Originally, Justin Timberlake's new sci-fi action flick was called "Now." Apparently, though, that title didn't effectively communicate what the movie was all about, which isn't exactly surprising because what the movie, now called "In Time," is all about is kinda high-concept and confusing.
Go with us (and JT) for a second. In this cinematic future, overpopulation [...]
Monday, October 31, 2011
Gene Simmons Labeled A ?Sex Addict? By Bandmate
Gene Simmons Labeled A “Sex Addict” By Bandmate
Gene Simmons has been branded a “sex addict” by his former bandmate, Ace Frehley. Frehley revealed that Gene, who recently wed his girlfriend of 28 [...]
Gene Simmons Labeled A “Sex Addict” By Bandmate Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News
Britney Spears Boyfriend's 'Criminal' Role 'A Challenge'
Chris Marrs Piliero opens up to MTV News about working with non-actor Jason Trawick in new video.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Vanessa White Wolf
Jason Trawick and Britney Spears in "Criminal"
Photo: Jive
Britney Spears certainly had everyone talking when she dropped her steamy "Criminal" video. Sure, fans were talking about the sex and gunplay, but they were also going bananas over the appearance of Brit's real-life boyfriend, Jason Trawick, who plays her criminally handsome beau in the clip.
The idea to include Trawick in the video was all Britney's, but director Chris Marrs Piliero wasn't sure he was so into it. "When she first hit me up, she had a basic story in mind, and she actually always originally planned to have Jason, her boyfriend, play the role, and I wasn't super stoked on that idea at first, actually," he told MTV News.
Most of his reservations were because Trawick isn't a professional actor and he wasn't sure his rookie acting skills would translate well in the mini-movie. "I wanted to make a really rad, epic video, and I definitely got the sense from her she wanted something really cool," he explained. "And in my mind, I was just thinking then, 'We really should not be using your boyfriend; we should get an actor.' So, I mean, I didn't say that, but in the back of my mind, I'm like, 'I don't like this idea at all.' "
Trawick and his abs, however, managed to impress Piliero — and Britney loyalists everywhere. "At the end of the day, Jason killed it. That was one of those things I was really stoked [about], as much as I went into it like, 'Wow, he's not an actor. This is going to be interesting,' but I really do like a challenge, and I really do like the idea that I'm a director and my job is to direct and get the performance. For me, it was a fun challenge to be like, 'I'm gonna make sure that you are awesome,' and he was."
Piliero also worked with Spears on her video for "I Wanna Go," and he was once again dazzled by her sassy acting skills. "Of course, Britney was rad," he said. "She does a good job at nailing and doing the little acting thing. She's cool at it."
What did you think of the "Criminal" video? Share your reviews in the comments!
Related ArtistsSunday, October 30, 2011
Usher - Spotlight
- Artist: Usher
- Label: Warner Bros. Records, Asylum, Mizay Ent
- Director: Benny Boom
- Album: The State vs. Radric Davis
Lady Gaga, Beyonce And More Musical Halloween Costumes
If you're too broke to go trick-or-treating, Bigger Than the Sound is here to help!
By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga as Joe Calderone
Photo: Getty Images
Halloween is just around the corner, and even though times are tough, that doesn't mean you shouldn't still have a kick-ass costume. And since no one wants to end up trick or treating as a lame ghost (or a "sexy border patrol agent"), I'm here to help, with a handful of homemade Halloween costumes that allow you to still dress up as your favorite artist, while not breaking the bank.
Of course, if you don't have a bank to break, fret not, because a lot of my ideas don't require a costume at all — just your imagination, a fierce attitude and an awareness of irony that borders on, well, ironic. So, if you're at a loss for your next costume — or too broke to care — read on, because, boy, do I have some suggestions for you. After all, Halloween is for everyone (especially those who love candy), and who among us doesn't want to dress up like Coldplay?!? Have a look, and send me some candy!
Adele: Deceptively easy. Refrain from speaking to anyone all night (vocal rest!) while firing through Marlboros like a mahjong player on a bender. For added authenticity, sell approximately one bazillion albums.
Beyoncé: Take a balloon and stuff it beneath your $10,000 Reed Krakoff dress, mimic B's matronly glow with a $7,000 HD Ruby and Diamond Peel Facial, strap your $1,200 Christian Louboutin heels on extra tight to replicate the ankle-swelling side effects of pregnancy. Or just down a crate of Four Loko and get all crazy like the "Ring the Alarm" video.
Britney Spears: Get a boyfriend with exactly 24 rippling abdominal muscles. Consume Strawberry Frappuccinos as if they were being discontinued. Be a commercially viable force, much to the consternation of critics and naysayers the world over. Say "y'all" a lot.
Coldplay: Dress in matching, finger-painted outfits with three of your closest friends (or, in a pinch, tattered French Revolutionary garb). Donate all your candy to Oxfam. Hang out with Brian Eno. Maintain an almost annoying level of self-efficacy.
Justin Bieber: Just get a snake named Johnson.
