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| 50 Cent Wants An Explanation For Lil Wayne's Dis Track Posted: 10 Feb 2009 05:04 AM PST 'If it's an issue, let's deal with the actual issue,' Fif says of Weezy's jabs at him on 'Louisianimal.'
With all the hype around 50 Cent vs. Rick Ross, Fif's blatant baiting of Lil Wayne has gotten lost in the mix. Maybe 50 will let any issues he has with Weezy die completely — that is, if Mr. Grammy Awards 2009 clears things up. "I didn't say he was next," 50 said about his tirade against Wayne at the end of "Officer Ricky," a track primarily dissing Ross. 50 said he merely wants Wayne to explain a record called "Louisianimal," on which Weezy throws a couple of light jabs at the G-Unit general. "He didn't create clarity for the public," 50 insisted. "If you don't do that and say something disrespectful that's for the public, I gotta do something to address it. He had material come out. I don't know if it was leaked or not.
"It's been so long since I was saying anything about Lil Wayne," 50 added, admitting he started with Wayne last year. "I gave him an award. At the BET Awards, I handed him a trophy. So when [his dis record] comes out, I say, 'Let me say something that makes him create clarity for the public.' If it's an issue, let's deal with the actual issue. If not, let it go." During a recent interview in Venezuela, 50 Cent did some clearing up of his own. Remember that record "Play This on the Radio"? Fif's first dis record directed at Lil Wayne? Well, everyone in the streets was talking about how 50 might have been going after Kanye West with the opening line: "First they say, 'That f----t hot.' " Fif didn't do a very good job dismissing the innuendo when he interviewed with DJ Whoo Kid in the aftermath and jokingly questioned Kanye's sexuality. Well, Fif told us he wasn't dissing 'Ye on the song and he has no issues with West. "I never said Kanye's name," 50 told us with a grin. "I actually don't believe Kanye West is gay. He might be sensitive. Trying — try-sexual. But I know he's not gay." Related Artists |
| Chris Brown And Rihanna's Relationship Had Become Rocky, Sources Say Posted: 09 Feb 2009 04:14 AM PST Sources tell MTV News that the stars' high-profile status put pressure on the pair.
Hours before Chris Brown was charged with making criminal threats against a woman that may have been Rihanna, the singer and his girlfriend were seen in pictures together at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy shindig, smiling and appearing playfully at ease with each other. According to a number of sources (several of whom spoke to MTV News under the condition of confidentiality), however, the couple were enduring a rough patch recently in their year-plus relationship — the pressure that the stars' high-profile status created began to take a toll, said those with knowledge of the couple's relationship. Rumors swirling around on blogs about the pair, including off-hand remarks about infidelity and fights, certainly didn't help matters.
At last year's Grammy celebration, the couple first created a buzz when they were spotted together in the VIP section of an afterparty. Brown and Rihanna were located next to another urban music super couple in Nas and Kelis. A month after the spotting, Brown spoke to MTV News and denied a burgeoning romance with Rihanna, insisting he was still single. "Me, personally, from a relationship standpoint, I am a single guy," he told MTV News. "I am definitely single. And I've been on my Web site and seeing how girls have been threatening me and saying I'm a liar, and I'm like, 'It's not even that.' The thing is, I have a close friend, but it's not like a relationship. I'm not trying to settle down. I'm only 18, so I'm just trying to live my life and have fun." Later that same month, Rihanna said the pair were like "brother and sister." She told MTV News she would confirm the relationship if there was one — but instead she called Brown her "best friend." "I won't say that we're just friends — me and Chris are really