Actress says she and DJ are 'taking a brief break.' By Jocelyn Vena
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson Photo: Niki Nikolova/ FilmMagic
After denying there was trouble in her relationship with Samantha Ronson last week, Lindsay Lohan confirmed on Monday that she and the DJ have broken up.
"We are taking a brief break so I can focus on myself," Lohan told E! News, which reported that the breakup occurred on Monday after some drama over the weekend between Lohan and Sam, as well as a few other Ronson family members.
On Friday, according to OK! magazine, Lohan was denied entry to a party for Sam's sister, designer Charlotte Ronson. A locksmith was later seen at the residence that Ronson shared with Lohan, E! reported.
The couple had started dating about a year ago and had constantly been plagued with rumors of splits and fights. Sources told E! that the drama was the result of the Ronson family's "smear campaign to convince the DJ that Lohan was an outcast and a bully, or a wacko." A rep for Lindsay Lohan did not respond to e-mails from MTV News late Monday to confirm the split.
According to UsMagazine.com, Sam's mom and sister went to police in Beverly Hills to find out how they could get a restraining order against Lohan. "They were directed to the court to get a restraining order," Beverly Hills Sgt. Nutall told the site, although he wouldn't confirm that the inquiry was about Lohan.
After being barred from Charlotte Ronson's party on Friday, Lohan began writing about the incident on Twitter, instantly feeding rumors of a breakup.
A source told People magazine that Lohan's family is sticking by her side while she deals with the breakup.
"Is she upset? Yes. Has it been a rough week? Yes," the source told People. "But her family's around her, and she's just focusing on business right now."
Duo will release Distant Relatives in June. By Shaheem Reid
Nas Photo: Mark Sullivan/WireImage
Nas and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley will be spending plenty of time together this summer. The duo are releasing a joint album called Distant Relatives in June as well as headlining the latest Rock the Bells tour.
It was announced Tuesday night (April 7) during a press conference that Nas and Marley will be joined on the road by KRS-One, Common, Big Boi, Wu-Tang members RZA and Raekwon, the rap supergroup Slaughterhouse, Brooklyn vets M.O.P., Pete Rock, newcomer Mickey Factz and the Roots. (That was a quick hiatus from trekking for the Philadelphia rap band.)
The North American leg of Rock the Bells starts June 27 and runs through August 9. Rock the Bells has traditionally been a place where legends meet promising newcomers. One of the highlights last year for Nas — a Rock the Bells vet — was when he brought out Jay-Z during the Long Island, New York, stop. This year, he'll have a partner for all his shows.
In a statement released to the press Tuesday, Nas said his new album — which mixes reggae and hip-hop — will offer social commentary on the U.S. and the Motherland.
"As an American, we have so much even in a so-called recession that a neighborhood like Queensbridge or Red Hook is Beverly Hills compared to the way people are living in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Ghana," he said. "So obviously if we making records with that theme, there's gonna be things I want to build on. I think Africa has a lot to teach us."
"Africa is the backbone of the world and the foundation of everything, and Africans are in a situation where they need help more than anywhere else," said Marley, who helmed a bulk of the beats on the album. "We know there are dire situations here in America, but when you look at America — with public libraries and free education — these are not opportunities most Africans have. It's a completely different scale of trying to help people. As human beings, we're part of a human family."
Distant Relatives, according to the rep, addresses Nas and Jr. Gong's tight relationship as well as their African lineage.
Ronald Fenty said Brown needs to 'stop being in denial.' By Gil Kaufman
Chris Brown appears at Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday Photo: Damian Dovarganes/ AFP/ Getty Images
While his daughter reportedly just wants the see it go away as quickly as possible, Rihanna's dad is not happy with how the case against Chris Brown is progressing.
Speaking to UsMagazine.com shortly after Brown entered a not guilty plea in the case on Monday, Ronald Fenty said that Brown "needs to stop being in denial" about what he is alleged to have done.
Brown, 19, appeared briefly in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday to enter the plea to two felony counts of assault and making criminal threats in the case, which stems from an early morning incident on February 8, when Brown is alleged to have beaten Rihanna, 21, following an argument.
"So what happened? Somebody else did this to Rihanna then?" Fenty reportedly said to the site. "I just would like to see justice go in the right direction."
If Brown is claiming he's not guilty in the assault — police have not charged anyone else in the incident, and Rihanna has cooperated in the investigation and reportedly named Brown as her alleged assailant — Fenty said he would like to know who is responsible for bruises and cuts seen on his daughter's face in a widely circulated photo taken after the alleged altercation.
"I don't want his career to be damaged — it's damaged already," Fenty said of the singer, who has lost some endorsement deals and seen his music yanked from a handful of stations since the alleged assault. "I think he's a talented guy, but everybody should have to pay. When you do the crime, you do the time. I don't want to see him locked up for a long time — I just want him to acknowledge and get some help."
Brown released a statement a week after the incident, saying, "Words cannot express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired," adding that he was seeking the counsel of his pastor.
