Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Drake Receive RIAA Award Plaques

Cash Money Records Annual Pre-Grammy Awards Party was held at The Lot on Saturday night in West Hollywood, CA. The whole Cash Money crew was on hand for the festivities.

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Usher - 'Lil Freak' Ft. Nicki Minaj (video snippet)

(thanks to Mickey AcidWash for the sending over)

Usher Raymond v. Raymond on LaFace/Jive/Zomba arrives March 30.

Jay-Z, Lil Wayne: More From The Madison Square Garden 2010 BP3 Tour NYC

Here's what another major press outlet, New York Post said about Jay-Z triumphant return to NYC on his BP3 2010 concert tour:

Through the entire concert, Jay paced the stage like an unleashed tiger, while images that illustrated his music flashed overhead on the mock skyscrapers.

The video graphic work during this show was so good, had Z not given as dynamic a performance as he did, he might have been upstaged by his own visuals.

He wasn't.

In fact, his presence conjured the same kind of concert excitement and pure devotion that Sinatra managed to extract form his fans years ago and that Springsteen draws from his army today. As sacrilegious as it may seem, with everyone in Madison Square Garden raising their arms and pressing their hands together to make a diamond shape to praise Jay-Z, it's as if the audience was experiencing the second coming.

In New York, the rapper's hometown, Jay couldn't do any wrong. The early peak was when he belted "Empire State of Mind," which made the house churn.

New York Post - King of NY-Z



And lots to be said about Lil Wayne's guest spot at the Garden:

With a courthouse fire giving Lil Wayne at least another day’s reprieve before going to jail on gun charges, Weezy enjoyed his surprise freedom by making what will likely be his last pre-incarceration live appearance at Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 tour stop in New York City last night. After Jay-Z handed the mike over to his tourmate Young Jeezy about 45 minutes into his set, Jeezy informed the crowd of Weezy’s unexpected situation and brought out Wayne’s Young Money teammate Nikki Minaj, dedicating “Bedrock” to Tha Carter III rapper.

Rolling Stone - Lil Wayne Cameos at Jay-Z Show After Evading Jail One More Day

More fan shot footage below.













(video courtesy of LegendsUnlimited,1SHOT2002, joylorraine505, FRANK2HOT4U & Danared234)

Related:
Jay-Z Hometown Show At Madison Square Garden Concert Recap

Jay-Z's BP3 2010 Tour dates:

Mar 03 Washington, DC - Verizon Center
Mar 05 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun
Mar 06 East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
Mar 07 Norfolk, VA - Scope Arena
Mar 11 Boston, MA - TD Garden
Mar 12 Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
Mar 14 Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
Mar 16 Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
Mar 18 Chicago, IL - United Center
Mar 19 St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
Mar 20 Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
Mar 22 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
Mar 24 San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
Mar 26 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center

Rip The Runway 2010 Behind The Scenes With Soulja Boy, Nicki Minaj, Trina & More

via the press release / report

New York, NY, United States (CNS) - After lending her guest vocals and filming videos for singles from Mariah Carey and Ludacris, current hip-hop princess Nicki Minaj is now taking up hosting duties on BET's annual fashion and music event "Rip the Runway."

Now in its sixth year, this year's "Music Moving Fashion Forward" theme brings together models, music, and Minaj, who is co-hosting this year's "Rip the Runway" along with "The Game" star Pooch Hall. Top designers Tracey Reese, Tennille White, Miva, Gavin Douglass, and Protege will showcase the latest trends in fashion and must-have looks.

"Rip the Runway" also features performances from fashion-forward artists, like Minaj, Estelle, and Janelle Monae. Also performing are Ludacris, Big Boi, and Roscoe Dash and Soulja Boy Tell 'Em.

"Rip the Runway" was taped on Saturday, February 27th at the Manhattan Center (Hammerstein Ballroom) in New York. It's set to air on BET in the Spring (March 15).

Photos:
Getty Images - Arrivals
Getty Images - Show
Film Magic - Arrivals
Film Magic - Show
Wire Image - Arrivals
Wire Image - Show
Corbis Images - Show
WENN Photo - Arrivals
WENN Photo - Show

(video courtesy of ForressTV & rnbsensation110)

Jay-Z Hometown Show At Madison Square Garden Concert Recap

via MTV

NEW YORK — There is always palpable exhilaration whenever Jay-Z plays Madison Square Garden. Tuesday night (March 2) was another sold-out show at MSG as Hov's Blueprint 3 Tour arrived in town.

After Trey Songz played up to the ladies with his set, there was a short intermission. Like lightning -- boom! The Beastie Boys' "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" video began playing on two big screens that hung over the stage, and a 10-minute countdown began perfectly in sync with the classic hip-hop track. Hova chants started several minutes prior to that.



Finally, with no time left on the clock, Jay's music began. He was greeted with a deafening roar of approval. "Feel it coming in the air," Rihanna's recorded voice from "Run This Town" blasted through the arena.

Jay rose from underneath the stage, rolling his head around his shoulders like a young Mike Tyson getting ready for a prize fight. Jay, like Tyson in the '80s, knows he's a dominant force in any ring, any arena, but especially at the Garden, he's unstoppable.

