Saturday, July 2, 2011

Britney Spears - I Wanna Go

I Wanna Go

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=501686&vid=667190

Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten

Ke$ha - We R Who We R

We R Who We R

  • Artist: Ke$ha
  • Label: RCA
  • Director: Hype Williams

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3213641&vid=603136

Jennifer Scholle Jennifer Sky Jenny McCarthy Jessica Alba Jessica Biel

Alicia Silverstone Shows Off Her Newborn Baby Boy Bear Blu

Last month, just in time for Mother’s Day, Alicia Silverstone and hubby Christopher Jarecki welcomed the birth of their firstborn child, a baby boy they named Bear Blu. Today, we get our first look at the little dude as US Weekly brings us the first photo of Alicia introducing the world to her newborn son. [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/VcdBW3RFvdU/

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Photos | 2011 BET Awards Show Highlights

2011 BET Awards Show Highlights

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Beyonce Takes Fans Inside 'Year Of 4' In MTV Special

Queen B takes fans behind the scenes of the year spent making her new album in special airing Thursday at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
By Jocelyn Vena


Beyoncé in her "Year of <i>4</i>" special
Photo: MTV

Beyoncé released 4 on Tuesday (June 28), and she's taking fans behind-the-scenes of her new album in the MTV special "Beyoncé: Year of 4," set to premiere on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET/PT on MTV and BET, and at 7:30 on VH1 and Palladia (encore presentations will air later on MTV.com, MTV Hits and MTV Jams).

The special was filmed during Beyoncé's year off, as she set out to discover what she wanted next in her career. It kicks off as B wraps up her I Am Tour, and finds herself at a crossroads before eventually giving into her mother's advice to take some time off.

"My life was award shows and tour buses and hotels and it kind of goes by so fast ... I couldn't even hear it anymore," she says of her whirlwind schedule. "I'm just thinking about the next shoot ... the next video ... the next tour."

Fans are with Queen B as she travels, hangs out with family, friends and husband Jay-Z, and takes time to reflect on her crazy successful career. "I never even realized I needed a year off," she later says. "And I never realized I don't know how to take a year off."

During this reflective time in her life, Beyoncé also began working on her most eclectic album to date, mixing genres and styles to make 4. The special also takes a look at her career as she takes charge of her business. "It was very risky for me to set out on my own," she says. "Sometimes we don't reach for the stars, sometimes we are satisfied with what people tell us we're supposed to be satisfied with, and I'm just not going for it."

4, B's fourth solo album, is a mix of sassy uptempo tracks like the lead single "Run the World (Girls)," soft ballads like "1+1," as well as sassy midtempo songs like "Best Thing I Never Had." She worked with producers and artists like The-Dream, Kanye West and Andre 3000 for the release.

"Being able to take viewers behind the creative curtain of one of the world's most amazing and talented artists, Beyoncé, in the lead-up to her album release is a pure thrill," Van Toffler, President, MTV Music Group, LOGO and Film, said in a statement. "This honest and intimate special provides her audience and fans a rare opportunity to witness a true, musical genius at work and the stories that defined and inspired her incredible new album."

Tune in to "Beyoncé: Year of 4," airing Thursday, June 30, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on MTV and BET, and at 7:30 p.m. on VH1 and Palladia. Encore presentations follow on MTV.com, MTV Hits and MTV Jams.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666569/beyonce-year-of-4.jhtml

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Photos | 2011 Pre-Grammy Celebrations

2011 Pre-Grammy Celebrations

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Photos | Lady Gaga Leads The 2010 VMA Nominees

Lady Gaga Leads The 2010 VMA Nominees

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Photos | Wango Tango 2010

Wango Tango 2010

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Friday, July 1, 2011

Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts Talk 'Larry Crowne,' Friendship And MTV

'I miss VJs,' stars tell MTV News.
By Kara Warner


Tom Hanks
Photo: MTV News

Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts' new movie, "Larry Crowne," is, in a nutshell, about a middle-aged man who, after constantly being looked over for managerial promotions at work due to his lack of college degree, enrolls himself in his local community college, where he finds himself being taught by and falling in love with the lovely Mercedes Tainot (Roberts).

When MTV News caught up with Hanks and Roberts at the press day for the film, we attempted to discuss Hanks' return to the director's chair after a 15-year hiatus (the last film he helmed was 1996's "That Thing You Do!"), but first the two superstars took a moment to talk about us.

"I miss VJs," Roberts lamented of MTV's onetime team of on-camera personalities.

"I miss VJs, too," Hanks agreed. "I miss, you know, 'The Rock Hour!' " he added, likely meaning "120 Minutes," hosted by Matt Pinfield, which has been resurrected over at MTV2.

