Fat Joe
Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images

Fat Joe's feeling pretty good about himself these days. Not only has he gone into the studio to make what he calls "the most phenomenal album on the planet Earth," he's named the effort Me, Myself & I. Joe's eyeing a September release for the LP.

"Everybody I tell the title to, they be like, 'Ah, Jeee-sus! Joe is on that bullsh-- right now,' " he said from Miami, where he's taking in the NBA Finals.

"I'm trying to keep them looks up," he added. "When people think he ain't as strong as he used to be, I get them looks. But right now? Ah, man, forget about it. It's too much. I never had an album like this. I made straight monsters. It's really a problem. I'm ready, boy. I'm amped up. My album is crazy. It's over. Bet the kitchen sink on me. Bet it, run out, spend your life's savings. It's on and popping. It's crazy. I can't believe it's coming out crazy like that."

So far, Joe has worked with producers Scott Storch, DJ Khaled, the Runners, Street Runner, Big D and LV, who produced his current street buzzer, "Damn." Cool & Dre and Just Blaze are still on tap. Joe said he's expecting a better outcome than his last LP, All or Nothing, which was critically acclaimed but not a big seller.

"This album right here is way better than that album," he said. "N---as is just now coming up to me and saying, 'All or Nothing is sick.' I don't know if it was the beef with 50 Cent that [caused people to throw] their earmuffs on (see "Fat Joe Says 50's Taunts Led To VMA Dis") 'cause he was so strong. But n---as is coming up to me now saying, 'Yo, the album is ill.' "

Joe also blames the lack of sales on going hard with the single "Get It Poppin' " with Nelly. In hindsight, he thinks he maybe should have gone with "Listen Baby" or "Get Up" to start things off.

"N---as didn't want to see [my alias] Joe Crack, the guy that just did [Terror Squad's] 'Lean Back' and [Ja Rule's] 'New York,' with Nelly, dancing. Nelly is my n---a; I love him to death. I actually like the song, but it wasn't the right song at the time. But being that it was taking off on radio by itself, we was like, 'Let's go with it.' "

For his new album, Joe is negotiating to go the independent route but said he'll still be working closely with his longtime label Atlantic on distribution.

"I'm trying to work the album like I'm on major though," Joe said. "I'm trying to come with smashes."

On Sunday, Joe hosted the Puerto Rican Day Parade on New York's Fox and UPN affiliate stations. He called the experience historic.

"I gotta let them know that rappers are intelligent," he said. "They let me run with it. They was like, 'Go.' ... I didn't think they was gonna give me the ball like that.

"What shocked the people, I'm sure, is how much knowledge I had of the community," he continued. "When I tell people, 'I'm New York,' I'm New York for real. People were like, 'You had so much knowledge of the community.' I'm like, 'This is my neighborhood, New York City.' Of course I know who the congressman is. ... It's my job to know. This is what I rep."

• Fat Joe
• Terror Squad

Fat Joe (file)
Photo: MTV News

WEST HOLLYWOOD, California — There are rappers who discover a hot sound and milk it for a few singles. Fat Joe isn't one of them.

"Of course [I feel pressure to follow-up 'Lean Back']," the Terror Squad leader said of his upcoming solo album. "But we can't try to repeat the same magic. I'm just trying to take it somewhere else. I can't do 'Lean Back' again. I can't come back with 'Lean Forward.' Only Weird Al Yankovic could pull that one off."

Fat Joe has gone back and forth on the lead-off single from the album Things of That Nature, which was recently pushed back to February (see "Fat Joe's Album Pushed Back To February") so as not to interfere with Terror Squad's new single, "Take Me Home" (see "Remy Martin Provides Steamy Action On Terror Squad Video Set" ). While the Timbaland-produced "Get Up" was once the frontrunner, Joe is now leaning toward "Listen Baby."

"Swizz Beatz produced it and it's crazy," Joe said. "It's a club track, but it's just really talking to them ladies, man. I just been really vibing with the ladies lately."

At least a few other tracks on Things of That Nature speak directly to ladies, including one with R. Kelly that shouts out "women in high-heel stilettos."

