MTV News |
- Linkin Park's 'Waiting For The End' Video: House Of Cards
- The Situation Defends His Snooki 'Love Tap' On 'Jersey Shore'
- Gucci Mane Says Latest Jail Bid Changed Him
- Lauren Conrad Dishes On Her New Fashion Line
- 'Stone' Star Milla Jovovich Recalls Fluffing De Niro's Pillow
- Busta Rhymes Talks Up Nicki Minaj, Drake On 'RapFix Live'
- La Roux Reveal Kanye West Collabo Details On 'The Seven'
- 'Jersey Shore' Star Pauly D Says 'Love Is Louder Than Hate'
- Ciara Tells Students To 'Never Stop Learning'
- Busta Rhymes Recalls Battling Jay-Z In High School
- 'Glee' Britney Spears Episode Slammed By Parents Television Council
- Kanye West's 'Runaway' London Screening Was A 'Mad Event' 
- Lil Wayne Sends Last Letter Before Solitary Confinement
- Lloyd Banks Says Kanye West Collabo 'Made Sense'
- Katy Perry Releases 'Firework' Artwork
- Kanye West Adds M.I.A., La Roux And Alicia Keys To Album
- 'American Idol' Champ Lee DeWyze To Drop <I>Live It Up</I> In November
- New York Comic Con Preview: 'Unbreakable,' Danny McBride And More!
- Pitbull Returns The 'Jersey Shore' Love
- Lauren Conrad Reveals Which Pals Will Appear On New MTV Show
| Linkin Park's 'Waiting For The End' Video: House Of Cards Posted: 08 Oct 2010 03:02 AM PDT Latest A Thousand Suns clip requires a few viewings to appreciate.
About a month ago, I decided to compare Linkin Park's A Thousand Suns album to Radiohead's venerable Kid A, a move which earned me some new fans (Hi, Mike Shinoda!) and more than a few detractors too (Hi, Internet!).
But regardless of what you thought of my assessment, you have to admit it's pretty apt, especially given the premiere of LP's brand-new video for "Waiting for the End." Because "End" — which debuted Friday morning (October 8) on MTV.com — is a spiritual successor to Radiohead's "House of Cards" clip, the much-ballyhooed thing that premiered two years ago and was most notable for the fact that it was made without a camera, instead relying on stuff like "Geometric Informatics" to create images of Thom Yorke looking very Thom Yorke-y. I'm pretty sure Linkin Park at least used a camera to make their video, but stylistically, "Cards" is definitely the touchstone. Of course, that's pretty much where the similarities end. Because while "House of Cards" went to great lengths to be as icy and inhuman as possible, "Waiting for the End" positively teems with living energy. Sure, director (and LP DJ) Joe Hahn may distort his bandmates with all manner of tech detritus — stretching their skin, compacting their faces, covering their bodies in fractal grids — but unlike Yorke, they are not ghosts inside a machine. They are alive. And that wasn't just an aesthetic choice. After all, one of the central themes of A Thousand Suns is the uneasy coexistence between man and machine — where one begins, the other ends and the two intersect. "Waiting for the End" is mostly about that last idea — human beings becoming machines — and the struggle to keep living in spite of it. In a way, it's the central dilemma of our times: How do we continue to be human in an increasingly information-driven age. At least, that's how I see it. You could also look at "End" as just another really cool video or a final farewell to LP's past — it's probably the least Linkin Park song and video they've ever released — but that's probably selling the clip short. Like A Thousand Suns itself, "End" is the kind of thing that only gets better with repeated consumption and deeper diggings. The complexity is there if you're willing to work for it. Then again, what do I know? After all, I'm the dude who compared them to Radiohead. Share your reviews of the video in the comments! Related Videos |
| The Situation Defends His Snooki 'Love Tap' On 'Jersey Shore' Posted: 08 Oct 2010 03:02 AM PDT Snooks, however, described the incident as a 'slap in the face' on the show.
Just call it a "love tap." That's how the Situation describes one of the most talked-about moments from Thursday's episode of episode of "Jersey Shore." It all went down when Sitch was trying to round up the roomies after a night at the club. Snooki didn't want to leave, and to get her attention, he raised up his hand to her. "Don't f---ing slap me in the face and tell me that I need to go home," Snickers said on the show.
But to hear it from the Situation, all he was trying to do was keep her safe and avoid another incident like the one that went down during season one, when a drunken bar-hopper punched Snooki in the face. "Snooki sometimes drinks a little too much," he explained to MTV News. "She is unaware of her surroundings and unaware of what's going on. Everybody was leaving, and she was the only one staying there. We usually go as a group and stay as a group. To avoid what happened in season one, I really wanted to try and keep an eye on her and not necessarily slap some sense into her, but let her know, 'Hey, you can't be here by yourself. You're a little girl, and the whole group was leaving.' It was a little love tap." While the Situation maintained he had the best of intentions, he does acknowledge that he might have "went about it the wrong way or went about it too seriously." Yet he stopped short of expressing regret for his actions, adding, "I never regret anything." "It's not like I punched somebody in the face," he continued. "It's not like I did a full smack, a hard smack. It was a little tap to her cheek. Like, 'Wake up, you're going to get hurt.' And if you care for somebody, that is definitely acceptable, because you're looking out for somebody." What did you think of the incident? Share your thoughts in the comments. Don't miss "Jersey Shore" every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. |
| Gucci Mane Says Latest Jail Bid Changed Him Posted: 08 Oct 2010 03:02 AM PDT 'I lost so much in there that I came out with a much sharper focus,' Gucci tells Los Angeles Times.
