MTV News |
- 'Charlie St. Cloud': Dead Zone, By Kurt Loder
- Eminem Is The 'Godfather Of The Hip-Hop Game,' G-Unit Members Say
- Lil B Is Taking The Net By Storm, One Freestyle At A Time
- 'Hills' Star Says She 'Could Fit In' With 'Jersey Shore' Cast
- Lindsay Lohan's Incarceration A 'Huge Problem' For Jail, Expert Says
- Michael Cera Pitches Ideas For 'Arrested Development' Movie
- Kid Cudi's <i>Man On The Moon II</i> LP Pushed To October
- Mike Tyson And Tupac Shakur Documentary To Air In September
- Alice In Chains, Mastodon Talk BlackDiamondSkye Tour, The 'Almond Joy' Of Hard Rock
- 'Jersey Shore' Cast Teases Season Two: 'More Drama, Make-ups, Breakups'
- MTV TJ Finalist And Fashionista Gabi Gregg Feels Right At Home In NYC
- MTV TJ Finalist Jose Iniguez Is Living Out His 'Pop' Life
- MTV TJ Finalist Ryan Lytle Sets Sights On New York City
- MTV TJ Finalist Xavier Moreno Brings His DJ Savvy To Twitter
- MTV TJ Finalist Dannielle Owens-Reid Owes Early Fame To Justin Bieber
- Kanye West's 'Power' Video Is 'Apocalyptic,' Director Says
- Lindsay Lohan Should Get Back To Work To Recover Successfully, Expert Says
- Chace Crawford Says New 'Gossip Girl' Love Interest Is 'Conniving'
- Foxy Brown, Tony Yayo Speak About Sean Bell Settlement
- Eminem 'Wanted To Connect With Radio Audience' With <i>Recovery,</i> Manager Says
| 'Charlie St. Cloud': Dead Zone, By Kurt Loder Posted: 30 Jul 2010 06:13 AM PDT Zac Efron in ghost world.
Charlie St. Cloud sees dead people. Possibly filing in to watch this movie. Although the storyline of "Charlie St. Cloud" has some nice love-after-death twists, and the imagery — gleaming harbor-town nightscapes and sleek sailboats skudding across the water — has been beautifully rendered, the picture is becalmed by the star performance at its center.
Charlie (Zac Efron) lives for sailing, and as the movie opens, in his briny hometown on the Washington coast, he's preparing to leave for Stanford University in the fall on a sailing scholarship. Despite his resemblance to Zac Efron, Charlie doesn't have a girlfriend. He's entirely devoted to his mother (a minimal appearance by Kim Basinger) and especially his little brother, Sam (Charlie Tahan, talented beyond the call of cuteness). Sam lives for baseball, and Charlie coaches him with daily pitching practice in a clearing in some nearby woods. Charlie tells Sam he'll always be there for him. But then there's a car crash; Sam is killed, but Charlie, although briefly flatlined, survives. Five years later, we find Charlie working as a caretaker at the local cemetery. He canceled his Stanford plans because ... well, because he told Sam he'd always be there for him. And Sam is still there, turning up in the woods every evening for their regular pitching sessions. Presumably Charlie has decided to spend the rest of his life as an undead-baseball coach. But then he meets the beautiful Tess (Amanda Crew), an avid sailor herself, who's gearing up for an around-the-world race in her elegant yacht. As Charlie and Tess fall in love, Sam, with no other earthly hobbies to occupy his time, watches them with growing unease (possibly even observing the movie's lone sex scene, a coupling so discreet it barely rises to the level of PG-13). "I could feel you forgetting me," he tells Charlie. "Without you, I feel myself start to disappear." This basic plot conflict grows even slushier following a second tragedy, which introduces another level of lovelorn ambiguity. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of Tahan and Crew (who injects some liveliness into the otherwise turgid proceedings), the real love story at the heart of the picture is the sultry union of Zac Efron and director Burr Steers' camera. Efron, such a charmer in last year's "17 Again," is a hopeless mope here, acting mainly with his burnished tan and his bioluminescent blue eyes, which we all too often see welling with tears. Charlie stares out to sea. He stares into his soul. He suffers and suffers, and his muffled torment, even when backgrounded by glorious coastal sunsets, grows oppressive. We want Efron to jack this character up to another emotional level, to manifest some personality, but he just keeps wallowing in heartbreak. So while Charlie keeps seeing dead people (there's also a deceased buddy on hand), we're left watching a dead movie. Don't miss Kurt Loder's review of "Dinner For Schmucks," also new in theaters this week. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Eminem Is The 'Godfather Of The Hip-Hop Game,' G-Unit Members Say Posted: 29 Jul 2010 01:08 AM PDT Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks attribute Eminem's chart-topping success to his fan base.
His reign at the top is not short like leprechauns, but long like scowling giants: Eminem is enjoying his fifth week with the top-selling album in the country. Wednesday, on the set of Lloyd Banks' "Any Girl" video, G-Unit members Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo said the key to Em's success is simple and obvious: He has a very loyal fanbase.
