| Please add updates@feedmyinbox.com to your address book to make sure you receive these messages in the future. | |
| Miley Cyrus To Perform On 'American Idol'
April 3, 2009 at 11:33 am
|
| Singer says she will appear on April 15 show; Tweets that Ryan Seacrest is 'wayyyy creeeppyyy!'
By Gil Kaufman 
Miley Cyrus
Photo: AP Photo/Matt Rourke From one "American Idol" to the next: After a string of visits from "Idol" winners past — as well as this week's head-spinning Lady Gaga performance — the "Idol" stage will be graced by none other than Miley Cyrus on April 15. While "Idol" has not yet announced the appearance, Cyrus revealed on her Web site on Thursday that she had just pre-taped the performance of her new single, "The Climb," for air in two weeks. "Miley was so nervous to perform on 'Idol' and just before performing wrote [on her Twitter account], 'Wish me luck ... getting nervous! Time for 'Idol,' " according to an account on her site. And that wasn't all Cyrus Tweeted about her visit to "Idol" on Wednesday. She also offered the update, "Whoo hoo performing! I love Allison [Iraheta]," she enthused, giving some props to the youngest remaining finalist in the competition, a fellow 16-year-old. A short time later, after taping her performance, Cyrus added, "Just did 'Idol' and met Allison! Vote for Allison, she rocks!!!!" Following the recent revelation that the group numbers on "Idol" are lip-synched, Cyrus also made sure to explain that, "Just fyi, 'Idol' was pretaped because everrryy performer is pretaped on elimination night, that doesn't mean it's fake! I sang live 100 percent." Also, FYI, after appearing on Ryan Seacrest's radio show on Thursday morning, Cyrus blasted the "Idol" host on Twitter, writing, "Ryan Seacrest is scaring me!!! HELP! ... Ryan is wayyyy creeeppyyy! ... I am NOT kiddddnggg!" A spokesperson for "Idol" — which typically does not reveal which artist will appear in the pre-taped performance segment on the next elimination show until the end of the previous elimination show — said she could not confirm Cyrus' appearance at press time. Reports have also surfaced that former "Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson has pre-taped a performance for the show, but a spokesperson would also not confirm those rumors. Cyrus also Tweeted that she was totally joking about marrying boyfriend Justin Gaston on Seacrest's show when she said "if he gets a pretty ring," in response to a question about a possible wedding in the future. "I am NOT getting married!" she explained. "I'm 16 and super focused on my career and just livinnggg life!" Related Photos Related Artists |
| Miley Cyrus And Nick Jonas Hook Up For Charity
April 3, 2009 at 10:58 am
|
| Stars are reportedly recording 'We Are the World'-style song for Disney.
By Gil Kaufman 
Miley Cyrus and Nick Jonas
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage What would it take to get exes Nick Jonas and Miley Cyrus in the same room again? A huge payday? A roomful of flowers? How about an all-star Disney charity recording session? E! Online is reporting that Nick and Miley (and Joe and Kevin) will join in a star-studded session for a song called "Pass It On," which an unidentified inside source said was Disney's version of the 1985 charity smash "We Are the World." The song is being recorded later this week and a video is slated to be shot on Saturday for the tune, which was reportedly written by Adam Anders and Nikki Hassman, the same team behind "Hoedown Throwdown" from the soundtrack of "Hannah Montana: The Movie." A spokesperson for Hollywood Records, both artists' label, told MTV News there was no comment on the report at this time. While Cyrus and Jonas have not worked together since their December 2007 split, the "Montana" star told Ryan Seacrest on Thursday that there's no drama between them. "We don't hate each other," Cyrus told Seacrest. "We really love each other. He's really cool, and I'm happy we've been able to stay friends. Everyone thinks that me and the Jonas Brothers have this big feud going on, and me and Nick are really close friends now. We talk all the time and he's one of my best friends." That's a bit of a turn-around from the period just after the couple's split, when Cyrus dyed her hair black and wrote the song "7 Things I Hate About You" about Jonas, telling Seventeen magazine that she cried for a month straight and went into a "weird funk" due to the breakup. [This story was originally published on 04.03.09 at 9:42 a.m. ET] Related Artists |
| Madonna's Adoption Bid Rejected In Malawi
April 3, 2009 at 9:14 am
|
| Judge denies singer's adoption of a 4-year-old girl.
