MTV News |
- Amy Winehouse Tribute Special To Air Tomorrow On MTV
- 'Avengers' Star Clark Gregg Backs Marvel TV Show
- Patrick Stump's 'This City' Video: Go Behind The Scenes Now!
- Kelly Rowland Means Business With <i>Here I Am</i>
- Amy Winehouse's Death Leaves Questions About New Music
- Amy Winehouse Autopsy Inconclusive
- 'Breaking Dawn' Stars Bond Over Game Nights, Grocery Shopping
- Britney Spears 'Completely Flattered' By Two VMA Nominations
- Adele Says Amy Winehouse 'Paved The Way For Artists Like Me'
- Nicki Minaj, Ricky Martin To Rep For MAC Viva Glam
- 'Cowboys & Aliens' Will 'Exceed' Fans' Expectations
- Jay-Z, Kanye West Announce <i>Watch The Throne</i> Release Date, Tour
- Ninjasonik Ditch The Swords And Masks On Latest Mixtape
- Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried Explain What Happens 'In Time'
- 'Ant-Man' Movie Wouldn't Just Be For 'Avengers' Experts, Director Says
- J. Cole Opens Up About Jay-Z Collaboration
- Britney Spears Adds DJ Pauly D To <i>Femme Fatale</i> Tour
- Amy Winehouse Producer Mark Ronson Remembers <i>Back To Black</i>
- 'Amazing Spider-Man' Star Andrew Garfield Says Peter Parker 'Is Everybody'
| Amy Winehouse Tribute Special To Air Tomorrow On MTV Posted: 26 Jul 2011 04:45 AM PDT Tune in Wednesday, July 27, at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT for a rarely seen Winehouse performance filmed at MTV's Times Square studios.
In celebration of the life and musical legacy of Amy Winehouse, MTV will reach into its vaults and air an intimate performance from the singer, taped in 2007, when she stood on the verge of superstardom.
The rarely seen set — filmed in MTV's Times Square studios as part of the "45th at Night" live series — features Winehouse and her Back to Black backing band, the Dap-Kings, working their way through searing and soulful renditions of the songs that would soon become her biggest hits: "Rehab," "Back to Black," "Me & Mr. Jones" and "You Know I'm No Good." A collaboration between Winehouse and rapper Mos Def on the song "Love Is a Losing Game" will also be included in the broadcast. The performance will air on MTV on Wednesday, July 27, at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT, and will be available immediately afterward on MTV.com. Winehouse, the British belter who rose to international fame thanks to her defiant hit "Rehab" (and the near-constant tabloid coverage of her personal life that followed), was found dead in her London home on Saturday, a grim discovery that quickly sent shockwaves through the music industry and had many scrambling to find the right way to sum up a career that burned so brightly ... and was extinguished far too soon. In the time since her body was discovered, London police announced that an initial autopsy failed to reveal the cause of Winehouse's death and that additional toxicology tests were needed. Those tests could take two to four weeks to complete. Related Videos Related Photos |
| 'Avengers' Star Clark Gregg Backs Marvel TV Show Posted: 26 Jul 2011 03:53 AM PDT 'S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Coulson really lend themselves to a TV show,' actor says about his 'Iron Man' and 'Thor' character.
Though you might not know him by name, if you've seen many of Marvel's recent superhero flicks, chances are you'll recognize Clark Gregg. The actor plays Agent Coulson in three Marvel movies — "Iron Man," "Iron Man 2" and "Thor" — and will reprise the role in next summer's "The Avengers."
Coulson is one of the few prominent roles in Marvel's expanding cinematic universe that isn't based on a pre-existing comic book character. Appearing first in "Iron Man," Coulson is an agent of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, better known by the acronym S.H.I.E.L.D., and has been seen trying to wrangle both Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark as well as Chris Hemsworth's Thor, with a bureaucratic demeanor frequently played for laughs. In an interview with MTV News, Gregg discussed the future of his silver-screen character in regard to some future television appearances. "It's been revealed today that I'm already doing 'Ultimate [Spider-Man],' " the actor explained, "which is about Spider-Man and a couple other soon-to-be-released Marvel superheroes who are hiding out undercover in a high school in New York, and Agent Coulson is hiding out as their principal, keeping an eye on them and taking things way too seriously." Even more exciting, however, was the mention of a potential future television show focused on S.H.I.E.L.D., the premiere global peacekeeping force in the Marvel Universe — like an international "X-Files" for superheroes. While a S.H.I.E.L.D. series hasn't been formally announced, the idea clearly appeals to Gregg. "In a lot of ways, S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Coulson really lend themselves to a TV show because it's normal people," Coulson said. "It's real people dealing with extraordinary things." Would you watch a S.H.I.E.L.D. television series? Tell us below! Check out everything we've got on "The Avengers." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. |
| Patrick Stump's 'This City' Video: Go Behind The Scenes Now! Posted: 26 Jul 2011 03:53 AM PDT Clip for the first single off the Fall Out Boy frontman's Soul Punk album is a decidedly minimal affair.
