MTV News |
- Nicki Minaj Surprised By Success: 'I Never Saw All Of This'
- 'Jersey Shore' Star Vinny's Old Spice Spoof To Be Featured On MTV New Year's Special
- 'Little Fockers' Cast On What They Missed Most Since Last Movie
- Drake Calls Nicki Minaj's Breakout Year 'Incredible'
- Justin Bieber's 'Ride' Leaks Online
- Nas Serves Christmas Dinner To Families Affected By HIV/AIDS
- Lady Gaga Calls <i>Born This Way</i> Her 'Most Innovative' Work
- 'Spider-Man' Musical Director Speaks Out On Injuries
- Miley Cyrus 'Has Learned Her Lesson,' Kelly Osbourne Says
- Paramore Split Gets Nasty: Josh Farro Calls Former Band 'A Manufactured Product'
- Keyshia Cole Eyeing Tour With Nicki Minaj
- Diddy Says G. Dep 'Did The Right Thing' In Confession
- Britney Spears Set To Audition Dancers For Music Video
- Bret Michaels Says Engagement 'Feels Awesome'
- Taylor Swift Tops <i>Billboard</i> Again, While Michael Jackson Debuts At #3
- Is Katy Perry's Next Single 'E.T.'?
- MTV's '16 And Pregnant' Credited For Decline In Teen Pregnancy Rates
- 'Spider-Man' Not First Broadway Musical Plagued By Injuries
| Nicki Minaj Surprised By Success: 'I Never Saw All Of This' Posted: 21 Dec 2010 10:56 PM PST 'When [Lil] Wayne first called and reached out, I thought it was a joke,' MC admits to MTV News.
What's a girl without her dreams? Nicki Minaj has realized more of hers than most this year, from releasing her highly successful debut LP, Pink Friday to becoming MTV News' #6 Hottest MC in the Game. And, the Queens MC said she's still surprised by her achievements.
"A part of me expected it, because I wanted it so bad, but I never saw all of this," the MC told MTV News' Sway Calloway. "You know, I never would've imagined that I would've signed to [Lil] Wayne, number one." On Monday, Minaj took time between takes while filming her video for "Moment 4 Life" with Drake to talk about becoming the queen of rap's reigning crew. "[I] never imagined that Young Money/ Cash Money would be the hip-hop crew," she said. "To be signed to them is one thing, but to be signed to them when they're at their height, when this has become like an insane movement? No, I never imagined that, because when Wayne first called and reached out, I thought it was a joke. "I've wanted this for a very long time, but I couldn't — not even with a crystal ball — I could not have predicted these things would really happen this way." Minaj has even outsold, if we're counting weekly sales, one of her idols: Mr. Kanye West. West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy dropped November 22, the same day as Pink Friday. And while West garnered bigger opening-week numbers, Barbie has outpaced his album sales per week for the past 14 days. To date, Minaj's release has sold 658,439 units, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "Girl power!" she said, with a giggle. Are you surprised by Nicki Minaj's success this year? Tell us in the comments below. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Jersey Shore' Star Vinny's Old Spice Spoof To Be Featured On MTV New Year's Special Posted: 22 Dec 2010 06:58 AM PST New Year's Eve show will take a comedic look back at the past year in music and pop culture.
New Year's Eve is about to get a lot funnier now that "Jersey Shore" star Vinny will be taking a comedic stab at one of 2010's most memorable commercials. MTV's New Year's Eve special will include a first look at Vinny's Old Spice spoof. "MTV's New Year's Bash 2011 will provide a comedic look back at the past year," Shawn Witt, executive producer of MTV's "New Year's Bash 2011," explained, adding, "Vinny's Old Spice commercial parody is just one of the many satirical pieces we will feature throughout the show."
MTV viewers will also get to watch "Jersey Shore" star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi as she is lowered in a ball to MTV's rooftop deck to help ring in 2011 at the MTV New Year's Bash. "MTV is looking to redefine the concept of the traditional New Year's Eve broadcast," Steve Tseckares, MTV's Senior Vice President of Special Programming and Production, said in a statement. "This year's show will push boundaries and provide fans with a diversified content experience that fuses comedy, music and pop culture." Of course, the sassy "Shore" star won't be alone, as comedian Whitney Cummings will host the proceedings, rapper Flo Rida will perform and another "Jersey Shore" castmember, Pauly D, will serve as the night's DJ. It's all in the name of fun, as the special will take an irreverent look back at the year in music, television, Internet, relationships and more. "I can't wait to host MTV's New Years Eve Bash!" Cummings said. "It's going to be so fun to party with the 'Jersey Shore' [cast] and rip on all things 2010. I'm gonna get some really good tweets." Cummings and her crew will be joined by "Saturday Night Live" funnyman Bobby Moynihan, comedian Nick Kroll, Internet sensation Keenan Cahill and "Pretty Little Liars" castmembers Ashley Benson and Shay Mitchell. The special will debut live on MTV and MTV2 from MTV's Times Square studio on December 31 at 10:30 p.m. ET (tape delay PT). Of course, it wouldn't be a New Year's celebration without some serious fist-pumping, so the "Jersey Shore" castmembers will lead the crowd in a fist-pumping frenzy in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record. While Cummings will be hosting the show live from MTV's Times Square studio, the hosts of "The Seven," Kevin Manno and Julie Alexandria, will be reporting on the festivities down at street level, and the "Shore" kids will make sure to keep the crowd hyped. As if that weren't enough, the "Jersey Shore" gang will also unveil an exclusive sneak preview of the new season of the big show. Related Photos |
| 'Little Fockers' Cast On What They Missed Most Since Last Movie Posted: 22 Dec 2010 06:01 AM PST 'For me, it's always exciting to come to work with Mr. DeNiro,' Ben Stiller says of his co-star.
