MTV News |
- Lady Gaga Wants VMA Performance To Be 'A Surprise'
- Bruno Mars Reveals All-Time Favorite VMA Moment
- Tyler, The Creator's 'Yonkers': A VMA Cheat Sheet
- Aaliyah: Celebrating Her Legacy, 10 Years Later
- Lil Wayne Musical Director Teases 'Rock Star' VMA Set
- Beyonce To Hit The VMA Stage
- Al Pacino Thanks Rappers For 'Scarface' Revival
- Lil Wayne's 'How To Love' Video 'Harsh' But 'Real'
- Lady Gaga Rocks But 'Rock Sucks,' Kiss Frontman Says
- Lil Wayne Drops Deep Messages In 'How To Love' Video
- Jay-Z, Kanye West Hold Onto <i>Billboard</i> Throne
- Lady Gaga Found Perfect 'Fit' In Cher For Duet
- Jay-Z, Kanye West Accused Of Copyright Infringement
- Justin Bieber Joins Taylor Swift Onstage In L.A.
- Demi Lovato's <i>Unbroken</i> Track Listing Reveals Missy Elliott, Jason Derulo Collabos
| Lady Gaga Wants VMA Performance To Be 'A Surprise' Posted: 25 Aug 2011 04:03 AM PDT 'I'm pretty good at knowing what my fans want me to do,' she says about her plans for Sunday's Video Music Awards.
In only two years, Lady Gaga has become the face of the MTV Video Music Awards, and on Sunday, she will continue to cement her place as a VMA icon. Mother Monster will be opening this year's big show, and viewers are sure to be both wowed and inspired.
"I'm really very honored and excited to open the show," Lady Gaga told MTV News. "But I won't reveal anything; I want it to be a surprise." If it's anything like Gaga's 2009 VMA performance of "Paparazzi," her fans will not be disappointed. "It will be a continuation of everything I've been doing, and it will be exactly what they want," Gaga said of her performance. "I'm pretty good at knowing what my fans want me to do." Gaga joins a long list of memorable VMA opening acts, including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera joining Madonna onstage for a kiss. So, what was Gaga's reaction to joining this legendary list? "I was just really excited and I was really happy because they asked me after I told them what I wanted to do," Gaga said. "So it was even more exciting because I knew that it was based off the performance idea and MTV believing in me as an artist and they have, and I appreciate that, from the beginning. They always allowed me to do my version of pop music and not someone else's." While we won't see what Gaga has in store until Sunday night, she said she hopes the audience is "moved." The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday from Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Bruno Mars Reveals All-Time Favorite VMA Moment Posted: 25 Aug 2011 04:03 AM PDT 'Grenade' singer tells MTV News the King of Pop's 1995 performance left an indelible impression on him.
Bruno Mars is looking forward to a special night at this year's Video Music Awards, which will include a performance and competing for Moonmen in four categories, including Video of the Year for "Grenade," but before the show kicks off on Sunday, the crooner told us he already has an all-time favorite VMA moment.
"Favorite VMA memory?" he said on the set of his VMA promo, which debuted on-air this week. "I think one of the tightest performances I've ever seen is Michael Jackson's VMAs. He did 'Dangerous' into like 'Smooth Criminal.' " The 1995 VMA performance featured Jackson performing a medley of some of his most beloved tunes, including "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Scream," "Beat It," "Thriller," "Black or White," "Billie Jean," "Dangerous," "Smooth Criminal" and "You Are Not Alone," all with Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash by his side. "He just showed why he was the King of Pop," Bruno continued. "He's just not human. When you were watching it, he was doing dance moves you have never seen before. He made a moment." That performance stuck with the singer, who took Jackson's performing philosophy to heart. "I think that's the most important thing when you're doing stuff like the VMAs: You get this one moment to really show everything you've got." In addition to his nod for Video of the Year, Mars is also up for Best Male Video and Best Pop Video, also for "Grenade." And he'll compete for Best Choreography for his less-angsty "The Lazy Song." Share your favorite VMA moments in the comments! The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com. |
| Tyler, The Creator's 'Yonkers': A VMA Cheat Sheet Posted: 25 Aug 2011 04:03 AM PDT Odd Future MC makes his VMA debut with nominations for Video of the Year and Best New Artist.
