MTV News |
- Lady Gaga's 'Telephone': The Story Behind Her VMA-Nominated Video
- Drake Has 'A Couple Of Women' He'd Like To Hug At VMAs
- Weezer's 'Memories' Video Promises Skateboarding, Silly Hats
- Florence And The Machine's Epic Breakthrough: A VMA Cheat Sheet
- Trey Songz Says 'Unusual' Is All About 'Spontaneity'
- YG Says Ladies Can 'Toot It And Boot It' Too
- It's Lady Gaga's 'Moment' At The VMAs, Celebs Say
- LFO's Rich Cronin Dies At 35
- Drake, B.o.B Lead Celebs' Picks For Best Hip-Hop Video VMA
- Lady Gaga Vs. Eminem At VMAs: Ke$ha Weighs In
- Amy Winehouse To Appear On Quincy Jones Tribute Album
- Adam Brody Says His Kristen Stewart Comments Were 'Ungentlemanly'
- Is Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance' Video Of The Year?
- B.o.B Calls Opening For Eminem/Jay-Z A 'Career' High
- Snooki Gets Fine, Community Service In Disorderly Conduct Case
- Kings Of Leon 'Radioactive' Video Pays Tribute To Band's Southern Roots
- 50 Cent Says He's Taking 'Break' From Twitter
- Bruno Mars Says 'Words Cannot Express' His Excitement For VMAs
- M. Night Shyamalan Was 'The Uncool Kid' In High School
| Lady Gaga's 'Telephone': The Story Behind Her VMA-Nominated Video Posted: 09 Sep 2010 03:50 AM PDT Lady Gaga's 'Telephone' is up for Video of the Year at this year's VMAs.
Up until the release of "Telephone," Lady Gaga had been trying to one-up herself visually from music video to music video. She quickly went from producing simple party-music videos like the one she released back in 2008 for "Just Dance" to creating spectacles and feasts for the eyes thanks to over-the-top clips like "Bad Romance" and her cartoon-like video for "Telephone." Nominated for three 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year, where it will face off against "Bad Romance," "Telephone" is nearly 10 minutes of fashion, Gaga, Beyoncé, dancing and murder. Directed by iconic music video helmer Jonas Åkerlund, Gaga took fans for a ride and amped them up with clues as to what they might expect from the video.
What did they get? Gaga's own take on gender politics and Hollywood's fascination with ladies who kill. The video picks up where "Paparazzi" leaves off: Gaga breaks out of prison after killing her beau ("True Blood" star Alexander Skarsgård) in her "Paparazzi" video, then in the "Telephone" clip, she and Beyoncé go on a killing spree in the famous truck from "Kill Bill" before making a "Thelma and Louis"-like pact to stand by one another no matter what. "There was this really amazing quality in 'Paparazzi,' where it kind of had this pure pop music quality but at the same time it was a little bit of commentary on fame culture," Gaga explained about the video. "I wanted to do the same thing with this video -- take a decidedly pop song, which on the surface has a quite shallow meaning, and turn it into something deeper: the idea that America is full of young people that are inundated with information and technology and turn it into something that is more of a commentary on the kind of country that we are." And for the killer video, Gaga brought her "Video Phone" pal Beyoncé in for the track and the video, and the video's look was certainly a change of pace for Beyoncé. "The video in a lot of ways is more about [Beyoncé] even than it is about me," Gaga has said. "It was sort of a pop-art venture for me to bring her into my world. In a way, the video is an attempt for her and I to erase pop music as we know it up until this very point. It's meant to change the perspective of the world on what a pop music video should be and she's kind of the vehicle for that. In reality, more people around the world are familiar with her aesthetics than they are with mine. It was something for me to kind of change the way that you see her for one video." It was a video that recalled not only such iconic flicks as "Kill Bill" and "Thelma and Louise," but also pop-culture moments like anything by Madonna, someone to whom Gaga has frequently been compared, the famed musical "Chicago," Andy Warhol and Wonder Woman. But, as Åkerlund would later explain, the video's colorful, mind-bending visuals were all uniquely Gaga's. "Gaga's a little different because she has, like, the first [idea], which makes my job easier," he said back in March when the video first hit the streets. "She always has the first couple [ideas] to tell you. So, based on what she tells me, I write a treatment, she has comments on it. So that's how we go into the ideas. She's boiling. Her brain is amazing. She's filled with ideas. "She writes music and thinks [of] images and wardrobe and all those things that are important for videos," he continued. "It's more like a concept than just me being a director for hire and doing a video and I'm out. It's a natural part for her. She's that generation of artists that think about all these things." With the chance at winning a few Moonmen at Sunday's big show, Gaga might feel inspired to make a sequel to the clip, as is teased at the end of the splashy video. But, as Åkerlund has said, don't expect anything anytime soon. That really wasn't their intention. "Well, there's no plan," Åkerlund explained. "As I said, we're very spontaneous. We'll see ... I mean, it'll be cool, but we just left the door open. So we'll see." The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event 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 Best New Artist from now through Sunday. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Drake Has 'A Couple Of Women' He'd Like To Hug At VMAs Posted: 08 Sep 2010 07:43 AM PDT 'I'm just excited to see all the faces I never met,' he tells MTV News.
This is a family network, so we can't print what Lil Wayne wants to do to every girl in the world (you can pick up the Young Money compilation to find out), but Weezy's protégé Drake has a cleaner desire when it comes to the women attending the 2010 Video Music Awards.
