Game, Keri Hilson, Brandy also take the stage.
By Gil Kaufman

Justin Timberlake and Timbaland perform in Los Angeles on Friday

Photo: Gil Kaufman/MTV News

LOS ANGELES — Membership has its privileges. And when that exclusive association happens to be Timbaland’s Beat Club, you never know who might flash their membership card when he takes the stage.

At the packed House of Blues in Hollywood on Friday night, the roster was a who’s who of Timbaland’s pals, from Justin Timberlake and Drake to Keri Hilson and Brandy. The two-hour throwdown was a star-studded hit parade that only someone with Tim’s clout and deep address book could pull off.

The night started off simply enough, with the master producer walking out wearing his Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and punching up some chest-rattling rhythms as his six-piece band laid down a slow rolling funk bedrock for “Timothy Where You Been.” It wasn’t long before Drake came ambling out for “Say Something,” from Timbaland’s Shock Value II LP, throwing the crowd into a frenzy as he bounced across the stage, seemingly completely healed from his knee injury last year.

	Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Drake And More Perform At Pre-Grammy Concert

The nimble rapper slid into his hit “Forever” without compatriots Eminem and Lil Wayne, who are expected to join him for a rendition of that song — along with Travis Barker — at Sunday night’s Grammys.

The crowd might have been happy enough with Drake, but as soon as the rapper left the stage, L.A. native the Game hustled on with his posse, rolling hard to “Put You on the Game,” then dropping an X-rated freestyle before giving the stage back to Tim. He wasn’t alone long, though, as Hilson was up next, strutting in wearing a shimmery silver crop-top over a black catsuit and trading verses with Tim on “The Way I Are,” then sticking around for her own “Turnin’ Me On,” “Knock You Down” and a funky taste of Bobby Brown’s “Don’t Be Cruel.”

The crowd went crazy when Timbaland gave a shout out to “Twilight” — which he’s said was an influence on Shock Value II and, given all the guests thus far and the fact that he was showing images of Robert Pattinson on the big screen behind the stage, might have led them to believe that a castmember was coming out — but they were just as happy when he performed “Morning After Dark.” The cavalcade of guests didn’t stop there, as female rapper SoShy came out and reprised her bit in the song before Tim led the band into an instrumental breakdown where he gave everyone a bit of shine, James Brown-style.

Alas, Katy Perry was only there in spirit (i.e. on the big screen), singing a virtual duet on “If We Ever Meet Again,” but after an extended salsa jam, star time revved up again as a sassy Brandy (a.k.a. rapper “Bran’ Nu”) walked out for the heavy funk of “Meet in the Middle.” Wearing black hot pants, a black leather top and black suit coat with silver lapels, Brandy was almost unrecognizable as she broke into a freestyle over Timbaland’s beatboxing, swinging her long black braid from side to side and boasting about being “born in Mississippi but raised in Cali.”

And just when it seemed like there was no one else Tim could bring out, he kicked into the rib-rattling intro to “Carry Out.” Now, at this point, the crowd had seen way more than it bargained for, so even just peeping video footage of Justin Timberlake on the big screen made them go crazy. But when JT strolled out, the place exploded. The old pals ripped it up for the sexual innuendo-heavy tune, then slid into JT’s “SexyBack” and “My Love,” which only served to remind the crowd just how much they adore the singer with the effortless vocals, fleet-footed finesse and serious beatboxing skills.

Clearly having a blast, the pair then served up “Crazy Girl,” which was recorded for but didn’t make the final cut of Shock Value II — a shame, because Timberlake was in fine falsetto form. The two looked out into a sea of cameras snapping photos of their superstar summit, gave a taste of JT’s “LoveStoned,” and then called it a night.

Stick with MTV News all week for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards. We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more leading up to and during the big show Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

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‘I have yet to rehearse,’ Blink-182 drummer tells MTV News of his performance at Sunday’s show.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kelly Marino

Travis Barker

Photo: MTV News

Travis Barker is eternally busy. Blink-182. Solo album. Clothing company. You name it, he’s probably got his hand in it. That’s why you can’t blame him if he’s not totally up to speed on his performance with Drake, Lil Wayne and Eminem at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Sometimes, these things tend to pile up.