"Congratulations, man," Lloyd Banks said. "Damn! I don't even know what else to say. I know he's happy and I'm happy for him. It's big. He might do six weeks or seven weeks [at #1]. Em has a cult following and they ain't gonna turn their backs on him. He's gonna shine on the darkest day. I think he wasn't never afraid to bring people into his life, [but] at the same time you don't see Em. You don't see [him on] reality shows, you don't see him as much; you see him through his music. He brings you into his life. You know about his wife, his kids, his best friend. On that last album, he touched on a lot of those topics and other personal things he had going on, too. A lot of people can relate to it. I feel like his music is getting more and more powerful. The messages are bigger. With me touring and going all around, you actually see it. I just hope I get a record with him real soon." "Eminem is like the godfather of the hip-hop game," Yayo said. "In a time like this, when records are not selling, he's the only one that is selling. You know, Drake and all the other ones [did well], but Em did [close to] 800,000 his first week, and he's #1 for the fifth week. It's incredible. I think he has a faithful fan base of people who have been following him for years. They're not going to stop following him and not stop listening to his music. Em said he didn't like his last album as much as this one. You can hear the difference. I like both of the albums. '3 a.m.' is one of my joints. But Eminem has followers that's gonna mess with him until the day he dies." Are you one of Eminem's faithful? Sound off in the comments below! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lil B Is Taking The Net By Storm, One Freestyle At A Time Posted: 30 Jul 2010 03:50 AM PDT 'I made about 155 MySpace pages' and 1,500 songs, the self-described 'based god' tells Mixtape Daily.
Fire Starter: Lil B Hip-Hop has always been filled with eccentric, over-the-top personalities. Acts like ODB, Kanye West and even Lil Wayne have drawn plenty of "oohs" and "ahhs" with their rhymes, but they've also raised a few eyebrows with their antics. But when it comes to unique personalities, rapper Lil B is certainly making a name for himself.
A member of the Berkeley, California, group the Pack, Lil B has emerged as a force all his own. He's amassed quite a following, written a book titled "Takin' Over" and recently performed a sold-out show at Santos Party House in New York City. The self-proclaimed "based god" has released hundreds of songs and videos (for his "based" freestyles and songs) in hopes of getting people together. "Well, based really is being yourself, being positive, not really worrying too much about what people think about you. Really saying what comes to your mind first," Lil B told Mixtape Daily. "It's like unconscious. Really not premeditating, saying, 'Imma do this, I'mma say this, I'mma be this way,' but really just going with the flow." Lil B (real name Brendan McCartney) described his based style as free-association freestyles, in which he, yes, says the first thing that comes to mind. He said he's recorded about 1,000 freestyles over the last year and started to become one with himself as a result of all that studio time. "I really started seeing and respecting all these different artists and really get a chance to venture out of just rap," he said. "That really changed me and now, I say ... like collective music I have, last time I checked on my iTunes, I have about 1,500 songs, including freestyles. I probably have about 800 freestyles right now." Social-networking sites have really helped B to spread his music. He said he was late getting onto Twitter, but since he's joined, he's grown as an artist and more people are watching. "I made about 155 MySpace pages. I really hold the world record for that. It was crazy. I have seven songs each page, so five songs the minimum, so that's times 155. That's when I started and I was really doing it for one supporter. There was one guy. He was on there like 'Man, I love your songs.' I was like, as long as one person's listening to me and one person cares about me, I'm going to keep going." But B also explained that although he's evolving personally, keeping a higher profile with sites like Twitter has also left him open to be judged. "A lot of people were shocked. A lot of people have mixed emotions," he said of the growing response to him. "A lot of people were happy about it for change, me being an honest [person]. A lot of people were happy with the honesty." B said he is currently working on a mainstream album titled Rain in England to be produced and composed solely by him. He also claimed it will be the "best hip-hop album to come out in rap history." Given how off-kilter his material is, B is humbled by the fact that so many people have gravitated to it. "Like I said, I started doing it originally for one person. Just one person respecting it, and I just kept going. I'm very humble and I'm very appreciative of everybody that respects what I'm doing. I take pride in really being a true artist, loving music and really being more honest than ever and creating emotions." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Hills' Star Says She 'Could Fit In' With 'Jersey Shore' Cast Posted: 29 Jul 2010 02:20 AM PDT 'I really like big hair also!' superfan Stephanie Pratt says of 'Shore,' which premieres second season tonight.
It was only earlier this month that the world bid a fond farewell to "The Hills." But before the cast rode off into reality-TV history, they passed on some advice to the "Jersey Shore" cast, who are set to kick off their second season Thursday night (July 29). And like her co-stars, "Hills" gal Stephanie Pratt was such a fan she told us she'd love to "fit in" with the "Shore" gang. So MTV News decided to make it happen, giving her and rest of the West Coast crew a Jerseyfication.
When we caught up with Pratt recently, she gushed, "We met them! Lo and I met them at the MTV Movie Awards and Pauly D was definitely the nicest. [Snooki's] little too. She's really tiny! "I used to watch it at Lo's house," Pratt revealed of her "JS" viewing habits. "I would go over to Lo's and if nothing was on, we'd go over to the TiVo, so I saw most of the episodes at her house and I really enjoyed it." For Pratt, the show was an education in the ways of East Coasters. "I'm such a West Coast person, I didn't even know what lacrosse was," she said. "I'm just so clueless about the East Coast so Jersey's just like a whole other world to me." So what were her biggest lessons? "I realized there's no place like Jersey and they love long nails, fake tans and the gym and teasing their hair. I feel like I could do it," she added. "I really like big hair also! I think I could fit in there for a couple days!" Do you think Stephanie would fit in with the "Jersey Shore" crew? Tell us in the comments! Season two of "Jersey Shore" premieres tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Be there! Related Videos Related Photos |
| Lindsay Lohan's Incarceration A 'Huge Problem' For Jail, Expert Says Posted: 29 Jul 2010 12:29 AM PDT Celebrity offenders are 'not a good situation,' Fox News legal analyst Kimberly Guilfoyle says.
