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Tyga Wants Careless World Debut To Tell ‘A Story’

The New West frontrunner tells MTV News, ‘A lot of people they just know me based off of verses, features.’ By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Sway Calloway and Rob Markman Tyga Photo: Rich Sancho/ MTV News As MTV News’ New West Week comes to a close, the question is which of the myriad of MC talents coming out of the L.A. hip-hop scene is most likely to enjoy mainstream success. While the acts we’ve covered — Kendrick Lamar, Pac Div and Nipsey Hussle, to name a few — all have solid chances, the artist with the track record and best tools in place to succeed is Young Money’s Tyga. The Compton rapper already has certified hits under his belt. Even before making his YMCMB affiliation official, Tyga scored a hit with “Coconut Juice” in 2008. Then he made sure he wasn’t forgotten among the Young Money pack by dropping guest verses on hits like “BedRock” and “Roger That.” But it was last year’s collaboration with his buddy Chris Brown on their joint Fan of a Fan mixtape that spawned Tyga’s biggest hit to date, the Grammy nominated “Deuces.” Now Tyga is prepping his forthcoming album, Careless World, which he told MTV News is about 75 percent done. “You’re going to see more of a story and more into Tyga’s world and what I represent, the story that I’m trying to tell,” Tyga explained about the album. “I feel like a lot of people they just know me based off of verses, features, heavy rap songs, mixtape stuff. Which is cool because I love to do that — this is rap music — but at the same time, I make a lot of real good music also. “I don’t think a lot of people are on to that yet,” Tyga added. “I just dropped a mixtape, Black Thoughts 2, that was I say, maybe 25, 35 percent of what my album is going to sound like.” In the meantime, before Careless World gets its release later this year, Tyga is taking his music to the people. Although he isn’t a part of the Weezy-headlined I Am Still Music Tour, he’s currently on Diddy-Dirty Money’s Coming Home Tour . Diddy thought enough of Tyga to bring him on his tour, and on Thursday MTV News spoke to Young Money president Mack Maine, who told us he’s excited about pushing the Cali MC’s project forward. “I’m definitely looking forward, his buzz is up, it’s ridiculous,” Mack said. “We’re about to drop this single soon, it’s called ‘Far Away,’ featuring Chris Richardson and from there it’s basically, we need to capitalize. He also has another song that I’m waiting for Nicki to do her verse on. We’ll try to drop that single. From there, let’s just see when the people are ready for his album. But he got a lot of songs done so we’re definitely trying to put him out before the end of the year.” When Careless World does drop it will surely have plenty of YMCMB participation but Tyga assures it won’t be a scattershot compilation. “I just like to make the music organic,” Tyga said. “If I feel like, ‘This person on this will be real dope,’ then I’mma reach out and get the feature. But it’s all about making great music. If there’s features on every track but it’s great music, I mean hey … either you love it or you don’t.” Stick with us all week as MTV News turns the spotlight on the New West, the next wave of hip-hop acts helping restore faith in the L.A. rap scene. From groups like Odd Future to rising MCs like Dom Kennedy, we’ll bring you up close and personal to these artists as they carve their own lanes in the post-gangsta rap era. Keep it locked here for the next week for more on the West Coast up-and-comers! Related Videos The New West: An In-Depth Look At L.A. Hip-Hop ‘RapFix Live’ With Tyga Related Artists Tyga

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Tyga Wants Careless World Debut To Tell ‘A Story’

Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Chris Colfer Make Time’s 100 Most Influential List

Amy Poehler, Blake Lively, and Prince William and Kate Middleton also on the list. By Gil Kaufman Justin Bieber Photo: Mark Von Holden/ WireImage What kind of list includes Justin Bieber alongside Vice President Joseph Biden, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Oprah Winfrey? It must be Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The annual count of the people who, for better or worse, make our world fascinating, includes an essay by mentor Usher extolling the virtues of the Biebs. “From the minute I met Justin, I knew this kid possessed a certain confidence that only a star could have,” wrote Usher. “He was born a star. He knew what he wanted to accomplish; all he had to do was get everyone else to believe it. Now, looking back at his incredible run, the reality of who he is and what he’s accomplished far exceeds anybody’s expectations of him. What’s interesting and will keep the world watching is that at the same time he’s having this incredible success, he’s like any other kid living a normal life.” In his typically impish style, “Parks & Recreation” co-star and comedian Aziz Ansari spent most of his 150 words in praise of series star and producer Amy Poehler , after complaining about an alleged real estate scam she pulled on him. “That said, I cannot say how much I admire and respect Amy Poehler,” he wrote. “In comedy, a lot of what you see feels derivative and uninspired; with Amy, 39, there is always something fresh and unexpected, and that’s why I love her work.” Director Baz Luhrmann marveled at actress Blake Lively for pulling off the unique trick of channeling the “vitality of youth — that indefinable, natural, unprocessed glamour full of possibility and filled with anticipation for an endless future.” Actress Glenn Close wrote of the talents of her “Albert Nobbs” co-star Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland,” “The Kids Are All Right”), saying the 21-year-old is “a sun, not a satellite. She generates her own energy. She’s seductive because she’s not compelled to reveal everything. Her shyness has made her an acute observer. At the same time, she loves a good joke, loves to laugh and can suddenly have the boisterous physicality of a teenager. Mia will be many things in life and will defy expectation because she’s brilliant and curious and not fooled by what most people define as success.” When it comes to “Glee” star Chris Colfer, co-star Dianna Agron said the 20-year-old song-and-dance man “lives by extreme truth, speaking out against the epidemic of bullying that he, too, faced in high school. The honesty that he infuses into his ‘Glee’ character, Kurt, leaves you reeling.” Elsewhere, B.o.B writes of his pal Bruno Mars, 25, that the singer/songwriter “has a musicality, a presence in his voice that I’ve never heard from anyone else.” Among the others making the list were Google executive Wael Ghonim, credited with being the voice of the revolution in Egypt; Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg; WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange; Congresswoman and shooting victim Gabrielle Giffords; Sting; and President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. For the third year, South Korean pop superstar Rain made it onto the list as the result of a reader’s poll. Related Photos Justin Bieber Takes Over The Bodies Of Other Teen Idols Related Artists Justin Bieber Bruno Mars

