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T.I. Says He’s Basking In B.o.B’s Success

‘All the hard work is paying off,’ Tip says of his Grand Hustle artist and five-time VMA nominee. By Shaheem Reid T.I. and B.o.B Photo: Jamie McCarthy/ Getty Images T.I. says his camp has worked diligently, so it’s OK to celebrate now. On Monday in New York, the King of the South reflected on the success of his Grand Hustle roster member B.o.B. We all know about steadfast and patient. And Bobby Ray had to practice that virtue the past couple of years while he waited for the release of his debut LP. Everything has paid off though, as B.o.B scored two #1 hit singles, critical acclaim for his body of work and most recently, five VMA nominations. “I feel like right now, all the hard work is paying off,” Tip said about Bob. “This is what everybody has been working for. This is [why] we go late nights in the studio, early mornings in the studio. This is the reason we miss days out of our children’s lives — for moments like these. For me not to sit here, reap the benefits and take the pleasure as well as taking the moment to bask in the glory of the success of what we have accomplished … It’s necessary, very necessary.” B.o.B’s “Nothin’ on You” is nominated for a VMA in the Best Pop Category while “Airplanes” is up for four Moonmen: Best Male Video, Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Collaboration and Video of the Year. “It’s very special to me,” the B.o.B said earlier this month. I think it’s a lot more special than the success of the singles, because this reflects the work I’ve put in over the years and the word of mouth I’ve helped create. It’s definitely amazing. I’m trying to find the words to explain it, but I can’t. It’s inexplicable. I’m a real simple man, so, you know, I accept every gift with generosity and gratitude.” What do you think about how Tip supports his Grand Hustle artist B.o.B? Tell us in the comments! 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 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for the winners in general categories, including Best New Artist, from now through September 12. Related Artists T.I. B.o.B

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T.I. Says He’s Basking In B.o.B’s Success

Brooklyn Decker Joins ‘Battleship’ Cast

Sports Illustrated cover girl will star alongside Rihanna, Taylor Kitsch and more. By Kara Warner Brooklyn Decker Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images The cast of Peter Berg’s “Battleship” movie continues to grow. Last month, superstar songbird and first-time actress Rihanna was added to the cast , which includes actors Taylor Kitsch and Alexander Sk

Nicki Minaj Doubles Up On Billboard Hot 100

Young Money MC features on Jay Sean, Sean Kingston singles — two of only four tracks debuting on this week’s chart. By Jayson Rodriguez Nicki Minaj is featured on two of the four tracks debuting this week on Billboard ‘s Hot 100 chart as she makes guest appearances on Sean Kingston’s “Letting Go (Dutty Love)” and Jay Sean’s “2012 (It Ain”t The End).” The chart successes follow the Young Money femcee’s own #1 single, “Your Love,” which currently sits in the top 20. But the Kingston and Jay Sean records prove an underlying point about Minaj: The Queens lyricist has managed to make her mark via collaborations; she sizzled on numbers with Usher ( “Lil Freak” ), Robin Thicke ( “Shakin’ It 4 Daddy” ) and Mariah Carey (“Up Out My Face”). “It feels crazy,” she told MTV News earlier this year about all the calls for collaborations. “I never imagined it. I never really imagined all of this. It feels good because when you’re working at something, sometimes you feel like you’ll never be recognized for your true talents. Especially when you’re a girl, you feel like people will only see one thing. But now when people hit me, it’s, ‘Could you be on this remix?’ It shows that they respect my talent, and that means a lot.” The animated rapper recently revealed the name of her forthcoming debut album, Pink Friday, via Twitter. She’s been mostly hush, though, regarding details of the project. But this month she explained to MTV News that she’s enjoying the process of crafting her first album. “The album is progressing miraculously , I would say,” Minaj told us. “It’s coming out way better than I could even have imagined or dreamed or hoped for.” Who do you think Nicki Minaj should work with next? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Nicki Minaj Sean Kingston Jay Sean

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Nicki Minaj Doubles Up On Billboard Hot 100

