MTV News |
- Waka Flocka Flame Bursts Onto Hottest MCs List At #8!
- Taylor Swift Says Her Potential Boyfriends Have 'Fair Warning'
- Kristen Stewart Says 'Welcome To The Rileys' Is 'Perfect' For Twilighters
- Willow Smith's 'Whip My Hair' And The Five Stages Of Grief
- B.o.B Says Landing At #9 On Hottest MCs List Means 'A Lot'
- Kanye West Reveals Which G.O.O.D. Friday Tracks Are On <i>Fantasy</i>
- Selita Ebanks Says Kanye West Showed 'No Ego' On 'Runaway' Set
- Rihanna's <i>Loud</i> Will Be 'Brighter,' Shontelle Says
- B.o.B Is 'The Truth,' DJ Skee Says Of #9 Hottest MC In The Game
- Willow Smith Says 'Whip My Hair' Video Is About 'Being Yourself'
- 50 Cent, Soulja Boy Reveal Mutual Admiration In <i>XXL</i>
- Jean-Claude Van Damme 'Okay' After Minor Heart Attack
- Usher Promises An 'Incredible Tour'
- Anna Kendrick Grooves In LCD Soundsystem's 'Pow Pow' Video
- Kris Allen Recalls Naked Sleepwalking Adventure
- TJ Lavin Will Get Cast Shout-Out During Wednesday's 'Challenge'
- James Cameron Calls 'Cleopatra' Movie a 'Slam Dunk'
- Jennifer Lopez 'Loves' Her 'American Idol' Gig
- Is Taylor Swift's 'Dear John' About John Mayer?
| Waka Flocka Flame Bursts Onto Hottest MCs List At #8! Posted: 20 Oct 2010 03:52 AM PDT ATL rapper earns his first Hottest MCs in the Game bid thanks to consistency in the clubs.
It's been a quick rise to the top for Waka Flocka Flame. The Queens-born, Atlanta-bred rapper began garnering attention in hip-hop circles after his mixtape Salute Me or Shoot Me Vol. 1 hit the streets of Atlanta in January 2009. It featured his breakout record "O Let's Do It." The rowdy club track quickly became a fan favorite, and a year later, after he peppered the streets with more mixtapes and a guest verse on "Bingo," from Gucci Mane's 2009 LP, The State vs. Radric Davis, "O Let's Do It" got an official remix featuring Diddy, Rick Ross and Gucci Mane.
On top of all that, the singles "Hard in Da Paint" and "No Hands," from his debut LP Flockaveli (released October 5), garnered him enough buzz and attention to be voted the #8 Hottest MC in the Game, his first time making the list. While Atlanta has been a hotbed of hip-hop talent for many years, a lot of artists who make a name for themselves off club records disappear as fast as they arrive. Right now, though, Waka isn't just hot in the clubs; he practically owns them. "[Waka] put out three consistent records in a row," MTV senior producer Rahman Dukes said during the Hottest MCs roundtable. "He's coming out a region that's known for putting out one great record." Still, there are many in hip-hop who question the upstart's talent. Critics have derided him, claiming he's more flash and rowdiness (witness his shouted ad lib "Waka! Flocka! Waka! Flocka!") than lyrical substance. "He's not the most lyrical dude," MTV News senior writer Jayson Rodriguez admitted, defending Waka's place on the list. "But these joints, they're ubiquitous. You can't go places without hearing 'O Let's Do It.' You hear it everywhere." "There's always been a lane for different artists who just control that 'get drunk, get crunk, just go hard' ... and those artists usually haven't always been the most lyrical," said MTV News supervising producer Sean Lee. "Right now, he's owning that lane." MTV News' Shaheem Reid agreed. "When I listen to Waka, it just takes me back to the audacity when Onyx came out, that spirit," he said. "You put the song on, you go into the club, and you just gotta be prepared for anything." But MTV Jams' Tuma Basa wasn't as easily convinced that having a handful of hot records in the club was enough to warrant the attention Waka is currently receiving. "Does Waka have the lasting power?" he questioned. "Does he have the ability to sustain, where a year from now everybody's going to admit that they liked the song?" These proved to be questions that opened up a great deal of debate among the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust, and Waka ultimately found himself pitted against eventual #9 selection B.o.B for his slot at #8. "I feel like that's a question of commercialism versus what's hot in the streets," said RapFix editor Hillary Crosley. Dukes added: "Waka, he has the soul of the streets right now." Lee felt that Waka's music, because it's so hard and so raw, hits listeners in a way that B.o.B's shimmery pop tunes can't. "You hear the B.o.B records, and you're like, 'I like that. It's cool,' " he said. "But it doesn't bring out the passion." MTV News associate producer Steven Roberts strongly disagreed, claiming that hip-hop music reaches more than just a street audience, and that another audience, perhaps one not being spoken for at the roundtable, felt just as strongly about B.o.B's music as Waka's. "It's definitely a different crowd," Roberts said. "You have a song like 'Nothin' on You,' which girls can gravitate towards; you have a song like 'Airplanes,' where it's inspirational. You have to look at the hip-hop circle as bigger than just the streets. In hip-hop, there is a pop circle. [And] you got a lot of dudes in hip-hop who just don't mess with Waka Flocka; who are like, 'This is just ignorant.' " "Waka's charting," MTV Jams' Sheila Grullon countered. "Not on top 40 [radio], but he's charting. And the urban charts are crazy right now. You go to the clubs, and nobody's gonna play 'Airplanes.' " Grullon is right: "O Let's Do It" hit #7 on the Billboard Rap Songs chart, while "No Hands" hit #6. In the end, the Brain Trust kept Waka at #8, because he's on the rise at the moment, his songs are continuing to get hotter, and the spotlight is definitely on him. The 2010 Hottest MCs in the Game rollout is now under way! As in 2008 and 2009, the criteria is based on a combination of rhyme skill, flow, buzz, commercial success, business ventures, Web presence and cultural influence. Upload your comments, reactions, arguments and/or your own list to Your.MTV.com or send tweets with the hashtag #hottestmcs — the best responses could be on TV or our hip-hop blog, RapFix! Stay locked in each day as we count down #10 to #6 on our MCs list. Then tune in to MTV2 for the entire one-hour "Hottest MCs in the Game" special on Sunday, October 24, at 1:30 p.m. ET, where we'll reveal who will be crowned 2010's Hottest MC. Related Videos |
| Taylor Swift Says Her Potential Boyfriends Have 'Fair Warning' Posted: 20 Oct 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'I've never kept quiet the fact that I write songs about people,' she tells MTV News.
