-1999 (Capricorn/Legacy)
· Various artists - Cobra Record Corp. - Treasures From the Vaults (Fuel)

Digital Releases:

· 120 Days - Sedated Times (EP; Vice)
· The Nightwatchman - One Man Revolution (re-released with a bonus track; Epic) [Buy Now]

Coming Attractions:

July 10:
· Aly & AJ - Insomniatic (Hollywood) [Preorder]
· Interpol - Our Love to Admire (special edition packaged in hard-covered book form due same day; Capitol) [Preorder]
Read: "Call Interpol 'The Worst Band On The Planet' — They Don't Care"
· Mike Jones - The American Dream (Ice Age) [Preorder]
Read: "The Dream Is Nearly Over For Mike Jones"
· Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist (Reprise) [Preorder]
Read: "Smashing Pumpkins Drummer Offers More Clues About Forthcoming LP" · Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge) [Preorder]

July 17:
· All-American Rejects - "Tournado" DVD (Interscope) [Preorder]
· Avenged Sevenfold - "All Excess" DVD (Warner Bros.) [Preorder]
· Too Short - I Love the Bay (Up All Nite) [Preorder]
· Yellowcard - Paper Walls (deluxe edition with DVD due same day; Capitol) [Preorder]
· Various artists - Now That's What I Call Music! 25 (UTV)

July 24:
· Cartel - Cartel (Epic) [Preorder]
Read: "Pop-Punks Cartel Show Off Grandma's Digs, Borrow Benz For 'Cribs' "
· Sum 41 - Underclass Hero (Island) [Preorder]
Read: "Sum 41 Kill President In New Song — Deryck Whibley Says It's 'A Metaphor' "
· Tegan and Sara - Con (deluxe edition with DVD due same day; Vapor/Sanctuary) [Preorder]

• T.I. And Twista Grill Up Smokin' Summer Clips

• T.I.
• Velvet Revolver
• Kelly Rowland
• Silverstein
• Andre 3000

Stars Descend On The 2008 Cannes Film Festival

• Lily Allen
• Kelly Rowland
• Bono

Beyoncé, 50 Cent, Jennifer Hudson, More At The 2007 BET Awards

• Michelle Williams
• Beyoncé
• Kelly Rowland
• Jennifer Hudson
• 50 Cent

MTV.com Exclusive: Kelly Rowland

• Kelly Rowland

Pharrell, Kanye, Snoop, Paris, Ciara, More At The Pharrell & Absolut Ruby Red Pre-VMA Bash

• Pharrell Williams
• Kanye West
• Cee-Lo
• Ciara
• Amerie

Kanye, Rihanna, Fonzworth, More At 2006 BET Awards

• Kanye West
• Rihanna
• Fonzworth Bentley
• Bow Wow
• Paul Wall

Rock and Rowland

• Nick Cannon
• Kelly Rowland
• Ne-Yo

Lindsay, Paris, Hilary, Chingy And More At The 2005 American Music Awards

• Lindsay Lohan
• Hilary Duff
• Chingy
• Pharrell Williams
• Bow Wow

"Freddy Vs. Jason" Photos

• Destiny's Child
• Kelly Rowland

Lil' Kim, Ludacris, Monica, Snoop, More On BET Awards Red Carpet

• Lil' Kim
• St. Lunatics
• Roscoe
• Clipse
• Floetry

Avril, Pink, Nelly, No Doubt, More On 2003 Grammy Red Carpet

• Nelly
• Kelly Rowland
• No Doubt
• Foo Fighters
• Avril Lavigne