MTV News |
- Britney Spears Electrifies Las Vegas With Nightclub Performance
- Nate Dogg Mourned By Family, Friends And Fans At Public Wake
- Britney Spears 'Brought It' In Las Vegas, Fans Say
- 'American Idol' Saves Casey Abrams, But Can He Win?
- David Guetta Teases Nicki Minaj's 'New Persona' On 'Where Dem Girls At?'
- Britney Spears Fans Amped For Vegas Show
- 'Sucker Punch' Secrets Revealed!
- Britney Spears Announces Las Vegas Nightclub Performance
- Mullyman, Phil Ade Break Out From The DMV
- Bret Michaels Sues Tonys Over 2009 Onstage Injury
- Above & Beyond Heat Up The Ice Palace At Anjunabeats Bash
- Ne-Yo 'Spreads Love Through Music' in Japan
- <i>Songs For Japan</i> Includes Eminem, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga And More
- Robbie Rivera's 'Juicy Beach' Captivates At Miami Music Week
- 'American Idol' In 60 Seconds: Casey Abrams Is Saved ... And More Surprises
- Sum 41 Size Up Coldplay In Musical March Madness
- Casey Abrams' Save On 'American Idol': Fans React!
- Chris Brown Parts Ways With Rep After 'Good Morning America' Incident
- B.o.B Goes After Tyler, The Creator In 'No Future'
| Britney Spears Electrifies Las Vegas With Nightclub Performance Posted: 25 Mar 2011 11:20 PM PDT Pop star hypes Femme Fatale's release with flirty Friday night set.
LAS VEGAS — After a killer set from "Jersey Shore" star DJ Pauly D on Friday night (March 25), a montage of Britney Spears' best video moments played to a hyped crowd at Rain nightclub inside the Palms Casino and Resort. Once the videos wrapped, the crowd went even crazier as the Femme Fatale herself hit the stage. Spears sported a stunning sequined bodysuit and performed her first song of the night, lead single "Hold It Against Me." Flanked by sexy male dancers, she sashayed her way through the song, which included sexy hair-tossing and a wind machine. For her second song of the night, Spears debuted the will.i.am-produced track "Big Fat Bass." Her dancers hit the stage in bright yellow, while Spears opted for a body-hugging latex bodysuit. She emerged from a speaker box, and the appearance had her fans screaming. The track was remixed to include past hits like "3," "Slave 4 U" and "Gimme More." She danced around the stage and climbed up on speakers as she danced to the track. Britney kicked it up a few futuristic notches for her latest club banger, "Till the World Ends." The stage was filled with ladders, LED lighting, dancers and Spears in a black latex bodysuit covered in red lights. She clearly was having a good time, smiling to her fans. Her choreography was decidedly sexy, including flirty dance moves with her male dancers. At the end, Spears ascended the ladders and ended up on a platform, gyrating from above the room. As fireworks lit the stage, Spears danced and tossed her hair as the song closed. The room was filled with electricity and excitement. The performance was being taped by MTV for a special airing next week. A teaser will debut Tuesday on MTV, the same day Spears' latest album, Femme Fatale, hits stores. Did you see Britney perform in Vegas? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Artists |
| Nate Dogg Mourned By Family, Friends And Fans At Public Wake Posted: 25 Mar 2011 08:02 AM PDT 'I'm just glad to know that my brother was able to do what he loved,' sister Pamela Hale-Burns tells MTV News.
LONG BEACH, California — One of the West Coast's most iconic hip-hop voices filled the air on Friday (March 25) as family, friends and fans waved goodbye to Nate Dogg. Hundreds of people gathered outside the New Hope Baptist Church to pay tribute to the late singer, who died last week at age 41. The service, which was open to the public, included close friend and actor Ricky Harris and collaborators Daz Dillinger and producer Battlecat. Some mourners came from as far away as London, New York and San Francisco to pay their respects to the golden-voiced singer.
Nate Dogg was an accomplished artist who not only helped define the sound of West Coast rap via his memorable collaborations with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and others, but also helped earn top 10 tracks for Eminem and 50 Cent in the past decade. He died on March 15 due to complications sustained in the years following two separate strokes. At the time of his death, he had been resting at the home of his mother Ruth Holmes, not far from the church. New Hope was more than a temple of worship for Nate Dogg; it is also where he got his start in music, honing what would later be an inimitable voice by singing gospel in the choir there with sister Pamela Hale-Burns, now a reporter for the Long Beach Press-Telegram. "Singing is something that we grew up doing, and I'm just glad to know that my brother was able to do what he loved," Hale-Burns told MTV News. "I said earlier that he chose a career where he never worked a day in his life, because he loved doing what he did." The church is also just a few blocks away from VIP Records, the legendary independent shop where Nate started his career along with Snoop. It's immortalized in Snoop's video for his debut single "Who Am I (What's My Name?)." "What this means for me today is just to keep on striving, to keep on pushing the line that we set 20 years ago until now," said Daz, who ended his tour to attend the service. "I'm just here to celebrate Nate Dogg's life." Nate's older sibling Samuel Hale, a.k.a. Sam Dogg, asked that Nate's fans never forget the man who left a legacy of countless hit records behind. "Remember his voice, his talent, and keep the family in prayer," Sam said. "My brother is a legend, and we're going to miss him a whole lot." Nate Dogg's funeral will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Long Beach Cruise Terminal (formerly the Spruce Goose Dome), adjacent to the Queen Mary hotel. While access to the funeral will be limited, a service for the public will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Dome, the Press-Telegram reports. Share your memories of Nate Dogg in the comments below. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Britney Spears 'Brought It' In Las Vegas, Fans Say Posted: 26 Mar 2011 04:06 AM PDT 'She knocked it out of the box,' one fan tells MTV News after nightclub gig.