Within a space of a year, Gucci Mane went from being a much-buzzed-about MC to another, if exceptional, inmate at Georgia's Fulton County Jail. After wrapping up a six-month prison bid in May for violating his probation, Gucci got on his grind for his latest LP, The Appeal, which dropped late last month. The Atlanta mic-ripper said the obviously difficult circumstances of his prison stint affected his new music.
"I changed a lot in there," Davis recently told the Los Angeles Times. "I know this is serious now and I have a lot to get off my chest. This record is painful and gothic and epic, but it's the soundtrack of my past." Although Gucci is no stranger to a government-issued jumpsuit, having served time in 2006 and 2009, the MC said he had to adjust to certain aspects of life outside the prison walls. "It's strange to go from being locked up to a month later everyone saying, 'Gucci, let's party!' " he said. "But I lost so much in there that I came out with a much sharper focus." As one of many high-profile lyricists entangled in the U.S. penal system, Gucci also reflected that bringing street elements into the music game is an issue for MCs. "(Prison) is a real problem in hip-hop — it's a struggle to let that culture go. You can't let the ideology of the street get you in trouble," he said, adding, "I just wish I didn't have to go to jail to learn that. But sometimes we have to sacrifice and be responsible." Armed with newfound insight, Gucci recently told MTV News that the just-released Appeal LP is a candid expression of his personal experiences and perspectives. "The Appeal, I think, is my best album to date. I had a great time making the album," Gucci said. "It's my last five months recorded of my life. My take on things, my principles, my morals. That's all it is. I just spoke it on 15 tracks, so I think people are gonna love it. If they ain't got it, they need to get it, or they'll hear about it." What do you think about Gucci's new outlook? Sound off in the comments! |
| Lauren Conrad Dishes On Her New Fashion Line Posted: 08 Oct 2010 03:02 AM PDT MTV reality show will document launch of LC's higher-end collection.
Lauren Conrad is ready to document the launch of her new higher-end fashion line on her new MTV reality show. With both projects in their planning stages, LC is enjoying the calm before the storm. "Well, we're in the very beginning process," she told MTV News on Tuesday of her two latest endeavors. "We just submitted all of our tech packs for samples, so very early stages."
Just because things seem laid back now doesn't mean Conrad isn't bracing herself for the more high-impact stages of getting the line off the ground. "It will get stressful after this, when you're dealing with deadlines, and you're dealing with production and the possibility of a fashion show," she explained. "That's kind of when all the stress comes in. So, right now we're just picking colors and doing samples." As LC has previously shared, she's gotten help from some old friends for the line: Maura, her roommate, and Gary, who fans might remember from his time on MTV's short-lived reality series "Styl'D." "We haven't started filming yet, so stay tuned!" she said. "But my roommate and one of my best friends is running the company, the business end, and another one of my good friends, Gary, is doing kind of the creative direction." LC previously designed a line for Kohl's, which she made sure was accessible for that particular demographic. "I do a lot of basics, so we have a great blazer, a high-waisted black skirt and biker jacket, and all those pieces can be traded throughout ... It's a lot of layering, a lot of switching-up, so you can get more mileage." Will you wear LC's designs? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Stone' Star Milla Jovovich Recalls Fluffing De Niro's Pillow Posted: 08 Oct 2010 03:02 AM PDT 'It was like, 'Bob are you OK? Can I fix the pillow?' ' actress says of shooting steamy love scenes.
From the outside looking in, some might argue that one of the biggest perks of being an actor is getting to "hook up" with a variety of partners for cinematic love scenes. And while the end results are often highlight-reel material (a.k.a. our coveted MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss), most actors agree that they're not as sexy as fans make them out to be.
Speaking to that subject, MTV News recently caught up with "Stone" actress Milla Jovovich, who shares a few steamy moments with Hollywood legend Robert De Niro. In the film, Jovovich plays the wife of a convicted arsonist (Edward Norton) who is sent by her husband to try and manipulate his parole officer (De Niro) into granting him an early release. We asked Milla about the scenes, specifically how she and De Niro prepared for the racy sequence. "We didn't talk about it much beforehand," Jovovich said. "At the same time, I just wanted to make sure he was OK. We were sort of sliding around a little bit on these silk sheets. So it was like, 'Bob, are you OK? Can I fix the pillow?' And he was like, 'No, it's good, thank you.' " Jovovich went on to say that despite any preconceived notions, the esteemed Oscar-winner is a sweetheart. "You know he's a very sweet man and I think a lot of times ... obviously everybody has seen all of De Niro's movies, so you get this picture of him that I think his films really influence [your perception]," she said of De Niro's history of playing "these kind of fringe characters." "And so, of course, you come on set expecting him to be these characters when he isn't. I mean he's a really sweet guy and he's a really normal guy. "Like Edward said, everybody has their process," she added. "You just have to be ready for anything." Norton also seemed to echo Jovovich's warm feelings about co-star De Niro. "When I found out he was in ['Stone'], and he rang me up too and said, 'This could be really good for us,' that was exciting," Norton recalled to MTV News. "I definitely felt that this will be good for us, and we know each other's rhythms and we can really mix it up in a way that would be thrilling to me." Check out everything we've got on "Stone." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Busta Rhymes Talks Up Nicki Minaj, Drake On 'RapFix Live' Posted: 07 Oct 2010 07:17 AM PDT MC also shouts out favorite new hip-hop stars Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole on latest live stream.
