MTV News |
- Lady Gaga Captures 'True Spirit' Of 'Yoü And I' In Video
- Red Hot Chili Peppers Nervous To Play <I>I'm With You</I> Live
- Anne Hathaway Talks Pressures Of Adapting 'One Day'
- Christopher Mintz-Plasse Recalls Crashing Car On 'When I Was 17'
- 'Conan The Barbarian' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know
- Lady Gaga's VMA Promo: Go Behind The Scenes!
- 'Breaking Dawn' Photos Tease One Hot Honeymoon
- Jared Leto Warns Fans Of Stage Collapse At Belgium's Pukkelpop Fest
- Lady Gaga To Open The 2011 VMAs
- <i>Watch The Throne</i> Track-By-Track Breakdown
- Lady Gaga's 'Yoü And I' Video: A Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet
- Kreayshawn Didn't 'Intentionally' Dis Rick Ross
- Anne Hathaway 'Surprised' Fans With 'One Day' Accent
- Gavin DeGraw 'Feeling Much Better' After Attack
- The Red Hot Chili Peppers At Mecca (Of The Western Sports World)
- Big K.R.I.T. Explains <i>Live From The Underground</i> Album Title
- Anne Hathaway's 'Dark Knight Rises' Prep: YouTube Cat Videos?
- J. Cole Debuts <i>Sideline Story</i> In New York
| Lady Gaga Captures 'True Spirit' Of 'Yoü And I' In Video Posted: 18 Aug 2011 06:24 AM PDT 'It's meant to be slightly linear and slightly twisted and confusing, which is the way that love is,' she says during 'MTV First: Lady Gaga.'
Lady Gaga fans were treated with a very special gift Thursday (August 18), when the Lady herself graced MTV's former "TRL" headquarters for the television premiere of her "Yoü and I" video, followed by a live, lengthy and revealing Q&A with MTV News' Sway Calloway and a roomful of her most dedicated Little Monsters.
Speaking about the video, Gaga touched on several of the complex and layered metaphors in the clip, such as her various personas (male, female and non-human), wearing her mother's wedding dress, the symbolism for some of her more intense life experiences, as well as the inspiration for the song. "I wrote the song about this guy that I used to date," she revealed, which drew surprised reactions from the fans in attendance, many of whom have assumed that Gaga was still involved with bartender beau Luc Carl. "But the song is about going back to anyone or anything in your life that means something to you. Nebraska [the video's location] is the center of it all," she said. "For me, it was all about capturing the true spirit of song, which is when you're in love, you'll be willing to walk and do the craziest and most inconvenient things you can possibly imagine. The video is quite complex in the way that the story is told, and it's meant to be slightly linear and slightly twisted and confusing, which is the way that love is." Lady Gaga makes her big VMA announcement: She's opening the show! Two of those twisted elements are Gaga's performances as a mermaid and male alter ego Jo Calderone. One fan cheekily asked, "How do you have sex with a mermaid?" "Well, that's actually part of what the metaphor is — you can't," Gaga answered with a slight smile. "Sometimes in love, you can't make it work. No matter what you do, there's this giant boundary between you and someone else. So that's what it's about, perceiving in your imagination that there's something magical inside of you that you can make it work." Speaking of Calderone, the Lady described the man as a bad boy who is not to be trusted. "He's really hot. It's so weird, because I'm usually really funny about men, but he does something to me," she said, speaking of her alter ego as a personal acquaintance. "He took me out this one time when we first met, and he's really fresh. I was really happy he wanted to be in the video and to model. He's really fresh, though. He's a bad boy, you know."
Two other fan questions led to lengthy and fascinating reveals from Gaga. One asked if the wedding dress she wears in the clip is actually her mother's. "Yeah, that's my mom's dress. It's so funny, because when I was younger, I hated my mother's wedding dress," Gaga admitted. "I would always say, 'Mom, why don't you have a long train and a tiara? I don't understand.' ... I remember I was about 13 or 14 when I fell in love with my mother's wedding dress. I asked her if I could use it in the video, because the love my mother and father have shared for almost 30 years now is what I hope to have someday." Finally, when asked to explain the significance of the ice-cream truck in the beginning of the video, Gaga revealed that it is about very specific and painful childhood memories. "I've talked about some of it before with all of you: I had a lot of really intense experiences when I was younger, some of which I have shared with you and some of which I haven't. The ice-cream truck represents all of the destruction of my youth at a very young time in my life," she explained. "So while walking down the road to find love, the memories of the destruction of my youth sort of get in the way. That's how I wanted to open the video, because I think it really sets up the rest of the story. It allows you to imagine you yourself are not just one person; you're so many. That person has so many stories and memories to draw from, and they all affect your journey profusely. I'm battered quite brutally at the beginning of the video, but at the end, I'm not battered; I'm a bit strange. It's not meant t to be an answer video; it's meant to be a profuse number of the question." And that's just the beginning of what Gaga revealed during her lengthy chat with Sway. Check back with MTV.com for more about the video, her VMA performance plans and more. 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 |
| Red Hot Chili Peppers Nervous To Play <I>I'm With You</I> Live Posted: 19 Aug 2011 03:53 AM PDT Anthony Kiedis says he's concerned about 'not having enough days to practice.'
When MTV News sat down with legendary Los Angeles punk-funk icons the Red Hot Chili Peppers on Wednesday, they talked about a lot of things very confidently — their new video, fond memories of L.A.'s Forum, pygmy scientists and the state of music videos today. But the one thing they were clearly nervous about was the upcoming tour in support of their new album, I'm With You.