Britney Spears proved to be a Femme Fatale when she hit the stage Friday night in Las Vegas. The pop superstar donned multiple costumes during her high-octane three-song set, and her fans loved every moment of it. Emerie told MTV News moments after the show: "I love Britney! Everything was perfect. My favorite part was when she performed the song 'Till the World Ends.' Anything with Britney is amazing." Jewelry designer Heather Bettes added, "It was fantastic. Britney Spears, she looks stellar. She killed it. She really brought it The beading is amazing on her costumes. She looked great. She brought it." While fans described Spears' big show as "awesome," "sexy" and "the best thing ever," two die-hards had a personal connection to the show. "I loved it!" Danielle said of Brit's performance at Rain nightclub in the Palms Casino and Resort. In fact, she loved it so much because her pal Mark is one of Brit's dancers. While Mark was one of her favorite parts, she said Britney really shined. "The very end of the last song [was awesome]," she explained about pop's reigning queen. "She looked sexy. She's hot." Daniel, who is not only Danielle's friend but also Mark's boyfriend, was very excited to see his beau onstage with the star. "He looked so sexy," he proclaimed, adding that Brit had told the dancers that this show was all about her excited fans. "She wants to please all of her fans. She knocked it out of the box." Those good vibes were felt by Britney as well, who tweeted after the show, "OMFG it feels good to be on stage again!!" For fans who may have missed it, they can check out Spears' performance in an MTV special airing next week, with a tease dropping Tuesday, the same day as the release of Femme Fatale. Did you catch Britney's performance? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Saves Casey Abrams, But Can He Win? Posted: 25 Mar 2011 12:43 AM PDT Judges' save only delayed the inevitable for Matt Giraud and Michael Lynche in previous seasons.
First, the good news for Casey Abrams. Even if voters are on the fence about the emotional bass player, the judges clearly love him and were unequivocal in deploying their once-a-season save on Thursday night's "American Idol." Now, the bad news: It's probably still not enough to carry him to the winner's circle. If "Idol" history is any indication, the save is mostly a postponement of the inevitable. It helped season eight's Matt Giraud (a wild-card pick to begin with) when he faced elimination in the top seven, but did him no good when he was booted just two weeks later in the top five. Fast-forward to last season, when Michael Lynche faced the chopping block in week nine. The judges busted out the save again, which kept Big Mike around for four more weeks, when he went down in the #4 slot.
Which begged the Friday morning quarterback question: Can a saved contestant win "Idol"? "The save tends to be a sentimental favorite who possibly doesn't have the breadth of talent ... or a favorite with a fatal flaw, like Giraud's range issue, in which he could do one thing well, but could not present the 'whole package' as Steven Tyler [called it]," said National Public Radio music critic Ann Powers. "Casey is a super-underdog that has a following for his story and his personality, but soon enough, that gives way in an 'Idol' season to performance, and he's too out-of-control, performance-wise. He's too similar to Paul McDonald, who is cuter and more polished." Powers said it's clear Abrams appeals to producers, possibly because he represents the last vestige of what "Idol" used to be: a competition for real amateur singers who have not been preparing their whole lives for a shot at stardom. "He's really not together, very emotional, he messes up a lot and he wears weird clothes," she said of Abrams' offbeat style, which contrasts with the dreaming-of-stardom-since-childhood packages viewers have seen on many of the other finalists over the past few weeks. "All the others this season set a high bar for professionalism, even the teens, so maybe they want him around because he contributes an unpredictability, which is good TV." In the end, though, Powers said Abrams doesn't really have a shot at winning the whole thing, though he could survive a bit longer if he takes the judges' advice and calms down next week, perhaps taking a seat and singing a sensual ballad that would show off his less flagrant side. MTV News "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello was actually charmed by nervous-stomached Abrams' near on-air cookie toss after Thursday's news that he would get another chance. And he thought the save was well-placed. "Third time's a charm for the judges' save," Cantiello suggested. "For the first time, it didn't feel like an arbitrary 'we better use this because it's the last week we can' moment. Unlike Matt Giraud and Michael Lynche, I can see Casey Abrams lasting more than a couple of weeks post-save. It feels less like the judges are delaying the inevitable, even though I can't imagine Casey taking the 'Idol' crown, let alone making the top four, unless his near-elimination instantly shakes the growl out of his voice and the [creepiness] out of his game face." "Idol" blogger MJ Santilli of MJ's Big Blog doesn't see how a contestant who has been saved can ever win it all. "Amongst the top nine winners of 'Idol,' some, like Fantasia Barrino for instance, hit the bottom three once as a little wakeup call. Others, like Taylor Hicks and David Cook, never hit bottom at all," she noted. "A contestant that is out-and-out eliminated does not have the fanbase and staying power to make it to the very end. I think Casey will be lucky to make it to the top five now. He's got the 'loser' stink on him." If nothing else, Cantiello and Santilli were excited that the save guaranteed that Abrams would be on the summer "Idol" tour, where he's likely to provide some fireworks on what might otherwise be a pretty tame affair. Do you think a saved contestant can ever win "Idol"? Let us know 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. Related Videos Related Photos |
| David Guetta Teases Nicki Minaj's 'New Persona' On 'Where Dem Girls At?' Posted: 25 Mar 2011 05:53 AM PDT Flo Rida is also featured on the single, which Guetta told MTV News about at Miami Music Week.
