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| Exclusive: Aubrey O'Day Talks About Her Nude Photo Shoot For <I>Playboy</i> Posted: 13 Jan 2009 04:58 AM PST Singer says of Markus Klinko session, 'You could never imagine how empowering it is to be nude in front of cameras.'
Between talking about her high-profile split from Danity Kane and addressing the recent rumors about her sexual preferences, Aubrey O'Day has been all about displaying her personal life in a very public fashion lately. But for the singer who was ">kicked out of the group for allegedly hogging the spotlight with her over-the-top antics, those mini-dramas pale when compared with her upcoming photo spread in Playboy magazine. While spokespeople for the magazine refused to confirm the shoot when news about it first broke in late November, O'Day spoke freely with MTV News about the images. "I've also done the cover of Playboyfor 2009," she said late in December. "For one of the months in 2009. I'm not gonna say it. ... It's gonna be a surprise. You know, I think that Playboy for me was one of the most liberating things that I've done as a woman." Scanning the pics on her Macbook laptop while chilling in Costa Mesa, California, O'Day showed off the results of her session with photographer Markus Klinko, who has done portraits of Mariah Carey and Pamela Anderson in the past and who shot the cover of Beyoncé's 2003 album, Dangerously In Love. "You could never imagine how empowering it is to be nude in front of cameras and have people looking at you in that way and seeing you as beautiful," she said. "A lot of the times I think I'm seen as a bad girl and I think that's because I'm so open." O'Day said she only agreed to the shoot because Klinko was involved and because they both wanted something that was "classy, iconic and truly beautiful." Taken amid sessions for her solo debut, O'Day said she was surprised at the negative repercussions from her earlier, revealing shoot for Complex magazine, [LINK ] which is reported to have played a role in Diddy's decision to drop O'Day from the group. O'Day said she was merely playing a character in the pictures, in which she's seen hugging (and, er, licking) a stripper pole while topless and modeling underwear in various stages of undress. "I mean, I think a lot of the type of way I'm portrayed in the media isn't always the way ... the way I am in my heart," O'Day said about the negative stories about her exploits in the press. "And so I think that we were able to capture that. ... I think in society we tend to put ourselves in boxes and corners and restrict ourselves, and we constantly feel the need to not say this or not wear this or do that. "Taking it all off and being nude is the most natural state that you can be in," she continued, "and being able to feel comfortable with that and show that sex can be beautiful, comfortable ... is going to be empowering for people." Stay tuned! We'll have lots more from our interview with Aubrey O'Day in the coming days! Related Artists |
| Our 2009 Rock Rookies: Lil Wayne's Favorite Singer, Pharrell's Dynamic Duo Posted: 13 Jan 2009 04:58 AM PST Kevin Rudolf says 'Let It Rock' is more than a 'party record'; Chester French take credit for 50 Cent's abs.
2008 was a huge year for rock ... and 2009 looks like it could be even bigger. So all this week, we're taking stock of the things guaranteed to rock this year. From the triumphant returns of some of the biggest bands on the planet to a handful of up-and-coming acts that we're expecting big things from in '09, we've got it all covered. This is Rock Week, on MTVNews.com. Once upon a time, even the hugest bands on the planet were bands no one had ever heard of. They had yet to rock arenas or unite the globe or even ride on a tour bus with a working toilet, for that matter. They were just a bunch of kids with a single press photo (usually taken against a brick wall) and a whole lot of possibility. It didn't matter that the odds were stacked impossibly high against them. It was almost better that way.
