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Rick Ross And Usher’s ‘Touch ‘N You’ Is For ‘The Ladies’

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Rozay and Usher talk to MTV News about the ‘sexy’ track from their video set in Atlanta. By Rob Markman, with reporting by FLX Rick Ross on the set of “Touch ‘N You” Photo: MTV News God Forgives, but Rick Ross does not. Still, as apathetic as the Bawse may portray himself, Rozay has a sweet spot when it comes to the ladies. So on “Touch ‘N You,” the new big money single off of Ross’ upcoming God Forgives, I Don’t, the Maybach CEO and guest star Usher Raymond show a little love to the hunnies. “It’s a real sexy record. I wanted to make sure the ladies knew that they could be a part of this movement, a part of this project,” Rick Ross told MTV News on Thursday (May 24) from the “Touch ‘N You” video set in Atlanta. “I would never let the ladies down even if it’s a real hard album or however it may be titled.” The upcoming clip is directed by Chris Robinson (Lil Wayne “How to Love,” Jay-Z “Roc Boys”) and will of course co-star Usher. “It’s an incredible one, Chris once again comes together making an incredible video,” Usher told us. “It is a conceptual video depicting the world that Rozay is in. My participation is just to show up and be cool.” Cool is an understatement when it comes to Usher, who is riding high off of his #1 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song “Climax.” Ross is no stranger to love songs either; he’s given the ladies plenty to swoon over on singles like 2008’s “Here I Am” and 2010’s “Aston Martin Music,” but having Ush on a track adds a certain appeal. The combination of Raymond’s vocals and the sexy “Touch ‘N You” video should be just enough to help Rozay properly put his feelings in perspective. Sometimes after long studio sessions with Meek Mill, Wale and the rest of his MMG compadres, the Bawse just needs to get away, and that’s what he aims to capture in the clip. “It’s basically like a situation where life gets so hectic sometimes you just want to get away with that special female and that’s what this was based off,” he said. What do you think of Rick Ross and Usher’s “Touch ‘N You”? Lets us know in the comments! Related Artists Rick Ross Usher

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Linkin Park Do ‘Everything At Once’ On LIVING THINGS

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

LP’s new album — due June 26 — sees them looking back, while still pushing the envelope forward. By James Montgomery Linkin Park’s LIVING THINGS Photo: Machine Shop Recordings/Warner Bros As if the drastic left turn they took with 2010’s A Thousand Suns wasn’t proof enough, it should be fairly obvious at this point that Linkin Park have grown tired of doing things the traditional way. Rather, they’re determined to blaze their own trail, which, given their standing as one of the hugest rock acts on the planet, is a certainly admirable — if not slightly questionable — way of operating. And though the follow-up to the willfully dissonant Suns — LIVING THINGS (due June 26) — isn’t quite as obtuse, it still finds the band experimenting with vastly different soundscapes, lyrical themes and recording techniques, simultaneously honing their focus and expanding their horizons. It is the rare record that both pays homage to the past while bolding looking forward, and needless to say, it’s a head-spinning listen from start to finish. Though, as Linkin Park told MTV News during the premiere of their new “BURN IT DOWN” video, they prefer to think of it as just the next step. “It’s just really different [from anything we’ve done before],” Mike Shinoda said. “I feel like we made a serious effort to try and touch all of the bases of all of the different things that we’ve done, and bring them together in each song. Not just one album, but each song. And then maybe sprinkle in some stuff that we’ve never done before, too.” That’s evident in first single “BURN,” which recalls both LP’s nu-metal past and their current experimental present … or in standout tracks like “CASTLE OF GLASS” or “UNTIL IT BREAKS,” sonic rattlers born out of the band’s less-than-traditional methods of recording, and all the better because of it. “Our writing process is a weird, amorphous thing. For some bands, just to put it in perspective, they jam, and then they write a song and then they record a song and then they mix it and finish it … we don’t do that,” Shinoda laughed. “We do everything at once, every step of the way. From the moment we’re putting things down on the laptop, I’m already kind of mixing it a little bit [and] sometimes those things end up being songs, like ‘CASTLE OF GLASS,’ [where] my vocal performance in the first part of that song, pretty much almost everything you hear in the beginning of the song was the very first demo. Like, that went from nothing there, to those things, and then the song got built. “Some songs we’ll come up with demos, and they won’t ever turn into anything … we’ll hear them, and we’ll now they’re not ever going to be a great song on their own,” he continued. “But there may be a section of it, a little glimmer of cool something in it, and the song ‘Until It Breaks’ is built from just those. There were like four demos that we had made that weren’t going anywhere individually, but when you put them all together, they make something really interesting. It’s supposed to feel really jarring and weird, and for me it was a really fun song to make.” So yes, while LIVING THINGS does represent a return to the band’s thundering past, it is also very much a snapshot of the band in 2012, still at the peak of their powers, still melding seemingly disparate sounds and influences, and pushing the envelope whenever possible. By whatever means necessary. “Just because you see Brad [Delson] playing a guitar on stage, doesn’t mean he just writes guitar on the album. A lot of times, especially on this record, more often than not, he wasn’t playing guitar,” Shinoda said. “But regardless of who played what, in our band, that’s not important. It’s more about everybody’s got a voice, and everybody’s got an influence on the song, and if one guy’s not really happy with something, then we try to address it.” Related Videos MTV First: Linkin Park Related Artists Linkin Park

