MTV News |
- Justin Bieber Marvels At Mariah Carey Christmas Collab
- Coldplay's <i>Mylo Xyloto</i>: Their Best Album Yet?
- Carson Kressley Cut From 'Dancing With The Stars'
- David Banner Questions Motives of Artists Moving In On Occupy Wall Street
- Justin Bieber Joins Fans <i>Under The Mistletoe</i> For 'MTV First'
- 'X Factor' Reveals 17 Finalists Before Live Shows
- Lil Wayne Says Nothing Can 'Touch' Drake's <i>Take Care</i>
- Justin Bieber To Play 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve'
- Drake Embraces His 'Emo' Side Despite Criticism
- Red Cafe Brings Bad Boy Swag To 'RapFix Live'
- Florence And The Machine Reveal Next Single: Exclusive
- Britney Spears, Boyfriend Get Steamy In 'Criminal' Video
- Demi Moore Says Ashley Greene Is 'Saucy' In 'LOL'
- Shia LaBeouf Involved In Vancouver Bar Fight?
- Grafh Is 'A Fan' Of Rick Ross, Lil Wayne Labels
- Adam Lambert Calls New Album 'Existential Pop'
- Occupy Wall Street Lets People 'Really Talk,' David Banner Says
- Soulja Boy Arrested On Drug, Gun Charges
- Lady Gaga Reveals 'Marry The Night' Cover Art
- Kelly Clarkson Campaigns For 'Parks And Rec' Cameo
| Justin Bieber Marvels At Mariah Carey Christmas Collab Posted: 19 Oct 2011 03:53 AM PDT On the upcoming Under the Mistletoe, JB also teams up with Busta Rhymes for a 'genius' take on 'Little Drummer Boy.'
Justin Bieber's upcoming Under the Mistletoe album -- you know, the one powered by Christmas cookies and promoted by the first single, "Mistletoe" -- also features more than its fair share of eye-opening collaborations.
That's counting Bieber's mentor Usher (who appears on a version of "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire"), Boyz II Men, the Band Perry and, rather amazingly, Busta Rhymes, who teams up with JB on an updated take of "Little Drummer Boy." As Bieber told MTV News during the live stream that followed the premiere of his "Mistletoe" video, the Busta collaboration is one he'll always remember ... mostly because he considers it to be quite brilliant. "If you really think about it, it's genius, because it's rapping on a Christmas album ... and, like, I'm rapping on it. And then it's singing," he explained. "It's cool. [Busta's] got, like, a percussive voice to him [and] the beat was so crazy. I'm actually playing drums on that song, playing the snare." And then, of course, there's his collabo with none other than Mariah Carey, on a version of her instant-classic "All I Want for Christmas Is You." If you thought he was blown away by his Busta team-up, well, you haven't heard anything yet. And he owes it all to none other than Randy Jackson. "Mariah Carey is doing it with me! It's incredible. So excited," he said of "All I Want." "We wanted Mariah from the beginning, but we kind of thought it was really hard, so we didn't really push the idea. But she's on my label, so we reached out to some people, she got in contact with us, and Randy Jackson was actually at the studio with us, and I was like, 'Yo, you think you can help get Mariah on the Christmas album?' And he was like, 'I'm actually going to see her in New York on Monday,' and I was like 'Yo, go do that!' " Which Bieber Christmas collabo are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos |
| Coldplay's <i>Mylo Xyloto</i>: Their Best Album Yet? Posted: 19 Oct 2011 03:53 AM PDT We take a look at Coldplay's least subtle — and perhaps finest — album ever, in Bigger Than the Sound.
You can accuse Coldplay of being many things — mawkish, maudlin, bland, boring, grandiose, geeky, preachy, polished, M.O.R., A.O.R., E.L.O. — and more often than not, their (countless) critics do just that. You cannot, however, accuse them of being subtle. Not ever. That's OK, though. None of the hugest bands on the planet (the U2s, Linkin Parks, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc.) are practiced in the art of subtlety. It is simply not in their nature. Instead, they deal in universal themes, paint with the broadest of brushstrokes. That is, one could reasonably assume, at least partially why they are so popular: They make music that is massive and, of course, for the masses.
I mention all that not to slag Coldplay, a band I actually like very much, but to A) point out that they have never focused on the smaller aspects of life (their first hit, "Yellow," opened with the line, "Look at the stars/ Look how they shine for you," and even their most delicate singles — stuff like "The Scientist" and "Fix You" and "Clocks" — could casually be described as "arena-size") and B) to defuse any and all criticisms of their latest album, Mylo Xyloto, which is very fine indeed but is not in any conceivable way a subtle thing. And, again, that's just fine with me. My favorite thing about Coldplay has always been their willingness to experiment, to push the boundaries of what a (very) major-label rock band can and should do. They work with Brian Eno (who is credited with "Enoxification and additional composition" on Xyloto) Jay-Z and Jon Hopkins; they put Baudot Code on their album covers; and they are constantly, occasionally frustratingly, trying very hard to be overly complex. Sometimes, like on 2009's Viva la Vida, they try to do too much, which dulls the impact of their tunes. On Xyloto, due Tuesday (October 18), that is not the case. This is precision-honed Coldplay, which seems like an odd thing to say about a vaguely conceptual album that spans 14 tracks and features more electronic wallop than a dozen Creamfields, more skyward guitars than a million planetarium shows and more vocal chants than a season at Old Trafford. Oh, and Rihanna too. And yet, it all works. The biggest moments, like "Paradise," "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall," "Princess of China" (that's the RiRi track) and "Don't Let It Break Your Heart," pile each of those elements on with aplomb, and the results are gloriously giddy and appropriately anthemic. The several musical interludes on the disc show the Eno influence, each mercury-slick and slipstream shiny (they also serve as excellent onramps to those bigger tunes). And the few quiet moments on Xyloto, like the acoustic "U.F.O." and album-closing "Up With the Birds," draw maximum emotional impact out of minimal dynamic (and, as all quiet songs should be, are genuinely pretty too). Of course, Mylo Xyloto is also Coldplay's most electronic album, a fact that may bother some of their more centrist fans. But it's also their most adventurous, their most gigantic and, at least in terms of both of those things, their most impactful. And that, in and of itself, sets it far apart from most of the other major-label rock albums released this year, or any year. You can continue to criticize them all you want, but that just means you've never listened to their albums. With Xyloto, Coldplay have pulled off the rather impossible feat of expanding their repertoire while, at the same time, honing their focus. And that's a lot more difficult to pull off than subtlety, whether you're the smallest band in the world or the biggest. What do you think of Coldplay's new music? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos |
| Carson Kressley Cut From 'Dancing With The Stars' Posted: 19 Oct 2011 03:53 AM PDT 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' alum joined by Hope Solo in bottom two.
