MTV News |
- Trey Songz Says 'Bottoms Up' Is 'Heightened' By 'Funhouse' Video
- Game's <i>Brake Lights</i> Tape Is 'Like A Real Album,' DJ Skee Says
- Chace Crawford Says Gritty 'Twelve' Role Is A 'Departure'
- Lollapalooza Lookback 1997: Korn Spend The Summer In 'Hot-Ass Africa'
- Terry Gilliam Talks 'Liberating' Arcade Fire Webcast
- Kanye West's 'Power' Video Is 'Timeless,' Director Says
- Taylor Swift's New Single 'Mine' Hits Internet
- Fat Joe Will Answer Fans' Questions On 'RapFix Live' Friday
- Justin Bieber 3-D Movie Director Drops Out
- Florence And The Machine Call VMA Nods 'A Dream Scenario'
- 'American Idol' Brings Back Nigel Lythgoe
- Lil Wayne Debuts New Single, 'Right Above It,' Featuring Drake
- Prop 8 Ruling Celebrated By Ellen DeGeneres, Paris Hilton, More
- Kanye West's 'Power' Video Premieres Thursday On MTV
- Brittany Murphy's Husband Also Died From Pneumonia
- Nicki Minaj Says <i>Pink Friday</i> Is 'Progressing Miraculously'
- Eminem's 'Love The Way You Lie' Video Premieres Thursday On MTV
- Chris Brown Puts His Spin On Nicki Minaj's 'Your Love'
- Young Buck Discusses Contractual Battle With 50 Cent
- Avenged Sevenfold's Johnny Christ On Band's #1 Debut, <i>Nightmare</i>
| Trey Songz Says 'Bottoms Up' Is 'Heightened' By 'Funhouse' Video Posted: 05 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT Nicki Minaj 'comes in and she kills it,' singer says about guest MC.
Trey Songz's latest track, "Bottoms Up," may be about knocking back some drinks at the bar, but the singer said the accompanying video is anything but the typical bottle-popping scene. Instead of taking inspiration solely from the song's party-startin' lyrics, Songz said that he's stepping out of the box when it comes to the track's visuals.
" 'Bottoms Up,' I feel, is a very creative video. [It's] different from the norm, different than what I feel is expected of me and anything I've shot for that matter," he told MTV News on the set of the video. "[Director] Anthony [Mandler] used a lot of different shooting techniques and I think it heightens whatever it is that the song has already. The drive, the vigor, the club anthem, the energy in the record is definitely heightened with this video." Songz broke down the concept of the upcoming "Bottoms Up" video — the first single from Passion, Pain & Pleasure — which, despite the song's club-friendly appeal, resembles a surreal circus versus a crowded bar. "It's as if I'm walking through some kind of funhouse, filled with women and different seductive things," Songz said. The crooner added that Mandler works some visual magic to get the carnival-esque theme just right. "There's a two-way mirror that's a dope effect that he uses. And the lighting shows, and then you see women and then you don't and then you see them and then you don't." "Bottoms Up" MC Nicki Minaj also added some dimension to the track in the form of her rapid-fire verse, and Songz said she brought the same high energy from the studio to the screen. "Nicki Minaj does an excellent job. She comes in and does exactly what I got her on the record for. She comes in and she kills it," he gushed. "I wanted her to make the record different. I wanted her to take it to a different place and that's exactly what she did. Even in the video, she made a major contribution ... from her hair to her outfits to the way she raps and how theatrical she is in her delivery." Are you excited to see what Trey and Nicki do onscreen for "Bottoms Up"? Tell us in the comments! |
| Game's <i>Brake Lights</i> Tape Is 'Like A Real Album,' DJ Skee Says Posted: 05 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT 'This time around, it's a lot higher [quality],' Skee tells Mixtape Daily.
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive If you've been following the Game's new Twitter page, you'll see that his fans have given resounding kudos to his new mixtape, Brake Lights. The project was produced by Cool & Dre and hosted by DJ Skee and was released at midnight Tuesday online.
"Reason we named it Brake Lights is because it's something you don't see if you're following us often — we don't stop," Skee said from his SkeeTV headquarters. "We just had to talk about it. Plus we just did The R.E.D. Album with Game. The biggest difference between this and The Red Room [mixtape] is, I think, the quality of records. This time around, it's a lot higher. We got some crazy features, more original stuff. It's not really any freestyles over other people's beats. It's all original music. So it's really like a real album. We're going back to those classic Game/ DJ Skee street-album days. It's gonna be pretty crazy." Included on the tape is "Street Riders," on which guest MC Nas references Pharrell Williams by name and throws some subliminals at 50 Cent. "I showed n---as their first Bentley/ How the f--- I window shop?" he raps. "We've actually had it done forever," Skee said. "It was actually supposed to be on the Doctor's Advocate album. It didn't make it for one reason or another. There's been a bunch of different reincarnations of the song. ... I actually have eight different versions of the song. Game, he went back in. He said, 'It's time to do it.' Cool & Dre did the beat. So we was like, 'Let's throw it on the mixtape. It's probably never going to come out other than that.' I played a snippet of it on the radio years ago, and fans have been going crazy since then. We threw that on. Game did two new verses. He wanted to make it more relevant for today. You have a crazy Nas verse. Akon kills the hook. It's one of the craziest, darkest Cool & Dre beats. It's one of my favorite Game records ever. So it's finally out, Brake Lights, it's official." The Compton star brings in another West Coast giant on "Trading Places." "It's the second song on the mixtape," Skee described. "The beat, when I heard it, it just sounded like something different. Game and Snoop Dogg on a record. West Coast — what more could you want?" For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos |
| Chace Crawford Says Gritty 'Twelve' Role Is A 'Departure' Posted: 05 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT 'It's good to kind of do something different,' the 'Gossip Girl' star says of playing a drug dealer.
