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| 'American Idol' Recap: Lil Rounds, Felicia Barton, Scott MacIntyre Bring It
March 4, 2009 at 9:48 am
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| Jorge Nuñez also gets noticed, as does Nathaniel Marshall, in a bad way.
By Gil Kaufman 
Lil Rounds performs on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images/ Fox The third round of top 36 performances unfolded Tuesday night pretty much like the previous two: Some wannabes just picked the wrongs songs, others blasted up from nowhere and the frontrunners grabbed a few more feathers for their caps. First the good news: Lil Rounds might be your next American Idol. The night ended with the woman who could be this year's top contender, the 24-year-old mother of three, biting into Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You" and nailing the midtempo inspirational number with strength and confidence, leaving judge Simon Cowell looking a bit stunned. "Brilliant," was all he could say, with Randy Jackson adding that Lil Rounds is among the best they've found this year, as he gave mad props for her "swagger." The unanimous thumbs up went all the way down the line, with Paula Abdul quipping, "I have the sneaking suspicion we're going to see you for many more Lil Rounds." (Look back at our "American Idol" live blog to relive last night's performances.) The night's biggest surprise was Felicia Barton, 26, a stay-at-home mom from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who didn't originally make it to the top 36, but who was called back when Joanna Pacitti was disqualified. Barton was out to prove to the judges that she belonged in the competition, and she nailed it. Wearing a black leather jacket, black spangly top and black jeans, she came out swinging on Alicia Keys' "No One," knocking the vocals out of the park and winning over the crowd in the process. "Isn't it funny how the universe works," Paula said. "Your talent, your gift is unbelievable. ... I'm so glad we brought you back." Simon liked the performance, though he felt it was a bit "copy cat." Randy loved it, and Kara DioGuardi praised Barton's attitude, presence and new sexy look. "I noticed you for the first time tonight, I really noticed you," she said. The show's first blind contestant, Scott MacIntyre, went old school with Bruce Hornsby's "Mandolin Rain," initially warbling unevenly through the saccharine ballad, dropping a series of bum notes along the way until hitting a couple of soulful runs near the end. Randy said the vocal wasn't perfect, but that the good parts were really good, and he could really feel the emotion in the performance. "You move mountains when you step on that stage," Kara said, excusing MacIntyre's not-so-great notes by saying even when he's off, he's off with passion. Calling him "one of our finest," Paula said she couldn't wait to hear MacIntyre get back behind the piano in the next round. Simon blasted the bland song choice while admitting that MacIntyre was growing on him as he appeared to gain confidence, saying he would be "amazed" if MacIntyre didn't advance. The other pleasant surprise was Ju'Not Joyner, 26, who transformed Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah" into a meditative John Legend-esque soul serenade. Randy loved that Joyner switched up the tune and held back, while Kara loved his smooth, fluid take and encouraged him to really bust it loose next time. Simon said it was better than he expected, but actually wished Joyner had stripped it back even further and found his "moment." The rest of the performances were a mixed bag. Von Smith opened the night, singing Marvin Gaye's "You're All I Need to Get By," in a quavering, whispery voice that grew stronger as he went on, seemingly shaking off his serious case of the nerves. Wearing a baggy gray suit and red T-shirt with matching sneakers, Smith ended on a strong note, busting out some of his signature falsetto. Jackson said Smith was even better than he remembered him during the Hollywood weeks. Kara praised Smith for coming into his own and delivering a solid performance. Simon said that Smith reminded him of Clay Aiken, which was a good thing, though he added that the resemblance also extended to Smith's "appalling" clothing choices. Taylor Vaifanua, 17, a high school student from Hurricane, Utah, tried the dramatic ballad "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys, while rocking black latex tights and an indistinct black, gray and white minidress, bringing a classic, emotional R&B feel to the song. Kara said it's "obvious" that Vaifanua has a voice and talent, but her personality has yet to emerge. Paula Abdul was perplexed by Vaifanua's decision to sing a song she'd already sung during the Hollywood round. Trying to shake off the nerd tag, Alex Wagner-Trugman, 19, chose Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues," growling and crooning the verses while bouncing away from the microphone to do a white-boy boogie several times, eventually tossing aside the stand (by accident, he said) and emoting his way through the ballad with a sandpaper and silk edge. Paula praised him for being an entertaining showman. Simon said that while it was fun watching him, it was no fun listening to his "ridiculous" growling. "You're like a little hamster trying to be a tiger," Simon sniped. "It just was actually a bit stupid." The news wasn't much better for San Diego's Arianna Afsar, 17, who performed the first ever ABBA song on the show, "The Winner Takes It All," struggling through the first half and then busting out the vocal strength the judges had earlier praised. Simon said there was a "certain irony" to the lyrics because it was "absolutely terrible," and the funereal arrangement did her no favors. "It was your worst performance by a clear mile," he said. Karaoke hostess Kristen McNamara, 23, went the blues route, with a laid-back cruise ship cover of Tracy Chapman's "Give Me One Reason," accented by half a dozen soul growls and whoops. Kara praised McNamara for being a great singer, but said she would have rather seen a more rocking song. Simon said it just wasn't clear who she was yet, trashing her pink-icing "pageant" dress and gold stilettos. While all the judges questioned McNamara's not-quite-there fashion choices, it was clear that brash drama machine Nathaniel Marshall (who wants it "so bad," has he mentioned that?), was more