Hit-Boy reveals to MTV News that his next single will feature Kid Cudi and a bit of OutKast vibe. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Vanessa Whitewolf Hit-Boy Photo: G.O.O.D. Music producer Hit-Boy surprised fans with his rap skills on “Jay-Z Interview,” but his soulful debut rap single was no fluke: Hit is serious about his craft. “I definitely have more stuff coming out very soon,” the multi-platinum hitmaker told MTV News in Los Angeles. “I have a song called ‘Old School Caddy’ that I’m going to be putting out very soon, featuring Kid Cudi ,” he revealed. Hit-Boy, who has produced for Kanye West, Lil Wayne and most recently Justin Bieber, on his Believe LP, assured us that he has rap records stacked up. He isn’t planning to release an entire project just yet, however. He is just working on songs right now. It was veteran rap producer Bink who made the beat for Hit’s “Jay-Z Interview,” but for “Old School Caddy,” HB got behind the boards himself. He described the track as “classic hip-hop,” and while that term may mean different things to different people, Hit-Boy specifically drew his inspiration from OutKast for his next single. ” Aquemini is one of my favorite albums by OutKast. I wanted to do a record that felt like it could’ve been on there but for our generation,” Hit said of the iconic duo’s 1998 album. “I did the record and I let Cudi hear it, and he asked to be a part of it, so it was just an organic, great thing.” Hit-Boy wouldn’t say if he was going to appear vocally on G.O.O.D. Music’s upcoming album Cruel Summer , though he did admit that he laid down verses for the highly anticipated project. “I’m just making music with them, so stuff will end up where it is supposed to,” he said. “That’s family and they’re the best in the world in my opinion, so I can’t lose. Being able to get advice from those guys is priceless.” What do you think of Hit-Boy’s rapping? Sound off in the comments! Related Artists Kid Cudi
Fans submitted questions about Laura’s new transgender life and the future of the band … here’s how they answered. By James Montgomery Laura Jane Grace Photo: When Against Me! agreed to sit down with MTV News for their first on-camera interview since frontwoman Laura Jane Grace announced she was transgender, they made two things abundantly clear: No topic was off limits, and they wanted to hear from their fans. And all week, we’ve been rolling out prime examples of the former — Laura’s frank discussion of her life-long struggle with gender dysphoria , her bandmates’ acceptance of her new life, and the painful process of coming out to family and friends. But today, we’re going to focus on the latter. Because we asked AM! fans to submit questions for Laura and the band, and they delivered. And, true to their words, Against Me! answered as many as they possibly could (they did have to soundcheck for the night’s gig). And we can think of no better way to wrap up the week than by bringing those answers to you now. From questions about how Laura’s new life will affect Against Me!’s new album — “It’s a huge part of it,” bassist Andrew Seward said, though Laura was quick to add “I think it’s up to us to make a record that speaks for itself” — to how her life would have changed if she’d been born a woman on the outside (“I think I probably wouldn’t have gotten arrested so many times when I was younger,” she laughed), the band’s fans made it clear that, not only have they been following this story from the beginning, but they can’t wait to see what happens next. Tellingly, though, we received questions from young men and women who, like Laura, were struggling with their own gender — many of whom now look up to her as a role model. And as she did throughout our interview, Laura did her best to answer with the kind of humility and honesty that made our chat so compelling in the first place. “I’ve been completely blown away; the most amazing part for me is the amount of trans men and women who have been coming out to the shows and meeting them after and talking with them. I’ll have a lot of them come up to me and be like ‘It’s amazing, what you’re doing, and I look up to you so much,’ ” she said. “And it blows me away, because I look at them, and they’re so much further along in their transition, and it’s like ‘What you’re doing for me, by being here right now, is beyond whatever you think I’m doing for you.’ Just being able to make that connection … because I had no friends in that world. And to make those connections, that is half of what I wanted to accomplish by coming out, to be part of that community.” Related Videos Laura Jane Grace: Her Life, Her Words Related Artists Against Me!
