Jumat, 06 Agustus 2010

MTV News

MTV News


Kanye West's 'Power' Video Mixes The Spiritual With The Sexual

Posted: 06 Aug 2010 09:46 AM PDT

The 90-second clip delivers on director Marco Brambilla's artistic promise.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Kanye West
Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Kanye West debuted his "Power" video Thursday night (August 5) on MTV, leaving fans to interpret the rapper's vision in the Marco Brambilla-directed "portrait."

The 90-second visual was a digitized still image, in which Kanye West was decked out in a black T-shirt and the same flamboyant jewelry he wore during this year's BET Awards.

The video began with the chanting of the gospel-tinged record, and while the image of West was still, the camera pulled away from the digitized fixture to reveal multiple women, some saints and some sinners. The video was rife with religious references; Brambilla said the rapper admired his previous efforts, which combined sexual overtones with religious imagery.

"I instantly connected to the themes on the album," Brambilla told MTV News of West's yet-untitled next LP. "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."

Toward the end of the brief clip, the camera pulls away to reveal imagery of West with decorated woman, who were placed adjacent to the rapper and who also stood upside down.

The production climaxes with an all-black background with the word "Power" across the screen.

"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," Brambilla said. "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."

What did you think of the "Power" video? Let us know in the comments!

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Eminem And Rihanna's 'Love The Way You Lie' Video: Love On Fire

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 07:16 AM PDT

Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan play a couple whose passion turns violent in the dramatic clip.
By Shaheem Reid


Eminem
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

Eminem's new video for "Love the Way You Lie" tells the story of two lovers (played by Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan) whose passion turns violent as their relationship vacillates between ecstasy and agony.

The cinematic video, which debuted Thursday night (August 5) on MTV, starts with a close-up of the song's co-star, Rihanna, singing the chorus in front of a burning house. We then see Fox sitting in the living room of a home with a flame in the palms of her hands. From there, Eminem raps in a field.

The video transitions back to the story of seemingly doomed lovers, and we see Fox and Monaghan lying in bed asleep. The first to wake, Fox sees the name "Cindy" written on her boyfriend's hand and a phone number underneath. She angrily wakes him up, and scenes of them fighting and then making love intertwine, showing how their relationship goes from one extreme to the next.

As the second verse starts, we get a flashback of how the couple met: in a bar. The attraction was instant, and they proceed to shoplift vodka from a liquor store. Later, we return to the bar, as Monaghan hits a man over the head with a bottle just because he was playing pool with Fox.

Toward the end of the second verse, Eminem joins Rihanna, performing in front of the burning house.

As the video progresses, we see more of the war going on between the two lovers. A flame eventually covers Fox, Monaghan and Eminem in three separate instances. The video's last shot goes right back to the beginning of the clap, as the lovers lie in bed asleep.

"I think we tried as hard as we could to not glorify the violence, to try and explain that this was a relationship that is by no means ideal and a relationship that probably should have ended a lot sooner than it did," Monaghan told MTV News recently. "The concept of 'Love the Way You Lie' was essentially a look at the relationship that Eminem was in with his wife, Kim, so I kind of felt like I was playing Eminem a little bit, and Megan Fox was kind of playing Kim.

"It's the story of them getting to know each other, and it's the story of their tumultuous relationship, and it was the story of the breakdown of their relationship," he continued. "Ultimately, what I think he's trying to say in the song ... is that he should have walked away a little bit quicker than he did and not let it get as messy as it did."

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From Ludacris To Lil Wayne, Bangladesh Remembers His Best Beats

Posted: 06 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT

'When I made it, I knew it was an important track,' producer tells Mixtape Daily about 'A Milli.'
By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Jayson Rodriguez


Bangladesh and Ludacris
Photo: Courtesy of Bangladesh

Behind the Beats: Bangladesh
Shondrae "Bangladesh" Crawford has made some of the biggest hip-hop and R&B hits of the past decade. His résumé is diverse and potent. Bang's breakthrough came in 1998, when he was introduced to Ludacris through DTP member Lil Fate, whose cousin just so happened to be Bangladesh's best friend.

Crawford crafted a bulk of Luda's independent debut, Incognegro, including what would turn out to be his breakthrough smash, "What's Your Fantasy." Since then, 'Desh has supplied beats to fellow Atlanta artists, such as Gucci Mane, Ciara, Sean Garrett and Usher. He's also branched out to the likes of Mario, Beyoncé and none other than R. Kelly.

"I got R. Kelly's first single with Luda on it called 'Tongues,' " he said. "Just to clear it up, I know Cam'ron and Vado have a song called 'Speakin' Tongues.' I've been had this song. We made this song for Usher. It could have been on Usher's album, but he didn't want it. Nobody bit. It's great ideas sometimes get and get out. Sometimes people be thinking alike. It's a dope song. It's very creative. It's on another level."

Bangladesh is also working on new music by his artist Tom Foolery. That mixtape should be landing sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Five-Star Stellar Hits
Ludacris' "What's Your Fantasy": "I had just started making beats, like in '98. That same year, we was making music together. I got good real fast. I was kinda the link that he needed without spending a whole bunch of money on great beats. I came right in. It worked out for me and him. To sum it up, it was God and timing. God placing us together making it happen. That was the last record we recorded for his independent album. I [originally] made the beat without the high hat. I made that for an intro for a whole 'nother beat. He liked the intro. He was like, 'I should make that.' He played it one time on the radio. I was cutting hair; I was a barber at the time. 'What's Your Fantasy' was #1 throughout the day. People I was cutting didn't even know I made the beat."

Kelis' "I'm Bossy": "It was the first R&B artist I worked with. That was a good look, because I had done just rap. ... 'I'm Bossy' gave me a look for the other stuff that producers in Atlanta aren't doing. I'm a standout in that sense, because I can do different things other producers can't do. I made it back in the day before Lloyd blew up and Ciara was Ciara. They was singing, battling for the beat. 'That's my beat! That's my beat!' It was crazy, because it wound up not being any one of their tracks. Mark Pitts at Jive navigated that record to Kelis. He believed in that track."

