'Michael Jackson's This Is It' Premiere After Party
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1624956
Alecia Elliott Alessandra Ambrosio Alexis Bledel Ali Campoverdi
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Michael Jackson Doctor Pleads Not Guilty To Involuntary Manslaughter
Conrad Murray's trial slated to start March 28.
By Gil Kaufman
Dr. Conrad Murray appears in court on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California
Photo: Irfan Khan-Pool/ Getty Images
Michael Jackson's former personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray entered a plea of not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in the June 2009 death of the pop star at his arraignment on Tuesday morning (January 25).
According to the Los Angeles Times, when asked by judge Michael Pastor how he pleaded to the charge, Murray said, "Your honor, I am an innocent man." When Pastor interrupted and asked Murray what his plea was, the cardiologist said, "Therefore, I plead not guilty."
The brief hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court ended with Pastor setting a March 28 date for the start of a trial in the case. Murray faces a maximum of four years in prison if convicted, and the Times noted that he surprised the judge by invoking his right to a speedy trial, which meant the case would have to begin by late March. Pastor noted the rarity of a defendant asking to have a speedy trial, then set jury selection for the week of March 28 and said he was inclined to allow television coverage of the trial that the defense expects will last two months.
Lawyers for Murray have maintained his innocence all along, saying he did not do anything that "should have" caused the 50-year-old pop icon's death. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office determined that Jackson died of an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol mixed with a cocktail of other sedatives.
Murray has admitted to administering propofol to Jackson in the hours before the singer's death, but the defense appears to be gearing up to claim that it was Jackson who administered the final, fatal dose of the drug after he woke in a panic from a fitful night of sleep.
During a preliminary hearing earlier this month to determine if there was enough evidence to hold Murray over for trial, the physician's attorneys said that there was evidence Jackson injected or drank a fatal amount of the drug when the doctor was not looking.
Related Photos Related ArtistsChristina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci Zooey Deschanel
'Fright Night' Kicks Off MTV's Sneak Peek Week
Christopher Mintz-Plasse, director Craig Gillespie speak after screening.
By Kara Warner
Christopher Mintz-Plasse at the MTV Movie Awards Sneak Peek Week screening of "Fright Night"
Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup
MTV's Sneak Peek Week kicked off in fine fang-led form Monday night (May 30) with a special sneak preview screening of the highly anticipated vampire horror comedy "Fright Night." The lucky audience members in attendance were not only treated to the screening more than two months ahead of the film's release, but also took part in a lively Q&A session with star Christopher Mintz-Plasse and director Craig Gillespie.
Gillespie's re-telling of the 1985 classic drew gasps and laughs from the crowd, as did the lively repartee between Mintz-Plasse and Gillespie during the post-screening conversation.
"I thought it was great," attendee Jessi Lederer told MTV News. "It was funny and frightening and the 3-D was actually really cool. It was the perfect amount of everything. I thought it was great."
Dominic Ceroni agreed with Lederer's sentiments."Going into it, I thought it wasn't going to be very good, since there are so many remakes these days," he admitted. "I went into it with low expectations and it far exceeded them. Chris [Mintz-Plasse] is a sexy vampire; I'm not gonna lie," he said with a wink.
"I really liked it," added Bobby Graham. "I liked a lot of the dialogue. You could tell where they improv'd a little. The actors had great chemistry together," he said. "I will definitely go to see it again in theaters, and I'm definiteley going to be bragging about this for the next two months."
The film stars Colin Farrell as a bloodthirsty vampire who heads to suburbia and terrorizes his next-door neighbor Charlie, played by "Star Trek" veteran Anton Yelchin. Mintz-Plasse plays vampire convert "Evil" Ed Thompson; "Harry Potter" alum and former "Doctor Who" David Tennant is vamp-hunting showman Peter Vincent; and "Solitary Man" breakout Imogen Poots portrays love interest Amy, with Toni Collette and Dave Franco also popping up.
Mintz-Plasse, Gillespie and "Fright Night" are just the beginning of our lead into the Movie Awards. The five-day mini film fest is a week of special screenings designed to keep building the excitement for our annual, unpredictable and always-entertaining event.
Tuesday's screening is "The Art of Getting By," followed by a Q&A with stars Emma Roberts, Elizabeth Reaser, Michael Angarano and director Gavin Wiesen. Wednesday night, we'll screen "Horrible Bosses," with Jason Bateman and director Seth Gordon. Thursday night is "The Help," with Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard, and Friday is "30 Minutes or Less" with Aziz Ansari, Michael Pena and Ruben Fleischer.
Will vampires and werewolves own the 2011 MTV Movie Awards? Can wizards or dream thieves steal the Golden Popcorn? Find out June 5, when the 20th annual show airs live at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Sneak Peek Week, starting May 30, is five days of exclusives and interviews with the casts of "Fright Night," "Horrible Bosses" and more. Check out everything there is to know about Sneak Peek Week and the Movie Awards at MovieAwards.MTV.com!
