MTV News |
- Drake Talks Michael Jackson, Dead Prez 'Over' Homages
- Will Roscoe Dash's Party Anthems Earn Him 'Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2010' Title?
- Miley Cyrus: 'I'm Not A Rapper'
- Michael Jackson Left Behind A Legacy Of Unfinished Projects
- Lady Gaga Talks About The Heartbreak That 'Shaped' Her Success
- M.I.A.: Don't Believe The Hype, She's Human After All
- Jackson Rathbone Was The Ultimate Prankster, On 'When I Was 17'
- Drake Says 'Better Than Good Enough' Documentary Captures 'The Most Important Time Of My Life'
- Nicki Minaj's Swagger And Skills Make Her A Prime 'Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2010' Candidate
- Eminem's <i>Recovery</i> Vs. <i>Relapse</i>: Experts Weigh In
- Rabid Adam Lambert Fans Line Up 24 Hours Before New York Show
- Kristen Stewart Says 'Breaking Dawn' In 3-D Would Be 'Awesome'
- Eminem Wanted <i>Recovery</i> To Be 'Different,' Alex Da Kid Recalls
- Kenny Wormald Lands Lead In 'Footloose' Remake
- Jerry Seinfeld Calls Lady Gaga A 'Jerk' After Mets Game Behavior
- Jay-Z Says Performing On Roof Of Ed Sullivan Theater Was 'Amazing'
- M.I.A. Calls Reaction To 'Born Free' Video 'Interesting'
- Taylor Swift Talks Nashville Flood Benefit With Miley Cyrus
- Game Opens Up About Reuniting With Dr. Dre For <i>The R.E.D. Album</i>
| Drake Talks Michael Jackson, Dead Prez 'Over' Homages Posted: 23 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'Just to honor him was great,' Drizzy tells Mixtape Daily of MJ.
Celebrity Favorites: Drake "Drake borrowed the style — they took it right back. They did their thing," DJ Drama told Mixtape Daily on Monday. He was explaining why Dead Prez wanted to freestyle on the 23-year-old's "Over" on their new tape Revolutionary but Gangsta Grillz.
"The guys go in on a lot of records," Drama said. "The hits, as well as some obscure joints. They had to go in on 'Over.' " The mixtape came out Tuesday and borrows from the title of their 2004 LP, Revolutionary but Gangsta A few months back, while on the set of his "Over" video, Drake told MTV News he was a fan of M1 and Stic.Man. "I also do this thing in the song ['Over'] where I flip Dead Prez," he said of his tip of the hat to the duo's "It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop" from their classic 2000 debut, Let's Get Free. "They say, 'One thing about music when it hits you feel no pain/ White folks say it controls your brain/ I know better than that/ It's just game.' I love that flow," Drake explained. "So I took that flow and flipped it in the second verse." But Drake doesn't just nod to DP on the track; the Toronto MC pays tribute to the greatest artist ever, Michael Jackson. Since this week marks the one-year anniversary of his death, it's only right we let Drizzy chime in on his stellar MJ reference: " 'Bout to go 'Thriller' Mike Jackson on these n---as/ All I need is a f---ing red jacket with some zippers." "That was sort of my reference point; that phenomenon of Michael," he said. "He was young and had the world excited and anticipating his every move. That was my homage to him and the impact that he had on the world that I live in. It's also ... great for people to say. Especially, unfortunately what happened to him, just to honor him was great." "Over" is currently the #1 hip-hop song in the country, topping the Billboard rap songs chart. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc. |
| Will Roscoe Dash's Party Anthems Earn Him 'Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2010' Title? Posted: 23 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT Fans decide our 'Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010' -- vote now! The winner will be revealed July 25.
"Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" Candidate: Roscoe Dash Over the weekend at Atlanta's Birthday Bash, Roscoe Dash performed in front of 20,000 hometown fans. The crowd at Philips Arena is one of the realest you can perform for; if they're not feeling you, your time onstage could seem like an eternity. But backstage before his set, Dash was on straight chill mode.
"This my first [Birthday Bash]. I'm finnin' to put on for my city," he said, looking at everyone from behind a pair of shades. "I try not to think about it too much so I won't get nervous. I'm just gonna go in here and give it my all, give them a good show." Dash had every right to be confident, because his song "All the Way Turnt Up" is not just one of the most popular songs in the city, but in all of hip-hop. The record by itself could have qualified Dash to be a candidate for "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010." "Turnt Up" built instant excitement in the clubs with an undeniable bass-laden track and lyrics tailor-made to sing along to, not to mention Roscoe's off-key but melodic sing-songy flow. "Its amazing, man," Roscoe said of his success. "I've been doing music my whole life. So for me to find a way to finally get my foot in the door, and give these people me as a person, rather than just an artist, I'm enjoying it." "Turnt Up" was so popular, Soulja Boy agreed to appear on the album version of the record, while lauded MCs such as Ludacris and Lupe Fiasco freestyled on the track. In the past few weeks, Dash has evaded the tag of one-hit wonder with another certified banger, "Show Out." The second single from Dash's Ready Set Go! debut (due July 20) basically follows the same formula as "Turnt Up," and the results are similar too. Cam'ron and Rick Ross have already made unofficial remixes, while DJs have made it a favorite in clubs and on radio. "I just go in," Dash said about setting up a string of party anthems. "I just do me. I never wake up and go to the studio and say, 'I'mma make an album song or a mixtape song.' I just go in and just do me." But breaking through requires more than just a couple of hits. You have to have a deeper impact when it's all said and done. Roscoe said he already knows what he has to do to cause an earthquake in the game. "Hard work and dedication, same thing that got me here," he assessed. "I gotta keep doing it, man, and not let it break me down. This industry has its ups and down. It'll take a toll on you. It's about moving forward." Roscoe and 19 other up-and-coming MCs are in the running to become MTV News' "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" — and the winner will be decided by you! Cast your vote for the "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" right here! The top five will be revealed beginning July 19, and the winner will be announced on the "Sucker Free Summit" July 25! |
| Miley Cyrus: 'I'm Not A Rapper' Posted: 23 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'It's speaking to the music,' Cyrus says of her 'rhythmic' stylings on Can't Be Tamed.