It's hard to believe that it's been six years since audiences were treated to a Fockers film. "Meet the Fockers," the sequel to "Meet the Parents," was released in 2004. Even more difficult to believe is that it's been a full decade since the original opened in 2000. With the arrival of the third installment in the franchise, "Little Fockers," opening Wednesday (December 22), we wanted to know what the castmembers missed most about each other during their long six years away from the Focker and Byrnes families.
"Cuddling," Dustin Hoffman, who plays Ben Stiller's father Bernie Focker, joked. "We hadn't cuddled for six years." "Cuddling, that was a good one," Owen Wilson agreed. "There's something about this guy, I can't keep my eyes off him ... my hands off him. You just want to hug him." "Owen and I work very similarly together," Hoffman explained of their affection for one another. "And we yearn for the time when we can have an entire film together." "That would be nice," Wilson said. But when asked about the long hiatus between films, Hoffman seemed to enjoy the break. "I kind of like the blessed relief of not having to do another 'Fockers' for six years," he said with a chuckle. "Yeah, I think it is nice to let it percolate," Wilson added. The actresses who play onscreen mother and daughter noted that the passage of time has been met with many milestones, both in the film and in real life. "Now we have children," Blythe Danner said. Gesturing to co-star Teri Polo, Danner continued, "She didn't have children in real life when we started 10 years ago. I didn't have grandchildren 10 years ago in real life. So we're mature women now. We've all matured, in positive and negative ways." "Speak for yourself!" Polo joked about the "mature women" comment. "There's a dance, a familiarity, a dance, a rhythm, a song that you just fall back into," she said of coming back to work with her "Focker" castmates. "When you walk onto the set for the first time after five years and see Robert DeNiro, it's just awesome. Believe it or not, he's a warm man," Polo added. "He's a man of few words but very warm." Speaking of DeNiro, Stiller insisted his legendary co-star was happy for time away from him. "He didn't miss me," Stiller said. "For me, it's always exciting to come to work with Mr. DeNiro. I feel like after 10 years I finally feel OK calling you 'Bob.' I finally feel like I'm not forcing that," he said. "It's always great to have a chance to work together, the whole cast, it's always fun to see everybody." Check out everything we've got on "Little Fockers." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Drake Calls Nicki Minaj's Breakout Year 'Incredible' Posted: 22 Dec 2010 02:01 AM PST 'It's amazing now to see her come into her own,' he tells MTV News on set of 'Moment 4 Life' video.
The Young Money triumvirate of Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj had a banner year filled with successful albums, buzzed about moments onstage and chart-toppers.
Drake compared the success of his and Minaj's debuts with Weezy's opening-week sales of Tha Carter III, saying each subsequent project further cemented the collective's status. "I think it's crazy that somehow, some higher power brought all these individuals together," Drake told MTV News on the set of Minaj's "Moment 4 Life" video. "I remember being on the [tour] bus when Wayne played me Tha Carter III, which went on to sell a million copies in one week. Then it was Thank Me Later. It was this big pressure, and that went on to sell what it did. "And now," he continued, "to think of the girl that I used to ride the bus with — and that's what she was to me: this girl that I rode the bus with. I was like, 'Female rap?' And I'm being dead honest with you. [I thought,] 'Man, it's been a while since there's been a female rapper, and I'm curious to see how this works.' "It's not that I didn't believe," he added. "And she was probably looking at me like, 'This Jew from Canada: I don't know.' " And now, after the successful debut of Minaj's Pink Friday, the Toronto lyricist said he couldn't be happier for the "Right Thru Me" star. "It's amazing now to see her come into her own, build this brand and persona," he said. "It's incredible." Were you a Young Money fan this year? Tell us in the comments below! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber's 'Ride' Leaks Online Posted: 22 Dec 2010 03:24 AM PST The previously unheard tune appeared on the Internet Wednesday.