Kanye West: Communicate to every single person you meet as if you were speaking in ALL CAPS. Wear sunglasses, even at night. Have a bizarre thing for the Olsen twins. Over-share when it comes to your personal feelings and sexual proclivities. Create complex, Machiavellian conspiracy theories. Treat every comment and criticism as if it were a flaming sword to the torso. Cut a Maybach in half with your pal Jay-Z.
Katy Perry: Dress up as a mermaid. Or a gawky, orthodontically enhanced pre-teen. Or an S&M cheetah. Or a space alien. Or, really, you could just lick a bunch of candy and stick it to various parts of your body. Katy's simple.
Lady Gaga: Sure, you could go the easy route and just trick or treat as Jo Calderone (and deliver a lengthy monologue while doing so), but where's the fun in that? Instead, why not meld yourself with a motorcycle, like the British boxer-turned-model, make a drug-fueled music video with him. Note: May not get you a ton of candy on the farms of Northern Ireland.
Got a low-budget Halloween costume idea? Let us know in the comments below!
Related Videos Related ArtistsJustin Bieber's Mariah Carey, Busta Rhymes Collabos Hit The Net
Teen star's Under the Mistletoe tracks 'All I Want for Christmas' and 'Little Drummer Boy' drop in advance of album's release.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber in his "Mistletoe" video
Photo: Island/Def Jam
Hey Beliebers, you can celebrate the holidays early this year! Just days before he officially releases Under the Mistletoe, Justin Bieber is gifting fans with the early release of two high-profile duets off the November 1 album.
First off, his highly anticipated Mariah Carey collabo, an updated mix of her Christmas classic "All I Want for Christmas," made its way online. The song, posted on Rap-Up.com, opens with Bieber and Carey exchanging vocal runs. Mariah's verse, which sounds very much like the original, goes first. Then Bieber, singing in a deeper register than usual, joins in for the second verse.
The sound of Carey's original track is pretty much all there, with Bieber adding some new shine on the always-glittering holiday standard. "Mariah Carey is doing it with me! It's incredible. So excited," he told MTV News recently. "We wanted Mariah from the beginning, but we kind of thought it was really hard, so we didn't really push the idea. But she's on my label, so we reached out to some people, she got in contact with us, and Randy Jackson was actually at the studio with us, and I was like, 'Yo, you think you can help get Mariah on the Christmas album?' And he was like, 'I'm actually going to see her in New York on Monday,' and I was like 'Yo, go do that!' "
On Bieber's collaboration with Busta Rhymes on the classic "Little Drummer Boy," which was posted on Hitfix.com, the boys threw some club beats and synths over the old-school Christmas track. The song gets a bit of an edge when Bieber, a skilled drummer himself, appears as his rapper alter ego Shawty Mane.
He raps lines like "Yeah, I'm on the drum/ I'm on the snare drum/ Yeah, I'm on the beat/ 'Cause the beat goes dum/ I only spare heat 'cause I'm playing for the son/ Playing for king/ Playing for the title/ I'm surprised you didn't hear it in the Bible," while also singing the traditional lyrics from the song in between verses.
Busta comes in halfway through the song, spitting family-friendly lines in his signature rapid-fire style. "Bieber hit me back and said let's make it hot up in the winter," he raps. "I said, cool/ You know I'm gonna deliver/ Let's collaborate and make the holiday a little bigger."
"If you really think about it, it's genius, because it's rapping on a Christmas album ... and, like, I'm rapping on it. And then it's singing," he explained. "It's cool. [Busta's] got, like, a percussive voice to him [and] the beat was so crazy. I'm actually playing drums on that song, playing the snare."
The album will also include appearances by Usher, Boyz II Men and the Band Perry, as well as a number of songs featuring Bieber all on his own, including the album's lead single, "Mistletoe."
Related Videos Related ArtistsBritney Spears - Break the Ice
- Artist: Britney Spears
- Label: Jive/Zomba Label Group
- Director: Robert Hales
- Album: Blackout
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Michael Myers: From 'Halloween' To MTV's Killer Halloween
Horror-movie icon ushered in the modern era of slasher films — but is he the best cinematic killer of all time?
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Michael Myers in "Halloween"
Photo: Dimension Films
We're just about halfway through MTV's Killer Halloween, and the competition is just heating up in the battle to find out which movie murderer tops them all.
So far, we've profiled Freddy, Jason, Leatherface, Chucky and Ghostface, but now we look at the man who ushered in the modern era of slashers.
Which horror-movie baddie has the best personality? Make your pick in our MTV Movies Blog poll!
Michael Myers
Occupation: Homicidal boy, homicidal adult
Weapons: Knife, inability to ever freaking die
Archenemy: His family, his psychiatrist, anyone who gets in the way of him killing his family and his psychiatrist
Profile: Michael Myers was a bit of a prodigy in the ways of serial killing, changing the game even as a young boy. Pre-teen Michael may have been the first to don a mask — a creepy clown one for his first murder — and go after the babysitter, his sister Judith. He spent the remainder of his youth in an institution for the mentally disturbed under the close observation of Dr. Sam Loomis. After Michael escaped, stealing a mask, jumpsuit and knife from a hardware store, movie serials have never been the same.