Lil Wayne's "A Milli": "When I made it, I knew it was an important track. I didn't know it was gonna be as big as it was. I knew it was for Wayne. I had plenty of people wanting to purchase the beat, but they wasn't worthy enough. Even if they was worthy, until I let Wayne hear it, I couldn't move to nobody else. I had that beat for two years, just holding it. If you look at my career from 'What's Your Fantasy' to 'A Milli,' it's kind of the same element of music. Four or five sounds in the beat. Simplicity. Those are the things I've learned since being in the industry."

Beyoncé's "I'm a Diva" and Mario's "Break Up": "Keyshia Cole did something to the track at the same time Beyoncé did. I was gonna replace the Keyshia Cole track and go with the Beyoncé play. That's where 'Break Up' came about, because I made 'Break Up' out of that, trying to replace what [Keyshia] had. But Keyshia never responded. 'Break Up' came about because J. Records wanted some music like Beyoncé for Mario: 'Yo, gimme that Beyoncé sound.' So I gave it to Mario. Because of 'A Milli,' people were gravitating towards those beats. 'I'm a Diva' I originally was gonna put on a mixtape and put my female artist on it. But Beyoncé wanted it. So what I'mma say? 'That's not a real track'?"

Hottest Streak Thus Far
From 2007 to present, during which he produced smashes such as Gucci Mane's "Lemonade," Beyoncé and Lady Gaga's "Video Phone" and others.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Lollapalooza Lookback 1992: Soundgarden Predict The Future

Posted: 06 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT

Reunited group also headlines this year's fest, which kicks off Friday.
By James Montgomery


Soundgarden's Kim Thayil
Photo: MTV News

With the 2010 edition of Lollapalooza kicking off Friday (August 6), 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, Ice Cube's "buck wild" goals in '92 and Korn's rather, uh, interesting take on Lolla '97. And to cap things off, we're digging deep, for a chat with a band that's darn-near synonymous with Lollapalooza: Soundgarden.

1992: Soundgarden Stand on the Verge of Greatness

Aside from Perry Farrell's various musical machinations (and, since it's his fest, he can pretty much do whatever he wants), no band has played Lollapalooza as many times as Soundgarden. They've main-staged on three different tours, first in 1992 (when they were sandwiched between the Jesus and Mary Chain and Ice Cube), then again in 1996 (on the so-called "Rockapalooza" jaunt) and — now re-formed — they'll close down 2010 Lolla on Sunday night.

It sort of makes sense. After all, Soundgarden's career has eerily shadowed Lolla's rise and fall. They both broke big in the early/mid '90s, both took extended hiatuses in '97, and both staged remarkable resurrections in the 21st century (of course, Soundgarden waited until 2010 to do so). Along with, say, Pearl Jam or Jane's Addiction, Soundgarden are a living bridge between Lolla's scrappy past and its shiny future, which is why they're the perfect headliners for this year's fest.

Of course, way back in 1992, they were just another band standing on the verge of greatness. They had just released their seminal Badmotorfinger album and were still two years away from unleashing Superunknown, which would make them internationally famous. So when MTV News spoke with them at the kickoff that year, they were still sort of trying to figure out where they belong. To them, Lollapalooza was just another opportunity to check out some bands they really dug.

"I'd like to come and see Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.," guitarist Kim Thayil said. "I like the bill on the first stage. It's great. We have [played with a lot of them before], and I'm sure we'll continue to play with the type of bands that you'll show on ['120 Minutes'] or the type of bands you'll show on 'Headbangers Ball.' "

And, in a way, Thayil's comments were strangely prescient. In 1996, Soundgarden played Lolla with the likes of Metallica and the Ramones. This year, they share the bill with Lady Gaga and the Strokes. All of which goes to show you that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Sort of like Lollapalooza itself.

Lollapalooza 2010 gets under way Friday — make sure to check out MTV News' Lollapalooza Live, streaming Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m., right here on MTV.com.

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Swizz Beatz Recalls Sneaking Into Clubs To DJ, On 'When I Was 17'

Posted: 06 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT

'I started off DJing for the high school prom, then I started DJing the college parties, then I started DJing the clubs,' he says.
By MTV News staff


Swizz Beatz's yearbook photo

Long before he started producing tracks for Jay-Z, Chris Brown and Drake — and before he whisked Alicia Keys away to get married on the Mediterranean — Swizz Beatz was just a skinny kid trying to make a name for himself.

And he couldn't make a name for himself fast enough, which is why he started working the club scene long before he was old enough to order a drink from the bar.

"When I was 17, I started off DJing for the high school prom, then I started DJing the college parties, then I started DJing the clubs," Swizz reveals on the upcoming episode of MTV's "When I Was 17," which airs Saturday at 11 a.m. "I'm not even 21 yet."

But the precocious mix-master worked out a system to ensure he'd always be able to get into the club and behind the turntables. "Usually, I would go through the back of the club, because of my age, and set up, so when people come in, there's no questions, there's no ID," he says.

And he usually stuck to that foolproof system — except that one time.

"One day, I sent one of my guys to set up for me," Swizz explains. "So I go through the front, I get to the door and — 'Show me your ID!' I'm like, 'I don't have no ID. What do you mean, show you my ID? I work here. I'm supposed to be getting the party started.' "

And if it's one thing Swizz knows, it's getting a party started. He's produced tunes with the likes of Chris Brown and Lil Wayne ("I Can Transform Ya"), T.I. ("Swing Ya Rag") and even a Jay-Z/U2 collaboration to benefit relief efforts in Haiti. But on this one night when he was 17, there was simply nothing Swizz could do to sneak his way into the club.

