Selasa, 21 Juni 2011

MTV News

MTV News

Ryan Dunn Remembered By 'Jackass' Co-Stars, Fans

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 12:37 AM PDT

'Ryan will be missed and remembered by us all,' the 'Jackass' crew says in a statement.
By James Montgomery


Ryan Dunn and Bam Margera in 2008
Photo: Jordan Strauss/ WireImage

As news of "Jackass" star Ryan Dunn's death began to circulate on Monday (June 20), those who knew him best paid tribute to their fallen friend and struggled to come to terms with the loss of a man whose antics touched the lives of many.

In a message posted on the website of Dickhouse Entertainment (the producers of the wildly popular "Jackass" series and shows like "Rob & Big" and "Wildboyz"), Dunn was remembered by Johnny Knoxville, director Jeff Tremaine and "the entire 'Jackass' family" as a "brother," though the pain of his death was understandably evident.

"I don't really know what to say right now everybody, because the sadness is overwhelming, but today we lost one of our own. Our brother Ryan Dunn has passed. He died in a car wreck in West Goshen, Pennsylvania this morning at 3 a.m. Goddamn, that's tough to write," the statement read. "Our hearts go out to his family and his beloved Angie. Ryan will be missed and remembered by us all. Thanks for the kind words of support everybody."

See photos of Ryan Dunn throughout his career.

Knoxville also added in a tweet, "RIP Ryan, I love you buddy." And two of his "Jackass" co-stars, Jason "Wee-man" Acuna and Dave England, followed suit, writing, respectively, "You were always a happy kick-ass dude" and "I love you Ryan. I'm gonna miss you bad."

Other stars who knew the 34-year-old daredevil also paid tribute, including director Sofia Coppola, who was once married to "Jackass" co-creator Spike Jonze; fellow reality-TV star Tom Green; and Good Charlotte's Benji and Joel Madden. "Just heard that Ryan Dunn from Jackass died last night in a car wreck. Rest In Peace Ryan," tweeted Green. "R.I.P Ryan Dunn. Very sad news," write Joel Madden.

Remember Ryan Dunn with us on our Facebook page.

Friend and motocross racer Carey Hart remembered Dunn, writing, "You were an amazing guy and you were cut way too short.

"Enjoyed the times we had," Hart continued. "My heart goes out to his family and friends."

Dunn's fans also expressed their sadness on MTV.com, filling our site with messages like, "We will never forget all the laughs you gave us" and "Rest in peace, bro. You're pranking God now, that lucky bastard."

Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music/Film Group, also reflected on the loss. "We are devastated by the tragic loss of Ryan Dunn — a beloved member of the MTV family for more than a decade," Toffler said in a statement. "He made us all laugh and had the tireless enthusiastic approach to life of your favorite middle school friend. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Ryan's family and friends. The Jackass brotherhood will never be the same."

Share your memories of Dunn in the comments below.

Related Videos Related Photos

Rise Against's 'Make It Stop' Tackles Bullying, Suicide

Posted: 21 Jun 2011 03:53 AM PDT

Tim McIlrath's band teams with 'It Gets Better' campaign for new video.
By James Montgomery


Rise Against's Tim McIlrath
Photo: Getty Images

For more than a decade now, Tim McIlrath has been fighting the good fight. And during that time, he's watched his band, Rise Against, rise from scrappy VFW Hall stalwarts to genuine rock-radio mainstays. But somewhere along the way, he began to notice RA's agit-punk, certifiably progressive politics were getting lost in the mix. And needless to say, this bothered him.

"Rise Against is a band that, we've played punk-rock dives and basements, that's where we started, and at some point, we were adopted by a much-larger rock scene," he told MTV News. "And when we were introduced to that rock scene, I found there were people that were unsure about who we are or where we stood on things ... I found a lot of fans who were unsure about how we felt about if our fans were gay, and that broke my heart, to think that any one of our fans might even question for a second where we stand on that."

So, with those questions weighing on his mind, McIlrath headed into the studio with his band to begin work on what would become Rise Against's sixth studio album, Endgame. It was during that process that the suicide of Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi began making national news, bringing to light the rather-troubling issue of bullying and the plight of gay teenagers in the U.S.

As he had done throughout Rise Against's career, McIlrath knew he had to speak up — especially since none of his radio-clogging contemporaries seemed willing to do so.

"When the month of September rolled around, and the wave of gay-teen suicides happened, I realized there needed to be a song about this, and also because the rock scene in general kind of fails to comment about this stuff — it sort of doesn't comment about this stuff; it largely ignores this kind of thing," he said. "And rock being a male-dominated, testosterone-driven place that I've been in the eye of the hurricane now for several years, I realized that it can be a place that can perpetuate homophobic behavior unless it's addressed by bands like us."

McIlrath wrote "Make It Stop (September's Children)," a song that deals explicitly with the issues of bullying, homophobia and suicides within the LGBT community. His message is one of hope: Yes, life does improve once the years of high school hell recede into memory; you've just got to find the strength not to give up.

"The message is: It can get better, it does get better, give it a chance to get better, don't end your life prematurely," he said. "And don't give credence to all these bullies that would give you all this crap and try to make your adolescence something that's hard to deal with."

In the new video for the song, Rise Against team up with Dan Savage's "It Gets Better" campaign to help provide hope to those in need. The clip — shot in McIlrath's former stomping grounds, Rolling Meadows High School in Illinois — follows three teens as they are pushed to the brink by their cruel classmates, and it's only when they find themselves at the (very literal) end of their ropes, do they realize that they have much to live for, and they resolve to press on.

Although McIlrath will be the first to admit that it's just one song and one video, he said that if "Make It Stop" can even inspire even one teen from taking his or her life — regardless of sexual orientation — then he'll consider it a success. And by speaking out, he hopes he'll inspire others to follow suit.