Take it from Joe Jonas and Taylor Lautner: If you end up in Swift's romantic life, she will probably write a song about you. "It sort of is what it is," she told MTV News when she sat down to chat about her new album, Speak Now, out Monday. "I've had this formula for a long time that I've kind of applied to my music."
So what is Swift's chart-topping formula? "If I continue to write music about my life and my life is always changing, then my music is always changing," she revealed. "And if I change that whole process of writing music, that entire process of writing songs in my bedroom about what I'm going through at that moment — because the only way I know how to understand pain or move past it is to write songs about it — if I change that, I'm really more changing a part of who I am. And I don't really want to start doing that." With that in mind, Swift has no worries about her dating life — even if she knows her potential suitors might have some reservations. "It's understandable, but ... I've never kept quiet the fact that I write songs about people," she said. "It's like, this is album number three. You guys have had fair warning!" What do you think about Taylor Swift's songwriting formula? Is it too personal? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related Videos |
| Kristen Stewart Says 'Welcome To The Rileys' Is 'Perfect' For Twilighters Posted: 20 Oct 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'One thing that is relatable ... is the whole idea that, unless you respect and like yourself, nobody else is going to,' she tells MTV News.
Despite the fact that she was offered a job at a strip club during the filming of her new movie "Welcome to the Rileys" (an offer she turned down, obviously), Kristen Stewart was eager to step away from the troubled runaway-turned-stripper character she plays in the film. "It was an incredibly impactful experience," Stewart told MTV News recently. "But at the same time, it's not like I was incredibly altered at the end of it. It's hard to relate to this story, because I couldn't have had a more different upbringing. I can't relate to the kind of loss and weird incomplete feeling or whatever."
Stewart said one thing she was able to wrap her head around — and something she found to be somewhat universal — is the importance of self-respect and self-worth. "One thing that is generally relatable and I found is perfect for young girls — 'Twilight' fans, actually — is the whole idea that, unless you respect and like yourself, nobody else is going to," Stewart said. "It's always been really easy for me to do that," she admitted, before backpedaling a bit. "I hope that doesn't sound totally f---ing arrogant, but I've always been lucky. ... For so many people, it's so difficult to do that." Stewart added that, troubled character and all, she had a great time making the film and is really proud of her work in it. "I've totally stepped away from that [feeling of loss and incompleteness, but my character is] also really funny," she said. "As heavy as those ideas are, it was fun playing her, because she's crazy." Check out everything we've got on "Welcome to the Rileys." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Willow Smith's 'Whip My Hair' And The Five Stages Of Grief Posted: 20 Oct 2010 03:52 AM PDT Bigger Than the Sound leads you through the coping process while watching the 9-year-old's debut video.
In 1969, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross published "On Death and Dying," a psychological exploration of distress, loss and coping. In it, she introduced the now-famous Five Stages of Grief, a process by which, she theorized, people deal with grief and tragedy. Originally, the stages applied only to those suffering from terminal illness, though later, Kübler-Ross widened the scope to include anyone dealing with a form of hardship (loss of job, drug addiction, the 2010 Florida Gators' football season). Neither the Five Stages nor "On Death and Dying" probably come to mind when considering Willow Smith, especially since they are both four times older than she is. But they definitely should. Because Smith — the 9-year-old (!) progeny of actors Will and Jada Pinkett Smith — is also the girl responsible for "Whip My Hair," arguably the most infectious strain of ringtone rap/pop released this year. Chances are, if you've heard it, you're singing the hook right now, which is the whole point. "Hair" is either the most brilliant business ploy in recent memory (after all, 9-year-olds buy ringtones too) or a slightly troubling first step down a rather slippery slope (because how do you top a singing 9-year-old? With a tap-dancing 4-year-old?). Probably both. And therein lies my agony. Because writing about Smith — or "Whip My Hair" — in any meaningful way presents, to put it mildly, a rather grievous dilemma. It is impossible to dissect either without coming across as a total creep or a mean-spirited, get-off-my-lawn curmudgeon. And as such, it has created within me a great personal crisis, one that only deepened earlier this week when Smith unveiled her high-fructose video for the song. Each time I watch it, I find myself cycling through the Five Stages of Grief — Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and, finally, Acceptance — mostly because I am powerless to do anything else. Here is how that process usually goes: Denial: Willow Smith blows into a soulless school lunchroom, wearing bright-orange parachute pants, a purple leather vest, black lace-ups and striped boots. There are diamonds on her lips and zippers on her nails, and someone has managed to weave a heart into her hair. She is clutching a massive neon boombox, which contains tiny jars of paint. She sets the boombox on the floor, dips her braids into the paint and begins head-banging. "This cannot be happening," I think to myself. "Not to me." Anger: Paint is flying everywhere. Someone is going to have to clean it up. Someone whose father did not star in "Men in Black." Smith starts singing about overcoming the aspersions of haters and battling to overcome