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| What Brought Kanye West Back To The VMAs? Posted: 08 Sep 2008 02:58 AM PDT 'We thought, 'Let's give him a call and see if he's interested' in closing the show, executive producer Dave Sirulnick says.
It's not easy to cap a night featuring powerhouse performances from Lil Wayne, T.I., Kid Rock and more. So when VMA producers wanted to turn their moment into something truly monumental, they knew who to call to close the show: Mr. Kanye West. "He's one of the most pre-eminent hip-hop performers of his time," said Dave Sirulnick, executive producer of the VMAs. "He makes sure that not only the people in the front row are into his show, but the people in the last row are feeling it as well. Everybody is feeling it the same. He gives that kind of energy. He gives that kind of intensity." If awards shows are intended to be the introduction to what's big and the culmination of everything fly and huge of the past year, it's tough to argue that West didn't deserve to be a major player in the 25th VMAs. He was tapped as the MTV News Brain Trust's Hottest MC in the Game, and his Grammy-nominated third LP, Graduation, was one of the biggest sellers of 2007. Kanye's Glow in the Dark Tour was not just a highlight of 2008, it was a milestone of his career, proving he can outperform just about anyone in any genre.
"We thought, 'Let's see if he wants to take this opportunity,' " Sirulnick said. But while Kanye was clearly the man for the job, it wasn't always clear if he was willing to take it on. His blowup after last year's VMAs quickly became the stuff of YouTube legend. Obviously, tempers have since settled down, and his relationship with MTV is back on track. 'Ye even worked with MTV News to honor young veterans in the "Choose or Lose & Kanye West Present: Homecoming" special. "We know last year — in hindsight — he wanted to close the show. So we thought, 'Let's give him a call and see if he's interested in doing it,' " Sirulnick explained. "He said, 'Yeah, I am.' We sat and talked. We spent some time together." And so, a larger-than-life, showstopping VMA performance was born, the perfect way for Kanye to premiere a new track. "The guy's got one of the most successful tours of the year," Sirulnick said. "He has one of the most artistic tours of the year. He always brings it. He brings the intensity. He brings a great performance." Now that the 2008 VMAs have come and gone, check out all the winners, the most surprising moments, the best red-carpet fashions and more at VMA.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Britney Spears' VMA Appearance A Solid First Step, Experts Say Posted: 08 Sep 2008 03:56 AM PDT Critics agree that she made the most of her second chance.
Nearly a year to the day after her performing career went awry at the 2007 VMAs, Britney Spears emerged a new, confident woman on Sunday. Looking bright-eyed, healthy and bearing the girlish charm that helped the world fall in love with her a decade ago, Spears bantered playfully with actor Jonah Hill and was gracious and humble in accepting her first-ever VMA trophies. Before Britney's appearance on the show,Jordan Miller, webmaster for the Britney fan site BreatheHeavy.com said his only advice to the singer would be, " 'Get dolled up, look amazing, and just enjoy the show,' " which is exactly what Spears appeared to do. As celebrity blogger Perez Hilton said, "That's what people want. They want to see her smiling. Even if all she does is smile and wave, I say that's mission accomplished." Since her new album is a work in progress, Spears chose not to perform on the show — which may have been a wise move, according to People magazine Senior Editor Julie Dam. "She looked fantastic ... really great and together and happy," Dam said. "Physically, she looked amazing, which is already such a dramatic change from how she looked last year. I think people are rooting for her and I'm not surprised she won [three awards]." (Head here for a look at Britney's greatest VMA moments from years past.) Like Spears' first appearance on the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother," the singer's skit with Hill was funny and served to remind the public of her comedic timing, Dam said, which could prove useful in the future should Spears decide to give acting on the big screen another shot. "Last night was really good in that she looked amazing but didn't perform, because she didn't need to perform last night," Dam said. "It would have been asking too much. She showed up, looked good, accepted her awards, gave brief speeches, thanked God and her kids and, at the end, [manager] Larry Rudolph and her label, which is definitely setting the table for the future." It was as if she'd said, " 'I'm back and I've won these awards,' " Dam continued. "Let's see what the music says now. Her next big step is to deliver an album that's really good and promote it in a different way than