"What's on MTV now?" Roberts asked.

"Pregnant teenagers," quipped Hanks.

Hanks and Roberts then briefly discussed MTV's current slate of programs, citing "The Real World," "Jersey Shore" and "16 and Pregnant," but admitted only to hearing stories about them, not to having watched any of those shows themselves.

Once we were able to bring the focus to the topic at hand, we asked Hanks about his return to the director's chair, and what inspired him to take on so many roles for this film — he directed, acted in, co-wrote and produced "Crowne."

"Somewhere I think in 2009 a switch just goes off in my head that goes, 'I really want to direct this,' " he recalled, equating his passion for the project to a fever he had to have cooked out of him. "It takes you out of the marketplace for a long time, which is fine. I have a lot of things going on, but it ends up being like this personal letter that you're writing to your mom where you want it to be right, you want it to be authentic, you want it to actually reflect who you are and where you are at this point, and so that's why you end up directing a movie and being in it."

For Roberts, signing on to the film was mostly about working with her good friend. She and Hanks worked together once before in "Charlie Wilson's War," which, according to Roberts, cemented their friendship for life.

"I knew I had a friend for the rest of my life," she said, recalling one specific day on the "Wilson's War" set that involved Hanks, Roberts and some joke with a little box. "He [makes] me want to live a longer life," she gushed.

"What a great answer!" Hanks said with a big smile.

"It's true, I love Tom. It's kind of retarded for us sitting here trying to be professionals because we're friends," she said. "I love his wife, I love his kids."

"This is what we'd be doing if we were sitting around or having lunch," Hanks added, speaking to the pair's easy rapport. "We'll laugh for three hours together."

Check out everything we've got on "Larry Crowne."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666760/tom-hanks-julia-roberts-larry-crowne.jhtml

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'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon': Hunting For Easter Eggs

Hidden treasures in the threequel include new 'bots and a not-so-new heroine.
By Kara Warner


Shia LaBeouf in "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
Photo: Jaimie Trueblood

As is to be expected with Michael Bay movies, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" is jam-packed with a lot more than his patented brand of eye-popping action sequences. The movie is two hours and thirty-seven minutes, after all, so even with all the Autobot vs. Decepticon fighting action, there is plenty of room for an actual plot and, more importantly, a ton of fun Easter eggs for the most perceptive fans out there.

In addition to all the "Star Trek" nods, Bay and company have cleverly inserted five "Transformers"-specific Easter eggs in the film. Thanks to the eagle eye of Splash Page editor Rick Marshall, along with his extensive "Transformers" knowledge, MTV News is proud to provide you with a few key things to look out for while watching "Dark of the Moon."

Not-So-New Girl Carly
Played by Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, the character of Carly is new to Bay's "Transformers" but has a meaty role as one of the humans in the "Transformers" cartoons. Carly is the wife of Spike Witwicky in the original animated series, the inspiration for Shia LaBeouf's character Sam Witwicky.

The Ark of the Moon
The opening of "Dark of the Moon" is all about a mysterious ship that crash lands on the moon. Optimus Prime calls that ship "the Ark," which is the name of the spaceship that first brought Optimus and the rest of the Transformers to Earth in the original cartoon.

Spock's Speaking-Part Past
We mentioned the Nimoy connection in our "Trek" Easter eggs article, but his work is such a nerdy thrill, it gets another mention here. In "Dark of the Moon," Nimoy is the voice of Sentinel Prime, which marks the second time he has lent his voice to a robot in the series. In the 1986 classic "Transformers: The Animated Movie," Nimoy voiced Galvatron, Megatron's equally mischievous successor.

Bridges in Space
We won't go into details about how a space bridge may or may not be mentioned and/or used in "Dark of the Moon," but throughout Transformers history onscreen and in comics, the space bridge allowed for travel between Earth and Cybertron.

Old New Faces
"Dark of the Moon" introduces us to a slew of new Autobots and Decepticons, although the die-hard "Transformers" fans out there will recognize the following from the cartoons. New-to-the-movie Autobots include: Wheeljack (has a strong Albert Einstein-like resemblance), Mirage (a red sports car) and Optimus Prime's fancy silver trailer. Decepticon debuts include: fan-favorite master of destruction Shockwave and bird-like Lazerbeak, who transforms into a variety of objects, save for the excellent cassette-tape shape of his cartoon counterpart.