best, best friends," Rihanna explained at the time, smiling. "We both started our careers around the same time. He is one of the only people in the industry ... I trust and hang out with all the time. We are best friends, honestly, like brother and sister. If he was a boyfriend, I would say that." The couple have been snapped in a number of photos since then, many of them capturing the intimacy the two share, whether kissing, swimming together or showing their matching tattoos (stars on the sides of their necks). The two never officially confirmed their status, instead opting for a Jay-Z and Beyoncé-like secrecy. Brown and Rihanna playfully insisted they just had bad luck with pictures and the images were misleading. Soon, Brown began popping up at Rihanna's shows around the country and added a guest verse to her hit song "Umbrella." In addition to just dating, the musical couple traveled overseas together in recent months, touring a number of countries. Some industry experts believe that both artists being successful in their own right added to the stress of the public relationship. Mimi Valdes, the former editor of Vibe, saw firsthand the scrutiny a young couple can endure when she placed former teen couple Bow Wow and Ciara on the cover of the magazine's March 2005 issue. "Young relationships are hard, in general, because in many ways I'm not really sure if people that young should be in an exclusive relationship to begin with," Valdes told MTV News. "But when you throw in lots of money and fame, everything becomes heightened, whether it's somebody seen as being too flirty or someone else not always being available for you when you call them. Then egos start to come into play and being mature enough to be in those types of relationships, at 19 and 20 ... not to say it can't happen — because some people who are married met at that age — but it's extremely difficult." Just last month Brown and Rihanna's first musical collaboration, "Bad Girl," leaked onto the Web. The song's producer, Polow da Don, described the atmosphere in the studio to MTV News, calling the session "fun." He had hoped for more collaborations in the future by the trio. "It's crazy, because Chris Brown's energy alone is incredible — he's a high-energy kid," Polow said. "Rihanna has a unique voice, and she's one of the easiest people to work with. When her, Chris and myself were in the room, it's fun. That's when the music isn't work at all. It's all freestyle. Chris comes up with an idea; I come up with one. Rihanna will weigh in. And we build. We actually did a lot more records that hopefully will be coming soon." Brown and Rihanna's relationship status remains uncertain as of press time. Brown is scheduled to appear in court March 5 for arraignment on one felony count; his lawyer had no comment when his office was contacted Monday afternoon by MTV News. Representatives for both artists have declined to comment about the situation. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kanye West Responds To Critics: 'I'm So Secure With My Manhood' Posted: 09 Feb 2009 12:53 AM PST West addresses comments from 50 Cent and others about his wardrobe: 'There's a lot of gay people that I dress way better than.'
No matter what you might think about Kanye West, he's definitely secure with his raps and with himself. On the Grammy stage on Sunday night, he laid the first verse on "Swagga Like Us," knowing that he had three more acclaimed wordsmiths — Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and T.I. — coming after him on the track, and still felt confident that his rap held up in such strong company. Kanye does exactly what he wants to do, so it's no surprise that he took the stage in a sparkling jacket that could have come out of Michael Jackson's closet in 1984. Still, Kanye's clothes have become a major topic lately. In a recent interview with MTV News, 50 Cent joked heavily about West's choice of wardrobe. And Fif isn't the only one: On the Internet, fans and bloggers alike have questioned the Chicago native's garment picks.