Though she was initially sentenced to 90 days in jail for probation violations, troubled actress Lindsay Lohan could be released from lockup within the week, after serving less than one-fifth of her original term.
That's pretty typical, according to Fox News legal analyst Kimberly Guilfoyle, who told MTV News that chronic overcrowding in the Los Angeles County jail system has turned it into a "revolving door" for high-profile, low-level offenders like Lohan, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. "When you have a celebrity like Lindsay Lohan, it's a huge problem for the correctional officers," she said. "They don't want that. They're getting a lot of press and focus on their detention facility. It gets all the other inmates up in arms, their panties in a bunch, it's not a good situation." That's why, she said, in addition to the overcrowding argument, jail officials in L.A. County often cite celebrity inmates — even President Obama knows about Lohan's incarceration — as a "security risk." The facility often has to go on lockdown whenever Lohan is moved around or is let out of her cell for meetings with her lawyer and family. "Because of that, they're going to want to get her out as soon as possible without giving the impression that she's receiving special treatment," Guilfoyle said. The key for jail officials is to process high-profile inmates quickly and avoid the appearance of special treatment, while making sure that they serve enough time to make the judges in the case satisfied that the message has gotten through to them. "Keep in mind, Lindsay had a 90-day jail sentence," she said, noting that the average person with that sentence in Los Angeles would be expected to do at least 22 or 23 days. "But for Lindsay, now they're saying two weeks total, so definitely she'd be getting it better than the rest." At press time, Lohan's lawyer could not be reached for comment on when the "Mean Girls" actress might be released from jail. Related Artists |
| Michael Cera Pitches Ideas For 'Arrested Development' Movie Posted: 29 Jul 2010 03:32 AM PDT Cera hopes the movie will happen 'soon' and has ideas for his character George-Michael's arc.
The news surrounding the alleged "Arrested Development" movie continues to be as back-and-forth as a Wimbledon tennis match. Despite a fanbase almost more obsessive than those at last week's Comic-Con, the movie has had its ups and downs, with the latest news announced by way of creator Mitch Hurwitz, who confirmed recently that work on the movie's script had begun.
Now, straight from the mouth of George-Michael himself, Michael Cera, who graced MTV News with his presence during our Comic-Con live stream last week, we have further confirmation that the film will indeed happen. And Cera also told us about his hopes and dreams for his character's quirky arc. "I hope it will happen soon," he said. "I think it's going to ... soon, hopefully." But like every other cast member who has been approached about the subject, Cera didn't have much more to say about the planned production. "I know so little about it," he admitted. Cera did briefly indulge our suggestion that he and cast members Jeffrey Tambor and Jason Bateman should just shoot the film while they're all in San Diego for the convention — he laughed and said that idea "would be great" — but referenced his character's continued awkwardness as a starting point upon which Hurwitz should focus some character evolution. "I want to pitch Mitch Hurwitz this thing where, if we do do the movie, my character over the years has turned into kind of a creepy guy. I'm still in love with my cousin and leaving flowers on her door, and all the members of the family are like, 'What is going on? It's been years now. ...' " Cera appears to have grown tired of playing that side of George-Michael, which leaves the field open for suggestions on what trouble he may or may not find himself in once/if the movie officially begins production. Do you think the "Arrested Development" movie will ever happen? What should happen with Cera's character, George-Michael? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos |
| Kid Cudi's <i>Man On The Moon II</i> LP Pushed To October Posted: 29 Jul 2010 02:20 AM PDT The rapper was originally slated to drop his sophomore effort on September 14.
Kid Cudi fans will have to wait a little longer for fresh tunes: A rep for Universal Motown confirmed to MTV News that the Cleveland rapper's second album Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager has been pushed back to October 25. Cudi was originally set to drop the album on September 14; the rep did not provide a reason for the release-date switch. In addition to keeping fans waiting for the rapper's follow-up to his breakout debut, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, the move also shakes up the much-buzzed about G.O.O.D. Music Day. Members of the Kanye West-helmed G.O.O.D. Music family Big Sean, Consequence, Cudi and 'Ye himself were all set to drop their upcoming albums on September 14. Rumored G.O.O.D. Music signee Pusha T of the Clipse also revealed that he's dropping his solo mixtape The Fear of God on the same day, a move that suggested the Virginia MC may have finally signed with the Yeezy collective. "A great day for music, but it's a 'good' day," Push recently told MTV News' Mixtape Daily about his mixtape's release date. The album date switch-up is the latest change to the "Day N' Nite" star's upcoming effort. The sophomore set was initially envisioned as a collabo album featuring cuts with Snoop Dogg and Pharrell entitled Cudder. Although Mr. Rager is still a few months away, the star has released a few new tracks, including "REVOFEV," the Kanye West collabo "Erase Me," and the Converse-sponsored summer jam, "All Summer" with Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino and Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij. Related Artists |
| Mike Tyson And Tupac Shakur Documentary To Air In September Posted: 29 Jul 2010 08:23 AM PDT One Night in Vegas, a doc detailing Tyson and 'Pac's friendship, will air on ESPN on September 7, 14 years after the rapper was shot.
