MTV News |
- Steve Jobs: The Man Who Changed Music
- Justin Bieber <i>My World</i> Tour Is 'The Loudest Thing'
- Steve Jobs And Music: The Revolution Will Be Digitized
- Willow Smith, Nicki Minaj Ignite 'Fireball'
- Steve Jobs Mourned By President Obama, Nicki Minaj
- Michael Jackson Phone Recording: 'I Had No Childhood'
- Steve Jobs And Movies: To Infinity And Beyond
- Irv Gotti Says He's 'Best Man' For Def Jam Presidency
- Young Jeezy Sample 'Cool,' Above & Beyond Say
- Jay-Z Congratulates J. Cole On #1 Album
- Steve Jobs Dead At 56
- Beyonce's 'Countdown' Video A Bridge To The Past
- 'Glee'-Cap: Mike Chang Takes Center Stage
- T.I. Gets 'Support' From NBA Star Amar'e Stoudemire
- LL Cool J Proud To Pave The Way For Drake, Others
- Justin Bieber Confirms Mariah Carey Christmas Collabo
- Kelly Clarkson's 'What Doesn't Kill You' Is An 'Anthem'
- 'Real Steel' Stars, Director Knock Out Misconceptions
- Wiz Khalifa Didn't 'Plan' Amber Rose Wedding Fake-Out
- 'The Adventures of Tintin' U.K. Trailer: Five Key Scenes
| Steve Jobs: The Man Who Changed Music Posted: 06 Oct 2011 03:53 AM PDT We remember the late Apple co-founder and his glorious, game-changing gadget, in Bigger Than the Sound.
Ten years ago, I was living in a rat-hole apartment in a crooked building in Baltimore (though we had a doorman!) when someone broke into my car. Of course, they took my stereo, which was probably to be expected, since it was a JBL and was, as I recall, pretty nice. But they also rifled through my most personal of possessions (at least personal enough to leave on the floor of my car): my CD case, filled with every single disc I owned at that point, a gloriously clunky collection of emotions and memories and bad bootlegs, alphabetized and cross-referenced within an inch of its life. Also known as the thing Steve Jobs was just about to make completely obsolete. Because within months, his corporation, Apple, would release the first incarnation of the iPod, a bricky, cream-spinach screened thing that could hold up to 2,000 songs (!) at the time and would, through various slipstreamed, memory-expanding upgrades, come to completely change every single aspect of the music industry, the least of which seems to be the complete disappearance of the CD case. Steve Jobs' impact went way beyond computers. Check out his innovations in the film industry. Jobs' iPod — and, of course, the accompanying iTunes Store, which arrived soon after — made music a tangible thing, a totem you could carry with you, share with your friends or add to out of thin air. It made the audiophile's long-unfulfilled dream of having your entire collection with you an absolute reality (even if it also helped suppress the audiophile's other passion, high-quality sonics), a fact that revolutionized the way music intersects with our lives. For the first time, we could create own soundtracks and do it within seconds. It made cases and bookshelves and shoeboxes full of CDs irrelevant and, in a lot of ways, is busy making the actual CD irrelevant too. It turned songs into commodities, brought into question the intrinsic value of art, destroyed the idea of the album artist and very nearly brought the entire industry to its knees. Not too shabby. And with Jobs' death on Wednesday, one can't help but begin to consider his place in music history. Were he and his iPod as influential as Ahmet Ertegun, Berry Gordy or Thomas Edison, the man who invented the phonograph? Absolutely. Did he change the business like Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson? Probably. Were all of their contributions as glossy? Most definitely not. But such is the case with most revolutions: There's bound to be a few casualties. Remember Steve Jobs' many innovations by flipping through this photo gallery. And while I can't speak to the whole "Cult of Apple" thing, I can say that, as a music fan, Steve Jobs forever changed my life and the lives of a lot of other people. One day, we will look at our children and tell them all about these things called CDs and these places we used to buy them called record stores, and they won't believe us, because it all seems so impractical. Take that however you will. Progress, regression, inevitable. Jobs was the man who seized the moment, turned the tide and will continue to do so, even in death. To wit, I own a 160GB iPod "Classic," a pocket-size thing capable of holding some 30,000 songs. That's equal to almost 18 CD cases. All my emotions, ever, alphabetized and cross-referenced, with album art miraculously added. And yet, I keep it with my keys in a bowl by the front door. Not only that, but I am often told that I should get rid of it, replace it with an iPhone or something better, smaller, brighter. And that's all a testament to Steve Jobs, really. He was a man who kept changing the future so often that he made the present seem obsolete. Steve Jobs changed the world, but how did he change you? Tell us on Facebook. Related Photos |
| Justin Bieber <i>My World</i> Tour Is 'The Loudest Thing' Posted: 06 Oct 2011 03:53 AM PDT Bieber tour insiders, including road DJ and openers Cobra Starship, dish to MTV News about 'absolutely ridiculous' South America shows.
