MTV News |
- 'American Idol' Spares Stefano Langone, Naima Adedapo, Ashthon Jones
- Lil' Kim Explains Nicki Minaj Battle: 'I Have To Fight For My Fans'
- Exclusive: Ke$ha Talks Writing Britney Spears' 'Till The World Ends'
- Lil Wayne Recalls First Taste Of Freedom: Our Exclusive Interview Here!
- 'My Life As Liz' Star Reveals Link To 'American Idol' Winner Kelly Clarkson
- Nicki Minaj 'Tried To Put A Cap On My Career,' Lil' Kim Says
- 'Jersey Shore' High Five: Snooki Hearts The Plumber
- Jennifer Lopez's 'On The Floor' Video Bows On 'American Idol'
- Lil' Kim 'Bothered' By Onetime Friend Diddy
- Britney Spears' 'Till The World Ends' Hits Web
- Lil Wayne: '6 Foot 7 Foot' Director Wanted To Focus On 'Bars'
- Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez Just Latest Celebrity/Paparazzi Encounter
- Lady Gaga Wanted 'Born This Way' To Be 'A Viral Message'
- Steve Stoute, Grammy Boss Forge Alliance After 'Open Letter'
- Lil Wayne's '6 Foot 7 Foot' Video Premieres
- Can Pia Toscano Or Thia Megia Win 'American Idol'?
- Lil Wayne Marvels At Nicki Minaj And Drake Joining I Am Music II Tour
- 'Sherlock Holmes' Sequel Shows Off Downey And Law's 'Brotherhood'
- Jennifer Lopez's 'On The Floor' Video Creates 'Dance Buzz'
- 'Captain America' Villain Red Skull Photo Hits The Web
| 'American Idol' Spares Stefano Langone, Naima Adedapo, Ashthon Jones Posted: 03 Mar 2011 07:40 AM PST Casey Abrams, Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreery and more make up voter-approved top 10.
After what's felt like years (OK, just two months), "American Idol" finally got to its first live elimination show Thursday night (March 3), and it was not pretty. The biggest cut-down in show history came after host Ryan Seacrest said more than 40 million votes were cast over two performance nights. The good news was that favorites like Lauren Alaina, Casey Abrams, Thia Megia and Jacob Lusk made the cut, but that meant that a few beloved singers like Brett Loewenstern and Julie Zorrilla were eliminated as the show revealed its top 13 finalists.
After copious time-killing segments, Seacrest finally got to the first elimination nearly 25 minutes into the two-hour episode, with country boy Scotty McCreery moseying into the top 10 while Robbie Rosen was sent packing. Next up were Clint Jun Gamboa, Jovany Barreto and Jordan Dorsey. After blowing it with Usher's "OMG," Dorsey got the hook, along with karaoke host and eyeglass aficionado Gamboa and Barreto. The girls were in the hot seat next, and it was hard to believe that Pia Toscano and Alaina were standing next to each other, since Toscano got a standing ovation and high praise from the judges, and Alaina has been a favorite for weeks. It was good news for 16-year-old Alaina and, of course, for Toscano as well, as Seacrest reveled in his favorite game of elimination psych-out. But when Ta-Tynisa Wilson and Julie Zorrilla came up, after a night when both blew their chances with subpar performances, it was no surprise that both missed out on the top 10. It was hard to know who might lose out when glamazon Kendra Chantelle, baby-diva Ashthon Jones and funky bilingual singer Karen Rodriguez took center stage, though. Shockingly Jones was sent packing, as was Chantelle, with Rodriguez filling out the third women's slot. Young Luther Vandross-alike Lusk huddled up next to bearded wild man and budding sex symbol Abrams and cutie crooner Tim Halperin. Lusk sang hallelujah when he got the call, and to no one's surprise, Abrams was next, as Halperin made the long walk. The hits kept on coming, as funky soul singer Naima Adedapo, 16-year-old wunderkind Megia and blues mama Lauren Turner all got the boot. With only two spots left, Adedapo and Turner got some bad news, as Megia became the second high-schooler to get a magic ticket. It was anyone's guess who would be out when two of this season's standouts, spunky ginger Loewenstern and flair-loving showman Paul McDonald stepped up to the spotlight. Alas, sensitive teen Loewenstern would have to hope for a wild-card spot, as McDonald got the call. Vying for the final spot on the girls' bench were Haley Reinhart and resident quirk Rachel Zevita, who went over the cliff on Wednesday night with a mannered cover of Fiona Apple's "Criminal." Without much drama, Reinhart got the call, as multiple-auditioner Zevita washed out. The judges were digging Stefano Langone on Tuesday night, certainly more than James Durbin, who took a chance with a Judas Priest song and may have overplayed his rocker card. But only one of the roommates could snag the final men's spot, so it was curtains for Langone and joy for Lambert-like rocker Durbin. With 14 singers vying for the wild card, the judges chose six to get another chance. Jones was up first, strutting to her spot to sing the song that made Jennifer Hudson a star, the "Dreamgirls" classic "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," giving it plenty of attitude, but coming off a bit shouty as she played to the rafters in an attempt to work her way back. Steven Tyler thought she brought it again, Jennifer Lopez felt the passion and Randy Jackson loved the attitude. Langone picked Smokie Norful's emotional ballad "I Need You Now," filling the tune with lots of passion and turning it into a tour de force that tugged heartstrings and seemed to punch his ticket. Randy loved that Stefano picked one of his favorites and Lopez said he nailed it when he needed to. Chantelle got the next shot with Hoagy Carmichael's "Georgia on My Mind," starting out low and breathy and then climbing into her high, sweet range and hitting a series of giant notes near the end that felt like her attempt to swing for the fences. Jackson wasn't sure where it was going at first but said she totally pulled it off. Barreto dedicated Jon Secada's "Angel" to the woman