The coroner’s report may now be out, and we may now know the official Whitney Houston cause of death , but that doesn’t mean the controversy surrounding this artist has gone away. On an edition of CNN’s Headline News last night, Leolah Brown – the sister of Whitney’s ex-husband, Bobby Brown – came right out and accused Ray J of supplying her former sister-in-law with the cocaine found in her system at the time of her passing. Brown referred to Ray J as Houston’s “runner boy.” In response, a rep for the singer has released the following statement: “Even though Leolah Brown was nowhere near the Beverly Hilton Hotel on the day Whitney Houston died, Ms. Brown falsely claimed that Ray J was at the hotel and contributed to Whitney Houston’s death. Even the most minimal inquiry with anyone actually in contact with Whitney would reveal that Leolah Brown had been out of contact with Whitney for more than a year.” Earlier in the week, Ray J also shot down chatter that he was in possession a sex tape starring himself and the late “I Will Always Love You” legend.
Odd Future MC also shouts out Kanye West and Lil Wayne: ‘I actually talk to those dudes all the time.’ By Rob Markman Odd Future on “RapFix Live” Photo: MTV News Odd Future have some pretty famous fans. The band of misfits has won over some unlikely pop stars, including Willow Smith and Justin Bieber , as well as rap royalty like Kanye West and Lil Wayne. In an October interview, Tyler, the Creator revealed to MTV News that he wanted to make a ’90s-inspired R&B track with break beats and hard drums for Bieber, but he refused to give up any more info when he appeared on Wednesday’s “RapFix Live.” “That’s my f—ing dawg. Shout-out to Justin,” Tyler said. When asked about the dream collaboration, the rap star only offered up: “You’ll see.” In the past year, Tyler has formed a bond with musical idol Pharrell Williams , Lil Wayne and Kanye West and even interviewed Nas for an XXL magazine cover story. “It’s cool. That sh– is cool. Awkward, but it’s tight. They actually f— with us,” Tyler said of all his new friends. “Lil Wayne is actually a fan, Kanye is actually like a fan. I actually talk to those dudes all the time.” Taco said he and Wayne usually talk about skating, and Earl began to recall a phone conversation between him and Weezy before he was made fun of by the rest of the Wolf Gang. “The moment is gone now, but I just kept saying ‘no’ and it was awkward,” Earl squealed. “We don’t really talk about anything deep,” Tyler said. “I don’t know, I don’t really sit there and say, ‘Damn, what conversation are me and Wayne having right now?’ ” Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ Has An Odd Future
‘You gonna hear D.C., Philly, the South, everything all in one,’ Meek tells MTV News on the ‘Bag of Money’ video set. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Ricky Louis Meek Mill There are quite a few things that fans can expect to hear on Maybach Music Group’s upcoming Self Made, Vol. 2 compilation album. Chances are we’ll hear the infamous “M-M-Maybach Music ” drop a number of times, a few of Rick Ross ‘ patented grunts and, according to Wale and Meek Mill , a bit of their respective hometown vibes. “Me and Wale, we always talk all the time, and I told Wale I actually wanted to do a couple myself on a Philly type of vibe and he wanted to do something on a D.C. type of vibe,” Meek told MTV News from the video set for the new MMG single “Bag of Money” featuring T-Pain. The first Self Made album boasted a number of successful singles like Meek Mill’s “I’ma Boss” and Wale’s “That Way.” Each member of the roster contributes solo songs, while the others pitch in on the feature side. For example, Self Made, Vol. 2 ‘s first single, “Bag of Money,” is billed as a Wale single, though Meek Mill and MMG boss Rick Ross both contribute. Though Wale and Meek have their own plans to put on for their respective cities, Meek makes note that in the end, Rozay is the glue that brings it all together. “Ross is always gonna bring a lot to the table with Self Made. I’ma say he’s the ringleader of the whole Self Made movement, so we just wanted to bring our parts of the table to it so we make it…” Meek said, taking a moment searching for the right word until Wale pitched in and helped finish the thought. “Have a definitive sound,” he added. The two MCs estimate that they have close to 40 songs already recorded for the compilation and they weren’t quite sure which tracks would make the project. They did, however, promise a diverse sound. “You gonna hear D.C., Philly, the South, everything all in one,” Meek said. “We just want to give you a part of everything.” What are you expecting from Maybach Music Group’s Self Made, Vol.2 ? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Meek Mill Wale
People bitch at me all the time for saying this, but I think Kim Kardashian is really hot. I’m not afraid to admit it. They say that she’s phony and plastic and all sorts of garbage like that, I think they underestimate just how much of a superficial man I am, because those are things that I look for in a woman. Here she is all tightly packed into a sexy, Spanx riddled white dress showing off her awesome curves. I’d like to cut her out of that thing with those medical shears doctors use to cut off bandages. Booty first of course.
