Various news about rap, hip hop and the like..: 2011

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

B.o.B, Ke$ha, More L.A. Gigs Kick-Start VMA Weekend

Jason Derülo, Sean Kingston will also perform prior to Sunday's big show.
By Kara Warner

B.o.B
Photo: MTV News

Although the MTV Video Music Awards aren't until Sunday, a slew of VMA-themed concerts featuring Ke$ha, B.o.B and others will take over Los Angeles in the days leading up to the big show.

Sean Kingston kicks things off Thursday night (September 9) with the Verizon Club Night Concert Event at Hollywood's Playhouse, where Jermaine Dupri will also be spinning. On Friday night, Jason Derülo and Never Shout Never will take the Music Box stage at a concert sponsored by Taco Bell and Feed the Beat.

On Saturday night, "Rock Band 3" and FreeCreditScore.com will present the 2010 MTV VMA Concert to Benefit Lifebeat — The Music Industry Fights AIDS, featuring VMA nominees Ke$ha and B.o.B. The "Tik Tok" singer said she is honored to play a show benefiting such an important cause. "It's really awesome that MTV can bring together incredible musicians over VMA weekend, not only to entertain, but to make a difference," she said. "The world of celebrity is a funny game, although it's a great feeling to have the opportunity to use my fame for a good cause helping those in need."

B.o.B is equally excited to perform for a good cause: "The road to the VMAs has been a wild one. I'm glad to be taking time the night before the big show to support a great organization. Lifebeat's message of HIV prevention is an important one for young people, and I am honored to join them in the fight."

Tickets for the Ke$ha and B.o.B event, with all proceeds going to Lifebeat, are available at Lifebeat.org.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through Sunday.

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50 Cent To Star In Crime Drama 'Freelancers'

Movie will reportedly be directed by Jessy Terrero ('Soul Plane').
By Aly Semigran

50 Cent
Photo: C. Flanigan/ FilmMagic

Like many before him, 50 Cent is making the transition from hip-hop to Hollywood. The rapper, who has a finger in various projects — from his own film-production company, called Cheetah Vision Films, to distributing a line of earphones — has signed on for yet another movie role.

According to Variety, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson will star in an upcoming crime drama called "Freelancers," in which he'll play the son of a murdered New York City police officer who joins the force and finds himself "on a team of rogue Gotham cops."

The movie will reportedly be directed by Jessy Terrero ("Soul Plane"), who has previously worked with 50 on some of his most-memorable videos such as the MTV Video Music Award-nominated "Candy Shop."

The latest news is just another step in 50 Cent's plan to move from music to movies. Making his big-screen debut in 2005's "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," the star shocked fans a few years later when he tweeted a picture of himself looking frighteningly thin in preparation for his role in his passion project "Things Fall Apart."

In fact, the 35-year-old seems to be continuing to take his craft very seriously. When MTV News caught up with him at this year's Sundance Film Festival — which he attended alongside his friend, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., to promote their newly launched film company, Mayweather Productions — 50 seemed as ambitious as ever.

He not only said he feels as though he's "growing" as an actor, but also that he hopes to have a career akin to trailblazing Oscar-winner Sidney Poitier. As 50 put it, "Shoot for the stars if you would do that."

Does 50 Cent have the acting chops to make it in Hollywood? Sound off below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658325/50-cent-new-film-freelancers.jhtml

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Lauren Alaina's 'American Idol' Run Brightens Tornado-Weary Hometown

Rossville, Georgia, cheerleading coach calls Alaina's road to the finale 'a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy period of time.'
By Gil Kaufman

Lauren Alaina visits her hometown
Photo: Chris McKay/ Getty Images

There's good reason Lauren Alaina caught the eye of "American Idol" producers from the first time they saw her last summer. There is an irresistible quality to her that not only charmed the judges (remember her ordering Steven Tyler to join in a duet during her audition?), but has clearly worked its magic enough on America to secure the youngest contestant in the show's history a spot in this week's finale.

"I think I heard Lauren before I ever actually saw her, because when she was in middle school, they would come up here and have cheerleading camp with us in the summertime," Lisa Curtis, Alaina's cheerleading coach, said about the 16-year-old's penchant for singing all the time. "And I'd hear someone singing down the hall, and I finally realized who it was, and she hasn't stopped since."

Alaina — whose hometown of Rossville, Georgia (population 3,500), is around a 10th of the size of rival Scotty McCreery's North Carolina home — is, like her Southern neighbor, putting her sleepy burg on the map.

"This is one of the highlights ... the most exposure we've ever gotten in the 100 years of the city," Mayor Johnny Baker said of the national attention that has come to Rossville since Alaina's run to the finals. "We've gone from the best-kept secret to a nationally known name in what seems like overnight. Even to be associated with someone like Lauren, who has such a quality image to portray, is unbelievable."

Though he just met Alaina for the first time during her recent home visit, Baker said the 16-year-old's family has some ties to the mayor's office. Baker's wife taught Lauren's dad in the fourth grade, and when they saw each other for the first time in 31 years a few weeks ago, they shared a moment and some pictures from the past. "After hearing her sing and watching her actions and the way she lives, she seems like a positive role model," Baker said.

