Tag Archives: news article

Nicki Minaj Encourages Barbs Not To Be Afraid To ‘Experiment’

‘Little girls can aspire to be anything and that’s all I want people to see,’ Minaj tells MTV News. By Rob Markman Nicki Minaj Photo: MTV News If Nicki Minaj ever decided to walk away from music, maybe she should consider a second career as a scientist of some sort. Hardly a stranger to experimentation, rap’s reigning queen seems to stand as an evolving amalgamation of her quirky fantasy-based creations. Nicki throws the different paints of her colorful imagination up against the wall just to see what sticks, as evidenced on the album cover to her sophomore LP, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded . Since she first jumped onto the scene, Nicki has encouraged her dedicated fanbase to live out their wildest dreams. MTV News caught up with the Young Money superstar right after she performed to open the 2012 NBA All-Star Game in February. We asked her what it meant to be ranked in the top five of our annual Hottest MCs in the Game list . “If there’s one thing I want people to take away from it, it’s just that little girls can aspire to be anything, and that’s all I want people to see,” Nicki said between deep breaths, still winded from her energetic All-Star performance. “Whether you follow Nicki Minaj’s blueprint or not, just don’t be afraid to experiment and don’t allow people to knock your hustle just ’cause it ain’t something that you’re used to seeing.” From her theatrical flow to her outlandish fashion sense, Nicki Minaj has definitely given fans things that they’ve never seen before. Who can forget when she gave both Jay-Z and Kanye West a lyrical run for their rap money on 2010’s “Monster,” or Nicki’s anime-inspired VMA outfit ? In theory, Nicki’s rap success should open the doors for more female MCs to be signed and fill hip-hop’s gaping feminine void. Since the Harajuku Barbie’s rise to prominence, women rappers like Kreayshawn, Iggy Azalea and Azealia Banks have all made notable strides. “That’s what I like,” Nicki said about her number-four placement on the Hottest MCs list. “I like that I’m there because it gives little girls in Southside Jamaica, Queens, or South Africa or Brazil a moment to say, ‘Oh wait, I can be a female rapper!’ Yes, you really can.” To celebrate the April 3 release of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, we will be examining the “Evolution of Nicki Minaj” throughout the week. Check MTV News every day to see how the Southside Jamaica, Queens, Barbie went from a promising mixtape standout to rap’s reigning queen. Related Videos The Evolution Of Nicki Minaj Related Photos Nicki Minaj’s Red-Carpet Looks

Read the rest here:
Nicki Minaj Encourages Barbs Not To Be Afraid To ‘Experiment’

Diddy, Machine Gun Kelly And Flo Rida Invade WrestleMania XXVIII

MGK and Flo Rida repped both superstar wrestlers John Cena and The Rock tonight before the all-star match. Photo: MTV News Related Artists John Cena

See the article here:
Diddy, Machine Gun Kelly And Flo Rida Invade WrestleMania XXVIII

The Rock Wins Wrestlemania XXVIII, Defeats John Cena

The Rock sealed his history as one of wrestlings biggest entertainers. Photo: MTV News Related Artists John Cena

Follow this link:
The Rock Wins Wrestlemania XXVIII, Defeats John Cena

Wrestlemania 28 Predictions: The Rock Or John Cena?

With todays big match going down in Miami we spoke with a few hip-hop journalists to pick t heir brain on who will win the big showdown. Photo: MTV News Related Artists John Cena

Follow this link:
Wrestlemania 28 Predictions: The Rock Or John Cena?

Kids’ Choice Awards Owned By Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift

Performances from Katy Perry and One Direction also stood out at Nickelodeon awards show. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber gets slimed at the Kids’ Choice Awards 2012 Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Host Will Smith was joined Saturday (March 31) by a bevy of stars for Nickelodeon’s annual slime-fest, the Kids’ Choice Awards . The movie star and MC kicked off the night with a KCA-themed rap that included the first sliming of the night, when buckets of the famed goo fell on the audience, setting the tone for the fun-filled evening. The “Men In Black III” star promised that 2012 would include a record-breaking amount of slime, adding, “No one is safe from the slime.” That included Halle Berry, who was the first celeb to get slimed. The night’s first presenters certainly brought the kooky factor up a bit. Nicki Minaj was decked out in a candy-colored dress complete with a bustier made out of tickets and bubbles glued to her skirt, as she stood alongside “Hunger Games” star Josh Hutcherson. The pair handed out the first blimp to Favorite Musical Group winners Big Time Rush. Real-life couple and “The Amazing Spider-Man” stars Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone presented the award for Favorite Movie Actor. But before handing the blimp to Adam Sandler, Garfield told the room, “I feel like the luckiest guy in the world, ’cause I got to play my favorite superhero.” KCA first-timer and “Glee” star Chris Colfer got slimed when he hit the stage to present Selena Gomez the award for Favorite TV Actress. Perhaps Heidi Klum should have shared this advice with him first: Never trust anyone at the KCAs. Decked out in a two-piece, midriff-baring top and sparkly skirt, Gomez also won for Favorite Female Singer. “After no longer doing my show, knowing you guys still watch it means so much,” she said of her now-defunct Disney series “The Wizards of Waverly Place.” Katy Perry was the first performer of the night. Done up in medieval gear, she flew across the room to the stage, where she broke out into her latest hit single, “Part of Me.” Behind her, dancers were decked out in costumes from the same period. She served as a court performer, singing her scathing breakup track for the king and queen. The performance ended with Katy hitting the king with a pie. Perry also won a blimp for her work in “The Smurfs,” declaring, “The only reason I’m here today is because I’ve never gown up. I can’t wait to do ‘Smurfs 2.’ ” Kristen Stewart won for Favorite Movie Actress for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1.” Beaming in blue lace, she said, “This is, like, the coolest awards show ever. I love Nickelodeon. I liked ‘Doug,’ ‘Rocco’s Modern Life.’ Awesome. I just have to say: Katy Perry’s armor was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.” Next up, the show got a bit serious when first lady Michelle Obama presented Taylor Swift with the Big Help Award. Swift won the special blimp in recognition of her philanthropic efforts, including work with U.S. tornado and flood survivors and various youth-related charities. “I’m so honored. I have always wanted to meet you; this is amazing. I am so honored to be receiving this award from the first lady of the United States. I am freaking out,” Swift said. “I’m really proud of all of you guys. I see you helping each other out. I think it’s important you know you are making a difference in this world.” Taylor Lautner has kicked enough butt and taken enough names on the big screen that he won the blimp for Favorite Butt Kicker. “This is amazing,” he told the room of screaming fans. “Robert, I’m sure you’ll be winning this award next year for ‘Iron Man 3’ and ‘The Avengers.’ ” That Robert he was referring to was presenter Robert Downey Jr., not Pattinson, obviously. After winning, he was forced to do 1,000 push-ups by Smith. His reward for completing the misson? Getting slimed. One Direction continued their U.S. takeover with their performance on the show. For “What Makes You Beautiful,” the guys wore all black-and-white while futuristic lights danced behind them. Proving that everyone is a One Directioner at this point, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez danced around in the audience and sang every word of the song, while the fivesome kept girls screaming with their frothy, lighthearted pop track. The big twist of the night came when Cee Lo Green was revealed as Will Smith’s nemesis, the man dubbed “Creepy Voice.” “Creepy Voice” had spent the night taunting Will, telling him how inadequate a host he is. His reasons? “I’ve always wanted to be slimed,” “The Voice” judge said. “My name is Cee Lo Green. Slime’s green. Slime me!” He didn’t get slimed, but he did get ice-cream-sundaed. Maybe next year, Cee Lo. After kicking Jaden and Willow out and accusing them of being “Creepy Voice,” he brought his performer kids back out to hand out Favorite Male Singer, the night’s last award. Justin Bieber, fresh from shooting his “Boyfriend” video , took the stage to accept his blimp. “Right now, I’ve been working really hard on my album, Believe. This album is our album. This [blimp] goes out to all the fans. I love you so much,” he said. In addition to the blimp, with Will by his side, Bieber got