‘Nobody’s child should be shot in cold blood for anything,’ Jeezy tells MTV News in reaction to the death of the Florida teenager. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Young Jeezy Photo: Getty Images The hip-hop community has been particularly vocal about the tragic shooting death of . ?uestlove, Big Boi and Wyclef Jean, like so many other Americans, have spoken out in the support of the 17-year-old boy who was murdered while walking home through a gated Florida community. During an interview with MTV News in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Young Jeezy expressed both his concern and support with equal vigor. “I feel very deeply as a community leader and as a product of my culture,” the self-proclaimed Thug Motivator said. “I feel like we all got to get together and stop this, ’cause I have a son his age and I just feel like that could’ve been either of our children.” Martin was walking from the store to his dad’s home in the Sanford, Florida, gated community on February 26 when he was spotted by community watchman George Zimmerman. According to reports, Zimmerman, who was suspicious of the teen who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, called 911, but was instructed by the dispatcher not to pursue Martin. By the time police arrived on the scene, Zimmerman had shot Trayvon dead and claimed self-defense. Police did not arrest Zimmerman, who they claim is protected by the so-called “Stand Your Ground” law, which allows Floridians to shoot anyone they believe is threatening them. Martin, however, did not have a weapon. All police found on his body was a bag of Skittles, a can of iced tea and a cellphone. On Thursday (March 22), the Sanford police chief announced that he was temporarily stepping down due to overwhelming pressure from the case. On Wednesday in New York City, demonstrators flooded Union Square in support of Martin in what was dubbed the Million Hoodie March . The tragic incident has forced Jeezy to think about his own children. “My son is a good kid. Does he do stuff? Of course, that’s what kids do. But nobody’s child should be shot in cold blood for anything, especially if they didn’t harm or hurt another individual,” he said. The fact that Martin is black and Zimmerman is Hispanic has added a racial sting to the killing, but Jeezy downplayed the racial element and called for unity. “I feel the racial line and the tension of it, I get it, but we’re gonna stand strong on the black and the brown side on this one,” he said. “We’re gonna stand together. I betcha that.” The Snowman urges that everyone lend their voice because there is a bigger societal issue at hand. “This is real, I understand that there are a lot of things goin’ on in the world and times are hard for everybody right now, but when you start having adults kill children for any reason, then we’re on our way to something we don’t want to be at,” he said. “The minute we accept that, we stand for nothing.” Related Artists Young Jeezy
Heart disease also contributed to singer’s death last month. By Nadeska Alexis Whitney Houston in 1995 Photo: 20th Century Fox/Getty Images Whitney Houston died in a Beverley Hills hotel room in early February, and more than a month after the news of her death shocked fans across the world, an official coroner’s report has been released, pinpointing the singer’s cause of death. The L.A. County coroner revealed that accidental drowning was the official cause of Houston’s death, adding that cocaine use and heart disease were also contributing factors. According to the report, traces of cocaine were found in Houston’s system at the time of death along with Xanax, Flexeril, marijuana and Benadryl, which officials said played no role in her death. No cocaine was found in the singer’s room when she died, but coroner spokesman Craig Harvey noted that cocaine metabolites were found in her system, leading them to conclude that Houston was a chronic user of the drug. A number of prescription pills were recovered in the Beverly Hills hotel room, but officials from the coroner’s office said there wasn’t an unusual amount of medication. Houston, who died at age 48, was laid to rest in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey , during an invite-only funeral service at the New Hope Baptist Church on February 18. Attendees included Stevie Wonder, Clive Davis and CeCe Winans, and the funeral was broadcast live so fans could tune in. The legendary singer leaves behind her only child, 19-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina, who inherited all the possessions in her will. Whitney Houston’s death came just one day before the 54th Grammys Awards, and she was remembered with a moving tribute led by Jennifer Hudson , who sang the hit single “I Will Always Love You” from the “Bodyguard” soundtrack. Related Videos Farewell To A Legend: Whitney Houston’s Funeral Whitney Houston Died From Drowning, Cocaine Use Related Artists Whitney Houston