The gravelly, mic-melting flow and outsize personality of Busta Rhymes have been etched in the minds of hip-hop heads ever since he kicked off his solo career with his multi-hued, high-energy 1996 video for "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check." Since then, he's set the bar high for inventiveness in hip-hop, with eye-popping visuals and a singular flow that can swing from understated to unruly in a single verse.
So, who among hip-hop's latest class of freshman MCs does Bus-a-Bus believe is taking the game to the next level? During his "RapFix Live" interview on Thursday (October 7), Busta broke down the newbie rap stars he's checking for. "I give it up to J. Cole, he's one of my favorite new MCs," Busta said. "Very creative, his spit game is incredible to me. I think he delivers well and he's been exemplifying consistency." In addition to the Roc Nation lyricist, Busta said Young Money's multi-skilled singer/spitter Drake is also putting a serious dent in the scene. "I gotta big up Drake," Busta continued, "It's not every day that you come across one of those dudes that have the ability to just do so many different things and still sound extremely thorough in every area. Sometimes you might try to do more than one thing but you may hear how you may lack in some of those areas. Drake definitely has a great balance in being able to sufficiently deliver on both sides." The animated MC also gave a shout-out to Drake's Young Money fam and sometime partner-in-rhyme Nicki Minaj. "Nicki Minaj is doing a wonderful job, not just as a female artist but as [an] MC period. She's displaying an ability that most dudes ain't even been able to deliver as consistently on," Busta said, adding that she's switching up the vibe of hip-hop with her colorful persona. "Her speed-rap ability, her animation, she exemplifies not just dope ability as an MC, but she's bringing character back to the game. Most artists, a lot of the time they come out and they just want to rhyme and dress cool. She is not afraid to deliver as a character." Busta also revealed he respects Pittsburgh MC Wiz Khalifa's indie hustle. "I like the Wiz Khalifa dude. I'm very interested in seeing how his thing is coming together because it seems like it's coming together very organically. Like, he had his movement already before he even really started to put these records out and get the public notoriety that he's starting to get," Busta said. "I always love a grassroots grind and being able to build your own momentum." The "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" spitter also shouted out an artist he has been in the studio with, Reek Da Villian, who accompanied Busta to his "RapFix Live" sit-down and later dropped a freestyle. "I gotta big up Reek Da Villian, [who] is one of the new MCs. I been working with him for about three years. We kinda stopped working with each other for a year and we recently got back together within the last eight, nine months," Busta explained. He added that the Long Island lyricist, whose track "Mechanics" features Busta and Swizz Beatz, is an "MC's MC." "At the end of the day, where we come from, it's about spittin' and the boy can make records and he can make songs," Busta said. "It's rare to come across new, fresh talent that not only knows how to spit but can make songs." Do you agree with Busta's picks for hottest new MCs in hip-hop? Sound off in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| La Roux Reveal Kanye West Collabo Details On 'The Seven' Posted: 07 Oct 2010 05:22 AM PDT 'He comes up with ideas every five seconds,' Elly Jackson says of 'Ye.
Although Kanye West has only teased possible guest artists/ collaborations on his upcoming album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, due November 22, we have confirmation from La Roux's flame-haired frontwoman, Elly Jackson, that she has been working with 'Ye lately.
When MTV's "The Seven" caught up with the British chanteuse on the set of her new video for the "In for the Kill" remix, she revealed that the "Power" rapper not only makes an appearance in the clip, but raps on the track as well. "[The setting is] very slick but quite seedy," Jackson explained of the famed Chelsea Hotel. "[You're] not quite sure what is going on in a lot of it, but it's got some amazing visuals, some amazing characters. "We [she and bandmate Ben Langmaid] have a special kind of performance with Kanye West, and we shot him earlier," Jackson said. "I've been doing stuff with him the last couple days. He did a rap on the second verse. We're going to do two versions where you've got the original, just like it was in the U.K., and then you'll have the Kanye West version, which will be a hyped-up Kanye West kind of feeling to it." Jackson said working with West is a one-of-a-kind experience. "He's a very exciting person to be around. He's a special breed of person. He's not quite like anyone I've ever met before," she said. "He's very, very, very creative. He comes up with ideas every five seconds. We've had a very interesting three days. It's a very interesting mix of things." What do you think of the La Roux/ Kanye collaboration? What does this mean for the tone of West's Dark Twisted Fantasy? Share your thoughts in the comments! Don't miss "The Seven" every weekday at 5 p.m. ET on MTV. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Jersey Shore' Star Pauly D Says 'Love Is Louder Than Hate' Posted: 07 Oct 2010 04:57 AM PDT 'One Tree Hill' star Bethany Joy Galeotti, 'Big Bang' actor Simon Helberg and 'World of Jenks' documentarian Andrew Jenks also post anti-bullying videos.
Pop-culture stars are continuing to spread the message that Love Is Louder. The viral campaign launched by MTV, actress Brittany Snow and the Jed Foundation (with support from DoSomething.org, the Trevor Project, Reach Out, Active Minds and the Ad Council) has seen a slew of well-known faces add their voices to the movement.
