Early this morning, one of Miley Cyrus' tour buses crashed in rural Virginia. The vehicle was carrying several members of Cyrus' production crew but not the singer herself. The driver of the bus is dead and one of the crew members was sent to the hospital.

There are all sorts of tragedies that are inherently tied to rock music (overdoses, car crashes, production accidents and the like), but there have been far too many incidents involving tour buses. It shouldn't be shocking, as they are unruly mammoths forced to push forward (usually in the middle of the night) over all manner of terrain for hours and hours at a time. They're difficult to handle and difficult for other drivers to deal with.

Last week, Canadian singer/songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk updated her MySpace blog to let fans know that her tour bus had run off the road (she blamed the incident on her driver falling asleep). Just a few months ago, Bret Michaels' tour bus was struck by another car (though no injuries were reported on either side). In August, Canadian rockers MercyMe were involved in a crash that killed two people in Indiana. Last fall, Roots' drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson sent a Twitter message from an ambulance after their bus crashed outside of Paris, France. That's five major accidents in just a year, and the list goes on and on.

Of course, the most notorious (and tragic) bus accident in rock history came in September of 1986, when original Metallica bassist Cliff Burton died when the band's bus skidded off the road and crashed in Sweden (there's even a memorial stone by the crash site). The driver was awake and alert but undone by black ice in the middle of the night.

The tour bus is typically the best and most cost-effective way for most bands to cross the country (or the continent), but there's clearly a safety issue here. Are there any solutions? It's hard to tell, but something needs to be done.

If you're like me, you woke up Tuesday morning (like, really, really early), stumbled down to your underground media bunker (not as sexy as it sounds) and did a triple take when you saw the phrase "Har Mar Superstar" at the very top of Google Trends. Like, above Rudolph Valentino and the hot Mormon muffins calendar.

But we were probably confused for different reasons. See, I know who Har Mar is. In fact, I'm a huge fan of the balding, tubby Minnesota hunk of white funk thunder who bears an uncanny resemblance to Jon Lovitz' character in "The Critic." The singer (who also records under the name Sean Na Na and whose given name is Sean Tillman) has been making waves the past few weeks thanks to the outrageously weird video for the first single, "Tall Boy," from his new album, Dark Touches. In case you haven't seen it, two words will suffice: Eva Mendes.

Har Mar, whom "Late Night" host Jimmy Fallon referred to as "one of the most unique performers" to emerge over the past few years, likely got the Google bump after a bigger slice of America caught wind of his unique stylings on Fallon's Monday night show. Wearing an African-themed caftan, gold lamé cocktail gloves and red pants, the diminutive funkster shimmied across the stage, whipped his ape drape around and proved for the umpteenth time that you can't judge a book by its cover.

The slinky performance of the shimmery funk tune that appears to swing both ways and which allegedly was offered to Britney Spears first, prompted Fallon to refer to Har Mar as a "legend." It also drew praise from house band drummer ?uestlove of the Roots, who tweeted, "Hahahaha told my band they weren't ready for Har Mar Superstar," and Fallon himself, who added, "Har Mar Superstar done gone and did it on tonight's show."

Here's everything else you need to know about Har Mar: he often ends up nearly nude during his shows (trust me, he gave my friend a very sweaty, intimate hug at a club show a few years ago that she will never forget), his 2004 album, The Handler has at least four absolutely classic, very nasty electro funk tunes on it ("Body Request," "Cut Me Up," "Back the Camel Up" and "Bird in the Hand”) and he made a cameo in the 2004 movie "Starsky and Hutch" as "Dancin' Rick," a disco champ who takes on Ben Stiller's David Starsky.

By Hillary Crosley

Who knew a record label started in a New York University dorm room could become so successful? Apparently Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. The two created Def Jam Records 25 years ago, and it's become one of hip-hop's premiere labels, housing some of the brightest stars, with Nas, LL Cool J, etc etc among the artists in its legendary catalogue. So it's no surprise that "VH1's Hip Hop Honors" is celebrating the storied label this year.

