MTV News |
- Lil Wayne Is 'Lonely At The Top' But Fears The Bottom
- Bonnaroo's Best Bets: 10 Acts To See At The Fest!
- Ja Rule's Prison Sentence: What Led Up To It?
- Lady Gaga Is 'Just A Normal <nobr>Girl' ... On</nobr> 25-Inch Heels
- 'Transformers 3' Has 'Best Action' Yet, Shia LaBeouf Says
- Beyonce Responds To <i>4</i> Album Leak
- Nick Jonas Is Looking For The Next Willow Smith
- Ja Rule Turns Himself In As Tearful Family Looks On
- Kanye West Passes Baton To Big Sean At Album Party
- Kim Kardashian's Sisters Thought She Was Joking About Engagement
- Rihanna's 'Man Down' Video Director Welcomes Controversy
- Beyonce's <i>4</i> Leaks Three Weeks Early
- Lady Gaga's <i>Born This Way</i> Holds On To #1 <i>Billboard</i> Spot
- Tech N9ne Meets And Greets Fans At <i>All 6's And 7's</i> Signing
| Lil Wayne Is 'Lonely At The Top' But Fears The Bottom Posted: 09 Jun 2011 03:53 AM PDT Weezy opens up to MTV News about 'Nightmares of the Bottom' track he'll debut on Sunday's 'Unplugged.'
Few artists ever reach the heights Lil Wayne has, and for the Young Money captain, that is both a gift and a curse. And it's a dilemma that Weezy tackles on "Nightmares of the Bottom," a new track off the New Orleans lyricist's upcoming album Tha Carter IV. After performing the track for the first time during the taping of his "MTV2 Presents: Lil Wayne Unplugged," set to air Sunday on MTV, MTV2 and MTV.com, the self-proclaimed Martian broke down the song's meaning. "I mean simply, sleeping at the top with nightmares of the bottom," Wayne told MTV News' Sway. "Everybody says it's lonely at the top. It is lonely, so I dream, though, and the only thing I dream about is being down there with the people that ain't lonely. Thank God I am alone." With eight solo albums and more than 10 million records sold, Wayne has tasted too much success to see his stock dip, so for him, a fall back to earth is a definite fear, he admitted. "And that's simply what it is: nightmares of the bottom," he added before rapping the song's lyrics: "Sleeping at the top/ Nightmares of the bottom/ Everybody wanna be fly, until you swat 'em." "Lil Wayne Unplugged" features Tunechi performing acoustic versions of his already classic catalog and places Weezy in the same class as hip-hop luminaries Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill and LL Cool J, who also took the unplugged stage. "Lil Wayne is an amazing choice for Unplugged as he is at hip-hop's forefront — leading a new generation of artists whose appeal spans across music genres and playlists," Amy Doyle, MTV's executive vice president of music and talent, said in a statement. "Lil Wayne's skills, influence, and catalog are a powerful addition to the legacy of artists who have rocked the 'Unplugged' stage." Don't miss "MTV2 Presents: Lil Wayne Unplugged," premiering Sunday, June 12, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on MTV2, MTV and MTV.com. |
| Bonnaroo's Best Bets: 10 Acts To See At The Fest! Posted: 09 Jun 2011 03:53 AM PDT Eminem and Lil Wayne top the bill, but there are plenty of other worthy bands to see.