In that interview, 50 denied that he was referring to West when he said in his song "Play This on the Radio," "first they say, 'That f----t hot" — although in January, when 50 was a guest on DJ Whoo Kid's satellite radio show, he hinted that he might have been talking about Kanye on the song when he made reference to West's sexuality. When asked about the comments by MTV News last week, 50 told us with a grin, "I never said Kanye's name." During a sitdown interview with Sway on Friday, West talked very candidly about a myriad of issues, including certain people not understanding his at times eccentric fashion statements. Sway: Kanye, you've become a fashion icon. But along with the accolades you get for setting trends, like you did with the "Stronger" glasses and even the 808s & Heartbreak heart pendants, some people really mock you because of the way you dress. If you look on the Internet, there are even some of your peers and fans that say you "dress gay." What does that mean to you? West: Well, it's like when people say, "Give me a natural pose." You can't pose natural. If you're posing, then it's not natural no more. So it's statements that people say. "Dressing gay" you can't dress like ... Your dress don't give away whether or not you like a man. Think about actors that straight dress up like a woman or something like that. People wanna label me and throw that on me all the time, but I'm so secure with my manhood. And that's the reason why I can go to Paris, why I can have conversations with people who are blatantly gay. 'Cause I used to be scared to talk to a gay person. It's designers that's scared of people in hip-hop. And in hip hop, there's people — and let's not even say scared like homophobic — but they're scared of the way people gonna look at them. If you see a person be like, "I don't wanna stand next to Marc Jacobs 'cause I don't want that to bear on me because I'm just so cool." One of the reasons why, the perspective I come from with my raps and my songs, the reason why can't nobody dis me — no gangsta rapper, nobody can really dis me is 'cause it's so authentic. Sway: Tell me about the now-infamous Paris picture. West: I'm gonna tell you something about the Paris pic. They was like, some of the people dressed in the outfits, I didn't check out everybody's outfit that hopped in the picture with me — I can't be completely responsible. You go right into my outfit, my outfit is good. And see, like the [Fonzworth] Bentley video, "Everybody," there was people calling me before we dropped it, like "Man y'all shouldn't put that out with y'all dancing, man. People gonna say y'all gay!" And another thing is, people are so gay-conscious now. That's like the whole thing like with the Internet — every day [is like], "Oh I can tell he gay now!" But back in the day, people used to have songs like "Get In That A--" or something like that. Someone would never make a song like that [today] because they'd be like "Whoa! I can't make no song like that! People gonna call me gay!" Sway: But that picture made so much noise. There was a lot of colors, right? West: It was a lot of colors. Let me tell you another thing about ... I'm doing a blog right now where I've been collecting all of the freshest stuff that's rainbows — Denver Nuggets jerseys, BAPE shoes, Nikes with rainbows on 'em — and saying, "Man I think as straight men we need to take the rainbow back because it's fresh." It looks fresh. I just think that because stereotypically gay people got such good like style that they were smart enough to take a fresh-ass logo like the rainbow and say that it's gonna be theirs. But I was like "Man I think we need to have the rainbow" — the idea of colors , life and colors and stuff, I mean how is that a gay thing? Colors? Having a lot of colors is gay? Sway: You once were quoted saying that you were inspired in fashion by how gay people dress. West: And you know what? That's when I was ignorant to gays. 'Cause there's a lot of gay people who don't dress good at all. There's a lot of gay people that I dress way better than. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Valentine's Day Playlist: Top 10 Best Love Songs Posted: 10 Feb 2009 05:04 AM PST Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift and more make us weak in the knees without the cheesy lyrics and soprano sax.
Valentine's Day — you either love it or hate it. It makes sweethearts swoon and others want to stab fat cherubs with a bow and arrow. Between the chocolate hearts, the red roses and the teddy bears shoved in our faces, the holiday stirs up a cocktail of emotions: happiness, despair, jealousy, grief, sadness, desire ...
MTV News has all your mood swings covered. In honor of this beloved and dreaded holiday, we're rolling out the Best Love Songs, Best Breakup Songs, Best Makeout Songs and Worst Love Songs in recent memory. It's our Valentine's Day gift to you, minus the dinner-and-a-movie part. So slip into something comfortable, and stay for a while. Love songs tend to get dusted off and put on display at weddings. And it's hard to take any song seriously right after doing the chicken dance. Our favorite artists know what's up: They express those deepest, darkest emotions without the help of cheesy lyrics or a soprano-saxophone player. Give it up to Justin, the Jonas Brothers and these other winged matchmakers for making us all a little weak in the knees. 10. Jonas Brothers - "Lovebug" 9. Alicia Keys - "No One" 8. The Postal Service - "Such Great Heights" 7. Jason Mraz (featuring Colbie Caillat) - "Lucky" 6. Miley Cyrus - "7 Things" 5. Beyoncé - "Crazy in Love" 4. Taylor Swift - "Love Story" 3. Gym Class Heroes - "Cupid's Chokehold" 2. U2 - "With or Without You" 1. Justin Timberlake - "My Love" Not in love with our choices for best love songs? Tell us in the comment section below. Related Videos Related Artists |
| How Did Blink-182 Become So Influential? Posted: 09 Feb 2009 02:29 AM PST In between the raunchy humor and nudity, Blink managed to make a huge impact on other bands and devoted fans.