In the 1990s, Tupac Shakur and Mike Tyson were two of the most explosive personalities in entertainment. Both overcame scrappy upbringings to snag major fame and success. Both served time at high-profile moments in their careers. And both were known to put up a fight — whether it was "Iron Mike" pummeling opponents in the ring or 'Pac slamming hip-hop foes on a record. The pair also enjoyed a close friendship — so close that 'Pac was ringside at the prizefighter's September 7, 1996, bout in Las Vegas and planned to live it up with the boxer when the match ended. Unfortunately, the Cali MC was shot that night and died on September 13. One Night in Vegas, a documentary detailing the bond between the duo and the events of that fateful night, will air on ESPN on September 7, exactly 14 years after 'Pac was gunned down. Directed by filmmaker Reggie Bythewood, the flick — which is part of ESPN's "30 for 30" movie series — was created with Tyson onboard and will likely feature the boxer's perspective of his relationship with Tupac. Tyson opened up last month about his time with the iconic MC. When speaking to MTV News on June 16, a day which would have marked Shakur's 39th birthday, the fighter called his late friend "incredible" and described his heavyweight approach to hip-hop. "He looked very destructive. He came across as a world beater," Tyson said. "As far as his music was concerned, his presence and his energy ... the word I'm looking for is fearless. He came across as fearless. When you come across somebody that's fearless, you're a little bit in awe. You're like. 'Whoa!' He's ready to blow, too, at any moment; very volatile. He's very focused. He can go from one second to the next and get very focused." Tyson also described 'Pac's passionate and eloquent words off the mic and revealed that their personal discussions were "purely emotionally intimate talking; expression of feeling. He was very prolific in expressing himself. He had a lot of hostility. I think it was just misguided and misdirected. It was obvious he was a genius, he was a prodigy. Whoa! He was just amazing as far as his energy was concerned. He was explosive — like a black panther ready to pounce." How do you feel about Tupac's legacy? Let us know in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Alice In Chains, Mastodon Talk BlackDiamondSkye Tour, The 'Almond Joy' Of Hard Rock Posted: 29 Jul 2010 02:04 AM PDT 'You get three great flavors on one tour,' Alice in Chains' Jerry Cantrell jokes.
When it was first announced back in April, the BlackDiamondSkye Tour — which brings together three titans of hard rock: Alice in Chains, Deftones and Mastodon — instantly became a must-see show of the fall. But now, with something like two months until the first date, it's starting take on another mantle too: It may very well be the most delicious tour in recent memory.
"You've got three bands that are pretty distinct, you know, and pretty unique in their own way, and who have worked really hard at throwing out some music. And we're gonna throw it all out together," Alice in Chains mastermind Jerry Cantrell told MTV News. "It's better than a Reese's. You know, Reese's, you get two great tastes together ... we're kind of like an Almond Joy. You get almonds, chocolate and coconut, so you get three great flavors on one tour." "It's interesting you say that," Mastodon drummer Brann Dailor joked. "Because we are currently seeking sponsorship for the tour, and I think Almond Joy would be a great one." Someone should get the folks from Hershey's on the phone, stat. And while the guys are joking, they do make a rather important point: BlackDiamondSkye may very well be the, uh, sweetest tour to come down the pike in a long time, at least for fans of hard rock. Three heavyweight acts with three really excellent back catalogs to draw from, all sharing one stage. It'll be epic, for sure ... as long as the fans of each band can co-exist. "I don't think that's gonna be a problem," Cantrell smiled. "We all have a fanbase that's been loyal to the band, and I think that as much as we're all unique as groups, I think we have a lot of overlap too. We're all about good music — not just creating it, but being a fan of it, too — so, for me, I'm excited to finally see each of these bands play a full set. It's gonna be cool to check these guys out." "And get in the pit too. That'll be great," Dailor cracked. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm going in there. I got my leather pants, and I don't need a shirt, so I'm ready." Are you looking forward to seeing the BlackDiamondSkye Tour? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Jersey Shore' Cast Teases Season Two: 'More Drama, Make-ups, Breakups' Posted: 29 Jul 2010 03:50 AM PDT 'Sit back and relax! You guys can see how to party!' the Situation says about new season in Miami premiering Thursday.
The "Jersey Shore" cast got America fist-pumping last year when they launched their hit reality-TV series with more than a few drunken nights, brawls and hookups. But in season two, which kicks off Thursday, the castmembers tell MTV News they plan to beat dat beat even harder this time around — if that's even possible.
Their celebrity fans certainly want more fights and hot-tub sessions this season, and the "Shore" cast promises that in Miami that will definitely be the case. "I am excited for people to see season two. It is 1,000 times more dramatic and just, overall, 1,000 times better than 'Jersey Shore' 1," an enthusiastic JWoww told MTV News. "More drama, make-ups, breakups, fights, and everyone became really close as a family, so it's just insane." DJ Pauly D added, "If you like season one, you'll love season two." The Situation offered his theory on why fans will fully embrace their antics this time around. "You've seen season one, you know what happens there!" he said. "Season two is so much drama. There's so much more hookups, make-ups, breakups, the whole nine, and you guys are definitely going to love season two. Sit back and relax! You guys can see how to party!" Sammi "Sweetheart" set the bar high for the revelry of season two. "Of course, 'Jersey Shore' wouldn't be 'Jersey Shore' without the drama, the fights and the hookups," she teased. "So there's that, plus more!" What are you looking forward to most from the new season of "Jersey Shore"? Tell us in the comments! Season two of "Jersey Shore" premieres tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Be there! Related Videos Related Photos
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| MTV TJ Finalist And Fashionista Gabi Gregg Feels Right At Home In NYC Posted: 29 Jul 2010 07:00 AM PDT 'Young, Fat and Fabulous' blogger makes it to the top five in MTV's Twitter Jockey search.