Check out everything we've got on "Transformers: Dark of the Moon."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666728/transformers-dark-of-the-moon-easter-eggs.jhtml

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Photos | Performances At The 10th Annual BMI Urban Awards

Performances At The 10th Annual BMI Urban Awards

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Photos | Rihanna and Ke$ha Perform At Madison Square Garden

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Beyonce Talks Career, Motherhood With Piers Morgan

'I always said I'd have a baby at 30,' singer says in new interview.
By Jocelyn Vena


Beyoncé on "Piers Morgan Tonight"
Photo: CNN

It's B Day. Today is the day that Beyoncé finally drops her new album, 4. And on Monday night, with less than a day until her album's release, the singer sat down with CNN's Piers Morgan to open up about this latest installment in her life.

The pair kicked off the conversation by talking about Beyoncé's Glastonbury Festival set just a day before. "Well, you know, I'm still walking on the clouds, I'm still kind of shocked. I think it's because I've seen Glastonbury ... and only amazing rock stars perform and it's the coolest festival," she gushed. "[To] be the first woman and first African-American woman ... It's a little strange when you think about it, but I'm just happy I was the first woman. Everybody was just united."

She said she was a bit nervous when she took the stage but explained that she found strength by embracing her diva status. "I do [like being a diva]! Because I've met what a diva is supposed to be, and I've met Patti LaBelle and I've met Tina Turner and I've met these incredible woman.

"[They're] graceful and talented and strong and fearless and brave and someone with humility," she continued. "And I think it's an appropriate time to be a diva."

Before Beyoncé began work on 4, she took some time off for some self-exploration. She admitted that her life had been such a whirlwind that she didn't even realize what it meant to have so many Grammys on her mantle. "I learned a lot about myself, the biggest thing is, I love to perform," she said. "I love music. I love what I do. I love singing in the studio and writing songs and coming up with video treatments. I learned balance. I learned the importance of taking time for myself."

This year Beyoncé turns 30 and she said that she's had some lofty personal goals for herself. She also addressed those ever-recurring rumors that she's pregnant. "I feel like a woman. I feel like I'm very aware of who I am. I feel great and I feel like 30 is the ideal age [to start a family], because you're mature enough to know who you are and to have your boundaries and your standards, and not be afraid, too polite — but you're young enough to be a young woman," she explained. "I'm so looking forward to it."

The singer added, "I always said I'd have a baby at 30. But I also said I'm going to retire at 30 ... Only God knows." Regardless of when she and husband Jay-Z decide to start a family, they are each other's support system, and that love is evident in her music. "Jay and I have kind of made a decision that we want to be known for our music and not our relationships or scandals. But he is amazing," she said. "I definitely had a very natural friendship and connection with him. We've been together for a very long time and I'm very happy. Love is the foundation of everything, everything I do. My music is inspired by love — from my family, my husband, my sister."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666530/beyonce-piers-morgan-tonight.jhtml

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Britney Spears' 'I Wanna Go': A Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet

From 'Crossroads' to seashells, here's a look at the references in Britney's latest video.
By James Montgomery


Britney Spears in her music video for "I Wanna Go"
Photo: Jive

Britney Spears' new "I Wanna Go" video is, like some of her past clips, an all-out affront to the pesky paparazzi that follow her every move. But, unlike any video she's done previously, this one tackles the issue with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

See, "Go" is essentially one long dream sequence — instigated by the rote questions Spears is forced to endure by members of the media — and, as such, it's packed with pop-culture nods to film and television (and whistling dogs too). And that fact not only makes it pretty funny, but it sets it apart from most of Brit's other work. And though we've done pop-culture cheat sheets for her other videos, rarely have they been as much fun as they were this time out.

So, without further ado, alphabetized and cross-referenced for your perusing pleasure, here's our "I Wanna Go" cheat sheet:

"Crossroads": Epically bad 2002 coming-of-age flick starring Spears herself (written, interestingly enough, by "Grey's Anatomy" mastermind Shonda Rhimes). In a rare self-effacing moment, the supposed sequel — "Crossroads 2: Cross Harder" — is teased on a theater marquee in "I Wanna Go."

E*Trade Baby: Lippy, fiscally savvy infant who stars in an ongoing series of commercials for the financial company. In "I Wanna Go," there's a baby too, and while he doesn't dispense any trading tips, he does whistle, using the same creepy, CGIed mouth effects the E*Trade ads do.

"Half Baked": Cult 1998 stoner comedy starring Dave Chappelle as a weed-obsessed "master of the custodial arts" (and a weed-addled rapper named Sir Smoke-a-lot), who runs with an appropriately stony crew. Said crew includes actor Guillermo Diaz, who quits his crappy fast-food job in truly epic fashion. The scene is replayed verbatim at the beginning of "I Wanna Go," only with Britney delivering the "F--- you, f--- you, f--- you, you're cool and f--- you ... I'm out!" line. As an added bonus, Diaz also co-stars in the video. Truly the most inexplicably awesome part of the entire production.

