Most people only dream of working with big-name talent like Diddy and Mary J. Blige. But for Keri Hilson, that was just the beginning. The songwriter-turned-singer has written hits for the hottest artists in the game, though she modestly insists her big break came “when Timbaland found me.” From there, she quickly moved from crooning in “The Way I Are” to releasing her debut album, In A Perfect World … (featuring the dangerously habit-forming hit single, “Energy.”)

So watch what Hilson had to say about the video that’s jump-started her solo career, and then download “Energy” for yourself. Not only will it teach you the connection between provocative gym clothes and failed relationships but it’ll totally motivate you to sign up for those kickboxing lessons you always wanted!

+ Barack Obama’s camp says Ludacris “should be ashamed” of his “Politics as Usual” lyrics. Apparently, it doesn’t sit well with Obama when you call Hillary Clinton an “irrelevant” b—-, slam President Bush as “mentally handicapped” and say “[John] McCain don’t belong in ANY chair unless he’s paralyzed.” Also, Democratic frontrunners hate it when you rap-demand to be their VP. (MTV)

+ Katy Perry’s ode to bi-curiosity tops the Hot 100 chart for the sixth straight week. (Billboard)

+ Jay-Z’s new album to feature tracks produced by Kanye West and Timbaland. Did somebody say big pimpin’? (NME)

+ Does the latest single from the reunited New Kids on the Block (featuring Ne-Yo!) have the right stuff? You decide. (I’m Not Obsessed)

+ Breaking: Avril Lavigne only hires brunette backup dancers. (India News)

+ A recent Jonas Brothers concert devolved into mass teenage girl hysteria and more than two hours of solid high-pitched screaming. Yeah, that’s how they roll. (Buddy TV)

+ It’s Akon’s life, and he can retire if he wants to. Fortunately, he doesn’t. (MTV)

No kidding. We wouldn’t make this up, because that wouldn’t be fair. It would be downright mean, actually. So, we’re in no way lying, fibbing, stretching the truth or even joshing around. Miley Cyrus will be performing LIVE on FNMTV tomorrow night. That’s Friday, August 1, at 8 p.m. ET.

What will the esteemed Ms. Cyrus perform, you ask? Nothing more than a little number we all love called “7 Things!” Oh yes, it’s true. Plus, she’ll also perform “Fly on the Wall,” which you WON’T see on FNMTV, but instead you’ll get to watch that online a bit after the show when it gets posted over at fnmtv.com. That’s also the place you can upload your review of Miley’s performance, your favorite dance moves or whatever.

As if Miley wasn’t enough, our old pal Pete Wentz will also have a few more things in store for this episode of FN, like …

+ The world premiere of David Banner’s “Shawty Say” music video featuring Lil’ Wayne

+ The world premiere of All Time Low’s “Poppin” music video

+ The world premiere of Hawthorne Heights‘ “Rescue Me” music video

And, all of those artists will be on hand to chat with Pete, along with Miley, of course.

Oooooo … and we almost forgot to mention that we’ll find out who the nominees are for Best Hip-Hop and Best Pop Video nominees for the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. And we’ll open voting for Best New Artist and Best Dancing in a Video nominees. And, maybe you should watch to see if there will be another super, special VMA announcement, not unlike two weeks ago when we found out that the Jonas Brothers would be performing at the big show on Sept. 7!

For now, watch Miley’s “7 Things.”

++ UPDATE: Meet Kelsey and see photos of her with Tokio Hotel! ++

Congratulations to Kelsey M. from Bristow, Va., who is the winner of the “Ready Set Fly to TRL to See Tokio Hotel” sweepstakes!

It’s OK to be jealous of Kelsey, because she will be in New York next week to see the band up close and personal during Tokio Hotel week on TRL. But don’t hate. It’s all good. She’s a very deserving fan who will fly the flag proudly in NYC for everyone who’s ever wanted to get close to the band. We’ll post a full report on Kelsey’s visit — and Tokio Hotel’s visit, too, of course — to TRL next week.

Thank you to everyone who entered our Ready Set Fly to TRL to See Tokio Hotel sweepstakes!

No strangers to dysfunction — watch their “After Hours” video off their latest album, Brain Thrust Mastery — or arbitrary advice, We Are Scientists answer a handful of depressing fan questions in this exclusive Buzzworthy interview.

Part 3 of the A Cursive Memory tour diary finds the guys plugging their band name (and MTV.com!) in front of a seemingly malodorous restroom. And while there’s no talk of sharks — or lame-o Supersmash Brothers characters — this time around, there is a crazy (and likely illegal) fireworks display! Though we’re guessing you’ll probably remember this tour diary most for its inadvertently awkward timing and apparent lack of a courtesy flush.

So sit back and watch as the happy-but-overtired foursome complete their leg on Warped Tour — and go out with a bang — then catch up A Cursive Memory’s first and second tour diaries without ever leaving your seat.