MIAMI — America dances to a clubbier tune nowadays, due in large part to the diligence of four kings of current U.S. pop/urban radio: Dr. Luke, Max Martin, RedOne and David Guetta. And MTV News has a news flash about one of those kings: Grammy-winning French producer David Guetta has almost completed a new album and has a new single hitting the airwaves most likely in the beginning of May. The yet-untitled follow-up to One Love is a disc made with both pop radio and big arenas in mind.
Akon and will.i.am are featured on the upcoming project, as are a few new partners in crime. Currently, Guetta has a dilemma, MTV News learned when we caught up with him Friday (March 25) as the DJ/producer performed during Miami Music Week. The Frenchman is going back and forth between two big bangers for a first single, a high-class problem most in the music world would welcome. "I have two really, really big ones," Guetta told MTVN News. "One is with Taio Cruz and Ludacris [a song called 'Little Bad Girl' that has already leaked] and the other ['Where Dem Girls At?'] is with Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj. They are both huge records, but one sounds more European. The other one sounds a bit more U.S." Guetta joked, "So people are fighting inside the record company: It's the U.S. against Europe. So we are gonna see who has more muscle!" Minaj's millions of Barbz around the world would surely cast their vote for "Where Dem Girls At?" and Guetta is particularly pleased that he could bring her onboard for the song. "We just had a big success with 'Club Can't Handle Me' together with Flo Rida, and he gave me back the favor by featuring on my album," Guetta said. "That record is absolutely huge. Like it was a monster already. And then, I wanted to add a little twist, because we just had a record together, and I'm a huge Nicki Minaj fan. "And we met. I was gonna play records, but she said, 'You know, you should know that I wanna do a solo record. I don't want to be with somebody else,' " Guetta continued. "So I said, 'OK, no problem. Can I just play you that record?' And that record is so big that it's undeniable. And she was like, 'OK, I'll do that last one.' And it's a major record!" But which Nicki Minaj will appear on "Where Dem Girls At?" Will it be Roman, Martha or one of her other now-famous personas? According to Guetta, maybe someone new. "I think she kind of has a new persona for that record," Guetta shared. " She's more London now." Which single do you think David Guetta should roll with first? Let us know in the comments! Be sure to follow our MTV News crew on Twitter (@AdamnMTVNews and @ASBhansali) for all the latest Miami Music Week action! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Britney Spears Fans Amped For Vegas Show Posted: 25 Mar 2011 03:11 AM PDT Britney performs tonight at the Rain nightclub at the Palms Hotel for a group of lucky fans.
LAS VEGAS — As showtime for Britney Spears' special performance at the Palms in Las Vegas draws closer, fans have already begun to cluster in the lobby of the hotel to make sure they get a plumb spot at the show. And for many, just seeing Spears' name on the marquee, alongside that of house DJ Pauly D, certainly added to the excitement. "We're so excited. We were Britney Spears for Halloween," Spears fan Kelsey told us. Kelsey and a group of eight of her best girlfriends already had plans to be at the Palms for spring break when they found out they'd also be checking out the Femme Fatale star herself. The one-off performance will be filmed by MTV. Katie, who was one of the lucky fans to get a coveted ticket for the show, added, "We have no idea what will happen. We're really excited about the show. I think no matter what it is, we'll be super-excited." With so much about the show under wraps, the Britney fans we spoke to said they have high hopes that Spears will be true to form. "I feel like the old Britney's finally back so we're excited," one said. "I think it's the whole show together. It's the whole production [that we're excited to see]. The choreography, lighting, the energy in the crowd. We're lucky to know that you're one of the few who get to see her. Super-lucky!" Spears' latest album, Femme Fatale, arrives Tuesday after months of song and video teasers. What are you expecting from Spears' new album? Let us know in the comments below! Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Sucker Punch' Secrets Revealed! Posted: 25 Mar 2011 03:50 AM PDT MTV News spoke with filmmaker Zack Snyder and the cast about the making of the fantastical battle movie.
At long last, Zack Snyder's mysterious, "Alice in Wonderland With Machine Guns" film "Sucker Punch" has arrived in theaters. MTV News has been on the case since its humble beginnings, bringing you all the news, videos, scoops and interviews ... in a nutshell, everything you need to know. To celebrate the film's opening day, we present a few more fun facts about the film that we learned directly from the film's director/writer Zack Snyder and the cast.
