Upstart VMA-nominee is joined by Weezer's Rivers Cuomo at raging house party in new clip.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Rivers Cuomo and B.o.B
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images

You can't blame B.o.B if he wanted to pinch himself.

The VMA-nominated newcomer is riding an enormous wave via his debut album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray, which has spawned three consecutive top 10 singles, "Nothin' on You," "Airplanes" and his latest, "Magic." And for his "Magic" clip, the Atlanta rapper recruited director Sanaa Hamri (Jay-Z, Christina Aguilera) who put B.o.B in the middle of a raucous house party.

But in the video, which premiered Thursday (September 2) at midnight on MTV.com, Bobby Ray can't seem to believe his good fortune, As he and his "Magic" collaborator, Weezer's Rivers Cuomo, jam in the backyard, B.o.B mentally traces back to earlier in the day when the young rapper first wakes up. B.o.B tries to shake awake a sleeping version of himself but to no avail.

The girls, the party, all the happenings do seem to be going on — and all for him. Partygoers run through the house and Bobby Ray snaps pictures with the girl of his dreams. But in an instant — as quick as he's been clicking Polaroid pictures — the party is over and B.o.B awakens.

Turns out he was dreaming.

The sleep-eyed MC, however, takes a look around his bedroom and notices two photos on the ground: two snapshots of him and his leading lady. He's got the magic, indeed.

Last week, "Magic" landed on the Billboard Hot 100 at the #10 position. The track follows "Nothin' on You," which went to the top of the chart, and "Airplanes," a top 5 hit. Also on Thursday, B.o.B opened for Eminem and Jay-Z during the superstar MCs' Home and Home concert series in Detroit; he's scheduled to open for the pair again on Friday (September 3), and later this month in New York.

What do you think of B.o.B's "Magic" video? Tell us in the comments!

• Unplugged: B.o.B

• B.o.B
• Rivers Cuomo

The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards are fast approaching, which means that soon you'll be treated to an excellent night of performances and appearances by the likes of Eminem, Linkin Park, Usher, Paramore, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Drake, Florence and the Machine, B.o.B and Deadmau5 (who will serve as the house DJ at the show). While people tend to remember the classic performances and the unhinged moments, the coveted Moonman is the reason why people show up and tune in. This year, there are 16 categories wherein some of the biggest music stars in the universe will compete for the coolest trophy in awards shows. Today, we take a look at the nominees in the Best Dance Music Video category.

For mysterious reasons, the Best Dance Video category took a year off and was absent during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. But it's back with a vengeance this year, and it's easy to see why. Dance music has made incredible strides in the past 12 months, from the crossover growth of DJs like Tiesto and Deadmau5 to the ever-expanding sound of Lady Gaga. The collection of nominees in this category represent the best of both worlds, combining crossover sensations (Cascada's "Evacuate the Dancefloor," David Guetta's "Sexy Chick") and pop-based envelope pushing (Gaga's "Bad Romance," Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It," Usher's "OMG").

The winner of Best Dance Music Video will join shake-and-pop luminaries like Paula Abdul ("Straight Up," 1989), Prince ("Cream," 1992), Michael Jackson ("Scream," 1995), Justin Timberlake ("Rock Your Body," 2003) and Pussycat Dolls (wins in 2006 and 2008). Though Usher and Gaga have the most name recognition, this category is ripe to go to the underdog, so look for Guetta to sneak in and steal it. Which clip will dance its way to a Moonman? There's only one way to find out.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 for Verizon subscribers) to vote for the winners from now through September 12.

The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards are only a few weeks away. The biggest party of the year features nominated clips by Lady Gaga, Eminem, Jay-Z, Ke$ha and Katy Perry and will feature performances by Kanye West, Eminem, Drake, Justin Bieber, Paramore, Usher, B.o.B, Florence and the Machine and Linkin Park. In order to properly prepare yourself for what's to come, every day the MTV Newsroom Blog will deliver a classic moment in the history of the MTV Video Music Awards. Today's installment: Van Halen run with the devil again.

The 1996 MTV Video Music Awards had plenty of winners. Smashing Pumpkins took home a number of prizes (including Video of the Year) for their poetic clip for "Tonight, Tonight," Alanis Morissette scored a trio of Moonmen for "Ironic," Coolio notched a few wins and Bush were declared Viewer's Choice. Theoretically, Van Halen should have been one of the night's biggest winners. Though they didn't take home any trophies, they did get the biggest reaction of the night when the band appeared on stage with singer David Lee Roth for the first time in a decade.

It looked like the return of the key lineup of one of the best rock bands in history, but the positive vibe on stage didn't last long. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen and Roth nearly came to blows after their appearance on stage when Van Halen kept discussing his hip surgery and the guitarist took offense to Roth's goofing off on stage during Beck's acceptance speech for Best Male Video. What was supposed to be the big even that kicked off the triumphant return of a monstrous rock combo ended up inadvertently being the end of the short-lived reunion. Of course, all's well that ends well, as Roth re-joined the band (minus bassist Michael Anthony) in 2007, and rumors of a new album (the first for the group since 1998's Van Halen III) continue to swirl. It was explosive both on stage and behind the scenes, which makes it a classic VMA story.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 for Verizon subscribers) to vote for the winners from now through September 12.

"He's a two face is what he is. He acted like we were in a committed relationship, and then he was prancing around with Kim Kardashian on the beaches like they're a couple. He's using the flirty card with everybody he meets, and I'm not gonna fall for that. I'm 35 years old. I only have about five good years left in me, and I'm not going to waste my time on that guy."

-Late night talk show centerpiece, best-selling author and 2010 MTV Video Music Awards host Chelsea Handler, joking about her deteriorating relationship with 16-year-old Canadian heartthrob (and VMA performer and nominee) Justin Bieber. The singer has appeared on Handler's show twice in the past, and he has spent much of the time during those interviews flirting with the host. But the recent faux-romance between Bieber and Kim Kardashian has soured Handler on the "Baby" singer's advances.

In a conversation with MTV News' Jim Cantiello, Handler also talked about her plans for the show. She won't be doing any singing or dancing, though she did tease the idea of cameos by "Chelsea Lately" regulars Chuy Bravo and Chunk the dog. She also talked about her favorites in the Best Hip-Hop Video category (she favors Jay-Z's "On to the Next One," though only because she wants to scream out Swizz Beatz' name during sex) and isn't at all surprised that Lady Gaga was nominated 13 times. Handler will join comedy luminaries like Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Russell Brand and Roseanne Barr as VMA hosts, and she'll do it when the show goes live on September 12 at 9 p.m. on MTV.

One of the most interesting story lines going into the new television season is the question of who will replace Steve Carell as the centerpiece of "The Office." The show is entering its seventh season, which will be the final one for Carell and his paternal boss character Michael Scott. The producers have committed to soldiering forward with the show after Carell's departure, though it's unclear who they might be recruiting. According to producer Paul Lieberstein, the number one choice to fill in for Carell is a strange one: Harvey Keitel. "I haven't started any talks with his people, but Harvey would do a great job — a very different energy," Lieberstein (who also plays beleaguered HR rep Toby Flenderson on the show) told E!. "And we don't want to bring in another Michael, having someone play a very similar character because we have such a high regard for Steve."