The Toronto MC wants to hug a number of the celebrity starlets in attendance. It is, after all, Drake's first VMA experience. He said he would start with Angelina Jolie and move onto Alicia Keys, though the recently christened Mrs. Swizz Beatz would only get a congratulatory squeeze, Drake said. "I get to meet everybody," he said of his plans for the Sunday night's big festivities. "There's a couple of women I'd like to hug. I'd like to hug Angelina Jolie. I wanna hug Alicia. I'm happy for her. I wanna tell them in person: I'm still a fan." With the Thank Me Later rapper's rapid rise, it's easy to forget before this year his VMA experience consisted of catching the show from his couch rather than in the house. But after scoring a number of nominations, including Best Hip-Hop Video, the Toronto lyricist has an invite not only to attend the Chelsea Handler-hosted event, but also perform. To hear him tell it, he'll be enjoying the blowout on Sunday night just as much as anybody else. "I'm just excited to see all the faces I never met," Drake said. "I wanna shake some hands. I been working so hard, I hardly ever get to go to any parties in L.A. or anything. This is it. This is my time." The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event 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 Best New Artist from now through Sunday. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Weezer's 'Memories' Video Promises Skateboarding, Silly Hats Posted: 09 Sep 2010 03:50 AM PDT Clip featuring the cast of 'Jackass 3-D' premieres today at 5 p.m.
The lyrics to Weezer's new single, "Memories" (from their forthcoming eighth album, Hurley) paint a picture of the band back when they first began playing clubs and trying to scrape together a living on the backs of the songs from their landmark self-titled debut.
"I had been married for a few months and had been in school for the semester before that, and basically I had been away from the band and the rock world for a while," frontman Rivers Cuomo told MTV News. "I was really missing it, and just sitting there alone in my room missing the fans and missing my band, so 'Memories' is about getting back in there." So when they decided to shoot the video — which premieres Thursday (September 9) on MTV, right after an all-new episode of "Jersey Shore" — it's no wonder the group decided to call some old friends. Those friends? Johnny Knoxville, Wee Man, Chris Pontius, Steve-O and the rest of the crew from "Jackass" (who also happen to have a brand-new movie, "Jackass 3-D," hitting theaters in October). They got together for what "Jackass" director Jeff Tremaine calls "an old-school skate jam," featuring a cavalcade of extreme tricks in and around an empty pool. Like most Weezer videos, "Memories" relied on unpredictability. "We're kind of making it up as we go along, to be honest," Knoxville told MTV News when we visited the set last month. "We brought funny hats and some Super 8 cameras. I think that's the video. Are we over-selling it?" With the low-fi cameras and the rapid-fire editing, the "Memories" video closely resembles a DIY skate video from the '80s — something the guys went for on purpose, starting with the location. "It really is a legendary spot," Tremaine said. "It made sense once we decided what we were doing. It's from 'The Search for Animal Chin,' a legendary skate video from back in the '80s -- '87 or '86 — that the Bones Brigade made. That was Tony Hawk's team. They filmed in here, and it became an old, classic skate spot." Don't miss the premiere of Weezer's "Memories" video on MTV, Thursday (September 9) at 5 p.m. |
| Florence And The Machine's Epic Breakthrough: A VMA Cheat Sheet Posted: 08 Sep 2010 08:06 AM PDT Four-time nominees will perform at Sunday's VMAs.
We hate to say we told you so, but we totally told you so. Back in January, we picked English rock group Florence + the Machine as one of the potential breakout artists of 2010, and, well, we can't lie, we were totally right. Not only did the band's debut album, Lungs, top the charts in England, but thanks to flame-haired singer Florence Welch and a penchant for high-energy performances, the Machine became a staple on festival bills across the world this year and the go-to soundtrack for TV shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "So You Think You Can Dance." With a sound that mixes the art-rock attack of Yeah Yeah Yeahs with Lily Allen's cheeky soul croon and a bit of the White Stripes' garage ooze, the band has gained attention for Welch's penchant for injuring herself onstage while scrambling up lighting rigs and leaping off speaker stacks. "I'm quite unrestrained, and it does lead to some accidents," Welch told us in January. "Onstage, I seem to have this force field of protection, so I rarely injure myself onstage, even as I'm climbing up rafters or jumping off of things." After giving up the drums to take the lead-singer role, Welch was shocked, to say the least, by her band's four nominations at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards. The nods for Best Rock Video, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and, yes, Video of the Year for the trippy "Dog Days Are Over" clip were described as an "iconic event" by the singer, who said she's watched the VMAs on TV since she was a kid. "It's one of those things: It's not real life, it's a dream scenario," said Welch, who is essentially a one-woman band augmented by session players on live dates. "So for me to be actually a part of it feels like I'm in some sort of parallel universe. It's kind of strange and wonderful and terrifying all at the same time." It's quite a journey from the recoding of "Dog Days," which Welch said originated in a closet where she and a friend banged their hands against the walls and used pans as instruments to lay down the beat. The visually striking, stark video casts an ashen-faced Welch as a kind of future-shaman leader of an eclectic band. Wearing a white dress and white makeup, she does a freaky hippie dance as the members of her troupe appear on the spotless white set: first two blue-skinned, bouffant-wearing dancers, a pair of red-hooded harp players, masked percussionists, a 10-person gospel choir and a kabuki cymbal player. She spends most of the video emoting the dynamic song's lyrics, wearing a geisha outfit with red eye makeup and a furry dress. That is, until she starts waving a blue flag and making her bandmembers disappear one by one in a puff of dust. The clip is notable for its lack of a traditional narrative, but also for the way it puts the full attention on the charismatic singer as she sells the song with just some simple dance moves and colorful outfits. It took a while for Lungs, which was released in July 2009 in England, to catch on in America. By the time U.S. audiences began taking notice, the CD had already reached #1 in the U.K., and audiences