MTV News |
- Justin Bieber, Drake, More: When Hip-Hop Goes Pop
- Russell Simmons Is Part Of 'The 100%' In Occupy Movement
- Beyonce Invites J. Cole Over For A 'Party' In New Video
- Mobb Deep Confirm Nas Collabo On <i>Black Cocaine</i>
- Big Sean Cleared Of Sexual Abuse Charges
- Justin Bieber Enlists Kanye West, Drake For Next Album
- Amy Winehouse's Death: Alcohol Expert Weighs In
- Michael Jackson Doctor Brought To Tears By Former Patients' Testimony
- Florence And The Machine Get 'Satanic' In 'Shake It Out' Video
- Blink-182 Talk The Best (And Worst) Parts Of Touring
- Ryan Leslie Sued For $1 Million Over Laptop Reward
- Michael Myers: 'Halloween' To MTV's Killer Halloween
- 'X Factor' Castoffs Dexter Haygood, Phillip Lomax Open Up
- Amy Winehouse Died From Drinking Too Much Alcohol
- Ghostface Screams His Way Into MTV's Killer Halloween
- Black Keys' 'Lonely Boy' Video: Dancing Fool
- Lil Wayne Downplays <i>Human Being</i> And <i>Rebirth</i> Sequels
- 'Breaking Dawn' 'Blew My Mind,' Christina Perri Says
- Demi Lovato Calls 'Who's That Boy' 'Flirty, Exciting'
- Eddie Murphy, Brett Ratner Can't Agree On 'Beverly Hills Cop 4'
| Justin Bieber, Drake, More: When Hip-Hop Goes Pop Posted: 27 Oct 2011 03:53 AM PDT With collabos between Lil Wayne and Joe Jonas, Taylor Swift and T.I., the lines separating music genres are increasingly becoming blurred.
In a modern music landscape where genre is pretty much nonexistent, the lines are becoming even further blurred. That's why music lovers barely flinched when news broke that Justin Bieber will work with Kanye West and his "homey" Drake on his next album.
However, more than a decade ago, major mainstream artists like Britney Spears or even *NSYNC (whose very own Justin Timberlake later went on to work with hip-hoppers) would never have thought about hooking up with rappers like Eminem, for instance. In fact, they were the punch line to many of Em's finest rhymes during the "TRL" era. Today, pop stars and rap stars are unapologetically sharing their love for one another. Lil Wayne, who recently worked with artists including Joe Jonas and Jennifer Lopez, seems to be one of the guys leading the charge. In addition to appearing on tracks with pop stars, Demi Lovato's and Bieber's covers of his track "How to Love" have made headlines. So, what is it about Weezy? "I just loved the way that Lil Wayne took a risk doing the song 'How to Love,' " Lovato explained. "And when I really listened to it, it's such a great song." That enthusiasm for his work, according to Vibe Music Editor John Kennedy, has a lot to do with Weezy "the man" as well as Weezy "the artist." "Wayne appeals to the pop world because he's obviously got a tremendous following and is a talented artist, but he's a character outside of the music. His image off-wax is just as prominent as his rhymes on record," he explained. "So when you get Wayne on a record, it's more than just a hot 16, you're getting a rebel to society: the sagging denims, tats all over, diamond grills. It just adds rock star flavor with hip-hop appeal." "On an artistic level, he just seems like an exciting guy to be around who is also willing to try just about everything, so I imagine pop stars can basically say, 'Hey, can you do this weird thing?' and he'd say yes," Entertainment Weekly staff writer Kyle Anderson added about Wayne's appeal. "From a more business standpoint, working with Wayne not only means chart and radio recognition but also instant cool. He has a cachet that hasn't faded yet."
But Wayne is hardly the only guy in the game defying the laws of hip-hop and pop. Country superstar Taylor Swift has certainly done her part, appearing in concert with guys like T.I. and B.o.B. "I'm a huge hip-hop fan, and it's been so amazing to have so many incredible artists come out and to get to sing the hooks on their songs that I've been blasting in my car for the last couple years," she explained. "It's been awesome. I couldn't have asked for more amazing special guests on this tour, and we're not finished yet." But it's not just the pop stars singing the praises of rappers and hoping to get some street cred. Rappers are clamoring to hook up with their pop counterparts too, picking up where artists like Mariah Carey/O.D.B. and Christina Aguilera/Redman left off. And recently, Aguilera's former pop rival, Spears, jumped on the trend when she toured with Nicki Minaj. When MTV News caught up with Minaj backstage on the Femme Fatale Tour, she said that the crossover success has been intriguing and surprising. "I'm always surprised," she said. "I don't really expect them to know all the records, but I guess it just kind of transcends all genres of music at this point." As the genre-bending continues, it seems that the pairings are likely to get more and more unexpected. "I met Justin [Bieber] back in February. He's a cool kid and sh--," Tyler, the Creator said of his desire to work with the teen star. "When I got in there, he was talkin' about the 'Yonkers' video and sh--. It was weird, because I was sitting here starstruck, like, 'Oh, f---, it's Bieber. He's asking me questions.' I'm like, 'Shut the f--- up so I can talk to you.' " What do you think of the pop/ hip-hop crossover? Tell us in the comments. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Russell Simmons Is Part Of 'The 100%' In Occupy Movement Posted: 27 Oct 2011 03:53 AM PDT 'It's just nutty to think that people can't use their celebrity for good,' Simmons says.