If, for some reason, you weren't aware of it by now (perhaps you don't read Relix magazine on the regular?), the 10th annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival kicks off Thursday (June 9) in its spiritual home of Manchester, Tennessee, bringing with it tens of thousands of voracious music fans, a whole lot of creatively griddled arepas and some seriously wasted Wookies, too. And while some say this year's lineup — topped by the likes of Eminem, Lil Wayne and Arcade Fire — strays too far from Bonnaroo's generally crunchy roots (you know, aside from bands like Widespread Panic, My Morning Jacket and the String Cheese Incident), the true beauty of Bonnaroo has always been in its ability to provide something for everyone, even if that something is "watching basketball in an air-conditioned theater" (yes, Game 5 of the NBA Finals will be shown). That's especially true of this year's bill, too, which is teeming with talent. And so, as we prepare to head down to this year's 'Roo, we've decided to put together a list of 10 must-see acts, our favorite bands on the bill not named Eminem or Lil Wayne. Because the headliners get all the love (and everyone's going to check them out anyway) — it's time to let someone else shine. Best Coast Dam-Funk & Master Blaster Wanda Jackson Florence and the Machine Big Boi Portugal. The Man My Morning Jacket Dr. John with the Original Meters and Allen Toussaint The Mardi Gras Parade Robyn |
| Ja Rule's Prison Sentence: What Led Up To It? Posted: 08 Jun 2011 02:59 AM PDT Queens MC also announces he'll delay release of Pain is Love 2, which he'd hoped to drop before his two-year bid.
On Wednesday (June 8), Ja Rule turned himself in to begin serving a two-year sentence on a gun charge stemming from his 2007 arrest in New York City. Although some rappers have endured a sentence as a mere bump in their careers (Lil Wayne, for instance), Ja Rule's bid arrives almost seven years since his last official album, R.U.L.E., and just as his Pain Is Love 2 has been delayed.
Ja had initially planned to deliver PIL2 the day before starting his jail term, but according to his longtime collaborator 7 Aurelius, Rule postponed the release after deciding it hadn't been completed to his satisfaction. "Me and Rule have to capture all the magic around us until he goes in, otherwise we are doing an injustice to his fans," 7 told MurderInc-Online.com. "For example, if we had stopped in April just to be able to turn it in to [Fontana/Universal] for a June 7 date, PIL2 would not be what it is now. They have acknowledged that because it's Ja Rule, they will give it a fast track release date once it is turned in and that would be digital and hard copy." PIL2 is the sequel to Ja Rule's triple-platinum third album, Pain Is Love. The Grammy-nominated LP was crucial in transforming Ja Rule from hip-hop star to mainstream sensation, thanks to hit singles like 'Livin' It Up" and "Always On Time," featuring Ashanti. But Pain Is Love was released almost 10 years ago. Since then, Rule's turmoil, whether legal issues or a long-running feud with nemesis 50 Cent, has overshadowed his music. And because of that, it can be easy to forget that at one point, Ja was easily rap's #1 hit-maker. Here, we look back on the 'Clap Back" MCs journey since that fateful night when he got caught with a gun in his ride. July 22, 2007: Ja Rule is arrested on a Sunday evening in N.Y.C. — coincidentally, so is Lil Wayne in a separate incident after the same show at the Beacon Theatre. Ja had joined Wayne onstage that night as a special guest but after being pulled over for speeding, police discovered a .40 caliber pistol in Rule's Maybach. The rapper was arraigned and released the next day on $150,000 bond. September 23, 2009: Ja Rule and DMX see each other at VH1's "Hip Hop Honors" and embrace, squashing their beef. Years before, X had accused Ja of imitating his style in song and the latter responded in kind. No hard feelings. September 2010: Ja Rule reveals in an XXL magazine/ MTV "Sucker Free" video interview that he has changed the name of his new album from Venni Vetti Vecci 2010 to The Renaissance Project. Ja plans to release the album before the start of his prison sentence. December 13, 2010: Ja Rule reaches a plea deal with prosecutors in N.Y.C. that will have him serve two years for criminal possession of a weapon. The guilty plea stems from the July 2007 incident. Ja Rule is expected to be sentenced in February 2011. January 3, 2011: Ja announces via Twitter that The Renaissance Project will be released before he checks into prison. February 9, 2011: Due to an error in his presenting report, Ja Rule's sentencing gets pushed back, this time until March 9, when he will learn when he must surrender to authorities and begin serving his two-year