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B.o.B Reveals Album Title, Strange Clouds

The follow-up to his breakout The Adventures of Bobby Ray is tentatively due in ‘early spring.’ By James Montgomery B.o.B Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images B.o.B teamed up with Lil Wayne on the brand-new “Strange Clouds,” and apparently he liked the result so much he’s decided to name his album after it. During an interview with Atlanta radio station V-103 , B.o.B confirmed that the follow-up to his massive The Adventures of Bobby Ray album would, in fact, be called Strange Clouds. The singer spoke about the lead-off single, saying it just seemed like the logical choice to launch the next phase of his career. ” ‘Strange Clouds’ … is the first single off my sophomore album, [which is] actually titled Strange Clouds, ” he told V-103. “Wayne actually got on it pretty quick. It was a quick turnaround. We were kind of debating on it, man, but we just felt like this is the song that should go first. I feel really strong about it and I like to take my time with music. “When you do a song with somebody, it’s basically like you’re starting a business with that person … it creates a lot of opportunities,” he continued. “I’m glad that he blessed me with a verse, man, and it’s the first single off my album, so I’m excited about it.” B.o.B added that Strange Clouds would hit stores in “early spring,” adding that, “I want it to be sooner!” Earlier this year, he told MTV News that fans should expect “some surprises” on the new disc and subsequently called it “a real special project.” And though the title track features Weezy, producer Jim Jonsin recently let it be known that folks expecting a sequel to The Adventures of Bobby Ray — and the sundry of features it, uh, featured — might be disappointed, because Strange Clouds is very much a B.o.B project. “What Bob wanted to do was go into the lab himself and spend his time creating what he wanted his album to have, the direction he wanted,” Jonsin told MTV News. “So we’re waiting on him to come back with that house that he’s built so we can go ahead and put all the fixtures in and try to help with it.” Related Artists B.o.B

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B.o.B Reveals Album Title, Strange Clouds

Glasses Malone Refuses To Rely On Cash Money

‘I ain’t just trying to take advantage of somebody just because they hot right now,’ MC says on ‘RapFix Live.’ By Rob Markman Glasses Malone Photo: MTV News As an artist on Cash Money Records, Glasses Malone has access to some major hitmakers. But the California MC is not quick to take advantage of his multiplatinum labelmates. Instead, Glasses — who just dropped his solo debut album, Beach Cruiser, in August — said he would rather build organic collaborations. “I have access to everybody. Just to me, our topics be so different,” Glasses told MTV News’ Sway Calloway during his visit to “RapFix Live” on Wednesday. “Me and Birdman got a lot of songs, me and Wayne got a lot of songs, me and Mack 10 have a lot of songs because our content are more relatable. Drake is really successful, and as an artist, it seems every artist wants to get with somebody that’s successful, but I don’t look at hip-hop like that. “I ain’t just trying to take advantage of somebody just because they hot right now,” he continued. “I want to make great music, I want to make great songs, and right now, me and Drake’s subject matter is so far apart: His subject matters tend to deal with more relationships, his success and dealing with his fame in the music industry.” Glasses, on the other hand, makes music that addresses the issues on the California streets where he was raised. On Beach Cruiser, he recruited the likes of Rick Ross, Jay Rock and Nipsey Hussle, instead of more-certified hitmakers such as Drake and Nicki Minaj. Malone refuses to get caught up in gossip. When he first emerged on the rap scene, it was Game who gave him the co-sign, but eventually their deal soured. Malone made it clear on “RapFix Live” that he harbors no ill will toward the Compton MC. “I don’t think it’s much of a rivalry; I think everybody painted it like that,” Glasses said. “It could never be a rivalry: Dude put me in position, him and [his brother] Fase put me in position to be where I am today,” he explained. “I don’t got nothing to say bad about that dude or nothing about that situation because without them … I’d still be slinging PCP on 117th.” Who would you like to hear Glasses collaborate with? Tell us in the comments below! Related Videos Styles P, Mistah Fab, Glasses Malone On ‘RapFix Live’ Related Artists Glasses Malone

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Glasses Malone Refuses To Rely On Cash Money

Kandi Gets Her Own Reality Show, “The Kandi Factory”

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Kandi is getting her own reality show! After returning to the spotlight through Bravo’s “Real Housewives Of Atlanta” cameras, the network has granted the singer her own solo special, aptly titled “The Kandi Factory.” According to TheYBF , the show will follow Kandi as she “helps other artists reach their musical dreams. She will give two protégés the opportunity to come to Atlanta and learn the fundamentals of pop music success: the song, the look & the performance.” Kandi and her team will then work with the contestants to turn them into superstars. “With her breakout personality and straightforward attitude, Bravo fans have grown to love Kandi on ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta.’ ‘The Kandi Factory’ will capture a unique look at her successful music career as Kandi transforms two music hopefuls into the next big popstar,” said Eli Lehrer, Vice President of Development for Bravo. Will you be watching? “Real Housewives Of Atlanta” Serve Up Sex Toys, Cheating & Babies On Season 4 [TRAILER] Kandi To Launch Sex Toy Line Kandi & Phaedra Parks On Getting Your Man’s Criminal Record Erased [VIDEO]

