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| 'American Idol' Finale: Kris Allen Upsets Adam Lambert Posted: 20 May 2009 08:02 AM PDT Allen wins 'American Idol' season-eight crown to the surprise of many, including himself.
Call him the "dark horse," the "Come-from-Behind Kid," the humble crooner. Call him whatever you like. But from now on you also need to call Kris Allen your "American Idol." After a historic tally of nearly 100 million votes, the shy 23-year-old singer from Conway, Arkansas, pulled off one of the most surprising wins in the show's nearly decade-long history by taking the crown from the theatrical season-long front-runner, Adam Lambert.
Following nearly two hours of build up, when the time came for host Ryan Seacrest to announce the results, Allen and Lambert stood arm-in-arm, their friendship looking much more like a real bond than a made-for-TV facade. And when Seacrest opened the envelope, Allen looked genuinely stunned, his mouth hanging open as Lambert gave him a big hug. Finally raising his hand in victory and looking like he was a bit nauseous, Allen said, "Are you freakin' serious? ... It feels good man, but Adam deserves this. I don't even know what to feel right now. This is crazy. Thank you so much." Moments before, admitting that he doesn't usually mean it, judge Simon Cowell told the finalists, "I thought you were both brilliant, unusually, incredibly nice people and I think both of you should be incredibly proud of what you achieved last night." It was a distinct turnaround for the always acerbic Cowell, who repeatedly talked down to Allen during the course of the final rounds, telling him he would never win the crown, until recently changing his tune when Allen's momentum began to pick up thanks to a series of wily creative decisions. Allen became the first "Idol" winner to ever get an official trophy, in the shape of an old-fashioned microphone, which he held by his side when his rival came back out to give him another hug as Allen continued to shake his head in disbelief. After struggling with the Kara DioGuardi co-written winner's song "No Boundaries" on Tuesday night, a much looser-looking Allen knocked it out of the park on his second try, embracing the judges and his fellow contestants as a rain of confetti and sparks enveloped the stage and it began to sink in that his unlikely ride to victory was complete.
According to Seacrest, despite some busy signals, just under 100 million votes came in for Lambert and Allen Tuesday night, and though he didn't reveal how many votes ultimately separated them, he said the season total was a record-setting 624 million votes. Eschewing their typical casual wear, prior to the big reveal, the judges put on their Wednesday best, with Randy Jackson rocking a tuxedo, DioGuardi modeling a sleek black dress, Paula Abdul sporting a body-hugging gold number and even Cowell leaving the v-neck T-shirts in the closet in place of a black suit and white shirt. Our first glimpse of the night of the finalists found them wearing matching all-white outfits, looking like a pair of space-age cabana boys. Picking up on that crisp look, the music kicked off with the top 13, also in all white, doing a cover of Pink's "So What." Later in the program, the girls got on their glam outfits for a slowed-down take on Fergie's "Glamorous," which segued into the Fergilicious one herself doing a snippet of "Big Girls Don't Cry." She was joined by her Black Eyed Peas mates and some black-and-white-spandex clad dancers for the group's speaker-banging hit "Boom Boom Pow." Last year's winner, former bartender David Cook, came back for a second time this season to show the kids how it's done, singing his lighter-flicking ballad "Permanent" as a tribute to his recently deceased older brother, Adam. And Lil Rounds redeemed her unglamorous exit by standing toe-to-toe with Queen Latifah and regally rocking it on the regal one's new disco-tastic single, "Cue the Rain." Finalists Anoop Desai and Alexis Grace bopped along with Jason Mraz to his reggae lite hit "I'm Yours," last girl standing Allison Iraheta partnered with a dulcimer-strumming Cyndi Lauper for "Time After Time" and third-place finisher Danny Gokey gave a glimpse of his potential career with a soulful run through Lionel Richie's "Hello," which paved the way for a duet with the R&B legend on his new single, the slinky "Just Go." Also paying a visit on the classics-heavy finale was legendary guitarist Carlos Santana, who ripped into "Black Magic Woman," with a vocal assist from the always-fedora'd Matt Giraud, soon joined by the rest of the top 13 for a sing-along to the Grammy-winning smash "Smooth." And the hits kept coming, as the top two got their chance to shine, with Allen showing off his country-pop potential alongside Keith Urban on the twangy "Kiss a Girl," while Lambert donned studded metallic wings, gigantic platform boots and a space-age black leather suit to croon the classic Kiss ballad "Beth." The pyro-loving rockers then descended from the ceiling in fireball slash to sing a medley of "Detroit Rock City" and "Rock and Roll All Nite," with Lambert nearly showing up both of the band's singers with his power-rock vocals. Near the end of the two-hour flashback fantasy ride, the pair took center stage along with Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor for a fog-enshrouded sway through the English glam rocker's iconic "We Are the Champions," grabbing