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| Have Rihanna And Chris Brown Gotten Back Together? Posted: 28 Feb 2009 09:38 AM PST People and Us Weekly report couple reuniting three weeks after alleged altercation.
If a series of reports breaking on Friday night (February 27) are true, Rihanna and Chris Brown have reunited and are staying at a house owned by Diddy near Miami – and Rihanna's father has already said he'll be "supportive" of their reunion. Just before 8 p.m. ET on Friday, People.com published a story citing an unidentified source as saying of Brown and Rihanna, "They're together again. They care for each other. While Chris is reflective and saddened about what happened, he is really happy to be with the woman he loves." Approximately two hours later, UsMagazine.com cited a "Rihanna pal" as confirming the reunion and saying, "She's not listening to anyone. And of course Puff [Diddy] got involved in this." The site also reported the pal as saying that Brown has been seen "smiling, riding a jet ski, and flexing his arm muscles," and that Rihanna arrived four days ago. Not an hour later, Us quoted Rihanna's father, Ronald Fenty, as saying, "I love my daughter with whatever road she takes. I'm behind her win or lose. I will be supportive. If that's the road she wants to choose, I'm behind her. I hope to see her soon. I talked to her after her birthday, and she told me she's OK." Fenty had spoken with both magazines earlier this month, and told People that he hoped Rihanna would "stand up for women all over the world" and added of Brown, "You think you know somebody, but you really don't." At press time, reps for Chris Brown, Rihanna and Diddy had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment on the reunion reports. Friday's news comes less than three weeks after the couple's alleged altercation early on February 8, which caused both to miss scheduled appearances at the Grammy Awards. In recent days, many media outlets have reported that the couple have been in contact, citing unidentified sources. Rihanna issued a statement last Friday saying that she "remains strong [and] is doing well." Brown issued a statement the week before saying he's "sorry and saddened ... over what transpired." Get resources and information about domestic violence, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Finalist Allison Iraheta Shrugs Off Simon's Dis: 'He Doesn't Know Me' Posted: 27 Feb 2009 03:03 AM PST Judge said 16-year-old had a boring personality, but he had nothing but praise for her voice.
While viewers might have remembered Allison Iraheta's flame-red hair from Hollywood Week, no one could have predicted the 16-year-old's powerful showing during Wednesday night's performance show. Her scratchy wail fit perfectly on the Heart anthem "Alone," formally introducing us to the Los Angeles teen and earning her a spot in the top 12, along with Adam Lambert and Kris Allen. We caught up with Allison to talk about Simon's comments on her lack of a personality, what it's like to be the youngest contestant on the show and more. Q: Were you concerned about singing "Alone" when so many past "Idol" contestants have tackled that song?
A: I did think about the fact that Carrie [Underwood] did it and past Idols that did that song and did it really well. But I really focused on me and how I would do the song. And give it a little taste of what I can do. Not change it, but we're different. Just give it a little of me. Q: What did you think about Simon's comments that you had a dull personality? A: He doesn't know me, because he said I was boring. Honestly, I'm not. I guess I was nervous a little. Who isn't gonna be nervous before they sing for the first time? I guess I'll just chill a little bit more, because the nerves got me. Q: How did you feel when Paula compared you to Kelly Clarkson? A: I have to take that compliment, because that's a big one. It's Kelly Clarkson! She's amazing. And I really admire her a lot, so I thought that was pretty great. Q: What genre are you most comfortable singing? A: I'm really trying to go down one lane of, I guess, rockish pop. Something that can really show my style. Q: Did you ever think about waiting a few years before auditioning for "Idol," or did you want to just jump right in? A: I've been wanting to audition since 9, since I was that little. I had my face by that TV screen and wishing I was on the show. It would have been the same. I would've still wanted it as much as I do now. Q: Are you worried that it's a disadvantage to be the youngest on the show? A: I think it doesn't matter what the age is, or if I'm the youngest, or whatev. I think it comes down to the same thing. We're all here for the same thing. It depends on how much we want it and how much we prepare. Q: Since you're from Los Angeles, you didn't have to travel too far for the competition. What's it like performing in your backyard? A: It's pretty awesome! It feels good to be here. I know a lot of the other contestants are like, "I want to go back home!" They miss their home. But I'm like, "Yay, I'm already here!" 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 |
| Kanye West Says Chris Brown Should Get 'A Break' Posted: 27 Feb 2009 09:35 AM PST West also namechecks Radiohead, O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson in VH1 'Storytellers' airing Saturday.
Kanye West weighed in on the alleged altercation between Chris Brown and Rihanna during a February 13 taping of VH1's "Storytellers," although his comments will not appear in the show. According to a Reuters report, at one point during the taping West asked the crowd, "Can't we give Chris a break? ... I know I make mistakes in life." Brown, who was arrested during the Grammys and booked on suspicion of making criminal threats, a felony, has not been charged in the case. West also reportedly received loud applause when he followed by saying, "Michael Jackson, amazing. Michael Phelps, amazing ... He's a real f---in' person; he makes mistakes." West also made a rather puzzing comment about O.J. Simpson, saying, "O.J. Simpson, amazing. Is he not? What he did, when he did, what he did. Was he not amazing, though?" The taping of the show, which premieres on Saturday night, reportedly lasted three hours, with producers cutting it down to 90 minutes for air. The typical "Storytellers" is one hour long, so the editing out of some of West's comments is not a conspiracy to silence him, according to executive producer Bill Flanagan. "A lot of the stories that Kanye told went long," Flanagan told Reuters on Thursday. "I tried to get to the essence of his comments." West, known for speaking freely, is an ideal artist for the show, which encourages performers to weave tales about their songs and engage in stage banter, but Flanagan said that while he encourages them to "just keep talking," producers try to eliminate any " 'gotcha moments' that just don't work." A spokesperson for VH1 could not be reached for comment at press time. The Brown comments were not the only controversy West stirred up on the stage. A Reuters reporter who was reportedly on site during the taping said 'Ye also tore into Radiohead after singer Thom Yorke allegedly snubbed him backstage at the Grammys five days earlier. The dis hurt because West loves the British band, which he considers one of his few artistic rivals. "So when he performed at the Grammys, I sat the f--- down," West reportedly said. In terms of music, the show includes versions of "Touch the Sky," "Stronger," "Amazing" and "See You in My Nightmares." Get resources and information about domestic violence, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Cam'ron Talks To Jim Jones For First Time In Years Posted: 27 Feb 2009 01:06 AM PST 'It was cordial,' rapper says of recent phone call with Diplomats crew member.
