MTV News |
- Lady Gaga Was 'Spontaneous' On 'Judas' Set, Norman Reedus Says
- Taylor Swift's 'Mean' Video Aims To Empower Fans
- Sam Claflin Feels 'Lucky' To Be Kristen Stewart's Prince In 'Snow White'
- Lady Gaga Gave Rick Gonzalez 'Freedom' To Play Jesus His Way In 'Judas'
- Justin Bieber's Manager Off The Hook For Mall-Stampede Charges
- Jacob Lusk Says 'American Idol' Criticism From Jimmy Iovine 'Hurts'
- Cee Lo Talks 'Thank You,' New Version Of 'Forget You' For Firefighters
- Taylor Swift To Turn <i>Speak Now</i> Rehearsal Into Charity Event
- Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Video: The Final Scene Explained
- 'The Beaver': The Reviews Are In!
- Eminem And Royce Da 5'9" Tap Supa Dups For Bad Meets Evil's 'Fast Lane'
- Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Video: A Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet
- Consequence 'Disappointed' In Q-Tip's Public Beef With Tribe Documentary
- 'Thor': The Reviews Are In!
- Lloyd Sees Opening For Diddy-Dirty Money As An 'Opportunity'
- Jay-Z 'Big Pimpin'' Lawsuit Can Proceed, Judge Rules
- 'American Idol' In 60 Seconds: America Is 'In It To Win It'
- Jordan Knight Recalls Struggling To Pass Class, On 'When I Was 17'
- Lady Gaga's Stylist Captured 'Swagga' For 'Judas' Video
| Lady Gaga Was 'Spontaneous' On 'Judas' Set, Norman Reedus Says Posted: 06 May 2011 03:10 AM PDT Judas himself opens up to MTV News about the just-released video.
When Norman Reedus, who played the title character in Lady Gaga's "Judas" video, stopped by the MTV News offices Friday (May 6), he told us Gaga had everyone on their toes on set — in the best way possible. "I like the lipstick part, because that was sort of last minute," the "Walking Dead" star said. "She just jumped up [and was like], 'I have this great idea. I'm gonna put lipstick in front of you, and right before you kiss Jesus, I'm going to pull out this gun, and I'm gonna pull the trigger, and then a lipstick's [gonna come out], and then I'm going to put it on you like I'm enabling the kiss!'
"She looked at me like, 'Is that cool?' " he continued. "And I'm like, 'Rad.' And we did it. I liked how she was so spontaneous." Reedus' other favorite scene is the opening shot, where Judas, Mary Magdalene (Gaga) and Jesus (Rick Gonzalez) are all on the road with their biker-gang disciples. "We got there the first day, and we all took motorcycle lessons [in a parking lot and] one of the disciples trashed his motorcycle up against the curb, which was hysterical," he recalled. "So we did that, and then they cut off part of the freeway and actually cops would fly by us and section off the road. So we rode in a pack." While Gaga didn't actually have to drive one of the bikes, he said her stunts were quite awe-inspiring. "She wasn't driving the bike, but she was riding on the back. ... We were flying down the freeway, and she got up on the back ... and was way off the back of the seat and hanging backwards and stuff," he said. "Which was a daredevil move; it was pretty intense. She had all these jewels all over her, and every once and a while, you could see behind her bike just a trail of jewels dropping on the freeway. It was kind of magic." Since Reedus has had about 24 hours to think about the video, he said it gets his seal of approval. "My reaction when I saw it? I was excited to see my motorcycle in it first off, 'cause that's my bike that I ride, and I thought it was really good," he said. "I thought that [co-director] Laurieann [Gibson] did a really good job and Gaga did a good job, and I know there's a lot of work put into it, and I could see all the work on the screen, so I liked it." What did you think of the video? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift's 'Mean' Video Aims To Empower Fans Posted: 06 May 2011 07:13 AM PDT Singer plays up anti-bullying message in her video.
Taylor Swift's video for "Mean" (from last year's Speak Now) is the latest entry in an avalanche of empowering clips, which we've seen from artists like Katy Perry ("Firework") and Pink ("Raise Your Glass"). Swift's clip, directed by Declan Whitebloom, was shot over two days in Los Angeles, with the Orpheum Theatre serving as its backdrop. It opens with Swift and her band in the theater. She plays the banjo, and they're all dressed in vintage-inspired clothes (as seen during her ACM performance). The stage is set up like a front yard of a farmhouse. The video cuts to a boy reading a fashion magazine in a locker room being bullied by the football team. The video is back on that stage, where Swift is throwing a jubilant honky tonk. Now, Swift is dressed in a little white '20s-style dress and is being tied to the tracks by an old-timey villain. (This image was also used for the single art.) He and his friends laugh as she sits there helpless. But Swift and the others are hardly the only victims in the clip. Viewers are back in modern time, where a girl, wearing a fast-food uniform, is being made fun of by her peers. Another girl is being teased in school and can't sit with "the cool girls" at lunch and is forced to eat in the school bathroom. All the while, Swift is plucking away at her banjo. Her words are empowering the young people affected by their bullies. All that playing does eventually pay off for Swift. The stage is now transformed into a ritzy nightclub, with the singer all dazzled up in a sparkly flapper gown performing in the big leagues. What about the others? They've also found themselves as well. The boy reading the fashion magazine is now a famous fashion designer. The fast food worker saved up for college and is a big-time executive. The other girl? Well, she's in the audience watching Swift perform, cheering her on just liked Swift's song cheered her on. What did you think of Taylor's new video? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Sam Claflin Feels 'Lucky' To Be Kristen Stewart's Prince In 'Snow White' Posted: 06 May 2011 04:20 AM PDT 'I'm truly sort of flabbergasted,' the 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' actor says of his next role.
