Jumat, 13 Agustus 2010

MTV News

MTV News


Jay-Z Caps World Basketball Fest With Hit-Heavy Set

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 08:32 AM PDT

Roc Nation head also reaches into his back catalog for 'Hovi Baby,' 'Can I Live' and more.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Jay-Z performs at the 2010 World Basketball Festival at Radio City on August 12
Photo: Getty Images

NEW YORK -- At Nike's World Basketball Festival, NBA All-Stars Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, and Rajon Rondo kept fans entertained as they defeated the Lamar Odom-led white team in overtime, but it was Jay-Z who capped the event with the night's best performance.

The Brooklyn rapper was the special musical guest on the bill, and he was more automatic than Stephen Curry from the baseline corner. "I only got 20 minutes, so I can't wait for you to warm up," Hov said, sauntering from side to side onstage.

Performing in front of a crowd that included LeBron James, Khloé Kardashian, and Spike Lee, the iconic MC scattered an array of classic and current hits throughout his brief set.

"Ain't no living person can test him," Jay rapped on the opening number, "Hovi Baby." "Only two resting in heaven/ Can be mentioned in the same breath as him/ Seven straight summers ... "

Jay then paused and excused himself.

"Eleven straight summers, critics might not admit it/ But nobody in rap did it quite like I did it," he finished.

"Run This Town" was next, sans Rihanna, who had her own headlining show nearby at Madison Square Garden.

Swizz Beatz joined Jay-Z for "On to the Next One" before Memphis Bleek appeared alongside him for "U Don't Know."

"I'm from the streets where the 'hood could swallow a man," Jay rapped on the latter. "Bullets'll follow a man/ There's so much coke that you could run the slalom/ And cops comb the sh-- top to bottom/ They say that we are prone to violence, but it's home sweet home."

"There's a lot of kids here, I'm trying to curb it," Jay told the crowd, before telling the kids to put on their earmuffs.

"This one isn't kid-friendly," he said, as the guitar licks from "99 Problems" blasted throughout Radio City Music Hall.

The rapper returned to his debut, Reasonable Doubt, and performed "Dead Presidents II" and "Can I Live."

The Roc Nation head then ended the night with more recent fare, The Black Album's "Public Service Announcement" and his first #1 hit, "Empire State of Mind."

What do you think of Jay's set list for the night? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Enrique Iglesias Recalls Being Dumped Before Prom On 'When I Was 17'

Posted: 13 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT

'I had no luck with the ladies,' the singer admits in the latest episode airing this Saturday at 11 a.m.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Enrique Iglesias appears on "When I was 17"
Photo: MTV News

He's known for his legions of female fans and for spending years with leggy tennis phenom Anna Kournikova on his arm. But back in the day, Enrique Iglesias says he was far from a ladies' man.

"I had no luck with the ladies," Iglesias reminisces on the latest episode of "When I Was 17," airing Saturday at 11 a.m. The Latin pop heartthrob, who was 17 in the early '90s, recalls striking out with a lady friend before one of the biggest nights in most teenagers' lives: prom.

"I was going to prom with this girl that I really liked and she said that she had decided that she wasn't gonna go with me. It was devastating," the singer reveals. "When you're in high school and a few weeks before prom the girl you're going with says no, it's awful. At the time, my whole world came crumbling down."

Iglesias, who has gone on to chart-topping international success with romantic hits like "Hero" and "Escape," concedes that he didn't take the pre-prom dis very well.

"I probably did cry. I hate to admit that now, it's kind of embarrassing," Iglesias says, shaking his head as he mutters, "Such a wuss." Despite the drama, Iglesias ended up heading to the prom without a date and having a blast.

"I went to my prom alone. I know it sounds awful, but I went with my friends. I had a good time," Iglesias said.

Now the "Bailamos" crooner can look back on the experience with a laugh and a message for other teens facing prom night without a dream date.

"For all you guys out there: It's OK to go to prom by yourself," Iglesias assures viewers. "You don't need a date for prom."

"When I Was 17" -- this week featuring Iglesias, Kelly Rowland and Stephanie Pratt -- airs Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV.

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'Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know!

Posted: 13 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT

Before checking out the unassuming hero at the theater, read our fun facts.
By Eric Ditzian


Michael Cera in "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World"
Photo: Universal Studios

Scott Pilgrim is that prototypical, twentysomething slacker you all know and (mostly) tolerate. He spends too much time on your coach, indulges in a bit too much woe-is-me existential reflection, and yet he's your pal and you love him to death.

The only difference is that the world he inhabits — the magical realistic confines of "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" — overflows with pop-culture references come to life, from "Street Fighter" imagery to "Seinfeld" music to manga-influenced visuals. In the midst of this fantastical realm, Scott finds himself in a series of video game-style fights with the ex-flames of his one true love, Ramona Flowers. He must defeat them — and get his act together — if he's to survive.

It's a strange concept, to be sure, but one that fans of the graphic novels on which the flick is based have been drooling over for years. Here, director Edgar Wright has compressed Bryan Lee O'Malley's six volumes into one 110-minute film. That was no easy task. Universal picked up the rights to the series back in 2005.

But now "Scott Pilgrim" is here, and so is MTV News. We've been tracking the project for years — each production update, inside look, cast interview and more. So we've gathered it all together: Check out MTV News' cheat sheet for everything you need to know about "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World."

Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together
By the time we caught up with Wright in summer 2008, he'd already tapped Michael Cera to play Scott and Mary Elizabeth Winstead to play Ramona. But months would pass until the rest of the cast began to come together. In January '09, Kieran Culkin signed on to play Scott's roommate Wallace Wells, followed by Chris Evans and Brandon Routh as evil exes, Ellen Wong as Scott's fling Knives Chau, Aubrey Plaza as ever-annoying Julie Powers, Mark Webber as guitarist Stephen Stills, Alison Pill as drummer Kim Pine and Johnny Simmons as band buddy Young Neil. Beck and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich came aboard as music supervisor.