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‘Mob Wives’ Drita And Carla Read ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘What is this? This is dirty!’ Drita D’Avanzo exclaims after reciting a passage of ‘Fifty Shades’ for MTV News. By Rob Markman “Mob Wives” star Drita D’avanzo Photo: MTV News Filth or sensual fan fiction? It’s impossible not to have an opinion on E L James’ erotic New York Times best-seller “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Single ladies, girlfriends and housewives have all been drawn to the steamy novel — not to mention “Mob Wives.” VH1 reality star Carla Facciolo hasn’t read the current “it” book, but she gets the gist of it. “To me, it’s like a sex book,” she told MTV News in an attempt to describe the “50 Shades” phenomenon . “Grey is a guy that every girl wants; he’s like a dream guy and he seduces.” Carla’s synopsis was enough to whet the appetite of her “Mob Wives” pal Drita D’Avanzo, who immediately let her curiosity get the best of her. “I wanna read it,” Drita blurted out. Lucky for the reality-show beauty, MTV News had a copy of the book on hand for her to sample. “It’s very intense,” Carla warned. Still, Drita opened the book and began her moment of “Fifty Shades” discovery. “Get off the bed, stand over here,” D’Avanzo read from one of the book’s later chapters, in which playboy Christian Grey introduces his naive lover Anastasia Steele to a kinky sexual experience. “He holds out his hand and in his palm are two shiny balls linked with a thick, black thread,” Drita continued to read before she stopped herself, shocked by the sexual suggestiveness. “What the f— is this?” Drita questioned in her unmistakable Staten Island, New York, accent. “They’re ass beads? What is this? This is dirty — what the hell is this?” “Fifty Shades” wasn’t Drita’s cup of tea, but maybe she will change her mind when the book is adapted into a film (Universal Pictures has already secured the rights). “How do you even know about this, Carla?” she asked, chastising her buddy. “You, for even knowing about that book, I gotta think twice about you.” Carla had only one reasonable explanation: “It’s the hottest book out right now.” Filth or sexy fan fiction? What do you think of “Fifty Shades of Grey”? Let us know in the comments!

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Beyonce’s ‘Back To Business’ With Memorial Day Concerts

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Yes, I had a baby, but it just made me more grounded,’ singer says in behind-the-scenes video. By James Dinh Beyonc

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Beyonce’s ‘Back To Business’ With Memorial Day Concerts

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Yes, I had a baby, but it just made me more grounded,’ singer says in behind-the-scenes video. By James Dinh Beyonc

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Phillip Phillips’ ‘Idol’ Victory And The Cry Heard ‘Round The World

