Pop star lampoons Christina Aguilera (and herself) during latest episode, which also include appearances from Matt Damon and Alec Baldwin. By James Dinh Katy Perry on “Saturday Night Live” Photo: NBC Katy Perry put her acting chops to the test during her “Saturday Night Live” hosting debut this weekend, but the pop superstar also put her vocal talents to use in most of her sketches, lampooning fellow stars and even herself. Kicking off the evening in her new blond bob, Mrs. Russell Brand walked onto the festive set in a tight red dress covered in Christmas ornaments for the show’s opening monologue. She explained that her crazy video characters are based on real people she grew up with in California, and Kristen Wiig appeared beside the starlet in a blue wig with a whipped-cream-projecting bra, just like Perry’s “California Gurls” character. More “SNL” castmates joined the starlet in her video outfits and brought the audience to laughs when Wiig paired with Perry to sing a girl-on-girl duet of “Teenage Dream.” Aside from skits about Hello Kitty fandom and long-lost soul mates, the 27-year-old singer spent much of the night taking a stab at celebrity impressions, mocking the likes of Christina Aguilera, Florence Welch and Pippa Middleton. In a parody trailer for “The Apocalypse,” a play on the recently released romantic comedy “New Year’s Eve,” Perry dressed up as Xtina, singing her signature elongated notes. Then, Perry portrayed the Florence and the Machine frontwoman in a skit about a canine-themed soundtrack called Doggie Duty, and it was all about the royal family when the ever-changing pop star channeled Pippa Middleton in a segment that depicted a rather raunchy version of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Katy Cats also saw their beloved pop star in a sketch about, well, herself. During an interview with a Finnish TV show called “Kalle,” Perry becomes alarmed when the host, played by Wiig, cues to clips of anything and everything the singer mentions. “We have an excellent research team,” Kalle tells the chart-topper of the constant clip-cueing. Things become strange for Perry when the talk show plays a clip from the future. The latest episode also featured surprise appearances from Matt Damon and Val Kilmer, who appeared together with Perry in a Digital Short sing-a-long about best friends, and Alec Baldwin popped up during “Weekend Update.” The Emmy-winning “30 Rock” star took the opportunity to lampoon his recent American Airlines controversy , when the actor was removed from a flight last week for refusing to turn off his phone during his Words with Friends game. Perry shared the “SNL” stage with former California Dreams tourmate Robyn, who served as the evening’s musical guest. Delivering a pair of high-energy performances of “Call Your Girlfriend” and “Dancing on My Own,” the Swedish pop star showed off her awkwardly slick dance moves and retro ’80s styling. What was your favorite Perry skit? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Related Artists Katy Perry
Z100 Jingle Ball stars reveal their studio fantasies to MTV News on Friday night at Madison Square Garden. By Christina Garibaldi LMFAO’s RedFoo performs at the Jingle Ball concert on Friday Photo: Slaven Vlasic/ Getty Images NEW YORK — Fans got into the holiday spirit early on Friday night as some of the biggest names in music hit New York’s Madison Square Garden for Z100’s annual Jingle Ball concert. The eclectic lineup at the sold-out event included Lady Gaga , Kelly Clarkson, Pitbull, LMFAO , David Guetta and Demi Lovato. Now, with all that star power under one roof, we couldn’t help but think it might inspire collaboration between artists. So when MTV News caught up with some of your favorite acts on the red carpet, we asked them who they most wanted to team up with on the Jingle Ball lineup — if they could only choose one. And maybe it was no surprise, but it seemed as if everyone had their eye on Mother Monster. ” Probably Gaga ,” LMFAO’s RedFoo said of a possible collaboration. “Let’s do some dancing, let’s do some partying, see what we can do, you know? Some fashion, come out there — it could be amazing.” And Grammy-nominated hitmaker Guetta was more than ready to hit the studio with the Born This Way star. “Listen, I’m ready, you should ask her! That would be great, of course,” he told us. “She’s really a creative genius, and I told her the other day that I saw her last video [‘Marry the Night’] and, again, amazing. I love creative people; it’s what I live for. Obviously, she’s really amazing.” But Gym Class Heroes had a rather interesting choice for a team-up, picking reality TV star Khlo