One of Lauren's friends, Maria Kissner, is "absolutely certain" Alaina will win it all Wednesday night, and she knows exactly why. "When we would ride in my car, Lauren would sing nonstop, and that didn't get on my nerves, because I love to hear her sing and she makes every song sound way better than the original artist," said Kissner, whose claims have been backed up by the judges and mentor Jimmy Iovine, who at one point told Alaina that her Miley Cyrus cover was better than the original.

While the judges and Iovine have criticized Alaina at times for holding back too much and not letting her voice soar the way they know she's capable, another one of her cheerleading coaches, Susan Bradley, said Lauren has been honing her stage skills for years and has never been afraid to let loose. "As anybody who has ever observed Lauren knows, she is definitely not shy, so being a cheerleader required you to perform in front of a large group of people, which she is very comfortable with," Bradley said.

One of the touching aspects of the footage from Alaina's hometown visit screened on "Idol" last week was her reaction to the utter devastation around Rossville as a result of a string of recent deadly tornados. Bradley said Lauren's success on "Idol" and her shared grief with her hometown is the best medicine for hard times.

"Lauren being on 'American Idol' at this particular time is kind of a bright spot in an otherwise gloomy period of time," she said.

Don't miss a special edition of "Idol Party Live" Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, finale red-carpet coverage and the last "Idol in 60 Seconds" of season 10. Get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664504/american-idol-lauren-alaina-hometown.jhtml

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Jason Derulo Plans To 'Light' Up VMA Stage

Best New Artist nominee says idea for laser-lit gloves came in a dream.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by James Montgomery

Jason Derülo at his VMA rehearsal on Saturday
Photo: MTV News

VMA newbie and rising star Jason Derülo has a lot going for him these days. In addition to his two Video Music Award nominations — Best New Artist and Best Male Video — he's performing with VMA house artist deadmau5 on Sunday. And he'll be doing so with green laser-lit gloves, which were inspired, he says, by a dream.

"I have a lot of dreams about what I should be doing, what thing I should be doing onstage," Derülo told MTV News. "So when I have these visions, I'm like, 'Aw, that's really cool,' and I try to make them come to life."

Regarding those gloves, the "In My Head" singer said he made it all happen himself. "I went to a lighting company and I was like, 'Hey, make something like this.' " And they did.

Derülo described his VMA honors as a "wonderful beginning."

"Everything that's happened thus far has just [fallen] into place perfectly," he said. "I couldn't have written a better story if I tried. I can consider this just a brilliant start. It's really exciting, especially when you've been watching it your whole life," he added. "I watch the VMAs every year, my whole life."

As for Derülo's VMA partner, deadmau5, he wouldn't divulge any specifics about plans for Sunday. But he did admit to MTV News that he had no idea how big the house-artist job was when he signed up.

"I had no idea [who I'd be working with]," he said. "They were just like, 'Do you want to do this?' And I said, 'Yep,' and I didn't know what it was. And my management had sent me off to Spain ... and I was like, 'Well, whatever it is, it's probably going to be, like, a five-second cameo, so if they need me to do something, send my computer over,' " he said. "And so I get to Spain ... and they're like, 'Uh, yeah, you have to do eight remixes and three performances.' "

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647614/jason-derulo-plans-light-up-vma-stage.jhtml

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Nicki Minaj Debuts Hybrid Character On 'Where Them Girls At'

'I'm gonna say the craziest, most insane thing, and it's just about having fun,' Young Money star tells MTV News.
By Akshay Bhansali, with reporting by Jocelyn Vena

Nicki Minaj
Photo: John Parra/ WireImage

Given all of Nicki Minaj's now-infamous characters, perhaps it's only fitting that for a new type of song for the Young Money princess, she broke out a new persona: a special hybrid just for French hitmaker David Guetta's latest single, "Where Them Girls At."

"It's a cross between Nicki and Roman," Minaj told MTV News this week. "I'm doing kind of a London accent. It seems like a rebel, or a rebellious little kid. That's the type of vibe that I feel on this particular record. It's party. It's fun. Who cares? I'm gonna say the craziest, most insane thing, and it's just about having fun."

Minaj confirmed what David Guetta first revealed to MTV News at Miami Music Week earlier this year: Together with Flo Rida, the pair created something special for Guetta's upcoming album. And while the song might not have been released under ideal conditions, the fans don't seem to care: In just over a week, the song maintains an impressive chart position on the iTunes singles download charts — sitting at #12 on Wednesday (May 11).

And while Guetta has lauded Minaj for her skills as an MC and openly said that he chased the opportunity to work with her for almost a year, it's endearing to hear that Minaj, in the end, was equally delighted for the chance to work with dance music's biggest crossover star.

"He really is a master — a master at his craft," Minaj said. "He's got it down pat. For me to link up with him, I'm just honored that he was reaching out. When I met him, I liked him instantly. He's sweet, he's humble, he's funny, and he's just a person you want to be around.

"He's not someone walking around with a chip on his shoulder because he's been responsible for so many #1 records," Minaj continued. "He, for whatever reason, thought that I could bring something to his album, and to this record, and I'm so excited because it opens me up to a different fanbase."

And while the very notion of Nicki Minaj jumping on a David Guetta house beat might seem strange, it might tickle electronic dance music heads to know that Minaj is a fan of house music.

"I'm a humongous fan of that music," Minaj revealed. "It's that kind of music that you get lost in. Your problems go away for those 3 minutes and 30 seconds. You're in a new world, and I live in fantasy. I love to go away into another world, and that's what that kind of music does, and so, yes, I'm a huge fan."

