MTV News |
- Justin Bieber Says Sean Kingston's 'Spirits Are High'
- Greyson Chance's Debut Album 'Very Real'
- 'Twilight' Studio Takes Legal Action In 'Breaking Dawn' Photo Leak
- 'Glee' Star Darren Criss 'Dreams' Of Meeting Daniel Radcliffe
- Justin Bieber Visits Recovering Sean Kingston In Miami
- Evanescence's 'What You Want' Video: Go Behind The Scenes Now!
- Jay-Z Shuts Down Kanye West Feud Rumors
- Kings Of Leon Cancel U.S. Tour
- 'Dark Knight Rises' Won't 'Disappoint Fanboys,' Tom Hardy Says
- Masspike Miles Brings Jazz Influence To Rick Ross' MMG
- Sean Kingston Will Talk Recovery On 'MTV First'
- 'Cowboys & Aliens' And The Box Office: A Summer Battle
- Laidback Luke Plans For Big 'Natural Disaster'
- Shark Week Begins With Andy Samberg's 'In Your Face' Shark Officer
- Jay-Z And Kanye's <I>Watch The Throne</I> Countdown Begins!
- Meek Mill Nabs Spot On MTV Jams' Fab 5
- 'Dark Knight Rises' Set Pics Show Bane, Batman In Action
- Drake Recruits Stevie Wonder For <i>Take Care</i>
- Kings Of Leon Reschedule Show After Caleb Followill's 'Heat Exhaustion'
| Justin Bieber Says Sean Kingston's 'Spirits Are High' Posted: 02 Aug 2011 03:53 AM PDT On tonight's 'MTV First: Sean Kingston,' Beiber talks about his 'Eenie Meenie' collaborator's accident recovery.
Over Memorial Day weekend, Sean Kingston was seriously injured in a headline-making jet-ski accident. In the months since the crash, the "Beautiful Girls" singer has been recovering in Miami, where he lives and where the accident took place. He's been getting help from pals like "Eenie Meenie" collaborator Justin Bieber, who said the recovering singer is doing much better.
"His spirits are a lot higher," Bieber explained to MTV News in an interview that will air tonight (August 2) on "MTV First: Sean Kingston." "He still has to have people around him to make sure he's doing alright, but his spirits are high, and he's doing well." Bieber also talked about his recent visit to Kingston's home in Miami. "I was just down in Miami," he said. "We were just hanging out at his house, kicking it, driving around Miami and whatnot. It was a lot of fun. I got to relax and take time off." During "MTV First: Sean Kingston," the chart-topping artist will talk about his recovery from the near-fatal accident and his plans to get back in the recording studio. The special is set to air tonight (August 2) at 7:57 p.m. ET on MTV, then continue for 30 minutes on MTV.com. Fans can submit questions for Sean through MTV.com or via Twitter (using @MTVNews/ hashtag #AskSean). Sean will open up to host Sway Calloway about the cause of the Memorial Day accident and go into detail about the various medical procedures he underwent to treat his injuries. The singer will also speak candidly about how the accident helped him to focus on living a healthier lifestyle, and, of course, we'll find out what's up next for the star in his music career. Share your questions for Sean Kingston in the comments section below or tweet us @MTVNews using the hashtag #AskSean. Related Videos |
| Greyson Chance's Debut Album 'Very Real' Posted: 02 Aug 2011 03:53 AM PDT YouTube sensation opens up to MTV News about just-released Hold on 'Til the Night, guest-starring on 'Raising Hope.'
Greyson Chance's debut album, Hold on 'Til the Night, is finally in stores. The singer's debut mixes his love for Brit pop (à la Coldplay), vintage pop-rock (like Journey) and confessional pop (in the style of Taylor Swift) — all music that has inspired the long-simmering record.
"I'm a little nervous, I'm a little anxious to just get it out, but I'm just so excited. I've been working on this for a year now," he told MTV News on the phone as he prepped for the album's release Tuesday (August 2). "And I'm just so excited for my fans to hear the finished, full versions of every song on the record, and I hope they enjoy it. "When we first started recording, and what was so great about it and made it authentic and real, was that we had no limits," he added. "It was really cool to not have a set-in-stone genre and lyrical message. I'm very excited because it's a very real record." Two singles into the album, fans will finally get the chance to hear all the songs just the way Chance always imagined they would sound. And he's most excited for fans to hear the album's final track. "I'm very excited for the fans to hear 'Take a Look at Me Now,' and this song is just so important to me because it was basically when I was writing the song, I was basically thinking, 'I am screaming this out to all those people who doubted me,' " he said. "It's one of those types of inspirational songs that I get my inspiration from." Chance's rise to fame has been quick. He went from an Ellen DeGeneres- and Lady Gaga-approved YouTube sensation to a legitimate pop singer almost overnight. And the transition hasn't been unnoticed by the 13-year-old. "It's a total culture shock: I never expected that by putting [a performance of Gaga's] 'Paparazzi' on YouTube that it would lead to this," he explained. "It's so crazy, and I'm so lucky for the platform that I have and the amazing fans out there who kept on watching the video and wanted me as an artist." August is also a big month for Chance because he will turn 14 and will also tape his small-screen acting debut. "It's a very exciting time to be me," he said, laughing. "I'm so excited for the record. For my birthday, I'm actually going to be filming 'Raising Hope.' I'm going to be guest-starring on that TV show, and I'm very excited for it." Are you excited for Greyson Chance's debut album? Tell us in the comments! |
| 'Twilight' Studio Takes Legal Action In 'Breaking Dawn' Photo Leak Posted: 01 Aug 2011 03:52 AM PDT Summit Entertainment alleges a group in Argentina is behind leaked images.
