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| Will Jay-Z's <i>Blueprint 3</i> Be Released By Def Jam Or Live Nation? Posted: 23 Jan 2009 05:03 AM PST 'Well, whatever it is, it'll be Roc Nation. It's gonna be a partnership with someone,' the rapper said.
Last May, Live Nation made deals with Jay-Z, U2 and Madonna in an attempt to transform from a concert-promotion giant into a multimedia behemoth. The rapper inked a reported 10-year, $150 million deal with the company. As part of the pact, Jay would be provided funding for business ventures, which he's already taken advantage of by partnering with producers Stargate to launch the label StarRoc. Other benefits of the deal include Live Nation having a hand in the Roc-A-Fella star's recordings and tours for the next decade. (Live Nation later recruited Shakira and Nickelback into the fold with deals as well.) But with Jay-Z reportedly still under contract to Def Jam for one more album, where does that leave Live Nation in the equation for the upcoming Blueprint 3? The rapper has already been touring heavily in the past year with a number of Live Nation-owned venues included as stops.
So MTV News asked Jay-Z earlier this week exactly which label his next album will be released on. "Well, whatever it is, it'll be Roc Nation. It's gonna be a partnership with someone," he said. "So whether it's going to be Def Jam or someone [else], that's yet to be determined." Since debuting, the rapper has released an album every year from 1996 through 2003, when he announced his retirement from making solo LPs. When he reversed course, Jay released 2006's Kingdom Come followed by 2007's American Gangster, his last release to date. He recently told MTV News the delay in delivering BP3 is due to him having no quotas to meet. It's not clear if any negotiations between Def Jam and Live Nation are standing in the way. But to hear Jay's take on it, the album could have easily been released by now. "I don't have any quotas, and that's a good thing," Jay said. "It may be too freeing. It's a good thing and a bad thing. You know, I think I need some restrictions. 'Cause if I had restrictions, I would have done it in three weeks. I would have made what I believe to be a great piece of art." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Usher Talks About Working With Pharrell, Adam Levine Posted: 23 Jan 2009 05:03 AM PST 'The record we're working on is gonna be an incredible record,' singer says.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — When we caught up with him among the inaugural hoopla, Usher made us a promise: new music very soon. Maybe the record could be a Pharrell Williams/ Neptunes production, because a photo of Usher, Skateboard P and Maroon 5's Adam Levine collaborating in the studio recently hit the Net. "It's a little bit of everything," Usher said of what they've been working on. "Pharrell has his Web site where he lets you come inside his world and lets you know what's happening. A few pictures did leak online, just to let you know what he's been working on. There's some synergy between all of us and the record we're working on is gonna be an incredible record. I'm a fan. Adam is incredible — far beyond what I even fathomed. "[The studio session] was a loose thing," Ush added. "[Adam] came in, picked up a guitar and went to work." Usher and Pharrell obviously have a rich history of working together. "U Don't Have to Call" was a blockbuster, but the Atlanta crooner says he isn't looking to "yesterday" for inspiration — his sights are on right now. "We want to create music like you never heard before," Usher explained. "Once we create something in the studio that everybody is crazy about, then we try to beat that. Once we create another one, we try to beat that. It's like we're challenging ourselves in the moment, as opposed to chasing what's in the past. Although 'U Don't Have to Call' is always a great reason for us to come back again — it was more or less a celebration." Related Artists |
| Pussycat Dolls Say 'Bottle Pop' Video Will Be 'Freaky Fun' For The Clubs Posted: 23 Jan 2009 05:03 AM PST 'The Pussycat Dolls are all about busting out a move,' Nicole Scherzinger says.