By Gil Kaufman 
Madonna visits Namitete Secondary School in Lilongwe, Malawi on Monday
Photo: Michelly Rall/ WireImage A judge in Malawi has rejected Madonna's bid to adopt a 4-year-old orphan girl from that African country. According to The Associated Press, the country's High Court ruled on Friday (April 3) that the 50-year-old singer had not met the requirement that prospective adoptive parents live in the southern African nation for at least 18-24 months before the adoption process can be completed. Madonna — who adopted a young boy, David Banda, from Malawi in 2006 — had spent the week in the country awaiting word from the court on her request to adopt the girl, Chifundo "Mercy" James. The rejection will likely please some of the critics of the adoption, who complained that authorities were giving the world-famous pop star special treatment by considering the waiving of the 18-month waiting period. The residency rule was waived in the adoption of David, whom Madonna was allowed to take home to London before his adoption was finalized last year. According to the AP, it was unknown why the judge in the latest case, Esme Chombo, ruled differently than the judge in Madonna's previous adoption, but a court official said the attempt was rejected because the singer is not a resident of Malawi. Madonna's lawyer said she would lodge an appeal with the country's Supreme Court. Malawi's government had expressed support for the adoption on Thursday. "We have close to 2 million orphans in Malawi who need help," Women and Child Welfare Development Minister Anna Kachikho told the AP. "We can't look after all of them as a country. If people like Madonna adopt even one such orphan, it's one mouth less we have to feed." But Chombo explained in her ruling that the trend of celebrity adoptions could lead to child trafficking in the impoverished nation, which has been decimated by an AIDS epidemic. "Anyone could come to Malawi and quickly arrange for an adoption that might have grave consequences on the very children that the law seeks to protect," Chombo said. Critics of the adoption had said the girl, whose mother died at age 14 just days after her birth and whose father's whereabouts are unknown, could live with her grandmother. Madonna had countered that the grandparent was unable to care for the girl and that she could offer the girl a permanent home and spare her the hardship of life as an orphan. "I am able and willing to securely provide for Chifundo James and make her a permanent and established member of my family," Madonna said in a statement before the ruling. "To deny Chifundo James the opportunity to be adopted by me could expose her to hardship and emotional trauma which is otherwise avoidable." On Thursday, UsMagazine.com reported that Madonna was arranging a party to celebrate the adoption at an upscale lodge featuring traditional dancers and two of Mercy's uncles, who had signed off on the adoption papers. David Banda accompanied his adoptive mother on her trip this week and on Sunday visited with his birth father, whom he reportedly did not recognize. Madonna first became aware of the devastating AIDS orphan situation in Malawi when she traveled there in 2006 while producing the documentary "I Am Because We Are," on the poverty and the AIDS crisis. Related Artists |
| Eminem Video Throwback: 'The Real Slim Shady,' 2000
April 3, 2009 at 7:51 am
|
| In anticipation of Em's 'We Made You' clip, we're looking back at his most memorable videos.
By Jayson Rodriguez 
Eminem in "The Real Slim Shady" video
Photo: Interscope Back in 2000, Eminem's popularity was skyrocketing following the release of his debut album, The Slim Shady LP. But along with that success came comparisons to boy bands like the Backstreet Boys and 'NSYNC, due to all three acts sharing a fanbase that consisted of screaming teenage girls who frequented MTV's "TRL" studio in Times Square. Eminem's video for "We Made You" is set to premiere Tuesday. The clip is his first solo video since 2005 and the first single from his forthcoming album, Relapse, due May 19. MTV News continues to look back on some of Eminem's most memorable videos, one by one. For "The Real Slim Shady," Eminem first launched what would later become his trademark: the celebrity smackdown. "Back when my first album came out, you know, all this boy-band sh-- was not really ... it was going on, but it wasn't as ridiculous as it is now," Em explained during the making of "The Real Slim Shady" video. "And in my opinion, the sh-- is corny. I've read articles: 'Eminem looks like a Backstreet Boy.' And I find myself, a lot of times, placed in that category. So the best way that I know to separate myself from that category is to separate myself from it, period. Lash out or whatever." And lash out he did. The clip, which takes place in an asylum, features a not-so-sedated Eminem firing disses toward the aforementioned boy bands, along with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. There's the awards-show scene where Em tosses to Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, who tussled with a faux Carson Daly over a presumed Aguilera doll. There's also an imitation 'NSYNC — complete with a Joey Fatone clone with an awful red dye job — and superhero-costumed Em even tackles a Justin Timberlake look-alike. The directors, Philip Atwell and Dr. Dre, helped to foster the video's comical tone. Atwell called the clip " 'My Name Is' on steroids," while Dre called it "a hip-hop 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.' " For his part, Em said the song was about the person everyone carries inside of themselves that comes out when we're pushed to the brink. "What it's basically saying is there is a Slim Shady that exists in all of us," he explained. "Everybody has their nice side, their mean side, their calm side, their wild side. When they feel like being wild, or if they're pushed to a certain extent, basically that's what the song is talking about. It's, 'Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?' And in the video, everybody will stand up because they're Slim Shady." Eminem's "We Made You" video premieres on MTV Tuesday at 6 a.m. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Run-DMC Will Not Perform At Rock Hall Induction, DMC Confirms
April 3, 2009 at 7:50 am
|
| Rapper can't imagine hitting the stage without late DJ Jam Master Jay.