Several domestic-violence experts have suggested that someone who has been charged with the crimes Brown has would benefit from anger-management therapy or professional relationship counseling, but it is unknown if Brown has sought that type of help. Spokespeople for the singer have not returned calls and declined to comment on his personal life.
"If he's not guilty, who did it?" Fenty asked again. "He should say 'guilty' and let the court be leaning into him and try himself to the mercy of the court, see if he gets a fine. ... Now he's going to go beyond that, and it could go longer, it can be even worse. It can be worse for him in the long run."
'He never got the shot he needed to get,' says Jeff Dixon, co-CEO of DTP. By Shaheem Reid
T.I., Lil Scrappy and Ludacris Photo: MTV News
On Sunday night at Atlanta's Philips Arena, Ludacris announced that Lil Scrappy has joined his Disturbing Tha Peace label. And Scrappy won't be alone; he'll be bringing his own artists.
Jeff Dixon, co-CEO of DTP, said he and his family hope to make Scrappy into the next Luda — meaning he'll be successful artistically and business-wise.
"We're just excited to sign him because he's been in the game for a long time and he never got the shot he needed to get," Dixon said. "He has exciting music. ... He brings another dynamic to our label. We're adding another dimension."
Dixon told us Scrappy's next album, on which Ludacris will serve as a co-executive producer, should be out sometime in September. This summer, Scrappy could be featured on a probable DTP tour. Until then, Scrap will be dropping mixtapes, appearing on albums from Luda and DTP labelmate Willy Northpole and shooting a film.
On Sunday night, Ludacris and T.I. were special guests at Young Jeezy's show. Shortly after being introduced to the crowd, 'Cris brought out Scrappy and revealed to the crowd that his newest signee's deal had been inked a week before. Scrappy performed his own mini-set as well.
The last time Scrappy dropped a album was in late 2007, when he released his Bred 2 Die Born 2 Live under Lil Jon's imprint. That project was originally announced as a joint venture between Jon and 50 Cent's G-Unit but was delayed a few times and never really took off despite a club hit, "Money in the Bank." Scrappy was introduced to the world in 2004 with the King of Crunk & the BME Recordings Present Lil' Scrappy. That project was shared with Jon's other group at the time, Trillville.
His plans may include a family vacation and seeing one more birthday, as Tip told MTV News' Sway during their interview that airs Tuesday evening during "T.I.'s Road to Redemption: The Reckoning." But T.I. also intends to re-release his album Paper Trail with new tracks before the year's end, so an appearance here and there to tease some new records might be in order.
T.I. said the project will include five additional songs. He acknowledged he has a number of tracks he's already recorded to choose from: an early, leaked version of Paper Trail featured collaborations with The-Dream ("Like I Do") and Ciara ("My Dear") that didn't make the initial commercial release of the album. The rapper also has his hands on a Kanye West verse that was scrapped from the album to make way for the Roc-A-Fella star's guest turn on "Swagga Like Us."
"I'm still in the process of picking the songs," T.I. said. "But I'm also still recording. I'm able to record any time — through the best of times and through the worst of times, I'm still able to record. It may change the sort of song you do, but you never can tell. You never know until that moment gets there."
Paper Trail was by far T.I.'s biggest album to date. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard albums chart and sold more than half a million copies during its first week of release.
A representative for Atlantic records confirmed Paper Trail's re-release to MTV News, but a date for the project has not been set yet as of press time.
Slim Shady mercilessly lampoons celebrities, from Lindsay Lohan to Sarah Palin, in the new clip. By Gil Kaufman
Eminem in his video for "We Made You" Photo: Interscope
Where do we start? Slim Shady promised he was up to his old tricks in the video for "We Made You," his first solo clip since 2005 and the official opening shot from his forthcoming album, Relapse, due May 19.
And man, does he spray some serious lead. The video, which debuted exclusively on MTV's "AMTV" on Tuesday morning (April 7), was directed by Joseph Kahn (Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Britney Spears), and it is merciless in its lampooning of celebrity culture.
Right off the bat, you have Em seated on a throne, who's wearing a long blond wig and a cowboy hat (he's Bret Michaels, in case you couldn't tell), asking for the chorus, which is then crooned by a voluptuous Jessica Simpson-like dancer in tight denim shorts and a ruffled red top. Moments later, as if there was any doubt before, Em comes out in a Dallas Cowboys uniform, looking like Tony Romo and doing a nasty dance behind the faux Jessica.
All the while, in a kind of rogues gallery green room, Em does his best preening Michaels, dangling a rose with a backstage pass on it in front of a line of rock star wannabes that includes impersonators of Sarah Palin, Samantha Ronson, Lindsay Lohan and a dentally challenged Amy Winehouse.
Like so many of Em's previous singles — "My Name Is," "Without Me," "The Real Slim Shady" and "Just Lose It" — the comical clip takes aim at some of our most famous (or is it infamous?) celebrities with the help of the MC's legendarily nimble, witty wordplay.
