MTV News |
- Drake Says 'Excitement Factor' Put Nicki Minaj On Hottest MCs List
- Kanye West Calls Bon Iver Track 'Crescendo' For 'Runaway' Film
- Jay-Z Explains Origin Of 'PSA' Verse In 'Decoded'
- Swizz Beatz Praises Kanye West's 'Deep, Deep' 'Runaway' Film
- JWoww Answers Burning Questions About 'Jersey Shore'
- 'Paranormal Activity 2': Five Secrets Revealed
- Martha Stewart Says Eminem's 'Always Been' The Hottest MC
- Keri Hilson, Big Boi Explain Value Of Education
- Robin Thicke Brings Soul To Hard Rock Hollywood Opening
- Lindsay Lohan Avoids Jail, Ordered Back to Rehab
- Kanye West's 'Runaway' Joins List of Most Epic Music Videos
- 'Paranormal Activity 2' Breaks Midnight-Screening Record
- Kanye West's NYC Fans Liken 'Runaway' Film To 'Thriller'
- Kanye West Explains Why He Dropped <i>Good Ass Job</i> Album Title
- Nicki Minaj To Be On 'RapFix Live' After 'Hottest MCs' Special
- Eyedea Memorial Planned For Next Week
- Liam Neeson Rumored to Inherit Mel Gibson's 'Hangover 2' Cameo
- 'Paranormal Activity 2': Reviews Are Flooding In
- Katy Perry 'Sesame Street' Skit Didn't Faze Show's Head Writer
| Drake Says 'Excitement Factor' Put Nicki Minaj On Hottest MCs List Posted: 22 Oct 2010 01:26 AM PDT 'She's controlling the radio,' fellow Young Money rapper tells MTV News.
Nicki, Nicki, Nicki. That's what all the talk seems to be about this year in hip-hop, according to Drake.
The Thank Me Later star said Nicki Minaj is a worthy candidate for the 2010 MTV News' Hottest MCs in the Game list, on which she landed at #6, despite not dropping an album yet. Last year, Drake scored the #3 position off the strength of his So Far Gone mixtape. "I think Nicki should make it based off of excitement," Drake told MTV News. "She's one of, if not the most exciting rapper this year. Feature-wise, she's on tracks with heavyweights killing; not holding her own, but killing. She's controlling the radio. I think that's grounds enough to make it. This year, who really? [Rick] Ross, Nicki. Everyone else hasn't dropped yet. The excitement factor is there. I'm going off of excitement and buzz, 'cause I feel like that's why I made it [last year]. A lot of it was off of the excitement I created for people. But Nicki has a lot to prove too. That album is a hump to get over, man. That's a whole different monster — no pun intended." The Queens lyricist has made it a habit to outshine superstars on tracks from Trey Songz's "Bottoms Up" to Kanye West and Jay-Z's "Monster." Minaj has also fared well on the charts with her material, landing a #1 Billboard hit with "Your Love." On Sunday, Nicki will appear on "RapFix Live" with MTV News correspondent Sway on MTV.com to answer fans' questions about her ranking on the Hottest MCs list, her forthcoming debut album Pink Friday and anything else viewers want to ask. 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! 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. Then log on to MTVNews.com following the show to see Nicki Minaj on "RapFix Live" at 2:30 p.m. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kanye West Calls Bon Iver Track 'Crescendo' For 'Runaway' Film Posted: 22 Oct 2010 12:59 AM PDT 'Lost in the World' features 'my favorite eight bars that I've ever written in my life,' Yeezy tells MTV News.
Although the short film Kanye West is set to premiere on Saturday is being billed as "Runaway," nine songs (including the title track) play throughout the 35-minute clip, and the entire collection appears on the rapper's forthcoming My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The previously released tracks "Power" and "Devil in a New Dress" managed to make it into the production, as did the leaked Bon Iver-assisted track "Lost in the World." (Editor's note: Spoiler follows.) The Bon Iver number serves as the final musical palette in the short film, the last track on Dark Twisted Fantasy and, according to West, the weighty message of the song struck the proper emotional chord for the closing scene.
"That was the last song on the album and emotionally it just fit the crescendo of everything that I was saying and what I wanted to say to this girl," West told MTV News. "And it's also my favorite eight bars that I've ever written in my life. I think it's one of the greatest pieces of writing, that verse: 'You're my devil, you're my angel/ You're my heaven, you're my hell/ You're my now, you're my forever/ You're my freedom, you're my jail/ You're my lies, you're my proof/ You're my war, you're my truce,' and the last line is, 'You're my stress, you're my masseuse.' " Earlier this week, West revealed the concept of the film — a story about a fallen phoenix — is a metaphor for his career. In the last 12 months, the rapper endured a self-imposed exile after his 2009 MTV Video Music Awards run-in with Taylor Swift left him ostracized. He resurfaced, however, with the rousing "Power" and through a series of impromptu performances at the offices of Twitter, Facebook and Rolling Stone. With the release of his new album looming and a renewed sense of self, the rapper said he can relate to the idea of renewed opportunities. "I love characters in general, but [I loved] how colorful the bird is and just the design, it's just something I would've picked or drawn as a 5-year-old," West said. "It definitely relates to everything that I've been through, like, burning to the ashes and rebuilding and becoming a better person and delivering better product." Are you thrilled to finally see how Kanye's recent releases play out in the "Runaway" short? Tell us in the comments! Kanye West's "Runaway" will premiere on 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 |
| Jay-Z Explains Origin Of 'PSA' Verse In 'Decoded' Posted: 22 Oct 2010 07:23 AM PDT Hov says writer's interpretation of one of his outfits sparked song's line about Che Guevara.
