MTV News |
- What Is Lady Gaga Like? 'Judas' Co-Stars Weigh In!
- Lonely Island Talk <i>Turtleneck & Chain</i> Tracks With Snoop, Beck, More
- Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively To Present At MTV Movie Awards
- Lady Gaga's 'Edge Of Glory' Premieres
- Jacob Lusk 'Didn't Want To Be A Charity Case' On 'American Idol'
- Paula Abdul Calls 'X Factor' A 'Different Ball Of Wax'
- Nicki Minaj, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley To Present At MTV Movie Awards
- Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Brings On More Music-Video Man Candy
- Taylor Swift's 'Mean' Director Calls Her 'Timeless'
- David Guetta Says Nicki Minaj Was Initially 'Shy' In Studio
- Rihanna Gets Between The Sheets In 'California King Bed' Video
- Jadakiss Promises 'More Joints For The Ladies' On <i>I Love You</i>
- Lady Gaga's Judas Or Jesus: Who's Hotter?
- Saigon To Give 'RapFix Live' Interview
- Ashley Greene Calls 'Skateland' A 'Departure From Alice Cullen'
- Rick Ross Says Wale Gets His Shine In '600 Benz' Video
- Owl City Moves Out Of The Basement On <i>All Things Bright And Beautiful</i>
- Lil Wayne Extends I Am Still Music Tour Through Summer
- How Does 'Thor' Stack Up To Other Superheroes At The Box Office?
- Whitney Houston Checks Into Rehab
| What Is Lady Gaga Like? 'Judas' Co-Stars Weigh In! Posted: 10 May 2011 03:52 AM PDT 'Gaga's a super cool girl from New York,' Norman Reedus tells MTV News.
Lady Gaga is many things to many people. She's a pop star, a fashionista and a voice for those who feel they can't speak for themselves. In her video for "Judas," she took on a new role: Mary Magdalene. MTV News caught up with both Judas (Norman Reedus) and Jesus (Rick Gonzalez) from the clip, and they shared what Gaga is really like to work with. "Gaga's a super cool girl from New York," Reedus said. "She's religious; she does prayers. We have some mutual friends, I think. She says prayers with her people before she goes out onstage, I've heard, and she's very much a group player. And she's not weird at all. She's actually an artist who believes in what she's doing and really takes the bull by the horns and is not afraid to say what she wants to say."
His "Judas" co-star, Gonzalez, said that a lot of her coolness is reflected in her partnership with creative director Laurieann Gibson. "When I first met [Gaga], she was very passionate and very driven. I was really impressed and found a newfound respect for her, because she's such a hardworking woman and so dedicated and very creative," Gonzalez said. "And her, with Laurieann, they make such a great team together. "I think you're going to see a lot more amazing things with them, 'cause they totally have this synergy," he continued. "And I've overheard them say it: They're totally going to do a lot more things together. So I'm excited to see what that's stuff going to be. ... It's really impressive." While a lot of the time Gaga seems to offend someone with what she's doing, Reedus said that's not her intention. "She's cool enough where she's just not trying to offend people to offend people. I mean, who does that? She's actually super talented and she's a machine," Reedus said. "That girl works really, really hard. ... I felt sort of lazy around her. It was kind of inspiring." What's your impression of Gaga? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos |
| Lonely Island Talk <i>Turtleneck & Chain</i> Tracks With Snoop, Beck, More Posted: 10 May 2011 03:52 AM PDT Comedy trio also nabbed Michael Bolton, Nicki Minaj, Akon and Rihanna for their sophomore album.
Two things we learned during the latest "Saturday Night Live" digital short — a music video for "Jack Sparrow," the absurd and infectious tune that appears on the Lonely Island's latest comedy rap album — are: Michael Bolton is a major cinephile and the dude can lay down a big sexy hook. Days before the video hit the airwaves, Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island pals Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone kicked even more knowledge to MTV News about their new album Turtleneck & Chain. We ended up walking away with a track-by-track scoop on their collaborations not only with Bolton, but with Rihanna, Snoop Dog, Nicki Minaj, Beck and Akon.
