One domestic-violence expert talks to MTV News about the former couple’s new songs. By Jocelyn Vena Chris Brown and Rihanna in 2009 Photo: Getty Images When Rihanna and Chris Brown dropped not one, but two tracks together Monday night, the songs were met with mixed reactions. Some fans thought it was time for everyone to move on and embrace the former couple’s next chapter, while others argued that given Brown’s 2009 assault on Rihanna, it was inappropriate for them to record together. In the years since that assault, Rihanna has been open about her abusive relationship with the R&B singer, saying, “I don’t want to be the big domestic-violence spokesperson, because that doesn’t define who I am. But if I can help young women in any way, and that being one of the things they need help with, then I’ll do that.” Since that late 2009 interview with MTV News, Rihanna certainly hasn’t backed down in her career, releasing chart-topping singles, winning awards, going on tour and using videos and Twitter to show the world just how fierce she can be. After the release of the “Birthday Cake” and “Turn up the Music” remixes , Rita Smith, the executive director for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, talked to MTV News about what the collaborations mean. “I guess I’m not particularly surprised given the rumors that had gone on around this, and it’s also not surprising because many victims get back with their abusers, even after an assault. They love them, they think they change, and abusers are particularly good at convincing you they’ve changed,” she said. “I don’t know what their relationship is at this point, but I’m not surprised that she’s staying connected. “I’m still concerned because his reaction to people’s criticism of him being on the Grammys was fairly belligerent, and that didn’t give me much of a message or sense of hope that he had made changes since that assault,” she said, referring to the barrage of tweets Brown sent out after negative feedback about his Grammy appearance . “I hope he’s changed. I hope that he will never choose to use violence again no matter what kind of relationship he has with her or anybody else,” she continued. “I think, for me, it would be much more powerful if they could publicly state what’s different for them so that it doesn’t just leave us wondering if anything has changed and if they have learned anything in the process, because it was so public. We’re all wondering, because they’re not saying anything. That would leave us with a different message that it all doesn’t matter and they’re just going to do what they do.” Smith said that, given their history, “I think the message she’s sending is that the feelings of being in love are more important than your personal safety.” “The thing that matters most is whether you’re safe and whether you feel respected — that’s what matters most in a relationship and that’s what we should all be focusing on,” Smith added. “That has to be the primary goal of any relationship.” In the end, Smith hopes the two pop stars have grown since the very public assault. “I don’t know what the message is. I would like the message to be: People can change, and I will never be treated that way again and I will never treat anyone that way again. If they had released a song saying this is what this represents for us, that would be such a much more fabulous, powerful story than not saying a word,” she said. “The content of the songs seems to be more in-your-face than something about ‘we’re collaborating on something because we care about the way people treat each other.’ That would have been the message that would have been nice to come out of this very public and tragic incident.” What do you think of Chris Brown and Rihanna working together in light of their history? Sound off in the comments. Related Videos Chris Brown & Rihanna: Love In Trouble Related Photos Rihanna And Chris Brown: A Photo Timeline Related Artists Rihanna Chris Brown