Justin Bieber has taken his My World Tour to Mexico and South America, and by all accounts, things are going really well. MTV News got the scoop directly from some of the folks that are on the road with the Biebs, including his tour DJ and one of his tourmates. "Everything's been cool. Everything's been great," DJ Tay James told MTV News. "Absolutely ridiculous. I've been with him since his second show and just to see him do shows with 300 people to us doing [shows with] 50,000, it's crazy. I'm just happy to be in the position that I am. That's like my little brother." Cobra Starship are Bieber's opening act on the tour, and the group's bassist, Alex Suarez, said he was amazed by the size of the crowds, not to mention the loudness. "You know, it's not too different than how we kind of got our start," he said. "When we started touring, we started touring with Fall Out Boy and doing big tours. I think we've come to the point where Cobra, our fans have stuck with us. "It's really amazing," he continued. "These are the largest shows that we ever played. As soon as they open the doors, there is a constant tone of scream. It is really amazing. We watched Justin's set — it's the loudest thing." There's a lot of downtime on the road, and according to DJ Tay, when they aren't onstage entertaining the Beliebers, he and the Biebs often discuss music. "We definitely converse on new music," he shared. "I know [Justin's] a big fan of Drake and Busta Rhymes. He will put me onto music and I will put him onto music; we keep each other up on it." They also spend a lot of time playing music and posting videos online. "This whole DJing thing came out of nowhere," the DJ said. "We started this when I first got on with him and he just wanted to play around with the turntables. He was scratching here and there, and then he was like, 'Man, teach me a few things.' So every time we do a video, he gets a step better. And I just wanted to show everyone he's trying. He's open to new things. That's something about him that I admire." DJ Tay also teased Bieber's upcoming Christmas LP, Under the Mistletoe, predicting the teen star will have everyone going bananas on November 1. "You guys got to get ready for this Christmas album. It's amazing. It's probably one of the best Christmas albums that I ever heard," he said. Related Photos |
| Steve Jobs And Music: The Revolution Will Be Digitized Posted: 05 Oct 2011 06:39 AM PDT Late Apple co-founder almost singlehandedly brought music industry into the future.
Few people can legitimately claim to have changed the course of history. Apple's Steve Jobs is one of those people. The pied piper of the digital revolution and co-founder of Apple Inc., started in his parents' garage in the mid-1970s, died Wednesday at the age of 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. If Jobs had only co-founded Apple — the technology company with the highest valuation on earth at the moment and the one that taught the world to use a mouse, touch a screen to make a phone call and store a lifetime of music on a pocket-size device — that would be enough. But Jobs did much more than that. He changed the course of history with a series of science-fiction-like leaps that left his competitors in the dust, scratching their heads at how they went from having him in their rearview mirror to sprinting just to stay 10 steps behind him. Tell us how Steve Jobs changed your life. There had been any number of MP3 players on the market in the years before Jobs unveiled the iPod in 2001. But none had the signature elegance and ease of use that Jobs brought to his version of the portable digital-music device. From the iconic rotating wheel, simple scrolling menus and clean design of the first iPod, to later iterations such as the miniature Shuffle and the finger-swiping iPod Touch, Jobs pushed his design team to ever-greater heights of innovation. Like Kleenex, iPod became the shorthand for an MP3 player, a badge of honor that people wore proudly, signified by the 2001-style white earbuds that became ubiquitous on college campuses and subway trains and in gyms. As the devices got more complex on the inside, like a technological Willy Wonka, Jobs made sure that they got simpler and more elegant on the outside, always counting on intuition to win out over bells and whistles. And while iPods soon became the category killer when it came to MP3 players, it was Jobs' next brainstorm that took a slumping music industry beset by illegal downloading woes and plummeting album sales and gave it the first ray of hope in years. The launch of the iTunes Store in 2003 took the traditional music-industry model and turned it completely on its head. Remember Steve Jobs' many innovations by flipping through this photo gallery. For generations, a handful of major record labels had a lock on the distribution of music. They paid to have albums pressed, sent them to stores and dictated the prices. But after making a deal with Jobs to have their music appear on this new virtual platform, the labels quickly learned that they were now partners in their own game with a man whose vision for their business didn't always mesh with their own. Until just a few years ago, Jobs held firm that downloads on his store should be priced at 99 cents each, beating back efforts by the labels to offer more pricing tiers. There was something about that round-looking number that seemed to appeal to him — and to the millions who gladly plunked down a dollar to get their daily fix. In the interim, the iTunes Store become the #1 destination for legal music downloading, holding between 70 and 80 percent of the market and consistently beating back efforts by retail giants and computer rivals to grab some of the digital gold. Piracy was (and still is) rampant, but enough people had been convinced by the ease of use and smart interface of the store to turn to the light side of the force and pay for that Black Eyed Peas hit or that Beatles classic. President Obama, Nicki Minaj, Bill Gates and more remember Steve Jobs. As of February 2010, the iTunes Store had sold 10 billion songs while revolutionizing the way every new generation buys, interacts with and experiences music. Yes, some claim the store has created a world of musical grazers, fans who pick and choose the hot hits one or two at a time over buying entire albums. But it has also trained a constantly wired generation to legally download music on their iPads, iPhones and a myriad of other devices, providing a rare bright spot for a music industry that has seen record sales, and profits, cut in half since a 1999 peak of $14.6 billion. With the recent introduction of the iCloud, Jobs did it again, waving his wand and giving his adoring minions the ability to access their music anywhere in the world. Think back to when MP3 players held 100 songs just over a decade ago. Now imagine having thousands, tens of thousands, potentially millions of songs at your fingertips from your backyard to the rainy jungles of Brazil and the mountaintops of Nepal. We may not have those jetpacks we were promised, but Steve Jobs did his best to ensure that, at least when it came to music (and movies and apps and games), the future was now. Steve Jobs changed the world, but how did he change you? Tell Us on Facebook. Related Photos |
| Willow Smith, Nicki Minaj Ignite 'Fireball' Posted: 05 Oct 2011 07:35 AM PDT Young 'Whip My Hair' singer's new single premieres on Hot 97.
