Rihanna Says 'Love The Way You Lie' Was 'Something That Needed To Be Done'

'It just was authentic. It was real,' singer told 'Access Hollywood.'

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Rihanna performs in front of a burning house while filming the "Love The Way You Lie" music video

Photo: Danny Mayer/ Eric Ford/ On Location Photos

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When Eminem approached Rihanna to be featured on "Love the Way You Lie," she felt a powerful connection with the track. The singer, whose domestic violence tribulations with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown played out in front of the world, sat down with "Access Hollywood" to talk about her decision to collaborate with Eminem.

"It's something that, you know, [Eminem and I have] both experienced, you know, on different sides, different ends of the table," she said.

"It just was authentic. It was real," Rihanna continued. "It was believable for us to do a record like that, but it was also something that needed to be done and the way he did it was so clever. He pretty much just broke down the cycle of domestic violence and it's something that a lot people don't have a lot of insight on, so this song is a really, really powerful song and it touches a lot of people."

Despite the rather forward lyrics, the singer had no apprehension in tackling the song because of her faith in Em's artistry. "Eminem is an artist of class and I knew if he sent me a record there must be something to it," she said. "It couldn't just be, 'Oh, duh! She was in that relationship, so we have to get her.' "

Ultimately, the song was something Rihanna felt was in line with her past relationship. "The lyrics were so deep, so beautiful and intense. It's something that I understood, something I connected with," she revealed.

Just last week, Eminem stopped by the Los Angeles stop of Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth tour to perform the song, which currently holds the top spot on the "Billboard" Hot 100. The cameo wasn't planned; Ri explained that it was all just matter of time and place.

"Actually, it came really last minute. We shot the video last night and he happened to be in the same city and he was like 'Hey, can I perform with you?' " she said. "We fit it in and we couldn't have done anything better because Los Angeles loves Eminem. They couldn't stop screaming."

Photos of the duo on the music video's set, one of which showed Rihanna performing in front of a burning house, surfaced online last week. Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan, who were spotted on location kissing on a Los Angeles rooftop , will also appear as the video's love interests. On Saturday (July 24), director Joseph Kahn tweeted that the video will premiere sometime in the coming week.

How do you feel about Rihanna singing "Love the Way You Lie"? Share your opinions in the comment section!

Germany's Love Parade Festival Canceled Permanently As Death Toll Rises To 19

Deaths, more than 340 injuries occurred during stampede in underpass.

Paramedics transport an injured person to an ambulance after a stampede at Germany's Love Parade festival on July 24

Photo: Christoph Reichwein/ Getty Images

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Nineteen people were killed and more than 340 injured at the annual Love Parade music festival in the German city of Duisburg on Saturday, the result of a stampede that occurred beneath an overpass at the entrance of the festival grounds. According to The New York Times, police had closed off the festival grounds on Saturday evening, citing overcrowding (there were some 1.4 million people inside the Love Parade at the time), but failed to close off the entrance to a 200-meter long tunnel that led to the site of the concert.

More and more concertgoers streamed into the tunnel, only to find that the entrance — reportedly the only entrance to the fest — was shut. It was only then that police succeeded in blocking the entrance to the tunnel, effectively sealing hundreds of people inside. Panic ensued, as those trapped in the tunnel tried desperately to turn around and leave. The chaos was compounded by revelers inside the festival, who, after being told by loudspeakers to exit the grounds, piled back into the tunnel.

Video footage shot by Love Parade attendees showed people scrambling to make their way out of the tunnel, climbing ladders or being pulled up to nearby ramps. In the chaos, many people were crushed. The Deputy Police Chief of Duisburg told the BBC that "14 people died on the metal steps leading away from the tunnel [and] two on a wall outside the tunnel."

In the aftermath of the stampede, rescue workers struggled amid the crowds to evacuate the wounded, and helicopters reportedly had difficulty carrying away the severely injured because there was not enough space for them to land. German media also reported that cell phone service in the system of Duisburg temporarily failed, and frantic parents drove to the scene of the festival looking for their children.

In the hours following the incident, critics blamed Love Parade organizers for being unprepared to handle such a mass of concertgoers, and said that the site of this year's fest — an old railway yard — was too small and unsafe. The prosecutor of Duisburg has called for an official investigation on the matter, and, at a press conference on Sunday, police said they were working with organizers and attempting to gather evidence in order to reconstruct the events that led to the stampede, but that "it will be labor and time intensive."

Meanwhile, on Sunday morning, concertgoers had laid flowers and candles at the entrance of the gate, which was now blocked off by police barricades. And Love Parade organizer Rainer Schaller announced that, in light of the tragedy, he would be canceling the festival — which had been held off and on since 1989 — permanently, telling reporters, "The Love Parade has always been a joyful and peaceful party, but in future would always be overshadowed by yesterday's events ... out of respect for the victims, their families and friends, we are going to discontinue the event in the future, and that means the end of the Love Parade."

Wiz Khalifa Is MTV News' 'Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2010'!

Pittsburgh MC tops Nicki Minaj, Diggy Simmons and more to take the crown!

After four weeks and more than 200,000 votes, Wiz Khalifa is MTV News' "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010," beating out some 19 other candidates in a poll decided by you, the MTVNews.com readers.

The Kush & Orange Juice star won a tough competition, beating fellow top-five finalists Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, Travis Porter and Diggy Simmons. (Check back on Monday for the official poll results and rankings.)

The announcement was made Sunday (July 25) on MTV2's "Sucker Free Summit."

More than 200,000 votes were tallied, and Wiz's loyal Taylor Gang following was out in force, propelling the woozy-flowed rapper into the top spot.

Wiz broke onto the scene more than five years ago with his first mixtape, and his rise has been steady and deliberate, as he's gradually built a strong following and won over peers and DJs alike with his easygoing charm and laid-back rhymes.

"I'm digging Wiz. I'm digging what he's doing, especially coming from a place like Pittsburgh," DJ Drama told MTV News. "It's not necessarily that [Wiz] is a product of his environment, but it's always good to see someone put a city on the map [like Wiz has]."