1. Snyder's original plan for the movie was to build it around a big musical number. 2. Inspiration for the look of the film came from the adult fantasy magazine Heavy Metal. 3. For the high-action "train sequence," Snyder used hundreds of shots to look like one, which took seven days to shoot. 4. Everyone in the cast is wearing a ton of makeup. "I remember they would spray-tan me and then put an extra coat of shine on it," he recalled. "Then blush and then tons of eyeliner. My hair was basically glued tight to my head." But compared to what the ladies endured, Isaac's process wasn't that bad. Carla Gugino told us the filmmakers wanted the makeup to make a statement, and that she spent at least two hours in the makeup chair every morning. "We definitely had so much fun," Gugino said. "Rosalina [Da Silva] designed the look of the film makeup-wise. And we did 'Watchmen' together as well," she explained. "She's amazing. But there was a point when she said, 'Carla, guess how many sets of lashes you have on your eyes?' and I was like, 'Including my real ones?' and she was like, 'Yes.' And we realized that it was four." 5. Snyder had to cut back on the violence in the movie, particularly a few scenes that involve implied or attempted rape. Snyder went on to explain why the sexual violence and lobotomy images were necessary to include in the film, juxtaposed with the idea of women not being victims and being able to defend themselves. "For me it was all about having incredible threat in that world. Like, what is the most dangerous thing? What is the worst possible thing, and to me being lobotomized and then raped is probably the worst possible thing," he explained. "I like the idea that the verdict or the ... like if someone were to make a sacrifice, and you have two alternatives and one is just go back to jail. OK. You know, I get that. And one is you know, be lobotomized and then possibly raped for the rest of your zombified life. You know, you really need to think about that. You're giving up a lot, I guess, is my point." Check out everything we've got on "Sucker Punch." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Britney Spears Announces Las Vegas Nightclub Performance Posted: 24 Mar 2011 10:38 PM PDT 'Looks like my little secret isnt a secret anymore,' she tweets before tonight's Rain gig with DJ Pauly D from 'Jersey Shore.'
With less than a week until Femme Fatale hits stores, Britney Spears is adding another date to her promotional calendar. The "Hold It Against Me" singer took to her Twitter on Friday afternoon (March 25) to announce a performance at Rain nightclub at Las Vegas' Palms Casino and Resort scheduled for later this evening. "Looks like my little secret isnt a secret anymore. Whos coming to watch me take the stage TONIGHT at @RainLasVegas at @PalmsLasVegas?" the pop star tweeted. "You're all invited. Be there or be square bitch!" Britney is no stranger to the Rain stage. Back in 2003, the pop titan gave fans a sneak peek of her album In the Zone by surprising about 1,800 clubgoers with a 30-minute set, which included songs like "Me Against the Music" and "Breathe on Me." Spears' Vegas performance is the latest in her string of promotional ventures for her upcoming LP. Last week, it was confirmed that she would pre-tape her "Good Morning America" appearance on Sunday, two days before it will air on the show. On the day of her album release, she will also appear on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for a late-night performance of her two latest singles: "Till the World Ends" and "Hold It Against Me." In addition to her concert specials, MTV will dedicate March 29 to the singer for what is being dubbed a "Britney Takeover" day. The entertainer will also make appearances on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and the Kids' Choice Awards on April 2. Spears has been keeping fans on the edge of their seats for months with video and song teasers leading up to Femme Fatale's Tuesday release. When MTV News interviewed Britney's manager, Larry Rudolph, after the premiere of her "Hold It Against Me" video, he had high praise for the pop star's latest project, comparing the album to a Madonna classic. "In my opinion, this is her strongest album ever. It's somewhat of a departure from what she's done. It's more mature," Rudolph told us last month. "It's more of a dance record and this really is ... Britney's Ray of Light album." What are you expecting from Spears' new album? Let us know in the comments below! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Mullyman, Phil Ade Break Out From The DMV Posted: 25 Mar 2011 04:50 AM PDT 'Where I come from and in the game, period, the underdog is squeezed out,' Mullyman tells Mixtape Daily.
Fire Starter: DMV Edition Wale has been making a lot of noise lately after he inked a deal with Rick Ross to join the Bawse's Maybach Music Group. But the "Pretty Girls" MC isn't the only DMV (the Metro D.C. area, consisting of Obama's 'hood, Maryland and Virginia) artist on the come-up. Baltimore's Mullyman (with an assist from 50 Cent DJ Whoo Kid) and Silver Spring (by way of Cali) rhyme spitter Phil Adé are grinding like the Clipse. Here, the two spoke with Mixtape Daily about their latest projects. Kirk out, young.
Mullyman "The machine represent the norm, the conventional way of things being done," Mullyman told us about his recent offering. "The industry is pretty much set up where you hear the same songs over in repetition all day. It's set up to squeeze the little man out or leave little room for him to make moves. So what I stand for is the underdog. I want it to be known that I come from a place where there's never been an artist to make it from Baltimore. There's one artist that the world knows from the DMV, that's Wale. So where I come from, statistically, where I come from and in the game, period, the underdog is squeezed out. So Mullyman vs. Machine is me fighting for myself, my city, against a system that doesn't give us a voice. I'm basically trying to John Henry the game." Phil Adé "I have two projects,Starting on JV and The Letterman," Phil Adé told Mixtape Daily. "And really, those connect as a theme. As far as the difference between them, there's a difference in subject matter. When I first started, I was rapping about how I was better than everyone and how I could spit, I'm fire. [He laughs.] But now, as I've grown and seen things and moved around, seeing things in the industry and how my parents have reacted to it, I've had more experiences and seen more life. So you can see my graduation in the game. I just try to capture those experiences and give people an insight into my life. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
| Bret Michaels Sues Tonys Over 2009 Onstage Injury Posted: 25 Mar 2011 04:31 AM PDT Lawsuit cites the incident as cause of Poison frontman's near-fatal brain hemorrhage last year.