The movie "Twelve" and the CW's "Gossip Girl" have a lot in common. They both take place in New York City. Both are about rich kids doing bad things. And Chace Crawford happens to star in them. Crawford, however, is quick to point out that he has little in common with neither drug dealer White Mike nor playboy Nate. "Neither, I guess. I'm from Texas, it's a different story," he laughed to MTV news at the "Twelve" premiere last week about comparisons with his characters.
"I had to learn the cadence of the city and the way they operate things," Crawford explained. "Nate's not up to much [next season], I guess there's several other girls coming along, but ... it's good to kind of do something different and switch up and have a nice dichotomy," he added about his role in "Twelve." While the gritty drama, in theaters now, offered him the chance to portray an edgier side, Crawford admitted that the shooting location also proved ideal, as did the chance to work with director Joel Schumacher. "I wanted to work with Joel, first of all," he said. "We had a big long meeting about it and it was of high interest for me to work with him. And it was good; it was a good departure from 'Gossip Girl.' It worked out well because I'm in the city." Plus, Crawford also got to act alongside rapper 50 Cent. "I thought he might have some sort of persona he was trying to project, but he's easygoing," Crawford said of his co-star. "He's not trying to create some character. He wants to be a serious actor. I respect it. He was getting his tattoos lasered off while we were shooting and we had some good talks. I mean, he's cool. He lives in Connecticut and he's a super nice guy. Very intellectual." What do you think of Chace playing a drug dealer in his new movie? Is it a good chance to stretch his acting chops? Tell us in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "Twelve." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Photos |
| Lollapalooza Lookback 1997: Korn Spend The Summer In 'Hot-Ass Africa' Posted: 05 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT Korn headlined Lolla's strangest incarnation — and then the fest took six years off.
With the 2010 edition of Lollapalooza set to kick off Friday, MTV News decided to dive deep into our archives and dig up the greatest/ weirdest/ scariest/ downright rocking-est moments in the fest's rather epic history. We're calling it "Lollapalooza Lookback," and we think it's a pretty fitting tribute to the granddaddy of American music festivals. We've already tackled Pearl Jam's 1992 afternoon set, Nine Inch Nails' stage-trashing heroics from 1991 and Ice Cube's "buck wild" goals in '92; now, we're fast-forwarding to 1997, a time when nobody seemed to know what was happening with music — not even Korn, who inexplicably found themselves on the main stage. 1997: Korn Usher In the Dark Days
To put it mildly, 1997 was a pretty weird year in music. The alt-rock heyday had come and gone, nu-metal was still in its infancy, and the freaking Prodigy had just scored a #1 album. In a lot of ways, it was the beginning of the end for rock music's vice-like grip on young America. Sure, you had albums like Radiohead's OK Computer, Spiritualized's Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space and the Verve's Urban Hymns, but those were all inherently British albums by British bands. Things here in the States were a bit of a mess. And that's how we ended up with Lollapalooza '97. It was certainly the weirdest lineup the fest had ever put together (and I don't necessarily mean that in a good way), featuring electronic acts like Orbital, the Prodigy and the Orb, the seminal Devo and two of Bob Marley's kids, Julian and Damian. Not to mention Snoop Dogg, Tool and, perhaps oddest of all, Korn. And yeah, all of this happened one year after Lolla featured Metallica in the headlining slot, but that doesn't make any of it seem less strange, not even 13 years after the fact. Not surprisingly, the crowds that showed up didn't quite know how to act — they famously ripped up seats during Korn's sets and treated the electronic acts with stout indifference. Tickets didn't sell all that well either, which meant that this would also be the last Lollapalooza until 2003. Still, MTV News was there at the kickoff, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and we had our own Serena Altschul attempt to interview some of the headliners. When she asked Korn what it meant to perform on a fest like Lollapalooza, she got the following responses, which sort of summed up the entire experience rather nicely. "It means, like, drink all day!" bassist Fieldy laughed. "I think it means, like, bringing a lot of different people together," guitarist Munky added. "I think that's what [Lolla organizer] Perry [Farrell]'s original idea was, to bring a lot of different styles of music together, just so everyone could have a good time and appreciate the different styles of music." "I think it means, like, spending the summer in hot-ass Africa," then-drummer David Silveria chuckled. Yow. And while this certainly wasn't Lolla's greatest moment, it's certainly worth documenting, because no history would be complete without a few dark periods. And make no mistake about it: 1997 was about as dark as it got. Still, things have changed a lot since then. For starters, Korn haven't been back since. Make sure to come back Friday, when we reveal another Lollapalooza Lookback. Plus, MTV News' Lollapalooza Live will be streaming Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m. right here on MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Terry Gilliam Talks 'Liberating' Arcade Fire Webcast Posted: 05 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT 'I'm just a really old groupie,' the director jokes.
