MTV News |
- Drake Isn't A Ladies Man: 'I'm An Honest Man'
- Exclusive: Plans For Michael Jackson Robot In Las Vegas Revealed
- Rakim Says Jadakiss And Fabolous Should Be On Hottest MCs List
- Lil Wayne's Illness Causes America's Most Wanted Canada Cancellations
- Tokio Hotel's 'Automatic': Check Out Exclusive Clip And Photo!
- Modest Mouse: Misanthrope Music
- Joe Jonas, Kelly Clarkson To Be 'American Idol' Guest Judges?
- Lil Wayne Confirms That Lauren London Is Pregnant With His Baby
- Michael Jackson Burial Confirmed For August 29
- Rick Ross Gets A Rush From 'Maybach Music 2.5'
| Drake Isn't A Ladies Man: 'I'm An Honest Man' Posted: 19 Aug 2009 03:50 AM PDT 'I always feel like I'm honest on songs,' Drake says about allegations that he raps for women.
Despite the runaway success of "Best I Ever Had," with its sweeping proclamations of devotion to the fairer sex, Drake doesn't really consider himself a ladies' man. In fact, the Toronto MC shot down claims that his favorite topic of discussion is women.
"I think there's two types of rapping about women," he explained to MTV News. "There's rapping about fairy-tale stuff ... not to take away anything from an MC like this, but you take a rapper like Bow Wow, who is a genuine ladies' man and all his songs are to make ladies love him and love themselves. And that's cool. That's a brand of music that might not always be what's real, you may not always be telling the truth, but at least someone is gonna feel good about the songs you're making. With me, when I touch on women — which I don't feel like I rap about a lot — I feel like I'm just rapping about myself." The Lil Wayne protégé thinks his brand of music tilts more toward introspection. The 22-year-old MC's breakthrough mixtape, So Far Gone, although female-friendly, is more of a collection depicting his personal journey into young adulthood, Drake has said. It's more about honesty than scoring a date. "I always feel like I'm honest on songs to where I don't see how anyone can say I'm a ladies' man," Drake said. "I think I put myself in jeopardy in songs and put myself out there [too much to be considered a ladies' man]. I do that so women can learn to love an honest man, 'cause I'm an honest man. "I figure that's the best balance I can find between the two [listeners] — between men and women." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Exclusive: Plans For Michael Jackson Robot In Las Vegas Revealed Posted: 19 Aug 2009 03:50 AM PDT Jackson had been in talks to build a 'giant robotic hotel' before his death.
Last March, Michael Jackson announced plans for his "This Is It" residency at the O2 arena in London. The 50-performance comeback bid would have been the King of Pop's foray back into the mainstream, and after he'd virtually disappeared from the music landscape for several years, the anticipation for his return to the stage was immense, with tickets for the first string of shows selling out almost instantaneously. In reality, the singer had begun planning his return to the limelight much earlier, and with a characteristically Jacksonian flash that was both outrageous and improbable. In October 2005, only months after he was acquitted in his child-molestation case, Jackson had already begun work with fashion designer André Van Pier on costume and set designs for a Las Vegas residency. A longtime friend of Michael and the Jackson family, Van Pier had previously designed costumes for sisters Janet and La Toya. But that wasn't all ...
