MC Lloyd Banks also recorded a question for Soulja Boy to answer via MTV's live stream this Thursday.By Jayson Rodriguez

Soulja Boy Tell'em Photo: Rene Cerzantes

Mr. "Pretty Boy Sway" is in the building this week as Soulja Boy Tell 'Em will be the next artist to sit down with him for "RapFix Live," set to stream on MTV.com this Thursday at 1 p.m. ET.

Anybody can ask Soulja Boy a question: All you have to do is tweet your inquiry to @mtvnews (be sure to include the hashtag #rapfixlive so that we can track your questions). If you'd rather show your face on the Internet, record your question on video and upload it to Your.MTV.com (just be sure to include "Soulja Boy Tell 'Em" in the title of the clip).

The Teen of the South, now 20, follows in the digital footsteps of Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, Fat Joe (with a surprise visit from Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, who provided music for an impromptu freestyle by the Bronx rapper), and Lloyd Banks as a "RapFix Live" guest.

Last week, Banks exclusively announced he had inked a new recording contract with EMI Records for his next album, The Hunger for More. The G-Unit MC also took the opportunity to "pass the mic" to SB and ask the "Crank Dat" star a question.

" 'Pretty Boy Swag' was like one of my favorite records for the year," Banks told Sway. "I wanna know what the next joint is gonna be. And when I'm gonna get the phone call to be on it?"

Log on to MTV.com this Thursday at 1 p.m. ET to watch Soulja Boy answer Lloyd Banks' question and more!

• Soulja Boy Tell'em

'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.

• T.I.
• B.o.B

'Yeezy called me and we gon' make it pop,' Wu-Tang rapper tells XXL magazine about conversation that followed series of weekend tweets.By Gil Kaufman

Justin Bieber Photo: Robyn Beck/ Getty Images

The improbable hip-hop/pop summit that seemed like a 140-character fever dream just a few days ago might actually come together. After Kanye West and Justin Bieber opened a mutual admiration society over the weekend by exchanging tweets about how much they liked each other's music and would love to collaborate, the third wheel in their hip-pop tricycle, Wu-Tang rapper Raekwon, said on Tuesday that the session is a sure thing.

"It's definitely gonna happen," the Chef told XXL magazine. "When you got these kinda talents merging together to do something exciting, I think it's something that's gonna make the fans check it out. I'm big fans of both of these guys. I think, at the end of the day, shorty is a sensation. And [for him] to acknowledge me it makes me feel good that the young generation is checkin' me out like that. And at the same time it gives me a position to play a big brother in the game. He wants my assistance or whatever, he can get it. I respect him, I like his style."

It all began on Sunday morning, when Yeezy typed that he had contracted Bieber Fever and was digging the Canadian teen's music. "Listening to @Justin Bieber 'Run Away love,' " West tweeted. "I love Sunday mornings in the crib." An hour later, Kanye revealed that he's got a similar song title on his upcoming album. "But I have listened to 'Runaway Love' about 10 times so far," West wrote. "Ironically I got a song called 'Runaway' on my new album too."

Those Tweets caught Bieber's attention, and the teen shot back, "It's not a so what moment for me. I'm 16 and a fan. I'm kinda hyped u are listening to my stuff. Thank u. Nice sunday morning." West then suggested that he and Bieber make it official by having Rae bless the track as well.

But what seemed like just idle talk among celeb Twitter-heads has apparently turned into a thing, according to Rae, who said he's already talked to West about recording a song. "Yeezy called me and we gon' make it pop," he said. "At the end of the day we're all doing our thing in the game and for them to even just have a conversation and just put my name in it, it feels good. It feels good to respect what I do and I respect what they do. And we gon' make a hit. Justin got his own fanbase and me and Yeezy got our own fanbase and we gon' make it happen. We gon' make a good record."

What do you think a Justin Bieber, Kanye West and Raekwon song would sound like? Let us know in the comments below!

• What Has Kanye West Been Up To This Past Year?

