MTV News |
- The Black Eyed Peas Recall Prince's 'I Gotta Feeling' Praise
- Reese Witherspoon Says Kissing Sick Robert Pattinson 'Wasn't Pleasant'
- 'Friday' Singer Rebecca Black Death Threats: Cyber Expert Weighs In
- It's Earth Day!: What Are Hollywood's Green Celebs Up To?
- Stefano Langone Eliminated From 'American Idol'
- Beastie Boys' 'Fight For Your Right Revisited': Five Things You Might Have Missed
- Kanye West Joins Katy Perry On 'American Idol' For 'E.T.'
- Jeremy Renner Cast In 'The Bourne Legacy'
- Paul McDonald Explains His Pre-'American Idol' Rap-Video Cameo
- Lil B Says <i>I'm Gay</i> LP Title Provoking Death Threats, Slurs
- Chris Brown Hits The Studio With M.I.A.
- Prodigy Didn't Want To Respond To Tupac Dis, N.O.R.E. Says
- 'Bang Bang Club' Star Malin Akerman Talks Photographers' Deaths In Libya
- Audrina Patridge 'Not Surprised' Mom Is New Show's Breakout Star
- Smoke DZA Calls His Solo Success 'A Blessing'
- Elton John Marvels As 'The Union' Opens Tribeca Film Fest
- 'American Idol' Report Card: Haley Reinhart Rules The 21st Century!
- Lady Gaga Apologizes For 'Retarded' Comment
- Dr. Dre Wins <i>Chronic</i> Royalties Lawsuit
| The Black Eyed Peas Recall Prince's 'I Gotta Feeling' Praise Posted: 22 Apr 2011 03:52 AM PDT 'Those songs don't come all the time,' will.i.am remembers the Purple One telling him.
In 2009, the Black Eyed Peas found incredible success with their feel-good party track "I Gotta Feeling." It was a multicultural club banger that was all about being with your pals and embracing those moments of pure party joy. Now, it's become a staple of their live show, and frontman will.i.am was surprised to learn about one of the song's biggest fans.
"I remember we played the song in Minnesota, and Prince was at the show, and he called me on the phone afterwards. He said, 'Congratulations,' " will.i.am recalled. "He says, 'You know, those songs don't come all the time. You're blessed to have one of those songs. You know, they're gifts.' I was like, 'Wow.' For someone like Prince to tell you that, that's bigger than a Grammy for me." Night after night, the song gets an incredible response from fans. "When we perform it, in my mind, like, 'Where did that song come from?' I can't believe this is us and look at all these people singing it like it's theirs," he told MTV News when we caught up with the group at Terminal 5 in New York, where they were taping a show set to air Friday night (April 22) at midnight ET on MTV. "Wow, that's a beautiful thing." That song came just at the right time, since the band was looking for a way to update their concerts. "We used to do 'Let's Get It Started' at the end, because that was our big finale, which didn't really make sense. And for a while, [we did] 'My Humps' and then it got to the point where we didn't want to play 'My Humps' no more. You know, 'cause 'I met a girl down at the disco,' I just didn't want to say that no more, lyrically. "It wasn't like my best lyrically, but it was fun," he continued. "It wasn't lyrical miracles, but the beat was rocking, so we throw the beat in there and just let the beat linger, but now 'I Gotta Feeling' is like 'What?' " Don't miss the Black Eyed Peas' performance Friday at midnight ET on MTV. |
| Reese Witherspoon Says Kissing Sick Robert Pattinson 'Wasn't Pleasant' Posted: 22 Apr 2011 03:52 AM PDT 'Water for Elephants' actress reveals, 'He did have a very runny nose.'
On camera, the love scenes between Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson in their period drama "Water for Elephants" — which opens in theaters Friday (April 22) — look glamorous and romantic. Behind the scenes, however, it was anything but.
Never mind that both stars were involved in relationships during the filming of the big-screen adaptation (Witherspoon with her now-husband, Jim Toth, and Pattinson with speculated girlfriend Kristen Stewart) but the 24-year-old actor also happened to be fighting a nasty cold. As the "Twilight" hunk revealed during his "MTV First: Robert Pattinson" special, "The love scene in ['Water for Elephants']: I was doing it when I had a really bad cold." He went on to divulge, "My nose is running all over the place, and it was in one of the additional photography scenes, and Reese had this wig on, and literally, I was wiping my nose on her wig." And when his Oscar-winning co-star sat down with us, she confirmed it was just as unsavory as he described. "He did have a very runny nose, yeah," she recalled, adding, "It wasn't appealing; it wasn't pleasant." Still, the 35-year-old actress knows that even a runny nose wouldn't deter Pattinson's most fervent fans. Her advice for anyone planning on getting close to RPattz on or off camera: "Bring a Sudafed!" However, when Witherspoon isn't dispensing advice on how to get through a love scene with RPattz, she's enjoying domestic bliss with her husband. In fact, the newlyweds have been finding themselves in the same situation as many couples: compromising what shows to watch on television. The actress said that while she's had to watch the biker drama series against her will, she's now turned into "a big fan." But, there was no need to convince the star to watch "Eastbound and Down," the soon-to-be-retired HBO comedy starring Danny McBride. " 'Eastbound and Down' makes me laugh," Witherspoon told MTV News. "You gotta love Kenny Powers." Would you want to make out with Robert Pattinson even if he had a cold? Let us know in the comments section and on Twitter! Check out everything we've got on "Water for Elephants." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Friday' Singer Rebecca Black Death Threats: Cyber Expert Weighs In Posted: 22 Apr 2011 03:52 AM PDT Cyber-security pro says teens are 'playing crazies online as a way of acting out.'