These days, things are different. Thanks to the vast frontier of the Internet, practically every band has been heard by somebody, which makes the concept of them "rocketing to success" seem rather antiquated. And, perhaps dulled by nearly three decades of "Next Big Thing" articles, we tend to roll our eyes further back into our heads with each "can't miss" contender foisted on us by the music industry. That said, please allow us to do the very same thing. Because, really, the Next Big Things have to come from somewhere, right? So while we're going to refrain from the hyperbole ("This band will change your life!") we are going to go out on a limb and say that you'll be hearing a whole lot from these guys in 2009. From Lil Wayne-approved rock stars to much-buzzed blog acts to, um, barely pubescent head-bangers, these are our top picks for 2009's Rock Rookies. Kevin Rudolf Who: The 25-year-old songwriter/producer grew up a guitar virtuoso then switched to making beats after being taken under Timbaland's wing. Since then, he's produced tracks for Rick Ross and Ludacris and played guitar for Justin Timberlake, LL Cool J and the Black Eyed Peas, to name just a few. His debut album, In the City, was released late last year on Lil Wayne's Cash Money Records and spawned the hit "Let It Rock," which, if you've been near a radio in the past six months, you've probably heard. Something to Say: "Let It Rock" crossed over to the pop, rock and R&B charts and reached #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, but unlike most chart fare, it's actually about something: "It's a song about the hypocrisy in the world, and I'm saying that when I come through, I'm bringing the truth," Rudolf explained. "I use the parable of the Prodigal Son, because I want to expose all the fakes out there — in the music industry, in the world, anywhere. A lot of people think it's a party record, but it's not." Good Non-Answer, Dude: As a kid growing up in Manhattan, Rudolf worshipped at the altar of Eddie Van Halen and Jimmy Page, so he knows a thing or two about guitar shredding. But what does he think about his labelmate Wayne's playing? "He's on his own path. ... I've done a couple of songs for his new record, and they do lean a lot more rock, and he's coming at it hard," Rudolf said. "As a guitar player, he's sounding good. I'm a different kind of guitar player, you know, but he's on his own path." Chester French Who: Two Ivy League-educated smart-asses with a penchant for spacey, horned-up electro pop, Maxwell Drummey and D.A. Wallach met at Harvard University, named their band after a sculptor and caught the ear of Kanye West, who offered the duo a deal. They passed on that offer in favor of an even more lucrative deal from the Neptunes' Star Trak Entertainment. Judging from their debut EP, She Loves Everybody, their full-length, Love the Future (due later this year), is sure to burst with swanky hooks and smarmy jokes. Oh, and Drummey is rather inexplicably married to British socialite Peaches Geldof. The Secret Source of 50 Cent's Abs?: Though they've already drawn comparisons to another head-in-the-clouds electro duo — MGMT — Chester French fail to see any similarities. For one, they're way more into fighting ... and physiques. "We're a band that really encourages consensual violence — never against women — but we like representing for a whole bunch of people," Wallach said. "We've all been abused by a woman in one way or another, but we come in and we take it, because we're these strong, assertive men who care about our physiques. This music stuff is really a side project for us. It's a way to earn money so that we can keep our gym memberships going. ... We're trainers too. We trained 50. Everyone knows that." A Big, Messy Year Indeed: When they spurned Kanye for a deal with Pharrell Williams and Star Trak, CF garnered plenty of "who the f--- are these dudes?!?" headlines. Looking to silence the critics, they've been holed up in the studio, hard at work on their full-length debut. And with an album on the horizon, what else are the dynamic duo looking forward to in '09? "2009 is going to see the birth of my second child, which I'm really excited for," Drummey joked. "We're going to put an album out too." Check back Tuesday for the first of our looks at some of 2009's most-buzzed new acts, as Rock Week continues on MTVNews.com. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Our Male Pop Rookies Plan Music-Industry And Hollywood Takeover In 2009 Posted: 13 Jan 2009 04:58 AM PST Lucas Grabeel, 'Twilight' star Jackson Rathbone and a 'Bonus Jonas' are among the double threats who'll make it big this year.
It's Pop Week here at MTV News, and that means we're catching up with and getting to know everyone who's going to make a splash in pop music and culture over the next 12 months. Whether they're just arriving on the scene or are already the name on everyone's lips, these are the artists we expect big things from in 2009. Are you ready? You know how when a new kid rolls into town, everyone wants to know every detail about his life? Well, we here at MTV News are filling you in on the new guys to hit the pop scene in 2009. You may have heard of some of them, but as the year progresses, you are definitely going to hear more. They are each planning their takeovers of Hollywood and the music industry. Now that we've covered the Female Pop Rookies of 2009, here come the dudes: Frankie Jonas Lucas Grabeel Dave Franco Mitchel Musso Jackson Rathbone Check back all week for more Pop Week stories on the stars to watch in 2009! Related Videos Related Artists |
| RZA: Wu-Tang Clan Trying To Get Past Differences To Make New Music Posted: 13 Jan 2009 04:58 AM PST 'Once we're talking, it's a dialogue going,' rapper says of the group.
