Tyga explains success of 'Deuces' to Mixtape Daily: 'The people chose the record.'
By Shaheem Reid

Chris Brown and Tyga
Photo: Courtesy of Young Money

The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive

Chris Brown is in the #1 film in the country, "Takers," and now that he's done with Hollywood (for now), he's going back to the lab.

"Me, I'm definitely writing on other people's projects. A lot of in-house stuff," Brown said recently in L.A. "I got a lot of artists coming out. The single 'Deuces' features one of my artists K-Mac and Tyga [from Young Money]. I'm pushing forward. The movie's out, so I'mma have fun."

"Deuces" is in the top 30 of Billboard's Hot 100 charts and #1 on urban radio. The record's success is simply due to fan support. It's part of Brown and Tyga's Fan of a Fan mixtape and skyrocketed once the video hit virally and on MTV Jams.

"That was actually Chris' idea," Tyga told us about putting out a visual for the song. "I thought the record was dope. I thought it was dope for us to do that video. He got to explain his situation. It connects to his fans. His fans miss that from him.

"I think the people chose the record," Tyga added. "We put the mixtape out, and we asked them: What record do you like the most? They was like, 'Deuces.' It was always coming up. It was growing on YouTube as well, like 100,000 views a day on YouTube. It was his idea to shoot the video. My homie Colin Tilly, he's done all my videos. He's done everything. All my mixtape stuff to the bigger stuff I'm doing now. He got it right. It's what people wanna see, what they wanna hear."

Despite the overwhelming success of Fan of a Fan, Tyga said he and Chris aren't planning an official LP, but they are hitting the road together.

"I don't think you wanna drown people too much," Tyga said about making a full album with Brown. "We've been doing a lot of stuff, though. He's on my album. We're actually working on a tour right now. A Fan of Fan Tour at the end of the year. It'll be dope."

Tyga has an album coming out soon; it doesn't have a release date yet. But his next mixtape, Well Done, will hit within the next couple of weeks. It's going to be a Gangsta Grillz edition.

"I feel like I had to deal with [DJ] Drama. He reminded of Wayne, when he did Dedication with him," Tyga explained. "[Wayne] was going in on every beat. All the mixtapes I've been dropping, they're close to albums. They're more songs. They have more content. This one, I wanted to rap on everybody's beat and murder every beat that's out. It's fun to do that. It's easy. I can knock that out real fast. I think Drama is dope when you wanna link up and murder beats like that."

Some of the tracks Tyga is pilfering are Soulja Boy's "Pretty Boy Swag" and Nicki Minaj's "Your Love."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

• Mixtape Daily: Drake, Mack Maine, Fat Joe

• Chris Brown
• Tyga

'You're definitely gonna hear the growth and maturity in the music,' rapper says of album, due in October.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by James Lacsina

Twista
Photo: MTV News

For Twista, it took longer than he thought to go home again. The Chicago MC revisited his debut album three years ago with the release of Adrenaline Rush 2007, a nod to his first solo effort, Adrenaline Rush.

But it wasn't until that project's follow-up, last year's Category F5, that Twista and his first producer, the Legendary Traxster, reunited. Now, the pair are working together once again, joined by the Windy City's No ID (Jay-Z, Kanye West) for the rapper's new LP, The Perfect Storm, due in October.

"This album is gonna be different, because you're definitely gonna hear the growth and maturity in the music, that's one thing for sure," Twista told MTV News of the project, his eighth overall. "And also, me being able to get back with Traxster, which is the [producer] that did a lot of my original music, like 'Adrenaline Rush' and [records] like that, so we bringing that back. And also having jams on there that's way different, a different style and vibe. Songs like 'The Heat,' which was produced by Traxster and No ID. You'll be able to hear the whole vibe. You'll hear me tear into it with songs like 'Three Minute Murder,' and you gonna hear me on that sexy thing and you gonna hear me do it with that Chi-Town swag."

Twista also recruited Raekwon ("The Heat") and Chris Brown ("Make a Movie") for The Perfect Storm.

In addition to a new collection of music, Twista plans to include a documentary about his life with the set. According to the fast-rhyming lyricist, the film will be a diary-like take on his journey intertwined with footage of Chicago.

"I'm a person that people don't get to see a lot of, so when you get the documentary, you get to see how I do things, how I am in the studio, my perspective on the city," Twista explained. "And the reason I turned out the way I did, as far as my lyrics and the way I see things, my outlook on things and just breaking down the city. It's a piece of Twista. They don't get to see me on the other side, so it'll be cool."

