Asher Roth, your new video "Be By Myself" is so great that I wrote you a letter by hand, mailed it and then transcribed it here from memory. Please write back ASAP so we can become best friends.

Dear Asher Roth,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for "Be By Myself," the new video that you have just now released, featuring his soulfulness Cee-Lo Green on the hook. To be greeted first thing on a three Advil morning by such sultry, grooving wonders as your beats, and then by the painted bikini ladies dancing along with them, was an unexpected joy. Next time you see your co-stars (the aforementioned paint-dripping swimsuit models) please pass on my most enthusiastic compliments. As the great artist Shakira once put it, they "make a man wanna speak Spanish."

Furthermore, your video's director, John Christopher Pina (Kanye West's "Champion," Common's "The Game"), has elevated their talents to new heights with his visionary camera work. His use of supersaturated colors and overlapping images -- simultaneously retro and next-level futuristic -- does stunning justice to your mellow but funk-a-fied new jam, my friend.

And finally we come to you, emerging rap artist Asher Roth of Morrisville, Pennsylvania. This is the third single from your debut album, Asleep In The Bread Aisle, and once again you have outdone yourself. Laying that lazy new-school swagger of yours over a deeply vintage loop was a very good idea. Tricking it out with a little Cee-Lo soul was an even better one. Your batting average is astounding, Asher Roth. The only downside to "Be By Myself" that I can think of is that, with a single this sweet, ain't nobody gonna leave you alone. OK, talk to you later Asher Roth.

Sincerely,
Daniel From Buzzworthy

If you wanna add a P.S., be my guest, but I recommend that you skip the chit-chat and get to watchin' that video with a quickness.

UPDATE: The entire show is now available online. What are you waiting for??

Whether you're an old-school head (think Eric B & Rakim, Run DMC, Sugar Hill Gang) a recent convert (think: Eminem, 50 Cent, Weezy) or just a big-time Tracy Morgan fan (Think: "Brian Fellows' Safari Planet"), you're not gonna want to miss tonight's 2008 VH1 Hip Hop Honors.

Here, we've rounded up the best behind-the-scenes dirt, backstage photos and red carpet reportage to get you your most readiest for the big night. Here's a few reasons you'll want to tune in tonight at 10pm:

+ Tracy Morgan's hosting, and he's not afraid to give it up for the most powerful woman in politics: Tina Fey.

+ Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy is heading up the backstage interviews, and you won't wanna miss him reminiscing with Busta Rhymes over Slick Rick's jewels.

+ This year's honorees are some of the biggest names in hip-hop: Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, Slick Rick and Too $hort. Yahurd?

+ The performances are gonna be HOT. We're talking Kid Rock, Lil Jon, Cee-Lo, Fat Joe, Flavor Flav, Wyclef Jean and much, much more.

+ There's nothing like seeing history in the making. Find out which of this year's moments will join Nelly and Ciara's tribute to LL Cool J as one of the best moments in Hip Hop Honors' history.

+ The guys from Naughty by Nature have so many skillz they can even kick it a cappella. Hip-hop hooray!

+ You'll get to see Gym Class Heroes, Busta Rhymes, De La Soul and Bun B showing off their favorite hip hop moves. (We still say the Running Man's timeless).

+ Even the rehearsals are dope. From the Public Enemy runthrough to Travis McCoy's Cypress Hill tribute, all we can say is BRING IT.

+ And speaking of Cypress Hill, you'll want to hear why they had a police escort in Illinois. Plus find out how De La Soul passes the time when they're on the road.

+ The spontaneous infomercials. Despite his apparent lack of coordination, we're thinking Katy Perry's boyfriend might've missed his calling.

+ It's all about the style. Special shout-outs to Cee-Lo for his shiny, velour spacesuit and Biz Markie's for his 45-pound bling... thing.

PLUS, get even more prepped with videos from some of tonight's top performers and honorees. We've been waiting All Summer Long for such a Vivrant Thing, and now Something's Gotta Give before we Get Low and go Insane in the Brain. So check out hits from Cypress Hill, Naughty By Nature, Busta Rhymes and Lil Jon and try not to go loco. Like we did just there.

We can't believe the 2008 VMAs are (finally) over. And as much as we enjoyed watching Tokio Hotel win Best New Artist -- and seeing the Jo Bros get mobbed by a bunch of (fake) New Yorkers -- we're ready for our favorite post-awards show pastime: deconstructing the latest fashions. Check out our red carpet roundup (and the Official VMAs Photo Flipbook) and let us know which trends you loved, and which ones should go straight to the back of the closet.

