'America's Got Talent' host reignites longtime beef with Slim Shady by suggesting they box for charity.By Gil Kaufman
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon
Photo: Kevork Djansezian/ Getty Images
What do you call it when someone, for no apparent reason, revives a beef that you thought was squashed? A re-beef?
Whatever you call it, Nick Cannon just did it. The "America's Got Talent" host and radio DJ attempted to light a fire under his long-simmering (but seemingly over) dispute with Eminem over the weekend by posting a fight-club challenge to Detroit's finest.
"The time has come! Boys talk the talk, but men walk the walk. Nick has laid down the challenge to meet Eminem in the ring," reads a post on Cannon's official site. "Nick and the rest of the crew on Rollin' With Nick Cannon think it's time for the feud to be over once and for all. And to draw Slim Shady out of hiding, Nick has decided to do it all for charity." Cannon has even set up a Facebook page to hype the unlikely event.
You remember this year-and-a-half-old beef, right? Eminem's "Bagpipes From Baghdad," off his Relapse album, took some shots at Cannon and his wife, Mariah Carey. Cannon shot back: He dissed Em's skills and clowned on his boasts of bedding Mariah, calling the attack "racist bigotry."
Then Mariah got in on the act, seemingly dressing up as Slim Shady in her "Obsessed" video, even though Cannon said the resemblance was just coincidental. And then it was back on, with Marshall Mathers serving up yet another dis track against Carey and Cannon called "The Warning" in July 2009.
Despite both sides repeatedly denying any beef, the shots continued into August, with Cannon hitting back at Eminem with a series of biblical tweets. And then the whole things seemingly went away.
Cannon reignited the fuse in July, when he reportedly attempted to confront Shady at the BET Awards, making fun of Em for allegedly hiding out behind his security detail. Then, earlier this month, Cannon threw another haymaker, dropping "I'ma Slick Rick," in which he called into question, um, Eminem's ability to get ready for game time. "I don't know if I should hit him because he's feminine Slick/ Excuse me Eminem why you lying on your d---?/ Erectile dysfunction, you wanna get 'em up/ I see your mouth moving but you soft, Teddy Ruxpin," Cannon rapped.
A clean and sober Eminem told Vibe in August that he was done with all that, saying, "I really don't want to talk about [Carey] anymore. I don't want to keep beating a dead horse ... I'm not even going to comment about it. I'm done with that whole situation. I said what I had to say."
A spokesperson for Eminem could not be reached for comment on the Cannon fight challenge at press time.
Would you like to see Eminem and Nick Cannon in a boxing match for charity?
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Thursday, September 30, 2010
'Jersey Shore' Soundtrack Due July 20 -- Check Out The Single Here!
Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull team up for 'I Like It,' soundtrack's first single.By James Montgomery
The 2009 cast of "Jersey Shore"
Photo: Scott Gries/Picture Group
Prepare thine fists for pumping: On July 20, MTV and Universal Republic Records will release Jersey Shore Soundtrack, a collection of songs inspired by the tanned-and-terrific hit series.
The club-ready first single off the album is "I Like It," a collaboration between Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull, which will be available on iTunes May 25. Other artists featured on the soundtrack include Lil Jon, LMFAO, Taio Cruz and Akon.
It's the perfect summer playlist, not to mention an excellent accompaniment to any and all G.T.L.-related activities, but if you want even more "Jersey Shore," a deluxe edition of the soundtrack will also be available, featuring not only the standard album, but a bonus second CD, packed with music inspired by the first season of the "Shore," including the show's theme, "Get Crazy," by LMFAO.
"MTV is excited to join forces with Universal Republic Records to bring the Jersey Shore Soundtrack to the show's fans," Amy Doyle, executive vice president of music and talent programming strategy, MTV brands, said in a statement. "From the clubs to the gym, there is going to be a lot of fist pumping and booty shaking going on this summer, and that's just at my house."
More info on the album (and exclusive promotional contests coming this summer) will be available shortly. The first season of "Jersey Shore" will also be available — completely uncensored — on DVD, the same day the soundtrack hits stores: July 20.
And, of course, the second season of the show, which follows Snooki, the Situation, JWoww, DJ Pauly D and the gang down to Miami's South Beach before returning to their now-famous house in Seaside Heights, will premiere on Thursday, July 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
Don't miss the Jersey Shore Soundtrack, available July 20. Season two of "Jersey Shore" premieres Thursday, July 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Be there!
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The 2009 cast of "Jersey Shore"
Photo: Scott Gries/Picture Group
Prepare thine fists for pumping: On July 20, MTV and Universal Republic Records will release Jersey Shore Soundtrack, a collection of songs inspired by the tanned-and-terrific hit series.
The club-ready first single off the album is "I Like It," a collaboration between Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull, which will be available on iTunes May 25. Other artists featured on the soundtrack include Lil Jon, LMFAO, Taio Cruz and Akon.
It's the perfect summer playlist, not to mention an excellent accompaniment to any and all G.T.L.-related activities, but if you want even more "Jersey Shore," a deluxe edition of the soundtrack will also be available, featuring not only the standard album, but a bonus second CD, packed with music inspired by the first season of the "Shore," including the show's theme, "Get Crazy," by LMFAO.
"MTV is excited to join forces with Universal Republic Records to bring the Jersey Shore Soundtrack to the show's fans," Amy Doyle, executive vice president of music and talent programming strategy, MTV brands, said in a statement. "From the clubs to the gym, there is going to be a lot of fist pumping and booty shaking going on this summer, and that's just at my house."
More info on the album (and exclusive promotional contests coming this summer) will be available shortly. The first season of "Jersey Shore" will also be available — completely uncensored — on DVD, the same day the soundtrack hits stores: July 20.
And, of course, the second season of the show, which follows Snooki, the Situation, JWoww, DJ Pauly D and the gang down to Miami's South Beach before returning to their now-famous house in Seaside Heights, will premiere on Thursday, July 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
Don't miss the Jersey Shore Soundtrack, available July 20. Season two of "Jersey Shore" premieres Thursday, July 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Be there!
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Tony Yayo Says 50 Cent's Beef With Fat Joe Is 'My Problem' Too
'If you really dislike 50, then you really dislike Yayo,' he says on 'RapFix Live.'By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Tony Yayo on "RapFix Live" on Thursday
Photo: Jonathan Goldner/MTV News
Tony Yayo wants to make it clear how the beef between 50 Cent and Fat Joe spills over to the rest of the G-Unit crew: "I didn't have a problem with Fat Joe; 50 did," Yayo explained Thursday (September 23) on "RapFix Live." "So now it's my problem."
Fat Joe and 50 Cent have been trading barbs in rhyme and during interviews for years now. When the Terror Squad lyricist appeared on "RapFix Live" last month, he said there's little chance the dispute with Fif could end peacefully. "The day 50 Cent want to lock up with me in a bathroom and do this like men, we can hug each other and keep it moving the day after that," Joe said, referring to a one-on-one fight.
Yayo, however, dismissed Joe's notion. The G-Unit soldier said the idea of a straight-up battle is unheard of in his Queens, New York, neighborhood and said he'd jump into a fight with 50 against Fat Joe.
"Where I'm from, there's no such thing as a fair one," he explained. "If that man is fighting, you fighting too. That's just how it is. Like [Joe] said, he don't know where [the beef] started from. Whatever beef 50 got with him, that's his issue. But 50 is my homie, and it is what it is."
When asked if the issue between 50 and Joe could exist solely between the two men, Yayo didn't think so. "If you really dislike 50, then you really dislike Yayo," he said. " 'Cause anybody that doesn't like 50 isn't gonna like Yayo. There goes the answer right there. If I see you, you see me, something might potentially happen."
What do you think about the ongoing beef between 50 Cent and Fat Joe? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Tony Yayo on "RapFix Live" on Thursday
Photo: Jonathan Goldner/MTV News
Tony Yayo wants to make it clear how the beef between 50 Cent and Fat Joe spills over to the rest of the G-Unit crew: "I didn't have a problem with Fat Joe; 50 did," Yayo explained Thursday (September 23) on "RapFix Live." "So now it's my problem."
Fat Joe and 50 Cent have been trading barbs in rhyme and during interviews for years now. When the Terror Squad lyricist appeared on "RapFix Live" last month, he said there's little chance the dispute with Fif could end peacefully. "The day 50 Cent want to lock up with me in a bathroom and do this like men, we can hug each other and keep it moving the day after that," Joe said, referring to a one-on-one fight.
Yayo, however, dismissed Joe's notion. The G-Unit soldier said the idea of a straight-up battle is unheard of in his Queens, New York, neighborhood and said he'd jump into a fight with 50 against Fat Joe.
"Where I'm from, there's no such thing as a fair one," he explained. "If that man is fighting, you fighting too. That's just how it is. Like [Joe] said, he don't know where [the beef] started from. Whatever beef 50 got with him, that's his issue. But 50 is my homie, and it is what it is."
When asked if the issue between 50 and Joe could exist solely between the two men, Yayo didn't think so. "If you really dislike 50, then you really dislike Yayo," he said. " 'Cause anybody that doesn't like 50 isn't gonna like Yayo. There goes the answer right there. If I see you, you see me, something might potentially happen."
What do you think about the ongoing beef between 50 Cent and Fat Joe? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Justin Bieber To Release Line Of Dolls
Pop star's figurine collection, due in December, will sing and re-create looks from videos like 'Baby' — signature 'do included.By James Dinh
Justin Bieber doll
Photo: Splash News
Move over, Barbie, there's a new doll in town. Justin Bieber has cemented his pop-star status with a line of dolls set to hit stores in December. The line of collectible figurines will feature the Biebs decked out in a variety of looks borrowed from his music-video and red-carpet appearances.
Merchandise company Bravado and the Bridge Direct Inc. announced Tuesday (September 28) that fans will be able to purchase the toys in time for the holiday season as they're expected to hit retail stores "on or around" December 4, according to Billboard magazine.
One set, the Justin Bieber Music Video Collection Singing Figures, plays 30-second snippets of the pop star's hits, like "Baby" and "One Less Lonely Girl." The musical dolls are priced at $27.99. Another set, priced at $17.99, is called the JB Style Collection and has the teen sensation flashing his street style or sporting some looks familiar to fans from awards shows and red-carpet events. (The toys are available for pre-order this week.)
One figurine shows Bieber holding a guitar and wearing the green hoodie and jeans from his "One Less Lonely Girl" video. But it doesn't stop at dolls: The Bieber toy line will include a microphone with concert-like sound effects that play snippets of his hits "One Time" and "Somebody to Love." Beliebers can also choose from plush bears, caps and "Team Bieber" tees.
The next chapter in the expanding Bieber empire will be the publication in October of his first book, "Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story." In a statement, Justin said he was excited for fans to catch a behind-the-scenes glimpse of his life.
"Every day I wake up and count my blessings. My fans have played such a large part in all of this and they help me live my dreams every day. I'm excited to share just a little bit more of my world with them through this book. Between the behind-the-scenes pictures and the story I think this is going to be something they can all enjoy. This is just another way for me to say thank you to my fans."
Will you be the first to buy a Justin doll? Tell us in the comments!
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Photo: Splash News
Move over, Barbie, there's a new doll in town. Justin Bieber has cemented his pop-star status with a line of dolls set to hit stores in December. The line of collectible figurines will feature the Biebs decked out in a variety of looks borrowed from his music-video and red-carpet appearances.
Merchandise company Bravado and the Bridge Direct Inc. announced Tuesday (September 28) that fans will be able to purchase the toys in time for the holiday season as they're expected to hit retail stores "on or around" December 4, according to Billboard magazine.
One set, the Justin Bieber Music Video Collection Singing Figures, plays 30-second snippets of the pop star's hits, like "Baby" and "One Less Lonely Girl." The musical dolls are priced at $27.99. Another set, priced at $17.99, is called the JB Style Collection and has the teen sensation flashing his street style or sporting some looks familiar to fans from awards shows and red-carpet events. (The toys are available for pre-order this week.)
One figurine shows Bieber holding a guitar and wearing the green hoodie and jeans from his "One Less Lonely Girl" video. But it doesn't stop at dolls: The Bieber toy line will include a microphone with concert-like sound effects that play snippets of his hits "One Time" and "Somebody to Love." Beliebers can also choose from plush bears, caps and "Team Bieber" tees.