He's a self-proclaimed "f---in' walkin' paradox," and in 2011, contradiction is the new "keeping it real," as Tyler, the Creator proved each time he opened his mouth -- whether to rap or eat a cockroach. Much like his music, Tyler's breakout video for "Yonkers" was as shocking as it was artistic, earning him VMA noms for Best New Artist and Video of the Year. "I'm really excited, shout-out to Ron Artest. If I lose to any of those wackass videos, I'm gonna be mad because they all suck -- except for Adele's," Tyler told MTV News of his nomination in July.
Tyler himself directed the black-and-white clip for "Yonkers" under the alias Wolf Haley. The song's rhyme couplets are as striking as the images. The rebel rapper basically told Christ to grow a pair when he spit, "Jesus called, he said he's sick of the disses/ I told him to quit bitchin', this isn't a f---in' hot line." It is rabblerousing like this that propelled Tyler and his crew of hip-hop misfits Odd Future to the forefront of rap's conversation this year. The actual art seemingly took a backseat with critics. It all erupted in 2009 when Tyler released his free digital album, Bastard. The online fanfare would spill over, shining a light on Creator's group as well: Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All. In addition to Tyler, there is the exiled Earl, Hodgy Beats, Left Brain, Domo Genesis, Mike G and R&B fire-starter Frank Ocean, among others. By the time Tyler and the group performed the single "Sandwitches" with the Roots on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" in February, the hype began to spill over, and seemingly everyone was talking about the rapping kid who decorated his stage with gnomes and wore a green ski mask on national television. Simple yet effective, the "Yonkers" video -- which has racked up more than 18 million views on YouTube -- starts with the rapper seated on a stool, rapping the song's lyrics while playing with a large cockroach, which he later throws up. A visibly disturbed Tyler continues to spit the track's second verse, stripping off his shirt then putting his neck in a noose. In the video's shocking ending, the MC stands up on the chair and kicks the stool from under his feet as his legs dangle in a simulated suicide. "Damn, I'm Looking At The Video Treatment I wrote In This Blackberry Back In Jan. F---!" Tyler tweeted after he learned of the nomination.
For someone who notoriously bucks critics and mainstream music outlets, snagging a Moonman is pretty high on Tyler, the Creator's to-do list. Then again he is a "f---in' walkin' paradox." The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday from Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com. Related Videos |
| Aaliyah: Celebrating Her Legacy, 10 Years Later Posted: 25 Aug 2011 04:03 AM PDT We unpacked vintage footage, including the 'One in a Million' singer's 2001 MTV 'Diary' episode.
In pop music, five years between albums can seem like 500. But on the eve of the release of her self-titled third LP on July 17, 2001, Aaliyah — with two multiplatinum discs nailed to her wall and a fawning fanbase patiently waiting on her — had her stilettos firmly planted in the pop-cultural soil; the 22-year-old's grip on the game had only grown tighter since 1996's sophomore smash, One in a Million.
So that summer, the New York-born, Detroit-bred beauty took off on a dizzying promotional run for what she called her "most personal album" ("I'm hoping that people really feel me on this one," she told MTV in an interview). Among the to-do's dotting her datebook were in-store CD signings with fans, photo shoots for glossy fashion mags, appearances on shows like "Live With Regis and Kelly," presenting with Diddy at the '01 MTV Movie Awards and jet-lagged trips abroad to meet with foreign press. And MTV was there capturing it all for a special episode of the artist-narrated documentary series "Diary." "I am truly blessed to wake up every morning and do something that I love. There's nothing better than that," she says in the epi. From age 15, when she dropped her 1994 debut, the mature-beyond-her-years Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, Aaliyah had gotten to do exactly what she loved, as the bandana-rocking tomboy teen blossomed into a bewitching triple threat. While her untimely death, 10 years ago on Thursday (August 25) in a Bahamas plane crash, ended a bursting-at-the-seams career, fans still hum her infectious tunes, ape her slinky choreography and swoon over the catalog of stunning visuals she left behind. Rather than dwell on the loss, MTV News went digging in our vast store of beta tapes and turned up some choice on-air interviews