The Internet has brought stars closer than ever to their fans and opened up an unprecedented two-way path of communication between once-untouchable celebrities and their biggest followers. But it has also opened up a forum that deranged or attention-seeking devotees have begun exploiting as the latest and most serious form of cyber-stalking: anonymous death threats. The latest victim of such attacks is "Friday" sensation Rebecca Black, who ABC News reported has been receiving threats by e-mail and phone ever since her song became a viral sensation. Police in Anaheim, California, have begun an investigation into the actions against 13-year-old Black, and cyber-security expert Parry Aftab told MTV News that it's important to not take such anonymous threats lightly. "The thing is: They think they can get away with it and that's because they often do get away with it," said Aftab, one of the leading experts on cyber-security and cyber-abuse issues. "A death threat is actionable in every state, and when someone like Justin Bieber (his girlfriend Selena Gomez) or Rebecca Black gets them, they tend to brush them off as someone who is on the Internet and doesn't matter, but you don't know the difference between someone wearing Pokemon pajamas and living in their mom's basement who is harmless and people who are really nutty enough to kill you." Aftab warned that all the big social networks are now taking enforcement of cyber-stalking very seriously and working with law enforcement to root out the attackers. "These are people looking for attention, with nothing else to do in their lives," she said. "They're not mature enough to deal with society and don't know how to get attention in good ways." And while they may be empowered by the anonymity of the Internet and they may get the attention they seek by taking on someone with a high profile and millions of fans as a quick way to gain cyber-fame, Aftab warned that these actions are absolutely against both state and federal laws. "If you make a threat of serious bodily harm or a death threat, a true threat, the Supreme Court has ruled that that is not protected by the First Amendment," she said. And while these actions are often the work of lonely "trolls" who are seeking attention, Aftab said even if some are posted by fellow teens who are jealous, looking for a thrill or just joking around, authorities will take them seriously. "If you're in an airport and you're goofing around with your friends in the security line and talk about, 'He's got a bomb,' you are going to go to jail. It might be funny, but there are very clear-cut laws and this is one of them," she said. "There are many cases where it's a 15-year-old on the other side and they're not crazies, but they're playing crazies online as a way of acting out." Friends joking around is one thing, but according to federal cyber-stalking laws, if you communicate with someone anonymously and they can't evaluate how real the threat is and your intent is to annoy or harass, the FBI can investigate it and you can go to jail for two years. In a case like Black's, where the singer has elicited a lot of negative response from people who are annoyed by her simplistic, insanely catchy song, Aftab chalks the death threats up to a loss of civility and people not knowing how to object to something without resorting to the most extreme words and using the secrecy of the Internet as a screen for their hate or jealously. "They think it doesn't matter because they're only words and they're doing it anonymously on Facebook, but they don't realize that it's just as legally actionable as if you went up to [a celebrity] face to face and said, 'I want to kill you.' " As for how victims of such actions can protect themselves, Aftab suggested the victim keep the communication going with the person making the threats, but not respond to them or say they're going to report them to the authorities. In the meantime, they should contact the local authorities and, she suggested, visit a site like SpectorSoft, which offers what she called the most powerful monitoring software available, which is able to log all incoming and outgoing communications on your computers and some smartphones and trace them so authorities can find out who is behind the harassment and bring charges. "Run silent and run deep, but do not respond," she counseled. "It only feeds this." MTV's ongoing project also provides stories and resources for anyone who believes they are being cyber-bullied or who is looking for ways to stop harassment by digital means. Related Videos |
| It's Earth Day!: What Are Hollywood's Green Celebs Up To? Posted: 22 Apr 2011 03:52 AM PDT Leo DiCaprio, Joe Jonas, Alicia Silverstone and more are doing their part for Mother Earth.
Some of Hollywood's biggest names have been open about their love for the planet. So in honor of Earth Day, MTV News zeroed in on some of La La Land's greenest superstars to show the ways in which they're using their celebrity to shed light on important environmental causes. Leonardo DiCaprio has set the bar very high for other green celebs. And he is, in many ways, the face of environmentally-minded Hollywood. Not only does he have his own foundation focused on finding sustainable options, but he also wrote, produced, and narrated "The 11th Hour," a film about the dangers of global warming. Much like DiCaprio, Ed Norton is a well-known activist who has worked with charities that help bring attention to Mother Earth. Norton has also teamed up with the Enterprise Green Communities Initiative and BP's Solar Neighbors program. He recently worked with Joe Jonas for the singer's Change for the Children Foundation. Joe has been vocal about the ways his fans can help the planet. Last year, he recorded the song "Make a Wave" for the "Oceans" soundtrack, and he spoke MTV News about getting involved. "There [are] a lot of things that people can do to help out that they don't really know about. The movie really ... helps you understand what you can do. Whether it's really taking your time and going to the beaches and helping out or whether it's something at home, there's so many different things that if we all do it together, just like anything else, we can make a big impact." Alicia Silverstone, a vegan, continues to spread the word about eating sustainable foods. She released a cookbook, "The Kind Diet," and shared with MTV News why she feels it's important others eat in a way that's both "kind" to the environment and their own bodies. "I started to glow, and people were like, 'Why do you look so great?' I felt so much better, and I used to take an asthma inhaler and I used to get allergy shots — and all that stuff went away. And my skin got great," she explained. "So what I found was at first, I thought this was good karma." Other well-known celebrity activists include Hayden Panettiere, Chace Crawford, Rosario Dawson and American Ferrera. How are you helping the planet on Earth Day? Tell us in the comments! |
| Stefano Langone Eliminated From 'American Idol' Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:03 AM PDT Haley Reinhart and Jacob Lusk also land in the bottom three.