To recap the rules, this poll was strictly limited to up-and-coming talent: artists could not have released a major-label album by June 21, 2010, or been voted into a previous "Hottest MCs in the Game" top 10, so MCs like Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Andre 3000, Eminem, Kanye West and even Drake — our #3 Hottest MC last year - and chart-topper B.o.B were not eligible. (We'll have the 2010 "Hottest MCs" rollout later this year.) Voters were asked to base their decisions on the following factors: The MC's musical skill (rhyme ability, flow and songwriting) as well as their buzz on the street and the impact they've had on the game so far.
 

Rick Ross Wants To Take His Music To The 'Next Level' With Dr. Dre

He also reveals on MTV News' 'RapFix Live' that he hopes to get in the studio with producer Frankie Beverly.

Rick Ross has made "Maybach Music" with Jay-Z and "Aston Martin Music" with Drake and all kinds of numbers in between with a who's who list of talent. But the Miami rap titan still has a checklist of artists he would like to work with in the future, ranging from an iconic rap producer to a legendary soul singer.

During his appearance Friday (July 23) on our inaugural "RapFix Live" broadcast, Ross revealed that he hopes to get in the studio with Dr. Dre or Frankie Beverly for his Teflon Don follow-up.

"I look forward to going to the next level, so hopefully on the next album, you might see a Dr. Dre collaboration or you might see a Frankie Beverly collaboration," Ross told Sway. "I'm a player with this."

The Bawse hasn't connected with Dre yet, but he made sure to let his wishes be known. "I'm putting it in the air right now," Ross said of the collaboration.

Next up, Ross will start production on the video for "Live Fast, Die Young," his single with Kanye West. The Def Jam star told MTV News earlier this week that he secured Hype Williams as the director of the clip, after his plans for Spike Lee to helm the shoot fell through.

"Yeah, the homie Yeezy, we decided on Hype Williams. Hype Williams will direct 'Live Fast, Die Young,' " he revealed. "Hit me up on Twitter @rickyrozay, and the reason I say that, I tweeted a picture of me and the homie Spike Lee. He came to my birthday party. I was brainstorming, like, 'We need that different vibe.' I tweeted a picture with me and the homie Spike. Ultimately, Hype will direct it. But look for Spike to do a Rozay video. I'mma be the first since [Public Enemy's] 'Fight the Power' and the other great [videos he directed back in the day]."

Catch Wiz Khalifa on next week's "RapFix Live"!

Diggy Simmons Fans Applaud 'Hottest Breakthrough MC' Finalist

'I knew u would make it to the top 5 u got that [much] talent,' one fan writes on Diggy's Facebook fan page.

Diggy Simmons may be the youngest rapper to make it as a top-five finalist for "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010," but he's got one of the biggest armies celebrating news of his nomination on the Web. Fans voted on MTV.com to boost the star to the last round of competition, and on Friday (July 23), Team Diggy took to websites like Twitter and Facebook to continue their viral support for the rising teen hip-hop star.

After Simmons tweeted that he was a "Hottest Breakthrough" finalist, many fans re-tweeted the news and shouted out the star.

"Wow Congrats 2 @Diggy_Simmons MTV Top 5 Breakthru Artists," mzfashionbarbie wrote. "Truly deserved <3,">Airborne on July 29.

KaeNBee tweeted, "Teamdiggy we did it! @diggy_simmons made it to the top 5 for mtv's breakthrough MC of 2010!!!! Congrats Diggy :) u deserve it!"

Another Simmons fan, KUSUMADJAJA, added a message of support to his re-tweet of the news, writing, "Keep doing your thing homie!"

Onyxxrose noted that the 15-year-old rapper, who inked a deal with Atlantic Records earlier this year, has come a long way since the world first met him as a chubby-cheeked kid on MTV's "Run House." He's all grown up now," the fan wrote. "I likeeee!"

In addition to tweeting MTV's "Hottest Breakthrough MC" video profiling Diggy, ilyEriqueAlexus typed, "Awh Im Proud Of @Diggy_Simmons <3.">

Fans also showed love by posting their comments to the "Hottest Breakthrough MCs of 2010" article we wrote about Diggy making it to top five.

"I support u. I didn't know u [were] in to [hip-hop] this much untill now but I support you all the way from here," erika17 wrote. "Loved u on the show. I can see how much u want this and ur not about the money but about the music."

"TEAM DIGGY!" William shouted out. "Dude can really spit."

On the Diggyworld fan page on Facebook, nearly 70 people "liked" the link to the MTV News article and more than two-dozen fans commented.

"Yesss :)," Obasiokere Ndifon wrote. "I told all the fam & friends to vote & tell other people. I'm soooo happy."

Other fans also wrote about going hard for the star during the voting process.

"YES ! I Voted 57 Times !" Mia Simone Herrod wrote. Tavien King added, "Congratulations, dude. I voted for u and some of my friend but I knew u would make it to the top 5 u got that [much] talent."

Most fans had nothing but love for the rapper's latest achievement and some, like Collin Farnsworth, are looking forward to what to Simmons has in store. "HELL YEA...... Way to go Dig," the fan wrote. "[Now] lets get to hear that next mixtape."

Game Enlists Lil Wayne, Mary J. Blige For Brake Lights Mixtape

'You're getting a free Game album to get you ready for this R.E.D. Album,' producers Cool & Dre tell Mixtape Daily.

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

The Game says he's about to put out music to make his rivals pump their brakes. He has a new mixtape, hosted by DJ Skee and produced entirely by Cool & Dre, ready to drop at the beginning of August called Brake Lights.

"We did this Drake record called 'Good Girl, Bad Girl' in L.A. during the BET [Awards] for The R.E.D. Album," Dre of Cool & Dre told us earlier this week of how the mixtape was conceived. "That record feels like an authentic Game record, something off The Documentary. It has that soul music. Him and Drake made a classic record. It feels like something the DJs would drop the needle on. What Game wanted to do was take the energy from that session and continue it.

