MTV News |
- Lil Wayne Is The #7 Hottest MC In The Game!
- Chris Brown's 'Yeah 3X' Video Premieres
- Kings Of Leon Shake Off 'Hipster' Cloak With <i>Come Around Sundown</i>
- Taylor Swift Reveals Plans For Her 21st Birthday
- Kanye West Compares 'Runaway' Film To 'Flashing Lights' Video
- Waka Flocka Flame 'Never' Thought He'd Make Hottest MCs List
- Willow Smith Says Jay-Z Deal Shows 'Hard Work Paid Off'
- Lady Gaga Postpones Paris Shows Due To Strikes
- 'Jersey Shore' Star Vinny Explains Attraction To Snooki
- 'Jackass 3D' Cast And Crew 'Thrilled' By Box-Office Success
- Kanye West Originally Wanted Selita Ebanks Naked In 'Runaway'
- TJ Lavin Expected To Make A 'Full Recovery,' Pal Says
- Rihanna Now Managed By Jay-Z's Roc Nation
- Kristen Stewart Hasn't Met Her 'Breaking Dawn' Daughter Yet
- 'Glee' Stars' Racy <i>GQ</i> Photos Stir Up Controversy
- Justin Bieber 'Showed Love' With His Rapping, Vado Says
- Kanye West's 'Runaway' Is 'Artistically Large,' Pete Wentz Says
- T.I. Dropped By AXE Following Prison Sentencing
- Katy Perry, Russell Brand Arrive In India For Wedding
- Waka Flocka Flame Bursts Onto Hottest MCs List At #8!
| Lil Wayne Is The #7 Hottest MC In The Game! Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:51 AM PDT With help from his Young Money fam, Weezy proved not even prison bars could stop his otherworldly flow and undeniable 'star power.'
Lil Wayne had a helluva 2010, and just think: He wasn't even around for most of it. The New Orleans MC has been on Rikers Island since March, serving time on a weapons charge that dates back to 2007. But before he went in, the Cash Money rapper adopted a work ethic reminiscent of Tupac Shakur.
To wit, he released the compilation album We Are Young Money in late December '09, two full-length solo LPs — Rebirth, which debuted at #2 on the Billboard albums chart and has since gone gold, and I Am Not A Human Being, which sold 110,000 copies in its first week of release in September — more than a handful of videos and a couple of notable collaborations. A mainstay on the Hottest MCs list, his time away precipitated a fall of five slots from last year's #2 ranking, but MTV News' Hip-Hop Brain Trust still voted Lil Wayne the #7 Hottest MC of 2010. "I think he did not necessarily plan the jail portion of his career at this point," MTV's RapFix blog editor Hillary Crosley said during this year's roundtable discussion. "But I think he certainly prepared for it ... so that he was able to just keep it coming." Perhaps Wayne's biggest accomplishment of the past year was finally seeing his protégés, Nicki Minaj and Drake, become bona fide stars. Aubrey Graham was right behind Wayne on last year's list, coming in at #3. This year, Drake released his first full-length LP, Thank Me Later, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard albums chart. Wayne and Drizzy were practically joined at the hip on radio, mixtapes, bumping from car stereos or at the club. Among the tracks that scored heavy rotation were "Forever," "Money to Blow," "Bedrock" (also featuring Nicki Minaj) and "Miss Me," to name a few, Nicki popped up on Wayne's single "Knockout" and he traded the favor on "I Gets Crazy," but she also proved her solo prowess, landing a #1 record all by herself with "Your Love," as she rides Titanic-size buzz ahead of her debut, Pink Friday. "[Wayne] going away, it felt like it didn't really hurt," said Sean Lee, MTV News' supervising producer. MTV News senior writer Jayson Rodriguez agreed: "He has this impact by the people that he's introduced. And they've helped carry him while he's not even here right now." But it wasn't just Nicki and Drake that benefited from a Wayne assist. Kevin Rudlolf's "never-say-die" anthem "I Made It" sold a half-million copies with help from a Weezy feature and U.K. singer Jay Sean's "Down" got play throughout 2010, in spite of it hitting airwaves way back in May 2009. And finally, there was Eminem. Em and Wayne parlayed their mutual respect for each other into two notable duets: 'Drop the World," from Rebirth, and "No Love," from Eminem's Recovery. Neither song set the charts ablaze, but both were critical highlights that found two of hip-hop's illest lyricists in rare form — spitting those raw rhymes. The songs were reminders that being nice on the mic still matters, not only to fans but to the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust, which takes into account factors like buzz, commercial success, impact and lyrical flow in selecting the Hottest MCs in the Game. That said, incarceration did present real drawbacks apart from the obvious. Wayne couldn't tour much in 2010. And he couldn't bask in the accolades that came his way, including nabbing two BET Awards and coming in at #4 on the Forbes 2010 list of "Hip-Hop's Cash Kings," with $20 million in earnings. According to Lee, Wayne far and away nailed all of the Brain Trust's Hottest MCs criteria. "Flow, lyrics, impact, buzz, sales," he said. "Not to mention the intangible: That's ultimate star power when a dude's been gone away for this long and we're talking about him as if he's still here." 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 |
| Chris Brown's 'Yeah 3X' Video Premieres Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:51 AM PDT R&B star's club-friendly hit gets dance-driven visual.