Terry Gilliam had been gearing up this summer for pre-production on "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" — a famously troubled film the director first started shooting a decade ago only to see it collapse — when what Gilliam calls a financial "hiccup" again interrupted work. That's when he got a call from the Arcade Fire, asking if he'd like to join the band on tour and direct a webcast of their concert at Madison Square Garden. "I have to thank them for liberating me from weeks of depression," Gilliam laughed. And so since late last week, Gilliam has been riding on the band's tour bus, checking out shows in support of their new album, The Suburbs, and figuring out exactly how he's going to capture their epic sound for computer screens. The effort is part of American Express' "Unstaged," a series of concerts by artists like Alicia Keys and John Legend streamed over the Web. As he readies plans to film the Arcade show on Thursday (August 5), Gilliam gave MTV News a call to chat about his existential connection with the band, the difference between making movies and making music and why he's hoping not to inflict "too much Terry Gilliam" on the webcast. MTV: It was surprising, in a very good way, to hear about an Arcade Fire/ Terry Gilliam collaboration. How'd the whole thing come together? Gilliam: Less than two weeks ago, I got contacted by their manager asking if I'd be interested. There just happened to be a little gap in my life, and it's something I've never done, and I've been a fan of the band since Funeral. I thought, "Why not? Just leap off the edge of the cliff and see what happens." MTV: Did they know that you were a fan or something? Terry Gilliam: I don't know. It turned out that they like my stuff, and maybe the band and I will develop a relationship, so this really has become a meeting as opposed to anything else. I hate the fact that this word "directing" is being slammed all over the place. I'm not directing. I'm just hanging out with them. I'm just a really old groupie. MTV: So if you wouldn't call it directing, what are you doing in preparation and then on the day of the show? Will you be in the control room calling for cameras? Terry Gilliam: I'm still working it out, which is what is so wonderful. I've been with the band since Montreal on Friday night. I've seen three shows already. I'm just trying to work out what we're doing. The reason I'm so relaxed about it is that the show is so good that I don't have to do anything. You just point some cameras at it and it'll be great. The cameras and the team that does that are already in place. All I'm trying to do is make sure what they capture is true to what the band is doing. The band has got guys mixing their own cameras up on the screen and pulling in material that they've already assembled. When I saw that, I realized, "I don't have anything to do!" which is good, because they've got great stuff, and anything I might do is just unnecessary and may end up being too much Terry Gilliam. MTV: There can never be too much Terry Gilliam! Terry Gilliam: Oh, I've read the reviews. Come on! MTV: So what have your conversations been like with Win Butler and the band as you hang out and get closer to the live stream? Terry Gilliam: It's all about knowing who they are and how they see things. They come from the suburbs and I come from the suburbs. The music resonated as much with me as it does with contemporary suburban kids or kids trying to get out of the suburbs. There are those that stay behind in this kind of Middle Earth that is neither country nor city, neither good nor bad, but a place that if you're creative, you just need to get away from. You want to get where it's painful. MTV: So are you just going to be kicking back having a beer on show night? Terry Gilliam: I'm in the middle of it! I don't know what will happen! They said, "Just come along and we'll see what happens." In many ways, if we get on well, there's something in the future that can be more thought-out. When Win and I first talked on the phone, I said, "Win, when I make a movie, I'm a couple years in preparation so that when I get to shooting, it's so much a part of my being that I'm not even thinking about it. It's not like we're playing music and I'm at the piano and you come in with a guitar and we make a song." The whole thing is very relaxed and we'll see what else it leads to if I don't make too many mistakes. MTV: Are you guys thinking about a more in-depth documentary? Terry Gilliam: Those conversations are floating around with other people and I'm staying out of them and seeing where this leads. It's exploratory for us and for the band. MTV: Have you gone back and looked at some classic concert documentaries? Terry Gilliam: Nope! I don't watch concerts very often. I've been in a couple. I was in the "Concert for George." [Monty] Python was a big part of that. That was such a great night. The atmosphere was astonishing. When you see the DVD, it's fine for people that weren't there, but it was not what we experienced. That's the problem with DVDs and webcasts — it's just a fraction of the experience of being in the room. It's always difficult to capture that. That's why theater is theater. It's that moment and no other moment. MTV: You sound so chilled out! I think it's great that you're just going with the flow on this whole thing. Terry Gilliam: It's been so much fun. We've had a documentary camera running around following me when I'm talking to the band. I have no idea what that will end up being. When I work on a film, everything is so controlled. So the idea of someone with a camera, wiggling it around at us when we're talking, I'm hoping it might be liberating. Because I don't care! For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Kanye West's 'Power' Video Is 'Timeless,' Director Says Posted: 04 Aug 2010 05:04 AM PDT The clip, which premieres Thursday on MTV, is 'a video portrait of Kanye as a symbol of power,' Marco Brambilla tells MTV News.
Kanye West's "Power" video, which premieres Thursday at 11 p.m. on MTV, was a collaboration between the outspoken rapper and artist Marco Brambilla. Brambilla is currently working on a nine-video installation for an early 2011 video retrospective at the Santa Monica Museum in California, but it was his "Civilization" installation at New York's Standard Hotel that first captured West's attention. MTV News caught up with the artist Wednesday afternoon (August 4) over the phone, and he said West told him the Standard installation was similar to something he would post on his blog. "He loved the installation," Brambilla said. "What he likes to feature on his blog — and he featured it on his blog when it first came out — it's kind of interdisciplinary. Whether it's photography or video or sculpture or fashion, he's very interested in exposing the 'best of the best' or what appeals to him the most. He had never seen anything that complex, and the video collage technique that I developed for it was a brand-new thing." Brambilla said West appreciated the project's themes of sexuality and religion, along with its overall "epic" quality. While Brambilla typically shies away from collaborations, he admired the similarities in their approaches. But it wasn't until Brambilla heard West's yet-untitled new album that he decided to direct "Power." "I instantly connected to the themes on the album," Brambilla said. "The whole idea of celebrity, the idea of power, the idea of sensuality in it, there's sexuality in it as well, and those were all kind of themes that I've explored in my work before. Once I heard the album, that was what clinched it, and I felt very much in tune with the message behind the music. "And then specifically with the single 'Power,' I've always wanted to do something that would visualize power, to do a portrait of what power would look like in a sort of timeless way and being able to have him framed in that portrait — essentially doing a video portrait of Kanye as a symbol of power was very consistent with my art practice and what I explore in my artwork." Will you be tuning in Thursday night to watch Kanye's new video? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift's New Single 'Mine' Hits Internet Posted: 04 Aug 2010 03:14 AM PDT Lead single from singer's upcoming Speak Now leaked on Wednesday.