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

When his tears fell during Wednesday’s ‘American Idol’ finale, Phillips instantly became the most relatable champ in the show’s history. By James Montgomery Phillip Phillips Photo: Michael Tran/ FilmMagic I think I’m finally coming around on Phillip Phillips. Yes, I’m aware that I’ve spent the past 19 weeks making fun of his grouting delivery (that’s “growl/shouting,” for the uninitiated), criticizing his every performance and referring to him as “Kris Allen 2.0,” but none of that comes into play here. Because what changed my opinion of Phillips had nothing to do with his singing — in fact, the moment of reconsideration actually occurred when he wasn’t singing. It happened when he was crying. See, when Phillips broke down in tears during his performance of “Home” on Wednesday night’s “American Idol” finale, it wasn’t just the show’s most touching moment in years, it was the most personal he’s gotten all season. It taught me more about him than any hometown-visit piece or expertly edited contestant-confessional vignette ever could. For the entire season, he’s been an enigma, a slightly scruffy oddball who never really seemed to be that interested in actually winning (or taking Tommy Hilfiger’s fashion advice ). Early on, he built a wall around himself, and he never let viewers get a glimpse at what lay inside — until he finally allowed himself to get lost in the moment of triumph , as the confetti fell and the audience cheered. That’s when the wall came down and the tears began to flow. And that’s when I realized that everything I knew about him was probably wrong. Because Phillips isn’t some aloof, obstinate singer/songwriter dude who’s been to a ton of DMB shows. He doesn’t possess the supreme ego required to believe that his words are poetry and his songs can save the world. He is just a regular kid from Leesburg, Georgia, one who says stuff like “Music’s fun, dude,” and one who was overcome with the emotions of the moment and the sheer magnitude of his “Idol” win, to the point where singing his coronation song became secondary and all he wanted to do was share his triumph with his family. And that’s exactly what he did, performance be damned. In other words, he acted exactly like you or I would, had we just won an internationally famous singing competition and suddenly become a star. In that instant, I realized that Phillips has never had a day of stage training in his entire life, that, unlike pretty much everyone else who auditions for “Idol,” he hadn’t been dreaming of this moment since he was a talent-competition tyke. He truly never believed he could win, because normal people never would. And so he started crying, real genuine tears, the kind that seize your body and make everything else an afterthought — the kind that professional entertainers rarely get, mostly because they prevent them from entertaining. I’ve never been able to fathom how a person could cry and sing at the same time, and yet, each year on “Idol” (and on stages around the world), I see trained talent do exactly that, shed crocodile tears while still nailing the chorus. It is oddly robotic, not to mention slightly off-putting. I’m glad Phillips didn’t try to do it, and now I know why. I’m not sure if his “Idol” victory is good for the show (probably not), or if he’ll be able to buck the recent trend and actually become a superstar (though “Home” is a nice start), but for one night, I wasn’t concerned with either of those things. Phillips’ emotional outpouring may very well have been the Cry Heard ‘Round the World, serving notice that he’s much more than the realest “American Idol” champ in history: He’s an actual human being. In that moment, he became instantly relatable, even to his staunchest of detractors (like me). And because of that, I’m willing to let my icy heart thaw just a little bit and wish him the best. And even though it goes against my every willfully difficult impulse I’ll close with this: All hail Phillip Phillips, the People’s King. Long may he reign. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Highlights Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Show ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Red Carpet

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Phillip Phillips’ ‘Idol’ Victory And The Cry Heard ‘Round The World