So what if Russell Simmons is rich? The hip-hop mogul doesn't believe that takes away from his support of the Occupy movement in the least bit. For the Def Jam co-founder, it doesn't matter if he is part of the 1 percent — ultimately all he wants is to be part of the solution.
"I can't show solidarity with the people that are suffering?" Rush asked MTV News rhetorically. "I just don't want to have corporations control our government, I want a better democracy. I'm part of the 100 percent. If they're suffering, I'm suffering with them." Russell, who has spent much of his career fighting social injustice, wrote a blog on his Global Grind website in September asking the U.S. government to raise his taxes in an effort to reverse the effects of the economic recession. "For far too long in this country we have allowed the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer," he wrote. Simmons has since been a chief supporter of New York's Occupy Wall Street movement, which began in September. Rush, who is worth more than $340 million, will not let his bank account or celebrity keep him from doing what he feels is right. "Muhammad Ali, didn't he help build the Nation of Islam? Did he help stop the war in Vietnam? Did Harry Belafonte and those guys help Dr. Martin Luther King?" the mogul questioned.
On October 10, Simmons brought the very famous Kanye West out to Zuccotti Park and has since rolled down to the demonstration with Katy Perry and her comic husband Russell Brand. Tom Morello, David Banner and Talib Kweli have all visited and lent their support. Some have questioned the celebrity motive behind the Occupy movement, but Rush feels anyone who helps raise awareness is helping the cause. "It's just nutty to think that people can't use their celebrity for good and that they can't show up to help people who are suffering," he said. "I show up, that's what I do, I add voice to the voiceless, that's what I do. That's what rap does. So I don't see why that's a conflict. I let people talk but I do have an answer for them, it's nutty. It's disingenuous half the time when the media says these things." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Beyonce Invites J. Cole Over For A 'Party' In New Video Posted: 26 Oct 2011 04:42 AM PDT Clip, which premiered Wednesday night, also features appearances from Kelly Rowland and Solange Knowles.
Beyoncé is known as one of the industry's hardest-working pop stars — even when she's expecting. A mere week and a half since dropping her boy-band tribute video for "Love on Top," the pop titan has unveiled the visual for her J. Cole remix of "Party" on Wednesday night's (October 26) episode of BET's "106 & Park."
"Party" takes viewers back to an old-school backyard celebration full of colorful bikinis, freestyle dancing and a few familiar faces, including sister Solange Knowles and former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland. Throughout the video, B lets loose, playing a sort of party host. If she isn't lounging in beach chairs, she's dancing among her friends or mowing the yawn. Yes, Beyoncé is multitasking! And it wouldn't be a celebration without an appearance from J. Cole, the guest MC behind the remix of the Kanye West-produced tune. Midway through the video, the Roc Nation signee pulls up to the party with his ride glimmering brightly in the sun and spits his verse in the parking lot. B fans learned there would be a clip for "Party" back in August, when the mom-to-be was spotted in New Jersey's Oakdale Mobile Home Park. Probably due to her impending motherhood, Queen B shot a slew of videos for cuts from her album, 4, ahead of time. "Party" follows previous clips for "Love on Top," "Countdown," "1+1," "Run the World (Girls)" and "Best Thing I Never Had." What do you think of Beyoncé's new video? Share your reviews below! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Mobb Deep Confirm Nas Collabo On <i>Black Cocaine</i> Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:09 AM PDT They also hook up with Bounty Killer for 'Dead Man's Shoes,' duo reveals on 'RapFix Live.'
Mobb Deep have quite a few notable collaborations with rap heavyweights like 50 Cent, Lil Kim and Raekwon, but when it comes to chemistry, their in-studio vibe with Nas is unmatched.
The Queens rap duo appeared on Wednesday's (October 26) "RapFix Live," and confirmed to host Sway that they will once again be hooking up with God's Son on their upcoming November EP, Black Cocaine. "We got Nas on the album, we got Bounty Killer on there — that's it so far," Prodigy said. "It's just like a warm-up project, so we didn't want to put too many people on there. It's just a Mobb Deep thing, really." Dancehall star Bounty Killer appears on the menacing "Dead Man's Shoes" and Nas on an unnamed track. "We worked with Nas because that's the home team," Prodigy said. "I know people miss hearing that Mobb Deep/ Nas collaboration, because every time we do a song, it always comes out real good and stands the test of time, always." In April, shortly after Prodigy was released from his three-year prison bid, Esco and the Mobb hooked up for the Alchemist-produced "Dog Sh--," but before they could get together on a song, Prodigy and Nas had to iron out some minor differences. "Yeah, it was a little something, but it wasn't nothing serious," P said. "It wasn't serious enough for us to just stop making music together and stop hanging out and messing with each other."
Upon getting home, Prodigy — who wrote about his up-and-down relationship with Nas in his book, "My Infamous Life" — gave Nas a call to patch things up. "Different personalities clash sometimes, but when you're family, nothing's stronger than that bond," Havoc said. "I feel like Nas is like family, so we can get through whatever." Are you glad Mobb and Nas are working together again? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Big Sean Cleared Of Sexual Abuse Charges Posted: 26 Oct 2011 03:57 AM PDT Rapper was arrested in August when a woman filed a complaint against him after a concert.