Kandi Gets Her Own Reality Show, “The Kandi Factory”

T.I. Once Again A Free Man

Tip was just released from an Atlanta halfway house, his lawyer confirms to MTV News. By Rob Markman T.I. Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/ Getty Images T.I. was released from a halfway house in Atlanta on Thursday (September 29) and has completed an 11-month sentence stemming from his 2010 arrest for drug possession, the rapper’s attorney confirmed to MTV News. “I’m excited our family is back together,” T.I.’s wife, Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, told MTV News in a statement. “Tip definitely completes us.” “He’s out, he’s good,” T.I.’s manager and Grand Hustle partner, Jason Geter, told The Associated Press. Tip’s legal drama began with his 2007 arrest and eventual sentence on felony weapons charges. The Trap Muzik rapper was sentenced to one year and one day in prison in 2009; he completed nine months of his bid but was arrested again in October 2010 while driving in Los Angeles. The L.A. County district attorney’s office declined to file drug charges against T.I. after finding narcotics in his vehicle, but the multiplatinum spitter violated his federal probation and was sentenced to serve 11 months in prison in October 2010. According to the AP, T.I. will now have to serve one year of federal probation, but barring any infractions, there will be no more prison time. It has been speculated that T.I. would make an appearance at the 2011 BET Hip-Hop Awards, which are being taped in Atlanta on Saturday. When T.I. was arrested in 2007, it was just hours before that year’s BET ceremony. T.I.’s buddy DJ Drama couldn’t confirm whether the King of the South would attend the festivities, but he did express his excitement about Tip’s return to the studio. “Me and Tip have been friends, working together for almost a decade now, so we know what we gotta do,” he said. “It’s really time to get to work and get to the music.” T.I.’s record company, Atlantic Records, had no comment concerning the rapper’s release. Related Photos T.I.’s Career Highs And Lows Related Artists T.I.

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T.I. Once Again A Free Man

Justin Bieber Shoots Christmas-Themed ‘Mistletoe’ Video

Teen star also announces Christmas album’s release date. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber on the set of his Christmas album video shoot Photo: Justin Bieber/Twitter Start decorating your Christmas tree! The holidays are coming early this year for Beliebers everywhere. On Wednesday, Justin Bieber tweeted updates about his music video for the lead single off his holiday-themed album , which drops in November. Bieber and his team kept fans up-to-date about what was going down on set. “Video shoot today for Christmas album. #mistletoe,” he wrote, before confirming the name of the track and a release date for the album. “On the set of #mistletoe. Christmas is coming early this year. #nov1st.” The shoot wasn’t kept under wraps, and Bieber didn’t mind the crowds that gathered to watch him celebrate the holidays a few months early. He also tweeted a photo of himself with Santa Claus and wrote, “doing the #dougie with santa. #real. haha. #mistletoe.” It seems everyone involved with the shoot is pretty stoked about it. “Getting incredible reports from the @justinbieber #mistletoe video … seems like this is going to be a big song and a big video. #superstar,” Scooter Braun tweeted , with director Alfredo Flores adding, “4am and we’re still out here putting in work! This video is going to be magical! @justinbieber is killin it! #mistletoe.” While the album title hasn’t been confirmed, online retailers like Amazon are already pre-selling the album with the tentative title Under the Mistletoe and a November 1 release date. In addition to confirmed duets with the Band Perry and Boyz II Men , as well as rumored collabos with Taylor Swift and Sean Kingston, Bieber confirmed that his mentor Usher will also appear on the album. “Just finished a late nt in the studio for the Christmas album … it is OFFICIAL … my big bro @UsherRaymondIV is on the album with me! #EPIC,” he tweeted. “This duet with me and @USHERRAYMONDIV for #christmas is CRAZY!!!” Related Artists Justin Bieber

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Justin Bieber Shoots Christmas-Themed ‘Mistletoe’ Video

