Rabu, 16 Juni 2010

MTV News

MTV News


Drake Recalls Visiting Lil Wayne In Prison

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT

'There's a whole world moving out there that he hasn't seen for so long,' Drizzy tells MTV News.
By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Drake
Photo: MTV News

When Drake visited Lil Wayne last week in Rikers Island, it was an experience like no other.

"It was just not the country club," Drake told MTV News on Tuesday, the day his debut album, Thank Me Later, was released. "It wasn't his Miami condo. It wasn't Atlanta. It wasn't Tree Sound Studios, all the places I'm used to seeing him. It wasn't Club Liv in Miami. It wasn't any of them."

Drake has tried to wrap his head around Wayne's situation in prison. It's been difficult, but he did grasp some jewels from their visit.

"He kept looking to the window," Drizzy described. "He'd look up at the window almost like he's looking right through it. It's frosted, so you can't see out. I was like, 'Why does he keep staring through the window? There's nothing out there.' To him, there's a whole world moving out there that he hasn't seen for so long. He was just like, he told me something I never thought I'd hear him say, which was, 'You're the ultimate artist. You're better than me. You don't have the tattoos, you don't cause any trouble. People like you.' He was like, basically, 'Look at me and look at you.'

"He was like, 'Man, listen. You know what I think you're about to do? You're about to do 2 million,' " Drake recalled, echoing Wayne's sentiments from last week's "Nino Brown Story, Pt. 3" preview. " 'You're about to do 2 million the first week.' "

Drake thought back to a conversation they previously had, when the Toronto native wanted to get a tattoo; Weezy advised against it.

" 'Whatever, man, whatever you do, do not get no tattoos never in your life,' " Drake recalled Wayne telling him. " 'They gonna think you got it because you came around me.' He said the same thing to me [during the Rikers visit]: 'Don't change yourself, please. You got it. I've never met a young dude that has it figured out, but you got it. Don't mess it up. Just be you. Sing! Rap! Be you. Don't stop smiling.' That's what he said."

What do you think about Drake and Wayne's relationship? Let us know in the comments below!

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Robert Pattinson Says Life Without Music Is 'Driving Me Crazy'

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT

'I've just bought a couple new guitars, and I've started trying to write things again,' he tells MTV News.
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Robert Pattinson
Photo: MTV News

Back in July 2008, "Twilight" director Catherine Hardwicke told MTV News that Robert Pattinson had plans to compose three songs for the vampire film's soundtrack. As it turned out, only one RPattz track popped up on the album, but Twilighters were on notice: The Brit actor harbored some serious musical ambitions.

"I was doing music before I started acting, so I still have bits and pieces, and I've been playing in Portland [during the shoot]," Pattinson told us on the "Twilight" set. "I've been trying to write an album for years and years."

Two years later, with the third installment of the franchise about to hit theaters, Pattinson has found himself frustratingly disconnected from that passion and without the time to listen to much music or write his own material.

"I haven't been [paying attention to music] for a while," he told MTV News. "I don't know why. I've just sort of not been listening to it. It's so odd when that happens. You're just like, 'I've forgotten what everything is.' "

Yet Pattinson refuses to let his musical talents go to waste, as he's trying to dive back into songwriting mode. Stymieing those efforts are his jam-packed schedule of shooting and publicity; he's in the midst of shooting "Water for Elephants" with Reese Witherspoon at the same time that he's promoting "Eclipse."

"I've just bought a couple new guitars, and I've started trying to write things again," he said. "But I never have any time, ever."

You can tell how perturbed Pattinson is by his inability to carve out time to play music. And you've got to hope he figures out a way to make music work within the confines of his hectic professional career, because right now, he's bummed without music in his life.

"It's kind of driving me crazy," he said.

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Tupac Shakur 'Had A Deadline,' Naughty By Nature's Treach Says

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT

'Pac didn't see himself 'growing old,' his friend and fellow MC tells MTV News on what would have been Shakur's 39th birthday.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Naughty by Nature's Treach
Photo: MTV News

Tupac Shakur's legacy still looms large in music more than 13 years after his untimely death. You can suss out 'Pac's swagger in everyone from DMX to Ja Rule; Kanye West continues Shakur's tradition of being outspoken; and rappers still turn to his back catalog for insightful verses to graft into hip-hop hits.

Part of the reason Shakur's presence is still felt is because the controversial icon left behind a hefty amount of music, including a formidable collection of unreleased recordings. 'Pac might have been on top of the music world when he died, but his close friend and Naughty by Nature MC Treach said Shakur's work ethic was fueled by his belief that his demise was imminent.

"We spoke many a time, and he was like, 'I don't see myself growing old,' " Treach told MTV News' Sway on Tuesday, the day before what would have been Shakur's 39th birthday.

Treach, who came up with 'Pac when the two were roadies for Queen Latifah and Digital Underground, respectively, said that despite his homie's affable manner and upbeat energy, 'Pac worked as if he had no time to waste. "You gotta listen to songs like 'If I Die 2Nite' and 'I Wonder if Heaven Got a Ghetto.' When he was in that mode, in that zone, you gotta be like, 'What's going on? You a'ight?'

" 'Pac couldn't sit down for five minutes," Treach continued. "He was always going, 'Yeah, everything good, good, good.' When you listen to him and you see his demeanor, he was more or less, like, on watch. He had a deadline. He was working at a pace, like, 'Where you going? You going on vacation? You going to jail? You doing sh-- like you tryna finish everything right now and cover stuff.' You couldn't find him half the time; he was gone. He had a plan."

Treach believes 'Pac's plan extended beyond just making thought-provoking music; the Jersey rapper said Shakur wanted to realize tangible change among his fans who were living the thug life.

"Ultimately, he wanted to get the thugs all behind him — his thug nation, his thug life — and take them to the next level ... unified, building up the community, reinvesting in the community, in the people."