In August, Big Sean was arrested and charged with sexual abuse when a woman filed a complaint against the rapper after a concert in Lewiston, New York, but on Wednesday (October 26), XXLMag.com reported that Sean is off the hook after he pleaded guilty to a lesser charged and paid a $750 fine. Both Sean (real name: Sean Anderson) and fellow Detroit MC Willie "Say It Ain't Tone" Hansbro were charged with forcible touching, unlawful imprisonment in the second degree and sex abuse in the third degree following a concert where the G.O.O.D. Music star opened up for Wiz Khalifa. At the time of the arrest, Sean's lawyer, Scott Leemon, issued a statement that said, "I am confident, that after further investigation, both men will be vindicated." While the two rappers weren't completely vindicated, they are in the clear. "I am pleased to announce that after further investigation the Niagara County District Attorney's Office decided not to pursue any of the sexual misconduct allegations against Mr. Anderson," Leemon told XXLMag.com. "As a result in order to get this entire ordeal behind him Mr. Anderson agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unlawful imprisonment with a $750 fine. Mr. Anderson regrets any misunderstandings that occurred that day and reiterates he did not engage in any type of sexual misconduct." MTV News reached out to Big Sean's label rep, who chose not to comment on this story. Related Artists |
| Justin Bieber Enlists Kanye West, Drake For Next Album Posted: 26 Oct 2011 01:04 AM PDT He also reveals to Capital FM that the project will be called Believe and should be out 'very soon.'
Justin Bieber may be less than a week away from the release of his holiday album, Under the Mistletoe, but he's already thinking about his next project.
We know it will be heavily influenced by another Justin — Mr. Timberlake — and now we're learning a bit more about it. In an interview with Capital FM, Bieber said he's getting some high-profile folks to work on tracks for the album. "Very soon [it'll be released], after my Christmas album," JB revealed. "It's going to be coming out. It is called Believe. I'm working with a lot of cool people. I'm working with Kanye [West]. Drake is going to work on the album with me." It's hardly the first time Bieber has been in the mix with Drake and Kanye. Bieber recently put his spin on Drake's "Trust Issues," and while Drake wishes JB had left the track uncensored, he had high praise for his fellow Canadian. "He's like a talented kid ... from Canada, so to hear him even remix that song is crazy," he said. "That's incredible." Plus, let's not forget that Kanye remixed Bieber's track, "Runaway Love," just last year. "He's such a cool guy, and he's just really laid-back and just nice, and at the end of the day, he's just a nice person," Bieber said at the time about the MC. Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, chatted with Billboard about the upcoming album, which he said will include tracks mostly written by Bieber himself. "He's pretty adamant about writing a lot of [the album]," Braun said. "And he played me some stuff that he's been doing on his own. He wrote this amazing song that sounds like a Jodeci record. I'm really excited for him. This kid can sing his ass off. He's coming into his own." When we spoke with Bieber earlier this year, he said he really wanted to be the main producer on the record. "[I'm] writing about how I feel and producing. I've been producing on my laptop and on my computer," he said. "I've been really into it and, hopefully, this next album will be huge." What are you expecting from Justin's next album? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Amy Winehouse's Death: Alcohol Expert Weighs In Posted: 26 Oct 2011 01:15 AM PDT 'This is not the first time we're hearing about someone dying from an overdose of alcohol,' Dr. Sam Zakhari tells MTV News.
Amy Winehouse's cause of death was a result of the same factors that kill anyone who overindulges: she, literally, drank herself to death. It was revealed Wednesday (October 26) that Winehouse had more than five times the legal driving limit of alcohol in her body at the time of her July 23 death, which coroner Suzanne Greenway said unintentionally led to "such potentially fatal levels" that it caused the "Rehab" singer's demise.
Dr. Sam Zakhari, director of the Division of Metabolism and Health Effects at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, said what apparently befell Winehouse is not unlike what happens on college campuses every weekend. "This is not the first time we're hearing about someone dying from an overdose of alcohol," said Zakhari, who did not treat Winehouse and has no firsthand knowledge of her case, but who was speaking to MTV News as an expert on the public facts of the case. "You hear it quite frequently here in the U.S. about college students who drink themselves to death." Zakhari said when an individual consumes too much alcohol too quickly, their blood alcohol level increases dramatically and it can rise rapidly to several times the legal limit for intoxication. "That inhibits what's called the respiratory center, which is the area in the brain that controls [breathing]. When that is inhibited, people cannot breathe, period. That's what causes their death." Winehouse, 27, who famously struggled with drug and alcohol addiction during her short life and rapid rise to fame, was found in bed in her London apartment in July, and police said they discovered three bottles of vodka at the scene. The inquest found no sign of illegal drugs in her system, and a postmortem examination of her body found her vital organs in good health. The amount of alcohol in her system was enough to stop her breathing and possibly send her into a coma, according to officials. After initial autopsy results were inconclusive, the Grammy-winning singer's father, Mitch Winehouse, said his daughter had been drug-free for some time, suggesting that it was alcohol withdrawal that had killed her. But one of the singer's doctors said Winehouse had begun drinking again a few days before her death after a long period of abstinence. Asked if Winehouse's history of substance abuse had any impact on the way she died, Zakhari said that her background would not necessarily play a part in such a death. "Experience with alcohol doesn't preclude a person from having respiratory arrest," he said. "There's no difference. Tolerance works within certain limits, but that would mainly [have an impact] on behavior." In other words, someone who has never been drunk will exhibit more visible signs of inebriation after consuming large amounts, versus a person with a history of drinking. But that tolerance is quickly negated as the level of alcohol consumed rises. "A high concentration [of alcohol] will make that part of the brain cease to function regardless of whether that person is a chronic drinker or not," he said. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Michael Jackson Doctor Brought To Tears By Former Patients' Testimony Posted: 26 Oct 2011 03:48 AM PDT Conrad Murray's defense team presented a series of character witnesses who praised his skills as a physician.