"I was like, 'I'm telling you, I work here!' " he recalled. "I'm speaking with so much authority. I'm this little skinny guy. He's looking down on me, like, 'I don't care. Step over here.' "

"When I Was 17" — this week featuring Swizz, Maroon 5's Adam Levine and Kathy Griffin — airs Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV.

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'Jersey Shore': Gym, Tan ... Gelato!

Posted: 06 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT

Cast goes to work at a South Beach gelato cafe for show's second season.
By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Garth Bardsley


The cast of "Jersey Shore"
Photo: MTV

Last season on "Jersey Shore," the tanned and terrific kids spent their downtime in Seaside Heights working at a T-shirt shop on the boardwalk. Now both the Situation and JWoww are launching their own clothing lines.

Might any of the "Shore" crew get into the dessert business soon? Because on the hit reality show's second season, the cast goes to work at a gelato joint in Miami's South Beach. The place is called Lecca Lecca Gelato Caffé, and it's owned by a genial Italian-American man named Enzo Biondi, who shared some of his memories of toiling alongside Sitch, Snooki and the rest of their pals.

"Vinny was very good in the morning," he told MTV News. "In the morning time, most of them were tired from partying in the nighttime. Sammi was good. Ronnie was very good. Clean up and set up the terrace outside. In the nighttime, the manager was the Situation guy, Mike."

The task of luring in bikini-clad customers for some tiramisu- or pistachio-flavored treats was left to none other than DJ Pauly D. "Pauly was the one bringing the girls from outside to inside," Biondi said.

Snooki — she of the diminutive stature and oversize poof — had a bit of trouble tackling the task at hand for a while. "Snooki, she was very funny, because actually she couldn't serve the gelato," he laughed. "She was a little small to get inside the display and serve the customer."

Ever the enterprising businessman, Biondi provided Snickers with a step ladder that allowed her to reach into the display case and start scooping. Not that she always put her work duties above other priorities.

"One time I found Snooki, she was sleeping under the counter," he said.

Watch "Jersey Shore" Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on MTV.

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'The Other Guys' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know!

Posted: 06 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT

Before hopping in the squad car with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg, check out these fun facts.
By Eric Ditzian


Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrell and Steve Coogan in "The Other Guys"
Photo: Sony Pictures

Up on the big screen, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay have what you might call "vocational schizophrenia." They hopscotch from the local-news business to the NASCAR circuit to the lines of the happily unemployed. Now, after "Anchorman," "Talladega Nights" and "Step Brothers," comes "The Other Guys," an action comedy that has McKay in the director's chair and Ferrell teaming up with Mark Wahlberg for a flick about two New York Police Department pencil-pushers who get pulled into the middle of a multibillion-dollar fraud case.

But whereas Bernie Madoff perpetrated his crime via expensive suits and stuffy country clubs, the villains in "Other Guys" take breaks from stealing cash to fire guns, blow up buildings and rob stores. It's up to Ferrell and Wahlberg to get away from their desks, brush up on their surveillance skills and risk life and limb to bring some justice to the city streets and bank accounts.

MTV News has been conducting our own investigation on this project for a year — tracking each development and bringing you inside peeks at the production — and now, we present to you another of our cheat sheets: everything you need to know about "The Other Guys."

Rounding Up the Guys
We first chatted with McKay about the movie last summer, when he'd flown into New York to kick-start the casting process. He already had Ferrell and Wahlberg locked down and was looking to round out the rest of the cast. By autumn, the pieces started to fall into place: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson signed on to play rival cops, and Steve Coogan came aboard to play the central bad guy.

Going Behind the Screen
As the film shifted into production, MTV News was lucky enough to be invited onto the New York set for an exclusive look at the production. Ferrell and Wahlberg gave us a tour around their police precinct, joking about the film's "Avatar"-like special effects and revealing one character's daily affirmation: "Nobody does it better. Nobody!"

But that visit wasn't the only chance we got to talk to the cast and crew. Separately, Wahlberg revealed to us his epic day on set with Derek Jeter — or, to be more specific, how his character gets into an unfortunate confrontation with Jeter that results in the Yankee shortstop being shot in the leg. Johnson bragged about how he and Jackson were the true superstars on set. And McKay talked about Wahlberg's balletic dance moves, some of the movie's action scenes, and how the first cut ran over four hours.

These Guys Can't Take Anything Seriously
So what is this movie all about? It's about hope and Barack Obama — at least that's what Ferrell and McKay will tell you. What's more, they'll try to convince you they shot this movie on VHS tapes. And Jackson will wax poetic about his "man love" with Johnson.

If you're looking for serious answers, you've come to the wrong place. Then again, if you're looking for a serious movie, "Other Guys" ain't for you. But if you dig a whole lot of hilarious weirdness of the type you got in "Anchorman" or "Step Brothers," then a few hours with "The Other Guys" is exactly what you want. Just check out one early scene, in which Ferrell and Wahlberg get into a ridiculous argument.

"If I were a lion and you were a tuna, I would swim out in the middle of the ocean and eat you," Wahlberg says.

"First of all, a lion swimming in the ocean? Lions don't like water," Ferrell responds. "If you'd placed it near a river or some sort of fresh-water source, that'd make sense. But you find yourself in the ocean, 20 foot waves — I'm assuming it's off the coast of South Africa — coming up against a full-grown, 800-pound tuna, with his 20 or 30 friends, you lose that battle! You lose that battle nine times out of 10!"

Check out everything we've got on "The Other Guys."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Jonas Brothers Arrive In Chicago For Tour Kickoff

Posted: 06 Aug 2010 09:02 AM PDT

'It's such a beautiful city. The fans here are some of the best in the world, I think,' Nick says.
By Jocelyn Vena


Jonas Brothers
Photo: MTV News

CHICAGO — While the media, celebrities and musicians are descending upon Chicago to catch acts including Lady Gaga at Lollapalooza, tons of screaming girls are also coming to the city, albeit for a different reason: to see the Jonas Brothers, along with their pal Demi Lovato, kick off their latest tour.