In his new book "Decoded," Jay-Z will break down the meaning behind some of his game-changing rhymes. However, before the book hits shelves November 16, Hov gave MTV News the behind-the-scenes story of how he dreamed up the lyrics to one of his cult hits, the interlude "Public Service Announcement" from 2003's The Black Album.
Jay said he personally chose each of the songs featured in "Decoded" for several reasons, and "PSA" made the tome because of its unique origin. Bars from the second verse of the Just Blaze-helmed track were penned after a journalist interpreted the symbolism she picked out in one of Jay's outfits. However, Hov thought the scribe's analysis of his look was a bit of a reach. "The second verse of 'PSA' may not have that many hidden jewels in [it], but the story behind why I wrote the second verse is pretty interesting. It's sort of that look on rap, how this writer had written this article about me wearing this Che Guevara shirt [with a] Jesus piece, and she was like, 'The Jesus piece is hitting his head,' and I was like, 'You're going a little too far. It's a T-shirt and a chain. It's not literally hitting his forehead,' " he recalled. "That [experience] inspired the entire verse. 'I'm like Che Guevara with bling on, I'm complex.' It's the whole entire story of how and why I came to write that second verse on 'PSA.' " In addition to pulling the curtain back on some of his famed rhymes, Hov said he hopes the volume as a whole will demonstrate the artistry of hip-hop and show that it's not just a bunch of dudes throwing around bawdy rhymes. "I think, more so than anything, just to explain or to let people realize who just listen to rap [like] 'Let's browse through it,' to show people the depth in rap and its poetry," Jay-Z said. "[I want to show] that rap is really poetry; it's not just a bunch of guys putting rhyming words together. There's thought behind it and there's cleverness and there's inspiration. There's social reason and there's political reason and there's angst and there's anger and all these different things inside music." Are you looking forward to copping Jay-Z's "Decoded"? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Swizz Beatz Praises Kanye West's 'Deep, Deep' 'Runaway' Film Posted: 22 Oct 2010 03:29 AM PDT 'We're all in here watching him live his dream,' Swizzy tells MTV News.
On Thursday night in New York City, Kanye West premiered his "Runaway" film for a crowd that included Big Apple industry insiders the rapper described as "family." Among them was Swizz Beatz, Kanye's collaborator on several G.O.O.D. Friday tracks, including "So Appalled," who took a moment to review Kanye's nod to filmmaker Federico Fellini "I just want to shout out my brother Kanye for being so brave, that was his expression of our music and culture," Swizz Beatz told MTV News with a smile.
For those unable to make the MC's private screenings in Paris, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, "Runaway" will premiere this 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. And how would Swizz rank the film? "On a 1 to 10, it was a 9," said Swizz, before defending his ruling. "The reason why it was a 9 was because it should've been longer. It was a deep, deep story and you have to, one, know Kanye, to really understand it." "Runaway" follows 'Ye after he rescues a phoenix, played by the lovely Selita Ebanks, and tries to integrate the bird into his human world with varying results. With the television premiere of his first feature film set for this weekend, whether critics applaud or pan the piece, in Swizz's eyes, Kanye is the victor. "We're all in here watching him live his dream, so that means he won," he said. Kanye West's "Runaway" will premiere on 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 Artists |
| JWoww Answers Burning Questions About 'Jersey Shore' Posted: 22 Oct 2010 02:31 AM PDT The star gives MTV News the inside scoop on Vinny's tan and Pickles the cat.
On Thursday night, the second season of "Jersey Shore" wrapped up in a big way, complete with an over-the-top, alcohol-fueled cast fight. After watching the finale, MTV News had some questions, and luckily, JWoww was around to answer them.
Did JWoww really puke after she ate frogs' legs? Did Vinny and Pauly keep in touch with their Miami girlfriends? What is the deal with the backyard cat? What happened to Vinny's tan? What would you have asked JWoww about "Jersey Shore"? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos |
| 'Paranormal Activity 2': Five Secrets Revealed Posted: 22 Oct 2010 04:14 AM PDT Director Tod Williams leads MTV News through some of the film's trickier aspects.
Late in August, MTV News took you behind the scenes on a low-budget horror flick called "The Last Exorcism," revealing the secrets behind its special effects and how the actress who played the demonically possessed main character managed to contort her body in such crazy ways. Now, we're back with another low-budget horror flick about demonic possession: "Paranormal Activity 2," a follow-up to last year's out-of-nowhere blockbuster. The film once again is presented as found material — security-cam footage and home videos shot by a family whose home becomes haunted by a very unfriendly demon with an eye on their baby boy.