Ever since it was announced that "Twilight" superstar Kristen Stewart had signed up to play yet another beloved character, Snow White, in "Snow White and the Huntsman," her rabid fans have been eagerly anticipating news of who would play her Prince Charming. The lucky man is British actor Sam Claflin, whom you will soon see in the upcoming blockbuster "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides." When MTV caught up with Claflin and his "Pirates" co-star Astrid Berges-Frisbey recently, we asked the young actor about working with Stewart.
"I'm very excited," he said. "I'm a big fan of her work. I'm truly sort of flabbergasted — that's a good word, I love that." "She's lucky," Berges-Frisbey chimed in about Claflin. "No, I'm very lucky," Claflin said with a smile. "Very, very lucky." "They are really lucky [to have him]," Berges-Frisbey continued. "Because Sam is such a good actor and such a good partner. He's really generous." "I'm just looking forward to getting my teeth into something new as well," Claflin said. "I've never had so much fun [as I did] doing ['Pirates'], working with Astrid and all the other actors. Being able to get my teeth into something new is something I'm really looking forward to." Based on the legendary fairy tale, "Snow White and the Hunstman" follows the titular princess after the evil queen Ravenna calls for her death, centering on the huntsman who disobeys orders and allows the fair maiden to live. The updated story will break from convention by having the huntsman mentor and train Snow White to fight off Ravenna herself. The evil queen will be played by Charlize Theron, and the search is on for a new huntsman — the current rumored contender being "Thor" star Chris Hemsworth. Check out everything we've got on "Snow White and the Huntsman." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. |
| Lady Gaga Gave Rick Gonzalez 'Freedom' To Play Jesus His Way In 'Judas' Posted: 06 May 2011 05:06 AM PDT Actor tells MTV News that co-directors Gaga and Laurieann Gibson 'gave me a lot of confidence.'
Just a day after Lady Gaga's video for "Judas" debuted, fans and foes alike are still buzzing with reactions. That includes actor/rapper Rick Gonzalez, who plays Jesus in the video. For Gonzalez, the experience was somewhat surreal, beginning with his initial casting. "I'm sitting in my house, I get a call from my manager, [and] she says, 'Lady Gaga wants you to be in the video,' " Gonzalez recalled to MTV News. "I'm like, 'Oh, cool. Lady Gaga who?' and she's like, 'Rick, the Lady Gaga.' And I'm like, 'Wow, OK.' And the first thing that comes to my mind and what I tell her is, like, 'How does she know I even exist?'
"They send a treatment over and I read it, and I was like, 'Wow, I'm honored to be even a part of it.' I really love the story and what she did and [where] she was thinking of going with it and I was really honored to be a part of it. So I was really stoked." Once on set, Gonzalez said it felt more like a film than a music video. "Laurieann Gibson, who directed along with Gaga — I mean, they really had great shots and they had this amazing huge production set up for the video," Gonzalez said. "It really did feel that way. We were on a bike, on a flatbed truck, and I have Gaga behind me, and we're like moving around the lot, just running around. So it was definitely grand in that scheme." While Gonzalez had the honor of manning Gaga's motorcycle in the opening shots, he was relieved that he didn't have to actually drive it for the wide shots. "Those shots, that's not me riding," the actor revealed. "So the shots with me and her, we're literally being dragged on a truck. I didn't want the responsibility of dropping a bike with Gaga on it." The actor developed newfound respect for Gaga after witnessing just how hands-on she was with all aspects of the clip. But there was one area that Gaga and co-director Gibson ceded to Gonzalez. "The beautiful thing about playing Jesus in the video was they really gave me the freedom to find it in my own way and they gave me a lot of confidence in that, and I was really impressed in Laurieann's direction and just giving me the space and letting me find it," Gonzalez said. He was equally impressed with how Gaga and Gibson communicated, which at times wasn't even verbal. "I think the chemistry between Laurieann and Lady Gaga, it was interesting to watch because they were totally in sync with each other creatively, and I think that you're going to see a lot more amazing things with them, 'cause they totally have like this synergy with them," he predicted, adding, "And I've overheard them say they're totally gonna do a lot more things together, so I'm excited to see what that stuff's gonna be." What do you think of Rick's portrayal of Jesus in the "Judas" video? Tell us in the comments. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber's Manager Off The Hook For Mall-Stampede Charges Posted: 06 May 2011 04:57 AM PDT Bieber will make an anti-cyberbullying PSA and his label will reimburse the county for emergency response.
Justin Bieber's manager Scott "Scooter" Braun is off the hook for the charges of reckless endangerment and criminal nuisance he received after the chaotic incident with Bieber fans at a Long Island mall in November 2009. According to E! News, the charges against Braun were dropped Friday (May 6) after Bieber agreed to make a public-service announcement for an anti-cyberbullying campaign and his record label, Island Def Jam, pleaded guilty to the ordinance violation and agreed to reimburse the county almost $8,000 to pay its share of the costs associated with the law enforcement and fire marshal response after the melee. All this stems from a Bieber mall appearance that turned into a stampede and injured one fan. Police alleged that Braun failed to properly control the situation at Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, New York, when they ordered him to send a message to Bieber's fans via Twitter to notify his followers that the event was canceled. Fans of the rising teen superstar were waiting for Bieber to arrive at the mall, where he was set to perform selections from his EP, My World, which had been released earlier in the week. Braun refused to send the message, police said. Instead, authorities contend Braun eschewed safety in favor of publicity. As things got out of hand, police said, Bieber's Twitter still read, "On my way to Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, NY to sign and meet fans! I'm pumped. See u there." After a representative from the singer's label was arrested, a message from Bieber's Twitter was sent urging fans to go home. "The event at Roosevelt Mall is cancelled," he tweeted. "Please go home. The police have already arrested one person from my camp. I don't want anyone hurt." Related Artists |
| Jacob Lusk Says 'American Idol' Criticism From Jimmy Iovine 'Hurts' Posted: 06 May 2011 12:44 AM PDT Lusk hopes to audition for Broadway and films, as well as make an album.
