| Meet Susan Boyle's Competition, Shaheen Jafargholi
April 20, 2009 at 12:40 pm
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| 'Britain's Got Talent' judge calls 12-year-old a 'young Stevie Wonder.'
By Gil Kaufman 
Shaheen Jafargholi performs on "Britain's Got Talent" on Saturday
Photo: itv.com Over the weekend, singing sensation Susan Boyle was just beginning to get used to her instant, worldwide fame when she learned the #1 lesson of Internet infamy: It doesn't last. While Boyle was setting up chats with "Oprah," CNN and every other news outlet that could get her "gobsmacked" reaction to being viewed more than 50 million times on YouTube, another "Britain's Got Talent" singer (who has also likely never been kissed) was already waiting in the wings. Welsh singer Shaheen Jafargholi, 12, appeared on the show on Saturday and initially bombed with judge Simon Cowell, who made him stop singing his Amy Winehouse version of the Zuton's hit "Valerie" after just one verse. Waving his hand and calling for the music to be stopped, a frowning Cowell said, "You've got this really wrong," as the crestfallen Jafargholi looked on. "What do you sing apart from that?" Jafargholi then suggested the Smokey Robinson song "Who's Loving You," made famous by a young Michael Jackson with the Jackson Five. When the preternaturally poised Jafargholi — who began singing at age 2 and once played a young Jackson in a stage production of "Thriller" — rebooted with the second song, the audience went nuts. And much like they did when Boyle surprised them, Cowell and fellow judge Piers Morgan smiled broadly and seemed genuinely stunned by the boy's outsize talent. "This is how one song can change your life," Cowell said afterward, after dishing out one of his very rare standing ovations. "And this may be the start of something special for you young man." The dimple-faced young boy has already earned a major endorsement from none other than Demi Moore, who declared on her Twitter feed, "Wow this kid is something else!" Morgan also gave Jafargholi props after the show, writing in his blog that the young man had been the stand-out performer on the show and could challenge Boyle for the $146,000 top prize. "Once Simon got him to sing the right kind of song for his voice, he was sensational. Like a young Stevie Wonder," Morgan wrote. So far, Jafargholi has a long way to go to reach Boyle's YouTube ubiquity, with just over 300,000 views to her more than 50 million at press time. |
| Rosie O'Donnell Compares Susan Boyle To Shrek -- And Means It As A Compliment!
April 20, 2009 at 12:21 pm
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| O'Donnell says 'Britain's Got Talent' contestant is 'directing energy towards her soul.'
By Eric Ditzian 
Susan Boyle
Photo: Zuma Press In the days since Scottish singer Susan Boyle wowed the crowd on "Britain's Got Talent" and lit up YouTube with tens of millions of hits, she's channeled Celine Dion on "Larry King Live" and been likened to another huge "BGT" success story, Paul Potts. Add one more comparison to the mix: an animated green ogre. Really. Rosie O'Donnell tells People magazine that Boyle is "like Shrek comes to life." That may sound like a stinging rebuke — after all, season-six "American Idol" contestant Melinda Doolittle was derisively labeled a Shrek-alike by online haters. But O'Donnell, who herself has come in for more than her fair share of body-image abuse, said she intended the comparison as a positive one. "That moment is what every artist tries to capture," she said. "Here is this freaky miss, a fat, ugly girl, like Shrek comes to life, directing energy towards her soul. This was so rare ... something authentic in a world that is usually manufactured. It was a perfect moment which will never happen again." In 2006, O'Donnell got into a highly publicized feud with Donald Trump, during which he called her "an extremely unattractive person," "my nice fat little Rosie" and a "big, fat pig." And she's routinely mocked for her plus-size body on sites like TMZ.com. According to O'Donnell, Boyle's performance was so extraordinary that it even transformed prickly Simon Cowell into a warm-hearted soul, albeit temporarily. "Simon Cowell was genuinely moved when he heard Susan Boyle sing," O'Donnell said. "He showed his humanity, and I actually liked him. It was a moment in time." Related Photos |
| Green Day Announce 21st Century Breakdown Tour Dates
April 20, 2009 at 11:54 am
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| Two-month jaunt kicks off July 3 in Seattle.
By James Montgomery 
Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images It's been more than three years since Green Day hit the road, and they're making up for lost time. On Monday (April 20), they announced the first dates of a massive world tour in support of their upcoming album 21st Century Breakdown (due May 15), a two-month jaunt that will take the band across the U.S. and Canada. The tour kicks off July 3 in Seattle and wraps August 25 in Los Angeles. No venues have been announced yet, nor have on-sale dates or opening acts. Green Day's last tour — in support of their massive American Idiot album — spanned two years and was their most successful (and lengthy) jaunt to date. While working on Breakdown, the band took time off for a week-long tour as alter egos the Foxboro Hot Tubs. With Monday's announcement of a tour, it's shaping up to be quite a week for Green Day fans. On Friday at 8 p.m. ET, their much-anticipated new video for the song "Know Your Enemy" will make its world premiere on more than 250 MTV on-air and online outlets. Dates and cities for Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown tour, according to Reprise Records: » 7/3 -- Seattle
» 7/4 -- Vancouver, BC
» 7/6 -- Edmonton, AB
» 7/7 -- Saskatoon, SK
» 7/9 -- Winnipeg, MB
» 7/10 -- Fargo, ND
» 7/11 -- Minneapolis
» 7/13 -- Chicago
» 7/14 -- Detroit
» 7/16 -- Hamilton, ON
» 7/17 -- Ottawa
» 7/18 -- Montreal
» 7/20 -- Boston
» 7/21 -- Philadelphia
» 7/22 -- Pittsburgh
» 7/24 -- Hartford, CT
» 7/25 -- Albany, NY
» 7/27 -- New York
» 7/29 -- Washington
» 7/31 -- Nashville, TN
» 8/1 -- Atlanta
» 8/3 -- Tampa, FL
» 8/4 -- Miami
» 8/5 -- Orlando, FL
» 8/7 -- New Orleans
» 8/8 -- Houston
» 8/9 -- San Antonio
» 8/11 -- St. Louis
» 8/12 -- Kansas City, MO
» 8/12 -- Omaha, NE
» 8/15 -- Denver
» 8/16 -- Salt Lake City
» 8/18 -- San Jose, CA
» 8/20 -- San Diego
» 8/21 -- Las Vegas
» 8/22 -- Phoenix
» 8/24 -- Sacramento, CA
» 8/25 -- Los Angeles Related Videos Related Artists |
| Coachella 2009: The Killers, Paul McCartney Light Up Desert Festival
April 20, 2009 at 11:41 am
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| The Cure, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Public Enemy were also highlights.