It's not performance anxiety: that much you can tell from the loose vibe of the just-unveiled "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" video. The Chili Peppers have seen millions of faces over the past 28 years, and rocked them all (or at least 99.9 percent of them). No, it's the challenge of playing the new songs from the album in front of their adoring fans without enough time to get them into fighting shape. Also, they're planning to play the new album in its entirety, top to bottom, on tour. Regarding his concerns about performing the songs, singer Anthony Kiedis said, "Not having enough days to practice. It's very dynamic, so we really have to focus on letting each song exist unto itself with all of its beauty. There's a lot going on." How did Flea's hour-long bass groove turn into "Rain Dance Maggie"? The band wrote a lot of new material for their 10th studio album, and while Flea said the tunes that made the final cut are not necessarily better than those left on the floor, "it was important to us that each song stood on its own emotionally and aesthetically, that held its own spot," he said. "So we really have a lot of territory to cover in terms of emotional [ground]." Besides, the simple fact is they're new songs and the group — including new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer — just don't know them as well as classics like "Give It Away" and "Under the Bridge." They've done some of the requisite prep work, according to Kiedis, who said a string of three club shows before their recent Summer Sonic fest headlining set in Japan helped loosen up the muscles. "Maggie" director Marc Klasfeld explains how the "simple and iconic" video was made. "It was so fun ... it was wildly fun," Kiedis said of the gigs. "We really didn't know exactly what this would be like, a) because it's been a long time and b) because we now play with Josh. We felt pretty good about everything that we had done in terms of writing and recording, but no one really knew and it was just as good as one could have ever dreamt of ... It was like being 21 years old and not being able to sleep the night before a show." Check back on MTV.com for highlights from the Q&A, including the band discussing the early inspiration for their iconic videos, where they feel they belong in music history, whether Anthony Kiedis will ever join Twitter and more! Related Videos |
| Anne Hathaway Talks Pressures Of Adapting 'One Day' Posted: 19 Aug 2011 03:53 AM PDT Actress tells MTV News she saw people reading book all over London during filming.
Anne Hathaway knows you have your doubts about her, but she's ready to impress you with "One Day." The actress is no stranger to adapting well-loved literature to the big screen, having starred in "The Princess Diaries" and "Brokeback Mountain." But having to speak in an English accent and co-helm a romance novel that fans were so protective of certainly put the pressure on when she was filming "One Day."
Fortunately, the response from fans has been positive so far. MTV News caught up with Hathaway and her co-star Jim Sturgess recently, and "The Dark Knight Rises" actress said that people have received her performance in the flick positively. "I've had people come up to me who have seen it actually and they say, 'I didn't think you could pull it off.' And people feel inclined to tell me that they really had no faith in me whatsoever," she said with a laugh. "So far, it's ended with a, 'But you surprised me, and I really enjoyed your performance.' But I'm just waiting for that person to come up and say, 'Well I knew you couldn't do it.' " She added that the pressure was amplified by the fact that when she and Sturgess were filming in London, Hathaway saw people all across the city reading the book. The cover of the novel's U.K. edition is orange, and Hathaway said it would freak her out to see "One Day" so prominently featured in every bookstore she walked into. "At night, it kind of lights the streets of London," Sturgess joked. People who want to walk into "One Day" spoiler-free might not be too psyched to hear that both Hathaway and Sturgess say they prefer "ill-fated, tear-inducing" romantic films as opposed to ones that end happily ever after. That news certainly doesn't bode well for the love story between their onscreen characters. While Sturgess said he feels that way because he's "just cynical," Hathaway explained that she feels tragic romantic stories stay with a person longer. "If something's happily ever after, yay, you're happy for them, but what else do you feel about it? When something rips your guts out, you're more inclined to remember it," she explained. Check out everything we've got on "One Day." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
| Christopher Mintz-Plasse Recalls Crashing Car On 'When I Was 17' Posted: 19 Aug 2011 03:53 AM PDT The season premiere of 'When I Was 17,' also featuring Bow Wow and Colbie Caillat, airs Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on MTV.
In the new movie "Fright Night," Christopher Mintz-Plasse plays a character who's hot on the heels of a predator. It's a role in which he's had some practice. Back when he was 17, Mintz-Plasse and his friends actually played a game called "Predator." On the season premiere of "When I Was 17" this Saturday at 11 a.m. ET, Mintz-Plasse recounts how one particularly intense game ended with him crashing his car.
"When I was 17, this is a game in the valley that you play with your friends, it's called 'Predator,' " Mintz-Plasse explains. "You start at a friend's house, two people get in the backseat, and they get blindfolded so they don't know where they're going. "So, you drop them off on a corner somewhere and take the blindfolds from them. The car goes back to the house, and when that happens, that's when the game actually starts." The goal for his passengers was to find a way back to home base without getting tagged, but Mintz-Plasse wasn't about to let that happen. He decided to drive especially rough to confuse his blindfolded friends before dropping them off. But, his efforts went one step too far. "I was driving, and I like to mess with my friends, so I was really trying to get in their heads," he recalls. "And I was just jerking left and right, and then I hit the gas pedal going up a hill, and I turn the wheel, and I lost control, and the two right wheels went up. It was horrifying. It almost tipped over this way, but I grabbed the wheel and spun it back down." While his quick thinking might have helped him avoid a major accident, he still faced some damage. "As the car slammed, it just spun up on a curb and ran into a fence," he says. Luckily, everyone walked away without injuries, but his parents were less than pleased when they heard the news. "My parents were pissed," he adds. Find out whether Mintz-Plasse got to keep his car keys on the season premiere of "When I Was 17" this Saturday. "When I Was 17" — this week featuring Bow Wow, Christopher Mintz-Passe and Colbie Caillat — premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. ET on MTV. Related Videos |
| 'Conan The Barbarian' Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need To Know Posted: 19 Aug 2011 03:53 AM PDT MTV News has been with the reboot throughout its rocky road to release.
"Conan the Barbarian" star Jason Momoa hasn't actually seen the previous versions of his sword-swinging adventure — or, as he once put it to MTV News, "the Arnold stuff" — but we have clear-enough memories to know Schwarzenegger's franchise became straight-up silly after the 1982 original and was in desperate need of contemporary reinvention. Robert E. Howard's barbaric creation deserved better than a faceoff with Wilt Chamberlain in "Conan the Destroyer." Conan finally got it, with Momoa's new film hitting theaters on Friday (August 19). But there was a long and rocky path toward that theatrical release, with filmmakers joining then quickly departing the project and various Hollywood players being unable to kick things into production. Come with us on a journey called the MTV News cheat sheet, as we discover everything there is to know about the past, present and future of "Conan the Barbarian."