Kelly Clarkson delivers jaw-dropping set, as LMFAO, Gym Class Heroes, David Guetta and viral sensations Karmin help fill jam-packed MSG lineup. By Henna Kathiya Lady Gaga performs at Jingle Ball on Friday Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images NEW YORK — Without skipping a beat, Z100’s annual Jingle Ball kicked off at exactly 7:30 p.m. Friday night to an arena full of screaming fans. The head-turning lineup featured Demi Lovato , Kelly Clarkson, LMFAO , Pitbull, Foster the People, Mindless Behavior, the Script David Guetta , Gym Class Heroes and Lady Gaga , who brought some of the year’s biggest hits to the Madison Square Garden stage. ZI00’s Elvis Duran and the Morning Crew personally came onstage to introduce the night’s most-anticipated performance. “Years ago, there was a young girl in the audience watching the Z100 Jingle Ball [and] she told her mom she wanted to be a singer,” Duran said to the squealing concertgoers. “Three years ago, she opened up the show with her hit Just Dance. It gives me pleasure to say that a lifelong Z100 fan has now become one of the most important artists of our generation.” With the crowd chanting “Gaga,” the New York City native opened with Edge of Glory. But in true Lady Gaga fashion, she didn’t appear onstage right away. Instead, she emerged from a Christmas tree mid-song, decked out in a studded leather outfit. She then belted her way through “Bad Romance.” “When I was 11, I came to this very concert and told my mom I wanted to be a singer, and guys … here I am,” she said, launching into “Just Dance.” “Some people thought I was just going to be a one-hit wonder,” Gaga continued as she moved on to mega-hits “Poker Face,” “Telephone” and “Judas.” The pop diva then paid homage to the holidays with a naughty rendition of “White Christmas,” gyrating her way across a holiday-themed set, complete with antlers, Christmas trees and lights. Mother Monster danced through “Born This Way,” before closing out the show with her latest, the Fernando Garibay-produced “Marry the Night” , for which she channeled the video by changing into a a hospital gown and carting an IV stand onstage. As the song ended, fireworks went off and red confetti shot out all over the jubilant crowd. Jingle Ball 2011’s stellar lineup was more than just Gaga, of course. During a short break in the show, fans took to their phones and began tweeting furiously in anticipation of another act: Demi Lovato. Finally, after what seemed like years in tween time, Big Time Rush introduced the 19-year-old, who took the stage looking classy in an all-black gem-studded blazer. Lovato, joined by her backup dancers, opened with “All Night Long,” and followed up with her new single, Give Your Heart a Break , to the delight of screaming Lovatics. Demi turned serious, though, for her comeback ballad “Skyscraper,” and the whole room sang along. She closed out her set by ripping off her blazer, all the better to shimmy to and sing the finale, “I’m Broken.” “Thank you guys!” she told her adoring fans. “You all have been so amazing!” Turns out Kelly Clarkson, who took it back with her massive uptempo hit “Since You Been Gone,” is also a Lovatic. “I’ve been waiting for a long time to do a duet with Demi,” Kelly said. “Wow, she can sing her butt off!” she added as Demi returned for the classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Needless to say, the two power singers … killed it. (Lovato has long cited Clarkson as an inspiration.) Clarkson then switched gears, dipping into her latest album, Stronger , for the sassy “Mr. Know It All,” and chart-toppers like “My Life Would Suck Without You.” Gym Class Heroes opened with their staple “Cupid’s Chokehold,” but the hip-hop/rock band also rolled out numbers from their new album, The Papercut Chronicles. They said goodbye with frontman Travie McCoy rapping his solo hit “Billionaire,” as the crowd eagerly sang Bruno Mars’ hook. Reality star Khloe Kardashian was one of the night’s guest hosts, and she told MTV News she has “a passion for music.” Dressed in LMFAO-approved leopard tights, Kardashian introduced electro-pop duo, who were short one party-rocker. “SkyBlu couldn’t be here with us tonight because he hurt himself wiggling,” RedFoo explained. Although he was without his partner in crime, RedFoo held it down, kicking off with “Sorry for Party Rocking” and dancing with two giant plastic zebras in the background. Foo went on to perform “Shots Shots” and “I’m in Miami” (a New York version, of course). He finished up with explosive — there were fireworks — versions of the LMFAO hits “Party Rock Anthem” and “Sexy and I Know It,” as fans wiggled in their seats. Youtube sensations Karmin also performed — but not onstage. They surprised everyone by rocking right in the crowd. Share your Jingle Ball concert reviews in the comments below! Related Artists Lady Gaga Demi Lovato