If there's anyone who knows how to sing a song with a spark of teenage love and a happy ending, it's Taylor Swift. On Wednesday (August 4), the pop star's "Mine," the lead single from her forthcoming album, Speak Now, hit iTunes. On the new song, Swift sings about what it feels like to find a guy who's an exception to the rest. "Mine" is all about the wonders of being in a happy relationship after surviving a rocky past. Without straying too far from typical Swift subject matter, the song features an uplifting country/pop melody and a big chorus. "Do you remember we were sitting there by the water?/ You put your arm around me for the first time/ You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter/ You are the best thing that's ever been mine," Swift belts on the sing-along chorus. And while Swift embraces her emotions, her take on relationships proves more realistic than some of her earlier material. "And I remember that fight, 2:30 a.m./ You said everything was slipping right out of our hands/ I ran out crying and you followed me out into the street/ Brace myself for the goodbye/ Because it's all I've ever known/ And you took me by surprise/ You said, 'I'll never leave you alone,' " she sings on the song's bridge. Last month, Swift described "Mine" as a reflection of her own love-life habits, revealing that she's "developed this pattern of running away" when relationships turn to love and get serious. "The song is sort of about finding the exception to that and finding someone who would make you believe in love and realize that it could work out, because I'm never ever going to go past hoping that love works out," she told fans during a live Ustream chat. Swift recently taped a performance of "Mine" for an upcoming special titled "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock," which will air September 1 on ABC. The video for the song was shot in early July and features British actor Toby Hemingway. Locals on the set reported spotting Swift shooting scenes on a lake and walking outside of a church. What do you think of Taylor's new single, "Mine"? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Fat Joe Will Answer Fans' Questions On 'RapFix Live' Friday Posted: 03 Aug 2010 11:25 PM PDT Bronx Bomber will talk with Sway for live stream airing this Friday.
Fat Joe is a born storyteller, from his hardened rhymes about life in the Bronx to his engaging interviews. The guy is a talker. So it should make for plenty of entertainment when Fat Joe sits next to MTV News' own Sway for the next installment of "RapFix Live." The Terror Squad leader is scheduled to appear on the show this Friday at 1 p.m. ET. "RapFix Live" is MTV News' brand-new interactive live-stream show where artists are interviewed live by Sway in the newsroom and MTV.com viewers are able to ask questions via Twitter and uploaded videos. Fans can tweet @MTVNews with the hashtag #rapfixlive and Sway will wade through questions live to ask Fat Joe during their chat. Viewers can also upload their questions to Your.MTV.com. The Bronx Bomber is riding high off the success of his most recent album, The Darkside, which spawned the street banger "Slow Down," featuring Young Jeezy. The rapper spoke with Mixtape Daily recently and said he hopes Darkside will establish him as one of hip-hop's greatest MCs. "I'm excited about this album. I can't wait till the fans get it," Joe explained. "We locked ourselves in the studio for like eight, nine months: wasn't going out, just concentrating on music. I feel like this album is finally where people can hear it and be like, 'He's one of the greats.' Who you know, 10 albums later, get better than he's ever been before? It's hard. To come from all this huge success like a 'What's Love,' and a 'Lean Back,' then take it back to the street with The Darkside." Catch Fat Joe on the "RapFix Live" stream on Friday at 1 p.m. ET! Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber 3-D Movie Director Drops Out Posted: 04 Aug 2010 05:04 AM PDT Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim was lined up to helm the 'feature biopic.'
Uh-oh, Justin Bieber fans. The teen heartthrob's 3-D concert-movie extravaganza has hit a roadblock: Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim has reportedly dropped out. According to Deadline.com, the "Inconvenient Truth" director withdrew from the Paramount Pictures project Tuesday night to concentrate on promoting Sundance darling "Waiting for Superman." Paramount is said to already be interviewing directors to take over the project. Joining the ear-splitting, teen concert-film ranks — which includes "Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds Concert" and "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience" — Bieber will play himself in what is described as a "feature biopic." Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, and Island Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid will produce, and a release date is currently set for February 11, 2011 — Valentine's Day weekend. When the news about the Bieber movie broke, the 16-year-old took to Twitter to express his enthusiasm: "Next Valentine's we r coming with a major 3D movie telling the story with an Oscar winning director and also filming the tour at MSG in NYC!!" He followed that up with, "This is so sick!! Gonna come out in theaters worldwide Valentine's 2011!!! I'm taking this thing worldwide thanks to u all!! Hyped!!" Beiber has yet to tweet an update about the director news. Who should direct Bieber's film debut? Share your ideas in the comments below! For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Artists |
| Florence And The Machine Call VMA Nods 'A Dream Scenario' Posted: 04 Aug 2010 06:17 AM PDT 'It's kind of strange and wonderful and terrifying all at the same time,' Florence Welch tells MTV News.