Singer tweets out a photo of her wrists emblazoned with her ‘Stay Strong’ tattoos and the date ‘3.6.2012.’ By Jocelyn Vena What does Demi Lovato have up her sleeve? We’ll know in good time. But for now, the singer/actress tweeted out a photo teasing a super-secret special project she is working on with MTV. The photo features her wrists, emblazoned with her tattoos that read “Stay Strong.” The picture offers up a couple of hints: the date “3.6.2012” and the hashtag #staystrong. “Lovatics-I wanted to tell you FIRST about a special I worked on with @MTV,” she tweeted . “It premieres March 6th at 10pm!! #staystrong” Lovato first showed off the ink back in March 2011, just two months after she left an Illinois treatment center to deal with personal issues including an eating disorder and cutting. “The journey that I went through and the support of my fans was so meaningful to me that I wanted to thank my fans in a way that I know can never be forgotten,” the singer said in 2011. “It’s something that my fans were actually drawing on their wrists while I was still in treatment,” she explained about the significance of her tattoos. “Some people even got tattoos of it, so I wanted to show you guys that I will never forget the support that you guys gave me.” Since returning to the spotlight, she has focused on her music career, including her 2011 album, Unbroken, which launched her empowering hit single “Skyscraper.” Her next single is “Give Your Heart a Break.” Lovato has become a voice for young people struggling with personal issues. In December, she visited and spoke to patients at the Timberline Knolls Center , where she had received treatment. “To be able to share my story and let them know that it gets easier … Life is beautiful … you are worthy of it,” Lovato said. “Please say a prayer for all of those struggling with eating disorders, self-harm, mood disorders and substance abuse.” Tune in to MTV on Tuesday, March 6, at 10 p.m. for Demi Lovato’s top-secret special! Related Artists Demi Lovato
The years since Lohan’s last ‘Saturday Night Live’ hosting gig have been filled with turmoil. By John Mitchell Lindsay Lohan Photo: FilmMagic For the first time in a long time, the universe seems to be working in Lindsay Lohan’s favor. The actress has been confirmed as host of the March 3 episode of “Saturday Night Live” and has reportedly booked the role of film legend Elizabeth Taylor in the Lifetime movie “Liz and Dick.” Recently, she’s been lying low and working to finish the community service she was sentenced to following numerous probation violations relating to past DUI arrests and charges she shoplifted a necklace from a Venice, California, boutique in early 2011. Her most recent probation progress reports from Los Angeles Superior Court judge Stephanie Sautner have been “glowing,” and there’s been some indication she may even be on track to complete the requirements of her probation early, according to Radar . Lohan last hosted “SNL” in April 2006. She’s hosted the legendary sketch-comedy show three times, receiving mostly positive reviews for her stints on the show. But a lot has happened to the starlet in the years since. Let’s take a look at where she was when she last hosted the show and the turbulent years since. When Lindsay Last Hosted ‘SNL’ When Lohan last graced the famous Studio 8-H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, she was promoting her star vehicle “Just My Luck” and the Robert Altman-directed “A Prairie Home Companion.” Lohan received a career-high paycheck of $7 million for the rom-com, which was helmed by Donald Petrie, who was working in the genre that brought him great success with “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and “Miss Congeniality.” The role was intended to be the bridge that carried Lohan from her child-star past into adult roles but failed to catch fire at the box office, grossing a disappointing $17 million. While it didn’t perform particularly well in theaters either, “Companion” earned warm reviews and, importantly, landed the actress accolades from two of the film industry’s most respected veterans, the late Altman, the legendary director of “MASH,” “Nashville,” “Short Cuts” and “Gosford Park,” and Meryl Streep, who complimented Lohan’s acting skills in W magazine, saying, “She’s in command of the art form” and “completely, visibly living in front of the camera.” While trouble was brewing in her personal life at the time, with rumors of drug use, hard partying and eating disorders already plaguing the then-19-year-old actress, Lohan still had some of the most highly esteemed people in her industry rushing to her defense. Later that same year, she earned a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination as part of the sprawling cast of “Bobby.” Just a month after her “SNL” appearance, concerns about her partying came to a head when she was hospitalized on the set of “Georgia Rule.” Her reps claimed “she was overheated and dehydrated,” but Morgan Creek Productions executive James G. Robinson famously called her bluff and did so very publicly, penning a letter that was quickly made public calling the actress “irresponsible and unprofessional” and stating, “We are well aware that your ongoing all night heavy partying is the real reason for your so-called ‘exhaustion.’ ” The actress soldiered on, but not for long. In January 2007, production on her much-maligned and financially unsuccessful film “I Know Who Killed Me” was suspended when she entered the hospital to have her appendix removed and again less than a month later when she entered the Wonderland Center, a lavish treatment facility for substance abuse that caters to a celebrity clientele. It was the first of several court-ordered and voluntary stays in rehab. Soon after, she withdrew from a planned film adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s “A Woman of No Importance” and was released from the independent film “The Edge of Love” after the director was not able to secure insurance for Lohan to star. Lohan’s Legal Troubles Begin The tumult that has plagued Lohan since early 2007 is as well-publicized as it is seemingly endless. For all intents and purposes, the legal troubles that continue to plague the actress really began in May 2007, when she was arrested for driving under the influence. We’ve briefly catalogued those troubles below: May 26, 2007 : Lohan is arrested after crashing her Mercedes into a shrub and curb in Los Angeles at 5:30 a.m. and is charged with misdemeanor DUI. She immediately re-enters rehab, this time at Promises Treatment Center in Malibu. July 24, 2007 : The actress is again arrested for DUI , this time following a brief car chase through Santa Monica. When police search Lohan, she is found to have a small amount of cocaine in her pocket. People reports that she was wearing an alcohol-detection ankle bracelet at the time of her arrest and was booked for DUI, possession of cocaine, transporting a narcotic into a custody facility and driving on a suspended license. In August, Lohan reaches a plea deal that includes one day in jail (though she ultimately only serves 84 minutes), 10 days of community service, completion of an 18-month alcohol-education program, hundreds of dollars in fines and 36 months of probation. February 2008 : Lohan re-creates Marilyn Monroe’s famous “Last Sitting” in a controversial photo shoot for New York magazine. Unable to secure acting roles, reportedly because production companies can’t afford the high cost of insuring her, she launches a line of leggings, 6126 (Monroe’s birthday), and a spray-tan line, Sevin Nyne, in collaboration with Sephora. October 16, 2009 : Lohan is more than an hour late to a probation hearing in Beverly Hills for a progress review on her two DUI cases and receives another year of probation due to failure to complete alcohol-education classes as required. June 8, 2010 : A judge issues an arrest warrant for Lohan after she violates a court order to not consume alcohol while wearing a SCRAM alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet. The warrant is recalled after she posts $200,000 bail. July 6, 2010 : Lohan is sentenced to 90 days in jail and 90 days in rehab for violating her probation in her DUI cases. July 20, 2010 : The actress is taken into custody to begin her jail term. She serves only 14 days of the 90-day sentence due to overcrowding and is taken immediately to UCLA Medical Center to begin her court-ordered rehab. She is again released early and permitted to continue her treatment on an outpatient basis. September 24, 2010 : Having failed a drug test, Lohan’s trial is revoked and she spends a day in jail before being released on bail. A few days later, she is sent on justice sequence to the Betty Ford Center, where she remains for three months. February 9, 2011 : Barely free for a month, Lohan is charged with a burglary after walking out of a Venice, California, boutique with a $2,500 necklace still around her neck. She pleads no contest, but as any violations of the law constitute a violation of her probation, she is sentenced to 120 days in jail, 360 hours of community service at a Los Angeles women’s shelter and 120 hours service at the L.A. County morgue. Due to jail overcrowding, she serves house arrest instead, wearing a tracking ankle monitor for 35 days. While underneath house arrest, her monitoring bracelet detects trace amounts of alcohol in her system, which under further investigation are not deemed a probation violation, so she receives no additional punishment. October 19, 2011 : After