‘Happy birthday, slime. You in the club,’ Weezy tells Biebs in birthday video compiled by MTV News. By Rob Markman Justin Bieber Photo: Getty Images When it’s your 18th birthday, you’ll probably get well wishes from mom, dad, and, if you’re lucky, your teenage crush. But when you’re Justin Bieber , you get shouts from Usher, Lil Wayne and Sean Kingston. Be jealous! On Thursday (March 1), the Biebs turned 18 years old, and his most famous of friends hooked up with MTV News to celebrate Bieber’s birthday . “I hope that you are around all of your loved ones and having a good time. This is from big bro, from the heart,” Usher said in a video piece compiled by MTV News for the Biebs. The Confessions singer initially signed Justin along with his manager Scooter Braun, and he has since become a mentor to the pop star. So of course the 33-year-old Usher had to impart some b-day wisdom on his young homey. “Eighteen will give you an opportunity to do a little bit, not all, so we got a few more years before you can go all the way,” he said, acknowledging the three years until JB turns 21 and is allowed to legally drink in the U.S. “Maybe I might even be able to sneak you into a club. Anyway dawg, happy birthday. I love you.” Comedian Kevin Hart isn’t buying all of Justin’s birthday hype, though. “Whatever Justin Bieber is supposed to be doing at 18, he was doing at 15,” he joked after sending his well wish. Platinum hitmakers RedFoo, B.o.B, Sean Kingston and Flo Rida all helped MTV News celebrate the occasion. Even Lil Wayne, who was with Bieber in the studio in February, sent a special message. “Happy Birthday, slime, the big one-eight. You in the club, slime,” Weezy said, standing beside Young Money’s Lil Chuckee. As far as birthday presents go, it’s anybody’s guess what his buddies will actually get Bieber. But Robin Thicke bypassed tradition and instead hit up the “Never Say Never” singer for a loan. “Send me some money, Justin. You got way too much,” he said, laughing. But what do you get the young man who has everything? Sometimes all it takes is a few kind words. “Thank you to all the people that made the video,” Bieber told MTV News. “It really brought a smile to my face.” Leave your own birthday message for Justin Bieber in our comments section! Happy 18th birthday, Justin Bieber ! Now that we’ve counted down the superstar’s 18 greatest moments, stick with MTV News as we celebrate the milestone all day. Related Videos Happy Birthday, Justin Bieber! Justin Bieber’s 18th Birthday: Our Favorite Moments! Related Photos Justin Bieber Style Evolution Related Artists Justin Bieber Lil Wayne Usher
‘My first single is going to be amazing — everyone’s going to love it,’ Bieber tells MTV News about the Believe track. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: WireImage Justin Bieber wants to be your “Boyfriend.” Well, at least he does on the lead single off his new album, Believe, set for release later this year. He announced the single’s name and release date, March 26, when he stopped by “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” in an episode airing on Thursday (March 1), his 18th birthday . “My big announcement is that on March 26th, my first single is coming out and it’s called ‘Boyfriend,’ ” he said about the song, co-written by Mike Posner. “The song, it’s basically I’m talking to this girl, [saying] if I was your boyfriend, I would never let you go. We wrote it, and the verses I’m talking/ rapping and then on the hook I’m singing. It’s a really awesome song.” While the single announcement served as a surprise for fans, manager Scooter Braun had his own surprise for the teen star. Braun gifted Bieber with a car, the sporty, electric Fisker Karma. Ellen had something special for him, too: a window sun visor with a photo of the two of them on it, as well as an Ellen bobblehead. MTV News caught up with Bieber this week, and he answered many of his fans’ questions in addition to talking about his new album. “This new album is crazy. I’ve spent the most time on it creatively just writing myself and being involved in the whole process. It’s something that comes from my heart,” he explained of the 2012 release. “I hope all my fans and all my Beliebers like it. With my new album Believe there’s so many different songs and so many different styles. It’s really versatile and fun. My first single is going to be amazing — everyone’s going to love it.” Happy 18th birthday, Justin Bieber ! Now that we’ve counted down the superstar’s 18 greatest moments, stick with MTV News as we celebrate the milestone all day. Related Videos Happy Birthday, Justin Bieber! Related Photos Justin Bieber’s Birthday: Countdown To 18! Related Artists Justin Bieber
