Every day a multitude of stars wanders through the halls of MTV News to talk about their latest projects and goof around with staff members. But sometimes we catch stars elsewhere, and that's why we put together Spotted!, a daily compendium of stars in the wild.

Before her victory, "So You Think You Can Dance" winner Jeanine Mason was seen with runner-up Brandon Bryant walking the red carpet at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Thursday (August 6). Meanwhile, Drew Barrymore and Justin Long were seen kissing and playing football in Central Park. The on-and-off couple are in New York to film "Going the Distance," a movie about the trials and tribulations of a long-distance relationship.

Check out our photos of Jeanine Mason, Drew & Justin, and also follow the link below to see who else MTV News spotted, including Tyra Banks, Lauren Conrad and Demi Moore.

(Click here for more "Spotted!" photos of Jeanine Mason, Drew Barrymore, Justin Long and more!)

By Daniela Capistrano, with additional reporting by
Rob Fields

KRS-One once said, "Rap is something you do. Hip-hop is something you live."

Since founding Boogie Down Productions in the mid-1980s and incorporating Jamaican melodies that continue to influence rhyming styles today, the artist has embodied hip-hop expression in all forms. Influencing artists from Rage Against the Machine to Sublime, KRS has supported the culture for more than 20 years, including founding the Stop the Violence Movement and lecturing at more than 500 colleges, universities and other venues.

Now, the Teacha is ready to share his 20-plus years of knowledge with "The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument."

Once a homeless teen who witnessed hip-hop's birth in the projects of the South Bronx, the young MC drew from this life-altering experience to form his philosophy of self-creation. The 818-page book will be the first in a series from the I Am Hip Hop imprint with PowerHouse Books, set for launch in September.

(Check out photos from KRS' performance at the I Am Hip Hop release party.)

In the introduction for "The First Instrument," KRS answers the question of why "it's important to know hip-hop." Encouraging readers to explore what they can do without technological assistance, the artist challenges: "How human do you remain in a society where we can't even live without technology? Hip-hop reminds us of our humanity." Read more...

By Daniela Capistrano

When I heard Scandinavian songbird Ida Maria was performing a set for MTV staff at 1515 Broadway today, I immediately dropped what I was doing and ran towards the elevator. It was that serious.

For the uninitiated, you might have already been exposed to Ida Maria via this season's "Gossip Girl" promos — she's the throaty voice behind "Oh My God," possibly the best song ever created for screaming at the top of your lungs after a breakup (or so I've heard).

Comparisons to Janis Joplin or Chrissie Hynde might be intimidating for some young artists, but 24-year-old Ida Maria takes it all in stride. She's a punk princess who isn't afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve.

Upon entering the grafittied performance space on the 24th floor, I was surprised to find the entire front row available. I discreetly plopped into the seat directly in front of the mic for optimum tune absorption.

Ida Maria waited patiently on the sidelines (in a fierce military jacket and Adidas kicks) while a rep from Mercury Records sang her praises. (This was not necessary, since anyone with taste knows she rules, but I digress.)

I don't know if it was the amazing view of the Hudson shimmering directly behind her with the sun blotting out her profile in silhouette, but the whole experience served to remind me how powerful a live show can be. We can play on the Web and download as many albums as we'd like, but nothing equates to someone making music in front of you, in real time.

Ida Maria's set was unfortunately super-short. She only played three songs — a track I hadn't heard before that is on her debut album Fortress Round My Heart, and "I Like You Such Much Better When You're Naked," another fave of mine.

The last song was a new piece that she hasn't recorded yet, "Loud." Because of technical difficulties, Ida Maria rocked it unplugged and sans mic, which ended up being a perfect companion to the performance because the song is about being overwhelmed in a harried, over-stimulated world. As my silenced BlackBerry angrily vibrated near my thigh, I could definitely relate.

As the show came to a close, Ida Maria strummed the last note of "Loud" just as a cell phone in the audience let out a shrill bleep. I cringed, but Ida Maria just smiled and murmured, "That was perfect," and gracefully turned to make her exit.

Luckily I grabbed her before she took off and she was kind enough to let me snap this photo. Check the hair! Insane.

Ida Maria is MTV's current Discover and Download artist, which hopefully exposes her painfully truthful-but-beautiful-to-hear melodies to the world.

In the shadow of the Louisiana Superdome sits the New Orleans Arena, the place where Britney Spears has pitched her tent.

It's the opening night of her Circus tour, and though doors don't open for roughly three hours, throngs of Brit's disciples — all decked out in their DayGlo finest — are already lining up for the big event.

