T.I.’s highly anticipated next album — and his first since his plea bargain on federal weapon charges — finally has a release date. Paper Trail, the follow-up to T.I. vs. T.I.P., drops August 12th. (The single, “No Matter What,” has been out for about a week, in case you non-hip-hop heads don’t know.)

It’s a weird time in a rapper’s life when even his standard ol’ press release gets all gushy and confessional:

“I must be a man and stand up and accept responsibility,” T.I. says. “I exercised extremely poor judgment, and for that, I must be willing to pay whatever price that comes before me.”

T.I.’s also set to star in the upcoming flick “For Sale” (produced by his label Grand Hustle), and make an appearance on “Entourage.” That’s right: “Entourage.” Ten bucks says the plotline involves Turtle…

We hate to say we told you so…but, well, we told you so (or rather, our sources told us so and we told you, but, you know…whatever).

On Monday, we got the exclusive scoop that Beck is planning on releasing a below-the-radar album sometime in the “next 4-6 weeks” — one produced by Danger Mouse and featuring appearances from a handful of talent, including Cat Power. And while neither Beck’s publicist nor his label would confirm the news, we felt confident in our sources and went with it anyway — just like in “All the President’s Men!”

The story got picked up by the likes of Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and Perez Hilton, but it wasn’t until today that we got the official word — or, rather, official press release — that Mr. Hansen would, in fact, be releasing an album.

“Beck has recorded a new album, produced with Brain ‘Danger Mouse’ Burton, to be released this summer,” the release read. “The as-yet-untitled album contains 10 new songs,…a tightly assembled group…that range in lyrical tone from introspection and social commentary to off-the-cuff wordplay and lighthearted humor…Musically, the album’s ten tracks vacillate between economy and experimentation, hybrid and pop classicism.”

Which is all a very longwinded way of saying “MTV Was Right.” Now never doubt us again.

This is interesting. We here at MTV News thought we were kind of conducting a fun little experiment when we published an item on Tokio Hotel a couple weeks ago. We were sort of daring the rumored-to-be-rabid fan base to react. But in the words of “GG,” OMFG! Y’all are too much!

Here’s a mere sampling of the massive groundswell of comments we received just overnight when posting about the pint-sized German band’s visit to Times Square yesterday. And if you care this much, maybe we’ll just roll out a video piece on the band. Don’t tempt us… Read more…

When you see MTV News producer CJ Smith’s report on the burgeoning lo-fi punk movement (clip above), you’ll notice that the phenom is spreading out around the country. From LA’s No Age and The Smell, to Portland’s Eat Skull and Little Claw, to Memphis’s Jay Reatard, the artists are from all over the place. But key to the movement — in fact, it wouldn’t be the same without it — is a zone in the USA known as the Rust Belt. That’s right, the same Rust Belt that Barack and Hillary have been courting in recent weeks, whose economy is largely in the dumps, is home to some of our most exciting music.

From Philadelphia’s Clockcleaner and the venerable Siltbreeze label, all the way west to Lafayette, Indiana’s TV Ghost, I-70 seems to be ground zero for lo-fi punk. The unexpected ground zero seems to be Ohio’s capital, Columbus. That city’s home to the most prominent of these bands, Times New Viking, whose two-minute-long offerings of fuzzed-out pop punk, on full display on this year’s “Rip It Off,” earn them frequent comparisons to those other Ohio icons, Dayton’s Guided By Voices. “We definitely came of age with that kind of stuff,” said Beth Murphy.

Less fuzzy but no less rowdy and raucous, is fellow Columbus band Psychedelic Horses***. They’re also a trio that doesn’t shy away from button-pushing — take for example what they had to say about a much-lauded Brooklyn band that inspired their song “New Wave Hippies.” “It’s about Yeasayer,” said Matt Whitehurst. “These bands aren’t pushing boundaries, they’re not passionate, not original, and aren’t saying anything to their audience. They’re wasting their talent.”

Head north from Columbus and you hit Toledo, and beyond that Detroit — both hometowns to members of urgent band, Detroit-based Tyvek, who told us that it could be the perpetually struggling economies of the Rust Belt states that contribute to a sound that is so raw and relentless. As Kevin Boyer told us, “People have given up on trying to get a real job in Michigan. Everyone’s like, ‘Let’s just start a band.’”

So as Clinton and Obama wrestle for votes in their next battleground, Indiana, spare a thought for how hard times make for good music. That seems to be the case right now in the lo-fi punk hotbed of the Rust Belt.

Now let’s figure out a way to let Michigan’s voice be counted, please?

This in from MTV News producer — and gold-medal video-set visitor — Yasmine Richard. Girl hit the LA shoot for The Game and Keyshia Cole’s collaboration, “Pain”:

Last Friday, when we saw “The Hood” as the location for The Game and Keyshia Cole’s new collabo “Pain,” we weren’t sure to expect. But we were pleasantly surprised to see Keyshia and The Game and about 800 of Game’s closest friends making themselves at home on a really laidback set.

The set-up was pretty simple: The Game rolls up and hops in Keyshia’s black ‘64 rag-top Chevy Impala. But it turns out that was easier said than done, because the first time Key Key put her foot on the gas, we heard a loud crash and saw something fall off from the back of the car. Smooth move, Keyshia!