In addition to adopting an edgier look and sound on her new album, Can't Be Tamed, Miley Cyrus is also trying out a new way of expressing herself. On tracks like "Liberty Walk," Cyrus raps — but please, don't call MC an MC. "I call it more of a spoken, rhythmic [singing style]," she explained. "I'm not a rap type. Maybe a little bit. It's speaking to the music, but if I say that I'm a rapper, I'm going to be like, 'I'm not a rapper.' I've got no flow in that way. I've got no swag."
Her "Can't Be Tamed" single, however, did just get a hip-hop makeover, courtesy of Lil Jon, who Cyrus said took the track to a whole new level. "He's sick," she said. "I love him, because he just made this song. It was already something that set me apart, but it just [became something more with him]. You know, the fact that he respects my music and we are completely opposite styles, and the fact that he can be like, 'OK, this is a good song,' it just shows you don't have to be a certain age, gender [to like it]. "It's a dance song," she added about the remix. "It's a party song, and he's awesome. I like how he's one person when he's chilling in the studio. I've never seen someone flip on and off. He's got, like, double personas ... like so wired. It's cool." Although she once admitted she has never heard a Jay-Z song — despite her Jay-referencing line in "Party in the U.S.A." — she does have a few other favorite MCs, including Gucci Mane and OJ Da Juiceman. "I love it," she said of the two rappers. "I don't know any of the songs. They all blend in. I can't really break it up, but I like it. But I'm not a rapper." What do you think of Miley's "spoken, rhythmic" style on "Can't Be Tamed?" Let us know in the comments! Related Videos |
| Michael Jackson Left Behind A Legacy Of Unfinished Projects Posted: 23 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT A year after his death, we've seen 'This Is It' and heard the leaked songs, but where's that robot hotel?
In the twilight of his career, Michael Jackson was almost as well known for the projects he never completed as he was for the ones that came to fruition. From the mid-1990s on, fans were frequently tantalized with the promise of movies, theme parks, tours and song collaborations with the day's hottest music stars that came and went without ever being realized. As the one-year anniversary of Jackson's death approaches, MTV News is taking a look at the many plans the King of Pop dreamed up before his premature end, some of which are finally becoming reality. Despite more than a decade out of the pop-culture spotlight, Jackson also clearly never stopped having his finger on the pulse of what was going on in music. Lady Gaga recently revealed that Jackson had tapped her to open for his 50-show This Is It stand at the O2 arena in London. "I was actually asked to open for Michael on his tour," she said. "We were going to open for him at the O2. ... And we were working on making it happen. And I suppose there was some talk about the openers doing some duets with Michael onstage." In fact, one of the choreographers of This Is It said in an interview that not only did Jackson want to have Gaga open for him, he was very interested in recording a song with her before his death. Travis Payne said that after giving Jackson a short list of possible collaborators for his next musical project (including Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Usher and Justin Timberlake), the pop icon suggested Payne check out the then budding superstar Gaga. "He goes, 'Lady Gaga.' I go, 'Really?' He goes, 'Yeah.' He's the one who really got me to get into her," Payne recalled. "He literally told me, 'You gotta get into her. She's good.' So, I started listening to her music more and going on YouTube and looking at her performances, and I was like, 'He's right.' " Jackson was also clearly looking to take his place among the musical icons he most admired and whose sales records he was determined to break during the course of his career. Just like the Beatles and Elvis Presley, Jackson will be immortalized by Cirque du Soleil with a permanent show in Las Vegas and a touring version in 2011, thanks to an agreement with Jackson's estate. This brings to fruition a long-held dream for Jackson, who was a big fan of the Canadian troupe's productions and had discussed mounting a show based on his music several years before his death. Jackson always dreamed big, and toward the end of his life, he spent quite a bit of time in Vegas cooking up another abandoned pie-in-the-sky project. In October 2005, just a few months removed from his acquittal on child molestation charges, Jackson began work with fashion designer André Van Pier on costume and set designs for a Las Vegas residency. Their concepts included plans for a 50-foot tall MJ robot that would roam the Nevada desert as an ad for the singer's show and an enticement to visit a robot-themed hotel. Like so many of Jackson's fantasias, it was not to be. That was also the case with a movie the pop star had planned to co-direct about an orphan shuttled between foster homes, titled "They Cage the Animals at Night." Even as he was gearing up for the This Is It run, Jackson was trying to get financing together for the indie film, based on the 1985 book about foster kid Jennings Michael Burch. Jackson told friend and filmmaker Bryan Michael Stoller that he related to the book because he often felt like an orphan as a child due to his hectic life as a young pop star, and he had actually been thinking about adapting the book since around 2003, when he invited Burch to his home to be interviewed on camera. For years before his death, Jackson had been recording tracks for what was slated to be his comeback from 2001's disappointing Invincible album. He'd logged studio time with Akon and Will.I.Am and spoken to T-Pain, Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Irv Gotti, Chris Brown, DJ Whoo Kid, Sean Garrett, Ne-Yo and 50 Cent about collaborations. Most of those tracks were never recorded or have not seen the light of day, but over the past year, a few songs and snippets have leaked online, including a 90-second taste of a duet with rocker Lenny Kravitz called "Another Day." The unfinished demo of the song with the grinding R&B beat and soaring strings — on which Kravitz later said he played all the instruments and sang — is similar to a tune Kravitz used on his 2004 album Baptism, but it's unknown if he recorded the song with Jackson first. One of the more exciting posthumous items (it's unknown if Jackson was involved in its development at the time of his death) is a yet-untitled MJ video game from Ubisoft due by the end of the year. The game, based on Jackson's legendary music and performances, will allow players to groove along to mega-hits like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" while learning some of the singer's signature dance moves. Among the other projects that have emerged in the past year: a movie about the singer's final days from biographer Ian Halperin, the "We Are the World" remake featuring Jackson's original vocals among those of a host of contemporary singers, a "This Is It" video directed by Spike Lee, his attempt to quash the beef between 50 Cent and Game and the super-secret video production known as the "Dome Project" that appeared to be connected with the massive stage set and 3-D films being made for the This Is It shows. And this month, plans were announced to build a Jackson Family Museum and arts center in his hometown of Gary, Indiana. Celebrate Michael Jackson's legacy all week long as MTV News looks back at his life, his music and the death that shook the world one year ago. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Talks About The Heartbreak That 'Shaped' Her Success Posted: 23 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'I wouldn't have been as successful without him,' she tells Rolling Stone of onetime love Luke.