there became well-acquainted with the story of how it was inspired by a temporary breakup between Welch and longtime love Stuart Hammond. The first single, the rollicking "Kiss With a Fist," was included on the soundtracks of "Wild Child" and the Megan Fox flop "Jennifer's Body." But it was the use of "Dog Days" in ads for the Julia Roberts summer hit "Eat Pray Love" that helped the album start its march up the Billboard charts in America this summer, as did the placement of another single, "Cosmic Love," in shows ranging from "The Vampire Diaries" to "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Grey's Anatomy." It also didn't hurt that in May, it was announced during the slow reveal of the "Twilight Saga: Eclipse" soundtrack track list that her song "Heavy in Your Arms" would be included on the hit release. After lighting up such British festivals as Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds in 2009, the group was confirmed for October's Voodoo Fest in New Orleans, as well as Sunday night's VMAs. Will Welch upset the heavily favored, 13-time-nominated Lady Gaga at the big show? Tune in to find out. The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event 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 Best New Artist from now through Sunday. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Trey Songz Says 'Unusual' Is All About 'Spontaneity' Posted: 09 Sep 2010 03:50 AM PDT 'That's pool tables. That's car hoods. That's restaurant bathrooms,' the singer who 'Invented Sex' explains of his latest Drake collabo.
Trey Songz and VMA-nominated Drake have collaborated on numerous tracks, from their early "Replacement Girl" to the over-the-top "I Invented Sex." But their "Successful" probably best captures the two artists' rise to the forefront of their respective genres in the past two years. And the dynamic duo's latest collabo measures up to their typically high standards.
With just days until the release of Songz's fourth studio album, Passion, Pain & Pleasure, Trigger's "Unusual," featuring Drizzy, leaked to the Internet. The R&B star stopped by MTV News this week and spoke about the track. "The 'usual' is whatever is expected," Songz said. " 'I know you're tired of the usual,' that's what the song is saying, 'I could give you more than the usual,' " he continued, reciting the song's chorus. "The 'unusual' is spoken about all through the record: That's rooftops. That's pool tables. That's car hoods. That's restaurant bathrooms — that's taking it beyond. That's spontaneity." The duo teamed up once again with Drake producer Noah "40" Shebib (he also worked on "Successful"), who created a far more upbeat romp for "Unusual." Songz said he wanted take their previous success a step further. "The thing with Drake and I is, after the last album having a record like 'Invented Sex,' which was such a powerful title and power collaboration for the both of us, I wanted to do something that took it to the next level, and I think this record does that," Songz said. Given his and Drake's success and how much they've worked together, there has been talk of a collaborative album, but Songz said that probably wouldn't happen anytime soon. The singer explained that when the question was first posed, Drake hadn't even dropped his debut, Thank Me Later. While they're close friends outside of music and will continue to work together, Trey said any project has to be organic. He also had nothing but high expectations for Drake's upcoming R&B mixtape, though he did offer some advice. "Drake's a great writer, has a great voice and makes great songs. The advice I would give him in putting that mixtape out is making sure he can perform those songs, because people will want to hear them." What's your favorite Trey/Drizzy collabo? Tell us in the comments! |
| YG Says Ladies Can 'Toot It And Boot It' Too Posted: 08 Sep 2010 08:06 AM PDT L.A. rapper looks to capitalize on debut single's success, in Mixtape Daily.
Fire Starter: YG If you've set foot in L.A. over the last few months, you've definitely heard YG's "Toot It and Boot It." The laid-back, infectious tune is a staple of any SoCal party, and it's starting to gain traction throughout the rest of the country.
So the next question on everyone's minds has to be: What does the phrase "toot it and boot it" mean? "The song 'Toot It and Boot It' means have fun for one night," YG explained. "Go to Vegas, you meet a girl in the club, tell her what's up, take her back to the hotel, and then you do you-know-what, then after you do that, you kick them out. You got to go. You toot it and boot it. You got to give them the boot, and then it's on with your life." The song is a new take on the old notion of a one-night stand. YG said the track came together after producer and vocalist Ty$ and a few of his homies invited him to the studio to jump on a track they were working on. And despite the song's seemingly misogynistic overtones, YG insisted "tooting and booting" is an equal-opportunity sport. "The girls like that song, because they do a lot of tootin' it and bootin' it too, so they feel where I'm coming from," he said. The rapper hails from L.A. and is signed to Def Jam, a label not traditionally known for signing too many West Coast acts. YG had amassed an impressive following in L.A., thanks to the promotional team he co-created "Pu$haz Ink." He caught Def Jam's attention by pushing his high-energy party music at shows and clubs. YG's debut album, Fresh on Campus, will definitely have his traditional party vibe. His previous producers handled a majority of the album, and his next single, the suggestive "Patty Cake," is in line with what fans expect from him. "I wanted to come out with 'Patty Cake,' because 'Toot It and Boot It' is a laid-back song," he said. "I feel all my fans know me as the party dude, like, 'He turnt-up,' so I feel like I've got to come out with something next that's turnt-up." YG's third single, "Hell Yeah," will have a bit more star power with a potential feature from "Deuces" duo Chris Brown and Tyga. He knew Brown's best friend, Miho, from L.A., and he connected the two artists. Brown was more than happy to jump on the song when YG sent it to him. He was debating adding Tyga, joking that he selfishly may want to be the only one rapping. Besides his debut release, which is slated for early 2011, YG recently filmed the movie "We the Party," directed by Mario Van Peebles, and he said he's been asked about starring in the Tupac Shakur biopic. YG said he enjoyed his first acting experience and said he might stick with it. "I really liked it, you feel me?" YG said. "I hear that's where the money at, so I'm finnin' to go get the money." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. |
| It's Lady Gaga's 'Moment' At The VMAs, Celebs Say Posted: 08 Sep 2010 06:46 AM PDT Record-breaking nominee 'made music really exciting,' Jason Derülo says.