By Jayson Rodriguez 
Run-DMC
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/ Getty Images Run-DMC are set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this weekend, and one-third of the legendary group confirmed to MTV News that they will not perform (as is customary during the ceremony) but instead a video tribute will play to mark the occasion. Rev Run previously spoke to MTV News in January following the Queens collective receiving word of their honor. The "Run's House" star said the decision about whether the group would perform would be left to DMC. After the murder of their DJ, Jam Master Jay, the remaining group members made the decision to never perform again as Run-DMC, out of respect for their fallen friend. "For me, I tell people, 'Do you want to see me and Run running around without Jay?' " DMC told MTV News earlier this week. "They tell me I could get Grandmaster Flash [to fill in]. But I can get any DJ in the world if I want. It wouldn't be right. I can't replace my drummer." D said the Rock Hall will produce a video tribute to the group, although he didn't have a hand in the segment. He's been busy worrying about what he'll say when he reaches the podium. He joked that the representatives for the event "scared" him with their advice for his speech. "They said, 'You have all the time in the world. We don't want you to be too long, but we don't want you to be too short,' " he said, laughing. "Then they said, 'You should write something.' I said I wasn't gonna write something; I was gonna freestyle it. But then they scared me again with [clears voice], 'Make sure you get it right, because you only get to do this once.' " DMC -- who, following the group's retirement, has ventured into a more rock-based sound -- said he's honored to be entering the Hall with Metallica and Bobby Womack. He called himself a fan of the former and said the latter was a "super superstar." "For me, personally, I just love what gods are gonna be in the room," DMC said. "I'm a rock-and-roll fan, from Led Zeppelin to Bob Dylan to Jimi Hendrix. "And Metallica? Oh my God," he continued. "I grew up as a kid looking up to Bobby Womack. Do you know how big he was? He was so far from me as a super superstar, because my mother and father followed him. That's crazy. Now I'm thinking about it, and it's just crazy." Fellow Queens native and longtime peer LL Cool J agreed. He said the upcoming Run-DMC induction makes him "incredibly proud," as he recalled how the trio took him under their wing during his first tour experience. Stepping back as a fan, LL admitted, he'd like to see the fellas perform to celebrate the honor. But he respects the decision they've made. "When I think about them performing -- and I would never encourage them to do something that they wouldn't do -- but I really wish they would consider getting video footage of Jay cutting and figure out a way to sync that up so that they could perform to it," LL told MTV News. "Kind of like the way Natalie Cole did it with her father. I really wish they would consider that. If I was Run, I would. I think it would be epic. That would be big." Despite a Run-DMC performance missing from the itinerary, Run's older brother and group patriarch Russell Simmons said the trio's legacy will stand on its own. He said Run-DMC ushered in the era of rappers becoming actual recording artists. Prior to second-wave groups like Run-DMC, Simmons cited acts like the Cold Crush Brothers, DJ Hollywood and Eddie Cheeba as performing artists who largely composed numbers to hit the stage. Run-DMC, he said, were influenced by those groups, and it registered in their songs, which were incredibly authentic. Simmons, who built Def Jam into the most iconic rap label in history, said it was Run-DMC's authenticity that ultimately will be the indicator of their legacy and influence. "They may have looked like the Blues Brothers to rock-and-roll guys, but that was some real Brooklyn sh-- right there [the way they dressed and presented themselves]," Simmons explained. "That's some Hollis, Queens, stuff. They were paying homage to where the music was coming from [the streets]. They drew the line in the sand. They weren't crossing over; they made people come to them. And with that, they really inspired the whole community. They did a lot to contribute to the sentiment of authenticity, which ultimately became the earmark of the culture as a whole." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Pussycat Dolls Put A New Twist On Doll Domination With Re-Release
April 3, 2009 at 7:50 am
|
| 'The train is moving, so you got to jump on it,' Nicole Scherzinger says of new tracks for Doll Domination 2.0.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Pussycat Dolls
Photo: ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images The Pussycat Dolls are ready to dominate the pop world again when they re-release their Doll Domination. Doll Domination 2.0 will have album favorites like "When I Grow Up" and "Bottle Pop," but it will also include a few new tracks. "We've got the new single 'Jai Ho,' " Nicole Scherzinger told MTV News about the album reboot, which features the group's version of the "Slumdog Millionaire" song. "We're really blessed. The train is moving, so you got to jump on it." The re-release features "Jai Ho" and the new song "Painted Windows," as well as "Top of the World," the theme song from "The City." "We have a song 'Hush Hush' that we remixed [from the original Doll Domination] that we added with 'I Will Survive' remixed into it," Scherzinger said. "I think the fans are going to love 'Hush Hush,' because it was a ballad and now it's a dance remix." The girls are on the road with Britney Spears on her Circus tour, and Nicole loves performing two songs in particular. "I love it when we perform 'I Hate This Part' and 'Jai Ho.' Even though 'I Hate This Part' is a new single, people sing along, and it means so much to me, because that song [means so much to me]. 'Jai Ho' is so spiritual and uplifting, and for people to accept it and it comes from a special place, I really love that." Nicole is really excited to also take Doll Domination 2.0 on the road when the girls head back on their own tour post-Circus. Scherzinger loves sharing the PCD experience with fans, because she thinks they have something no one else does. "PCD is edgy, and there's something new and there's history behind it," Nicole said. It's unlike any other female pop group." Related Artists |
| Eminem Says 'We Made You' Video Has 'Some Celebrity Bashing'
April 3, 2009 at 7:04 am
|
| Clip will premiere Tuesday at 6 a.m., exclusively on MTV.