Lohan fails to complete her court-ordered community service, Judge Sautner revokes the actress’ probation and sends her to jail, telling the actress that if she wants to stay out of a corrections facility, she needs to complete 16 hours of community service at the morgue before her next hearing. She is again sentenced to jail November 7, this time for 30 days, but is released after just a few hours due to overcrowding. Following her latest brush with the law, the actress seemed to decide that enough was enough. She’s reportedly been diligent about completing her community service so she can get back to work as an actress and has received positive notices from the judge. Rumored to be experiencing financial difficulties due to her inability to work, Lohan accepted a $1 million deal to pose for the January issue of Playboy. Her photo shoot for the men’s magazine was, unsurprisingly, inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s shoot for the same mag. The issue was released early after the photos leaked online and was enormously successful, reportedly even selling out in some markets . Lohan’s March 3 appearance on “Saturday Night Live” will be her first acting gig since Robert Rodriguez’s 2010 film “Machete.” Are you rooting for Lindsay’s comeback? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Lindsay Lohan: Crime And Punishment Related Photos The Highs And Lows Of Lindsay Lohan Related Artists Lindsay Lohan
The Throne will kick off a 12-show European tour beginning May 20 in London. By Rob Markman Kanye West & Jay-Z Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images Jay-Z and Kanye West are about to get the people going again — this time overseas . International Hov and Martin Louis the King Jr. are taking their fan-favorite and critically acclaimed tour to Europe, where they recorded significant portions of their groundbreaking Watch the Throne LP. The 12-show run kicks off May 20 at the O2 Arena in London and runs through Switzerland, Norway, Germany and Belgium, ending on June 13. As far as when Jay and ‘Ye will be bringing their ubiquitous hit “N—as in Paris” to its point of inspiration, the duo will be holding down two shows on June 1 and June 2 at Paris Bercy. Jay and Kanye kicked off their WTT tour in October in Atlanta at the Phillips Arena. Noted for its unique set design with two rising pillars, the North American run of the tour found Hov and Yeezy bouncing off of each other perfectly, performing songs from both the Throne album and their individual catalogs. It was a gaudy display of hits that usually ended with the infectious “N—as in Paris” being performed multiple times — a record-breaking 11 times during their Vancouver stop. The Throne 2012 European tour dates:
Actress will return to ‘Saturday Night Live’ on March 3 with musical guest Jack White. By Jocelyn Vena Lindsay Lohan Photo: Getty Live from New York, it’s Lindsay Lohan! The embattled actress will host “Saturday Night Live” on March 3, the show has confirmed. This will be the fourth time she takes the “SNL” stage, where she’ll be joined by musical guest Jack White. In a statement to CNN, her rep said, “Lindsay is very much looking forward to hosting SNL and working with the incredible cast, crew and writers to put on a memorable show.” Her probation restrictions are lifted in March, just in time for her to host. Meanwhile sources tell TMZ that Lohan called up “SNL” head honcho, Lorne Michaels, asking if she could host an episode this season. After several conversations, Michaels and Lohan settled on the March date. The source adds that Lohan has always loved hosting the show and looks to Michaels as a father figure. Since Lohan first hosted “SNL” back in 2004 at the tender age of 17, the actress has been through quite a lot, including multiple court appearances and several jail stints. In the years since, she’s had a hard time reigniting her once-thriving movie career. Most recently she was attached to a Linda Lovelace biopic , but she eventually lost the role. She last hosted “SNL” in 2006. While Lohan has had a hard time booking movie gigs, she did make headlines when she appeared in Playboy in December . In the issue, the actress opened up about her public woes. “Looking back, I probably would have listened to and taken more advice from the people whom I admire and would have followed through with it more,” she said. “My stubbornness at 18 and 19 years old got in the way. During the past five years, I’ve learned that time flies faster than you think, and because you only live once, you have to learn from your mistakes, live your dreams and be accountable.” Will Lindsay Lohan make a good “SNL” host? Leave your comment below. Related Artists Lindsay Lohan
