MTV News |
- Kanye West's 'Runaway' Film Premieres
- Selita Ebanks 'Killed It' In 'Runaway,' Kanye West Says
- Katy Perry And Russell Brand Get Married In India
- Kanye West Explains Michael Jackson 'Runaway' Scene
- Kanye West Reveals Challenges Of Directing 'Runaway'
- Celine Dion Gives Birth To Twin Boys
- 'Paranormal Activity 2' Tops Friday Box Office
- Kanye West Calls 'Runaway' A Reflection Of His Entire Life
- Katy Perry And Russell Brand's Pre-Wedding PDA: A Timeline
- Kanye West's 'Runaway' Co-Star Selita Ebanks Recalls Onscreen Kiss
- Drake, Nicki Minaj Show Philly A Good Time At Powerhouse Concert
- Kanye West's 'Runaway' Premiere: We're Live-Blogging!
| Kanye West's 'Runaway' Film Premieres Posted: 23 Oct 2010 06:01 AM PDT Chicago MC's debut short tells story of romance between West and a phoenix played by Selita Ebanks.
Kanye West's highly anticipated debut film, "Runaway," finally arrived on Saturday (October 23) and proved to be the "ambitious" effort that fans who previewed the short have been raving about for weeks. The film's narrative focuses on the ill-fated relationship between West and a phoenix that plummets from the cosmos (Selita Ebanks). Their union is torn apart after the otherworldly creature is discriminated against for her curious behavior and features. Buoyed by West's soulful soundtrack, comprised of G.O.O.D. Friday joints and tracks slated for his forthcoming fifth LP, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the film's subtexts include themes of social ostracism and rebirth — issues the MC has said he identifies with.
The movie opens with West bolting furiously down a road tucked away in a forest, his partially unbuttoned shirt flapping against his bare chest. A fireball careening through the clouds lights up the screen as the voice of Nicki Minaj, affecting a colorful British brogue, cryptically introduces the film. Then it's back to the picturesque country road. A sleek sports car motors along as the film's first song begins, which features West spitting lyrics like, "Too many Urkels on your team/ That's why your wins low," a line he dropped during his 2010 BET Hip-Hop Awards cypher. Suddenly, the MTX Tatra Yeezy's driving crashes, and when he gets out to inspect the damage, he finds a phoenix lying in the road. West carries the fallen creature away from the scene as balls of fire continue to erupt behind them. The next scene begins with the phoenix sleeping and twitching on a couch in a clean, minimalist room. She starts to awaken as a news report blathers on about a comet that set off a raging blaze and is startled when the broadcast is suddenly flicked off. West appears holding a remote, looks into the camera and utters the film's first few lines of dialogue: "First rule in this world, baby, don't pay attention to anything you see on the news." During the next few sequences, as the phoenix hangs out in West's backyard and begins to discover her new surroundings, the pair's relationship blossoms as well. The phoenix sways as West knocks out a chopped-up revamp of "Power" on an MPC. A kid decked out in all-red, clutching a baton that spews crimson smoke into the air, heralds one of the film's most dramatic moments. As the megastar-studded collabo "All the Lights" kicks in, fireworks streak the sky and a marching band clad in crimson-colored ensembles appears. The crew leads a giant bust of Michael Jackson's head, as the phoenix and West look on in delight, clutching each other's hands. West's "Lights" lyric "Something wrong, I hold my head/ MJ gone, that n---a dead" blares as the procession continues and eerie-looking marchers sporting pointed red hoods bring up the rear. In the following scene, the phoenix stumbles through a lesson on dining etiquette, clumsily practicing how to sip from a teacup with her long gilded talons. The moment foreshadows the subsequent scene and climax of the film — a formal dinner party. The phoenix and West enter an expansive white hall to the buttery strains of 'Ye's second G.O.O.D. Friday release, "Devil in a New Dress." Seated at a large banquet table are several cocoa-skinned diners dressed in white; they shoot disapproving glares at the duo. The phoenix has dressed up her look with a gilded headpiece but disgusts her fellow diners with her inelegant table manners. West seems amused by the scene until the guest next to him strikes up an unsettling conversation. The man leans in, saying, "Your girlfriend is really beautiful," and West replies proudly, "Thank you." "Do you know she's a bird?" the guest queries. "Naw, I never noticed that," Yeezy deadpans, looking pained. "I mean, like, leave the monkey in the zoo," the man responds. The brief exchange appears to upset West, who crosses the room and begins to punch out wobbly versions of the otherwise crisp opening notes of "Runaway" on an out-of-tune piano. Instantly, a wave of dancers sporting black tutus crash the affair and bust out a mix of classical ballet and contemporary footwork. The guests continue to dine as West performs, raising their glasses at one point as the song, which salutes "douche bags," plays on. West climbs atop the piano and belts out "Run away from me, baby!" before the camera circles the company of dancers now frozen in place. Then, several lead dancers take turns at solos, which are spliced together in a seamless, slow-motion montage. The ladies gyrate, execute pas de bourrées and agile arabesques as the garbled Auto-Tuned vocals and choppy violins of the song's extended outro chirp away. When West, still holding court at the piano, puts his hand over his heart, the dancers thunder out as quickly as they came and the diners applaud. However, the occasion comes to an unfortunate end when the main course is served. A large, plated feathered turkey is set in front of the phoenix. She begins wailing in agony at the sight, wings splayed, her screams driving away the dinner guests. West sits quietly, looking dejected. Later, as the couple sit on his roof, she asks where statues come from. However, as 'Ye begins to explain, she cuts him off and insists sculptures that populate the globe are just phoenixes that have been turned to stone by a rigid society and declares she has to "burn" and return home. "Do you know what I hate most about your world?" she asks West. "Anything that is different you try to change. You try to tear it down." West begs her to stay and they make love, the phoenix, bathed in red light, writhing on top of West to the balmy, Auto-Tuned a cappella vocals that kick off West's Bon Iver-assisted track "Lost in the World." West wakes up the following morning alone on the roof and, realizing the phoenix has decided to return to her realm, darts off into the forest, playing out the film's opening scene. But the phoenix has already started her fiery journey back home, outfitted in a golden breastplate. She looks forlorn as she shoots into the sky, leaving behind a brilliant blaze and a desperate West still sprinting through the forest. What did you think of Kanye West's film debut, "Runaway"? Sound off in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Selita Ebanks 'Killed It' In 'Runaway,' Kanye West Says Posted: 23 Oct 2010 08:30 AM PDT Victoria's Secret model 'never diva'd out' while shooting film, Yeezy says.
Selita Ebanks' life and career are about to change. The Victoria's Secret model has garnered recognition for her stunning looks and notoriety for her short-lived engagement to Nick Cannon.
But now, predicts Kanye West, after her performance in his short film "Runaway," the New York native's acting prospects will be blossoming. "She killed it," West told MTV News' Sway after the premiere. "She surprised everyone," he continued. "But what I really loved about Selita: We had different ideas for different phoenixes and different people playing the role, and I went through a lot of craziness in order to get this film done — financing, different directors, locations, the dates — and she never wavered. She never got Hollywood, mollywood, model-wood, whatever they call it. She never diva'd out. She just believed in my vision and delivered. She brought the film to a whole 'nother level." West also thinks the caliber of roles offered to Ebanks will improve as a result of her work. He pointed out the physicality in her role, noting the difficulty in communicating a character with limited vocals. Yeezy deferred any credit for casting Ebanks, offering praise to the model and to a higher power. "When she gets offered roles, beforehand, it was, 'Oh, we got a great idea for her: You can play a model,' " West explained. "But now, just the fact that there was so little dialogue, that's like the hardest acting. And she had to do it in all of her acting. And she never got out of character. It was amazing. Me, sitting here right now talking about this, it was all in God's hands. Certain things you're not in control of." What do you think of Selita Ebanks' "Runaway" performance? Tell us in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Katy Perry And Russell Brand Get Married In India Posted: 23 Oct 2010 12:11 AM PDT Couple have a ceremony attended by friends and family.
Katy Perry and Russell Brand have officially tied the knot, getting married in India on Saturday night (October 23). "Russell Brand and Katy Perry are overjoyed to confirm that they were pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Brand on Saturday, October 23," the couple said in a statement sent to MTV News. "The very private and spiritual ceremony, attended by the couples' closest family and friends, was performed by a Christian minister and longtime friend of the Hudson Family [Katy's maiden name]. The backdrop was the inspirational and majestic countryside of Northern India." The singer and the comedian married in a ceremony attended by their friends and family, who had been spotted landing in India with the pair earlier in the week. According to The Associated Press, the ceremony began at 5 p.m. Local time when workers at the wildlife sanctuary near Ranthambore were asked to leave the venue and clear the fields. One worker told People, "I hadn't even finished the lighting I had been told to do. They just told us to get out fast." The magazine reported that traditional Indian instruments were played and Rajasthani folk musicians sang at the Aman-i-Khas resort. Additionally, sacred Vedic chanting was heard as well as the sound of applause and cheering from the wedding guests. The wedding ceremony wrapped up days of celebrations. On Friday night, the couple and their guests celebrated with a Bollywood-themed bash. Perry and Brand were engaged last New Year's Eve in India. 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." Share your well-wishes for the newlyweds in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kanye West Explains Michael Jackson 'Runaway' Scene Posted: 23 Oct 2010 08:44 AM PDT MC says he used King of Pop's likeness to represent cult mentality.
In a production wrought with powerful imagery, the Michael Jackson procession scene in Kanye West's film debut, "Runaway," is among the most impactful and intriguing.
Around seven minutes into the movie, which centers on the ill-fated romance between West's character, Griffin, and a phoenix played by Selita Ebanks, fireworks herald a parade of a crimson-clad marching band flanked by a mob of followers sporting pointed hoods reminiscent of the garb worn by the Ku Klux Klan. The band surrounds a larger-than-life illuminated bust of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, while Griffin and the phoenix excitedly look on. When West sat down with MTV News' Sway for a live Q&A session that followed the film's premiere Saturday (October 23) on MTV, he explained that he juxtaposed Jackson's likeness with the hooded marchers to make a comment about the potent pull of cult mentality. "The hood, what it does represent to me ... in relation to the Michael Jackson thing is not the KKK but the concept of cult, because it's multiple people with this hood on," West explained. "It's me taking [the phoenix] to my world and saying, 'Let me show you what my world is about.' " West said he invoked the image of the late icon, whose expansive cultural reach was unparalleled, to demonstrate the energy of the pop realm. "The greatest, biggest pop-cultural figure of all time ... is Michael Jackson. You have the band in front of him, marching ... and you have the cult around it," West said, before explaining the scene that precedes the procession, of a young boy in mid-sprint brandishing a flaming baton. "If you saw the kid in the beginning, he's running and running at top speed holding his torch, and his torch represents his thoughts and ideals. At the end, after he's been cultivated, he has the hood on now and he's walking extremely slow. That's basically how people think," West said. "It's the way society has set people up to be able to control them, slave mentalities." Yeezy added that coaxing people into social conformity is an effective form of control — assuming the followers don't decide to break away on their own trails. "[By] just creating this mentality by cultivating the ideals ... you could just make people just stand in their own mental jails," he said. "What happens when someone isn't in a mental jail?" What do you think of Kanye's explanation of the Michael Jackson "Runaway" scene? Sound off in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kanye West Reveals Challenges Of Directing 'Runaway' Posted: 24 Oct 2010 09:38 AM PDT 'I had a number of concerns: Is it realistic? Are we getting a good angle?' first-time director tells MTV News.
Kanye West made a successful transition from producer to rapper with his seminal debut, The College Dropout. Now, after the MTV premiere of his "Runaway" short film, West said the experience of putting to get the 35-minute visual is comparable to making his first album. But West said the experience was anything but easy for him.
"Was there any difficult parts?" he said to MTV News' Sway, laughing. "Thinking about dressing all of those people. Or finding where the [phoenix] wings were, who would make the wings. Laying the colors, having to go back and forth. Directing myself, 'cause I can make awesome decisions right there. But when I stand on that piano [in the 'Runaway' scene], I got to make sure Kyle, who is an amazing [director of photography] on this, I got to trust him that he caught that shot the proper way. So it takes a little bit longer, when you have to go around and get behind the camera. So these shots, I would have to go look at it, do it again, look at it again. I had a number of concerns: Is it realistic? Are we getting a good angle? We didn't have Hype Williams-level lighting in that warehouse." Despite the challenges, West put together a moving piece of art that has garnered rave reviews from his peers and fans alike. Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz called the project "artistically large." "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,' " he told MTV News in an e-mail message earlier this week. "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." Swizz Beatz was also effusive in his praise for West. The producer didn't dole out a perfect score to his fellow musician, holding back a higher rating only because he hoped for a longer experience. "On a 1 to 10, it was a 9," Swizz said. "The reason why it was a 9 was because it should've been longer. It was a deep, deep story, and you have to know Kanye to really understand it." MTV.com user DontblameYouth gave West more than a perfect score, adding an extra thumb to his praise. "I'm absolutely mesmerized by this video," the commenter wrote. "It really shows how Kanye has worked hard at such an innovative idea to introduce maybe even a new area and way of thinking to the world of art and music. I understand that some people may not be able to grasp or watch it and understand it not as it is literally shown in the video but interpret it and apply it to life. But I give it three thumbs up. Love." What did you think of "Runaway"? Share your reviews in the comments. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Celine Dion Gives Birth To Twin Boys Posted: 23 Oct 2010 03:50 AM PDT Singer's rep says Dion delivered sons Saturday morning in Florida.
Powerhouse singer Celine Dion welcomed twin boys on Saturday (October 23), the singer's rep revealed to People magazine. The Grammy-winning songstress delivered fraternal twins just after 11 a.m. at a Florida hospital . The newborns arrived prematurely and will spend their upcoming days in an incubator. However, Dion's rep maintained the babies are doing well. The songbird and her husband, René Angélil, who also have a 9-year-old son named René-Charles, have not decided on names for the new tots. "Celine is resting now and they plan to discuss what to name the boys when she wakes up," her rep said. "René-Charles has been to the hospital to visit his brothers and is just so excited they are here." The twins' birth comes days after the "My Heart Will Go On" belter entered a West Palm Beach hospital for observation. Dion's new arrivals come after the songstress struggled through several rounds of in vitro fertilization and even suffered the loss of a pregnancy in 2009. The songstress has been candid about her attempts to conceive, telling People in February that she was determined to try to get pregnant. "I'm going to try until it works," Dion said after experiencing four failed rounds of IVF. "Five's my lucky number ... so this is the time it's got to [work]." Dion, who has sold over 100 million albums throughout her decades in the music industry, was recently the subject of a photo book entitled "Cé-line, Au-delà de l'image," which features over 600 previously unreleased photos of the superstar. Share your well-wishes for the family below! Related Artists |
| 'Paranormal Activity 2' Tops Friday Box Office Posted: 23 Oct 2010 02:44 AM PDT Horror sequel rakes in $20.1 million on first day.
The follow-up to last year's runaway horror hit, "Paranormal Activity 2," kicked off its first weekend in theaters with a major haul. The creepy tale of a household dealing with unwanted spirits, told through grainy surveillance footage and like its predecessor was largely unscripted, pulled in $20.1 million on Friday. Trailing behind "Paranormal" is last week's box-office busting debut "Jackass 3D. " The prank-fest, which landed about $50 million its first weekend in theaters, slipped to the second-place slot. Johnny Knoxville and his crew's latest array of cringe-inducing antics rang up nearly $7.6 million as it entered its sophomore session in theaters. Friday's haul's kicks the film's total estimated gross to over $73 million. The spy thriller "Red" continued to pull in audiences and came in third in Friday's box-office race. The flick, which stars Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren and Bruce Willis as retired hired guns now dodging their former employer's efforts to keep them quiet, raked in roughly $4.5 million. The action picture's total gross is an estimated $33 million. The Clint Eastwood-helmed ensemble drama "Hereafter" landed in fourth place. Exploring the lives of three people who are dealing with death and the afterlife in several ways, including the story of a psychic played by Matt Damon, the screen legend's latest turn in the director's chair made approximately $4.1 million on Friday. David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin's "The Social Network," which tells the story of Facebook's rise from a Harvard campus curiosity to a social media behemoth boasting 500 million users, netted about $2.3 million on Friday. The movie's total estimated haul stands at around $67.9 million. Check out everything we've got on "Paranormal Activity 2," "Jackass 3D." and "Red." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Kanye West Calls 'Runaway' A Reflection Of His Entire Life Posted: 23 Oct 2010 07:56 AM PDT Yeezy says he made the film for all the women he's had a relationship with.
Kanye West's film debut, "Runaway," a companion piece to his upcoming album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, is an involved and intricate production, beyond the typical four-minute visuals that accompany much of today's popular music.
When the MC sat down with MTV News' Sway Calloway after the film's MTV premiere Saturday (October 23), it was noted that the project, while ambitious in scope and scale, still reads as an intimate and personal piece for the star. Yeezy conceded that he turned to specific aspects of his personal life for inspiration: his ex-girlfriends. "I wanted every girl I ever been in a relationship with to feel like a piece of her was being represented. And even for my mother to feel like a piece of her was being represented when she sees this," he said. He added that the project wasn't solely about the women he has known, and said he wanted all of his female viewers to be able to appreciate the film. "[It's] just for females to connect with the different emotions, and also it's a representation of creativity and just being different," he said. "Like that main point, the world knocks the wings off of the phoenixes and turns them to stone." While West said the arc of the phoenix's experience has some parallels to his career, he maintained the piece is a reflection of how he felt his entire life, not simply what he faced in the past year. The "Power" lyricist also delved into how he spent his time away from the spotlight, which included bouncing around the world and holding court with some of the planet's most renowned artists. "I did run away from it all, and I needed to run away," he said. "I needed that time away. I lived in Rome; I lived in Japan; I stayed in Hawaii to soak in [and] get new people around me, whether it's chillin' with [designer] Giuseppe Zanotti in Rimini, Italy, or chillin' up at Fendi, or chillin' with Karl Lagerfeld at the atelier at Chanel. Just getting all these new ideas, then going in and sitting with the RZA and Pete Rock and No I.D. and Q-Tip and S-1, that did 'Power' with me. All these people coming in [and] giving all this new energy." The Chicago spitter also recalled his time kicking back and dissecting music with Miami boss Rick Ross to foster creativity to put to use in future projects. "We had the chefs out there in Hawaii, and the breakfast would come, and me and Rick Ross just start vibin' on the game: What did Big Daddy Kane mean? What did Rakim mean? Just the way our voices cut on the track and us bouncing ideas to be able to bring a higher level of art to the table," he said. "I was just listening to the radio when I came up here, and I was very proud of the music I was hearing — the level, the sonics, the horns — and just bring it back to a Quincy Jones level of production." What do you think about Kanye West's "Runaway" video? Tell us in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Katy Perry And Russell Brand's Pre-Wedding PDA: A Timeline Posted: 23 Oct 2010 05:15 AM PDT Even before they were hitched, the superstars showed their love in kooky, cute and creative ways.
Katy Perry and Russell Brand took the ultimate step in their whirlwind romance on Saturday (October 23): they got hitched in a grand ceremony in India. The couple headed back to the place where Brand popped the question early this year after dating for several months. Since then, in true Brand and Perry style, the duo packed in a spate of memorable moments as they prepared to hit the altar. Here's a look back at some of the couple's interesting public displays of affection as they headed toward superstar matrimony. Before the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, Brand hyped up his fiancé's upcoming performance of "California Gurls," referring to the pop princess' latest offering as "her new, brilliant single." Later in June, the couple showed off their unique shared sense of humor when Brand dubbed Perry a "flatulence factory" during an interview. Perry fired back on Twitter, saying that Brand "light[s] up the sheets with [his] stanky arse." Perry arrived at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in September with decals of her hubby-to-be pressed on her nails. The manicure was a fitting tribute as the duo sparked their romance at the awards show the year before. A month before the nuptials Brand got into a scuffle with paparazzi at Los Angeles International Airport when he felt the paps were trying to snap an up-skirt shot of his lady love. Perry later defended her man's photog scrap, tweeting, "If you cross the line & try an put a lens up my dress, my fiancé will do his job & protect me. #standbyyourman #don'tf---withtheBrands." The paparazzi snafu didn't stop Perry from hitting Las Vegas for a bachelorette bash a few days later thrown by celebrity bestie Rihanna. The affair included stops at a Cirque Du Soleil show and poolside antics. A week before the big day, Brand said his ideal wedding would be set in "Victorian London," but conceded that getting married in a bygone era wouldn't be possible. The comic also denied rumors that he and Perry were already hitched but added, "Marriage takes place in the heart, so in that sense, we are already married." Earlier this week, the pop-culture couple touched down in Jaipur for their wedding celebrations. Members of Perry and Brand's families were spotted around the city and on Tuesday the singer punched out what would be her last tweet as a single lady: "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." On Saturday, the pair officially became husband and wife in a ceremony surrounded by friends and family. Share your well-wishes for the newlyweds in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kanye West's 'Runaway' Co-Star Selita Ebanks Recalls Onscreen Kiss Posted: 23 Oct 2010 04:58 AM PDT 'Everyone's watching and I'm giggling inside trying to stay in character,' she tells MTV News.
As if Selita Banks didn't have enough to worry about on the Prague set of Kanye West's "Runaway" — making her most high-profile acting turn in his short film while wearing nothing but a few strategically placed feathers — she also faced the prospect of her first ever onscreen kiss.
Luckily, she and West were on the same page when it came to their smooch. "It was very PG," she told MTV News. "There was nothing spicy." (See what Kanye had to say about Selita's performance and more in our post-premiere interview.) That didn't stop the whole experience from being more than a little embarrassing. "It was very awkward," she admitted. "And then everyone's watching. That was actually my first onscreen kiss. That was very awkward. This is my homie, and then everyone's watching and I'm giggling inside trying to stay in character." The kiss itself only lasts a few seconds in the film, which premiered Saturday on MTV at 8 p.m. As uncomfortable as it was, Ebanks noted that West was on-point as a director. "When Kanye was not on set, that's when the craziness happened. Because it's his story, his vision," she explained. "Working with him was extremely easy. Very professional, very direct, knew exactly what he wanted." What he wanted was to create a work of art — focused on the magical relationship between West and Ebanks' breathtaking phoenix — that captured his creative rebirth after a difficult and demoralizing period in his life. Ebanks, who has known West since they worked together on Pharrell's "Number One" music video, could see the way in which her acting partner truly has changed and, in a sense, been reborn both as an artist and as a person. "I've known him for a very long time, and I have to say, his whole outlook, his patience, the way he speaks to people, he's learned a lesson," she said. "The last few years of his life have been extremely hard. But it's like I tell him: 'Sometimes you have to go through those things. You have to be the phoenix.' " Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Drake, Nicki Minaj Show Philly A Good Time At Powerhouse Concert Posted: 23 Oct 2010 09:53 AM PDT Rick Ross, joined by Philadelphia's Freeway, also heats up his set to thundering ovations at Power 99 event.
PHILADELPHIA — Drake got a hand starting the party as friends surprised him with cake and champagne onstage during his headlining set at Power 99's annual Powerhouse concert on Friday night. The Toronto star celebrates his 24th birthday on Sunday but the festivities kicked off early in the City of Brotherly Love.
Drake's Young Money cohort Nicki Minaj and his October's Very Own crew came out from backstage and wished the rapper a happy birthday; Nicki planted a birthday smooch on Drake's cheek. And while he appeared humbled by the toast, the MC was clearly itching to get back to entertaining the capacity crowd. He quickly launched into the booming "Say Something," crooning and rapping the number to the women in the stands of the Wachovia Center. "This sh-- was all I knew, you and me only," he sang. "I did it all for you, still you were lonely/ We could have worked it out, but I get things change/ It's funny how someone's success brings pain/ When you're no longer involved/ That person has it all/ And you just stuck standing there, but ... ." Before Drake could get the lyrics out, the crowd gleefully jumped in to finish the chorus. The other headliner on the bill, Nicki Minaj tore through a flurry of songs she's made guest appearances on, including the Young Money collabo "Roger That" and her blitz on Usher's "Lil Freak." Decked out in a blazer with shoulder pads that could shield a football player from a crushing blow, the Queens lyricist commandeered the stage on the horn-blaring "Roger That." Her pink wig remained perfectly in place as the animated femcee's facial expressions changed as often the time ticked. "I'm in the collared green 6, cornbred in the guts," she rapped. "Got the Halloween kicks trick-or-treating the clutch." For "Check It Out," she passed the microphone to a male fan in the audience who picked up her lyrics while she and a female fan danced in time onstage, mimicking the mirror wave she showed off during her 2010 MTV Video Music Awards pre-show performance. After "Your Love," Nicki told her DJ to "play something Philly will like while I look for 10 boobs to sign." She then descended into the audience and a few close calls were captured on the arena's gigantic screen as Nicki Minaj put pen to flesh. Rick Ross also incited a raucous ovation; the Miami don heated up his set instantly with opening numbers "MC Hammer" and "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)." Ross brought out Philly's own Freeway and the former Roc-A-Fella gunner delivered a rousing rendition of "What We Do." Cali Swag District also performed, while Ne-Yo, Lloyd and Bobby V helped to keep things smooth as the three singers on the lineup. T.I. protégé Meek Millz tore the house down with a prime-time performance. "I said Rose sipper, wrist all glitter, them h--s wouldn't mention y'all n----s on Twitter," he rapped during his breakout number "Rose Red." The Philadelphia upstart made his hometown proud. Were you at the Powerhouse concert in Philly? Share your reviews of the show with us in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kanye West's 'Runaway' Premiere: We're Live-Blogging! Posted: 23 Oct 2010 05:28 AM PDT Don't miss a minute of 'Ye's film debut with our RapFix live blog.
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