When Robert Pattinson asks, he receives. Summit Entertainment released a press release Monday (August 1) announcing that it has tracked down some of the alleged people responsible for leaked images from the upcoming "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" and has taken legal action.
In the release, the production company said the March leak came from the town of Posadas in northern Argentina, but since there may be more people involved, the investigation is still ongoing. Specifically, Summit is identifying Daiana Santia as allegedly being involved in the group that stole the images and footage. Civil action has been filed in the U.S. and Argentina, while criminal action has also been filed in Argentina. The images released were from Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward's (Pattinson) honeymoon scene and some of the final shots of the flick when Bella transforms into a vampire. When MTV News caught up with Pattinson shortly after the incident occurred, he was obviously very annoyed by the whole situation. "It's just ridiculous. I literally can't believe that it happened," he said. "I want the 'Twilight' troops to mobilize, all the good fans, and find out who these little sh--s are and just hack into their computers and destroy them. ... I'm being genuinely serious, 'Twilight' fans." Summit hired law firm Keats McFarland & Wilson LLP to search four continents (North America, South America, Europe and Australia) to find the people behind what director Bill Condon called a "deeply upsetting" experience. Summit Executive Vice President David C. Friedman released a statement in the press release about the situation, saying that a strong fan community should not result in property theft. "While we very much appreciate the legions of committed fans of the franchise and encourage them to create community online, we cannot ignore that property was stolen," he said. "It is not fair to the majority of fans that want to see the final chapter of the 'Twilight Saga' film franchise fully realized by the filmmaker and dedicated cast and crew to have these images out and available on the Internet." In the earlier MTV News interview, Pattinson said the people involved in the incident could not even be considered fans. "It's raw footage; it's not even what people are going to see," he said "Why do this maliciously? You're not a fan. You're just a di--." 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 |
| 'Glee' Star Darren Criss 'Dreams' Of Meeting Daniel Radcliffe Posted: 01 Aug 2011 05:12 AM PDT Criss will take over for the 'Harry Potter' star in Broadway's 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.'
"Glee" castmember Darren Criss is taking his show-choir skills to Broadway, replacing Daniel Radcliffe in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." The actor will have a three-week gig starting January 3 when the "Harry Potter" star departs the production, the Al Hirschfeld Theatre confirmed to Entertainment Weekly. Rumors have been swirling for weeks now that the spot would go to Criss, who has never before appeared on Broadway. But as recently as last week, the job was still up in the air.
"Right now, honestly, I'm just trying to get my head screwed back on," he told MTV News at San Diego Comic-Con. "I've been traveling around a lot, and who knows what the future holds? But if that's something, who knows, that'd be great." Criss first made a name for himself with "A Very Potter Musical," which he created with his production company, Team StarKid. In it, Criss plays Harry Potter, and even though he made an appearance at the "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1" NYC premiere last year, he has never met the man behind the Boy Who Lived. "The fake Harry Potter has not met the real Harry Potter," Criss revealed at Comic-Con. "Only in my dreams, and that's probably as close as I'll ever get." Those dreams might come true now that Criss will need to begin preparing for his stint in "How to Succeed." There will likely be some sort of torch-passing moment from Radcliffe to Criss, and maybe even a resurgence in fans' hope to see the two Harry Potters perform together at some point. "If they saw Dan and I do a number, I think ears would bleed," Criss said at the "Deathly Hallows, Part 1" premiere. |
| Justin Bieber Visits Recovering Sean Kingston In Miami Posted: 01 Aug 2011 03:24 AM PDT Bieber's interview will air Tuesday on 'MTV First: Sean Kingston.'
Justin Bieber was spotted in Miami over the weekend hanging out with his pal, former tourmate and "Eenie Meenie" collaborator Sean Kingston. MTV News caught up with the teen star Sunday when he landed back in Los Angeles to see what he and his pal were up to. "I was just down in Miami," he told us for an interview set to air during "MTV First: Sean Kingston" on Tuesday night. "We were just hanging out at his house, kicking it, driving around Miami and whatnot.
"It was a lot of fun," he added about hanging out with Kingston, who is recovering from a headline-making jet-ski accident. "I got to relax and take time off." During "MTV First: Sean Kingston," the chart-topping artist will talk about his recovery from the near-fatal accident, which occurred near his home in Miami, and his plans to get back in the recording studio. The special is set to air Tuesday at 7:57 p.m. ET on MTV, then continue for 30 minutes on MTV.com. Beginning today (August 1), fans can submit questions for Sean through MTV.com or via Twitter (using @MTVNews/ hashtag #AskSean). Sean will open up to host Sway Calloway about the cause of the Memorial Day accident and go into detail about the various medical procedures he underwent to treat his injuries. The singer will also speak candidly about how the accident helped him to focus on living a healthier lifestyle, and, of course, we'll find out what's up next for the star in his music career. Share your questions for Sean Kingston in the comments section below or tweet us @MTVNews using the hashtag #AskSean. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Evanescence's 'What You Want' Video: Go Behind The Scenes Now! Posted: 01 Aug 2011 03:01 AM PDT MTV News visited the Brooklyn set of the clip, which Amy Lee says shows 'the real us.'