"R. Kelly, I love him," Joe said. "He's the best of our time — Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, that type of dude. So I love whenever I can work with him. He's a good brother, a positive brother."

Scott Storch, Cool & Dre, DJ Khaled, Streetrunner and the Terror Squad also contribute production or raps to the album. The "Lean Back" remix with Eminem, Mase and Lil Jon will also be included.

The track list for Things of That Nature has yet to be finalized, but one song sure to make the cut is "Rules," which features the memorable line, "Can't be cornballs like Menudo/ Ricky Martin is cool, but with them tight pants how you gonna conceal your tools?" (see "A Boastful Fat Joe Shows Off His Things Of That Nature ").

"There's rules to this game," Joe explained. "For years, I been one of the most prominent and dominant Latino rappers out, and a lot of people ask me, 'Yo, why you the only one really doing it right now at a major level?' They almost swear, like I'm holding them back or somethin'. So I'm just trying to tell them, we gotta get off the corny stuff, start making music for everybody. That way we could get across to everybody. 'Cause hip-hop is just one global culture: white, black, Chinese, Hispanic. We all just love the music and the culture. So if you wanna make great music, make music for everybody. So I just pretty much made a manual for my Latino brothers and sisters on how we do it."

As for the title Things of That Nature, Joe said it was just a saying he remembered from his childhood. "A lot of my titles in the past have been real, real powerful: Represent, Jealous One's Envy, Loyalty, Don Cartagena," he said. "So I'm just taking it light and bouncing off the turbulence."

Joe, who just shot a video with Ja Rule and Jadakiss for Rule's "New York" (see "'New York' Love Goes Both Ways When Ja, Joe And Jada Hit The Bronx" ), is lining up a tour for early 2005.

"We're trying to holla at Nelly," he said. "We're seein' who's doin' big things, who's going to have a big successful tour that we want to be a part of."

• Fat Joe
• Terror Squad

Kanye West (file)
Photo: Amy V. Cooper

Judging by the Source Awards, 2004 is the year of the producer/artist: Kanye West and Lil Jon led all winners by snaring three awards apiece at the ceremony, which took place on Saturday night in Miami.

West won Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for The College Dropout and Video of the Year for "Through the Wire," which he co-directed. Meanwhile, Jon took home trophies for two singles he produced — Single of the Year - Collabo for the Youngbloodz's "Damn!" and R&B/Rap Collabo of the Year for Usher's "Yeah!" — as well as Producer of the Year.

The night's other winners included Ludacris (Artist of the Year - Male Solo, Live Performer of the Year), Chingy (Single of the Year for "Right Thurr," Remix of the Year for "Right Thurr" remix), Jay-Z (Lyricist of the Year), Alicia Keys (R&B Artist of the Year - Female), Ying Yang Twins (Artist of the Year - Group), Terror Squad (Single of the Year - Group for "Lean Back") and Usher (who also took home R&B Artist of the Year - Male).

Held at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, the show featured performances from Mase, Twista, Ciara, Terror Squad and Ja Rule, among others. The show, which was hosted by Trina, comedian Kevin Hart and radio and BET personality Big Tigger, will air on November 30 on BET.

• Kanye West
• Lil Jon
• Ludacris
• Chingy
• Usher

Eminem phoned in to MTV's "TRL" Tuesday afternoon and, amidst jokes and general guffawing about his new video, shot down rumors that he bought a home and was moving to Hollywood. Speculation had started on the Internet that he was going to pursue a film career full-time. ...

Jay-Z and R. Kelly have announced 17 more dates for their Best of Both Worlds tour, which kicked off last Thursday in Rosemont, Illinois. The trek will continue through November and will make stops in Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. ... Usher leads the list of nominees for the 2004 Vibe Awards. The singer, who recently wrapped his Truth Tour, is up for five awards, including Artist of the Year, R&B Song of the Year ("Confessions Pt. II") and R&B Voice of the Year. Usher's "My Boo" collaborator, Alicia Keys, is up for four awards, including Artist of the Year and R&B Song of the Year ("If I Ain't Got You"). Other nominees include Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Kanye West, G-Unit, Outkast and the Terror Squad. Slated to air on UPN on November 16, the show will be executive produced by Queen Latifah. ...