Related VideosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664789/fright-night-christopher-mintz-plasse.jhtml
Ke$ha, Black Eyed Peas, More Featured In O Music Awards Roundtable Debate
Music-video director Wayne Isham will join Most Innovative Video debate, which streams live Monday on OMusicAwards.com and MTV.com.
By MTV News Staff
Ke$ha
Photo: Noel Vasquez/ Getty Images
Ever since they were first announced, the O Music Awards have proudly proclaimed themselves the untraditional alternative to the staid world of red carpets, acceptance speeches and celebrity glad-handing.
And for further proof of that point, consider the following: Though the inaugural O Music Awards won't premiere until April 28, the first award will be handed out on Monday at 4 p.m. ET ... and it's a big one.
For weeks, fans have been voting for the Most Innovative Music Video through the O Music Awards official site, and on Monday — in a roundtable debate moderated by MTV News' James Montgomery — a winner will be crowned.
The O Music Awards Debate for the Most Innovative Music Video, presented by FUZE®, will stream live on OMusicAwards.com and MTV.com. Joining Montgomery around the table will be acclaimed video director Wayne Isham, Mashable's Brenna Ehrlich and some super-secret celebrity guests.
The Black Eyed Peas, Ke$ha, My Chemical Romance and more will also take part in the discussion about just what makes a video truly innovative, and the folks who are nominated for the award — a list that includes Arcade Fire, Robyn, OK Go and Andy Grammer — will also Skype in to make the case for why their video deserves to be named Most Innovative.
On Monday morning, the original list of 10 nominees will be whittled down to the top five vote-getters, and then, during the debate, our roundtable and the Internet audience will cut that list down to the final three. At the very end, we'll announce the winner of the very first O Music Award for Most Innovative Video.
The inaugural O Music Awards will stream live from Las Vegas at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT on OMusicAwards.com. Tune in to see who will reign supreme in categories like Most Viral Dance, Funniest Music Short and NSFW Music Video!
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662511/o-music-awards-most-innovative-video.jhtml
Anna Kournikova Anna Paquin AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright
'Hangover Part II' Stars Call Bangkok A 'Tropical Metropolis'
'It's just so colorful and eclectic and stimulating and overwhelming,' Ed Helms tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner
Zach Galifianakis in "The Hangover Part II"
Photo: Warner Bros
For those getting ready to see "The Hangover Part II" this weekend, there are a few things we'd like you to know about the film before settling into your seat with your popcorn.
First, check out our handy cheat sheet on the film. Next, we have a few fun details straight from the stars themselves — Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis — who have discussed Cooper's head-shaving skills and promised "a lot more comedy" in the second installment.
There is also the new-and-improved setting of Bangkok, Thailand. When we caught up with the actors recently, we asked them to describe filming on location in Bangkok.
"Bangkok is a tropical metropolis," Helms said. "It is very hot and steamy, incredibly urban, [there are] huge skyscrapers mixed in with abject poverty right tucked around it. It's totally mind-blowing."
"[It's a] Buddhist culture," Cooper jumped in. "Buddhist/Muslim."
"It's just an unbelievably dense place," Helms continued. "And it's just so colorful and eclectic and stimulating and overwhelming that even as a tourist with nothing to do but have fun, it's overwhelming. When you're trying to work there, it's brutal."
The boys then briefly debated how many people live in the city: 9 million, according to Helms, 12 million, according to Galifianakis (according to the U.N., it's 9.3 million).
"It also sounds like a 13-year-old tourist named everything," Galifianakis added with a grin, before naming a few familiar Bangkok-ian colloquialisms. "Bangkok, ladyboy, pu pu platter," he listed, trailing off into a few giggles.
Check out everything we've got on "The Hangover Part II."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Videos Related PhotosSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664712/hangover-part-2-ed-helms.jhtml
Catherine Bell Chandra West Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore
Ke$ha - Blah Blah Blah
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: RCA
- Director: Brendan Malloy
- Album: Animal [Clean]
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=487452
Monday, 30 May 2011
Christie Brinkley Wants To Find A Man That Is Not A Gold Digger
Supermodel Christie Brinkley has not ruled out walking down the aisle for a fifth time, but insists her next suitor must not be after her money. The beauty, who is currently wowing Broadway in Chicago, was devastated when her fourth marriage to Peter Cook came to an end in 2008 following revelations of his infidelities. [...]