By Corey Moss, with additional reporting by Lara Kelley 
The Killers' Brandon Flowers performs at Coachella on Saturday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images INDIO, California — In a recession year, it was only fitting that Coachella would come to an end with a power outage. And perhaps even more fitting that the Cure continued on for two more songs — with no speakers or lights, just the help of thousands of backup singers (a.k.a. the audience). Yes, this will be remembered as the year Coachella soldiered on. As the pocket guide put it, "On this 10th Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, take comfort in knowing that for at least 72 hours, we can put aside the woes of the world to revel in it. After all, there's a Beatle here." There were 129 acts at this year's Coachella — a drop from the planned 131, after Glasvegas and the Clipse canceled at the last minute — but the one that mattered most was the 66-year-old music icon who lived and let die and let it be for a two-and-a-half-hour set that will go down in festival history. (Check out photos from the Coachella festival here.) Paul McCartney's show featured a dozen or so Beatles favorites, especially the encores (yes, there were many), along with songs from Wings, his solo material (the recent ukulele jam "Dance Tonight" was a highlight), dedications of fallen Beatles and even tracks from his side project, the Fireman. Yes, Paul McCartney has a side project — maybe he even has a Twitter account too. Speaking of micro-blogging artists ... Michael Franti closed his set on Saturday by telling the audience, "See you on Twitter." It's a new world where bands are updating their fans on their every move, so the ability to make a connection through music has never been more important. McCartney and the Cure did that with ease, as did dozens of others, from the angelic-voiced Jenny Lewis to My Bloody Valentine, who connected via blistering guitar feedback. And then there were some who struggled. M.I.A., in her first post-childbirth gig, phoned in a seven-song set full of annoying banter, an even more annoying horn sound every few seconds, and a big mess of music not unlike an earlier set from N.A.S.A. Girl Talk drew one of the dance tent's largest crowds, and as hard as he tried to entertain them with props and dancing on the table, all he really did was push "play" on a laptop. Zane Lowe has a similar mash-up style and a lesser name, but the live elements (a few machines and scratching) in his show made a huge difference. And then along came DJ AM and Travis Barker, who took it to a whole 'nother level, with one of the most intense, awesome sets of the festival. Again, it was about soldiering on. On Friday, keeping up with the lineup felt more like navigating a zoo, between Noah and the Whale, Dear and the Headlights, the Bug and Cage the Elephant. The latter band play hip-hop-infused blues rock (Kid Rock meets the White Stripes) and made their mark thanks to frontman Matt Shultz, a rock star-in-the-making. The Ting Tings' set felt a bit slow, but they were still super fun to dance and sing along to. It was much of the same for Franz Ferdinand, thanks to their collection of party-starters, and Morrissey kept the party vibe in his following slot (as much as Morrissey parties, anyway). Saturday was more serious, with challenging bands like TV on the Radio and Thievery Corporation (who brought out honorary Coachella mayor Perry Farrell for a song) rocking the Main Stage. Fleet Foxes and Band of Horses did the high-pitched-voice thing back-to-back on the Outdoor Theater. The Killers wisely opened their headlining set with hits "Human" and "Somebody Told Me," reeling in fans before they could make an early run for the parking lot. It's not easy when Paul McCartney headlined the night before, but Brandon Flowers commands a stage no matter who he's competing with. On Sunday, while the Cure worked through their catalog, Public Enemy saluted their 21-year-old landmark album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by playing it from beginning to end. Chuck D's "how low can you go" voice is still as powerful as ever, and it felt good to see Flava Flav on a stage instead of a reality show. On the Main Stage, Peter Bjorn and John showed they are continuing to improve as a live band, especially on their latest singles, "Lay It Down" and "Nothing to Worry About," both candidates for Coachella anthems of the year. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs know a thing or two about anthems and they proved a perfect soundtrack to the beautiful Sunday sunset. Audrina Patridge from "The Hills" was among those spotted dancing to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Paris and Nikki Hilton hung out during M.I.A.'s performance, and Zac Efron took pictures with fans while waiting for My Bloody Valentine. Emile Hirsch, Tara Reid, Dita Von Teese and Chloë Sevigny were also in attendance. Outside of the Empire Polo Fields, Kanye West attended the ultra-exclusive Frank Sinatra house party, and Jared Leto was seen dancing onstage at the Music Loves Fashion event at Hotel Riviera. Kid Cudi performed at the URB Magazine pool party, while Doug E. Fresh got on the mic at Viceroy Hotel party. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Rick Ross Buries 50 Cent In 'Cold Blood' Video
April 20, 2009 at 11:20 am
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| Miami MC says he might feud with Eminem next.