‘Twins’ May Find Long-Lost Triplet In Eddie Murphy

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito may reunite for ‘Triplets,’ the sequel to the 1988 comedy ‘Twins.’ By Gil Kaufman Eddie Murphy Photo: Getty Images Some old movie franchises never die, they just go into the deep freeze for, oh, almost a quarter century. Case in point: “Twins.” Surely you remember the hit high-concept 1988 comedy starring then-huge actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his half-sized “brother” Danny DeVito? The goofball premise had the two stumbling through wacky adventures, with the, ahem, intellectual, physically perfect Julius (Arnold) struggling to connect with his long-lost small-time crook fraternal twin bro Vincent (DeVito) after the pair were separated at birth. Bottom line: The movie grossed more than $200 million worldwide, and now, Universal Pictures is hoping to reboot the franchise nearly 25 years later. There is, of course, a new twist: Not only would the former California governor and the “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” star be reprising their roles, but they would find out that the mad scientists who created them also cooked up a third brother. Cue “Triplets,” with third comedic wheel Eddie Murphy. The Hollywood Reporter said no director is connected to the flick yet, but noted that original director Ivan Reitman, would be onboard as a producer through his Montecito Picture Co. banner. The backers are still looking for writers to work up a script, and while the actors are reportedly attached to star, the studios have not yet sat down to discuss the creative aspect of the project. The film could be a boon for Murphy, who is coming off yet another box-office bomb with the long-delayed “A Thousand Words,” while Schwarzenegger is still attempting to revive his acting career after two terms as California governor and a nasty split from his wife, Maria Shriver. DeVito has continued to appear in mostly under-the-radar films for the past five to six years, but has a solid hit on his hands at the moment as the voice of “The Lorax.”

See the original post:
‘Twins’ May Find Long-Lost Triplet In Eddie Murphy

‘Game Of Thrones’ Season Two: The Reviews Are In!

Critics are raving about new season, with one reviewer describing HBO fantasy series as ‘spiritual heir’ to ‘The Sopranos.’ By Josh Wigler Carice Van Houten as Melisandre in “Game of Thrones” Photo: HBO Winter is behind us in real life, but in the brutal realm of Westeros, it’s just days away. When “Game of Thrones” returns Sunday for its second season, the days of Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell will be behind us, with the reign of Tyrion Lannister (and another Emmy-worthy performance from Peter Dinklage) in our future. Based on the second novel in George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, “A Clash of Kings,” season two of “Thrones” promises even more political intrigue, warfare, sex and violence than ever before — and given the show in question, that’s certainly saying something! Several critics have already seen the first episode of the new season of “Thrones,” and with very few exceptions, their reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Here’s a taste of the reviews: The Story “It’s a pleasure to see that ‘Game of Thrones’ hasn’t lost a grip on its ability to tell a vast, interconnected story without slowing down the pace. What’s truly impressive is that as life is breathed into these storylines, ‘Game of Thrones’ just gets better and more fulfilling as a top-tier television series. The intrigue of the plot and the keenly drawn characters — plus the sense instilled in Season 1 that absolutely anything can happen and no one is safe — makes the show all the more compelling.” — Tim Goodman, The Hollywood Reporter Accessibility for Non-Readers “I had read the first volume of George R.R. Martin’s saga ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ (the source material for this series) before I watched the first season of ‘GoT’ so I would be familiar with the vast array of characters and plots that would develop. But I intentionally did not read the epic’s second volume, ‘A Clash of Kings,’ before watching the start of ‘GoT’ season 2, because I wanted to see if I’d have trouble following the new intricacies. And I’m here to report that my lack of homework in no way prevented me from becoming enthralled with this series all over again. That’s a testament to what adapters David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have accomplished in whittling down and reshaping Martin’s novels for weekly TV. It’s difficult enough to hook a viewer like me, who resists sprawling, noncontemporary narratives; it’s another level of pop culture wizardry to make such storytelling seem so vivid, so vital, and just plain fun.” — Ken Tucker, Entertainment Weekly Blood and Boobs ” ‘Thrones’ creates such a rich visual feast — replete with plenty of gratuitous nudity and blood-letting — as to almost obscure its fundamental storytelling pleasures, which are as much a mob drama as anything else, having traded bullets for broadswords. By that measure, this really might [be] the closest spiritual heir to ‘The Sopranos’ HBO has delivered since the show’s notorious whiteout.” — Brian Lowry, Variety The New Guys in Town “Even though I’m a fan of Martin’s novels, I must confess that I always found the Stannis retainer Davos Seaworth fairly bland and boring, but Liam Cunningham, like Emilia Clarke, ably brings to life a character who could seem rather remote on the page. Several other smaller roles have been filled with lively specificity, but I have to wonder if we’ll get enough time with each of these people. Will the plight of Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), a stoic warrior who nurtures an unrequited love for royal contender Renly Baratheon, be as sadly evocative as it was in the books? Will there be time for the show to do more than lightly sketch the dilemmas of minor but interesting characters like her?” — Maureen Ryan, Huffington Post The Bottom Line “As with the novels, this ‘Game of Thrones’ is breathtakingly ambitious, an ever-unfurling tapestry that threatens, at times, to overwhelm its frame. That it does not is a testament to the power of piecework — art is not defined by the space it occupies but by its details, the truth it captures. Many heads bend over this adaptation, each belonging to a master of his or her craft, and what emerges is a truly new, and miraculously accurate, definition of epic television.” — Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times Are you excited for more “Thrones” action? Tell us in the comments section or hit me up on Twitter @roundhoward ! Related Videos Talk Nerdy Related Photos ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season Two

