Guitar Hero Spin-Off Lands Jay-Z, Eminem

Lady Gaga also does well—but where's Song of the Year nod?

(NEWSER) - Eminem raked in the Grammy nominations last night, leading the ranks with 10 nods including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. Next up were Bruno Mars with seven, and Lady Gaga , Lady Antebellum , and Jay-Z with six each. Of course, there were also some snubs, E! notes: Gaga didn't get nominated for Song of the Year, Susan Boyle didn't get nominated for Best New Artist, and Justin Bieber didn't get nominated for Album of the Year. Click here for the complete list of nominees. More»

Hip-hop's first couple get tour, meet Obama

(NEWSER) - Hip-hop’s first couple got a look at the DC digs of the nation’s first family this week, with Jay-Z and wife Beyoncé getting cozy in the White House Situation Room as they waited to meet President Obama. The rapper, who’s bragged in lyrics about close relations with Obama, was in Washington for a concert Wednesday. Wonders MTV’s Rahman Dukes of the photos, “Is that Obama’s seat? Doesn’t Jigga sort of look right in that spot?” More»

She wins three awards, dedicates opener to late designer

(NEWSER) - Lady Gaga scored three awards at tonight’s Brit Awards—the across-the-pond version of the Grammys—and won over the London audience by dedicating her show-opening performance to a late friend and favorite fashion designer. “This is for Alexander McQueen,” Gaga said before launching into an acoustic version of Telephone. More»

Rapper, director deny On To The Next One contains occult images

(NEWSER) - With the conspiracy-theory corners of the Internet gnawing through the idea that Jay-Z’s latest video, for the single On To The Next One, is chock-full of Satanic imagery and the symbols of Freemasonry, the rapper and the vid’s director are laughing it all off. “That’s crazy to me,” Jay-Z tells MTV . “I gotta remind people I’m from Marcy Projects. I can’t get into a golf club in Palm Springs.” More»

Amy Winehouse and Blink-182 are back, plus more hot releases

(NEWSER) - Forget Susan Boyle and Taylor Swift: This year promises to be a great one for music, with comebacks by big names and exciting follow-ups from breakthrough artists. MTV takes a look at the most anticipated albums of 2010:

• Amy Winehouse : The troubled singer will, supposedly, finally complete the sequel to her Grammy-winning Back to Black.
• Katy Perry : She’s worked with Rivers Cuomo of Weezer as well as a Rihanna collaborator on her follow-up to One of the Boys.