sentence. That morning, Ja tweets that besides working on Renaissance, he is also working on Pain Is Love 2 with producer 7 Aurelius. March 9, 2011: Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Richard Carruthers extends Ja Rule's furlough until June 8, when he is scheduled to report to prison. The extra time is given so the rapper can settle a federal tax issue and also allows him to finish a new album. March 22, 2011: Ja Rule pleads guilty to tax evasion for failing to pay taxes on more than $3 million in income in New Jersey. As part of a plea deal, Ja must pay more than $1 million in back taxes and fines, and the government dismissed two charges against him for failure to pay taxes on income in 2007 and 2008. His sentencing for the tax evasion is scheduled for June 13. April 23, 2011: During the New York City stop of Diddy-Dirty Money's Coming Home Tour, opening act Lloyd brings out Ja Rule and Ashanti as surprise special guests. The former Murder Inc. running mates perform Ja's hit "Always On Time," before the MC debuts a new song called "Real Life Fantasy." April 27, 2011: Ja Rule stops by "RapFix Live" and in a revealing interview with Sway, he gives insight into the trials and tribulations of his career and how he plans to make the best of his pending incarceration. June 8, 2011: Ja Rule begins serving his sentence for attempted criminal possession of a weapon at an upstate New York correctional facility. Send your best wishes to Ja Rule in the comments below. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Is 'Just A Normal <nobr>Girl' ... On</nobr> 25-Inch Heels Posted: 08 Jun 2011 02:11 AM PDT As Born This Way rules the charts another week, producer DJ White Shadow says Gaga hasn't changed since they first met.
As Lady Gaga holds onto the #1 spot on Billboard, for the second straight week, with her chart-topping album Born This Way, DJ White Shadow is no doubt enjoying the success. When we caught up with the producer recently, he told us how their collaboration started off as a long-distance relationship.
Back in 2009, White Shadow was approached to work on a co-headlining tour for Lady Gaga and Kanye West. After their Fame Kills Tour was canceled, though, Shadow was asked to focus on the next phase in Gaga's career. The producer and the pop star had already built quite a foundation by the time they finally met in person in the summer of 2010. And while Shadow wasn't completely sure what the encounter would be like, he had some clue that they would get along famously. "We had talked for so long before [we met in person]. We had talked on the phone or talked on iChat, in emails; I think we kind of knew about each other's personalities," he told MTV News. "I mean, obviously, I was excited to meet her. I felt like we were long-distance pen pals." What he found out is that despite all of the unusual costumes, Gaga is a pretty regular 25-year-old. "She's, like, super cool. I think everybody gets weirded out by 'Oh, she looks so crazy on those 25-inch heels and the hair-bow,' or whatever's going on at the time, but she's just a normal girl. Like, she's funny. She's really funny and super cool." Shadow worked closely with Gaga and BTW musical director Fernando Garibay to create a pop album that would push the envelope. The DJ/producer worked on heavy-hitting tracks like "Born This Way," "Government Hooker," "Americano" and "Bloody Mary," to name a few. So, how is Gaga as a boss, we wanted to know. "She's the best boss. She's a great friend," he said. "She's amazing. "Here's the funny thing about this: People ask that question but I'm telling you, 'cause everyone wants to [know], 'Does she say something to you as her friend or someone you know that she writes music with that she doesn't say to us? Does she talk about New York in a way that she wouldn't have done into a camera?' And the answer is no," he explained. "I've never seen her say something that was disingenuous." Bottom line: Gaga is always Gaga. "The stories that she tells, the way that she looks on camera and the way that she acts ... that's how she is. That's her character. She is the same." In fact, like most New Yorkers, Gaga loves to shop for a good bargain. "I was walking down the street in front of the studio one day and she's shopping for $20 shoes. She's New York. We've been to dinner a couple times ... just go to normal restaurants. It's New York, it's her home, right?" he said. "So, I've definitely heard all the stories that she's telling. She's very open." What's your favorite Born This Way track? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Transformers 3' Has 'Best Action' Yet, Shia LaBeouf Says Posted: 08 Jun 2011 04:43 AM PDT Actor says 'Dark of the Moon' is his last installment, but he'll always covet the franchise: 'It's mine, dude!'