With the ensemble cast in place, and after a bunch of pre-production teaser photos hit the Web, production kicked off in Toronto in late March. O'Malley quickly told us that, in comparison to his comic creations, the cast is "pretty spot-on."

Of the visual-effects-heavy fight scenes, Webber told us: "The technology was totally out of my realm. I don't even know what half this stuff is, but I get the sense that we're all into something new, and it's definitely [Wright's] unique way of making a film."

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life
Principal photography wrapped up in late August. "It's a lot like the graphic novel," Cera told us. "It's going to look like how the graphic novel looks."

Though the cast scattered, going on to other projects, they continued to chat with MTV News about "Scott Pilgrim": Evans talked about skateboard training, Jason Schwartzman walked us through a sword fight, Plaza revealed why her casting was "meant to be," and Cera bragged about watching much of the film on Wright's laptop.

The new year brought an official production still of Cera with a flaming sword in his hand. Fans ate it up, and those lucky enough to sneak into early screenings started comparing the flick to "Star Wars."

Finally, in March, the first trailer debuted online. MTV News followed up a few months later with an exclusive clip. And little over a week after that, a second trailer arrived.

Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour
MTV News swooped into San Diego Comic-Con in July and promptly delivered an exclusive new "Pilgrim" clip. We followed that up with a ton of cast and crew interviews. Cera laughed about his Con-going experience, Pill and Webber revealed how they trained to become big-screen musicians, and Wright answered one very important question: Just who is this Scott Pilgrim we've been hearing so much about?

"Bryan Lee O'Malley, who wrote the books, once described the character as the hero of the movie inside his own head — and this, essentially, is the movie," he explained. "So it's kind of a daydream for people who've been brought up on Saturday morning cartoons and video games and too many sugary products."

Check out everything we've got on "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World."

For breaking comic book movie news, columns and more — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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Rihanna Fans Are Sure 'Love The Way You Lie' Is About Chris Brown

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 06:52 AM PDT

'It's little hints in the song that [sound] like it's referring to Chris Brown,' one fan tells MTV News outside Last Girl on Earth Tour.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Adam Murphy and Rya Backer


Rihanna
Photo: WireImage

Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie," featuring Rihanna, puts emotional candor — in both the video and the song — front and center. Given the very public abusive relationships Rihanna and Em have gone through, many fans believe the artists drew from personal experience for the collaboration.

Concertgoers waiting for the singer's Last Girl on Earth Tour stop in New York City on Thursday (August 12) told MTV News that the "Umbrella" singer's tumultuous past with ex-beau Chris Brown informed her performance in "Lie."

"I would say it's like the Chris Brown situation, just because ... they go from hating each other then loving each other then back to hating each other and all this stuff," Stephanie Gutez observed about the "Lie" video, which features Megan Fox and Dominic Monaghan as a feuding couple. "That's how Rihanna and Chris Brown pretty much are."

Video director Joseph Kahn has insisted that while relationship abuse is an issue that Em and Rihanna have dealt with, the video isn't about either star's past. Although Rihanna doesn't mention any of her ex-loves by name in the song, Nicole Hollins is convinced the singer has Brown in mind.

"She's just talking about ... hurt, but she loves the way he's hurting her. In that relationship ... she was abused by him," Hollins said. "So it's little hints in the song that [sound] like it's referring to Chris Brown. I think it is. I don't care what anyone says."

Cassidy Santos said the video has a cautionary message, warning people about what happens when love goes too far.

"I thought it was interesting how [Rihanna] and Eminem compared the way their lives were," Santos said. "Since what happened with Chris Brown, it showed that people shouldn't do that to women."

Rebecca Snoddy said "Lie" keeps it real about the difficulties that any couple, famous or otherwise, must contend with.

"I think it depicted [the relationship] in a way that's honest and truthful like any other relationship would be," Snoddy said.

Do you think "Love the Way You Lie" addresses Rihanna's relationship with Chris Brown? Let us know in the comments below.

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'BioShock Infinite' Developer Avoided 'Repeating' Original Game

Posted: 13 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT

Ken Levine reveals the history behind his new city, Columbia.
By Russ Frushtick


"BioShock Infinite"
Photo: Irrational Games

Ken Levine is known as the man behind "BioShock" but in the three years since that game launched, no one had any idea what he and his team at Irrational Games were working on. That mystery has finally been revealed, and Levine sat down with MTV News to discuss his new project, "BioShock Infinite."

Rapture, the underwater city players explored in "BioShock," has not yet been built when "BioShock Infinite" takes place. Set in the early 1900s, "Infinite" has players exploring a brand-new locale: Columbia, a massive, floating city in the sky, suspended by hot-air balloons and propellers. "Imagine what the moon landing was in 1969," Levine explained. "This was the purpose of Columbia, was to show the success of the American experiment, of American ingenuity, of American endeavor, the American democratic principles. And to move around the world as a demonstration of what we could create."

But there was a darker reason for Columbia's existence as well: It's a weapon. Levine goes so far as to call it a "Death Star." And once its true nature was revealed to the world, Columbia vanished into the clouds and wasn't seen again for more than a decade. It's around this time that your character discovers Columbia and unravels the mystery of what has been going on there.