"The R.E.D. Album is wrapped up," Dre continued of the August 24 album. "Sh-- sounds good. Pharrell gave him some heat, [DJ] Khalil gave him some heat, Dr. Dre gave him some heat. So what he's trying to do is 'Let's kill the streets with a mixtape before the album.' And he asked me and Cool to produce it for him. I always get on him, like, 'Yo, Game. One of these albums, man. Our track record is kinda all right. You should give us an opportunity to really go in with you, do the majority of your album.' "

"Every time, they'll be like, 'We ain't never did a whole mixtape with you,' " Game explained Wednesday night from his tour bus. "They said, 'We know Skee is gonna host it.' They was like, 'Let us supply all the tracks.' They started sending me tracks. Three one day, four the next day. I was bodying them joints back to back to back."

In just three days, Game had recorded 10 songs over the Miami duo's beats. Everyone loved all the cuts.

"Me and Cool will play a beat, and he'll turn that beat into an incredible song," Dre applauded. "We sent Game a CD with 15 joints. For three days he spazzed out. He sent back 10 to Cool, and Cool started mixing them."

"Mixtapes, you don't mix them joints," Game said. "You just throw them out. But Cool wanted to mix them joints, make sure all the vocals and the beats was right, well blended. We dropped the 'M.I.A' joint — the LeBron, D. Wade and Chris Bosh joint — on the Internet. The people went nuts. It was the first song talking about that. A shot in the dark I threw out there for the people, man. We buzzin'."

Game also revealed that one of his favorite records from Brake Lights is the title track, and he put a few guests in the mix as well. "I did a few collaborations," the Compton MC said. "I got something I did with [Lil] Wayne before he left. I got something with Baby. Always gotta have them a part of anything red. Them my dudes. Waka Flocka came through to jump on the mixtape hook. I got some stuff, man."

Dre is partial to a song Game has with Busta. "He's got a record with Busta Rhymes called 'Shot Down in Cold Blood,' " Dre described. "The beat is a beat we originally did for Kanye, for his new album. It's got a vibe, man. Through the whole song, Busta says, 'Shot down in cold blood.' Every two bars he says, 'Shot down in cold blood.' Busta does it in a Jamaican patois voice. Game just spits a bunch of sh--, which makes the 'shot down in cold blood' make sense. He has a feature on there I can't say.

"There's a record called 'People' that has Mary J. Blige on it," he continued. "That's soulful. It's a lot of soul-sample beats, which we're known for, on the mixtape. There's a lot of gangsta sh-- on there. Some 'Big Dreams,' 'Hate It or Love It' type sh-- is on there. You're getting a free Game album to get you ready for this R.E.D. Album."

Game says he wants to shoot a couple of videos for the mixtape when he gets off tour.

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

Diggy Simmons Is A Top-Five Finalist For 'Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2010'!

Winner will be revealed on MTV2's 'Sucker Free Summit' Sunday at noon.

As promised, the top-five vote-getters in our poll for "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" have been revealed all this week. These are the artists you guys voted for over the past month, and we can't express enough how overwhelmed we were by your participation in this project. More than 200,000 votes came in, and they were tallied last week. Keep in mind: The names unveiled this week are the top five, but in no particular order. The winner of the "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010," as voted by the MTV News audience, will be revealed Sunday (July 25) at noon on the "Sucker Free Summit."

Chosen One: Diggy Simmons

Rising in the Ranks: Diggy Simmons snuck up on the rap game with a warning shot that rang loudly throughout the blogosphere. Rev Run's son paid homage to his dad's Queens stomping ground by snatching Nas' "Made You Look" beat for his own slick-witted freestyle. With the click of a mouse, the hip-hop community soon discovered Run's son was nice on the microphone. The accompanying viral video shot all around New York City shored up Diggy's bona fides, and soon, the teen Simmons was a hot commodity.

With the spotlight fully on the reality-TV star, Diggy became a staple at fashion events across the city, mixing his style of designer duds and youthful exuberance to score supporters like Kanye West.

The debut mixtape First Flight solidified his rap dreams and earned him a deal with Atlantic Records, officially following in his father's shell-toes as a major-label artist. Now, Diggy is readying his next mixtape, Airborne, a holdover for fans until he releases his still-untitled debut album.

Early Insight: "Each track I do, it makes me keep wanting to go, because there's always new people looking at my music," Simmons told MTV News. "I'm not a figure, obviously, like Jay yet or somebody like T.I. or something, where people are like, 'Oh, I'm gonna listen to the new song, of course. I heard a previous single.' I always have to come my hardest, because there aren't always people that have heard [about me already]. There's people that are newcomers. And you always want to make the best first impression."

Blistering Ballistics: "The flow I cater, it's something major/ An indicator of what happens later/ It's greater than you've anticipated/ Some people love it, the way I does it/ That's why n---as buzzing/ 'Cause they calling me sick, something like Robitussin/ I hear you coughing, I treat you often with freestyle/ And as I'm walking the people talking, they see now/ And I don't rap for my age like Lil Bow Wow/ The son of a king, so why would I ever bow down?" — from Simmons' "Made You Look" freestyle

Forecast: He might have been raised with a silver spoon, but the Run-DMC progeny is anything but a spoiled rich kid toying with hip-hop. He has the style, the social-network following and an elastic flow that could make his star burn as brightly as his legendary father's. Although he hasn't delivered another blow as big as the "Made You Look," freestyle, the kid is swinging for the fences, and it's only a matter of time before he connects with another one.

MTV News rolled out the top-five candidates for "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" all week — the winner will be revealed on MTV2's "Sucker Free Summit" Sunday at noon!

Travis Porter Are Top-Five Finalists For 'Hottest Breakthrough MCs Of 2010'!

Winner will be revealed on MTV2's 'Sucker Free Summit' Sunday at noon.