Wednesday night's "Music of the 21st Century" wasn't kind to most of the "American Idol" contestants, but even with a few missteps, host Ryan Seacrest revealed on Thursday's (April 21) results show that more than 52 million votes were cast for the top seven. After an unrelenting march of early female departures, the remaining two ladies were safe for a second week, though Haley Reinhart did land in the bottom three again, if only for a moment before being ushered back to safety. That left often-on-the-brink wild card Stefano Langone and Jacob Lusk sweating out their fate by hour's end.
The fourth time, alas, was not a charm for Langone, as his luck finally ran out and Lusk lived to sing another day. Looking like his usual cocky self, Langone smiled and seemed happily resigned to his fate as he watched his highlights package. "It started my career and ... you can't put a price on that," he said in response to Seacrest's question about how the show had changed Stefano's life. He then happily sang Stevie Wonder's "Lately" one more time, giving the audience another taste of his cruise-ship talents as rocker James Durbin openly wept at the sight of his pal grabbing the mic for the last time. In fact, Durbin couldn't control his emotions and ran out to bear-hug and spin Langone around as he finished the song before the car-crash survivor was enveloped in a group hug. Earlier in the night, the first two to get the results were Lusk and Casey Abrams, with Seacrest still talking about the spontaneous kiss Casey sprang on judge Jennifer Lopez the night before. Even after the return of his scary-face singing on Maroon 5's "Harder to Breathe," Abrams was safe, while Lusk was back in the bottom three after failing to convince viewers with his cover of hero Luther Vandross' "Dance With my Father." When Seacrest asked Lauren Alaina, Durbin and Langone to take the long walk, it was no surprise that Langone was back in the bottom three after his tepid take on Ne-Yo's "Closer," which meant Alaina and Durbin were safe. And it seemed pretty obvious when Scotty McCreery and Reinhart were the last two to get the news that front-runner McCreery would likely be safe, and he was, meaning once again Reinhart was facing elimination after her good notices for Adele's "Rolling in the Deep." She wasn't down long, though, as Seacrest ushered her to safety just moments later. Earlier in the night, Lauren, Haley, Stefano and Jacob sang a version of Train's "Hey, Soul Sister" to open the show that managed to make the fluffy pop confection even frothier. That was followed by Casey, Scotty and James singing a "Glee"-ky version of Coldplay's "Viva la Vida," during which a self-assured Durbin stole the show coming off like the seasoned showman next to a pair of flat amateurs with shaky stage presence. The show also found season-seven winner David Cook coming home to sing his new single, the midtempo rocker "The Last Goodbye," and Katy Perry taking the stage in a glowing white space suit to sing her hit alien love song "E.T." with a surprise cameo from fur-decked collaborator Kanye West. Next week, the top six take on the catalog of 1970s pop icon Carole King on Wednesday night and Bruno Mars drops in to perform on Thursday's elimination show. Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com 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 |
| Beastie Boys' 'Fight For Your Right Revisited': Five Things You Might Have Missed Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:20 AM PDT Star-studded film is packed with nods to the Beasties' past and present.
By now, you've probably watched — and subsequently re-watched — the Beastie Boys' new "Fight For Your Right Revisited" film, which premiered at midnight Thursday morning (April 21) on MTV2, mtvU, VH1 Classic and Palladia. In theory, it's a tongue-in-cheek retrospective on the Beasties' early License To Ill days, picking up where their sublimely stoopid "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)" video left off, following Mike D, Ad-Rock and MCA — as played by Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood and Danny McBride, respectively — on a drunken spree that culminates in an epic dance battle against their future selves (John C. Reilly, Will Ferrell and Jack Black, just in case you're keeping score at home). But really, it works just as well as a rather-involved exercise in cameo spotting, as seemingly everyone in the universe pops up for a frame or three.
Thankfully, the Beasties were nice enough to include a list of co-stars in the closing credits. Our favorites include Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci as the bewildered parents who interrogate the Beasties post-party, Will Arnett as a businessman who gives a shout-out to "Arrested Development" ("COME ON!") and Orlando Bloom's inexplicable three-second cameo as a window washer in a Def Jam windbreaker. But there seems to be a batch of uncredited cameos too — we're pretty sure we saw Danny Masterson and Zach Galifianakis in there. In fact, outside of some of Michael Jackson's biggest videos ("Liberian Girl" and "Remember the Time" come to mind), "Fight For Your Right Revisited" might very well be the most celeb-heavy video of all time. But, as we said, "Fight For Your Right" is also so much more. And while you were busy trying to keep track of all the cameos, you probably failed to notice some of the film's subtler moments — nods to the Beasties' past and present, the majority of which pass by with blink-and-you'll-miss-it speed. Here are five we've noticed. And while we've watched the thing no less than a dozen times, we're sure there are some we missed. Let us know in the comments below! Chateau Ted el Michel Dée: Nathanial Hornblower: "Shake Your Rump": Stuyvesant High School: Vincent van Gogh: What else did you spot in "Fight For Your Right Revisited"? Tell us below! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kanye West Joins Katy Perry On 'American Idol' For 'E.T.' Posted: 21 Apr 2011 07:03 AM PDT Duo play up hit song's intergalactic theme with laser-heavy performance.
