Rihanna Tapped Chris Brown For Collaboration, The-Dream Says

By Rob Markman

The shock waves from Rihanna and Chris Brown's collaboration on "Birthday Cake (remix)" haven't worn off just yet. Fans have continued to react to the news with a mix of outrage and awe, and even The-Dream, who originally penned the song with Rihanna says he was a bit surprised about the feature as well. "At the end of the day, she's my friend, so whatever she wants to do is whatever she wants to do," The-Dream told Sway when he appeared on "RapFix Live" on Wednesday (February 22), just two days after Rihanna released the controversial remix.

Chris Brown And Rihanna Reunite On 'Cake' Remix

The-Dream remembers first getting the call from Rihanna while driving in Miami. "I think I'm gonna put Chris on it," he remembers the Talk That Talk singer saying to him over the phone nonchalantly. "I don't know which Chris you talkin' about, [but] OK, cool, whatever you say," The-Dream remembers responding.

Of course there is really only one Chris, and The-Dream came to grips with the reality that the two would be coming together in song after the damaging 2009 assault that left Rihanna battered and bruised and Brown public enemy #1. "She's pretty smart too. The same questions that went through my mind, and I'm an artist also, had to have gone through hers," The-Dream told "RapFix Live." "When she raised the question to me, I know she's not crazy. So my thought was you've been thinking about this, you've already thought it out, so evidently you know what reaction you gonna get."

Chris Brown And Rihanna Back Together On "Turn It Up (remix)"

The singer/songwriter said that he was just happy that she gave him enough forewarning that he too could prepare for any type of backlash. Still, despite the rumblings of whether or not Rihanna is sending the right message collaborating with Chris on "Birthday Cake" as well as Brown's "Turn Up the Music" remix, The-Dream says that it all boils down to forgiveness. "Don't say you know how to forgive when you don't," he warned. "Everybody knows what took place, cool. Have the power to really forgive if that's what it is, if not stay on that side of the fence from the beginning."

In no way did The-Dream condone Brown's behavior on that February night in 2009, but he does suggest that it is time for people to move on. "It's easy to kinda throw Chris under the bus all the time, but c'mon, man. OK, we get it," he said.

Do you support Rihanna's decision to work with Chris Brown again? Leave your comment below!

Tags birthday cake, birthday cake remix, Rihanna, the-dream

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Expert Weighs In On Rihanna, Chris Brown Songs

By Jocelyn Vena

Rihanna's new collaborations with Chris Brown--"Birthday Cake (remix)" and Turn Up the Music (remix)"--have been well-received by some fans while others are still outraged that the singer has teamed up with her ex to make music. There have been plenty of reactions on Twitter, but one MTV News tapped a domestic violence expert to weigh in on the new collaborations.

In the years since that assault, Rihanna has been open about her abusive relationship with the R&B singer, saying, "I don't want to be the big domestic-violence spokesperson, because that doesn't define who I am. But if I can help young women in any way, and that being one of the things they need help with, then I'll do that."

Since that late 2009 interview with MTV News, Rihanna certainly hasn't backed down in her career, releasing chart-topping singles, winning awards, going on tour and using videos and Twitter to show the world just how fierce she can be.

After the release of the "Birthday Cake" and "Turn Up the Music" remixes, Rita Smith, the executive director for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, talked to MTV News about what the collaborations mean.

"I guess I'm not particularly surprised given the rumors that had gone on around this, and it's also not surprising because many victims get back with their abusers, even after an assault. They love them, they think they change, and abusers are particularly good at convincing you they've changed," she said. "I don't know what their relationship is at this point, but I'm not surprised that she's staying connected.

"I'm still concerned because his reaction to people's criticism of him being on the Grammys was fairly belligerent, and that didn't give me much of a message or sense of hope that he had made changes since that assault," she said, referring to the barrage of tweets Brown sent out after negative feedback about his Grammy appearance.

"I hope he's changed. I hope that he will never choose to use violence again no matter what kind of relationship he has with her or anybody else," she continued. "I think, for me, it would be much more powerful if they could publicly state what's different for them so that it doesn't just leave us wondering if anything has changed and if they have learned anything in the process, because it was so public. We're all wondering, because they're not saying anything. That would leave us with a different message that it all doesn't matter and they're just going to do what they do."