• Twista
• Chris Brown
• Raekwon

Singer is doing 'a good job,' according to Los Angeles judge who presided over his latest court appearance.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Chris Brown
Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/ Getty Images

Chris Brown once again scored a positive review from a Los Angeles judge as he attended his fourth status hearing on Thursday afternoon (August 26) stemming from his probation for attacking former flame Rihanna in February 2009.

Brown, sporting a white dress shirt and black vest, arrived to the courtroom with his attorney Mark Geragos shortly before 1:45 p.m. PT. The pair went before Judge Patricia Schnegg, who told Brown he was doing "a good job," according to The Associated Press. Judge Schnegg said she received positive reports from both Brown's domestic-violence counselors and his probation officers in Virginia, where he's completing his punishment.

Under the terms of Brown's probation, the singer is on the hook for 180 days of community labor and he was ordered to attend domestic-violence counseling for up to one year. He was also issued a stay-away order by the judge that bars him from communicating or associating with Rihanna.

During his last hearing, the judge confirmed that Brown had completed 290 hours of labor, which represent roughly 20 percent of his required total. His counseling sessions are scheduled to end next month. Brown is due back in court on November 18.

Since his last hearing, his career and reputation have been on the upswing. The singer wowed audiences at this year's BET Awards with a stirring Michael Jackson tribute performance. Brown sang the late singer's "Man in the Mirror," breaking down in tears as he stumbled over the redemptive lyrics.

His independent release, Fan of a Fan, with Lil Wayne protégé Tyga, has spawned the breakout hit "Deuces," which is currently sitting at #2 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart.

What do you think of Chris' progress in the last year? Tell us in the comments.

• Chris Brown

'There are definitely whispers around the studio about that,' Tip tells MTV News of the heist flick.
By Shaheem Reid

T.I. in "Takers"
Photo: Columbia Pictures

The advance hype for the action-thriller "Takers" will be answered on Friday when the ensemble-powered picture opens in theaters. But the early reaction from fans during preliminary screenings of the movie this summer has been so positive, that a follow-up is already being discussed among the castmembers and the film studio. And if the Takers do get a green light for another adventure, it looks like it would be a prequel rather than a sequel.

"There are definitely whispers around the studio about that," T.I., a star of and producer on the movie, told MTV News recently in LA. "Some phone calls have been made about that. But ultimately, it depends on what happens on August the 27th."

Singer also calls breakdown during Michael Jackson tribute his 'ultimate apology.'
By Gil Kaufman

Chris Brown and Usher
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

Rumors have been swirling that Chris Brown is planning to tour with pal Usher. And even though reps for both singers declined to comment on the possible joint outing, the singers have been stoking the hype machine with provocative tweets for weeks.

On Tuesday, Brown finally responded to the reports during an appearance on BET's "106 & Park" show to promote his part in the film "Takers" and talk about his single from the movie, "Deuces."

First the bad news: It's not happening. Though it could come together in the future, right now Brown said he's focused on his own career, which has sputtered in the wake of his guilty plea for felony assault of former girlfriend Rihanna.

"At first we were talking about it, but I think maybe something in the future. But right now, I'm just doing the whole Chris Breezy thing," he said, polling the screaming audience for interest in either a solo or joint tour. Brown rolled out a short theater swing in support of the slow-selling Graffiti album last fall, but has not staged a larger tour to date and was barred from taking the outing overseas by British immigration officials due to his felony plea.

The rumors of the Usher/Breezy jaunt were first sparked by a joint appearance in late July at Reggae SumFest in Jamaica, during which they sang and danced together and were joined by reggae star Elephant Man. A few weeks later, the pair began teasing a possible co-headlining tour, with Brown tweeting, "What would you guys say if me and Usher went on tour?"

That speculation went into overdrive when producer Bryan-Michael Cox said on Jermaine Dupri's "Living the Life" YouTube show that the tour was definitely on. "Usher and the boy Chris Brown are going on tour, y'all know that, right?" Cox said. Dupri immediately replied, "They might not know that." But after the cat was let out of the bag, Cox admitted, "I might've just gave y'all some exclusive sh--."

Cox later backpedaled, tweeting that he was drunk when he dropped the news and was just "talking crazy," adding, "I don't know for a fact that THAT tour is happening. But it would be dope."

Reps for both singers did not respond to multiple requests for comment about the possible co-headlining tour, and no confirmation was ever given on plans for the outing.