Perhaps without even knowing it — and definitely without ever really trying — Blink-182 have somehow become one of the most influential bands of the past 20 years. This might seem like a bit of a stretch. After all, aren't these the same guys with the discography of di-- jokes? The ones who gave their albums titles like Enema of the State or Take Off Your Pants and Jacket? Well, yes. But they're also the same guys who featured Robert Smith on their self-titled (or untitled ... it's never really been clear) fifth album, the same guys who grew and matured into really excellent songwriters, and the same guys responsible for blurring lines with projects like Box Car Racer and Transplants.
Yet, despite their maturation, Blink never took themselves particularly seriously, which was another reason they were so accessible. They boiled down the knotty songs of the Descendents and Bad Religion into spirited-yet-nonthreatening pop punk, which means, without them, there'd be no Fall Out Boy, no Paramore, or no Fueled by Ramen Records. And they used their fame to shine the spotlight on (then) unknown acts like Jimmy Eat World, Motion City Soundtrack, Taking Back Sunday, Brand New and New Found Glory. When they went on "indefinite hiatus" in February 2005, fans mourned and a generation of bands they inspired surged to the forefront, only adding to the legacy of Blink. And when, during Sunday night's Grammy Awards, they announced that they were reuniting, those same fans — and those same bands — rejoiced. Seems like everyone still loves Blink. Formed in Poway, California, in 1992 — when bassist Mark Hoppus' sister introduced him to guitarist Tom DeLonge, who was playing in a band called Big Oily Men — they recruited drummer Scott Raynor and began jamming out in DeLonge's garage. Originally saddled with the name Duck Tape, DeLonge rechristened the band as Blink, and they recorded a pair of demos (songs from the demos would later resurface on the band's first two albums). Drawing the attention of local label Cargo Music, they released their debut album, Cheshire Cat, in 1994. And though the album never made much of an impact commercially, it's often cited by bands and fans as an iconic release. Soon after, they drew the ire of an Irish band also named Blink, so they were forced to change their name to Blink-182. In 1997, they released Dude Ranch, and thanks to the success of singles like "Dammit" and "Josie," the album sold more than a million copies. While touring in support of the record, they parted was with drummer Raynor (under somewhat mysterious circumstances) and asked Travis Barker — who was drumming with tourmates the Aquabats — to fill in behind the kit for the remainder of the dates. Turns out, he would never leave. In 1999, Blink broke-through to the mainstream with Enema of the State, a roiling mix of pop punk and punnery that featured porn star Janine Lindemulder on the cover. Thanks to a string of successful singles (and over-the-top videos), Enema went on to sell more than 15 million albums worldwide, making Blink the biggest punk act on the planet. Accordingly, they toured the globe (shows were recorded for their The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show live album) and even made an appearance in the raunchy blockbuster "American Pie." They followed the success of Enema with Take Off Your Pants and Jacket, which featured the hit singles "First Date" and "Rock Show," and toured with Green Day. During a much-needed break, DeLonge recorded an album with his side project, Box Car Racer, while Barker teamed up with Rancid's Tim Armstrong to form the rap-core group Transplants. The effects of both groups were apparent in Blink's next record, a mature and quite dark self-titled effort. Fans were split by the so-called "new Blink," but the album still berthed singles like "Feeling This" and "I Miss You." They toured with No Doubt in 2004, but tensions within the band — stemming from the grueling schedule and DeLonge's desire to spend more time with his family — started to become evident. In early 2005, Blink abruptly canceled a performance at a Music for Relief benefit show, and soon after, the "indefinite hiatus" announcement was made. In the years since, Hoppus and Barker formed +44, while DeLonge forged ahead as the (very vocal) frontman of Angels & Airwaves. Both sides took their fair share of potshots at the other, but, as it often happens, tragedy helped bring the trio back together. Barker escaped a fiery plane crash in South Carolina, a crash that killed four people including Barker's assistant, "Lil Chris" Baker — whom Hoppus was also close with — and security guard Charles "Che" Still. In the wake of the crash, Hoppus posted on his blog that he, Barker and DeLonge had started spending time together. Last month, in an exclusive interview with MTV News, Hoppus said when it came to the possibilities of a Blink reunion, "The future is wide open." Looks like he wasn't lying. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Rihanna Reportedly The Victim In Chris Brown Case Posted: 08 Feb 2009 10:16 PM PST Police, reps have not confirmed media reports.