Treach said he wanted to use music to get the attention of the streets but then eventually make life easier on the streets. "[He wanted to bring] them in thinking it's a gangsta party, but it's like ... it's a militant, protect-our-own party. He was truly like a baby Panther. He was like, 'Yo, we gotta do something to reinforce that we gonna protect ourselves.' "

Even though 'Pac built his career on a brash, thug persona, Treach said there was way more to the star than his hard-core adherence to the 'hood.

" 'Pac was a clown. Everybody think he just like gangsta, thug-life 'Pac. He'll have a whole party just around him crackin' up," Treach said. "We almost got threw out a couple hotels. I'm talking full-floor water fights."

Treach said he found it hilarious to see the former Digital Underground associate "runnin' around with a Humpty nose."

"He was an actor, he was a musician ... anything you could put, if he wanted to do it, he could do that. But he was a fool too," Treach said. "He did it well being a fool too. You don't want to be around nobody that's mean muggin' all day and got an attitude and hatin'. 'Pac wasn't nothing like that. 'Pac would have you just wanting to be around because you know you gonna have a ball around him and split some seams just having a good time."

His fiery flow, revolutionary rhetoric and undeniable artistry are some of the things that have endeared 'Pac to millions of fans around the world. Yet Treach adds that his appeal as a person was very basic: "He had a glow to him. He had something you wanted to be around."

Share your memories of Tupac in the comments.

Katy Perry's 'California Gurls': The Power Of Persistence (And Bikinis)

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT

Even the most jaded music fan can't resist the sunshiny charms of Perry's new single, in Bigger Than the Sound.
By James Montgomery


Katy Perry in her music video for "California Gurls"
Photo: Capitol Records

I am not exactly a California person. I am so pale, I am darn near translucent. I think Pink's is overrated. And I don't like shopping at Vons. I am proudly, almost stubbornly New York: black clothes, black coffee, black horn-rimmed glasses, subterranean in nearly every conceivable way. And yet, I find myself positively enamored with Katy Perry's sunny, sex-tastic "California Gurls" — like, singing "bikinis on top!" to myself on the subway — for reasons I cannot even begin to comprehend.

I suspect it has something to do with persistence, because of all the songs released in recent months, "Gurls" is certainly the most tireless. Tenaciously marketed since minute one as the official summer jam of 2010 (or, as Perry put it, "SUMMER STARTS NOW!") and specifically designed to serve both a key demographic (hot girls) and an entire geographic region (the state of California and its more than 34 million inhabitants), "Gurls" is downright diabolical in its purpose: "Here is a song about beaches and bikinis," it says. "You will listen to it 100,000 times because you like both of those things. Or you are from California." It also can't hurt that the song was crafted by Dr. Luke, the mastermind behind other pop anthems like Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" and Perry's own "I Kissed a Girl."

Make no mistake about it, this is precision-guided pop. And just to keep things on point, Perry has tirelessly promoted it while wearing an electric-blue wig and bedazzled bikini top. In recent weeks, Capitol Records has started throwing beach-themed listening parties to hype the single and the accompanying album, Teenage Dream. The "California Gurls" video — which premiered Tuesday — mixes things up a bit by not including a single grain of sand (I tend to think Snoop is buried in powdered sugar at the end of the clip), but boy, does it have a lot of bikinis, and I'll be damned if it isn't the most gleefully lightweight thing in recent memory. At this point, Perry and her team at Capitol are so determined, obstinate and on message that they're practically the Bush White House of popular music. No one strays. Nothing is left to chance. It truly is something to behold.

And, really, it appears to be working. "California Gurls" is currently the #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, making it all the way to the top in just four short weeks. It's a radio staple. The video is already much discussed. And they've even managed to win me over, which is a feat in and of itself. Because, while it's certainly fun, breezy and — yes, I'll admit it — a bit catchy, "Gurls" isn't even Katy Perry's best single (I'll vote for "Hot N Cold"). It's just the most dogged. Expertly planned, precisely marketed and brilliantly deployed, its success is a testament to the power of persistence, to the point where it's even got me thinking about moving out West.

What can I say? Even I'm not immune to its charms; it just took several thousand listens to break me. And, yes, I suppose that's a good thing. After all, even the most curdled and curmudgeonly of New Yorkers needs to have their popsicle melted every once in a while.

Questions? Concerns? Hit me up at BTTS@MTVStaff.com.

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Bizarre Says Eminem, D12 'Back In The Lab' For New Mixtape, Album

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT

'We're in our little grimy studio and we're knocking it out,' Biz says, in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid


Bizarre
Photo: Shady

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

D12's Bizarre says "the Band" is back in the lab making music together. The Detroit collective are simultaneously recording their next official LP and a new mixtape.

"It took Marshall a little bit of time to get on his grind," Biz said of his D12 partner Eminem. "Now he's about to drop the Recovery album. I got my album, I snuck it in there," added the rapper, who just released his solo independent LP, Friday Night at St. Andrews.

"Right now we're working on this mixtape. We decided we should work on this mixtape to get the streets a little hot right quick then drop the album. We're kinda doing both at the same time. We're definitely back in the lab working. All original material," Biz said of the tape. "If you got some beats man, hit me up, man. We don't discriminate when it comes to music — ain't no politics with us. If you got some fresh music, some hotness, we got you."

Biz noted that with all the fellas back together after a long hiatus, which included grieving over the death of their partner Proof in 2006, the vibe finally felt right.

"It's good, man," he said. "It's a nice feelin', man. We're taking it back to the roots. We're in our little grimy studio and we're knocking it out. I can't describe the feeling. To get back in there with the group and get on some beats, it's a challenge within ourselves. We don't even let each other hear each other's verse before we rap, so you definitely need to be trying to come with it. It's a friendly competition thing. It's a lot of pressure, but it's good pressure."

It's probably no surprise that the guy who's really terrorizing the booth on both efforts is Em.

"Em is sounding crazy," his longtime friend said. "He always sounds crazy. This dude is an alien. He's probably got hundreds of raps thought about already, in different styles and different patterns. That's one dude you can't compare yourself to ... or worry about what he's doing. If you worry about that cat, you're gonna be lost."

While his rhymes will surely reign on the D12 project, whether we'll hear any beats from the Shady Records head is up in the air.