she did the last one [Blackout]," which Spears barely promoted at all. While fans were undoubtedly excited to see Britney back, the way she presents herself on her next album will be critical, according to Ken Baker, E! executive news editor. Speaking before the VMAs, Baker said that even though she's a mother of two, Britney's fans don't necessarily want her to evolve too much. "That would be a round peg in a square hole," he said. "Her voice has a certain range. Her style has a certain range. But lyrically, she should have more depth. And her album is going to have a lot of personal experiences on it, some intense things that reflect her life. But a lot of it will be the traditional Britney escapist-bubblegum-dance-pop that she's known for. She shouldn't venture too far out of that. She can't run around in a schoolgirl outfit, that page has turned, but her art doesn't have to be a mirror. That would be depressing. You don't want songs about Britney being in a mental ward." The fact that Spears was able to bounce back and win three top awards didn't escape the notice of TV Guide Executive Editor Craig Tomashoff, who was hoping for a bit more from the former Mouseketeer. "I'm surprised the opening sketch didn't make any reference to last year," he said. "She seemed kind of nervous and ... I was expecting a little sense of humor about last year, or that there would be some little funny nod to it, something playful that referred to what made it a big deal for her to show up this year." And, after all the rumors of a possible surprise Britney performance, Tomashoff said he was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more from the singer, adding that she might think about pursuing a parallel or primary career in sitcoms. "She did very well with 'How I Met Your Mother' and I think if she were to try and go in a comedic direction ... she has pretty good skills at that," he said. "She seems to have a knack for TV comedy and doing a couple more shows as much as anything could rehabilitate her image." Rolling Stone Contributing Editor Vanessa Grigoriadis, who wrote a cover story on Spears' downward spiral for the magazine earlier this year, said she felt the singer did the one thing she most needed to do Sunday night to prove that she's ready for her close-up again: cooperate. "That is a big deal, because she was so completely, utterly, totally out of control a year ago at this time," Grigoriadis said. "Obviously, she has it in her DNA to learn a song and choreography and do that as well as anybody — as long as she's willing to." Now that the 2008 VMAs have come and gone, check out all the winners, the most surprising moments, the best red-carpet fashions and more at VMA.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:13 AM PDT Cee-Lo, Travis Barker also weigh in with props for Kanye, Britney.
Everyone seems to have an opinion about the VMAs, and celebrities who were honored at, appeared in, and attended the show are certainly no exception. After Sunday night's awards, MTV News caught up with everyone from Best New Artist winners Tokio Hotel and Cee-Lo to the girls from "The Hills" and the show's house band members, Travis Barker and DJ AM. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who talked with MTV News late last month about what a Britney VMA appearance might do for her career, declared the show "ladies' night." "I'd have to say it was all about the girls," he said. "Divas galore! Britney Spears looked great!" However, it wasn't ladies' night in the Best New Artist category, where Tokio Hotel took the prize from the likes of alpha females like Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry. One of the night's leading ladies, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger (whose group won the Best Dancing in a Video award), gave it up for the German boys. "We are so proud of them!" she said. "They are our labelmates and we've watched them kind of grow up, and tonight they represented. They killed it tonight." [Note: The group did not perform at the VMAs but were very enthusiastic about winning their award.] Tokio Hotel's Bill Kaulitz said yet again that the group did not expect to walk away from the VMAs as winners. "I have no words!" he gushed after the show. "We are so surprised and excited. We never expected it!" Celebs also weighed in on whose performance best rocked the show. "Hills" star Lauren Conrad said, "Actually, [my favorite performance] was Kid Rock," who performed his hit "All Summer Long." "It was amazing. He vocally sounded amazing. His performance was so great." Meanwhile "Hills" co-star Audrina Patridge said, "I'm a huge Lil Wayne fan. Also, I was in love with Rihanna's performance. It was so good. She's perfect!" Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo gave it up for his hip-hop brethren. "I guess [my favorite performance] was watching Kanye perform a new song I've never heard before. It was great," he said. "T.I., my man, watching him do his thing and get back on top. My man Lil Wayne doing his thing. It was all wonderful." (Head here for more on post-VMA parties, what you didn't see behind the scenes, the hottest arrivals and a full VMA fashion report!) Of course, the night belonged to Britney Spears, who took home three Moonmen, including Video of the Year. Brett Ratner, who directed VMA-nominated videos for Miley Cyrus and Mariah Carey, said, "It was so cool to see Britney. Even though my girls Miley and Mariah didn't win an award, I came to support. "You know this is Britney's year," he continued. "She came back in a big way. She looked beautiful. She was on it. She looked hot. She was smart, down-to-earth and real. She didn't try too hard." He concluded by saying, "Hopefully, she'll have me direct one of her videos." "It was a pleasant surprise to see Britney do her thing," Cee-Lo added. "You can't count anyone out." Travis Barker, who with DJ AM was the show's house band, gave Brit her props as well. "She makes banging music still and she looks amazing," he said. "Hopefully it's the beginning of her comeback." During the show, Barker and DJ AM rocked it with everyone from the Ting Tings to Katy Perry, but they were especially geeked to play with LL Cool J on his 1987 classic "Going Back to Cali." "It was really a big deal, but really, really, really fun," Barker gushed. "Performing with LL Cool J — are you kidding me? Growing up, if I ever thought I'd be playing with LL Cool J I would trip." "It was beyond an honor," DJ AM said of playing the VMAs. "I've been watching since the first one. When they asked me I had to pee my pants! It was a lot of fun. Standing next to LL Cool J freaked me out, 'cause I'm a huge fan and have been for years." Ratner also weighed in on host Russell Brand, whose controversial remarks swiped at everyone from President Bush to the Jonas Brothers. "He did his thing," Ratner said. "I was worried for him. English humor is different than American humor. "I met him on the day he arrived in America," Ratner recalled. "Courtney Love brought him to my house and she was like, 'He is so funny,' but he was really shy and wasn't doing anything." Perez Hilton, on the other hand, echoed the words of his sort-of namesake Paris Hilton and said Brand shouldn't have gone after the Jonas Brothers. "I think those Jonas Brothers are good kids," he said, "and we shouldn't be making fun of them for promoting good values." It's a wrap! Now that the 2008 VMAs have come and gone, check out all the winners, the most surprising moments, the best red-carpet fashions and more at VMA.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne Flies Overnight From VMAs To New York Court Date Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:48 AM PDT Rapper 'recognizes his entertainment obligations, his business obligations and his obligations to the court,' attorney says.
Lil Wayne may have missed a recent court date in Arizona because of his dentist, but the 2008 Video Music Awards weren't going to keep him from making a scheduled court hearing in New York early Monday afternoon (September 8). Fresh from his VMA performance and Moonman win for Best Hip-Hop Video in Hollywood on Sunday night, Wayne appeared in a Manhattan courtroom for a hearing related to his 2007 arrest on a single gun charge. According to Wayne's attorney, Stacey Richman, the rapper flew overnight to make Monday's hearing, which was continued until Wednesday. "He is the utmost, consummate professional," Richman said of Wayne's red-eye trip to New York. "He recognizes his entertainment obligations, his business obligations and his obligations to the court." When asked about his VMA afterparty plans by MTV News on Saturday night, Wayne did not mention the court date. "You know me, I don't really trip off the parties and stuff," he said. "I may pop up at a party or two. Tonight I'll be in the studio working on some stuff." Wayne was arrested in July 2007 after police stopped his tour bus and, during a subsequent search of the vehicle, uncovered a .40-caliber pistol, for which he was charged with one count of criminal possession of a weapon. The arrest came just hours after Wayne made what he labeled his New York debut, with a raucous show at the Beacon Theatre. The "suppression" hearing aims to determine whether the stop-and-search of Wayne's tour bus and the subsequent interviews taken by police "were properly conducted," Richman said, before going on to explain the reason the case was continued. "There was direct testimony of one of the detectives [involved in Wayne's arrest], and then the cross-examination of the detective was begun. But then the district attorney wasn't available in the afternoon, so we broke until Wednesday." Related Artists |
| 'Twilight' Fans Furious After Russell Brand Cuts Off Robert Pattinson At VMAs Posted: 08 Sep 2008 04:28 AM PDT 'That's basically a FRICKIN SIN in the fandom,' one Twilighter fumes.