In the final minutes of Tuesday night's "Dancing With the Stars" telecast, it came down to Hope Solo and her partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy vs. Carson Kressley and his partner Anna Trebunskaya.
Both were thought to be fan favorites -- Solo and Chmerkovskiy were consistently applauded for their great technique; the other couple for their whimsy and crowd appeal -- but it was Kressley and Trebunskaya who were eliminated in the end. On Monday night's show, Kressley had said this week was his most stressful. Still, he and Trebunskaya took on the jive and gave it a colorful, cheerleader-like spin. The judges thought it was good, wacky fun but lacked technique. "This is a crowning achievement in madness," Bruno Tonioli told them Monday night. When Kressley's name was called, the crowd booed, but the "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" star said he was proud of what he'd accomplished. "I gotta say thank you to everyone involved," he said after learning his fate. "Anna has been the most amazing, patient and kind partner. This has been pure joy for me. I hope I could make people smile and laugh and have a great time." Host Tom Bergeron joked that it was a shame Kressley was leaving before next week's theme, which is Broadway. He also told Kressley that he gets to keep the outfits he wore on the show, to which he cheered and said it was just in time for Halloween. "It was great being here," Kressley said. "I can't say enough about what a great, positive experience this was. I'll be back every week cheering for my castmates!" Were you sad to see Carson go? Let us know in the comments. |
| David Banner Questions Motives of Artists Moving In On Occupy Wall Street Posted: 19 Oct 2011 03:53 AM PDT 'All of us have become so corporate that people don't even feel like we're a part of the people,' rapper tells MTV News.
NEW YORK — David Banner wasn't the first artist to visit Occupy Wall Street, and he certainly won't be the last. But Banner questioned the true intentions of many of the artists taking part in the demonstrations. When MTV News followed Banner down to Manhattan's Zuccotti Park last Thursday, he said others probably questioned their intentions as well.
"One of my only criticisms of hip-hop right now is that we all — like everybody — we can't separate ourselves. All of us have become so corporate that people don't even feel like we're a part of the people, especially rappers and punk rockers," Banner said. "People always felt like we were them. We were their voice. "You look at what happened with Troy [Davis]. We're still at war, we're in a recession, where's that in the music? I don't hear that in the music," he continued. "This is the general feeling that people won't really say, but I hear it." Banner said that in the aftermath of 2005's Hurricane Katrina, many rappers ran to the Gulf Coast to help, but only when cameras were there. Banner, who won a Visionary Award from the National Black Caucus of State Legislators for his efforts during the hurricane, said that many of those rappers disappeared once the cameras did. "That's why I applaud somebody like Big Boi, like he still holding Troy [Davis] down. The thing is, we have to understand that it's not about what you do when the cameras are on, it's what you do when the cameras are off." Banner also addressed the merits of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators. People have questioned whether or not the demonstration is representative of everyone it claims it is, because the demonstrators are predominantly white. But Banner said that if upper-middle-class white kids weren't there, the police wouldn't be as patient with the demonstration. "They'd just send the police out there, throw some tear gas, plant somebody in there. Call it gang violence, whatever, ya'll know what they do in the 'hood," Banner said. "When their children are out there is when it becomes a movement. And I used to fight that and be mad at that, but what we got to understand is, in every movement, even in the '60s, young, white, middle-class people were a major part of the movement. We have to stop separating ourselves." Related Videos Related Photos |
| Justin Bieber Joins Fans <i>Under The Mistletoe</i> For 'MTV First' Posted: 18 Oct 2011 07:07 AM PDT Boyz II Men's Nathan Morris and 'Mistletoe' director Roman White also join Beliebers for our video-premiere live stream.
On Tuesday night (October 18), Justin Bieber kicked off the Christmas season two months early when he sat down with MTV News during "MTV First: Justin Bieber" to talk about his new holiday-themed album, Under the Mistletoe, and premiere his video for the album's first single, "Mistletoe."
