MTV News |
- Jim Carrey Bonds With Penguin Co-Stars In 'Mr. Popper's'
- 'Green Lantern' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know
- Jimmy Henchman's Lawyer Refutes Link To G-Unit Associate's Murder
- Lady Gaga's 'Edge Of Glory' Video: Glory Days
- New 'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part 2' Trailer Debuts
- Michelle Obama Is Off To Africa To Find Young Leaders
- Tupac Shakur's Outlawz To Release Album On Day He Died
- Stevie Stone Talks Signing With Tech N9ne's Label
- 'Harry Potter' World Cup: Help Decide The Best Character!
- Lady Gaga's 'Edge Of Glory' Video: What Can We Expect?
- Tupac 'Shooter' Claims Are A 'Flat-Out Lie'
- Juelz Santana Calls Drug Charges Against Him 'Preposterous'
- Tupac's Teasing Inspires Tech N9ne's New Video
- 50 Cent Blasts His Label On Twitter
- 'Teen Mom' Amber Portwood Is 'Safe'
- Lady Gaga's Meat Dress Stays Fresh At Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
- Selena Gomez Does Her Best Britney On 'Whiplash'
- L.A. Reid Makes Epic Move To Sony
- 'Green Lantern' Stars: Don't Try Superhero Fashion At Home!
| Jim Carrey Bonds With Penguin Co-Stars In 'Mr. Popper's' Posted: 17 Jun 2011 03:53 AM PDT 'It's, like, an energy thing,' funnyman tells MTV News of befriending the birds.
For those familiar with the work of actor Jim Carrey, his presence in the very family-friendly, warm-and-fuzzy movie "Mr. Popper's Penguins" might have been a bit of a head-scratcher. However, as Carrey will explain himself, he's always had a soft spot in his heart for the Arctic-dwelling furry friends. "It's, like, an energy thing," he told MTV News recently of his ability to bond instantly with his web-footed co-stars. "Any animal, I just kind of get with their energy somehow, I can't explain it," he said, before recalling a certain pivotal and infamous character on his résumé.
"I do have a special affinity for animals because I'm Ace Ventura, Pet Detective," he deadpanned. "So, you know, that's something I like to revisit every once in awhile." As for how he wound up playing workaholic Mr. Popper, whose life is turned upside down with the unexpected inheritance and delivery of six Gentoo penguins, Carrey said he has a way with creating his own destiny, as it were. "I have this weird manifestation thing in my life. If I say I like something, the next thing you know, I'm getting a script about it," he explained. "It's just what happens. I was Twittering about [penguins], and it was on my website, 'I really like penguins,' out of nowhere, a non-sequitur," he said. "And then the script comes to me, and I go, 'Well, if it's not a bad script, I'm going to make it work.' "My managers are like, 'A penguin movie? Really?' " he continued. " 'Does that fit into the rock-and-roll kind of deal of your life and career?' I go, 'I gotta go with it.' " And so Carrey's road to "Mr Popper's Penguins" was born. "I think we got the best of all worlds in this," Carrey said of the film's widespread appeal. "It's not without an edge. It's got cool, funny stuff in it, and it's kinda touching." Check out everything we've got on "Mr. Popper's Penguins." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| 'Green Lantern' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know Posted: 17 Jun 2011 03:53 AM PDT Relive the superhero's journey to the big screen with our handy guide!
Comic book adaptations often weave a circuitous and amusing path toward the big screen. Remember when Cher was rumored to be up for the role of Catwoman in "The Dark Knight Rises"? But few superhero flicks can compete with the epically bizarre twists and turns that tripped up "Green Lantern" for years.
Jack Black was once tapped to play the ring-bearing protector of the universe. When the rotund comedian's version collapsed, everyone from Brian Austin Green to Justin Timberlake were rumored to be circling the green-suited superhero. Can you imagine Quentin Tarantino helming a "Green Lantern" flick starring one of these dudes? Well, the "Inglourious Basterds" director turned down the chance to take control of the project. And now, here we are. "Green Lantern" opened in theaters Friday (June 16) with Ryan Reynolds as test pilot-turned-superhero Hal Jordan, Martin Campbell ("Casino Royale") in the director's chair, and the film, we'd say, is all the better for it. But how did we arrive at this moment? To answer that question, let's slip on our power rings and take a trip back into the cinematic past with another MTV News cheat sheet. That's the only way to discover everything there is to know about "Green Lantern": Recharging the Lantern Would filming begin in September? Would Anton Yelchin ("Star Trek") become Hal Jordan? What about fellow "Trek" star Chris Pine? Rumors, rumors, everywhere! Unsurprisingly, the release date was moved back to June 17, 2011. Finally, in July '09, the ring chose its man: Ryan Reynolds officially landed the role of Hal Jordan. Greeting the Corps No joke. The 3-D film journeys from the shores of America to the most distant planets of the universe. There are aliens galore, a villain who thrives on fear and power rings that harness willpower into fantastical manifestations, like giant machine guns and supercharged fists. Jordan finds himself at the center of it all, after he's chosen to join the Green Lantern Corps, an army of fighters chosen to protect the universe from all evils. The baddies they must confront in the film are Dr. Hector Hammond, a scientist turned lumpy-headed villain, and Parallax, a smoky enemy capable of engulfing planets and who threatens to snuff out all life forms. Into this mess steps Jordan with two quests: stop the bad guys and get the girl — a lovely test pilot named Carol Ferris, played by Blake Lively. Lively nabbed the part in January 2010, and the rest of the cast soon followed: Mark Strong as the Lantern named