adversity. All the kids in the lunchroom are now covered in paint and bouncing around in unison. I feel a rage swelling inside me. Are kids really into this? Am I really too old or too jaded to understand this song, or am I just not willing to put a 9-year-old on blast? "Who is to blame?" I wonder. Bargaining: Smith is now head-banging in a hallway, dressed in an outfit that could casually be described as "My Little Pony spun in cotton candy." She is singing about black stars and black cars and about how, when she pulls up (presumably in one of those black cars), she whips it real hard. This seems particularly strange, considering she is 9 years old and can't drive. Now a janitor is whipping it too, probably because he just finished mopping up all the paint in the lunchroom. "I will give anything for this to be over," I mutter under my breath. My officemate looks at me solemnly. Depression: Smith, now wearing a white jumpsuit, is whipping it back and forth in a small room (maybe it's the A/V closet?), spattering paint everywhere. Now a teacher has removed her glasses and is whipping it too, with a sprightliness that belies her years. The song enters its handclapping, foot-stomping breakdown. I find myself nodding along to the beat. I am powerless to resist, and this saddens me. A thought enters my head: "I am going to die ... what's the point?" Acceptance: There is now a baby dancing in the middle of a classroom. Dammit. Smith informs me that it doesn't matter if my hair is long or short, because I can still whip my hair. She seems like a nice girl. I begin to accept the fact that it is pointless to criticize anything about this song, since it is going to be a gigantic, humongous smash. I will be hearing it buzzing out of cell phones for the remainder of 2010, if not even longer. Now someone's grandma is doing splits in the middle of the same classroom. Double dammit. Smith smiles back at me, knowing it's all over. I begin whipping my hair back and forth. "I can't fight it any more," I realize. "It is going to be OK." And then, I watch the video again. Have the same cycle of emotions. End up back in the same place. This either means that "Whip My Hair" is a very effective instrument of psychological torture or a smashingly great pop song. Probably both. You can moan and gnash all you'd like, but eventually, you're going to have to accept that Willow Smith has won, and, really, you are powerless to do anything about it. So perhaps the best thing to do is just move on ... or maybe add a sixth stage to the grieving process: Hair Whipping. Whatever it takes to make it through the day. What did you think of the "Whip My Hair" video? Let us know in the comments! |
| B.o.B Says Landing At #9 On Hottest MCs List Means 'A Lot' Posted: 19 Oct 2010 04:59 AM PDT Atlanta MC tells MTV News he's happy hip-hop fans are 'checking for me.'
Some music fans might think of B.o.B as a guitar-strumming pop star, thanks to breakout hits "Nothin' on You" and "Airplanes," but he is also an MC who struggles to make sure he includes just the right amount of hip-hop in his songs. His selection as the #9 Hottest MC in the Game, as voted by MTV News' Hip-Hop Brain Trust, certifies that he's striking just the right balance.
"For me, you know, you always run into that risk of not having enough balance in your music when you're trying to make a wide variety of music," B.o.B told MTV News on Tuesday (October 19) about his inclusion on the list. "My career has been something that's begun with Cloud 9 to what's coming out now, and my sound, you can't hear it in one body of work. You have to follow it and build. And that's what it's been to this point, where I can do songs with Hayley Williams and Rivers Cuomo and still have a hip-hop foundation." He's certainly run the gamut this year, from his performances at the MTV Video Music Awards and President Obama's Gen44 event to the BET Hip-Hop Awards. But while the upstart has ascended the pop charts with his hits, he still has a hunger to return to his rhyming roots. He was grateful for his Hottest MCs selection, because he said he has more to offer in terms of raw rhyme spitting. "My personal challenge was to put an album out that was well-received," B.o.B explained. "And to be able to do that and still get the lyrical crowd to pay attention shows me a lot. Because I have so much more energy that I can put into the content. It depends on the time and what the focus is. 'Cause I really want to show everything, and there's only so much you can show lyrically, with the amount of lyrics in an album. I feel like there's still a lot more that I can do, and to let me know that people are checking for me let's me know that it's still there." The 2010 Hottest MCs in the Game rollout is now under way! As in 2008 and 2009, the criteria is based on a combination of rhyme skill, flow, buzz, commercial success, business ventures, Web presence and cultural influence. Upload your comments, reactions, arguments and/or your own list to Your.MTV.com or send tweets with the hashtag #hottestmcs — the best responses could be on TV or our hip-hop blog, RapFix! Stay locked in each day as we count down #10 to #6 on our MCs list. Then tune in to MTV2 for the entire one-hour "Hottest MCs in the Game" special on Sunday, October 24, at 1:30 p.m. ET, where we'll reveal who will be crowned 2010's Hottest MC. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kanye West Reveals Which G.O.O.D. Friday Tracks Are On <i>Fantasy</i> Posted: 19 Oct 2010 01:09 AM PDT 'Devil in a New Dress' and 'Monster' made the cut, rapper tells MTV News.
Kanye West has been releasing music nonstop through his G.O.O.D. Friday project (at least when those pesky "hackers" aren't ruining it for the rest of us). The latest, "Take One for the Team," dropped last week and features guest stars Keri Hilson, Pusha T and CyHi the Prynce. The initiative has been a great move for fans of 'Ye's work but terrible for anyone trying to figure out how any of these tracks relate to his upcoming My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album.
