Rejoice! This was the music award show to watch in the late 90s earlier 00s because it honored artists and their Billboard accomplishments and commanded a decent set of artists to perform every year, well almost every year. But it’s back and it’s coming back with a bang. Hopefullly the show lives up to the hype because there is a need for good music award shows that appeal to all genres. They are already on the right track by tapping Rihanna,Taio Cruz, Lady Antebellum,Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and The Black Eyed Peas to perform at the May 22nd broadcast. Also tickets to the award show taking place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is open to the public and can be purchased on Tickmaster. The 2011 Billboard Music Awards May 22nd 8 p.m. live on ABC.

2011 Billboard Music Awards Nominees

Top Billboard 200 Artist
Justin Bieber
Susan Boyle
Eminem
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift

Top Hot 100 Artist
Ke$ha
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Usher

Top New Artist
Justin Bieber
Taio Cruz
Ke$ha
Bruno Mars
Nicki Minaj

Top Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Drake
Eminem
Bruno Mars
Usher

Top Female Artist
Ke$ha
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Rihanna
Taylor Swift

Top Duo/Group
The Black Eyed Peas
Bon Jovi
Lady Antebellum
Linkin Park
U2

Top Pop Artist
Justin Bieber
The Black Eyed Peas
Ke$ha
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry

Top R&B Artist
Alicia Keys
Monica
Rihanna
Trey Songz
Usher

Top Rap Artist
Drake
Eminem
Lil Wayne
Ludacris
Nicki Minaj

Top Country Artist
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band

Top Rock Artist
Kings of Leon
Linkin Park
Mumford & Sons
Muse
Train

For full nominee list: Billboard

While most headlines are covering her quotes on Chris Brown, Rhianna got a little too TMI about other things.

“I like to be spanked.  Being tied up is fun. I like to keep it spontaneous. Sometimes whips and chains can be overtly planned — you’ve got to stop and get the whip from the drawer downstairs.”

“When you’re not with the person you want to be intimate with, a picture is the next best thing. A picture lasts a long time. When you’re alone, and those horny moments come up, pictures can be very handy. I haven’t gotten a d*** picture in a long time. I think people are a little afraid.” Rolling Stone

I’ve never been a fan of Rhianna but I don’t think I have recalled ever hearing so much sex talk come from this girl until the past 2 or so years. Or maybe it’s because the Chris Brown incident elevated her exposure that it seems this way? I first noticed that her songs from her last two albums Rated R and Loud mentioned it alot.  During 2007′s Good Girl Gone Bad era Rhianna did try the edgy look with the various hairstyles but now it seems in 2011 she has reached the level of edgy she was looking for.

And Keri Hilson is drinking the same Kool Aid as Rhianna. How do you go from “Pretty Girl Rock” to this?

Check out the video.

Tour dates are up and JM.com

Someone asked me the other day, “What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?” And by the way, it’s sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a nigger pass. Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass if you really have a hood pass? But I said, “I can’t really have a hood pass. I’ve never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, ‘We’re full.’”- Playboy Magazine.

In no way was he throwing out this slur in a way to demean blacks. I am black myself and I got that in the first read. He was saying that the term “hood pass” meant nothing in reality because as a white man there is no “pass” to allow him to say the n-word. No matter how many blacks like him he is still a white person. Oddly he proved his own point. We are in such a race sensitive state that any use of the word by someone other than an African American even in a non derogatory way will get you sent straight to social jail; no passing go, no collecting $200. As smart as John Mayer is, he used very poor judgment and I have no sympathy in regards to the public lashing he is receiving. He deserves it.

As with the other comment about not being attracted to black women, again there is nothing really wrong with the statement just that he worded it badly. He should have in no way compared his member to a white supremacist. What the hell John. No good. But going pass that flub, he as a person has a the right to be attracted to whoever he wants to be attracted to. So he doesn’t want to date black women…who cares. I have read a few pieces today were black female bloggers are so up in arms about it. Is it because he had the balls to say it outloud or are these women really that upset? I can’t even tell you how many times I have heard black women grope about black men marrying white women and then go on to complain about it for another 10 minutes with statements like, ‘Why are all the white women taking our black men.’ So what if these black men want to marry white women. It’s their lives not ours to hate on. One cousin of mine married a Japanese man, another married a Mexican; should I start going around angrily declaring my distaste for the Japanese and Mexicans ‘stealing’ the black women of my family? No because it was all about who they were attracted to. I can see if John said he hates black women and thought they were ugly, but he didn’t. Everyone in this entire world is allowed to have preferences. He isn’t attracted to black women, I know alot who aren’t attracted to white men. Big deal, it’s life, move on.