• Justin Bieber
• Kanye West
• Raekwon

Singer who got everyone's attention singing covers on YouTube just released her first album, Catching a Tiger.By Matt Elias

Lissie Photo: MTV News

Singer/songwriter Lissie grabbed our attention earlier this summer with a series of buzzed-about covers, including Kid Cudi's "Pursuit of Happiness" and Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance". But we weren't the only ones to take notice. Lissie garnered praise from the likes of California Gurl Katy Perry, filmmaker David Lynch, and blogger/trendsetter Perez Hilton.

"It's nice to get some praise from time to time," Lissie told MTV News. "That's just human, you need it. But I think it's exciting. And I also, though ... personally I'm one of those people that's like, 'Oh the new buzzed-about person' ... I feel like it almost gives it too much expectation 'cause it's been made out to be so great that then you have really high standards to meet. But it's great. I think I can rise to that. I think that right now, I feel like I'm in a good stride and I got it going on."

That attitude — part playful, part modest — can be attributed to her Midwestern roots. Lissie grew up the youngest of four kids in Rock Island, Illinois — part of the Quad City area along the Mississippi River. She remembers cookouts in the summer, going to the pool and her mom's well-kept garden. The city's website even boasts its tie for second place as "one of the best mannered cities in the United States."

While Lissie has since located to the artsy community of Ojai, California, it was a trip back home that inspired her Kid Cudi cover. After a late night of daiquiris with her childhood best friend at the appropriately titled Daiquiri Factory (which serves $4 U-Call-It Bombs on Fridays), Lissie had her first encounter with the "Day 'N Nite" MC.

"I was having this really [nostalgic] moment of being in my hometown, like, 'Ahh yeah' windows rolled down, and she puts on 'Pursuit of Happiness' and I'm like 'I love this song' because he's like 'rolling the Midwest side out, living my life.' " Ten spins later, Lissie was set on covering her fellow Midwesterner.

The attention generated online from that cover — Kid Cudi even posted it on his Facebook page — fueled interest in what Lissie could offer in the way of original material. That time has finally come with the release of her debut album this week, Catching a Tiger.

Recorded under producer Jacquire King, who helmed Kings of Leon's smash Only by the Night, it's a bittersweet collection of songs about love and heartache. Take, for instance, the album's first single, "In Sleep," written after the breakup of her long-term relationship.

"I'd have these great dreams, like everything was fine and we were together and life was happy and everything's good," Lissie recalled. "That would be the place where I could see him and I would wake up from that dream and it was like the reality is that we're not together anymore and I need to get over it and move on with my life — which is gonna take some time but it's going to hurt until it stops hurting, and that's all right too."

With other album standouts such as "When I'm Alone" and "Cuckoo," will Lissie develop the same kind of following as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, which Perez Hilton helped propel? The man himself speculates.

"I don't know how popular Lissie's going to be in America," Hilton said. "I'm thrilled that MTV is doing this little profile on her and I'm equally excited that she's getting a lot of traction in the U.K. But will radio in the United States start playing Lissie? Probably not. However, I love those success stories of artists that can become successful without going about it the traditional way, without radio play."

Will you buy Lissie's new album? Tell us in the comments.

• Katy Perry
• Kid Cudi

Bigger Than the Sound wonders: Does Perry's latest mark the death of the album?By James Montgomery

Katy Perry's <i>Teenage Dream</i> Photo: Capitol Records

Conventional wisdom these days seems to hold that the album is dead, singles are the lifeblood of the music industry, and people prefer their music as bite-size chunks, in whatever bit rate available and on their phones whenever possible. This is conventional wisdom, of course, because it is probably true. Just look at the carnage on the Billboard albums chart for proof. It would seem that nobody buys albums anymore (unless they have Eminem's name on them) and that we're all just a few short years away from the complete extinction of the medium. That is not as farfetched as it might seem. In fact, it's basically a certainty at this point.

Still, perhaps you continue to believe in the power of the long-player, in the majesty of the deep cut. Perhaps you are holding out hope for the return of the 80-minute magnum opus or the darkened-room, double-disc experience. Who's to say you are wrong? Well, I am. And so is Katy Perry. Because next Tuesday, she'll release Teenage Dream, 44 minutes of shimmering, pitch-perfect pop music that may very well signify the end of the album as we know it.