Forging Steel Rumors of directors and actors came and went, but in the end two men remained standing: "Friday the 13th" director Marcus Nispel, who signed up in June 2009, and Momoa, who officially nabbed the Conan role in January 2010. Lionsgate readied a March production start in Bulgaria. With just weeks until cameras began rolling, word broke that the script was getting a rewrite from "Halloween: Resurrection" scribe Sean Hood. Swinging the Sword The spring also brought looks at Momoa in character: one of him standing tall and looking buff, another of him in bloodied-up action mode. "It kind of is an origin story," Momoa told MTV News. "It's rebuilding and rebooting the franchise. It starts with his birth, what happened to his family, what happened to his father — obviously his father is killed — and him going into the pirating and the thieving and wandering and being the degenerate that he is and then usurping a throne and finding out who killed his father. It's a revenge story, with a little bit of love in there." Lang also revealed that the film would stay faithful to the source material's supernatural roots. "If you read Robert Howard — of course the 'Conan' stories and novellas — magic, supernatural plays a huge, huge part in them: fakirs and magicians and wizards all over the place," Lang told MTV News last summer. "So magic is part of that world. The magic in this film, there's a lot of it and there's a lot of action-magic as well, a lot of magical fighting." Drawing Blood "I wanted him to be like a knife," Lang told us of his character. "I wanted him, in profile, to almost disappear if possible. I actually have some photos that I am forbidden to show right now. I know there are these photos of Jason out there, this gorgeous stud of a Conan leaping around shirtless. Truth of the matter is, I kick his ass for almost two hours." An integral piece of Momoa's Conan character development was not to be influenced by Schwarzenegger's iconic performance. "I've never played a role that was played by someone else," he told us. "As an actor, to build the character, I wanted to use my imagination and be creative and use my own interpretation. ... I want to see mine and then I'm going to watch that one — back to back!" Check out everything we've got on "Conan the Barbarian." For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Lady Gaga's VMA Promo: Go Behind The Scenes! Posted: 18 Aug 2011 08:03 AM PDT 'As someone that lives halfway between reality and fantasy, so do all my friends,' pop star tells MTV News about promo's surreal vibe.
Lady Gaga's full-length VMA promo was unveiled Thursday night (August 18), the same night her "Yoü and I" video made its television premiere and she announced she'd be opening the 2011 Video Music Awards during "MTV Fist: Lady Gaga." Find out how to win a trip to the VMAs courtesy of Foursquare and MTV!
Fans got a tease of the promo earlier this week, in clips posted online of Gaga performing a new version of "Yoü and I" while taking off her bra. In the full promo, scenes of Gaga hanging out with her crew — drinking, dancing and being merry — are mixed with Gaga chilling out with a jazz band performing a slowed-down version of the latest Born This Way single. Sitting at the piano during the shoot, Gaga tells the room, "I'm so happy my friends are here." MTV News was on hand when the promo was shot, and Gaga said it's meant to give fans an inside look at what it's like to hang with the Mother Monster. "I really wanted it to be real, and I knew that MTV wanted it to be a true documentation of my life, and as someone that lives halfway between reality and fantasy, so do all my friends," she told us on set. "So I felt [it would be] an injustice to not sort of honor them in this short film that we did." It seems that living "halfway between reality and fantasy" means just having a really, really great time listening to tunes and living it up. "I brought my friends here, and we did a jazz rendition of 'Yoü and I,' and we sort of just hung out together," she said. "And played around and did what we usually do, which is be creative with one another and talk about music and art and fashion and f--- around." 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 |
| 'Breaking Dawn' Photos Tease One Hot Honeymoon Posted: 18 Aug 2011 01:23 AM PDT 'Twilight' couple, played by Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, get steamy in a new batch of stills.
Fans were already invited to Bella and Edward's "Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1" wedding, and now, new photos are giving a sneak peek at the hotly anticipated honeymoon. Chess game on the beach of Isle Esme? Check. Scantily clad swimming sessions under a waterfall? Check. Bella's realization that she's pregnant with a half-vampire, half-human baby? Absolutely. Summit certainly didn't skimp with this round of stills, which includes some of the pics featured in last week's Entertainment Weekly. Click here for steamy new photos of Bella and Edward.
Judging by the photos, viewers can expect plenty of romancing during the "Breaking Dawn" honeymoon. First, there's the moonlit naked rendezvous that was teased at Comic-Con, and these stills show off another sexy trip into the water. Kristen Stewart certainly appears to be enjoying herself in the first picture, but it looks like she and Robert Pattinson are being interrupted by an unwelcome visitor in the second. There are three other pictures of Bella and Edward being adorable, including one of the couple playing chess. It is a nod to the cover of the "Breaking Dawn" novel, which features a queen at the forefront of a chessboard. Spoiler: The queen represents Bella coming into her own in the final "Twilight Saga" installment. While one picture shows Stewart and Pattinson in their honeymoon bed, the presence of director Bill Condon spoils a bit of the excitement. Fortunately, there are other cute pictures showing them riding on a yacht to Isle Esme and then walking around the island together. The last image of the two of them shows that there's some trouble in paradise, though, as Bella clutches her stomach after realizing she's pregnant. Another photo shows Cullen siblings Alice and Rosalie — played by Ashley Greene and Nikki Reed — doing Bella's hair in preparation of her wedding. It is one of the few wedding-related images that has been shown beyond the actual wedding sequence that was teased in the trailer. The only still released that doesn't have anything to do with the couple at the center of "Breaking Dawn" is one of Reed and Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black. It's a tease for the argumentative interactions that the two characters have in the final two "Twilight Saga" films, something that became a fan-favorite part of the last of Stephenie Meyer's novels. Fingers crossed that this picture takes place while Jacob directs one of his many blond jokes at Rosalie.
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 |
| Jared Leto Warns Fans Of Stage Collapse At Belgium's Pukkelpop Fest Posted: 18 Aug 2011 03:48 AM PDT A storm knocks down several stages at festival, killing three and injuring 71.
