Bobby Valentino

Buble Takes Down Bone Thugs In Mother's Day Chart Melee

16 May 2007 12:57:00 EDT

New albums from Bobby Valentino, Björk also crack chart's top 10.
By Chris Harris

Michael Bublé
Photo: 143/Reprise

Last week, Michael Bublé came so close to scoring the first Billboard albums chart #1 debut of his career, he could taste it. But then R&B hunk Ne-Yo burst Bublé's bubble, scoring the top spot and leaving the Canadian crooner holding Billboard's silver medal.

But this week, it was Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's turn to feel the sting. Early sales projections had the group's comeback LP, Strength & Loyalty, pegged for a #1 opening. But in the end — possibly due to a last-minute Mother's Day sales push — the Bone couldn't touch the Bublé.

While sales of Bublé's latest, Call Me Irresponsible, dipped 32 percent last week, the LP still outsold Bone Thugs' new one by about 25,000 copies, earning the singer with the hard-to-pronounce name a belated Billboard conquest, according to the latest SoundScan figures. Bublé's album sold nearly 145,000 units to Bone Thugs' 119,000. The group has bowed at the top twice before, with 1995's E 1999 Eternal, which sold 307,000 copies, and 1997's The Art of War, which scanned to the tune of 394,000.

Meanwhile, R&B heartthrob Bobby Valentino's sophomore set, Special Occasion, opens at #3 on next week's chart, having sold 91,700 copies during its first week at retail; Bobby's no stranger to a #3 debut, as his self-titled 2005 LP also opened in third, but with much stronger sales of 180,000. Valentino's was one of four new releases to make it into this latest top 10, and one of 15 new releases in all to impact the chart. Debuting at #7 is legend Barbra Streisand's Live in Concert 2006, with close to 60,000 scans, and coming in at #9 is Icelandic songstress Björk's Volta, which netted week-one sales of 43,000.

Surprisingly, Volta earns the distinction of being the first Björk album to debut in the top 10. Her two previous efforts, 2001's Vespertine and 2004's Medúlla, opened at #19 and #14, respectively, with stronger sales of 75,000 and 65,000. Ne-Yo's Because of You slides three spots to #4 with 89,000 scans, while Avril Lavigne's The Best Damn Thing follows at #5 on 70,800 units.

The self-titled debut from "American Idol" season five finalist Chris Daughtry's eponymous rock outfit, Daughtry, inches up one spot to #6, with 66,800 copies sold, while Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts climbs two spots to #8 with 56,800 scans. The 24th installment in the Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series rounds out the top 10, having sold an additional 40,700 copies, adding to its already 743,000 take.

New Moon, a two-CD/ two-LP posthumous compilation album from the late Elliott Smith, opens at #24 on Billboard's chart, with sales reported at 24,400; the singer died in unclear circumstances in 2003. DipSet: More Than Music Vol. 2, a collection featuring Diplomats members Cam'ron, Juelz Santana, Jim Jones, Hell Rell, J.R. Writer, 40 Cal. and others, follows at #26, with 23,000 scans. Meanwhile, Travis return to the top 200 at #58, with The Boy With No Name, which generated sales of 11,700, and coming in at #97 is the latest from rapper Sage Francis, Human the Death Dance, which sold 8,500 units.

Bone Brothers 2, a collaboration between Layzie Bone and former Bone Thugs partner Bizzy Bone, bows at #122 with 6,900 copies sold, while Punk Goes Acoustic 2, a collection of unplugged tracks from the likes of Jack's Mannequin, Silverstein, the All-American Rejects, Relient K, and Sherwood, opens at #125, with 6,800 scans. The debut offering from "American Idol" season five finalist Paris Bennett, Princess P, debuts at #133 with more than 6,300 copies sold, and coming in at #197, with 4,300 copies sold, is Houston rapper Z-Ro's new one, Power.

Related Artists

Bobby Valentino Vs. Bjork, Plus Bone Thugs, Paris Bennett, Elliott Smith, H.I.M. & More, In New Releases

8 May 2007 06:01:00 EDT

Also due Tuesday: Sea and Cake, Bad Plus, Sea Wolf, Shannon Wright, Travis, Master P, Radiohead.
By Kurt Orzeck

Bobby Valentino's Special Occasion
Photo: Def Jam

With everyone still reeling from Saturday's riveting de la Hoya/ Mayweather match — we wanted more blood, but UFC has been spoiling us — what better time for another edition of New Releases face-offs? Here are the record-bin battles you can expect to see this week:

Calling Timbaland - Fight for the Crown: Bobby Valentino's Special Occasion vs. Björk's Volta
>>> The Mississippi R&B singer made a stunningly auspicious debut with his 2005 eponymous LP, which peaked at #3 on the Billboard albums chart. Valentino has invited even more friends to his new Special Occasion — Timbaland ("Anonymous"), Fabolous ("Let Him Go") and Ludacris ("Rearview [Ridin']") among them. Also featured is a cover of Babyface's "Soon as I Get Home," as well as a boatload of hit-making producers and songwriters: Sean Garrett, Bryan Michael-Cox, Dre & Vidal, Timbaland and Rodney Jerkins.

>>> Björk's Volta is also spewing with collaborators, chiefly producer Timbaland, who is behind three of the tracks: "Earth Intruders," "Innocence" and "Hope." With Antony Hagerty of Antony and the Johnsons duetting on two songs — "The Dull Flame of Desire" and "My Juvenile" — plus a 10-piece brass section, a band from the Congo and other diverse guests, Björk is ready to break out. That her last studio LP, 2004's Medúlla, was her highest-charting one yet in the U.S. only helps poise her for even greater success.

As Not Seen on TV - The "Idol" Contest: Paris Bennett's Princess P vs. Paula Abdul's Greatest Hits: Straight Up!
>>> While Jordin, LaKisha, Blake and Melinda keep hashing out on season six of "American Idol," one of last year's contenders doesn't want you to forget about her. Fifth-place finisher Bennett has at last dished up her solo debut, named after the nickname Ryan Seacrest endowed her with during the competition. Adding even more frothy "Idol" goodness is a guest spot by fellow contender Kevin Covais on "Let Me Rap"; other tracks on the LP, partly produced by Rodney Jerkins, include "All Hail the Princess," "Burnt Up" and "Get Bizzy."

>>> Meanwhile, "Idol" judge Abdul doesn't want you to forget that she's got pipes of her own — her Greatest Hits: Straight Up! bundles together 18 selections by the Grammy-winning singer, including "Opposites Attract," "Forever Your Girl" and "Rush, Rush." The clips for her six #1 singles are also coming out this week, so be on the lookout for MC Skat Kat.