"Em ain't really into producing no more, but he's gonna be on both projects," Biz said.

Neither D12 project has a release date, but Biz said he thinks the mixtape will drop in the fall on the mischief-making Devil's Night. For now, Bizarre is pushing his solo LP and recording.

"It's a ... historic place in Detroit," he explained of his album's title. "[St. Andrews], it was a church that they turned into a club and had hip-hop on Friday night. Being that Detroit is such a gangsta city, this was the only outlet we really had for hip-hop, breakdancing and battling. Basically, I'm paying homage."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc.

Pitbull Says Music Was A 'Hobby,' On 'When I Was 17'

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT

Rapper's drama teacher was 'the first person who really believed in me.'
By Kara Warner


Pitbull
Photo: MTV News

Recent forays into celebrities' formative years on MTV's "When I Was 17" have included everything from bad-hair horror stories to sports dreams to online-auction obsessions. We delve into Pitbull's past on this week's episode, in which the rapper reveals the beginnings of his music career and sends a special shout-out to a high school drama teacher for believing in his potential.

"Music to me is something I did as a hobby," the 29-year-old admits on the show. "I did it in school, freestylin' against cats. ... My drama teacher [saw] me one day battlin' someone. She thought it was a fight, because there were 200, 300 kids all around, trying to watch what's going on."

"I was blown away by him," said Hope, Pit's drama teacher. "You couldn't take your eyes off him."

Pitbull, whose real name is Armando Christian Perez, remembers that moment fondly and with appreciation: "When she saw it, she was the first person who really believed in me."

Pit once told MTV News his rise to fame has been an experiment and an education. He counts his struggles and his successes as a blessing. "If you continue to work hard, let that be the fuel to your fire."

Along with past hits like "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" and "Go Girl," you can catch Pitbull rollin' with Enrique Iglesias and the "Jersey Shore" cast in Iglesias' new single and video for "I Like It."

"When I Was 17" — this week featuring Pitbull, Vanessa Minnillo and Chris Paul — airs Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV.

Drake Show Shut Down By NYPD

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 06:51 AM PDT

'I am humbled by the crowd that showed up in support of my performance,' rapper tells MTV News in a statement.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Drake (file)
Photo: Getty Images

NEW YORK — A Drake show scheduled for Tuesday evening (June 15) in Manhattan was canceled by the New York Police Department after crowd control became a safety concern for organizers of the event.

Upward of 10, 000 fans lined the South Street Seaport and even more were present on the outskirts of the venue, lurking, in hopes of spotting the Toronto rapper.

Drake was set to appear onstage at 7:45 p.m. ET, but leading up to his appearance, the crowd swelled to a larger-than-expected size. Organizers of the event, sponsored by Paper magazine and also featuring Hanson and Ninjasonik, began slowly asking attendees to be prepared for a cancellation.

Confusion abounded just moments later, however, as concertgoers jockeyed for closer positions to the stage, unaware of any danger. Ultimately, police pulled the plug on the event and began trying to disperse bystanders.

Drake — celebrating the release of his debut album, Thank Me Later, on Tuesday — tried to notify his fans via Twitter that he was unable to take the stage. "Police are shutting down the show at South Seaport! I'm on my way anyways," he wrote. "Drizzy Hendrix Woodstock 2010."

The upstart MC, though, was understandably disappointed he was unable to share in the excitement with his fans and issued a statement apologizing to his supporters.

"I am humbled by the crowd that showed up in support of my performance and the release of Thank Me Later," Drake told MTV News in a statement. "I love performing for my fans, but unfortunately, the show was canceled by the NYPD due to overcrowding, leaving me without the chance to give my fans a real show. I'm thankful for the support that the fans have been giving me ... I thank you now."

Fans were also disappointed, but many feared for their own safety as people fought, threw items from nearby restaurants and even trampled other attendees.

New York University student Adam Vinson spoke with MTV News and described the chaotic scene. "People didn't know how to have manners," he said. "Everyone was up against each other pushing. There was just too many people there. In New York City, though, people are gonna come from out of state, and in the city, there's already millions of people. The concertgoers packed in and people started fighting.

"I saw dudes fighting," he added. "One dude said he was gonna light this place up; it was that serious. Once I saw that, it was my cue to leave. People started pushing, bottles were thrown and once dude threatened to shoot, people started trying to get out."

What would you do in that situation? Let us know in the comments.

Don't miss the "Drake: Better Than Good Enough" documentary, airing Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV!

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Katy Perry Explains 'California Gurls' Video, Frame By Frame

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 02:03 AM PDT

Pop star puts a 'naughty twist' on Candy Land for the new clip.
By Jocelyn Vena


Katy Perry in her "California Gurls" video
Photo: Capitol

Katy Perry released her pastel-colored, candy-coated new video for "California Gurls" on Tuesday (June 15). In the clip, Perry is dressed in little or nothing and dances around Candyfornia trying to save her California Gurls from Snoop Dogg's sinister Sugar Daddy and his Gummi Bear minions.

Of course, with the help of some smooth dance moves and a whipped-cream-dispensing bra, the ladies dethrone the evil ruler. Perry sat down with MTV News to walk fans through the behind-the-scenes action.

"I like the idea of this being like a board game," she said. "It's kind of like Candy Land. That was probably one of my favorite games to play growing up. I like to bring back those pure childhood moments and give them a little bit of a naughty twist, of course!"

In the video, Katy travels through Candyfornia, trying to save her pals. "One of the first girls that I rescue out of the music video, one of the first California Gurls, is a girl that we've named Bubblicious Betty, and she's caught in a bubble that Snoop Dogg has put her in from the Bubblicious volcano.

"I continue on through Candyfornia," she added. "I get caught in the candy-cane snake place, where it gets really dicey. I don't know which tree stalk to climb so that I can get to the cotton-candy clouds."

The video's elaborate set design gave Perry and her team the chance to really use their imaginations. "It was really exciting doing all of the set production," she said. "We took over this huge movie set, basically, and we built the gingerbread house, and it has hearts and pink and color. I think it's got so much color in it."