Trend: Glitter-Glam
When we said the stars would shine on the VMAs red carpet tonight, we meant it. Britney Spears sparkled in silver (the perfect color to match her three new Moonmen!) while The Hills' Audrina Patridge and country gal Taylor Swift glittered in gold. Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus bedazzled in a black 20's-inspired frock and Katy Perry glimmered from head to toe in an precious metals mini. The overall effect? Reflective radiance. Or just really, really expensive tin foil. Fortunately, we happen to dig the whole couture-meets-Reynold's-Wrap mashup.

Trend: Wearing White After Labor Day
Forgot those uptight snobs who blanch at the thought of wearing white after the unofficial end of summer. White is the new black, dammit! And if you don't believe us, then maybe you'll take Lauren Conrad's word for it. (Or, for that matter, LL Cool J, Ashley Tisdale, Cee-Lo or Chris Brown's.) Personally, we're feeling a bit overwhelmed. On the one hand, there's a sense of liberation. (No more hue-related stigmas, huzzah!) On the other hand? White's not exactly the most slimming of colors. Also, whenever we wear it, we invariably spill piping hot coffee all over ourselves. Speaking of which, anyone got a Tide pen?

Trend: Hot Strapless Gowns
Sure, formfitting strapless numbers have always been in style. But this year, we're seeing way more variety in terms of color, shape and size. Some went with long gowns (as in Pink's candy-striped number and Christina Aguilera's cobwebby fishtail) while others chose to go short and sweet (a la Stephanie Pratt's black getup and Paris' two-toned taffeta). And despite the onslaught of decolletage, there wasn't a single wardrobe malfunction to be found. Which means our strapless stylistas remembered the three magic words: double-stick tape.

Trend: Black And White (And Red All Under)
In the old days, wearing plain old black-and-white was so funereal. Done incorrectly, you either looked like Morticia Adams, or else a cross between Pirates of the Caribbean and the soloist from your high school chorus. But celebs these days seem to understand there's a pretty big gray area between chic and geek. Tonight's polychromatic standouts include the Jonas Brothers, Tila Tequila, Lindsay Lohan, Lil Wayne and Tokio Hotel's Bill Kaulitz, who gets double-props for making sure his hair totes matched his outfit.

Trend: Mad Hatters
Another big 2008 VMAs trend? Men in pimped-out headgear. From Shwayze's sideways baseball cap (very Fresh Prince of Bel-Air!) to Slash's trademark top hat to Kid Rock and Lil Wayne's fedoras, rims were most definitely this evening. Which still doesn't even begin to explain the fire engine red, Cat in the Hat-style chapeau sitting (three feet) atop T-Pain's head.

Trend: Vest to Impress
And last but not least, another menswear trend sweeping the carpet this evening: the vest. TH's Bill Kaulitz sported the leather (or was it pleather??) variety while Gym Class Heroes' Travis McCoy favored the preppy-punk grayscale look. Jermaine Dupri and Lupe Fiasco refused to follow the Pussycat Dolls' advice and loosen up their buttons, babe, while Ryan Sheckler kept his vest wide open, presumably to show off his shiny chest bling.

+ Did we miss anything? Check out what everyone was wearing in the VMAs 2008 Red Carpet Flipbook. Then, tell us your favorite red carpet must-haves and let us know who you think deserves to win best/worst-dressed.

(Credit: Lyndsay Siegel)

Pan-pop shapeshifter Santogold changes gears faster than a Formula 1 racer, and ever since we heard her breakthrough single, "L.E.S. Artistes," she's had us mesmerized by her haunting hooks, droned-out chants, and electro beats, fronted by powerhouse pipes that conjure images of a closed-door meeting between Nelly Furtado and Grace Jones. And while her sound is anything but formulaic, it's definitely no accident -- Santi's no radio rookie, after all. She studied music in college, sang in a ska-punk band, and scouted talent in the A&R department of a record label. She then ditched the day job and sharpened her songwriting and production chops on neo-soul rocker Res' 2001 critically acclaimed album, How I Do (an album we love to this day), and she co-wrote Ashlee Simpson's "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)."

Eventually, Santogold stopped playing record label Robin Hood (i.e. learning from the big-timers to bring up the small-timers). She took back the creative control she was giving other artists and started working her mojo on her own projects. “We began trying to write pop songs to sell, which made us depressed," she explained, in the third person, "so we started writing songs for ourselves instead."