It is here: As promised, the top-five vote-getters in our poll for "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" will be revealed this week. These are the artists you guys voted for over the past month, and we can't express enough how overwhelmed we were by your participation in this project. More than 200,000 votes came in, and they were tallied as of midnight Friday. Keep in mind, the unveiling of the names this week are the top five, but in no particular order. The winner of the "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010," as voted on by the MTV News audience, will be revealed Sunday (July 25) at noon on the "Sucker Free Summit."

Chosen Ones: Travis Porter

Rising in the Ranks: Travis Porter have that underground mass appeal. They have their own thing. The love that has been keeping the unsigned Atlanta threesome thriving over the past couple of years is that they turn wherever they are into a huge party. Porter have tapped into the youthful exuberance of their fanbase with off-key melodies and rhymes about sex and partying. You couple that with a stage show that leaves fans needing hits from an oxygen machine, and you have three of the most sought-after free agents in hip-hop right now.

The Porter Boys (Quez, Ali and Strap) have been heating it up Down South the past couple of years with mixtapes and short films. In '09, they almost had their first mainstream hit, by guest-starring on an early version of Roscoe Dash's "All the Way Turnt Up." As the song spread from the clubs to the radio to YouTube and other websites, all the way to ESPN and "The Jim Rome Show," fans of the anthem were confused. They thought it was Travis Porter (who also use a sing-songy flow) featuring Dash instead of the other way around. Eventually, Dash took Porter off the record before it hit big nationally. While Roscoe parlayed the song's breakout into a recording deal with Interscope, Porter kept building on their own and released "Go Shorty Go," which kept their buzz high among the Travis cult following, a.k.a. the "Differenter Gang." Their core fans have made Travis one of the most popular groups on Twitter.

The group put out the mixtape Proud to Be a Problem this summer but have yet to sign a recording contract. They're in no rush. They enjoy recording their debut with no outside input, and they're living off show money, performing several times a week.

Early Insight: "You may say, 'I'm dropping a mixtape on June 7th,' and your mixtape comes out June 7th," Quez said about his trio's obviously keen self-promoting. "We say, 'OK, our mixtape comes out June 7th. We're going to drop a movie before that, and then after, we're going to drop five videos, and then we're going to do a countdown before it comes out.' "

Blistering Ballistics: "She say 'Quez, I love you,' oh really!/ Well I'm not lookin' for all that/ And I hope that you feel me/ Because I got a girl at home/ She find out, she'll kill me/ So when we out in public, don't come near me/ You feel me ... but girl, I hope that you understand that I cannot be your man/ See you in the club, girl I ain't gonna flex/ When the song come on, I ain't gonna dance/ And we ain't gonna buy no wedding ring, shawty/ You my outside lady, you my second string."

Forecast: Travis Porter will break through — it's just a matter of when and where. The free agents are going over offers from several major companies, but rather than cash a check from some bigwig exec, they might just decide to do it like they've been doing it: on their own.

MTV News will be rolling out the top-five candidates for "Hottest Breakthrough MCs of 2010" all week — with the winner being revealed on MTV2's "Sucker Free Summit" on Sunday at noon!

Malice Says Pusha T's Solo Project Due Before Next Clipse Album

'We're gonna let Push do his thing right now,' he tells Mixtape Daily.

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

It's time to complete our trilogy. We started with the story of how the Clipse and/or Pusha T solo project might be on Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label. On Wednesday, the Clipse's main producer, Pharrell Williams, told us he fully stands behind his onetime Star Trak signees aligning with 'Ye.

Now, the older member of the duo, Malice, said he can't really speak on any deals with Kanye, but he did say that another group album is on hold until baby bro gets his solo project off.

"The next Clipse [album], we're gonna let Push do his thing right now," Malice said. "I'mma be there to support him. Of course, you're gonna get verses from me. I can't say right now, but it's coming."

Malice is concentrating on being an author and filmmaker. He has a book and movie coming called "Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind and Naked" and a reality show as well.

"It's my journey on getting this book out and the [video] blogs we be shooting, which you can check out on MaliceOfTheClipse.com," he said of the show.

"The book is entitled 'Wretched, Pitiful, Poor, Blind and Naked,' " Mal continued. "What I'm doing is, I'm showing you the things that the Clipse have been through in the record industry, things that have been going on with my family, things between me, Pharrell, my brother. Giving y'all a real in-depth look behind the scenes. I'm sure it's something everybody wanna know about, and it's good for anybody who's aspiring to be in this profession. It's crazy."

Malice said he's encouraged by his peers, such as 50 Cent, Styles P and the RZA, who have all been able to come out with literary projects.

"It's definitely inspirational to see them guys put out a book," Malice said. "I'm trying to follow in those footsteps. The music industry, you have to do some of everything and get into other channels. It's a lot of different avenues to get into. We're just trying to explore them all, as well as Play Cloths, the solo projects and Re-Up Gang records, Re-Up Gang films. We're just trying to put a cap on everything."

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

Bun B Says 'Sucker Free Summit' Verse of the Year Nominees 'Create Pictures'

With Eminem, Drake, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj among MCs vying for title, UGK legend breaks down what makes a fiery 16.

A true MC's weight is measured by his or her lyrical acumen, and the candidates for Verse of the Year during MTV2's "2010 Sucker Free Summit" are among the best wordsmiths in the game.

The nominee list is made up of veterans Eminem ("Forever") and Lil Wayne ("Roger That"); former "Hottest MC" title-holders such as Kanye West ("Run This Town"); ruling rap star Rick Ross ("Angels (Remix)"); and new jacks Drake ("Forever") and Nicki Minaj ("My Chick Bad").

But every great verse, no matter how different in style, shares similar traits, according to UGK legend Bun B, who's featured this year as a "Sucker Free Summit" panelist. The veteran Texas rap star is no stranger to top-shelf verses, from the gems he's crafted himself to the one he got to hear first riding shotgun on songs with Jay-Z. Here, he breaks down the science behind what makes a 16-bar recitation Verse of the Year-worthy.

"To me, when you gonna put a hot verse together, you gotta make sure you have good content, you got to really be talking about something," Bun told MTV News.