It's been over a year since Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" takeover, and since then, the 10-year-old rising pop darling has released follow-up single "21st Century Girl" and has been steadily working on her Roc Nation debut album. On Wednesday (October 5), Smith dropped a Nicki Minaj-assisted party single, "Fireball," to appease her growing fanbase. Offering world-premiere duties to New York Hot 97 DJ Angie Martinez's afternoon radio show, "Fireball" is a drum-heavy party tune, where the young starlet gets feisty, shows her swagger and proclaims herself the center of attention. "See, I never been the one to toot my own horn/ Beep beep, now watch me put it on/ I set fire everywhere I play/ Make them all go insane, L.A. to U.K.," Smith sings with confidence. She keeps the energy going by delivering a simple hook when she repeatedly boasts, "I'm the fireball of the party/ I'm the fire" atop a layer of chants. Minaj chimes in about two minutes into the song, sharing bragging rights with Smith, offering her usual rapping eccentrics and even name-dropping the singer's famous parents. "Put you under my wing, I'm the top boss/ Ain't from Louisiana, but I'm hot sauce/ Cop the mountain, just to go and build a house off so I ain't never got to worry what the house cost," the MC spits. Artwork for the song, which has been posted on the singer's Facebook page, depicts the singer's signature nameplate inside an orange-lit fireball. On Monday, Smith teased fans about the single's debut via Twitter, writing, "My new single is coming soon, really soon, like maybe tomorrow soon:) #FIREBALL:)" MTV News recently chatted with "Whip My Hair" producer Ronald "Jukebox" Jackson, who revealed that the pop starlet is close to finishing her full-length debut album. "I did like eight, nine songs on Willow, so right now, we're in the process of just trying to close out the album," he said. "It's just the whole process. You got to think about it: She's a 10-year-old girl. She's gotta have a life; she's gotta be a kid." Share your review of "Fireball" in the comments below! Related Artists |
| Steve Jobs Mourned By President Obama, Nicki Minaj Posted: 05 Oct 2011 07:07 AM PDT Bill Gates, will.i.am, Ellen DeGeneres also remember late Apple co-founder.
Shortly after Apple announced Wednesday (October 5) that co-founder Steve Jobs had died, celebrities of all kinds — including the president himself — are paying tribute and mourning the loss of the technology giant. "Steve was among the greatest of American innovators — brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it," President Obama said in a statement. "By building one of the planet's most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity. By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun. And by turning his talents to storytelling, he has brought joy to millions of children and grownups alike. ... The world has lost a visionary." Nicki Minaj took to Twitter to remember that visionary. "An innovator. Contributed so much to this generation & beyond. RIP Steve Jobs," the Young Money MC wrote shortly after the announcement. Steve Jobs almost singlehandedly brought the music industry into the future — here's how. Jobs' longtime rival in the digital race, Microsoft's Bill Gates, released a heartfelt statement after Apple's announcement: "I'm truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs' death. ... Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives. The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely." The Black Eyed Peas' will i am urged: "i hope the youth chooses to be like steve jobs...we need more innovators." Remember Steve Jobs' many innovations by flipping through this photo gallery. Ryan Seacrest offered his remembrance with a quote from the businessman himself, writing, " 'Have the courage to follow ur heart & intuition. They already know what u truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.' - Steve Jobs." Ellen DeGeneres learned of the news shortly after wrapping up her talk show. "I just finished my show and I heard the news about Steve Jobs," the comedian tweeted. "He was an amazing man with an incredible vision. He changed the world." Pharrell Williams referred to Jobs as "our modern day Leonardo da Vinci" on Twitter. "From Apple to Pixar, what a great life lived. He will be missed." Tyra Banks used one of Apple's many revolutionary products to mourn the news, tweeting, "As I type on my iPhone, tears spring2 my eyes4an amazingMan I never met. His genius has touched us all. Steve Jobs, you will b/with us 4ever." The Roots' ?uestlove remembered Jobs as more than just the Apple co-founder: "Adopted. DropOut. FontLover. LSDlover. Dreamer. Innovator. Fired from his own Apple 1ce. Pixarlogist. 338 PATENTS! philanthropist. #JOBS." Steve Jobs changed the world, but how did he change you? Tell Us on Facebook. Related Photos |
| Michael Jackson Phone Recording: 'I Had No Childhood' Posted: 05 Oct 2011 07:24 AM PDT Among other testimony, a much-hyped slurred phone recording is played in full.
After bringing a succession of Dr. Conrad Murray's girlfriends to the witness stand, on Wednesday (October 5), prosecutors in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's personal physician focused on the kinds and amounts of drugs Murray ordered in the months leading up to the pop star's death at age 50 on June 25, 2009. The most anticipated moment of the day was the promise of the full recording of a slurred-sounding Jackson recorded on Murray's phone in the weeks before the "Thriller" singer's death. Bits of the tape were played during the prosecution's opening statements. Among the testimony Wednesday: » In the much-hyped phone recording, Jackson talks to Murray about his grand plans for the This Is It shows, including raising enough money to start the Michael Jackson Children's Hospital. "I love them because I didn't have a childhood," he says of why kids are his primary cause. "I had no childhood. I feel their pain. I feel their hurt." When Jackson goes silent for 13 seconds, Murray asks, "Are you OK?" Jackson's response: "I am asleep." » Medical-supply rep Sally Hirschberg testified that Murray put in drug orders that were a bit unusual for a cardiology clinic, including ones for Lidocaine and IV bags. The former is typically used as a local anesthetic to relieve skin irritation from the injection of anesthetics such as propofol, the surgical anesthetic Murray administered to Jackson on the night of his death. » Hirschberg also said she refused to send supplies to a private address Murray provided in California because of company policy, sending them instead to the doctor's Las Vegas office. The day after Jackson's death, Hirschberg said she got a call from Murray's office asking her to cancel an order for medical supplies. » DEA computer forensics examiner Stephen Marx discussed emails on Murray's phone containing medical information about a patient named "Omar Arnold," which is reportedly one of the aliases Jackson used to obtain prescription medicine. » Investigator Elissa Fleak from the L.A. County Coroner's office testified that when she inspected Jackson's bedroom the day he died, she found a variety of prescription pills at his bedside, including heavy sedatives Diazepam, Lorazepam and Temazepam, as well as a blue bag full of propofol vials, the same bag security guard Alberto Alvarez mentioned during his testimony. Murray has pleaded not guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter. He faces four years in prison and the loss of his medical license. Related Artists |
| Steve Jobs And Movies: To Infinity And Beyond Posted: 05 Oct 2011 07:51 AM PDT From his work with Pixar to providing new ways to watch movies, late Apple co-founder was an innovator in more than just computers.