By Shaheem Reid 
Rick Ross
Photo: Jason Campbell Rick Ross has claimed that his insults against 50 Cent have ended the Queens rhyme lord's career. The Miami boss recently held a ceremony in honor of what he calls his accomplishment. Over the weekend, Ross released the trailer to a video for "Cold Blood," a record from Deeper Than Rap. You see flashes of Ross sitting in church wearing a suit. The viewer is led to believe that once again he'll be mocking 50, because the words "R.I.P. Curtis Jackson" appear on the screen. This is yet another salvo in the ongoing feud between 50 and Ross that started several weeks ago when the husky down-South MC called 50 out with "Mafia Music." Since then, the back-and-forth has been incessant. Last week, Ross released a remix to "Mafia Music," featuring the Game, Ja Rule and Fat Joe. On a recent trip to New York, Ross told radio personality DJ Envy that many more MCs had given him raps to include in the remix. Maybe with the release of "Cold Blood," Ross is signifying an end to his war with Fif, at least on his part. Rick told Envy that 50 was boring him and that he might have to look toward Eminem for real comp. Later in the Envy interview, Ross implied that if he did go into competition with Slim Shady, it might not be a traditional trade of barbs but rather a battle over who makes the best music. He did tell Envy he wasn't exactly excited about Em's new "We Made You" video. "His swag ain't the same, though," he said, adding that he was just giving an opinion. "We not dissing. We'll never dis. [The video] was funny. This time I'm not gonna be critical because I'm a fan. But I see the swag ain't the same." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Beyonce Announces U.S. Tour Dates
April 20, 2009 at 10:33 am
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| North American leg of I Am ... Tour kicks off in New York on June 21.
By Gil Kaufman 
Beyonc&233;
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic Nearly eight months after dropping her dual-personality smash, I Am ... Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé will finally bring the tour in support of the album to North America. The six week I Am ... Tour is slated to kick off on June 21 with a show at Madison Square Garden in New York and wind down with a four-night residency at Encore in the Wynn Las Vegas July 30-August 2. According to a press release announcing the outing, the singer, currently on tour in Europe, will perform selections from the new album, as well as tunes from throughout her career in a high-tech production backed by her all-female band. Presale tickets for members of Beyoncé's fan club will be available on Monday (April 20) and general-public sales will begin on April 25. In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Beyoncé said one of the hardest parts of the tour is squeezing a decade's worth of hits into a two-hour show and performing the songs in designer Thierry Mugler's elaborate costumes. "I'm never gonna go onstage or do a video and not work until my feet are blistered, and until I'm basically, I can't walk any more," she said. "I always give, and I do that because I know how lucky I am, to do my job." She promised that the new tour will be more "emotional" than her 2007 outing because of the nature of the I Am portion of the double album. "That portion was a lot more real and raw and more sensitive," she explained. "The best part about this tour is I'm working with Thierry Mugler, who is an icon and a legend, and I've been a fan." She also expressed frustration that snippets of the show have popped up online, ruining, she thinks, some of the surprise of the concert experience and possibly convincing some fans not to attend. "It's great because people can get a little sneak peek and say, "Oh, I wanna come to the show," or, "I don't wanna go to that show," [laughs] and I'm fans of people so I go on there and check it out too. But you put so much of your heart and time into the wardrobe ... it's kind of unfortunate that people can see the show months before you get into their city, but that's life." Though fans responded enthusiastically to the long-awaited tour news over the weekend, Beyoncé's site was peppered with requests by disappointed supporters — from Boston; Anchorage, Alaska; Tampa, Florida; St. Louis and Montreal — who begged her to come to their towns. The dates for the I Am ... Tour, according to Beyoncé's Web site: » 6/21 - New York @ Madison Square Garden
» 6/24 - Washington @ Verizon Center
» 6/26 - Philadelphia @ Wachovia Center
» 6/27 - Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum Complex
» 6/29 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ BankAtlantic Center
» 7/1 - Atlanta @ Philips Arena
» 7/3 - New Orleans @ Essence Music Festival at Louisiana Superdome
» 7/4 - Houston @ Toyota Center
» 7/5 - Dallas @ American Airlines Center
» 7/7 - Phoenix @ US Airways Center
» 7/9 - Sacramento, CA @ ARCO Arena
» 7/10 - Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
» 7/11 - Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
» 7/13 - Los Angeles @ Staples Center
» 7/16 - Minneapolis @ Target Center
» 7/17 - Chicago @ United Center
» 7/18 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
» 7/23 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
» 7/30-8/2 - Las Vegas @ Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas
Related Artists |
| Madonna Blames Paparazzo For Horseback-Riding Accident
April 20, 2009 at 9:24 am
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| Singer hospitalized for minor injuries.