(Credit: Andreea Radulescu)

When they’re not busy dating Ashlee Simpson’s ex-boyfriends (and impressively finishing each other’s sentences) identical twinsies Jessica and Lisa Origliasso — better known as The Veronicas — apparently spend their free time vamping it up for the camera with bright red lipstick and tight-fitting porkpie hats. Fortunately, while both sisters have the dark-haired, pale-skinned (post-Manson era) Evan Rachel Wood thing going on, you shouldn’t have any trouble telling them apart, thanks to the marvels of hair extensions, colored contacts and Jess’ multiple tats.

So channel your inner Ann Rice and check out the rest of The Veronicas’ hipstery goth-meets-glam photo shoot. And for those of you not yet familiar with the Aussie sister act, get with the program by watching “Untouched” — the girls’ first U.S. video release — and checking out this exclusive Buzzworthy interview.

+ Have you heard the sexy new track by R. Kelly? Before things really start to heat up, Kelly sings “Girl, just let me know my access is granted.” Yeah, if we’d recently been accused (but eventually acquitted!) of having non-consensual relations with an underage person, we’d be taking some extra precautions, too. (MTV)

+ Nine Inch Nails‘ new album lands in the Top 20, proving once again that free downloads aren’t as evil as the recording industry says they are. (Rolling Stone)

+ Meanwhile, Radiohead devastates fans by canceling the super-secret show nobody was supposed to know about, anyway. (Idolator)

+ Fergie concisely describes her character’s motivation in the upcoming ensemble flick, Nine. The seven-word assessment? “She’s basically a prostitute on the beach.” (Billboard)

+ Exactly how have The Killers changed since the release of their last album, Sam’s Town? Well, for one thing, “Brandon Flowers remembered how to shave.” Also, they apparently have new songs. (Stereogum)

+ Soulja Boy credits 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” video with inspiring him to get into the rap game. Funny, that same video — specifically the gratuitous shots of Fiddy’s cut torso — is also what inspired us to (finally) renew that gym membership. (MTV)

+ Cobra Starship gets rave reviews for their “colorful” Warped Tour performance, while Katy Perry and Gym Class Heroes are brought up on charges of “not kicking it hard enough.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Calling all pop music lovers, die-hard Britney fans and shameless procrastinators! With the VMA’s rapidly approaching, it’s time to strap on your voting shoes once again and nominate your fave artists for the Best Pop Video category. And since pure, unadulterated power can be somewhat of a head trip, we’ve decided to give you a few helpful hints to start the creative juices flowing. (Just make sure to get those ballots in by 11am tomorrow).

+ Jordin Sparks, “No Air” - Because anything that debunks rumors of your broken vocal chords (while simultaneously fueling rumors that you and Chris Brown are more-than-friends) is definitely good.

+ Britney Spears, “Piece of Me” - When life gets hard, sometimes you just need stop thinking about rehab and palimony — and start thinking happy thoughts! Like remembering when you used to be insanely hot and K-Fed was just another crappy backup dancer.

+ Avril Lavigne, “Girlfriend” - It’s about time someone made a catchy, energetic defense of man-stealing! (Although weird that the Ode to the Other Woman is coming from newlywed Avril).

+ Sara Bareilles, “Love Song” - Have we told you lately that we love this girl? And not in a passive-aggressive, “We actually kinda hate you and will never, ever write a song for you” sorta way. No, it’s much more of a “We like your music, but please don’t ever get angry at us” kinda thing.

+ Jonas Brothers, “Burnin’ Up” - Okay, have you ever had an embarrassingly large crush on someone and then realized, ‘Hey, they’re actually kinda funny!’ — and then felt stupid (instead of thrilled) because you probably should have already known that already, what with you being soulmates and all? No? Yeah, us neither.

+ OneRepublic, “Stop and Stare” - If somebody ever bothered to make a soundtrack of your life, this song would 100% be on it. It’s so emotive! Perfect for those intense, life-changing moments where you’d (ideally) say something clever, meaningful and profound — if only you weren’t so inarticulate and awkward…

+ Miley Cyrus, “7 Things” - Although it’s killing us not to know who this song is about (C’mon, Miley, your secret’s safe with us!) we love this video because it’s angry in the peppiest possible way. Also, props to Miley for limiting her list of post-breakup grievances to only seven.

+ Tokio Hotel, “Ready, Set, Go!” - Hey, if it’s good enough for Prince Albert II, it’s good enough for us. Even if these guys have enough product in their hair to singlehandedly solve the oil crisis.

+ Sean Kingston, “Beautiful Girls” - An ode to ridiculously good-looking people? Why, Sean, you shouldn’t have! (But we’re so glad you did).

+ The Ting Tings, “Shut Up and Let Me Go” - What is it about two Brits yelling that makes us want to get up and shake it like a Polaroid picture? We’re not sure, but we do know one thing: No matter how strong the urge, you MUST resist the impulse to stand up and dance on your desks. (Seriously, bosses just don’t understand).

+ Madonna, “4 Minutes” - How is it possible that Madonna is middle-aged and still officially the coolest person we know? (Note: By “know” we don’t mean “socialize with regularly” so much as “obsessively worship from afar.”) Madge is looking FIERCE in this video, and Justin’s never sounded better. It’s almost enough to make us forget about that rumored divorce/A-Rod thing! Almost…

Having trouble making up your mind? Check out a complete list of nominees and vote for your favorite videos!