Despite his young and tender age, it should be painfully apparent that Justin Bieber is quite the ladies' man. So it comes as no surprise that the pop star took to the studio to confess his love-stricken teenage emotions through his music. In the latest of his odes to women comes the previously unheard track called "Ride," which surfaced on the Internet Wednesday (December 22). Over a beat that sounds similar to old-school video game sound effects, Bieber serenades his girl, confessing that he'd go above and beyond to spend time with her. "We could go anywhere, to the moon and through the air/ We could go to the movies or the mall, baby I don't care/ Yeah this is true, wanna be with you/ And I just wanna ride with you," he sings. No word on whether the sugary tune is old or a possible submission for Bieber's next project. However, the tune sounds like it might be a demo for a female vocalist as the pop singer ends the first verse with the line: "I could be your queen but you could be my boo." "Ride" isn't the only new Bieber song to have surfaced online recently as Justin's club-ready "Latin Girl" also leaked just a few weeks ago. In addition to the tracks, Biebs has also been in and out of the recording studio with some familiar faces working on his next album, which is tentatively set to drop late next year. While it's not clear whether Diddy will make an appearance on the Canadian heartthrob's next project, one act the singer is confirmed to have worked with is Rascal Flatts. The country trio's lead singer, Gary LeVox, spoke about the Bieber collabo in a recent interview with country radio station WSIX. "[Justin] asked us to do a duet with him on his next record," he said. "It's actually a really good song! The kid is really talented. He plays five or six different instruments really well." Related Artists |
| Nas Serves Christmas Dinner To Families Affected By HIV/AIDS Posted: 22 Dec 2010 06:11 AM PST 'The community is in me so giving back is important,' MC says of helping out during the holidays.
Nas is in the giving spirit for the holidays. The renowned Queens lyricist headed to Harlem on Wednesday (December 22) to serve Christmas dinner to families affected by HIV/AIDS as part of an event run by music industry professional turned activist Maria Davis. And the Illmatic MC was more than willing to lend a hand, and his celebrity, to help the cause.
"This event is Maria Davis' thing. She's HIV-positive, a part of the community of Harlem, so she does her thing for [the] holiday season for the people who are infected by AIDS or affected by AIDS," he explained to MTV News. "I came through [on the] strength of her friend Melba, who owns Melba's Restaurant — great soul food on 114th street here in Harlem. She called me [and] I came through just for the support." Esco maintained that despite his status as an influential hip-hop lyricist and hitmaker, showing support to those who are less fortunate continues to remain a top priority. "For me, it's like I can't get away from the community. The community is in me so giving back is important," he said. Nas also added that helping others doesn't have to include logging hours at charity events, but said people can inspire by being successful game-changers in their own right. "I think when you give back, you just do your thing. You come from a neighborhood like I came from and you just do your thing, that's all you gotta do [to inspire]," he said. " 'Cause every kid that sees you doing your thing, you can't even imagine what you're doing for that kid or that grown up. They see you doing your thing, that's inspiration. There's kids that went to school with me who are grown men now. There's dudes that's been listening to my music for a long time and the more they see me continue, that's enough. That's all they need to say 'Yo, I could do it.' " The Distant Relatives MC admitted that he has plenty to learn when it comes to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and noted that social stigma surrounding the disease has often stymied the public's informed awareness of the issue. "The thing about AIDS is you start to raise your eyebrow at how it affects certain communities. [The] homosexual community [and] African-American community was really the first [to report cases of HIV infection], right, so, kinda, those two communities got blamed for it — even almost like they invented it. That's not the truth. So it's affected everybody now, every community. It makes you want to learn about it," he said. "When Eazy-E caught it ... and my man Magic Johnson, it touched us. But then we waiting, like, to see what's next [and] that's not cool. So my whole thing is to learn more about it." What do you think about Nas' comments about HIV/AIDS? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Calls <i>Born This Way</i> Her 'Most Innovative' Work Posted: 22 Dec 2010 03:36 AM PST Gaga tells BBC new album crosses genres, from electronic to rock and roll
Lady Gaga hasn't exactly been shy when it comes to describing Born This Way, calling her upcoming record everything from "almost perfect" to "the greatest album of this decade." And, in a new interview with the BBC, she continued that trend, calling Born her "most innovative" work so far, and promising her fans a musical experience unlike any they've ever heard. "[The album is] a marriage of electronic music with major, epic, dare I even say, metal or rock and roll, pop, anthemic style melodies with really sledge-hammering dance beats," Gaga said, immediately before jumping onstage at London's O2 Arena. "I think that lyrically this album is more poetic ... It's really written by the fans, they really wrote it for me because every night they're funneling so much into me. So I wrote it for them. Born This Way is all about my little monsters and me, mother monster." Echoing something she's been saying since the summer, Gaga promised that the album is "finished and all," but that she's currently "fine-tuning everything." "It's kind of like the post-operative stage of the album," she said. "I've already done the full heart surgery. I'm just sewing myself back up again." And, to that end, she added that her monsters might not have to wait much longer to hear the album's first single — the title of which is still unknown — telling the BBC it would be released in February 2011, with the album arriving "shortly after." Are you eager to hear Gaga's Born This Way? Tell us in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Spider-Man' Musical Director Speaks Out On Injuries Posted: 22 Dec 2010 04:18 AM PST 'An accident like this is obviously heartbreaking for our entire team,' Julie Taymor says in statement.