Lady Gaga's "little monsters" have made it all too clear how enraptured they are with the inimitable singer, viewing her elaborate videos millions of times, following her every tweet, vamping it up in homemade Gaga gear and, of course, snatching up her music like it's going out of style.
Outsize admiration for the out-of-the-box singer comes from her celebrity peers as well. Stars doled out all types of snaps for Gaga, who has racked up a record-smashing 13 MTV Video Music Award nominations. Quirkily ornate clips like "Telephone" and "Bad Romance" featuring murderous roadside romps and stylized bathhouse seductions have landed Gaga coveted nods in categories such as Best Pop Video. She is also the first female artist to be recognized for Video of the Year twice in the same round of nominations. "She's brought something totally different to the scene," Gaga's tourmate and fellow VMA nominee Jason Derülo told MTV News. Derülo, who is up for Best New Artist, which Gaga won last year, added, "She made music really exciting." Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy said Gaga's ability to mash major theatricality with dance-floor-packing mega-hits has secured her status as one of contemporary pop music's most revolutionary figures. "I think she kind of took this whole performance-art thing to a whole different level," McCoy said. "I wish nothing but the best for her." At last year's festivities, Gaga turned in an unforgettable VMA debut that included a rendition of "Paparazzi," in which the singer bled to death, and a carefully choreographed lineup of over-the-top costume changes. Fellow theatrical breakout star Nicki Minaj said she admired the singer's pop-culture reign and conceded that, right now, it's all about Gaga. "This is her moment, and I'm really proud of her as a woman and as somebody that's just fearless." What do you think Gaga will do at this year's VMAs? 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 Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event 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 Best New Artist from now through Sunday. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Posted: 08 Sep 2010 08:05 AM PDT Singer was diagnosed with leukemia in 2005.
Rich Cronin, the former frontman for boy band LFO, known for the 1999 hit "Summer Girls," died Wednesday (September 8) of leukemia. He was 35. TMZ reports that the singer lost his long battle with cancer Wednesday afternoon after suffering a stroke. Cronin was first diagnosed with myelogenous leukemia in 2005 after complaining of exhaustion and headaches. He later established the Rich Cronin Hope Foundation to raise awareness for cancer treatment. Cronin's manager Melissa Holland confirmed his death in a statement on the singer's Facebook page. "On behalf of the Cronin family and all at the Hope Foundation and [his record label] Orange Freeze, thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts. Continue to post them as a tribute to a great man, a better artist and the best friend I could ever have." Fellow boy-bander Lance Bass of 'NSYNC tweeted about Cronin's death, typing, "Sad sad day that Rich Cronin died- was a amazing guy. : (" Cronin, a native of Boston, shot to fame in the late '90s as the frontman of LFO alongside bandmembers Brad Fischetti and Devin Lima, writing the breezy hit "Summer Girls," which playfully name-checked Abercrombie & Fitch. Managed by onetime boy-band mogul Lou Pearlman, who also guided the early careers of 'NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, the trio released their eponymous album in the same year. The album also yielded the hit "Girl on TV," which featured Cronin's reported flame Jennifer Love Hewitt in the accompanying video. He also penned the group's second album, Life Is Good, according to a biography on the singer's MySpace page. However, Cronin later slammed Pearlman, accusing him of swindling the group out of millions of dollars and publishing rights and maintaining inappropriate relationships with other artists he managed. "I've had to go to therapy ... he's really a creepy guy," Cronin said in 2009. Cronin briefly bounced back from his health and professional issues as a castmember of the 2007 VH1 reality show "Mission: Man Band," which featured former boy-band stars Chris Kirkpatrick from 'NSYNC, Color Me Badd's Bryan Abrams and 98 Degrees' Jeff Timmons. The show, helmed by Grammy-winning producer Bryan-Michael Cox, followed the stars' attempt to get back in the limelight as the boy-band supergroup Sureshot. Cronin later released his first solo album, Billion Dollar Sound, in 2008, and LFO announced a reunion and tour in June 2009 before disbanding later the same year. In January, Cronin appeared to be back doing what he loved and tweeted about working on new music. "Hey guys I'm just in Boston writing in the studio," he wrote. "Hoping to make it all work!" Share your memories of Rich Cronin in the comments below. Related Artists |
| Drake, B.o.B Lead Celebs' Picks For Best Hip-Hop Video VMA Posted: 08 Sep 2010 05:01 AM PDT Nicki Minaj, Gucci Mane, Lil Twist and more weigh in.