he once loved, figuring he'd try to curry some favor as well by singing a half Spanish/ half English tune. His vocals were strong and moving, but it was unclear if it was enough to get him back in the mix. All Lopez could say was "you did all you could do," which didn't sound promising. Tyler called Adedapo, which meant the definitive end of the line for Zorrilla, Turner and Wilson. At first Naima didn't seem to have enough in the tank to take on soul icon Donny Hathaway's "For all we Know," but she gave it her all and put some smooth soul into the performance. Tyler felt she dug deep, but Naima's tears signaled that she didn't feel confident. The final shot went to Rosen, meaning Gamboa, Dorsey, Loewenstern and Halperin said bye-bye. Double-R chose Elton John's "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Hard," reworking the song into a kind of flamenco torch song, which he sang while flashing his puppy-dog eyes and over-emoting by several measures. Jackson called it nice and tender, saying the decision was going to be a brutal one. After the break, the judges weren't ready, so Seacrest cued up the glittery video for Lopez's "On the Floor" to give them a chance to deliberate some more. With time running out, it was redemption time for Jones and Langone, as well as Adedapo, who helped fill out the top 13. The first live performance shows of the season kick off next Wednesday. Do you agree with the top 13? Did your favorite make it? Let us know what you think in comments below! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| Lil' Kim Explains Nicki Minaj Battle: 'I Have To Fight For My Fans' Posted: 04 Mar 2011 03:52 AM PST 'They thought I was gonna sit back and let them do what they were doing,' MC tells 'RapFix Live' about Nicki's crew.
Lil' Kim wanted deference from Nicki Minaj. Now, however, it may take much more than that from the upstart who was inspired by the veteran rapper. The two female MCs have been bickering for some time, in interviews and in song, but it seems Kim may want a 50 Cent-to-Ja Rule knockout blow, stopping the Young Money raptress in her tracks.
"This is the thing: It's just, it's really, like, at the end of the day, I do what I have to do, and I'm gonna keep doing what I have to do," Kim told MTV News during her appearance Thursday (March 3) on "RapFix Live." "I'm gonna do me. They're the ones that brought this about. It could have been that simple. But what they did was underestimate me. They thought I was gonna sit back and let them do what they were doing. I'm gonna let everybody know: I'm on my Hollywood sophisticated, but I'll bring it back if I have to. And that's in life. I can't help it. I'm G'd up from my feet up. If I have to handle my business, I'mma handle my business. And I have to fight for my fans." Kim claimed her battle against Nicki is a challenge because she "has a powerful building behind her," referencing her label, Universal Records. But Kim remains resilient, saying her battle is for her fans as much as it's against Nicki. "What kind of message would that send to my fans if I just sit back and watched?" she said. "Let this girl do what she's doing. My fans were more fumed than I was. They were looking like, 'Do you see this? Do you hear this?' But at the end of the day, I understand what they were feeling. I owe my fans a whole lot." What do you think of Kim's crusade against Nicki? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Exclusive: Ke$ha Talks Writing Britney Spears' 'Till The World Ends' Posted: 03 Mar 2011 06:50 AM PST 'It's an honor to write for one of pop music's biggest icons,' she tells MTV News.
Britney Spears' new single, "Till the World Ends" is dance-floor ready — just ask Ke$ha. The pop star in her own right wrote the just-released track, which was produced by Dr. Luke and Max Martin. "I consider myself a songwriter before and above everything else, so it's an honor to write for one of pop music's biggest icons. And I hope it gets everyone's ass on the dance floor cuz y'all know that's what K-Monay does best!" the singer said in an exclusive statement to MTV News. The single was posted by Perez Hilton on Thursday afternoon (March 3), after speculation earlier in the day that it would hit radio next week. "Till the World Ends" is a swirling, "beat the beat" track, ready for late nights spent "dancing till the world ends" as she sings on the fast-paced party jam. "This kitten got your tongue tied in knots I see/ Spit it out 'cause I'm dying for company," a confident Spears purrs. Later in the song, she sings: "See the sunlight/ We ain't stopping/ Keep on dancing till the world ends/ If you feel it/ Let it happen/ Keep on dancing till the world ends." Last month, Ke$ha talked with Spin.com about the song, saying it's about the power of an artist performing a great gig. "That song is me imagining her and any female musician touring the world," she said. "You know, when you go out, and you're having an amazing, magical night and you don't want to go to sleep and you want it to last until the world ends." This new track is the latest single from Spears' forthcoming Femme Fatale, which drops March 29. What do you think about the latest Britney song? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne Recalls First Taste Of Freedom: Our Exclusive Interview Here! Posted: 03 Mar 2011 05:09 AM PST 'To walk out of there that day with no handcuffs on,' Wayne tells MTV News. 'I was like wow, yeah, I'm gone.'
On a frigid November morning, Lil Wayne walked out of New York's Rikers Island last year a free man. And though there would be lavish homecoming parties to attend, a tour-finale concert in Las Vegas, reunions with family and even a marathon recording session in the offing, the New Orleans MC can still remember what struck him most in those first few moments.