Bret Michaels is suing Tony Award Productions and CBS for his stage mishap at the 2009 Tony Awards, where the rock singer slammed his head against a stage prop that descended from the ceiling. TMZ reports that the lawsuit, which was filed Friday (March 25), has Michaels alleging that he was not properly instructed on how to exit the stage following his "Nothin' But a Good Time" performance alongside his Poison bandmates and the cast of the "Rock of Ages" musical. He claims he had to be hospitalized for a broken nose and a cut lip. However, things took a turn for the worse six months later when the rock star nearly died from a subarachnoid brain hemorrhage. And in the lawsuit, Michaels, who is suing for unspecified damages, claims that the onstage injury is in direct relation with his near-fatal hospitalization. "One of the most common causes of this type of hemorrhage is head trauma — exactly like the one Michaels suffered at the hands of the Tony Awards," the lawsuit claims. "Through his sheer will to live, to see his children grow up, [he] was able to survive this trauma." Bret says in the suit that producers have "failed and refused" to help aid the situation and claimed that he "missed his mark" during the performance. Reps for Michaels have previously alleged the awards show's negligence in the incident. In a statement to MTV News days after the mishap, the singer's reps cited a "lack of communication" between their client and "the producers, directors, stage managers and crew" of the awards show. Related Photos |
| Above & Beyond Heat Up The Ice Palace At Anjunabeats Bash Posted: 25 Mar 2011 03:21 AM PDT A&B drop 'Sun & Moon,' a standout thus far at Miami Music Week.
MIAMI — Last night in Miami's downtown district, Above & Beyond threw their annual homage to trance with their massive Anjunabeats party, which this year was held at the Ice Palace for the first time. Having expanded into their new home from their usual venue Karu & Y, the Ice Palace offered a massive space for the enthused crowed to hear Jono and Paavo, two-thirds of the trance trio, spin a killer set.
Hitting the massive LED-wrapped stage after an invigorating set by the reunited duo Gabriel & Dresden, the crowd erupted as the trance legends dove right into it, opening with "The Taxi Driver" by Andrew Bayer. Also highlighted in the first hour of Above & Beyond's set was "Beautiful World" featuring Dino, a new cut from fellow trance icon Tiësto, who collaborated with Mark Knight. It's been a huge track for Miami Music Week thus far. Perhaps the most exciting moment for the crowd, however, was when Above & Beyond dropped their massive new bomb "Sun & Moon," a heavy-hitting house-trance anthem with an amazing stab-synth hook that will undoubtedly come out of Miami as one of the standout tracks. Also featured were Fedde Le Grand's new beast "Control Room" and Arty & Matt Zo's "Rebound," as well as another Arty track, a remix of Ferry Corsten's "Punk." They closed out their two-hour set with a blend of both old and new, and kept their family of trance-loving fans on their toes, highlighted by a mash-up of their smash hit under their OceanLab moniker "Sky Falls Down" and Passive Progressive's "Hide Away." After A&B wrapped up their set and began to enjoy the rest of the night offstage, trance fans were in for another treat as the legendary Cosmic Gate took to the stage and wowed the crowd into the wee hours of the morning blasting classic anthems like "Exploration of Space" and "Fire Wire." Were you at the Anjunabeats party last night? Let us know what you thought in the comments below! Be sure to follow our MTV News crew on Twitter (@AdamMTVNews and @ASBhansali) for all of the latest Miami Music Week action! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Ne-Yo 'Spreads Love Through Music' in Japan Posted: 25 Mar 2011 12:21 AM PDT 'We're definitely out here making a difference, more than just singing and dancing,' singer says of Japan shows.
R&B singer Ne-Yo is doing his part to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit northern Japan on March 11. Despite other artists like Ke$ha postponing their dates in the country, the singer/songwriter — minus some backup dancers — decided to continue his performances and provided charitable aid in the process.