The closer we get to the "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" release date, the more we learn about the colorful characters and details involved in making this highly anticipated third film in the Michael Bay-directed franchise. In particular, star Shia LaBeouf is someone from whom we've come to expect the unexpected: complete and total honesty. When MTV News caught up with him backstage at Sunday's MTV Movie Awards, we asked if "Dark of the Moon" is really his last onscreen romp with the robots.
"For sure," he said. "I'm not coming back to do another one. I don't think Mike will either. It still is a hot property, I think, especially coming out of the third one. So I imagine they'll reboot it at some point with someone else." But will it be strange to see someone else hanging out with Optimus Prime and Bumblebee? "Yeah," LaBeouf admitted. "You have an onus in it. I'll enjoy it. I'll go [see it] opening night, I'll be there. But there is a disconnect. It's mine, dude," he joked of his role in the blockbuster franchise. "It's mine." Whether LaBeouf can be convinced to return to another "Transformers" film or not, it certainly seems like he and Bay are going out with a bang. "['Dark of the Moon'] is the best movie we've made, I'm serious," he assured us. "It's not a joke. I'm dead honest, man. I get myself in trouble all the time, but this is our best installment. It's our best movie." LaBeouf explained that this film's defining characteristic is the action and the revolutionary 3-D. "It's the best action, in terms of the geography. In the second one, you get confused as to who's fighting who and where you are, because it's such a big landscape," he said. "This one is 'Black Hawk Down'-ish. It's one location, and the geography is simple to understand. "[Bay] did the 3-D in a different way than anyone has ever done it before," he continued. "James Cameron has seen the movie; he said it's the best 3-D since 'Avatar,' so there's all that. Also, this is our best story. It's the most solid screenplay we've had since we started. All those things plus new cast we have, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Ken Jeong, a lot of strong additions. Everything we got right in the first one, we've improved here." MTV News has all of the highlights from the 2011 MTV Movie Awards. Relive the best moments, watch red-carpet interviews with your favorite stars and read all about what went on behind the scenes on the big night. Related Photos |
| Beyonce Responds To <i>4</i> Album Leak Posted: 07 Jun 2011 11:37 PM PDT 'While this is not how I wanted to present my new songs, I appreciate the positive response,' she tells MTV News in a statement.
Beyoncé is taking a glass-half-full approach to the leak of her entire 4 album three weeks before its June 28 release date. In a statement released to MTV News on Wednesday (June 8), Beyoncé lamented the early arrival but said she's making the most of the eagerness of her fans to get their hands on her first new batch of songs since 2008's double-disc I Am ... Sasha Fierce. "My music was leaked and while this is not how I wanted to present my new songs, I appreciate the positive response from my fans," the singer wrote. "When I record music I always think about my fans singing every note and dancing to every beat. I make music to make people happy and I appreciate that everyone has been so anxious to hear my new songs." Beyoncé fans were psyched Tuesday when her collabo with Andre 3000, "Party," leaked weeks before the new album was due. It was one of several leaks the album has faced over the past week. A short time after the Kanye West and Consequence-produced "Party" slipped out, another song, "Countdown," which samples the Boyz II Men tune "Uhh Ahh," also surfaced, followed by the entire album. While B's team scrambles to take down the offending links that have popped up all over the Web, some online rogues have taken to Twitter to put up links, making it harder for the label to track down the music. Fans have already gotten a number of listens to tunes from the disc, including the uptempo dancehall first single "Run the World (Girls)," the lush ballad "1+1" and the second official single "Best Thing I Never Had." Another tune, "End of Time," which samples late Afrobeat superstar Fela Kuti, has also leaked online. Have you heard any of the leaked album, or are you waiting for the official release? Let us know in the comments. Related Artists |
| Nick Jonas Is Looking For The Next Willow Smith Posted: 08 Jun 2011 04:09 AM PDT 'If we can find a young person who's as passionate about music as I was then, we'll be in really good shape,' he says of Quaker Chewy Superstar Search.