So when MTV News caught up with West at the Los Angeles premiere of his "Runaway" film on Monday — the same event where he told us there would be five different covers of Dark Twisted Fantasy — we asked him if any of the G.O.O.D. Friday tracks would actually appear on his album. And, after thinking about it for a second, he matter-of-factly told us. " 'Devil in a New Dress' is on the album," he said. "And 'Monster' is on the album." "Devil" premiered in early September, one week after he dropped "Monster," a massive track that features Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Bon Iver mastermind Justin Vernon. That song was reportedly scheduled to appear on the West/Jay team-up Watch the Throne, though apparently that plan has changed. West wouldn't comment on the fate of his other G.O.O.D. tracks, but considering Fantasy also includes a song called "All the Lights" — which features John Legend, The-Dream, Ryan Leslie, Tony Williams, Charlie Wilson, La Roux's Elly Jackson, Alicia Keys, Fergie, Kid Cudi, Rihanna and Elton John — it's entirely possible there's no room for any additional guest stars on the album. What other G.O.O.D. Friday tracks would you like to see on Fantasy? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Selita Ebanks Says Kanye West Showed 'No Ego' On 'Runaway' Set Posted: 19 Oct 2010 01:29 AM PDT Model says West convinced her to play the movie's phoenix over dinner with Ivanka Trump.
There are many mysteries surrounding Kanye West's epic mini-movie for "Runaway," but one question nobody is asking is why the rapper picked gorgeous model Selita Ebanks to star as the phoenix in the film. The former fiancée of Nick Cannon, "Celebrity Apprentice" contestant and Victoria's Secret runway strutter was happy to suit up in the feathery wings for the part in West's nearly wordless, 35-minute movie — which will premiere on Saturday on MTV and BET — but she admitted to New York magazine that she wasn't quite sure what Yeezy was up to herself. "I mean, you sit down with someone, and they say, 'Hey, I want to make a movie where a phoenix falls from the sky and she becomes my girlfriend,' you look at him like, 'Okaaaay,' " she said. Ebanks has known West ever since she appeared in the music video for Pharrell's 2006 song "Number One," which featured verses by Kanye. This summer, she said the good friends had dinner with Ivanka Trump and a few other friends, and West began telling his companions about his concept for the "Runaway" video. "He's had this idea for so long, he wants to do a movie for an album, not a music video," she said. "And everyone was like, 'You're crazy! You can't do that!' And Ivanka was like, 'Who's gonna do it?' 'Cause the phoenix was originally going to be completely naked. And I was like, 'No way. I'd never do that.' " But, as time went on, the more she talked about it with Kanye, and the more he explained the "nonverbal acting" required of his female co-star, the more Ebanks thought she might be interested. "I've been studying acting for like 10 years, and I've always wanted to do something that off the wall," she explained. She likely got more than she bargained for during the intense four-day shoot in Prague earlier this summer. With abstract scenes involving explosions, skittish deer and a parade, Ebanks said the "Runaway" screenplay, such as it was, existed mostly in Kanye's head. "The way 'Ye operates, everything is in his mind," she said. "He tries to verbally explain it. It's a lot of conversation, a lot of character development and us working together, collaborating. Then he called in the big dogs, [art director] Vanessa Beecroft, as well as Philip Lim to do the wings [for the phoenix]. It was a big process of going in and fitting them and figuring out what looks more realistic. That was done in New York, all within two to three weeks." The first thing she did when she got off the plane in Prague was get fitted for a breastplate she wears near the end of the film, a detail of her costuming that the pair had never discussed before. "A lot of it is putting trust into his creativity and into his vision," she explained. Despite the esoteric nature of the idea, Ebanks said West is not one to explain his vision by referring to existing pieces of art, but rather by asking his collaborators to trust that he knows what he's doing. "You have to have a certain amount of trust, and then it's pretty easy for him to convince you what his vision is, and for it to be compelling," she said. "I completely caught what he wanted from the beginning." She praised West as a great director who is patient and gives good instructions, making it clear that he was not dictatorial and had "no ego" on the set. Not even a director's chair with his name on it, in fact. Ebanks speculated that the moral of the movie is: "The world doesn't accept, or they try to change, what is different, instead of trying to understand it." Ebanks said there are probably a few different ways to interpret the newly released controversial My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album cover featuring a painting of yet another phoenix, this one topless and straddling a naked, wine-swilling Kanye. "It's kind of the same with his music, the things that he raps about," she said. "You shouldn't take everything as literal as it may look. I think it's all about that douche bag thing. You know, there he is on that couch with a drink in his hand and a phoenix naked. There's nothing wrong with that." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Rihanna's <i>Loud</i> Will Be 'Brighter,' Shontelle Says Posted: 19 Oct 2010 04:59 AM PDT A fellow Barbados native and childhood friend, the upstart singer also reveals her contribution to Rih's November 16 LP.
The average American girl might spend summer camp trying to accessorize her lame crewneck tee or crushing on the boy two cabins down, but it didn't go down like that for Rihanna and childhood friend-turned-singer Shontelle. Far from deconstructing T-shirts or penning gushy love notes, the Barbados-born singers were busy working up a sweat. "Just picture Rihanna's 'Hard' video," Shontelle joked to MTV News, comparing their camp experience to the combat-inspired clip. "Picture both of us being that G."