"You got to have metaphors, which [means] you can create pictures for someone if they don't understand what you're talking about, specifically; that you can relate it to something else so maybe they understand," he explained. "You got to have confidence, feeling like you the best MC. You got to have that. And all of these things come together so you have a great verse."

"Sucker Free Summit" Verse of the Year Nominees:
Drake - "Forever"
Eminem - "Forever"
Kanye West - "Run This Town"
Lil Wayne - "Roger That"
Nicki Minaj - "My Chick Bad"
Rick Ross - "Angels (Remix)"

Tune in to MTV2's "Sucker Free Summit" on Sunday at noon to find out who wins!

Taylor Swift Reveals Next Album, Speak Now, Is Due October 25

'Each song is a different confession to a different person, and I'm very excited for you to hear them,' singer says during live chat.

During a live chat Tuesday (July 20), fans were treated to some surprising news when Taylor Swift revealed that her new album, Speak Now, would be hitting stores October 25. The songstress also spoke about the album's first single, "Mine," shooting a video for the new song and how excited she is to share some of her life experiences from the past year.

"It's called Speak Now, and that pertains to the album as a concept and as an entire theme of the record more than I can even tell you," Swift said during the Ustream chat, which eventually reached 58,000 viewers.

"I've been working on it for two years, so ever since we put out Fearless, I've been writing for this record and sort of conceptualizing it and putting it together in my head and sort of figuring out what I want it to be," she added. "I like to take a lot of time in between albums to work up the next one and see what it is."

The album, which Swift explained was written solely by her and is tentatively set to include 14 tracks, is full of firsthand experiences.

"For me, I write everything that I live, so you got to give yourself a little bit of time to live a lot of things so you can write about a lot of things, and my only option is to write about what I've been through and what I've lived, so thankfully, in the past two years, I've experienced a lot of things that I've been dying to write about and a lot of things that I wanted to say in the moment that I didn't," she explained.

"Mine," which is set to premiere in mid-August, is about Swift's "tendency to run from love."

"It's been sort of a recent tendency, and I think it's because, for me, every really direct example of love that I've had in front of me has ended in goodbye and ended in breakups and things like that," she explained. "So I think I've developed this pattern of running away when it comes time to fall in love and stay in a relationship. The song is sort of about finding the exception to that and finding someone who would make you believe in love and realize that it could work out, because I'm never ever going to go past hoping that love works out."

Later in the chat, Swift spoke about filming the video for "Mine," and while she didn't speak about the clip's concept, she did gush about the "gorgeous" location — even admitting that she'd love to live there one day.

Earlier this month, the pop star was photographed shooting a wedding scene dressed in a cream gown and arm-in-arm with her groom. She was later spotted kissing the groom while boating on a lake in another scene.

The singer spoke about a song called "Sparks Fly" that she's performed on very few occasions, confirming that it will be included on the forthcoming album. "I played that song at one or two shows, and you guys really jumped on it and made it something I had to put on the album, because you guys really showed interest in it."

Aside from moving into her very own place, Swift told fans that she plans to tour after she releases the album.

Back in May, the singer told MTV News that she was well under way with the project, citing "boys and love" as the album's main inspirations. "I've been writing it for the last two years, so this summer it's all about the finishing touches and getting in there in the studio and recording the last couple songs," she said.

What do you want to see from Taylor Swift's third album? Are you excited for her return to the scene? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Busta Rhymes: Nicki Minaj 'Stands Alone' Among 'Hottest Breakthrough MCs Of 2010' Finalists

'She's already doing everything that it takes to get to the next level,' the animated MC says of the Young Money Barbie.

With a bunch of memorable features already under her belt, a BET Award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and a surprise #1 hit with "Your Love", Nicki Minaj is reveling in her status as the queen of the hitmaking Young Money crew. Now, as a top-five finalist for "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010," Minaj is proving she's truly unstoppable this year.

For many of her fans, including fellow animated New York MC Busta Rhymes, there's not much more Nicki can do to secure her position as one of the hottest rappers around.

"I think she's already doing everything that it takes to get to the next level. She's standing alone — there is no two Nicki Minajs right now," Busta told MTV News.

Bussa Bus credits the Young Money Barbie's success to "her diversity, as far as what she's able to display style-wise." Busta explained that a lot of rappers can become stagnant when it comes to their style, an occupational hazard he hasn't seen Nicki fall victim to yet.

"A lot of the times we get stuck into these characters where we kind of become slaves to those characters; we sound a particular kind of a way all of the time," he explained. "I'm never saying that it's not a good thing. We should always trademark certain things about us so that people can identify with it off the top. But it's always good to be able to show people how diversified you are and what you're capable of outside your comfort zone," Busta said. "It feels like she ain't got no problem displaying that."

And while many Nicki fans would agree that Minaj has the music game on lock, Busta said that the star should try to shut down Hollywood as well.

"I probably think the one thing she need to do that she ain't did yet was show up in a couple of these movies," Busta said, adding, "and it's a wrap. She get a couple of these movies and steal the scenes that she's in the same way she do it on these records, she going to put the nail in the coffin with that."

MTV News will be rolling out the top-five candidates for "Hottest Breakthrough MCs of 2010" all week — with the winner being revealed on MTV2's "Sucker Free Summit" on Sunday at noon!

Andy Hummel, Original Big Star Bassist, Dead At 59 Musician lost a two-year battle with cancer.

More sad news for Big Star fans. Almost four months to the day since Alex Chilton's sudden death comes the loss of original bassist Andy Hummel. According to Dallas website DFW.com, Hummel died Monday (July 19) after a two-year battle with cancer.

Current bassist Ken Stringfellow broke the news, tweeting: "Another sad loss for Big Star fans as Andy Hummel passes away after long illness."

Jason Elzy, a representative with Big Star's label, Rhino Records, confirmed the report to MTV News: "Sadly, I can confirm this is true. Andy has passed away."