Share your review of "Where Them Girls At" in the comments below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663682/nicki-minaj-david-guetta-where-them-girls-at-roman.jhtml

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Saigon ft. Faith Evans ? Clap

Source: http://www.shamoneymotivation.com/2011/05/saigon-ft-faith-evans-clap.html

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2011 SXSW Music Festival

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'In My Head' Director Braved Blizzard To Shoot Jason Derulo Video

'You'll probably have to direct this video by Skype,' Kai Crawford recalls being told about Justin Timberlake-inspired Best Male Video nominee.
By Jayson Rodriguez

Jason Derülo in his "In My Head" music video
Photo: Warner Bros. Records

Jason Derülo turns up the heat in his steamy video for "In My Head," but the mercury was plummeting when production on the upstart singer's visual was slated to begin. With temperatures on the East Coast falling, L.A.-bound director Kai Crawford nearly had to oversee the clip via satellite as snow blanketed New York City.

Not the way he planned on handling the video, which has been nominated for Best Male Video at this year's VMAs. (Derülo is also up for Best New Artist.)

"It was like the coldest day of the year, it seemed like," Crawford explained to MTV News. "It's funny. I traveled from New York and I got snowed in, 'cause it was a blizzard, like, four or five days before Christmas, which for me, was two days before the shoot. I got snowed in. The [video's] commissioner got so scared, she told me, 'You'll probably have to direct this video by Skype.' "

Crawford's flight to Los Angeles was postponed and the airport in New York was just about shut down. But the director made the trip to JFK International Airport anyway in the hopes of catching a flight. His determination was rewarded when after a few hours Delta Airlines re-opened and Crawford was able to book another flight. With his old ticket refunded, the director bought a new ticket ASAP and headed to California.

Crawford and Derülo then sought to create an homage to Justin Timberlake's Diane Martel-helmed clip for "Like I Love You." According to Crawford, the concept of Derülo's clip was the "party after the party" in the parking lot. With the Miami singer's moves and his crooning, they were able to accomplish that goal.

The only problem?

"It was like the coldest day in L.A.," Crawford recalled, laughing.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647493/my-head-director-braved-blizzard-shoot-jason-derulo-video.jhtml

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Photos | 50 Cent Promotes His New Fragrance "Power"

50 Cent Promotes His New Fragrance "Power"

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1625698

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T.I. - Remember Me

Remember Me

Artist: T.I.
Label: Grand Hustle
Director: Jessy Terrero

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1225081&vid=408370

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Monday, May 23, 2011

Train helps couples say 'Marry Me'

After Angela Ceravolo said ?yes? to Jonathan Tremblay?s proposal, he only had one thing left to do: Thank the band Train for helping him out. ?Thank you guys for coming out here ? this has been a dream come true for me,? he said through tears in Atlanta's CNN Center on Monday. ?You?re going to [...]

Source: http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/train-helps-couples-say-marry-me/

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Lady Gaga Recalls Buying Green Day Album In MTV Special

In MTV's upcoming 'Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside' special, Gaga reveals that the band's Dookie was the first album she ever bought.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News

Lady Gaga's songs certainly sound like they take inspiration from all forms of music, including disco, pop, industrial, metal and even punk. In an hour-long exclusive interview, "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," set to air Thursday, May 26, at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, the pop superstar opens up about the music she listened to in her youth, and how it helped shape her and make her the artist she is today.

"It was Green Day, Dookie, with my own money," she recalls in the special when asked about the first album she ever bought. "But my parents got me Stevie Wonder, Signed, Sealed [and] Delivered, and the Beatles when I was younger — A Hard Day's Night. Yeah, they were two CDs and they were given to me with [a] little boom box for Christmas when I was young."

She continues, "Just good choices, Mom and Dad. They could have chose anything, but Stevie Wonder and the Beatles? I mean, it's totally their fault. Don't spoon feed me the Beatles and Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen and Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin and Elton John and expect for me not to turn out this way. Nobody made you do that."

During the intimate chat, Mother Monster opens up about her rise to fame — from being bullied by classmates during her school days to the moment she decided to pursue her dream of pop stardom. She speaks in depth about the moments that shaped her as an artist, including working on her highly anticipated just-released album, Born This Way.

"Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside" also focuses on the pop superstar at home, spotlighting her close relationship with her family and her life growing up in Manhattan before she made the decision to move out on her own to New York City's Lower East Side. Fans will get to intimately know the girl that became Lady Gaga.

Don't miss MTV News' hour-long exclusive interview, "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," airing Thursday, May 26, at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664402/lady-gaga-green-day-first-album.jhtml

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50 Cent Shows Off Shoveling Prowess On 'Conan'

Fif talks about his impromptu snow-removal biz and his dog named Oprah.
By Jayson Rodriguez

50 Cent appears on "Conan" on Wednesday
Photo: TBS

When 50 Cent appeared on "Conan" on Wednesday night, the entrepreneurial-minded rapper didn't just hawk his new "Sleek by 50 Cent" wireless headphones, he told Conan O'Brien a story that demonstrated his business prowess.

Last month, during the heavy snowfall that blanketed the East Coast, 50 found himself shoveling his grandmother's driveway. After posting a picture of himself in action on Twitter, an idea went off in his head.

"I wanted to see if the principles of business applied to everything," he told the late-night host.