Director Tod Williams popped by the MTV Newsroom on Friday (October 22) to share five things you need to know about "Paranormal Activity 2" (beware of mild spoilers below). There Was No Script "The entire thing was improvised. Even story beats were improvised," Williams told us. "If we were experimenting with an idea of where the story would go, we would go shoot it. We'd just act it out. Sometimes we kept that stuff, and some of it is in the movie the first time we did it. Sometimes, we'd be like, 'That's interesting, but now we've got to change [something else]. Once we had the house set up, we had the ability to go back and back and back. "We leapt into this thing not really knowing which way we were going to go, on some level not knowing if we were going to make it to the other side," he added. The Best Way to Break a Leg Is to Twist That is to say, the film builds very slowly, from a creepily turning mobile above the baby's crib to the moment when one character is sitting in the kitchen and every single cabinet bursts open with a thunderous clap. It's a scary-as-hell moment. "We had to twist the audience into a knot before we hit them," Williams said. The Security Cameras Kept Moving Around To begin, Williams brought cinematographer Michael Simmonds, a vet of low-budget indies like "Big Fan," into the mix. Together they conducted a slew of camera tests inside the house, placing the security cameras in different spots until they found the perfect shot for each one. "Many of those changed," Williams said. "We realized we'd need to cover parts of the house and leave big spaces that weren't covered. We had to make sure the compositions didn't hurt us by showing too much but were rich and interesting enough so you had to look around and try to find out where you were supposed to be looking." There Are Essentially No Visual Effects "You can see that the language of the film is very real-world," he said. "There is some very simple stuff to make things work, but nothing animated or CGI or creating something that didn't exist. Everything you see is there. Some things were there that are no longer there." That Baby Is the Best Actor Ever "There were two brothers, and they were wonderful to work with," he said. "Their parents were right there with us. We did a lot of takes — a lot of takes. When we started shooting, these kids couldn't walk. But by the end, they were running around. It changed the way we were going to use them. "I have a young son who turned 3 this year, and he was in his crib and he got out of his crib, and my wife was in the house alone and she came into the bathroom and he was standing there," he continued. "She told me how freaky it was, and I was like, 'Well, that's pretty cool.' And that's something we played with." Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Martha Stewart Says Eminem's 'Always Been' The Hottest MC Posted: 22 Oct 2010 03:59 AM PDT Homemaking doyenne also recalls giving Kanye branding tips, telling MTV News, 'You'll be seeing Kanye West everything.'
Media mogul Martha Stewart is renowned as an authority on all things domestic, but don't count out her musical prowess. The homemaking doyenne recently sat down with MTV News in the midst of our Hottest MCs countdown so, of course, we had to check in with Stewart to see who she thinks is currently ruling the hip-hop world. One might think an East Coast-bred lady like Stewart would perhaps choose a New York MC but instead, she named some of the Midwest's finest as her favorite lyricists.
"I don't know if he's in the game but I think so 'cause he has an album that's, like, close to the top of the charts. It's always been Eminem. I don't know why, but it's always been," Stewart said. "[He's] huge, huge, huge." Stewart added that she "also [likes] Kanye West. I think he's very good." In fact, Stewart is well-acquainted with Yeezy, and recalled an encounter with the Louis Vuitton Don at a tony New York City hot spot. "One day I met him at Nobu uptown," Stewart said. "We saw this table full of rapper-type guys and I said, 'That's Kanye West.' And everybody at my table said, 'Nope, they're imposters, they're impersonators.' And he then walks over and introduces himself and asks if he can come and see me at my office." West's hard-hitting rants and mercurial temper are well-known, but when 'Ye paid Stewart a visit the following day she described the MC as well-mannered and low-key. "So he came the next day, by himself, on time, and he had a tour of the office," Stewart remembered. West was apparently plumbing the media magnate for business tips as Stewart hinted that Yeezy-stamped products could be heading down the pike soon. "He wants to brand himself. He's a big-time guy and he wants to do all those fabulous things," she said. "You'll be seeing Kanye West everything. He's great." What do you think Martha Stewart and Kanye West talked about during their meeting? What product do you think they could collaborate on? Share your ideas in the comments! 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. Then log on to MTVNews.com following the show to see Nicki Minaj on "RapFix Live" at 2:30 p.m. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Keri Hilson, Big Boi Explain Value Of Education Posted: 22 Oct 2010 03:32 AM PDT Stars drop by Chicago Get Schooled Youth Summit at Collins Academy High School.
A young Antwan Patton planned to enter the psychology field before one pesky development derailed his ambition midway through high school: a chart-topping album. Patton, better known as Big Boi of Outkast, revealed that he was on his way to becoming known as Dr. Patton before the teen duo's 1994 debut, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, became a speaker-thumping rap classic. However, even on the brink of changing the hip-hop game with his and Andre 3000's inventive swagger, Big Boi didn't ditch his high school degree. When MTV News caught up with the ATL lyricist at the Get Schooled Youth Summit at Chicago's Collins Academy High School, he urged others not to give up on education either.