with her (click the embedded video to see for yourself). "Everything is worth it," she says of her success, on "Diary." "The hard work, the times when you're tired, the times when you're a bit sad. In the end, it's all worth it because it really makes me happy." The year before she dropped Aaliyah, her sultry recording of the Timbaland-produced "Try Again," from the soundtrack for her feature-film debut "Romeo Must Die," netted her a Grammy and a Video Music Award, among other accolades. By 2001, Hollywood was fully on notice, sending her scripts, which led to roles like a high-profile part in the "Matrix" sequels. "I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I'm also a bit of a workaholic and I want everything to be perfect," she adds after a grueling rehearsal with her dancers. But it wasn't all work, no play. Baby Girl, as frequent collaborator Missy Elliott and others affectionately called her, could be as goofy as the next girl. Backstage in another scene, with little prodding from hairstylist Eric Foreman (donning a lopsided wig), Aaliyah begins to harmonize to the Ashford & Simpson soul classic "Solid." Gripping her toy-store mic, she can barely keep it together before collapsing into laughter. While she had largely evaded the kind of scandal that can trip up other young pop stars, A was reflective, too, about success. "The best way to deal with fame is to have that personal life," she says at another point. That meant spending good time with her ever-present "glam squad," family, friends and then-boyfriend Damon Dash, the onetime Roc-a-Fella mogul. In the end though, Aaliyah had a central purpose, one that probably helps explain her enduring legacy. "It's all for the fans, it's so they know you and they can get into you," she says after a stream of alternately crying and screaming admirers pack an FYE record store to meet her. "Not just your music but to you as a person; it's something that's totally necessary." Share your memories of Aaliyah in the comments section. Related Photos |
| Lil Wayne Musical Director Teases 'Rock Star' VMA Set Posted: 24 Aug 2011 07:52 AM PDT 'Knowing Wayne, he might just stroll across the stage on a skateboard,' Gil Smith laughs to MTV News.
Forget "How to Love," Lil Wayne sure knows how to seize a moment. On Sunday, Weezy will hit up the VMAs in hopes of scoring a Moonman for his "6 Foot 7 Foot" video. He'll also grace the stage for a performance, and then about an hour after the big show wraps, the Young Money CEO will release his highly anticipated Tha Carter IV album at midnight. Big night, indeed.
As for rocking the VMA stage, with such an extensive catalog, Lil Tunechi could go for any number of songs. Will he croon out "How to Love," or invite Drake onstage for their recently released C4 single "She Will"? Maybe Wayne will do a medley that includes Rick Ross for a performance of "John" and DJ Khaled for "I'm On One." There are so many possibilities. Weezy's musical director Gil Smith wouldn't confirm any specific details, but he hinted to MTV News that the multifaceted rapper might pull any combination of tricks from his sleeve. "We've been brainstorming and taking from things that we put together on the road, so I think they can just expect a new and improved Wayne, a different Wayne," Smith said. "You know, he always comes different: one day he's a rock star, one day he's a skater; he's singing R&B. I think we can expect a little bit of everything in this performance." Smith, who has been touring with Wayne since 2008, helps the "A Milli" MC realize his tour dreams and heads the live band on the I Am Still Music Tour. But one thing he hasn't helped Wayne with is his skills on the skateboard. This past Sunday, the rapper took a spill while skating and had to get nine stitches. He isn't shying away from the half-pipe, however. "Thx to u all for the concern but pls know that I will eventually take even harder falls if I wanna get better," he tweeted a day after the accident. So maybe Wayne will dust himself off and kick-push his way across the VMA stage. "You know what? He just might. Knowing Wayne, he might just stroll across the stage on a skateboard," Smith said with a chuckle. "I wouldn't be surprised if he did it." What do you hope Wayne performs at Sunday's VMAs? Share your wish list in the comments! The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Posted: 24 Aug 2011 07:04 AM PDT Tune in for B's first VMA performance in two years, this Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Beyoncé, who instructed girls to run the world with her VMA-nominated smash song, will now run the stage at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.