The next chapter in the expanding Bieber empire will be the publication in October of his first book, "Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story." In a statement, Justin said he was excited for fans to catch a behind-the-scenes glimpse of his life.
"Every day I wake up and count my blessings. My fans have played such a large part in all of this and they help me live my dreams every day. I'm excited to share just a little bit more of my world with them through this book. Between the behind-the-scenes pictures and the story I think this is going to be something they can all enjoy. This is just another way for me to say thank you to my fans."
Will you be the first to buy a Justin doll? Tell us in the comments!
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On The 2010 VMA Red Carpet
On The 2010 VMA Red Carpet
MTV News is talking to Drake, Justin Bieber and more at the 2010 VMAs.
MTV News is talking to Drake, Justin Bieber and more at the 2010 VMAs.
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Usher Remembers Being A 'Pizza Face' On 'When I Was 17'
'I had really, really bad acne ' he admits in Saturday's episode. By Mawuse Ziegbe
Usher on "When I Was 17"
Photo: MTV News
He's known as one of the smoothest R&B sensations to grace the stage, but when Usher was 17, he grappled with a far less flattering image.
"I went through this phase where I had really, really bad acne," the singer admits on the latest episode of "When I Was 17," premiering Saturday at 11 a.m. Usher, who was 17 in 1995, reveals with a grin that his nickname was "Pizza Face."
"His acne was so horrible," recalled one of Usher's more blunt friends, Keith. "His face was so jacked up."
Music mogul and producer Jermaine Dupri remembered how the entertainer's spotty complexion led him to shy away from the spotlight.
"He didn't want to go out. He wanted to stay in," Dupri says. "He was a little ashamed of what was going on with his face."
The singer went to extreme, and ultimately unsuccessful, lengths to disguise his breakouts.
"As a dude, you're not gonna put makeup on your face, right?" Usher said. "I tried that, it didn't even work."
He may have experimented with cosmetics and spent a few more nights at home but the multiplatinum star didn't let his acne hold him back from wooing the ladies. "I was 17, so I would still try to talk to girls [and] get past it," Usher reasoned.
He even had some smooth lines to drop when he wanted to draw attention away from his skin. " 'Don't look at that, look at my eyes, baby. I'm trying to say something real serious to you right here,' " Usher recalled, reenacting his complexion-deflecting dating moves. "I know I have pizza face, I don't care."
In the end, his skin cleared up and the singer said it was just a matter of riding out a rite passage that many teens are forced to endure.
"This is something that all 17-year-olds have to deal with," Usher said. "You can't run away from it."
— this week featuring B.o.B, Usher and Ne-Yo — premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV
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Usher on "When I Was 17"
Photo: MTV News
He's known as one of the smoothest R&B sensations to grace the stage, but when Usher was 17, he grappled with a far less flattering image.
"I went through this phase where I had really, really bad acne," the singer admits on the latest episode of "When I Was 17," premiering Saturday at 11 a.m. Usher, who was 17 in 1995, reveals with a grin that his nickname was "Pizza Face."
"His acne was so horrible," recalled one of Usher's more blunt friends, Keith. "His face was so jacked up."
Music mogul and producer Jermaine Dupri remembered how the entertainer's spotty complexion led him to shy away from the spotlight.
"He didn't want to go out. He wanted to stay in," Dupri says. "He was a little ashamed of what was going on with his face."
The singer went to extreme, and ultimately unsuccessful, lengths to disguise his breakouts.
"As a dude, you're not gonna put makeup on your face, right?" Usher said. "I tried that, it didn't even work."
He may have experimented with cosmetics and spent a few more nights at home but the multiplatinum star didn't let his acne hold him back from wooing the ladies. "I was 17, so I would still try to talk to girls [and] get past it," Usher reasoned.
He even had some smooth lines to drop when he wanted to draw attention away from his skin. " 'Don't look at that, look at my eyes, baby. I'm trying to say something real serious to you right here,' " Usher recalled, reenacting his complexion-deflecting dating moves. "I know I have pizza face, I don't care."
In the end, his skin cleared up and the singer said it was just a matter of riding out a rite passage that many teens are forced to endure.
"This is something that all 17-year-olds have to deal with," Usher said. "You can't run away from it."
— this week featuring B.o.B, Usher and Ne-Yo — premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV
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Michael Jackson - They Don't Care About Us
They Don't Care About Us
Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: MJJ
Director: Spike Lee
Album: HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
Artist: Michael Jackson
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Rihanna, Cher, Katy Perry, More Stars Tweet About VMAs
Diddy promises to set the 'stage on fire' as a performer next year.By Josh Wigler
Rihanna performs at the 2010 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Although the curtains have closed on the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, the show goes on in the form of Twitter reactions from the various celebrities in attendance Sunday night. From the show's various performers to mere spectators out in the crowd, just about everybody has had something to say about this year's event.
The first big surprise of the show occurred when Rihanna unexpectedly arrived to sing "Love the Way You Lie" opposite Eminem. The R&B artist wasn't expected to appear at the VMAs, but Rihanna stormed the stage nonetheless, later explaining to her fans on Twitter: "SURPRISE!!! Just had to do it guys."
Rihanna's performance alongside Slim Shady was considered one of the highlights of the night, especially for Paramore vocalist Hayley Williams. "The best thing was seeing Eminem live," she wrote, "and being only a few feet away from Gaga."
Indeed, it was hard not to notice Lady G, what with her eight VMA victories and her now-infamous meat dress. Legendary singer and actress Cher got an up-close glimpse at Gaga's controversial wardrobe, describing it as "interesting" and "amazing."
"The way it was cut and fitted to her body was amazing! The meat purse was genius," she assessed. "As [an] art piece, it was astonishing!"
The show moved along at a brisk pace, thanks to the hilarious work of host Chelsea Handler, though there was at least one attendee pining for last year's host, Russell Brand. "California Gurls" singer Katy Perry, who began her relationship with Brand at the VMAs in 2009, offered a tribute to her fiancé and told him that he was with her "in spirit." Brand responded with a promise to see Perry in Los Angeles later in the week.
At the end of the day, it was Kanye West who stole the spotlight for his second year in a row. Rebounding from his controversial stage-crashing at last year's awards, Kanye brought the house down at the end of the evening with his new song "Runaway." The new tune attracted praise from many of the show's attendees — including "Jersey Shore" star Vinny Guadagnino — and Kanye himself addressed his Twitter followers just hours before his performance.
"I wish my Mom was here but I know she's looking down," he wrote. "I want to make her so happy today."
Kanye closed out the 2010 VMAs in style, but we can already look ahead toward next year's show thanks to the promise from Diddy : "Next year imma set that f---in' stage on fire! See y'all then!"
Share your VMA reviews in the comments!
The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of 2010 MTV Video Music Awards news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.
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Rihanna performs at the 2010 VMAs
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Although the curtains have closed on the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, the show goes on in the form of Twitter reactions from the various celebrities in attendance Sunday night. From the show's various performers to mere spectators out in the crowd, just about everybody has had something to say about this year's event.
The first big surprise of the show occurred when Rihanna unexpectedly arrived to sing "Love the Way You Lie" opposite Eminem. The R&B artist wasn't expected to appear at the VMAs, but Rihanna stormed the stage nonetheless, later explaining to her fans on Twitter: "SURPRISE!!! Just had to do it guys."
Rihanna's performance alongside Slim Shady was considered one of the highlights of the night, especially for Paramore vocalist Hayley Williams. "The best thing was seeing Eminem live," she wrote, "and being only a few feet away from Gaga."
Indeed, it was hard not to notice Lady G, what with her eight VMA victories and her now-infamous meat dress. Legendary singer and actress Cher got an up-close glimpse at Gaga's controversial wardrobe, describing it as "interesting" and "amazing."
"The way it was cut and fitted to her body was amazing! The meat purse was genius," she assessed. "As [an] art piece, it was astonishing!"
The show moved along at a brisk pace, thanks to the hilarious work of host Chelsea Handler, though there was at least one attendee pining for last year's host, Russell Brand. "California Gurls" singer Katy Perry, who began her relationship with Brand at the VMAs in 2009, offered a tribute to her fiancé and told him that he was with her "in spirit." Brand responded with a promise to see Perry in Los Angeles later in the week.
At the end of the day, it was Kanye West who stole the spotlight for his second year in a row. Rebounding from his controversial stage-crashing at last year's awards, Kanye brought the house down at the end of the evening with his new song "Runaway." The new tune attracted praise from many of the show's attendees — including "Jersey Shore" star Vinny Guadagnino — and Kanye himself addressed his Twitter followers just hours before his performance.
"I wish my Mom was here but I know she's looking down," he wrote. "I want to make her so happy today."
Kanye closed out the 2010 VMAs in style, but we can already look ahead toward next year's show thanks to the promise from Diddy : "Next year imma set that f---in' stage on fire! See y'all then!"
Share your VMA reviews in the comments!
The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of 2010 MTV Video Music Awards news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.
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Wednesday, September 29, 2010
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Eminem And Rihanna's Triumphant VMA Plan: Making The Show
Between commitments in Hawaii and NYC, the hit collaborators found time to kick off the show in style.By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by James Montgomery
Eminem performs during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards
Photo: Kevin Mazur/EM/WireImage
In the days before Eminem's opening performance at the 2010 Video Music Awards on Sunday, the MC had to do a little juggling. Not only did he have to make room in his schedule for the big show; he had to work out a cross-country trip so that he'd arrive in New York in time for the first of his two Yankee Stadium shows with Jay-Z on Monday night (September 13).
But though the MC wasn't able to stick around and accept his wins for Best Male Video and Best Hip-Hop Video, he planned to open the show proving that he was already a winner.
"Eminem is opening the show, and the theme of his performance is 'triumph,' " VMA executive producer Dave Sirulnick told MTV News in the days prior to the broadcast. "It's a testament to the year he's had, his return to the top. He tells a story, and the viewers will definitely pick up on that."
At first, it seemed like Eminem wasn't the only person with scheduling troubles. "Love the Way You Lie" collaborator Rihanna originally said she wouldn't be able to make the show because she was in Hawaii, shooting "Battleship."
But then, she either changed her mind at the last minute or planned to trick us all along. The flame-haired singer took the stage and belted out her haunting chorus during the second half of Em's set.
"SURPRISE!!!" she tweeted after the performance. "Just had to do it, guys."
The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.
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Eminem performs during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards
Photo: Kevin Mazur/EM/WireImage
In the days before Eminem's opening performance at the 2010 Video Music Awards on Sunday, the MC had to do a little juggling. Not only did he have to make room in his schedule for the big show; he had to work out a cross-country trip so that he'd arrive in New York in time for the first of his two Yankee Stadium shows with Jay-Z on Monday night (September 13).
But though the MC wasn't able to stick around and accept his wins for Best Male Video and Best Hip-Hop Video, he planned to open the show proving that he was already a winner.
"Eminem is opening the show, and the theme of his performance is 'triumph,' " VMA executive producer Dave Sirulnick told MTV News in the days prior to the broadcast. "It's a testament to the year he's had, his return to the top. He tells a story, and the viewers will definitely pick up on that."
At first, it seemed like Eminem wasn't the only person with scheduling troubles. "Love the Way You Lie" collaborator Rihanna originally said she wouldn't be able to make the show because she was in Hawaii, shooting "Battleship."
But then, she either changed her mind at the last minute or planned to trick us all along. The flame-haired singer took the stage and belted out her haunting chorus during the second half of Em's set.
"SURPRISE!!!" she tweeted after the performance. "Just had to do it, guys."
The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.
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Lil Wayne's I Am Not A Human Being: Otherworldly Flows And STDs
Drake, Nicki Minaj and the Young Money crew help Weezy celebrate his birthday with latest release.By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Jayson Rodriguez
Lil Wayne
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Lil Wayne's I Am Not a Human Being LP dropped digitally at midnight on Monday (September 27), giving fans the chance to celebrate Weezy's birthday with a load of otherworldly flows and soundscapes. The mother ship has landed.