Sinestro, Peter Sarsgaard as Hammond and Tim Robbins as his father, Senator Hammond. We got our first peek at Reynolds in his motion-capture gear in May. It'd be another two months until we peeped the actor in glowing-green character. Not everyone was pleased with what they saw. "There has to be a little healthy debate about it," Reynolds told us later. "I mean, that's important. If it were just slanted one way or the other, I don't think it would be that satisfying. And truthfully, we've only seen a tiny glimpse of the suit, you know, we haven't seen it in motion. And we haven't seen the full suit as well." Green Lantern's Light Public opinion started to change this summer at WonderCon and CinemaCon, as fans got their eyes on fresh "Green Lantern" footage. "The first time I saw it was just breathtaking," Reynolds told us recently. "I think the first time it hit me that we really did it right was in WonderCon," he told us recently. "I'd been shooting in Africa at the time, so I flew back just to be there, and I was exhausted, and they put up this 10 or 11 minutes of footage, and you could feel it going like a wave through the audience." Breathtaking was exactly our opinion of an eye-popping poster we debuted in April — one that featured a slew of Corps aliens like Tomar-Re, Abin Sur and Kilowog. Another trailer arrived in May: more aliens, more action and more of Reynolds' sometimes goofy, sometimes badass superhero. It was more than enough to get us pumped about the movie to come. "For me, what attracted me to it most was the space-epic nature of it," Reynolds told us at the MTV Movie Awards in early June. "I just loved that you had this film that was an origin story, that's not really starting in the third act like a lot of them do. I grew up with movies like that. I love movies like that. So just to be part of it was mind-boggling." Check out everything we've got on "Green Lantern." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Jimmy Henchman's Lawyer Refutes Link To G-Unit Associate's Murder Posted: 17 Jun 2011 09:09 AM PDT 'The only 'evidence' tying that murder to Jimmy Rosemond is the uncorroborated word of a criminal,' Jeffery Lichtman tells MTV News.
Things continue to go south for Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond, but despite federal prosecutors' efforts to tie the longtime music manager to shootings and murders, his lawyer continues to refute the mounting claims. On Wednesday, Dexter Isaac told AllHipHop.com that he had a role in the 1994 robbery and shooting of Tupac Shakur and he alleged that Henchman paid him $2,500 to do the deed. Now, on Thursday (June 16), the Smoking Gun reported that two men tied to Rosemond have been charged with the 2009 murder of Lowell "Lodi Mack" Fletcher, a known G-Unit associate. Henchman questioned the credibility of Dexter Isaac in a statement he issued in May, while his lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, recently called Isaac's confession "a flat-out lie." In response to Rosemond's connection to the murder of Lodi Mack, Henchman's lawyer issued this statement to MTV News: "The only 'evidence' tying that murder to Jimmy Rosemond is the uncorroborated word of a criminal seeking to get out from under a lengthy jail sentence. Prosecution witnesses have been bribed and threatened, solely in an effort to convict Jimmy, a target of the US Attorney's office for years." After a 2007 incident when he assaulted Rosemond's son, Fletcher pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child. As the story goes, Fletcher slapped Henchman's son in the head after he spotted the teenager walking down a Manhattan street wearing a T-shirt with the name and logo of his father's management company, Czar Entertainment. 50 Cent's artist Tony Yayo, who was also present at the time, pleaded guilty to a noncriminal harassment charge in connection with the incident, but escaped any jail time. At the time 50 Cent and his G-Unit collective were involved in a beef with Game, who is managed by Czar (a source close to Game told MTV News that while the rapper is still signed with Henchman, he doesn't manage his day-to-day affairs). Fletcher was sentenced to nine months in prison, which ran concurrent with an unrelated narcotics charge; he was eventually paroled in 2009. Two weeks after being released, Fletcher was fatally gunned down in the Bronx, New York. Now, Rodney Johnson and Brian McCleod are being charged with the Fletcher murder by federal prosecutors in a superseding indictment obtained by the Smoking Gun. The indictment charges that Johnson orchestrated the killing and that McCleod agreed to carry out the murder in exchange for narcotics. The document, however, does not specify who the triggerman actually was. The indictment also charges the men with drug trafficking, tying them to a ring that moved cocaine from L.A. to New York. DEA agents believe that Jimmy Henchman headed the ring but have not charged him with the Lowell murder in any way. Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's 'Edge Of Glory' Video: Glory Days Posted: 16 Jun 2011 06:56 AM PDT E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons appears in the video despite recently suffering a stroke.
Remember, for a while there, when everyone was complaining that Lady Gaga's videos had, perhaps, gotten too big, too arty, too obtuse? That maybe the hype surrounding each clip's premiere overshadowed the clip itself? Well, for the foreseeable future, those criticisms can be put to rest. Because on Thursday (June 16), Gaga premiered her brand-new video for "The Edge of Glory," a piece that's a little bit Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach," a little bit Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and a whole lot of " '80s videos where someone dances on a fire escape while smoke pours from a well-lit window."