The idea that Keitel would bring "a very different energy" than Carell has to be one of the greatest understatements of all time. While it's not entirely certain the show even needs a Carell replacement (the show has such a huge and talented ensemble cast that it would be extremely easy to shift the focus elsewhere), the idea of getting a totally opposite personality is inspiring. In fact, the producers of "The Office" should go whole hog and replace the entire cast with cast members of "Reservoir Dogs," Quentin Tarantino's directorial debut that starred Keitel as the pragmatic felon Mr. White.

Michael Madsen as Dwight
Madsen played the unhinged Mr. Blonde, the unpredictable psychopath who enjoys torture and just wants to get Seymour Scagnetti off his back. He could easily play the Dwight role on the show, which requires a tremendous about of otherworldly energy and a sometimes scary level of commitment.

Tim Roth as Pam
Problematically, there aren't any roles for women in "Reservoir Dogs," so who fills in for foxy receptionist, mother and artist Pam? It would have to be Roth, who is a tremendous actor capable of playing anything from a savage super-villain to a time-traveling romantic (those are references to "The Incredible Hulk" and "Youth Without Youth," by the way). Besides, his character in "Reservoir Dogs" is pretending to be somebody he isn't, so why couldn't he also assume the role of a woman?

Eddie Bunker as Creed
Bunker doesn't have much heavy lifting during "Reservoir Dogs," but the few lines he delivers pack a memorable punch — not unlike Creed, the eccentric, mysterious older guy who needs as many chairs as possible.

Steve Buscemi as Jim
Buscemi's Mr. Pink is the only crook among the crew who keeps a (relatively) level head throughout the proceedings in "Reservoir Dogs," which makes him a perfect fit to slide into the role of Jim, who usually ends up being the one reasonable mind in a sea of craziness.

Quentin Tarantino as Kelly
Both Tarantino and customer service expert Kelly Kapoor talk fast and are obsessed with celebrities, making them two peas in an unusual cubicle-shaped pod.

Kirk Baltz as Toby
Baltz, better known as the guy who gets his ear cut off in one of the most memorable scenes in "Reservoir Dogs," is basically in the movie to be abused — just like the oft-put upon Toby.

Who would you cast as a replacement for Steve Carell on "The Office"? Let us know in the comments!

The full cast of the new season of "Dancing With the Stars" is entirely set. On Wednesday (September 1), each celebrity was paired up with a professional dancer (some of whom, like Chelsie Hightower and Derek Hough, have become famous in their own right). The new season is full of interesting stars, including "Jersey Shore" alpha male Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, "The Hills" foxy lady Audrina Patridge, David Hasselhoff, former Super Bowl quarterback Kurt Warner, "Dirty Dancing" icon Jennifer Grey and R&B sensation Brandy.

(Click here for more photos of stars who were almost on the new season of "Dancing With the Stars," including Sylvester Stallone, Ann Coulter and Chris Jericho!)

But as with every dream team, there are always people who fell by the wayside. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the producers of the show put out feelers and requests to a number of movie, TV, music and media stars. "The Expendables" star Sylvester Stallone got an offer, as did Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, political talking head Ann Coulter, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, eccentric space-traveling billionaire Richard Branson, former "Home Improvement" star Tim Allen, Erin Brokovich (the actual woman, not Julia Roberts) and TV and workout tape star Suzanne Somers. Other reports also suggest that WWE superstar and Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho intended on doing the show but couldn't make the schedule work. Past almost-dancers include Kirstie Alley, Joel McHale and Drew Carey.

While many celebrity reality shows are the kiss of death for many stars (or a sign that their fame is fading), a slot on "Dancing With the Stars" has become somewhat coveted (especially considering what a massive audience the show regularly draws). A handful of contestants (including former "Clarissa Explains It All" star Melissa Joan Hart) have successfully lobbied to get on the show, though there are some who are left out in the cold. In fact, a source claims that "Melanie Griffith tries to get on every season."

(Click here for more photos of stars who were almost on the new season of "Dancing With the Stars," including Sylvester Stallone, Ann Coulter and Chris Jericho!)

Who would you like to see on future seasons of "Dancing With the Stars"? Let us know in the comments!

It's the bane of any celebrity couple's public existence: The near-constant barrage of tabloid stories proclaiming that one or both of the famous duo are cheating, about to file for divorce, have a wandering eye, are pregnant or refuse to have children.

In the case of Coldplay singer Chris Martin and actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who have two children together and have been married for seven years, allegations of marital strife have dogged them for years. And while neither have deemed it necessary to respond to the persistent drumbeat of break-up rumors, their silence and the rarity of paparazzi spotting them together has helped stoke the tabloid press speculation.

On Wednesday (September 1), Martin may have inadvertently (or perhaps not) done more than anyone to throw fuel on the fire by performing a new, unreleased Coldplay song called "Wedding Bells" at an Apple computers event announcing new iPods and a social networking site called Ping. Martin suggested he was playing the somber lament-for-love-lost tune for the first, and possibly last, time ever. One listen to the lyrics and anyone inclined to believe the rumors might take them as proof positive of an imminent split, or, perhaps as a wry comment on their absurdity. Or both. Or neither.

The urgent piano ballad opens with the ominous lines, "Those wedding bells are ringing up upon that hill/ And I don't want to swallow such a bitter pill/ You keep on moving, but I stay still/ But I always loved you and I always will," before diving into even deeper territory. "Days of no sleeping caked in mud/ All kinds of poison in my blood/ I lost the only thing I ever loved/ oh oh oh oh/ I heard them ringing procession by/ Umbrellas in their clear blue sky/ And saw you swimming in that sea of white/ Oh oh oh oh/ If everything that went before didn’t matter … I always loved you and I always will."

Martin described it as the beginning of a story "that starts sadly, but that's the way these things [inaudible]."

Is Martin telling us something? Is he goofing on the press? Or is this meant to be a lament on the current state of his marriage?

What do you thing "Wedding Bells" is about? Let us know in comments below!

Every day a multitude of stars wander through the halls of MTV News to talk about their latest projects and goof around with our intrepid correspondents. But sometimes we catch stars elsewhere, and that's why we put together Spotted!, a daily compendium of stars in the wild.

Actor, rapper and professional wrestler John Cena spends the bulk of his time staging fantastically entertaining matches on "WWE Raw" every Monday, but on Wednesday (September 1), he traded in his signature jean shorts for a classy suit for a visit to "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." He was on the show to discuss his upcoming movie "Legendary," which is set to hit theaters next Friday, September 10. During his chat with the late night comedian and recent Emmy Awards host, Cena talked about his father's work in the wrestling business (he grapples as "Johnny Fabulous") and their collective fashion crimes in the '80s (there was at least one reference to Zubaz). Fallon always seems to get along with wrestlers and Cena is a charismatic, genial guy, so it made for a great interview.

Cena wasn't the only star getting in there, as "The Apprentice" host Donald Trump dropped in on "The Late Show With David Letterman" and Katy Perry paid a visit to ITV in London. Click here for these photos as well as the entire "Spotted" archive, which features nearly 500 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Eminem, the Jonas Brothers, Jay-Z, Diddy, Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Adam Lambert, Rihanna and 50 Cent!

Federal probation office 'is in the process of determining what happened,' according to reports.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

T.I.
Photo: Moses Robinson/ Getty Images

With another album heading down the pike, a hit movie in theaters and a new bride on his arm, T.I.'s post-jail future was looking very bright. However, in the wake of his Wednesday night arrest for suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, the MC's lawyers said they are not sure whether the ATL rapper will head back to prison.