hands for a bro-shake at one point and ending the song by holding a dual high note. One of the night's strangest visitors was comedic legend Steve Martin, who plucked his banjo on the original bluegrass tune "Pretty Flowers" from his just-released debut musical effort, The Crow, voiced by Michael Sarver and Megan Joy. Continuing the Boomer-friendly cavalcade of oldies, the male finalists put on their best "Reservoir Dogs" black suit and ties to sing Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?," paving the way for Rod the Mod himself to croak his classic, "Maggie May." Among the other time-fillers of the night were the lampoony Golden Idol Awards, which reminded us of all the vocally impaired goofballs who didn't make it past the initial rounds, including one of our favorites, Nick "Normund Gentle" Mitchell. Despite seemingly using up his 15-minutes-plus, Mitchell acted like he was getting a real award, only to strip down to a spangly uniform and give us one more dose of his spazz-tastic rhythm and farce. We also got another glimpse of Katrina "Bikini Girl" Darrell, who got showed up by her tormentor, DioGuardi, when the judge outsang and outfoxed the swimsuit model by revealing her equally rockin' bikini body. But, ultimately, the night belonged to Allen, who truly underwent a transformation on the show, from the meek guy who auditioned and said he wasn't sure he was the next "American Idol," to the singer who silenced the doubters not with a Lambert-like rebel yell, but with a quiet confidence and a shy grin. (Check out "American Idol" expert Jim Cantiello's live blog of the show right here!) Related Videos Related Photos | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kris Allen Reassures Adam Lambert Fans: 'He's Gonna Be A Megastar' Posted: 21 May 2009 04:54 AM PDT 'He's probably gonna be bigger than me, so don't worry about him,' Allen tells MTV News 'American Idol' expert Jim Cantiello.
"American Idol" fans might have been surprised by Kris Allen's victory over Adam Lambert on Wednesday night, but no one was more floored than Kris himself. When "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello caught up with the new champ backstage, he talked about fans Googling his wife, working with Kara DioGuardi and what he has to say to all those heartbroken Glamberts. Kris Allen: I know Jim — I don't even know how to pronounce your last name. Jim Cantiello: Holy crap! It's Cantiello. Allen: Cantiello. Cantiello: How do you know me, man? I'm just some silly blogger dude. Allen: I think the "American Idol in 60 Seconds" is the funniest thing ever. Cantiello: Shut up! Allen: No lie. Cantiello: I'm usually pretty nice to you. I'm a big fan. Allen: I know, right? Usually. Cantiello: Sorry, I have to be honest. Allen: I'm critical of myself as well, so don't worry about it. Cantiello: All right, cool. Let's talk. You won the big show. Holy crap. Allen: Holy crap, right? Cantiello: I want to know: What are you going to do with "No Boundaries" to make it a hit? You've got a big mountain to climb. Allen: [Laughs.] And hurricanes. It's a decent song. It's got a good message, and Kara [DioGuardi] was amazing to work with, she really was. She's a great songwriter, and I hope to sing it as well as I can. Cantiello: So I have to ask: Your wife is one of the biggest Google trends out there. After every show, "Kris Allen wife" is one of the top three searches. How does that make you feel? It's a little creepy, right? Allen: Maybe a little creepy, but she's beautiful and she's great and I'm glad to have her in my life. That's weird, though, that they would be searching my wife. She's a star too now. Cantiello: So what are we going to hear from your album? Allen: I felt like I put who I'm going to be on the stage during the performances on "American Idol." And I think you're gonna hear more of that kind of stuff. Cantiello: Any dream collaborators you want to work with? Producers, writers, you want to work with Kara some more? Allen: Yeah, I'd love to work with Kara. She's a great songwriter, a great person, she's a lot of fun to work with. I felt like just that little bit that we worked together, it made me better, and I really appreciated that. There's plenty of people out there. I have no idea, and I hope people will knock on the door. Cantiello: They definitely will. You put out stuff on your own before "Idol." Any of that stuff gonna be reworked in a big studio setting? Allen: Maybe so, but that's something that's a long time ago and in a different place. Hopefully new stuff will come out. Cantiello: Last question: There's some heartbroken Adam Lambert fans on the Internet. What do you say to them right now to cushion the blow a little bit? Allen: OK, here's the deal: Adam is gonna be fine. He's gonna be a megastar. He's probably gonna be bigger than me, so don't worry about him. He's great. I'm really happy for him. Cantiello: Happy for him, and super happy for you. Congratulations, Kris. Allen: Thanks a lot. Cantiello: Enjoy the ride. Are you an "American Idol" expert? Take our ultimate "Idol" quiz to find out! Plus, 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 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Adam Lambert On Rumors: 'Blogs Have A Lot Of Opinions, Don't They?' Posted: 21 May 2009 04:54 AM PDT 'Kris won because he's a great artist, and I was happy to be a runner-up to that,' Lambert says backstage at 'American Idol' finale.