The Memphis-born Hummel, along with singer/songwriter Chilton, guitarist Chris Bell and drummer Jody Stephens (who is the only living original member), formed the rock band in 1971, and their uniquely layered power-pop/rock influenced a generation of bands, including R.E.M., Wilco, the Replacements, Teenage Fanclub, Matthew Sweet, Primal Scream and the Posies, whose Jon Auer and Stringfellow helped re-form Big Star in 1993. R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck famously said, "We've sort of flirted with greatness, but we've yet to make a record as good as Revolver or Highway 61 Revisited or Exile on Main Street or Big Star's Third."

Big Star influenced other areas of pop culture as well. "In the Street," one of the songs from their 1972 debut album #1 Record was the theme song to "That '70s Show," re-recorded by fellow power-pop legends Cheap Trick. Plus, the title of Katy Perry's hit "California Gurls" is a nod to Big Star's "September Gurls."

"My manager, Bradford, he's from Mississippi, and he's a huge Big Star fan," Perry said. "And with the death of one of their members [Chilton], I had just written that song, and he's like, 'Katy, just for me, will you please title it 'California Gurls,' with a 'u'? People won't even know!' "

Hummel was 59. Services will reportedly be held near his home in Weatherford, Texas, on Wednesday.

Share your memories of Big Star and Hummel in the comments.

Waka Flocka Flame 'Hard In Da Paint' Video Premieres

'Whatever the fans grab, I'm running with it,' the rapper says of choosing his singles.

Waka Flocka Flame is used to a certain amount of chaos surrounding his environment. The Atlanta-based rapper premiered his latest video for "Hard in Da Paint" on Sunday on MTV2, and in the clip the production was shut down by gang activity and police presence.

The Benny Boom-directed number was shot in Los Angeles in the Jungle, a neighborhood made infamous courtesy of the Denzel Washington flick "Training Day."

"I go hard in that mother----ing pain, n---a, leave you stankin' n---a," Waka raps on the track.

Earlier this year, the upstart rapper and Gucci Mane protégé was shot and hospitalized after an attempt on his life when Waka stopped at a local carwash. However, the flamboyant rapper recovered and has kept his buzz building with a slew of mixtape material, including "Hard in Da Paint."

"Whatever the fans grab," Waka said about his process of deciding which songs will be singles. His first two records originated from mixtapes and they proved to be what the streets gravitated toward.

"Whatever they grab, I'm running with it," Waka told MTV News earlier this year.

"They grabbed 'O Let's Do It,' so I feel like they can grab the next one. I don't go to the studio like, 'Oh, this is a hit. This is a hit!' Nobody in this world know what a hit is. When I dropped 'O Let's Do It,' nobody knew it was a hit. The only person that knew it was a hit was my mama [also his manager]. All the music I ever did, she was like, 'I like that one.' I was like, 'That commercial song? Heck no. I hate that song.' "

What do you think of the "Hard in Da Paint" video? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Too Short Addresses Idaho Nightclub Arrest

'The incident that night was completely taken out of context,' rapper says of reports that he was socializing with underage females.

Last week, Too Short was arrested and charged with three counts of misdemeanor battery after a scuffle broke out between the star and his associate and club security at the Boise, Idaho, Knitting Factory. According to the Idaho Statesman, witnesses said the fight started after security informed the star that bringing underage women backstage and into his dressing room was prohibited. The MC was released from custody after posting bail.

Too Short (real name: Todd Anthony Shaw) recently spoke out about the incident and blasted reports that suggested he was inappropriately fraternizing with young women. "The accusations against me regarding my arrest in Idaho on July 15th were untrue and exaggerated," the rapper told XXL magazine in a statement. "Due to my work with young people in Oakland, I am extremely outraged at the way I am being portrayed. The incident that night was completely taken out of context, and I have not and never will take advantage of any woman that is underage."

The MC also said he wanted to maintain his status as a role model to his young fans. "I have been dedicated to youth organizations and wish to continue to support them," the statement continued. "I do not want my community and especially young people that look up to me to think that this is the type of thing that I would do."

Reps for Too Short did not respond to MTV News' request for comment at press time.

The Cali star is due in court August 4 and could face a $1,000 fine and up to six months in prison if convicted.

Drake Says 'Fancy' Video Sets Out To 'Make Women Feel Special'

T.I. and Swizz Beatz also make appearances in Drizzy's latest clip.

Hip-hop heartthrob Drake is keeping it all about the ladies in the video for his Swizz Beatz-produced single "Fancy." The Young Money MC enlisted Swizzy and T.I. for the Thank Me Later joint's clip, but even with all that hip-hop testosterone on set, Drizzy insisted that his latest clip is for his female fans.

"It's just made to make women feel special," Drizzy told MTV News on the set of the video. "It's a great performance video." Drake teamed up with director Anthony Mandler, whom Drizzy dubs a "phenomenal cat" and who has, so far, helmed all the clips for Thank Me Later.

Mandler, Tip and Swizz all put in work on the "Fancy" video, but Drizzy was also geeked out about an artist who was grinding behind the scenes. Drake entrusted the clip's footwork to renowned choreographer Fatima Robinson and gushed that working with the dance diva was "an honor in itself."

With a rap king and a game-changing producer stuntin' in the video and a visual master and dance legend making magic behind the lens, "Fancy" is stacked with stars and packed with top-shelf talent. Star power aside, Drizzy chalked up the appeal of the upcoming video to a few simple things.

"A lot of nice shoes, a lot of nice faces," Drake smiled. "A lot of fun."

Drake might be gearing up to unleash "Fancy" as a single, but the joint almost didn't make his album. It was originally slated to land on projects by both Mary J. Blige and Swizzy before the Toronto rapper lobbied for the track.

"He was like, 'That's the record I need,' " Swizz told MTV News about Drake's reaction when he first heard "Fancy." Swizzy initially offered to re-create the vibe of the song on another joint: "I said, 'OK, I'll make you that.' " Apparently, Drizzy wasn't having it and insisted on the actual "Fancy" song, not a replacement. "No. That's the record I need," Drake said.

"I'm a producer first," Swizz said. "So he can have the record. I'm still on it, it's still love."

What are you looking forward to seeing in Drake's "Fancy" video? Sound off in the comments below!