"I think that bullying is something that's existed for a long time, obviously, and will, in a lot of ways, always exist, but I think it's important now to bring this issue to light and to talk about it because there are certain dots we can connect, as Americans, to look at what is producing the bullying that is happening today," he said. "We live in a country that has legislation that still treats the gay community as second-class citizens. That's going to trickle down to our high school communities, it's going to trickle down to our kids ... and as long as we have these types of laws on the books, as long as we have TV networks masquerading as news stations that are perpetuating really violent and anti-gay rhetoric, that's going to trickle down.

"There are very real solutions to this, I believe. It isn't just this intangible, 'Oh, there's always been bullies, there always will be bullies' — it's more than that, and it's coming to a head now," he continued. "And a lot of the suicides of September 2010 are the product of a culture and a media that we can really address, that we can really do something [about] and provide solutions for."

Share your opinion on "Make It Stop (September's Children)" in the comments below!

Katy Perry's 'Last Friday Night' Video: Frame By Frame

Posted: 19 Jun 2011 11:17 PM PDT

Director Marc Klasfeld provides insight into the kitschy homage to '80s teen comedies.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias


Katy Perry in her "Last Friday Night" video
Photo: Capitol Records

In Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night" video, we see what happens when nerdy girl Kathy Beth Terry (Perry) gets a makeover and becomes the life of the party. Recently, director Marc Klasfeld sat down with MTV News and took us through his neon-colored tribute to '80s teen movies, frame by frame.

"The storyline is definitely '16 Candles' and John Hughes-influenced," Klasfeld said. "And all those great '80s high school movies."

The celebrity cameos come fast and don't stop, beginning with "Glee" star Darren Criss, who drops in on Kathy's bedroom to thank her for the "best party ever" the morning after. "Darren, he was great," Klasfeld said. "He was in there for like an hour. He came in, nailed it, did his thing."

Criss wasn't the only one who pumped out great work. "There's Katy! One thing about her, she really took on this role, she dove right into it and did everything that was asked and a lot more," he recalled. "There's a lot of outtakes that we actually couldn't show. She had a lot of fun with it."

"Friday" singer Rebecca Black also appeared in the video, as Kathy Beth Terry's sort of Fairy Godmother. "Rebecca was great all the way through. She was really excited, and I think she looks great," he said. "She looks like a Disney TV star in this, so who knows what's next for Rebecca?"

Black and Perry had to make fast friends when it came to the makeover scene. "This was a fun scene. [Rebecca and Katy] kind of first met in this scene," he said of the mustache-removal moment. "We actually didn't use wax [on Katy]. I think that was honey. She actually doesn't have hair there to wax, but suspension of disbelief, as they say. And there's her headgear off, and here she comes: the made-over Kathy Beth."

Once made over, Kathy joins in on a big game of "Just Dance," the kind of product placement Klasfeld said he tried to fit seamlessly into the clip. "It wasn't this crass cut away to a phone or to a camera, and it kind of fit in with the theme of the video."

The video features a number of other cameos including Kenny G, Hanson and "Glee" star Kevin McHale, but perhaps none were as funny as the appearance at the end by '80s icons Debbie Gibson and Corey Feldman.

"They were one of our great cameos we had in the video, and we just roll with it here," he said. "This was just pure ad lib."

Just when fans think the video is over, the credit roll provides a little something extra. "Obviously a lot of movies do this [credit blooper reel], but my influence for it was [1981 movie] 'Cannonball Run' because 'Cannonball Run' always had these great outtakes that went on forever," he said. "We had so many outtakes, we could have let it go on for 14 minutes, but we had to stop at some point."

Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists

'Jackass' Star Ryan Dunn 'Didn't Seem Intoxicated' Before Crash

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 01:15 AM PDT

'He seemed like he was having a good time, hanging out with his friends,' Pennsylvania bar employee tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena


Ryan Dunn
Photo: Dickhouse Productions

As "Jackass" fans mourn the loss of Ryan Dunn, who died early Monday morning (June 20) in a car crash, MTV News has uncovered new details about the accident that killed the MTV star.

MTV News can confirm that 34-year-old Dunn was hanging out with his friends at the bar Barnaby's of America in West Chester, Pennsylvania, before he died. "Apparently, he was himself; he didn't seem intoxicated. He seemed like he was having a good time, hanging out with his friends," a Barnaby's employee told MTV News on Monday afternoon. Dunn had tweeted a photo of himself, which has since been pulled, hanging out at the West Chester bar before he fatally crashed his car.

The Barnaby's worker further noted that Dunn "only had a couple beers here. As far as we're concerned, the biggest thing, our hearts go out to the family and friends, and his loss is a big loss to our community. The biggest thing we're worried about is his friends and family."

See photos of Ryan Dunn throughout his career.

Dunn didn't come to Barnaby's to party, the employee said; he often just was there to catch up with his pals. "He came in probably once a month just to hang out and see some people. You might see him twice a month. He wasn't a big partyer. He wasn't one of those guys. He was always quiet and kept to himself."

According to a press release and police report posted online, Dunn was identified as the driver of the 2007 Porsche, which belonged to the "Jackass" star. Another unidentified passenger also died in the crash. According to the report, speed may have contributed to the accident. When police arrived on the scene, Dunn's vehicle was on fire and in the woods.

Local police hadn't responded to MTV News' request for further comment by press time, despite several phone calls to the West Goshen Township police department.

Dunn's G4 show "Proving Ground" has been pulled off the schedule, a network rep confirmed to MTV News. According to the rep, "The show has been suspended from air until further discussions can take place." In a previous statement, the network said, "All of us at G4 are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic news that Ryan Dunn has passed away. Ryan's comedic wit and signature no-holds-barred approach made him an incredible talent and his work as host of G4's Proving Ground was flawless. Ryan will be missed dearly by his legion of fans and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time."

Share your memories of Dunn on our Facebook page.