Katy Perry transported "E.T." to the "American Idol" stage Thursday (April 21) and even brought a special guest along with her: Kanye West. The two reprised their recent #1 hit on the "Idol" stage in a pre-taped appearance during the "Idol" results show. The performance kicked off with Kanye's opening verse piped in via music video, so it was a surprise when the Coachella headliner appeared onstage with Perry later in the song.
Perry was carried on to the stage, arms outstretched, by three dancers dressed in alien getups, who hoisted Russell Brand's better half high above their heads. Perry was decked out in a white, form-fitting bodysuit tricked out with pink LED lights and a long white cape. She wore some sort of futuristic space crown atop her head, making her look like the queen of a far-off pop planet. Green lasers crisscrossed the darkened "Idol" stage as Perry was placed into a throne-like cage, which was carted across the stage by her team of a half-dozen alien dancers. West took the stage in a leather coat accented with a fur overlay and exercised self-censorship on his verse's "alien sex" line. West and Perry faced off at center stage, moving toward and away from each other to play up the tension between them. In the song's closing moments, Perry softly caressed West's cheek before retreating back to her throne, where the lights dimmed and her suit lit up with blinking, zigzagging lights. Perry and West both have a history with "American Idol." Perry chipped in as a guest judge during the early rounds in season nine, at one point threatening to throw a Coke in Kara DioGuardi's face, and performed "Waking Up in Vegas" -- in an Elvis jumpsuit, no less -- on the show during season eight. Earlier that same season, West took to the "Idol" stage to perform "Heartless," from his 808s and Heartbreak LP, which would later be transformed into a winning performance by that season's champ, Kris Allen. What did you think of Perry and West's performance? Let us know in the comments! Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com 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 Related Artists |
| Jeremy Renner Cast In 'The Bourne Legacy' Posted: 21 Apr 2011 06:46 AM PDT Film is not set to include Matt Damon's Jason Bourne.
After months of speculation, Universal has officially named actor Jeremy Renner as the star of "The Bourne Legacy." According to Deadline, the two-time Oscar nominee (for "The Hurt Locker" and "The Town") is expected to "sign on quickly" to play a new character in the spin-off film written and directed by "Bourne" screenwriter Tony Gilroy. Renner will reportedly play an operative from a covert government program that is even more dangerous than the Treadstone brainwashing program that hatched Jason Bourne, memorably played by Matt Damon in the first three hit films. For those who have been following the ups and downs of the "Bourne" saga, Renner's casting is not at all a surprise, given reports that leaked earlier this month saying he had been offered the role. The actor beat out a slew of talented and buzzworthy contenders, which reportedly included Alex Pettyfer, Taylor Kitsch, Dominic Cooper, Garrett Hedlund and Luke Evans. Gilroy has previously stated that although Damon's Bourne will not be a part of "Legacy," he has left the door open for future Bourne-centric films down the road. "The easiest way to think of it is an expansion or a reveal," Gilroy said of his story for "Legacy." "Jason Bourne will not be in this film, but he's very much alive. What happened in the first three films is the trigger for what happens. I'm building a legend and an environment and a wider conspiracy. ... The world we're making enhances and advances and invites Jason Bourne's return [down the road]." Production is said to begin in September. Check out everything we've got on "The Bourne Legacy." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Paul McDonald Explains His Pre-'American Idol' Rap-Video Cameo Posted: 21 Apr 2011 03:20 AM PDT On 'Idol Party Live,' McDonald talks about his appearance in KC Jockey's 2008 'Rub Your Body' video.
Back in 2008, Paul McDonald hadn't even dreamed of auditioning for "American Idol" and probably had no idea who Nikki Reed was. Instead, he was on tour with his band, the Grand Magnolias, and, on a rare off day, decided to roll into Atlanta to see his manager. Little did he know that infamy awaited.
See, on that day, McDonald and his bandmates unwittingly appeared in a rap video for KC Jockey, an artist under the tutelage of Akon. Sadly, much like the video itself, McDonald's rather amazing cameos (he smiled a lot even back then) went unnoticed -- until the singer began making waves on "Idol," at which point Jockey's "Rub Your Body" clip quickly made waves across the show's many fan sites. It is, to be quite honest, one of the most inexplicable things you'll ever see (McDonald makes his first appearance as a background dancer around the 2:20 mark). And so, when he stopped by the MTV Newsroom last week, we had to ask the beaming crooner just how the rather amazing bit of music history came to be. "This was a rap video that I stumbled into," he laughed on MTV News' "Idol Party Live," which streams live Thursdays at noon on MTV.com. "Back in the day, my manager lived in Atlanta, and we were going to a Raconteurs concert at the Tabernacle, and he lives in this big complex where a bunch of rappers ... lived, and we walked in there and they were like, 'Hey, Akon is filming a video in the penthouse upstairs, you guys should go up and say "what's up!," ' because he knew we were in a band. "And as soon as we went up, everyone was partying, and they're like, 'Guys, come in here! Get in the video!' So I got in there and, yes, I made my rap-video debut," he continued. "I thought it was an Akon video the whole time. It ended up being KC Jockey 'Rub Your Body.' " But rather than be embarrassed by his cameo — and, with the dancing he displays, he probably should be — McDonald has come to embrace his brief dalliance into the world of hip-hop. As he put it, it may pay dividends down the road. "It's my rap-video debut," he smiled. "I got some street cred." Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com 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 |
| Lil B Says <i>I'm Gay</i> LP Title Provoking Death Threats, Slurs Posted: 21 Apr 2011 04:54 AM PDT 'One-hundred years later, people gonna thank me, because people are going to be free,' the Based God tells MTV News.