The Pussycat Dolls have made a career out of the lethal combination of barely there costumes, big hair and lots of makeup. And seeing them decked out on the set of their new music video for "Bottle Pop," it is clear that they want the look to illustrate the song they describe as "freaky fun." "We're really excited to be doing our new single, 'Bottle Pop,' a.k.a. 'Booty Pop' or 'Booby Pop' — just joking," Nicole Scherzinger told MTV News about the clip for the second single off their album Doll Domination. "It's such a hot song for the clubs. The Pussycat Dolls are all about busting out a move." Scherzinger added that since the song is "all about dance" and by trade the Dolls are all dancers, the video for "Bottle Pop" will follow suit. "It's gonna be so much fun. ... It's gonna be a dance video," she revealed. "Obviously, you can tell by our wardrobe, it's going to be very colorful and fun ... freaky fun! You guys are going to be wanting to pop some bottles after this one." The video shoot for "Bottle Pop" kicks off a very busy year for the Dolls, who have already begun one of their two tours this year. On January 18, PCD hit the road in Europe with Lady Gaga for their Doll Domination Tour. "Lady Gaga is a friend of ours — we're on the same [record label]," Scherzinger said. "And she totally inspires us at the same time." When that tour comes to an end, PCD will be joining Britney Spears' U.S. Circus Tour. "We're like, 'We're opening up for Britney Spears! That's so cool!' I think we all screamed and jumped a little bit," PCD's Ashley Roberts said of their reaction to the news that they'd be touring with Spears. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Demi Lovato Says She Relates To Her 'Sonny With A Chance' Character Posted: 23 Jan 2009 05:03 AM PST Teen queen gets 'thrown into all this madness' on Disney Channel show.
Demi Lovato is taking over the Disney Channel airwaves. Last year, she starred alongside the Jonas Brothers in "Camp Rock," and now the teen star is getting her very own show. She's using her successful music career as a jumping-off point to let her fans know that pretty soon she'll be "Sonny With a Chance." "We just released the video [for the single 'La La Land'], which is promoting my show," she said of "Sonny," which premieres February 28. "It really describes the show. I'm excited about that."
Lovato likens "Sonny With a Chance" to another "show within a show." "The show is actually a sitcom. It's the Disney version of '30 Rock,' " she said of the show's premise. "On that show, we have a rivalry with another show, and there's so many, like, crazy plot lines. I play this girl who comes to L.A., or Hollywood, and is kind of thrown into all this madness." According to Lovato, her character, Sonny, is a lot like her. She's a small-town girl who finds fame and fortune in Los Angeles. "And she's, like, this little Midwestern or Wisconsin girl I kind of can relate to," said Lovato, who performed for the Obama girls at the "Kids' Inaugural: We Are the Future" concert in Washington, D.C., on Monday. "I'm from Texas and I'm thrown into this [thing that's like], 'Whoa everything is awesome.' It's really interesting." Lovato also has support from her pal and "Princess Protection" co-star Selena Gomez, who told TVGuide.com that she'd love to share some screen time with her friend. "We're working on [a cameo]," Gomez said. "We'd love to have Demi on ['Wizards.'] And I'd love to be a guest star on her show." Related Artists |
| N.E.R.D. Survive Tough Economy With Some Odd Jobs In 'Sooner Or Later' Video Posted: 23 Jan 2009 05:03 AM PST Pharrell Williams and company play clean-up crew in the new clip.
Tough times call for tough measures, according to N.E.R.D. Pharrell Williams and company recently premiered their next video, the somber "Sooner or Later," from 2008's Seeing Sounds, and the trio said the daily headlines inspired visuals for the track.
"We were talking about how the stock market crashed and how the world economy is so terrible, so the [directors] came up with this concept right around this same time," Williams explained of the clip. "Next thing you know, we're here [on set]." The Malloys are the directors behind N.E.R.D.'s "Sooner or Later" clip. The brothers, Emmett and Brendan, have helmed videos for the White Stripes ("Icky Thump") and the Black Eyed Peas ("Don't Phunk With My Heart"). For "Sooner or Later," the pair put a broom in the hands of Pharrell; the image is decidedly working-class and quite a departure for the flashy Billionaire Boys Club enthusiast. Meanwhile, bandmates Chad Hugo and Shay Haley got placed on mopping and janitorial duties, respectively. "Sooner or later, it all comes crashing down," Williams sings on the song's chorus. "Crashing down, when everyone's around/ I bet you would've paid up or you'll cash down." "Rob & Big" star Rob Dyrdek makes a cameo in the clip. Williams produced the official anthem of Dyrdek's skating crew, "Hoppin' Over Fences." The MTV star is optimistic the video will help ease the concerns of fans that are being hit hard by the slumping economy. "Hopefully, we're letting everybody know it'll be OK," Dyrdek said. Related Artists |
| Kanye West: 50 Cent's Insults Are Like 'Being Spit On' Posted: 22 Jan 2009 01:56 AM PST 'I was such a fan of 50,' Kanye says.