"T.I. is going to be back on his way to Atlanta in the next 24 hours," Don Samuel, one of T.I.'s lawyers, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution on Thursday (September 2). "It's almost certain he'll end up appearing before the court here. But without knowing all the facts, it's premature to speculate what the court is likely to do."

Another member of T.I.'s legal team, Dwight Thomas, echoed Samuel's assertions and told The Associated Press that, "We don't have a full grasp of the facts, circumstances. We don't know the violation." Thomas added, "I will remain optimistic until this matter is favorably resolved."

"We're not making any observations at this time," said T.I.'s defense attorney Ed Garland. "This is an unfortunate occurrence, and we do not know what the outcome will be."

T.I. and his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, were arrested Wednesday in Los Angeles after the Grammy-winning MC made an illegal U-turn. Officers searched the car and its passengers after smelling marijuana emanating from the vehicle. An unspecified number of pills "resembling ecstasy" were found and the couple were taken into custody. They were released early Thursday morning after posting $10,000 bail each.

At press time, it was not clear whether the incident is a violation of T.I.'s (born Clifford Harris Jr.) three-year probation. The rapper has remained under supervised release after wrapping a prison stint for felony gun charges he picked up in 2007.

U.S. Attorney Sally Yates told the AP that officials were still reviewing the situation. "The probation office is in the process of determining what happened and will make a recommendation regarding Mr. Harris when they have all the facts," she said.

A former United Nations Ambassador and high-profile T.I. advocate, Andrew Young, expressed concern upon hearing of the rapper's latest brush with the law. "I assume that you're innocent until you're proven guilty," Young told the AP. "If he was driving and smoking marijuana, that is absolutely stupid. But why was he pulled over in the first place? Because he had a Maybach? Because he was black? Because they know who he is and resent his success?"

Young was one of many supporters present in Atlanta when T.I. was sentenced to one year and one day in 2009 for felony weapons charges. The length of the sentence was part of an exceptional plea deal that would have allowed the rapper the possibility to be released earlier for good behavior. T.I. ended up serving seven months before being transferred to a halfway house to ride out the remainder of his sentence. After entering the halfway house in December, Tip had his full-term release this past March.

The star is also obligated to complete approximately 400 hours of community service, meet with a probation officer regularly and obtain permission to travel. DNA testing, drug counseling and the agreement to submit to reasonable searches are also conditions of his probation.

• T.I. And Tameka 'Tiny' Cottle

• T.I.

'You'll never see anything like it again,' one fan says of hip-hop legends' joint show on Thursday.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Rahman Dukes

Eminem and Jay-Z (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Very rarely do two hip-hop titans of Eminem and Jay-Z's caliber team up to mount a series of stadium shows for their legions of rabid fans. Still, it's astonishing to see the lengths that Shady and Hov heads would go to see the pair onstage. Their fans crisscrossed the country to see the duo light up the stage at Comerica Park in Em's hometown of Detroit. The Thursday (September 2) event is the first stop on the duo's Home and Home Tour and their followers showed major support, braving a possible downpour and donning Jay and Em memorabilia.

"We're all psyched," said one fan who had rolled to the concert with three other homies. "How many times do you get to see Eminem play in his [hometown of] Detroit?" The fan, sporting a Jigga/Eminem T-shirt, added that the outing was really special because it was the first live show he'd attended. "The fact that it's Eminem and Jay-Z just helps a lot."

Kipper revealed that he and his buddy J.T. traveled from Green Bay, Wisconsin, to take in the show. "I ... came down to [see] something different, something big. This is the biggest concert of the year," he marveled. "You'll never see anything like it again."

Two of the rappers' most dedicated fans not only crossed state lines to catch the Comerica show but even employed their passports, trekking from Ottawa, Canada, for the collabo concert.

"I really hope Eminem plays 'Going Through Changes' [from Recovery]. I really like that song," said Karen who, along with her friend, had fashioned homemade tees emblazoned with lyrics from The Eminem Show's "Superman" and two Jay-Z's smashes, "Run This Town" and "99 Problems."

Another fan, Jay, who traveled from Pittsburgh, was happy that Em was giving back to his hometown in the form of a major musical event.

"He should show the love from where he came from. They helped him to get where he's at. The least [he] could do is put on a big-bang show for 'em [and] show some respect," he said. He added that he was checking out the show to see some of the game's most talented MCs show their skills. "I mean, the best two lyricists to ever do it [are performing]. So, I'm trying to come and get some knowledge real quick."

Not even bad weather could stop fans from seeing the Grammy-winning legends hit the stage. "I'm just so pumped to see it," "D" said. "I'll see it in the rain, I don't care."

One concertgoer, who donned a tank top that read "#1 Fan," had a personal message for Shady: "Eminem if you ever see this, my name is Lindsay and I go to Michigan State and you should totally call me."

Are you going to see Jay-Z and Eminem in concert? Did you catch the Detroit show? Let us know in the comments!

• Jay-Z And Eminem: Other Megastar Concert Pairings
• MCs And Their Hometown Stadiums
• Jay-Z And Eminem: Stadium Face-Off

• Jay-Z
• Eminem

We're only a handful of hours away from Labor Day, the long weekend that represents the unofficial end of the summer. Vacations are wrapping up, school is back in session and the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards are just around the corner. With the summer slipping away, it's time to re-assess the most important argument of any beach season: What was the true song of the summer? A few months back, we pitched five different tunes that had the potential to be true summer songs: Katy Perry's "California Gurls," Lady Gaga's "Alejandro," 3OH!3's "My First Kiss," B.o.B's "Airplanes" and Usher's "OMG." In a poll taken here, Gaga won a narrow victory over Perry, but now that the dust has settled, which song truly reigned supreme?

Perry certainly makes a better case, as "California Gurls" ruled the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for the bulk of the summer months, and with its lyrics about wearing bikinis and Daisy Dukes, it made for pitch-perfect driving and lounging music. While "Alejandro" did peak at number five on the chart, it never ended up feeling like a true summer anthem (a sentiment expressed when we first took a look at the big songs of the season). Gaga was perhaps a victim of her own success, as it seemed like people never tired of "Bad Romance" and got really into "You and I," the new song she premiered during her ongoing Monster Ball tour. The rest of the tunes were all pretty big, though only "OMG" made a serious case for true song of summer status.

One track that dominated the pop charts that we did not anticipated is Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie." The chart-topper — a tag-team with Rihanna — stormed its way up the charts and was accompanied by one of the more high-profile videos of the past few months. Though it had an icier tone than most summer songs, it was too big a hit to ignore.

A handful of other tunes came out of nowhere to make a case for themselves. Enrique Iglesias' "I Like It" had a great dance beat, a summer vibe and an association with "Jersey Shore" (arguably the biggest television event of the season). Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" came close to topping the charts and could be heard coming out of every third car that drove by, while Travie McCoy's "Billionaire" seemed to always be hanging around. And it's hard to ignore Drake's "Find Your Love" and Rick Ross' "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)," two monstrous hip-hop tunes that kept popping up again and again.

But we'll leave it to you, the reader. Which of the songs below should be considered the official song of the summer of 2010? Cast your vote and make your arguments in the comments!

Eminem and Jay-Z (file)
Photo: Getty Images

Tonight (September 2) in Detroit, Eminem and Jay-Z will kick off their much-hyped "Home and Home" concert series with a pair of shows at Comerica Park (home of the Detroit Tigers). It's clearly a huge event, and somewhat appropriately, it will come with a pair of equally huge riders.