BROOKLYN, New York — Last Saturday, on a makeshift stage inside a cavernous (and slightly decrepit) Brooklyn warehouse, Evanescence took another step down the comeback trail: shooting the video for "What You Want," the first single off their upcoming self-titled album.
Teaming with director Meiert Avis — who's made iconic clips for the likes of U2, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan (to name just a few) — the band and an army of their die-hard fans braved the sweltering temperatures and worked long into the night. They filmed a video that, like much of the forthcoming Evanescence album, is biographical, following them from their early days to their rise to fame and their recently concluded hiatus. ... And beyond, as frontwoman Amy Lee explained. "This video is sort of, like, the history of the band," she told MTV News. "This club [set] is emulating old shows we used to play in the beginning — we used to play this club called Vino's in Little Rock [Arkansas] — it's sort of like back then, the gritty, dirty club, sweaty. And basically, it's also [about] New York, where I've been, [and] where [bassist] Tim [McCord] lived in the past few years since we've been gone. And it's sort of about escaping New York and ... coming back out into the world." Like the song, the "Want" clip is a bit of a departure for Evanescence, eschewing the dark fantasy worlds they've created in previous videos in favor of good old-fashioned realism: the blood, sweat and tears that not only took them to the top, but have fueled their current comeback, too. Which is why, no matter how hot it got, or how many takes Avis shot, the band kept answering the bell, thrashing and wailing onstage, with Lee throwing herself into the outstretched hands of their fans, some of whom had waited nearly 10 hours just to be included in the video. It seems that, for pretty much everyone involved, "What You Want" was more than just another music video. It was a labor of love. "This is more a personal video. We've done a lot in the past that [were] very 'fantasy,' and this is sort of the real us," Lee said. "I just wanted to do something that really felt personal for a change. Obviously, I'm wearing crazy makeup, and that's not my everyday, but, you know, I want ... to connect with the fans again. We all do. We miss them. A lot of this record is about them, and that's why they're going to be here and be in it, too." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Jay-Z Shuts Down Kanye West Feud Rumors Posted: 01 Aug 2011 03:15 AM PDT 'Of course there are times when we're in the studio, we're yelling, but that's about it,' Jay tells New York's Hot 97.
Watch the Throne is still a week away from being released on iTunes, and there are already reports of infighting between Jay-Z and Kanye West.
On Monday morning (August 1), the New York Post's Page Six reported that Hov and Yeezy are "barely speaking to each other," feuding over the particulars of their upcoming tour. Unnamed sources told the Post that Kanye wanted to spend upward of $400,000 per show on a flashy set during the duo's upcoming Watch the Throne jaunt and the more frugal Jay-Z was against it. Well, Hov swung through New York City's Hot 97 later Monday and told radio host Angie Martinez that things weren't as they seemed. "I kinda want to spend a gazillion dollars. They got it backwards, but it's all good," Hov said with his trademark laugh during the interview. "I know that we're doing something right now. When I woke up to all that, I was like, 'Oh yeah, we must be really hot right now.' " Jay made it clear that Kanye is his "brother," and that relationship does come with some brotherly tension. "Yes, we get on each other's nerves, but that's part of pushing each other. We push each other. The people who have a problem with Kanye or myself are the people that are complacent in life," he said. "People don't like to be pushed. It's, like, annoying. It's a thing when people are pushing you to be greater, and we push each other to be greater. So of course there are times when we're in the studio, we're yelling, but that's about it." Aside from the occasional argument, Jay dispelled any notion of things getting physical — and if they did, he said the world would never know. "I would never disrespect that man. I have so much respect for him. Put my hands on him?" Jay questioned rhetorically. "And if I did, it would be like the backyard, like brothers, and you would never hear about it." What do you think of the Jay/Kanye feud rumors? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kings Of Leon Cancel U.S. Tour Posted: 01 Aug 2011 01:12 AM PDT 'The band is devastated,' a statement to MTV News reads.
After cutting a show short in Dallas on Friday night, the Kings Of Leon have announced plans to scrap the remainder of their U.S. tour. "We are so sorry to say Kings of Leon are canceling their entire US tour due to Caleb Followill suffering from vocal issues and exhaustion," reads a statement from the band to MTV News. "The band is devastated, but in order to give their fans the shows they deserve, they need to take this break." The band had planned to reschedule the Dallas show, where frontman Caleb Followill had fallen ill, and had to postpone a Saturday night gig in Houston. But now it seems even those plans have also been shelved. "Unfortunately, the US dates cannot be rescheduled due to the band's international tour schedule," the statement continues. "Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase. Tickets purchased online or via phones will be automatically refunded." For now, Followill will get the rest he seems to need. The band will kick off the next leg of the tour next month but also a bit later than originally planned. "The band will resume touring in Canada at the Rogers Center in Vancouver, BC, on September 28th," the band further announced. "That show was originally scheduled for September 14th." While Followill's illness has been cited as the official cause for the delayed and canceled dates, KOL bassist and Caleb's brother, Jared Followill, cited some internal issues as a cause for the tour hiatus as well. "There are internal sicknesses & problems that have needed to be addressed ... I can't lie," he tweeted. "There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade." Share your well-wishes for Caleb Followill in the comments below. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Dark Knight Rises' Won't 'Disappoint Fanboys,' Tom Hardy Says Posted: 01 Aug 2011 01:49 AM PDT His Bane is 'not the guy in Joel Schumacher's film,' Hardy tells Total Film.