There's been a lot of negative press about Julie Taymor's Broadway musical "Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark," after a fourth castmember, aerialist and stunt double Christopher Tierney, was injured during a preview performance on Monday. A spokesperson for the show made a statement on Tuesday and the Actors' Equity Association spoke to MTV News about the show's streak of injuries. And now Taymor has commented about the show's continued bad luck. "An accident like this is obviously heartbreaking for our entire team and, of course, to me personally," Taymor said in her statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "I am so thankful that Chris is going to be alright and is in great spirits. Nothing is more important than the safety of our 'Spider-Man' family and we'll continue to do everything in our power to protect the cast and crew." Tierney's injury spurred the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Actors' Equity Association and New York State Department of Labor to meet with the "Spider-man" company on Tuesday and institute additional safety measures to prevent further injuries. But some other Broadway stars took to their social networking accounts to demand Taymor stop production on the $65 million musical. "SPIDERMAN SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF ITSELF. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND EMBARRASSING TO WORKING ACTORS EVERYWHERE," Tony Award-winning actress Alice Ripley tweeted on Tuesday. "DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE? WHERE IS THE LINE FOR THE DECISION MAKERS, I AM CURIOUS." "Rent" star Adam Pascal took to his Facebook page Tuesday and said, "I have to weigh in on Spiderman. They should put Julie Taymor in jail for assault! I know what it's like to fall and get hurt in front of 2,000 people. It's no fun, but at least it was the one time it happened. I hope whoever was hurt is ok and sues the sh-- out of Julie, Bono, Edge and every other a--hole who invested in that steaming pile of actor crippling sh--!" Pascal toned down his anger and clarified his comments on Wednesday (December 22): "I think some of you missed the intended humor in my post, although my anger is real, I don't think anyone should sue Bono and the Edge you dummy! Or put Julie Taymor in jail you double dummy. I was making a point." As of now, "Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark" preview performances are proceeding as planned, and the official Broadway opening date has been pushed back from January 11 to February 7. Wednesday's matinee was the only performance canceled due to Tierney's injury. Do you think "Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark" should be canceled due to the danger involved? Tell us in the comments. |
| Miley Cyrus 'Has Learned Her Lesson,' Kelly Osbourne Says Posted: 22 Dec 2010 08:50 AM PST 'Miley is one of the most hard-working, respectful women I have ever worked with,' Osbourne tweeted about her "So Undercover" co-star.
Miley Cyrus has courted and survived several controversies throughout 2010, the most recent being a video that made its way to the Web showing the teen star smoking from a bong. But her "So Undercover" co-star Kelly Osbourne has taken to Twitter to defend the 18-year-old singer/actress. "We are all having so much fun on set today. I looooove days like [this]!" Osbourne wrote on Tuesday. "Just read in the rags that apparently my mum thinks Miley is a bad influence on me. it could not be father from the truth! ... Actually it's the other way around. Miley has us all on a health kick. Gym/early nights. [They're] really scraping the barrel on that one!" Osbourne, who has faced her fair share of controversy over the years, went on to tweet, "This really makes me mad. Miley is one of the most hard working respectful women I have ever worked with. I am learning a lot from her! Osbourne added, "Miley and I have become really close. I'm sick of all the haters judging her. She made one mistake and trust me, she has learned her lesson!" The one-time reality star did admit that she and Cyrus have been indulging in one vice on the set. "This is how im a bad influence on Miley. I force her to eat cupcakes so I don't feel so bad about eating one!" she wrote, and attached a photo of Miley and herself munching on a couple of the sweet treats. Osbourne's Twitter thread comes one day after news broke that the Miley's parents are selling their marital home in Toluca Lake, Calif. Cyrus was recently spotted shopping in New Orleans during a break from filming "So Undercover," where she reportedly chatted with makeup artist Denika Bedrossian about a new tattoo she got. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Paramore Split Gets Nasty: Josh Farro Calls Former Band 'A Manufactured Product' Posted: 22 Dec 2010 12:11 AM PST In lengthy statement on his blog, guitarist confirms he dated frontwoman Hayley Williams, claims she treated group as her solo project.