In 2007, Van Pier, his partner Michael Luckman and artist Timothy Patterson garnered attention when New York's Daily News reported the team was working on a 50-foot Michael Jackson robot that would roam the Nevada desert. Visible to tourists landing at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport, the monolith would be a walking advertisement for Jackson's show. "Michael's looked at the sketches and likes them," Luckman told the Daily News at the time. But, as with many of Jackson's more over-the-top ideas, neither the show nor the robot ever came to fruition. (A rep for the Jackson family had not responded to MTV News' request for comment at press time.) Living in Nevada during this time, Jackson reportedly entered talks with a number of Las Vegas investors, including casino owner and longtime friend Steve Wynn, but "Michael just couldn't raise enough money," Luckman said. Colony Capital, the Las Vegas equity firm that purchased much of Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch debt, also was reported to have considered recurring a Las Vegas show as an option for repayment. However, investors were reportedly reluctant to enter such a deal with Jackson in the wake of the trial. Based on the increasingly extravagant promotional designs for the robot from the Van Pier design firm, the announcement of the project was intended in part to attract financiers as an early attempt to rehabilitate Jackson's public image, as well as satisfy his lifelong fascination with magical, childlike ventures. It's unclear whether the robot would have — or could have — ever been built, although "Michael really liked the initial designs and wanted to use them somehow," Luckman explained. With Jackson living in Nevada, Van Pier worked with artist Patterson to repurpose his original robot concept into the design of a Michael Jackson hotel and casino that incorporated a "Transformers"-like Michael Jackson robot at its entrance. "The idea came up as a proposal to build a giant robotic hotel," Patterson explained. "The face would move, shooting laser-beam-looking lights. The whole building would be covered with spotlights." Though André Van Pier passed away in August of 2008, Luckman and Patterson continued to develop the hotel/ casino concept after his death. While Jackson's plans for a Las Vegas show came to a halt when he prepared for the "This Is It" concerts earlier this year, he remained interested in settling down in Las Vegas after the conclusion of his London engagement in 2010. In an interview with the Las Vegas Sun, Jackson realtor Zar Zanganeh spoke of a $16.5 million home in the same neighborhood as Wayne Newton and casino owner Phil Ruffin that Jackson intended to purchase. "For some time, he was looking for additional lease properties — he wasn't sure if he was going to be staying in Vegas long-term — and when things looked like they were shaping up, we started looking at homes for him to purchase," Zanganeh told the Sun. Just as Jackson remained hopeful about returning to Vegas, Luckman and Patterson also hoped the pop star would come back to the desert, where they were confident that he might one day be able to use the monolithic robot design Van Pier had come up with. "We were supposed to meet with him in London this November," Patterson explained. "But then André died," and, on June 25, Jackson himself died. The London meeting would have been Jackson's first viewing of the re-imagined robot/hotel concept. The duo can't say how interested Jackson might have been in becoming a Las Vegas casino owner after his return from London, and there are currently no known plans to build either the robot or the casino. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Rakim Says Jadakiss And Fabolous Should Be On Hottest MCs List Posted: 19 Aug 2009 03:50 AM PDT But he won't count out young guns like Drake either, in Mixtape Daily.
Celebrity Favorites Big ups to DJ Drama. We just had the homie in NYC the last few days. Look for something major from Drama and not one, but two of your favorite New York City rhyme murderers. Last week, one of the Big Apple's most legendary MCs, Rakim, performed a gaggle of material from his new LP, The Seventh Seal, as well as his classics. Backstage, Ra sat down and reflected on our upcoming Hottest MCs in the Game list. (The 2009 Hottest MCs in the Game list has been rescheduled for October — so you, the fans, can have a seat at the table! The readers' poll now closes September 21. Head here for more info and voting information.) Rakim was voted on our Greatest MCs of All-Time list a few years back, and when looking at who's hot right now, the first name he says is another G.O.A.T.: Jay-Z. "You gotta give it up to Jay. He's holding New York right now," Rakim said. "You have brothers like Fabolous that's holding New York right now. Rap is spread out right now. It's like the NFL last year. A lot of the teams we thought was going to the Super Bowl last year didn't make it. You have young teams that people sleeping on in the playoffs. It's the same thing in rap. New brothers is sprouting out. It's crazy. From Drake to you name it. I'm a fan of hip-hop as well. I like everybody who keeps the game on their toes and keep it pushing." Rakim said he's a huge fan of 50 Cent's song "OK, Alright," and he co-signed another New York thumper: Jadakiss. "Jada, he's the definition of the streets," the legendary MC said. "Jada, Styles P, the LOX, period. You throw on one of their joints ... I'm in the whip, I try to keep my cool in the whip. I don't like bouncing around, getting my crazy on, but it's certain joints you gotta wild out. Roll the window down, blast the joints, let it be heard. That's one of them groups that bang it out." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne's Illness Causes America's Most Wanted Canada Cancellations Posted: 17 Aug 2009 10:45 PM PDT Monday and Tuesday's tour stops in Vancouver and Edmonton canceled at the last minute.
