Cactus

The 'OMG' singer overcame personal drama and proved his staying power on the charts over the past year.By Mawuse Ziegbe Usher Photo: Brad Barket/ Getty Images Usher has reigned as Pop & B royalty since he hit the scene as a teen crooner in the '90s. Back when his 16-year-old protégé, Justin Bieber, was still a toddler, the ATL singer was making the ladies faint with hits like "You Make Me Wanna" and "Nice & Slow." But his early success was just a prelude to the music-world domination he's achieved with club-bangers and deeply personal slow jams in the years since. Usher's divorce from Tameka Foster was the latest personal development to fuel a chart-topping album, 2010's Raymond v. Raymond. Now the singer is set to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards, and his "OMG" smash will battle it out for a Moonman in three categories: Best Male Video, Best Dance Video and Best Choreography. Here's a look at how the singer's recent success has steered him toward VMA accolades: Following the release of the divorce-themed "Papers," his more upbeat video "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" premiered in January 2010. The clip featured the romantic superstar fans know and love, trying to juggle the demands of his professional and personal life. In March, Usher talked to MTV News about incorporating that balance into Raymond v. Raymond. "I think this is the one time where I'm able to put it all in, emotionally and the good times — super-freaky and then also super-emotional." So, it wasn't a big surprise that when Raymond v. Raymond finally landed on shelves after several delays, the project took the top spot on Billboard 200 with over 300,000 scans during its first week. He went from romantic to racy, busting out his signature, fluid, hip-swiveling moves in the video for "Lil Freak," featuring Nicki Minaj. The star didn't hold back in the visual or the lyricism, which both detail a freaky rendezvous with some very game ladies. Like many of his hits, Usher revealed that the track was inspired by real-life experiences. The club anthem "OMG" featured Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am and a more club-friendly side to the R&B kingpin. The accompanying video showcased Usher's easy swagger and ever-sharp dance skills. Raymond was such a hit that in August the singer released Versus, an extension of the smash album featuring songs like the Jay-Z collabo "Hot Tottie." Usher, who has a history of tearing up the VMA stage, will return to the main event this year, and recently reminded his fans that live television paired with Usher's onstage wizardry can result in some seriously unforgettable moments. "You never know what's gonna happen on an MTV VMA stage," he said. "I look forward to making it a night to remember." The star has also made one of the most savvy moves in recent pop music history by signing teen phenom Justin Bieber, who has gone on to induce global tween hysteria and set YouTube records. The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12. Related Artists Usher

'They the gods and I'm the young god,' Boy Jones says in Mixtape DailyBy Shaheem Reid Ol' Dirty Bastard Photo: Chi Modu/ diverseimages/ Getty Images Fire Starter: Boy Jones Just looking at 21-year-old Boy Jones, it's clear he's his father's son. Jones wears a T-shirt with an image of his pop, the late great Ol' Dirty Bastard, taking up most of the real estate on the front. It's late August, the day before the Rock the Bells tour kicked off its four-city run. Jones is in San Bernardino, California, at the NOS Events Center. Snoop Dogg is at one side of the park rehearsing and members of the Wu-Tang Clan are inside at another part. GZA is playing chess, and RZA is onstage, guiding his cousin the Young Dirty Bastard through a Wu classic, "Shame on a Ni--a." It's a signature song from the Shaolin Swordsmen's 1993 debut LP, on which Dirt McGirt stole the show. The next night, while the real performance was going, Young Dirty brought high energy for "Shame," and during a tribute to Dirty senior, for which Boy Jones performed "Shimmy Shimmy Ya," the youngster ran out with no shirt and jumped into the audience. " 'Shimmy Shimmy' with no shirt on? I couldn't help it," Jones said a week later, this time at New York's Governors Island. "It's like a baby running around naked. Once you start, you have to let go of everything. Be a free spirit. Uprise yourself. The fans give you the energy. I'mma get naked regardless." Sound familiar? Jones — even at a young age — has that unorthodox wisdom his dad was famous for. He also shares the same unpredictable energy and even the same hairstyle. YDB sports the braids sticking straight up in the air like ODB had. "He looks just like him. Scrappy Doo to the fullest," Raekwon the Chef laughed. "Dirty was Scooby and his son is Scrappy all the way. He looks just like his father. When I tell you he's got his father's style down pat, am I lying? Nope. He's his father to the maximum. When I see him, I see his father." "I love Boy Jones," Method Man said after the Wu performed at Governors Island. "His grandmother is here, Dirty's mother. I know she's lookin' up and she's proud of him. I'm proud of him, too." "It feels great," Jones said about performing with his dad's squadron. "It's me. It's his son. A son is like a father, he always gotta do what his father does. He's born in that type of way. It ain't nothing else to it. I got the call from RZA [to go on tour] when I was feeding my babies baby food. 'You going on the tour.' I'm running. I need that bread. Young Dirty Bastard raps hard, too. I ain't doing it for free. I need money and I rap hard. "They the gods and I'm the young god," Dirty added about what he's learned from traveling and performing with Wu-Tang. "It's like when you go to school for the first time and you're really scared, but you have teachers who really teach you. You can't know anything without somebody giving it to you. They give it to me real. They don't tell it to me fake. I might break a few rules and they put me in check. They teach me. I'm the young god." Young Dirty is working on his first big mixtape. Besides Meth, Rae and Ghostface, he wants to work with 9th Wonder. Boy is talking to DJ Absolut about hosting the project. "My music is coming with an Ol' natural style," Jones explained. "Ol' Dirty Bastard had the sh--. I'm just the new sperm of the generation. And you know I'm gonna have it. I'm born with it." The Streets Is Talking A few days ago, Raekwon leaked the trailer for the "Ason Jones" video. The Chef said paying tribute to his friend was always in the plans. "As far as the video is concerned, it's something I wanted to add to the collection of videos I got out there. Dirty is my heart. Same way how everybody got fallen soldiers around them or in their circle that they lost, he is one I really appreciate. At the end of the day, I'm always keeping him right here." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists Ol' Dirty Bastard