The "Run the World (Girls)" singer, who has three nominations this year (including Best Female Video, Best Choreography and Best Cinematography) and is the previous recipient of nine Moonmen, including 2009's Video of the Year award for "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," will join the lineup of 2011 VMA performers, which already includes Lady Gaga, Adele, Bruno Mars, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Young the Giant, Pitbull and Ne-Yo. Jessie J will serve as a house artist for the ceremony. "We are thrilled to have Beyoncé return to her rightful musical home at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards," said Amy Doyle, executive producer of the 2011 MTV VMAs and MTV's EVP of Music & Talent, in a statement. "Her performances at the VMAs are legendary — leaving everyone breathless and talking for days. We can't wait to see her set the stage on fire once again!" While it's been two years since the pop diva extraordinaire last hit the stage as a VMA performer (when she, along with a bevy of backup dancers, brought down the house with a "Single Ladies" number), Beyoncé recently played a series of intimate shows at New York's Roseland Ballroom, performing songs off of her latest album, 4, as well as classic hits, including favorites from the Destiny's Child era, to sold-out crowds. The VMAs will air live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday at 9 p.m. (live ET/ tape-delayed PT). Presenters includes Selena Gomez (who will pull double duty as VMA pre-show host), Taylor Lautner, Kim Kardashian, Nicki Minaj, Zoe Saldana, Seth Rogen, Drake, Joe Jonas, Jared Leto, Jonah Hill, Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Victoria Justice, Rick Ross, Odd Future and JB Smoove. Though voting is closed for Beyoncé's categories, fans can still vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com online or m.mtv.com on their mobile phones. In addition, Best New Artist text voting is open to all wireless carrier subscribers by texting BNA to 66333. Voting continues all the way through the show, until the winner is announced live on Sunday. The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Al Pacino Thanks Rappers For 'Scarface' Revival Posted: 24 Aug 2011 06:45 AM PDT 'I think they've helped us tremendously,' actor tells MTV News of hip-hop community's support of 1983 movie.
LOS ANGELES -- Hard to believe, but when Brian De Palma's "Scarface" was released in 1983, it wasn't the beloved cult classic it is now. Critics panned the underworld drama in which actor Al Pacino played Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee who went from dishwasher to cocaine drug lord. Today, the film lives in infamy with its ultra-violent-yet-indelible scenes and quotable one-liners like "Say hello to my little friend." Most of the appreciation and film's support has come from rappers, a fact not lost on Pacino.
"The hip-hop people and the rappers got together and they made a video and they talked about the movie. I don't think anybody's ever talked about it as articulately and clearly. I understood it better having heard them talk about it," Pacino told MTV News on the red carpet for a party celebrating the Blu-ray release for "Scarface" on Tuesday night. "I mean, they really get it and they understand it, and that's a great thing. They've been very supportive all these years. I think they've helped us tremendously." The documentary Pacino referred to is 2003's "Scarface: Origins of a Hip-Hop Classic." In it, rappers like Diddy, Nas and Snoop Dogg analyze the movie's impact. The 71-year-old actor likens rap's affinity for his film with his appreciation for the 1932 original version of "Scarface." "When I saw it for the first time -- and I don't mean mine, I mean Paul Muni's from [the] 1930s -- I had that feeling about it too," he said. "Anything when the hero is just reaching for something." Ultimately, Pacino believes the appeal of his character lies in his desire to make something out of nothing -- a mantra rappers have been preaching since the 1980s. "Man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for? That's a great expression, and I think that's Tony Montana," Pacino poetically explained. "Reaching for something he can't get but he keeps going. There is an element of hope in it, believe it or not." Check out everything we've got on "Scarface." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Lil Wayne's 'How To Love' Video 'Harsh' But 'Real' Posted: 24 Aug 2011 04:58 AM PDT 'It was necessary, because these are the things that happen in real life,' director Chris Robinson tells MTV News.
The lyrics of Lil Wayne's ballad "How to Love" are probably best described as romantically tragic, but after Weezy premiered the video online Wednesday, the song took on a more dire meaning. The Chris Robinson-directed clip tells the story of an abused mother, who unintentionally leads her daughter to relive her own vicious cycle. "I have a daughter, Wayne has a daughter, and he really wanted to tell the story," Robinson told MTV News. "We were talking about statistics of abuse in our community. We were talking about really telling this story for every young woman in the world."