NEW YORK — Wannabe pop stars between the ages of 8 and 14: Nick Jonas is looking for you. The youngest JoBro has teamed up with the Quaker Chewy Superstar Search, acting as a sort of talent scout.
"I think the qualities that I'm looking [for is] somebody that can really take the songs and make it their own," he told MTV News during a promotional event for the talent search, where he performed several songs from the solo album he put out last year. "It's gonna be interesting to see what kinds of video submissions we see and the talent we're looking at. I'm excited, 'cause if we can find a young person who's as passionate about music as I was then, we'll be in really good shape." So what do you win if you're handpicked by Nick to be music's next superstar? Well, the chance to record a song produced by Jonas himself, an online music video, a contract with Jonas Group Management and $5,000 in cash. "I think for this particular competition, I have to keep it in the mind-set of young artists at this moment, so I'd say, like, somebody with the overall star power and star qualities of Willow Smith, with the artistry of a Greyson Chance, who is really talented, and then — I'm trying to think," he said when asked what stars he'd love to combine to make the perfect superstar. When it was suggested someone like him, he laughed, "Like a really little Nick Jonas!" At this point, Nick, now 18, is a music-biz vet, so he has some advice for the lucky newbie: "The overall thing is to enjoy every step of the journey, because it really is a journey and things are always changing," he said. "Enjoy that process, because it is a part of the growth." What do you think Nick should look for in the next young artist? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Ja Rule Turns Himself In As Tearful Family Looks On Posted: 08 Jun 2011 01:17 AM PDT Rule accompanied by relatives in Manhattan courtroom before being led away to start two-year sentence.
Ja Rule appeared in a Manhattan courtroom on Wednesday (June 8) afternoon and turned himself in to begin his two-year prison sentence on weapons possession charges.
Wearing a gray sweat suit, sunglasses and a somber look on his face, the 35-year-old MC (born Jeffrey Atkins) stood before a magistrate on the 13th floor of the criminal courts building in lower Manhattan and listened as he was formally sentenced to two years in prison in the wake of his guilty plea in December to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. He was accompanied by his wife, associate Ron Robinson, lawyer Stacey Richman and various other family members as the sentence was read. Moments after he was cuffed and led out of the courtroom, Rule shouted, "See y'all" to his family in the back of the courtroom. "We love you," they called back, as some burst into tears and Rule replied, "I love y'all too," before being escorted to detention. Rule will spend up to two weeks at New York's Rikers Island jail before being transferred to a different correctional facility upstate. Rule's lawyer said she expected that with good behavior, the MC could be out in 18 to 20 months. The rapper is being jailed in connection with an arrest in July 2007 in which the Manhattan district attorney's office claimed police found a loaded semi-automatic .40-caliber Taurus handgun, with the serial number scratched off, hidden in the backseat of the MC's Maybach. The arrest took place on the same night that Lil Wayne was arrested on a gun charge, which sent the "Lollipop" rapper to jail for eight months last year. (Rule had been among the featured special guests at a New York concert headlined by Wayne.) Last month, Ja Rule sat with Sway on "RapFix Live" and expressed regret over his pending jail sentence. According to Rule, he feels as if he has let his wife and kids down. "I'm disappointed," the multiplatinum rapper said. "I'm mad at myself." Rule spoke specifically about his 15-year-old daughter, Brittany, but expressed concern about his two sons as well. "My daughter, she's 15 right now," Rule explained. "These are her last couple of years. She's about to graduate from high school and she's going to college. She needs her father. My boys really need me right now, too, as well as my wife. They need Daddy, and Daddy f---ed up." Related Artists |
| Kanye West Passes Baton To Big Sean At Album Party Posted: 08 Jun 2011 12:03 AM PDT 'I feel like he can be what Beyoncé is to R&B,' 'Ye says of Finally Famous protégé.