Ever since their epic albums-chart showdown in 2007, Kanye West and 50 Cent have been linked to each other as rivals, for better or worse. Oftentimes, though, it's been for the worse, at least when it comes to West being the target of 50's barbs. The G-Unit star has repeatedly taunted West, from remarks about the rapper's sexuality to mocking his emo-laden hit "Love Lockdown" during his own performances. West, though, has rarely retaliated. In one instance, on the remix to his "Can't Tell Me Nothing," the Chicago MC jabbed at 50 when he rapped, "And after all of the drama, Kay slayed him," referencing his opening-week sales of Graduation that trounced 50's Curtis sales numbers that same week. But, in an interview posted Thursday (January 22) on Bossip.com, a popular blog that West often name-checks, the rapper revealed that 50's swipes "affect" him. "Just as a real human being, I can't say that it doesn't affect me," he explained. "I was such a fan of 50. As much as people think that I look at myself, I think that me and Lil Wayne are very similar: Even though we believe in ourselves, we're very much fans of other rappers, too. Like how Game is, we really like other rappers. 50 is one of those rappers that I said was the end-all-be-all of what rap what supposed to be. Like, a true iconic rapper. " West has credited the rivalry for bringing out the best in the pair. Their songs "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and "I Get Money" were two of 2007's biggest rap anthems. But as a fan of 50, West said the G-Unit leader's negative words are akin to being "spit on" by him. "He was my favorite rapper since Mase when he dropped, and when I used to be around him, he was one of the few people that I was, like, really a fan of. I was nervous in the studio working on beats and hoping that I could do a good beat for him," West said, referring to music he produced for 50 that remains unreleased. "This is even when I had College Dropout and 'Jesus Walks.' Jay-Z and 50 are two types of guys you really want to make some good music for. "So, for me as a fan of him, I felt like if he said something negative and tried to make it like I'm negative, it's almost like if a little kid walks up to you at the airport and is like, 'Man, I love you so much,' and then you spit on him, it's like, [jokingly] 'I don't know if I love you as much as I used you,' as you wipe the spit off your face. But you still play their music." Related Artists |
| Young Jeezy Defends 'My President' Against Bill O'Reilly Posted: 22 Jan 2009 03:03 AM PST 'I felt it was necessary,' Atlanta-based rapper says of writing the song.
Hip-hop took a beating on "The O'Reilly Factor" on Wednesday (January 21). Guest Dennis Miller mocked Young Jeezy and Jay-Z. Bill O'Reilly, host of the show and noted hip-hop hater, also called Jeezy and Jay-Z's performance of "My President" at Club Love in Washington, D.C., "a rant that offended people."
We already know how both Jay-Z and Jeezy feel about O'Reilly — we've heard it in their music. On Monday (January 19), before performing "My President" at the Warner Theater, Jeezy talked to MTV News about the importance of the record and what he was trying to express. "Music is how you feel," Jeezy said about being inspired to write "My President." "But if I can say one word, I'll say 'necessary.' I felt it was necessary. I never ever paid attention to any election. Not really [into] politics or anything like that. It never benefited us. This time around, it's not a black-or-white thing — you got somebody in there for us that's well-spoken and gonna handle their business. I just wanted to do my part and let them know we need change, we need help, it's rough out there." Jeezy said that he plans on releasing the remix for "My President," and that Jay-Z's was just the first verse of the remix we heard. "The song was powerful already with Nas — now Jay is on there, we got a few more people on the remix. It's not even the song [that's important], it's the message. You still get bits and pieces out of there. You get your 'president is black, Lambo is blue,' but it's bits and pieces in there. You gotta listen. I ain't talking fast, y'all just listening slow." The Atlanta rapper also described his time in Washington, D.C. over the past few days as an amazing experience. "It's crazy, man, just to see the energy, just to see the support. All these millions of people are here for one cause," he illustrated. "Everybody is out here. I got a couple of homies who drove from Atlanta, who flew in from Atlanta. The kids are out here. The clubs are crazy, the parties. It's big." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Britney Spears' Suggestive Single 'If U Seek Amy' Edited By Radio Stations Posted: 22 Jan 2009 03:20 AM PST 'It's pretty obvious Britney was looking for controversy,' one program director says.