Lady Gaga strikes a formidable pose on the cover of the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone — wearing little more than a thong and a pair of M-16 assault rifles on her chest — but inside the magazine, she reveals that she's just as vulnerable as you or I, fueled creatively by a former boyfriend who broke her heart years ago. In the new issue (which hits newsstands Friday), Gaga told writer Neil Strauss that she wouldn't have become the international star she is today if she hadn't gone through her breakup with a former flame named Luke, a heavy-metal drummer who has inspired everything she's done since. "I wouldn't have been as successful without him. I've never really loved anyone like I loved him. Or like I love him," Gaga said. "That relationship really shaped me. It made me into a fighter." In the piece, Strauss wrote that, after breaking up with Luke, Gaga "promised herself she would never love again and would make him rue the day he doubted her." And, during their interview, he asked her if the love she used to direct toward men was now being channeled into her deeply loyal "little monsters." "I wouldn't say that my love for my fans is equated to my attention for men. But I will say that love comes in many different forms," Gaga replied. "And I sort of resolved that if you can't have the guy of your dreams, there are other ways to give love." Strauss continued to press Gaga for details about her ex, but she told him, "I don't want to talk about him ... he's too precious to talk about." Though, she did say one last thing about Luke and her past life, before she became Lady Gaga — and how, by the sound of things, she'll never be looking back ever again. "[It was] love. But, you know, I don't really know much about love," she said. "I suppose if I knew everything about love, I wouldn't be good at making music, would I?" Does Gaga's heartbreak come across in her music? Share your thoughts in the comments. |
| M.I.A.: Don't Believe The Hype, She's Human After All Posted: 23 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT Everything you probably think about M.I.A. is wrong, in Bigger Than the Sound.
"Hi, I'm Maya." That's how M.I.A. — scourge of The New York Times, the U.S. Department of Immigration and oppressors the world over — introduces herself, and to be honest, it sort of catches me off guard. After all, she does not appear to be clutching a copy of "The Anarchist Cookbook," or covered in blood and gunpowder, or espousing the virtues of violent secessionism. She does not scan the skyline for black helicopters, or check the planters on the New York City rooftop where we've met for listening devices, or even mention the C.I.A., not even in passing. She does not strike me as particularly dangerous, paranoid, or ill-informed. Basically, she is just very tiny, with dainty fingers and windswept black hair and the kind of eyes you could drown in. She is funny and swears a lot and, seems to be, for all intents and purposes, a very nice person.
Or, to put it another way, everything you probably think about M.I.A. is wrong. Your opinion of her no doubt has a whole lot to do with things you've read about her over the past month, or the seemingly incongruous way she lives her life, or even the causes she's chosen to align herself with. The blame, it would seem, can be equally distributed. That's not really the point. What is the point is that, when I met her earlier this week — on a sunny NYC roof deck with fake grass beneath our feet and a nude sunbather off in the distance — she struck me less as a firebrand, or a revolutionary, or even a figurehead for this haywire century and more as an honest-to-goodness person, a complicated one, somewhat unwittingly thrust under the spotlight but determined to make the most of her time there. Of course, she could have just been on her best behavior, what with the lashing Lynn Hirschberg gave her in the Times still so fresh in her mind, but really, it was a revelation to me, and it should be for you too. Because for years, we've all been quick to deify M.I.A. (or, alternately, demonize her), hanging an unending stream of cultural signifiers — both good and bad — on her tiny shoulders, mainly based on the way she looks or her lineage or what she supposedly represents. I am just as guilty of this as the next guy: In 2007, I wrote that her song "Paper Planes" was "indicative of the shrinking world we inhabit [and] the culture-mashing power of the Internet." This probably wasn't fair to M.I.A., even though she didn't exactly hide her multinational roots or her father's ties to the Tamil Tiger military group at the time. The problem was, I took the easy route. I didn't consider her a person first and foremost, choosing instead to assign a bunch of BS terms to her and her music. And the reason I bring this up is because, after spending the first part of her career practically inviting this kind of press, M.I.A. seems to have transitioned with her new album, /\/\/\Y/\. Sure, there was the brutal video for "Born Free" and some of the stuff she said in Lynn Hirschberg's New York Times piece was still rather, uh, eyebrow-raising, but in either of those instances, M.I.A. simply seemed to be trying to raise awareness of injustices around the world. For quite possibly the first time in her career, she appears to be less concerned with battling evils than she is with simply highlighting them. It's what people in her position — and by that I mean globally famous — do in situations like this. Because, first and foremost, they are people just like you or me. And that's all a longwinded way of saying that /\/\/\Y/\ is not just M.I.A.'s most personal album; it's her most human too. It's her (rather dissonant) attempt to make sense of the world around her, or, as she put it on that NYC rooftop: "This is not some weird, crazy conspiracy theory. This is mainstream media. I wish I was talking about way more underground theories, but [I'm] not. This is just me digesting what I see in the mainstream." So, to make M.I.A. any less than human these days — or to take her at anything less than face value — is to do a disservice to her and her art. It's taking the easy way out. I used to think that she was some multi-hyphenated vessel, some pop deity who delighted in pressing buttons and pushing the envelope. Now, after meeting her, after watching her answer questions about why folks seem to dislike her so ("It's because I fight the ones that fight me. I stand up for myself," she smiled. "Everyone should."), I just see her as another human being, someone trying to figure out the world and her place in it. She is bound to make mistakes along the way. Shoot, she already has, but she's learned from them. And she's unafraid to make even more going forward. And sure, there are still plenty of reasons you could hate her — she is opinionated, she is contradictory (you know, what with her millionaire boyfriend and home in tawny Brentwood, California, and all), she supposedly thrives on confrontation — but they're all wholly human flaws, the same ones we all have. And you may not agree with everything she says, but it's important that she says them, because someone's got to. Despite everything you've read about her, and in direct opposition to whatever you may think, M.I.A. is not a demon. She's not dangerous. She seems just like the rest of us. Albeit a little shorter. Questions? Concerns? Hit me up at BTTS@MTVStaff.com. Do you have any strong opinions on M.I.A.? Let us know in the comments. |
| Jackson Rathbone Was The Ultimate Prankster, On 'When I Was 17' Posted: 23 Jun 2010 03:52 AM PDT The 'Eclipse' star made extra cash spinning as DJ Joyride when he wasn't pulling pranks.
