MTV News |
| The Clipse Hint At Kanye West Collabo: <i>Mixtape Monday</i> Posted: 19 Jan 2009 04:52 AM PST Plus: Busta Rhymes is 'working like he just got signed'; RZA respects the 'wisdom' in Lil Wayne's music.
Artists: The Clipse Representing: The Re-Up Gang Mixtape: Play Cloths Presents: Road to Till the Casket Drops 411: The Clipse came back with a lyrical snow flurry recently on the mixtape Play Cloths Presents: Road to Till the Casket Drops. The brothers actually killed two birds with one stone, promoting their new clothing line (the Obama inauguration tees are dope) as well as pumping out energy in anticipation of their third LP, Till the Casket Drops. "We're all consumed with the album," Pusha T told us via cell from Canada late last week. "It's very close to being done. We're just trying to piece these little pieces together. It's the last 20 percent. I'm loving it. I'm feeling this is the make-or-break album for the Clipse. This is the album that's gonna define us as far as showing we can stretch in both worlds as far as the underground and as far as the mainstream." Two Sony Music executives who were instrumental in bringing the duo's Re-Up Gang imprint over to the record company — Al Branch and Kyambo "Hip Hop" Joshua — were recently let go. Pusha said the label's reshuffling shouldn't hurt their project. "It's not gonna affect us. We're too far done with the album," Push explained. "The thing about us, it was never lack of music. Our problems have been an executing and marketing issue. I think we got a pretty good stronghold on it. I heard about the Hip Hop and Al Branch situation. I'm sure all of that is going to work itself out in our favor." The remaining production on Till the Casket Drops is being kept under wraps, but the bulk of the album is pretty evenly distributed thus far. "I got a few from the Neptunes. I think the Neptunes have maybe four, three, somewhere in there. I got a few from [DJ] Khalil," Push revealed. "Got a couple from Sean C. and LV. One from Swizz Beatz. Nottz! I got one from Nottz. The next few I don't really wanna say, but I got a few more people committed to lacing this tail end of it." We'll hear the first single around February 1. "We have the record. It's getting mixed," Pusha said. "It's already ready. That cake is baked. It's called 'Kinda Like a Big Deal.' It's about being kinda like a big deal. The collabo on there, the record in general, it's kinda like a big deal." When asked if the collaboration in question is with Kanye West, Pusha got tight-lipped: "Hey, man, it's just one of them joints." Joints To Check For » "The Intro." "We got this beat from Fabolous' album from a song called 'Gangsta,' " Pusha described. "It was produced by Reefa. Soon as I heard it, I knew I had to jack it." » "Big Dreams." "One of my favorite tracks is 'Big Dreams,' " Malice said. "It's off the Game's album [L.A.X.]. We thought it was hot. The reason why it's one of my favorites, I think Pusha totally killed it. We were trying to wrap up the mixtape, and on deadline, I heard this and did not know what to do with myself. I was in a total frenzy. There's a lot of issues on that song I felt needed to be addressed." » "Addicted." "The difference between this mixtape and the other ones we did, we rapped over some R&B joints that are hot in the club right now," Pusha added. "The Ryan Leslie song is definitely one of them joints, and we killed it. It's a wide array of things on there. The mixtape was inspired by the whole Play Cloths clothing line. Pure fun, just fly street sh--. The sh-- that sparks the nostalgia of what you wanna hear when you puttin' on that 'fit and what you want to hear when you hit the streets and dropping your top. That's the sh-- you do. The mixtape was something of everything, night life, women — everything festive." Don't Sleep: Other Notable Selections This Week » A. Pinks - Will Rap for Food 'Hood's Heavy Rotation: Bubbling Below The Radar » 50 Cent - "I Get It In" and "Shut Your Blood Clot Mouth" The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground Busta Rhymes is on another rampage (no intentional reference to his disgruntled Flip Mode family member by the same name). A bunch of songs of his are floating around the Net now: the "Blame It" remix with Jamie Foxx, Lil Wayne and T-Pain; "Conglomerate" with Young Jeezy and Jadakiss; and too many others to name. "Busta, man, he's still in the studio working like he just got signed," Bus' right hand man, Spliff Star, told us recently. "He's still relevant. Those that don't know, he's 20 years in the game. I'm 16 years in, but Busta is 20 years in and still coming. Out of 20 years in his career, the man never took a vacation. He stayed in the studio trying to give y'all nothing but hot stuff." Bus and Spliff have been all over the country promoting the album Back on My Bullsh-- (due March 24), and Spliff said "Arab Money" is still a strong point in the show for them. "Shout-out to Florida — everybody was doing the dance," Spliff said. "Three-thousand people. We was in Connecticut, the whole arena was doing it. If you go to YouTube, black, white, everybody does the dance. 