When Paramore announced this past weekend that they had parted ways with brothers Josh and Zac Farro, they did so by taking a not-so-subtle jab at their former bandmates, writing, "None of us were really shocked. For the past year, it hasn't seemed as if they wanted to be around anymore ... We want Josh and Zac to do something that makes them happy, and if that isn't here with us, then we support them in finding happiness elsewhere." On Tuesday, Josh Farro fired back with a lengthy statement posted on his blog — a statement verified as authentic by his wife, Jenna — and he didn't pull any punches. "Let me start by apologizing to you for the way everything went down on Saturday. I had a statement typed ready to post to you guys but Hayley released one without my permission," his statement begins. "I wish it didn't have to happen that way, Zac and I wanted to be the ones you heard it from. I want to be honest with you guys about how this band formulated from day one. I did not think Hayley's version told the whole story, at least from our perspective and hopefully this will explain a bit about why we are leaving." Farro then proceeds to take countless shots at the band, calling Paramore "a manufactured product of a major label," and accusing frontwoman Hayley Williams of not only being manipulated by her management, but also of treating the group as her solo project. He claims that Williams is the only member of the band signed to Atlantic Records, and that her bandmates were simply "riding on the coattails of 'Hayley's dream.' " "Hayley's manager would tell the band to be in the lobby of the hotel at a certain time, but he and Hayley wouldn't show for hours. We found out that they had been meeting with record label executives all morning without us, which is totally weird given that this wasn't simply a solo artist, but we were a band," Farro writes. "The band was in the dark the whole time. After many meetings between Hayley, her manager and the labels they decided to sign her to Atlantic Records. We didn't understand why Hayley was the only one signing the contract since we were told this was a 'band,' but we were too young to grasp all of this. ... Next thing we knew we were having a signing party for Hayley." Farro also claims that, even from the early days of the band, Williams was a pawn of her management, who, along with her parents, "controlled her every move" and "didn't like the idea of Hayley being in a rock band, so they forced her to leave, wanting her to pursue a solo career." He then writes how, after Williams attempted to launch a solo career, she came back to the band and asked the Farros to rejoin, as he puts it, "the band we started," on the advice of her management. Farro also claims that, despite the fact that he came up with the name Paramore, the project was always meant to showcase Williams, and that, at her insistence, they were meant to operate under the assumption that they were an actual band. "The management then decided to build our band up the grass-roots route. They put Hayley on Fueled by Ramen not making it known she was signed to Atlantic as well," he writes. "All the while we still questioned whether or not we were an actual band, but Hayley continued to insist we were, despite our being ignored and pushed around by the label. "Hayley's father ... would constantly threaten to 'pull the plug' on the whole band if we complained about anything, suggesting that we were hired guns and Hayley was the real artist, when in reality we were also part of the band. We've always been treated as less important than Hayley. It's been obvious how her family views things." Farro also confirms longstanding rumors that he and Williams dated, and that after their breakup, "things started going downhill for the band." He mentions that he and his brother first considered quitting Paramore after the band canceled a week of European shows in 2008, and shoots down Williams' claim that 2009's Brand New Eyes reunited and recharged the band. "Hayley claimed that this record reunited us as band and made us grow closer together, when in reality we were all growing further apart," he writes. "Suddenly the band had spilt into two sides. Touring became more difficult since we couldn't agree on anything. The friendships our band once had were no longer existent." He closes the statement by saying he didn't intend "to belittle or disgrace" his former bandmates and that he simply wanted "to clarify our decision for leaving and our desire to finally tell you guys the truth." He also adds that both he and his brother were trying to figure out "a friendly way to leave our part of Paramore intact." He closes the letter by saying, "We want to thank you guys for all of your love and support over the past seven years. It's been an honor creating and playing music for you. If music is what God calls us to in the future, we hope that you all will be a part of it." A spokesperson for Paramore's labels, Atlantic/Fueled By Ramen, could not be reached for comment on Farro's statement. Share your reaction to Josh Farro's statement in the comments section below. Related Artists |
| Keyshia Cole Eyeing Tour With Nicki Minaj Posted: 22 Dec 2010 02:59 AM PST 'I would love to go out with Nicki,' singer says on Ustream.
As she preps for a tour to support her latest release, Calling All Hearts, Keyshia Cole is calling up some of her soulful friends to possibly hit the road with her next year. The "Long Way Down" songstress took to Ustream on Tuesday, when her album dropped, to chop it up with fans, and mentioned she plans to head out on a trek in the spring but hasn't yet decided on an R&B-heavy tour roster or a hip-hop/soul outing alongside Young Money diva Nicki Minaj. "[I'll go on tour] in March. We'll probably start promoting sometime in January, probably the end of January. We're trying to figure out who I'm gonna go on the road with. I had a conversation with Monica about a week ago about it and I told her I would love for her to come, and Faith [Evans] and Melanie Fiona and also Tank — just to add some kind of other flavor in there. But if not, if we don't do that tour, then it will probably be me and Nicki Minaj," she said. "I mean, I would love to go out with Nicki, so we'll see which one happens." The songstress also opened about her relationship with her "I Ain't Thru" collaborator, Minaj, explaining that the two can relate due to their similar hardscrabble backgrounds. Cole, who is four albums into her career, said she often doles out props to Minaj as the lyricist continues her ascent to superstardom. "We're cool, we're buddies," she said. "I see things on TV and I just call her to say congratulations, and stuff like that. I'll send her an email. I think she's great. I got love for Nicki. To be honest, she's a young girl that comes up the same kind of way I came up. We can relate in so many different ways, I'm very proud of her. Who do you want to see Keyshia Cole hit the road with? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Diddy Says G. Dep 'Did The Right Thing' In Confession Posted: 22 Dec 2010 12:49 AM PST 'You could always feel that ... maybe something was troubling his soul,' Bad Boy mogul says of his former artist copping to 1993 shooting.