The G-Unit general then recruited a group of neighborhood kids and went around knocking on doors to offer their snow removal services.

"I sent the little guy to knock on the door," 50 explained.

"That's low," O'Brien shot back.

"I gave them the money," the rapper said, laughing. "I gave them some."

50 said the collective made $1,000 from shoveling 10 homes; he also charged homeowners for a picture of him shoveling, and turned that the money over to the kids too.

The jokes from the rapper didn't stop there, though. The TBS host showed the audience a picture from 50's Twitter profile of the rapper sitting at a desk with a schnauzer dog on his lap.

The dog's name? Oprah Winfrey.

"At first I thought Oprah didn't like hip-hop, so I didn't like her," he explained. "But I hadn't had a chance to meet her. I bought the dog, and now I love her."

The rapper also has a cat named (you guessed it) Gayle, after Winfrey's BFF Gayle King.

"It was one of those things where I didn't know what to name the cat, it just made sense," 50 said.

Although the rapper admitted he's never met Winfrey, he told O'Brien that he has met King and admires her. "She's great," he said.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657645/50-cent-conan.jhtml

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50 Cent Wants Robert Pattinson To Join His Rap Group

Now, I've heard that Robert Pattinson likes music and hanging out listening to bands, but something tells me this isn't what he had in mind. Rapper 50 Cent wants the 'Twilight' star to join his rap group G-Unit.

"Robert Pattinson. He has a big enough following to be the frontline. 'Twilight' ain't no joke."

LOL! That is true. Would you listen to G-Unit if Robert joined them?50 Cent said his regular bandmates, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo, are too busy with their own careers to join him on tour. Besides, he likes working with new artists.

"You'll see new faces, because I'm looking for new artists now. I'll sign new artists and take them with me and kinda groom them. I don't specifically say, 'I want this kind of artist' - I look for talent that inspires me, that complements what I do with their own thing."

That's actually a really nice thing to hear, especially since I'm sure the music industry is cut-throat competitive. But can you imagine Rob as a part of G-Unit? Actually, it would probably be PRICELESS to see him perform live once!Photos by INF Continue reading →

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2010/04/08/50-cent-wants-robert-pattinson-to-join-his-rap-group/

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Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia, Music World Music
Director: Philip Andelman
Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=332332

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Sunday, May 22, 2011

B.o.B - So High

So High

Artist: B.o.B
Label: E1 Music, Boss Hogg Outlawz
Director: Parris

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3238990&vid=593385

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Austin City Limits line-up announced

Stevie Wonder, Arcade Fire, Kanye West, Coldplay and Cee Lo Green top the list of artists who will be performing during the Austin City Limits Music Festival from September 16 to 18. "The essence of ACL has always been eclectic," said head talent buyer Charles Attal in a statement. "We're incredibly proud to offer something [...]

Source: http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/17/austin-city-limits-line-up-announced/

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Haley Reinhart Says 'American Idol' Judges 'Just Wanted To Push My Buttons'

Third-place finisher also denies romance with Casey Abrams in call with reporters.
By Gil Kaufman

Haley Reinhart
Photo: FOX

Though she had to endure the slings and arrows of the judges' criticism from week to week, ousted "American Idol" third-place finisher Haley Reinhart said she tried not to get online and read what "Idol" blogs were saying about her to save herself from too much negativity.

Speaking to reporters on Friday (May 20), she did, however, say that she appreciated the online support she got from former "Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert, who she dubbed one of the most "spectacular" contestants in the show's history.

A number of questions focused on her sometimes difficult relationship with the judges, which Reinhart said she tried not to sweat too much.

"It could go both ways," she said of the flack she got versus the nearly universal plaudits for finalists Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina. "I believe their intention for it through this whole process was to push me along further. It was apparent that they liked to get me to where I could be at the top of my game and get me a little fired up inside so that I come out with something that they really, really did not expect."

As confused as she was about why the judges seemed to pick on her, Reinhart said even fellow finalists like Alaina would come up to her and express bewilderment over the sometimes cutting remarks. "The only thing I can try to get out of that is that they really just wanted to push my buttons, push me as far as I could possibly [go to] get whatever they wanted to get out of me," she said. "And that was most of the time fire that they wanted so that I would get all 'arghhhh,' aggravated, and try to take it out on the stage."

Reinhart was proud of having taken risks early on in the season, at a time when many of her peers were playing it a bit safer. Yes, it might have hurt her initially — sending her to the bottom three four times — but eventually it seemed that America caught up and appreciated her sultry, bluesy vibe.

And while hitting the bottom as many times as she did might have eroded another singer's confidence, Reinhart said it somehow gave her a sense of invincibility. "I don't like to sell myself short and I believe in taking that all in stride. 'I've been in [the bottom three] so many times and I'm still around. ... I have to step my game up even more week to week.' And it [paid] off."

In addition to picking her Elton John cover of "Bennie and the Jets" as her favorite performance on the show, Reinhart reminisced about her first big gig, where she sang LeAnn Rimes' "Blue" on her ninth birthday alongside her folks at a tattoo festival.

Talking about how much fun it was to hang with the two teenage contestants headed to next week's finale, Reinhart described herself as a "goofball," which prompted a question about why so much of the negative sentiment online in the wake of her ouster seemed to peg her as an aloof, haughty princess.

