I didn’t know what to expect from Nicki Minaj’s new single, “Only,” featuring Lil Wayne, Drake, and Chris Brown, when she first announced it over the weekend. I expected it to be a great song, sure, but wasn’t too certain about much else.

One thing I didn’t expect: Lil Wayne and Drake getting explicit about what they’d like to do to Nicki, and her doing the same.

But I probably should have known better. The breadwinners of the Young Money family have a history of flirting and straight up talking dirty to each other.

Nicki Grinds On Wayne During “Knockout” Video (2009)

He looks happy.

Nicki Has Wayne In Mind On Her Verse On “Bedrock” (2009)

Remember Nicki’s “put this p—y on your sideburns” line? Turns out it was directed at Weezy.

“As soon as I said that he smiled because I was talking to him,” she told VIBE in 2010. “Wayne has those infamous sideburns, and I knew that would make him laugh.”

Drake Admits His Love On “Miss Me” (2010)

Still perhaps one of Drake’s most infamous lines to this day, Aubrey holds nothing back: “I love Nicki Minaj, I told her I’d admit it/ I hope one day we get married just to say we f–kin’ did it.”

Drake Talks About Marrying Nicki — And Acts It Out In The Video — On “Moment 4 Life” (2010)

“F–k it, me and Nicki Nick gettin’ married today,” Drizzy raps. Then, in the video, he and his ...

A lot of YA books feature a (white) boy and a (white) girl on the cover, looking longingly into each other’s eyes, just on the verge of a kiss. That’s a pretty iconic image by now. That’s the norm.

A lot of book covers decidedly do not feature two (non-white) girls locked in a passionate liplock. Sarah McCarry‘s “About A Girl” is not a lot of YA books, however. It’s not the norm. It’s special.

McCarry shared the cover of her upcoming book exclusively today with MTV News, a gorgeous image reminiscent of the photo on the cover of David Levithan’s much-lauded novel, “Two Boys Kissing.”

Let’s just take a minute to look at the above cover. This is why #WeNeedDiverseBooks, people: Images like this need to become the norm as well. Cover images of girls standing wistfully in fields have seriously had their day.

Now on to the book itself, because McCarry is a gorgeous writer and we can hardly wait to get out mitts on it.

“About A Girl” is the third book in McCarry’s “Metamorphoses” trilogy — a series of YA novels that meld Greek mythology, punk rock and copious bad decisions. It’s a play on the myth of “Medea” (you know, the play by Euripides where that woman kills her kids) and sees two teen girls falling in love while one, Tally, tries to find the key to unlocking her past.

“It was hugely important to me that the cover accurately reflect ...

With additional reporting by Janelle Myers

Did She Eat Birthday Cake?
After starting her birthday week right by getting her name on a pizza restaurant sign, Katy Perry packed up her bags and celebrated in Paris and Marrakesh, Morocco. Music producer Diplo, who she’s been linked to this year, apparently joined her in the City Of Light, but he was nowhere in sight when Katy, Ellie Goulding and the rest of their crew traveled to Morocco.

A Swift Gift
Taylor Swift literally lit up the NYC skyline when she performed a 30-minute set on a rooftop for some of her fans while the Empire State Building lights rapidly blinked in the background. This mini concert was part of her 1989 Secret Sessions where she invited select Swifties to her home and sang to them.

I Understand, Nicki
It looks like we’re not going to get a Thanksgiving treat from Nicki Minaj after all – she pushed back the release date of The Pinkprint. Barbz don’t have to wait too long though, because instead of November 24, she will drop her album on December 15. In between those three weeks, she’ll hold us over with her upcoming single “Only.”

Tumblr

Ended Before It Really Began
Have sparks between Jennifer Lawrence and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin now extinguished? The two have reportedly broken up.

Getty Images

Strange And Wonderful
When Marvel confirmed that Joaquin Phoenix was not going to ...