The video follows the life of a mother, who is beaten by her boyfriend while her baby daughter watches. As the little girl grows older, she visits her father in prison, and then as a preteen, she is molested by one of her mother's lovers. From there, the young lady, played by model/actress Chanta Patton, grows up to become a stripper and eventual prostitute who contracts HIV. The cautionary clip is heavy in its message and not necessarily easy to watch. It wasn't easy to film, either; Robinson talked about the difficulty of filming the molestation scene, where we see the young girl wearing pigtails trying to fight off her adult attacker. "That was a harsh scene; it was difficult for us to shoot," the director said. "It was necessary, because these are the things that happen in real life. And you can see the trajectory of where that took her." The video in some ways is reminiscent of TLC's 1995 video for "Waterfalls," in which the song drives a narrative with a deep message. Weezy's performance shots are almost an afterthought. "Speaking to Wayne, his performance -- actually seeing him -- was secondary to him," Robinson explained. "He really wanted to communicate what his thought was, what he really felt when he wrote these lyrics, and that was the priority for us."
In fact, it was the rapper's lyrics that drove the story home. Key scenes fell in sync with Tunechi's rhymes. "For me, I think Wayne's performance, we really showed him when he said these poignant lines, things that really connected," the director explained. "The concept is more a narrative. It's a story about two paths in someone's life and how one small choice that you make can affect your whole life." Lil Wayne, who hits the stage as a performer at Sunday's VMAs, will drop Tha Carter IV at midnight after the big show. The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday from Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com. Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Rocks But 'Rock Sucks,' Kiss Frontman Says Posted: 24 Aug 2011 03:23 AM PDT 'There is only one exciting artist, and her name is Lady Gaga,' Gene Simmons tells MTV News before Sunday's VMAs.
LOS ANGELES — Gene Simmons refuses to hold his tongue. On Tuesday, MTV News asked the Kiss frontman who he's most looking forward to seeing at the 2011 VMAs, and he pretty much denounced all of this year's nominees, except for one.
"There is only one exciting artist, and her name is Lady Gaga," Simmons told us when we caught up with him in Los Angeles on the red carpet celebrating the Blu-ray release of the 1983 Al Pacino classic, "Scarface." "Everybody else is exactly the same. Every rapper is the same as every other rapper; every rocker is the same as every other rocker. Uniqueness is the only important thing, and Gaga is the real thing." The outspoken icon gave Justin Bieber his just due, though he compared him to other teen idols like 1970s sensation David Cassidy. "I mean, he's terrific, but I've seen him before," Simmons said of Bieber. Without naming names, Simmons was pretty sour on all current musicians, contemporary rock and roll artists, in particular. "I think rock sucks at the moment. Artists look like delivery boys; they look like they could use a bath," he said. "There's no respect for the stage — the stage is holy ground. I don't care what you do. You don't have to spit fire or drool blood but when you get on that stage, you should give people bang for their buck." It isn't just present-day rockers Simmons took issue with, however. He wouldn't validate anyone pre-1980. "From 1958 to 1980 — that's about 30 years — you can name a thousand major artists: Elvis, the Beatles, Hendrix, on and on and on. From 1980 till today, name me an artist that's going to last the test of time," he challenged us. "Good luck with that, by the way." What do you think of the Kiss rocker's statements? Sound off in our comments section! The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne Drops Deep Messages In 'How To Love' Video Posted: 24 Aug 2011 06:52 AM PDT Tragic clip tugs at heartstrings with depictions of abuse, molestation and prostitution.