‘American Idol’ Finalist James Durbin Dropping LP Same Day As Daughtry

Durbin’s debut, Memories of a Beautiful Disaster, will hit on November 21. By Gil Kaufman James Durbin Photo: FOX Though he was most often compared to “American Idol” runner-up Adam Lambert last year during his rebel-yelling run to a #4 finish, classic rock lover James Durbin will end up being measured against another head-banging “Idol” finisher when his debut drops in November. Durbin will release his debut, Memories of a Beautiful Disaster, on November 21 on Wind-Up Records (home to Evanescence, among others). That just happens to be the same day that season-five fourth-place finisher said he will serve up his band’s third album, Break the Spell. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Durbin’s debut was produced by veteran hard-rock helmer Howard Benson, who has worked with My Chemical Romance and, yes, Daughtry. While Daughtry’s sound leans toward gritty, swelling arena rock, during his time season 10 Durbin was an unabashed fan of old-school metal, a genre he vowed to revive if given a chance. Shortly after his elimination, Durbin told MTV News that he wanted to work with Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy, reunite with guitar legend Zakk Wylde and bring out his “secret weapon,” his best friend from home who is a shredding guitar player. Given the chance, he said what he wanted most was to re-create the sound of his favorite record, the 1983 debut from late Black Sabbath metal screamer and solo star Ronnie James Dio, Holy Diver. “I’m gonna keep it real my post ‘Idol’ career. I’m not gonna pretend to be somebody else on the show and then do something completely different with my career,” Durbin promised . “I know who I am, I know what I wanna do, and I know where my fans are. And I know what they want.” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists James Durbin

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‘American Idol’ Finalist James Durbin Dropping LP Same Day As Daughtry

Styles P Breaks Down The Meaning Of ‘MC’

‘It’s my job to say something,’ rapper tells ‘RapFix Live’ of his responsibility as ‘Master of Ceremonies.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Styles P Photo: MTV News Styles P takes the title of MC very seriously. On his upcoming album Master of Ceremonies, the Ghost expands the acronym to exemplify what it means to be a rapper of the highest caliber. The LOX rhyme spitter broke it all down with Sway on Wednesday’s “RapFix Live.” “I named it Master of Ceremonies because I’m an MC and I felt like I’m gonna bring something to the table that a lot of people forgot about — a lost art,” Styles told Sway of his album, which drops October 4. In the beginning, it was the DJ who was the star in hip-hop. During the early house parties and park jams, the MC’s main function was to toast to the DJ using witty and rhyming wordplay. As hip-hop evolved, it was the MC or the rapper who emerged as the musical star. For Styles P, his MC influences included Rakim, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane and the seldom-celebrated New Jersey rapper Chill Rob G. So when it came time for him to grab the mic, Styles took the title very seriously. “It’s my job to say something. At the end of the day, I have to say something,” Peniro said, citing rap’s current lyrical deficiency as motivation for his first solo album in four years. The Yonkers lyricist even joked that after announcing his Master of Ceremonies album title on Twitter, one fan thought he was down with the Illuminati — a powerful, cult-like sect that conspiracy theorists accuse artists like Jay-Z and Kanye West of being involved with. “I laughed, but I was sad at the same time,” Styles said, “because to them, a master of ceremonies sounded like some Illuminati term and I was like, ‘Nah I’m an MC.’ Do your history — this is where we come from.” Styles, who is a self-described “fan of lyrics,” invited other MCs to be a part of his album. Not only do Rick Ross and Busta Rhymes appear on Master of Ceremonies ‘ lead single “Harsh,” other well-regarded spitters like Jadakiss, Sheek Louch and Lloyd Banks are represented as well. “In hip-hop, I think a lot of us forgot about MC and what MCing is,” he said. Luckily Styles P is about to give us a reminder. Related Videos Styles P, Mistah Fab, Glasses Malone On ‘RapFix Live’ Related Artists Styles P Rick Ross Busta Rhymes

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Styles P Breaks Down The Meaning Of ‘MC’

Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett Music Video Debuts Monday

‘Lady Is a Tramp’ clip is the second from Duets II, following ‘Body and Soul’ with the late Amy Winehouse. By Jocelyn Vena Lady Gaga Photo: Getty Images Tony Bennett just scored his first #1 album with Duets II, and now the legend is ready to drop another video from the collabo project. On Monday, his video for “The Lady Is a Tramp” — with a blue-haired Lady Gaga by his side — will hit the Web. On the track, Gaga gets a little feisty with the 85-year-old. “I hate California, it’s crowded and damp,” the New York-native Gaga sings, before Bennett chimes in giggling, “That’s why the lady is a tramp.” “My favorite is that Lady Gaga,” Bennett gushed to MTV News at the Video Music Awards, where Gaga spent the night in character as her male alter ego, Jo Calderone . “She’s the biggest. I’ll tell you, I never met anyone with more talent than that lady.” Earlier this month, Bennett’s “Body and Soul” video with the late Amy Winehouse debuted. The duo were filmed recording the song together, and the Gaga video will most likely follow suit. Other Duets II collaborations include John Mayer, Carrie Underwood and Mariah Carey, among others. Riding high on his new wave of success — including first-week sales of 179,000 copies — Bennett said his career has always been incredibly cyclical. “I’m 85; I just want to tell you, it’s a very strange situation,” he said. “I always worked live, and ever since 1950, wherever I’ve played internationally I’ve been sold out all these years. It’s amazing. So the public’s been on my side all the time.” What are you expecting from Gaga and Bennett’s video? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Lady Gaga Tony Bennett

