MTV News |
- TJ Lavin Suffered Brain Bleeding In BMX Crash, Friend Says
- T.I. Drops New Song, 'Get Back Up,' With Chris Brown
- Nicki Minaj On Hottest MCs: 'Of Course I'm On The List'
- Alicia Keys And Swizz Beatz Welcome Baby Boy
- T.I. Sentenced To 11 Months In Prison
- Obama Forum Attendee Responds To 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Appeal
- Lupe Fiasco Fans Celebrate <i>Lasers</i> Release Date At NYC Rally
- Neil Patrick Harris And David Burtka Welcome Twins
- Rihanna And Drake Debut 'What's My Name?'
- Roc-A-Fella Co-Founder Kareem 'Biggs' Burke Arrested In Marijuana Ring
- Nicki Minaj Turns Into A Doll For <i>Pink Friday</i> Cover
- Drake Says Jay-Z 'Came Through' For Him With Concert Cameos
- Lady Gaga Challenger 'Confident' She Could Win In A Sing-Off
- My Chemical Romance Reveal 'Na Na Na' Video's Inspirations
- TJ Lavin In Critical Condition After Bike Crash
- Lupe Fiasco: A Child Rebel Soldier LP Depends On 'Demand'
- T.I. Praised By Suicidal Man's Mother
- Jay-Z's <i>Hits Collection</i> Track List Revealed
- 'Jackass' Star Johnny Knoxville Opens Up About Infamous Gun Stunt
| TJ Lavin Suffered Brain Bleeding In BMX Crash, Friend Says Posted: 15 Oct 2010 05:11 AM PDT Chas Aday says Thursday accident was supposed to be final ride before 'Challenge' host's retirement.
TJ Lavin remains in critical condition on Friday (October 15) after suffering several injuries from a ride gone awry at a Dew Tour Event in Las Vegas on Thursday evening. His friend and business partner Chas Aday told MTV News that the pro BMX biker and host of MTV's "Challenge" competition shows said Lavin was put into a medically induced coma because he sustained bleeding in his brain. He also sustained an orbital fracture on his eye and a fractured right wrist. Contrary to reports, Lavin did not fracture his rib cage. "I keep seeing that, but he doesn't have any broken ribs," Aday said. The accident mars what should have been Lavin's triumphant goodbye to competitive racing as Aday said his appearance was his last ride before he retired. The incident also comes a day after one of Lavin's friends sustained the same injury and is currently recuperating in the same hospital five beds away. Lavin hasn't been conscious since the accident, but Aday, who has known the BMX-er for nine years, said he would have a simple but significant message for athletes out there. "It's important to wear your helmet with any motor sports," Aday said. He added that the longtime racer would also want to assure his fans that he's going to pull through. "He'll be OK and back to it," Aday said. "He's a fighter." Lavin lost control of his bike while riding in a Dew Tour stop at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and was knocked unconscious after his feet were unable to reach the bike's pedals mid-stunt. "Our thoughts are with TJ," an MTV spokesperson said. "He is an important part of MTV's extended family and we're all praying for him." Share your well-wishes for TJ and his family in the comments. |
| T.I. Drops New Song, 'Get Back Up,' With Chris Brown Posted: 15 Oct 2010 06:37 AM PDT Track premieres just hours after Tip was sentenced to 11 months in prison for a probation violation.
Just hours after T.I. was sentenced to 11 months in prison for violating his probation, the rapper released a new track on his website, "Get Back Up" featuring Chris Brown, an ode to his mistakes. "I'm only human, y'all," he speaks as the song opens. "When they push you down, you got to get back up," he and Brown chant on the chorus. The song premiered at 9 p.m. ET on Friday (October 15), the same day the rapper appeared in an Atlanta courtroom where a federal judge sentenced him to prison stemming from a probation violation that occurred last month. "I admit, yeah, I done some dumb sh--," he raps in the song. "Disappointed everybody, I know/ Try not to hold that against me, though/ My road to redemption has no GPS/ So guess time must be invested for this to be manifested/ Yes, it's hard living life in the spotlight/ Trying to dodge the haters the same time as the cop light/ The Bible says let he without sin cast the stone first/ The sinners are the ones that judge him, who was wrong first?" The song is a humanizing effort, on which the typically braggadocious lyricist atones for his mistakes. T.I. went before Judge Charles Parnell on Friday and pleaded for mercy with help for his drug dependency, according to reports. The rapper was arrested last month on drug-possession charges after police discovered Ecstasy in his vehicle during a traffic stop. T.I.'s legal team argued for a sentence of five to eight months, while prosecutors sought a lengthier term upward of 18 months. The judge settled on 11 months, and now T.I. has two weeks before he's set to turn himself in. As of press time, the rapper nor his label has released a comment regarding the probation hearing. What do you think of "Get Back Up"? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Nicki Minaj On Hottest MCs: 'Of Course I'm On The List' Posted: 15 Oct 2010 07:28 AM PDT 'I believe I'm a dope MC in the big scheme of things, period,' she tells MTV News.