The day after one of Michael Jackson's former nurses was brought to tears while testifying at the involuntary manslaughter trial of the singer's former doctor, Conrad Murray, it was the cardiologist who got weepy on Wednesday (October 26) as his defense team produced a series of witnesses attesting to Murray's skills as a physician. The Witnesses Key Testimony » Longtime patient and friend Causey said his appointments with Murray often lasted more than four hours, with the doctor often calling Causey's wife afterward to explain his treatment. Sampson also testified to Murray's careful, exhaustive attention and Mosley said Murray set up a clinic in a low-income neighborhood in honor of his father, who was a physician in that area. » While cross-examining the witnesses, prosecutor David Walgren pointed out that each patient had received care for heart-related ailments and were not treated for sleep disorders or drug dependency. Prosecutors have said Murray's motivation to give Jackson the surgical anesthetic propofol was his promised six-figure monthly salary. » Each patient also noted that when Murray did sedate them it was in a hospital setting with monitoring equipment and backup personnel. Prosecutors have argued that Murray did not have proper monitoring equipment or a nurse assistant when he gave Jackson a fatal dose of propofol and then left the room on June 25, 2009. » When jurors left for the day, Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor spoke directly to Murray and reminded him that he has a right to choose whether or not he testifies on his own behalf in the trial. Pastor said he would ask Murray for an answer on that question later this week when the defense rests its case. Murray was not listed on Thursday's defense witness roster submitted by attorney Ed Chernoff. Murray, who was being paid $150,000 a month to care for Jackson, has pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of involuntary manslaughter and is now facing four years in prison. But new sentencing laws in California aimed at mandatorily reducing state prison overcrowding mean that, as a nonviolent offender with no prior record, he could be sentenced to county jail instead. If that is the case, his sentence could be reduced to two years and, because of overcrowding in the Los Angeles County jail, he may be allowed to serve the majority of his time under supervised house arrest. Related Artists |
| Florence And The Machine Get 'Satanic' In 'Shake It Out' Video Posted: 26 Oct 2011 02:47 AM PDT Florence Welch says they were going for 'slightly ritualistic and sort of satanic undertones' in the clip.
Florence Welch has seen better days. After a rather long night in New York City — where she was in town to perform at the Vice-sponsored Creator's Project, as well as promote her upcoming album, Ceremonials — she's a bit worse for wear. And honestly, she thinks the entire world might spin off its axis any minute now. "I'm so bad at dealing with hangovers. I feel like it's the end of the world, 'This is basically it for me, nothing is going to be good ever again,' " she sighed. "And the poor people around me are like, 'Florence, it's fine.' And I'm, 'It's not fine, nothing will ever be fine!' "
Then again, her current state is somewhat appropriate, given that she's talking about the Ceremonials single "Shake It Out," a rousing, revelatory song that also just so happens to have been written under similarly skull-splitting circumstances. "I think I came to the studio with a bit of a hangover, and it was one of those strange days where you're not really sure where a song comes from," she explained. "[Producer] Paul [Epwoth] just had these chords on the organ, and they sounded optimistic and sad at the same time. And I was thinking of regrets, like, you know when you feel like you're stuck in yourself, you keep repeating certain patterns of behavior, and you kind of want to cut out that part of you and restart yourself. "So this song was kind of like, 'Shake yourself out of it, things will be OK,' " she continued. "[Because] sometimes I have to write songs for myself, reminding me to let it go. But then, the end refrain of 'What the hell' is really important as well, because you'll dance with the devil again at some point, and maybe it will be fun. I've heard he does a really good foxtrot."
And in keeping with that last point, Florence (and her Machine) made it a priority to get devilish with the "Shake It Out" video, which was shot in the grandiose Eltham Palace and was, by all accounts, a pretty excellent party — one that, like most of Ceremonials, seemed to span space and time. "We were kind of going for a sort of 'Gatsby at West Egg'-style house party but with maybe slightly ritualistic and sort of satanic undertones and séances," she laughed. "That was such a fun video to shoot, for me especially, because I had all my friends down there, and they all came and we all got to dress up and do a casual séance in this beautiful art-deco mansion. It's basically a party house; there's one room which was purely just for cutting flowers. My best friend is sitting with me in the tree at the end of the video, and we just got to hang out in a tree for a while. It was really fun." Related Artists |
| Blink-182 Talk The Best (And Worst) Parts Of Touring Posted: 26 Oct 2011 01:22 AM PDT It's all about curling up with 'a really good UFO book,' Tom DeLonge reveals to MTV News in an exclusive backstage clip.
Blink-182 just wrapped the 10th annual Honda Civic Tour, a thoroughly epic trek with My Chemical Romance that crisscrossed the continent and featured plenty of rather amazing drum solos and, yes, even a few lasers.