NEW YORK — Big Sean held an exclusive listening session for his debut album, Finally Famous, on Tuesday. The MC's oft-delayed album is finally set to arrive in stores June 28 via G.O.O.D. Music/ Def Jam, and a star-studded group gathered to celebrate and get a first listen. The event was held at the swanky Highline Room at the Standard Hotel, with assembled celebs including Swizz Beatz, DJ Khaled, New York radio personalities DJ Enuff and Angie Martinez and, eventually, G.O.O.D. Music head honcho Kanye West. With introductions out of the way, Big Sean took to the stage, where he sat in a white chair with a projection screen to his rear. While expressing thanks for all of the support he has received from family, friends and his record label, the Detroit rapper became teary-eyed. "I'm not no bitch or nothing, man; this is a real moment," an emotional Sean said as the crowd of VIPs, music journalists and industry pros cheered him on. Sean went on to play Finally Famous, in its entirety, rapping along to the tracks while video images played on the screen behind him. Titles like "Marvin & Chardonnay," featuring Kanye West and Roscoe Dash; "Dance (A$$)"; and "Live This Life," featuring The-Dream, elicited good feedback from the crowd. Renowned Chicago beatsmith No ID, whom Kanye West considers his mentor, produced the majority of Finally Famous. Other guests on the album include Wiz Khalifa and Chiddy Bang (on a song called "High"), as well as Dwele, Pharrell, Lupe Fiasco and John Legend. At the end of the listening session, a tardy Kanye West ("I apologize I was a little bit late, I had a throne to watch," he joked) got onstage and heaped praise on his G.O.O.D. Music protégé. "I believe Sean's story is one of the most amazing ever, 'cause he literally got signed off a freestyle," said Yeezy, who was wearing a Dallas Mavericks cap. "To now, and I say it all the time, having the potential to be one of the biggest artists in the world. I feel like he can be like what Beyoncé is to R&B, that he can be that to rap music. As far as G.O.O.D. Music go, the swag is just all the way up, this is what we do to the fullest!" The track list for Big Sean's Finally Famous: » Intro Are you excited to hear Big Sean's Finally Famous? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kim Kardashian's Sisters Thought She Was Joking About Engagement Posted: 08 Jun 2011 09:55 AM PDT 'We were like, 'Is this for real?' ' Kourtney recalls of their reaction to the news.
When the new season of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" kicks off this weekend, fans will get to witness the courtship between Kim and her basketballer fiancé Kris Humphries. Sisters Khloé and Kourtney spoke to MTV News about Kim's very surprising impending nuptials, admitting that they didn't see it coming.
"Mine was insanity in the best way ever," Khloé said of her quickie engagement to Lamar Odom. "But [with] Kim's, we were totally surprised. I mean, because I had been working so much, and Kris lives in New Jersey, I've only met him not even a handful of times. "We were at a family dinner and she walks in, and she's like, 'I'm engaged,' but we didn't even know if it was a joke," Khloe added. Kourtney was also caught off-guard. "We were like, 'Is this for real? What's going on?' " she said. "We were definitely all surprised. I had even just been on a vacation with them and was still really surprised." As with most major moments in the Kardashians' lives, the romance was all taped, so maybe when we see the whole story, their decision to get married won't seem so sudden. "But that's the cool thing about this whole season: You do get to see Kim [and Kris] kind of from the beginning of the relationship to the engagement," Khloé said. "Obviously, no one knew in between what was going to happen, so it's cool that they have it documented for their future." Related Photos |
| Rihanna's 'Man Down' Video Director Welcomes Controversy Posted: 07 Jun 2011 11:59 PM PDT 'It's doing exactly what Rihanna and I hoped it would do,' Anthony Mandler says.
Before the "Man Down" video was even released, its director teased that his latest collaboration with Rihanna was bound to "flip people's minds." Anthony Mandler wasn't wrong.
