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| Jay-Z Says His Concert With Kelly Clarkson Shows Racial Unity Posted: 01 May 2009 08:04 AM PDT 'There's NO such thing as Black music or White music, only Good or Bad music,' Jay writes.
As odd as it may have been to see a bill featuring Kelly Clarkson, Third Eye Blind and Jay-Z, it's even stranger to see a blog post from Jay-Z. Jay admitted that he doesn't use Twitter, but he managed to post a blog for RapRadar.com following his performance Thursday evening at the University of Arizona. The MC said he was caught up in the excitement of the moment, as well as the technical difficulties, and he missed the opportunity to say something important. "On the show as well were Third Eye Blind and Kelly Clarkson ... I thought that had to be the oddest pairing ever, but soon realized it's what I've always professed. There's NO such thing as Black music or White music only Good or Bad music." Jay said it was cool to like different things that are outside of your comfort zone. He said this also applies to the world around us and not just music. "If you're African American you can have a Jewish friend." He brought up his own friendship with former Def Jam head/ current Warner Music CEO Lyor Cohen. "The Jew fro and the BLUEprint fro [Afro] are the SAME thing." Jay added that he would like to see diverse concerts such as this happen more often, outside of the one or two festivals per year and big radio station summer concerts like Zootopia, held by New York's Z-100, among many others. "I'm putting that into the universe," Jay blogged, adding, "Next up, [a concert with] Taylor Swift and Uncle Murda!" Related Artists |
| Busta Rhymes Recruits Lil Wayne, Jadakiss For 'Conglomerate' Video Posted: 01 May 2009 01:37 AM PDT Also, Idris Elba, Tyrese and more gather in the boardroom of new clip.
There are too many guest stars to label it a "music video." Busta Rhymes says the clip he just released for "Respect My Conglomerate" should be called a movie. "It is my pleasure and honor directing this film for Busta Rhymes, longtime brethren of mine," lens master Chris Robinson said, standing between Bus and the star of the new box-office hit "Obsessed." "I'm here with an amazing actor, who is my dream to work with, actor Idris Elba." "These two brothers, they're the kings in the entertainment world," Elba said. "I'm privileged to be here amongst them. Kings amongst kings." "Likewise, Godfather," Rhymes returned the compliment. "I've been tremendously blessed. The most amazing people came out and helped me support my movement and my campaign. My situation is like the [Obama] administration. There's nothing I can say or ask for greater than this beautiful day today besides the birth of my beautiful kids and my incredible family. This is definitely one of the most phenomenal days for me. Mr. Idris Elba, Christopher Robinson, Tyrese, Adam Rodriguez (of "CSI: Miami"), Xzibit, Raekwon the Chef, Wayne, Jadakiss, Bishop Lamont. ... Big up to Debbie Coda, the beautiful young lady who blasted off on the chorus. The Flipmode! I don't know what else to say other than God is good." The song features Busta with guests Jadakiss and Lil Wayne, who replaces the original version's Young Jeezy. Other stars make cameos as part of Busta's circle of bosses. "The concept of the video is basically about how we had a get together and gathering of the most prestigious diplomats, consiglieres, boss of bosses, and we met at a roundtable and negotiated. Everybody has a type of partnership or investment made in a microchip I possessed, which was going to determine the wealth of individual people overall once caste society is done." All the bosses obviously have a significant amount of money and stature — and they clearly don't have any regard for the authorities. "We took the power we had and said, 'F--- the law,' " Busta added. In the video, the feds and police get involved and come try to put all of Busta's crew behind bars. "This is probably one of the best joints," Jadakiss boasted. "[My videos] 'Can't Stop Me,' 'Letter to Big' and this one right here are probably the best three videos I ever shot in my life. It's a lot of love on the set. Chris knows what to capture. Bus got a lot of energy; Weezy got a lot of energy. Kiss got a lot of personality. I'm just one of the bosses that's got my own conglomerate. Young Money is Weezy's conglomerate. And Flipmode is Busta's conglomerate. We just bringing that to the table. The strength is in the numbers. You heard?" "Respect My Conglomerate" is the current single from Busta's Back on My B.S. LP, which drops May 19. Related Artists |
| Kara DioGuardi's Future On 'American Idol' Still Uncertain Posted: 01 May 2009 01:17 AM PDT The show's fourth judge says she's still only signed on for the show's current season.