"I've been discriminated against, but I know that love is louder than hate," "Jersey Shore" star Pauly D said in his video, which he uploaded to Your.MTV.com. "When I was growing up I had a lot of experience with bullies who made a lot of noise in my life. They made me feel misunderstood and alone and unimportant," "One Tree Hill" actress Bethany Joy Galeotti revealed in her video. But she urges young people not to get discouraged by taunting and harassment. "I just want you to know that whatever way I was hurt, I've been blessed in my life tenfold. Love is louder." Fellow TV star Simon Helberg, from "The Big Bang Theory," also said he dealt with bullying when he was younger but reminded teens that despite the teasing, there is always someone who has your back. "Despite this muscular physique that you see, I have been bullied and I have not always been able to stand up for myself," Helberg quipped in his clip. "You need to know that no matter how much you're being bullied, there's always somebody out there whose love is stronger than anybody's hate could ever be. Love is louder than hate." In his Love Is Louder video, documentarian Andrew Jenks, from MTV's "World of Jenks," said Tyler Clementi's suicide demonstrates that young people need to look out for each other. "In the light of what has recently happened and the tragedy that happened at Rutgers, I think it's important that we all keep in mind that we're all on the same team," he said. "We have a lot more similarities than we do differences, and it's important to keep that in mind and that love is louder than hate." For more information on Love Is Louder, check out the project's Facebook page for more information. You can also upload videos to Your.MTV.com, just like Snow did. You can also keep the conversation going on Twitter by using the hashtag #loveislouder. |
| Ciara Tells Students To 'Never Stop Learning' Posted: 07 Oct 2010 07:04 AM PDT 'I wish I would have just paid attention a little bit more,' she says about wanting to know more about history as she travels the world.
R&B siren Ciara is world-famous for her limber, hip-popping moves and sassy vocals, but the ATL songbird stresses that a chart-topping career is not just about turning in a great performance. Making sure you're up on your behind-the-scenes skills is instrumental to pulling off a successful stage career, which is the advice Ciara doles out to aspiring stars.
"For people that wanna be professional creative people, such as an artist, a musician, painter whatever it is, you have to know that it's not that easy. People think that, 'Oh, I can sing and I can do [whatever],' but there's so many doors you have to go through to even get there," Ciara explained at a Get Schooled Youth Summit on Thursday (October 7). The singer, along with Jive recording artist K. Michelle and former MTV VJ Quddus, reinforced the importance of education to students at East High in Memphis, Tennessee. "What I always say to people is in that process of you trying to reach your creative goal, make sure you never stop learning. Make sure you still go after getting that diploma, still [get] a degree, because, again, if it doesn't work out the way that you want it to, you have something to fall back on and that's gonna always be there." Ciara said students should put in the work with every subject because you never know when that one class you're slacking off in may figure prominently in your future career as a fabulous, globe-trotting pop star. "You'll be amazed at how something you can learn in science or something you can learn in math or history can apply to music. For me, I travel around the world and I do sometimes beat myself up because in history ... I wish I would have given it a little bit more. Because now that I travel to Paris and London and Japan and these different places, I remember there were so many things that we talked about in history, and it's like, 'I wish I would have just paid attention a little bit more,' " Ciara admitted. "I graduated with a B in history or whatever, so it's not bad, but I could have gotten an A. It's just that easy. It's just a matter of studying more, just working a little bit harder and just putting in the time. It's really easy." Stay tuned to MTV News for more information about how you can get the president to speak at your commencement celebration at the end of this school year. Get Schooled is a national program aimed at increasing high school and college graduation rates and promoting the importance of education, developed by Viacom in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Related Artists |
| Busta Rhymes Recalls Battling Jay-Z In High School Posted: 07 Oct 2010 06:49 AM PDT 'He was so ill and his arsenal was so long that he had more than what I did,' Bus says on 'RapFix Live.'
Back before Busta Rhymes was known as the Dungeon Dragon for his raucous flow and when Jay-Z was just Jay, the two were upstart rappers attending the same high school in Brooklyn, New York.
During his appearance on "RapFix Live" on Thursday (October 7), Bussa Bus recalled battling the future Roc Nation head for crown of the cafeteria. The two went toe-to-toe in rhyme before Jay-Z emerged victorious, handing Busta his first significant loss, he said. "One day, somebody came up to me and was like, 'Yo, Hov is in the cafeteria,' " Busta Rhymes told MTV News' Sway. "They weren't calling him Hov at the time; they were calling him Jay. 'Do you want to step to him on some rhyme sh--?' So I go. At the time, when we were rhyming, it was speed rap. That was the thing to do. I knew how to freak it, and he knew how to freak it. And at the time, he was so ill, 'cause of the people he was with at the time, Jaz-O and them, it was their thing [that style]. He kind of got the best of the situation. I got to give it up. He was so ill and his arsenal was so long that he had more than what I did. I spit my one rap, and my tank was empty real fast. He came with two or three after that, and I was like, 'Here we go.' But I gave it my best." The two, along with another fellow student, the Notorious B.I.G., eventually went on to bigger things, as each scored platinum album sales, big hits and worldwide adoration. But the defeat stuck with Busta Rhymes. Although his style had traces of hip-hop and dancehall, and he wasn't primarily an MC at the time, Busta thought Jay-Z's victory was impressive nonetheless. "That was probably the fist time that I lost a battle that mattered," he said. "[Jay-Z] always exemplified greatness as an MC. He was a scientist with it." Who do you think would win today in a Busta/Jay rap battle? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Glee' Britney Spears Episode Slammed By Parents Television Council Posted: 07 Oct 2010 05:56 AM PDT Group describes show as 'an endorsement of narcotics abuse, public masturbation, and school-sanctioned burlesque.'