"Before I started doing music, I was actually planning on going to school to study child psychology, but when I was in the 11th grade, we went platinum. I still finished and graduated with honors just to basically have that," he said. "You at least need to get your high school education if you don't go into a separate field where you have to go specialize [and] go to some type of university or something like that to kinda hone in on your craft. So, yeah, you need that." Like Big Boi, Keri Hilson, who also attended the Collins event alongside MTV VJ Tim Kash, was up to a lot in high school. An avid sports head, Hilson also dabbled in — not surprisingly — creative arts such as singing and drama. The Grammy-nominated songstress said that beyond picking up on the subjects outlined in the classroom, her overall high school experience taught her how to multi-task — a skill that has appeared to serve her well in her career as a hitmaking songwriter and singer. "I juggled a lot in high school. I was two-year co-captain of the basketball team, two years 'best offensive,' senior-year MVP, and I was in the theater. ... I was in this black history program, and I was singing the national anthem," Hilson recalled. "I was doing so much, but I had to learn balance. I had to learn priority, prioritizing my time. I think that is the key to making it through high school and life in general — knowing what's important, attacking that and executing everything." Stay tuned to MTV News for more information about how you can get the president to speak at your commencement celebration at the end of this school year. Get Schooled is a national program aimed at increasing high school and college graduation rates and promoting the importance of education, developed by Viacom in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Related Artists |
| Robin Thicke Brings Soul To Hard Rock Hollywood Opening Posted: 22 Oct 2010 02:17 AM PDT 'I just wanna keep it Hard Rock Cafe, not soft rock café,' crooner tells MTV News before his energetic, sweat-filled set.
HOLLYWOOD — Rock returned to Hollywood with the grand opening Thursday night of the Hard Rock Hollywood Cafe. It marked a fitting return to a city rich in rock history, boasting hometown heroes like the Doors, the Runaways, Mötley Crüe and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Nestled between the iconic Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Kodak Theatre, the venue itself is fit for rock royalty, with a full stage in the middle of the café and music memorabilia adorning the walls. Some key pieces of memorabilia in the Hollywood collection include a Michael Jackson fedora that he wore in the '90s, a suede jacket worn by John Lennon for the Beatles' Rubber Soul album cover and a sheer nightgown worn by Gwen Stefani in her "Wind It Up" music video. But the coolest of all might be the Microsoft 2.0 Touch Wall that allows users to virtually interact with memorabilia from Hard Rock Cafes all over the world. Celebrating the opening in grand style, celebrities and VIPs were treated to a performance by R&B crooner Robin Thicke. And while not necessarily a rocker, the singer clued MTV News into what his plans for the performance were before he took the stage. "I just wanna keep it Hard Rock Cafe, not soft rock café — that's what I'm thinking," Thicke joked. "But really, we just do what we do. We like to bring a lot of musicality and have a great time." Thicke, who said he used to sport some Jim Morrison-inspired long hair, talked about his longstanding love of rock music and his admiration for the Hard Rock. "When I went to Tokyo, the place I went to eat was the Hard Rock, listening to rock and roll," Thicke said. "And you realize that the Hard Rock is a worldwide staple of memorabilia and music and history, and all the greatest artists who have ever been a part of music have been through the Hard Rock Cafe in some way." Thicke later made his own contribution with an energetic, sweat-filled performance on the Hard Rock Hollywood stage. Introducing the soul singer, host George Lopez declared, "It's about to get Thicke in here!" Backed by a live band, Thicke ripped through a set that included "Magic" and "Shakin' It 4 Daddy." To make his contribution more permanent, Thicke donated the suit he performed in to the Hard Rock's collection — let's just hope they send it to the dry cleaners first. Related Artists |
| Lindsay Lohan Avoids Jail, Ordered Back to Rehab Posted: 21 Oct 2010 10:38 PM PDT Actress will stay in rehab until January 3.
Despite facing the prospect of being sent back to jail again following a probation violation, troubled actress Lindsay Lohan was given a break Friday (October 22) by a Los Angeles judge. Lohan, who voluntarily checked herself into the Betty Ford Center last month after failing court-mandated drug tests, was ordered by Judge Elden Fox to remain in rehab until January 3, 2011, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I'm serious about that [date]. You're staying there past the new year, and there's a reason for that," Fox told a tearful Lohan. "I'm not going to be manipulated." The district attorney in the case had recommended that Lohan serve 180 days in county jail for her violation, but the judge preferred that she receive treatment until the end of the year and then be subject to drug testing between her release and her next court date on February 25. "You are an addict," Fox said to Lohan during the brief hearing. "I hope you understand that," to which Lohan reportedly nodded her head. "I don't want another train wreck." If, however, Lohan violates the terms of her probation from a pair of 2007 DUIs again, Fox said he would follow the prosecutor's recommendations and lock the "Mean Girls" star up for six months. The paper reported that Lohan's time at the Ford clinic appeared to have made an impression on Fox, as did reports from rehab and probation officials and a letter from the actress. Fox praised the 24-year-old for her efforts to get clean and said that another jail term — which would have been her fourth — could set back her recovery. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kanye West's 'Runaway' Joins List of Most Epic Music Videos Posted: 22 Oct 2010 01:49 AM PDT Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Guns N' Roses also created over-the-top clips.