Of course, the video also has clothes that manage to dazzle the senses as well. "Diesel made me those shorts, which is really cool," she said. "They bedazzled the Daisy Dukes. And then, of course, towards the end, after I have picked out all of the California Gurls that have been frozen in Candyfornia because Snoop is the evil Mister Oz-like figure, we go to his sugar castle on sugarcane beach, and we tell him who's boss."

Having Snoop play the bad guy was one of the genius ideas that went into making this video, as was the popsicle that meets a sad end. "I was talking to the director when Snoop was doing his verse, [and] I was like, 'I really want there to be a melting-popsicle guy,' " she revealed. "I just love stuff like that. I think I belong in Japan, in some alternate universe. I think this music video is a little bit my love for all things cute, confectionary and Japanese [and] childhood."

When fans watch the video, two looks will stand out: the cupcake bra and the chest-mounted frosting cannons. "I will tell you that those cupcake bra boobies, they were a little bit heavy and they were interesting," she said. "It was really fun making these costumes. They're all one-of-a-kind, and I love the Bettie Page moment in the red and the whipped-cream cans."

So how does it end? Well, Katy wins, of course. "I had the idea for the end shot," she said. " 'I want Snoop to be covered in sand like we beat him!' "

What do you think of the "California Gurls" video? Let us know in the comments!

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Eminem Surprises E3 Crowd With Guests Travis Barker, Rihanna

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 08:55 AM PDT

Rapper headlined Activision concert that included Usher, Will.I.Am, Jane's Addiction and others.
By Matt Elias


Eminem performs at E3 on Monday
Photo: Chris Weeks/ Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — Eminem performed an electrifying set at Activision's E3 party on Monday night, crushing any doubts that he is truly back in the game after his long hiatus. The Detroit MC headlined a massive bill that included Usher, Will.I.Am, N.E.R.D., Jane's Addiction, Chris Cornell, David Guetta, Deadmau5 and DJ Z-Trip.

Em's set kicked off with his first surprise of the night at the Staples Center, with Travis Barker jumping behind the drums for an acrobatic drum solo. Em joined him moments later (flanked by D12's Denaun Porter), taking the stage just before midnight. He was decked out in a black jacket, black jeans and a silver crucifix hanging around his neck.

With Em, Barker, Porter and a live band all onstage, the crowd was up on its feet right from the get-go. The six-song set began with "Won't Back Down," off of Recovery, which Em just announced would be released on June 21, a day earlier than originally planned. From that moment, there was an energy in the arena that could be felt from the floor all the way up to the luxury suites.

Eminem followed with a couple of his recent features — one from B.o.B's "Airplanes (Part II)" and the other from Drake's "Forever." As Drake's chorus blared, Eminem marched down the stage's catwalk, chanting "Bounce, bounce, bounce." He was clearly on his game, bobbing and weaving while he delivered his verses. All of this was punctuated by Barker's thumping drumbeats, which made it feel more rock show than rap show.

After three songs, Eminem addressed his adoring crowd, shouting, "Los Angeles! What the f--- is up? Make some motherf---ing noise!" As if he had to ask, Staples Center erupted in ovation.

Em then dedicated his next song, "Not Afraid," to all of the fans that have stuck by his side over the years. His live band was joined by a full orchestra on both sides of the stage. If that wasn't enough, later in the song, Eminem was joined by an entire gospel choir that numbered in the dozens.

Then Eminem sprung his next surprise. "Before I get into this next song," he said, "I wanna bring out a very special guest." After a few moments, Barbadian beauty Rihanna appeared onstage with a bright crop of candy-apple-red hair. The duo got right into "Love the Way You Lie" — another new song off the upcoming Recovery. Em and Ri had great chemistry onstage, taking turns sauntering down the catwalk and passing glances at each other throughout the performance.

As the song ended, the show seemed to be over. Eminem thanked the crowd and exited the stage. His band stayed on, however, and slowly started playing the opening notes of "Lose Yourself." As the song built, Eminem stormed back onto the stage and the crowd (as if they could get any louder) exploded. As he ripped through the song, Porter served as the hype-man, and excitement continued to build until the end, when a shower of gold confetti rained down on the audience.

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Drake 'So Excited, So Exhausted' On <i>Thank Me Later</i>'s Release Day

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 05:03 AM PDT

'I actually was surprised that I even got to sleep,' he tells MTV News of the night before his debut dropped.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Drake
Photo: MTV News

The eager anticipation for Drake's album wasn't just coming from fans. It turns out the Toronto lyricist was on edge himself.

"I couldn't believe what time it was, first of all," he told MTV News on Tuesday (June 15) about waking up on the day his Thank Me Later LP finally hit stores and online retail outlets. "I actually was surprised that I even got to sleep. I was so excited that I was so exhausted, too. I had a long day yesterday. I got right on the phone and started doing radio [interviews], I did about 15 radio stations this morning.

"My mom texted me, she was just like, 'I can't believe this, because people are saying you sold this [many copies] already,' " he continued. "I was like, 'Ma, don't listen to that,' she had some crazy numbers. She was like, 'Oh, I heard you sold 200,000 albums by 10 o'clock.' I was like, 'I doubt that!' "

There's no question, however, that the album has generated a lot of excitement. Fans began lining up around the Best Buy in New York's Union Square on Monday night for Drake's in-store appearance on Tuesday, just for the opportunity to meet the rapper and get their albums signed.

Drake also said friends sent him pictures of the same scene in his hometown of Toronto, where kids camped out for hours to be among the first to pick up Thank Me Later.

While this may be Drizzy's crowning moment, the star said for himself, he was happy for the greater cause: a young artist being able to ascend the heights of hip-hop's landscape, which long has been dominated by veteran MCs.

"I just took a deep breath for hip-hop," he explained. "To me, it's not even about me today, it's [really] about the culture."

Don't miss the "Drake: Better Than Good Enough" documentary, airing Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV!