Sure, it will undoubtedly top the Billboard albums chart and will almost certainly go platinum many times over, but really, Dream is an album in theory only. There is a cover, and a track list and a lengthy list of songwriting credits attached to it, but those things all seem like formalities. This is a collection of singles, a Whitman's sampler of pop tunes, with seemingly no thought given to cohesion or sequencing. It is a no-concept record; there are no through lines or plot points or so-called "album tracks." You can listen to it in any order and have roughly the same experience. In fact, it's almost better that way. This is perhaps the first album in history that lends itself to the shuffle function on your iPod, which is sort of ingenious when you think about it.

And none of that is meant to suggest that Teenage Dream isn't a genuinely rousing success (in parts, it definitely is), but rather, I mention it because it makes writing about Dream as an album rather pointless and unfair. Because as an album, it's sort of a mess. Sequentially, it jumps from a sweeping ballad ("Firework") to a song about dudes with big dongs ("Peacock") to an angry breakup tune ("Circle the Drain") to a sweetly voiced lament on lost love ("The One That Got Away"). It's the kind of arranging only R. Kelly is crazy enough to try — check his 2007 album Double Up, on which he follows a song called "Sex Planet" with "Rise Up," a tribute to those slain in the Virginia Tech shootings — and it's jarring, to say the least. And then there's the matter of Perry's emotional range, which, on the album, seems limited to just two extremes: starry-eyed ingénue (the title track, "Firework," "Hummingbird Heartbeat," album-closing "Not Like the Movies") or bloodthirsty, sex-crazed she-devil ("TGIF," "Peacock," "Circle the Drain"). There truly is no in-between, and while the dichotomy is interesting at first, by album's end, you're left dizzied and disoriented. There's a reason no one likes whiplash: It tends to hurt.

Then again, those are all rock-critic nitpickings. Teenage Dream is not meant to be experienced as a cohesive thing, and chances are, most won't listen to it that way. There are a dozen gleaming slivers of pop here, all of which you will probably hear on the radio at some point, and each has its merits. There's the party-ready pump of "TGIF" and "California Gurls," the club-ready thump-and-dazzle of "Peacock" and "E.T.," the breakup/makeup machinations of "The One That Got Away" and "Drain," and the tear-jerking melodrama of "Pearl" and "Movies." They are all really pretty great, they are all destined to be smash hits, and it doesn't really matter if they work together.

Because Teenage Dream is not about the sum of its parts. It's about the parts themselves — the gloriously shiny, studio-honed guided missiles hell-bent on hammering radio. And in that regard, Dream is one of great pop albums of recent times. It is purposeful in its precision. So perhaps the best thing you can say about it (and certainly the most fair assessment of its charms) is that it's not a particularly solid album, but it's one heck of a greatest-hits collection.

Do you think Teenage Dream marks the end of the album era? Let us know in the comments!

• Katy Perry's Teenage Dream Sneak Preview

• Katy Perry

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

Tiësto Photo: MTV News

In the past 24 hours, Twitter has been aflutter with messages from fans offering their heartfelt congratulations to Deadmau5 in response to Monday's announcement that he will be the house act at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12.

It turns out his fans are not the only ones filled with a sense of pride at the news. We caught up with electronic dance music producer Tiësto in London last month and let him in on our little secret. His response was endearing, to say the least.

"I'm very proud of you, Deadmau5, that you are doing the VMA Awards!" he said. "Good luck with that!

"I think Deadmau5 did an amazing job in the last couple of years," he continued. "His music has been amazing. I saw his live show twice. Once at Coachella and the other time in Stockholm [Sweden], and the show is absolutely stunning!"

Born Joel Zimmerman, Deadmau5 remains among the most respected producers in the dance music genre, and his ascent to mainstream visibility is the result of a revered caliber of production, and a seemingly grueling touring schedule (so much so that the producer fell ill and canceled a string of dates recently). Earlier this year at the Winter Music Conference in Miami, many of his colleagues weighed in why 'mau5 is one of the genre's biggest stars.

Rising star Afrojack said, "I love his show, and I love his music. Production-wise, he's like a higher level than me. For me, he will always be up there [He points to the sky]."