"Kill Bill": Ultra-gory 2003 revenge flick written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, it stars Uma Thurman as Beatrix Kiddo, a bride out to avenge her wedding-day massacre. She battles several baddies throughout, including Gogo Yubari, a sadistic 17-year-old who wields a meteor hammer. In "I Wanna Go," Britney uses a microphone in much the same fashion — namely, to bash those pesky paparazzi.

"The Mickey Mouse Club": Oft-revived Disney variety show/ teen-sploitation factory that famously featured young stars like Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling (!) and, of course, Britney. She pays homage to her Mouseketeer days in "I Wanna Go" by wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with a Mickey Mouse skull.

Seashells: Hard, protective exoskeletons created by sea-dwelling creatures. In "I Wanna Go," Diaz's character gives Britney a handful of them, and since the majority of the clip takes place in her daydream, we're going to get deep here: In dreams, seashells represent security or protection.

"Terminator 2: Judgment Day": The 1991 sci-fi blockbuster featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular Terminator, sent back in time to protect a young John Connor from the nefarious T-1000. Arnie suffers severe battle damage throughout, including one scene where half his face is blasted off, revealing a glowing cyborg eye beneath his skin. That same scene is shown in "I Wanna Go," though it's the paparazzi who are revealed to be robotic killing machines.

"Thriller": Iconic 1984 Michael Jackson mini-movie that may very well be the greatest music video ever made. It concludes with a famous freeze frame (and subsequent zoom-in) of MJ with glowing eyes and Vincent Price's legendary cackle. Britney pays tribute to the scene at the ending of "I Wanna Go," though it's Diaz's eyes that are glowing. We're not sure who provides the cackle.

Did we miss anything? Share the pop-culture tidbits you picked up in the comments below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666243/britney-spears-i-wanna-go-video.jhtml

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Taylor Lautner Going For The Touchdown!

Taylor Lautner is leaving movies to join the NFL!?! Sorry Team Jacob!
…JK!
He's just doing a Funny or Die sketch about it. Next Wednesday. Funny or Die dot com.
This picture (see above) has been circling internet boards intriguing Twilight and diehard TayTay fans everywhere.
No worries, gals and pals! Your favorite ab laden werewolf [...]

Source: http://perezhilton.com/2011-07-01-taylor-lautner-does-funny-or-die-sketch

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Photos | The 2011 BET Awards Red Carpet

The 2011 BET Awards Red Carpet

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Harry Potter World Cup: Vote For Neville Longbottom

The Harry Potter World Cup's second round has been filled with some seriously intense match-ups so far, with one of the fiercest duels coming down between Minerva McGonagall and Neville Longbottom. The Hogwarts teacher and her Gryffindor student have battled back and forth between first and second place for the better part of a week [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/06/30/harry-potter-world-cup-neville-longbottom-matthew-lewis/

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Michael Jackson - They Don't Care About Us

They Don't Care About Us

Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=208348

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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Britney Spears Was 'Super Game' For 'I Wanna Go' Video

Director Chris Marrs Piliero talks about working with Brit and his favorite scene from the fun clip.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Hugh Swingle


Britney Spears in her "I Wanna Go" music video
Photo: Jive

Britney Spears looks like she's having a blast in her new "I Wanna Go" video. It's full of fun pop-culture references and has Brit seeking vengeance against the paparazzi. Now, the director of the kitschy clip, Chris Marrs Piliero, has opened up about working with the pop megastar.

"Meeting Britney for the first time was really rad. She was really cool. I don't think anyone has the right to be a diva, but there are some artists out there, they've been in the game long enough [that] if any one of those artists ... might have the permission to be a diva, she definitely has earned it — and she wasn't whatsoever," he told the MTV Buzzworthy blog.

So what's Spears like? "She's super polite; she's ridiculously polite. She's soft-spoken," he said. "She's really cute. The way she talks and interacts, you want to hug her. She was super professional, super game. ... It was rad. It was awesome working with her. She's a rad chick."

Another highlight of the shoot for Piliero was working with "Weeds" star Guillermo Diaz on one of the final scenes. In the last part of the video, Spears and the actor are riding in a convertible in the desert as Brit dances around. Diaz displays his comedic chops by doing things like pouring milk all over himself.