Courted by the likes of Kanye West, Rick Ross and Jay-Z before joining Diddy, Montana earns a spot on MTV News’ 2011 list — vote now! By Steven Roberts French Montana Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News From the very moment the horns from the Lords of the Underground’s 1993 classic “Funky Child” sound until the moment that “Shorty got potential, I could be her sponsor” is heard, it was evident that French Montana had a hit on his hands with “Shot Caller.” Montana’s rise to prominence wasn’t that instantaneous, however. French Montana has been making noise on New York City’s underground rap scene since the early 2000s with his “Cocaine City” DVD series. Montana hoped the street series — showcasing interviews with big-name artists like T.I. and then unknowns like Nicki Minaj and Waka Flocka — would help broaden his fanbase in the same way other up-and-comers hoped their mixtapes did. He started gaining a lot of momentum later on in the decade, especially when he and Max B teamed up to drop the Coke Wave mixtape series. That momentum slowed when the Biggaveli was incarcerated, but Montana never stopped working. Fast-forward a couple of years and he found himself in the middle of speculation concerning whether he would sign with Kanye West, Diddy, Rick Ross or Jay-Z — two of the Bronx MC’s suitors, Rick Ross and Diddy, even hopped on the remix of “Shot Caller.” Wherever Montana landed, it was clear he wanted to be the main attraction. “I rather be LeBron in Cleveland than LeBron in Heat, so you read between the lines,” French said. “Wherever I go, I’d rather be the star than have to sit there. I worked this hard to get here so when I step in, I have to be the main focus.” On Thursday, French ended the speculation when he hit BET’s “106 & Park,” making a splashy appearance with his new label boss: Diddy. With rappers assembling crews like a game of dodgeball during PE, Montana promises to be a star as he puts his John Hancock — insert obligatory “pause” — on a Bad Boy contract. And with the already streets flooded with mixtape material and a joint LP with Waka on the way, there’s no question that the work ethic is there. Hottest Breakthrough MCs was established by MTV News in 2010 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, 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. This year, you can vote for Machine Gun Kelly (or your favorite up-and-comer) over at RapFix.MTV.com , and be sure to check back for daily updates and poll results. Each day, we’ll spotlight a new Hottest Breakthrough MC before we conclude on December 13 when the polls close at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC will be revealed during December 14’s “RapFix Live,” during which the winner will appear as our in-studio guest. There will also be a special announcement about MTV News’ upcoming Hottest MCs in the Game list and debate. To be considered a Hottest Breakthrough MC, an artist cannot have released a major-label full-length album. Finalists from 2010’s Hottest Breakthrough MCs poll will not be eligible for 2011 consideration, so unfortunately, Diggy Simmons and Travis Porter won’t be part of this conversation. Who do you think should be 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC? Share your picks in the comments! Stick with MTV News as we profile the 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs before announcing the winner December 13 on “RapFix Live” — vote now! Related Videos 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs Related Artists French Montana
Second clip from band’s self-titled album is ‘very surreal,’ frontwoman Amy Lee tells MTV News. By James Montgomery, with reporting by Matt Elias Evanescence’s Amy Lee on the set of their “My Heart Is Broken” video Photo: Matt Elias/MTV News Earlier this summer, Evanescence took over a very cramped warehouse in Brooklyn to shoot the back-to-basics video for “What You Want,” the first single from their self-titled (and subsequently chart-topping ) comeback album. For several sweaty hours, Amy Lee and company rocked and roared, performing the song in front of a jam-packed crowd of superfans, most of whom had spent the day queuing up outside, in the heat, just to be part of the production. In the end, all that perspiration was worth it: The ” What You Want ” video was definitely one of the most visceral the band has ever made, capturing both the throttling energy of their live sets and the genuine joy Ev (and their fans) were feeling after four years apart. It was a reunion — a super-charged, super-sweaty one. But now, with their return clicking on all cylinders, Evanescence are prepping the video for “My Heart Is Broken,” the second single from their album. And when MTV News caught up with Lee on the set in Los Angeles, she explained that this time, they’re not going for visceral; they’re going for ethereal. And a lot less sweltering too. “We have an air conditioner this time,” she laughed. “This is going to look a lot different. Actually, I kind of wanted it to be the opposite. The first video, for ‘What You Want,’ was very real, and this is very surreal. ” To help get that surreal feel, Lee explained that she drew inspiration from a decidedly below-the-radar source: the 1988 British fantasy/horror film “Paperhouse,” which stuck with her since she first saw it as a teen. “[It’s about] this girl, and everything that she would draw would come to life in her dreams, and she was creating this dream world for herself. And at first, it was cool, but then it’s like this nightmare,” she explained. “So I sort of thought it would apply, and be cool, to have it be this dream that you’re trapped in. So you’re in a place that, at first, is a magical world, but at the same time, you’re isolated and trapped there, and that’s the reason you want to come back to reality after a time. “We’re playing with fiber optics, and so it’s basically like I’m drawing the world around me from nothingness, and when I draw things with my hands, it’s like they actually come to life,” she continued. “So it’s a lot of fun with creating this surreal dream world, and the guys’ performance is sort of like the dream within the dream, in an abyss of darkness; it’s very cool.” Even though the “Broken” clip delves deep into fantasy, the song itself was actually inspired by a very real (and very awful) situation: sex trafficking. Which is why, Lee said, the idea of being trapped in a nightmare applies so well. A friend of the band’s had started , an organization in New York that helps rescue victims of sex trafficking. “We were having conversations with her, and I was writing at the same time,” Lee said. “And a lot of times when I write, I just sort of make up words, and something will stick, and I’ll be like, ‘Oh, that’s from my subconscious. That’s what I need to write the song about.’ And that sort of happened halfway through. I was like, ‘I think I’m writing about this thing, it’s on my heart,’ just imagining being in such a trapped place and how that might feel, so the song was actually inspired by that idea.” What are you expecting from Evanescence’s new video? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos MTV First: Evanescence
Producer will be music consultant on the broadcast. By Gil Kaufman Pharrell Williams Photo: Getty Images It’s a long way from “Drop It Like It’s Hot” to the Academy Awards, but Pharrell Williams is about to make that fantastic voyage. The acclaimed hip-hop/pop producer and N*E*R*D band leader has been tapped to be a musical consultant for the upcoming 84th Academy Awards telecast. According to The Hollywood Reporter , first-timer Williams will be in good company when he cooked up musical cues for the show, as Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer has also been asked to work on the show by recently installed show producer Brian Grazer. Zimmer has composed music for more than 100 movies, including “Gladiator,” “Pearl Harbor,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy, Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” movies, “Kung Fu Panda 2,” “Rango” and “The Lion King,” for which he won an Oscar. Williams has written songs for a number of movies, including “Knocked Up,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Despicable Me.” “Hans is one of the most accomplished and creative film composers of our time, and Pharrell is a phenomenal songwriter with an amazing list of credits,” said Grazer and show co-producer Don Mischer in a statement. “This is an exciting and prestigious collaboration that promises to take the audience on a musical journey.” The two music men join a telecast that has already garnered its share of attention due to the departure of original newbie producer Brett Ratner last month after the “Tower Heist” director was criticized for using a gay slur at a movie screening and speaking in frank terms about his sexual proclivities on Howard Stern’s satellite radio show. Ratner was quickly followed by his hand-picked show host, comedian Eddie Murphy, who was swiftly replaced by Oscar veteran Billy Crystal. The 84th Academy Awards will take place on February 26, 2012. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Artists Pharrell Williams