Chris Brown's "Yeah 3X" is a speaker-rattling, synth-laden, electro-house banger, so it's only fitting that the accompanying visual would be all about powerhouse footwork. The visual melds together a plethora of dance styles against a turn-of-the-century backdrop of old-timey storefronts and brownstones, kicking off with Breezy's acrobatic entrance. Donning a black vest, trousers and a tie pinned in place, Brown's boyish energy belies his grown-man chic as he flips onto the top of a truck. Bored kids lining the neighborhood's stoops run into the street cheering as Brown is clearly here to save the day and eradicate the youth's ennui.
With a DJ spinning the sunny track, Brown then leads the mob of brightly dressed kids, teens and older residents down the street. Enthusiastic fist-pumping breaks out as the chorus nears and Brown flies through his first dance sequence. Flanked by two dancers, the trio pull off insanely high midair twirls, each seemingly jumping several feet above the ground. Then, following a foxy extra to another part of the lot, Brown runs into a four ladies rocking tank tops and suspenders — his next crew of dancers. They whip out sharp-yet-fluid arm movements as Brown takes the time to belt out the chorus and work in a few hip thrusts. With that out of the way, Breezy flits offscreen to a storefront labeled "Popin Pete's" and begins the next chorus busting moves with the popping luminary. Both rock the springy and precise footwork, with Brown adding a bit more athletic oomph to the dance style Pete helped pioneer. Next, Brown launches into the bridge, sporting an '80s-era blazer, gold chain and, in one shot, carrying a massive shiny boombox. Spitting lines like, "DJ turn it loud/ And watch me turn it up!" Breezy rallies the crowd from a fire escape just before someone opens a fire hydrant and unleashes a spray of water on some dancers mid-jig. For the final dance sequence, Brown loses the white shirt and bares his chest through his peach jacket as he commands a chorus of blazer-rocking guys and midriff-baring ladies ripping through the last bit of choreography. Scenes of people going wild at an epic block party and drenched dancers executing graceful limber moves are spliced into the video-ending dance. But instead of Breezy wrapping up the vid with some eye-popping choreo, Brown simply spins, stops and looks off into the distance as the party ends. What do you think of Chris Brown's new video for "Yeah 3X"? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Kings Of Leon Shake Off 'Hipster' Cloak With <i>Come Around Sundown</i> Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:51 AM PDT 'There was a time when our mustaches spoke louder than our music,' Caleb Followill tells MTV News.
Kings of Leon frontman Caleb Followill proudly proclaimed "I f---ing hate hipsters," in a recent interview with Rolling Stone. And though he seemed rather resolute while saying it, when the band stopped by MTV News on Wednesday (October 20), Caleb's brother/ Kings bassist Jared Followill took it upon himself to clarify that statement.
"He meant he hates having sex with hipsters," Jared laughed. "Like, literally, he hates 'f---ing hipsters.' " Although Jared was joking, his explanation almost makes more sense. Because there was a time, long before the breakout success of KOL's 2008 album, Only By the Night, when the they sort of were hipsters themselves ... or at least the kind of band that hipsters — particularly those in the British press — absolutely loved: epically maned (and mustachioed), tight-trousered Southern wildmen who partied hard and looked great doing it. They were never going to sell any albums, and that was part of the appeal. Of course, it probably won't surprise you to learn that Caleb Followill doesn't necessarily agree with any of that, which is why he had no problem declaring his hatred for the hip. "I think when we were considered 'hipsters,' if you will, we were never backing down from success; we were never doing that on purpose. When someone like U2 asked us to go on the road, we immediately were like, 'Yeah! Pearl Jam? Yeah! Bob Dylan? Yeah!' They were all different things, and we wanted to get ourselves out there and for people to hear our music," he said. "We weren't dumbing it down, and there was never a point in our career where we were like, 'Oh man, I think we should scale it back otherwise we're going to be popular.' And anyone who acts like that, I think they're full of it. No one wants to not succeed in what they do, and I think in any walk of life, you wanna be the best at what it is you do, and that's always been our goal. "And so, it's not even necessarily the hipsters I have a problem with, it's the critics that praise everything indie; everything indie is great," Caleb continued. "And it's like, 'Well, yeah, if that indie band is around in 10 years, you'll be talking bad about them, because they're no longer your little indie band.' " The Kings of Leon are no longer anyone's little indie band. Night sold more than 6.5 million copies worldwide, spawned a pair of hit singles here in the States, and earned the Followill boys four Grammys, including Record of the Year for "Use Somebody." And their just-released follow-up, Come Around Sundown, seems almost certain to build on that success. It's a full-bodied, big-reaching rock album, full of arena-size guitar solos and even larger choruses for the beer-drinking dudes and slow-burning, soft-touching ballads for their lady friends. In a lot of ways, it's the album the Kings of Leon were destined to make ... which was sort of the point. "When we first started, we didn't really know how to play our instruments, and so it sounded really lo-fi and people just assumed if you sound lo-fi, it's on purpose and you're indie," Jared Followill said. "That wasn't the case, we just weren't very good." With Come Around Sundown, the Kings of Leon are saying "to hell with the hipsters" and reaching — unabashedly — for the stars. And if that means they're no longer your favorite bloggers' favorite band, so be it. At least they don't have to answer questions about their mustaches anymore. "That's definitely a plus," Caleb laughed. "There was a time when our mustaches spoke louder than our music." What do you think of Kings of Leon's new album? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift Reveals Plans For Her 21st Birthday Posted: 21 Oct 2010 02:51 AM PDT Party will probably 'be winter-themed,' she tells MTV News.