The allegations against singer Chris Brown took an even more serious turn Monday (February 9) when TMZ reported that the victim in the case was the 19-year-old singer's longtime girlfriend, Rihanna. The Los Angeles Times and Us Weekly have also reported that Rihanna was the victim. Additionally, though police are not revealing the victim's name because the alleged incident involves domestic violence, TMZ claimed the crime report was made in Rihanna's birth name, Robyn Fenty.
Although TMZ initially reported that a deadly weapon was involved in the case, it later retracted that claim. Brown and Rihanna were scheduled to perform at the Grammys separately on Sunday night, with each nominated for a handful of awards. Word emerged just before the broadcast that neither would be attending, along with news that Brown had turned himself in to Los Angeles police. Detectives investigating the felony battery charges booked the singer for criminal threats in the case and released him on $50,000 bail, saying that additional charges may be filed. A spokesperson for the LAPD said Monday morning that the department had no further information beyond the statements posted on the department's Web site and would not confirm the TMZ reports or the alleged ID'ing of Rihanna as the victim. Spokespeople for Rihanna and Brown could not be reached for comment at press time. According to the LAPD, the 19-year-old R&B singer and an unidentified woman were in a vehicle in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles early Sunday when they began arguing. Police said the "woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker." Officers said Brown was not present at the scene when they arrived. In light of the alleged domestic-violence incident, a 2007 interview Brown did with Giant magazine, in which he said his mother had been physically abused by his stepfather, has resurfaced. "He used to hit my mom," the singer told the magazine. "He made me terrified all the time, terrified like I had to pee on myself. I remember one night he made her nose bleed. I was crying and thinking, 'I'm just gonna go crazy on him one day.' ... I hate him to this day." Brown also told the magazine he studied martial arts to defend himself and that after a fight with classmates in which he used his skills, he begged his mother not to go to the police. "Don't go to no cops pressing no charges," he reportedly told her. "Like, we don't do that in the 'hood." Emil Wilbekin, editor in chief of Giant magazine, told MTV News on Monday that he was saddened by the news. "In the 2007 article, he talks about his abusive stepfather beating on his mother, and unfortunately, that type of behavior often becomes a pattern within families," Wilbekin said. "It's a little sad, because he is a role model for so many young men and has so many young female fans. It does send a really bad message." Get resources and information about domestic violence, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Doublemint Suspends Chris Brown Ad Campaign Posted: 09 Feb 2009 12:06 AM PST 'Wrigley is concerned by the serious allegations made against Chris Brown,' company says in statement.
In the wake of Chris Brown's arrest on Sunday for making criminal threats, the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company — makers of Doublemint chewing gum — have announced that they are suspending a current ad campaign that features the singer. "Wrigley is concerned by the serious allegations made against Chris Brown. We believe Mr. Brown should be afforded the same due process as any citizen," the company said in a statement released to MTV News. "However, we have made the decision to suspend the current advertising featuring Brown and any related marketing communications until the matter is resolved."