The Roman White-directed video features Bieber and his leading lady, Allie Williams, getting romantic in Franklin, Tennessee, where the video was shot last month. "It was different because, like, it's a Christmas video, so you gotta get your Christmas spirit on," he said of having to pretend it was the holiday season months before the jingle bells actually start ringing. "We had Santa there. He was kind of interesting, because he had this finger that would light up, but I never knew that, so he would come up to me randomly and point at me and his finger lit up, and it was really strange. I was like, 'Santa doesn't do that, my friend.' " So has Bieber ever kissed anyone under the mistletoe, like he does in the romantic video? "No," he revealed. "Except in the 'Mistletoe' video. Maybe I'll be able to someday." During the show, White spoke to MTV News via Skype and recalled being on set with Bieber, whom he also worked with on the 2009 video for "One Less Lonely Girl." White explained that the video was influenced by John Hughes '80s flicks like "Pretty in Pink" and "Sixteen Candles." "It was great," White gushed. "He's a lot of fun. It's the second time I've worked with him, so we already kind of knew each other a little bit. "He was a little older, a little taller and his hair was a little shorter," he laughed. "He's a lot of fun, and he taught me some dance moves. We had a blast. What can I say? I learned how to Dougie from one of the Dougie originators."
Considering the video was shot in September, White made sure the set was very Christmas-like. "I love Christmas. ... We had all these huge snow machines. We had Santa Claus there. All this snow everywhere. It was really crazy," he explained. "It felt like Christmas." The general consensus of fans in the studio was that Bieber definitely created a Christmas classic with the island-tinged tune. "Well, I'm jealous," Kelsie said of Bieber's kiss in the video, adding that she was floored by Bieber's growth as an artist. "It was so great. It's so great to see how much personality he puts into it and compare him to how it is now [from where he was], it's amazing. It's inspiring." Under the Mistletoe features duets with a variety of stars, like Mariah Carey, Usher, Busta Rhymes, the Band Perry and Boyz II Men, who appear on the song "Fa La La." "We take that very, very highly," Boyz II Men's Nathan Morris told us during "MTV First." "I think he's a great artist overall. The kid can sing. [Our song has] got a nice little grove to it. The track is actually pretty nice. It doesn't sound like a hokey Christmas song." The album hits stores November 1, and Bieber was inspired by a certain food rather than a certain mood when it came to writing tracks for it. "It's different, because you've gotta think Christmastime. You've gotta think, 'What's at Christmas? Mistletoe, reindeer, Santa, all these things.' And especially when it's not Christmastime, it's hard to really get your mind around it," he said. "But once you get into it, like, I was really thinking it was Christmastime when I was writing this album. ... We had Christmas cookies [in the studio]." Want to know what else Bieber and company, including Boyz II Men's Nathan Morris and director Roman White, had to say about all things Mistletoe? Stay with MTV News as we roll out more news and fun tidbits from our interview with Bieber. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'X Factor' Reveals 17 Finalists Before Live Shows Posted: 18 Oct 2011 07:58 AM PDT Teen rapper Brian Bradley, James Brown-alike Dexter Haygood and other favorites sail through to the finals.
Pint-size rapper Brian "Astro" Bradley, recovering addict Chris Rene and the formerly homeless Dexter Haygood are among the finalists on "The X Factor," it was revealed on Tuesday's (October 18) episode of the Fox singing competition.
During the two-hour episode, the competition's 32 remaining contestants were trimmed to 16. Those singers will face off in the live episodes, which begin next week, and ultimately try to claim the show's $5 million recording contract. And in a last-minute twist -- because of course there's going to be a twist -- one extra contestant was allowed through to the finals. Here are the 17 "X Factor" finalists: » Brian "Astro" Bradley, 14, Brooklyn: Mentor L.A. Reid questioned whether the ultra-confident rapper -- whom Rihanna dubbed "a mini J. Cole" -- can "maintain the right kind of attitude," but told him, "You're a champion, you're on my team." Bradley responded by calling Reid (who is nearly four times his elder) "brother" and "my man." » Phillip Lomax, 22, Seattle: When Reid told the Sinatra-style crooner, "I believe in you," Lomax responded, "I'm gonna make you proud." » Chris Rene, 28, Santa Cruz, California: Reid told the garbage collector and recovering addict, "You're on my team," though he did express concern about Rene's continued sobriety. » Marcus Canty, 20, Bowie, Maryland: Reid lectured Canty (who sang K-Ci and JoJo's "All My Life" directly to Rihanna during the final audition round) about consistency before letting him through. » Simone Battle, 22, Los Angeles: The singer with dreams of being a "diamond-selling" pop star but who is also prone to forgetting lyrics was given a warning by judge Simon Cowell, who told her it would be "catastrophic" if she forgets her lyrics during a live show. » Drew Ryniewicz, 14, Chino Valley, Arizona: The Justin Bieber-obsessed singer, who impressed the judges early on with a slowed-down, moody take on Bieber's "Baby," was told by Cowell about her final audition, "You weren't the best teenager... you were the best contestant the whole day." » Tiah Tolliver, 20, Bremerton, Washington: Tolliver, who split the judges early on, was asked by Cowell why he seems to be the only one in her corner. But Cowell also happens to be the most powerful judge on the panel, so he told her, "I'm a believer. You're in my four." » Rachel Crow, 13, Boulder, Colorado: "How can I say no to you?" Cowell asked the adorable Crow, who memorably told the judges during her initial audition that she needs a bigger home so she can have her own bathroom. » Melanie Amaro, 19, Sunrise, Florida: After initially dismissing the singer, Cowell -- who was knocked out by her version of Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" in the judge's home round -- traveled to her home in Florida to ask her back in the competition. She gladly accepted his invite. » Josh Krajcik, 30, Columbus, Ohio: Despite the