MTV News |
- Katy Perry Takes Us Backstage In London
- Adam Lambert Feels 'Liberated' By <i>Rolling Stone</i> Cover
- Young Jeezy To Headline Atlanta's Birthday Bash
- Miley Cyrus Says She And Nick Jonas Have 'Reconnected'
- Are Usher And His Wife Splitting Up?
- Trick Daddy's Top 10 Most Influential Miami Artists
- Fergie Says Early Criticism From Black Eyed Peas Fans Made Her 'Hungrier'
- Pleasure P Does Miami Proud With Solo Debut
| Katy Perry Takes Us Backstage In London Posted: 11 Jun 2009 10:59 PM PDT Get a firsthand look at Katy's preshow rituals and sneaky crowd greeting.
What's the secret to Katy Perry's rather meteoric rise to fame? Apparently, it's Coca-Cola and Tylenol. At least that's what we learned backstage at London's O2 Empire club, where she just completed a sold-out, two-night run. The scene in the dressing rooms was hectic — plenty of last-minute costume changes and makeup sessions — but Perry made it a point to complete one preshow ritual that she credits for putting her over the top.
"Every night, an hour before my show, I have some Coca-Cola and a Tylenol. And I don't know if it's good or bad, but I think it just messes with my mind, to let me know we're going to have a great show," she said. "It's probably not the greatest idea, since caffeine isn't usually good for singers. I'm probably freaking out so many vocalists who are watching this right now. They're like, 'That is a horrible idea!' Well Roy Orbison did it, and he's a classic." We have no way of verifying that, so we'll just take your word for it, KP. Other highlights from our backstage jaunt: Katy and her backing band — who are all decked out in matching pink tuxedos, which apparently explains why they're called "The Pink Flamingos" — doing a preshow tribute to director John Waters (you know, since he directed the cult classic "Pink Flamingos" and all) and Perry sneaking on to the stage to wave hello to her fanatic fans. Oh, and we also learned that there's a far less scientific (or musicological) explanation for the whole "Coke and Tylenol" thing: "My mother never let me drink Coca-Cola," Perry explained. "That's really why I think I do it." Related Videos Related Artists | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adam Lambert Feels 'Liberated' By <i>Rolling Stone</i> Cover Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:29 PM PDT 'I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders,' the 'American Idol' runner-up says.
Being on the cover of Rolling Stone can do a lot of things for you — provide a huge career boost, sell records (or movie tickets) and introduce you to a new audience. But for "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert, being on this week's cover did something even more important: It liberated him. Lambert told Us Weekly on Thursday that he had no regrets about finally coming clean about being gay in the magazine. The rebel-yelling singer spent most of the season as the subject of an "is he or isn't he?" whisper campaign about his sexuality (which last year's runner-up, David Archuleta, for one, had no questions about). Lambert is overjoyed to finally admit what everyone on the show already knew. "I'm really happy with it. The cover looks great. It was great working with [photographer] Matthew Rolston," he told Us. "And the title — 'The Liberation of Adam Lambert' — I do feel liberated. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders." In addition to admitting that his "Idol" audition was inspired by a magic-mushroom trip at the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert, Lambert, 27, also revealed his crush on winner and roommate Kris Allen. Lambert told Us that he didn't cop to being an openly gay man on the show because he didn't want to create a distraction. He said he felt it would be "so sensationalized that it would overshadow what I was there to do, which was sing." After living openly in Los Angeles for eight years, Lambert said, "It's not like I was holding back before. ... I was being myself, but it's nice to have everything out in the open." Now, with those secrets revealed, Lambert told Rolling Stone he's excited to begin working on his debut album, which he said will be a mixture of his beloved glam rock with some electronic and rock touches. "I can see myself probably doing a little bit of everything," he said in a video of his RS cover shoot. "A rock/pop sound with really strong hooks with, like, a glam edge to it and a lot of modern production — a dance-y electronic treatment on everything to make it sound current and futuristic. We kind of just started. We're at the drawing board. We're trying to figure out what kind of sound we want, what kind of producers we want to work with. Right now, it's all just ideas, nothing's really started yet. So it's really exciting, because anything can happen." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Young Jeezy To Headline Atlanta's Birthday Bash Posted: 12 Jun 2009 02:05 AM PDT Rick Ross, Soulja Boy Tell'em, Gucci Mane, Jeremih, Keri Hilson also on the bill for June 20 concert.