Early releases from the album have given it a good head start. The title cut has a video in heavy rotation on various outlets, while the lead cut, "Right Above It" with Drake, was a #1 single on the Billboard digital downloads chart. Drizzy appears on several other songs off the LP as well. The Toronto native brings the 1960s throwback soul on "With You," as Wayne pledges his love to a woman who is "badder than a 3-year-old."
"Damn, you the sh--," Wayne sings on the chorus. "I will rip my heart out and hand you the sh--."
The duo bash their competition on "Gonorrhea" where they don't necessarily focus on the dreaded venereal disease, but mostly admonish spineless MCs.
"I kind of just did my verse when I heard the beat. I knew what the song was called and what it was about eventually," Drake told MTV News last week. "Wayne's a character. Expect the unexpected, I guess. It's funny and it definitely makes people pay attention. It's like, 'Chlamydia! Oh, I should listen to this, maybe it's educating me.' It's crazy. But people like it. I got a lot of good feedback on the verse. I think the project is just a lot of Wayne songs that, it's that stuff that people want to hear."
Nicki Minaj checks in to sing the hook on "What's Wrong With Them."
"The time's up/ Put your signs up/ Made 'em pick my dude out the lineup," she croons. "Baby, what the f--- is wrong, wrong with them?/ What the f--- wrong, wrong with them?/ You see, many are called/ Very few are chosen/ Looking at the wall/ You can feel them close in/ Baby, what the f--- wrong, wrong with them?"
Weezy comes in with his abstract insight: "Mind over matter/ Money over all," he raps. "The world is on my shoulders/ Shall I dust my shoulders off?/ Uzi rat-a-tatter, knocking over walls/ F--- the bullsh--, but just don't f--- it raw, man."
The rest of Wayne's Young Money family checks in throughout the LP on tracks such as "Young Money Salute" and "Hold Up," while the Birdman Jr.'s Cash Money labelmate Jay Sean is featured on "That Ain't Me."
Three more songs will be included on the physical album of I Am Not a Human Being, which drops on October 12.
What do you think of Lil Wayne's new album? Share your reviews in the comments.
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Lil Wayne
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
Lil Wayne's I Am Not a Human Being LP dropped digitally at midnight on Monday (September 27), giving fans the chance to celebrate Weezy's birthday with a load of otherworldly flows and soundscapes. The mother ship has landed.
Early releases from the album have given it a good head start. The title cut has a video in heavy rotation on various outlets, while the lead cut, "Right Above It" with Drake, was a #1 single on the Billboard digital downloads chart. Drizzy appears on several other songs off the LP as well. The Toronto native brings the 1960s throwback soul on "With You," as Wayne pledges his love to a woman who is "badder than a 3-year-old."
"Damn, you the sh--," Wayne sings on the chorus. "I will rip my heart out and hand you the sh--."
The duo bash their competition on "Gonorrhea" where they don't necessarily focus on the dreaded venereal disease, but mostly admonish spineless MCs.
"I kind of just did my verse when I heard the beat. I knew what the song was called and what it was about eventually," Drake told MTV News last week. "Wayne's a character. Expect the unexpected, I guess. It's funny and it definitely makes people pay attention. It's like, 'Chlamydia! Oh, I should listen to this, maybe it's educating me.' It's crazy. But people like it. I got a lot of good feedback on the verse. I think the project is just a lot of Wayne songs that, it's that stuff that people want to hear."
Nicki Minaj checks in to sing the hook on "What's Wrong With Them."
"The time's up/ Put your signs up/ Made 'em pick my dude out the lineup," she croons. "Baby, what the f--- is wrong, wrong with them?/ What the f--- wrong, wrong with them?/ You see, many are called/ Very few are chosen/ Looking at the wall/ You can feel them close in/ Baby, what the f--- wrong, wrong with them?"
Weezy comes in with his abstract insight: "Mind over matter/ Money over all," he raps. "The world is on my shoulders/ Shall I dust my shoulders off?/ Uzi rat-a-tatter, knocking over walls/ F--- the bullsh--, but just don't f--- it raw, man."
The rest of Wayne's Young Money family checks in throughout the LP on tracks such as "Young Money Salute" and "Hold Up," while the Birdman Jr.'s Cash Money labelmate Jay Sean is featured on "That Ain't Me."
Three more songs will be included on the physical album of I Am Not a Human Being, which drops on October 12.
What do you think of Lil Wayne's new album? Share your reviews in the comments.
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Miley Cyrus - Can't Be Tamed
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US Open
I went to the US Open yesterday. It was quite an experience and something I'll never forget. It's like a bucket list thing, you know? And I got to watch both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer play, two of the best players ever.
I took tennis lessons as a kid and then again in college, but I'm not a player. But I knew enough to follow along and the matches were really great. Plus, my friend Lacy and I made the jumbotron! Woot woot!
The US Open takes place in the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which is a complex consisting of a bunch of smaller courts, two midsize ones, and one big one (which is the Arthur Ashe Stadium.) It looks like this:
So while the Men's Singles Semi-Finals were going on in the Arthur Ashe Stadium (which is what I got to see), junior matches were being played on some of the smaller courts.
Of the two matches I saw, Nadal won and Federer lost. I was a little bummed out by that because I like Federer, but the guy who beat him, Novak Djokovic from Serbia, was so excited and it's always nice to see an underdog win. Here he is right after he won yesterday:
And here's a photo of him hitting himself in the head yesterday after losing the third round.
Tennis can be pretty brutal. But anyway, it's really cool because the whole stadium gets really quiet when they play. You can hear their sneakers squeak on the court, you can hear the ball bouncing and hitting the racket, you can hear the players grunt... Our seats were pretty far up but we could still hear every single thing happening. But, man, was it a long day. We watched tennis for eight hours straight.
The final match is this afternoon but I haven's decided who I'm rooting for yet. I like Novak because, even though he's competed in the US Open before (he lost to Federer in 2007), he only has one Grand Slam title and he's clearly the underdog of the match. Plus, he's supposed to be really funny and I like a person with a sense of humor. But I also like Nadal because, even though he's currently ranked number one and holds eight Grand Slam titles, he's never competed in or won the US Open before. If he wins today, he will have a Career Grand Slam.
For those of you who don't know, there are four major "Grand Slam" tennis tournaments every year:
Australian Open - Played on concrete
French Open - Played on clay
Wimbledon - Played on grass
US Open - Played on concrete
Winning any one of these gives you a Grand Slam title. If you win all four at least once during your career, you have a "Career Grand Slam." Federer has won 16 titles and has a Career Grand Slam. Nadal has won eight titles, but never the US Open, so he doesn't have a Career Grand Slam. Novak has won one title.
(Btw, I never thought I'd be giving a sports lesson of any kind on this blog.)
Anywho, 2010 has been a great year for me. First my movie gets made, then I get to go to the US Open... The fact that I'm lucky is not lost on me. I'm so grateful for everything.
Click here to see my photos from the day.
I took tennis lessons as a kid and then again in college, but I'm not a player. But I knew enough to follow along and the matches were really great. Plus, my friend Lacy and I made the jumbotron! Woot woot!
The US Open takes place in the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which is a complex consisting of a bunch of smaller courts, two midsize ones, and one big one (which is the Arthur Ashe Stadium.) It looks like this:
So while the Men's Singles Semi-Finals were going on in the Arthur Ashe Stadium (which is what I got to see), junior matches were being played on some of the smaller courts.
Of the two matches I saw, Nadal won and Federer lost. I was a little bummed out by that because I like Federer, but the guy who beat him, Novak Djokovic from Serbia, was so excited and it's always nice to see an underdog win. Here he is right after he won yesterday:
And here's a photo of him hitting himself in the head yesterday after losing the third round.
Tennis can be pretty brutal. But anyway, it's really cool because the whole stadium gets really quiet when they play. You can hear their sneakers squeak on the court, you can hear the ball bouncing and hitting the racket, you can hear the players grunt... Our seats were pretty far up but we could still hear every single thing happening. But, man, was it a long day. We watched tennis for eight hours straight.
The final match is this afternoon but I haven's decided who I'm rooting for yet. I like Novak because, even though he's competed in the US Open before (he lost to Federer in 2007), he only has one Grand Slam title and he's clearly the underdog of the match. Plus, he's supposed to be really funny and I like a person with a sense of humor. But I also like Nadal because, even though he's currently ranked number one and holds eight Grand Slam titles, he's never competed in or won the US Open before. If he wins today, he will have a Career Grand Slam.
For those of you who don't know, there are four major "Grand Slam" tennis tournaments every year:
Australian Open - Played on concrete
French Open - Played on clay
Wimbledon - Played on grass
US Open - Played on concrete
Winning any one of these gives you a Grand Slam title. If you win all four at least once during your career, you have a "Career Grand Slam." Federer has won 16 titles and has a Career Grand Slam. Nadal has won eight titles, but never the US Open, so he doesn't have a Career Grand Slam. Novak has won one title.
(Btw, I never thought I'd be giving a sports lesson of any kind on this blog.)
Anywho, 2010 has been a great year for me. First my movie gets made, then I get to go to the US Open... The fact that I'm lucky is not lost on me. I'm so grateful for everything.
Click here to see my photos from the day.
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Mixtape Daily: Eminem, Lil Wayne, Drake, Rick Ross
Check out the latest news on the mixtape circuit.
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
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Avenged Sevenfold - Burn It Down
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Shakira's 'Loca' Video: Watch An Exclusive Preview!
Singer goes guerrilla for clip, which features a madcap dash around Barcelona.By James Montgomery
Shakira in her music video for "Loca"
Photo: Sony
In her previous videos, Shakira's gone global, game-set-match and, after shooting "She Wolf," probably to the chiropractor. And now, in her new video for "Loca," she's gone guerrilla.
Shot run-and-gun style in Barcelona last month, the "Loca" clip follows Shakira and her crew on a madcap dash around the city — including scenes shot in a public fountain and on the back of a motorcycle, which got her in hot water with local authorities. Thanks to all that, it's a decidedly different turn from her past efforts, most of which were big-budget affairs, and all of which avoided getting her in trouble with the law.
"Loca" — which features a cameo by British rapper Dizzee Rascal — is the first single off her new album, Sale El Sol (due October 19), and while the full video won't premiere until Wednesday on MTV.com, you can watch an exclusive 30-second sneak peek right now.
There's roller skating, frolicking in a fountain, (very public) costume changes, motorcycle riding and — of course — a whole lot of hip-shaking, too. It's sexy, cheeky and, yes, even a little bit crazy, but then again, what Shakira video isn't? And while "Loca" may be a departure from her previous clips, what makes it great is the simple fact that none of her pop contemporaries — not even Lady Gaga — would dare try something like this. And that's why we love her so much.
But why are you reading this? Have a look at our exclusive preview of "Loca" right now, and make sure to check back on Wednesday for the full experience. Trust us, it's worth it.
Are you excited for Shakira's "Loca" video? Let us know in the comments!
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Shakira in her music video for "Loca"
Photo: Sony
In her previous videos, Shakira's gone global, game-set-match and, after shooting "She Wolf," probably to the chiropractor. And now, in her new video for "Loca," she's gone guerrilla.
Shot run-and-gun style in Barcelona last month, the "Loca" clip follows Shakira and her crew on a madcap dash around the city — including scenes shot in a public fountain and on the back of a motorcycle, which got her in hot water with local authorities. Thanks to all that, it's a decidedly different turn from her past efforts, most of which were big-budget affairs, and all of which avoided getting her in trouble with the law.
"Loca" — which features a cameo by British rapper Dizzee Rascal — is the first single off her new album, Sale El Sol (due October 19), and while the full video won't premiere until Wednesday on MTV.com, you can watch an exclusive 30-second sneak peek right now.
There's roller skating, frolicking in a fountain, (very public) costume changes, motorcycle riding and — of course — a whole lot of hip-shaking, too. It's sexy, cheeky and, yes, even a little bit crazy, but then again, what Shakira video isn't? And while "Loca" may be a departure from her previous clips, what makes it great is the simple fact that none of her pop contemporaries — not even Lady Gaga — would dare try something like this. And that's why we love her so much.
But why are you reading this? Have a look at our exclusive preview of "Loca" right now, and make sure to check back on Wednesday for the full experience. Trust us, it's worth it.