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T.I. Battles Snitching Rumors, Talks 'G Code'

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:56 PM PDT

'I made myself a useful member of society,' Tip says of why he landed plea deal, in July/August XXL.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


T.I. on the July/August 2010 issue of <i>XXL</i> Magazine
Photo: <i>XXL</i> Magazine

Since completing his federal prison sentence, T.I. has been out to reclaim his crown as King of the South, even dropping the post-bid single "I'm Back," on which he acknowledged past mistakes but seemed intent on looking forward. But all that hasn't stopped Tip from responding to critics who argue the Grand Hustle mogul received preferential treatment in being granted what a judge described as an "experimental" plea deal.

"What people don't take into consideration is the reason that I was eligible for certain agreements that they weren't eligible for was because I made myself a useful member of society," T.I. tells XXL in the magazine's July/August issue.

T.I. was sentenced in March 2009 on felony weapons charges arising from a 2007 arrest, when he was apprehended just before a scheduled appearance at the BET Hip-Hop Awards. The Atlanta rapper pleaded guilty in March 2008 and struck a plea deal: a sentence of a year and a day would be contingent upon the star paying a $100,000 fine and completing 1,500 hours of community service; 1,000 hours to be finished before entering prison and 500 after his release. Also, post-prison, T.I. agreed to submit to drug counseling, a curfew, random property searches, DNA testing and a yearlong home confinement, among other conditions of the deal.

In the cover story, T.I. says his community work was a primary factor in landing him a plea deal.

"Most muthaf---as catch cases and get time. My n---a, you wasn't doing sh-- when you was out here, so wasn't no reason for them to keep you out here."

Tip also takes on haters who have accused him of "snitching," a practice that has particularly negative connotations in the rap world — and which has proved troubling to law enforcement. The MC tells the magazine that critics should come at him with hard evidence to support their claims.

"Please understand the G code that I learned from, if you speak out your mouth that a muthaf---a is telling on somebody and you can't come with indisputable, irrefutable facts to support that statement, that makes you the sucker," T.I. said. "You are now in violation of the G code. And there ain't nobody, nowhere in naan jail sayin' I was on they paperwork."

The July/August issue of XXL goes on sale July 6. Tip is staying busy meanwhile, dropping new music and prepping for his summer release, King Uncaged.

What do you think of T.I.'s remarks about snitching? Tell us what you think in the comments.

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Miley Cyrus Photo Scandal Isn't What It Seems, Perez Hilton Insists

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 04:37 AM PDT

Gossip blogger posted a picture that appeared to show the 17-year-old singer exiting a car, sans underwear.
By Kara Warner


Perez Hilton
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

Gossip blogger Perez Hilton is in hot water Tuesday (June 15) after posting a photo of Miley Cyrus to his Twitter feed. In the picture, which Hilton warned readers not to view if they were easily offended, Cyrus is shown exiting a car, seemingly sans underwear.

"If you are easily offended, do NOT click here," he tweeted. "Oh, Miley! Warning: truly not for the easily offended!"

The public reaction to Hilton posting the photo — which he later removed — was fierce and quick. Hilton defended himself via a video he posted on his website, claiming the photo didn't show what everyone thought it did.

"Miley was clearly wearing underwear," Hilton says in the video. "Do you think Miley is that stupid to be out in public without panties?" Hilton claimed he only posted the photo to make light of the fact that the teen pop queen was getting out of the car in "a very un-ladylike fashion."

"Sure, I like to be controversial," he said. "But I don't want to go to jail."

Salon.com consulted L.A.-based criminal defense attorney Jeffrey Douglas, who specializes in child-pornography cases. Douglas deemed Hilton's liability "extraordinary and intense," calling his decision to publish the photo "suicidal." "We're not talking about a misdemeanor," Douglas told the site. "You don't have to know what the definition of the law is; all you have to do is knowingly distribute the photograph."

The Disney star herself seemed to be handling the controversy when she called into Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show Tuesday morning. Cyrus pointed out that the incident is oddly timed with the release of her upcoming album, Can't Be Tamed.

"Isn't it funny that things like that, that are so negative, have to come out right before my record?" she told Seacrest. "It's like no one can let positive things happen. All I do is focus on the positive, and I hope this record does well."

Do you think Perez is telling the truth or backtracking? Let us know in the comments.

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Katy Perry Teases Her Teen Choice Awards Wardrobe

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 06:24 AM PDT

'There's a lot of Velcro involved,' the host reveals to MTV News of her costume ideas.
By Jocelyn Vena


Katy Perry
Photo: MTV News

The Teen Choice Awards nominations are in and as host Katy Perry gears up for her August 9 gig, she warns that just about anything is possible once she takes the stage.

"What are you not gonna see? That's the thing!" she teased to MTV News after the listening party for her Teenage Dream LP in New York City.

"I mean, I always have a fantastic time hosting these types of things," Perry added, "and pull out costume after costume after costume." While Perry was vague about possible wardrobe choices, she did say that viewers should expect to see progressively less clothes as the night wears on.

"Usually I start wearing like a layer of clothes and then I just rip off," Perry told us. "There's a lot of Velcro involved. But it'll be fun and I love teenagers because [whereas] children are not jaded and just full of life ... teenagers are a little like, 'Prove to me you're cool,' and I'm gonna prove to you that I'm kind of cool. I am not pop-star lame, I am not hipster cool — I am somewhere in the middle."

At the MTV Movie Awards this month, Perry performed her chart-topping "California Gurls." But the singer revealed she might try out the title single off her August 24 album, performing "Teenage Dream" at the awards show.

"I think I might be doing the second single off the record. It'd be a great place ... at the Teen Choice Awards because I think a lot of kids are falling in love and they will relate to that song," she explained. "That song is kind of like feeling that way when you were a teenager: really emotional, really invested. ... It's intense being in love and being a teenager. That's what 'Teenage Dream' is about."

And speaking of deeply felt adolescent love, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," which is up for a number of Teen Choice Awards, pretty much sums up the subject of Perry's next single.

"That's being a teenager right there," she agreed. "That would be that dynamic of love."