LOS ANGELES — Adam Lambert has to be a little annoyed that the "American Idol" crown slipped through his fingers, right? Well, if he was, he didn't show it. "What a night, right?" the 27-year-old glam rocker said, greeting a room full of reporters backstage after Wednesday night's finale. So what's next for one of the most unpredictable "Idol" contestants ever? Lambert answered questions about finding common ground with Kris Allen, how he pushed himself to take risks and conspiracy theories about his second-place finish. Q: What was the night like? A: It felt so good. I mean, I got to sing with Queen and Kiss! First or second, it doesn't matter to me. I got to sing with two great, heroic rock bands of mine. Q: Have you had any offers yet? A: A couple. [Laughs.] Just a few here and there. Q: What did Paula Abdul say to you after the show? A: From the get-go, Paula has been super supportive. ... She just had the warmest, most positive energy, she was always encouraging, so she just kind of wrapped it up for me and said that she's proud of me. Q: How about the other judges? A: They're all really supportive. They've all been supportive. I didn't get a chance to talk to Simon after the show; I'm sure I'll meet him at the party. Nothing but positive support, and that's what's been so great about this experience, is that it's been very encouraging, the environment. I never felt like anybody was like, "No, you can't do that. You can't sing that. You can't say that. You can't wear that." They've always been like, "Run with it, Adam. Do your thing!" So it's been really cool. Q: How did you come to be so fearless onstage? A: When I was younger, it was scarier to take risks. And I just kept pushing myself throughout my early 20s to kind of push myself to the point where it wasn't scary anymore. Q: Were you as surprised as everyone else when they called Kris' name? A: I knew it was gonna be a close race. I think Kris is incredibly talented, and he's a good person, so to me it was like, "OK, we know it's gonna be close. Whatever happens, happens." We made it this far. We got to do a really cool finale. And we're both gonna get to do great things in the future. For me, it's not really about what happened tonight. It's about tomorrow. It's about next. Q: When do you think you'll start on an album? A: I know that we're gonna start working on some music right away, and that's what I can't wait to do — to collaborate, to write, to co-write and create visuals that go along with the music. I think that's gonna be really exciting. Q: Maybe another duet with Allison Iraheta? A: I love Allison. Yeah, we'll see. That would be really cool. Q: Some bloggers might say you lost "American Idol" because of the speculation about your sexuality. A: Is that what they're gonna say? [Laughs.] We'll see. The blogs have a lot of opinions, don't they? I think that Kris won because he's a great artist, and I was happy to be a runner-up to that. Q: What's next? A: My dream now is to make a really dope record, to do something new, push the boundaries a little bit, push people's buttons, open people's minds up a little bit. And you know what's really, really cool about Kris being in the finals tonight? We are seemingly so different, but we found a way to get along and find a common bond — mostly through music, but also just through talking and getting to know each other. And if there's anything that could come from this experience that I hope all the fans out there can pick up is that even if you're really different, there's a way to get along with each other. It's not about, "Oh, you beat me because of this" or "You're different." It's about finding the common stuff that makes it work. We got up there and did the Queen duet, and we made it work, because we found a common ground with each other. Q: Did you have a strategy going into the competition? A: Yeah, my strategy was just to show all different sides. And also, there's a very fine line between giving the audience what they wanted, and also me trying to introduce stuff they didn't know they wanted. Q: What inspires your style? A: I just kind of like things that are different. I like things that make you look. I don't like to blend in; I like to stand out. Are you an "American Idol" expert? Take our ultimate "Idol" quiz to find out! Plus, 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 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Is 50 Cent Done With Rick Ross Beef? Posted: 21 May 2009 03:51 AM PDT Plus: The new 'Jerk' movement, in Mixtape Daily.