While appearing on MTV's "RapFix Live" via Skype, the Grammy Award-winning singer said that he didn't even consider canceling his tour dates in Japan. "After we heard about what went down, a lot of people was like, 'I know you're not going out there now with everything going on,' " Ne-Yo said. "But our response to that was, 'Of course we still going.' They need the show more than ever. So that's why we're here." Ne-Yo said that he had not seen any of the devastation firsthand since the performances in Nagoya and Yokohama were not near the epicenter of the earthquake and coast. However, he has been inspired by how the people of Japan, and specifically those at the shows, have dealt with the tragedy. "It wouldn't be possible to do a show from where everything really went down," he said. "The main thing that we been seeing out here is people coming together, people making donations, helping out their fellow man. As far as the crowds coming to the shows, it's unreal. If you didn't know that anything was wrong, you would never know that anything was wrong. It's just people coming to enjoy a concert, which to me kind of speaks to the spirit of the Japanese people. They're about keeping it going and keeping their spirits high and their morale high, and I dig that." The "Champagne Life" singer also detailed what he and his Compound Entertainment company have been doing to personally help with relief efforts. "Since we been out here, we did these wristbands," Ne-Yo said, holding the wristband up to the camera. "The wristband says 'Our prayers are with Japan.' We've been selling these at every show. Plus, we did T-shirts that say 'Spread [With] Through Music,' as well as posters. We've raised somewhere close to $100,000 just in merchandise. All of the proceeds of this stuff goes straight to the victims of the quake and tsunami. Not to mention, a percentage of the proceeds of the shows themselves goes to the victims of the quake and tsunami. We're definitely out here making a difference, more than just singing and dancing." Ne-Yo said his as-yet-untitled forthcoming album, the follow up to 2010's Libra Scale, will be in stores sometime in September. Related Videos Related Artists |
| <i>Songs For Japan</i> Includes Eminem, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga And More Posted: 24 Mar 2011 11:26 PM PDT Benefit album is now on iTunes, with proceeds going to the Japanese Red Cross Society.
On Monday, we learned the names of some of the stars set to appear on Songs For Japan, a compilation album to benefit the ongoing disaster relief efforts in the earthquake- and tsunami-ravaged nation. And on Friday (March 25), not only was the full roster of artists and songs revealed, but the album was made available for purchase on iTunes. Lady Gaga, Eminem, Beyoncé, Madonna, the Kings of Leon and Katy Perry joined a list of already-announced artists like Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna on the album, which is available worldwide on the iTunes Store for $9.99. Proceeds from the sale of Songs for Japan will benefit the Japanese Red Cross Society. All in all, 38 artists lent songs to the album, including legends like Bob Dylan, U2, Bruce Springsteen and the late John Lennon; country acts like Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum; rock artists like the Foo Fighters, R.E.M. and Bon Jovi; pop icons like Madonna and Pink; and top hitmakers like Bruno Mars and David Guetta. All acts appearing on Songs for Japan — and their labels and music publishers — have waived their royalties and proceeds from the worldwide sales of the album to insure the Japanese Red Cross Society receives as much support as possible. The JRCS will use funds from the album to support its ongoing relief efforts and for eventual recovery assistance to the areas hardest hit by the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis. iTunes will also donate its proceeds from the album's worldwide sales to the benefit of the JRCS. The track list for Songs for Japan, according to Apple: 1. John Lennon, "Imagine" Will you download the benefit album? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Robbie Rivera's 'Juicy Beach' Captivates At Miami Music Week Posted: 25 Mar 2011 01:28 AM PDT Joachim Garraud, Alex Gaudino also held down thunderous sets during the epic, 17-hour event on Nikki Beach.
MIAMI — South Beach's sexiest beach bash took Miami's SoFi district by storm on Thursday as Robbie Rivera presented his seventh annual Juicy Beach party on the infamous Nikki Beach. Midway through the marathon 17-hour Miami Music Week event, the bikini-clad crowd was treated to back-to-back-to-back sets by Joachim Garraud, Alex Gaudino and, of course, Rivera. Garruad debuted massive new tracks from his upcoming album, Invasion 2011, bringing his signature edgy stab synth (fans know it from his work on David Guetta tracks like "World Is Mine" and "Love Is Gone"). Garruad's sound is captivating, and the enthusiastic crowd responded by waving hands and fists high in the air.
Next to hit the decks was Gaudino, who wowed the crowd with remixes of Katie Perry's "Firework" and the Foreigner classic "Cold as Ice," as well as his latest smash, "What a Feeling," featuring vocals by ex-Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland. The Italian spinner took a well-deserved bow after his set before a sea of roaring fans. And then there was the epic, two-hour set by the man who gave life to the chic soiree. MTV News caught up with Rivera just before he got onstage and he warned us he was about to bring the thunder. Kicking off with his classic piano-infused bomb "Bang," Rivera inspired the crowd to sing along as they rushed to huddle close to the stage. After Rivera's remixes of Kings of Tomorrow's "Finally" and Pete Yorn's "Young Folks," the pace turned furious. One of the major highlights was a violin performance by Micah, which when matched with Robbie's furious beats, rivaled the string work of Boyd Tinsley. Yes you read that correctly, a violinist at Miami Music Week — the wonders never cease. And if you weren't at Juicy Beach this year, know that it's a must-see event for the next time around. Stick with MTV News and follow our crew on Twitter (@AdamMTVNews & @ASBhansali) for all of the latest updates from Miami! Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'American Idol' In 60 Seconds: Casey Abrams Is Saved ... And More Surprises Posted: 25 Mar 2011 12:16 AM PDT With no one sent home this week, there will be two eliminations on next week's show.
It was Motown Week on "American Idol X: The Judges Give Good Reaction Shots," and almost everyone brought their A-game. (Check out Jim's speedy take on the week's "Idol" craziness in the embedded video below.)