"There's some celebrity bashing in it," Em warned in a clip from the video set obtained by MTV News. "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?"
Standing on a set that resembles "Guitar Hero," he finally gets to spitting, tossing out the verbal volley: "Back by popular demand/ Now pop a little Zantac/ Or antacid if you can/ You're ready to tackle any task that is at hand/ How does it feel? Is it fantastic, is it grand?"
Soon enough, Dr. Dre appears as the captain of the Starship Enterprise (which looks way more, ahem, streamlined, shall we say). Then Eminem shows up as a rock star going out to dinner with a way bootylicious Kim Kardashian, whose assets threaten to blow him out of the chair.
We also see him as a truck driver who has picked up Lindsay and Sam, who are all over each other in his cab. Eminem 2.0 says he's not trying to offend lesbians as he begs, "Lindsay, please come back to seein' men/ Samantha's a 2; you're practically a 10." And for no reason we can discern, when he touches Sam, he shakes his hand as if getting burned and turns into a Transformer with a Mohawk, breasts and a coffee cup.
The multiple disses in the video seem to be inspired by the track's sing-songy chorus: "When you walked through the door, it was clear to me/ You're the one they adore, who they came to see/ You're a rock star, everybody wants you."
Before the video's premiere, Eminem said that he was using the song as a kind of Jedi mind trick. "Hot chicks who don't want me, I'm telling them they do," he explained. "It's kind of like a reverse-psychology thing, and I'm gonna see if the record comes out and it works."
Who else is a target in this video? Let's see, there's Eminem as Spock, giving the Vulcan neck pinch to Uhura; paying a visit to Ellen DeGeneres' show; pretending to be Kevin Federline as a slim Britney dances nearby; showing off his buff physique as he poses shirtless with an ax in the office of a pouty Palin, who is, of course, wearing a very low-cut bustier to show off her ample experience in office. He also plays John Mayer in a straw porkpie hat, crooning to Jennifer Aniston.
Finally, a master of the build-up, Eminem gets to the video scene that set tongues wagging recently, when a still image from the shoot at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas drew some comparisons to the movie "Rain Man." Em, dressed in a gray suit similar to the one worn by Dustin Hoffman's savant character in the movie, is led through a casino by Dre, wearing a similar suit (à la Tom Cruise), and they sit down at a blackjack table with 50 Cent.
When he's done counting cards and making it rain, farting in bed dressed as Michaels snuggling with Palin, playing Elvis, getting punched out by Jessica Alba, making out with Winehouse while dressed as Blake Civil-Fielder, engaging Ronson in a Vulcan sword fight and feeding Kardashian into a "Fargo"-like wood chipper that spits out cash, Em does a little dance to take us out. Another Eminem classic.
The song was reportedly produced by Dre, and though Fif makes a brief cameo in the video at the Vegas card table, he's not on the track. Eminem has said he is planning a follow-up LP to Relapse later this year.
"I think I've become more of a patient person, more of a thinking person, more mild-mannered," he told MTV News' Sway during their interview as a part of "T.I.'s Road to Redemption: The Reckoning," airing Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on MTV. "And I just think I let a lot of the bullsh-- go. I have evaluated more, and I have a better understanding of what is and isn't worth my time."
T.I. spent episode eight of his MTV reality series reflecting on his own actions and behavior that led to his arrest. Now that his sentence is official, however, the rapper seems to have gained a new perspective about paying for his mistake, echoing the sentiment expressed in his latest hit. In the song "Dead and Gone," featuring Justin Timberlake, the lyricist says he's putting violence in his past.
"Some things in the past that I got involved with and got myself into just weren't worth my time; it didn't involve me," Tip explained. "If I'm here [he puts his hand above his head], and I'm involving myself with something down there [he puts his hand by his waist], it's just not worth my time. The energy and the effort and the thought and the time I put in it is useless."
The lesson that he learned is what he tried to impart to the "Road to Redemption" kids, he said. He's not with them every day, so he can't speak for where they will eventually stand. But Tip was hopeful that his time with the at-risk youths will go a long way.
"In speaking to them and checking up on them and speaking to the people who are around them every day, I get the understanding that they're different people than they were before we did the show," T.I. said. "That they think about what they do before they do it. And even if they choose to do the wrong thing ... at least now, they have a conscience. Before they didn't even think about it. They didn't feel bad about it. At least now if they do something wrong, they feel something. I think it started something. It's not the end all, be all, but I think it inspired and promoted change, and I think that's what it was there to do."
Contestants will perform songs from their birth years. By Gil Kaufman
Allison Iraheta Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images
"American Idol" judges are like a broken record when it comes to song selection. If they've said it once, they've said it a million times: It's all about picking the right song.
That's why when the eight remaining finalists take the stage Tuesday night (April 7) to perform songs from the years of their birth, they have a chance to either glide to the next round thanks to a savvy, surprising pick that shows off their range or crash and burn and face elimination if the judges don't share their fondness for, say, a Billy Ocean classic.