"Honestly, the first thing that I appreciated when I got out was not having to wear handcuffs," Wayne told MTV News when we visited the Miami set of his "6 Foot 7 Foot" video. On the expansive jail facility where Wayne served out an eight-month sentence on an attempted gun possession charge, the Young Money boss discovered that while getting "special" treatment may seem to imply privileges, in fact, his celebrity status created some downsides. Having his wrists shackled as he moved through the prison's various buildings became a weight, both physical and mental. "That was my first time walking out of there [without handcuffs], 'cause you know I always had to be transferred to one building from another to another just to do certain things, and they had so many special procedures with me," explained Weezy, who was clad in a gray YMCMB sweatshirt and Chicago Bulls cap when MTV News' Sway sat with him. "Things they had to do for protocol, so I always had to move here and move there, but everywhere I went I had to be handcuffed because it was this special protocol. "Other inmates didn't have to be handcuffed when they [were guilty of] the same things," he added, a look of melancholy flashing across his tattooed eyelids. "But it was this special protocol for me that they had to handcuff me." Months into his sentence, Wayne called Hot 97's Funkmaster Flex and said apart from busying himself with the daily routine of incarceration — pawing through piles of mail, listening to sports radio — he was doing serious soul-searching. "Everybody says that you're here for a reason, and I promise you, Flex, I try to find out that reason every day. I search for it. But I think when I get out, that'll be the only time I'll really know the answer." On the dizzying "6 Foot," the lead single from his eagerly awaited Tha Carter IV, Wayne cleverly boasts, "I got through that sentence like a subject and a predicate." But he took a measured tone as he relived the pre-dawn hours of November 4. "To walk out of there that day with no handcuffs on, that was the first thing that caught my attention," he said. "I was like wow, yeah, I'm gone." Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'My Life As Liz' Star Reveals Link To 'American Idol' Winner Kelly Clarkson Posted: 04 Mar 2011 09:47 AM PST 'Idol Party Live' guest Liz Lee went to same high school as Clarkson and says 'there's a trophy case dedicated to her.'
So would Liz Lee, the star of MTV's popular series "My Life as Liz," ever audition for "American Idol"? Not a chance.
Lee was a guest on MTV News' brand-new weekly interactive online series, "Idol Party Live," which kicked off on Thursday night (March 3) after the live results telecast of "American Idol." The reality-TV star, who joined our "Idol" expert/host Jim Cantiello and EW.com "Idol" writer Annie Barrett, said she'd be too terrified to try out. But Lee made an interesting revelation on the live stream. The Fort Worth, Texas, native hails from the same small town as season-one "Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson. "Kelly Clarkson went to my high school. I didn't know her. I think my sister was friends with a friend who knew her. They're all friends with someone who's acquainted with her. There's a whole trophy case dedicated to her," Lee said. And who are Lee's favorites so far this season? She's leaning toward the quirky, nerdy types, she said, but has her eye on one contestant in particular: Casey Abrams. "I like the Seth Rogen-y, quirky [guy]," she said. "Like, I would hang out with this guy. I would play video games with this guy. He's like my friend Sully. He's a Sully. It's like a complete transformation. He's cute, nerdy, quirky Seth Rogen, and then he turns into this Antonio Banderas, attractive, mysterious thing. It's incredible — on a dime." "Idol Party Live" airs every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET, immediately following the "American Idol" results show, and Cantiello and a special celeb guest will be on-hand to do a post-wrap on all things "Idol." They've even promised some karaoke! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos |
| Nicki Minaj 'Tried To Put A Cap On My Career,' Lil' Kim Says Posted: 03 Mar 2011 08:19 AM PST Brooklyn femcee says real stars have no 'time limit' and clears up Black Friday shipping delays on 'RapFix Live.'
Lil' Kim started her career as an artist on Atlantic Records under the Notorious B.I.G.'s imprint, Undeas Records, before eventually going on to ink a deal after her 2006 prison release with the Trackmasters, though, she never released a project with the production outfit. Nowadays, Kim's situation is far less complicated. According to Kim, she's calling her own shots.
"I'm independent," she told host Sway during her appearance on MTV News' "RapFix Live." "I am a boss, other people work for a boss. I write checks, other people get checks. Everything you see me doing ... it's hard for a female, but I'm maneuvering with my own money and my own relationships." Last month, Lil' Kim released new music for the first time in years with the mixtape Black Friday, a conceptual collection that takes aim at her nemesis Nicki Minaj. The project was scheduled for release on Valentine's Day, however, fans were confused when they discovered the set was a for-purchase item and not a free download, as is typically the case with mixtapes. As of press time, fans who bought a copy of Black Friday are reporting that they have yet to receive the tape. Lil' Kim and her manager, though, insisted on Thursday's (March 3) live stream that CDs have now been shipped after the rapper took time to sign each unit. In the meantime, Kim seems to have no intention of giving up the spotlight. She voiced her displeasure with Nicki Minaj's alleged insistence that the Lil Wayne protégé be the only female rapper in hip-hop. Kim argued that no matter how long her layoff, there's no time limit for true stars. "I think that in order to remain relevant, you have to be able to reinvent yourself," she explained. "I don't believe in a cap on people's time limit. [Nicki Minaj] tried to put a cap on my career. You're not God, and trust me, I'm here to do way bigger things." Did you order a copy of Kim's Black Friday mixtape? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Jersey Shore' High Five: Snooki Hearts The Plumber Posted: 03 Mar 2011 07:06 AM PST Plus: JWoww pees in public (again), Deena invents a new word and more moments from the latest episode.