Cam'ron is working with New York radio station Hot 97 to plan a concert for May to coincide with the release of his Crime Pays LP; he also hopes to return to the Hot 97 Summer Jam in June. But the question is, will the Diplomats be with him at any point during these performances? "You never know," Cam answered yesterday in New York. "You never could say never. Right now, I'm kinda like in Cam zone. They been doing what they been doing for the past two or three years, but I'm kinda in Cam zone. But you never could say what could happen in the future. Right now I'm kinda in the Cam mind frame."
The former Diplomat seems to have softened on the subject of his old crew. In fact, after years of not communicating, Cam says that he and Jim Jones just had a short chat. "Hell Rell and J.R. Writer, they always check in," Cam said. "Everybody has been reaching out. I've been the one kinda saying Cam is going to take time do Cam. But Hell Rell and J.R. definitely been reaching out. I called [Freekey Zekey's] phone four or five days ago and Jim picked up Zeke's phone. Me and him spoke for about 10 or 15 minutes, but me and Zeek speak all the time. I haven't spoken to Juelz." Cam described the phone call with Jones as pleasant. "It was cordial. He knew it was me," Cam said of Jones. "He said we was gonna holla — maybe we'll put something together. But in the immediate future, I'm just doing Cam. But you never know what can happen down the line. I called Zeke's phone and I guess Zeke gave Jim the phone to pick up. We just talked, asked about each other's family. He said he's on a promo tour. He'd be back soon. That was that." Another Diplomat looking forward to speaking to Cam is Juelz Santana, after Cam recently told the press that the two stopped speaking because Juelz became addicted to syrup. Santana adamantly denies ever having an addiction. "I'm not going back and forth with him [in the media]," Cam insisted. "I wasn't lying. I was asked a question and I answered it. I'm sorry if he's upset." Related Artists |
| GS Boyz's 'Stanky Legg' Brings Dallas Hip-Hop Front And Center Posted: 27 Feb 2009 12:25 AM PST D-Town Boogie movement, and its new dances, is going mainstream.
DALLAS — Like a few million other fans out there, Snoop Dogg and Ciara have been caught up in the next big hip-hop movement: Dallas' "D-Town Boogie," which includes that "Stanky Legg" dance the two were doing on Snoop's "Dogg After Dark" talk show. The new move originated right in Dallas with members of the rap group the GS Boyz. GS' Southside and his partner Prince Charming (there are three other members in GS Boyz) had just finished a hearty meal of pork chops and corn last summer, when they were fueled to mastermind this year's hip-hop dance sensation.
"He started doing his leg, like that," Southside said, explaining the motion where his partner Prince started rotating his leg in front of him, the way you would twist your foot to put out cigarette, except using the whole leg. "I was like, 'Hey, that looks stanky.'" And the Stanky Legg was born. First came the dance, then the group produced the song themselves, followed by a homemade video they uploaded to YouTube. In nine months, they had over 5 million views, a contract with Yung Joc's imprint Swagg Team and a record contract with Jive Records. The fivesome have become the poster children for the D-Town Boogie, especially since their record has been expanding in regional airplay and the video is becoming a hit on BET's music series "106 & Park." Much like crunk, though, the D-Town is more than music: It's a whole state of mind and being. "The D-Town Boogie is all about swag," said Dallas radio legend Skip Cheatham, who hosts K104's morning show. "They put a dance to it — a lot of the different dances got that bass to it. It's about the swag and the attitude. You gotta come to the D and feel it." The Dallas swag that's such an integral part of their D-Town Boogie is something to behold. In Dallas, a lot of locals have been sporting the same shag mullets as Kanye West, and some have tails with their fade haircuts, while others pay tribute to the '80s with their Gumby slope tops. Some people rock leather shorts, and a lot of the kids love to keep the tags on their clothes — word to Bell Biv DeVoe. "We keep it Coogi down, Miskeen, Ed Hardy, that's how we rock it down here," Sliz of the GS Boyz explains about the fashion. "Some people don't got what you got," Marc D of the Boyz elaborated about why they keep the tags on their clothes. "So when you see that price tag, when they see that price tag, they gonna want that." "Some people might think it's fake, but check out that tag," Southside jumped in. Musically, the D-Town Boogie has a slower tempo of song, light on sharp lyrics, heavy on steps, sometimes inspired by pop-culture icons like wrestling great Nature Boy Ric Flair (wait until you see the "Nature Walk Dance"). "It can look crazy," Dallas producer Play of Play N Skillz says of the dances, such as Lil' Will's "My Dougie" and B-Hamp's "Do the Ricky Bobby," that the genre has spawned. "Soulja Boy [Tell'em] is doing a lot of D-Town Boogie dances. I seen Bow Wow, I seen Nelly. A lot of people are doing the D-Town Boogie dances." "Every new [D-Town Boogie] song will take a little part of 'My Dougie' and use it in their dances," Play's brother Skillz offered. "The 'Ricky Bobby' is a very popular song," Play declared. "If that record gets played in the club, everybody is doing it. I don't care who it is, even if you're a gangster, you'll be doing it." B-Hamp's song, and accompanying step routine, seems like it will indeed be the next record to blow from Dallas, especially since it has over a million hits on YouTube already. "The 'Ricky Bobby' was originated from the movie 'Talladega Nights [The Ballad of Ricky Bobby']," Hamp explained. "Just watching the movie, laughing, having fun with my homeboys, I said, 'Let's come up with a song.' They actually say my song's hook in the movie. All the moves from the dance are moves from the movie." The stir the D-Town Boogie has created on the Net has caused radio programmers as well as label A&Rs to take notice of Dallas, paving the way for the hip-hop hub that's famous for supporting artists from other regions to finally make their mark on the rap map. And with eyes on the city, the homegrown artists plan to take full advantage. "I got love and friends all over the country," Cheatham said. "It's just Dallas' turn to shine. We got our music game up, our unity is going, we got the Dallas Boogie poppin' off and getting love on the radio. A lot of the artists are bleeding from the streets and clubs to the radio. A&Rs are all calling me. They're peeping the BDS, they ask me, 'Wow, you played that record 30 times, 40 times last week?' " "It's going down," said Atlanta singer Bobby Valentino, who frequently visits Dallas. "Texas [has] got a lot of things going. It's almost like the new A-Town, where they got their own movement. I think in every state, they got their own movements, but Texas is the next state to have it going on and really get it poppin'." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Joaquin Phoenix Could Be Mentally Ill, Psychiatrist Says Posted: 27 Feb 2009 09:18 AM PST Phoenix's rep calls doctor 'wildly inappropriate' for diagnosing the actor from afar.