Last week's episode of "Glee" found Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) shouting, "It's a Britney Spears sex riot!" as she attempted to put a stop to the glee club's saucy rendition of "Toxic." But she's not the only one who had an issue with the Spears takeover at William McKinley High School. The hit Fox show has come under fire as the Parents Television Council has deemed the "Britney/Brittany" episode the "Worst TV Show of the Week" due to the broadcast's "explicit sexual content." A message posted on the organization's website decries the episode's "skimpy outfits" and "sultry grinds" during "I'm a Slave 4 U." And even though "Glee" castmembers show very little skin in the re-creation for the 2001 Madonna duet "Me Against the Music," the PTC said the interpretation included "plenty of girl-girl bumping and grinding." According to the group, the tribute to the always-controversial Spears wasn't appropriate because the singer is far from a suitable role model. "Glee earned its highest ratings ever with this Britney Spears tribute, drawing 13.3 million viewers," the message continued. "A scary thought considering that the mostly young teen/tween audience basically witnessed an endorsement of narcotics abuse, public masturbation, and school-sanctioned burlesque. But perhaps most troubling is the deification of a troubled pop star into a symbol of empowerment and self-esteem. Considering her stints in rehab, her very public breakdowns, and her questionable parenting skills, there is absolutely no way Spears should be considered a role model. The producers of the show can spare us the old song-and-dance about fallen celebs turning their lives around. What's next? Portraying Ike Turner as a reformed feminist?" Spears knows controversy and criticism far too well. Since the beginning of her career, she's always raised eyebrows with everything from her sex-kitten public image to her sometimes-questionable parental judgment. While the pop star has played it relatively safe since her comeback, the singer did make headlines last year for her suggestive single "If U Seek Amy," the third offering from her album Circus. Do you think the "Britney/Brittany" episode of "Glee" was inappropriate? Tell us in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kanye West's 'Runaway' London Screening Was A 'Mad Event'  Posted: 06 Oct 2010 10:32 PM PDT After showing 'surreal' film, West stuck around for two hours of Q&A, MTV UK reporter says.
Kanye West invited a very select group of about 100 journalists and bloggers to the Wednesday-night London screening of his 35-minute art film for the song "Runaway." Among them was MTV UK reporter Tom Thorogood, who got on the phone on Thursday morning (October 7) to talk about the typically over-the-top audience with the Louis Vuitton Don. "It was a mad event," Thorogood said of the screening, which included a rambling two-hour Q&A session during which West took any and all questions about the film and his upcoming albums. "Halfway through, an American guy from his label asked for one last question and just as the person asked it, Kanye said, 'Why is this the last question?' and said he was happy to talk as long as people wanted him to." Thorogood said there are perhaps only two dozen words spoken in the "ambitious ... great looking" 35-minute art movie, whose narrative he described as "very loose and abstract." If anything, he suspected it could be chopped up into five separate mind-bending music videos, though it only uses heavily altered snippets of West's music that are quite different from the versions of such songs as "Monster," "Runaway" and the Bon Iver-sampling "Lost in the World" that fans have heard so far. "It opens with shots of Kanye in a sports car and slow motion shots of deer and then you see a huge explosion and you see he's crashed into the Phoenix," said Thorogood of the other star of the film, model Selita Ebanks, who plays the Phoenix and who has been seen on 'Ye's arm at events lately. "He picks her up in his arms and walks away from the car which explodes behind him." The title of the film then flashes on the screen and the first voice you hear is a snippet of Nicki Minaj's English-accented rhyme from "Monster." In another scene, Thorogood said you hear a brief bit of "Power," which Kanye taps out on the same kind of MPC drum machine he played on both the VMAs and on "Saturday Night Live." The three- to four-minute bit features Ebanks silently dancing around West as the song plays. "It was quite clear that [the movie is about] what he said about this before being about his story ... a representation of his career," Thorogood said. And in a setup cued to the new song "Lights" that is likely to be the most iconic of the film, Thorogood said Kanye (a.k.a. "Griffin") and the Phoenix watch as a marching band stomps across the screen carrying a giant, somewhat flimsy-looking papier-mâché model of Michael Jackson's head. "With the passing of Michael Jackson, I feel a responsibility to bring things to our generation that can inspire and bring real culture to pop culture," West told the audience in London about the film shot over four grueling days in Prague last month. "I want to use my power in a proper way." In another pivotal scene, West and the Phoenix arrive for a formal dinner at a huge table and are given weird looks by their fellow diners, one of whom asks, "Why didn't you leave the monkey in the zoo?" Thorogood said the film had French subtitles for the sparse dialogue, which were likely a holdover from Tuesday night's screening in Paris, since West said the version he showed in London was still a rough cut. Among the other new songs featured in the movie is one called "Blame Game," which contains a healthy sample of the melancholy piano groove in cult electronic musician Aphex Twin's 2001 song "Avril 14th," as well as vocals from frequent 'Ye collaborator John Legend, which the rapper said may or may not make the final cut of the album. West introduced the film to his London audience by saying, " 'Purple Rain,' [Pink Floyd's] 'The Wall,' Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' — I wanted to do a modern version of that." He also said that about "90 percent" of the music featured in the film appears on his upcoming fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, due out on November 22. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne Sends Last Letter Before Solitary Confinement Posted: 07 Oct 2010 01:18 AM PDT 'You would be amazed what positivity can do in a negative environment,' rapper says on WeezyThanxYou.com.
