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Diddy Launching Music-Themed Cable Network?

24 Jan 2012 13:13:59 EST

Revolt is slated to go live in December, Broadcasting & Cable reports.
By Rob Markman

Diddy
Photo: Getty Images

He told you he won't stop. And after conquering music, fashion and the liquor world with his Cîroc vodka deal, Diddy is looking to launch his own cable network. Broadcasting & Cable broke the news on Monday that Combs will be launching Revolt, a music-themed channel slated to go live on December 12, 2012. According to B&C, which cited unnamed sources, the producer/rapper has hooked up with former MTV programming chief Andy Schuon to develop the network, which is said to be aimed at African-American audiences. It is being reported that Comcast will distribute Revolt, though a rep for the cable company would not confirm Diddy's involvement. Time Warner Cable, however, admitted to having "some discussions" with Combs regarding Revolt and it is being reported TWC will also be involved with the network's distribution. This year looks to be big for Diddy's Bad Boy Records. In late 2011, he signed French Montana and MTV's Hottest Breakthrough MC winner Machine Gun Kelly, and Brooklyn MC Red Café will drop his debut Shakedown in the coming months. In a radio interview with DJ Whoo Kid earlier this month, Diddy addressed the criticism that Bad Boy doesn't fully support its artists. "Over the last couple of years, there's been a strong propaganda movement that's been brewing in the negative sense against Bad Boy, against what it is to sign to the Bad Boy label, if it's a detriment to your career," Diddy said. "Just hate. Just regular hate and also a lot of people not understanding how this industry works. ... This is not a PG-rated industry. If you're weak, you'll be eaten alive." MTV News has reached out to a Diddy representative but has not yet received comment. What do you think of Diddy's plans to start a music-themed cable network? Tell us in the comments.

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Diddy's A 'Sweetheart,' 'Breaking Bad' Star Says

30 Jan 2012 15:35:04 EST

Rapper's Cîroc ad co-star, Aaron Paul, talks to MTV News about bro'ing it up in Vegas with the rap mogul.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kara Warner

Diddy
Photo: Getty Images

Bad Boy Records boss and Cîroc spokesman Diddy assembled his very own "Rat Pack" for the vodka brand's latest campaign. With folks like "Breaking Bad" star Aaron Paul, Michael K. Williams, Chad Michael Murray and Jesse Williams onboard, the stylish gang does Vegas in retro-tinged ads directed by Anthony Mandler.

When MTV News caught up with Paul at the SAG Awards on Sunday night in L.A., he dished about how the hip-hop mogul recruited him for the sleek clip. "It's so funny, Diddy is a huge fan of the show, and he called and asked if I wanted to be a part of his new Cîroc campaign," Paul recalled. "And I'm like, 'Hang out in Vegas with Diddy for a couple days? Yeah, I'll do that.' " The commercial is a stylized, glamorous peek at what it might be like to chill with Diddy and his guys in Sin City. "It's great. I was really happy about it and I think there's going to be like three or four different versions of it coming out throughout the year," the actor revealed. Paul admitted that he had fun both on and off set, telling us he left Vegas "with money in my pockets." Of course, now that he's one of the faces of the brand, Paul could be expected to give it a shining endorsement. But the Hollywood star kept it real: "I got to be honest, I never really had Cîroc [before the ads], but it's so good," he said. "They have a lot of flavored vodkas and they're really good, so buy Cîroc!" It wasn't just Cîroc that Paul found surprisingly smooth but the hip-hop mogul himself. "He's such a workhorse — he's like such a machine — but he's the kindest guy," Paul said. "He really is such a nice guy to everybody, so I learned that about him 'cause I didn't know anything about him before. "A sweetheart, Diddy's a sweetheart," he continued. "He sent me a really nice engagement present, and I'm like 'Wow, that's so nice.' I just got engaged [to Lauren Parsekian, so] it was so nice of him." Stick with MTV News all night for the 2012 SAG Awards winners, and don't miss all the fashion from the red carpet!

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Rick Ross Birthday Bash Boasts Dr. Dre, Diddy

30 Jan 2012 20:10:31 EST

Miami's Club Amnesia filled with hip-hop royalty Sunday night in honor of Maybach Music MC.
By Rahman Dukes

Photo: MTV News

MIAMI — Rick Ross cemented a weekend of jet-set partying for his 36th birthday in ultimate style Sunday night at his home base in Miami, surrounded by some of his closest friends and thousands of fans. Club Amnesia was packed wall to wall with almost no wiggle room, filled with hip-hop heavyweights and club revelers watching closely, competing to get a shot of the action. Ross ascended from a chauffeur-driven black Maybach shortly after 1 a.m. with companion DJ Khaled by his side. Decked out in his signature coconut-colored silk threads, the hefty MC was swiftly ushered by his Maybach Music entourage inside the venue.