In his steady rise to rap notoriety, Lil B has relied heavily on his viral fanbase. His multiple MySpace pages, Facebook "likes" and army of Twitter followers have helped propel his music and message. But ever since Lil B announced at Coachella last week that the title of his next album will be I'm Gay, some fans have turned on the Based God. A few have even sent digital death threats. "People been hitting me up like, 'I'm gonna bash your head in,' 'you f----t,' 'I'm gonna kill you,' " Lil B told MTV News on Thursday (April 21), as he drove to a show at the Mezzanine in San Francisco.
With upcoming shows lined up in Chicago, Detroit and at the Bamboozle Festival in New Jersey in the next few weeks, Lil B showed no signs of fear and said he'd proceed with his scheduled dates. "I'm not gonna stop and I'm not scared of anybody on earth," he said of the Twitter backlash. "That's why I [titled the album I'm Gay] and nobody gonna stop me." B insisted he's not a homosexual, but that he is gay, i.e., extremely happy, flipping the word and focusing on its other definition. "I'm very gay, but I love women. I'm not attracted to men in any way. I've never been attracted to a man in my life. But yes I am gay, I'm so happy," he said. "I'm a gay, heterosexual male." A spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) told XXLMag.com that they hope Lil B's album title is "not a gimmick, and is really a sincere attempt to be an ally." B stressed to MTV News that he is in fact a supporter. "I got major love for the gay and lesbian community, and I just want to push less separation and that's why I'm doing it," the Based God said. "I hope GLAAD sees that I'm taking initial steps to break barriers." When we asked about the makeup of his fanbase, B said he hadn't noticed whether there was any significant portion of his following that identifies as gay, but that some have already had a negative reaction to his title selection. "A lot of my supporters have turned on me. It's been a few supporters that's saying, 'I'm not gonna rock with you anymore,' " the controversial MC revealed. "That's fine, because you know what? They didn't love me for real anyway." Although the rapper has yet to begin recording the album, he expects to have it ready and available on iTunes in the next month or two. Lil B also believes that even though he's facing resistance now, in the future he'll be hailed as a hero. "One-hundred years later, people gonna thank me, because people are going to be free. And that's the main thing. Even if it's 1 percent of the people that listen to me and are gonna be free, that's better than none," he said. "That's better than not speaking up at all ... and I spoke up and I did it." What do you think of Lil B's decision to call his album I'm Gay? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Chris Brown Hits The Studio With M.I.A. Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:00 PM PDT Singer tweets about the session, which also included producer Polow da Don.
Chris Brown is branching out. His F.A.M.E. album sees him expanding his repertoire, and he's already straddled the line between R&B and dance with "Beautiful People." Now, he's looking to push things even further. Though, to be honest, we're not exactly sure in what direction. Brown recently logged studio time with the unlikely combination of M.I.A. and Polow da Don, a collaboration he broke on his Twitter account. "Was in the studio with the incredible M.I.A. and Polow," he wrote. "Amazing artist[s]! Real talent!" Polow further confirmed the collabo on his Twitter account, and, from the sound of things, the music they made was revelatory. "In the lab wit the great Chris Brown and the incredible M.I.A.," Polow wrote (in ALL CAPS). "Thank you dear lord!" Polow added, "I've waited on this moment my whole career ... I feel this song in my soul!" For her part, M.I.A. remained silent about the music, but did mention that she was "shootin' hoops" with Brown and the producer. It's not known if the music they collaborated on is meant for a re-release of Brown's F.A.M.E., the follow-up to M.I.A.'s 2010 album MAYA or something else entirely. Emails to reps for both artists were not responded to by press time. Brown is currently on tour in Australia, where, judging by his Twitter feed, he's taking time to see a whole lot of movies and playing basketball with the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League. What are you expecting from a Chris Brown/ M.I.A. collabo? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Prodigy Didn't Want To Respond To Tupac Dis, N.O.R.E. Says Posted: 21 Apr 2011 02:28 AM PDT N.O.R.E. contradicts account of events in Prodigy's autobiography.
The accounts in Prodigy's newly released book "My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep's Prodigy" (Simon and Schuster) has fellow Queens rapper N.O.R.E. up in arms about P's recollection of things. On Wednesday, Noreaga spoke to MTV News and questioned why his longtime friend would bring up already-settled street beefs that eventually left two men shot. The "Super Thug" rapper is also refuting Prodigy's claim that "L.A., L.A." — a 1996 dis song aimed at Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound and Tupac Shakur — was originally a Mobb Deep track. Noreaga goes on to say that originally, Prodigy wanted no parts of the much-hyped East Coast/ West Coast beef.