Excerpt from:
‘Game Of Thrones’ Season Two: The Reviews Are In!

Evanescence, Green Day, Tokio Hotel, My Chemical Romance: Musical March Madness Final Four!

After three weeks of battles, one of these four will take home the MMM title; voting in all Final Four matchups is now open! By James Montgomery Evanescence’s Amy Lee Photo: Getty Images Well, that was intense. After 48 hours of epic Elite Eight battles, we’ve reached the Final Four of MTV’s Musical March Madness . And while making it this far is certainly an accomplishment, there’s not exactly a whole lot of time to sit around and savor it. That’s because voting in our Final Four matchups is already under way, and polls will remain open until Sunday (April 1) at midnight ET. You’ve carried your favorite band to the cusp of championship glory, but can you help push them over the top? Vote for your favorite band, discuss and share on Facebook and Twitter in the MTV Musical March Madness interactive bracket! Let’s take a look at the four bands still standing in MMM: true, tourney-tested squads that have survived three weeks of brutal back-and-forth battles just to make it to this point. In a way, they’re all champions; too bad only one will actually be able to call themselves that. #5 My Chemical Romance vs. #5 Green Day My Chem are the champions of the Midwest region, having survived a furious rally from upset-minded Metallica in the Elite Eight (seriously, with more than 600,000 votes cast, MCR won by 400 ). Meanwhile, defending MMM champs Green Day had to stage a serious comeback of their own against Adam Lambert, who led until late Thursday before succumbing to GD’s full-court press. At this point of the tournament, there truly are no easy matchups, and this one, well, it’s going to be a war. Both bands have been put through the wringer, and both know how to win a close contest; can My Chemical Romance finally take home the MMM title (they’ve been in the Final Four three consecutive years), or will Green Day make history as the first band to repeat as champions? All we can do is wait and see … #1 Evanescence vs. #12 Tokio Hotel Speaking of history: Congratulations to Evanescence, the first #1 seed to make the MMM Final Four. They’ve battled hard throughout the tournament, having bested tough foes like Paramore, Linkin Park and Dave Matthews Band just to reach this point. As a reward, they draw perhaps the toughest opponent in the entire field: Tokio Hotel, a band that’s steamrolled their way through the competition. They’ve throttled all challengers and even got revenge (big time) against rivals Coheed and Cambria in the Elite Eight. No two bands have enjoyed as much fan support in MMM 2012, which is why we’re certain this one’s going to be a classic. And not to go out on a limb here, but we suspect the winner of this one may very well be the band hoisting the championship trophy next week. No pressure or anything. Is your favorite band still alive in the Final Four? Help carry them to the championship — or assist in shattering some dreams — by voting now. Polls close Sunday at midnight, so get cracking — we’re so close to crowning a champ! Vote for your favorite band, discuss and share on Facebook and Twitter in the MTV Musical March Madness interactive bracket! MTV’s 2012 Musical March Madness tournament reaches the Elite Eight! Voting runs until midnight ET on Thursday, March 29, and winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite act is still alive, it’ll be up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM or by downloading one of our custom badges — but get ready, it only gets more difficult from here on out. Related Videos Musical March Madness Heats Up! Related Photos MTV’s Musical March Madness 2012 Related Artists Evanescence Green Day Tokio Hotel My Chemical Romance

More here:
Evanescence, Green Day, Tokio Hotel, My Chemical Romance: Musical March Madness Final Four!