than secure in his unique style. In the debut performance of Meat Loaf's power ballad "I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" on the show, Marshall brought some "Starlight Express" Broadway sass to the suggestive tune, accenting his smarmy vocals with a "Miami Vice" electric-blue jacket, matching headband, yellow tank top and second-skin black pants. "Some people will quite like that, the minority," Simon snarked. "The majority probably, like me, thought it was verging on excruciating." The acerbic judge blasted the "awful" image Marshall brought with his Olivia Newton-John headband. But he added that on the positive, people will remember the performance and that Marshall was fun. Randy said it was hard to image what kind of record Marshall would make as an artist, and Kara suggested he dial down the fun and show a more serious side. Texan Kendall Beard, 24, went native for "This One's for the Girls" by Martina McBride, smiling her way through the girl-power country anthem while wearing a canary-yellow dress, with what looked like a clutch of dried flowers lashed to her waist. Kara praised Kendall's "big personality" and choice of a country tune, but said the vocals were not great. Paula loved the outfit, which Beard's mother put together. And Simon said that though she picked the right song and was cute, "halfway through, I couldn't wait for it to end." Also performing was Puerto Rico's Jorge Nuñez, 21, who was earlier told to work on his English pronunciation and distracting dancing. While bravely choosing the potentially cheesy "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John, Nuñez did everything the judges asked and delivered a powerful performance of the big ballad. The change did him good, as Paula emotionally praised his hard work with a dialect coach, though Simon reversed field and said perhaps he should sing with an accent, as his voice was very strong. "You were born to sing, that's your thing, that's your gift," Kara said, bringing Nuñez to tears. The next three contestants will be put through to the top 12 on Wednesday night's (March 4) show. Then the judges will round out the top contenders with their favorites during Thursday night's wild-card show. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos |
| Britney Spears Fits Just About Everything Into First Circus Tour Stop
March 4, 2009 at 2:38 am
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| Pop star seems genuinely touched by the warm reception given to her by the fans at the New Orleans Arena.
By James Montgomery 
Britney Spears kicks off her Circus tour in New Orleans on Tuesday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage NEW ORLEANS — So, how was the opening night of Britney Spears' Circus tour? Well, here's how the first 20 minutes went ... that ought to give you a pretty good idea: A red curtain descends upon the stage. Music starts pounding — the drumbeat of the apocalypse — and keeps building, until a lone ballerina and a mime appear. The mime is clutching a piece of chain-link fence, which he begins twirling faster and faster, until it turns into a geometric square. Then three jugglers and a little person take the stage, then Shaolin monks in black robes, who do a martial-arts routine, complete with kitanas and spinning axe kicks. Then clowns come out with nunchucks. They're followed by acrobats and gymnasts in long flowing robes, performing a routine to the music from "Kill Bill." Then everyone — mime, clowns, jugglers, little person and monks — do a sort of samba, and then Perez Hilton shows up on the video screens to deliver a monologue while dressed as Queen Elizabeth. Then Britney appears and murders him with a crossbow. And then the show starts. Seriously. Yes, welcome to Britney's Circus, a big, huge, loud, funny, nonsensical three-ring affair that includes everything under the big top — even an actual big top. Broken down into four acts — "Circus," "House of Fun," "Freakshow/Peepshow" and "Electro Circ"— the two-hour show is every set designer and choreographer's wet dream, or nightmare, or both. There are literally dozens of costume changes, dancers of all shapes and sizes and acrobats and set pieces that fly about willy-nilly. (This is surely the first concert in history to feature cholos on tricycles, a Bollywood number and a pair of martial-arts routines). It's truly a sight to behold ... the biggest show under one roof. (Click here to view photos from the concert.) At times, Britney herself is almost dwarfed by the spectacle. She looks great in her myriad of outfits (Genie! Drill Sergeant! Kinda Stripper!) And she can still move with the best of them ... it's just, well, she's almost lost in the sheer hugeness of the production around her. Of course, there were still plenty of highlights — the one-two opening combo of "Circus" and "Piece of Me" was great, as Brit descended from the sky (and got trapped in a gilded cage), strutted and popped, the electro beats whirring around the arena and the lights popping. "Radar" was sultry, as Spears donned a sparkly Wonderbra and did a pole dance. And as she laughed and blew kisses to the cheering audience during the night's lone quiet moment, "Everytime" (which, it should be mentioned, she sang perched on the handle of a floating umbrella), she seemed genuinely touched by the warm reception given to her by the fans at the New Orleans Arena. Still, by the time the third act ("Freakshow," which showcased her naughty side) rolled around, it was almost difficult to pick her out from all the noise. Again, this has less to do with Spears than it does the massive production she's surrounded herself with, though it must be said that her version of "I'm a Slave 4 U," complete with flames and a fierce dance routine, managed to rise above all the ephemera. And by the time she said good night with another great one-two wallop ("Womanizer" and a reprise of "Circus"), dressed in a sexy policewoman outfit, she looked exhausted. But happy. And why not? She brought the circus to her hometown, and it was a huge, sold-out, screaming success. It probably just would've benefited from a little more Britney Spears, that's all. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Britney Spears To Wear 'Animalistic' Look For Circus Tour
March 3, 2009 at 12:46 pm
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| Design team DSquared2 say they want Brit's costumes to be 'provoking and indecent.'