"It was definitely a funny moment of the shoot. We let the cameras roll, and the reaction that you see from Britney is definitely a genuine reaction," the director recalled. "When I was going through the footage, I loved the way that she responded. It's so genuine and so funny. It's perfect [and] it definitely is a perfect description of how we all felt about that scene."

Let us know what you think of Britney's "I Wanna Go" video in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666322/britney-spears-i-wanna-go-video-director.jhtml

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Lady Gaga, Weird Al Find 'Happy Ending' After Parody Beef

'She's totally cool and she really likes the parody,' Al tells MTV News of 'Perform This Way.'
By Jocelyn Vena


Weird Al at the "Bad Teacher" premiere
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images

All is well between Lady Gaga and "Weird Al" Yankovic. After some initial drama over his parody of "Born This Way," Gaga eventually gave Al her stamp of approval.

When MTV News caught up with Weird Al on Monday night at the "Bad Teacher" premiere in New York City, he told us the pop star is actually of a fan of his track, "Perform This Way."

"Where we stand is my music video 'Perform This Way' world-premiered [Monday] and is doing quite well," he said. "My album comes out [today]," he said of Alpocalypse, which was released on Tuesday (June 21). "It all got resolved."

On the Gaga parody track, he sings, "Got my straight jacket today/ It's made of gold lamé/ No, not because I'm crazy/ I perform this way." Then he goes on to lampoon, among other topics, that famous MTV VMA meat dress: "I strap prime rib to my feet/ Cover myself with raw meat/ I'll bet you've never seen a skirt steak worn this way."

Initially, it seemed Gaga wasn't too pleased with the song's lyrics, but according to Al, she has come around. So, what exactly happened between Al and Mother Monster before things got straightened out?

"It was a big misunderstanding, miscommunication," he explained. "The bottom line is it's a happy ending. Lady Gaga approves it; she's totally cool and she really likes the parody."

In the brand-new video, Al portrays Gaga in some of her signature looks, from her Grammy egg to her bubble dress, but it wasn't easy to narrow down wardrobe for the clip.

"It's a challenge because she's got so many different looks," he said. "I mean, she's got such a bigger-than-life persona, so a big part of figuring out the video is figuring out how we're going to do two-dozen costumes in three minutes. On top of putting my head on a woman's body, that was difficult as well. So [making the video took] a lot of CG effects and wardrobe, basically."

Gaga isn't the only superstar lampooned on Alpocalypse. Al also has some fun with Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus and T.I., to name a few. "It's very eclectic, it's very odd, which I guess you come to expect from a guy like me."

What do you think of Weird Al's "Perform This Way" video? Tell us in the comments!

Watch The "Perform This Way" Video Below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666137/weird-al-perform-this-way-lady-gaga.jhtml

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Photos | Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez And Many More At Wango Tango 2011

Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez And Many More At Wango Tango 2011

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Photos | 2010 American Music Awards Red Carpet

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Kanye West's Label Goes International With D'Banj

'Kanye is the first person to take a talent from Africa that has never been here,' G.O.O.D. Music signee tells Mixtape Daily.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway


D'Banj and Sway
Photo: MTV News

Fire Starter: D'Banj
Kanye West's ears know no boundaries, and the Louis Vuitton Don proved it when he signed Nigerian rapper D'Banj to his G.O.O.D. Music label.

On Wednesday, D'Banj sat down with Sway on "RapFix Live" and recalled the first time he met 'Ye during a trip to Dubai. While at the airport, an excited fan asked D'Banj for his autograph, confusing him for West. Another artist may have been insulted, but not Banj; he took the cue and prepared himself for the possibility of meeting with the American rap giant.

"I was like, 'Oh, no, I'm not Kanye.' And then I turned to my road manager and said, 'Kanye is coming here. All eyes open. We must get him,' " D'Banj recalled to Sway.

Just as expected, West arrived, and D'Banj got the chance to play music for him. "The first five minutes of Kanye listening to the songs, he was like, 'Who produced this? Where are you from?' " the Nigerian vocalist recalled. "Then he said, 'You need to come to New York.' I thought he was a liar."

'Ye kept his word — though actually getting back in touch with him proved difficult for the international talent. During a four-day visit to NYC in 2010, D'Banj tried to reach West but was unsuccessful for the first three days, mostly because the G.O.O.D. Music honcho doesn't carry a cell.

"If anybody tells you they got Kanye's number, they're a liar. Kanye West don't use no phone," D'Banj laughed, echoing what MTV News had already heard from Justin Bieber. "The fourth day, when I was about to leave, I got a mail: 'Kanye will see you today, 4 p.m.,' and I got the address."