Lady Gaga’s Next Album Will Be ‘Shocking,’ Producer RedOne Says

‘That’s part of my job and her job — to keep her evolving,’ he tells Billboard. By Kara Warner Lady Gaga Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic Hot on the heels of Lady Gaga’s confident pronouncement that her upcoming album is the “absolute greatest work I’ve ever done,” “utter liberation” and an “anthem for my generation for the next decade” comes echoing praise from a reliable — if slightly biased — source: her producer RedOne. “It’s going to be shocking, shocking, shocking!” the Moroccan/Swedish master mixer behind “Just Dance,” “LoveGame,” “Poker Face,” “Bad Romance” and “Alejandro” told Billboard of Gaga’s new music. “You never want to go too far from your brand — people love you for a reason. But we still want to give them something with a kick, something that makes them say, ‘Oh my God! We didn’t expect this!’ ” RedOne (real name: Nadir Khayat) said a big part of his job and future collaborations with Gaga are about evolution. “When you heard ‘Bad Romance’ after ‘Poker Face,’ it was like the best thing you’ve ever heard,” he said. “We want that type of reaction. I think that’s part of my job and her job — to keep her evolving.” The producer told Billboard that he worked on at least two tracks on Gaga’s new album but also encouraged her to collaborate with others (he produced a total of nine tracks on The Fame and The Fame Monster ), though he wouldn’t divulge which hitmakers might be producing songs on the upcoming album. “After ‘Just Dance’ and ‘Poker Face,’ ‘LoveGame’ and ‘Boys Boys Boys,’ I got a sound out of her, and that made it easier for other producers,” he said. “Her sound is so defined that, no matter what, people can follow it. That sound belongs to her.” What are you expecting from Gaga’s new music? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Lady Gaga

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Lady Gaga’s Next Album Will Be ‘Shocking,’ Producer RedOne Says

Tiesto Congratulates Deadmau5 On VMA House-Act Gig

‘I’m very proud of you, Deadmau5, that you are doing the VMA Awards!’ DJ/producer says. By Akshay Bhansali Ti

Ke$ha Eyes Headlining Her Own Tour

‘It’s all I think about,’ the singer tells MTV News of hitting the road after opening on Rihanna’s Last Girl on Earth Tour. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Christina Garibaldi Ke$ha Photo: MTV News Ke$ha is currently on the road with Rihanna , but the “Tik Tok” singer says once the Last Girl On Earth Tour wraps up, she’d like to plot a trek of her own. And she’s hoping that the lessons she’s learned opening up for the pop star will be useful on any tour she might embark on in the future. “I’m finishing up this tour and going in to start writing again — some more music for you guys — and will continue touring throughout the rest of the year,” she told MTV News. “I don’t know who’s going to go on tour with me yet, but I think I’ll be going on my tour later this year perhaps.”

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Ke$ha Eyes Headlining Her Own Tour

Wale Joined Onstage By J. Cole In New York

Hottest Breakthrough MC finalist Diggy Simmons opened show at Highline Ballroom Monday night. By Jayson Rodriguez Wale (file) Photo: Alli Harvey/ Getty Images NEW YORK — If Wale is looking for a nickname, “Mr. Do It Yourself” might be appropriate. The Washington D.C. rapper released a new mixtape earlier this month called More About Nothing, the sequel to his breakout “Seinfeld”-inspired set, The Mixtape About Nothing. The set is meant to bolster his bona fides after a tepid response to his debut, Attention Deficit . Within days of releasing More About Nothing, the rapper announced a headlining set at Manhattan’s Highline Ballroom. And on Monday night, Wale was blue-collar in his rhymes and production. “Who got a camera,” he asked from the stage. He then proceeded to set up video shots from the sides of the stage. Elliott Wilson of RapRadar.com , which served as media sponsor for the show, recorded from the stage. “I don’t care,” Wale said about potential piracy. “It’s about y’all. We got the right angle, we got the left angle.” Wale delivered a rousing set, backed by a nine-piece band, infusing a go-go music sound along with his punchy rhymes. “Mirror, tell me I’m the realest,” he rapped over the bouncy “Mirrors.” “Since all these other n—as got gimmicks, not lyrics/ It’s all gun busting, it’s such a lack of the subject/ Could I be that n—a rejuvenating lovers?” Fabolous and J. Cole were in attendance during the set, and 2010 Hottest Breakthrough MC Top 5 finisher Diggy Simmons opened for Wale. J. Cole joined Wale onstage for their collaboration “Beautiful Bliss.” Cole then took over for a song as the upstart MC performed his latest underground number, “Blow Up.” Wale then took back the reins to perform one of his earlier breakout tracks, “Nike Boots.” “The revolution will proceed, unification of the DMV,” he rapped. “I will achieve, indeed, I decree/ I’m forming a new alliance/ Instead of one poising the minds, they lying/ I am only a fighter, in the form of a writer/ In the form of a poet, potency in the mic.” Were you at Wale’s show last night? Tell us what you thought of the performance in the comments! Related Artists Wale J. Cole

