- Artist: Akon
- Label: BME Recordings/Reprise
- Album: The Ball Street Journal
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1240040&vid=272732
Monday, February 28, 2011
Akon - Who Dat Girl
- Artist: Akon
- Label: Poe Boy Entertainment
- Director: Ray Kay
- Album: Only One Flo, Pt. 1
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1240040&vid=602322
Dr. Dre's 'Kush' Premieres: The Party Can Finally Begin
Video featuring Snoop Dogg and Akon shows revelers frozen in time until the Doctor arrives.
By Jayson Rodriguez
Dr. Dre
Photo: Johnny Nunez/ WireImage
Detox is on the way. And as the latest proof that Dr. Dre's long-awaited album will see the light of day soon, he premiered the video to the first single, "Kush," co-starring Snoop Dogg and Akon, on Friday (December 10).
The video, directed by Joseph Kahn (Eminem, Britney Spears), begins as Dre is seated in a sleek, black Lamborghini, attempting to flick a lighter. Once the Left Coast maestro ignites it, the beat drops, and he exits the car.
Dre approaches the club in a setting similar to "The Next Episode," one of his past hits. But the festivities around him are ice cold; the club patrons are statue-like, frozen in the parking lot and inside, in mid groove. The good doctor's last project was 1999's 2001, and perhaps things haven't been quite the same without him, the video suggests.
Snoop Dogg kicks things off on the second verse, and the lanky L.A. rhyme spitter is surrounded by a bevy of beautiful, frozen women. They're smiling, drinks are pouring, but they're also statues compared to the rapper.
As Dre makes his way into the club and to the bar, however, the party livens up.
Dre pulls out his lighter, engraved with the song's title, and holds it to the sprinklers overhead, setting them off. As water rains down on the partygoers, they come back to life, gyrating to the thumping track's production. Later, Dre and Snoop leave the club, and Dre drives off into the night on an empty highway, surrounded by the streaking lights of cars that are no longer there.
Recently, Eminem told his satellite radio station, Shade 45, that he and Dre have been in the studio wrapping up Detox. "Kush" and "I Need A Doctor," featuring Eminem, leaked back to back in November.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654012/dr-dres-kush-premieres-party-can-finally-begin.jhtml
B.o.B - Airplanes
- Artist: B.o.B
- Label: Atlantic
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3238990&vid=529513
Bruno Mars, B.o.B, Janelle Monae Turn In Throwback Grammy Set
Pompadour-sporting stars rock medley of 'Grenade,' 'Nothin' on You' and 'Cold War.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Bruno Mars performs during the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards
Photo: The Recording Academy/CBS
Bruno Mars headed into Grammy night on top, with seven nominations under his belt for his singing and songwriting efforts. He has already scored snaps for his studio work, but on Sunday night, the 25-year-old Doo-Wops & Hooligans crooner showcased his stage skills with fellow promising genre-bending stars B.o.B and Janelle Monáe.
Following a string intro, Mars helmed the keys and gently crooned a softer version of his #1 smash with B.o.B, "Nothin' on You." The ATL hitmaker then took the mic, rocking a dapper old-school look and adding a scholarly touch with a monocle as he sang and rhymed the lyrics. Monáe kept the menswear theme going in a voluminous cape, quietly chiming in at a clear podium as B.o.B turned to croon to her.
Check out pictures from the Grammy show here.
Suddenly, a faux mid-century black-and-white broadcast introducing Mars took over the screen, and then the live telecast switched to a retro two-tone look. Mars looked perfectly in place as he belted a slowed-down yet soul-injected version of his own #1 single "Grenade," with B.o.B on the piano. A crew of background singers helped transform the pop hit into a doo-wop effort, complete with a few stuttering dance steps; Mars even got on his knees during the bluesy arrangement in a move that would have made legendary funkateer James Brown proud.
Then Monáe stepped up for her ArchAndroid cut "Cold War" in her trademark button-down shirt-and-slacks outfit. Mars hopped on the drums as the lights flashed, fog rolled in and Monáe added her own vocal pyrotechnics to the mix. The songstress then took the performance from retro to rowdy by sailing into the audience for a brief crowd-surf as B.o.B strummed away on the guitar. The upstart trio's upbeat set scored a standing ovation.
Last year, Mars was floored when he first heard he'd racked up seven nods, but added that scoring accolades isn't even his favorite part of his hitmaking gig.
"The funnest part of our job is that we don't know who we're working with next," Mars told MTV News in December about working his songwriting and production crew the Smeezingtons. "We're fans and students of music, and we just love to work with whoever wants to work, whoever wants to write a song. Rock, hip-hop, R&B — we just want to do music. And we're happy just doing that."
What did you think of Bruno Mars' Grammy performance? Let us know in the comments!