D'Banj, who won an MTV Europe Music Award in 2007 and several MTV Africa Music Awards, eventually signed to Kanye's label and tweeted about it on June 8, announcing: "Just like yesterday myself and my brother did Tongolo. 7yrs later Mo' Hits signs with Good Music. Best birthday gift ever. God thank u."

Now, with his deal in place, D'Banj feels that not only can he and 'Ye make good music together, but also help strengthen relations between Africans in his homeland and African-Americans here in the United States.

"Kanye is the first person to take a talent from Africa that has never been here. I believe that that bridge has been broken for a long time," he said. Now it's time to bridge the gap.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1666698/kanye-west-dbanj.jhtml

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Photos | Ke$ha, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez And Many More At Wango Tango 2011

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Hugh Hefner Introduces Shera Bechard As His New Girlfriend

Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner, who was supposed to get married to Crystal Harris on June 18 but was left at the altar just days before the wedding day, has announced on Twitter that his new girlfriend is a Playboy Playmate named Shera Bechard. This news is a bit confusing because just days after his wedding [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pinkisthenewblog/~3/v_2vDbU5zB8/

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Photos | Family &amp; Friends Say Goodbye To Michael Jackson

Family & Friends Say Goodbye To Michael Jackson

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Michael Jackson Doctor's Trial Delayed

Judge pushes start of Conrad Murray's trial back to May.
By Gil Kaufman


Conrad Murray
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — Though Conrad Murray's lawyers had been pressing for a speedy trial, a judge in the involuntary manslaughter case against Michael Jackson's doctor ruled on Wednesday to delay opening statements in the proceedings until May.

The Associated Press reported that Murray's attorneys consented to the postponement after they discussed the matter with prosecutors and both agreed they could be ready for trial by May 9.

According to a transcript from the closed-door session, though opening statements will not begin for several months, Murray told Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor that he did not want to forfeit his right to a quick trial, but agreed to the delay if screening of prospective jurors begins as scheduled on March 24.

"It is only acceptable to me if this is not strung along over a long period of time," Murray told the justice. "I don't want to lose my constitutional right to speedy trial." Murray — who has pleaded not guilty to the charges — reportedly has been in favor of having the proceedings begin as soon as possible because he is facing financial troubles, but he said he understands that the delay is necessary to allow both sides to prepare for the trial.

Pastor consented because he said he didn't want to lose a jury pool, and believed a month-long delay might let potential jurors shuffle their schedules for the case, which could take up to two months to decide. The judge has reportedly clashed with Murray's defense team in recent weeks, pressing them for answers about why they had not turned over more witness notes and other potential evidence to prosecutors in the run-up to the trial.

Cardiologist Murray was hired to be Jackson's personal physician while the King of Pop prepared for his planned 50-date comeback series of shows at London's O2 arena in the summer of 2009. The doctor told police that he provided the then-50-year-old Jackson with sedatives and the surgical anesthetic propofol in order to combat the singer's chronic insomnia. He said he did so on the morning of June 25, 2009, when Jackson died of what a coroner deemed acute propofol poisoning.

Murray's lawyers reportedly plan to argue that Jackson was already in weak health before he died, that it's unfair to blame propofol for his passing and that, if the anesthetic was to blame, the pop superstar may have given himself the fatal dose by drinking the drug in a panic.

A status hearing in the case has been set for this Wednesday.

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Rihanna Replaces Cee Lo Green With J. Cole As 'Official' Tour Opener

'@CeeLoGreen will no longer be a part of #LOUDtour due 2 commitment with 'The Voice',' singer tweeted.
By Jocelyn Vena


J. Cole
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

Rihanna has found a new man to be her official tour opener. After Cee Lo Green had to drop out of the Rihanna's Loud tour due to other commitments, Ri announced that she's upgrading J. Cole to the role of "official" tour opener.

Rihanna announced via Twitter that rapper J. Cole, who was already on the road with the singer, will fill Green's shoes as her main warm-up act on the tour, which began this month. "#GOODNEWS @JColeNC is our new official opener!" she wrote on Tuesday night. "@CeeLoGreen will no longer be a part of #LOUDtour due 2 commitment with 'The Voice' #Cantmissit."

Jay-Z protégé Cole, who is releasing his debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, on September 27, just wrapped up the video for first single "Work Out" with director Jake Davis on Tuesday.

Green had to leave when his schedule became too crammed with other commitments, including his judging gig on the hit NBC talent competition "The Voice," which is also presenting a tour this summer.

"He always puts 100 percent into his work and with the requirements and time commitment to 'The Voice,' on top of heading back into the recording studio and an upcoming book, he feels that he wouldn't give his fans the show that they deserve," Green's spokesperson said, according to The New York Times.