Kara DioGuardi still isn't sure if she'll be back as the fourth judge on "American Idol." For now, she says she's only signed on for the current season, which ends May 20. "I'm only here for one season," Kara DioGuardi told TV Guide. "That's what we've discussed, so we'll see what happens. Hopefully, they'll keep me on." If "Idol" producers do bring her back for more, DioGuardi said she hopes she'll have gotten her feet wet enough to make the next season easier. "My life has become extremely exciting, and I am so excited for this opportunity," she said. "I feel grateful to America that they let me grow and they let me find my groove on the show and that they were patient. And hopefully, I haven't disappointed them. It's been a scary experience at times." When TV Guide spoke to fellow judge Simon Cowell about DioGuardi's chances of returning, he didn't know much, but he also didn't seem too concerned about it. "I would imagine so, but the only say I have is about Ryan, Randy and Paula," he said. "I've always made it clear that I wouldn't like to do the show without them. So that's all I'm really concerned about." Despite rumors of discord, DioGuardi has made a point of letting fans know that there has been no drama between her and the other "Idol" judges. "There's no drama," the newest judge told MTV News. "The only thing I can tell you is, I'm a creative person. For me to do my job, to be in a studio, to work with artists that I sign, I have to be in a good creative place." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| No Doubt Return To The Stage On 'Today' Show Posted: 01 May 2009 08:30 AM PDT Band tears through 'Spiderwebs,' 'Don't Speak' and 'It's My Life.'
The wait is over: No Doubt officially ended a nearly five-year concert hiatus on Friday (May 1), taking the stage on the "Today" show for a three-song set that showed they haven't missed a beat. Though the skies over New York's Rockefeller Center were overcast, ND were sunny enough to cut through the dark clouds, beaming, rocking and swaying — and sounding great — much to the delight of the squealing audience, some of whom had been waiting since 2 a.m. to catch the return of the Orange County legends.
"This is amazing, it feels so good to know they're back together," Carly Balusco, who slept on the sidewalk to catch the show, yelled. "I just saw them backstage, and they look amazing. Can't wait to see the tour. My heart's pumping so hard right now." "This is my 13th No Doubt show. I'm seeing them tomorrow, I'm seeing them at Bamboozle, and I had to see them today, for the first show," added Elle Lensith, who was jammed in near the stage, added. "It's so awesome they're back. They're timeless, and they'll always be great." And they were. The band — Gwen Stefani in a black Fred Perry top, bleached-out jeans, platforms and red suspenders, the rest of the guys wearing white from head-to-toe (aside from drummer Adrian Young's striped knee-socks) — kicked things off with "Spiderwebs," bobbing slowly to the ska guitar rhythm and breezy horn lines. Stefani ordered the audience to throw their hands up (and boy, did they), then pogo'ed from side-to-side. Bassist Tony Kanal and guitarist Tom Dumont exchanged giddy smiles, and the crowd sang along with every word. It was like it was 1995 all over again. "Don't Speak" was next. Stefani clutched the microphone tight, closed her eyes and belted it out, as the thousands of No Doubt fans packed into Rockefeller served as her back-up singers.
They closed with "It's My Life," their Talk Talk cover from 2003. Again, the audience sang along loudly, but Dumont, Kanal and Young — plus ND's two auxiliary musicians — really got the chance to shine here, creating a muscley bit of New Wave shimmer that seemed to lift the clouds, if only for a second. And then, with the audience cheering and chanting their names, No Doubt embraced in the middle of the stage, waved their hands and departed. A pair of warm-up shows await: Saturday at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey; and then Sunday at the Bamboozle Festival at the Meadowlands. Then it's on to their big summer tour with Paramore. Judging from what fans saw today, ND are more than ready right now. "They'll always stick together, they'll always be a family. They'll always be great," Jennifer Sanduca, told us after the performance. "It's like they never took a break, seeing them up there today." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Second Daughtry Album Due In July Posted: 30 Apr 2009 11:29 PM PDT Band will debut new single 'No Surprise' on 'American Idol' next week.
In a season in which "American Idol" has welcomed back some of its most popular winners, next Wednesday night's show will see the return of one of the most famous, and best-selling, alumni who did not win the show: Chris Daughtry. The bald rocker and his band will come back to the "Idol" stage on the May 6 results show to debut "No Surprise," the first single from Daughtry's upcoming as-yet-untitled second album. The band is currently finishing the disc, due July 14, which is the follow-up to its Grammy-nominated, quadruple-platinum 2006 debut. " 'American Idol' fans have been so loyal to this band, we wanted to give them the first listen to our new single," Daughtry said a statement announcing the new album. The singer revealed via Twitter that he co-wrote "No Surprise" with pal Chad Kroeger, lead singer of Nickelback. He also tweeted that after watching Tuesday night's performance show he thinks that Kris Allen is the "SHIZNIT-O-Bam!!!" The band — which also includes bassist Josh Paul, drummer Joey Barnes, and guitarists Brian Craddock and Josh Steely — recorded the album's 10-plus songs in Los Angeles, and the press release announcing the disc describes it as having a "more gritty sound," honed by two years on the road supporting the fastest-selling debut rock album in SoundScan history. And, despite being a married father of two, Daughtry tweeted on Tuesday morning that he "can't wait to get back onstage soon." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists |
| Danny Gans, Las Vegas Entertainer, Dead At 52 Posted: 01 May 2009 01:57 AM PDT Gans' cause of death was not immediately available at press time.