By Jayson Rodriguez 
Eminem
Photo: Interscope Eminem is back to his old tricks again, it seems. The Detroit rapper is about to premiere the video for "We Made You," his first solo clip since 2005 and the opening salvo from his forthcoming album Relapse, due May 19. The Joseph Khan-directed video will premiere exclusively on MTV's "AMTV" Tuesday at 6 a.m. ET and will play throughout the day across various MTV platforms, both on-air and online. And much like Eminem's previous lead singles — "My Name Is," "Without Me," The Real Slim Shady" and "Just Lose It" — the comical clip for "We Made You" will take aim at some of our favorite (and maybe not so favorite) celebrities. "There's some celebrity bashing in it," Em warned in a clip obtained by MTV News from the video set. "I wanna say it's not necessarily intentional bashing in it, it's not necessarily taking deliberate shots at people. ... Yes, it is. What the f--- am I talking about?" So who's in Eminem's crosshairs this time around? The Aftermath artist has been pretty reclusive over the past few years, so there's no obvious person he's feuding with. A still image from the video, which was shot at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, showed Eminem apparently dressed like Dustin Hoffman's character in "Rain Man." Fif appears in the video in a cameo, and Dr. Dre, decked out in a gray suit that matches Em's, seems to be taking on Tom Cruise's character in "Rain Man." Maybe Tom Cruise is a target? The rapper said the idea for the video stems from the track's chorus: "Was saying you're a rock star, everybody wants you." But he twisted the idea a bit. "Hot chicks who don't want me, I'm telling them they do," Em said. "It's kind of like a reverse-psychology thing, and I'm gonna see if the record comes out and it works." Eminem's "We Made You" video premieres on MTV Tuesday at 6 a.m. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Heidi Montag Talks Lauren Conrad's 'Hills' Departure
April 3, 2009 at 6:51 am
|
| New season premieres Monday at 10 p.m. on MTV.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Heidi Montag
Photo: MTV When "The Hills" premieres on Monday, it will be the last season for Lauren Conrad. But according to Lauren's greatest frenemy, Heidi Montag, it's all a new beginning for the show. In fact, Heidi said, "This is going to be the best season ever," and doesn't seem to mind that Lauren won't be coming back after it. " 'The Hills' hasn't even really begun, yet I think this is just the beginning," she told MTV News about Lauren's grand finale, adding, "We don't need her. We'll miss her. I just don't know if we need her." Montag — who also spoke with us about her forthcoming album and her uncertainty about whether she'll marry Spencer Pratt — said she wasn't surprised by Lauren's choice to leave the show, and even though the two are attempting to make amends and text-message regularly, she thinks that it's for the best that Conrad is moving on. "I'm not surprised she's leaving. I know she hasn't been wanting to be do this for a while, and [the life she really leads] is not on camera. So I think it's a closing chapter for her. I'm sure she'll have fun and success," she said, adding, "She's gotta leave the dramas to the pros!" Now that Lauren has already made the decision to leave the show behind, what happens next on "The Hills" is an open question — but Montag definitely wants to be around for it. "I love 'The Hills' and I definitely don't want to go anywhere anytime soon. That's my home and I'm so grateful to be on it, so we'll see." The new season of "The Hills" premieres Monday at 10 p.m. on MTV. |
| Run-DMC, Metallica Lead Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees
April 3, 2009 at 6:51 am
|
| Eminem will induct Run-DMC at ceremony on Saturday in Cleveland
By Gil Kaufman 
Run-DMC
Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/ Getty Images In years past, there were always a few things you could count on at the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony: some salty induction speeches (like Madonna's last year), bands awkwardly reuniting with members past and trying to make nice but not performing together (as Van Halen did when they were inducted) and others who gladly performed but refused to make nice (as when Blondie were inducted into the Hall in 2006). This year's ceremony — which takes place on Saturday night near the actual Rock Hall in Cleveland for the first time in more than a decade — promises a little bit of all three scenarios as the Hall welcomes such icons as Metallica, Run-DMC and Jeff Beck. The likeliest suspects for onstage tension, hard-rock icons Metallica, have already said they're not interested