"Tyler Perry Presents" Jacob Lusk stole the show by performing both the male and female parts of a famous Motown duet. Werk! Meanwhile, Naima Adedapo imagined a strange world where everyone is "Dancing [African] in the Street." And wouldn't you know it? Put a guitar in Paul McDonald's hands and the swashbuckling leprechaun is immediately replaced by a legitimate frontman. Scotty McCreery charmingly crooned "For Once in My Life" as a country shuffle. Pia sang a Motown song that Streisand made a hit. Duh. Lauren's and Thia's performances were solid, if uninspired. Perhaps that will inspire the hairstylists to part their hair on the opposite side so we can continue to see their pretty young faces as they nervously turn to the band leader for cues. Stefano Langone's theatrical "Hello" was a disappointment, but not nearly as disastrous as his mother's home-cooked penne dish, which gave audience member Gordon Ramsey an intense case of Douche Mouth. The night ended with James Durbin's Running Man-enhanced "Living for the City." His vocals were lovely. His dancing was ... Let's just say it's a good thing Stevie Wonder couldn't see it. On Thursday night's results show, Marc Anthony auditioned to be a new judge backstage after curing all of the contestants' tone-deaf-itis with the magic of in-ear technology. Education has never been so sweaty! Thanks to "Idol" producers, there were surprises at every corner. Surprise! Stevie Wonder was in the house. (His lyric retention, however, was not.) Surprise! "Idol" got homoerotic with an extended montage of two men wrestling. Surprise! Apparently, Jennifer Hudson won her season of "Idol," according to Ryan "Revisionist History" Seacrest. Surprise! Hulk Hogan showed up to prove to America that it is possible to be tanner and blonder than Ryan Seacrest. (Also, he has the ability to turn grown men into babbling toddlers.) Surprise! Haley Reinhart proved that if you wear short shorts that reveal part of your bottom, you will avoid the bottom three! Surprise! Casey Abrams was eliminated, then saved by the benevolent judges. His reaction: dropping the f-bomb and pretending to need medical attention. This is "American Idol X: Ratings by Any Means Necessary." 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 Photos |
| Sum 41 Size Up Coldplay In Musical March Madness Posted: 25 Mar 2011 07:20 AM PDT After handling Arcade Fire, Deryck Whibley has eyes on Sweet 16.
No band has shaken up the 2011 Musical March Madness tournament quite like Sum 41, the Canadian punk quartet that entered the fray as a lowly #16 seed, then proceeded to run roughshod over heavily favored #1 Arcade Fire in the tourney's opening round. Now, it's on to the second round, where Sum faces the unenviable task of taking down another titan: 8th-seeded Coldplay. And with voting now open in the matchup, MTV News decided to ask Sum frontman Deryck Whibley what he thinks about his band's chances. Can they shock the world once again and earn a berth in the Sweet 16? Turns out, even he's not sure — mostly because he hasn't been paying much attention.
"Coldplay? I like those guys. I like them better than us. I hope they win because they're good," Whibley said. "I don't really care about sports. Our bass player, Cone, is really into it. I just found out what March Madness was, literally a couple days ago; I'd never even heard that term before." Not exactly the talk of a band primed for a championship run. But still, with a legion of fanatics behind them, it wouldn't be a shock to see Sum 41 pull the upset in round two and advance to the Sweet 16. And to that end, even Whibley will admit he's not surprised by Sum's MMM success: He didn't think his band was the underdogs against Arcade Fire in the first round. "I keep hearing that band's name. I've never heard a single note from them," he said, laughing. "I don't know what they are. I keep hearing they're, like, the coolest band since the Strokes, but I don't know." And it's not like Whibley is throwing in the towel against Coldplay, either — "I mean, if we won, that would be great," he said — and really, however far they go in the tournament is up to you. Voting is now open on the Newsroom blog, and perhaps Sum's fans can guide them to the most unlikely championship in MMM history — not to mention the very fancy trophy. Whibley said he would put the trophy "with the rest," laughing. "It may end up in the pool, you never know. I don't know, I don't have any plans ... mostly because I don't plan on winning it!" MTV's Musical March Madness has moved on to the second round! Voting is now open and will continue until Sunday, when we'll reach the Sweet 16! All winners are determined by your votes. If your favorite act is still alive, it's up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM — but get ready, things only get tougher from here on out! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Casey Abrams' Save On 'American Idol': Fans React! Posted: 25 Mar 2011 09:42 AM PDT Most commenters thought the 'Idol' judges made the right decision to keep the quirky, bearded contestant on the show.
Casey Abrams looked like he was going to be sick when the "American Idol" judges announced on Thursday night that they had no doubt that he deserved this season's one-and-only save. The bearded bass plucker tried to look happy, but the shock of the moment nearly dropped him to his knees, even as Randy, Jennifer and Steven explained to him that they were equally surprised he was this week's lowest vote getter and that they couldn't let such a prodigious talent slip away so soon.