It's Britney Spears, after all, so you knew radio stations would find a way around the not-so-hidden profanity in the chorus to the third single from her album Circus, "If U Seek Amy." Several weeks ago, MTV News talked to a number of radio programmers across the country who said they weren't sure how they'd handle the song — whose chorus spells out "f--- me" — when it arrived as the album's next single. Since then, as label Jive prepares to roll it out, a few stations have begun playing it, albeit in an edited fashion. Though Jive did not return calls for comment, Tommy Chuck, program director for Tampa, Florida's WFLZ, told MTV News that his is among the half-dozen stations he's heard of that have started playing the song.
"We wanted to be careful, [because] it's pretty obvious Britney was looking for controversy," he said. But rather than playing the original version, Chuck said his station produced their own edit of the song that replaces the word "seek" with "see," as well as a morning zoo-style edit in which one of their morning hosts, MJ, shouts out his own name every time the word "Amy" comes around. "I think Jive is creating their own edit, so I don't know if they'll use ours or not," he said. "But it's a no-brainer that we would play it, because the song is a hit and people are calling for it like crazy. It may be the best song on the CD." Unlike some of the program directors we talked to just after the single was announced, Chuck said he had no problem with Spears trying to stir things up a bit with the tune, but he had to make sure whatever version the station played was clean enough to air. "I think it's probably questionable," he said of the suggestive chorus. "I think it's kind of silly, but especially with all the coverage surrounding it. ... When I first heard it, I thought about it and said, 'Better safe than sorry.' " As far as he's concerned, the edit doesn't fundamentally change anything about the song. "If someone had not heard the original version, they wouldn't know it had been changed." He said WFLZ was one of the first stations to start playing the song, which DJs are referring to as "If U See Amy" and which is now in light rotation with three to five spins a day. With "Womanizer" still garnering significant airplay and the title-track second single still moving up the charts, more stations are expected to add "Amy" to their playlists in the coming weeks. Related Artists |
| Jonas Brothers Give Acting A Shot On 'J.O.N.A.S.': 'We're Trying Our Best' Posted: 22 Jan 2009 02:17 AM PST 'We're just honored to have the opportunity to try the acting thing,' Nick Jonas says of Disney Channel show.
The Jonas Brothers are ready to start burnin' up your TV sets when their new TV show, "J.O.N.A.S.," debuts on the Disney Channel later this year. In the sitcom, the boys try to balance their lives between being pop stars and regular guys. "It's very exciting for us. It's been in the works for a while," Nick told "Access Hollywood." "It is now about us being a band and balancing a normal life. They give us freedom to add our humor in it. We're just honored to have the opportunity to try the acting thing. We're musicians. ... Acting is a new thing for us." And although the boys have a sense of humor, they admit that taking their act to the small screen hasn't been all that easy. "I'm very hard on myself when it comes to acting," Nick said. "Trying to capture my own personal sense of humor, in real life, it's very dry humor. But sometimes I can't quite master that on camera." Joe mirrored his younger brother's skepticism about their comedic styling, saying, "We're trying our best, and we'll see the outcome. We really enjoy it ... but this gives us the opportunity to keep the music involved." The boys will also be taking their act to a theater near you next month when they release "Jonas Brothers: The 3-D Concert Experience," which they say will give fans a good idea of what it's like to be a Jonas Brother. "It gets some really personal things in there," Nick said of the movie. "There's one scene in particular where it captures all the things that we went through in Times Square in New York City on our album-release night, which was one of the craziest scenes. I think it's the only footage in the world of it." The guys may have a lot on their plate with a TV show set to premiere and a movie about to be released, but Kevin revealed that the guys might have one more project in the works. "We have an amazing stylist. ... She's worked with us for almost two years, and we've really built a look together," he said. "It translates to the show as well, but more than that, we are just really happy that we have a certain kind of clothes that we like. We like what we like. You never know, we might be working on our own clothing line here and there. We really like that whole aspect." Related Artists |
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