Unlike Rapture's dark colors and muted tones (a side-effect of being built deep beneath the sea), Columbia is bright and sunny. The blue skies, white clouds and architectural opulence in "BioShock Infinite" provide a stark contrast to the original game. Levine said this shift was by design. "We're not interested in repeating ourselves. I'm a real admirer of David Lynch and Stanley Kubrick. How do you take a world that doesn't look traditionally scary, that's bright and colorful ... how do you make that weird and creepy and strange? We had worked in that darker palette, that underwater palette, that deep-space palette. These deep purples and reds and darkness. And we said, 'Well, let's do something very different.' "

Columbia is most certainly different, but it was important to Levine that "BioShock Infinite" stay true to the tenets of the franchise. "To me, there's two things that make a 'BioShock' game 'BioShock.' They take place in a world that is both fantastic and ridiculous. Something that you've never seen before and something that nobody else could create except Irrational, but it's also strangely grounded and believable. The other thing that makes it a 'BioShock' game, it's about having a huge toolset of power and a huge range of challenges, and you being able to drive how you solve those challenges. With 'BioShock Infinite,' we're really just expanding upon that."

The toolset Levine spoke about isn't just limited to the weapons and powers given to the player. The environment also plays a bit part in player choice. Levine demonstrated a section of the game where players can ride rails, called skylines, from one floating block to another. These rails aren't just a means of getting from point A to point B; they allow players to decide how to approach a combat situation. Do you try to get as close as possible to your target, or do you stay far away and mobile? Levine is trying to make a game where both options would be viable.

Our first glimpse at "BioShock Infinite" was relatively brief, but it was enough to whet an appetite that's been starving for information since 2007. Unfortunately, our patience will have to hold out for a while longer, as the game is planned for release in 2012.

For more on "BioShock Infinite," head on over to Multiplayer.MTV.com.

'The Expendables' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know

Posted: 13 Aug 2010 03:50 AM PDT

Stallone directs Schwarzenegger, Willis, Rourke and a bunch of other ass-kickers in this explosive action flick.
By Eric Ditzian


Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone and Randy Couture in "The Expendables"
Photo: Lionsgate

"The Expendables" is what would happen if a 10-year-old growing up in the 1980s was given godlike powers and could brainstorm and green-light the action flick of his preteen dreams: Take Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren and a bunch of other ass-kickers, give them an army's worth of guns and explosives, and set them loose to wreak havoc on anyone who so much as breathes on them the wrong way.

Co-written and directed by Stallone, "Expendables" is indeed a loosely plotted throwback to the bang-bang '80s, a cinematic period when muscled superstars chewed scenery (when they weren't blowing it up) and the actual story didn't have to make a whole lot of sense. Stallone and his pals — including Jet Li, Jason Statham, Terry Crews and Randy Couture — are a group of mercenaries hired to overthrow a South American dictator and the American drug lord who finances his despotism.

That's really all you have to know about the plotline. But there is a ton you need to know about this flick ... because despite its many flaws, "Expendables" still kicks a ton of cinematic ass. And MTV News is just the place to find out all about it. It's time to lock and load with our "Expendables" cheat sheet!

Expanding the Expendables
Word of the movie first dropped in November of 2008 when Variety reported that Stallone had pulled the project together with an eye toward beginning filming the following February in Costa Rica and Louisiana.

"It's a great circle of people to be involved with," Statham told us back then. "Sly is someone I grew up watching on TV and in the movies. He's a living legend. He's one of the biggest action stars that Hollywood's ever seen, the whole world's ever seen. And so the chance for me to come all these years later and be working alongside Sly is just one of those, like, pinch-yourself moments. Rest assured, it's going to be a kick-ass film."

Said Crews, "There are a lot of big personalities, big egos in this thing, but it is great. I think it's going to be wonderful for the fans."

Extending the Expendables
Filming didn't actually start until April of last year and it wrapped up three months later. But it wasn't until October that we got details about Sly's lone scene with Willis and Arnie, who both appear in brief cameos.

"I thought it was electric in Brazil when all of the Expendables stepped on-set — but today was atomic!!!" wrote a unit publicist. "[The] whole crew was mesmerized as we watched the three of them play off of each other in a pivotal scene that sets up the whole movie."

Actually, "atomic" was a pretty good word for the first trailer, which popped up in March of this year. There were guns, explosions and more guns. People said stuff, but mostly we paid attention to the guns. And the explosions.

A second trailer arrived in June, delivering less action but peeks at all of the famous "Expendables" faces.

Exalting the Expendables
Sly and his castmates stormed Comic-Con in July, delivering a slew of clips, an animated panel discussion and a late but satisfying arrival by Willis.

"The biggest problem I think today with action films is it's too much action and not enough reaction, guys just sitting around," Stallone told us. "Then you become invested. That's what they had in the old days. Like 'Magnificent Seven,' you maybe had 15 minutes of action and the rest is just character work."

"It is [a tough movie to put together], because these kinds of guys, there's not a lot of them in abundance, especially in the acting world," he added. "There is in sports but not in our particular chosen profession, so it took a while to get it together. Most of them have been veterans in their own films, so when you put all these guys together with this kind of muscle power, this kind of ego, it becomes an interesting challenge."

Check out everything we've got on "The Expendables."

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

Kanye West To Perform At 2010 MTV VMAs

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 09:22 AM PDT

Drake and Florence and the Machine will also perform; Nicki Minaj and other presenters announced.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Kanye West
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

He's back! Kanye West will make his triumphant return to the MTV VMAs on September 12, when the Chicago MC is set to perform for the show, which airs live from Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET.

West joins Drake and Best New Artist nominee Florence and the Machine as the first announced performers for the 2010 VMAs.

Kanye has appeared at every VMA show since 2004, winning Best Male Video in 2005 (for "Jesus Walks"), and Best Special Effects in 2008 ("Good Life"). The show will mark West's return to the VMA party after infamously crashing Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Female Video last year.

In the year since then, Kanye has gradually reemerged in the public eye, appearing for impromptu performances in unusual venues, opening an instantly popular Twitter account and releasing his new single, "Power," and an accompanying video "painting." In an interview with Hot 97 on Wednesday night, Kanye played a new song with Beyoncé called "See Me Now" and revealed that his new, yet-untitled album would be out on November 16.