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

When his tears fell during Wednesday’s ‘American Idol’ finale, Phillips instantly became the most relatable champ in the show’s history. By James Montgomery Phillip Phillips Photo: Michael Tran/ FilmMagic I think I’m finally coming around on Phillip Phillips. Yes, I’m aware that I’ve spent the past 19 weeks making fun of his grouting delivery (that’s “growl/shouting,” for the uninitiated), criticizing his every performance and referring to him as “Kris Allen 2.0,” but none of that comes into play here. Because what changed my opinion of Phillips had nothing to do with his singing — in fact, the moment of reconsideration actually occurred when he wasn’t singing. It happened when he was crying. See, when Phillips broke down in tears during his performance of “Home” on Wednesday night’s “American Idol” finale, it wasn’t just the show’s most touching moment in years, it was the most personal he’s gotten all season. It taught me more about him than any hometown-visit piece or expertly edited contestant-confessional vignette ever could. For the entire season, he’s been an enigma, a slightly scruffy oddball who never really seemed to be that interested in actually winning (or taking Tommy Hilfiger’s fashion advice ). Early on, he built a wall around himself, and he never let viewers get a glimpse at what lay inside — until he finally allowed himself to get lost in the moment of triumph , as the confetti fell and the audience cheered. That’s when the wall came down and the tears began to flow. And that’s when I realized that everything I knew about him was probably wrong. Because Phillips isn’t some aloof, obstinate singer/songwriter dude who’s been to a ton of DMB shows. He doesn’t possess the supreme ego required to believe that his words are poetry and his songs can save the world. He is just a regular kid from Leesburg, Georgia, one who says stuff like “Music’s fun, dude,” and one who was overcome with the emotions of the moment and the sheer magnitude of his “Idol” win, to the point where singing his coronation song became secondary and all he wanted to do was share his triumph with his family. And that’s exactly what he did, performance be damned. In other words, he acted exactly like you or I would, had we just won an internationally famous singing competition and suddenly become a star. In that instant, I realized that Phillips has never had a day of stage training in his entire life, that, unlike pretty much everyone else who auditions for “Idol,” he hadn’t been dreaming of this moment since he was a talent-competition tyke. He truly never believed he could win, because normal people never would. And so he started crying, real genuine tears, the kind that seize your body and make everything else an afterthought — the kind that professional entertainers rarely get, mostly because they prevent them from entertaining. I’ve never been able to fathom how a person could cry and sing at the same time, and yet, each year on “Idol” (and on stages around the world), I see trained talent do exactly that, shed crocodile tears while still nailing the chorus. It is oddly robotic, not to mention slightly off-putting. I’m glad Phillips didn’t try to do it, and now I know why. I’m not sure if his “Idol” victory is good for the show (probably not), or if he’ll be able to buck the recent trend and actually become a superstar (though “Home” is a nice start), but for one night, I wasn’t concerned with either of those things. Phillips’ emotional outpouring may very well have been the Cry Heard ‘Round the World, serving notice that he’s much more than the realest “American Idol” champ in history: He’s an actual human being. In that moment, he became instantly relatable, even to his staunchest of detractors (like me). And because of that, I’m willing to let my icy heart thaw just a little bit and wish him the best. And even though it goes against my every willfully difficult impulse I’ll close with this: All hail Phillip Phillips, the People’s King. Long may he reign. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Highlights Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Show ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Finale Red Carpet

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Pusha T Has Become ‘A Student’ Of The-Dream

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I’ve learned so much about song structure from Dream,’ G.O.O.D. Music MC tells MTV News from his studio. By Nadeska Alexis, with reporting by Rahman Dukes The-Dream and Pusha T Photo: MTV News Pusha T is laser-focused on his debut album at the moment, trying to craft a cohesive musical project. But if you thought the G.O.O.D. Music signee would hole up in the studio with his boss, Kanye West, think again. Over the weekend, MTV News caught up with Pusha in Atlanta, where he was in the studio working closely with The-Dream. The two first linked up when producer RicoBeats sent one of Push’s tracks to Dream for a feature and eventually collaborated on a few more things. In addition to lending his vocals to the album, The-Dream has been guiding Pusha through the recording process, helping him take his work to a new level. “It really started with this beat [from] Rico. We were like, ‘Yo, Dream would just sound amazing on the record, period.’ So we sent it out and it came back so quick. Dream was like, ‘Man this is one of the ones,’ ” Pusha recalled. “Personally, I never thought the record was going to come back that quickly. I was in New Orleans somewhere and Rico was like, ‘Aye! Dream did it — he on the phone!” I thought, “OK, wait a minute this might really be something.” Pusha wouldn’t reveal exactly how many tracks the two had banked together, but he explained why the R&B singer/producer is the perfect fit for this album. “Musicality, to me in general, is missing, but [Dream] is a musician, he’s a fundamentalist. I’ve really taken on the student role,” Pusha continued. “I feel like I’m in with the best of the best. You’ve got Dream on one end, you’ve got Kanye on another end, and you can learn so much. I really look at myself as just a rapper’s rapper, but I’ve learned so much about song structure from Dream. ‘This is the most I’ve ever rewritten,” he added. “I wrote the ‘Automatic’ record, sent it to Dream, and he was like, ‘Aye, you rapping too damn much,’ and I’m like, ‘OK.’ How [would you not] listen to the writer of everything? How [would you not] listen to the producer of everything?” The-Dream was just as enthusiastic about working with Pusha on the album. “I always personally felt like he was one of the best at what he did, period,” Dream said. [There’s] lots of guys that are great from a rap standpoint, but in songs they’re not as great. Sometimes [you need to say], ‘Hey, move this part here and this is your hook,’ or ‘Let’s write about this, or let’s tap that emotion and let’s not rap past the emotion of where it is.’ ” For the producer, who has banked countless hits for stars like Rihanna and Beyonc