With the tragic stage collapse at Sugarland's Indiana State Fair show still fresh in the minds of concertgoers, Jared Leto sent precaution to 30 Seconds to Mars' fans at Belgium's Pukkelpop festival on Thursday night (August 18) as a storm passed through, knocking down several stages and causing at least three deaths and 71 injuries. "CRAZY STORM AT PUKKELPOP IN BELGIUM - NOT SURE WE WILL BE ABLE TO GO ON STAGE - STAYED TUNED. SAFETY FIRST," Leto tweeted prior to his band's set. Things took a turn for the worse a mere half-hour later, when Leto tweeted, "FOUR STAGES DOWN - STILL RAINING + THUNDER IF YOU ARE HERE PLEASE BE SAFE." According to reports, Pukkelpop was hit with strong winds and rainfall at around 6:15 p.m. local time, which caused several structures and stages to collapse. Nearby trees were also uprooted, causing even more damage to the fairgrounds and hazard to the estimated 60,000 in attendance. Chokri Mahassine, the organizer of the three-day festival, told The Associated Press, "We have for now put the festival on hold until we understand the situation completely." Shortly after the collapse, the 30 Seconds to Mars frontman took to his website to send sympathy to those affected by the events. "Our deepest thoughts and sympathies to the families and friends of those who lost their lives today at the show in Belgium. We are absolutely devastated that this celebration ended in tragedy," Leto wrote. "To those that were injured we are sending thoughts and prayers. Obviously under these horrible and dangerous circumstances, and out of respect for those who have passed, Thirty Seconds to Mars will not be playing. We love you all and hope tomorrow brings a better day." Share your condolences in the comments below. Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga To Open The 2011 VMAs Posted: 18 Aug 2011 04:51 AM PDT Gaga reveals the big news alongside her Little Monsters in Times Square during 'MTV First: Lady Gaga.'
During "MTV First: Lady Gaga" on Thursday night (August 18), the Mother Monster, joined by a sea of her fans in Times Square, announced that she has the coveted spot of opening the 2011 Video Music Awards. The Little Monsters, right in the center of the hustle and bustle of Times Square, unfurled a banner that read, "GAGA TO OPEN VMAs!!!," revealing that Lady Gaga would have the distinction of kicking off the big show Sunday, August 28, when it all goes down live at 9 p.m. at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. "I have a really big announcement," the New York native told Sway, the same night her "Yoü and I" video made its television debut. "But I thought as usual, instead of me announcing it, I'd let the Little Monsters do it for me."
Gaga Gives the Real Story Behind the "Yoü and I" video. Gaga is nominated for four VMAs, including Best Female Video and Best Video With a Message for "Born This Way," as well as Best Art Direction and Best Choreography for "Judas." "It means the world to me," Gaga said of opening the 2011 VMAs. "I just feel really blessed every day. I have the most amazing fans." Lady Gaga first made VMA history back in 2009, when she appeared on the red carpet at Radio City Music Hall with Kermit the Frog as her date. That year, when she wasn't bleeding onstage during her "Paparazzi" performance, she was winning Moonmen for Best New Artist, Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects. Lady Gaga Strips Down and Gets Jazzy In New VMA Promos At the 2010 VMAs, Gaga didn't perform, but she did reveal her Born This Way album title and a few lines from the title track, taking the stage in a headline-making meat dress. She also arrived at the show in a voluminous Alexander McQueen ball gown while protesting the now-defunct "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Gaga took home eight Moonmen that night, including Video of the Year for "Bad Romance." In 2011, Gaga will certainly have fans talking again as she sets the tone for the entire show. 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 |
| <i>Watch The Throne</i> Track-By-Track Breakdown Posted: 18 Aug 2011 08:50 AM PDT Def Jam VP of A&R Bu Thiam breaks down the tracks on Watch the Throne with MTV News
Since Kanye West first announced Watch the Throne on Twitter in August 2010, the tag-team LP with Jay-Z had been shrouded in mystery. In the months leading up to the album's August 8, 2011 release, details remained sketchy. There was no loaded press run, super radio push, music video or album leaks leading up to the drop. In fact, "H.A.M" and "Otis" were the only songs released to the general public; beyond that there was nothing.
A few were in the know, like Def Jam VP of A&R Bu Thiam who, was there throughout the recording process and helped Hov and Yeezy achieve their sonic goal. "As an A&R it's a process of trying to bring out the artist's creative ideas and their visions," Thiam told MTV News of his general job function in an exclusive interview. However, when dealing with such accomplished artists like Kanye and Jay, who both have classic works under their belts, Thiam's role wasn't that of a traditional A&R rep. "When it comes to big artists like Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna, a label can't just assign you to a project like that," he said. "You can't just be like, 'Yo Kanye we're gonna have such and such be your A&R.' He's gonna be like, 'Who the f--- is that? Hell no.' So they have to really rock with you off [general principle] and that's how the whole process goes." And rock they did. From start to finish, Bu Thiam was there, lending his professional opinions, helping to build tracks and carry them from concept to a fully mixed and mastered product. There aren't too many people who can break down Watch the Throne Breakdown track-by-track, but then again there aren't many people in the game like Bu Thiam. Watch the Throne Breakdown "No Church in the Wild" featuring Frank Ocean (Produced by 88 Keys, Kanye West and Mike Dean) "Collectively [working with Frank Ocean] was both of their ideas. It was like, 'Yo this guy is incredible.' They were a fan of him prior and it was like, 'Yo we should fly him to New York to come out here.' [Frank] went in and he just went to work. That kid is incredible, man. That particular record was one take. It just was like, [sings] 'What's a king to a God.' We were actually in the room like, 'Yo he f---ing nailed it.' " "Lift Off" featuring Beyoncé (Produced by Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker and Mike Dean) " 'Lift Off' was definitely one of the earlier records [recorded for the album]. [Putting the sound effects on the record] is a process because initially a record might just be a beat, a chorus and a hook and as [Kanye] hears things he adds and takes things out." "N---as in Paris" (Produced by Hit-Boy, Kanye West and Mike Dean) "Them guys, everything they rap about is what they actually go through. So when you hear that album it's real. When Jay says, 'I ball so hard motherf---ers wanna fine me,' they gave him a fine because he took a picture with the college players at the NCAA tournament. So he got a fine for that in real life. So when you hear it you think he's braggin', but no, it's really true." "Otis" featuring Otis Redding (Produced by Kanye West) "[Kanye] was late for his flight, we were in the studio working all day and he was late for his flight. As we were leaving he was like, 'Yo hold on for a second.' So he drops his bags and goes to the MPC [beat machine] and his assistant is rushing him and he's just f----ing with [the beat]. What's so crazy is the whole time he's doing that Jay is writing his verses in his head. But Jay is watching the [NBA] playoffs, I think it was the championship; Miami and Dallas. So Jay is watching the playoffs. I'm not even thinking Jay is paying attention to what 'Ye is doing and by the time he is finished it's like 'I invented swag ...' And I'm like, 'What the f--- just happened?' " "Gotta Have It" (Produced by The Neptunes and Kanye West) "It's like a beat battle. 