'Arab Money' — that means it's good to be rich, but better to be wealthy." Busta himself is proud of his work. He's also excited that "Notorious," the life story of his friend the Notorious B.I.G., finally hit theaters Friday. "You see it happen for the generation of artists before us, and you wish it would happen for our generations and the artists that come from our era of the game," Bus said about having a hip-hop biopic. "It's one thing to have a flick, but it's one thing to have the value of that life story mean so much to the people that the flick now becomes more than a flick. It's a moment. It's a captured moment in time." ... Lil Wayne said he's the only Southern rapper that could have been down with the Wu-Tang Clan. While the RZA isn't ready to knight Weezy as a Shaolin soldier yet, he does respect the New Orleans nightmare's spit game. "I heard the song he did with Robin Thicke," RZA told us recently about Wayne. "He got a song about him on the album where he talks about Louisiana. I didn't expect that. I was just going off the TV vibe [of him]. I was impressed to see that son had that wisdom in him. When he sold that million records the first week, it's definitely gonna be some kids that were dancing and doing the 'Lollipop' sh--, but they got a bit of wisdom stuck in there. I felt proud for him as an artist. I was like, 'I'm glad he got a couple of joints that's hitting the people with some information.' " RZA also is big on what Kanye West has been bringing to the table. 'Ye's beats, such as the one in "Heartless," have brought forth that hard soul like RZA's initial offerings in the early 90s. "All good," RZA said of the comparisons between him and Kanye. "Kanye West, I got super respect for Kanye. He came up to me about a year or two ago. He gave me mad praising and blessings. He had a lot to say about things I did. He knew me, he knew my sh-- — 'When you did "Ice Cream" ... ' — I was like, 'Wow, this is a dude who knows.' It's like when I met Isaac Hayes. I knew his sh--. Isaac Hayes took time to give me more sh--. For people to say Wu-Tang inspire Kanye, Kanye is one of the biggest artists in the world. That goes back to what we say: 'Wu-Tang is forever.' Kanye is going to inspire people to be like him." RZA was especially moved by Kanye's work on Jay-Z's Blueprint. "One day, Jay-Z [called] me on the phone," RZA recalled. "I was proud. ... More proud because at one time, it felt like our relationship was shaky over some old hip-hop grudge sh--. When he finished The Blueprint, I heard it and was like, 'Yo, this sh-- is dope.' I called him to congratulate him, and he said, 'You made the original Blueprint, yo.' I said, 'That's peace, yo.' At the same time, I was proud what they did, because at that time, I was having a hard time getting my boys to listen to me. The shoes gotta be filled. If you ain't gonna do it, somebody else is gonna do it. That's how I feel about rap today." For other artists featured in Mixtape Monday, check out Mixtape Mondays Headlines. Related Videos |
| Star-Studded 'We Are One' Concert Sets The Tone For Obama Inauguration Posted: 18 Jan 2009 03:37 AM PST U2, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen and other superstars performed at the opening celebration.
The star power during the "We Are One" concert was unbelievable, and the sense of patriotism in the readings, speeches and performances during the show — which was broadcast live from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. — set the tone for Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration. Denzel Washington was the first celebrity to hit the stage, stressing to the crowd the show's theme of unity. His speech was followed by Bruce Springsteen's rousing performance of post-9/11 anthem "The Rising." The show was filled with nods to famous Americans: Laura Linney reminded everyone of FDR's "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" speech with Martin Luther King Jr.'s son by her side, and Tom Hanks paid tribute to Abraham Lincoln.