And when the guys hit the city on Wednesday, they made a very interesting observation. "We saw the [Lollapalooza] stage yesterday as we were pulling in," Kevin Jonas told MTV News. "I was like, 'No way!' "

So, while the crew is in Chicago, do they have any big plans for their downtime? Little brother Nick explained that while in the city, he'd liked to take in some of the local sights.

"Millennium Park is always a lot of fun. On my tour back in January, I took a trip up there," he said. "Also, just walking the riverfront is amazing. It's such a beautiful city. The fans here are some of the best in the world, I think," Nick said.

And, as Nick so graciously added, Chicago gave the guys one big milestone. "It's where we played our first sold-out arena show," he recalled. "So it's got a very special place in our hearts."

Are you planning to see the Jonas Brothers on tour? Tell us in the comments!

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Wyclef Jean Talks Haitian Presidential Run On 'Larry King Live'

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 10:00 PM PDT

'I feel like I'm being drafted by the population right now to give them a different face, a different voice,' he says.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Wyclef Jean on "Larry King Live" Aug. 5
Photo: CNN

Musician, producer and activist Wyclef Jean can officially add presidential hopeful to his résumé. The Grammy-winning MC and singer spoke about his plans to run for president of Haiti in an interview on CNN's "Larry King Live" on Thursday (August 5).

Flanked by crowds of supporters, 'Clef opened up to CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer via satellite from Haiti about his presidential aspirations and said he was inspired to seek political office in the wake of the country's devastating earthquake.

"After January 12 ... being out here with my wife and picking up dead bodies from the ground, I felt that because of the youth of Haiti and the population that this is not even Wyclef saying that 'I want to be the president of Haiti.' I feel like I'm being drafted by the population right now to give them a different face, a different voice," the singer explained.

Wyclef has realized major success as an entertainer but cannot boast a significant amount of political experience. However, he asserted that his position as a political outsider will work to his advantage.

"What qualifies me to be president of Haiti, when I look at the past 200 years, with what our people have suffered, Wolf — political instability, coup after coup d'état — I feel that me running, it brings a neutral situation, meaning that Wyclef Jean can sit with any political party and have a conversation. I'm coming in neutral," he said.

'Clef outlined the issues he plans to focus on in his campaign, which include education, job creation, agriculture, security and health care. The singer mentioned that only a tiny percentage of the billions of promised aid dollars has reached Haiti, and he plans to rally the international community to make good on relief money. He also said that, if elected in November, he plans to look beyond government resources and to reach out the Haitian community abroad to help create opportunities in the island nation.

Although he has achieved success as a musician and high-profile status as a humanitarian, 'Clef has also weathered criticism due his murky financial situation. His Yele Haiti organization, which 'Clef stepped down from on Thursday, garnered attention earlier this year for the use of funds funneled to the group. He has battled a large personal tax bill and addressed concerns about his financial health, saying, "We respect the IRS very much. I will not leave these United States of America and come to my country and not handle the situation with the IRS. Any personal Wyclef matters are being handled as we speak."

Wyclef is up against a slew of candidates for the presidential seat, including his own uncle, but the singer probably has the most star-studded personal network and said he would turn to his celebrity pals for assistance in his latest endeavor.

"What I'm hoping is, all of my friends that are watching this, from all of my entertainers from Hollywood, from all of the connections that I have made around the world [will help]," Wyclef said. The singer said he also plans to launch a viral fundraising effort, which was inspired by President Barack Obama's Internet-savvy campaign.

However, one celebrity has already expressed reservations about Wyclef's bid for Haitian head of state. Sean Penn, who was also a guest on "Larry King" and has championed the plight of the Haitian people in the wake of the tragic earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands of people, voiced his concerns about 'Clef's intentions.

"Right now, I worry that this is a campaign that is more about a vision of flying around the world, talking to people. It's certainly not one of the youth drafting him. I would be quite sure that this is an influence of corporations here in the United States and private individuals that may well have capitalized on his will to see himself flying around the world," Penn asserted. Despite his issues with the singer's motives, Penn made a statement that both he and Wyclef can likely agree on: "What the Haitian people need now is a leader who's genuinely willing to sacrifice."

Wyclef has maintained that his campaign in the real deal: "This is a move I have been considering for a long time, and now, with conditions in Haiti worse than they've ever been, I want to take my commitment to helping my country to the highest level it can go," Jean said in a statement to MTV News. "I can't imagine a better way to ensure the development and growth of Haiti, and I worry that at this critical time if we do nothing, then nothing will be done."

What are your thoughts about Wyclef Jean running for president of Haiti? Tell us in the comments below.

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'American Idol' Wannabes 'In It To Win It' At New Jersey Tryouts

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 06:36 AM PDT

'I'm going all the way to Hollywood this time,' one repeat auditioner tells MTV News.
By James Dinh


An "American Idol" auditioner
Photo: MTV News

"American Idol" might not have announced the final judges' panel for the upcoming 10th season, but that hasn't kept the show from kicking off the search for new singers.

On Tuesday, MTV News caught up with a few "Idol" wannabes at the East Rutherford, New Jersey, auditions to get an idea of who we'll be rooting for next season.

"I did make it to the next round," Stewart Taylor told MTV News. "I'm very, very, very excited, and I'm not stopping here, baby. I'm going all the way to Hollywood this time, because I did this last year and almost made it. You're in it to win it."

Gregory Higbee explained the preliminary audition round, which isn't quite the wacky tryouts you see at the start of the season. "You stand up there, one at a time, in front of the judges and sing your song. It's usually 20 or 30 seconds long, so after everyone sings, they'll call you all towards the desk, and they'll tell you whether you've made it or not," Higbee explained. "There's no feedback. There's no 'You should work on this.' It's just 'I'm sorry, you didn't make it.' " While some contestants, like Heather Snare, were confident they'd make it through, others were surprised when they heard the judges give them the boot. Erik Mason waited about an hour to see the judges but was not picked for the next round. "I was a Disney Dream Ticket holder, and I thought I was good enough, but I guess I'm not what they're looking for," he said.

