Jack Black

Comedian/Tenacious D Rock star Jack Black will host this year's MTV Video Music Awards, taking place at New York's Radio City Music Hall on August 31 at 8 p.m. "My plan is to bring the thunder," Black said in a statement. "I've got my top men working on it as we speak, in my thunder laboratory. Radio City Music Hall will never be the same." So far, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Ludacris, The Killers, Panic! at the Disco and T.I. are the first artists scheduled to perform. Additional artists will be announced soon. Meanwhile, Tenacious D's next cinematic endeavor, Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny, will be in movie theaters on November 17.

R&B singer Marques Houston is finishing up his third album, Veteran, and it's due November 14 via T.U.G./Universal. The album reportedly features guest appearances from Shawnna, Mya and Yung Joc, and Houston wrote most of the material himself. "I think this is the first album that reflects who I am as an artist and as a man," he told Billboard.com. "There's a lot that I've been through as far as relationships and just experiencing life. I'm only 25 but I’m veteran because I've been in the industry since I was 8 and I've watched the changes."

With Fergie's hit single "London Bridge" being all over the radio, the singer has finally set September 19 as the release date for her first solo album, The Dutchess. The set will feature collaborations with Ludacris, Rita Marley and others, according to AllHipHop.com. Meanwhile, Fergie will appear on the Today Show with the Black Eyed Peas on September 15 and The View on September 20.

Method Man has set August 29 as the new release date for his upcoming album, 4:21... The Day After, says MTV.com. The LP was originally due July 18. It includes "Say" featuring Lauryn Hill, which is the first single.