POP CULTURE: CONGRATS TO THE 2009 NBA CHAMPION LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Big ups to the 2009 nba champions of the world, the los angeles lakers. Mr Bryant, aka the black mamba has to hear the “can’t win without shaq” rhetoric no more, & I’m sure he’s ecstatic about it. With a great supporting cast, including the unguardable pau gasol, the tenacious lamar odom, & the up & coming superstar trevor ariza, along with mr fisher, who helped #24 get his 4^th title, and perhaps the sweetest one of all, because he was in no one’s shadow, and because he is now widely considered to be the greatest player in the game. My hats off to you, although I’m not really a kobe fan, I absolutely recognize & respect his prowess on the hardwood, as well as his work ethic. Oh, and just as a side note, make sure you check out lil wayne’s song entitled what else, but kobe Bryant. That should put everything that’s transpired in the last 24 hours, and one could say the entire year, into perspective. Plus it’s a dope song. Cheers & enjoy

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers, who earned their first NBA championship in seven years and 15th overall with a 99-86 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night.

In the end, Los Angeles' defense was just as up to the task as Los Angeles' vaunted offense. The team circled the wagons after Orlando busted out with a 28-point first quarter. Orlando's screen-and-roll attack was barely a factor, as the Lakers' spacing and efficient perimeter shooting on the other end made this a one-sided game by halftime.

Kobe Bryant(notes) finished with 30 points, five assists, and four blocks, but in spite of a series of jaw-dropping drives and perimeter looks, he was merely a brilliant part of the championship puzzle. Pau Gasol's(notes) defense in the interior was a huge part of Dwight Howard's(notes) limited effectiveness in the paint, and Trevor Ariza's(notes) 12-point second quarter helped turn a close game into a Lakers walk.

We'll have more quotes and analysis live from Orlando as the night moves along, but for now, pop a cork, and don't turn over a car, Los Angeles. Your hometown team is a champion, once again.

Source: nba.com

CELEBRITY NEWS: MILEY CYRUS' CLOTHING LINE & TOUR DATES

UBER SUPERSTAR MILEY CYRUS, WHO HAPPENS TO BE GROWING UP QUITE NICELY MIGHT I ADD, IS MOVING INTO THE CLOTHING BUSINESS. SHE ALSO HAS AN UPCOMING TOUR, SO CHECKL IT OUT. ENJOY.

Miley Cyrus Launches Clothing Line and Announces Concert Tour Dates for Fall 2009

Tickets go on sale on June 13 at 10:00 am. for North American tour kicking off in Oregon in September.

BENTONVILLE, AR—Walmart today announced the introduction of Miley Cyrus & Max Azria, a new clothing line available only at Walmart. Walmart brings together best-selling artist and entertainer Miley Cyrus and Max Azria of apparel house BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP Inc. to offer customers affordable and trend-right apparel. The line will arrive in all Walmart stores and on Walmart.com in early August, and includes tops, pants, graphic tees, shoes and accessories, all priced less than $20.

"Our launch of the Miley Cyrus & Max Azria line continues our strategy of engaging customers across categories," said John Fleming, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer, Walmart U.S. "This time, we're bringing together a leading entertainer and a top apparel house to bring exciting product and price leadership to our customers."

Miley Cyrus' rock-and-roll roots influenced many of the looks. The line reflects a continuation of her relationship with Walmart, where she is among the retailer's top-selling recording artists. "I love creating looks that are all about personal expression and individuality," said Cyrus. "Collaborating with Max Azria has been an amazing experience, and I'm really excited about launching this line with Walmart. There's even more to come!"

"Miley Cyrus is talented and approachable, so working with her sparked a line that is authentic and vibrant," said Max Azria, designer and CEO of BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP Inc. "By partnering with Walmart, we saw an opportunity to reach mainstream customers with our product and introduce our designs to a much broader audience."