Another contestant, Gabrielle Gorman, told MTV News: "I thought it went well, but obviously it wasn't good enough for this season." But Gorman kept her head high as she revealed she'll "have to come again next year and try again."

Marvin Black had already envisioned what it would be like to receive his "golden ticket," but reality set in when he didn't make it. "I thought I was going to make my way through, going to sing, get the golden ticket, run with the golden ticket to the backstage," Black said. "But about after 30 to 45 seconds of singing, they cut my wristband and told me to get out."

Brianna Sent, who dressed up as a life-size banana, believed that if "American Idol" really wanted viewership, they would have let her though, noting, "Everyone was digging it, and it was happening."

How do you think this season of "American Idol" will fare compared to previous ones? Tell us what you think in the comments!

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Katy Perry's 'Teenage Dream' Video: Watch A Steamy Sneak Peek!

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 02:52 AM PDT

In the 30-second teaser, Perry dances and locks lips in her California hometown.
By James Dinh


Katy Perry in the video for "Teenage Dream"
Photo: Captiol Records

In Katy Perry's last music video, for "California Gurls," she played a female voyager avoiding Gummi Bears, laying nude on cotton-candy clouds and making her way through what she called "Candyfornia." But her follow-up music video, for "Teenage Dream," will bring the singer back to her California hometown as she ventures on a sunny road trip with her lover and friends.

In a 30-second teaser, Perry appears as carefree as ever in a dancing, lip-locking montage throughout locations in Santa Barbara, California. Whether it's basking in the sun of her blue Cadillac as her love interest (played by Josh Kloss) drives next to a carful of laughing friends or getting steamy with Kloss as he pushes her into a hotel bed, the clip's teaser resonates with the song's feel-good melody. Katy and friends decide to skip the swimwear and visit a beach as they shed their clothes and dance the afternoon away.

Directed by Yoann Lemoine, the video — which premieres Tuesday — was shot in mid-July. Perry cast some of her real-life friends in the clip. She took to Twitter to talk about the "gorgeous" shoot.

"Cut, copy, print, moving on! That's a wrap for Teenage Dream! So gorgeous, I really can't wait to see what [director] Yoann Lemoine makes of it all!!!" she tweeted. "In my hometown. I got to cast all my friends in the new music vid for Teenage Dream = amazing insanity."

Last month, Perry spoke to MTV News about the track and explained that she had flashbacks of young innocence when writing the song. "I wrote that song in Santa Barbara, and it was a very pure moment for me, because that's where I'm from," she told MTV News. "And it was, like, where I started my creative juices. And also it kind of exudes this euphoric feeling, because everybody remembers what their teenage dreams were — all the girls that were on your poster walls."

This isn't the first teaser Team Katy has provided: She uploaded an lyric YouTube video with various shots from the clip.

What do you think of the teaser for Katy's "Teenage Dream"? Are you excited? Share your thoughts below!

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Wyclef Jean's History With Haiti: From Birth To Presidential Bid

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 10:00 PM PDT

Throughout his career, former Fugees leader has been an outspoken advocate for his homeland.
By Gil Kaufman


Wyclef Jean
Photo: Steve Mack/ Getty Images

Wyclef Jean officially announced his bid for the presidency of his native Haiti on Thursday's (August 5) "Larry King Live." Word began to surface last month that he was considering a run for the position. The job comes with a five-year term that would likely keep him out of the music game until 2015.

If news of Jean's political ambitions caught anyone by surprise, they clearly haven't been paying attention to the former Fugees leader's non-musical efforts for the past 15 years.

While Wyclef — who was born outside the country's capital, Port-au-Prince, and raised in Brooklyn, New York — was one of the first celebrities to call for assistance for his Caribbean homeland in the wake of January's devastating earthquake, the 37-year-old has been at the forefront of Haitian relief for much of his career.

Back in 1997, when the Fugees — whose Pras Michel and Lauryn Hill also are of Haitian descent — were still riding high, the trio headlined a benefit concert in Port-au-Prince. The six-hour homecoming show drew more than 70,000 fans as it raised funds for Haitian refugees and artists. (MTV News followed the band to the island for the show, which you can relive here and here.)

Although there were accounting problems with the money raised from the benefit concert, they were mostly ironed out, and 'Clef was honored for his work helping underprivileged kids through the Wyclef Jean Foundation two years later. In the following years, Jean continued to raise funds for his foundation and frequently reminded his audience about the troubles affecting his homeland, from AIDS and poverty to political corruption.

In 2004, Jean started the Yele Haiti foundation, which distributed more than 3,600 scholarships to Haitian children in its first year and, at one point, announced plans to build a Wyclef Jean School of the Arts and a cultural center on the impoverished island. That same year, as Haiti suffered from a violent uprising against the government, 'Clef voiced support for Haitian rebels and called for the resignation of embattled President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. 'Clef also addressed the country's AIDS problem and promised, through education and prevention, to help the nation's children avoid contracting the HIV virus.

The singer was named a roving ambassador in January 2007, charged with improving the image of the island, which is perennially tagged as the poorest in the western hemisphere. He and Akon closed out the year in Haiti with a fundraising concert dubbed the Yele Festival.

After Hurricane Ike hit Haiti in 2008, Yele delivered food and assistance to those impacted by the storm, and in October 2008, 'Clef performed with Carlos Santana in San Francisco to raise funds for the foundation.