By Jocelyn Vena 
Britney Spears
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images Britney Spears has tapped Canadian design team DSquared2 to give her the perfect look when she starts her Circus tour on Tuesday (March 3) in New Orleans. (MTV News will be in New Orleans for the tour's opening Tuesday night — check back for a full report!) The twin brothers who make up DSquared2, Dean and Dan Caten, told Women's Wear Daily that they thought up fresh looks for Spears and her dancers by reimagining clown, trapeze artist and juggler costumes and making them sexier and more provocative for the pop star. "We are enormous fans of Britney, and have been waiting for the perfect moment to collaborate with her," the Caten brothers told the magazine. "It's going to be wild." Spears, who knows a thing or two about looking sexy onstage, will show off her wild side this time around, according to the Catens. "We wanted to create something much more provoking and indecent ... something animalistic and primal," the duo said about the look for the show, reports Vogue.co.uk. "We are confident that this tour partnership, an autobiographical tribute for one who has always been in the spotlight: scrutinized, watched, imitated, photographed, criticized and loved, will be an enormous success." In the past, the design duo have worked with Madonna, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, Usher, Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake. On Monday, Spears revealed her set list for the show, featuring songs from throughout her career, including fan favorites like "Slave," "Toxic" and a "... Baby One More Time" remix. Also, Britney may have been inspired by "Slumdog Millionaire" fever (just like her tourmate, Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger), because it looks like she's also doing a Bollywood take on her Madonna duet, "Me Against the Music." Related Artists |
| Usher Apologizes For Chris Brown Comments
March 3, 2009 at 10:39 am
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| Singer had asked Brown to show 'remorse' instead of riding a jet ski.
By Jem Aswad and Gil Kaufman 
Usher
Photo: MTV News Usher issued a statement late Tuesday (March 3) apologizing for the comments he made toward Chris Brown, which appeared in a video posted by Jermaine Dupri. "The comments made during a recent recording session amongst friends were taken out of context and blown out of proportion," the statement reads. "I apologize on behalf of myself and my friends if anyone was offended. The intentions were not to pass judgment and we meant no harm. I respect and wish the best for all parties involved." The comments regarded pictures of Brown that emerged over the weekend, which showed him riding a jet ski during what was called his "reconciliation" weekend in Miami with girlfriend Rihanna. In the video, Usher said that instead of riding around on a jet ski, the 19-year-old singer should "have a little bit of remorse" for the alleged incident. The comments in the clip, part of Dupri's "Living the Life" series, were recorded on Monday, according to comments from Usher, who is shown huddled around a laptop discussing a series of photos with some other men in a recording studio. "I'm a little disappointed in this photo," Usher says about the shots of Brown, as singer/songwriter Johnta Austin bounces around the room and makes some off-color jokes about boxing. "After the other photo [of Rihanna's bruised face posted by TMZ last month]? C'mon, Chris. Have a little bit of remorse, man. The man's on jet skis? Like, just relaxing in Miami?" The comments were a rare moment of near-seriousness in the eight-minute video, which primarily features the three clowning in the studio with friends and talking about a recent photo of Christina Milian. Brown is slated to face charges on Thursday for the alleged incident on February 8, in which he is reported to have battered Rihanna on a Los Angeles street. Get resources and information about domestic violence, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Pussycat Dolls Warm Up New Orleans Crowd For Britney Spears
March 3, 2009 at 10:28 am
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| Group pulled out all the hits for Circus tour kickoff, including 'Don't Cha,' 'Buttons' and 'When I Grow Up.'
By James Montgomery 
The Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger performs at Britney Spears' <i>Circus</i> tour in New Orleans on Tuesday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage NEW ORLEANS — As is fitting of any circus, Britney Spears' big-top revival kicked off with some big cats. More specifically, the Pussycat Dolls, who opened things up with a super-charged, super-sexxed dance bonanza, complete with pelvic thrusts, hair tosses and some ultra-fierce posing. Oh, and songs too. Sure, the biggest squeals came whenever lead Doll Nicole Scherzinger mentioned Britney's name, but the girls more than held their own with a lightning-quick 45-minute set, packed with hits and lots of prancing around Brit's massive "in the round" set. As is par for the course, Scherzinger did most of the talking and garnered most of the spotlight, but each gal got her own curtain call and took ample opportunity to preen and pop on individual platforms (one can hold her leg in the air for a really long time!) as PCD worked through their biggest hits. The music pounded and the lights blared as the Dolls launched into "Don't Cha," which had the audience screaming loudly. "Stickwitu" saw a bevy of hands (and cell phones) held aloft, and the dance routine that accompanied "Buttons" -- full of stomping and syncopated strutting -- was cheered wildly. The Dolls closed with "When I Grow Up" and joined hands in the middle of the stage, and Scherzinger thanked their fans before asking, "Who's ready for the Circus?!?" Why, everyone, of course. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Exclusive: Crooked I Admits He Was Shot At
March 3, 2009 at 8:25 am
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| 'I'm too accessible,' rapper says of surviving possible murder attempt.
By Sway J. Calloway 
Crooked I
Photo: MTV News Crooked I is changing up some of his music, as well as how he navigates the streets. The apparent target of an attempted murder on Friday in Long Beach, California, the MC wants to let all his fans know that despite rumors to the contrary, he's "good." "Just reliving for the past couple of days, it's just been flashing in my mind over and over," Crooked revealed to MTV News, speaking in detail for the first time about the incident. "I don't know if it was somebody trying to get at me personally, or somebody was ... I don't wanna say ... set me up." The former Death Row Records artist said he was trying to do what he normally does — grant the request of a fan — when he almost lost his life. "Say you're walking down the street. Some dude comes up to you with a camera phone and he's like, 'Can you give a shout-out?' " Crooked explained. "You're like, 'OK,' and you're shouting the dude out. Three seconds later, somebody is shooting at you. Was dude [with the camera phone] trying to get me to stand still? Was he in on it? Was it a coincidence? I don't know. Mentally I had to fall back for a couple of days. I've been in those situations where people take shots or whatever. I'm relaxed around the hip-hop fans. I'm a very accessible dude. When dude came up and was like, 'Can you give me a shout out?' I'm like, 'Cool, what do you want me to say?' Three seconds later, I hear a noise. I [was] so far removed from the fact it can be gunshots. Then I turn around and see sparks. That's strange." That's where Crooked stops detailing the story — he refuses to elaborate on whether the assailants' bullets actually struck him. "Where I'm from, certain things you can't talk about. It's illegal to our code and how we live." Crooked did say that he's definitely looking forward to expressing himself through his craft, making more of what he calls "life music" — meaning everyone from all walks of life will relate to it. "I'm gonna say real things today," he declared. "That's where my focus is. I wanna leave a body of work behind, man, that matches a Biggie, that matches a 'Pac. God is good. I need that body of work that has the potential to change — not the world, but a couple of people. Two, three, four million. One million. I don't care if it's only one person." Outside the booth, though, there's a distinct chance that Crooked won't be touching as many people as he did before. At least for now. "It just really opens your eyes, man, that I'm too accessible," he said about how the shooting incident has changed him. "I'm not this rap star walking around with 30 bodyguards. I gotta really re-evaluate the way I move around. I have to re-evaluate that. They caught me slippin'. The first shot I didn't even think it was a gunshot. That's how relaxed I was. I thought, 'What was that?' Somebody blew a horn, that's the only reason I turned around. You have to change your life. I gotta change my movement. They're not gonna see so much of Crooked I in the 'hood by himself. That right there is out the door, period. Some people may not like it. At this point, I don't give a damn, because it's my life." Crooked is currently working on a solo album, as well as a group LP with a collective called Slaughterhouse. That group also consists of Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden and Royce Da 5'9". The album in the works with Bishop Lamont and Glasses Malone, No Country for Old Men, has been put on hold for now. Related Videos Related Artists |
| 'American Idol': Who's Up Next? Lil Rounds And More
March 3, 2009 at 7:50 am
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| Last group of 12, which also includes Von Lee Smith and Scott MacIntyre, will vie for three spots in the finals.
By Gil Kaufman 
"American Idol" contestant Lil Rounds
Photo: FOX Viewers will get their final chance on Tuesday (March 3) to pick the "American Idol" top 12 before judges round out the top contenders during the wild-card round on Thursday. This final audience-approved batch is a mix of hot contenders, virtual unknowns and singers whose backstories have so far outstripped their promise or proven singing chops. Leading the list of virtual locks is Memphis, Tennessee, customer-service representative and married mother of three Lil Rounds, 23, who immediately blew the judges away with her soulful rendition of Steve Wonder's "All I Do" in Kansas City. With her dramatic swoop of tinted bangs and humble-yet-sassy attitude — not to mention a booming voice from a petite body — Rounds, who has already inspired several fan sites, is almost guaranteed a place in the top 12, thanks to what judge Randy Jackson described as her Fantasia-meets-Mary J. style. Also in the mix is falsetto wonder Von Lee Smith, 22, who placed second on Ed McMahon's "Next Big Star" at age 13 and was spotted by Rosie O'Donnell on YouTube in 2007 — singing late, lamented jokeman Nick "Normund Gentle" Mitchell's signature "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from "Dreamgirls" — which landed him an invitation to sing on "The View." Utah's Taylor Vaifanua, 16, often compared to season-six winner Jordin Sparks, also has a shot and, like an increasing number of "Idol" contestants these days, has already released a CD. As a bonus, she also appeared on a Utah-rific reality show as a member of the made-for-TV girl group, 4 Real. Another contestant who has gotten plenty of TV time and some love from the judges is the show's first blind contender, Scott MacIntyre. The 23-year-old Fulbright Scholar and Rhodes Scholar finalist graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University at 19, teaches salsa, swing and ballroom dancing, has appeared on a number of Christian TV shows such as the "Crystal Cathedral Hour of Power" and released, yes, his own CD. Make that CDs, like, five of them. Speaking of people with some previous experience, Napa Valley, California's Kristen McNamara, 23, like former contestant Brent Keith, once appeared on the "Nashville Star" reality show. But what K-Mac really plans to do is "change the world through my music and drive to help those in need." Some of the other top 36 finishers have gotten screen time, but aren't necessarily hot contenders. Spunky dyslexic Texas blonde Kendall Beard, 24, has been trying to get a music career going in Hollywood since graduating from the University of Texas several years ago. And, according to the Lufkin Daily News, she might already have an in with one of the biggest pop stars in the world: Britney Spears. The paper reported that Beard's dad is college buddies with Britney's pop, Jamie Spears. And then there are a few others who've gotten some face time, but who shouldn't start prepping for their close-ups just yet, including über-nerd Alex Wagner-Trugman, 19. While his high school band did have a killer name, the Killer Boots, his Facebook page says it all. Then there's Felicia Barton, who wasn't originally in the top 36, but got a lifeline when Joanna Pacitti was disqualified. The 27-year-old Virginia Beach, Virginia, singer has hustle for sure, as evidenced by this boardwalk singing-booth video. But not as much as "adopt-a-grandfriend" founder Arianna Afsar, the 16-year-old do-gooder who has sung the national anthem for the San Diego Padres four times and won $25,000 from the Miss America Outstanding Teen competition. And then there's this year's crying boy, Nathaniel Marshall. The emo-tastic 19-year-old man-diva whose mother was incarcerated and who has tried out for "Idol" three times and has many talents, among them freestyling sassypants tunes about popping blisters, wearing headbands and performing Blaine Larsen covers in front of overstuffed bookcases, but he's best known for his drama-queen tendencies and super-tight pants. Rounding out the list is 26-year-old Bowie, Maryland, native Ju'Not Joyner, who made it through the first round last season before being dumped. Joyner, who traded a promising basketball career for singing when he blew out his knee, has written more than 100 songs, some of which are pretty promising. And then there's funky bilingual Puerto Rico native Jorge Nuñez, who made it by singing Frank Sinatra's "My Way" in Spanish and "What a Wonderful World" in English during his audition, but who has been way off the radar since. The winners, who will be announced on Wednesday night, will join semifinalists Allison Iraheta, Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace and Michael Sarver. On Thursday, the revamped wild-card round will bring back 12 booted contestants vying for the final three spots in the top 12 as determined by the judges' votes. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos |
| T.I. Reportedly Won't Head To Prison Until End Of The Month
March 3, 2009 at 7:44 am
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| Vibe cover story says rapper will officially be sentenced March 27.
By Jayson Rodriguez 
T.I.
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images As T.I. counts down his time as a free man, he's getting a few things in order. The rapper is keeping busy with his MTV show "Road to Redemption," and he performed a show this past weekend in Miami, bidding adieu to many of his ardent supporters before serving prison sentence. And he's still recording music, getting in some last-minute studio time with DJ Toomp and others. T.I. (real name: Clifford Harris) is set to go before an Atlanta federal judge on March 27. According to the April issue of Vibe, that's when Tip will officially be sentenced to prison. The sentence is part of an agreement the rapper struck after pleading guilty to weapons charges, stemming from his 2007 arrest prior to the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta. The rapper was charged with possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Speculation had the rapper entering prison anytime from late February to early March, but in the Vibe cover story, the lawyers involved in the case explain some of the details of the rapper's plea deal. "His guilt was never seriously questioned in our mind," U.S. Attorney David Nahmias told Vibe of how the rapper was sentenced. "We often give significant sentence reductions to people who cooperate in a more traditional way by providing information about other criminals. What [the defense] proposed, and what I ultimately thought was reasonable, is that Mr. Harris has the ability to reach thousands, probably tens of thousands of people, particularly at-risk young people. And that out of the tens of thousands of people he could reach, he has the real possibility of getting at least a few of them not to commit the kinds of crimes we would prosecute." T.I. received a deferred jail sentence of one year and one day followed by three years supervised release, plus 1,500 hours of community service and a $ 100,000 fine. Home confinement was also part of the deal, as well as completing 1,000 of the community-service hours before his jail time. According to Tip's recording home, Atlantic Records, he's well on his way to completing the hours. T.I.'s probation officer, Billy Marlow, acknowledged the rapper's work completing his plea requirements. "I think he's definitely learned from his mistake," he said. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Expert Asks: Was Chris Brown/Rihanna Reunion Too Soon?
March 3, 2009 at 4:30 am
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| Domestic-violence expert says quick reconciliation is not unusual, although there's a 'high likelihood' of repeat abuse.
By Gil Kaufman 
Rihanna and Chris Brown
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage Many fans and observers were surprised that less than three weeks after Chris Brown is alleged to have beaten girlfriend Rihanna that the couple were reported to have reunited last weekend in Miami. Though they were not pictured together while staying at a Miami-area home owned by Diddy in what was believed to be their first face-to-face since the incident on the eve of the Grammys, Sheryl Cates, CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, said such quick rapprochement is not unusual in domestic-violence cases. "I'm not surprised at all, it's a normal reaction," Cates said. (Cates has 25 years' worth of experience in the domestic-violence field, but stressed that she has no firsthand knowledge of the Brown/Rihanna case other than media reports.) "She's probably trying to see if he will actually change his behavior. There's probably hope there, and while the trust has been broken, there's a level of trust that says, 'I will give you an opportunity for change.' " Brown was arrested and booked on suspicion of criminal threats and is scheduled to be charged this Thursday (March 5) in the case. But regardless of how the legal end of the matter emerges, Cates said that Rihanna's challenge is not knowing if this kind of situation will happen again — though historically, Cates noted, there is a "high likelihood" that it could. "Nobody is sure that there haven't been other incidences, because usually there has been violence before, or an escalation of emotionally abusive behavior," she said. "The interesting question is, 'Is he serious about changing and will Rihanna know that he is?' " Brown has said in a statement that he was "sorry and saddened" about what happened, without specifying what exactly transpired. Cates said her experience is that there is an 80 percent or higher risk that another abusive incident could happen in the future once an alleged confrontation of this magnitude has transpired. "Just because there has not been physical abuse [that we know of] in the past, that doesn't mean there wasn't emotional abuse," she said. "And if that was happening, that possessive behavior that includes isolation from friends and family, jealousy and control tactics, that will usually occur again unless that person is really getting help and doing work to find balance in that relationship." Following some criticism from fans and fellow artists such as Usher about Brown's decision to be photographed riding a Jet Ski and flexing his muscles during the couple's reported reunion weekend, Cates said it is clear that the extra layer of expectation and scrutiny the couple face as celebrities could add to the difficulty of navigating the situation. "Her family has been very supportive and stood by her and his [Brown's] mom, who's been though this — if she talks about love and there is accountability, an understanding that this is not acceptable and if she's supportive of his change and not making excuses for it, that could help," Cates said. The couple reportedly made their way back to Los Angeles on Monday and were said to be photographed by TMZ exiting a private plane together. And while Rihanna is said to have cooperated with police in the investigation — the photo of her battered face leaked by TMZ is reported to have been a police image — Cates said even if Rihanna decides not to further cooperate with the district attorney's office in the case, it might not make a difference. "I don't want to say that [reconciling] is his motivation [to avoid charges], but it does happen," Cates said. "There's always that thought of, 'Well, maybe they won't testify against me.' But California's prosecution policies don't require the victim to testify." Both Brown and Rihanna's spokespeople have not returned repeated requests for comment from MTV News in connection with this story. Get resources and information about domestic violence, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Jim Jones Denies Talking To Cam'ron
March 3, 2009 at 4:30 am
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| In a radio interview, Jones disputes Cam's tale of a 'cordial' phone call.
By Shaheem Reid 
Jim Jones
Photo: Amy Sussman/ Getty Images It seems like that recent phone call between Cam'ron and Jim Jones that fans were excited to hear about last week is a point of contention. After Cam told MTV News of the conversation, Jim Jones denied that the two had talked at all. "I don't know what that's about," he told satellite radio's "Lip Service" hosts Angela Yee and Leah Rose Monday night. "Everyone's been telling me about that. I'm the only one who doesn't know about it. I don't know what he's talking about." The Capo, who is gearing up to release his album Pray for Reign soon, said he is willing to have a call with Cam — "If the money's right. Hell, yeah." Don't expect a long rebuttal from Killa Cam anytime in the future. He told MTV last week that he's not into having that kind of exchange, when asked about his staggering allegation in XXL magazine that Juelz Santana had become addicted to cough syrup. Santana vehemently denied those claims. "He's upset; hey, I understand him being upset," Cam said of Santana's reaction. "I don't want to go back and forth with Juelz. ... Somebody asked me a question, 'Why did you and Juelz stop speaking?' or whatever the case may be. I don't know what happened on his behalf. That was the reason on my behalf, why I stopped speaking to him. That situation, I don't know if he's addicted or how much he was taking. "I knew it going on, and I kinda shied away from him," Cam added, continuing to assert that his allegations were true. "If he's upset, I'm sorry he's upset. I wish him the best of luck, and I hope everything turns out. I'm not going back and forth with him." The Diplomats haven't been on the same page since 2007. In the midst of musical battle with 50 Cent, Cam took an abrupt hiatus from his career to take care of his ailing mother who had suffered from more than one stroke. Even before then, though, things in the once tight-knit camp was starting to fall apart. Juelz accused Cam'ron of taking advantage of him in their business dealings, while Jim Jones has said the lack of communication wasn't healthy for the crew's cohesiveness. Juelz and Jim appearing onstage with 50 Cent in the summer of 2007 didn't help matters either. Cam said in interviews at the time that it was a signal for him to move on. Still, last week Cam'ron sounded like he was leaving the door open for a reunion one day. "[I]n the immediate future, I'm just doing Cam," he said after recounting the conversation that Jones now denies. "But you never know what can happen down the line." Related Artists |
| U2 Have A Street In New York Named After Them
March 3, 2009 at 3:19 am
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| Mayor Michael Bloomberg and bandmembers observe 'U2 Way' with ceremony on West 53rd Street.
By Melanie Wolfson 
U2 at the dedication of "U2 Way" on Tuesday
Photo: MTV News NEW YORK — In observation of a monumentally busy week for U2, in which the group released a new album and will play five consecutive nights on David Letterman's show, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has (briefly) renamed a section of the city's West 53rd Street after the veteran Irish quartet. On a cold Tuesday afternoon (March 3), the band and Bloomberg spoke at a ceremony celebrating the event. The mayor playfully opened by saying, "It's a beautiful day in New York" (referring to the weather and the band's song, "Beautiful Day") before turning the microphone over to Bono, who thanked Bloomberg and the city of New York for the honor. "New York is a place that people come to [and] feel at home. And we truly do feel at home here in New York," the frontman said. Each member of the band received his own version of the street sign "U2 Way," which Bono jokingly said marked the first time guitarist the Edge was able to hold a street sign without being arrested for it. The band kicked off its week on Letterman Monday with a performance of their new song "Breathe" and a comedy skit that found them shoveling snow in front of the city's legendary Roseland Ballroom after a blizzard hit the area on Sunday and Monday. U2's 11th full studio album, No Line on the Horizon, was released Tuesday and is expected to top album charts in many countries throughout the world. In January, the band performed at President Obama's "We Are One" inaugural concert. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Listen To Kelly Clarkson's All I Ever Wanted A Week Early
March 3, 2009 at 1:31 am
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| Before the new album drops, you can judge whether it'll be 'American Idol' winner's big comeback.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Kelly Clarkson's <i>All I ever wanted</i>
Photo: Sony BMG If you missed when Kelly Clarkson's new album was accidentally leaked by the Norwegian division of iTunes late last month, now MTV's the Leak has an official preview of All I Ever Wanted. For the album, which will find its way to stores on March 10, Clarkson seems to have pulled out all the stops. She hooked up with "Since U Been Gone" hitmakers Dr. Luke and Max Martin, sexed up her image a bit and even went back to her "American Idol" roots by including a song written by new judge Kara DioGuardi and airing a preview of the video for the first single, "My Life Would Suck Without You," during an "Idol" commercial break. "My Life Would Suck" has been an instant smash. In its first week, it hit the #1 position on the Digital Chart, selling 279,000 downloads, and it later broke Britney Spears' record for the biggest one-week jump in Billboard Hot 100 history, making the leap from #97 all the way to #1. Back in November, Dr. Luke told EW.com that he was sure the album would remind fans why they loved Clarkson to begin with and maybe help them forget about her My December snafu. "It's sick. She sings a song in two hours and kills it," Luke said. "You're just like, 'Holy sh--.' She has powerful lungs. She's like the Lance Armstrong of vocal cords. "After 'Since U Been Gone,' we wrote all these songs for Kelly," Luke said, referring to his collaborations with Martin. "This one, which I think is the first single — we had the chorus awhile ago and added the verse more recently." Clarkson herself blogged about All I Ever Wanted in January. "I'm ready for y'all to hear this album! I'm so proud of it!!" she said. "I've had so much fun with this album I really hope y'all dig it." Related Artists |
| Britney Spears' Manager Calls Circus Tour A 'Pop Extravaganza'
March 3, 2009 at 1:27 am
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| 'This is a full-blown, full-out Britney Spears show,' says longtime manager Larry Rudolph.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Britney Spears
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images Britney Spears' longtime manager, Larry Rudolph, promises that when fans come out to see Britney for her Circus tour, which kicks off Tuesday night (March 3) in New Orleans, there will be "spectacular-ness." (MTV News will be in New Orleans for the tour's opening Tuesday night — check back for a full report!) "We ran the show twice yesterday until 2 or 3 in the morning, and it was amazing ... perfect," Rudolph said Tuesday on Ryan Seacrest's KIIS-FM radio show. "She goes full-speed the whole show — about an hour and a half. It's pretty intense. This is a full-blown, full-out Britney Spears show. It is a pop extravaganza. It is everything everybody expects from her — and more!" Rudolph also mentioned that "the costumes are amazing" and are only one of the reasons fans will enjoy the show. "There are so many highlights to this show," he said. "It's the biggest production out there and maybe the biggest production ever launched. We have circus performers, aerialists, dancers, martial artists — we have all kinds of things." Despite having years of experience on the road, it's been five years since the pop star has had a full-scale tour, and she's feeling a little jittery because of it. "She has this nervous energy. She's got this way of channeling it," Rudolph said. "I've said to her before that if you were on a football team and you were going to the Super Bowl, they'd want you to be their quarterback. When it comes to game day, nobody brings it like she does. She takes that nervous energy and turns it into the most amazing show." Rudolph also revealed how the singer prepared herself for such a big tour. "She'll probably sleep late," he said. "Probably get up, have breakfast, and we'll leave to go to the venue at around 4, 4:30, spend a little time, relax, hair and makeup around 6 or 7, and stage thereafter." He said that the fact that Sean Preston and Jayden James are accompanying Britney on tour "helps a lot. The boys give her amazing inspiration and amazing strength," he said. "It's been a great thing watching them with her throughout this whole process." Related Artists |
| Usher Tells Chris Brown: 'Have A Little Remorse'
March 3, 2009 at 1:14 am
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| 'The man's on jet skis? Like, just relaxing in Miami?' singer says of photos, which followed alleged altercation with Rihanna.
By Gil Kaufman 
Johnta Austin and Usher in Jermaine Dupri's YouTube clip
Photo: Youtube Chris Brown has drawn fire from the media and from fans for the photos of him that emerged over the weekend buzzing around in Miami on a jet ski during what was called his "reconciliation" weekend with girlfriend Rihanna. And in a recently posted video, Usher joins the criticism of Brown, who is slated to face charges on Thursday for the alleged incident on February 8, in which he is reported to have battered Rihanna on a Los Angeles street. In a video posted by producer Jermaine Dupri, Usher says that instead of riding around on jet skis, the 19-year-old singer should "have some remorse" for the alleged incident. The comments in the clip, part of JD's "Living the Life" series, were recorded on Monday, according to comments from Usher, who is shown huddled around a laptop discussing a series of photos with some other men in a recording studio. "I'm a little disappointed in this photo," Usher says about the shots of Brown, as singer/songwriter Johnta Austin bounces around the room and makes some off-color jokes about boxing. "After the other photo [of Rihanna's bruised face posted by TMZ last month]? C'mon, Chris. Have a little bit of remorse, man. The man's on jet skis? Like, just relaxing in Miami?" The comments are a rare moment of near-seriousness in the eight-minute video, which primarily features the three clowning in the studio with friends and talking about a recent photo of Christina Milian. On Monday, public-relations guru Howard Bragman said the images of Brown relaxing and playing in the midst of the reported reunion with Rihanna would not have been "the first image I would want out there of him," and a number of the hundreds of readers who responded to the initial news that Brown and Rihanna were at a Miami home owned by Diddy spending their first weekend together since the alleged incident, agreed. Usher's rep could not be reached for comment at press time. Get resources and information about domestic violence, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists | | |  |
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