Jackson Rathbone probably doesn't worry too much about making ends meet these days, what with two summer blockbusters — "Eclipse" and "The Last Airbender" — hitting theaters next week. But the actor didn't always have deep pockets.
"When I was 17, I was always trying to find ways to make money," he says in a new episode of "When I Was 17," airing Saturday. "When I was back home for the holidays, especially for the summer, I would DJ weddings, birthday parties, all types of events. I was DJ Joyride. I don't know why — sounded cool at the time," he laughed. When Rathbone wasn't earning dough spinning tunes, he and his pals were busy pulling major pranks at school. "We did a lot of prank wars," Rathbone remembered. "We were kind of the prank-war gods so to speak," his friend Ben added. But the prank-war gods had the tables turned on them in one particularly memorable instance. "We came back to our [high school dorm] room and we saw a ransom note in place of our trophy piece, which was a plastic model goose," Ben explained. "The goose is one of those prized possessions you get and you don't know why," Rathbone continued. "You've got it, but it's just something that you like and we discovered that our friend stole our goose." This audacious bit of thievery sent Rathbone and his crew of prankster pals into full-on battle mode. "To get him back, we asked the girl that he liked to write him a note saying to meet him at the beach at a certain time," Rathbone confessed. "He goes down to the beach. We all jump out of the bushes, hog-tie him, rip his shirt off, write 'goose thief' on his chest and make him walk to the dorm in his boxers, hands tied behind his back for all the world to see what a goose thief gets." "When I Was 17" — this week featuring Jackson Rathbone, Keri Hilson and Johnny Weir — airs Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV. |
| Drake Says 'Better Than Good Enough' Documentary Captures 'The Most Important Time Of My Life' Posted: 22 Jun 2010 03:01 AM PDT Documentary airs Wednesday at 10 p.m. on MTV.
He's won over critics with his introspective style, he caused a riot when he tried to play a free show and fans camped out overnight last week for his hotly-anticipated debut, Thank Me Later.
There's no question that Drake is one of the most high-profile artists in the game right now, but he's opening up to his fans even more in the upcoming documentary Drake: Better Than Good Enough which airs on MTV Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET/PT. "I shot a documentary — it was the two months leading up to my album. It was like the most important time of my life — ever," Drake told MTV's "Sucker Free" about the doc, which goes behind the scenes as he finishes and prepares to drop his highly-anticipated debut. Drizzy said he wanted to give his audience deeper insight about himself in the documentary. "I documented [the months before Thank Me Later dropped] for you to see, so we can get to know each other a little better," Drake said. The documentary gives fans little-known tidbits about Drizzy and takes viewers along as he straps in for on his meteoric rise. The cameras follow Drake from the kick-off of his "Away From Home" tour and captures the moments as he and his crew wrap up Thank Me Later. Along the way, he opens up about everything from his mother's failing health to his training sessions with his vocal coach. "I just want people to walk away ... just feeling a little bit more confident about Drake," Drizzy says in the documentary. "In no way do I want people to be like, 'He's the best. He's the man.' 'Cause I really do have a desire to grow and get better. I do want people to walk away and be like, 'OK. OK.' " Don't miss the "Drake: Better Than Good Enough" documentary, airing Wednesday, June 23, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV! Related Videos Related Photos |
| Nicki Minaj's Swagger And Skills Make Her A Prime 'Hottest Breakthrough MC Of 2010' Candidate Posted: 22 Jun 2010 02:36 AM PDT Fans decide our 'Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010' -- vote now! The winner will be revealed on July 25.
"Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" Candidate: Nicki Minaj Nicki Minaj is in the running for MTV News' "Hottest Breakthrough MCs of 2010" because of her massive attack — not her single of the same name, which came out earlier this year and has a big-budgeted video full of eye candy. Minaj's appeal is about more than one song, more than one type of flow, more than one genre of music, even more than one gender. Her charisma and versatility have made her today's face of female rap, but her appeal is universal.