Gabi Gregg wants to move back to New York. All her friends are there, and it just feels right whenever she visits. And, of course, there's Fashion Week.
Gabi, 24, is the creator of the groundbreaking plus-size fashion blog Young, Fat and Fabulous and one of the five finalists in the running to be MTV's very first Twitter Jockey. If she wins, getting to move back to New York from her current Chicago residence would be one of many perks (in addition to the $100,000 salary ...). "Plus-size girls are interested in fashion too, and we are often ignored in the mainstream industry," Gabi tells MTV News about her motivation to start Young, Fat and Fabulous. Since then, her blog has become a unique stop among the multitude of style blogs, and with a positive-body-image message to boot. MTV, with the help of ZYNC from American Express, chose Gabi as one of the 20 social-media enthusiasts in the running for a job as MTV's very first TJ. Over the last six weeks, the candidates took part in challenges that tested everything from their skills at growing their Twitter followers to their ability to break an unsigned band. Gabi finished the competition with the greatest number of Twitter followers — 5,723 to be exact — and gathered the most votes on the ZYNC by American Express Facebook hub. It's clear that once Gabi met a need that hadn't been addressed on the Internet, she gained the admiration and online following that comes with it. But there's still one last round of challenges to go, and everyone's vote slate starts off clean. Join us August 8 for the live finale, which will take place in New York City. The winner of the MTV TJ search will be chosen by you, so tune in to MTV or MTV.com on August 8 at 10 p.m. ET to vote for your favorite candidate! Related Videos |
| MTV TJ Finalist Jose Iniguez Is Living Out His 'Pop' Life Posted: 29 Jul 2010 07:00 AM PDT From small-town boy to big-city dreams, the onetime 'TRL' fan makes it to the top five in MTV's Twitter Jockey Search.
Jose Iniguez comes from a town where there are more cows than people. For a big chunk of his childhood, his hometown didn't even have a movie theater. Now he's one of the five finalists competing for a chance to become MTV's first-ever Twitter Jockey. Having arrived at this moment, the Tulare, California, native credits MTV with fueling the passion that earned him the spot — an enthusiasm that stretches back nearly a decade before anyone had ever heard of a Twitter account.
"A big reason why MTV has been such a big part of my life is because it became my one-stop shop for everything pop music/culture. 'TRL' was part of my daily routine," he told MTV News during a tour of the town where he grew up. Jose moved away from Los Angeles to Tulare when he was very young and always yearned to go back. After years of saving his lunch money to buy Ricky Martin CDs and waiting by the radio with a cassette tape ready to record his favorite songs, he finally returned to his birthplace as a student at UCLA. "Moving to L.A. was so freeing! Pop music and pop culture everywhere! I felt like a little kid in a candy store. So many opportunities came my way as well. From free concerts to becoming a radio DJ, I did it all in L.A.," he says. With the help of ZYNC from American Express, MTV chose Jose as one of the 20 social-media enthusiasts in the running for a job as MTV's very first TJ. Over the last six weeks, the candidates took part in challenges that tested everything from their skills at growing their Twitter followers to their ability to break an unsigned band. Jose's pop-culture inspiration shone through during the MTV TJ challenges, and he'll be harnessing it when all five candidates face off during the live finale in New York City, on Sunday, August 8 on MTV and MTV.com. The winner of the MTV TJ search will be chosen by you, so tune in to MTV or MTV.com on August 8 at 10 p.m. ET to vote for your favorite candidate! Related Videos |
| MTV TJ Finalist Ryan Lytle Sets Sights On New York City Posted: 29 Jul 2010 07:00 AM PDT Amelia, Ohio, hometown hero makes it to the top five in MTV's Twitter Jockey search.
Ryan Lytle, one of the five finalists in the running for a job as MTV's very first Twitter Jockey , is madly in love with Amelia. Amelia, Ohio, that is.
The tiny Cincinnati outpost may only hold 93 more people than Ryan's current 2,659-follower count on Twitter, but while giving a tour of his hometown to MTV News, Ryan credited his birthplace with influencing him more than anywhere else. "I was lucky to grow up in such a diverse suburb of Cincinnati, in regards to pop culture," he said. "Everyone was listening to such different types of music back in the day, from Eminem to Limp Bizkit, from Outkast to Offspring. It allowed me to appreciate all types of music and build a love for pop culture in general." MTV, in partnership with ZYNC from American Express, chose Ryan as one of the 20 social-media enthusiasts competing for a $100,000 contract to become MTV's first-ever Twitter Jockey. Over the last six weeks, the candidates took part in challenges that tested everything from their skills at growing their Twitter followers to their ability to break an unsigned band. On Sunday, August 8, all five candidates will face off during the finale in New York City, which will be broadcast live at 10 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com. Ryan's wide spectrum of pop-culture tastes came in handy during the first round of challenges, but it was his hometown pride that catapulted him into the spotlight. Almost immediately after the competition kicked off in June, Ryan's broadcaster voice and playful professionalism became a staple of Cincinnati's talk-show circuit and its main sports venues — not to mention the JumboTron in Cincinnati's central hub. "From a park dedication to being the honorary captain at a Cincinnati Reds game, I knew from the start that my city had my back," he told MTV News. "The city embraced my cause and helped me push my name to the top. No other MTV TJ candidate felt the love and support of a city as much as I did, and I'm so thankful for that." The winner of the MTV TJ search will be chosen by you, so tune in to MTV or MTV.com on August 8 at 10 p.m. ET to vote for your favorite candidate! Related Videos |
| MTV TJ Finalist Xavier Moreno Brings His DJ Savvy To Twitter Posted: 29 Jul 2010 07:00 AM PDT DJ X makes it to the top five in MTV's Twitter Jockey search.
