T-Pain

While Pain's following ate it up, non-secular-music kingpin Kirk Franklin had to put a call into the young singer. Franklin debuted the original "Silver and Gold" on his 1993 Kirk Franklin and the Family album. The gospel version goes: "Silver and gold/ Silver and gold/ I'd rather have Jesus than silver and gold/ No fame or fortune/ Nor riches untold/ I'd rather have Jesus than silver and gold."

Auditioning For Idol
Archuleta auditions for the seventh season of American Idol in San Diego. Although he flubs the lyrics of John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change," the 16-year-old surprises judges with his big voice, prompting Randy Jackson to sing background vocals, while Paula Abdul calls him a "sweetheart." All three judges send him to Hollywood.

Beau Dozier: Rise and shine! The G-Unit General says there's no lying down on the job. 50 Cent just released "Get Up," the first record from his upcoming Before I Self Destruct LP.

"Trust me, homie, I'm not playing/ I'll have the dance floor off the chain," 50 promises on the record. He also gives his word to make "every other week feel like Mardi Gras."

"You dudes better follow instructions/ I said, 'Get up,' " he adds over the pounding bass.
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Lil Wayne Flies Overnight From VMAs To New York Court Date

Lil Wayne may have missed a recent court date in Arizona because of his dentist, but the 2008 Video Music Awards weren't going to keep him from making a scheduled court hearing in New York early Monday afternoon (September 8).

Fresh from his VMA performance and Moonman win for Best Hip-Hop Video in Hollywood on Sunday night, Wayne appeared in a Manhattan courtroom for a hearing related to his 2007 arrest on a single gun charge.

Beau Dozier artist
Beau Dozier articles: Lovato said she tries to catch as many shows as she can and that one of her favorite live acts is symphonic black metallers Dimmu Borgir (whose 1997 LP Enthrone Darkness Triumphant has been in heavy rotation at my desk all week). "I was the little girl in the red dress and red lipstick, and I totally didn't fit in, but I had so much fun," she explained. "It was awesome. I lost my shoes, I was going crazy ... it was awesome."

Songwriter Beau Dozier
Rihanna opened the show with a spooky take on "Disturbia," preceded by a procession of zombies as she was rolled onto the stage in what looked like a giant metallic wedding cake, wearing a black bustier and looking like a robot from the postapocalyptic future. A short time later, T.I. returned to the VMA stage to perform "Whatever You Like." Escorting a fine young lady in a hot-pink dress, the dapper rapper walked his friend across the Paramount backlot, taking her to a fur shop, a club and in a ride in his Phantom, all the while explaining the lengths of his largesse, which included, in order, stacks of cash, Patrón on ice, popped bottles and a private jet.

There were also some awards handed out. Picking up her first Moonman, for Best Female Video — which she won over another VMA lady-in-waiting, Mariah Carey — Britney called the moment "an honor" and thanked God, her fans, her family and her "beautiful boys." She repeated those thanks later in the show, when she took the Best Pop Video, also for "Piece of Me," professing to be "speechless" but saying, "This means a lot. Thank you."

Travis Barker said he's "thankful to be alive" after the plane crash in Columbia, South Carolina, last month that killed four people and seriously injured him and DJ AM. The former Blink-182 drummer opens up about the accident in the new issue of Us Weekly.

"I hate planes," he said. "My biggest fear ever is to be involved in a plane crash, so when that happened ... well, I'm just thankful to be alive! I'm just grateful to be here at all." Barker then choked up a bit, the mag said.

Barker left a hospital in Georgia last week and returned to Los Angeles via bus with his father and his ex-wife, Shanna Moakler. Just days before, DJ AM had been released from the hospital and is currently recovering at home. The crash killed Barker's assistant, Chris Baker, and his bodyguard, Charles Still, as well as the plane's two crew members.

"Vibe is thrilled we could put the debate about the Best Rapper Alive in the hands of the fans," the mag's music editor, Sean Fennessey, said. "Eminem isn't just one of the most successful MCs of all time, he's also one of the most beloved. The proof is in the voting."

Vibe will be rolling out Eminem's win in their November 2008 issue. Presidential hopeful Barack Obama will grace the cover of that issue.

The win comes after several years of near-silence from Eminem. Most of his public speaking has been done on his satellite radio station Shade 45 during brief, lighthearted interviews. Eminem appeared on the show a couple of weeks ago, telling listeners he's been focusing on his own material. During a press run for the movie "Righteous Kill," Em's most well-known signee, 50 Cent, said he was in Em's Detroit home studio working on tracks for his next album Before I Self Destruct. Dr. Dre was also revealed to be working with the two. 50's album is slated for release on December 9; no release date or title has been announced for Eminem's next project.