Since we don't know what the contestants will pick, we've trolled through the chart-topping hits from the years they were born to come up with a list of possible choices:
What He Might Pick: Though we've already had Michael Jackson week, Gokey could kill if he went with the King of Pop's indelible hit "Rock With You" or Prince's "I Wanna Be Your Lover."
What He Should Stay Away From: Flash-in-the-pan Grammy fluke Christopher Cross ("Ride Like the Wind," "Sailing")
What We'd Like to Hear: Gary Numan's "Cars" or M's "Pop Muzik," either of which would take Gokey out of his gospel-shoutin' comfort zone and show some range.
What He Should Stay Away From: Tommy Tutone ("867-5309/Jenny"), Men at Work ("Who Can It Be Now") and anything by Journey
What We'd Like to Hear: Jett seems like a gimme, but a funked-up take on Rod Stewart's "Young Turks" or a flamenco version of A Flock of Seagulls' "I Ran" could also cement his unpredictable reputation.
What She Might Pick: Rounds could absolutely tear the joint down with Tina Turner's titanic comeback smash "What's Love Got to Do With It" or Sheila E's "Glamorous Life."
What She Should Stay Away From: Phil Collins' weepy "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" and Lionel Richie's equally sappy "Hello."
What We'd Like to Hear: Lil should mix it up with Cyndi Lauper ("Time After Time"), Billy Idol ("Eyes Without a Face") or something uptempo, like Shannon's "Let the Music Play."
Matt Giraud, 1985 That Year's Big Songs: Wham!'s "Careless Whisper," Madonna's "Like a Virgin," Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing"
What He Might Pick: "Whisper" is actually a great bet for the soulful singer trying to rebound from harsh comments for his attempt to rock it up last week, but he could also do well with big, soulful ballads like Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is" or Paul Young's "Everytime You Go Away."
What He Should Stay Away From: Hall and Oates, REO Speedwagon, Starship
What We'd Like to Hear: If he wants to switch it up, Chaka Khan's "I Feel for You" could make an impression, as could Bryan Adams' "Heaven," which was covered last year by David Archuleta.
What He Might Pick: Paul Young's "Everytime You Go Away" would totally work for Allen also, as could Kool and the Gang's "Cherish" or the Honeydrippers' mellow "Sea of Love."
What We'd Like to Hear: Allen could add some edge to his somewhat boring persona with a stab at 'Til Tuesday's "Voices Carry" or Sting's "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free."
Scott MacIntyre, 1985 That Year's Big Songs: Madonna's "Crazy for You," Phil Collins and Philip Bailey's "Easy Lover"
What He Might Pick: REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling," Stevie Wonder's "Part Time Lover," Sade's "Smooth Operator"
What He Should Stay Away From: Julian Lennon, Jack Wagner, Collins
What We'd Like to Hear: A stripped-down piano-only take on Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)" or a solo version of Tears for Fears' "Shout"
What He Might Pick: 'Noop Dogg loves to party, so he might go nuts and try Eddie Murphy's legendary throw-down hit "Party All the Time," or he could take the safe route and unleash his falsetto on Prince's "Kiss."
What We'd Like to Hear: A funked-up "Addicted to Love" (Robert Palmer) would be cool, as would a crooning "Holding Back the Years" (Simply Red), or even Janet Jackson's R&B classic "When I Think of You."
What She Might Pick: A dark, smoldering take on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under the Bridge," Bonnie Raitt's gritty "I Can't Make You Love Me" or, if she can get it cleared, Guns N' Roses' "November Rain"
What We'd Like to Hear: Iraheta's smoky voice wrapped around Eric Clapton's touching "Tears in Heaven" could kill, as could U2's "Mysterious Ways," if she can pull off the higher notes.
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
LC will keep busy with her clothing line and young-adult novel series, her bicoastal BFF says. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kim Stolz
Whitney Port Photo: MTV News
Lauren Conrad might be ready to leave "The Hills," but many fans are wondering just what's next for the reality-show star.
Well, it seems that her bicoastal BFF, Whitney Port, has an idea of what's in store for Conrad. "I know that she said her clothing line is going on hold for a little while," she told MTV News. "I think it's because of the recession, but I'm not exactly sure, so I know that that's going on hold. She's probably working to build that back up."
In fact, Conrad addressed her clothing line's hiatus in a blog post, noting that she wanted to take some time to improve it. "I have learned so much in the past year, and I want to apply that to the improvement of my clothing line," she said. "I also wanted to make some changes in production so I would be able to lower the price point."
In addition to getting back to work on the clothing line, Conrad will be hard at work penning her "L.A. Candy" young-adult novel series, Port said. "I know she's been working and writing some books," she said. "I think it's like some sort of play on a biography."
Although Port didn't have all the details about the book series, she did know that Conrad has enough material to write about. "She's kept it kind of quiet, but I know it's about a girl based on her, filming a reality show or whatnot," she said. "She is young, but she's been through a lot, and a lot of people want to know about what she's done."