The next time Lil Wayne puts pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), it will be when the rapper is released from prison next month. On Thursday (October 7), he wrote his last letter via his website, WeezyThanxYou.com, thanking fans for their support during his incarceration and informing them that because he's being placed in solitary confinement, he won't be able to post any more blog posts. "Because of my new limitations, this unfortunately has to be my last letter," Wayne wrote in a post titled "My Last Written Lines." "I don't think people truly understand how much their thoughts and well wishes have helped me through this time in my life. Not everyone is as lucky as I am and it humbles me daily. You would be amazed what positivity can do in a negative environment. I'm going to miss reading about your lives. I'm going to miss looking at the pictures. They were the highlight of my days aside from speaking with my kids. Don't stress over this in 27 days, the ride starts again." Lil Wayne is set to be released from Eric M. Taylor correction center in New York's Rikers Island on November 4. Earlier this week, officials reviewed an incident in May, when corrections officers discovered headphones and an MP3 charger in his cell, which were considered contraband. As a result, Wayne was placed in solitary confinement for the remainder of his sentence. The rapper launched WeezyThanxYou.com earlier this year to document his tribulations during his jail stay. Wayne turned himself in to prison in March after he struck a plea deal with New York prosecutors last year stemming from a 2007 arrest for gun possession following his first headlining concert in Manhattan. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lloyd Banks Says Kanye West Collabo 'Made Sense' Posted: 07 Oct 2010 04:04 AM PDT Since 'Ye complimented Banks on Twitter, the pair have released two joint tracks.
No one Twitter should have all that power. Back in August, Kanye West exchanged messages with Justin Bieber over Twitter, and the rapper/producer ended up remixing the teen's "Runaway Love" with Raekwon. Now, West and Lloyd Banks have locked in together after the "Power" rapper complimented the G-Unit MC's abilities on Twitter, calling Banks one of the most underrated artists in hip-hop. Last week, West released "Christian Dior Denim Flow," featuring Banks, John Legend, Kid Cudi, Pusha T and Ryan Leslie. And on Thursday (October 7), Banks dropped his new record, "Start It Up," featuring West, Fabolous, Leslie and Swizz Beatz.
"The whole Kanye thing happened, it was shortly after the tweet that he wrote, the comment he made about me being underrated and should be in everybody's top five," Banks told MTV News over the phone Thursday. "We read that statement, and it kind of took off on its own. I definitely appreciated that. Just for him to say that opens up the eyes that have been watching him [to me]. And from there, it made sense to go into the studio with him. Shortly after that, we went into the studio." "Start It Up" is slated for Banks' next album, The Hunger for More 2, set to be released on G-Unit/EMI. In the past, the G-Unit artist recorded mostly within his crew, from 50 Cent to Tony Yayo to Eminem. But since the success of "Beamer, Benz, or Bentley," featuring Juelz Santana, the rapper is now opening up his circle of collaborators. For "Start It Up," the track was originally scheduled to just feature Banks and Fabolous but soon swelled to a larger composition. "That was one of the last joints I recorded for my album," Banks explained. "Originally it was me and Fab, then I got Kanye, then Swizz was in the city and so was Ryan. "The difference from that track being me and Fab and having Kanye was 24 hours," he added. "I didn't have it for a minute. We did it recently." What do you think of Banks and Kanye teaming up? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Katy Perry Releases 'Firework' Artwork Posted: 07 Oct 2010 09:21 AM PDT 'Teenage Dream' singer tells fans that her tour will be announced next week.
Katy Perry's next single, "Firework," is set to hit airwaves on October 26, and even though the song is about colorful outbursts, the single's stark artwork is mostly rendered in black and white. Perry, shot from her shoulders up, is rocking her signature bangs and wearing lots of eyeliner. Perry also took to her Twitter account late Wednesday (October 6) to drop hints about her forthcoming tour. She tweeted, "I will OFFICIALLY announce the start of my TOUR on MONDAY... oy, I hate secrets BUT I love surprises! Guess what it's called...?" Perry tweeted about the "Fireworks" video shoot at the end of September, although at the time, she played coy about what song would be accompanying the clip. She simply noted that the end result would be "sparkling," which now seems fitting considering the song's title. Perry didn't go into details about the clip's concept, but she did thank the people she worked with on Twitter. "Not gonna stop shooting till the sun comes up cause we are a LIGHT in a dark place!" She wrapped the shoot on September 30, saying, "I want to thank all the magical people that brought their sparks to this video the past few days ... your light reminded me of my purpose." Perry has been open about her love for the song Teenage Dream's release. "People are coming back and almost adopting it as their own anthem, and it's hard, I think, to write an anthem that's not cheesy," she told MTV News. "And I hope that this could be something in that category. I hope this could be one of those things where it's like, 'Yeah, I want to put my fist up and feel proud and feel strong.' "But I also don't want to be cheesy," she reiterated. "It's a fine line, and I think 'Firework' ... would be like the opus or my one song — if I had to pick a song to play — 'cause it has a great beat. But it also has a fantastic message." Related Artists |
| Kanye West Adds M.I.A., La Roux And Alicia Keys To Album Posted: 07 Oct 2010 01:39 AM PDT My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy might also feature Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, Mos Def and Santigold.