Kanye West is not one to aim low. The supremely self-confident rapper wasn't content to make a typical music video for his song "Runaway." No, Yeezy opted instead for a nearly 40-minute art film that puts him instantly into the realm of some of video music's biggest names, from Michael Jackson and Diddy to Lady Gaga and Guns N' Roses.
"Runaway," which will premiere on MTV and BET on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET, tells the story of a phoenix (model Selita Ebanks) who falls to Earth and is saved by Kanye (Griffin), but later burns up after suffering the ridicule of small-minded earthlings. The convoluted plot, the ambitious scale and eye-popping visuals were inspired by some of Jackson's most beloved work, and West has said he was aiming for the same kind of grandeur as MJ's legendary mold-breaker "Thriller." If nothing else, the "Runaway" clip is expected to take the crown as the longest music video ever released, and perhaps point the way to a new, even more cinematic future for promotional music videos. History will decide if he hits the mark, but in the meantime, here is a select list of some of the most ambitious videos of all time: Michael Jackson: There's a reason Jackson is considered the greatest video artist of all time. The former child prodigy fully embraced the then-burgeoning medium in the early 1980s and went on to make some of the most iconic clips of all time. Beginning with 1983's landmark 14-minute "Thriller," Jackson gave notice that promotional clips could be more than mere ads for songs. With direction and a screenplay co-written by movie director John Landis, a chilling monster movie story, elaborate costumes and Hollywood-worthy sets, the Halloween-themed mini-movie set the bar and ended up as the first video to ever be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. But Jackson didn't stop there. He went on to release a string of equally ambitious and big-budget clips, from the racial harmony-themed "Black or White" (which employed then-new morphing technology) to the Martin Scorsese-directed "Bad," the street-gang tale "Beat It" and the most expensive video ever filmed: his space-themed duet with sister Janet, "Scream." Guns N' Roses: No slouches themselves, the pugnacious 1990s hard rockers released a trio of epic clips from their Use Your Illusion albums with a thematic through line. The idea was to make three short films that would end up telling one coherent story. First up, "Don't Cry," which was co-written by singer Axl Rose, was shot like a film and features clips of the band performing on a skyscraper rooftop interspersed with scenes in which a seemingly depressive Rose has a gun taken away from him by then-girlfriend Stephanie Seymour. There are other dramatic scenes in hospitals and underwater. Next up was "November Rain," based on a short story written by band biographer Del James. Again based on a difficult relationship between Rose and a woman (this time, his ex-wife Erin Everly), the clip finds Rose composing a song for his unattainable love and proceeds to a dramatic wedding between Rose and Seymour. There's a massive rain storm, scenes of guitarist Slash playing a solo in a wheat field and shots of Seymour in a coffin. The final film, the nine-minute "Estranged," has the band playing live on the Sunset Strip, as well as images of Rose jumping off an oil tanker into the ocean and swimming with dolphins. Lady Gaga: Though she's a relatively new artist, Lady Gaga has picked up the mantle of her musical godmother, Madonna, and turned the art of the music video into an event, as well as an opportunity to push the envelope when it comes to sexuality and religion. Graduating from fairly tame dance pop efforts such as "Poker Face," Gaga quickly upped the ante with the eight-minute clip for "Paparazzi," directed by Jonas Åkerlund (Madonna, U2). The clip stars "True Blood" vampire Alexander Skarsgård as a love interest who tosses the singer over a balcony after she becomes enraged that he summoned photographers to her mansion. It features elaborate costumes and dance sequences that would soon become Gaga's visual calling card. From her razor-blade sunglasses to a white coffin, frantic lap dances, a polar bear jacket and a pyrotechnic bra, the "Bad Romance" clip clip raised the stakes even more. But it was just a tease for the truly over-the-top video for "Telephone." Again teaming with Åkerlund, Gaga created a nine-minute modern feminist classic that takes her from a prison dance routine featuring cigarette glasses, lesbian make-out sessions and a commissary catfight to a jailbreak with Beyoncé, a joyride in the "Kill Bill" "pu--- wagon" and the poisoning of model Tyrese Gibson in a funky coffee shop. And there are certainly plenty of others that have reached for the too-big-to-fail mantle, from Dr. Dre and Tupac's nearly seven-minute "Mad Max"-style "California Love" to Diddy's equally lengthy "Godzilla"-stomping "Come with Me" (as well as his "Victory," "Been Around the World" and "It's All About the Benjamins" rock remix), Muse's dusty western "Knights of Cydonia," MC Hammer's super-pricey nine-minute "Too Legit To Quit" clip and Green Day's mini war movie for "Wake Me Up When September Ends." What's your favorite epic music video? Tell us in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Paranormal Activity 2' Breaks Midnight-Screening Record Posted: 22 Oct 2010 02:02 AM PDT Sequel bought in $6.3 million at the box office on Thursday, the highest midnight gross for an R-rated film.
