Spears reinforced her bad-girl persona with an ode to nightclubs and hot boys. By Jocelyn Vena Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale Photo: Jive To say that 2011 was an outstanding year for pop is a bit of an understatement. Rihanna wanted her fans to Talk That Talk, Lady Gaga was Born This Way, Demi Lovato declared herself Unbroken, and Beyonc
‘He always wants there to be the soul in there,’ Cruz tells MTV News about his ‘Without You’ collaborator. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias Usher Photo: Todd Williamson/ WireImage Usher is hard at work on his next album. Set to work with fellow hitmaker Taio Cruz , the two already cooked up some magic with their David Guetta anthem “Without You,” and it seems they are hoping to recapture that spirit for Usher’s follow-up to 2010’s Raymond v. Raymond . “I saw Usher a few times, but I spoke to him at length at David [Guetta]’s house when we were in Ibiza [Spain],” he told MTV News in L.A. after his Jingle Ball set. “He has very specific ideas of where he wants to go musically and sound-wise.” Given that Usher has never shied away from exposing a bit of himself in his music, while also keeping the party going, Cruz wants to make sure they can connect the mind, body and soul for this next release. “He always wants there to be the soul in there,” he explained. “I’m kind of, not the opposite, but I’m always like, ‘Let’s get straight to the point and be really clear with the message and be simple.’ “So we try to match those two worlds together: being soulful and, at the same time, catchy,” he added. Cruz can’t yet discuss what they’re working on: Besides “Without You,” he said, “Everything else is secret.” Usher said he was drawn to the Guetta hit because he connected to it emotionally, explaining to MTV News recently what an important part that plays in his musical philosophy. “I think the world wanted a record like that. That [song] really spoke to the journey that I’ve actually been on in the last three years,” he said. “Traveling all around the world, music sounds different. There’s many different genres, and when you see R&B and pop and house, as well as electronic, come together, that’s the reality of what music is.” Related Artists Usher Taio Cruz David Guetta
Roscoe Dash will also check in Wednesday at 4 p.m. on MTV.com, when 2011’s Hottest Breakthrough MCs list will be revealed. By Rob Markman Machine Gun Kelly Photo: MTV News There is no denying that hip-hop veterans like Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross have all had a remarkable 2011, but the past 12 months also saw the meteoric rise of some of the game’s most exciting young MCs as well. Since the top of the year, artists like Mac Miller and Meek Mill have established themselves as bona fide stars. On Wednesday at 4 p.m. on MTV.com, “RapFix Live” will explore the budding careers of some very notable rap rooks, as Machine Gun Kelly, Roscoe Dash and Kendrick Lamar check in to discuss their big year. During the show, MTV News will also reveal the list of 2011’s Hottest Breakthrough MCs. Hottest Breakthrough MCs was established in 2010 by MTV News as a fan-driven initiative that spotlights, celebrates and cultivates new talent. MTV News chose a pool of young rappers and urged fans to vote for their favorite. When it was all said and done and the votes were tallied, Wiz Khalifa emerged as the Hottest Breakthrough of last year. The competition was tough, but the Taylor Gang general beat out runner-up Nicki Minaj, ATL group Travis Porter, Diggy Simmons and J. Cole. “It’s a great thing to be recognized on that level, and really just by my fans,” Wiz told MTV News after his win. “That award right there, I feel it was real special to me, because I feel like my whole career has just been based off my fans. My fans just really came through and they just pushed me over.” The 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC will be revealed during December 14’s “RapFix Live,” along with a special announcement about the next Hottest MCs in the Game. To be considered a Hottest Breakthrough MC, an artist cannot have released a major-label full-length album. Finalists from 2010’s Hottest Breakthrough MC poll will not be eligible for 2011 consideration, so unfortunately, Diggy Simmons and Travis Porter won’t be part of this conversation. The fan-voted winner of Hottest Breakthrough MCs will be considered in the upcoming 2011 Hottest MCs in the Game list as well. Who will be crowned Hottest Breakthrough? It’s all up to you, so tune into “RapFix Live” for the full list of rookie MCs. Catch Machine Gun Kelly, Kendrick Lamar and Roscoe Dash on “RapFix Live” Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com, and be sure to join the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #RapFixLive! Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Game, Diddy And Machine Gun Kelly Related Artists Machine Gun Kelly Kendrick Lamar