"Man Down," which depicts Rihanna shooting a man in the head as retaliation for sexual assault, elicited an incredibly visceral from some camps, who said the clip glamorizes violence. "It's doing exactly what Rihanna and I hoped it would do, which is shine a light on the very dark subject matter," Mandler told The Hollywood Reporter. He explained that the video harks back to the '80s and '90s, when most videos had a message, and said that the reaction to the video has been "knee-jerk." "The fact that there's an argument to ban this because this will make girls retaliate from abuse with murder is skipping over the point," he added. "We obviously have a huge issue to deal with as a country." While some are criticizing the videos, others have come to the defense of Rihanna's message. "It strikes me first and foremost that she is working out personal issues through her art," said Terry O'Neill, national president of the National Organization for Women. But, the response is still very much split. "One of the main messages it leaves you with is violence breeds more violence and everyone can see that and also detect some problems with that," said Stephanie Nilva, executive director of Day One, a New York organization focused on teen relationship abuse. "I respect the fact that Rihanna is trying to draw attention to these issues, but I don't think viewers are necessarily getting healthy messages from it." Related Artists |
| Beyonce's <i>4</i> Leaks Three Weeks Early Posted: 08 Jun 2011 08:21 AM PDT Leak comes same day as Andre 3000 collabo, 'Party,' hit the Internet.
Beyoncé fans were psyched on Tuesday when her collabo with Andre 3000, "Party," leaked weeks before her new album is due. But they must have been flipping later in the day when all of 4 popped up online, three weeks before its official release date of June 28. According to the Los Angeles Times, a short time after the Kanye West and Consequence-produced "Party" slipped out, another song, "Countdown," which samples the Boyz II Men tune "Uhh Ahh," also surfaced, followed by the entire album. The paper reported that while B's label has been frantically rushing to rip the 12-track album off sites that have posted it, a number of music blogs have removed "Party" and "Countdown" after getting cease-and-desist letters from the singer's lawyers. Always one step ahead of the law, some online rogues have taken to Twitter to put up links to the music, making it harder for the label to track down the music. Fans have already gotten a number of listens at the first album since Beyoncé's 2008 double-disc I Am ... Sasha Fierce, including the uptempo dancehall first single "Run the World (Girls)," the lush ballad "1+1" and the second official single, "Best Thing I Never Had." Another tune, "End of Time," which samples late Afrobeat superstar Fela Kuti, has also leaked online. If it makes Beyoncé feel any better, Lady Gaga's Born This Way leaked a few days before its official release and still went on to sell more than 1.1 million copies. A spokesperson for Beyoncé's label could not be reached for comment on the leak at press time. Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's <i>Born This Way</i> Holds On To #1 <i>Billboard</i> Spot Posted: 08 Jun 2011 08:56 AM PDT BTW sales drop 84 percent, while Death Cab for Cutie debut at #3 with Codes and Keys.
What a difference a week — and a price higher than 99 cents — makes. While Lady Gaga will hold on to the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week, sales for Born This Way were down a whopping 84 percent in its second go-round, according to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan, plummeting from more than 1.1 million to just over 174,000. That put Mother Monster within sight of the 1.3 million mark, while the unstoppable Adele held the #2 spot with 21, which moved another 121,000 to push over the 2 million mark.