She's grown up right before our eyes, and this December, Taylor Swift will celebrate a major milestone by turning 21. While that means she can legally enter a nightclub, it also means that she'll get to party however she pleases. And this year, Swift plans to pay homage to the season with a Christmas-themed birthday bash.
"The plans for the 21st birthday probably are going to be winter-themed," she revealed to MTV News. "I love winter. I love Christmas, and my birthday is December 13." Swift recalled having many Christmas-themed birthday parties growing up, but this one, she says, might be a bit more adult. "You know, when I was a little kid and I was growing up, they'd always have a Santa Claus guy show up and take everybody's wishes or what they wanted for Christmas. I'm not gonna do that, but there'll definitely be lots of Christmas-themed things." So will that include some spiked eggnog? "Well, you know, legally, I could," she teased. In an interview with Ladies' Home Journal, Swift dished a bit more about her big plans. "Maybe I'll have a glass of wine — but nothing too hard-core for me. I've never had the burning desire to drink," she said. "I need to be in control of what I say, and if I drank, I'd stress out about saying the wrong thing at the wrong time." Before her big birthday, Swift will release her new album, Speak Now, which is due on Monday. And on the album, she isn't shy about calling out guys. "It's like, this is album number three. You guys have had fair warning!" she joked, adding, "If I continue to write music about my life and my life is always changing, then my music is always changing." What would you get Taylor for her 21st birthday? Share your ideas in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kanye West Compares 'Runaway' Film To 'Flashing Lights' Video Posted: 20 Oct 2010 06:58 AM PDT West tells MTV News at NYC screening that he finds 'a lot of similarity' in the two projects.
NEW YORK — In Kanye West's "Runaway" short film, the rapper captures the story of a fallen phoenix that he resurrects through his music and affection only to lose her once she regained her full spirit and returns back to her home planet. The narrative could be an allegory for West's return to the mainstream stage after a self-imposed exile following his Taylor Swift interruption at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
After all, West holed up in a Hawaii studio for months — away from the spotlight — to record material for his forthcoming My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and then burst back onto the scene with the rousing "Power." So it begs the question: Is there a deeper personal meaning to the story behind the visual? When asked about his "Flashing Lights" video back in 2008, West did say, "Every piece of the video is me, what I represent now." "I think there's a lot of similarity in this and 'Flashing Lights,' " West told MTV News on Wednesday (October 20) after a limited Manhattan screening of "Runaway." " 'Flashing Lights' is my favorite piece of work that I've done. The pacing, people are always like, 'Where is the rest of it?' But we didn't have the time or whatever or the money to do the rest of it. But I might do the rest of it, the beginning and the end. Two years from now, I might give you the whole 'Flashing Lights' video, put 'I Wonder' in it, 'Say You Will' and songs that I feel like doing." While West didn't draw a straight line from the conceit of "Flashing Lights" and how it relates to his life then and the premise of "Runaway" and his life now, he stressed their aesthetic similarities, including the dark establishing shot of "Flashing Lights" and the opaque opening of "Runaway." "Look at it graphically, how it starts," he said of "Flashing Lights." "With the car, the orange sky, the color palettes, the blue sky, the car pulling up with the orange headlights. And just the beautiful women, taking the Helmut Newton type photo and bringing it to real life and crashing it against Jim Henson and George Lucas type whimsy and taking, like, a [Federico] Fellini, [Stanley] Kubrick pacing and a very graphic novel/ comic book type setup on all the shots. There's a lot of shots that are borderline illegal for a film student. It just breaks rules, because I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing." Kanye West's "Runaway" will premiere Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on MTV, MTV2 and BET, and will also stream live on MTV.com, BET.com and VH1.com, followed by a live Q&A session on MTV and MTV.com. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Waka Flocka Flame 'Never' Thought He'd Make Hottest MCs List Posted: 20 Oct 2010 03:40 AM PDT 'It's so soon,' #8 MC marvels to MTV News.
Few announcements for MTV News' Hottest MCs in the Game list have been as controversial as Wednesday's (October 20) #8 rapper Waka Flocka Flame. The Queens-born, Atlanta-bred MC may not be the most lyrical, as he's admitted himself, but no one can deny his power in the club. We caught up with the rapper on his way to perform at Maryland's Morgan State University just after he'd learned his rank on the Hottest MCs list via @MTVRapFix.
"I just looked at it right now in the airport on Twitter, I swear to God," Waka Flocka told MTV News via phone. So what was his reaction to checking in at #8 on one of hip-hop's most coveted lists? "I was like, got-damn!" Waka said. "Oh, sh--, I made it! Hell yeah, I was [surprised]. Come on, man, I never thought I'd be on something like that. Not yet. It's so soon." After dropping his mixtape Salute Me or Shoot Me Vol. 1 in January 2009, many were introduced to the energetic rapper through his breakout record "O Let's Do It." The rowdy club track quickly became a fan favorite, and one 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. Then "Hard in Da Paint" took over the clubs in early 2010, followed by "No Hands," featuring Roscoe Dash and Wale, the latter of which sits at #6 on both Billboard's Rap Songs and R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. Still, many others didn't think Waka should've made the Hottest MCs list, voicing their displeasure online. But the dreadlocked rapper isn't fazed by his detractors. "F--- them with they middle finger," he deadpanned. But to his supporters, Waka said he "loves them to death." 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 Jay-Z Deal Shows 'Hard Work Paid Off' Posted: 20 Oct 2010 04:13 AM PDT 'Whip My Hair' singer also cites Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Billy Idol as musical influences.