“I have yet to rehearse [with anyone]. I got a call, like, on Tuesday. Everyone found out a day after I did. So, I don’t know exactly what I’m doing yet,” Barker told MTV News on Friday (January 29) in his Los Angeles studio. “I’m just a part of it. I know I’m playing drums. I know it’s a performance with Eminem, Drake, myself and Lil Wayne. I think it might be ‘Forever.’ ”

That seems likely. After all, both Em and Wayne contributed verses to Drake’s “Forever,” and Barker contributed a blazing remix of the song earlier this year. But the Blink drummer’s night won’t just stop there. He’s apparently also set to perform with Wayne on a version of “Drop the World,” from Weezy’s upcoming Rebirth album (that track also features Em), which makes it sound very much like there’s a medley on tap.

“Yeah, I think we’re doing a medley, a couple of songs,” Barker laughed. “I think ‘Drop the World’ is in. Maybe.”

And while a combo of Barker, Drake, Eminem and Wayne would certainly rival the “Swagga Like Us” performance at last year’s Grammys (which featured Jay-Z, Kanye West, T.I., Weezy and M.I.A. sharing the stage), there’s still one big question: Will West — who has been lying low since his infamous outburst at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards — show up on Sunday to perform his verse on “Forever”? Not surprisingly, Barker isn’t exactly sure.

“I don’t know. Someone said he’s in Hawaii, writing an album,” he smiled. “I would stay there.”

Stick with MTV News all week for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards. We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more leading up to and during the big show Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

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John Legend and Nick Cannon also weigh in on the night’s most-nominated ladies: Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga.
By Eric Ditzian, with additional reporting by Shaheem Reid, Matt Elias, Christina Garibaldi and Kelly Marino

Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am

Photo: John M. Heller/ Getty Images

MTV News has already taken a look back at some of the oddest Grammy winners of all time, from former Soviet kingpin Mikhail Gorbachev to current White House top dog Barack Obama (not to mention schwing-tastic actress Tia Carrere). Now, with the 2010 awards just days away, it’s time to start looking toward this year’s show.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been asking artists who they think will win big, from perennial champs like Beyoncé to relative newcomers like Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. Some were able to make choices, while others couldn’t decide between the talented women.

“It’s tough, because Beyoncé had a great, great year,” Mary J. Blige told us. “But Lady Gaga is Lady Gaga! But Taylor Swift — wow! That’s a tough one. I don’t know, but I wish all those ladies love.”

That was a sentiment echoed by many of the artists we spoke with, though in addition to praising Gaga and Beyoncé, John Legend pointed out, “There are a lot of country fans. Never underestimate the country fans.”

Nick Cannon, too, argued that the country star should have a big Grammy evening. “It’s Taylor Swift’s year,” he said. “Ever since Kanye did what he did [at the VMAs], Taylor Swift has just been scooping ‘em up. I’ll rock with Taylor Swift.”

In the realm of hip-hop, Lupe Fiasco suggested Mos Def had the best album of the year (he’s up for two Grammys, including Best Rap Album) and that Drake should be up for Best New Artist (he only received a nod for Best Rap Solo Performance).

“I think he’s deserving of it,” Lupe said of Drake. “As many accolades as he can accumulate, pre-album, is a phenomenal task. I think that should be rewarded. He has the potential to do great things — not good or mediocre, but great things.”

Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am, meanwhile, declined to make a pick and instead expressed excitement for the night’s performances, ranging from Lil Wayne to Eminem to Gaga to the Peas themselves.

“It’s unpredictable. It’s up in the air,” he said. “You think it’s going to be the obvious one, like, ‘Wow, that was everywhere.’ And it ends up being not. And that’s not cool. I just can’t wait for the performances, because that is not a lie, that is no politics. A rip is a rip, a rocket is a rocket.”

Who do you think will win big at the Grammys? Let us know!

Stick with MTV News all week for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards. We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more leading up to and during the big show Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.

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