MTV News checked out the rehearsal for the big show, which tapes on Wednesday night (September 23) at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and airs on October 13. For the third year in a row, Tracy Morgan will serve as host. Morgan's comedy skits appear between behind-the-scenes interviews with Jay-Z, Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Antonio "LA" Reid, Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin and former Def Jam executives Lyor Cohen, Julie Greenwald and Kevin Liles.

Public Enemy, the Roots and Street Sweeper Social Club (comprised of Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and the Coup's Boots Riley) practiced for their performance first. Ashanti followed, reuniting for two jams with her longtime partner-in-crime Ja Rule. Rule looked and sounded just as he did in 2001. Ashanti even helped out Rule on one song, rapping his lyrics in a faux-gravely voice to a giggling set full of dancers.

Up next, Warren G and Trey Songz performed a remix of one of Warren's biggest hits (which we can't reveal). During their performance, Ghostface was sitting at a table taping a segment called "What Would Ghostface Do?" where MCs stop by and ask Ghost for advice. As he wrapped up a session with Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes, Ghost spotted Warren G and gave him a big hello. Meanwhile, Travis went back to hosting a VH1 trivia segment where all of the performers are quizzed on their Def Jam history. Who knows their hip-hop math? Let's just say that Rick Ross might be the subject's star pupil.

Back on the stage, Ludacris (who'd just gotten off a plane) hopped on stage with Southern rap legend Scarface for two cuts that you haven't heard in awhile. Read more...

Somehow, while nobody was paying attention, Jimmy Fallon became something of a hip-hop lightning rod in the hip-hop community, and his show "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" has become a haven for rappers who just want to have fun. Of course, Fallon recruited the Roots as his house band, which has been a deft move, as not only is the music on the show largely great but they've also reached out to their friends for some after-hours jams (last week, Wale sat in with the group and freestyled his way through an excellent show). Last night during Fallon's monologue, the host busted out a recurring segment called "Slow Jam the News." Normally, it involved Fallon whispering news segments while the Roots' Tariq "Black Thought" Thompson sings the jokes. But last night, Fallon got an assist from Diddy on a remixed version of the news.

Fallon, Thompson and Diddy combined to deliver a hilarious take on Barack Obama's sluggish polling numbers. Later in the show, Diddy sat down to talk about his new MTV show "Making His Band," his vodka (he shared his recipe for the "OG Diddy," which combines Ciroc with lemonade and Welch's grape juice), his production history, his fragrance ("Men gotta smell good, too") and his upcoming album Last Train to Paris, which he promised "will make you dance, make you groove and make you love your woman better." When you look at Jimmy Fallon, you don't necessarily think, "Yep, there's a guy who knows the vibe of the streets," but so far his taste in hip-hop and his willingness to embrace it in late night (not something often seen) has made his show a must-watch for any rap enthusiast.

"EEKKKSS!!!!" That was the immediate, incredibly visceral reaction several of my coworkers and I had when we watched the clip of Mark-Paul Gosselaar in full character as Zack Morris on last night's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon."

Sure, it was a ploy for Mark to plug his new TV show — which sadly isn't some extension of "Saved by the Bell" and is instead about lawyers — but this is the best way I've ever seen someone plug a show. Zack, dressed exactly the same as he did when he was in high school at Bayside, insisted that he is actually Zack, and that he changed his name to Mark-Paul Gosselaar to pursue a career in acting.

Gosselaar — who doesn't seem to have aged a day since "Saved by the Bell: The College Years" ended in 1994 — knows that all we really care about is his "SBTB" alter ego. As he sat on Jimmy's couch, crossing his legs to show off his pegged jeans, black socks and hideous high-tops, Mark/Zack managed to reference every greatest "Saved by the Bell" moment ever: That summer he worked at the Malibu Sands resort and judged the Miss Liberty pageant; the time he almost got all Hollywood on the group and started hanging out with teen star Johnny Dakota. But the real way he proved that he really was Zack Morris was by calling a time-out and freezing everyone as he talked directly to the camera. Yes, that actually happened.