It was the court of the Crimson King (remember the red suit at the VMAs?) on Wednesday in London as Kanye West spoke to a select group of journalists and bloggers about his upcoming "Runaway" mini-movie and accompanying album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, due out November 22. In addition to screening the nearly wordless, trippy fantasia on the high prices of fame and individuality, 'Ye also dropped some information on a number of the collaborators he's got lined up for the album. According to our colleague Tom Thorogood of MTV UK, during a rambling two-hour Q&A session, West mentioned that he's been in the studio with everyone from Alicia Keys to M.I.A., Kid Cudi, Mos Def and Santigold working on tracks for Fantasy. He also confirmed that Bon Iver's Justin Vernon is "all over" the album, a fact we already learned when a demo of "Lost in the World" recently leaked, which features re-recorded vocals from the BI track "Woods." The pair reportedly recorded at least nine tracks together, and West has said Vernon is slated to appear on multiple songs. Among the other new tracks featured in the movie is "Blame Game," which contains a healthy sample of the melancholy piano groove in cult electronic musician Aphex Twin's 2001 song "Avril 14th," as well as vocals from frequent 'Ye collaborator John Legend, which may or may not make the album's final cut. Other collaborators who've dropped in on sessions include Wu-Tang mastermind RZA and hip-hop icon Pete Rock. The spate of collaborations is no surprise, considering West has already dropped a number of singles packed with bold-faced names as part of his "G.O.O.D. Friday" series, including "So Appalled" (RZA, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz, CyHi Da Prynce), "Lord Lord Lord" (Mos Def, Swizz Beatz, Raekwon, Charlie Wilson) and "Monster" (Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver, Nicki Minaj). NME also reports that West said the album could feature vocals from La Roux's flame-haired frontwoman, Elly Jackson, as well as Chicago hip-hop don producer No ID. 'Ye also said he's traveling back to France soon — he debuted the film there Tuesday — to finish work on his mini-album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne. And, in typically epic Kanye fashion, the Chicago MC said he's planning a spectacular live show for the Fantasy tour, which he wants to wind up in front of the Egyptian pyramids. Unfortunately, he told the crowd, they're not available until April. Which Kanye collabo are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Champ Lee DeWyze To Drop <I>Live It Up</I> In November Posted: 07 Oct 2010 02:57 AM PDT 'The album shows a whole different side of me,' DeWyze says of major-label debut.
He's been pretty quiet for most of the summer, but soft-spoken season-nine "American Idol" winner Lee DeWyze will charge back November 16 with the release of his major-label debut, Live It Up. The album will be preceded by the first single, the title track, which will debut Wednesday on "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest's radio show, "On-Air With Ryan Seacrest." "Putting out an album on a major label is truly a dream come true," DeWyze, 24, said in a statement announcing the disc's release. While he released two independent albums, 2007's So I'm Told and 2009's Slumberland, on tiny Chicago indie label Wuli Records before auditioning for "Idol," his 19 Recordings/ RCA Records debut will feature a host of high-powered help. Among the producers lending a hand are studio aces such as Grammy winner Toby Gad (Selena Gomez, Alicia Keys, Kris Allen) and John Shanks (Miley Cyrus, Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow) and the Norwegian production team Espionage (Beyoncé, David Cook, Train). "I'm excited for all the people who supported me throughout 'Idol' to hear what I can do with my own songs," the statement continued. "The album shows a whole different side of me, and I'm so proud of it." DeWyze, an accomplished songwriter, co-wrote most of the songs on the album, which was recorded this summer while he was on the road with the American Idols Live! Tour. The sound of the album is described as an "engaging blend of rootsy pop, rock and folk, anchored by DeWyze's soulful, rough-edged voice and bright-sounding acoustic guitar." "I grew up listening to Simon & Garfunkel, the Mamas & the Papas, Cat Stevens and Kris Kristofferson," DeWyze said of his old-school musical influences. "I love hard-edged vocals over pretty melodies — that's what I'm about. I really admire guys like Dave Matthews and Ray LaMontagne, and to now be on the same record label as them — it just blows my mind." Though dreadlocked runner-up Crystal Bowersox also landed a major-label deal following the show, the details of her album — the second place finisher's debut is typically released several weeks after the winner's — have not yet been announced. In the meantime, Bowersox is slated to get married to musician fiancé Brian Walker this month. After years of playing a mix of originals and covers in Chicago bars and grinding away to make it in the music biz, DeWyze said he's excited to finally celebrate his major-label bow. "To see my name listed in the credits on each song was really important to me because I'm a songwriter" DeWyze said. "I also loved working with such talented writers. They all brought so much to the table and really helped me flesh out my sound." Are you excited for Lee's debut? Let us know in the comments! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists |
| New York Comic Con Preview: 'Unbreakable,' Danny McBride And More! Posted: 07 Oct 2010 02:57 AM PDT It all starts Thursday night with the launch of the 'True Blood' comic series.