Are you excited for Shakira's "Loca" video? Let us know in the comments!
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Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Drake Reveals He's Working With Rihanna On Loud
'I just did this great song with Rihanna,' rapper tells MTV News.By Jayson Rodriguez
Drake
Photo: MTV News
Before Drake's brief Twitter affair with Nicki Minaj, the Toronto lyricist had a celebrity romance with Rihanna, whose last project he did unreleased work on and whom he was spotted smooching in a New York bowling alley.
The rapper recalled the incident on his debut, Thank Me Later, spitting about their dalliance and later saying he was Rihanna's "pawn" in an interview.
Now the fire appears to be doused, as the two are reuniting for Rihanna's forthcoming project, Loud, according to Drake.
"I just did this great song," he told MTV News. "I don't know if I'm supposed to talk about it. I just did this great song with Rihanna; hopefully we can do a video for it. I'm really excited about that."
The two had a fling before Rihanna became involved with Los Angeles Dodgers player Matt Kemp. Drake denied his involvement with the singer many times, but he finally let loose on his song "Fireworks."
"I was a pawn," Drake told the New York Times earlier this year about his time with RiRi, which began with an invitation to pen a track for the singer. "You know what she was doing to me? She was doing exactly what I've done to so many women throughout my life, which is show them quality time, then disappear. I was like, 'Wow, this feels terrible.' "
Are you excited to hear Drake and Rihanna's collabo? Let us know in the comments!
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Photo: MTV News
Before Drake's brief Twitter affair with Nicki Minaj, the Toronto lyricist had a celebrity romance with Rihanna, whose last project he did unreleased work on and whom he was spotted smooching in a New York bowling alley.
The rapper recalled the incident on his debut, Thank Me Later, spitting about their dalliance and later saying he was Rihanna's "pawn" in an interview.
Now the fire appears to be doused, as the two are reuniting for Rihanna's forthcoming project, Loud, according to Drake.
"I just did this great song," he told MTV News. "I don't know if I'm supposed to talk about it. I just did this great song with Rihanna; hopefully we can do a video for it. I'm really excited about that."
The two had a fling before Rihanna became involved with Los Angeles Dodgers player Matt Kemp. Drake denied his involvement with the singer many times, but he finally let loose on his song "Fireworks."
"I was a pawn," Drake told the New York Times earlier this year about his time with RiRi, which began with an invitation to pen a track for the singer. "You know what she was doing to me? She was doing exactly what I've done to so many women throughout my life, which is show them quality time, then disappear. I was like, 'Wow, this feels terrible.' "
Are you excited to hear Drake and Rihanna's collabo? Let us know in the comments!
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When Soulja Boy, Jay Sean And Kristin Chenoweth Were 17...
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Soulja Boy, Jay Sean and Kristin Chenoweth recall their favorite high school memories in these excerpts from the upcoming episode of "When I Was 17," airing this Saturday at 11 am.
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VMA 2010 Exposed
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MTV News gives you unprecedented access to the Video Music Awards.
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Eminem And Rihanna's Triumphant VMA Plan: Making The Show
Between commitments in Hawaii and NYC, the hit collaborators found time to kick off the show in style.By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by James Montgomery
Eminem performs during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards
Photo: Kevin Mazur/EM/WireImage
In the days before Eminem's opening performance at the 2010 Video Music Awards on Sunday, the MC had to do a little juggling. Not only did he have to make room in his schedule for the big show; he had to work out a cross-country trip so that he'd arrive in New York in time for the first of his two Yankee Stadium shows with Jay-Z on Monday night (September 13).
But though the MC wasn't able to stick around and accept his wins for Best Male Video and Best Hip-Hop Video, he planned to open the show proving that he was already a winner.
"Eminem is opening the show, and the theme of his performance is 'triumph,' " VMA executive producer Dave Sirulnick told MTV News in the days prior to the broadcast. "It's a testament to the year he's had, his return to the top. He tells a story, and the viewers will definitely pick up on that."
At first, it seemed like Eminem wasn't the only person with scheduling troubles. "Love the Way You Lie" collaborator Rihanna originally said she wouldn't be able to make the show because she was in Hawaii, shooting "Battleship."
But then, she either changed her mind at the last minute or planned to trick us all along. The flame-haired singer took the stage and belted out her haunting chorus during the second half of Em's set.
"SURPRISE!!!" she tweeted after the performance. "Just had to do it, guys."
The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.
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Photo: Kevin Mazur/EM/WireImage
In the days before Eminem's opening performance at the 2010 Video Music Awards on Sunday, the MC had to do a little juggling. Not only did he have to make room in his schedule for the big show; he had to work out a cross-country trip so that he'd arrive in New York in time for the first of his two Yankee Stadium shows with Jay-Z on Monday night (September 13).
But though the MC wasn't able to stick around and accept his wins for Best Male Video and Best Hip-Hop Video, he planned to open the show proving that he was already a winner.
"Eminem is opening the show, and the theme of his performance is 'triumph,' " VMA executive producer Dave Sirulnick told MTV News in the days prior to the broadcast. "It's a testament to the year he's had, his return to the top. He tells a story, and the viewers will definitely pick up on that."
At first, it seemed like Eminem wasn't the only person with scheduling troubles. "Love the Way You Lie" collaborator Rihanna originally said she wouldn't be able to make the show because she was in Hawaii, shooting "Battleship."
But then, she either changed her mind at the last minute or planned to trick us all along. The flame-haired singer took the stage and belted out her haunting chorus during the second half of Em's set.
"SURPRISE!!!" she tweeted after the performance. "Just had to do it, guys."
The Moonmen have all been handed out and the stars have gone home, but there's plenty of news, interviews, behind-the-scenes scoop, party reports and more still to come, so keep it locked on MTVNews.com.
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Test Your Celeb Knowledge! Can You Guess the Celebrity Tattoos?!
Think you know your star stats? Take a look at Hollywood's most sizzlin' tattoos! Put your celeb knowledge to the test and guess which famous name goes with the body art! Some ink is demure, some funny, some wild -- do you think you have what it takes to figure out who's who!?
Click on each tattoo to find out which celeb's skin you are staring at!
Click on each tattoo to find out which celeb's skin you are staring at!
Jay-Z And Eminem Bring Fans To 'Tears' At Final Stadium Show
'Jay's struggle and Eminem's recovery, I think it comes off as incredible,' fan/ New Edition luminary Michael Bivins says.By James Dinh, with reporting by Hilary Crosley
Eminem and Jay-Z
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
All good things come to an end as Jay-Z and Eminem wrapped up the fourth and final concert of their Home and Home shows on Tuesday night. The MCs, who brought out a slew of special guests to make the event even more spectacular, had fans in awe as they left Yankee Stadium. MTV News caught up with a few of the show's attendees who described the hip-hop extravaganza as nothing short of incredible.
"It was wonderful to see two of the greatest MCs in the history [of hip-hop], Jay-Z and Eminem, come together and put this on at Yankee Stadium," Eddie Blackmon said.
Among the devoted fans was Michael Bivins, a founding member of the illustrious R&B/hip-hop groups New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe. Bivins said that, in the end, the two rappers' personal tribulations have helped them to succeed.
"These brothers have been through something — Jay's struggle and Eminem's recovery — and it comes across as entertainment, and I think it comes off as incredible," he said.
The presence of two superstar MCs on one stage was thrilling, but the show's guest appearances also earned rave reviews: Kanye West, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Dr. Dre, Drake and 50 Cent and G-Unit all turned up.
"Nicki Minaj! I love her! Beyoncé!" gushed attendee Mika Bennett, who was joined by friend Donte S. "I had tears in my eyes. It was crazy, crazy."
Armaan Torado loved how the acts represented for the Big Apple. "All of the people making guest appearances, Hov and them really did their thing and Hov represented New York right."
Another fan, Terrence Davis, said the event was just what the city needed saying, "I definitely think this was a historical night. Eminem, Jay-Z came out. The Bronx came out. The Bronx needed this. They both did an amazing job and I want to give it up for both Jay-Z and Eminem."
"I thought it was the most incredible show I've ever seen in my life out of anything," Alex Deiderian told MTV News. "It's like the rarest thing I've ever seen. I've never seen so many celebrities in one place."
Who else would you like to see mount a joint hip-hop tour? Give us your dream-team picks in the comments!
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Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
All good things come to an end as Jay-Z and Eminem wrapped up the fourth and final concert of their Home and Home shows on Tuesday night. The MCs, who brought out a slew of special guests to make the event even more spectacular, had fans in awe as they left Yankee Stadium. MTV News caught up with a few of the show's attendees who described the hip-hop extravaganza as nothing short of incredible.
"It was wonderful to see two of the greatest MCs in the history [of hip-hop], Jay-Z and Eminem, come together and put this on at Yankee Stadium," Eddie Blackmon said.
Among the devoted fans was Michael Bivins, a founding member of the illustrious R&B/hip-hop groups New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe. Bivins said that, in the end, the two rappers' personal tribulations have helped them to succeed.
"These brothers have been through something — Jay's struggle and Eminem's recovery — and it comes across as entertainment, and I think it comes off as incredible," he said.
The presence of two superstar MCs on one stage was thrilling, but the show's guest appearances also earned rave reviews: Kanye West, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Dr. Dre, Drake and 50 Cent and G-Unit all turned up.
"Nicki Minaj! I love her! Beyoncé!" gushed attendee Mika Bennett, who was joined by friend Donte S. "I had tears in my eyes. It was crazy, crazy."
Armaan Torado loved how the acts represented for the Big Apple. "All of the people making guest appearances, Hov and them really did their thing and Hov represented New York right."
Another fan, Terrence Davis, said the event was just what the city needed saying, "I definitely think this was a historical night. Eminem, Jay-Z came out. The Bronx came out. The Bronx needed this. They both did an amazing job and I want to give it up for both Jay-Z and Eminem."
"I thought it was the most incredible show I've ever seen in my life out of anything," Alex Deiderian told MTV News. "It's like the rarest thing I've ever seen. I've never seen so many celebrities in one place."
Who else would you like to see mount a joint hip-hop tour? Give us your dream-team picks in the comments!
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Monday, September 27, 2010
Beyonce Has An 'Agenda' For New Album, Ne-Yo Says
'She knows exactly what she wants to do,' Ne-Yo says of Bey's Sasha Fierce follow-up.By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Tim Kash
Ne-Yo
Photo: MTV News
Beyoncé may have killed off Sasha Fierce for her next album, but that doesn't mean that whatever she turns out won't be just as, dare we say, fierce as her previous effort. And Ne-Yo, who reveals he is working with the megastar on the follow-up to 2008's I Am ... Sasha Fierce, says that it's easy-peasy working with Bey, mostly because she knows exactly what she wants.
"The thing about working with Beyoncé is that she definitely has her own agenda," the "Irreplaceable" songwriter told MTV News about the hush-hush song (or songs) the pair worked on together. "She's an artist that knows exactly what she wants to do."
Ne-Yo
Photo: MTV News
Beyoncé may have killed off Sasha Fierce for her next album, but that doesn't mean that whatever she turns out won't be just as, dare we say, fierce as her previous effort. And Ne-Yo, who reveals he is working with the megastar on the follow-up to 2008's I Am ... Sasha Fierce, says that it's easy-peasy working with Bey, mostly because she knows exactly what she wants.
"The thing about working with Beyoncé is that she definitely has her own agenda," the "Irreplaceable" songwriter told MTV News about the hush-hush song (or songs) the pair worked on together. "She's an artist that knows exactly what she wants to do."
50 Cent Mariah Carey Paris Hilton William Shatner Perez Hilton
Lady Gaga, Katy Perry Score MTV Europe Music Awards Nominations
Gaga and Perry tie with five nominations each; Eminem close behind them with four nominations.By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Chris Gordon/ WireImage
It'll be somewhat of a girls' night out at this year's MTV Europe Music Awards in November, with Lady Gaga and Katy Perry tied at five nominations each.
The ladies will go head-to-head in four categories: Best Pop Act, Best Song, Best Female Act and Best Video. Gaga is also up for Best Live Act, while Perry, who hosted the show last year, is up for Best World Stage performance for her fifth nomination.