Fire Starter: The New Boyz Word to Navin R. Johnson. Thirty years ago, Steve Martin made the word "jerk" iconic — and now pair of kids from Cali called the New Boyz are trying to make "jerk" a movement. Dominic "Legacy" Thomas and his partner Ben J (born Earl Benjamin) have one of the hottest records on the West Coast right now, "You're a Jerk." The bass on the record is undeniable. It sounds like something tailor-made for Compton's the Game to display his guerilla gangsta-rap tactics, or even Crooked I to throw his acclaimed abstract poetics against. But the bass-laden track was inspired by the duo getting dissed, and they aren't ashamed to tell the story on the song — sped-up vocals of somebody saying "You're a jerk" are looped throughout the record. "The jerk movement is big. It's about to be worldwide. The jerk is a dance that came from the '90s or something. The old people used to do it — just groove," Ben J said, surrounded by the young dance crew called the Power Rangers. The duo have remixed the dance and put their own stank on it — thus, you have "jerkin'." " 'Jerkin' is a swagged-out fun dance," Ben declared. "People used to go to parties gangbanging," Legacy said. "Parties would get shot up. But now people go to parties to jerk. It's something positive. People think we made the dance [but] we didn't make the dance. It came from out here in L.A. It was a gangbanging dance, but people started seeing it and swagging it out. "Everybody used to make jerkin' songs," Legacy said of the song. "Instead of coming in and making songs about jerkin', we called ourselves jerks. And the girl on the record is trippin' on us. She's like, 'You're a jerk,' on our head — but at the same time, it's a dance too."
The duo came together in high school. Their birthdays are just one day apart, so they used to pool the money their friends and family gave them to buy studio equipment. In October, both kids were grounded and, while serving out their punishment, they snuck and recorded the song. It built up organically through YouTube and reached the top slot of Power 106 and KIIS-FM radio in Los Angeles. Their debut, Skinny Jeans and a Mic, is due for release later this year on Asylum Records. "We're pretty much trying to make jerkin' a genre of music, so everybody could be doing it," Legacy said. "It's a lot of smart creative kids out there doing it." Just check YouTube — you can see Puff Daddy's son Christian Combs and his cousin Roxy dancing to the record just like thousands of other kids. The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground DJ Whoo Kid says a 50 Cent mixtape is right around the corner. While Fif has been holed up in the lab working with Dr. Dre on Before I Self Destruct, he's found time to devote some records to the streets. "Fifty's done 10 freestyles," Whoo Kid revealed. "I'm waiting on like, two more. I guess he's trying to figure out the tile. And I've been a doing a lot of those Radio Planet videos, so I'm gonna put together a radioplanet.tv 50 Cent video. Those are my video mixtapes I've been putting out, killing the Web waves." Whoo Kid also said that the tape won't be devoted to 50's squabbling with Rick Ross — that's a done deal. "The Rick Ross sh-- is outta here," Whoo Kid described. "It's over, he's done his promo — 50 promoted his album very well, so Rick Ross is outta here. Now he's worried about his own sh--. They got the Tia book out there. That should be the last level of anything that has anything to do with Rick Ross." Whoo Kid is also working on mixtapes by Tony Yayo, Gucci Mane, Yung LA, Juvenile, Snoop Dogg, and Soulja Boy. Related Videos | ||||||||||||||||||
| Adam Lambert Fans Make An Early Exit From 'American Idol' Finale Posted: 21 May 2009 09:41 AM PDT 'I thought this was a singing competition,' one supporter was overheard saying as she left the Nokia Theatre.