The Young Money MC has an army of female supporters she calls her "Harajuku Barbies" that are enthralled with her style and persona. The guys love her audacity and precision on the mic as well as her beauty. From Southside Queens to Down South in Atlanta, the New York native credits grinding down-bottom with helping to make her one of the most versatile MCs in the game right now. "[Lil] Wayne liked me," Minaj told MTV's "Sucker Free" backstage in Boston earlier this year. "He saw me on ['The Come Up'] DVD and he wanted a female for Young Money. I moved to Atlanta, me and Gucci [Mane] started working crazy. People started thinking I was a Down South girl. I feel more diverse because I did that — because I'm not a rapper that just stayed in Jamaica, Queens. It was a great thing. "Sometimes people see the glitz and the glamour. That's why they envy you," she added. "They don't see three, four, five years ago. They don't see when I was selling my mixtape for $2 on Jamaica Avenue [in Queens]. They don't see when I couldn't get New York DJs — I lived in New York my whole life — to even play a song. At the end of the day, it's all about hard work. You clearly see that hard work; that's all it takes. If you really want it, direct your energy on positive sh-- and it will happen." She's notched dozens of guest spots along pre-eminent spitters such as Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, Fabolous, Ludacris, Jadakiss and, of course, her Young Family members, and just like her skills on the mic, Nick's work ethic can't be questioned. She's a fashion icon, a sex symbol, she appeals to men and women and she has a huge fanbase. The only thing she's lacking at this point is a debut LP. "I am still hungry," Minaj, who says her main goal this summer is to sit in the studio and complete that album, said with a smile. "I'm not hungry in monetary way; I'm hungry like I wanna feel what it's like to have 10 albums under my belt. I think when you're a perfectionist — when you are an artist, you want to be great at your craft — sometimes it's not about money. I feel like I'm still a new artist, I still gotta prove myself, I still have to prove myself to me that I can do this. The features are great — I thank all the artists that gave time, the opportunity to feature with them. But I'm Nicki Minaj, I'm capable of doing what they do. I just wanna get out here and prove it. The album is coming soon. It's something I can't date. I'm not rushing it. The album will come when it's ready, in its natural time." Nicki and 19 other up-and-coming MCs are in the running to become MTV News' "Hottest Breakthrough MCs of 2010" — and the winner will be decided by you! Cast your vote for the "Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2010" right here! The top five will be revealed beginning on July 19, and the winner will be announced on the "Sucker Free Summit" July 25! Related Artists |
| Eminem's <i>Recovery</i> Vs. <i>Relapse</i>: Experts Weigh In Posted: 22 Jun 2010 03:41 AM PDT Em seemed 'afraid to rap sincerely about what he went through' on last year's Relapse, one expert says.
With the release of Recovery earlier this week, Eminem is back in the spotlight after delivering his second album in just over a year. The projects, Recovery and 2009's Relapse, bookend the rapper's return from a five-year, drug-impaired hiatus.
The two albums, however, couldn't be more different. Although both chronicle his dependency, each does so in different ways. Relapse was made as Em was flushing the drugs out of his system, while the new offering was made during his focus on sobriety. Also, Relapse's satirical first single, "We Made You," was rife with stale pop-culture references and no introspection. "My expectations for Relapse were very low, 'cause this is a man coming back, basically, from hell," Keith Murphy, Vibe senior editor, told MTV News. "If you really wanna go into it, drugs have always been a part of rock-and-roll folklore. It's always been a part of that from Marvin Gaye to Jimi Hendrix to David Bowie. But those guys kind of seemed to always be able to rebound from their excesses and put out incredible work and work that seemed like their head was on their shoulders. Relapse, you got the sense that he had no business recording that album, and not because it was a bad album — there was some good songs on there — but you could just see that struggle of someone trying to figure it out and someone that was actually afraid to rap sincerely about what he went through." Dr. Dre helmed the majority of the project, and on standouts like "Beautiful" and "Deja Vu," Eminem vividly articulates his dark descent. The project, though, was made in the aftermath of Eminem's divorce, the murder of his close friend Proof and the rapper nearly overdosing. The emotional turmoil Eminem was facing, perhaps, made it difficult for him to focus. That may be why the rapper himself called his last album "ehh" on Recovery's lead single, "Not Afraid." Looking for inspiration, Eminem reached out to a slew of new collaborators for Recovery, only using Dr. Dre's production on a handful of tracks. "He was not as forthcoming with his unhappiness with Relapse at that moment," Noah Callahan-Bever, Complex editor in chief, said about Eminem, who graced the magazine's December/January cover. "I think he was still forming his own opinion and sitting with it and dissecting it in hindsight himself. But it was clear he understood that he had more to say and he hadn't articulated it all. So, for me, my personal expectation was that he would create this thing that would be to Relapse what 'The Dark Knight' was to 'Batman Begins.' That was the beginning and a loose thought, and then he's gonna fully polish it. "To me, that's so indicative of where his head was at that he hadn't sorted out how he felt about all this stuff that transpired during his downtime," Callahan-Bever added of the differences between the two sets and the lack of a Proof tribute on the former. The Complex editor even suggested that Recovery rivals the best of Eminem's work, putting the collection nearly on par with The Eminem Show (an opinion Murphy, however, didn't share). Freelance writer and frequent Village Voice contributor Chris Weingarten said the rapper is simply back to doing what he does best: delivering rhymes on a superior technical level. And despite appearances by Pink and Rihanna, Weingarten said the album feels hushed and minimalist. "He's rapping again," Weingarten said. "He's a beast again. It may not be the hottest album. The choruses are still a little corny, but he's rapping like he was in the '90s, when he was doing ridiculous punch-line rap on Rawkus [Records] stuff. He's back to being a crazy wordsmith. He's being very clear and focused, and it shows." What album do you like better: Relapse or Recovery? Let us know in the comments below! It's Eminem Week at MTV News, so stick with us as we celebrate the release of Recovery and take you inside the making of Em's latest album. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Rabid Adam Lambert Fans Line Up 24 Hours Before New York Show Posted: 22 Jun 2010 03:49 AM PDT For Lambert, 'I'd sleep on the sidewalk again,' one fan says.
