| Jadakiss Finds Fast, Expensive And Green Cars At New York Auto Show
April 15, 2009 at 10:46 am
|
| 'I might be picking up one of these,' Jada says of the Fisker Karma hybrid.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Tim Kash 
Jadakiss at the 2009 New York International Auto Show
Photo: MTV News Jadakiss is receiving major kudos for the track "One More Step" from his Last Kiss LP, but as much as the Yonkers native loves to keep 10 toes on the street, he also loves gliding through the streets in his BMW M6. Other classy wheels on Jada's car roster include a Range Rover and an R-Class Mercedes. On the day his album dropped, April 7, MTV News took 'Kiss to the New York International Auto Show to bask in the revved-up radiance and give his take on the fastest, costliest and most eco-friendly vehicles. Mercedes-Benz SLR
Speed: Zero to 60 in 3.6 seconds — the fastest car at the show Cost: More than $540,000 Plus: Diddy, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams all have an older version of the car, according to 'Kiss. Jada's Take: "Power! This is sleek. But it's also luxury power, I would call it. I see all that suede in there. The interior looks marvelous. I got to ride in the other SLR with Pharrell, but this is crazy. I'm a perfect driver. Skateboard P is a good driver too. This car could be [for the] weekend, but it could be [for a] movie premiere. It's gotta be A-list. Someplace where the big stars are gonna be. I would only bring it out on special occasions. If it's nothing major going on, I gotta keep this joint tucked. You feel like you own the highway when you're in this, no matter who's pulling up. Nothing can stop you. Like my new single that's out, 'Can't Stop Me.' The chicks, it don't matter what type of gear you got on. When you pull up in this, the chicks is on you." Fisker Karma
Speed: Zero to 60 in 5.8 seconds — the greenest car in the show Cost: Around $87,000 Plus: There's a plug-in socket by the gas tank. It takes five hours to charge, and if you drive fewer than 50 miles, you don't need gas. The car moves on solar and electric energy. Jada's Take: "I really think I need one of these. This is crazy, son! I think this is incredible. Look at the candy, the metallic, the wheels. Solar panels on the roof! That's a solar-panel roof. That's crazy! Oh yeah, I might be picking up one of these. The leather is incredible. All digital outputs. The Fisker, I think they nailed it. Everybody wants to go green but still look good. Now you have it. You can look like you're top-of-the-line and also green. Big shout-out to Fisker from me. This car is incredible. Look at the color wave, it's marvelous. I definitely might have to get one of these." Maybach 57 Zeppelin
Speed: Zero to 60 in 4.9 seconds Cost: Around $450,000, but with all the bells and whistles, you can look forward to shelling out close to a million. What recession? The most expensive car in the show. Plus: This joint won't be out until 2010. Jada's Take: "It's like you made it when you get one of these. You're luxury, and you got speed. It's got everything inside. You're almost like being on an airplane but on the ground. The Maybach [allure] is self-explanatory. If you achieve one of these, you're at the top. Limos are old now. That's another thing Maybach brought to the game. You wanna be in style, you don't want to look too corny — this is just right. A limo is corny. It's extra long. You feel stiff when you get out. You can get out this with some swagger. Pull the curtains back and hop out and do your thing. You still chillin'. You can get it on and relax. [I would ride in the] the Maybach Zeppelin when I get in my real CEO mode and I wanna be driven around." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Jamie Foxx Apologizes To Miley Cyrus On 'Leno'
April 15, 2009 at 10:07 am
|
| 'Sometimes, as comedians, we go a little bit too far,' actor says of his radio-show comments.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Jamie Foxx on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on Tuesday
Photo: NBC On Tuesday night, Jamie Foxx made an apology to teen queen Miley Cyrus for off-color comments he made about her on his satellite radio show on Sunday. When Foxx stopped by "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" to promote his new movie "The Soloist," he explained the reason for his comments. "I so apologize to [Cyrus], and this is sincere," Foxx said, referring to his comments that Miley should "grow up," make a sex tape and do drugs. "I am a comedian, and you guys know that whatever I say, I don't mean any of it. And sometimes, as comedians, as we do, we go a little bit too far." He went on to defend his radio show as "the black Howard Stern." "We go at everybody," Foxx told Leno. "There was a situation with Miley Cyrus, and I just want to say, I apologize for what I said. I didn't mean it maliciously. You know I'm a comedian. You know my heart." Foxx, who has a 14-year-old daughter, said that he would like to call the 16-year-old Cyrus to apologize. "Miley, I apologize, so I'll call you. I got a daughter too, so I completely understand." Earlier on Tuesday, a source told E! News that Miley's dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, wasn't pleased to hear what Foxx had said about his daughter. "He thinks Jamie was out of line and didn't find any humor in it," the source said, pointing out that Miley had even met Foxx at the Kids' Inaugural Concert in January. "He doesn't understand why he would do that to Miley, especially since he has teenage daughter himself. "Billy Ray isn't going to say anything publicly because he doesn't want this to escalate," the source said. "He wishes it would just go away." Related Artists |
| Kris Allen Wows On 'American Idol' Movie Night
April 15, 2009 at 9:29 am
|
| Adam Lambert goes wild; Lil Rounds disappoints again.