As Bieber celebrates his 18th birthday, we’re counting down his 18 best moments so far. Check out #1! By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: Valery Hache/ AFP/ Getty Images Moment by moment, we have finally arrived to Justin Bieber ‘s top milestone. This week, we kicked off a countdown of his 18 greatest moments , and having already made our way through most of the list , we have reflected on the singer’s incredible rise to fame through vintage videos and reliving some of the classic memories that have made Bieber the star he is today. What else made the list of top Bieber moments? Well, keep reading for the remainder of the list, including our pick for #1. 5. My World Goes on the Road Kicked off in June 2010 in Hartford, Connecticut ,Bieber took the hugely popular tour around the world. With plentiful stops, the spectacle was filled with smooth moves, catchy tunes and tons of love. For his Madison Square Garden show, Bieber brought out famous friends Miley Cyrus and Usher , and he filmed the performance for “Never Say Never.” He wrapped up the tour in October 2011 in Venezuela. 4. 2010 Video Music Awards Bieber went into the 2010 VMAs as one of the biggest pop stars in the world. He took home the Moonman for Best New Artist, got to hang with his pals like Drake , and performed “Baby” and “Somebody to Love” in a manner fit for past teen idols like the Beatles. “Wow,” he said when he took the stage to accept his prize. “This means a lot to me. Thank you to everybody here.” 3. Chopping Off His Hair February 22, 2011 is a day marked in history. It’s when Bieber debuted a shorter hairdo , lopping off his signature floppy style. Since then, Bieber has experimented with his hair, but no style has been quite as headline-making as that initial haircut. “We knew it was going to be a big deal,” his hairstylist Vanessa Price explained to MTV News at the time. “We knew it was going to shock fans, but we also knew it was going to be a change in terms of growing up. I think that’s something that people adjust to.” 2. 2009 VMAs At the 2009 VMAs , Bieber arrived at the show with Diddy, shouted out one lucky fan and instantly went from Internet star to real-world sensation thanks to the high-profile red carpet debut. And, in the end, he ended up being a part of VMA history. Shortly after the Kanye West/VMA outburst, Bieber and Nick star Miranda Cosgrove took the stage to announce Taylor Swift’s performance, moments after the rapper interrupted her, making him one of the folks involved in turning a negative into a positive. 1. His First YouTube Video Five years ago, under the moniker KidRauhl, a very, very, very young (OK, he was 13) Justin posted a YouTube video of himself singing Ne-Yo’s “So Sick.” Displaying his soulful chops and ear for pure pop melodies, it was the video that kicked off a phenomenon. The videos posted after that, where he covered tracks by everyone from Justin Timberlake to Chris Brown, and the frenzy they incited caught the eye of his now manager Scooter Braun, which led to a heated battle between Usher and Justin Timberlake to see who would sign the teen dream. Usher won and the rest is, as they say, history. Share your birthday wishes for Justin and weigh in on the top 18 moments on our Facebook page! Happy 18th birthday, Justin Bieber ! Now that we’ve counted down the superstar’s 18 greatest moments, stick with MTV News as we celebrate the milestone all day. Related Videos Happy Birthday, Justin Bieber! On The 2010 VMA Red Carpet Justin Bieber’s VMA Red-Carpet Shout-Out ‘Justin Bieber: Never Say Never’ Sneak Peeks Related Photos Justin Bieber’s Birthday: Countdown To 18!