We finally feel fully rested from this summer's San Diego Comic-Con — that nonstop tsunami of geekery galore — and now we're about to do it all over again. Oh, well, let's brew up some coffee, stuff some reporter's notebooks in our back pockets and get this done! New York Comic Con kicks off Friday and will run through Sunday. In between those days is a packed schedule of celeb appearances, comic book sneak peeks and much more — and MTV News will be at the center of it all. From our usual perch in a skybox above the convention hall at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, we'll be hosting a rotating cast of Hollywood talent, studio execs and comic book creators. And the extravaganza starts even before the Con opens its doors. On Thursday night (October 7), we'll be covering the launch of the "True Blood" comic series, bringing you the inside scoop about your favorite HBO vampires. Check out MTV News' Splash Page for the latest news on that event, as well as blanket coverage of the Con itself. Friday brings us the stars and director of "Saw 3D," Seth Green ("Robot Chicken") and the writers of comics like "Jonah Hex" and "Superman for All Seasons." The next day, we'll be chatting with Danny McBride and David Gordon Green ("Your Highness"); Adrien Brody, Marvel Entertainment creative chief Joe Quesada, Eric Bana ("Hanna"); and Morgan Spurlock. Sunday brings us the legendary Stan Lee and the writers of comics like "Ultimate X-Men" and "Green Lantern." On Sunday afternoon, we'll be bringing you a very special presentation: " 'Unbreakable': Ten Years Later With M. Night Shyamalan." Starting at 12:45 p.m. in the IGN Theater, the director will be sitting down with our own Josh Horowitz for an anniversary retrospective of this groundbreaking comic book movie. You really won't want to miss this exclusive one-time event as the director takes fans inside the film with never-before-heard stories and special surprises. Keep it locked to MTV Movies and Splash Page throughout the weekend for everything you need to know about New York Comic Con 2010. For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. |
| Pitbull Returns The 'Jersey Shore' Love Posted: 07 Oct 2010 02:05 AM PDT 'They really have shown me love, and I appreciate it,' Miami rapper says of reality show cast.
Pitbull doesn't get a lot of time to watch TV. What with the recording sessions for his upcoming star-studded album Planet Pit, his participation in the So Kodak promotion for the new Easyshare camera and all that time he has to spend keeping the ladies happy, you can bet Mr. 305's TiVo is a bit neglected. But when MTV News talked to Pitbull on Wednesday morning on the phone from his home in Miami — where he's recuperating from a broken hand sustained on Monday night after what he described as "one of those good nights where you're having too much fun" — the rapper said there's one show he can't turn off if it does happen to pop up on his screen. "I hardly watch any TV," said Pit. "But the thing about the 'Jersey Shore' is when you do catch a glimpse, you get stuck and you can't turn it off." There's good reason for Pitbull to share his love for the East Coast reality stars. After all, his latest smash, a collaboration with Enrique Iglesias on "I Like It," is the first single off the "Jersey Shore" soundtrack and one of the biggest hits of Pit's career. While he didn't run into the cast earlier this year when they were tearing up the Miami nightlife scene or shooting the video for the song, the rapper did meet them on the white carpet at this year's VMAs, where he exchanged some kind words with Snooki and the gang. "They really showed me some love on my last single with Akon, 'Shut It Down,' and Snooki talked about it a lot on the show. So they really have shown me love, and I appreciate it." In fact, during a truly epic car ride MTV News took with Snooki on the way to the Grammys in February, the pint-size "Jersey" juggernaut had only one request when it came to what music she wanted to hear on the stereo. "Find me some house music! Pitbull, that 'You Want Me' song!" she screamed while putting the finishing touches on her makeup, referring to the Pit hit "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)." And, wouldn't you know it? A few flips of the dial brought up the song and all was good in Snookiland. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lauren Conrad Reveals Which Pals Will Appear On New MTV Show Posted: 07 Oct 2010 03:52 AM PDT LC's roommate Maura and friend Gary, who appeared on MTV's 'Styl'D,' will join her on yet-untitled series.
While it hasn't been determined yet if any of Lauren Conrad's "Hills" pals will make cameos on the forthcoming MTV reality show focusing on the launch of her latest fashion line, viewers will be introduced to some other interesting people in LC's life.
Among the 24-year-old fashion maven's friends featured in the new program are Maura, her roommate, and Gary, who fans might remember from his time on MTV's short-lived reality series "Styl'D." Expect Gary and Maura to play integral roles on the new show, which is still in its early stages. "I don't know [what will happen], 'cause we haven't started filming yet," Conrad explained to MTV News. "So stay tuned! But my roommate and one of my best friends is running the company, the business end, and another one of my good friends, Gary, is doing kind of the creative direction." Thanks to his not-so-secret MTV past, Gary should be comfortable in front of the cameras, and LC said most of her other pals won't mind having their lives documented for the show either. "[Gary's] been around [the cameras], as have most of my friends," she said. "They've just kind of not stayed in front of them. They've avoided them." Conrad recently revealed that she was happy to be getting the chance to reunite with some additional old associates on the new series. "I'm excited, because I get to work with some of my old crew, which is really cool," she dished. "I haven't gotten to see them in a while because they're all very busy people, but hopefully I'm going to get some familiar faces. I already have a couple of the guys from 'The Hills.' " What are you expecting from LC's new show? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos |
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