How can Young Jeezy outdo himself this year? Well, Jeezy has just been announced as the headlining act for one of the biggest hip-hop concerts of the year: Atlanta radio station 107.9's 14th annual Birthday Bash.
Jeezy has the task of closing the concert that also features Rick Ross, Gucci Mane, OJ Da Juiceman, Soulja Boy Tell'em, Yung L.A., Trey Songz, Young Dro, Hurricane Chris, Jeremih, Keri Hilson, F.L.Y., Lil' Will, Pleasure P and Plies. Birthday Bash 14 takes place June 20 at Philips Arena in Atlanta. At last year's Birthday Bash, Jeezy stole the show, bringing Kanye West and Usher onstage, among others. "I gave you a show," Jeezy told us backstage after last year's show. "[At the] Birthday Bash two years ago, I brought out Jay-Z. Shout-outs to Hov. It's about topping it. Making people step their game up. Relationships is everything. When you really know people, you tell them, 'Come through, we got Birthday Bash. Be there,' and they there? To me, that means everything. This year I called out Dream, Kanye, Usher, Blood Raw. ... I'm from Atlanta, so they pretty much see you every day. They know you gonna come out, but when you bring those special people out, it just gives it that extra umph. Me, personally, I take pride in Birthday Bash. Birthday Bash 13 was mine, by the way. "Shout-out to Kanye, he flew all the way in," Jeezy added about West, who had another concert the same night. "I had to throw him a private jet courtesy of Young." Usher flew in last year from Japan. Jeezy had a huge moment last week at Hot 97's Summer Jam in New Jersey when he brought Jay-Z and Drake onstage for his set. Related Artists | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Miley Cyrus Says She And Nick Jonas Have 'Reconnected' Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:58 PM PDT Miley calls the young Jonas Brother her best friend, but doesn't say whether they are dating.
Almost immediately after news broke that Miley Cyrus had split from boyfriend Justin Gaston, speculation arose that she and her ex, Nick Jonas, have rekindled their romance. And the teens haven't done too much to discourage the rumors: On Thursday, photos of Miley and Nick jet-skiing in Georgia emerged, and next Tuesday, their duet, "Before the Storm," will be available for public consumption on the JoBros' new album, Lines, Vines and Trying Times.
So, are Miley and Nick back together? Well, when Miley spoke to radio station 107.5 The River in Tennessee, it seemed like the answer was a definite "kind of." "He's my best friend, and we still hang out all the time, and we've definitely reconnected," she said when asked if it's weird to work with her ex. "And we don't know what's going to happen in the future, but right now we're just kicking it and hanging out as much as we can." The pair started to ignite rumors when they were seen at lunch together a few months back. Miley further explained that the two have managed to put any old problems aside to focus on the future. "We both just kind of saw each other again and kind of decided this whole thing was stupid and ... we all were over the separation," she said. "And our families are super happy that we're hanging out again." When MTV News caught up with Nick Jonas earlier this week, he explained a bit about how Cyrus ended up on their new album. "I think ['Before the Storm' is] probably one of my favorite songs, because it has a great story to it. It's a duet with Miley, which is great." The song didn't originally include Miley until Nick saw it as the perfect opportunity to record with his ex and to share their tale of young love with their fans. "It's a good thing that happened, and it'll be a good one to play live." Related Artists | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Are Usher And His Wife Splitting Up? Posted: 12 Jun 2009 02:05 AM PDT Singer and Tameka Foster-Raymond have been married for nearly two years.
Usher and his wife of nearly two years, Tameka Foster-Raymond, may be heading for a split, according to online reports earlier this week and sources quoted in People.com on Friday (June 12). The source said divorce papers are expected to be filed next week. A source told People that the marriage between Usher, 30, and Foster, 38, has been strained for months now. The pair reportedly haven't lived under the same roof in quite some time, as Usher has relocated to Nevada to work on his next solo album. Pictures and video of Usher, alongside Jermaine Durpri and others, partying in Las Vegas have appeared online in recent weeks. A rep for Usher had no comment when contacted by MTV News.