Complementing the Miley Cyrus & Max Azria announcement, Walmart will be the title sponsor of the Miley Cyrus concert tour. AEG Live announced that tickets for the North American tour will go on sale to the public on June 13, 2009, at 10:00a.m. American Express Cardmembers will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase advance tickets to the tour prior to public sale. Tickets will be available for purchase with an American Express Card through ticketmaster.com/mileycyrus or by calling 800-745-3000 from 10:00a.m. locally Wednesday, June 10, 2009 through 10:00p.m. locally Friday, June 12, 2009.

All tickets will be sold exclusively through Paperless Ticket delivery, which means fans will not receive a physical concert ticket for their entry into the event. Buying paperless helps ensure fans have secure and convenient access to event tickets at the original sale price.

On the day of show, concert-goers just need to bring the credit card they used for the ticket purchase and their government-issued photo ID to the concert. All members of the ticket purchaser's party must be present at the same time to enter the venue. The venue's ticket usher will swipe their credit card upon entry and present each person in their party with seat locator slips for quick access into the show. To purchase paperless tickets or for more information, fans should visit ticketmaster.com/mileycyrus or call their local Ticketmaster charge-by-phone number.

Box-office sales will be limited to day of show sales only and will be paperless. Gift Cards will not be accepted. Fans in Portland, OR; Des Moines, IA; Las Vegas, NV; Tulsa, OK; Philadelphia, PA and Columbia, SC should visit their local concert venue Web site or aeglive.com for purchase information as tickets will not be sold through Ticketmaster. Tour tickets are limited to four (4) per household.

Upcoming European dates will be announced in the near future. The full North American schedule for the Miley Cyrus concert tour 2009 is as follows:

Date Location Venue

Sept 14 Portland, OR Rose Garden

Sept 16 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome

Sept 18 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena

Sept 20 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose

Sept 22 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center

Sept 23 Anaheim, CA Honda Center

Sept 25 Glendale, AZ jobing.com Arena

Sept 26 Las Vegas, NV Thomas & Mack Center

Sept 29 Salt Lake City, UT Energy Solutions Arena

Oct 2 Omaha, NE Qwest Center

Oct 3 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center

Oct 4 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center

Oct 6 Auburn Hills, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills

Oct 7 Columbus, OH Nationwide Arena

Oct 9 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena

Oct 10 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center

Oct 12 Tulsa, OK BOK Center

Oct 15 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center

Oct 18 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center

Oct 20 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena

Oct 21 Memphis, TN FedExForum

Oct 23 Birmingham, AL BJCC Arena

Oct 24 N. Little Rock, AR ALLTEL Arena

Oct 27 Chicago, IL United Center

Oct 29 Minneapolis, MN Target Center

Oct 31 Louisville, KY Freedom Hall

Nov 1 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena

Nov 3 Washington, DC Verizon Center

Nov 4 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center

Nov 5 University Park, PA Bryce Jordan Center

Nov 7 Newark, NJ Prudential Center

Nov 8 Newark, NJ Prudential Center

Nov 9 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden

Nov 12 Hartford, CT XL Center

Nov 15 Cleveland, OH Quickens Loan Arena

Nov 16 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse

Nov 18 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum

Nov 19 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum

MUSIC NEWS: JAY-Z BLUEPRINT 3 ALBUM RELEASE

Hello world, long time no see. Pardon the absence, I’ve been a tad under the weather. I’m just recovering from surgery, & I actually feel good for the 1^st time in a long time. I won’t disclose the purpose of my surgery or my reasoning for the surgery, but I will let you know that I am truly blessed & I am ready to get back to business. & speaking of making a comeback, its Mr. Hovy Hov, Mr. Beyonce Knowles, Mr. Roc-a-fella, Mr. Jigga Man himself making a comeback. Check out the article & leave your message. Enjoy

Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 Coming Out On September 11

Album's release would come eight years to the day after release of first Blueprint.

By Shaheem Reid

Jay-Z will not be Axl Rose — as he joked to MTV News earlier this year — regarding the long wait for his Blueprint 3 LP. Sources close to the situation have confirmed information from radio personality Miss Info's Twitter page stating that Jay will release Blueprint 3 on September 11, eight years to the day after the release of the first Blueprint album. Hov's new set reportedly will be coming out via a new partnership with the Warner Music Group.