Brown was also asked on Tuesday about his now-famous teary meltdown during a Michael Jackson tribute at the BET awards in June, and he explained why he got so emotional during the event.

"A lot of people don't know, I was going to see Michael Jackson the day he died," said Brown, who has long talked about his admiration for the late King of Pop. "I was on my way to the Staples Center to see him [the day he died] ... When I heard 'Man in the Mirror,' the words started speaking to me in my personal life. It just touched me. It wasn't fake. I know people were trying to put extras on it, but everything was genuine. That was my ultimate apology, hands down."

Are you disappointed that Chris and Usher won't be touring together? Tell us in comments below.

• Chris Brown And Usher Perform In Jamaica

• Chris Brown
• Usher

'What would you guys say if me and Usher went on tour?' Brown tweeted after producer leaked tour in YouTube video.
By James Dinh

Chris Brown, Elephant Man and Usher
Photo: Robert Keshishian/ Newscom

With their top-notch dance moves and tunes that make the ladies swoon, an Usher and Chris Brown co-headlining tour sounds like an idea made in R&B heaven. And according to producer Bryan-Michael Cox, it may just happen. This news comes just weeks after Breezy's surprise onstage appearance during Usher's set at Reggae SumFest.

Speculation began when Cox revealed during Jermaine Dupri's "Living the Life" YouTube show that the singers are planning to tour together. "Usher and the boy Chris Brown are going on tour, y'all know that, right?" Cox said. Dupri immediately replied, "They might not know that." But after the cat was let out of the bag, Cox admitted, "I might've just gave y'all some exclusive sh--."

Once word spread that that Usher and Breezy might be planning a co-headlining tour, the trio took to Twitter to respond to the hype. Responding to a fellow songwriter, Cox seemed to backpedal his revelation when he tweeted, "@rchonore86 I was drunk. Lol. Talking crazy. I don't know for a fact that THAT tour is happening. But it would be dope tho. Lol."

But the R&B heartthrobs kept the idea alive as they asked fans what they think of the possibility of an Usher/Brown tour. "What would you guys say if me and Usher went on tour?" Brown tweeted. An hour later, Usher's Twitter message read, "If you could see Usher perform live with anyone - who would it be?"

Reps for Usher and Brown had not responded to requests for comment at press time.

Earlier this year, Brown's U.K. tour plans were postponed because the singer was denied a work visa on the grounds that he is guilty of a serious criminal offense, namely assaulting Rihanna in February 2009.

What do you think of the possibility of Usher and Chris Brown touring together? Let us know in the comments below!

• Chris Brown And Usher Perform In Jamaica

• Usher
• Chris Brown

'It's little hints in the song that [sound] like it's referring to Chris Brown,' one fan tells MTV News outside Last Girl on Earth Tour.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Adam Murphy and Rya Backer

Rihanna
Photo: WireImage

Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie," featuring Rihanna, puts emotional candor — in both the video and the song — front and center. Given the very public abusive relationships Rihanna and Em have gone through, many fans believe the artists drew from personal experience for the collaboration.

Concertgoers waiting for the singer's Last Girl on Earth Tour stop in New York City on Thursday (August 12) told MTV News that the "Umbrella" singer's tumultuous past with ex-beau Chris Brown informed her performance in "Lie."

"I would say it's like the Chris Brown situation, just because ... they go from hating each other then loving each other then back to hating each other and all this stuff," Stephanie Gutez observed about the "Lie" video, which features Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan as a feuding couple. "That's how Rihanna and Chris Brown pretty much are."

Video director Joseph Kahn has insisted that while relationship abuse is an issue that Em and Rihanna have dealt with, the video isn't about either star's past. Although Rihanna doesn't mention any of her ex-loves by name in the song, Nicole Hollins is convinced the singer has Brown in mind.

"She's just talking about ... hurt, but she loves the way he's hurting her. In that relationship ... she was abused by him," Hollins said. "So it's little hints in the song that [sound] like it's referring to Chris Brown. I think it is. I don't care what anyone says."

Cassidy Santos said the video has a cautionary message, warning people about what happens when love goes too far.

"I thought it was interesting how [Rihanna] and Eminem compared the way their lives were," Santos said. "Since what happened with Chris Brown, it showed that people shouldn't do that to women."

Rebecca Snoddy said "Lie" keeps it real about the difficulties that any couple, famous or otherwise, must contend with.

"I think it depicted [the relationship] in a way that's honest and truthful like any other relationship would be," Snoddy said.