Lil Wayne's America's Most Wanted tour hit another roadblock this week, only this time it had nothing to do with an onstage injury. Just weeks after losing Drake to a blown-out knee, the tour was forced to cancel two shows in Canada due to an unidentified illness suffered by Wayne. According to a note on the venue's Web site, Monday night's show at GM Place in Vancouver was canceled "due to unforeseen circumstances." Similarly, a note on the Ticketmaster site for Tuesday night's (August 18) show at Edmonton's Rexall Place said the show had been canceled, with no reason given. Spokespeople for the venues could not be reached for comment at press time, but Wayne's camp issued a statement on Tuesday explaining the cancellations. "Lil Wayne, due to illness, was advised by his doctors to cancel the Young Money Presents: America's Most Wanted Music Festival tour stops in Western Canada," the statement said. "The tour, headlined by Lil Wayne featuring Young Jeezy, Soulja Boy, Pleasure P and Jeremih, was scheduled to come through Vancouver and Edmonton on August 17th and 18th. Wayne, his band and crew arrived in Canada with full intention of performing but were forced to cancel the dates due to doctor-mandated rest. Young Money Presents America's Most Wanted Music Festival will continue their tour routing as planned and extends an apology to the fans for the cancellation." Canadian radio station News1130 reported that just minutes before the doors were set to open at GM Place on Monday night, fans were informed that the show was canceled. TheProvince.com detailed the stories of some Canadian fans who had splashed out for limos and $79 tickets to the show, only to be disappointed by the last-minute word on the cancellation. According to that report, supporting acts Jeremih and Soulja Boy were in Vancouver and outside the venue, waiting on their tour buses on Monday night. Soulja Boy tweeted several times about the situation, writing, "Show got canceled tonight in Vancouver ... gonna go shoot a video to 'Successful.' " A short time later, he added, "Gonna hop on a plane to L.A. chill there for a couple days since the two Canada shows got canceled." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Tokio Hotel's 'Automatic': Check Out Exclusive Clip And Photo! Posted: 17 Aug 2009 10:01 PM PDT Check out a 45-second preview of band's next single right here!
They argued about it, wrote it in less than two hours and are shooting a video for it in South Africa — but so far, there's very little Tokio Hotel have revealed about "Automatic," the first single from their hotly anticipated Humanoid album, due in October. Until now, that is. Late Monday, the guys in TH reached out to MTV News, asking if we'd like to premiere a 45-second snippet of "Automatic" — and of course we said yes. And they even threw in an added bonus: the first photo of frontman Bill Kaulitz, taken from the set of the super-secret video shoot.
"Automatic" was produced by frequent Tokio Hotel collaborator David Jost — who last week told MTV News that the song was written on a whim, after Kaulitz and his brother/ TH guitarist Tom came up with the idea for the track while driving to their Los Angeles recording studio. "Bill and Tom were on their way from their hotel in West Hollywood to our studio — originally to record Bill's vocals. Just before the guys arrived, Bill called from the car and said that he had an idea for a song which should be named 'Automatic,' " Jost wrote. "We put the vocal recordings on hold that day and wrote down the entire song in less than two hours." Regardless of how long "Automatic" took to put together, the end result is pretty epic: The track is full of huge-sounding guitars, recalling U2 or Coldplay or even Angels & Airwaves — which seems to fit with what production team the Matrix told MTV News last year, when they described the new TH songs as "strong, anthem-y" stuff with "lots of guitars." The vocals are soaring and massive, aiming straight for the stars, and the drums crash and pop ... and that's not even mentioning the amount of electronic frippery backing it all up. If, as Jost said last month, the album really is influenced by science fiction, well, then it's fitting that "Automatic" sounds like a big, super-charged space cruiser. But that's just our take on it. We want to know what you think of Tokio Hotel's "Automatic," too. You can let us know in the comments below, or upload your reactions — or footage of you listening to the song — to YourMTV.com. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Modest Mouse: Misanthrope Music Posted: 19 Aug 2009 03:50 AM PDT Isaac Brock hates me, you and everyone we know, in Bigger Than the Sound.