Eminem follows right behind the ladies with four nominations: Best Song, Best Male Act, Best Hip Hop and Best Video for his Rihanna collaboration "Love the Way You Lie."
But it wouldn't be an awards show without Justin Bieber. Bieber, who won the Best New Artist Moonman at the VMAs last week, will compete against Ke$ha, B.o.B, Jason Derülo and Plan B as a Best New Act nominee at the EMAs.
Best Rock nominees include Kings of Leon, Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars, Muse and Ozzy Osbourne. Lady Gaga and Katy Perry will compete against Usher, Miley Cyrus and Rihanna in the Best Pop category.
Justin Bieber is also up for Best Male, along with Eminem, Usher, Enrique Iglesias and awards show rabble-rouser Kanye West. Gaga and Katy Perry once again face off against Miley Cyrus and Rihanna in the Best Female category, this time joined by Shakira.
Best Alternative nominees include Gorillaz, Gossip, Paramore, Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire. Best Hip Hop nominees are T.I., Eminem, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg.
Usher's "OMG" will try to fend off Katy Perry's "California Gurls," Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie," Rihanna's "Rude Boy" and Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" for Best Song. 30 Seconds to Mars' "Kings and Queens," Katy Perry's "California Gurls," Lady Gaga and Beyoncé's "Telephone," Plan B's "Prayin'," and Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie" are all competing for Best Video.
Perry and Linkin Park will perform at this year's show. The host has not yet been announced.
The MTV Europe Music Awards will take place on November 7 in Madrid.
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Photo: Chris Gordon/ WireImage
It'll be somewhat of a girls' night out at this year's MTV Europe Music Awards in November, with Lady Gaga and Katy Perry tied at five nominations each.
The ladies will go head-to-head in four categories: Best Pop Act, Best Song, Best Female Act and Best Video. Gaga is also up for Best Live Act, while Perry, who hosted the show last year, is up for Best World Stage performance for her fifth nomination.
Eminem follows right behind the ladies with four nominations: Best Song, Best Male Act, Best Hip Hop and Best Video for his Rihanna collaboration "Love the Way You Lie."
But it wouldn't be an awards show without Justin Bieber. Bieber, who won the Best New Artist Moonman at the VMAs last week, will compete against Ke$ha, B.o.B, Jason Derülo and Plan B as a Best New Act nominee at the EMAs.
Best Rock nominees include Kings of Leon, Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars, Muse and Ozzy Osbourne. Lady Gaga and Katy Perry will compete against Usher, Miley Cyrus and Rihanna in the Best Pop category.
Justin Bieber is also up for Best Male, along with Eminem, Usher, Enrique Iglesias and awards show rabble-rouser Kanye West. Gaga and Katy Perry once again face off against Miley Cyrus and Rihanna in the Best Female category, this time joined by Shakira.
Best Alternative nominees include Gorillaz, Gossip, Paramore, Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire. Best Hip Hop nominees are T.I., Eminem, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg.
Usher's "OMG" will try to fend off Katy Perry's "California Gurls," Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie," Rihanna's "Rude Boy" and Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" for Best Song. 30 Seconds to Mars' "Kings and Queens," Katy Perry's "California Gurls," Lady Gaga and Beyoncé's "Telephone," Plan B's "Prayin'," and Eminem and Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie" are all competing for Best Video.
Perry and Linkin Park will perform at this year's show. The host has not yet been announced.
The MTV Europe Music Awards will take place on November 7 in Madrid.
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Joe Jonas May Drop Solo Album Next Year
Jonas Brothers singer working on 'a more dangerous sound' for the project, E! News reports.By Jocelyn Vena
Joe Jonas
Photo: George Napolitano/ FilmMagic
Nick Jonas did his own thing with the Administration, and in 2011, Joe Jonas also plans to go it alone. It has been confirmed that the Jonas Brothers singer will release a solo album sometime next year, something he's been hinting at for a while now.
E! News reports that the 21-year-old is currently recording the album, and sources tell the website that he is going for "a more dangerous sound," similar to Justin Timberlake.
"Joe has been working with various writers and producers but there's no confirmation on what it will be for," a Jonas Brothers rep told MTV News.
Joe hasn't been secretive about his desire to pursue other projects. "I've been working on lots of music," he told MTV News in August. "I've been working [with] lots of musicians having a great time. [I have] been writing with a lot of friends of mine and some artists here and there, and we'll see what comes out it."
And his music has even gotten his brothers' seal of approval. "I've heard it. It's awesome," Nick said, before Kevin chimed in, "It's really good music."
Joe has been very busy in 2010 with his own projects, mostly in the acting department. Between an appearance on "Hot in Cleveland," a November guest spot on "90210" and a mysterious acting project with Tom Hanks, Joe has been branching out from the JoBros.
How does Joe feel about all the work? "Life is wonderful," he tweeted last week. "Thank you all who impact my life. Family, friends, fans! Xo"
What do you think about Joe Jonas going solo? Let us know in the comments!
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Joe Jonas
Photo: George Napolitano/ FilmMagic
Nick Jonas did his own thing with the Administration, and in 2011, Joe Jonas also plans to go it alone. It has been confirmed that the Jonas Brothers singer will release a solo album sometime next year, something he's been hinting at for a while now.
E! News reports that the 21-year-old is currently recording the album, and sources tell the website that he is going for "a more dangerous sound," similar to Justin Timberlake.
"Joe has been working with various writers and producers but there's no confirmation on what it will be for," a Jonas Brothers rep told MTV News.
Joe hasn't been secretive about his desire to pursue other projects. "I've been working on lots of music," he told MTV News in August. "I've been working [with] lots of musicians having a great time. [I have] been writing with a lot of friends of mine and some artists here and there, and we'll see what comes out it."
And his music has even gotten his brothers' seal of approval. "I've heard it. It's awesome," Nick said, before Kevin chimed in, "It's really good music."
Joe has been very busy in 2010 with his own projects, mostly in the acting department. Between an appearance on "Hot in Cleveland," a November guest spot on "90210" and a mysterious acting project with Tom Hanks, Joe has been branching out from the JoBros.
How does Joe feel about all the work? "Life is wonderful," he tweeted last week. "Thank you all who impact my life. Family, friends, fans! Xo"
What do you think about Joe Jonas going solo? Let us know in the comments!
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Lady Gaga's Rally To Feature Testimonial From Discharged Marine
'I got the chance to meet her in D.C., and she genuinely cared about the issue,' former Marine Danny Hernandez says of Gaga.By Kyle Anderson
Lady Gaga with her military friends on the VMA red carpet
Photo: Getty Images
Since she first broke into the mainstream two years ago, Lady Gaga has used her fame to bring gay rights issues to the forefront. In the past few weeks, she has focused squarely on the repeal of the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, including bringing several casualties of the law to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles and recording a video that encourages her fans to contact their senators to oppose the policy. On Monday (September 20), Gaga will host a rally in Portland, Maine, organized by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), in an effort to get the two senators from the state — Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins — to vote to break a filibuster and repeal the DADT policy in Tuesday's procedural vote in Washington, D.C.
Those gathered at the rally will also hear testimonial from Danny Hernandez, a former Marine who was discharged from the military for "don't ask, don't tell" violations. "I was in the Marine Corps and was under investigation for violating 'don't ask, don't tell,' and I ended up working with SLDN in Washington," Hernandez explained to MTV News in a Skype interview from Portland. "They represented me, and it was through them I began working for them and getting involved with Lady Gaga."
Hernandez first got the opportunity to meet the singer a few weeks ago after a concert in Washington. "I was a little skeptical at first," Hernandez said of Gaga's involvement with the cause. "I love her music but wouldn't consider myself a Little Monster. I got the chance to meet her in D.C., and she genuinely cared about the issue. It was then I realized that she's serious about this issue and getting the word out."
Though Hernandez was a victim of a "don't ask, don't tell" discharge — one among 14,000 similar cases — he hasn't let that get in the way of his dream of service. "I've been wanting to serve in the military for as long as I can remember," he said. "My brother, my cousins — everybody is in the Marine Corps. It's a family thing. To have been discharged was one of the worst things to ever happen to me, but that's why I'm a part of this cause. And it's meaningful to the people around me as well as the people still serving in silence. But I'd like to get back into the military as soon as possible."
The procedural vote — which would merely clear the bill (which has already been approved by the House of Representatives) for discussion on the Senate floor — is scheduled to occur on Tuesday afternoon.
What do you think of Lady Gaga's involvement with trying to repeal "don't ask, don't tell"? Let us know in the comments.
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Lady Gaga with her military friends on the VMA red carpet
Photo: Getty Images
Since she first broke into the mainstream two years ago, Lady Gaga has used her fame to bring gay rights issues to the forefront. In the past few weeks, she has focused squarely on the repeal of the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, including bringing several casualties of the law to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles and recording a video that encourages her fans to contact their senators to oppose the policy. On Monday (September 20), Gaga will host a rally in Portland, Maine, organized by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), in an effort to get the two senators from the state — Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins — to vote to break a filibuster and repeal the DADT policy in Tuesday's procedural vote in Washington, D.C.
Those gathered at the rally will also hear testimonial from Danny Hernandez, a former Marine who was discharged from the military for "don't ask, don't tell" violations. "I was in the Marine Corps and was under investigation for violating 'don't ask, don't tell,' and I ended up working with SLDN in Washington," Hernandez explained to MTV News in a Skype interview from Portland. "They represented me, and it was through them I began working for them and getting involved with Lady Gaga."
Hernandez first got the opportunity to meet the singer a few weeks ago after a concert in Washington. "I was a little skeptical at first," Hernandez said of Gaga's involvement with the cause. "I love her music but wouldn't consider myself a Little Monster. I got the chance to meet her in D.C., and she genuinely cared about the issue. It was then I realized that she's serious about this issue and getting the word out."
Though Hernandez was a victim of a "don't ask, don't tell" discharge — one among 14,000 similar cases — he hasn't let that get in the way of his dream of service. "I've been wanting to serve in the military for as long as I can remember," he said. "My brother, my cousins — everybody is in the Marine Corps. It's a family thing. To have been discharged was one of the worst things to ever happen to me, but that's why I'm a part of this cause. And it's meaningful to the people around me as well as the people still serving in silence. But I'd like to get back into the military as soon as possible."
The procedural vote — which would merely clear the bill (which has already been approved by the House of Representatives) for discussion on the Senate floor — is scheduled to occur on Tuesday afternoon.
What do you think of Lady Gaga's involvement with trying to repeal "don't ask, don't tell"? Let us know in the comments.
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'Jersey Shore' Stars Invade Enrique Iglesias' 'I Like It' Video
'When everybody sees this music video, they're pretty much gonna realize that we're a bunch of nut jobs,' Snooki tells MTV News.By MTV News staff
By now, we've seen that the "Jersey Shore" kids know their way around the gym, the laundromat and the tanning salon. But since they've become reality-show superstars in their own right, they've been picking up a few new skills.
Case in point: their starring roles in Enrique Iglesias' music video for "I Like It," the club-ready single from the Jersey Shore Soundtrack. Snooki, the Situation and their pals are featured in the video — crashing a concert, obviously — and MTV News was there to catch all the behind-the-scenes details.
"When everybody sees this music video, they're pretty much gonna realize that we're a bunch of nut jobs, just trying to crash Enrique's concert," Snooki told us.
No offense, Snooki, but didn't we already know that? Catch any "Shore" episode and you'll see all manner of brawls, shameless hookups and wicked pranks. All that behavior is on full display in the video. And we're about to get a fresh dose of Snooki and the Situation's wild world when the second season of the show debuts July 29. Before then, MTV will debut 10 minutes of the first new episode during the MTV Movie Awards pre-show this Sunday.
Next month, on July 20, Jersey Shore Soundtrack hits shelves. A collection of songs inspired by the tanned-and-terrific hit series, the album features tracks from Lil Jon, LMFAO, Taio Cruz and Akon, as well as Iglesias single featuring Pitbull.
Iglesias had a blast shooting the video with Snooki and her friends, and he can't wait until fans get a chance to check out the video. They will, of course, when it premieres on Sunday night at the Movie Awards. "This song is good — actually, not good, it's f---ing good," Iglesias said. "Let's go out there and have some fun. It's the kids from the 'Jersey Shore.' What else would you ask for?"