The idea to recruit Bolton for "Jack Sparrow," Samberg told us, was that "the chorus sounded like the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' soundtrack to us. Then Akiva was saying how amazing it would be to get Michael Bolton, who we all have known and loved for years. Then we just stalked him." Their collaboration with Akon on "I Just Had Sex" evolved not from dogged pursuit, but because the R&B singer and the comedians shared a basic appreciation for bumping and grinding. "He's a fan of sex," Samberg said. "He understands the mechanics, the biology of it." The music video for the track also appeared as an "SNL" digital short and has garnered more than 86 million hits on YouTube since December. A little over a month earlier, Lonely Island debuted another video as an "SNL" short. Following up on the 2009 original, the troupe recruited Rihanna for "Shy Ronnie 2: Ronnie & Clyde." "The streets wanted that one," Schaffer said. "Just letter after letter." Wondered Taccone: "That's how the streets get in contact with you?" How they communicated with Minaj and director John Waters for "The Creep" was made possible by technology. Nicki was in the studio to contribute a verse about being a stalker, but Waters had to beam in his contribution from San Francisco during a book tour stop. "We talked to him a lot," Taccone said. "He kept saying there's a fine line between perv and a--hole, and can we keep him on the perv side? We're like, 'No problem!' " To describe their track with Beck, "Attracted to Us," the Lonely Island guys reached back into the musician's discography. "He's really like mellow gold," Samberg cracked. "There's two turntables and a microphone in there in the studio," Schaffer said. "Then when you're in there," added Taccone, "you're like, 'Odelay!' " And then there's the album's title track, featuring Snoop Dogg, a guy Lonely Island said was a blast to hang out with in the studio. "Weird thing about Snoop, we found out: Snoop doesn't smoke weed," Taccone said. "Yeah, he doesn't smoke weed," Samberg picked up. "He smokes weeeeeeeed. He smokes weeeeeeeed. He does not smoke weed." What are you expecting from Lonely Island's latest? Let us know in the comments! |
| Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively To Present At MTV Movie Awards Posted: 09 May 2011 04:57 AM PDT Steve Carell, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride, Jason Segel and Jesse Eisenberg will also hand out Golden Popcorn on Sunday, June 5.
With the MTV Movie Awards less than a month away, it's time to start name-dropping the talented cast of characters scheduled to present Golden Popcorn trophies on Sunday, June 5. In addition to the previously announced Nicki Minaj, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Selena Gomez, Emma Stone, Cameron Diaz, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, Shia LaBeouf, Patrick Dempsey and Josh Duhamel, we are pleased to reveal a second batch of equally high-caliber presenters: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari and Danny McBride. "Eclipse" leads the pack of 2011 MTV Movie Awards nominees with eight nods, including Best Movie, Best Fight and Best Kiss. "Inception" snagged the second-most nominations (seven), followed by "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1," which received six nods. Hosted by Jason Sudeikis, the 20th annual MTV Movie Awards will air live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, on Sunday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET. Head to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for a winner in every category until June 4. Voting for Best Movie will stay open throughout the awards show — meaning you'll have a chance to affect the night's biggest prize until the very last minute. "I'm sincerely flattered that the folks from the Mostly Teenage Viewers network have invited me to host this year, and I look forward to keeping the streak of flawless and critically lauded movie awards show hosting in 2011 alive," "Saturday Night Live" castmember Sudeikis said about the big gig. "Smart and funny is the new rock and roll for our audience — and that combo pretty much sums up Jason," said Stephen Friedman, president of MTV. "He is a smartass and a gentleman who never goes for the easy or obvious joke. Because of that, he is the ideal Movie Awards host, and we are confident with him anchoring the show, our audience is in store for unexpected and crazy moments with Hollywood's biggest stars and musicians." Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 20th annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET. Related Photos |
| Lady Gaga's 'Edge Of Glory' Premieres Posted: 09 May 2011 01:06 AM PDT Singer harks back to late '80s, early '90s adult-contemporary pop on latest Born This Way track.
First, she empowered her fans with "Born This Way." Then she fell in love with the wrong guy on "Judas." Now, Lady Gaga is letting her guard down in the name of love on "Edge of Glory." Less electro and more straightforward pop, the latest Born This Way track, which hit the Web on Monday (May 9), is all about romance. It opens with Gaga's vocals over a keyboard. "I need a man who thinks it's right when it's so wrong," Gaga sings. "Tonight, yeah, baby, right on the limits/ Where we know where we both belong/ Tonight." The song's production harks back to late '80s, early '90s adult-contemporary pop, when big choruses where the norm. "I'm on the edge of glory and hanging on a moment of truth," she sings in the refrain. "I'm on the edge of glory and I'm hanging on a moment with you/ I'm on the edge." What makes the song stand out from others on the radio now is a sax solo courtesy of Clarence Clemons (E Street Band) right in the middle of the track, as Gaga belts out, "I'm on the edge with you." Clemons also appears on the song "Hair" on Born This Way. This single certainly shows a softer side for the star. Her previous two Born This Way releases have been harsher and more industrial-sounding. The song was co-produced by Gaga, Fernando Garibay and DJ White Shadow ("Born This Way"). Artwork for the song features her nude, with her mouth open, her "Born This Way" horns in place and her hair wildly cascading around her. "The great thing about dance songs is, for me, most of the time, they start off as ballads, and that's the approach I've been trying to keep going," Garibay told MTV News. "We wrote songs, particularly Gaga wrote these songs, to live in a dance environment. Yeah, they're dance, but I think the whole thing, too, is that they're songs and genuine to her." What do you think of "Edge of Glory"? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Jacob Lusk 'Didn't Want To Be A Charity Case' On 'American Idol' Posted: 09 May 2011 06:01 AM PDT So he kept his personal life under wraps: 'It's just about the music.'