Some have been here since 10 a.m., in fact — groups of fans from nearby towns like Lafayette and places like Jackson, Mississippi, each clutching homemade signs, singing Britney tunes, having impromptu dance-offs and letting anyone within earshot know that "it's Britney, bitch."

Justin, a 16-year-old from right here in New Orleans, wears a customized Britney jersey (his name is embroidered on the back) and swears he's her biggest fan. He's seen her on all of her tours (and had tickets for her Onyx Hotel show before it got canceled — he's not mad at Britney for that, btw) and is beyond pumped for tonight.

"It's going to be magic. This is Britney coming back," he enthuses. "I am so excited."
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From classic tuxes to bouffants and questionable facial hair, this year's Grammy red carpet was full of hits and misses. The stunning variety of ladies' fashion at this year's Grammys was particularly up for debate.

Who do you think rocked the best gown at this year's Grammys? Let us know in our poll!

Was it Carrie Underwood?

Taylor Swift?

Audrina Patridge?

Katy Perry?

Jordin Sparks?

Don't see your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

With all the love the New York crowd at the Highline Ballroom was giving last night, leave it to Ludacris to start off his show with "Everybody Hates Chris." He has a big sense of humor, if you haven't noticed. The Atlanta MC had the release party for Theater of the Mind, which culminated in a concert of collaborations and solo hits.

“Where the real Luda fans at?” he asked, before going into “Ho,” "Splash Waterfalls" and "Yeah!" Obviously T-Pain and Ludacris' relationship wasn't on the rocks after Luda replaced the singer with the Blizzard Man on "Saturday Night Live."

(More from the record release show, plus lots of photos after the jump!)

Saving Abel might not be household names just yet, but that could all change when the band performs alongside Ludacris, 50 Cent and other superstars on "A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE," airing Friday at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.

We got a sneak peek at the band's performance during a rehearsal of their song "18 Days" inside New York's Nokia Theatre Times Square. Frontman Jared Weeks plans to send a special message to veterans before their performance — but we're not giving everything away here. You have to tune in to hear what he has to say!

The band should fit right in with the mostly veteran-filled crowd during the show: Weeks was sporting a few dog-tag chains around his neck, which he said were sent to him by fans in the military.

There were four giant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling above the band during rehearsal that we could have sworn were going to fall because of the vibration from the band's rocking. The stage also had what looked like ninja stars stacked on top of one another behind the band. The lighting scheme — appropriately enough — was red, white and blue, except when the guys were bathed in a golden-red glow during their rehearsal.

But why take our word for it when you can see for yourself? Check out our pictures from the run-through, and make sure to tune in Friday night at 8 p.m. ET on MTV for even more.

(Follow us inside the BRAVE rehearsals and see more Saving Abel, after the jump!)

"Stand up for the vets," Ludacris said onstage during his rehearsal for "A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE." For the most part, 'Cris kept his practice pretty low-key, but you know he's going to bring the thunder during showtime.

"Check one, two," Luda said into the mic.

"Play 'Stand Up,' " he told his DJ during soundcheck. Luda was very normal and businesslike as he paced with his hand in his pocket while going over his bars.

"Turn it down a little," the Grammy winner directed. "On the monitor, not the vocals. That's perfect. So do it from the top? Good.

Read more and check out photos from the rehearsal after the jump.
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You'd think this would be obvious by now (what with the recent indictment against this guy), but we'll say this one more time: If you hack the e-mail account of a celebrity — say, for example, Miley Cyrus — and then go bragging about it all over the place, chances are the FBI will come knocking on your door, and your computer will get a free trip down to headquarters.

Read more about the guy who may or may not have stolen the provocative photos Miley Cyrus may or may not have intended for Nick Jonas here.

Organizers predicted tens of thousands would flood Cuernavaca Park in downtown Denver as part of the Tent State University anti-war protests going on all this week during the Democratic National Convention.

Maybe they were taking a walk when we stopped by today, but just a day before Rage Against the Machine are scheduled to headline a show in support of the protest, the scene at the far-flung park — several miles from the Pepsi Center — was more like a Sunday picnic with your mellowed-out buds than a 1960s-style revolutionary effort to disrupt the Dems' party. Local media had reported some clashes between anti-war protesters and other anarchist groups since Sunday, including an intense clash just blocks from the Pepsi Center last night, during which police used their pepper-ball rifles to disperse crowds near the 16th Street mall and later arrested 90 protesters.

More on the Tent State University protest plus photos after the jump.
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