Ke$ha - We R Who We R
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: RCA
- Director: Hype Williams
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=603136
Usher - Lil Freak
- Artist: Usher
- Label: LaFace Records, JLG
- Director: Anthony Mandler
- Album: Raymond V. Raymond
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1270&vid=497563
Bridget Moynahan Britney Spears Brittany Daniel Brittany Lee
Teresa Giudice Denies Husband Is Leaving Her: 'We're Together and Happy!'
The latest issue of In Touch Weekly has 'Fame Destroyed My Family' splashed across cover with 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Teresa Giudice, her four kids and her husb... wait, where's Joe? That's right, according to the magazine he's "leaving" them over fights about "money, booze and jealousy." So is her marriage really on the rocks?
Why not go to the source: Teresa. "Of course not!" she tells me exclusively. "Joe and I were just in Miami together for our birthdays, and we're in San Diego together right now for my 'Fabulicious' book tour. I taped 'Ellen' today. Love her!"
Source: http://www.ivillage.com/teresa-giudice-denies-husband-leaving-her-were-together-and-happy/1-a-353869
Beyonce's 'Till The End Of Time' Hits The Internet
Song is rumored to be next single off the pop singer's new album, 4.
By James Dinh
Beyonce
Photo: Getty
Days after the premiere of the postapocalyptic dance clip for "Run the World (Girls)," Beyoncé fans are now being treated to the recently leaked tune "Till the End of Time." Rumored to be the next single off Beyoncé's new album, 4, which hits stores on June 28, the uptempo track has the pop powerhouse professing her everlasting love.
"Till the End of Time" begins with spitfire drums as Bey's muffled lyric line loops over and over again until a dramatic explosion. "Come take my hand/ I won't let you go/ I'll be your friend/ I will love you so deeply/ I will be the one to kiss you at night/ I will love you till the end of time," she sings atop an airy buildup.
Mrs. Carter continues her appeal, convincing her lover that she is the one who'll be there at the end of every night and, as the song goes, "till the end of time." The song, reminiscent of an older Destiny's Child cut, has Beyoncé keeping the energy level high with marching band-esque drums. Bey also belts over the bridge's horn sequence.
No confirmation yet from Beyoncé's camp as to whether the track will appear on the singer's new LP. The recipient of Billboard's Millennium Award recently revealed that she recorded "more than 60 songs" for the new project, which includes the LP's lead single, "Run the World (Girls)."
MTV News caught up with Bey's longtime choreographer, Frank Gatson Jr., who gave us the scoop on her team's inspiration for the Francis Lawrence-directed video for "Run the World."
"We prepared a lot for it. We had seen something on YouTube; we had seen these three guys from Africa, this Mozambique African dance troupe. ... We were like, 'Wow, this is an amazing movement,' " he said. "And that movement has always been in the back of our heads for the last year. From there, we talked about a lot of concepts."
What do you think of "Till the End of Time"? Share your reviews below!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664399/beyonce-till-the-end-of-time.jhtml
Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler Cheryl Burke
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Britney Spears May Undergo Psychiatric Evaluation In Defamation Case
Ex-manager Sam Lutfi wants to prove singer is competent to testify in his lawsuit against her mother.
By Jocelyn Vena
Britney Spears
Photo: Pacific Coast News
Britney Spears and Sam Lutfi may cross paths again. The singer and her former manager could meet in court, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Lutfi wants Spears to give a deposition in a case he's pursuing against her mother. In her book "Through the Storm," Lynne Spears alleges that Lutfi was a "gatekeeper" and manipulated the superstar, cutting her off from people and drugging her. Lutfi was fired back in 2008.
He says those claims aren't true and is suing Lynne Spears for defamation. He has requested that Britney testify as part of his lawsuit. However, her parents are opposed to the idea of having her appear for a deposition, saying that she is mentally incapable. Lutfi has fired back through the courts, and in a motion filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, he requested that Spears undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Spears is currently under the conservatorship of her father, James Parnell Spears, and lawyer, Andrew Wallet. Lutfi claims that her ability to conduct interviews and tour as of late proves that she is capable of testifying, and he has even produced his own expert to weigh in on the matter.
Regardless of the outcome, Spears does have a busy summer ahead of her. She's set to begin work on her next music video later this month for the single "I Wanna Go." And she will hit the road with Nicki Minaj in June for her Femme Fatale tour. Other special guests will include Nervo, Jessie and the Toy Boys and, for some select shows, "(Drop Dead) Beautiful" collaborator Sabi.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663829/britney-spears-psychiatric-evaluation.jhtml
What's Your Number? Website
The website for WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? is finally up!
http://www.whatsyournumbermovie.com/
And the official Facebook page!
http://www.facebook.com/whatsyournumbermovie
And the official YouTube channel!
http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialNumberMovie
Also, here's the trailer!
