Robin Thicke and Jay-Z
Photo: G. Banks

In new footage featuring Robin Thicke and Jay-Z in the studio for on Thicke's track, "Meiplé (Me I Play)," the two are seen working out the perfect way for Jay to deliver his line: "Black Brigitte Bardot, Beyoncé."

Jay raps about Saint Tropez, champagne and beautiful women in the track, which is set to appear on Thicke's upcoming Sex Therapy album. In the footage, Thicke is at the boards, producing the track, as he and Jay decide Hov needs to double his voice on "Beyoncé" for a dreamier effect.

"When you say it like that, you can see how beautiful she is when she walks in the room," Thicke tells Jay. The two share high fives as everyone in the room seems to agree that they finally got it just right. The track debuted on New York's Hot 97 on Friday.

Afterwards, Jay and Thicke address the camera. "Great day's work — we did what we're supposed to do," Jay says. "We brought our lunch pails. They were Louis [Vuitton] lunch pails, but it was a lunch pail none the less. And we got in there, we did our work. We got our ebony and ivory on."

Recently, Thicke spoke to MTV News about the collaboration and said he still couldn't believe he got the Hottest MC in the Game to join him on a track.

"Working with Jay-Z [came about because] he came by the studio, and he heard the album. He was very excited," he said. "[It's] kind of like a De La Soul kind of song, but he was really excited about it. To work with him was a dream come true. It was one of the best days of my life."

• Robin Thicke and Jay-Z's "Meiplé (Me I Play)" Recording Session

• Robin Thicke
• Jay-Z

Robin Thicke
Photo: CBS

Robin Thicke is no stranger to working with Lil Wayne: The two have already collaborated a few times. Now the singer, who is currently putting the finishing touches on his December release, Sex Therapy, is hoping to get Wayne on another song in the very near future.

"I'm just finishing it and I'm gonna send the album to Wayne to see if he wants to be [on it] 'cause he's been on my last two albums and I've been on his last two," he said.

Thicke and Wayne first collaborated on "Shooter" and "All Night Long," then hooked up again for "Tie My Hands."

"We're kind of good luck charms for each other," he said. "So I definitely want to get him on there to keep the good luck alive."

In October, Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to felony gun possession, and he's now scheduled to spend at least eight months in prison. But Thicke says he's just focusing on all the amazing work that Wayne has contributed to the world of music. "He's an amazing artist and a great friend," he said when asked about the sentencing. "And we're all supporting him through all of that."

Wayne isn't the only MC on the album. Sex Therapy will also feature Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z, who Thicke was particularly excited to work with. "[It's] kind of like a De La Soul kind of song, but [Jay] was really excited about it," he told MTV News. "To work with him was a dream come true. It was one of the best days of my life."

• Robin Thicke
• Lil Wayne

Leighton Meester
Photo: MTV News

In Leighton Meester's just-released "Somebody to Love" video, the "Gossip Girl" actress rolls around in bed, writhes through clubs and shares wayward glances with song co-star Robin Thicke. It's a sexy video for a sexy song, in which Meester coos about trying to find love in a world consumed with fleeting lust and one-night stands.

"It's basically going through ... a sexy day in my life. We start off in the car, we come in, I keep on fantasizing and dreaming that I'm with somebody I can love," she told MTV News on the video's set at the Mercer Hotel in New York. "He kind of comes and goes. He disappears. It's mostly about the clothes and the looks, so that's exciting for me. I've had a lot of fun with that."

Along with the glamorous wardrobe, Meester also gushed about working with Thicke on the sultry track.

"He's amazing. I love him," she said. "I'm such a huge fan of his, and I've only been able to tell him today how much I love him. The way that the song came about, I had written and recorded the song earlier. And then he jumped on it later on, and now that I've heard it that way, I don't want anyone to hear it any other way. I love it. And it just fit perfectly and it all happened very organically. He's got such an amazing voice, so I'm very lucky."

Meester said Thicke's verse is the perfect complement to her part of the song. "I think it's a perfect song, too, for being a duet," she said. "He's the answer [to my questions]. And he has such a sexy voice on a sexy song."

Leighton might be a fan of Thicke's music, but it wasn't until he caught her on an episode of "Entourage" playing a pop singer that he understood what all the fuss is about and knew he wanted to work with her on the song. "I heard the song, and I knew right away it was a hit song," he said. "I'm not totally familiar with 'Gossip Girl.' I first saw Leighton on 'Entourage.' I thought she was electric and seductive, and then I watched an episode of 'Gossip Girl' and I thought it was great."