A Bone to Pick - The Rap Battle: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Strength & Loyalty vs. Bone Brothers' Bone Brothers 2
>>> Cleveland's Thugs have clocked roughly 40 million CDs sold worldwide, but they've been on the wane lately — last year's Thug Stories barely scraped the top 25 on the Billboard albums chart. But with a new label — they were on Koch but now call Interscope home — and a litany of high-profile peeps lending support (Mariah, Akon, Bow Wow, Swizz Beatz, Will.I.Am), the now-trio are aiming a bit higher. The Best Buy edition of Strength & Loyalty, originally called The Bone Thugs Story, has the exclusive cut "Just Vibe," while Hastings Entertainment's version features an exclusive "I Tried" remix.

>>> While those guys are hoping for a resurgence, two other bros — founding members Bizzy Bone and Layzie Bone — have a few things of their own to say with Bone Brothers 2. While Layzie has kept it real with Bone Thugs, Bizzy has since been ousted — which should make the first song on their LP, "Bone Thugs-N-Harmony," pretty interesting. Also featured is "We Are Warriors," "Thugs Need Luv" and "Bone Thug 4 Life."

Lest You Forget - Vying in the Vaults: Elliott Smith's New Moon vs. H.I.M.'s And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997-2004
>>> Smith fans got a raft of unreleased material with 2004's From a Basement on the Hill, which culled 15 songs the singer/songwriter was on the verge of releasing before he passed away in 2003. Digging a little deeper, his label Kill Rock Stars has chalked up 24 more songs he recorded from 1994 to 1997, including "Looking Over My Shoulder," "All Cleaned Out" and an early version of "Miss Misery." Let's just pray that this is the final word on Smith and that his estate doesn't plunder the vaults ad nauseum à la Jeff Buckley's.

>>> While New Moon showcases material up through 1997, Finnish goth gushers H.I.M. begin at that year and take their best-of set through 2004. The band pours its heartagrams out on two new songs, "And Love Said No" and a cover of — yes, they really did it — Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man." Fans pining for more unreleased material can hold their collective breath for two weeks, when Uneasy Listening Vol. 2 hits stores.

Ahoy, Mateys — Battle on the High Seas: The Sea and Cake's Everybody vs. Sea Wolf's Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low
>>> While Chicago indie cognoscenti Sam Prekop, Archer Prewitt and John McEntire are always rearing their heads in one form or another — via side projects, collaborations, etc. — it's taken them four long years to crank out another opus. This one marks the first time in the band's 14-year history that it's looked outward for production help — the honors go to Brian Paulson (Wilco, Slint). Songs include "Up on Crutches," "Middlenight" and "Introducing."

>>> Look deeper in the underground ocean and you'll find Sea Wolf, who got their handle from the Jack London book of the same name. Roaming California troubadour Alex Brown Church is actually the man at the heart of the band, and he sews together guitar, cello and other lush sounds for his five-song debut EP. "You're a Wolf," "The Garden You Planted" and "I Don't Know if I'll Be Back This Time" are featured on the disc, which is issued by the red-hot Dangerbird Records (Silversun Pickups, All Smiles).

Yo Momma - Family Feud: Mother Mother's Touch Up vs. Mothernight's Mothernight
>>> Last Gang Records — which brought you Metric and Death From Above 1979 — rolls out the carpet for its latest hopefuls, Vancouver, British Columbia's jazz- and classical-influenced popsmiths Mother Mother. Better yet, they really are a family affair — singer/guitarist Ryan Guldemond is the brother of singer Molly. Their first set was produced by New Pornographers collaborator Howard Redekopp and features "Polynesia," "Oh Ana" and "Ball Cap."

>>> Also being introduced are Mothernight, an industrial-metal band from Warsaw that sounds nothing like the above. Fronted by Freya, the four-piece found a strange time to put out its maiden release — after all, Kurt Vonnegut, who wrote a book called "Mother Night" died less than a month ago. The song titles featured on Touch Up, however, don't quite mesh with Vonnegut's dark comedy — among them are "Someone to Feed On," "Shadowsblack" and "Infect Your Soul."

Song Title of the Week:

"Crackle Rotcha Tee Thout" from Chasing Victory's Fiends

Other Notables:

Lavender Diamond's Imagine Our Love
These country folksters have been making some pleasant noise in their Los Angeles hometown and beyond lately, and Matador is hoping they become the label's next Belle & Sebastian or New Pornographers. Giving Lavender Diamond — who are led by cool singer Becky Stark — an extra boost is their recent performance at South by Southwest, overseas deal with Rough Trade and recent tour with the Decemberists.

The Mary Timony Band's The Shapes We Make
Timony's former band Helium were one of Matador's key '90s linchpins, as a matter of fact, but after many subsequent years of obscurity, she's hoping to rebound with this release produced by Jawbox's J. Robbins. Timony enlists keyboards, banjos, analog synths, the melotron, viola, and even an old Casio PT1 for the LP, which was crafted in Robbins' Baltimore studio and Timony's attic studio in her Washington, D.C., home.

Wooden Stars' People Are Different
This Canadian band nabbed the Juno Award for Best Alternative Album for its collaborative effort with Julie Doiron in 2000 — and it celebrated the prize by disbanding for four years. Now the Wooden Stars are shining bright again with their first release in eight years, which sounds something like XTC jamming with the Clash. If these guys can count the Arcade Fire among their fans, surely they can count you as well.

New Releases:

· Keren Ann - Keren Ann (Blue Note)
· The Bad Plus - Prog (Heads Up)
· Bassnectar - Underground Communication (Om)
· The Bellamy Brothers - Jesus Is Coming (Curb)
· Paris Bennett - Princess P (306)
Read: "Idols Now: Paris Bennett Debut Includes Rapper ... Kevin Covais?"
· Steve Bertrand - Pain Is a Megaphone (enhanced; Icon)
· Björk - Volta (Atlantic) [Buy]
Read: "Tsunami, Timbaland Help Shape Bjork's Forthcoming Volta"
· Bone Brothers - Bone Brothers 2 (Real Talk/ Koch)
· Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Strength & Loyalty (Full Surface/ Interscope) [Buy]
Read: "Bone Thugs Dropping Two New LPs; Second Disc To Feature Dre, Kanye, Mariah"
· The Boggs - Forts (Gigantic) [Buy]
· The Brakes - The Beatific Visions (enhanced; Rough Trade)[Buy]
· The Breakers - Here for a Laugh (Funzalo)
· The Brokedowns - New Brains for Everyone (Thick)
· Chanticleer - And on Earth, Peace: A Chanticleer Mass (Warner Classics)
· Chasing Victory - Fiends (Mono vs Stereo)
· Circus - Labertino (Locomotive)
· The Clientele - God Save the Clientele (Merge)
· Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings (Carpark)
· Linda Draper - Keepsake (Planting Seeds)
· Earthless - Rhythms From a Cosmic Sky (Tee Pee) [Buy]
· Edge of Dawn - Enjoy the Fall (Metropolis)
· Electrelane - No Shouts No Calls (Too Pure)
· DJ Encore - Unique (Koch)
· The Exies - A Modern Way of Living With the Truth (Eleven Seven)
· Fields - Everything Last Winter (Atlantic)
· Scott Fisher & 1 a.m. Approach - Step Into the Future (1 a.m. Approach)
· Foreverinmotion - The Beautiful Unknown (111)
· Sage Francis - Human the Death Dance (Epitaph)
· Lisa Gerrard - Silver Tree (High Wire)
· Goon Moon - Licker's Last Leg (Ipecac)
· Great Lake Swimmers - Ongiara (Nettwerk)
· Harper - Day by Day (Blind Pig)
· Dave Hole - Rough Diamond (Blind Pig)
· The Ike Reilly Assassination - We Belong to the Staggering Evening (Rock Ridge)
· Jackiem Joyner - Babysoul (ARTizen)
· Kotipelto - Serenity (Candlelight)
· Jimmy LaFave - Cimarron Manifesto (Red House)
· Lavender Diamond - Imagine Our Love (digipak; Matador)
· Fred Lonberg-Holm Trio - Terminal Valentine (Atavistic)
· Hamilton Loomis - Ain't Just Temporary (Blind Pig)
· Lord Belial - Revelation (Regain)
· Maxïmo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures (Warp)
· Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours - Trailercana (DPR)
· Mother Mother - Touch Up (Last Gang)
· Mothernight - Mothernight (Locomotive)
· Mystery Jets - Zootime (Dim Mak)
· Neon Horse -- Neon Horse (Tooth & Nail)
· New Years Day - My Dear (enhanced; TVT)
· No Second Troy - Narcotic (None)
· Page France - Page France and the Family Telephone (Suicide Squeeze)
· Chuck Ragan - Los Feliz (Side One Dummy)
· Rush of Fools - Rush of Fools (Midas)
· Sage Francis - Human the Death Dance (Epitaph)
· The Sea and Cake - Everybody (Thrill Jockey)
· Sea Wolf - Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low (EP; angerbird)
· Richard Shindell - South of Delia (self-release)
· The Stranger's Six - A Date With Daylight (Orange Peal)
· Barbra Streisand - Live in Concert 2006 (two CDs; Columbia)
· Tarwater - Spider Smile (Morr)
· The Mary Timony Band - The Shapes We Make (Kill Rock Stars)
· Travis - The Boy With No Name (Epic)
· Bobby Valentino - Special Occasion (Def Jam) [Buy]
Read: "Bobby Valentino Looks Out For The Ladies With New Album, Jean Line"
· The Voyces - Kissing Like It's Love (Planting Seeds)
· Wax Tailor - Hope & Sorrow (Decon)
· Weatherbox - American Art (Doghouse)
· Wooden Stars - People Are Different (Sonic Unyon)
· Shannon Wright - Let in the Light (Quarterstick)
· Yacht - I Believe in You. Your Magic Is Real. (Marriage)
· Various artists - New Arrivals, Vol. 2 (MPress)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:
· Paula Abdul - Greatest Hits: Straight Up! (Virgin/EMI) [Buy]
· The Coasters - The Definitive Soul Collection (Rhino) [Buy]
· Easy Rider - Lo Mejor de Easy Rider (Locomotive)
· The Heptones - Sweet Talking (Heartbeat/Rounder) [Buy]
· H.I.M. - And Love Said No: The Greatest Hits 1997-2004 (Universal Republic)
· Jethro Tull - The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull (Capitol/EMI)
· Carole King - Love Makes the World - Deluxe Edition (two CDs; Rockingale)
· KMFDM - Adios and Symbols (Metropolis)
· Dave Mason - Live at XM Satellite Radio - The Deluxe Edition (Friday Music)
· Master P - Ghetto D - 10th Anniversary Edition (two CDs; Priority)
· Radiohead - Com Lag (2Plus2IsFive) (enhanced EP; Capitol) [Buy]
· The Rascals - The Definitive Pop Collection (Rhino)
· Leo Sayer - The Definitive Pop Collection (Rhino)
· Elliott Smith - New Moon (two CDs; Kill Rock Stars) [Buy]
· Terry Strafford - Say, Has Anyone Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose (Koch)
· Tankard - Disco Destroyer (Locomotive)
· Dale Watson - The Little Darlin' Sessions (Koch)

Music DVDs:
· John Coltrane - "Trane Tracks: The Legacy of John Coltrane" (Jazz Movie Classics) [Buy]
· Dinosaur Jr. - "Live in the Middle East" (Image)
· The Knack - "On Stage at World Cafe Live" (Decca)
· Living Colour - "On Stage at World Cafe Live" (Decca)
· Rhett Miller - "On Stage at World Cafe Live" (Decca)
· David Poe - "On Stage at World Cafe Live" (Decca)
· Baden Powell - "Self Portrait - 1990" (DRG)
· Rainbow - "Up Close and Personal" (with book; Hurricane)
· Spooky Tooth - "Nomad Poets - Live in Germany 2004" (Koch)
· Thin Lizzy - "Up Close and Personal" (with book; Hurricane)
· Grover Washington Jr. - "Live From Atlantic City" (Immortal)

Coming Attractions:

May 15:
· Megadeth - United Abominations (Roadrunner) [Preorder]
· Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight (Warner Bros.) [Preorder]
Read: "Linkin Park Finish Apocalyptic Album, Revive Projekt Revolution Tour"
· Wilco - Sky Blue Sky (enhanced; Nonesuch) [Preorder]

May 22:
· Tim Armstrong - A Poet's Life (with bonus DVD; Hellcat)
· The Bravery - The Sun and the Moon (Island) [Preorder]
· KRS-One and Marley Marl - Hip Hop Lives (Koch)
· Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long (Octone) [Preorder]
Read: "Maroon 5 Back With 'Harder' Album After Adam Levine Gets Sick Of Partying"
· Ozzy Osbourne - Black Rain (Epic)

May 29:
· Les Claypool - "Fancy" DVD (Prawn Song) [Preorder]
· Danzig - The Lost Tracks of Danzig (two CDs; Megaforce) [Preorder]
Read: "Glenn Danzig Preps 'Final' Tour, Film, Box Set And, Uh, Dolls"
· R. Kelly - Double Up (Jive) [Preorder]
Read: "New R. Kelly LP Includes Akon, Jeezy, 'Flirt' — But No 'Closet' Till July"