While the first Blueprint album was released on a truly horrific day, it provided escapism for many at the time and remains arguably the greatest opus in Jay's catalog. The album introduced Kanye West and Just Blaze to the forefront of the production world, with soulful soundscapes to complement Jigga's timeless quotables. B3 went into production in 2008 and last spring, Jay announced the album during a Kanye West concert at Madison Square Garden; he also debuted a track from the album, "Jockin' Jay-Z." Kanye, the only producer who has been announced for the album, recently told MTV News that he and Jay had scrapped some earlier tracks recorded for the LP (ones including the Auto-Tune device West used extensively on his recent 808s and Heartbreak LP), and he also revealed that his new artist, singer Mr. Hudson, will make an appearance on the record.

Since most of Jay's albums have had quick turnarounds, fans were expecting Blueprint 3 to be released much sooner. However, Jay has explained in interviews that he was taking his time and actually didn't like not having a deadline to meet. The MC recently parted ways with his longtime label, Def Jam, clearing the way for him to release Blueprint 3 via a different company. Last week reports emerged that Jay was in the process of negotiating deals with both Sony Music and the Warner Music Group. MTV News has confirmed that Blueprint 3 will be coming out via Roc Nation. WMG/ Atlantic will be handling the distribution, marketing and promotion.

Neither Jay nor his rep has released a statement. Jay — who gave a surprise performance in Los Angeles with Eminem on Monday — kicks off his tour with Ciara in Las Vegas on July 3.

MUSIC NEWS: THE DREAM TO DROP ANOTHER ALBUM IN 2009

HE’S NOT DONE YET, AT LEAST NOT THIS YEAR. THE AMERICAN DREAM, THE SINGER, NOT THE PRESUMED HOPES OF ALL U.S CITIZENS, IS SET TO DROP ANOTHER 2009 ALBUM. I LIKE HIS LATEST LP. IT DEFINITELY HAS SOME BANGERS, AS WELL AS SOME BALLADS THAT I CAN ROCK TO. IT’LL BE INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT THIS NEW ONE SOUNDS LIKE. DUDE IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A WRITING TALENT, MAYBE AN UNDERSTATEMENT, & HE KNOWS HOW TO CRAFT A POP HIT. CHEERS TO THE HOMEY. ENJOY THE ARTICLE.

The-Dream Recording New Album For DecembeR

Gary Graff, Detroit

A second album from The-Dream this year is apparently a reality.

The "Umbrella" songwriter and solo artist tells Billboard.com he's "seven records in on a new album," tentatively titled "Love King" and targeted for a December release. "I have to pace myself 'cause there's so much time between here and then," The-Dream says, "but the seven records I do have are timeless records. Whether they come out now or later it's not really going to matter what kind of records they are."

And while his latest release, the gold-certified "Love vs. Money" -- which came out in March and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 -- featured guest appearances by Mariah Carey, Lil Jon and Kanye West (on the current hit, "Walkin' on the Moon"), The-Dream says no features are set yet for the next album. "Usually it's one of those things where I kinda wait," he explains. "I wait 'til the end, and then who's ever doing their thing at that particular time, that's who I get."

The-Dream is balancing recording sessions with preparations in Los Angeles for his tour with Keyshia Coles, which starts Wednesday in Cincinnati. Unlike his "special guest" stint on last year's Jay-Z/Mary J. Blige trek, this tour will allow him to present "a bigger Dream," complete with four dancers and a five-piece band.

"I'm coming pretty stocked-up this time," he says with a laugh. "I'm like a kid in a toy store, like, 'Oh, this is gonna be fun!" I'm coming DVD-ready." And, in fact, he plans to film a DVD at some point during the tour, which wraps June 21 in Oakland, Calif.

The-Dream says fans can expect songs from his two albums but plans to offer only "hints" of the hits he's written for Rihanna, Usher, Carey, Blige, Jamie Foxx and others. "I don't have enough time," he explains, though there will be a cover of Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana." "I've been trying to sing that song forever," The-Dream notes.