Brown and Wrigley entered into a high-profile partnership last summer, which saw the singer rework his hit song "Forever" into a jingle for Doublemint gum. A commercial, featuring Brown singing and dancing, began airing in August. The spot also aired during last night's Grammy telecast, which Brown and his girlfriend, Rihanna, both missed, due to what was originally reported as a car accident. That news quickly changed as reports began to circulate that Brown was under investigation for domestic violence, stemming from a 911 call received by the Los Angeles Police Department at approximately 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. Brown turned himself in later that night, was booked and released on $50,000 bail. At the center of the investigation is the identity of Brown's alleged victim, whom LAPD would only identify as a female who "suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker." However, several media sources have since reported that the victim is Rihanna, claiming that she filled out the police report in her birth name, Robyn Fenty. Spokespeople for Brown and Rihanna had not commented on the matter at press time. Get resources and information about domestic violence, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Videos Related Artists |
| What To Do If You're A Victim Of Domestic Violence Posted: 09 Feb 2009 12:57 AM PST Issue gets renewed attention because of allegations in Chris Brown case.
The issue of domestic violence was pushed into the spotlight this weekend when reports emerged that singer Chris Brown was allegedly involved in a physical confrontation with girlfriend Rihanna. While police are not identifying Rihanna as the woman injured in the incident that occurred on Sunday morning, TMZ has reportedly confirmed that the the 20-year-old singer was the victim in the case and that she identified Brown, 19, as her attacker. The alleged assault has shed light on a 2007 interview Brown did with Giant magazine, in which he said his mother had been physically abused by his stepfather. "He used to hit my mom," the singer told the magazine. "He made me terrified all the time, terrified like I had to pee on myself. I remember one night he made her nose bleed. I was crying and thinking, 'I'm just gonna go crazy on him one day.' ... I hate him to this day." Emil Wilbekin, editor in chief of Giant, told MTV News on Monday (February 9) that if the allegations prove true, they fit a sadly predictable chain of abuse. "In the 2007 article, he talks about his abusive stepfather beating on his mother, and unfortunately, that type of behavior often becomes a pattern within families," Wilbekin said. "It's a little sad, because he is a role model for so many young men and has so many young female fans. It does send a really bad message." Detectives investigating the alleged domestic-violence felony battery booked the singer for criminal threats in the case and released him on $50,000 bail; additional charges may be filed. A spokesperson for Brown could not be reached for comment at press time. TMZ is reporting that an unnamed police source said Rihanna suffered contusions and bite marks in the alleged assault. The incident came just two days after the end of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week, a three-year-old effort to get out the warning signs about violence among young people (16-24) in relationships. Among those signs, according to experts, are intense jealousy, excessive text messaging or calling, monitoring calls or e-mails, frequently showing up unannounced, telling the other person what to do or wear, publicly embarrassing your partner, frequent accusations of "cheating" or flirting, keeping your partner from doing things they enjoy, and threats of suicide or self-injury in the event of a breakup. The awareness week brought some sobering statistics from around the country, such as those from the Texas Council on Family Violence, which reported that 75 percent of Texans age 16-24 who were surveyed reported experiencing dating violence or knowing someone who had. Back in 2007, one victim, Kendrick, shared her story with MTV News of being physically and emotionally abused in her first relationship, in order to let other teens know that they're not alone. Just 14 when she started dating a senior in high school, Kendrick said she and her boyfriend, known for his quick temper, rapidly escalated to saying they loved each other and would be together forever within months of beginning their relationship. After her parents forbade her to see her boyfriend, she snuck off to meet him, and it was during those times when he would become physically abusive. "You're stuck. You're being controlled. You don't know what to do," she said, describing the situation as being "stuck in a black hole." Even after breaking up over the phone, Kendrick said she was terrified for weeks that the boyfriend would physically harm her but that the emotional abuse she suffered was equally damaging. "When someone has that much power over your routine and your schedule, and you're getting no say in your own life, that's a form of abuse," she said, referring to the use of e-mail, IM and texts by an abusive partner as a means of control. "Teen dating violence, it can be prevented. This isn't a disease that we're trying to find a cure for," she said. "This is something that can be prevented if we teach people about it." For more information on teen dating violence, head over to Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. |
| Is T.I. Working On Dr. Dre's <i>Detox</i>?: <i>Mixtape Monday</i> Posted: 09 Feb 2009 12:53 AM PST Plus: Kanye West addresses jabs from 50 Cent and others; Ryan Leslie talks up Jadakiss' 'Diamond Girl' verse.