Throughout the 10 seasons of "American Idol," contestants have won over viewers in a variety of ways. Casey James took off his shirt. Tim Urban slid across the stage. And countless others, ranging from season one's Jim Verraros to season 10 also-ran Chris Medina, have shared their personal lives and hardships as a way to inspire viewers. But recently eliminated Jacob Lusk — whose life has had enough drama for at least three Tyler Perry movies — was dead-set on gaining a fanbase using one thing and one thing only: his voice.
"I didn't want to be a charity case," Lusk told MTV News on Monday afternoon (May 9). "I didn't want to use my father's death or my mom starting on welfare and going to college or getting her degree or me moving on my own and having rough times and barely finding a place to live and barely making ends meet." Lusk, who made a name for himself with emotional, Gospel-tinged performances, said he was "definitely tempted" to share stories from his difficult past when going through the various audition rounds, but ultimately decided to keep his private life private as long as possible. In fact, Lusk was so tight-lipped about his backstory that when he finally dedicated "Dance With My Father" to his deceased dad on 21st Century Song night, it took the "Idol" team by surprise. "A lot of the producers didn't know that my father had passed away," Lusk said. "I didn't want to be that person who was voted for because of this; I wanted it to be because of my [voice] and not because of anything else," Lusk reiterated. "If you find out about that later, then that's fine, but it's just about the music." Fifth-placer Lusk will join the rest of the top 11 when the latest cast hits the road on the American Idols Live! Tour this summer. What do you think of Lusk keeping his personal life under wraps during the show? 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 |
| Paula Abdul Calls 'X Factor' A 'Different Ball Of Wax' Posted: 09 May 2011 04:42 AM PDT Simon Cowell says the show couldn't go on without newly signed judge Paula.
The fantastic four have suited up and are ready to battle ... each other? With the last-minute signing of Paula Abdul as the fourth and final judge on Simon Cowell's "The X Factor," the panel is now complete. On Sunday, all four panelists — Cowell, Abdul, L.A. Reid and Cheryl Cole — arrived at the University of Southern California's Galen Center in downtown Los Angeles for the Fox show's first taped audition. The vibe among the judges was a mix of anticipation and nostalgia. For those who've worked together before, there was an eagerness to get back into the old rapport.
British pop star Cole, who previously served as a judge on the U.K. version of "X Factor," spoke about Cowell as if he was a beloved, yet somewhat bothersome, big brother. "I have the utmost respect for him and I love him to bits," Cole told MTV. "We have a great friendship, but he's very, very annoying." Having just found out about the addition of Abdul, Cole said she was excited and eager to begin working with the former "Idol" judge. "I'm really looking forward to meeting her actually." As for Abdul, the newly signed panelist admitted she's still getting familiar with the "X Factor" format. "We are placed in a way that we compete with each other, which is interesting," she said. "But it's a whole different ball of wax. I'm excited to be getting into that mentoring aspect. That's really my passion, that's what I've done for over 20 years." Legendary record executive Reid is the one "X Factor" judge who's new to televised talent searches. "I haven't been a part of auditions like this, and people that audition for me, they generally do original material," Reid explained. "So to hear people do cover songs, it's a bit unusual for me." But watching Cole and Cowell on the U.K. show boosted his admiration for the format, Reid said. "I just think they're really great at what they do. "I mean, it surprised me 10 years ago when Simon became the biggest star in the world on 'American Idol' ... and that the platform for television talent became so huge — that surprised me and made me a little bit jealous," he admitted. "Because they were finding talent that I couldn't find because those people didn't walk into my office, but they came to the audition, so that was exciting ... that impressed me." Cowell, likewise expressed admiration for Reid, and opened up about fighting to get the judging panel he believes "The X Factor" deserves. "When you make a show like this, you have a lot of people who have a lot of opinions and, at the last second, because of other situations, people get a bit jittery, maybe a bit panicky, and I stuck to my guns," Cowell said. "I wanted this panel." And he really wanted Paula. "There was a lot of backwards and forwards going on and talk of maybe we'll just do it with three judges, and I said, 'We're not. Unless she is confirmed, we're not filming.' " So with his dream team finally in place, how did Cowell expect the panelists to interact during their first day together on the job? "Fake. Pretending they all like each other. What else do you expect?" Are you glad to hear Paula will be joining "The X Factor"? Tell us in the comments! |
| Nicki Minaj, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley To Present At MTV Movie Awards Posted: 09 May 2011 08:59 AM PDT Emma Stone, Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Shia LaBeouf also among the celebs who will hand out trophies at the June 5 event.