For Grammy Awards winners list, analysis, interviews, fashion and more, stick with MTV News during the big show and beyond.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657854/bruno_mars_b_o_b_janelle_grammy_performance.jhtml
Akon Weighs In On New Michael Jackson Tracks
Their collaboration, 'Hold My Hand,' was 'preapproved,' Akon tells MTV News about Michael track.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kelly Marino
Akon
Photo: MTV News
There has been much debate over the release of new music by Michael Jackson, set for release on his album Michael, due out December 14. Some fans and some of Jackson's collaborators, such as will.i.am, have spoken out about the release of the tracks, many of which were finished after Jackson's death. It's an argument that Akon, who worked with Jackson on the song "Hold My Hand," understands.
"Michael Jackson's new album and the new releases, of course, there's been comments about whether or not [it] should actually be released or whether it would reflect his true authenticity, but naturally because of the fact he's not here to see it through, it definitely wouldn't reflect what he had in mind for it because there's other minds working for him," Akon told MTV News about the tracks. "But I think at the end of the day, we have two choices: We can put out the little that we do have to hold onto, or we can just never ever put it out again. ... The material that he did have that was finished, he would have loved to put it out.
"[The songs] were created by him, now whether or not they were finished by him is a different story," he added. "And that's just a collective effort of all of us. It's a double-edged sword."
Akon points out that one of those finished tracks is "Hold My Hand," making the argument that his contribution to the album is Jackson-approved.
"If he was here today, I think he would definitely approve of 'Hold My Hand,' because it was already preapproved," he said. "But the rest of the songs, I'm not quite sure how far those songs went 'cause Michael's a perfectionist. He wouldn't let anything go unfinished. Me knowing him from my standpoint of viewing him, I'm not quite sure, because he won't stop; he will go and go until there's not one doubt left in his mind that this record is perfect.
"So, I hope he would [have approved of the album], then again, you never know. He's the only one that can answer that question."
Do you think the tracks should be released? Sound off in the comments below.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652499/akon-weighs-on-new-michael-jackson-tracks.jhtml
Akon - Dreamgirl
- Artist: Akon
- Label: Nappy Boy Digital
- Director: ME, YOU
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1240040&vid=369748
Hayley Williams Says She'd 'Love To See B.o.B Win' At The Grammys
The Paramore frontwoman picked up a pair of Grammy noms, but she's rooting for her 'Airplanes' collaborator.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by James Lacsina
Hayley Williams
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
On Wednesday night, Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams picked up a pair of Grammy nominations — a Best Pop Collaboration nod for her work with B.o.B and Eminem on "Airplanes, Part II," and a Best Pop Performance mention for her band's song "The Only Exception."
So, when she spoke to MTV News literally minutes after learning about her noms, the singer was understandably excited.
"Oh man, it feels so good!" Williams laughed. "And I'm really proud of everything that I get to be a part of, and I love being here to represent the guys. I wish they were here."
And while her two nominations are certainly nothing to sneeze at, they sort of pale in comparison to the 10 racked up by Eminem ... or the five that B.o.B got. And since Williams guested on a song with both of those artists, we had to ask her who she'll be cheering for come Grammy night.
"Well, I would love to see B.o.B win everything he got nominated for ... not only is he an amazing artist and performer, but he's such a great dude," she said. "And we've been lucky to tour together and I've just watched him explode. He's a massive star now, and he's still the same guy. So I love seeing my friends win, and I'm always going to be there rooting for him."
Of course, Williams may have an ulterior motive for throwing her support behind B.o.B — after all, he did promise MTV News that if he takes home an award, he will record a song with Paramore.
"Oh yeah, well I think we just entered into a verbal contract about it right here," Williams said, smiling. "We'll definitely do it ... I love music, I love working with other artists, as long as I feel it's true to me as well. I wouldn't have done 'Airplanes' if I listened to it and thought, 'Uh, I don't really care.' But I heard it and I heard something really special, and I related to it."
And just what would a Paramore/B.o.B collabo sound like?
"You'd be surprised," Williams said. "Have you heard his new mixtape yet? Just listen to that and then tell me what you think it's gonna sound like. It's gonna be so sick."
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards will air Sunday, February 13, on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
What do you think about this year's Grammy nominees? Tell us in the comments.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653424/hayley-williams-shed-love-see-bob-win-at-grammys.jhtml
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Attachmate acquires Novell for $2.2 billion
Novell, a software company that rose to power along with Intel-based computers but failed to keep up with rivals such as Microsoft and Red Hat, announced today an end to its independence with a $2.2 billion acquisition by Attachmate . Under the agreement, privately held Attachmate will pay $6.10 per share for Novell, a 9 percent premium over Friday's closing price of $5.59 and a 28 percent premium over the last public trading day before Elliott Associates made an offer of $5.75 per share in March .