Marilyn Manson has quietly settled a lawsuit filed by a Michigan security guard who claimed Manson had assaulted him by rubbing his crotch on his head in 2001 (Manson had pleaded no contest to the incident and paid a $4,000 fine). According to The National Law Journal, Manson and the guard, Joshua Keasler, settled the claim for a confidential amount on January 29 (it wasn't reported until well after the fact). No other details were disclosed. ... Butch Walker, the former Marvelous 3 singer who's produced tracks for Avril Lavigne, Simple Plan and most recently the Donnas, will hit the road to open for Lavigne on her upcoming tour, which kicks off October 25. Walker, who's most recent collaboration with Lavigne was the theme to "SpongeBob SquarePants" for that movie's upcoming soundtrack, will be backed by the band American Hi-Fi. ...

Carmen Electra's husband — and ex-husband — are signing up to play "Celebrity Blackjack" for the Game Show Network. Dave Navarro and Dennis Rodman, along with Lance Bass, Adam Carolla, Jason Alexander, Tori Spelling, Jamie-Lynn DiScala and Shannon Elizabeth are doubling down for a total pool of $1 million. The 13-episode "Celebrity Blackjack" tournament, in which the stars compete at 21 hands of blackjack for the charity of their choice, premieres October 12 at 10 p.m. on GSN. ... Also raising money for charity — to the tune of $300,000 — were Mos Def, Wyclef Jean, Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Paul Simon, Lou Reed and Patti Smith, among others, who performed at the ACLU Freedom Concert Monday at New York's Lincoln Center. ...

De La Soul hosted a party to celebrate the release of their new album, The Grind Date, Tuesday night at club Coda in New York. Pharrell Williams, Rockwilder, DJ Premier and Talib Kweli were among the guests in attendance. ... After seven years as a member of turntablists the X-ecutioners, DJ Rob Swift has splintered off to concentrate on his solo projects. DJ Boogie Blind and DJ Precision will take the place of Swift, who's released five solo albums since 1997. ...

Following their stint on this summer's Warped Tour, Juliette Lewis and the Licks are hitting the road once again, to support their forthcoming EP, which is being released in lieu of their debut full-length album, Like a Bolt of Lightning. The LP, which had been slated for release October 12, has been postponed until early 2005. "Since we recorded our album eight months ago, we've played so much that I feel like we've reached another level as a band," Lewis said in a statement. "The album just didn't feel complete without our new songs." The band will join the two-day Voodoo Fest in New Orleans (along with the Beastie Boys, the Pixies, the Killers and more) on October 16; open for the Hexum brothers for several shows starting October 23 in St. Louis and ending October 27 in Iowa City, Iowa; and warm up the crowd for Courtney Love when she plays Los Angeles on October 30. ...

Alternative rock station Live 105 in San Francisco has added a "mash-up" category to its playlist. Mash-ups currently in rotation include Radiohead vs. John Lennon ("Karma Life"), Blondie vs. the Doors ("Rapture Riders"), Franz Ferdinand vs. the Beastie Boys ("Franzie Boys") and Linkin Park vs. Britney Spears ("Faint Britney"), among others. ...Sarah McLachlan's video for her single "World on Fire" was a real moneymaker — for charity. The singer donated what she felt was the standard cost for the production of a video — $150,000 — to 11 charities worldwide, including Comic Relief, Film Aid, War Child and Action Aid, and still had $15 left over to cover the cost of a mini DV tape to record the clip for the song. The video features a performance by McLachlan interspersed with scenes of camera crews, electricians and other examples of how the money spent on one music video is distributed, comparing that with the costs of food, medical supplies and education for more than 1 million people. iTunes will offer an exclusive download of the video in its U.S., U.K., France and Germany store locations. ...