'Ye might play something and then Pharrell might play something. They go back and forth man and then they come to a point where they come with one beat." "New Day" (Produced by Kanye West, RZA and Mike Dean) "The energy from that was just a situation when 'Ye and Jay were talking about — because both of the guys don't have kids yet. So, it was just a conversation that they were talking about just having kids and how they're gonna raise their kids because of the success that they're having now." "That's My Bitch" (Produced by Kanye West, Q-Tip and Jeff Bhasker) "The way Jay writes records you have to really go back and listen to 'em. The way he said 'bitch' and 'dog' and then 'get ya own' like how he used the Big Pun [flow]. So you have to really go back and listen to it three or four times to be able to say anything about a Jay-Z record. Really he's bigging up his wife through the whole verse, but if you're small minded, you won't catch that." "Welcome to the Jungle" featuring Swizz Beatz (Produced by Swizz Beatz) "We were at the Mercer [Hotel in New York] and Pharrell came by, Swizz came by, Rihanna came by it was like a room full of superstars. Swizz came through with [shoe designer] Christian Louboutin — the guy! It was really that guy." "Who Gon Stop Me" (Produced by Sak Pase of the Jugganauts and Kanye West) "Verse Simmonds actually did the chorus for 'Who Gon Stop Me.' Initially if you hear the second half of that [finished] beat." The [entire] song was [originally just] the second half. The dub step factor came later on in the process. I gotta give [Kanye] all credit for that, when he came back from Paris he was like, 'Yo I added this piece to the beat.' " "Murder to Excellence" (Produced by Swizz Beatz and S1) "As much as people may think that Jay talks about money and cars, he's really not that guy. Of course he has it, but his whole mission is to build. He wants to have others join him, he's trying to build black excellence, like the black youth as the next [generation of] executives." "Made in America" featuring Frank Ocean (Produced by Sak Pase of the Jugganauts) "That's what Frank is about if you listen to his music you can tell that he's a very smart guy. We were in the studio, Jay wasn't there, 'Ye wasn't there, it was just me and Noah — one of the engineers. [Frank Ocean] was just thinking of different concepts, he was there for like eight hours, then probably like six in the morning he was like 'Sweet baby Jesus.' " "Why I Love You" featuring Mr Hudson (Produced by Mike Dean and Kanye West) "There is only so much you can do for a person. Like Jay said [in the song], 'I tried to teach n---as to be kings and all they wanted to be was soldiers.' Like that's a real line, that's how he felt. [Kanye and Jay] do get a lot of criticism in their careers and how they move and I think they just wanted to express it." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's 'Yoü And I' Video: A Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet Posted: 18 Aug 2011 12:58 AM PDT Gaga will discuss her inspirations in a live Q&A tonight, following the video's TV premiere at 7:49 p.m. ET/PT on MTV and Logo.
After Lady Gaga toned things down for her "Edge of Glory" video, she returned to her usual decadent self for the "Yoü and I" clip, a candy-colored sci-fi love story, in which Gaga takes on many shapes (mermaid, sprite, man) and lovers (mad scientist, Jo Calderone) to end up with her version of a fairy-tale ending. The video — which makes its TV premiere tonight at 7:49 p.m. ET/PT on MTV and Logo, followed by a live Q&A with Gaga on MTV.com — is a nonstop feast for the eyes that recalls many of pop culture's greatest tales. Part creepy and part romantic, the Laurieann Gibson-directed video is a fable about what happens when someone tries to create the perfect lover. Can one ever settle on what they are looking for in that special someone, be they fallen angel or mermaid? It's also about learning to accept the many sides of oneself. Lady Gaga's musical director recalls how "Yoü and I" came to be. Gaga wears many looks, plays many parts and has a few memorable dance sequences, but fans will also be watching the clip to see what pop-culture milestones are referenced in the video. So here it goes: the "Yoü And I" pop-culture cheat sheet. See photos of all of Lady Gaga's "Yoü and I" pop-culture references. Chinese Water Torture Cell: The act was made famous by Harry Houdini. During the stunt, the famed magician would be trapped inside a case filled with water and had to escape before it was too late. A similar stunt is played out in the 2006 Christopher Nolan-directed film "The Prestige," starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as rival magicians. In the video, Gaga is seen submerged in a tank filled with water in her lover scientist's barnyard lab. Drag Kings: Female performance artists who dress up like men, typically personified by male stereotypes. In this video, Gaga's Jo Calderone recalls Gwyneth Paltrow's James Dean in Kevyn Aucoin's 2001 book "Face Forward." "Edward Scissorhands": The 1991 Tim Burton-directed film starring Johnny Depp about a man created by a mad scientist to be the child he never had. In the video, Gaga's lover tries to create a love to call his own. "Footloose": Gaga and her ladies throw a dance break of epic proportions in a barn — a play right out of the 1984 Kevin Bacon-starring film about a teen who gets a small town dancing again. Go behind the scenes of a top-secret Lady Gaga shoot. Greasers: From Jo Calderone's slicked-back hair to his jeans to his white T-shirt, he is the spitting image of greaser culture made famous in '50s-set flicks like 1983's "The Outsiders" (based on S. E. Hinton's 1965 novel), 1978's "Grease" and 1990's "Cry-Baby" (another Johnny Depp flick, FYI). "Nip/Tuck": The dark FX series created by "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy premiered in 2003 before ending in 2010. It revolves around people obsessed with plastic surgery, and the video's scientist seems obsessed with performing procedures on Gaga. "North by Northwest": In the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock thriller, the film's leading man, Cary Grant, finds himself alone in the middle of nowhere standing at a crossroads. It is an image reminiscent of the opening of the video, when Gaga stands at a crossroads among the cornfields. "Pygmalion": The 1912 play written by George Bernard Shaw based on a Greek myth. In Bernard's play, Henry Higgins works to transform the lower-class Eliza Doolittle into a more refined person. It was famously made into a film in 1964 starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison called "My Fair Lady." In the video, Gaga's scientist lover works to transform her into his dream creature. "Signs": Crop circles, like the one Gaga plays her piano in, play a big part in the 2002 M. Night Shyamalan film, in which Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Abigail Breslin and Rory Culkin try to fend off aliens that have descended on Earth. Steampunk: A sci-fi subculture that offers a romanticized view of technology by making it retro. It is widely regarded that late-19th-century authors Jules Verne and H.G. Wells are the forefathers, taking then-modern technology and setting it in the steam age, a vibe mirrored in the barnyard lab. "Splash": Much like the scientist/mermaid tale in the video, the 1984 Ron Howard-directed flick is about a man, played by Tom Hanks, who falls in love with a mermaid, Daryl Hannah, who saved him from drowning as a kid. "The Little Mermaid": In 1837, Hans Christian Andersen published the story of a young mermaid who dreamed of life as a human and would do anything it takes to lose her tail and gain feet. Although the story has been retold many times, the popular 1989 animated Disney flick stands as a childhood favorite. Gaga's mermaid also loses her tail and gains legs. "True Blood": There are many creatures who live in the "True Blood" realm of fantasy, including fairies who live in a dimension known as Faery and enjoy nature and dancing — much like Gaga and her dancing troupe in the cornfield. What pop-culture references did you spot in the video? Tell us in the comments below! Don't miss the television premiere of the "Yoü and I" video during "MTV First: Lady Gaga," Thursday night at 7:49 p.m. ET on MTV and Logo, followed by a live Q&A with Gaga and her fans on MTV.com. Tweet your questions for the Mother Monster with the hashtag #MTVGaga. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Kreayshawn Didn't 'Intentionally' Dis Rick Ross Posted: 18 Aug 2011 12:52 AM PDT 'There's no Rick Ross offensive things going on in there, even though it sounds like it,' she tells MTV News of recent radio freestyle.