burrito maker's "guy next door" appeal, mentor Nicole Scherzinger said, "I don't know if the guy next door is a superstar." But she allowed him through, and Krajcik called the moment "the beginning of a dream come true." » LeRoy Bell, 60, Seattle: The competition's oldest singer was told "you are so going through" by Scherzinger. » Dexter Haygood, 49, Memphis: Haygood was very up and down in the audition rounds, and was knocked for his imitations of James Brown and Mick Jagger. "My heart says one thing and my head says another thing," Scherzinger told him. "But I have a big, big heart, and I've decided to go with my heart. I am taking you through to the live shows." Haygood replied, "I'm actually the happiest man in the world right now," before diving into Scherzinger's pool in celebration. » Stacy Francis, 42, Los Angeles: Francis told the judges early on, "I don't want to die with this music in me," and she won't. Scherzinger told her, "I know you're a fighter, and I'm a fighter too. We're gonna make a good team." » The Brewer Boys, 12 and 17, Temecula, California: The Bieber-hair-sporting brother duo was told, "You deserve to be a part of the live shows" by their mentor, Paula Abdul. "I can't even explain it," said the younger Brewer Boy. » InTENsity, 12-17: The group, comprised of 10 rejects from the solo rounds, coasted through with a thumbs-up from Abdul. » Lakoda Rayne, 17-22: The group, which was also assembled from singers who were dismissed from the solo rounds, struggled in its audition in front of Abdul and Pharrell Williams, but was given a pass through to the live shows. » The Stereo Hoggz, 24-25, Houston: Pharrell said they mix Motown and Ginuwine. "I've gotta go with my gut," Abdul told them, "and I believe you guys are potential superstars. We're gonna work hard and we're gonna kill it on that stage. We're gonna kill it!" In celebration, the five Hoggz took a page out of Haygood's playbook and dove into Abdul's pool. Among the favorites who didn't make the cut into the live episodes were rugby player Caitlin Koch, the confidence-challenged Jazzlyn Little and 42-year-old wedding singer Tiger Budbill. What do you think of the 17 "X Factor" finalists? Did the right ones make the cut? Let us know in the comments! |
| Lil Wayne Says Nothing Can 'Touch' Drake's <i>Take Care</i> Posted: 18 Oct 2011 03:53 AM PDT 'That kid is on another planet,' Young Money boss says of Drake's new record.
There are few albums more highly anticipated than Drake's upcoming Take Care, but fans aren't the only ones eagerly awaiting a listen. Drizzy's Young Money boss Lil Wayne has yet to hear the November 15 LP in its entirety, but he's impressed with what he has heard so far.
"I actually haven't got a chance to listen to all of it, but I heard a few songs," Wayne told MTV News while on the set for Birdman's "Y.U. Mad" video in Miami. Weezy has never been shy with his "Best Rapper Alive" boasts, but when it comes to Drake and his new album, he plays second fiddle. "I can tell, you know, I don't know nothing else out there that can touch it, including my stuff. That kid is on another planet," he said. Part of what impresses the Young Money CEO is the Toronto MC's knack for making relatable music. In fact, Drake told MTV News that his latest single with Nicki Minaj, "Make Me Proud," which they performed together last weekend on "Saturday Night Live," was conceptualized after a regular, everyday conversation. "Whenever I make songs surrounding women, I always try to find refreshing stances to take as opposed to just like, "Oh, you're sexy" or "Oh, I want you." The song, it really came up in passing conversation, just being like, "I'm proud of you," " Drake said of the T-Minus-produced song. It is that approach that Birdman Jr. appreciates and what he feels will ultimately drive Take Care. "To me, I call him a conversational artist, meaning he can make a hit song out of a regular conversation that you would love to have with any woman or anybody, and I think that is his expertise. The songs I heard, he just capitalized on that like crazy." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber To Play 'Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve' Posted: 18 Oct 2011 07:55 AM PDT Lady Gaga also booked for this year's show, hosted by Ryan Seacrest.
Maybe you haven't made your plans yet, but Justin Bieber knows exactly where he'll be on New Year's Eve: Times Square in New York.
Bieber has been booked to play live on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2012," joining Lady Gaga on the 40th anniversary edition of the December 31 staple. The show will help cap a busy holiday season for Bieber, who is preparing to release his first-ever holiday album, Under the Mistletoe, on November 1. The first video, for the song "Mistletoe," will debut Tuesday (October 18) at 7:54 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Bieber said he's excited for fans to check out his mix of holiday standards and new songs. Regarding why he decided on a holiday release as fans wait for the follow-up to My World 2.0, Bieber said, "I was going to put out my album soon anyways, and I was thinking, 'It's near Christmastime. If I'm going to release an album near Christmas, I figure maybe I'd just do a Christmas album.' The fans get more music, and everyone's happy." The singer said he picked a mix of his favorite Christmas songs ("Silent Night," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town") and new tunes ("Mistletoe," "Christmas Love") to offer a little something for everyone. "I picked 'Santa [Claus is] Coming to Town,' because everyone loves those songs. Those are classics. They get people excited for Christmas," he said. "And then, for songs that we wrote, we wanted to make enough new songs for people to hear new music and not just hear some classics. There's a lot of new stuff on there." Catch the premiere of Justin Bieber's "Mistletoe" video Tuesday (October 18) at 7:54 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, with a full interview to follow on MTV.com. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Drake Embraces His 'Emo' Side Despite Criticism Posted: 18 Oct 2011 12:21 AM PDT 'The running commentary or the jokes don't really affect me, 'cause that's what I'm going for,' Drake tells MTV News.
Drake isn't ashamed to wear his heart on his sleeve. Expressing emotion has actually worked well for the Young Money standout, despite the criticism he sometimes receives for being too open.