Related Photos

Kendrick Lamar 'Blessed' To Get RZA On 'Ronald Reagan Era'

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 05:09 AM PDT

Section 80 track featuring Wu-Tang Clan leader released online Friday.
By Rob Markman


Kendrick Lamar
Photo: MTV News

Save for a refrain on Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy or verses on any of his Wu-affiliated projects, Wu-Tang Clan's chief producer and orchestrator RZA doesn't make many guest appearances these days, so New West Coast representative Kendrick Lamar knows how lucky he is to have vocals from the Abbot on his latest single, "Ronald Reagan Era."

"A mutual friend said he was diggin' the music, and he blessed me to get these [RZA a cappella vocals]. I was sittin' on them for a while, like, 'Damn, I got some RZA joints up in my hard drive. That's incredible,' " Lamar told MTV News. "So I didn't want to touch 'em just yet unless it was right. So I was sittin' on them for a while, then I was like, 'You know what? This is the perfect sound right here.' My dude Tae Beast did the beat, and it came together, man. It was magic."

"Ronald Reagan Era" — which was released online Friday and will be featured on Lamar's upcoming album, Section 80 — finds the Compton MC rapping over a haunting loop. He raps of trifling street tales set in the late 1980s, when Ronald Reagan was serving his second term as the 40th president of the United States.

Lamar, who was born in 1987, draws a distinct parallel between his youth and Reagan's reign, sometimes referred to as the "crack era." Lamar rhymes: "1987, the children of Ronald Reagan, rake the leaves off your front porch with a machine blowtorch."

The RZA's contribution is slight, but his distinct wet drawl is pronounced as he repeats "California dungeons" during the song's chorus, reinforcing Lamar's feeling of coming up from the bottom.

Lamar told MTV News that Section 80, due out in July, has received blessings from Dr. Dre, but won't feature production from the Good Doctor.

Share your review of Kendrick Lamar's "Ronald Reagan Era" in the comments!

Related Artists

'Glee' Star Cory Monteith Teases 'Big Story Line'

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 04:26 AM PDT

'I think that Finn has a lot of struggle left for him,' he tells MTV News of what fans can expect from season three.
By Christina Garibaldi


Cory Monteith
Photo: MTV News

"Glee" fans still have a few more months to go before the kickoff of season three, when it's been rumored that our favorite characters will graduate from McKinley High. But don't ask the cast what's in store for the upcoming season, because creator Ryan Murphy is apparently keeping the plotlines very much a secret.

"I don't know where it's going to go," Cory Monteith told MTV News about his character, Finn. "He's got a big story line with Rachel, obviously, but it should be interesting to see how he develops."

Monteith, who also stars in the upcoming flick "Monte Carlo" with Selena Gomez and Leighton Meester, is hoping things get a bit more complicated for the New Directions singer.

"I think the harder it is for him, the better, you know?" Monteith said. "I think Finn has a lot of growing up to do and I think that Finn has a lot of struggle left for him. I think dealing with a lot of his dad stuff, the passing of his father and dealing with the unrequited love all of a sudden from Rachel, I think the more trouble he goes through, the more interesting it is for me as an actor."

For now, Monteith and his TV co-stars are keeping busy on the Glee Live! In Concert! Tour. The cast just wrapped up the North American leg of the tour and are gearing up to take their act overseas; they'll play Manchester's MEN Arena this week before moving on to London for seven shows at the O2 Arena.

"It's an overwhelming experience every night," Montieth told us. "I suspect that England is going to be incredible as well. We are going over to the U.K., playing England and Ireland, so I think that's going to be incredible."

Regardless of where Monteith performs, he's just excited to get out there for all of his fans. "It's so rare that we get to connect with our audience, which is what we're doing," Monteith said of the live shows. "We're literally touching them, grabbing their hands, so it's a great experience."

But life on the road must get a bit tiring, so we wondered whether the castmembers ever get sick of one another.

"No, it's like a very well assembled family," Monteith said. "Like, you can't choose your family, but it's like a well-chosen family and we seem to complement each other really well. We are all quite different from one another so we get along really well."

Did you catch the "Glee" cast live on tour? Tell us about it in the comments!

Related Videos

50 Cent Explains What Separates Him From Lady Gaga, Eminem

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 02:50 AM PDT

Fif tells MTV News his labelmates' singles 'go to top 40 and crossover radio immediately.'
By Rob Markman


50 Cent
Photo: Christopher Polk/ WireImage

50 Cent knows what it takes to make a hit record. The first step for him is the groundwork, usually in the form of a street single. Before "In Da Club," the G-Unit General set the streets on fire with "Wanksta," and before he took fans to the candy shop in 2005, Fif started off with "Disco Inferno."

For his fifth, yet-untitled LP — which he tweeted will now come out in November — things are no different. After blasting his label on Twitter last week, 50 decided to heat up the streets by dropping "Outlaw," his new Cardiak-produced street single.

When asked how his tried-and-true formula differs from that of Interscope labelmate Lady Gaga, Fif said their respective circumstances are incomparable.

"When you say Lady Gaga, a pop artist, they want them to just deliver a song," 50 said. "They don't have the mixshow radio platform to go through before they would actually go for adds on an actual record."

As opposed to mainstream pop artists, rappers who are viewed as more niche, for the most part, usually have to service a record that caters to late-night urban-radio formats where DJs blend records together in a continuous stream. The mixshows serve as a proving ground of sorts for edgier hip-hop music.

"Her records go to top 40 and crossover radio immediately. You can't really compare it to any artist that would be considered a pop artist or a white artist," 50 said of his circumstance in relation to Gaga's. "And I say that openly, because what we consider urban radio or rhythmic radio was referred to as black radio at one point. That right there is something that I am conscious of."

Still, 50 said he doesn't place any blame; instead, he simply points out the differences. He even talked about his method of landing records on the charts in relation to Eminem. Like Gaga, 50 points out that Slim Shady bypasses urban radio as well.