By Gil Kaufman 
Kris Allen performs on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images You'd think that by now the brain trust behind "American Idol" would have figured out how to land the bird on time every week. But because the show ran over by more than five minutes last week — causing many viewers to miss Adam Lambert's stellar performance — the producers switched things up again on Tuesday night and had the judges critique the contestants in pairs to save time. Still, the program went three minutes over and some viewers might have missed Lil Rounds' spirited defense of another poorly reviewed performance. This time, however, Lambert took the stage much earlier and gave another solid performance, while Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta both made a case for the crown. (Read "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello's minute-to-minute dissection of the show on the Newsroom blog.) The night opened with "Idol" fanatic director Quentin Tarantino ("Kill Bill," "Pulp Fiction") announcing the show and bringing his legendarily manic energy to his mentoring of the singers on a night dedicated to songs from Hollywood movies. Tarantino, who gave Simon Cowell a run for his money in the harsh-judgment category when the director sat in with the panel in season three, didn't just listen and give the singers bland platitudes; he offered them concrete direction as he would on one of his movie sets. First up was teenager Allison Iraheta, who chose Aerosmith's bombastic ballad "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" from the blockbuster "Armageddon." Singing in front of a string section, Iraheta sounded even huskier than usual, her voice showing signs of hoarseness. But that didn't stop the 16-year-old dynamo, who tried her best to belt the tune out and throw in a few big notes to top things off. Kicking off a string of hard-to-follow comments for the night, Paula Abdul said Iraheta has the same "special sauce" as front-runner Adam Lambert, praising her for being authentic and uncompromising. Simon Cowell boldly tagged Iraheta as the "girls' only hope' in the competition and noted that she's getting stronger and more confident, even while tackling a really tough song, predicting she might be around for the finale. Anoop Desai sang "(Everything I Do) I Do for You" by Bryan Adams from "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." During their practice session, Tarantino gave 'Noop Dogg a guttural example of how to rough up the song, but the genial singer appeared to ignore Tarantino's advice, giving a smooth, buttery rendition of the weepy adult contemporary ballad and tossing in a puppy-dog stare into the camera at the end. Randy Jackson feared that Desai might not be able to handle such a big song, but he praised the rendition for being in tune and having strong emotion. "Anoop you definitely found your place. It's pop songs and adding your soul to it," said Kara DioGuardi, who called it one of Desai's best performances. Lambert went all in and chose Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild" from the classic 1969 hippie road-trip flick "Easy Rider," making him the only contestant of the night to pick an up-tempo song and, except for Lil Rounds and Danny Gokey, reach back beyond the early 1990s. Again showing his unique style, Lambert added a bit of an electronic edge to the classic rocker. Standing in front of a screen filed with lightning effects and sporting thick black eyeliner, Lambert was back in full rocker mode, wearing tight black pants, a black leather jacket and vintage T-shirt and bounding around the stage at an almost frantic pace. The high-energy performance had a bit of an over-the-top musical-theater vibe, and it was topped off by no less than three of his trademark wineglass-cracking shrieks. Paula couldn't get enough, saying, "The reason, Adam, that you're shaking up this whole competition is that you dare to dance in the path of greatness. ... Fortune rewards the brave, and you're one of the bravest contestants I've ever witnessed, ever." Cowell joked that Lambert needed to learn to express himself a bit and added that the vocals were great but it was a bit like watching the campy midnight movie "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." He predicted that the performance would not be as popular as last week's and might divide the audience. Matt Giraud's choice of yet another Bryan Adams song, "Have You Ever Rally Loved a Woman" from "Don Juan DeMarco," found him back at the piano, crooning the dreamy ballad in an Elton John-esque drawl and ending on a crisp falsetto note. Randy thought it started off well, but hit a rough patch in the middle because Giraud tried to do too many things with the simple melody. "You fell down more places tonight than you won in that song," he said. Kara appreciated that he tried to give the tune an R&B feel but said she felt that he stripped away too many of the melodies that made the song so special. Danny Gokey, performing for the first time without his signature eyeglasses, broke the Adams stranglehold by going with "Endless Love" by Lionel Richie from the Brooke Shields movie of the same name. Tarantino counseled him to try and keep his hands in his pockets and sell the song with his eyes. Like Desai, Gokey didn't exactly follow that advice, throwing in some jazz hands as he crooned the big-screen ballad with the accompaniment of a harp in his patented mix of nasal and gravelly vocals. Simon said that while he couldn't fault Gokey's performance, he was disappointed with the inclusion of harp and the "very traditional" arrangement. "Having said that, I think this song obviously means a lot to you personally and I can see you're emotional and it's a hard thing to do, so I congratulate you for that," he added, perhaps alluding to the fact that Gokey's wife passed away just before he auditioned for the show. Kris Allen made the most contemporary choice of the night, singing "Falling Slowly" from the 2006 sleeper indie romance "Once," a choice Tarantino praised because he said it was obvious the song meant something to Allen. With spare acoustic-guitar accompaniment, Allen stood center stage and sang with his eyes mostly closed, rising and falling with the song's tricky see-saw melody and putting a bit of a soul vibe into the folky ballad, ending with a dramatic high note as the lights faded. Randy said the song never quite caught on for him, calling it pitchy all the way through, but Kara said that despite the difficulty of picking a song not everyone might know, it was one of his best moments. Last up was Lil Rounds, who went with "The Rose," the titanic Bette Midler ballad from the 1979 movie of the same name about a self-destructive 1960s female rocker. The stage bathed in pink, Rounds started out singing along to a spare piano figure, then switched it up mid-song to add a gospel feel that gave the performance a unique flavor. "Lil, you could not have sung a more beautiful lyric," Paula said, adding, "To paraphrase one of the lines, and all the contestants probably agree, sometimes the road is really long, but it's a road that's worthwhile taking, especially when you've made it this far." Once done rolling his eyes at Abdul's comments, Simon said again that he thought Rounds got it "completely wrong," complaining that despite some nice moments, the song was too soft for her voice and too middle-of-the-road, signaling that he suspected her time on the show was over. "There are no excuses anymore, Lil. You are not the artist I believe we met seven or eight weeks ago. I'm getting frustrated," Cowell griped. As the show once again ran over the hour, Rounds responded, "You guys told me to be an artist, and when I heard this song I thought it was a beautiful song and I put my own bit to it because I'm into the R&B and the soul and the gospel, and I put it in there ... and I thought it was really good." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Rick Ross Gets Exotic In 'All I Really Want' Video