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Wale Joined Onstage By J. Cole In New York

Dr. Dre’s ‘Turn Me On’ Leaks To The Web

Pulsating track is the second Dre leak this summer and could be featured on Detox. By Jayson Rodriguez Dr. Dre Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage Yet another unfinished track from Dr. Dre has hit the Web. This time, it’s the pulsating “Turn Me On,” a possible number for the producer’s long-delayed Detox album. “Seven stars must be my aura/ I mastered levitation, I stay up in the clouds,” Dre raps on the track, which clocks in at barely two minutes. “Penthouse, hovering a hundred floors up/ I’m on some tantric yoga/ The ladies love the way I shine, I’m like Merlin when I’m erotic/ I make ya squirm no hands on ya body.” “Turn Me On” follows the West Coast producer’s Jay-Z collaboration, “Under Pressure,” which leaked online to mixed reactions earlier this summer. In June, just weeks after the Jay-Z single leaked, Dre spoke about the track on the red carpet of the ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards. The doctor, who has a reputation for being a perfectionist, wasn’t satisfied by any means. “The vocals are real rough, it’s not blended right … a hook is not even on the song,” he said, explaining that didn’t get a chance to finish the number before listeners got a sample. The song still needed a chorus and had to be mixed and mastered properly, he said. “It’s not done. The music isn’t done.” In the current issue of Vibe magazine, Dre opened up for the first time about Detox ‘s delays. He said the work time on the project hasn’t varied from his past efforts. It was his work signing and producing new talent, like 50 Cent, that has set his own project back. “Absolutely not,” Dre told the magazine when asked if he expected the album to take so long. “I thought it would take, at worst case, a couple of years. For example, actual work time on The Chronic was nine months, and actual work time on my last album, 2001, was about 10 months. The actual work time on this album is about half of that, where I’m seriously focusing on it. There is always something coming up.” What do you think about Dr. Dre’s “Turn Me On”? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Dr. Dre

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Dr. Dre’s ‘Turn Me On’ Leaks To The Web

