In todays Rap Roundup we have the latest on Common, the Kanye West v 50 Cent plus all the MTV VMA nominations, and what is happening with Ice Cubes Kiwi tour

Common does well
Famed Chicago rapper Common known for his conscious rhymes and his ability to stay relevant debuted on the Billboard chart at number one this week. His first week sales for Finding Forever which was released last week sold 157,000 copies. Production on the album fell mainly into the hands of label boss and fellow Chicago rapper Kanye West who heads up the G.O.O.D label. The label is also home to John Legend. Finding Forever is Commons seventh studio album and also featured production from the late great J Dilla with whom Common was close friends.
Kanye vs 50 Cent
As September 11th draws closer, Kanye West declined 50 Cents recent offer of a 'presidential debate' like discussion about who has the hottest album, saying it was the 'stupidest thing' he had ever heard.The two face off on a day which is marked by nothing but tragedy since the terrorist attacks in the US six years ago. Def Jam CEO Jay Z said "It's great for retail, the record business, the buying public [and] the Internet so they can have their debates on who's going to win," he said. "I have to bet on the home team. It's going to be a good fight, too." when asked his thoughts on who will release the best album. 50 Cent's album was pushed back from a June release after he felt the first two singles weren't received by the masses like he had hoped.
MTV VMA nominations
The 24th VMAs being held in Las Vegas in September this year are dominated by Beyonce and Justin Timberlake. The event which will take place on September 9th from the Palms casino Resort will feature performances by Kanye West, Timbaland, Amy Winehouse and Rihanna. Below is a full list of nominations

Video of the Year
Amy Winehouse: "Rehab"
Beyoncé: "Irreplaceable"
Justice: "D.A.N.C.E."
Justin Timberlake: "What Goes Around ... "
Kanye West: "Stronger"
Rihanna (featuring Jay-Z): "Umbrella"

Male Artist of the Year
Akon: "Don't Matter," "I Wanna Love You" (featuring Snoop Dogg),
"Smack That" (featuring Eminem)
Kanye West: "Can't Tell Me Nothing," "Stronger," "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been" - DJ Premier remix, featuring Nas, KRS-One and Rakim)
Justin Timberlake: "Let Me Talk To You/ My Love," "SexyBack" (featuring Timbaland), "What Goes Around ... "
T.I.: "Big Things Poppin' (Do It)," "You Know What It Is" (featuring Wyclef Jean), "What You Know"
Robin Thicke: "Can U Believe," "Lost Without U," "Wanna Love You Girl" (remix, featuring Busta Rhymes and Pharrell)

Female Artist of the Year
Amy Winehouse: "Rehab," "You Know I'm No Good"
Beyoncé: "Irreplaceable," "Beautiful Liar" (featuring Shakira)
Fergie: "Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal)," "Glamorous" (featuring Ludacris), "Fergalicious" (featuring Will.I.Am)
Nelly Furtado: "Maneater," "Say It Right"
Rihanna: "Umbrella" (featuring Jay-Z)

Best New Artist
Amy Winehouse: "Rehab," "You Know I'm No Good"
Carrie Underwood: "Before He Cheats"
Gym Class Heroes: "Clothes Off," "Cupid's Chokehold/ Breakfast in America"
Lily Allen: "Alfie," "Smile," "LDN"
Peter Bjorn and John: "Young Folks"

Best Group
Fall Out Boy: "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race," "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs"
Gym Class Heroes: "Clothes Off," "Cupid's Chokehold/ Breakfast in America"
Linkin Park: "What I've Done"
Maroon 5: "Makes Me Wonder"
White Stripes: "Icky Thump"

Most Earthshattering Collaboration
Akon (featuring Eminem): "Smack That"
Beyoncé and Shakira: "Beautiful Liar"
Justin Timberlake (featuring Timbaland): "SexyBack"
Gwen Stefani (featuring Akon): "The Sweet Escape"
U2 (featuring Green Day): "The Saints Are Coming"

Quadruple Threat of the Year
Beyoncé
Bono
Jay-Z
Justin Timberlake
Kanye West

Monster Single of the Year
Avril Lavigne: "Girlfriend"
Daughtry: "Home"
Fall Out Boy: "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs"
Lil Mama: "Lip Gloss (No Music)"
T-Pain (featuring Yung Joc): "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')"
Timbaland (featuring Keri Hilson, D.O.E. and Sebastian): "The Way I Are"
MIMS: "This Is Why I'm Hot"
Plain White T's: "Hey There, Delilah"
Rihanna (featuring Jay-Z): "Umbrella"
Shop Boyz: "Party Like A Rock Star"

Best Director Beyoncé and Shakira: "Beautiful Liar" (director: Jake Nava) Christina Aguilera: "Candyman" (directors: Matthew Rolston and Christina Aguilera) Justin Timberlake: "What Goes Around ..." (director: Samuel Bayer) Kanye West: "Stronger" (director: Hype Williams) Linkin Park: "What I've Done" (director: Joseph Hahn) Rihanna (featuring Jay-Z): "Umbrella" (director: Chris Applebaum)

Best Editing in a Video Beyoncé and Shakira: "Beautiful Liar" (editor: Jarett Figl) Gnarls Barkley: "Smiley Faces" (editor: Ken Mowe) Justin Timberlake: "What Goes Around ..." (editor: Hollee Singer) Kanye West: "Stronger" (editors: Peter Johnson and Corey Weisz) Linkin Park: "What I've Done" (editor: Igor Kovalik)

Best Choreography in a Video Beyoncé and Shakira: "Beautiful Liar" (choreographer: Frank Gatson) Chris Brown: "Wall To Wall" (choreographers: Rich & Tone and Flii Styles) Ciara: "Like A Boy" (choreographer: Jamaica Craft) Eve: "Tambourine" (choreographer: Tahesha Scott) Justin Timberlake: "My Love" (choreographer: Marty Kudelka)

The show must go on
Problems have arisen for American artists traveling to New Zealand and Australia to perform this Summer. Rapper/Actor Ice Cube has faced hostility from a mayoral candidate in Auckland where he is set to perform later this month. Cited as encouraging gang behavior by Len Brown, Ice Cube who has no criminal record has been defended by the owners of the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre where the event is being held. Telestra CEO Richard Jeffrey said he doubted the former NWA front man's music 'will encourage gang problems.'

In Australia the delay of a Akon's visa has disrupted the five date Roc the Block event which was to feature The Game, Juelz Santana and Mims. Due to this delay Mims and Juelz Santana have been replaced with Latino rapper Pitbull and R&B singer Sisqo.

Akon is a huge celebrity in Australia and the organizer of Roc tha Block, Dwayne Cross was adamant that he had to perform, so the kick off date of Aug 7th has now been pushed back to Aug 29th. The dates and venues are:

August 29 - Vodafone Arena, Melbourne;
August 30 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide;
August 31 - Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney;
September 1 - Vector Arena, Auckland.

Melanie J Cornish