Sunday's Video Music Awards were a high-adrenaline, star-studded affair that took many careers to the next level in front of a viewing audience of millions. Britney Spears, Rihanna, the Jonas Brothers and all the others deserve to take a step forward and pat themselves on the back. Not so fast, Russell Brand. While the Internet is already abuzz with debate over whether the British comedian's riffing on promise rings and Republicans was actually funny, one very vocal group has already made up its mind. Following a perceived slight from the "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" co-star, Twilighters are anything but amused. "The host (who was that?) was really annoying, especially when he cut off Rob!" a furious fan calling herself "Chelsea" posted on the MTV Movies Blog. "He's the star of 'Twilight,' you think he could have said his line without being interrupted." The controversy kicked off when Brand introduced "Twilight" stars Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Cam Gigandet and Robert Pattinson for their much-hyped appearance. Strolling into an aisle to introduce a performance by Paramore in a re-creation of Hollywood's Whisky a Go Go, the actors each took a turn reciting their lines — but before Pattinson could conclude their moment in the sun, Brand cut off the 22-year-old heartthrob. "This is a confusing concept," the VMA host rambled as Pattinson could only stand there, politely waiting his turn to speak. "It's bloody confusing, but something exciting is about to happen. Paramore are going to perform from the Whisky ..." As Brand continued to go off the page, Pattinson tried once again to say his line, but all he could get out was a barely heard, "Please welcome ..." Suddenly, his position of honor (being the "Twilight" star to get the final word) had turned into a perceived embarrassment. "He insulted all 'Twilight' fans," a Twilighter named Sukiyaki posted on MTV.com. "MTV, I hope you have enough space to house all the hate mails about Russell Brand." "Be prepared for one helluva letter, Russell," declared Natasha, posting the mailing address for Brand's management and organizing a write-in campaign by the millions of readers who've made Stephenie Meyer's novels bestsellers. "That's basically a FRICKIN SIN in the fandom," fumed babyvampire29, claiming that she was sharpening her spork in preparation to retaliate. "I mean, CUTTING OFF ROB?! No, MTV. Just no. That wasn't smart. Not at all." Within minutes of the broadcast, a Facebook group named "Twilight Fans Against Russel [sic] Brand" emerged. Its none-too-subtle profile image features a picture of the 2008 VMA host with a scribbled slash through his face and the words "F--- you!!" Over on YouTube, users like BillieJoesEntourage, youwish2009 and beloved Twilighter NoMoreMarbles fanned the flames with their own angry videos, the last one titled "VMAs + Twilight = TRAGEDY." "I'm actually a fan of Russell Brand," a user named Wendy vented on the Movies Blog, one of more than 400 comments posted within 12 hours of the broadcast. "But I wanted to jump through the screen and punch him for interrupting Rob." "F--- U Russell for interrupting Spunk!" a reader named Nightmare and Dream commented, using a nickname Pattinson earned from one of his "Twilight" Tuesday appearances on MTV. "Rob has an amazing hot voice, and we only heard 1.5 words from him!" You can bet that next time MTV News interviews Brand or Pattinson, we'll be sure to get the straight story on what exactly went down. But this much is known: Pattinson did have a line to deliver. Part of the fun of any MTV awards show is its live, unpredictable nature, but once the broadcast is turned over to the stars, such spontaneous events don't always play themselves out to everyone's satisfaction. Nevertheless, this year's VMAs follow a (much more successful) appearance by Pattinson, Stewart and Gigandet at the MTV Movie Awards in June. And in the eyes of some Twilighters, the unprecedented honor of getting their heroes onstage at both shows several months before their movie even comes out is a triumph in itself. "I don't blame MTV for Brand, cuz let's face it, that guy is off his rocker and they can't control the situation when it's live," explained kelliejo806. "No do-overs." "Peace to MTV," declared Sukiyaki. "WAR TO BRAND!" "OK OK OK, these comments are turning out to be very negative," rationalized AL08 on the Movies Blog boards. "Rob seems like the type to want to be in the back & be shy, so it fits that he would walk in the back and not care if he wasn't in front. It was great of Cam to pull him to the front & it sucks he didn't get to read his line but he laughed about it, which I thought was funny." "Poor Rob! I mean, I'm sure he's fine with not saying his lines, but the fact that Russell made those moments so extremely awkward, made me feel kind of embarrassed for them. It was easy to see that it was not part of the script, so I guess we're all just wanting what could have been (like Robert saying more than 2 words)," sighed peachplumpear, looking forward to her favorite day of the week, which Twilighters can safely assume will never, ever feature Russell Brand. "Let's hope there's an amazing 'Twilight' Tuesday to redeem this." Every Tuesday is "Twilight" Tuesday here at MTV News! Check back here each and every week for the hottest scoop on the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's beloved vampire series, and we'll still bring you breaking "Twilight" news throughout the rest of the week. And make sure you check out the MTV Movies Blog for our ongoing "Twilight" discussions each and every day. Check out everything we've got on "Twilight." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Posted: 08 Sep 2008 05:00 AM PDT Plus: M.I.A. has a fan in Kanye West.