‘It’s hard not to look cool while holding a crossbow,’ Reedus says of Dixon, one of MTV News’ Top 50 TV Characters of 2011. By Josh Wigler Norman Reedus Photo: MTV News Maybe it’s the crossbow. Maybe it’s his prickly disposition towards his fellow survivors, an armor he casts aside when lost little children are dropped into the mix. Or maybe it’s just the simple fact that Norman Reedus is a bit of a badass. Whatever the reason (let’s face it, it’s the crossbow), there’s no question that Daryl Dixon is the coolest character on “The Walking Dead.” In fact, he’s one of the coolest characters on television,evidenced by his #13 position on MTV News’ Top 50 TV Characters of 2011 list. It’s a well-earned victory for the zombie-killing hillbilly: In one and a half seasons, we’ve seen Daryl bash zombie brains with rocks, slash open throats with double axes, and even hallucinate a conversation with his brother while killing even more zombies. Between all that, Daryl has spent much of the current second season searching tirelessly for the missing Sophia — a search that ended tragically during the midseason finale. Whether Sophia’s death will push Daryl back to being the antisocial bully of yesterday or galvanize him even further as a protector of this group of survivors remains to be seen, but we can tell you this much: No matter where Daryl goes next, we’ll be along for the ride. Reedus swung by MTV News headquarters to talk about the awesomeness that is Daryl Dixon, touching upon the character’s damaged past, his coolest kills and his future with the series. MTV News : Fans have been hugely supportive of Daryl Dixon. Even [“Walking Dead” creator] Robert Kirkman has admitted that Daryl is a favorite of his. It just seems to be the general consensus that people love this character. What has the fan reaction been like in your experience? Norman Reedus : Actually, walking across the street [in Times Square] just now, a cop grabbed me by the arm and said, “I love your character on ‘The Walking Dead!’ ” I get it a lot, actually. I [even] have my own Daryl Dixon “Hello Kitty” iPhone case. It’s been really good, you know? The fans really like Daryl, and I’m really appreciative. MTV : What is it about Daryl Dixon that’s just so f—ing cool? Reedus : Well, it’s hard not to look cool while holding a crossbow, first off. But he’s interesting in that he has a different sort of struggle than anyone else. He’s trying to just get along with people for the first time, I think. That one moment where Carol reaches down to kiss him on the forehead and he [recoils], he thinks he’s about to get hit. There’s this damaged thing about him that’s really interesting. And when you have a backdrop like “The Walking Dead,” it’s even more powerful. But you have Rick and Shane fighting for what’s the best thing in this group, and Daryl is just sort of trying to find his footing. He’s not used to people telling him he’s worth a damn. So once people start telling him that, his first reaction is fight or flight. He’s such an interesting person. You could have that personality type in a Wall Street movie and he’d still be interesting. MTV : You touched on it briefly, but this season has been largely about the struggle between Rick and Shane. Is this a world where you can spend multiple days searching for a missing girl — even though chances are good that she’s dead in a barn next door — or is it time to abandon those values and forge ahead? Daryl seems to have come down on a side, with his whole mission this season focused on finding Sophia. What was his motivation there? Why was he so obsessed with finding Sophia? Reedus : A couple of things. First off, in that scene I mentioned with Carol, I’m covered in scars. You couldn’t see them super up close in that scene, but I’m shredded with scars. There’s a backstory with Daryl that he was a beaten child and he was [abandoned], and I’m really trying to play that up. He’s a very damaged person. When Sophia gets lost, he takes it upon himself to look for her, to clear up some of the demons he has. He took it very personally. Besides, he can handle himself in the woods. He doesn’t really need these people for survival — he’s looking at them for a very different kind of survival, for interaction that he’s not used to, which is a new world