There is no hyperkinetic, women-in-prison kink, no odes to Weimar Germany and no birthing of a machine gun. Shoot, there's not even a single Christian allegory to be seen (OK, maybe one, when Gaga strikes a Christ-like pose on the concrete). Instead, "Edge" is little more than five-and-a-half minutes of classic pop, brimming with imagery, style (and moves) that could've been lifted from millions of videos in the pop heyday of the 1980s. It is Gaga's free-spirited youth in New York's East Village, only reimagined on a Hollywood level (in another nod to the videos of yesteryear, it makes no attempt to hide the fact that it was clearly shot on a "New York"-styled backlot): She sashays and struts on a fire escape, descends to the perfectly foggy, still-wet streets of the city, and poses on the front steps of her apartment building, while none other than Clarence Clemons hits a note-perfect saxophone solo. It is a fantasy in every conceivable way, and if it reminds you of something you've seen before, well, that's because you probably did — not just in '80s vids, but in films like "Fame" and Broadway hits like "Rent," too — and chances are you loved it. And while all the feel-good nostalgia is dampened a bit by the very of the moment drama surrounding the video (Clemons is currently recovering from a stroke he suffered over the weekend), "Edge of Glory" still manages to shine, mostly because of its simplicity. You wanted a straightforward, dance-till-you-drop, unabashedly-indebted video from Lady Gaga? Well, now you've got one. It's not a stretch to call it a classic, mostly because, well, it is — at least in its inspirations. And its aspirations too. What did you think of the video? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| New 'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part 2' Trailer Debuts Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:52 AM PDT Latest trailer is both action-packed and full of emotion.
Wowza. Wow. Wowza. That is our instant reaction to the latest trailer for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2," which just hit the Interwebs Thursday (June 16). Man oh man, is it a doozy. Even for those of us who've read the books over and over again and are fully prepared for what's going to unfold when the film hits theaters on July 17, this latest trailer is so action-packed, so full of intensity and emotion, it's almost too much to handle. Almost.
The trailer opens with a distraught Lily Potter (Harry's mom) speaking to her infant son. "Harry, be safe," she says in a strained whisper. "Be strong." Cut to the words "Every moment he's lived has led to this," before an eerie voice-over by evil Dark Lord Voldemort comes in over flashback scenes of key moments in several of the previous seven films. "Harry Potter, you have fought valiantly," Voldemort sneers. "Now join me, and confront your fate." From here on out, much like the action in the second half of J.K. Rowling's seventh Potter book, things get very intense. There are flashes of Voldemort in several states of mind and presence, all of them ferocious and teeming with dark force. "You've kept him alive so he can die at the proper moment," Snape says to him at one point. Cut to Harry, Ron and Hermione riding a dragon, continuing their dangerous quest for the final horcruxes that will help bring an end to the Dark Lord. This is followed by the beginning shots, or so it seems, of the epic battle royale at Hogwarts. Death eaters are surrounding the school, and Professor McGonagall orders the magical protectors of the school to come to life and protect them. What looks like the Dark Lord's army is shown assembled outside the gates, ready to attack, while our favorite Potter protagonists are shown waiting anxiously inside the school. Suddenly the final battle is in full swing, wands slinging, wizards clashing, all of which can be very briefly summarized by these words: death and destruction. In the midst of all the madness, there are emotional moments that seem to show favorite characters preparing to meet certain death. One poignant moment occurs in a brief exchange between Harry and Snape, a character who has always mysteriously walked the line between good and evil. "Tell them how it happened that night," Harry says angrily to Snape, before a flashback of Dumbledore's death appears onscreen. "How you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him!" There is also a brief moment where Harry is surrounded by the ghostly presences of his loved ones, people like his mother and godfather Sirius Black. "You'll stay with me?" Harry asks his illusory supporters. "Always," answers his mother. "Until the end," Black adds. The remaining seconds are all about action, action, action — specifically, the fight between Harry and Voldemort. "Come on, Tom, let's finish this the way we started," Harry says to Voldemort as they stand on the precipice of a cliff. "Together!" This is followed by more quick cuts of wand-wielding and explosions. And then Voldemort and Harry are shown battling once more, this time crawling toward one wand. "Only I can live forever," Voldemort says with finality. Who is the best "Harry Potter" character of all time? The "Harry Potter" World Cup will find out! Voting begins on Monday over on the MTV Movies Blog, but you can get the debate started now on Twitter with the hashtag #mtvpottercup. Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Photos |
| Michelle Obama Is Off To Africa To Find Young Leaders Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:29 AM PDT 'We'll be looking across the continent for young people -- just like you -- to help lead the way,' first lady says of next week's trip.
First lady Michelle Obama has made youth leadership, education and health and wellness prime focuses of her work in the White House. Next week, Mrs. Obama will take that laudable agenda worldwide during a trip to Africa with her mother and daughters — and MTV and BET are coming along for the ride.
"We know that Africa is a fundamental part of our interconnected world," Obama said of her upcoming trip. "And when it comes to meeting the challenges of our time, whether it's climate change or extremism, poverty or disease, the world is looking to African nations as vital partners. And we'll be looking across the continent for young people — just like you — to help lead the way." The first lady and her family will be making stops in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, and Gaborone, Botswana, in an effort to engage and empower youth around the globe. MTV News and its social platforms will be covering the journey, and BET will air a 30-minute news special called "Impact on Africa: On a Mission With the First Lady," hosted by journalist Lola Ogunnaike and featuring exclusive footage of the Obamas at official events. "We're so excited to engage with BET and MTV's audiences throughout this historic trip," said Kristina Schake, communications director for the first lady. "Mrs. Obama has called on young people at home, in Africa, and around the world to follow the trip and connect with each other. We know that young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but also are the leaders of today, and we want their voices to be heard." Mrs. Obama's trip is a continuation of her work to engage young people at home and abroad, from mentoring students in the United States and encouraging them to gain international experience, to encouraging young people to excel academically, serve and lead during her visits to Brazil, Chile, El Salvador, India, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The first lady plans to deliver the keynote address to a U.S.-sponsored Young African Women Leaders Forum in South Africa and visit the Johannesburg Apartheid Museum and Robben Island Prison Museum in Cape Town, where Nelson Mandela and many anti-apartheid leaders were imprisoned. BET's special will also include a "Reporter's Journal," during which Ogunnaike will write blog entries along the route capturing special moments of the trip and her personal experience. "I look forward to having you with us on this journey, and I look forward to the connections that you'll build, the lessons you'll learn and the impact that you'll make with young people around the world for months and years to come," the first lady said. To help spread the word about the trip, follow updates about the goings-on and interact with others, head to Act.MTV.com or get in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #youngafrica. |
| Tupac Shakur's Outlawz To Release Album On Day He Died Posted: 16 Jun 2011 07:02 AM PDT 'Why not drop it on that date and turn a negative day into a positive?' E.D.I. Mean tells MTV News of Perfect Timing's September 13 release.
