MTV News |
- Jay-Z's 'Run This Town' Video: Check Out A Preview Here!
- Taylor Swift 'Went All Out' With Broadway Hit For 2009 VMAs
- Lady Gaga Says She's 'Inclined Toward A More Gay Lifestyle'
- Mary J. Blige To Guest-Judge On 'American Idol'
- Drake Talks Recent Onstage Collapse: 'I Forgot I Was Injured'
- American Idol Kris Allen Answers Fans' Burning Questions
- New Chris Brown Song, 'Changed Man,' Hits The Net
- Christina Aguilera Experiments With M.I.A., Santigold On Next Album
- Blink-182 Keep It Semi-Clean, Fall Out Boy Get Dirty In Cincinnati
- C-Murder Sentenced To Life In Prison
| Jay-Z's 'Run This Town' Video: Check Out A Preview Here! Posted: 14 Aug 2009 09:53 AM PDT Kanye West and Rihanna co-star in clip, which recalls 'Mad Max.'
When it comes to his music videos, Jay-Z has logged some pretty serious frequent-flier miles. The Brooklyn wordsmith ventured up north to Toronto for the "Big Pimpin' " video and even trekked overseas to Monaco for his "Show Me What You Got" clip. So where could he go for his next video, "Run This Town," featuring Kanye West and Rihanna? Back in time, maybe? Queens, New York? In fact, both!
In a 30-second preview of "Run This Town" (the second single from Jay's forthcoming Blueprint 3 LP), we see an angry, torch-wielded mob surrounding the trio in a post-apocalyptic setting that looks like a scene right out of "Mad Max." Anthony Mandler, who directed the video for Jay's first single "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)," is the man behind the camera and brings his cinematic touch to the clip. The visuals are unlike anything we've come to expect from Jay-Z in the past. From "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is ...)" to I Just Wanna Luv U (Give It 2 Me)", Jay has mastered being the life of the party. But "Run This Town," with its action sequences and cast of extras is new territory for the MC. The video was shot in Queens, New York recently and pictures of Jay, Kanye and Rihanna on the set leaked onto the Internet last week, revealing the artists clad in all black. Sources told MTV News at the time that more than 80 extras were on set at the historic Fort Totten Park, a preserved Civil War fortress. In the preview, a number of extras can be seen, also clad in black and acting unruly while bearing torches. The video premieres Thursday on MTV — and don't miss Jay's performance at the VMAs on September 13! The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards will take place September 13 at 9 p.m. ET. Additional celebrity presenters and performers will be announced in the coming weeks. To be the first to find out the inside scoop, follow the Inside MTV Twitter account at Twitter.com/InsideMTV. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift 'Went All Out' With Broadway Hit For 2009 VMAs Posted: 14 Aug 2009 07:57 AM PDT The country star will join Cobra Starship, Katy Perry, Ne-Yo and host Russell Brand on the 'West Side Story' song 'Tonight.'
Taylor Swift is joining Cobra Starship, Katy Perry, Russell Brand and Ne-Yo for a special version of the classic "West Side Story" tune "Tonight," for a promo of the 2009 Video Music Awards' return to the Big Apple. MTV News was on hand as she shot her version of the legendary song, which will then be melded together with all the other versions of the track and will air in the days preceding the September 13 show. Swift was very excited to get the chance to show the world her Broadway chops. "It's gonna be me and a bunch of artists, and we're shooting individual versions of the song," she explained. "Mine is shot in a vintage old cab."
The country superstar decided that for her part, she was going to show the world that she's about more than the teardrops on her guitar, making this particular performance all about embracing the song's 42nd Street roots. "My version of 'Tonight' was pretty theatrical, because I listened to the song and I heard the song and I'm just like, 'There's no way to do this and not play it up,' " she said. Swift, nominated for Best Female Video for "You Belong With Me," added that she's a big fan of the genre. "When we were in the studio recording, it I just kind of went all out — all show tunes. I am obsessed with Broadway," she said. "So I was pretty excited about getting to sing this song." The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards will take place September 13 at 9 p.m. ET. Additional celebrity presenters and performers will be announced in the coming weeks. To be the first to find out the inside scoop, follow the Inside MTV Twitter account at Twitter.com/InsideMTV. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Says She's 'Inclined Toward A More Gay Lifestyle' Posted: 14 Aug 2009 01:44 AM PDT 'I myself am not a gay woman — I am a free-spirited woman,' she tells Out magazine.