There would be no Buzz Lightyear without Woody, no WALL-E without EVE, no Mike without Sully — just as there would be no Pixar without Steve Jobs, who died at age 56 on Wednesday (October 5). The visionary Apple co-founder, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, will likely be best remembered for his inventive imagination that was the lifeblood of a technological revolution. But moviemakers, actors, critics, cinephiles and more across the globe will also remember Jobs for giving life to some of the most moving and breathtaking feats of filmmaking the industry has ever seen: the award-winning and unforgettable works of Pixar. Steve Jobs almost singlehandedly brought the music industry into the future — here's how. Originally founded in 1979 as a Lucasfilm computer arm called Graphic Group, the company was eventually acquired and renamed Pixar in 1986 by Jobs, freshly and famously ousted by Apple. Jobs, serving as the animation studio's chairman and chief executive officer, led Pixar to Disney, a collaboration that has gifted generations with countless unforgettable works, ranging from 1995's groundbreaking "Toy Story" all the way to 2011's admittedly unbalanced "Cars 2." Throughout its 25-year history, Pixar has filled our bellies with tales of comfort food, knocked our blocks off with incredible superheroics and broken our hearts with old people. The studio has been responsible for no less than 26 Academy Awards, including Best Animated Film wins for "Finding Nemo," "WALL-E," "Up" and "Toy Story 3," with the latter two also nominated in the all-encompassing Best Picture category. Indeed, whether you've been aware of it or not, Jobs has been responsible for some of the most powerful storytelling of ours or any generation. Remember Steve Jobs' many innovations by flipping through this photo gallery. "Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined," Pixar's John Lasseter and Ed Catmull said in a joint statement about Jobs' passing. "Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply 'make it great.' He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. "He will forever be a part of Pixar's DNA," their statement continued. "Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time." President Obama, Nicki Minaj, Bill Gates and more remember Steve Jobs. It's not just in the heart and soul of Pixar where Jobs' contribution to film resides; from now on, whether you're catching up for Oscar season between work shifts on your iPad or watching the newest film releases from the comfort of your own home with nothing but a wireless connection and a functional iTunes account, the world will engage movies and media in ways that are only possible because of his work. Comedian and "Ratatouille" voice actor Patton Oswalt perfectly encapsulated the late inventor's legacy on Twitter. In an appropriately geek-friendly manner of speaking, Jobs truly was the "closest thing we had to Tony Stark." Steve Jobs changed the world, but how did he change you? Tell us on Facebook. Related Photos |
| Irv Gotti Says He's 'Best Man' For Def Jam Presidency Posted: 05 Oct 2011 08:24 AM PDT 'If you let Def Jam die, you're gonna let a bit of the culture die,' he tells 'RapFix Live,' fearing label's lack of leadership could lead to its demise.
When you think of the great Def Jam executives, Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin, Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles all come to mind. But don't forget to credit Irv Gotti with helping rebuild the legendary hip-hop label in the mid-1990s.
After producing for Jay-Z's independent debut, Reasonable Doubt, Gotti helped set up the now-infamous deal between Hov's Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam. DMX, in all his multiplatinum glory, came next, and Ja Rule followed, all brought to Def Jam by Gotti. Now, the Murder Inc. founder wants to head the seminal rap record company. "I wanted to speak on this because I love the hip-hop culture with a deep, deep passion," Irv Gotti said when he visited "RapFix Live" on Wednesday (October 5). "Def Jam is the light of that culture; Def Jam personifies the hip-hop culture. There is no other hip-hop label like Def Jam." Irv acknowledged the contributions of late label executive Shakir Stewart but criticized former Def Jam Chairman and CEO L.A. Reid and said there hasn't been a proper president at the company since Jay-Z left at the top of 2008. Gotti, like Violator's Chris Lighty, has always had his name come up whenever rumors of who will take the label's reins surface. "If you don't want to hire me — the best man for the job, the man who will die for it — cool, I understand. You think I'm Suge Knight, you think the feds may come in here again if you hire me, cool," the music producer said referring to the money-laundering charges he beat in 2005. "Put somebody in there, because you not giving any sign or any indication that you care about my culture." Gotti said the company that serves as a home to Rick Ross, Young Jeezy and Fabolous has a talented roster but needs leadership. Irv recalled the time when Cohen went to DMX's Yonkers, New York, neighborhood to sign the rough-around-the-edges hitmaker. He also told host Sway a story about how Lyor once played basketball against the LOX at the famed Rucker Park. He's also worried that if someone isn't brought in soon, the label will eventually crumble. "This is helping our lives. This is a culture that is deep for us. You can't let it die, and if you let Def Jam die, you're gonna let a bit of the culture die," Gotti pleaded passionately. "And the fact that you ain't got no one up there leading the army and ain't had nobody — you just let the artists come up there, give you a record and you put it out. That's not what Def Jam is about." Do you think Irv should lead Def Jam? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Young Jeezy Sample 'Cool,' Above & Beyond Say Posted: 05 Oct 2011 08:06 AM PDT 'A lot of people have been assuming that Jeezy's been ripping us off,' says A&B's Tony McGuinness of 'F.A.M.E.'
Recently, Atlanta MC Young Jeezy put out his much-awaited Thug Motivation 103 album's latest single, "F.A.M.E. (Fake Ass Muthaf---as Envy)," featuring closing bars by a back-in-the-game T.I., online, and since then, the song has been viewed more than 160,000 times and has been heavily commented on.