Snooki pranked the Situation, fell in love with Vinny and renamed his manhood — but check out the embedded video below for my five favorite moments from this week's "Jersey Shore."
5. Casper the 'Roidy Ghost I like the new-and-improved Sammi! 4. Hastatic "I, like, was so hastatic that I almost cried," Deena said. "Hastatic is, you know, when you're, like, super happy and like really ecstatic." Hastatic? I'm sorry, Deena, that's just redundant and stupid. Or restupid. Do I get to be on "Jersey Shore" now? 3. Plumber's Here! Plumber Mike: "How are you? I'm Mike, he's Rich, we're the plumbers." OK, how many porn scenes start that way? Snooki: "The plumbers are here, finally. The fat one is kinda cute. Like, I would definitely, like, hang out with that." No! Snooki, I was kidding! Let the man clean your pipes and get out of there. And that's not a euphemism! 2. JWoww Pees That's the second time this season that JWoww peed in a public place. At least this time, it was outside. Baby steps — literally. Peeing wherever you want is a step a baby might take. 1. Don't Vomit Plumber Mike, unclogging toilet: "How long has it been like this?" Between that scene, the image of the crumpled-up clothing that was causing the toilet blockage, Snooki pranking the Situation by spreading cheese under his sheets and Ronnie snuggling up to Sammi at a club, this game is hard. Don't miss "Jersey Shore" every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Related Videos |
| Jennifer Lopez's 'On The Floor' Video Bows On 'American Idol' Posted: 03 Mar 2011 07:44 AM PST The 'Idol' judge's sultry dance clip premiered during Thursday's first results show.
With just about 10 minutes left on "American Idol" Thursday (March 3), Jennifer Lopez debuted her new music video, "On the Floor." The clip was cued up right as suspense built up over who the judges would grant second-chance passes.
The single marks the first time Lopez has hit the Billboard top 10 since her 2003 #1 track "All I Have." The new song, featuring Pitbull, debuted at #9 on Billboard Hot 100. Dressed in a glittery, gold outfit, Lopez is seen in several long shots, dangling lazily on a couch. Between shots of the Miami rapper, the video returns to scenes of Lopez dressed in a sexy, skintight catsuit dancing in front of a gold cardio barre. "If you're an animal, tear up the floor," she sings, giving the camera her fiercest gaze and moving her shoulders aggressively. "Don't stop, keep it moving/ Put your drinks up." The video set looks like the kind of lounge-y nightclub that you'd find in one of the exotic locations that she shouts out in the song, one that only caters to a VIP clientele. In another scene, Lopez is wearing a bikini top when she makes her way to the center of a stage and breaks it down "fly-girl" style. In still another shot, the star's mane is piled on top of her head, very elegantly as she sexily implores everyone to dance the night away and spend it on the floor. What do you think of J.Lo's "On the Floor" video? Tell us in the comments! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Lil' Kim 'Bothered' By Onetime Friend Diddy Posted: 03 Mar 2011 08:03 AM PST 'Puffy never came to see me in prison, not one time,' she tells 'RapFix Live.'
Lil' Kim has plenty to talk about besides rap nemesis Nicki Minaj. While speaking to Sway Calloway during MTV News' "RapFix Live," the Queen Bee talked about running with Sean "Diddy" Combs, despite never being signed to his Bad Boy Records. "Biggie did bring me to Puffy," Kim told MTV News. "He said, 'She's too pretty to be rapping. Female rappers don't look like her. What am I supposed to do with her?' "
But apparently Diddy, who also passed on signing Junior M.A.F.I.A., had a change of heart when the Notorious B.I.G. played him Lil' Kim's debut album, Hardcore. Diddy insisted he be part of the album, jumping on "No Time," Hardcore's lead single, which at one point was supposed to be a remix of Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s "Get Money." Kim went on to say that she and Diddy, who has recently worked with Nicki Minaj, no longer speak. "The only problem I had with Puffy is that you see this girl taking shots at me," Kim said, referring to Nicki. "Even on your own record [Dirty Money's 'Hello Good Morning'] she took a shot at me ... and you didn't stop that? If this was me years ago, he would have been doing everything if it was somebody he was working with or had a relationship with and he got money with or whatever, he would be like, 'That can't go out!' " Kim also mentioned that, during her incarceration for federal perjury between 2005 and 2006, Diddy was nowhere to be found. "I'm bothered by his actions, because I rolled with Puffy to the bitter end, and still would have rolled with him," Kim said. "Puffy never came to see me in prison, not one time. He didn't write me a letter. He didn't say, 'Here's a number for Kim to call,' not one time. "Then, because of your little business situations over there with Cash Money and Rick Ross and all of them, you're going to go see Wayne?" she continued, referring to Diddy's surprise visit to Lil Wayne on Rikers Island last year. What do you think of Kim and Diddy's relationship? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Britney Spears' 'Till The World Ends' Hits Web Posted: 03 Mar 2011 03:08 AM PST Femme Fatale's second single was penned by Ke$ha.
