Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Ludacris Taps Usher For Upcoming Spring Album

'I'd say we're maybe about 40 percent done,' Luda tells Billboard about his Ludaversal.
By Rob Markman

<P>Are you ready for another <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/ludacris/artist.jhtml">Ludacris</a> album? It's been two years since 'Cris dropped his last album, <i>Battle of the Sexes,</i> and the Atlanta MC estimates that his next one will hit stores this spring. </P><P> </P><P>"I get the beats together and I put out my ideas, so I'd say we're maybe about 40 percent done," the rapper told <a href="http://www.billboard.com/column/the-juice/ludacris-eyes-spring-ludaversal-release-1005831952.story#/column/the-juice/ludacris-eyes-spring-ludaversal-release-1005831952.story" target="_blank"><i>Billboard</i></a> of his upcoming eighth LP, <i>Ludaversal,</i> which he anticipates will be out around May with a first single dropping in March. </P><P> </P><P>Luda, who dropped his <a href="/news/articles/1674369/ludacris-1.21-gigawatts-mixtape.jhtml"><i>1.21 Gigawatts</i> mixtape</a> in November, also revealed one big-time guest on the LP. "<a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a> is one person that I've already worked with," he said. "In terms of other artists, you can say that there's going to be a lot of surprises on here." </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:711235/cp~id%3D1674412%26vid%3D711235%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A711235" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P>The pair already have a few collaborations under their belt. Who can forget Usher's inescapable smash "Yeah!" from his 2004 <i>Confessions</i> album? The two also hooked up on Lil Jon's "Lovers and Friends" in the same year and then again two years ago on Usher's "She Don't Know." As far as what the two have cooked up for <i>Ludaversal,</i> fans will just have to wait and see. </P><P> </P><P>Throughout his career, Luda has shown a ton of versatility. An undeniable hitmaker, at times the nimble-tongued lyricist has been comical (2001's "Area Codes" and 2004's "Number One Spot") and in other instances delivered healthy amounts of substance (2006's "Runaway Love" and 2008's "Do the Right Thing"). For <i>Ludaversal,</i> he will get a little personal. </P><P> </P><P>"It's been a minute since I've been away from music, and there is just so much to talk about," he said. "So [the album] is mostly about my personal life, my travels, my experiences, rumors, gossip &#8212; you know, everything coming together in one." </P><P> </P><P><i>What are your expectations for Ludacris' new album? Tell us in the comments!</i></p>

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Are Madonna And Britney Spears Collaborating On MDNA?

Amid rumors that Spears will appear on Madge's 'Girls Gone Wild,' MTV News looks back at their history together.
By Jocelyn Vena