After all, Em and Jay are not only two of the biggest names in hip-hop, they're two of the biggest stars in the world, which means that their list of pre-show demands (also known in the business as "tour riders") are epic as they are, well, specific. For example, Jay-Z requires the house to furnish him with a Maybach for the day, though not just any Maybach — it must be a "late model black Maybach '57 or '62 with tinted windows." Eminem won't get off the bus unless he's guaranteed a steak dinner fit for a king ("porterhouse or filet mignon cuts" only). And the lists go on and on.

Why do they demand those things? Well, because they can. So with the "Home and Home" shows upon us, we decided to highlight some of the more esoteric requests from Em and Jay's previous tour riders, with a little help from folks over at the Smoking Gun. Have a glance, and pray that Comerica or Yankee Stadium don't cut corners when it comes to the grape jelly or the toilet paper.

Jay-Z's Tour Rider

» One late model black Maybach '57 or '62 with tinted windows.

» Seven dressing rooms, one for Jay with a "relaxed atmosphere" and "tasteful, living room type furniture" with matching end tables.

» Two six-packs of Sapporo beer, one bottle of Belvedere Vodka, two bottles of Patron Silver, two bottles of "Red, Italian wine from Bolgheri Region," two bottles "Ace of Spades" champagne.

» One martini shaker.

» One jar "good quality" grape jelly.

Eminem's Tour Rider

» Seven sofas and two loveseats in "somewhat neutral" color.

» "Soft toilet paper."

» A "game room" with "an arcade type ambiance," featuring a ping pong table and a portable basketball hoop set up outside the dressing room area.

» A meal consisting of boneless, skinless chicken breast, turkey burgers without buns, tuna melt, steak dinners ("porterhouse, filet mignon cuts"), baked potatoes "with American cheese and sour cream on the side."

» 12 cans of Myoplex Low Carb drink and lo-carb protein bars (Em was probably a big Atkins guy).

'I just feel like, this is my coming-out party,' the Best New Artist nominee and pre-show performer says.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Nicki Minaj
Photo: MTV

Very few newcomers have had as a grand of a debut as Nicki Minaj. She is still weeks away from dropping her hotly anticipated first LP, Pink Friday, but she's already scored a #1 hit with "Your Love" and an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best New Artist.

VMA night is shaping up to be a major event for the Young Money diva who will not only contend with chart-toppers like Justin Bieber and Ke$ha for a Moonman, but also hit the stage at the pre-show. In addition to making her first-ever televised solo performance, the Queens MC is hooking up some of her Barbz with the chance to witness the VMA action firsthand. Minaj will kick off a Twitter contest on September 7 that will give 10 fans the chance to check out her pre-show set. Fans who want to see Minaj rock the stage, should follow @NickiMinaj and @MTVTJ for more info.

Like the lucky winners of her Twitter contest, Minaj will get to experience the VMAs up close, and the star said that she's pumped to be involved. "I'm so excited to be a part of this. This is major," Minaj said on the set of the promo shoot for the big night. The femcee, who appears in the clip in the style of a hip-hop Bond girl, commands a motorcycle in an ultra-snug catsuit. She added that filming the VMA visual is a bit more involved than shooting the music videos to her hit collabos and solo smashes.

"This thing today has been like shooting a movie," Minaj observed. "It's very specific. When I shoot videos it's just about performing and doing whatever you want. But with this it's more like, 'No, this is the shot we need so we have to ... get that shot.' "

Ultimately, Minaj was down to be detail-oriented for the shoot and said that being involved in the VMAs is an honor for any up-and-comer.

"This is something that everybody dreams of being a part of ... and I am no exception to that rule," Minaj said. "I just feel like, this is my coming-out party. It's like, really, the pinnacle of my career so far."

What are you expecting from Nicki Minaj's appearance at the VMAs? Let us know in the comments below!

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.

• Gearing Up For The 2010 VMAs!

• Nicki Minaj

'[Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell] do have a very significant and exciting role in the film,' director reveals.
By Kara Warner

Wes Craven
Photo: Getty Images

Wes Craven fans have a lot to be excited about these days, as the beloved writer/director has not one, but two highly anticipated projects on his plate, the first of which is a horror/thriller due October 8.

The second project is "Scream 4." the long-awaited fourth chapter in Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson's hugely popular franchise, which not only reunites the original cast (David Arquette, Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox), but includes a slew of popular young stars, including Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Anna Paquin, Kristen Bell, Rory Culkin, Shenae Grimes and Lucy Hale.

When we caught up with Craven to discuss "My Soul to Take," we couldn't help but prod the man in charge for some "Scream 4" scoop, beginning with how he managed to assemble his original stars.

"Well, I could take credit for it, but it wouldn't be accurate," he said.

By the time Craven was asked to direct, Dimension studio head Bob Weinstein had already secured Cox, Arquette and Campbell.

"It was just a matter of me saying, 'Sure,' " Craven added.

For the director, the allure of rejoining the team to work on a good script was icing on the cake.

"I think all of us wanted to do something written by Kevin [Williamson] and to work together again," he said. "We all had such wonderful times on the first three. It has been a return to a great deal of fun — just the pleasure of working together again. We know each other inside and out. There's a lot of shorthand and a lot of fun memories from our past escapades."

Regarding the new additions to the franchise, Craven was full of praise for his young stars.

"The young cast is amazing," he said. "They're extremely bright and a very varied cast. ... They're just great to work with. It's fun to be doing that combination of the sort of classic actors of the first three and this new group of kids. [They] have very different and fresh personalities and great acting talent."

And what about the plot? How does it fit within the franchise, and how does it differ?

"It's a clear and/or pretty well-known [fact] that it's a return to Woodsboro for Sydney Prescott, who is Neve's character," Craven said. "Courteney and David have, as they did in real life, have gotten married and are living in Woodsboro, so it's the story of Sid's return to Woodsboro and the series of events that take place there where those three are thrown together in a wild and crazy way, and then a group of kids that get meshed in the plot."

Speaking of that group of kids, Craven went on to say that managing the appearances of all his young stars — most of whom are speculated to be making quick cameos — has been a pleasure rather than a headache.

"Well, that's the great joy — it's fun," he said. "A lot of these actors I didn't know that well or have not worked with most of them, or any of them, as a matter of fact," Craven explained. "They always say, 'It's great working with you. I've wanted to work with you for a long time,' but it's wonderful working with actors like this that are very young and have a large following already because of their talent, and just to spend one or two days with them to do these kind of set/bit pieces is a lot of fun."

With regard to those one- or two-day roles, we tried to get Craven to reveal a few specifics about two recently announced "guests" in particular: Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell.

"I don't know what I'm allowed to say," he laughed. "They do have a very significant and exciting role in the film, let me put it that way."

What do you think of the star-studded "Scream 4" cast? Who do you think will be the villain? Tell us in the comments!

From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.

Check out everything we've got on "Scream 4."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• Exclusive Clips From The Fall's Most Anticipated Films

• Fall Movie 2010 Preview Week: Exclusive Photos

Over the course of his long and storied career, Michael Jackson found his way to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 a total of a dozen times. He was no stranger to the highest echelon of the pop chart, and some of those songs became the cornerstones of popular music at the end of the 20th century — tracks like "Billie Jean," "Bad," "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Black or White." On this day in 1995, Jackson hit the top of the chart for the last time, debuting at the number one spot with "You Are Not Alone."