Related Artists

For The Record: Quick News On Mandy Moore, Zach Braff, Lindsay Lohan, Tom Morello, Cypress Hill, Ozzfest & More

9 Apr 2007 08:40:00 EDT

Moore opens up about ex-boyfriend Braff; Lohan tackles BlackBerry interview, fashion campaign; Morello plans more all-star jams.
By MTV News staff

Mandy Moore in the May issue of Elle
Photo: Gilles Bensimon

Mandy Moore talked about ex-boyfriend Zach Braff in a new interview featured in the May issue of Elle. "Out of respect to Zach, who I still consider a friend and care about and support, I have nothing bad to say about him," she said of her ex, who is nine years her senior. "It just didn't work out." Moore also says she's "OK with representing a different type than the normal Hollywood beauty ideal. ... I've been told that I have to lose weight for stuff before. It's mortifying ... once is enough to make you feel awful." (See Elle shots of Mandy Moore by the beach right here.) Moore will also guest host and perform at the Entertainment Industry Foundation Revlon Run/ Walk for Women, a benefit to help the fight against women's cancers that is set for May 5 in New York and May 12 in Los Angeles. Her next album Wild Hope is due June 19. ...

Lindsay Lohan was interviewed by GQ via BlackBerry over several weeks, following her stint in rehab. Between shooting the upcoming thriller "I Know Who Killed Me," working on staying sober and buying two puppies, Lohan replied to questions that ranged from "Is there anything you fear?" — Lohan responded with a note on what she was wearing (Marc Jacobs, vintage Chanel and Kaviar & Kind) — to "Do you play poker?" ("Weird! I just e-mailed my friend Sara Pantera saying I'm going to start playing poker again!") for the magazine's April issue. In other Lohan news, the actress has been selected as the new face of Jill Stuart's fashion line, and is scheduled to shoot photos for the campaign this week. ...

Miss Tom Morello's all-star jam at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, last month? The Nightwatchman is buddying up with more friends for three concerts at Los Angeles' Hotel Café taking place Tuesday, April 17 and April 24. A diverse cast of characters is expected to join Morello for the Tuesday performances — be on the lookout for Alanis Morissette, Cypress Hill's B-Real and Sen Dog, Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell, Steve Vai, MC5's Wayne Kramer, Switchfoot's Jon Foreman, Disturbed's David Draiman and former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, who was spotted at the SXSW jam. The Rage Against the Machine guitarist will also perform as his alter ego at a workers rally in Chicago on Saturday; sign copies of his April 24 release, One Man Revolution, at Hollywood's Amoeba Music, April 25; hit up Coachella in Indio, California, April 28; play a benefit show with Ben Harper in Claremont, California, May 4; support Harper on six dates in June; and perform at Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee, June 16. ...

By now, everyone's heard that tickets to this summer's Ozzfest will be free, but there's been no word on how they will be distributed — until this week. In a press release issued Monday morning (April 9), the festival organizers revealed that, starting May 12, ticket codes will be distributed through several sponsor Web sites, including those for LiveNation, Monster Energy drink, Jägermeister and F.Y.E. The codes will be redeemable starting June 12 via the same Web sites, and there is a limit of two tickets per person. The fest — featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Lamb of God, Hatebreed and more — kicks off July 12 in Seattle and hits 24 cities before wrapping in West Palm Beach, Florida, August 30. ... "Laguna Beach" star Jason Wahler was arrested in Seattle early Sunday after punching a hotel security guard and passing out drunk in a hallway, The Associated Press reports. It was the third time the actor had been arrested since September, and he had already been scheduled to begin serving a 60-day jail sentence in May. The actor repeatedly made racial and homophobic slurs when he was busted for investigation of assault and criminal trespass on Sunday, according to a Seattle Police Department report. Wahler — who had been ordered by a judge last month to go to Alcoholics Anonymous classes and attend a program at the Museum of Tolerance for using racial slurs after a previous arrest — was released from jail after posting bail. ...

Velvet Revolver have been added to the lineup for the U.S. Virgin Festival, scheduled for August 4-5 in Baltimore. Previously confirmed acts include the Police, Smashing Pumpkins and the Beastie Boys. ... Black Light Burns, the band fronted by former Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland, have been tapped as the support act for Chevelle's upcoming U.S. tour, which gets under way May 7; a full itinerary will be announced soon. Black Light Burns' debut LP, Cruel Melody, is slated for release June 5. ...

Christina Milian will co-star with Mario Lopez in "Eight Days a Week," a comedy pilot being produced for the CW, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The series follows the life of four 20-somethings working for prestigious bosses in New York. Milian will play an assistant who left a law career to start over as a gofer at an art gallery. ... Bobby Valentino has decided to take his own advice and slow down. The DTP singer issued a statement about his delayed sophomore album Special Occasion — now due May 8 — announcing he's still in the recording process but will post bonus tracks on his MySpace page that don't make the final cut. The album is set to feature collaborations with Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, and Fabolous. A MySpace call went out on Sunday asking fans to send photos for display in a slideshow on Valentino's MySpace page ("remember, no nudity") to promote his track "Anonymous," featuring Timbaland. The song is currently streaming on the page as well as his Web site, JustBobby.com ...

Isaac Hanson, the eldest of the three brothers that make up Hanson, welcomed his first child Tuesday. Clarke Everett Hanson was delivered by Isaac's wife, Nicole, in the Hanson hometown Tulsa, Oklahoma. In a post on the band's Web site, the proud father said his son's birth "was an inspiration, and I know that his presence in my life will continue to inspire me."... Microsoft is set to follow Apple's lead in offering songs without copy protection for download. Less than a week after Apple announced it would sell unprotected songs from the EMI Group catalog at a premium, Katy Asher — a Microsoft spokeswoman for the company's portable Zune player team — told IDG News Service, "the EMI announcement on Monday was not exclusive to Apple. ... Consumers have made it clear that unprotected music is something they want. ... We plan on offering it to them as soon as our label partners are comfortable with it." The Microsoft spokesperson said the company has been speaking with EMI and other labels for "some time now" about offering unprotected music on the Zune.

04.06.2007

Ciara, Lil Jon, Lil Wayne, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Young Buck and others have provided audio testimonials for ImNotSigned.com, a new site created by Jazze Pha. The site is intended to connect unsigned artists with producers and A&R executives. It features a virtual "conference room," "studios" and more, and members can log in to chat with some of "Jazze Pha's superstar friends," according to a press release. "If you don't already have a deal, it's really possible now," Ciara said, hyping the site's launch. "You got to get in where you fit in." ...