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Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Muse Added To Grammy Show
Usher, Jaden Smith, B.o.B, Janelle Monae and Lady Antebellum will also perform on February 13.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber and Usher
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
While Willow Smith is the one who made music headlines with "Whip My Hair" last year, it's her brother, "Karate Kid" actor Jaden Smith, who will take the stage at the upcoming 53rd Grammy Awards in a special performance alongside Usher and Justin Bieber, with whom he collaborated on the song "Never Say Never" last summer.
The trio joins a list of new performers added to the show on Thursday (January 20) that will also include another power trifecta made up of B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe, according to a press release from the Recording Academy announcing the additions to the February 13 telecast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Also taking the stage next month will be nominees Muse and Lady Antebellum. They will join a roster of previously announced performers that includes Eminem, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, Cee Lo Green and Miranda Lambert. It will be the first time on the Grammy performance stage for Bieber, B.o.B, Lambert, Mars, Monáe, Muse and Smith. Eminem, Green, Gaga, Perry, Usher and Lady Antebellum will be making return visits for the occasion.
While 11-time Grammy winner Eminem leads the pack in nominations this year (with 10 nods), Mars has seven nominations, and Gaga and Lady Antebellum are not far behind with six nods each. B.o.B has notched five, Perry and Green are each up for four, and Arcade Fire and Lambert are vying for three awards. Bieber, Muse, Usher and Monáe are each nominated for two Grammys.
No details of the collaborative performances were released, but the Grammy announcement promised a rare, never-before-seen event for the Mars, B.o.B and Monáe segment.
With the addition of Antebellum, all five Album of the Year nominees (Eminem, Arcade Fire, Gaga, Perry) are now scheduled to perform on the show. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
Which Grammy performance are you most looking forward to? Talk about it in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656279/justin-bieber-bruno-mars-muse-added-grammy-show.jhtml
Akon - Out Here Grindin
- Artist: Akon
- Label: Koch Records
- Album: We Global [Clean]
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1240040&vid=257168
Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry Rock Z100's Jingle Ball
Madison Square Garden concert also featured Enrique Iglesias, B.o.B
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber performs at Z100's "Jingle Ball 2010"
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
NEW YORK — At 7:30 p.m. on the nose, the house lights went down, the girls went crazy, and Z100's Jingle Ball 2010 got the party started Friday (December 10) for a rousing night of music and fun at Madison Square Garden.
Kim Kardashian, in a white body-hugging dress, kicked off the night's festivities by noting that it was her first time ever at MSG, then bringing Taio Cruz to the stage. He played "Break Your Heart" and "Dynamite," and for his track "Higher," he was joined by Travie McCoy, though the song usually features British pop princess Kylie Minogue.
Jesse McCartney was on hand to proudly invite Bruno Mars to the stage. The Grammy nominee played drums for an excited crowd.
He played "Billionaire," and the entire room sang along as McCoy joined him for their ode to getting famous. The crowd ate it up. He then slowed it down with "Grenade." The set ended with "Just the Way You Are" to the delight of the crowd.
Jay Sean beat-boxed, then helped introduce Paramore to the stage. The band brought some loud, boombastic rock to the show thanks to a set that included "Brick by Boring Brick."
"Anybody else care to join the party tonight?" frontwoman Hayley Williams asked the crowd before blaring out "Misery" and inviting a fan onstage to sing with her. They finished it off with "The Only Exception."
B.o.B was next to the stage. The rapper got real with his track "Don't Let Me Fall." Then the crowd went insane for "Magic." As if that didn't get the girls hyped enough, Bruno Mars returned for "Beautiful Girls."
"Everybody put your hands up," B.o.B told the crowd before playing his massive "Airplanes" with Williams by his side.
The crowd went nuts when Flo Rida introduced Selena Gomez for her dance-tastic performance of "Round and Round." Gomez looked like a true disco queen in her little black dress and heels.
She thanked Katy Perry for her next track, "Rock God," then got trancey for her song "A Year Without Rain," and ended her set with "Naturally," crediting it as the reason she got a spot on the radio tour.
The show took an adult contemporary and old school turn when Michael Buble arrived to croon tunes such as "Hollywood" and "Haven't Met You Yet," and for "Let it Snow," he got in the crowd and paid homage to the season, dusting MSG with snow confetti.
Katy Perry brought the girl power in her performance, which featured ballerinas, Christmas trees, Santa Clauses and Perry popping out of a gift box in a latex toy soldier costume for "Hot n Cold."
"This is Madison Square Garden!" she shouted to the crowd. "This is something I've dreamt about for a long time."
"This next song is about falling in love with a foreigner, like far away ... Not even in England," she said to introduce "E.T."
After a jazzy version of "I Kissed a Girl," she proudly proclaimed, "Let's dedicate this West Coast anthem to the East Coast right now," ending her performance with "California Gurls" as red and green confetti fell from the ceiling.
Pauly D prompted the loudest screams of the night when he introduced Enrique Iglesias. The Latin pop star played the clean version of "Tonight," followed by older jams such as "Escape" and "Hero," serenading a girl from the audience.