MTV News visits the set of Odd Future’s brand-new video to figure out what the zany clip is all about. By Rob Markman Tyler, the Creator in Odd Future’s “Rella” music video Photo: Odd Future Records “I have a gay couple, it’s a bunny and a chicken, girls get slapped in the face and I snort a lot of coke.” That was the only way that Tyler, the Creator could described Odd Future’s latest video , “Rella,” when MTV News caught up with him and his merry band of musical misfits on the set recently in California. It may sound zany, but the clip for “Rella,” the first single off of OFWGKTA’s upcoming OF Tape Vol 2 comes as advertised. Directed by Wolf Haley (Tyler’s alter ego), “The Rella” begins with Hodgy Beats dressed in video game-inspired body armor busting through brick walls and running amok through a suburban neighborhood. “I’m just the n—a that comes through and f—s everything up,” he said. OF spitter Domo Genesis plays a much different, but equally animated role. “My character is like a ’70s-type pimp guy, and when people get out of line, I get to smack ’em in the face,” he told MTV News, before complaining about his ill-fitted wardrobe. “I’m enjoying that, the only thing that I’m not enjoying is that this sweater is pretty little.” Far from your standard hip-hop fare, “Rella” isn’t as awe-inspiring as Tyler’s VMA winning video for “Yonkers,” but it bucks rap rules all the same. Choosing to lay a comedic theme over the song’s bassy and sometimes sinister track, OF come off nothing like their contemporaries. On the song’s final verse, Tyler begins snorting an entire mound of cocaine (which we assume is fake), before a camera pan reveals the outspoken rapper/producer as a shirtless Centaur who wears a bobbed woman’s wig. Lyrically, “Rella” has no concrete theme; it’s just a spew of obnoxious rhymes, and the clip comes off pretty much the same way. Don’t confuse it with haphazardness, though: The three-and-a-half-minute video plays out just how the group intended. “Super Stoked About rella. Now Waiting For Someone To Say How It Coudlve Been Better Or Something, Even Tho They Cant Do Better Ayyye,” Tyler tweeted on Monday after he dropped a link to the YouTube video. Then on Tuesday, he addressed the video’s critics in a Tyler-like fashion. “Someone Told Me Today ‘ I Didnt Get The Video’. Its Nothing To Get, Its Just Random Thoughts,” he wrote on Twitter .”People Think To F—ing Much.” What do you think of Odd Future’s “Rella” Video? Tell us in the comments Related Artists Tyler The Creator Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All
Cover of the magazine’s Freshman issue also features Iggy Azalea, the first female MC to make the cut. By Rob Markman The cover of XXL ‘s Freshman issue Photo: XXL Class is back in session, and XXL magazine continues its yearly tradition of cherry-picking new rap talent for their annual Freshman issue. Lupe Fiasco, B.o.B, Wiz Khalifa, J. Cole and Mac Miller have all at one time appeared on the annual cover, and this time out, XXL inducts 10 more artists for the fifth year in a row with their April issue. MTV News’ 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC, Machine Gun Kelly, stands front and center on the cover alongside his Bad Boy labelmate French Montana. Atlanta hitmaker Future and hook master Roscoe Dash also made the cut along with Detroit’s Danny Brown and Memphis, Tennessee, MC Don Trip. While most of this year’s freshmen have been fixtures on various blog sites and the mixtape circuit, others like Macklemore, Hopsin and Kid Ink may be lesser known, but they’ve more than earned their keep. Macklemore has already sold out countless shows across the country, while Kid Ink and Hopsin have built quite a digital following. Australian-born raptress Iggy Azalea makes history as the first female MC to grace the cover of the Freshman issue. The blond-haired Interscope beauty made waves with her 2011 mixtape Ignorant Art and has since hooked up with T.I. to produce her upcoming debut album The New Classic . Like it does every year, this latest Freshman class has already caused a fuss on the Web, with fans and industry ilk both supporting the list and wondering why their favorite artists didn’t make the cover. What do you think of XXL ‘s 2012 Freshman Class? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Mixtape Daily: French Montana ‘RapFix Live’ With Machine Gun Kelly And Kendrick Lamar ‘Hottest MCs In The Game VII’ Related Artists French Montana Machine Gun Kelly
No female has won since 2007, but the ladies proved on Wednesday that it may be their year to take back the crown. By Adam Graham Jessica Sanchez on “American Idol” Photo: Fox It was ladies’ night on “American Idol” Wednesday (February 29), and if the performances of the Top 12 females are any indication, it could be the ladies’ season as well. Indeed, Tuesday’s shaky performances from the guys may have had fans worried about this year’s installment of “Idol.” But several ladies turned in big, show-stealing songs on Wednesday that restored faith to the season at hand. And while no female has won “Idol” since Jordin Sparks took the crown back in 2007, this could be the year a woman puts an end to that dry spell. Fittingly, this potential female domination comes at a time when the biggest force in pop music is Adele, and the chart-topping