Don't miss the live red-carpet coverage, exclusive movie clips and fist-pumping action on MTV News' "Jersey Shore Blow-Out at the MTV Movie Awards," airing live from Los Angeles this Sunday, June 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Then stay tuned for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
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By now, we've seen that the "Jersey Shore" kids know their way around the gym, the laundromat and the tanning salon. But since they've become reality-show superstars in their own right, they've been picking up a few new skills.
Case in point: their starring roles in Enrique Iglesias' music video for "I Like It," the club-ready single from the Jersey Shore Soundtrack. Snooki, the Situation and their pals are featured in the video — crashing a concert, obviously — and MTV News was there to catch all the behind-the-scenes details.
"When everybody sees this music video, they're pretty much gonna realize that we're a bunch of nut jobs, just trying to crash Enrique's concert," Snooki told us.
No offense, Snooki, but didn't we already know that? Catch any "Shore" episode and you'll see all manner of brawls, shameless hookups and wicked pranks. All that behavior is on full display in the video. And we're about to get a fresh dose of Snooki and the Situation's wild world when the second season of the show debuts July 29. Before then, MTV will debut 10 minutes of the first new episode during the MTV Movie Awards pre-show this Sunday.
Next month, on July 20, Jersey Shore Soundtrack hits shelves. A collection of songs inspired by the tanned-and-terrific hit series, the album features tracks from Lil Jon, LMFAO, Taio Cruz and Akon, as well as Iglesias single featuring Pitbull.
Iglesias had a blast shooting the video with Snooki and her friends, and he can't wait until fans get a chance to check out the video. They will, of course, when it premieres on Sunday night at the Movie Awards. "This song is good — actually, not good, it's f---ing good," Iglesias said. "Let's go out there and have some fun. It's the kids from the 'Jersey Shore.' What else would you ask for?"
Don't miss the live red-carpet coverage, exclusive movie clips and fist-pumping action on MTV News' "Jersey Shore Blow-Out at the MTV Movie Awards," airing live from Los Angeles this Sunday, June 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Then stay tuned for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
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Eminem's Recovery Dominates Billboard 200
Miley Cyrus' Can't Be Tamed debuts at #3, behind Drake's Thank Me Later.By Gil Kaufman
Eminem
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images
Guess who's back? Eminem is notching his sixth #1 album in a row with Recovery, which sold more than 741,000 copies last week. Those numbers dwarfed the figures for the all of the rest of the top 10 on next week's Billboard 200 albums chart, as Slim Shady put up the best first-week numbers since 2008, far surpassing year's other big debuts (Drake, Lady Antebellum, Sade).
Proving once again that despite the album's early leak, his fans will still come out to support the Detroit MC, Em's massive haul pushes last week's #1, Drake's Thank Me Later down to #2. Sales for Drake's debut cratered by 65 percent to 157,000, but the melodic Young Money MC still passed the gold mark in just two weeks, according to numbers provided by Nielsen SoundScan.
Miley Cyrus had a rough landing for her more mature Can't Be Tamed, which comes in at #3 on sales of 102,000, less than half of what 2008's Breakout did in its debut week (371,000). And though he still hasn't reached his goal of snagging a #1 debut on the U.S. charts, metal legend Ozzy Osbourne's latest solo effort, Scream, lands at #4 after moving 81,000 copies. It's followed at #6 by the chart bow from the Roots' long-in-the-works How I Got Over (51,000).
In a relatively slow week on the charts, the rest of the top 10 include: Now 34 (#5, 55,000), Jack Johnson's To the Sea (#7, 44,000), Justin Bieber's My World 2.0 (#8, 43,000), Sarah McLachlan's Laws of Illusion (#9, 38,000) and the soundtrack to "Eclipse" (#10, 38,000).
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Mojo crashes down nine spots in week two to #11, as sales dipped by 74 percent to 33,000. After 24 weeks in the top 10, Lady Antebellum's Need You Now has dropped to #12 on sales of 32,000. Meanwhile, Christina Aguilera's Bionic continues to struggle, as the singer's latest slips out of the top 10 after just three weeks, dropping to #22 as sales trailed off by 54 percent to 18,000.
One of Aguilera's collaborators, singer Sia, debuts at #37 with We Are Born (11,000), while soul mama Macy Gray is right behind at #38 with Sellout (11,000). As the world marked the one-year anniversary of his death, Michael Jackson's Number Ones collection rockets up more than 50 spots to #42 on sales of just under 10,000 (one of several Jackson titles to march back up the charts this week). Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil comes in at #47 with his solo covers album, Tattoos & Tequila, a title that might seem unfortunate given his arrest for suspected DUI this week in Las Vegas.
Over on the iTunes charts, Eminem holds down both #1 slots, topping the singles tally with the Rihanna duet "Love the Way You Lie" and the albums chart, after just missing the top spot last week following just one day on sale. Drake trades spots on the album list, dropping down to #2 as Cyrus settles in at #3, followed by the Roots, Johnson, Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals, Osbourne, "Eclipse," McLachlan and B.o.B's B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. (iTunes does not release sales figures.)
The former #1 on the iTunes singles charts, Katy Perry's "California Gurls," slips to #2, followed by B.o.B.'s "Airplanes," Travie McCoy's "Billionaire," Usher's "OMG" and newcomer Mike Posner's "Cooler Than Me." The top 10 is filled out with Jason Derulo's "Ridin' Solo," Em's "Not Afraid," Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" and Drake's "Find Your Love."
Eminem may be able to hold the Billboard crown for another cycle, as next week's contenders include The-Dream, 3OH!3 and Scissor Sisters.
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Eminem
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ Getty Images
Guess who's back? Eminem is notching his sixth #1 album in a row with Recovery, which sold more than 741,000 copies last week. Those numbers dwarfed the figures for the all of the rest of the top 10 on next week's Billboard 200 albums chart, as Slim Shady put up the best first-week numbers since 2008, far surpassing year's other big debuts (Drake, Lady Antebellum, Sade).
Proving once again that despite the album's early leak, his fans will still come out to support the Detroit MC, Em's massive haul pushes last week's #1, Drake's Thank Me Later down to #2. Sales for Drake's debut cratered by 65 percent to 157,000, but the melodic Young Money MC still passed the gold mark in just two weeks, according to numbers provided by Nielsen SoundScan.
Miley Cyrus had a rough landing for her more mature Can't Be Tamed, which comes in at #3 on sales of 102,000, less than half of what 2008's Breakout did in its debut week (371,000). And though he still hasn't reached his goal of snagging a #1 debut on the U.S. charts, metal legend Ozzy Osbourne's latest solo effort, Scream, lands at #4 after moving 81,000 copies. It's followed at #6 by the chart bow from the Roots' long-in-the-works How I Got Over (51,000).
In a relatively slow week on the charts, the rest of the top 10 include: Now 34 (#5, 55,000), Jack Johnson's To the Sea (#7, 44,000), Justin Bieber's My World 2.0 (#8, 43,000), Sarah McLachlan's Laws of Illusion (#9, 38,000) and the soundtrack to "Eclipse" (#10, 38,000).
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Mojo crashes down nine spots in week two to #11, as sales dipped by 74 percent to 33,000. After 24 weeks in the top 10, Lady Antebellum's Need You Now has dropped to #12 on sales of 32,000. Meanwhile, Christina Aguilera's Bionic continues to struggle, as the singer's latest slips out of the top 10 after just three weeks, dropping to #22 as sales trailed off by 54 percent to 18,000.
One of Aguilera's collaborators, singer Sia, debuts at #37 with We Are Born (11,000), while soul mama Macy Gray is right behind at #38 with Sellout (11,000). As the world marked the one-year anniversary of his death, Michael Jackson's Number Ones collection rockets up more than 50 spots to #42 on sales of just under 10,000 (one of several Jackson titles to march back up the charts this week). Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil comes in at #47 with his solo covers album, Tattoos & Tequila, a title that might seem unfortunate given his arrest for suspected DUI this week in Las Vegas.
Over on the iTunes charts, Eminem holds down both #1 slots, topping the singles tally with the Rihanna duet "Love the Way You Lie" and the albums chart, after just missing the top spot last week following just one day on sale. Drake trades spots on the album list, dropping down to #2 as Cyrus settles in at #3, followed by the Roots, Johnson, Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals, Osbourne, "Eclipse," McLachlan and B.o.B's B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. (iTunes does not release sales figures.)
The former #1 on the iTunes singles charts, Katy Perry's "California Gurls," slips to #2, followed by B.o.B.'s "Airplanes," Travie McCoy's "Billionaire," Usher's "OMG" and newcomer Mike Posner's "Cooler Than Me." The top 10 is filled out with Jason Derulo's "Ridin' Solo," Em's "Not Afraid," Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" and Drake's "Find Your Love."
Eminem may be able to hold the Billboard crown for another cycle, as next week's contenders include The-Dream, 3OH!3 and Scissor Sisters.
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Britney Spears' Ex-Bodyguard Must Prove Ongoing Harassment, Expert Says
Attorney Michael Bononi explains that the burden is on Fernando Flores to prove his hostile work environment.By Mawuse Ziegbe
Britney Spears
Photo: Pacific Coast News
After mounting a successful comeback and maintaining a relatively low profile in the press for the past year, Britney Spears is now dealing with another bout of disturbing claims regarding her personal life.
On Wednesday, Spears' former bodyguard, Fernando Flores, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit alleging that the singer made multiple unwelcome passes at him, exposed herself on numerous occasions and engaged in sex in front of her two young sons. A post on Spears' site denied the allegations.
The accusations are harsh, however, according to a legal expert, it's up to Flores to provide the evidence.
"What he's gonna have to show in making these allegations is that he was subjected to a hostile work environment, and it's gonna have to be hostile in two ways: one, that a reasonable person similarly situated would have been offended by the conduct and secondly that he was actually offended by the conduct," Michael Bononi, a partner at Bononi Law Group in Los Angeles, told MTV News.
Bononi, who has worked for castmembers of "Desperate Housewives," is not involved in Spears' case, though has represented both sides in sexual harassment cases. He said juries typically look for material evidence, in the form of official complaints or concerns voiced to friends, that indicates wrongdoing on the defendant's part.
"What courts and what juries look [for] is: Did he act consistently with the way you would expect someone to act who was actually offended by this type of conduct? In other words, did he make complaints? Did he tell her to stop? Did he talk to his friends and colleagues?" Bononi said. "Is there corroboration that at the time this was happening it was actually bothering him, and are people going to come forward and be able to testify that at the time this stuff was transpiring, he was talking to them about it, talking about how offended if, at all, he was?"
The suit states that Flores reported an incident in which Spears called him up to her room "for no other purpose or reason than to expose her naked or near naked body to Plaintiff." According to the suit, Flores' supervisor, Josh McMahan, shrugged off the incident, saying, "You know you liked it." Flores also apparently voiced his issues several times, but "his complaints were ignored or mocked, and no action was taken to rectify the situation."
Bononi described California's sexual harassment laws as "employee-friendly," noting that there is no cap on punitive damages. However, the onus is still on Flores to demonstrate the extent to which his experience with Spears affected him.
"That's the big hurdle that he's gonna have to get over: How offensive was this to him?" he said. "From what I've read ... if it's that she's walked around him nude a few times and similar things, I haven't read anything where she's demanding sex or anything along those lines."
Bononi also noted that as member of a superstar's security detail, Flores was likely prepped for challenging and intense situations. "As far as the salacious nature of these allegations, he's a bodyguard ... how offended was he if the conduct that he's talking about is truthful. How injured is he? It's hard to believe that he's scarred from seeing her in her room a few times."
Bononi mentioned that Spears' celebrity may work against her if she has actually crossed any boundaries. The high-profile nature of the case would likely spur others to come forward if the singer has a history of inappropriate behavior with her employees.
"The celebrity status, where it can really have an impact on these cases, is if she has engaged in similar sort of conduct with other people in the past, this provides ... an avenue for them to come forward and say, 'Look what happened to me,' " Bononi said. "The celebrity status really does encourage people to come forward that have seen some of this or have experienced similar sort of stuff in the past from Britney if she has in fact done it."