The Best Hip-Hop Video category at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards will pit a blue-chip lineup of MCs against one another.
The collaboration-heavy field includes B.o.B (featuring Hayley Williams) with "Airplanes," Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Eminem with "Forever," Eminem with "Not Afraid," Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz with "On to the Next One," and Kid Cudi (featuring MGMT and Ratatat) with "Pursuit of Happiness." The category includes nods for two legends, Em and Hov, who boast acclaimed late-career albums, but the recent focus has been on two big-in-2010 newcomers: Drake and B.o.B. Atlanta upstart B.o.B, whose "Airplanes" duet was also in the running to be crowned MTV's Summer Jam of 2010, has made a lot of noise with his melodic singles and chart-ruling LP, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. But Drake had fans rioting, screaming and weeping in anticipation of his debut, Thank Me Later, and even bloggers fell back when it came to posting leaked songs, out of respect for the Toronto MC. So who will take it? When MTV News hit up a slew of celebs, the stars seemed split over which lyricist should walk out of the VMAs with a shiny new Moonman for his mantle. "Definitely would like to see Drake take it, 'cause he's a good friend of mine, and definitely B.o.B, because he's hometown," said fellow ATL spitter Gucci Mane. "I would like to say ... B.o.B for the hometown and Drake on the strength [of his skills]. He's a talent." "They're both really good, but B.o.B's just more my style," said Kendall Knight of Big Time Rush. "Drake's the man; he represents Canada. But B.o.B's really cool." "My brother Drake, he has to win. It's Young Money, he gotta win that one," Drizzy's Young Money cohort Lil Twist insisted. "Shout-out to B.o.B, but Drake gotta win that one." Disney actress Keke Palmer said she's been cool with Drake since their child-star days, but she's also feelin' newbie B.o.B. "I love Drake. Whenever I did something in Toronto, I used to go visit him on the set of 'Degrassi.' Then I love B.o.B because I met him and he's so cool and we're friends," Palmer said. "I don't know what to do, because I love both of them." Rapid-fire Chi-Town lyricist Twista was all about the gritty knock of Hov's contending video. "I like all [of those] songs, but that "On to the Next One" with Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz is crazy," Twista smiled. "That's my jam right there." Sarah Hyland of the Emmy-winning hit "Modern Family" said, "I love Eminem. His new album [Recovery] is amazing." Nicki Minaj may hook up a range of artists with a colorful feature, but she proves that, in the end, she stays loyal to her hip-hop family. "Do you even have to ask that? My baby Drake ... he does this," Minaj said. "Young Money." Regardless of who takes it Sunday, Gucci pointed out that just being recognized is a dope distinction. "From Kid Cudi to everyone you named on that list, big ups and respect," Gucci noted. "It's an honor to be nominated." Who do you think will win Best Hip-Hop Video at this year's VMAs? 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 Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event 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 Best New Artist from now through Sunday. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Vs. Eminem At VMAs: Ke$ha Weighs In Posted: 08 Sep 2010 07:25 AM PDT 'I have mad respect for both of them,' Best New Artist nominee says.
The buzz around our MTV Video Music Awards has hit a fever pitch, with just four more days until the biggest stars in music descend on the Nokia Theatre for a night of major performances, special guest appearances and plenty of unplanned surprises.
When we caught up with spunky Best New Artist nominee Ke$ha -- who is also up for a Best Collaboration Moonman with 3OH!3 for their peppy clip for "My First Kiss" -- she seemed eager to just attend the festivities. "I don't even think I'm invited," she joked (we think). When asked what her plans are for the show, she suggested some slightly over-the-top pranks -- and that she might lose control of certain bodily functions. "I might throw water balloons at people," she said. "I might pee myself just thinking about it." Regarding her take on the evening's biggest prize, Video of the Year, the "Tik Tok" singer was torn between VMA-nomination dominators Lady Gaga and Eminem. "I have mad respect for both of them, so I can't really say who I'd pick," she said. "I think that Eminem is really amazing, because he's so honest and I really connect with brutally honest people and artists. And then Gaga's whole thing is incredible too. I can't really say who I hope would win, but I'd like to see what's going to happen." Who do you think will win? Lady Gaga or Eminem? Share your thoughts in the comments! The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event 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 Best New Artist from now through Sunday. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Amy Winehouse To Appear On Quincy Jones Tribute Album Posted: 08 Sep 2010 06:18 AM PDT Singer has teamed up with Mark Ronson to re-record the 1963 hit 'It's My Party' for Q: Soul Bossa Nostra.