for him. Looking for Sophia alone in the woods isn’t a scary thing for him; he can go out there himself. But he took it personally because that girl represented something to him that was larger than just this world we’re living in, trying to survive. He went after her with a lot of gusto. MTV : Of course, we got an answer to Sophia’s whereabouts, though it wasn’t the answer Daryl was hoping for. Can you talk about that experience, shooting that scene in the barn and losing [actress Madison Lintz] from the cast? Reedus : That day sucked, because I really like Madison. She’s such a cool little girl. It was really emotional. Jon [Bernthal] had a lot of dialogue and was doing his amped-up thing. Melissa [McBride] was doing her emotional oh-my-god thing, and [Andrew Lincoln] was doing his “no, stop!” thing. [Chandler Riggs] was doing his “no, I can’t believe that’s true!” thing. And Daryl’s just like, “Let’s kill somebody!” Then [Sophia emerges] and there were a few different ways you could go. With Melissa running in, for Daryl to take her on — damaged people gravitate toward damaged people, and he took it upon himself to hold her. I know there are lots of rumors about [Daryl and Carol] having a romantic affair, but I think it’s more than that. I think it’s more of a protection thing, which I find much more interesting than kissy-kissy sexy-sex stuff. That day was big. It was a large day. We shot it for a few days, actually, to get it all down. MTV : Daryl has made a lot of personal progress this season, but will Sophia’s death set him back? How does he react to finding out that she’s gone? Reedus : It’s going to be interesting. It sets him back in certain ways, in that the hope’s gone. That little girl that he’s looking for, if she’s one of them, he doesn’t really give a crap anymore. You can have these so-called leaders of the group saying “do this, do that,” and he doesn’t really need them anymore. So you find out that Daryl sort of separates himself a little bit. He reacts violently to anything emotional revolving around that story line. There’s another side of that in that he’s looked upon more as one of the leaders now, so there’s a new set of responsibilities that Daryl has to deal with. Whether he wants them, whether he wants to take them, [is another story]. But it’s interesting to see him looked upon as a leader. Fireworks fly. It’s not necessarily something he wanted or asked for. He’s not super thrilled about it. MTV : Daryl has had some of the best zombie kills of the series. Which one was your favorite this season? Reedus : Ooh. My best kill of the season? Well, I like last season, the double-ax to the throat. That was fun. [This season], I liked slashing the zombie churchgoer across the face; that was kind of fun. And I liked shooting the well-dressed zombie in the woods [in the season premiere], that was kind of fun too, then cutting his chest open and reaching inside of him, the gut bag. That was cool. That was a lot of fun. That was Andy and me being, “Ooh, gross!” You’d put your hand inside and it goes [makes a balloon deflating noise], and they put tubes of hot air that would blow in your face with gas inside the intestines. It was disgusting. [Co-executive producer and makeup effects designer] Greg Nicotero is completely twisted. MTV : Looking beyond Daryl, this show has taken off in a big way. Ratings are huge, and it’s been getting a lot of attention. Obviously you’re very close to the show, but what’s your take: Why is “Walking Dead” so huge? Reedus : There’s a whole thing about the economy that I’ve heard, that when the economy is bad, for some reason zombies and horror films are huge. Maybe that’s part of something. But also because it’s not really about zombies. It’s about these people trying to get together and working together and making lives for themselves, whether life is even worth living anymore. There’s this desperate smell in the air that people have to come together who won’t normally come together, and I think that’s the appeal, really. It’s like that show “Survivor.” These people try to figure it out, cut each other’s throats, be a–holes here and there and rip each other off — that’s part of it [on “Walking Dead”]. Plus, our special effects are so amazing. Our cinematography is so great. Our writing is really good. There are a lot of elements that have come together. It’s more than just a zombie show. I think that’s a big deal. MTV will reveal the best artists, songs and movies of the year. Come to MTV News each day to see more big reveals and check out more of MTV’s Best of 2011 music, TV, movies and news coverage.