While Spears' past troubles may inform public opinion, Bononi said her previous personal issues or the fact that she makes a living touring the world, touting an ultra-sexy image, shouldn't factor into the sexual harassment case.
"There's nothing in her past that I'm aware of that has anything to do with sexual harassment of employees," Bononi said. "It should not be held against her. It makes her an easy target for these types of allegations."
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Britney Spears
Photo: Pacific Coast News
After mounting a successful comeback and maintaining a relatively low profile in the press for the past year, Britney Spears is now dealing with another bout of disturbing claims regarding her personal life.
On Wednesday, Spears' former bodyguard, Fernando Flores, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit alleging that the singer made multiple unwelcome passes at him, exposed herself on numerous occasions and engaged in sex in front of her two young sons. A post on Spears' site denied the allegations.
The accusations are harsh, however, according to a legal expert, it's up to Flores to provide the evidence.
"What he's gonna have to show in making these allegations is that he was subjected to a hostile work environment, and it's gonna have to be hostile in two ways: one, that a reasonable person similarly situated would have been offended by the conduct and secondly that he was actually offended by the conduct," Michael Bononi, a partner at Bononi Law Group in Los Angeles, told MTV News.
Bononi, who has worked for castmembers of "Desperate Housewives," is not involved in Spears' case, though has represented both sides in sexual harassment cases. He said juries typically look for material evidence, in the form of official complaints or concerns voiced to friends, that indicates wrongdoing on the defendant's part.
"What courts and what juries look [for] is: Did he act consistently with the way you would expect someone to act who was actually offended by this type of conduct? In other words, did he make complaints? Did he tell her to stop? Did he talk to his friends and colleagues?" Bononi said. "Is there corroboration that at the time this was happening it was actually bothering him, and are people going to come forward and be able to testify that at the time this stuff was transpiring, he was talking to them about it, talking about how offended if, at all, he was?"
The suit states that Flores reported an incident in which Spears called him up to her room "for no other purpose or reason than to expose her naked or near naked body to Plaintiff." According to the suit, Flores' supervisor, Josh McMahan, shrugged off the incident, saying, "You know you liked it." Flores also apparently voiced his issues several times, but "his complaints were ignored or mocked, and no action was taken to rectify the situation."
Bononi described California's sexual harassment laws as "employee-friendly," noting that there is no cap on punitive damages. However, the onus is still on Flores to demonstrate the extent to which his experience with Spears affected him.
"That's the big hurdle that he's gonna have to get over: How offensive was this to him?" he said. "From what I've read ... if it's that she's walked around him nude a few times and similar things, I haven't read anything where she's demanding sex or anything along those lines."
Bononi also noted that as member of a superstar's security detail, Flores was likely prepped for challenging and intense situations. "As far as the salacious nature of these allegations, he's a bodyguard ... how offended was he if the conduct that he's talking about is truthful. How injured is he? It's hard to believe that he's scarred from seeing her in her room a few times."
Bononi mentioned that Spears' celebrity may work against her if she has actually crossed any boundaries. The high-profile nature of the case would likely spur others to come forward if the singer has a history of inappropriate behavior with her employees.
"The celebrity status, where it can really have an impact on these cases, is if she has engaged in similar sort of conduct with other people in the past, this provides ... an avenue for them to come forward and say, 'Look what happened to me,' " Bononi said. "The celebrity status really does encourage people to come forward that have seen some of this or have experienced similar sort of stuff in the past from Britney if she has in fact done it."
While Spears' past troubles may inform public opinion, Bononi said her previous personal issues or the fact that she makes a living touring the world, touting an ultra-sexy image, shouldn't factor into the sexual harassment case.
"There's nothing in her past that I'm aware of that has anything to do with sexual harassment of employees," Bononi said. "It should not be held against her. It makes her an easy target for these types of allegations."
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Sunday, September 26, 2010
Drake Says His Tour Is Inspired By Jimi Hendrix
Light Dreams and Nightmares stage show is "very psychedelic," MC says.By Jayson Rodriguez
Drake performs in Miami on Monday
Photo: Alexander Tamargo/ Getty Images
MIAMI — Drake often cites Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Kanye West as artists who inspired his career, from his sound to his stage presence.
But for the Toronto star's new tour, Light Dreams and Nightmares, which kicked off this week in Miami, he said he drew from outside of hip-hop.
The unlikely source: One of Woodstock's finest.
"It's a really stunning setup, heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix," Drake told MTV News. "Not necessarily in any set that he designed, but more so his music and his vibe. It's called the Light Dreams and Nightmares Tour — it's very psychedelic. It's very much based on day and night, like times of day, and I carry you through a full day in the show. It's really cool, and I'm enjoying it. It's great to have those elements."
Drake recently visited the Hendrix grave site, he told Rolling Stone. In addition to the electric guitarist, the Young Money MC also said he's turned to concert DVDs, including one by Eminem, to help inspire him on his headlining trek.
The result is an "OMG"-like light show that's more involved than Drake's first solo outing, the Away From Home Tour earlier this year.
He said the stage effects create a level of excitement comparable to a surprise cameo.
"It's almost like when you're at a show and you know [Jay-Z's] about to come out or [Eminem's] about to come out," Drake explained. "It's the same thing, like I know there's fireworks about to go off in the air or this light show is going to go off and people will love it. It's a great experience for me as a performer. I still work just as hard, but it's almost as if I'm performing with another element. I'm growing."
Are you planning to catch Drake's tour? Let us know in the comments!
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Drake performs in Miami on Monday
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MIAMI — Drake often cites Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Kanye West as artists who inspired his career, from his sound to his stage presence.
But for the Toronto star's new tour, Light Dreams and Nightmares, which kicked off this week in Miami, he said he drew from outside of hip-hop.
The unlikely source: One of Woodstock's finest.
"It's a really stunning setup, heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix," Drake told MTV News. "Not necessarily in any set that he designed, but more so his music and his vibe. It's called the Light Dreams and Nightmares Tour — it's very psychedelic. It's very much based on day and night, like times of day, and I carry you through a full day in the show. It's really cool, and I'm enjoying it. It's great to have those elements."
Drake recently visited the Hendrix grave site, he told Rolling Stone. In addition to the electric guitarist, the Young Money MC also said he's turned to concert DVDs, including one by Eminem, to help inspire him on his headlining trek.
The result is an "OMG"-like light show that's more involved than Drake's first solo outing, the Away From Home Tour earlier this year.
He said the stage effects create a level of excitement comparable to a surprise cameo.
"It's almost like when you're at a show and you know [Jay-Z's] about to come out or [Eminem's] about to come out," Drake explained. "It's the same thing, like I know there's fireworks about to go off in the air or this light show is going to go off and people will love it. It's a great experience for me as a performer. I still work just as hard, but it's almost as if I'm performing with another element. I'm growing."
Are you planning to catch Drake's tour? Let us know in the comments!
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Swizz Beatz And Lil Wayne Revisit Eminem's 'Stan' With 'Anne'
Producer tells Mixtape Daily about his work with Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé.By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway
Lil Wayne and Eminem
Photo: Derrick G
Behind the Beats: Swizz Beatz
After all these years of producing hits for everybody (and we mean everybody), Swizz Beatz had an epiphany.
"My position is not to give people singles; it's to give people a sound. Back in the day, when I was working with [DMX] or Eve, I would give that sound. Nowadays, [the industry] is about singles. But your little brother in the room could slip up on a hot beat and have it potentially be a single. That doesn't mean that's gonna connect people to the artist's album."
Swizz said he did some contemplating about what separates the elite artists and dissected the situation.
" 'What's the difference between that person and the next person? Why do people still go crazy over Sade and she ain't come out in X amount of years?' " Swizz began to recall. "It's because they can depend on a sound. Nowadays, you can't depend on a sound. You have to go through iTunes and weed out the fat, weed out all the garbage, what could have been the whole-album sound."
Swizz, whose latest work includes the Kanye West-led posse cut "Lord Lord Lord" and Drake's "Fancy," isn't stopping anytime soon. His beats will be plastered all over your inner ear in the coming months. Besides his upcoming Haute Living LP, the Bronx native is working with Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé and has most of the tracks for Snoop's Dogg's Doggystyle sequel.
"I didn't know I signed up to produce that until the end of that night," Swizz said about his and the Dogg's recent session. Swizz played Snoop more than a dozen new instrumentals, and the vibe was so rich, the West Coast icon decided to make it the foundation for his next album.
Next Wave of Flav
On Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé's new solo albums: "With Mary, it's not about one song. We're six songs in. With B, with all the people I'm working with, it's 'What's the sound?' I think it's gonna be an amazing year for sound in 2011. That's when people will notice it."
On Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle 2: The Doggumentary: "We was in there just banging joints. I'm looking at him, he's feeling them like, 'Put that to the side. Put that to side.' But the things I'm picking are from a fan's standpoint. I'm not picking it from a producer's standpoint. I'm like, 'If Snoop is on this, that's his "Gin and Juice" right there.' I think people want Snoop to stay authentic, which he does all the time. But if he focuses on the sound, that brings them back to something familiar, but it's new, it works. I got the first Doggystyle in my brains."
On Lil Wayne's Haute Living cameo: "Off my album, there was a lot of controversy over this before. The Eminem album before [Recovery], Relapse, I submitted a beat to him called 'Stan 2.' When I was doing an interview and they said, 'What you working on?' [Em] was amongst the people in the lineup I submitted things for. I said, 'I did a track for Eminem called "Stan 2." ' So it got out of hand in the media. He didn't want to do 'Stan 2.' But what I have on my album is a song called 'Anne' with Wayne, which is crazy. To connect the story of what we saying with Snoop, taking something that people remember and putting them in that time and taking it to the next level, the way that Wayne tells Anne he's sorry what happened to Stan. The album is crazy."
For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.
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Photo: Derrick G
Behind the Beats: Swizz Beatz
After all these years of producing hits for everybody (and we mean everybody), Swizz Beatz had an epiphany.
"My position is not to give people singles; it's to give people a sound. Back in the day, when I was working with [DMX] or Eve, I would give that sound. Nowadays, [the industry] is about singles. But your little brother in the room could slip up on a hot beat and have it potentially be a single. That doesn't mean that's gonna connect people to the artist's album."
Swizz said he did some contemplating about what separates the elite artists and dissected the situation.
" 'What's the difference between that person and the next person? Why do people still go crazy over Sade and she ain't come out in X amount of years?' " Swizz began to recall. "It's because they can depend on a sound. Nowadays, you can't depend on a sound. You have to go through iTunes and weed out the fat, weed out all the garbage, what could have been the whole-album sound."
Swizz, whose latest work includes the Kanye West-led posse cut "Lord Lord Lord" and Drake's "Fancy," isn't stopping anytime soon. His beats will be plastered all over your inner ear in the coming months. Besides his upcoming Haute Living LP, the Bronx native is working with Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé and has most of the tracks for Snoop's Dogg's Doggystyle sequel.
"I didn't know I signed up to produce that until the end of that night," Swizz said about his and the Dogg's recent session. Swizz played Snoop more than a dozen new instrumentals, and the vibe was so rich, the West Coast icon decided to make it the foundation for his next album.
Next Wave of Flav
On Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé's new solo albums: "With Mary, it's not about one song. We're six songs in. With B, with all the people I'm working with, it's 'What's the sound?' I think it's gonna be an amazing year for sound in 2011. That's when people will notice it."
On Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle 2: The Doggumentary: "We was in there just banging joints. I'm looking at him, he's feeling them like, 'Put that to the side. Put that to side.' But the things I'm picking are from a fan's standpoint. I'm not picking it from a producer's standpoint. I'm like, 'If Snoop is on this, that's his "Gin and Juice" right there.' I think people want Snoop to stay authentic, which he does all the time. But if he focuses on the sound, that brings them back to something familiar, but it's new, it works. I got the first Doggystyle in my brains."
On Lil Wayne's Haute Living cameo: "Off my album, there was a lot of controversy over this before. The Eminem album before [Recovery], Relapse, I submitted a beat to him called 'Stan 2.' When I was doing an interview and they said, 'What you working on?' [Em] was amongst the people in the lineup I submitted things for. I said, 'I did a track for Eminem called "Stan 2." ' So it got out of hand in the media. He didn't want to do 'Stan 2.' But what I have on my album is a song called 'Anne' with Wayne, which is crazy. To connect the story of what we saying with Snoop, taking something that people remember and putting them in that time and taking it to the next level, the way that Wayne tells Anne he's sorry what happened to Stan. The album is crazy."