It was the first time Blink had toured in the States since their raucous reunion tour in 2009, and though they had plenty of downtime in-between (you know, when they weren't working on their Neighborhoods album), anyone who made it out to the Honda Civic shows can attest to the fact that Mark, Tom and Travis didn't lose a single step. Sure, they've been at it for a while now, but just how do the guys in Blink maintain that edge on the road? Well, as they explain in a series of exclusive backstage vignettes, their secret lies in having some really interesting reading material on hand. "The best thing about being on tour is the end of the evening, when you know that you've performed [a] great show, you're exhausted, you take a shower, you have some kind of hot food waiting for you," Tom DeLonge said, "and you crawl into your bunk with a really, really good, cerebral UFO book, and you read about UFOs as you fall asleep." Of course the dude reads about UFOs. And while they had a blast on the road with MCR, touring does have its share of downsides too. But what, exactly, is the biggest bummer? Watch the first of our exclusive behind-the-scenes clips to find out! Did you check out Blink on the Honda Civic Tour? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Artists |
| Ryan Leslie Sued For $1 Million Over Laptop Reward Posted: 26 Oct 2011 03:01 AM PDT German man who returned Leslie's stolen laptop says he wasn't paid as promised.
While $1 million might sound a bit steep for a laptop, that's how much Ryan Leslie said he would pay to whomever returned his MacBook, which was stolen last year. Armin Augstein said he returned the computer to the "Diamond Girl" singer but claims he has yet to receive the reward, so now the 52-year old German man has filed a suit in U.S. District Court in New York, the Daily News has reported.
"It's unfortunate that my client has to go to such lengths to recover the reward," Michael Fischman, Augstein's U.S.-based lawyer, told the paper. MTV News reached out to Leslie's rep for comment, but haven't heard back as of press time. Leslie appeared on "RapFix Live" via Skype last November, shortly after he lost the computer and offered the reward. "I lost my computer out here in Germany. I actually had my whole new album on there, which I had been working on in secret, and it got stolen. So right now, I got a million-dollar reward for anybody that can return my intellectual property to me," Leslie explained at the time. The computer and hard drive that accompanied it contained unreleased material from R.Les' upcoming Less Is More album, and recovering the music was important to the singer. After claiming that the MacBook was stolen from the back of his car while he was in Cologne, Germany, Leslie offered a $20,000 reward but later upped the pot to a whopping $1 million. He even posted a video on YouTube to announce the reward increase. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Michael Myers: 'Halloween' To MTV's Killer Halloween Posted: 26 Oct 2011 03:11 AM PDT Horror-movie icon ushered in the modern era of slasher films — but is he the best cinematic killer of all time?
We're just about halfway through MTV's Killer Halloween, and the competition is just heating up in the battle to find out which movie murderer tops them all. So far, we've profiled Freddy, Jason, Leatherface, Chucky and Ghostface, but now we look at the man who ushered in the modern era of slashers. Which horror-movie baddie has the best personality? Make your pick in our MTV Movies Blog poll! Michael Myers Weapons: Knife, inability to ever freaking die Archenemy: His family, his psychiatrist, anyone who gets in the way of him killing his family and his psychiatrist Profile: Michael Myers was a bit of a prodigy in the ways of serial killing, changing the game even as a young boy. Pre-teen Michael may have been the first to don a mask — a creepy clown one for his first murder — and go after the babysitter, his sister Judith. He spent the remainder of his youth in an institution for the mentally disturbed under the close observation of Dr. Sam Loomis. After Michael escaped, stealing a mask, jumpsuit and knife from a hardware store, movie serials have never been the same. The target of most of Michael's deadly attention has been his surviving sister, Laurie, the lead played by Jamie Lee Curtis in the first two films and "Halloween: H20" and Scout Taylor-Compton in the Rob Zombie remakes. The early films simply focused on Michael's obsession with finding his long-lost baby sister, but later in the series, the true origin of Michael as an embodiment of pure evil added a supernatural element to the villain. There has never been too much to Michael Myers' tactics. He stalks. He walks. He kills. His style of murder will be remembered for a number of reasons. His mask, an old William Shatner "Star Trek" mask painted white, has become a horror icon. His slow gait and silent disposition directly inspired dozens of imitators — Jason Voorhees, most famously. Modern slasher films owe a debt to Michael Myers and his creator John Carpenter, whose work has affected the genre for generations. Where do you think Michael Myers falls in the scope of horror-movie psychopaths? Let us know in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "Scream." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| 'X Factor' Castoffs Dexter Haygood, Phillip Lomax Open Up Posted: 25 Oct 2011 11:30 PM PDT The Brewer Boys also lament their early elimination, as five contestants were sent home after first live episode.
On Tuesday night, it was time to face the music. And for five "X Factor" contestants, the music said, "Thanks, but no thanks." Throughout the epic live "X Factor" debut, the judges axed five hopefuls they had been personally grooming, turning a top 17 into a top 12. MTV News was granted exclusive press access backstage to speak with the first batch of eliminated finalists just minutes after they were dropped from the show.