Clip will premiere Wednesday on BET’s ‘106 & Park.’ By Jocelyn Vena Nicki Minaj and Willow Smith in ‘Fireball’ Photo: Big Machine Records Nicki Minaj and Willow Smith shot the video for the kid star’s pumped-up “Fireball” last month in Los Angeles, and the party-rocking duo plan to show the world the fruits of their labor Wednesday. Their clip for the newest single from Willow’s upcoming debut album will premiere on BET’s “106 & Park.” In a sea of scenes teased in a 30-second trailer on BET’s website , Willow is decked out in a number of colorful, over-the-top, futuristic outfits. It also previews a big dance number in which Smith shows off some sassy moves. A majority of the teaser takes place in a city setting. Minaj, in rainbow-colored fur boots and a dress made of teddy bears, dances around with the young singer. Smith plans to release her debut album, Willow: You Think You Know Me, this April. According to Jukebox, who worked with the 10-year-old on several tracks, the album will focus on her youthfulness. “Willow is a combination of what ‘Whip My Hair’ was. Willow just isn’t a pop star, she isn’t just an urban artist; she’s very international,” he said. “A lot of her music has a very big influence of everything from rock to pop to hip-hop.” “Fireball” is the follow-up to Willow’s other releases, “21st Century Girl” and the instant viral smash “Whip My Hair.” “It’s just the whole process,” Jukebox added. “You got to think about it: She’s a 10-year-old girl. She’s gotta have a life, she’s gotta be a kid.” Related Artists Nicki Minaj Willow Smith
‘X Factor’ castoff Astro and ‘Dance Moms’ personality Abby Lee Miller also make MTV News’ list, counting down all week long. By MTV News staff Jimmy Fallon Photo: NBC MTV News’ Top 50 TV Characters of 2011 continues with a few must-include entries, as well as some visits from surprise guests. “X-Factor” contestant Astro makes the cut this round as does “Dance Moms” favorite Abby Lee Miller, but you might be surprised to see certain sports and talk-show personalities who yapped their way onto our Best of 2011 list. Keep reading for the latest entries to our Top 50, and make sure to check out characters 50 to 41 over here . 40. Skip Bayless (ESPN’s “First Take”) One of the nation’s most respected sportswriters, Bayless got his start at the Miami Herald, eventually rising to prominence at the Los Angeles Times and followed by his coverage of the Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News and Dallas Times Herald. Since many of you don’t have an app for those papers, you might know Bayless as the perpetual devil’s advocate on ESPN’s “First Take.” He started as a pundit on ESPN’s “Cold Pizza” in a segment called “First Take,” but thanks to his arguments with other journalists, athletes and even Lil Wayne , “Cold Pizza” evolved into “First Take.” His divisive arguments — most recently his idolatry of Tim Tebow — have garnered the ire of plenty of sports fans, and Skip couldn’t be any happier, especially since he’s right more often than they’d care to admit. -Steven Roberts 39. Victoria Grayson (“Revenge”) Imagine Blair Waldorf 30 years older and transplanted to the Hamptons, and you’ve got the central villainess of ABC’s newest guilty pleasure “Revenge.” The Queen Bee of the tony enclave, Victoria rules with an iron (not to mention, diamond-laced) fist, scheming against anyone who dares get in her way (lovers and best friends included). But Victoria’s no sociopath — fleeting flashes of guilt and sorrow betray more than a few vulnerable spots. While revenge-seeking Emily is the protagonist here, it’s Madeleine Stowe’s Victoria that steals scenes in this sudsy drama. -Amy Wilkinson 38. Marty Funkhouser (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) Funk-man had a short-yet-rewarding arc this season. He commenced his time on “Curb” with a divorce (though they “had a beautiful marriage”), delivered one of the funniest lines of the season (when he asked Richard Lewis when he plans to look at his new girlfriend’s face) and starred in what noted lawyer and academic Alan Dershowitz believes was an episode of television powerful enough to expedite peace in the Middle East — though Larry owed him such shine after leaving his dinner before dessert. -Rya Backer 37. Jimmy Fallon (“Late Night With Jimmy Fallon”) Outside of his portrayal of Barry “F—ing” Gibb on “The Barry Gibb Show,” Jimmy Fallon didn’t have the most memorable “Saturday Night Live” career. And then there was “Taxi” with Queen Latifah. So expectations weren’t necessarily high when Fallon took over “Late Night” after Conan’s all-too-brief promotion to “The Tonight Show.” But that didn’t stop Jimmy from making his show the most-talked-about the next morning either. His first move once he got the job was to hire the coolest band possible in the Legendary Roots Crew, who, along with the show’s genius music bookers, have brought us amazing performances from Beyonc