Rihanna's Loud tour travels the U.S. through July 24 before heading to Europe in August. It's set to wrap up in late December.

There was a similar switch-up for Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth Tour in 2010, when Nicki Minaj pulled out at the last minute and was quickly replaced with Travie McCoy. Ke$ha also opened on that tour.

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Usher Gets Sick, Walks Offstage Mid-Show In Berlin

Singer cancels kick off date of European leg of his OMG Tour due to illness.
By Gil Kaufman


Usher (file)
Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage

Usher was forced to delay the kick off of his European OMG Tour on Wednesday night in Berlin because of illness. In a statement released to fans, the singer apologized for the last-minute scratch, saying he felt he was suffering from a "sinus complication." Although the gig was rescheduled for Thursday night at the O2 World arena in Berlin, his German fans apparently weren't appeased by his effort.

"I am truly sorry to all my fans in Berlin who were inconvenienced by tonight's postponement of the show," the singer said in a statement about Wednesday's aborted concert. "I was ill and felt that I would not have been able to give them the show that they properly deserve. ... I am looking forward to performing tomorrow and giving Berliners a great show."

According to the statement, the singer received treatment from doctors for a sinus issue that affected his balance, but a visibly still-ailing Usher was unable to finish the Thursday make-up show, reportedly abandoning the stage after just five songs.

On Friday (January 14), a follow-up statement from his spokesperson confirmed that he was too ill to play Thursday night's Berlin date and has been forced to reschedule the next three dates on the tour as well. The Rotterdam show originally scheduled for this week has been moved to March 1 and a show in Antwerp, also slated for this week, has been bumped to March 7.

The statement also updated the singer's condition: "Usher is suffering from upper respiratory illness, which is currently preventing him from performing a proper show. After consultation with doctors, he has been advised to reschedule the upcoming dates in order to get the rest he needs to ensure a complete recovery."

Footage posted on YouTube that was purportedly taken at the make-up performance in Berlin shows Usher standing silently at the microphone seemingly unable to sing, with fans booing him at first and then chanting, "Usher, Usher," as he approaches the microphone and apologizes to them for his struggles. "I appreciate your support," he told the fans wearily.

"I have been very excited about my European Tour and I deeply regret having to reschedule the shows," the singer said in the new statement. "I am truly sorry for any inconvenience I have caused my fans. My fans are the best in the world and I am looking forward to getting better so that I can give them the show they deserve."

Usher wrapped up the North American leg of his tour in December and his overseas dates are slated to last through the spring.

What do you think of the fans' reaction to Usher's walking offstage mid-show? Tell us in the comments.

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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

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'Twilight Saga: Eclipse' Leads Teen Choice Awards Nominees

'Glee,' 'Harry Potter,' Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift also up for awards.
By Jocelyn Vena


Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in "Eclipse"
Photo: Summit

"The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" is the undeniable lead contender at this year's Teen Choice Awards. The flick received 12 nods, including Choice Movie: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy for both Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner and Choice Movie Actress: Sci-Fi/Fantasy for Kristen Stewart.

The other big nominations for the flick include two for Choice Movie: Liplock (for K-Stew's kisses with both Lautner and RPattz), Bryce Dallas Howard for Choice Movie: Villain, Kellan Lutz for Choice Movie: Male Scene Stealer and Ashley Greene for Choice Movie: Female Scene Stealer.

But there are some other movies, TV shows and musicians vying for surfboards on August 7. "Glee," "The Vampire Diaries," "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1," Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and "The Hangover Part II" all received nominations for the show, which airs on Fox.

Gomez and Swift face off against each other in the Choice Music: Love Song category for their songs "Love You Like a Love Song" and "Mine," respectively. They are up against Allstar Weekend ("Come Down With Love"), Bruno Mars ("Just the Way You Are") and Katy Perry ("Teenage Dream").

Interestingly enough, exes Joe Jonas (who is also up for Choice Male Hottie) and Swift battle it out in the Choice Break-Up Song category. Swift is nominated for "Back to December" and Jonas for his solo single "See No More." They go up against Adele ("Rolling in the Deep"), Cee Lo Green ("Forget You") and Mars ("Grenade").

Voting has kicked off, and for a complete list of nominees, fans can visit the show's official website. More information on the host, presenters and performers will be announced closer to show day.

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse."

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Movie Review: ?Bad Teacher?

Last night, against my personal wishes, I went to a showing of Bad Teacher with Darion, Josh and David and, I’m actually surprised to say, it was actually a pretty fun night. Bad Teacher is nowhere near the best movie of the year and, to be honest, I wouldn’t even call it a great movie [...]