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‘Naked Chef’ Jamie Oliver Explains How Cooking Makes You ‘Good-Looking’

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Oliver talks to MTV News about the important role the youth play in reversing poor eating habits. By Christina Garibaldi Jamie Oliver Photo: MTV News Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has made a name for himself with his hit television show “The Naked Chef” and his best selling cookbooks, but the British restaurateur has also made it his mission to get people on the fast-track to healthy eating. Just last week, Jamie Oliver launched the first-ever, global Food Revolution Day , which took place in about 60 countries urging people to focus on food education and to fight obesity. When Oliver sat down with MTV as part of our Pioneers Speaker Series, he told us that young people are the ones who have the power to make a positive change toward healthy eating. “I think the youth are really important customers, really important. If the youth could come up with something for the youth, I think that would be incredible,” Oliver said. “I’ve worked with so many kids in school and I think they are frustrated whether it’s with their own school food or whether it’s stuff they get out. I think they are all waiting for something brilliant and when it happens, I think they will buy into it.” With Americans losing the war against obesity and children growing up overweight, Oliver is determined to implement a healthy lifestyle by getting people back into their kitchens, having nutritious meals at school and encouraging communities to plan health-conscious events. But Oliver admits that in order to do this, people have to do their own homework and educate themselves. “For me, it’s about being street wise about food, it’s about not getting mugged, and mugged means not getting ripped off it you know about food,” Oliver said. “You know where to shop, you know what to avoid, you know what you can do.” And once you have that knowledge, not only can you make a delicious meal, but according to Oliver, you’ll probably reap some other benefits, too. “If you got two good-looking fellas and one can cook and one cant, it’s the one that can cook that’s getting the look and vice versa for the girls,” Oliver admitted. “So all I’m trying to say is cooking is really fun, you’re saving money and it will be with you for the rest of your life.” And Oliver says the perfect ingredient when putting together a healthy meal is of course, music. Oliver listens to a different array of songs while preparing his dish. “I’m split between sort of like … [the Red Hot] Chili Peppers, Killers, Strokes, sort of mix it up that sort of way and then old, brilliant, miserable British indie music,” Oliver said. “But I’m quite eclectic, I like a bit of everything.”

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‘Naked Chef’ Jamie Oliver Explains How Cooking Makes You ‘Good-Looking’

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Oliver talks to MTV News about the important role the youth play in reversing poor eating habits. By Christina Garibaldi Jamie Oliver Photo: MTV News Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has made a name for himself with his hit television show “The Naked Chef” and his best selling cookbooks, but the British restaurateur has also made it his mission to get people on the fast-track to healthy eating. Just last week, Jamie Oliver launched the first-ever, global Food Revolution Day , which took place in about 60 countries urging people to focus on food education and to fight obesity. When Oliver sat down with MTV as part of our Pioneers Speaker Series, he told us that young people are the ones who have the power to make a positive change toward healthy eating. “I think the youth are really important customers, really important. If the youth could come up with something for the youth, I think that would be incredible,” Oliver said. “I’ve worked with so many kids in school and I think they are frustrated whether it’s with their own school food or whether it’s stuff they get out. I think they are all waiting for something brilliant and when it happens, I think they will buy into it.” With Americans losing the war against obesity and children growing up overweight, Oliver is determined to implement a healthy lifestyle by getting people back into their kitchens, having nutritious meals at school and encouraging communities to plan health-conscious events. But Oliver admits that in order to do this, people have to do their own homework and educate themselves. “For me, it’s about being street wise about food, it’s about not getting mugged, and mugged means not getting ripped off it you know about food,” Oliver said. “You know where to shop, you know what to avoid, you know what you can do.” And once you have that knowledge, not only can you make a delicious meal, but according to Oliver, you’ll probably reap some other benefits, too. “If you got two good-looking fellas and one can cook and one cant, it’s the one that can cook that’s getting the look and vice versa for the girls,” Oliver admitted. “So all I’m trying to say is cooking is really fun, you’re saving money and it will be with you for the rest of your life.” And Oliver says the perfect ingredient when putting together a healthy meal is of course, music. Oliver listens to a different array of songs while preparing his dish. “I’m split between sort of like … [the Red Hot] Chili Peppers, Killers, Strokes, sort of mix it up that sort of way and then old, brilliant, miserable British indie music,” Oliver said. “But I’m quite eclectic, I like a bit of everything.”

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