But it was the music that really stood out. Mary J. Blige sang "Lean on Me," which was followed up by Jon Bon Jovi's duet with Bettye LaVette on Sam Cooke's civil-rights anthem "A Change Is Gonna Come." James Taylor and John Legend got together for Taylor's hit "Shower the People." Then John Mellencamp got onstage for his song "Ain't That America." The celebrity sightings didn't end there. Sheryl Crow and Will.I.Am collaborated on Bob Marley's "One Love," while Usher, Shakira and Stevie Wonder joined up for "Higher Ground." The big performances of the night came at the end. U2 performed two of their hits, "Pride (In the Name of Love)" and the Obama-approved "City of Blinding Lights," noting that the whole world is ready for Obama's presidency. U2 were followed up by Obama himself, talking about the hard times to come, the pool stretching out in front of him reflecting Dr. King's dreams and the monument behind him to a president who made it possible for him to be there today. Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger took the stage to sing "This Land Is Your Land," and Beyoncé brought it all home with her performance of "America the Beautiful." "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Beyonce Closes 'We Are One' Inaugural Concert With Unifying Performance Posted: 18 Jan 2009 02:18 AM PST Previous performers and the Obamas themselves join B in singing 'America the Beautiful.'
Beyoncé brought down the house Sunday afternoon (January 18) as she closed out the "We Are One" inauguration celebration with a soaring version of "America the Beautiful." The singer, who donned a brown winter coat and leather gloves, was backed by a massive choir, with members alternately wearing red and blue jackets to symbolize the unity between political parties during this historic moment. The gesture wasn't lost on anyone. The concert's previous performers reappeared onstage with Beyoncé in an awe-inspiring sign of inclusion. Rocker Bruce Springsteen and rapper Will.I.Am joined Samuel L. Jackson, Queen Latifah, Tom Hanks and others. Stevie Wonder also took part in the festivities, playing harmonica during the song's bridge.
President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, incoming first lady Michelle Obama, were seated just before the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. As Beyoncé belted out the patriotic number from the stairs of the iconic monument, the Obamas also sang along. Seated nearby were Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, who joined in as well. Comedian George Lopez and U2's Bono were also spotted onstage during the commencing performance. "We are one," Beyoncé shouted as she wrapped the song. Other notable appearances during the afternoon included actors Jack Black, Steve Carell and Jamie Foxx. Garth Brooks, Usher and Mary J. Blige also performed. Denzel Washington opened the celebration with a speech. "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| U2 Remind Inaugural Audience Of World's Hope For Obama Posted: 18 Jan 2009 02:05 AM PST It somehow made sense for an Irish band to perform at 'We Are One' inaugural concert.
During the "We Are One" inaugural concert in Washington, D.C., the always-political Bono made sure that we don't forget that Obama's inauguration isn't just meaningful for Americans, but for the world. "This is not just an American dream, but also an Irish dream, a European dream, an African dream ... an Israeli dream and a Palestinian dream," Bono said in the middle of U2's performance of their 1984 hit "Pride (In the Name of Love)." "One of the interesting things about 'Pride' in this rendition was his speech in the middle that freedom is an American dream," Stephen D. Winick, writer and editor at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress told MTV News. "But also an Irish and African dream, which of course ties it to Obama's heritage."
(Read our analysis of Jon Bon Jovi and Bettye LaVette's rendition of "A Change Is Gonna Come" and Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising" performance at the "We Are One" concert.) Winick added that this performance showed "U2's constant engagement in what's going on in the world, and shows why Obama wanted them to be a part of it." "They are very topical," he added of the band, which also performed "City of Blinding Lights." Winick had some interesting trivia that shined some light on why they may have picked "Pride" as one of their songs (other than the obvious: that it's about Martin Luther King Jr.). "One of the things that I've heard about that song is that they started writing it in [Obama's home state] Hawaii." Winick also noted why it made sense for an Irish band to be performing at this very American event. "They've always engaged with America and American issues," Winick said. "I think it's something Obama is very interested in. I think Obama can learn some stuff from Bono, given the way that Bono has interacted with American politicians. They are so popular and have been a part of the American soundtrack since the 1980s." "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lily Allen Puts Katy Perry Feud To Bed Posted: 19 Jan 2009 04:52 AM PST 'There's actually nothing going on,' singer says.