The target of most of Michael's deadly attention has been his surviving sister, Laurie, the lead played by Jamie Lee Curtis in the first two films and "Halloween: H20" and Scout Taylor-Compton in the Rob Zombie remakes. The early films simply focused on Michael's obsession with finding his long-lost baby sister, but later in the series, the true origin of Michael as an embodiment of pure evil added a supernatural element to the villain.
There has never been too much to Michael Myers' tactics. He stalks. He walks. He kills. His style of murder will be remembered for a number of reasons. His mask, an old William Shatner "Star Trek" mask painted white, has become a horror icon. His slow gait and silent disposition directly inspired dozens of imitators — Jason Voorhees, most famously. Modern slasher films owe a debt to Michael Myers and his creator John Carpenter, whose work has affected the genre for generations.
Where do you think Michael Myers falls in the scope of horror-movie psychopaths? Let us know in the comments!
Check out everything we've got on "Halloween."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Lady Gaga To Perform At Grammy Nominations Concert
Jason Aldean will also hit the stage when 2012 nominees are announced.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: Scott Gries/ Picture Group
The Grammy Awards may be months away, but the Recording Academy is already gearing up for the big show. Lady Gaga has been tapped to perform at "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown to Music's Biggest Night," airing next month. She'll be joined by country star Jason Aldean, who will also perform at the fourth annual event.
The show, which takes place November 30 at the Nokia Theatre in L.A., will once again be hosted by LL Cool J. It will air on CBS at 10 p.m. In addition to performances from Aldean, Gaga and others who have yet to be announced, nominees in several of the categories will be announced at the show. The Grammys air live on February 12.
This certainly isn't Gaga's first time at the Grammy rodeo. She's won five awards in the past, including trophies for Best Short Form Music Video and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Bad Romance," as well as Best Pop Vocal Album for The Fame Monster, Best Dance Recording for "Poker Face" and Best Electronic/Dance Album for her debut album, The Fame.
Last year, Gaga made headlines when she appeared on the red carpet in an egg and emerged in yolk-colored clothes to perform "Born This Way." She previously performed with Elton John in 2010.
Aldean has not previously been nominated for any Grammy Awards. While nominees for the show will be announced that night, it should be noted that both Gaga and Aldean are eligible. They both released albums within the timeframe: Gaga with Born This Way and Aldean with My Kinda Party.
Who are you rooting for at this year's Grammys? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsEmmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen
Beavis And Butt-Head 'Taking Shots' At Reality Shows, Mike Judge Promises
Duo return to MTV with new episodes tonight.
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Beavis and Butt-Head
Photo: MTV
It's been almost 14 years since the slackest slackers of a generation, Beavis and Butt-head, filled the airwaves with their shenanigans, but when the duo return to television with new episodes Thursday (October 27), the MTV they return to is quite a different one.
Creator Mike Judge had to address the changes to the channel when deciding which direction to take the show in. Without music videos playing as regularly on MTV, there is less of an opportunity for Beavis and Butt-head to sit around and comment on them as they did during the show's original run. Reality shows like "Jersey Shore" and "16 and Pregnant" have replaced what were formerly blocks of music videos, and Judge said he wanted the new "Beavis and Butt-head" episodes to reflect that shift.
According to Judge, MTV reality shows comprise 60 percent of the content Beavis and Butt-head sit and watch now. The transition from music videos to reality programming has been an easy one for Judge. "I think it is easier taking shots at the reality shows than music videos," Judge said.
But Beavis and Butt-head didn't just make fun of the videos they watched. "In the beginning of the first run, I did a lot of what I would call taking shots at the videos," Judge said. "But then a lot of times I would just have them talk about whatever, and it didn't necessarily have that much to do about saying anything one way or another about the video."
Reality TV, on the other hand, is a different story. Judge has found that with the new crop of shows, the material is too ripe for ridicule to ignore. "With the reality shows, it just feels like pay dirt to me," Judge said. "Those shows have just been really fun to have Beavis and Butt-head watch."
Don't miss "Beavis and Butt-head" when it returns to TV Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
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Butler, McConaughey & Worthington Tapped for "Thunder Run"
Stringing together an all-star ensemble, Gerard Butler, Sam Worthington and Matthew McConaughey have signed on to the CG 3-D action/thriller "Thunder Run."
Teaming up their talents for the Simon West film, the trio of Hollywood heavyweights are set to take the lead roles in the big screen adaption of the novel "Thunder Run: The Armored Strike to Capture Baghdad."
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie ?aims to recount the capture of Baghdad by American forces at the start of the Iraq War in 2003. The three-day assault was referred as a ?lightning strike? or thunder run.'"
Set to begin production in 2012, the picture will strive to "paint the harrowing picture of the soldiers on the front lines and the realities of modern warfare.?
Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville
Friday, October 28, 2011
Dimmu Borgir Release Live DVD; Plus Led Zeppelin, Brujeria, & More News That Rules, In Metal File
'It shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums,' guitarist says.
By Chris Harris
Dimmu Borgir's Silenoz
Photo: Nuclear Blast
On October 14, Dimmu Borgir — who just happen to be Demi Lovato's favorite black-metal band — will release a a three-disc DVD/CD set called "The Invaluable Darkness," the band's first visual offering since 2002's "World Misanthropy." Boasting live footage shot last year, during gigs in Norway, Germany and England, "The Invaluable Darkness" demonstrates the unbridled furor of seeing Dimmu live, guitarist Silenoz said.
"It shows the honest rawness and atmospheric darkness of our concerts," the Norwegian told Metal File last week, after dismissing recent online rumors that his band's next LP would be coming out through Roadrunner Records. "Basically, it shows the intense live side of the band, as opposed to the perfection and the cleanness of how we sound on our albums. It's just a different side to the band, basically."
Dimmu Borgir began thinking about "The Invaluable Darkness" two years ago, but didn't start capturing footage until last summer, Silenoz explained, adding that the band will use its current stint on the Blackest of the Black Tour — which got underway Thursday night in Miami Beach, Florida, and also features the tour's founder, Danzig, along with Moonspell, Winds of Plague and Skeletonwitch — to promote the DVD. Dimmu Borgir will not, however, use the tour to write material for their next LP.
"It's our first time on Blackest, but Glenn [Danzig] had wanted to bring us out before [on the tour], but we weren't available until now," Silenoz said. "We've done Ozzfest before, but we're looking forward to this tour more. We did the main stage on Ozzfest, playing in f--_ing broad daylight. This tour will let us play in bigger places, but at the same time showcase more of what the band's about, visually. We are going to concentrate on the tour for now. Some years ago, we tried putting [material] together on the road, but once we got home, we listened back to it, and were like, 'What the f--- is this?' So, we just scrapped it all. We find it's so much better to totally focus on one thing at a time, and then, when that's over, you move on to the next [thing]. We don't really feel like we need to rush things, anyway, so we'll just take our time, and it's going to be what it's going to be."
Dimmu Borgir hope to reconvene in late December to begin writing the follow-up to 2007's diabolically titled In Sorte Diaboli. "We have some ideas floating around already, but we haven't arranged any material yet," he said. "We'll start doing that once the touring for this DVD is over." The band's frontman, Shagrath, is also due to marry soon — he's engaged to actor Nicolas Cage's ex-girlfriend, Christina Fulton, so that may have an effect on when Dimmu finish their next album, which Silenoz said could be out this coming spring.
"I'm sure [Shagrath] won't let anything get in the way [of] the band — I think, I hope," the guitarist said. "We don't need a Yoko [Ono] situation."
While Dimmu have been at it going on 15 years now, Silenoz said he doesn't think their forthcoming material will be much of a departure from their previous black-metal offerings.
"And we have always been about more than just that term, 'black metal,' " he said. "Luckily for us, the older you get, the less concerned you get with the categorization and putting labels on your music. Things start getting more and more limitless with us, and we know that we operate within certain frames. But we try not to analyze things too much, because it's just going to be working against you in the end. When we write new stuff, we don't think about what we should write — we just get together, and put material together, and if we like it, we keep it. That's the formula, if we even have a formula."
Dimmu Borgir are definitely getting older — guitarist Galder will be missing Blackest because of a recent addition to his family, and Susperia's Cyrus will be filling in for him; while former Vader drummer Dariusz Brzozowski takes over for Hellhammer, who had to leave the band in 2007 after sustaining a neck injury that's now limited the use of his right arm. As Dimmu has gotten on in years, Silenoz admits they have failed to keep pace with some of the more extreme black-metal acts that have followed in their wake.
"We helped open doors for the more extreme bands out there," Silenoz said. "I'm sure we helped open doors for bands like Watain, [insomuch as] people that had maybe started listening to us first then went on to the more extreme stuff. Let's face it — we're not as extreme as Watain and other bands like that, but we're fine with that."
The Blackest of the Black Tour continues through November 10 in San Francisco.
The rest of the week's metal news:
Dimmu's tourmates on Blackest, Winds of Plague, have announced ex-Azusa drummer Art Cruz has joined their ranks — he replaced Jeff Tenney. According to the band's blog, "Art has already added a new spark to the band and has provided us with a solid backbone that will allow us to continue our rampage stronger than ever." ...
What the world really needs is another Led Zeppelin box set, so, on November 4, Rhino Records will issue the Led Zeppelin Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD box set. For just $200, you'll get 1969's Led Zeppelin, 1969's Led Zeppelin II, 1970's Led Zeppelin III, 1971's Led Zeppelin IV, 1973's Houses of the Holy, 1975's Physical Graffiti, 1976's Presence, 1976's The Song Remains the Same, 1979's In Through the Out Door and 1982's Coda, as mini-LP replicas, with artwork from the original U.K. LP sleeves. Now, you know what you can get your dad for Christmas. ...
Former Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach and current Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz have teamed up for a new project they're calling Times of Grace, and they've already started working on material for their debut album. According to Leach, "We have two songs to go and we will be finished with all of the vocals. Adam has taken lead vocals in three songs as of yet and he is doing a great job. We also worked on a track yesterday that is so epic — we trade vocals and do two different melodies at the same time. This album went from a melodic metal album to an epic mix of metal/rock/pop/shoegaze and punk. So all of your metal expectations will be incorrect — we are pushing genre boundaries." To quote "Meet the Parents," we'll look forward to that, Greg. ...
The Funeral Pyre and Early Graves will be hitting the road together next month, starting November 7 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dates are booked through November 21 in Hollywood. ...
The latest incarnation of Brujeria, which features Carcass frontman Jeff Walker and Napalm Death's Shane Embury, have lined up several U.S. dates for this winter. The band will begin its brief trek November 28 in Denver, and wrap things up in Dallas on December 7. ... Demiricous will be touring with the Gates of Slumber starting November 9 in Denver, for a jaunt that's scheduled to run through December 6 in Indianapolis. ...
Nearly three years after Roadrunner Records' Roadrunner United concert, which took over the Nokia Theater in New York's Times Square, the label is now releasing footage from that special night as "Roadrunner United: The Concert." The DVD, which hits stores December 9, will boast two discs and 24 live tracks, including Life of Agony's "River Runs Red," King Diamond's "Abigail," Killswitch's "My Last Serenade," Type O Negative's "Black No. 1" and Sepultura's "Refuse/Resist." ...
According to Blabbermouth, Verrot, bassist for Swedish black-metal outfit Elimi, committed suicide on October 3. In a statement, the band said, "Verrot was a very good friend, brother, an excellent bass player/musician and an important part of Elimi; we respect his decision and hope he'll find his way with the dark gods of Chaos. Let your black flame be a part of what brings forth the day of wrath."
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Justin Bieber, Drake, More: When Hip-Hop Goes Pop
With collabos between Lil Wayne and Joe Jonas, Taylor Swift and T.I., the lines separating music genres are increasingly becoming blurred.
By Jocelyn Vena
Drake and Justin Bieber
Photo: Jag Gundu/ Getty Images
In a modern music landscape where genre is pretty much nonexistent, the lines are becoming even further blurred. That's why music lovers barely flinched when news broke that Justin Bieber will work with Kanye West and his "homey" Drake on his next album.
However, more than a decade ago, major mainstream artists like Britney Spears or even *NSYNC (whose very own Justin Timberlake later went on to work with hip-hoppers) would never have thought about hooking up with rappers like Eminem, for instance. In fact, they were the punch line to many of Em's finest rhymes during the "TRL" era.
Today, pop stars and rap stars are unapologetically sharing their love for one another. Lil Wayne, who recently worked with artists including Joe Jonas and Jennifer Lopez, seems to be one of the guys leading the charge. In addition to appearing on tracks with pop stars, Demi Lovato's and Bieber's covers of his track "How to Love" have made headlines. So, what is it about Weezy?
"I just loved the way that Lil Wayne took a risk doing the song 'How to Love,' " Lovato explained. "And when I really listened to it, it's such a great song."
That enthusiasm for his work, according to Vibe Music Editor John Kennedy, has a lot to do with Weezy "the man" as well as Weezy "the artist." "Wayne appeals to the pop world because he's obviously got a tremendous following and is a talented artist, but he's a character outside of the music. His image off-wax is just as prominent as his rhymes on record," he explained. "So when you get Wayne on a record, it's more than just a hot 16, you're getting a rebel to society: the sagging denims, tats all over, diamond grills. It just adds rock star flavor with hip-hop appeal."
"On an artistic level, he just seems like an exciting guy to be around who is also willing to try just about everything, so I imagine pop stars can basically say, 'Hey, can you do this weird thing?' and he'd say yes," Entertainment Weekly staff writer Kyle Anderson added about Wayne's appeal. "From a more business standpoint, working with Wayne not only means chart and radio recognition but also instant cool. He has a cachet that hasn't faded yet."
But Wayne is hardly the only guy in the game defying the laws of hip-hop and pop. Country superstar Taylor Swift has certainly done her part, appearing in concert with guys like T.I. and B.o.B. "I'm a huge hip-hop fan, and it's been so amazing to have so many incredible artists come out and to get to sing the hooks on their songs that I've been blasting in my car for the last couple years," she explained. "It's been awesome. I couldn't have asked for more amazing special guests on this tour, and we're not finished yet."
But it's not just the pop stars singing the praises of rappers and hoping to get some street cred. Rappers are clamoring to hook up with their pop counterparts too, picking up where artists like Mariah Carey/O.D.B. and Christina Aguilera/Redman left off. And recently, Aguilera's former pop rival, Spears, jumped on the trend when she toured with Nicki Minaj.
When MTV News caught up with Minaj backstage on the Femme Fatale Tour, she said that the crossover success has been intriguing and surprising. "I'm always surprised," she said. "I don't really expect them to know all the records, but I guess it just kind of transcends all genres of music at this point."
As the genre-bending continues, it seems that the pairings are likely to get more and more unexpected. "I met Justin [Bieber] back in February. He's a cool kid and sh--," Tyler, the Creator said of his desire to work with the teen star. "When I got in there, he was talkin' about the 'Yonkers' video and sh--. It was weird, because I was sitting here starstruck, like, 'Oh, f---, it's Bieber. He's asking me questions.' I'm like, 'Shut the f--- up so I can talk to you.' "
What do you think of the pop/ hip-hop crossover? Tell us in the comments.
Related Photos Related Artists
Justin Bieber - Eenie Meenie
- Artist: Justin Bieber
- Label: Epic, Beluga Heights
- Director: Ray Kay
- Album: My World 2.0
Happy Friday
Here's a photo of my niece Lila eating a nectarine:
Don't you love her ears? (The one on the left is a little big.) (My sister doesn't like to talk about it.)
Men Who Make Us Say 'Mmm': Johnny Depp
As The Rum Diary hits theaters on Oct. 28, take a look at sizzling photos of the mysterious, sexy star
Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen
Kelly Clarkson: I'm Not a Lesbian!
Singer Kelly Clarkson has never shied away from admitting she's yet to be lucky in love, but that doesn't mean she's questioning her sexuality. During an interview with The View on Thursday, the Grammy winner decided to make it perfectly clear that one rumor about her is just wrong.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Weekend Movies: The Scoop on 'The Rum Diary' & More!
Which movies are fun for the whole family and which ones are treats just for you? Find out!
Anne Hathaway Becomes A Producer For The First Time In 'Puzzler'
Anne Hathaway is trying out a new job in the film industry: producing.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hathaway is set to both star in and produce the thriller "Puzzler" at Paramount. It is being described as similar to "Three Days of the Condor," the Robert Redford film that followed a CIA researcher who finds all [...]
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hathaway is set to both star in and produce the thriller "Puzzler" at Paramount. It is being described as similar to "Three Days of the Condor," the Robert Redford film that followed a CIA researcher who finds all [...]
Emma Stone Emma Watson Emmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier
Happy Friday
Here's a photo of my niece Lila eating a nectarine:
Don't you love her ears? (The one on the left is a little big.) (My sister doesn't like to talk about it.)
Christina Applegate Christina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci
Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney Expecting Second Son
Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney are expecting their second child, the couple tell PEOPLE exclusively.
Mobb Deep Confirm Nas Collabo On Black Cocaine
They also hook up with Bounty Killer for 'Dead Man's Shoes,' duo reveals on 'RapFix Live.'
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Mobb Deep
Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News
Mobb Deep have quite a few notable collaborations with rap heavyweights like 50 Cent, Lil Kim and Raekwon, but when it comes to chemistry, their in-studio vibe with Nas is unmatched.
The Queens rap duo appeared on Wednesday's (October 26) "RapFix Live," and confirmed to host Sway that they will once again be hooking up with God's Son on their upcoming November EP, Black Cocaine.
"We got Nas on the album, we got Bounty Killer on there — that's it so far," Prodigy said. "It's just like a warm-up project, so we didn't want to put too many people on there. It's just a Mobb Deep thing, really."
Dancehall star Bounty Killer appears on the menacing "Dead Man's Shoes" and Nas on an unnamed track. "We worked with Nas because that's the home team," Prodigy said. "I know people miss hearing that Mobb Deep/ Nas collaboration, because every time we do a song, it always comes out real good and stands the test of time, always."
In April, shortly after Prodigy was released from his three-year prison bid, Esco and the Mobb hooked up for the Alchemist-produced "Dog Sh--," but before they could get together on a song, Prodigy and Nas had to iron out some minor differences. "Yeah, it was a little something, but it wasn't nothing serious," P said. "It wasn't serious enough for us to just stop making music together and stop hanging out and messing with each other."
Upon getting home, Prodigy — who wrote about his up-and-down relationship with Nas in his book, "My Infamous Life" — gave Nas a call to patch things up.
"Different personalities clash sometimes, but when you're family, nothing's stronger than that bond," Havoc said. "I feel like Nas is like family, so we can get through whatever."
Are you glad Mobb and Nas are working together again? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsTaylor Swift, Rihanna Dress To Impress At Billboard Awards
Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Selena Gomez also make fashion splash on red carpet, as showgirl style rules at the Las Vegas event on Sunday night.
By Jocelyn Vena
Taylor Swift at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards
Photo: Jordan Strauss/ Getty Images
On Sunday night, some of the biggest names in the music industry hit up the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas and decided that sparkles and sequins make for the perfect additions to any red carpet get-up. Well, it is Sin City after all.
Taylor Swift always seems to bring some of that Nashville sparkle to any red carpet. She arrived at the show in a pale-hued, sequined Elie Saab gown. Nicki Minaj showed off her signature sense of style in her baby-blue, body-hugging spandex Mark Fast catsuit.
Selena Gomez turned up the style dial in a sexy, cut-out black Dolce & Gabbana gown that she paired with red strappy sandals with sparkly bow detailing. Like Gomez, Ke$ha opted for some cut-out detailing in her sparkly, slate-gray dress with tulle skirt. Rihanna looked white hot in her men's tailored Max Azria suit, which she kept sexy and feminine by not buttoning her shirt all the way.