While Rihanna is currently prepping Loud and Shontelle dropped her sophomore LP "I was the drill sergeant," the 25-year-old informed us. "And yes, I did give [Rihanna] push-ups. I have given her push-ups." The Caribbean crooners can "laugh about it now," and as if to offer further proof that there aren't any lingering hard feelings, Shontelle said she recently caught a show on Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth Tour "and we got in the studio. So there's actually a track that we worked on together that's gonna be on Loud." The "Impossible" singer confirmed widely circulated rumors that her fellow Bajan's fifth album will revive pre-"Russian Roulette" Rihanna. "Loud is a real contrast from the last album, from Rated R," Shontelle said. "It's a lot brighter. ... This album is gonna be so much fun, as you can tell just from the first single. It's just like, 'Unh, unh la la la,' " she explained, letting out the first bar of "Only Girl (In the World)." "That's pretty much how the whole album sounds. It's a lot of fun." Are you excited to hear Shontelle and Rihanna's collaboration? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| B.o.B Is 'The Truth,' DJ Skee Says Of #9 Hottest MC In The Game Posted: 19 Oct 2010 04:59 AM PDT 'He's transformed himself into a real pop artist while still being able to spit,' he tells MTV News.
B.o.B broke through on the pop charts this year in a big way with three consecutive top 10 hits and a #1 album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. But the Atlanta rapper also kept his street cred through a series of mixtapes and guest appearances. The "Nothin' on You" star's lyrical skills are what scored him the high marks that landed him on this year's Hottest MCs in the Game list.
"Bobby Ray, ever since [his management] played him for me years ago, I thought he was the truth," KIIS-FM jock DJ Skee told MTV News. "It took a long time to get there. Then they came out this year and smashed. When you think of B.o.B now, it's hip-hop but it's also on a different level. He has a record with Weezer [frontman Rivers Cuomo, 'Magic'], the smash with Hayley [Williams] and Em ['Airplanes']. He's transformed himself into a real pop artist while still being able to spit. So people can easily overlook him. But when you look at the hits he has, not to mention his skill and talent, musically, and as a rapper, he's one you have to include." Just this year, B.o.B has appeared on Cali Swag District's "Teach Me How to Dougie" remix, where he outshined the upstarts and guests Jermaine Dupri and Red Cafe. The rapper then also performed for President Obama during the Gen44 event in Washington, D.C. Last year, when rumors spread that B.o.B would quit the music business, he told MTV News that, although he did experience a period of frustration, he would push forward with songs that would speak for themselves — which has paid off with his Hottest MCs nod. "I don't have to live up to this hype," he explained. "I can just make music. The music is always what speaks. It's never anything else. At the end of the day, if you don't have talent, no one's gonna care. That's where my focus is; I'm back to the basics." The 2010 Hottest MCs in the Game rollout is now under way! As in 2008 and 2009, the criteria is based on a combination of rhyme skill, flow, buzz, commercial success, business ventures, Web presence and cultural influence. Upload your comments, reactions, arguments and/or your own list to Your.MTV.com or send tweets with the hashtag #hottestmcs — the best responses could be on TV or our hip-hop blog, RapFix! Stay locked in each day as we count down #10 to #6 on our MCs list. Then tune in to MTV2 for the entire one-hour "Hottest MCs in the Game" special on Sunday, October 24, at 1:30 p.m. ET, where we'll reveal who will be crowned 2010's Hottest MC. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Willow Smith Says 'Whip My Hair' Video Is About 'Being Yourself' Posted: 19 Oct 2010 02:14 AM PDT The 9-year-old Roc Nation star talks to MTV News about filming the clip, her 'Warriorettes' and sticking to your grind.
Willow Smith had a little help from her friends on the set of the video for "Whip My Hair." In the clip, which premiered Monday, Roc Nation's latest signee, joined by her crew of pint-size girls, turns a drab classroom into a kaleidoscope of color with a few energetic flicks of her paint-dipped braids.
"Having my Warriorettes there, my best friends caring — Jade, Angel Punky, they're just all my best friends — and my family there just made it even better," Willow told MTV News about the shoot when she stopped by Tuesday (October 19). "Me and my friends were touching the oranges, 'cause they were, like, real oranges but they were spray-painted," she said. "It was gooey," she added, turning up her nose at the recollection. The 9-year-old progeny of A-list actors Will and Jada Pinkett Smith explained that her BFFs are her Warriorettes, a supportive team that fully subscribes to the ethos espoused by her smash single "Whip My Hair." The outgoing tween, who describes her style as "schoolgirl-meets-punk rock," also opened up about the significance of the track. " 'Whip My Hair' means don't be afraid to be yourself," Smith explained, "and don't let anybody tell you that that's wrong. Because the best thing is you." A sampling of the lyrics bear that out: "We turn our back and whip our hair/ And just shake 'em off, shake 'em off, shake 'em off/ Don't let haters keep me off my grind/ Keep my head up/ I know I'll be fine." And a "Sesame Street"-inspired "Whip My Hair" remix taps into her chick-power message. As for filming last month in Los Angeles, Willow, a girl firmly on her grind, said she "liked it" but admitted it could be intense at times. "It was a long day. ... It was hard sometimes, but, like, if you have a commitment to that, you have to stick with it," Willow said. Clad in circus pants, a military blazer and a Lady Gaga brooch, the upstart artist turned serious for a moment. "And it's not because I have to, it's because I want it," she said of her percolating music career. "Most people, if they don't want it, they'll just be like, 'Oh well, I can do that tomorrow' — is that what's called procrastinating?" she added with a grin. What did you think of the "Whip My Hair" video? Let us know in the comments! |
| 50 Cent, Soulja Boy Reveal Mutual Admiration In <i>XXL</i> Posted: 19 Oct 2010 04:22 AM PDT 'If I had the wish to be another artist ... it would be Soulja Boy,' Fif says.
