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Nicki Minaj Talks Hottest MCs At NBA All-Star Game

After performing ‘Super Bass,’ MC walked offstage and celebrated her Hottest MCs placement with MTV News. By Rob Markman Nicki Minaj performs at the 2012 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday Photo: Ronald Martinez/ Getty Images ORLANDO, Florida — All the stars are out for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game, but before basketball’s biggest names took the court at Orlando’s Amway Center, Ms. Nicki Minaj set the party off right. The reigning queen of rap rocked her smash single “Super Bass” in the jam-packed b-ball arena. Wearing a skintight white jumpsuit and a blond and pink hairdo, the Young Money MC spit her bars and hit her dance steps in front of the thousands of fans in Amway and the millions watching at home. After the short set, Nicki strutted back to her dressing room and spotted MTV News on the way. The topic of conversation? MTVs Hottest MCs in the Game VII , of course. Nicki placed #4 on the list and proceeded to talk her ish as a true MC should. “Hottest MCs #4, let’s get it,” she boasted with a Queens swagger. “That’s big, though. I deserve it. I put in work.” On Thursday night Nicki released her new single “Roman Reloaded” with Lil Wayne, and on the new single from her upcoming sophomore album she made sure to brag and boast. Only Rick Ross, Drake and Kanye West placed higher, giving Minaj the highest Hottest ranking for a female MC in the history of the debate. Nicki was initially slotted at #5 with Young Money boss Wayne clocking in at #4, but several members of the MTV Hottest Brain Trust felt strongly enough about Nicki’s accomplishments mixed with her lyrical impact and ability to more than hold her own when playing with the boys warranted a second look at her ranking. Hottest MCs moderator Sway Calloway called for a vote and in the end, six of the nine experts elected to move Nicki up to the #4 spot, sending Weezy down to #5. What did you think of Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” performance at the start of 2012 NBA All-Star Game? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos NBA All-Star Game | Nicki Minaj Performance Related Artists Nicki Minaj

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Nicki Minaj Talks Hottest MCs At NBA All-Star Game

‘Breaking Dawn,’ ‘Hunger Games’ Top Movie Brawl Sweet 16

Anything can happen as front-runners and dark horses duke it out for the top spot in our tourney. By Eric Ditzian Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″ Photo: Summit Entertainment What a ride it’s been so far in the MTV Movie Brawl 2012 ! After more than a quarter million votes, fans have whittled down the competition from an opening round of 32 films to a 16-flick bracket topped by #1 seeds ” Hunger Games ” and “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.” Now that the pretenders and also-rans have been axed — See ya later “Expendables 2”! Thanks for playing “Rock of Ages”! — it’s time for the big guns to face off. Let’s get right to it. Upper West Region Otherwise known as the Robert Pattinson Honorary Region, this section of the bracket features three RPattz films. While we love seeing the 3-D re-release of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” sneaking into the Sweet 16 after a wild-card win in round one, George Lucas’ baby doesn’t have much of a shot to knock “Breaking Dawn” from its perch atop the bracket. Twi-fans came out in force over the weekend to conquer “Hunger Games” and assure itself the highest vote total of round one. So Pattinson and his vampire pals have got to be feeling good as voting moves forward. Things are much more up in the air in the region’s other matchup: “Cosmopolis” vs. “Bel Ami.” Will Pattinson fans favor his cerebral, David Cronenberg-directed drama or his Uma Thurman-co-starring love story, which holds out the prospect of, as RPattz himself told us , “a lot of my crack in it.” This matchup is just too close to call at this point. Lower West Region This region is all about the superheroes, though neither “Dark Knight Rises,” “The Amazing Spider-Man” nor “Marvel’s The Avengers” performed heroically in the first round. The MTV Movies team had been eyeing “TDKR” as one of the films to beat headed into the tournament, but fans didn’t turn out to support Christopher Nolan’s final Batman film in the numbers we expected. “Avengers” managed to nab a six seed, but Captain America and his crew had better bring their A-games if they want to give “TDKR” a run for its money. By contrast, “Spider-Man,” which barely survived round one, is going to have to deliver nothing short of an inspired performance if it expects to knock off “Dark Shadows.” Tim Burton’s adaptation of the supernatural soap opera announced itself as a potential dark horse after an impressive and unexpected first-round showing. An Elite Eight showdown between “Dark Shadows” and “Dark Knight” would make for a kick-ass brawl. Upper East Region “Hunger Games” enters the Sweet 16 with a bit of wind taken out of its sails, following its failure to garner the most round-one votes after leading for most of the week. Its new matchup is a pivotal one, and a blowout of “Prometheus” would go a long way toward assuring fans that “Hunger Games” has its eye locked squarely on a final matchup with “Breaking Dawn.” But before we get there, “Hunger Games” will have to contend with two action flicks, in “John Carter” and “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” that have been surging in recent days. “G.I. Joe” didn’t even look like it was going to make the Sweet 16 until a last-minute rise. That sequel could potentially play the spoiler in this four-seed vs. five-seed matchup. Lower East Region Anything can happen in this region. Based on its pedigree, you might expect “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” to run roughshod over anything at this point in the tournament. But Peter Jackson’s flick faces off against Emma Watson’s “Perks of Being a Wallflower,” a wild-card entrant that can easily spoil the hopes of everyone in Middle-earth. This matchup to just too close to call. And don’t count out another upset in the game between “Snow White and the Huntsman” and “The Woman in Black.” Though “SWATH” has a lot of heat behind it, based on a top-notch trailer and the leadership of Kristen Stewart, you underestimate Daniel Radcliffe’s fans at your own peril. But which star has the most feverish following? The answer to that question will likely reveal which film moves on to the Elite Eight in the MTV Movie Brawl 2012. What are you waiting for? Your must-see movie needs your support. It’s time to show character, poise and heart. Vote for your picks now at MTV Movie Brawl 2012 ! Related Videos Get Ready For MTV Movie Brawl 2012!