Amy Winehouse achieved global fame by layering candid, contemporary lyricism over throwback, doo-wop sounds. Now she's putting those powerhouse vocals and her affinity for retro rhythms to use for her latest foray back into the spotlight. The U.K. singer will contribute a track to Q: Soul Bossa Nostra, a tribute album celebrating the work of legendary producer and musician Quincy Jones. Winehouse has hooked up with British producer Mark Ronson, who crafted the infectious old-school groove of her sophomore release, Back to Black. For the new project, the duo revamped the playful, if pouty, "It's My Party," the 1963 Lesley Gore hit produced by Jones. "Amy and I are both incredibly honoured and excited to be recording this song for Quincy. The regard she holds him in is second to none," Ronson said in a statement released Wednesday (September 8). "We've gone back and forth on this track, fixing and improving it until we were satisfied it was good enough for Quincy." Jones appeared amped to welcome Winehouse and Ronson's contribution to Q, which is slated to be released on November 9. "Amy's talents as an artist are undisputable and I am astounded not only by her voice but by her tremendous knowledge of and respect for music and its history," Jones said in the statement. "I am thrilled that she and Mark wanted to be a part of this album and I absolutely love what they did to make the song their own." The Jones track is the latest step toward the limelight for Winehouse, who has battled headline-grabbing issues with drugs and divorce among other personal dramas. Earlier this year, the Roots' ?uestlove said he and Winehouse were tinkering with a supergroup, and in July, the singer hopped onstage at a Ronson gig in London. Winehouse has also been working on solo material. When she stepped out at the July premiere of "Psychosis," directed by new flame Reg Traviss, she said her latest album should be available by January and would revisit the well-worn sounds of her previous effort. "It's going to be very much the same as my second album, where there's a lot of jukebox stuff and the songs that are ... just jukebox, really." Are you looking forward to Winehouse's return to music? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Adam Brody Says His Kristen Stewart Comments Were 'Ungentlemanly' Posted: 08 Sep 2010 07:02 AM PDT 'I sounded like a jackass,' 'The Romantics' actor says of telling KStew to 'quit' the acting business.
It was the comment that launched a thousand hate e-mails and lit up "Twilight" message boards across the World Wide Webs. Previously adored, charming guy-next-door actor Adam Brody backhandedly told Kristen Stewart to "quit" acting if being famous bothered her so much.
The firestorm was sparked by an interview Brody gave on Diablo Cody's online chat show, "Red Band Trailer." When Cody asked Brody whether he enjoyed his celebrity or if he would prefer to be known as just "an actor," referencing Stewart's comments about wanting to be left alone, his response was a bit testy. "It's only gotten worse, I'm sure, being a celebrity," Brody, who is in the "Scream 4" cast, said. "At the same time, I don't have a lot of patience for people who moan about it too much. Because there are many things you could do. ... It's like, quit ... you don't need to be an actor, so it's like, if it's that much of a problem ... there's the door." And with that, the hate-on-Adam-Brody campaign began. When MTV News caught up with the man in question to talk about his upcoming ensemble flick "The Romantics," we asked him whether his response might have been taken out of context. "I, no, I just, I, this is horrible," he started, seemingly uncomfortable addressing the hot-button issue. "It wasn't taken out of context. I saw [the episode] and thought I sounded like an idiot. I did," Brody admitted. "Regardless of how anyone else took anything, I would think that sounds very ungentlemanly and I sounded like a jackass." A Hollywood actor who publicly acknowledges a gaffe? Well done, Mr. Brody. Points to the former "O.C." star for his honesty! What do you think of Adam's latest response to the KStew flap? Tell us in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. |
| Is Lady Gaga's 'Bad Romance' Video Of The Year? Posted: 08 Sep 2010 02:37 AM PDT VMA contender overloaded Gaga's website when it premiered.
Lady Gaga will be battling a ubiquitous, game-changing pop upstart in the MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year category: herself. Gaga goes on a post-jailhouse murder spree with fellow pop superstar Beyoncé in the Video of the Year-nominated "Telephone," but the visual trickery, bizarro couture and steely Russian mob guys of "Bad Romance" give "Telephone" some super stiff competition. For starters, "Romance" almost broke the Internet when droves of fans shut down the singer's website in November for a chance to see the highly anticipated clip. The "Romance" mania is not all that surprising given the buzz the track racked up in the weeks leading to the video's release. The track likely garnered approval from Gaga's fashion-forward followers when the pulsating hit closed the spring 2010 show of late high-fashion demigod Alexander McQueen. And the rest of the country's curiosity had probably piqued days before when Gaga performed a snippet of the track on "Saturday Night Live" after a faux catfight with Madonna. When the visual finally surfaced, replete with all types of eye-popping imagery, it was well worth the wait. The Francis Lawrence-directed clip takes place in a stark, all-white Bath Haus of Gaga. Her eyes are bugged-out and her waist digitally nipped to cartoonish proportions, she busts out semi-nude dance sequences with strategically placed strips of lace covering her lady bits, rocks some deliriously decadent beaded headpieces and teeters on some insanely high McQueen heels before wrapping up the affair in a torched bed with sparks flitting from her bra. Buried in the smorgasbord of high-fashion and high-octane moves is an equally eyebrow-raising narrative. "There's this one shot in the video where I get kidnapped by supermodels," Gaga told MTV Newslast fall. "I'm washing away my sins and they shove vodka down my throat to drug me up before they sell me off to the Russian mafia." Gaga explained that the video was inspired by the no-nonsense sensibilities of her New York City homegirls and paid tribute to her pals in the form of shades fashioned from razor blades. "I wanted to design a pair for some of the toughest chicks and some of my girlfriends — don't do this at home! — they used to keep razor blades in the side of their mouths," Gaga said. "That tough female sprit is something that I want to project. It's meant to be, 'This is my shield, this is my weapon, this is my inner sense of fame, this is my monster.' " Fans gobbled it up. Kerrianne De'Alessandro told MTV News, "I loved her outfits again — her hair and her nails were so cool. They had, like, lace on them." Linh Dedalto added: "I love how her costumes are all crazy, but that's just how she is." The video went on to rack up more than 200 million views on YouTube, and even legends like Smokey Robinson, whose soulful catalog is decidedly more toned-down than Gaga's arena-ready repertoire, shelled out props. "I think that Lady Gaga is so different and she has taken the world by storm," Robinson told MTV News. "I enjoy her music. So I think that she's unique. Unique always has a chance." Do you think Gaga's "Bad Romance" will win Video of the Year? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday 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 Sunday. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| B.o.B Calls Opening For Eminem/Jay-Z A 'Career' High Posted: 08 Sep 2010 04:45 AM PDT Five-times-nominated MC also tells VMA host Chelsea Handler on 'Chelsea Lately': 'Five is my favorite number'; friend T.I. is doing OK.