Drake, who will make his VMA debut this year, is also nominated for two awards: Best Hip-Hop Video ("Forever") and Best Male Video ("Find Your Love"). His Young Money cohort Nicki Minaj, who is nominated for Best New Artist, is confirmed as one of the first wave of presenters. Selena Gomez, Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Trey Songz and Ne-Yo will also serve as presenters during the festivities.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on 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 from now through September 12.

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'Love The Way You Lie' Director Knew Eminem Video Would Be 'Giant'

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 03:29 AM PDT

'If I didn't do this video, I should just quit pop videos,' Joseph Kahn tells MTV News.
By James Montgomery


Eminem (file)
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

Joseph Kahn is one of the biggest video directors in the world, but he didn't get to where he is today by burying his head in the sand. So when he was approached about doing Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie" clip, he said yes, even though he was due to start shooting a feature film two weeks later.

But it wasn't only the big names that attracted him to the project ... it was actually the fact that everything about the project reminded him of another video he'd directed: Britney Spears' comeback single "Womanizer."

"It is like 'Womanizer,' " Kahn told MTV News. "Part of the success in [the video industry] is to be smart enough to recognize when those opportunities are given, and, you know what? I think if I didn't do this video, I should just quit pop videos, because it's obviously a giant thing that was about to happen. You couldn't get me away from this one."

So Kahn famously hammered out a treatment for the clip in one furious session and turned the video around at a breakneck pace. His hustle has already paid off, because "Love the Way You Lie" has quickly become one of the most talked-about videos in recent memory. And much like "Womanizer" did for Spears, its success has only added another chapter to Eminem's rather remarkable comeback story, which sort of proves just how smart Kahn is. Though, the way he tells it, this one was pretty much a no-brainer, all the way.

"I think that this is Eminem's finest album ... trust me, at the time, I was going to shoot my movie in about two weeks, so taking a week of my time away from my movie to do this is a huge commitment on my part," Kahn said. "The only reason I did it [was] because the song was so amazing, and the album is so great, and Eminem is in such a great moment, and it was such an important topic to do. He's dealing with these massive issues in such a brilliant, pop-y, artistic way, that, as a pop-video director, I cannot step away from this."

What's your favorite Joseph Kahn-directed video? Tell us in the comments!

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Shyne Says 50 Cent Is 'Desperate,' 'Stalking' Him

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 05:37 AM PDT

'He didn't call up saying he's Curtis Jackson,' the Belize MC says in response to Fif impersonating a DJ to disrupt live phone chat.
By Shaheem Reid


Shyne
Photo: Gangland

Belize-born MC Shyne led a Def Jam-sponsored conference call on Wednesday that was broadcast live on XXL magazine's Ustream. The call was supposed to have included DJs and journalists, but one of Shyne's musical nemeses, 50 Cent, decided to crash the proceedings.

In a video posted Thursday (August 12) on ThisIs50.com, 50 is seen on the phone claiming to be a radio personality: "Shawn from Radio One." Fif then poses the question, "What's your real issue with 50 Cent?"

50's call was quickly disconnected and he was blocked from calling back. Later on in the video, though, 50 is seen yelling into the phone, pretending to talk to Shyne, spitting Mel Gibson-eque obscenities and declaring "you're on an island. You can't go to war on an island."

On Thursday, Shyne, deported last year to his native Belize, responded in a Skype interview with MTV News.

"Wow. That's like an all-time low," Shyne said. "I didn't know he was so desperate. He's gone from confidential informant, witness-protection program dude, getting order [of protection] on muthaf---as. Now he's a stalker. I was in shock. He called up saying he was 'Jamal from Harlem.' He didn't call up saying he's Curtis Jackson, Hawaii 5-0. He's a busta. I can't believe it. I can't believe he would stoop to that low. Then again, a guy in the witness-protection program, he has no shame."

Shyne said he wasn't aware that it was 50 who had called in until after he'd finished his interviews.

"You know how it is. When you do these things, you always gotta expect a muthaf---a to call and he might be disgruntled. We took it as another disgruntled person. 'Cause you know, I don't know what his voice sounds like. I don't listen to nothing he do. If we on the yard, and they put his video on, they change the TV in the yard," Shyne explained, referring to his recently completed prison stint. "I don't jack that dude on no level. I don't know what his voice sound like. But somebody at Def Jam caught him. He's been reaching out to one of my generals in the street begging for peace. He caught his voice too. It was after the fact.

"I thought it was somebody who was having a bad day, who wanted to know the situation. It wasn't until after everything was finished, muthaf---as at Def Jam was like, 'That was Boo-Boo. That was Hawaii 5-0.' I was like, 'No. No.' Then he put the [video] out, like he was talking reckless. He's a creep. Any of my comments have been honest comments. These dudes do anything, I don't give a f---. It never bothered me. The fact that he's sitting in New York, selling his Vitamin Water, listening to my Ustream. What the f---? You're stalking me. Go take some steroids. Find something to do."

50 Cent could not be reached for comment.

What do you think of the situation between 50 Cent and Shyne? Tell us in the comments.

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Ke$ha Has 'Learned A Lot' From Rihanna On Tour

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 05:07 AM PDT

'Tik Tok' singer is 'petrified' of Last Girl on Earth Tour's Madison Square Garden stop Thursday night.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Christina Garibaldi


Ke$ha
Photo: MTV News

Rihanna is bringing her Last Girl on Earth Tour to Madison Square Garden on Thursday night (August 12), and that means opening act Ke$ha is feeling particularly nervous. Why? Well, it's Madison Square Garden!

"I'm actually a little petrified, to be honest. It's a landmark in my career, and it's just an epic venue. ... I'm just really excited, and I'm gonna try to kill it!" she told MTV News. "It definitely means a lot for me to be playing there, especially with Rihanna, 'cause she's so incredible. It makes me feel like I'm finally arriving here!"