Patrick Stump realizes that his new single is called "This City," and, because of that, you're probably expecting the video to be filled with sweeping shots of skyscrapers, bustling crosswalks and all manner of urban ephemera. Which is why he chose to include none of that in the final product — and not much else, for that matter. He wants the message of the song to stand on its own.
"There's not really a plot, there's not really a story to it," Stump told MTV News last week on the set of the "City" video. "The song's called 'This City,' and it describes a lot of these images in a city, and I feel like those images are already there; it would be kind of redundant to take a camera into a city; it's almost like the colors and the lights and the images that are going to be around this are going to be representing the life in a city." So there was nary a building to be seen on the "City" set in Glendale, California. Instead, it was just Stump performing his verses in front of several screens (Lupe Fiasco, who guests on the song, wasn't on hand), which director Ken Koller will fill with projections and colored lights. It's an artfully abstract way to present the song, one that Stump said he and Koller agreed on almost instantly. "One thing that Ken and I were talking about is that a city is so complicated, so ... we wanted to do something a bit different with it, and a bit more abstract," he said. "I mean, the treatment was really funny to look at; it was literally one sentence, like 'Patrick stands in a room and sings and we project all these images and lights on the walls.' And that was it." And while Stump admitted that Koller's bare-bones treatment freaked out his management, he stuck with it because he believes that simplicity truly makes for better art. It's a message that's taken on added significance now that he's gearing up to release his Soul Punk LP, due October 18. Because like the "This City" video, Stump would much rather prefer to let his music do the talking. "I feel like videos and stage performance, those were always natural to me — I'm a musician and that's a comfortable surrounding for me. And videos are the same way," he said. "Interviews and photo shoots and all those things have sort of been learning experiences, because they're not something that comes natural to me. It's a really weird feeling to talk about yourself all day; you have to either really like yourself or have a really great sense of irony. ... It's just a totally different thing." |
| Kelly Rowland Means Business With <i>Here I Am</i> Posted: 26 Jul 2011 03:53 AM PDT 'Motivation' singer says she admires 'artists like Chris Brown and Rihanna, who don't mind putting it all on their album.'
Kelly Rowland is proudly declaring Here I Am on her new album, which dropped Tuesday (July 26). And while she's always been a soulful R&B diva, the past few years, she's carved out a place for herself among the dancing queens of the world. And, she said, there's room for both of those characters on this latest release.
"The personalities aren't really different," she explained to MTV News. "I think what I've grown to know about my voice is, just having a voice, period, as a woman, you mean business, period — whether that's making people dance or that's making people feel in an emotional way or whatever it might be when it comes to R&B. "I think that R&B, of course, is where I'm deeply rooted, period," she continued. "I'll never go anywhere. I just happened to try something out [dance], and it worked, and that's just the part of it. And I think that's what I admire about artists like Chris Brown and Rihanna, who don't mind putting it all on their album. Who cares? It's music, and they're making it: great music. And I'm proud of that, that we do have a generation that is just making great music, period." With features from the likes of "Motivation" collaborator Lil Wayne, Big Sean and Rico Love, to name a few, Rowland also got production help from heavy hitters such as Tricky Stewart, Jim Jonsin, David Guetta, RedOne and Rodney Jerkins. "Above anything, I got to work with creative people. We were in the same pocket sonically," she explained. "And I got the chance to go back in with Rodney Jerkins, and we were just in a pocket together that ... blew me away, period. And with Red[One] too, everybody. It was so much fun. I'm so happy with the project." This album, for Rowland, was a balance of working with a new crop of producers and a familiar set of people. That combination helped her shape the many sides of herself. "Red didn't meet me, but he was like, 'I don't think you are singing at your full capacity,' " she recalled. "We got into the studio, and when we finished the two records that we did together, I just looked at him and was like, 'You get it?' He gets it. "And Rodney's been knowing me since I was 17 years old," she continued. "Rodney comes into the studio, and he's like, 'Wait a minute: What's happening [with your voice]?' It's really interesting how the two are not that far off, but they're both great ears." Share your review of Kelly Rowland's new album in the comments below. |
| Amy Winehouse's Death Leaves Questions About New Music Posted: 25 Jul 2011 02:52 AM PDT Status of her third album's release still up in the air, while her Back to Black hits #1 on iTunes.
Like so many legendary musicians who are gone too soon, Amy Winehouse left behind a small but influential catalog. The singer, who died on Saturday at age 27 in her Camden, England, apartment of as-yet-undisclosed causes, released just two albums in her lifetime and was working on a third at the time of her passing.
