Wiz will address Kanye’s ‘Way Too Cold’ shout-out on ‘Hip Hop POV’ tonight at midnight on MTV. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Wiz Khalifa on “RapFix Live” Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News What’s not to like about all-around good guy Wiz Khalifa ? Sure, rumors of a Kanye West /Wiz beef swirled after Khalifa began dating Yeezy’s old flame Amber Rose, but credit both men with keeping level heads. The Pittsburgh MC stopped by “RapFix Live” on Wednesday, and we premiered an exclusive clip from his appearance on “Hip Hop POV,” , which will air on MTV tonight at midnight. In the clip, Wiz reacts to Kanye’s “Way Too Cold” lyric: “The whole industry wanna f— ya old chick/ Only n—a I got respect for is Wiz.” “I took it as he knows I’m a good guy,” Wiz told the “POV” panel. “He really was into her, so the fact that we’re two great people that are treating each other well, he’s coming down and saying, ‘Hey, hats off to you.’ That’s how I see it.” Khalifa told “RapFix Live” host Sway Calloway he doesn’t mind answering the Kanye question. “It doesn’t really bother me because it’s something that people are gonna always be interested in,” he said. “It’s something that if I try to fight it then somebody is gonna do it to try to annoy me and then what am I gonna do then? So I just accept it for what it is and keep it pushing man. I got a whole positive campaign and it’s all love.” Does that mean that we can expect to hear a Wiz and Kanye collabo? Sway hit the “Black and Yellow” MC with a hypothetical scenario: If Kanye offered up a free beat, would Wiz use it? “I dunno,” he answered. “If I sent him a verse, do you think he would like it and want to use it for his album?” Wiz then asked Sway. Hypothetical situations aside, Wiz didn’t completely shut the door on working with ‘Ye, if the circumstances were right. For him, it’s all about the art. “That’s what it’s all about though, it’s about the culture and the creativity factor,” he said. Would you like to hear a Wiz Khalifa/Kanye collabo? Sound off in the comments! Related Photos Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller: Behind The Scenes Of ‘RapFix Live’ Related Artists Wiz Khalifa Kanye West
Hollie Cavanagh rises up with ‘The Climb’ and Joshua Ledet racks up two more standing ovations. By Adam Graham Hollie Cavanagh on “American Idol” Photo: Fox If “American Idol” was decided by whoever received the most standing ovations from the judges, Joshua Ledet would have this year’s competition in the bag. Ledet racked up two more standing Os from the judges on Wednesday’s (April 25) “Idol,” which found the contestants singing two songs apiece: One from Queen, and another of their own choosing. That brought Ledet’s unofficial standing ovation season total to 12 — that figure according to Skylar Laine, who ribbed him backstage for receiving a dozen standing Os over the course of the season. Ledet first got a rise out of the judges with his version of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” which caused Jennifer Lopez to ask, “Is it bad for me to say the Joshua part of the show is my favorite part of the show?” He followed it with a version of India.Arie’s “Ready for Love” — which was sung by Michael Lynche back in “Idol” season nine — which was called “another unbelievable performance” by Randy Jackson. Added an enthusiastic Steven Tyler, “I hope the label finds you a bunch of good songs, man, and you’re off to the moon. I smell the finish line with you.” Hollie Cavanagh received the evening’s other standing ovation from the judges with her second song, “The Climb,” the Miley Cyrus song that seemingly summed up her journey on the show so far. It came after she received so-so marks for her first song, Queen’s “Save Me,” which played into theme of “The Climb” even further. “That’s the Hollie Cavanagh that we love, that’s the one! Hollie is back! Yo!” said Jackson. Added Lopez, “You said it backstage, ‘I gotta step it up,’ and you did! It was perfect.” Steven Tyler’s favorite of the night was Skylar Laine, who opened with “The Show Must Go On” and followed it with Jason Aldean’s “Tattoo’s on This Town.” On the Queen song, Tyler praised her energy and her passion as over-the-top, saying, “the way you hit your notes, for an 18-year-old? Oh my God. That was fabulous.” Lopez said she got “goosies” from Laine, while Jackson dubbed himself a “ginormous” fan of the Mississippi singer. Jessica Sanchez kicked off the show with “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which was shot in black and white while a chorus of Sanchez heads backed her on the oval “Idol” video screen at the back of the stage. For her second song, Sanchez sent a shout-out to her dad, singing a touching version of Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father.” Lopez told Sanchez she expected more energy from her during “Rhapsody,” but said her “Dance With My Father” was “the best I’ve ever heard that song sang.” Meanwhile, Jackson summed up her two performances by saying, “every time you get up and sing, you know what’s wrong with it? Absolutely nothing!” Phillip Phillips, who has battled Dave Matthews comparisons from fans all season, seemingly got away from the Matthews talk with his first song, a fun, spirited