"I killed it tonight. That's what I feel, man!" said Memphis rocker Dexter Haygood, who delivered an over-the-top cover of Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" under Nicole Scherzinger's tutelage. During the early audition episodes, America fell in love with Haygood's infectious energy and emotional life story, which included everything from living on the streets to fronting Xavion, the first African-American rock band to be featured on MTV. "I'm just happy to be moving on, somewhat," said Haygood, who chalked up his onstage confusion during elimination to feeling overwhelming pressure. "Let me tell you something: Being in a competition is a lot of stress. I'm not happy to be off, but it's a good feeling knowing that the competition [has ended]," Haygood said before rocking a sports metaphor: "If you don't win the Super Bowl, you're glad the damn season is over." A downtrodden Phillip Lomax aimed to focus on the good things about his time on "X Factor." "I'm obviously disappointed, but I have to look at this in a positive light and realize that I've accomplished what not many people have," the crooner said as the sound of a cheering studio audience echoed the halls of CBS Studios. Earlier in the show, Phillip's swinging "I'm a Believer" raised some questions about song selection among the judging panel, but Lomax insisted he was happy with what L.A. Reid picked for him. "I definitely played a hand in [picking that song] as well," said Lomax, who got as far as he did in the competition due to his dead-on Frank Sinatra impersonation, which he abandoned for the poppier Monkees hit Tuesday night. "I thought it was a good song. Definitely out of my comfort zone, but I decided to go with what my mentor told me to do and I had faith. I still have faith. I'm still a believer," he chuckled before censoring himself. "Sorry, that's way too corny." Meanwhile, teen sibling duo the Brewer Boys, who both sport Bieber hairdos, were at peace with their elimination, courtesy of teary mentor Paula Abdul — or, as they insist on calling her, "Miss Paula." They'll never forget Miss Paula's "hands-on" mentoring, as well as her gaggle of Chihuahuas they befriended during the judges' home episodes. Keep your eyes peeled for the duo — who performed a bizarre mash-up of Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl" and George Michael's "Faith" on Tuesday — as they hope to hit the road, but in the short term, the only thing on Justin Brewer's schedule is chilling in bed and playing a ton of "Call of Duty." Lomax, likewise, has no beef with mentor L.A. for letting him go. "I think he's an outstanding guy. I wish that he made a different decision, obviously, but he could only take three, and those three guys are outstanding as well. It's a shame he didn't pick me," the aspiring actor shrugged before wandering the halls of CBS Studios to say his goodbyes and hopefully bump into Kim Kardashian, who was spotted nearby at the "Dancing With the Stars" stage. There was no time to chat with Simon Cowell's eliminated girls, Tiah Tolliver and Simone Battle, who were favorites of the Brit but were never well-liked by his fellow judges. Minutes after the show went off the air, they briskly grabbed their belongings and jumped into a production van to take them back to their hotel. Related Videos |
| Amy Winehouse Died From Drinking Too Much Alcohol Posted: 26 Oct 2011 07:38 AM PDT British coroner says singer had five times legal driving limit in her body at time of death.
Amy Winehouse died as a result of drinking too much alcohol. That's the conclusion reached by a British coroner, whose investigation determined that the "Rehab" singer had more than five times the legal driving limit of alcohol in her body at the time of her July 23 death, ruling it "death by misadventure." According to the Guardian, the results were delivered as part of an official inquest into the singer's death being held in London on Wednesday (October 26). Coroner Suzanne Greenway said, "She had consumed sufficient alcohol at 416 mg per deciliter [of blood] and the unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden and unexpected death."
Winehouse, 27, who famously struggled with drug and alcohol addiction during her short life and rapid rise to fame, was found in her bed in her London apartment in July, and police said they discovered three bottles of vodka at the scene. The inquest found no sign of illegal drugs in her system, and a postmortem examination of her body found her vital organs in good health. The amount of alcohol in her system was enough to stop her breathing and possibly send her into a coma, according to officials. Winehouse was not breathing when she was found by her security guard. After initial autopsy results were inconclusive, the Grammy-winning singer's father, Mitch Winehouse, said his daughter had been drug-free for some time, suggesting that it was alcohol withdrawal that had killed her. According to Us magazine, Winehouse's doctor, Christina Romete, said that the "Back to Black" star had started drinking again in the days before her death after a long period of abstinence. She had apparently suffered a relapse just one day before her body was found. Father Mitch, mother Janis and brother Alex were on hand when the toxicology results were announced. A family spokesperson said, "This is closure of sorts but I don't think they are relying on this verdict. ... They are a very close family and they know how Amy was in the days before her death." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Ghostface Screams His Way Into MTV's Killer Halloween Posted: 26 Oct 2011 01:11 AM PDT Where does the 'Scream' baddie rank among other horror icons? We're polling you all week to find out!