Danny Gans, a legendary performer on the Las Vegas Strip for the past decade, died in his sleep early Friday, according to The Associated Press. He was 52. Gans was found dead about 3 a.m. by his wife, Julie, at their home in Henderson, Wynn Resorts spokesperson Jennifer Dunne told AP. The cause of his death was not available at press time. "All of us in the Mirage family are deeply saddened to learn of Danny's passing," said Scott Sibella, president of the Mirage, in a statement released through parent company MGM Mirage Inc. Gans performed at the Mirage for more than eight years and moved to the Encore Theater earlier this year. On Friday, the electronic marquee in front of the Encore posted his picture and a message reading, "Our friend forever, Danny Gans. 1956-2009." Steve Wynn, chief executive of Wynn Resorts, called Gans' death "a profoundly tragic event that leaves us all sad and speechless," according to AP. "The loss of Danny to his wife Julie, his children, Amy, Andrew and Emily is at this moment impossible to comprehend," Wynn said in a statement. Gans' manager, Chip Lightman, released a statement saying, "Danny has been my partner and dear friend for over 18 years. I will truly miss him," Lightman said. Gans was known for his impersonations of celebrities, notably including Tony Bennett, Al Pacino to Sarah Vaughan. He performed a one-man show, "Danny Gans on Broadway: The Man of Many Voices," in 1995 at the Neil Simon Theater in New York before returning to Las Vegas. |
| Asher Roth Calls His Controversial Twitter Comment 'Immature' Posted: 30 Apr 2009 10:28 PM PDT He also apologized for a quote about black rappers flaunting their wealth in the faces of those suffering in Africa.
Asher Roth's name has been in the news a lot lately. You would think it's because the 23-year-old Roth recently released his first album, Asleep in the Bread Aisle, which debuted at #5 on the Billboard albums chart, and the video for his second single, "Be by Myself," debuted Thursday (April 30) on MTV. But all that has been overshadowed by some recent comments he made. On April 23, Roth Tweeted, "Been a day of rest and relaxation — sorry twitter hanging with nappy headed hoes." Roth quickly Tweeted a retraction in two posts, saying he was making fun of Don Imus, who was fired for using that phrase nearly two years ago: "Totally just making fun of Don Imus — sorry Scoot, not trying to be offensive. I'm extremely apologetic to anyone that took offense to my immature, bad joke." All three Tweets were quickly removed, and many people began to question the sincerity of Roth's apology. Hip-hop blog NahRight.com said it would no longer post anything related to Roth. While the people behind Nah Right didn't feel Roth was insincere, they felt he had a duty to acknowledge his mistake. Roth issued a statement Thursday doing just that: "The Twitter situation was an immature attempt to poke fun at an infamously moronic joke. In doing so, I unconsciously stooped to the level of its originator, making it just as bad, if not worse. Pathetic. Lesson learned — nothing good can come from repeating hateful words, regardless of your intentions. Leaving no context in what was being said and being presented through text (no facial or vocal inflection) the sarcasm of the joke (or lack thereof) was not properly perceived and left it purely in bad taste. I immediately apologized for my immaturity but the apologies and original post were deleted by my team in an effort to prevent more people from being offended. Unfortunately, the deletion of these statements led several people to believe that my apology was insincere, which is why I have made the decision to release this statement." Asher also addressed recent comments he made to The Associated Press regarding how black rappers flaunt their wealth in the faces of those suffering in Africa. Roth said his quote in the article did not reflect the context of the conversation. "With the question and entire vibe of the conversation not being present in the article, when my statement came out in print it appeared as if I was taking black rappers to task randomly. Not the case. Although I do feel strongly about giving back when we are in a position of power and prosperity, it is not my place to talk about what others should do with their lives. "Lesson learned: Talk about what you know," the statement continued. "You can call them mistakes, I call them life lessons. It is my duty as a human being to choose my words carefully, for I am a kind soul who puts a lot of stock in the progress of humans. I am a work in progress, as we all are, and I will take this opportunity to learn and grow. It's bigger than an apology, it's an understanding." Related Artists |
| Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon Celebrate Anniversary In Vegas Posted: 30 Apr 2009 10:22 PM PDT As guests dine on mac and cheese, Cannon presents video of their first year of marriage.
They married on the sly last April in the Bahamas, but Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon certainly weren't shy about ringing in their first anniversary Thursday night in Las Vegas at the Palms Casino Resort. Joined by 50 of their closest pals, including L.A. Reid, Tyrese Gibson and boxer Floyd Mayweather, according to USmagazine.com, the couple and their guests dined on surf 'n' turf, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, chocolate chip cookies and crème brûlée. After dinner, partygoers hung out at the Moon Nightclub, where Cannon presented the video he made for Carey of the best moments they've spent together since marrying last year. "It's a very special occasion; toast to everyone," he said before showing the video. "This is the most amazing person in the world. I dedicate my life to her daily, and together, this union is gonna last forever. She is my rock." According to People.com, the video brought Carey to tears, and she told the crowd, "I have the best man in the whole wide world." The couple also had a pink-and-white, five-tiered Duncan Hines yellow cake and had 1,000 balloons drop during the festivities, which Cannon DJ'ed. Back in March, Cannon laughed off rumors that he and Mariah were expecting their first child, but he did say that being married to her is "the most amazing thing ever. I couldn't wish for anything else." Related Artists |
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