Ironically, the song, in which Jeezy and T.I. both call out hateration and envy, has been met with a smidge of criticism, though judging by the type of folks leaving the comments, it should come as no surprise. In fact, the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League-produced song is based around a 2005 trance-music classic, Above & Beyond vs. Andy Moor's "Air for Life," which features vocals by Carrie Skipper. In the comments section of the song online, trance-music purists both lament the hip-hop reworking of "Air" but also suggest the sample was used without permission, something Above & Beyond's Tony McGuinness (the Above & Beyond trio also includes Jono Grant & Paavo Siljamäki) addressed when MTV News caught up with him over Skype on Monday. "The finer points of the deal are still being put together now," McGuinness said, "But they basically asked if we were OK with it in principle, and we were. I think a lot of people have been assuming that Jeezy's been ripping us off. But if anyone knows the stature of the guy, he's not the kind of guy who's gonna do that." In fact, according to McGuinness, Jeezy and his manager are huge Above & Beyond fans, and A&B are proud to see their work find a new interpretation. "In terms of what our fans think of it," McGuinness said, "well, it's two of our fans that have made this song: Jeezy and his manager both love Above & Beyond, and so they are doing what we've encouraged all of our fans to do, really, which is use our music in their lives as they see fit. "People use our music to go down the aisle at their wedding or at their stag party or whatever else they do, and what this guy does is make sample-based hip-hop music and rap about his life," McGuinness added. "And he felt the emotion that was in 'Air for Life,' and it helped him get his message across. And that's cool." And fret not, A&B fans, "F.A.M.E." does not mark a foray into the hip-hop genre for your trance heroes. They do not have plans to collaborate on hip-hop songs in the future. Still, McGuinness reminded us that music is about experimentation, and people should be open to new things. "I think you need to keep an open mind and see the way the world is changing," McGuinness said. "We are not putting our name to it or trying to give ourselves artist notification on the record. It's a piece of music written a couple of years back and it's being used in this track. And that's cool! And if it introduces a few more people to Above & Beyond, then fantastic! "We've been hearing how trance music's been seeping out in the past few years into R&B and hip-hop, and it's quite tickling to have one of our tracks enter that world in that way because I think for a long time, people were kind of shying away from it," he continued. "But now there seems to be this kind of widespread acceptance, and that maybe there is something good in there. And that's nice to hear." Related Artists |
| Jay-Z Congratulates J. Cole On #1 Album Posted: 05 Oct 2011 01:35 AM PDT 'J. Cole's success is testament to amazing artist development and Cole's hard work,' Roc Nation boss says in statement to MTV News.
Cole's world just got a lot brighter. After news officially broke that J. Cole's Cole World: The Sideline Story snagged the #1 spot on this week's Billboard 200, his Roc nation boss, Jay-Z, gave the rookie MC a big pat on the back.
"J. Cole's success is testament to amazing artist development and Cole's hard work," Hov said in a press release issued to MTV News. "I want to congratulate him on a #1 album and more importantly a great body of work." The Fayetteville, North Carolina, MC/producer moved more than 217,000 copies of his debut in its first week of release, beating out Blink-182's long-awaited Neighborhoods album. "J. Cole personifies humility and grace with edge and depth. As an MC, his point of view speaks to and represents me. I'm proud and blessed to be a part of his journey!" Mark Pitts, president of urban music at Sony /JIVE and CEO of Bystorm Entertainment, said in the statement. Cole first attracted a buzz in 2007 with The Come Up mixtape. In 2009, he quietly signed to Jay-Z's label before releasing his Warm Up tape. The rapper is a former XXL Freshmen cover subject, and along with appearing on his boss Hov's Blueprint III, he also toured with Rihanna this year. But even with all of his accomplishments, Cole's debut went through a series of starts and stops before dropping on September 27. On the strength of his singles "Work Out," "Can't Get Enough" (with Trey Songz) and "In the Morning" (with Drake), Cole built anticipation for his first album. In an interview with MTV2's Sucker Free, Cole spoke about the excitement he would feel to have his LP in stores: "I can remember going to get so many albums and just the fact that mines is one of those. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Posted: 05 Oct 2011 05:19 AM PDT Apple co-founder was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004.
Apple announced Wednesday (October 5) that co-founder Steve Jobs had died at age 56. "Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being," read a statement posted on Apple.com. "Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple." Jobs, who stepped down as Apple's CEO in August, announced to his employees in 2004 that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. While he appeared to have successfully removed the cancerous tumor that same year, his health continued to deteriorate over the years and he took a medical leave of absence in January. President Obama, Nicki Minaj, Bill Gates and more remember Steve Jobs. When announcing his resignation, Jobs wrote in a statement to Apple's board of directors, "I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's C.E.O., I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come." Jobs founded Apple with Steve Wozniak in 1976 before being fired from his own company in 1985. He later admitted that this seeming low point in his life was necessary for his evolution as a businessman and a person. "The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything," he told Stanford graduates during a commencement speech in 2005. "It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life." His next move was purchasing the Graphics Group in 1986 — a little company that would later be renamed Pixar. After teaming up with Disney, the first film produced under the partnership was "Toy Story" in 1995, forever changing the path of big-screen animation. Remember Steve Jobs' many innovations by flipping through this photo gallery. Following that success, Jobs made a triumphant return in 1996 to the company he helped found when Apple bought his NeXT Computer company, and he became interim chief executive the next year. Apple's profile was boosted significantly with the introduction of the iMac in 1998, and the hits kept coming for Jobs and Apple. The first iPod came in 2001, followed by the iTunes Store in 2003 — which just last year sold its 10 billionth song. The iPhone was next in 2007, and Apple revolutionized electronics once more with the release of the iPad last year. Steve Jobs almost singlehandedly brought the music industry into the future — here's how. During that 2005 Stanford commencement speech, Jobs summed up his personal path to success and his impact on technology. "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future," he told the graduating class. "You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life." Steve Jobs changed the world, but how did he change you? Tell Us on Facebook. |
| Beyonce's 'Countdown' Video A Bridge To The Past Posted: 04 Oct 2011 11:53 PM PDT With the clip set to premiere Thursday at 7:56 p.m. ET on MTV, Bigger Than the Sound takes a look at B's career.