She's a 9-year-old fresh princess with swagger to spare. He's a 40-year-old mogul from Marcy with a portfolio so expansive Forbes named him 2010's Hip-Hop Cash King. An unlikely pairing, maybe, but Willow Smith and Jay-Z seem destined to make beautiful music together. The "Whip My Hair" songstress visited MTV News on Tuesday and opened up about her reaction to Hov wanting to ink her to his Roc Nation label.
"It felt like all the hard work paid off, mostly that," Willow told us. "Like all the hard work that I've done, like recording 'Whip My Hair' — it's paid off." She recalled making introductions: "We went to this building, I don't remember what it was, but we had a meeting and I got to hang out with him and meet him, and it was fun." Whereas other acts sometimes languish for months after signing to a record company, Jay and his Roc Nation team have moved swiftly around the talented tween. An announcement of the deal came just two days after the bouncy single leaked to the Net, and its colorful clip premiered a little more than a month later, on Monday. In a radio interview with Ryan Seacrest last month, Jay said he was surprised at how poised Willow was when he flew to Japan to meet her and the Smiths — Will, Jada and brother Jaden — on "The Karate Kid" set. "She walked in and the first thing she said was, 'I'm really nervous,' and I thought, 'That's maturity to explain exactly how she was feeling when she walked right into the room.' I knew right then she was a star," Jay relayed. "I believe in superstars. I believe in big records and superstars, and I think she has both." Willow's breakout single, a "do you" track that she explained champions fearlessness and individuality "because the best thing is you," has had music watchers speculating about what a Willow Smith debut LP will sound like. More clues about that are probably tucked into her eclectic short list of favorite artists. "Lady Gaga, Billy Idol," she shot back when asked about her influences. Smith, it should be noted, had festooned her denim military blazer with a custom-made Gaga brooch and her curly Mohawk would probably inspire a lip curl of approval from the '80s rocker. She quickly added Beyoncé and Jay-Z "and my mom and my dad!" (It should also be noted that Willow kicked off our interview effortlessly rapping the first few bars of her dad's hip-hop classic "Summertime"). Will, of course, scored a string of PG rap hits in the late '80s as the rhyming half of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, while actress mom Jada has toured in the past with her metal band. What do you think of Willow's first single, "Whip My Hair"? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Postpones Paris Shows Due To Strikes Posted: 20 Oct 2010 03:26 AM PDT Singer pushes back dates, citing fuel/transportation concerns amid refinery workers' protests.
Lady Gaga's French fans will have to wait until the end of the year to catch the Monster Ball spectacle in concert. The pop superstar's tour backer, Live Nation, announced Wednesday (October 20) that her Paris dates, scheduled near the end of the month, will be pushed back as a result of ongoing strikes in the region. "As a result of the logistical difficulties due to the strikes in France, Live Nation today announced that the Lady Gaga performances in Paris at Bercy previously scheduled for this Friday and Saturday 22 & 23 October are postponed until 19 & 20 December, 2010," read a statement posted on the star's website. The European nation has been in the throes of civil upheaval for weeks since French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced a proposal to bump the minimum retirement age up from 60 to 62 and raise the age that citizens can receive pension benefits from 65 to 67. Many workers have gone on strike, including employees of France's oil refineries, leading to fuel shortages throughout the country. "Unfortunately, as there is no certainty that the trucks can make it to the Bercy for this weekend's shows, the Lady Gaga performances are now postponed," the statement continued. "The December 19th concert will replace the 22-October show and December 20th concert will replace the 23-October performance." According to the statement, Gaga's little monsters have until mid-November to turn in tickets for a refund or swap out a new ticket for either of the winter dates. "Fans with tickets to the rescheduled shows must exchange their tickets or claim for refund from now through November 14th at their point of purchase," the statement read. "Tickets dated October 22 and 23 will not be valid at the new dates." The statement concluded with "Lady Gaga apologizes to her fans for any inconvenience." The postponed dates are a setback for an acclaimed global trek that has racked up cash around the world. Gaga's tour is projected to pull in roughly $200 million when it winds down in April 2011. Are you upset that Gaga has postponed her Paris shows? Sound off in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Jersey Shore' Star Vinny Explains Attraction To Snooki Posted: 20 Oct 2010 05:45 AM PDT Fist-pumper compares Snooks to a 'cute puppy that you see in the window,' on MTV's 'The Seven.'
On the latest season of "Jersey Shore," viewers have seen quite a few intra-house hookups, and many of them involved the crew's momma's boy-turned-Miami playboy Vinny. We saw him swap spit with once-again departed housemate Angelina, and Snooki summed up their late-night tryst with the vivid analogy of putting a "watermelon" into a "pinhole." Angelina and Vinny's hookup seemed random, because they spent most of their time together bickering. But Snooki and Vinny have always had a playful, flirtatious vibe to their relationship, and when the Staten Island native chatted with MTV's "The Seven," he broke down the pair's attraction to each other.