• Leighton Meester
• Robin Thicke

Robin Thicke
Photo: MTV News

In December, Robin Thicke will be giving fans Sex Therapy on his new album, and he'll have a few guests sitting in on those sessions.

In addition to Kid Cudi, Snoop Dogg and British chanteuse Estelle, Thicke will be joined by Jay-Z. Thicke said he still can't believe he got our Hottest MC in the Game to join him on a track.

"Working with Jay-Z [came about because] he came by the studio, and he heard the album. He was very excited," Thicke explained to MTV News on the set of his "Sex Therapy" music video. "He jumped on a track called 'Me I Play.' "

Thicke said the track hearkens back to the soulful hip-hop from the early '90s. "[It's] kind of like a De La Soul kind of song, but he was really excited about it," Thicke said, adding that the collaboration was incredible. "To work with him was a dream come true. It was one of the best days of my life."

The singer has already been getting rave reviews for the album — he's just hoping no one is lying to him. "The album, as a whole, is actually the first time I didn't write and produce everything myself," he revealed. "I tried to create a new sound that I had never had before. A lot of people are telling me it's the best album yet, so I'm really excited. I hope that they're right!"

• Robin Thicke
• Jay-Z

Robin Thicke with castmembers from his "Sex Therapy" video
Photo: MTV News

Alan Thicke beamed into living rooms week after week in the '80s as therapist Jason Seaver, the patriarch of the sitcom "Growing Pains." Two decades later, his son Robin is taking up the family business with the release of his latest album, Sex Therapy.

"What is the inspiration for Sex Therapy?" Robin asked MTV News on the Los Angeles set of the music video for the album's single of the same name. "Well, are you stressed out? Overworked? Wound up? Uptight? Sex Therapy is what you need. It's coming soon — December 8 — courtesy of yours truly, Robin Thicke."

In addition to curing all those emotional ailments, he promises the album will boast a slew of cool collaborators, including Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Kid Cudi, Estelle and Jazmine Sullivan. (While Thicke collaborated with Leighton Meester on her single "Somebody to Love," the "Gossip Girl" star didn't take part in Sex Therapy.)

Thicke has already been getting rave reviews for the album — he's just hoping no one is lying to him.

"The album, as a whole, is actually the first time I didn't write and produce everything myself," he revealed. "I tried to create a new sound that I had never had before. A lot of people are telling me it's the best album yet, so I'm really excited. I hope that they're right!"

• Robin Thicke

Leighton Meester
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/ Getty Images

Leighton Meester has finally released the first single off her forthcoming debut album. After the "Gossip Girl" star teased fans with her duet with Cobra Starship, the VMA-nominated "Good Girls Go Bad," as well as the leaked track "Birthday," the actress-turned-singer has hooked up with Robin Thicke on "Somebody to Love."

Although no release date has been set for the record, Meester recently spoke to EW.com about the track, produced by Mike Caren and Oligee (Flo Rida, Cobra Starship). "I so often get love confused with sex and vice versa," she said about "Somebody to Love." "And the song is basically about how I can't get any — I can't find anyone to love."

The song, which mixes Meester's pop-electronica vibe with Thicke's smooth R&B stylings, harks back to Madonna's early-'90s dance music. Meester told EW that she was über-excited about working with Thicke. "He's so soulful, and his voice is so flawless and beautiful," she said. "I don't even think he knows how much I love him."

The song was written by Rico Love, who has worked with artists like Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé and Usher. "I was honored when I found out that my record was chosen to be Leighton's first single. It's exciting to be able to show a different side of my work and me," Love said in a statement. "I listen and study all types of music, and I want to share that with the world. What better way to do that than with one of the biggest stars in entertainment today."

"GG" fans shouldn't worry that Meester has any plans to leave her home on the Upper East Side for her music career. For now, she feels perfectly fine being both an actor and a singer. "I don't know if I can really choose a favorite of what I want to do more or what I love more, 'cause I feel like I always felt I can do both," she told MTV News earlier this year. "I feel like it goes hand in hand. Singing really is acting. In a lot of ways, it's much more personal. I love music, and being able to work on that is amazing."