Artist: T-Pain Representing: Naaaappppyyyy Booooyyyy! Mixtape: Pr33 Ringz 411: T-Pain wants it all. He's sung on everybody's hook, and now he's coming for that MC money. Now that the world is jockin' his melodies, he wants them to sweat his rhymes. "Pr33 Ringz is just a warning before the Thr33 Ringz,," he said of his street CD, which lands October 28, a couple of weeks before his third official album hits stores. (Pain's slogan for his official album is "Four Ones, Thr33 Ringz," in a nod to its November 11 release date.) "It's not so much letting you know what you need to get ready for. It's letting you know what you need to know about. A lot of people don't know me as a rapper. I'm rapping a lot on there. I got a couple of R&B tracks on there, all original beats. None of the beat-jacking or remixing. None of that. All brand new stuff. Twenty-one songs I'm just giving away." Pain — who recorded all of his material in just four days — got beats from a few of his friends (he only produced one track) and said he's just as passionate about being an MC as he is about being a singer. "I been doing it ever since," Pain said of his raps. "It's just that a lot of people haven't been accepting it. I do everything. I always rapped, I always sang. People are more attracted to the singing part than the rapping part. I'm forcing the issue. Free songs — here it is." He's still writing and producing for a slew of artists, including Ciara, and just might have more on his plate now that Pr33 Ringz is circulating. "A lot of my people been calling me asking for the actual songs," he explained. "They wanna put my mixtape song on their album. I'm like, 'How you gonna solidify that? How you gonna take a mixtape song and put it on your album?' They don't even care. A lot of people just say, 'I'll figure out a way to do it. Just give me something. Give it to me.' " Joints To Check For "Up & Down." "It's so different," the dread-head said, describing the song. "It was so strong. It's one of two R&B songs on the mixtape. I did it on my tour bus. I was in a different environment. The other R&B song is nothing but a verse and hook. It's one of one and a half R&B songs. 'Up and Down' is the emotions of this girl that keeps confusing me. It's a relationship — that's how it goes." "Like I Outta." "I'm going in. It's a rap track," Teddy said. "It's pretty much me doing everybody else like how everybody is doing me. On the second verse I rap like E-40, Soulja Boy, Shawty Lo. I rap Jeezy, Ross, Wayne. I go in on everybody. "Ain't no dissing occurring, but it's me going in, showing people I can do more than Auto-Tune," the 23-year-old continued. "I can do more than rap. I can do their people too. Y'all could do me — let me do somebody else." "Somebody Tell Em." "I want people to know the truth," Pain demanded. "How things go. It ain't easy doing all these records. When people come and get these records, they don't know the drama behind them. Managers fighting — I may get into an altercation with another artist because my hook is overpowering his verses. It's not just doing a hook and somebody puts it out and it happens. It's a lot going on behind the scenes. I need you to know." Don't Sleep: Other Notable Selections This Week » DJ Woogie, DJ Ian and Freeway - Freeway Is Back 'Hood's Heavy Rotation: Bubbling Below The Radar » Ne-Yo (featuring Fabolous and Jamie Foxx) - "She Got Her Own" ("Miss Independent" remix) The Streets Is Talking The hottest chick in the streets right now isn't from New York, Philadelphia or L.A. She wasn't even born in the U.S. Yet, everyone from 50 Cent to Jim Jones to Kanye West is so in love with her music, they've jumped on her track or sampled her voice. Guess what? Her popularity is finally resonating in the mainstream as well, thanks to the "Pineapple Express" trailer. "Um, I wasn't paying attention when it happened," M.I.A. said last week via phone from her native London about the rise of "Paper Planes." The record is more than a year old, yet it's still popping up daily on mixtapes. 