The Man Who Broke the Bat is opening up about "The Dark Knight Rises." Tom Hardy, who is currently filming the final installment of Christopher Nolan's "Batman" trilogy in Pittsburgh, has been keeping mum on the subject for a while now. But in a recent interview with Total Film, the "Warrior" star opened up as much as he has to date about his role in the movie.
"I think Bane's f---ing cool so I'm really excited to play him," Hardy told the magazine. "It's not the guy in Joel Schumacher's film [played by Jeep Swenson], but it shouldn't disappoint fanboys." Set photos and video surfaced on the Internet over the weekend, showing Hardy's Bane in his full glory. In addition to showing off a clear look at Marion Cotillard's Miranda Tate, the "Dark Knight Rises" pictures showed Hardy's Bane and Christian Bale's Batman in the middle of a heated battle that could occur at the climax of the flick. But will he be the villain to literally break Batman in "The Dark Knight Rises"? Hardy won't tell. "All I can say is that Chris has a plan up his sleeve that's not at all disappointing. And that is a definite choice that's watertight in every respect," he teased. Check out brand-new photos from the set of "Dark Knight Rises." When MTV News caught up with Hardy at San Diego Comic-Con, he was unwilling to even talk about his opinion of the movie's recently released trailer. After giving a convoluted answer about being a person and how nice it is to see people happy because "it's a lot better than seeing them violent," he finally shared his thoughts about what fans have seen of the movie so far. " 'Dark Knight Rises' looks like it's going to be an awesome, awesome movie. I saw the trailer myself, and I am very excited too," Hardy conceded. "I should be working right now. I came to Comic-Con just to have a little look." Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Photos |
| Masspike Miles Brings Jazz Influence To Rick Ross' MMG Posted: 01 Aug 2011 02:49 AM PDT Maybach Music Group R&B singer tells Mixtape Daily about The Road Less Traveled.
Mixtape Daily: Main Pick Mixtape: The Road Less Traveled Headliner: Masspike Miles Representing: Boston Real Spit: It ain't all "Tupac Back" and "I'm a Boss" over there at Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group. Rozay's R&B singer Masspike Miles slows things down on his The Road Less Traveled mixtape.
Masspike, who hails from Boston, has been a longtime collaborator for Ross and company, but he holds his own on his latest, capturing inspiration outside of hip-hop. "The Road Less Traveled is basically a great mixture of great sounds influenced by the '60s and '70s: some great jazz musicians like Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and different people like that," he told Mixtape Daily. "I've been sitting around, driving around to jazz music for the last year and really been inspired by the changes and the sounds and different things like that." With only a few rap contributions from the likes of Torch, Smoke Bulga and Bun B, Masspike uses soothing grooves on the slow and sensual "Making Love." On "Walked Away," Miles sings of a painful breakup over an acoustic guitar track that eventually evolves with electric riffs and synth keys. Bun B raps from the heart on "Devoted," dedicating his verse to his wife in a very mature fashion. The tape's standout, "Sex Compass (Christopher Columbus)," finds Masspike Miles discovering different sexual positions with his lover, and on "I'm All Out of Love," we see the singer vulnerable with a weakened heart. The Road Less Traveled is unapologetically R&B with a street twist. "In the Hood" is a perfect example of when he blends the two. On "Hood," Masspike switches the formula and raps over a frantic track bragging about his frozen wrists and status in the game. He might have taken the less-traveled one, but ultimately the road Masspike Miles is on should lead to riches. Joints to Check For "Sex Compass (Christopher Columbus)": "This concept came about during a funny conversation that I was having with this young lady, and I basically told her I invented a sex compass after we had our experience together. She laughed, and I said, 'Wow, that's such a great record.' " For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
| Sean Kingston Will Talk Recovery On 'MTV First' Posted: 01 Aug 2011 07:32 AM PDT 'Beautiful Girls' singer will answer fans' questions and catch us up on life since his jet-ski accident on special airing Tuesday at 7:57 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com.
Sean Kingston will sit down with MTV News and our own Sway Calloway on Tuesday, August 2, to set the record straight about his headline-making jet-ski accident.