In February 2004, I found myself sitting on a bench in Tallahassee, Florida, with Isaac Brock. He was drinking a beer out of a paper bag and smoking all my Marlboro Lights, talking loudly about the frat guys stumbling out of the nearby bars (the kinds with names like Potbelly's and Snookers) and making comments at the girls who wandered by. He was unshaven and squat, his pants were too short — they rose a good six inches above his ankles — and he was inexplicably wearing a MedicAlert bracelet on his left wrist. I remember all of this because I was terrified. And not just because this was my first-ever cover story (for the now-defunct CMJ: New Music Monthly magazine), but because this was Isaac Brock. He was a maniac, a monster, a misanthrope ... the surliest loner in all of indie rock, and rather proudly so. He had run-ins with the law, did tons of drugs and hated God and his family and pretty much everyone else in the world — especially those who were tasked with interviewing him. In other words, this was going to be a total disaster. Only somehow, it wasn't. Over the course of a weekend in Tallahassee, Brock proved to be a genuinely nice guy. He got me drunk and bought me cigarettes, he played me songs from Modest Mouse's upcoming album and we spent two nights wandering the halls of a Howard Johnson hotel (he had a knack for pointing out stains on the carpet — "This one's blood," I recall him lisping). When I left for the airport, he called me a "nice kid." It was the most surreal 48 hours of my life, capped off by me returning to my apartment in Brooklyn, unpacking my suitcase and realizing that Brock had totally stolen my hoodie. I laughed. It seemed that even when he was being cordial, Brock still had a bit of a--hole in him. Of course, ever since that weekend in Tallahassee, Brock and his Modest Mouse mates have released an album that went platinum (2004's Good News for People Who Love Bad News) and one that debuted at #1 on the Billboard chart (2007's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank). They have had legitimate rock-radio hits, TV gigs and headlining tours, and have — arguably, and somewhat inexplicably — become the biggest "indie rock" band in the U.S. And through it all, Brock hasn't wavered or mellowed in his commitment to being a disagreeable: He's talked proudly about his DUIs and gashed himself onstage with a pocket knife (to name just a few highlights). He's taken to singing like the drunken offspring of Tom Waits and Frank Black, spitting and twitching like he has Tourette's, seemingly delighting in the racket his voice creates. In short, he hasn't stopped being a professional misanthrope. And I'm starting to believe that Brock has it all figured out. Unlike rock acts such as U2 or Coldplay, Modest Mouse don't attach some higher power to their music. They are not trying to end world hunger, dismantle atomic bombs or viva la vida ... particularly because they don't give a sh-- about any of those things. There is no pretense to their music, no soaring guitars or string-laden choruses. And yet, much like U2 or Coldplay (or the Killers or, shoot, name anybody) they are still internationally famous, only more so, because they have never compromised, never made a grab for the mainstream. They have clout — so much so that Heath Ledger wanted to work with them; so much so that they can release an odds-n-sods EP (No One's First and You're Next) and 27,000 people will buy it, even though some of the material on it is four years old. In fact, it's almost as if the mainstream found them and Brock has done everything in his power to shake it from his tail. He's become a surly, slurring old lout, a lunatic who never met a phrase (or phrasing) that he couldn't abuse within an inch of its life. And Modest Mouse's musical output has followed suit ... for every expansive, pretty, windswept moment they've unfurled over the past three albums ("The Stars Are Projectors," "Blame It On the Tetons," "Little Motel"), they've piled up an equal amount of buzzing, claustrophobic, downright ugly tunes ("Alone Down There," "This Devil's Workday," "Fly Trapped in a Jar") too. And No One's First only continues that trend: "King Rat" and "Whale Song" are downright grotesque songs — belching, blurry stompers that don't pretend for one second to be accessible. "Satellite Skin" is a little friendlier in that it at least contains a chorus (but, almost as a counter to this, Brock makes a point of shouting "Happy f---ing congratulations!" midway through). And still, his fans eat it up. In fact, it's almost as if Brock can't be misanthropic enough, which sort of makes him a rarity in these hopeful times (and only makes me like him more). Sometimes I get tired of writing about how rock music is going to save the world, mostly because I don't believe that it will ... and neither does Brock. That's what draws people to him; he's smart enough to realize that behind those silver linings, there are still plenty of clouds on the horizon. This isn't just pessimism, it's realism ... it's how he's made his living. Being an a--hole is an art form and Brock is the best in the business. Long may he prosper. Questions? Concerns? Hit me up at BTTS@MTVStaff.com. Related Artists |
| Joe Jonas, Kelly Clarkson To Be 'American Idol' Guest Judges? Posted: 18 Aug 2009 02:16 AM PDT Pair are said to be nearing a deal to appear on show.