Her second album, 2006's international smash Back to Black, immediately shot to #1 on the iTunes album chart over the weekend, where it remained on Monday, along with a collection of B sides from that album, which was at #6 at press time. Winehouse's lesser-known 2003 debut, Frank, which was never released in the U.S., was at #3 on the iTunes album tally. Interestingly, an artist that Winehouse is credited with paving the way for, fellow English pop songbird Adele, is sandwiched in between at #3 with her global breakthrough 21. Further down the list, an iTunes Festival live album from London released in 2007 was at #47 on the albums chart, as fans seemed eager to snatch up any bits of Winehouse material they could find, as evidenced by the reentry of the singer's biggest hit, "Rehab," at #12 on the iTunes singles chart. Other singles also made their way back into the top 60, including "You Know I'm No Good" (#35), "Back to Black" (#39) and her beloved cover of the Zutons song "Valerie" (#56). What those fans likely want to know next is if they will ever hear more music from the troubled singer. Unlike Elvis, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and Tupac Shakur, who left behind a varying degree of unused or unreleased material that has been mined, repackaged and remastered for decades, it's unclear how much unheard music Winehouse had in the vaults.
She had reportedly been working on material for a Back to Black follow-up for the past two years, in sessions that ranged from England to her temporary island retreat of St. Lucia. No release date was ever set for the untitled album and her U.S. publicist told MTV News on Sunday that "there is no information on any new music at this time." Click for photos of Amy Winehouse's life and career. A number of British tabloids and newspapers provided unconfirmed tidbits about what music may be in the offing, with the The Mirror claiming that the release date for the third album was repeatedly pushed back because Winehouse was "unwilling to produce a less than perfect record." The paper also claimed that she'd recorded three albums' worth of material, while the Daily Telegraph said many of the songs were in "demo stage," with "a lot" of tunes available to choose from. Her parents will have the ultimate say on when, or if, that music is ever released. Though she made sporadic, often shambling, live appearances over the past two years, Winehouse is not believed to have performed any new songs at those gigs, though she said in July of 2010 that her third effort would be out by January of this year. "The album will be six months at the most," she said last summer, noting that the sound will be similar to the retro soul on Black. "It's going to be very much the same as my second album, where there's a lot of jukebox stuff and the songs that are ... just jukebox, really." Though she didn't explain what she meant by "jukebox" at the time, Winehouse had reportedly recorded some tracks in St. Lucia with producer Salaam Remi, who collaborated with her on four tracks from Black. She also reportedly re-teamed with producer Mark Ronson for sessions for the in-process album, but the two are said to have clashed over direction and it's unclear if any songs were completed. Ronson and Remi were among the many stars who paid their respects to Winehouse over the weekend. Will You Remember Winehouse More For Her Music Or Troubles? Tell Us on Facebook. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Amy Winehouse Autopsy Inconclusive Posted: 24 Jul 2011 11:39 PM PDT Further tests needed to determine cause of singer's death on Saturday.
It could be several more weeks before we find out what caused singer Amy Winehouse's death on Saturday at the age of 27. Police announced on Monday (July 25) that initial autopsy results were inconclusive and that additional toxicology tests were needed.
According to The Associated Press, those toxicology screens could take two to four weeks to complete. Winehouse was found dead in bed at her Camden, England, apartment on Saturday afternoon, and initial reports indicate that no drugs were found in the flat. In 2008, Winehouse's father, Mitch, revealed that years of smoking and drug-taking had resulted in his daughter suffering from the early stages of the incurable pulmonary ailment emphysema, which had scarred her lungs. Since rising to fame in 2006, Winehouse had struggled with a number of health issues and been hospitalized on a number of occasions for various ailments. Click for photos of Amy Winehouse's life and career. She also struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, which resulted in Winehouse's notoriously spotty live performance record, cemented in June by the cancellation of a planned European comeback tour after a disastrous gig in Belgrade. (Read one MTV News staffer's account of an early Winehouse show in the Newsroom.) The coroner has adjourned the inquest into the singer's death, which will allow Winehouse's family to plan her funeral, which could take place as early as Tuesday. The coroner previously said that police have found no suspicious circumstances surrounding the Back to Black crooner's death.
Winehouse's father, a cab driver-turned-lounge-singer, flew back to England on Sunday in the wake of his daughter's death and visited her Camden apartment on Monday morning. According to BBC News, he thanked her fans — who have gathered in a vigil outside the building — for their support. "I can't tell you what this means to us. It really is making this a lot easier for us," he told the gathered mourners. "Amy was about one thing and that was love. Her whole life was devoted to her family and her friends and to you guys as well." The singer's mother, Janis, and brother, Alex, also visited the site to see the collection of flowers, cards and photos that Winehouse's admirers have left. On Sunday, the family released a statement in which they said, "Our family has been left bereft by the loss of Amy, a wonderful daughter, sister, niece. She leaves a gaping hole in our lives. We are coming together to remember her and we would appreciate some privacy and space at this terrible time." Will You Remember Winehouse More For Her Music Or Troubles? Tell Us on Facebook. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Breaking Dawn' Stars Bond Over Game Nights, Grocery Shopping Posted: 25 Jul 2011 06:34 AM PDT Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz laugh to MTV News about spending way too much time at Whole Foods during 'Twilight' downtime.