During "MTV First: Sean Kingston," the chart-topping artist will talk about his recovery from the near-fatal accident and his plans to get back in the recording studio. The special is set to air at 7:57 p.m. ET on MTV and then continue for 30 minutes on MTV.com. Beginning Monday (August 1), fans can submit questions for Sean through MTV.com or via Twitter (using @MTVNews/ hashtag #AskSean). Fans first learned of the accident that landed Kingston in a Miami hospital trauma ward during this past Memorial Day weekend. He suffered from a broken jaw, a fractured wrist and water in his lungs. Nearly four weeks after the accident, the "Beautiful Girls" singer tweeted a photo of himself from what looked like his hospital bed. He was released in late June. Recently, Kingston has been slowly getting back to work, turning up onstage with Nicki Minaj on July 24, and shooting a music video with Iyaz, Travie McCoy and Soulja Boy earlier this month. On "MTV First," Sean will open up about the cause of the jet-ski accident and go into detail about the various medical procedures he underwent to treat his injuries. The singer will also speak candidly about how the accident helped him to focus on living a healthier lifestyle. And, of course, we'll find out what's up next for the star in his music career. Share your questions for Sean Kingston in the comments section below or tweet us @MTVNews using the hashtag #AskSean. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Cowboys & Aliens' And The Box Office: A Summer Battle Posted: 31 Jul 2011 11:54 PM PDT Why was alien/Western mash-up's $36.2 million debut considered a failure?
Hollywood box-office quiz time! One Steven Spielberg-produced alien flick based on an original idea hits theaters this summer, earns $35.4 million in its opening weekend and is roundly praised as proof that original ideas (those not based on board games and theme-park rides and the like) can thrive in the pop-culture marketplace. Another Steven Spielberg-produced alien flick that might as well have been based on an original idea (considering how few people had actually read the graphic novel on which it was based and how screenwriters changed everything except the title) hits theaters this summer, opens to $36.2 million during its first weekend and is tagged a major disappointment.
What gives? Well, in the comparison between the praised "Super 8" and the rebuked "Cowboys & Aliens," a lot, including budget, talent and a certain genre hybrid that just never seems to connect with moviegoers. " 'Cowboys & Aliens' arrived with big-budget Hollywood hype — the stars (Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig), the huge budget ($160+ mil), and the above-the-line pedigree (Jon Favreau, Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg)," said Jeff Bock, box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations. "On the other end of the spectrum, 'Super 8' carried none of the big production clutter, and most impressively, was made for a third of what 'C&A' cost." Projections heading into the weekend pegged "Cowboys" to gross in the $40 million to $50 million range, on par with something you'd expect from a movie based on an original idea with marquee talent on both sides of the camera. But reviews were tepid, the public has never shown a deep love for alien/Western mash-ups and, as Gitesh Pandya of Box Office Guru notes, "Cowboys" was the eleventh action movie released this summer. Its audience was also 53 percent male, leading Phil Contrino, editor of Boxoffice.com, to speculate that Universal could have tried to appeal more to women. "[Star] Olivia Wilde wasn't included in the marketing blitz as much as she should have been," he said. "Going after fanboys can be a risky bet, because it often means that you're alienating other groups." Perhaps "Cowboys" might have excelled at the box office in March, when even something like "Battle: Los Angeles" (a poorly reviewed original movie, its most recognizable face Aaron Eckhart's) was able to gross $35.6 million. Between the crowded summer calendar, the weak reviews and the unpalatable subject matter, "Cowboys" simply had too many cards stacked against it to thrive. It's likely to drop hugely in its second weekend. While hardly an outright bomb like "Sucker Punch," another original concept, "Cowboys" has stumbled enough to provide Hollywood with some valuable lessons. To begin, studios are likely to stay far away from the alien/Western concept for a while. What's more, "Cowboys" shows once again that even A-list talent can't ensure a big opening. But what "Cowboys" won't do is make Hollywood shy away from basing films on less-recognizable properties or even original ideas altogether. "Studios are already gambling on properties that are not based on recognizable properties, and most of them are big-budget sci-fi spectacles," Bock said. "Call it the 'Avatar' effect. Currently, there are nearly a dozen in production, many in 3-D. Most of them do have one thing in common: a dearth of big-name stars. Look for that trend to continue, as studios continue to bulk up the budget with SFX instead of stars." 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 Related Photos |
| Laidback Luke Plans For Big 'Natural Disaster' Posted: 01 Aug 2011 12:36 AM PDT The 'Turbulence' producer lays out his strategy for his next single with Example, and another with Wynter Gordon.
Veteran Dutch producer Laidback Luke is known for leveling some of the most explosive live sets in the business, as was certainly the case last month, at the main stage of Boom, Belgium's Tomorrowland Festival. Luke dropped his rendition of Kanye West's, "All of the Lights," "Timebomb" (with Jonathan Mendelson) and crowd favorite "Turbulence," his hit single with Steve Aoki and Lil Jon.
