Tag Archives: dungeon-dragon

Nero ‘Reaching Out’ To ’80s Legend Daryl Hall Paid Off

Skrillex collaborators tell MTV News, ‘We all feel like rocks stars now.’ By Akshay Bhansali Nero Photo: MTV News While Skrillex might be the face of hard-dance EDM in the U.S. this year, his friends and collaborators from the U.K. Nero are quickly becoming popular. In fact, Nero’s Daniel Stephens and Joe Ray, joined by frequent vocal partner Alana Watson, have five stellar hit singles across the pond from their debut album, Welcome Reality, which is now available in the U.S. Notably, here in the States, fan support has surged, with strong Stateside gigs, a recording deal with Interscope and their single “Me & You” even being used in a Beats by Dre commercial featuring the good doctor himself. It’s another endearing success story spawned from a genre that, in the past, catered to a very few, but today, the masses clearly can’t get enough of. “We’ve had songs off the album that have charted very well in the U.K.,” Stephens recently told MTV News. “And we come over here wondering — because they are not on the radio and not charting here — we wonder if they’ve translated over to the U.S. market, and we are always really shocked and amazed when they go off just as much over here.” Watson added, “For the crowds here in the States, ‘Guilt,’ ‘Promises’ has had a massive reaction, with obviously Skrillex doing a collab remix of that for us, which is amazing!” Of the group’s live performances, Stephens explained, “You can’t really hear Alana. When we play live now, she’s just drowned out by the crowd. It’s very humbling when you got a whole massive room of people just singing your songs back to you. We all feel like rocks stars now.” Welcome Reality is a cinematic, electronic opus inspired by colleagues like Daft Punk and ’80s sci-fi films like “Blade Runner” and “Aliens.” Nods to the music and pop culture of the ’80s are no more prevalent than on their latest single, “Reaching Out,” which features ’80s recording legend Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates, who recorded original vocals for Nero, and bits from the Hall & Oats classic “Out of Touch.” “A guy that works in the office just next to our studio, he produced [Hall’s] most-recent album,” Stephens explained. “So, he said, ‘Oh, I know Daryl. I can sort that out for you. He’d probably be up for singing some new material on the track as well.’ “So, back and forth through emails, he agreed that he would re-sing that passage and sing a whole brand-new fresh chorus for the track. So, it’s all original Daryl Hall material, which is amazing! And he still just sounds so great. It’s incredible.” Though Nero and Watson have yet to meet Mr. Hall in person, collaborating with the ’80s icon proved to be a career milestone for the trio. “Just having this ’80s legend, it wasn’t an obvious way to go,” Stephens continued. “So for us, that felt really special. We got this guy that we love, but also this fresh thing to have on a dance track. No one else had really done that.” The video for “Reaching Out” is, fittingly, as stellar a nod to the era as the song, a “Miami Vice”-meets-“Scarface” short film of Miami ’80s opulence comprised of stock footage from the decade. Welcome Reality also features U.K. hit singles “Innocence,” “Me & You,” “Guilt” and “Promises.” Related Artists Daryl Hall

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Nero ‘Reaching Out’ To ’80s Legend Daryl Hall Paid Off

Busta Rhymes And Chris Brown: A Budding Bromance?

Busta says new collabo with Breezy, ‘Why Stop Now, ‘ was ‘organic.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by Matt Elias Busta Rhymes Photo: MTV News Could Busta Rhymes and Chris Brown be developing a long-lasting chemistry? The pair, along with Lil Wayne and the Dungeon Dragon, ruled airwaves in 2011 with their collaborative hit, “Look at Me Now,” and now they’re hoping for similar results with Busta’s new single “Why Stop Now.” Though the title may suggest that the two singles are somehow related, Busta insists that his latest song with Breezy wasn’t as methodically put together as people may think. “I wasn’t actually trying to capture the energy of [‘Look at Me Now’] and bring it into this project,” the newly signed Cash Money MC told MTV News while on the song’s video set. “I just think that for me, especially at this stage in my career, I only do records with people that I respect.” The Diplo and Afrojack-produced “Look at Me Now” peaked at #1 on Billboard ‘s Hot R&B/ Hip-Hop Songs Chart and was voted #9 on MTV’s Best Songs of 2011 list. The Colin Tilley-directed video remained among the year’s best, receiving multiple nominations at the 2011 VMAs. Not a bad track to build a blueprint off of. The bass-rattling “Why Stop Now,” which was produced by Sham “Sak Pase” Joseph, is reminiscent of “Look at Me Now,” mostly because it features the same type of speed-rapping by Bus. But rather than a retread of a tried-and-true formula, Busta says the new collaboration came about much more organically. “It was just fortunate that I had something that worked well for what we do to be able to have another collab with him,” he said. “If I didn’t have that record, then we wouldn’t be doing this video and we wouldn’t have had another song out together. “I’m just about making sure that the music ultimately speaks in the most organic way possible,” he continued. “It doesn’t just seem like something that we threw together to try and capitalize off of a momentum that was there.” Related Artists Busta Rhymes Chris Brown

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Busta Rhymes And Chris Brown: A Budding Bromance?

Don Trip Raps From The Heart On Cee Lo Collabo

‘In real life, I cry too,’ Memphis upstart tells Mixtape Daily of revealing family drama on ‘Letter to My Son.’ By Rob Markman Don Trip Photo: MTV News Fire Starter: Don Trip Don Trip would rather make music from his heart than chase a hit, and sure enough, trusting his instincts led the 26-year-old Memphis, Tennessee MC, to his biggest song yet. Trip wrote and recorded the Cee Lo-assisted “Letter to My Son” two years ago after quarreling with his son’s mother fought over visitation rights. “That’s my whole aim as an artist, the fact that I’m human,” Trip told Mixtape Daily. “We become artists and once we get a celebrity status, we start to act as if we are machines, and we’re not. In real life, I cry too. Now, thanks to the popularity of the track, Trip has signed a record deal with producers Cool & Dre and Interscope Records. ” ‘Letter to My Son’ is 110 percent true — I’m still going through it,” he admitted. “It isn’t as bad as it was at first, it’s a little better, but I gotta take it one day at a time.” Trip first developed an interest in rapping when he was 11; by 16, he realized he was actually good at it. During his very first studio session, Trip recorded a song in one take, a task that even veteran rappers can find daunting. The Memphis rapper had no doubt he was on to something. Trip soon began distributing his music, personally handing out free mixtapes until he built enough of a buzz to get booked for shows. Eventually, a mutual friend would connect the up-and-coming spitter with production duo Cool & Dre, who took Trip to Interscope earlier this year. There was no denying the appeal of “Letter,” but the original version of the song didn’t have a chorus. “Jimmy Iovine personally asked for a hook to be added to the record,” Trip revealed. Still, Don was initially reluctant to tamper with his art and argued that the record should stay as is. After some thought, however, he realized the Interscope chairman was right; the MC suggested getting someone soulful, like Cee Lo, for the song. The decision proved to be a good call because the Goodie Mob singer’s feature has given “Letter to My Son” a sound that’s ripe for radio without losing its emotion and integrity. Things are definitely looking up for Don these days. He has a bubbling single, a debut album slated for a 2012 release and he’s finally getting quality time with his son. And he did it all by following his gut and baring his soul on record. Trip added, “I feel like that’s what music is missing: honesty, especially in rap music.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Artists Don Trip Cee-Lo Green

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Don Trip Raps From The Heart On Cee Lo Collabo

Busta Rhymes ‘Fortunate’ To Be Part Of Cash Money

‘They know how to let artists be artists,’ Busta tells MTV News. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Matt Elias Busta Rhymes Photo: MTV News Busta Rhymes most certainly respects the Cash Money conglomerate. Some scratched their heads when the Dungeon Dragon announced last month that he had signed with Cash Money Records . Critics couldn’t fathom why the East Coast rap vet would ink with Birdman’s Southern-based, youth-driven label, but for Busta, the deal makes perfect sense. “It’s real fortunate to be able to have a 20-year career run and partner up with the most powerful record company in the business 20 years later,” Busta told MTV News on Tuesday from the set of his Hype Williams-directed “Why Stop Now” video. Bussa Bus began his career in 1991 as a member of the four-man Long Island, New York, group Leaders of the New School but went solo after the crew disbanded in 1993. The gravel-voiced speed rapper has since dropped eight solo albums and given hip-hop a number of memorable party anthems. Not only were “Woo-Hah! Got You All in Check,” “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” and “Pass the Courvoisier Pt. 2” huge radio hits, each song also had high-priced, creative music videos attached to them. Combining his hitmaking ability and strong visuals has made Busta one of rap’s greatest and most unique artists. The veteran continued to dominate this past year thanks to his scene-stealing verse on Chris Brown’s Grammy-nominated smash “Look at Me Now” and his guest spot on Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV. At this point in his career, he was looking for a home that would continue to fuel his fire. “They understand. They know how to nurture the music, they know how to let artists be artists, they know how to let you reach your fullest capability creatively,” Busta said of Cash Money. Back in 1997, Lil Wayne was an oft-overlooked kid rapper, but he has steadily grown into a bankable soloist and the mega musical star he is now. Busta factored in Weezy’s trajectory when deciding on where he should sign. “Wayne is a perfect example. He reached his apex a little while ago, and he just continues to grow,” Busta said. It isn’t just Tunechi, though. While officially signed to Young Money, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Lil Twist and Tyga all fall under the Cash Money umbrella. With a stable of successful artists, why wouldn’t Busta want to join the YMCMB team? “It feels good to see that,” he said of the label’s success. “It feels good to be a part of that.” What do you think of Busta joining Cash Money? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Busta Rhymes

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Busta Rhymes ‘Fortunate’ To Be Part Of Cash Money

Avril Lavigne Says ‘Wish You Were Here’ Single ‘Feels Right’

Song about missing someone ‘represents the album’ well, singer says. By Jocelyn Vena Avril Lavigne Photo: MTV News Avril Lavigne lets her guard down on her Goodbye Lullaby single “Wish You Were Here.” The poignant track is about pining away for that one person you let slip away. The emotional pull of the track, produced by Max Martin and Shellback, is the perfect tune for anyone who’s not able to be with the ones they love this holiday season. “I’m excited about ‘Wish You Were Here’ being the single because it’s a ballad and the song kind of represents the album definitely more so than the first single,” she told MTV News about the song, which she performed during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade last week. “That was kind of more my older stuff and more pop rock and aggressive and a lighter subject. Goodbye Lullaby, for me, was a record that I was writing for myself.” “Wish You Were Here” and its simple, Dave Meyers-directed video really sum up the album for Lavigne. “It was more raw and stripped-down and more emotional and I wasn’t holding back,” she said of working on the album. “[It’s] sort of more song driven and the production was mainly just like a lot of acoustic guitars and loops and just all about the vocal; the vocal being clear and having an honest emotion to it. And saying that, yeah, the first two singles [ ‘What the Hell’ and ‘Smile’] were more pop rock, and so now finally with this one, ‘Wish You Were Here,’ being released, it feels right.” The song comes from a place deep inside and is very much about someone in Lavigne’s life. “I love this song. I like this song because I wrote it about missing somebody and that’s something that we all go through at some point in our lives,” she explained. “It’s just about looking back and remembering all those good times you shared with somebody, all the crazy moments. And that’s life. We all experience that at some point, but it has a positive message.” Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Avril Lavigne Related Artists Avril Lavigne

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Avril Lavigne Says ‘Wish You Were Here’ Single ‘Feels Right’

Busta Rhymes Recalls LONS’ ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ Breakup

‘I’ll never forget that day,’ Busta says of his group’s 1993 split on set of classic MTV show, which returns Sunday on MTV2. By Rob Markman, with additional reporting by Rahman Bugg Busta Rhymes Photo: MTV News “Yo! MTV Raps” meant so much to so many people. More than just a weekly video show, “Yo!” brought fans into the then-undocumented worlds of their favorite rap stars. ” ‘Yo! MTV Raps,’ just in a nutshell, gave everybody an opportunity to look at artists as real people,” Busta Rhymes told MTV News of the groundbreaking series, which will make a return on Sunday on MTV2 at 12 a.m. ET. “You saw us when we were upset, you saw us when we were happy, you saw us when we were beefin’, you saw us when we were celebrating some sh–.” For Busta, who started his career as a member of the 1990s Long Island, New York, rap quartet Leaders of the New School , “Yo! MTV Raps” documented one of the most pivotal moments in his career. “Leaders of the New School broke up on ‘Yo! MTV Raps,’ with Fab Five Freddy hosting it,” Busta recalled. “I’ll never forget that day.” It was 1993 and LONS had just released their second album, T.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind’s Eye), which was anchored by their #1 Billboard Hot Rap Single “What’s Next.” Still, despite their growth as a group, Busta Rhymes and member Charlie Brown began collaborating with other acts as soloists. Bus had already delivered a scene-stealing verse on A Tribe Called Quest’s 1991 “Scenario” and appeared on Heavy D’s “A Bunch of N—as” with a then-unknown Notorious B.I.G. Brown had opened up doors for himself as well, also appearing on “Scenario” and Funkmaster Flex’s “Nuttin’ but Flavor” with Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Biz Markie. “Me and C. Brown, we ain’t really dig each other for a long time,” Busta said, citing a silent competition between him and his former bandmate. During the 1993 episode of “Yo!” all the members introduced themselves for the camera, shouting out Leaders in the same breath — all except Brown. “Just lounging, getting to know myself and what my capabilities are and what I’m gonna do in life,” he said. “The cameras is rolling and we’re looking at each other like, what the f— this n—a talkin’ about,” Busta recalled. “We’re steppin’ to Brown beefin’ like, ‘What is this?’ [And he’s like,] ‘I don’t wanna be in the group no more.’ ” Busta Rhymes went on to release his solo debut The Coming in 1996 and has enjoyed one of the most storied careers in hip-hop. On November 17, the Dungeon Dragon announced his latest deal with Cash Money Records and Google Music, but despite all of his highlights, the LONS split ultimately made Busta who he is today. “That was just a big moment. That was a defining moment for me,” he said. Watch “MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps: Classic Cuts” on December 4 at 12 a.m. ET, immediately after the “2011 Sucker Free Awards.” Related Artists Busta Rhymes

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Busta Rhymes Recalls LONS’ ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ Breakup