Jay then brought out Memphis Bleek and told his former neighbor in the Marcy Projects he wanted him to see something special. Like a wizard, Jigga waved his hand around the arena and made fans scream.

"I wanna be careful how I phrase this, because it's one of my heroes," Jay said. "Madison Square Garden used to be Run's House. But 'Run's House' is now on MTV. Madison Square Garden is now 'The House That Hov Built.' "

His assertion was backed up with triumphant showings of "On to the Next One," "U Don't Know," "99 Problems" and "Show Me What You Got."

"Empire State of Mind" felt special in the Garden. Jay's performance of the record filled the arena with hometown pride. It's the closest feeling the crowd at the Garden will get to the Knicks winning the championship ... at least until LeBron James signs with the team next year (fingers crossed).



James was in attendance, along with his Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Shaquille O'Neal, Rick Ross, Gwyneth Paltrow, Diddy and Cash Money Records CEO the Birdman. Birdman was on hand to cheer on his "son" Lil Wayne. Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj had the show-stealing moment as part of Young Jeezy's set. The Snowman also brought out Akon.

Jeezy came out about 40 minutes into Jay's show, and the two did "Real as It Gets" from Blueprint 3. After handing Jeezy the keys to MSG for a while, Jay came back and traded rhymes with his Southern partner on the remixes of "Put On" and "My President." Trey Songz came out with Jay as well to help out on "Heart of the City" and "Already Home."

The Blueprint 3 Tour stopped with an "overtime" session that saw Jay take his fans back as far as the Reasonable Doubt days with "Ain't No N---a" and "Can I Live."

"Am I going too far back? This moment is only for us," he added of himself and fans of his first LP.

Hov then brought it up a few years for "Big Pimpin'," with Jay urging everyone to wave whatever they had from rags to bandanas to hats in the air, Carnivale-style.

"I don't take it for granted," Jay said of the fan love. "I appreciate everyone in the building tonight. Thank you, and I hope we return the love tenfold.

The legendary MC then asked to do one more record: "Encore."

Hov is going to be in the Tri-State Area with a few shows during these next two weeks. He plays Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel as well as the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island next week.

Photos:
Getty Images
Rex Features
Miss Info
Patrick McMullan
Metro NY

After party photos:
Getty Images
Wire Image
Film Magic

(video courtesy of mistertroyf)

Jay-Z's BP3 2010 Tour dates:

Mar 03 Washington, DC - Verizon Center
Mar 05 Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun
Mar 06 East Rutherford, NJ - Izod Center
Mar 07 Norfolk, VA - Scope Arena
Mar 11 Boston, MA - TD Garden
Mar 12 Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
Mar 14 Detroit, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
Mar 16 Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
Mar 18 Chicago, IL - United Center
Mar 19 St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
Mar 20 Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
Mar 22 Denver, CO - Pepsi Center
Mar 24 San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
Mar 26 Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center

Mariah Carey 'Angels Advocate' Remix Album To Arrive March 9

via the press release

Mariah Carey is currently on her "Angels Advocate" tour and the singer is set to release a remix album of the same name. The album is currently slated to be released in March.

Featuring remixed versions of songs from her recent Gold album "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel," "Angels Advocate" is being fronted by the lead singles "Angels Cry" with Ne-Yo and a remix to "Up Out My Face" with rapper Nicki Minaj. Videos were shot for both singles and are expected to be released soon.

"Working with Mariah was a learning experience. Her level of professionalism is almost double what mine is and the thing is, you won't expect it," Ne-Yo said of his recent collaboration with Carey to SPOT.ph. "Normally, when you see Mariah, you just see the glitz and the glamour, and she's a diva, she's fabulous. But when it's time to work, she focuses and gets the job done."

Remixes of "Obsessed" Gucci Mane and "H.A.T.E. U," with Mane, OJ Da Juiceman, and Big Boi were previously serviced to radio. "Angels Advocate" is also expected to feature collaborations with T-Pain, Trey Songz, and Mary J. Blige.

Also working on the remix project, which is currently unconfirmed whether it'll be released as a separate entity, are current club remixers du jour Jump Smokers, who along with handling mixes of Mariah's latest singles have also revamped recent releases from Rihanna and Beyonce. They're remixing the entire "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" album.

"Our remix album will have entirely new music built around Mariah's existing vocals," Jump Smokers said to Mariah fan site Mariah Daily Journal last month. "Our one and only mission is to turn 'Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel' into an amazing dance record."

"Angels Advocate" is currently scheduled to be released March 9th, the same day Carey's award-winning turn in "Precious" is released to DVD and Blu-ray.

Jingle Bash Concert @ Phillips Arena Atlanta, GA

PHOTOS:
Freddyo
Young Money HQ
Ozone Magazine

(video courtesy of Dolla One)

Young Money On Track To Sell 120K-130K First Week Sales

According to Hits Daily Double based on the first day sales round up, Young Money album 'We Are Young Money' is on track to sell between 120k-130k first week of release.

The Hits Daily Double numbers will become more firmer a day prior (on Tuesday, December 29) to the Nielsen/Soundscan (the industry standard) numbers as we will see next Wednesday, December 30.

Nicki Minaj Interview With DJ Whoo Kid On Shade 45 Radio