In the pantheon of Laidback Luke bangers, according to the producer himself, "Turbulence," ranks among the greats. " 'Turbulence' is one of the harder tracks I've made," Luke told MTV News just before his set at Tomorrowland. "Steve is a big influence in that. When we made it, I could see him doing his stage dive and taking shirts off. And for me, when I play that track in my set, it's definitely a peak. I'll be jumping myself too, not taking shirts off or stage-diving, but Steve definitely adds up the energy for me." With Tomorrowland now behind him, Luke has big plans for the rest of the year: He's linked up with British singer Example for a whopping single called "Natural Disaster," the instrumental mix of which is out already (and the version with Example's vocals has leaked online too). Judging by the TL crowd's response to the song as his set-opener, it certainly makes sense that Luke and Example are hoping to do more with it. " 'Natural Disaster' is doing really well for me right now," Luke said. "We are shooting a video soon, looking at treatments right now. We have a couple of young directors we are looking at, so it's gonna be great." And after the success of his remix of Wynter Gordon's "Dirty Talk" last year, he may come to New York to shoot the video for another collaboration with her. "Wynter came through with a video concept for, 'Speak Up,' " the producer explained. "She wanted to have, like, a block party, and we are gonna shoot it where she grew up in New York." "All the focus is on, 'Natural Disaster,' for the moment," Luke added, when pressed for details on the new single. "And then we'll go full force on, 'Speak Up.' " While, like most dance music artists in the summer, he's busy touring the world in the world, but he did drop one sliver of a "maybe," EDM fans will be excited to hear: He just might be working with Steve Aoki again. "DJs are working hard this summer!" Luke exclaimed. "We'll see after the summer is done, [then] we'll do more studio time." Related Photos Related Artists |
| Shark Week Begins With Andy Samberg's 'In Your Face' Shark Officer Posted: 31 Jul 2011 10:59 PM PDT 'Saturday Night Live' funnyman serves as Chief Shark Officer for Discovery Channel's annual shark fest.
It's Shark Week, people! It's that time of year when it's too damn hot to go outside and we're all too willing to embrace a shameless and brilliant marketing ploy in which Discovery Channel devotes much of its schedule to the sharp-toothed fishies and we stay glued to the TV because the whole thing honestly is freaking badass. To wit, get ready this week for documentaries called "Shark Feeding Frenzy," "Sharkman," "Air Jaws: Sharks of South Africa" and "Top Five Eaten Alive."
Yes, the narration will be heavy on machismo, the soundtracks will veer between horror-movie strings and staccato, annoy-your-neighbors bass lines, and the whole thing will be overseen by Andy Samberg. We're not exactly sure why, and we're certainly not complaining, but the "Saturday Night Live" funnyman has been appointed Discovery's first-ever Chief Shark Officer. Tops among his awesome responsibilities, we found out during a chat with Samberg and his Lonely Islands pals this spring, is the requirement that the CSO taunt all non-CSOs. "Chief Shark Officer! In your face, other dudes!" he cracked. "We're kind of the Chief Shark brain trust on this," Jorma Taccone offered. "No, you guys haven't helped me at all on this," Samberg shot back with killer instinct. So it's Samberg and Samberg alone guiding us through the hazards and happiness of Shark Week. Can he handle the pressure? After debuting in 1987, the weeklong block of programming was watched by almost 31 million people last year — the highest-rated shark-themed week in Discovery's history. Samberg ain't scared. "I've already been in the water with sharks," he said of a trip to the Bahamas to shoot promotional material for the week. "Did you get to slap five with a shark?" Taccone wanted to know. "Yes, me and a shark slapped five!" Samberg replied. Are you looking forward to the Samberg-helmed Shark Week? Let us know in the comments! |
| Jay-Z And Kanye's <I>Watch The Throne</I> Countdown Begins! Posted: 01 Aug 2011 05:41 AM PDT With just a week to go until its long-awaited release, we look back on the yearlong journey to the Throne.
The wait is almost over. On August 8, Jay-Z and Kanye West (now collectively known as the Throne) will drop their long-awaited, full-length album Watch the Throne on iTunes as a digital exclusive, with physical retailers to follow on August 12.
It was August 2010 when Kanye first sent the rap world buzzing when he tweeted, "Me and jay bout to drop a 5 song album called 'Watch the Throne.' " By October, that five-song EP had turned into a full-length LP. West confirmed with MTV News' Sway that he and Hov were going all in. Check out exclusive photos of Jay-Z and Kanye West in the studio. "We putting out a whole album now," 'Ye said. "We had done five [songs] so far, but then a few of them kind of were out there, and I put them on my album. Sorry, Jay," he chuckled. "But we got some more, and we're going to the South of France at the end of the month to just record new ideas. But we'll probably be done with the album in a day." Things didn't quite work out as planned, or perhaps Kanye overstated things, but the recording took way more than 24 hours. Nevertheless, while on a promo run to promote his book, Jay-Z told Sway that he enjoyed working with Kanye and marveled at his growth as a beatmaker and lyricist. "This is another level of that recording," Hov said. "Because Kanye, I've seen him — really, he's like a brother to me — I've seen him from the beginning to where he is now. And to see him as a producer and to see how he's growing as a producer and as an artist, for me, on another level, it's enjoyable. I'm watching the guy that I pretty much mentored become his own guy, with his own opinion. It's fantastic." Fanatics wouldn't get their first taste of Watch the Throne until January 2011 when the duo released "H.A.M.," the Lex Luger-produced energy ball that found 'Ye and Jay trading braggadocios verses. In the end, however, 'H.A.M." wasn't the big hit that fans and pundits expected. Still, expectations for the album remained high. "There's songs on there that's making you go crazy," Swizz Beatz told MTV News of the project without revealing too much. "That album is amazing, but I have to let those guys talk about that, because that's their expression. All I can tell you is it passed the bar." Read MTV News' first impressions of the album after an exclusive listening session. Anticipation led to multiple rumors about the LP's release date. First, it was reported that Throne would drop on July 4. Instead, during the Fourth of July weekend, the LP was made available for pre-order. Soon after, an official track list was revealed on Jay's Life and Times blog. The track list confirmed that Beyoncé would make an appearance on a song titled "Lift Off," and that Odd Future's Frank Ocean would have features on "No Church in the Wild" and "Made in America." On July 20, the group allowed New York City DJ Funkmaster Flex to premiere their single "Otis" on his Hot 97 radio show. Using a sample from Otis Redding's 1966 rendition of "Try a Little Tenderness," the aptly-titled "Otis" featured the Throne rapping back and forth in eight-bar intervals, with no chorus or catchy hook to anchor the track. Five days later, the August 8 the release date was confirmed in a press release that also announced a Watch the Throne Tour, with dates still being added. Now, the world waits. With the release of Watch the Throne only a week away, fans are eagerly anticipating Jay-Z and Kanye's joint project. Can the album live up to the grand expectations that have been set for it? Only time will tell. Watch the Throne Week begins! Check in with MTV News every day until Wednesday, August 10, for exclusive content surrounding the release of Jay-Z and Kanye West's eagerly anticipated LP. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Meek Mill Nabs Spot On MTV Jams' Fab 5 Posted: 31 Jul 2011 10:57 PM PDT Maybach Music Group MC joins Big Sean and Future on list of 2011's hottest new hip-hop upstarts.