Then there are other topics like the Jessica Simpson quote. I think most people don’t know or forgot what Jessica Simpson was like back during 2006-2007 when they dated. His statement about her definitely earns an apology from him, if she’s actual offended, but I can’t I feel too bad. Let’s just say I am not surprised he addressed her as being a sex object. But out of all of this, his statements about Jennifer Aniston are the ones that have been buried beneath the rubble.

Throughout the entire interview he held her in higher regard than J. Simpson, even interrupting the reporter after talking about Jessica’s drug sex to say how much he loves Aniston and would feel bad if she thinks he is lumping her in with the other kiss and tells, a point in the interview alot of the media outlets failed to quote. Ok if I was Jessica that would sting a little. Matter fact he said he loved Aniston a few times in the piece even mused a little that he in a way wished to still be with her. What they did quote however,was him explaining that Aniston wasn’t thrilled with twitter and tried to twist it into a him saying she was ‘old’. No, he’s actual right, Aniston has gone on record saying she isn’t into the new social media and is “computer illiterate.” Don’t see why that statement was a big deal other than it’s her birthday and why not drill it in that she is 8 years older. After yesterday, he is probably wishing he had listened to her a little better.

I’ve been a fan of Mayer’s music since the Continuum era in 2006 and purchased tickets to his upcoming Verizon Center show in D.C. before he started given these idiotic interviews. I have not been offended by his statements and have no plans to sell my tickets. Only sad about his choice of words because he is literally the best guitarist of this generation, and I hate that his talents are being overshadowed by the nonsense. He seemed very apologetic last night at his show in Nashville and on twitter. I really do think that it took him to hit this verbal rock bottom to see that he needs to change somethings maybe even hire new pr. Hopefully we can chop it up as the ending of this side of John Mayer. No more shock, just rock.

All the winners will be selected by online voting.

Kanye West and Lady Gaga’s tour is over before it began.

Just days after announcing dates for an ambitious tour that was to kick off next month, the tour was canceled.

Live Nation announced the news on Thursday. The tour promoter says refunds will be issued. AP

This was set up to be THE tour to end the year.  Sucks for fans but if Kanye gets the time off he needs, then good. Hopefully Kanye and especially Lady Gaga will reschedule the tour.

I usually stay away from writing about the Z list stars of MTV reality shows because they are collectively annoying as hell but this is too funny to pass up.   MTV’s The Hills premieres its new season tonight @ 10 p.m. and “star” Kristen Cavallari (yeah I didn’t know who she was until a few weeks ago either) was enlisted  to drum up some press  for tonight’s premiere. How else to do that in Hollywood but by name dropping and name drop she did.

Back Story: National Enquirer writer turned gossip blogger Janet Charlton made up a rumor via Page Six that Cavallari and singer/songwriter John Mayer were having as secret love affair for the past 2 years. Mayer was quick to hilariously deny such rumors on twitter as well did Cavallari who said it wasn’t true and that she only met him one time for five minutes.

Flash forward: This morning Cavallari, in a change of story, told Ryan Seacrest that she turned him down in that five minute meeting because she “didn’t want to be another notch on his belt”. And as you know it that quote was picked up by Us Weekly, People and every other popular gossip outlet as hoped.

She knows damn well John Mayer did not ask her out. This obvious publicity stunt shows not only the stupidity of Cavallari but also how someone would sell their soul all in the name of fame.  Mayer semi addressed Cavalliri’s comment on twitter today and I give him props for keeping his cool.

He get’s a bad wrap on the female front; the media as they always do with celebrities found something negative to grab onto with Mayer. You know Cavallari woke up this morning and thought this would be the funniest thing to say because some how it’s come to the point that meeting John Mayer automatically means he hit on you. Move aside Spencer and Heidi there’s a new mediawhore in town!

Mayer has been making the gossip rounds lately anyway with rumors he was seeing ex Jessica Simpson although both have denied the claims repeatedly while the UK tabloids along with a few Us ones are saying he and recent ex Jennifer Aniston are on the DL again. This rumor has been around for about a month but neither Mayer or Aniston will comment. Regardless of his bedroom action, his new single “Who Says” hits radio waves this week while  his new album “BattleStudies” is out November 17th.