in any drama, as evidenced by their decision to invite ousted bassist Jason Newsted to perform with them alongside current bassist Robert Trujillo. Frontman James Hetfield has promised that instead of tension, the group will make the night a celebration of their long career. Formed in Los Angeles in 1981, Metallica rose from humble beginnings to become one of the biggest and most influential heavy-metal bands on the planet. Their 1983 debut, Kill 'Em All, is widely considered one of the first thrash-metal albums, thanks to its blitzkrieg riffs and breakneck tempo. Their subsequent albums — 1984's Ride the Lightning, 1986's Master of Puppets and 1988's ... And Justice for All — saw the band expanding not just their sound, but their audience. Their self-titled 1991 album (also known as The Black Album for its iconic onyx cover) made them one of the biggest bands in the world, with a long run at #1 on the Billboard albums chart, selling a staggering 22 million copies worldwide. Last year, they released the return-to-form Death Magnetic, which also debuted atop the Billboard charts and was one of 2008's biggest-selling albums. Though they no longer perform together and are rarely seen in the same room, founding Run-DMC members Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels will take the stage Saturday night after being inducted by none other than Eminem in one of his first major public appearances in several years. As only the second induction of a hip-hop group to enter the hall, the inclusion of the Queens, New York trio — DJ Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell was murdered in a still-unsolved 2002 ambush — is ironic, given that Run-DMC's 1985 video for "King of Rock" shows them wreaking havoc in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, nine years before the actual museum opened. The trio famously formed in Hollis, Queens, in the early '80s and released their debut single, "It's Like That," in 1983. Their first three albums (1984's self-titled debut, 1985's King of Rock and 1986's Raising Hell) are considered to be among the most important hip-hop albums ever released. With their stylish dress, sample-heavy tracks and streetwise lingo, the group is often credited with bringing hip-hop to the mainstream. They gave the genre credibility when they teamed up with Aerosmith for the hit "Walk This Way," were the first rap group to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and were one of the first hip-hop acts to have videos in constant rotation on MTV. Run-DMC disbanded in 2002 following Mizell's murder, but in 2007, MTV's Hip-Hop Brain Trust named them the Greatest Hip-Hop Group of All Time. The roster of inductees also includes guitar legend Jeff Beck, 64, the laconic Englishman who is one of the rare breed of rock legends to make it into the Hall as a solo artist and a bandleader — honored in 1992 for his work with the Yardbirds, in which he succeeded fellow Hall of Famer Eric Clapton. Beck — known for his dynamic playing, intricate rock instrumentals and later excursions into jazz rock and jazz fusion — is perhaps best known for his work with the blues rock godheads the Yardbirds, who produced such landmark singles as "Heart Full of Soul" and "I'm a Man," during his tenure. He also led the Jeff Beck Group, whose first incarnation featured Rod Stewart on vocals and later Rolling Stones member Ron Wood. Among other honorees are early doo-wop vocal group Little Anthony & the Imperials, led by powerful vocalist Anthony Gourdine, 69, who is heard on such indelible hits as "Tears on My Pillow" and such later pop-soul hits as "Goin' out of My Head." The Hall will also welcome the Queen of Rockabilly, Wanda Jackson, 71, who blazed a trail for female rock singers with her raw, uninhibited work on such early hits as "Let's Have a Party" and "Right or Wrong." Rounding out the performers list is soul/gospel powerhouse and Cleveland native, Bobby Womack, 65, who began his career playing guitar in Sam Cooke's band and went on to a long career as a session guitarist (Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles), songwriter (Wilson Pickett, Janis Joplin) and solo star in the 1970s with such gospel-tinged soul hits as "Woman's Gotta Have It" and "If You Think You're Lonely Now." Also entering the Hall in the sidemen category is Bill Black, the late bassist for Elvis Presley who was present at the recording of the King's first single for Sun Records in July 1954 and who is credited with helping to come up with the rocked-up arrangement for Presley's signature early single, "That's All Right." Joining Black in that category is Elvis' legendary drummer, D.J. Fontana, 78, considered