"You Are Not Alone" was the third single from Jackson's double-disc album HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I, which combined a disc of greatest hits with a disc of brand new songs. Though it was something of a controversial release for Jackson, the songs still managed to perform well, as both "Scream" (his duet with sister Janet) and "Childhood" both peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. But "You Are Not Alone" — a sweet ballad that featured a video starring Jackson and then-wife Lisa Marie Presley, was a juggernaut that took radio and MTV by storm. The track unseated Seal's "Kiss From a Rose" as the top song in the country, and was replaced the following week by Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise." Only five days after topping the chart, Jackson completed an incredible fall run with a performance at the 1995 Video Music Awards, during which he performed a medley of hits, busted out a full version of "You Are Not Alone" and welcomed Slash to the stage for some six-string pyrotechnics.

The aforementioned video for "You Are Not Alone" is pretty simple (and nowhere near as expensive as Jackson's wallet-busting clip for "Scream"), but it gets the job done.

The singer previews a few tracks from September 14 LP and phones some lucky fans during broadcast.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Trey Songz
Photo: Ustream

With Trey Songz' Passion, Pain & Pleasure September 14 release date just days away, the singer decided to give his devoted fans a special preview. The Virginia crooner took to Ustream to share a few sensual cuts from his upcoming fourth album.

Fresh from a massage and outfitted in a plain white tee and a fitted cap, Songz led his broadcast from Cincinnati, Ohio, the Thursday (September 2) stop on his Passion, Pain & Pleasure Tour. In the hour-long Ustream session, Songz spoke with a few lucky fans on the phone about what they're most passionate about and played tracks like the sultry slow jam "Love Faces." The singer grooved along with the song, a midtempo number that proves his knack for cranking out baby-making music is intact with lines like, "Wouldn't it be nice if all night I was in you?" Songz was proud of his work, saying, "That thang cold, y'all, that thang cold," when the track wrapped up.

Throughout the broadcast, Songz lamented the leak of Pleasure tracks like "Love Faces" and "Doorbell," which began making the Internet rounds last week. "Shout out to everybody who didn't listen to the leaks," he said. But the singer brushed off the premature release of some of his tracks, adding, "Bootleggers gotta eat. I ain't mad at y'all boys."

Songz also gave fans a taste of "Massage," another bedroom-burner dedicated to lavishing a lover with a head-to-toe rubdown that he frequently performs on the tour while hooking up a lucky concertgoer with an actual massage.

In addition, Ustream viewers heard the sizzling "Doorbell," a track in which Songz unapologetically gets down to the business of gettin' busy. "Put my lips all over you/ Wanna put on a show for you/ This bedroom is my Colosseum/ Ring my bell, I'll let you in," Songz belts.

Are you looking forward to Trey Songz' new album? Tell us in the comments!

• Trey Songz

'It's [Lady] Guh-GAW,' Handler says behind the scenes of her VMA promo.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Chelsea Handler
Photo: Timothy White

Chelsea Handler is hard at work preparing for her gig as host of the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, a job that includes making sure that there are no slip-ups when it comes to shouting out oddly named pop stars. So, when the cameras went behind the scenes at the funnywoman's VMA promo shoot, Handler was found reprimanding her staff about the proper ways to announce some of this year's nominees.

"I am excited to see Lady Guh-GAW," Handler declared, while seated at the head of her staffers table. When someone on her team chimes in with "It's Gaga," the way that, well, the whole world pronounces it, the "Chelsea Lately" host said, correcting the supposed flub.

"No, it's Guh-GAW," Handler deadpanned. "Everyone pronounces it wrong." The comedienne pointed out that another blonde hitmaker, Ke$ha, has endured mass mispronunciation of her uniquely spelled moniker.

"Just like Keh-dollar-sign-hah pronounced that way," Handler said. "She doesn't want you to say it the other way. I met her."

With the big night just a couple weeks away and the pressure on to deliver another live two-hour event packed with oh-no-they-didn't moments, the cameras caught Handler and her team engaged in intense brainstorming sessions. And the crew brought in a master of mayhem to help ideate television magic: Kid Rock.

"You can go down on Snooki in the hot tub that they have on the 'Jersey Shore,' " Handler suggested to Rock. Lucky for the Handler, the Detroit rap-rocker seemed down for anything. "After a couple fifths of whiskey I'll go either way. Hell, after a fifth of whiskey I'd have sex with you."

Handler, who has experienced her fair share of passes from popular lyricists, served up a demure reply to the open invitation for a drunken hookup. "Thank you," Handler responded.

What are you expecting from Chelsea Handler as host of the VMAs? Let us know in the comments below!

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.

• VMA 2010: Chelsea Handler Prepares For The VMAs

• Lady Gaga

Stars of Robert Rodriguez's new flick discuss their bodies — real or created?
By Kara Warner

Jessica Alba at the "Machete" premiere
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Robert Rodriguez's fake-trailer-inspired Mexploitation flick "Machete" has a lot going for it. Not only is it an action-packed, bloody romp, but it features kick-ass weapon-wielding stylings from leading ladies who also flash a bit of skin.

Thanks to Rodriguez's earlier explanation regarding his tricks to effective — not offensive — onscreen nudity, we know that not everyone is as naked as they seem. However, when we caught up with the film's ladies in question, Jessica Alba and Michelle Rodriguez, it became apparent that there are a few more nude-themed questions to be answered. Namely, who was in charge of Michelle's rockin' bod, and which guy creates the post-production nipples?

"I want to know: Who sculpted that body?" Alba asked Rodriguez as they gazed at a "Machete" poster featuring the very toned leather-clad actress. "Because the whole time I'm watching you, I'm drooling. 'She doesn't have any cellulite, not an ounce of fat! What is going on?'"

Rodriguez responded with a hearty laugh. "That was [from] 'Battle: Los Angeles,'" she explained. "I was in boot camp before that. I had three weeks of intensive Marine warfare training."

"You looked insane," Alba said.

We then reminded Alba that it's obvious from her shower scene in the film that she's in equally good shape. "Oh no, no, no," she insisted. "I had undies on, and I had other stuff on, and they just sort of etched it out in post [production]. That's not really me. I'm better covered up."

"I want to meet these guys who work in special effects and they are basically in charge of adding nipples," Rodriguez added.

"No, no — there were no nipples, though!" Alba responded regarding her apparently post-production-enhanced shower.

"There weren't?" Rodriguez asked, looking genuinely surprised. "I tried not to look because I thought that was a private moment that I shouldn't be watching."

"No, there was no nipple!" Alba insisted. "No, no, no, no nipple."

"Well, I want to meet these [special-effects] guys though because they basically create what's not there," Rodriguez continued. "It's pretty bugged out."

Check out everything we've got on "Machete."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

The Barbie promises debut LP will deliver so 'every woman in this world can understand it,' in Paper magazine.
By James Dinh

Nicki Minaj in "Paper" magazine
Photo: Paper magazine

Having collaborated with everyone from Trey Songz to Jay-Z, Young Money darling Nicki Minaj has already made a name for herself, even before dropping an album. Minaj recognizes how fortunate her journey to stardom has been, and in the September issue of Paper magazine, she opens up about her success and what her upcoming debut, Pink Friday, will represent.

"This album is my heart and soul," the rapper told the magazine. "This is me explaining every single relationship that I've ever been in and explaining it in a way that every woman in this world can understand it."

The LP, set for a November 23 release, will likely be saturated with Minaj's colorful rap flow, which she explained that she learned during school.