Lady Gaga has never been one to shy away from the topic of sexuality. Whether it's her barely there outfits, her double-entendre-laden lyrics (infer from "I'm bluffin' with my muffin" what you will), or her onstage escapades, she's more than willing to discuss, dissect or display sex. And in the September issue of Out magazine, Gaga gets deep, addressing rumors about her own sexuality — specifically, her supposed preference for women — her lifelong immersion in gay culture and how both of those things have helped make her the very fabulous star she is today. "I had a few gay piano teachers. I was in acting class and ballet from a very young age, and I remember being around a lot of gay boys in dance class. I feel intrinsically inclined toward a more gay lifestyle," she tells the magazine. "I myself am not a gay woman — I am a free-spirited woman: I have had boyfriends, and I have hooked up with women, but it's never been like, 'I discovered gayness when I was dot dot dot.' " She also spoke at length about her devotion to the gay community, which has supported her since she was a scruffy Lower East Side performance artist. It's why, before she agreed to tour with Kanye West, she sat him down and told him that she intended to put on a very gay show ... and nothing was going to change that. "When I started in the mainstream, it was the gays that lifted me up," she told the magazine. "I committed myself to them and they committed themselves to me, and because of the gay community, I'm where I am today." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Mary J. Blige To Guest-Judge On 'American Idol' Posted: 14 Aug 2009 02:18 AM PDT R&B singer joins the list of celebrity replacements for Paula Abdul.
In the wake of Paula Abdul's departure from "American Idol" earlier this month, Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham and Katy Perry announced they'd sit at the judges' table alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi during auditions. Now, the latest star to wear the judge hat this season will be Mary J. Blige. People.com reported on Friday (August 14) that the Grammy-winning R&B singer will be a guest judge when the crew heads to Atlanta. Beckham's last day at the table was Friday, when she heard Boston's "Idol" hopefuls. Sources told People.com that the former Spice Girl fit in just fine with the other judges. "The judges and production team have been having a lot of fun with Victoria," a show source says. "She's had a great response so far, and has been really warm with the contestants." When Beckham spoke to Ryan Seacrest last week before starting the gig, she said that she wanted to be nice to the contestants, but still maintain a critical eye. "I want to be nice to people. I know how it feels to stand there and be judged, and how it can feel when nerves get the better of you. I don't want to shatter anybody's dream," she said. "But at the same time, there's nothing wrong with constructive criticism." The permanent solution for filling Abdul's empty chair has yet to be announced. Earlier this month, Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment at Fox, told Reuters that they'll be coming up with a replacement "between now and January ... Obviously, there is going to be a different dynamic, [and] there is something exciting about that." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists |
| Drake Talks Recent Onstage Collapse: 'I Forgot I Was Injured' Posted: 14 Aug 2009 02:06 AM PDT 'I was just so full of adrenaline,' MC says of Philadelphia performance where he re-injured his knee.
Drake's buzz was so big that not even some blown knee ligaments could stop him. He first injured his knee days before the BET Awards in June while shooting hoops, but the young rapper not only performed at the show, he also decided a month later to honor his commitment as a part of Young Money Presents: The America's Most Wanted Music Festival, featuring Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and Soulja Boy. But not even five dates in — despite a reduced set list — Drake hurt himself again at the Philadelphia stop.
While performing his breakout hit, "Best I Ever Had," an enthusiastic Drake put a scare into the entire crowd when he suddenly collapsed as he ran across stage. His injured knee — a torn ACL, MCL and LCL — gave out on him yet again. He was writhing in pain and carried offstage. Recalling the fall now, Drake described it as "borderline more painful than the initial tear." He explained that it was the adrenaline rush from the crowd that led him to get carried away. In spite of his movements not feeling right, he still ran across stage, caught up in what was going on around him. "What the footage doesn't show is that I actually came out of the sky that night," he told MTV News. "I was 20 feet in the air on a little platform. Philadelphia was the only sold-out show on the tour — 25,000 people. And before they see me, I see them for about five seconds. I was staring out into the crowd and I literally ... when I landed on that platform, I blacked out and really forgot I was injured. I was just so full of adrenaline, so happy to be there, it kind of set in for me. I remember on the I Am Music tour, the reaction was great. But these were my songs. These are songs people know and love and we really made this happen in a short time. I was just enjoying myself. I had the mic and I was really going. And when 'Best I Ever Had' came on, I felt like dancing. It was a great moment. I wanted to run across stage, I wanted to jump into the crowd." Before he could even make it near the crowd, though, his knee buckled. Once the footage of his spill hit the Internet, Drake said his peers began sending him messages asking him stay off his leg. He got text messages from NBA stars LeBron James and Chris Paul, and Jamie Foxx spoke to him in person about minding his health. He's set to take a break soon, but the Young Money lyricist has been busy since he returned to his hometown of Toronto to recuperate. Drake just finished shooting a video for "Successful," featuring Lil Wayne and Trey Songz. And, while he's no longer on Young Money Presents: The America's Most Wanted Music Festival, he had to make one last appearance before he officially left the trek. He made a cameo onstage during the Toronto stop, using a cane to move around as he performed "Successful." "That was the best show I ever did in my life," he said. Related Photos Related Artists |
| American Idol Kris Allen Answers Fans' Burning Questions Posted: 14 Aug 2009 02:33 AM PDT The season-eight winner reveals his ideal talk-show lineup, his fashion taste and more.