"The 'mau5 does well!" said veteran dance-music icon Paul Oakenfold. "I think his music is great. I'm a fan of his. I enjoy what he does."

"His production skills are out of this world, honestly," offered Dutch trance music star Armin Van Buuren. "He's changed dance music forever. It's a breath of fresh air, because he's brought the melody back into house music. It's just good dance music."

Catch a taste of what everyone is raving about at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards on September 12.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, 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 Tuesday (August 3) through September 12.

• deadmau5

Zoe Kravitz, Jason Flemyng, Bill Milner and Morgan Lily were also reportedly added to cast.By Kara Warner

January Jones Photo: Mike Coppola/ Getty Images

"X-Men: First Class" has added several new names to its cast, according to Deadline Hollywood. Director Michael Vaughn ("Kick-Ass") and producer Bryan Singer have reportedly lined up "Mad Men" actress January Jones to play telepathic beauty Emma Frost — a role that was previously rumored to belong to "She's Out of My League" star Alice Eve.

Other reported names added are: Zoe Kravitz, daughter of Lenny, who is set to play Angel; Jason Flemyng as Azazel, the father of Nightcrawler; Bill Milner as the young Magneto (Michael Fassbender will play the elder); and Morgan Lily as the young Raven.

They join previously announced "First Class" mutants: James McAvoy (Xavier), Nicholas Hoult (Beast), Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Caleb Landry Jones (Banshee), Lucas Till (Havoc) and Edi Gathegi (Darwin). Other players include Kevin Bacon as the villain, Rose Byrne as Xavier's love interest Moira MacTaggert, and Oliver Platt as the Man in Black. Production is scheduled to begin Monday in London.

When MTV News caught up with Vaughn recently, he spoke about his ever-expanding cast.

"It doesn't feel that busy," Vaughn said regarding any hesitation in cramming too many mutants into the film. "I don't feel worried about it. I think it will be really cool to see all these guys doing their stuff. I'm very keen that it has a lot of heart, this movie. You understand where these characters have come from, and you obviously know where they're going, but to see that very important point of their lives where they're discovering their power and working out their ethical take on what to do with their power is a very interesting story to tell."

How do you feel about the new "X-Men: First Class" additions? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "X-Men: First Class."

For breaking comic book movie news, columns and more — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

• Meet The Cast Of 'X-Men: First Class'

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 Photo: MTV News

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!

• Nicki Minaj
• Sean Kingston
• Jay Sean

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 Skårsgard. On Tuesday (August 17), it was announced that yet another pretty face has joined the fun: Sports Illustrated cover girl/ aspiring actress Brooklyn Decker.

According to LatinoReview.com, Decker will play Sam, a probable love interest for Kitsch. As Cinema Blend pointed out, Decker is not to be confused with her Victoria's Secret model colleague Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who took over for Megan Fox in "Transformers 3." The 23-year-old Mrs. Andy Roddick has started to dip her feet in the acting pool, with guest spots on "Chuck," "Royal Pains" and the upcoming Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy "Just Go With It."

"Battleship" is based on the Hasbro board game and written by the Hoeber brothers. The plot reportedly revolves around brothers and naval officers (Kitsch and Skårsgard) assigned to a multinational task force charged with repelling alien invaders. Also cast is Tadanobu Asano, who is best known for his leading roles in "Ichi the Killer" and Genghis Khan biopic "Mongol."

Universal has set "Battleship" for release on May 25, 2012. Until then, fans can catch Kitsch in the final season of "Friday Night Lights" and later this year alongside Malin Akerman and Ryan Phillippe in "The Bang Bang Club"; 2012 will bring his turn in "John Carter of Mars." In addition to his meaty (or bloody) role on HBO's "True Blood," Skårsgard will appear in the remake of "Straw Dogs" and Lars Von Trier's "Antichrist" follow-up "Melancholia." Rihanna is finishing up her Last Girl on Earth Tour with Ke$ha and is nominated at the 2010 Video Music Awards for her "Rude Boy" clip.

What do you think of the "Battleship" cast? Let us know in the comments!

Check out everything we've got on "Battleship."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

• Rihanna