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| T.I.'s 'Dead And Gone' Video, Featuring Justin Timberlake, Pays Tribute To Friend Posted: 17 Feb 2009 02:11 AM PST The clip is dedicated to T.I.'s friend Philant Johnson, who was killed in 2006.
During the Grammys, T.I. teamed with Justin Timberlake to film a video for his track "Dead and Gone." The rapper told MTV News that the clip and his performance at the ceremony the next day would mirror each other and "personify the sentiment of the song and capture that [mood]."
His performances at the award show were among the broadcast's many highlights. For "Dead and Gone," Tip entered through a billow of smoke and Timberlake rode shotgun at the piano. Tip emotionally rapped the track's cautionary tale while JT tickled the keys in a melancholy staging. "Now you gushin', ambulance rushin'," Tip rapped. "'You to the hospital with a bad concussion/ Plus you hit four times but it hit yo spine/ Paralyzed waist-down and ya wheelchair bound." The Chris Robinson-directed video premiered on MTV Tuesday (February 17). The clip features the two artists in performance scenes outside the California desert, interspersed with visuals of the song's protagonist, an innocent kid who makes a bad decision and couldn't walk away from a fight. At the end of the first verse, he ends up in a wheelchair as a result of the beating he took, just like the lyrics dictate. Toward the end of the video, the Atlanta rapper drives his car to a crossroad and gets out of his vehicle to meet Timberlake, who's positioned at the center of the road. The song's bridge begins and images of T.I. with his wife, a pastor, and a serpent flash across the screen, as does the word "good." Then images of a prison yard flash along with the word "evil," before the word "redemption" pops up followed by a picture of Philant Johnson's grave. Johnson — boyhood friend of the rapper — was tragically gunned down in 2006 after a T.I. show in Ohio; the song is dedicated to his memory. Tip spoke at Johnson's funeral and described their bond. "It just seems like as long as I can remember, he was there," T.I. said of Johnson. "As long as I can remember, his mama and my mama were partners. His cousin and my uncle were partners. His auntie and my grandmama stayed up the street from one another. And we just always knew each other, and it was cool." Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Semifinals -- Check Out Our Live Blog! Posted: 17 Feb 2009 05:02 AM PST Check out 'Idol' expert Jim Cantiello's minute-by-minute recap of the show.
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| Vote On What Aubrey O'Day Should Wear To Richie Rich Fashion Show! Posted: 17 Feb 2009 04:33 AM PST Ex-Danity Kane singer (and Playboy's latest star) lets you choose her outfit!
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| Watch 'American Idol' Castoff Joanna Pacitti Tour Record Labels Posted: 17 Feb 2009 06:06 AM PST Pacitti auditioned for executives in an episode of 'True Life' in 2002.
Last week, "American Idol" hopeful Joanna Pacitti was disqualified from the show without explanation. Speculation centered around the fact that Pacitti had been working in the industry for a while, and now it's been discovered that in 2002, Pacitti was one of the young people profiled in "True Life Presents: First Year." The special showed Pacitti as she tried to make her way in the music industry, including meeting with and performing for A&M Records executives.
"I was really nervous and trying really hard not to think," she said about performing for the executives. "I didn't want to screw up and I wanted it to be perfect." During the performance for the label, she sang her song "Miracle," which later became her first single. "There is definitely pressure for the meeting. It's a little scary, 'cause it's the first time they're going to see me, and if I screw up or if anything happens then I blew it," she said. "I got the most amazing reaction — something I didn't even expect. In the back of the room people were standing on their seats. It was awesome." It also shows the up-and-coming star at home watching the 2002 Grammy Awards, wishing that one day it would be her walking down the red carpet. "Since I was little I always was annoyed watching them, 'cause I see the people and I know I should be there," she said. "But it won't be long, I'm sure — after a while I'll be like, 'Another awards show.' " The singer also spoke in-depth about being cast in the Broadway show "Annie," and how she was replaced when she contracted bronchitis. "When I was 11 years old something happened to me that changed my life forever," she shared. " 'Annie' was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me in my life. It was one of the hardest things to overcome. "We all decided that I would leave the show. The next day the press got it that I was fired. [I was in seventh grade,] and the kids are torture. It made my feel like I wasn't good enough. The whole 'Annie' thing did that to me." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos |
| Fans Continue To React Strongly To Alleged Chris Brown/ Rihanna Altercation Posted: 17 Feb 2009 09:47 AM PST 'Chris Brown & Rihanna: Love in Trouble,' aired on Monday.
Fans continued to react strongly to the alleged altercation between Chris Brown and Rihanna in the hours after MTV News' special, "Chris Brown & Rihanna: Love in Trouble," aired on Monday. Brown was arrested on February 8 on a criminal-threat charge; while no public statement has been made, many media reports have identified Rihanna as the victim. For the show, MTV News gathered music-industry figures, relationship experts and a forum of young people to talk about the matter.
"To all you guys who are mad at the press for putting Chris and Rih out there like that ... and not the other people who got into fights, it's because Chris and Rih are role models," musicalfeet commented. "But hey, they're still normal people and everyone can't be perfect." Although Brown apologized over the weekend for the incident (without addressing Rihanna), some fans felt that they need more answers before they can come to any conclusions. "What people need to start doing is stop judging," speakdatruth21 wrote. "And wait until the facts are released!" "Everybody makes mistakes, and mistakes are sometimes what u can learn from. I think Chris Brown acted in a way people shouldn't," henney209 wrote. "Rihanna should move on. I feel bad about the situation. ... I guess celebs are humans like us." Although many fans were surprised by the amount of coverage the story is getting, some like tash176 pointed out that once people are famous, their lives become an open book. "Once you are a celebrity, you are everyone's business. They know that going in," tash176 wrote. "However I don't support Chris Brown anymore ... Rihanna isn't my favorite but she did not deserve to be beaten." Amid all the angry posts, one commenter, OpusVonD, pointed out that covering such issues with a celebrity angle helps bring light to the issue of domestic violence. "How can we improve our next generation if we let things like these [go] unpunished and unnoticed?" OpusVonD wrote. "We must take a solid stand on unethical behavior regardless who the artist, the singer, the punker, the [politician] may be. Are we just multiplying in the world like ants? We are better than that. Trust me." Go here for domestic violence resources, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Jay-Z, LeBron James Pump Each Other Up Outside 'Two Kings' Party Posted: 17 Feb 2009 01:28 AM PST Jay-Z says goal of dinner/ party is to help corporate sponsors, celebrities share goals.