Although the "Twilight" cast has wrapped filming on the franchise's two-part final chapter, "Breaking Dawn," their work together is far from over, considering the very last film won't open in theaters until November 2012 and the young actors have plenty of promotional commitments to fulfill until then.
But having spent so much time together, we wondered whether the castmembers ever get sick of one another. When MTV News caught up with Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene at San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend, we put that question to them. We also asked the two stars if they had thought about how they'll feel when it's time to say goodbye to the series. "We're never sick of each other," Lutz said. "You do a project for seven months of your life, and you're really just anxious to get home. I was really excited to see my dogs, [sleep] in my own bed. And then ... we're here at Comic-Con; we're going to be here next year. We have a lot of press and a lot of opportunities to hang out with the fans, and that's what I really look forward to," he admitted. "Playing my role of Emmett — I love doing these movies — but by no way are we saying goodbye. We have a good couple years ahead of us and, you know, it's just great to work with best friends for so many movies," Lutz continued. "We see a lot of each other and we're all blessed to be working outside of 'Twilight,' but it's nice to all come together again." Discussing how the best friends spend their downtime during filming, Lutz and Greene revealed that they geek out with board games and grocery shopping. " 'DanceDance Revolution,' Lutz said. "Hasbro sent a lot of games to Ashley and I, so we have a lot of game nights, which is fun; cook, [watch] movies." "Grocery shopping at Whole Foods," Greene added of another production activity. "Which is terrible because I spend hundreds of dollars there by the time [we finish]," Lutz admitted. "You don't understand," Greene laughed, "They knew us by name there and it was the fun thing [to do], like, 'Wanna go grocery shopping?' Because then we could cook," she explained. "Super, super cool." Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Britney Spears 'Completely Flattered' By Two VMA Nominations Posted: 25 Jul 2011 05:22 AM PDT Spears received nominations for Best Choreography and Best Pop Video.
Britney Spears is no stranger to the Video Music Awards. She has so far been nominated 28 times, won four awards and has given us some of the most iconic VMA performances of all time. Who could forget her VMA strip-down in 2000 for "Oops! ... I Did It Again," her dance with a snake for "I'm a Slave 4 U" and, of course, her infamous "Like a Virgin" kiss with Madonna?
This year, Spears looks to add to her list of VMA accomplishments with two nominations, one for Best Pop Video and one for Best Choreography for her hit Ke$ha-penned song "Till the World Ends." MTV News recently caught up with Spears and broke the news of the nominations to the pop star. "Oh my goodness, I'm completely flattered," Spears said. "That is amazing! Thank you so much for telling me. That's awesome!" Spears will tackle some pretty stiff competition in both categories including seven-time nominee Adele ("Rolling in the Deep") and four-time nominee Bruno Mars ("Grenade"). But Spears isn't concentrating on her competition, she's just happy to be recognized. "I grew up listening to MTV. It's just such an iconic thing to be able to participate in," Spears said about the VMAs. "To even be presented an award is just so flattering and I'm honored. I'm excited." Spears should be excited after such a big year. She released her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale, which reached #1 on the Billboard chart, she's currently on the road for her summer tour, and now she has two more nominations to add to her already lengthy list of awards. So does Spears ever get used to all the VMA nominations? "Oh no, you never get used to that!" she said. You can vote for general VMA categories, including Best New Artist, by visiting VMA.MTV.com or m.mtv.com on your mobile phone. In addition, you can get in on Best New Artist text voting by texting BNA to 66333 on your wireless phone. Voting continues through the show, which airs live August 28 at 9 p.m. ET. (Verizon subscribers can vote on all categories via SMS by texting VMA to 66333; standard message rates apply.) The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live on Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for your favorites in the general categories by visiting VMA.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Adele Says Amy Winehouse 'Paved The Way For Artists Like Me' Posted: 25 Jul 2011 01:01 AM PDT 'Rolling in the Deep' singer writes about being inspired by Winehouse.
A common thread in many of the stories about the death of Amy Winehouse is the huge influence the "Back to Black" singer had on a new generation of young vocalists. Many of those singers, from Jessie J to Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Kelly Clarkson have weighed in on their sadness about the passing of Winehouse at the age of 27 from yet-undetermined causes.