September 13 will forever be remembered for the tragic death of rapper/actor Tupac Shakur, but on the upcoming 15-year anniversary of his death, 'Pac's former group the Outlawz hope to turn a negative into a positive as they release their fifth album Perfect Timing. "What we were trying to do is drop the album and give us enough time to promote the album and set it up, and September just seemed like a good time," explained group member E.D.I. Mean. "It just so happened the 13th was a Tuesday, when albums drop in the U.S., so we were like, 'Why not?' "
The Outlawz were founded by Tupac — who would have turned 40 on Thursday (June 16) — and are best known for their appearance on "Hit 'Em Up," a 1996 dis track aimed at the Notorious B.I.G. Since Shakur's 1996 death, the group has released four albums, beginning with 2000's Ride Wit Us or Collide Wit Us. Though the squad has had a rotating cast of members through the years, the core group — E.D.I. Mean, Young Noble, Hussein Fatal and Kastro — have reunited for this album. "I think it's been 15 years, and we've seen a lot of rappers come and go in this game, and us being independent artists with a major following, it's just time for real soldiers with a real message to bring some real music back to the game," Noble said. "I think we're the epitome of that." On Wednesday, after news broke that Dexter Isaac admitted to shooting 'Pac during a 1994 robbery and told AllHipHop.com that it was Shakur associate Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond who set up the heist, the Outlawz responded, telling MTV News that they already knew that information through their relationship with the now-deceased rapper and his lyrics. "It's not news for us, because this is information that we been had and that been knew about. And we always knew that it'll come out one day, because what's done in the dark always comes to light," E.D.I. Mean said before pointing to Shakur's lyrics as proof. "I just feel like it's verification for what 'Pac said, because a lot of people felt when 'Pac was saying what he was saying on Makaveli that he was out of line for saying that." Rosemond's lawyer, meanwhile, said Isaac's claims are a "flat-out lie." In an effort to move past the controversy, the Outlawz hope their upcoming album can spread some positivity. Anchored by lead single "100 MPH" featuring Bun B and Lloyd, the Outlawz promise a smooth ride from the album's beginning to its end. The independent release, which will be distributed by Fontana/Universal, will also feature Young Buck, Tech N9ne and Krayzie Bone, but overall, the group just wants to pay homage to the man who gave them their start. "The name of the album is Perfect Timing, and we feel like it's perfect timing to drop the album on that date," E.D. said. "Why not drop it on that date and turn a negative day into a positive?" Take a look back at what Tupac told MTV News about the idea of being a "role model," and celebrate his birthday on the RapFix blog. Related Artists |
| Stevie Stone Talks Signing With Tech N9ne's Label Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:05 AM PDT 'It was a move that was in my heart,' rapper tells Mixtape Daily.
Fire Starter: Stevie Stone Some things were just meant to be. In the case of St. Louis, Missouri, rapper Stevie Stone, signing with Tech N9ne's Strange Music label was well in the works before the up-and-coming rapper signed his name on the dotted line.
After opening for Tech with a 10-minute set in a Fulton, Missouri, show as a high school student in 2000, Stone knew that he wanted to pursue music full-time. "That 10 minutes gave me the bug," Stevie told Mixtape Daily at a recent Independence, Missouri, album signing event for Tech's All 6's and 7's. Through the years the young MC kept in close contact, doing shows with Tech even though he signed his initial deal with Ruthless Records, the label co-founded by the late Eazy-E. In 2009 Stone dropped his debut album, New Kid Comin. Tech appeared on the LP on a song called "Midwest Explosion." "A lot of his fans — Technicians, Juggalos — all of them adapted to it," Stone said of the song. "My name started buzzing around here, especially in the Midwest on the underground scene." Though he and Tech had formed a bond, Stevie was contractually obligated to Ruthless and couldn't sign to Strange. Still, he joined Tecca Nina on his K.O.D. tour in 2009, his Ruthless contract expired the next year and he ended up officially signing with Strange in March. Stone is currently on Tech's 82-city All 6's and 7's tour as an opening act. In between shows, the new addition is prepping his Strange Music debut, Rolling Stone, for an early 2012 release. "It was a move that was in my heart. I knew it was the move to make, and I guess they felt the same way. And when the time presented itself, we inked," said Stevie, holding up his Strange Music chain with pride. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
| 'Harry Potter' World Cup: Help Decide The Best Character! Posted: 16 Jun 2011 12:58 AM PDT Voting opens Monday on the MTV Movies Blog to finally put this debate to rest.