"Snooki is the funniest girl I've ever met," he said in an interview that aired Wednesday (October 20). "Picture a cute puppy that you see in the window that you just can't stop looking at and you just keep seeing their cute little features. That's why we attract to each other in the house, because she's always so cute." Vinny also opened up about in-house wingman Pauly D and Snooks' partner in crime JWoww, whom he said holds multiple bachelor degrees and insisted that "behind the big boobs, there's definitely a good brain and a good head on JWoww's shoulders." As for his muscled-up roomie Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, Vinny said he's "a funny guy to live with" but admitted the two wouldn't be bros outside the house. As Thursday's second-season finale nears, Vinny assured fans that the beachside debauchery isn't just for the cameras. "The 'Jersey Shore' is 100 percent real. If it was fake, it wouldn't be as entertaining as it is," he reasoned. "We have a list of places we can go and things that we can do, we live in a house, and then it's just let loose from there." Although he's clenched fame as a reality star, Vinny said for his next career move, he wants to tackle gritty scripted fare and prove himself as an actor. "I hope to keep auditioning. I want to get an acting coach, hopefully land a couple of guest-starring roles on a couple of movies or TV shows — real dramatic acting," he said. "Real New York City cop, crying, playing someone in a mental hospital or someone in a horror movie. Real-life stuff like that." If Hollywood glory from an authentic slasher flick or asylum thriller doesn't pan out, Vinny said he would like to team up onscreen with another Italian-American luminary. "Maybe [I could] land a role in a movie where I would get an Oscar [or] maybe Martin Scorsese would put me in a movie," he said. "That's where I want to go; that's my path." Are you excited to catch the season-two finale of "Jersey Shore"? Let us know in the comments! Don't miss "The Seven" every weekday at 5 p.m. ET on MTV. Related Videos |
| 'Jackass 3D' Cast And Crew 'Thrilled' By Box-Office Success Posted: 20 Oct 2010 06:03 AM PDT 'It exceeded everybody's thoughts,' Johnny Knoxville tells MTV News.
If anyone was surprised by the record-breaking $50 million haul brought in by "Jackass 3D" in its opening weekend, it's the men behind the mayhem, Johnny Knoxville and director Jeff Tremaine. The two men still can't believe "Jackass" ever made it to television, let alone the big screen and the eventual #1 spot at the box office. MTV News recently caught up with the hit-making masters of mischief to find out their initial reactions to the numbers, as well as what they might mean for future "Jackass" films.
"The numbers were coming in all day long and I didn't want to hear anything until 9:30 Friday night," Knoxville said. "Whatever, I was superstitious," he admitted. "They said it was going to be $40 [million] and we were thrilled." "I was on a bus," Tremaine recalled of getting the news. "Paramount rented a bus and we were going from theater to theater, sneaking in for [audience] reactions," Tremaine explained. "It was cool because it was building. Each later show got rowdier and rowdier. I had a good feeling, but no idea it would be as big as [what] we found out," he said. Tremaine admitted that his expectations were somewhat low. "I was hoping just to beat 'Number Two,' I guess I have low expectations," he said. "I try to keep it reasonable, but, man ... it exceeded what I thought possible." "It exceeded everybody's thoughts," Knoxville added. So what does this mean for a "Jackass" sequel? Before the 3-D flick opened, we asked the crew whether they'd be up for a fourth installment but no one wanted to speculate too much. Now, with the film's overwhelming success, what are their plans going forward? "We're just so grateful for what happened," Knoxville said. "To be doing this 10 years, and for this to be our biggest film, we're just so thrilled. We don't want to get greedy with any more expectations." "It's been a constant shock to me," Tremaine said. "I always say this, but we were shocked it ever made it on TV, we were shocked that it got popular. We didn't think it was possible to make a movie — our first reaction to [that idea] was, 'How is this a movie?' " he laughed. "Then the movie was popular, we came back for a second and thought that was it. So it's a constant shock. We don't expect anything so it's awesome," he said. "It's an awesome, fun ride." 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 |
| Kanye West Originally Wanted Selita Ebanks Naked In 'Runaway' Posted: 20 Oct 2010 01:51 AM PDT 'I honestly was just so excited and honored that he even considered me for it,' model tells MTV News.
When Victoria's Secret model and "Celebrity Apprentice" alum Selita Ebanks first heard Kanye West's idea for his "Runaway" short film — in which he wanted the model to appear fully nude as a fantastical phoenix plunging onto Earth and falling in love with him — she had one thought: "No."
"There's no way I'm going to be naked on TV," Ebanks recalled telling West. The hip-hop star reconsidered, eventually, but not without a bit of negotiation between two old friends, as Ebanks said when she stopped by the MTV Newsroom recently. "It was very PG. There was no tongue exiting the mouth. And whatever the costume is has to be respectful," she explained of her parameters. Their mutually agreed-upon concept of a respectful costume was some artfully placed feathers to shield her otherwise nude body and a set of elaborate wings designed by Phillip Lim. Ebanks' phoenix, of course, is not the only winged creature to flit through Kanye's artistic vision recently. He selected a nude phoenix to grace the cover of his upcoming album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, saying the artwork is "something I would've picked or drawn as a 5-year-old." Clearly, nudity and the metaphor of the phoenix — destruction followed by rebirth — have been on 'Ye's mind for a while. But once Ebanks put the kibosh on any nude scenes, the duo ended up working comfortably together during the Prague shoot. The finished film is set to debut Saturday, October 23, at 8 p.m. ET on MTV. "It's extremely easy to work with him, understanding that everything with him comes from an artistic standpoint, because he is an artist and he has this vision," Ebanks said. "I honestly was just so excited and honored that he even considered me for it." Kanye West's "Runaway" will premiere Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on MTV, MTV2 and BET, and will also stream live on MTV.com, BET.com and VH1.com, followed by a live Q&A session on MTV and MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| TJ Lavin Expected To Make A 'Full Recovery,' Pal Says Posted: 20 Oct 2010 12:41 AM PDT 'We're just thankful that there's that many people pulling for him,' Chas Aday tells MTV News.