April 15, 2009 at 7:50 am
|
| 'Medellin, Colombia — we got friends over there,' the rapper says of the setting of the new clip.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Tim Kash 
Rick Ross
Photo: MTV News Rick Ross wanted to get a little exotic for his next video and decided a trip to South America was in order. "Come with the boss. Medellin, Colombia — we got friends over there," Ross said about the backdrop of his latest video, "All I Really Want." "I feel like me doing my island hopping ... all the other little islands — to Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico — they beautiful spots. The Colombian women are beautiful women — that most definitely is what I wanted to capture. I wanted to capture a foreign setting, beautiful women ... just really break down some of the more simple things. I want to capture some of the simple beautiful things in the setting in the country. It's not about malls and the cars — I want to be more intimate about that person or that individual." Ross also wanted the exotic clip to live up to Snoop Dogg's "Beautiful" video, which was shot in Brazil. "Most definitely — when I saw that video, I sat back like, 'Wow, this is art!' " Rick marveled. "We finnin' to do that times five. Shout-out to Snoop Dogg and Pharrell for the inspiration." "All I Really Want" features The-Dream and was produced by Tricky Stewart. Other producers on Ross' album include DJ Toomp and the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, and the LP also contains contributions from Nas, Lil Wayne (who recently teamed up with Ross for a 50 Cent dis track), Gunplay, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke and Kanye West. Deeper Than Rap is in stores April 21. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Justin Timberlake Wants You To Answer 'The Phone'
April 15, 2009 at 7:24 am
|
| 'You sort of have to shock these people into these situations,' he says of his intense new MTV reality show.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Justin Timberlake
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images Justin Timberlake starred in one of the most infamous "Punk'd" pranks of all time, when he was brought to tears after he thought the IRS was going to take away his house for unpaid taxes. Well, come Tuesday, Timberlake will take his act to MTV once again, but this time, he'll be behind the scenes as the executive producer of the new reality series "The Phone." " 'The Phone' is a high-intensity game show where we take four real-life people, not actors, we take four real-life people, and we thrust them into physical and mental nightmare," Timberlake said. "And you get to watch what happens. There's a chance every show to win 50 grand." The show features people answering a phone call and then having to go through intense missions to win the game and the money. "We plot each show around a movie plot," Timberlake added. "And they become the main character in this movie." Timberlake remembered one episode, in which the instant the contestant decided they wanted to play the game, they were already having to dodge a dangerous situation. "In Seattle, one of the contestants, she's at a fish shack," he said. "We always say, 'Press one if you'd like the chance to win $50,000,' and as soon as she pressed one, the operator, who's kind of like our host, he says, 'The game starts now,' and then in the parking lot, a car blows up. "You sort of have to shock these people into these situations, and they really get into it," he added. The surprises don't stop there — for the contestants, at least. In addition to explosions and last-minute decisions, the contestants also face plot twists and turns. "Just like a thriller or suspense film at the end of the show, every show, there is a twist that we put on the contestants," Timberlake explained. "And as the show goes on, you, as the viewer, will know, but it's fun to see. We really test their morale. We really test their character." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Raekwon Finds Label Home For Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II
April 15, 2009 at 7:02 am
|
| 'The wait is finally over,' the Wu-Tang Clan rapper says of long-awaited LP, which is set for the summer.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Matt Elias 
Raekwon
Photo: MTV News The years-long delay on Raekwon the Chef's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II had nothing to do with the music. Rae kept his sword sharp, rapping over tracks produced by Dr. Dre, the RZA and the late J Dilla, among others. The Staten Island sergeant had to get his business right and find a recording home. After failing to solidify with Dre's Aftermath over at Interscope, the Chef shopped around, and on Wednesday (April 15), it was announced that he will release the follow-up to his 1995 classic on his own ICEH20 Records through EMI. "The wait is finally over," Raekwon said in a statement. "Words cannot describe how extremely happy I am to work with EMI Music to put out my album." Rae's new LP is slated for this summer, and guests include Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, the Game, Bun B and, of course, the Wu-Tang Clan. Rae also has a mixtape coming soon called Staten (We Go Hard), dropping with his new crew the Brinks Brothers. Putting out music for the almost-two-decade vet is nothing to get nervous about. "I don't worry too much about the pressure, because this is something I love to do," he said. "All I could say is, I'm a veteran, and I love hip-hop. I'm a veteran at hip-hop, so when it comes to making an album with that much pressure, it's fun. I built my life behind pressure. Like I said, I'm just gonna get out there and be the best I can be and give y'all what I feel that y'all want from me, that y'all ready for. "Pressure?" he continued. "Nah. I get more pressure going home dealing with family. That's more pressure than being here doing what I want to do. The fans made me who I am. All I can do is be me. Maybe some of the newer generation may not catch it. It may be too quick for them. Maybe my fans that's been there from the door, they'll catch it." The Chef will be on this summer's Rock the Bells tour, along with Wu's RZA, KRS-One, Buckshot, Crooked I, Pete Rock, Murs and headliners Nas and Damien "Jr. Gong" Marley. Rae promised to perform a few new songs from Cuban Linx II, like "House of Flying Daggers" and "Wu Oh"; mixtape masher "State of Grace"; and classics including "C.R.E.A.M." and "Protect Your Neck." Related Artists |
| Adam Lambert: Change We Can Believe In
April 15, 2009 at 6:51 am
|
| With the 'Idol' front-runner, Americans have another opportunity to lead a nontraditional candidate to victory, in Bigger Than the Sound.