Given the thousands of fans who lined up at theaters around the country for the midnight screenings of "Paranormal Activity 2" this week, it's no surprise that the early reports of the film's box-office performance so far are quite positive. According to Paramount, the sequel brought in a record-breaking $6.3 million from 1,800 screens on Thursday, passing the previous $4.6 million record held by "Watchmen" to become the all-time highest midnight grosser for an R-rated film. Reviews for the follow-up to "Paranoramal Activity" have been mostly positive, but the real story behind the film's success is the response from the fans, many of whom participated in the "Demand it!" campaign in order to bring early screenings of the film to their desired city. And so far, their reactions are likely exactly what the filmmakers want to hear. "I was, like, scared, like, out of my mind scared," moviegoer Jolanda Kumkaw told MTV News after the midnight screening in Los Angeles. "I'm still shaking," one fan said. Another added, "I'm just at a loss for words. That's just way worse than the first one, but good ... in a good way." "Paranormal Activity" director and "PA 2" producer Oren Peli said that what makes the films so scary is twofold, the found footage factor that connects audiences to the story on a personal level, as well as tapping into a universal primal fear: things that go bump in the night. "It taps into people's primal fears of what happens at night and while you're asleep and most vulnerable," he said. "So, the first one, and this one as well, kind of taps into those types of fears that everyone, across the world, shares." Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Kanye West's NYC Fans Liken 'Runaway' Film To 'Thriller' Posted: 22 Oct 2010 01:38 AM PDT 'He's really, truly a visionary,' one fan says. 'This was an amazing film.'
On Thursday, Kanye West took his rolling "Runaway" road show to New York City for the final screening of the film before its Saturday night premiere (on MTV and MTV2 8 p.m. ET), and though he hails from Chicago — where "Runaway" screened earlier this week — West was clearly feeling the love in the Big Apple, the city he considers his second home.
"It's just the energy and my second home," West told MTV News. "And this is the biggest premiere so far, and the last one — and the closest one — to when it's actually going to premiere on TV — so I'm just really excited." And that excitement was shared by everyone in the house at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, who witnessed "Runaway" and then shared their reactions with MTV News. "I feel like he's the new Wu-Tang, like, it's going to take a while for people to fully process that. The art, the ballet, everything he brought into that, his emotion," Rahim Wright said. "The 'Runaway' piece itself, anything you kind of thought on the Internet you had an idea about, it's completely different. ... [It's] the new 'Thriller' in my opinion, and people are going to have to battle with that, but you're going to have to figure Kanye out. You can't just take it at face value and think that you know what he's talking about." The comparisons didn't just stop there. Another fan went even further (back), comparing "Runaway" to the work of none other than the Purple One himself, Prince. "I thought the film was incredibly inspiring, I thought it was visually exciting and I think everyone should go back to the drawing board," Bevy Smith said. "I think that it's the modern day version of [the 1986 Prince film] 'Under the Cherry Moon.' When Prince came out with that film, it was widely panned, but when you look at it now, with a clearer eye, and with so much mediocrity going on in the world, you see that he was a real visionary. And Kanye is like his child. He's really, truly a visionary. This was an amazing film." What are you expecting from Kanye's "Runaway" short film? Share your predictions in the comments! Kanye West's "Runaway" will premiere on 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 |
| Kanye West Explains Why He Dropped <i>Good Ass Job</i> Album Title Posted: 22 Oct 2010 07:48 AM PDT My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is 'exactly what I wanna say,' MC tells MTV News.
Following 808s & Heartbreak, Kanye West's haunting AutoTune-aided album inspired by the loss of his mother and a broken engagement, many anticipated the rapper's return to proper rhyming.
His first three albums, The College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduation, contained West's witty lyrics, an irreverent take on the education system, and soulful production. It was long rumored his first post-808s project would be titled Good Ass Job, which would mark a return to the first three albums' theme of upward mobility and a break from the crooning he delivered on Heartbreaks. But West didn't want to be handcuffed by the motifs of his past work. Instead he opted for a title that was — as he put it — "awesome." "I remember I just changed it because I didn't want to do the Good Ass Job thing and have to stick to the skits and everything that went with that," West told MTV News. "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and my album cover are just ... those things are just awesome. It's really proper, decadent, soulful, lavishness, and it's exactly what I wanna say." So far from the project, West has released song "Power" and "Runaway." The short film taking its name from the latter song's title will premiere this Saturday (October 23) at 8 p.m. on MTV, MTV2 and BET. The visuals accompanying each song, along with the sartorial theme of West's "Rosewood" event and the distinct covers released with each G.O.O.D. Fridays track, are part of a larger theme West is pushing with this album. He described it as displaying his art on his terms. "Everything has a 'f--- off,' 'f--- you'-type attitude," West explained. "The work that I do, what I wanna express. Even if I go full-on black tie, like super, proper Tom Ford tux. When you see it now what I want you to think I'm saying with my suit is, 'F--- you. This is what I want to give you. This is the moment, this is what I created and take it or leave it.' "And I think that's why my creations are very luxury in a way," he continued. "Because if you go into a luxury store, they have it presented exactly the way they want to present it to you. They don't adjust [to be] more commercial like a Wal-Mart, [or a] Kmart." Kanye West's "Runaway" will premiere on 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 |
| Nicki Minaj To Be On 'RapFix Live' After 'Hottest MCs' Special Posted: 22 Oct 2010 06:27 AM PDT Young Money rapper will discuss her #6 ranking and answer fan questions Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET on MTV.com.