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Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett Music Video Debuts Monday

Chris Brown Set To Go ‘Undercover’ With J. Cole

‘I think the ladies gonna like this one,’ DJ Drama teases MTV News about collabo from his October album. By Rob Markman Chris Brown Photo: Getty Images J. Cole is riding high this week after the release of his debut, Cole World: The Sideline Story. Aside from the inevitable euphoria that comes with dropping one’s first album, relative newcomer Cole also got a chance to work with Jay-Z, Missy Elliott and Trey Songz on the project. But fans shouldn’t expect the high-profile collaborations to stop there thanks to DJ Drama . On October 11, the Atlanta DJ will drop his latest album, Third Power, on which he paired Cole with Chris Brown for a track titled “Undercover.” “We were searching for tracks for Chris,” Drama explained to MTV News about how he and producer V12 the Hitman came up with the song. “We got something, Chris went in. I thought about it for a minute: Who hasn’t he worked with, who hasn’t he been on a record with?” That meant excluding heavy hitters like Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes, Kanye West and Swizz Beatz, who are among CB’s army of previous collaborators. Drama eventually thought to link Brown with Roc Nation’s rookie rapper Cole, and although the pair appeared together on little-known British rapper Chipmunk’s “Champion (Remix),” Drama’s “Undercover” will mark the first time Cole and Breezy co-headline a song. “J. Cole has definitely been doing his thing,” Drama added. “That’s another guy that I have a lot of respect for and am excited for what he’s been accomplishing, so we made that allegiance right there; plus, you got some bars from Breezy.” Brown already has a dedicated female fanbase and Cole — thanks to songs like his R&B-tinged “Can’t Get Enough” and a feature on Miguel’s hit “All I Want Is You” — is becoming a heartthrob himself. Whatever the case, Drama is pretty sure the song will win women over. “I think the ladies gonna like this one,” he said. Are you excited to hear a Chris Brown/ J. Cole collabo? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Chris Brown J. Cole DJ Drama

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Chris Brown Set To Go ‘Undercover’ With J. Cole

Kristen Stewart Dons ‘Snow White’ Armor In New Photos

Pics show Stewart filming battle scene on beach in Wales. By Jocelyn Vena Kristen Stewart as “Snow White” Photo: Universal Kristen Stewart looks like she’s ready for battle. Some photos of the “Twilight” star on the set of “Snow White and the Huntsman” have hit the Internet. In them, Stewart is wearing her previously teased armor as she films scenes at Marloes Sands Beach in Pembrokeshire Wales, U.K., this week. Photos on Screenrant.com show the actress riding a white horse alongside a group of extras dressed as medieval soldiers. They are riding through the water for what appears to be some sort of battle scene. In some on-set candids, the ponytail-sporting actress laughs and walks around the set of the Rupert Sanders-directed flick. Stewart recently debuted her longer locks for the film at London Fashion Week. No signs of co-stars Charlize Theron (the Evil Queen), Chris Hemsworth (the Huntsman) or Sam Claflin (Prince Charming) in the new photos. The film is expected to open June 1, 2012. “It’s not a little girl sitting by a well with little tweety birds telling her what to do and where to go,” Stewart told MTV News of her character. “[The costume] makes you feel kind of strong occasionally, sometimes, but I kind of feel tiny, my pinhead sticks out of these enormous things.” Her tough look has even been approved by that other “Snow White” movie director, Tarsem , who recently gushed over her battle-ready look. “She’s gorgeous,” he told MTV News. “She’s great.” The film centers around the struggle between Snow White and the Evil Queen, who, jealous of Snow White’s beauty, wants to destroy her. The catch is that Snow White has been training with the Huntsman, who has been ordered to kill her. And in true fairy-tale form, Prince Charming is enamored with Snow White. “This, as a fable, she sort of just starts off as a bad person, so it was important to understand [why she is the way she is],” Theron explained about her character. “A lot of her circumstances will kind of bleed into her actions. … She’s a serial killer; I’m pretty much preparing to play a serial killer.” Check out everything we’ve got on “Snow White and the Huntsman.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Photos The Evolution Of: Kristen Stewart

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Kristen Stewart Dons ‘Snow White’ Armor In New Photos