According to Nicki Minaj, it's a foregone conclusion that she'll be the first female rapper to make MTV News' Hottest MCs in the Game list. "Of course I'm on the list," she told MTV News. "If I'm not on the list, let me tell you something: Them Barbiez will find your asses. So we know Nicki Minaj is on the list, but we don't know here she ranks." The Lil Wayne protégé has a strong case to make the 2010 list. Although she has yet to release her debut album, Pink Friday, she already hit the top of the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart with "Your Love." Nicki Minaj has been a major presence at awards shows and television specials throughout the past 12 months, from the BET Hip Hop Awards to MTV's VMA pre-show.
Where she's really made her mark has been as a guest artist on records by Mariah Carey, Robin Thicke, Trey Songz and Ludacris, among others. The animated lyricist has proved particularly adept at rhyming alongside her male counterparts, including Jay-Z, Kanye West and Drake. "I believe I'm a dope MC in the big scheme of things, period," she said. "Like, if you put 10 girls in a row, I'm not only gonna stand out with them, but I'm gonna stand out if you put nine boys in a row and put me in the middle. I believe there's a lot of girls like that. I believe most female MCs are better than the boys. But they don't really get a shot sometimes. Labels are afraid to sign females and things like that. Don't get me wrong, the boys are super dope. But the girls are up there too and are important and equal in the way we deliver raps." Where do you think Nicki should land on the list? Let us know in the comments! Come back to MTVNews.com next Monday, October 18, when the Hottest MCs in the Game will start to be revealed. And until then, talk about your picks in the comments below. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Alicia Keys And Swizz Beatz Welcome Baby Boy Posted: 15 Oct 2010 04:22 AM PDT Egypt Daoud Dean is the couple's first child together.
Alicia Keys gave birth Thursday to Egypt Daoud Dean, her son with producer husband Swizz Beatz. "Swizz 'Kaseem Dean' Beatz, 32 and Alicia Keys, 29 welcomed their first child together, a son Egypt Daoud Dean on October 14th in New York City," a rep for the couple confirmed to MTV News. "Egypt is welcomed by Beatz's three other children." On Thursday, Swizz hit Twitter and reflected on his good fortunes: "I'm so thankful for everything I been blessed with in my life wowwwwww! #realtalk" Swizz has two sons, Kasseem Jr. and Prince, and a daughter from previous relationships; Egypt is Keys' first child. The couple announced they were expecting in late May, at the same time they revealed they were engaged. Keys and Beatz got married July 31 at a private home overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in a ceremony presided over by Dr. Deepak Chopra. A few weeks after the pair announced their engagement, Swizz gushed to MTV News about working with his lady the studio. "Me and AK, we just love music," Swizzy said. "When we in the studio, we work on a lot of things that ain't planned. We was just in the studio vibing on some stuff for her album, vibing on some stuff for my album. We might use it, we might not use it. Anytime we in the studio, it's just musical genius, minds connecting on another level, which is always cool." Share your well-wishes for the couple in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| T.I. Sentenced To 11 Months In Prison Posted: 15 Oct 2010 02:21 AM PDT A recent drug arrest violated the rapper's probation.
A federal judge sentenced T.I. to 11 months in prison Friday (October 15) during a probation hearing, where the rapper was found to have violated the terms of his supervised release, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The prosecution sought to send T.I. (real name: Clifford Harris) back to prison for two years, The Associated Press reported. But the rapper pleaded with the judge to lessen his punishment and instead help him with his drug dependency, according to AP. Last month in Los Angeles, the rapper was arrested after a traffic stop, when police discovered drugs on him and his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle. The incident prompted Friday's hearing. According to police documents obtained by several media outlets leading up to the hearing, at the time of his arrest, the rapper tested positive for opiates, was in possession of Ecstasy, and was also associating with a felon, who was present in his vehicle during the bust. T.I. was released from a halfway house earlier this year after serving seven months in a low-security facility in Arkansas. The prison time stemmed from an October 2007 arrest when T.I., a convicted felon, attempted to purchase illegal firearms. He was able to reach a unique plea deal at the time — upon the condition that he would speak to youth, complete community service and would be placed under house arrest — and he was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. After his release, he was placed on strict probation. TMZ is reporting that T.I. has two weeks to turn himself in. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Obama Forum Attendee Responds To 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Appeal Posted: 15 Oct 2010 06:30 AM PDT 'It all seems very counterintuitive,' Bridget Todd says of administration's decision to appeal judge's ruling against policy.