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‘Breaking Dawn,’ ‘Hunger Games’ Top Movie Brawl Sweet 16

Blue Ivy Carter Makes Debut On New Jay-Z Track

‘My most greatest creation was you,’ Jay tells his newborn daughter on ‘Glory’ By Rob Markman Jay-Z Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/ FilmMagic Only two days old and young Blue Ivy Carter has already clocked in a duet with her big poppa. On Monday (January 9), Jay-Z dropped “Glory” featuring B.I.C. on his Life and Times blog. Over a simple but soulful loop, Jay dedicates his bars to he and Beyonc

Drake: I Made Take Care ‘My Way’

‘I feel like I’ve earned the right to do it my way,’ Drizzy told MTV News before November 15 LP leaked onto Net. By Rob Markman Drake Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images Rather than rant and complain about his album leaking on Sunday night, Drake accepts that it’s just a normal part of the record biz. After a nearly complete version of Take Care (“The Ride” and the LP’s bonus cuts seem to be missing) hit the Internet, Drizzy took to Twitter to address the early release. “Listen, enjoy it, buy it if you like it…and take care until next time,” he wrote . Although TC is officially slated to hit retail on November 15, the album has spawned numerous trending topics on Twitter and has dominated hip-hop’s social conversation over the last 24 hours. Rather than an overblown production befitting of rap’s fastest rising star, on Take Care, the OVO general scales back and puts the focus on his native Toronto and his relationship with the city. The sophomore LP, recorded mostly in Canada with Drizzy’s right-hand producer Noah “40” Shebib , is a deliberate toast to his town. “That’s one of the biggest stories behind this album, it’s either my way or we’re not doing it — in everything,” Drake told MTV News back in October. “Every photo shoot, every video, every step I’m taking I feel like I’ve earned the right to do it my way, so part of doing it my way I want you to see who I am really around.” And his TO crew may not be as clean-cut as Drake’s radio-friendly music may have led fans to believe. Opening with the melancholy “Over My Dead Body,” Drake sets things off with a shot to his detractors and tells how his success ultimately supports his people in the struggle. “Just performed at a bar mitzvah over in the States/ Used half of the money to beat my brother’s case,” he spits. On “Crew Love,” Drake gives Toronto upstart the Weeknd a push. Despite the song’s calming melody, there is something rather menacing about it once the Young Money star begins to rattle off his bars. After going on about taking his goons on vacation, Drake threatens violence with the coyness of a mafia don when he rhymes, “I got a lot of friends to come up off the strip for me/ The same ones that will come up off the hip for me.” It’s not unlike the sing-songy line in “Headlines” where Drizzy begs the haters “You gon’ make someone around me catch a body like that.” By now, Drake’s story is well-known: Child actor from Canada drops a couple of mixtapes, one of which makes its way to Lil Wayne, who then invites the young MC on tour and signs him to his Young Money label. But on “Look What You’ve Done,” Drake takes his personal narrative and adds all of the necessary color. He starts off talking to his disapproving mother, “We argue about spendin’ money on bullsh–/ And you tell me I’m just like my father, my one button you push it.” Maybe we’ve had Drake pegged wrong all along? Maybe it’s all just entertainment? Regardless, on Take Care, Drake shows a different side than we’ve previously seen from him. “I show love and get love back, and I think that’s very important for people to see,” he told MTV News. “Just know that’s our town, that’s our place, so that was important for me to really display that consistently on this album.” “Underground Kings” and the Just Blaze-produced “Lord Knows,” featuring Rick Ross, finds the rapper planting his rap flag, while the Rihanna-assisted title track is a pulsating dance track that aims to take Drizzy past the confines of hip-hop and R&B. Still, with all the sonic variations on Take Care, there’s one common thread. Throughout the LP, the Young Money virtuoso consistently puts on for the city that he’s from. Welcome to Toronto. Share your reviews of Take Care in the comments below! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Drake Related Artists Drake

