Producer/DJ recounts his Watch the Throne concert experience, in his own words. By DJ Green Lantern, as told to Rob Markman DJ Green Lantern and Jay-Z Photo: Lenny Santiago DJ Green Lantern knows a thing or two about high-profile hip-hop tours. With a long production and DJing r
A-list actor’s son Trey takes to Twitter to clear up rumors, as couple tells MTV News their ‘marriage is intact.’ By Jocelyn Vena Will and Jada Pinkett Smith Photo: Todd Williamson/ WireImage After tabloid reports surfaced claiming that Will Smith and were splitting after 13 years of marriage, the A-list actor’s son Trey took to Twitter to let the world know the rumors are not true. ” Did #WillandJada split? No they did NOT split ! False information ..its not true RETWEET!!!” Will’s 18-year-old son from a previous relationship wrote on Tuesday afternoon (August 23), as the rumor continued to pick up steam across the Internet with no official comment yet from either Will or Jada’s camps. He continued, “Will and Jada getting a DIVORCE ..NOT TRUE AT ALL !! RETWEET. Everyone can think what they want ..even if its not true #Lame.” The couple, who married on New Year’s Eve in 1997, in Baltimore, have two now-famous children together, Willow , 10, and Jaden , 13. MTV News reached out for comment later this afternoon, and the couple responded in a joint statement. “Although we are reluctant to respond to these types of press reports, the rumors circulating about our relationship are completely false. We are still together, and our marriage is intact,” the pair said. Jada’s rep also recently shut down talk that the actress had an affair with her “Hawthorne” co-star Marc Anthony, who has split from wife Jennifer Lopez. “All the rumors regarding Marc Anthony and Jada are false. Completely untrue,” the rep told People.com .
Tribute on Sunday’s show features footage of Winehouse and Bennett recording together this year. By Gil Kaufman Amy Winehouse Photo: Barry Brecheisen/ WireImage He was likely one of the last people to ever record with late singer Amy Winehouse, and now legendary singer Tony Bennett will pay tribute to the legacy of late Video Music Awards nominee Winehouse during a very special segment at the 2011 VMAs . Bennett, whose last VMA appearance was in 1993, will introduce the tribute, which includes footage of him recording “Body and Soul” with Winehouse this past March at Abbey Road Studios in London. “It was a thrill to record with Amy Winehouse, and when you listen to the recording of ‘Body and Soul,’ it is a testament to her artistic genius and her brilliance as one of the most honest musicians I have ever known,” Bennett said in a statement. The single and video will be released by Columbia Records on September 14, Amy’s birthday, in support of the Amy Winehouse Foundation, established by the late singer’s family to help a number of charities connected with children and young people. The song will also appear on Bennett’s Duets II, out September 20. “Our family is honored that the VMAs are giving Amy this wonderful tribute,” Mitch Winehouse, Amy’s father, said in a statement. “We know that Amy’s performance of ‘Rehab’ at the MTV Movie Awards played an important part in Amy’s worldwide success.” Winehouse, known for the depth and power of her soulful voice, will be remembered by fans and peers for her awe-inspiring talent and classic hits such as “Rehab,” “Back to Black,” “Me & Mr. Jones,” and “You Know I’m No Good.” She died last month at the age of 27 of yet-undisclosed causes in her London apartment. On Tuesday (August 23), Winehouse’s family released a statement saying that toxicology reports found no traces of illegal substance in her system. Bennett joins a roster of such performers as Lady Gaga , Adele, Bruno Mars, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Pitbull and Ne-Yo and Young the Giant. British pop phenom Jessie J, will serve as the night’s house artist and Selena Gomez has signed on as the celebrity host of the awards’ pre-show black carpet special. A number of other top names have also been added to the growing list of presenters at the show, including Nicki Minaj, Taylor Lautner, Drake, Joe Jonas, Jared Leto, Kevin Hart, and comedian JB Smoove of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm. They join previously announced presenters Gomez, Seth Rogen, Kim Kardashian, Rick Ross and Odd Future. The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday from Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year’s highlights and vote for your favorites in the general categories by visiting VMA.MTV.com . Related Videos Amy Winehouse Remembered Related Photos Amy Winehouse: A Life In Photos Related Artists Amy Winehouse Tony Bennett
Because it’s Friday and you deserve it, here’s the latest newcomer in the world of the artistic pop culture food art wars: Watermelon Optimus Prime, forged from the flesh of a juicy, juicy watermelon. But how does the edible Autobot leader compare to the nefarious design of delicious darkness that is Carrot Darth Vader?
Spencer Falls, one half of Virgin Mobile couple “Sparah,” is reportedly dating Lindsay Lohan. We can’t confirm if that’s true … but check out this pic! LiLo celebrated her newfound freedom with a photo shoot last week – her first since she was relieved from house arrest – for her friend Tyler Shields.