The girls kicked off the tour earlier this summer, and the "Tik Tok" singer said she and Rihanna have had some fun times on the road together. "It's amazing! She's just a badass," she said. "I saw her yesterday, and she spanked me — always keeping me on my toes. She's the sickest."

With all that time together, have the girls discussed working together? "I would love to. I mean, it's kind of been tossed around," she said. "There's not really much time that we've spent writing and stuff on this tour, because it's been so crazy, but it's definitely an idea I'm not opposed to."

Ke$ha said she's learning tons from Rihanna on tour. "I don't know what she would be learning from me, aside from how to look like a maniac, but I definitely learned a lot from her," she said. "I've only been performing pop music for under a year, so I'm relatively new to the arena thing. It's terrifying, so I really do, every night, watch her, and she's so graceful and so sweet and so badass."

Her best advice? "She just always has such a good attitude. You just have to own it!"

Have you checked out the Last Girl on Earth Tour? What did you think? Share your reviews in the comments!

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Lady Gaga Brings Contagious Energy To Staples Center

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 06:10 AM PDT

After a 72-hour bender of recording new songs, Gaga played the favorites at first of two L.A. shows.
By Matt Elias


Lady Gaga performs at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — Fresh from her headlining gig at Lollapalooza, Lady Gaga rolled her Monster Ball into L.A. on Wednesday night for the first of two shows at the Staples Center. Hours before the concert started, Gaga's little monsters marauded around the venue decked out in Gaga gear. The theme for the ball may as well have been a "no pants party," with fans of both sexes parading in just fishnets and leotards.

It wasn't just Mother Monster's kin in attendance — Perez Hilton tweeted that Britney Spears was on hand for the show, though he said she left after a few songs. With the pop princess watching, Gaga took the stage just after 9 p.m. It was everything you would expect from a Gaga production — the sets! the costumes! the lights! — but what can't be overlooked is the energy. Gaga and her dancers gave it their all for two hours and change.

With four major set changes, 19 songs (not including the interstitial tunes) and an arching narrative throughout the show, the Monster Ball seems less of a concert than a Broadway musical at times.

The set kicked off with "Dance in the Dark," "Glitter and Grease" and "Just Dance" (the opening notes of which were played on a keyboard that was hidden under the hood of a broken-down car). Gaga's first wardrobe choice of the night was a pair of oversize purple shades, a giant shoulder-padded purple jacket and a purple leopard-print leotard underneath.

After the first few songs, Gaga addressed her adoring crowd. "The Monster Ball is sexual freedom," she declared. "Tonight in Los Angeles we'll be super freaks and monsters."

And she continued her conversation with the audience throughout the night. With fans on their feet during a rousing rendition of "LoveGame" (encouraged by Gaga's "Now dance, mother----ers!), she thanked them for buying tickets and supporting her. "Tonight, I want you to free yourselves, forget your insecurities."

Next up was "Boys Boys Boys," followed by a brief exit. She returned from beneath the stage on a riser to perform "Money Honey." She then took time to call a fan in the cheap seats and surprise him with tickets closer to the stage. It was a perfect segue to "Telephone," which was one of the most elaborate dance routines and biggest sing-alongs of the night.

But Gaga had to settle the crowd for at least a few minutes during the night. With her piano rising from the beneath the stage, she launched into "Speechless" — which she dedicated to her dad, who was also in attendance. Next was new tune "You and I," proving that all she really needs is her voice and a piano.

The new song was a tease of what's yet to come. Gaga announced that she had been on a 72-hour bender of writing and recording new music. "I want to put it out tomorrow," she said, "but I can't!"

"So Happy I Could Die," "Monster" and "Teeth" kept the show moving until the climactic "Alejandro," "Poker Face" and Paparazzi." At one point, Gaga emerged in a bra and panty set that sprayed sparks from her unmentionable regions.

But the crowd's biggest eruption occurred during the encore. With the curtain still down, Gaga's familiar "oh, oh, oh-oh-oooh" broke over the speakers, and fans instantly recognized "Bad Romance." As fans roared, the curtain lifted to reveal her in a rotating sphere wearing a mirrored angular outfit. It was her 19th song of the concert — with almost as many wardrobe changes — and it was finally time for Gaga to call it a night as her monsters exited the ball sweaty and satisfied.

Have you been to see Lady Gaga in concert? Share your favorite moments in the comments!

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'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows' Dividing Point Revealed

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 05:16 AM PDT

First movie will end 'at about Chapter 24 of the book,' according to upcoming article in Entertainment Weekly.
By Josh Wigler


Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I"
Photo: Warner Bros.

Given that the novel clocks in at 759 pages and 36 chapters, not to mention a controversial flash-forward epilogue, there's little question that the film adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" needed extra legroom to properly stretch itself. As a result, Warner Bros. made the fan-supported decision to split the final installment of the "Harry Potter" franchise into two movies, but one question still plagues Potterites everywhere: At what moment in the story will the films split up?

It would seem that the answer is upon us, as "Harry Potter" fan site Muggle Net has come across what appears to be scanned pages of a "Deathly Hallows" preview article from an upcoming issue of Entertainment Weekly. In the article, it's clearly stated that the November-releasing first installment of "Deathly Hallows" concludes "at about Chapter 24 of the book, with Voldemort gaining possession of the Elder Wand, one of the three Deathly Hallows that allow the bearer to conquer death."

By all accounts, it appears that the scans are legitimate, potentially putting an end to countless hours of fan speculation about where the two movies would diverge. In the article, Warner Bros. Entertainment President Alan Horn spoke about splitting the last "Harry Potter" novel into two films, acknowledging that there were certainly commercial reasons driving the final decision.

"I don't want to be disingenuous or dishonest about this," Horn told Entertainment Weekly. "There's no question that Warner Bros. will make more money with two films than they would have with one. But we also never, ever would have done this if [author J.K. Rowling] had not endorsed it and if we didn't feel that we were providing a better finale, with a more full sense of closure. We just respect and love the books too much for that."

Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1."

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

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Lloyd Banks Was Patiently Waiting For The Right Record Deal

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 04:20 AM PDT

'50 is 100 percent behind me,' Banks, Friday's 'RapFix Live' guest, tells MTV News of G-Unit boss.
By Shaheem Reid


Lloyd Banks
Photo: Johnny Nunez/ WireImage

In less than 24 hours, Lloyd Banks is going to spill the beans. The Southside, Queens, native is the next guest on "Rap Fix Live", and he'll reveal to our own Sway what company he and 50 Cent have decided will distribute his next album, The Hunger For More 2. The live stream airs Friday at 1 p.m. ET on MTV.com.

A couple of weeks back, we spoke to Banks on the New Jersey set of his video for "Any Girl", where he said he was in no rush to sign a contract.

"I'm patient. I know the right situation is definitely gonna [present] itself," he explained. 'When that happens, it's gonna be on and running. 50 is 100 percent behind me, behind my project. Whatever I say I wanna do, he's gonna push that button. That's all you need is somebody to be in your corner like that."

"Any Girl" is the next single from Banks' HFM2, and the video has been selected for a turn as MTV Jams' highly coveted Jam of the Week; it enters the rotation on Sunday.

"I'm running through my day-to-day going to see a few of my girls," Banks explained of the concept when we visited the video set. I got a white girl, I got [a] Spanish girl, a black girl, and I'm going to basically lie to them and tell them how much I love them and how much I want to see them," he said.

"He flew into New York [and] knocked out the record in like 15, 20 minutes," Banks said about the song's guest star, R&B singer Lloyd. "His work ethic is incredible. He was actually independent at the time so ... it was no restraints. It was like, 'Let's go!' "

Catch Lloyd Banks on "RapFix Live" on Friday at 1 p.m. ET!

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Semi Precious Weapons Tweet-N-Greet With Fans Before Lady Gaga Tour

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 04:41 AM PDT

One lucky fan, who traveled all the way from Australia, got two free tickets for their SPW devotion.
By Matt Elias


Semi Precious Weapons' Justin Tranter
Photo: MTV News

LOS ANGELES — Semi Precious Weapons are known for their unabashed stage presence, flamboyant wardrobe and, maybe most of all, undying love for their fans. So when Lady Gaga's opening act hit Los Angeles for the Monster Ball Tour, the band invited MTV News along to witness firsthand a pre-show tweet-n-greet, with a very precious prize at the end.

SPW frontman Justin Tranter explained how it all goes down: "Every single day, we announce where we're going to have our Semi Precious Street Corner. So we show up somewhere every day to give away two tickets, free tickets, to the Monster Ball."

By the time the band tweeted their location from backstage and walked across the street from the Staples Center, 30 die-hard fans were already lined up. What followed was an energetic, impromptu trivia game to award tickets to the Weapons' biggest fan.

Once they arrived, Tranter took command of the crowd to narrow down three finalists.

"What is the fourth song on our album?" Tranter asked.

" 'Statues of Ourselves,' " finalist #1 answered.

Tranter continued: "Finish the sentence: 'Rock and roll never looked so ... ' "

"Beautiful!" screamed finalist #2.

"Last question: What is his name?" Tranter asked, while pointing at the band's bassist.

"Cole!" finalist #3 shouted.

With the lightning round over, Tranter had one more declaration before he picked the lucky fan. "Now, listen, you can't hate me if you don't win tickets, because I love you all, I love you all — but one of you is going to get two tickets," Tranter said. "OK, this last part gets really fancy. Are you ready?"

He then broke into the playground-worthy selection method "eeny, meeny, miny, moe," landing on a tearful super-fan who traveled all the way from Australia.

How would you have done on SPW's trivia test? Let us know in the comments!

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Kanye West's Greatest Awards-Show Performances -- Until 2010 VMAs

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 12:55 AM PDT

From his epic 'Jesus Walks' at the Grammys to his powerful return at the BET Awards, 'Ye knows how to work the stage.
By James Montgomery


Kanye West performs at the 2008 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

On Thursday (August 12), Kanye West took to his Twitter account to proclaim: "Just met with MTV and it's about to go down! VMAs!!!" What he meant, of course, is that he'd just been confirmed as a performer at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

On Sunday, September 12 — live from Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET — things are gonna get really interesting, because while Kanye is perhaps best known for his awards-show tirades, tantrums and troublemaking, he has a lengthy list of downright amazing performances over the years too.

So, in anticipation of Yeezy's triumphant return to the VMA stage, we've compiled a list of his greatest awards-show performances yet:

"Love Lockdown," 2008 MTV VMAs
One year after vowing he'd "never return" to MTV, Kanye thankfully went back on his word, closing out the 2008 VMAs with a stirring premiere of "Love Lockdown," the first single from his 808s & Heartbreak album. Decked out in a gray suit (complete with beating, LED heart), backed only by a line of riot-gear-clad Japanese drummers, this was an introduction to West's stripped-down, vulnerable 808s era. Of course, given that he performed the tune in front of an acre-sized wide screen, "stripped down" is a relative term. It's Kanye we're talking about, after all.

"Power," 2010 BET Awards
West returned from his self-imposed exile (after the Taylor Swift incident at the '09 VMAs) with this performance, a fiery, fierce debut of his brand-new single "Power." Standing atop a volcano, impossibly huge Horus chain draped over his neck, the message was clear: Not only was he back, but West was stronger than ever. And also, apparently, fire-retardant.

"Swagga Like Us," 2009 Grammys
Joined by fellow hip-hop heavyweights T.I., Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and (a very pregnant) M.I.A., Kanye wowed the Grammy audience with an appropriately swaggering take on the epic posse cut. The performance recalled the glory of the Rat Pack years — tuxedos, bandstands, etc. — and, judging on his verse alone, West was most definitely the Sinatra of the evening.