Which is why we're now starting to think -- and hope -- that she's taking over the world. Not only did she appear on Mark Ronson's Version album, but she signed to Downtown Records, where she released her hotter-than-a-stolen-tamale self-titled debut, which she banged out in just eight weeks and released in spring 2008. The buzz on that, meanwhile, is only getting louder. Throw in Bud Light Lime and Zune commercials, plus a Converse deal and a just-announced opening slot on Coldplay's tour (somehow we couldn't see M.I.A. -- with whom Santo toured -- and Chris Martin cooperatively sharing a stage), and it's becoming abundantly clear why Santi White makes albums, but Santogold -- the girl with "gold record" practically built right into her name -- sells them.

Read more...

Gnarls Barkley's newest video, "Going On," is a complete and total departure from their last video, "Run," which featured enough moiré action to give you a headache at best or, at worst, epilepsy.

"Going On," directed by Wendy Morgan, does not feature Justin Timberlake or even Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse, who only makes an appearance in the form of posters on the wall in the opening shot.

Instead, a group of Jamaicans (note: they might also be from Williamsburg) hot step their way to a vague dimension-shifting situation reminiscent of Being John Malkovich, with undertones of TV on the Radio.

Watch it below, and relive Gnarls' MTV Artist of the Week videos here.

We're about to bizounce, but before we go, check up on some Friday night pop bites -- it's like those 100-calorie packages of chips, except it's gossip! And way more satisfying!

+ Does Amy Winehouse really still look like this? (Seriously? OMG)

+ ElleGirl.com hooked up with Cobra Starship backstage at TRL.

+ MTV News Idol recap: Michael Johns gets served, American Idol style!

+ Devendra Banhart and (next-gen Winona Ryder) Natalie Portman look uncomfortably comfortable. (I Guess I'm Floating)

+ Jonas Brothers continue to look simultaneously cute. Internet continues to take note. (Fred Flare)

+ Papa Joe Simpson welcomes Pete Wentz into the fam with matching slatted Kanye glasses. (Evil Beet)

+ Chris Brown and Rihanna continue to deny, deny, deny. (Page Six)

+ Se habla Español, Coldplay? (Pop On the Pop)

+ Fergie en Español? ¡Claro! (Blogamole)

+ Ne-Yo should probably spray that table down before dinner. (Webster's Is My Bitch)

+ We saw Gnarls Barkley last night at Highline Ballroom and took the crappiest photo ever (thanks, Razr). If you squint, you can almost tell that's them:

... Fortunately RollingStone.com took much better photos and reviewed the show too.

Even though Common had to drop the "Sense" from his name in the middle of his game, his thought-provoking, truth-seeking poetic freestyle steez always implies the now-defunct second half of his stage name.

Common's been perfecting his craft since 1992, coming up in a time when much of hip-hop was defining itself as all about streets, scales and stacks. And while he's dropped his share of hood rhymes and even famously beefed with MCs like Ice Cube, he's ultimately been unafraid to break away from conventional hip-hop, even if, at times, it's meant alienating himself from the modern mainstream and eschewing mass record sales. And Common's also boldly unafraid to march, quite literally, to his own beat, establishing himself as a critically thinking, conscientious, consciousness-raising lyrical kingpin, while putting Chicago rap on the map.

In the almost 15 years and seven albums he's been at it, Common's collaborated with some of hip-hop, neo-Soul and R&B's top talent, including Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Pharrell, The Roots, John Legend, Cee-Lo, Hi-Tek, D'Angelo, will.i.am, Q-Tip, Bilal and Kanye West – and some of its leading ladies: Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, MC Lyte and Erykah Badu. And he's also teamed up with artists outside of the scope of hip-hop and R&B, including John Mayer, Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. and, most recently, Lily Allen, on the single "Drivin' Me Wild" – which garnered him his first-ever Number 1 on the Billboard 200 – off his most recent album, Finding Forever. He's even worked with his own father, Lonnie Lynn, a former ABA basketball player. And his friends-as-family ties run so deep that he relocated to Los Angeles to live with the late J Dilla, a record producer and MC and one of Common's closest friends, to help him through his last days before losing his battle with lupus.

Common's fearlessly spoken his mind about everything from Afrocentricity to abortion to abuse to alcoholism and AIDS to animal rights. He's knocked the hustle, brazenly changed his style (see his pivotal Electric Circus album) more than some MCs probably change their socks, and, as a solo artist, he's pioneered a form of hip-hop that comes from a higher power -- where pimpin' is less important than inner peace, love is more important than livin' large and spirituality can conquer the street. (And the man looks just as good in a thrifted Mr. Rogers cardigan and crocheted cap as he does in a tux. Holla.)

