MTV Extended Play: Rihanna [Video]



RiRi talks to Sway about the sequel to Love The Way You Lie (+additional versions), what it was like to work with Em, how the fans connected to the single (part one), her life over the past year,  working with Katy Perry on new music, her second single “What’s My Name” and, of course, her album LOUD. “This album is more of an expressive album…and fun.”

Jay-Z’s Decoded Song List Revealed

Roc4Life has just revealed the official song list for Jigga man’s 336 page Decoded book, hitting shelves on November 16th. Hit the jump to check out if your favorite Hovito cuts made the list…though I think it’s missing a few critical gems.

Related: Nicki Minaj Remembers Being ‘Obsessed’ With Jay-Z [via MTV]

Gay Bullying & Suicides On The Rise In Black Communities

Recent anti-gay attacks and suicides among gay youth have ignited a conversation about a problem that those in the LGBTQ community say is nothing new.

Meanwhile, one of the latest suicides took place in the city when 26-year-old Black gay youth activist Joseph Jefferson took his own life on Saturday. Jefferson worked with HIV/AIDS charities and was an assistant to promoters of Black LGBTQ events.

“I could not bear the burden of living as a gay man of color in a world grown cold and hateful towards those of us who live and love differently than the so-called ‘social mainstream,’” Jefferson posted on his Facebook page the day he killed himself.

Those in the Black gay community plan on celebrating Jefferson’s life this Friday at the LGBT Center. The event is being put on by the organization Gay Men of African Decent. Funeral services for Jefferson will be held in Brooklyn at Pone Funeral Home on Sunday.

To address the issue of bullying and suicides, several LGBT organizations are rallying on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Washington Square Park.

As the case of what many are calling one of the most brutal anti-gay crimes unfolds, three of the 11 suspects accused of participating in an attack in an abandoned house in the Bronx have been set free. Brian Cepeda, 17, Bryan Almonte, 16, and Brian Cepeda, 17, were all cleared on charges after the Bronx district attorney’s office said there was a lack of evidence.

More info can be found over at Amsterdam News.

Shyne Apologizes To L.A. Reid

After recently going off at Def Jam chairman LA Reid, Shyne Po has changed his tune (along with his voice) and has written an apologetic letter for his comments aimed at Mr. Reid & the label. Shrugs. Via XXL:

A great leader has the unique ability to admit when he’s wrong. Without this ability you suffer the fate of Napoleon and end up dead on your way to Russia.

I was wrong about my assessment of Chairman Reid. After I stopped being all Carl Thomas emotional and things like that, I thought about the facts. Fact is L.A Reid was there when I was locked, a few feet away from death row and the Black Panthers. L.A. was on the visit floor on Rikers Island looking at me through them blinding bars, showing me he believed in that gang boy revolutionary music I make.

Diddy-Dirty Money- Loving You No More (Ft. Drake) [Video]

Diddy and his Dirty Money crew, Dawn and Kaleena, recruit Drake for their latest video “Loving You No More,” the second official single from their long awaited project, Last Train To Paris, in stores December 14th.

Kid Cudi & His New Band Begin Work On Rock Album

Apparently Cudders has tired himself of rhyming for the time being so he has begun work on his third studio album, which will be a rock release.

“I already have three songs done,” the wordsmith revealed during a listening for Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager last night in New York City. He has formed a band and is working with Dot da Genius, the producer behind his 2009 hit ‘Day ‘N’ Nite.’

“Our band is called Wizards!” Cudder shared. “We’re starting to record on the tour bus. We’ll be doing college runs.” The rapper is learning the guitar for the occasion, something he wanted to do for the past decade. “I never thought I could play an instrument. I always downplayed that shit.” Thanks Rap-Up. You can check out his interview with MTV Extended Play, as he speaks candidly about upcoming collabos, his album MOTM2, and much more.

Cam’ron- Huddy 6 (Tribute)

Where Betha at?/ I’m like f*ck Ma$e

Killa Cam pays tribute to his longtime friend Andre “Huddy 6″ Hudson, who was fatally killed in a car accident on the George Washington Bridge a few weeks ago. R.I.P.

Download link here: Cam’ron- Huddy 6 (Tribute)

Jay-Z Discusses ‘Decoded’ with The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal posted a few excerpts from an interview they had with Jay-Z in which he spoke on the not-so-coded lyrics to ‘Big Pimpin’ that were featured at the Decoded party in Miami and will appear in his memoir when it hits stores November 16th:

WSJ: You’re famous for not writing your lyrics down as you compose them. What changes about them when you see them on the page like this?

Jay-Z: Some [lyrics] become really profound when you see them in writing. Not “Big Pimpin.” That’s the exception. It was like, I can’t believe I said that. And kept saying it. What kind of animal would say this sort of thing? Reading it is really harsh. Peep the full interview here: Just Asking: Decoding Jay-Z

Missy Elliott To “Blow The Whistle” in Comeback

Five years since the release of her last album The Cookbook, Missy Elliot is said to finally be readying her return via a self-described club record billed ‘Blow Your Whistle’ that will be released “in a minute,” but Missy first has to decide how the video will look. “I gotta figure out this video thing and then we gon’ drop it. It’s gotta be a whole thing, it’s a puzzle for me,” the hip-hop vet recently told MTV News. “It’s not just the record, it’s about the video too.”

Past concepts have included Missy sporting a garbage bag, adidas tracksuits, and a scarecrow outfit—and she promises to push the envelope even further with the treatment for ‘Blow Your Whistle. “Something crazy,” she revealed. “I’m taking my foot off this time. I don’t know. Something crazy though.”

Harlem’s Own Huddy Combs Laid To Rest [Video]



Folks came out to say their last goodbyes to the late Harlemite Andre “Huddy 6″ Hudson, who was fatally killed in a car accident on the George Washington Bridge last week. I’m guessing there was a viewing at Benta’s Funeral Home, followed by the service at Saint James Presbyterian Church across the street. Juelz Santana and Rucker announcer Hannibal also paid their respects.