Britney Spears' new single, "Till the World Ends," sounds poised to be a club smash. The Ke$ha-written, Dr. Luke/Max Martin-produced track was posted by Perez Hilton on Thursday afternoon (March 3), after speculation earlier in the day that the song would hit radio next week. "Till the World Ends" is a swirling, "beat the beat" track, ready for late nights spent "dancing till the world ends" as she sings on the fast-paced party jam. "This kitten got your tongue tied in knots I see/ Spit it out 'cause I'm dying for company," a confident Spears purrs. As the song slows for a moment — during a break before she moves her way to the chorus — she sings, "I can't take it take it take no more/ Never felt like felt like this before/ Come on get me get me on the floor/ DJ, what you what you waiting for?" she teases. The beat chugs in the background as synths play with Spears' sex-kitten delivery of lines like "Watch me move/ When I lose, when I lose it hard/ Get you off with a touch/ Dancing in the dark. "See the sunlight/ We ain't stopping/ Keep on dancing till the world ends/ If you feel it/ Let it happen/ Keep on dancing till the world ends," she sings as the song breaks down, fading out for a brief moment (revealing her signature breathiness), and then coming back in as she repeats those final lines again to close the song. Ke$ha recently dished about the track to Spin.com, noting that it is about the power of an artist performing a great gig. "That song is me imagining her and any female musician touring the world," she said. "You know, when you go out, and you're having an amazing, magical night and you don't want to go to sleep and you want it to last until the world ends." "Till the World Ends" is the second single from Femme Fatale, set to drop March 29. Its lead single, "Hold It Against Me," was an equally club-friendly jam by Luke and Martin, who are overseeing production on the album. Give your review of "Till the World Ends" in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne: '6 Foot 7 Foot' Director Wanted To Focus On 'Bars' Posted: 03 Mar 2011 03:33 AM PST 'You are considered one of the best, and you have to show them why,' Weezy recalls Hype Williams telling him.
Lil Wayne had one idea in mind when it came to the video for "6 Foot 7 Foot": He wanted the clip to riff on "Inception," a movie he was "super interested" in because of its complexity. But director Hype Williams had another idea: to focus on Weezy's clever lyrics.
"When I got with him he was like, 'It's time for you to shoot a video,' " Wayne recalled Hype telling him when MTV News visited the video set in Miami. " 'I like the little "Inception" thing, but if I'm going to shoot a video with you, I really want to capitalize on your bars to make people get the stuff you're saying. You shoot great videos, don't get me wrong. But sometimes people may think you shoot a video that makes it seem like you go for looks, instead of actually getting these people to understand what you're talking about. You are considered one of the best, and you have to show them why,' " Hype told Wayne. The result is a marriage of the two concepts, with Lil Wayne's witty rhymes imparting themselves into the listener's consciousness à la Christopher Nolan's "Inception" with their punch lines. "Life is a bitch and death is her sister/ Sleep is the cousin, what a f---ing family picture," Wayne raps on the song as a pair of beauties with contrasting makeup (one represents life, the other death) flash on the screen. "You know father time and we all know mother nature/ It's all in the family but I am of no relation." Throughout the production, Wayne shot more than 40 scenes and changed outfits upwards of 20 times. Wayne and Williams also, of course, included a scene in which the rapper falls into a tub of cold water to wake him up from a dream, a direct nod to "Inception." Although Wayne had fun with the visuals, he didn't stray from his duties as a businessman with the track or the video, making sure to include new Young Money signee Cory Gunz. "You know, I put Nicki on the right songs, I put Drake on the right songs; I picked the right song," Wayne told MTV News last month about the decision. "It makes people pay attention ... because I know that people were waiting to see what I'll say on my first record, my first Lil Wayne record [since getting out of prison]. 'Cause, of course, I've done a bunch of features, and I'm quite sure whoever I did a feature for [before], as soon as I came home they put it out 'cause it got Wayne on here. 'He just came home, let's put it out.' "So, I knew people were going to look at my first record like, 'I want to know what he's talking about on his first record.' And, I gave you the jewel at the end. It's like I'm forcing it on you, you got to hear this. It made everybody who didn't know Cory Gunz [say], 'Who is that?' " Don't miss the premiere of Lil Wayne's "6 Foot 7 Foot" video at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez Just Latest Celebrity/Paparazzi Encounter Posted: 03 Mar 2011 01:54 AM PST Big-name stars like Justin Timberlake, Kanye West and Britney Spears have also had tense run-ins with photographers.
For many celebrities, their relationship with the prying lens of the paparazzi has always been love/hate. Some bask in the attention and others complain of being hounded relentlessly by hungry photographers. This week, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez were caught up in a paparazzi kerfuffle while celebrating the Biebs' 17th birthday in Los Angeles. After giving the paps the finger during the encounter, Bieber later apologized via Twitter. But he's only the latest in a long history of celebrity/celebrity-photographer encounters: Everyone from Lily Allen to Coldplay's Chris Martin to Sean Penn (the king of paparazzi knockdowns) has had heated moments with the paps. Here, we look back at some of the more memorable run-ins. Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz Björk in Bangkok Britney Spears and an Umbrella Russell Brand and Katy Perry Kanye West and the Bodyguard |
| Lady Gaga Wanted 'Born This Way' To Be 'A Viral Message' Posted: 03 Mar 2011 03:08 AM PST 'BTW' video creative director Laurieann Gibson says Gaga recruited director Nick Knight to push the envelope.
If it wasn't clear from watching Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" video, the singer intended for the over-the-top clip to be a visual spectacle. And that's why she wanted fashion photographer Nick Knight onboard to direct.