By Gil Kaufman 
Madonna
Photo: Ray Tamarra/ Getty Images Madonna was hospitalized briefly on Saturday after taking a spill while riding a horse at the South Hampton, New York, home of photographer Steven Klein. The 50-year-old singer was taken to a hospital after the fall, treated for suffering minor injuries and bruises before being released, according to spokesperson Liz Rosenberg. "The accident occurred when the horse Madonna was riding was startled by paparazzi who jumped out of the bushes to photograph the singer, who was visiting friends on Eastern Long Island over the weekend," Rosenberg said in a statement to UsMagazine.com. "Madonna will be having further tests and will continue to remain under observation by doctors.' But the photographer who is being blamed for allegedly causing the incident, Thomas Hinton, told TMZ that while he was the only paparazzo around when Madonna tumbled off her horse, he had nothing to do with the incident. Hinton claimed to have taken shots of Madonna before and after she fell but said he has no pics of the actual accident because he walked away after shooting the pictures of her riding the horse. He said that 30 minutes later he got a tip about an ambulance being sent out to for a 50-year-old woman. Figuring it was Madonna, he returned to take pictures of her being tended to by the emergency workers. Hinton told TMZ that all his pictures were taken from a public road and that the only other photographer around was the home's owner, Klein. "If I had startled the horse, I would have gotten pictures!," Hinton said. The New York Post has what it calls the exclusive Hinton pictures, which show Madonna on the horse and then images of her being attended to by emergency personnel, but none of the accident itself. The paper claims that Madonna was hurt while taking the horse through a jumping routine. In 2005, Madonna cracked three ribs and broke her hand and a collar bone in a riding accident at her estate outside of London. Related Artists |
| Asher Roth Goes Back To College
April 20, 2009 at 7:52 am
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| The Pennsylvania MC performs at his alma mater, West Chester University, to drum up support for his debut album, Asleep in the Bread Aisle.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Tim Kash 
Asher Roth
Photo: MTV News It's easy to be the big man on campus after you graduate college and then come back to visit. But Asher Roth took everything in stride when he ventured back to his hometown in Pennsylvania to perform at his alma mater, West Chester University. "It's a little crazy, man. It just goes to show you it's working," the MC said of his recent success. "This music is bringing people together. West Chester, I'm kinda cheating a little bit, because that's home. So it isn't until I walk the streets of British Columbia and people are outside waiting for me. Then, I know, 'OK, this is really working.' " Roth's reception at various schools has been overwhelming, due to his breakout hit "I Love College," which celebrates co-ed parties and mulling about campus with a frat-boy humor mixed with lyrical wit. The rapper is in the midst of a promotional run for the release of his debut, Asleep in the Bread Aisle, which drops Monday. While he has shows and appearances booked throughout the country, being able to take the stage in front of some familiar faces brought Roth a certain comfort, taking him back to his own college days. "You know that you can just go up there and totally be yourself and the crowd's going to be there with you," he said. "Being here in PA — and this is just another one of those state schools — where we used to just come and hang out and just, on numerous occasions, kind of walk these streets, so then we pull up [now] and it says, 'Asher Roth: sold out.' It's like I'm starting a new life, man." So does that mean that Roth, one of the MCs to Watch in 2009, has changed? "Not at all, man," he replied. "I think that's kind of the cool part about it. I mean, yes, is it kind of turned up a little bit. Is it [me] at volume 10? Absolutely. But at the same time there is also that very simple part of me where I just like to chill out and don't want to talk to anybody — but everybody has that, though. For the most part, though, it's not some extreme — there's no celebrity. It's not like David Bowie, where he goes home and he's whoever and when he's out onstage he's got his David Bowie [showmanship] going on. But with me it's very much Asher Roth — offstage, onstage, on-camera, off-camera." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Is Lil Wayne's Protege Drake The Next Big Thing?: Mixtape Monday
April 20, 2009 at 6:51 am
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| Plus: Nipsey Hussle has 'high expectations for this industry and this game.'
By Shaheem Reid and Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes 
Lil Wayne
Photo: MTV News Artist: Nipsey Hussle Representing: South Central L.A. Mixtape: Bullets Ain't Got No Names: Vol. II 411: Soak up the swagger — Hussle's in the house! Coming into contact with gunplay as a teen, Hussle earned his name by his stringent work ethic as a, er, street pharmacist. One of the homies dubbed him "Nipsey Hussle," a play on the name of the always-rhyming comedian of yesteryear Nipsey Russell. Nip is so young, however, that he'd never seen Russell's breakout role as the Tinman in "The Wiz" (1978). He didn't get the joke, but he liked the name anyway. For over a year, Nip has been back and forth between Los Angeles and New York, recording his debut LP for Cinematic/Epic, South Central State of Mind. Game and Snoop Dogg are the only guests on the record besides Hussle's crew, the Slauson Boys. During the past several weeks, the lanky MC — who will remind you of Snoop Dogg (some fans thought Nip was Snoop's brother or cousin, but there is no relation) — hasn't been in one spot for long. He was opening for Game's LAX tour. "I tell everybody that was the best sh-- we could've did," Nip said of going out on the road with Hurricane Game. "Just for the fact of getting in front of that many people and Game being an artist from the West Coast with — not necessarily style, but similar content to what I'm doing. When I got out there, they was loving me like they was loving [Game's] sh--. If you a Game fan, you're a fan of West Coast music. You're a fan of L.A. music, L.A. culture, L.A. lifestyle. When I went out onstage, it was preaching to the choir. It was A1. The best experience I could've had." Nip promises a summer release for South Central State of Mind. For almost half a year, though, Nip's mixtape Bullets Ain't Got No Names Vol. II has been tearing up the streets, and true to his name, Hus has been on the grind, getting his tape from L.A. all the way out to NYC. "I got high expectations for this industry and this game," he said. "I want a lot, so I gotta do a lot. I know I gotta feed the radio, do shows, I know I gotta convince people I'm the one. Let them know they can spend their hard-earned money on my product. Times is tough. Some people don't even have enough money to pay their rent or put gas in they [car]. To ask somebody to go out and spend their hard-earned money, you have to damn near give them an offer they can't refuse." Hussle's first offering is his theme song, "Hussle in the House." The record resonates from the swap meet to the hardwood: The San Antonio Spurs practice to the song and come out on the court to the record during home games. "You know, it's a lot of things at once," he said about his rising popularity. "It's confirmation. That's kinda what my goal was, to come in and be recognized and be established by my fans and the peers as the up-and-coming dude. It's kinda strange, too, because I see people's reaction to me change. I walk around my neighborhood, it's a little different now. It's not like I can't walk down the street where I'm a superstar, but people are starting to take notice. I walk in the mall, and little girls are pointing me out and giggling. I'm loving every second of it." Joints To Check For » "Roll the Windows Up." "That's not the official first single, but it's a record we're going with for the mixshow," Nip said. "A lot of DJs was asking for it. So I went ahead and put a third verse on it [so I could release it]. My group the Slauson Boys is on the second verse. We kept feeding them. My third verse on there, basically I'm talking about the element. 