With the swooning complete, Iglesias ended with fan favorite "I Like It."
Kardashian returned, telling the crowd, "I think I'm catching a fever," before the night's most-anticipated performance: Justin Bieber.
In a plaid top and khakis, the teen star got his party started with "Somebody to Love." Bieber was in full swagga mode, dancing like a seasoned pro and getting the crowd hyped.
"The last time I was here for Jingle Ball, I had a broken foot, and this year, I'm here and both my limbs are working," he joked. "We shot a movie here, and it's coming out in February, and I think we should show you a preview."
The trailer transitioned to "Never Say Never." Bieber even brought out a surprise guest, Jayden Smith, to join him.
"I had someone who's really special to me, and I decided to bring him out," he then announced, calling for Sean Kingston for "Eenie Meenie." The girls went crazy as the pals went back and forth on the cut.
"I think I want to slow it down a little bit. My acoustic album had an extra song on it that's really important to me. But first, I need everyone to close their eyes and 'Pray,' " he said before the inspirational ballad.
He then teased the excited crowd, saying, "I think we should do one more song," and listing some of his track names.
He settled on "Baby." "Who wants to be my baby?" he asked. He ended the night with showers of fireworks and confetti, saying, "You guys are amazing."
Did you go to Z100's Jingle Ball 2010? Give us your review in the comments below!
Related Photos Related ArtistsJustin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry Rock Z100's Jingle Ball
Madison Square Garden concert also featured Enrique Iglesias, B.o.B
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber performs at Z100's "Jingle Ball 2010"
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
NEW YORK — At 7:30 p.m. on the nose, the house lights went down, the girls went crazy, and Z100's Jingle Ball 2010 got the party started Friday (December 10) for a rousing night of music and fun at Madison Square Garden.
Kim Kardashian, in a white body-hugging dress, kicked off the night's festivities by noting that it was her first time ever at MSG, then bringing Taio Cruz to the stage. He played "Break Your Heart" and "Dynamite," and for his track "Higher," he was joined by Travie McCoy, though the song usually features British pop princess Kylie Minogue.
Jesse McCartney was on hand to proudly invite Bruno Mars to the stage. The Grammy nominee played drums for an excited crowd.
He played "Billionaire," and the entire room sang along as McCoy joined him for their ode to getting famous. The crowd ate it up. He then slowed it down with "Grenade." The set ended with "Just the Way You Are" to the delight of the crowd.
Jay Sean beat-boxed, then helped introduce Paramore to the stage. The band brought some loud, boombastic rock to the show thanks to a set that included "Brick by Boring Brick."
"Anybody else care to join the party tonight?" frontwoman Hayley Williams asked the crowd before blaring out "Misery" and inviting a fan onstage to sing with her. They finished it off with "The Only Exception."
B.o.B was next to the stage. The rapper got real with his track "Don't Let Me Fall." Then the crowd went insane for "Magic." As if that didn't get the girls hyped enough, Bruno Mars returned for "Beautiful Girls."
"Everybody put your hands up," B.o.B told the crowd before playing his massive "Airplanes" with Williams by his side.
The crowd went nuts when Flo Rida introduced Selena Gomez for her dance-tastic performance of "Round and Round." Gomez looked like a true disco queen in her little black dress and heels.
She thanked Katy Perry for her next track, "Rock God," then got trancey for her song "A Year Without Rain," and ended her set with "Naturally," crediting it as the reason she got a spot on the radio tour.
The show took an adult contemporary and old school turn when Michael Buble arrived to croon tunes such as "Hollywood" and "Haven't Met You Yet," and for "Let it Snow," he got in the crowd and paid homage to the season, dusting MSG with snow confetti.
Katy Perry brought the girl power in her performance, which featured ballerinas, Christmas trees, Santa Clauses and Perry popping out of a gift box in a latex toy soldier costume for "Hot n Cold."
"This is Madison Square Garden!" she shouted to the crowd. "This is something I've dreamt about for a long time."
"This next song is about falling in love with a foreigner, like far away ... Not even in England," she said to introduce "E.T."
After a jazzy version of "I Kissed a Girl," she proudly proclaimed, "Let's dedicate this West Coast anthem to the East Coast right now," ending her performance with "California Gurls" as red and green confetti fell from the ceiling.
Pauly D prompted the loudest screams of the night when he introduced Enrique Iglesias. The Latin pop star played the clean version of "Tonight," followed by older jams such as "Escape" and "Hero," serenading a girl from the audience.
With the swooning complete, Iglesias ended with fan favorite "I Like It."
Kardashian returned, telling the crowd, "I think I'm catching a fever," before the night's most-anticipated performance: Justin Bieber.
In a plaid top and khakis, the teen star got his party started with "Somebody to Love." Bieber was in full swagga mode, dancing like a seasoned pro and getting the crowd hyped.