A few weeks back, a relative who shall remain nameless was complaining about Beyoncé. More specifically, the way she chose to reveal her pregnancy at the VMAs, because, as the relative in question told me, "It was a bad example for girls ... after all, Beyoncé's not even married." (I am from the South, after all.)
After taking a second to process that statement, I informed the relative that, not only was Beyoncé married, but she'd been married for a while now and had actually dated her husband (you know, Jay-Z — whom, it should be noted, my relative hadn't heard of) for an even longer while before that. If anything, I pointed out, Beyoncé had set a perfect example for girls out there. "OK," my relative said. "Well, then, I like her again." And that's basically all you need to know about Beyoncé at this stage of her career: She is so famous that her every action is judged by my Southern relatives, most of whom are unaware of Jay-Z's existence. And he has 12 #1 albums and owns a part of an NBA franchise. Beyoncé has become not only an icon, but — as all evidence suggests — a role model, whether she wants to be or not. And, perhaps most tellingly, as my relative's rapidly changing opinion of her indicates, people really want to like her. So, given that I had the perfect case study on the phone, I asked my relative just what, exactly, did she like about Bey? She said she had heard some of her music (the big, ballad-y stuff, like "If I Were a Boy" and "Halo") and liked her voice, but what really struck her is that she "seemed nice" and that she reminded her of the kind of artists she had listened to growing up: Tina Turner, Diana Ross and Gladys Knight. And while I could do an entire column on the sentiments contained in the "nice" comment, I'd prefer to focus instead on Beyoncé's throwback factor — because that's where the real connection lies. After nearly 13 years as both a solo artist and a member of Destiny's Child, Beyoncé may very well be the bridge between the past and the future. I suspect that my relative has never heard her 4 album, which is a shame, because she'd probably like it. The disc hasn't quite matched the lofty commercial successes of its predecessors, but it's a better album in just about every conceivable way. Full of live instruments and gushing emotions, it recalls the work of everyone from Prince and Lionel Ritchie to the Jackson 5 and Fela Kuti and contains no less than a half-dozen big-boned ballads (the best among them being "1+1," "Best Thing I Never Had" and "I Was Here"). Sure, there are weirder moments too — like first single "Run the World (Girls)" — but at its core, 4 is a very classy, classically influenced effort — the kind of thing your relatives can really relate to. And yet, I would wager that most of them are unaware of its existence. Which is why it will be interesting to gauge the reaction to "Countdown," the latest single from the disc. The video for the song premieres Thursday at 7:56 p.m. ET on MTV, and judging from the sneak peek we've seen, Beyoncé is very much channeling the spirit of Audrey Hebpurn in it, sporting short bangs and cropped black pants. And with the song's hard-charging horns and steel-drum flourishes, it certainly recalls soul and reggae tunes of yesteryear. Of course, it also marks the triumphant return of so-called "Crazy Beyoncé," the fantastic, fascinating sliver of her personality she's revealed in gloriously over-the-top tunes like "Ring the Alarm," "Get Me Bodied," "Diva" and, of course, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" (and, to a lesser effect, on "Run The World" too). In a lot of ways, "Countdown" is the point where 4's two halves meet, both sonically and spiritually. There is a joyful abandon to it that brings to mind stuff like "Proud Mary" or "Midnight Train to Georgia." There is also the part where Beyoncé keeps saying (I think) "boof." And as such, it could be summed up as the ultimate litmus test of Bey's cross-generational appeal. Can she carry the coveted "relatives" demographic? Does it even matter? Then again, I suppose there was a time when aunts and uncles were complaining that Tina Turner didn't set a good example for young girls either. It is, and seemingly always will be, a generational thing. And while she's certainly got a long way to go, Beyoncé may very well end up being our generation's true icon, the logical successor to those who came before her. "Countdown" is just the next rung on the ladder, and there will certainly be many more to come; still, it's a heck of a step, the perfect synthesis of what I love about Beyoncé and what my relatives do too. I just hope they'll listen. It'd make for a really interesting phone call next week. What are you expecting from Beyoncé's "Countdown" video? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Glee'-Cap: Mike Chang Takes Center Stage Posted: 05 Oct 2011 03:06 AM PDT Plus: Emma's 'ginger supremacist' parents roll into town, and the Rachel/Mercedes feud reaches boiling point.
"Asian F" was a jam-packed "Glee" episode that introduced Mike Chang's disapproving father (and delightful singing voice) as well as Emma's "ginger supremacist" parents. Plus, the tension between Mercedes and Rachel reached a dramatic breaking point thanks to a tight battle for the lead role in McKinley High's school play. All that action — and a sweet Kurt and Blaine interlude — led our resident Gleek to write a recap song inspired by Paul Simon's "Graceland" phase:
Mercedes is tired of livin' under Rachel's spotlight She ain't pregnant, she's lazy! "I ain't splittin' the role with Rachel Berry Mike's dad is real angry But all Mike wants to do is dance, dance, dance, dance He don't need no music to bust a move, move, move, move "Hey, honey! How's your day? Mine's great; here, have some flowers! Turns out Ralph Malph is Emma's dad, dad, dad, dad Oh, "Glee," you're making me just swoon, swoon, swoon, swoon What did you think of this week's "Glee"? Share your reviews in the comments below! Related Videos |
| T.I. Gets 'Support' From NBA Star Amar'e Stoudemire Posted: 05 Oct 2011 03:18 AM PDT 'Me and Tip been homeys for a long time,' Knicks power forward tells Mixtape Daily.