take on “Fat Bottomed Girls.” “People say that you remind them of Dave Matthews, that didn’t remind me of Dave Matthews at all. That was something totally different,” Lopez said, invoking Matthews name out loud for the first time this season. “That’s the mark of a great singer for me.” And how did Phillip Squared follow it up? With a performance of Dave Matthews’ “The Stone,” on which he sounded like a direct clone of Matthews. Lopez was not pleased, dismissing the song “obscure” and “artsy,” and worrying it would get him voted off the show. Jackson, for his part, admired Phillips’ sticking to his guns. “Die, sink or swim, Phil Phillips will always be Phil Phillips,” he said. “I love that.” Elise Testone took on Queen’s “I Want It All” early and followed it with Jimi Hendrix’s “Bold as Love.” The first song got high marks, though the latter “wasn’t the right song for this time in the competition,” Jackson told her, criticizing her for “boxing” with the song, and saying Hendrix sang “about 1/25 of what you sang” in his original. J. Lo had the opposite reaction. Although she said she wasn’t familiar with the original, “you slayed that song so hard, it didn’t even matter,” she said. Wednesday’s show opened with the Top Six performing a medley of Queen songs, backed by Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor. Thursday’s show will feature performances by Katy Perry and 10th season “Idol” contestant Stefano Langone, and one of the six remaining contestants will be sent home. What did you think of “Idol” on Wednesday? Let us know in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
The top seven sang for their lives on ‘Now and Then’ night; here’s how they all fared. By James Montgomery Joshua Ledet performs on “American Idol” Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images “American Idol” gave us the best of both worlds on Wednesday night, as the top seven sang something old and something new . That meant dusting off some classic soul tunes and coupling them with the current crop of shiny pop hits, and though you might not believe it, the results were actually pretty good. Yes, no doubt due to last week’s shocking near elimination of presumed front-runner Jessica Sanchez , the remaining “Idol” hopefuls were singing for their lives last night, and delivered a handful of genuinely great performances. Of course, a few tried to go outside the box, and the results… well, they were mixed. Still, a memorable show all around, and not just because of Colton Dixon’s Lady Gaga get-up. So who earned the night’s highest marks? Who should consider hiring a tutor? Read on for our “American Idol” report card! Joshua Ledet : Of course he did Fantasia. And, of course, his version of “I Believe” was amazing: lithe and limber, full of range and emotion, he’s the best male singer by a mile. Ledet also delivered big time with Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” which got off to an unintentionally hilarious start — Seacrest introduced it as “an emotional civil-rights anthem, coming to you live, from Joshua,” which was followed by a shot of Joshua holding a wind-up toy, grinning like a goofball — but no one was laughing by the end. He straight-up murdered it, with jaw-dropping power and prowess that earned him a standing ovation and some overtly sexual critique from Steven Tyler. Randy followed that up by taking shots at “The Voice,” only not overtly at all. Settle down, dawg. A Phillip Phillips : Let’s give a shoutout to Double P, who got out of the grouting business for one week only, first with a soft-core Skinemax take on Usher’s “U Got It Bad” and then a smooth (for him at least) spin through Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour.” Both were perfect choices, playing to his strengths — he is handsome — both left the ladies wanting more, and both had Steven Tyler talking like detective John Shaft (“No chump love, sucka.”) Game on, Colton Dixon. B+ Jessica Sanchez : Her version of Alicia Keys’ “Fallin'” was yet another powerhouse, as she set her intensity level on “simmer” and just let things cook. (Though for a minute, we were worried one of those umbrellas was going to fall on her.) We weren’t as crazy about her take on Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness” — sure, it was big and brassy, but also kinda growly, and seemed like a cruise ship performance. And could there be trouble brewing on the high seas for the formerly indestructible Sanchez? She got the dreaded “you need to connect” advice from Randy et. al, and J.Lo almost forgot the name of her alter ego, which might not bode well for her down the stretch. B Skylar Laine : Wait, she did a Lady Gaga tune?!? Yep. Breaking free of her country container (it’s like Tupperware), Laine took on “Born This Way,” and we loved it. She’s got spark and attitude for days, and when you get the feeling she’s really pushing herself (like Wednesday or “Wind Beneath My Wings” a few weeks back) there might not be a better performer in the competition. On the flipside, her version of Marvin Gaye’s “Heard It Through the Grapevine,” wasn’t exactly great, and perhaps Laine needs to learn that just because you’re jumping around on the stage, it doesn’t mean you’re connecting with the song. Still, another strong