He's also planning his own headlining run for the fall, when his repertoire will be expanded not just by the "Love King" material but also by forthcoming work with Carey, Brandy, Christina Milian and Puff Daddy, the latter with a song called "Change" that The-Dream calls "probably one of the best male records I've ever written...the best record I've written besides 'Umbrella.'"

Links referenced within this article

Find this article at:

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/the-dream-recording-new-album-for-december-1003970940.story

MUSIC NEWS: IRV GOTTI DROPS ASHANTI FROM MURDER, INC.

THIS MAY UPSET SOME PEOPLE, & EASE OTHERS, BUT IT’S GOING DOWN REGARDLESS. THE MURDER, INC PRINCESS HERSELF, MS. ASHANTI, OR SHOULD I SAY MRS. NELLY HAYES, LOL, HAS BEEN DROPPED BY LABEL HEAD IRV GOTTI, OR IRVING LORENZO, AS THE GOVERNMENT KNOWS HIM BY. READ BELOW FOR DETAILS, LEAVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS, & ENJOY.

Irv Gotti Says He's Dropping Ashanti From The Inc.

'The relationship has run its course,' label head says.

By Shaheem Reid

Irv Gotti says he and Ashanti, the Princess of the Inc., will soon be parting company. He said they haven't been on speaking terms for some time, and the label head/reality-TV star says there's nothing he can do but end their musical and business affiliation.

"The relationship has run its course," Gotti explained earlier this week while visiting the MTV offices. "The chemistry of what's needed — we're in two totally different places. You're talking to somebody that took her and shaped and molded her and put her out there for the world, and it blew up. We [hold the record] for the [fastest] selling debut by a female R&B artist — 503 [thousand]. We did it! My views and philosophies and her views and philosophies are not meeting up."

Ashanti's last LP, The Declaration — her first in four years — came out in June of last year on the Inc. and was created with virtually no input from Gotti. The album was her first in-studio project not to go platinum. Gotti says it's because the singer deviated from their winning formula and tag-team effort.

"I personally believe for her to be successful, it took the energy ... when you seen her, it was 30 n---as around her, and she's the princess so nice and pretty walking through," he said. "The music was great, but it was the energy that was created. It wasn't just her standing there and singing a song.

"We don't really speak or talk or anything like that," he continued. "It's sad in a way. But in another, it's like it's all good."

Well, maybe not that good. Gotti said it is best for them to part ways.

"I don't think she can win. She needs some guidance with that," Gotti added. "But she's not thinking like that. Really, I couldn't tell you what she's thinking. So that relationship has run its course and honestly, I'm gonna just drop her."

At press time, a rep for Ashanti had not granted MTV News' requests for comment.

Gotti told MTV News that he's maintained the rights to all of his artists, including Ashanti, Lloyd and of course Ja Rule. The exec says he's working on a deal to reunite with his fellow Def Jam alumni Lyor Cohen, Kevin Liles and Julie Greenwald over at the Warner Music Group. He says new albums by Lloyd, new rapper Newz and Rule are in the cooker. He explains the delay of Rule's The Mirror is because they are trying to craft a classic LP.

SOURCE: MTV.COM

CELBRITY NEWS: MICHAEL JACKSON TOO THIN TO PERFORM?

IS MJ TOO THIN TO PERFORM?

Michael Jackson has been told he's too thin to perform live. Doctors have reportedly begged the "Thriller" singer to eat more or risk collapsing on stage during his 50-show residency at London's O2 arena in July.

Concert promoter AEG Live insist the 50-year-old star is "extremely fit" and looking forward to taking to the stage, but others claim he is dangerously underweight, and needs gain at least 20lbs to be considered healthy.

A source told Britain's The Sun newspaper: "There are concerns Michael is too frail. He has been ordered to eat more but he refuses to and eats like a bird."

Jackson is reportedly still fighting to overcome a skin infection he contracted in February and suffering from an old back injury.

The star has not performed live since his disastrous appearance at the 2006 World Music Awards, where he visibly struggled to sing two lines of "We Are The World," before staggering off stage.

He has spent the past two months in Los Angeles rehearsing for his "This Is It" series of shows, which are rumored to include live animals, a duet with his 12-year-old son Prince and performances from stars including Britney Spears and Leona Lewis.