Based on the comments you made after Thursday night's suspense-packed elimination show, most of you are on Team Casey, as well. "The people in America should recognize when they have tremendous artists like Casey and don't vote them out just like that," wrote Sharon. "The judges [were] completely right, CASEY deserves to be there, he is a unique [and] talented artist. CASEY YOU ROCK!!!!!" Peggy Sue couldn't have agreed more, writing, "I'm glad the judges used their save on Casey. The save is meant to keep a flub-up happening such as someone going home too early, and the only other person I would want to save is James [Durbin] (maybe Jacob [Lusk]). It's a good reminder for America to vote for their favorites, whether you think they are safe or not. Casey is a little bit unsteady — he is clearly very musical and fun and creative. He needs to use all of that to show us how he could entertain us in the big world, not in his backyard show." Seeing Casey on the brink of elimination was a total shock for Sweetum29, who said Abrams deserved another chance thanks to his unique voice and winning personality. If anything, Sweetum wondered just what in the heck was wrong with America's voters, opining, "This man always sings great and gives the audience a show instead of just standing in one spot blowing out a tune." Among the dissenters was Scooter_88, who wrote that while Abrams and Paul McDonald are among the most talented musicians on season 10, "[they] do not have pop voices, so they will probably never win this show." Sheila seconded that emotion, while adding, emphatically, that there was "nothing so special with his voice!!! he always yell[s] or scream[s] ... very irritating." Others referred to the bearded, J.Lo-anointed sex symbol as a "cheap imitation of [forgotten season-five winner] Taylor Hicks, but at least Taylor could sing. I think the judges wasted their save." Perhaps Candy summed up the hirsute singer's polarizing effect on some voters best with the pointed response, "Casey as the lowest is no surprise to me. His performances have been weird, he looks weird, he sounds weird, he acts weird, and he IS weird." Reader Rimersh pointed out one of the long-running ironies of "Idol" voting, that "when someone is a clear favorite many will not vote," which could explain how the heavily hyped Abrams ended up near the abyss. What do you think about Casey's save? Let us know in comment below! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Chris Brown Parts Ways With Rep After 'Good Morning America' Incident Posted: 25 Mar 2011 09:17 AM PDT Tammy Brook reportedly left singer's camp on Friday.
The fallout from Chris Brown's post-"Good Morning America" outburst continued on Friday (March 25), when The New York Post's Page Six reported that the singer has parted ways with his publicist, Tammy Brook.
Brook, who also reps athletes like Mike Tyson and Chris Bosh, could not be reached for comment by the newspaper, but according to other reports, she "quit" the job. A source tells MTV News that the decision was mutual, but regardless, the news caps off a tumultuous week for Brown, who allegedly smashed a window at ABC's Times Square studios following his interview with Robin Roberts, in which she repeatedly brought up his 2009 assault on then girlfriend Rihanna and the subsequent legal drama that followed. Brown then reacted to the interview in a (since deleted) tweet that read, "I'm so over people bringing this past sh-- up!!! Yet we praise Charlie Sheen and other celebs for [their] bullsh--." That interview occurred on Tuesday, the same day Brown dropped his F.A.M.E. album, and hours before he was set to appear on MTV's "The Seven" to premiere his brand-new video for the single "Beautiful People," an appearance he subsequently canceled. Later that night, at his album release party, Brown was reportedly in great spirits. He has also apologized for the "GMA" incident, saying on BET's "106 & Park" that he was "disappointed in the way [he] acted." All that drama hasn't affected his album sales, though. According to Billboard, Brown's F.A.M.E. album is set to debut atop the albums chart next week, with projected sales of 250,000-300,000 copies. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| B.o.B Goes After Tyler, The Creator In 'No Future' Posted: 25 Mar 2011 08:15 AM PDT Bobby Ray's track comes in response to Odd Future MC's 'Yonkers' dig.
Not everyone is amused by the antics of Odd Future's Tyler, the Creator. B.o.B took aim at the upstart on Friday (March 25) with a fiery dis track titled "No Future," a response to a line the California rapper issued on his breakout "Yonkers." "What you think of Hayley Williams?/ F--- her, Wolf Haley robbing 'em," Tyler raps on the song. "I'll crash that f---ing airplane that that f----t n---a B.o.B is in/ And stab Bruno Mars in his goddamn esophagus." The line is characteristic of Tyler and his crew's shocking rhymes; the collective are, in part, inspired by Eminem and works like his Relapse album with its slew of serial-killer references. The "Airplanes" star, however, isn't a fan. "If I was you I would be a little more cautious," Bobby Ray raps on "No Future." "I'm way too high for you to look at/ The future ain't looking promising for these rookies/ This is target practice but I don't even pull the f---ing trigger anymore, 'cause it's just a waste of bullets/ Come and get this pu---, wipe them off the floor/ I'm guessing they was hoping for some different results/ I'm guessing they was guessing 'cause they wasn't really sure/ But f--- it, I guess I'mma have to let these n----s know. "Keep f---ing with me, you ain't gon have no future," he concludes. Tyler responded via Twitter. Perhaps taking the high road after driving too close to the edge, the 20-year-old wrote that he didn't think "No Future" was a dis track. He even gave B.o.B props on the rhyme. "Whoa," he wrote in his first message. "I don't think the 'No Future' song is even a diss. But I've never heard him spit like that. Took me by surprise, cus it's tight." A second message took a swipe at producer Alex Da Kid over "Airplanes" and "Love the Way You Lie" sounding too similar. What do you think of B.o.B's response to the "Yonkers" track? Sound off in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
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