The Wu-Tang Clan's current tour is winding down and, from RZA's descriptions, time has healed almost all wounds. RZA and Method Man had a personal falling-out that caused them to stop speaking to each other for at least a month, and there are still feelings of disappointment about business entanglements with Raekwon the Chef, Ghostface Killah and U-God. "I stopped doing business with Raekwon," RZA told us recently. "I said, 'We can be brothers, but we can't do business,' because he was doubting my business judgment. You doing business, you gotta have that faith. It takes faith to do that business. Me and Ghost is family, so I don't like to speak on that situation, but he has people around him that's deluded. They make him believe something that's not real. I said this to Ghostface last week on the bus and said to U-God, 'If you try to sue me for $100,000 ... I don't owe you sh--.' Why would you say something like that? You let your lawyer gas you. I said to Ghost, 'How the f--- I owe you $2 million, God?' "Sh-- is crazy, G. All that sh-- is really delusion," the Clan's head continued. "I got nothing but love for the Gods. We got people in our ears. I got people in my ear that said, 'Don't do the tour. You got this, you got that, you don't need that Wu-Tang sh--.' " Despite the differences on the business end, RZA said musically he'll get down with his brothers any day and doesn't regret the tour at all. There may even be another Wu-Tang album to come out of this. "The tour is going well," RZA said. "We're out here busting our brains and having fun. Conversations have been sparking on the bus about potentially doing some more music. It's a good thing. Once we're talking, it's a dialogue going. Once we start building, trust me, sh-- gets better for us. Sh-- gets better for everybody around us. You're dealing with scientists. We'll see if brothers get on the same wavelength. As far as us doing music together, I'm sure the other brothers are at the level I'm at — I don't care if only 10 n---as hear it now. It's medicine. That's something that I started — my style of hip-hop when I came in the game. I didn't care how people got it. I felt like MC Hammer and Young MC and all them was selling millions of records, and they was just keeping people blind. I said if 1 million people buy Wu-Tang, it's better than better than 20 million people buying [MC Hammer's] record. That's 1 million more people waking up to the light of life." Something that may happen before an entire Wu-Tang LP, though, is the Raekwon sequel to his debut album Only Built for Cuban Linx. RZA produced a bulk of the tracks, and Dr. Dre handled the rest. "Sh-- got a little crazy," RZA said about the album's distribution. "I don't know where it got crazy. Raekwon went back in and I think he's gonna put it out in March. I gave him all the music he wanted. He can keep the music. I think Dre is doing the same thing. We ain't gonna try to squeeze his pocket. He said it's coming out in March. He's saying that on the mic during the tour: 'Cuban Linx II is coming in March.' I hope he lives up to his word. That sh-- is fire." Related Artists |
| Fergie's Mom Dishes On Daughter's 'Amazing' Wedding To Josh Duhamel Posted: 12 Jan 2009 02:32 AM PST 'It was an amazing show,' Terri Jackson told Ryan Seacrest of the wedding and its performers.