Artist: Jay Rock Representing: Watts Mixtape: Coming Soon to a Hood Near You 411: Two cities in a week ... sure is sweet! First off, the Mixtape Monday fam has to send love out to Dallas. D-Town showed up and showed out for us as we got a chance to mingle with the city's artists, athletes and 'hood celebs. We'll have much more from our trip in the coming weeks.
Now, let's boogie further west — L.A., what up? Everybody out there already knows what it is with us: Cali love all day. Look for L.A. and surrounding cities to make more noise than a fleet of low-lows bouncing up and down. You have Bishop Lamont, Crooked I, Glasses Malone and Nipsey Hussle all on deck with strong followings underground. This week, we look to Watts' own Jay Rock. Rock dropped "All My Life" with Lil Wayne several weeks ago, and we were all engulfed in the record's street soulfulness. But that was just to get a buzz. His LP, Follow Me Home, is slated for this summer with production by DJ Quik, Cool & Dre, LES and J.R. Rotem. Coming Soon to a Hood Near You is the latest in a long line of street CDs, and it's a collabo with DJ Noodles. Joints To Check For » "Coming Soon to a Hood Near You." "It's talking about me coming!" Jay said. "I'm coming through every 'hood with my music. The 'hood is what I do this for. No matter what city or state you're in, the 'hood is the 'hood. And all the 'hood n---as and 'hood chicks relate to me, because I come from the same struggles." » "All My Life" (featuring Lil Wayne and Will.I.Am). "This song is about moving from the bottom to the top," Rock said. "And that's not just for the 'hood. It's for everybody from every walk of life. It's about forward progress in anything you're doing. It's also about determination and not letting anything stop you." » "I Cried." "It's basic raw emotions that street n---as feel when they lose one of their n---as to the streets. All type of feelings run through a n---a, and retaliation is right at the top of the list." Don't Sleep: Other Notable Selections This Week » Lil Wayne - Hottest N---a Under the Sun 'Hood's Heavy Rotation: Bubbling Below The Radar » Asher Roth (featuring Jim Jones) - "I Love College" remix Streets Is Talking: News And Notes From The Underground On Sunday night, T.I. was part of a historic Grammy performance of "Swagga Like Us" (along with Kanye West, Lil Wayne, M.I.A. and Jay-Z), which was later followed by his emotional rendition of "Dead and Gone" with Justin Timberlake. Earlier, "Swagga" won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. But before all that, our very own Sway caught up with T.I. on the Grammy red carpet and asked him to confirm one news item that's been floating in the air: Is Tip, in fact, working with Dr. Dre on Detox? "You don't have to deny it," Sway offered. "I know you were in the studio working with him." "I can not confirm or deny any professional affiliation," T.I. said. Sway pressed on and asked if he's recently seen Dr. Dre. T.I. playfully stared off into space and whistled. "Dr. Dre, he's an outstanding guy," Tip said vaguely. "A little birdie sat on my shoulder and told me that the Detox album is going to be phenomenal." T.I. also remained tight-lipped about the prospect of him becoming president of Atlantic Records. "I can not confirm or deny either," he smiled. ... Kanye West's clothes have become a major topic lately. In a recent interview with MTV News, 50 Cent joked heavily about West's choice of wardrobe. (Check out our full interview with 50.) And Fif isn't the only one: On the Internet, fans and bloggers alike have questioned the Chicago native's garment picks.