One of the hot topics during "A Conversation With President Obama" on Thursday was the political battle over the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Forum attendee Bridget Todd pressed the president about his approach to ending the controversial measure — a campaign promise Todd said helped Obama land her vote.
Days before the forum, Judge Virginia Phillips issued an injunction immediately blocking the enforcement of the policy. However, the same day Obama reassured Todd of his commitment to taking down "don't ask," his administration asked for a stay on Phillips' ruling. After speaking directly to the nation's leader and then learning of the latest development in the battle over the policy, Todd said her view of her conversation with the president has been altered. "It adds a tinge of — I don't want to say cynicism, but it adds a tinge of something I can't quite describe to the interaction that I had with Obama," Todd told MTV News on Friday (October 15). "He was so adamant, like, 'This will end under my watch, I guarantee it.' [But] simultaneously his justice department is preparing to appeal this decision by a federal judge to strike down 'don't ask, don't tell.' " Todd posed the question about "don't ask" because the issue hits close to home for the Richmond, Virginia, native, which is a city with many military families. Todd knows many gay service members and said she has been moved by how the policy affects soldiers both off and on the battle field. "My one friend, he can't have pictures of him and his lover on the Internet or on Facebook. [It's] just little things like that you just take for granted about being in a relationship with someone. The moment when we were standing waiting for him to come back [from a tour overseas], all of the other couples were running and kissing and having all these really affectionate greetings, and they just had to shake hands," Todd recalled. "It just broke my heart." The disconnection between Obama's rhetoric and the actions of his administration is now a concern for Todd, who wonders if the president is simply trying to please as many voters as possible before citizens head to the polls next month. "It worries me, and I think it's indicative of the fact that ... he's thinking more about 'how this will make me look in the midterm elections' as opposed to 'What do gay men and women need now?' " she said. Todd asserted that appealing Tuesday's ruling is a confusing move for a leader who has initially pledged to end the policy. "The Log Cabin Republicans, who pushed to have that judge to appeal 'don't ask, don't tell,' I thought they were giving him a gift, and he's looking a gift horse in the mouth," she said. "He's a lawyer. He's been to law school. He knows he doesn't have any legal obligation to appeal this. He could just easily be like, 'That was her decision, there it is, I'm not appealing it.' It all seems very counterintuitive. It's very awkward to say, 'I want this policy to go away,' but when someone makes it go away you're like, 'Oh, no, not that way.' " What do you think about the "don't ask, don't tell" back-and-forth"? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Lupe Fiasco Fans Celebrate <i>Lasers</i> Release Date At NYC Rally Posted: 15 Oct 2010 05:36 AM PDT Rapper addressed hundreds of fans who marched across the city for 'Fiasco Friday.'
NEW YORK — Lupe Fiasco and his fans rallied outside the offices of Atlantic Records, the rapper's label, in Manhattan to celebrate executives setting a release date for his forthcoming album, Lasers.
The fan-organized event was dubbed "Fiasco Friday," but the event was anything but a disaster. Upward of 200 fans cheered, danced and rapped Lupe's lyrics for hours before he arrived just shy of 3 p.m. to address the crowd. "So, y'all actually did it, huh?" he said to the audience. "The first thing I want to say is: Congratulations. The second thing I want to say is: Thank you very much for putting on a very peaceful protest. The third thing I want to say is: Lasers is dropping March 8th!" Each remark from the MC drew a loud reaction. The event was initially organized by two New Jersey natives, Matt Morrelli, 19, and Matt La Corte, 17, as a way to help Lupe Fiasco score a release date for his long-delayed third album. The rapper had been at odds with his label over creative differences, among other issues. But last week, he sent a picture via Twitter of himself with Atlantic Records executive Julie Greenwald with the caption "Victory." A press release was issued the next day announcing the March date for Lupe Fiasco's album. During the rally, Warner Music Group executive Lyor Cohen addressed the crowd before the rapper showed up and played the first single from his forthcoming project. According to La Corte, fans traveled from as far as Los Angeles to attend the event, which was transformed from a protest into a march. Fans walked from outside Central Park to the label's Sixth Avenue offices in midtown. A rally was also held in the rapper's hometown of Chicago. "It's really an incredible moment, after doing all this work, to really see Lupe Fiasco in front of you," La Corte told MTV News of the event, which he organized with Morrelli without having ever met his fellow Lupe Fiasco fan. "I went up and shook [Lupe's] hand, asked him to make a speech for us, and it was really a culminating moment for a fantastic experience for all of us here." "Lupe came out," Morrelli told MTV News after the rapper's address. "A lot of artists would have turned their cheek to this and say they couldn't support this. This could have gone against him. But it went the other way. He supports his fans. He knows his fanbase, and that's what we love. He's staying true to us. That really speaks to what he is. That inspires us, that's what caused this, and that's what we're about: staying true." What do you think of the level of dedication from Lupe's fans? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Neil Patrick Harris And David Burtka Welcome Twins Posted: 15 Oct 2010 06:56 AM PDT Actor announces arrival of Gideon Scott and Harper Grace on Twitter.