The "American Idol" guest judge stories are coming at a dizzying rate these days. Shania Twain was the latest to sign up for a stint on the show, following on the heels of Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry and Mary J. Blige. Now the Los Angeles Times' Show Tracker blog is reporting that two more pop stars are likely to grab temporary seats behind the judges' table as well. According to the report, Joe Jonas and Kelly Clarkson are nearing a deal to appear on the show alongside Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi, in the wake of Paula Abdul's departure.
Reached by MTV News, a Fox spokesman declined to comment on the Times story. A spokesman for the Jonas Brothers had not responded to MTV News' request for comment at press time.
This wouldn't be the first "Idol" appearance for the Jonas Brothers: They last appeared in 2008 during the season seven finale. The band has been on tour since June to promote their album, Lines, Vines and Trying Times, and will continue through August until heading to Europe in November. Clarkson, of course, has a long history on the show, having won the inaugural season and last appearing on the show in March to perform "My Life Would Suck Without You" from her new album, All I Ever Wanted. However, she did recently say that she thought Abdul's departure was "drama." The singer is currently on a summer tour that is set to run until mid-December. The blog report does not indicate when Jonas and Clarkson might appear on the show. Blige has already turned up for an appearance in Atlanta, while Beckham took on the role in Boston. A date for Perry's turn as a judge has not yet been set. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne Confirms That Lauren London Is Pregnant With His Baby Posted: 18 Aug 2009 05:08 AM PDT Child with the 'ATL' actress will be Wayne's third.
Lil Wayne is welcoming another little Carter into the world. The rapper finally revealed during a radio interview on Tuesday (August 18) what had been widely speculated: Lauren London is expecting his baby. The "ATL" actress is several months pregnant and surprised attendees of Diddy's white party over the Fourth of July when she arrived with a bulging belly. "Lauren London, she fine," Los Angeles Power 106 jock Fuzzy said to Wayne. "She very pregnant with your baby." To which Wayne responded, "Very pregnant, yes." Fuzzy then offered a congratulations to the Cash Money star, and he gladly accepted. Wayne and London had been spotted together at basketball games in the past, but it's unclear if the two were an official item or just casually dating. Representatives for both entertainers did not respond to inquiries made by MTV News as of press time. This will be the third child for Lil Wayne. He has a daughter, Reginae, with former wife Toya Carter, who stars in BET's "Tiny & Toya Show" with T.I.'s girlfriend. And just last year, Wayne announced the birth of his first son during the 2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards. The mother of Dwayne Michael Carter III was not identified when Wayne broke the news as he accepted Lyricist of the Year honors, but gossip blogs unearthed images of the woman, a college student. This will be London's first child. The actress' credits include "ATL," "Entourage" and "I Love You, Beth Cooper" with Hayden Panettiere. The due date and sex of the baby are unknown at this time. Related Artists |
| Michael Jackson Burial Confirmed For August 29 Posted: 18 Aug 2009 09:22 AM PDT The singer will be laid to rest on his 51st birthday at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
A spokesperson for the Jackson family has confirmed that Michael Jackson will be buried in a private ceremony on August 29, what would have been the singer's 51st birthday. According to TMZ, Jackson will be buried in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, home to such fellow stars as Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Nat King Cole. The private ceremony will reportedly take place at 10 a.m. and be limited to family and close friends.
