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‘Breaking Dawn’ Single Drops: Bruno Mars’ ‘It Will Rain’

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Twilight’ soundtrack, due November 8, also will feature Christina Perri and Theophilus London. By Jocelyn Vena Bruno Mars Photo: Shirlaine Forrest/ Getty Images The indie angst of past “Twilight” scores has given way to doo-wop sadness on “It Will Rain,” the lead single Bruno Mars dropped Tuesday (September 27). The full “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” soundtrack will hit the streets November 8. In a previous interview, Mars promised “It Will Rain” would be “dark,” and he didn’t lie. The track — co-written and co-produced by Mars’ team, the Smeezingtons — is signature Mars: Sweeping and romantic, it focuses on the power of true love and the emotional pain of heartbreak. The pain of the track is reminiscent of his smash “Grenade.” “Cause there’ll be no more sunlight, if I lose you, baby,” he sings on the emotional chorus. “There’ll be no clear skies, if I lose you, baby/ Just let the clouds, my eyes will do the same if you walk away/ Every day, it will rain.” “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” opens in theaters November 18. “After seeing the movie, I thought that it would be a perfect fit,” Mars said of the song. “The ‘Twilight’ movies for me [are] a love story. But it’s a dark love story,” he added. “And I think the best way to describe the song is: It’s the darker side of love. I think that pretty much sums it up.” On Monday, a full track list dropped, revealing what other artists made the final cut for the November release. Christina Perri, Theophilus London and Aqualung & Lucy Schwartz are a few of the artists who will be featured. A track list also reveals that Iron & Wine’s song “Flightless Bird, American Mouth (Wedding Version)” will be played during the long-awaited wedding. The full track list for “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1” soundtrack:

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Eminem And Bruno Mars Rise Up In New ‘Lighters’ Video

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Em and Royce Da 5’9″ emerge from the darkness and find enlightenment in the new clip. By James Montgomery Eminem Photo: Michael Caulfield/WireImage Given its general grittiness (and the fact that it’s called Hell: The Sequel ), Eminem and Royce Da 5’9″ ‘s Bad Meets Evil album seems like the last place you’d ever find Bruno Mars . And yet, the pompadour-powered crooner shows up to sing the hook on “Lighters” (he also produced the track with his Smeezingtons cohorts), a decidedly upbeat ballad that provides a brief respite from the blood-and-guts boasts that Em and Royce pack on the disc. And sure, the track feels out of place because of that fact, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming a rather sizeable Billboard hit. So it makes sense that there’d be an accompanying video that matches its uplift ethos every step of the way. And now, that video, directed by Rich Lee (“Not Afraid”), has arrived. In the new “Lighters” clip — which, it should be noted, does not contain a single lighter (though it does include the now-ubiquitous shot of Dre’s headphones) — Em and Royce journey from the darkness into the light, a metaphor that works rather well with the song’s message, if you think about it. Their voyage begins when Eminem discovers a secret chamber beneath his home, descends and wanders through a series of subterranean tunnels with only a flare to guide him. Royce is down there, too, though he’s locked up in a jail cell. He escapes thanks to a tunnel located behind a poster (“Shawshank” reference!). The two stumble through the dark, eventually breaking free, emerging into the light. When they finally do, the video reaches its rather (visually) stunning conclusion, as Em and Royce — plus an army of onlookers and Mars, who has been plaintively playing his piano the entire time — witness the slow ascension of a million paper lanterns, as the soft twilight slowly envelops them. It’s a stirring image, for sure, and yes, you can probably read plenty into it. Both Em and Royce have traveled dark roads in their past, but here, even if it’s just for one moment, one song, they’ve stumbled into the light. It’s sorta deep, and though it may not be in step with the messages they’re pushing on Hell: The Sequel, well, sometimes it’s nice to have a change of pace. What do you think of Em and Royce’s “Lighters” video? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related Artists Eminem Bruno Mars

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Eminem And Bruno Mars Rise Up In New ‘Lighters’ Video

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Bruno Mars To Take Plea Deal In Drug Case