"You can't compare Eminem and 50 Cent's career on any level," he said. "Eminem doesn't know what the inside of Hot 97 looks like. He's never even had to go there. So the top 40 and crossover-radio platforms are detrimental to the success of an Eminem project, and for me to get to the top 40 or crossover space, I have to have music that performs so well on your Hot 97s and Power 106s of the world until it actually goes up to that point."

Last Thursday, before leaking "Outlaw," 50 tweeted that he wouldn't drop his new album in 2011 unless Interscope got "on the same page." 50 clarified to MTV News what many perceived as a serious rift between him and his label. "They're behind it, but to get everybody moving at the same beat and moving at the same pace is the object. That was what the goal was even writing that statement and releasing the song," he said.

What do you think of 50 Cent's radio theories? Let us know in the comments.

Related Artists

Tom Cruise Is 'Astonishing' In 'Rock Of Ages,' Julianne Hough Says

Posted: 19 Jun 2011 11:29 PM PDT

'I'm not kidding, the guy can sing,' the 'Dancing With the Stars' alum tells MTV News.
By Christina Garibaldi


Tom Cruise in "Rock of Ages"
Photo: Courtesy Tom Cruise

On Friday, Tom Cruise posted a photo of himself on his website as '80s rocker Stacee Jaxx, for his role in the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical "Rock of Ages." Cruise, who is shirtless in the photo, is sporting long hair and tattoos for his character, who will belt out '80s classics such as Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive," Scorpions' "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and a group performance of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."

Yet, the question on everyone's mind is: Can he sing? Well, according to co-star Julianne Hough, the answer is yes.

"I'm not kidding, the guy can sing," Hough told MTV News on Monday (June 20) at the CESAR Canine Cuisine and American Humane Association's voting kickoff for the Hero Dog Awards. "The guy can dance, the guy obviously can act. I mean, he can do it all, and he does it all very well."

Yet, unfortunately for Hough, she wasn't on set the first day Cruise transformed into character, but that doesn't mean she didn't hear all about it.

"I wasn't there for the first day of shooting for his stuff, but I just got people emailing me, like, 'Oh my gosh,' chills, standing ovation, holy crap, the crew was blown away," Hough gushed. "And I'm like, 'I missed it! What the heck?' So, he's astonishing."

However, the "Dancing With the Stars" alum did get to hear Cruise's singing voice, and she had to agree with the rest of the crew: He is the real deal.

"Yeah, oh yeah, it's ridiculous." Hough said. "There are no words to describe how amazing Tom is. I mean, he's so in it."

Hough, who wraps shooting on "Rock of Ages" in August, plays lead character Sherrie Christian alongside an all-star cast, including Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand and Mary J. Blige.

"It's hilarious. None of us take each other seriously, because we are all decked out, '80s-style." Hough said of being on set. "Alec Baldwin is wearing a blond wig. I mean, having Russell Brand on set is a hoot in itself. We are literally having the time of our lives."

Yet, it hasn't all been fun on set: Hough had to get down and dirty for a love scene with co-star Diego Boneta, but it's not what you think.

"We did a shoot, a very, very romantic scene between Diego, who is my co-star, on top of a landfill," Hough revealed. "So we had to be very romantic and make out, and all we could smell is nastiness and garbage. Nothing says romance like garbage."

Check out everything we've got on "Rock of Ages."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Eminem Producer Denaun Porter Gets 'Serious' On Bad Meets Evil EP

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 12:58 AM PDT

D12 member shares executive-producer credit with Em on Hell: The Sequel.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Denaun Porter
Photo: MTV News

As a producer, Denaun Porter is quite accomplished. In addition to producing 50 Cent's hit "P.I.M.P." and G-Unit's 2003 single "Stunt 101," the beatmaker, who doubles as a rapper in the group D12, has crafted tracks for Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Game and Busta Rhymes.

With all that he's done, though, for the first time, Mr. Porter has earned an executive-producer credit on Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" 's Bad Meets Evil EP. While the distinction was a definite goal for Mr. Porter, he remains humble about it, choosing to let his work speak for itself. In fact, he's worked on many albums and sometimes didn't receive the credit that he's earned, and he's OK with that.

"I'm not the kind of producer where I'm gonna say, 'Yo, I did this, I did this, I did this.' I want it to be my work," he told Sway on the set of Bad Meets Evil's "Fast Lane" video. "I come from the [Dr.] Dre school; we don't talk about it. I do it, though. You put me in that room, I'll show you."

Denaun produced four of the nine tracks on Hell: The Sequel as well as "Living Proof," which appears as a bonus track on the deluxe version of the EP. "Em even came in the studio one day, like, 'Yo, homey, you're showing your ass.' I was like, 'Yeah, I'm not playing now' — it's that serious to me," Porter said.

With all the work he put in, the Shady camp named Mr. Porter co-executive producer of Hell: The Sequel, along with Eminem. Despite their personal relationship and ties to D-12, however, Mr. Porter's involvement on Em's albums is never a given. He did produce Eminem's 1996 underground album Infinite in its entirety, but when Denaun has landed tracks on Slim Shady's major-label albums, it's usually only a track or two.

"I was making it hard for him. I was just bringing the heat to him," Porter said of how he ended up landing so many beats on the Bad Meets Evil project. "I had my mind made up that I didn't want to do one joint here, because for years, I was just doing 'em when I felt like it. Now it's like I got something to prove."

What do you think of the Porter-produced Bad Meets Evil tracks? Let us know in the comments!

Related Videos Related Artists

Chris Brown Comeback Inspires Yung Joc On New Mixtape

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 12:16 AM PDT

'There are a lot of cats that people say it's over for,' rapper tells Mixtape Daily.
By Rob Markman


Yung Joc's <i>Ready to Fly</i>
Photo: Swagg Entertainment

Mixtape Daily Main Pick
Artist: Yung Joc

Representing: Atlanta

Mixtape: Ready to Fly

Real Spit: Yung Joc knows what his doubters think of him, but on his latest mixtape, Ready to Fly, the Atlanta rapper aims to change the public perception that he has fallen off.