"Well, that was completely from the gate. She was like, 'I want Nick Knight for this video, I want a visual,' " the video's creative director, Laurieann Gibson, explained to MTV News. "She was always birthing something visual in her head. [Knight's] prolific, but he's so genius visually. He's such an Englishman. He's so particular and everything must be spot-on. [The video] was about a beautiful photograph and it was about pushing the bar; it is a viral message. Nick was flawless." Many of the visuals in the video are tied to the dance, which Gibson choreographed for the splashy sci-fi-style video. "At first, when I thought about birthing a new race and adding the prosthetics, I thought that maybe they should have a certain way they should walk or maybe they move a certain way, but then I realized it is actually a race within our race; it's a mindset," Gibson recalled. "So they don't have to walk funny," she said of the figures in the video. Instead, Gibson focused on how she to interpret the song's feel-good message in the moves. "So I just told the story of the record," she said. "We birth ourselves out of the womb. There's lots of pushing and birthing [in the video]. There's lots of punching through the adversity, and then we go to church. So it's very symbolic, it's really based in modern dance: She's doing [Martha] Graham. She's doing [Lester] Horton. These are legitimate dance techniques." What's your favorite part of the "Born This Way" video? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Steve Stoute, Grammy Boss Forge Alliance After 'Open Letter' Posted: 03 Mar 2011 06:02 AM PST 'We have come together ... to discuss how the Recording Academy can continue to evolve,' CEO Neil Portnow and marketing mogul say.
Steve Stoute has succeeded in getting the attention of the Recording Academy. After the music-marketing mogul penned an "open letter" last month, decrying the Grammys as being out of touch with current musical trends and culture, Stoute and Neil Portnow, the president and CEO of the Recording Academy announced that those complaints are going to be addressed. "The voices of artists and our creative community are at the heart of the missions of the Recording Academy and indeed the music industry itself," Portnow and Stoute said in a joint statement issued on Thursday (March 3). "Expanding constructive and positive ways to continue to actively incorporate generational and artistic diversity in the Academy's development and good work serves those important missions. The participation of new and culturally diverse voices has and continues to be a goal which benefits our members, the creative community, and music fans everywhere." This new alliance of sorts stems from the letter Stoute, the founder and CEO of Translation Marketing, wrote via a full-page ad in The New York Times days after the 2011 Grammys. The open letter was addressed to Partnow and the Recording Academy and was critical of what Stoute saw as snubs of popular artists at the awards show. The music-industry vet argued that mainstream acts such as Eminem were deserving of awards but lost to lesser-known acts like Arcade Fire, and then went on to say, "The awards show has become a series of hypocrisies and contradictions, leaving me to question why any contemporary popular artist would even participate." Stoute later clarified his initial statement, saying that hearing "big, credible artists" complain about some of the winners inspired him to write the letter. He also said that Arcade Fire performing twice during the show had raised some eyebrows. Arcade Fire manager Scott Rodger responded with an open letter of his own, noting he was proud of the band and calling Stoute's letter "a nice piece of self publicity." Although no changes to the Grammy Award selection process have been announced, the topic appears now to be open to discussion from both sides. The statement continued, "To that end, we have come together in a collaborative manner to discuss how the Recording Academy can continue to evolve in an ever-changing cultural environment. We invite others who share this agenda to join us in these discussions." What do you think of how the Grammy organization has responded? Tell us in the comments! |
| Lil Wayne's '6 Foot 7 Foot' Video Premieres Posted: 03 Mar 2011 09:10 AM PST Highly anticipated clip debuted on MTV.com Thursday morning.
While Lil Wayne's highly anticipated video for his single "6 Foot 7 Foot" makes its on-air premiere on MTV Thursday night (March 3) at 7:54 p.m. ET, fans got a surprise early look at the video when it made its online debut on MTV.com in the morning.
The colorful video features cameos from members of the Young Money roster, including Lil Twist and Jae Millz as well as Bronx-bred rapper Cory Gunz, who handles the song's third verse. The inclusion of Gunz, who signed to Young Money last year, was a strategic move by Weezy to give the young MC a high-profile introduction similar to those given to past signees like Nicki Minaj and Drake. The clip takes cues from the Oscar-winning Christopher Nolan film "Inception", incorporating similar slow-motion, dreamlike sequences. The song's plethora of punch lines also serve as inspiration in the video. For example, Weezy is seen reaching for what looks like a flying brain ("I lost my mind. It's somewhere out there stranded"), literally whispering into his own ear ("Talking to myself 'cause I am my own consultant") and standing at a podium ("I speak the truth but I guess that's a foreign language to y'all"). "6 Foot 7 Foot," produced by Bangladesh, is the lead single off the New Orleans MC's forthcoming album Tha Carter IV, due in stores later this year. Tune in to "Rapfix Live" Thursday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com for a special behind-the-scenes look at the "6 Foot 7 Foot" video. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Can Pia Toscano Or Thia Megia Win 'American Idol'? Posted: 02 Mar 2011 10:52 PM PST Experts weigh in on the top 12 women and their chances of making it through to the finals.
Thursday night is when some "American Idol" dreams will come true, and a dozen or more will be crushed and sprinkled all across the seizure-inducing new IdolDome stage. But before all that carnage and celebration, we once again turned to some of our "Idol" experts to make some predictions about this season's front-runners after the top 12 women did their thing on Wednesday night.
