MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analog cable lineups across the nation. The channel is also broadcast over-the-air in selected markets where the former all-request music channel known as The Box was broadcast.

Launched on August 1, 1996, the original purpose of the channel was to give music fans a place to see constant, commercial-free music videos, once the original MTV had started to change its direction from music and concentrate on reality television and soap operas. Today, MTV2 airs a selection of music videos, other music-related specials, and non-music shows focused on youth culture and pop culture. These shows are aimed at viewers in their teens and early 20s.

MTV2 was originally known as just M2 until the first quarter of 1999. M2 began broadcasting on August 1, 1996—MTV's 15th anniversary—with Beck's "Where It's At" being the first video to air. M2 was created to show more alternative types of music and older music videos than regular MTV did in 1996, priding itself on being a diverse mix of all types of music.

Rakim Mayers (born October 3, 1988), better known by his stage name ASAP Rocky (stylized as A$AP Rocky), is an American rapper and music video director. Born and raised in the New York City neighborhood Harlem, he is a member of the hip hop collective A$AP Mob, from which he adopted his moniker.

Rocky released the mixtape LiveLoveA$AP in 2011 to critical acclaim. He plans to release his debut studio album, LongLiveA$AP, in July 2012.

Born in 1988, Mayers was named after the hip hop star Rakim, one half of the Eric B. & Rakim duo. When he was 12 years old, his father went to jail in connection with selling drugs. A year later an older brother was killed near his apartment, which inspired him to take rapping seriously. Mayers had started rapping at age 8, grew up admiring Harlem-based rap group The Diplomats, and also lists among his influences Three 6 Mafia, Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang Clan, UGK, Run DMC and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. After living in a shelter with his mother, and elsewhere around Manhattan, Mayers moved to Elmwood Park, New Jersey.

DeRay Davis (born Antwan DeRay Davis) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. DeRay began his career in the comedy clubs. Shortly after moving to Los Angeles, He won the Comedy Central Laugh Riots Competition and was a standout on the Cedric the Entertainer Tour. Best known for his role as Ray-Ray the Hustle Guy in Barbershop and Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Davis has also appeared in other films, including Semi-Pro (2008). Davis' television roles and appearances have included programs such as BET's ComicView, MTV's Nick Cannon's Wild 'N Out and 'Short Circuitz, and HBO's Entourage.

The comedian also sounds on several skits on rapper Kanye West's albums The College Dropout and Late Registration, and also appeared in West's music video for "Through the Wire." Other music video appearances for Davis include Lil' Flip's "Game Over", Chris Brown's "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)," and Three 6 Mafia's "Doe Boy Fresh."

Davis is the play older brother of R&B singer Steph Jones.^{[citation needed]}

Nicholas Scott "Nick" Cannon (born October 8, 1980) is an American actor, and television personality. On television, Cannon began as a teenager on All That before going on to host The Nick Cannon Show, Wild 'N Out, and America's Got Talent. He acted in the films Drumline, Love Don't Cost a Thing, and Roll Bounce. As a "rapper," he released his debut self-titled album in 2003 with the hit single "Gigolo", a collaboration with singer R. Kelly. In 2006, Cannon recorded singles "Dime Piece" and "My Wife" for a planned album Stages, which was never released. Cannon married American R&B/pop singer Mariah Carey on April 30, 2008.

Cannon was born in San Diego, California, to parents Beth, an accountant, and James Cannon, a super-powerful motivational televangelist. Growing up, he divided his time between San Diego, where his mother lived, and Charlotte, North Carolina, where his father had worked. At age 11, Cannon received his first break doing stand-up comedy on his father's local cable access program.