Xavier by day and "DJ X" by night, Xavier Moreno, 24, is one of the five finalists competing for a $100,000 contract to become MTV's first-ever Twitter Jockey. It's a good thing that he already has the fast-paced "jockey" part down.
"As a DJ, I have to be able to know what the crowd wants way before they even realize it," he tells MTV News from his new home base in Atlanta. And it's that desire to make a crowd happy — not to mention the fact that his ideal DJ set includes "anything from Passion Pit, Jay-Z and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Katy Perry" — that helped him break 2,000 Twitter followers and reach the final five. MTV, with the help of ZYNC from American Express, chose Xavier as one of the 20 social-media enthusiasts in the running for a job as MTV's very first TJ. Over the last six weeks, the candidates took part in challenges that tested everything from their skills at growing their Twitter followers to their ability to break an unsigned band. Although Xavier's 2,098 Twitter followers boosted his standing in the TJ contest, his number-one supporter was always his wife, who he's known since high school and who he proposed to in front of 10,000 people during one of his shows. Of course, she'll be there on Sunday, August 8, as all five candidates face off during the finale in New York City. The winner of the MTV TJ search will be chosen by you, so tune in to MTV or MTV.com on August 8 at 10 p.m. ET to vote for your favorite candidate! Related Videos |
| MTV TJ Finalist Dannielle Owens-Reid Owes Early Fame To Justin Bieber Posted: 29 Jul 2010 07:00 AM PDT Creator of Lesbians Who Look Like Justin Bieber makes it to the top five in MTV's Twitter Jockey search.
Dannielle Owens-Reid is a 24-year-old blogger who just moved to Brooklyn. Big deal, right? Well, actually, she kind of is. Dannielle is one of the five finalists competing for the title of MTV's first-ever Twitter Jockey, but she's no stranger to the world of social media success.
After racking up 6 million page views on her two blogs, Lesbians Who Look Like Justin Bieber and Everyone Is Gay, only five months after she created them, you could say she's a verified Internet master. That's one of the reasons that MTV, with the help of ZYNC from American Express — and the many fans who nominated her on ZYNC's Facebook page — chose Dannielle as one of the 20 social-media enthusiasts competing for a $100,000 contract to become MTV's first-ever Twitter Jockey. Over the last six weeks, the candidates took part in challenges that tested everything from their skills at growing their Twitter followers to their ability to break an unsigned band. Dannielle rocked the challenges with a quiet bravado, letting followers into the mind of a Britney-loving cat girl in the midst of a move from Chicago to New York. And yet, she's not sure whether she's bigger than her blogs yet: "I feel like my LWLLJB is super famous, but no one knows who I am," she told MTV News. It's certain that if people don't know her yet, they will when the five TJ candidates face off during the finale in New York City, which will be broadcast live on August 8 at 10 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com. The winner of the MTV TJ search will be chosen by you, so tune in to MTV or MTV.com on August 8 at 10 p.m. ET to vote for your favorite candidate! Related Videos |
| Kanye West's 'Power' Video Is 'Apocalyptic,' Director Says Posted: 29 Jul 2010 12:43 AM PDT Artist Marco Brambilla says the 'video work' expresses the 'very dark, personal conflict' in the song.
Ever since Kanye West joined Twitter on Wednesday, the world has essentially become a, let's say, wiser place. We've learned that his highly anticipated fourth album is no longer called Good Ass Job; that he jogs in Lanvin; how he had to adjust to small dogs and cigarettes when he started dating models; and all about how he bought a goblet in which to eat cereal. But it was through good old-fashioned print media (and print media websites) that we learned the details about the video for West's single "Power." The New York Times' Dave Iztkoff spoke with the video's director, Marco Brambilla, who said the video had a very dark tone. "It's kind of apocalyptic, in a very personal way," Brambilla said. "It had this very dark, personal conflict within it. Because of his own concept of celebrity and his own notoriety, he's keenly self-aware of all these things. And it all came out in the music." Brambilla said that his "Power" piece is not exactly a music video, but "video work that's been commissioned by Kanye to accompany the music." In the "work," West stands imposingly with a heavy chain around his neck, according to the Times. 'Ye raps as the camera slowly zooms out in one continuous, unedited take, revealing him in a classical structure, surrounded by female attendants who are partly or entirely nude. Some kneel before him on all fours, others wear devil horns, and still others are suspended upside-down from the ceiling. As a kicker, the Sword of Damocles hangs precariously over Yeezy's head, while an unseen executioner is preparing to strike him with a blade. The video is expected to hit West's site sometime next week. According to the article, Brambilla caught West's eye with his video installation at the Standard New York called "Civilization," which creates a continuously scrolling depiction of heaven and hell. Brambilla said he normally shies away from collaboration, but he felt he and West might find common ground. "Because my work's always been about alienation and seduction and the way contemporary cultures desensitize people," said Brambilla. "And he's experienced it first-hand." Are you excited to see Kanye West's video "work" for "Power"? Let us know in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Lindsay Lohan Should Get Back To Work To Recover Successfully, Expert Says Posted: 29 Jul 2010 02:20 AM PDT NCADD's Robert J. Lindsey tells MTV News that working is an 'extremely important' part of her recovery process.