50 Cent and Soulja Boy Tell'em might seem like an unlikely pair but the two appear on the cover of XXL magazine's November issue — even if you can't quite see Fif's face. "I'm more comfortable in a space where people are doubting me than when I'm the favorite," 50, who dons a white mask for the cover, told the mag. "They doubted me before. Obviously, I was the only crazy person that believed in me at one point." Meanwhile, Soulja Boy, who recently endured rumors about alleged drug use, said he's still trying to navigate the music-industry ropes, despite his status as a rap prodigy in some circles. "I'm still learning," Soulja Boy said. "I've been through a lot this year, and it's nothing I expected. I just wanna rap, and I wake up and have some sh-- on me, out the blue, every single day. But, really, all it does is feed my ego." So why does 20-year-old Soulja relate his struggle to that of Queens' finest? "Being black with money, from the 'hood, struggles and coming from nothing to something, of course you're going to share the common struggles," the young MC said. "You going to have people hate. You going to have people that change on you, and all that. So of course, watching 50, and him going through what he did — if there wasn't no 50 Cent, there would be no Soulja Boy." The admiration is mutual. "If I had the wish to be another artist, just for right now, it would be Soulja Boy," 50 revealed. While word of a 50/Soulja collabo hasn't surfaced yet, 50 Cent may have a collaboration with former rival Kanye West, according to G-Unit's Lloyd Banks. One can only hope for a truly G.O.O.D. Friday. Are you surprised that 50 and Soulja Boy are fans of each other's work? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Jean-Claude Van Damme 'Okay' After Minor Heart Attack Posted: 19 Oct 2010 04:28 AM PDT Actor has returned home to Belgium after suffering a minor heart attack while filming 'Weapon' in New Orleans.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is OK after suffering a minor heart attack while filming his new film "Weapon" in New Orleans. The film was in production in Romania before moving to New Orleans for three days of shooting. According to TwitchFilm.net, Van Damme suffered a minor heart attack before he even began filming in Louisiana, putting the entire shoot on hold. The famous action star, who turned 50 on Monday, was briefly admitted to a hospital in New Orleans and has since returned home to Belgium to fully recover. When MTV News contacted Van Damme's reps for comment on the star's well-being, they responded via e-mail with brief-but-positive news: "He is okay." There's no word yet on how Van Damme's recovery will affect the production of "Weapon." When the film was first announced back in September '09, Vinnie Jones and "The Bourne Ultimatum" actor Scott Adkins (his second film with the Muscles from Brussels) were attached to star opposite Van Damme. Jones and Van Damme were supposed to play rival assassins who are forced to cooperate in their efforts to bring down a drug cartel. Jones' character was described as being handy with guns of all sorts, while Van Damme would be a master of blades. It appears that Jones has dropped out of the project, with Adkins possibly stepping into a larger role. Share your well-wishes for Van Damme and his family in the comments. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Usher Promises An 'Incredible Tour' Posted: 19 Oct 2010 02:33 AM PDT 'Incredible records go with incredible tours,' he tells MTV News of his string of hits.
Don't call it a comeback, but following a tumultuous 2009 that included a messy divorce, Usher could describe the past 12 months as his climb back to the top. Now, he's celebrating with a national tour.
"Been hard at work getting ready for this tour ... Man, ya'll are really in for a treat," the singer tweeted Monday. "I'm on. Twits back up." Recently, MTV News caught up with Ursh about his upcoming national run. "The tour starts November 13 in Seattle," Usher said. "[Producer] Max Martin made an incredible record with 'DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love,' but what would I expect: less? He's one of the best." Racking up several hits on the Billboard chart this year, including "OMG" featuring will.i.am, his current single checks in at #5 on the Hot 100, and Usher couldn't be happier. "[I'm] loving it. Just in time for an incredible tour," Usher said during a recent visit to New York. "I took a step away from L.A. tonight. My dancers and crew are real hot with me right now." Earlier this week, the singer was nominated for four Soul Train Awards, along with Alicia Keys. Usher is up for Best R&B/Soul Artist Male, Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Best Dance Performance. The singer was confident that his upcoming run will be memorable. "The tour's gonna be incredible," Usher said. "Incredible records go with incredible tours." Will you check out Usher's tour? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Anna Kendrick Grooves In LCD Soundsystem's 'Pow Pow' Video Posted: 19 Oct 2010 03:47 AM PDT 'Up in the Air' and 'Twilight' actress says she's a 'pretty lame dancer.'
To follow up the quirky, yet warm and fuzzy (because it's full of guys in panda suits) video for "Drunk Girls," LCD Soundsystem has enlisted some top-notch talent for their second video off This Is Happening, "Pow Pow." James Murphy and co. have "Training Day" writer David Ayer in the director's chair, along with Oscar-nominated actress Anna Kendrick as their clip's ingénue. The video is actually a joint production of MTV and Mean magazine (the creators of the infamous Cinemash clips), who are bringing together buzzed-about filmmakers and musicians for a series of "Mean Videos."
MTV News was lucky enough to visit the Los Angeles set of the video recently, where we chatted with Kendrick about how she came to be a fan of the electro-dance group, as well as the star of "Pow Pow." "I didn't have their new album," Kendrick admitted. "But this song is really cool too. The first time [I heard it], I was expecting straight-up melody or something. ... I can hear it every time we do a take, in my head. I'm kind of grooving. I can't help but groove to this song." Kendrick added that she's a "pretty lame dancer," but that the opportunity was too good to pass up. "It sort of came out of nowhere," she said of getting the gig. "David [Ayer] came up with this idea and asked me to do it. I've never done anything like this at all, so I was really excited about it. It's been really fun." The "Up in the Air" and "Twilight" actress said her character in the video is just a normal, unassuming girl, but she's surrounded by enormous bodyguards, and the viewer isn't really sure why. Kendrick added that Ayer encouraged her to turn to a Hollywood classic for inspiration. "He told me to watch 'Sunset Boulevard,' " she said. "He used that as a reference as what's going on underneath this girl." Stay tuned for more from our visit to the set of "Pow Pow" and news on when you might expect to see the finished clip. Are you excited to see Kendrick in LCD Soundsystem's new video? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Kris Allen Recalls Naked Sleepwalking Adventure Posted: 19 Oct 2010 03:12 AM PDT 'American Idol' champ tells his most embarrassing tour story before hitting the road with Lifehouse.