"Now, is he delusional?" Nore asked. "Have you seen the record ever been [credited as] Mobb Deep featuring Capone-N-Noreaga?" The original "L.A., L.A." was recorded in 1996, and a remixed version later appeared on Capone-N-Noreaga's 1997 debut album The War Report. The track was a direct response to Tha Dogg Pound's "New York, New York" and its video, which famously featured larger-than-life versions of Snoop Dogg, Kurupt and Daz kicking over New York skyscrapers. While N.O.R.E. does admit that Prodigy originally had a verse on the C-N-N song, he says that P had his record label, Loud Records, request to have his verse removed. "Loud called us and said, 'You have to make sure that Prodigy verse doesn't exist,' " Nore said. "What happened was in between that time 'Pac dropped ['Hit 'Em Up'] and said, 'Mobb Deep, don't one of you dudes got sickle-cell.' " "L.A., L.A." provided a notable moment in the mid-'90's East Coast/ West Coast feud, when rappers from both New York and California hurled disses at each other. The late Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur were the principal players, but rappers like Nas, Jay-Z, Mobb Deep and Snoop Dogg were also called out at one point in the coastal rivalry. In his book, Prodigy criticized Jay-Z for not standing up to 'Pac's slander, but Nore contends that originally Prodigy also had some apprehension in involving himself in the war of words. "So, even when he said he was mad at Jay-Z for not representing New York, he's delusional," he says. "['L.A., L.A.' wasn't him; that wasn't his idea. That was a Capone-N-Noreaga, Tragedy thing." N.O.R.E. also points out another discrepancy in the autobiography that was released earlier this week. Prodigy claimed that his Mobb Deep counterpart Havoc once punched veteran Queensbridge rapper Tragedy in the face for having an affair with his girlfriend while Nore looked on. "When he says that [Havoc] stepped to Trag and I was there, it was all fabricated," he says. "All I know from Havoc and Trag's relationship was that they were cool. So, when I read the book, and he's actually saying things that he's heard, maybe from his perspective, but he's definitely not speaking the truth when it comes to me." Related Artists |
| 'Bang Bang Club' Star Malin Akerman Talks Photographers' Deaths In Libya Posted: 21 Apr 2011 03:39 AM PDT 'It is incredible how relevant ... this film is to what is going on in Libya,' she tells MTV News.
Given the recent deaths of photojournalists Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros, who were killed while covering the battles between rebels and Libyan government forces, the subject matter of the new film "The Bang Bang Club" could not be more timely. The film revolves around the real-life story of four combat photographers who risked their lives to capture the brutality and violence associated with the first free elections in post-apartheid South Africa in the early '90s.
MTV News recently spoke to co-star Malin Akerman about the incredible circumstances now surrounding the film. "It's crazy. No matter what, whether it be now or two years ago, the untimely death of Tim Hetherington and Chris [Hondros] is sad and really awful and incredible that it happened as this movie is coming out," she said, adding the fact that no matter where we are in time, there are always civil and religious wars raging in the world. "It's never the wrong moment to shed light on it," Akerman said. "It is incredible how relevant ... this film is to what is going on in Libya. I hope people come out of this film and go, 'All right, let's look overseas and see what's happening and see what we can do.' " Speaking to what motivates this specific "breed" of journalists to consistently put themselves in harm's way, Akerman said that it's not just about capturing unforgettable events on film, but also about the adrenaline rush. "They're crazy. They really are adrenaline junkies," she said. "I just saw Greg Marinovich, who is one of the photographers [who inspired the film], and he walks around at all times with two cameras. ... He never leaves home without his cameras. It's a limb for them, it's an extension of their bodies, it's what they live for." Check out everything we've got on "The Bang Bang Club." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Audrina Patridge 'Not Surprised' Mom Is New Show's Breakout Star Posted: 20 Apr 2011 11:17 PM PDT Ex-'Hills' star tells MTV News outspoken mom Lynn has always been 'the life of the party.'
Even before Audrina Patridge's new VH1 show, "Audrina," debuted last Sunday, the Internet was abuzz about what her mom, Lynn, would bring to the show. In many ways, Lynn's the breakout star of the reality series, which follows Audrina's career, love life and family.
"I was not surprised at all that my mom was a breakout star," she told MTV News. "She's the life of the party everywhere we go and ever since we were little, everyone that meets my mom, they absolutely fall in love with her. She just has that personality and she's very blunt and says what she means, but it all comes out from a good place and she's so much fun and has the biggest heart. I was excited for her." Audrina is, of course, no rookie when it comes to starring in a reality show. She spent years sharing life with the world as one of the breakout stars of MTV's "The Hills." Now, however, she's ready to show more than just Justin Bobby drama. "I was really excited. You know, it's kind of crazy watching yourself again and reliving everything that you went through, but it was fun," she said of the debut episode of "Audrina." "It's different and similar [to 'The Hills'], and in many ways I feel like it's different because it's really about my life outside of 'The Hills' world," she continued. "And so this is really up close and personal. My family's in it, my relationship's in it and my business is in it, my endorsements and everything, like, my dreams and goals and trying to achieve that." And if you thought she shared a lot in the past, just wait till you see what happens in the show's upcoming episodes. "I really opened up and brought the cameras with me. ... This is me uncensored and it's my family uncensored," she teased. "What you see is what you get." What do you think of Audrina's new reality show? Tell us in the comments! |
| Smoke DZA Calls His Solo Success 'A Blessing' Posted: 21 Apr 2011 12:34 AM PDT Harlem MC ditches his street ways for a hip-hop hustle, in Mixtape Daily.
Fire Starter: Smoke DZA
"I'm really talking about the game -- the other side and past stuff that I've been through in the street," DZA said of the subject matter on THC. "Just being able to talk about that right now and not talk about that [from jail] is a blessing, because it could have went a different way." Smoke may have started out on the street hustling, but rap proved to be his true calling. He started his career as one-half of the local New York rap duo Smoke & Numbers in 2004, but split from the group, went solo and dropped Substance Abuse in 2009. DZA followed the next year with his follow-up project George Kush Da Button. It was George Kush that made Smoke a fan favorite and got him the exposure needed to take his show on the road. In 2010, DZA embarked on Curren$y's Smoker's Club Tour, a 40-city trek that also included artists such as Big K.R.I.T. and Dom Kennedy. "George Kush was the beginning of what you are seeing now," DZA said. Now, with THC, Smokey seems to have really hit his stride. The album, which is available as a free download on his website, features lyrical contributions from other notable rap rooks like Kendrick Lamar ("Uptown 81") and Kid Daytona ("Cool Sh--"), as well as beats from Hit-Boy and the highly demanded Lex Luger ("Loaded"). Building a foundation was key, and now Smoke said he's booked for shows throughout the year, including K.R.I.T.'s current Return of 4eva run and another tour with Curren$y next month. Still, DZA, who is independently signed to Cinematic Music Group, isn't about to let his life on the road interfere with his recording process. The marijuana-influenced MC is looking to drop Substance Abuse 2 as a retail release in September and another untitled project at the end of the year. Things have been going so well for Smoke, he intends to remain independent for as long as he can. "I like the independent route right now because I get to keep all of my bread and don't have to cut nobody in," he said. "I would love to get under that [major label] machine someday when the situation is right, but right now, I feel like being independent is the best way for me." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Elton John Marvels As 'The Union' Opens Tribeca Film Fest Posted: 20 Apr 2011 10:37 PM PDT 'We can't believe our luck,' Elton tells MTV News at red-carpet premiere of Cameron Crowe musical documentary.
