The chemistry between the three is tangible as they rehearse for the last 'TRL.'
By Shaheem Reid

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Ludacris performs at his rehearsal for "Total Finale Live"


Photo: Brian Appio

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Nominations for BET's Hip-Hop Awards were announced yesterday, and, unsurprisingly, Lil Wayne walked away with the lion's share of the nods, to the point where I have to wonder if the nomination committee was trying to figure out a way to shoehorn him into the Best UK Hip-Hop Act category. Weezy got 12 nominations; Kanye West, meanwhile, received seven nods, and Jay-Z six. Full slate of nominees after the jump. Best Hip Hop Video David Banner f/ Chris Brown and Yung Joc Get Like Me Common I Want You DJ Khaled f/ Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman and Rick Ross Im So Hood (The Remix) Lil Wayne f/ Static Lollipop Snoop Dogg Sensual Seduction Kanye West f/ T-Pain Good Life Best Hip Hop Collabo David Banner f/ Chris Brown and Yung Joc Get Like Me DJ Khaled f/ Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman and Rick Ross Im So Hood (The Remix) Flo Rida f/ T-Pain Low Plies f/ Ne-Yo Bust It Baby Pt. 2 Kanye West f/ T-Pain Good Life Best Live Performer Busta Rhymes Jay-Z Lil Wayne T.I. Kanye West Lyricist of the Year Jay-Z Lil Wayne Nas T.I. Kanye West Video Director of the Year Gil Green R. Malcolm Jones Rage Chris Robinson Hype Williams Producer of the Year Akon Bangladesh David Banner J.R. Rotem The Runners MVP of the Year DJ Khaled Jay-Z Lil Wayne T.I. Kanye West Track of the Year A Milli Lil Wayne produced by Bangladesh Dey Know Shawty Lo produced by Balis Beatz Good Life Kanye West f/ T-Pain produced by Kanye West and DJ Toomp Lollipop Lil Wayne f/ Static produced by Jim Jonsin & Deezle Roc Boys (And the Winner Is) Jay-Z produced by Sean Combs & The Hitmen CD of the Year Jay-Z American Gangster Lil Wayne Tha Carter III Lupe Fiasco Lupe Fiascos The Cool Nas Untitled Kanye West Graduation Rookie of the Year Ace Hood Flo Rida Maino Rocko Shawty Lo DJ of the Year DJ Drama DJ Felli Fel DJ Khaled DJ Tony Neal DJ Greg Street Hustler of the Year 50 Cent DJ Khaled Jay-Z Lil Wayne P. Diddy Alltel Wireless Peoples Champ Nominees Lil Wayne A Milli Lupe Fiasco f/ Matthew Santos Superstar Plies f/ Ne-Yo Bust It Baby Pt. 2 Rick Ross f/ Nelly and Avery Storm Here I Am Young Jeezy f/ Kanye West Put On Yung Berg f/ Casha The Business Hottest Hip Hop Ring tone of the Year Flo Rida f/ T-Pain Low Lil Wayne f/ Static Lollipop Plies f/ Ne-Yo Bust It Baby Pt.  read more »

'Two Turntables and a Microphone' delves into the tragic murder and 'creates some clarity,' Fif says.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Yasmine Richard

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50 Cent


Photo: MTV News

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'They're gonna love Em like they loved him the first time he came,' 50 Cent says of new material.
By Shaheem Reid

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Eminem


Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

Marshall, we miss you. The fans have been calling for an Eminem album for years. There's still no official announcement of a single or album release date, but there is hope. Slim Shady appeared on his Sirius Satellite Radio station, Shade 45, and talked with DJ Tony Touch about his impending comeback.  read more »

Plus: Gems from 50 Cent, Dr. Dre and Slim Shady get new life; Fat Joe is proud of DJ Khaled.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes

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50 Cent and Slim Shady attend the "Eminem: The Way I Am" book-release party


Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

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Ish Entertainment, the folks behind T.I.'s upcoming docuseries Crime Doesn't Pay, But This Does, is also joining with MTV to bring us "a hip-hop Apprentice" hosted by 50 Cent. Are You The Next Questionably Charismatic Hip Hop Mogul? will feature a house full of contestants lifting weights, wearing purple blouses, thinking up brand names and networking, networking, networking in hopes of winning a bottle of Vitamin Water and getting to be part of an XXL cover story titled "G-Unit: Return Of The Champions." What will 50 Cent's variation on "you're fired" be? "You're out of da club?" "Kill yourself?" "I hear Black Wall Street Entertainment is hiring?"  read more »

'I'm just looking for the opportunity to present more of my material,' he tells MTV News.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Tim Kash and Kim Stolz

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50 Cent


Photo: MTV News

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Trump said 'my show is a knockoff of 'The Apprentice'? He's crazy!' 50 says.
By Jocelyn Vena

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50 Cent backstage at "Total Finale Live" on Sunday


Photo: MTV News

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Ugly custody battle with ex Shaniqua Tompkins resolved during five-minute hearing.
By Gil Kaufman

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50 Cent


Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

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The lure of a juicy quote is hard to resist, even if it's from someone quickly descending into irrelevance like 50 Cent. Even better is if said quote manages to rag on other easy-to-tag luminaries like Jay-Z and Beyonce. But what happens when it's impossible to find this super-beefy quote's actual source?

Each article referencing a supposed "50 Cent interview" uses the same two pull quotes, which are admittedly interesting, albeit not particularly groundbreaking. In this instance, the phrasing surrounding the quotes comes from HiphopDX.com:  read more »