"How I Met Your Mother" star Neil Patrick Harris is a new father. The Emmy-winning child star-turned-comic actor and witty awards-show host welcomed twins earlier this week and tweeted the news Friday (October 15). "Babies!! On 10/12, Gideon Scott and Harper Grace entered the Burtka-Harris fold," Harris wrote. "All of us are happy, healthy, tired, and a little pukey." Harris announced in August that he and his longtime partner, David Burtka, were expecting a pair of little ones. The couple became fathers with the help of a surrogate, according to reports. He may be a new father, but the openly gay actor has been looking out for young people by sending encouraging messages to gay youth. After several teens who were the victims of anti-gay harassment took their own lives, Harris sent MTV News a video explaining to kids that regardless of their current circumstances, fitting in gets better with age. "Here's what I can say: When you're young, when you're in elementary school, when you're in high school, it's important to try and fit in and be accepted and to be part of the average," he said. "Everyone does it, that's the way it goes. But let me assure you, if you're getting bullied and feeling like you're on the outskirts, it gets better. Because, when you get older, you find that people are actually drawn to individuals with different points of view who are proud of who they are and who make interesting and different and unique choices for them — at least I am. "You can act with strength, you can act with courage, you can act with class and stand tall, be proud of who you are," he added. "This is a good time we live in, and we're being granted more and more rights, and it will continue in that direction, and, yeah, be proud." Leave your well-wishes for the couple below! |
| Rihanna And Drake Debut 'What's My Name?' Posted: 15 Oct 2010 01:43 AM PDT The duo trade saucy come-ons on the uptempo Loud track.
For her upcoming record, Loud, Rihanna said she wanted to make music that was like her: "sassy, fun, flirty, energetic." Her high-energy new single, "Only Girl (In the World)," is already proof that the LP is shaping up to be the feel-good party album fans are hoping for. And on Friday (October 15), her much talked-about collaboration with Drake, an alternate version of "What's My Name?" dropped, and the sassy song is all about sex and love.
Drake kicks off the uptempo Loud track with a smooth verse that plays it anything but coy about his intentions for Rihanna. "I heard you good with them soft lips," he rhymes. "Yeah, you know word of mouth/ The square root of 69 is 8-something/ Right? 'Cause I've been trying to work it out/ Good weed, white wine, I come alive in the nighttime/ OK, away we go/ Only thing we have on is the radio/ Let it play, say you gotta leave, but I know you wanna stay." Drake's come-ons don't end there. He rambles on with such sweet nothings as: "You just waiting on the traffic jam to finish, girl/ The things that we can do in 20 minutes girl/ Say my name, say my name, wear it out/ It's getting hot, crack a window, air it out/ I can get you through a mighty long day." Rihanna then comes in, singing her response to Drizzy's provocative proposal. "Not everybody knows how to work my body/ Knows how to make me want it/ But boy you stay up on it/ You got that something/ That keeps me so off balance/ Baby, you're a challenge/ Let's explore your talents." The song's catchy chorus seems destined to have fans singing along in their cars. Rihanna shows she can sling it right back to Drake. She coos: "Hey, boy, I really want to see if you can go downtown with a girl like me/ Hey, boy, I really want to be with you, 'cause you're just my type/ Oh na na na na/ I need a boy to take it over/ Looking for a guy to put in work/ Oh oh oh oh / What's my name?" Of course it's not just about hooking up for this pair. Rihanna goes on to praise her partner for being "amazing" and taking "the time to figure me out." The Loud singer recently teased that they may shoot a video track. When MTV News met up with Drake last month as he kicked off his tour, the rapper dished about "What's My Name?" "I just did this great song," he said. "I don't know if I'm supposed to talk about it [but] I just did this great song with Rihanna. I hope we get to shoot a video for it. I'm really excited about that." What do you think of Rihanna and Drake's "What's My Name"? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Roc-A-Fella Co-Founder Kareem 'Biggs' Burke Arrested In Marijuana Ring Posted: 15 Oct 2010 04:38 AM PDT He was arrested alongside 44 others in the three-state drug bust.