Fall Out Boy have postponed the start of their Honda Civic Tour, the band announced Friday (April 6). "Unfortunately, because of some personal issues, we had to delay the tour a few weeks," bassist Pete Wentz said in a statement. "We want to put on the best possible show we can and know that this extra couple of weeks will give us the time to put ourselves in the right place." The band's manager, Bob McLynn, declined to specify the nature of the personal issues to MTV News but confirmed that no members have left the band. "Everything couldn't be better with the [band's new album, Infinity on High]," he said. "This small rescheduling will give everyone a better state of sanity and make the tour even greater." The 42-date tour — which also features Paul Wall, (+44), the Academy Is ... and Cobra Starship — was initially set to kick off April 18, but now begins with a May 11 show in Denver. Shows scheduled to take place before May 11 have been moved to the end of the tour, except the May 1 stop in Sacramento, California, which has been canceled. ...

The Killers, Oasis, Razorlight, Kaiser Chiefs, Travis and the Fratellis are among the bands that will re-record songs from the Beatles' 1967 release Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the seminal album, BBC News reports. Geoff Emerick, the engineer in charge of the original sessions, will record the new versions on the same four-track equipment he used with the Beatles. The results will be broadcast June 2 on BBC's Radio 2. ...

Fergie, Hilary Duff, Rihanna, Omarion, Daughtry, Katharine McPhee, Robin Thicke, Dashboard Confessional and Hinder are on the lineup for New York radio station Z100's Zootopia concert. The show is scheduled for May 18 at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale. ... Also in New York, the annual River to River summer concert series has revealed its lineup. Spoon, New Pornographers, Booker T. and the MG's with Sharon Jones, Menomena, Animal Collective, Drive-By Truckers and Martha Wainwright are among the artists scheduled to perform free shows in lower Manhattan. ...

Joss Stone will kick off her first major North American tour in three years on April 27 in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The trek will hit 18 cities, including stops at New Orleans' Jazz & Heritage Festival (May 6) and New York's Central Park Summerstage (June 8), culminating with a June 16 performance in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Stone will also be featured at the Concert for Diana, a July 1 charity show in London to celebrate the life of the late princess. Pharrell, Elton John, Duran Duran and Bryan Ferry are among the other artists confirmed for the event. ... Japanese atmospheric-experimental band Mono will hit North America on a tour that starts Thursday in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and runs through a May 17 show in New York. The group's latest album, Palmless Prayer/ Mass Murder Refrain, was released in 2006. ...

Sonic Youth will perform what many consider to be their masterpiece, 1988's Daydream Nation, in its entirety on a handful of occasions this summer. The shows are part of All Tomorrows Parties' Don't Look Back concert series and will take place at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago on July 13; the Berkeley Community Theatre in Berkeley, California, on July 19; Los Angeles' Greek Theatre the following day; and London's Roundhouse August 30-September 1. Likewise, Slint will perform their seminal indie-rock effort Spiderland in full as part of the series. The band, which got back together in 2005, will resurrect the album at 12 shows, only two of which are taking place Stateside: July 17-18 at New York's Webster Hall. ... Tegan and Sara will release their fifth studio album, The Con, July 24. Christopher Walla of Death Cab for Cutie produced the album and AFI's Hunter Burgan and the Rentals' Matt Sharp both play bass. ...

KRS-One is partnering with veteran hip-hop producer Marley Marl for the legendary rapper's next studio project, Hip-Hop Lives. Due May 22 on Koch, the album's title track and "Kill a Rapper" are set to be the first two singles from the release. ... The Afghan Whigs' Unbreakable (A Retrospective), set for release May 1, will be more than just a career-overview disc. The CD features "I'm a Soldier," a newly recorded track, as well as "Magazine," an unreleased cut the band wrote before breaking up. ... Cake fans can pre-order the band's self-released B-Sides and Rarities disc at CakeMusic.com. The collection includes covers of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" and Barry White's "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" and promises "scratch-and-sniff album art." ...

This year's first-quarter album-sales numbers are in, and they don't bode well for the music industry. In the first three months of the year, album sales dropped 17 percent in the U.S., according to Bloomberg News. Online purchases rose but didn't make up for the deficiency. Album sales fell 7.3 percent in 2005 and 4.9 last year. ... Mark St. John, who briefly played lead guitar for Kiss, has died from an apparent brain hemorrhage, Billboard reports. He was 51. St. John, the band's third official guitarist, was featured on 1984's Animalize and in the video for that album's "Heaven's on Fire."

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Bobby Valentino Asks Sean Garrett, Rodney Jerkins To Attend Special Occasion

25 Jul 2006 06:00:00 EDT

Singer still looking to book cameos 'to add the hot sauce' to second LP.
By Elle Tabatabai, with reporting by Corey Moss

Bobby Valentino
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

He may have had everyone saying "Slow Down" a year ago, but Bobby Valentino's career is showing no signs of braking, as the R&B crooner is already polishing up his second album.

Special Occasion, the follow-up to 2005's Disturbing Tha Peace Presents Bobby Valentino, is due September 19 on Ludacris' DTP label.

"I'm always doing something new and different," the Atlanta R&B crooner said of his latest material, without giving too much away. "This is definitely a little change for me, but it's still in the same vein."

Valentino is giving fans a preview of his newest work with his street single, "Wreck," which is dropping this month. "It's about a young lady who has me [hooked]," he said. "Every man has been in this situation before, so we came up with a song about it."

"Wreck" was written and produced by Sean Garrett, whose credits include Beyoncé's "Check on It," Chris Brown's "Run It!" and Usher's "Yeah!"

Rodney Jerkins helmed the official first single, "Turn the Page," and Dre & Vidal, Brian Michael Cox and Tim & Bob also contributed production to Special Occasion (see "Attention Producers: Bobby Valentino Wants To Make You Hotter"). So far the album is without any major cameos, but Valentino plans to change that. "Whoever I put on there is just going to add the hot sauce on it," he said.

Along with recording his own material and contributing to various compilations — including last year's Ludacris Presents ... Disturbing Tha Peace and The Notorious B.I.G. Duets: The Final Chapter — Valentino's been busy exploring other options. "I'm ready to get into acting," he said.