Jacob Lusk was pretty sure his "American Idol" journey was going to end Thursday night, and he was OK with that. But what kind of stung were the harsh comments made by mentor Jimmy Iovine in a taped package that ran before Jacob got his news, in which the Interscope Geffen A&M boss said Lusk appeared to lose his confidence and said the singer's voice "closed down."
"I wouldn't call it soul-destroying. It definitely hurts a lot to have someone who is supposed to be mentoring you and it feels like every time you turn around, [he's] tearing you down," Lusk said of Iovine's cutting comments. "But what you have to remember is that you're not doing it for him, you're doing it for the people out there in America. They're the people who are voting. It definitely hurts, it's definitely hard to have someone beat you over the head with a baseball bat and then say, 'OK, now go ahead and sing for your life.' " If there is any reason he was sent home, he said, it was because he wasn't in his gospel/R&B element on Wednesday night and simply didn't have a great performance. After his elimination, though, Lusk went out on a high note, giving one of his loosest, most engaging performances of the season with "A House Is Not a Home." But in a call with reporters Friday (May 6), he talked about his performance after that performance, where he really took the audience to church and let loose. "I made a joke months ago [to 'Idol' bandleader Ray Chew]. I said, 'Ray, if I ever got off this show, if I ever win, whatever happens, we're going to church.' " But when he finished singing, he didn't want to end on a sad, tearful note (though he did cry a bit), so he did what he always does: He rejoiced and celebrated making it to the #5 position surrounded by his family, producer Nigel Lythgoe and "Idol" stage manager Debbie Williams. When asked about Iovine saying the pressure seemed to be getting to him, Lusk disagreed with the assessment. "I wouldn't say that the pressure was getting to me. I was getting a little tired and I was just really trying to do different things that I thought that he would like and that America just wanted to see different things," he explained. "But at the end of the day, I definitely went out and I said, 'I'm going to give them my all,' and that's what I did." One of the signature moments Lusk was asked to clarify was when he seemed to call out the voting public before singing Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror." It appeared at the time that he was making some sort of political or personal statement with this warning: "If I end up in the bottom three, it won't be because I sang the song bad. It won't be because I sang the song wrong. It'll be because everybody in America wasn't ready to look at themselves in the mirror." Lusk said Friday that he didn't mean anything personal by it at all and lamented that it was all a big misunderstanding. "It had nothing to do with me and my vocal performance. I'm not the greatest singer in the world; at least I don't feel that I am," he said, explaining that he was referring to his song selection, which he'd changed from the more sensual Marvin Gaye tune "Let's Get It On," and how it was inspired by the recent Japanese earthquake. "For me, it was about us all taking an internal glance. ... It had nothing to do with my vocal performance. It had nothing to do with people voting for me. It wasn't about that. It was about me wanting people to look at ourselves and look at what we can do to change the world. ... I was starting with me that night and saying that I was going to make a change to help change the world." Now that the pressure is off and he can start thinking about the rest of his career, Lusk said he's looking forward to auditioning for Broadway shows and films and working on a debut album that will eschew the bubblegum-pop sensibility of the day and get back to some classic soulful R&B like that of his inspirations, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston and Patti LaBelle. "I've heard some things through the grapevine, and I think I'm gonna be fine," Lusk said when asked if, like another recently eliminated singer, Stefano Langone, he's gotten calls from major artists eager to work with him. "There's a world out there who is desirous of what I have to offer, and it's just about me really going out there and giving my heart and soul. Someone out there is gonna want it, and I'm excited just to give that." 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 |
| Cee Lo Talks 'Thank You,' New Version Of 'Forget You' For Firefighters Posted: 06 May 2011 02:07 AM PDT 'I connect with it very, very personally because my mother was a fireman,' he says of raising money for volunteer fire, EMS and rescue services.
It's not too often that a Grammy-winning song gets completely overhauled for a national campaign, but Cee Lo Green has done just that with "Forget You" — and it's all for a good cause.
The R&B crooner teamed up with Duracell's "Power of Those Who Protect Us" program to benefit the National Volunteer Fire Council, a nonprofit group representing the interests of volunteer fire, EMS and rescue services. The new tune, renamed "Thank You," is available for free download via Duracell's Facebook page. Not only is Cee Lo hoping to raise awareness for America's volunteer firefighters, but it's a cause that hits close to home. "It's a very noble cause, and I connect with it very, very personally because my mother was a fireman as well — one of the first black female firemen in Atlanta, Georgia, so quite a historic accomplishment," Green said. Of course The Lady Killer was tasked with cleaning up his decidedly dirty lyrics from the original song for this tribute. The new chorus begins: "For a lifetime of service in the name of love, we wanna thank you/ I could say it a thousand times and it wouldn't be enough, we wanna thank you for everything you do." Green, who is currently a coach on NBC's "The Voice," said this campaign capitalizes on the current success of "Forget You." "It's definitely at the height of a popularity, you know, just kind of unparalleled, and so it's a convenient means of kind of making use of it and using that same spotlight to acknowledge and expose what a great humanitarian cause this is," he told MTV News. "For so many people, citizens to volunteer themselves — so this is voluntary action. It's not by force, it's not by draft. This is heart and soul, and we appreciate that." What do you think of Cee Lo's "Thank You"? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift To Turn <i>Speak Now</i> Rehearsal Into Charity Event Posted: 06 May 2011 12:59 AM PDT Country hitmaker will donate ticket sales from May 21 Speak Now Tour dress rehearsal in Nashville to tornado relief.