We already knew that Wayne joins Kanye West and T-Pain on Ross' "Maybach Music 2," but the Bawse revealed to us that Weezy will also be featured on "Valley of Death." A snippet of the song was released online recently, and Ross disses 50 Cent on his part. There's no word yet on what Wayne raps about, but Ross said the New Orleans superstar's verse was easy to get because of their friendship.
"Me and Wayne, I got a lot of respect and a lot of love, not only for Lil Wayne, but for Cash Money Records," Ross said. "Those were some of the few dudes that embraced me outside of the music long before the fame and fortune. I always felt it was genuine. Birdman and Slim been coming to Miami for years now. We developed a relationship being in and out of the studios. Anytime I called Wayne for anything — whether it's an album cut or remix — he was just there for me.
" 'Valley of Death,' that concept was just, that's really what it is — every day I get up and live the life that I live. Do the things I do. Move how I move," Ross added. "Walking in the valley of death, I feel my life is on the line every day. It's a 50/50 chance."
For his part, Lil Wayne has stayed away from any type of quarreling with 50 thus far. In fact, he has chosen to not address 50's attacks against him.
Another person Rick has been working with is 50 nemesis Ja Rule. Rule is on the remix of "Mafia Music," the record that sparked the G-Unit/ Rick Ross beef. "Ja Rule is on the record," he said. "Y'all gotta lay around for it."
Again, he didn't say what Rule's verse was about, but you can bet all the gadgets in Batman's cave that Rule's words won't be complimentary toward Fif, Lloyd Banks or Tony Yayo. Ross also said he hopes his and Ja's collaboration can lead to work on a new Rule album.
"I'm still a fan of Ja Rule," he said. "Ja Rule, put out your next album. Drop a next single real big. Put me on that. Keep selling records. What's the problem?"
'On this new album, I wanted to focus on writing pop songs,' Natasha Khan says. By James Montgomery, with reporting by Joseph Patel
Bat for Lashes' Natasha Khan Photo: MTV News
When it came time to write her second album, Natasha Khan — the starry-eyed, cosmic-voiced 29-year-old singer/songwriter better known as Bat For Lashes — had some relatively simple goals in mind. Like saving Pop music.
"I love all my kind of unusual and avant-garde music, but at the same time I love pop music, and I love groundbreaking and unusual pop music especially. And I think we're kind of lacking in that a bit," she sighed. "So, on this new album, I wanted to focus on writing pop songs, because I was trying to get back to that kind of place, to the amazing pop songs I used to hear on the radio as a child."
It may sound a bit, well, grandiose, but for Khan, anything's possible. After all, her debut album, 2006's Fur and Gold, ushered her from unknown musician/schoolteacher to international hipster icon, earning critical praise, a Mercury Music Prize nomination and an opening slot on Radiohead's summer tour. So, for album number, two — the excellent, ethereal Two Suns (which hit stores Tuesday) — she decided to aim high, and unapologetically so.
"I hate the second-album syndrome. Everyone talks about it, but like, you know if the record company takes you off tour straight into the studio, then a lot of the time there's a lack of soul or a lack of 3-D life experience and I was really conscious that I didn't want that to happen. And luckily, I was having a lot of intense life experiences, so I felt like I had been documenting them and I had something I want to say," Khan told MTV News. "But for a little while, I was touring and I was like, 'Oh my God, is this really boring?' I didn't know what to say and lyrically I was struggling ... The first record, for me, was quite rich because I was just living my life and observing things and I had time to reflect and develop the work, and if you don't do that, you're kind of cheating yourself a little bit."
Recorded in disparate locales like Brooklyn, New York; Big Sur, California; and Brighton, England, Two Suns is an album of dualities: big soundscapes and microscopic tinkerings, lyrics that delve into the personal and the planetary, sung and played by two distinct characters — the raven-haired, introverted Khan and a blonde-haired vixen named Pearl. It's the musical equivalent of Multiple Personality Disorder, born out of the manic time Khan spent touring in support of Fur.
"When I wrote that record, I was a nursery-school teacher living with my boyfriend by the sea, just being really chill. And it became continuous, relentless touring," she explained. "When I finished touring, I was just trying to live a normal life. I was so preoccupied with, like, the fact that my life had become so bizarre. Like, 'What? Who am I?' And so I tried to make sense of that here."
And though it may sound rather deep, remember: Khan is making pop music here, which means that she was trying very hard to make an artful, experiential album ... that you can dance to.
"The first single is a song called 'Daniel,' and it's, like, the most frightening song on the record for me, because it's the most straightforward, naive and purposely simple song I've ever done. It's about teenage escapism and love and how simple things can be when you're a teenager in love, or how intense and beautiful it can be," Khan smiled. "I love songs like [Pat Benatar's] 'Love Is a Battlefield,' like when you sing them, you want to be leaning out the window of a car with the stars shining. And I felt like I wanted to encapsulate that feeling of abandon and love and sadness and melancholy, all at the same time."