Because he just can't get enough of all things "Idol," we turned to MTV News' resident expert Jim Cantiello for his take on which ladies soared and which ones crashed and burned. Despite a few serious stinkers, JC said he continues to be shocked by the caliber of vocalists on the show this season. "You believe that these were the finest singers they found while on the road," he said, noting two "atom-bomb-sized surprises" on Wednesday night. His first revelation was former housekeeper Lauren Turner, whose choice of Etta James' "Seven Day Fool" he deemed perfect and full of attitude. "[She] stood out from the pack with her gravelly blues voice and in-your-face performance style," he said. The other big surprise was show-closer Pia Toscano, the raven-haired beauty who sang the Pretenders' "I'll Stand by You," which he said, "dug deep and showed off her pitch-perfect pipes. Her range was sick, she had confidence, she effortlessly hit some major power notes. America stood up and noticed, as did the judges, who gave her the first official standing ovation of season 10." If he had to pick a stand-out front-runner, though, at this point, Cantiello is still going with 16-year-old sassafras Lauren Alaina. "[It's her] race to lose," he said. "She's everything 'Idol' is looking for. [She] got up onstage and looked like she could have commanded a live audience 10 times bigger without flinching. She has stage presence, a powerful voice, and she has a unique ability to live somewhere in between R&B, pop and country." And while he thought the Carrie Underwood/Kelly Clarkson comparisons from Randy Jackson were not off the mark, Cantiello wondered if Alaina's need to always be the center of attention might start grating on voters' nerves? As for the other 16-year-old, Jim said Thia Megia has great pitch and a large fanbase, but he just can't "picture her at the Nokia, covered in confetti. Unless she steps up her personality." A great measure of how polarizing "Idol" contestants can be is the list of hot prospects submitted by Top Idol blog founder Melinda Green. One of her favorite performances was from this year's obligatory oddball, Rachel Zevita. Though the judges thought Zevita blew it with her jazzy, off key take on Fiona Apple's "Criminal," Green loved it. "I really hope we see more of her. Alas, I think the judges would prefer sending through Ashthon Jones," Green said of the Nashville native with the giant, blow-out hairdo whose sultry cover of Monica's "Love All Over Me" earned raves. Green wasn't sipping the "Idol" juice, though. "Every performance I've seen of this girl has been the same tired R&B diva wannabe shtick we're treated to every season," she said. She also liked Naima Adedapo, but is looking for more personality from the Erykah Badu-like singer and clothing designer. Lamenting how many of Wednesday night's singers opted for tunes we've heard a dozen times in past seasons, Green said Karen Rodriguez made it interesting by singing half of Mariah Carey's "Hero" in Spanish, but wondered if it was a bit too obvious pandering to judge Jennifer Lopez. Green agreed with Cantiello that Alaina might start to strike some viewers as a "precocious coquette as taught by her stage mother" and said despite her "perfect tone," Thia Megia may not have the emotional maturity to connect with the songs she's singing. "With this year's emphasis on youth and the show's clear aim of getting a viable female winner, we'll be forced to see more of both Thia and Lauren Alaina," she lamented. Bottom line, Green agreed that Toscano can go far and just needs to show more personality and that Turner has the goods that could take her deep into the competition. "She's got the kind of voice I love," she said, agreeing with Randy Jackson's description of Turner as a mix of Amy Winehouse and Florence Welch. "If 'American Idol' wants current, they best do everything they can to keep Lauren Turner around. She's the real deal, no theatrics, just raw talent." Do you agree with our experts? Who do you think is headed for elimination tonight? Let us know in the comments below! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" at 10 p.m. Thursday on MTV.com, following the "American Idol" results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos |
| Lil Wayne Marvels At Nicki Minaj And Drake Joining I Am Music II Tour Posted: 03 Mar 2011 12:14 AM PST Nicki will be on the road full-time, while Drizzy will stop by for a few dates.
Lil Wayne sure is proud of protégés Drake and Nicki Minaj. The Cash Money Records superstar is set to venture out on his I Am Music II Tour, bringing Minaj and Travis Barker along, but despite him being the top bill, Weezy is in awe of the Pink Friday star joining him and Drizzy stopping by for a few dates.
"Nicki and Wayne? Given who she is now," Wayne proudly told MTV News, "and Drake might catch a few shows, but you know, he got his overseas thing popping right now. I told him to take advantage of that, because we all want to come over there someday and be bigger than we are here." Wayne's tour kicks off later this month on March 18 in Buffalo, New York. The approximately one-month trek will find the rapper travelling to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Houston and Oakland, California, among other locations, including Vancouver British Columbia. It's Wayne's first tour since his release from prison late last year. Previously, Wayne spoke about Drake and how the Thank Me Later star became the centerpiece of his Young Money empire. "I knew he was something bigger than something I had envisioned for my company when I ran into this kid," Wayne explained. "I was thinking I'm going to put my people on and we're going to be all right, but then when I ran into this kid, I was like, this a superstar, he's got a chance to make my company something for real, something to be thought of, to be remembered." Will you check out the I Am Music II Tour? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Sherlock Holmes' Sequel Shows Off Downey And Law's 'Brotherhood' Posted: 03 Mar 2011 02:02 AM PST MTV News visited the 'Game of Shadows' set on its final day of production.
MTV News' arrival on the U.K. set of "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" marked a melancholy occasion. Not because things weren't going well on the sequel to 2009's $520 million-grossing hit, or because stars Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law weren't happy to see us. But our January visit coincided with Law's final day in production, and he and Downey felt like they were just getting warmed up. "We were talking so much about the possibilities of more, and loads of ideas and situations, on the first one," said Law, who returns to the fold as sidekick Watson to Downey's ass-kicking Holmes. "We've got even more ideas now, and I hope we're going to be allowed to do another one again."