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/5/5/whats-your-number-website.html
Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle Carla Campbell
Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez Get Lovey Dovey On The Beach
Earlier this week we learned that young lovebirds Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez made their way to Maui, Hawaii for a little romantic getaway together … giving JB an opportunity to show off his new Jesus tattoo. Today we get to see more photos of Justena frolicking on the beach together … in pretty touchy-feely [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/PejMJpaSTnc/
Kim Kardashian and Fiance Make First Public Appearance
With her mother's approval, and with the celebrity gossip world talking about her like never before, Kim Kardashian officially debuted her engagement and her fiance in Monaco last night.
The reality star and Kris Humphries attended the Amber Fashion Show at the Meridien Beach Plaza hotel in Monte Carlo yesterday, the sort of event Kris had likely never even heard of before hooking up with Kim.
As you can see, the couple were seated at table number-23. Which is appropriate. That's the number of millions this wedding special could rake in for the family.
How long do you think this union will last?
[Photo: WENN.com]
Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/05/kim-kardashian-and-fiance-makes-first-public-appearance/
Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez Get Lovey Dovey On The Beach
Earlier this week we learned that young lovebirds Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez made their way to Maui, Hawaii for a little romantic getaway together … giving JB an opportunity to show off his new Jesus tattoo. Today we get to see more photos of Justena frolicking on the beach together … in pretty touchy-feely [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/PejMJpaSTnc/
Death Cab For Cutie's Guide To Seattle: Watch A Preview Here!
Our 'Death Cab for Cutie: Seattle Sonics' series kicks off Tuesday on MTV.com, the same day Codes and Keys hits stores.
By James Montgomery
Death Cab for Cutie's Nick Harmer and Ben Gibbard
Photo: MTV News
Death Cab for Cutie originally formed sometime around 1997, in the idyllic college town of Bellingham, Washington (unofficial nickname: "The City of Subdued Excitement"), but it was in a city 90 miles south where they'd really make their mark: Seattle.
Most of the band had grown up in towns surrounding the Emerald City during the height of the so-called "grunge explosion," and their teenage years progressed somewhat accordingly — Ben Gibbard, who was raised in Bremerton, would take a 55-minute ferry trip across the Puget Sound to watch bands play at the now-defunct OK Hotel in downtown Seattle — so, when they decided to make the move from Bellingham to the proverbial big city to try their hand at becoming a real rock band, well, it was sort of the stuff of dreams. Only, things didn't quite work out the way they had planned.
DCFC's early years were a struggle, marked by lousy, low-paying jobs and thinly attended gigs. When Gibbard took up residence in a tiny apartment on Corliss Avenue, working as what could charitably be described as a medical tech (he basically washed testing equipment), there were times when he thought about packing it in and heading back home. It seemed simpler than striking out as a rock frontman.
But he didn't, and slowly, people began paying attention. Released on Seattle's Barsuk Records, early efforts like We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes (most of which was written in that apartment on Corliss) and The Photo Album were met with much acclaim, and Death Cab for Cutie were on their way. Only, in a lot of ways, they've never really left ... Seattle is, was, and probably always will be their spiritual home.
And those sentiments are readily apparent on the band's May 31 album, Codes And Keys, Codes And Keys, which is about several things, most of which seem to be about the eternal longing for home, no matter how far away from it you may be. So, in celebration of the new album, earlier this month, we asked Death Cab to show us around their adopted hometown of Seattle ... the venues they haunted as teens, the places they worked before they made it big, the studio where they recorded parts of the new album. But it's much more than a guided tour; it's also a history lesson, both in terms of the band, and the Seattle music scene too.
We're calling it "Death Cab for Cutie: Seattle Sonics," and it begins Tuesday on MTVNews.com. But as we head into the long weekend, we figured we'd give you a taste of what's to come. Click on the teaser clip featuring Gibbard and bassist Nick Harmer recalling the glory of all-ages OK Hotel shows, and the havoc parent-mandated curfews wrecked on those magical nights. Enjoy, and make sure to check back on Tuesday, when the history lesson truly begins.
Related Artists'American Idol' Finale Reportedly To Feature Lady Gaga, Beyonce Performance
Carrie Underwood, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez also rumored to be taking the stage.
By Gil Kaufman
Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
As "American Idol" fans sweat out the final hours before they find out whether Scotty McCreery or Lauren Alaina will be crowned the new people's champ, more details have emerged about who will perform on the season 10 finale on Wednesday night (May 25).
As always, producers have kept a tight lid on what surprises are in store for the two-hour finale — and a spokesperson for "Idol" did not return requests for comment at press time. But according to The Hollywood Reporter, a pair of this year's mentors will be back to celebrate the coronation.
Citing unnamed production sources, the trade magazine reported that in addition to U2's Bono and The Edge performing with castmembers from the troubled Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark," Beyoncé and Lady Gaga will take the stage.