"Definitely," she said when asked if America got the wrong impression of her on the show. "It's easy to get depicted in different ways on the show. ... The footage that was taken ... usually I'm messing around with the camera guys, we're all cracking up together. I like to have a good time. I'm usually always bubbly. It's different to see what comes out."

As for whether she was angry when host Ryan Seacrest announced the results on Thursday, Reinhart denied being mad, despite what appeared to be an annoyed, incredulous look on her face.

"Not at all, not angry. Of course everybody's going to be surprised with the verdict," she said. "But all in all I accepted it very quickly and I took it all with a grain of salt. ... This is a good thing. This happened for a reason. And it only means that I'm going to start my career as a solo artist even sooner."

Like pal Casey Abrams, Reinhart denied a romance between the two and said the rumors probably stemmed from the fact that they were musical confidants and got very close on the show. She said they had a "different kind of connection" than the rest of the cast and when the whispers about their alleged liaison started they just kind of went with it and laughed at the tabloid attention. "We have a really, really strong relationship, not dating," she said. "But the musicality between us has been wonderful."

Now that she can relax and think about her debut album, Reinhart said she'd love to do something that has a "sultry blues rock" feel, and then maybe circle back at some point to record her first love, jazz.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' , where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664333/american-idol-haley-reinhart.jhtml

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Beyonc� - Video Phone (Extended Remix)

Video Phone (Extended Remix)

Artist: Beyoncé
Label: Columbia, Music World Music
Director: Hype Williams
Album: I Am...Sasha Fierce

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=455581

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Photos | MTV News' Top 25 Songs Of 2010

MTV News' Top 25 Songs Of 2010

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Ke$ha Wants 'Till The World Ends' Remix To 'Take Over Airwaves'

Singer says her collaboration with Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj made a 'supergroup of three hot, strong women.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias

Ke$ha
Photo: MTV News

Earlier this week, Britney Spears, Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj dropped their femme-fatale-friendly remix of the Spears club track "Till the World Ends." The already fun song got super-charged thanks to Minaj's cutting verses and Ke$ha's recognizable vocals.

"I'm a massive fan of both the ladies I share the track with," K told MTV News on Wednesday at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards. "I wrote 'TTWE' for Britney with [producers] Dr. Luke and Max [Martin] and she killed it and I loved it, but I just thought a supergroup of three hot, strong women could just take over the airwaves."

Ke$ha went on to give props to both the ladies. "I'm such a massive fan of Britney and I'm such a massive supporter of Nicki and a fan, and chicks sometimes don't team up. I don't know why, but I'm, like, huge on the girl power, so I just wanted to make a power girl track take over."  

The remix quickly won praise from fans who seem to think the new features step up the song's game. "You know, with the three of us, I wasn't necessarily surprised [people like it] because I'm such a massive fan of Nicki Minaj and obviously with Britney I'm a fan of it, [taking] myself out of the equation," she said. "I'm just happy people like it."  

So did Ke$ha (who once sang backup for Spears) feel any pressure writing a song for Britney? "There was no pressure. Writing for somebody else is really fun 'cause I consider myself a songwriter first and foremost," she explained. "So it was so much fun to put my brain in the sexy Britney Spears brain and express myself almost as if I were possessed by her."

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50 Cent - Here We Go Again

Here We Go Again

Artist: 50 Cent
Label: G Note Records
Director: Jesses Smith

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=860639&vid=626984

Jamie Foxx Justin Timberlake Jay Sean Jermaine Dupri

Dus10 Bomber - Hometown (BBoy Video To Big Krit's "Hometown Hero")

Source: http://www.shamoneymotivation.com/2011/05/dus10-bomber-hometown-bboy-video-to-big.html

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Saturday, May 21, 2011

B.o.B - Don't Let Me Fall

Don't Let Me Fall

Artist: B.o.B
Label: Atlantic Records, Grand Hustle, Rebel Rock
Director: Ethan Lader

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3238990&vid=598044

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Kanye West Joins Katy Perry On 'American Idol' For 'E.T.'

Duo play up hit song's intergalactic theme with laser-heavy performance.
By Adam Graham

Katy Perry performs on "American Idol" on Thursday
Photo: Michael Becker / FOX

Katy Perry transported "E.T." to the "American Idol" stage Thursday (April 21) and even brought a special guest along with her: Kanye West.

The two reprised their recent #1 hit on the "Idol" stage in a pre-taped appearance during the "Idol" results show. The performance kicked off with Kanye's opening verse piped in via music video, so it was a surprise when the Coachella headliner appeared onstage with Perry later in the song.

Perry was carried on to the stage, arms outstretched, by three dancers dressed in alien getups, who hoisted Russell Brand's better half high above their heads. Perry was decked out in a white, form-fitting bodysuit tricked out with pink LED lights and a long white cape. She wore some sort of futuristic space crown atop her head, making her look like the queen of a far-off pop planet.

Green lasers crisscrossed the darkened "Idol" stage as Perry was placed into a throne-like cage, which was carted across the stage by her team of a half-dozen alien dancers.

West took the stage in a leather coat accented with a fur overlay and exercised self-censorship on his verse's "alien sex" line. West and Perry faced off at center stage, moving toward and away from each other to play up the tension between them. In the song's closing moments, Perry softly caressed West's cheek before retreating back to her throne, where the lights dimmed and her suit lit up with blinking, zigzagging lights.