<P>Could it be that <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/madonna/artist.jhtml">Madonna</a> has enlisted her pal <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a> for <a href="/news/articles/1678197/madonna-mdna-album.jhtml"><i>MDNA</i></a>? </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Britney Spears, Madonna Get In The Zone For 'Me Against The Music' Video" id="vid:623135.id:1657989" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>Well, according to a leaked album jacket, it seems that Spears is making an appearance on the album's lead track, "Girls Gone Wild." </P><P> </P><P>This would mark the second collaboration on the album. Madonna nabbed Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. for the album's first single, <a href="/news/articles/1678478/madonna-give-me-all-your-luvin-video.jhtml">"Give Me All Your Luvin'."</a> </P><P>While the leaked jacket, which appeared on Britney fansite <a href="http://www.breatheheavy.com/2012/02/britney-on-new-madonna-album/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed" target="_blank">Breatheheavy.com</a>, can't be confirmed as authentic, a rep for Madge had no comment about the rumor, neither confirming nor denying it. Meanwhile, a rep for Spears never returned MTV News' request for comment. </P><P> </P><P>This is hardly the first time that the two ladies have worked together. In fact, they have quite a history with each other. </P><P> </P><P>The duo kicked off their nearly decade-long friendship at the 2003 VMAs when, in case you hadn't heard, they <a href="/news/articles/1669706/britney-spears-mtv-vma-history.jhtml">shared an onstage kiss</a> while performing together. It was the kiss seen and heard around the world, and nearly 10 years later it is still often talked about as one of the most memorable moments in the show's storied history. </P><P> </P><P>After they shared that smooch, Spears was inspired to get the Queen of Pop on her lead <i>In the Zone</i> single, <a href="/news/articles/1658075/britney-spears-me-against-the-music.jhtml">"Me Against the Music."</a> "I was in the middle of rehearsals for the VMAs and I played her the song, and she was like, 'That's your first single, right?' " Britney recalled in a vintage interview with MTV. "I was like, 'Yeah, hopefully.' She was like, 'I really like it.' I was like, 'Really?' I was like, 'Well, you wanna do it with me?' She said, 'Yeah.' " </P><P> </P><P>They later appeared together in the warehouse-set video with one another, playing a pop star cat-and-mouse game that featured a near kiss. </P><P> </P><P>Five years later, as Spears was prepping her return to the pop spotlight, she appeared <a href="/news/articles/1598804/britney-spears-justin-timberlake-appear-onstage-with-madonna.jhtml">onstage with Madonna</a> during a Sticky &amp; Sweet Tour stop at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The singer hit the stage with the pop icon to perform "Human Nature" by her side. </P><P> </P><P>That same year, Madonna appeared in <a href="/news/articles/1600361/britney-spears-talks-breakups-breakdowns-in-for-the-record.jhtml">Spears' documentary, "For the Record,"</a> where she spoke about the younger singer. "I admire her as an artist," the Material Girl said, adding that she sees a lot of herself in Spears. </P><P>In 2011, as Spears was prepping the release of her album <i>Femme Fatale,</i> in an <a href="/news/articles/1659522/britney-spears-plastic-surgery-out-magazine.jhtml">interview with <i>Out</i> magazine</a>, she noted that she truly admires her friend. "Madonna. No question. She is an amazing entertainer," she said when asked whose career she most would want to emulate. </P><P> </P><P>As Madonna preps the release of <i>MDNA</i> in March, Spears is also the topic of conversation in a recent interview with her. When asked by ABC News what it was like to smooch the pop princess, she commented, "Nice moment, good kisser. Cool," she said, clarifying that she wouldn't do it again. "No, I already did it. I don't like to repeat myself." </P><P> </P><P>Well, perhaps a kiss would be "reductive" (her word, not ours), but it seems given the love that Madge and Spears fans have for the two pop stars, they wouldn't mind them cooking up some musical magic. </P><P>The track, "Girls Gone Wild," was teased in a megamix that dropped last week and it certainly feels like it would lend itself to both Madonna and Brit's musical sensibilities: It's fist-pumpingly dance-y, sexy and all about going out and having a good time, with Madge proclaiming, "Girls, they just want to have some fun/ Get fired up like a smoking gun/ On the floor till the daylight comes/ Girls, they just want to have some fun." </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:728690/cp~id%3D1672718%26vid%3D728690%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A728690%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P><i>What would you think of a new Britney Spears/ Madonna collabo? Leave your comment below!</i></p>

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Hunter Hayes Says 'I Want Crazy' (And Gets It) In New Music Video

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Monday, April 29, 2013

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Beyonce's First Post-Baby Appearance Was Picture-'Perfect'

'It's perfect for this private couple,' one celebrity expert tells MTV News of B's low-key NYC outing.
By Jocelyn Vena