Since it happened back in February, fans have reacted with mixed feelings to the various stages of the incident, and Brown's not-guilty plea is no different. Most fans think he made the wrong decision. "I don't think that that's right. I think he should [plead guilty]," Brandi Crosmer told MTV News. "You should take responsibility for your actions."
Many, like Crosmer, feel that Brown is using his fame to get out of trouble. "It's disappointing that this is even happening," Jennifer Weber said. "Chris Brown is looked up to by a lot of people."
Weber also added that if she was Rihanna, she'd feel "heartbroken" about the whole incident and that by pleading not guilty it would be like "you never knew him. If he's going to go back on what he used to say and he's not even going to be able to own up then you feel like you didn't know him in the first place."
Most guys thought he should "man up" and admit to the alleged incident. "He should go to prison if that's what he did," Aaron McClanahan said. Christian Ortiz and Nicholas Esterez added, "It's the kind of thing that people with money and status can do ... I really think he should have pleaded guilty. He should probably serve some time for doing what he did."
Athena Reich added that if Brown is using a not-guilty plea as part of a plea deal, "Then that's a play and he's not being honest in court. It would be better if he could just be honest. My gut reaction is that it's kind of sad that people can't be honest." She continued, "I would run [if I were Rihanna]. I would run away. I would take off my high heels and run."
Most of the women MTV News talked to about the plea felt similarly to Reich, saying that if they were Rihanna they'd definitely be upset with Brown. "I'd be angry, 'cause it's not fair," Alex Bertie said. "Just 'cause he's famous doesn't mean he should get away with it." Her friend, Nadine Oakes, added, "I wanna see him go down."
'It's definitely a lot more fun to play the bad girl than it is to play the good girl,' she tells MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena
Michelle Trachtenberg Photo: MTV News
Michelle Trachtenberg wants to spice things up when she makes her way back to "Gossip Girl" later this season as Georgina Sparks. Just how spicy does she want to get?
"[I want] to make out with Leighton [Meester]," she joked to MTV News about who she'd like to kiss next. "I'm just kidding. Everyone's like, 'Oh, my God, you get to make out with all the boys.' And I'm like, 'You're totally keeping out all the girls.' "
All joking aside, Trachtenberg said, "There's only onscreen making out, and the only person Georgina has ever made out with is Dan." But just because she's been a one-man woman so far doesn't mean she won't be bringing the drama.
"There's definitely going to be a lot of trouble," she said. "And I think with any evil character, you sort of have to have a few redeeming moments, but I think the fantastic-ness about being an evil character is you never know if those redeeming moments are just a hoax as a part of those grand evil schemes or if it's the real deal."
Trachtenberg said she loves Georgina's bad-girl moments. "I think it's definitely a lot more fun to play the bad girl than it is to play the good girl," she said. "She's great, and the words that are written for me are just so easy to make it really nasty and bitchy, and I have a lot of fun, and I'm evil, evil, evil on set, and someone says, 'Great job,' and then I go home."
Although she isn't a series regular, she said the cast is "like a big family."
"When I arrived back the second season, Blake [Lively] was like, 'Oh, my God, I can't believe you've been gone for so long,' " Trachtenberg recalled. "It's really nice they always welcome me back. It's a great vibe on set."
West posts video blog, filmed on a boat in Hawaii, thanking fans. By Steven Roberts
Kanye West in his video blog on Monday Photo: kanyeuniversecity.com
It's safe to say that Saturday's release of Kanye West's Nike Air Yeezys was a success: Fans of the shoe lined up outside of sneakers stores nationwide, including New York, Los Angeles, West's hometown of Chicago and and cleaned the shelves.
West had been posting release updates on his blog — from kids lining up outside the Beverley Center in LA to Young Jeezy giving away a free pair — all weekend, and on Saturday, one post thanked fans and promised a video blog.
"Thank y'all so much for the shoe. I'mma do a video blog to express my gratitude later," he wrote.
West delivered on that promise Monday night, posting a video titled thanking everyone for their support — which was filmed through a fish-eye lens from the back of a speedboat in Hawaii.
"Yeah, you know what I'm saying," he says, his words often obscured by the roar of the boat's engine. "That's what you say when you don't know what you're about say."
West said that he was on his way to shoot another scene for a video with Hype Williams — which would explain the fisheye lens — whom West points out behind him.
As West shows off a pair Air Yeezys, he said he wanted to do a video blog quickly and show of the clouds and the mountains in Hawaii, and the camera spins to focus on the scenery.
"I want to thank everyone that went out and supported and cop the Yeezys. A lot of people had to pay overprice. Next time, I'm going to do the Yeezy II's. Hopefully we prepare to do some more, but that was real good to get the buzz out there, and I appreciate everybody who went out and supported it."
"And that's live... why do people always say live on some pre-recorded sh--? Live from Hawaiii, Kanye to the ..."