Kreayshawn has received her fair share of hate over her relatively brief career. The Best New Artist nominee at the 2011 VMAs exploded onto the scene with "Gucci Gucci," but critics have been quick to write her off as a flash in the pan.
Find out how to win a trip to the VMAs courtesy of Foursquare and MTV! Her freestyle on Philly's "Cosmic Kev Come Up Show" earlier this month didn't do her any favors either. During the less-than-stellar display, Kreayshawn took a shot at Rick Ross and his much-scrutinized past as a corrections officer. "You tryin' to play me like a boss? You faker than Rick Ross," she rapped on-air. When MTV News caught up with Kreay earlier this week, she said she wasn't intending to dis the Maybach Music Group boss — even though she admits it came across that way. "I feel like with anything, you're painting a picture. I've never, ever intentionally dissed anybody my whole career, and I don't do that personally with friends either," the Bay Area rapper said. "I'm not like a person to go against anyone or anything. So hey, no offense to you Rick Ross. There's no Rick Ross offensive things going on in there, even though it sounds like it." Kreayshawn explains why Diddy is her "dad." Kreayshawn said she doesn't know Ross and was just trying to make words rhyme. Hopefully things turn up for Kreay on Sunday, August 28, at the 2011 VMAs. She is up Best New Artist alongside other hip-hop rising stars, including Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa and Tyler, the Creator, as well as rock group Foster the People. 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 Artists |
| Anne Hathaway 'Surprised' Fans With 'One Day' Accent Posted: 18 Aug 2011 01:11 AM PDT 'I've had people come up to me [and] say, 'I didn't think you could pull it off,' ' she tells MTV News of her British accent.
"One Day" might not mark the first time Anne Hathaway has a British accent in a film, but that doesn't make it any easier to get back into character after filming has wrapped.
When MTV News caught up with Hathaway, we asked if she could turn the English accent on easily, having previously acted with a British accent in "Becoming Jane," but she said she never had an easy time slipping into it. "The accent, as soon as I left England, the accent left me," she said. "We had to go back to do [audio] looping; I made sure I went over many days in advance to get back into it. It's not one that comes naturally, for sure." To prove her point, Hathaway offered to show off the remnants of her accent to MTV News. " 'Ello, MTV, how's it going?" Hathaway said in her best Cockney voice while wearing a big smile on her face. "I just insulted, by the way, an entire nation of people," she said afterward, but British co-star Jim Sturgess appeased her by saying, "I feel all right about it." That earned a laugh from Hathaway, who said, "OK, good, I have one on my side." So far, Hathaway said she hasn't gotten any negative feedback about the accent. Everyone she's talked to who has seen her in the flick has been impressed by her performance, and she's hoping it will stay that way. "I've had people come up to me who have seen it actually and they say, 'I didn't think you could pull it off.' And people feel inclined to tell me that they really had no faith in me whatsoever," she said with a laugh. "So far, it's ended with a 'But you surprised me, and I really enjoyed your performance.' But I'm just waiting for that person to come up and say, 'Well, I knew you couldn't do it.' " Check out everything we've got on "One Day." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Gavin DeGraw 'Feeling Much Better' After Attack Posted: 18 Aug 2011 12:51 AM PDT 'I can't wait to get back out on tour and look forward to seeing you on the road sometime soon,' singer tells VH1.
It's been a little more than a week since Gavin DeGraw was released from the hospital after a brutal attack by a group of unknown men in New York's East Village, but the "I Don't Want to Be" singer wants fans to know that his recovery is going smoothly. "Instead of checking in from the tour, I'm writing as I recover at home," DeGraw told VH1. "I'm feeling much better, but it will take a little bit more time to be back to 100%! I'm overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from my fans, friends, and family." Despite canceling a number of tour dates after the attack, DeGraw admitted he's already itching to hit the road again. "I can't wait to get back out on tour and look forward to seeing you on the road sometime soon," he said. DeGraw was out drinking with some friends on the evening of August 7 when he split off by himself and was attacked sometime after 5:30 a.m. "Gavin DeGraw is currently recovering and in stable condition at Bellevue Hospital where he was taken late Sunday night by ambulance after he was attacked by a group of assailants," a spokesperson for the 34-year-old singer told MTV News just after the attack. "He suffers from a concussion, broken nose, black eyes, cuts and bruises. The police are conducting an investigation of the attack." DeGraw is scheduled to return to the stage Wednesday in Columbia, Maryland, alongside Maroon 5 and Train. Aside from touring, the singer is set to release his fifth album, Sweeter, on September 20. Share your well-wishes for Gavin DeGraw in the comments below. Related Artists |
| The Red Hot Chili Peppers At Mecca (Of The Western Sports World) Posted: 18 Aug 2011 07:33 AM PDT We drop in on the band during rehearsals at the iconic Forum and see parallels between the two, in Bigger Than the Sound.