Early this year, Foster suffered cardiac arrest before undergoing plastic surgery in Brazil. Upon learning of her condition, Usher canceled his performance at Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammy gala and flew to the foreign country be to with her. Davis told the crowd at the party that Usher had to leave town due to a "serious injury in the family." People's sources called the event a "brief reunion in an otherwise troubled marriage." While online reports earlier this week stated that Usher had filed for divorce in Atlanta, a representative at Fulton County Superior Court's Civil Divisions department told MTV News late Friday afternoon that no divorce papers had been filed. The couple have two sons together, Usher Raymond V, born in November of 2007, and Naviyd Ely Raymond, born last December. Foster has three sons from a previous relationship. According to the source quoted in People, Foster is still referring to Usher as "my husband" and is not ready to pull the plug on their relationship. The couple's relationship has been fraught with controversy ever since Usher broke the news — somewhat off-handedly — to MTV News in March of 2007 that he and Foster were engaged. The couple married later that year in Atlanta in a simple ceremony, after canceling the original, more lavish wedding. Rumors were rampant about the reason for the cancellation of the original wedding plans, including that Usher's mother disapproved of the relationship, claims the couple later denied. Throughout their marriage, the couple was dogged by insinuations that the singer was being controlled by Foster, and further reports of discord with his mother, whom he released from her duties as his manager in 2007 before rehiring her the following year. Questions about the singer's fidelity also arose. Usher took umbrage with much of the discussion and fired back at the gossip in interviews. In a "TRL" appearance in May of 2008, Usher unleashed a verbal broadside about the rumors. "I love my wife very, very much," he said. "There was a little rumor earlier this week about us separating. It ain't true. We in love. Get outta there," he said, raising his left hand and showing off his wedding band. "Matter of fact, I'm tired of people continuing to talk so much trash about me, know what I'm saying? And my relationship. "My wife is not 40 years old. I love her to death and I'm a black, strong man in America standing up for my people — as a man to my wife, to my son, to my family," he continued, removing his sunglasses and talking directly into the camera. "I'm making a stand that a lot of us should make. I coulda been like any other man who has a child and live with that woman and continue to just play the game. ... I'm trying to do it the right way. This is the way you're supposed to do it! Pay attention, fellas." Usher then turned his back to the camera while the studio audience applauded. "TRL" host Damien Fahey then attempted to continue with the segment, only to be interrupted as the singer began part two of his verbal assault. "And my wife had nothing to do with me firing my mother — nothing like that, that's trash," he said. "I hear y'all talking crazy out there, she's a beautiful black woman. Stop. Stop talking. And I love her. Stop it." Related Artists | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trick Daddy's Top 10 Most Influential Miami Artists Posted: 12 Jun 2009 01:10 AM PDT The Dunk Ryders boss gives us a rundown of his favorite hometown MCs.
Trick Daddy is a Miami legend. Any of the cats from the city who dominate radio today — Pitbull, Flo Rida, DJ Khaled — they have to give it up to the man first known as Trick Daddy Dollars. He's been a permanent fixture on the MIA scene, and it looks like he's not going anywhere anytime soon. Trick recently started his own independent label Dunk Ryders, and his Finally Famous: Born a Thug Die a Thug LP should drop in late August or early September. There's also an autobiography and a film by the same name due soon. As we keep rocking with Miami Week, Trick gives us his list of homegrown artists who impacted their city the most. Also, be sure to check out our exclusive 'hood tour with Trick included below. Trick Daddy's Top 10 Most Influential Miami Artists
Luke and the 2 Live Crew Uncle Al and the Sugar Hill DJs Le Juan Love
Disco Rick and the Dogs J.T. Money & the Poison Clan Slip-N-Slide All Stars Pitbull Prince Raheim and Crazy Legs 59 Clay D Half Pint | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fergie Says Early Criticism From Black Eyed Peas Fans Made Her 'Hungrier' Posted: 11 Jun 2009 11:17 PM PDT 'A lot of people said it was my fault that they were taken out of the underground,' she recalls of joining the group.
Being the lone girl in the Black Eyed Peas wasn't the biggest obstacle Fergie had to overcome when she joined the band back in 2003; it was convincing the fans that she belonged there that really posed a problem for the singer. "When I first joined, there were a lot of people who didn't know what to make of me, and they'd been a fan of Black Eyed Peas being an underground hip-hop band," she said in the Women in Music issue of Elle. "Then I come in, and the first song we released when I was in the band was 'Where Is the Love?' with Justin Timberlake. So when that hit all the crossover markets, a lot of people said it was my fault that they were taken out of the underground."