Diddy called into Sirius' Shade 45 radio show on Tuesday (December 22) morning to talk up his latest effort, Last Train to Paris. But the rap mogul also commented on his onetime Bad Boy artist, G. Dep, who has made headlines in the last week. G. Dep (born Trevell Coleman), recently confessed to a shooting and botched robbery attempt in 1993, only to discover from the New York Police Department that his victim, John Henkel, had died. Thirty-six-year-old G. Dep is now facing murder charges for the 17-year-old crime and was indicted on Tuesday. "You could always feel that if you knew G. Dep, and I can't say it was that, maybe something was troubling his soul," Diddy said. " 'Cause he was real quiet. He's the type of guy who wouldn't hurt a fly. I don't know what happened in that instance but he did the right thing and manned up to it." Diddy also speculated on what G. Dep's state of mind may have been back in 1993, not long before he signed to Diddy's record label. "He had a real bad drug problem and that could have caused the situation," Diddy said. "As a person, that wasn't nothing that he would do. Drugs sometimes make people slip up and make mistakes." Dep's drug problem may have been a motivating factor behind his startling confession to a crime that he had essentially gotten away with. On Tuesday, the New York Daily News reported that his lawyer, Michael Alperstein, indicated the confession was in step with a 12-step Narcotics Anonymous detox program in which the rapper was taking part. "The power of the 12-step program and making amends," his lawyer said. "He's trying to remake his life. He's trying to clean up." Alperstein said Dep had twice tried to confess in the past, but that cops didn't take him seriously and asked him to come back. A police source disputed that notion, saying that Dep was "high as a kite" when he first attempted to confess over the summer, and that interviews with him had been unsuccessful. Diddy remembered G. Dep as an artist who showed real promise. "Dep was definitely one of the favorite artists I signed to Bad Boy," he said. "That's something I really wanted to work out, but that was just like he had personal things he was dealing with and we tried our best with that." Related Artists |
| Britney Spears Set To Audition Dancers For Music Video Posted: 21 Dec 2010 11:50 PM PST A Britney fansite reports that video will shoot in January.
Although Britney Spears' next album isn't set for release until March, her fans can start gearing up for new music now. According to a Spears fansite, BreatheHeavy.com, a notice about auditions for a new Britney video was sent out by her camp. Tryouts will reportedly be held on Wednesday (December 22), and Spears is looking for male and female dancers to join her in the video for the single, which is set for a January release, according to the notice. "Hold It Against Me" is rumored to be the title of the song, though no details regarding the single or video have been confirmed. "The dates for the project are still to be determined but it will be happening on either the 9th and 10th of January with rehearsals anytime after Xmas and leading up to those dates or on the 15th and 16th with rehearsals leading in after Xmas as well," the notice reads. "He is looking for men and women with fabulous bodies and faces. They must be versatile. This is not for the tour at this time or even promo. It is just for the video." Spears' choreographer, Brian Freidman, hinted about the auditions on his Twitter. He has worked with the singer on videos for "Toxic" and "Me Against the Music." "Countdown... 2 days till that very special audition I am holding in LA. Very exciting!!!" he wrote on Monday. On Tuesday he wrote, "Breaking my body choreographing for 2moros casting. Get ready! I'm makin y'all work for this gig! The start of a new era! Stretch!!! I must go 2 bed NOW! Have 2 B up in 6 hours! Everyone who's auditioning get some rest & dress 2 impress! I want STARS not classroom dancers!" Are you eager to hear new music from Britney? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Bret Michaels Says Engagement 'Feels Awesome' Posted: 22 Dec 2010 06:58 AM PST 'It may be the longest engagement in history, but my intentions are good,' Poison frontman jokes.
It's been quite a year for Bret Michaels. He worked with Miley Cyrus twice, suffered a serious subarachnoid hemorrhage, won "Celebrity Apprentice" and denied having an affair with Miley's mom, Tish. Now he's ended the year on a high note, asking his longtime girlfriend, Kristi Gibson, to marry him.
