Drake channels his inner Sinatra in this dope little promo clip for this years MTV Video Music Awards (hosted by Chelsea Handler); which is airing live from Los Angeles on September 12th. Some behind-the-scenes footage after the jump.

The Chef chops it up with MTV about his upcoming collaboration with Kanye West and Justin Bieber.

All I did was ride the beat and listen to what he was singing to. I can go basic when I want to. I can go rated R, I can go rated PG. I definitely didn’t give him anything that I thought was too hot to be spoken on by a 16-year-old. I know how to read beats, and listening to the record, I just complemented. At the end of my 16 [bars], when you do hear Justin coming, it fits and it’s a great sound. I didn’t go crazy. One thing people gotta recognize about me, I’m the Chef. I know how to make spicy food, I know how to make food that ain’t spicy. I made something that fit the criteria.

Rae also speaks on the recording session. Transcipt is included after the jump for those that can’t listen.

And who wouldn’t? Anyways, T.I. explains to MTV that all the hard work and sacrifices (regarding Grand Hustle and B.o.B) is paying off and there’s absolutely no reason not to celebrate.

I feel like right now, all the hard work is paying off,” Tip said about Bob. “This is what everybody has been working for. This is [why] we go late nights in the studio, early mornings in the studio. This is the reason we miss days out of our children’s lives — for moments like these. For me not to sit here, reap the benefits and take the pleasure as well as taking the moment to bask in the glory of the success of what we have accomplished … It’s necessary, very necessary.”

And success it is. Just hit the jump and take a look at some shots from B.o.B and Playboy Tre’s sold out show last night at the Irving Plaza in NYC.

Rick Ross sits down with MTV to discuss the latest installment of his Maybach Music series; that featured Jadakiss, T.I. & Erykah Badu.

Erykah Badu
She never really collaborated with a lot of artists outside of Outkast. Maybe another artist or two, [like] the Roots. It was always conscious music she was making. You know, a gritty street artist — that’s always a plus when you get to work with somebody with the flowers around them and [they're] burning incense. And it’s positive.

T.I.
I felt the time was right for me and T.I. [to work together]. We had never personally collaborated with each other on a record one on one. Early on in my career, I had said [negative] things when I didn’t know him. Just us being bosses and us being leaders and us being examples, we bossed up. We both did. He came from home doing what he did. I did my thing.

Just on a mutual respect for each other, I reached out to him. When I got that verse back, I was like, ‘He meant that.’ We had been seeing each other over a period of time, saluting each other, bumping into each other, he knew I was a fan of his. We captured that moment in time which was one of the dopest records. And that meant the most to me. I used to play that T.I. verse in my studio, like, ‘This set the tone, right here. It set the tone.’ It just felt good for the homie to lace me. I salute Tip.

Jadakiss
Jada was always that New York underdog. That next lyricist. You could be the hottest at the time, but if you slippin’, Jada is one record away. He’s a cool dude, somebody I got a mutual respect and a friendship with.

PREVIOUS: Rick Ross – The Summas Mine | Erykah Badu – Window Seat (rmx) f. Rick Ross (Video)

Miguel chops it up with Shaheem Reid about his (2)dope collaboration with J. Cole.

“I remember talking to ['All I Want Is You' producer] Salam [Remi] and him saying, ‘Just be honest,’ ” Miguel said about the song’s lyrics. “I’m excited about it. I didn’t get to be in the studio with J. Cole. I recorded the song, and Mark Pitts at Jive — who happens to be a part of J. Cole’s management as well — I remember the call. It was 3 o’clock in the morning, and Mark called me like, ‘Yo, it’s crazy! I’mma play it for Cole.’ He played it for him, and Cole said he liked it. I’m looking forward to getting on [Cole's] forthcoming album, hopefully. Maybe.”

Miguel also speaks on his upcoming album.

MTV caught up with Young Jeezy. Speaking on his recent B.M.F. freestyle that everyone (myself included) took as a diss to Rick Ross.