The Jackson family had reportedly been split over where the singer should be buried, with brother Jermaine favoring a Graceland-style memorial open to the public at Jackson's former Neverland Ranch. Jackson took leave of Neverland in 2005, after being acquitted of child-molestation charges that followed a 2003 raid on the estate. Some family members were said to be against the idea of a public memorial at the home that Jackson said he no longer wished to visit. The burial of the singer, who died on June 25, comes as police continue to investigate his death. The Los Angeles Coroner's Office has completed its investigation into the case and has put a security hold on the results pending the findings in the police probe, which has included investigations into several doctors who dealt with Jackson, but which has focused on his personal physician at the time of his death, cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray. No charges have been filed in the case. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Rick Ross Gets A Rush From 'Maybach Music 2.5' Posted: 18 Aug 2009 06:28 AM PDT Plus, Curren$y and Wiz Khalifa show off their How Fly collabo, in Mixtape Daily.
Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables Mixtape: How Fly Headliners: Curren$y & Wiz Khalifa Co-Starring: The two lyricists went for dolo on this one. Essential Info: These cool kids connected over the Web. When New Orleans hornet Curren$y stung the hell outta the instrumental to the Pittsburgh MC's "Say Yeah" for his track "Modern Day Hippie," Wiz reached out to him. They linked up in Louisiana to work on the project, but, according to Curren$y, the two ended up spending more time on Bourbon Street than in the studio. "We partied too much," he explained. "Every time he came down for us to get working, we ended up on Bourbon Street. We went to the studio a few times, but we were mostly in the club. So we both had to finish it on the road." "Drunk Dialing" and "Rolling Up" are just a couple of records that recall their time in the French Quarter. But Curren$y said the vibe on How Fly isn't all bottle popping. "One of our favorite records, 'Car Service,' is a woozy, bass-rattlin' anthem about the road to success." Streets Is Talking Rick Ross says he'd pick getting props for a hot 16 over almost any other form of pleasure. He's at such a creative space right now, he gets a rush throwing songs out almost as soon as they're recorded. "Aw, man. It's better than sex when you go create something that's actually dope and turn around [and put it right out]," he said about feeding the Internet and the streets with mixtape material. "That's like one of my favorite kicks. It's online everywhere. It's on every blog, and I literally decided two hours ago to do that, and by me doing that, this is reaction, this is the response. That's what we look for, we look for response. We need our records to have a response." Already lauded as arguably the best rap album of the year so far, Ross' #1-debuting Deeper Than Rap already got the response he's been seeking. One of the album's major boppers was "Maybach Music 2." Ross just released a remix of that record with a new lineup, consisting of Fabolous, the Birdman and Pusha T. "Once again, it was just pushing the envelope," the Bawse explained. "We did 'Maybach Music,' a critically acclaimed record. We did a shout-out to Jay-Z, and then on '2,' T-Pain, Kanye West, myself and Lil Wayne. It was an event. It was definitely a boss move. And then, we came back with '2.5.' I just got so many artists telling me, 'Oh, man, if only I could've got on that record.' It's a lot of people's favorite joint. So, I went and got some of my favorite MCs — of course, Birdman. "I look at my favorites for different reasons, and it's also about a feeling I get," Ross added. "When I hear Birdman rapping, it's a feeling used to I get when I'm in the streets that you could only get from that big homie that was making money. That's the feeling I get when I hear Birdman. Fabolous, he did his thing. I most definitely touched it. It wasn't no commercial game, no financial game. It was just me doing it for hip-hop, doing it for the streets of New York, doing it for L.A., doing it for the South." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
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