"American Idol" champ Kris Allen is on a strict no-sleep schedule, what with the American Idols Live! Tour barreling on and his debut major-label album set to drop later this year. But that didn't stop the hardworking Allen from setting aside time to answer fans' questions, submitted via Twitter, with MTV News. So what did the fans want to know? Aside from the expected album inquiries, several questions ended up being about pop culture, ranging from his TV preferences to his ideal talk-show lineup.
Should Kris ever land a gig hosting a talk show, his ideal lineup proved to be a little hard to decide on. After much deliberation, Allen finally settled on his dream bookings. "I would probably say Will Smith. Musical guest? Paul McCartney. And the other guest, let's put a girl in there. Maybe Jennifer Aniston. That's pretty good, right?" Other decisions were easier to make. Without hesitation, Kris responded to a fan-fielded question about his #1 television show pick. "My favorite TV show ever is 'Boy Meets World'! Topanga's super-hot, man!" Sadly, Kris doesn't have a TV anymore so he hasn't been able to check out Topanga's (Danielle Fishel's) latest show, "The Dish," on the Style Network. Reporters often ask Kris about his relationship with Adam Lambert, but leave it to the Allen Nation to inquire about his fictional relationship with Adam. When the topic of fan fiction came up, however, Kris was clueless. "Fan fiction, what's a fan fiction?" Once we explained the Internet phenomenon to him, the singer became quite intuitive. "I have a feeling that most of those do not end up very PG-rated," he laughed. Adam Lambert also gained headlines this week when he held a "Twitter Party" after falling too ill to attend meet and greets at a recent tour stop. During the "party," Lambert spent an hour replying to as many Twitter followers as possible. (The singer was likely inspired by "Idol" co-star Michael Sarver, who has been holding similar Twitter Parties throughout the American Idols Live! Tour.) Despite all the attention Adam and Kris have received thanks to their "Kradam" bromance, the most-asked question had to do with Kris' fashion choices. Or perhaps we should say "choice," singular, since Allen has been sporting plaid shirts almost exclusively since winning the "Idol" crown in May. When nudged about his sartorial style, Kris defended himself. "Plaid is in! Is plaid in? I don't know. I guess my eyes are drawn to it. I like it. It's comfortable." The only uncomfortable moment arose when one fan asked Kris to reveal his least favorite aspect of being an "Idol" winner. Allen sincerely appeared to struggle to come up with any negatives, before settling on an incident involving an Italian fanatic who assaulted him with an unwelcome French kiss. Apparently when you're an "Idol" winner, save for a stranger's tongue, there isn't much else you'd want to change. Plaid shirt, included. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Artists |
| New Chris Brown Song, 'Changed Man,' Hits The Net Posted: 14 Aug 2009 09:48 AM PDT While lyrics seem to reference Rihanna, Brown's rep says song was actually recorded 'some time ago.'
Yet another unreleased song purported to be Chris Brown's first single from his upcoming album, Graffiti, leaked onto the Web this week, this one titled "Changed Man." The song's regret-tinged lyrics could be construed as an apology to Rihanna. "What do you do when the truth isn't quite enough/ They looking at you telling you that we need to break it up," Brown sings on the melancholy track. "You need to do what you do, it's me and you in love/ But I'mma make it up to you and show the world I'm a changed man." The three-minute track details Brown pledging his devotion and trying to atone for his mistakes. A rep for Brown's label, Jive Records, however, told MTV News on Friday (August 14) that the song was actually recorded "some time ago." Brown has been working on his next album, Graffiti, tentatively scheduled for a release by the end of the year; no new material from the project has been released yet. "Changed Man" will not be the first single, according to the rep. In June, two songs leaked, one titled "Smash" and the other one "Not My Fault," that caused a stir. "Not My Fault" led many to think that was an apology ode, but a rep confirmed the songs were demo tracks that were not intended for release. "Countering misleading reports of 'new' Chris Brown music: there are no 'new' songs from Chris Brown currently being promoted by Chris or his record label," a representative for Jive Records said in a statement at the time. "There are several old demos circulating that are being falsely promoted as new material from Chris." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Christina Aguilera Experiments With M.I.A., Santigold On Next Album Posted: 14 Aug 2009 01:31 AM PDT 'I worked with so many amazing and incredibly talented people,' she says.