The Forum — the slightly decrepit, strangely Roman arena on the corner of Manchester and Prairie in Inglewood, California — first opened its doors on December 30, 1967, and has, in the years that followed, played host to both the "Showtime" Lakers and the Gretzky Kings, not to mention just about every L.A.-area concert you've ever heard of, or were too drunk to remember. Parts of Led Zeppelin's live How the West Was Won were recorded here, as were live albums by Cream, Steppenwolf, the Bee Gees and P-Funk, to name just a few.
Over the course of its existence, it's been known alternately as "the Fabulous Forum," "the Los Angeles Forum" (even though it's in Inglewood) and, in a move of corporate branding so subtle most locals didn't know the difference, "the Great Western Forum." Now, it's mostly just an oval located in the center of an asphalt ocean in a less-than-desirable part of town. The Lakers and the Kings bolted for the shiny new Staples Center in 1999, and the live shows dried up soon after. A church owned it until last year and now people just jog around it. It is a fate unbecoming of such a legendary venue, really — a slow decline into obsolescence and calisthenics — and yet, this is how these things tend to go. Michael Balzary and Anthony Kiedis — the slightly graying yet strangely sculpted half of the Red Hot Chili Peppers — first opened their doors (or, you know, were born) on October 16 and November 1, 1962, respectively, and have, in the years that followed, arisen from the L.A. punk scene to achieve the kind of heights few in the music business can dare dream of: 65 million albums sold worldwide, nine Hot 100 singles in the U.S., and seven Grammy Awards, to name just a few. Over the course of their existence, the pair have been known as Flea and, well, Anthony (or maybe Sir Psycho Sexy). They have recorded some of the most celebrated albums of both the alt-rock heyday — namely, Mother's Milk and Blood Sugar Magik, — and the uncertain times that followed (1999's Californication), and they most certainly do calisthenics. And yes, you can probably see where I'm going with this. Because it's not exactly difficult to draw parallels between the three entities: The Forum, a grandiose (and somewhat gaudy) monument to '60s idealism and the excesses that followed, Flea and Kiedis the poster children for the decay that set in once that idealism gave way to cold hard fact, when those excesses devolved into plain old addictions. All three grew preternaturally old beneath the hazy sunshine of Southern California, and all three proudly wear the scars that came with that aging. They have each witnessed incredible highs and crushing lows, triumphs and tragedies, and they are all still standing. And because of that, both the arena and the Chili Peppers, which Flea and Kiedis formed in the obtuse shadow of the arena back in 1983, have become Los Angeles icons, the kind with pock marks on their faces and dirt beneath their fingernails; the real kind. In fact, about the only difference between the Forum and the Peppers seems to be that the latter is still fully operational. Other than that, they belong to each other. And yet, it is perhaps due to nothing more than grand cosmic coincidence that the Peppers have chosen the Forum as the rehearsal spot for their upcoming world tour, a very big endeavor in support of their very big I'm With You, the first new Chili Peppers record in more than five years. Or at least that's what they told me on Wednesday when I stopped by to host the premiere of their brand-new "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" video. "We just got the call to show up to the Forum for rehearsal and were like, 'Yes, that's a good place to do it!' " Kiedis said. "They needed space to goof around with our stage and our lights ... [but] I was warming up in one of the cavernous bowels of this beautiful institution, and I looked up and there was a great old photograph of [former Lakers' guard] Nick Van Exel, charging me with the ball, number nine, looking me down, big head, big heart, big eyes ... remember the time he got the ref?" Of course, I got the feeling, based on the second part of that statement, that it wasn't mere coincidence that brought the Chili Peppers to the Forum, nor was it a love of Lakers ball (though, to be fair, Flea did point out that "This building is the home of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Byron Scott, Norm Nixon [and] many, many Bob McAdoos"). Instead, it was something much bigger; a love for the old building, or even a sense of purpose. After all, the Forum was where they learned how to be musicians, much like the long lost Club Lingerie, the punk spot operated by the late Brendan Mullen, who is eulogized on I'm With You's "Brendan's Death Song." It is where they underwent several passages of manhood. In a way, they grew up here. "The second rock show I ever saw here was with [Anthony]," Flea laughed, peering up at the vaulted ceiling. "We came in here to see the Who, we snuck in, and we snuck in to see Queen here, too." "We used to not have any money was the thing, but we wanted to go to the shows," Kiedis smiled. "So we'd get right up to where they let you in at the turnstile, and we'd get down and go [through], and if they'd catch us, God bless 'em. But they never could." So, in a sense, without the Forum, there probably would be no Red Hot Chili Peppers. Which is why they treat the place with such reverence, why, during rehearsals, they joined drummer Chad Smith and new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer to tear through old songs with a fury usually reserved for the actual live shows. It was almost as if they were paying tribute to the old ghosts that haunt the twisting corridors, or, more probably, to the bands that have brought the roof down over the past four-plus decades. It was an amazing thing to watch, and I couldn't think of a more fitting setting. After all, the Forum and the Red Hot Chili Peppers share a bond much stronger than you could possibly imagine. They are both survivors. And to witness the band still operating at their peak, nearly 28 years after they first began, well, it somehow fills you with hope for the venerable old venue too. After all, the Forum deserves a comeback too, or at least a better fate than folks jogging around its perimeter. And maybe, in some small way, the Chili Peppers' rehearsals — buoyant, fun, funky and, most important of all, loud — can help breathe new life into the old place, to lift it up and set it back on its feet. You get the feeling Flea and Kiedis feel a sense of duty to try. After all, it's the least they could do. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Big K.R.I.T. Explains <i>Live From The Underground</i> Album Title Posted: 17 Aug 2011 10:06 PM PDT 'The type of music that I make ... is definitely underground and Southern hip-hop,' K.R.I.T. tells RapFix Live.