By James Montgomery 
Adam Lambert
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images I have shocking information for you: Adam Lambert might be gay. I know! I am as floored by this as you are. Sorry, I was just getting my Bill O'Reilly on for a second there. But sadly, I wasn't exaggerating. Apparently, the notion that Lambert — the musical-theater kid with the penchant for eyeliner and the flair for the dramatic — could possibly be gay is quite the jaw-dropper. I'm not exactly sure why this is, but boy, do people love talking about it. And that's a bummer. Because Lambert's sexual orientation — which, for the record, he has never commented on, because, really, why should he? — has nothing to do with his talent, and the last time I checked, it was his talent that has made him the odds-on favorite to win this season of "American Idol." I mean, it's not even close at this point. Lambert has dominated the competition like some singing, strutting hybrid of Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Secretariat. If he were anyone else — say, a lantern-jawed, lacrosse-playing guy from Pueblo, Colorado (or wherever) — we wouldn't even be speculating about this. It would be like the fourth season of "Idol," when Carrie Underwood steamrolled her way through everyone, only if, in the finals, she went up against someone like John Stevens or Kevin Covais or Camille Velasco. It should be game over. Only it's not, and because of a bunch of insinuations and Internet buzzings and stuff that we probably shouldn't still be talking about in 2009, there is a very real chance Lambert might not win "American Idol." Some people will ignore the fact that he is clearly the best singer in the race because they do not agree with some (perceived) aspect of his personality, which means that someone less talented, yet more, uh, traditional — like Kris Allen or (God forbid) Danny Gokey — could steal his thunder and walk away with the crown. And this is why Adam Lambert reminds me of Barack Obama. See, in the months leading up to the election, my liberal friends (we have a cabal up here in New York City) believed that Obama would breeze to victory over John McCain. It wouldn't even be close. He had the youth vote, the people in this country were ready for change — no problem, this one's in the bag. I wasn't so confident. Sure, I wanted to believe that voters in the great expanses of this country could bring themselves to vote for the nontraditional candidate — the African-American with the weird-sounding name — but I grew up in Florida. I had been all around the South. I spent time in Ohio and West Virginia and Iowa. I once went to a wedding in Maryland. I saw the uproar the photo of Obama in his so-called "Muslim" clothes caused. I knew that when you Google "Barack Obama" and "Muslim," you got 11 million results (his name plus "birth certificate" turned up another 670,000). I wasn't sure the American people had it in them. And this is not meant to be some sort of hoity-toity, ultra-liberal missive from the enclaves of NYC (though it sort of reads like it); it was just that I didn't have faith in blue-collar workers, in the very religious, in the conspiracy theorists out there. I didn't think there was any way they'd be able to pull the lever for Obama. I thought, because of rumors and whispers, he was going to lose to an old white guy from Arizona. And I kind of feel the same way about Lambert. Of course, we all know what happened in the election. It turns out I was wrong. Somehow, Obama won in places like Pennsylvania and Florida and Colorado. People looked past the ephemera and the bullsh-- and just voted for whom they believed would be the best man for the job. And maybe they'll be able to bring themselves to do the same for Lambert. Sure, there are people out there who think homosexuality is an aberration and a sin and whatnot, but that shouldn't affect whom they vote for on "American Idol." I want to believe that we as a nation have it in us to look past all the stuff that might outrage us or fly in the face of what we believe to be traditional and vote for the weirdo, the nonconformist, the guy who may (or may not) be gay. A Lambert victory would be historic. It would bring hope to the hopeless. It would change our standing in geopolitics. Adam Lambert is Change We Can Believe In. I hope you can find it in your heart to dial for him. I mean, seriously, anyone but Gokey. Please. Questions? Concerns? Hit me up at BTTS@MTVStaff.com. Related Videos Related Photos |
| Scott Storch Arrested For Grand Theft Auto In Miami
April 15, 2009 at 6:33 am
|
| The producer posted bail; no word yet on a court date.
