25th Annual 2008 MTV Video Music Awards

Hollywood, CA – Last night (Sep. 7), MTV hosted their grand annual video music awards show at the Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California. This year marked their 25th anniversary of the first time they hosted such an impressive event. Quite possibly one of the most important awards ceremony next the Grammys, every artist of every genre of music nominated come in hopes of going home with the most prestigious moonman to their awards cabinet. However most celebrities and artists attend the event just to either present an award or show their support.

Every year, MTV always seems to pull all the stops and provide a show keeping audiences of all genres glued to the television sets for two hours and some odd minutes. This year they set up there video awards show on the backlots of Paramount Studios where many of the greatest movies of all time with taped. Artists that performed at the show graced the stages in these backlot sets showcasing an exact replica of New York City in its heydays, the same lot they used in The Godfather and many other award winning feature films.

The show was hosted by an overzealous, yet corny, Russell Brand. It was quite obvious the man didn’t know a lick about music, especially Hip-Hop; he was practically picking things out as he went along as well as following the teleprompter. At times it was even hard to make out what he was saying with that deep rooted English accent. Other than that, the performances more than made up for the eccentric host. Rihanna provided an outstanding performance vocaling her hit single ‘Disturbia.’ I’m not quite sure what her hair was all about, but either way she gave a spectacular show.The Young Money Millionaire, Lil Wayne graced the stage with a vivid orchestrated band filled with all the trimmings provided the live music for his intro song, ‘Don’t Get It (Misunderstood). Renowned vocalist, Leona Lewis even provided a Cameo vocalizing the chorus line from the track. As he went into his hit single ‘A Milli,’ you can practically sense lyricism at its best as T-Pain finally graced the stage for their finale, ‘Got Money.’ Both artists who virtually featured on almost everybody’s album provided an exciting performance. But on the real, I would have to say that T.I.P.’s performances took the cake.

He literally lit up the backlot with his number 1 hit single in the country ‘Whatever You Like,’ portrayed like mini-movie with even a co-star. As they walked through each individual set, it was interesting to see where each step would take them. As soon as the director yelled cut, T.I. quickly jumped up into his next set of clothes to join none other than Rihanna on stage as she provided a cameo for T.I. They both performed quite possibly his next soon to be hit single ‘Live Your Life.’ Talk about an extravagant performance. Speaking of cameo appearances, how about Lil Wayne guest appearing on stage with Kid Rock himself, as the rock icon performed his hit single. It was a first to see Weezy onstage with Kid Rock. To top off the whole show, the same artist who complained about last year’s awards got to headline this year’s award show and with a great ending at that. Kanye West gave an interesting performance as he closed out the show with a new track called ‘Love Lockdown.’

Overall the show was a lot better than last year and all the winners deserving in each category. We look forward to next year’s VMAs and hopefully they choose a better host. I’m just glad Linkin Park won an award for ‘Shadow of the Day.’

These were the award winners of the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards:

Video of the Year

Britney Spears – Piece of Me

Best Hip-Hop Video

Lil Wayne – Lollipop

Best Male Video

Chris Brown – With You

Best Female Video

Britney Spears – Piece of Me

Best New Artist

Tokio Hotel – Ready, Set, Go!

Best Dancing in a Video

Pussycat Dolls – When I Grow Up

Best Rock Video

Linkin Park – Shadow of the Day

Best Pop Video

Britney Spears – Piece of Me

Madden ’09 Face Off: The Game vs. Bow Wow

Los Angeles, Ca – It isn’t quite certain of whose idea it was to put Hip-Hop artists against each other in a friendly video game battle, but apparently it has become a craze amongst the industry and the media. All in all at the end of the day, the winner deserves all the bragging rights.

Before the face off even began, Bow Wow was already boasting that he could beat Game, that this was what champions are made of. He practically told the media that he was going to “fuck up The Game.”At the face off, his mentor and producer Jermaine Dupri was by his side the whole time watching how the whole game went down. The Game omitted his own anecdote by saying “I’m gonna put the little puppy in my bag and walk him down Rodeo Drive.”

As the games began, The Game chose the New England Patriots as his team of choice as Bow Wow chose the Cincinnati Bengals as his. Towards the beginning Game was already dominating full force as not even through the first quarter he was already ahead of Bow Wow 21 to 0. By the time it reached the fourth quarter, it was already done deal; Game continued to dominate 42 to 7.

By the end, The Game was the victor beating Bow Wow’s Bengals, 55 to 23 was the final score. These were the last words between the both them as their friendly duel came to an end.

The Game continued his humorous mockery towards Bow Wow:

“I’m the shit, man. I don’t know what else to say. Shout-out to Jermaine Dupri for coming to pick up his little pup. John Madden, I love you, man.”

This was Bow Wow’s excuse and reasoning behind the face off:

“I don’t care what they say, it was in the snow. Nah, it was a tough game. We both winners. The money is going to charity and I still get more girls than this nigga.”

I guess that’s why they call him The Game. It’s quite humorous the way Bow Wow was talking all that smack and in the end he literally got shut up. I’m just curious to know what the hell in his right mind made him choose the Bengals as his team of choice. Either way, it just goes to show you should follow the old saying, ‘Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.’

Ciara Graces the Cover of VIBE Magazine

Atlanta, GA – A more mature, yet grown and sexy, Crunk & B princess makes a magnificent return as later this year she plans on releasing a 3 CD set for all her fans. Each CD is said to hold a different style, a different genre, going deeper into the music that defines Ciara, This time around she’s giving her all to her fans.

With that being said, this October issue of VIBE Magazine, Ciara respectively graces the front cover with poise and sultry themes, sultry themes indeed, every man’s dreams on that cover is for her just simply to stand up. You don’t have to take my word for it, check out this October’s front cover yourself.

At press time, Ciara has already released her first single off of her highly anticipated three-disc album entitled ‘Fantasy Ride.’ The single features the talents of T-Pain and is entitled ‘Go Girl.’ The first disc is entitled ‘Groove City,’ the second ‘Crunktown,’ and the third ‘Kingdom of Dance.’ The album is slated for a December 2008 release.