Are you a Dumbledore guy or gal? Perhaps you're keen on Hermione and Harry? Or maybe you shun the high-profile faces and hold a special place in your heart for Moaning Myrtle or Nearly Headless Nick? Who truly is the greatest "Harry Potter" character of all time?
That's a debate fans have been having since J.K. Rowling published her first novel about a boy wizard in 1997 and one that continues to rage as the final film, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2," nears its July 15 debut. And you know what? It's time to finally put this fantastical argument to rest! Get ready for MTV News' "Harry Potter" World Cup, a monthlong tournament pitting 64 "Potter" characters against one another to see which will be decided solely by online fan voting. Check out the full bracket with all the supernatural matchups, then study up and get ready to vote when the first round kicks off Monday, June 20, at MoviesBlog.MTV.com. Check out photos of all 60 of the "Harry Potter" World Cup players. The single-elimination tournament will proceed from round to round with the intensity of the fiercest of Quidditch matches, with some characters falling by the wayside and others continuing to fight the good fight. It's all leading up to the epic championship round. The two finalists will be announced Monday, July 11. Voting will continue through MTV News' live-stream coverage of the "Deathly Hallows, Part 2" red-carpet premiere in New York City, with the winner crowned at the end of the event. The full Harry Potter World Cup is as follows: » Round 1: Monday, June 20, through Sunday, June 26 So get ready to vote at MoviesBlog.MTV.com on June 20, and be sure to utilize the Twitter hashtag #mtvpottercup to spread the word. Don't let your favorite character lose out on being named the greatest "Harry Potter" character ever. Sixty-four will compete, but only one will emerge as the Wizarding World's Champion — and it's up to you! Check out everything we've got on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Photos |
| Lady Gaga's 'Edge Of Glory' Video: What Can We Expect? Posted: 15 Jun 2011 11:18 PM PDT MTV News rounds up clues about the video, which premieres Thursday on 'So You Think You Can Dance.'
On Thursday night (June 16), on "So You Think You Can Dance," Lady Gaga is set to premiere her Haus of Gaga-directed video for "The Edge of Glory." What will it look like? How will she top herself? Little is known about what to expect, but with Gaga, anything is possible.
As producer Fernando Garibay told MTV News, the song was inspired by the death of Gaga's grandfather and was written while on the road. It features one of Gaga's childhood icons, E Street Band sax player Clarence Clemons, who suffered a stroke over the weekend. "In bed with Mommy thinking about Clarence," Gaga tweeted on Monday. "I can't wait for you to see the beautiful video we made together. He's a really special person." Clemons performed "Edge of Glory" with Gaga on "American Idol," where her stage looked like a cross between Stonehenge and the Aggro Crag on "Guts" — which could reveal some visual clues about the new video. As for the concept, a leaked casting notice might shed some light on it. Late last month, a notice called for a "Puerto Rican or Dominican type badass" who "must be willing to kiss Lady Gaga ... Think Enrique Iglesias." The casting call was also seeking "Couture Doctors" who will wear smocks and black gloves, adding "think 'Dr. 90210.' " Other roles include a "male or female on-air reporter" and a group of military men to hold M16 rifles. Gaga's creative director, Laurieann Gibson, simply teased to Rap-Up.com, "I just know that we'll be feeling very fishy." Fishy certainly was the theme of her performance on "Le Grand Journal," where she donned mermaid couture — perhaps a hint about what fans should expect in the video. What are you expecting from the "Edge of Glory" video? Share your guesses in the comments! Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Tupac 'Shooter' Claims Are A 'Flat-Out Lie' Posted: 15 Jun 2011 10:45 PM PDT Jimmy 'Henchman' Rosemond's lawyer fires back at Dexter Isaac's charges that he was paid by the industry exec to shoot 'Pac in 1994.
Instead of celebration, what would have been Tupac's 40th birthday has been marred by controversy as new allegations emerge about the November 1994 Quad Studios robbery and shooting of the rapper.
While fans celebrated 'Pac's life and legacy on Thursday (June 16), remembering the fallen icon with two trending topics on Twitter (#tupac and THUG LIFE), many of them were also debating the contents of a letter written by Dexter Isaac and posted to AllHipHop.com on Wednesday. In a note to the site, Isaac claimed to be the triggerman in the now-infamous robbery that left Shakur shot five times, two years before he was killed in a still-unsolved murder. Moreover, Isaac (who is serving a life sentence for murder, robbery, fraud and witness intimidation), now charges that it was 'Pac's former associate, Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemond, who set the whole thing up, paying him $2,500 to do the job. Rosemond's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, fired back, refuting Isaac's story. "It's a flat-out lie," he told the New York Daily News. "Dexter Isaac is not claiming this 17 years later to clear his conscience. He's doing it because he's told anybody who will listen he doesn't want to die in prison. He has kids and wants to work off his sentence. He can't be trusted." "I want to apologize to his family [Tupac Shakur] and for the mistake I did for that sucker [Jimmy Henchman]," Isaac told AllHipHop.com from prison. "I am trying to clean it up to give [Tupac's and Biggie's] mothers some closure." Henchman and his defense team, however, are not buying it. On May 17, news broke that federal authorities issued an arrest warrant for Jimmy Henchman in connection with a drug case. Rosemond, who as head of Czar Entertainment has had ties to numerous rappers, believes that the government is using incarcerated informants to build a case against him. He attacked Isaac's credibility in a statement first issued to XXLMag.com. "If the government is relying on informants like Winston 'Winnie' Harris, a convicted drug dealer and Jamaican deportee, who came to me and motioned via hand signal that he was forced to wear a wire and begged me to skip town, or Dexter Isaac, who is serving life in prison plus 30 years, then I'm sure I will not be offered a fair trial." The late Tupac's onetime protégé and a member of the rap group the Outlawz, E.D.I. Mean, told MTV News he wasn't surprised by Isaac's confession and pointed out that 'Pac himself also fingered Rosemond in his fiery 1996 song "Against All Odds." "I just feel like it's verification for what 'Pac said, because a lot of people felt when 'Pac was saying what he was saying on Makaveli that he was out of line for saying that." In the lyric E.D. referred to, 'Pac implies that Henchman set him up in '94: "And did I mention, promise to pay back Jimmy Henchman in due time?/ I know you bitch n---as is listenin', the world is mine/ Set me up, wet me up, n---as stuck me up/ Heard the guns bust, but you tricks never shut me up." Check back with MTV News for updates as this story develops. Related Artists |
| Juelz Santana Calls Drug Charges Against Him 'Preposterous' Posted: 16 Jun 2011 02:05 AM PDT 'I got a Phantom and a Bentley outside of my studio; I'm not selling dime bags,' Dipset MC said about raid of his studio, on 'RapFix Live.'