Nicki Minaj made history Friday (October 22) as the first female rapper to earn a slot on MTV News' Hottest MCs in the Game list. The Queens lyricist will talk about her #6 ranking Sunday during an appearance on "RapFix Live" with Sway.
Immediately following MTV2's "2010 Hottest MCs in the Game" broadcast, during which the top five will be revealed, Nicki Minaj will take questions from fans on MTVNews.com at 2:30 p.m. ET. Just make sure to send messages through Twitter to @MTVRapFix with the hashtag #rapfixlive. How does Nicki feel about making the list one spot ahead of mentor Lil Wayne? Is she ready to finally release her highly anticipated debut Pink Friday? What did Drake tell her when she became the first femcee to make the Hottest list? Ask the Harajuku Barbie herself via Twitter or upload video inquiries at Your.MTV.com. The Lil Wayne protégé exploded in the past 12 months with a series of song-stealing cameos for Mariah Carey, Ludacris and Trey Songz, just to name a few. She also scored a hit with the chart-topping "Your Love." She also headlined the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show, where she and will.i.am premiered their collaboration "Check It Out." Earlier this year, Nicki Minaj spoke about her success and predicted that she would make the cut. "I feel that it's a dope accomplishment to be a woman on the list. There has never been a woman on the list. Of course, that makes me feel proud," she told MTV News. "But I believe that I am a dope MC in the big scheme of things, period. Like, if you put 10 girls in a row, I'm not only going to stand out with them; I'm going to stand out if you put nine boys in a row and just put me somewhere in the middle." 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! 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. Then log on to MTVNews.com following the show to see Nicki Minaj on "RapFix Live" at 2:30 p.m. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Eyedea Memorial Planned For Next Week Posted: 22 Oct 2010 12:51 AM PDT Rap cohorts pay homage to fallen indie MC.
Friends and family of late Minneapolis underground rapper Michael "Eyedea" Larsen will gather in his hometown Thursday to honor the Rhymesayers MC, who died Saturday at home at the age of 28 of yet-undetermined causes. A public wake for Larsen will take place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Thursday in the Grand Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota, with the family asking that any flowers be set to arrive on the day of the event, care of the hotel. Those wishing to make donations for the funeral can visit a PayPal site set up by Larsen's mother, Kathy Averill. A week later, fans and fellow rappers will gather for a celebration honoring Larsen at Minneapolis' famed First Avenue club, slated to take place November 9. The show begins at 5 p.m. and is open to all ages with a $20 suggested donation; tickets will go on sale Monday, with a limited amount available to out-of-town fans through Etix.com. There will also be a radio tribute Saturday from 9 to 11 p.m. CT, available on 90.3 FM in Minneapolis, 106.7 FM in St. Paul, or online at Rhymesayers.com, Facebook.com/rseradio or KFAI.org. The show will feature Larsen's music and memories from friends. If you would like to participate, send stories or anecdotes to Twitter.com/rseradio, Facebook.com/rseradio or radio@rhymesayers.com. Since his death, a number of tributes have poured in to the nimble MC known for his razor-sharp battle rap and freestyle skills and unpredictable storytelling gifts. One of the most touching was from his longtime musical partner and childhood friend, Greg "DJ Abilities" Keltgen. "Mike was the closest friend I ever had," he said. "He was as caring as he was brilliant and was a true prodigy. I am honored to have been in his life and to have created with him and help spread his messages. He was a great human being and he will be missed." Another Minneapolis rap fixture, friend and collaborator Sean "Slug" Daley of Atmosphere, said Larsen was one of his inspirations. "My friend, my brother. I do not know who I would be without your influence in my life," he said. "You challenged me without tearing me down. You pushed and encouraged me to be a better person. You had my back even when I didn't have my own back. Your words, thoughts, and ideas impacted me in ways that I probably haven't fully realized yet. You made me laugh and cry. You made me look and question. Thank you for everything. I love you Mikey." Fellow Rhymesayers rapper Brother Ali called Larsen a "precious soul," adding, "We're better artists for working with him and better people for knowing him. He added so generously to our lives and his passing leaves an empty space in our hearts. His spirit will forever be entwined in our life changing moments. Thank you, Mikey for sharing your light with us. We love you so very much and your music, insight and laughter will never leave us." Share your well-wishes for Eyedea's family in the comments. Related Artists |
| Liam Neeson Rumored to Inherit Mel Gibson's 'Hangover 2' Cameo Posted: 22 Oct 2010 12:20 AM PDT Robin Williams, Kurt Russell also listed as possibilities for the sequel.