It was in the early hours after January's earthquake that Jean really became Haiti's favorite son, when he issued urgent pleas for help though his Twitter account and in multiple TV and radio interviews. Within days, Yele had raised more than $2 million for Haitian relief via text message, as 'Clef continued to keep the topic at the forefront of the news with interviews about the devastation and his offer to co-anchor MTV Networks' "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon alongside George Clooney.

Bringing some of his Creole background to his performance with "Yele," Jean also gave a moving performance of the reggae classic "Rivers of Babylon," before returning to the island the next morning to help with recovery efforts. He also pitched in on the 25th-anniversary remake of "We Are the World," which benefited Haiti relief as well, and helped anchor BET's "SOS Saving Ourselves: Help for Haiti," alongside Mary J. Blige and Drake.

What do you think about Wyclef's decision to run for president of Haiti? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Justin Timberlake To Voice A Gay Character On 'The Cleveland Show'

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 06:31 AM PDT

Singer/actor will also portray a 'singing booger' on a February 2011 episode, Fox confirms to MTV News.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Justin Timberlake
Photo: Christian Petersen/ Getty Images

Justin Timberlake has been hard at work building his Hollywood career and will show off his acting chops once again in an upcoming episode of "Family Guy" spin-off "The Cleveland Show."

Fox reps confirmed to MTV News that Timberlake will voice two characters: Paul, the boyfriend of Terry (voiced by "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock" actor Jason Sudeikis), as well as a "singing booger" belonging to Cleveland's stepson Rallo, aptly named "Booger." The episode is scheduled to air in February 2011.

Timberlake is already earning rave reviews for his work as Paul. "Terry falls in love with a guy voiced by Justin," "Cleveland" creator Rich Appel told Us Weekly. Appel added that Timberlake turns in a hilarious performance: "Justin is just hysterical!"

Timberlake's voice-over work is just the latest in a range of roles for the singer-turned-actor. He has reportedly been offered a role opposite Amanda Seyfried in the sci-flick "I'm.mortal," in which people don't get older than age 25. The singer has also been spotted filming the flick "Friends With Benefits" with Mila Kunis in New York and will hit the big screen in the David Fincher-helmed movie "The Social Network." Timberlake plays Napster co-founder Sean Parker, who had a hand in the launch of the social-media phenomenon Facebook.

Timberlake told MTV News last year that he was excited to work with Hollywood heavyweights Fincher and Aaron Sorkin on "The Social Network." "To be honest, David Fincher is so ridiculously genius that we're all just following his lead," Timberlake said. "I think we want to tell the story, and I want to tell it through Sorkin's words and Fincher's eyes. I think Aaron did a lot of research on all of it. I don't want to speak for another actor, but I think the consensus for all of us is that we just want to make a great film."

What are you expecting from Justin Timberlake's "The Cleveland Show" appearance? Let us know in the comments below!

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Demi Lovato Reveals Road Rituals Before Jonas Brothers Tour Kickoff

Posted: 06 Aug 2010 09:02 AM PDT

'I like to do things that'll change it up,' she tells MTV News of exploring cities during 'Camp Rock 2' Tour.
By Jocelyn Vena


Demi Lovato
Photo: Akshay Bhansali

CHICAGO — With just two days until Demi Lovato launches a tour with her "Camp Rock 2" friends the Jonas Brothers there isn't much time left for her to have fun in Chicago, the first stop on their tour. But the singer said that when she gets into a city for a performance, she definitely has a few things she must do.

"Well, sometimes there's little errands, and sometimes I like to go shopping," she told MTV News between rehearsals for Saturday night's show at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. "[I try to] make it a little bit more exciting when I go into a city rather than just go into a city, go into the hotel, playing a show, get back on the bus.

"So I like to do things that'll change it up," she said. "But I have my favorite places in some cities."

It's easy for Lovato to find her favorite places in L.A., where she lives and occasionally finds herself stopping on tour.

"I stay home and spend a lot of time with my family," she said. "I go to Pinkberry [for frozen yogurt], and I just kind of get excited doing my own thing."

So back to the shopping: Does Lovato like to explore, or does she embrace her old standbys?

"I'm a big shopper," she said. "Given the amount of time that I have, I go to my favorite stores first, but then if I have time and I see a cute boutique store, I'll go there."

What should Demi do with her downtime in Chicago? Will you be checking out her tour with the JoBros? Let us know in the comments!

Stay tuned to MTVNews.com this weekend for our coverage of the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato's tour kickoff!

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Justin Bieber Gives Surprise Performance At Florida High School

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 07:00 AM PDT

The Biebs stops by summer band camp to dole out cash for music education.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Justin Bieber surprises a band camp in Florida
Photo: Gerardo Mora/ Getty Images

If you were in the Sanford, Florida, area Thursday (August 5) and heard the screams of hysterical teenagers, don't fret. It was probably just the passionate yelps of students at Seminole High School, who were granted a surprise show from none other than singer and inducer of mass tween mania, Justin Bieber.

The Biebs dropped by Seminole High to present the school with a $5,000 donation from the Grammy Foundation and Best Buy to support music education. The singer strummed the guitar, pounded the drums and chatted with students, who were attending a summer band camp, according to reports.

"The students had no idea I was coming, and it was fun to completely surprise them," Bieber said in a statement. "I was excited about this opportunity to team up with Best Buy and the Grammy Foundation to raise awareness around the important cause of funding music education programs in schools. I talked to students about pursuing their passion in music and encouraging them to keep doing what they're doing."

Bieber also shared the experience with his more than 4 million Twitter followers, revealing that he battled illness to make the surprise appearance.

"I actually got sick in the middle of the show and they wanted to cancel but the show must go on and the fans gave me my second [wind]," Bieber tweeted. The singer added that the energy from his Beliebers, especially the female ones, helped get him through the performance. "Been sick all day...but we are toughing through it. SOUTH FLORIDA...the girls....Im feeling better :)"

The singer even gave a shout-out one lucky fan in particular: "So thank u to everyone for being so incredible tonight...and @meganburrier i hope we gave u a good surprise :)."