Celebrity Favorites: Amar'e Stoudemire
"Me and Tip been homeys for a long time now, so it's good to see him back on his feet, back out here in the city," the Knicks power forward said when MTV News caught up with him on the black carpet for the BET Hip Hop Awards. "I came out to support him." This time of year, Stoudemire is typically gearing up for the basketball season, but due to a labor dispute between the players union and league owner, the 2011-12 NBA basketball season is currently locked out and may be lost entirely if an agreement isn't reached soon. Stoudemire has been keeping plenty busy. This past weekend, he attended the Hip Hop Awards and will appear as a presenter when the show airs next Tuesday. Not only that, Amar'e is working on a clothing line with Rachel Roy. So what does a top baller listen to during his downtime? Jay-Z and Kanye West, of course. "Right now, I'm on that Watch the Throne album. You can't go wrong with that one baby," he proclaimed. Still, the number-one question on every sports fans mind is: When will players return to the hardwood? Stoudemire didn't have an answer, though he sounded optimistic. "Hopefully soon. Right now, we're on the cusp trying to figure out what we're gonna do with this new deal," he said. "Once we get that sorted out, we should be able to play soon." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
| LL Cool J Proud To Pave The Way For Drake, Others Posted: 05 Oct 2011 12:41 AM PDT 'It's pretty obvious that what Dr. Dre and N.W.A did for gangsta rap music, I did for romantic music,' LL tells MTV News.
When it comes to hip-hop lotharios, LL Cool J pretty much set the blueprint for romantic rap when he dropped "I Need Love" in 1987. Now, nearly every rap release includes at least one song that pulls on the heart strings of women, and artists like Ja Rule, Fabolous and Drake have dedicated much of their catalog to the fairer sex.
For an artist like Drake, his ability to speak to women on songs like "Best I Ever Had," "Find Your Love," "Fancy" and "Marvins Room" has earned him an adoring and dedicated female fanbase. The "Mama Said Knock You Out" MC admitted that he enjoyed DJ Khaled's Drake-featuring "I'm on One," but outside of that, no one in rap's newest generation has really caught his attention. "It's pretty obvious that what Dr. Dre and N.W.A did for gangsta rap music, I did for romantic music and music with females," Uncle L told MTV News on the black carpet for the BET Hip Hop Awards, where he will be rewarded with the I Am Hip Hop lifetime-achievement award when the show airs next Tuesday. "I basically started a section of a genre and created it and put it out there, and now lots of people are doing it. I think it's great. The more, the better. It's better than downing them and telling [women] they ain't nothing," LL said before speaking of Drizzy's catalog specifically. "So I'm happy for him and I'm glad he decided to go that lane, and I wish everybody the best." Who does romantic rap best? Let us know your picks in the comments! Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber Confirms Mariah Carey Christmas Collabo Posted: 05 Oct 2011 07:10 AM PDT 'I think a lot of you are already surprised by this and you're going to be even more surprised when you hear it,' Carey says in video message.
After much speculation, Justin Bieber confirmed that the Queen of the Christmas song, Mariah Carey, will appear on his holiday album, Under the Mistletoe.
And to make it even more special, the pair re-recorded her classic track "All I Want for Christmas" for the album. In the lead-up to the announcement of the collabo, Bieber kept his Twitter followers guessing about who the special guest for the album — which is already filled with a number of big names — might be. "Oh yeah ...didn't I promise everyone I would tell them who my last special guest is on my christmas album #UnderTheMistletoe ??? #nov1st I mean we know we got my big bro @UsherRaymondIV and @thebandperry and @BusaBusss and @BoyzIIMen on the album ... but who is the last guest??" he teased his loyal followers. "Who is the living legend that I got on the album???? #UnderTheMistletoe #Nov1st." After his followers offered their guesses, Bieber offered this hint: "I mean, the fact that I might be singing with one of the greatest voices ever, one of the greatest songs of christmas ever ...... #NOV1st." Before the big reveal, he tweeted out a link to a video message from the singer, then added, "Well like I said ... #UnderTheMistletoe is not your normal christmas album. right @mariahcarey. #NOV1st." In the video message, while being her usual over-the-top diva self, Carey said, "I'm very excited about it. I think a lot of you are already surprised by this and you're going to be even more surprised when you hear it." A full track list for Bieber's Under the Mistletoe also hit the Net. The album will include "Only Thing I Ever Get for Christmas," the first single, "Mistletoe," "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" featuring Usher, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Fa La La" featuring Boyz II Men, "Christmas Love," "All I Want for Christmas Is You" with Mariah Carey, "Little Drummer Boy" featuring Busta Rhymes, "All I Want Is You," "Christmas Eve" and "Home This Christmas" featuring the Band Perry. The deluxe edition will include an a cappella version of "Fa La La," as well as "Silent Night," "Pray" and "Someday at Christmas." Tricky Stewart, who produced the album, shared with MTV News the one song he felt needed to make it on the record. "For me, I knew I wanted 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,' " he said. "That's one of those that makes everyone feel good. So we did it and I think it's a really cool version of it." The first single from Under the Mistletoe, "Mistletoe," drops October 18, with the album due November 1. Related Artists |
| Kelly Clarkson's 'What Doesn't Kill You' Is An 'Anthem' Posted: 04 Oct 2011 10:48 PM PDT Stronger track is 'kinda like 'Since U Been Gone,' ' Clarkson tells MTV News.
Kelly Clarkson doesn't need a guy to make her feel strong, and on her new track "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)," she lets a former flame know it.