Taylor Swift will give fans an early taste of her upcoming Speak Now Tour for a very good cause. The country darling announced on Friday (May 6) that she will allow fans to buy tickets to the final dress rehearsal of her tour to benefit communities devastated by tornadoes in the South in late April. According to the Associated Press, Swift has been preparing for her upcoming trek over the past five weeks at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena, which will be the site of the "Speak Now ... Help Now" benefit. Although the chart-topper is used to speaking frankly about her personal life in her music, Swift has never invited fans to check out how she gears up for her live shows. The songstress explained that witnessing the havoc-wreaking storms while putting the Speak Now Tour together inspired her to switch things up and take action. "I was watching the coverage of the tornadoes backstage at rehearsals, and I wanted to do something for the families affected by the damage," Swift told the AP. "I've never opened a rehearsal to the public before, but I felt that inviting my fans to the last rehearsal for the Speak Now Tour would be a great way to raise money." The songbird added that the benefit will be different from her other live appearances, as she is still hammering out the kinks of the production. "We will probably still be doing some fine-tuning to the show that night, since this will be a true rehearsal, but I feel like it is so important for me and my fans to help if we can," she said. Swift's Speak Now Tour is slated to kick off May 27 in Omaha, Nebraska, but before she hits the road, the Grammy-winning superstar is set to unveil her latest video, "Mean," on Friday night (May 6) on CMT and CMT.com at 10 p.m. ET. Would you like to check out Taylor Swift's charity dress rehearsal? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Video: The Final Scene Explained Posted: 05 May 2011 10:33 PM PDT 'The video is so good, it's an individual interpretation,' co-director Laurieann Gibson tells MTV News.
There are many memorable moments in Lady Gaga's "Judas" video, but perhaps none is as unexpected as the final scene. Gaga, dressed in a very big wedding dress, is stoned to death. Gaga has done religion before; her "Alejandro" video was filled with religious iconography, causing quite a hubbub last year. Now, perhaps her most moving statement in this religious-themed video is her own death at the end.
"The video is so good, it's an individual interpretation, and as for me, personally, the dress, the wedding dress, you're the bride, Christ is the bridegroom, and to marry hope, faith, inspiration is ultimately the idea that no matter what anybody says, your purity is in your heart," co-director Laurieann Gibson told MTV News about the finale. "There's always tomorrow. There's always an opportunity to find peace, and it's pure. She's pure. You're pure. I'm pure. And the stones, they're just from people who judge, and if you're gonna throw one, then make sure your closet is clean." The video was shot last month in Los Angeles, and Gibson shared some of the inside details of the shoot with MTV News. "We actually shot the video on the Universal lot, which was amazing," she recalled. " ... To be theater rats and dance kids from New York, for us to get to a [studio] lot was really magical. We art-directed it, so it was actually bare, and we were able to create 'New Jerusalem' and inspire the idea of the biblical inspiration but create it new. "Never stop moving the lens, never lock off, complimenting her with the way she moves," Gibson added about directing the video. "Making it graceful when she's strong in her movement, and I particularly loved the stoning scene." Gibson revealed that there was a concert scene that didn't make the final cut of the video and said they ended up with an overwhelming amount of material. "There's so much in the video," she said. "We got everything we wanted. We actually got more than we could edit. It was very difficult to decide the direction of the edit." So how does the video fit in to Gaga's evolution as an artist? "It's the beginning of another journey," Gibson offered. " I think it's the start of a more powerful and effortless execution and design of a girl with a huge destiny." What did you think of the "Judas" video? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'The Beaver': The Reviews Are In! Posted: 06 May 2011 03:54 AM PDT Critics find it difficult to separate Mel Gibson's personal life from troubled character.
After release date changes and several other unrelated misfortunes, "The Beaver" is finally bowing in New York City and Los Angeles, with other cities to follow May 20. Starring Mel Gibson, Anton Yelchin, Jodie Foster (who also directed) and Jennifer Lawrence (in a supporting role), the film revolves around Walter Black, a once stellar CEO suffering from severe depression, until he discovers a Beaver puppet he uses as a therapeutic tool to help him reclaim his former self. So what do the critics think? Of the 70-plus reviews up on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 deemed it "fresh," giving it a 70 percent fresh rating. The most interesting aspect is how each reviewer chooses to address the subject of the "Gibson drama."