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For The Record: Quick News On Justin Timberlake, Korn, Bobby Valentino, C-Murder, Coldplay, Hawthorne Heights & More

17 Jul 2006 06:38:00 EDT

Timberlake film goes straight to DVD; Korn play acoustically on TV; Valentino working with Rodney Jerkins.
By MTV News staff report

Justin Timberlake
Photo: Dave Hogan/ Getty images

Justin Timberlake will not be making his big-screen debut in "Edison" after all. The crime drama — now titled "Edison Force" — that also stars LL Cool J and Oscar winners Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey, is bypassing theatrical release to go direct to DVD. The good news for Timberlake fans is that the disc hits stores Tuesday. And Timberlake's "Alpha Dog" — based on a 2000 murder allegedly involving Jesse James Hollywood — has prosecutors in Santa Barbara, California, in hot water. Lawyers for Hollywood have asked an appeals court to take the Santa Barbara County district attorney's office off the murder case because Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen shared confidential files with producers of the film, the Los Angeles Times reports. Hollywood was apprehended in Brazil last year for the 2000 kidnapping and killing of a 15-year-old boy. Appellate justices are expected to enter their decision — which could take Zonen or the entire D.A.'s office off the case — in two or three months. ...

Korn will perform acoustically for the first time ever on TV Tuesday. Jonathan Davis and company will strip down "Coming Undone" and "Twisted Transistor" on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," in part to promote their upcoming Family Values Tour. ... Bobby Valentino has a Special Occasion brewing for September 19. The R&B singer's second LP — being issued by DTP/ Island Def Jam — will feature production by Rodney Jerkins, Sean Garrett and Dre & Vidal. ...

A judge has released C-Murder from home confinement, characterizing his participation in a home-monitoring program as a "burden" on the police department in Gretna, Louisiana, The Associated Press reports. C-Murder is awaiting a retrial on a second-degree murder charge stemming from the 2002 slaying of a 16-year-old boy at a now-defunct nightclub in Harvey, Louisiana. The rapper has been under house arrest since March 20. Prosecutors had petitioned a judge to send C-Murder back to jail, claiming he'd violated the terms of his home confinement by moving outside the range of the police's monitoring equipment numerous times. ...

Actor/filmmaker Zach Braff has already released one indie-friendly soundtrack with his directorial debut, "Garden State," so it's no surprise that his next film, "The Last Kiss," also features a list of indie-rock tearjerkers. Braff posted the track list for the movie's soundtrack on his Web site. The disc — featuring tracks by Coldplay, Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright, Snow Patrol, Rachel Yamagata and Imogen Heap — is due August 9. ... Hawthorne Heights, Relient K, Emery, Plain White T's and the Sleeping have been tapped to perform on the fourth annual Nintendo Fusion Tour, which kicks off September 27. As with previous versions of the tour, the bands are only part of the attraction: Fans will get a chance to test out a variety of new Nintendo products, including the anxiously awaited Wii, Nintendo's next-gen system. ...

Gnarls Barkley and Peeping Tom will head out on a 10-date run that starts Thursday in Costa Mesa, California. Peeping Tom will also play several headlining gigs with the Dub Trio on Gnarls tour off-nights. The trek concludes August 17 in New York. ... What's the perfect date for a band like Slipknot to release a DVD? Halloween, naturally. Slipknot are tentatively planning to issue the yet-untitled follow-up to 2002's Disasterpieces on October 31. There's no word yet on what footage the disc will feature. ... Australians have had enough of Barry Manilow, apparently. Officials have been blasting his music at the Cook Park Reserve outside of Sydney as a way of keeping people away from the park at night on the weekend, AP reports. The six-month campaign, which only started recently, already has locals peeved. ...

Mastodon will head out on a U.S. headlining run with Converge and the Bronx that's set to kick off in Baltimore on September 6. The band has 14 gigs lined up through September 23 in Seattle, with stops planned in New York, Chicago, Detroit and Portland, Oregon. Mastodon's forthcoming LP, Blood Mountain, is due September 12. ... The Bled's Michael Pedicone has been recruited to fill in for Helmet drummer Mike Jost, who has stepped off this summer's Warped Tour following the recent birth of his child. Pedicone will play two sets on each Warped date, one with his own band and one with Helmet. He learned all of the songs in Helmet's set in a single day. ... Ill Niño have officially parted ways with Roadrunner Records, less than a year after the release of the band's third album, One Nation Underground. Ill Nino guitarist Ahrue Luster and wife, Xylia, welcomed a baby girl Friday. ...

Calexico have set aside the month of September for touring. After hitting up a variety of festivals — Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and Touch and Go's 25th anniversary shindig among them — the band will play September 18 in New Orleans. From that day forward, Calexico will play daily (except for one day off, September 26) through the end of the month, closing with a show in Lawrence, Kansas. ... TV on the Radio have set September 12 as the release date for their upcoming album, Return to Cookie Mountain. A video for the single "Wolf Like Me" was shot this weekend in Brooklyn, New York, by director John Watts. ... Canadian orchestral rockers the Dears have finalized the U.S. release of their upcoming third album. Due October 3, Gang of Losers will be released on Arts & Crafts, the label home to Stars and Broken Social Scene. ...

Roger O'Donnell, keyboardist for the Cure, has remixed "Cutting Ballons" by Cassettes Won't Listen, and the fresh version will be posted Tuesday on Stereogum.com. ... Rockers Clinic and indie-folk group Adem who share the same homeland (Britain) and record label (Domino), have announced records coming out this fall. Adem's sophomore disc, Love and Other Planets, will be released September 12 and Clinic's fourth album, Visitations, is due October 10. ... Primal Scream frontman Bobby Gillespie was assaulted in a hotel bar in Madrid, Spain, on Friday, BBC News reports. The singer was advised by a doctor not to fly to the U.K. — where the band was due to perform on "Top of the Pops" — until Sunday afternoon, though he was able to play a show in Barcelona as scheduled on Saturday. Gillespie's manager said the singer is back home and doing well despite two black eyes.

07.14.2006

Justin Timberlake hit the stage at London's Hammersmith Palais on Thursday night for a set that showcased songs from his upcoming album, FutureSex/ LoveSounds along with Justified favorites. Timbaland joined Timberlake onstage during the intimate gig, which sold out in four minutes. (Check out photos of Justin rocking the crowd right here.) Timberlake's video for "SexyBack" premieres on MTV's "Making the Video" July 25 at 4:30 p.m. ET. ...

A civil court jury, in a split decision Friday (July 14), awarded former Michael Jackson business associate F. Marc Schaffel $900,000, The Associated Press reported. Schaffel originally sued for $3.8 million in the money dispute. The jury also awarded Jackson $200,000 in his cross-complaint against Schaffel. ...

Don't worry, Britney Spears fans: The singer says she has no intention of packing in her performing career when her second child arrives. "After this baby, I'm going to get really intense with it," Spears told Harper's Bazaar, explaining that she's looking forward to getting back into fighting shape once her baby is born. The pregnant pop star — who poses nude in the magazine's August issue — said she "can't wait" to return to the stage, "but I really have to take my time and do it right and be safe. Actually ... not that safe. When you perform, you have to be dangerous." ...

