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- Lady Gaga's VMA Performance Will Be 'Next-Level,' Perez Hilton Says
- Death Cab For Cutie Reveal Secrets Of 'New Moon' Video Shoot
- Diddy Doesn't Want To 'Overwhelm People' With New Sound, Video
- Wale Aces Video Music Awards Quiz
- Lil Boosie Says Upcoming Murder Trial Is Making Him 'More Focused'
| Lady Gaga's VMA Performance Will Be 'Next-Level,' Perez Hilton Says Posted: 08 Sep 2009 03:51 AM PDT 'She's always trying to top herself, and I think she's going to,' gossip blogger promises.
Lady Gaga's BFF Perez Hilton can't wait for people to see what the nine-time-nominated entertainer has up her sleeve for this year's Video Music Awards on September 13. Gaga is in an epic battle against Beyoncé for Moonmen, but everyone really just wants to know what kind of wacky outfits and performance she'll put on when she gets there.
Hilton promises that the New York native is certainly going to get everyone pumped from the moment she makes her way to the show. "I was with Gaga in Japan recently, and we absolutely talked about the VMAs," Hilton said. "I'm going to be Gaga's date. Well, I'm not going to be on the carpet with Gaga, because Gaga might be having some special guests with her — that's all I can say. I can't reveal too much. Special guests!" The self-proclaimed Gossip Gangster said fans should also expect surprises in Gaga's performance, which he described as "next-level." "I think, without a doubt, Gaga's gonna be that big star of the night, just because her performance really is next-level," he said. "That's the thing about her: She's always trying to top herself, and I think she's going to." 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 |
| Death Cab For Cutie Reveal Secrets Of 'New Moon' Video Shoot Posted: 08 Sep 2009 03:51 AM PDT 'Meet Me on the Equinox' debuts on MTV.com on Sunday, the day of the VMAs.
As soon as Death Cab for Cutie learned their "Meet Me on the Equinox" had been chosen as the first single from the upcoming "New Moon" soundtrack, they immediately began thinking about the accompanying music video.
Their first idea was to go big, as in "cameos by Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner." Of course, that was mostly just wishful thinking, so they went with option number two: make a smart, stylish clip with the directorial tandem known as Walter Robot, a pair of guys known for making smart, stylish clips (including DCFC's VMA-nominated "Grapevine Fires"). And last week, the band, the Robots and an army of lighting techs assembled in a rustic, somewhat creepy ski lodge outside Toronto to film the "Equinox" video. Given the "dark and light" themes of the "Twilight" series (and the fact that the song is named after a solar phenomenon), the clip somewhat fittingly draws heavily on the ideas of day and night and light and shadow. "The whole idea behind the video is that this house that we're in, this crazy ski lodge of a building here, it's going to get cut together with scenes from the film, sort of like it's a place that might be in Forks, sort of a place that might be next door to Bella's house or something," DCFC guitarist Chris Walla told MTV News. "All the light stuff that's happening through the windows, it's the 'day-turning-into-night-turning-into-day thing,' the idea is that it's supposed to look like a time-lapse thing, only it's not actually a time-lapse thing, and it's quite a trick. "There's a 50-foot crane outside that some series of structural engineers are operating," he continued. "It's pretty remarkable, I mean, like it's daylight right here, and it's pitch-black right behind us. It's kinda nuts." Of course, that dark/light interplay is also reflected in the song, which debuts on MTV.com on September 13, the day of the 2009 Video Music Awards. And though Death Cab frontman Ben Gibbard has never read a book in the "Twilight" series, he drew from a different inspiration when writing the tune: his childhood memories of Pacific Northwest towns like Forks and Port Angeles, which, as any fan of the books will know, play just as big a role in the "Twilight" series as the characters themselves. "For me, I grew up on the west side of Puget Sound, and I spent a lot of my youth traveling around those areas — Port Angeles and Forks and down around the peninsula — and for me, who grew up in that area, it's kind of nice to see this kind of new tourism boom," Gibbard said. "It's basically a logging town. There's never been anything going on there, unless you were logging or protesting logging — those are the two things to do in Forks. But it's a really beautiful part of the country, and it's great to see such a beautiful light shone on it through these films." 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 Photos |
| Diddy Doesn't Want To 'Overwhelm People' With New Sound, Video Posted: 08 Sep 2009 03:51 AM PDT Hype Williams-directed clip for 'Angels' premieres Tuesday.
Diddy already knows what you're thinking: Singing? Him? Yup! The Bad Boy Records CEO is going into crooner mode — with the help of Auto-Tune, of course — for his next album, The Last Train to Paris. It was an unexpected move for one of hip-hop's most successful moguls. Diddy, though, said it's a natural progression in his career, one that's seen him go from rap producer to pop star to fashion designer. But just in case everyone isn't ready, he's gonna ease fans into the transition with the help of one of his good friends, Hype Williams, who will be directing each of the videos from the album, including the clip for lead single "Angels," which is being released virally Tuesday morning (September 8).