"The line was, 'Tis monstrous' — period. And the second line was, 'Iago, who done it' — question mark. Then we read it without punctuation. 'Tis monstrous Iago who done it," which basically gives the story away," she recalled of an assignment reading Shakespeare's "Othello." "The fact that punctuation can change what you're saying, I guess that's why I love hip-hop — being able to say the same thing but it meaning a different thing."

But the Harajuku Barbie admitted that not everyone was always a fan of her signature rap style. "My first manager told me, 'Stop playing around with your words, stop being funny, nobody's going to take you seriously. You shouldn't sound smart.' I don't know. I just started saying things," Minaj said.

Her unique style has of course helped fuel her rise, making her hip hop's leading lady. And Minaj's MTV VMA nomination for Best New Artist only highlights that fact. (She'll go head-to-head with artists like Ke$ha and Justin Bieber in the category.)

"Three years ago all my underground hip-hop heads thought I was crazy when I said this would happen but ... it will happen," she predicted. "I'm going to be in Tokyo, Paris — I'm going to go everywhere you can imagine. I'm going to own London, I mean, the sky's the limit, and you watch what I say, I refuse to lose. I don't know how to lose."

Before she conquers Tokyo or Paris, she'll aim to take over Los Angeles. Minaj will perform during the MTV VMA Pre-show, making her solo TV debut on September 12 at 8 p.m. ET.

What do you think of Nicki's success so far? Let us know in the comments!

• Gearing Up For The 2010 VMAs!

• Nicki Minaj

Twice-nominated pop star owns the summer of 2010 with just-released album.
By Jocelyn Vena

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

Katy Perry kissed a girl and liked it back in 2008, but since then, she's proven that she's more than just a pop singer who dresses like a pinup and makes kooky little tunes. Perry has established herself as a woman to be reckoned with, and she has two chances to take home a Moonman at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, airing live September 12 at 9 p.m.

Shortly after performing the opening number at the 2009 VMAs — and publicly flirting with her now-fiancé and the show's host Russell Brand — Perry set herself up to become one of the biggest pop stars on 2010 thanks to catchy tunes, sexy wardrobe choices and her fun, colorful personality.

After taking the stage at Radio City Music Hall last year, Perry went on to host the MTV Europe Music Awards, perhaps taking some hosting cues from Brand. After she took her act to Europe, the "Waking up in Vegas" singer found out she had been nominated for a Grammy (spoiler alert: she didn't win).

Perry and Brand celebrated their love by getting engaged in India on New Year's Eve. Perry then sat down at the judges' table on "American Idol," where she helped pick up some of Paula Abdul's slack. She later admitted she would "ditch her career" for a permanent spot on the show.

Soon, 2010 would prove to be the year of Katy Perry. She was cast in the "Smurfs" flick, got slimed at the Kids' Choice Awards, topped Maxim's Hot 100 and began her reign as pop's ruling princess when she took the stage at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards and the world became obsessed with her "California Gurls." Fans became equally obsessed with the VMA-nominated video for the track, which not only has Perry wearing a whipped-cream bra, but also hanging out naked in a cotton-candy cloud, all in the name of defeating evil Snoop Dogg.

The "California Gurls" video would help make the summer of 2010 the summer of Katy Perry, complete with a mini-beef with Lady Gaga over her use of religious imagery in her "Alejandro" video. Once a preacher's daughter, always a preacher's daughter.

Nonetheless, her song reached the top of the charts and set up Teenage Dream to dismiss all sophomore-slump fears and debut atop the Billboard 200. But not before she hosted the Teen Choice Awards with some help from the guys of "Glee," released a sexy clip for "Teenage Dream" and was nominated for Best Pop Video and Best Female Video at the VMAs. It certainly seems like she's living a teenage dream.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for the winners in general categories, including Best New Artist, from now through September 12.

• Katy Perry's Teenage Dream: Track By Track
• Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream' Music Video: The Review

• The Evolution Of: Katy Perry

• Katy Perry

Learn how Gaga pulled off her unforgettable VMA debut in the special premiering Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Lady Gaga at a 2009 VMA afterparty
Photo: Amy Sussman/ Getty Images

By most accounts, Lady Gaga turned it out at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Gaga stormed the event with an outrageous performance of "Paparazzi" and a cavalcade of costumes that made her debut one of the most memorable first-time VMA outings in the show's history. In the MTV special, "The VMAs: Revealed - Presented by New 5 React Gum," viewers will get an inside look at how Gaga and her team pulled off the show-stopping fashion extravaganza.

"I told them I wanted to bleed to death for four minutes, and it just went silent. And then they said, 'OK Gaga, if that's your vision we're gonna do it,' " Gaga says in the special, describing her meeting with VMA organizers.

Gaga didn't let her status as a VMA rookie stop her from constructing an awards-show appearance for the ages. The singer got her wish to depict her stylized demise onstage, ending her performance by dangling above her crew of dancers, her skimpy white lace ensemble smeared with blood.

When the "Poker Face" singer won the Moonman for Best New Artist, she thrust the trophy in the air and declared, "This is for God and the gays!" But for the most part, Gaga let her outfits do the talking for much of the show. In addition to the head-to-toe crimson lace number she donned to accept the award, Gaga hit the carpet and held court in the audience in a bevy of OMG-inducing looks. She was snapped in a corseted Victorian-era Jean Paul Gaultier creation replete with black feathers and a gilded mask. She later showed off her trophy as a vision of Jetson chic, in a space-age lavender bodysuit with three-dimensional details.

Gaga owned VMA night when it came to daring style but executing her elaborate fashion show within an awards show was a major enterprise. To learn how it all went down, catch "The VMAs: Revealed - Presented by New 5 React Gum" Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.

• Lady Gaga's 2009 VMA Looks

• Lady Gaga

Greg Strause addresses Sony's accusation that he stole 'Battle: Los Angeles' ideas.
By Eric Ditzian

A scene from "Skyline"
Photo: Universal Pictures

The geeks packed into the San Diego Convention Center in July were prepared for "Green Lantern" and "Thor" and "Captain America." They knew to expect lots of cool footage and A-list panels, and their expectations were more than fulfilled. What almost no one had on their radars was "Skyline," an independent alien-invasion flick that swooped into Comic-Con virtually unnoticed and came away with the some of the festival's most positive buzz.

Greg Strause, who co-directed the flick with his brother and fellow founder of visual effects house Hydraulx, said that he met that skeptical-turned-astonished viewpoint again and again during the production process.

"People would be like, 'What are you doing next?' " he told MTV News. "And we'd be like, 'Shooting this little indie we're financing ourselves. We're shooting it in my house.' So you tell all these people, and they say, 'Oh, that's cute.' And when they actually see it, their jaws drop."

Among the jaws that dropped were those at Sony Pictures, which had hired Hydraulx to do effects work on "Battle: Los Angeles." Both films feature aliens invading Los Angeles, and Sony accused Hydraulx of stealing equipment and ideas for use on "Skyline," according to TheWrap.com. Those are charges Strause strenuously denies.

"It's total bullsh--," he said. "We work on a movie with aliens involved with it, if not every year, then every other year. We worked on 'Avatar,' 'The Day the Earth Stood Still,' 'Invasion.' It's all about aliens. That's what our company does. And everyone knows that."

Strause and his brother, Colin, directed the much-derided "Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem," and Greg finds it particularly frustrating to be the target of such accusations at a time when one of his directorial projects is finally getting such great buzz. "Colin and I catch a lot of crap for 'AVPR,' " he said. "And ['Skyline'] is us. It's us."