If fans already thought that Lil Wayne put his emotions on display on "How to Love," off Tha Carter IV, wait until they get a load of the video, which premieres online on Wednesday (August 24). The Chris Robinson-directed clip is filled with drama and social commentary, telling the story of a beautiful young woman who stumbles into every imaginable pitfall. The video opens in an abortion clinic, where a woman lies in a gown on the operating table. Suddenly she changes her mind and flies off the table and through the clinic's hall, choosing to keep her child. Shortly after that, the song's acoustic guitar licks drop in and we see a shirtless Wayne alone in a dimly lit hallway, singing, "You had a lot of crooks try to steal your heart, never really had luck, could never figure out how to love." It is then that the distressed woman's story begins to unspool. We first see her being abused by her boyfriend, thrown to the ground in her bedroom while her infant, sitting in a car seat nearby, cries. Fast-forward a few years later, and the mother is in a prison visiting room, talking to her incarcerated boyfriend through a glass panel while her daughter, now a toddler, sits in her lap. "How to Love" producer Detail warned that the single's video would "shock" us. A boyfriend in prison is just the tip of the iceberg. Things get disturbing as her daughter, who now appears to be a preteen, becomes a victim of child molestation. The scene starts just as Tunechi belts out, "When you were just a young'un, your looks were so precious." Cash Money and company clearly pulled no punches. We see the young girl sitting in pigtails as her mother's boyfriend approaches her while unfastening his belt and putting his fingers to his lips, an indication that she should keep quiet as she tries to fight him off. In the following sequences, the young girl, now all grown up (and played by video actress Chanta Patton), has become overly promiscuous. The message is deep, and in the video Wayne plays second fiddle, not letting his performance shots get in the way of Robinson's story-telling. Together they illustrate a domino effect. Forget going from bad to worse: During the course of the five-minute clip things go from tragic to abysmal. The young woman's eventual career as a stripper begets prostitution, and it is her life as a prostitute that ultimately leads to devastating consequences. At approximately the three-minute mark the music cuts out and we see the principal character in a doctor's office similar to the one shown in the first scene, only this time she isn't able to run from the results. "Your blood results came back positive," the doctor tells her. When she asks, "Positive for what?," he replies, "HIV." Maybe the message is dramatically overdone, but with the clip Wayne — who will be performing at the Video Music Awards and dropping his album at midnight afterwards — sparks discussion much like TLC did with their cautionary 1995 video for "Waterfalls." There is hope, however; in a rewind sequence the victim's life is redone. In an alternate reality, the domestic violence her mother originally faced is erased. Instead, she marries in a church ceremony, and with no abuse or prison visits to speak of, her daughter's life is now set right. Consequently, Patton's character endures no molestation, nor does she resort to stripping or prostitution. Instead she graduates from high school and enrolls in beauty school. Eventually, she winds up in the same doctor's office seen earlier in the clip — only this time the news is good: The beauty school grad finds out she's pregnant and reacts with a joyous sigh, before turning to her mother to say, "Thank you, just thank you for being there for me and teaching me how to love." It wasn't just the guitar strings that Weezy plucked at with this single; he was clearly tugging at the heartstrings as well. The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com. Related Artists |
| Jay-Z, Kanye West Hold Onto <i>Billboard</i> Throne Posted: 24 Aug 2011 09:51 AM PDT Watch the Throne stays at #1, despite 59 percent drop in sales.
After an impressive debut week on the Billboard 200 chart, Kanye West and Jay-Z's collaborative effort Watch the Throne, will once again sit at the top. Adding to the 436,000 copies they sold last week, the hip-hop dynamos moved another 177,000 this week, bringing their current total to 613,000, according to Nielsen SoundScan figures.
While the Throne won't get bragging rights to 2011's biggest first-week seller on the Billboard charts (that honor still belongs to Lady Gaga), they successfully beat Coldplay's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends record for one-week sales on iTunes. And needless to say, they've claimed the #1 spot on iTunes once again. Though the second week of Watch the Throne saw a 59 percent drop in sales, it was enough to hold off chart newcomers. None of the week's debuts saw six-digit sales, and only two will crack the top 10: Life at Best from country's Eli Young Band at #6 (35,000) and the latest "Twilight" soundtrack favorite Blue October, Any Man in America at #8 (27,000). Other notable newcomers include rockers Breaking Benjamin's Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin at #22 (14,000) and actor Jeff Bridges' self-titled record, which places at #25 (13,000). The rest of this week's top 10: Adele's 21, (#2, 80,000), Now That's What I Call Music 39 (#3, 63,000), Luke Bryan's Tailgates & Tanlines (#4, 53,000), Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party (#5, 37,000), Eric Church's Chief (#7, 31,000), Beyoncé's 4 (#9, 25,283) and Kidz Bop 20 (#10, 24,000). As we inch closer to Sunday's VMAs, fans are continuing to purchase records from this year's nominees and performers, including Lady Gaga's record-breaking Born This Way (#12), which saw a 9 percent increase with this week's sales of 20,000, bringing it's grand total to 1.7 milllion, and Katy Perry's Teenage Dream (#15), up 7 percent after moving 17,000 more copies, which brings her album to 1.7 million as well. The iTunes albums top 10 parallels the Billboard Top 200, in that Jay and Kanye's Throne rules the roost at #1, and Adele's 21 claims the runner-up position, while Eli Young Band's Life at Best bows at #3. The rest of the chart includes Foster the People's Torches (#4), Luke Bryan's Tailgates & Tanlines (#5), Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More (#6), Maroon 5's Hands All Over (#7), Bad Meets Evil's Hell: The Sequel (#8), Eric Church's Chief (#9), and Lady Gaga's Born This Way (#10). If Jay and Kanye are looking to three-peat for next week's charts, they'll have to best new releases from the Game (The R.E.D. Album), Lenny Kravitz (Black and White America) and Stephen Malkmus (Mirror Traffic). Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Found Perfect 'Fit' In Cher For Duet Posted: 24 Aug 2011 06:31 AM PDT 'Cher heard the song and loved it and wanted to do it together,' Mother Monster tells MTV News of 'The Greatest Thing.'