LOS ANGELES -- Wow. A lot of Americans (well, "American Idol" fans, at least) are pretty shocked right about now, and it was no different inside the Nokia Theatre on Wednesday night. When Kris Allen's name was announced as the winner, there was thunderous applause, to be sure, but the cameras might not have captured the dumbfounded Adam Lambert fans that made up a good chunk of the crowd. Some of the ardent supporters couldn't even muster a little applause for Allen -- not because they have any personal vendetta against him, but because Lambert was all but crowned season-eight champ weeks ago, if not months ago, by most "Idol" watchers, making Kris' win all the more surprising.
And some of the Glamberts didn't take the results lightly. One woman, who had been waving a "My Doctor Says I Have Glambertitis" poster throughout the show, made her way to the exit immediately after the announcement (maybe she didn't want to hear "No Boundaries" again?), and she was followed by dozens of people. Did they want to get to the parking garage early, or were they mourning Lambert's loss? Well, one fan was heard venting on her way to the door: "I thought this was a singing competition." But before the Kris and Adam fans were divided by the results, the crowd was one big, happy family, rocking out to Queen, squealing for Keith Urban and feeling the heat from KISS' pyrotechnics-heavy performance with Adam. And it was hot -- the flames emerging from the stage could be felt from my near-back-row seat.
Another moment that had the crowd screaming was the Black Eyed Peas' performance of "Boom Boom Pow." It was hard to tell if the "Idol" fans stayed on their feet because they were excited for the Peas or flabbergasted by the dancers in full bodysuits and Fergie's leather leotard -- or both. Just like our experience at "Idol" on Tuesday night, there was another ear-covering incident. On Tuesday, it was eventual winner Kris' take on the coronation song that had a crowdmember wishing for a mute button. But on Wednesday, one little boy had enough of Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" and went for his earmuffs. Are you an "American Idol" expert? Take our ultimate "Idol" quiz to find out! Plus, 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 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Flo Rida Cooks Up Sweet Summer Anthem With 'Sugar' Video Posted: 21 May 2009 03:51 AM PDT Clip features rapper going to dentist, hallucinating about babes.
According to, you know, calendars and astronomy and the like, summer doesn't officially begin until July 21. Flo Rida would beg to differ. For him, summer begins now. That's because, with his new single "Sugar," he's officially kicked off the 2009 Summer Jam Season. Based around an interpolation of Eiffel 65's Euro-pop hit "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" — which, let's be honest, has just been sitting there begging to be used for a decade now — it's a perfectly straightforward bit of hip-pop confectionary, the kind of stuff Flo has built a career out of (check "Low," "In the Ayer," "Right Round" for further examples of this formula). And it's more proof that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
"Sugar" has been climbing the Billboard Hot 100 chart for roughly a month now, and the video should only help it rise faster. Much like the song itself, it's pure, sweet fluff: Flo goes to the dentist, gets a snoutful of nitrous, and has hallucinations about babes and the beach and stuff (oh, also, in apparent shout out to an episode of "Seinfeld," his dental hygienist may have had her way with him). There are lots of pretty colors and ice cream, too. And some of the girls look like they used to be in the Fantanas. But, really, this is all inconsequential. Because when a song is as catchy, breezy and lightweight as "Sugar" is, the video is almost an afterthought (and, really, this one looks like it probably was). All that matters is how great it will sound booming out of trunks and flinging around dance clubs at the Jersey Shore. Those are the keys to summertime success. This ain't rocket science ... kids just want tunes to bump, grind and tan to. And "Sugar" more than meets the requirements in all those categories. So let the Summer Jam Sweepstakes begin. "Sugar's" in the pole position, and Flo Rida is in it to win it. Related Videos | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kris Allen, Adam Lambert Tear Up Queen's 'We Are The Champions' Posted: 20 May 2009 08:36 AM PDT 'American Idol' finalists joined by Queen members for Freddie Mercury's classic.
The last time Kris Allen had to sing a rock duet, things didn't go so well for the Arkansas Kid, whose Rock-Week duet with Danny Gokey was memorable for all the wrong reasons. But on Wednesday night, just minutes before he would be crowned this year's American Idol, the 23-year-old singer redeemed himself by teaming up with a partner that was sure to make him look better: fellow finalist Adam Lambert. Singing their first-ever duet, the friendly rivals perched just above the judge's pit as the spotlight hit their all-black ensembles and the iconic first notes of Queen's "We Are the Champions" washed over the crowd. Looking over at Lambert and smiling, Allen went first, singing the triumphant rock anthem's opening couplet, "I've paid my dues, time after time/ I've done my sentence, but committed no crime." Defiantly spitting the lines as he shook his head and sneered, the theatrical Lambert paid homage to the song's flamboyant writer, late Queen singer Freddie Mercury, as he sang "And bad mistakes/ I've made a few/ I've had my share of sand kicked in my face/ but I've come through," his voice rising to a powerful vibrato as the "Idol" stage lit up to reveal original Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor.
Walking back to the fog-shrouded stage, which slowly filled with a backing chorus of dozens (as well as the rest of the top 13), Lambert and Allen's voices meshed nicely on the sometimes tricky-to-sing power ballad from Queen's 1977 News of the World LP. Lambert, in particular, furthered his rock bona fides with some towering notes and the duo locked hands for a bro-hug midsong as May ripped off some wicked notes. The pair ended on a dual high note as they stared each other down and pyro rained from the sides of the stage. "Champions" is one of Queen's most enduring anthems and it has become a rousing, sway-along staple at sporting events and victory celebrations across the globe, often played in conjunction with its B-side, guitarist Brian May's raucous "We Will Rock You." Singer Mercury explained in an interview that he was inspired to write the verses while thinking about watching soccer matches, in the hope that he could pen a song that would become a fan rallying cry. In addition to being covered by everyone from Green Day to Gavin DeGraw, Robbie Williams and "Idol" also-ran William Hung, the tune was sampled by Dame Dash, Kanye West, Young Chris, Beanie Sigel, Cam'ron and Twista on the 2002 song "Champions." It was a fitting choice on a night when even grouchy judge Simon Cowell would admit that he thought both men deserved to be on the stage and wished them each success. Related Videos
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| David Cook Honors Late Brother With 'American Idol' Performance Posted: 20 May 2009 06:20 AM PDT Proceeds from iTunes release of 'Permanent' will benefit charity seeking cure for brain cancer.
One year after he was crowned "American Idol" champion, David Cook returned to the big blue stage on Wednesday night's (May 20) finale, for charity. Cook performed a version of his song "Permanent," which will be available for download on the iTunes Music Store immediately following the "Idol" finale, with all proceeds going to Accelerate Brain Trust Cure, a charity dedicated to finding a cure for brain cancer.
It's a cause that hits close to home for Cook, who earlier this month lost his brother Adam to brain cancer after a decade-long battle with the disease. And that was evident during Cook's "Idol" performance. Wearing a black armband, he closed his eyes tightly while hitting the song's soaring chorus, then at tune's end, embraced "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest and admitted that he was still stuggling with the loss of his big brother. "It's a tough song [to sing]," he told Seacrest, "But at the end of the day, to honor not only my brother, but everybody that has to deal with something like this, you stay the course and you pull strength from everybody else." Cook then thanked everyone for their support, and — voice wavering — he asked for them to help out the cause and download the song. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Man Charged With Dolla's Murder Posted: 20 May 2009 04:27 AM PDT Aubrey Louise Berry being held on $1.1 million bail.
An Atlanta man was charged on Wednesday (May 20) in connection with the murder of rapper Dolla, according to a statement released by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. Aubrey Louise Berry was set to be arraigned in court later Wednesday, where he will answer to two counts of assault with a firearm and one count of murder. Berry, 23, allegedly encountered Dolla (Roderick Burton) in the Beverly Center in Los Angeles and, after a dispute, fatally shot the rapper. In addition to shooting Burton, 21, Berry's charges stem from allegedly firing at two other people who were present at the time of the altercation. According to the statement, the shooting took place around 3:00 p.m. on Monday in the parking garage of the popular mall, where Dolla was standing near the entrance. According to the Los Angeles Times, witnesses said four to five shots rang out at the normally quiet shopping center. The rapper, who had come to the mall to shop, according to the report, was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. Berry reportedly fled the crime scene in a Mercedes SUV and was arrested by police later at the airport. When authorities confronted Berry at the Los Angeles International Airport, he allegedly had a gun with him. At press time, Berry's intended destination was unclear. Berry is being held on $1.1 million bail. If convicted, he faces a maximum of life in prison with the possibility of parole, according to the statement. Dolla's family released a statement Wednesday announcing memorial services and disputing some information that has appeared online in connection with the murder, although a spokesperson for the family declined to provide details. The Los Angeles Times, citing anonymous police sources, reported the shooting may have stemmed from a dispute on May 13 at Atlanta nightclub Platinum 21 Adult Entertainment, but club employee Joseph Green disputed that information to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I know there wasn't [a fight] May 13," Green said, "but there may have been one the week before." Dolla's stepfather, George Viera, spoke with the AJC about the murder. "As far as we know [Dolla] had no idea it was coming," he told the paper, adding that Dolla had been shot in the back. "The bullet pierced his heart." He also said that to his family, Dolla was not a stereotypical gangsta rapper. "It was a character he played," he said. "To us he was just Roddy. When he was home, you couldn't pry him away. Loved to play with his nieces and nephews, loved to play on the Wii." "He wanted to go to theology school," Viera continued. "He was very interested in religion. People think rapper, they think hard, but he wasn't that way." Sean "Diddy" Combs, for whom Dolla had modeled Sean John clothing, sent condolences on Twitter. "RIP Dolla," he wrote. "God bless his family! He was a good kid! You will be missed player. Don't take life for granted people!" Dolla was an up-and-coming rapper signed to Akon's production company, and had success with his T-Pain-assisted track "Who the F--- Is That." The was working on his debut album, Dolla & A Dream, — with reported contributions from Chris Brown, Polow Da Don, Jazze Pha and T-Pain — although it was unclear at press time whether the album had been completed. [This story was originally published at 5:50 pm E.T. on 5.20.09] Related Artists | ||||||||||||||||||
| Paula Abdul Sells, David Archuleta Sings On 'Idol' Finale Red Carpet Posted: 20 May 2009 08:51 AM PDT Plus: 'American Idol' alumni Jason Castro and Diana DeGarmo talk about working with new judge Kara DioGuardi.
LOS ANGELES — The "American Idol" red carpet has to be especially surreal for all the returning "Idol" contestants, kind of like the first day of high school. The vets from the early seasons are the seniors, and the season-eight kids are the naïve freshmen. For season-six runner-up Blake Lewis, it's that dynamic that brought him out for Wednesday night's (May 20) big finale. "I'm back here, hanging out with friends, seeing the new class," he laughed. But fellow seasonf-six finalist LaKisha Jones had her own analogy: "It's like a family reunion, without the barbecue."
Last year's runner-up, David Archuleta, was also back for the finale, even serenading MTV News with a taste of his song "Touch My Hand" on the red carpet. So what does it feel like to be back? "It's really different and really crazy," he said. "I was a lot busier last year than I am right now. ... Adam [Lambert] and Kris [Allen] are getting dragged all over the place." A year later, Archie still thinks America made the right choice for last year's champion. "Cook did great the whole year, really," he said. "I think that's why he deserved to win. I never thought I was gonna win. I thought, 'I'm just happy I'm here. I don't know how I got here!' " As for this year's final two, it was an Adam-leaning carpet (sorry about the loss, guys). But a few people did put their support behind eventual winner Kris, including last year's third-place finisher Syesha Mercado and season-three finalist Jon Peter Lewis, who admitted to backing Allen "just to be contrary."
For a few of the "Idol" alumni we caught up with, fourth judge Kara DioGuardi isn't a new face. Season-three runner-up Diana DeGarmo talked about working with the singer/songwriter on a previous album and reaching out to her for some help on a future country LP. Jason Castro just collaborated with DioGuardi and is hitting the studio next month to record his debut album. It was hard to get someone's attention amid all the red-carpet madness, but one thing stopped Paula Abdul dead in her tracks: mentioning her HSN jewelry line. Our very own "Idol" expert, Jim Cantiello, congratulated the judge on the success of her new line, and she couldn't contain herself. "A complete sellout, every single item, for three hours," she bragged. "I couldn't even start explaining it, and it was sold out." So does she have any bling for Jim? "I have some in store for you, boy," Abdul teased. "I got a lot that you haven't seen. I may have to catch up with you later on." Are you an "American Idol" expert? Take our ultimate "Idol" quiz to find out! Plus, 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 | ||||||||||||||||||
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