She plays Scarlett Johansson's best friend in next year's "The Nanny Diaries," an assassin in the upcoming "Smokin' Aces," and for a new project, Alicia Keys will be taking on the role of a producer — and a witch. Keys and producer/partner Jeff Robinson have signed a first-look film production deal to develop live-action and animated projects with Disney, Variety reports. Their first film, a remake of the 1958 comedy "Bell, Book and Candle," will star Keys as a witch who casts a love spell to lure a rival's fiance. ... Chris Brown will perform on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" on Thursday. The live one-hour results show airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. ...

Cobra Starship, the project featuring Midtown's Gabe Saporta and a who's who of the MySpace scene — including members of the Academy Is ..., Gym Class Heroes and the All-American Rejects — will celebrate the release of Snakes on a Plane: The Album, featuring their song "Snakes on a Plane: Bring It," with a show at the Key Club in Los Angeles on August 16. ... Pete Doherty wants a chemical implant to help him beat his drug addiction, he told a judge in London on Thursday. During a progress review of his drug-rehabilitation program, the troubled Babyshambles rocker said he will, within the next two weeks, have a small implant that would stop him from getting high off opiates placed in his abdomen. "You are going in the right direction," Judge Jane McIvor told Doherty, who has yet to pass a drug test while in rehab. "I think your concentration should be, within six months of the order, to get a negative test." ...

Scottish band Travis stopped by No. 10 Downing Street in London on Thursday to leave a note stuck to the door for British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "Some steps forward," the giant Post-It read. "Much more to do at G8. Make poverty history." This year's G8 summit begins Saturday in Saint Petersburg, Russia. You can send your own reminder to G8 leaders at Live8Live.com. ... Muse will begin a three-week North American tour Tuesday in San Francisco in support of their recently released LP, Black Holes and Revelations. The trek will make a total of 14 stops — including gigs in San Diego, Denver, Chicago, Boston and New York — before winding down August 6 in Atlanta. ... The Yeah Yeah Yeahs asked fans to strut their best YYY stuff on camera for the band's Cheated Hearts clip, and hours of video — of lipsticked men posing as Karen O and rec room interpretations of Brian Chase and Nick Zinner — poured in. The final "Cheated Hearts" video and select outtakes are posted at YeahYeahYeahs.com. ...

Mastodon will be issuing a limited edition 7-inch for the tracks "Crystal Skill" and "Capillarian Crest," which both appear on the band's forthcoming LP Blood Mountain, due September 12. Look for the 7-inch to surface August 8. ... A 40-year-old man who stabbed four people inside the Masquerade nightclub in Ybor City, Florida, during a Corrosion of Conformity concert June 23, 2005, pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery with a knife and aggravated assault with a knife, the St. Petersburg Times reports. Pyne, who killed Thomas Laskas and stabbed Laskas' wife, Wendy, and two other concertgoers, will be sentenced July 24. ...

Gap will host free, all-ages concerts at select stores on the next three Thursdays. The Chicago flagship (located at 555 North Michigan Avenue) will host Love Arcade (July 20), Living Things (July 27) and Plain White T's (August 3). A Los Angeles store (Grove at Farmer's Market) will feature Graham Colton Band with Joe Purdy (July 20), Waking Ashland (July 27) and the Hush Sound (August 3). New York's 680 Fifth Avenue shop will be rocked by Mike Doughty with Tristan Prettyman (July 20), Matt White (July 27) and Army of Me (August 3). A San Francisco Gap 2040 Chestnut Street) hosts Thriving Ivory with Samantha Stollenwerck (July 20), American Music Club with Graham Colton (July 27) and Ronnie Day (August 3). ... Lennon, who released her debut album, 5:30 Saturday Morning, in 2001, will end her recording silence with Damaged Goods, due September 19. So what's taken so long?" I've spent the last three years making sure it would be an album I'm truly proud of, and it is," the singer/songwriter/pianist said.

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Attention Producers: Bobby Valentino Wants To Make You Hotter

23 Nov 2005 04:52:00 EST

Ludacris protégé plans to work with new beatmakers on his next LP.
By Brandee J. Tecson

Bobby Valentino
Photo: Getty Images

CULVER CITY, California — Bobby Valentino is used to churning out smooth ballads for the ladies, and with his forthcoming sophomore disc, the R&B crooner doesn't plan on straying too far from that formula.

Luda's DTP protégé (see "Launching Bobby Valentino's Career Is All In A Day's Work For Ludacris") is already knee-deep in the recording process for the follow-up to his debut solo LP, Disturbing Tha Peace Presents Bobby Valentino.

"You can expect a real hot record with real R&B music," Valentino said of the album, due in late 2006. "I guarantee people will love it if they just give it a chance [because] you will be able to vibe to it from the beginning to the end."

While Valentino is staying true to his signature sound, the singer plans to bring in some fresh blood to help with the new disc.

"[My production team] Tim [Kelley] and Bob [Robinson] want to get something with Pharrell," he revealed. "I want to just work with a lot of new cats. I like working with new [people] just to make them hotter, and it makes me better too."

For now, Valentino is still busy pushing his first album. "My Angel (Never Leave You)" — the latest single off the disc that spawned "Slow Down" and "Tell Me" — is a ballad that speaks of the special chemistry between a man and his true love, a childhood sweetheart with whom he was reunited after years apart.

The Atlanta-based performer is featured on DTP's forthcoming Ludacris Presents ... Disturbing Tha Peace, out December 13 (see "Wall Street Luda Celebrates New Deals: Therapy LP, Radio Show, DTP Compilation"). One of the tracks, "Table Dance," is an ode to all the strip clubs in the ATL.

"Only if you visit Atlanta do you understand how the strip clubs are. It's a way of life and a way of living in A-Town, so I had to do a song about it," he said with a hint of a smirk.

Valentino also lent his vocals to the Biggie Smalls compilation disc The Notorious B.I.G. Duets: The Final Chapter, due December 20 (see "Biggie Duets LP Features Eminem, Snoop, Tupac, Nas, Ludacris").

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Omarion 'Tryna' Play Coy On Third O Single

6 Jul 2005 08:56:00 EDT

Former B2K frontman says he'll shoot video for 'I'm Tryna' soon.
By Brandee J. Tecson, with reporting by Corey Moss

Omarion
Photo: MTV News

HOLLYWOOD — Omarion may have been a man on the prowl in his "Touch" video, but for his next clip, the R&B crooner will be the one playing coy.