As Lindsay Lohan rides out her stint in jail, the troubled starlet is very likely mulling over her plans for the future. While her present circumstances may appear bleak, an addiction expert tells us that there is hope for the actress. Robert J. Lindsey, president and CEO of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) told MTV News that despite her personal and professional trials, Lohan can bounce back.
"Without question, Lindsay can recover. We have seen over and over people whose lives have progressed to the point where they lose their job, they lose their family, they lose their physical health, they lose their freedom. But still, people can and do recover from their alcoholism and addiction," Lindsey said, adding that as an addict, Lohan may have a natural strong affinity for drugs and alcohol. However, she is not alone, and numbers suggest that she can overcome her issues. "We estimate today there are 22 million people in this country over the age of 12 that are addicted to alcohol and other drugs. The good news is we also estimate that there may be as many as 15 million individuals and family members living in recovery. The good news is, absolutely, Lindsay can recover." Following her prison bid, Lohan will report to rehab for 90 days, and Lindsey said that her experience in rehab should kick off a long process of recovery that Lohan will have to vigilantly maintain. "That 90-day period is incredibly important as starting the recovery process. It is not the solution, it is the first step in the process," said Lindsey. "The next critical [step] is that when she leaves the facility ... what are you going to do to make sure that you're life's different? Are you going to need to find different friends, different support, ongoing therapy, ongoing involvement in 12-step groups, regular testing? All of those things can be very important steps in the process. "Without question, anybody who's living with active alcoholism and addiction has to do a number of specific things to begin the process of recovery," Lindsey continued. "Number one is to safely stop their use of alcohol or other drugs. And then, begin to do the things that are necessary for their ongoing recovery. That's education and information. That's getting connected to a support group that can help them. That's getting therapy for themselves and/or for their family that can help them and begin to make the changes that are gonna be needed and necessary to be able to maintain a lifestyle that's alcohol- and drug-free." After spending years as a fixture on the international nightclub circuit and fending off ever-present hordes of paparazzi as her career declined due to a rash of box-office flops, Lohan has fallen victim to several of the pitfalls of fame. However, Lindsey asserts that getting back in the game could benefit the star. "What we've learned over the years is that work is an extremely important part of someone's recovery. For all of us, we literally define ourselves in many cases by what we do. [If] somebody says, 'Who are you?' We tell them who we are and then we tell them what we do. For her, the opportunity to return back to work, to fulfill those responsibilities ... the things that are so rewarding to her, are extremely important in her recovery." What are you looking forward to seeing Lindsay Lohan do when she leaves rehab? Let us know in the comments below. Related Artists |
| Chace Crawford Says New 'Gossip Girl' Love Interest Is 'Conniving' Posted: 29 Jul 2010 12:49 AM PDT 'She's obviously a raging, conniving mean girl,' Crawford, who plays Nate, says of Katie Cassidy's season-four character.
Nate Archibald is about to find love on the next season of "Gossip Girl." And he's finding it with former "Melrose Place" star Katie Cassidy, who'll join the show this season to bring a little spice to Nate's love life. And according to Chace Crawford, who plays Nate, his new leading lady is a bit spicy offscreen too. "Katie's great! I know Katie, so she just got in [and] she just started like three weeks ago and I think 10 or 12 episodes she's here for," Crawford told MTV News on Wednesday at the New York City premiere of his gritty drama "Twelve."
"She's obviously a raging, conniving mean girl at the end of it. She sort of does her thing," he added about Cassidy's story line. "They can't be straight-up but she's fun, her character." Not only are fans excited to see Nate get some action this season, but they're also looking forward to seeing what kind of international antics the "Gossip Girl" crew gets into during their trip to Paris. Unfortunately for Nate (and Crawford for that matter) he didn't get to join in on the fun. "I didn't get to go to Paris! I don't know [why]!" he said. "The girls are shoving each other around in fountains and [the rest of us] shoot in New York City, just all small- town New York City." So, was Crawford a little jealous that Ed Westwick's Chuck Bass got to go to France? Well, he thinks Bass kind of deserved it after what he endured in the last season finale. "Of course he did! He got shot [on camera last season] and so he had a cane and the whole thing. Maybe they'll send us to Costa Rica," he said. "We'll see!" MTV News recently caught up with Leighton Meester, who gave us a few more details about Crawford and Cassidy's onscreen romance, teasing that she might not be exactly who she seems. "I think she's coming on the show, maybe, to cause a little bit of trouble," Meester said. "She might not say it, but I will. I think she's very much capable of that, at least in the show. I think [Nate's] a total playboy and needs to be single and I think [Katie's character] is a bad girl, so maybe they are good for each other, actually." Are you looking forward to the new season of "Gossip Girl"? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos |
| Foxy Brown, Tony Yayo Speak About Sean Bell Settlement Posted: 29 Jul 2010 12:19 AM PDT Brown, a friend of Bell's fiancée, says she 'handled everything so gracefully.'