When the Diplomats stopped by MTV News' "RapFix Live" back in January, the quartet arrived ... as a threesome. So when Sway asked about the absent Juelz Santana, Dipset leader Cam'ron had an explanation.
"He was on his way, but he had some type of allergic reaction on his face," he said, adding that Juelz had eaten something that didn't agree with him. Cam was quick with a cover-up but as fans soon learned, it wasn't a rash, but a police raid on his Bergen County, New Jersey, studio that kept Santana from the Dipset crew's first appearance on our live stream. And when the Harlem rapper finally sat on the "RapFix" couch on Wednesday, he set the record straight about what happened that day. "For those who don't know, my studio got raided, to make a long story short. I wasn't there, I wasn't present. One of my artists was there — shout-out to my boy Hynief — he was in the building," Santana said, referring to the friend/MC who was arrested during the raid. "They raided the studio and in the process of raiding the studio they allegedly said they found some firearms. Once again, I wasn't there, I wasn't present, it's a studio." The raid turned up two handguns, drug paraphernalia and 17 Ziploc bags containing "a greenish brown vegetation consistent with the appearance of marijuana," according to police reports. Santana was later arrested on February 2 and charged with four counts of narcotic and weapon offenses in connection with the raid, which came as a result of a 10-month-long investigation of the studio by the Bergenfield Police Department. "My name is the biggest so of course they are going to target me as the one to put a lot of the blame on," the Harlem MC said. "I had no clue on what's going on, I rent the studio out to people. That's like if I rent the studio out right now to somebody and they choose to bring whoever they want to bring in to the studio. They rented the studio out; I have no knowledge of what's going on until I come back and your [rental] time is finished." Juelz also elaborated on his own charges with Sway. "They charged me with the firearms," he said. "They didn't charge me with trying to sell, but they put out a statement making it seem like I was selling weed out of my studio, which is preposterous. Dime bags? I got a phantom and a Bentley outside of my studio; I'm not selling dime bags. That sh-- is just crazy." Despite his troubles, Santana seemed to be in good spirits and assured fans his lawyer was still sorting out the legalities. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Tupac's Teasing Inspires Tech N9ne's New Video Posted: 16 Jun 2011 03:54 AM PDT Kansas City MC says playful 'Pac taunts like 'How's Dorothy and Toto?' sparked concept for 'He's a Mental Giant' clip.
Strange music indeed. In Tech N9ne's latest music video, "He's a Mental Giant," the Kansas City, Missouri, rapper puts a hip-hop twist on the 1939 classic film "The Wizard of Oz." While Tech says that the clip's concept came from director Dan Gedman, he also credits Tupac with helping to spark the idea.
"I remember when I met Tupac in '92 at Jack the Rapper [music conference] at the Atlanta Hilton. I used to be down there in the lobby and Tupac down there drunk, yelling and stuff. I used to tell everybody I was from K.C.; they was like, 'They let y'all rap in Kansas City? How's Dorothy and Toto?' " he recalled of the ribbing he got from 'Pac and other rappers. "I'm like, 'OK, watch this.' " Of course, Tech hails from the Missouri city, not the state of Kansas, where "Oz" is set. Regardless, the "Mental Giant" clip shows Tecca Nina looking into a crystal ball as another incarnation of the MC wanders through a fantasy world. Throughout his journey, Tech avoids various pitfalls like lustful women and an alien air-raid before escaping in a hot-air balloon made of stone. "Mental Giant" is the second single off of Tech's All 6's and 7's, which debuted at #4 on the Billboard albums chart this week thanks to Nina's dedicated fanbase, an 82-city tour and, of course, creative video concepts. "I just did it and some crazy-ass Wizard of Oz on ecstasy and shrooms came out," he laughed. "I think that's a good thing." Related Artists |
| 50 Cent Blasts His Label On Twitter Posted: 15 Jun 2011 11:59 PM PDT 'I will not be releasing a new album this year if we don't get on the same page,' Fif tweets.