• Leighton Meester
• Robin Thicke
• Cobra Starship

Common on the "Fast Car" video set in Belmar, New Jersey on Sunday
Photo: MTV News

Over the years, Queen Latifah has rubbed shoulders with countless people in music and film industry. So it's no surprise that on Sunday, on the set of the video for her new single, "Fast Car," Missy Elliott (also featured on the record), Common, Robin Thicke and his wife, actress Paula Patton, shot their cameos for the video.

"I just asked them," Latifah said, "and I really appreciate all of them showing up, because they all have really busy schedules. They got to drive these Mustangs around this track a little, put the pedal to the metal, which is always fun."

The video was shot at Wall Township Speedway in South Belmar, New Jersey. Latifah, Common and Thicke all got a chance to drive around the racetrack in their own individual Ford Mustangs before the rain came down.

Latifah stars along side both Common and Paula Patton in the upcoming romantic comedy, "Just Wright." Latifah stars as a physical therapist Lesile Wright who falls for a pro basketball player played by Mehcad Brooks. She said they've built a rapport, while on set.

"I know how hard they've been working, and they know how hard I've been working, but we cool like that."

The song is from Latifah's new LP, Persona, out today (August 25), which combines hip-hop and pop was was executive-produced by the hitmaking team of Cool and Dre.

Common said he really respects Latifah as not only a great talent in everything from music to modeling to business, but a friend.

"I think she's an incredible person and we've been working together ['Just Wright'], so it's a camaraderie, so she invited me to come through for the video and I was like, 'Yeah, for sure.' "

Robin Thicke said he and Latifah had been friends for 10 years, so he jumped at the opportunity when asked. However, he did seem most excited to drive around the racetrack ...

"I was getting my Ricky Bobby on!" he said. "If you're not first you're last."

• Common
• Queen Latifah
• Robin Thicke

Beyoncé performs at the Essence Music Festival on Friday
Photo: Soul Brother/FilmMagic

On a weekend when some of today's biggest R&B stars collided with the genre's legendary singers to celebrate the 15th annual Essence Music Festival, one common topic was consistent throughout the events: of course, Michael Jackson.

The three-day event, which celebrates African-American culture in the heart of New Orleans with a series of workshops and music showcases, boasted a lineup that included Ne-Yo, John Legend, Robin Thicke and Beyoncé, along with veterans such as Lionel Richie (who reunited with the Commodores), Anita Baker and Frankie Beverly and Maze, all of whom paid homage to Jackson.

The festival kicked off on Friday evening with a video tribute of Jackson as a live band played a number of his hits against a 20-foot backdrop of the fallen star. The tribute was followed by sets from Ne-Yo and then John Legend. For his performance, Ne-Yo dedicated the majority of his set to Jackson. Click here for photos from the show."I'm gonna do my best to keep his legacy alive," said the singer, who was clad in a Jacksonesque hat and sparkling jacket.

Next up, Beyoncé brought her "I Am ..." Tour to the New Orleans Superdome. After tearing through hits including "Single Ladies," "Ego" and "Crazy in Love," B then went into her own MJ tribute.

After a video of a 5-year-old Beyoncé doing her best Michael Jackson impression, B told the hushed audience that at that moment, "That's when I decided who I wanted to be," and that MJ was responsible for the inspiration. Beyoncé then went on to sing "Halo," dedicating new lyrics to Jackson.

The festival also included Jackson tributes from Robin Thicke, Jazmine Sullivan and an early morning set from Maxwell. The festival was capped with performances from Frankie Beverly and Maze and the Commodores.

Chris Brown, Ludacris, Gabrielle Union, Bill Cosby and Sanaa Lathan attended the festival, snapping photos with fans and signing autographs on Bourbon Street and speaking at workshops at the city's convention center. Queen Latifah was also on the lineup for the festival for Friday night's kickoff where she shared some of the most memorable words for Michael Jackson.

"I think you're going to be seeing a lot of tributes to Michael Jackson over the next year, at least," Latifah told the crowd. "He was the greatest entertainer of all time, bottom line. There's no one who can compare to him."