With the cast of "The Challenge" ready to send a shout-out to host TJ Lavin on Wednesday night's (October 20) episode of the MTV show, his pal Chas Aday tells MTV News that — despite a minor setback due to a bout of pneumonia — the injured BMX biker is "doing really well." "Actually, things are really improving today," Aday told MTV News on Wednesday afternoon about Lavin, who's recovering from a serious biking accident he suffered last week while performing a stunt. "He's breathing on his own. They're just assisting him. The pneumonia's getting better, but then they're gonna try to get him off the tube either today or tomorrow." In addition to those improvements, Lavin is also responding well and "following simple commands like squeezing hands or giving thumbs-up to the doctors," Aday reported. "But he still hasn't really opened his eyes yet. But they're comfortable with the brain. They don't see any brain damage, and they think he's going to make a full recovery." Aday explained further that Lavin was "still gonna have to have wrist surgery, but it's going to be delayed a few weeks. It sounds like the important thing is to get him off the breathing tube [fully] so he doesn't get any sicker with the pneumonia or anything. They want to get that cleared up, get him breathing on his own, and then we can worry about the wrist later. Probably within a couple weeks for the wrist surgery." With so many people rooting for Lavin's speedy recovery, Aday noted that the daredevil's entire family has been hanging tough and remaining optimistic. "Everybody's been really strong and positive, and they just all want to see him get better. His mom's held up awesome. His fiancée's held up awesome," he said. "It's just everybody being really strong and supportive. All his sponsors, MTV, just everybody ... it's been great. He's getting a ton of support. "It's just been amazing," he added. "We're just thankful that there's that many people pulling for him." Share your well-wishes for Lavin and his family in the comments. |
| Rihanna Now Managed By Jay-Z's Roc Nation Posted: 20 Oct 2010 04:31 AM PDT Singer tells The Associated Press she's 'so excited to take this next step in my career.'
Just weeks before her fifth LP, Loud, hits shelves, Rihanna is switching up her team. The singer announced Wednesday (October 20) that she will now be managed by mentor and former Def Jam exec Jay-Z's Roc Nation company. The chart-ruling singer spilled the beans to The Associated Press, saying in a statement she's "so excited to take this next step in my career." The "Only Girl in the World" singer joins songstress Melanie Fiona, spitter Wale and DJ/producer Mark Ronson as other faces handled by the management arm of Hov's multi-pronged firm. Aligning herself with the super-mogul and Forbes cover star is probably a smart move — not only for her music, but for her forays into the business world as well. Rihanna also told the AP that she is creating a company called Rihanna Entertainment that will "merge all of her businesses, including music, film, fragrance, fashion and book ventures." Jay-Z and Rihanna's professional history goes back half a decade to the hip-hop mogul's brief tenure as president of Def Jam. The MC signed the then-17-year-old songbird to the storied rap imprint only hours after seeing her audition. "We signed her that night — 3 in the morning was when that contract got signed," Jay told MTV News in 2005 of meeting the budding singer. "We wouldn't let her leave the office. From meeting her at 4 [p.m.] in the office till 3 in the morning, I was absolutely certain. That doesn't happen too often." Although Rihanna's Barbados-bred swagger impressed the rap impresario, she said at the time that she was nervous to meet the hip-top titan and her soon-to-be-boss. However, the Brooklyn legend quickly made her feel at ease. "When we first got there, I was shaking. I had never met a celebrity, and to have to audition for one and meet him at the same time ... I was hysterical," Rihanna said. "But the minute I went in the office, it was totally different. He was so welcoming; the environment was so warm and friendly. The jitters just went away immediately." What do you think of Rihanna switching up her team? Let us know in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Kristen Stewart Hasn't Met Her 'Breaking Dawn' Daughter Yet Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT But director Bill Condon thinks Mackenzie Foy looks like the child KStew and Robert Pattinson would spawn.
Kristen Stewart hasn't met her daughter yet. "That sounds so weird," she told MTV News recently. That's just the way things work in Hollywood. "Breaking Dawn" has not yet started shooting, and so Stewart has not yet had a face-to-face meeting with Mackenzie Foy, the 9-year-old actress who will play her daughter in the next installment of the "Twilight" saga.