Are you excited for Katy Perry to host the Teen Choice Awards? Tell us in the comments!

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PlayStation Plus, New 'Twisted Metal' Game Revealed At E3

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 05:59 AM PDT

Sony also announces PlayStation Move's price and release date.
By Brian Warmoth


Sony's presentation at the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)
Photo: Getty Images

Sony gave PlayStation 3 owners some controller details they expected, as well as a few game and service surprises on Tuesday (June 15) at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. Over the course of the extended keynote address, the company made pricing and launch info public for the PlayStation Move and announced a long list of new games and service changes affecting its console.

"PlayStation Move will be available in Europe on September 15, here in North America on September 19 and in Japan on October 21," Sony Computer Entertainment America President and CEO Jack Tretton stated during his big media event for the week. "For those of you who already own a PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Eye, the PlayStation Move Motion Controller will be available for $49.99, and the PlayStation Move Navigation Controller will sell for $29.99."

The new peripheral will be available in other packages as well, for those who need an Eye, a PS3 or both.

"In addition, we'll offer a PlayStation Move bundle that will come with one Move Motion Controller, the PlayStation Eye and our 'Sports Champions' game, all for [$99.99]," Tretton explained. "And if you're one of those families I mentioned earlier that hasn't yet added a PS3 to your living room, we'll be offering a PlayStation Move PS3 bundle including the PS3, PlayStation Move Controller with PlayStation Eye Camera and 'Sports Champions,' all for [$399.99]."

Tretton predicted that "between 15 and 20 titles" would be available on day one for the Move, with "more than 40" coming out in time for the 2010 holiday season. He named "SOCOM 4," "NBA 2K11," "SingStar Dance," "Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11" and "Killzone 3" as being among the first wave of games that would support the new motion controls.

"Killzone 3" will also be part of the PS3's expansion into 3-D gaming when it arrives in February 2011.

" 'Killzone 3' is easily our most ambitious project to date, and we're very excited to show you some of our latest single-player campaign," Guerilla Games managing director Herman Hulst said. "We will demo two separate sections from the fourth level of the game."

Following a full-screen demonstration for the auditorium, Tretton also listed "The Sly Collection," "Gran Turismo 5," "Crysis 2," a new "Mortal Kombat" game and "NBA 2K11" as games that will support 3-D viewing.

Sony showcased another kind of 3-D presentation in the form of a virtual E3 booth set up in the world of their online service PlayStation Home. While emphasizing that they intend to keep basic services and connectivity for the PS3 free, Tretton premiered details about a new paid collection of content coming to the PSN.

"For those customers who want to further enrich their experience, we've created a subscription package that will live on top of the currently available PlayStation Network offerings," Tretton said. "The official name of this service package is PlayStation Plus."

He detailed $49 annual and $18 monthly subscription fees for Plus, which Sony plans to pilot later this month with exclusive in-game content and DLC, free full games, early beta access to demos and automatic patching services.

Tretton deferred to guests for two other major reveals over the course of the afternoon, the first being Gabe Newell, whose company Valve otherwise canceled their presence at E3 this year. Newell personally handled the introduction of a Steam-supported "Portal 2" release coming to the PS3.

"I'm very pleased to announce that we'll be bringing 'Portal 2' to the PlayStation 3," Newell said. "I'm excited that Steam will be part of that experience, and I think that gamers will be delighted with features like Steam Cloud and automatic updates that will make the PlayStation 3 version of 'Portal 2' the best version on any console."

Newell has long been an outspoken critic of the current video game console generation, unlike game designer David Jaffe, who managed to be a part of the final Sony surprise of the day. Jaffe and his Eat Sleep Play co-founder Scott Campbell came with an entourage of clowns to confirm that they will release a new "Twisted Metal" game for the PS3 in 2011.

"Today, we're excited to announce that the 'Twisted Metal' legacy will continue, coming exclusively to PlayStation 3, 2011," Jaffe said. "Our new game, 'Twisted Metal,' is being created by the same team members who gave birth to the dark humor and fast-action gameplay of the classic 'Twisted Metal' series."

Jaffe and Campbell will attempt to extend the life of their long-running franchise onto one more PlayStation console after experiencing success on both of Sony's first two platforms. Their legacy property ended the Sony keynote fittingly as they noted its longevity. Sony, no doubt, hopes that its new endeavors with 3-D and Plus will live just as long.

Check out the Multiplayer blog, updated daily, for even more E3 and gaming coverage.

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Tiffani Thiessen Welcomes Daughter

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 05:59 AM PDT

The 'Saved by the Bell' actress gave birth to Harper Renn Smith on Tuesday.
By Kara Warner


Tiffani Thiessen
Photo: Mark Von Holden/ WireImage

Actress Tiffani Thiessen gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Tuesday (June 15) in Los Angeles, according to People magazine. Although she'll probably always be squeaky-clean Bayside cheerleader Kelly Kapowski to some fans, the former "Saved by the Bell" star is all grown up, and now, a new mom.

The magazine reported the new arrival, daughter Harper Renn Smith, weighed in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces and was "doing great," along with her first-time parents. Thiessen, 36, and her artist/actor husband, Brady Smith, were eager to meet their little girl. The actress tweeted just a little more than a week ago, urging her baby to "hurry up."

"Okay, this child of mine needs to hurry up," she wrote. "Don't they know outside is so much more fun then inside?" The new parents have been married since 2005.

Thiessen followed her "Bell" success with a surprising and memorable turn on another teen classic, "Beverly Hills, 90210," on which she played villainous Valerie Malone. She appeared in several TV series in the late '90s and early '00s ("Just Shoot Me," "Fastlane," "What About Brian") and currently appears on USA's "White Collar," a show reminiscent of the movies "To Catch a Thief" and "Catch Me If You Can." Thiessen plays Elizabeth Burke, the dutiful and doting wife of a by-the-book FBI agent.

Share your congratulations and well wishes for Tiffani and her family in the comments below!

'Drake: Better Than Good Enough' Takes Fans Backstage -- Watch A Preview!