‘It really means a lot to me,’ the Bawse tells MTV News after topping Hottest MCs in the Game list. By MTV News staff Rick Ross Photo: MTV News / Getty Images All the votes have been tallied, and the results are in: Rick Ross is MTV News’ Hottest MC in the Game . MTV News began the list last week with Wale at #10 . A new rapper was revealed each day until Sunday’s “Hottest MCs in the Game VII” debuted on MTV2. So how did the Bawse react to his crowning achievement? “I just got the news that I was voted the game’s Hottest MC, and man, it really means a lot to me, of course, but it’s an honor,” Rozay told MTV News from an L.A. recording studio. “It’s something I’ve been watching, something I’ve been a fan of forever. Of course, MTV, they run the game. MMG, we’re here. Shout-out to the whole team.” Ross topped the list, which also included Drake, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa and Wale. Each MC was judged based on our Hottest criteria, which included impact, buzz, sales, lyrics, swag and the intangibles. Rozay surely met all of the above. His impact on the game is undeniable, with his Maybach Music Group and key guest appearances on songs like Meek Mill’s “Ima Boss” and Lil Wayne’s “John,” Ross maintained a consistent buzz all year long. His Self Made, Vol. 1 compilation album debuted at #1 on the Billboard rap albums chart. Lyrically, Rozay was a force as well, and his swag was through the roof. In January, the Bawse lit up the streets when he dropped his free 19-song Rich Forever mixtape. When it was all said and done and MTV’s Hip-Hop Brain Trust convened, there was no question that Rick Ross would emerge as the biggest boss of them all. What do you think of our list? Sound off on MTV News’ “Hottest MCs in the Game VII” using the hashtag #HottestMC! Related Videos ‘Hottest MCs In The Game VII’
The Martian’s double-platinum album and star-studded YMCMB roster land him firmly on MTV News’ Hottest MCs in the Game VII list. By MTV News staff Lil Wayne Photo: Getty Images On Tha Carter IV, Lil Wayne raps about his “Nightmares of the Bottom.” While the sentiment revealed a humbler side of Tunechi, the Martian reached astronomical heights in 2011 and lands in the top half of MTV News’ Hottest MCs in the Game VII list. But Weezy’s winning year was even more impressive when you consider that the Cash Money soldier spent most of 2010 behind bars . With little time to prepare, Wayne hit 2011 hard beginning with the smash rap single (and Carter IV lead track) “6 Foot 7 Foot.” As with many albums, C4 saw a ton of delays, but Weezy made up for things with his Sorry 4 the Wait mixtape . When the fourth installment of the Carter series finally arrived on August 28 (after a show-closing VMA performance), Wayne moved 964,000 copies in a single week, just barely missing the platinum-in-a-week mark he hit with 2008’s Carter III. Want to join the debate? Just hit us on Twitter using the hashtag #HottestMC! “Wayne had a strong year; almost a million in a week doesn’t lie,” said Yomi Desalu, MTV’s senior director of music and talent. “He’s definitely remained relevant for the whole year and once he came out, he hit the ground running.” HOT STREAK Album: Tha Carter IV Selected Mixtapes: Sorry 4 the Wait Singles: “How to Love,” “She Will” (featuring Drake), “Mirror” (featuring Bruno Mars) Street Bangers: “6 Foot 7 Foot” (featuring Cory Gunz), “John” (featuring Rick Ross) Key Guest Appearances: Kelly Rowland’s “Motivation,” B.o.B’s “Strange Clouds,” Ace Hood’s “Hustle Hard” (remix), Drake’s “The Motto” Meteoric Metrics: Wayne’s #1 Carter IV moved 964,000 copies in its first week and has been certified double-platinum by the RIAA Business Ventures: Young Money CEO continued to clock dollars off record sales from Drake and Nicki Minaj; launched Trukfit clothing line Tours: I Am Still Music run took Wayne across three continents and raked in $47 million Monumental Moment: Hours after closing out the MTV VMAs in August, Tunechi released Tha Carter IV, earning a platinum plaque in just 14 days. Forecast: Wayne should continue to dominate in 2012. YM president Mack Maine predicted that Weezy will drop sequels to Rebirth and I Am Not a Human Being, and Tha Carter V is always a possibility. “I think that’s an understatement, that he remained relevant. I