Perry and West both have a history with "American Idol." Perry chipped in as a guest judge during the early rounds in season nine, at one point threatening to throw a Coke in Kara DioGuardi's face, and performed "Waking Up in Vegas" -- in an Elvis jumpsuit, no less -- on the show during season eight. Earlier that same season, West took to the "Idol" stage to perform "Heartless," from his 808s and Heartbreak LP, which would later be transformed into a winning performance by that season's champ, Kris Allen.

What did you think of Perry and West's performance? Let us know in the comments!

Don't miss "Idol Party Live" every Thursday at noon on MTV.com for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Beyonce & Jay Z Are Opposites At The MET

Beyonce Knowles and her hubby Jay Z made a date night out of the 2011 MET Gala in New York City last night (May 2) and went for completely opposite colour choices. Beyonce opted for a skin tight black mermaid … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/05/03/beyonce-jay-z-are-opposites-at-the-met/

Eminem Marshall Mathers Jason Derulo Rihanna

Drake 'Knows How To Make Great Records,' DJ Khalil Says

'Fear' producer hopes to reunite with Drizzy for his sophomore album, Take Care.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Kara Warner

DJ Khalil
Photo: MTV News

West Coast producer DJ Khalil may be hard at work on Dr. Dre's Detox, but in between crafting tracks with the Good Doctor, he is working on landing beats on another highly anticipated album: Drake's Take Care.

"With Drake, I'm working on music for him because I know that he's working on his album. So I keep in touch with 40 from his camp; we always talk, and I know Boi-1Da," Khalil told MTV News. "So I'm just in the lab, just tryin' to cook up stuff for him and just tryin' to hopefully come up with another great record, because he's just an incredible artist."

Khalil is already on tap to work with a number of rap superstars. Besides Dre, he has garnered a spot on Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" 's upcoming Bad Meets Evil project and is laying down tracks for Game's forthcoming R.E.D. Album.

Even with all that work, collaborating with the Young Money spitter appeals to the California-based boardsman. "Drake, to me, he's a lyricist, he understands songs," the producer said of Drizzy's appeal. "He can really write, he's an incredible writer. He has a great sense of melody. He just knows how to make great records."

Drake and Khalil's last collaboration, "Fear," appeared on the 2009 retail version of So Far Gone, but the producer didn't get a chance to land any of his work on Drake's official debut, Thank Me Later. With Take Care looking likely for a 2011 release, Khalil hopes to recapture some of that magic.

"We did a track two years ago called 'Fear' off of So Far Gone, and it's like one of his favorite songs — he told me himself," Khalil said. "I didn't get a chance to make his last album, so hopefully on this one, we'll get in the lab and knock it out."

Are you hoping Drake and Khalil will reunite? Let us know in the comments!

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'Love & Hip Hop' Stars Talk Fabolous, Jim Jones, 50 Cent

Emily, Chrissy and Olivia spill all to MTV News before the Monday night premiere of their brand-new reality series.
By Rebecca Thomas

Olivia Longott, Chrissy Lampkin and Emily Bustamante
Photo: MTV News

Hip-hop is a lot like the title of Jim Jones' "Blow Your Smoke." For all of us ardent followers of this rhyming circuit of storytellers who weave aspirational fantasies about Bentleys and shopping sprees, it doesn't matter much that the German luxury car is a loaner or that the fresh-from-the runway Lanvin frock is going back to a publicist. To paraphrase the Diplomat boss, sometimes it's just about blowing smoke.

If anyone knows that rap is as much caked-in grime as it is glossy surfaces, it's the cast of VH1's brand-new docu-series "Love & Hip Hop," officially premiering Monday night (March 14) at 10:30 p.m. ET. On Friday, MTV News caught up with three of the principal castmembers — Chrissy Lampkin (longtime lady of Jim Jones), Emily Bustamante (mother of Fabolous' son) and Olivia Longott (ex-G-Unit songstress) — and they spilled details about their lives and the show.

"For me, the struggle is mostly the image struggle, keeping up with the image," Emily said, when asked what the biggest challenge was about being in a relationship with a famous rapper.

In the weeks since the "Love & Hip-Hop" teaser trailer hit the Net, viewers have been chirping about the women behind the MCs. But the biggest surprise for many fans is that these rappers have been in serious relationships at all. Seeing iconic or veteran rappers on shows like MTV's "Run's House" or E!'s "Snoop Dogg's Father Hood" is one thing, but the idea of a domesticated Fab, whose legion of female fans get worked up over his chipped tooth, is another.

"Me as a wardrobe stylist, I dress these guys, when they put on their bling and their clothes and their shades, they turn into a character," Emily explained. "So that's the biggest struggle for me, the image thing, having to deal with that."

Emily, who describes herself as Fab's "secret" in the premiere episode, recalled being approached by the execs behind "L&HH." She was sold on the chance to brand herself as wardrobe stylist "Emily B." So was Loso supportive?

Emily paused for a moment. "Was he supportive? ... He said, 'Eh, I don't know if that's a good idea.' ... He said, 'I'm not gonna tell you not to do it, but I don't know if it's a good idea.' So maybe he was right," she laughed, adding quickly, "For him!"

Meeting Chrissy helped cement the decision, and though Fab and Jim traded barbs on Twitter last April, their female counterparts proved fast friends.