If T.I.'s recent club appearance didn't convince fans that the rapper is taking his recent arrest in stride, then rapper B.o.B's latest comments about his Grand Hustle boss will probably reassure them. On Tuesday night, the "Airplanes" MC took a seat on "Chelsea Lately" to talk to this year's VMA host, Chelsea Handler, about his fellow ATL native. Asked how his friend T.I. was doing after being arrested alongside wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle on drug possession charges, the 21-year-old said he had spoken to his T.I. and "everything is going good." B.o.B also revealed that the duo have been recording a batch of new tracks. "We've been working in the studio and have a lot of really good songs to look forward to," he said. Nominated at this year's VMAs for five awards, B.o.B told Handler, "Five is my favorite number." The rapper also talked about opening up for Eminem and Jay-Z's Home and Home stadium shows, which kicked off last week in Detroit, calling them the highlight of his career. "It's amazing," he said, jokingly describing the event as a "hip-hop Woodstock." "I think out of everything that I've experienced in my entire career, opening up that night was when it finally set in. I was like, 'Whoa,' " After a highly successful collaboration with Paramore's Haley Williams on the VMA-nominated "Airplanes," the rapper's manager, Brian "B.Rich" Richardson, recently revealed on Twitter that the MC may be working with a few other music staples, including Drake and 50 Cent. "By the way B.o.B & Drake met look for something out of them in Jan. Drake is cool as f---!!" he tweeted. "50 cent was there he was cool he came up to B.o.b & said he has his CD in constant rotation & wants to do a song with B.o.B!!" he added. Who would you like to see collaborate with B.o.B? Tell us your picks in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Snooki Gets Fine, Community Service In Disorderly Conduct Case Posted: 08 Sep 2010 12:53 AM PDT 'Thank you judge for understanding,' 'Jersey Shore' star tweets after sentencing.
"Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, appeared in a Seaside Heights, New Jersey, courtroom on Wednesday (September 8) to face misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, creating a nuisance and being criminally annoying. After a brief hearing, the judge in the case found that she was not guilty of criminal conduct in the July 30 incident and agreed to a deal in which Polizzi pleaded guilty to disturbing the quiet enjoyment of the beach, and the disorderly conduct and public nuisance counts were dismissed. Polizzi had earlier pleaded not guilty to all three charges. She was sentenced to two days of community service and fined $533. "Ah never again! So scary...thank you judge for understanding, I'm very thankful for that! Whew...now I can breath!" Snickers tweeted a half hour after leaving court. Following the court appearance, Polizzi's lawyer, Ray Raya, said the entire incident was blown out of proportion and that it was simply the case of a young woman having some fun and a few drinks with her friends. "She just acted silly on the beach that day," said Raya in a press conference streamed on TMZ following the hearing. "Her conduct was not criminal ... she stumbled into a couple of people on the beach." Raya said it is the nature of Snooki's unique reality-TV celebrity that everywhere she goes, she draws a big crowd, and on the day in question he said she was being trailed by more than 300 people who were screaming her name and trying to get her attention. "It was an anomaly in an otherwise well-lived life," he said. But Raya took issue with comments by Judge Damian Murray during the hearing, in which the judge called the pint-size dynamo a "Lindsay Lohan wannabe," comparing her to the recently rehabbed star with a history of drug issues and arrests. Raya pointed out that Polizzi has no such record and that she promised that this would be her last time in a courtroom for this kind of behavior. According to TMZ, the judge scoffed at Polizzi's antics in the incident, during which she reportedly was spotted with a beer bong, falling off her bicycle and stumbling into other people on the beach. Murray urged Snooki to decide if "it was worth trading your dignity for a paycheck." Murray also wondered how much was scripted and how much came from Snooki herself, saying that going through life acting "profane" and "self-indulgent" was no way to live. Polizzi assured him that nothing was scripted and that all her boozy antics were her idea alone. A contrite Snooki, wearing a dark gray suit, said she was "very embarrassed" by the incident and that she has never been in this kind of, well, situation, before. Raya said Polizzi has already served some time at the Popcorn Park Zoo as part of a community service agreement, feeding the lions and cleaning out animal cages. Related Photos |
| Kings Of Leon 'Radioactive' Video Pays Tribute To Band's Southern Roots Posted: 08 Sep 2010 05:20 AM PDT Tennessee rock quartet serves up all-American apple pie and soda in sun-drenched clip for gospel-tinged single.