Tuesday's announcement of the 2010 Video Music Awards nominees included familiar favorites (Lady Gaga, Eminem, Katy Perry), as well as a few fresh faces and lesser-known acts. One such artist is British songbird/rocker Florence Welch, of Florence and the Machine, whose "Dog Days Are Over" is nominated for four VMAs: Best Rock Video, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and, the big one, Video of the Year. When MTV News caught up with the lead singer in between shows in Sydney, Australia, she was still getting over the shock of her nominations. "I'm still kind of processing it, to be honest," Welch said. "It's such an iconic event, and it's something I've watched on TV since I was a kid. It's one of those things: It's not real life, it's a dream scenario. So for me to be actually a part of it feels like I'm in some sort of parallel universe. It's kind of strange and wonderful and terrifying all at the same time." Regarding her fellow nominees, Welch admitted she'd love a chance to chat with Gaga. "I love her work," she said. "I've met her twice now, and she's always been so lovely. If I get to see her again, that would be nice." Performance-wise, Flo said she'd like to see Drake up on the VMA stage. "I'm a huge fan of Drake, so if he's going to be there, I'd like to meet him." The London native called her nominations and the opportunity to attend the show "the most incredible thing ever." "I wrote 'Dog Days' in a [closet] with my friend Isabella [Summers]. We had no instruments, we banged our hands against the walls. We were using pans as instruments," Welch explained of the song's creation. "We did it for fun, and then the video ... I wanted it to be as artistic as possible. It wasn't about being pretty," she said. "I wanted something that was striking and made me look a bit scary, so for it to be recognized at something as huge as the VMAs is the most incredible thing, and I'm just really grateful for the opportunity to go. It's incredible." The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for the winners in general categories, including Best New Artist, through September 12. Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Brings Back Nigel Lythgoe Posted: 04 Aug 2010 06:40 AM PDT Former 'Idol' executive producer left the show in 2008 to focus on 'So You Think You Can Dance.'
In addition to switching up the judges' panel, "American Idol" is making some changes behind the scenes: Nigel Lythgoe, a former "Idol" executive producer, is returning to the Fox hit. Reps from the show confirmed to USA Today that Lythgoe, who left "Idol" in 2008 to focus on "So You Think You Can Dance" as an executive producer and judge, will be back on "Idol" for the upcoming season. The TV exec has reportedly signed a two-year contract to shape the show alongside creator Simon Fuller and executive producers Cecile Frot-Coutaz and Ken Warwick. Lythgoe's return might mean that a decision about the ever-evolving judges' panel will be announced soon. Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres have both announced that they will not return to the talent behemoth, and the show's producers have not publicly revealed the official lineup for the upcoming season. However, Lythgoe has been vocal about who he would bring in to the "Idol" fold, citing Elton John and Usher as ideal critics. The TV exec has also mentioned that he would circle back to the show's original formula and put Paula Abdul behind the judges' table. For Lythgoe, the show lost its footing, and he recently commented that the ninth season ran into trouble when "Idol" producers shifted the focus away from the contestants. "The team took their eye off the ball a little bit and was more worried about the judges and what was happening with them than it was regarding the talent last year," Lythgoe said in a June interview with The Canadian Press. "It became about Kara [DioGuardi] joining and making the fourth judge; Paula [Abdul] leaving; Ellen [DeGeneres] joining and Simon leaving — and much more about them and concentrating on that than on the talent that they were finding." While it is clear that Lythgoe will head back to "Idol," the rumored addition of Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler to the show has not been confirmed. Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Rice recently addressed rumors surrounding the future of "Idol" and told reporters that "much of the information that has been written is accurate" but added that some reports have been "widely inaccurate." Are you happy one of the show's original producers is back behind the scenes? Let us know in the comments! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| Lil Wayne Debuts New Single, 'Right Above It,' Featuring Drake Posted: 03 Aug 2010 10:40 PM PDT First track from I'm Not a Human Being EP aired on New York radio on Tuesday.
Lil Wayne dominated New York's hip-hop radio stations on Tuesday night, when the Cash Money Records superstar conducted an interview on Hot 97, and almost simultaneously, his new single, "Right Above It," featuring Drake, premiered on Power 105. The song is the first effort from Lil Wayne's forthcoming EP, I'm Not a Human Being, slated for release on September 27 (Lil Wayne's birthday). During his Hot 97 interview with Funkmaster Flex, Wayne said he recorded the music for his upcoming EP before turning himself in to serve a yearlong prison sentence. "Yes, it's gonna drop before Carter IV, only on the Internet," Wayne said over the phone. "This is stuff that I recorded right before I came here." "Meet me on the fresh train," Wayne raps over the synth-laden production. "Yes, I'm in the building, you just on the list of guest names/ And all of my riders don't give a f---, X-games/ Guns turn you boys into ... sex change." Wayne later chants on the chorus: "Now tell me how you love it/ And know you at the top and only heaven's right above it." Earlier this year, Drake told MTV2's "Sucker Free" host DJ Envy that he and Lil Wayne are planning on recording a joint project once Wayne finishes his sentence. "I went up to Rikers, and me and Wayne agreed that there will be a Lil Wayne/ Drake album," Drake explained. "There's some things I'm excited for in my life — I'm excited to go perform certain places — but [this project] will probably be one of the most exciting things in my life, because we make music on a different level. It's just so fun, so comfortable. A whole album? To think about all the things we can do, especially if we're gonna do 15 songs. Me and him don't like to do 12, 13 [songs]. We want to do 15, 16. Yeah, Lil Wayne and Drake album." What do you think about Lil Wayne's "Right Above It," featuring Drake? Let us know in the comments or tweet us @MTVRapFix. Related Artists |
| Prop 8 Ruling Celebrated By Ellen DeGeneres, Paris Hilton, More Posted: 04 Aug 2010 05:25 AM PDT Ricky Martin, Kim Kardashian and other celebs hit Twitter after California's gay-marriage ban is overturned.
