T-Pain Channels Chris Brown Onstage; Plus T.I., Britney Spears, Courtney Love, All-American Rejects, Ja Rule & More In For The Record

T.I. previews album with DJ Drama in New York; Spears called 'the emblem of our times' by Rufus Wainwright; Love performing live Friday night.

T-Pain performed — sans vocal enhancer! — at S.O.B.'s in New York Thursday night, running through a number of hits, including "Sprung," R. Kelly's "I'm a Flirt" remix and his latest hit, "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')," for which Yung Joc surprised the crowd and joined in for his guest verse on the track. "I'm too big for this sh--," a winded T-Pain said after dancing around with Joc. "Y'all got me out here like I'm Chris Brown!"

T.I. hosted an album listening session in New York at Manhattan nightspot Manor on Thursday night, previewing songs from his forthcoming T.I. vs T.I.P.. The Atlanta MC was joined onstage by DJ Drama. The duo spun tracks including the Wyclef-assisted "You Know What It Is," set to be the second T.I. vs. T.I.P. single. ...

Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson? Singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright isn't known for his pop-star duets, but Jane magazine asked him which of the bubbly blondes he'd rather collaborate with and he didn't have to think twice. "Britney, by far," he said in an interview published in the magazine's June/July issue. "I love her. I think she's the emblem of our times." ... Courtney Love will be taking the stage Friday night (June 1) at the House of Blues in West Hollywood, California, a source close to the singer confirmed. Love will be the special guest at Linda Perry's concert and will play some new material in a four-to-five-song set. ...

The All-American Rejects will release a DVD, titled "Tournado," on July 10. The offering revolves around a live performance shot while the band was touring in support of 2005's Move Along, and will feature behind-the-scenes footage. ... Iggy Pop supplies the voice of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in an upcoming Comedy Central cartoon. The rocker will portray Lil' Rummy, a child who is the bully figure in the channel's "Lil' Bush" series, which debuts June 13. The show portrays the Oval Office's main players as tykes ready to rule the world. Dave Grohl, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Frank Black and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy will lend their voices to guest roles. ...

Ja Rule will join Salt-N-Pepa, "The Wire" actors Idris Elba and Hassan Johnson, radio host Ed Lover and others Saturday afternoon in Queens, New York, for the "Repping for Life" town hall meeting to discuss gang intervention and prevention campaigns. The event is open to the public and begins at York College at 3 p.m. ... Chrisette Michelle joined the Roots onstage Thursday night at the Highline Ballroom in New York. The Def Jam singer and Philadelphia collective performed a string of songs at a Tanqueray and Giant magazine sponsored event. ...

Godsmack plan to release a box set later this year, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the release of the band's debut album, 1997's All Wound Up. The set will compile the group's four studio albums, the acoustic EP The Other Side, and a DVD featuring mini-documentaries about the making of each album. ... Between the Buried and Me, the Red Chord, Cephalic Carnage and The End will be hitting the road this summer on a 15-date North American tour. The run kicks off July 27 in Pittsburgh, and dates are booked through August 11 in Wilmington, North Carolina.