"If I worried about how I'm gonna look saying this, then I wouldn't make half the music I make," Drizzy told MTV News. "People nitpick at me for being emotional or tapping into emotions, but like, man, we all die one day; that's just how I want to be remembered." Drake has plenty of soul-baring songs, from 2009's "The Calm" to this year's "Marvins Room," on which he drunk-dials an ex-girlfriend in an attempt to woo her back — if even for one night. While most of the criticism Drake receives is faceless commentary on Internet message boards, British singer Estelle noted that Drizzy was a little too "emo" for her tastes in a July radio interview. The Toronto-born MC/singer, who will release his sophomore album Take Care on November 15, says his approach to writing lyrics is quite deliberate. Actually, his fans seem to enjoy it. Drake's 2010 album, Thank Me Later, is certified platinum by the RIAA, and he has earned himself five Grammy nominations and two Billboard Music Awards since breaking out in 2009. "The running commentary or the jokes don't really affect me, 'cause that's what I'm going for," he said. "I don't want to be a guy that blends in with all the other generic rap music. I want to be the guy that stood out and pinpointed life emotions for women, men, young people, old people or whatever it is. So I don't trip, that's what I want. I welcome it." Do you think Drake is too "emo"? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Red Cafe Brings Bad Boy Swag To 'RapFix Live' Posted: 18 Oct 2011 03:16 AM PDT 'Fly Together' artist will appear on 'RapFix Live' Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Bad Boy Records has a rich tradition. Since its inception in the early 1990s, label CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs has introduced some of hip-hop's most influential artists. Of course, there was the Notorious B.I.G., the Lox, Ma$e and Black Rob. Now, Diddy is looking to launch the next generation of Bad Boy spitters like MGK and Wednesday's "RapFix Live" guest, Red Café.
The Brooklyn spitter began his career as a part of the group Da Franchise but later branched off with his solo career. Making his mark on New York's mixtape market, Red earned quite a few record deals but was never able to release his proper debut album, despite churning out a ton of notable singles like 2005's "Bling Blaow," 2008's "Paper Touchin' " and 2010's "I'm Ill." Watch the last episode of "RapFix Live" with Irv Gotti and Method Man. Now that he is signed to Bad Boy and Akon's Konvict Muzik in a joint venture, Café is set to release his The Shakedown album in 2012. His current single, "Fly Together," featuring Rick Ross and Ryan Leslie, is an ode to independent ladies that has begun to make waves on New York radio. "Me and Ryan Leslie put this record together in New York," he said. "I was just excited to work with Ryan. I think Ryan is a genius. We did two days in the studio. The first day we was just vibing, just to like, just try to connect and get each other's vibe. And the second day we went in there and we created this record, and immediately I heard Ross' voice on there — I'm just a fan of what Ross do — and I reached out to him and played him the joint, and he loved it." Catch Red Café on "RapFix Live" on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Florence And The Machine Reveal Next Single: Exclusive Posted: 18 Oct 2011 12:24 AM PDT 'No Light, No Light' is next off upcoming Ceremonials, Florence Welch tells MTV News.
On November 1 in the U.S. (October 31 in the U.K., which is a decidedly more fitting date, we must add) Florence and the Machine will return with Ceremonials, the bewitching, ethereal follow-up to their breakout Lungs album. And like that debut disc, the new one finds frontwoman/mastermind Florence Welch drawing from a grab bag of influences, both musical and lyrical, only pushed to the nth degree.
To wit, the first two songs released from the album — "What the Water Gave Me" and "Shake It Off" — take their inspiration from the paintings of Frida Kahlo, the death of writer Virginia Woolf and a rather blistering hangover, to name just a few. In fact, this time around, it's gotten so all-over-the-place that even Welch is having a difficult time keeping track, as she told MTV News. "Literally, a song can be about seven different things," she sighed. "I do think of songs almost as collages of different images, and so the references will just come from all over the place, and I don't really know how they'll all fit together until the song is finished." The same holds true for the album's title, which was inspired by a 1970s art installation Welch had seen, and the eclectic, electric rave-ups of her live performances. But robes, pasta and balloons, too. "It was an art installation done in the '70s, this video piece all done on Super 8, this big procession of kind of coquette-style hippies and all these different colored robes and masks, and it was all to do with color, really saturated, brightly colored pastas and balloons," Welch explained. "I saw it a couple years ago, and it was called 'Ceremonials' and then, like, Roman numerals after it. And the word sort of stuck with me, and I think the whole idea of performance, and kind of putting on this outfit and going out almost to find some sort of exorcism or absolution, to kind of get outside yourself, there's a sense of ceremony to it." That same pastiche of influences holds true for the next single off the album, which, in a bit of an exclusive, Welch revealed during our interview (even though she probably wasn't supposed to). "I do [know what it's going to be] but I don't think [I'm supposed to say]," she said. "I think it's going to be 'No Light, No Light.' ... It was the first song we wrote for this next record, actually. And the intro was written on my tour bus at four in the morning going to Amsterdam. We had gone out for [Machine member] Rob [Ackroyd]'s birthday to an all-night restaurant in Brussels called Midnights. We went to this funny restaurant and then got on the tour bus and everyone was a bit drunk and it was like, 'Yeah, let's write a song.' "And we recorded the sound of the bus moving, a real drone-y bass sound, and that's the intro, and then the tour bus arrived in Amsterdam [and we were saying], 'Let's go toast this song! We will find a bar that will serve us drinks at 7 in the morning! Come!' " she laughed. "So we trotted off into Amsterdam and managed to find a sports bar that would only serve us Midori. It was bright-green drinks and me and [Machine member] Isa [Summers] kind of looking like crazy old ladies." Related Artists |
| Britney Spears, Boyfriend Get Steamy In 'Criminal' Video Posted: 18 Oct 2011 07:13 AM PDT Brit's real-life boyfriend Jason Trawick stars in Chris Marrs Piliero-directed clip.