Celebrity tweeters were especially vocal on Wednesday (August 4) after U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker struck down Proposition 8, California's controversial same-sex marriage ban, ruling it unconstitutional. Prop 8 was a ballot measure that passed in California during the '08 election and was met with a shockwave of surprise and anger from within Hollywood and the country at large. The overwhelmingly positive reactions to Wednesday's news helped put all that negativity in the past and added up to one giant virtual warm fuzzy. Ellen DeGeneres wrote, simply: "Equality won!" She later added a link to her personal website, where she deemed the ruling "a huge step forward." DeGeneres' wife, Portia De Rossi, followed with her own happy words: "I am ecstatic that Proposition 8 has been overturned in the state of California," the actress said. "This is an incredibly exciting and historical day and a big step towards equal rights for all." Paris Hilton chimed in happily: "What a huge historical day for equal rights in this country! They finally overturned Prop 8! There shouldn't be a law on true love. :)" Other elated celeb reactions included one from "Glee" actress Kristin Chenoweth: "Prop 8 overturned in California! Praise God!" Ricky Martin expressed his thoughts with exuberant all caps: "YEAHHHHH!!!!! #PROP8UNCONSTITUTIONAL MOVING FORWARD!!!!!!!!" Shanna Moakler added: "Tonight we celebrate! EQUALITY and LOVE for all! This is so much bigger then marriage, it's about wisdom, compassion and knowing we CAN be heard, action DOES make a difference." Kim Kardashian weighed in as well: "Prop 8 was struck down! This news is amazing!!!! It's about time! Congrats to everyone!" What are your thoughts on today's ruling? Join the discussion in the comments. Related Artists |
| Kanye West's 'Power' Video Premieres Thursday On MTV Posted: 04 Aug 2010 01:10 AM PDT The 90-second clip will air at 11 p.m., after 'Jersey Shore.'
It's not a video, it's a work of art. But MTV will be the gallery when Kanye West's much-anticipated clip for "Power" debuts Thursday night at 11 p.m. ET/PT right after "Jersey Shore." The Louis Vuitton Don and director Marco Brambilla have been adamant in avoiding the "music video" label since their collaboration was announced. "The 'Portrait of Power' premieres this Thursday on MTV right after Jersey Shore...it's not a video... it's a painting!" West tweeted Wednesday morning (August 4). Unlike the standard music video, West's "Power" runs only 90 seconds. Speaking to The New York Times last week, Brambilla described the look of the video as "kind of apocalyptic." "It had this very dark, personal conflict within it," Brambilla said. "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." Since "Power" leaked to the Net in May, the record has been lauded by fans as well as journalists. The song's release was just part of West's return from his brief musical hiatus. He produced two tracks ("Find Your Love" and "Show Me a Good Time") for Drake's Thank Me Later, and he appears on and produced "Live Fast, Die Young" on Rick Ross' Teflon Don. Kanye has also produced and appears on albums by his G.O.O.D. Music roster of talent, Consequence, Big Sean and Kid Cudi, all due out on September 14. Thursday is a big night for video premieres, with Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" clip also debuting on MTV that night, at 9 p.m. before "Jersey Shore." Are you excited for Kanye's new video? Talk about it in the comments. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Brittany Murphy's Husband Also Died From Pneumonia Posted: 04 Aug 2010 03:57 AM PDT Simon Monjack succumbed to the same illness as his late wife, final autopsy results show.
Brittany Murphy's husband, screenwriter Simon Monjack, died within months of his late wife — and from the same illness. Los Angeles County Coroner's officials announced Wednesday (August 4) that Monjack succumbed to pneumonia, just like Murphy, who died from the condition late last year. Monjack, 40, died in May at the couple's Hollywood home, five months after Murphy, 32, was found in the same house in December 2009. He was reportedly discovered by Murphy's mother, Sharon, who also found her daughter's body. Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter told The Associated Press that, although prescription medications were present in his system, the drugs did not contribute to his death. Monjack, who wrote the 2000 movie "Two Days, Nine Lives," was initially thought to have died of cardiac arrest. In February, a coroner's report revealed that Murphy, who shot to fame in films such as "Clueless," "8 Mile" and "Sin City," died from a mix of pneumonia, anemia and prescription medication. The findings dispelled rumors that the actress abused illegal drugs or alcohol. Winter told the AP that the deaths were referred to county health officials and said that, in both cases, tragedy could have been avoided. "In simple English, they didn't take care of themselves," Winter said. "They didn't seek medical advice from a doctor. Brittany could have survived if she had gone to a hospital, and Simon I think could have done the same." Murphy and Monjack reportedly met when the actress was a teenager and quietly married years later in 2007 after a low-profile courtship. Related Photos |
| Nicki Minaj Says <i>Pink Friday</i> Is 'Progressing Miraculously' Posted: 04 Aug 2010 02:50 AM PDT 'It's coming out way better than I could even have imagined,' Minaj says of debut album.
Nicki Minaj's Barbie army is likely to create a frenzy at stores when the rapper drops her debut LP, Pink Friday, on November 23. Speaking to MTV News on the video set of her Trey Songz collabo, "Bottoms Up," the Young Money diva updated her fans about how the album is coming along.