"American Idol" champ Kris Allen has had his fair share of embarrassing moments on the road. Leaving the stage mid-song because nature's calling? Check. Having sneaky paparazzi snap shirtless pics of him on his day off? Been there, done that. As the "Live Like We're Dying" singer embarks on a new fall tour opening for Lifehouse, Allen stopped by MTV News to share his most blush-worthy tour tale yet. He's been keeping this one a secret since August.
We'll let him take it from here ... "It was [my manager] Lizzie's birthday. We went out to this Italian restaurant, and we all had a good time. I get back to the hotel, and I'm pretty sleepy. It's pretty early, maybe 11, 11:30. At about 2 in the morning ... I wake up outside my bedroom, for some reason. I don't know if I'm sleepwalking or what's going on. The door closes, and I wake up and I go, 'What the heck? I'm locked out of my room!' The bad thing was I went to bed that night in the buff. So I am locked out of my room, butt-naked, in Hershey [Pennsylvania]. "At that point you're so defeated. It's not like I'm running down the halls trying to find something. I'm just walking around [with my hand covering my junk, thinking], 'If somebody sees me, they see me.' "So [then I think] somebody's had some room service, so maybe I can find a napkin or something and cover me up and go down to the lobby. There's nothing, obviously. I don't want to go down the elevator. That would be stupid, right? And so I go down the stairs, and I go through every floor... I even tried to find the gym, the gym is locked... So I [finally] find this phone and I call the front desk and I go, 'Hey, man. This is a little weird, but I'm locked out of my room. Can you please come up here?' "So I'm waiting for the guy to come. I'm kind of bent over a little bit [peeking around a corner looking towards the elevator]. For some reason, the guy comes up from behind me and so he sees everything. From behind, which is not cool. "He goes, 'Hey, man.' I'm like, 'Oh, gosh. Hey, dude. How's it going? Can you please unlock the door?' And he, like, does it really fast and then runs." But wait — the story doesn't end there. "The next night, my key doesn't work for some reason so I have to go back down [to the front desk], and it's the same guy. And he goes, 'Nice night last night, eh?' And I'm like, 'Oh, dude, I'm sorry.' I'm deeply sorry that he had to see that. "Man parts are not meant to be seen out in the open," Allen concluded. Kris Allen — who insisted that he was not under the influence of any substances the night of his naked stroll — is on the road with Lifehouse through November supporting his new single "Alright With Me." You can find his tour itinerary on his website. Or you could look out your window to see if there are any 5-foot-7 pop stars sleep-streaking down your street. What do you think of Kris' late-night streak? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| TJ Lavin Will Get Cast Shout-Out During Wednesday's 'Challenge' Posted: 19 Oct 2010 01:30 AM PDT The show will send on-air well-wishes to its injured host.
TJ Lavin, host of "The Challenge," is still recovering from an injury he suffered during a BMX bike stunt late last week. Some members of the cast have sent public well-wishes to Lavin, and MTV News has learned that producers of the show plan to air a cast shout-out to the show's host during Wednesday's episode. In the meantime, more "Challenge" stars are sending their love. In an e-mail sent to MTV News, Paula Meronek, who appeared on "The Real World: Key West" and later on "Fresh Meat 2," sent well-wishes. "Upon hearing about TJ Lavin's accident, I am truly saddened and concerned," she said. "I've gotten to know him over the past few years; not only as the host, but also as a member of our MTV family. During our challenges he offers motivation, encouragement and demands we give it our all. Now in his recovery, I am making the same demands. My heart goes out to his fans, friends and family. Get well TJ ... we love you! Xoxo" Married castmates Brad (who appeared on "The Real World: San Diego") and Tori Fiorenza ("Road Rules 2007: Viewer's Revenge"), who met on "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet 3," also sent their love to TJ via e-mail. "TJ is a fighting inspiration to us all. He is a great man with a ton of heart," their joint statement read. "We are sure he will make a full recovery and show the world how strong he really is. He will be in our thoughts and prayers." Derrick Kosinski, a vet of "Road Rules: Xtreme," sent the show's host a message of strength. "Over the years, I've had the privilege to get to know TJ. He has always been very nice, kind, sincere, and encouraging. He's a good person and I feel like somehow, someway he is going to break out of this thing," he wrote. "I'm keeping a positive attitude about this unfortunate situation, and I feel like he is too. My heart goes out to TJ, his family and all his close friends. "There was a time in the past where I felt like I was in the fight of my life. I was having trouble seeing, breathing, and moving. Somehow, with TJ's actions and words, I was able to persevere and get through it," he continued. "I wish I could somehow return the favor and somehow give him strength. I'm hoping that my prayers along with everyone else's, plus [his] fight, will do the same and [he will] persevere. If there's anyone that can do it, it's TJ He's not gonna quit and he's not gonna give up. We are all wishing, hoping and praying for the best recovery there could possibly be. Bust through this thing, TJ, I know you will. We're all pulling for you." Share your well-wishes for TJ and his family and friends in the comments. |
| James Cameron Calls 'Cleopatra' Movie a 'Slam Dunk' Posted: 19 Oct 2010 01:37 AM PDT 'Avatar' director says he has talked to the studio about the project: 'It sounds hot, doesn't it? I mean, Angelina Jolie and Cleopatra?'
