Must Have List – October 2011

If you haven't heard Foster the People's hit song 'Pumped Up Kicks' by now, you have definitely been living under a rock. Even though there is only one LP in their repertoire, the indie pop trio has become one of the fastest-rising acts of the year. If you dig their sound, tune in to 'Saturday Night Live' on NBC on Oct. 8 to catch them perform live. Actor Ben Stiller will be hosting that night, as well. If you're looking to get into some new music, definitely check these guys out. They're a must have for October, and for every other month before and after!

Are you a big fan of Big Sean? Well, good news is on the way! The rapper is heading out on his first-ever headlining tour, with his first performance date scheduled for Oct. 2 in Asheville, N.C. The tour will continue throughout the U.S. until Nov. 25, when the 'My Last' hitmaker wraps up his two-month road trip with a performance in Los Angeles. Keep your fingers crossed for a Chris Brown cameo!

If you loved the Jonas Brothers, then chances are that you'll love Joe Jonas' solo material as well. The middle (and arguably dreamiest) Jo Bro is going to release his debut solo album on Oct. 11, and it features his new hit single 'Just in Love' as well as 'See No More.' Hopefully, Joe Jonas will start planning a solo tour soon -- with his album set to drop in just a few days, his fans will have all of the words memorized by the time he hits the road.

T.I. just got out of prison, and he's making a full-force comeback. The 'Dead and Gone' rapper is stepping outside of his music comfort zone and is traveling into the realms of writing. On Oct. 18, T.I. will make his debut as an author when he releases his coming-of-age novel 'Power & Beauty: A Love Story of Life on the Streets.' The story revolves around Paul “Power” Clay and Tanya “Beauty” Long and their struggles as they grow up on the hard streets of Atlanta, Ga., T.I.'s hometown.

Even though Patrick Stump has a brand-new sound, mixing a variety of genres for his debut album 'Soul Punk,' he is remaining true to his pop punk roots by recruiting Panic! At the Disco for a slot on his upcoming tour, which kicks off on Oct. 9 in Reno, Nev. The former Fall Out Boy frontman will perform songs off of his solo album, like his smash hit 'This City' with rapper Lupe Fiasco, plus many other tracks. Perhaps fans will be treated to a few covers, too.

Chris Martin and the Coldplay gang are back at it! The British pop rock foursome is getting ready to release their new LP 'Mylo Xyloto' on Oct. 24. The guys teamed up with Barbadian beauty Rihanna for the track 'Princess of China,' and the album will also feature their latest hit single 'Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall.' It's going to be a good month for Coldplay fans! This one is a definite must have item for October 2011.

Pictures recently surfaced of Britney Spears filming her video for 'Criminal' in London. 'Criminal' marks Britney's fourth single off of her 'Femme Fatale' album, and she is taking on the role of a gun-wielding villain. Since said photos surfaced a couple of weeks ago, we wouldn't be surprised to see the newest Brit clip drop some time in mid-October. Keep an eye out for the 'Criminal' video, which also stars Brit's boyfriend, Jason Trawick.

Drake's sophomore album 'Take Care' is slated for release on Oct. 24, and is an absolute must have for October 2011. Although no track listing has been confirmed yet, the album will certainly feature his songs 'Marvin's Room' and 'Headlines.' Apparently, Drake has really taken his time with 'Take Care,' tweaking every detail until the album sounded perfect. We can't wait to hear the full LP when it drops right before Halloween! Let's see if he can outsell his Young Money mentor, Lil Wayne!

Have you been racking your brain trying to figure out what you're going to be for Halloween this year? Well, don't worry, because there are plenty of pop stars to dress up as! If you want to dress up as a pop diva, grab a pink wig and a crazy outfit and be Nicki Minaj -- or you could be Lady Gaga or Katy Perry, both of which have their own Halloween costumes on the market. If you want to be a male pop star, Justin Bieber and Adam Lambert are two stars whose style can be easily mocked.

All hail the King of Pop. Michael Jackson's family has organized a tribute concert to the singer, and it will be available for fans to watch through various media outlets. The concert will happen on Oct. 8, and Jamie Foxx will co-host the event. The show will also feature performances from the Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Hudson, Leona Lewis, Ne-Yo, Alien Ant Farm, Craig David, Motown icon Smokey Robinson, Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé via telecast. If you like MJ -- and to be honest, who doesn't? -- this one is the most pivotal must have of October 2011.