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Drake: I Made Take Care ‘My Way’

Wiz Khalifa On Chevy Woods: ‘It’s His Time’

‘I really want to introduce people to him,’ Wiz tells Mixtape Daily of Taylor Gang member. By Rob Markman Chevy Woods Photo: MTV News Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables Headliner : Chevy Woods featuring Wiz Khalifa Mixtape : The Cookout Key Cameo : “Aunts N Uncles” featuring Wiz Khalifa Real Spit : Chevy Woods has an unexplainable hunger, so on his The Cookout mixtape , Taylor Gang’s next-up serves up healthy portions of well-prepared tracks. Though Chevy is flanked by Wiz Khalifa on the tape, the Taylor general makes it clear that he is focusing on pushing Woods out as the crew’s next star. “Now it’s his time,” Wiz told Mixtape Daily from the Black carpet for the taping of BET’s October 11 Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta. “I really want to introduce people to him, so I was like, I’m gonna fall back, do a little bit, but really let him get his shine on.” And shine he does. Wiz, who uses the alias Cap on The Cookout, does appear on eight of the tape’s 11 tracks, but it’s Chevy who steers his ship. For “Downfall,” Chev sets the tone on the breezy, horn-laced track. From his opening bars it is clear that the street-bred Woods is quite different from Khalifa, who has made his bones off of fun-loving party anthems. “I used to spread the white for the bread like mayo/ All mine, nobody had a say-so,” Chevy spits of his hustling past. Woods has been floored by the tape’s response since it was released at the end of September. “Overwhelming, it was crazy,” he said. “Everybody was showing me love. I appreciate it; that’s what I’m looking for.” On the Big Jerm-produced “Napkins,” the Pittsburgh MC lays a melodic hook dedicated to smoking weed and driving with the top down. Then on “Aunts N Uncles” things get even more laid-back. Chevy sings an off-key hook that perfectly matches the beat’s vibe. “I know I did some things that’s wrong, but still you gotsta love me,” he croons, before Wiz marches in to lay his bars. This latest Chevy tape is much different from his harder-edged March 2011 release, Red Cup Music. This time out Chev shows another side. Absent are menacing bangers like “Straight Ballin’ ” and the kinetic late-night party anthem “Jimmy Fallon.” Instead CW keeps a consistently smooth vibe on tracks like “Cassette” and the sing-songy “Head Over Hills.” Sounds perfect for a cookout. “That’s where I’m trying to take you: to my backyard with my mom on the grill and my homeys around,” Chevy said of the tape back in July. “I just want them to hear where I come from.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Artists Wiz Khalifa

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Wiz Khalifa On Chevy Woods: ‘It’s His Time’

Donny Goines Says New LP Shows His ‘Hunger And Drive’