As MTV's Artist Of The Week, we're giving props and praise to a rapper who’s anything but "Common." You can catch him on MTV all week in revealing one-on-one interviews, rapping in Brooklyn and performing live. Below, check Common recalling his first rap... and watch all of his on-air spots here. Peep exclusive Common photos, and watch him discuss the hottest dinner party ever with Alicia Keys and Kerry Washington. And, of course, testify: tell us why you think Common's at the top of "The Game."

If there were such a thing as a Best Still-Rocking Band in the Universe award, we feel confident that Foo Fighters would merit the superlative statuette. And, it should be noted that this decision would be made completely independently of the fact that Dave Grohl was the drummer in Nirvana.

Here's our case:

- The Foo Fighters have been rocking, rolling and generally ruling the rock sphere for more than a decade. They can adeptly switch gears and go from silly (see their "Big Me" and "Learn To Fly" videos if you don't believe us) to serious ("My Hero" and "Stacked Actors") in less time than it takes some bands to tune their guitars.

- They've performed weddings on our very own MTV during their legendary "24 Hours Of Foo," which saw them more or less take over our channel.

- They once flew to Roswell, New Mexico, for just a few hours to perform inside the Roswell Industrial Air Center, where aliens purportedly crashed decades ago. (We were there! At the show ... not at the alien landing, duh.)

- They have absolutely incredible taste in music. For proof of that, check out their performance of Prince's "Darling Nikki" with no less than Cee-Lo Green singing lead during their massive VMA Fantasy Suite party below. In fact, check out their entire suite party concert with Mastadon, Queens Of The Stone Age/Eagles Of Death Metal and more! AND, check out their favorite videos as they displayed them this past weekend on MTV2 Saturday Rock the Deuce.

- The Foo Fighters have written, in our opinion, three of the best rock songs of late 20th-century history: "Everlong," "Breakout" and "My Hero."

- Despite the mind-reeling level of fame they've achieved, they never seem to sell out or screw up. You never hear about these guys being massive jerks -- in fact they're known for being some of the nicest guys in the business. When we've seen them at parties, they couldn't be more gracious or willing to go out of their way to express their appreciation (we once saw Dave hug every person in the room and patiently chat with everyone who tapped his shoulder to talk to him, but without being toolish in any way).

But none of this would probably matter much if they weren't some of the most skilled rockers around. Which is why we're celebrating the Foo Fighters (yes, we know you already know who they are) and their entire catalog as this week's Artist of the Week.

So, that and a MASSIVE crush on Dave Grohl (girls want him and guys wanna be him, or at least be his friend), are the many reasons why WE love this band. Why do YOU love them?

UPDATE: You've probably seen all of their on-air clips between shows this week on MTV. Well now they're all on online, so you can watch all of the Foo Fighters MTV spots, including their trip around NYC with... uh... "Gracie" and live performances, plus a full-length performance of "Everlong." (Swoon!)

Uh oh! We are up in the Foo Fighters suite (have you SEEN them rockin' their brains out? And why can't they collaborate with Cee-Lo ALL the time?) and the beer funnel has just been brought out. We are afraid. We are VERY afraid.

Mkay, serious VMA update, folks. Unfortunately we had to say "cheerio!" to Best New Artist nominee Lily Allen's appearance and performance at the VMAs due to Prez Jorge and the U.S. Gubment. Ms. Allen had her work visa repo'ed and she had to cancel tour dates in addition to her VMA appointments. Boo! But… and not that she could ever be replaced, coincidentally we've got more artists on the performance bill! Gym Class Heroes (also a Best New Artist nom), Lil Wayne, Female Artist of the Year nominee Nelly Furtado, Common, Monster Single of the Year nominee T-Pain, Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo, whose "Smiley Faces" video is nominated for Best Editing, and Australian pop singer Daniel Merriweather will all be doin' it live.

We love all of the aforementioned artists, but we've got a serious crush on Gym Class Heroes, and we don't care who the hell knows. And while there isn't a Best Live Performance award, we're pretty sure Gym Class would have it on lockdown, since they've got Vegas under their proverbial studded belts -- their latest video, "Clothes Off," was shot there.

Check out the super self-referential video -- they're playing their own song, "Viva La White Girl," in the opening shot and watching their own "Cupid's Chokehold" video. And in true Decaydance style, the video's packed with cameos, including Pete Wentz as a slots-playing Elvis, checking out Travis McCoy's butt and members of Vegas' own Panic! At The Disco as dancing, poker-playing furries. Watch the video below… oh, and just so you know: Gym Class is also prepping a Hall & Oates mash-up album to be released around the new year. Like we needed yet another reason to love them.