Nicki Minaj, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Selena Gomez, Emma Stone, Cameron Diaz, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, Shia LaBeouf, Patrick Dempsey and Josh Duhamel are among the stars confirmed to appear at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards on June 5. This smattering of celebrities will be on hand to present Golden Popcorn statues at the big show. "Eclipse" leads the (wolf)pack of MTV Movie Awards nominees with eight nods, including Best Movie, Best Fight and Best Kiss. Other big flicks in the running for multiple honors include "Inception" (seven nominations) and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" (six nods). Also receiving nominations are Justin Bieber, Emma Watson, Natalie Portman, Zac Efron, Tom Hardy and Jesse Eisenberg, to name a few. Hosted by Jason Sudeikis, the 20th annual MTV Movie Awards will air live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, on Sunday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET. Head to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for a winner in every category until June 4. In addition, voting for Best Movie will stay open throughout the awards show — meaning you'll have a chance to affect the night's biggest prize until the very last minute. "I'm sincerely flattered that the folks from the Mostly Teenage Viewers network have invited me to host this year, and I look forward to keeping the streak of flawless and critically lauded movie awards show hosting in 2011 alive," "Saturday Night Live" castmember Sudeikis said about the big gig. "Smart and funny is the new rock and roll for our audience — and that combo pretty much sums up Jason," said Stephen Friedman, president of MTV. "He is a smartass and a gentleman who never goes for the easy or obvious joke. Because of that, he is the ideal Movie Awards host, and we are confident with him anchoring the show, our audience is in store for unexpected and crazy moments with Hollywood's biggest stars and musicians." Which celebrities are you most excited to see on the 2011 MTV Movie Awards? Tell us in the comments. Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 20th annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 5, at 9 p.m. ET. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Brings On More Music-Video Man Candy Posted: 09 May 2011 04:20 AM PDT From Britney's 'Toxic' travel companion to Katy Perry's 'Teenage' dreamboat, there's plenty to drool over.
The main objective in making a music video is, of course, to showcase and promote the song in question. However, thanks to visionary artists, producers and directors, they've become much bigger productions, not to mention career launching pads for aspiring actors and models. In honor of Lady Gaga's elaborate vid for "Judas," with Rick Gonzalez as Jesus and Norman Reedus as the title betrayer, we decided to turn our eyes and minds toward highlighting the hottest "man candy" in recent videos. (This isn't a sexist project, by the way: We already listed our favorite actresses-turned-video vixens when Megan Fox lit up the small screen in Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" clip.)
Matt Felker in Britney Spears' "Toxic" Willy Monfret in Nicki Minaj's "Right Thru Me" Josh Kloss in Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" William Levy in Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Into You" Dominic Monaghan in Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" Nostalgia Hotties » Antonio Sabato Jr., batting his pretty lashes at Janet Jackson in her gorgeous "Love Will Never Do (Without You). » Tyson Beckford, for taking a shower with Toni Braxton in "Un-break My Heart." » Stephen Dorff for breaking Alicia Silverstone's heart (and later making her jump off a bridge) in Aerosmith's "Cryin'." Bonus points go out to Dorff for also appearing in Britney Spears' "Everytime," which he recently revisited with us. Who did we miss? Who is your favorite music-video man candy? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Taylor Swift's 'Mean' Director Calls Her 'Timeless' Posted: 09 May 2011 01:30 AM PDT 'She's an incredibly creative and visual person,' Declan Whitebloom tells MTV News of Swift.
Last week, Taylor Swift took on bullies in her video for "Mean." The country/pop star hooked up with director Declan Whitebloom to add a cinematic vibe to the dis track. "I tried to go a bit sort of off-base and do something different, and she was into it as well and on the same page in terms of the visuals," he told MTV News. "We wanted to make something stunning while still getting the point across. They're stories that you've seen before in other videos, but we wanted to present it in a more visual and theatrical way." Swift's video focuses on her own story of climbing her way up the pop heap, but also takes a look at other tales of woe and bullying. "She decided she wanted to sidestep the limelight and tell the story through other people, which was quite unusual," Whitebloom said. "She's an incredibly creative and visual person. "It's her idea to bring her band [into the video], and it really shows her authenticity as a performer and not just a one-note person," he added. "She really does do everything, and I think in this video, she really showed that." The song is very specific to Swift, who has admitted that it's about a critic who was a little too harsh on her, but Whitebloom said the message is certainly one we can all relate to. "We all have similar stories in our life that hit similar emotional cues, and to open it up and make it broader about lots of people and situations .. makes it much more accessible," he said. "It means more in a general way. I think [the message] goes across the board." Swift's character is a retro version of herself — she dons flapper attire in the clip — and that image, the director explained, was easy for her to embody. "Everyone was vintage in a way. ... The whole thing has a period feel. But Taylor, I don't know, it all started with her and the actual performance. She did a performance on the ACMs ... and she wanted to bring that into [this video]. We just brought the two-dimensional scene from the CD cover and the country [awards and] made those 3-D," he said. "We brought those to life. I think because Taylor is so timeless in a way, her look, she really embodies that sort of 1920s, 1930s look so well. She is absolutely flawless and gorgeous." What did you think of the "Mean" video? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Artists |
| David Guetta Says Nicki Minaj Was Initially 'Shy' In Studio Posted: 09 May 2011 03:26 AM PDT 'Then I played that record and she started to jump from her chair,' Guetta tells MTV News of his 'Where Them Girls At' partner.