What would you do if Justin Bieber dropped by your school? Let us know in the comments below!

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Kanye West Debuts Apologetic 'Power' Freestyle

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 09:38 AM PDT

'Ye raps regrets to 'every one of y'all a year ago that I made feel ashamed,' during Singapore concert.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Kanye West
Photo: Getty Images

Kanye West has apologized to Taylor Swift repeatedly. He's apologized to his fans over and over again, but the Chicago MC may have uttered his most heartfelt take on his VMA outburst last year in a freestyle he delivered overseas Wednesday night.

The rapper spit new rhymes over his "Power" track during a show in Singapore and in the lyrics West vows that he's now a changed man. The moment was captured on amateur video, and the crowd erupts as Kanye reaches his lyrical climax.

"And I'm so sorry to y'all, everyone of y'all that had to fight for my name," West rapped. "Every one of y'all a year ago that I made feel ashamed/ Everyone that said Kanye is that n----, quit taking names/ And all y'all ... I'm the one to blame/ And to the people that I let down, I wanna tell you right here, right now that I'm a new man that understands my relation to power."

Last September, West drew jeers when he stormed MTV's Video Music Awards stage in New York and interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Female Video. The rapper protested the country pop star's win, insisting that nominee Beyoncé was more deserving. B would go on to win Best Video later in the event and make amends by inviting the teen star onstage to cheers.

West became public enemy #1 following his stunt and after a tearful apology during an interview with Jay Leno, the rapper went on a self-imposed hiatus. He's been back in the spotlight lately, though, previewing new material for a number of media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter and Rolling Stone.

Kanye's new video for "Power" is scheduled to debut Thursday night (August 5) on MTV at 11 p.m. ET/PT after "Jersey Shore."

What do you think of Kanye West's freestyle? Talk about it in the comments or tweet us at @MTVRapFix!

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T.I. Records Six New <i>King Uncaged</i> Tracks With Kanye West

Posted: 04 Aug 2010 11:53 PM PDT

'I just left Hawaii with Kanye,' Tip said on the red carpet of 'Takers' premiere.
By Shaheem Reid


T.I. arrives at the premiere of "Takers" in Hollywood on August 4
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images

Call it the reunion of the King of the South and Martin Louis the King Jr. The last time T.I. hooked up with Kanye West, the two made the undeniable hip-hop anthem "Swagger Like Us." And the pair recently took half a dozen more shots at making another classic. You can add the Louis Vuitton Don to the list of acclaimed producers to work on Tip's next LP, King Uncaged (due in September).

"I just left Hawaii with Kanye," Tip said last night in Hollywood on the red carpet for the world premiere of "Takers." "We did six records."

The King of the South recently told MTV News how excited he was about going in the lab with some other track emperors. "We got a few big, big, big sessions coming up next week: Timbaland, Swizz Beatz," T.I. revealed. "I'm trying to show up and show out every time."

By early July, the collaborations, at least the ones with Swizz Beatz, were done.

"What we just did is bigger than those," Swizz said over the Fourth of July weekend about the two new records he produced for Tip. "It's bigger than 'Swing Ya Rag,' it's bigger than all of those. We're growing as artists. That's one of the things I wanted to focus on with Tip, was: 'We did that already. We don't need to compete with nobody. You up there.' Everything we gotta do, we gotta stay leaders. That's how we got to where we at now. He gave me his OK on that. Gave me the clear lane. And we're gone. Trust me on that. The first joint, it's nice. Crazy! The second joint is taking the world over. It's a positive message, and I'll let him explain the rest of the story, because he would be glad to. [It's] very musical, but still with that swag in it."

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'Jersey Shore' Fans In Miami Weigh In On Change Of Scenery

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 02:52 AM PDT

'They bring a little life to Miami,' one fan tells MTV News.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Cast of "Jersey Shore"
Photo: MTV

After bar-brawling, club-hopping and GTL-ing their way to pop-culture stardom, the "Jersey Shore" kids had to take things to the next level in season two.

So the crew upped the ante by taking the drama to another shore. In the second season of the MTV reality hit, which kicked off last week, the gang fist-pumps its way through Miami, and for the most part, South Beach fans have been enjoying the party.

"I love 'Jersey Shore.' It's ... crazy," Francisco Santander told MTV News.

Denise Mata concurred: "[There is] always drama there, and it's fun to watch [the] fights and them getting drunk, and it's just funny to me."

The "Shore" crew has partied its way into fans' hearts but has also weathered criticism that the super-tanned, party-startin' housemates — who proudly champion the term "guidos" — reinforce Italian stereotypes. David Gliottone enjoys the craziness but has issues with their image.

"I like the fact that they're Italian," Gliottone said. " I don't like the way that they act sometimes, [because] I think it kind of brings a negative vibe to the Italian community."

Nora Weinberg said she thinks the "Shore" stars should keep the drama up north, but added that it's cool they're branching out beyond the boardwalk. "I think they should be in Jersey, but I think it's fun that they can go to Miami," she said.

George Ott said the crew's antics have reached beyond the shores of both Jersey and Miami to score fans Down Under. "[I'm a] huge fan of the show in New Zealand," Ott said. "[I] love the boys [and] JWoww."

As entertaining as fans find the cast's beachside escapades, one viewer said the "Jersey Shore" crew may have brought too much heat to Miami.

"I think the 'Jersey Shore' cast is really crazy and outgoing and they bring a little life to Miami," Cassandra said. "But they need to stick to Jersey because they're not supposed to be here doing that stuff. You don't see that here in Miami."

What do you think about the "Jersey Shore" cast being in Miami? Let us know in the comments below!