<P>It was only a month ago that fans were wondering when the first images of new mom <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyonc&#233;</a> might hit the Net. On Monday night, those questions were answered. Just four weeks after giving birth to daughter <a href="/news/articles/1677033/blue-ivy-beyonce-jay-z-leaves-hospital.jhtml">Blue Ivy</a>, B was back on the scene to celebrate hubby <a href="/news/articles/1678669/jay-z-carnegie-hall.jhtml">Jay-Z's first show at Carnegie Hall</a>. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Jay-Z Brings The House Down At Carnegie Hall" id="vid:731725" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>Wearing a form-fitting red dress, she hit up a post-show party held at Jay's 40/40 Club in New York City. And while <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/02/07/beyonce-carnegie-hall-jay-z-show">Beyonc&#233; could have premiered</a> her <a href="/news/articles/1678670/beyonce-post-baby-appearance-jay-z.jhtml">post-baby body</a> on a splashy red carpet, celebrity experts note that the more understated move is very B. </P><P> </P><P>"It's perfect for this private couple. She didn't make a big deal walking a red carpet at an award show or posing on the cover of a magazine," Huffington Post celebrity columnist Rob Shuter told MTV News on Tuesday (February 7). "Beyonc&#233; made it as low-key an event as possible and at the same time plugged her husband's club." </P><P> </P><P><b><a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/02/08/beyonce-photos-carnegie-hall-night-two/">Check out more photos from B's night out!</a></b> </P><P> </P><P>For the appearance, Beyonc&#233; was decked out in a fiery-red Temperley London dress, Christian Louboutin heels and an Alexander McQueen clutch. While that may sound very glam, another expert was surprised by just how modest the look actually was. </P><P> </P><P>"Beyonc&#233; looks amazing in her first post-baby appearance. Even thought it made sense for her to make her debut last night to show her support for her husband and the charity his concert benefited, her outfit was fairly simple," celebrity editor <a href="http://gossipdavid.com" target="_blank">David Caplan</a> said. </P><P> </P><P>"I expected her to make her post-baby debut at a really glitzy event or awards show, like maybe the <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/grammys">Grammys</a>, in a gorgeous gown and really steal the show. But clearly she wanted to be seen, since she even posted photos of herself right away on her website, which stars don't typically do &#8212; they'll just let the media pick up and run the photos." </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Celebrity Expert Believes Beyonce And Jay-Z Will Reveal Baby Photos Of Blue Ivy" id="vid:724228.id:1676907" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>So, will B and Jay play it just as cool when it comes to releasing the first shot of their newborn? "It will be a [paparazzi] shot taken on the beach or when the couple is on vacation," Shuter predicted. "They won't reveal the baby to get a [magazine] cover like Bethenny [Frankel] or those other reality stars." </P><P> </P><P>Caplan also proposed that a baby photo will probably leak. "As for when will we see baby Blue, I wouldn't be surprised if some sort of grainy-looking paparazzi photo emerges," he said. "Those photographers are very crafty, even if Beyonc&#233; and Jay-Z think they're doing all they can to keep Blue away from photographers. But ultimately, I think you can expect to see her baby photos in a magazine pictorial, and that will be Blue's introduction to the world. That's the real reveal people want to see." </P><P> </P><P><i>Are you looking forward to the first photos of Blue Ivy? Tell us on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mtvnews" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page!</i></p>

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' Track List Revealed

First single from Trent Reznor/ Atticus Ross soundtrack is Karen O cover of Led Zeppelin song.
By Gil Kaufman

<P>You kind of can't go wrong when the soundtrack you've put together for one of the most eagerly anticipated literary adaptations in years kicks off <a href="/music/artist/yeah_yeah_yeahs/artist.jhtml">Yeah Yeah Yeahs</a> singer Karen O's take on <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/led_zeppelin/artist.jhtml">Led Zeppelin</a>'s "Immigrant Song." </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" id="vid:693384" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>Fans heard the throbbing industrial take on the rock classic cooked up by former Nine Inch Nails mastermind and O when a trailer for the David Fincher-directed "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" leaked back in May. And on Thursday, Oscar-winning industrial-rocker-turned-film composer Reznor and musical partner Atticus Ross unveiled the full track list for their "Tattoo" score album. </P><P> </P><P>The follow-up to their award-winning "The Social Network" score was a labor of love, according to a <a href="http://nin.com/?id=102677" target="_blank">post</a> Reznor put up on the NIN site on Thursday announcing the disc. "For the last fourteen months Atticus and I have been hard at work on David Fincher's 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,' " he wrote about the American version of the tale of pierced and punished hacker <a href="/news/articles/1655879/rooney-mara-dragon-tattoo.jhtml">Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara)</a> and her muckraking journalist compatriot <a href="/news/articles/1667542/daniel-craig-rooney-mara-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo.jhtml">Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig)</a>. "We laughed, we cried, we lost our minds and in the process made some of the most beautiful and disturbing music of our careers. The result is a sprawling three-hour opus." </P><P> </P><P>The album will be released on iTunes on December 9 in two versions. Right now, you can download the Karen O song on iTunes when you pre-order the 39-track album. That download purchase will also give you a link to the <a href="/news/articles/1675297/girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-trailer-extended.jhtml">eight-minute "Dragon Tattoo" trailer</a>, for which Reznor and Ross created a unique score. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Daniel Craig Talks 'The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo'" id="vid:674399" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>But, if you visit the <a href="http://www.nullco.com/GDT/usd.php" target="_blank">NIN online store</a>, Reznor is offering the soundtrack in a variety of forms, from a free six-track sampler to a deluxe 3,000-piece limited-edition signed $300 package with your choice of MP3 formats; the full album on six pieces of 180 gram vinyl; a deluxe book package with a metal cover; an exclusive custom 8 GB metal razor blade USB drive pendant containing the full album; and a fold-out poster. </P><P> </P><P>The full album score track list is as follows: <br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin cover) [ft. Karen O]<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "She Reminds Me of You"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "People Lie All the Time"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Pinned and Mounted"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Perihelion"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "What If We Could?"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "With the Flies"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Hidden in Snow"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "A Thousand Details"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "One Particular Moment"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "I Can't Take It Anymore"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "How Brittle the Bones"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Please Take Your Hand Away"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Cut Into Pieces"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "The Splinter"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "An Itch"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Hypomania"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Under the Midnight Sun"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Aphelion"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "You're Here"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "The Same as the Others"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "A Pause for Reflection"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "While Waiting"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "The Seconds Drag"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Later Into the Night"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Parallel Timeline With Alternate Outcome"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Another Way of Caring"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "A Viable Construct"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Revealed in the Thaw"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Millennia"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "We Could Wait Forever"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Oraculum"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Great Bird of Prey"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "The Heretics"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "A Pair of Doves"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Infiltrator"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "The Sound of Forgetting"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Of Secrets"<br> </P><P><b>&#187;</b> "Is Your Love Strong Enough?" (Bryan Ferry cover) </P><P> </P><P><b>Check out everything we've got on <a href="http://www.mtv.com/movies/movie/456914/moviemain.jhtml">"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."</a> </P><P> </P><P>For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more &#8212; updated around the clock &#8212; visit <a href="http://moviesblog.mtv.com/">MTVMoviesBlog.com</a>.</b></p>

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Justin Bieber Should 'Stay Strong,' Usher Says

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<P><a href="/music/artist/usher/artist.jhtml">Usher</a> might not have known how big <a href="/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> would become when he discovered him a few years back, but he was pretty sure he had found something special. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Usher Advises Justin Bieber To 'Stay Strong'" id="vid:712878" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>Since Bieber burst on the scene with his <i>My World</i> EP back in 2009, the 17-year-old has grown up with the world watching. He's gone from up-and-comer to full-fledged pop sensation, racking up chart-topping albums and a box-office hit and becoming an all-around mega-heartthrob &#8212; all in two years. </P><P> </P><P>Of course, with the good does come negative attention as well. Recently, Bieber was hit with a <a href="/news/articles/1674509/justin-bieber-paternity-suit-dropped-2.jhtml">paternity lawsuit, which has since been dropped</a>. </P><P> </P><P>Usher, no stranger to his own controversies, had these words for the Biebs: "Stay strong. And know that all of this comes with the territory." </P><P> </P><P>Aside from the drama, Usher is especially proud of Bieber's charitable side. His mentor said he "absolutely" knew the kid from Stratford, Ontario, had a big heart from the start. </P><P> </P><P>"To write a check is only half of it, but when you truly take on a responsibility to be a philanthropist, you accept an effort, and I really think that Pencils of Promise is something that has a very bright future," <a href="/news/articles/1674628/justin-bieber-new-york-city.jhtml">Usher told MTV News at an event for the charity</a>, noting that Bieber is a only a small part of it. </P><P> </P><P>Usher &#8212; who appears on Bieber's new Christmas album, <a href="/news/articles/1673032/justin-bieber-usher-christmas-song.jhtml"><i>Under the Mistletoe</i></a> &#8212; gives credit to the folks surrounding the teen superstar, including manager Scooter Braun. "Just judging from the determination and the will power of the entire team around Justin, I see a very, very promising [future] for him as a philanthropist," Usher said.</p>

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<P><a href="/news/articles/1677562/lady-gaga-born-this-way-foundation.jhtml">Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta</a>, took over Harvard University to launch their <a href="/news/articles/1673633/lady-gaga-born-this-way-foundation.jhtml"><i>Born This Way</i> Foundation</a> on Wednesday (February 29). In front of a crowd that included <a href="/news/articles/1679223/lady-gaga-oprah-winfrey-foundation.jhtml">Oprah Winfrey</a>, the New York natives kicked off their inspirational foundation, hoping to empower the youth of America. </P><P> </P><P>"I was recently with the great Gloria Steinem, who said that sometimes the only way you can get attention to a problem is to freak people out," <a href="http://act.mtv.com/posts/lady-gaga-launches-born-this-way-foundation/">Oprah said at the event</a>." 'Break the form,' she said. You have to stop playing the game in order to change the content. Lady Gaga, with her music and her message and her own story, is breaking the form, and she is changing consciousness. She says that she wasn't put on earth just to sing songs; her passion is to be that force for good. The <i>Born This Way</i> Foundation is in line with so many of my core beliefs." </P><P> </P><P>Gaga enthusiastically opened up about the foundation and what she hopes to do with it. "I just have one thing to say before we get started: We got Oprah! ... Thank you from all of us &#8212; from my entire team, from my mother, from the bottom of the hearts of so many people who believe in what we're doing today," she said, wearing a chocolate-brown gown, brown lace gloves, towering platforms and a sparkly fishnet hat. </P><P> </P><P>"I'm not here today to give you an answer. And I'm not here to tell you I can solve these problems [of bullying]. This is about transformative change in culture over a period of time. One of the most important things I wanted to share with all of you today, it's no secret I speak out against bullying. This is not an anti-bullying foundation; this is a youth-empowerment foundation," she continued. "This is about changing the climate of the school environment and not putting the power in the hands of the teachers or the government. It is about the bubble effect. I don't believe they have the answers; I believe that you do." </P><P> </P><P>In addition to her fans, Gaga said her biggest influence to start the foundation is her own Mother Monster. "My mother really inspires me, because she talked about giving back ever since I was very, very young," she said. "And the more that I got to know my fans, the more that I realized that not everybody has that support system at home." </P><P> </P><P>Her mother later enthused that despite the snow outside, "It is even more beautiful inside because we are launching the foundation. The youth that is listening: you are the leaders of our future." </P><P> </P><P>Gaga also revealed another aspect of the foundation: "There is a bus now called the Born Brave Bus. So the Born Brave Bus is essentially a bus that is going to travel and follow my tour bus around the country, and it will welcome anyone from any walk of life to come and hang out and talk about love, acceptance, kindness and so forth. And the best thing about it it's going to be fun. It's going to essentially be a tailgate. This is not about saying, 'I need help,' but if you do, you can come. If you want to help someone else, you can come and say 'Hey, what's up?' " </P><P> </P><P>At the end of the day, Gaga said the foundation "is all about saying the power is in your hands. There really is sort of a focus on the victim, but what I want to point out today is that the victim and the bully are on the same playing field. How do we say, 'You are both equal members of society'? How do we not save not just the victim, but also the bully? I want the <i>Born This Way</i> Foundation to empower the youth of the world." </P><P> </P><P>Gaga further explained that one of the core values is teaching her fans to empower themselves to be "brave." </P><P> </P><P>"This, again, is not focused on bullying, the bravery aspect; I want for young people to know they have the power," she said. "How can we inspire young people to know they have the power to be brave?"</p>

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Justin Bieber's 'Boyfriend' Teaser Goes Hard

The 13-second preview of Mike Posner-produced track shows off an edgier side of Bieber.
By Jocelyn Vena

<P>Is it killing you that you have to wait until Monday to hear what <a href="/news/articles/1680882/justin-bieber-boyfriend-single-buzz.jhtml">"Boyfriend" sounds</a> like? Well, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> feels your pain and decided to release a teaser for the lead single off his <a href="/news/articles/1680373/justin-bieber-believe-album.jhtml">album, <i>Believe.</i></a> </P><P> </P><P>The 13-second, blink-and-you-might-miss-it tease is spare in terms of instruments, just bleeps and thumps, no singing or rapping. But it does play up Bieber's love for hip-hop; as it nears the end of the tease, a drum line-style beat kicks in. Come Monday, of course, the whole song will drop for Beliebers' listening pleasure. </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:744691/cp~id%3D1680192%26vid%3D744688%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A744688" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P>The video teaser also includes footage of Bieber in the studio, recording "Boyfriend," which was co-written and co-produced by Mike Posner. The clip premiered on Justin's <a href="http://www.justinbiebermusic.com/boyfriend" target="_blank">website</a> late Thursday night. </P><P> </P><P>"This record is different in a very good way," said producer/writer Mason Levy, who also worked on the song. "Definitely edgier, it's more grown-up, it's more developed and it's sexier. It's just like really dope. It's gonna definitely surprise people. People aren't really expecting that. They're going to like it." </P><P> </P><P>It's clear from the teaser that <a href="/news/articles/1681595/justin-bieber-boyfriend.jhtml">Bieber is using</a> influences from urban music and that he's looking to grow up sonically. The music in the new clip also seems to pay homage to Justin Timberlake, and even Chris Brown. Bieber has confirmed that he raps on the song. </P><P> </P><P>"It's more just the verses [that he's rapping on], and the rest he's singing," Levy told MTV News. "It's dope. It's hip-hop, but with great acoustic R&B, pop guitar with very hip-hop, clubby drums and really dope Justin Timberlake-y melodies." </P><P> </P><P><i>What do you think of "Boyfriend" so far? Tell us in the comments!</i></p>

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Beyonce To Perform Three Shows Memorial Day Weekend

New mom will return to the stage for a special three-night engagement at Atlantic City's Revel Resort.
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<P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyonc&#233;</a> is taking more than the recommended six weeks maternity leave. But come Memorial Day, the world's hardest-working mother will be right back at it when she plays a series of special intimate shows at Atlantic City's newest attraction. </P><P> </P><P>Four months after giving birth to <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/01/09/jay-z-dedicates-bic-song-to-baby-blue-ivy-carter">Blue Ivy Carter</a>, B will play a trio of exclusive shows to help launch the $2.4 billion Revel entertainment center on May 25, 26 and 27. The singer's first shows since 2011 will take place in the smoke-free Revel's signature performance space, Ovation Hall, which was designed by a team of Cirque du Soleil veterans. The 5,050-capacity space features an unobstructed view for every patron and a state-of-the-art immersive sound system. (Tickets for the shows go on sale on April 6 at 10 a.m.) </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:684908/cp~vid%3D684908%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A684908" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P>While hubby Jay-Z has continued to play the occasional show &#8212; including a gig down at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, last week &#8212; Beyonc&#233; has kept a lower profile, preferring to nest in New York with the couple's baby girl. Her name did pop up a few weeks ago, though, as a potential castmember in <a href="/news/articles/1680141/beyonce-ryan-murphy-movie-one-hit-wonders.jhtml">Ryan Murphy's upcoming all-star flick</a> "One Hit Wonders." The musical comedy could potentially star B's buddy, Gwyneth Paltrow, as well as Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz and "Saturday Night Live" castmember Andy Samberg. </P><P> </P><P>Regardless of how this film shakes out, Beyonc&#233; is reportedly already thinking about her music career again. Producer Ryan Tedder shared that the singer is prepping several <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/02/14/beyonce-prepping-two-new-albums">follow-up albums</a> to <a href="/news/articles/1665479/beyonce-4-leak.jhtml">2011's <i>4.</i></a> </P><P> </P><P>"The conversations about her next album, literally, just started and there [are] two projects happening," Tedder said."All I can say is, you kind of feed her the best that you have, and she's this phenomenal filter and she takes it all in." One of those albums may be the soundtrack for the upcoming Clint Eastwood film "A Star Is Born," which the singer is also attached to star in. </P><P> </P><P><i>Are you excited to hear that Beyonc&#233; will hit the stage again soon? Tell us <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mtvnews" target="blank">on our Facebook</a> page!</i></p>

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Lady Gaga Surpasses 20 Million Followers On Twitter

Pop star extends her record-breaking Twitter dominance over second-place holder Justin Bieber.
By John Mitchell

<P><a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lady_gaga/artist.jhtml">Lady Gaga</a> is known for her prolific Internet presence, and now she can lay claim to another achievement: She's the first person to pass 20 million followers on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ladygaga" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. </P><P> </P><P>Mother Monster has yet to acknowledge the feat on her social network of choice, but, on February 9, when she noticed her number of followers eclipsed 19 million, she good-naturedly <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ladygaga/status/167686723906703360" target="_blank">tweeted</a>, "19 Million Followers!!! HOLY HOOKER!!! *goes back to work*" </P><P> </P><P>Like many celebrities, Gaga has used Twitter to forge a closer relationship with her fans as well as make announcements about her career and respond to criticism, as she recently did when British music magazine <i>NME</i> named her hit album <i>Born This Way</i> the <a href="/news/articles/1679839/lady-gaga-most-pretentious-albums-born-this-way.jhtml">Most Pretentious Album Ever</a>. </P><P> </P><P>Gaga has been the most followed person on Twitter since August 2010, when she blasted past <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a> for the title when she reached 5.6 million followers. </P><P> </P><P>Spears now enjoys 13.6 million followers, making her the seventh most-followed person on the network. Currently in third place is Katy Perry with 15.7 million followers. Shakira (14.5 million) and Rihanna (14.5 million) are not far behind. </P><P> </P><P>The only person within spitting distance of Gaga on Twitter is <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a>. The recent <a href="/news/articles/1680248/justin-bieber-birthday-gifts.jhtml">birthday boy</a> has just over 18 million followers. He is, however, a far more prolific tweeter than Gaga; the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-lady-gaga-20-million-followers-twitter-20120305,0,4076491.story" target="_blank"><i>Los Angeles Times</i></a> notes that he has sent out 10 times as many tweets as the "Born This Way" diva. </P><P> </P><P>Gaga also enjoys a massive following on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ladygaga" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, where she's been "liked" by nearly 49 million people. But Mother Monster cannot claim being the boss on Facebook. That title belongs to <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/rihanna/artist.jhtml">Rihanna</a>, who has been liked by nearly 53 million individuals.</p>

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Kony 2012 Campaign Catches Eyes Of Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga

Campaign aims to bring African militia leader Joseph Kony to justice for war crimes and for enlisting children as soldiers.
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<P>A campaign to stop the nearly 30-year, brutal rule of African militia leader Joseph Kony became a viral sensation this week. <a href="http://kony2012.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com" target="_blank">"Kony 2012,"</a> started by the group Invisible Children, aims to make Kony's face so famous that authorities will finally be able to arrest him and try him for his crimes. </P><P> </P><P>A 30-minute <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc" target="_blank">documentary</a> released on Monday is one of the keys to the campaign, and as of Thursday it had gotten more than 26 million views. The video details the atrocities carried out by Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army. The campaign appears to be working, as at one point on Wednesday, Invisible Children and #stopkony were trending higher on Twitter than Peyton Manning or the new iPad. </P><P> </P><P>Since 1987, human rights officials say Kony has forcefully abducted more than 60,000 children to be soldiers in his army and reportedly raped, mutilated and killed civilians in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan and displaced more than 2 million people. The leader is wanted for committing atrocities by the International Criminal Court and is being hunted down by 100 U.S. Special Forces advisers and local troops in four Central African nations, according to the <a href="http://bit.ly/AyrDyz"><I>Associated Press.</I></a> </P><P> </P><P>Kony 2012 is an effort to capture Kony and disarm the LRA before a reported window of opportunity closes. One way it plans to do that is by encouraging users to directly message a variety of stars to make use of their Twitter ubiquity to get the word out. Among those listed on the site are: Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Jay-Z, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Ryan Seacrest and Ellen DeGeneres, along with a number of major policymakers. </P><P> </P><P>When users click on the celebs' photos, a tweet pops up that reads: Help us end #LRA violence. Visit kony2012.com to find out why and how. @timtebow Join us for #KONY2012. </P><P> </P><P><a href="http://act.mtv.com/posts/invisible-children-video-joseph-kony/">Get More on Invisible Children at ACT.MTV.com.</a></p>

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Britney Spears Offered $10 Million To Join 'X Factor'