The story claimed that both pop divas, who helped mentor this year's finalists, will team up with all-time "Idol" champ Carrie Underwood to perform a group medley with judge Steven Tyler and title contenders McCreery and Alaina. There is also unconfirmed talk that fellow judge Jennifer Lopez will also take the stage for a command performance.
In addition, bearded season 10 growler Casey Abrams will take the stage with "Kung Fu Panda 2" funnyman Jack Black.
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.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664524/american-idol-finale-performers-lady-gaga.jhtml
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Ke$ha - Tik Tok
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: RCA
- Director: Syndrome
- Album: Animal [Clean]
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=445445
Alecia Elliott Alessandra Ambrosio Alexis Bledel Ali Campoverdi
Carla Bruni?s Maternity Style Debut: High Fashion!
Carla Bruni dresses her bump up in chic ensembles. Check her out, plus tell us what you think of her maternity style.
Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/y88J2U3e5NA/
Lady Gaga Pal Lady Starlight Recalls Their Bargain Costume Days
'We stuck to the dollar bin and panties,' Gaga confidant tells MTV News of their old-school creative crafts.
By James Dinh, with additional reporting by James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News
If there's one way to pay homage to Lady Gaga, it's by dressing up as the pop phenomenon in one of her many signature costumes. Little Monsters did just that when MTV News invited a select few to our studios to watch "Lady Gaga: The After-Show," our special live stream on Thursday night, where, following the airing of "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," we spoke with a few of the entertainer's close friends and collaborators.
From Gaga's one-of-a-kind red-laced VMA look to the barely-there hazard-tape outfit from the "Telephone" video, Little Monsters came decked out in their own Gaga gear. Among Mother Monster's close confidants, one who knows a thing or two about crafting outfits from scraps includes her longtime friend Lady Starlight.
After admitting that she just visited Michaels the other day, Starlight told MTV News' James Montgomery about their bargain-bin costume days. "Well, we didn't basically have any money, so we'd go to the dollar store," she said via Skype. "We didn't go to the $2 bin because that was too expensive. We stuck to the dollar bin of panties."
With a few crafts in hand, the duo went to craft store M&J Trimming and picked up the tool that held the outfit together — literally. "We would take this thing called Gem-Tac, and we literally would have it in our bags in case anything went wrong or we needed to make a costume on the fly," she said, adding, "Gem-Tack, dollar panties, something shiny — done."
Asked if Gaga has changed as a person or an artist since experiencing fame, Starlight was quick to deny any difference, citing the "fact that she can be friends with the same people that she was friends with before she was famous."
Lady Starlight was the center of one story during the MTV Lady Gaga documentary, which described one of their many shows at the Lower East Side's Rockwood Music Hall in New York.
"This was, like, super-inexpensive, but nobody on the Lower East Side was doing anything even remotely like it," Gaga says of her early performance show sets. "In fact, it was kind of uncool to be doing it, so it became cool because we were the only people doing anything like it. We would plug in all these crazy party favors, and we would throw glitter, and we would dance in these matching bikinis that cost us $4 to make. I got dubplates pressed in Brooklyn with my beats on them, so [Lady Starlight] would spin the dubplates."
What is your favorite Lady Gaga outfit? Tell us in the comments.
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664743/lady-gaga-lady-starlight.jhtml
Chloë Sevigny Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe
Wale Describes Working With Rick Ross Vs. Mark Ronson
'The vibe now is a little bit more natural,' Wale tells 'RapFix Live.'
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Wale
Photo: Sohyung Kang/ MTV News
On one hand you have a British DJ/ producer/ record executive whose claim to fame is producing Amy Winehouse's 2006 classic Back to Black. On the other hand there is the Boss, Rick Ross. After switching label homes from Mark Ronson's Interscope-distributed Allido Records to Ross' Maybach Music Group, Wale broke down the differences between the two labels on Wednesday's "RapFix Live."
"I went from being around him in the studio to being around good vibes, good grass, good everything. The type of vibes that make me feel like block parties or just hanging with my friends," Wale told Sway of the change. "Not to say that Ronson ain't my friend."
In 2009, the D.C. rapper released his debut album Attention Deficit on Ronson's label. The album was well-received critically, but commercially it only sold 138,000. In February, Wale announced that he officially signed with Ross' MMG label, and on Monday, Rozay and his new signees released Self Made, the label's first compilation.
For Wale, the creative process has been much smoother. "We're in conversation and we'll start rapping about what's going on around us. The last time I was in the studio with Mark, I had to take myself somewhere, because I wasn't there," the rapper said about his motivation.
Overall, the "Chillin' " MC is just in a better creative space; culturally he and his new boss just have more in common. "I'm in my environment now. I go to Overtown with Ross; I go to King of Diamonds with Ross. I take Ross to D.C. Star. I can't take Mark Ronson to D.C. Star. I mean, I could, but it'd be awkward for everybody.