Actor says Todd Phillips is working on the script now. By Gil Kaufman Bradley Cooper Photo: 2011 WireImage First the good news: Bradley Cooper says that “The Hangover Part III” is in the works. The bad news: it won’t start shooting until next September. During an appearance on England’s “Graham Norton Show” to promote the DVD release of the $327 domestically million-grossing sequel, Cooper teased that a third edition of the series is in the works. “I personally want to do it. I hope we’re going to start shooting in September,” Cooper said. “I know [director] Todd Phillips is working on the script.” Norton joked that the $581 million worldwide take of the sequel — which Cooper noted is the highest-grossing comedy of all time — suggests that someone might want to greenlight the next chapter. “$581 million, I imagine someone will make that, even if it’s half as successful, it’s worth doing,” Norton laughed. Fishing around for what the subject matter might be, say, perhaps a hangover, Cooper rubbed his chin and speculated that new things might be afoot for “Part III.” “We adhered to the formula in the second one, for those of you who’ve seen it, and the third one, which would close the whole sort of trilogy, which now it would be a trilogy — even though we thought we would never make a second one, let alone anybody see the first one — I think it will take place in Los Angeles and maybe not adhere to the structure. It might be different,” he said. Phillips told reporters back in May that he was definitely down for another go ’round. “Quite honestly we really haven’t talked about it as we just finished the movie two weeks ago, this is the first time we’ve all been together in awhile,” Phillips said at a press conference. “If we were to do a third one, if the audience… if the desire was there… I think we have a clear idea where that would head and it’s certainly not in the same template you’ve seen these movies … ” Obviously we always envisioned it as a trilogy as you can imagine. The third would very much a finale and an ending. The most I could say about it and I haven’t discussed it with these actors is that it is not following that template but very much a new idea.”
Rapper ‘had an amazing time’ performing with Swift on her Speak Now Tour. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias Flo Rida Photo: MTV News Taylor Swift has shared the stage with some of the biggest (and most surprising) artists during her Speak Now Tour . Everyone from Nicki Minaj and Selena Gomez to Bruce Springsteen has graced the stage with the pop darling in 2011. During a Miami tour stop last month, the singer brought Flo Rida onstage to perform his very blush-inducing track “Right Round.” And if you were surprised to hear about the collaboration, Flo told MTV News at Los Angeles’ Jingle Ball over the weekend that he was just as shocked. “I was in Australia. I got home, and I was actually staying in my condo for the day,” he explained. “And I looked down, ’cause my condo, it’s right across the street from the arena, and I was like, ‘I wonder who’s performing?’ So I went down there, spur-of-the-moment, and they told me it was Taylor.” Initially, Flo Rida just wanted a chance to catch the show, but when he spoke to her people, it turned into a whole different opportunity. “I spoke with them, and they asked me to perform,” he said. “And she was very nice and very humble. I had an amazing time. Her fans are over-the-top. It was crazy. Much love to Taylor Swift.” Swift wrapped up her tour in New York last month. During her Atlanta stop over the summer, she brought another rapper onstage with her: T.I. “I was pleasantly surprised and confused,” T.I. told MTV News of receiving the phone call from Swift. “I was confused because I know it’s a phenomenal opportunity, but being T.I. — the Rubberband Man — and Taylor Swift being America’s Sweetheart, I had just gotten out of prison, like, two days [earlier], and all of a sudden my phone rings.” While the hip-hop appearances on her tour might seem surprising, Swift assured us in October that she really loves the genre. “I’m a huge hip-hop fan, and it’s been so amazing to have so many incredible artists come out and to get to sing the hooks on their songs that I’ve been blasting in my car for the last couple years,” she said. “It’s been awesome. I couldn’t have asked for more amazing special guests on this tour.” Which Taylor collabo were you most surprised about? Let us know in the comments!