The Story The Performances Tiptoeing Around the Gibson Drama "I know I shouldn't allow my feelings about a performer in 'real life' to affect my view of him or her on film, but that's like a judge telling a jury to ignore damning evidence they've already heard. Gibson has always excelled at playing men on the edge — apparently for good reason — and this part takes that to an extreme, a place he's perfectly willing to go." — Leonard Maltin, for IndieWire The Director The Final Word, Pro-Con-Pro Style "Maybe Ms. Foster thought she was doing Mr. Gibson a favor by showing that he could play a troubled man who simply needs help. The problem is that, as an actor, Mr. Gibson doesn't do normal anymore and is at his best playing men on the verge, as in 'Edge of Darkness,' a thriller about a cop hunting his daughter's murderer. It was a suitably blunt character for an actor who has become a blunt instrument and has a lock on loony tuners and angry patriarchs. That should make Walter a fine fit for Mr. Gibson, except that there's no there there to the character, just a puppet with a bad attitude and good timing. A raggedy rage-aholic, it steals the show, handily. Take away his puppet, and the man disappears." — Manohla Dargis, The New York Times "Foster merits praise for putting her energy into a movie about mental illness that goes beyond the slickness of 'As Good as It Gets,' in which a happy ending can be spun from a patient's mere promise to take his medication. There is one element of 'The Beaver' that does reflect a Hollywood sensibility: Walter's breakdown never threatens the family financially. The narrative would have more tension if they didn't appear so comfortably padded in a Nancy Meyers-like milieu. (Meyers directed Gibson in 2000's 'What Women Want,' a feel-good movie that now seems very far in his past.) But despite that and the ludicrousness of the puppet prop, 'The Beaver' is serious about portraying mental illness. And whatever your opinion about Gibson the man, so is Gibson the actor." — Mary Pols, Time Check out everything we've got on "The Beaver." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Eminem And Royce Da 5'9" Tap Supa Dups For Bad Meets Evil's 'Fast Lane' Posted: 06 May 2011 01:27 AM PDT Producer talks to Mixtape Daily about first single from Hell: The Sequel.
Behind the Beats: Supa Dups Supa Dups already has quite an extensive résumé, and now he can add "Producing for Eminem" to it. The Miami-based reggae producer has already racked up tracks for Sean Paul, Buju Banton, Estelle, Akon and Bruno Mars. More recently, Dups and his Black Chiney production partner Jason "JG" Gilbert stepped into rap's arena, crafting the beat for Eminem and Royce Da 5'9"'s "Fast Lane," the first leak off of the duo's upcoming Bad Meets Evil album.
"Me and my partner JG: He and I made the beat together. We just wanted to make a beat with just our mouths," Dups said, humming the melody to "Fast Lane." Sampling their own vocals proved to be genius when Em chose the beat for Bad Meets Evil's Hell: The Sequel EP, which drops June 14 on Shady Records. "We didn't even have Eminem in mind [when we made the beat]," Dups explained. "We just had the track and submitted it off to 50 Cent, Nicki Minaj and a couple of others. But Eminem, when we heard he wanted it, we were like, 'Cool, we'll hold it. That's Eminem.' "I didn't even know the project was coming out. I didn't know what the beat was for; I just knew Eminem asked me for the files and I sent it to them," he continued. "When I saw Eminem in L.A. for Grammy weekend, Eminem said, 'Yeah, he ripped the track.' Later on that day, I met Royce, and Royce was like, 'Yeah, download that track man. We ripped that track. That's the first single.' I was like, 'What?' But until then, I still wasn't sure." Dups might not have been present for the recording of the track, but when he first heard it with the rest of the hip-hop heads, when it leaked onto the Internet in April, he was impressed. "I was like, 'Damn, this record is crazy,'" he recalled. "It's one of the craziest hip-hop records I've heard in a while lyrically — where they're just spittin'." Supa Dups gave props to the pair: "I think both of them went hard," he said. "I'm just glad to be on the track." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Video: A Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet Posted: 05 May 2011 10:53 PM PDT Gaga's latest clip mixes the sacred with the profane and includes a nod to Marlon Brandon too — here are all the references!
Love her or hate her, you've got to admit that Lady Gaga knows how to make a music video. Her clips always have been a mixture of high-art posturing and knowing nods to pop-culture ephemera, and "Judas" is no different. While it's not filled with blink-and-you'll-miss-it references like "Telephone" or odes to German Expressionism like "Alejandro," there's still plenty to wrap your eyes around in "Judas," offering a mixture of the sacred and the profane. Gaga merges mentions to religious iconography and cult biker flicks (and pretty much everything in between) in the video, and so, we decided to take notes. Here's our "Judas" pop-culture cheat sheet, alphabetized for your perusing pleasure ... you can't tell your Botticellis from your Brandos without it.