Do you think "Love the Way You Lie" addresses Rihanna's relationship with Chris Brown? Let us know in the comments below.

• Rihanna And Ke$ha's Tour Hits NYC

• Rihanna and Ke$ha Perform At Madison Square Garden

• Rihanna
• Eminem
• Chris Brown

'The explosions, the shoot-outs, the chase scene with Chris,' Tip teases at premiere for heist flick co-starring Chris Brown.
By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Matt Elias

T.I. at the L.A. premiere of "Takers"
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

On Wednesday night at the Arclight Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, some of the biggest names in music, including Snoop Dogg and Keri Hilson, came out to support T.I., Chris Brown and the rest of the cast of "Takers" at the film's world premiere.

Co-stars Idris Elba, Hayden Christensen and Michael Ealy lined the red carpet. Along with Paul Walker — who was absent because of filming for the next installment of "The Fast and the Furious" franchise in Puerto Rico — the trio play members of a team of bank robbers that includes Brown and Tip. In the film, the crew sets out to rob tens of millions of dollars from an armored truck. The action flick is filled with flying bullets, chases and explosions, but the King of the South said he couldn't really take part in the more physical aspects of filming.

"To be candid, they wasn't allowing me to do many stunts myself," T.I., who was married over the weekend, said on the red carpet. "Due to the circumstance of my personal [troubles], I witnessed a lot of them [instead]: the explosions, the shoot-outs, the chase scene with Chris. They're outstanding."

During filming in early 2009, Tip was in the midst of a legal saga stemming from a federal gun case. "Takers" has been in the vault for quite some time, but neither the action nor the story feels dated, and on August 27 the rest of the world will get to see the stars try to pull off an elaborate heist.

"We worked hard," Tip told MTV News. "I think all of this is just a result of the hard work that was put into the project. Everybody gave 150 percent. Nobody laid back, nobody took off — everybody went hard. This is the result of that."

After the film, you know it's the afterparty.

The stars headed to L.A.'s Boulevard3, where Tip took the stage with Keri Hilson for a performance of "Got Your Back." Not to be outdone, Chris Brown performed as well. C. Breezy focused on dancing and, midway through his set, hyped the crowd to the sounds of a few other artists' hit records like "Shots," "Teach Me How to Dougie" and DJ Khaled's "All I Do Is Win." He told anyone over the age of 30 to party like they were 17, before shifting to reggae (he threw in some hip-hop moves). Later, Chris revived some '90s R&B, singing a bit of R. Kelly's "Bump N' Grind" and Montell Jordan's "This Is How We Do It." Brown also rocked a handful of songs such as "Deuces" with guest/mixtape partner Tyga.

Who are you most excited to see onscreen in "Takers"? Tell us in the comments!

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

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

• 'Takers' Premiere Seizes Hollywood

• T.I.
• Chris Brown

Singer remixes the Young Money starlet's hit song as he promises fans a new album in 2011.
By James Dinh

Chris Brown
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

Despite a year of difficult career speed bumps, including his postponed U.K. promotional tour and the controversy surrounding his Michael Jackson tribute performance at the BET Awards, Chris Brown remains optimistic about getting through the rough times. His latest career move is his remix of Nicki Minaj's hit single "Your Love," which the singer posted on Twitter and informed fans that something special may be heading their way.

"i just smashed this beat!!! UR LOVE REMIX DONE!!! for the ladies," he tweeted early Wednesday (August 4).

On the cover, Brown sings an ode to his female interest as he belts over the song's Annie Lennox sample and hip-hop backbeats. "Shorty, I'mma tell you this once/ Girl need it (tonight)/ When I do it to you home and do it right, please believe it/ All night long, baby right now/ When you lay in my arms," he sings during the chorus. Showing off his versatility, Breezy becomes more aggressive during the song's second verse both vocally and lyrically as he explicitly raps, "Yeah, let me step up to the plate now/ Big kids in the room, no playground/ I wanna kiss everything from the waist down/ Keep ya ass up and your face down."

And it wouldn't be right if Brown didn't name-drop Minaj in the mix that praises a woman in and out of bed. "We can role-play, girl, give it to me now/ I'm giving you a massage/ A booty like Nicki Minaj/ Oh gosh," he croons.

Hours after Brown posted his remix, Nicki seemed satisfied with four different remixes of her song as she urged DJs to start spinning. "Ok DJ's!!! 4 remixes to 'your love' by @rickyrozay, @duttypaul, @chrisbrown and @jaysean and they're ALL DOPE! Play them! :-) #pinkfriday," she said of her song, which currently holds the #1 spot on the Billboard Rap Songs chart.