"Jesus Walks," 2005 Grammys
Arguably Kanye's biggest performance of all time. Joined by Mavis Staples, John Legend and the Blind Boys of Alabama, he took the audience to Sunday service, danced around like Diddy, died in the arms of a silhouetted woman, attended his own funeral, then ascended to heaven, in a white suit and angel wings. Seriously, all of that happened. Oh, and moments later, his College Dropout wins Best Rap Album, at which point West gives an ultra-cocky speech that culminated in him proclaiming, "A lot of people were wondering what I was going to do if I didn't win anything tonight ... I guess we'll never know."

"Stronger" and "Hey Mama," 2008 Grammys
The polar opposite of "Jesus Walks," this performance starts off with a typically Kanye-ian take on hit single "Stronger" (smoking lunar landscape, glow-in-the-dark suit, Daft Punk cameo) but then makes an abrupt about-face, as West ditched all the flash and did an updated version of his song "Hey Mama," changing lyrics to reflect the recent death of his mother, Donda. Crouching beneath a single spotlight, he nearly breaks down at several points, and when he's done, the Grammy audience gives him a much-deserved standing ovation. It's his most straightforward performance to date. And yet, it's also his most powerful.

What is your favorite Kanye awards-show performance? Are you looking forward to what he'll do at this year's VMAs? Let us know in the comments!

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on 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 from now through September 12.

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'Glee' Star Lea Michele Wants Justin Timberlake Super Bowl Episode

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 03:29 AM PDT

'If not Justin, I would hope it would be the sequel to the Madonna episode,' Michele says of possible post-Super Bowl show.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Lea Michele
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images

Back in January, Lea Michele told us she was hoping for a dance-off between Matthew Morrison's Will Schuester and Justin Timberlake on "Glee." Well, the show might be getting a little closer to securing JT and/or his music.

"I think they are saving Justin Timberlake for the Super Bowl episode," Michele told The Hollywood Reporter. "They have to be, because he is so perfect for our show. He has to be on it! When I met Jessica Biel, like a loser, I asked her to tell Justin to come on our show. [Laughs.] She was a little taken aback and said, 'Um, OK. I'll tell him.' "

Michele said that if "Glee" producers don't make a JT episode happen, she's fine with revisiting the hitmaking catalog of his "4 Minutes" collaborator. "If not Justin, I would hope it would be the sequel to the Madonna episode," she said. "She has so many more amazing songs we didn't even touch."

When the New Directions crew might tackle Timberlake's hits is still up in the air, but the cast is buzzing about delving into the hits of his ex, Britney Spears. Michele is slated to revamp Spears' debut smash " ... Baby One More Time," and Heather Morris (whose character happens to be named Brittany) has said she wants to switch up "Toxic." "Circus" and "Stronger" are other jams from the pop princess that might turn up in the episode, but castmember Naya Rivera said homing in on a few Spears songs is a major challenge.

"There are so many great Britney songs to choose from; how do you pick just one?" Rivera wondered.

How do you feel about a Justin Timberlake "Glee" episode? Let us know in the comments below!

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Kanye West Fans Aren't Seeing Eye To Eye On 'See Me Now'

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 05:03 AM PDT

Fan reaction to the MC's Beyoncé-featuring single ranges from 'wack' to ' 'Ye is back!!!!'
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Kanye West
Photo: Dominique Charriau/WireImage

Fans agree that Kanye West is back, but they can't seem to agree on how they feel about that. The MC unveiled his latest single, "See Me Now," on Wednesday, and since then, Kanye followers have being going back and forth about whether the track is on fire or a fail.

The song, which features soulful contributions from Beyoncé and Charlie Wilson, is expected to appear on his upcoming untitled album, but, for many, the song takes things back to the MC's debut, College Dropout.

"Wow, it reminds me of College Dropout. Good to hear 'Ye laugh!" Ezekiel wrote on West's Kanye UniverseCity blog.

Bryan C.G. agreed: "This totally feel like your Dropout days. I love it."

Some fans, such as Prolifik, are all about 'Ye reviving the strings-laden throwback soul that kicked off his recording career. "Amazing! Classic flow, classic beats," the fan wrote. "I miss that old College Dropout steez! Welcome back, 'Ye."

" 'Ye is back!!!!" Tiffany wrote. "Hip Hop needs you so much!! You're brilliant."

While lots of online commenters are feeling the song, some of the MC's fans aren't seeing the appeal of "See Me Now." "This song is hot garbage," Luis Ariza declared on West's Facebook page.

The Facebook post announcing the song scored more than 580 "likes" at press time, however, some fans were not on the "See Me Now" bandwagon. "[It's the] first song from Kanye that I have not liked," Ariza wrote.

"This song needs major work," Real Talk proclaimed on West's blog. "I want harder beats and to be able to move my feet." Chad Jones also chimed in on Facebook: "Not feelin it. Huge Kanye fan and love the evolution in his music but the track is wack. Lyrics are nice but track is wack."

" 'Ye is the man, but this song is WEAK!!!" Wallace Leeth wrote.

Jay Yey Couture thought the G.O.O.D. Music lyricist was upstaged by fellow superstar Beyoncé and undermined by the instrumental. "Kanye will sell this fall, that's for sure. However Beyoncé made this song!!!!!" the fan typed. "Kanye had too much time to come with ... this [weak] beat ... he could have did wayyyyy better."

Yeezy might not have won over all his fans with the single, but he does have the opportunity to redeem himself on the awards-show stage: West will perform at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, which air live September 12 at 9 p.m. The appearance marks his VMA return after a notorious onstage dustup with Taylor Swift, but it appears the rapper is taking the incident in stride. West closes "See Me Now" with the ad lib, "Uncle Charlie, by the way. And I'mma let you finish, but I got Beyoncé on the track."