"The Birth of Venus": Iconic 15th century painting by Sandro Botticelli depicting the Roman goddess Venus emerging from the sea. Art historians have interpreted the work in many ways — a contemplation on physical and spiritual beauty, a celebration of the divine, a "wedding painting" meant to, uh, inspire the bride and groom — but in "Judas," when Gaga strikes a pose similar to the painting, she seems to be paying tribute to all three. "Electric Chapel": Gaga has said that she created her Monster Ball Tour so that her fans "would have a place to go ... a safe place ... an 'Electric Chapel.' " It's also the name of a song on her upcoming Born This Way album. In "Judas," the Chapel is reimagined as a biker bar, where LG attempts to warn Jesus about Judas' impending betrayal. Eye of Horus: An ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, closely associated with the goddess Wadjet. In "Judas," Gaga wears eye makeup that recalls the symbol, which makes sense, since, as Mary Magdalene, she attempts to protect Christ from Judas' backstabbing. Foot Washing: A religious rite observed by several Christian denominations. In the Bible, Christ washed the feet of his apostles before the Last Supper, the final meal he shared before his crucifixion. Gaga washes Christ's feet in "Judas," perhaps symbolizing his forthcoming demise, something that Judas certainly had a hand in. Golden Gun: Fictional weapon from the 1974 James Bond film "The Man With the Golden Gun," and a totally kick-ass sidearm in the "GoldenEye" video game. Gaga wields a similar piece in "Judas," though hers doesn't contain bullets; instead, it's a rather grandiose tube of lipstick, which she smears on Judas' face. The Kiss of Judas: In the Bible, it is Judas' final act of betrayal — he kisses Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper as a way of identifying him to the soldiers who have come to arrest him. The same scene is played out in "Judas," as the betrayer plants a pair of kisses on Christ's cheeks. Mary Magdalene: A disciple of Jesus and one of the most controversial characters in the Bible, early scholars painted her as a repentant prostitute, while in the 20th and 21st century, she has come to be celebrated as a patron saint of women's preaching and ministry. Not surprisingly, Gaga takes on the role of Magdalene, reimagining her as a badass chick with a penchant for chola fashion. Norman Reedus: American actor/model known for his roles in "The Boondock Saints" and, more recently, AMC's "The Walking Dead." In "Judas," he plays the titular apostle with gleefully evil aplomb. Rick Gonzalez: American character actor who has appeared in dozens of films, most notably "Coach Carter" and, uh, "Old School," where he played "Spanish." In "Judas," he's given a gangster makeover as Jesus Christ. Sacred Heart: Religious icon that symbolizes Christ's divine love for humanity. Often depicted as bleeding and wrapped in thorns, in "Judas," Gaga can be seen wearing a Sacred Heart on her wardrobe. Simon Peter: One of Christ's 12 apostles, also known as Saint Peter, he is regarded by the Catholic Church as the first pope. Before the Last Supper, when Christ washed his apostles' feet, Peter originally refused, claiming he was not worthy. During Christ's arrest, Peter sliced the ear of a servant of the High Priest who had come to seize him. In "Judas," Gaga singles out Peter at the "Electric Chapel," patting him on the back. "The Wild One": 1953 biker film starring a young Marlon Brando as the leader of the Black Rebels Motorcycle Club. That leather-clad gang of ne'er-do-wells seems to be the direct inspiration for Christ's biker-apostles in "Judas." Can you spot any other literary, historic or pop-culture references in Lady Gaga's "Judas" video? Tell us in the comments. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Consequence 'Disappointed' In Q-Tip's Public Beef With Tribe Documentary Posted: 05 May 2011 11:46 PM PDT 'I was really disappointed in my cousin when he came up here and he had the email,' Cons tells MTV News of Tip's 'RapFix Live' appearance.
They say blood is thicker than water, but not even the blood bond Consequence shares with cousin Q-Tip would stop the Queens MC from expressing his displeasure to Sway on MTV News' "RapFix Live."
Before Consequence got down with Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music, he got his start as an affiliate of iconic hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, appearing on four of the 15 tracks on the group's 1996 album Beats, Rhymes and Life. These days, Cons is on the outs with Q-Tip. He was critical of the way the ATCQ frontman aired out his grievances with Michael Rapaport's Tribe documentary "Beats, Rhymes and Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest." "I was really disappointed in my cousin when he came up here and he had the email," Cons said of the email Q-Tip printed out and brought up to "RapFix Live" in March. The email, which was accidentally sent to Tip by one of the documentary's producers, indicated that there was a plan to cheat ATCQ out of getting producer credits on the film. "Man, you're a superstar. What are you doing with a printout?" Consequence questioned. "That's what your lawyer is for. You gave us 'industry rule #4080.' We're still holding on to 4080," he said in reference to Q-Tip's 1991 "Check the Rhime" lyric "Industry rule #4080: Record-company people are shady." "I don't want to see no scrolls. You Q-Tip. It's a vivrant thing, and if it's like that with Michael Rapaport, make it a violent thing," he continued to rant. Ultimately, 'Quence seemed to be most critical of the way Q-Tip and the dissenting members of Tribe publicly handled their beef with Rapaport and the filmmakers. Consequence also questioned what all the dissention would ultimately do to A Tribe Called Quest's legacy. He pointed to the fact that the rap group was not on a unified front. On April 29, Phife Dawg appeared on "RapFix Live" and was in support of the film. "That's his legacy too," Cons said, referring to Phife. "And before y'all make a move, y'all gotta iron that out." Do you agree with Consequence? Should Q-Tip have handled his grievances differently? Let us know win the comments. Related Videos |
| Posted: 06 May 2011 12:46 AM PDT Critics are applauding the God of Thunder's big-screen debut.
The golden-locked God of Thunder has finally descended upon theaters. "Thor," starring brawny Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth, tells the tale of a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. As a result, his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), banishes Thor to Earth, where he meets humans Jane (Natalie Portman), Darcy (Kat Dennings) and Dr. Eric Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård). When a dangerous villain from Thor's world invades Earth, Thor must learn what it takes to be a true hero.
Next to "Fast Five," "Thor" is one of the first potential blockbusters of the summer. Also, with Thor being part of Marvel Comics' "Avengers," the hopes are high for the film to be a success and draw in more fans in advance of 2012's highly anticipated ensemble flick. So what do the critics think? So far, so good. The film's current approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes is a "certified fresh" 80 percent. The Story The Visuals The Comic-to-Film Adaptation Kenneth Branagh's Shakespearean Touch The Final Word, Pro-Con-Pro Style "A howling turkey is at least something to laugh at, and maybe even something to see. But 'Thor' is an example of the programmed triumph of commercial calculation over imagination." — A.O. Scott, The New York Times "At its best moments, 'Thor' weaves a spot of magic from the complex science of $150-million fantasy-film technology." — Richard Corliss, Time Have you seen "Thor" yet? Share your reviews in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "Thor." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. |
| Lloyd Sees Opening For Diddy-Dirty Money As An 'Opportunity' Posted: 06 May 2011 12:18 AM PDT 'They might've come to see Dirty Money but you're going to leave thinking about me,' singer says.