‘It felt sooooo good,’ Minaj tweets after locking lips with Madge on set of ‘Give Me All Your Love’ video. By Jocelyn Vena Nicki Minaj Photo: Getty Images Nicki Minaj took to Twitter on Wednesday to let her fans know she was on set with the one and only Madonna . Minaj and Madonna were busy shooting the video for “Give Me All Your Love,” the first single off Madge’s forthcoming album. The fierce MC wasn’t holding back on the social networking site, giving all her Barbz and Kenz the up-to-the-minute details of the shoot. Minaj gushed about the shoot, even relaying one major detail that she hopes will make the final cut. She tweeted, “OH MY f’ingggg Gahhhh!!!!! MADONNA jus kissed me!!!!! On the lips!!!!!!! It felt sooooo good. Soooo soft!!!! *passes out* aaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!” That news immediately sent her fans on a Twitter spree, peppering the rapper with questions about the smooch. M.I.A. also will appear on the track. The rapper confirmed she recorded with the Queen of Pop late last month in New York, after speculation about a collabo between the three women hit a fevered pitch in November. M.I.A. also tweeted about chilling with Madonna on set. “Madonna killed it! A legend! said she’d have me, i said ill have her too, we had a 3sum M.N.M. MEGAFORCE @TheMegaforce thanku,” she wrote to the video director team. A version of the demo first leaked in early November. It featured Madonna and Nicki , but not M.I.A. The leak may have pleased fans, but it left Madonna and her camp pretty unhappy. Shortly after the track hit the Web, Madonna’s manager, Guy Oseary, took to Twitter to address the leak . “The plan was for new music to come out in the new year,” he said. “I’m very happy with the positive reaction to the demo, but we are very upset with whoever leaked the song!!!!!!!! we are asking that the fans please help us police any more leaks. we have a lot in store for you. but please respect the process.” Madonna, via Oseary, also expressed her feelings about the leak. “Madonna told me this morning ‘my true fans wouldn’t do this,’ ” he wrote. “Whoever is responsible for this leak, we ask that you please stop!” The as-yet-untitled new album is expected to drop in the spring of 2012 and will feature production from Ray of Light producer William Orbit. Madonna will perform at the Super Bowl in February, which coincides with the release of her film “W.E.” Related Artists Nicki Minaj Madonna
Gangsta Gibbs’ mixtapes earned him a deal with Young Jeezy and a spot on MTV News’ 2011 Hottest Breakthrough list — vote now! By Nadeska Alexis Freddie Gibbs Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News When Freddie Gibbs joined Sway on “RapFix Live” in September, the Gary, Indiana, native was firm in insisting that he would never stray from the deeply lyrical gangster rap that fans now expect from him. His recent deal with Young Jeezy ‘s CTE label bolstered his efforts and kept the spotlight on his releases this year, earning him a nomination for MTV News’ Hottest Breakthrough MC of 2011 . Despite a fizzled deal with Interscope Records in 2007, Gibbs (born Frederick Tipton) continued his rise to lyrical prominence by dropping popular mixtapes, including 2009’s The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs and Midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik . The success of those two mixtapes landed him a spot on XXL ‘s 2010 Freshman cover, but that was only the beginning for Gangsta Gibbs. The 29-year-old rapper continued his manic music run, releasing the independent EP Str8 Killa No Filla via Decon Records in 2010, and in April he made his biggest career move thus far, inking a new deal with Young Jeezy’s CTE (Corporate Thugz Entertainment). Besides teaming up with the Snowman on singles like “Run DMC” and “Do It for You,” Gibbs put in some extra time in the lab, turning out his mixtape Cold Day in Hell in October. The project showcased his growth, with standout cuts including “Anything to Survive” and “Menace II Society” and a slew of guest features from Freeway, Jeezy, Juicy J and 2 Chainz. Major label or not, don’t expect Gibbs to soften the content of his material anytime soon. “I wanna be taboo. I want your parents to not want my music in your iPod,” Gibbs told MTV News. “I want your mom to be scared of what I’m talking about because it’s so real.” His fellow contenders for Hottest Breakthrough MC should probably be scared too. Hottest Breakthrough MCs was