think that he maintained his dominance,” said Rob Markman, MTV News’ senior hip-hop writer. When we talk about Wayne, nobody [has] sold a million in a week — since Lil Wayne. Quite frankly, I think #4 is too low.” It was another banner year for Wayne. His first-week sales were higher than that of any other rap artist and his I Am Still Music Tour, Video Music Award performance and “MTV Unplugged” special proved that the YMCMB CEO was as impactful as ever. Granted, Weezy’s 2011 style and swag were an acquired taste (see his VMA animal-print jeggings and the day-Glo-green moon boots he sported in Drake’s “Motto” video), but his lyrical prowess on songs like “It’s Good” could not be denied. Some members of the Hip-Hop Brain Trust insisted that the Wayne train had lost a bit of steam though. “You talk about Sorry 4 the Wait, people were disappointed that it wasn’t No Ceilings. People were disappointed that Tha Carter IV was not Tha Carter III, ” said MTV Jams’ Tuma Basa. A few even contended that Weezy was riding off of the success of his Young Money artists Nicki Minaj and Drake. Did the students surpass the teacher? One roundtable panelist argued that Nicki the Ninja, who debuted on the “Hottest MCs” list at #6 in 2010 , had bested her sensei. “I definitely think over the past year Nicki’s singles have actually resonated with her fans. I don’t think any of Wayne’s songs [have] — if you want to say ‘John’ that’s a Rick Ross record; if you want to say ‘She Will,’ it was a Drake record,” said Steven Roberts, a producer/writer at MTV News. The Wayne/Nicki argument became so strong in fact that moderator and show host Sway Calloway decided to take a vote. In a most surprising turn, six of the nine experts elected to move Nicki Minaj up to the #4 spot and Lil Wayne down to #5. Still, no matter how you slice the pie, it’s all Young Moola, baby! What do you think of our list? Sound off on MTV News’ “Hottest MCs in the Game VII” using the hashtag #HottestMC! Related Videos ‘Hottest MCs In The Game VII’
Chi-Town hero claims the Throne and Hottest MCs in the Game VII’s top 3 with a Twisted Fantasy and a groundbreaking joint album. By MTV News staff Kanye West Photo: Getty Images To be considered one of the Hottest MCs in the Game, a rapper has to build a solid case with lyrics and album sales, but buzz is just as important, and few artists can stir up a frenzy quite like Kanye West , who happens to have the verses and plaques to back it up. But that’s just touching the surface when it comes to why the Hip-Hop Brain Trust gave ‘Ye the #3 spot on our Hottest MCs in the Game VII list. The Chicago native set tongues wagging back on New Year’s Eve 2010, when he announced at a party in Las Vegas that his joint album with Jay-Z would arrive at the top of ’11. Although Watch the Throne didn’t actually drop until August 8, 2011, anticipation in the months leading up to its release was palpable. “Kanye came off of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in 2010, and just the hype from that album rolled over into 2011, as he started prepping us for WTT, ” said Nadeska Alexis, MTV News’ RapFix blog editor. “Kanye was the only thing people could talk about for the first few months of the year.” Want to join the debate? Just hit us on Twitter using the hashtag #HottestMC! West and Jay teased fans with the single “H.A.M.” — later relegated to a bonus track — all while Kanye continued to push songs from his Grammy-winning solo LP. A flashy video for “All of the Lights” featured an appearance from Rihanna and generated plenty of chatter, and that folded right into the Watch the Throne hype. HOT STREAK Album: Watch the Throne with Jay-Z; My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Selected Mixtapes: None Singles: “All of the Lights” (with Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie); “H.A.M,” “N—as in Paris” and “Otis” (all with Jay-Z) Street Bangers: “Paris” remix (with Jay-Z and T.I.) Key Guest Appearances: Big Sean’s “Marvin & Chardonnay” Meteoric Metrics: Watch the Throne debuted at #1 on the album charts and has sold approximately 1.3 million copies to date, while West’s Grammy-winning solo single “All of the Lights” was certified platinum Business Ventures: Inked an official distribution deal with Def Jam Records for G.O.O.D. Music imprint; launched DW by Kanye West line at Paris Fashion Week Tours: Along with Jay-Z, West put on one of the most anticipated hip-hop tours to date in support of Watch the Throne. They grossed $48.3 million across 