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Grammy-nominated singer will pay a fine and complete community service to get charge dismissed. By Mawuse Ziegbe Bruno Mars Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage Bruno Mars is set to take a plea deal in a drug possession case he picked up after getting caught with cocaine in Las Vegas in September, according to The Associated Press. The “Just the Way You Are” crooner will pay a fine of $2,000 and complete drug counseling and 200 hours of community service. As long as Mars, born Peter Hernandez, does not get into any other scrapes for a year, his record will be conviction-free. Clark County District Attorney David Roger and Mars’ lawyers David Chesnoff and Blair Berk said the singer is due in court in Las Vegas on February 4 so he can waive an evidentiary hearing to later plead guilty and be sentenced in state court. “Bruno is very appreciative he is being given this opportunity as a first offender not to suffer any conviction and instead to have his charge dismissed,” Berk told the AP. “He is taking all of this quite seriously.” Mars ran into trouble last fall at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel when a bathroom attendant noticed Mars with a “baggy of white powder substance.” The singer tested positive for cocaine at the time of his arrest, and reportedly said he “did a foolish thing and has never used drugs before.” Putting the cocaine bust behind him isn’t the only good thing coming up for Mars. The singer/songwriter is up for seven Grammy nominations, and will hit the stage at the big show. After the nominations were announced in December, MTV News caught up with Mars and his writing and production crew, the Smeezingtons, — who have put their touch on hits like Cee Lo’s “F— You” and B.o.B’s “Nothin’ on You” — and he said he was amped for the nods. “But the fact [is] that we worked so hard this year. In a little tiny shack studio, we’d have B.o.B in there [writing] ‘Nothin’ on You’ with us, Cee Lo writing ‘F— You’ with us. The fact that it’s being acknowledged by the Grammys is incredible. It’s really making us feel like we did something. We’re being acknowledged by the biggest.” The Grammys will air live on February 13. Related Artists Bruno Mars

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Bruno Mars Thrilled By Seven Grammy Nominations

Posted on December 2, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Comments Off on Bruno Mars Thrilled By Seven Grammy Nominations

‘We’re being acknowledged by the biggest,’ Mars said of his nods for performing and producing. By Kyle Anderson, with reporting by James Lacsina Bruno Mars Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images Each year, the Grammy Awards not only serve to recognize the best achievements in music over the past year but also help to elevate certain artists from unknowns to stars and from successes into household names. The latter will probably be true of Bruno Mars once the awards are handed out in February, as the singer and producer was nominated for a total of seven awards during Wednesday night’s “Grammy Nominations Concert Live!” show. Mars scored a handful of nominations as a performer for his vocal stylings on the chart-topping B.o.B track “Nothin’ on You” and also picked up several nominations as a member of the Smeezingtons, the writing and production trio that consists of Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine. The three are responsible for hits like Cee Lo’s “F— You” (which picked up four nominations), and the crew also picked up a nod for Producer of the Year. The Smeezingtons were rightfully thrilled at the prospect of taking home a load of hardware in February. “We don’t know how it feels yet, because we just got the word. We’re a little awkward in these situations,” Mars admitted to MTV News following the show (in which he also performed live). “But the fact is that we worked so hard this year. In a studio not too far from here, in a little shack, we’d have B.o.B in there writing ‘Nothin’ on You’ with us, or Cee Lo writing ‘F— You’ with us. The fact that it’s being acknowledged by the Grammys is incredible. It’s really making us feel like we did something. We’re being acknowledged by the biggest.” As far as which award the group is gunning for, they’re open to anything. “I’d like to win Best Dressed,” Mars joked. “Maybe Most Humorous. Or Best Kisser!” They also want the world to know that just because their status will become elevated doesn’t mean that they’re inaccessible. “The funnest part of our job is that we don’t know who we’re working with next,” Mars told MTV News. “We’re fans and students of music, and we just love to work with whoever wants to work, whoever wants to write a song. Rock, hip-hop, R&B — we just want to do music. And we’re happy just doing that.” Mars and the Smeezingtons will compete against other heavy hitters like Eminem (10 nominations), Jay-Z (six), Lady Gaga (six) and B.o.B (five) when the Grammys are handed out on Sunday, February 13, 2011. How many Grammys do you think Bruno Mars will win? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos 2011 Grammy Nomination Reactions Related Photos The 2011 Grammy Nominations Concert Related Artists Bruno Mars

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Bruno Mars Says ‘Words Cannot Express’ His Excitement For VMAs

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It’s so surreal,’ the singer/producer says of performing and being nominated for Sunday’s show. By Peter de Saint Phalle, with reporting by Jayson Rodriguez Bruno Mars Photo: MTV News It’s no secret that this has been a big summer for Bruno Mars . Whether he’s producing profanity-laced records with Cee-Lo Green , collaborating with B.o.B and Travie McCoy or touring to promote his debut EP It’s Better If You Don’t Understand and upcoming LP, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, this producer-turned-rock/soul singer is popping up everywhere. This week alone, Mars is hitting our screens with the premiere of his “Just the Way You Are” video and with a performance at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards. “It’s all happening so fast,” Mars told MTV News last month, when reflecting on his successes in the past months. His collaboration with B.o.B, “Nothin’ on You,” is also up for Best Pop Video at the show, which airs live on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET. “It’s so surreal,” he said. “I grew up watching the VMAs and seeing everyone doing their thing on it.” The singer, who’s also one third of the production trio the Smeezingtons, said he actually found out he’d be performing at the show before he heard he’d been nominated. “It’s kinda like the biggest stage of our generation, so to be nominated AND get to perform … words cannot express.” The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday. The party starts with MTV News’ VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through Sunday. Related Videos Revealed: MTV Video Music Awards Gearing Up For The 2010 VMAs! Related Photos VMA 2010: Behind The Scenes At The Promo Shoot Lady Gaga Leads The 2010 VMA Nominees