"I didn't wanna overwhelm people with that part of it [me singing]," Diddy explained to MTV News. "I got with a director, Hype Williams. I think I knew I had to confront that issue head on. We know this community. We know the community we've been making records for. We know how it feels when you have an uncle or a brother and they coming to Thanksgiving dinner and they done lost 100 pounds. They got a brand-new suit on, they got some new teeth in their mouth. It's startling, it's too much at one time." Williams' visuals, according to Diddy, will help shape the concept the "Making His Band" mastermind is hoping to deliver with the album, a love story that coincides with a redemptive journey from London to the City of Lights. "We said we gonna keep the lights dim a little bit, 'cause the song is not about that," Diddy said, referring to his vocals. "I'm definitely not the greatest singer in the world. It took me two weeks to do the song, straight up. It took me two weeks to get the song right. It's really supposed to be an expression. It's supposed to be the way your soul sounds. Not the way R. Kelly or Chris Brown sound, Mario, Trey Songz. It's supposed to be a very vulnerable emotional experience. I think we were able to capture that in the video and do it outta the box." The video is a black-and-white portrait of Diddy and his assembled group, Dirty Money, throughout various locations in New York City, particularly the Bronx's St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church. Diddy said he and Williams drew on raw images for the clip to convey the emotion of the song, admitting the scaled-back film might be a risk, but he's hoping for an impact. "It doesn't make sense for me, or any other artist who has been in the game after 10 years, if you been in this for over 10 years and you not taking risks, your ass should stay at home," he said. Diddy said his moves on his album are an indication of his willingness to push himself as an artist. The work might not win awards, but if he's lauded for his artistic push of the genre then he sounds like he'd be fine with that. He'll create a new award for himself. "I'm out here butt-naked with this one, jack," he said of the new project. "I've taken a lot of risks with doing Broadway, doing the marathon, this one here — it's strange the way the game works. I've taken pride that when it's all said and done, I may get the Risk Taker of the Year award. I don't know what other award I'll get. I may get [that]. With that comes success and consequences. That's the best ride to be on." |
| Wale Aces Video Music Awards Quiz Posted: 08 Sep 2009 03:51 AM PDT 'It's gonna be huge,' MC says of his house-band performance on September 13.
It's a little-known fact that before MTV hires anyone to serve as the house band at the Video Music Awards, they must pass a rigid, Kurt Loder-proctored VMA quiz (seriously, the Raconteurs aced it to land the gig back in 2006). And this year was no exception. And while we were all huge fans of up-and-coming Washington, D.C., MC Wale (and his cracking live band, UCB), we weren't about to just let them serve as the 2009 house band without first making the grade.
So, we had Tim Kash give Wale a grilling, hitting him with a host of VMA questions that would test his knowledge and see if he really was worthy. Oh, and for added pressure we decided to quiz him right in the heart of Times Square. Clearly, the pressure was on ... and, as it turned out, Wale was more than up for the challenge. You can watch his full VMA quiz in the video that accompanies this story, but let's just say he aced it, nailing questions like, "What comedian earned a lifetime ban after his 1989 VMA performance?" (Andrew Dice Clay) and "Who was the first hip-hop artist to win the Video Vanguard Award?" (LL Cool J) with, as he put it, "the smoothness of Mark Price on free throws." And since he passed with flying colors, we're happy to announce that Wale and UCB will officially serve as the house band at the 2009 VMAs (you know, even though we already announced it last week). They'll collaborate on versions of today's biggest hits with the likes of the All-American Rejects, Pitbull and 3OH!3, and Wale promises that there's also gonna be a few surprises too. "We're gonna bring a lot of that funk, we're gonna bring a lot of that D.C. go-go," he laughed. "We're gonna wild-out and have some fun. It's gonna be huge." 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 |
| Lil Boosie Says Upcoming Murder Trial Is Making Him 'More Focused' Posted: 08 Sep 2009 04:35 AM PDT Plus: Quan is ready to live up to expectations with Walking Testimony, in Mixtape Daily.
This Week's Main Pick Street King: Lil Boosie Holding It Down For: Baton Rouge Indie Album: SuperBad: The Return of Boosie Bad Azz Real Spit: The police say Boosie Bad Azz is a little too bad — he's facing a murder trial in the near future. "It's making me more focused on my music. I got a big trial coming up," he says. "Police putting false statements in reports, trying to corrupt the judge. It's just getting me more focused. The more you go through, the more gonna come out. I'm just worrying about the music." Boosie's long-awaited SuperBad comes out next Tuesday. He said the title reflects his evolution as a performer and lyricist.