"The last time I was here for Jingle Ball, I had a broken foot, and this year, I'm here and both my limbs are working," he joked. "We shot a movie here, and it's coming out in February, and I think we should show you a preview."
The trailer transitioned to "Never Say Never." Bieber even brought out a surprise guest, Jayden Smith, to join him.
"I had someone who's really special to me, and I decided to bring him out," he then announced, calling for Sean Kingston for "Eenie Meenie." The girls went crazy as the pals went back and forth on the cut.
"I think I want to slow it down a little bit. My acoustic album had an extra song on it that's really important to me. But first, I need everyone to close their eyes and 'Pray,' " he said before the inspirational ballad.
He then teased the excited crowd, saying, "I think we should do one more song," and listing some of his track names.
He settled on "Baby." "Who wants to be my baby?" he asked. He ended the night with showers of fireworks and confetti, saying, "You guys are amazing."
Did you go to Z100's Jingle Ball 2010? Give us your review in the comments below!
Related Photos Related ArtistsJustin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Muse Added To Grammy Show
Usher, Jaden Smith, B.o.B, Janelle Monae and Lady Antebellum will also perform on February 13.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber and Usher
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
While Willow Smith is the one who made music headlines with "Whip My Hair" last year, it's her brother, "Karate Kid" actor Jaden Smith, who will take the stage at the upcoming 53rd Grammy Awards in a special performance alongside Usher and Justin Bieber, with whom he collaborated on the song "Never Say Never" last summer.
The trio joins a list of new performers added to the show on Thursday (January 20) that will also include another power trifecta made up of B.o.B, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe, according to a press release from the Recording Academy announcing the additions to the February 13 telecast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Also taking the stage next month will be nominees Muse and Lady Antebellum. They will join a roster of previously announced performers that includes Eminem, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Arcade Fire, Cee Lo Green and Miranda Lambert. It will be the first time on the Grammy performance stage for Bieber, B.o.B, Lambert, Mars, Monáe, Muse and Smith. Eminem, Green, Gaga, Perry, Usher and Lady Antebellum will be making return visits for the occasion.
While 11-time Grammy winner Eminem leads the pack in nominations this year (with 10 nods), Mars has seven nominations, and Gaga and Lady Antebellum are not far behind with six nods each. B.o.B has notched five, Perry and Green are each up for four, and Arcade Fire and Lambert are vying for three awards. Bieber, Muse, Usher and Monáe are each nominated for two Grammys.
No details of the collaborative performances were released, but the Grammy announcement promised a rare, never-before-seen event for the Mars, B.o.B and Monáe segment.
With the addition of Antebellum, all five Album of the Year nominees (Eminem, Arcade Fire, Gaga, Perry) are now scheduled to perform on the show. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
Which Grammy performance are you most looking forward to? Talk about it in the comments!
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656279/justin-bieber-bruno-mars-muse-added-grammy-show.jhtml
Akon - Day Dreaming
- Artist: Akon
- Label: Atlantic Records, Grand Hustle
- Director: RAGE
- Album: Gangsta Grillz: The Album, Vol. 2
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1240040&vid=344721
B.o.B Plans 'A Little Bit Of Magic' For Grammy Nominations Concert
'This year, all the success, all the doors that have been opened have really taken me by surprise,' he tells MTV News of his own Grammy chances.
By Kelley L. Carter, with reporting by James Lacsina
B.o.B at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday
Photo: James Lacsina
B.o.B is ready to hit the stage.
He's been performing one of the hottest songs all year long, so it's only appropriate that he and Bruno Mars perform it one more time at Wednesday night's (December 1) Grammy Nominations Concert at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles. Earlier Wednesday, the rapper performed "Don't Let Me Fall" on his own and, later, his big hit "Nothin' on You" with Bruno Mars.
"It was a really good way to kick it off and be more involved with the overall experience," he said of the concert.
B.o.B said he doesn't have too many expectations about how the Grammy nominations might shake out, considering that this is his first year being involved. When asked if he might do something a bit different for his performance during the nominations special, the "Magic" MC joked, "Just a little bit of magic."
Bobby Ray has some predictions for his colleagues when it comes to Grammy night: "I think Cee Lo and Bruno Mars could win because of their musicality and what they brought."
But what about the rapper's own chances? "If Bruno is nominated, I probably might be nominated also. It's kind of a win-win situation for both of us," he said of his collaborator. "This year, all the success, all the doors that have been opened have really taken me by surprise."
The nominations special airs Wednesday night on CBS at 10 ET/PT. The 53rd annual Grammys air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 13, and will be broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Stick with MTV News for everything about the Grammys, including nominations and reactions from the artists.
What do you think of B.o.B's chances for the Grammy nominations? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653380/bob-plans-little-bit-magic-grammy-nominations-concert.jhtml
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Eminem And B.o.B Collaboration Leaks Online
The track, 'Things Get Worse,' features Em revisiting his Slim Shady persona.