"I think this mixtape is definitely one of those ones that people should definitely check out, especially for the naysayers that's like, 'It's over for that guy.' That's cool too. There are a lot of cats that people say it's over for," Joc told Mixtape Daily before likening himself to another phoenix-from-the-ashes pop star. "I remember on my last mixtape, Grind Flu, I got a song with Chris Brown. I remember people were like, 'Why you got Chris on there? It's over for him.' Look at him now."

Joc, who rose to prominence after his Grammy-nominated debut single "It's Goin' Down," helped kick-start hip-hop's snap craze. The track even caught the attention of actor Tom Cruise, who famously did the song's accompanying motorcycle dance during a BET broadcast. Despite earning a gold plaque for his 2006 Yung Joc City album and multiplatinum credits for his single, Joc seemed to lose steam and hasn't released an album since his 2007 sophomore effort, Hustlenomics. Not that he's completely disappeared: Joc appeared on R&B singer Slim's 2008 single "So Fly" and alongside Diddy a year later on Day26's "Imma Put It on Her."

"It's just funny how people jump ship so fast. It don't take but a little buzz, a little heat up under that frying pan to heat things up, and people are right back on the bandwagon," Joc said. "Hopefully that's what this mixtape will do, because I'm gonna keep coming, dropping video after video."

For Ready to Fly's cover, Joc drew inspiration from the Notorious B.I.G.'s 1994 classic debut Ready to Die, swapping out the Biggie baby for a picture of himself. While Joc paid homage on the cover, Ready to Fly isn't all about B.I.G.; it's a nod to Joc's Southern roots and original Atlanta sound — which he never abandoned. DJ Sense and DJ Demp host the tape, while rappers like Tity Boi, Yo Gotti, Gucci Mane and 8Ball make appearances.

Will it be Joc's big comeback? Only time will tell, but so far, things sounds pretty fly.

Joints to Check For
» "Ready to Fly" - "That's on some grown-man intellect and understanding. You can hear the pain in my voice on this record. Ain't nothing about it fake. You hear from the beginning of the record to the end of the record, it's just how I feel and things I've been going through."

» "Deuces" - "We just took the approach where everything we said, we did it in twos. We put a two in it some kinda way. Even if it was a name that started with 'two,' like Tupac, or O.G. Tookie. I said, 'Make a sucka drip, what up Tunechi.' Wayne, so you know we got the record 'Drip' the remix on there, featuring Yo Gotti, Wayne and myself."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Related Artists

'Jackass' Star Ryan Dunn Dead At 34

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:18 AM PDT

Stuntman died in a Pennsylvania car crash on Sunday, MTV News confirms.
By Jocelyn Vena


Ryan Dunn
Photo: Eddie Malluk/ WireImage

Ryan Dunn, the 34-year-old "Jackass" star, died in a fatal car crash on Sunday night in Pennsylvania, MTV News confirmed Monday (June 20).

According to police, the accident occurred at 3 a.m. on Route 322 and New Street in West Goshen Township. While it's unknown who was driving at the time, an unidentified passenger also died in the crash. April Margera, the mother of Dunn's "Jackass" co-star Bam, broke the news to WMMR 93.3's "Preston and Steve" radio show.

See photos of Ryan Dunn throughout his career.

"We are devastated by the tragic loss of Ryan Dunn — a beloved member of the MTV family for more than a decade," Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks Music/Film Group, said in a statement. "He made us all laugh and had the tireless enthusiastic approach to life of your favorite middle school friend. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Ryan's family and friends. The Jackass brotherhood will never be the same."

In the last photo Dunn posted to Twitter, he and two friends are seen drinking what may be alcoholic beverages. TMZ also reported that the car caught fire in the crash. A tow truck was later sent to the scene to remove the car. A photo obtained by an NBC affiliate in Pennsylvania, showed the wrecked car on the side of the road. As of press time, no further information was known about the accident.

Born in Ohio, Dunn grew up in New York, before moving to West Chester, Pennsylvania, where he would hook up with Bam's CKY Crew. He kicked off his career doing crazy stunts and skateboard tricks in a series of online videos, which eventually led to his part in MTV's "Jackass" in 2000. The daredevil was a key member of the crew, appearing in "Jackass" spin-offs like "Viva La Bam" and "Bam's Unholy Union," as Bam's sidekick and often acting as the voice of reason within the zany crew. He also had his own a short-lived home improvement show on MTV called "Homewreckers" in 2005. Dunn's new show "Proving Ground," in which he and co-host Jessica Chobot test out action sequences from TV, games and movies, premiered on G4 last Tuesday.

When MTV News sat down with the "Jackass" crew last year, they named Dunn's first stunt for the show as one of their favorites in 10 years of the TV show and movies. "I loved when [Bam Margera] made Ryan jump into the poo factory, the 'Poo Dive' I think we called it," creator Jeff Tremaine said. " 'Cause that was horrible, but the best part was ... revealing his tattoos that we didn't know about. That was the first time we ever met Ryan."

He appeared in all three "Jackass" flicks and even took a stab at Hollywood, with a role in non-"Jackass" projects like the Jessica Simpson flick "Blonde Ambition" and on the NBC procedural staple "Law & Order: SVU."

Last year, Jackass 3D" found overwhelming box-office success, raking in $50 million in its first week. "Jackass 3.5: The Unrated Movie" just hit stores last week, revealing more stunts that didn't make it into the blockbuster film.

Remember Ryan Dunn with us on our Facebook page.

Related Videos Related Photos

50 Cent To Write Book For Teens On Bullying

Posted: 19 Jun 2011 10:13 PM PDT

Fif, who has famously sparred with MCs, says 'Playground' will be based on 'events from my own childhood and adolescence.'
By Gil Kaufman


50 Cent
Photo: Ray Tamarra/ Getty Images

50 Cent is getting in on the bullying game. No, the brawny rhymer/actor with a reputation for starting beef with his fellow MCs is not going in on another of his rap peers, he's branching out and adding another book to his résumé titled "Playground."