Lloyd was in New York recently as the opening act for Diddy-Dirty Money's Coming Home Tour. He sat down with MTV News to discuss his upcoming album, his first concert and what it's like to open for one of hip-hop's biggest and baddest names. Atlanta-based R&B singer Lloyd recalled how he became Diddy's opening act after encountering Diddy on a trip to Los Angeles. "Me, Polow Da Don and the whole Zone 4 crew went to UCLA for our daily routine working out, and one day Diddy came to work out with us. I remember Diddy actually talking to me while I was in the middle of some exercises and I wouldn't look at him. He would just say, 'Come on, man! Smile, man! Be happy!' And I was just like, 'I don't want to smile. I just want to focus.' "
While many would have basked in the opportunity to converse with one of hip-hop's greatest living legends, Lloyd simply wanted to finish his grueling workout. Diddy seemed to take something from that conversation. "I think that he just admired something about seeing how driven I was at the time," Lloyd recounted. "I think he could relate to and respect that." The 25-year-old singer entered the mainstream music scene when he signed to the Inc. Records back in 2004, in the days when he was closely associated with co-founder Ja Rule and labelmate Ashanti. He parted ways with the Inc. in 2009 and has since landed himself a new deal with Interscope. He recalls that his path to success came with a lot of hard work and sacrifice. "I sacrificed a lot of my childhood for music," he said, showing no signs of regret, only pride. "I signed my first record deal when I was 10." Lloyd excitedly shared a coincidental fact about an inspiring moment. "My very first concert was a Diddy show in Atlanta," he said, smiling. "Puff came out and he just rocked it, man. I had never experienced anything like that." Now Lloyd performs on the same stage as the star he admired so much as a kid. "Diddy's one of the first people to take hip-hop to a popular music standpoint," Lloyd noted. "He's the godfather of hip-hop!" Lloyd is humbled by his current circumstances. "I really enjoy being an opening act because I look at it as an opportunity to earn new fans," he said. Old fans and new fans alike can look forward to his upcoming fourth album, King of Hearts, hitting stores in June. "It's going to be my best work to date," he promised, hinting about some "real cool surprise collaborations." "I heard a rumor that I was doing a song with Andre 3000 and Lil Wayne," Lloyd teased. Lloyd expressed some high hopes for this tour when it comes to acquiring Diddy fans. "They might've come to see Dirty Money but you're going to leave thinking about me," he promised. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Jay-Z 'Big Pimpin'' Lawsuit Can Proceed, Judge Rules Posted: 05 May 2011 11:22 PM PDT Late Egyptian composer's heir is suing the rap mogul over a sample he included in his 2000 hit.
"Big Pimpin' " was a smash hit for Jay-Z in 2000, but in 2011 it's causing him some big legal headaches. The Hollywood Reporter revealed first that on Tuesday, California federal judge Christina Snyder ruled that plaintiff Osama Ahmed Fahmy has a right to pursue a lawsuit that names Jay-Z, EMI Publishing, MTV Networks, UMG Recordings, Warner Music and various other entities as defendants. Although Jay-Z cleared the sample used in "Big Pimpin'," which features Texas rap legends UGK, the copyright lawsuit claims that, according to Egyptian law, the song violates the "moral rights" of it original composer. The Timbaland-produced "Big Pimpin'," from Jay-Z's Vol. 3 ... The Life & Times of S. Carter album, samples "Khosara, Khosara," which was composed by Baligh Hamdy for the 1960 Egyptian film Fata Ahlami. Hamdy died in 1993, and the copyright to the song was passed down to his four children, with Fahmy being the nephew of one of these heirs. The lawsuit contends that only an unaltered version of "Khosara, Khosara" could be legally licensed, while Jay-Z's tune used a sampled loop of the original song for its instrumental track. Since an altered version was utilized, the plaintiff contends, citing Egyptian "moral rights" legislation, that Jay-Z needed to seek permission from all of Hamdy's children for its use. Fahmy first filed his lawsuit in 2007, the same year a similar case brought against Timbaland was dismissed. No information on how much financial compensation Fahmy is seeking was available at press time. A representative for Jay-Z declined to comment on this ongoing legal matter. Related Artists |
| 'American Idol' In 60 Seconds: America Is 'In It To Win It' Posted: 06 May 2011 08:54 AM PDT But Jacob Lusk no longer is, after pulling double duty for 'Then and Now' week.
This week, the top five on "American Idol" were ... [Clip: Randy Jackson shouts, "IN IT TO WIN IT!"] Actually, no, I was going to say "working a double shift," considering they had to sing one recent hit and a song from the '60s, which apparently is a decade made up only of ballads! Without further clich&233;-slinging, here's the rest of this week's "American Idol" in 60 Seconds script: Sheryl Crow stopped by to ... What was she doing there again? [Clips of Sheryl Crow singing every chance she got.]
