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

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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