Released just about a week ago, David Guetta's latest single, "Where Them Girls At," featuring rapper Flo Rida and Nicki Minaj, is already making noise on the charts. Following a string of successful U.S. hit singles, the song is currently in the top 10 on iTunes, an achievement the French DJ/producer is proud of, especially given the circumstances of its release. Guetta was recently the victim of a computer hacking theft, which led him to rush the joint out without radio promotion or a music video. "Some hackers stole an a capella [version] of 'Where Them Girls At,' Guetta told MTV News. "And I was really not ready, because I made a remix for Snoop and we released that record together, the 'Sweat,' record. (It's absolutely huge everywhere, but they didn't really work it in the U.S. I think it's probably going to come back because it's really big.)
"I was not supposed to release the record so soon," he revealed. "And I was thinking of maybe using the Taio [Cruz] record as a first single. [Hackers] stole the a capella and someone produced some music around it and put my name on it and put it on the Net. So it was horrible, I really didn't like the music. People thought it was me." Guetta is not taking the matter lightly, even hiring a Pentagon security specialist to track down the culprits. "To put out music that is not even finished, this is really disrespectful to the music. I was really mad," he added. "I started to ask people that really do security when it comes to computers, you know, specialists. So we hired this guy who's been working for the Pentagon, for security. So this is serious." Still, even though 'Where Them Girls At' wasn't released how he planned it, Guetta is looking on the bright side. "I had to react to this by releasing the record without any promotion," Guetta said, "Without a video, without anything. And what is really incredible and crazy is that the record is #1 on iTunes in every country in the world. It's #3 in the U.S. right now [last week]. So it's absolutely unbelievable." The success of the banger can probably be attributed in part to the undeniable beat, which is what won over an initially hesitant Nicki Minaj. "The first time you're in the studio with someone, it's sometimes difficult," Guetta explained. "She was being a little shy or reserved, you know. And then I played that record and she started to jump from her chair and scream. And she was like, 'Wow, I love this!' "It was an amazing start working together because I really wanted to work some more with her. I'm a really huge fan. To be honest, it's very rare that I call artists — most of the time they call me. I've been chasing her for like a year because I really wanted to work with her," Guetta confessed. Flo Rida was similarly excited when he first heard the track, according to the French crossover star. "When I played the song with Nicki, after I had her vocals, when I played it for Flo, he was going crazy!" Guetta gushed. "He was so happy. He was really excited about it!" Guetta, Flo and Nicki plan to shoot the video in Los Angeles in the next few weeks, and while he wouldn't disclose much about the concept, he said the clip will have "a positive message." Are you excited for the "Where Them Girls At" video? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Rihanna Gets Between The Sheets In 'California King Bed' Video Posted: 09 May 2011 01:16 AM PDT Rihanna and her lover get close — and grow apart — in oceanfront clip.
The video for Rihanna's "California King Bed" is as sexy as its title suggests. The sixth single off Rih-Rih's latest album, Loud, features the scarlet-haired Bajan beauty lying between the sheets with a shirtless lover. In late February, the pop princess took to Twitter to poll her fans, asking them to choose her next single. "QUESTION EXISTING: I'm shootin a new vid in a cpl wks, I just need u to tell me, which song should I shoot? What is my next single?" she tweeted before firing off, "Its hard to go from s+m to SKIN! Don't want to be 2 swiney." "California King Bed" was announced as Rihanna's next single a few days later. Rihanna teased fans last week when she tweeted a photo from the shoot, and she dropped the video Monday (May 9). Filmed in Cali and directed by Anthony Mandler, the video opens with the star laid out in a grass field, wearing a white bandeau and matching shorts, before moving into an open-air bedroom. Though the clip starts with Rihanna's head resting on the chest of her shirtless leading man, distance grows between the two. Ripe with rich hues and scenes of an oceanfront sunset, Mandler flips the cam from color to a black-and-white lens midway through the clip, during the song's third refrain. The director quickly switches back to color as Rihanna returns to lie in the grass field in which she started. Give us your review of Rihanna's "California King Bed" video in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Jadakiss Promises 'More Joints For The Ladies' On <i>I Love You</i> Posted: 09 May 2011 03:40 AM PDT 'Kiss tells MTV News his lady followers on Twitter helped inspire the May 24 retail mixtape.
Jadakiss' witty punch lines and raspy flow have made the rap veteran a fan favorite, and now the LOX frontman just wants to show his appreciation. On May 24, Kiss will drop his retail mixtape I Love You (A Dedication to My Fans) as a token of his gratitude. MTV News caught up with J-to-the-mwah last week and got the exclusive from the Brooklyn set of Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group video for "600 Benz".