Oh, Sheryl, if you're trying to audition, you want to be at "X Factor." [Whispers] They don't have an age limit there. So basically, all the boys were ... [Clip: Randy Jackson shouts, "IN IT TO WIN IT!"] Actually, no, I was going to say "pitchy nightmares," filled with crazy faces [Scotty], armpits [James], tears [more James] and eleganza [Jacob]! But the judges only sharpened their knives for Haley, who clawed her way back from an unfair first judging to deliver a show-stopping "House of the Rising Sun." But don't let those standing ovations fool you, girl. Fight the real enemy! [Jim rips up a picture of executive producer Nigel Lythgoe à la Sinead O' Connor and the Pope on "SNL."] On Thursday night's results show, they sold a book no one's reading [Steven Tyler's memoir], an album no one's buying [J. Lo's Love?] and a website nobody uses. [Show footage from the "Idol"/Bing commercial.] And then they were ... [Clip: Randy Jackson shouts, "IN IT TO WIN IT!"] STOP IT! Then they visited "Hell's Kitchen" to prove that Lauren's good at everything and Jacob doesn't know what a wiener tastes like. Puh-leaze. [Singing to the tune of Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now," as footage of Lady Antebellum's "Idol" performance plays.] It's a quarter after 8, results are coming late, and your song isn't as good as your other one. And results! Group one, group two, Scotty blah blah blah, meltdown! [Show Lauren's perfect tear rolling down her cheek.] [Clip: "The person leaving us tonight is Jacob." Jim gazes into a hand mirror. He is wistful and reflective.] America, YOU are in it to win it. DING! 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 |
| Jordan Knight Recalls Struggling To Pass Class, On 'When I Was 17' Posted: 05 May 2011 11:31 PM PDT New episode, also featuring Tristan Wilds and Shane West, premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on MTV.
It's hard enough to balance school work, extracurricular activities and a social life in high school, but it's even harder when you throw superstardom into the mix. Just ask Jordan Knight. On the latest episode of "When I Was 17," which airs Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on MTV, the pop star recalls balancing school grades with his teen fame as the lead singer of New Kids on the Block.
"When I was 17, me and rest of the New Kids, we would do shows on the weekends," he says on the episode. "We'd be up late at night and be like 'I don't want to go to school.' We'd come in late, so I was kind of getting bad grades." As all moms do, Knight's mother, Marlene, offers a softer perspective on the singer's lackluster school efforts, saying, "Jordan was an average student. I don't think he had the time to excel." Knight's not-so-good grades hit a new low when the pop star began failing science class, which would have cost him a diploma. Luckily, he struck a deal with his teacher to do a report in exchange for a passing grade. Even with his second chance, Knight just couldn't find it in him to do the assignment, so he looked to a fellow classmate to get the job done. "There was a girl in my class, and I was like, 'Can you give me a report so I can forge it?' So, she's like, 'Yeah, yeah, I can do that,' " he tells MTV. With a looming due date, Jordan explains that when he reached out to his classmate, he was met with some disappointing news. "It was in the back of my head. I'm like 'Damn, I got to do this report,' because it was a Friday. The last day to hand it in was Monday," the 40-year-old recalls. "So I called her up, and she's like, 'Oh my God. I was going to give to it you. It's in my car, and it got towed.' " "When I Was 17" — this week featuring Jordan Knight, Tristan Wilds and Shane West — premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on MTV. Related Videos |
| Lady Gaga's Stylist Captured 'Swagga' For 'Judas' Video Posted: 05 May 2011 11:01 PM PDT 'Nicola Formichetti is the most brilliant man in fashion,' gushes Gaga's creative director, Laurieann Gibson.
On Thursday, after her "Judas" video premiered, Lady Gaga laughed off any controversy she might receive from the Biblical-themed clip. "In my opinion, the only controversial thing about this video is that I'm wearing Christian Lacroix and Chanel in the same frame," she joked with E! News.
The fashions featured in the "Judas" clip are certainly far from controversial. They are over-the-top, romantic, tough and truly couture. Gaga wears fanciful dresses, biker jackets, crowns, heavy crosses, flowing capes and Victorian-cut silhouettes, as seen in the video's final scene, where she dons a big, white wedding gown. The designs were all styled by Gaga's longtime friend and Mugler creative director, Nicola Formichetti, who seamlessly combines old-fashioned garb and modern styling for a look that is truly unique to the world in which Gaga's Mary Magdalene character, her two loves (Jesus and Judas) and her apostles live. The style credits for the video include designers at the top of any fashionista's list. With vintage Christian Lacroix (barroom outfit, wedding dress), Mugler (purple catsuit, gloves), Alexander McQueen (boots) and, yes, even the Haus of Gaga (cape, velvet undergarments), Gaga is really paying homage to the apostles of the fashion bible with her, at times, very literal (there are lots of crosses) take on Biblical fashion. Laurieann Gibson, who co-directed "Judas" with Gaga, explains that Formichetti perfectly captured the look the two had envisioned for the video. "Nicola Formichetti is the most brilliant man in fashion and I must tell you I love him and adore him," Gibsonshe told MTV News. "And, my God, the clothing! The idea when we spoke [we told him], 'Nicola, it's a metal gospel.' You know, for me, Nicola is just brilliant at executing what it looks like in the clothing and the swagga to make everyone look so cool, he did a great job." When the "Born This Way" video dropped earlier this year, Gibson expressed similar warm, fuzzy feelings for one of the most vital members of the Haus of Gaga. "We found Nicola and he just got it. So when we're on set, the Haus is such a collaboration, and Nicola is inspired and loves the passion of the dance," she said. "He is fashion, and him and Gaga together are magic. To see them push and pull, it's just a real process. It's like the Factory. It's very [Andy] Warhol how we operate." What do you think of the fashions Nicola Formichetti created for Gaga's "Judas" video? Share your opinions in the comments. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
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