What the brothers have accomplished is no doubt impressive. Inspired by Oren Peli's "Paranormal Activity," they set out to make a low-budget version of an alien invasion movie that never once felt low-budget. Aided by the capabilities of their effects company and top-of-the-line digital cameras, they holed up in a house in Marina del Ray, California, and filmed the bulk of their story, which focuses on how a group of friends react to the arrival of nefarious aliens. The finished film contains 800 visual effects and employed just one day of green-screen work.

"We have a character drama that plays out in this claustrophobic space," Strause explained. "Whenever we do leave the space, we have huge shots. The teaser [trailer] is the big, epic, visual side of it. When you see the next trailer, you'll get a sense of the claustrophobic, character side."

• MTV Rough Cut: 2010 Fall Movie Preview

• Fall Movie 2010 Preview Week: Exclusive Photos

Weezer frontman and B.o.B entertain a house party in clip, premiering Thursday at midnight on MTV.com.
By James Montgomery

Rivers Cuomo and B.o.B (file)
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images

Rather famously, despite having one of the biggest songs of the summer, B.o.B and Paramore's Hayley Williams have never actually met. They've never even been in the same room, for that matter, even though they both appear in the video for their massive hit, "Airplanes."

So, when it came time for B.o.B to shoot the video for his next single, "Magic," he decided to pull a complete 180. This time he actually had the song's co-star, Weezer's Rivers Cuomo, present when he filmed the clip.

"Rivers will be there. Rivers, you better be there, man," B.o.B told MTV News last month at Lollapalooza. "We're going to be there at the same time, so it'll be different for me"

And, lo and behold, the "Magic" video — which premieres Thursday night at midnight on MTV.com — actually does feature both B.o.B and Cuomo, as the duo take the stage and rock a particularly raucous house party. In a way, the scene is fitting: After all, the first time the rapper actually met Cuomo, it was onstage, seconds before they performed the song live. Which, thanks to all his success (and an increasingly hectic schedule) is sort of the way B.o.B is meeting everybody these days.

"The first time I met Rivers was onstage, in L.A., at the House of Blues, and we did 'Magic' for the first time. He walked onstage and that was my first time meeting him, like 'Hey, Rivers Cuomo!' " he laughed. "So, it's so hectic, so busy there's a lot of artists you never see until you actually are backstage, or in a dressing room, you know?"

• Unplugged: B.o.B

• Unplugged: B.o.B

• B.o.B
• Weezer

Director Anthony Mandler wanted to let R&B superstar take viewers 'on a journey, not a ride.'
By Jayson Rodriguez

Usher in "OMG"

For a video as forward-thinking as Usher's "OMG" -- with its laser beams and light flashes -- director Anthony Mandler actually looked back for inspiration.

"The original idea was kind of Max Headroom," Mandler told MTV News, citing the animated science-fiction character from '80s British TV. "That's where it came from — the TV flickering on and there's this character. We just wanted to bring it up to date."

"Max Headroom was always in his room," he continued, "this unidentifiable room, '80s shapes. I used that for inspiration."

The formula worked: "OMG" is among the Best Male Video nominees for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. The clip is up against Drake's "Find Your Love," Jason Derülo's "In My Head," Eminem's "Not Afraid" and B.o.B's "Airplanes." Mandler is a multiple nominee, having also helmed Drake's video.

"OMG" is the first time Usher and Mandler — who has worked with Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige and Rihanna — collaborated on a project.

Usher said he knew the video would be a challenge and wanted to make sure the director was up to the task.

"When I first shot the song to him, I was like, 'Are you sure you're gonna be able to catch this one?' And he said, 'I got it,' " Usher explained.

"We wanted to bring Will.I.Am (the song's producer) into my world," he continued. "Obviously, the international sound and look and feel has already been set, but we wanted to do something theatrical, fun and energetic to show us working off of each other and playing off of each other as artists, but the cinematography would be artistic and incredible."

Mandler described the visuals as "Hitchcock-ian." Though the style of the shot was important to the director, he had a simpler goal in mind: to capture Usher in his element. He said the key to the clip was simply letting Usher's talent take over.

"The concept was to create a world where we put Usher in a space where he does what I think he does better than anyone else in the world, which is perform at a level and magnitude of a superstar and take us, the viewer, whether audible or visually, on a journey, not a ride," the director said. "And, in that, I wanted to create an unpredictability, so one set leads to another and another, and you never know what's gonna happen. Along the way, Usher becomes our guide. We're so focused on him, we don't notice the change. The thing is unfolding little by little, and you can't quite see far enough ahead to know what's gonna come next."

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.

• Usher

Former 'Hills' star says everyone's looking forward to meeting the Situation.
By Kara Warner

Audrina Patridge
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

With such an eclectic group of personalities, fans seem to be clamoring to find out more about the dynamics of the Season 11 "Dancing With the Stars" cast and how they're adjusting to the hard work and long rehearsal hours leading up to their next big roles.

When MTV News caught up with Audrina Patridge recently, she dished on her "amazing" partner Tony Dovolani, but also humbly revealed a few sore muscles and what everyone is saying about "The Situation."

"I have discovered muscles I never knew existed on my body," Patridge admitted. "The muscles right behind my knees are killing me, my calves, my arms, my thighs, everything."

When asked which castmember she was excited to meet at the show's big reveal on Monday, the former "Hills" star gushed about two longtime idols.

"I loved meeting Jennifer Grey," Patridge said. " 'Dirty Dancing' is one of my favorite movies, and she is such a nice person and she's beautiful. Florence [Henderson], from 'The Brady Bunch.' She is awesome. I love her. She has the best energy."

Everyone in the cast is "really cool," she added. "They all have great personalities. Everyone is really supportive, and we're all in this together."

Patridge went on to say that she and her fellow female castmembers shared their anxiety about performing in front of a live audience. "It's a little scary," she said. "But we're all pumping each other up and giving each other advice, so it's really good." And what does she think of fellow MTV star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino?

"I haven't met him yet, but the talk on set is all about his abs," Patridge said, laughing. "So everyone is really looking forward to meeting him."

• 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 11 Cast Revealed!

ATL rapper's spouse thanks supporters, as 50 Cent gives the couple his two cents on Twitter as well.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Tiny and T.I.
Photo: Eugene Gologursky/ Getty Images

After getting arrested with her husband, T.I., on Wednesday night for possession of a controlled substance, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle took to Twitter to thank fans for the e-support.

"Jus wanted 2say thank u 2every1 dats been leaving encouraging msgs & prayers!" Tiny tweeted on Thursday (September 2). "We love u guys:) going 2bed now! So glad 2b n a nice clean bed."

Tiny and her new hubby were picked up in Los Angeles after police stopped T.I. (born Clifford Harris Jr.) around 10:30 p.m. for making an illegal U-turn in his Maybach, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. When the officers approached the vehicle, they apparently smelled the scent of marijuana wafting from the car and then searched the passengers and the automobile. Police said they found an unspecified number of pills that "resembled ecstasy."

T.I. and Tiny were not traveling alone but the Sheriff's Department spokesperson said the other passengers in the car were not charged with a crime. The duo posted $10,000 bail each and were released early Thursday morning. They are due in court on Friday (September 3).

Other celebs have weighed in on the alleged drug bust as well. 50 Cent suggested that Tiny take the fall for Tip, who was released from prison earlier this year after completing a jail bid stemming from weapons charges.