Fans cheered, "Happy birthday, boss," as an elated Ross made his way to Amnesia's top-level VIP area, where dozens of music celebrities — including producer/singer Sean Garrett, actor Evan Ross and powerhouse producer Dr. Dre — were waiting in the wings for his arrival. Dre was easily the night's most-talked-about guest, as the sight of him and Ross together confirmed their union after being spotted hanging out together in Miami recently. Soon after Ross, the celebrity arrivals began to flow in sync with the hundreds of bottles of Moet Rose champagne and Ciroc vodka that were delivered to his seating area. Party host Diddy showed up soon after with an entourage consisting of new Bad Boy artist French Montana, Cassie and his son Justin. Minutes later, Wiz Khalifa and girlfriend Amber Rose joined the party. "This is your night!" Diddy shouted at Ross, alongside a grinning Khalifa by his side. Ross, with Dre directly behind him, raised a glass filled with pink bubbly. As the night continued full steam, other hip-hop artists including the LOX, upstart Chicago crew L.E.P. and singer the Dream separately made their way to greet the Bawse. At one point, there were whispers that Young Money superstar Drake was also present in the building, but the Canadian MC was nowhere to be seen. One of the most-touching moments of the night was a snapshot of Ross and former business manager and Poe Boy head E-Class exchanging hugs and pounds. Class had been a longtime associate of Rozay since his earlier days, until the two had a recent falling out that ended their business relationship. Wrapping up the night in traditional fashion, Ross and his MMG family exited the empty-bottle-strewn VIP area and made their way to the stage for an impromptu performance. Ross gave the audience their money's worth, performing hit after hit from his war chest of club anthems. "They say I'm getting money, must be Illuminati/ Talking to the Holy Ghost, in my Bugatti," Ross rapped on the track "Holy Ghost" off his Rich Forever mixtape. "He knockin' on the door, don't let the devil iiiinnn." On this night, the larger-than-life MC had his way, no doubt to be blessed with another banner year.

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Diddy 'Playful But Serious' About Machine Gun Kelly Arrest

30 Jan 2012 21:27:46 EST

'I talked to Puff today, and he's like, 'It's all good,' ' Bad Boy rapper tells MTV News.
By Rob Markman

Machine Gun Kelly
Photo: MTV News

When Diddy first announced that he signed Machine Gun Kelly to Bad Boy Records, he said he wanted the Cleveland, Ohio, breakout to stay "true to himself." Since the deal, the "Wild Boy" rapper doesn't seem to have changed very much. And after his arrest for misdemeanor disorderly conduct on Sunday morning, Puff didn't seem too bent out of shape.

"@machinegunkelly where the f--- are you at? Are you ok? Do you need Bail or a lawyer?????!! Eveyrone hit him to see if he's ok," Diddy wrote jokingly on Twitter. "@machinegunkelly WtF!!!!!! Call me at miami crib now!!!!! Everyone hit him and tell him to call me NOW!!!!! Pls thanks!!!!" "You can tell he's, like, playful with it, but there's a serious tone behind [it]," Machine Gun Kelly told MTV News on Monday (January 30) about his boss' reaction to the incident in a Florida club that led to the arrest. "I talked to Puff today, and he's like, 'It's all good. Do what you do. You did what you had to do.' " Diddy was very understanding — that is, until he misread a tweet while on the phone with Kells, which led him to believe his new protégé was put in cuffs twice this weekend. On Friday night, one of MGK's friends was caught drunk driving and got into a car crash; Kells was not present, but try explaining that to Diddy. "He thought I was in the car too, so he thought I got arrested twice. It was like the first arrest was cool, like, all right, he'll let it slide. But when he [thought it was two arrests], he was like, 'What the f---? You got arrested two times? Something is wrong with you, man,' " MGK said, imitating one of Puff's patented tantrums. "He was, like, spazzing out. I think all the label is on edge about how we rock." This wasn't Kelly's first arrest either. Back in August 2011, the raging rapper was locked up and charged with disorderly conduct after police said he organized a flash mob in a Cleveland mall. After this latest incident, Kelly promises no more run-ins with the law. He posted $100 bond and fired this message off on Twitter before heading off to New York City: "Thank you Florida for ragin this week. Lookin forward to seeing every state during this spring/summer tour (no more handcuffs tho!)"