"The album is progressing miraculously, I would say," Minaj said. "It's coming out way better than I could even have imagined or dreamed or hoped for." The Queens MC has made her mark with a slew of collaborations, from her girl-power breakup anthem with Mariah Carey, "Up Out My Face," to the sexed-up bars she dropped on Usher's "Lil Freak." However, the raptress revealed that she's enjoying the process of creating solo records, where she is the main focus and not just the memorable feature. "It's been very exciting to finally just make music that I love and not really having to incorporate myself on someone else's record," Minaj said. "I've been having a really great time." Minaj also singled out a Pink Friday track that she said has the potential to be a major hit. "I have a record called 'Right Through Me' that I think will be a standout," Minaj said. "It's not gonna come right now. It'll come closer to when the album drops, but it's a really, really pretty song. Everyone's gonna like it." The MC also discussed the appeal of the record, saying, "It's just really insightful but in a very conversational kind of way." Minaj also said she's been mulling how the album cover for her debut will shape up and only revealed that it will be "very fetch." While the MC remained mum on the details, she did speak about what makes an eye-catching cover. "[A good album cover is] something that tells your own personal truth," said Minaj, citing Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die cover as one of her favorites. "Something that's not just trying to catch someone's attention, but rather ... kind of feels like a part of your soul, a part of your creative expression." What are you expecting for Nicki's debut? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Eminem's 'Love The Way You Lie' Video Premieres Thursday On MTV Posted: 04 Aug 2010 09:19 AM PDT Tune in before 'Jersey Shore' at 9 p.m. ET/PT to see Em and Rihanna's fiery new clip.
Hot on the heels of Eminem's eight VMA nominations, it was announced Tuesday (August 3) that the highly anticipated video for his latest chart-topper, "Love the Way You Lie," will premiere Thursday on MTV at 9 p.m. ET/PT before "Jersey Shore." Directed by Joseph Kahn (who has worked with Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, 50 Cent and many other superstars), the video was recently filmed in L.A. and features Rihanna, who sings the hook, along with actors Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan. Despite the photos that leaked online last week of Fox and Monaghan happily locking lips, they play "a couple going through the extremes of an abusive relationship" — a sensitive subject matter for Em and Rihanna. "Joseph and I worked pretty closely together to make sure we got this right," Eminem said in a press release. "Trying to make this tough subject work visually is a challenge. It was great to have Rihanna, Megan and Dominic on board for this. ... They really brought it and made this video super-powerful." Rihanna — whose very public assault at the hands of then-boyfriend Chris Brown made the topic especially sensitive for her — recently told "Access Hollywood" this was something she "needed" to do. "It's something that, you know, [Eminem and I have] both experienced, you know, on different sides, different ends of the table," she said. "It just was authentic. It was real. It was believable for us to do a record like that, but it was also something that needed to be done, and the way he did it was so clever. He pretty much just broke down the cycle of domestic violence, and it's something that a lot people don't have a lot of insight on, so this song is a really, really powerful song, and it touches a lot of people." Judging by the intense, fiery photos that leaked from the video's set, the clip looks to make a powerful statement and could be an early contender for next year's Video Music Awards. At this year's VMAs — which air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12 — Eminem's "Not Afraid" will try to fend off the competition for Video of the Year, as well as Best Male Video and Best Hip-Hop Video. Eminem is also nominated alongside Drake in the Best Hip-Hop Video category for his contribution to the MC's cameo-filled "Forever." Rihanna's vid for "Rude Boy" is up for Best Editing. Don't forget to tune in to MTV on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT for the premiere of Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie," and check MTVNews.com for full coverage of the clip. What are you expecting from the "Love the Way You Lie" video? Let us know in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Chris Brown Puts His Spin On Nicki Minaj's 'Your Love' Posted: 03 Aug 2010 10:25 PM PDT Singer remixes the Young Money starlet's hit song as he promises fans a new album in 2011.
Despite a year of difficult career speed bumps, including his postponed U.K. promotional tour and the controversy surrounding his Michael Jackson tribute performance at the BET Awards, Chris Brown remains optimistic about getting through the rough times. His latest career move is his remix of Nicki Minaj's hit single "Your Love," which the singer posted on Twitter and informed fans that something special may be heading their way. "i just smashed this beat!!! UR LOVE REMIX DONE!!! for the ladies," he tweeted early Wednesday (August 4). On the cover, Brown sings an ode to his female interest as he belts over the song's Annie Lennox sample and hip-hop backbeats. "Shorty, I'mma tell you this once/ Girl need it (tonight)/ When I do it to you home and do it right, please believe it/ All night long, baby right now/ When you lay in my arms," he sings during the chorus. Showing off his versatility, Breezy becomes more aggressive during the song's second verse both vocally and lyrically as he explicitly raps, "Yeah, let me step up to the plate now/ Big kids in the room, no playground/ I wanna kiss everything from the waist down/ Keep ya ass up and your face down." And it wouldn't be right if Brown didn't name-drop Minaj in the mix that praises a woman in and out of bed. "We can role-play, girl, give it to me now/ I'm giving you a massage/ A booty like Nicki Minaj/ Oh gosh," he croons. Hours after Brown posted his remix, Nicki seemed satisfied with four different remixes of her song as she urged DJs to start spinning. "Ok DJ's!!! 4 remixes to 'your love' by @rickyrozay, @duttypaul, @chrisbrown and @jaysean and they're ALL DOPE! Play them! :-) #pinkfriday," she said of her song, which currently holds the #1 spot on the Billboard Rap Songs chart. Aside from posting his cover of Minaj's song, the singer also asked fans if they wanted another Breezy mixtape. "do yall want an "IN MY ZONE 2"!!! just a thought #inmyzone2," he tweeted. While another mixtape isn't certain at this point, Brown assured fans that the follow-up to last year's Graffiti is in the works. "My new album will come next year or sooner but in the meantime i might 'I MIGHT' do something special for yall again!!!" he teased. Back in June, Drake said that he and Brown hit the studio together shortly after attending the 2010 BET Awards. It is unknown what, if anything, the duo cooked up, but the Young Money rapper revealed that he wanted to collaborate with others as his project was finished. "I was studio hopping, seeing where I could lend my hand to whoever's project since I've done mine," Drake said. What do you think of Chris Brown's "Your Love" remix? Are you feeling it? Tell us what you think in the comments! Related Artists |
| Young Buck Discusses Contractual Battle With 50 Cent Posted: 04 Aug 2010 02:20 AM PDT 'It's about to get real, real interesting,' he says of G-Unit Records issues.