Two of pop's biggest divas, Lady Gaga and Cher, are teaming up for a highly anticipated collaboration, fittingly titled "The Greatest Thing." Late last week Cher confirmed via Twitter that the song will be out in September, but few details have been revealed about the Gaga-penned track.
So when MTV News caught up with the VMA-nominated Mother Monster herself last week, we asked her to dish about the track. It turns out that "The Greatest Thing" was a song she had been holding onto for some time. "I wrote that song a long time ago, and I've never put it on one of my own albums for, really, no particular reason," Gaga told us. "I always write these concept records, and it just didn't fit in. But it's always been, like, this big, massive, beautiful hit record and everyone always says, 'Why don't you put that on your album?' And I said, 'I don't know, it just doesn't fit with everything else.' " The song was, however, a good fit for Cher's new record and it will reportedly be the lead single off of her yet-untitled 26th studio album. "Cher heard the song and loved it and wanted to do it together," Gaga added. "And I said, 'F--- yeah, it's Cher!' " Of course, this collaboration may never have happened if it were not for last year's VMA show, where Cher handed Gaga her Video of the Year Moonman for "Bad Romance." Lady Gaga graced the stage in her infamous meat dress, making a memorable first impression on Cher — and the rest of the world. "I don't think she realized I was handing her meat," Gaga recalled. So what was Cher's response to Gaga asking her to hold her meat purse? "She was like, 'No problem, I'll hold your purse.' And then she just sort of had a steak in her hand, and was like, 'Thanks, bitch!' " the "Born This Way" singer joked. Gaga is gearing up to create more memorable moments at the 2011 Video Music Awards. She'll open the big show with a performance on Sunday night. The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com. |
| Jay-Z, Kanye West Accused Of Copyright Infringement Posted: 24 Aug 2011 09:05 AM PDT R&B artist Syl Johnson alleges Watch the Throne track samples his 'Different Strokes' without permission
Def Jam's lawyers are about to get busier. According to a post on "archival record label" and publisher the Numero Uno Group's blog, acclaimed R&B/soul singer Syl Johnson is considering a lawsuit against the Throne (Jay-Z and Kanye West) for an uncleared sample of one of his songs on their album Watch the Throne. A sample of Johnson's 1967 song "Different Strokes," which appears on the track "The Joy," was allegedly never properly cleared.
"Two decades and several lawsuits later, Syl Johnson is a veteran of copyright infringement cases, and has done very well for himself clearing samples from his fertile catalog (we're glad to say we've helped him with a few) for use in numerous tracks," reads part of the post. "He's been amply paid, as he is quick to boast in his concerts, by acts like Wu-Tang Clan, Kid Rock, and Michael Jackson. Other performers ... have not been so respectful." The post, titled "Syl Johnson vs Kanye West/Jay-Z," goes on to say that the Numero Uno Group reached out to Def Jam's business department about clearing "The Joy" after Syl Johnson had gotten wind of the song. Last year, the Pete Rock-produced tune (Kanye West is credited as producer along with Mike Dean and Mike Bhaskar) was part of the G.O.O.D. Fridays series of leaks. Although originally intended to be included on West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the sample was unable to be cleared in time to make the album (though an agreement was apparently reached for its use). Negotiations stalled due to the fact that the song was not actually being sold. However, "The Joy" recently reappeared as a bonus cut on the deluxe edition of Watch the Throne. The Numero Uno Group points out that in the credits for Watch the Throne, they are erroneously identified as the publishers of Syl Johnson's "Different Strokes." "Wondering why we weren't consulted on this new use, and baffled why we appear in the credits, for which we never asked, we contacted the sample clearance house," continued the post. "Even they cannot get a response from their own clients. Island Def Jam seems to think that Syl doesn't have any fight left in him. We're betting otherwise." Since the song appears on an album that is being sold — Watch the Throne has already gone gold, selling more than 600,000 units to date — Johnson is expected to be properly compensated for the use of his song, whether via a lawsuit or some sort of settlement. Messages to Def Jam representatives for comment were not returned as this story went to press. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber Joins Taylor Swift Onstage In L.A. Posted: 24 Aug 2011 06:52 AM PDT Teen heartthrob surprised concertgoers when he joined Swift for a duet on 'Baby' Tuesday night.