NEW YORK — Scorching temperatures and puzzled looks from passersby could not keep Adam Lambert fans from lining up outside New York's Nokia Theatre a full 24 hours in advance of his Glam Nation Tour stop.
For Eileen Monahan, spending the night sleeping on a "disgusting" Times Square sidewalk in front of the venue was the only way to guarantee she had the best spot inside the general-admission concert. "I want to be up front," insisted Monahan, before admitting, "[For Adam], I'd sleep here again." While Monahan only trekked from the Bronx, many traveled thousands of miles to see their favorite artist rock New York City. Fans from Denmark, Venezuela, England, Japan and Singapore mingled with Georgia peaches, Connecticut natives and Californians, making Adam's Glam Nation a truly international affair. Even Peru had a message for Adam, via superfan Lilli Becker. "Peru represent! We love you, baby! I have a llama for you," exclaimed Becker, just in case Adam ever wants a ride over the Andes. Perhaps the most exotic fans on the Lambert line were the dudes. Brooklyn native Chris Leavitt fessed up that his lady was the one to convert him into a Glamily member initially, but now he's excited to "glam out" with the best of them. (His homemade jeans — complete with hand-drawn dragon and space rocks — certainly spoke volumes.) Elsewhere, 17-year-old Brooklyn boy Billy Tropea was stoked to make Adam Lambert's Glam Nation his first concert experience ever. "His hair is friggin' awesome. I really want his hair," he said. "I'm very jealous." Some of Adam's more seasoned followers insist they haven't been this gung-ho about a musician since the days of Beatlemania. "I was still stalking Paul McCartney for a while. I was on his website all the time, but now ... sorry, Paul. Adam's taken your place," said Claudia Cohill. Armed with bags of snacks, bottles of water, and enough homemade signs to keep office supply stores in business through 2020, fans passed the time by taking bathroom breaks at a nearby McDonald's and dishing about their favorite glamtastic performances (his sultry six-minute acoustic take on "Whole Lotta Love," which he debuted on tour, seems to be number one for most). As the mass of Lambert lovers stretched around the block toward West 45th Street, fans promised each other there would be no shoving once the doors opened at 7 p.m. "We made friends with people [in line]. We like being fair. No cutting," promised 20-year-old Melanie Pellegrino. But if any latecomers try to sneak their way up front, the early birds are ready to throw some 'bows. "I'm willing to cut a bitch!" one joked. Lambert's tour moves on to Connecticut and New Jersey after his sold-out shows in New York. What concert would you wait overnight for? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Kristen Stewart Says 'Breaking Dawn' In 3-D Would Be 'Awesome' Posted: 21 Jun 2010 10:32 PM PDT 'What if she opens her eyes to this extraordinary world?' actress says of soon-to-be vampire Bella.
Will "Breaking Dawn" be in 3-D? That's the question Twilighters have been tossing around, particularly since news broke that the final chapter of the vampire saga would be split into two films.
When MTV News asked Kristen Stewart back in February how she'd feel about seeing, say Bella Swan give birth "Avatar"-style, in 3-D, the star was a bit squeamish. But now, it seems Stewart may be warming up to the idea. "I'm probably speaking out of line or whatever, but I think it would be awesome," she told MTV News about the prospect of "Breaking Dawn" director Bill Condon going three-dimensional. "Nobody knows what it's like to look through the eyes of a vampire. What if [Bella] opens her eyes to this extraordinary world? It could be cool." Of course, there's still the issue of whether the gory birthing sequence that would bring Renesmee Cullen into the world should get the 3-D treatment — or any onscreen treatment at all. "I mean, the baby part, it's easy to joke [about] how weird it would be, but it wouldn't be the whole thing," Stewart speculated of what might make it to film. "It would be parts." For now, those details are still up in the air and the decisions will ultimately rest with Condon and screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg. As for what we do know, Stewart is thrilled that the "Breaking Dawn" story will be told in two parts. "I'm really excited," Stewart said when we spoke with her as she promoted the June 30 opening of "Eclipse." "I didn't want to read the script that was just one [movie]. It would have lacked so much because you just couldn't cram the story into one. At least that was my opinion, so I'm really excited." Should "Breaking Dawn" hit theaters in 3-D? Let us know what you think in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos |
| Eminem Wanted <i>Recovery</i> To Be 'Different,' Alex Da Kid Recalls Posted: 22 Jun 2010 05:17 AM PDT 'He was looking for new things,' the 'Love the Way You Lie' producer tells MTV News.
Despite countless attempts to get in touch with the Shady Records camp, Alex Da Kid kept striking out. The British producer contacted Eminem's management and sent various beats, but none of them made the Detroit MC take notice.