Britney Spears' posh but incredibly mean English boyfriend asks his lovely girlfriend, "Why don't we see that pretty little face of yours?" at the beginning of the "Criminal" video. That remark sets off a chain of events that will certainly leave Britney fans watching the Chris Marrs Piliero-directed ("I Wanna Go") video on repeat. As Britney and her abusive beau make their way out of the party, with him yelling at her for standing up for herself as he flirted with other girls, they come across Britney's real-life boyfriend, Jason Trawick, who is playing one really hot bad guy with a heart of gold. The boyfriend slaps Britney, and Jason comes to her rescue, setting into motion their very hot — and very naked — love affair. He takes her back to his place, where a headline reveals he's -- you guessed it — a criminal. But Britney doesn't seem to mind. She kisses him. He kisses her. They get it on, showing lots of skin and giving fans a sneak peek into their personal life. They then head to a convenience store, where Britney decides to break loose and hold the place up, guns blazing. After the stickup, the pair steal a car and head back to Jason's loft for a very revealing shower scene that includes lingering shots on their wet, naked bodies. As they wrap up the steamy shower session, the authorities close in on them, blasting bullets into the apartment. But Britney and Jason just continue to share passionate kisses as bullets soar around them John Woo-style. Just when you think it's the end for pop's reigning Bonnie and Clyde, the police enter the apartment to see that the duo has escaped, unhurt, driving away on Jason's motorcycle. As the credits roll, everyone's left wondering what they will do next. Britney first teased her "Criminal" single to MTV News when we caught up with her at the 2011 VMAs in August, and she was already thinking about what the visual element might look like. "Actually the song, when I first heard it, it's really different and it's not anything I've heard like this before," Brit said. "So I really wanted to deliver this song. I was thinking of a really cool concept for the video just to make it interesting," she added. "You'll have to see." Shot in London in September, "Criminal" is the fourth single and video from Femme Fatale. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Demi Moore Says Ashley Greene Is 'Saucy' In 'LOL' Posted: 18 Oct 2011 12:12 AM PDT Moore also tells MTV News that the teen comedy's ongoing release delays have been 'a tough thing.'
Although it's been awhile since we've had any updates about a release date for Miley Cyrus and Ashley Greene's delayed teen comedy "LOL," anticipation continues to build for the film, which will mark a departure for former Disney star Cyrus and Greene, who is best for her role as sweet-natured psychic Alice Cullen in the "Twilight Saga" series.
But when MTV News recently caught up with Demi Moore, who plays Cyrus' mom in the film, we got some scoop about her experience with the singer/actress, as well as some dish on what we can expect from Greene's performance. "[Cyrus] is great, she did great," Moore said during a promotional run for her upcoming financial thriller "Margin Call." "I really loved the movie; I loved working with her and the director. They just put it on pause because they had another film they were focusing on. It's a tough thing when you have a movie you're looking forward to coming out," she added of waiting on the film's release date. With regard to Greene's performance, Moore teased that moviegoers can expect to see a very different side of the "Breaking Dawn" star. "She's saucy, she's really saucy," Moore said with a smile, which prompted her "Margin Call" co-star Simon Baker to chime in. "I love it when you say that," Baker said. "Is she sassy too?" "Sassy and saucy," Moore promised. "LOL" is based on the successful 2008 French film "Laughing Out Loud." The American version is a coming-of-age story about a group of young people — led by Cyrus' wild-child character Lola — trying to navigate high school peer pressure and romance in a tech-savvy era. The cast also includes Thomas Jane ("Hung"), Gina Gershon ("Rescue Me"), Jay Hernandez ("Takers") and Austin Nichols ("One Tree Hill"). For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Shia LaBeouf Involved In Vancouver Bar Fight? Posted: 17 Oct 2011 11:24 PM PDT Local radio station reports the 'Transformers' star threw a man down inside a club before getting thrown out.
"Transformers" actor Shia LaBeouf looks to have been involved in a street fight outside a bar in Vancouver last week. According to local radio station News 1130, it is not clear what started the fight, but LaBeouf allegedly threw a man down inside a club called Cinema Public House, after which the venue's security threw the two men out. TMZ obtained alleged video of the altercation, in which a stocky shirtless man is shown punching a younger man, who appears to be LaBeouf. Eventually, the younger man gets up and attempts to chase the attacker but is held back by a friend. LaBeouf's rep had no comment on the altercation when contacted by MTV News. The 25-year-old is no stranger to controversy, having been arrested in 2007 when he refused to leave a Chicago drugstore, then again in 2008 after a serious car accident that involved major hand surgery. LaBeouf later referred to the accident as "one of the biggest things that's happened to me, for sure, in my life. ... I'm grateful to be here." LaBeouf, who will next appear on the big screen in "The Wettest County in the World," has often said he hoped to not follow in the footsteps of other former child actors who ended up in the tabloids. He has also said that dealing with being a celebrity has taken getting used to. "I'm dealing with it," he said. "It's all very new. I'm trying to figure out how to be edible to a lot of people." |
| Grafh Is 'A Fan' Of Rick Ross, Lil Wayne Labels Posted: 18 Oct 2011 12:06 AM PDT Free agent is considering his options while Rule EP makes some noise, in Mixtape Daily.
Don't Sleep: Necessary Notables Key Cameo: "Don't Stop" (featuring Bun B) Real Spit: Grafh is on the road to reinvention. After splitting with Black Hand Entertainment, the company he had been signed to since coming into the rap game in the early 2000s, Grafh has been putting out new music at a torrid pace.