It is entirely possible that Joaquin Phoenix's erratic behavior in recent months — quitting acting to focus on a hip-hop career, growing a massive beard, making a stammering appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman" — is all part of an elaborate joke the actor is playing on the world. Or, if you believe Chicago-based psychiatrist Paul Dobransky, there could be another explanation: Phoenix is mentally ill.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Dobransky — a relationships expert and author of "The Secret Psychology of How We Fall in Love" — floated a theory that Phoenix may be schizophrenic, pointing to his "socially inappropriate behavior," including his abrupt career change, poor hygiene and grooming, vocal tics and lack of facial emotion as proof. "There is something wrong," Dobransky told the Times. "And it's beyond drug abuse." In an e-mail to MTV News, Phoenix's publicist, Susan Patricola, called Dobransky's analysis "wildly inappropriate." "How absolutely inappropriate for a doctor who has no personal interaction or relationship with someone to diagnose them," Patricola said. "And to do so in a public forum. Hope they spelled his name right. Another 15-minute 'expert' is born!" Dobransky, meanwhile, is concerned with the propriety of others' public commentary on Phoenix's behavior. The actor's bizarre "Late Show" appearance was lampooned during Sunday's Oscars by comedian Ben Stiller, who muttered nonsensically and wandered around onstage, wearing a bushy beard and dark sunglasses. Dobransky told the Times that he was "pretty offended" by the portrayal, saying it struck him as "potentially beating down on the mentally ill." "The jury is not exactly in on what is happening," Dobransky said. "Whatever it is, it's not funny — whether it's drug abuse, mental illness coming on or the clumsiest attempt ever at a career change." |
| 'American Idol' Finalist Adam Lambert Hopes There <i>Isn't</i> A Broadway Week Posted: 27 Feb 2009 03:50 AM PST 'I don't listen to show tunes in my spare time, I can assure you,' musical-theater vet says.
Adam Lambert has never been understated. The musical-theater vet has brought his Broadway sensibility to the "American Idol" stage, and the judges (and, obviously, voters) have been eating it up. With his over-the-top performance of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," he nabbed a spot in this year's top 12, alongside Allison Iraheta and Kris Allen. We caught up with the 26-year-old from Los Angeles to talk about facing off against Normund Gentle, why he hopes there isn't a musical-theater theme week and more. Q: How did you feel when Simon said voters would either love or hate your performance? A: I responded on air, and I just kinda said, "Well, I guess that's kind of music in general — you either love it or you don't love it." Obviously, I'm a risk-taker. I'm not easy listening, you know? I'm not going to always be the most digestible thing for everybody across the board. I'm specific, and I kind of like to blow it out the box. And either you like it, or you don't. Q: How has your "Idol" experience compared with your musical-theater experience? A: You have to be on your game with the theater world. You have to be ready to go at any moment. I mean, this machine is turning real fast. So I think theater has definitely trained me to sing under any condition and just go at the drop of a hat. I think in certain ways, there are certain elements of the theater training that could be detrimental to the "Idol" experience, because that's not really the sound I'm going for — I'm not going for a Broadway sound. But the cool thing is that this is finally allowing me to be myself. I mean, I don't listen to show tunes in my spare time, I can assure you. ... The musical thing was kind of the way that I was paying the bills. I mean, we all gotta have a job right? [Laughs.] But now I get to finally sing the kind of music I like to listen to. Q: Are you hoping "Idol" does a Broadway theme week this year? A: No, I hope they don't. Not because I have anything against it, I just don't see myself doing that as a recording artist in that way. Q: Were you nervous when it came down to you and Nick "Normund Gentle" Mitchell during the results show? A: [Laughs.] You know, I got a little nervous. I thought Nick was brilliant the other night, so I didn't really know which way it was gonna go. I thought, "Well, here it goes. It's a toss-up." Q: What did you think when you found out you'd been given the last performance slot of the night? A: I was honored. I was excited, because I knew that meant I was closing the show and I would be fresh in everybody's minds when they started voting. Q: Do you think the amount of screen time you were given before the performance rounds has helped build your fanbase? A: Of course it helped. It's exposed me to people more and more times, and they get the feeling like they know me, and that's really exciting. And they get to hear me talk and hear my opinions — which are many. [Laughs.] I'm really, really thankful to the producers for featuring me in such a way. Q: Whose music career would you most like to emulate? A: I think David Bowie has been a really, really, really, really cool artist, just considering that he's reinvented himself. He took a ton of risks, both visually, lyrically and musically. Obviously, vocally we are very different, but I think that along those other lines, we have some similarities, and someone like that is a great model for me. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos |
| No Doubt To Perform On 'Gossip Girl' In May Posted: 26 Feb 2009 11:16 PM PST Reunited band will play Adam & the Ants song 'Stand and Deliver.'