50, Jones, members of State Property and others have inserted their verses on unofficial remixes. Meanwhile, Kanye West sampled her vocals while making the track for T.I.'s "Swagger Like Us." "I think it's cool when you bring all these rappers and artists like the Clash together," she said. "It's cool that they support it. It's so many people that be like, 'I don't know what you're talking about.' It's kind of like 'This is the sh--, and we think it's hot.' It's great, especially coming from London. "The song wasn't ... made with marketing blah, blah, blah," the spunky performer added. "It was something organic. It's nice to make something creative and have people like it. Somebody told me it was #3 or 4 on iTunes. iTunes! I beat the Jonas Brothers. I was like, 'What's going on?' Charts don't really compute with me. It's an interesting thing I'm learning. It's kinda nice to have the support." M.I.A. told us that one of her big supporters has been the Louis Vuitton Don. "Kanye e-mailed me back in, like, Christmas and told me he listens to 'Paper Planes' every day," she said. He recently hit her up with an early version of "Swagger Like Us." "I thought it was really hot. He e-mailed the demo version to me. I think T.I. rewrote his verse. It sounded even better once it was done. Kanye just took one sentence and made a whole thing out of it. I'll probably end up doing something with Kanye one day. We have a lot of respect for each other." M.I.A. also said she was interested in working with Jones' Byrd Gang. The pretty Brit also just started her label, N.E.E.T. (Not in Education, Employment or Training). The first artist is Baltimore rapper Rye Rye. If you want to hear more about M.I.A.'s label and her thoughts on retirement, come on back to MTV News later in the week. ... Andre 3000 is trash! C'mon, everybody, repeat it. Three Stacks is gah-bage! Truck juice. Obviously no one in their right mind believes that, but if it will inspire the musical great to give us that album, hey, let's put it on billboards. Just don't say he can "save hip-hop." "To be honest, man, I really appreciate that people appreciate what I do, but I don't like that type of pressure," he said last week of the assertion. "Like, I hate it, to be honest. ... I cannot save no whole rap game. I mean, the rap game has to save itself. Everybody's saving it. I mean, people like Lil Wayne is saving it. He's bringing energy to it. "You cannot put that all on one man," he added. "Especially me. I write a verse every year. You can't do me like that. To be honest, I work best when people doubt me. Our whole Outkast career has been built on people doubting us. [Hip-hop fans] up North hated on us from the get-go. We wouldn't be Outkast if people didn't understand what people would call weird. You know, none of that would've happened. Actually, if you see me, tell me I'm wack. That's the best thing you can do for me. You know, if you want a greater album, say that. Say that!" 'Dre's solo album doesn't look likely to materialize soon; he still says he's "early on" in the production of it. But Mr. Benjamin did say he's going to be amping up Big Boi's Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty album whenever he gets the chance. With such long stretches between LPs, 'Dre credits his portable and home studios for keeping his phone ringing. "I just did a cut with a new Pussycat Dolls single," Stacks divulged. "And I think it's called 'Baby,' so check it out. I've been doing remixes here and there, and let me tell you, thank God for remixes. I wanna tell everybody who's been checking out the remixes and things like the John Legend song ["Green Light"]: In this day and age, those are the things that have kind of been keeping me alive. Because it takes me a while to record albums. I have to kind of build up something to say." For other artists featured in Mixtape Monday, check out Mixtape Mondays Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 50 Cent Wins Visitation Rights With Son -- But Must Hand Off Child At Police Station Posted: 08 Sep 2008 02:31 AM PDT Long Island judge also grants order of protection for rapper's ex.