And while Winehouse has been mentioned as a touchstone for any number of new British pop crooners such as Duffy and Estelle, the one artist most frequently cited as a descendant of the Winehouse influence is Adele. With her smash hit 21 album, the year's fastest selling to date on the back of a massive hit single, "Rolling in the Deep," Adele is enjoying the kind of cross-over success that helped Winehouse move millions of copies of her 2006 breakthrough, Back to Black. She's clearly benefitted from the trail blazed by the "Rehab" singer and on Monday (July 25), Adele reacted to the news with a thoughtful, heartfelt blog post in which she wrote about just how important Amy was to her sound and how much her influence will be missed. Click for photos of Amy Winehouse's life and career. "Not many people have it in them to do something they love, simply because they love it," wrote Adele in a post titled "Amy Flies in Paradise X." "With no fuss and no compromise. But she knew what she was capable of and didn't even need to try. If she wanted to do something she would and if she didn't she'd say f--- off. It came easy to her and that's why we all loved her so much. We believed every word she wrote, and it would sink in deep when she sang them. Amy paved the way for artists like me and made people excited about British music again whilst being fearlessly hilarious and blasé about the whole thing." It wasn't just her attitude and heart-wrenching lyrics that made Winehouse so special, though, Adele added. "I don't think she ever realised just how brilliant she was and how important she is, but that just makes her even more charming. Although I'm incredibly sad about Amy passing I'm also reminded of how immensely proud of her I am as well. And grateful to be inspired by her. Amy flies in paradise xx." Will You Remember Winehouse More For Her Music Or Troubles? Tell Us on Facebook. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Nicki Minaj, Ricky Martin To Rep For MAC Viva Glam Posted: 25 Jul 2011 01:57 AM PDT Artists will take the reins from Lady Gaga for the line starting in February 2012.
Lady Gaga will be giving up her spot as the leading lady of the MAC Viva Glam campaign. After working with the company for the last two years (in 2010 with Cyndi Lauper and in 2011 on her own), Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin have been confirmed as the new faces for the makeup line that raises money for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. Martin and Minaj's campaign will launch in February 2012, and they are currently hard at work on the photo spreads for it. The stars are shooting with famed celebrity photographer David LaChappelle for the ads in Miami on Monday, a rep for the cosmetics brand confirmed to MTV News. "Viva Glam Photo Shoot. Ur gonna GAG!!!!!" Minaj wrote on Twitter. "Can't wait for my barbz & ken barbz to wear this new shade of lipstick! Wait til u see it! Sickening!!!! #VivaGlam2012." Martin and Minaj join an ever-growing list of A-list celebrities who have helped raise money for the MAC AIDS Fund through the sale of lipstick. Fergie, Christina Aguilera, Eve, Mary J. Blige and Lil Kim have all helped sell the lipstick line, which MAC started in 1994, donating every dollar of its sales to help men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. "When MAC originally started, it was truly a place for all the misfits of the world, where they could feel comfortable and know that they wouldn't be criticized," James Gager, SVP and creative director of MAC, said earlier this year of the company. "We've always been all about welcoming everyone into our universe." Related Artists |
| 'Cowboys & Aliens' Will 'Exceed' Fans' Expectations Posted: 25 Jul 2011 05:48 AM PDT Director Jon Favreau tells MTV News there's much more to the movie than the 'silly' title may suggest.
When news broke that "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau had wrangled two of the biggest names in the action-movie business — Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig — to star in his intriguing genre mash-up "Cowboys & Aliens," that and a compelling premise proved to be enough to send scores of fanboys online seeking advanced tickets.
But though there's lots of early buzz from the marquee names associated with "Aliens" (mega-watt producers Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard are also onboard), Favreau recently admitted to MTV News that he felt pressure to deliver something extraordinary for fans. "Of course, with Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg [producing], I'm in real good hands," Favreau said about overcoming the challenges of establishing just the right tone for the movie. "I learned a tremendous amount from them, and I think when you cast Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig — with 'Bond' and 'Indy,' those are two franchises that are fun but not silly," he added about Craig's 007 and Ford's "Indiana Jones" series. "And I think that if people take a clue from who I cast in the film as to how it's going to play, it's a good indicator," he explained. Favreau went on to say that there's far more to the film than what the title suggests. "I think [moviegoers] hear the name 'Cowboys and Aliens,' it sounds kind of silly, but it also sounds compelling and interesting," he said. "So if they give it a chance, they'll see it's a fun movie, it's an exciting movie, and I think it's going to exceed their expectations." Check out everything we've got on "Cowboys & Aliens." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Jay-Z, Kanye West Announce <i>Watch The Throne</i> Release Date, Tour Posted: 25 Jul 2011 07:30 AM PDT Hip-hop duo is calling itself the Throne.
Throne watchers now have another date to focus on, this time an official one. It has finally been confirmed that on August 8, Jay-Z and Kanye West will release their highly anticipated joint LP, Watch the Throne, digitally on iTunes. Compact disc lovers will be able to purchase physical copies a few days later on August 12.
But when searching for the CD at local retail spots, fans shouldn't look under "J" for Jay or "W" for West, but rather "T," as the duo has officially christened their group the Throne. Multiplatinum hip-hop supergroups cannot live by album sales alone, so on August 8 tickets for the Watch the Throne tour will also go on sale to the general public. The 24-date Live Nation-produced run will begin in Detroit on September 22 and wrap up on November 3 in Boston. Performing songs from the Throne album, as well as solo cuts from their respective catalogs, the duo will stop for two dates in Kanye's hometown of Chicago, but none in Jay's native New York. Instead the tour will hit the nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey, Izod Center on September 27 and 28. Starting July 28, fans who visit the Live Nation website will have access to pre-sale tickets; the next day, July 29, Citi Card members will get their chance to snatch up early seats. A press release sent out by Hov's camp also confirms an official 12-song track list, with four bonus tracks slated for the LP's deluxe version. RZA, the Neptunes and Kanye himself all contribute to the production side of things, while Beyoncé, Frank Ocean and Mr Hudson make guest appearances. There is a sampled posthumous performance from 1960s soul singer Otis Redding on the aptly titled "Otis." The previously released "H.A.M." doesn't appear on the album proper but instead is earmarked as a Watch the Throne bonus on the deluxe version. Watch the Throne tour dates: »September 22 - Detroit, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills |
| Ninjasonik Ditch The Swords And Masks On Latest Mixtape Posted: 25 Jul 2011 03:32 AM PDT 'No Swords or Masks is our strongest body of work,' Telli tells Mixtape Daily.