There are plenty of other new faces in the top 10, with Death Cab for Cutie crashing in at #3 with Codes and Keys (102,000), Eddie Vedder just behind with his sedate solo effort Ukulele Songs (71,000) and Kentucky rockers My Morning Jacket notching their highest debut yet at #5 with Circuital (55,000). The other newbie in the mix is Flogging Molly's Speed of Darkness, which lands at #9 thanks to sales of 25,000. The rest of the top 10: Brad Paisley's This Is Country Music (#6, 53,000), NOW 38 (#7, 39,000), Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party (#8, 33,000) and "Glee": The Music, Volume 6 (#10, 25,000). A number of hyped albums suffer double-digit dips including the self-titled boy band supergroup's NKOTBSB (down 15 spots and 63 percent, #22), the Beastie Boys' Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 (down 12 spots and 29 percent) and Lonely Island's Turtleneck & Chain (down 14 spots and 30 percent). Gaga couldn't knock Adele off the top of the iTunes singles and albums charts, with 21 holding the top spot above Born This Way, followed by Death Cab, Vedder, My Morning Jacket, Paisley, Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More, "American Idol" champ Scotty McCreery's season 10 digital highlights album, buzz band Foster the People's Torches and Flogging Molly. While Gaga has already released a blizzard of singles to date, Adele's first, and so far only, single, "Rolling in the Deep," continues to sit atop the iTunes singles tally, holding off Pitbull's "Give Me Everything," Gaga's "The Edge of Glory," LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" and Lil Wayne's "How to Love." Another Young Money member, Nicki Minaj, is in the #6 slot with "Super Bass," outpacing Bruno Mars' "The Lazy Song," DJ Khaled's "I'm the One," Jennifer Lopez's "On the Floor" and Lupe Fiasco's "The Show Goes On." Things are likely to stay static at the top next week as the major new releases include albums from Britain's Arctic Monkeys, country singer Ronnie Dunn and underground rapper Tech N9ne. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Tech N9ne Meets And Greets Fans At <i>All 6's And 7's</i> Signing Posted: 08 Jun 2011 08:13 AM PDT 'The line was wrapped around the block, like it always is. It's a blessing,' Tech says of event held in his Missouri hometown.
INDEPENDENCE, Missouri — Tech N9ne didn't go mainstream, mainstream went Tech. That was the battle cry on Tuesday in KCMO, when hometown hero Tech N9ne released his sixth solo album, All 6's and 7's. The album, which features guest verses from popular artists like Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes, lured Kansas City fans, who lined up outside an Independence, Missouri, FYE record store for a scheduled meet-and-greet with Tecca Nina. "It's just inspiring to me to see that we have that many hip-hop fans in Kansas City," KC's Hot 103 Jamz radio personality Brooklyn Martino said after the signing, which brought out more than a thousand fans. "Today, there was a constant line the whole day, and it was amazing because you see how many fans come out and appreciate the type of music that he gives Kansas City. He's constantly giving us good music and the country has now recognized it, and it is really awesome and inspiring to the city." Tech, who started signing autographs at the store at 3 p.m. CT, continued to meet with fans up until 9:30 p.m., only taking a seven-minute dinner break at around 8 p.m. "The line was wrapped around the block, like it always is. It's a blessing," Tech told MTV News. "I stand up the whole time to greet my fans. I don't like sitting down in between a table, so it makes it harder to stand up and greet everybody how they come, but that's how I like doing it. The day as a whole, it was successful. The album is selling really good everywhere. I'm tired as hell, but I'm proud at the same time." "I mean the world to them because they know I'm inside out, I give them everything," Tech, who is in the midst of an 82-city tour, said. "They know that I push real hard to give them what they want, musically, performance-wise, everything — I open all the way up. That's why people call me a cult leader, because my fanbase is so hard-core and so devoted to the Tech N9ne, Strange Music movement." Strange Music is the independent label that Tech has been releasing music on since establishing the business in 1999 with his business partner Travis O'Guin. In 2009, it was revealed that the label earned approximately $15 million, thanks to the support of Tech's fans, who call themselves "Technicians" and have drawn comparisons to the famed Juggalo fans that support Insane Clown Posse. "I definitely deem today a success," O'Guin said of the All 6's and 7's drop. Since being released, the star-studded LP has remained in the iTunes top three albums alongside Adele's 21 and Dirty Work's All Time Low. "I can give a sh-- about a chart position," O'Guin said. "A fan telling me that they love the album means more than them little glass trophies. The people, I think, genuinely love the album." Related Artists |
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