Don't miss "Jersey Shore" every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

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Kanye West's 'Power' Video Should Be 'Provocative,' Director Says

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 04:43 AM PDT

'It kind of leaves you with the feeling that something's about to happen,' Marco Brambilla tells MTV News of 90-second clip.
By Steven Roberts


Kanye West
Photo: MTV News

Kanye West's "Power" video, which premieres Thursday (August 5) at 11 p.m. on MTV, is a collaboration between the Louis Vuitton Don and artist Marco Brambilla. When MTV News caught up with the director Wednesday afternoon, he said he and West attempted to paint a portrait of power in the clip.

"There's a lyric in the song — 'No one man should have this much power' — so the video kind of answers its own question," Brambilla said. "It poses the question: 'What does power and access look like?' And then: 'How delicate is it to preserve that moment of time?' "

Brambilla said they wanted to take a contemporary look at the idea of someone being immortal then becoming mortal, and show it in a way that would connect to art history. He used the Sistine Chapel as a reference point, including a Michelangelo fresco that comes to life. West is the central figure of the piece and represents "power." Brambilla said West has gone through a tumultuous past year, as expressed in the lyrics of "Power," and is in a moment of transition.

For the video, Brambilla used the photo-montage style of his "Civilization" video installation, which is what caused West to seek out the artist in the first place.

"I shot images of the casting, people who came in as dancers and models and actresses in the various poses, and then it was put together as a photograph originally," Brambilla said. "We had very little time to shoot it. We only had a day to shoot it, so I basically know exactly how each element would look, where each element would go and how the whole piece would choreograph, because there's about 24 layers of video in the piece, and they are all interconnected. So it's almost like a visual ballet in a way, and it had to be pre-planned in a very specific way to make it cohesive and to make it work. That was the most challenging part of it: how to [translate] it from a still, a painting, and then make the painting come alive into the filming and the photography."

Amazingly enough, Brambilla was able to accomplish this in a minute and a half. The "Power" clip might only be 90 seconds, but Brambilla said that wasn't the plan going in.

"I made it very clear at the beginning that I wasn't really interested if it was going to be a music video," he said. "I wanted to do something which was more like a visual accompaniment to the track, and so it didn't really need to be any specific length and it didn't really need to be the whole song. It needed to kind of introduce the song in a different way and a fresh way, and I came with this continuous shot with no cuts, no lip sync, and the minute, minute and a half just ... seemed like the perfect amount of time to show a video portrait.

"It didn't answer all the questions," he added. "It just becomes more provocative and a little bit more tense at the end, because it cuts away just before the action within it resolves itself, so it kind of leaves you with the feeling that something's about to happen."

Don't forget to tune in to MTV tonight at 11 p.m. ET/PT for the premiere of Kanye's "Power" video and check MTVNews.com for full coverage of the clip.

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Eminem And Kim's Rocky Past Inspired 'Love The Way You Lie' Video

Posted: 05 Aug 2010 03:41 AM PDT

'He should have walked away a little bit quicker than he did,' says Dominic Monaghan, who stars in the clip with Megan Fox.
By Gil Kaufman


Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan shoot the music video for "Love the Way You Lie"
Photo: Eric Ford/ On Location News

The world has gotten plenty of glimpses at the troubled relationship between Eminem and his two-time ex-wife, Kim. But in the new video for "Love the Way You Lie," the angst-filled rapper takes on domestic violence, a topic collaborator Rihanna is no stranger to.

While filming the clip with director Joseph Kahn (Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani), "Lost" actor Dominic Monaghan said he suffered some bumps and bruises in order to get the serious message across.

"I think we tried as hard as we could to not glorify the violence, to try and explain that this was a relationship that is by no means ideal and a relationship that probably should have ended a lot sooner than it did," Monaghan told MTV News. "The concept of 'Love the Way You Lie' was essentially a look at the relationship that Eminem was in with his wife, Kim, so I kind of felt like I was playing Eminem a little bit, and Megan Fox was kind of playing Kim," he said of his kissing co-star in the clip, which premieres Thursday night (August 5) at 9 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, hot on the heel of Em's eight VMA nominations.

"It's the story of them getting to know each other, and it's the story of their tumultuous relationship, and it was the story of the breakdown of their relationship," Monaghan added. "Ultimately, what I think he's trying to say in the song ... is that he should have walked away a little bit quicker than he did and not let it get as messy as it did." Trying to get into Eminem's mind-set in scenes such as the one in which he confronts a man who is talking to Fox's character, Monaghan said he led with anger. "All his motivation, every forward step that he takes is based on his anger," he said of the character. "We're supposed to be desperately in love, like Bonnie and Clyde style, like Sid and Nancy, John and Yoko ... Eminem and Kim."

The video has a number of scenes of domestic violence, in which the couple get physical with each other, and Monaghan said he didn't escape without drawing a bit of blood. "I get to throw Megan around quite a lot ... throw her up against the wall and then she throws me up against a wall and smacks me in the face and spits in my face ... and I chase her around the house and smash windows and walls."

Monaghan said he injured his knee as well as his hand during the shoot, the latter when he punched a mirror and the former when he braced his left knee on the floor while punching his video rival more than 50 times. While the video throws a spotlight on the dangers of an abusive relationship with the help of two glitzy Hollywood stars, Monaghan said the message about the destructive, ugly nature of domestic violence is front and center.

"There's nothing sexy or cool or fun about being in a violent relationship," he said. "Whether it's her being violent to you or you being violent to her ... violence both ways or any kind of destructive relationship is something you should probably get out of." One of the messages of the video is that Eminem probably should have bailed on his relationship earlier than he did, Monaghan said, and the challenge of the clip was taking a serous subject and making it into a good video that helps sell the song. "A good video can still have a message of caution in it," he said.

Rihanna — whose very public assault at the hands of then-boyfriend Chris Brown made the topic especially sensitive for her — recently told "Access Hollywood" that the song 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 of 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."

Don't forget to tune in to MTV tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT for the premiere of Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie," and check MTVNews.com for full coverage of the clip.

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