Sure, the album you’ve been waiting for, 1989, is finally here, but let’s reflect on the ingenious lead-up to the album’s release that Taylor Swift planned for her fans. Like the fact hundreds of you lucky Swifties ACTUALLY GOT TO GO TO TAYLOR’S HOUSE. And eat her homemade cookies.

It was beyond, right?? All the secret listening sessions Taylor invited fans to, the livestream where she announced she was going full-time pop star, the emphasis on Polaroids… I’m getting nostalgic! Oh, the memories. (Okay, I wasn’t personally invited, but I SWEAR I’M NOT BITTER! I SWEAR!) But as it turns out, all of these bits of nostalgia, memories and intimate get-togethers led to some IRL friendships between Swifties.

Once you’ve had the lifechanging opportunity to go to Taylor Swift’s house and listen to 1989 WITH TAYLOR SWIFT (and her cat), you’ve got two choice: 1.) Die. Or 2.) Become IRL BFFs with your fellow Swifties (which is better than dying, obviously), and that’s exactly what happened, and that’s exactly what Taylor loves about the experience.

Related: Guess Who Loves Taylor Swift’s ’1989′? (Hint: EVERYBODY!)

“One of the things that really blew my mind about the secret sessions is how much unity it brought to groups of people involved,” Taylor told MTV News during her sit-down interview with Jack Antonoff in L.A. on Friday, October 24.

“I was at Hollywood Boulevard performing ...

We found out on Monday (October 28) that tomorrow won’t bring us the release of Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter V, as scheduled, but we will get a different kind of major moment for Young Money: Not only will Nicki Minaj be dropping her new single, “Only,” featuring Lil Wayne, Drake and Chris Brown, but it’ll be the first time we’ve heard Drizzy and Breezy on the same song since they publicly made up over the summer.

So, what should we expect from one of the year’s biggest collabs?

Right now, we’ve got more questions than answers. But here’s what comes to mind.

Will They Be Singing Or Rapping?
All of the artists on the song waver between singing and rapping. Breezy sings far more than he raps, but he’s been kicking some rhymes here and there of late. Nicki and Drake both go back and forth — often within one song — and Minaj has dropped both rap-heavy and sing-heavy singles for her upcoming album. Heck, even Tunechi has been known to carry a tune every once and a while.

My guess is that Nicki, Wayne and Drake will all be rhyming, with Brown delivering some sort of catchy hook that’ll stay stuck in your head. Even though all these MCs can create a winning hook, how do you get Chris Brown on your single and not let him man the chorus? Plus, the single art highlights Nick, ...

It’s been 35 years since “Alien” first taught audiences to scream in space, and just in time for the anniversary Titan Books is releasing a book featuring art – and photography – rarely seen before from the series.

Take a look below for some sneak peaks at the book, titled “Alien – The Archive,” which hits stores October 28… Including two aliens from “Alien: Resurrection” that look vastly different from the ones that ended up on screen.

Armored spacesuit designed by Jean Girard for the original “Alien” (1979)

TM & © 2014 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Detailed concept sketch for the original “Alien” (1979)

TM & © 2014 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Design for the bridge of the Nostromo by Ron Cobb (“Alien” 1979)

TM & © 2014 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Concept Art of the Alien’s lair (“Alien 3″ 1992)

TM & © 2014 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Detailed early design of the Betty (“Alien: Resurrection” 1997)

TM & © 2014 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Artwork of the alien from “Alien: Resurrection” (1997)

TM & © 2014 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Chris Hall’s painting of the Newborn (Alien: Resurrection” 1997)

TM & © 2014 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Alex Zalben

Writer/Editor at MTV ...

Read More →

Who says living in the zombie apocalypse of “The Walking Dead” isn’t fun? Though death and dismemberment lay along every path, at least the actors on the show are having a good time – as this behind the scene picture from last night’s (October 26) episode clearly shows.

Spoilers beyond this point.

Gene Page/AMC

Yep, that’s good old Bob Stookey (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.) goofing off with Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Sasha (Sonequa Martin-Green) mere moments after his half-eaten body was dropped off at Father Gabriel’s (Seth Gilliam) church.