Meek Mill is just trying to live up to his name. After receiving the rap moniker "Meek Millionaire" from a deceased friend as a teen, the Philadelphia MC decided to tweak his handle — at least until his dreams become reality. "I was using that rap name when I was like 14, 15. But then, as I got older, 18, I started being in the streets. I ain't calling myself no millionaire running around the streets and I'm hurting, so I just ended up cutting it short to 'Meek Mill,' and I left it at that," he told MTV News.
Now, Meek is part of Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group and MTV Jams' 2011 Fab 5 lineup, and well on his way to the money. Conceived on MTV Jams in 2005, the Fab 5 is a collection of the year's most outstanding new hip-hop artists who have made a visual impact on the road to releasing their debut albums. Fab 5 alumni include Juelz Santana, Tony Yayo, Paul Wall, Young Jeezy, Kid Cudi, Drake and 2011 inductees Big Sean and Future. This year, MTV Jams, MTV News and Sucker Free will bring you 2011's hottest new hip-hop upstarts, and Meek Mill is at the top of the list. Locally, Mill made a name for himself in Philly thanks to his fiery freestyles and street mixtapes, particularly his Flamerz series. His early efforts caught the attention of T.I. and Rick Ross, who collaborated with Meek on his "Rosé Red (Remix)" and eventually signed the young rapper to MMG. "Before this, I ain't have nothing I was actually chasing. I was just in the street living the life," Meek said. Now, the rap rookie has a starring role on MMG's Self Made Vol.1 compilation. Mill's performances on standout tracks like "Tupac Back" and "I'm a Boss" have made the rap world take notice and, in the process, have made MM a ton of fans. "My fans love me, they love what I do. If I don't put out music for a long time, they anticipate all my mixtapes, they support me," he said. "That's why when I'm in the streets with my fans, if I can, I try to do everything that I can as far as how many pictures I take." Still, Meek insists he is a normal person and wants to live a normal life. He better soak it up while he can because things are changing quickly. "Now, Ross be calling me 'Meek Millionaire,' actually; he always be saying it on new songs we be doing," the MC said. "I ain't there yet; I should be real soon: I'm gonna get my millionaire's club membership real soon." Check back next Monday to find out who will join Meek Mill, Big Sean and Future in the Fab 5. And tune into "RapFix Live," where each artist will be highlighted. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'Dark Knight Rises' Set Pics Show Bane, Batman In Action Posted: 01 Aug 2011 09:38 AM PDT Photos of Marion Cotillard hint that her character is more than just a 'board member.'
While we've had our fair share of superhero flicks in 2011, next year is when the big boys are coming out to play, with Joss Whedon's "Avengers" and Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises" hitting theaters in the summer of 2012. After the credits of "Captain America: The First Avenger," fans got an official sneak peek at "The Avengers," and now we have our first clear look at "The Dark Knight Rises" (following an obscure first trailer), via a series of photos from the set in Pittsburgh over the weekend.