By Jayson Rodriguez
B.o.B
Photo: Atlantic
Holy split personality!
An unreleased Eminem and Bobby Ray collaboration was unearthed online Thursday (February 24) that finds the two MCs tapping into their respective manic alter egos, Slim Shady and B.o.B
The mid-tempo track, "Things Get Worse," harkens back to Em's early days and his button-pushing rhymes.
"Note to Jessica Simpson, let's go with the tuna casserole," Eminem raps in one of the verses. "'Cause I used to love her hooters, now Carmen Electra's cuter/ Strap an extension cord to her arm and electrocute her/ I'm off my f---ing meds but I'm on an electric scooter/ I might just scoot by and shoot my mom in the neck with Rugers/ Spit in Jason's face while I vomit on Freddy Krueger/ They can't even get Jeffrey Dahmer to pet the cougar."
"There's no need to say sh-- you already know, the question is just how far will this go," B.o.B chants on the chorus. "'Cause I will never lay down and I will never let up."
"I guess things are gonna get much worse 'fore they get better," Em chimes in.
The song appeared on the blog of one of B.o.B's managers, but there was no message indicating where the track will wind up or how long ago it was recorded.
After scoring three top 10 hits on the pop charts with his debut album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray, the rapper/singer said he wanted to return to his more lyrical roots before starting his next project.
In December, he released a mixtape, No Genre, that reminded his early supporters of his abilities, which he displays capably on "Things Get Worse."
"I pass by people on the street, they seem like sleeping zombies," he raps. "Stiffer than a therapeutic pair of jeans you running/ So can you hear me coming?/ Eminem, this beat is absolutely disgusting/ It's probably got diseases on it."
It's not the first time the two stars have appeared on the same track, as Eminem also was featured on B.o.B's Grammy-nominated "Airplanes, Part II" remix.
Have you heard Eminem and B.o.B's "Things Get Worse" collaboration? If so, share your opinion in the comments.
Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658606/things-get-worse-eminem-bob.jhtml
B.o.B - The Other Side
- Artist: B.o.B
- Label: Elektra Records
- Director: Nick Bilardello, Cameron Duddy
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3238990&vid=548563
B.o.B - The Other Side
- Artist: B.o.B
- Label: Elektra Records
- Director: Nick Bilardello, Cameron Duddy
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3238990&vid=548563
Michael Jackson 'Hold My Hand' Video Tugs At Heartstrings
Posthumous clip mixes classic footage of Jackson with newly shot film of fans.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson in the video for "Hold My Hand"
Photo: Sony Music Entertainment
In addition to his flawless vocals and mind-bending footwork, one of the things Michael Jackson was best known for was his drive to create the most elaborate and cinematic music videos the world had ever seen.
"Billie Jean," "Thriller," "Black or White," "Remember the Time" and "Bad" are just a few of the landmark clips the late King of Pop gave the world during his 1980s and early-'90s hit-making peak. Which is why fans and critics alike were eager to get a glimpse Thursday morning (December 9) at the first music video in the singer's career that was created without his firm guiding hand and vision.
After teasing the clip earlier in the week, the official MJ site debuted on Thursday the full video for the stirring ballad "Hold My Hand," the first single from the upcoming album, Michael. The clip for MJ's duet with Akon is not unlike the first posthumous vids from the likes of other contemporary fallen stars such as Tupac Shakur or the Notorious B.I.G., in that it mixes classic footage of the artist performing with newly shot images of fans young and old paying homage to their hero.
It opens with a crowd of people standing in front of a large airplane hangar and unleashing a flood of white balloons as they say "Thank you, Michael" and "We love you, Michael," while a gigantic image of the singer in silhouette appears on the side of the structure.
If nothing else, the "Hold My Hand" video is a kind of MJ greatest-hits montage, intercutting images of the singer in his prime in some of his most beloved stage outfits with glimpses of children wearing the same garb, a young boy holding a red plastic heart in his hands and Akon dancing on a pure white background as MJ hoofs beside him.
As Michael begins to sing the first verse, we see a variety of different hands — old, young, holding babies, reaching up to the sky, down into a bathtub, etc. — as well as a series of women crying, the infamous glittering glove and a woman in a hospital bed seemingly dying of cancer, all intended to pull heartstrings and stir emotion.
It continues on like that, with most of the video consisting of shots of hands (some trailing a kind of glittery pixie-dust vapor) doing various things, children breakdancing and popping, and various images of angels, as the edits of stock-like footage of sunny skies, forests and adorable babies pile on so quickly it's almost hard to keep up.
Jackson, frankly, is hardly in the video, making sporadic appearances courtesy of some iconic footage of him in concert, a curious choice given the reported dozens of hours of HD footage shot of the singer while he was preparing for what was slated to be his big comeback tour in England last year.