Where: (click below to visit venue on Foursquare) 2900 Block of Presstman Street, Baltimore, MD When: 1987 What: Kevin Liles started as a rapper in the group Numarx, whose greatest feat was having their 1987 single “Girl You Know It’s True” re-recorded by Milli Vanilli a year later. The headache getting properly compensated for his work lead the Baltimore native from the artistic to the business side of music, and he eventually became President of Def Jam Recordings. « PREVIOUS NEXT » In celebration of Black Music Month, TheUrbanDaily’s “It’s All Black Music” presents 100 Rewarding Black Music Moments , sponsored by Southwest Airlines . Each Black Music Moment is associated with an actual place that you can visit. During the month of June, check in to at least three of these places on Foursquare to unlock TheUrbanDaily’s exclusive “It’s All Black Music” Badge . Check out the locations and details on our Foursquare page !
The war of words between Spike Lee and Tyler Perry continues as Perry recently said at a press conference that “Spike can go straight to hell!” Lee has been a very vocal critic of Perry and his films. “I’m so sick of hearing about damn Spike Lee,” Perry said during a press conference . “Spike can go straight to hell! You can print that. I am sick of him talking about me, I am sick of him saying, ‘this is a coon, this is a buffoon.’ I am sick of him talking about black people going to see movies. This is what he said: ‘you vote by what you see,’ as if black people don’t know what they want to see.” “Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors, but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is coonery and buffoonery,” Lee said in 2009. “I know it’s making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. … I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry’s ‘Meet the Browns’ and ‘House of Payne’), and I am scratching my head. We got a black president, and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep ‘n’ Eat?” Tyler Perry’s new film, Madea’s Big Happy Family , is in theaters this Friday. Whose side are you on? Spotted @ The Huffington Post RELATED: Tyler Perry Versus Spike Lee?! RELATED: Tyler Perry Buys New Home For 88-Year-Old Fire Victim
Nick Cannon is regretting taking naked pictures with his pregnant wife Mariah Carey. Though the artistic nude photos were meant to be reminders of Mariah’s pregnancy, Nick is having second thoughts about hanging them up in their house. “My children are going to have to see these pictures. It’s a little weird. It’s a little nasty. I mean, have you ever seen your parents naked?,” Cannon said on today his radio show, “Rollin’ with Nick Cannon.” “When they get older and their friends come over, they will see the pictures and say, ‘Your daddy’s butt naked.’ I don’t want my naked booty out there for everyone to see!” SOURCE Mariah Carey Tweets Pic Of Her Painted Pregnant Belly [PHOTO] Nick Cannon Gets Slimed At Nickelodeon’s 2011 Kids’ Choice Awards [PHOTOS]
Profile for Ai Weiwei Born 28 August 1957 (1957-08-28) (age 53) Beijing, China Nationality Chinese Works Sunflower Seeds Ai Weiwei Traditional Chinese 艾未未 Simplified Chinese 艾未未 Ai Weiwei (born 1957) is a Chinese artist, activist, and philosopher, who is also active in architecture, curating, photography, film, and social and cultural criticism.Ai collaborated with Swiss architects Herzog de Meuron as the artistic consultant on the Beijing National Stadium for the 2008 Olympics. Besides
Contestants will sing songs released in their birth years on Wednesday’s show. By Eric Ditzian Casey Abrams performs on “American Idol” on March 9 Photo: Fox Two months into its 10th season, “American Idol” is finally about to begin. After scores of multi-city auditions, Hollywood Week and pre-taped shows at a Los Angeles soundstage, the reality competition is set, at long last, to unleash a live performance episode on Wednesday (March 16). This is the “Idol” we know (and sometimes love), and it’ll be interesting to see how the reality of live TV affects the contestants as well as the judges. This week’s 12 remaining hopefuls will be taking on songs from the years they were born — a theme last explored in 2009, when Adam Lambert wowed with Tears for Fears’ “Mad World” and Scott MacIntyre got the boot for a schmaltzy version of Survivor’s “The Search Is Over.” Will Casey Abrams and Pia Toscano cement their status as front-runners? Can Karen Rodriguez and Haley Reinhart avoid another trip to the bottom three? Those are among the questions lingering as we head into the show. Casey Abrams The front-runner has made two trips to the hospital this season to deal with severe stomach pains, but he’s back in “Idol” land now and apparently feeling good. What exactly he missed in terms of preparation and how it will affect his performance remains to be seen. Casey’s task will be to break out of his established pattern — exceedingly average beginnings, followed by excitingly free-flowing conclusions — and show us he’s got more in his repertoire than twists and growl-shouts. Haley Reinhart The 20-year-old is perhaps the show’s least developed artist. One week she’s reaching like a diva for Alicia Keys’ “Fallin’,” the next she’s uncorking yodels that make her sound like a walrus with a tummy ache. Thing is, Haley does have a rich and soulful voice. The problem is that she’s had two decades to figure out her artistic identity