week. She’s the dark horse from here on out. B ” Hollie Cavanagh : “No thinking, just singing ” seemed to be her mantra this week, and it worked. She completed her manifest destiny by doing Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” which was not only perhaps the biggest moment of the night, but had Steven Tyler talking about her tail feathers. Her version of Dusty’s “Son of a Preacher Man” was pretty much what you’d expect — faux swagger, some horns, a few nice notes — though the jury’s still out on whether Cavanagh actually connects with any of the voters. B Colton Dixon : For the second week in a row, he surprised with a song choice, taking Gaga’s “Bad Romance” down to the mall for a Hot Topic makeover. It didn’t necessarily work, but the girls loved it, so who cares? Though he needs to stop crouching like Spider-Man when he’s “rocking” out. Meanwhile, his version of Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” got lost in an autumnal haze (maybe it had something to do with all the fallen leaves strewn atop his piano?) Not the strongest night for C. Dix… though we suspect he thought it went great. C- Elise Testone : A tale of two Testones tonight. She did Alicia Keys’ “No One” (we almost called it! ) and blew it out the box, with a performance that was restrained in all the right ways, big and booming in the best spots. But her gruff, kinda-goofy version of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” just never got on track and seemed like the worst possible song for her to sing. We love her, but we suspect this might be the week that does her in. C- Do you agree with our “American Idol” report card? Leave your comment below! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances
Facebook.com – Become a Fan! Twitter.com – Follow Us! Steven Tyler arrived at Sunset Marquis in style tonight, riding a thunderous custom green “trike” motorcycle. As usual he took some time to greet fans.
Facebook.com – Become a Fan! Twitter.com – Follow Us! Christina Aguilera was spotted leaving Craigs tonight after having dinner. She seems to look a little better each time we see her.
In the wake of Jessica Sanchez’s near-exit, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler say season 11 is anyone’s to win. By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kelly Marino Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler Photo: MTV News After “American Idol” voters tried their hardest to send presumptive front-runner Jessica Sanchez packing on Thursday night’s shocking results show — only to have their plan foiled by the judges, who promptly used their save to keep her in the competition — the deck has been re-shuffled, and it appears that this season really is anyone’s to win. Following Sanchez’s near-exit, two of those “Idol” judges spoke to MTV News, and they weren’t shy about letting their opinions be known. Simply put, they were as surprised as everyone to hear Sanchez’s name called. “I think [America] thought she was safe,” Randy Jackson said of Sanchez. “I think they thought she was safe … and I think they thought [fellow bottom-three dweller] Joshua [Ledet] was safe, because those two alone … have been the most consistent. So, you know, yeah, I think they just forgot.” “There’s just so many different singers out there. That’s why it’s hard for me now,” Steven Tyler added. “I like to let America judge. Tonight they were wrong.” More than likely, they were. But the inclusion of Sanchez in the bottom three raises a larger question about the show: Is it possible for anyone other than a guy to actually win anymore? The previous four champions — David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze and Scotty McCreery — have all been proud possessors of the Y chromosome, and a male contestant has won in five of the previous six seasons. (Jordin Sparks was the last female to be crowned champion, way back in 2007.) And now, with Thursday night’s shake-up — and the rise of Colton Dixon and Phillip Phillips — it appears that history may repeat itself once again. Not surprisingly, though, neither Jackson nor Tyler seems to see it that way. “I don’t know, it’s a toss-up right now,” Jackson said. “I think it’ll be a person. ” “You gotta wait and see,” Tyler added. Of course, Jackson was also quick to admit that both Dixon and Phillips are strong contenders for the season 11 crown (which is probably why “Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine spent so much time this week trying to pit them against each other ), and he saved a particular bit of praise for Phillips and his, uh, unique approach to the competition. “He’s his own guy, that’s what I love about him. He’s an individual, Steven’s an individual; that’s what a real artist is made of,” Jackson said. “An artist is not usually a follower; you want to be your own person. So I love that about him. I don’t know if it’s going to hurt him, but somebody’s gotta go every week now. It’s gonna be rough.” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances
On a wild results show, front-runners Sanchez and Joshua Ledet face elimination, with the judges using their save to spare the diva. By James Montgomery Jessica Sanchez, Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Seacrest on “American Idol” Photo: Fox A shocking Thursday night on “American Idol” began with an onscreen pledge to “Expect the Unexpected,” and boy, did the show live up to that promise. Because, for the first time in the unusually staid 11th season, there really is no clear-cut front-runner, as perceived favorites were relegated to the bottom three and one potential champion was left to sing for her life — almost. After the final seven sang the songs of this decade on Wednesday night’s telecast, most assumed it would be permanent bottom-dweller Hollie Cavanagh sent packing, especially after the judges were left grasping for compliments following her performance of Pink’s “Perfect.” Instead, Cavanagh was spared elimination (and even a spot in the bottom three), and, after a few tense moments, in which front-runners like Colton Dixon and Skylar Laine were left twisting, it was revealed that, this week, the three on the chopping block were Elise Testone — no real surprise, given that she’s been in this position before — and, amazingly, a pair of championship hopefuls: Joshua Ledet and Jessica Sanchez. The judges were understandably shocked by the reveal — Randy Jackson even called the bottom three “ridiculous” — but the surprises didn’t end there. Host Ryan Seacrest would first announce that Ledet was safe, leaving only Testone and Sanchez clinging for their lives. After ratcheting up the tension to the nth degree, Seacrest announced that Testone was also safe, meaning Sanchez, the prodigiously talented, supremely cocky diva, was the week’s lowest vote-getter. In a way, it was fitting that former “Idol” castoff Jennifer Hudson performed earlier in the telecast, because a potential Sanchez exit would have been the most shocking moment on the show since Hudson was given the boot all the way back in 2004. And as the crowd whistled in disapproval, Sanchez grabbed the microphone to sing for the judges’ save — only to be interrupted by Jennifer Lopez, who shouted “Gimme that mic” and announced, along with Jackson and Steven Tyler, that Sanchez would remain in the competition. “We are saving Jessica without any doubt,” Jackson emphatically said. “This girl is one of the best singers in America ever!” The obviously shell-shocked Sanchez was then allowed to finish her song, and as the show came to a close, the judges urged “Idol” viewers to vote for the best contestant going forward. But after the night’s startling results — and without a judges’ save going forward — the deck has certainly been reshuffled, and the stakes are higher than ever before. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Top 13 Contestants
Following Elise Testone singing a version of Foreigner’s “I Wanna Know What Love Is” on American Idol last night, Jennifer Lopez told the finalist that she really likes her outfit. In other words: Uh-oh. Elise could be in trouble. No panelist exactly swooned over the performance, with Steven Tyler wondering if it was the proper song choice and Randy Jackson saying there were pitch problems. Is the bottom three in Testone’s future? Critique for yourself now: Elise Testone – “I Wanna Know What Love Is” Which women did stand out on Idol this week? Our ranking of performers from this gender would be: Skylar Laine on “Wind Beneath My Wings.” Jessica Sanchez on ” How Will I Know? ” Hollie Cavanagh on “What A Feeling.” Testone’s “I Wanna Know What Love Is.”
Steven Tyler stole the spotlight for a few moments on American Idol last night, announcing that he and Aerosmith will be hitting the tour this summer for the band’s first tour since 2009. “We’re calling the tour the Global Warming Tour,” Tyler said like only he can. “Because of the fire. Yo tengo el fuego.” Earlier in the day, Tyler gathered at the Grove in Los Angeles – along with bandmate Joe Perry – and also revealed that the legendary group will release a new album – its first in eight years – some time later this year. “We’ve been underground for four months, doing what we do best,” said Tyler, adding that they’re two songs away from completion on the CD. But back to the tour: it will kick off on June 16 in Minneapolis, Cheap Trick will open and tickets go on sale tomorrow. Sounds like Amazing news to us! We aren’t Cryin upon hearing it! And we Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing when it comes to Aerosmith! (Sorry.)
Steven Tyler stole the spotlight for a few moments on American Idol last night, announcing that he and Aerosmith will be hitting the tour this summer for the band’s first tour since 2009. “We’re calling the tour the Global Warming Tour,” Tyler said like only he can. “Because of the fire. Yo tengo el fuego.” Earlier in the day, Tyler gathered at the Grove in Los Angeles – along with bandmate Joe Perry – and also revealed that the legendary group will release a new album – its first in eight years – some time later this year. “We’ve been underground for four months, doing what we do best,” said Tyler, adding that they’re two songs away from completion on the CD. But back to the tour: it will kick off on June 16 in Minneapolis, Cheap Trick will open and tickets go on sale tomorrow. Sounds like Amazing news to us! We aren’t Cryin upon hearing it! And we Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing when it comes to Aerosmith! (Sorry.)