Say what you will about Lily Allen, but one thing's for certain: She fights to the death (of a story, at least). In a recent interview with MTV UK, the 23-year-old — who's never been one to curb her feelings — discussed, among other things, her new album It's Not Me, It's You (which hits stores February 10) and, briefly, her feud with Katy Perry. It all started when Perry once described herself as a "fatter version of Amy Winehouse and the skinnier version of Lily Allen," a statement Perry later claimed she "didn't mean anything by" and that she was "kind of joking and trying to be funny." Allen considered the statement "crass," and expanded the reasons for her grudge against Perry to include that she was supposedly signed and marketed as an American version of the kooky, pop-singing Brit. "It's, like, you're not English and you don't write your own songs — shut up!" Allen explained, additionally refuting the comparison. And then, last week, Allen volunteered on her Facebook page that she has Perry's number and is "just waiting for her to open her mouth one more time then it hits Facebook." Perhaps fearing that she may make a cameo on the next Jerky Boys album, Perry's kept a tight lip. Allen, however, has not. "I didn't say anything that was rude, I just said she wasn't English and she doesn't write her own songs," she explained again during the MTV UK interview. But perhaps the feud's finally been put to rest as Allen also assured that "there's actually nothing going on." Related Artists |
| Shepard Fairey Brings 'Hope' To Barack Obama Inauguration Posted: 18 Jan 2009 04:59 AM PST 'This is a perfect example of how an individual can inspire other individuals,' artist says.
Shepard Fairey's Barack Obama posters were the defining image of the presidential campaign. The high-contrast red, white and blue portrait went viral overnight, appearing on everything from posters to T-shirts to the cover of Time magazine, and catapulting the Los Angeles-based graphic designer and street artist from subversive propagandist to mainstream icon.
On Saturday, in a gala reception featuring senators, congressmen and governors, the underground artist's iconic portrait was unveiled at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., alongside more traditional paintings of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. So what happens when a punk rock, culture-crashing artist with an anti-establishment streak and a healthy arrest record gets invited to the party? Maybe he mellows ... just a bit. "The whole idea that 'underground is good and government is bad' is a very one-dimensional idea," Fairey said, standing in front of a brand-new, 16-by-6 painting of the soon-to-be-president at his traveling "Manifest Hope: DC Gallery" in Georgetown. "It's really about taking the opportunity to make the system what we can make it — as progressive, forward-thinking people — and raising the bar for everyone. "Still, to think that I was standing there with a piece of art that was created as illegal street art to support a campaign no one even thought really had a chance at the time seemed like a real coup to me." Ultimately, Fairey said, the ubiquity of his "Hope" poster campaign demonstrates the power of individual inspiration. "This is a perfect example of how an individual can inspire other individuals and, the next thing you know, something that came from a real, pure place without any secondary motivations that were monetary or based on power can actually influence things. "I think a lot of people think that the people who hold the strings have it all sewn up, and there's no point in acting. So the thing that inspires me the most about this validation in the National Portrait Gallery is that it's proof that it doesn't have to be this way." "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow. Related Photos |
| 'A Change Is Gonna Come' Takes On New Meaning At Inaugural Concert Posted: 18 Jan 2009 01:34 AM PST Sam Cooke's civil-rights classic is performed by Jon Bon Jovi, Bettye LaVette at 'We Are One' event.