the first rockabilly drummer and best known for his laid-back, no frills style. The sidemen category will also welcome Muscle Shoals Sound progenitor keyboardist/vocalist Spooner Oldham, 65, who has played on such landmark tracks as Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman" and Aretha Franklin's "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)," as well as sessions with everyone from Bob Dylan and Neil Young to Cat Power and the Drive-By Truckers. Among the scheduled presenters at the ceremony in the Public Auditorium in Cleveland are Jimmy Page, the Rolling Stones' Ron Wood, Flea (who will induct Metallica) and Smokey Robinson. Artists are eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record, and inductees are selected by a panel of 500 "rock experts" who evaluate each candidate. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Rihanna's Dad Says She's 'Back To Herself Again'
April 3, 2009 at 6:19 am
|
| Singer is in Barbados after a week of jetting around.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Rihanna
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/ WireImage After traveling to Hawaii, Los Angeles and New York in recent days, Rihanna has made her way back to her native Barbados just days before Chris Brown is going to be arraigned on Monday in connection with the alleged altercation between them in February. "She's home," Rihanna's father Ronald Fenty told People.com after she was photographed at the island's international airport. "She is in good spirits. And she sounds great." The singer is back home to help celebrate her grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary, according to Usmagazine.com. "Yeah [she's back]," Fenty told Us. "She just got in a couple hours ago. I will see her tomorrow," adding the he and his superstar daughter will "probably do lunch" while she's home for the weekend. "Of course, I'm happy to have her home. Things are good with her. She is doing really, really well. She's back to herself again." Although she isn't required to attend Brown's arraignment on Monday, her lawyer Donald Etra said, "She will do everything that the law requires her to do." Despite briefly reconciling in Miami a few weeks after the incident, sources tell People that the singers "are still taking a mutually decided-on break. ... It's been more than two weeks since they were last together in L.A." On Monday, Brown is expected to enter a plea on two felony counts. He is currently free on $50,000 bail after turning himself in during the Grammy Awards. If convicted, he could face a sentence ranging from probation to nearly five years in state prison. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Anti-Chris Brown Song 'My Flow So Tight' Gaining Radio Airplay
April 3, 2009 at 5:37 am
|
| 'Not enough people were speaking out against Chris Brown,' Smoke Jumpers member says of the track.
By Jocelyn Vena 
Chris Brown
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images "My Flow So Tight" — a Smoke Jumpers song that criticizes Chris Brown because of the alleged altercation between him and Rihanna — is gaining radio airplay in cities across the country. One line in the song says, "Chris Brown should get his a-- kicked." Radio stations in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago have begun to play the song, The Associated Press reports. According to the Smoke Jumpers' Web site, "A portion of the proceeds [from the song] will benefit various organizations for battered women." No further details were available about which charity the funds would be going to. "I was really upset with the way a lot of celebrities and people were handling the situation. Not enough people were speaking out against Chris Brown," one of the group's members, C.W. Griz, told the AP about the R&B singer, who is scheduled to be arraigned Monday. "What he [allegedly] did was a thousand percent wrong. We're not trying to take advantage of a horrible situation. We want to take a positive stance." At press time, MTV News had not received comment from Brown's rep about the song. Brown is free on $50,000 bail after turning himself in on the night of the Grammy Awards. If convicted, he could face a sentence ranging from probation to nearly five years in state prison. Go here for domestic-violence resources, or check out Think MTV for a video handbook on spotting the warning signs of abuse. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Mark Hoppus And Pete Wentz Tweet About 'America's Suitehearts' Remix
April 3, 2009 at 4:58 am
|
| Back-and-forth unleashes a celebrity Twitter pile-up, which included Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, Ryan Seacrest and John Mayer.
By Gil Kaufman 
Mark Hoppus
Photo: Roger Kisby/ Getty Images Celebrities: They're just like the rest of us — except when they totally aren't, which is most of the time. Exhibit A is a recent Twitter-fest between Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz and Blink-182's Mark Hoppus, during which the two engaged in some back-and-forth about Hoppus' remix of FOB's "America's Suitehearts," exchanged fashion advice and got their chops busted by some pals (like Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, Ryan Seacrest, John Mayer, Gabe Saporta, Perez Hilton and FOB guitarist Joe Trohman). On Monday, Hoppus dropped the news that he had met with Panic at the Disco, presumably about doing some production on their next album, writing: "Panic meeting was great gonna collab/produce a track or two w them. Motion City is on for recording. Getting FOB tracks to do a remix. Busy." Meanwhile, over at Wentz's Twitter page, it sounded like the band was also getting some remix work done by rapper/producer Murs and 88-Keys. FOB's manager confirmed the Hoppus remix of "Suitehearts" but did not return messages at press time asking where the other remixes might turn up. Later that day, the seemingly indefatigable Hoppus updated, "Heading out to pick up the Pro Tools files for Fall Out Boy to start digging into tomorrow. I'm gonna get DOWN on this remix." And several hours after that, Hoppus informed his 171,000 followers that Wentz had requested that Blink play "Stay Together for the Kids" on their upcoming reunion tour, so now they will. (Although they were already going to anyway — shhhh, don't tell Pete!) Monday also brought an invitation from singer/actress Emmy Rossum to come over to her house for a "BBQ. Asap"; a blurb from Ashlee thanking someone for a cute shirt she used to be able to fit into before she was pregnant; and a blast from John Mayer, including a picture of Wentz and Bronx Mowgli holding hands, as well as a question from Diddy about when FOB will have new music out. And who should pop in during the early morning hours on Tuesday but Joel Madden to quip, "Oh yeah dude. That's gotta be in the set for sure. How You doing?," presumably in answer to Wentz's request for "Stay Together." By noon on Tuesday, Hoppus had seemingly figured out his Pro Tools issues and bragged, "Now moving on and digging into this Fall Out Boy remix. Get ready to dance like you just don't care and hate music all at the same time." Hoppus' efforts were rewarded with some words of encouragement from Wentz himself, who promised to sleep on the remix overnight and finish it the next day, though minutes later he admitted, "Actually I meant I'm gonna have insomnia all night once again, get 3 hours sleep, and finish the remix tomorrow, or maybe at 4 a.m." Motion City Soundtrack drummer Tony Thaxton jumped in to initiate a game in which the object was to blend movie titles and pop-culture references (i.e. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Play"), DJ AM popped in to say hello, and Mayer loved Thaxton's game so much he offered, "Silent Hills Have Eyes Wide Shut" and "Singin' in the Rain Man." While he made swift progress initially, by Thursday morning around 9:32 a.m., Hoppus said he was getting ready to go back in the studio and finish the FOB remix, lamenting 20 minutes later, "Dammit, this remix may need the second pre-chorus after all." In the meantime, Solange Knowles popped in Thursday to ask Wentz who directed one of FOB's videos, while over at Solange's site, it sounded like she was making some play-date plans with Ash and Bronx. And why not? That opened the door for My Chemical Romance's Mikey Way to joke about how MCR use "that jedi mind trick when we sneak everybody into the lounges at airports." By Thursday afternoon, Hoppus alerted Wentz that he was going to be referenced in the voice-over for the intro video for Blink's tour, and Seacrest snuck in to admit that he'd flipped Wentz the bird on the red carpet at the recent Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. Of course, Perez Hilton weighed in with some style advice, Cobra Starship singer Gabe Saporta asked Wentz to send him some music, and finally, Ashlee huffed, "Twitter's so insane. It's like the ultimate form of internal monologue amplified at the world. I can see me in the background." See, like I said, celebrities are just like us. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Eminem's Video Legacy, On The Eve Of 'We Made You'
April 3, 2009 at 4:40 am
|
| 'We Made You,' Eminem's first video in five years, premieres on MTV Tuesday at 6 a.m.
By Jayson Rodriguez 
Eminem
Photo: Interscope As we lead up to the long-awaited Tuesday premiere of Eminem's first video in five years, "We Made You," we're taking a look back at Eminem's extensive video legacy. When "My Name Is" first appeared on MTV in 1999, Eminem probably had no clue he was setting a standard for himself with the video. "If I touch on a subject in a song and it has the potential to be funny, we're probably going to figure out a way to base some video around it," he explained in his 2008 book, "The Way I Am." "With 'My Name Is,' I remember [Dr.] Dre saying, 'You know, it'd be crazy if you dressed up like Marilyn Manson.' And at the time, I hadn't really seen too many videos of Marilyn Manson. His reputation was f---ed up in middle America, but when I mentioned him I suddenly thought, 'Wait a minute, I'd better actually look at some videos, because I don't know exactly how this guy acts.' "We come up with a lot of the funny stuff in the videos on the spot," Em wrote later. "We'll get a basic treatment, and then when we're on the set someone will say, 'What if we tried this? What if we set up the camera to do this?' " Ten years later, of course, Eminem has left a legacy of clips featuring low-brow humor, comical put-downs and some shocking antics that would even make attention-seeking cable commentators blush. His latest effort, "We Made You," from his forthcoming album Relapse, would seem to fit right in with that legacy. The clip is set to premiere on MTV's AMTV Tuesday at 6 a.m. and repeat every hour across different MTV platforms and appear on MTV.com exclusively for the first 24 hours after it debuts. The song will also be serviced to radio the same day, and the album is scheduled to arrive on May 19. So far, Eminem's camp has kept a tight lid on information about the video. The only nugget the fans have had is a still image that was released where Em appears to be channeling Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man." But if "My Name Is," along with Em's zany antics in "The Real Slim Shady," "Without Me" and "Just Lose It," is any indication, it seems possible that someone's feelings will be hurt come Tuesday. The rapper has infamously taken down Moby, Christina Aguilera and a bevy of pop stars in his videos. One thing Eminem has also done with his videos, however, is tackle weightier subjects once his shocking tactics have gained our attention. "Mockingbird," from his Encore album, showed a softer side of the rapper. In the somber clip, Em is seen watching home videos of his daughter Hailie and his niece Laney. Detroit native Quig, who co-directed the video, told MTV News in 2005 that the video was Eminem's idea and the rapper even delivered 25 hours of home-video footage to assist with the production. "I worked around the clock through the holiday week, including New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, to get the first edit done," Quig said. The results were certainly worth the effort. It was one of the rapper's most personal works. Not even his detractors could criticize Eminem's emotions for his family. And of course 2002's "Lose Yourself" features footage from the feature film "8 Mile," which is loosely based on Em's years coming up in the local hip-hop scene. Eminem became more political with the animated clip for "Mosh." The video was a searing indictment of the Bush administration on the heels of the 2004 presidential election. For the video, Em even enlisted the services of the Guerrilla News Network's Ian Inaba. In "Stan" and "Guilty Conscience," Eminem addressed some serious topics, including overzealous fans mimicking their favorite pop stars and misguided youths and decision making. Both clips were directed by Dr. Dre and Philip Atwell. While Em said most of the humor for his videos comes from on-the-spot ideas, for "Stan" the epic extended version featuring Dido and actor Devon Sawa, he said the directors crafted the vision. "Most of it was Dre and Phil's idea. I barely put my input into it at all," he told MTV News. "I didn't really have to. The story is kind of right there, so all you have to do is follow the story. Basically, that's what the video is doing." Aside from pop acts, Em has taken aim at other targets, as well, including his mother Debbie Nelson. In "Cleanin' Out My Closet," the rapper appears in a number of grave scenes, from his confessing in church to, presumably, digging a grave and burying his family skeletons. In "The Way I Am," Em turned defensive, firing back at critics of his music. The revealing video showed the rapper under duress as he struggled to adjust to his exploding fame. He leaps from a tall building and continues rapping as he plummets to the ground, eventually landing numbly on the ground. Marilyn Manson, of all people, makes a cameo in the video. While Eminem has struck a provocative balance between the serious to the silly with his videos, the shocking headlines from his outrageous clips will probably always overshadow his more dramatic work. After all, not everyone gets called out by Michael Jackson. The King of Pop called Em's "Just Lose It" video — where the rapper dresses like MJ and parodies his penchant for surrounding himself with children — "offensive." BET even pulled the video from rotation at the time. Yep, Tuesday should be interesting! Eminem's "We Made You" video premieres on MTV Tuesday at 6 a.m. Related Videos Related Artists |
| Rick Ross Aims For 'Greatness' With Nas' Help
April 3, 2009 at 1:29 am
|
| 'You have to be able to rise to the occasion,' Ross says of working with Nas on 'Usual Suspects.'
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Tim Kash 
Rick Ross
Photo: MTV News Rick Ross' first two projects debuted on top of the Billboard album charts. For the third go-round, Deeper Than Rap, due April 21, the Miami rapper is seeking something even bigger. "That's when everyone can judge [for] greatness," Ross told MTV News. To help him achieve his goal, the Def Jam star reached out to labelmate Nas for the Inkredibles-produced "Usual Suspects." "That song is, like, really me being a fan of Nas, for so long me just respecting the way he moves. Nas is such a veteran but, at the same time, he's more relevant now than he was before, especially in the South," Ross explained. "So there's a lot to learn there. So when the concept came about — the 'Usual Suspects' — the record was not a boastful record. It was a record that I felt needed somebody to really be sincere, to take time to think about what they were gonna say. 'Cause I most definitely did. And Nas came to light. It was my first time having the opportunity to work with him, and I take my hat off to him just for taking that time out and doing it in such a timely fashion and giving me an incredible 16-bar verse." The Bawse might be thankful now that the record is complete. But during the recording, Ross said he put more effort into his first verse than usual. Then he joked that he had to get his mind right to finish the third verse after Nas sent back his vocals. "I poured 'hit' all into my first verse 'cause I knew I was gonna give him the record. Then when he send the joint back to me and I heard his verse, I was like, 'Wow,' " Ross said. "I might have smoked three weeks in a row before I wrote the third verse. [Laughs.] But that's the momentum and energy you need if you wanna make a classic record. You have to be able to rise to the occasion. ... I felt like it was gonna be a special record to me, and he gave me that heartfelt music I needed to hear." Related Artists | | | 
| |
0 comments:
Post a Comment