Aside from posting his cover of Minaj's song, the singer also asked fans if they wanted another Breezy mixtape. "do yall want an "IN MY ZONE 2"!!! just a thought #inmyzone2," he tweeted.

While another mixtape isn't certain at this point, Brown assured fans that the follow-up to last year's Graffiti is in the works. "My new album will come next year or sooner but in the meantime i might 'I MIGHT' do something special for yall again!!!" he teased.

Back in June, Drake said that he and Brown hit the studio together shortly after attending the 2010 BET Awards. It is unknown what, if anything, the duo cooked up, but the Young Money rapper revealed that he wanted to collaborate with others as his project was finished. "I was studio hopping, seeing where I could lend my hand to whoever's project since I've done mine," Drake said.

What do you think of Chris Brown's "Your Love" remix? Are you feeling it? Tell us what you think in the comments!

• Chris Brown
• Nicki Minaj

'Some stunts they wanna use the doubles; I don't wanna use the double!' singer/actor says.
By Shaheem Reid

Chris Brown in "Takers"

Chris Brown plays Jesse Attica, the youngest in a crew of bank robbers, in the upcoming movie "Takers." The band of thieves, which also includes Idris Elba and T.I., has just days to plan and pull off a multimillion-dollar heist.

In a show-stealing action sequence, Brown is chased through the streets of L.A. by Matt Dillon's character, Detective Jack Welles, and partner Eddie Hatcher (played by Jay Hernandez). The singer-turned-actor leaps through windows, scales buildings, jumps on cars and anything else necessary to avoid being captured.

"I've never had to do so much running in my life," Dillon said about the scene. "For that sequence, we were just, like, four days straight, just running through the streets, and this kid Chris is an unbelievable athlete. This guy Chris Brown, he's unbelievable, man. So keeping up with him was a challenge even in itself, which was perfect for our characters."

Brown said he enjoyed bringing his skills to another medium, and he enjoyed getting physical for the part. The singer said the exhilarating stunts you see him pull off onscreen are all him — well, almost.

"The most thrilling part about this movie is probably the stunts," Brown said on the film's set. "I do, like, 96 percent of my stunts. Some stunts they wanna use the doubles; I don't wanna use the double! And they're like, 'We have to for safety and insurance issues.' I think the most exciting parts are the stunts, getting to blow stuff up, shoot guns, you know what I'm saying. It's all fun!"

Brown said he was attracted to "Takers" because it stood out from his other roles.

"When acting, I feel like it's cool to use your strengths, but it's also cool to use your other abilities as well," he said. "I didn't just wanna do movies that had consistent dancing and singing. I wanted to do stuff that pushes me as an actor at the end of the day. Because you have people like T.I. and Common that do stuff that's not around what they do in the entertainment industry as far as music, and they succeeded. So I just wanna branch over to that, especially like Will Smith. He comes from rapping and going right into the acting thing, so I wanna come from the singing parts and go into acting, and people can tell the difference. I think that with this role, it was more intense, more action, more stuff that I love to do, what I love to see in movies."

"Takers" hits theaters August 27 and also stars Michael Ealy, Zoe Saldana, Hayden Christensen and Paul Walker.

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

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

• Chris Brown

Chris Brown And Usher Perform In Jamaica

• Chris Brown
• Usher

Deuces

• Artist: Chris Brown
• Label: CBE
• Director: Colin Tilley

2010 BET Awards Show Highlights

• Queen Latifah
• Alicia Keys
• Kanye West
• Drake
• Nicki Minaj

MTV.com Exclusive: Chris Brown

• Chris Brown

Crawl

• Artist: Chris Brown
• Label: JLG, Jive
• Director: Joseph Kahn
• Album: Graffiti

Chris Brown In 'Crawl'

• Chris Brown

I Can Transform Ya featuring Lil Wayne & Swizz Beatz

• Artist: Chris Brown
• Label: Jive, JLG
• Director: Joseph Kahn

Chris Brown, Keri Hilson, Fabolous, More Perform At Power 105.1's Powerhouse Concert

• Chris Brown
• Keri Hilson
• Jim Jones

Chris Brown Receives His Sentencing In Los Angeles

• Chris Brown

Chris Brown's Hollywood Video Shoot

• Chris Brown
• Keri Hilson
• Omarion