Will Gwen Stefani upstage Blair Waldorf on "Gossip Girl"? Don't get too exited just yet, "GG" fans — the face-off won't occur until the show's finale on May 11. No Doubt will appear on "Gossip Girl," according to the band's Web site, and will continue their '80s fetish by performing the 1981 Adam & the Ants hit "Stand and Deliver." (The band covered Talk Talk's 1984 hit "It's My Life" for its greatest-hits album, released in 2003.) No Doubt will be the first major artist to perform on the show, although the castmembers have had their lives play out to the backing accompaniment of everyone from Kings of Leon and the Dandy Warhols to Will.I.Am. The show will air just days after No Doubt launches their first tour since 2004 on May 3, for which dates were announced earlier this week. The trek — which features openers Paramore, as well as the Sounds, Janelle Monae and Bedouin Soundclash on select dates — begins at the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and also features an appearance at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, for Tiger Woods' annual Tiger Jam charity event. After No Doubt work off the rust that comes with a four-year hiatus, they'll kick into high gear on May 19 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. All in all, the tour will make 44 stops across North America before wrapping on August 1 in No Doubt's Orange County, California, home turf. Related Artists |
| Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz Approves Of Obamas' First-Dog Choice Posted: 26 Feb 2009 11:16 PM PST 'I grew up with two ... they were great dogs,' bassist says of the first family's decision to adopt a Portuguese water dog.
Pete Wentz has already done plenty for Barack Obama. From PBR-fueled fundraisers to performances at the presidential inauguration, he's gone above and beyond for our brand-new commander in chief. But he's not stopping just yet. He wants to help President Obama select the first dog.
See, in recent days, news services have been humming with reports that the Obamas — or, more specifically, first lady Michelle — are thinking of adopting a Portuguese water dog, making good on their pre-election promise to daughters Sasha and Malia. A White House spokesperson said the Obamas are leaning toward the breed because of its temperament and the fact that it's hypoallergenic (always a plus). And here's where Wentz steps in. As it turns out, he's been familiar with the Portuguese pooches for most of his life. His parents own two of them — Pandora and Marley — and they patrol their house in the Chicago suburbs (they even got a special shout-out in a May 2006 MTV News feature on Wentz). So when he heard that the Obamas were thinking of adopting one of their own, he decided to help sway their decision by giving them his own (relatively) impartial take on the breed. "I know I am right on the verge of being invited to the Lincoln bedroom with all of my glorious connections to the president, but I think the final step may be me giving the Obamas advice on getting Portuguese water dogs," he wrote to MTV News. "I grew up with two ... they were great dogs for the boy I was, being that I barfed from swinging on swing sets, cried at my first 10 birthdays, wouldn't eat anything but the peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches my mom made and was allergic to everything. They were the perfect answer to that." See, the hypoallergenic thing is big. And while Wentz did caution that one of his water dogs — Marley (who he insists was named after Bob Marley, and not the titular pooch in John Grogan's book "Marley & Me: Life and Love With the World's Worst Dog") — was "pretty bad," he still thinks the breed would do well in the White House. Of course, since he and his wife now own a pair of English bulldogs, he's not above stumping for that breed, either (this is politics, after all). "I can't lie, I think Hemingway is a pretty good candidate too, because he's the exact opposite of my parents' water dogs," Wentz wrote. "But I can't say he'd be any worse than having Cheney around tearing that place up." Related Artists |
| Kris Allen Admits Simon Cowell Helped Him Stick Around 'American Idol' Posted: 27 Feb 2009 04:28 AM PST Judge's comment that 'chicks are gonna love' Allen 'probably helped,' the singer laughs.
Kris who? Prior to Wednesday night's show, Kris Allen had flown mostly under the "American Idol" radar. But the 23-year-old made a big impression with his cover of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror," grabbing a seat in the top 12 (alongside Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta) over some early scene-stealers. We caught up with the Conway, Arkansas, singer to talk about Simon's comment that Kris would appeal to the ladies, his surprise over advancing and much more. Q: Were you as surprised as everyone else when you made it to the top 12? A: Yeah, I was really, really shocked, because this group we had was really, really good and [had] a lot of talented people, and I felt like anybody had a shot. I felt really, really lucky to actually make it through with all those other people. Q: Were you wondering why you didn't get more screen time before the performance rounds? A: I think that went through my head maybe a little bit, but ... I was just trying to stay grounded and feel like, "Hopefully that doesn't matter. ... I can go out there and do my thing this week on live TV, and more people are watching that than even the Hollywood stuff." So I think I showed myself this past week, and I think that people liked it. Q: Do you think Simon's comment that female voters would like you helped you advance? A: [Laughs.] Um, it probably helped. I'm not gonna lie. Q: Were you worried about singing a Michael Jackson song after Paula told Stephen Fowler last week that covering Michael was "the kiss of death"? A: I decided [on the song] awhile back. It was a little scary, but I was really confident in what I was doing, and so I was just really, really happy I didn't get any comparisons to him, because that's exactly what I wanted. I didn't want anyone to compare me to Michael Jackson, so I'm glad that I accomplished that. Q: Was there any animosity from the other contestants toward Nick "Normund Gentle" Mitchell for making a bit of a mockery of the show? A: He's not mocking the show. He's doing what he knows how to do, and that's entertain, and he's really, really good at it. And no one feels anything toward him. We all love him to death. Q: How do you think you were able to connect with voters after your lack of screen time? A: I went out there and I did my song, and I try to really feel the songs. And that song has a lot of meaning to it. I think that, hopefully, that came across and people noticed that. Q: When it came down to you and Megan Joy Corkrey, were you surprised when Ryan called your name? A: I was really, really surprised. Because I thought Megan did a great job, and I think that Megan is a lovely person, and I think that she can go far in the music industry. But, you know, I feel really, really lucky that I got as many votes as I did, but yeah — I was really shocked. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos |
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| Black Eyed Peas' Album <i>The E.N.D.</i> Not Actually The End Posted: 27 Feb 2009 04:50 AM PST 'It's not a retirement,' Taboo says of the LP's ominous title.