26 dates. Monumental Moment: Not only did Kanye add “cray” to the rap vernacular, he joined Jay in performing “Paris” a record 11 times at one of their live shows Forecast: After picking up Grammys for Best Rap Album ( MBDTF ) and Best Rap Performance (“Otis”), Kanye is currently at work on the highly anticipated G.O.O.D. album. And, of course, the second incarnation of his fashion line is getting plenty of advance buzz. In the weeks before the album debuted, Throne fans were treated to more tidbits from the project, much of which had the indelible Kanye West stamp. Animal-inspired cover art designed by Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci? The brainchild of Kanye West, certainly. “Jay-Z has really stood alone over the course of his career and he never really let somebody else get in the front,” said Rahman Dukes, MTV News’ director of hip-hop news, about the collaboration. “This is the one time [he let someone take control] and that’s a huge nod to Kanye’s genius.” One of the key elements in building anticipation for the album was that the Throne successfully avoided a leak. The duo even threw a grand listening session at the Museum of Natural History in New York City — select music journalists and A-list insiders from Beyonc
Even without his own album, Rozay owned 2011 and topped our Hottest MCs in the Game list. By MTV News staff Rick Ross Photo: MTV News / Getty Images When Rick Ross experiences a personal moment of triumph, a hearty grunt typically marks the occasion. Built up from the bowels of his belly, Rozay’s baritone call has become as ubiquitous as his titillating one-liners — not that a simple ad-lib is the only thing that earned Rick Ross the #1 spot on MTV News’ Hottest MCs in the Game VII list, his first time up top. Rozay was on pace to release his fifth studio album until he faced a pair of “minor setbacks,” as he so poetically dubs the two seizures he suffered in October. ” God Forgives, I Don’t was slated to come out in 2011, and he had the two seizures, and we thought it was going to make him fall back completely — but he came back and hit us with Rich Forever, ” MTV News senior hip-hop writer Rob Markman pointed out during the Hottest debate. Want to join the debate? Just hit us on Twitter using the hashtag #HottestMC! The truth is, Rozay’s 2011 reign didn’t hinge on an album release. The Bawse set things up properly in February of last year when he signed his Maybach Music Group record label over to Warner Music Group and scooped up newcomer Meek Mill (this year’s #7 Hottest MC ), Wale (#10) and later Stalley. Musically, Ricky Ro put his team in position to dominate with the label compilation Self Made, Vol. 1. Rather than taking all the shine, Ross passed the baton to Meek, who delivered “Ima Boss” and “Tupac Back.” Wale contributed the rhythmic gem “That Way,” and even ousted MMG spitter Pill logged serious miles on the LP. HOT STREAK Album: Self Made, Vol. 1, with Maybach Music Group Selected Mixtapes: Rich Forever Singles: “You the Boss” (featuring Nicki Minaj), “I Love My Bitches” Street Bangers: “9 Piece” (featuring Lil Wayne), “Stay Schemin’ ” (featuring Drake and French Montana), “Yella Diamonds” Key Guest Appearances: DJ Khaled’s “I’m on One,” Meek Mill’s “Ima Boss,” Lil Wayne’s “John,” French Montana’s “Shot Caller” remix, Drake’s “Lord Knows” Meteoric Metrics: Ross established his Maybach Music Group brand as its CEO when he notched two #1 rap albums with Wale’s Ambition and MMG’s Self Made, Vol. 1 Business Ventures: Despite having a solo deal with Def Jam, Ross bossed up and took his MMG label to Warner Music Group, signing Wale, Meek Mill and Stalley. Tours: Rozay joined Wayne on his I Am Still Music Tour Monumental Moment: Ross is no stranger to success as a solo artist, but after he signed his MMG label to Warner, he truly became a boss! Forecast: To be able to dominate 2011 without a solo album released is an amazing feat for Ross. With God Forgives, I Don’t on the way and a possible collabo mixtape with Drake, the Double-M-Genius may be going for the repeat. “You wouldn’t even know that he didn’t have an album out [early last year], because he was all over the radio,” said Rahman Dukes, director of hip-hop news at MTV News. Whether on his own singles (“You the Boss,” “I Love My Bitches”) or on tracks that he was featured on, the M-I-Yayo MC turned in multiple unforgettable performances. “Ima Boss” was technically Meek’s song, but the casual listener may have missed that fact. Lil Wayne’s “John” was