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Diddy Aims To Bring A 'New Energy' To Cable TV

31 Jan 2012 20:41:07 EST

'We're coming with something that people are going to want to tune in to see,' Diddy tells MTV News.
By Rob Markman

Diddy
Photo: MTV News

Diddy alert! The music mogul isn't making an official announcement concerning his upcoming music-themed cable channel, but when the time is right, you can bet that his patented Diddy swag will be in full swing.

"I haven't made that announcement yet. That's something that kinda leaked to the press," the Bad Boy CEO told Sway on Sunday in Miami while on a break from shooting French Montana's "Shot Caller" remix video. Broadcasting & Cable originally broke the news January 23, citing unnamed sources. It was reported that Puff hooked up with former MTV programming chief Andy Schuon to develop Revolt, a network aimed at African-American audiences, set to launch in December. Diddy couldn't confirm any of the information, however. "When I have everything officially solidified, I'll be able to speak on it more. Only thing I can say is, we're coming with a new energy, we're coming with something that people are going to want to tune in to see," he said. Diddy went on to cite the influence that Viacom networks MTV and BET have had on his career. "We want to give thanks to MTV and BET for paving the way," he said. "Somebody had to bubble, somebody had to come up out of the grind of working with the greats over at MTV and BET, and I thank y'all for all the support. MTV gave me my first shot, made me a global star."

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Diddy, French Montana 'Let It Go' On Red Cafe Video Set

02 Feb 2012 11:43:57 EST

'It's a beautiful day, historic thing goin' down right here,' Cafe tells MTV News from the set of his 'Let It Go' video.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Rahman Dukes

Diddy and Red Cafe
Photo: By Any Means

The Bad Boys invaded Miami this past weekend when Red Café gathered Diddy, French Montana and 2 Chainz for his "Let It Go" remix video shoot. "It's a beautiful day, historic thing goin' down right here," Red told MTV News on the set Sunday.

It was definitely a family affair, even if the rappers on set aren't technically part of the same crew. Both Café and French hail from New York and are signed to Diddy's Bad Boy while Atlanta's 2 Chainz just announced his new deal with Def Jam on Wednesday's "RapFix Live." But different record labels didn't stop the MCs from showing one another love. Even Maybach Music's Meek Mill appears in the video riding his dirt bike, even though he doesn't vocally appear on the song. "That's my dog, we came up together so I want him to win like he wants me to win," French said of Red Café. "The same goes for my dog 2 Chainz, and that's Phil Jackson right there," he added, comparing Diddy to the famed NBA coach. The set wasn't glamorous at all. The dirt bikes and multiple bonfires suggested that when it is done, the "Let it Go" remix video will serve as a nod to the gritty rap videos of the 1990s. It's an aesthetic that Red could have achieved in his hometown. So, why Miami? "It was mainly just to have great energy in it. We still wanted to be able to wear a lot of different outfits and in NYC it's a little chilly right now so it hinders us from doing the things that we wanna do, but we always New York regardless," he said. "We just wanted to come down here and get some great energy goin'." Diddy's Bad Boy once boasted the brightest of rap and R&B superstars. (The Notorious B.I.G., Ma$e, Faith Evans and the LOX have all called Bad Boy home.) Now with Café, French and Machine Gun Kelly on the roster, the energy surrounding Diddy's label seems to be growing, and Puff isn't humble about it either. "It ain't the '90s; we in 2012 and we getting it. It's Bad Boy bitch you know what it is," he boasted. "Sh-- is like air, you grew up with air in your life, when you wake up, you pray to God there is air, that's Bad Boy, we're like f---in' air. Breathe it." What are you expecting from Red Café's "Let It Go" remix video? Tells us in the comments

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Exclusive: Diddy Adds Baltimore MC Los To Bad Boy Roster

06 Feb 2012 16:56:48 EST

'We're trying to put that young, youthful energy out in the air,' Diddy tells MTV News about his new Bad Boy signees.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Diddy
Photo: MTV News

The saga continues. Diddy is pretty excited about his new Bad Boy Records roster, but the music mogul isn't done adding new talent to the storied label. "It's time for a whole new generation; it's time for a whole new movement. So we got [Machine Gun Kelly], French Montana, Red Café; we got Cassie," Diddy told MTV News correspondent Sway while at a French Montana video shoot on January 29. "We also have a new artist named Los that we signed. It's official. We're trying to put that young, youthful energy out in the air and do it the only way that Bad Boy can do it."