Mixtape Daily Main Pick Artist: Ninjasonik Representing: New York Mixtape: No Swords or Masks Real Spit: Combining influences from punk, electro and hip-hop, Ninjasonik bring together a multitude of sounds on their latest mixtape, No Swords or Masks, out July 27.
The group, led by rappers Telli and Ben "The Bartman" Robey, exemplify their eclectic sound on the tape's lead single, "Mosh Pit." Sparse rhymes are chanted over the Partysquad-produced, riot-inducing cut while the song's electric hook ("Jump in a mosh pit, break your neck") is sure to get crowds riled up. The tape's other selections are just as kinetic, especially the sped-up "In and Out." "We come from a mixed-genre place, and one of our places is the electronic world, where we go 100-something [beats per minute] and better," Bartman said of the group's penchant for riding super-fast beats. "140 bpm over songs and we just rap at accelerated rates, and this is one of the records that we use to showcase that ability." "No Swords or Masks is our strongest body of work, consisting of original songs that express every aspect of what Ninjasonik represents," Telli said in a press release issued to Mixtape Daily. "We tapped into so many genres of music, really giving a fresh perspective on hip-hop." Joints to Check For "In and Out" - "It's to really let people know that we're here and we aren't going nowhere. Really we get to display our lyrical aggression and talent and how we ride the beat," Bartman said. "Billion Quid" - " 'Billion Quid' is just talking about being yourself and feeling good, feeling rich. Quid is a lot of money. I ain't talking U.S. dollars," Telli said. For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out . Related Artists |
| Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried Explain What Happens 'In Time' Posted: 25 Jul 2011 02:08 AM PDT What if 'we had the potential to live forever and we looked 25 forever?' Timberlake explained of the movie's plot.
Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried have done what every person in Hollywood strives to do: stop the aging process. In their new sci-fi flick "In Time," directed by Andrew Niccol, the actors' characters shake up their futuristic society, where the upper crust can buy or sell the most important thing the future has to offer: time itself.
"We're all mortals and the human race needs to be structured in a way where there's no overpopulation," Seyfried told MTV News on Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con. "And we all have body clocks and when we turn 25, you stop aging, basically, and it turns off [and] then you look 25 forever. You can be however old; you can live forever if you have a lot of time." For Timberlake's character, Will Salas, his time is nearly up when he's gifted with more time by a wealthy older man. The elite, played by Cillian Murphy and Vincent Kartheiser, aren't too keen on this, and eventually, Salas kidnaps Kartheiser's daughter (Seyfried) and they go on the lam. Why is he so frantic to try to beat the clock? "If you run out of time, you have a heart attack and you're dead immediately," Seyfried explained. "It's cut-and-dry, black and white. There's the rich, there's the poor. It reflects a lot on our actual, real society." Niccol has put his signature seriously satiric stamp on the ideas of aging, something that really appealed to Timberlake. "That's something that I love that Andrew does. You take a concept like the fountain of youth, something we all seem to be obsessed with, and what would happen if we actually got it? If we had the potential to live forever and we looked 25 forever?" he said. The film features a bevy of good-looking people including Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer and Olivia Wilde, to name a few, making filming quite an interesting process that came with this note: "Everyone may look the same age, but not everyone is playing the same age." "All the actors in this film look the same age, but Matt Bomer, for instance, plays a character that's 105," Timberlake explained. "And so it really is a visual trip to watch." Check out everything we've got on "In Time." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Ant-Man' Movie Wouldn't Just Be For 'Avengers' Experts, Director Says Posted: 25 Jul 2011 02:14 AM PDT Edgar Wright says he's just completed a third draft of the script for the Marvel movie.
With "Captain America: The First Avenger" grossing over $65 million on its opening weekend and fans already buzzing about next year's "Avengers," Marvel's quickly expanding cinematic universe is as popular as ever. Now, from San Diego Comic-Con 2011 comes news that Marvel Studios might finally be moving ahead on a long-awaited release: Edgar Wright's "Ant-Man."
