U2 may have one of the biggest tour stages of all time, but it doesn't look nearly as cool as Kanye West's newest construction. The rapper launches a European tour tomorrow, and he's bringing along a sci-fi set that looks like it has borrowed a lot from the pyramid his friends in Daft Punk used a few years ago.

West has always been a performance-minded MC, but his last few tours have really added visual flair. His Glow in the Dark Tour was a watershed trek that not only featured N.E.R.D., Rihanna and Lupe Fiasco but also Kanye telling a narrative story on a set that looked like an alien planet. The new set looks like the inside of a crystal from the future, complete with massive video screen and what promises to be a complex light show.

West's tour begins tomorrow night in Denmark, then moves on to France, the U.K. and Switzerland. In addition to promoting 808s & Heartbreak and his new book, he's been working with a number of other up-and-coming artists, including Mr. Hudson and Drake.

By Jayson Rodriguez

We all know Kanye's got a little bit of Björk in him, so if he's going to look a little Billy Ocean-ish with his 'do — that weird afro-mullet he sported Tuesday night at the Youth Ball — he can get a pass. Slightly.

MTV's Rahman Dukes was sitting next to me in the office during the show and, well, let's say he's not as generous with the passes. Kanye's 'fro is growing at a Chia Pet rate, and he needs to figure it out quick: to 'fro or no? He's treading on dangerous (fashion) ground with that toeing-the-line look. Maybe he should just follow Rah's advice: Cornrow that ish up already!

Jay-Z, on the other hand, has been sporting those black-rimmed specs a little too tough lately. At a Knicks game, cool. To the "Notorious" premiere, no sweat. But when Hov started rocking them around D.C., he went a little too far. Last night was like seeing Superman with gray hair in his wavy black tresses. There was Jay, live on TV, performing his track "History" in concert for the first time — and if the sight of an MC rapping in a tux wasn't weird enough, with those Urkel glasses? Ow. We winced, knowing the hip-hop blogs were gonna cut him up the next morning. Earlier in the day, he had 'em on but with a Russian "Spies Like Us" hat (it was cold out, but c'mon), and he looked more like a United Nations scientist than CEO of the R-O-C.

See photos of the two rappers here as well as Kanye and Jay-Z's performances at the inaugural balls after the jump.

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By Jordan Upmalis

Lupe Fiasco had plenty to talk about this week on the set of the video shoot for the remix of N.E.R.D.'s "Everyone Nose" — except on the topic of what he was actually there for.

"What are you talking about?" he asked quite seriously, while standing outside of the studio. "What remix? Remix to what? 'Everyone Nose,' that's the N.E.R.D. record. ... It's a remix? Who's on it?"

It's OK. Lupe has a lot on his plate. Fresh from playing shows in London, he's spent much of the year on the road with Kanye's Glow in the Dark Tour (which he described as real good). "I was kickin' it with N.E.R.D., Rihanna, Chris Brown and Kanye. It was love."

He also recently received a gold plaque for his second album, The Cool. But Fiasco isn't just a one-trick pony. He had much to discuss about expanding his empire — musically and otherwise.

So what's on Lupe's agenda?
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· The Black Eyed Peas are set to perform today for about 700 people in Shanghai to support Red Cross relief efforts for victims of the recent earthquake in China.

· N.E.R.D., Death Cab For Cutie, the Ting Tings, and Lightspeed Champion are among the acts lined up for the second iTunes Live series.

· One of Jim Jones’ bodyguards was arrested on Sunday after a skirmish between police and the rapper’s entourage at Hot 97’s Summer Jam show at Giants Stadium.

· Rage Against the Machine took the stage dressed as hooded, orange jumpsuit-wearing prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detainee prison camp on Sunday during an appearance at the Pinkpop Festival.

So you're telling us that Pharrell can produce Madonna, sing the hook on another hit record, get ready to drop the new N.E.R.D. album...and get home in time to design furniture??

What have we been doing with our free time?

Oh, and it's called the "perspective" chair. For some reason.

Thanks to Kanye's always excellent blog for pointing this out. 'Ye also recently posted some ridiculous Chinese fashion pics that are totally in line with the spooky aesthetic trip he's been on lately...

· Pharrell says N.E.R.D. is gearing up to release a full-length, Beatles-style movie later this year, directed by Hype Williams.

· “Idol” producers have promised that the “biggest star in the world” will be dropping by for tonight's finale. Um, is this who they’re talking about?

· Miley Cyrus is prepping her full-length debut under her own name: Breakout drops July 22nd.

· Napster is now offering six million DRM-free tracks that will play on any device, including iPods.

Kanye just posted this remix of the new N.E.R.D. track “Everyone Nose”on his blog. You remember that track? About “about all the girls standing in the line for the bathroom”? And we caught a supposedly cleaned-up Lindsay Lohan on the video set with someone dressed up like a giant nose, etc…? You can listen to the original track on Chad Hugo’s blog.

But while the first to hit the Interweb, with its kind of awkward horn-section biz, was met with a mixed reception, this remix is hot like a burning house...

Last night, the suddenly legendary Japanese clothing line A Bathing Ape (that's BAPE to you) opened their LA store. And it was packed with folks who can afford to put down that kind of cash for, well, sweatshirts. That means Pharrell, Kanye, Jermaine Dupri, Pete Wentz, and...

...Mike Tyson. Truly.

The photo evidence is all here. And yes, we all agree that Tyson would look ridiculous in one of those hot-pink camouflage hoodies. No argument there, people.

So last night, amidst much pomp, circumstance, and flashing lights, Kanye West kicked off his big-buzz, even-bigger-budget "Glow in the Dark" tour at the Key Arena in Seattle. And if you weren't one of the 20,000-or-so Emerald City denizens lucky enough to be there, well, don't fret, because those that were in attendance have been kind enough to flood the InterWeb with breathless show reviews, wordy-yet-self-obsessed blog posts, and blurry and bass-heavy YouTube clips.

After the jump, our compilation of reactions to the mega-event. Because the only thing better than going to a concert is reading about a concert. Or something like that. Read more...

Well, the rumor mill has been running again for Ashlee Simpson and fiance Pete Wentz. And once again, the couple's being assaulted with the question "Is she pregnant??" I sat down with Ashlee just a few minutes ago -- mainly to talk about her album, but also, of course, to try and get a clear answer. (Hey, some of you want to know!)

"I just think it's an inappropriate question to ask any woman," Ashlee said -- after (ahem) already answering the question several times today. She did tell us a little bit about her engagement and even seemed receptive to the idea of a green wedding, in honor of the environment. And if she and Pete do have a green wedding, I’m taking full credit. No? Okay.

Ashlee and I talked about everything from dirty song lyrics to bad boyfriends and working with Timbaland. Oh, and Salvador Dali. No, seriously: she just bought a painting of his that depicts two girls chained to each other. Hmmm.

Others she worked with on Bittersweet World (due April 22nd) include Santogold's Santi White, Kenna, Chad Hugo from the Neptunes/N.E.R.D., and Tom Higgenson of Plain White T's.

More on Ashlee and her album coming soon at MTVNews.com.