When the members of the Black Eyed Peas aren't busy making movies, recording solo albums or writing songs dedicated to Barack Obama, they are getting together to work on anything and everything BEP-related. The band have once again reconvened for the much-anticipated album The E.N.D., due out in June. Taboo, who most recently spent his time off from the band shooting "Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li," told MTV News now that he's done with the film, he's "getting back into Black Eyed Pea mode." "The [beats per minute] are a lot faster," he said about the new album, citing the electro-club music Will.I.Am heard while shooting "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" in Australia as an inspiration for the album's sound. "He would always go to those clubs and get influenced by electronic music," he said. "All four of us are back, for the people that are wondering if Fergie is coming back. Of course Will.I.Am is back, Apl.de.Ap and myself, so it's gonna be much more uplifting. It's a dance album. It's for people around the world." The title of the album may have fans wondering if this is the group's last offering, but Taboo assures us it's an acronym and not to be taken literally. However, he isn't sure the timing is right to share what the "E.N.D." stands for. "Not right now, I think you guys [should] wait. It's a big surprise," he explained. "No, no, no, it's not a retirement." Taboo also isn't ready to retire from the world of acting, either, and has goals he wants to accomplish in the field. "I want to continue with action," he said. "I want to be the first Mexican-American martial artist action star on film, on the big screen. We don't have that." Related Artists |
| T.I., Akon Reveal How They Ended Up 'Day Dreaming' With DJ Drama Posted: 26 Feb 2009 01:28 AM PST 'Three international superstars, so we definitely had to make it major,' Drama says of song, which also features Snoop Dogg.
HOLLYWOOD — While T.I. loves DJ Drama, that doesn't mean Dram gets any preferential treatment. "Drama is Grand Hustle," Tip said on the set of Drama's "Day Dreaming" video. "Grand Hustle is me all day. I don't do Drama's records for him more than I do any of my other artists' records for them. If it's a record they have an idea for me being on, I wait for them to do all their [other] records. The record they approach me and say, 'Hey, this the one I think I need you on,' I listen. At the end of the day, I defer to their comment. 'Is this the one? OK.' And we do it." Tip joins Akon and Snoop Dogg on the record with vocal performances.
"Drama called me up and was like, 'Yo, 'Kon, what's the deal?' " Akon recalled of how he got on the song. "I said, 'What's up, bro?' He said, 'I ain't talking to you no more. Can I get my record?' I stopped everything I was doing to make sure he got it." Akon was on tour in Canada at the time, so he took awhile laying his part for "Day Dreaming," but Drama got it right on time. "It's a big song," Drama boasted during lunchtime on the set. "Three international superstars, so we definitely had to make it major. It's about when you might see a young lady and you get some thoughts in your head or some visions or some dreams." "It's pretty much about being enticed by a go-go dancer," Akon elaborated. "There's always that one [you see in the club] that makes you be like, 'Why is she in here? I wanna take care of that one.' So it's that vision of what that is right there. "This is nothing like what [Drama] is normally pushing [on Gangsta Grillz mixtapes]," Akon continued. "I think he's at the stage now where he realizes that as a DJ, he has to grow and take himself to the next level." Drama is feeling very presidential these days. In the video, he sports his new "Barack O'Drama" iced-out piece. "I've been calling myself that since about February '07," Drama said. "It's a beautiful thing that I can rock the name proudly, and Barack Obama is president of the United States right now. "I'm the mixtape president," he added. "I've been the king. There have been other kings, but after what I went through with the raid situation and what I accomplished in the mixtape game and what I've done since then, I feel I need to be the president. I may not be the last. Right now, I'm in office and I'm standing in front of you moving the mixtape game forward." Drama's official LP, Gangsta Grillz 2: The Album (The Mixtape President), is in stores May 19. In addition to Snoop, T.I. and Akon, it features guest spots from Lil Jon and Dram's Aphilliates Music Group family, such as La the Darkman and Willie the Kid. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Lily Allen Contemplates Quitting Music, Getting Married Posted: 27 Feb 2009 04:50 AM PST 'I couldn't tell you if I'm going to make another record,' British singer says.
Lily Allen's It's Not Me, It's You debuted in the top five of the Billboard albums chart last week, and she also found her way to the top of the British singles, album and radio-play charts too. She's got a U.S. headlining tour scheduled for April, and she totally owned Perez Hilton in a recent Twitter battle. Needless to say, things are pretty good in Lily land at the moment. So why is she thinking about quitting the business entirely?