"In the beginning, it was a pilot about me and Jimmy ['Jim and the Family Jones'], and he wasn't really comfortable with that," Chrissy explained. VH1 producers volunteered to bring in "some more females, make it more interesting," and eventually Emily, Olivia and aspiring rapper Somaya Reece were added to the cast; Emily's close friend Mashonda Tifrere (ex-wife of Swizz Beatz) also appears.

"If I don't have to work with Jimmy every day, I'm with it!" the ever-bouncy Chrissy, who actually proposes to Jim on the show, laughed. "He didn't want to be bothered with the cameras every day."

According to Olivia, best known for her turn on 50 Cent's G-Unit roster, including a feature spot on her ex-boss' hit "Candy Shop," the series is also about re-charging her music career.

"A lot of people don't really know the real Olivia. I felt like I was kind of sheltered being in the Unit, so this was a way for everybody to see my personality and see how I really am, especially when you see me with these two women," she said gesturing at Emily and Chrissy. " 'Cause we have a lot of scenes together. So you get to see the relationships and how we bond. ... It's a big deal for me because a lot of people also don't know that really I can sing, sing."

With fame in the balance — and all the negative press that can come with it already rearing its head — the ladies said they're just beginning to adjust to the media glare.

"I'm not really in the belly of the beast when it comes to the industry. I've been playing a supporting role to somebody who's going through all types of pitfalls, losses and gains," Chrissy said. "So I can see what it does, but I don't know what it truly feels like — until now, but this is very new, it's premature."

Will you be watching "Love & Hip Hop"? Tell us in the comments!

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Jill Scott on losing 50 pounds: I'm in a good place

Singer and actress Jill Scott is experimenting with her sound on her first album in four years, ?The Light of the Sun,? and she?s also showing off a new physique. The singer has dropped more than 50 pounds, and is now smaller than she?s been in 20 years. The "Golden" songstress tells the June issue [...]

Source: http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/16/jill-scott-on-losing-50-pounds-im-in-a-good-place/

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Kanye West - Stay Up! (Viagra)

Stay Up! (Viagra)

Artist: Kanye West
Label: Decon
Director: Jason Goldwatch
Album: The Death of Adam

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1230523&vid=354190

Jamie Foxx Justin Timberlake Jay Sean Jermaine Dupri

50 Cent Drops 54 Pounds For Movie Role

Oh my goodness! Rapper 50 Cent clearly took his starring role in the movie 'Things Fall Apart' (which he also wrote) very seriously. He played a football player who is diagnosed with cancer.

"I lost 54 pounds for it," the 6-foot rapper, 34 --- who dropped from 214 pounds to an astonishing 160 with a liquid diet and three-hour-a-day treadmill walks for nine weeks -- tells the new Us Weekly (on newsstands now). "I was starving."

It worked; he certainly looks sick. I don't have rights to the picture, but you can see it here.50 Cent says he doesn't plan to stay that thin, though.

"I've been eating. I'll be back in shape in no time!"

That doesn't even sound healthy, but at least he isn't going to try to maintain that low body weight. Goodness!Photos by FAME Continue reading →

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2010/05/27/50-cent-drops-54-pounds-for-movie-role/

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Friday, May 20, 2011

Rihanna - Who's That Chick?

Who's That Chick?

Artist: Rihanna
Label: Astralwerks
Director: Jonas Akerlund
Album: One More Love

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1940303&vid=619501

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Eminem Says He Has Acting Gigs 'In The Works'

Film projects have to be 'dope enough' to make him want to put down the mic, rapper tells MTV's 'RapFix Live.'
By Alvin Blanco

Eminem
Photo: MTV News

If Eminem is going to leave the studio for an acting gig, it better be a winner. When Eminem appeared on MTV's "RapFix Live", the elusive Detroit rapper revealed that there are film roles he is currently considering. In the "Pass the Mic" portion of the show, Havoc of Mobb Deep asked the Shady Records founder, "When's your next movie?"

"There are some things in the [works], a couple of scripts," Eminem answered. "I guess it's more so of just waiting now to see how they come together. Obviously it's gotta be something that I feel is dope enough to make me want to say, 'OK, let me put the mic down for a second and go do this movie.' There are some things that are in the works. I guess we'll just see how they come together."

According to Em, rapping and acting have some things in common. "I think Ice Cube said this one time, that if you can rap and you can perform to the camera for singing and things like that in videos, it should be a fairly natural transition," Em said. "I know that everybody can't do it, it's not for everybody. But I did hear him say a lot of times it should be easy because they kind of coincide. You're used to doing that."

Since getting raves for his portrayal of Jimmy "B-Rabbit" Smith in "8 Mile," a movie loosely based on his own life, Em's acting résumé has been rather limited. He's only made cameos in HBO's "Entourage" and the film "Funny People" since. It appears that besides the fact that he's been focusing on his music, Em's respect for the acting craft is part of the reason he hasn't completely jumped into Hollywood.

"Making that transition I felt like, 'Oh, this might be fairly easy,' and it wasn't," Em said. "It's a whole different thing because you may be used to performing to the camera and you may be used to doing certain things in videos and things like that, but it's a whole different ballgame when the music is off and you have lines that you need to say. Remembering the lines and trying to be natural and what am I going to do when I say this line, it's different. It takes a minute to get used to."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664316/eminem-acting-again.jhtml

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Photos | MTV News' Top 25 Songs Of 2010

MTV News' Top 25 Songs Of 2010

Jamie Foxx Justin Timberlake Jay Sean Jermaine Dupri

50 Cent Joins Nicole Scherzinger For 'Right There' Music Video

'Well, I was really wanting to date her,' 50 says of collaboration.
By Matt Elias

Nicole Scherzinger and 50 Cent on the set of "Right There"
Photo: James Lacsina/ MTV News

A surefire way to get buzz for your single is to invite 50 Cent to feature on it. On Tuesday, former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger took to Twitter to announce that she was doing just that.