and still doesn’t seem to have come up with anything. What are the chances she’ll do so in the midst of “Idol” madness? Unless Haley pulls off a stunning performance on Wednesday, she’ll likely be in the bottom three once again. Jacob Lusk Let’s just pretend last week didn’t happen, OK? OK! Whatever song he chooses from his birth year this week, he’d best take it for a walk through the gospel-and soul-tinged late-’70s or early-’80s — that’s how he found such soaring success earlier this month. After his WTF-take on R. Kelly last week, we have a feeling anything recorded since Lusk was born may not be his best bet. James Durbin We only want two things from you this week, James. One, don’t you dare pin that ridiculous scarf on your bum. Two, don’t you dare revert back to delusions that you’re the second coming of Ozzy Osbourne, because your sweet spot is as a sensitive rocker, as we learned during last week’s take on Paul McCartney’s “Maybe I’m Amazed.” Do those two things, James, and shoot, you can bust out that dime-store Lambert squeal all you want. Karen Rodriguez Our advice begins and ends with this: You are not J. Lo, so don’t try to be J. Lo, or J. Lo won’t be the only judge telling you she just wasn’t feeling your performance. No matter what Karen does or who she tries to imitate this week, she’s going to have a hard time avoiding the bottom three once again. She’s lacking in vocal power and has suffered from more pitch problems than Wembley Stadium after a weeklong rainstorm. Lauren Alaina The key for Lauren will be to see how she bounces back from her first-ever negative assessment. After the judges gave her poor marks, the 16-year-old looked as if she’d collapse in tears right next to Ryan Seacrest. She’s continually made strong song choices, busting out country-rock-pop performances, but last week her tune was lacking in the youthful, happy-go-lucky energy she’s so adept at exuding. We’ll be keeping an eye out for her return to form. And she’d better get there, because a few more weeks of middling performances and she’ll sacrifice her spot as a fan favorite. Naima Adedapo We honestly have no idea what Naima is going to do on Wednesday, and that’s mostly a good thing. She’s easily the most artistically interesting contestant, yet there’s something undoubtedly schizophrenic about her recent performances: Is she a radio-friendly R&B queen or a throwback chanteuse with jazzy blues running through her veins? Voters seemed to like her Rihanna shtick better (she avoided the bottom three last week, after being saved by the judges’ wild card the week before), so she’d be wise keep things upbeat and pop radio-oriented. How someone born in the mid-’80s can manage that, given this week’s theme, is anybody’s guess. Paul McDonald After rag doll-dancing his way to the front of the “Idol” pack earlier this month, McDonald flopped on his face last week like Buzz Lightyear when a human walks in the room. We’d advise him to ditch the wacky dance moves and concentrate on his vocals. Another mid-’80s born contestant, McDonald has the opportunity to have loads of fun with a nostalgic tune he gives a 21st-century glean to. And as we saw during his take on Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May,” when Paul’s having fun, America is having fun. Pia Toscano This head-of-the-classer didn’t take our advice last week, so we doubt she will this week. But we can hope! There can be no doubting Pia’s got a serious set of pipes on her — girl can sing her “Idol” non-disclosure agreement and it’d sound killer. What we need to see and hear is an ability to sing something other than a ballad. Go up-tempo and show us something fresh. Scotty McCreery We’ve stopped waiting for Scotty to show some genre range and now are simply keeping our fingers crossed for some creativity. Instead of presenting familiar versions of hit country songs, why not take a pop radio tune and give it a country makeover? The point is, Scotty’s got to show us something new, because a month from now, he’s going to be so predictable we’ll be taking bathroom breaks during his time onstage. Stefano Langone Like Naima, Stefano catapulted himself from the judges’ wild card to bottom three-avoiding territory last week. Unlike Naima, he seems to have a firm idea of what kind of artist he is, even if his vocals aren’t always there to carry him through (see his take on Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are”). Last week’s cheesy arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s “Lately” did him no favors, so this week we’d like to see him strip down a tune and showcase smooth vocals, not to mention his head-of-the-class onstage personality. Thia Megia Why Thia hasn’t tackled something by Duffy or Adele, rather than drenching an ’80s tune in sticky-sweet innocence, is a question we can’t answer. At least that decade is off-limits to the 16-year-old this week. While she’s got a seriously beautiful voice, she’s got an artistic sensibility that is the stuff of teen dreams more than anything else. No matter what she sings this week and how much the judges try to convince us she’s a keeper, Thia could be in trouble this week. Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: ‘American Idol’ Top 13 ‘Idol Party Live’ With Jim Cantiello And Sammi ‘Sweetheart’ Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances
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