10.05.2004

A host of celebs came out Monday night to help Usher celebrate the re-release of Confessions. Naomi Campbell, Nick Cannon and Farnsworth Bentley were among those who attended the party at New York's Butter nightclub. The retooled Confessions features three new songs, including the Alicia Keys duet "My Boo." ...

P. Diddy has been ordered to pay $35,000 a month in child support to the mother of his 10-year-old son, Justin, according to Reuters. In New York's Westchester County Family Court, Judge David Klein upheld an August ruling that had set the payments based on a yearly income of $50 million for Diddy. The hip-hop mogul was also ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and retroactive support to the boy's mother, fashion stylist Misa Brim. ...

He has all the reason in the world to smile, but Xzibit's new single has to do with ice grills. X-to-tha-Z has chosen "Hey Now (Mean Muggin')" as the official first single off his Weapons of Mass Destruction LP to follow up the street jam "Mutha Mutha." X's album has now been slated for a December 14 release. ... Cash Money has pulled together Juvenile's hottest tracks for a greatest-hits collection. Bounce anthems "Back That Thang Up," "Ha" and "Set It Off" are only a few of the songs on the hit list. The Greatest Hits, set for release October 19, will be Juve's last Cash Money production and marks his official departure from the label. ...

Even after the finale of the Vote for Change Tour on October 11, Bruce Springsteen's work to oust Bush from office won't be complete. The rocker will host another Vote for Change concert in his home state of New Jersey at East Rutherford's Continental Airlines Arena on October 13. The bill will include Springsteen and the E Street Band, John Fogerty, Jackson Browne and Springsteen's wife and E Street Band singer/guitarist, Patti Scialfa. Tickets for the show will go on sale via Ticketmaster on October 6 and range from $75-$100. ... A month's worth of new tour dates will keep Alter Bridge on the road through mid-November. Shows in Vancouver (November 1); Seattle (November 2); Green Bay, Wisconsin (November 11); and the final new date in St. Louis (November 14) are in support of their debut album, One Day Remains, which dropped in August. ...

If you thought Nine Inch Nails' quintessential album The Downward Spiral sounded good, it's about to get a lot better. A double-disc CD/SACD version (stereo, high-resolution stereo and 5.1 surround sound) of the 1994 LP is set for release November 23. The companion disc features remixes, demos, B-sides and non-album tracks. Also due that same day is a DVD audio version of the album that pairs remastered versions of the original tracks with an image gallery and the videos for "Closer," "March of the Pigs" and "Hurt." ... Former NIN drummer Chris Vrenna, who played on The Downward Spiral, will soon hit the skins on Marilyn Manson's Against All Gods Tour, filling in for the injured Ginger Fish, who suffered broken bones and a severe concussion when he fell off his drum riser in Germany on September 24. ...

Wireless-phone carriers are now getting into the digital-download game. On Tuesday (October 5), AT&T Wireless launched the mMode Music Store, which allows users to download songs to their cell phone for 99 cents apiece. Those songs can later be transferred to a PC. ... The Black Eyed Peas have signed a deal with Motorola and T-Mobile that will allow fans to win concert tickets, meet the group members and visit them during the shooting of their next music video. One fan will also get the opportunity to create the official ring tone for BEP's new album, which will be available as a download. Motorola and T-Mobile customers will also get first listens and exclusive content. More information is at www.blackeyedpeastour.com. ...

The Daniel Pearl Foundation, formed in memory of The Wall Street Journal reporter slain in Pakistan in 2002, will rally musicians to promote Harmony for Humanity, a series of concerts being staged worldwide as part of Daniel Pearl Music Day. Artists who have signed on to pay tribute to Pearl from October 8-17 include Elton John, who will perform "Daniel" in Las Vegas; and R.E.M., who will dedicate their October 13 performance at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles to Pearl's memory. So far, hundreds of artists — both amateur and professional — in 29 countries have pledged to dedicate their shows to Daniel Pearl Music Day, and more can register at www.danielpearl.org. ... The Roots, Third Eye Blind, the Coup and Michelle Shocked have signed on to the second annual We the Planet Music and Activism Festival, organized by Julia Butterfly Hill's nonprofit Circle of Life. The event takes place November 13 at Oakland, California's Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, with the goal to raise environmental awareness and social consciousness. Last year's event drew 10,000 people. ...