Ghostface better get on his cell phone and start scaring the crap out of fans, because three days into MTV's Killer Halloween, the know-it-all "Scream" psycho is trailing his blood-spilling cinematic brethren in our voter-driven, category-by-category analysis of horror-movie murderers. In terms of weaponry, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers trumped Ghostface's knife. And when it came to style, the "Scream" dude's black gown and oblong, am-I-sad-or-psychotic mask couldn't outdo Freddy's striped sweater, Jason's hockey mask or Michael's white-washed, blank-faced mask of terror. But perhaps today is Ghostface's day to shine, for now we turn to personality, and here this killer might just shine (or die trying). Which horror-movie baddie has the best personality? Make your pick in our MTV Movies Blog poll! Ghostface Weapons: Knife, deep knowledge of the horror genre, irony Archenemy: Sidney Prescott, innocent people living near Sidney Prescott Profile: From his first ominously flirty phone call with Drew Barrymore in the 1996 original, Ghostface announced himself as a killer of unique talents and iconic potential. Ever since, the question "What's your favorite scary movie?" has taken on an entirely different meaning. The key thing that separates Ghostface from most other horror-movie killers is that he's never the same person twice. Sometimes he's one malicious woman with a troubled sense of right and wrong; other times, he's two friends with an itch to draw blood and get famous. The only consistencies are that mask-and-gown getup, an encyclopedic knowledge of horror flicks, and a vendetta against Sidney Prescott, the teary-eyed damsel in distress played by Neve Campbell. Poor Sidney just can't catch a break. Yes, there is always something a little nonsensical about these shifting Ghostfaces. You're telling me Sidney's boyfriend and his best pal murdered her mom and then went on a Woodsboro-wide killing spree, because why exactly? A couple of kids go from pursuing normal teenage goals like getting drunk and getting laid to wanting to be famous so badly they're willing — and able! — to become crazy-eyed killas? It sounds odd to say when we're talking about a genre in which a child molester can enter the dreams of his victims, but Ghostface always falls a bit short when it comes to believability, if only because the "Scream" franchise takes place in a pop-culture-saturated world so close to our own. What makes Ghostface a wicked cool bad guy, then, is not why he stabs, but how. Hyper-steeped in horror-movie lore, he appropriates clichés and, in the bloody process, reinvents them. But let's not get too academic here. Ghostface has got swag. He's funny as hell, and when you least expect it, when you're still laughing from your gut, he stabs you in it. Where do you think Ghostface falls in the scope of horror-movie psychopaths? Let us know in the comments! Check out everything we've got on "Scream." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Black Keys' 'Lonely Boy' Video: Dancing Fool Posted: 26 Oct 2011 12:33 AM PDT Oddly compelling clip gives us the first listen to their new single and showcases some seriously funky dance moves.
Perhaps not content to let Coldplay's Chris Martin soak up all the glory for the unicycle skills he showcases in his band's new "Paradise" video, on Wednesday (October 26), the Black Keys unveiled their own delightfully odd video, for "Lonely Boy." And let's just say: It's your move, Mr. Martin. The "Lonely" clip may or may not be the actual video for the first single from the Keys' El Camino album (a spokesperson for their label, Nonesuch, did not respond to MTV News' request for comment at press time, though the fact that it's titled as a "first listen" leads us to believe there's a proper clip to follow). While it features little more than one fabulously funky gentleman and his dazzling array of dance moves, it is truly amazing to behold. Basically, it validates the existence of the entire Internet. Mostly because, dang, can this dude dance. The Twist, the Carlton, even an MJ thrown in for good measure, he does it all, getting down in what appears to be the garage of a used car dealership (probably the same one Bob Odenkirk works at) while "Lonely Boy" blasts in the background. In fact, he even mouths most of the lyrics and acts a few of them out for us too. Much like the garage it is filmed in, this video is full-service. While, sure, it would be easy to write the "Lonely Boy" clip off as just another viral video, that would be selling it short. It is a deceptively brilliant, oddly compelling and cleverly handmade thing, the kind of vid that practically begs to be watched over and over again (and believe me, I've spent the entire afternoon doing just that). There's not only an uninhibited joy to the man's moves, it doesn't hurt matters that the song is pretty fantastic too: a herky-jerky, down-and-dirty boogie powered by some raunchy guitar and a keening organ. If anything, it makes me excited to hear even more of El Camino, which is out December 6. No word on whether the gentleman in the "Lonely Boy" video will be involved in any future promotion, but I've got my fingers crossed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch this thing again. And again. What do you think of the "Lonely Boy" video? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists |
| Lil Wayne Downplays <i>Human Being</i> And <i>Rebirth</i> Sequels Posted: 25 Oct 2011 11:10 PM PDT 'What I'm doing is really never important, actually,' Weezy tells Mixtape Daily, while hyping other Young Money releases.
Celebrity Favorites: Lil Wayne
Still, instead of promoting himself, Weezy would much rather focus on the talent around him. While on the set of Birdman's "Y.U. Mad" video, MTV News asked Tunechi about his next two albums, and he quickly diverted the attention to his artist Drizzy. "Drake's album Take Care is coming November 15, Nicki is about to start working on her next album," he said before turning to the Female Weezy for an update. "No name yet. She said she still figuring it out," Nicki responded, never breaking her Lady Wayne character. Weezy continued to deflect, using the opportunity to plug his own YM artists and Cash Money labelmates. Birdman (Bigga Than Life), Tyga (Careless World), Lil Twist (Don't Get It Twisted) and Bow Wow (Underrated) are all scheduled to release albums before the end of the year. "Stunna coming out; I'm Not a Human Being II and Rebirth II is so not important right now," Tune said. "We got Twist coming, we got Tyga Tyga coming, and then we have Shanell coming, then we got Bow Wow — that's what's really important. What I'm doing is really never important, actually. I'm a very unimportant guy. It's just me." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Artists |
| 'Breaking Dawn' 'Blew My Mind,' Christina Perri Says Posted: 26 Oct 2011 12:25 AM PDT Soundtrack artist reviews November 18 entry in the 'Twilight' franchise for MTV News.
One of the perks of being asked to contribute to a soundtrack includes seeing the flick long before anyone else. For self-proclaimed Twilighter Christina Perri, getting a first look at "Breaking Dawn- Part 1" before it opens November 18 was a pretty big deal.