Young Buck says he didn't keep an eye on his business with the Internal Revenue Service, thus his outstanding $300,000 debt to Uncle Sam. But when it comes to his contractual obligation to 50 Cent and G-Unit Records, the Cashville, Tennessee, native says he won't drop the ball: He's focused on getting off the label. "It's on the way," Buck said about his next official album when we caught up with him recently in Houston. "The music speaks for itself. I'm everywhere when it comes to online — I throw music out. People are already aware of my situation ... the whole fight with the contract thing. It's about to get real, real interesting, people. I will say that much.
"If you ain't focused on Buck, now is the time to get focused on Buck," he continued. "With this whole contract situation, we really gonna see what this was really about. Y'all mark my words: I'll be back to MTV to finish this when it all ends. At the end of the day, I appreciate the people that's sticking right there through the fight I'm going through as far as my contract situation." If and when Buck is successful in dissolving business ties with 50 Cent remains to be seen. In the meantime, the Southern spitter is working the mixtape circuit. "As far as the mixtapes, Back on My Buck Sh-- (Part 2) is on the way," he revealed. "It's produced by Drumma Boy, all the way through. I got records everywhere. I got one of the hottest mixtapes that's in the streets right now, 601 to the 615, CTE and Cashville. I'm just staying out here until I get this monkey off my back with the contract." On Tuesday, Buck's home was raided by the IRS, reportedly because he has about $300,000 in unpaid taxes. "The worst part of this isn't the material stuff — that will all be replaced," Buck said in a statement. "It's what it does to the people around me. They took my kids' PlayStation, my assistants' computers, and baby's mothers' jewelry. They took my home studio so I can't even record. "I have a new team in place, but I am also paying full attention now," he added. "Nothing like this will ever happen again. This is a huge wake-up call for all entertainers to stay on top of your own trusted employees and team members, and replace anyone that was put in place by your record label if the situation you have goes sour. This IRS situation came about because I trusted accountants, lawyers and managers to handle my business for me while I focused on making music. From now on, I am going to stay on top of my own business." What do you think of Young Buck's label woes with 50 Cent? Share your thoughts in the comments. Related Artists |
| Avenged Sevenfold's Johnny Christ On Band's #1 Debut, <i>Nightmare</i> Posted: 04 Aug 2010 01:24 AM PDT 'It's a testament to the fans about how much they care about what we do,' bassist Johnny Christ says about topping the Billboard albums chart.
It looked as though Eminem's Recovery would be spending most of the summer at the top of the Billboard albums chart, at least until Katy Perry got around to dropping Teenage Dream later this month. But as we learned this week, you should never count out the savage power of California punk-metallers Avenged Sevenfold, who stormed the top of the charts with their fifth album, Nightmare.
It's the first trip to the top of the chart for the band, and they celebrated appropriately. "I got the call from my manager last night," bassist Johnny Christ told MTV News. "Unfortunately, Matt [Sanders, better known as M. Shadows] and Zack [a.k.a. Zacky Vengeance] were doing press in L.A., but me and Brian [a.k.a. Synyster Gates] went out to celebrate and had some dinner together. It was pretty fun. It was more about the drinks. We were just drinking, having a good time. We should have been being good boys and not drinking last night, but it's the first time we're on the top of the Billboard, and that only happens once. We had to do something." Of course, the chart victory is bittersweet for the men of A7X, as the celebration had to happen without drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, who passed away in December 2009 of an accidental drug overdose. Christ (born Jonathan Seward) thinks of it as the latest in a long line of tributes to Sullivan. "The only thing we were worried about was getting it done and doing the best job we can for our brother," he said. "We wanted to make this record as big and strong as possible. We wanted to make this a really huge record and get it out there to as many people as possible to extend Jimmy's legacy." In addition to the need to carry on Sullivan's legacy, the men of Avenged Sevenfold were also fueled by their ever-growing fanbase, which has made them incrementally larger with each release. "We have the greatest fans in the world, and our growth has been so organic. It's online, it's out at the shows. It's a big family, and they know we're going to do our best, and we know they're going to give it their best. "It's a testament to the fans about how much they care about what we do," he continued. "It's not as much about the numbers as much as it is that our fans made a mark on this world for us." Avenged Sevenfold are about to begin rehearsing for the Uproar Tour, which kicks off August 17 in Minneapolis and also features Disturbed, Stone Sour, Hellyeah and Halestorm. Related Artists |
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