"Man TI and tiny done got picked up agin for methamphetmines and ecstacy dam man," 50 tweeted. "Tiny gotta take that charge. Say it was yours, Baby."

Frequent T.I. collaborator DJ Drama did not directly reference the arrests, but did tweet, "So I wake up to the news .... damn..."

The incident comes just days after T.I. kicked off the week with the #1 movie in the country, "Takers," a film he worked on as both a star and a producer. In addition, the ATL MC's latest single, "Pledge Allegiance to the Swag," surfaced on the Web on Wednesday.

• T.I. And Tameka 'Tiny' Cottle

• T.I.

'Nobody stands a chance against him,' one die-hard Belieber says of Best New Artist nominee.
By Rya Backer

Justin Bieber
Photo: Mark Von Holden/ Getty Images

Justin Bieber has had a landmark year, earning among other accolades a friendship with Kim Kardashian, a #1 album, a sold-out tour and a multitude of hits. And now, in addition to performing at the 2010 Video Music Awards on September 12, he's also been nominated for Best New Artist for "Baby."

MTV News hit Madison Square Garden before Bieber's sell-out gig on Tuesday and asked Bieber's fans about his chances of winning. The Beliebers, who are famous — and at times infamous — for their rabid devotion, not surprisingly, predicted very little competition for their hero from his fellow nominees, including chart-toppers Ke$sha and Nicki Minaj. Because the Best New Artist is decided by the public, Bieber's fans said they'll see to it that he takes home his Moonman.

"Most of the fans that he has are really big fans, so if they vote for him, they'll vote for him every single day," Bailey Solomons explained. Solomons, along with two friends, did not have tickets for the MSG show, but dressed up in their best Bieber garb hoping to be invited in. Another fan, Alexa Summerlin, affirmed Bailey's sentiment, saying, "Justin has a big fanbase and the people are gonna vote for him."

"Nobody stands a chance against him, if they did, I would be so shocked," said Taylor Carro, a fan who plans on voting before the September 12 deadline.

Other fans had a simpler argument for why Bieber stands to pick up the award. "He's amazing and everyone loves him!" Diana Rossi gushed. "All the teenagers and kids love him," Danicka Przchowski added.

Be sure to catch the Video Music Awards September 12 to see if Bieber's fans got out the vote!

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for the Best New Artist video through September 12.

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Minaj will make her solo TV debut during live show at 8 p.m. ET on September 12.
By MTV News Staff

Nicki Minaj
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage

Another crucial member of the Young Money crew will be in the house next Sunday during the MTV Video Music Awards. The crew's resident bad girl, Nicki Minaj, will give her first-ever televised solo performance during the pre-show of the big event. The festivities kick off at 8 p.m. (live ET/ tape delayed PT) on September 12, with Minaj warming up the party with a performance of her hit single, "Your Love."

And starting on Tuesday (September 7), Minaj will kick off a Twitter contest in which 10 fans will win a front-row seat to watch her performance. For information on the contest, follow both @NickiMinaj and @MTVTJ. Winners will be announced on Friday, September 10.  

"I am truly honored to be a part of this year's VMAs. Just yesterday I was an underground female rapper. See, Barbz? Dreams do come true," Minaj said in a statement announcing her participation in the big show.

MTV News will have the whole night covered from every angle, with correspondents Sway, Tim Kash, SuChin Pak and Jim Cantiello updating you on all of the action from outside the Nokia Theatre as they interview the night's hottest stars on the VMA white carpet. MTV's first-ever TJ (Twitter Jockey), Gabi Gregg, will also be on hand to run MTV News' Twitter Tracker, which will give users a look at the second-to-second chatter about the VMAs on Twitter. Gabi will be checking what people are saying about the VMA nominees, performers and presenters while vetting fan questions and tweeting all the white-carpet action @MTVTJ.

She's not the only new member of the MTV family who will be onboard, as award-winning documentary filmmaker Andrew Jenks, star of the upcoming MTV docu-series "World of Jenks," will visit the pre-show stage with rapper Maino to unwrap a sneak peek of his new series, which premieres on Monday, September 13, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The special post-VMA "World of Jenks" sneak peek, featuring Maino, airs at 11 p.m. ET/PT right after the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

But wait, there's more. MTV News will also bring audiences a first-look at the hotly anticipated "Jackass 3D" as seen through the eyes of the cast of "Jersey Shore." MTV News threw the cast a screening party of the movie in Seaside Heights and will show audiences the reactions from the cast, plus exclusive scenes from the movie. As a lead-in to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards Pre-show, viewers will get to watch an all-new episode of "Jersey Shore" at 7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. CT. Then during the live pre-show, the cast will hit the white carpet to treat fans to a previously unaired bonus clip from the episode that aired that night.

Then the action will kick off in earnest at 9 p.m., when comedienne Chelsea Handler hosts the awards show, which will feature performances from Eminem, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, B.o.B, Drake, Linkin Park, Usher, Paramore and Florence & the Machine, along with Travie McCoy, Jason Derülo and Robyn, who will take the stage with this year's VMA house artist, deadmau5. 

In addition, Ke$ha, Minaj, Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Trey Songz, Ashley Greene, Selena Gomez, Ne-Yo and "The Social Network" stars Justin Timberlake, Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield are confirmed to present awards.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist through September 12.

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• Nicki Minaj

Rapper and wife were pulled over after making an illegal U-turn on Sunset Boulevard on Wednesday night.
By Gil Kaufman

T.I.
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

Details are beginning to emerge about the Los Angeles traffic stop that resulted in rapper T.I.'s and wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle's arrests on charges of felony possession of a controlled substance Wednesday night.

According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Tip (born Clifford Harris Jr.), 29, was pulled over by police when he made an illegal U-turn in his Maybach on Sunset Boulevard around 10:30 p.m. Once officers approached the car on the traffic violation, they reported smelling the odor of marijuana from inside the vehicle, which prompted a search of the car and its passengers.

Sheriff's Department spokesperson Nicole Nishida confirmed that police found a controlled substance in the vehicle described as an unspecified amount of pills that "resembled ecstasy." Police are currently testing the pills and Nishida said she could not confirm where the pills were found. She also confirmed that there were other passengers in the car who were not charged with any crimes.

TMZ has posted pictures of the black-and-gray vehicle T.I. was reportedly driving at the time that show tall white Styrofoam cups in the front and back cup holders. The site speculated that the cups could also point to the presence of codeine syrup, a.k.a. sizzurp, a popular concoction made up of narcotic cough medicine and sometimes consumed in Styrofoam cups. Police have made no mention of codeine so far.

T.I. is on probation following a seven-month prison stint for a felony gun charge, itself a violation of his probation from a previous felony arrest. As part of his release in March, T.I.'s new probation conditions included supervised release for three years, DNA testing and drug counseling, as well as a ban on owning firearms and an agreement to submit to reasonable searches.

An assistant to T.I.'s attorney in the federal gun case told MTV News on Thursday morning (September 2) that a statement would be released later in the day on the matter, but that no details were available before that time on how, or if, the arrest could impact Tip's probation in the previous case. A spokesperson for the probation office handling Tip's case in Atlanta could not be reached for comment at press time.

T.I. and Tiny were released on $10,000 bail early Thursday morning and are due back in court on Friday (September 3).

• T.I. And Tameka 'Tiny' Cottle

• T.I.