Kareem "Biggs" Burke, one of the co-founding members of Roc-A-Fella Records, has been arrested alongside 44 other individuals involved in a wholesale marijuana ring based in New York, Florida and California. According to The Associated Press, a federal prosecutor announced that Burke was caught via wiretap discussing "grow houses" with the ring's leader. Prosecutors allege that the drugs were being grown using hydroponics in Florida and California. They were later smuggled to New York and sold for street sales. The trafficking ring, which authorities have dubbed "Green Venom," has reportedly been in existence for almost 20 years. The bust came after an 18-month investigation involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New York Police Department. The city's Department of Investigation and Special Narcotics Prosecutor's office was also involved in the takedown, which resulted in the obtainment of nearly $2 million and more than 360 pounds of marijuana. In addition to Burke, who is potentially facing life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, an employee of High Times magazine was also charged. Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara spoke out on the bust, saying, "With today's arrests, we have successfully shut down a major pipeline for marijuana distribution in New York City. This successful operation was the result of a dedicated and ongoing partnership among federal, state and local law enforcement and reaffirms our zero-tolerance policy for those who flout our drug laws." |
| Nicki Minaj Turns Into A Doll For <i>Pink Friday</i> Cover Posted: 15 Oct 2010 01:43 AM PDT Rapper reveals surreal artwork for her debut LP on Twitter.
Nicki Minaj is often referred to as the Harajuku Barbie, and she's sure living up to her nickname on the cover art for her debut album, Pink Friday, which is scheduled for a November 23 release. Minaj took to Twitter on Friday (October 15) to reveal the artwork, which depicts the MC as some kind of disproportionately sized doll. "So has everyone seen the album cover? :)" she asked her fans before posting another tweet that linked to the cover of Pink Friday, which will include a Parental Advisory label. Donning her signature pink wig, the Young Money princess sits on a white floor as she stares blankly into the distance with no arms and elongated, open legs. The cover furthers the theme of the album's title with a pink backdrop and sheer pink fabric fanning out from Minaj's bejeweled corset. She later joked about her missing arms in a tweet, writing, "Had them rip my arms out the socket. Detachable arms cuz arms r for common folk." Similar to Taylor Swift's forthcoming Speak Now, Minaj recently revealed that Pink Friday will include a string of confessional tracks that represent her romantic relations. "This album is my heart and soul," the rapper told Paper magazine. "This is me explaining every single relationship that I've ever been in and explaining it in a way that every woman in this world can understand it." While no track list is available yet, the album will include the rapper's energetic will.i.am collaboration "Check It Out." The duo have been making the television talk-show rounds, performing the number on the "Late Show With David Letterman" and "Live! With Regis and Kelly." What do you think of the cover art for Nicki's Pink Friday album? Sound off below! Related Artists |
| Drake Says Jay-Z 'Came Through' For Him With Concert Cameos Posted: 15 Oct 2010 03:18 AM PDT 'It's always nice when you can hit Jay up,' Drizzy tells Vibe.
Good friends are sometimes just a phone call away. Ask Drake and Jay-Z, who have both appeared as surprise guests at each other's New York concerts in the past month. In a recent interview with Vibe, not only does Drake open up about his relationship with the hip-hop heavyweight, but he also speaks about how difficult it was to exclude rap on his forthcoming R&B mixtape, It's Never Enough. While he said he had "a lot of fun" during his two-day stint at at Radio City Music Hall, Drizzy admitted he had some unusual pre-show jitters. "I was nervous, because there was a lot riding on it," he told the mag. "I knew that all these different publications were there, and it was one of those shows that was going to be highly reviewed and highly criticized and highly scrutinized." Despite the media attention, the Young Money MC wanted to make his back-to-back sold-out shows even more special, so he called up Jay-Z. "It's crazy to have that relationship [with Jay]," he said. "Not that I ever want to become dependent on special guests, because that shouldn't be the allure of my show. The allure of the show should be putting on a great show." But Drake revealed that Mr. Carter's concert cameos aren't always confirmed ahead of time. "You never know if he's going to come through, necessarily, but you'll hear it through your ear phones: 'Jay's coming out in five minutes,' " the rapper said. "It's always nice when you can hit Jay up. He held it down for me. I asked a favor of the big homie, and he came through." In addition to his close-knit relationship with Jigga, the rapper also addressed his forthcoming R&B mixtape, which he said was somewhat difficult to create. "Even on this mixtape, I had a really hard time just singing," he recalled. "There's a lot of rap on there. It's hard for me to do a straight R&B mixtape. The beat will just have the right pocket, and even though you can fit singing, I wanted to rap. A lot of that stuff I'm really looking forward to doing on this upcoming album." What do you think about Drake's bond with Jay-Z? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Challenger 'Confident' She Could Win In A Sing-Off Posted: 15 Oct 2010 04:18 AM PDT 'I had my fans writing to me and saying, 'Hey, I think you're better than Lady Gaga,' ' Alisa Apps says on MTV's 'The Seven.'