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Photos | Britney Gets Angelic In These Femme Fatale Promo Shots

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'The Hobbit': First-Look Photos Of Bilbo, Gandalf Hit Net

Martin Freeman's eagerly anticipated prequel Bilbo Baggins turns up in character, complete with hairy feet and pointy ears.
By Eric Ditzian


Martin Freeman in "The Hobbit"
Photo: New Line Cinema via Entertainment Weekly

Although he's busy once again creating a Middle Earth-like world in the wilds of New Zealand, "Hobbit" director Peter Jackson has done an excellent job keeping fans of J. R. R. Tolkien's fantastical creations looped into the production. He's been posting photos, videos and updates on his Facebook page for months — including a few pics of himself in what appears to be Bilbo Baggins' home.

But what we haven't seen until now are official photos of the stars in character and on set. That's all changing, thanks to three pics posted by Entertainment Weekly. One image features Martin Freeman as Bilbo, another focuses on Ian McKellan as Gandalf, and the last captures both Freeman and Jackson in that familiar home.

The first photo is the one fans have been waiting years to see: a real-life representation of Bilbo himself. After all the production delays, the speculation and the rumors about the casting of the central character (James McAvoy? Daniel Radcliffe?), we finally are getting a look at Freeman (perhaps best known from the British version of "The Office") in character, complete with hairy feet, pointy ears and shaggy hair.

''He fits the ears and he's got some very nice feet,'' Jackson told EW about Freeman's portrayal of Bilbo. ''I think he's got the biggest hobbit feet we've had so far. They're a little bit hard to walk in, but he's managed to figure out the perfect hobbit gait.''

The second pic captures, in Gandalf, someone we're very familiar with from the "Lord of the Rings" series but who will be surrounded by a new cast of characters in this prequel story, the first part of which hits theaters in December 2012.

''He's in fantastic form,'' Jackson said of McKellan. ''In a way, his role in 'The Hobbit' has more technical difficulties than 'Lord of the Rings' did, because he has scenes with 14 smaller characters — obviously the dwarves and the hobbit are shorter. ... I remember saying to him [laughs], 'Look, this isn't "Waiting for Godot" or "King Lear." This is "The Hobbit." This is the real thing. ' "

The final photo takes us inside an on-set conversation with Jackson and Freeman, one of roughly a zillion the two are likely to have, considering how long the shoot will last. ''There's no way you can pace yourself for shoots like these,'' the director said. ''When we were going through the schedule for 'The Hobbit,' I felt a terrible drop in my stomach when I saw that we'd be shooting for 254 days. We're only 12 days short of 'The Lord of the Rings,' even though we're only doing two movies. When I saw that, I had to sort of pick myself up off the floor and carry on."

Tell us what you think of the new "Hobbit" photos in the comments section!

Check out everything we've got on "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Lady Gaga Sends Love To Clarence Clemons On Twitter

'Can we all make some get-well videos?' Gaga requests of her Little Monsters.
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage

Clarence Clemons is reportedly "responsive and in stable condition" after two brain surgeries, according to Bruce Springsteen fansite Backstreets.com. The E Street Band member suffered a stroke on Sunday and is now reportedly on the mend.

"Yesterday, it did not look good at all. Today ... miracles are happening. His vital signs are improving. He's responsive. His eyes are welling up when we're talking to him. He was paralyzed on his left side, but now he's squeezing with his left hand," a source close to the musician tells the site. "This is the best news we've heard since [the stroke] happened — it's nothing short of miraculous. The next five days will still be critical. But he's a fighter."

Fox New York confirmed the report. A rep for Springsteen had not responded to MTV News' request for comment or further information on Clemons' condition by press time.

Lady Gaga, who worked with Clemons on her Born This Way album, took to Twitter to send love and well-wishes to the saxophonist. "Little monsters, my very close friend +musician on 'The Edge of Glory' Clarence Clemons is very sick," she wrote. "Can we all make some get-well videos?"

"Edge of Glory" producer Fernando Garibay recently recalled to MTV News Gaga's desire to get the musician on the song, which she wrote as an ode to her grandfather.

"As soon as she was done with it, we said, 'Let's go with it.' I think it's very epic. It's an emotional song," Garibay said. As for Clemons' appearance on the song, he added, "She wanted a sax part, so he came in and played on 'Edge of Glory,' and what a moment that was to have her family there when the sax was being played on the track and it was all really magical.

"Clarence Clemons came to the city; we were in New York," he continued. "He heard the song twice. We set up a mic and everything [and he] just played live all the way through. It was kind of one take. It was really amazing."

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