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Cee-Lo Calls Viral Explosion Of ‘F— You’ Single ‘Pretty Magical’

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It’s a pleasant surprise, I must say,” singer says of f-bomb-dropping song. By Gil Kaufman Cee-Lo Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ Filmmagic There’s no denying the ear-candy magic in Cee-Lo Green’s f-bomb-dropping kiss-off soul nugget “F— You.” But even the Goodie Mob/ Gnarls Barkley singer himself has been a bit surprised at the viral explosion set off by the lyrics-only video for the first single from his upcoming The Lady Killer album, which has rung up more than 2 million views since it was released last Thursday. “It’s a pleasant surprise, I must say,” the singer told Entertainment Weekly ‘s music blog Music Mix. “I think it’s totally surpassed just about everyone’s expectations. We had a clue — I mean, it’s a very noticeable song — but this has been extraordinary.” Though he’s understating the shockingly catchy nature of the profanity-laced Motown-like ditty, the success is probably a bigger shock to the Smeezingtons production team behind it, which consists of the writing and production trio of Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine. The song came together almost two years into the recording of the singer’s third solo effort and, according to EW, when the producers played him a rough sketch of it in the studio, they weren’t even sure it was worth finishing up. “When Bruno first sung ‘F— You’ to me, they were still a bit indecisive on whether or not it could work at all,” Cee-Lo said. “I was like, ‘I like it. Let’s record it.’ ” Cee-Lo said he got heavily involved in finishing up the tune, pitching in many of the lyrics on the verses, which were somewhat based on his own experiences of being jilted by a lover who was looking for a man with deeper pockets. “I mean, it’s based on something true. … As far as me personally, it’s not a current event. It’s a figurative account. It’s not completely fictitious, though,” he said cryptically. Clearly taken by surprise by the instant success of the low-rent video — which consists of the song’s lyrics printed out over solid color backgrounds — Cee-Lo said his team is working on cooking up a more elaborate clip as well as a profanity-stripped radio edit called “Forget You.” Have you heard or seen the video for Cee-Lo’s “F— You”? Tell us what you think in the comments! Related Artists Cee-Lo

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B.o.B Collaborator Bruno Mars Talks Long Road To Success

Posted on May 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I’m not just gonna be coming to you with one sound,’ Mars says of his versatility. By Jayson Rodriguez Bruno Mars Photo: MTV News Bruno Mars is the man of the moment as the Hawaiian-born singer is currently featured on two of the spring’s biggest hits in B.o.B’s “Nothin’ on You” and Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire.” Now, Mars’ debut project, It’s Better If You Don’t Understand, released May 11, should keep his momentum going long into the summer and fall with its mix of earnest lyricism and warm melodies. But despite the usual overnight-star talk, the humble Mars appeciates his years-in-the-making rise to success, which he credits with developing his sound. “It’s great, man — I mean, the fact that it had to take this long, you know,” he told MTV News. “When we wrote ‘Nothin’ on You’ and ‘Billionaire,’ these are songs that are coming from special places. And the beauty of it is, I feel like I’m a unique artist because I like to dabble in a lot of things. The fact that “Nothin’ on You” is working with me signing over this hip-hop track and ‘Billionaire’ is working with me singing over this reggae track, I think it opens up a lane and lets people know I’m not just gonna be coming to you with one sound.” Mars initially made his mark behind the scenes as a songwriter and producer — he was pursuing a recording career and lucked into an opportunity to turn over a song of his to an already signed artist. The chance encounter was so unexpected, though, that he actually wanted to decline the offer. “At the time it was like, ‘No way, this is my art and this is my music,’ ” Mars explained. “They said, ‘We’ll give you $20,000,’ and I said, ‘Here you go, hold that.’ And I kind of became this producer overnight. I never wrote a song before, especially for somebody else — I started writing and producing because I had to eat.” Eventually he joined forces with Phillip Lawrence and later Ari Levine, and now the production trio is known as the Smeezingtons. Prior to scoring back-to-back hits for B.o.B and Travie McCoy, the collective laid down numbers for Flo Rida and Brandy, among others. With Mars’ profile increasing, the Smeezingtons will flex their muscles throughout It’s Better If You Don’t Understand, a four-song EP that features collaborations with Cee Lo and B.o.B. “The journey wasn’t short at all — it was trial and error and trial and error,” Mars said of his current predicament. “It was just back and forth, man. But once ‘Nothin’ on You’ blew up, I had these songs in my back pocket and the label thought it’d be a good time to give people a little taste of what they’re gonna get with the album. The EP came together real nice; you’re gonna get a nice effect of what’s in store.” Are you excited to hear more Bruno Mars music? Let us know in the comments below! Related Artists Bruno Mars Travie McCoy B.o.B