What do you think of "See Me Now"? Let us know in the comments below!

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on 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 from now through September 12.

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Francis And The Lights Call Drake Co-Sign 'Overwhelming'

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 03:29 AM PDT

'I accept the challenge that it brings,' frontman Francis Farewell Starlite says of tourmate Drizzy's support.
By Jayson Rodriguez


Francis and the Lights
Photo: MTV News

Francis and the Lights opened up for Drake more than 30 times during the Toronto rapper's Away From Home Tour, but in the lead-up to what should be a somewhat smaller show at S.O.B.'s on Thursday (August 12), the band says expectations have made it seem like anything but a regular gig.

"I really feel like it's my debut show in New York, even though it really isn't," frontman Francis Farewell Starlite told MTV News. "I feel like some aspect to it ... I'd be lying if it didn't have something to do with the idea of who is gonna be there — press- and music business-wise. But I also can't have any expectations of that. But that would be exciting, if it was blown up in that way."

The show is in support of their newest effort, It'll Be Better, the band's third, and most ambitious, project to date. After two EPs, Francis, a veteran of the New York City performance circuit, set about working on Better, a collection of stripped-down tracks and searing vocals.

In addition to Drake, Ryan Leslie is another champion of the singer. And Kanye West posted the singer's cover of "Can't Tell Me Nothing" on his blog last year. Francis called the support, particularly from Drake, "overwhelming." But, he added, he's completely prepared for all of the attention that often comes with such a heavy co-sign.

"It's humbling in that way," he explained of Drake, whom he collaborated with on Thank Me Later's "Karaoke."

"It's someone whose work you admire and it means something to you. In that way, it's almost overwhelming. I think that's the word for the amount that he has brought me to the forefront. It's overwhelming. But at the same time, I'm ready for it. And it feels right to me. And I accept the challenge that it brings."

What do you think of Francis and the Lights' latest album? Share your reviews in the comments!

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'Jersey Shore' Fans 'From All Over The World' Flock To Shore Store

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 01:57 AM PDT

'They work really hard,' owner says of the Situation and crew's return to Seaside Heights T-shirt shop this summer.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Ignacio Guzman


Cast of "Jersey Shore"
Photo: MTV

"Jersey Shore" fame has made its stars the Beatles of South Jersey this summer. But the cast isn't the only draw for fans making the pilgrimage to Seaside Heights. It seems the T-shirt shop where castmembers made a living during season one, the Shore Store, has also become quite the hotspot.

Shore Store owner Danny Merk told MTV News that people have been flocking to the boardwalk to catch a glimpse of the Situation, Snooki and their pals.

"People from all over the world ... a lot of kids came down here from Australia, they want to see it because they go to New York City and it's so close to New York, they have to make the trip. So, Australia, California all the time, Ireland, Germany, Israel," Merk said of the show's international fanbase. "It's crazy!"

Of course, the Shore Store is cashing in on the increased tourism but the positive buzz has been good for the boardwalk in general.

"It's busy in here all the time now," Merk said. "People want to buy little things. But it's helped all the places on the boardwalk because you can't just shop at one store. So they're going to every store, they're paying for parking, buying a slice of pizza, playing a game. You can't pay for the exposure we got. Grateful's not even the word."

Although the cast is enjoying international fame, it hasn't made them slackers at work. Now back shooting in Jersey for what will be season three, their boss, Merk, gave them positive reviews.

"They work really hard. They don't slack much. And there's always something to do and they try hard," he said. "They don't seem like they've changed a bit. They seem like the same guys, a little bit nicer clothes, driving a little bit nicer cars — but that's about it."

Merk said the show hasn't made Shore Store a household name yet, but his Seaside home has become a "national monument" since the cast moved in.

"That's my house they moved into. I moved out and they moved in. Seeing it on TV, it's crazy!" he said. "It's weird. I hope they stay there forever."

Will you make a trek to the Shore Store this summer? Let us know in the comments!

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

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Jay Sean Says '2012' End-Of-World Theory Inspired New Single

Posted: 12 Aug 2010 02:10 AM PDT

'The whole point ... of this song [is] to just enjoy the moments,' singer says.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Akshay Bhansali


Jay Sean
Photo: MTV News

For Jay Sean, his new single, "2012 (It Ain't the End)" is not about enjoying life two years from now but rather living it up in 2010. The British singer told MTV News that he was inspired to urge fans to "live like it's the end of the world" after checking out the sci-fi flick "2012."

"I saw the film ... and I started to hear about the actual conspiracy theory and I was like, 'OK, so here we go. It's that whole Y2K thing again,' " the singer said about theories that suggest the world will end in two years. "And that didn't happen, clearly."

Featuring a few bars from a member of Sean's extended Cash Money/ Young Money family, Nicki Minaj, "2012" rallies listeners with its peppy party vibe. The pop crooner said he wanted the track, from the forthcoming follow-up to his hit album, All or Nothing, to get fans to jam like the world is ending but also to remember that it's not.

"Sometimes you need to remind people to let go of all the heaviness they're carrying through the day. Yes, you had a stressful day but it ain't the end there. That's why it's called '2012 (It Ain't the End),' " Sean explained. "It ain't the end of your day, it ain't the end of the world. It ain't the end of anything. It ain't the end of your relationship. If things are going bad, you can always fix it. That's what the whole point ... of this song [is], to just enjoy the moments."

Sean made sure the upbeat message of the song is clearly reflected in the accompanying video, which shows partygoers doing it up in three different cities.

"The concept of the video is basically all about throwing the biggest party, celebrating life," Sean told MTV News on the "2012" set in July. "It's basically going around the world, from London to Tokyo to New York, seeing people celebrating good times."

What do you think of Jay Sean and Nicki Minaj's "2012" collaboration? Let us know in the comments below!

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