The ongoing feud between 50 Cent and Shaniqua Tompkins, the mother of his 11-year-old son, Marquise, heated up Monday (September 8) inside a Long Island courtroom, as a family court judge ruled that the rapper can spend more time with the boy. According to his lawyer, Brett Kimmell, 50 will be able to see his child on alternating weekends; this is the only visitation the rapper has with Marquise. But, as part of his temporary ruling, Judge David Freundlich ordered 50 and Tompkins to hand their son off at a police station. The judge also issued an order of protection, barring 50 from having any contact with Tompkins. Outside the court, Tompkins told reporters the judge awarded 50 too much time with Marquise, saying, "My son doesn't want every other weekend." 50, on the other hand, seemed quite pleased with the outcome. "Yeah, I'm happy. I get a chance to see him," Newsday quotes 50 as saying. "I'm going to hang out ... make some movies, make some music and continue to kick it." The next hearing in the case has been set for October 22. The rapper's tumultuous relationship with Tompkins went public back in late May, when a suspicious fire razed the rapper's $1.4 million Dix Hills, Long Island, home. Tompkins was living in the house with Marquise at the time of the fire, and both suffered smoke inhalation as a result. Tompkins blamed 50 for the fire, and told reporters hours after the inferno was extinguished that the rapper had threatened her life just days earlier. 50 denied he had anything to do with the blaze, and in June, filed a $20 million defamation suit against Tompkins in Connecticut. 50 has been questioned by authorities about the fire, and according to one of the arson investigators he met with, the rapper has been "very cooperative." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Jonas Brothers' Wish Comes True: They Meet Britney Spears Backstage At The VMAs Posted: 08 Sep 2008 02:08 AM PDT 'She was the first CD I ever bought,' Joe Jonas reveals.
While the Jonas Brothers didn't get to introduce Britney Spears at the Video Music Awards as they had hoped, they did get to meet her later on in the night. The boys, dressed in suits, posed with a smiling multiple-VMA-winning Spears, who was decked out in a shimmery asymmetrical minidress, for a picture together backstage at the show. The brothers, who didn't win any awards themselves, told UsMagazine.com before the awards show that they wanted to meet the one and only comeback kid. "We really hope we get to meet her," Kevin Jonas told the site following their rehearsal of their new single, "Lovebug," on a New York City set at Paramount Studios for the VMAs, which aired live from Hollywood on Sunday. "That would be an honor," Kevin added. His brothers agreed. "I wanna meet her," Nick said. "She was the first CD I ever bought, so it would be cool," Joe revealed. "You want to pull for Britney and hope for the best," Kevin added. The Jonas Brothers were excited about their first VMA performance. "Everyone dreams of being on the Video Music Awards, so to be here is incredible," Kevin told Us. "It is always a new experience. Something brand-new." After the VMAs, the Jonas Brothers headed off to London for the premiere of their hit Disney movie, "Camp Rock." (We've got everything you didn't see in the big show, plus all the VMA afterparty action!) It's a wrap! Now that the 2008 VMAs have come and gone, check out all the winners, the most surprising moments, the best red-carpet fashions and more at VMA.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lindsay Lohan, Paramore, Katy Perry Hit VMA Afterparties -- But Where Are T.I. And Lil Wayne? Posted: 08 Sep 2008 06:46 AM PDT Plus: Leona Lewis sings, Jonah Hill dances, and Paris Hilton rocks out to Good Charlotte.
HOLLYWOOD — The Video Music Awards are always a party, and this year was no exception. There was plenty of music, dancing and very glamorous folks on hand, plus — thanks to a bawdy, rambling opening monologue by host Russell Brand — the kind of political discourse your weird uncle usually starts spouting after his sixth scotch and soda.