Upcoming Success Served Cold features Bun B, Fred Da Godson, in Mixtape Daily. By Rob Markman Donny Goines Photo: MTV News Fire Starter : Donny Goines “If you don’t know my name, I’m not working hard enough.” That’s been Harlem rapper Donny Goines’ mantra since 2006, when he first decided to pick up a microphone. His inspiration, as with so many other up-and-coming MCs, came from Jay-Z. After watching his 2004 concert film Fade to Black (two years after it was initially released), he took on a reworked version of the name of famed novelist Donald Goines and hit the studio. It may have taken him some years to get here, especially considering the pace at which new-gen rappers release music online, but he insists that he is in it for the long haul. “In this day and age, music is so worthless; people make it worthless. The reason why I say that is because they’re so focused on the actual speed of getting music and they’re so focused on the microwave type of music, and I decided a long time ago that I will not do that anymore,” he told Mixtape Daily. “If you can’t wait for me and you can’t wait for my albums, then you’re not really, truly a fan.” After making a splash online in 2008 with his viral video freestyle series “BARS,” Donny went on to release digital projects such as Minute After Midnight, The Breakfast Club and last year’s 20X EP. His next album is the one that Goines firmly believes will launch him into the consciousness of rap fans across the globe. Success Served Cold will be offered as a free digital download and feature contributions from Bun B, Fred Da Godson, XV, Laws and producer Statik Selektah. The album blends two popular phrases: “Success is the best revenge” and “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” “This is like the precursor to my long-term career,” Goines said of the album, which will come in the fall. “I’ve worked my whole career to this album and that’s what makes it so special. It’s something that when people hear, they’re gonna understand the hunger and the drive and the determination.” Donny began working on Success Served Cold in late 2010, and he has even partnered up with mtvU to document a piece of his recording process. “I want to create classics,” he said before recalling how his favorite rappers used to release music. “I waited two years for a Nas album; I waited three years for a Biggie album. I waited for certain artists, and why should I be any different?” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines .

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Donny Goines Says New LP Shows His ‘Hunger And Drive’

Lloyd Banks, Trina, More On ‘RapFix Live’ Anniversary Special!

Maino, the Outlawz also join host Sway on the red couch for one-year anniversary live stream Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com. By Rob Markman Lloyd Banks and Sway on “RapFix Live” in November 2010 Photo: MTV News What a year! From the ascent of Wiz Khalifa to the rise of Rick Ross’ Maybach Music empire; from Lil Wayne’s 2010 prison release to T.I.’s latest incarceration; from the tragic death of Nate Dogg to the murder of M-Bone; not to mention the release of the highly anticipated Watch the Throne and Tha Carter IV, “RapFix Live” has been the number one source of all things hip-hop. After 12 months of hard work, MTV News will celebrate on the “RapFix Live” one-year anniversary show, set to kick off Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com. Lloyd Banks , Maino , Trina and the Outlawz will join host Sway in taking a look back at the past year in hip-hop. In this special celebratory broadcast, “RapFix” will also relive the show’s greatest moments. Who could forget when Rick Ross graced the “RFL” couch for the very first time, or when Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose professed their love for each other in front of our cameras? After announcing their reunion, the Diplomats appeared on “RapFix Live” in January — but without Juelz Santana. While the Dipset, covering for their boy, told us Elz had suffered an allergic reaction, we later learned that the Harlem spitter had his studio raided by police. Santana stopped by himself in June to set the record straight. Cam’ron and crew weren’t the only rap supergroup to stop by “RFL,” though. Before releasing their Bad Meets Evil EP, Royce Da 5’9″ and Eminem invited Sway out to Detroit for a special sit-down. Fans also tuned in, in record numbers, when Consequence swung through the MTV Newsroom and aired out his grievances with onetime label boss and friend Kanye West . Yes, there have been some memorable moments on “RapFix Live” and a wide range of guests, including Lil’ Kim, Nicki Minaj, Game, Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Ja Rule and J. Cole. But the exclusive interviews aren’t the only thing that fans tune in to see on “RapFix Live.” At the end of every broadcast, the show’s guest isn’t allowed to leave until he or she kicks a freestyle rhyme. Pusha T, Fat Joe, Beanie Sigel, Nicki, Reek Da Villain and Fabolous have all blessed the show with their bars. The ridiculous rhymes and the standout moments — we’re celebrating it all on Wednesday’s one-year anniversary show! Fans can also vote on their favorite “RapFix Live” freestyles and “RapFix Live” moments on our blog. Be sure to join the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #RapFixLive. Catch Lloyd Banks, Maino, Trina and the Outlawz on the “RapFix Live” one-year anniversary show on Wednesday, September 14, at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com! Related Artists Lloyd Banks Maino Trina

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Lloyd Banks, Trina, More On ‘RapFix Live’ Anniversary Special!