"When I screened the movie, it was definitely one of my favorite days ever," she told MTV News on the set of the video for her "Breaking Dawn" track, "A Thousand Years." "I went with all these Hollywood people, and they were there for work, and I was there for work to get inspired to write a song, but I was an über-fan, like, sitting in the front crying. And I had the best time ever." So did the film live up to all her expectations? "The movie was unbelievable!" she gushed. "It's my favorite now, so I definitely had the best time ever. [It's my] favorite of the whole series. It definitely blew my mind, and I will say, I can't say anything about it, [but] I will say that if you're a 'Twilight' fan, you will be very happy, 'cause it was my favorite one." Perri notes that previously revealed plot points, like the wedding, honeymoon and birth scene, live up to the hype. "I think the fans are most excited about the wedding, the sex scene and then the baby, but they're the three best parts of the book," she said. "But everyone's going to be really happy. I don't know how I kept this all a secret. I respect the privacy of the gigantic franchise. Why would you want to give it away?" Perri is one of many artists who appear on the soundtrack, including Theophilus London, the Joy Formidable and Bruno Mars. The album hits stores November 8, just 10 days before the Bill Condon-directed "Breaking Dawn" opens November 18. A video for Mars' track, "It Will Rain," is slated to drop "in a couple weeks," as Mars alerted fans earlier this week. The last part of the "Twilight Saga," "Breaking Dawn - Part 2," opens November 2012. Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1." For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. |
| Demi Lovato Calls 'Who's That Boy' 'Flirty, Exciting' Posted: 25 Oct 2011 10:59 PM PDT 'It's just a fun, upbeat song,' singer tells MTV News of second single off her Unbroken album.
It's been just over a month since the release of Demi Lovato's third studio album, Unbroken. Even though the album didn't give Lovato her highest Billboard chart debut — Unbroken debuted at #4, while her first solo album, Don't Forget, debuted at #2 and her sophomore album, Here We Go Again, debuted at #1 — the 19-year-old's latest effort was not only a favorite among Lovato's loyal fans but a critics' favorite as well.
"I was really surprised that the critics loved it," Lovato told MTV News. "I was very excited about it, and I'm really thankful that they do because critics can be hard. So anytime you get a good review from them, I'm really thankful about it." Coming off the success of the first single, "Skyscraper," an inspirational ballad, Lovato is ready to get her Lovatics on their feet with her new single, "Who's That Boy." "It's just a fun, upbeat song," Lovato said of the second single. "It's flirty, it's sexy, it's exciting and I love it. I think it's radio-friendly, and I think it's a good choice for a second single." The song features electro-pop singer Dev, one of the many collaborators Lovato worked with on the album — others include Jason Derülo, Missy Elliott, Timbaland and Iyaz.
"Dev is really good," Lovato said. "Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic actually wrote the song and produced it and he was the one that got Dev on the song." Lovato said they've "thought about" shooting a video for "Who's That Boy" but do not have a shoot date. Next on the singer's list is her upcoming tour. Lovato hits the road next month for 10 dates, beginning November 16 in Detroit, where she will be able to showcase this very special album for her fans. "Making the album was a personal journey for me; it was kind of like a roller coaster," Lovato said. "I was going through so much over the past year, but at the end of it I just wanted to inspire people and just give them music to have fun dancing to and listening to, and hopefully I accomplished that." So what's the one song off Unbroken that Lovato can't get enough of? "I think it would be 'Unbroken,' " Lovato said. " 'Unbroken' is my favorite song off the album. What I love about that song so much is that it's upbeat, it's fun to dance to, I love blaring it in the car. It's one of those songs." What do you think of "Who's That Boy"? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Eddie Murphy, Brett Ratner Can't Agree On 'Beverly Hills Cop 4' Posted: 25 Oct 2011 10:59 PM PDT 'Tower Heist' director tells MTV News he's 'hoping' to get sequel made, while Murphy seems to have counted out the movie franchise.
There seems to be two varying opinions on whether "Beverly Hill Cop 4" will ever happen. Ask the attached director, Brett Ratner, and he'll tell you he wants to make it happen with Eddie Murphy. But the response is ... rather different if you put the same question to the A-list actor.
MTV News recently caught up with Ratner as he promoted "Tower Heist," out this Friday and starring yes, Murphy. The director sounded hopeful about another "Cop" sequel. "I think one day, I'm hoping, because it is one of the most iconic characters ever," Ratner told us. "Eddie does not go anywhere in the world where they're not like, 'Axel Foley, what's up?' more than 'Eddie Murphy.' It is something that our hope and desire is to get it made." Much like he did with MTV News, Ratner has spoken on several occasions about his hopes for a fourth movie featuring the legendary Axel Foley, a Detroit cop who finds himself solving crimes in the very posh Beverly Hills. In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, however, Eddie Murphy tells the magazine that the possibilities for a fourth "Beverly Hills Cop" film are dead. "They're not doing it," Murphy told the magazine. According to the actor, the proposed screenplays didn't really support the making of a new film. "None of the movie scripts were right; it was trying to force the premise. If you have to force something, you shouldn't be doing it. It was always a rehash of the old thing. It was always wrong," Murphy says. But Murphy has other ideas for the beloved character. "What I'm trying to do now is produce a TV show starring Axel Foley's son, and Axel is the chief of police now in Detroit," Murphy revealed. "I'd do the pilot, show up here and there." Ratner himself acknowledged the challenges involved with revisiting the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise. "It's a hard nut to crack, especially since there are three that exist before that. It's a hard thing," Ratner admitted, before adding that the three films allow him to see what worked in the series and what didn't. Would you like to see a new "Beverly Hills Cop" movie? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter! Check out everything we've got on "Tower Heist." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. Related Videos |
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