Upstart vocalist Alisa Apps has nabbed headlines by challenging megastar pop queen Lady Gaga to a $1 million singing contest. To some onlookers, the contest may have appeared to come out of nowhere, but Apps has explained that her dedicated fans urged her to take on Mother Monster. During an interview that aired Friday (October 15) on MTV's "The Seven," the singer detailed the origins of the vocal battle. "I had my fans writing to me and saying, 'Hey, I think you're better than Lady Gaga and ... it'd be cool for you to challenge her somehow,' " Apps told "Seven" host Kevin. The singer maintained that her goal isn't to make nice with Gaga and added that a little rivalry keeps everyone on their toes. "It's not really about co-existing," Apps said. "I think that competition is a good thing. It makes things more fun and exciting." Gaga's camp was mum when MTV News reached out for comment about the challenge a few days ago, and Apps revealed that she hasn't "heard anything yet from her camp but I'm excited to." Although no word about the challenge has surfaced from the "Bad Romance" diva, Apps still seems ready to show off her skills in a singing smack-down. "I'm confident that, yeah, I am a better singer than her," she said. When Apps first proposed the $1 million contest, which would entail both singers belting out a series of songs for a panel of judges who would determine the victor, she said she felt it would be the ultimate clash of genuine musicianship versus slick music-industry marketing. "I feel sorry for Lady Gaga — she's just a plastic doll generated by the music money marketing machine," Apps said a press release. "I stand for the voice of your heart. Be real with me. Come to my world and feel. I want to hear you and for you to hear me. This contest gives people a chance to choose which they prefer: plastic or real." Are you Team Apps or Team Gaga? Let us know in the comments! Don't miss "The Seven" every weekday at 5 p.m. ET on MTV. Related Artists |
| My Chemical Romance Reveal 'Na Na Na' Video's Inspirations Posted: 15 Oct 2010 12:20 AM PDT Frontman Gerard Way, who co-directed the clip, cites Andy Warhol and 'Blade Runner' as influences.
On Thursday — after spending basically every waking minute since the premiere of My Chemical Romance's "Na Na Na" video watching (and re-watching) the thing — MTV News compiled a comprehensive pop-culture cheat sheet to go along with the clip, listing all its references, from "The A-Team" to "The Warriors" and everything in between.
As luck would have it, we sat down with the guys in MCR on Thursday to talk about the video and their excellent Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys album. And, chuffed by our cheat sheet, we decided to ask My Chem's Gerard Way to list the things that inspired him to make "Na Na Na" (he co-directed). And not to toot our own horn, but our cheat sheet pretty much nailed it (except for the part where we said the little girl in the video was a boy ... whoops). But before Way even got to the making of "Na Na Na," he first had to take a trip to the past. Because, as it turns out, he's been working on this concept for a long time. "[There are] so many things ... I know just on the look, I probably spent three years, four years on it," Way said. "I know it started as the [Killjoys] comic ... we'd have these characters in our head, we went to a costume shop in East Rutherford [New Jersey], we made a rule for ourselves, saying, 'If it's not in this shop, we can't build it' ... so we bought all this real stuff and made it fantastic. ... I carried some of that over [into the video]." So with the basic look of the Killjoys in place, Way started adapting it for the "Na Na Na" video, taking cues from pop-culture touchstones both well-known and ultra-obscure. " 'Blade Runner' has been a big inspiration, a lot of late '70s, early '80s science-fiction films, even science-fiction book covers. I think my jacket's basically based off this obscure old science-fiction book," he said. "Vintage '80s motocross, because it was very bright and colorful ... all the boots are based directly off old motocross boots in some way. ... Pop art was a big inspiration ... Andy Warhol was a big inspiration. The fact that the car, it's a 'Mad Max'-y type car, but it actually looks more like an art car or something you'd see at Burning Man; that's intentional." Hmmm, let's see? "Blade Runner"? "Mad Max"? Andy Warhol? Yep, we got all of them in our cheat sheet. But there's one detail we missed: an Easter egg that pays homage to My Chemical Romance's rather theatric past. "There's a jacket from 'The Black Parade' in there," Way smiled. "I actually wore it on the Projekt Revolution Tour, and it's in the video. We made sure to put it in there, for our fans." What do you think of the inspirations behind "Na Na Na"? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| TJ Lavin In Critical Condition After Bike Crash Posted: 15 Oct 2010 12:36 AM PDT BMX biker and MTV 'Challenge' host put into medically induced coma after accident.