Unlike his previous literary efforts — which focus on his life story and the rules of power — this time he's aiming at a teen audience with a semi-autobiographical novel about bullying. According to a statement from the book's publisher, the first-person novel is slated for release in January 2012 and will tell the story of a 13-year-old schoolyard bully "who finds redemption as he faces what he's done."

50's latest book will follow his best-selling 2005 printed debut, "From Pieces to Weight," an autobiography that told his gritty tale of rising from street-level drug dealing to multiplatinum superstardom, and 2008's "The 50th Law," a book about success written with "The 48 Laws of Power" author Robert Greene.

"I had a strong desire to write 'Playground' because I wanted to explore how a kid becomes a bully," 50 said in a statement announcing the book. "I drew on events from my own childhood and adolescence, but was excited to see the story take on its own life. This book would have been very helpful for me growing up and now that I have a teenage son, it is my goal that this will have a positive influence on all teenagers."

Though his statement alludes to his own experience with bullying as a teen, 50 has a well-established reputation as an adult for starting beef with other rappers, including Ja Rule, Shyne, Fat Joe and even his rumored ex, Ciara, sometimes resorting to bully-type tactics to get his point across. In 2009, he took aim at DJ Khaled by making a video in which he appeared to secretly film the producer's mother, which occurred at the same time that he was feuding with Rick Ross, threatening to release a book by the mother of Ross' son and posting pictures of himself with a woman who was involved in a paternity case with Ross.

He even appeared to take shots at his own label, Interscope, recently, making good on a threat to release his new single, "Outlaw," independently after failing to reach an agreement about when the new tune would hit airwaves.

What do you think of 50 writing a book for teens about bullying? Tell us in the comments!

Related Artists

My Morning Jacket 'Sad' Over Scrapped 'Muppets' Tour

Posted: 19 Jun 2011 11:01 PM PDT

MMJ were tapped to tour as real-life Electric Mayhem band, a dream trek that was cut at the last minute.
By James Montgomery


My Morning Jacket's Patrick Hallahan and Tommy Blankenship
Photo: MTV News

My Morning Jacket embarked on a rather remarkable run of shows late last year, beginning with a five-night stand at New York's Terminal 5, where they played their entire studio discography. That momentum continued with a spate of festival gigs, most notably a triumphant mainstage set earlier this month at Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee.

But for all of their onstage success, it's the one tour they didn't embark on that haunts them to this day ... a planned series of shows where they would have doubled as Dr. Teeth's backing band, Electric Mayhem.

For those not in the know, Mayhem is, of course, the rock band made famous on "The Muppet Show," a ragtag bunch of musicians — lippy Janice on lead guitar, Sgt. Floyd Pepper on bass, the mysterious Zoot on sax, and noted smasher Animal behind the drum kit — fronted by the irrepressible Dr. Teeth (who, it should be noted, is probably not an actual M.D.). And in the lead-up to MMJ's new Circuital album, the band was in very real negotiations with the folks at the Walt Disney Company (who acquired rights to the Muppet brand in 2004) to record new music for Electric Mayhem, with a full-blown tour to follow.

"It all started when we were working on a Muppets project. ... We were going to be the band behind the Electric Mayhem band," bassist "Two Tone" Tommy Blankenship told MTV News. "And so we had started demoing songs at [frontman] Jim [James'] house; two of them ended up on the record, that were kind of Muppet-y, a little wacky. 'Wonderful,' 'Out of My System' and 'Friends Again.' But then that project fell through. And, man, that was a shame."

Of course, My Morning Jacket eventually compartmentalized their disappointment, and finished Circuital instead. And though they're currently on the road in support of the album (and will be for the foreseeable future), they'll truly never forgive Disney for killing the tour of their dreams.

"It's so sad though ... they were going to release an Electric Mayhem album, and they wanted us to be the band, and then we would go on tour, and they would have all these animatronic Muppets, and we would, like, be behind the stage playing," drummer Patrick Hallahan explained. "As much as I love Disney's history, cutting that project — and it doesn't have to be us, it could've been any band — that visual would've been amazing."

Should Disney revive MMJ's Electric Mayhem tour dream? Tell us in the comments!

Related Artists

Sean Kingston Looks Healthy, Slender In New Twitpic

Posted: 19 Jun 2011 10:28 PM PDT

'Beautiful Girls' singer also thanks fans for 'all the prayers and support' in first tweet since jet-ski accident.
By Rob Markman


Sean Kingston in his TwitPic
Photo: TwitPic

A picture speaks a thousand words and on Sunday night, Sean Kingston spoke volumes when he sent a picture of himself, from what appeared to be his hospital bed via Twitter.

Kingston, who was rushed to the hospital on Memorial Day Weekend after a jet-ski accident in Miami, was first said to be in critical condition before he was moved to the ICU days later. On Sunday, however, the "Beautiful Girls" singer looked a lot better in a photo he posted, in which he's sporting a fresh haircut and holding up two fingers. "Feeling a lot better! GOD IS GREAT! Thanks for all the prayers and support! Love you ALL!" he tweeted.

MTV News reached out to Kingston's publicist, who could not provide any more information at press time. What we do know is that Kingston was riding his jet-ski with a female passenger, Cassandra Sanchez, when he crashed into the Palm Island Bridge at approximately 6 p.m. ET on May 29. Kingston and Sanchez were rescued by an off-duty Coast Guard employee who told TMZ that the pop star was "puking up blood out of his mouth." Another witness told the gossip site that he noticed a gash under Kingston's chin after the crash.

Sanchez was released from the hospital with minimal injuries, while two unnamed sources told CNN that SK suffered a broken jaw, fractured wrist and water in his lungs. Earlier this month, a Kingston rep told MTV News the singer was "aware of what is going on around him" and that he was "sedated but fully conscious."

Now, Kingston's twitpic and message has provided further comfort for his fans. JASZ_mine tweeted, "So happy that sean kingston is feelin way better now. God bless you always sean. We love you C."