Fergie went S&M chic in her little black bandage-type dress by Hervé Léger. Nicole Kidman also wore black. She paired a casual braid hairstyle with a long black gown and Keith Urban. British pop cutie Kyle Minogue looked funky in her little black lacey dress. Inside the show, Britney Spears sat in the audience wearing a skimpy black dress of her own, her hair in loose curls, with little-to-no accessories.
While some stars kept the color scheme low-key, Keri Hilson decided to stand out in her billowy little yellow dress paired with a turquoise-colored belt. Kelly Rowland showed off some of her best assets in a body-hugging, bright pink bandage dress.
The fellas also looked tight on the carpet. Joe Jonas wore all black with white sneakers, Ne-Yo paired his periwinkle suit with a Yankees cap and Justin Bieber wore black tuxedo pants with a gold-lamé tuxedo jacket.
Which stars' styles caught your eye at the Billboard Music Awards? Tell us in the comments.
Related Photos Related ArtistsJennifer Morrison Jennifer ODell Jennifer Scholle Jennifer Sky
Michael Jackson - Hollywood Tonight
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Label: Epic
- Director: Wayne Isham
- Album: Michael
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
'X Factor' Castoffs Dexter Haygood, Phillip Lomax Open Up
The Brewer Boys also lament their early elimination, as five contestants were sent home after first live episode.
By Jim Cantiello
Dexter Haygood on "X Factor"
Photo: Fox
On Tuesday night, it was time to face the music. And for five "X Factor" contestants, the music said, "Thanks, but no thanks."
Throughout the epic live "X Factor" debut, the judges axed five hopefuls they had been personally grooming, turning a top 17 into a top 12. MTV News was granted exclusive press access backstage to speak with the first batch of eliminated finalists just minutes after they were dropped from the show.
"I killed it tonight. That's what I feel, man!" said Memphis rocker Dexter Haygood, who delivered an over-the-top cover of Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" under Nicole Scherzinger's tutelage. During the early audition episodes, America fell in love with Haygood's infectious energy and emotional life story, which included everything from living on the streets to fronting Xavion, the first African-American rock band to be featured on MTV.
"I'm just happy to be moving on, somewhat," said Haygood, who chalked up his onstage confusion during elimination to feeling overwhelming pressure. "Let me tell you something: Being in a competition is a lot of stress. I'm not happy to be off, but it's a good feeling knowing that the competition [has ended]," Haygood said before rocking a sports metaphor: "If you don't win the Super Bowl, you're glad the damn season is over."
A downtrodden Phillip Lomax aimed to focus on the good things about his time on "X Factor." "I'm obviously disappointed, but I have to look at this in a positive light and realize that I've accomplished what not many people have," the crooner said as the sound of a cheering studio audience echoed the halls of CBS Studios.
Earlier in the show, Phillip's swinging "I'm a Believer" raised some questions about song selection among the judging panel, but Lomax insisted he was happy with what L.A. Reid picked for him. "I definitely played a hand in [picking that song] as well," said Lomax, who got as far as he did in the competition due to his dead-on Frank Sinatra impersonation, which he abandoned for the poppier Monkees hit Tuesday night. "I thought it was a good song. Definitely out of my comfort zone, but I decided to go with what my mentor told me to do and I had faith. I still have faith. I'm still a believer," he chuckled before censoring himself. "Sorry, that's way too corny."
Meanwhile, teen sibling duo the Brewer Boys, who both sport Bieber hairdos, were at peace with their elimination, courtesy of teary mentor Paula Abdul — or, as they insist on calling her, "Miss Paula." They'll never forget Miss Paula's "hands-on" mentoring, as well as her gaggle of Chihuahuas they befriended during the judges' home episodes. Keep your eyes peeled for the duo — who performed a bizarre mash-up of Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl" and George Michael's "Faith" on Tuesday — as they hope to hit the road, but in the short term, the only thing on Justin Brewer's schedule is chilling in bed and playing a ton of "Call of Duty."
Lomax, likewise, has no beef with mentor L.A. for letting him go. "I think he's an outstanding guy. I wish that he made a different decision, obviously, but he could only take three, and those three guys are outstanding as well. It's a shame he didn't pick me," the aspiring actor shrugged before wandering the halls of CBS Studios to say his goodbyes and hopefully bump into Kim Kardashian, who was spotted nearby at the "Dancing With the Stars" stage.
There was no time to chat with Simon Cowell's eliminated girls, Tiah Tolliver and Simone Battle, who were favorites of the Brit but were never well-liked by his fellow judges. Minutes after the show went off the air, they briskly grabbed their belongings and jumped into a production van to take them back to their hotel.
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Justin Bieber's Next Album Inspired By Justin Timberlake
'I'm trying to create a new sound,' Bieber tells MTV News about follow-up to My World 2.0, due 'early next year.'
By James Montgomery
Justin Bieber
Photo: MTV News
It seems sort of odd to talk about Justin Bieber's next album, given that his new album — the holiday-riffic Under the Mistletoe — doesn't hit stores until November 1.