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B.o.B Is Surprised By ‘Dramatic Impact’ Of ‘Nothin’ On You’

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘Me and my managers, we still look at each other speechless,’ rapper says of #2 single. By Steven Roberts B.o.B Photo: MTV News B.o.B.’s “Nothin’ on You” has become something of a surprise smash hit. Released in early February, the song steadily climbed the Billboard and iTunes charts and is currently perched at #2 on both, with what seems like a real shot at #1. MTV News recently caught up with B.o.B., who was as surprised as anyone by the single’s crossover success. The Atlanta rapper admitted he and his managers are still dumbfounded. “We really didn’t expect it to have the dramatic impact it had, nor how fast it happened,” B.o.B said. “Me and my managers, B. Rich and TJ, we still look at each other speechless. We always aim to be successful. But when the byproduct exceeds your expectations — when usually you barely make the basket with what you want — the gratitude is through the roof. It’s literally a dream come true.” The song features Hawaiian crooner Bruno Mars, who did double duty singing the infectious hook and producing the track as one half of production duo the Smeezingtons (Flo Rida’s “Right Round”). B.o.B said he and Mars had worked together before, but “Nothin’ on You” has become the goose that laid the golden egg. “I’ve worked with Bruno Mars a lot, and I would say this is the golden egg that we hatched,” B.o.B. said. “Bruno’s got a lot more up his sleeve, so I’m glad that he’s really doing his thing and making the best of this time.” B.o.B speculated that “Nothin’ on You” is doing so well because its sincerity makes it relatable to women everywhere. He said that sometimes girls who feel insecure need a boost of confidence from their significant other. “I feel like [the song] kind of spoke to ‘that crowd,’ ” he smiled, “which is a huge crowd apparently.” Related Artists B.o.B

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B.o.B Talks New Single ‘Nothin’ On You,’ New Mixtape, New Album

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘The biggest lesson I learned is patience,’ Atlanta MC says. By Jayson Rodriguez B.o.B. Photo: MTV News Upstart Atlanta MC B.o.B aka Bobby Ray isn’t your average rapper by any means. First of all, he plays the guitar — and while Kanye West, Drake and Lil Wayne have tried their hands at shredding, none of them can spin a wayward, folksy tune like he can. Combine that with co-signs from Eminem and T.I., who signed the Mixtape Daily Firestarter alum to his Grand Hustle roster , and you have the makings of a breakout star. So how, exactly, does Bobby Ray plan on introducing his soulful Southern lyricism? With his new single, “Nothin’ On You,” a sprightly, musical number from his forthcoming debut, B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray . “Introducing B.o.B or Bobby Ray — it takes more than one song to do it,” the rapper told MTV News from red carpet of BET’s “Rip the Runway.” “But I feel like this song is really genuine and really sincere, so I feel good about people finding out about me through ‘Nothin’ On You’.” The song, featuring Bruno Mars, currently rests at number 37 on the Billboard Hip-Hop/R&B chart. Although “Nothin’ On You” is still picking up steam, it’s already received praise — the program director at Los Angeles’ KIIS FM told Entertainment Weekly that B.o.B would be the next big thing on radio. Bruno who, along with Phillip Lawrence from production team the Smeezingtons, helmed the track, gushed over Bobby Ray’s talent. “It’s great — he’s an incredible artist,” the singer said. “We actually wrote and sung on the hook. We’d been fans of his for a minute and he came in and just murdered those verses. Hopefully the rest is gonna be history.” The rapper has been signed to Atlantic Records for some time now and graced the pages of 2009’s XXL Freshman 10 issue, with fellow rookies Kid Cudi, Asher Roth and Wale, among others. Waiting on the bench wasn’t without its challenges. At one point B.o.B threatened to pull the plug on his promising career before it even started, though he later backtracked and said the rumors were exaggerated . “It does get frustrating, trying to be as free as possible but at the same time working with people,” the rapper told MTV News last year. But with a new mixtape — the DJ Drama-hosted May 25th — in the streets and a release date on deck for his debut, April 27, Bobby Ray said he learned the value of patience. “I will tell you this about the journey as an artist to get to the point where you actually have a release date,” he offered. “The biggest lesson I learned is patience. Once you get here it’s like, OK, now you have to keep going. You never get to an end. So you have to be patient and pace yourself. Take time. It’s like building a house. You gotta take time, build a foundation, get the walls right, get the electricity right, get ther plumbing right and make sure when you turn the light on that the door don’t open up.” Related Artists B.O.B. “Bobby Ray” B.o.B.

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