In that interview, 50 denied that he was referring to West with the line "First they say, 'That f----t hot' " in the song "Play This on the Radio" — although in January, when 50 was a guest on DJ Whoo Kid's satellite radio show, he hinted that he might have been talking about 'Ye on the song. When asked about the comments by MTV News last week, 50 told us with a grin, "I never said Kanye's name." During a sitdown interview with Sway on Friday, West talked very candidly about myriad issues, including certain people not understanding his sometimes-eccentric fashion statements. " 'Dressing gay' ... people wanna label me and throw that on me all the time," Kanye told Sway. "But I'm so secure with my manhood." (Head here for the full Q&A with Kanye.) ... Ryan Leslie might be more R&B smooth than hard-core hip-hop head, but the singer has a knack for making beats that the grimiest of rappers want to sink their teeth into. First, there was 50 Cent jacking the Harvard grad's "Diamond Girl" for "Bottom Girl." Then, Fabolous turned "Addiction" into his personal playground, flipping rhymes like Dominique Dawes. For R-Les' latest, "How It Was Suppose to Be," he has none other than the world-famous DJ Clue to thank for the Jadakiss cameo. "I played [the record] for him, and he said, 'I know what to do with this,' " Leslie told us. "And, to be really fair to him, he actually had Snoop set up to do the remix to 'Diamond Girl.' And for whatever reason, we had a couple studio sessions where Snoop actually showed up. But it was after a party, so we actually didn't get the verses done. There's a 'Diamond Girl' remix with Estelle, another 'Diamond Girl' remix with a French rapper, which we were able to do later. But Clue took this record and said, 'Look, Ryan, I'm gonna get this done.' " Then, Leslie didn't hear back from Clue. It wasn't until the singer — whose self-titled debut drops Tuesday — made a guest appearance on Green Lantern's radio show that he first heard the remix. He was more than impressed with Jada's gift to him. "I was sitting in the studio listening to Jadakiss come off, and the way he actually came off on that record really showed me that he listened to the lyrical content," Leslie said of his reaction to the track. "I felt like I had actually been in the studio with him and told him the story behind the record. That's how fitting his verse was. So shout-out to Clue and shout out to 'Kiss for that." Leslie is right back in the lab working on his new LP, and we may hear it later this year. For other artists featured in Mixtape Monday, check out Mixtape Mondays Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Ne-Yo Rocks L.A., The Ladies And Omarion At Post-Grammy Concert Posted: 09 Feb 2009 03:12 AM PST Singer somehow has energy to host concert after winning two Grammys (and hitting many parties).
LOS ANGELES — Amid all the parties surrounding the Grammy Awards last weekend, it's hard to imagine someone who seemingly attended all of them — Ne-Yo — having enough energy to host a concert after the big show. (He'd even hosted a "midnight brunch" on Saturday night and performed two nights in a row.) But that's exactly what the man did on late Sunday night at Club Nokia, finishing the seemingly endless weekend off in style with a stellar performance. He probably had quite an adrenaline rush after winning two Grammys, but as the lyrics from his hit "Closer" say, "He just can't stop/ No, no he just can't stop ..." "I haven't slept in four days!" Ne-Yo shouted to the crowd during the energetic set. Opening with "Because of You," he smoothly took the audience through hit after hit, and even a few songs he wrote for other artists, like Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" and Rihanna's "Take a Bow." He also played up his ladies-man image, handing out roses and personally calling out girls in the crowd to wink, say hi and acknowledge that, "You look like you're having a great time, thanks!" One fan even threw a thong onstage, which Ne-Yo picked up and put in his pocket. The show took place directly across from the Staples Center, where the Grammys were held, and a lot of stars walked over from the big event. Ne-Yo shouted out Omarion in the crowd, and we also spotted Britney's former choreographer-turned-movie-star Columbus Short, also known for his lead roles in "Stomp the Yard" and "This Christmas" (not to mention "Cadillac Records"). Keri Hilson opened the show with major sex appeal and style, and the hit songwriter took a note from Ne-Yo by starting her set with Timbaland's "The Way I Are," on which she sings the chorus. She also did the single "Turnin' Me On" and performed a few tracks from her long-delayed forthcoming album, In a Perfect World, which will finally hit stores on March 24. All in all, it was a fine way to finish off a long weekend ... Related Photos Related Artists |
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