All hardcore "SBTB" fans know about being timed out, just as well as they know about the Kelly Kapowski poster that once hung in Zack's bedroom (which also made an appearance on "Late Night"). What did come of Zack's relationship with Kelly? Well, she dropped him for Jeff from the Max, again, just like in high school. And Zack ended up with Stacy Carosi. If this means nothing to you, then you're clearly a preppy.

And in case you ever wondered if Zack Attack's greatest hit, "Friends Forever," still stands the test of time (not unlike his amazing cell phone), then you will be excited to know it does, especially when he sings it with the Roots.

By Adam Murphy

Since taking the stage at 30 Rockefeller Plaza as the house band for NBC's "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," the Roots have been settling nicely into their new home in New York. Drummer ?uestlove just kicked off his Thursday night "fANtastic" residency at Le Poisson Rouge, MC Black Thought has been channeling Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance at Carnegie Hall, and the whole group opened for Dave Matthews Band at Madison Square Garden two weeks ago.

Though they're never slow to remind audiences of their own Philadelphia roots, New York fits these guys like a glove.

Perhaps the most exciting development for the Roots (besides replacing the Max Weinberg Seven on "Late Night," of course) is their residency at Highline Ballroom, aptly called "The Jam." Each Wednesday night, the group brings its favorite artists to the stage to — as the name of the night implies — jam. This past Wednesday's installment included a barrage of newcomers and unknowns far too great in number to identify individually, but recent guests included rappers Skillz, Pharoahe Monch, stic.man and M1, a.k.a. Dead Prez. Read more...

Ever since we posted asking for you to vote on the hottest MCs right now, we've been flooded with comments. And y'all are intense! Every rapper on the list has been picked apart with fire, and you’ve battled it out for a couple not even in our lineup.

Some of you had major issues with our 2007 Hottest MC Lil Wayne, saying the man’s all hype and waiting for the proof of his talent on the much-delayed Tha Carter III. Fresh said Weezy’s just “getting bigger and bigger over hype alone. His a cappella freestyles are horrible, and that for me is letdown…He’ll [be] no.1 next year if his album’s dope.”

There were a lot of shout-outs to the Game, with Chris Hasso writing in, “Once Game’s L.A.X. album drops, it will be right up there with Tha Carter 3.” And Mario said, “Only 3 albums deep, and he’s the best lyrical West Coast rapper ever.”

And plenty of people pushed for Lupe Fiasco and Black Thought as MCs known for lyrics that go beyond girls and game. As Prophet J put it, “Lupe talks about real life s*** and explains it with more passion than anybody I’ve heard.” While Checkitout backed up Black Thought: “This guy has been spitting lyrical prowess under your nose for 20 years now!! Give him his just!!” And Josh got critical about the “hottest” MCs as being “hot for the dollars, not for the cause.”

Even more folks were riled up about Soulja Boy being in the poll. “He doesn’t even rap, just mutters 3 lines in a song,” Taf wrote. And Eye said, “I’m disgusted in the committee even considering Soulja Boy an MC -- that’s like saying MC Brains, Hammer or Luke are MCs just because they make hip-hop music, no! It doesn’t work that way!” But NV stepped in: “The boy is dumb popular with the kids, and we were all there a while ago…We have to consider him because he is fire in the South.”

Whoever you’re rooting for, remember to tune in to see the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust go at it tonight, May 16, at 10 p.m. ET on MTV, when MTV News Presents the second edition of “The Hottest MCs in the Game.”

And if you haven’t voted yet, head to our poll, after the jump. Read more...

Chili Pepper Anthony Kiedis is set to curate a new summer fest in...Pittsburgh?

The two-day New American Music Union will give attention to 15 new college bands -- and other little-known acts such as the Raconteurs and Gnarls Barkley. The college acts taking part will also be judged (like "American Idol"!), with the winner given a full day of recording in a top LA studio for free. American Eagle, which is sponsoring the fest, will also promote the band's record in their stores.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow.