Director Bill Condon, though, is convinced that Foy — who will play the vampire/human hybrid Renesmee — looks exactly like the child that Stewart and co-star Robert Pattinson would spawn (if they ever decided to spawn, which is a topic for an entirely different story). "He was like, 'Wait until you see this kid. If you and Rob had a kid, this would be it,' " Stewart said. "I was like, 'That's so weird.' She just looks like — she sort of looks like Bella. Which is absolutely right. Although the funny thing is, she has green eyes, and we both have to wear brown contacts together." The other elements of Bella Swan's married life are coming together. Stewart has already gone through a fitting for Bella's wedding dress, though in the 20-year-old actress' words, "I haven't put the one on yet." And when it comes to what happens after Bella walks down the aisle and the couple departs for some feather-filled honeymoon bumping-and-grinding, well, rest assured that the movie will stay faithful to the book. "Of course," Stewart said about those famous feathers. "Come on. That is important. I don't know how we would not have that, actually." Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Glee' Stars' Racy <i>GQ</i> Photos Stir Up Controversy Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:40 AM PDT Parents Television Council says magazine's layout 'borders on pedophilia'; magazine fires back.
"Glee" is one of the hottest shows on TV right now, but the cast's steamy spread for GQ magazine has turned up the heat a bit too much, according to critics. Media watchdog group the Parents Television Council released a statement Wednesday (October 20) blasting the magazine's racy spread with November cover stars and Gleeks Dianna Agron, Cory Monteith and Lea Michele. "It is disturbing that GQ, which is explicitly written for adult men, is sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on 'Glee' in this way. It borders on pedophilia. Sadly, this is just the latest example of the overt sexualization of young girls in entertainment," PTC President Tim Winter said. The McKinley High ladies definitely vamp it up for the camera. On the cover, Monteith is flanked by both "Glee" divas — including a pants-less Michele and a scantily clad Agron — with his hands squarely on their bottoms. In other shots, Michele can be seen posing in tiny underwear and thigh-high socks, sucking on a lollipop by a set of lockers, and in another scene, perched on a bench with her legs spread-eagle. Agron dons a thigh-grazing skirt and belly-baring T-shirt as she thrusts pom-poms in the air in one picture. In another photo, the girls hit the library in skimpy outfits and throw books around the room. The PTC also charged that the racy photos disproportionately focus on the ladies' sexuality while Monteith spends a lot of the shoot fully covered up in jock-chic looks. "With a demonstrated market of eager fans for an entertaining, musical-themed program like 'Glee,' we wonder why the show's creators feel the need for such graphic sexualization of women," Winter continued. "Interestingly, the photos of the male character showed him wearing a shirt, tie and vest." GQ responded that although Monteith, Michele and Agron play teens on TV, in reality, they are adults who have the ability to get raunchy for the lens if they so choose. "The Parents Television Council must not be watching much TV these days and should learn to divide reality from fantasy," Jim Nelson, editor in chief of GQ, said in a statement. "As often happens in Hollywood, these 'kids' are in their twenties. Cory Monteith's almost 30! I think they're old enough to do what they want." A rep for Fox declined to comment when MTV News reached out Wednesday. This is not the first time the show has been criticized by the group. The council recently blasted the "Glee" Britney Spears tribute episode for showing the castmembers in "skimpy outfits" and "sultry grinds" and for its portrayal of the once-troubled Spears as a role model. Do you think the GQ "Glee" cover is too sexy? Sound off in the comments! Related Photos |
| Justin Bieber 'Showed Love' With His Rapping, Vado Says Posted: 20 Oct 2010 02:22 AM PDT 'I've been trying to reach out, haven't gotten nothing back,' rapper says of doing remix with Bieber.
Last week Justin Bieber introduced us to Shawty Mane, his rap alter ego, when he rapped over Vado and Cam'ron's "Speaking in Tungs." Then rumors swirled that Bieber wasn't the true author of Shawty's lyrics, but rather that he had borrowed the bars from another MC named Tory Lanez.
"Oh word, well, you know, he's a singer, he's not a rapper," Vado told MTV News in response to the Bieber controversy. "Just the fact that he picked that beat out of all the beats was a good look. He definitely showed love, so I appreciate the love. If he was willing to do the remix, I would love it." MC Lanez rhymes over Lloyd Banks' "Beamer Benz or Bentley" track, which was uploaded in March 2010, and spits "Getting hella dome, put Lady Gaga on my telephone/ Hella gone and your girl beat no metronome/ My new bitch she a yellowbone/ I buy her yellowstones because I like it when she got that yellow on." On "Speaking in Tungs," which hit the Web last week, Bieber rhymes, "Call up Lady Gaga ... on my ... on my telephone/ Hella dome ... yeah ... my girl beats, no metronome/ My new chick she a yellowbone/ I buy her yellow stones, 'cause I like it when she got that yellow on." Despite the questionable source of the Canadian pop star's bars, Vado is still interested in a remix. "I've been definitely trying to reach out, haven't gotten nothing back, but you know, it's all good," he said. And what about comparing Bieber's Shawty Mane turn to the styles of Notorious B.I.G.? Vado says people have him all wrong. "Nah, see, I never said ... shout to Ed Lover because he hit me with the 'come on son?' " said Vado with a laugh. "What I was saying, I wasn't saying that he sounded like him, or he flowed as great as Big. I wasn't trying to say that at all. What I was saying was, his flow, he was flowing. I can't remember the part, but he'd said a few lines that just the way he said it, to me it reminded me of the way Big would say it. But it's not what he said, it was just the way he delivered it. "I wasn't trying to put him with Big at all. No disrespect," Vado added. Related Artists |
| Kanye West's 'Runaway' Is 'Artistically Large,' Pete Wentz Says Posted: 20 Oct 2010 09:29 AM PDT Wentz reviews Kanye's 'ambitious' movie for MTV News.