Top 10 takes on the songs of Billy Joel with mixed results on Wednesday night’s show. By James Montgomery Erika Van Pelt on Wednesday’s “American Idol” Photo: FOX It was difficult to decide what was the most shocking part of Wednesday night’s “American Idol” : Erika Van Pelt’s new “Little Nicky” hairdo? The fact that Elise Testone may have finally found her way out of the bottom three? Or that, with the full Billy Joel catalog at their disposal, none of the contestants decided to take on “The Stranger” or ” I Go to Extremes “? Nah, we’re gonna say it was whatever Heejun Han was attempting to do with his mid-set strip show (just in case you haven’t watched yet, boy was this a special episode of “Idol”). Anyway, while we’re still scrubbing H.H. from our collective consciousness, we took a minute to hand out some grades for a truly Joel-a-riffic night. Who rode high on the River of Dreams ? Who drove their car into a house in the Hamptons? Read on to find out! Jessica Sanchez : She’s the one to beat, and now she seems to know it, as evidenced by her thorough throttling of “Everybody Has a Dream.” It was perhaps a bit too literal (like, we get it, this is your dream), but dang, when she lets it rip, there’s really no one else who even comes close. Standing ovation, massive praise from the judges, the overwhelming desire to just give her the crown right now … with Sanchez, it’s the same every week, just like our grade for her performance. A Elise Testone : It only took her three weeks, but Testone finally found her groove, positively killing “Vienna” (wait, that sounds weird). Her full repertoire was on display, and she even worked in some of those goofy hand gestures that all the great divas make when they know they’re on point. And she was. She earned a richly deserved standing ovation for her efforts, and if she’s in the bottom three again this week, America is officially the worst. A Erika Van Pelt : Her newly darkened hair only added to her attitude, and there was plenty of it on display during her version of “New York State of Mind.” Sultry and soulful, if perhaps a touch too lounge singer for our liking, but still, she was miles above pretty much everyone else on this night … and for once, people are actually talking about her. Even if it is because of her hair. Small victories, folks. B+ Skylar Laine : She’s got a great voice, and the fact that she’s still standing in the competition is proof that she’s a survivor, but still … it would be nice to see her step outside her country comfort zone for once. Shoot, she did Garth Brooks’ version of “Shameless.” Kinda screechy in parts, but a solid ending probably ensures she’s safe for another week. The judges didn’t do her any favors, though. B- Hollie Cavanagh : Another week, another big ballad from the pint-sized powerhouse. This time it was “Honesty,” and yes, as Steven pointed out, it was plenty pitchy. Randy also got in on the act, giving her the dreaded “come on now.” Yowch. Perhaps the cracks are starting to show. Also, it would be nice to see her change things up a bit, provided she’s still here next week, of course. C+ Joshua Ledet : His roller-coaster ride through “Idol” (The highs! The lows! The Mantasia!) bottomed out this week, as he struggled to connect with “She’s Got a Way.” Still, he battled through, hit some nice notes (and some not-so-nice ones, too), but we have a creeping suspicion the Josh-a-coaster might be entering its final turn, which is a shame, considering all he’s capable of. Like the suddenly sage-like Randy said, “Never ever feel defeated!” C Deandre Brackensick : He kicked off the show with an even — if forgettable — version of “Only the Good Die Young,” and after three weeks of live performances, “even” and “forgettable” are about par for the course for him. Earned polite praise from the judges, a few screams from the crowd, wore a cool vest thingy, but perhaps this is the week the somewhat-good really do die young. C- Colton Dixon : Oh, no way, he did ” Piano Man “! Shocking. Also, lyrical content aside, isn’t this song supposed to be fun? Not in Colton’s world, apparently. Gave J.Lo goosies, probably because she was sitting on an air conditioner or something. The girls in the audience liked it, too, so once again he’ll be safe, but c’mon man, lighten up a bit. And change your hair. It’s not 2003 and Warped Tour doesn’t kick off for a few more months. C- Phillip Phillips: Totally “Phillip Phillps’d” (thanks Steven!) “Movin’ Out,” which basically means he slowed the thing down to a dirge and growled a bunch. Congrats, dude, you proved it’s possible to suck the life out of even the most jovial of tunes! Randy, who was apparently watching a different show or something, called it “one of the best renditions of the song ever.” Go buy a house out in Hackensack, dawg. D Heejun Han : He mystified both Diddy and Tommy Hilfiger, which hasn’t happened since Nelly decided to get into the clothing game, then went out and mystified everyone watching “Idol” with his goofy version of “My Life.” Apparently it was supposed to be funny or something. Gee, it’s a good thing the judges decided to keep him and not, you know, someone who actually wanted to win this thing. Note to Heejun: You’re not as clever as you think. F- Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists Billy Joel