First, there was his Pain Killers mixtape, and then in September, he dropped his Rule EP, which he streams on his website for free and put up for purchase on iTunes. "Rule's getting a good response, and I really appreciate it," Grafh told Mixtape Daily. "I worked hard on it, I put a lot of energy into it, and it's different coming from Grafh. I took a different approach. I attacked the music more laid-back, something you can ride to, smoke to." Typically, the Queens, New York, MC employs a rapid-fire flow, but for Rule, Grafh slowed his complex bars down just a tad. "Stoned" moves at a syrupy crawl, while a mellowed-out Grafh raps about drinking and smoking. On "It's All the Same," he delivers a cautionary 'hood tale, and on the Too $hort-sampling "Don't Stop," the nimble lyricist teams with Bun B for a bouncy banger. Though currently unsigned, the rap free agent hopes to broker a deal for himself in the near future. Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group and Lil Wayne's Young Money are attractive destinations. "I'm a free agent right now looking for that new money," Grafh said. "Rick Ross is kicking major ass. He's one of those dudes that break artists — so is Lil Wayne. He makes hella money and good music. I love what those dudes are doin'. I'mma fan of what they're doin'." In the end, however, it is all about the connection Grafh is currently making with his fans. "Without the fans, I'm just a n---a rappin'. They mean more to me than people would imagine," he said. "The fans allow me to do this, or else I'd be doing something else that probably wouldn't be legal." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
| Adam Lambert Calls New Album 'Existential Pop' Posted: 17 Oct 2011 10:56 PM PDT In a new interview with The Advocate, 'Idol' alum says his new sound will meld Nine Inch Nails with George Michael.
Adam Lambert has made no bones about the fact that the follow-up to his post-"American Idol" bow, For Your Entertainment, would be his kind of album, telling MTV News earlier this year: "It's really exciting, because I think I'm making my dream album. I know that sounds a bit clichéd, but I'm making exactly what I want to listen to." In the cover story of November's The Advocate, he explains just what he's been working on all these months, and it sounds like he's truly making his bid for "Idol" independence, describing his new songs as "Nine Inch Nails meets George Michael." "I know that's a weird mash-up, but that's what it feels like," Lambert said. "No matter what the genre is, it's all very personal, even on upbeat, fun tracks. The last album was a little bit more of a fantasy escape ... even my image for that last album felt very theatrical and kind of over-the-top and intentionally tacky. I get a kick out of making artistic statements that are kind of ridiculous." And in the process of making those songs, he's also pulling the curtain back on his personal life, letting his fans get a peek at the real Lambert behind all the leather. "I think it's going to let people underneath my facade a little bit — a self-created and totally admitted facade," he said. "I'm trying to convey to my audience that you really can't judge a book by its cover, and there's more to the universe than you can see with your eyes. It's like existential pop." Of course, there still remains the question of when folks will get to hear any of that existential pop. At the moment, there's still no release date for Lambert's new album (an email to his label, RCA, was not responded to by press time) — though, in recent weeks, he took to Twitter to explain that the delay has been due mainly to "a couple of creative setbacks" on his first single, and that, as of right now, his album is due "in the spring." But as he explained to The Advocate, Lambert isn't letting those label issues bother him. At the moment, he's just focused on perfecting his new songs. "It takes time to get it right," he said. "I don't know how other artists do it, but for this project, I'm adopting the mentality of just keep writing and keep recording as much as possible, and then when we know that we're ready to decide which tracks are going to be on the album, we'll look at everything and narrow it down." Related Artists |
| Occupy Wall Street Lets People 'Really Talk,' David Banner Says Posted: 18 Oct 2011 09:49 AM PDT 'It's bad that it takes pain to unite people, but [it's good] to see people from all walks of life come together,' rapper tells MTV News.
NEW YORK — By now, you've heard about Occupy Wall Street, the demonstration that began September 17 in Manhattan's Zuccotti Park. The demonstration has been both lauded and laughed at, and it has continued to grow and spread to several cities across the globe.
The movement has made waves throughout the media and caught the attention of several politicians, celebrities and CEOs, including David Banner. MTV News followed the Mississippi rapper down to the park — now dubbed "Liberty Park" — last week. He said he was proud to see Americans standing up for themselves, because he's always worked for the upward mobility of people. He also drew a parallel between America's current economic struggles and the fallen music industry. "You watched in the same way that the middle class is being evaporated; you don't have those 250,000 to 650,000 artists anymore," Banner said. "You['re] either selling 15,000 records, 20,000 records or you selling a million records. So the middle class in entertainment is going the same way the middle class in America is going." David Banner isn't alone: Tom Morello, Kanye West and Talib Kweli have also joined the Occupy Wall Street protesters throughout their monthlong demonstration. One of Banner's main goals was to present the side of the people. He said he's noticed some Republican leaders speaking disrespectfully about the protesters, as well as about the general public. "I hear comments like, they need to work hard or they need to take baths. Like, dude, why would you even say that about your people? Regardless of whether we agree with each other or not, we're all American," Banner said. "This is even our opportunity to show the side of the people, to allow people to really talk, especially the young people." Another of Banner's goals was making sure people's goals were expressed. He worried that the power of the movement could be watered down because it's faceless. There are consequences to having leaders and goals, but at least everyone would know exactly what they were out there for. When Banner talked to a few of the demonstrators, he didn't find one common thread, but he said he was motivated by their willingness to take a stand. "It's bad that it takes pain to unite people, but [it's good] to see people from all walks of life, all colors, all creeds come together to try to make something happen." Share your thoughts on the ongoing Wall Street protests in the comments below. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Soulja Boy Arrested On Drug, Gun Charges Posted: 18 Oct 2011 09:40 AM PDT The 21-year-old rapper was charged with marijuana and gun possession in Georgia on Tuesday, MTV News confirms.