"I'm a 'live the day' person. I have no idea what I'm doing tomorrow. I certainly don't think about a week from now or a month from now," she laughed. "As far as the future goes, there's only a vague plan of getting married and having kids. I couldn't tell you if I'm going to make another record, because I don't know if I'm going to enjoy this in six months' time." So, Lily fans, enjoy her while you can. Because she might be trading in her platinum plaques for 2.5 kids and a minivan. And while her attitude toward her career is certainly a refreshing change of pace, it also begs the question: If making music doesn't make her happy, why release another album in the first place? "Because I was given a big advance, and I've spent it. It's gone," she deadpanned. "No, this is what I'm doing right now, and there have been times when it hasn't made me happy, mainly when people are being really mean to me or when I'm getting followed down the street. When I took a break between one album and the other, still getting all that attention, you start weighing it all up, and it's like, 'I don't like this. This is my time off. I've been on tour for two years. This isn't my job to walk out of the house and be followed by 30 guys with cameras all day.' That's when you start going, 'F--- this sh--.' " Still, she's enjoying the ride these days (even going so far as to claim she's "pretty damn happy" right now), which means retirement probably isn't in the cards anytime soon. But if she had her way, would she really be out on the road touring and promoting her new album? Probably not. "Isn't the point of life to find a partner, to settle down? That's the idea, isn't it?" she said. "I don't know if I want to get married. I know I want to be falling in love, that's the good sh-- there. And I know people have been reading that about me a lot, lately, so I just want to say that I am not actively hunting for a husband. Much." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Bow Wow Says Chris Brown Is Only Human: 'We're Not Perfect' Posted: 26 Feb 2009 01:09 AM PST 'We put our pants on the same way everybody else puts their pants on,' MC says of his fellow celebrities.
A number of questions have been raised in the wake of the alleged altercation between Chris Brown and Rihanna on February 8. One of the biggest questions has been how Brown's arrest will affect his image and, ultimately, his career. Bow Wow told MTV News on Wednesday that Brown's career shouldn't be of any concern: "I just want people to know that as entertainers, our job is to entertain."
He said it's difficult to judge how this will affect Brown's career, but fans should understand that he's no different than anybody else. As artists, they have a responsibility to make records, tour and please fans, but they are still human. "We're not perfect," Bow said. "We put our pants on the same way everybody else puts their pants on." Bow Wow said he's good friends with Brown, but he decided not to reach out to him. "I always like to put myself in people's shoes," he said. "I understand probably what he's going through by the whole world knowing what happened. I don't want to be another [person] calling him and wanting to talk to him." Brown enjoyed a squeaky-clean image and seemed to never be without a smile, and e was a triple threat as a singer, dancer and actor. But the allegations have already affected him professionally. Brown has had to cancel shows and appearances and has lost ads with Wrigley's Doublemint Gum and the "Got Milk?" campaign. Bow Wow said the best thing for Brown and Rihanna is privacy and for fans to pray. "The only thing you could really do is just pray for him and pray for her and hope that they can get back on their two feet and do what we love them for doing," he said. Get resources and information about domestic violence, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Artists |
| Blink-182's Morse Code Mystery Revealed By Mark Hoppus Posted: 25 Feb 2009 10:12 PM PST Is Hoppus' blog message meaningful, or just messing with fans?
If you're an obsessive Blink-182 fan (like some of us around here are), then you probably check out Mark Hoppus' blog on a daily basis. And if you're a Blink-182 fan who's obsessed with all things viral and mysterious (like some of us here), well, then you probably lost your mind on Tuesday. That's when Hoppus posted a series of dots and dashes on his blog, Hi My Name Is Mark, setting off an online stampede that had fans pulling out their hair (and their pocket translators). Were the marks actually some form of MIDI notes? Did they contain hidden information about Blink's much-anticipated new album? Was this some sort of throwback to Coldplay's X&Y Baudot code thingamajig? Just what was Hoppus trying to tell us?!?! Well, as it turns out, he was mostly just messing with us. See, the dots and dashes were Morse code, and when fans plugged them into online translators, they got some form of the following message: "TREADTEINUNEEDTUNDERTANDRECDETLINKTAETII" Clever fans began picking the string of letters apart, and what they discovered had them slapping their foreheads. Hoppus publishes on Wordpress, which converted some of his dots and/or dashes into characters and/or hyphens, therefore mucking the whole thing up a bit, but roughly translated, the message seemed to say, "To Read This, You Need To Understand Morse Code. Blink-182." Now, not only is that brilliant, it's also hilarious. But, was Hoppus's Morse Mystery all just an elaborate prank? To find out, we shot him an e-mail, saying we were confounded and slightly amazed by the whole thing. And he replied with the following: "Awesome. It says something like, 'To read this you need to understand Morse code. Blink-182.' " So, there you have it, Blink obsessives. Straight from the man himself. Feel free to return to your normal lives. Or, you know, your semi-normal ones. Related Artists |
| Why Normund Gentle Is The Greatest 'American Idol' Contestant Ever Posted: 25 Feb 2009 11:13 PM PST But can the polarizing singer/comedian make it to the top 12?
A few weeks ago, after Normund Gentle (or, if you prefer, Nick Mitchell) inexplicably slipped into the "American Idol" top 36, we published a piece in which we called him "either the most annoying contestant in the show's illustrious eight-year history, or the most brilliant." At the time, we weren't really sure which was appropriate. Now, after Wednesday night's vampy, campy performance of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," we've made up our minds: Gentle is the greatest contestant in "American Idol" history.