On Thursday morning (June 16), 50 Cent took to Twitter, blasting Interscope Records and saying he wouldn't be releasing his Black Magic album this year unless he and his label can find some common ground. "Ok I tried to be cool with my record company. I went to the meeting talk to everyone and sh-- feels like there moving in slow motion," he tweeted around 9 a.m. ET. "I'm sorry to announce I will not be releasing a new album this year if we don't get on the same page." Soon after, he fired off: "My whole career iv been doing sh-- and they have been playing catch up this is the last f---ing album THEY BETTER WAKE UP AND WORK." A source close to 50 confirmed to MTV News that he is, in fact, tweeting from the account and it has not been hacked. On April 18, the Southside Jamaica, Queens, rapper tweeted that he was going to drop the album's lead single during that week, but never did. When MTV News caught up with him a few days later on the L.A. set of Nicole Scherzinger's "Right There" video, 50 backtracked, saying that instead, he opted to work with Interscope rather than independent of them. "I tweeted something about the actual single," 50 Cent said. "While I'm out here, I got a meeting, I gotta sit with Jimmy [Iovine, chairman of Interscope/Geffen/A&M], I gotta sit with the guys that push the button. I've done it by myself on my other albums, 'cause I got my own radio staff. And I worked the record and get it to 500 spins and then let them kick in. But I think it's better to just go with the entire building, have everybody on deck so they understand my plans for this project." Judging from Fif's tweets on Thursday, it's safe to assume that those meetings didn't go so well. "I worked really hard on this album I'm not gonna let it come out like some bullsh--. There use to me just putting it out," he continued to tweet before finally giving in to fans' tweets urging him to release new music. "Ok f--- it I'm putting the first song off my new album out tonight." Related Artists |
| 'Teen Mom' Amber Portwood Is 'Safe' Posted: 16 Jun 2011 12:10 AM PDT After hospitalization earlier this week, Amber is 'getting the help she needs right now,' Shirley writes.
"Teen Mom" star Amber Portwood seems to be recovering and is currently getting treatment after she reportedly attempted suicide earlier this week. Gary Shirley, the father of their daughter, Leah, took to Twitter on Thursday (June 16) to update everyone on the 21-year-old's condition. "Amber is safe and getting the help she needs right now," he wrote. "Thanks for your prayers and support." MTV confirmed that Portwood had been hospitalized earlier this week. "Our understanding is that Amber has been admitted to a local hospital but we have not been able to confirm the accuracy of any reports being circulated and are waiting for further details," said a statement. People.com reports that Portwood was taken to a hospital near her home in Indiana on Tuesday. And police told RadarOnline.com that "Portwood was depressed and threatening to end her life" when they received a call about her. "The victim, who did not appear to be injured, was transported to a local medical facility for further evaluation." Little else is known about her current condition, but in an interview with People.com last year, Portwood talked about her struggles. "I don't think I'm bipolar, to be honest with you," she said. "I'm just really outgoing. I think everybody thinks they're bipolar these days. You're a teenager, you have hormones. You're gonna switch up every two seconds!" Last December, Portwood was arrested and charged with felony domestic battery and child neglect, stemming from actions captured on the reality television series. An investigation into Portwood's behavior was opened after she was seen abusing Shirley on the show, both physically and verbally, twice in front of their child. People struggling with a history of depression or other emotional health issues are more likely to consider or attempt suicide. That's why it's important to reach out for help before these problems get out of hand. For more information on how to seek help for you or a friend, please visit with HalfofUs.com. |
| Lady Gaga's Meat Dress Stays Fresh At Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Posted: 16 Jun 2011 08:30 AM PDT It's 'definitely one of the stranger pieces' on display, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame curator Jim Henke tells MTV News.
Oh, that meat dress! Nearly a year after Lady Gaga wore it at the MTV Video Music Awards, the costume made of various cuts of meat that designer Franc Fernandez and stylist Nicola Formichetti put together is still making headlines. On Thursday (June 16), that dress will join the "Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power'' exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, where it will sit on display along with Gaga's childhood piano and Armani Prive orbit gown, which she wore to the 2011 Grammys, until February 2012. "I was talking to Lady Gaga's managers, and this is probably around November [of last year], and basically talked about different things, and we talked about the meat dress and we thought it would be great to add it to the exhibit just because of all the notoriety it has, so that's basically how it came about," RRHOF chief curator Jim Henke told MTV News. "We thought the meat dress would really be cool." So, how will the folks at the Rock Hall keep it fresh until it wraps up its stint there? "It's going to be in a case and we are putting some canisters in there to control the humidity, and then we have this other canister that soaks up the glutens," he explained. "But it's in a sealed case and we have the gels to control the environment in there." However, it took some work to get it to the point where it can hang around the Rock Hall along with a number of other high-profile memorabilia without seeming super-gross. Henke explained, "We went back to Franc Fernandez ... ultimately what we decided to do, we sent it to a taxidermist, they put it into a meat locker and then we started working on it and created this [chemical] solution and treated it with that. "And then they had a body form, and when it was still wet, they put it on the body form and then it dried on there," he continued. "And then they had to do a little bit of painting to bring it back and give it a little bit more color." Gaga hasn't been shy about making the dress into jerky or wanting to have her extensive wardrobe in a museum, as she shared on "The Graham Norton Show." "I keep everything and dream of having a museum of all my clothes. I have an archive house for all my clothes," she said. "[The dress has] been jerked. It stank. It was fabulous. I never want to talk to anyone at those big celebrity functions because I feel awkward, and it was great — because it stunk, I didn't have to talk to anyone." Having the dress in the exhibit is quite an honor and it's an interesting piece, but Henke notes this isn't the most bizarre exhibit at the RRHOF. "Definitely one of the stranger pieces," he laughed about the dress, adding, "There are some other weird things. We actually have [pioneering radio DJ] Alan Freed's ashes." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Selena Gomez Does Her Best Britney On 'Whiplash' Posted: 16 Jun 2011 09:37 AM PDT Teen star channels the pop titan as Spears-penned dance tune from Gomez's album leaks to the Net.