"Just saw a picture of Sean Kingston. He lost weight and looks like he's doing good," DoyinAudrey tweeted, while Bieber fans also sent their well-wishes via the social-networking site. "So happy Sean Kingston is doing a lot better now," IBieberLead wrote.

Share your get-well wishes for Sean Kingston in the comments.

Related Photos Related Artists

Clarence Clemons Remembered By U2, Coldplay, Slash

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:45 AM PDT

Chuck D and guitarist Tom Morello also tweet kind words about late Bruce Springsteen sax player.
By Gil Kaufman


Clarence Clemons
Photo: Scott Halleran/ Getty Images

The rock world paid tribute to late Bruce Springsteen foil Clarence Clemons over the weekend, following the great saxophone player's death on Saturday.

Among the biggest names honoring the towering figure known as "The Big Man" were U2, who tipped their hats to Clemons on Saturday at the end of their gig at Anaheim's Angel Stadium during their encore performance of "Moment of Surrender." Singer Bono asked the audience to remember Clemons by holding their glowing cell phones up and said, "This is a special moment we want to share with you right now. Let's take the lights down, take out your phones. I want you to think about the beautiful, symphonic sound that came out of one man's saxophone ... I want you to think about Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, brothers. I want you to think of Clarence Clemons. This man just carried music, and music carried him until this day."

Bono, a master of rock-and-roll toasting, ended the touching remembrance by singing a few verses of the legendary Springsteen tune "Jungleland," which featured a memorable solo from Clemons. Reading from a sheet of paper, Bono recited the blue-collar bard lyrics in his Irish brogue as if reading the roughneck poetry of a New Jersey Yeats, as guitarist the Edge played some chugging guitar chords behind him.

Also paying homage were Coldplay, who posted a video of the E Street Band performing "Jungleland," with a message from singer Chris Martin, who wrote, "RIP our favorite saxophone player, Clarence 'Big Man' Clemons."

Twitter lit up with a number of tips to Clemons, including Public Enemy leader Chuck D, who wrote simply, "R.I.P. Big Clarence"; former Guns 'N Roses guitarist Slash, who called Clemons "one of the finest musicians/people in this business"; and the Fray, who tweeted, "Sad day. R.I.P. Clarence Clemons. You will be missed."

Springsteen was among the first to weigh in on the loss of his close friend and longtime musical partner in a blog on his official site that read, "Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band."

The love for Clemons came from wide and far and included Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, who tweeted, "The Great Clarence Clemons. Thank you so much Big Man for sweetening the sound of our planet with your sax and your soul."

Clemons died on Saturday at the age of 69 of complications from a stroke suffered last week. In addition to playing on 20 albums in Springsteen's catalog, Clemons also played with artists ranging from Jackson Browne to Ringo Starr and most recently Lady Gaga. He's also appeared in films like "New York, New York" and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," as well as TV shows like "The Wire" and "The Simpsons."

Share your memories of Clarence Clemons in the comments below.

Related Artists

Britney Spears Takes Down Paparazzi In 'I Wanna Go' Teaser

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:17 AM PDT

Spears sashays around NYC knocking out photogs with her microphone in the video, which debuts Wednesday.
By Jocelyn Vena


Britney Spears in her "I Wanna Go" video
Photo: Jive

It's been a while since Britney Spears decided to take down the paparazzi in one of her music videos (see "Pieces of Me"). In a new teaser for her "I Wanna Go" clip, a fit and smiling Spears is seeking ninja-like vengeance against her biggest enemies: the paparazzi and their prying lenses.

In the 30-second tease of the Chris Marrs Piliero-directed video, set to officially drop on Wednesday, Spears stands on a Los Angeles soundstage that's set to look like New York City and surveys the scene. She's standing atop a taxi, while cameramen surround her from all angles. Wielding a microphone, the singer whips it around like a weapon, knocking the paps from their positions.

These scenes are intercut with Spears standing alone and singing into that same microphone, wearing the T-shirt depicting a skull with Mickey Mouse ears from the single's cover art.

Spears tweeted out some stills from the video as well. In one, she's seen walking down a city street past an NYPD cop car. In another, with her hair undone and wearing a tight red shirt and lots of necklaces, she poses in profile up against a wall, lights flashing around her.

Sneak peeks of the "I Wanna Go" video seem to prove that the visuals will certainly match the song's reckless-abandon lyrics about busting loose from the confines of life, regardless of the consequences. She sings, "Lately I've been stuck imaginin'/ What I wanna do and what I really think, time to blow out/ Be a little inappropriate 'cause I know that everybody's/ Thinkin' it when the lights out/ Shame on me/ To need release/ Un-uncontrollably."

Related Videos Related Artists

Paul Oakenfold Makes <i>Never Mind The Bollocks</i> For Dance Purists

Posted: 19 Jun 2011 10:17 PM PDT

Dance music pioneer also opens up to MTV News about kicking off third year of his Sin City residency at the Palms.
By Adam Stewart


Paul Oakenfold
Photo: MTV News

As a Las Vegas dance music pioneer, Paul Oakenfold has blazed a trail for a city that revelers have recently coined the "new Ibiza." But according to the U.K. DJ/producer, it was just a matter of time before the American club scene took a bite out of Sin City.

"We're all aware of the big change with electronic music in America. At the time, [three years ago], I was looking at taking a residency in America. I looked at New York and Los Angeles, but I felt Vegas was the place," Oakenfold told MTV News when we visited him in his Fantasy Suite at Vegas' Palms Hotel. "I always saw Vegas in the same respect as I saw Ibiza: young, fun people wanting to have a really good time, coming to this place from all over America and the world, letting their hair down and enjoying themselves. That's really the premise of what Ibiza was and still is; people going on vacation and having a great time, and that's what Vegas is."