It’s not a dis. First of all, I’m not gonna get nothing out of dissing that guy. That’s one. What am I gonna get out of dissing him? I think sometimes people can read into things too deep. They trippin’, man. They crazy out there. Basically, if homie takes that as a dis, he’s insecure, and anybody else out there who does, they are insecure.

When asked about specif lines (“how you blowing money fast? you don’t know the crew. oh you part of the fam? shit i never knew”) Jeezy said the following…

Despite what some other sites are saying, Rick Ross is actually talking about Jeezy’s B.M.F. (The Real Blowin’ Money Fast) freestyle in the clip above. Not the diss-filled version that dropped today. Reading is fundamental.

We’ll have to catch up with Jeezy and Ross soon to find out what’s really going down, but eyebrows were first raised in late June when Jeezy released the track “B.M.F. (The Real Blowin’ Money Fast).”

“I haven’t had a chance to talk to the homie,” Ross said. “I really don’t know what the thought process was behind it. My record was called ‘Blowin’ Money Fast.’ It confused me that if it was called ‘The Real B.M.F.,’ I would have called it ‘The Black Mafia Family.’ … You know, you may have to ask him. Other than that, we still reppin’, we still riding, and [my] record is getting love everywhere. So it’s all good.”

PREVIOUS: Erykah Badu – Window Seat (rmx) f. Rick Ross (Video)

Fat Joe sits down with Sway to address Curtis’ latest video. He also goes on to speak on the French Montana x Jim Jones situation that went down Thursday night at Webster Hall.

PREVIOUS: Fat Joe On Big Pun (Video) | Fat Joe On Chelsea Lately (Video)

Drizzy reveals to MTV his biggest regrets surrounding his debut album, Thank Me Later. Wishing 9AM in Dallas could’ve made the album intro, etc.

The saddest part to me is that I would have made ’9 AM in Dallas’ the intro for the album, but I did it the day of mastering, which is crazy, so it couldn’t make the album. That’s probably my greatest upset, was the fact that it couldn’t be on the physical disc and be a part of that album. ‘Darlin’ ‘ was a loss just because it was never mixed, and every time I hear it in the club, you can never really hear the words. I think the words are the best part of that song. I think Wayne painted such a vivid picture. I tried to come in and add my little two cents at the end.

Most of the music made it. Most of the music we held for a long time, and the stuff that did leak, it was pretty good references. It wasn’t anything I was too upset about. ‘Shut It Down’ leaking early was painful. I think it could have been a bigger record had it not been out there so long. And ‘Fall for Your Type’ I wish was on there, but I have other plans for that record, so it’s gonna be good.

PREVIOUS: Drake – I’m Ready For You [Full Version/Tags]

Before turning himself in to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Courthouse on Monday afternoon (to begin serving a 90-day sentence stemming from a 2002 reckless driving charge), Earl leaves a short video message to MTV and his fans.

It’s one of the first steps in regaining everything I lost. My relationship with God has gotten so much stronger. He’s always had his hand on me. He always guided me. I didn’t always go where he wanted me to go. But he always had me. Now that I’m actually listening and being obedient, life is so much better.

Dude looks like he’s in good shape. Hopefully when he’s released he can get back in the studio and put out some worthwhile music. In (somewhat) related ways, hit the jump as Drag-On speaks on The Crazies mixtape series, DMX, acting vs. rapping and more.

While The R.E.D. Room is now slated for an August 24th release; Jayceon speaks with MTV about his upcoming Brake Lights mixtape. Hosted by DJ Skee and entirely produced by Cool & Dre.

“I got something I did with [Lil] Wayne before he left. I got something with Baby. Always gotta have them a part of anything red. Them my dudes. Waka Flocka came through to jump on the mixtape hook. I got some stuff, man.”

After the jump Dre speaks on two joints they did with Busta Rhymes and Mary J. Blige.

MTV goes behind-the-scenes of Drake’s upcoming video; featuring T.I. and Swizz Beatz.