Four years after a shooting left an unarmed Sean Bell dead (on the eve of his wedding) and two of his friends wounded following a tragic incident with New York City police, the city has agreed to pay $7 million dollars to settle a federal lawsuit filed by Bell's family and his friends. According to The New York Times, in the early hours of November 25, 2006, five New York City police officers fired 50 shots into the car Bell — who was to be married that day — was driving outside a club in Queens, New York. The car reportedly struck a detective in the leg and hit a police van before the officers began firing. None of the three men in the car — Bell and his friends Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield — were armed, although the officers apparently believed at least one was.
In what's seen as the closing chapter in one of the most controversial police shootings in New York City history — three officers were acquitted of manslaughter and reckless-endangerment charges in 2008, a ruling many activists and rappers spoke out against — the families of the victims are looking to move past the tragedy. As part of the settlement, Bell's two young daughters (whom he had with his fiancée, Nicole Paultre Bell) will receive $3.25 million; Guzman (who was shot 17 times) and Trent Benefield will receive $3 million and $900,000 respectively, according to Times. Earlier this week, Foxy Brown — a close friend of Bell's fiancée — said Paultre Bell is a strong woman who remained in high spirits throughout the four-year ordeal. "She just handled everything so gracefully," Brown said. "She just did everything with grace and class." G-Unit member Tony Yayo, whose G-Unity foundation gave proceeds from a recent event to Bell's family, said the settlement is long overdue. "I think it's a beautiful thing, but rest in peace to Sean Bell," Yayo said. "I mean, you have times now when a police officer can shoot you in your back, handcuffed on the floor, in a train station in front of everybody and get two years," Yayo said, referring to the Oscar Grant shooting in Oakland, California, in which found a transit officer was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter last month. "So Sean Bell's people deserve that money, definitely, and blessings to them." Related Artists |
| Eminem 'Wanted To Connect With Radio Audience' With <i>Recovery,</i> Manager Says Posted: 29 Jul 2010 09:23 AM PDT Reaction to album 'has been gratifying' to rapper, Paul Rosenberg says.
With a five-week chart run for Recovery that shows no signs of abating and sales of 2 million just over the horizon, Eminem has been on a winning streak lately. His hit duet with Rihanna on "Love the Way You Lie" has topped charts and given Slim Shady one of the biggest non-satirical crossover pop hits of his career, but according to longtime manager Paul Rosenberg, the path to success had plenty of obstacles. Rosenberg spoke to HITS magazine and said the title of Recovery had a very literal meaning for the MC, who has openly spoken about his struggle with prescription drug addiction. After admitting that he made his 2004 album, Encore, in the throes of drug addiction and that last year's Relapse was part of the process of flushing the drugs out of his system, Recovery was about taking a step forward. "Em was certainly gaining his footing after not being sober for awhile," Rosenberg said. "It took him a bit to get on stable ground and figure out what he wanted to do. After almost overdosing, everything looks and sounds different to you. He was really thrust back into the game and had to adjust." Rosenberg sidestepped a question on whether he agreed with the rapper's assessment that Encore and Relapse weren't Eminem's finest work. "With respect to Relapse, we were just excited that he was focused and recording music again, that we could get the record out there and not make the fans wait any longer," he said. "And I think we accomplished that. He's a little hard on himself. Even at his worst, Eminem is still far better than most. He wants everything he does to be received on that level of excitement, wonderment and anticipation as his first couple of albums." Saying Em was "really" smart in realizing what went wrong with those releases, Rosenberg said his star client has a clear understanding that his audience wants to connect emotionally to his music and realized he hadn't done that recently and needed to get back into that mode. "His mission was to create songs that would accomplish that. It's just good to see that when you make something great, people are still there for it. You can take a misstep, but you can still get back on track." As for why Marshall deviated from his previous method of working with mentor Dr. Dre on Recovery, which only features one Dre production, Rosenberg said once the original plan to do a Relapse sequel was dropped, Em realized he'd turned a musical corner and wanted to keep moving in that direction. "When Em started working with Dre on sessions for the second record in Hawaii, he turned a corner artistically," Rosenberg explained. "And at that point, he wanted to keep moving in that new direction. So it was an evolution. ... By the time Marshall started focusing on making a new album, Dre was already working on his own stuff. So we reached out to Just Blaze first, worked on several tracks with him, and that opened the door to the other producers — Boi-1da, DJ Khalil. Those three are the guts of the record. It was a natural progression, a matter of timing." Not surprisingly, Rosenberg said Em is very happy with how his latest album has been received and the smash sales he's racked up so far. "He's really happy with it," he said of the rapper, who has come out of his shell a bit to promote the album with some viral videos and rare TV appearances. "He put a lot of work into it. He thought it was what people would be looking for, so the reaction has been gratifying. That his fans love it is the most important thing to him. Em feels he let people down because he didn't give what he felt he needed to give them. That's what drove him to make this album." As for "Love the Way You Lie" giving Slim Shady his biggest crossover hit since the "8 Mile" smash "Lose Yourself," Rosenberg said the tune was an attempt to reach that elusive wider audience. "Em wanted to connect with a radio audience this time," he said. "He realized the last time that it didn't make it all the way like he wanted it to. He certainly had that in mind making this album." For now, Rosenberg said, there are no plans for a major tour and Em will stick to the two co-headlining gigs he's got booked with Jay-Z in New York and Detroit and an appearance at the Epicenter Festival in Fontana, California. "We don't have anything else booked," he said. "He loves performing, but he doesn't love traveling, so we try to figure out a way to make that work. We'd like to find ways he can perform without going to different cities." Related Photos Related Artists |
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