Smith said that, given their history, "I think the message she's sending is that the feelings of being in love are more important than your personal safety."

"The thing that matters most is whether you're safe and whether you feel respected — that's what matters most in a relationship and that's what we should all be focusing on," Smith added. "That has to be the primary goal of any relationship."

In the end, Smith hopes the two pop stars have grown since the very public assault.

"I don't know what the message is. I would like the message to be: People can change, and I will never be treated that way again and I will never treat anyone that way again. If they had released a song saying this is what this represents for us, that would be such a much more fabulous, powerful story than not saying a word," she said. "The content of the songs seems to be more in-your-face than something about, 'We're collaborating on something because we care about the way people treat each other.' That would have been the message that would have been nice to come out of this very public and tragic incident."

Tags birthday cake, birthday cake remix, Chris Brown, Rihanna, Turn Up the Music, turn up the music remix

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Chris Brown And Rihanna's 'Birthday Cake' Remix: A Lyrical Breakdown

By Kevin Lavi

Three years after Chris Brown made headlines for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna, the duo reunited for a remix of Rih's "Birthday Cake," from her album Talk That Talk. The song, co-produced by Da Internz and The-Dream, features Chris Brown fantasizing about how he wants to "lick the icing" and "blow the candles off" Rihanna's birthday cake. In the new version, Rihanna also asks Chris Brown, "Remember how we did it?" proposing a different kind of reunion by suggesting, "If you still want to kiss it, come, come, come and get it."

Earlier this month, producer Kosine of Da Internz hinted at the guest star on the remix, telling MTV News, "The feature on there is gonna shock the world."

Fan Reaction to the "Birthday Cake" remix is all over Twitter. From those who still won't let go of the 2009 incident to the faithful who argue that listeners should just accept and enjoy the music for what it is.

Rihanna also released, on the same day, of Chris' brand-new single "Turn Up the Music," but most of the attention has gone to the "Cake" remix.

[Rihanna]
Come and put your name on it, put your name on it
Come and put your name on it, your name
But you wanna put your name on it, put your name on it
Come and put your name on it
Baby baby uhh

It's not even my birthday (my birthday)
But he wanna lick the icing off (the icing off)
I know you want it in the worst way (worst way)
Can't wait to blow my candles out (candles out)

He want that cake cake cake cake….. (But you wanna put your name on it)
Ooh baby I like it

You so excited

Don't try to hide it
I'ma make you my bitch

Cake, cake, cake, cake (But you wanna put your name on it)
I know you wanna bite this
It's so enticing
Nothing else like this
I'ma make you my bitch

And it's not even my birthday (my birthday)
But you wanna put your name on it
And it's not even my birthday (my birthday, my birthday, my birthday)
And he trying to put his name on it

[Chris Brown]
Leggo
Girl, I wanna f--- you right now (right now)
Been a long time, I've been missing your body
Let me, let me turn the lights down (lights down)
When I, when I go down it's a private party
Ooh, it's not even her birthday (her birthday)
But I wanna lick the icing off (the icing off)
Give it to her in the worst way (the worst way)
Can't wait to blow her candles out

I want that cake, cake, cake
Ooh, baby, I like it
It's so exciting
Don't try to hide it
I'ma make you my bitch

[Rihanna]
Cake, cake, cake, cake (But you wanna put your name on it)
Ooh baby I like it
You so excited
Don't try to hide it
I'ma make you my bitch
Cake, cake, cake, cake

[Chris Brown]
Doggy want that kitty
Give me a heart attack and throw it back, now watch me get it
Ain’t new to this but you the sh--
Damn girl you pretty
Blowing out your candles
Let me make a couple wishes

[Rihanna]
Remember how you did it?
Remember how you fit it?
If you still want to kiss it
Come, come, come and get it
Sweeter than a rice cake
Cake worth sippin'
Kill it, tip it
Cake, fill it

If you sexy and you know it
And you ain’t afraid to show it
Put a candle on my mother f---in' back, baby, blow it
Love the way you do it, when you do it like that
Show up with them stacks
Screaming racks on my rack
Wrap it up, wrap it up
Boy, while I take this bow off
Talk that talk, yeah I know I'm such a showoff
Daddy, make a wish
Put this cake in your face
And it's not even my birthday