Underground rap fans have gotten familiar with Los thanks to his collection of lyrically heavy mixtapes. This isn't his first go-round with Diddy's label, however. He first auditioned for Puff's "Making the Band" but refused to sign any of the paperwork required to appear on the show. The Baltimore MC then signed to Bad Boy, through local label Bloc Incorporated around 2005 after he auditioned for Puff with a 10-minute freestyle. Bloc Incorporated would eventually disband and Los wound up losing his deal with Bad Boy in 2008 before he was able to drop any material. Since 2008, Los has dropped a number of mixtapes. His latest, The Crown Ain't Safe, was released in December and featured contributions from DMX and Twista. "When I say The Crown Ain't Safe, I just mean whoever is viewed as #1," Los told Mixtape Daily back in August before referencing basketball great Michael Jordan and his onetime sidekick. "I just feel like it's for the taking. Why wouldn't you want to be #1? I'm not Scottie Pippen; I want to be #1." Whether or not Los will get that #1 spot remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: He is on the right team. "It's definitely reinvention time; it's rebuilding time," Diddy told Sway of his new Bad Boy team. "When you've been doing it for as long as we've been doing it, we the last ones standing from when we were doing it. And that's not taking shots at nobody, that's just a fact." What do you think of Diddy's new signee Los? Tells us in the comments!

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Whitney Houston Mourned By Mariah Carey, Rihanna

11 Feb 2012 22:22:51 EST

'Jesus Christ, not Whitney Houston. Greatest of all time,' Nicki Minaj tweets of late icon.
By James Dinh

Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston
Photo: Timothy A. Clary/ AFP/ Getty Images

Just a day before the 54th annual Grammys, the music industry suffered a major loss as one of the greatest voices of all time, Whitney Houston, was found dead Saturday night (February 11). Shocking fans, former collaborators and everybody in between, stars like Mariah Carey, Rihanna and Diddy have taken to Twitter to mourn the late icon.

Mariah Carey, also known for her beautiful voice, took to the social media site to share her memory of the singer/actress. "Heartbroken and in tears over the shocking death of my friend, the incomparable Ms. Whitney Houston," Carey wrote. "My heartfelt condolences to Whitney's family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world. She will never be forgotten as one of the greatest voices to ever grace the earth."

My heartfelt condolences to Whitney's family and to all her millions of fans throughout the world.
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) February 12, 2012

Rihanna was speechless upon hearing the news about the star's death, simply writing, "No words! Just tears #DearWhitney." Quoting a line from Houston's massive 1992 hit "I Will Always Love You," Kim Kardashian shared her love for the singer. "Just heard the tragic news that Whitney Houston passed away. I pray for her daughter & loved ones. We will always love you Whitney...," she tweeted. Houston's death hit Nicki Minaj pretty hard, with the Young Money songstress writing, "Jesus Christ, not Whitney Houston. Greatest of all time," as well as tweeting a vintage photo of the late singer alongside Michael Jackson. Calling Houston's death "such a loss," Jennifer Lopez was another celeb to remember the superstar singer. "One of the greatest voices of our time. Sending out prayers to her family... #R.I.P.Whitney," she said. Diddy admitted his disbelief about the the industry's loss, saying, "Whitney Houston!!! OMG!! I really can't believe this.. This is one of the saddest days ever..." Toni Braxton confessed her influence from the late-singer. "My heart is weeping...RIP to the Legendary Diva & Icon Whitney Houston!!!!!" Toni Braxton wrote. "Such an incredible influence over music as a whole! She's paved the way for every single singer in the music industry. Iconic, legendary, innovating, amazing, humble...1 the best in the world." Christina Aguilera, also a big-voiced diva, took to Twitter to share her memory of the singer, confessing that "we have lost another legend." "Love and prayers to Whitney's family. She will be missed," she added. Usher also chimed in, writing, "R.I.P Whitney Houston... A true icon of our time. Gone too soon. My heart goes out to the family in their time of distress. URIV." Immediately after the news was announced, Houston's legacy appeared all over Twitter's trending topic list as #DearWhitney, #IWillAlwaysLove you, Waiting to Exhale amongst others trends taking over the top 10 list. Join us for a tribute to Whitney Houston with non-stop music videos on MTV Hits and MTV Jams, all day Sunday. Share your condolences with Whitney's family and friends on our Facebook page.