T.I. Makes Triumphant Return To Stage In NYC

B.o.B, Swizz Beatz, Mary J. Blige, Cam’ron, Keri Hilson join Tip for ‘secret’ show. By Shaheem Reid T.I. performs in New York City on August 16 Photo: Jamie McCarthy/ Getty Images The King of the South ruled the Big Apple last night as T.I. brought a live band to lower Manhattan’s Capitale to perform a “secret show” sponsored by Axe deodorant body spray. The show was Tip’s first since returning home from prison several months ago. Wearing a hoodie, Tip addressed the crowd from the side of the stage before coming out. “Y’all act like y’all scared to get this muthaf—a started,” he said. Moments later, the King came out to “I’m Back.” Tip took off his hood to reveal a red Anaheim Angels hat, then started “Beat Down Low.” The star of the upcoming film “Takers” (due August 24) then leveled the venue with a flurry of his street classics including “Rubber Band Man,” “24s,” “Ride Wit Me” and “U Don’t Know Me.” The transitions were seamless and Tip was in prime form, sounding crisp and full of energy. The Grammy winner did take a couple of breaks though, to let his guests rock. Cam’ron came out for one of his signature bangers, “I Really Mean It.” Then the head of the Diplomats and the U.N. introduced fellow Harlem native Vado for “Speaking in Tungs.” “This is king amongst kings,” Tip said. “Since I had the King of Harlem, I had to bring out the King of Brooklyn.” Maino was then introduced and performed his platinum hit “All the Above.” Tip then shared a mini-set with his Grand Hustle artist B.o.B . First Bob came out for Paper Trail ‘s “On Top of the World” and stayed for his collabo with Tip “Bet I Bust.” T.I. then handed over the full reigns of the stage to the man with the alias of Bobby Ray. And B.o.B pulled out his number-one guns with “Nothing On You” and “Airplanes.” Tip returned and asked could he get his grown man on. Mary J. Blige then came out to the stage for “Don’t Forget Me” and “Good Love.” When Tip was at a point in the concert when some artists began to falter and lose the fans’ attention, T.I. went in the opposite direction and turned up the dial. Swizz Beatz came out for “Fancy” and you could hear the audience participating, yelling “You fancy, huh?” The enthusiasm was maintained on possibly the most energetic, note for note, two records of the night: the Tip/Swizz collaborations “Bring Em Out” and “Swing Your Rag.” From there, the catalog kept rolling with vintage records like “Swagger Like Us,” “ASAP” and “Live Your Life.” Keri Hilson was the last guest to perform, with “Got Your Back.” And as the night came to a close, Tip kept his attention on the ladies with “Whatever You Like.” Related Photos T.I.’s NYC Secret Show With B.o.B, Mary J. Blige, Cam’ron Related Artists T.I. Keri Hilson Maino B.o.B Mary J. Blige Swizz Beatz Cam’ron

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T.I. Makes Triumphant Return To Stage In NYC

Selena Gomez Releases New Album Track Listing

Katy Perry is featured on song from A Year Without Rain, due September 21. By Jocelyn Vena Selena Gomez Photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage Selena Gomez is amping her fans up for the release of her next album. On Monday she took to Facebook to share with fans the complete official track listing for her upcoming album A Year Without Rain, due September 21. “Hey Everyone– I wanted to share with you the official tracks off my upcoming album ‘A Year Without Rain’ as well as the bonus features on the deluxe album. I can’t wait for you all to hear the album,” Gomez wrote. The 10 songs on the new album are: current single “Round & Round,” title track “A Year Without Rain,” “Rock God,” “Off the Chain,” “Summer’s Not Hot,” “Intuition,” “Spotlight,” “Ghost of You,” “Sick of You” and “Live Like There’s No Tomorrow.” The deluxe version of the album will include two remixes of “A Year Without Rain,” as well as a remix of “Round & Round.” While Gomez didn’t let on about any previously reported collaborations in her Facebook message, earlier this month some websites reported that “Off the Chain” features Miley Cyrus and “Rock God” features Katy Perry . There were also murmurings of a Demi Lovato duet, “The Begging of the Road,” but that song didn’t make it to the official list. Fans may have to wait to see if Cyrus’ vocals ended up on “Off the Chain,” however, Gomez has said that Perry contributed to her album. “Katy Perry gave me a song, and she did background vocals on it,” she said. “The whole experience was really fun.” As for some of the announced songs, Gomez recently spoke to MTV News about the album and gave some insight into what people can expect. “[‘A Year Without Rain’ is] basically one of my favorite songs on the record. It’s kind of got a more feel-good dance beat and feel. I love it. It’s different; [it] kind of shows my growth of my music,” she said. “There’s a song called ‘Intuition’ that’s one of my favorites. The message is basically every decision that you regret or second-guess, [just] do it [anyway]. I love that message so much.” Are you looking forward to Selena Gomez’s new album? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Selena Gomez

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Selena Gomez Releases New Album Track Listing