It's a good thing Selena Gomez is feeling much better after her hospitalization last week because the Disney starlet has a string of gigs lined up to promote her soon-to-be-released album, When the Sun Goes Down. And while the LP doesn't hit stores until June 28, some of the tracks have already surfaced on the Internet, including "Whiplash," which MTV News has confirmed was co-written by Britney Spears. Gomez, who has gushed to us about her Spears fandom, shows off her best impersonation of the pop princess on "Whiplash." The dance number begins with sonic flares and effects as the teen songstress sings about a blossoming romance. Gomez then adds a twist to the song by saying a number of phrases in a thick British accent before the pulsating chorus kicks in. "Come on and take me to the other side/ I'm gonna wait, when I look into your eyes," she croons. "I'm so in love, I think I'm going to crash/ And get whiplash, whiplash, whiplash." "Whiplash" was reportedly a track that failed to make the cut on Spears' comeback album, Circus. Among the other songs leaked from When the Sun Goes Down are "That's More Like It" and "We Own the Night." Fans will get to see Selena doing more Britney when she tackles some of the pop star's classic hits on her upcoming tour. Earlier this year, Gomez told MTV News that she was thinking about paying tribute to the singer with "a mash-up of some of her songs." The Disney starlet and hard-core Britney fan revealed that she looked at Spears' entire discography in decided what tunes to cover. "We're gonna do a little tribute. We're gonna do her hits, ' ... Baby One More Time,' and then I think we're going to try to incorporate 'Toxic' and that phase," she said. "And then we might do some of her recent, new stuff." Have you heard "Whiplash"? Sound off below! Related Photos Related Artists |
| L.A. Reid Makes Epic Move To Sony Posted: 16 Jun 2011 09:52 AM PDT 'X Factor' judge will reportedly reunite with Usher and Pink at a soon-to-be restructured Epic Label Group.
High-ranking industry execs have been playing a game of musical chairs lately, and in a move that many insiders suspected, former Island Def Jam Chairman L.A. Reid will take the seat as the chairman of the soon-to-be restructured Epic Label Group, a part of Sony Music, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In an April interview with MTV News, Reid remained tight-lipped about the possible move and has repeatedly dodged the question in the media, but THR reports he will take the helm at Epic, replacing songwriter Amanda Ghost, in the beginning of July. Speculation about the move arose after L.A. left IDJ and soon took a gig as a judge on Simon Cowell's talent "X Factor," where the winner will receive $5 million in cash and a recording contract with Sony. When the deal is complete, Epic Label Group will encompass Jive Records, where former Reid protégés Usher and Pink still record. THR is also reporting that Epic has already signed the duo Karmin, who are racking up YouTube views with their quirky hip-hop covers, most notably an acoustic version of Chris Brown's Lil Wayne-assisted single "Look at Me Now." It's unclear if that signing is indicative of the direction Reid will take at Epic, but he did tell MTV News what type of talent he'll be looking for on "X Factor." "I'm personally looking for artists that are along the lines of today's pop stars," he said. "Whether it be a Rihanna or a Justin Bieber or a Kanye West or a Beyoncé or a Lady Gaga, I'm looking for talent that's like that, that's what I love. I love pop stars; that's what I get off on." L.A. also left the door opened for hip-hop signings on the show as well, citing the artistic traits of Drake, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. Whether or not Reid will use the same sensibilities as the head of Epic remains to be seen. |
| 'Green Lantern' Stars: Don't Try Superhero Fashion At Home! Posted: 16 Jun 2011 05:44 AM PDT At the movie's Hollywood premiere, Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively and others weigh in on when it's cool to wear spandex.
HOLLYWOOD — No matter how different the characters, costumes and mythology, there are a lot of similarities among comic book superheroes, especially those of the big-screen variety. The latest entry into the comic book movie annals is this week's "Green Lantern," in which star Ryan Reynolds sports a fashion commonly associated with superhero types: spandex.
Well, his co-star Blake Lively insists the Green Lantern isn't wearing a suit of spandex, but rather a suit of "energy." Still, given the fact that these characters seem so comfortable sporting outfits of the stretchy, pliant variety, we asked the stars and attendees at Wednesday's "Green Lantern" premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre when they think it's cool for dudes to wear spandex — outside the superhero realm, of course. "Ooh wow, that's good," Ryan Reynolds said of our query. "Ballet. Definitely ballet. That's in the top five at least." Mark Strong, who plays the soon-to-be-evil Sinestro, suggested that the appropriate time is "on a bicycle. And that's about it." "I wear spandex every day," revealed NBA All-Star Blake Griffin. "So I'd say 24/7. I have red, white, blue, green, orange, purple, navy, pink," he joked, before correcting himself. "I just wear white and black under my basketball shorts. I don't really go that far." Reynolds had a definite idea of when not to wear the fabric: "I don't think when it's sexy time. That's probably not a good idea." Maybe it depends on what color you wear for said sexy time? "[Maybe] lavender, with little gold flecks?" Reynolds allowed, with a smile. "If people could walk around in suits of energy, that would be cool," Blake Lively said, taking our question seriously. "Other than that, I don't think men should wear spandex." Check out everything we've got on "Green Lantern." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos |
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