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Whitney Houston Toasted By Diddy, Tony Bennett At Pre-Grammy Parties

12 Feb 2012 02:52:33 EST

Wiz Khalifa, Ne-Yo, LL Cool J and 'Sparkle' co-star Tika Sumpter all pay tribute to the late icon.
By Kelley L. Carter

Clive Davis and Diddy onstage at the pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icons
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Saturday night (February 11) before the Grammys is supposed to be a celebration. Instead, on the red carpet at LL Cool J's pre-Grammy dinner party and Clive Davis' annual soiree, tribute was paid and tears were shed after the news that Whitney Houston was found dead earlier that day.

With the news so fresh in their minds, Houston's celebrity friends were feeling the loss immensely. "I remember hearing her voice and thinking it was the most amazing and powerful voice I'd heard in my life. To this day, it can't even be matched," rapper Wiz Khalifa told MTV News on the Clive Davis red carpet. " ... We're going to celebrate her life and the great things that she's done. This is her night." Inside the Clive Davis party, Houston's mentor took a moment to share some words about his most famous discovery. "Whitney loved music and loved this night that celebrates music," he told the crowd of celebrities and industry insiders. "Whitney was a beautiful person with talent beyond compare. She gave so many memorable performances here over the years. Her family asked that we carry on." Diddy shared his memories of Houston onstage: "If you sat next to Whitney anywhere, you knew she was in for a good time. ... She gave you a grandma hug that shook your body." When Alicia Keys performed at Davis' party, she spoke of her "kindred sisterhood" with Houston, whom she has collaborated with in the past. "The same man who helped her dreams come true helped my dreams come true," Keys' said of sharing mentor Davis with the late singer.

Tony Bennett also toasted Whitney, singing in her honor Frank Sinatra's "Music Never Ends," which he said "Frank asked me to sing. ... Dedicated to Whitney, the greatest singer I ever heard in my life." "There was nothing she couldn't do except conquer that demon that we all were aware of," former late-night talk-show host Arsenio Hall told MTV News at the LL party. "Whitney could sing. Whitney could act. Whitney was incredibly funny. I remember nights hanging out with Whitney and just laughing until your stomach hurts." LL, who had just come from his final rehearsal before hosting Sunday's Grammys, said the show will be changed to honor Houston. He didn't want to divulge specifics, except to say "of course it affects it. How could it not affect it? But we'll, as a team ... everybody involved with the Grammys, we want to give her respect. We'll do something." The rapper and actor also talked about Houston's rich legacy, saying, "She was the pop queen. All the little girls wanted to sing like her. She was just like a member of a lot of people's families. It's devastating. ... A great artist, great person. We go through so many ups and downs in life, but you just remember that voice." At the Clive Davis event, singer/songwriter Ne-Yo echoed LL, saying, "Any little girl that wanted ... to be a real singer — not a pop star, but a singer — there's no way that that little girl can say that she wasn't influenced by Whitney Houston. No possible way." NBA legend Magic Johnson said he was longtime friends with Houston. He smiled when thinking about her and said he rarely missed a show when she performed in Los Angeles. Johnson said Houston had recently performed "Happy Birthday" for his wife, Cookie. "That's who she was. She had a good heart. We shared so many moments with her. She thrilled us with being onscreen with her movies and everything. She always wanted to know how my theaters were doing, especially when she had a movie. She'd check and be like, 'How'd it do at the box office?' She was a great woman. It's sad that this had to happen. This is tough for everybody," Johnson said. Actress Tika Sumpter, who recently worked with Houston in the forthcoming "Sparkle," was crying and said it was hard to smile on the red carpet. She plays one of Houston's daughters in the film, alongside Jordin Sparks and Carmen Egojo. Sumpter said she hadn't spoken with any of her castmembers since learning of Houston's death earlier that day. "It's so hard to talk about this right now. I got to work with her. And she's an awesome woman. I thought of her as a second mom, and she thought of us as her daughters," she said. "I'm excited for people to see how brilliant she is in it. I'm just happy that I was able to play her daughter." Join us for a tribute to Whitney Houston with non-stop music videos on MTV Hits and MTV Jams, all day Sunday. Share your condolences with Whitney's family and friends on our Facebook page.