"The vibe now is a little bit more natural and it's a lot more fun for me. And I'm really in a groove where I can make the type of music I like," he said. "The energy is so good with Ross and Meek and Pucci and everybody at Maybach."
Do you see a difference between Wale's music with Ronson and his latest tracks? Let us know in the comments!
Related Videos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664754/wale-mark-ronson-rick-ross.jhtml
Anna Kournikova Anna Paquin AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright
Ali Landry and Selma Blair Love Trading Tips
"Selma Blair and I train together every week," Landry, 37, told PEOPLE Thursday at Sophie the Giraffe's 50th birthday at Petit Tresor in West Hollywood, where she posed with fellow expectant mom Tori Spelling and their girls.
Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/igEpb5yBeCQ/
Friday, 27 May 2011
Taylor Swift, Rihanna Dress To Impress At Billboard Awards
Nicki Minaj, Ke$ha, Selena Gomez also make fashion splash on red carpet, as showgirl style rules at the Las Vegas event on Sunday night.
By Jocelyn Vena
Taylor Swift at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards
Photo: Jordan Strauss/ Getty Images
On Sunday night, some of the biggest names in the music industry hit up the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas and decided that sparkles and sequins make for the perfect additions to any red carpet get-up. Well, it is Sin City after all.
Taylor Swift always seems to bring some of that Nashville sparkle to any red carpet. She arrived at the show in a pale-hued, sequined Elie Saab gown. Nicki Minaj showed off her signature sense of style in her baby-blue, body-hugging spandex Mark Fast catsuit.
Selena Gomez turned up the style dial in a sexy, cut-out black Dolce & Gabbana gown that she paired with red strappy sandals with sparkly bow detailing. Like Gomez, Ke$ha opted for some cut-out detailing in her sparkly, slate-gray dress with tulle skirt. Rihanna looked white hot in her men's tailored Max Azria suit, which she kept sexy and feminine by not buttoning her shirt all the way.
Fergie went S&M chic in her little black bandage-type dress by Hervé Léger. Nicole Kidman also wore black. She paired a casual braid hairstyle with a long black gown and Keith Urban. British pop cutie Kyle Minogue looked funky in her little black lacey dress. Inside the show, Britney Spears sat in the audience wearing a skimpy black dress of her own, her hair in loose curls, with little-to-no accessories.
While some stars kept the color scheme low-key, Keri Hilson decided to stand out in her billowy little yellow dress paired with a turquoise-colored belt. Kelly Rowland showed off some of her best assets in a body-hugging, bright pink bandage dress.
The fellas also looked tight on the carpet. Joe Jonas wore all black with white sneakers, Ne-Yo paired his periwinkle suit with a Yankees cap and Justin Bieber wore black tuxedo pants with a gold-lamé tuxedo jacket.
Which stars' styles caught your eye at the Billboard Music Awards? Tell us in the comments.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664386/billboard-music-awards-taylor-swift-rihanna.jhtml
Charli Baltimore Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler
Jeff Conaway Passes Away at 60
Grease star Jeff Conaway has died. The actor was 60 years old.
He passed away several weeks after he was found unconscious in his L.A. area home, having fallen into a coma after a reported overdose.
Doctors were not able to revive him and his family recently made the gut-wrenching, but inevitable decision to take him off life support.
Jeff's struggles became public when he appeared on Celebrity Rehab in 2008 and admitted addictions to cocaine, alcohol and painkillers.
R.I.P. Jeff Conaway (1950-2011).
Jeff passed away earlier today, his manager confirms.
Born in New York City, Conaway shot to fame in the ’70s as a quintessential cocky guy: first in the internationally successful Grease and then on the TV hit Taxi.
He will be missed.
Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/05/jeff-conaway-passes-away-at-60/
'Lady Gaga: Inside The Outside' Aimed To 'Peel Back The Surface'
Director Davi Russo recalls Gaga's crucial wardrobe swap during MTV documentary taping.
By James Montgomery
Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News
When he was tapped to direct "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," Davi Russo knew he was going to get an opportunity to do something all Little Monsters dream of: spend hours with Mother Monster and ask her practically anything.
But he probably never thought he'd also be giving her wardrobe advice. Though, as soon as filming began, he quickly realized that would be part of his responsibilities too. Luckily, like Gaga, Russo is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn, and he currently lives on the Lower East Side, the same place Gaga haunted during her formative years. And so, though he'd just met her, he felt like the two shared enough background for him to offer a few sartorial suggestions.