As Oakenfold enters the third year of his residency at Rain nightclub, the dance icon is also gearing up for the iTunes release of his latest mix compilation album, Never Mind the Bollocks ... Here's Paul Oakenfold (an apparent nod nod to the 1977 Sex Pistols album), featuring cuts from Daddy's Groove and Little Mark, Infected Mushroom, a compilation with Marco V and a flurry of remixes under Oakenfold's Perfecto and Perfecto Fluoro imprints.

"In anything you do you need a balance. It's really important for me," he said of Bollocks, which caters to the underground sound that made Oakenfold a staple in the club scene. "My artist album, Pop Killer, is focused on more mainstream," he said of the record due to drop in early 2012. "It's playing to American beats with great songs and great singers."

The upcoming Pop Killer will feature the likes of Cee Lo Green, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Ryan Tedder of One Republic, among others. "Those collaborations fell naturally in place," he explained. "What I love about America [is that] the great song writers are here and the great singers are here. I wanted to work with those people in some way shape or form. So the idea of my album was to do cutting-edge rhythm with those collaborations. I've been very fortunate to work with those people."

But Oakenfold isn't limiting his collabos to established stars, however. In fact, he's currently grooming a young prodigy on his Perfecto label, the 14-year old KiD DJ. You read that right: 14-years-old.. While other 8th-graders are busy figuring out which sport they'll play in their freshman year of high school, KiD DJ (a.k.a. Cole) has been jet-setting back and forth to Las Vegas on the weekends, where he spins alongside one of the legends of dance music at one of the country's hottest venues.

"He DJs on two iPads!" Oakenfold said of the young phenom, who isn't even old enough to hang out at the clubs at which he performs. "He comes in with his parents, plays for one hour — there's no alcohol in the DJ booth — and as soon as he finishes, he's whisked out! Then Mr. Patró n comes out," he laughed. "This kid is talented."

Fans can catch Oakenfold this summer on Saturday nights at Rain. Never Mind the Bollocks hits on iTunes July 15, with a two-disc set to follow on July 27.

Related Artists

'Hobbit' Casts Evangeline Lilly In New Role

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:04 AM PDT

Former 'Lost' star will play new character Tauriel, the Woodland Elf, director Peter Jackson says.
By Josh Wigler


Evangeline Lilly
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Evangeline Lilly already had a strong connection to Middle-earth thanks to her former relationship with "Lost" co-star Dominic Monaghan — better known to Tolkien fans as "Lord of the Rings"' very own Merry Brandybuck, of course — but now she's strengthening those ties all on her own.

Lilly is the latest addition to "The Hobbit," director Peter Jackson announced on his Facebook page over the weekend. The actress, who starred on "Lost" as fugitive-turned-adoptive-mother Kate Austen throughout the show's six-season run, will play "a new character" in the two-part "Lord of the Rings" prequel, which is slated to hit theaters in December 2012 and December 2013.

"Evangeline Lilly will be playing a new character — the Woodland Elf, Tauriel," Jackson revealed of her casting. "Her name means 'daughter of Mirkwood' and, beyond that, we must leave you guessing! (No, there is no romantic connection to Legolas.) What is not a secret is how talented and compelling an actress Evangeline is; we are thrilled and excited she will be the one to bring our first true Sylvan Elf to life."

Jackson also announced that Barry Humphries has joined the cast as the Goblin King.

"Barry is perhaps best known for his business and social connections as the longtime manager of Dame Edna Everage," he wrote. "He has also been an ardent supporter of the rather misunderstood and unfairly maligned Australian politician Sir Les Patterson. However, in his spare time, Barry is also a fine actor, and we're looking forward to seeing him invest the Goblin King with the delicate sensitivity and emotional depth this character deserves."

These are just the latest developments in a string of recent casting moves on the "Hobbit" front. Last week, Jackson filled out two of the story's most important roles, Smaug the Dragon and Bard the Bowman, with actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Luke Evans, respectively. It's a "Sherlock Holmes" reunion for Cumberbatch, whose onscreen Watson, Martin Freeman, holds the titular role in "The Hobbit."

Check out everything we've got on "The Hobbit."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Related Photos

Amy Winehouse Cancels Dates After Disastrous Belgrade Show

Posted: 20 Jun 2011 06:12 AM PDT

Despite recent trip to rehab, singer seemed intoxicated at Serbian music fest.
By Gil Kaufman


Amy Winehouse (file)
Photo: Getty Images/ Dave Hogan

Even after going to rehab, troubled singer Amy Winehouse can't seem to get her act together. The 27-year-old, who has been plagued by substance abuse issues for much of her career, has canceled a series of European appearances after a disastrous kick-off show on Saturday at Belgrade, Serbia's Forest Fest.

Appearing unsteady on her feet and seemingly drunk — after reportedly showing up more than an hour late — Winehouse repeatedly left the stage during the 90-minute performance, seemed to forget the lyrics to many of her songs, dropped the mic, clutched at her stomach and face at points and reached out to hug her bandmates as fans booed the woozy set. To make matters worse, she addressed the disgruntled crowd of 20,000 by saying, "Hello, Athens."

Video of the set shows Winehouse to be glassy-eyed and nervous as catcalls interrupt her erratic vocals during what the local Serbian press described as a "scandal" and a "disaster."

On Sunday, Winehouse canceled planned appearances at festivals in Turkey and Greece. "Despite feeling sure that she wanted to fulfill these commitments, she has agreed with management that she cannot perform to the best of her ability and will return home," her spokesperson explained in a statement. "She would like to apologize to fans expecting to see her at the shows but feels that this is the right thing to do."

The disastrous show came just weeks after Winehouse entered an alcohol rehab program, according to People, and British reports claimed that alcohol had been banned from the 12-date tour.

The singer has reportedly been working on the follow-up to her Grammy-winning 2006 breakthrough, Back to Black, but no release date has been announced for the disc.

Related Artists
Diposting oleh computer game di 05.19

Tidak ada komentar:

Posting Komentar

Langganan: Posting Komentar (Atom)