Adding to the surreal nature of the video, it cuts off abruptly.
From Jessica Alba to Amy Winehouse, here's an alphabetical rundown of Em's latest victims. By James Montgomery
Eminem as Bret Michaels in his "We Made You" video Photo: Interscope
If Eminem has proven anything throughout his career, it's that he's not afraid to put celebrities on blast. From "My Name Is" to "Just Lose It," he's gone after some of the biggest names in Hollywood, never pulling a punch and never (ever) apologizing.
And his new video, for "We Made You," is no different. In fact, you might even say he's taken the art of celeb skewering to new heights with the clip. The targets come fast and furious, lyrically and visually, so to help you keep track of them all, we've compiled a list.
Alphabetized for your convenience, here's Eminem's "We Made You" celebrity-slam list:
Alba, Jessica: Actress. Appears in a shower scene, à la "Psycho." Causes Em to "make a mess in [his] trousers." Repeatedly punches him in the face.
Aniston, Jennifer: Former "Friend," eternal bridesmaid. Makes a brief cameo as the latte-clutching girlfriend of singer John Mayer. Is apparently "in love" with Eminem.
Babbit, Raymond: Lead character in 1988's "Rain Man." For reasons clear to only him, Em spends a large portion of the "We Made You" video dressed as Babbit, an autistic savant with eidetic memory. Lands a 21 at a Vegas blackjack table, repeatedly hits, loses all of his (and 50 Cent's) money. Falls over.
DeGeneres, Ellen: Comedian and talk-show host. Em beams onto the set of her show, punches her wife, Portia de Rossi, in the leg. Propositions de Rossi, asking, "What's Ellen DeGeneres have that I don't? Are you telling me tenderness? Well, I can be as gentle and smooth as a gentleman."
Fielder-Civil, Blake: Skeevy on-again/off-again husband of Amy Winehouse. Appears in a jailhouse scene. Makes out with Winehouse in excruciating detail.
Kardashian, Kim: Celebutant of questionable talent who "is a man," according to Eminem. Goes on a dinner date with the rapper (who, for reasons never fully explained, is dressed like Disco Inferno), attacks him with her ample posterior. Is put in a wood-chipper at clip's end, à la "Fargo."
Lohan, Lindsay: "Actress"/ paparazzi fodder. Is picked up by the long-haul-trucker version of Eminem (along with former love interest Samantha Ronson), who advises her to end her relationship and "come back to seeing men/ Samantha's a 2, you're practically a 10." Perhaps she listened.
Mathers, Marshall: The real Slim Shady. No, really. Proving that he's not above poking fun at himself in his videos, Eminem includes a shot that harkens back to his mulleted past, when he wore pink "ALF" T-shirts and apparently loved birthday cake.
Mayer, John: Guitar-slinging troubadour/ celebrity-cruise enthusiast. Only makes a brief cameo in "We Made You," as a sensitive, porkpie-hat-wearing singer/songwriter. Impressive, if only because we don't think we've actually ever seen Mayer wear a porkpie hat.
Michaels, Bret: Em opens the clip dressed as the "Rock of Love" star, mocks his impressively arched eyebrows and bandanna-and-cowboy-hat predilection. Is later seen in bed with Sarah Palin, where he clears the room with his flatulence. Is finally revealed to be bald.
Palin, Sarah: Former Republican vice-presidential candidate. Is portrayed in the "We Made You" video by porn star Lisa Ann, who also starred as Palin in Hustler Video's astute political melodrama "Who's Nailin' Paylin?"
Presley, Elvis: Deceased rock legend. Em dons the same prison stripes Presley wore in the 1957 flick "Jailhouse Rock" and imitates his dance routine too. There's also a pretty apt Elvis-as-cultural-appropriator metaphor that applies here, but let's just move on.
Romo, Tony: Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Em puts on Romo's pads, thrusts his pelvis, rubs up on an actress portraying Jessica Simpson, tosses a hamburger for a touchdown. Unlike real-life Romo, he does not also choke during playoffs.
Ronson, Samantha: Celebrity DJ/ paparazzi fodder. Appears alongside Lohan in Eminem's truck, latter battles him on "Planet Womyn," while hundreds of lesbians cheer her on. Believe it or not, this is only about the third most insulting scene in the "We Made You" video.
Simpson, Jessica: Fallen pop star masquerading as country artist. A favorite Eminem target, this time around, she's portrayed as the cheeseburger-devouring, Daisy Duke-wearing, General Lee-washing girlfriend of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. This is actually fairly accurate.
Spears, Britney: Embattled pop star/ cultural icon. Another Em fave, in the "We Made You" video, Brit is seen pole-dancing and knocking out former flame Adnan Ghalib. Also, we're fairly certain she's played by a drag queen.
Spock: Half-Vulcan, half-human science officer of the USS Enterprise. Eminem adopts the Spock persona several times in the "We Made You" video, dispensing Vulcan nerve pinches and spying on Jessica Alba. If they gave out awards for "eyebrow acting," Em's turn here would definitely land him a nomination.