But, when MTV News caught up with Bieber this past weekend in Santiago, Chile — where he was wrapping up his two-year My World Tour in record-setting fashion — he was more than ready to start discussing the follow-up to his massive My World 2.0 album, mostly because he's been hard at work on it for a while now, and the finish line is definitely in sight.
"What's happening is: get off this tour, and then my [holiday] album's coming out, so I have to go back out and promote that album ... and then after that ... it's almost time for my next album, so then everything starts over again," Bieber told us. "We've already started [working on it], but we're going to be going in every day and working with new people and trying to find the best sound, because I'm going to be recording different styles, different things until I find a solid 15 songs that I love. ... I'm going to be recording as many songs as I possibly can."
True Beliebers Send Special Messages To Justin >>>
As for the release date for the new album, Bieber doesn't know specifics just yet, but he promised it'll be out "soon ... early next year." For fans seeking a sneak peek at the next step in his musical evolution, they've only got to check out his recent remix of Drake's "Trust Issues."
"I loved the song; I thought it was a dope song. I actually cover it in my concert," he said. "I'm going to mature; I'm going to evolve. I don't feel like I'm going to do it too fast or too slow: I'm going to do it at the pace that I feel comfortable doing it."
Of course, that's just one direction he's hoping to head in. Because, first and foremost, Bieber said that on his next album, he's looking to create something entirely new, while still maintaining a connection to his past.
"I'm trying to create a new sound that people aren't really used to hearing, so it might sound weird at first, but it's going to be like when Justin Timberlake did FutureSex/LoveSounds: It was a new sound ... acoustic guitar over hard drums," he explained. "I want to find something that's going to suit me and my fans are going to love and older people will like and younger people will like. But I'm always trying to keep my core fanbase, because the young people are what make everything cool. Old people look to young people, so trying to keep everyone happy."
What are you expecting from Justin Bieber's next album? Tell us below!
Beyonce's 'Love On Top' Tease: Five Key Scenes
A nod to New Edition's classic boy band moves is just one of the reasons we can't wait for B's next clip.
By Rebecca Thomas
Beyoncé in the "Love on Top" music video teaser
Photo: Columbia
It's only been a week since Beyoncé dropped her frenetic "Countdown" video, but she's already gearing up to hit the eject button on another clip from her 4 album. Some fans got their first taste of "Love on Top" when B debuted it (along with that baby bump!) at the 2011 MTV VMAs. But while she gave the retro-leaning track the doo-wop treatment, sporting a sequined Dolce & Gabbana blazer at the show, she'll revisit another musical era for the video.
New Edition's '80s smash "If It Isn't Love" is the clear inspiration in the 82-second tease of Beyoncé's video. And although the superstar has been doing damage control over claims she referenced another artist's work too liberally in her "Countdown" clip, we only want to see more of how B recharged the Boston boy band's classic choreography.
Check out how the "Countdown" director dealt with B's "special arrival."
Check out our five favorite things from the wisp of a preview, and share yours in the comments section!
If It Isn't 'Love on Top'
N.E.'s 1988 hit from their album Heart Break is a crazy melodic uptempo ballad with singer Ralph Tresvant tackling the lead. In the super spare clip, casually dressed bandmates Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe, Michael Bivins and — taking over for the newly solo Bobby Brown — Johnny Gill turn a dance rehearsal into a stage-worthy triumph. In the sneak peek, B is backed by five T-shirt-rocking male dancers who help her recreate the quintet's smokin' steps. Even her studio, with its multiple window views, looks like it was shot in the exact same spot.
All Hail, King B
While B's head gear may call to mind a certain Ugandan dictator among kids who paid attention in AP History, there's only one power this diva exercises in the land of Beyoncéstan: forcing you to dance.
If the Shoe Fits
Not even pregnancy can keep Beyoncé out of her towering Brian Atwoods. Still, after peeping her in '60s-style ballet flats in the "Countdown" visual, we were just gushing over how the singer paired black nylons and a bodysuit with sneakers. The Ash footwear line's white-soled Biba shoe, to be specific. A new look for B, and we like!
Brook Payne, Bring the Pain
B and her longtime choreographer Frank Gatson Jr. have traveled far and wide when it comes to seeking dance inspiration for her visuals. For "Run the World (Girls)," for instance, the pair famously sent a search team to Mozambique to track down the African Tofo Tofo dancers whose hard-to-replicate steps (captured in YouTube videos) had hypnotized them. But for "Top," B's team turns to the work of Brook Payne, veteran choreographer for New Edition. Payne makes a cameo and delivers the monologue at the top of the N.E. clip — maybe Gatson will too?
When we caught up with the re-formed, six-strong group at the Essence Festival in June, Bobby Brown spoke to MTV News about Payne's mastery and why that footwork has been so often imitated. "It's a lot of things that I'm capable of doing, but New Edition steps, whether you think so or not, they're probably one of the hardest things in dance that you could do," Brown said.
The Diva Fan
Ahh, the diva fan: From "Crazy in Love" to "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," B seldom hits a video set without it, and it always blows to the left, to the left.
What are you hoping for from B's "Love on Top" video? Tell us in the comments!
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