basically a remix of the 2010 Ross track “I’m Not a Star,” and on the summer anthem “I’m on One,” Rozay flexed his muscle alongside Drake and Weezy. “Rick Ross makes raw records, he makes street records. When he gets on a verse, his beat selection is impeccable,” MTV Jams’ Tuma Basa said, before pointing to Ross’ star-making ability with Meek and Wale. “He’s making other people hot, and these are people, without Ross, may not have been on this list. They’re on this list thanks to Ross.” It’s deeper than rap with the Double-M-Genius. Beyond the studio, the Bawse proved his worth in the boardroom as well. “I don’t think any artist did a better job of branding than Rick Ross,” said MTV RapFix blog editor Nadeska Alexis. “He was just a marketing genius this year, and you gotta give it to the man.” Ross meets all the criteria to be considered the Hottest MC in the Game. His impact is irrefutable: Even without a solo album, he maintained a healthy and consistent buzz throughout the year, notching a #1 rap album with his Self Made compilation. Lyrically, Rozay has grown from his “Hustlin’ ” days and become one of the game’s most celebrated spitters, and his swag is through the roof. Check his big-boned, shirtless confidence, immaculately groomed beard and top-of-the-line designer-sunglass collection. If that weren’t enough, the rotund Rozay cemented his #1 spot in January when he dropped his free 19-song Rich Forever mixtape. While there is no SoundScan or Billboard chart that can measure its impact, with Rich Forever, Ross proved in this era of overdone crossover singles that rap still rules. “Rick Ross, I think, provides hope to that MC, to that kid growing up who just wants to rap and make street music and say, ‘You know what? In this world where hip-hop has become pop, you can still just rap,’ ” Markman said. Insert Rick Ross grunt here! What do you think of our list? Sound off on MTV News’ “Hottest MCs in the Game VII” using the hashtag #HottestMC! Related Videos ‘Hottest MCs In The Game VII’ Related Artists Rick Ross
‘In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene,’ singer says in a statement. By Sowmya Krishnamurthy, with additional reporting by Rebecca Thomas Bobby Brown at Whitney Houston’s funeral services in Newark, New Jersey Photo: Bennett Raglin/ Getty Images Bobby Brown did not attend the funeral services of his ex-wife, singer Whitney Houston, in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday (February 18). Brown arrived and left after a disagreement with security over his seating inside the New Hope Baptist Church, a source confirmed to MTV News. In a statement released to the press by his rep, Brown explained, “My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston. We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions. I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continue to ask us and no one else to move. “Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi-Kristina,” the singer continued. “In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene. My children are completely distraught over the events. This was a day to honor Whitney. I doubt Whitney would have wanted this to occur. I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how.” Whitney Houston’s funeral, or Home-Going, was held on Saturday at noon, and the Reverend Al Sharpton, who was also in attendance, weighed in on Brown’s arrival and departure in a series of tweets. “I am at Whitney’s funeral. I spoke with Bobby Brown trying to calm him down and not distract from the services. Today is about Whitney!” Sharpton wrote a little after 1:15 p.m. In a subsequent tweet, the MSNBC personality pleaded on behalf of Brown’s case. “We are out of the service. I don’t want anyone distorting Bobby Brown. He has shown love and respect today. Stop hatin’ ” The traditional Baptist ceremony was a celebration of Houston’s life, rooted in the church and her New Jersey upbringing. An array of family friends, including Dionne Warwick, BeBe & CeCe Winans along with luminaries like Clive Davis, Stevie Wonder and Kevin Costner , who starred with Houston in the 1992 hit film “The Bodyguard,” spoke and performed. Among the others in attendance were actor/producer Tyler Perry Mariah Carey, who shared the 1998 duet “When You Believe” with Whitney. Related Videos Whitney Houston: In Her Own Words Live From Whitney Houston’s Funeral Related Photos Friends, Family And Fans Show Love At Whitney Houston’s Funeral Related Artists Bobby Brown Whitney Houston