By Shaheem Reid 
Scott Storch (file)
Photo: Brad Barket/ Getty Images If only it was a just video game, but this isn't a level of "Grand Theft Auto." Producer Scott Storch was apprehended by police in Miami on Friday and charged with, well, grand theft auto. The producer posted an undisclosed amount for his bond soon after. MTV News obtained a copy of the police report and, according to the authorities, Storch had begun leasing a 2004 Bentley GT in February 2006, with a return date of March 2008. The owners of the vehicle, Atlas Leasing Company, are alleging that Storch failed to comply with the terms of their leasing agreement. Atlas Leasing also claims the producer's negligence has cost the company $65,000 in revenue that could have been accruing from other clients for the Bentley. Storch has had a slew of legal and financial troubles in the past year or so. In June 2008, he failed to show for a child-support hearing where he was accused of being behind in his payments. Storch was also way behind on paying his property taxes, owing the government $500,000 which resulted in having his $10 million Miami mansion foreclosed on. At one time, Storch was one of the most in-demand producers in music. He showed versatility, crafting hits such as "Candy Shop" for 50 Cent, "Lean Back" for Fat Joe's Terror Squad and "Baby Boy" for Beyoncé. There is no word yet on a court date for Storch's grand theft auto charges. |
| Lil Wayne Gives A Boost To British R&B Star Jay Sean
April 15, 2009 at 6:11 am
|
| New Cash Money Records signee gets the Weezy blessing on his first U.S. single.
By Akshay Bhansali, with reporting by Tim Kash 
Jay Sean
Photo: MTV News For anyone in the pop-music game, getting a feature from a hot MC is a huge gift — an added boost of name recognition and artistry all in one. And British R&B sensation Jay Sean is more than grateful for the present he just received. "My first single to hit the United States is called 'Down,' and it features Lil Wayne," Sean told MTV News. Although he's been active in the British-Asian and Global South Asian markets for six years, Sean put out his second album, My Own Way, independently in Europe and India last year. It quickly brought him to the top of the European R&B charts, sandwiched between names like Ne-Yo and Mariah Carey. His video for the album's first single "Ride It" has more than 10 million views on YouTube, and he plays for crowds of over 50,000 while on tour outside of the U.S. Eventually, that success caught the attention of Ronald "Slim" Williams, the CEO of Cash Money Records. "He looked at that and went, 'Ten million views and this kid is not in America?' " Sean said. "For him I think he felt, 'I want to help this kid, and he needs our engine, that is Cash Money Records, to take him to the next level.' " After performing at the MOBO Awards in the U.K. last October, Sean got the news that the deal was done and he was signed to the Miami-based label. From there things moved fast and furiously. "I'm in Miami at the Hit Factory; it's 2 o'clock in the morning; outside, Timbaland has just pulled up next to Scott Storch," Sean said, describing the setting where he recorded his new album, set for release this summer. "And now Lil Wayne has just walked through the door and gone, 'Wassap, Jay.' It was really bizarre." Sean said he recorded "Down" in an hour and a half, but his new bosses decided there was something missing. "Slim called me up and was like, 'Yo, man, there's something wrong on the second verse that just doesn't sound right,' " Sean recalled. "I was like, 'Really? What?' He played the song. All of a sudden I heard Wayne's Auto-Tune stuff, and I'm like, 'OK. What's going on? Right! That's Lil Wayne on my song right now!' That day was brilliant." Related Artists |
| Kanye West Working With 30 Seconds To Mars On New Album
April 15, 2009 at 4:22 am
|
| Band's management confirms Yeezy was working with Jared Leto on a song for the band's next album, due later this year.
By James Montgomery 
Kanye West, Jared Leto and Brandon Flowers in the studio on Tuesday
Photo: kanyeuniversecity.com Regular readers of Kanye West's blog are probably aware that the man is obsessed with fancy sneakers, all things sleek and tech-y and posting borderline-creepy paeans to women he'd like to bed (they're probably also aware that, thanks to the makers of "South Park," he can never eat in a Cheesecake Factory again). Oh, and it's not exactly news when he posts a photo of himself in the studio, since he's seemingly always working with someone, somewhere. But on Tuesday, when West posted a picture of himself with Killers frontman Brandon Flowers and 30 Seconds to Mars main man Jared Leto, it surprised even the most faithful of his fans. This wasn't your everyday Kanye collabo, after all. "I was working on this dope-ass song with Jared and Brandon stopped by. I played them some of the new Jeezy beats, and before everybody bounced, Brandon hopped on the keyboard and I hopped on the MPC [sampler]" West wrote. "Sh-- was dope. Oh, and yes, those are Swarovski crystals on Brandon's shirt, by Dries Van Noten." It is a pretty impressive shirt. Anyway, the post raised a rather interesting question: Why was Jared Leto in the studio with Kanye West? Last we checked, 30 Seconds to Mars were working with noted British producer Flood on their new album — the same album currently being held up by a rather contentious (and costly) lawsuit with their former label, Virgin/EMI. So, we decided to reach out to 30STM's management to try and get to the bottom of it all, and here's what they told us: Kanye and Leto were working on a song for the upcoming 30 Seconds to Mars album, which will be released later this year. There was no further comment given (and no one seems to know why Flowers was there), but the news of a Kanye/Leto collaboration is certainly interesting ... and it's a glimmer of hope for long-suffering 30STM fans out there, still waiting for the follow-up to the band's breakthrough 2005 effort, A Beautiful Lie. Not to mention, it's more proof that you learn something new from Kanye West's blog every single day. Related Artists |
| Jason Castro Has Stockpiled More Than 30 Songs For Debut
April 15, 2009 at 4:06 am
|
| Season-seven 'American Idol' finalist raves about writing with new judge Kara DioGuardi.