"They swore I was the guy who would never," he told People.com about finally deciding to put a ring on the finger of his girlfriend of nearly two decades. "And it feels awesome." The proposal, which aired on Monday night's finale of his show, "Bret Michaels: Life as I Know It," wasn't easy to time, according to the Poison rocker, who noted that some people thought it might happen at the couple's anniversary dinner. "I wasn't ready there because I felt really strange," he explained. "It would've been like, I'm in the middle of proposing and oh, by the way, there's a Cobb salad coming." Michaels admits that while his proposal didn't end up being as epic as he imagined it would be, it worked for them. "In my mind, it wasn't supposed to happen like that — I wanted it to be a little more like the movies, where the white horse gallops up and all that stuff. But when Kristi said, 'I don't need this ring, I don't need the piece of paper, I love you no matter what,' she took the pressure off," he said. "She used reverse psychology on me and it worked!" Instead of getting Gibson a new piece of bling, the couple will update her "friendship ring with mega benefits." He jokingly added, "It may be the longest engagement in history, but my intentions are good." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift Tops <i>Billboard</i> Again, While Michael Jackson Debuts At #3 Posted: 22 Dec 2010 09:09 AM PST In a big week for sales, Swift's Speak Now fends off Susan Boyle for #1.
It's the most wonderful time of the year ... especially for the music industry. Album sales surged thanks to all you holiday shoppers, and you put Taylor Swift back on top of next week's Billboard albums chart. Swift barely edges out Susan Boyle in a week that saw plenty of big numbers put up across the board. Swift's Speak Now sold more than 259,000 copies (up 30 percent from last week) to claim the #1 spot, according to figures provided by Neilsen SoundScan. Meanwhile, Boyle's The Gift sold more than 254,000, ending her run atop the chart. The week's highest debut belongs to the late Michael Jackson, whose posthumous Michael album sold nearly 228,000 copies to open at #3. A pair of holiday-themed releases — Jackie Evancho's O Holy Night and the "Glee" cast's Christmas album — round out the Top 5, selling nearly 191,000 and 158,000 copies, respectively. Up next at #6, it's R. Kelly's Love Letter, which debuts with sales of nearly 154,000 copies, and, at #7, it's Diddy-Dirty Money, whose long-delayed Last Train to Paris opens to the tune of nearly 101,000 copies sold. The rest of the Top 10 is filled out by Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday (#8, more than 97,000 copies sold), Kid Rock's Born Free (#9, nearly 94,000) and the "Glee" cast's The Music, Volume 4 (nearly 87,000). Outside the Top 10, there are debuts from "American Idol" runner-up Crystal Bowersox, whose Farmer's Daughter sold nearly 58,000 copies — 20,000 more than "Idol" champ Lee DeWyze sold in his first week — to open at #28. Smoove R&B crooner Tank's Now or Never bows at #35 (more than 43,000 sold), and Ciara's Basic Instinct, has a meek debut at #44, with sales of nearly 37,000 copies. Nearly every album in the Billboard top 50 posted a sales increase from the previous week's numbers, including Katy Perry's Teenage Dream (#15), which saw a 26 percent increase in sales, Justin Bieber's My World 2.0 (#18, with a 36 percent bump in sales) and Eminem's Recovery (#22, with a 39 percent jump). And that trend looks to continue on next week's Billboard chart, too, since there are still two shopping days left before Christmas. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Is Katy Perry's Next Single 'E.T.'? Posted: 22 Dec 2010 07:16 AM PST Online reports point to the spacey tune as the pop star's fourth Teenage Dream release.
Katy Perry kicked off the summer proclaiming that "California Gurls" wear Daisy Dukes and bikinis on top. Then she pulled at our heartstrings and made us believe in true love on "Teenage Dream." Finally, she empowered her fans with "Firework." All three of her Teenage Dream singles have shot to the top of the charts, and she apparently is now ready to see if the fourth time's the charm. Perez Hilton reports that Perry's next Teenage Dream single will be the upbeat tack "E.T." A rep at Perry's label declined to confirm the report when reached by MTV News. Perry took to Twitter earlier this month to ask fans to help her pick her next single. There was some speculation that her choice would be "Peacock," but the pop star didn't reveal what tune would be next up for release. "Thanks for all your great suggestions for the next single today!" she tweeted on December 13. "Your voice has been heard! We're on the same page..." Perry has been playing "E.T." live as of late. Recently at Z-100's Jingle Ball, the spirited singer joked about the spacey dance track, telling the crowd, "This next song is about falling in love with a foreigner, like far away ... Not even in England." Regardless of which tune Perry chooses as her next single, can expect the video for the track to be an event. "I guess I'm looking forward to making music videos on this new album," she said earlier this year about Teenage Dream. "There's a story to the songs. ... I'm really excited about ... making those music videos that are going to be larger than life." Do you think "E.T." should be Katy's next single. Share your opinion in the comments. Related Photos Related Artists |
| MTV's '16 And Pregnant' Credited For Decline In Teen Pregnancy Rates Posted: 22 Dec 2010 09:28 AM PST Eighty-two percent of teens say the hit series helps them understand the trials of parenthood, according to a new report.