Nas Chose Producers Who Were ‘Gonna Be There’ For Life Is Good

Salaam Remi, No I.D., Heavy D and Da Internz all worked with Esco on his upcoming LP. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Nas Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News Throughout his career, Nas has worked with some of the most celebrated hip-hop producers from Dr. Dre and DJ Premier to the Trackmasters and Swizz Beatz, but for his next LP, Life Is Good, Esco chose to keep the vibe more intimate. “I wanted to work on a record where it’s just not a lot of people,” Nas said when he appeared on “RapFix Live” on Wednesday . “So it’s mostly No I.D., Saalam Remi, Da Internz; those are the ones who basically gave me the music. They knew what I wanted; they sat with me.” On 2001’s Stillmatic, Remi contributed the beat for “What Goes Around” and then came back the next year to give Esco two singles for his God’s Son LP (“Made You Look” and “I Can”). No I.D. and Nas have some history as well. In 2007, the Nasty one hopped on the No I.D.-produced cut “Success” off of Jay-Z’s American Gangster album, and late last year, Nas, Common and the Chicago producer collaborated on “Ghetto Dreams.” “I needed producers that’s gonna be there and get into what I want to get into, have the conversation and start making the records based off of what I’m looking for,” God’s Son said. Heavy D also lent a production hand prior to his death last year , making the beat for Life Is Good ‘s latest single, “The Don.” Nas didn’t find out that Heavy sent the music for him to use until after he died however. “I looked up to Heav,” he said. “He’s an icon, a music icon.” What are your expectations for Nas’ Life Is Good ? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Nas & Killer Mike Related Artists Nas

Read the rest here:
Nas Chose Producers Who Were ‘Gonna Be There’ For Life Is Good

Whitney Houston’s Death Left Jordin Sparks In ‘Shock’

‘American Idol’ alum talks to Entertainment Weekly about working with the late legend on their upcoming movie ‘Sparkle.’ By Kara Warner Whitney Houston Photo: 20th Century Fox/Getty Images Many people will remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news of Whitney Houston’s untimely death in February. And while everyone’s experience was memorable in some way, the story of Houston’s “Sparkle” co-star Jordin Sparks hearing the news is especially poignant. The season-six “American Idol” winner was in a L.A. hotel room getting ready to meet Houston at the Beverly Hilton and attend Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammy bash when her publicist knocked on her door. “She said, ‘Whitney’s gone,’ ” Sparks told Entertainment Weekly. “I said, ‘What do you mean? She’s not going to the party?’ She said, ‘No, she passed.’ It was like a movie when you see somebody and they’re just shocked and can’t move. I literally couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t feel anything. It was a complete shock. I was just holed up in my hotel room for a few days after that. “I didn’t know her for very long, but it was an intense two months: 12 hours every day spending time with somebody,” Sparks recalled. “It was amazing to walk into work and then Whitney is sitting in her chair blasting gospel music and singing. I’m thinking to myself, ‘People would give their right arm to just hear some of this. And it’s happening every day.’ She was really, really great.” “Sparkle” is a remake of the 1976 Irene Cara film about three talented young musicians who struggle with addiction. The new version features the 2007 “American Idol” winner as the titular character Sparkle and Houston, who also served as executive producer after acquiring the rights to the film more than a decade ago, as her mother, Emma. “It was definitely her baby,” Sparks said of Houston’s attachment to the project. “You could see the pride on her face when we wrapped. She was so excited that this was finally happening. Even before she passed I wanted to be able to represent this movie in a way that would honor her and respect her, because she worked so hard on it. With her passing, it’s definitely been a lot more pressure. We’ll see how it goes. I’m sure there will be interviews where it will hit me and I might get emotional, and there’s going to be other interviews where I reminisce about how happy and excited she was. I’m really proud of the film. I can’t wait for people to see it.” “Sparkle” is scheduled to be released by Sony on August 17. Check out everything we’ve got on “Sparkle.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos Related Artists Whitney Houston Jordin Sparks

Visit link:
Whitney Houston’s Death Left Jordin Sparks In ‘Shock’