The duet with Akon was recorded in 2007 and, as a message on MJ's site points out, "a handwritten note from Michael belonging to his estate indicated his desire that 'Hold My Hand' be the first single on his next project." After an unfinished version leaked in 2008, Akon recently went back into the studio to complete production on the track.
Instead of the eye-popping special effects and intricate choreography of the past, the "Hold My Hand" video goes for a simpler, more predictable sentimentality. Without Jackson around anymore to call the shots and push the video envelope, it also signals a quiet, uneventful end to a career of constant reinvention and visual ambition via music video.
In a statement to MTV News, director Mark Pellington explained what he was aiming for with the posthumous clip. "We shot the video in a variety of locations in Los Angeles, including a blimp hangar in Tustin. The attempt was to create a celebratory, positive, healing music video honoring Michael's legacy," he said. "And for me personally, if his fans like it, that's all I really care about."
What do you think of the "Hold My Hand" video?
Related Photos Related ArtistsB.o.B - Airplanes
- Artist: B.o.B
- Label: Atlantic
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=3238990&vid=529513
Akon - Sexy Chick
- Artist: Akon
- Label: Gum Pod
- Director: Stephen Schuster
- Album: One Love [Clean]
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1240040&vid=438650
Teaser For Michael Jackson's 'Hold My Hand' Video Released
A 30-second preview of MJ's duet with Akon promises epic images.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson
Photo: Ebet Roberts/ Redferns
It's hard enough to finish a song by a noted perfectionist such as Michael Jackson after the singer's death, but the challenge of filming a video for the first posthumous single from the most celebrated video maker in music history has got to be even more daunting.
So MJ fans must have been eager to check out a 30-second teaser of the clip for the Akon collaboration "Hold My Hand," that was posted on Jackson's website over the weekend, just over a week before the King of Pop's first posthumous studio album, Michael, is slated to hit stores.
The quick-cut preview opens with Jackson, bathed in a spotlight on stage and dressed in a black leather jacket, black pants and a gold lame unitard, blowing a kiss to unseen fans and spreading his arms wide. With the song's swelling, cinematic strings and Jackson and Akon's vibrant vocals on the chorus pumping behind, we then see a succession of images, including a mother holding a smiling baby, MJ on stage during his prime, a lit-up Ferris wheel, a grade-school girl stretching her arms toward the sun, a baby in a diaper learning how to walk and the track's title graffitied on a cement wall.
The action then moves inside to a dark venue, as a blinding light emerges in the distance from the point of view of an ecstatic, clapping crowd. It quickly becomes clear that the audience is awaiting Jackson's arrival on stage, as his unmistakable profile appears in shadow on the curtain. More quick cuts reveal a b-girl in a gold lame top busting a few moves while swinging chains and a child MJ impersonator shuffling his feet amid classic images of Jackson on stage at various points in his career.
Those clips are then interspersed with shots of a huge chorus singing the song's refrain while waving their arms in the air on a set that looks like a reservoir or a dam. The teaser ends with a montage of children's hands and a close-up of a grand piano cued to the tune's haunting keyboard break.
The duet with Akon was recorded in 2007 and, as a message on MJ's site points out, "a handwritten note from Michael belonging to his estate indicated his desire that 'Hold My Hand' be the first single on his next project."
After an unfinished version leaked in 2008, Akon recently went back into the studio to complete production on the track.
What do you think of the "Hold My Hand" teaser clip? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653590/teaser-michael-jacksons-hold-my-hand-video-released.jhtml
Friday, February 25, 2011
Bruno Mars, B.o.B, Janelle Monae Turn In Throwback Grammy Set
Pompadour-sporting stars rock medley of 'Grenade,' 'Nothin' on You' and 'Cold War.'
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Bruno Mars performs during the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards
Photo: The Recording Academy/CBS
Bruno Mars headed into Grammy night on top, with seven nominations under his belt for his singing and songwriting efforts. He has already scored snaps for his studio work, but on Sunday night, the 25-year-old Doo-Wops & Hooligans crooner showcased his stage skills with fellow promising genre-bending stars B.o.B and Janelle Monáe.
Following a string intro, Mars helmed the keys and gently crooned a softer version of his #1 smash with B.o.B, "Nothin' on You." The ATL hitmaker then took the mic, rocking a dapper old-school look and adding a scholarly touch with a monocle as he sang and rhymed the lyrics. Monáe kept the menswear theme going in a voluminous cape, quietly chiming in at a clear podium as B.o.B turned to croon to her.
Check out pictures from the Grammy show here.
Suddenly, a faux mid-century black-and-white broadcast introducing Mars took over the screen, and then the live telecast switched to a retro two-tone look. Mars looked perfectly in place as he belted a slowed-down yet soul-injected version of his own #1 single "Grenade," with B.o.B on the piano. A crew of background singers helped transform the pop hit into a doo-wop effort, complete with a few stuttering dance steps; Mars even got on his knees during the bluesy arrangement in a move that would have made legendary funkateer James Brown proud.