Then Alex produced B.o.B's "Airplanes," featuring Paramore's Hayley Williams, and suddenly, Em was the one reaching out to him. The rapper loved "Airplanes" so much that he dropped a verse for the remix, "Airplanes, Part II." It wasn't until later, however, that the Shady One realized the producer of B.o.B's hit was the same guy who was sending him musical samplings. According to Alex Da Kid, Em's camp then reached out and requested "something different." "A lot of time, generally in the industry, [artists] will say they want something different, but they don't know what that is until they hear it," said Alex, who produced Recovery's "Love the Way You Lie," featuring Rihanna. "So you kind of just go out there yourself. 'Cause if you chase what they did before, it never really works out, and I wanna do different things anyway. That's my thing. I took his past work into account, but he was looking for new things, and I did my thing, and luckily it worked out." The producer, who also helmed Nicki Minaj's first single, "Massive Attack," sent over only one beat, and Eminem jumped at the record. The result was "Love the Way You Lie," an ode of sorts to the rapper's tumultuous relationship with ex-wife Kim. Rihanna recently spoke about the collaboration and explained how Eminem got her to appear on the track. "They reached out to us directly, and they just said, 'We have this song, and we just think Rihanna would be perfect to sing it,' " Rihanna recalled in an interview with E!'s Ben Lyons. "And, of course, I was like, 'OK, if I love it, I'll definitely do it, because I love Eminem.' And I love the song. "It's really beautiful, and it really stands out," Rihanna added. "It's a really unique record. I'm really excited about it." What do you think of "Love the Way You Lie"? Share your thoughts in the comments. It's Eminem Week at MTV News, so stick with us as we celebrate the release of Recovery and take you inside the making of Em's latest album. Related Artists |
| Kenny Wormald Lands Lead In 'Footloose' Remake Posted: 22 Jun 2010 07:27 AM PDT Hollywood newcomer and MTV 'Dancelife' alum snatches plum role after Zac Efron and Chace Crawford back out.
A rising star with true dancing feet will step into the role of Ren McCormack in the upcoming remake of the '80s hit "Footloose." Dancer Kenny Wormald, who has appeared in videos for stars like Madonna and Prince and has hit the stage with Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez, will bring his footwork to the big screen. Entertainment Weekly reports that the Boston native (who proudly touts his "Southie" accent in his MTV "Dancelife" bio) beat out thousands for the chance to take on the role that launched Kevin Bacon's career in the '80s. However, this isn't Wormald's first Hollywood gig: The dancer has also appeared in "You Got Served" and "Clerks 2." Joining Wormald in the flick will be actor Dennis Quaid as Reverend Moore and Julianne Hough from "Dancing With the Stars" as Ariel. "Hustle & Flow" writer Craig Brewer penned the updated screenplay and will also direct. The choreography will be helmed by Jamal Sims, who worked on Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour. Hollywood heartthrob Zac Efron, who has hoofed his way to stardom in musicals like "Hairspray" and "High School Musical," was originally slated for the role as Ren McCormack but later backed out. Reports said the star wanted to take on more serious roles. Chace Crawford also dropped out of the remake because filming would have conflicted with his "Gossip Girl" production schedule. Filmmakers already have high hopes for Wormald. "When we discovered Kevin Bacon in 1984, we were both excited and gratified -- and also knew the chances of ever duplicating that effort was a million-to-one shot," producer Craig Zadan, who worked on the original and is back for the remake, said in a statement. "Decades later, Kenny Wormald proved history could repeat itself." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. |
| Jerry Seinfeld Calls Lady Gaga A 'Jerk' After Mets Game Behavior Posted: 22 Jun 2010 04:05 AM PDT Gaga took refuge from paparazzi in Seinfeld's private box at Citi Field.
Jerry Seinfeld is calling out Lady Gaga for her crude conduct at a New York Mets game after the diva took refuge from paparazzi in his private box at Citi Field. Gaga stirred up headlines when she appeared at the June 10 baseball game in a befuddling outfit (a leather jacket draped over a black bikini) and held court from her front-row seat. When fans and photogs noticed her presence, they began snapping shots of the pop star. Gaga was not in a pic-taking mood, however, and started giving the flashbulbs the finger and moved to a private box to escape the attention. Turns out, the box belongs to Seinfeld. "You give people the finger and you get upgraded? Is that the world we're living in now?" Seinfeld sounded off in an interview with WFAN radio, the New York Post reports. reports. "This woman is a jerk. I hate her. I can't believe they put her in my box, which I paid for." Seinfeld also added that he didn't know that the pop star usurped his box until he showed up later on for a night game. "I don't know what these young people think or how they promote their careers," said Seinfeld, slamming the diva's rowdy antics. "I'm not one of these all-publicity-is-good people. People talk about 'You need exposure' — you could die of exposure." While she hasn't responded to Seinfeld's scolding just yet, Gaga did take to her Twitter page a day after the public got wind of her rambunctious behavior. "A middle finger is more New York than a corporate ambush. I bleed for my hometown, and I'd die for my fans." What do you think of Seinfeld's harsh words toward Gaga? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists |
| Jay-Z Says Performing On Roof Of Ed Sullivan Theater Was 'Amazing' Posted: 21 Jun 2010 11:51 PM PDT 'It don't get no better, baby,' adds Diddy, who was in audience of 'Letterman' taping.
Though the viewing audience will have to wait until this Friday to check out the final version of the performance, the buzz around Jay-Z and Eminem's tag-team performance for "The Late Show With David Letterman" on the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York on Monday is already at a fever pitch. Following the taping of the three-song set — performed before an exclusive crowd of about 100 people responding to blasts on Twitter and Facebook — Jay-Z spoke to a local news station about the scenario. "It was amazing," Jigga told MyFoxNY as he greeted fans who heard about the performance and lined up to catch a glimpse of him outside of the theater. Though the crowd was relatively low-key, there was one high-profile guest: Diddy, who showed up to lend his support to the pair. "I'm just here as a fan," he said. "[The performance] was great. It was incredible. A lot of fun. You know, Hov, Eminem, New York, rooftop, summertime — it don't get no better, baby." According to reports, Jay and Eminem played a total of three songs. They opened with Eminem's latest single "Not Afraid" before moving into Jay's "On to the Next One" (from his smash 2009 album The Blueprint 3). As a grand finale, the two teamed up on "Renegade," the classic banger from Jigga's 2001 album The Blueprint that was the pair's first collaboration. The two MCs will be taking over this Friday's episode of "The Late Show With David Letterman" in order to promote their upcoming concerts in each of their respective hometowns. Jay-Z and Eminem will play Detroit's Comerica Park on September 2 and at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on September 13. In addition to the musical performances, the two will also get involved in some comedy: Eminem will reportedly deliver Friday night's Top 10 list, which will be "Top 10 Eminem Pieces of Advice for the Kids." What do you think of the song selection for Jay-Z and Eminem's performance on the roof of the Ed Sullivan Theater? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| M.I.A. Calls Reaction To 'Born Free' Video 'Interesting' Posted: 22 Jun 2010 12:28 AM PDT People react more to 'tomato ketchup and fake blood' than to clips of real violence, M.I.A. points out.