Here's why: For starters, he's infinitely more interesting than anyone else in the "Idol" annals, despite the fact that he isn't even real — or, more specifically, because he isn't real. In Normund Gentle (who has been identified on the show as "Norman Gentle" but, according to his Web site, is actually "Normund"), Mitchell has created a cabaret caricature that pokes fun at everything the show is about: the over-the-top emoting, the cheesy numbers, the fact that this is basically a beauty contest. Gentle is definitely not beautiful: He's gawky, his short shorts ride uncomfortably high, he wears a headband, and yet, he survives. He is cheesiness personified, his performances so overly emotional that they border on being terrible (like, during last night's performance, when he literally got on his knees and begged the audience — and the judges — to let him stay on the show). He is, if one is being generous, an incredible slab of performance art ... either you get him or you don't. He is multifaceted. Complex. Having said all that, you cannot merely write Gentle off as a "joke," despite all evidence to the contrary. This is because Gentle — or Mitchell — can actually sing. For proof of this, check out his version of "Amazing Grace" during the "Idol" auditions, or the extended, lung-sapping "Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" he capped his performance with last night. Sure, he did this after chucking his glasses into the audience, pawing at the "American Idol" sign and wading into the studio audience like a lost puppy, but still, you cannot deny that he has pipes (and at least he doesn't use them to shatter eardrums like theater-trained emo kid Adam Lambert). He is not merely a one-trick pony. Finally, as if everything he's done up to this point is not proof enough, Wednesday night's performance only proved that Gentle (and, by default, Mitchell) has absolutely no pretenses about actually winning "Idol." In fact, he seems hell-bent on single-handedly destroying it. His routine brought last night's show to a screeching halt, it left the judges agape, and it had the audience in complete hysterics. It's as if, in one moment, everyone watching, judging or producing "Idol" realized, "Wow, this thing really is ridiculous." He blew holes through the show's entire premise. As opposed to going out there and singing for his very life (which everyone else did, with underwhelming results), Gentle took the stage in a white tuxedo jacket and decided to screw around. It was either the work of a madman, a mastermind or both. And here's the thing: Gentle's act could continue. Despite Simon Cowell's urging that he be voted off (or, probably, because of it), Gentle may survive. He's already being championed by the Vote for the Worst folks, and he seems like a shoo-in to receive the votes of every single person in this country who hates "American Idol" and wants to see it brought to its knees. And Gentle could be the person who does just that. Or he may just be sent packing Thursday night (February 26) — who knows? Either way, he's already attained greatness. It just depends on your definition of the word. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos |
| Danity Kane's Dawn Richard On Chris Brown And Rihanna: 'It's Their Business' Posted: 26 Feb 2009 09:38 AM PST Singer says she hasn't spoken with either artist but she's 'praying for them.'
Dawn Richard has been living her life in the public eye since she made her reality-TV debut on "Making the Band" as one of the five ladies of Danity Kane. After the group's very public split over the last few months, Richard knows what it's like to be in the media spotlight. While she said she hasn't spoken to either Chris Brown or Rihanna since their alleged altercation before the Grammy Awards — "I've seen them a couple times before all this stuff, but I don't know them like that," she said — she is "praying for both of them. "I think they're both great artists," she said. "It's a shame and I think it's their business and it sucks that it has to be out there. [The media attention is] like a microscope — everybody's in your stuff. It's their business and whatever they choose to do with it, I wish them luck. It's not my business."
Ne-Yo, who said he's spoken with Rihanna, and Bow Wow recently spoke with MTV News about the situation. Even with all of Richard's experience of being scrutinized by the public, she says she can't offer Brown and Rihanna much advice. "I can't give them anything 'cause I went through my thing and it went all wrong," she said. "You just pray. I do wish them luck. I wish that everybody would back off and let them deal with it the way they deal with it. I can't give advice. I can say positivity is the best thing you can do right now. Just stay positive and just surround yourself with people who are positive." Get resources and information about domestic violence, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Recap: Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert, Megan Joy Corkrey Heat Up Competition Posted: 26 Feb 2009 07:22 AM PST Nick 'Norman Gentle' Mitchell continues to ham it up and annoy Simon.
If "American Idol" wannabes don't know by now that song selection is more important than finding just the right sparkly shirt to wear on TV, then there's nothing the judges can do to help them.
But, apparently, most of the second group of 12 who performed on Wednesday night in still haven't gotten the memo, because Simon, Paula, Randy and Kara called them out for picking songs that did nothing to help their chances of advancing. With contestants again picking from the Billboard Hot 100, it was a night with just a few highlights, and several judges' favorites crashed and burned. (Check out last night's live "Idol" blog for a full recap!) But first the good news. Under-the-radar 16-year-old Allison Iraheta, in the words of Randy Jackson, "just blew it out the box." The spunky, flame-haired wonder exploded on Heart's "Alone," tearing into the classic rock nugget with her husky, powerful Kelly Clarkson-esque voice. "You don't even know how good you are," Kara DioGuardi told Iraheta. Paula Abdul said the teen could "sing the telephone book," and though Simon Cowell told her to work on her personality, he added, "It's like the competition just started right now." Also killing it was show-closer Adam Lambert, 27, the musical-theater junkie who surprised everyone by bringing some Billy Idol/Axl Rose/ Elvis lip-curling swagger to the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction." Shaking his hips and sporting an all black ensemble pimped out with a fingerless glove and a neck full of chains, Lambert worked the stage like a pro, gave the camera a longing stare and ended his performance with a lens-shattering falsetto scream that got Cowell's attention. Paula busted out a standing ovation and said she felt like she wasn't watching "Idol," but an "Adam Lambert concert." Simon said parts were "excruciatingly bad," but others were "brilliant." And Randy just loved it, calling Lambert the most current artist ever on "Idol." He