"She came out in this majestic, pink [outfit], high-heels, full-on gown, with a bow, about yay big," he laughed, holding his hands a foot apart above his head, during "Lady Gaga: The After-Show." "And when we wanted to frame the shot, we wanted to live inside with her, because we wanted to give this feeling of intimacy, and we said, 'Oh my God, she has this 12-inch bow on her head!' And I'm thinking, 'Oh, God, we have to reposition our cameras ... '
"So, just immediately, during the haze of stuff, I just got as close as I could, and I said, 'Hey, you know, I want to kind of talk to you about New York and where you're from and where I'm from,' " he continued. "And she said, 'You want to talk about the neighborhood?' And I said, 'Yeah,' and she said, 'Oh my God, I need five minutes, I need to go get changed!' And she gets up, exits, and 15 minutes later, she comes out in this amazing, punk-rock, black leather jacket. Very cool."
And Gaga's ability to roll with the punches wasn't the only thing Russo learned during his time with the pop star. He came in reading all the same things we do, and he had no idea that, beneath all the glitter, she's really a DIY kind of girl.
"Again, it's so easy just to see the surface of things, and I think that's maybe the biggest misconception that a lot of people who may not be fans [have of her, that she's artificial]," he said. "Myself included. I didn't know much about her going into it, [but] I try to always peel back the surface, to see the real person, and the interview gave us the opportunity to really see that. And she's just like me; she has red blood, breathes the same air, and everything else. She's human."
What was the biggest thing you learned about Lady Gaga from "Inside the Outside"? Let us know in the comments!
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Justin Bieber, Chris Brown 'Next 2 You' Video Will Be 'Big,' Director Says
Colin Tilley also talks about shooting 'Look at Me Now' from F.A.M.E.
By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by Vanessa WhiteWolf
Justin Bieber and Chris Brown (file)
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
On Tuesday, fans immediately became excited by the news that Justin Bieber and Chris Brown have plans to shoot a video for Brown's F.A.M.E. track "Next 2 You." Luckily, that same day, MTV News had the pleasure of speaking with the video's director, Colin Tilley, who shared a bit about the clip.
"Tomorrow, I'm shooting New Boyz and Chris Brown ... then Justin Bieber and Chris Brown, together," he teased. "I can't tell you anything about that yet, but it's going to happen. It's gonna be big. It's gonna be big. I can't say anything else."
Tilley had more to say about working with Brown on his eye-popping video for "Look at Me Now." "I remember when we first got the song and Chris sent it to us: It was the first time I had heard the song, and it was so crazy to me," Tilley recalled. "Before we do every video, I always talk to Chris to kind of feel where he's going with the song and just where his motivation was with the song, and he actually sent me this one YouTube link ... It was this little '80s clip of these hip-hop dancers dancing.
"I would play it to the actual song, and at one point of the song, there were all these dancers dancing on these street elements like benches and tables and stuff like that," he continued. "From there, it just started to evolve from street elements and this whole underground vibe to just getting crazier and crazier. I wanted to make sure it was really exciting."
Visually, the video never stops, thanks to a saturated color palette, cameos from Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes (who are featured on the track), funky clothes and funkier dancing.
"Chris is just always down to make something different, so that was really it ... the mask came about from Diplo and the cage, and it all started to evolve to this awesome video," Tilley added.
Share your predictions about the "Next 2 You" video in the comments below!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663666/justin-bieber-chris-brown-next-2-you-video.jhtml
Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year
Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff
Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images
"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."
He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.
You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.
Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.
And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.
And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.
To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.
One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.
"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."
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Chandra West Charisma Carpenter Charli Baltimore Charlies Angels
Ke$ha - Blah Blah Blah
- Artist: Ke$ha
- Label: RCA
- Director: Brendan Malloy
- Album: Animal [Clean]
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=487452
AnnaLynne McCord Anne Marie Kortright April Scott Arielle Kebbel
Janet Jackson Thrills Fans With Greatest Hits, Michael Tribute At Radio City
Singer covered songs ranging from classic 'Pleasure Principle' to 2008's 'Feedback' at New York show.
By Vaughn Schoonmaker
Janet Jackson (file)
Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images
NEW YORK — Often imitated, never duplicated, Janet Jackson's outbursts of meticulous choreography, sassy exclamations and smoldering gazes into the audience kept them on their feet for the entire two-hour set of her greatest hits at Radio City Music Hall. Monday night marked the last of three sold-out shows at the historic venue on her monumental Number Ones: Up Close and Personal Tour.
Up-and-coming boy band Mindless Behavior opened the show with songs including "#1 Girl," "Future" and their debut single, "My Girl." With their Usher-esque dance moves and shouts like "Where the ladies at?" the boys brought the tween girls out of hiding, judging by the shrill screams escaping various corner of the music hall.
At 9:00 sharp, the lights went down and Janet's fans were on the edge of their seats, watching music videos for "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Rhythm Nation" projected on big screens across the venue. A small shadow drifted toward center stage, and when the colorful lights came up, Jackson, wrapped in a shoulder-padded catsuit, complete with slick short hair, blasted into "The Pleasure Principle," dancing as hard and intensely choreographed as she did when the song first came out in the 1980s.
With barely a spare second between songs, Janet dazzled her way through her biggest hits, including "Miss You Much," "All for You" and "Nasty," and more recent hits like 2008's "Feedback."
Videos displayed during Jackson's costume changes included vintage clips from "Diff'rent Strokes," a funny scene from "Poetic Justice" where Jackson slyly rejects the advances of Tupac Shakur's character, and a rather heavy scene, as Jackson's character in "Why Did I Get Married" destroys her husband's house with a golf club, screaming hysterically.
Considering the tough couple of years the Jackson family has faced, the dark moments in the video seemed fitting, and everyone was beside themselves with bittersweet joy when Michael Jackson's face popped up on the big screen and she performed their hit single "Scream."
Janet emerged for her encore in a tight white one-piece disco suit, and performed "Diamonds," "Make Me" and "Together Again," which appeared to be the biggest hit of the evening. As Jackson graciously bowed out, her straight face transitioned into a smirk, suggesting that despite the hard times she has experienced recently, we can expect to see this singing and dancing pop legend shine far into the future.
"Its amazing!" Janet fan Elena Mercantini gleamed afterward. "It's like she's still 20 years old!"
"She's hot, she's amazing and she's still got it after all these years" added Alison Klinger of Long Island. "Best concert I've ever been to!"
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'Kung Fu Panda 2': The Reviews Are In!
One reviewer calls sequel 'both meditative and immensely entertaining.'
By Eric Ditzian
"Kung Fu Panda 2"
Photo: Paramount Pictures
Over at MTV Movies Blog, we've already laid out the five reasons you need to see "Kung Fu Panda 2." From Jack Black's manically hilarious turn as Po to some wickedly creative fight scenes, this sequel is a ton of fun.
But hey, don't just take our word for it. Reviewers are riding high on this animal adventure, a follow-up to DreamWorks' 2008 animated hit, celebrating the lush visuals and the top-notch voice performance Black delivers. Dissenters are few and far between, and their criticisms read more like nitpicking and fail to acknowledge that kids will undoubtedly get a kick out of this flick.
The Story
"Deepening the surprising maturity of its predecessor, the movie successfully takes story beats from classic kung fu stories and dials back on the humor without letting things get too dark and dramatic, creating a work that is both meditative and immensely entertaining. Picking up where the first film left off, Po (Jack Black) has eased into his position as the Dragon Warrior, when the world of kung fu is threatened by the return of Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), a villain who has built a weapon of mass destruction. What Po doesn't know, however, is that Lord Shen holds the key to his history and the knowledge of who he really is. Working with the kung fu masters known as the Furious Five (Angelina Jolie, David Cross, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen and Jackie Chan), Po is not only on a mission to save China, but on a journey of self-discovery." — Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend
The Performances
"Aside from crisp visuals and no-fat way with martial arts movie traditions, the biggest achievement of the 'Kung Fu Panda' movies is how they distill their star's very Jack Black-ness down to its most bearable form. Always the wildest guy in the room, Black has turned into a living 'Gulliver's Travels.' Yet here, as in the first 'KFP,' he gives a charmingly vulnerable but sly vocal performance, with plenty of sass and a decent side order of soul." — Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News
The Visuals
"Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson's background in design and animation seems to have informed the best parts of 'Kung Fu Panda 2' — its splendid palette of color and detail, rich but crisp and balanced (Guillermo del Toro served as a creative consultant, and one of Po's murky, indelible nightmares bears his distinctive mark); and that palette's harmony with both the engaged use of 3-D and the witty and well-defined battle sequences." — Michelle Orange, Movieline
The Dissenters
"This one plays with some unusually dark and upsetting material. Its escalation of evil messes up the high-spirited sweetness that was the most winning feature of the first movie. Po's clumsy, goofy eagerness no longer seems quite as amusing now that he is a psychologically damaged warrior. And his action-team entourage, drawn from various species of animal and movie star — praying mantis, tiger, monkey, etc; Seth Rogen, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, etc. — do more to crowd the picture than to enliven it." — A.O. Scott, The New York Times
The Final Word
"There is a price to be paid for the visual razzle-dazzle — wonderful complexity against a simple story that could have benefited from some bulking up (layered, not longer). Still with Black shelving his usual snark for Po's self-deprecating charm, Jolie making Tigress terrifyingly overqualified for everything as only she can do, Rogen's Mantis showing the actor's growing facility for voicing animation and [Dustin] Hoffman, as ever, the guru everyone wants, they've brought this warrior's tale to kicking, spinning, bone-crunching, feather-flying life." — Betsey Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
Check out everything we've got on "Kung Fu Panda 2."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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