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Whitney Houston Celebrated: Inside Clive Davis' Grammy Party

12 Feb 2012 10:48:55 EST

MTV News is on the scene as Alicia Keys, Diddy, Pitbull, Tony Bennett, more pay tribute to late singer at Davis' annual pre-Grammy bash.
By James Montgomery

Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys and Sean 'Diddy' Combs at Clive Davis' 2012 Pre-Grammy Gala
Photo: WireImage

BEVERLY HILLS, California — Ever since 1976, Clive Davis has been throwing his pre-Grammy gala, a celebration of the year in music that's part concert, part cocktail reception, part roast. It's become the event during Grammy week, a black-tie party attended by the biggest stars, a soiree as synonymous with the awards as those golden gramophone trophies. And yet, in its 35 years, there's probably never been a Clive Davis party like the one that took place on Saturday night. It occurred just hours after the death of Whitney Houston, the legendary producer and music executive's crown jewel, was announced, in the very hotel where Houston's body was discovered. Understandably, there was a rather palpable pall to the proceedings (so much so that several outlets reported the grieving Davis had decided to cancel the event), though most in attendance seemed to believe Whitney would've wanted the show to go on. So while throngs of Houston fans began to hold a candlelight vigil outside the Beverly Hilton, inside, Davis himself was stepping up to the podium to deliver a eulogy for an artist who was not only his greatest discovery, but one of his closest friends.

"By now, sadly, we've all learned of the unspeakable [tragedy] of our beloved Whitney's passing," Davis said, visibly shaken. "I don't have to mask my emotions, not in front of this room filled with so many dear friends. I am personally devastated. Whitney was so full of life ... she was a beautiful person with talent beyond compare. She graced the stage with a regal presence ... and her family asked that the show go on." Davis then asked those in attendance — everyone from Richard Branson and Joni Mitchell to Sean "Diddy" Combs and Serena Williams (not to mention Britney Spears, Lana Del Rey, Adam Lambert and more) — to join him in a moment of silence to honor Houston's memory, and you could hear a pin drop. Then, he announced that this night's gala would be dedicated to the singer, before announcing, "And now, on with the music." For the next three-plus hours, the talent in the room did their best to not only rise to the occasion but to vocalize the shock and sadness they were feeling in the hours after Houston's death. Tony Bennett remembered that after Davis had signed Houston to Arista Records in the early 1980s, he told him, "Clive, you finally got the greatest singer I ever heard in my life," before performing a somber rendition of Frank Sinatra's "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" Diddy recalled Houston's smile and "natural, positive spirit," before telling the audience that "Whitney, simply put, had the greatest voice in the world. She was a gift from God." After finishing his tribute, Combs then reminded the crowd that Davis' gala has always been about celebrating — he repeated the phrase "There ain't no party like a Clive Davis party" — and urged those in attendance to get out of their seats and give both Davis and Bennett standing ovations. That energy carried over into Kinks frontman Ray Davies' raucous set, which had the men of Mumford & Sons leaping out of their seats. Pitbull, who teamed with Ne-Yo for a spirited sprint through their hit "Give Me Everything," also managed to lift the event out of the shadows. Alicia Keys shared stories of singing "I Want to Dance With Somebody" in front of the mirror as a child, and she talked about her longtime friendship with Houston, whom she called "a sister." She then played an emotional mini-set on the piano, which included her leading the audience in a sing-along to the chorus of "No One," a fitting tribute indeed. Wiz Khalifa, who earlier in the night told MTV News that he planned on celebrating Houston's life onstage, lived up to that promise during his brief set, burning through his hit "Black and Yellow" while backed by a cracking live band. And Brit import Jessie J had the attention of the entire room as she spoke about Houston's influence, saying that when she first got signed at the age of 17, her #1 goal was meeting the singer. Of course, not everyone found the strength to perform. Towards the end of the night, Davis once again returned to the lectern and informed the audience that two of Houston's disciples, Brandy and Monica, were scheduled to take the stage (he added that Houston had attended a rehearsal of their performance on Thursday), but were too emotional to make it through their song. And in a night overflowing with tributes to the late singer, it was that moment that truly said it all. Houston was not only a prodigious talent, she was also a friend, a mother, a family member ... and all those points were mentioned time and time again during Saturday's celebration. But the unspoken grief of two of Houston's closest friends made it abundantly clear that she was also loved dearly, and that those who knew her best are struggling to put her death into perspective. But at the very least, this night was the first step. MTV News' Sway and James Montgomery will be live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12 starting at 5 p.m. ET to get reactions from music's biggest stars on the death of Whitney Houston. Watch Reactions and Remembrances at MTV.com. Share your condolences with Whitney's family and friends on our Facebook page.

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