Pixar’s first female-driven adventure leaves many satisfied, but doesn’t quite meet the studio’s storied standards, according to the critics. By Josh Wigler Merida in “Brave” Photo: Between “The Hunger Games” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” 2012 is rapidly becoming the year of the archer — and another bow-wielder joins the fray this weekend in “Brave,” Pixar’s latest effort and first feature film led by a female protagonist. “Boardwalk Empire” actress Kelly Macdonald supplies the voice of Merida, a princess who does everything possible to resist her fate in a male-driven medieval society. She does not want to be married off to some noble she doesn’t care about; she wants to pursue her own path, living freely with her treasured bow and arrow at her side. But circumstances eventually change for Merida, leading her down a path that even she couldn’t have envisioned for herself. By many accounts, “Brave” continues Pixar’s trend of highly regarded flicks that please both adults and children alike — but not by all accounts. Some critics believe “Brave” doesn’t quite meet Pixar’s storied standards, resulting in a film that falls short of its potential. Keep reading for a selection of reviews for “Brave,” opening in theaters nationwide Friday (June 22). The Story “A strong-willed lass, Merida exasperates her mother, Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), with her pronounced lack of interest in daintiness, needlework, gentleman callers, and all other forms of stereotypical feminine activity. She charms her burly, good, but somewhat galumphy father, King Fergus (Billy Connolly, who else?), for the same reason. (She’s also a role model for her tiny triplet brothers, spunky mischief-makers with their own heads of matching ginger squiggles.) Merida’s passion is for the archery at which she excels — she loves loves loves the thrill of it. Still, as Mama continues to push her daughter toward betrothal to a suitable lord for the good of the kingdom, Merida pushes back, hard, until in her rebellion she finds a witch (Julie Walters) who can cast a spell to change her woeful female fate.” — Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly Power of the Princess “In addition to being fast, funny, and unpretentious, ‘Brave’ is a happy antidote to all the recent films in which women triumph by besting men at their own macho games, as if the history of male dominance is one of patriarchs suppressing females’ essential warlike nature. Merida wants nothing more than to control her own fate, her rage provoked by the refusal of her mother— — for whom duty and subservience are paramount — to see the world through her eyes. Why surrender her will to silly, drunken, endlessly combative men when there’s so much to see and do? Her boo-boo at least has the effect of giving her and her mother a common cause, which is certainly a more direct route to mutual understanding than tens of thousands of dollars of therapy.” — David Edelstein, New York The “Brave” Look “Many aspects of ‘Brave’ remind us, at a glance, why Pixar rules the American animation game. Production designer Steve Pilcher’s landscapes are nearly photo-realistic, but with a welcome touch of poetry; likewise, the director of photography for lighting, Danielle Feinberg, pours on the golden sunlight (and when it hits that red hair of Merida’s — wow!) but pays close attention to the shadows and the rough-hewn menace of Merida’s quest.” — Michael Phillips, The Chicago Tribune An All-Too-Familiar Tale “The good news is that the kids will probably love it, and the bad news is that parents will be disappointed if they’re hoping for another Pixar groundbreaker. Unlike such brightly original films as ‘Toy Story,’ ‘Finding Nemo,’ ‘WALL-E’ and ‘Up,’ this one finds Pixar poaching on traditional territory of Disney, its corporate partner. We get a spunky princess; her mum, the queen; her dad, the gruff king; an old witch who lives in the woods, and so on.” — Roger Ebert, The Chicago Sun-Times The Final Word ” ‘Brave’ is gorgeous to look at — as usual, the 3D accentuates without being overbearing, and there are moments that offer some of the most photorealistic tableaux I’ve ever seen in an animated film — and features a strong script that avoids the third-act pitfalls that have plagued previous Pixar projects. Whether you’re a fan of great animation, or just jonesing for another arrow-slinging heroine until the next ‘Hunger Games’ sequel comes out, brave the crowds for this one.” — Alonso Duradle, The Wrap Will you be seeing “Brave” this weekend? Tell us your plans in the comments below! Check out everything we’ve got on “Brave.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