Winehouse, Amy: British singer/ train wreck. The beehived one receives a lot of attention in the "We Made You" clip, making out with Em and generally looking like a vampiric bit of roadkill. She may very well be the easiest target in the world, but, hey, even Eminem isn't above a layup or two.
Brown, who appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday to enter the plea in the case stemming from an alleged February 8 assault on girlfriend Rihanna, must now either face a trial in the case or cut a plea deal that would spare him from the maximum penalty in the case, four years and eight months in a federal prison.
Rihanna's attorney, Donald Etra, told reporters after the hearing on Monday that his client is hopeful that a plea deal can be worked out so that the case could be quickly resolved, according to a RReuters report. But he reiterated that if ordered to testify against Brown she would do so. Brown's attorney, Mark Geragos, has not returned multiple calls from MTV News requesting comment on the case and he did not speak to reporters after Monday's hearing.
Judge Patricia Schnegg set an April 29 status hearing for Brown and his attorneys, at which time a preliminary hearing could be scheduled. The prosecutor in the case will present the state's evidence at the preliminary hearing and Brown's attorneys will have a chance to examine the evidence and make motions and cross-examine the witnesses. At the end of that hearing, the judge typically determines if there is sufficient evidence to move the case to trial.
Citing an anonymous source, TMZ reported Sunday that Brown's lawyer and the prosecutor in the case have been engaged in "serious" plea-bargain negotiations and are close to reaching a deal. Other unidentified sources reportedly told the site that Rihanna has said very clearly that she does not want to testify against Brown and wants him to cop a plea.
Though the California jail system is seriously overcrowded, which has led to some very brief stints behind bars for celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie, given the high profile of the case, the celebrities involved, the fact that it allegedly happened on a public street and the nature of alleged crime, some legal experts have suggested that prosecutors are eager to see Brown serve some time. But given that he is a first-time offender and that alleged victim Rihanna has expressed a wish to end the case quickly, it's possible Brown could cut a deal that would spare him from serving the maximum jail time.
Shawn Chapman Holley, a Los Angeles-based attorney who has represented Lindsay Lohan and the Game in the past, suggests the plea negotiations are a way for Brown to avoid having more details of his relationship come forth, perhaps beyond the police reports, which may be more damaging. Holley stressed that she does not have any intimate knowledge of the case, but she said jail time may not be likely, due to both parties' persistence to avoid the spectacle of a trial and prolonged proceedings.
"The choices in this case are no different than those in most criminal cases: plead guilty (or no contest) pursuant to a plea bargain, or go to trial. I would imagine that all parties would be interested in resolving the case (plea bargain) so as to avoid the public airing of dirty laundry at a trial," she wrote in an e-mail to MTV News.
"If the D.A. makes a 'tough' offer, this makes it a much more difficult choice for the defendant. For example, if they are offering significant jail time, the defendant might want to take his chances at trial. Doing so, however, exposes a high-profile defendant to unwanted negative publicity."
Sandi Gibbons, the spokesperson for the Los Angeles County DA's office, said that it is up to the court to decide what sentence Brown will face, but that sentencing guidelines call for anything from probation to probation with jail time, up to a maximum of four years and eight months in federal prison.
Among the evidence prosecutors will likely introduce is a copy of a disturbing police report detailing the timeline of the alleged altercation, which was reportedly set off when Rihanna found a text message on Brown's phone from a woman with whom the singer is rumored to have had a previous sexual relationship.
Produced by Mark Burnett, show will follow the actress' personal and professional lives. By Larry Carroll
Audrina Patridge Photo: MTV
LAS VEGAS — Recently, Audrina Patridge blew into Sin City to pick up her first acting award, for female Star of Tomorrow. But before she can live out her dream of becoming a movie star, the 23-year-old beauty is getting ready to head out on her own with an eagerly anticipated new show produced by reality TV's biggest name.
"I'm still filming 'The Hills' right now; we're almost done with the fifth season," revealed Patridge. "And then I start working with Mark Burnett, who's very talented and an amazing person. I'm very happy to be working with him."
Like Whitney Port before her, Audrina is getting ready to move beyond the TV show that made her famous. Burnett, the high-powered mastermind behind such hits as "Survivor" and "The Apprentice," will produce the as-yet-untitled show that will follow Patridge's personal and professional lives.
As for her other upcoming career plans, Audrina added, "[I'm getting ready for] life after 'The Hills,' and pursuing movies and other people [to work with]," she grinned. "I think it's going to be great."
Audrina's post-"Hills" career begins later this month with "Into the Blue 2: The Reef," a straight-to-DVD sequel to the 2005 Jessica Alba movie.
Patridge was in Las Vegas to celebrate her big-screen debut. She teams with Rumer Willis, Briana Evigan and Carrie Fisher for the bloody "Sorority Row," a remake of the 1983 horror classic, which is due to hit theaters this fall.
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