diva’s presence loomed large over Wednesday’s show. Not only was Adele’s name was invoked several times, but two performers — Jen Hirsh and Elise Testone — took on the very same Adele song, “One and Only.” (What, one of them couldn’t switch to “Rolling in the Deep”?) With her take on “One and Only,” Hirsh hit some of the evening’s biggest notes, and Jennifer Lopez said she “felt the feeling of the song.” Steven Tyler, meanwhile, told Hirsh, “You’ve got what it takes.” Testone’s equally powerful “One and Only,” which closed the show, caused Randy Jackson to call her “a force to be reckoned with,” though both he and the other judges seemed concerned Testone could get lost in the mix with the other singers. “I hope America got it,” Lopez told her, somewhat worriedly. If America doesn’t “get it,” the judges have a chance to step in: On Thursday’s show, the five top males and the five top females will be passed on to the next round, and the judges will get a chance to choose wild card contestants. Whether that will result in a Top 13 or a Top 12 was not explained on the show. Other standouts included Skylar Laine, who threw down on the stage with a energetic, rockin’ take on Faces’ “Stay With Me.” “It’s like Tina Turner went country!” J. Lo gushed, while Jackson compared her to “Reba (McEntire) mixed with Kelly Clarkson.” Laine even took her own breath away; the Mississippi native complained at the end of her performance her dress was so tight she could hardly breathe. Jessica Sanchez said she suffered from swollen vocal chords earlier in the week and was worried she wouldn’t be able to perform up to her usual level, but she blew the judges away with her version of Dreamgirls’ “Love You I Do.” “That girl can sing!” said an enthusiastic Jackson, saying she turned in one of the best performances of the first two nights. Lopez praised her and said she’s beyond her years, while Sanchez herself seemed taken aback from the judges’ overwhelmingly positive reactions. Hollie Cavanagh “slayed the biggest dragon” of the evening by taking on Christina Aguilera’s “Reflection,” Jackson said, and she fared well, even if her combination of inspirational ballad and tight minidress read awkwardly on camera. “It wasn’t all perfect,” Jackson said, “but the parts that were brilliant were genius.” Lopez called her one of the competition’s frontrunners. Shannon MaGrane — whose baseball-player father seems to still have a bone to pick with Tyler over his comments toward his daughter during the auditions — sang “Go Light Your World,” a contemporary Christian song that was “in my soul and in my gut,” she explained, although it’s not well known. But the risk seemed to have paid off: Not only did Jackson and Tyler praise her powerful vocals, MaGrane gave Lopez her first “goosies” — that’s Lopez-speak for goosebumps — of the season. Hallie Day’s “Feeling Good” had her looking “like a star,” Lopez said, but Jackson said he wasn’t sure what direction she was headed in, awkwardly mentioning Adele and Lana Del Rey as would-be contemporaries. Day said she loves soul music and sees herself singing torch songs in the vein of — you guessed it — Adele. Brielle Von Hugel started out her version of Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” by sitting on the stage, surrounded by her male co-stars (including Phillip Phillips and Heejun Han). She stood up, marched across the stage and showed off what Jackson called a bit of Janis Joplin in her voice. Lopez called her “a true performer” and said people underestimate her as a contestant. Erika Von Pelt showed off her rock side (her words) with Heart’s “What About Love,” and Tyler called her confidence “magical.” Still, the judges knew she had more to give, and Lopez urged her, “next time, let loose on us.” Jackson said her mix of confidence and restraint recalled — wouldn’t you know it? — Adele. Baylie Brown had the misfortune of following Laine’s showstopper of a performance, and her static take on the Lonestar ballad “Amazed” felt safe and a bit boring. “I’ve heard you sing better,” Tyler told her, and Lopez called it “shaky all the way through.” Jackson said Brown “never seized control of the song.” With her take on Carrie Underwood’s “Cowboy Casanova,” which opened the show, Chelsea Sorrell didn’t do much but recall Underwood’s more memorable version of the song. And the most stinging critique of the evening came when Jackson said Haley Johnsen’s version of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” “was a bit of a nightmare, for me, instead of a dream.” What did you think of Wednesday’s “Idol”? Do you think a female will win this year? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Top 24 And Wildcard Contestants