Kings of Leon have featured exploding buildings ("Notion") and fast-paced montages of sold-out concert venues ("Use Somebody") in their videos, but for their newest, they take a more laid-back approach. The band released the sepia-tone video for "Radioactive" on Wednesday (September 8) on their website, KingsofLeon.com, and it finds the Kings at a Southern-style summer barbecue. The band substitutes beer and cigarettes for sodas and pie as a youth choir is seen backing the band throughout the song. "It's in the water/ It's where you came from," lead vocalist Caleb Followill belts out on the track's chorus. As images of sun-drenched green fields and tables full of apple pies are set to gospel vocals and Matthew Followill's heavy guitar riffs, "Radioactive" provides a glimpse of KOL's Southern origins. "We grew up in this type of lifestyle," drummer Nathan Followill explained in a video posted on the group's site about making the clip. "Gospel music was a big part of us growing up, so to be able to come back and revisit that part of our lives at this stage in our lives is a very special thing." The Kings of Leon are originally from Tennessee, but they can call most of the Southern states home after spending much of their childhoods traveling with their father, a Pentecostal preacher, to various Southern churches and congregations. "Radioactive" is the first single from the band's fifth studio album, Come Around Sundown, which is set to for a October 19 release. There were problems, however, in the early stages, bassist Jared Followill explained in the video. The new single almost didn't make it onto the upcoming record. "The choruses started off kind of spiritual but the verses were never matched up to them at all. ... We went into the studio and we tried it and it wasn't really working ... we were going to scrap the whole song." It was only when the band began recalling childhood memories that the tune came to life. "Caleb, he kind of went back to an old spiritual song that we had all sung growing up," Jared continued. "It matched up with the chorus so nice that it all worked out from there." What do you think of KOL's new video for "Radioactive"? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| 50 Cent Says He's Taking 'Break' From Twitter Posted: 08 Sep 2010 03:01 AM PDT Fif says he'll 'concentrate on the music,' including possible Kanye West, Swizz Beatz collabos, but promises to tweet again post-VMAs.
Unless 50 Cent changes his mind, we're all safe until about ... the day after the 2010 VMAs. 50 — who has made quite an impact on Twitter in recent weeks with his outlandish posts — says he's taking a break from social networking until Monday, the day after the big show. When we spoke to him in Detroit last week as he, along with his G-Unit soldiers Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks, joined Eminem and Jay-Z's Home and Home concerts at Comerica Park, Fif explained to MTV News the reason for his tweeting hiatus. "I just had to give it a break because I had to go back to writing. Writing my record," he said. "Concentrate on the music, picking the right things." On Twitter, 50 said he previewed some of his new material for Eminem, and the ones Slim Shady told him to play over and over are the songs he's keeping. The multiplatinum mogul has been getting an abundance of beats to choose from. "A lot of producers send stuff that's interesting," he said. "To me, it inspires me to write with different cadences, see a different style. I don't want the record to sound like old material. I want it to sound like something new. They all go, 'Oh, Fif, we want that Get Rich or Die Tryin'. They do the same thing to Jay-Z, [but] if you want the old one, buy the old one. If you want the new material that the artist is inspired to write, check it out. "I sat with Swizz [Beatz]; I'mma try to get in with him. Don't even be surprised if you hear me and Kanye, just talented artists — period. I'mma collaborate and make a monster this time. Ain't nobody off limits to me in my head. If creatively they have something they feel is something for the project, I'm with it." The Queens MC doesn't have a release date yet for his new LP. Instead, the Unit's focus has been heavily on their "Punch Line King," Lloyd Banks. Lloyd dropped a new record called "See Me Bright" just this past Friday and, like Kanye West, he's promising new music every week on the same day. Banks' The Hunger for More 2 comes out November 23. Do you think it's smart for 50 Cent to take a break from Twitter? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Bruno Mars Says 'Words Cannot Express' His Excitement For VMAs Posted: 08 Sep 2010 01:46 AM PDT 'It's so surreal,' the singer/producer says of performing and being nominated for Sunday's show.
It's no secret that this has been a big summer for Bruno Mars. Whether he's producing profanity-laced records with Cee-Lo Green, collaborating with B.o.B and Travie McCoy or touring to promote his debut EP It's Better If You Don't Understand and upcoming LP, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, this producer-turned-rock/soul singer is popping up everywhere.
This week alone, Mars is hitting our screens with the premiere of his "Just the Way You Are" video and with a performance at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards. "It's all happening so fast," Mars told MTV News last month, when reflecting on his successes in the past months. His collaboration with B.o.B, "Nothin' on You," is also up for Best Pop Video at the show, which airs live on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET. "It's so surreal," he said. "I grew up watching the VMAs and seeing everyone doing their thing on it." The singer, who's also one third of the production trio the Smeezingtons, said he actually found out he'd be performing at the show before he heard he'd been nominated. "It's kinda like the biggest stage of our generation, so to be nominated AND get to perform ... words cannot express." The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event 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 Best New Artist from now through Sunday. Related Videos Related Photos |
| M. Night Shyamalan Was 'The Uncool Kid' In High School Posted: 08 Sep 2010 02:52 AM PDT 'I know I'm not going to be Mr. Cool and I'm always going to be on the outside of things,' writer/director says.
M. Night Shyamalan is one of those public figures people love to hate. Whatever the reason — many point to "The Last Airbender" director's last few films' lack of box-office success — it seems whatever he does, the feisty teeming masses are ready to jump on him with over-analysis and hate. Related Videos |
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