Ten years on, the Tribeca Film Festival is going on as strong — and as unpredictable — as ever. Last spring, the fest kicked things off in midtown Manhattan with the premiere of "Shrek Forever After." This time around, Tribeca returned to its roots, settling into the Winter Garden at the World Financial Center (just steps from Ground Zero) for the debut of "The Union," Cameron Crowe's documentary about the Grammy-nominated musical collaboration between Elton John and Leon Russell.
"We can't believe our luck," Elton told MTV News Wednesday on the red carpet as paparazzi flashbulbs popped around him. Joining the music legend on the carpet were Martin Scorsese, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Anna Kendrick, Rainn Wilson, Denis Leary, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Zoe Kravitz, ?uestlove, David O. Russell and others. Elton himself confessed he was initially nervous to invite Crowe's cameras into the recording studio, but was very happy with the results and the opportunity to debut the film in New York. "I've never had a song filmed when I'm writing it, but Cameron's such a friend, I trusted him," he told us. "New York City is my favorite place to play. I've played 62 shows at Madison Square Garden, I've played at Radio City, Central Park, Shea Stadium, Fillmore East. It's been a very important city in my musical career and probably the most exciting city in the world." "The Union," then, provides a singular window into Elton's artistic process, and folks like ?uestlove couldn't wait to see what it was all about. "The '70s icons that we worship, they came before the information age," the Roots drummer told us. "Now, you can watch Kanye make beats, but I would love to see how Elton collaborates. Who does the music, who does the lyrics, how that all works out." And as the celebs glided down the red carpet on their way inside the theater, many couldn't help but marvel at how the festival, born in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, continues to thrive a decade later. "People forget that after 9/11, this neighborhood was devastated," Denis Leary told us. "People were afraid to come down and some people were moving out. [Robert] De Niro and [festival co-founder] Jane Rosenthal brought people back down. They brought culture back down and real spirit, which is much to their credit." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' Report Card: Haley Reinhart Rules The 21st Century! Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:08 AM PDT Watch 'Idol Party Live' for more of our thoughts on the top seven's performances.
What a bizarre "American Idol" evening it was! Kisses were bestowed, curses were hurled, tongues were wagged, and — wait, what? — the singers actually took on contemporary tunes rather than ones penned decades before they were born.
It's nice to know that, 10 seasons in, the show can still surprise us. And the contestants too! Haley Reinhart bounced back. James Durbin didn't make us want to flip over to another channel and endure the comparatively less-grating stylings of Guy Fieri on "Minute to Win It." And suddenly the Scotty McCreery love fest came to a close for reasons we still can't comprehend. Yes, it was a new dawn and a new day during 21st-century night on "Idol." Who will be granted new life? Who won't be feeling very good on Thursday's elimination show? Our "Idol" report card knows all. Excellent Haley Reinhart: The season's resident growler was back in fine form on Wednesday, following a clunker of a performance last week that we hope didn't permanently dent crooner-on-the-rise Haley's fanbase. She landed in the bottom three last week. If that happens again on Thursday, we'll be mega-pissed. Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" was simply a perfect fit for Haley, which really is saying something, considering song choice has been an ongoing problem for the contestant. The tune had a finger-snapping pulse to it, yet also left Haley room to explore. And explore she did (though she didn't hit every note along the way), seeking out every emotional corner of the tune, mixing that growly power with angelic vocal flights. Good Scotty McCreery: Scotty deserves an apology from the judges. Old Faithful stepped up and belted out essentially the same competent country ditty he's been doing for months, and suddenly Randy and Co. have a problem with it? The decision to critique him now, after a no-better-and-no-worse-than-before take on "Swingin'," seemed utterly arbitrary. The judges suddenly want Scotty to grow after telling him for so long he has no need to? Strange. (And conspiracy theorists might spot an attempt to construct an artificial reality-show narrative with a payoff next week: Scotty's back, y'all!) In any case, the truth is that his artistry has never been about growth. He's a fully-formed country singer. You either accept him for that, or you become bored to tears of the kid. You can't have it both ways. James Durbin: Our colleague Jim Cantiello compared Durbin's take on Muse to a violation of fundamental human rights, but here's why we're giving it a thumbs-up. We loathe James' contrived heavy metal impulses: The least rock-and-rock thing a singer can ever do is point out how damn rock-and-roll he is; his performance alongside Zakk Wylde last week served only to highlight James' schoolboy metalhead persona. This time around, the singer toned down the clamor and left his vocals with room to breathe. Were those vocals always on point? Did that squeal of his work out very well? No and no. Yet credit is due: James is learning what works on stage and, potentially, in a recording studio. Satisfactory Jacob Lusk: Wait! Just hold up a second! Jimmy Iovine thinks that America knows Jacob can sing but isn't sure if he can feel? The 23-year-old, in fact, has exactly the opposite problem: Everyone knows he can feel — he can hardly step on stage without seeming to burst into tears; it's Jacob's singing that has been consistently unreliable. On Wednesday, shoddy inner-ear monitor or not, Jacob again