The "Shaun of the Dead" and "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" director has been talking about taking on Marvel's smallest superhero since at least 2007, promising a live-action film that would blend humor with action and would include two different Ant-Men: Henry Pym and Scott Lang. In the Marvel Comics source material, both characters make use of a special formula and suit that allows them to shrink, as well as a high-tech helmet that facilitates communication with ants and other insects. "Ant-Man" is said to feature flashbacks of the original hero, Pym, as well as scenes of his successor, Lang, in the present day. Now, after years of infrequent updates and stalled production, things are finally looking up for "Ant-Man." "Since February, we've done two drafts of the script, and we just handed in a third draft on Monday," Wright told MTV News. The director is co-writing the film with Joe Cornish, whose "Attack the Block" (a British alien-invasion movie starring frequent Wright collaborator Nick Frost and in theaters on July 29) was making waves of its own at Comic-Con. Apparently, some of the hold-up on "Ant-Man" was related to "Attack the Block," as the duo did not complete a second draft until Cornish was finished with his directorial debut. "The way we wrote the script is for it to be a standalone genre film," Wright said, perhaps indicating that "Ant-Man" would be less explicitly tied to the "Avengers" family of titles like "Captain America: The First Avenger," "Thor" and "Iron Man." Wright continued by explaining his desire to "create an 'in' for people so you don't have to know 50 years of 'Avengers' history to enjoy the movie." While most recent superhero adaptations have focused on Marvel and DC's "big guns," characters like Batman, Spider-Man, Superman and others, the protagonist of "Ant-Man" will be entirely new to all but the most fervent comic book fans. For Wright and Cornish, however, the freedom that comes with a lesser-known character is a large part of the upcoming project's appeal. Wright was close-lipped on who he wanted to play the part of the movie's eponymous hero (or heroes), but he did hint that he had someone in mind. Who would you like to see play Ant-Man? Let us know in the comments below. Check out everything we've got on "Captain America: The First Avenger." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. |
| J. Cole Opens Up About Jay-Z Collaboration Posted: 25 Jul 2011 02:24 AM PDT 'I finally made a song that was perfect for Jay,' J. Cole tells MTV News.
There are sure to be a few features on J. Cole's debut, Cole World: The Sideline Story, but none more anticipated than the one between him and his Roc Nation CEO, Jay-Z. Cole has been tight-lipped about the details surrounding his album, which is slated to drop September 27, but he did open up to MTV News about his and Jay's collaboration, which is still in the works.
Jay snagged the young spitter for a verse on his "A Star Is Born" track off of 2009's The Blueprint 3, and now Cole is waiting for Jigga to return the favor. He won't reveal the song's title just yet, and Jay hasn't even finished his verse, but after he made the beat for the song at his home, Cole knew he had something worthy of Hov's attention. "I actually did the song thinking I would just throw it out when I made it," the Fayetteville, North Carolina, MC said of the track, which he originally intended to offer to his fans as a free download. "I made it in my crib and I was like, 'Man I'm gonna throw something out today, or tomorrow whatever, let me do a song.' Then I started making it, and as soon as I made it, I was like, 'Oh nah, nah.' " The instrumental came out so good that Cole scrapped his original plans and immediately began to pen his rhymes. "I had already wrote the verses and I realized, 'Man, this is for Jay.' I finally made a song that was perfect for Jay," he said backstage at last week's date on Rihanna's Loud Tour. During his appearance on "RapFix Live" back in February, Cole explained to Sway the high standards that he holds for the track. "They been asking me this for a while because I said he was like one of the only rap features I wanted, but it's about the song. It's a lot of pressure on that song. I feel like that's my hardest song to make, is the one I want Jay for. My standards are so high," he said. In an effort to hold on to album details as long as he can, Cole wouldn't say much more about the song, but did reveal that he left a message for his fans buried in the track's hook. "When people hear the hook, it's kind of like a message — I could be talking to a woman, to my girl, or to my fans or to friends," he said. "But it's really a subliminal message to my fans in that hook." Related Artists |
| Britney Spears Adds DJ Pauly D To <i>Femme Fatale</i> Tour Posted: 25 Jul 2011 12:48 AM PDT 'Britney is one of my favorite performers and certainly one of this generation's most influential artists,' 'Jersey Shore' star says.
A while back, there was a rumor that "Jersey Shore" star DJ Pauly D would be an opening act on Britney Spears' Femme Fatale tour. That rumor can now be confirmed as true. Pauly D will open for the singer on six of her August tour dates. He's set to hit the road with Spears on August 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before his jaunt with her wraps on August 25 in Charlotte, South Carolina. "I am so excited to be performing on the Britney Spears Femme Fatale tour," he said in a statement. "Britney is one of my favorite performers and certainly one of this generation's most influential artists. It's an amazing platform to connect with my fans around the country." Spears currently has several artists opening for her, including Jessie and the Toy Boys, Nervo and Nicki Minaj. Pauly D served as Spears' warm-up act at her gig in Las Vegas in March, where he spoke to MTV News about her influence on pop music. "What it means to DJ a concert like a Britney Spears concert or something like that, it's an association with monsters like Britney Spears and it just legitimizes your career," he explained at the Palms Hotel and Casino, where Spears electrified the stage just days before she dropped her album. "And it's just fun being onstage with Britney Spears performing like she's performing. I love it. I couldn't ask for more." And if fans are expecting Pauly to DJ some of the singer's greatest hits, they'd better think again. "A DJ should not play the artist's songs at her concert 'cause she has to perform these songs," he said. "I'm not going to be playing any Britney before she performs; maybe after. I'll let her perform, let her shine 'cause it's her night." DJ Pauly D will join Britney Spears' Femme Fatale tour on the following dates: »August 17 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena |
| Amy Winehouse Producer Mark Ronson Remembers <i>Back To Black</i> Posted: 24 Jul 2011 11:49 PM PDT 'Before that came out, there was nothing else on the radio that sounded like it,' producer told MTV Radio last year.