Director Robert Rodriguez announces the casting in a tweet. By Gil Kaufman Charlie Sheen Photo: Like father, like son. Charlie Sheen could follow pops Martin into the White House in an upcoming big screen role as the president in director Robert Rodriguez’s sequel to his “Grindhouse” action pic, “Machete.” Rodriguez announced the casting on Thursday in a tweet that read , “I just cast Charlie Sheen in #machetekills as the President of the United States! Who better? More soon…” Sheen retweeted the message, which also included a photo of the “Anger Management” actor leaning his arm on Rodriguez’s shoulder. A spokesperson for Sheen confirmed that negotiations are under way to have him join the film, according to the Hollywood Reporter . If Sheen ends up in the movie, he’ll be the second member of his family to take on the role of command-in-chief, following in the footsteps of Martin, who played the fictional President Josiah Bartlet for seven seasons on Aaron Sorkin’s “The West Wing.” The original over-the-top 2010 revenge fantasy starring tattooed badass vigilante Danny Trejo began life as a fake B-movie trailer in Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s 2007 throwback exploitation flick “Grindhouse.” It featured a galaxy of stars, including Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Cheech Marin and Lindsay Lohan. The sequel will again feature Trejo, Alba and Rodriguez, along with Mel Gibson , Demian Bichir, Amber Heard, Sofia Vergara and Zoe Saldana. Rodriguez announced in a tweet on June 12 that principal photography on the film had begun. The second chapter of a planned trilogy, due out in 2013, finds Machete being recruited by the U.S. government to stop a cartel leader and an arms dealer who have deployed a weapon in space. Related Photos The Highs And Lows Of Charlie Sheen
‘He just broke down, and he said, ‘I can’t do it anymore,’ ‘ Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, recalls to MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: It’s not always easy being Justin Bieber . In fact, there has been a moment or two when the Believe singer had his doubts about embarking on a life of celebrity. He recently opened up to Fabulous magazine about questioning his life of fame after he found himself smack dab in the middle of a paternity scandal with a fan, Mariah Yeater, who claimed he fathered her child. He remained steadfast that he never even met the woman, and she eventually dropped her claim. But, as it turns out — according to Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun — when Bieber needed a pick-me-up and some convincing to stick to the music game another time, he looked to a pro athlete for some wisdom. “There was a show in Orlando, [Florida] … It was a day where he had to make a decision if he was going to continue on or not, ’cause he was fighting,” Braun recalled to MTV News. “We were in Orlando. We had a sold-out arena show, and it had gotten to a point where kids were surrounding hotels, and you’re talking about a kid who is 15, 16 years old, and he went and did a show 20,000 people, sold out, but right before he went into the show, he was having a little bit of an attitude.” (Bieber played Orlando on his My World Tour in August 2010.) “And he goes in the show, and he was fine, and he comes off, and I go, ‘What was that before the show?’ and he just broke down, and he said, ‘I can’t do it anymore. I can’t go outside. I can’t go anywhere … I feel like a spectacle all the time.’ And he was really struggling with it. You got to remember he didn’t want to be a star: I found him, and it happened.” Bieber and Braun had a major heart-to-heart as he struggled with his superstardom, but the teen did offer one suggestion on how he might be able to come to terms with how he was feeling. “So, we had a long talk about ‘Is this what you want?’ He sat there, got real quiet, he looked at me and goes, ‘I want to meet Kobe Bryant.’ “And I was like, ‘Kobe Bryant? We just had this emotional conversation.’ And he goes, ‘No, I just feel like no matter what Kobe does, he’ll always be chasing Michael Jordan’s ghost, and someone the other day told me I could grow up in front of the entire world like Michael [Jackson] did, and I just want to know how you handle always chasing someone’s ghost that you’ll just never going to be able to catch.’ It was actually a pretty profound moment.” Three weeks later, the encounter happened. Braun recalled, “They had a pretty intense conversation and something that I think Justin will never forget.” Related Videos ‘Bieber Live’ Related Photos The Evolution Of: Justin Bieber
TNT reboot’s manipulative double-crossers mix business and pleasure. By Kara Warner Jesse Metcalfe, Julie Gonzalo, Josh Henderson and Jordana Brewster on “Dallas” Photo: Hoo boy! How about these wheelin’, dealin’ and totally deceiving folks on “Dallas”? If Wednesday night’s new episode taught us anything, it’s that too many people in and around Southfork are a bunch of manipulative double-crossers. We’ve already touched on the TNT reboot’s new blood and the lingering questions we had after the first episode, so now it’s time to tackle episode two’s talking points: Elena Still Loves Christopher The last we heard about Christopher and Elena’s broken engagement was that it happened because of an email. Well, in this episode, we learn all about that email and that neither Christopher nor John Ross are responsible for sending it — or so they