In the days following its release in April, practically everyone weighed in on M.I.A.'s "Born Free" video, calling it everything from "unflinchingly, unapologetically real" to "exploitive and hollow." It was polarizing, to be sure, but that was sort of the point: "Born Free" was clearly designed to elicit a response.
But through it all, M.I.A. herself kept quiet about the video. Until Monday, when MTV News sat down with her to talk about a host of topics, including her new album, /\/\/\Y/\ (due July 13), and the maelstrom of controversy created by "Born Free." To hear her tell it, the reaction to the video wasn't as much hurtful as it was fascinating. "It was just interesting at the time, for me, to see how the Internet works. Because I tweeted [a video purportedly showing the execution of Tamil separatists in Sri Lanka] a couple months before, and nobody really gave a sh--," M.I.A. said. "And when there's tomato ketchup and fake blood, people are like, 'Oh my God, this is shocking!' And it's like, 'It's ketchup!' [So] I think it's interesting how we react to fiction and how we react to realism on the Internet." Though her critics may have slammed the "Born Free" video, M.I.A. said that in the two months since it was released, the clip has only become more important. In fact, with its scenes of violence against minorities (in the video's case, redheads) and its dark, paranoid tone, one might argue that it's downright prescient. "Thinking about 'Born Free,' what, a month on, is interesting because, last week, I guess in [Texas], they shot the Mexican kid," she said, referring to the 15-year-old shot by a U.S. Border Patrol agent earlier this month. "Or, think about the boat that went into [Gaza] with all the activists. ... Since the video came out, there's been events. "Or even yesterday, the story about the president being able to shut the Internet down with one button, the 'kill switch,' or whatever, which is all really interesting," she added, talking about a bill being proposed that would allow the U.S. government greater control in the face of a major cyber-attack. (Bill co-sponsor Sen. Joseph Lieberman has said the term "kill switch" is an exaggeration.) "This is not some weird, crazy conspiracy theory, this is mainstream media," M.I.A. argued. "I wish I was talking about way more underground theories, but [I'm] not, this is just me digesting what I see in the mainstream." Has a video or song ever opened your eyes about real-world events? Share your thoughts in the comments. Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift Talks Nashville Flood Benefit With Miley Cyrus Posted: 22 Jun 2010 12:03 AM PDT 'Nashville is really being rebuilt, and everybody's been so wonderful,' Swift tells MTV News.
On Tuesday night (June 22), Taylor Swift will be one of the many Nashville superstars on hand for Nashville Rising: A Benefit Concert for Flood Recovery. The singer, who lives in the area, will join the night's hosts, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, as they raise money to help the area devastated by floods earlier this spring.
Swift said she and her band weren't immune to the destruction. "The flood definitely affected all of Nashville. You know, for me, the fact that there were members of my band that lost their homes really affected me, because those are my friends," she told MTV News. "Those are the people I call up as soon as we get home. The fact that it affected my band, that's the most directly it affected me." While some of her bandmates have struggled to get their feet back on the ground, Swift said, "Thankfully, my home wasn't damaged, but seeing people that I've known for years trying to figure out where they're going to stay, it was really painful to watch. Nashville is really being rebuilt, and everybody's been so wonderful." Swift, who donated $500,000 to help the area back in May, will be joined by fellow teen queen Miley Cyrus, who had her big Can't Be Tamed coming-out party Monday night, as well as country stars like Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn, LeAnn Rimes, Miranda Lambert and Martina McBride. The show is set to take place at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. Funds will go to the Community Foundation, which provides philanthropic services in Middle Tennessee. Share your well-wishes for the victims of the Nashville flood in the comments, and tell us how you've helped. Related Artists |
| Game Opens Up About Reuniting With Dr. Dre For <i>The R.E.D. Album</i> Posted: 22 Jun 2010 01:06 AM PDT 'Dre's a friend to me, so it was just, 'Let's go get it in,' ' Game tells the AP.
Although Dr. Dre is one of the biggest producers in the world, Game said that reuniting with The Chronic legend was just a matter of a phone call. The Cali MC said he and Dre started working together again on his upcoming The R.E.D. Album after the influential producer simply dialed him up. "Dre just called me one day, and he was like, 'You wanna work?' and I'm like, 'Yeah,' and he's like, 'Come down.' I'm like, 'Cool, see you in 30,' " Game told The Associated Press. "That was it. Game and Dre back together again." Dre and Game collaborated on the MC's debut, The Documentary, when Game first joined the producer's Aftermath label. Although Game told MTV News that he titled his follow-up, Doctor's Advocate, to pay homage to and show his support for Dre, the Compton MC worked with a range of producers on his sophomore album. The MC also maintained that he didn't miss working with the Doc on the 2008 album LAX. Game said collaborating with Dre was a huge motivating factor in putting together his latest project. "The motivation is number one, and foremost is always my children and second just being back with Dre," Game said. The MC, who is renowned for his infamous rivalry with fellow Dre protégé 50 Cent, added that the recording process was very chill this time around as well. "I was really excited and looking forward to every day going in the studio, working," Game said. "No stress, no beef. It just feels good to be doing music the way that I want to do it. Dre's a friend to me, so it was just, 'Let's go get it in. I'm ready.' " Are you happy Game is working with Dre again? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
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