It’s neat not just to see the usually dour cast cracking a smile, but also how they pulled off that impressive severed leg effect on Bob.

And Gilliard – despite his departure from the show – was all smiles, snapping selfies with cast-member Alanna Masterson, and hugging Martin-Green goodbye:

Gene Page/AMC

Gene Page/AMC

Daaaaw. Poor BobBQ, but we expect a bright future ahead for Gilliard. Perhaps he could star in “How I Meat Your Mother.”

Alex Zalben

Writer/Editor at MTV News. You can follow him on Twitter, but not in real life because that would be weird.

@azalben

The Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is, obviously, NYC’s best day of the year. Masses of pet owners show up annually to show off their beloved canines dressed to the…well, nines. With all the pomp and Instagram-worthy moments, it’s kind of like Fashion Week meets the Thanksgiving parade—only better, because dogs.

This year was no exception. I saw everything from mermaids to pumpkins, Ewoks to tacos (like…at least three tacos). Take a look at some of the parade’s shining stars, and maybe take a step back to reevaluate your own Halloween costume? You might need to step up your game.

Related: Quiz: Can You ID All 21 Of These Celebrities By Their Halloween Costumes?

1. This taco

Caitlin Morton

2. This jogger

Caitlin Morton

3. This country bumpkin

Caitlin Morton

4. This peacock

Caitlin Morton

5. This lion

Caitlin Morton

6. This princess, complete with chariot

Caitlin Morton

7. This ’80s prep

Caitlin Morton

8. This metallic shark

Caitlin Morton

Related: Lazy Halloween Costumes For Those Of Us Who Can’t Be Bothered

9. This corduroy pumpkin

Caitlin Morton

10. This neon dinosaur

Read More →

It’s no surprise that over the years “Reading Rainbow” star LeVar Burton has picked up a few favorites in the children’s genre. But did anyone expect it would be the one titled “Go The F–k To Sleep,” like, at all?

The man responsible for turning hundreds of PBS-watching tots onto how and why reading is so FUN-damental (we couldn’t help ourselves there) explained as much to a room full of cross-legged adults and those watching video game production studio Rooster Teeth’s Internet stream in support of Extra Life.

“This is one of my favorite children’s stories,” Burton says in the video before diving in and causing a cacophony of giggles with the title of the Adam Mansbach cult favorite.

You should listen, revel in his “Captain Planet” t-shirt, but be forewarned — this is definitely not one for the kids (because spoiler alert: he drops the f-bomb. Like A LOT):

Extra Life, the annual event — a 24-hour gaming marathon to raise money for sick children — works with many outlets and video-game obsessives in order to raise funds and awareness for children’s charities. Burton’s reading of the aggressively worded story was a reward for viewers making $75,000 in donations.

Alicia Lutes

Too much exuberance for one person. Follow her on Twitter @alicialutes.

It is with a heavy heart that we must report that international photographer and documenter of Beyoncé’s Mrs. Carter World Tour — Yosra El-Essawy — has passed away at age 33 from cancer.

The Egyptian-born British photog was a staple on the tour, but also shot riveting images from the Egyptian revolution, in addition to weddings, events, and Beyoncé’s 2015 calendar. The news comes not even a year and a half following her diagnosis while on tour with Beyoncé. After being forced to leave the tour, El-Essawy kept fans updated of her progress on her Instagram account, and there was nary a shortage of optimism, either.

In honor of her friend’s struggle, the singer dedicated a performance of “Halo” to her during the tour last spring, in addition to creating a mini-documentary on El-Essawy’s passion.

Her passion for life and not taking for granted the beauty in the world was inspiring. On Saturday evening and Sunday morning, Beyoncé posted two photos in homage to her friend El-Essawy, the first being a nod to a post of El-Essawy’s from this summer:

Our thoughts go out to her family, friends, and loved ones during the tragic time.

Alicia Lutes

Too much exuberance for one person. Follow her on Twitter @alicialutes.