Big K.R.I.T. was already buzzing heavy before he signed his record deal with Def Jam, and on September 27 he will release his major label debut, Live From the Underground. The Mississippi rapper checked in to MTV's RapFix Live from the studio, where he is putting the finishing touches on his album, via Skype. K.R.I.T., one of MTV Jams' Fab 5, became an underground rap favorite when he released the free mixtape K.R.I.T. Wuz Here, which played more like an album, in 2009. The project's soulful rap aesthetic and acclaim earned him a record deal, but the "Country Sh--" rapper is still holding on to his indie roots. "Man, 'cause I'm still underground at heart," K.R.I.T. told MTV News when asked about his debut's title. "At the end of the day, the type of music that I make, the type of sound I'm trying to create, is definitely being underground and Southern hip-hop. A lot of people didn't know I was signed to Def Jam when I dropped 'Return of 4Eva.' I signed to Def Jam June of last year. So it's been a process of working, grinding, proving myself, and just kind of showing people I'm not going to change just because I'm signed to a major." "Return of 4Eva" was available for free download, and then Def Jam also dropped an EP of the project for sale on iTunes. Late last year, K.R.I.T. hit the road with Curren$y and Smoke DZA on the Smoker's Club Tour (another tour is planned for this fall, with Method Man headlining). Come September 27, another fellow hip-hop up-and-comer, Roc Nation's J. Cole, is also dropping his proper debut, but K.R.I.T. sees it only as friendly competition. "End of the day man, I feel like we all got our fanbase and we all just try to make quality music for the sake of hip-hop," K.R.I.T. said. "And we all friends and cool man, so it's just about knowing that your partner is going to put his all into his music and that you should do the same. And at the end of the day, we all meet up, and we're going to do these shows and we're going to tour and we're going to have fun." K.R.I.T., who appeared on XXL magazine's Freshmen cover with fellow RapFix guest Mac Miller, continued, "It's really all good man. I'm my worst critic so the music is not going to come out unless I feel 100 percent strongly about the content and the subject matter. I'm just going to do my best, brother." Part of K.R.I.T.'s best includes handling all the production duties on his album and making sure to include social commentary in his lyrics. The 24-year-old plans to tackle topics like the murder of James Craig Anderson, the flooding of the Mississippi River and the tornadoes that hit Tuscaloosa, Alabama. "I'm really going to try to touch on all those topics 'cause I feel like sometimes just because we're in Alabama or we're in Mississippi, things happen and people expect it to be cool and OK, they'll get over it," K.R.I.T. said. "But we need help just like everybody else." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Anne Hathaway's 'Dark Knight Rises' Prep: YouTube Cat Videos? Posted: 18 Aug 2011 09:06 AM PDT 'I actually had this moment when I convinced one of the assistant directors on the London portion of the film to get a cat with me,' actress tells MTV News.
If you're not happy with that early peek at Anne Hathaway's Catwoman, perhaps you should blame Keyboard Cat.
Because as the "Dark Knight Rises" actress revealed in Interview magazine, she prepped for the role by turning to feline-focused web videos, after her initial plan to adopt one of the furry creatures fell through. "I actually had this moment when I convinced one of the assistant directors on the London portion of the film to get a cat with me, the idea being that we were going to get a kitten from a rescue shelter, and he was going to live with me, and I was going to observe it, and when I left London, I was going to give it to her," Hathaway explained. "Then, thankfully, her husband pointed out that that was a terrible idea on so many levels, not least of which being that it would probably be really confusing to the cat." She added, "So I turned to YouTube instead and got a National Geographic video on cats." OK, so while the influence of OMG cats and talking cats and cats that wrestle watermelons may not be discernable in the first look at Hathaway's Catwoman, there's no denying the reaction to her "Dark Knight" debut was mixed. But when the 28-year-old actress revealed what it takes to fit into that suit, you had to give her a round of applause. "I'm a vegetarian, and right now I'm living on kale and dust," she said on "Chelsea Lately" on Wednesday, adding that it takes three people to squeeze her into the costume. "Catsuit's unforgiving." And since the production lasts for months and months, she's had to maintain that strict diet and those intense workouts, lest her Catwoman come in for even more unwanted attention. The key to making it all happen is that, after initially hating hitting the gym, she finally enjoys getting in her workouts. "I think I'd never really gotten over the hump," she said. "There's a workout hump where you're so weak that you hate everything. Everything's painful and you look like an idiot. The gym that I work out at, I was literally working out next to a pregnant Jessica Alba and she could do more pushups than I could." 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 |
| J. Cole Debuts <i>Sideline Story</i> In New York Posted: 18 Aug 2011 06:48 AM PDT 'Jay-Z doesn't owe me a verse because I signed to him,' Cole tells a room of writers after playing his debut album for them.
J. Cole has had his whole life to make his first album, and for Cole World: The Sideline Story, the Roc Nation rookie draws on a combination of his past failures and victories to tell his tale. A select number of writers were invited to Roc the Mic studios in Manhattan on Wednesday night to hear the North Carolina MC's debut, which is due out September 27. Though the album is almost complete, the guests were asked not to report any song titles or lyrics because they are still subject to change. In many ways, Cole feels like an underdog, and on Cole World, he raps as if he may never get another shot. In a wrap-up speech delivered to his guests, he even compared himself to the character Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger from the 1993 film "Rudy." In the movie, Rudy dreamed of playing football at the University of Notre Dame but faced immeasurable odds due to his small frame and lack of natural ability. It isn't until the waning moments of the final game that Rudy is allowed to suit up and achieve his dream. Familiar previously released songs like "Work Out," the Drake-assisted "In the Morning" and "Lights Please" anchor the album, which revolves around heartbreak, triumph and good old-fashioned storytelling. On one gut-wrenching track, which Cole produced himself, the rapper strikes a chord when trying to convince his pregnant girlfriend to abort their child. In the song's second verse, he switches roles and rhymes as if he is a pregnant woman — singing in a higher pitch for effect. J revealed to the room that this song in particular had been completed even before he signed with Jigga in 2009. In fact, four of the album's songs were holdovers from his early days. Cole produced most of the LP himself, though Danjahandz and NO I.D. both contributed. Although Drake appears on "In the Morning" and Trey Songz sings the hook on the album's next single "Can't Get Enough," the record is light on featured guests. But what about Hov? One of the big questions surrounding the album has been whether Cole secured a featured verse from Jay-Z. The answer is no — well at least not yet. As of now, the rapper has until August 20 to turn his album in, so there is still hope for a last-minute collaboration from the God MC. If Jay does decide to lend his bars to Cole World, the rapper already has a track set aside — he's actually left the third verse open just in case. If not, Cole doesn't feel slighted but motivated. "Nobody owes me anything," he told the crowd. "Jay-Z doesn't owe me a verse because I signed to him." No, Jay has given J. Cole something much greater: a chance to make his dreams a reality when the album is released on September 27. The guest verse is merely a bonus. Related Artists |
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