Last year, when Mark Ronson was in New York doing press for his upcoming Record Collection album, he couldn't avoid questions about Amy Winehouse and her long-in-the-works follow-up to 2006's Back to Black album.
But to his credit, Ronson happily answered each and every one and, in the process, had a moment to reflect on not only the success of Black, but on the rather seismic shift it created in pop music. Of course, in the wake of Winehouse's death on Saturday, Ronson's words took on newfound meaning. Because no matter how Winehouse is remembered, her music will always be her lasting legacy. "I am really proud of the sound of Amy's record, and, it's hard to remember, but before that came out, there was nothing else really on the radio that sounded like it," Ronson told MTV Radio in August 2010. "And then it kind of influenced things and became quite regular to hear something that would sound like that. I don't think there's anything that was as good as it, or as raw as Amy's vocals and her songs." Ronson also spoke about how the duo planned on following up Back to Black, pointing to a then recent session he had just completed with Winehouse — a cover of Lesley Gore's "It's My Party" that appeared on Quincy Jones' Q: Soul Bossa Nostra album — as a possible hint at things to come. And despite the fact that he had spent most of his time trying to distance himself from the crackling retro leanings of Black, he knew that, when he worked with Winehouse, the best way to proceed was to keep things simple. "If Amy's record had sold 300,000 copies and mine had sold 100,000 as opposed to significantly more than that, we'd probably both be quite happy coasting along doing the same sound. ... [A]nd that's a sound that I'm genuinely fond of; but the fact that it did get so big sort of forced me to change it up," he said. "But who knows, because Amy and I recorded a song quite recently for this Quincy Jones tribute record; we did a cover of Lesley Gore, and there was no point in dragging my Roland synths into an Amy Winehouse session. There's a kind of production arrangement that supports her voice. ... And after coming off my record, where the main edict was 'No covers, no horns,' to go back and cover a Lesley Gore song with the Dap-Kings and Amy felt like regressing a bit, but it wasn't, because it just sounds good and that's what she's supposed to sound like." Ronson also talked about the expectations Winehouse was facing with the follow-up to Black, expectations he thought were impossible to manage. And, in doing so, he struck a tone that seems eerily prescient in retrospect. "First of all, we're in a situation where the record industry basically loses about 10 percent in sales every year, so she's five years between records, and if you're talking numbers-wise, then no, [she] probably [won't sell as many records]," he said. "But I still think she's fully capable of writing another batch of brilliant songs and making a great record, and hopefully Salaam [Remi] and I will be involved in it because I think we all made a great record together last time. But you can never really count on anything being a given, so we'll see." Related Photos Related Artists |
| 'Amazing Spider-Man' Star Andrew Garfield Says Peter Parker 'Is Everybody' Posted: 25 Jul 2011 09:49 AM PDT Garfield and Emma Stone discuss their take on the flick's iconic characters at Comic-Con.
When "The Amazing Spider-Man" took Comic-Con by storm over the weekend, much of the buzz was about the movie's trailer and our first glimpses of Spidey in action and villain-to-be Curt Connors. But when MTV News sat down with stars Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, we got a little more touchy-feely and asked for more insight into how they decided to approach their much-beloved characters.
"I've always loved this character, and I've always loved the base essence of this character," he told us on Saturday. "And I feel like this character is everybody. It doesn't belong to me; it doesn't belong to you; it doesn't belong to him, her or he or she." Garfield said that the nerdy-in-real-life/kick-butt-in-spandex hero has given him "so much reassurance over the years," that the character has incredible importance for him. "There's so many elements that I care about. One of the elements that I was interested in was doing something with his physicality," he continued. "I wanted to be as if the venom from the spider bite was doing something specific to his DNA." While Spider-man goes through some crazy changes, Peter was easy for Garfield to figure out. "He's everyone. He goes through the same struggles that all teenage boys go through," he said. "It's impossible to not relate to." Though she's aware Gwen Stacy's history on the page, Stone said a lot of her approach to the character was "instinctual" and based on her reaction to Garfield's Peter. "I think, from the beginning, the attraction between Gwen and Peter is pretty apparent, and that just kind of intensifies throughout the course of the movie," she said. "Gwen really relates to the story through Peter. And I don't want to give too much away with that, but she's ... sweet." Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man." 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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