Transgender woman Chantal Spears claims Kardashian assaulted her outside a Hollywood nightclub in 2009. By Jocelyn Vena Khloe Kardashian Photo: Getty Images Khloe Kardashian may be in some legal trouble. The reality star is reportedly being sued for assault in connection with an alleged incident that took place in Hollywood in 2009. TMZ reported that Kardashian got into an argument with a transgender woman named Chantal Spears (real name Ronald Spears) on December 5, 2009, at Playhouse nightclub. Spears claims that the reality star pushed and struck her “in and about her body,” leading to injuries. The website further reports that the altercation took place when Spears allegedly walked up to Khloe’s husband, Lamar Odom, and told him that he was “too young to be married.” In a video posted at the time of the incident, she told a cameraman for the website, “All I was telling Lamar Odom is maybe he is too young to get married, and all of a sudden I get this big push from this girl,” she explained. “She hit me. She pushed me and hit me. [Security] didn’t say nothing. It was her. She looked in my face. I tried to get her and she pushed me again.” Later Spears is seen holding up a police report and saying, “She’s in trouble. Yeah, [she’s going to court] because everyone seen her hit me first.” In her lawsuit, Spears says she didn’t provoke anyone and is seeking unspecified damages. A rep for Kardashian had not responded to MTV News’ request for comment by press time.
‘I’mma do another album at the top of March,’ Roscoe Dash tells MTV News, weeks before his debut EP’s release. By Rob Markman Roscoe Dash Photo: MTV News Roscoe Dash ‘s debut EP isn’t even in stores yet, and the ATL hitmaker is already making plans for another project. “I’mma do another album at the top of March,” he told MTV News last week. Dash’s J.U.I.C.E. (Just Understand I Control Everything) is due December 20. The project will feature Roscoe’s current single, “Good Good Night,” as well as “Sidity,” an upbeat collaboration with Big Sean. Though he is classified in the rapper category, Dash is known to employ lots of melody into his songs. After breaking out in 2009 with his “All the Way Turnt Up” single, Dash has become one of the more popular hook men in rap. As a featured artist he has sung hooks for Big Sean and Kanye West (“Marvin & Chardonnay”), Waka Flocka Flame (“No Hands”) and DJ Drama (“Oh My”). On J.U.I.C.E., Roscoe continues to play to his strengths. “I Do” is a triumphant message to his haters, while “Into the Morning” with Wale is a kinetic party tune. On “Very First Time,” Roscoe slows things down a bit and pays homage to his R&B influences. The next project, tentatively titled J.U.I.C.E. Forever, will stand as an extension of the upcoming EP. “I just feel like it’s a one-two punch. It’s an easy combo. I feel like my fans deserve it,” Roscoe said. “They’ve been waiting a long time; they’ve been holding me down as far as the mixtapes go and I feel like every time I put out a mixtape it’s kinda like an album.” Are you looking forward to Roscoe Dash’s J.U.I.C.E. EP? Tell us in the comments!
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