Big Sean, Kanye West Made ‘Marvin Gaye And Chardonnay’ For ‘Special Times’

‘It’s self-explanatory,’ Detroit MC tells MTV News about good-time track from his June 28 debut album. By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Ade Mangum Big Sean Photo: Rich Sancho/ MTV News Rolling with Kanye West has plenty of benefits. G.O.O.D. Music rapper Big Sean ‘s first album, Finally Famous, boasts features from an assortment of A-list hip-hop talent, including Wiz Khalifa, Lupe Fiasco, Pharrell “Skateboard P” Williams, Chris Brown and, of course, Mr. West. The Chicago rapper/producer teams with his prot

David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren Bring Ultra Music Fest To A Close

All-star lineup of Erick Morillo, Wolfgang Gartner, Laidback Luke, will.i.am, Diddy, Chemical Brothers and many more close out three-day bash. By Akshay Bhansali David Guetta and Flo Rida perform at Ultra Music Fest Photo: MTV News MIAMI — On its third and final day, the Ultra Music Festival delivered a blazing one-two punch of trance and house star power for the 50,000 fans in attendance on closing day of the annual get-together held at Bicentennial Park. The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am joined an impressive roster of house-music performers that included Laidback Luke, Steve Aoki, Erick Morillo, Robbie Rivera , Wolfgang Gartner and David Guetta. Dutch trance music star Armin van Buuren celebrated the 500th broadcast of his A State of Trance show, this time dubbed ASOT 500, in honor of the milestone. The show filled in the slot normally taken by Carl Cox’s stage on Friday and Saturday, and van Buuren brought some well-known trance-DJ friends like Cosmic Gate, Gareth Emery, Ferry Corsten, ATB and the night’s closer, Sander Van Doorn, all of whom helped to pack a few thousand fans into the tent, chest to back, to capacity. Just before 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, AVB joined friend/countryman/collaborator Corsten onstage. But a hug and a few jokes later and it was van Buuren’s turn to steer the ASOT 500 ship, and he throttled into his set. Van Buuren also held down hosting duties throughout the night, revealing in an on air-interview with ATB the pair have collaborated on a track titled “Vice Versa.” On the main stage, Gartner didn’t just hit fans with hits like “Spacejunk,” “Illmerica,” and his deadmau5 collabo, “Animal Rights.” He also tested out a few new songs, including still-unreleased gems “818,” and his next single, the electro-house banger “Forever,” which features vocals by will.i.am. Later, house legend Morillo blessed the crowd with three top-notch vocalists: Rachel Starr, former Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta, and powerhouse singer Shawnee Taylor took turns joining him onstage. Fans sang along with Taylor as she belted the hits “Stronger” and “Live Your Life” among others. Finally, Diddy joined his buddy Morillo onstage, dropping his bars from Dirty South’s remix of Diddy-Dirty Money’s “Coming Home,” a Miami Music Week DJ-set staple. David Guetta was feeling particularly electro-clubby. He hammered fans with hair-raising renditions of his material, kicking things off with “Gettin’ Over You,” and then a baritone horn-driven thumper of a tune that some fans may have heard days before at Mansion. Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am joined Guetta onstage at various points of the night, adding vocals to Guetta’s remixes of BEP hits “The Time,” and “I Gotta Feeling.” But probably the more unexpected cameo was Flo Rida, who showed up with an entourage of Super Soaker-wielding friends and charged onto the stage for the Guetta/Flo hit “Club Can’t Handle Me.” Perhaps the most moving moment of the day came when rising star Afrojack joined Guetta and addressed the audience. “Miami, last year, I played here for the first time, through David,” Afrojack said. “I had a great time. David is all about the love. David, I love you. Miami, I love you. This guy is the f—ing sh–! So Miami, make some noise for David Guetta!” Needless to say, the crowd seemed to agree with the 22-year-old Dutch phenom. They returned his request with a roar. Did you attend Ultra Music Festival in Miami this year? Tell us about your experience in the comments below! Related Videos Pump Your Fist For Miami Music Week Related Photos Miami Music Week Related Artists David Guetta Flo Rida Armin Van Buuren

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David Guetta, Armin Van Buuren Bring Ultra Music Fest To A Close

Jay-Z’s Former Protege Gets 8 Years Behind Bars

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Jay-Z ‘s former rap protege Tru Life has been sentenced to eight years behind bars for his part in a fatal 2009 stabbing in New York. Tru Life – real name Roberto Rosado, Jr. – who was once signed to Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records roster, pleaded guilty to gang assault following the death of Christopher Guerrero, who was killed in an attack at a Manhattan apartment building. A second man was left seriously injured. The rapper’s brother Marcus Rosado pleaded guilty to manslaughter and got his brother off a possible murder charge after admitting it was him – and not his sibling – who had stabbed both men. During sentencing in New York on Wednesday, the judge handed Tru Life eight years in jail and his brother 10. The rapper’s lawyer, Alan Abramson, said following sentencing, “Robert is extremely saddened by what happened. Mr. Guerrero did not deserve what happened to him.”

Jay-Z’s Former Protege Gets 8 Years Behind Bars