Contract could be signed as early as next week.
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<P>Simon Cowell has hinted that he wants to reload the judges panel on "X Factor" with two new women and according to reports, he's close to landing a superstar who might make the second season of his talent contest much more interesting. </P><P> </P><P>While names including Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey have been bandied about as possible replacements for <a href="/news/articles/1678191/paula-abdul-exits-x-factor.jhtml">Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul,</a>&#8232; the buzz has continued to focus on <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/spears_britney/artist.jhtml">Britney Spears</a>. According to <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/britney-spears-x-factor-judge-jason-trawick-297730" target="_blank"><i>The Hollywood Reporter,</i></a> Spears' fiancé/agent, Jason Trawick, is on the verge of closing a deal as early as next week. </P><P> </P><P><center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:698603/cp~id%3D1672066%26vid%3D698603%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A698603%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center> </P><P> </P><P>Cowell has played it coy with the Spears rumors over the past several weeks, telling reporters in a conference call that "there's going to be a lot of twists and turns over the next few weeks and a lot of things we're going to announce." A spokesperson for "Factor" could not be reached for comment at press time. </P><P> </P><P>After some major hype from Cowell, "Factor" underperformed in its first season -- putting up solid numbers, but not the gaudy ones Simon had predicted. As a result, he blew up the judging panel, keeping just music executive L.A. Reid by his side and canning host Steve Jones. </P><P> </P><P>If Spears dos take the gig, which <a href="http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/britney-spears-x-factor-10-million-simon-cowell-fox/" target="_blank">Deadline Hollywood</a> reported could come with a $10 million payday, she will join her fellow Mickey Mouse Clubhouse mate Christina Aguilera in the hot seat of a major reality singing show. After a few rough professional and personal years, Aguilera has gone a long way toward reclaiming her A-list status thanks to the success of her performance on "The Voice." </P><P> </P><P>Cowell reportedly reached out personally to Spears to get the conversation rolling and he's been talking her up lately, saying in that same conference call, "are we flattered there would be interest from Britney Spears? Yes." In a later interview, he said he was "fascinated" with Spears and praised her resilience after a rough period during which she endured some very public personal struggles. </P><P> </P><P>Jackson's name was in the hopper until recently, when she revealed that, while flattered by the offer, the TV gig just would not jibe with the <a href="/news/articles/1680297/x-factor-janet-jackson.jhtml">professional commitments</a>&#8232; already on her calendar this year.</p>

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By Jocelyn Vena

<P>Deck the halls! The holiday kicked into high gear Wednesday night (November 30) when New York's massive Christmas tree was lit during "Christmas in Rockefeller Center." Plenty of A-listers were on hand, including Justin Bieber, who premiered his highly anticipated <a href="/news/articles/1673689/justin-bieber-mariah-carey-christmas-video.jhtml">video for "All I Want for Christmas Is You,"</a> featuring Mariah Carey. </P><P> </P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Justin Bieber Rocks Rockefeller Center" id="vid:715720" width="240" height="211"></div><p> </P><P> </P><P>Before the strings of lights were illuminated, performances from Michael Bubl&#233;, Katharine McPhee, Big Time Rush, Tony Bennett, Carole King and Neil Diamond warmed viewers up. But Bieber was the headline act of the night, giving fans some big performances and an even bigger video premiere. </P><P> </P><P>Bieber amped up the energy with his hip-hop-ified take on the Christmas classic <a href="/news/articles/1673334/justin-bieber-mariah-carey-christmas-song.jhtml">"Little Drummer Boy,"</a> which included him spitting a holiday-themed rhyme. Decked in all black, the teen star had the crowd screaming. He was even joined by Busta Rhymes, who appears on the <i>Under the Mistletoe</i> cut. </P><P> </P><P>JB then slowed things down with <a href="/news/articles/1673032/justin-bieber-usher-christmas-song.jhtml">"The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire),"</a> leaving his female fans swooning as he crooned the holiday standard. He was joined by his mentor Usher for the track. </P><P> </P><P>"God bless and Merry Christmas," Bieber told the crowd before tossing to the "All I Want for Christmas Is You" video. The clip features Mariah Carey dressed in a sexy Santa Claus outfit standing in a department store as she dances around singing the track, almost as if she's on display for holiday shoppers. It also sees Bieber and his pals shopping for some choice holiday gifts like high-top kicks. </P><P> </P><P>In between performance shots of Bieber and Mariah, a street-corner Santa Claus hands out envelopes to shoppers on the street, teasing an inevitable yuletide party scene. The shoppers are then welcomed into the department store, where Justin and Mariah hand out gifts to everyone. The duo tease and flirt with each other as everyone around them unwraps their gifts. </P><P> </P><P>Bieber and Carey re-recorded her classic holiday tune for his chart-topping holiday album, which also features appearances from the Band Perry and Boyz II Men. They filmed the video earlier this month, just in time for the holiday season. </P><P> </P><P><i>Did Bieber get you in the holiday spirit? Let us know in the comments!</i></p>

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Happy Friday

Here's a photo of my niece Lila eating a nectarine:

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