While seeing Christian Bale all suited up and ready for action isn't quite as exciting as it was the first or second time around, he's looking as hard and utterly badass as ever. Though the suit looks a little different in the clear white light of day opposed to Nolan's stylized cinematography, it's practically the same as the one used in "The Dark Knight." The real attraction in these photos, however, is the guy Batman's fighting: Tom Hardy's Bane. When Hardy was first cast in the role, there were some mixed feelings in the fan community. While he's a fantastic actor and proved that he can be terrifyingly menacing in "Bronson," even when the British thespian's all muscled up, he doesn't exactly resemble a humongous Latino man. And in the previously released photo of Bane, we only saw his hulking form from behind. Those concerns should be put to rest with these photos, however, because while Bale's Batman clearly has the height advantage on Hardy's Bane, there's also a fantastic shot of the shorter, stockier actor overpowering the Dark Knight himself as snow flurries around them. We're a little disappointed that the character is lacking Bane's singlet and lucha mask, but the more military-influenced attire fits perfectly into Nolan's Batman universe. The photos also give us a clear look at Marion Cotillard's Miranda Tate. While she's been described as a "Wayne Enterprises board member," it looks like her character will also see some action, prowling the streets with heavily armed men and even climbing on top of the "Tumbler" Batmobile. Batman's ride has received a makeover, eschewing the classic black for a paint job that looks a lot like desert camouflage, which raises questions about how it will fit into the fake snow-covered landscape of Gotham City (or Pittsburgh, for that matter). Take a look at the photos yourself and make sure to tell us about anything significant we might have missed in the comments below! Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Photos |
| Drake Recruits Stevie Wonder For <i>Take Care</i> Posted: 01 Aug 2011 08:46 AM PDT 'We actually are writing together, which is an incredible experience,' Drake says of collaboration.
Drake has some pretty cool friends. During this weekend's OVO Music Festival in Toronto, the Young Money spitter brought Lil Wayne, Nas, J. Cole, Rick Ross, The Weeknd and 22-time Grammy winner Stevie Wonder to rock in his hometown. After the show, Drizzy Drake confirmed to MuchMusic that Wonder will be appearing on his upcoming Take Care album. The news came on the same day that the rapper released the LP's first official single, "Headlines." "He helped me out with a lot of the music, just came and sat with me, listened to my music, told me where I could add a couple things to make it more sonically appealing, and not only that but we actually are writing together, which is an incredible experience," Drake said of his collaborations with the Songs in the Key of Life singer. In the interview, Drake described Wonder as a "very close friend" who has embraced him early in his career. And the elder singer was more than happy to join Drake onstage in Toronto. "So I hit him, asked him to come by, and with no hesitation he hit me back like, 'I will be there.' Not only that, but he was supposed to do two songs and he did like six," Drake told the Canadian television network. "It was incredible." While fans await Take Care's October 24 release date, Drake has been releasing possible album cuts through his October's Very Own site. First was the lyrical stream of consciousness "Dreams Money Can Buy," which he dropped in May. Then there was "Marvins Room" a month later, which, like "Dreams," the rapper described as a piece of his "story." On "Trust Issues," a track the YM soldier released on his blog in June, the rapper interpolated portions of his chorus on DJ Khaled's "I'm on One." While both "Marvins Room" and "Trust Issues" find Drake singing for much of the time, on the Boi-1da and Noah "40" Shebib-produced "Headlines," Drake spews out rap bars over a synthy affair. He starts off, "I might be too strung out on compliments, overdosed on confidence/ Started not to give a f---, and stopped fearing the consequence," and then gets super-cocky when he drops, "Soap opera rappers, all these n----s sound like 'All My Children'/ And that's who you thinkin' is 'bout to come and make a killin'?/ I guess it really is just me, myself and all my millions." It remains to be seen whether Drake will release any of his Stevie Wonder collaborations before the album's October release date. Are you excited to hear Drake and Stevie Wonder together on a track? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| Kings Of Leon Reschedule Show After Caleb Followill's 'Heat Exhaustion' Posted: 01 Aug 2011 08:20 AM PDT Announcement came after Friday show was cut short when Followill abruptly left the stage.
The Kings of Leon were forced to bring a Friday-night show in Dallas to an abrupt end after frontman Caleb Followill complained of voice problems and then told the crowd at the Gexa Energy Pavilion, "I'm gonna go backstage and I'm gonna vomit. I'm gonna drink a beer and I'm gonna come back out and play three more songs." Followill then left the stage and never returned, leading his bandmates to apologize to the crowd, saying, "Caleb's just a little unfit to play the rest of the show. ... It's really not our fault, it's Caleb." Immediately following the incident, KOL bassist Jared Followill took to his Twitter account to further apologize and hinted at a growing strife within the band, writing, "There are internal sicknesses & problems that have needed to be addressed ... I can't lie. There are problems in our band bigger than not drinking enough Gatorade." In YouTube footage of the Friday show, Caleb Followill is seen engaging the crowd in several lengthy diatribes, urging them to help him sing the words because his voice was "100 percent gone," and adding, "I'm gonna drink some beer and I'm gonna drink some tequila and I'm gonna have a f---ing good time." He also made repeated references to the heat, saying, "Just for the record, I'm not drunk, I'm just f---ing hot. ... I'm about to fall down over here, because I'm so daggum hot." In the aftermath of the Dallas show, the band announced they were postponing a Saturday concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston, claiming that Followill was suffering from "heat exhaustion and dehydration ... [which caused] his vocal chords to seize." The Houston show was rescheduled for September 22, and the band said they would return to Dallas on September 21 and that all tickets from the aborted show would be honored. "Kings of Leon apologize to their fans for any inconvenience this may have caused and look forward to seeing their fans again in September," the statement concluded. There's no word on whether the band's Tuesday show in Tampa would go on as scheduled. A spokesperson for the band did not have any additional comment when contacted by MTV News. Related Artists |
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