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 03:43 AM PDT

Drake documentary airs Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
By Shaheem Reid


Drake
Photo: MTV News

On Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, MTV will air "Drake: Better Than Good Enough." The documentary not only shows Drizzy exciting crowds and recording his just-released Thank Me Later album, it also allows the 23-year-old to give insight into his career and personal life in his own words.

In an exclusive preview of the documentary, we see Drake's preparation for a show on his Away From Home Tour.

"I rarely do the prayer," says Drake, surrounded by members of his inner circle and road crew. "But I figure tonight is a special night. A night of family. I swear that my stars have aligned in the most magnificent way. More than the success and more than for the money, I'm grateful for my family tonight. Y'all are my family. I love you all so much. God, please bless us. Touch us from the crown of our heads to the sole of our feet. Let us all have an amazing show. God, in your name, we pray. Amen."

From there, we see Drake start his concert, leading off with "Forever" as the crowd praises him with glass-shattering screams.

"I just want people to walk away... just feeling a little bit more confident about Drake," he says in a later interview. "In no way do I want people to be like, 'He's the best. He's the man.' 'Cause I really do have a desire to grow and get better. I do want people to walk away and be like, 'OK. OK.'

"My biggest goal when I set out on this tour was to prove a very important facet of an MC's career," he continues, "which is commanding a crowd and carrying a performance. I think that's what takes you from being a rapper to being an artist."

Don't miss "Drake: Better Than Good Enough," airing Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV!

Drake is MTV's Push artist of the week. For more about the making of his new album go to Buzzworthy.MTV.com.

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Michael Jackson Video Game Due By End Of Year

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 02:11 AM PDT

Fans can emulate King of Pop's moves in new dancing and singing game.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Michael Jackson
Photo: Michel Linssen/Redferns

If you're over checking out the late Michael Jackson's signature moves in old video footage, soon you'll be able to experience the King of Pop's swagger in a whole new way. Gaming company Ubisoft has announced that it is launching a video game based on Jackson's legendary music and performances.

The game will be built on MJ's singular dance style, and players will be able to groove along to mega-hits like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It." According to a Ubisoft statement posted on MichaelJackson.com, gamers will get the chance to learn and re-create some of Jackson's dance moves.

A Ubisoft rep confirmed to MTV News that while there is no title for the game as of press time, the game should be available later in the year, in time for the holiday season. The company is staying mum on many of the details, but when asked whether the Jackson game would be accompanied by unique gaming hardware like the "Dance Dance Revolution" dance pad or "Rock Band" guitar, the rep told MTV News via e-mail that "the game is based upon performance (so both singing and dancing)."

Ubisoft worked with the executors of the Michael Jackson estate in the creation of the game. Estate co-executor John Branca said that fusing gaming with music is consistent with Jackson's game-changing legacy. "Michael always pushed every limit when it came to technology to give his fans unforgettable entertainment experiences, whether it involved his videos, his recordings or his concerts," Branca said in the statement.

Co-executor John McClain agreed: "This game is a natural extension of what he would be doing today to raise his artistry to even greater heights for his fans of all generations."

The Jackson game will be available for Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360 (with the new Kinect device), PlayStation 3 with PlayStation Move support and PSP.

Check out the Multiplayer blog, updated daily, for even more gaming coverage.

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Katy Perry's 'California Gurls' Video: So Sweet It Hurts

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 12:00 AM PDT

The queen of 'Candyfornia' battles Snoop Dogg in a cavity-inducing fantasy world.
By James Montgomery


Katy Perry in "California Gurls"
Photo: Capitol

As if the electric-blue wig, bedazzled bikini and chest-mounted frosting cannons didn't give it away, let me be the first to tell you that Katy Perry's "California Gurls" video is just slightly over-the-top. Like, all the way over it ... with whipped cream and cherry on top.

Yes, the "Gurls" video — which premiered Tuesday (June 15) on MTV.com — is three minutes and 54 seconds of deliciously gaudy, delightfully ridiculous eye candy, a sugar-coated overload of confectionery gone haywire, cotton-candy clouds, gingerbread paths and Gummi Bears with bad attitudes. It is bright and brash and very likely to give you a toothache. Like the song, there is nothing understated about it.

Directed by Mathew Cullen of the creative group known as Motion Theory, "California Gurls" re-imagines the Golden State as "Candyfornia," a magical, cavity-inducing land where Sunset Boulevard becomes "Sundae Blvd" and the Hollywood sign rests on a whipped-cream mountain (the iconic Capitol Records building is also slyly inserted, constructed entirely of what appear to be vanilla wafers). Perry is the queen, parading down pastoral candy landscapes (which resemble the surrealist, saccharine work of artist Will Cotton, if you want to get deep about it). All appears to be well until Snoop Dogg — who plays the evil Sugar Daddy — begins to pull strings, in an attempt to wrest control of Candyfornia away from Queen Katy.

From there, we have a battle between good and evil, as Perry attempts to free her Candyfornia cohorts from a variety of sweet traps (bubblegum, Jell-O, etc.) while Snoop readies his army of loyal Gummi Bears for the final showdown. Of course, there's also time for KP to ascend into the heavens, strip naked, suggestively nibble cotton candy and perform a dance routine with her Gurls — because what kind of pop video would this be if there weren't? Eventually, she climbs to Snoop's castle to do battle, vanquishing him and his minions by firing frosting from her chest, in a scene that plays out in gratuitous slow-motion, basically for the heck of it.

And then, at the clip's end, Snoop is buried up to his neck in sand, surrounded by Perry and her Gurls. Not surprisingly, everything ends happily ever after ... the Queen of Candyfornia is returned to her throne, the evil Sugar Daddy is banished, and dentists around the world rejoice, dreaming of the business this super-saccharine video will surely create. Brush twice a day, kids.

What do you think of the new "California Gurls" video? Share your reviews in the comments.

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Drake Fans Wait Overnight For NYC In-Store Appearance

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 04:28 AM PDT

'I told him I look up to him a lot for going for his dream,' one fan says after meeting Drake.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Drake
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images

NEW YORK — Drake's highly anticipated debut, Thank Me Later, is finally available for his legions of fans. And those fans showed their intense support for Drizzy at a Best Buy in-store signing Tuesday (June 15), his first in-store in NYC.