"We're clinging on to this thing," Downey laughed. "It's going to have claw marks in it when we let go." Warner Bros. hardly wants the duo to relinquish the new franchise anytime soon. While the characters are based on Arthur Conan Doyle's classic 19th-century literary creations — ones that hardly had the contemporary appeal of a caped superhero — the success of the '09 flick was anything but assured. Yet under the steady guidance of director Guy Ritchie and keying off the bromantic chemistry of its two male leads, "Sherlock Holmes" grossed $62 million over its opening weekend — even as it went head-to-head with "Avatar." Now they're back, and they've asked Noomi Rapace, the star of the Swedish-language "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" trilogy, to join up as a gypsy. Or as Ritchie put it to us, "A gypsy princess with balls — that's what Noomi brings to the table." The sequel focuses on a web of conspiracies overseen by nefarious Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris). After Rapace's gypsy meets up with Holmes and Watson in London, the story pushes out of the city and takes on a far greater scope than the first one. But ultimately, like that '09 film, whether or not the sequel works will rest greatly on the sizzling back-and-forth between Downey and Law. From what we saw on the U.K. set, no one should be worried. "It feels a bit like a relay team," Law said their dynamic. "He leads, then he hands the baton off to me, but it's done subconsciously." "I also think there are two kinds of performers," added Downey. "I've heard of, and I guess I've experienced the kind that are like, 'You want to play ping-pong? Because I'll kick your ass!' Everything is about, 'I'll do it better than you.' Whereas, we become this third thing, this brotherhood." Check out everything we've got on "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Jennifer Lopez's 'On The Floor' Video Creates 'Dance Buzz' Posted: 03 Mar 2011 12:04 AM PST Clip premieres Thursday night (March 3) during 'American Idol.'
Jennifer Lopez plays a feisty club diva in her video for "On the Floor," set to make its debut Thursday night (March 3) during "American Idol." The song, a club banger produced by RedOne, is a melting pot of house music and global music, and the video is a dark, sexy look at club culture.
"I play one character where she kind of runs this party, acts like she's kind of bored with it, but at the same time is really loving it and loves this underground party dance culture," Lopez told MTV News on the set. "So I got to be wild and crazy, and at the same time I got to be sexy and sweet too." In the video, J.Lo wears a big beehive bun, gold gladiator heels and a gold gown with Gaga-esque detailing in its high collar and leaves. It also stars RedOne and Pitbull, who raps on the track. The other men who worked with J.Lo on the video, director Taj and choreographer Frank Gatson Jr., wanted it to reflect Lopez's background as a dancer. "Originality, being you. This song is about being who you want," Taj explained. "It's about letting loose. There's no explanation. This is this underground video, this underground party." Gatson added that the video will give fans and wallflowers an inside peek at the best dance party in town. "I kind of get the feeling that she wants us to be in the club after 2 a.m. in L.A.," he explained. "That's so amazing. [It's like] everybody had some watermelon and the watermelon made them high, it gave them a little buzz — but a good buzz, a real magical buzz, a dance buzz, a buzz that makes you feel like fried chicken, so she just wants everybody to have a good old time." J.Lo hasn't been shy about her love for the track. She said recording it was an homage to her days as a professional dancer. "The minute RedOne played it for me, I made him play it 20 times in a row, and I just sat there at the board and I kept listening to it and listening to it," Lopez said. "Because I really feel like, emotionally, I connected to it, but also because of how much I love to dance and how much that's always been such a big part of who I am since I started. Since I was a little girl, I just totally connected with the idea of getting out there." Will you be tuning into "American Idol" to catch J.Lo's new video? Tell us below. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Captain America' Villain Red Skull Photo Hits The Web Posted: 03 Mar 2011 01:44 AM PST Plus: Director Joe Johnston talks to Entertainment Weekly about the politics of Captain America and 'The Avengers.'
For all the "Captain America" fans who have been excited by the teaser trailer and magazine features, there have been just as many complaints about the fact that not much has yet been seen of the film's chief and formidable villain, Red Skull. Luckily for those folks, Entertainment Weekly has the exclusive first look at genre-film favorite Hugo Weaving all red and scary-looking. EW also scored a meaty interview with the film's director, Joe Johnston, in which he addresses a wide range of subjects, including why a superhuman can be sympathetic, the politics of Captain America (played by Chris Evans) and how much he had to think about Joss Whedon's spin-off film "The Avengers." "What I like is he's not a superhero in the true sense of the word," Johnston explained of how Steve Rogers/ Captain America is unlike Superman or Spider-Man. "He becomes a superhero but doesn't have any superpowers. He is just the best possible human specimen. Imagine the fastest, strongest Olympian athlete. Add 30 percent. That's Steve Rogers." Regarding the character's historic and politically charged past (the first issue of the Marvel comic featured the now-famous cover image of Captain America punching Hitler in the jaw), Johnston said that although his film is indeed a period piece, it isn't a "flag waver." "He was created as a propaganda tool, but he soon became much more than that," Johnston told the magazine. "There are all these incarnations over the decades, but the film is not a flag waver. It's about a guy who wants to do the right thing. And that transcends all nationalities and borders." Finally, there has been much ado over the fact that several characters who have and will have their own standalone films will come together for Whedon's highly anticipated "Avengers" movie. "I really didn't [think about it]," Johnston said. "Because this was a period film, because this was the origin story, I didn't have to worry about 'The Avengers,' which was a present-day story," he explained. "We have present-day bookends and bring Cap back at the end, and then I basically hand him off. And 'The Avengers' is its own thing." Check out everything we've got on "Captain America: The First Avenger." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Photos |
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