Fergie's mom, Terri Jackson, spilled the beans to Ryan Seacrest about her daughter's weekend nuptials in Malibu, California. The Black Eyed Pea and her new hubby, "Transformers" star Josh Duhamel, held a star-studded reception on Saturday, where everyone from Kid Rock to Will.I.Am made an appearance. "It was such a blast — 350, 375 people were there and that was keeping [the number of invitees] way down," she revealed to the "American Idol" host on his radio show Monday morning (January 12). "So many people couldn't bring a date unless they paid me money or something! It had to be someone you're actually engaged to or something like that." She added, "[It was so much fun] you can hear it in my voice!" Jackson also said that there are probably a slew of other hoarse people out there after they performed for the newly married couple. "Kid Rock was there, with Will.I.Am rapping," she said. "It was an amazing show. It would cost you a fortune — and I'm sure it did — to see this show." There was also an unexpected performer that managed to secure a spot on the stage. ["Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" star Alfonso Ribeiro] was amazing," Jackson said. "That guy can sing! Fergie and he have been friends for years." "I've never seen either of them look more beautiful," she said about the couple. Describing her daughter as "amazing," she also joked around about the rumors that Fergie and Duhamel are expecting a little bundle of joy. "Yeah, that's it [she's pregnant]! Josh's mother [is like], 'Would she hurry up and have that elephant?' " Related Artists |
| Jadakiss Worried That His Biggie Tribute, 'Letter To Big,' Might Be 'Corny' Posted: 12 Jan 2009 04:29 AM PST MC says he might do a remix with Jay-Z, the LOX or Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Jadakiss' musical correspondence with the Notorious B.I.G., his friend and deceased labelmate, wasn't his idea. 'Kiss credits stylist Groovey Lew (Groovey is also credited with giving B.I.G. his first Coogi sweater) for coming up with the idea. "Groovey Lew, when I was getting the production for [my new] album, he was like, 'You should do a letter to Big on the new album.' I was like, 'That might be corny, Groov,' " 'Kiss remembered last week on the "Notorious" red carpet. "The beat really played a big part. Then my man Ice Pick, my A&R [rep], called me, like, 'Yo, you gotta hear this beat. It's crazy.' I said, 'This might be the letter.' Then I got in the studio — the 'Letter' came to life."
'Kiss has contemplated doing a remix of the touching tune but is leaning toward letting the original "Letter to Big" stand alone. "I was flirting with it," Jada offered about his thoughts on a remix. "But it's nothing fabricated on there. It's gotta be all real on there. Everything was personal. It would take a lot of concentration to make some more to it. I might do a remix, throw the LOX on there, maybe some of the Junior M.A.F.I.A. or Hov. We'll see how it go. But we're just gonna soak that up right now, let them breathe with the 'Letter.' " Jada's Last Kiss LP arrives in stores one day after the 12th anniversary of B.I.G.'s death. "I just got the date. March 10. That's rain, sleet or shine," the Yonkers word slinger promised. "We gonna ride this 'Letter to Big.' I'm gonna drop some new music. We gonna keep hitting you. Hit Super Bowl, [NBA] All-Star, circle around on the promo [tour]. Come back March 10." In "Letter to Big," Kiss name-checks some of Biggie's most-famous accessories, including his Coogi sweater and Wallabee shoes. Check out more of Big's signature items here. Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Auditions Are Better (And Worse) Than Ever Posted: 11 Jan 2009 11:59 PM PST We got a sneak peek at some tryouts, and you'll need to brace yourself for a few of them ...
"American Idol" auditions are back, and they're better than ever — as you've come to expect, they will once again have an amazing mix of the good, the bad and the ear-splittingly ugly when the show returns to Fox on Tuesday. MTV News has gotten a sneak peek at some of the auditions, and you'll need to brace yourself for a few of them ... like when one girl decided to take on Bette Midler's "The Rose." Based on her desire to continue with the song despite the judges' laughter, it seems this tone-deaf young woman hasn't yet realized she can't actually sing.
Meanwhile, another colorfully dressed young woman embarked on the Patti LaBelle classic, "Lady Marmalade," and, well, her singing style was as colorful as her outfit. Another guy belted out "Stars" by Simply Red, causing Kara DioGuardi to recoil in horror as Randy Jackson jokingly added, "Let it out." Then there are the auditions you don't mind listening to — one girl sang "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillat and, even though she did well, she continued to sing despite Simon asking her to stop. Another girl took on "Superstar" by the Carpenters; she had a sweet voice. Another contestant sang Keith Urban's "Somebody Like You," and his country twang fit the song perfectly. In addition to a slew of new contestants, the show's new judge Kara DioGuardi is adjusting to life on the hit talent competition. "It took a minute to be yourself and also find a place in the show where you weren't at all detracting from the people around you or inhibiting them in any way," DioGuardi said in a conference call with reporters Thursday. "It's something I'm still working on. I think I'm there." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
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