Then Monáe stepped up for her ArchAndroid cut "Cold War" in her trademark button-down shirt-and-slacks outfit. Mars hopped on the drums as the lights flashed, fog rolled in and Monáe added her own vocal pyrotechnics to the mix. The songstress then took the performance from retro to rowdy by sailing into the audience for a brief crowd-surf as B.o.B strummed away on the guitar. The upstart trio's upbeat set scored a standing ovation.
Last year, Mars was floored when he first heard he'd racked up seven nods, but added that scoring accolades isn't even his favorite part of his hitmaking gig.
"The funnest part of our job is that we don't know who we're working with next," Mars told MTV News in December about working his songwriting and production crew the Smeezingtons. "We're fans and students of music, and we just love to work with whoever wants to work, whoever wants to write a song. Rock, hip-hop, R&B — we just want to do music. And we're happy just doing that."
What did you think of Bruno Mars' Grammy performance? Let us know in the comments!
For Grammy Awards winners list, analysis, interviews, fashion and more, stick with MTV News during the big show and beyond.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsSource: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657854/bruno_mars_b_o_b_janelle_grammy_performance.jhtml
Akon - Out Here Grindin
- Artist: Akon
- Label: Koch Records
- Album: We Global [Clean]
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1240040&vid=257168
Michael Jackson 'Hold My Hand' Video Tugs At Heartstrings
Posthumous clip mixes classic footage of Jackson with newly shot film of fans.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson in the video for "Hold My Hand"
Photo: Sony Music Entertainment
In addition to his flawless vocals and mind-bending footwork, one of the things Michael Jackson was best known for was his drive to create the most elaborate and cinematic music videos the world had ever seen.
"Billie Jean," "Thriller," "Black or White," "Remember the Time" and "Bad" are just a few of the landmark clips the late King of Pop gave the world during his 1980s and early-'90s hit-making peak. Which is why fans and critics alike were eager to get a glimpse Thursday morning (December 9) at the first music video in the singer's career that was created without his firm guiding hand and vision.
After teasing the clip earlier in the week, the official MJ site debuted on Thursday the full video for the stirring ballad "Hold My Hand," the first single from the upcoming album, Michael. The clip for MJ's duet with Akon is not unlike the first posthumous vids from the likes of other contemporary fallen stars such as Tupac Shakur or the Notorious B.I.G., in that it mixes classic footage of the artist performing with newly shot images of fans young and old paying homage to their hero.
It opens with a crowd of people standing in front of a large airplane hangar and unleashing a flood of white balloons as they say "Thank you, Michael" and "We love you, Michael," while a gigantic image of the singer in silhouette appears on the side of the structure.
If nothing else, the "Hold My Hand" video is a kind of MJ greatest-hits montage, intercutting images of the singer in his prime in some of his most beloved stage outfits with glimpses of children wearing the same garb, a young boy holding a red plastic heart in his hands and Akon dancing on a pure white background as MJ hoofs beside him.
As Michael begins to sing the first verse, we see a variety of different hands — old, young, holding babies, reaching up to the sky, down into a bathtub, etc. — as well as a series of women crying, the infamous glittering glove and a woman in a hospital bed seemingly dying of cancer, all intended to pull heartstrings and stir emotion.
It continues on like that, with most of the video consisting of shots of hands (some trailing a kind of glittery pixie-dust vapor) doing various things, children breakdancing and popping, and various images of angels, as the edits of stock-like footage of sunny skies, forests and adorable babies pile on so quickly it's almost hard to keep up.
Jackson, frankly, is hardly in the video, making sporadic appearances courtesy of some iconic footage of him in concert, a curious choice given the reported dozens of hours of HD footage shot of the singer while he was preparing for what was slated to be his big comeback tour in England last year.
The duet with Akon was recorded in 2007 and, as a message on MJ's site points out, "a handwritten note from Michael belonging to his estate indicated his desire that 'Hold My Hand' be the first single on his next project." After an unfinished version leaked in 2008, Akon recently went back into the studio to complete production on the track.
Instead of the eye-popping special effects and intricate choreography of the past, the "Hold My Hand" video goes for a simpler, more predictable sentimentality. Without Jackson around anymore to call the shots and push the video envelope, it also signals a quiet, uneventful end to a career of constant reinvention and visual ambition via music video.
In a statement to MTV News, director Mark Pellington explained what he was aiming for with the posthumous clip. "We shot the video in a variety of locations in Los Angeles, including a blimp hangar in Tustin. The attempt was to create a celebratory, positive, healing music video honoring Michael's legacy," he said. "And for me personally, if his fans like it, that's all I really care about."
What do you think of the "Hold My Hand" video?
Related Photos Related ArtistsAkon - One
- Artist: Akon
- Label: Terror Squad
- Director: Chris Robinson
- Album: Jealous Ones Still Envy 2 (J.O.S.E. 2)
Source: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1240040&vid=354118
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