Maybach Music boss is not a suspect nor is he being sought for questioning in a murder, police confirm to MTV News. By Rob Markman Rick Ross Photo: Getty Images After police found a dead body in front of a Miami Gardens home owned by Rick Ross , the Maybach Music boss’ name began to pop up in connection to the killing, but an area detective confirmed to MTV News on Wednesday (February 29) that the rapper is not a suspect, nor is he being sought for questioning. Miami Gardens officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 7 a.m. ET after reports of gun shots. When police arrived at the scene of the crime they found a dead body in the yard of a house owned by the rapper, whose real name is William Roberts. Though Ross owns the property, it is not where he resides. “He lives at a different location,” Detective Michael Wright told MTV News. The murder is still under investigation and police declined to reveal the name of the deceased at press time. But it seems Rick Ross is definitely in the clear. In other news, the Double-M-Genius is set to head to court in May for a case with far less serious ramifications. Former L.A. drug kingpin “Freeway” Rick Ross is suing the rapper who he claims is unlawfully profiting from his name. The case was initially thrown out in 2010, but has now been reopened with a trial date set for early May. A little over a week ago, Rick Ross was named MTV News’ Hottest MC in the Game , nabbing the coveted position on a list of 10. His MMG signees, Wale and Meek Mill, took the #10 and #7 spots, respectively. Related Videos ‘Hottest MCs In The Game VII’ Related Artists Rick Ross
‘We’re gonna work alongside each other for a common goal and release this Trae tha Truth project,’ T.I. tells ‘RapFix Live.’ By Rob Markman Trae Tha Truth and T.I. Photo: MTV News T.I. ‘s hustle just got a little more grand. Not only is the King of the South gearing up to release his eighth studio album, Trouble Man, Tip is also expanding his Grand Hustle roster, adding new artists at seemingly every turn. His latest addition: Houston street king Trae tha Truth . Trae and Tip announced the joint venture deal between Grand Hustle and the Houston MC’s ABN label Wednesday (February 29) on “RapFix Live.” “We’re gonna work alongside each other for a common goal and release this Trae tha Truth project,” T.I. said of the deal, which was arrived at the old-fashioned way. “When cats [who are] cut from a certain cloth give their word and shake their hand, that’s what makes it a done deal — the ink is just a formality.” The two haven’t yet figured out how Trae’s upcoming ABN projects will be distributed, however. T.I. is currently signed to Atlantic through Grand Hustle, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that Trae’s project will travel through the same channels. But Trae doesn’t seem overly concerned about the particulars. “Me and Tip are similar in a lot of ways. We both understand what it is,” Trae said. “The thing that kinda made me way more comfortable is he reached out more on a partner note to where it wasn’t about money, it wasn’t about none of that. It was about, ‘Look, we can team up or even if you doin’ your own thing, I’m just supporting what you got goin’, I want to see you make it.’ ” Without the help of a major label, Trae has already carved out his lane in the streets. While he isn’t the most popular MC, it’s hard to find an artist in the game today who is more respected. His last album, Street King, featured not only underground rappers like Messy Marv and Yo Gotti, but also boasted contributions from the likes of Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Big Boi and Wiz Khalifa. “Grand Hustle is an established brand, ABN is already an established brand, it’s about seeing what we can do to parlay what we’ve already done for ourselves to make it benefit the other and it’s a two-way street,” T.I. explained. What do you think of Trae tha Truth and T.I.’s new deal? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Tyga Rises To ‘RapFix Live’ Related Artists T.I. Trae Tha Truth
His new album, Born and Raised, is also slated for the spring. By Jocelyn Vena John Mayer Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images John Mayer announced he needed vocal surgery last fall, and now he’s back and ready to hit the road. On Monday (February 27), the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter announced plans for a spring tour , his first outing in nearly two years. The 18-date trek will kick off April 9 in Bloomington, Indiana, before wrapping up May 6 in Phoenix. The tour will be in support of his forthcoming new album, Born and Raised, which will be released sometime around the outing. The album’s lead single, “Shadow Days,” hits radio Monday. The tour will help raise funds and awareness for the Northern California Institute of Research and Education, which “provides veterans with a healthy reintegration into civilian life.” Mayer will auction off tickets to the shows to help raise money for the organization. Born and Raised will feature production from Don Was, and Mayer will get some vocal and instrumental help from singers David Crosby and Graham Nash, keyboardist/pianist Chuck Leavell, bassist Sean Hurley and drummer Aaron Sterling. On tour, Mayer will be joined by guitarist and vocalist David Ryan Harris, guitarist Doug Pettibone and percussionist Michito Sanchez. Previously, Mayer described the album as having “organic cowboy guitar sounds,” adding that he had this very romantic thought when it came to the album’s vibe: “What would it sound like if I wrote an album of cowboy songs on this guitar under the stars?” “Every new record I start, a new aesthetic comes in. I can’t help it,” he said about the project. “I think it’s gonna be more organic, more natural lyrics and chords and artful simplicity.” Will you check out John Mayer on tour? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists John Mayer