Christina Aguilera is doing anything but getting back to basics on her new music. The singer called in to her station on A.P.E. Radio earlier this week and dished a bit about her forthcoming album, noting that she hit the studio with a wide range of artists to experiment on her sound. "I know I can't let too much out the bag too soon," she said. "I just can't, 'cause I really want you guys to be surprised and to experience firsthand what I'm talking about or what I'm not talking too much about. Too soon in the game, but wrapping everything up now."
Aguilera noted that she's "in the final stages of the record, and I'm just so thrilled." She stepped out of her comfort zone to make a unique album, working with M.I.A., Santigold and Lady Tron, who she says she "respects and admires." "I think I'm most proud of this work than I've ever been, just because I worked with so many amazing and incredibly talented people," she said. "[Sia and I] did a lot of work on this record together, and she's just a complete gem. She's truly just such a talented force to be reckoned with. And I so enjoyed her company, and I think we really created some super crazy magic together. I got a chance to sort of write with Santigold, M.I.A., Lady Tron — artists that I really love." The album's sound, and presumably Aguilera's look to go along with it, will reflect the eclectic vibe that she's striving for on the album. "The overall versatility of this record is truly something special for me," she explained. "I experimented with so many different types of textures and sounds with my voice that I've never showcased and that I never really knew that I could do." She added that "working with so many different people, I really kind of wanted to step into their worlds, them into my world and just get the best of both worlds." "I really like to step outside of my own box," she said. "The result was just crazy magic. There truly is something for everyone to enjoy on the record. Lots of good stuff in store!" Related Artists |
| Blink-182 Keep It Semi-Clean, Fall Out Boy Get Dirty In Cincinnati Posted: 13 Aug 2009 10:42 PM PDT Panic! At The Disco also play lean, mean opening set.
CINCINNATI — Imagine going to see Kim Kardashian at a book signing and having her show up in a pair of loose-fitting sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt. Now, picture going to see the reunited Blink-182 and making it all the way through their 90-minute set without hearing a single poop or pee joke. Unthinkable, right? Well, that's what happened Thursday night at Riverbend Music Center in front of more than 20,000 screaming fans at what the band said was the biggest crowd on their summer tour to date. Gig #13 turned out to be a lucky one for Travis, Tom and Mark, as the adoring, mostly teen and pre-teen crowd showered them with love and vocal assistance while the boys returned the favor with their typical F-bomb-filled stage patter and frenzied pop-punk classics. The show opened with a bang, as the band blazed through "Feeling This," "What's My Age Again?" and the moody, Cure-like "I Miss You" in front of a towering set made up of six round video screens that looked like the inside of a giant spaceship. Though many in the crowd looked like they were barely out of grade school when Blink called it quits five years ago, they shouted along to the bouncy "Stay Together for the Kids" like it was the anthem of their youth.
Maybe it's a function of time and distance, but all three band members seemed both more accomplished at their instruments and, yes, more mature this time around. Despite his barrage of F-bombs and taunts to the crowd about local sports heroes, singer/guitarist Tom DeLonge's voice sounded slightly less nasal and more robust than in the past and his guitar playing was more nuanced. Drummer Travis Barker showed off his clearly amped-up abilities, tossing in some nuanced, jazzy fills on "Stockholm Syndrome" and blowing minds during the encore with an athletic drum solo that featured him floating on his drum riser over the stage, tilted down at a 30-degree angle and spinning around in an homage to Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee. DeLonge and bassist/singer Mark Hoppus played off of each other all night, with cross-talk that provided proof that whatever animus broke the band up five years ago, they've overcome it and are loving playing together again. They gave each other a bro-hug on behalf of the audience before "Adam's Song," which kept building and building until it sounded like the place was going to explode. And, in a moment that rarely ever happens at big rock shows, Hoppus not only thanked the opening acts, he actually sang bits of songs from each, albeit with made-up garbled lyrics. By the time they got to "All the Small Things" and "Josie," the band's pop-punk theatrics took a back seat to the roaring vocals from the crowd, who treated both songs like they were classic rock anthems from the 1970s. The smiles on Tom and Mark's faces as the show ended said it all. Co-headliners Fall Out Boy played a no-nonsense 45 minutes of speedy arena-pop that verged from '80s glam metal to, well, '80s pop, courtesy of their unironic cover of Journey's "Don't Stop Believing." And for an audience that was