"I got a big following. My fans love me so much," he noted. "I get that 'hood love, 20 [thousand] to 25 [thousand] a show every weekend. I'm a big factor Down South." Bobby Valentino, Young Jeezy and, of course, Webbie are all featured on the LP. Joints to Check For » "Miss Kissin' on You" (featuring Trina and KaDe). "It's going out to a couple of girls I miss back in the game," Boosie said. "It's one of the songs the women gonna love. They need to check out for that. I'm talking about how I miss a girl and all that. I reach out to them. They even call me on holidays. They be trying to reach back out to me. Look at me now. Those be the ones who were acting funny back then. It's gonna be a classic record. I like to put people on my record who will fit in with me. I like thug girls like Trina who look good and talk nasty. I like to go with who I think my fanbase would prefer me with." » "Mind of a Maniac." "It's the last song on the album," Boosie said of the record, on which he admits that some people will think his thoughts are deranged. "In 'Mind of a Maniac,' that's what I be thinking. Stuff like, 'Why is the judge mad at [Michael] Vick for killing dogs, but [people] kill deer and put 'em on their walls? Why can't we kill a dog and put a pit bull head on the wall? We eat dog too. Y'all eat deer?' Stuff like that that make you think, 'This n---a is kinda odd.' Mind of a maniac is going hard. It's touching on racism and all them things." » "Bullsh--." "It's rapping about how a lot of bull is going on in the world from the rap game to playa hatas. I'm just spitting on that. Check that record out. It's number eight on the album. '90 percent is your business, 10 percent is your talent,' " Boosie added about what he thinks is the biggest B.S. he encounters. The Louisiana native wants it to be more about the art. "I'm supposed to be on top of a lot of people who are past me, but their business is better than my business. It ain't the raps." Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables Headliner: Quan Independent Album: Walking Testimony Songs We Can't Stop Playing: "Just Believe," "Getting Money" (featuring Nas), "G Call" and "Mommaz Prayer" (featuring Zoe) Essential Info: Quan, it's been too long. Five years ago, the VA native made an appearance on Nas' Street's Disciple on the thought-provoking "Just a Moment." The guy was spitting hard lyrics and had harmonious singing in his repertoire as well (this was way before the likes of a Kid Cudi or Drake). Esco was billing him as hip-hop's "future" in every interview, and later, Quan inked a deal through Nas' record company, Ill Will, and Atlantic Records. But things didn't quite pan out as he had expected. Quan went through management problems that eventually led to his parting ways with Nas, and he could not see eye to eye with Atlantic. Quan eventually asked for and received his release. Since then, he's been circulating on the underground scene while dealing with severe family issues. "Just to wake up is a blessing," Quan said of his album title, Walking Testimony. "Some people are like, 'What happened?' For a minute, I actually had mad deaths in my family. My goddaughter died. Zoe's daughter. He's a talented artist. [Hip-Hop Editor's Note: The "Zoe" Quan is referring to is an up-and-coming singer from VA, not to be confused with Atlanta rapper Gorilla Zoe.] She was 12. Right before that, my grandmother died. After that, my little cousin died. My biological father got thrown out of a five-story window in the Bronx; he almost died. He was in the hospital for almost two months. In the process of him healing, my cousin Boogie died in a car accident. It kinda rocked me. Then two of my friends died; they got killed. I was like, 'Damn.' " Quan said he sat back to reflect on life but was still working on music. He's released a handful of mixtapes over the past three years. "You really have to love it," he said of the industry. "If it doesn't happen for you [quick], you really have to love it. The industry and the politics behind it will really put a strain on your passion for it. Either you gonna move it or lose it. Keep on grinding or fall by the wayside. The blessing is to just have music the people wanna hear and feed that. Whether it's 100 people, 5,000, 20,000 — to have as many people as I do come up to me and say, 'Your music helped me through hard times,' I appreciated it. 'I admire what you are saying and what you're trying to do.' What greater gift can you ask for?" Quan's album was released recently through Amalgam Digital and iTunes, and he's currently in talks with some labels about future projects. "I'm still a free agent. Amalgam gave me an opportunity to share my music with the world," he explained. "It's a blessing. Obviously, me and a whole lot of other people [expected] my career to go major. But it don't always work like that the first time going around. 50 went through it. Jay went through it. I feel it's my season, and however God wants it to go, it'll go. In the meantime, I released five mixtapes, the last one being digital: Carry the Tradition. All my mixtapes did real well. For a while, going through different negotiations with different labels, I was so set on going major. In the meantime, I tried to provide my fans with as much music as possible. I didn't want to become a 'mixtape rapper.' I tried to provide my fans with quality over quantity." Other Heat This Week » 50 Cent - 50th Law of Power » Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II (independent album) For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
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