Instead of letting the harsh words get to her, she used it as motivation, and as the group's subsequent success shows, it worked. "I had to read a lot of criticism," she said. "But it only made me hungrier." Fergie, who admits to trashing her bandmates' hotel rooms while on tour, has always had a tomboy spirit. And it's only since becoming a Pea that she's learned to embrace her femininity. "When I first joined the Peas, I didn't ever want to wear a skirt. I was in a kind of hard-edge point in my life, rough around the edges, collecting unemployment and living at my mom's," she said. "I wasn't in a girly mood at all. But finally, when 'Hey Mama' came around, the guys persuaded me to wear a skirt." She added that "once I did, it was kind of fun and flirty, and I started exploring that part of my personality again." Related Videos Related Artists | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pleasure P Does Miami Proud With Solo Debut Posted: 11 Jun 2009 10:53 PM PDT Former Pretty Ricky member scored hit with 'Boyfriend #2.'
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper — and we're not talking about Mark Curry. The new Mr. Cooper is the man who's known by his fans as Pleasure P, formerly of Pretty Ricky. The same cat who, last weekend in Miami, had friends like Chris Brown, Omarion, Bow Wow, the Kardashians, actress Kyla Pratt and Yung Joc come out to his album-release party. It's dope to get love in your hometown. " 'Boyfriend #2,' it was a #1 urban record," Pleasure said about the single from his solo debut, The Introduction of Marcus Cooper. P already hit a milestone that escaped him as the lead singer of flamboyant R&B group Pretty Ricky.
"This is my first #1 record," he said. "I didn't even get a #1 record when I was in the group. It means a lot. When I say we put blood, sweat and tears into this project and into my whole career, I literally mean blood, sweat and tears. I'm happy I'm free to do things I wanna do now. It's been a tough road for me. A real tough road." When P left Pretty Ricky, things initially got ugly: Lawsuits and insults flew around, but things have since simmered down. "The relationship all of us had, the industry kinda changed who we are," he explained. "It's changed us, period. Certain people started acting different. Even me, I probably started acting different, who knows? We was all like brothers and we had a good relationship. We was closer than anything, things happen. I don't wanna talk too much about Pretty Ricky, that's in the past. I just wanna leave it in the past." Recording his album was one big party, he said.
"It was like relieving a lot of stress," he explained of his recording process. "Doing what I wanted to do. Doing me. Every session was a celebration. Every session we popped a bottle of Rose champagne. Me, [producers/collaborators] Rico Love, Static Major, Adonis, Tank, Jim Jonson, Cool & Dre. Everybody I worked with, we always had fun in the studio. Like how you see in the 'Notorious' movie, where the girls are in the studio while they were recording, it was something like that. It was a party every day. We got good work done, doing the whole album like that. Taking the approach to do what you want to do. No stress or tension. All me, all my family, all my friends. Pleasure started working on his album about 18 months ago, and has so much material left over that he's ready to start on his next LP, which will be dedicated to Static, who died in 2008. This album, he wants people to get the familiar with him as a person. He's hoping to eventually drop the Pleasure P moniker and go with his real name. "Marcus Cooper is my government name," he said about his inspiration for the album. "Y'all gonna learn I'm serious. I'm not a joke. I'm the new bad boy for R&B. I've been through things. Y'all can take [Marcus] serious. He's not crazy like everybody think he is, being that I was in the group and we did a lot of things that was out the box. I'm normal, like everybody else. I'm very humble. The main thing, Pretty Ricky introduced the world to Pleasure P and Pleasure P is introducing the world to Marcus Cooper, the man that's the father of a 5-year-old son." Marcus Cooper is also a love guru — just listen to the jewels he drops in his single. "I'm not encouraging people to cheat on this record," he clarifies. "What I'm saying is I'm sending a message, step up your game. You see in the video, the average guy gets the girl because the guy with the money wasn't treating her right. Don't stop giving her flowers and saying, 'Baby, how was your day?,' and telling her how you feel. [If you don't], another man will." Related Videos Related Artists | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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