Pink Returns To Stage Day After Tumble In Germany 'Always get right back on the horse,' the 'So What' singer tweets after going onstage following harn

A tumble onstage didn't slow down Pink one bit. The 30-year-old singer took to Twitter (naturally) after a performance on Friday (July 16) in Germany to announce all was well and she was back to performing.

On Thursday, the singer suffered a mild scare when she was rushed to the hospital after falling from a harness meant to hold her suspended above stage at a concert in Nuremberg, Germany. According to GossipCop.com, the acrobatics enthusiast fell from the harness directly onto a steel barricade; the show ended immediately.

She sent out a tweet Friday saying, "Well, we did it!!! always get right back on the horse that bucked you. thank u gorgeous people of Salem, Germany!!! totally worth it!"

Pink had also tweeted her fans while riding in the ambulance on the way to the hospital Thursday, writing "to all my nurnberg fans...I am embarrassed and very sorry. I'm in ambulance now but I will b fine."

She later hit Twitter again to explain the fall, tweeting: "[I] didn't get clipped in2 harness correctly, drug me off stage, fell in2 barricade." The "So What" singer kept fans updated throughout her hospital visit. "Nothings broken," she reported at one point. "No fluid in the lungs, just seriously sore. I made that barricade my b*tch!!!" Thanx nurnberg :("

Pink, in the midst of her Funhouse Summer Carnival Tour, is scheduled to continue through Eastern Europe, making stops in Germany, Russia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

Trae Tha Truth Can't Be 'Disputed' As 'Hottest Breakthrough MCs Of 2010' Candidate Fans decide our 'Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010' -- vote now! The

"Hottest Breakthrough MCs of 2010" Candidate: Trae Tha Truth

Trae Tha Truth is one of the biggest names in Houston. Fans love his mixtapes and independent albums. And he's earned the large numbers in his core audience through the streets, gaining credibility in all of the 'hoods. Despite the love, of all the candidates, Trae is going to have the toughest time breaking through this year.

Apart from music videos, the streets may be Tha Truth's only outlet for getting heard. The only hip-hop station in his hometown, KBXX 97.9, has decided to not play his music on-air. Truth (born Frazier Thompson) is currently suing the station's parent company, Radio One, in an attempt to get the now-infamous "ban" lifted. His music hasn't been played in about a year. It may have been taking a toll on the Texas MC: Trae didn't have on his trademark shades or all of that jewelry when MTV News met up with him just before the Fourth of July weekend at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Houston.

"Mr. Thompson's lawsuit seeks to require Radio One to play his songs on their radio station and to let advertisements [air] that either pertain to him [or] help him with his agreements with promoters," Radio One lawyer Victor Vital, told MTV News via phone on Thursday (July 15). "Radio One's position in the case, just like I would imagine any broadcaster's position to be, is that it has the right to decide what its programming would be. Radio One has decided that his music won't be played and advertisement that concerns him won't be aired."

While Trae has been occupied mostly with his legal battle, he's still working on a new album titled Tha Truth, set to feature Rick Ross, Lil' Wayne, Bun B and others. He also shouted out all of the fans who've supported him for Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010.

"I am Houston," Trae told us. "I doubt if there's somebody that can dispute that. What y'all did to me with the MTV Jams' Jam of the Week and Sucker Free meant more to me than anything [and] to the streets of Houston. They were like, 'They are actually giving us, one of the underdogs, a shot.' With that said, I'm determined." After violence erupted at his Trae Day festival last year, Trae took exception to what he felt were disparaging remarks made by one of the Box's radio personalities. In response, Trae called her "fat" in one of his raps. From there, everything went downhill.

Regardless of what happens when Trae and lawyers for Radio One head back to court on August 16, Trae wants to keep giving back to those who've supported him. He's forging on with Trae Day, an outreach fest targeted at the Houston community, but he admitted the annual event is being met with some resistance. As he sat down with MTV News, the original venue he was planning to use backed out.

"They can't ban Tha Truth," Trae said, his words measured, his demeanor calm. "Tha Truth is coming. A lot of these kids can't afford shoes, can't afford pencils, paper, a backpack, really can't afford a dollar to go get lunch. You feel right taking this away from them? The event ain't got nothing to do with me. This is strictly for the less fortunate. Everybody needs help at one point in there life. If you would take that help away from them, I lose all respect.Move me out the equation: you would take away from those in need?"

At press time, Trae Day was still going on as planned, scheduled for July 22 at Houston's Northwest Mall. (The rapper will have a ferris wheel and super-slides for the kids, among other attractions.)

"Somehow, some way,even if I gotta line up on a corner with boxes and sacks for these kids, we gonna find a way to make it work," Trae said."We gonna find a way to get it to them." Trae and 19 other up-and-coming MCs are in the running to become MTV News' "Hottest Breakthrough MCs of 2010" — and the winner will be decided by you!

Cast your vote for the "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" right here. The top five will be revealed beginning on July 19, and the winner will be announced on the "Sucker Free Summit" July 25.

Pink Rushed To The Hospital After Onstage Accident Singer fell from her harness onto a steel barricade during concert in Nuremberg, Germany.

Pink received a real-life scare Thursday when she was rushed to a hospital after falling from a harness that suspended her above stage at a concert in Nuremberg, Germany. According to Gossip Cop, the acrobatics enthusiast fell from the harness directly onto a steel barricade; the show ended immediately.

Ever upbeat, the 30-year-old singer took time to tweet her fans while riding in the ambulance to the hospital: "to all my nurnberg fans...I am embarrassed and very sorry. I'm in ambulance now but I will b fine." While exact details regarding what song she was performing at the time have not been released, it is likely she was performing her trapeze/ aerial-silk routine to "Glitter in the Air," a show-stopping number for which she received a standing ovation at this year's Grammy Awards.