Check back with MTV News for more on The Game and Keyshia Cole.

(Photo: www.JorgePeniche.com)

Though neither his publicist nor his label would confirm any of it, MTV News has spoken to several individuals close to Beck, and they all tell us that he’s gearing up to release a brand new album in the very near future — think the next 4-6 weeks — through the Universal Music Group.

And that’s not all — we’ve also heard that said album will be produced by Danger Mouse and feature collaborations with a host of artists, including Cat Power.

Our amazing sources also say that fans can expect an official announcement about the album veeerrrry soon.

In the meantime, Beck is busy lining up appearances at various European summer festivals, in addition to a handful of shows on the West Coast in late August.

Anyway, don’t say we didn’t warn you…

So Radiohead says their pay-what-you-will model for In Rainbows was a one-off.

Oh, really? Well, as we predicted, Trent Reznor’s gone and upped them one, giving away yet another Nine Inch Nails album for free “as a thank you to our fans for your continued support.”

What’s more, he’s telling fans to pass it around: “We encourage you to remix it, share it with your friends, post it on your blog…”

The complete list of angsty, post-apocalyptic track titles after the jump… Read more…

We here at Newsroom have learned how intense Madonna fans can be. So we were not surprised to find hardcore devotees of La Dance Diva lined up in the rain for the chance to see her shake her frighteningly toned booty. That’s what you get when Madonna is not only performing, but she’s giving a free performance of Hard Candy (out today) — tomorrow night at NY’s Roseland Ballroom. It’s her “way of saying thank you” to fans yadda yadda, and the tickets are first-come, first-serve starting 6 a.m. tomorrow morning.

So, obviously, lifers are taking no chances.

Dana Spera, the first person in line, arrived outside of the club Monday at 10am — that’s right: Monday. Others arrived soon thereafter. As of 2pm this afternoon, the line wrapped around the corner of 52nd and Broadway.

Armed with food, clothes, camping gear, flannel blankets, plastic tarps, trash bags, and anything to keep them warm on this freakishly wintry day (though thankfully no leg warmers or bows, because that would be so mid-80’s), the crowd came prepared to wait…and wait…and wait…

But they weren’t expecting the cops who arrived to hassle them after neighbors complained. Jack Murray, numero dos in line, says the police made them take down a self-made tent covering the barricades while it was pouring outside. So mean, NYPD!

Despite the crappy weather, the group remains united in their mission to see Madonna. They’re helping each other out by holding spots if someone needs to get out of line for a few minutes to grab food or find an available bathroom. Though, one man — let’s just call him “Russell Jones” — said he was a little bummed out. He hasn’t been able to buy the new album yet because he’s been holding a spot near the front of the line. Russell politely refused to be identified for fear of being “reprimanded” by work for playing hookie. For chrissakes, it’s Madge!

Others played it safe. Chris Barone from Connecticut took three days off from work. That’s three vacation days. To him, the chance to see Madonna is priceless. “Too much time has been invested,” said Chris.

Um, we’re not sure if he means love hours or actual wait time.

More pics of the Madonna devotees straining their sanity after the jump. Read more…

Let’s unpack the above headline.

What Chris Brown was up to we can only glean from the totally presumptuous reportage of a certain Yasmine Richard, one of MTV News’ busiest on-set producers — because she was there. (Seriously, the woman’s been on video sets all week…)

Remember the nosey, know-it-all neighbor Bonita Butrell from “In Living Color”? Her catchphrase was “But you ain’t heard that from me!”

Wellllll, yesterday, on the set of Maroon 5 and Rihanna’s video, a certain fresh-faced, six-foot-plus, tattooed R&B singer that I just talked to the day before at David Banner’s video set, was on the set. That’s right, C-Breezy was in the building! (Cue Bonita Butrell.)

Now I ain’t one to put someone’s business out there, but all I’m gonna say is I got friends and I got a best friend, but not one of them will come out to visit my behind in the middle of nowhere (read: Castaic, Cali). Only MY MAN (that’s only if I didn’t get on his nerves that day) would come kick it with me.

Just friggin’ admit that y’all are boo’ed up!!! I’m tired of this! Chris, make her an honest woman! Declare your looooove for Cinder-ella ella ella to the world!

OK, I’m done now.

Ah, fortunes continues to smile upon those playing world music for the indie set.

Hot off the heels of a gorgeous contribution on Stereogum’s tribute to Bjork’s Post, Brooklyn-based Dirty Projectors have stayed super-busy as of late.

Wait! Still don’t know who we’re talking about? Alongside MGMT, Yeasayer, and Vampire Weekend, they’re one of the many bands we focused on earlier this year making waves from across the water. (Check out the clip below.)

And things are looking up for the Dirty P’s — apparently, the band has just signed to Domino Records and is currently working on not just one, but two albums. One’s for Domino, and the other’s their final release for their Dead Oceans label. The latter, according to their PR peeps, will be “”an album expanding upon and inspired by the arrangements of Rise Above,” their critically acclaimed 2007 album. But don’t get too worked up yet: it won’t drop until fall of 2009.