'Doing 60 in my city up the one-way/ Where all the young n---as take flight like a runway/ We never run 'way, we come from gunplay/ I see a halo on your head like Beyoncé/ ... Real boss getting money on his off day/ It's obvious I'm everything the song say.' My first verse, I was just clowning about when we was out here flossin', getting that street money." » "Let's Talk Money." "Basically, you wanna talk paper? I'm an artist, I consider myself a lyricist, but at the same time, I like to party and have some fun. That was a record where I was doing the party swag and letting them know I do this too. All my diamonds are real. I was rockin' Rollies before this rap game. I was getting money, Cuban linx when I was a young n---a on the block. Basically, that's what that was about, showing off. Showboating." » "Hussle in the House." "That was my vision of what a new West Coast artist coming from the streets of L.A. would sound [like] and how they would introduce themselves to the world. It's a small introduction to this Nipsey Hussle music. 'Guns, money and bi---es, that's the way we do it.' I try to embody the lifestyle of an L.A. dude in the street on that record. I was inspired by the beat, because Detroit Red killed that record on the production. It was the Kris Kross flip. Obviously, that was an era of my life. I was a young dude coming up. I was wearing my overalls backwards. I was 6 or 7 when that sh-- came out. I really did a show as Kris Kross, me and my brother. Just hearing that flip and how hard that beat was hitting. ... Honestly, when I heard the beat, I had to do it." Hood's Heavy Rotation: Bubbling Below the Radar » Rick Ross - "Valley of Death" and "Lay Back"
» Fall Out Boy (featuring Lil Wayne and Joe Budden) - "America's Suitehearts" remix
The Streets Is Talking: News And Notes From The Underground All the greats — from Biggie, Jay-Z, Nas and Kanye West to Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy — have, at one point or another, made their way through the famed Hot 97 doors to visit Funkmaster Flex and spit live on the air to introduce themselves to the rap community at large. It's a rite of passage that has resulted in some of the most memorable freestyles in hip-hop history, like Big's Diddy-assisted "Unbelievable." Last Thursday, an artist many think is the next in line of great MCs, Aubrey "Drake" Graham, made his debut over the New York airwaves. The "Degrassi" actor-turned-Young Money affiliate kicked it with the radio kingpin, holding court on his career, talking about his latest mixtape So Far Gone, and traveling with Flex to Cam'ron's first Manhattan party in three years. He might not have made history just yet during his brief appearance. But this kid fits in pretty fast. Yet to hear him tell it, the Toronto native thought he'd have a hard time breaking into the game because of his not-too-rapper-like background. He raps, he sings, and his mixtape is a mix of mellow love tunes along with the braggadocious lyrical onslaughts. Now, the 20-something upstart has one of the biggest buzzes going for a new artist since Jeezy first emerged. "I'm very taken aback by [the reception to So Far Gone], because I used to be so self-conscious about the strikes against me, like coming from Canada, being on a TV show, being super light-skinned," he said, mildly joking. "There's just things where you be like, 'Is this gonna work?' But now it gives me a chance to really accept that I am something different and something new. I see it more as an opportunity to really be, like, 'Well I don't have to be the next 'Ye, I don't have to be the next Wayne, I can just be the first Drake,' and that's something I'm happy about. So Far Gone itself was me really doing something I felt was necessary. I wanted to give fans information about myself before we embark on this journey together, before I make this album, before I give them product that they have to really support, go out and buy. I wanted to gain their loyalty by telling them a little about my life, and I wanted to make sure I did it for free." The mixtape — released in February — took the rapper six months to complete and features collaborations with heavy-hitters like Weezy, Bun B, Trey Songz and Omarion. Drake said he approached the release like an actual album. His recording process is filled with plenty of actual writing. Songs like "Best I Ever Had" are not only favorites for the ladies, but should also be appreciated for Drizzy's attention to detail. "I write in my BlackBerry, and I go online to research things if I need to. I take my time. I'm not really one of those rappers that pride themselves on, 'Oh, I did 50 songs tonight,' " Drake said. "I can do two verses, not finish the song and feel proud." Drake's still riding high from his recent turn on Wayne's I Am Music Tour. But he's gearing up for his first major show in Canada since So Far Gone hit the Web. Next up for Drake is helping Wayne put the final touches on Young Money's group album, and then the rapper — co-managed by Weezy and Kanye's managers — will turn his attention to his yet-untitled solo debut. Acting, however, will still be a bit part of Drake's plans. Maybe this time, though, instead of an after-school-special spin, he'll lean toward comedy fare — Big Willie Style. "My dream is to be in a movie with Will Ferrell or Michael Cera. I'm a big fan of all those dudes," Drake said. "Steve Carell, [movies like] '40-Year-Old Virgin' and 'Knocked Up' and 'Superbad' — I'm a big fan of those movies. I feel like I've had the training, and I'm surrounded by enough funny people that I could probably pull it off. My goal is to get deep into acting. I want to be like this generation's Will Smith, just Canadian and light-skinned. I'm not gonna wear, like, the shiny clothes, and I probably won't take my shirt off either. I wanna be like [that], but not really." Any upstart rappers would be happy to have just Wayne on their side, but it looks like Drake has another hip-hop heavyweight in the mix too: Jay-Z. On Wednesday, Drake posted on his Twitter page "Young Angel and Young Hova." The rapper confirmed that he was collaborating with Jay, on a Just Blaze-produced track, when he talked with Angie Martinez on New York's Hot 97 on Thursday. For other artists featured in Mixtape Monday, check out Mixtape Mondays Headlines. Related Videos Related Artists |
| A Decade After The Columbine Massacre, School-Safety Questions Linger
April 20, 2009 at 6:51 am
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| 'What do we do now?' Columbine survivor Andrew Robinson asks.
By Gil Kaufman 
Columbine students in 2004
Photo: MTV News Like children who remember where they were when they heard about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986 or the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, for an entire generation, April 20 is synonymous with one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. It's hard to believe that a decade has gone by since the shocking 1999 killing spree at Columbine High School carried out by two students who murdered 12 peers and a teacher and injured two dozen others before taking their own lives. In the years since, the country has gotten used to the sight of metal detectors at the doors of elementary and high schools, more security guards and cameras and elaborate emergency-response plans aimed at heading off another disaster. Columbine wasn't the first school shooting and, sadly, it wasn't the last, but the spree by troubled teens Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris has since become a shorthand for these types of horrific assaults, spawning a raft of books, a major Hollywood movie (director Gus Van Sant's thinly veiled 2003 fictionalization "Elephant") and a new film by one of the survivors, Andrew Robinson, called "April Showers." Despite the increased efforts, these types of shooting sprees have continued across the country, from schools in Red Lake, Minnesota, to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Virginia Tech University, as well as a number of overseas assaults, leading many educators to fret over how, or if, schools can effectively stop the violence before it takes place. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that in the decade since Columbine, 6,300 police officers have been deployed on campuses across the country to help manage bullying and potentially dangerous situations and that hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent in order to increase school safety. But now that money is beginning to run out. Federal grants for school security have been cut by a third ($145 million), the Justice Department has mothballed the police-in-schools program, and states are slashing spending once earmarked for security. How bad is it? Even the Colorado district that includes Columbine High has canceled its annual violence-prevention convention. Some schools around the country have enacted a number of policies in an attempt to stave off another Columbine, from teachers assigned to specifically mentor small groups of students in a small Kentucky high school, to after-school and kindness clubs and sponsored pizza and skating parties to reward students for good behavior. Those efforts appear to be paying dividends, but author Dave Cullen — who has just released a book exploring the Columbine massacre in minute detail called "Columbine" — recently offered more suggestions in the Slate.com essay "The Four Most Important Lessons of Columbine." One of the most salient points he makes is that in the years since Columbine, a number of teens have plotted to blow up their high schools with homemade explosives (as Harris and Klebold attempted to), and while some have even gotten to the action stage, not a single one has succeeded. And of the many who've brought automatic weapons and guns to schools, some have indeed killed, but the majority have failed in their attempts. Cullen claims that part of the reason there hasn't been another Columbine is that the police, school administrators, parents and children have learned these four lessons from the assault: 1) There isn't a distinct psychological profile of a school killer; 2) a Secret Service study found that in 80 percent of the 37 school shootings between 1974 and 2000, the shooters had explicitly revealed their intentions to others before the attacks; 3) students and teachers need to be better prepared in emergency procedures, and 4) instead of setting up a perimeter, police need to advance toward the sound of gunfire and neutralize the shooter. While the Columbine assault played out in real time on TV — with footage of frightened students running screaming from the school, a bleeding boy trying to escape out of a window and heavily armed SWAT officers waiting an agonizing 47 minutes before being given the OK to enter the school — in the years since, fears have arisen about how the nonstop coverage and attention might have served to provide the very thing Klebold and Harris claimed they wanted to achieve: infamy. The pair have been named by other school shooters as inspirations for sprees, including Virginia Tech shooter Seung-Hui Cho, who left a video diary behind referring to "martyrs like Eric and Dylan." Which is why unlike films such as "Elephant," and 2003's "Zero Day" — which looked at two students planning a rampage — Robinson told the Los Angeles Times that he wanted "April Showers" to take a look at how survivors go forward in the aftermath. "I didn't want to focus on the gunmen or the actual shooting," Robinson said of the film, which follows a handful of survivors in a middle-class suburban neighborhood not unlike Columbine as they deal with post-traumatic stress and the sensationalized media coverage of the event. "What is more important is what do we do now. You know, these neighborhoods get turned upside down. These lives get turned upside down. We kind of almost became strangers in our own land ... the media trucks just sort of descended upon everyone. And the camera lenses became similar to guns in a way — out to get us. It made it hard for some people to get closure." Hundreds of people attended a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the spree on Sunday night at Clement Park in Littleton, and a community gathering is planned for Monday (April 20) at 5 p.m. in the Clement Park Amphitheatre. The school will be closed on Monday. Around 81 percent of school attackers tell someone of their plans beforehand. If someone mentions or threatens to use violence against you or anyone else, don't be afraid to speak up. You can contact a parent, school administrator or law-enforcement agent for advice, or if you would like to take action anonymously, you can call Speak Up at (866) SPEAK-UP (866-773-2587). Speak Up is a national toll-free hotline for students to report threats of violence at school and feature both English- and Spanish-speaking operators. After talking with you, they can work with your school and local officials to evaluate the situation and act accordingly on the potential threat. Go here for more information on this service. Related Videos |
| What Should 'American Idol' Top Seven Sing For Disco Week?
April 20, 2009 at 6:51 am
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| 'Idol' expert Jim Cantiello offers his dance-worthy suggestions — including songs from the past decade!
By Jim Cantiello 
"Idol" top 7
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images/ MTV News It's Disco Week on "American Idol" (don't even get me started), and the top seven hopefuls have a huge challenge ahead of them: How do they sound contemporary while sticking to a genre that hasn't been popular since the pre-MTV era? Song selection is more important than ever, and with two people going home Wednesday night, thanks to the "judge's save" being used last week on Matt Giraud, the stakes are even higher! Rest easy, Idols. No reason to get those Camile Velasco butterflies. We've got you covered. As long as you skirt the obvious picks and listen to our suggestions, you're in the clear. Adam Lambert
Will Sing: Adam hasn't said "no" to a high note yet, and the glory notes in the chorus of the Alicia Bridges classic "I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)" are going to prove irresistible to him and his rabid fanbase. Should Sing: We prefer when Adam's wails are reserved for songs with substance. Why not tackle "Band of Gold" — a Motown tune later covered by disco drag star Sylvester — and show "Idol" fans that the song doesn't only belong to season-two divas Frenchie Davis and Kimberley Locke? Allison Iraheta
Will Sing: We doubt the 16-year-old rocker has that much disco on her iPod, so it's likely she'll be picking from the song list blind. When she sees Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" on the list, she'll probably think, "That sounds like a badass rock song." If only ... Should Sing: Since Allison and disco go together as well as Kara DioGuardi and numbers, we beg Allison to check out a Kate Bush cover by Italian disco revivalists the Chromatics. "Running Up That Hill" provides a fantastic opportunity for our fave to purr a midtempo burner piano-side and have a big moment. Check out Kiki & Herb's delirious rendition, tone down the hysterics and you'll have a winner. Anoop Desai
Will Sing: It's only a matter of time before Anoop the Party Animal returns to the "Idol" stage, and how can he not do an uptempo number on Disco Night? Therefore, expect the crowd-pleaser to pick the "Idol" staple "Turn the Beat Around" by Vickie Sue Robinson. Should Sing: Anoop needs to find a disco song with a smooth R&B flavor. Earth, Wind & Fire's "Let's Groove" lets the Usher wannabe have fun yet be cool at the same time. Plus, if his less-than-reliable falsetto isn't in tip-top shape, he can let the background singers do the heavy lifting while he riffs on the chorus. Danny Gokey
Will Sing: Danny loves being the center of attention. And "Idol" loves giving him huge production numbers. If he sings the Trammps' "Disco Inferno," he can do lots of silly disco choreography while the producers can use that fire background they love shoving down our throats. Let's just hope "Idol" keeps their golden child to the time requirement. Who needs the full 10 minutes of that song? Especially with the Hokey Gokey croaking it? Should Sing: I know I often criticize Danny for referencing his deceased wife, but if he sang Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "The Love I Lost" (and cherry-picked the second verse, which is more lyrically appropriate for his situation), I wouldn't hold it against him. His voice would suit the song wonderfully. Kris Allen
Will Sing: This is a toughie. Who knows what the guitar-playin' heartthrob guitar will settle on? He surprised us last week with a fantastic contemporary song, so perhaps he'll look to more recent disco artists like LCD Soundsystem and Daft Punk. In fact, Daft Punk's "Digital Love" has a fun melody and a cute lovey-dovey lyric that would drive his fans wild. Should Sing: Hell, we hate to sway any contestant away from a song released in this decade, but if "Digital Love" doesn't work out, we think he could turn Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way" into a heartbreaking guitar-based rock song and keep his winning streak alive. Lil Rounds
Will Sing: The judges expected perfection from Lil during Motown Week, so they'll expect even bigger things from the "diva of the season" on Disco Night. And after last week's Simon tongue-lashing, Lil's going to look to one of the most famous disco vocalists ever and sing Donna Summer's "Last Dance," which we think (or hope) will end up being an appropriate swan song. Should Sing: Amii Stewart's "Knock on Wood" is one of the "Idol" Death Songs. Every contestant who has tried it has ended up in the bottom group or eliminated. Sorry, Lil, but we think your time has come and want to ensure our fave Allison gets to the finals. So do us a favor and sing "Knock on Wood." You'll do a great job! Ahem. Matt Giraud
Will Sing: Carl Carlton's "Everlasting Love" appears every time "Idol" does disco. And while the recently saved contestant might be inspired to sing Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" or the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" given his cockroach-like ability to stay on this mother-lovin' show, we think he'll ultimately be swayed by Carlton's sing-songy melody, which was recently covered by fellow piano man Jamie Cullum. Should Sing: Our favorite Matt Giraud performance was back in Motown Week when he rocked the sex-machine swagger during "Let's Get It On." We suspect he could light up Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" by tickling those ivories. At the very least, Kara would feel it. What do you want your favorite contestants to sing? Leave a comment and maybe they'll take your advice! Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos |
| Kelly Clarkson Gets Sexy Sad In 'I Do Not Hook Up' Video
April 20, 2009 at 2:08 am
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| 'American Idol' champ shows a new side in the clip — but the ending is all too familiar.
By James Montgomery 
Kelly Clarkson in her video, "I Do Not Hook Up"
Photo: RCA Generally speaking, Kelly Clarkson videos tend to follow one of two formulas: 1. Kelly is jilted, either by a former love or a father figure, and she rebels in some form (tossing clothes out the window, haunting someone in airport bathrooms); or 2. Kelly rocks out, either in a spooky forest or on a stage somewhere, usually accompanied by her band and several flashing lights. Sometimes, she wears impossibly baggy pants. Regardless of the path they follow, all Kelly Clarkson videos tend to end the same way: badly. Kelly never gets the guy or the closure or even the satisfaction. This is all fairly uncommon in the pop universe. In fact, she may very well be the saddest pop star in the world. Now, take all that into consideration while viewing her brand-new "I Do Not Hook Up" video, the second single from her (really genuinely great) All I Ever Wanted album. Here — possibly for the first time in her career — we get to see a different Kelly. She's no longer the victim, she hasn't been jilted — she's in control, she's sexy, she's the one doing the jilting. That she's doing it all in her head is par for the course. After all, she's the saddest pop star currently working. She has a reputation to uphold. Still, whether it's because the song was originally intended for Katy Perry's album or because of director Bryan Barber's effervescent color scheme and exceedingly literal treatment (here, Kelly's opening plea of "Oh sweetheart, put that bottle down/ You've got too much talent" isn't directed at some half-in-the-bag flame, but rather a sorta-cute waiter at a highfalutin soiree), "I Do Not Hook Up" isn't your usual Clarkson fare. She tackles said waiter and shoves strawberries in his mouth. She takes a pratfall off a bar — and emerges unscathed, much to the delight of everyone. She gets to be sexy and funny and happy. It's sort of refreshing, actually. Of course, none of it actually is real, and at the clip's end, Clarkson is pretty much all alone: just another single girl on a Saturday night. Again, that's kind of sad (and it kind of makes her like the rest of us normal people too), but you get the feeling that she wants it this way. All of Clarkson's best videos — "Because of You," "Never Again," "Behind These Hazel Eyes" — have that same sweet sadness to them. It's what she does. If this were a Katy Perry video, things might be different. But it's Kelly Clarkson, and even when she's happy, she's still plenty sad. Or normal. Often, those are the same when you're talking pop stars. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Jonas Brothers Didn't Miss Live Audience While Filming 'JONAS'
April 20, 2009 at 1:52 am
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| 'We don't have to worry that every take will be messed up,' Joe Jonas says of the acting rookies.
By Jocelyn Vena 
The Jonas Brothers
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images Come May 2, the Jonas Brothers' new sitcom, "JONAS," debuts on the Disney Channel. Most Disney shows were only designed for the ladies — thanks to Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus — but now the guys will charter that territory as a group of rock stars trying to lead regular lives. It's not a far cry from their actual lives, and the JoBros — who will be embarking on a tour and releasing the album Lines, Vines and Trying Times in June — luckily didn't have to test out their acting chops in front of an audience. "It's nice for us. We don't have to worry that every take will be messed up," Joe told Entertainment Weekly. "We appreciate we can focus on the acting side of things." Back in February, Joe told MTV News: "If there's a live audience there, there's a little more pressure to have your lines down, 'cause it's a little different, and it's filmed as if you filmed a Broadway show almost. [With our show,] if you mess up, you can go, 'OK, let's do it again.' You can have, like, 72 takes, and you're good." In the show, they play the Lucas Brothers in a band called Jonas, who in addition to fighting off screaming fans also attend high school. The guys say they wouldn't trade in their real lives for anything in the world. "We realize we're living a lot of people's dreams, and we're grateful every day," Nick told EW. "Our dad was just saying it would be really funny if we went back and took a job flipping burgers. And that'd be great and all, but I'm content where I am." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Michelle Trachtenberg Picks Who's Dreamier: Zac Efron Or Chace Crawford
April 20, 2009 at 1:19 am
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| '17 Again' actress chooses neither!
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Larry Carroll 
Michelle Trachtenberg
Photo: MTV News Michelle Trachtenberg's opinion differs from many other girls her age — she doesn't think that Zac Efron and Chace Crawford are all that dreamy. (Do you? Tell us in our Newsroom poll!) In fact, the actress, who stars in both "17 Again" and "Gossip Girl," has her sights set on another Hollywood dreamboat. "That is a fantastic question!" she told MTV News. "I'm going to go with Colin Firth. He is Dreamy McDreamy a lot!" Despite picking Firth over Efron, she does stress that the pair are friends. "I actually text message Zac Efron too!" she shared, but she doesn't like to flaunt it. "[When I get a text from Zac] I just say it's a text from 'Gossip Girl.' " Speaking of "Gossip Girl," Trachtenberg is poised to make her return as the vindictive troublemaker Georgina Sparks later this season. But Trachtenberg promises that just because Georgina appears to have conquered her demons, it doesn't mean that she's a good girl just yet. "Let's see ... I can say that with any evil character there are going to have to be redeemable qualities. However, with Georgina being so evil you never really know if her play at being good is really just a mob trial to set up to a guilty bad-girl verdict." Keeping up with her bad girl sensibilities, Trachtenberg promises there's going to be some hot hook-ups. "It's going to be crazy — the whole cast," she jokingly said about who she'll be getting with when she returns. "We're that kind of cast — everyone trades dating partners." Check out everything we've got on "17 Again." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. | | | 
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