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Jay-Z was in Jay-Z mode. He couldn't be fazed, no matter how nonsensical the questions he and Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James were being asked as they stood on the green carpet outside their annual "Two Kings" dinner and afterparty on Saturday in Arizona. "Are you guys each others' special valentines today?" they were asked by a female reporter. Right in step, Jay fired back quickly and humorously: "You wanna be my valentine? Easy! Easy now! Back up off me, baby!" James threw in a line from "Jockin' Jay-Z": "Myyyyy girls is here!" Hov laughed and replied with the line that precedes that one in the song: "Chill, baby girl!"
"Do you have anything special planned with your lady?" the reporter asked moments later. Jay answered with a grin: "Yeah, we're going to tell you everything ... inside." (Jay also answered a much more serious question on the carpet, regarding Rihanna and Chris Brown.) Earlier in the day, both superstars, with special guest Beyoncé, donated $50,000 worth of instruments and a $10,000 check to the Mesa [Arizona] Arts Academy, in partnership with Sprite Green, which also sponsored the party. Nighttime though, was all about the adults. Kobe Bryant, Michael Strahan, Chris Tucker, Spike Lee, Shaquille O'Neal and many others came out to mingle with the two kings. "Well, the origin was just us wanting to have a dialogue," Jay explained of the gathering. "We wanted to have a dialogue with the people we interact with: the corporations, whether it be Sprite, whether it be American Express, whether it be Proctor & Gamble. Whoever. We wanted to have a dialogue and let people understand who we were as individuals. A lot of times people look at you as a ball player or a rapper; they don't really know who you are as a human being. We didn't want to just take any money to endorse products; we wanted to have a partnership and a relationship that extended beyond that so we could do other things like today. We did a musical program in Mesa." "It was unbelievable," James offered. "Those types of things originated at this dinner," Jay concluded. Hov was a mentor and friend to James even before the 24-year-old was drafted into the NBA. Over the years, LeBron said he's learned a lot from Jay, especially in business. "Everything," James revealed when asked what he's learned from Jay. "[I've learned from] how he's stayed focused. ... Like he says, sometimes they look at us and classify us as what you do as just a rapper as a basketball player. But he's done other things and thought outside the box and been successful with it. I've definitely been able to pick up from that and look up to him." Being so close to Jay, you would think that James has already had a sneak listen of Hov's top-secret next LP, The Blueprint 3. "Uh, have I?" LeBron answered evasively. "I like that. That's my boy," Jiggaman laughed, proud of James showing just how much he's learned (like when not to say anything). "Yeah, [he heard] some early stuff. Early." Jay, who said he plans on going on tour in June or July, also said his "brother" gives him constructive criticism, as do a lot of people in his circle. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lily Allen, Perez Hilton Battle It Out On Twitter Posted: 16 Feb 2009 10:17 PM PST British singer, celebrity blogger engage in public catfight, 140 characters at a time.
Lily Allen might claim to be "pretty damn happy" these days, but it's clear that she's not running away from any fights. Case in point: the rather nasty war of words she recently engaged in with celebrity blogger Perez Hilton on Twitter. Yes, for most of Monday (February 16), the two duked it out — 140 characters at a time — on the micro-blogging site after Perez wrote a post (er, "Tweet") letting it be known that Allen was casting for her new video, and that he should be considered for a role in the clip. The quick-witted Brit fired back — writing "Oh, I'm sorry, we've already cast the jealous and bitter lonely old queen role. Next time, eh?" on her Twitter page — and just like that, it was off and running. "Jealous of who?" Hilton responded. "David Beckham, maybe. And if I wanted to be a f---ed up Brit, I'd rather be Amy Winehouse — whose [sic] got talent." The two then exchanged "you're so obsessed" barbs, before Hilton decided to take the beef to the next level, taking a potshot at the sales of Allen's just-released album, It's Not Me, It's You, which is selling at a low retail price. "Congrats on your album doing well in America, though," he wrote. "It's REALLY HARD to sell copies when u discount it to $3.99. Desperate." "It's also #1 everywhere else in the world, douchebag," Allen replied. "Go away you little parasite." Hilton then tried to play nice — saying that both he and Allen were "big fat c---s," and that's why he loves her — then abruptly switched gears, getting catty about ads Allen's label had purchased to run on his Web site. "P.S. Thanks for advertising on my website," Hilton wrote. "I'll take your money (or the label's) anytime!" "I know you will, and that's what makes you a cheap ass w---e," Allen responded. "Now leave me alone, stop following me, I'm working. Bye x x." Dang! Soon after the exchange, Allen attempted to block Hilton from reading her Twitter updates. Apparently, this didn't work, as Hilton repeatedly tried to re-ignite the feud, even attempting to bring Allen's U.S. labelmate (and onetime rival) Katy Perry into the mix, but alas, Lily was having none of it, and by Tuesday morning, Hilton was back to business-as-usual. Related Artists |
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