Starting November 3 in Chicago, the Donnas will hit the road with the Von Bondies and the Starlite Desperation. The tour wraps December 1 in New York. ... According to a new study by professors at Wayne State University and Auburn University, listening to country music might hurt a lot more than just your social standing — it might also weaken your will to live. The professors studied radio stations in 49 metropolitan areas, and found that the greater the amount of country music played, the higher the suicide rate among listeners. The study found that country's recurring themes of "marital discord, alcohol abuse and alienation from work ... nurture a suicidal mood" in listeners. ...

It just got cheaper for Sigur Rós fans to covet the Icelandic band's catalog. Their 1997 debut, Von, which had previously been available only as an import, will get a proper domestic release by One Little Indian on October 26. ... The Music will promote the October 19 release of their new album, Welcome to the North, with a North American tour beginning October 14 at the CMJ festival in New York. The outing, which includes dates with Velvet Revolver and Incubus, ends November 23 in Portland, Oregon. ... Celebrity DJ/producer Mark Ronson has teamed with entertainment executive Rich Kleiman to launch Allido Records. "Mark asked me to serve as the Damon [Dash] to his Jay-Z," Kleiman said. The New York-based label serves as home to Chicago MC Rhymefest and Australian soulster Daniel Merriweather. ...

• Eminem
• Jay-Z
• Terror Squad
• Marilyn Manson
• Pharrell Williams

Dre of Cool & Dre
Photo: MTV News

Music fans might not know who Cool & Dre are yet, but the music industry apparently does.

The Terror Squad's in-house production duo, who helmed the red-hot Ja Rule/ Fat Joe/ Jadakiss track "New York" (see "Ja Rule Nearly Extended His R.U.L.E."), just signed a reported $2 million label deal with Jive Records, who beat out Shady Records and Def Jam in a bidding war.

So now, along with producing high-profile records, including a 50 Cent/ Game collaboration for the latter's debut (see "G-Unit's Game Bigs Up The West, With Help From Dr. Dre"), Cool & Dre are launching Epidemic Records, which will release Tony Sunshine's debut early next year.

"Me and Cool get compared to a lot of people, I guess 'cause there is two of us and there are a lot of other producer duos," Dre said. "But a lot of huge producers haven't even [launched their own label]. And our sound is just starting to get out there now."

Cool & Dre met in high school in Miami, where the friends formed an R&B group called Basic Unity, and later started a pirate radio station as DJ Cool One and Dirty Dre. The pair started producing soon after, and scored hits with Trina's "Told Y'all" and Angie Martinez's "Take You Home." Work with Carl Thomas, Ginuwine and 8Ball & MJG followed before Cool & Dre officially joined the Terror Squad family.

The duo produced several tracks for the group's True Story, including the new single, "Take Me Home" (see "Remy Martin Provides Steamy Action On Terror Squad Video Set").

"Streetrunner came with the craziest beat, and then Cool and I came with the concept and everything for the song, added a little bass to it and whatnot," Dre said on the set of the video for the single. "It just came out perfect. It's a great follow-up to 'Lean Back.' "

Next, Cool & Dre, along with DJ Khaled, are executive producing Fat Joe's upcoming Things of That Nature. Sunshine's album will follow in early 2005.

"We have one of the hottest songwriters in the game — he wrote 'Yeah!' for Usher, he's doing the new Destiny's Child record — a kid named Sean Garrett. He's writing the [Sunshine] record right now," Dre said. "We put a record out there called 'Oh My God' just to get him bubbling. We got P. Diddy on there."

"Oh My God" also features Miami rapper Dirtbag, whose LP will be the second release on Epidemic Records. The first single, "Slow Down Lil' Buddy," is already a mixtape staple.

Dre is also working on his own album with Fat Joe overseeing. "Me and Cool are putting that together. That's going to be crazy, but I'm gonna wait for Tony Sunshine's album to get off and Dirtbag's album to get off first," Dre said.