‘I still wanted to keep it street and relatable, but I wanted to do something fun and creative,’ Tyga tells MTV News on video set in Miami. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Ricky Louis Tyga on the set of his “Faded” music video Photo: MTV News Don’t expect Tyga to slow down anytime soon. Though the Young Money stand-out is still riding high off of his hit single “Rack City,” Tyga Tyga is fast at work, and this week he released the video for his Lil Wayne-assisted single “Faded.” Though the song bangs in the street, the Cali spitter didn’t want to limit his visuals to the block and flexed a bit of artistic muscle for the clip. “It’s crazy. The idea I had for it, I still wanted to keep it street and relatable, but I wanted to do something fun and creative,” Tyga told MTV News in February while on the video set in Miami. Who better to call than director Colin Tilley, who has used quite a bit of impressive visual effects in videos for Chris Brown and Lil Wayne. “As you can see, the setups that we got here is crazy. From the gold setup, to the spinning tunnel, just a bunch of trippy type stuff,” Tyga said. In one scene from the current MTV Jams Jam of the Week, Wayne and Tyga are animated with big heads, similar to the effect popularized by the 1993 arcade game “NBA Jam.” On his album Careless World: Rise of the Last King, Tyga sends poignant messages on songs like “King and Queens,” but “Faded” was really just about a vibe between Wayne and his prot
The Rev. Al Sharpton and hundreds of protesters flood Union Square in support of the 17-year-old who was fatally shot in Florida. By Miranda Johnson, with additional reporting by Kimberly Reynolds Demonstrators chant at the Million Hoodie March in honor of Trayvon Martin Photo: John Moore/ Getty Images NEW YORK — Hundreds of people took to New York City streets calling for justice for slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin on Wednesday evening (March 21). Protestors flooded Union Square in what was dubbed the Million Hoodie March, in support of the 17-year-old who was shot on February 26 by 28-year-old neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in a gated Sanford, Florida, community. The Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin’s parents led the demonstrators who demanded that Zimmerman be arrested. The protest occurred the same day that the Sanford city manager announced that police could not arrest Zimmerman because he was protected by the so-called “Stand Your Ground” law, which allows Floridians to shoot anyone they believe is threatening them. Martin, who was walking from the store to his dad’s home in the gated community, was wearing a hoodie when Zimmerman spotted him and called 911. Police dispatchers instructed Zimmerman not to pursue the teen, but by the time police arrived on the scene, Trayvon was dead. “By not pressing charges against Zimmerman, they will be continuing a long and horrific history of Jim Crow justice in the deep south,” demonstrator Ben Backer told MTV News. “If we are not in the era of Jim Crow justice, George Zimmerman should be arrested and should be prosecuted for murder.” “America really needs to open their eyes to the fact that there is still racism in America,” protestor Nicole Sams said. “That racism killed a 17-year-old kid.” Union Square protestors wore hoodies as a sign of solidarity and took turns calling out, “Am I suspicious?” and then chanting, “We want arrests.” Several held signs that read, “I am not a hoodlum, I just wear hoods.” “We’re not going to stop until we get justice,” Trayvon’s father, Tracy Martin, said to the crowd. His mother, Sabrina Fulton, thanked the supporters while acknowledging her own grief saying. “My heart is in pain, but to see the support of all of you really makes a difference,” she said.
Finally, Dr. Uwe Boll is making a movie America actually wants to see! According to The Hollywood Reporter, Boll will start filming in April on Bailout , his 27th film — a feature-length thriller that follows an everyman New Yorker “who loses everything in the wake of the 2008 Wall Street financial crisis, and who strikes back by killing investment bankers.” I don’t know about you, but I think this one’s got a shot at gaining the cultural foothold that Ollie Stone missed with Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps , nein ? [ THR ]
