andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Rihanna’s triumphant return to the industry just got a little more risque with clips of her new video, “Russian Roulette” surfacing online. The video, directed by Anthony Mandler, depicts Rihanna undergoing a collage of violence, including images of her underwater riddled with bulletholes.

Mandler says it’s all a metaphor, but eyebrows are naturally being raised in the wake of the Chris Brown abuse scandal.

“I think that with this song and the meaning of this song and how loaded it all is, no pun intended, how much imagery and perhaps symbolism that is loaded in this song, the only way to do it was to do something that was visually challenging,” Mandler told MTV News.

The video premiered on 20/20, this following a series of public appearances from Rihanna who avoided the spotlight since the February incident. Rihanna appeared in a candid interview with Diane Sawyer, in which she revealed details of the attack and the affect it had on her life. Earlier this month, she was recognized by Glamour Magazine as the Woman of the Year.

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Would you crawl back to Chris Brown?

In the lyrics to the R&B-singer’s song, “Crawl,” Brown seems to be calling for the return of his ex-girlfriend Rihanna, with whom he has apparently finally split in the aftermath on his assault on her in February,

“So we’ll crawl, until we can walk again,” Brown sings on the tune. “Then we’ll run, until we’re strong enough to jump/Then we’ll fly, until there is no wind/So let’s crawl, crawl, back to love.”

But, according to mtvnews.com, Brown told them that the song isn’t just about his own relationship. He said “Crawl” is more of a universal message dedicated to moving on past any type of heartache. The video debuted on “The Wendy Williams Show” on Friday (November 13).

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Chris Brown opened up about his assault on former girlfriend Rihanna during the MTV News special “Chris Brown: The Interview” on Friday (November 6), elaborating on his destructive behavior, explaining his previous apologies and describing his ongoing therapy sessions.

According to mtvnews.com, Brown told MTV News correspondent Sway that he has finally come to terms with the fact that he was capable of such violence.

“I think you’d be in denial and be totally naive not to,” he said. “And not being able to realize and own up to the fact of your own wrongs. I mean, me, I’ve come to terms with it and I’m working on it. … For that moment or whatever had me at that place, I want to erase that from what my character is. I want to be totally different from now on. I don’t want to be that person.”

“I’m confused right now as far as the public perception [of me],” he said. “Like, I think with my fans, they still love me, they support me, definitely. You have those people who will support you. So it’s kinda like 50/50 for me. I got the people that will come out and support and then the people that don’t wanna see me do anything. They basically want me in jail.”

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When Ne-yo and Rihanna collaborate on tracks, the result is usually pretty spectacular.

Apparently, fans can expect nothing less with their new collaboration, “Russian Roulette.” The Barbadian beauty used the help of co-producer Chuck Harmony for the latest single on her upcoming Rated R album.

According to MTV News, Ne-yo explained that Rihanna specifically requested the song’s somber vibe. “She wanted it to be dark, but not just dark for the sake of dark [...] dark with a kind of meaning, dark with some kind of thing to it.”

The ominous Russian roulette theme is something new for the soulful singer. He called the track “my first ventures off into the fictitious.”

“I’m listening to the track, and all I can see is Rihanna and some random person sitting across from each other at the table with a gun sitting in the middle of the table and playing Russian roulette,” he explained. “And I just started thinking, ‘What would go through your mind if you was in that situation?’ It just all started coming together, and Rihanna has never been one to be afraid to take a chance, especially with me. She’s always game to do something a little different. I played it for her, and she loved it — went in and knocked it out. The rest is history.”

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The wait for Jay-Z’s much-hyped new album will be over sooner than expected thanks to an Internet leak, according to NME.com.

The Blueprint 3 will now be released tomorrow (Sept. 8), three days earlier than plan. This will mark Hova’s third album following his alleged retirement in 2003 and the third instalment in his critically-revered Blueprint series. The Sept. 11 release was originally planned to fall eight years to the day following the 2001 release of Blueprint.

Despite being overshadowed by the 9/11 attacks, Blueprint still sold 426,000 copies in its first week and has since been named a must-have album by nearly every music critic out there. It even squeezed into Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list at #464.

The online leak of the much-awaited Blueprint 3 was a minor hitch in Jay’s plan.

“I may be the most bootlegged artist in history,” he told MTV News. “It’s a preview. I’m excited for people to hear the album. I’m very proud of the work I’ve done, so enjoy it.”

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There’s little in the music world that excites me more than a good collaboration. Be the unlikely pairing of Eminem and Elton John, or inevitable power tracks from Jay-Z, Kanye and Rihanna (check out “Run This Town” if you haven’t already heard it.)

Recently, though, more than just musical minds have been getting together. So here’s the news.

It seems early to be looking forward to the holidays, but this year I actually have a reason to get excited. Bob Dylan is releasing a Christmas album, according to Pitchfork. No longer will I have to sit through the intolerable holiday stylings of Michael Buble, Destiny’s Child, or Jessica Simpson. At first I was hesitant, imagining his raspy, sarcastic attempts at “Santa Baby” or “Deck the Halls.”

But Dylan’s official website confirmed a more appropriate set list, including “Here Comes Santa Claus,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, “Winter Wonderland”, “Little Drummer Boy”, and “Must Be Santa.” The album artwork for Christmas in the Heart is also pure class, and will surely stand out amongst the glittery fare normally on the shelves around the holiday time. The album is set for release on Oct. 13 – a little on the early side but knowing Dylan, it will be worth much more than just holiday cheer.

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Chris Brown should be having a bad day. In fact, he should be having a bad life considering the fire he has come under since he assaulted Rihanna in February. But despite his sentencing yesterday (five years probation, a restraining order from Rihanna, domestic violence courses, 6-months community service), and the release of the official police report from the incident (a brutal account of his relentless attack on Rihanna), Brown has still found time to dress up, hit the recording studio and party.

First, Brown was seen entering the Record Plant Recording Studio in L.A. yesterday shortly after his hearing. Pictures on TMZ.com show Brown had changed from his three-piece suit into a hip vest and oversized yellow heart broach. Not exactly non-chalant.

In the same outfit hours later, Brown was seen partying at Guys and Dolls in Hollywood. The photos on TMZ.com show Brown surrounded by several women – shockingly – and actually enjoying himself. This comes after a statement from the probation report in which Brown said he has been “depressed” since the February incident.

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Chris Brown was sentenced today to five years probation and six months hard labour for assaulting Rihanna earlier this year, according to TMZ.com. Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault.

Judge Patricia Schnegg ruled Brown must stay 100 yards away from Rihanna at all times, in the exception of entertainment events where he must stay 10 yards away. This ruling extends for five years. According to TMZ.com, Public Information Officer Sandi Gibbons said Judge Schnegg also told Brown the sentence is not a slap on the wrist and she is aware of his celebrity status. She said she will sentence him to prison time if he violates his probation.

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The first guest on Jay Leno’s new primetime show will be Jerry Seinfeld, reports Perez Hilton. Seinfeld will likely be promoting his new NBC reality series The Marriage Ref.

The Jay Leno Showwill debut September 14 on NBC. It has previously been reported that Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West will be the musical guests for that first episode.

Leno makes the switch to primetime after Conan O’Brien took over for him in June as host of The Tonight Show.

Wrigley Gum has formally terminated their contract with Chris Brown, reports Perez Hilton. The company suspended its advertising campaign featuring the singer after an incident in February where Brown was accused of beating then-girlfriend Rihanna.

At the time, the company said it believed “Mr. Brown should be afforded the same due process as any citizen.”

Following Brown’s guilty plea to a felony assault, the Doublemint gum-maker has ended its relationship with the star.