"Shooting #RIGHTTHERE video w/ my boy @50cent @nicolescherzy & @50cent too hot for all these clothes!," Scherzinger tweeted, along with a photo of the two on the set.

MTV News was also on the Los Angeles set of the video for "Right There," directed by Paul Hunter. The still-unreleased "Right There," featuring a verse by Fif and produced by Jim Jonsin, will be the first U.S. single off Scherzinger's long-awaited solo debut, Killer Love. (A version of the album, sans 50 Cent, is already out in Europe.)

"I wanted to kinda keep the video pretty simple because I wanted it iconic," the songstress said, decked out in an eye-popping orange jumpsuit and olive-green jacket. "The way you get iconic pictures and memorable videos is just by keeping it simple. So we're in downtown L.A., and we're just wearing super-fly colors, and we're just feelin' it. Right now, we just shot a scene, it's just us against the blue skies — it's beautiful and we're just feeling the song."

Fif, who looked dapper in a blood-red trench coat and matching cap, joked that he sought out the collab for other reasons.

"Well, I was really wanting to date her," the rapper said with a grin. "They played the song, and I said, 'OK, I'll do it. Maybe I'll get a chance to do the video and be next to her and see what happens!' "

Curtis Jackson Kanye West Justin Bieber Nicki Minaj

Florence And The Machine Ready To Record New Album

Finally!!
Florence and the Machine have finished writing their next album and are ready to get in the studio and start recording!!
Guitarist Rob Ackroyd revealed some deets on the band's sophomore album:
"Work on the second album has begun with producer Paul Epworth and there is talk of booking out Abbey Road for a month in April [...]

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2011-02-18-florence-and-the-machine-ready-to-record-sophomore-album

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50 Cent Wants Robert Pattinson To Join His Rap Group

"Robert Pattinson. He has a big enough following to be the frontline. 'Twilight' ain't no joke."

"You'll see new faces, because I'm looking for new artists now. I'll sign new artists and take them with me and kinda groom them. I don't specifically say, 'I want this kind of artist' - I look for talent that inspires me, that complements what I do with their own thing."

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2010/04/08/50-cent-wants-robert-pattinson-to-join-his-rap-group/

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Photos | 2011 SXSW Music Festival

2011 SXSW Music Festival

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Big Sean Weekend Recap 17

Source: http://www.shamoneymotivation.com/2011/05/big-sean-weekend-recap-17.html

Jermaine Dupri Ludacris JayZ Beyonce Knowles

Thursday, May 19, 2011

New T.I. & Xtina! Hear The Song In Full!

We heard a preview last week.
Now, the whole tune is here!
Check out T.I.'s collaboration with Christina Aguilera, done by the most in demand producer of the moment, Alex Da Kid, above!
We really like it!
Wish it would have been on Xtina's album!

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2010-11-29-ti-and-christina-aguilera-castle-walls-full-song

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Ace Hood ft. Rick Ross & Lil Wayne ? Hustle Hard (Remix)

Source: http://www.shamoneymotivation.com/2011/05/ace-hood-ft-rick-ross-lil-wayne-hustle.html

Curtis Jackson Kanye West Justin Bieber Nicki Minaj

Justin Bieber Vintage Video: His First Meeting With Usher

Justin Timberlake also wanted to sign Bieber, 'Never Say Never' star said in 2009.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber
Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News

Just as the world was learning who Justin Bieber was, MTV News caught up with the shaggy-haired singer in September 2009. He was gearing up to release his debut album, My World, and plotting his pop-world domination. In the year and a half since that interview, Bieber has done the nearly impossible, launching himself into the pop mega-sphere.

In the chat, Bieber recalled how he and his manager, Scooter Braun, met and eventually got big names interested in signing the teen.

"My manager found me on YouTube. He flew me out to Atlanta for the first time — I'd never actually been on a plane before. He flew me to Atlanta where i was going to the studio to meet some people," he recalled.

"And Usher happened to roll up in his Range Rover. I ran up to him, and I was like, 'Usher, I love your songs. Want me to sing you one?' The politest possible way he could say no, he did. ... I took the hint. I didn't get to sing for him: He had to run into a studio session."

But later, Usher was beckoning the teen back to the ATL. "He actually watched my videos — after my manager got to talking to him — and was like, 'I should have let this kid sing,' and flew me back to Atlanta where I got to sing for him in a proper setting. A week later, I had a meeting with Justin Timberlake, who also wanted to sign me, so they both kind of wanted me."

As the story goes, Bieber went with Usher, and the two never looked back.

"As far as Usher being my mentor, he's definitely given me words of wisdom. I hear it from everybody, but definitely to hear it from Usher is great, just to stay humble and grounded is very important," he explained.

"There's a lot of people, especially young stars, that have gone down the wrong path, and I definitely plan to stay humble and stay grounded and keep my family first, because that stuff really is important in life."

On Friday, Justin Bieber's 3-D documentary, "Never Say Never," opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music.

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