It was supposed to be a day of celebration for Soulja Boy, but whatever plans he had have been curtailed. On Tuesday morning (October 18), the same day the rapper's "Soulja Boy: The Movie" DVD documentary hit stores, the 21-year-old was arrested in Georgia after a routine traffic stop and hit with multiple drug charges. MTV News has learned that the Atlanta MC has been charged with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Temple Police Department's public information officer, Dana Rampy, confirmed to MTV News that Soulja Boy (born De'Andre Cortez Way) and four other individuals were arrested early Tuesday around 2:30 a.m. ET while driving west on I-20 in a black Cadillac Escalade. The arresting officer found marijuana, guns and cash in the car. It has been reported by other outlets that roughly $70,000 in cash was found in the vehicle, but Temple Police told us that they did not find that much cash, though they declined to disclose the exact amount. All five men were charged and are currently being held in Carroll County Jail in Carrollton, Georgia; they are set to go before a judge sometime today. The Temple Police Department expects the men to be released after bond is set and posted. Reps for Soulja Boy had no comment when MTV News reached out for a statement. "Soulja Boy: The Movie," directed by Peter Spirer, looks back on how the rapper went from teen Internet standout to rap star. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Reveals 'Marry The Night' Cover Art Posted: 18 Oct 2011 07:45 AM PDT Picture released on Twitter shows Gaga posing on car while fire burns behind her.
Lady Gaga is getting her Little Monsters amped up for the "Marry the Night" video. On Monday night, she tweeted out some teases about the New York-based clip.
"Just wrapped my 5th music video, can't wait to unfold all its secrets and share with you moments from my past I have yet to reveal," she said on the site. "Put Born This Way back in the vessel, for rebirth, as I lay in mine. When too strong to divorce, then buckle up, MARRY THE NIGHT." Gaga shot the video earlier this month in her hometown. She was spotted all over town filming scenes for the Born This Way single's video, including at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Staten Island. "This is my favorite song on the album. Are you ready [producer] @FERNANDOGARIBAY?" she said. "This one is our baby." In the MTV News documentary "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," the singer recalled the time Born This Way musical director Fernando Garibay first played the church bell-filled track that would become the inspiration for "Marry the Night." "It's like Whitney, but imagine if Bruce Springsteen had a baby with Whitney Houston — that's what it is," she said. "And that was it! We made a baby. Finally." In addition to getting philosophical about the clip, Gaga also shared the cover art for the single, the fifth off her chart-topping album. "Do you want the #MARRY THE NIGHT SINGLE COVER tonight?" Mother Monster asked her dedicated legion of fans. "If monsters make MARRY THE NIGHT SINGLE COVER the number one trending topic I will release it tonight. Early. SORRY INTERSCOPE! I LOVE THEM!" After Twitter blocked all chances to get the trend going, Gaga defied the rules and released the art anyway. "Even better, you pissed [off] Twitter. Be prepared to Marry the Night at 8pm PST," she said before dropping it with this message: "New York is Not Just a Tan that You'll Never Lose." In the picture, Gaga is dressed in leather, shaking her blond hair around. She's posing on the wet hood of a car while a fire burns behind her. It looks to be a scene from the video. No word yet on when the clip will premiere. Share your thoughts on Gaga's "Marry the Night" cover art in the comments section! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Kelly Clarkson Campaigns For 'Parks And Rec' Cameo Posted: 18 Oct 2011 09:59 AM PDT 'I need to be in a scene with Ron Swanson,' she writes, urging fans to tweet show's producers and cast.
At this point, Kelly Clarkson would rather you forget her acting debut in the 2003 box-office beach-blanket bomb "From Justin to Kelly." But that doesn't mean the original "American Idol" champ doesn't want to work her way back to the small screen.
In fact, she really, really wants to drop in on "Parks and Recreation" and has started an initiative to land a slot on Amy Poehler's hit Thursday-night laugher. "Here's the deal ... I really want to be on 'Parks and Recreation,' " she told fans on her official website on Monday. "It's hilarious! I am a bad actress but maybe I could play a bad actress! I would nail that! I need to be in a scene with Ron Swanson. I love all of them but the trucker stache gets me every time." Think about it, because she's not wrong. A scene with the "Since U Been Gone" belter and meat-loving, people-shunning office boss Swanson could potentially be amazing. Plus, Aziz Ansari's Tom Haverford and his pal Jean-Ralphio are always looking for receptionists for Entertainment 720 who are willing to do nothing all day for a six-figure salary and a free iPad. But Clarkson knows she's going to need a hand in landing a coveted cameo on the show, which has so far bestowed them on more established actors and actresses including Megan Mullally, Louis C.K., Will Arnett, Justin Theroux and Parker Posey. "So, I'm gonna need all of my fans' help please," Clarkson continued. "Please tweet every member of the cast, the producers, the writers, security in that building and anyone related to that show and tell them they need to have me on as a guest. Pretty pretty please!" Some of Clarkson's fans immediately responded, telling her they would totally watch that episode and announcing that they had already done their part to try and win her the spot. "I'm on it LOL," wrote one. "I may know a writer there." Clarkson has logged a bit of time on TV since her "Idol" days, including cameos on "American Dreams," "Damage Control" and her pal Reba McEntire's "Reba." Related Artists |
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