By Gil Kaufman 
Jason Castro performs on 'American Idol' season seven
Photo: Fox To Jason Castro fans, this week's news that the dreadlocked "American Idol" season-seven finalist inked a recording contract with Atlantic Records must have seemed like a return from a long, lonely exile. But for Rockwall, Texas, native Castro, who just turned 22, the nearly yearlong wait to secure a record deal seemed like no time at all. "I hear it happened pretty quick compared to what it usually takes to get a record deal," Castro said. "I'm pumped. There's a big misconception about how fast things move ... but since I got off the 'Idol' tour, I've been writing nonstop and meeting with publishers, and I actually signed a publishing deal ahead of the label one." Castro — who finished fourth on "Idol" last year and won legions of fans with his alluring, laid-back demeanor and sensitive takes on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and the standard "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" — said when he first got home following last summer's tour, he asked himself, "What do I do now?" But soon enough, he began writing songs, hooking up with Dave Lichens (Fefe Dobson), a songwriter whose work he was a fan of and who now plays guitar and bass in Castro's band. "At first it was just a lot of meetings with a lot of other writers," said Castro, who said he was able to support himself with the money he earned from the "Idol" tour and some cash from the occasional live show. "Then it was mostly focusing on writing. ... That's what I do. That was always my dream, to be a songwriter." So far, he's written or co-written around 30 songs, with more on the horizon, thanks to collaborations with a number of well-known songsmiths, including new "Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood). Castro met veteran writer DioGuardi through his A&R representative, and he said they instantly clicked. "At one point she made a face she makes on TV when something clicks, and I said, 'Whoa, I've seen that face before!' "Castro said of their first session together, which resulted in a chorus for the song tentatively titled "Missing You." "It's so strange to feel like we've known each other though we never met." He described the song as midtempo, noting that most of the tunes he writes match his laid-back, "walking tempo" attitude. Castro has also written songs with Martin Terefe (Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall); Sacha Skarbek (Adele, James Blunt); Guy Chambers (David Archuleta, Robbie Williams); and Colbie Caillat collaborator Jason Reeves. He's still figuring out what shape the album will take and what the vibe will be as he experiments with playing with his band, but he's pretty sure it will be a kind of "modern singer/songwriter" effort that will feature tunes that have a personal meaning for him. "I'll be telling real stories people can connect with," he promised, saying he's aiming for organic songs without a highly produced mechanical studio sheen that can't be replicated live. Castro hopes to have the first single out by early summer and the album shortly after, with tour dates to follow. Asked if he ever worried that the 12-plus months out of the spotlight might hurt his ability to sell records, Castro said he's reminded every day what a big platform "Idol" can be. "I walk outside, and it reminds me that I can't get anywhere [without being stopped]," he said. "I still have thousands of plays on my MySpace page every day, and my fans have provided nonstop support." Though he was disappointed his younger brother flamed out during his first shot at the "Idol" main stage earlier this season, Castro said Michael is working on his live chops and might take another swing next year. Last month, big brother Castro was set to make his triumphant return and perform on "Idol" during top-12 week, but due to time constraints, he said he was bumped, though he hopes to make it back at some point this season, if time allows. He did, however, appear in the audience two weeks ago and said the return was a bit overwhelming. "Sitting there, I was like, 'Wow!' " said Castro, who swore that the "space case" persona people have ascribed to him represents only one side of his personality. "I just remembered how crazy it was." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| 'American Idol' Judge Kara DioGuardi Working With Cobra Starship
April 15, 2009 at 3:25 am
|
| Band is also collaborating with Kevin Rudolf on new album.
By James Montgomery 
Cobra Starship
Photo: Fueled by Ramen "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi is probably getting fitted for her hoodie as you read this. That's because, in addition to her desk duties on "Idol" (which may or may not include feuding with fellow host Paula Abdul), she's also working with Cobra Starship on songs for their new album. According to a spokesperson for the band's labels, Fueled by Ramen/ Atlantic, DioGuardi — who's penned tracks for everyone from Celine Dion to Kelly Clarkson — has spent time working with the guys (and gal) in Cobra Starship, who are busy recording the follow-up to 2007's Viva la Cobra. Their rep told MTV News that the band "did some stuff with Kara," plus "Let It Rock" singer/songwriter Kevin Rudolf and production duo S*A*M and Sluggo (the Academy Is ... , Coheed and Cambria). Nothing has been locked in for the final album just yet, but apparently, "the sh-- sounds major already." Back in January, MTV News spoke to Cobra frontman Gabe Saporta, who told us that the band was working with a host of songwriters on the new album, including Benny Blanco (Britney Spears, Katy Perry) and Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump, who produced Viva. "We're open to work with anyone, anytime, as long as we feel they get Cobra Starship," Saporta said. "Patrick gets us the most. But we're definitely down to sit and work with anyone. You know, we'll try anything and everything." There's still no title or firm release date (according to Saporta, "I don't know when the record's going to come out, and I don't worry about that. I don't worry about that sh-- at all"), but various reports have it hitting stores on August 1. And according to a post Saporta wrote on Cobra's Web site, they've already got one song in the bag ... a tune called "Pete Wentz Is the Only Reason We're Famous." "We always referred to it as 'Smash It Up,' because the chorus goes 'Smash it up.' But then, one of the shelf kids said we should name our album 'Pete Wentz is the only reason we're famous.' And we said 'F--- you, kid! We're also famous because of Patrick Stump,' " the post reads. "But we did like how that title rolled off our tongues. So we decided to name this song that." Related Artists |
| Demi Lovato To Tour With David Archuleta This Summer
April 15, 2009 at 2:53 am
|
| Nick Jonas' rumored girlfriend Jordan Pruitt and girl group KSM will appear on select dates.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Demi Lovato
Photo: Valerie Macon/ Getty Images Earlier this week, a handful of blogs and David Archuleta fan sites began reporting the rumor that Demi Lovato would be hitting the road with Archuleta this summer. They'd been tipped off when Ticketmaster listed both singers on some of Archuleta's tour dates. On Wednesday (April 15), the rumors were confirmed: Archuleta will open for Lovato when her tour kicks off June 21 in Hartford, Connecticut. The 47-city trek will also have Nick Jonas' rumored girlfriend Jordan Pruitt and girl group KSM on select dates. (The tour may just be called Summer Tour 2009, but if you've got a better idea, weigh in over at the MTV Buzzworthy blog.) Lovato, who opened for the Jonas Brothers on their tour last summer, made the announcement on her Web site and MySpace page, and she also released a statement about the tour, saying, "I'm so excited about headlining my own tour. I love life on the road. I'm in a different city every night, and it never gets old." The pop star is hard at work on her sophomore album, due this summer. The LP is the follow-up to last year's Don't Forget. "It's going to take a different sound, so hopefully it goes over well," she said. "I sing a lot of rock, but this time I want to do more John Mayer-ish type of songs. Hopefully, I can write with people like him." After the tour ends August 24 in New Hampshire, the singer will be filming the sequel to "Camp Rock" in the fall. Related Artists |
| Michelle Trachtenberg Has A 'Brother/Sister Vibe' With Zac Efron
April 15, 2009 at 2:31 am
|
| 'No girl's ever going to come out and be like, 'My brother is super-dreamy,' ' she says of her '17 Again' co-star.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Michelle Trachtenberg
Photo: MTV News With the release of Zac Efron's "17 Again" on April 17, it's "High School Musical" alumni week. MTV News is going to catch you up on what the future holds for all your favorite East High Wildcats! Michelle Trachtenberg's character Maggie in "17 Again" most definitely has a crush on Zac Efron's Mike O'Donnell. Who could blame her? Unfortunately for her, he plays her dad. Only, well, 17 again, so she doesn't realize it. Luckily for the audience, there aren't any awkward kissing scenes. And that's fine with Trachtenberg, because unlike her character in the film, she has no romantic feelings for the teen idol. "I couldn't possibly start to comment on how Zac Efron is super-dreamy, 'cause he is," she told MTV News. "But he's kind of like my brother so, you know, no girl's ever going to come out and be like, 'My brother is super-dreamy,' so Zac Efron is very dreamy, but it's more like a brother/sister vibe. "The whole thing was really funny," she added about the strange love story between the two in the movie. "Zac Efron does play my daddy, and I do have a crush on him, 'cause I don't know he is my father, but we had lot of fun with the scene." We're sure Vanessa Hudgens is happy to hear that Efron and Trachtenberg kept it strictly professional on set. "A lot of what you're gonna see in the movie is just us from off camera screaming stuff out, like ... trying to shake the other one up and make each other laugh." Check out everything we've got on "17 Again." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Kanye West's 'Amazing' Helps Kick Off NBA Playoffs
April 15, 2009 at 2:03 am
|
| MC's new single appears in a commercial for the 2009 postseason, which starts Saturday.
By Shaheem Reid 
Kanye West and Kobe Bryant
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images As the NBA regular season comes to a close Wednesday night (April 15), true basketball fans are still smiling — the second season is about to begin. That's right, the playoffs start Saturday, and the NBA has teamed up with Kanye West for the postseason soundtrack. West's new single "Amazing" is featured on a new commercial promoting the playoffs. The song perfectly fits the league's slogan for the road to the championship: "Where amazing happens." All the biggest hoops stars show up in the spot, with a montage of Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Kobe Bryant, Tony Parker and, of course, the King: LeBron James. "I'm amazing/ I'm the reason/ Everybody fired up this evening," Kanye sings to start off the commercial. The clip mostly showcases the players' phenomenal athletic ability. Past playoff highlights include a Dwyane Wade reverse layup, a Dwight Howard monster jam, LeBron catching an alley-oop and Kobe hitting a buzzer beater. From there, we get a brief look into in the locker rooms of championship-winning teams, including the San Antonio Spurs, the L.A. Lakers and defending champs the Boston Celtics. "We worked so hard from training camp for this moment right here," a jubilant Paul Pierce says into the camera while Kanye's record plays underneath. The NBA commercial isn't the only visual for Kanye's song. 'Ye and Young Jeezy recently shot a proper video for the record in Hawaii, where most of 808s & Heartbreak was recorded. Hype Williams directed the clip. Related Artists |
| Will New Solange Album Have A Duet With Sister Beyonce?
April 15, 2009 at 1:36 am
|
| 'I definitely think that they'll be a time and a place for me and my sister to collaborate,' Solange says.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Solange Knowles
Photo: MTV News Now that Solange Knowles has cleared up rumors that she was dropped from her record label, she can begin work on her follow up to Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams. On this next album, will the world can finally get a duet between Solange and her superstar sister, Beyoncé? "I definitely think that they'll be a time and a place for me and my sister to collaborate," Solange told MTV News. "It's just all about the time and the place and letting it evolve naturally — and whenever that day happens well embrace it well come up with something good." Until they find that time and place, Solange is hard at work on figuring out a sound for her new record, noting that it will probably go in a more moody, electronic direction. She would love to hook up with the likes of Chairlift, Boards of Canada and Midnight Juggernauts. "I've actually started the early groundwork for the third record," she explained. "More so in finding out and experimenting on who I want to be on board with ... just more so experimenting with the ideas of finding one or two solid musicians and building from there." When Beyoncé and Solange aren't busy with their careers — or trying to figure out when to get in the studio together — the girls do manage to find some time to talk about, well, music. B loves to learn about new music from her little sister. "I play a lot of new music for her, 'cause obviously she works a lot," she said. "I get the chance to introduce new music to her and that's always fun. It's sort of our little bond through music — exploring new artists." Related Artists |
| T.I.'s Bodyguard Gets Same Sentence As MC For Weapons Charges
April 15, 2009 at 1:09 am
|
| Corey Williams, who testified against Tip, sentenced to a year and a day in prison.
By Jayson Rodriguez 
T.I.
Photo: Scott Gries/ Getty Images T.I.'s bodyguard, who served as the point man for the attempted illegal firearm purchase that will send the rapper to prison next month, has also been sentenced to a prison term of one year and one day, according to TheSmokingGun.com. Corey Williams, 34, worked for Tip for five months in 2007 prior to becoming an informant and wearing a wiretap to assist federal authorities in their attempt to arrest the Atlanta rapper. Williams was arrested one month before T.I.'s November 2007 bust on the eve of the BET Hip-Hop Awards. The bodyguard had no previous record and agreed to cooperate with federal agents in a sting operation against T.I. to reduce his own sentence. But Williams and his former employee will now both spend the same amount of time in prison. Last month, T.I. was sentenced to one year and one day in prison after working out a plea deal in March 2008. Under the terms of the rapper's plea, he was ordered to complete 1,000 hours of community service (none of his work on his MTV reality series "T.I.'s Road to Redemption" will be counted), pay a hefty fine and receive a lesser sentence than the 10 years he was originally facing. The rapper must also comply with a number of regulations post-jail-time as well, including additional community service and home confinement. Williams, on the other hand, worked out a plea deal of his own with his lawyer, Mildred Dunn, before the same judge as T.I. But he was not able to receive a shorter sentence than his former boss, whom he turned state's evidence against. When T.I.'s unique plea deal was first announced, many wondered how a previously convicted felon attempting to purchase heavy artillery could get away with what some amounted to a slap on the wrist. 50 Cent suggested in a mixtape track that perhaps T.I. "snitched" to get a more lenient sentence. Murmurs about the rapper's cooperating with authorities spread online and in the streets. Just a few weeks ago, Tip addressed the "snitching" accusations in an interview with MTV News' Sway conducted one day after he was sentenced by Judge Charles Pannell Jr. "If being a cooperating witness was part of my plea agreement, there's documents online, it's public record, just like any other inmate. You get his name, his number, there's a document online," Tip told MTV News in Atlanta during "T.I.'s Road to Redemption: The Reckoning." "Whatever his plea agreement, whatever the conditions of his plea agreement are, just like you know I'm gonna have to go for a year and a day, just like you know I'm gonna be on three years' supervised release, just like you know about how much home incarceration I got, if being a cooperating witness was a part of my plea agreement, it would be in there. They have nothing to gain by keeping me snitching a secret. "As a matter of fact, it benefits them more, so they can say, 'Well, this is why we gave him this deal,' " T.I. continued. " 'Because he gave us this.' And not to mention, there's no such thing as a secret snitch. If you could snitch and then keep it a secret, there would be no use for the witness-protection program. You have to sign your name on paperwork, you have to sit on the stand, you have to point people out, you have to set people up. I got snitched on." As for T.I.'s point, although Williams' identity had been cloaked, he did have to take the stand and testify against the rapper. In court proceedings, the bodyguard was referred to only as "Cooperating Witness" or "CW." But court records indicate Williams' legal team asserted their client provided "substantial" assistance during a federal probe. Williams is currently serving his sentence in a South Carolina minimum-security federal lockup and is scheduled to be released in July of this year. Related Videos Related Artists | | | 
|
0 comments:
Post a Comment