Lines snaked around the block, as fans waited hours for a chance to catch the Young Money MC in person, some rocking homemade Drake T-shirts.

Inside, the crowd swelled, as everyone from bubbly toddlers to weeping girls waited for Drizzy to make his 2 p.m. appearance. Light screams broke out when the store began to pump the first strains of his Alicia Keys-assisted collabo and Later opener, "Fireworks." When Drake finally took his place at the signing table, the crowd erupted into hysterical shrieks, thrusting camera phones in the air and falling over one another to snap pics. Drizzy flashed his million-dollar grin, mugged for the cameras and began greeting the hundreds of fans who enveloped Union Square.

About 20 minutes into the signing, pandemonium nearly broke out as members of Drake's team handed out swag to some fans who weren't able to get in line. Security then moved the eager Drizzy-heads to another part of the store.

Many fans waited for hours to cop the album the night before and came back the following day to get their Later copies signed. "He's pretty unique. He's like a big mix between R&B and hip-hop," said Nathaniel Lawrence, who lined up with friends Andy Garcia and Xavior Vittoro at 8:30 p.m. Monday evening and had to wait until 1 a.m. to purchase an album. "He's just something new. It's different," said Lawrence who came back at 10 a.m. Tuesday to meet Drizzy.

Tynique Nixon got in line to buy an album at 10 p.m. Monday night and also had to wait until 1 a.m. to plunk down some cash. "But it was good, because Drake drove by to see us, so we got a chance to see him early."

"I got here at 3 in the morning," said Natalia Morales, a fan of Drizzy's since he was on "Degrassi: The Next Generation" and who was the first girl to meet Drake. "I'm ecstatic right now. I'm still shaking!"

"It's a lifetime experience being ... one of the first guys to get my CD signed by him," said Kevin Benejam, who arrived at 7 a.m. "I told him I look up to him a lot for going for his dream, because a lot of people don't have the courage to go for their dream."

"He's the man," 6-year-old Khamani Hamilton said. Drizzy had some nice words for him too: "He said I'm the man!"

"I told him he was great." Steven Santos said. "My heart is a little pumping."

"I can't stay focused right now, I'm shaking right now," said an emotional Joshua Colon, who called out of work for two days just to see him. "This man's a miracle right now."

According to Best Buy manager April Rivera, around 600 people came out to greet Drizzy, and fans began lining up the day before at 2 p.m. to cop the album at midnight. Rivera said she has witnessed fan mania on that scale for established artists such as Rihanna and Bon Jovi, but not for a star fresh out the gate. "For a brand-new artist, I've never seen this before." Rivera added that the store beefed up security for Drake's visit as well. "About 20 guards are here," Rivera said. "An average is maybe, like, eight or 10."

Would you wait overnight to meet Drake? Let us know in the comments!

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Fat Joe Calls Rumors Of His Rap Demise Premature At LP Listening Party

Posted: 15 Jun 2010 02:00 AM PDT

'Did you ever have anybody try to kill you?' the Bronx MC says of being counted out after weak album sales.
By Shaheem Reid


Fat Joe (file)
Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/ FilmMagic

Fat Joe is like the vampire Bill Compton on HBO's "True Blood" — crawling out of the dirt after being, in a sense, buried alive.

"They tried to disrespect the God, realest rapper ever," Joe said Monday when we joined him at Manhattan's Skyline Studios. The Bronx MC was talking to a group of journalists and select DJs (Clark Kent, Bobby Trends, Mister Cee and others) assembled for a listening session of his new LP, The Darkside Vol. 1, due July 27.

"Did you ever have anybody try to kill you?" Joe asked, addressing Kent and Trends. "They tried to erase 15 years!"

After sales of his last album, 2009's Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.2), turned out to be meager at best, some journalists, bloggers and fans said Joe's career was done.

But on Monday night, a confident Joe Crack responded to his critics, playing Darkside over and over for hours and proclaiming the work a classic. And one song in particular seemed destined to be his newest banger: the Rico Love-assisted "No Problems."

"July 4th weekend, this will paralyze the city!" Joe said of the track. As an engineer pressed play, a thunderous "aahhhh aahhhh" came up through the speakers. Mister Cee quickly called out the "No Problems" sample as the song shook the room.

"To all y'all DJs, do not go put 'Terminator [X] to the Edge of Panic' and 'Flash Gordon' on your computers now," the legendary DJ ordered, name-checking the Public Enemy track which borrowed from Queen's "Flash." "Joe, do not give out an instrumental. You don't want a bunch of n---as Mr. Potato Head-ing your record," he joked.

While Scoop DeVille produced that record, Joe also enlisted other producers for the project, including Cool and Dre, Infamous, Raw Uncut, Street Runner, Scram Jones and Just Blaze, who helmed the "I am Crack" track, which finds Joey Crack rapping from the perspective of rock cocaine.

DJ Premier is behind "I'm Gone," and Joe explained that he got the track from him the same day Preemo's Gang Starr partner Guru passed away in April.

"I'm gangster/ F--- that, I'm Gang Starr," Joe raps on the record, on which he pays homage to the late MC. "Tell Nas hip-hop's dead now/ My man's gone."

track list, according to E1 Records:

» "Intro"

» "Valley of Death"

» "I am CRACK"

» "Kilo" (featuring the Clipse and Cam'ron)

» "Rappers are in Danger"

» "Slow Down (Ha Ha)" (featuring Young Jeezy)

» "If It Ain't About Money" (featuring Trey Songz)

» "No Problems" (featuring Rico Love)

» "How Did We Get Here" (featuring R. Kelly)

» "Money Over Bitches" (featuring Too Short and TA)

» "Heavenly Father" (featuring Lil Wayne)

» "I'm Gone"

What do you think of Fat Joe's lead single, "Slow Down (Ha Ha)"? Are you looking forward to the album? Tell us in the comments!

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