A failed attempt at a stunt went horribly wrong for BMX biker TJ Lavin on Thursday night at the Dew Tour Event in Las Vegas. Lavin, who also hosts MTV's "Challenge" reality competition, is in critical condition after his bike crash. "Our thoughts are with TJ," an MTV spokesperson said. "He is an important part of MTV's extended family and we're all praying for him." Lavin, a native of Las Vegas, has been a top competitor in the BMX community and has even earned one silver and two gold medals in the X Games. Although his career path has led him to become a TV host for 10 seasons of MTV's "Challenge," he still remains true to his roots of BMX riding as a top competitor in the Dew Tour Circuit. While riding on the second set of the dirt course, he lost control of his bike after failing to complete one of his stunts. His feet were unable to reach the bike's pedals, catapulting him through the air and knocking him unconscious. Immediately after impact, his friends and crew quickly were at his side only to see that he was motionless and unresponsive. TMZ has reported that after being immediately being rushed to a nearby University Medical Center, doctors decided to medically induce him into a coma in order to reduce the swelling of his brain. His other injuries include a shattered wrist and broken ribs. Stick with MTV News as more details about Lavin's condition emerge. Share your well-wishes for Lavin and his family in the comments. |
| Lupe Fiasco: A Child Rebel Soldier LP Depends On 'Demand' Posted: 15 Oct 2010 03:01 AM PDT MC says that if fans want an album from supergroup featuring Kanye West and Pharrell, 'then we'll do it.'
The hip-hop supergroup Child Rebel Soldier — a collaborative effort between Kanye West, Pharrell and Lupe Fiasco — has scored buzz with sporadic releases over the past few years. Although they recently dropped "Don't Stop" as part of Yeezy's G.O.O.D. Friday series, Lupe maintains the future of the project is at the mercy of fans.
When MTV News caught up with the Chicago lyricist in New York last weekend, he said the trio is gauging the feedback to their music and will then decide whether to forge ahead with new tracks. "We'll see what the reaction is to ['Don't Stop']. Every time we put out a record, whether it be ... that or [N.E.R.D.'s] 'Everybody Nose' remix or the original record ... 'Us Placers,' it always gets a crazy reaction," Lupe said. "So we just seeing if it's there, seeing if the demand is there, if people really want it." However, Lupe also said that the demands of each MC's individual career may impinge upon the trio's ability to carve out quality CRS time. "It's going to take a lot of time to come off our schedules," the "Superstar" MC explained. "Everybody got albums coming out: N.E.R.D., Kanye's next album, my album drops in March." Ultimately, an enthusiastic reception from fans will determine when a full-length LP comes from the hip-hop crew. "If people really want it, then we'll do it," Lupe said. "But if the demand is not there, it'll just be as we get to it." The "I Gotcha" spitter has also said that "Don't Stop" is an experiment aimed at sussing out the CRS sound. "That song is like a song that we did in the midst of being CRS, when we were actually going to put out an album and just really wanted to test records and see if we should do more records like that, or should we do more records like 'Us Placers' or ... more down-low records, up-top records," Lupe explained. "We were just trying to figure out what should we do and that was one of the experiments that was bananas." Do you want Child Rebel Soldier to put out an album? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| T.I. Praised By Suicidal Man's Mother Posted: 15 Oct 2010 01:07 AM PDT Rapper helping talk her son down from Atlanta building was not a publicity stunt, woman says.
The mother of the man T.I. helped coax down from the 22nd floor of an Atlanta building earlier this week is praising the rapper for his actions — and blasting those who suggest that Tip helped out for personal gain.