For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.
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Mixtape Daily: Snoop Dogg, Gucci Mane
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Gucci Mane and DJ Holiday team up to release "Jewelry Selection" on the heels of Gucci's upcoming album "The Appeal."
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Jersey Shore Soundtrack -- Hear It Now On 'The Leak'!
Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull, Taio Cruz, Ludacris, Lil Jon, David Guetta with Fergie and LMFAO and more star on the album -- check it out now!By James Montgomery
Do you like to party? Are your fists in dire need of some pumping? If so, you're in luck! We've got the album for you, and all your friends, too: the Jersey Shore Soundtrack!
And while it doesn't hit stores until July 20 — the same day the first season of MTV's breakout hit is available on DVD, btw — you can hear the entire Jersey Shore Soundtrack right now, only on MTV.com's The Leak.
Along with Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull's first single from the album, "I Like It," you also get tracks from Taio Cruz, Ludacris, Lil Jon (who teams up with 3OH!3 on "Hey") and David Guetta (who brings together Fergie, Chris Willis and LMFAO on the decidedly epic "Getting Over You"). It's sure to be the soundtrack to all your GTL-related activities, not to mention the beach, the boardwalk, and probably the bedroom (depending, of course, on just how you get down).
And since there's also music from superstar DJs like Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, Tiësto (who goes up against Diplo on "Come On"), Paul Oakenfold and of course DJ Pauly D, the Jersey Shore Soundtrack also packs a rather sizeable, club-ready wallop, too.
So get ready to dance, party, take your shirt off and everything else that feels "Jersey Shore," because we've got the soundtrack for you. But why read about it when you can hear it? Head on over to The Leak right now to get the magic. And don't miss the second season of "Jersey Shore" — which follows Snooki, the Situation, JWoww, Pauly D and the gang down to Miami's South Beach before returning to their now-famous house in Seaside Heights — when it premieres Thursday, July 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
Season two of "Jersey Shore" premieres Thursday, July 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Be there!
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Do you like to party? Are your fists in dire need of some pumping? If so, you're in luck! We've got the album for you, and all your friends, too: the Jersey Shore Soundtrack!
And while it doesn't hit stores until July 20 — the same day the first season of MTV's breakout hit is available on DVD, btw — you can hear the entire Jersey Shore Soundtrack right now, only on MTV.com's The Leak.
Along with Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull's first single from the album, "I Like It," you also get tracks from Taio Cruz, Ludacris, Lil Jon (who teams up with 3OH!3 on "Hey") and David Guetta (who brings together Fergie, Chris Willis and LMFAO on the decidedly epic "Getting Over You"). It's sure to be the soundtrack to all your GTL-related activities, not to mention the beach, the boardwalk, and probably the bedroom (depending, of course, on just how you get down).
And since there's also music from superstar DJs like Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, Tiësto (who goes up against Diplo on "Come On"), Paul Oakenfold and of course DJ Pauly D, the Jersey Shore Soundtrack also packs a rather sizeable, club-ready wallop, too.
So get ready to dance, party, take your shirt off and everything else that feels "Jersey Shore," because we've got the soundtrack for you. But why read about it when you can hear it? Head on over to The Leak right now to get the magic. And don't miss the second season of "Jersey Shore" — which follows Snooki, the Situation, JWoww, Pauly D and the gang down to Miami's South Beach before returning to their now-famous house in Seaside Heights — when it premieres Thursday, July 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
Season two of "Jersey Shore" premieres Thursday, July 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. Be there!
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MTV News Extended Play: Drake
MTV News Extended Play: Drake
Drake talks about his Light Dreams and Nightmares Tour, recording with Rihanna, Lil Wayne and more.
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When I Was 17 | Ep. 18 | Usher, B.o.B, Ne-Yo
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<b>**Episode Returns October 12**</b> Take a look back at the teenage years of Usher, B.o.B and Ne-Yo on this episode of 'When I Was 17.'
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Lil Wayne's Glow-In-The-Dark Tattoos Are 'For Real,' Director Says
Black-light 'I Am Not a Human Being' video shows off Weezy's fluorescent ink.By Jayson Rodriguez
Lil Wayne
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
For music-video director David Rousseau, working with Lil Wayne was a gift and a curse.
A curse because the Cash Money Records superstar is incarcerated and not readily available to approve changes or edits; a gift, though, because the rapper is exuberant and camera-friendly, ready to offer concepts and suggestions for his clips.
For his "I Am Not a Human Being" visual — which is still not ready; the version that landed online Wednesday wasn't finished — Wayne came up with the idea to showcase his glow-in-the-dark tattoos.
"The thing about this video, it was his concept to shoot the black light, 'cause that way the tats that he has, they glow in the dark. That's actually for real; that's not a camera trick or post-production," Rousseau told MTV News. "The tattoos that he has on him when you put the black light on him, they glow in the dark. He came up with that idea. So really, the rest of the video was a springboard on that."
The song is the title track from Weezy's forthcoming EP, which is set to drop later this month for free on the Web.
The footage from the clip was shot earlier this year, when Wayne and Rousseau worked on upward of 12 videos the rapper hoped to finish before his incarceration, including numbers for his Rebirth album and portions of Drake's "Miss Me" clip.
When Rousseau sat down to work with all the material after Wayne turned himself in to a New York City prison, the director said his work was easier after the foundation was already laid. Rousseau said he just had to listen to the lyrics and portray the MC in an abstract sense, which includes contrasting shots of his writing process and flashes of money.
"After listening to the track, he's talking about just not being a human being, being totally different, is he an alien," Rousseau explained. "So the idea grew from that. It wasn't that hard, because we already had a base of what the concept would be when we shot his performance earlier this year."
Are you looking forward to the official "I Am Not a Human Being" video? Let us know in the comments!
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Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
For music-video director David Rousseau, working with Lil Wayne was a gift and a curse.
A curse because the Cash Money Records superstar is incarcerated and not readily available to approve changes or edits; a gift, though, because the rapper is exuberant and camera-friendly, ready to offer concepts and suggestions for his clips.
For his "I Am Not a Human Being" visual — which is still not ready; the version that landed online Wednesday wasn't finished — Wayne came up with the idea to showcase his glow-in-the-dark tattoos.
"The thing about this video, it was his concept to shoot the black light, 'cause that way the tats that he has, they glow in the dark. That's actually for real; that's not a camera trick or post-production," Rousseau told MTV News. "The tattoos that he has on him when you put the black light on him, they glow in the dark. He came up with that idea. So really, the rest of the video was a springboard on that."
The song is the title track from Weezy's forthcoming EP, which is set to drop later this month for free on the Web.
The footage from the clip was shot earlier this year, when Wayne and Rousseau worked on upward of 12 videos the rapper hoped to finish before his incarceration, including numbers for his Rebirth album and portions of Drake's "Miss Me" clip.
When Rousseau sat down to work with all the material after Wayne turned himself in to a New York City prison, the director said his work was easier after the foundation was already laid. Rousseau said he just had to listen to the lyrics and portray the MC in an abstract sense, which includes contrasting shots of his writing process and flashes of money.
"After listening to the track, he's talking about just not being a human being, being totally different, is he an alien," Rousseau explained. "So the idea grew from that. It wasn't that hard, because we already had a base of what the concept would be when we shot his performance earlier this year."
Are you looking forward to the official "I Am Not a Human Being" video? Let us know in the comments!
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Aventura Frontman Says Group Had 'Connection' With Akon, Wyclef
'We're trying to show people our diversity,' Romeo says of the group's collaborations with hip-hop stars.By Jayson Rodriguez
Aventura's Romeo and Akon on the set of "All Up 2 You"
Photo: MTV News
NEW YORK — Dominican Bachata act Aventura have expanded their sound and fanbase beyond the traditional Spanish-speaking crowd by collaborating with a range of artists from rapper Ludacris to pop duo Nina Sky.
But the four-man collective's work with Akon and Wyclef in the past really ignited their creative spirit, according to Aventura frontman Romeo. The singer said working with Akon helped the group evolve their sound, but he emphasized that there's a limit to their expansion.
"Akon and us, we family, it's a mutual respect," Romeo told MTV News. "When I work with artists, I like to not because they're popular, but because there's some sort of connection in what we do. And we've been huge fans of Akon for a while and he tells us that he likes our album, so it kind of makes it easy when we collaborate. Because we're not in the air like, 'What do we do?' It's something natural.
"He wanted to do Bachata; we wanted to do something more urban," he continued about their collaboration, "All Up 2 You," which also features Wisin y Yandel, from their most recent album The Last.
"It's interesting — we had the same situation with Wyclef," Romeo said. "That tells you that they are really familiar with what we do. But we're trying to show people our diversity and that we could do a little bit of urban and what they do. But it was really fun working with Akon and we most likely will be working on tracks [again] in the future."
Although the Bronx-bred Aventura are eager to show off their talent to a broader base, anyone waiting for a complete crossover project shouldn't hold their breath.
Romeo said the group — which recently completed a sold-out four-date showcase at Madison Square Garden — will continue to tweak their sound. But as they add to their following and their profile increases, they won't bow to the pressure to transform into a mainstream act.
"In our genre, we're either Bachata, strictly, or you're something else that has nothing to do with Bachata, so it's tough to mix that," he explained. "Because people could easily say we're trying to sell out. That's why I always promised myself — there's a saying, never say never — but I believe that I'm never gonna do a complete crossover album. If anything, I'll continue to add new things to my production — maybe keep it 50/50, you know, Bachata, which is what people accept us for and maybe some urban music, maybe some English songs, but not a complete English album."
Who else would you like Aventura to collaborate with in the studio? Would you want to hear an English-language album from the guys? Let us know in the comments below, or upload a video to Your.MTV.com!
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Aventura's Romeo and Akon on the set of "All Up 2 You"
Photo: MTV News
NEW YORK — Dominican Bachata act Aventura have expanded their sound and fanbase beyond the traditional Spanish-speaking crowd by collaborating with a range of artists from rapper Ludacris to pop duo Nina Sky.
But the four-man collective's work with Akon and Wyclef in the past really ignited their creative spirit, according to Aventura frontman Romeo. The singer said working with Akon helped the group evolve their sound, but he emphasized that there's a limit to their expansion.
"Akon and us, we family, it's a mutual respect," Romeo told MTV News. "When I work with artists, I like to not because they're popular, but because there's some sort of connection in what we do. And we've been huge fans of Akon for a while and he tells us that he likes our album, so it kind of makes it easy when we collaborate. Because we're not in the air like, 'What do we do?' It's something natural.
"He wanted to do Bachata; we wanted to do something more urban," he continued about their collaboration, "All Up 2 You," which also features Wisin y Yandel, from their most recent album The Last.
"It's interesting — we had the same situation with Wyclef," Romeo said. "That tells you that they are really familiar with what we do. But we're trying to show people our diversity and that we could do a little bit of urban and what they do. But it was really fun working with Akon and we most likely will be working on tracks [again] in the future."
Although the Bronx-bred Aventura are eager to show off their talent to a broader base, anyone waiting for a complete crossover project shouldn't hold their breath.
Romeo said the group — which recently completed a sold-out four-date showcase at Madison Square Garden — will continue to tweak their sound. But as they add to their following and their profile increases, they won't bow to the pressure to transform into a mainstream act.
"In our genre, we're either Bachata, strictly, or you're something else that has nothing to do with Bachata, so it's tough to mix that," he explained. "Because people could easily say we're trying to sell out. That's why I always promised myself — there's a saying, never say never — but I believe that I'm never gonna do a complete crossover album. If anything, I'll continue to add new things to my production — maybe keep it 50/50, you know, Bachata, which is what people accept us for and maybe some urban music, maybe some English songs, but not a complete English album."
Who else would you like Aventura to collaborate with in the studio? Would you want to hear an English-language album from the guys? Let us know in the comments below, or upload a video to Your.MTV.com!
Related Artists
Aventura
Wyclef Jean
Akon
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