Pink (real name: Alicia Moore) later returned to her Twitter account to explain how the accident happened: "[I] didn't get clipped in2 harness correctly, drug me off stage, fell in2 barricade." Amazingly enough, Moore kept fans updated throughout her hospital visit. "Nothings broken," she reported. "No fluid in the lungs, just seriously sore. I made that barricade my b*tch!!!" Thanx nurnberg :("

Moore's on-again, off-again husband Carey Hart also chimed in via Twitter, adding that his gal was out of the hospital and on the mend. "@Pink is all good," he tweeted. "Just got the sh-- kicked out of her by the barrier. Steel barrier-1 Pink-0"

The singer has not yet revealed if her bumps and bruises will keep her from upcoming performances on her Funhouse Summer Carnival Tour, but she is scheduled to continue through Eastern Europe, making stops in Germany, Russia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

'American Idol' Wannabes Line Up In Nashville Around 10,000 hopefuls show up for first audition of 10th season, producer says.

As "American Idol" heads into its 10th season, legions of wannabe pop stars have descended on Nashville for a shot at overnight fame.

"Idol" supervising producer Patrick Lynn told The Associated Press that around 10,000 people braved the sweltering heat to line up for wristbands Thursday morning (July 15), days before auditions kick off Saturday at the city's Bridgestone Arena. (According to the show's website, "Idol" wannabes are not allowed to camp out and must return Saturday with their wristbands.)

In addition to the show's track record for producing pop megastars, there might be an increase of hopefuls for the upcoming season due to the show's recent change in eligibility guidelines. An "Idol" producer announced in June that the minimum age for contestants had been lowered from 16 to 15.

"A lot of young, talented people are now seeking careers and representation before they turn 16," "American Idol" Executive Producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz said in a statement at the time. "Lowering the age limit allows us to tap into this talent pool." Lynn conceded that the breakout success of teen phenom Justin Bieber was a factor in the change.

The show is also soldiering along without caustic judge Simon Cowell but has yet to announce a replacement. The AP reports that some "Idol" auditioners in Nashville were disappointed that they wouldn't be subjected to Cowell's no-nonsense critique, while others were grateful they wouldn't have to perform for him on the upcoming season. In addition to the show's current judges — Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres — several celebrities have appeared as guest judges in recent years, including Mary J. Blige and Joe Jonas.

The show will head around the country to find the next Idol, and upcoming auditions will take place in several cities, including New Orleans, Austin and San Francisco.

Jay Electronica Reveals How 'Ghost Of Christopher Wallace' Came To Life 'I called Puff like, 'I'mma do this,' ' he tells Mixtape Daily of getting Did

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

Jay Electronica said there's no need for speculation: He is a part of the ever-expanding Dream Team super clique of hip-hop luminaries, which includes DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Fabolous, Busta Rhymes and Diddy. Jay Elect recently released footage to the Internet, in which we get to see him and Diddy recording the underground banger "The Ghost of Christopher Wallace."

                                         

"I'm blessed, man," Jay told us in his hometown of New Orleans a couple of weeks ago. "I had records with Just Blaze, records with Puff. That record came from Twitter. I was on Twitter asking for beats through iChat. Quincy Tones [who produced 'Wallace'] sent the beat. I was sitting on that one line: 'The game ain't been the same since B.I.G. died/ And Wu swarmed on New York from out that beehive.' I had been sitting on that for two weeks. I didn't do nothing with it. Then I took a swim on it. I called Puff like, 'I'mma do this.' He said, 'Come to the studio right now. I need to get on that.' It was a crazy night. A lot of energy."

As you've heard, Jay spits audio fury for a little over two minutes, then Diddy takes over the track, talking greasy for the remaining four and a half minutes.

"I told him to," Electronica explained. "That's the Puff I love. That's the Puff I wanna hear. I grew up listening to Biggie records and all these other records. I hear both sides of the coin; some people like it, some people don't. He went long. We was supposed to go in the studio the next day with the engineer and only uses pieces. But I told him, 'Leave it all the way in.' I wanted it like that. A lot of times when I leave skits on there, it serves the same purpose. It's keeping the atmosphere and the energy."  

Ne-Yo Debuts 'Beautiful Monster,' 'Champagne Life' Videos The singer takes on superhero powers in two new clips from his upcoming Libra Scale.

Ne-Yo took over BET's "106 & Park" on Wednesday evening (July 14), premiering two story-driven videos, "Beautiful Monster" and "Champagne Life." The singer promised MTV News last month that the clips accompanying his forthcoming album, Libra Scale, would form part of a larger overall visual narrative.

" 'Beautiful Monster' is one piece of a very long and intricate story," Ne-Yo revealed. "When you see the first video, make sure that you're paying attention because all of the videos tell a story. So pay attention — you don't want to miss nothing."

Under Ne-Yo and Wayne Isham's (Madonna, Aaliyah, Adam Lambert) direction, the clips present the singer as a member of a crime-fighting trio called "The Gentlemen." Ne-Yo is granted otherworldly powers by a mysterious figure (Columbus Short), who assures the three blue-collar workers that their new powers will remain active so long as they don't fall in love.

In "Beautiful Monster," Ne-Yo is portrayed as a disheveled superhero, à la Will Smith in "Hancock," who must battle his former flame Princess Sinclair in order to save the world from danger. Fans later learn in the "Champagne Life" video that Ne-Yo's superhero and Sinclair were once romantically involved. As a result, she assumed some of Ne-Yo's powers, but in adverse fashion. The transfer turned Sinclair into Diamond Eye, a "crazy, psycho mass-murderer," as Short's character describes her.

Short's shadowy character revisits Ne-Yo, now four years after first granting him those special powers, and offers the star an ultimatum: Both Sinclair and her alter ego, Diamond Eye, must die to save the world or Ne-Yo must reverse her curse and give up his own life to save the world. The singer then sets off in search of his onetime love and must make the difficult decision.

" 'Beautiful Monster,' in a nutshell, represents the love interest/ archnemesis in the story [of] Libra Scale, which the entire album is based off of," Ne-Yo told MTV News about the theme of the LP, due September 21.

What did you think of the "Beautiful Monster" and "Champagne Life" videos? Let us know in the comments below!