compared Lambert to a mash-up of Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, Fall Out Boy, "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson and My Chemical Romance. And then, there was jokester Nick "Norman Gentle" Mitchell. The most improbable "Idol" top 36-er ever delivered on his promise, once again busting out "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," dressed in his signature silvery shirt, cargo pants, running shoes, brown socks and red headband, accessorized with a white tuxedo jacket with tails and two red wristbands. "And I am telling you, I hope I'm not going. ... I'm staying. ... I'm not waking up tomorrow and finding out there's no 'Idol," Mitchell warbled as he writhed on the stage, tossed his glasses, touched hands with screaming girls in the crowd, nuzzled the "Idol" logo and ended by holding a long, off-key "Youuuuuuuuuuu!" and staring into the camera in all his baggy-eyed glory. Cowell couldn't help but laugh. "I hope I'm speaking on behalf of America when I pray you don't go through to the next round," he said, calling Mitchell's comedic throwdown "arguably one of the most atrocious performances we've ever had at this stage of the competition." Mitchell stared back and snapped, "Takes one to know one, sassy pants!" as he unleashed a high karate kick. Randy called it one of the most entertaining performances ever on the show. Kara said Mitchell will always be remembered, and Paula called it an Olivia-Newton-John-meets-Jerry-Lewis mash-up that was a lot of fun. But perhaps the night's biggest breakout was tattooed 23-year-old mom Megan Joy Corkrey. Wearing a sassy, white high-waisted dress, with her long hair done in waves, the runway-ready Corkrey showed off her 1,000-watt smile and wowed the panel with Corinne Bailey Ray's "Put Your Records On," while doing a cutesy hip-swiveling dance she called "the Corkrey." "You picked the right song. ... The camera is in love with you," Paula enthused, calling Corkrey "interesting, relevant, hip, cool, beautiful." Simon agreed, and Randy compared her to Grammy-winning British singers Adele, Duffy and Amy Winehouse. Kara said Corkrey could easily be a "breakout hit artist on radio" with the right song. For the most part, the rest of the contestants struggled. Jasmine Murray, 17, bombed with her Alicia Keys-ified soul version of Sara Bareilles' "Love Song," which the judges said was not the right choice. Dueling-piano player and Justin Timberlake wannabe Matt Giraud, 23, struggled through a feathery, Blake Lewis-esque run through Coldplay's difficult "Viva la Vida" that Simon said was "horrible." And bartender Jeanine Vailes, 28, got mad props for her mile-long legs, but that's about all the judges had to say about her messy take on Maroon 5's "This Love." Kris Allen, 23, forgot the cardinal "never cover Michael Jackson" rule, earning the judge's ire for his gospel-meets-Jack Johnson cover of "Man in the Mirror," which Simon praised for showing some personality, but which Kara said was "completely" the wrong song. Judge favorite and 28-year-old welding dad Matt Breitzke likely punched out his time card with an awkward soft-rock tumble through Tonic's "If You Could Only See" that Cowell called "boring" and "quite uncomfortable." The judges were split on the remaining contenders, including single mom Jesse Langseth, who did a jazzy version of Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes," which Randy called "OK," Kara and Paula really liked and Simon said suffered from the singer's "forgettable" personality. Nice-guy Kai Kalama sang a tame take on Jimmy Ruffin's nugget, "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted," which most agreed was too old-fashioned and safe, though they praised his likability. Former child actress and season-seven Hollywood washout Mishavonna Henson confused everyone with an Adele-style soul trip through Train's "Drops of Jupiter." Paula thought it was the wrong song. Simon liked it but said Henson was too serious and acted "like a 50-year-old," and Kara urged her to loosen up. The top male and female vote-getters — plus the next-highest vote-getter, regardless of gender — will advance into the top 12 on Thursday (February 26) night's results show. The final group of 12 will perform next Tuesday, followed by a results show on Wednesday. Then on Thursday, March 5, is the still-confusing wild-card round. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos |
| Britney Spears Case: Restraining Orders Extended Posted: 26 Feb 2009 09:44 AM PST Order came on same day paparazzo ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib pleaded not guilty in assault case.
A judge ruled on Wednesday to extend the restraining orders against Britney Spears' former self-proclaimed manager, boyfriend and lawyer.
According to a Reuters report, after hearing claims from Spears' father and the singer's hairdresser that the three men tried to undermine father Jamie Spears' control over the pop star's affairs, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aviva K. Bobb extended a temporary restraining order against former manager Sam Lutfi and paparazzo ex-boyfriend Adnan Ghalib. The order is now in place until March 18, while another restraining order, against lawyer Jon Eardley, who also once claimed to represent Spears, was extended until April 1. Earlier in the week, Jamie Spears had testified that Lutfi and Ghalib allegedly conspired to sneak a cell phone to Britney in violation of the court order to stay away and not interfere with the conservatorship that gives him control over Britney's affairs. In testimony in the restraining-order case, E! News reported that hairstylist Roberta Romero, who reportedly found and turned over the surreptitious cell phone, claimed that she received several "harassing" text messages from Lutfi in December in which he sought to get back in touch with Spears. One of those texts allegedly said, "So please just relay to [Britney] the truth so she can free herself," while another read, "I'm very close to getting her free now ... her family sent her to the hospital." Romero testified that Britney eventually asked her to stop contact with Lutfi. One of the singer's bodyguards said that Romero and Spears informed him of the texts, which had reportedly frightened Spears and which led to a beefing up of the singer's security team. Bobb will rule on March 18 and April 1 whether to extend the restraining orders. Spears, who is gearing up for the launch of her Circus tour, was not present for the rulings. The rulings came on the same day that Ghalib turned himself in to face felony charges for allegedly hitting a process server with his car; the server was reportedly trying to present the tabloid photographer with a restraining order from Spears' family. Ghalib, 36, pleaded not guilty to one count of assault with a deadly weapon, battery and hit-and-run in the alleged February 11 incident. He was booked and released without posting bail. If convicted he faces up to seven years in jail. Related Artists |
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