The lineup thus far -- including the college acts in competition -- after the jump. Read more...

I love “Low Down Lo-Retta Brown,” aka Ms. Erykah Badu. I’m not putting any gas on it when I say she’s phenomenal in concert -- and she proved it again on Friday, at Radio City Music Hall with the Roots.

I say Badu’s the R&B equivalent of Nas, Mary J. being our Jay-Z. Whereas Mary capitalizes on being a legend -- with an album and tour every two years, media blitz, endorsements, the full shebang -- Badu reminds me of Nas, dropping projects sorta when she wants. (I think she needs to drop more music more frequently, but that’s for a whole 'nother blog post.) Ms. Bad Bad Badu could care less about the accolades of the mainstream or the dollars that are associated with parlaying your stardom into business ventures. Also like Nas, she is just so profoundly lyrical. Her songs are way more than just “ooh baby, make love to me.” Erykah has jewels for days.

“What if there were no n*****s, just master teachers?” she sang on Friday during “Master Teacher." “Hip-hop is bigger than religion, bigger than the government,” she would profess earlier in the midst of singing “The Healer.” Highlights from the show for me were “Me” and “Solider” (my two favorite joints from her latest album, New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War)), “Tyrone,” and, of course, “Bag Lady.”

And at the end of the night, Badu brought out two surprise guests. I’m thinking Talib and Mos Def, maybe Common and Kanye -- nope. She brought out two regular people, so regular I can’t even remember their names. They were fans of hers, a couple from Cincinnati. After telling everyone how great E. was, the man laid it on really thick and professed his love to his woman: “Being without you is like looking in the sky and sun not shining...We need to go 'head and do this thing.”

Who wrote that, Tyler Perry or Wingo from Jagged Edge? Lucky for the man, love is blind. The lady never did say yes, but she took the ring and they kissed. When Erykah came back on the mic, she joked the guy pinched her ass on the sly.

Anyone out there catch the show? Are you feelin' New Amerykah?

Prince has made a habit of busting out the odd cover now and then during his shows, from the Foo Fighters (“Best of You”) at the Super Bowl to Joan Osborne’s “One of Us,” you just never know what he’s going to hit you with. He pulled a major surprise over the weekend during his headlining set at Coachella, though, covering not only the Beatles’ “Come Together” but also Radiohead’s 1993 debut single, “Creep,” which he flipped from a grungy anthem of angst and self-loathing into a towering soul jam about longing that sounded like it could have been on his seminal Purple Rain album.

That got us thinking about all the other oddball Radiohead covers out there. No, not the cheesy business like Korn’s lounge-pop version of “Creep,” but things like Bilal and the Roots funking up “Everything In Its Right Place” at Clive Davis’ Grammy party last year, jazzer Brad Mehldau getting all meditative on “Exit Music (For a Film)” and Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante taking “Lucky” to the acoustic side.

Hell, everyone has taken a swing at “Creep” -- from Moby to Tears For Fears -- but one of the weirdest, non-hit-single covers is the glam-metal, high-kicking falsetto-rama of “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” unleashed by late, lamented English rockers the Darkness. The boys made it sound like a lost Judas Priest single from the early 1980s. And remember Panic at the Disco’s Queen-like emo take on “Karma Police,” complete with xylophone and cello?

Certain Radiohead tracks have been covered to death by a wide swath of pop and rock singers: “Fake Plastic Trees,” Alanis Morissette; “Karma Police,” Howie Day; “Knives Out,” Flaming Lips; “No Surprises,” Iron & Wine. But covers have also emerged from artists of just about every genre, perhaps taken with the English band’s majestic arrangements. From NPR-favorite classical piano player Christopher O’Riley, to string quartets, bluegrass pickers, and even dub reggae fanatics. (Awkward? Yes.)

And then, of course, there’s John Mayer, who not only raved about Radiohead’s “Kid A” but covered it and put it on the bonus disc of his Heavier Things album. That surely gives the kid more cred than that tattoo sleeve.