On "I'm Tryna," the third single off his platinum solo debut, O, the 20-year-old pulls back on the dance moves and instead busts out some serious attitude.

"Basically, I'm frontin', you know," the former B2K frontman told MTV News backstage during the BET Awards, where he took home the coveted Viewer's Choice honor for his video "O" (see "Destiny's Child Give Lap Dances, Fugees End Feud At BET Awards"). "I have this girl that I'm with and everything is not going as planned and ... when I see her, I just keep it movin'."

In the song, a jilted boyfriend acts cold toward his ex when the truth is, all he wants is her back in his life. O sings, "I don't need your lovin', but you see it in my eyes/ Girl, something just ain't right/ Since we don't share this bed no more, I can't sleep at night."

He said he's planning to shoot a video for the single soon.

O's also been working on several projects with Marques Houston. The two launched their own production company, the Franchise Boys, earlier this year (see "Omarion, Marques Team Up With 'Served' Director For More Films") and are working on two new films, "Solider" and "You Got Served 2."

"You know, people always ask me, 'Can you balance it, the music and the acting?' " he said. "And what I tell them is whatever's hot is hot."

O will kick off Scream Tour IV: The HeartThrobs with Bow Wow, Bobby Valentino, Marques Houston, B5 and Pretty Ricky on July 20 (see "Bow Wow, Omarion Roll Out Scream IV Summer Dates"). As it happens, O appears on "Let Me Hold You," the first single off Bow's forthcoming LP Wanted (see "Bow Wow, Omarion Team Up For Single And Scream IV Tour").

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Game Ends 50 Cent Truce With Verbal Attacks At Summer Jam

6 Jun 2005 09:15:00 EDT

Game's set will be most discussed, but Jay-Z appearance was the show's high point.
By Shaheem Reid

The Game performs at Hot 97's Summer Jam 2005
Photo: Getty Images

To say the truce between the Game and 50 Cent came to a screeching halt Sunday night would be an understatement. Think more along the lines of a major derailment, much like the big scene in "Speed," when the subway train carrying Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock crashes through the pavement and lands above ground.

For weeks there had been rumors that Game was making unfavorable remarks about 50 and the G-Unit while performing on the How the West Was One Tour. It was fodder for Internet message boards and made radio gossip reports, but the rumblings never materialized into anything substantial. G-Unit members haven't exactly given props to Game in some of their recent interviews either, but everything had been relatively calm.

During Summer Jam, the New York tri-state area's biggest hip-hop concert of the year, the Game's frustrations boiled over while onstage in New Jersey's Giants Stadium, and he took several verbal shots at the G-Unit. The rapper also had people dressed up in a gorilla suit and a rat costume — representing 50's alleged snitching — both wearing G-Unit T-shirts and getting beaten in a mocking manner by Game's clique.

From the onset of Game's set, the Compton, California, native let it be known he would not be in Jersey with his "tail between his legs" backing down from his problems with 50. He performed "Hate It or Love It," rapping 50's verse as well as his own, switching up a line here and there to relay anti-G-Unit sentiment, such as "I ain't f---ing with five-0/ It's all starting to make sense."

Later Game introduced a new slogan, "G-G-G-U-Not!"

There was a slight undercurrent of booing when Game voiced his feeling towards the G-Unit, and that's when Dr. Dre's protégé really expressed himself.

Game explained that he had love for New York, but he was kicked out of the G-Unit because "they were hating." He said the crowd shouldn't hate him because he hates 50. Game even yelled "F--- 50" while holding his son in his arms before performing "Dreams."

The crowd started to warm up to Game more and more as he continued to use his platform to try and humiliate his former business associates. The lanky MC even threw a G-Unit chain he once wore proudly into the audience like it was nothing more than a used tissue going into a garbage can.

"I don't follow suit like f----t ass Yayo," Game roared. He later threatened to "knock out" Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks.

It became evident that Game's set was more therapy than performance — and that he had been waiting to get a lot off of his chest. Game even started to detail the infamous night at Hot 97's station, when a member of his crew was shot (see "50 Drops Game From G-Unit; Shots Fired At Radio Station"), accusing 50 of being scared to come outside and saying the G-Unit general was rushed out of the back of the building.

"Jay-Z's Special Guest A Thriller For Summer Jam Crowd").

Jay came out this year as a special guest of scheduled act Kanye West — who also brought out Cam'ron and Common in separate instances. The Roc was definitely in the building, as tens of thousands of fans immediately yelled at the top of their lungs when Jay arrived during "Diamonds." For several minutes, Jay stood onstage while the crowd used their voices, letting him know they were grateful that he was hitting the Summer Jam stage. The ovation was so overwhelming that you can bet they wouldn't be too upset if he announced that he is calling the whole retirement thing off. Jigga then performed both "P.S.A." and "Encore."

A couple of the night's most anticipated performances were called off before completion by Hot 97. Jadakiss, who many fans felt should have been appearing a lot later on the bill than his #3 slot (same goes for the heavily popular hometown crew the Diplomats, who hit the stage second), got his mic cut off just as he was about to perform his 50 dis record, "Checkmate." Let's just say Kiss didn't feel "marvelous" after that.

The night's headliner, Snoop Dogg, also got caught up in the mismanagement of time. By the time Doggy jumped onstage at close to 11 p.m., a large faction of the crowd was filing out.

It's not like Snoop isn't loved in New York, but after several hours in a stadium, fans are naturally tired. By the time Snoop brought out his guest Cassidy midway through his set, the crowd was so thin, it looked like Snoop was opening the show rather than closing.

Capacity doesn't matter to the Dogg, though. He was determined to give whoever was there a great show and was prepared to go all night if he had to. At one point, his mic was cut off and so was the power to his band and DJ. After a couple of seconds elapsed, the juice was back on, but Snoop told his security people to stand by the "power man" just in case he wanted to cut the power again.

Halfway through "Gin and Juice," all the lights in the stadium went up. Snoop was able to get through that song and tried to perform "Drop It Like It's Hot" next, but that was all she wrote. Shortly after 11:30 p.m., both Snoop's set and Summer Jam '05 were over in a disappointing, anti-climatic manner. The crowd didn't even get one "Snooooooooooop" off. And Snoop had just barked about flying all the way to New York to give a good show, saying Hot 97 shouldn't give him time constraints.

Ciara, Amerie and Ludacris and his guest Bobby Valentino also hit the Summer Jam stage, as did Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz, joined by guests Elephant Man, Pitbull, Ice Cube, Lil' Scrappy, Trillville and the Ying Yang Twins (and you have to believe you've heard it all once you've witnessed over 30,000 men and women yell in unison "Wait till you see my di--!").

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

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