struggled. We have to give him points for restraint, however; it's never pretty to see the guy reach for vocal abandon and end up looking like he's on a 747 plunging into the ocean. Oh, and one more thing, Jacob: Ignore everything Randy said! Don't hold back? Go wild? Randy, dog, are you loco? Lauren Alaina: Lauren is confusing us. There was a time when we felt she was one of the most comfortable stage performers on "Idol." She lap-danced for Steven Tyler, for chrissake! But the pressures of reality-showdom seem to have gotten to her. Her confidence is shot. She desperately needed the backup singers to support her meek vocals. The country was back (hooray!), but the Lauren we dig is still missing in action. Unsatisfactory Casey Abrams: Question! How can Casey be such a lovable goofball off-stage and then deliver such creeptastic stares on it? Follow up! Is Casey the most frenetic showman in "Idol" memory (or does that ignominious honor go to Naima Adedapo, who looked like she was trying out for Manchester United during that reunion performance)? Hmmm. Whatever the answers are, there can be no doubting that Casey's Maroon 5 cover was a mess. A trip to the bottom three is a definite possibility this week, though that J. Lo smooch could work in his favor (if not hers). Stefano Langone: If there's a difference between being sexy and being whiney, Stefano doesn't understand it. As usual, his performance suffered from pitch and phrasing problems; there were times when he seemed to abandon singing altogether and just started shouting. It looked like he was trying so damn hard. Great performers are supposed to make singing seem effortless and graceful. Neither of those things were happening for Stefano during "Closer." We'll just pretend he wasn't actually attempting some Ne-Yo-esque dance moves at the end. But it would take powers of make-believe we don't possess to imagine Stefano won't land in the bottom-three. Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com 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 |
| Lady Gaga Apologizes For 'Retarded' Comment Posted: 21 Apr 2011 08:51 AM PDT 'To anyone that was hurt, please know that it was furiously unintentional,' singer says.
When Lady Gaga dropped "Born This Way" earlier this year, the tune immediately drew comparisons to Madonna's "Express Yourself." Shortly after the song was released, Gaga shared with the world that the pop queen liked the song and gave the pop princess her seal of approval. Now Gaga has once again been asked about the comparisons in a new interview with NME. And she didn't seem pleased by the line of questioning. "That's retarded. If you put the songs next to each other, side by side, the only similarities are the chord progression. It's the same one that's been in disco music for the last 50 years. Just because I'm the first f---ing artist in 25 years to think of putting it on Top 40 radio, it doesn't mean I'm a plagiarist, it means I'm f---ing smart. Sorry." The issue hit newsstands on Tuesday and by late Wednesday night the singer had issued an apology to her fans about her choice of words when defending herself and the chart-topping tune. "I consider it part of my life's work and music to push the boundaries of love and acceptance. My apologies for not speaking thoughtfully," she said in a statement to Perezhilton.com. "To anyone that was hurt, please know that it was furiously unintentional. An honest mistake requires honesty to make." She then went on to quote some lyrics from the feel-good dance track: "Whether life's disabilities left you outcast, bullied or teased, rejoice and love yourself today." What do you think of Gaga's apology for using the "R" word? Tell us in the comments. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Dr. Dre Wins <i>Chronic</i> Royalties Lawsuit Posted: 21 Apr 2011 09:45 AM PDT Dre filed lawsuit against WIDEawake/Death Row last year, claiming nonpayment of royalties by his former label.
Dr. Dre has bested Death Row Records once again. The legendary hip-hop producer and rapper has won a lawsuit he brought against WIDEawake/Death Row for selling digital copies of his classic album The Chronic without his permission. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder ruled that Dre (born Andre Young) is entitled to 100 percent of the royalties from digital sales of his debut album, according to The Associated Press. The Compton native sued his former label last year (WIDEawake Entertainment purchased the then bankrupt Death Row's assets in 2009), citing that he had not been paid any royalties from sales of The Chronic since 1996, when he left the label. In the lawsuit, Dre claimed that the new owners re-issued The Chronic and a greatest hits collection without his permission. "For years, Death Row Records forgot about Dre when they continued to distribute his music digitally and combined his hits with weaker Death Row tracks in an attempt to elevate the stature of their other artists," Dr. Dre's lawyer Howard King said in a statement. "We are gratified that the federal court has unambiguously declared that Death Row has no right to engage in such tactics, and must hold all proceeds from these illicit distributions in trust for our client." Dr. Dre's batting average in the courts continues to rise. In March, a lawsuit brought against the "I Need a Doctor" artist and organizers of the Up in Smoke Tour was dismissed by the Michigan Supreme Court. Dr. Dre and Suge Knight founded Death Row Records in 1992, shortly after the rapper/producer left N.W.A., and released The Chronic by the end of the year. But Dre walked away from Death Row Records in 1996 and started Aftermath Entertainment. Aftermath has since found great success, with Eminem and 50 Cent its two most prolific, and multi-platinum-selling, artists. It was also recently announced by Chrysler (who already counts Slim Shady as a pitchman) that Dr. Dre will be appearing with Ndamukong Suh of the NFL's Detroit Lions in an ad campaign for the automobile maker. Related Artists |
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