Justin Bieber is all about surprises this summer. Back in July, the 17-year-old pop superstar took fans by surprise when he joined Selena Gomez onstage in Costa Mesa, California, and on Tuesday night, he made another unexpected appearance when he joined Taylor Swift onstage for a duet of his hit "Baby" at her Speak Now tour stop in Los Angeles.
Video footage of the duo's performance at the Staples Center hit the Internet shortly after the concert. It shows the music superstars sharing song verses and Bieber spitting a brief rap midway through the number. Swift took to Twitter hours later to applaud her roaring concert audience and their overwhelming reaction to the Bieb's surprise appearance. "Dear amazing LA crowd tonight, God only knows what I'd be without you," she wrote. "You think you've heard LOUD screaming in your life. Then @justinbieber comes out and does a surprise song during your show. Woah. Unreal." Bieber responded to the country-pop darling, tweeting, "@taylorswift13 we should do that more often. :) great show! #muchlove." It was nothing but love as Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, also chimed in on the surprise concert cameo. "Had to keep it a secret all day. But @justinbieber just came out and sang BABY with @taylorswift13 at STAPLES. EPIC ROAR! #greatmoment," he wrote on Twitter. Bieber also recently collaborated with Chris Brown. Earlier this month, the Video Music Award nominee showed off his rap skills on "Ladies Love Me," a track that appears on Breezy's Boy in Detention mixtape. Related Artists |
| Demi Lovato's <i>Unbroken</i> Track Listing Reveals Missy Elliott, Jason Derulo Collabos Posted: 24 Aug 2011 07:51 AM PDT Timbaland and singers Dev and Iyaz will also appear on the 15-song set, which drops on September 20.
Demi Lovato wasn't kidding when she teased some star-studded collaborations for her comeback album Unbroken. On Tuesday, the Disney star revealed on her website that her upcoming set (due September 20) will include musical pairings with Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Jason Derülo, Dev and Iyaz.
While Lovato's power-ballad lead single "Skyscraper" nabs a place toward the end of Unbroken, all of her studio team-ups appear at the beginning of the 15-song lineup. Hip-hop heavyweight partners Missy Elliott and Timbaland assist the songstress on "All Night Long," while electro-pop singer Dev lends her voice to the Ryan Tedder-produced "Who's That Boy?" Lovato continues the star power with Iyaz on "You're My Only Shorty" and concludes the collabo party with Jason Derülo on "Together." Some of the other songs on the set include "Unbroken," "Mistake," "Give Your Heart a Break" and a Wizz Dumb remix of "Skyscraper." Lovato recently spoke to Ryan Seacrest about "All Night Long," describing it as "one of the best experiences." "Missy Elliott got on one of the tracks, and it's called 'All Night Long.' It was really fun!" she gushed. Lovatics already know how the pop star's collaboration with Timbaland came about. Back in January, the R&B hit-maker reached out to Demi via a YouTube video message, sharing a snippet of a song he had whipped up for her. Lovato was still checked into a treatment center for "emotional and physical issues" at the time. Collabos aren't the only thing fans have to look forward to as the singer/actress also announced her first two Unbroken concert dates, in New York City and Los Angeles, which take place just in time for the album's release. Here's the Unbroken track list, according to the singer's website: 1. "All Night Long" (featuring Missy Elliott and Timbaland) Which song on Demi's new album are you most looking forward to hearing? Tell us in the comments below. Related Artists |
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