claim. The most emotionally charged revelation that comes from Elena’s frank discussion with John Ross about the subject is that she is still in love with Christopher. Not that she confesses her feelings outright, but it’s written all over her face when John Ross asks her if the only reason she got together with him in the first place was because of her heartbreak over Christopher. John Ross and J.R.: Wolves in Wolfskin Coats One minute, we see John Ross all worked up and emotional in learning Elena’s true feelings, and the next, he is getting all hot and heavy with alleged business partner/fellow Bobby Ewing conspirator Marta del Sol. Not to mention the dirty dealings and bribery he’s orchestrating with lawyer Mitch Lobell. And then there’s the patriarch, J.R. himself, who plays up his recent hospitalization for sympathy and pretends to have genuine feelings for his brother Bobby and ex-wife Sue Ellen. That old adage about not trusting a man as far as you can throw him is certainly apt with regard to John Ross and J.R. Ewing. Sheesh. Mixing Business With Pleasure Clearly, no one is concerned with the ramifications of mixing business and pleasure in this town. There’s the very obvious kind, as demonstrated by the hanky panky between John Ross and Marta, along with the subconscious kind, as exhibited by the professional agreement orchestrated by Christopher and Elena. Both practices will likely end in a bad way. We’ve already seen several levels of shady behavior from Marta, and can expect to see a sex tape/blackmail scandal somewhere in the very near future. And despite the innocent nature of Christopher and Elena’s partnership, their unfinished business will most definitely come to a head in an adulterous manner. Rebecca: A Good Girl Gone Bad? Well, well, well — it appears that the new Mrs. Christopher Ewing is not at all the innocent doting wife she appears to be and has a hidden agenda. Thanks to a heated conversation between the newlywed and her brother Tommy — who may or may not be her actual blood relative given the twists and turns we’ve already seen in this show — we now know that she and Tommy have been working on getting close to the Ewings and Southfork for two years, a plot that snake in the grass-esque Tommy refers to as a “job.” So, what kind of job are they doing? Our guess is trying to pull a con or coup of some sort. Will the Real Marta Del Sol Please Stand Up? Actually, we don’t need the real Marta to stand up, because we meet her in the final minutes of the episode! What a fun twist for us — and J.R.! Because he took the initiative to discuss the sale of Southfork to the del Sol conservancy with Mr. Carlos del Sol himself in Mexico, J.R. is presented with an unpleasant surprise: The real Marta del Sol lives with her father in Mexico, and he and his son have been dealing with a cunning and stealth imposter. Share your thoughts on the second episode of “Dallas” in the comments below!
‘The last record got so serious. We wanted to make things more fun,’ Billie Joe Armstrong tells Rolling Stone. By James Montgomery Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong Photo: As if the prevalence of phrases like
‘My decision to leave Ween …. was absolutely not made in haste,’ Aaron Freeman tells Rolling Stone. By James Montgomery Aaron Freeman Photo: Last month, much to the consternation of those who worship at the altar of the Boognish, Ween’s Aaron Freeman announced — rather matter-of-factly — that he was ending Ween, telling Rolling Stone “It was a good run.” That was apparently a surprise to Freeman’s longtime musical partner, Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo, who wrote on his Facebook page that the breakup “is news to me, all I can say for now I guess.” But now, in a new statement to Rolling Stone, Freeman addressed the split — and Ween’s fans — letting it be known that his decision was not a rash one. “I want to thank each and every one of you all for your kind words and support. It means a lot. My decision to leave Ween, however interpreted, was absolutely not made in haste,” Freeman’s statement reads. “It’s evolved over a decade’s worth of internal and external struggle.” Freeman didn’t elaborate on those struggles, but did add that he has no bad blood with Melchiondo, whom he founded Ween with more than 25 years ago. And he closed by saying that he’ll continue to make music … minus the Gene Ween moniker. “Know that I am extremely proud of all that is Ween. And while Mickey and I are going our separate ways, I wish him only the best. I will always have nothing but love and respect for what we created together,” the statement reads. “I need to now move on for myself and for my family. I still, as always, look forward to a future filled with music as Aaron Freeman.” Related Artists Ween