MTV's live coverage of the Michael Jackson public memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles will begin on Tuesday at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

• Michael Jackson In His Own Words: The Music Videos

• Beyonce, Ne-Yo And More At 2009 Essence Music Festival

• Michael Jackson
• Beyoncé
• Robin Thicke
• John Legend
• Ne-Yo

Robin Thicke performs at the Stephan Weiss Studio in New York on Friday
Photo: Epiphany Media

Not long after news of Michael Jackson's death broke last Thursday, various superstars honored the late pop icon in their shows. Beyoncé paid tribute to Jackson at a tour stop at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, where she sang "I Can't Help It," before she did it at the BET Awards on Sunday night (June 28).

David Archuleta also sang a Jackson song, "You Can," during a stop in New Jersey last week during his tour with Demi Lovato. He later tweeted, "I can't get over MJ. I know everyone's talking about it but he deserves the respect. I hope people will appreciate what he's done."

On Friday night, Robin Thicke paid tribute to the late singer during a concert in New York City at the SoBe Summer Fridays party, where he sang Jackson's song "Human Nature" and also spoke at length about the influence that Jackson has had on the world.

"We all know this is not just an American icon, this is a world icon," he said. "This is someone who affected change in the whole world, not just America. So Americans might now realize in some capacity how huge this is."

Thicke, who said he's been texting with his music industry friends over pop music's great loss, added, "Some of our biggest American stars aren't worldwide like Michael Jackson was. Everybody's inspired and wondering how they're going to pay tribute and what we are all going to do. I think it just shows you what he created, which was love and dance and joy."

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

• Remembering Michael Jackson

• 2009 BET Awards Show

• David Archuleta
• Robin Thicke
• Beyoncé

Jennifer Hudson
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Jennifer Hudson will be performing on an upcoming installment of "American Idol," an unnamed source reportedly told The Associated Press.

The Grammy- and Oscar-winning actress, singer and "Idol" alum is scheduled to tape a performance in front of the studio audience on Wednesday after the live broadcast has ended, AP reported, citing "a person close to the show who did not want his or her name used because the person was not authorized to speak to reporters."

A representative for the show had not responded to MTV News' request for comment at press time.

Hudson's appearance will air on an upcoming segment of the show, the source said. It seems likely that Hudson will sing a song from her self-titled debut CD, which won the Grammy for Best R&B Album in February; she also performed on the show and sang the National Anthem before the Super Bowl, and will begin her first national tour — a co-headlining jaunt with Robin Thicke — on March 31.

"I am so grateful," Hudson said in a statement from her record label about the tour, which will stop in cities like Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles before ending May 8 in Houston. "My first Grammy and my first tour, it doesn't get any better than this!"

Just days before Hudson took home the Grammy, label head Clive Davis told MTV News that the singer, whose mother, brother and nephew were murdered last fall, was ready to get back to work. "She's coped internally. She's coped with her family," he said. "I'm sure she's coped within her religion. I was there at the funeral. I think that she has ... to dig down deep, because this has been an indescribable tragedy."

Hudson was a finalist on the third season of "American Idol."

• Jennifer Hudson
• Robin Thicke

Beyonce, Ne-Yo And More At 2009 Essence Music Festival

• Ne-Yo
• Robin Thicke

Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Peter Facinelli, More Celebrate LG In LA

• Vanessa Hudgens
• Ashley Tisdale
• Christina Aguilera
• Robin Thicke

Robin Thicke Performs At Virgin Megastore In New York

• Robin Thicke

MTV.com Exclusive: Robin Thicke

• Robin Thicke

Kanye West, Pete Wentz, More At The BAPE Store Opening In L.A.

• Kanye West
• Pharrell Williams
• Fall Out Boy
• Robin Thicke
• Jermaine Dupri

Inside The 2007 "GQ" Men Of The Year Issue

• Kanye West
• Lil Wayne
• Daft Punk
• Rihanna
• Robin Thicke

2007 VMA: Winners Gallery

• Justin Timberlake
• Timbaland
• Rihanna
• Robin Thicke
• Jennifer Hudson

Paris Hilton, Diddy, Timbaland, Janet Jackson, More Hit The Vegas Party Scene

• Britney Spears
• Justin Timberlake
• Timbaland
• Nick Cannon
• Lil Jon

VMA Fandemonium: A Concert To Benefit LIFEbeat

• Robin Thicke
• Maroon 5

2007 VMA: Very Vegas

• Nicole Scherzinger
• Robin Thicke
• Ashanti
• Jennifer Hudson
• Paris Hilton