At the "We Are One" inaugural concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Sunday afternoon (January 18), Jon Bon Jovi and soul singer Bettye LaVette sang a duet of Sam Cooke's seminal civil-rights movement song, "A Change Is Gonna Come," originally released in 1964, shortly after the soul singer's death. The oft-covered song was written as a response to Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind," according to Stephen D. Winick, writer and editor at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Cooke was very moved by Dylan's now-famous missive about the obvious changes that America was going through in the early 1960s. (Read Winick's analysis of Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising" performance for the concert.) "['A Change Is Gonna Come'] is a great piece of songwriting which was done in the early 1960s," Winick told MTV News. "And again, like Springsteen's 'The Rising,' it goes back to gospel roots and it's talking about that common person's experience, especially the black experience and how that changed radically." At the heart of the song lies an honest account of the emotions people went through during the civil-rights era. "It's a beautiful statement of the conditions in which people lived and ... the inevitability of change. It is a great statement," he said. On the eve of Barack Obama's inauguration, the song is just as powerful today as it was nearly 35 years ago. "It's regarded as an important recording, and so much so to the Library of Congress that it was one of the 2007 picks for the National Recording Registry," Winick added. "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Bruce Springsteen's 'The Rising': How Does It Fit With American Folk-Music Tradition? Posted: 18 Jan 2009 12:46 AM PST The Boss reached into folk and gospel legacy to begin 'We Are One' inaugural concert.
After a performance of the national anthem by Master Sergeant Caleb Green, Bruce Springsteen took the stage at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to bring the rock to the "We Are One" inaugural concert with his post-9/11 missive "The Rising."
The Boss performed the Obama-approved song along with a choir, a choice that not only pays tribute to Springsteen's folk-rock roots, but also to the country's gospel tradition. "Particularly in that arrangement, it draws on the gospel tradition," Stephen D. Winick, writer and editor at the American Folklife Center of Library of Congress told MTV News of the performance. "[It also draws on] the tradition of spirituals, and there's a lot of lyrics that speak to spirituals." Springsteen is not only a favorite musician of the president-elect's, but he's also an American icon, making him an interesting act to open the show. "He's one of the great rock-and-roll players of our time," Winick said. At the same time, "I think he's very conscious of the roots of working-class folk music." Springsteen's sense of history has been evident "not only since his beginnings as a guitar troubadour along the lines of Woody Guthrie, but also his work with Pete Seeger," Winick said, referring to the rocker's 2006 album We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, a collection of traditional folk songs associated with the legendary '60s protest singer. "And the rumor is that he will play with Pete Seeger today." "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| What's Wrong With James Taylor's Eye? Posted: 18 Jan 2009 01:45 AM PST Singer's appearance on CNN wearing an eye patch before inaugural performance set the Web abuzz.
President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration festivities are bringing out the best in everybody, it seems. Bruce Springsteen volunteered to perform after Obama's historic win, as did Beyoncé and U2. And James Taylor is set to proceed with his scheduled inauguration performances despite suffering an eye injury. The Grammy-winning singer told CNN's Larry King on Saturday night that he was wearing an eye patch because he tripped and fell. Taylor said his wife wanted him to explain his injury by saying he hit a doorknob. Taylor's injury set the Web abuzz about exactly what happened. Beginning late Saturday, there were a number of queries on Twitter about the artist, asking why he donned an eye patch for his appearance on CNN. Some Web sites suggested Taylor's accessory was a publicity stunt rather than a protective covering for a serious injury. Early Sunday afternoon (January 18), MTV News saw Taylor at a rehearsal for the big "We Are One" concert. Taylor didn't speak to any media during the soundcheck. When Taylor finally appeared for his televised performance, he had opted for sunglasses instead of the eye patch. MTV News is live-blogging the "We Are One" concert. "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" will air live on MTV on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. MTV News will have wall-to-wall coverage of the event and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya in the days leading up to the event and in the days that follow. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'We Are One' Inaugural Celebration: Check Out Our Full Report! Posted: 17 Jan 2009 11:55 PM PST Our reporters in the crowd were filing constant updates.
Related Artists |
| You are subscribed to email updates from MTV News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
Inbox too full?  Subscribe to the feed version of MTV News in a feed reader. | |
| If you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: MTV News, c/o Google, 20 W Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar