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‘I work best with two strikes, two outs,’ MC says of working on his follow-up to 2008’s Brass Knuckles.
By Shaheem Reid

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Nelly


Photo: MTV News

NEW YORK — After the lukewarm reception Nelly received on the albums Sweat and Suit (two albums released on the same day in 2004) and the follow-up Brass Knuckles, the hip-hop Mayor of St. Louis has been back in the studio focusing on sounding better than ever.

“The thing is, I work best with two strikes, two outs,” Nelly said recently. “I really think I do. As an artist, you want to wake up every day and feel like you’re doing something people don’t think you can do. Now I feel like I’ve been put in that position again, where it’s more doubt than expectancy. The doubt is what fuels me, so to speak. I’ve been real fortunate where I have great people around me. Everybody wants to freakin’ work with me — not that everybody didn’t [before], but it’s different because I didn’t work with a lot of people. Coming into this situation, it’s beautiful.”

Nelly worked with producers Play-N-Skillz on a track called “Angel Eyes,” a record that samples Kim Carnes’ classic “Bette Davis Eyes.” Mr. Pimp Juice also says he has some samples of jazz great Miles Jaye as well as Notorious B.I.G. on a track called “Thousand Stacks.” Diddy, Jim Jonsin and Rico Love also produced on the album.

“In the booth right now, it’s kind of different,” he said about his guest stars. “I got Sean Paul, Akon … as far as the rappers go, Plies. Me and Jeezy talking about some things now. I’m not finished, but I’m a good portion on the way.”

Nelly’s album is still untitled.

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• Nelly

‘I know I’ll get a lot of new fans just off touring with her,’ Cudi says.
By James Montgomery

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Kid Cudi


Photo: MTV News

Opening for Lady Gaga is a dream gig for almost any artist — but the trouble is, once you get it, how on Earth do you come up with a set that can compare with hers? That’s the problem opening act Kid Cudi was struggling with when we caught up with him last month before Gaga’s Monster Ball Tour, which launched Friday night in Montreal.

“It’s like, man, you know Gaga’s gonna do the ill stage setup and mine’s gonna suck. It’s gonna be me and this DJ, and I’ll be like, ‘Alright, play the next song … this is on my album.’ I’m gonna be dodging Gaga’s equipment and stuff,” Cudi laughed before continuing more seriously. “Nah, it’s gonna be good, man. I’ve been working on something just to step my game up from the last tour I did with Asher [Roth]. We’ve been brainstorming, coming up with some good ideas. Of course, mine won’t be as elaborate as Gaga’s, but I’m kind of on this tour as a fan, you know, I’m just along for the ride … playing my part.”

Cudi found himself on the tour after Kanye West cancelled his planned “Fame Kills” co-headlining tour with Gaga early last month. Cudi was a bit surprised to get the call to open Gaga’s rescheduled tour.

“It was a couple of weeks ago, actually. I got the call, and at first I just had to see if it was going to fit,” he said. “I wanted to take a lot of time off for my family, just kind of hang with them. It worked out in a timely fashion, I’ll still be able to put in the family time after the tour, I got a lot of time off after that. So it’s good thing, and it will make more people aware of my album. I know I’ll get a lot of new fans just off touring with her.”

So far, so good — Gaga even brought Cudi out on opening night to collaborate on “Poker Face/ Make Her Say.”

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• href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/kid_cudi/artist.jhtml">Kid Cudi
• href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lady_gaga/artist.jhtml">Lady Gaga