Liam Neeson is back as international badass Bryan Mills in a brand-new trailer for the hotly-awaited ‘Taken’ sequel. By Josh Wigler Liam Neeson in “Taken 2” Photo: Liam Neeson has a very particular set of skills. Skills that make him a nightmare for people like you — unless you’re a fan of ex-CIA operatives who remain unreasonably badass in their golden years. In that case, Neeson is something of a dream come true. The Oscar nominee remains in perfectly hardcore form in the first official trailer for “Taken 2,” the sequel to the 2008 action flick that kick-started a surprising new phase in Neeson’s career. Since his turn as former spy Bryan Mills in the Luc Besson-produced thriller, Neeson has become the go-to guy for older-man-kicks-so-much-ass action movies like “The A-Team,” “Unknown” and “The Grey.” But it’s “Taken” that remains the decisive favorite for Neeson fans, and seeing him run around in that particular world once again is the action-movie equivalent of comfort food: a bit familiar, yes, but gloriously so. Here are five key scenes from the “Taken 2” trailer. A Job for Boris the Blade When you need a vaguely Eastern European bad guy to add gravitas to your film, call Rade Serbedzija. With bad-guy credits including “Snatch,” “24,” “X-Men: First Class” and more, he’s the man for the job. In “Taken 2,” he’ll be the one giving Mills hell, concocting an elaborate scheme to get revenge for his son, who was killed by Mills in the first “Taken” film. “He slaughtered our men,” he scowls in the trailer. “Our brothers. Our sons. We will find him. And we will have our revenge.” Family Reunion Our villain’s vengeance will take him and his men to Istanbul, where Bryan’s ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) and daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) pay him a surprise visit. Bad timing, considering the spit-storm headed Mills’ way. But there’s a silver lining: Bryan’s relationship with his daughter seems much smoother than ever before, and it even looks like he might have another shot at love with Lenore … assuming they survive their next ordeal. Phoning It In The “Taken 2” trailer is fantastically familiar, even if the tables are somewhat reversed this time: It’s not Kim being taken, but Lenore and Mills himself. When he gets on the phone to once again instruct Kim on what to do next, his directions are different, but the tone remains the same. With Mills and Lenore at the mercy of terrorists, it’s going to be a whole new ball game in “Taken 2,” their lives depending heavily on help from … Saving Grace Traditionally the character who mucks everything up for her surrounding cast (see “Lockout,” “Breaking Dawn,” “Lost” and so many more), Maggie Grace will finally get her opportunity to shine as a bona fide badass in “Taken 2.” She’s seen in the trailer jumping from rooftops and facing down guns with (almost) no tears, a marked improvement from the Kim of the last “Taken.” But as she told MTV News just a few weeks ago, Kim is “empowered … [but] she doesn’t morph into La Femme Nikita.” So temper your expectations just a little bit. “You’ll Just Have To Die” Frankly, Kim doesn’t really need to step up her game. Even if he’s captured early on in the film, Neeson’s ex-spook won’t be sitting on the sidelines throughout the proceedings, as the trailer clearly illustrates. He spends the final few seconds of the trailer breaking necks, shooting thugs and making explicit death threats over cell phones, as he’s wont to do. Old dog, same tricks — and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Tell us what you think of the new “Taken 2” trailer in the comments section below! Related Photos ‘Taken 2’ Trailer: Five Key Scenes
‘It’s one of those things that worked out beautifully for Drake with YMCMB. He’s got a good camp,’ Kardi tells ‘RapFix Live.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Drake Photo: Akon sure has an ear for top-notch talent; just ask T-Pain and Lady Gaga . Still, even the best music execs miss out from time to time, and on Wednesday’s “RapFix Live,” Kon’s buddy Kardinal Offishall revealed the “Locked Up” singer’s most notable miss. “The biggest one that he passed on, I told him about Drake early,” Kardi revealed. “I said, ‘Kon, this kid is a T.V. star… and this kid is crazy.’ ” Kardinal, like Drizzy, hails from Toronto, but was able to establish himself as a notable rap talent years before Drake broke out with 2009’s So Far Gone. “I had met him years before he started with his first mixtape,” Offishall said. “The thing that’s dope about Drake is that I remember, like he was just hungry because he wanted to make that transition from the acting to the rapping.” Kardi recalled a specific meeting where the OVO spitter played him an early mixtape, which he was instantly impressed with. The two even collaborated on “The Last Hope,” a song off of Drake’s 2007 mixtape Comeback Season. It would take a number of years, but by the time Drake officially arrived with So Far Gone, there was little doubt that he was going to be huge. “After he blew, I went back and said, ‘See Kon, I told you,’ ” Kardinal said. “But it’s one of those things that worked out beautifully for Drake with YMCMB. He’s got a good camp.” Where do you think Drake’s career would be today if he had signed with Akon? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Drake Akon