"I wish it was a publicity stunt, and my son wasn't hurting as bad as he is to get up there and do something like that," the woman told Atlanta radio station V-103 during an interview Thursday (October 14). "Thank God for T.I. ... So I'm just saying that it's crazy for people to think that someone would do that as a publicity stunt. It just bothers my mind." On Wednesday, T.I. — who heard about the threatened suicide while listening to V-103 — arrived on the scene and, after speaking with police, filmed a cell-phone video message to the man, urging him to reconsider his actions. Tip said he offered to help authorities out of the goodness of his heart, and not because he was attempting to curry favor with a federal judge who, on Friday, will rule if the rapper will have to return to jail after violating the terms of his parole. "I didn't know for sure what I could do," T.I. told MTV News. "Something inside me just felt compelled to try." And that sentiment was echoed by the would-be jumper's mother, who said that what T.I. did was genuine, and that his actions helped save her son's life. "My son was on top of the roof. I was speaking to an officer on the phone. He would not come down while I was on the phone because I was still at work, and I need to try and keep my job," she said. "That's part of my son's problem: He can't find work in Atlanta, and he has other issues, problems. He's thinking that's where it ends, and that's when it hit — he didn't want to live anymore." Did T.I. act for personal gain? Share your thoughts below. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Jay-Z's <i>Hits Collection</i> Track List Revealed Posted: 15 Oct 2010 12:58 AM PDT 'Empire State of Mind,' 'Hard Knock Life,' 'Roc Boys' among tracks featured on November release.
Hip-hop veteran Jay-Z has a bevy of blue-chip bangers to choose from for his upcoming greatest-hits effort The Hits Collection. Judging by the track list for the November release, Hov mined his most recent LPs for chart-toppers to fill the album. The first disc features three hits from his last record, 2009's The Blueprint 3: the album's lead single, "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"; the Rihanna- and Kanye West-assisted hit "Run This Town"; and "Empire State of Mind," his smash hometown anthem with fellow New Yorker Alicia Keys. Tracks from his 2003 effort, The Black Album, also figure prominently on Hits. The record, which was then billed as Hov's final album before signing off from the rap game for good, is represented on the greatest-hits collection by singles such as "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," "Encore" and the Rick Rubin-helmed "99 Problems." The album's underground cult classic interlude "Public Service Announcement" will also appear on Hits. Many cuts from the Blueprint album series appear on the collection, including the Jackson 5-sampling hit "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" from The Blueprint and the ride-or-die anthem " '03 Bonnie & Clyde" with now-wife Beyoncé from Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse. The comp also features "Roc Boys" from 2007's American Gangster, "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" from The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (2000) and "Big Pimpin' " from 1999's Vol. 3 ... The Life and Times of S. Carter. The second disc of Hits on the features less well-known fare for die-hard Hov heads, such as Jay-Z-enhanced remixes of Young Jeezy's "My President" and DJ Khaled's "Go Hard." The album is slated to hit stores November 23. Full Hits Collection track list, according to Amazon: 1. "Public Service Announcement (Interlude)" What do you think of Jay-Z's Hits Collection track list? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Jackass' Star Johnny Knoxville Opens Up About Infamous Gun Stunt Posted: 15 Oct 2010 12:13 AM PDT 'I shot myself in the chest with a bulletproof vest,' he admits to MTV News.
It's the stunt no Jackass wants to discuss: the time before Johnny Knoxville had a show on MTV and he decided to shoot himself in the chest with a gun. Apparently there's footage out there of the incident, but it's seemingly never been seen by a wide viewership. Is the stunt just a rumor — part of Knoxville's pre-"Jackass" lore — or did it really happen?
When the topic first popped up during an interview with MTV News, co-star Jason "Wee-Man" Acuña quickly quieted down his pals. "I don't think they're going to show that!" he said. A few days later, on the red carpet at the premiere for "Jackass 3D," we posed the question about the gun stunt to co-star Ehren McGhehey. "I know if it is true or false, and I can't say because it's a pretty dangerous stunt if it were to have happened," he told us. "I'm sure MTV probably wouldn't want to see it. If you're out there, kids, don't try that at home, because that is retarded." Director Jeff Tremaine, meanwhile, avoided the topic entirely. We were beginning to fear we'd never get to the bottom of the issue. Then Knoxville himself sauntered down the red carpet. And, as it turned out, he was more than happy to dish us the details. "That was a 'Big Brother' video, like, over 13, 14 years ago. I shot myself in the chest with a bulletproof vest. I had a .38," he explained. "I was really hoping the vest worked, because I didn't have any money at the time, and I could only afford the cheapest vest possible," he added. What do you think about Knoxville's risky stunt? Share your thoughts in the comments. Check out everything we've got on "Jackass 3D." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
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