[Chris Brown]
Ooh, it's not even her birthday (her birthday)
But I wanna lick the icing off (the icing off)
Give it to her in the worst way (the worst way)
Can't wait to blow her candles out
I want that cake cake, cake, cake (But you wanna put your name on it)

[Rihanna]
Ooh, baby, I like it
You so excited
Don't try to hide it
I'ma make you my bitch
Cake, cake, cake, cake (But you wanna put your name on it)

I know you wanna bite this
It's so enticing
Nothing else like this
I'ma make you my bitch
Cake, cake, cake, cake… (But you wanna put your name on it)

Tags birthday cake remix, Chris Brown, Da Internz, Rihanna, talk that talk, the-dream, Turn Up the Music

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Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, deadmau5 Celebrating EDM At The Grammys

WE ARE HIP HOP! ARE YOU?

Get More: Music News

(2012 Grammy Nominees)

By Jocelyn Vena

The Grammys have gathered an interesting group of nominees and performers this year to highlight a memorable year in dance/electronica music. Lil Wayne, Chris Brown and the Foo Fighters will join EDM stars deadmau5 and David Guetta for a special performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards ceremony.

Chris Brown Returns To Grammys As A Performer

This marks the first time the Grammys have shed light on the increasingly popular genre, which has recently seeped into every form of music. The performance will take place in a tent outside Staples Center. The announcement comes on the same day it was confirmed that Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt will head up a tribute to late soul singer Etta James and Nicki Minaj revealed she will perform a spankin'-new track, "Roman Holiday," when she takes the Grammy stage.

MTV News will be on hand at the Grammys for the MTV News Pre-Show, hosted by Sway Calloway and James Montgomery. With so many artists set to appear at the show, including Katy Perry, Drake, Fergie, Bruce Springsteen, Adele, Rihanna, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Kelly Clarkson and host LL Cool J, stay tuned to our live stream on MTV.com, starting at 5 p.m. ET Sunday, to get all the scoop from all the biggest stars in the music industry.

Kanye West is the night's most-nominated artist, with seven nods for his joint album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne, and his own My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, both of which are up for Rap Album of the Year. West is followed by this year's critical darling, Adele, who is tied with the Foo Fighters and Bruno Mars with six nods each. Lil Wayne and dance-music breakout Skrillex each garnered five nods.

Tags Chris Brown, deadmau5, lil wayne

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Chris Brown Returns To Grammys As A Performer

WE ARE HIP HOP! ARE YOU?

Get More: Music News

By Jocelyn Vena

Chris Brown canceled his 2009 Grammy performance after the very public assault against his former girlfriend Rihanna (who was also scheduled to perform that night), but this year the singer will make his official return to the stage. The Associated Press reports that Brown will perform at the 2012 Grammy Awards, along with Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Coldplay, Adele, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and more.

Chris Brown, Rihanna Party Together For Super Bowl

Despite being nominated in years since, Brown has not attended the ceremony. The performance is not meant to be formally announced prior to the show. Brown is up for three Grammys, including Best R&B Album for his 2011 opus, F.A.M.E., as well as Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for his track "Look At Me Now," which also features Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes.

Rihanna is also slated to attend on Sunday. She's set to take the stage with Coldplay and is up for a handful of her own awards including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Loud as well Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "What's My Name?" which features Drake.

Nicki Minaj Performing At 2012 Grammys

Rihanna and Brown have recently denied rumors that they are romantically involved with one another. However, the twosome was spotted at the same Super Bowl party over the weekend in Los Angeles, though reportedly they didn't cross paths.

Rihanna and Brown won't be the only two A-listers taking the stage at Sunday's show. Adele, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Aldean and Nicki Minaj are also confirmed to perform live at the 54th annual awards show, which will be hosted by LL Cool J and take place in Los Angeles.

Tags Chris Brown, Grammy Awards, Grammys, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna

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Busta Rhymes – Why Stop Now f. Chris Brown (BTS Video)

WE ARE HIP HOP! ARE YOU?

Directed by Hype Williams, the Breezy assisted video is set to premiere Jan. 30th at 12PM EST. Spotted: Mr. North.

~ by Justice Equality Supreme on January 28, 2012.

Video Tags: busta rhymes, chris brown

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