@DJSMALLZ AKA MR. SOUTHERN SMOKE

Fayetteville, North Carolina, MC J. Cole will open for the hip-hop gods when their joint show heads to Yankee Stadium next week, according to RapRadar.com. The Warm Up mixtape rapper will open the show along with VMA nominee B.o.B, who worked his magic at the tour's Detroit outings.

Upstart MC J. Cole is the latest addition to a tour lineup that has been heavy on historic appearances from rap greats. Inimitable beatmaster and hip-hop pioneer Dr. Dre, G-Unit boss 50 Cent and Toronto star Drake all surprised thousands of fans at Jigga and Shady's Comerica Park shows last week.

The opening slot is another milestone in what has shaped up to be a major year for Cole. After becoming the first artist to ink a deal with Jay's Roc Nation imprint and stepping out on tour with the rock-star MC last year, Cole was dubbed a Freshman '10 rapper by XXL magazine in March. The same month, the MC headlined his first NYC show, ably satisfying the city's finicky music fans. In July, he was a top-five finalist for MTV News' "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" and can be heard on the smoky hit R&B single "All I Want Is You" from fellow newcomer Miguel.

Cole's single "Who Dat" has hit the airwaves, and the rising lyricist told MTV News earlier this year that he's checking out the successful blueprint his mentor Jay established when it comes to rolling out his debut LP.

"You might have an incredible single or an incredible song, and if you just set it up the wrong way, it won't go as far as it could've went," he said. "I feel like Jay's last album had the perfect setup, single-wise. So it's really about finding the right setup, and then from there, it's up to the people to decide."

Before Eminem heads to New York, he'll be opening the 2010 VMAs on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

Friday, September 10, 2010 at 10:39PM |

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Friday

Sep102010

Usher's VMA Performance To Be Worthy Of A 'King'

The success of Usher's "OMG" is as much a testament to his unyielding popularity as an artist as it is his ability to, well, dance his ass off. That's particularly apparent in the Video Music Award-nominated video for the song, which features Ush and a bevy of beauties popping, locking, pivoting and posing in ways we never thought possible. Quite simply, the man can move.

So when it came time to plot out his VMA performance, well, Usher's team -- and the brain trust behind the show -- didn't have a whole lot of trouble coming up with a concept. The dancing was going to be front and center. The only question was: How could they take things to the next level.

"We all sat in a room and came up with a concept for the stage, and then we took that concept to Usher," VMA executive producer Dave Sirulnick told MTV News. "We said to him, 'We want to do the best televised dance routine that you've done in years. Let's show why you're the king.' "

And Ush's Sunday night performance is very much an affair worthy of royalty. Full of eye-popping moves, hip-dipping dancers and more special effects than a Hollywood blockbuster, it makes full use of not just the epic VMA stage (which practically engulfs the entirety of Nokia Theater), but the space behind it.

While we can't give away too many details, based on the rehearsals we saw Thursday, the off-the-wall choreography is only part of the attraction. There are lasers and LED lights, stunts, slides and even some props. Like we said, it's kind of like a Hollywood blockbuster. And kind of a coronation too. After all, Usher is the king.

Friday, September 10, 2010 at 10:38PM |

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Friday

Sep102010