Now that Mel Gibson is officially out of "The Hangover 2," the busy bees at Warner Bros. Pictures have been scrambling to replace their high-profile celeb cameo with another big name. According to Variety, the studio is going after A-list actor Liam Neeson for the role. A source close to the production confirmed to MTV News that the "Taken" actor is at the top of the studio's wishlist, but added that a few other established names have been circulating as well: Robin Williams and Kurt Russell. There is no word on whether the cameo role is the same one Gibson was supposed to play (a tattoo artist), only that Warner Bros. is "very happy" with the script and wants a veteran actor to fill the now-high profile cameo. Director Todd Phillips said in a statement recently that he wanted Gibson in the film, but that not everyone agreed with the casting. "I thought Mel would have been great in the movie," Phillips said in a statement. "And I had the full backing of [WB President] Jeff Robinov and his team. But I realize filmmaking is a collaborative effort, and this decision ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew." "Hangover" breakout star Zach Galifianakis reportedly was the most upset with Gibson's cameo and hinted to Comedy Death-Ray Radio host Scott Aukerman that he was upset about a recent turn of events related to a film on which he's currently working. "But a movie you're acting in, you don't have a lot of control: You just show up and vomit your lines out," Galifianakis said. "I'm not the boss. I'm in a deep protest right now with a movie I'm working on, up in arms about something. But I can't get the guys to [listen] ... I'm not making any leeway." Tell us who you want to see in "The Hangover 2" in the comments below! Check out everything we've got on "Hangover 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Photos |
| 'Paranormal Activity 2': Reviews Are Flooding In Posted: 21 Oct 2010 11:06 PM PDT This frightful sequel is 'by far ... the most regretful you'll be when you arrive home afterward to an empty house,' one critic says.
After eight straight weeks of sub-$30 million openings at the multiplex, "Jackass 3D" arrived last weekend and reinvigorated the box office on the strength of Porta Potty acrobatics and out-of-control jet ski jumps. Now "Paranormal Activity 2," which opened Friday (October 22), is looking to make it two straight weeks of $30 million-plus debuts. Though the sequel to last year's horror smash won't come close to topping "Jackass 3D" and its $50.4 million gross, word of mouth is strong and the thirst for more security-cam scares is intense, so expect "PA 2" to cross that $30 million mark. Will you be one of those folks forking over cash for the chance to have the crap scared out of you? If you're not sure, check out what the critics have to say about "Paranormal Activity 2." The Story 'PA 1' Vs. 'PA 2' The Scares 'Paranormal Activity 2' blends the two modes into what might be called shockpense. The film keeps jolting us out of the blue, all right — with sudden booms, doors that open of their own accord, or a frying pan that drops out of a pot hanger. In a funny way, though, what makes these devices work is their very randomness: They tickle us with terror because watching the movie, we do know that a bomb has been planted, only it's a bomb — or, more accurately, a demon — you can't see." — Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly The Dissenters The Final Word |
| Katy Perry 'Sesame Street' Skit Didn't Faze Show's Head Writer Posted: 21 Oct 2010 10:49 PM PDT 'I didn't think anything of it,' Joseph Mazzarino said about Perry's revealing outfit.
These days, it's Katy Perry's impending wedding to Russell Brand that's creating all the buzz, but there was a time — like, a month ago — when it seemed that the only thing people wanted to talk about regarding the pop starlet was her appearance on "Sesame Street," and why it was "inappropriate" for the show's young viewers.
The skit — in which Perry sang a version of "Hot N Cold" with Elmo while wearing an outfit some parents deemed to be too revealing — was subsequently canned by the folks behind the children's program, and in the days following their decision, Brand (and Elmo) weighed in with their two cents, and Perry lampooned the situation during her September 25 appearance on "Saturday Night Live." And then, well, everyone pretty much moved on. But that doesn't mean that some of the people involved in the "Sesame Street" sketch aren't still mystified by the controversy. In a new interview with New York magazine's Vulture blog, "Sesame Street" head writer Joseph Mazzarino says he never expected Perry's appearance to cause the commotion it did, because, as he sees it, there was really nothing wrong with it in the first place. "I was there, and she had this mesh thing on top of it and I didn't even notice. I didn't think anything of it, and I'm pretty sensitive to things my daughter sees and it didn't even strike me as anything," explains Mazzarino. "My daughter was there on set with us and she thought [Perry] looked like a 'Barbie' doll, she thought she was beautiful and she loved to watch her. Not to say I don't see other people's point of view — I get it — but it didn't hit me at first, at all." Mazzarino also says that it was "Sesame Street" that first approached Perry with the idea for the sketch — which was shot in Los Angeles — and suggests that the entire controversy likely would have been averted had filming not taken place where it did. "I think we reached out to Katy and said we'd love to do something with her, and when we did, our writer Melinda Ward said, said, 'I'd love to do "Hot N Cold." ' I said, 'Great,' and she wrote a parody of it," Mazzarino recalls. "In terms of costumes, if it had been shot in New York, we would have done it different and costumed her. We didn't have a costume department out there [in Los Angeles], and that's one of the reasons that happened." Related Artists |
| You are subscribed to email updates from MTV News To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar