MTV News |
- Kanye West's 'Runaway' Is MTV News' #2 Song Of 2010
- Ryan Gosling Calls 'Blue Valentine' A 'Companion Piece' To 'The Notebook'
- Liam Neeson Avoids Mufasa Imitation For 'Chronicles Of Narnia' Lion Voice
- 'The Tourist' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know
- 'Jersey Shore' Cast Schools Barbara Walters On 'Smushing'
- Kanye West's 'Power' Is MTV News' #3 Song Of 2010
- Justin Bieber Tells Barbara Walters He'll 'Probably' Cut Hair 'Soon'
- Exclusive: T.I. Reveals Diddy Gave Him 'Castle Walls'
- Nicki Minaj, Drake Set To Shoot 'Moment 4 Life' Video
- General David Petraeus Tops '10 Most Fascinating People of 2010' List
- T.I. Says Pharrell Asked Him To Vent On 'Get Back Up'
- David Banner Says T.I. Has Always Battled 'Adversity'
- Lady Gaga's Madame Tussauds Wax Statues Unveiled
- Paramore Have 'Squeezed Out The Last Drop' From <i>Brand New Eyes</i>
- Mark Wahlberg Takes MTV News' Justin Bieber Quiz!
- Christina Aguilera And Rihanna To Duet With 'X Factor' Finalists
- Drake 'OK' With Being Dropped From Kanye West's 'All Of The Lights'
- Prince Pops Up On 'The View'
- T.I. Explains Tapping Chris Brown For 'Get Back Up'
- Michael Jackson's 'Hold My Hand' And More Posthumous Music Videos
| Kanye West's 'Runaway' Is MTV News' #2 Song Of 2010 Posted: 10 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST From its debut at the VMAs to its accompanying short film, everything about this Top 25 Song made our jaws drop.
For a song that landed at #2 on MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010, Kanye West's "Runaway" starts awfully humbly. It will be best remembered for the epic short film that accompanied it or the jaw-dropping debut it made at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. (Or perhaps it will be noted for its four-minute Auto-Tune freestyle that caps off the album version.)
But for all that sweep and bluster, "Runaway" kicks off with a single tap of a piano key, kicking off one of the most epic, jaw-dropping, honest and thrilling pieces of music to hit the popular airwaves all year. Those single notes slowly start to string together and give way to the drums, which are all low rumbles and twitches. A vocal sample stabs its way in, shouting "Look atcha!" And then Kanye starts to croon his series of heart-on-his-sleeve mea culpas. All that goes down in the first 30 seconds, and it only gets better from there. "Runaway" was produced by West, Emile, Jeff Bhasker and Mike Dean. The track made its debut at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, which saw West (wearing a flashy red suit) standing over a sampler and playing around, as though the audience just interrupted him in his studio. A series of ballet dancers (and Clipse member Pusha T) may have joined him onstage, but that performance was all about West's massive personality and the scope of the song. The first verse of "Runaway" is pretty staggeringly naked, even for a lyricist as honest and direct as West. "She found pictures in my e-mail/ I sent this girl a picture of my di--," he raps in the opening line. "I don't know what it is with females/ I ain't never been too good at that sh--." But rather than sound authoritative and boastful (like he does on "Power"), West sounds resigned to the idea that he'll probably never figure women out. It's a double-edged sword, because while he's letting women off the hook because he recognizes that he's no good, he also gives "a toast to the jerk-offs" in the chorus. In fact, the sexual politics of "Runaway" only intensify as the song rolls on. When Pusha T shows up for what has to be one of the best guest verses of the year, he lays out the compromise that has to occur whenever you get involved with a guy like West (who may have "a good girl" but is still interested in "them hood rats"). "You can leave or live with it," Pusha T raps. "Every bag, every blouse, every bracelet/ Comes with a price tag/ Baby, face it." The good life is waiting when you take West's hand, but keep in mind that his yang has a yin as well. The internal narrative of "Runaway" isn't particularly complex, but the same can't be said of the short film that West made to accompany the track. "Runaway," which premiered on MTV back in October, tells the story of a phoenix (as in the mythical beast) who falls to Earth and falls in love with West but eventually must destroy herself because the pressure becomes too great. It's a complicated and visually stunning piece of art that will go down in history as one of the most ambitious clips in the history of music videos. Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is one of the most challenging and satisfying albums of this young century, and "Runaway" is the centerpiece of that album. It's gorgeous and powerful, representing both a distillation of West's psyche and an external exploration of the year he put behind him. It only got a vague whiff of the top of the Billboard Hot 100 ("Runaway" peaked at #12), but there was scarcely a song more thrilling and important released in all of 2010. How does Kanye West's "Runaway" rank among the year's best songs? Let us know in the comments! MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 countdown continues. Make sure to keep checking back to see what song we've named #1, and don't forget to share your picks with us in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos |
| Ryan Gosling Calls 'Blue Valentine' A 'Companion Piece' To 'The Notebook' Posted: 10 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST Actor says his new film is about 'the nitty gritty of trying to stay in love.'
Ryan Gosling is set to appear on the big screen this month in a new film about love. Of course, while he might forever be remembered as the lovelorn Noah in "The Notebook," he's certainly weaving a different story about relationships in the darker "Blue Valentine."
So, does Gosling think fans of the sweeping Nicholas Sparks love story will find anything to relate to in this gritty, sexy new flick? "I think that 'Blue Valentine' is a nice companion piece to 'The Notebook,' because I feel like both are true," he told MTV News. "That they're both possible, and the truth is somewhere in the middle. But I feel like 'Blue Valentine' kind of picks up where 'The Notebook' leaves off." While "The Notebook" deals with the courtship of two people who are head-over-heels for each other, "Blue Valentine" looks deeper at what happens after two people think they've gotten their happy ending. "There's a huge period of time which isn't in ['The Notebook']: The practical, day-to-day living with one another isn't dealt with in that film," he explained. "I would meet people when I did 'The Notebook' who would come up to me on the street and say, 'That happened to me; that's my parents story,' because these people are saying that's not realistic love, doesn't really happen for people like that. "That's not true, because I've met so many people that told me that that's their story or their parents' story," he continued. "But I've also talked to a lot of people now that feel like this film is more about what it's like the day to day, the nitty gritty of trying to stay in love." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Liam Neeson Avoids Mufasa Imitation For 'Chronicles Of Narnia' Lion Voice Posted: 10 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST 'I tried not to think of James Earl Jones!' he laughs to MTV News about 'Voyage of the Dawn Treader' preparation.
Liam Neeson deserves our respect. The guy is committed. When tasked with portraying a talking lion in the "Chronicles of Narnia" series, he packed up his bags, gathered up his family and headed off to Kenya for some on-the-ground research. "We got to see them killing, eating, mating, sleeping, roaring. I can see why these creatures are kings of the jungle," he told MTV News. "They have this wonderful majesty and element of danger, this mysterious look in their eye that seems to be a thousand years old."
Yes, the Oscar nominee braved an African safari all so the voice of his CGI lion would have an air of authenticity. Hey, makes sense to us. But as even Neeson admitted, voicing the creature — the Jesus-like beast called Aslan — was "an act of imagination," and so his research and commitment to the character didn't stop there. For "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," the third installment in the franchise, which hit theaters Friday (December 10), Neeson gathered up the design team's computer mockups of Aslan and took them home with him. "I stuck those all over my bedroom so that when I woke up in the morning, I could see this lion," he said. Yet with recollections of real-life lions in his head and animated renderings surrounding him, the key to voicing Aslan was one simple directive: Don't imitate "The Lion King"! "I tried not to think of James Earl Jones!" he laughed, referring to Jones' portrayal of Mufasa, the venerable king in Disney's 1994 film. "That would be a little too intimidating." Check out everything we've got on "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| 'The Tourist' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know Posted: 10 Dec 2010 03:52 AM PST We followed bewitching A-listers Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp as far as the City of Light to compile the dossier on this thriller.
Angelina Jolie has had a strange way of, in a sense, following Tom Cruise around Hollywood in recent years. First, Cruise parted with "Edwin A. Salt" and Jolie swooped in, switching up the gender of the duplicitous secret agent at the center of the action and prompting filmmakers to rename the flick simply "Salt."
Not long after the duo played a game of cinematic musical chairs, they embarked on another. Cruise had been eyeing a starring role opposite Charlize Theron in "The Tourist," which would have marked his first role after 2008's "Valkyrie." But whaddya know? Cruise passed on the film, and in came Jolie to play the lead female role, roping in Johnny Depp to take over Cruise's part. As you can tell, we've been keeping a close eye on this project — an adaptation of a 2005 French thriller — watching as it orbited so many Hollywood stars. And with the film opening in theaters on Friday (December 10), we've compiled all of our information for another MTV News cheat sheet: everything you need to know about "The Tourist." Making Travel Plans With the key pieces in place, filming kicked off in Paris early this year. We got our first look at Jolie in character in February. She plays a mysterious — and seriously alluring — woman who ropes Depp's innocent American tourist into the middle of a tussle with Interpol agents hunting for Angie's fugitive ex-flame. A Family Vacation "I sort of fell massively in love with Johnny Depp, who's just one of the sweetest, funniest human beings you can possibly imagine," he told us. "It's so nice when you meet one of those people who make that much f---ing cash, that you kind of go, 'I'm really glad it happened to you.' It's awesome." Bettany wasn't the only one who met Depp for the first time on "Tourist." Turns out, Depp and Jolie had never met before, either. "Through all the years that they've been king and queen of Hollywood, they had never actually physically met, so I was the first person to ever bring them together," von Donnersmarck told us. "They just got along so well from the first moment they met that I knew it was going to be a lot of fun making this film. I probably have hours worth of bloopers where they were just laughing because they had so much fun inventing stuff on the fly and letting their incredible creativity run free." Come Along for the Ride While relaxing in the French capital, talk with Depp turned to Jolie's rather raw sense of humor. "It can go in many directions," Depp revealed. "There's a degree of certainly sophomoric kind of humor, but that always leads up to some sort of, unfortunately, some degree of scatological kind of interpretation." Back in the States this week, we met up again with the two stars during the New York premiere. "It was wonderful," Jolie said of working with Depp. "He's as wonderful as you expect him to be. He feels like he's of a different decade. He's extraordinarily creative and extraordinarily kind. There's no one else like him." Check out everything we've got on "The Tourist." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Jersey Shore' Cast Schools Barbara Walters On 'Smushing' Posted: 10 Dec 2010 09:00 AM PST The party-lovin' crew brings the news anchor into their world in '10 Most Fascinating People of 2010' special.
They were lampooned in late-night talk-show monologues, turned heads at awards shows and on red carpets, and inspired GTL-friendly Halloween costumes. There were few corners of pop culture the crew of MTV's "Jersey Shore" didn't reach in 2010, and that includes Barbara Walters' "10 Most Fascinating People of 2010" list.
In her introduction of the party-startin' crew, Walters said she regretted missing out on sit-downs with luminaries such as Jackie Onassis and Greta Garbo, but quipped that she's beefing up her storied resumé chatting with the "Shore" kids. While Walters' approach to the interview was fairly tongue-in-cheek, the Seaside Heights fist-pumpers were fairly intimidated by the event. As Snooki put it, "This is like [meeting] Elvis. It was awesome." Walters gamely jumped into the world of the "Jersey Shore." She learned about the seven-member cast's unique lexicon, chatting with The Situation about the definition of a "grenade" ("It's just humorous guy language that really nobody's really intended to hear"), and the reality stars coached her on the proper way to pronounce "smush." She then wasted no time putting her newly expanded vocabulary to work. "So are you and Sammi smushing?" Walters asked Ronnie, as the rest of the cast giggled. "You could say that," Ron admitted, with his on-and-off girlfriend Sammi by his side. The "Shore" residents also addressed their controversial image as relentless revelers who set a poor example for young people — a claim which Sorrentino, who reportedly made $10 million from his "Jersey" fame this year, shrugged off. "I would like to find one person that says when they were in their 20s they didn't go out and have a little fun," he said. Pauly D also denied the show reinforced stereotypes about Italian-Americans, saying, "I'm not representing all Italians." Despite the show's rowdy atmosphere, Snooki maintained the buttoned-up news veteran would fit right in at a raging night on the shore. "She's really hot in person," she said. "I think Barbara would kick our asses at the Jersey Shore." Even with Snooki's confidence in Walters as a possible member of the "Shore" crew, the legendary anchor still wasn't sure what to make of the collective after her encounter with the tanned twenty-somethings. "They are something," Walters said. "I don't know what, but they are something." What did you think of the Barbara Walters special? Let us know in the comments! |
| Kanye West's 'Power' Is MTV News' #3 Song Of 2010 Posted: 09 Dec 2010 07:19 AM PST Epic single marks Kanye's comeback and lands on our Top 25 Songs of the year.
The MTV News Top 25 Songs of 2010 marches on. The top spot is within sniffing distance, but first we make a pit stop at #3 to take in Kanye West's "Power."
It's still sort of staggering to think that the story arc Kanye West has gone through in the past 14 months has been 100 percent real. The rapper/producer managed to turn himself into public enemy #1 with a single bottle of cognac and a couple of lines into a microphone at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. After taking a browbeating from Jay Leno, West slipped into the ether for the first time since he broke out in 2004 with his watershed debut, The College Dropout. He slowed down his blogging schedule and wasn't photographed for a while, and it was unclear whether he would be able to make a comeback. It's the sort of Hollywood story that would sound clichéd in a piece of fiction but works amazingly well in the real world. Then 2010 arrived, and West's third act started to come together. West made his way to Hawaii to begin working on a new album (which was originally rumored to be titled Good Ass Job) and slowly started to re-emerge from his self-imposed isolation. He began to tweet and started to unveil songs via his G.O.O.D. Friday project. And if anybody was unsure about whether West still had it, "Power" certainly solidified him as a champion once again. Built around a staggeringly brilliant sample of King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man," "Power" opens with little more than handclaps and chants and quickly escalates into a powerful epic full of guitar riffs, pounding drums and West's snotty, swaggering flow. It's simultaneously lively (the high-hats dance above the sonic fray like so many fireflies) and truly heavy (the guitar riffs help, but West's authority over the track's entire presentation is jaw-dropping, even when he's referencing Austin Powers 10 years too late). "Power" was produced by West and Symbolyc One and was originally intended for Chicago rapper Rhymefest. But Kanye liked Symbolyc One's original beat so much that he adopted it as his own. A version of the song found its way onto the Internet at the end of May, and by June, it was available for purchase on iTunes. But "Power" didn't really have its moment until the music video premiered at the beginning of August. Consisting of a single shot that slowly pulls back to reveal a gorgeous tableau, the video for "Power" (directed by Marco Brambilla, known best for helming the 1993 Sylvester Stallone sci-fi epic "Demolition Man") seemingly sums up all the corners of West's overactive imagination in all of 90 seconds. There are mythical beasts, biblical images, references to various kings and Egyptian gods and no shortage of bare female breasts. It's a remarkable piece of art (West referred to it as "a moving painting," which is pretty accurate), and it simultaneously summed up the spirit of "Power" (indeed, no one man should have all that power) and the artistic heights he was hoping to reach with his latest opus, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. "I guess every superhero need his theme music," West raps during the song's introduction, and "Power" is indeed the sort of song that accompanies larger-than-life characters whenever they make their big return to save the day. Kanye is Ric Flair, and "Power" is his "Also Sprach Zarathustra." How does Kanye West's "Power" rank among the year's best songs? Let us know in the comments! MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 countdown continues. Make sure to keep checking back to see what song we've named #1, and don't forget to share your picks with us in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber Tells Barbara Walters He'll 'Probably' Cut Hair 'Soon' Posted: 09 Dec 2010 08:35 AM PST Teen phenom also opens up about kissing girls and his getting in trouble in '10 Most Fascinating People of 2010' special.
If there's anyone who can get the scoop from Justin Bieber, it's Barbara Walters, and the veteran news anchor flexed her impressive ability to sniff out a scoop by getting the teen phenom to make a shocking confession: he's chopping off his hair.
During her "10 Most Fascinating People of 2010" sit-down with the Canadian sensation Thursday night, Walters asked Bieber the question that likely keeps girls around the world up at night: will Justin ever lop off those luscious locks? "I'm gonna cut it probably soon," Bieber casually admitted, briefly fussing with those famous bangs. In addition to getting Bieber to reveal that he plans to clip his tresses, Walters gave viewers an inside look at the Pop&B star back in the day. Footage of Bieber as a musically-inclined baby shows that the YouTube sensation always had a gift for hamming it up for the camera. Bieber as a tot pounds away on a chair, belts in the bathroom, strums away on a guitar and mans the keyboard in old-school footage. Despite his outsize success, Bieber revealed that he still gets punished by his "strict" mom, who will take away the singer's computer and phones if he's messed up. In addition to getting into the occasional scrape, like many teen boys, Bieber is also dating, but insisted he does not have a girlfriend — despite getting caught sucking face with Jasmine Villegas in a the back seat of a car. As far as the future of Bieber fever, the teen said he wants to be a "mix between Prince and Michael Jackson." When asked what he would name a ditty about his rise from an impoverished kid to a global megastar, Bieber offered a fairly appropriate title: "This Crazy Life." What did you think of the Barbara Walters special? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Exclusive: T.I. Reveals Diddy Gave Him 'Castle Walls' Posted: 09 Dec 2010 01:57 AM PST No Mercy track featuring Christina Aguilera 'belonged to my big homey Puff first,' Tip says in exclusive interview on 'RapFix Live.'
Apparently, it takes royalty to recognize the greatness in a king. According to T.I., Diddy offered up the track "Castle Walls," featuring Christina Aguilera, for the Atlanta MC's album No Mercy.
The Alex da Kid-produced record was originally slated for Diddy-Dirty Money, before the Bad Boy mogul thought it would be better for T.I., considering his tribulations. "A funny thing about this record: It belonged to my big homey Puff first," Tip explained in an exclusive interview on "RapFix Live." "Puff, he acknowledged it, 'Yeah, this is my record, but you know what, I think this is a better fit for you. I think you should rock out on this one. I think this speaks volumes to where you are, what you going through, what you living and how you feel.' " So, Tip took the track and penned a personal ode to his life, which has become clouded with controversy in the past year as the beloved star has exited and re-entered prison. "See with the Phantoms and Ferraris in the driveway/ But you see it came in exchange of a sane man's sanity," he rhymes on the song. "Your vision jaded by the Grammys on the mantelpiece/ Just switch your camera lenses, you will see the agony." The embattled rapper explained the song's inspiration: "I live the life that most would die for, but there's a lot of things that come with this life. People don't take that into consideration. There are a lot of things in this life that I would trade in a minute just for a slice of normalcy. "I just listed a few things that they probably never viewed from that particular perspective," he continued. "Because I think people need to see things another way; they need to see it other than just celebrity. " Are you happy T.I. recorded "Castle Walls," or would it have been better as a Diddy-Dirty Money track? Sound off in the comments below! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Nicki Minaj, Drake Set To Shoot 'Moment 4 Life' Video Posted: 09 Dec 2010 05:00 AM PST Young Money president Mack Maine tells MTV News clique aims to film clip for Pink Friday track in December.
Nicki Minaj recently experienced something few new artists can claim: seeing your debut earn the #2 spot on the Billboard albums chart. The Queens native's Pink Friday LP sold a little more than 375,000 copies in its first week of release, falling just behind Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Now the MC is prepping the video for Friday's "Moment 4 Life," which features Young Money labelmate Drake.
"She's shooting hopefully on December 20," Young Money president Mack Maine told MTV News. "We're still trying to work out the date for the next video with [Nicki] and Drake for the 'Moment 4 Life' video. That's the next project." We also spoke to the Young Money head about Nicki's success and what it has meant to the Miami-by-way-of-New Orleans clan. "It was [a special moment], especially with her being a female in this day and time too," Maine said. "Also, people don't know that I was a big factor in making sure that Nicki got signed with us and also just sticking with her through ups and downs. "Just to see her go from a seed being planted to a ... forest, just a beautiful flawless forest ... the world recognizes. Big ups to Nicki, she worked hard," he continued. "She represents the female gender, and she basically delivered. There were a lot of odds against her and she defeated all of that and, for her to deliver like that, I gotta say congratulations." True to form, when news of her sales reached the animated MC, she was overcome, Maine recalled. "She was excited. We talked about it and her emotion was crazy," Maine said. "She basically shed tears, tears of joy. I have to congratulate her and say thank you to all of the fans that supported — without them we wouldn't be anything. ... She wouldn't be anything." Are you excited that "Moment 4 Life" is Nicki's next single? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| General David Petraeus Tops '10 Most Fascinating People of 2010' List Posted: 09 Dec 2010 10:28 PM PST Key player in guiding Afghanistan conflict beat out Justin Bieber, LeBron James on annual list.
As Barbara Walters put it, her rundown of the year's biggest movers and shakers, the "10 Most Fascinating People of 2010," was definitely "eclectic." After several revealing interviews with figures such as elderly "It" girl Betty White and the cast of MTV's "Jersey Shore," Walters and crew chose General David Petraeus as the most intriguing figure of the year for his role in the ongoing war in Afghanistan.
Like last year, a Washington DC headline-maker topped the list, following First Lady Michelle Obama's seat at the top spot in 2009. Walters dubbed him "an American hero" for his efforts in the embattled region. However, most of the list was populated with stars known more for their ability to spark tabloid rumors than calm countries grappling with civil unrest. Octogenarian comedienne Betty White kicked off the list with a frank discussion of her 2010 spike in popularity, dubbing herself "overexposed." The "Hot in Cleveland" star also spoke candidly about sex as she nears 90, proclaiming she gets busy if she "gets lucky!" Facebook founder and billionaire entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg was also profiled in a segment that noted his push for the dissemination of information in his professional efforts is at odds with the mysterious personal front he shows the public. Justin Bieber let Walters know that not only is he down to cut his hair, he plans to chop it off in the near future. The teen sensation also chatted about his love life and getting punished by his mom if he steps out of line. The castmembers of MTV's "Jersey Shore" gave Walters a crash course in fitting in on the shore, explaining the meaning of "grenades" and showing the legendary news anchor the proper way to pronounce "smushing." Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock also sat down with Walters to discuss the amazing highs and devastating lows of a year marked by an avalanche of professional accolades and a highly publicized split from philandering biker hubby Jesse James. Newly minted "American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez also made the list, chatting about being a fan of the amateur talent juggernaut before she joined the show and spending more time out of the limelight with her husband of six years, Marc Anthony. Miami Heat baller LeBron James and the unprecedented media circus that ushered in the NBA superstar's announcement that he was switching teams were also featured. Future royal Kate Middleton was also profiled as the woman poised to make her mark as a princess when she marries Prince William next year. Alaska politician Sarah Palin candidly remarked that she would consider a presidential run if she felt she could get elected, and maintained assuredly that she could take on President Obama in a race for The White House. What did you think of Barbara Walters special? Let us know in the comments! |
| T.I. Says Pharrell Asked Him To Vent On 'Get Back Up' Posted: 09 Dec 2010 06:17 AM PST 'I just need you to get those same sentiments, those same feelings on a record,' Tip recalls the producer telling him.
It's no secret that T.I. is experiencing a difficult time in his career. The Atlanta rapper was on the cusp of releasing his comeback album, then titled King Uncaged, following a one-year prison stint when he was arrested once again. Tip was sentenced to 11 months for violating his parole and shipped back to the same Arkansas facility he'd just left.
But through it all, the MC found inspiration for the track "Get Back Up" from his now-titled No Mercy album. "Yeah, 'Get Back Up,' produced by Pharrell of the Neptunes, one of the most passionate, genuine, artistic guys that I've met in the game and has had a hand in my movement since my very first album," T.I. said. "He was one of the first big producers to work with me." Tip said the pair reconnected and were recording for his then-forthcoming seventh LP when disaster struck. "Prior to my arrest, we had done about three or four songs, considerably hot records, some of which you'll definitely be hearing on this project," T.I. said during our exclusive "RapFix Live" interview. "But ... I left out the studio, and the next day, I go to jail, or I get arrested, which took me in a whole 'nother, different direction. "When all of these things started coming to pass, Pharrell called me like, 'Hey, man, somebody somewhere is trying to tell you something,' and I'm like, 'Yeah, you know, that may be,' " the MC continued. "Then we had a conversation at length about how I felt about the media's portrayal of my circumstances. And he said, 'You know what? That's what you need to say in a song.' And I say, 'Man, I ain't talking about no music right now, P.' And he say, 'But that's what they wanna hear, that's what you need to tell 'em. Just ride with me on this. I'mma get it to you, and I just need you to get those same sentiments, those same feelings on a record.' I said, 'All right, man, give it to me.' " It didn't take the talented producer long to craft a beat perfect for Tip's emotions. "So it might've been a week or two later, he called me and it might've been at 4 o'clock in the morning, like, 'I got it!' " T.I. recalled. "I immediately heard the potential, I immediately heard that this was a special record, a personal record, a statement record ... and one that could be delivered with humility and not as defensive as it may sound in conversation if I said it." What do you think of "Get Back Up"? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| David Banner Says T.I. Has Always Battled 'Adversity' Posted: 09 Dec 2010 06:31 AM PST Mississippi rapper says Tip is 'probably one of the strongest dudes that I ever met' during 'RapFix Live' interview.
According to David Banner, T.I. is gonna get back up from his latest drama.
During the latest installment of MTV News' "RapFix Live," the Mississippi MC's sit-down was preceded by an exclusive interview with Tip about his music and how the trials of the past year have influenced his work. Banner, who is friends with T.I. and crafted his bouncy Trap Muzik single "Rubber Band Man," said he's more concerned with how the ATL spitter's family is dealing with the superstar's sentence, and remains confident Tip will snap back from his latest setback. "T.I.'s probably one of the strongest dudes that I ever met. Since the first day I met him, he was the shortest dude in the room but had his chest poked out the furthest [and] always kept his head up," he said. Banner noted Tip's resilience both as an artist and a businessman, one who engineered a fruitful deal with Atlantic after his debut outing with Arista went south. "Even when his first situation went down with the label, he totally pulled [himself] off the label and started back over again," he remarked. "He's been one person who's been up against adversity all of his life." Banner further commented that regardless of T.I.'s status as the King of the South, CEO of Grand Hustle or trap-music kingpin, behind the fame, he's a fallible, flawed, flesh-and-blood human being — just like everyone else. "Everybody expects entertainers to raise [their] family. One thing that he said that really struck me is that we're still men; there's still certain repercussions as black men in America with everybody's eyes being on you. From the streets to business, we're still men, we're not gods. We're not perfect," Banner continued. "The thing that America has done, every mistake that a young black man makes — and not that he couldn't have made better decisions — but in life, period, everybody that's behind these cameras that's on the Internet or whatever, look at the mistakes you make every day in life. If you made one or two mistakes, and then every time you make one or two mistakes, everybody is on you, that's a lot of pressure as a person." What do you think of David Banner's comments about T.I.? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's Madame Tussauds Wax Statues Unveiled Posted: 09 Dec 2010 02:35 AM PST Little monsters turn up in NYC for unveiling of Gaga in a hair hat.
All day on Thursday (December 9), Madame Tussauds unveiled eight wax versions of Lady Gaga all over the world, including at the museum's European outposts, as well as one in New York's Times Square. MTV News was on hand for the NYC unveiling of the pop star's wax likeness, where her little monsters showed up dressed up in Gaga-like garb to catch a glimpse of the statue.
For the New York version, Gaga appears in a sheer black dress paired with a wide-brim hat made of hair, a look she wore to the Consumer Electronics Show back in January. Earlier in the day, figures were unveiled in Asia and Europe, and they fittingly each have their own unique fashion statement, which Gaga fans were invited to help pick out. In Berlin, Gaga wears a blazer, leotard and hair bow; in London the figure dons a Philip Treacy telephone hat and sparkly navy Armani suit; in Amsterdam, she's in a nude bodysuit, a white blazer and a towering purple beehive. Her skintight black harlequin outfit is featured in Hong Kong, and her wire "wing" dress is on display in Shanghai. Gaga statues are also making their debut in Los Angeles and Las Vegas later in the day. "As one of the biggest and most unique talents in the world, Lady Gaga is the perfect subject for the biggest figure launch in Madame Tussauds' history," a November press release said, explaining why Gaga was getting so many statues. "All of the styles being worked on are classic Gaga, and we're sure her fans will be delighted with the unique looks when we unveil the figures next month." Gaga is one of the many pop stars to get a wax statue this year. She joins Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian and Gwen Stefani as some of the latest celebs to be immortalized for the museum. Which is your favorite Lady Gaga wax figure outfit? Discuss it in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Paramore Have 'Squeezed Out The Last Drop' From <i>Brand New Eyes</i> Posted: 09 Dec 2010 03:36 AM PST 'Playing God' single and video will be the album's last hurrah, Hayley Williams tells MTV News.
As if the scrapbook sentiments of their just-released "Playing God" video weren't evidence enough, Hayley Williams will be the first to tell you that Paramore are officially finished with Brand New Eyes, the album that took them to the brink and back. "Oh, we squeezed out the last drop last month," she laughed. "We put out 'Playing God' and did a video for it with our friend [director] Brandon [Chesbro], and I feel great. I feel like ... we hit the finish line and we're golden. I love it. I'm proud."
So there will be no more singles from BNE, which was released more than 14 months ago and went gold. In fact, Williams said she knew as much when she began drawing up the "Playing God" treatment with Chesbro — which is why the duo decided to film it at her house in Franklin, Tennessee, and include as many of their friends as possible. It only seemed appropriate, given the sheer amount of personal growth (and intra-band communication) that went into the album's creation, most of which is tackled in the song itself. "We filmed it at my house, so it was really personal, and I think that's how we like to keep things," she said. "We had friends hanging out on set all day, and Brandon being one of our best friends, he directed it. ... It was just a fun, personal play on the lyrics of the song." And, of course, there are also plenty of nods to Paramore's past — the swinging light bulb from their "Ignorance" clip, the mirrors that adorn the back cover of Eyes, the old band photos Williams can be seen looking through — and the pop-culture world the band inhabits. It wouldn't be a parting gift without a few presents to unwrap, after all. "There's a lot of little things for our fans to figure out," Williams said. "Nods to Gaga, with the glasses and the poison, and 'Dexter,' with the plastic on my wall in the basement. Making it was fun. I love it." If you could pick another single from Brand New Eyes, what would it be? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Mark Wahlberg Takes MTV News' Justin Bieber Quiz! Posted: 09 Dec 2010 03:36 AM PST The 'Fighter' star has said he'd consider returning to the rap game for a collabo with the teen, so we tested his Bieber knowledge.
"The Fighter" star Mark Wahlberg hung up his rap hat ages ago, but it wasn't that long ago that he said he would consider getting back in the game if Justin Bieber was onboard.
But there's a good reason why the A-list actor is willing to pick up a mic again to work with the teen star. "It's about my seven-year-old daughter, and it's way premature. She shouldn't be talking about or thinking about boys until, like, 13 or 14," Wahlberg told MTV News about his little girl's obsession with Bieber. And though he claimed to know little about the Biebs besides the chorus to "Baby," he happily obliged when we asked him to take MTV News' Bieber quiz. Read on to see how he scored! MTV News: Who's the manager credited with discovering Bieber? Wahlberg: Oh, that's my boy! ... Why am I blanking on his name? Scooter [Braun]. MTV News: The title of Bieber's first album? Wahlberg: Um, Backstreet's Back? ... I don't know! H2O? MTV News: The 16-year-old guest-starred on a CBS drama, what was it? Wahlberg: "CSI." MTV News: The title of his upcoming film, which also happens to be his mantra? Wahlberg: I don't know, it's a Paramount picture ... [Someone whispers the answer to him] "Never Say Never." MTV News: Finally, the four-letter song whose video is the most-watched YouTube video of all time? Wahlberg: "Baby" ... Damn! I had to count them in my head. Four-letter word, that's out of my comfort zone. Three letters? Still on the fence. Two, I'm good. Answer: "Baby" Are you surprised Walhberg did as well as he did on our Bieber quiz? Tell us in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "The Fighter." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Artists |
| Christina Aguilera And Rihanna To Duet With 'X Factor' Finalists Posted: 09 Dec 2010 05:00 AM PST Robbie Williams and will.i.am will also perform alongside contestants for the British talent show's finale.
Just like "American Idol," the hit U.K. talent show "The X Factor" knows how to pull out all the stops for the finale. During a news conference Thursday (November 9), the finalists revealed a star-studded lineup of collaborations, including Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, Robbie Williams and will.i.am., for the final show of the season on Saturday. "We will be duetting with Robbie Williams," judge Simon Cowell said on behalf of his five-member boy band One Direction. Asked how they felt about working with the British singer, one member was especially eager to collaborate with such a high-profile artist. "I'm a massive fan of Robbie," Louis Tomlinson said. "In the U.K., he's absolutely massive, and it's an honor for us to get a chance to perform with him." Another music sensation fans can expect to see grace the "X Factor" stage is Christina Aguilera. "I'm duetting with Christina Aguilera, and I'm very happy," Rebecca Ferguson revealed. "She's very talented and amazing." Cher Lloyd announced that she'll team up with Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am for her performance. Lloyd's mentor, British pop sensation Cheryl Cole, has worked with Will in the past and was excited for Cher. "I just told her she's in a very, very fortunate position," Cole said. "He's the biggest superstar in the world. She knows how lucky she is. She's excited. It's right up her street." Rihanna will bring her Caribbean flavor to a performance alongside Matt Cardle. "I'm going to sing the best I can this weekend and perform the best I can," the contestant said. Which celebrity/contestant collabo are you most looking forward to? Sound off in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Drake 'OK' With Being Dropped From Kanye West's 'All Of The Lights' Posted: 09 Dec 2010 02:29 AM PST 'Kanye's creative process is ever-changing,' Drizzy tells Shade 45.
Even if Drake and Kanye West aren't best friends, Drizzy still counts the Chicago rapper/producer as one of his musical idols. Drake dropped into Shade 45's morning show Thursday (December 9) and chatted it up with host Elliott Wilson on a variety of topics, including being removed from the final version of Yeezy's "All of the Lights." An early version of the song, whose crowded guest list includes Elton John, La Roux's Elly Jackson, Charlie Wilson and Ryan Leslie, had previously leaked that included Drake, but the Toronto rapper is nowhere to be found on the version that appears on West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. "Kanye's creative process is ever-changing," Drake said, adding that he doesn't know why he was removed. "We make music differently. I make what comes to me and I hate changing it, whereas 'Ye will change something 30 or 40 times to get it perfect. To each their own, and the change was to put all those people on it, and I wasn't one of them. That's completely OK." Since Drake came to national prominence with the release of his So Far Gone mixtape, the MC has been compared to West — not just for his introspective lyrics, but for his overall sound as well. Back in August, Drake's main producer, Noah "40" Shebib, relayed a story about Kanye West cursing him out for using his production style. Add to that mix the fact that Drake and Kanye have appeared on relatively few songs together — including "Forever," with Lil Wayne and Eminem — and conspiracy theorists feel there must be tension between the two. "I can never sit here and tell you that's not one of my idols, that's not one of my favorite rappers," Drake said of Kanye during the Shade 45 interview. "Whatever energy I've ever felt is irrelevant. When you ask me, 'What do I think of Kanye West,' I'mma always have something positive to say." The host then interjected by asking, "But sometimes the energy is not always where you want it to be?" "I feel like we can co-exist," Drake answered. "I feel like hip-hop is broad enough that we can both exist and give great music without feeling like it's one or the other. I might be the only one that feels that way, though." Drake stressed his reverence for Kanye West. At only 24 years old, the Canadian MC said he missed the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac era, and Yeezy is a personal favorite artist whose career he can personally trace since its inception. What do you think about Drake's thoughts on Kanye? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists |
| Posted: 09 Dec 2010 04:23 AM PST The Purple One gives Justin Bieber advice during a surprise visit to ABC's daytime gab-fest on Thursday.
When you're Prince, you're pretty much given free rein to stop by wherever you please — even if it's busting up a daytime TV talk show. The Purple One gave the ladies of ABC's "The View" an unexpected visit Thursday morning (December 9), when he showed up to gift the gab queens with tickets for his Welcome 2 America Tour dates in New York. The pop legend hung around for a bit, but instead of perhaps giving the ladies a preview of his show by playing a song or two, the "Hot Thing" singer squeezed in at the table for a little "Hot Topics," the show's popular opening segment. Coolly walking out in dark, round glasses, a bedazzled sport coat and a single glove, the singer elicited screams from the audience — and caused "View" co-host and Prince mega-fan Sherri Shepherd to nearly keel over — when he randomly strolled onto the set in the middle of the segment. "First of all, these are strange hours for rock stars," he quipped upon arrival at the 11 a.m. ET broadcast. The singer then explained that he was in New York for his upcoming shows, and pumped up his band "that plays like a jackhammer." "You gotta come check it out," he said of the December concerts. The iconic crooner graciously handled the fawning from Shepherd, obliging her with a hug and a "Sherri, I love you." The ladies also asked Prince about another major fan, Justin Bieber, who once said he wanted to have a career as lengthy as the 52-year-old hitmaker. The superstar gave the teen sensation some sage advice, pushing the importance of staying thoroughly educated about his work. "The key to longevity is to learn every aspect of music that you can, and I hope that he does pick up an instrument and gets a good teacher," he said. He then prepared to make his exit, saying, "I'mma leave y'all. I haven't had breakfast yet." But before he skipped out, Shepherd playfully asked the singer for his glove and made one final request. "I have wanted to make love to you for my whole life," she pouted. The directness definitely woke up the singer, who sprightly popped up from the table, quipping, "On that note," and then dropped the mic as he hustled off the set as quickly and as mysteriously as he came. In October, Prince took to Harlem's Apollo Theater to grandly announce the kickoff of his Welcome 2 America Tour, which is slated to feature many of his talented musician pals like Maceo Parker, Mint Condition, Cassandra Wilson and Janelle Monáe. And in his typically enigmatic fashion, Prince initially declined to give any specific dates, but urged concertgoers to check out multiple shows, which he promised would be exhaustive exercises in gettin' down. "Come early and come often," he said. "No concert is ever the same." He also advised fans to "bring foot spray, 'cause it's gonna be funky." Eventually, the first few dates in NYC and New Jersey were released, with the twin Madison Square Garden dates selling out in 30 minutes. What do you think of Prince stopping by "The View"? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists |
| T.I. Explains Tapping Chris Brown For 'Get Back Up' Posted: 09 Dec 2010 02:43 AM PST 'Who else has a significant story to tell of triumph from tragedy?' MC muses in exclusive 'RapFix Live' interview from prison.
T.I. has taken a few detours from his road to redemption, but he's not the only one who has stumbled in the spotlight. The imprisoned MC remembered this fact when deciding who would be right for his record "Get Back Up" — a sentiment that ultimately led him to controversial crooner Chris Brown.
Tip broke down the origin of the collabo during an exclusive "RapFix Live" interview from prison Thursday (December 9). "We were thinking, 'Who else could we get to be on this record ... of such importance? Who else has a significant story to tell of triumph from tragedy?' " he recalled. "I was like, 'Chris. Let's see if Chris can do it.' I reached out to Chris, and he did it." The ATL MC said the reaction to the track was strong from the beginning, with many listeners feeling an instant connection to the record. "Immediately, as soon as we heard it, everybody who heard it first listen is like, 'That's something special,' " he described. "It's not nothing that you hear every day on radio; it's not your average, typical T.I. record. It's a message, and it's two guys who have been through something, who have had the world turn their backs on them." T.I. maintained the track gave the embattled stars a chance to say exactly what they wanted, exactly how they wanted to say it. The fans only job is to listen up. "You get to listen without interruption. You can't interrupt me now," he explained. "There's no way for you to interject. There's no way for you to misinterpret what I'm saying. You got to sit, and you got to listen. "Just like when you write your articles, just like when you sit at your computer, you blog, I got to sit, and I got to read. So now, it's your turn. This is what we got to say." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Michael Jackson's 'Hold My Hand' And More Posthumous Music Videos Posted: 09 Dec 2010 02:37 AM PST Aaliyah, Tupac Shakur, Elvis Presley and more late superstars have popped up in videos after their deaths.
On Thursday (December 9), the late, great Michael Jackson returned to the music-video world with "Hold My Hand," a clip from the upcoming Michael album, which pairs his vocals with production work from some of today's top producers.
And much like that album, the "Hold My Hand" video is very much a retrospective affair, loaded with triumphant MJ performance footage and uplifting imagery (smiling children, sunrises, bright blue skies), not to mention a whole lot of Akon. And while fans can debate whether the clip is a worthy addition to the King of Pop's massive music-video legacy, it certainly carries on the tradition of the posthumous video, a rather ignominious — and incredibly profitable — wing of the music-industry machine. Yes, ever since Elvis Presley shuffled off this mortal coil, record labels have been churning out videos by deceased stars, for reasons that run the gamut from tribute to pure profit. Out of necessity (since the star is no longer with us), these videos are usually by-the-numbers affairs, full of stock footage and performance clips, the occasional use of animation and, of course, the odd celebrity cameo. More often than not, fans love them — which is why we keep seeing them. And since "Hold My Hand" has just been unveiled, we decided to take a look back at some of the most notable examples of stars who may no longer be with us, but continue to make music videos. Here's our Posthumous Playlist. Aaliyah Elvis Presley John Lennon Nirvana The Notorious B.I.G. Sublime TLC Tupac Shakur What is your favorite posthumous clip? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Related Artists |
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