In the meantime, music fans can check out Cool & Dre's music on the video game "NBA Live 2005," due in stores next month (see "G-Unit's Lloyd Banks, Young Buck Team Up For 'NBA Live 2005' ").

"We scored the new 'NBA Live' '05 and '06, so that crazy music you hear in the back, that's Cool & Dre," Cool said.

"I could sit here and lie and be like, 'Yeah, you know, we watched the sequencing of the game and created specific music,' but I will be real with you," Dre added. "We set up some crazy hot beats and then put the music to it and they were like, 'OK, we are using all these right here.' And that's really it."

So will Dre, who stands at what has to be close to 7' tall, or the shorter Cool make appearances in the game?

"You know that would be crazy," Dre said. "Maybe in '06."

• Terror Squad

Fat Joe (file)
Photo: Atlantic

Is there such a thing as too much Fat Joe? Conventional wisdom would say no, but apparently that's not the case. Atlantic Records has decided to push the release of the Terror Squad leader's album, Things of That Nature, back to early next year.

"We feel ['Take Me Home'] is gonna be a major, major hit, so I didn't want to have my album out at the same time and compete against ourselves," the rapper said. "So we just pushed it back to the first week in February."

Terror Squad recently shot a video for "Take Me Home," the album's second and final single, with director Raul Conde in Los Angeles (see "Remy Martin Provides Steamy Action On Terror Squad Video Set").

The additional time has also allowed the MC the chance to add three additional tracks to the set. Joe has also recorded a song with Jennifer Lopez that will appear on her forthcoming album and possibly on his (see "A Boastful Fat Joe Shows Off His Things Of That Nature").

Plans also call for the album to include the "Lean Back" remix that features Eminem, Mase and Lil Jon (see "Eminem, Mase Pitch In To Make 'Lean Back' Even Hotter").

Originally slated for release on November 30, Things of That Nature is said to feature production and guest appearances from the Terror Squad, R. Kelly, Timbaland, Scott Storch, Swizz Beatz, Cool & Dre and DJ Khaled.

• Fat Joe
• Terror Squad

Fat Joe and Tony Sunshine
Photo: MTV News

WEST HOLLYWOOD, California — Typically, when a video director says "action," it quiets the set down.

However, when Raul Conde said the magic word while shooting the Terror Squad's "Take Me Home" on Tuesday at a $15 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills, it tended to get Fat Joe and his crew cheering.

"She's killin' it," Joe yelled as Remy Martin shot a steamy scene with New York Knicks star Stephon Marbury.

"Touch his chest," Tony Sunshine suggested as the cameras rolled.

With the Squad in constant uproar as scantily clad ladies sipped champagne around an infinity pool, it was hard not to kick back and party. A typical video set this was not.

	Video shoot photos

For years, Fat Joe was afraid of flying and thus never made a video in Los Angeles (although he did make the drive to shoot a few movies), but now that he's back on airplanes, he decided to venture out west.

"In my verse I'm like, 'I got this chick from Cali, profilin', she's whilin', she's gangsta,' which is LL [Cool J's] 'Going Back to Cali,' " Joe said. "So we thought we'd bring it back to Cali. It's amazing. We're having a great time, great experience. I wouldn't rather do it nowhere else. The vibe is so beautiful here."

While Tuesday saw the TS enjoying a fine view of Los Angeles, from downtown to Long Beach, Monday's shoot took place on gritty Crenshaw Boulevard. That scene was also inspired by a lyric in Joe's verse: "We was drivin' on Crenshaw and cruisin' for food."

"We shot all day on Crenshaw, you know, where 'Menace II Society' was filmed," Joe said. "You know, Fat Joe, he's the realest cat doing it, so if I came to L.A. to shoot a video, I had to take it straight to the 'hood, vibe with my people. Get that Cali love. Rub elbows with everybody. Bunch of 'hoods over there and everybody showed us love."

"Take Me Home" has the tough assignment of following up the Terror Squad's biggest hit, the #1 single "Lean Back." Joe, however, is far from worried.

"It's a hit record, a huge song," he said. "I love it so much. It's real sexy, I love performing it."

The track is about having — to quote Joe's verse — "a different chick beggin' me" to take her home in each city the Squad visits.

"Or in my case, a different dude begging me," Remy interrupted.

"I got a group of chicks begging me," Armageddon said.

"Take Me Home" will be the last single from the Terror Squad's True Story, as the group will spend the rest of the year and the first part of next year focusing on solo albums. The most anticipated, Joe's Things of That Nature, is due in November (see "A Boastful Fat Joe Shows Off His Things Of That Nature"), followed close behind by Remy's There's Something About Remy.

"This guy right here," she said, putting her hand around Joe. "He has yet to be in the studio [with me], so he believes that I'm just partying, leaning back everywhere, doing a bunch of photo shoots, having fun — which I am — but in the process I been workin' on my album. And give him another two weeks and I'll allow him in the kitchen. Right now it's a little too hot."

Armageddon is also recording a solo album, The Journal, for next year, as is Tony Sunshine, whose record will be released on a new Jive Records imprint overseen by producers Cool & Dre, who manned several tracks on True Story and are working on all of the Terror Squad's solo albums.

• Remy Ma
• Terror Squad

Ashlee Simpson (file)
Photo: Mark Liddell

A teen pop star, a rock band and a rapper will help the no-doubt-already-hot crowd get even more heated at this year's MTV Video Music Awards pre-show.

Ashlee Simpson, New Found Glory and Jadakiss with Anthony Hamilton have been announced as the performers for the "2004 MTV Video Music Awards Pre-Show by the Shore," which will air live from the red carpet in Miami on Sunday, August 29 from 6:30 - 8 p.m.

The newly added performers join the lengthy list of indoor acts including Usher, Kanye West, Terror Squad featuring Fat Joe, Yellowcard, Lil Jon, Jet, Petey Pablo, Hoobastank, Alicia Keys, Nelly featuring Christina Aguilera, Outkast, Ying Yang Twins, Jessica Simpson, the Polyphonic Spree and Dave Chappelle.

Sauntering to the podium to present on the big night is a bevy of celebrities including songstresses Brandy, Shakira, Evanescence's Amy Lee, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez, Hilary Duff and Ashlee Simpson. Representing for the men of hip-hop are Mase, Omarion, LL Cool J, P. Diddy, Ludacris and Will Smith, while sportsmen Shaquille O'Neal and Tony Hawk will help quicken a few heartbeats. Rounding out the star-studded list of presenters are Nick Lachey, Beastie Boys, John Mellencamp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jimmy Fallon, Paris Hilton, Lenny Kravitz and Jon Stewart.

As for the nominees, Jay-Z is the leader of the pack this year with six nods for his "99 Problems" clip. Nipping at his smartly attired heels are Beyoncé, No Doubt, Usher and Outkast with four nominations each.

The most anticipated and most coveted award of the night, the Viewer's Choice Award, is being determined this year by the VMAyhem Viewer's Choice Playoffs, which allowed MTV.com users to narrow a list of 40 videos down to five nominees through head-to-head video battles. Voting for the five nominees — Christina Aguilera's "The Voice Within," Good Charlotte's "Hold On," Linkin Park's "Breaking the Habit," Simple Plan's "Perfect" and Yellowcard's "Ocean Avenue" — is under way.

• 2004 MTV Video Music Award Presenters and Performers
• VMA '04 Red Carpet Fashion
• VMA '04 Backstage: Usher, Kanye, Jay And More
• VMA '04 Onstage: Usher, Jessica, Shaq, Christina, Nelly, Fat Joe, Alicia, Stevie, Outkast, More
• VMA '04 Behind The Scenes

• Ashlee Simpson
• Jadakiss
• New Found Glory
• Usher
• Kanye West

Fat Joe (file)
Photo: K.C. Bailey

MIAMI — Even though the nightspot known as Opium may be his favorite place to club, Fat Joe's top spot to hang out while in Miami is DJ Khaled's Jerusalem studio. It's the place where he says "the magic is at," and the place he chose to occupy until early Tuesday morning. Joe was working on his collaboration tracks with Scott Storch and R. Kelly for his new album Things of That Nature, while members of the Terror Squad played "NBA Live" on a hanging flat-screen TV.

Meanwhile, Monday night's VMA party MTV @ B.E.D. hosted the likes of Jamie Foxx and former MTV VJ Pauly Shore, who made it through the throngs of people outside to enjoy themselves in the sack. Inside, among the canopied beds/dining-room tables, resident DJ Radamus spun hip-hop while nightie-clad waitresses served drinks to the nocturnal crowd.

8.23.2004

If you're coming to the MTV Video Music Awards and planning to party in Miami this week, be sure to slot enough time during the afternoon for rest. We're just a couple of days into VMA week, and the forecast is calling for after-hours shindigs all week long.

The past two nights (and mornings) have been all about the club called Opium. P. Diddy held court there during the early hours of Sunday morning, and Fat Joe and the Terror Squad got things jumping off at around 2 a.m. on Monday.

DJ Khaled was spinning everything from "Lean Back" to Lil Jon, but the star of the party was not a rapper. Jamie Foxx, who's proved that he can act, tell jokes and sing, put on a new hat at Opium: bartender. With comedienne Sommore and director John Singleton walking around at different parts of the club, Foxx danced on the bar, held a huge flashlight in one hand and a bottle of liquor in the other. The ladies were literally throwing themselves at his feet as he poured drinks in their mouths straight from the bottle. He even took time to shine the spotlight — er, flashlight — on himself and sing "Slow Jamz" on the mic.

And the week has just begun ...

The 2004 MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from Miami on Sunday, August 29, at 8 p.m. on MTV, with the "2004 VMA Pre-show by the Shore" kicking off at 6:30 p.m.

For everything we've got on VMAs past and present, including news, features, photos and more, check out MTV.com's Video Music Awards area.

• Fat Joe
• Terror Squad

Ashlee Simpson (file)
Photo: Geffen

Fresh from their various reality shows, talk shows, comedy shows, rock shows and skate competitions, Paris Hilton, Tony Hawk, Ashlee Simpson, Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart, Lenny Kravitz, P. Diddy, Ludacris and LL Cool J have all been added to the list of celebrities appearing at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards on August 29. (click for photos of Ashlee Simpson and more from the 2004 VMA Red Carpet)

A raft of hip-hop artists have been added to the list of performers as well, including Lil Jon, Petey Pablo, the Ying Yang Twins and Terror Squad featuring Fat Joe. Chappelle will also perform, although there's no word on whether he'll also play the roles of Rick James, Prince, fellow performer Lil Jon or any other celebrity the comedian channels on his "Chappelle's Show." (check out photos from backstage at the 2004 VMA)

The newly announced performers and guests will join Usher, Kanye West, Jessica Simpson, Hoobastank, Yellowcard and Jet, already slated to perform at the 2004 VMAs in Miami (see "Jay-Z, Beyonce, No Doubt, Outkast Lead Pack Of VMA Nominees"). The show will take place at Miami's American Airlines Arena on August 29 and will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. on MTV (tape-delayed on the West Coast). (click here for photos from on stage at the 2004 VMA)

Leading this year's pack of nominees is Jay-Z, who nabs six nominations for his "99 Problems" clip, and Beyoncé, No Doubt, Usher and Outkast have five nominations (check out the complete list of nominees).

The Viewers' Choice Award will be determined this year by the VMAyhem Viewer's Choice Playoffs, which allow MTV.com users to narrow a list of 40 videos down to five nominees through head-to-head video battles. Voting on the five final nominees will begin on August 18.

• 2004 MTV Video Music Award Presenters and Performers

• Ashlee Simpson
• Diddy
• Ludacris
• Lil Jon
• Petey Pablo

Jay-Z, Diddy, Mariah, Game, Lil Jon, Fergie, Others Party In Miami

• Diddy
• Pitbull
• Christina Milian
• Lil Jon
• Game