From the chaotic family dynamics to the aftermath of childbirth, MTV's hit show "16 and Pregnant" has illustrated that teen parenthood is not always an easy journey. These candid glimpses inside the trials of young parents apparently are making a mark on youth across America, as the series is being credited with helping to spur a decrease in teen pregnancy. According to a new government study, U.S. teen birthrates plunged dramatically in 2009 after a five percent increase from 2005 to 2007. And a report by National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy recognizes "16 and Pregnant," specifying that 82 percent of teenagers credit the hit show in helping them understand the challenges that come with unexpected parenthood. Bill Albert, a spokesman for the National Campaign, believes that "16 and Pregnant" helps broaden insight into teen pregnancy. "Entertainment media is one of the nation's favorite punching bags, but we have to acknowledge that when we're talking about teen pregnancies media can be and often is a force for good, and that is particularly true when it comes to shows like '16 and Pregnant,' " he said. While "16 and Pregnant" has received some media criticism for its apparent glamorization of its subject, Albert stands by the findings of the survey. "Some critics say these shows glamorize teen pregnancy, but our survey data shows that's not the case," he pointed out. "That not only do they not glamorize it, but teens who have seen it suggest it makes the realities of teen parenthood more real to them." Teen pregnancy leveled off in 2008, but rates declined by six percent the following year — a record low, according to a study from Centers for Disease Prevention and Control released Tuesday. The decrease cut across all ethnicities and races, with Hispanic teen pregnancy percentages dropping by 10 percent. Not only does Albert think "16 and Pregnant" is a useful showcase for teens, but the spokesperson also believes the program can aid parents in educating their children about the reality of unexpected pregnancy. "What you see on TV, as a parent, isn't always exactly what you'd want your teen to know or say or see, but it does deflect the conversation from, 'What are you doing?' to more of an abstract, and that can be a good way to start conversations," he explained. "The fact is, this is not your parents' sex talk, not a one-time white-knuckle conversation, but this should be an 18-year conversation that you're having with your kids." Do you think "16 and Pregnant" has helped with the decline in teen pregnancy? Sound off below! Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Spider-Man' Not First Broadway Musical Plagued By Injuries Posted: 22 Dec 2010 08:22 AM PST 'Wicked,' 'Fela!' also dealt with string of injuries to actors.
Spider-Man and his friends may be itching to swing their way onto Broadway, but a streak of set injuries during preview performances of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" has pushed back the show's long-awaited debut. A fourth injury on Monday caused a substantial change in safety measures on the set. The Wednesday (December 22) matinee performance was canceled with shows to resume as scheduled afterward. The official opening of the musical had already been delayed to February 7.
"Turn Off the Dark" isn't the first musical to incur a string of injuries, but it is one of the few to have so many occur before the show has its official Broadway opening. The musical "Wicked" also saw a streak of injuries early on in its career back in 2005. Kristin Chenoweth, as the good witch Glinda, hurt her neck during tryouts and had to wear a neck brace during part of her Broadway run, and leading lady Idina Menzel fell during one of her big sequences and broke several ribs. Then Kate Reinders, who played Glinda in the show's Chicago production, broke a foot during one of her songs. More recently, the unsustainable amount of injuries on the set of "Fela!," a dance-intensive musical about Nigerian Afrobeat artist Fela Anikulapo Kuti, caused producer Stephen Hendel to cancel a Sunday-evening performance less than two weeks before the show was set to open on Broadway. The New York Times reported in December 2009 that a dance captain was out with a wrist injury, one ensemble member was taken to the emergency room after she was elbowed in the eye and another was suffering back spasms. The understudies were not prepared to perform without these members, so the December 13 show had to be canceled. Maria Somma, spokesperson for the Actors' Equity Association, would not comment on how these injuries stack up against those experienced on "Turn Off the Dark" because of the privacy of their membership, but she did say that working in theater has its challenges. "You're working on a small set with a lot of people," she said. "You have limited wing space, and sometimes you've got about a hundred people backstage. It is extremely challenging." In shows, there's more to deal with than the onstage choreography and acrobatics. The behind-the-scenes motions, such as how actors move backstage and how they get to their exits and entrances, are also highly choreographed. With all these moving parts, it sometimes is difficult to prevent people from being harmed. "There are instances where there are injuries, and we take injuries to our members extremely seriously," Somma said. A team from Cirque du Soleil did part of the choreography for "Turn Off the Dark" and designed the harness system that allows Spider-Man and his friends to fly around the theater. It was while on a harness that Christopher Tierney, a stunt double and aerialist, was injured on Monday. A Cirque du Soleil spokesperson, Chantal Côté, was unwilling to compare the injuries on "Turn Off the Dark" to those sustained in Cirque shows, saying the "technical environment is different from ours." But Somma explained that the hi-tech elements of these shows might be contributing to the increased injuries. "What we're dealing with is some very advanced technology and shows are employing technology more and more, and they keep pushing the limits," she said. Related Videos |
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