barely born when Blink first rolled out, the amount of buy-in on the cheesy FM radio staple's soaring chorus was truly impressive — helped, no doubt, by a vocal assist from Panic! At The Disco singer Brendon Urie. Otherwise, FOB stuck to what they do best: big-hearted, stomping anthems like "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race," the dino rock of "I Don't Care" and "I Slept With Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me," which spotlighted drummer Andy Hurley's thundering chops. At one point, bassist Pete Wentz stopped to thank Blink for bringing the band out on tour with them, saying he grew up on the band's Dude Ranch album and referring to them as "big brothers." Pharrell protégés Chester French opened with a 20-minute set of caffeinated synth-pop that included their homage to sexy shoes, "Jimmy Choos," and sexier groupies, "Bebe Buell." With new guitarist Ian Crawford (the Cab) and bassist Dallon Weekes (the Brobecks) in tow, Panic! At the Disco 2.0 played a 40-minute blitz of their signature paisley pop. But in place of the foppish, ruffled shirts, psychedelic circus performers and modern dandy look they began shedding more than a year ago, the streamlined quartet came out in slim, shiny dark suits and played a lean set with a more rock-edged sound. From "Lying Is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off," to "Camisado" and "That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)," the band drove a little harder and faster than they used to, with singer Urie engaging in a bit of sexually charged banter with his young admirers. The band also showed off their new single, the sing-songy pop tune "New Perspective," which gave mop-topped guitarist Crawford a chance to show off a few vintage 1984 guitar tricks. All in all, it was a super-charged, triumphant night for the bands and their fans, especially a trio of Blink fanatics who were at the very front and center of the barriers. Wearing a coonskin cap, Kentucky native Brandon Rogers, 21, said he hadn't slept for three days in anticipation of seeing Blink for the first time. "Their music defined our childhood year," he said. "They represent our age." He was joined by pal Jonathan Dooley, also sweating it out under a coonskin cap, and 18-year-old Rebecca Schweingruber, who said she'd been listening to Blink since fifth grade and had left home at 3 a.m. to make sure she was first in line to enter the venue. "I was so stoked about this show, my brother and I partied for two days before we came down," she said. Related Photos Related Artists |
| C-Murder Sentenced To Life In Prison Posted: 14 Aug 2009 12:40 AM PDT Rapper was found guilty of fatal Louisiana nightclub shooting Wednesday.
Three days after a Louisiana jury found him guilty of second-degree murder (twice, actually), rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller was sentenced to life in prison on Friday (August 14). According to The Associated Press, District Judge Hans Liljeberg gave Miller, 38, the mandatory life sentence following the onetime No Limit Records rap star's conviction in the 2002 shooting of 16-year-old fan Steve Thomas at a now-closed nightclub in Harvey, Louisiana. Miller, who changed his rap name to C. Miller during the trial, was found guilty in the case on Tuesday morning, but Liljeberg made the jury return to deliberations because he suspected they had rushed their verdict to end deliberation. The rapper was convicted in 2003 in the same case but had that conviction overturned on appeal. Just as it had earlier in the day on Tuesday, the jury voted 10-2 in their second verdict, finding that Miller shot Thomas once in the chest as the teen lay on his back while being beaten by the rapper's friends at the now-shuttered Platinum Club on January 12, 2002. Thomas was a high school student who idolized Miller and his rapper brothers, No Limit founder Percy "Master P" Miller and Vishonn "Silkk the Shocker" Miller, and had even made some gold fronts out of golden ashtrays he got from work as an homage to the hometown hip-hop heroes. On the night of the shooting, Thomas told his father he was going to a movie but used a fake ID to go to the Platinum Club, knowing Miller would be there for a rap competition, in which Thomas performed, according to testimony. Prosecutors said on Tuesday that they were confident in the verdict and did not believe an appeal would be filed. On Friday, Liljeberg rejected a request from Miller's attorney for a new trial, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, and the life sentence comes without the possibility of parole. Liljeberg granted a request from Miller's lawyer, who said he had not been paid for his services, to withdraw as the rapper's attorney and not be part of an appeal. The judge said he will appoint a public defender to help Miller, who said he would work on raising money to hire his own lawyer to file the appeal. Miller has pleaded no contest to separate second-degree attempted-murder charges stemming from a 2001 incident at Baton Rouge, Louisiana's Club Raggs, in which he allegedly pulled a gun on a bouncer. His sentencing in the Club Raggs case is scheduled for August 25. Related Artists |
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