All in all, it was a pretty excellent time (especially if you were Britney Spears), but, as in years past, it paled in comparison to what happened as soon as the show ended, when all of your favorite stars left Paramount's Studio 16 to make the rounds on the VMA afterparty circuit. Because everybody knows that when you combine fired-up celebrities with copious amounts of free alcohol, truly magical things happen. And luckily, MTV News was there — at all of the exclusive parties, behind the velvetiest of velvet ropes — to bring you the sights and sounds of a pretty wild evening (and late night and early morning) in Tinseltown. The first stop on the circuit was the official VMA afterparty, and, as luck would have it, the stars didn't have to travel far to make it there. Located at the south end of the Paramount lot — just steps (or a quick golf-cart ride) away from Studio 16, and in the shadow of Kanye West's still-smoldering stage — the event served as a launching point for the evening's adventures. The celebs showed up in droves. A quick scan around the room turned up "The Hills" stars Lauren Conrad and Audrina Patridge lounging on white leather couches, while Fonzworth Bentley and Doug E. Fresh chatted at a nearby table. By the VIP section, Gym Class Heroes MC Travis McCoy laughed with Travis Barker, while Katy Perry and Paramore's Hayley Williams chatted and Brand lurked in the background. "Superbad" star Jonah Hill entertained a group with an impromptu dance routine to the strains of Rihanna's "Umbrella." L.A. sports icons Kobe Bryant and new Dodgers manager Joe Torre (with his daughter) made appearances, Slipknot's Sid Wilson — in a mask and three-piece suit, of course — had a lengthy chat with Efren Ramirez (a.k.a. the dude who played Pedro in "Napoleon Dynamite"), and during a surprise performance by the Ting Tings, Plain White T's drummer De'Mar Hamilton told a friend, "I love this band!" before singing along to the duo's VMA-nominated song "Shut Up and Let Me Go" in a faux cockney accent. As that afterparty was winding down, another soiree was just getting under way at iconic West Hollywood hotspot Chateau Marmont, where gossip mag In Touch Weekly threw a big-ticket event featuring performances by Leona Lewis and Good Charlotte, and a surprise appearance by everyone's least favorite afterparty guest, the Los Angeles fire marshal. Seems everyone wanted to get into the Chateau, which put the event at max capacity, which — of course — meant that the marshal had to be called in to turn partygoers away. So while Lewis was singing, "Piece of Me" director Wayne Isham, "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson and about a hundred other Hollywood types were forced to wait outside. David and Victoria Beckham, however — not appreciating their elite status, apparently — left the party early, and Christina Aguilera followed not long after. But somehow the celebs still managed to pour in. Kid Rock lounged with his shirt off, Mischa Barton shoved her way to the front of the stage to catch Good Charlotte's set, and Paris Hilton rocked out and shot the entire show on her camera phone. A bit later, Paris' sweetie, Benji Madden, and his brother Joel started making people in the front row drink straight from bottles of booze. "Sorry," Joel laughed. "We're having a drinking contest!" Not laughing was Lindsay Lohan, who had a mini-meltdown across the room when someone spilled something on her. To make matters worse, LiLo then dashed into the men's bathroom to (presumably) throw some club soda on the mystery stain. Crisis contained, she — and much of the party — then headed to hipster hangout Hyde for some sort of unofficial VMA after-afterparty. Over at Hollywood's Avalon club, Pepsi rolled out the blue carpet for another VMA bash, this one featuring mini-sets from Tyga, Keri Hilson and Ryan Leslie, who got an onstage assist from Fabolous on his hit "Addiction." Scattered throughout the VIP were Young Jeezy, JoJo and West Coast legend Warren G. While the party circuit was phenomenal, one couldn't help but notice that a pair of the night's biggest names — T.I. and Lil Wayne — were nowhere to be found. Tip told MTV News that he was skipping the champagne because he's putting all his energy into "Bone Deep," the crime drama he starts filming Monday (September 8) alongside Oscar nominee Matt Dillon, so we gave him a pass. But Wayne? What's his story? "You know me, I don't really trip off the parties and stuff," Wayne told MTV News on Saturday night when we asked about his afterparty plans. "I may pop up at a party or two. Tonight I'll be in the studio working on some stuff." However, Wayne may not have been revealed everything about his post-VMA plans: Early Monday afternoon (September 8), he was in court in New York for a hearing about his July 2007 gun charge, after taking a red-eye flight from L.A. "[Wayne] is the utmost, consummate professional," his lawyer Stacy Richman said of Wayne's trip to New York. "He recognizes his entertainment obligations, his business obligations and his obligations to the court." It's a wrap! Now that the 2008 VMAs have come and gone, check out all the winners, the most surprising moments, the best red-carpet fashions and more at VMA.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
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