Might James Cameron be scheduling a voyage to ancient Egypt before he heads back to the alien world of Pandora? Rumors started swirling last week that the director, while continuing to develop an "Avatar" sequel, is also considering helming a 3-D take on the life of Cleopatra starring Angelina Jolie. In a conversation with The New York Times, Cameron confirmed that he has in fact had conversations with Sony Pictures about the project. "There's a Cleopatra project in work, meaning that it's been in development at Sony," he said. "And it's a subject that's always fascinated me. So yeah, I've been talking to them about it but no decisions have been made. But it sounds hot, doesn't it? I mean, Angelina Jolie and Cleopatra? To me, that's like a slam dunk. Whether I wind up doing it or not, I think it's going to be a great project." According to a Deadline New York report, Sony has fast-tracked development on the Cleopatra movie after Brian Helgeland, who won an Oscar for his adaptation of "L.A. Confidential," turned in a top-notch draft of the script. The studio is also reportedly eyeing Brad Pitt to play Mark Antony, mirroring the casting of 1963's "Cleopatra," in which Elizabeth Taylor played the title character and her real-life lover Richard Burton played Antony. The 1963 film suffered an infamously troubled production and failed to connect with audiences, even as it won four Oscars. That history, though, does not bother Cameron. "There were a lot of people betting against us on 'Titanic' as well," he said. "That kind of stuff isn't particularly daunting to me. The idea of 10-foot-tall blue people that were 100 percent CG, it was Smurf Planet, plenty of reasons why 'Avatar' wasn't going to work either." Would you like to see James Cameron direct a Cleopatra film starring Angelina Jolie? Tell us in the comments! For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Jennifer Lopez 'Loves' Her 'American Idol' Gig Posted: 19 Oct 2010 12:22 AM PDT 'I think it is a good depiction of how the business is,' she told CBS' 'The Talk.'
Jennifer Lopez seems to be fitting in nicely with her new co-workers at "American Idol." On Tuesday (October 19), she stopped by CBS' "The Talk" and opened up about sitting alongside Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler. "[Critiquing the bad singers is] the easy part... I'm loving it," she said. "It's so much fun. When it goes live I'll be home for, like, five months. It's been great." The happiness didn't stop there. "I love everybody," she said. "It's such a machine. It runs like clockwork. I love [executive producer] Nigel [Lythgoe]. I love Ryan [Seacrest]. I love Steven [Tyler]. I love Randy [Jackson]. Everything's great!" Well... not everything. There is one part of her job where the fun takes a backseat. "It's easy when they're really good and it's easy when they're really bad," she said. "It's when they're in the middle." Lopez explained that contestants get trapped in "the middle" when they have a look but no sound, or a sound but no look. "It's a really hard process. It just depends how you are in the audition," she said. "I think it is a good depiction of how the business is. I think it's just fast-forward." During an "Idol" stop in New Jersey last month, Lopez expressed a similar sentiment. "I don't want to let anybody really great [not make it through] because they're nervous, and not get to see what they could have did," Lopez said at the time. "They're going to come in here and be a little bit nervous in the beginning, and then you realize, 'Wow, that person is really talented.' So we work them a little bit more than maybe you've seen in the past. We've given them more of a chance." Describing her judging style as "tough, easy and fair," she noted that she understands the emotions going through hopefuls' heads. "We know what it's like to be out there," Lopez said. "I was energized by all of their spirit when they come in here, and they're so hopeful about what could happen and how it could be." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Is Taylor Swift's 'Dear John' About John Mayer? Posted: 18 Oct 2010 10:25 PM PDT Leaked lyrics are fueling speculation that the Speak Now track might be about the singer/guitarist.
"Innocent" is about Kanye West. "Back to December" might be about Taylor Lautner. "Mean" is all about her critics. And it appears that John Mayer may even be the subject of a song penned by Taylor Swift for her forthcoming album, Speak Now, due October 25. While Swift isn't naming names on "Dear John" — well, last names at least — she doesn't shy away from calling out someone for a love gone terribly wrong. There's no confirmation that the tune is about Mayer, but some lyrics that have appeared online have everyone wondering if he's the John she's singing about. In the song, Swift really gives it to the aforementioned guy, singing, "Dear John/ I see it all now that you're gone/ Don't you think I was too young/ To be messed with/ The girl in the dress/ Cried the whole way home/ I should've known." Further on, she sings, "It was wrong/ Don't you think 19's too young/ To be played/ By your dark, twisted games/ When I loved you so." A teenage Swift collaborated with the 30-something Mayer on a tune titled "Half of My Heart," which appeared on his 2009 album, Battle Studies, and the two had been rumored to have dated for a short period after they worked on the track. Additional leaked lyrics from "Dear John" include: "My mother accused me of losing my mind/ But I swore I was fine/ You'll add my name to your long list of traitors who don't understand/ And I'll look back in regret, I ignored what they said/ 'Run as fast as you can.' " Strangely enough, the last line of this verse is very similar to one written by the subject of "Innocent," West, in his single "Runaway" — off his forthcoming November release, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy — which he performed at the VMAs last month. Swift recently discussed "Dear John" with the New York Post, admitting, "There's actually no surprise person on this record." She added: "I will be excited for you to hear that song, though." Do you think "Dear John" is about John Mayer? Share your theories in the comments! Related Artists |
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