On Monday night in Los Angeles, Kanye West premiered his "Runaway" film for an audience that included celebs, music-industry heavies and, of course, his fans. Pete Wentz just so happens to be all three of those things ... so, naturally, he was there at the Harmony Gold Theatre for the screening. And, as he's done for MTV News with previous cinematic offerings, the bass player was kind enough to write up his thoughts on 'Ye's arty, ambitious film. Here's what Wentz had to say about "Runaway," which also was screened Tuesday night in Chicago and will premiere Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on MTV, MTV2 and BET, and stream live on MTV.com, BET.com and VH1.com, followed by a live Q&A session with West on MTV and MTV.com. "So, I had the chance to sit in the audience as Kanye West had a showing in Los Angeles of the extended video/movie for 'Runaway,' [and] I don't want to spoil the experience for those who haven't seen it yet, but in my opinion it is the single most ambitious 'music video' of the decade, if you could even put it in the category of a 'music video.' "It reminds me of when I was younger and no matter what Michael Jackson had done last, the next thing [he did] not only topped it, but completely raised the bar beyond what anyone else was capable of. Now I'm not going to compare the content of M.J. to Kanye as they are two completely different artists ... I mean in the sheer scope and size of the project. "There is a dinner table scene that jumps from [something] from a Noah Baumbach film — where the camera stays on the scene just long enough to make the viewer feel a little bit uncomfortable — to something out of what could be a Jim Henson creation ... within the same scene too. The caliber and scale of this project is Kanye West at his best — largely artist and artistically large. If you get the chance, check it out, if only for the experience of something so different." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| T.I. Dropped By AXE Following Prison Sentencing Posted: 20 Oct 2010 01:18 AM PDT Body spray is ending promo deal with rapper, removing footage of him from website.
The fallout from rapper T.I.'s upcoming return to prison for a probation violation has already begun to take its toll on the Atlanta MC's pocketbook. After a judge's decision on Friday to send T.I. (born Clifford Harris) back to prison for 11 months for violating the terms of his probation following an arrest in September on drug charges, AXE Body Spray announced on Tuesday that it is severing ties with the rapper. A representative said in a statement, "We will no longer feature T.I. in our promotional campaign." While AXE did not immediately drop T.I. from its "AXE Music" promotion after the arrest, a spokesperson said at the time that the company was "troubled" by the incident, a traffic stop during which Tip and wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle were found in possession of the drug Ecstasy. 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 and was also associating with a felon, who was present in his vehicle during the bust. "T.I. and AXE partnered earlier this year for a promotional campaign," the spokesperson said last month after the September 1 arrest. "We were encouraged that the entertainer was working to become a more positive role model for others. AXE is committed to respecting and upholding the law and promoting a positive image to consumers ... We are reviewing our promotional activities." On Wednesday (October 20) a spokesperson for AXE said that the plan all along was to have different artists perform special shows each month in different cities and then to keep performance footage and other related material on the AXE website until the promotion was over. But in light of the judge's decision, AXE removed all T.I.-related material from the site on Friday, while similar images and video from such AXE Music acts as Weezer and O.A.R. will continue to be available on the site indefinitely. After serving a seven-month prison stint for a 2007 weapons charge, T.I. partnered with the company earlier this year on a deal for advertising appearances and a secret "One Night Only" concert that took place at Capitale in New York on August 26. It was the oft-troubled rapper's first concert since being released from prison, a star-studded affair featuring appearances by Swizz Beatz, Mary J. Blige, Keri Hilson and B.o.B, among others. T.I. is required to turn himself in to begin serving his prison sentence within the next two weeks. What do you think about AXE's decision to drop T.I. from its promotional campaign? Tell us in the comments. Related Artists |
| Katy Perry, Russell Brand Arrive In India For Wedding Posted: 19 Oct 2010 10:39 PM PDT 'Greatest gift u can give us is respect & [love] during this private X,' Perry tweets as the couple are spotted in Jaipur.
Since getting engaged last New Year's Eve, Katy Perry and Russell Brand have kept fans eager for details about their wedding plans. Now, it seems the big day is upon them. The couple is widely expected to marry this weekend in India and photos of the pair arriving in the country have already hit the Internet. Perry even hinted at plans under way, asking for privacy on her Twitter: "I have something to say... TWIT BREAK: Greatest gift u can give us is respect & [love] during this private X. No use wasting ur X w/ STOLEN or FALSE info. Thnk u for this." Not only has the couple touched down in Jaipur, where Brand has been seen walking in photos, along with Perry who opted to cover her face with a jacket, but a number of their family members have also started to arrive in the Indian city. Among the relatives that have been spotted are Perry's brother David Hudson; her sister Angela Perry; her father, David Hudson, and Brand's mother, Barbara Brand. (Katy Perry was born Katy Hudson.) A decoy couple was also spotted at the airport, along with Perry's stylist Logan Horne, Brand's manager (and reported best man) Nik Linnen and Perry's pal Markus Molinari. Just last week, Brand sat down with MTV's "The Seven," where he joked that the wedding would take place in the "distant past" — in Victorian London — before noting that the big day "will be quite soon." And while the two had yet to officially say their "I do's," Brand insisted, "Marriage takes place in the heart. So in that sense, we are already married." Do you think Russell and Katy will tie the knot in India this weekend? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| 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 Related Artists |
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