"We tell everybody 'I love you' — waiters, flight attendants," Kiss explained about the inspiration for the tape's title. "I just said, 'Yo I'm gonna name my next mixtape that, I Love You,' and make it a dedication to the fans." When it comes to hip-hop mixtapes, Jada has made some of rap's most lauded with his The Champ Is Here trilogy. The first of the three dropped in 2004 and was filled with street-centered songs like "Games People Play" and "The Passion of Kiss." And while he promises I Love You will have material for the streets, Kiss said the new tape will be more a variation on what fans are used to getting from him. "It's different than the Champ Is Here versions. It got some more feeling music on there. A few more joints for the ladies," Kiss said. "You know just some good ride-out music, you don't gotta touch it. I think it's 10 or 11 tracks — whatever it is, you can just let it rock, though. No tags on it; it's just all the way through good music. The Champ Is Here is its own entity. When I'm in Champ Is Here mode, that got its own brand. But this I Love You is just something I was feeling," Jada added about the project, which will be released on Def Jam. 'Kiss also credited his recent Twitter activity as a motivating factor for the new project. "I be on Twitter a little more now, I got a lot of lady followers. I just wanted to do something for them as well as my homeys," he explained. "My brothers in jail, my homeys in the street — I always got some stuff on there for them." Will you buy Jada's upcoming mixtape? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's Judas Or Jesus: Who's Hotter? Posted: 08 May 2011 10:32 PM PDT We went straight to the video's leading men to get their thoughts.
In her video for "Judas," Lady Gaga is torn between two very different men: nice guy Jesus (played by Rick Gonzalez) and rebel Judas (played by Norman Reedus).
While no one really knows who she ends up picking (she is stoned to death in the end), the video has certainly brought some attention to the hotness of these two guys and their very different "Judas" characters. For those who need a quick biblical lesson, Judas is one of the 12 apostles and later betrays Jesus. As seen in the video, his final act of betrayal is the kiss, which takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper as a way of identifying him to the soldiers who have come to arrest Jesus. When MTV News spoke to Reedus and Gonzalez last week, they weighed in on who they think makes for the hotter beau to Gaga's Mary Magdalene. "Being that I'm Jesus, I have to answer that in the most selfless way and give the glory to Judas and say he's more handsome," Gonzalez explained. " 'Cause that is the right thing. That's what Jesus would do." While Reedus plays a bad guy in the video, it seems that he has some Jesus-like qualities in real life. "Who's hotter — Jesus or Judas? Definitely Jesus," he said. "If you look closely, you can notice that Jesus' feet are much prettier than Judas' feet, so my vote's [for] Jesus. I definitely vote for Jesus." Who gets your vote: Jesus or Judas? Let us know in the comments below! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Saigon To Give 'RapFix Live' Interview Posted: 09 May 2011 12:42 AM PDT The Yardfather will join Sway on the 'RapFix' couch on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com.
Last week's "RapFix Live" was filled with fireworks and controversy after visits from Lil B, Pharoahe Monch and Consequence, and this week looks to be just as exciting as rapper Saigon is set to drop by the "RapFix" studio on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Locked up as a youth, Sai got his rapping start in the NYC mixtape scene in the early 2000s. After a memorable street run, Saigon compiled the best of his mixtape material on the independent retail release Warning Shots in 2004. The MC would later hook up with hip-hop super-producer Just Blaze, sign to Atlantic Records and see his official debut LP, The Greatest Story Never Told, become one of rap's most anticipated releases. Aside from the music, Sai made a few headlines as well. He landed a recurring role in HBO's hit series "Entourage" and beefed with Mobb Deep's Prodigy. Unfortunately TGSNT saw years of delay. After a ton of label drama, Saigon was eventually released from Atlantic. Undeterred, the Yardfather would march on, and in February he finally put out The Greatest Story Never Told independently on Suburban Noize. According to Saigon, the album remained pretty much intact and fans now have the work that he intended to release on Atlantic. The Greatest Story Never Told features production from Just Blaze, Buckwild and Kanye West, and collaborations with Jay-Z, Faith Evans and Bun B. Despite the delay, TGSNT has been met with a positive critical response and respectable indie sales. Visit MTV.com on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET to watch Saigon on "RapFix Live"! Related Artists |
| Ashley Greene Calls 'Skateland' A 'Departure From Alice Cullen' Posted: 09 May 2011 12:52 AM PDT 'Twilight' star was still an unknown when she auditioned for '80s-set flick.
After the major box-office bite of three "Twilight Saga" films (and counting), it's hard to imagine any Hollywood casting director is unfamiliar with Ashley Greene. But when the 24-year-old actress auditioned for the part of Michelle Burkham in her upcoming '80s-set flick "Skateland," she was simply that girl from that vampire movie.
"It was right before 'New Moon.' No one really knew who I was," she recalled of the audition process. "We had done 'Twilight,' and I think maybe it had just come out. ... Actually, I feel like it came out while ['Skateland'] was filming. And, of course, I got the news of how big it was. No one really knew who I was at that point, so I was just a girl who was in this movie that was buzzed about. I really had to work for it." After a long gestation period, audiences will finally get to see Greene in her first non-"Twilight" role — one she said is very different from her vampire alter ego. "I was really excited, because it was definitely a departure from Alice Cullen. I think it was two years ago, so I'm excited it's finally coming out," she told MTV News. "I basically read the script, and I was really drawn to the character because Michelle — she's strong and she's vulnerable, and I feel like you don't get that a lot with female roles in films. She's kind of the headstrong girl in the movie, and she knows what she wants and she's confident and, you know, a no-bull kind of girl." "Skateland" stars Shiloh Fernandez as a small-town Texas skating-rink manager who's forced to grow up after a series of dramatic events unfold in his life. Check out everything we've got on "Skateland." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Photos |
| Rick Ross Says Wale Gets His Shine In '600 Benz' Video Posted: 08 May 2011 11:26 PM PDT Maybach Music Group Bawse talks to MTV News on New York set.