established by MTV News in 2010 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, 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. This year, you can vote for Machine Gun Kelly (or your favorite up-and-comer) over at RapFix.MTV.com , and be sure to check back for daily updates and poll results. Each day, we’ll spotlight a new Hottest Breakthrough MC before we conclude on December 13 when the polls close at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC will be revealed during December 14’s “RapFix Live,” during which the winner will appear as our in-studio guest. There will also be a special announcement about MTV News’ upcoming Hottest MCs in the Game list and debate. To be considered a Hottest Breakthrough MC, an artist cannot have released a major-label full-length album. Finalists from 2010’s Hottest Breakthrough MCs poll will not be eligible for 2011 consideration, so unfortunately, Diggy Simmons and Travis Porter won’t be part of this conversation. Who do you think should be 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC? Share your picks in the comments! Stick with MTV News as we profile the 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs before announcing the winner December 13 on “RapFix Live” — vote now! Related Videos 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs ‘RapFix Live’ With Freddie Gibbs, Kendrick Lamar And Jay Rock Related Artists Freddie Gibbs
Band gets creative in new clip, which features ‘Precious’ actress Gabourey Sidibe. By James Montgomery Foster The People’s “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)” music video Photo: Columbia Records You’ve probably heard Foster the People’s new single “Don’t Stop (Color on the Walls)” in those Nissan commercials where a bunch fabulous-looking, creatively haired millennials cavort in the backseat and a voice-over guy burbles about stuff like “the most headroom per dollar of any car in America.” In a way, it is sort of the perfect song for selling modestly priced compact cars aimed at young adults with a few dollars to burn (a target demo that, given the current economic conditions, is admittedly pretty slight): bright and shiny and poppy, vaguely bloggy — if that’s even a thing — impossible to place in any given genre or era, instantly disposable in all the best possible ways. You’d think there are ad agencies who spend millions of dollars researching these things or something. Anyway, it’s probably only a coincidence (at least I hope it is) that the video for “Don’t Stop” — which premiered Thursday (December 8) on MTV.com — also involves a car. Though, in this case, it’s an old beater of a hatchback, and instead of starring someone straight out of central casting, it inexplicably features “Precious” actress Gabourey Sidibe. Also, it’s roughly 450 times more clever than those Nissan spots. Part good old-fashioned car chase, part improbable love story, it’s sort of an updated take on “Bonnie and Clyde,” with frontman Mark Foster starring as a wanton driving instructor who absconds with a satchel of cash from the DMV (who knew they had that much loot on hand?) and tricks Sidibe into being his getaway driver — namely because the cops (played by his bandmates Mark Pontius and Cubbie Fink) are hot on his trail. Things go about as well as you’d expect, as Gabby nearly slams into a cop car, stalls out, and then, at Foster’s insistence, blows through a red light. As the two battle for control of the wheel, the car blows through intersections, runs fellow motorists off the road, slams through barricades and eventually crashes through some scaffolding, covering their car in paint and finally drawing the attention of the fuzz. From there, the clip switches into full-on action mode, with Sidibe and Foster outrunning the law with some off-roading moves and falling in love in the process. After some vehicular back-and-forth, the duo is finally nabbed, and as Foster is cuffed, Gabby decides to makes one last break for it — but not before stopping to plant a kiss firmly on Foster’s lips. Of course, we also find out that the two officers who have been in pursuit share a rather special bond of their own, and as Sidibe guns it and disappears over the horizon, the clip ends. The whole thing is sweet, silly and delightfully over-the-top, and, after repeated viewings, one can only wonder: Why didn’t Nissan think of this first ? Share your reviews of the video in the comments below! Related Artists Foster the People