The song is the latest tease for her October 24 album, Stronger. Clarkson tweeted the official version of the song after a leak hit the Internet last week. On the dance track, which is all about the power of loving yourself, Clarkson proudly declares over a fist-pumping beat, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger/ Stand a little taller/ Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone." "Stronger" fits in nicely with Clarkson's canon of empowerment-themed, kiss-off tunes. And this time around, she's also moving on to a new guy, singing, "You heard that I was starting over with someone/ They told you I was moving on, over you/ You think I'd come/ I'd come back swinging/ You tried to break me/ But you see what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." A version of the first song leaked over the summer but the official one had yet to be released until now. When Clarkson spoke to MTV News about the track, she said it reminded her of one of her own all-time favorites. " 'What Doesn't Kill You,' I can't wait to perform that live," the singer told us. "We've already rehearsed it, and it's so much fun. It's like this big dance anthem. That'll be the one [that's] kinda like 'Since U Been Gone,' [with] people jumping up and down to [it], and it's just kind of really inspiring, so I can't wait to perform that one." What do you think of Kelly Clarkson's "What Doesn't Kill You"? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'Real Steel' Stars, Director Knock Out Misconceptions Posted: 05 Oct 2011 12:58 AM PDT 'It's more 'Rocky' than it is Rock 'Em Sock 'Em [Robots],' director Shawn Levy tells MTV News of early skeptics.
For those who've been following the comings and goings of "Real Steel," it's a pretty well-known fact that when the project was first announced back in late 2009, the Internets lit up with comments and rants against the studio for green-lighting a Rock 'Em Sock Em Robots movie.
And while everyone is entitled to their own opinion, the problem with that perception, according to the stars and director themselves, is that it's incorrect. "A lot people [say], 'What is it, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots?' But it's got a lot of heart," Hugh Jackman told MTV News at the film's premiere. "This movie is really about the relationships of everyone involved, and I think it's going to surprise people. I saw it with my mother-in-law, my wife and my kids at the same screening, and they all were crying at one point, laughing, and they really got into it." Director Shawn Levy admitted that he wasn't bothered so much by the quick critiques as he was amused, because they were analyzing elements of the film they hadn't seen and a script they obviously hadn't read. "It's more 'Rocky' than it is Rock 'Em Sock 'Em. It's all about the heart, it's all about the characters," Levy explained. "The action is great, and if you're a young guy and you just want to come and watch robots wail on each other, great, you're going to love it. But if you're looking for more of an emotional experience, the movie is very much that." Evangeline Lilly took the emotional aspect of the plot one step further and explained the film's overall message. "I think the moral message here is: Never give up on yourself. Never sell out. Selling out is such a big thing nowadays, because our culture is so materialistic and money is everything, and in this film, this beautiful little boy played by Dakota [Goyo] will not sell out, and his father wants to, because his father, Hugh Jackman, is kind of pathetic compared to his son," she explained. "His son is like, 'Dude, I'm not giving up on myself, I'm not giving up on my robot, I'm not giving up on you.' It's beautiful, because it's supposed to be the inverse; the father is supposed to say that to the son. So it kind of breaks your heart to see a son redeem his father." Check out everything we've got on "Real Steel." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Wiz Khalifa Didn't 'Plan' Amber Rose Wedding Fake-Out Posted: 04 Oct 2011 11:03 PM PDT 'When we make it happen, we'll invite everybody,' he tells MTV News of last month's supposed wedding photos.
In his career, Wiz Khalifa has plotted moves that would take him from Pittsburgh unknown to certified rap star. But when it comes to his and Amber Rose's rumored September wedding, Wiz promises he didn't plot the fake-out.
"That's my baby. She's always gonna be there, so when we make it happen, we'll invite everybody," he told MTV News. "I promise we didn't do that on purpose," Wiz said of the wedding-like pictures of him and his main squeeze that surfaced on the Internet. Though the rapper was dressed in a black tux and Rose in a white dress, Khalifa was simply in Vegas celebrating his birthday with his girl and a group of well-dressed friends. Wiz went on to release a viral video of him and the Taylor Gang flying out to Las Vegas to celebrate. "Man, I couldn't plan nothing like that," he told MTV News on the BET Hip Hop Awards black carpet. "I just be chilling. I just be wanting to have a good time, smoke, eat a little weed cake and — boom! — we got married." After going public with their romance earlier this year, the Pittsburgh spitter appeared on our "RapFix Live" show and was joined by Amber in one of the live stream's most memorable moments. The lovebirds have become the topic of much blog speculation, mostly due to the model's previous courtship with Kanye West. MTV News caught up with the couple on the 2011 VMA black carpet, where Rose said that when it comes to marriage, she and her beau are going to wait a while. "We're just going to take our time and just enjoy each other right now," she said. "We're both really busy and we work really hard, and when the time comes, it's gonna come." Did you think Wiz and Amber tied the knot last month? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| 'The Adventures of Tintin' U.K. Trailer: Five Key Scenes Posted: 04 Oct 2011 11:44 PM PDT Action, comedy and references to Indiana Jones show promise for the highly anticipated Steven Spielberg/ Peter Jackson film.
For those unfamiliar with the worldwide popularity of the Tintin comics, the news and hype surrounding "The Adventures of Tintin," the film adaptation out this December, could seem overblown. Yes, Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson teaming up is always going to be big news, but the teaser trailer released a few months ago left a lot of people scratching their heads, wondering what all the fuss was about. Well, that should change with the latest trailer to hit the Web. MSN Movies posted a look at a brand-new U.K. trailer for the film, and let's just say it gives us everything that was missing from the teaser. We've broken down the five key scenes from the trailer so you'll know why Tintin should be on your radar this fall. Related Photos |
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