The Bawse is putting in overtime. While setting up the release for his Maybach Music Group compilation Self Made, Rick Ross and his MMG rap outfit have already dropped a number of videos, including "Pandemonium" and "Play Your Part." Now, Ricky Rozay has tapped Jadakiss and his new signee Wale to star in the upcoming "600 Benz" video. MTV News was invited onset in Brooklyn, New York, and got to chop it up with the biggest boss of them all.
"I'm going back to the essence of that gritty street music, but at the same time, it's motivation. We wanted to make sure the whole video was based on Wale, making sure everybody sees what he brings to the table," Ross said of the D.C. rapper he recently signed, along with Meek Mil and Pill. Ross' vote of confidence is encouraging for the young Wale. "I grew up in sports; I'm very competitive. I know when I'm down, and I know when I need to catch up," he said. "I know when I'm on defense, and know when I'm on offense. I got the ball the now, and it's time to score." In an attempt to seize the moment, Wale plans to drop his sophomore solo LP on Maybach sometime after Self Made is released and is even ready to drop a second album this year if the label approves. As of right now, however, he is focused on "600 Benz," which features Jadakiss and Ross. Though Ross' reference to "work" on the hook to "Benz" suggests the track is another in a long line of Rozay's dope-boy anthems, Wale — who isn't known for his street credentials — explains his take on the song. "The hook could make you think it's about one thing, but the song is really just about ambition and aspiring and working," he said. "I know what it's like to be working and get a paycheck every two weeks. When you got a muse or you got a goal, or you got something that you really wanna get, it's a special feeling." Related Artists |
| Owl City Moves Out Of The Basement On <i>All Things Bright And Beautiful</i> Posted: 09 May 2011 01:05 AM PDT Adam Young says he learned to live with 'positive pressure' to make follow-up to his breakout Ocean Eyes album.
The story of Adam Young's rise from basement-dwelling Coca-Cola employee to platinum-selling dream-tronica star is well-documented by now, mostly because it's the kind of thing you only read about in books. Thanks to the success of his Ocean Eyes album (and the hit single "Fireflies"), Young — who, as you probably know by now, records under the name Owl City — topped the charts, toured the world and even moved out of his parents' basement (success!). And, on June 14, he'll return with All Things Bright and Beautiful, the next chapter in his rather improbable story. But with his new album also comes new expectations — because, for the first time in his career, people are paying close attention. "I like to think of it as positive pressure," Young laughed. "I know people are going to listen to this new record through the lens of Ocean Eyes and how that became more successful than anyone expected. But that was fuel on the fire, in a lot of ways, for me, to make sure that I didn't write this new record from the wrong place. I never wanted to get into a headspace where I was writing songs for the Hot 100 chart or the iTunes chart or anybody other than, first and foremost, myself as an artist. "Of course," he added, "there was a scary moment where I was afraid if everyone was going to ask, 'Can he do it again? What if it was a flash in a pan?' and all that stuff, which is inevitable, but I wanted to make sure that was kept at bay. And this record really was just about me and the music, first and foremost, and regardless of what happens, I'm still excited about this next chapter, if you will." And so, while Bright and Beautiful is, chronologically, the follow-up to Ocean Eyes, in a lot of ways, it sounds as if Young's breakthrough album never happened at all. There's an increased focus on straightforward dance music (the pulsing synths of "Galaxies"), hip-hop (first single "Alligator Sky," which features verses by Shawn Chrystopher, the rattling back-track of "Dreams Don't Turn to Dust"), and even organic instrumentation (the strummed acoustic guitar of "Honey and the Bee," the curling electric guitar lines on "Angel"), all of which point toward Young's growth both as a producer and a musician. "I wanted this new record to sound a bit more mature, a bit older and wiser, without ever getting too over-produced or over-processed," he said. "But, at the same time, I wanted to round out the thin, kick/hat/snare sound that was Ocean Eyes, so the new album was really kind of geared towards being rooted in electronica, but with other organic flavors here and there. ... I pulled from hip-hop music in terms of drum loops and drum samples, and drawing from this kind of Blink-182, rock, live sound, and a lot of orchestral themes stitched throughout. I have, like, a mile-long text file on my laptop of all these ideas." And to that end, no matter what ends up happening with his new album, Young says he'll view it as a success. There may be no "Fireflies, Part II" on All Things Bright and Beautiful, but that's hardly the point, really. "I think if people feel they can connect with it in some way, I feel like my job will be done. 'Fireflies' really taught me not to expect anything, not to have any preconceived notions about singles. ... It was just one of the songs on the record, and that really taught me it's kind of out of my hands in a way," he said. "So if people embrace it as much as the last record, I'll be blown away ... and if it bombs and everyone hates it, I still feel good from an artistic integrity standpoint." Are you looking forward to new music from Owl City? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne Extends I Am Still Music Tour Through Summer Posted: 09 May 2011 09:23 AM PDT Rick Ross, Keri Hilson and Lloyd join second leg, which runs through July and August.
The road is truly Lil Wayne's home away from home. The rapper announced on Monday (May 9) that he will extend his I Am Still Music Tour through the summer, adding 40 more dates to the popular outing. With his 10th studio album, Tha Carter IV, due out on June 21, Wayne will have little time to celebrate before heading back onstage on July 13 with a date at the Comcast Theater in Hartford, Connecticut. After spending time in arenas for the first half of the dates, Wayne will hit amphitheaters in 40 cities between July and September for the second leg. It is currently slated to wrap up with a September 11 date at the Woodlands Amphitheater in Woodlands, Texas. As usual, Weezy will have plenty of headline-worthy help with him, including returning Still Music compatriot Rick Ross, as well as Keri Hilson, Far East Movement and Lloyd. Tickets will go on sale the weekend of May 20. Dates for the I Am Still Music Tour: |
| How Does 'Thor' Stack Up To Other Superheroes At The Box Office? Posted: 08 May 2011 10:55 PM PDT 'I wouldn't call it a failure, but it's certainly not a huge success,' one box-office expert says of $66 million debut.
Last week, director Justin Lin and Universal Pictures were in full-on celebration mode in the wake of the record-breaking $86.2 million opening weekend of "Fast Five." Summer-movie season, it seemed, had begun a week before its official start date. Meanwhile Paramount and "Thor" — which staked a claim to debut on May 6, 2011, the traditional start of summer movie season, back in January of last year — had to wait patiently for a moment in the Hollywood spotlight. When the superhero flick's time finally came, it got off to a solid $66 million opening — an impressive beginning that becomes less so when you start breaking down the particulars.
"I wouldn't call it a failure, but it's certainly not a huge success," said Phil Contrino, editor of BoxOffice.com. "If it can hold up well in the weeks to come, then the debut won't mean as much." At issue is the way 3-D and IMAX screenings goosed box-office grosses. Overall attendance for "Thor" was below the likes of 2003's "Hulk" and 2005's "Fantastic Four," according to Box Office Mojo. And as Gitesh Pandya of Box Office Guru points out, "The CinemaScore was a B+, meaning that critics loved the film, and regular moviegoers just liked it." Combine these factors with the fact that "Fast Five" ate up $32.5 million over its second weekend (down 62 percent), and you've got the recipe for a muscular but hardly astounding opening. "Until Universal moved 'Fast Five' from June to April, 'Thor' was the only blockbuster on the block, as is usually the case when Hollywood's summer season begins," said Jeff Bock, box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations. "These prime release dates are locked down years in advance, so 'Thor' never knew what hit him. 'Fast Five' no doubt stole 'Thor''s thunder." But whereas the "Fast and Furious" franchise has firmly cemented itself as an enduring action franchise, Marvel was introducing, in "Thor," a character who "was never in the premier pantheon of superheroes," as Bock put it. Though "Thor" didn't explode at the box office, and while "Captain America" might not either later this summer, it's all building up to "The Avengers" next year. Marvel's superhero all-star flick has been in the works for years, and will bring together not only Thor and the Captain, but Iron Man, Hulk and others. "Despite 'Thor' and 'Captain America' not being mega-blockbusters like 'Iron Man,' as a combined super force, they will likely become one of Hollywood's golden franchises," Bock said. "And audiences will never have to go another summer without their Marvel fix." 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. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Whitney Houston Checks Into Rehab Posted: 09 May 2011 12:07 AM PDT Houston is voluntarily undergoing treatment for drug and alcohol issues, her rep confirms to MTV News.
Whitney Houston has checked into a drug and alcohol rehab facility. A spokesperson for the "I Will Always Love You" diva confirmed to MTV News on Monday (May 9) that Houston is undergoing treatment in an outpatient program for drug and alcohol issues on a voluntary basis as part of her "long-standing recovery process." The troubled singer, who has struggled with drugs and alcohol on and off for years, has been trying to reboot her once-soaring musical career for much of the past decade. The latest attempt came in 2009 with I Look to You. The album and a subsequent tour, however, failed to catch fire, with negative reviews for overseas shows, where fans complained about Houston's voice and performances. Houston, 47, entered rehab in 2004 and again in 2005 and has admitted to substance abuse problems, but said around the time of her 2009 album release that she was feeling stronger and was focused on her sobriety. TMZ reported that Houston checked into the program 10 days ago. She has been mostly out of the public eye lately, but did sing onstage with Chaka Khan at a Prince concert in Los Angeles last week. According to a USA Today report, Angela Bassett, Houston's co-star in the 1995 hit film "Waiting to Exhale," said a sequel is in the works and that the entire original cast — presumably including Houston — is expected to appear in the film version of author Terry McMillan's 2010 follow-up novel, "Getting to Happy." Actor Forest Whitaker is reportedly slated to direct the film from a script by McMillan. Related Artists |
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