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Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, Chris Colfer Make Time’s 100 Most Influential List

Prodigy Didn’t Want To Respond To Tupac Dis, N.O.R.E. Says

N.O.R.E. contradicts account of events in Prodigy’s autobiography. By Rob Markman Capone N Noreaga Photo: MTV News The accounts in Prodigy’s newly released book “My Infamous Life: The Autobiography of Mobb Deep’s Prodigy” (Simon and Schuster) has fellow Queens rapper N.O.R.E. up in arms about P’s recollection of things. On Wednesday, Noreaga spoke to MTV News and questioned why his longtime friend would bring up already-settled street beefs that eventually left two men shot. The “Super Thug” rapper is also refuting Prodigy’s claim that “L.A., L.A.” — a 1996 dis song aimed at Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound and Tupac Shakur — was originally a Mobb Deep track. Noreaga goes on to say that originally, Prodigy wanted no parts of the much-hyped East Coast/ West Coast beef. “Now, is he delusional?” Nore asked. “Have you seen the record ever been [credited as] Mobb Deep featuring Capone-N-Noreaga?” The original “L.A., L.A.” was recorded in 1996, and a remixed version later appeared on Capone-N-Noreaga’s 1997 debut album The War Report. The track was a direct response to Tha Dogg Pound’s “New York, New York” and its video, which famously featured larger-than-life versions of Snoop Dogg, Kurupt and Daz kicking over New York skyscrapers. While N.O.R.E. does admit that Prodigy originally had a verse on the C-N-N song, he says that P had his record label, Loud Records, request to have his verse removed. “Loud called us and said, ‘You have to make sure that Prodigy verse doesn’t exist,’ ” Nore said. “What happened was in between that time ‘Pac dropped [‘Hit ‘Em Up’] and said, ‘Mobb Deep, don’t one of you dudes got sickle-cell.’ ” “L.A., L.A.” provided a notable moment in the mid-’90’s East Coast/ West Coast feud, when rappers from both New York and California hurled disses at each other. The late Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur were the principal players, but rappers like Nas, Jay-Z, Mobb Deep and Snoop Dogg were also called out at one point in the coastal rivalry. In his book, Prodigy criticized Jay-Z for not standing up to ‘Pac’s slander, but Nore contends that originally Prodigy also had some apprehension in involving himself in the war of words. “So, even when he said he was mad at Jay-Z for not representing New York, he’s delusional,” he says. “[‘L.A., L.A.’ wasn’t him; that wasn’t his idea. That was a Capone-N-Noreaga, Tragedy thing.” N.O.R.E. also points out another discrepancy in the autobiography that was released earlier this week. Prodigy claimed that his Mobb Deep counterpart Havoc once punched veteran Queensbridge rapper Tragedy in the face for having an affair with his girlfriend while Nore looked on. “When he says that [Havoc] stepped to Trag and I was there, it was all fabricated,” he says. “All I know from Havoc and Trag’s relationship was that they were cool. So, when I read the book, and he’s actually saying things that he’s heard, maybe from his perspective, but he’s definitely not speaking the truth when it comes to me.” Related Artists Prodigy of Mobb Deep

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Prodigy Didn’t Want To Respond To Tupac Dis, N.O.R.E. Says

Beastie Boys’ ‘Fight For Your Right Revisited’: Five Things You Might Have Missed

Star-studded film is packed with nods to the Beasties’ past and present. By James Montgomery John C. Reilly, Will Ferrell and Jack Black in the “Fight For Your Right Revisited” video Photo: Capitol Records By now, you’ve probably watched — and subsequently re-watched — the Beastie Boys’ new “Fight For Your Right Revisited” film, which premiered at midnight Thursday morning (April 21) on MTV2, mtvU, VH1 Classic and Palladia. In theory, it’s a tongue-in-cheek retrospective on the Beasties’ early License To Ill days, picking up where their sublimely stoopid “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)” video left off, following Mike D, Ad-Rock and MCA — as played by Seth Rogen, Elijah Wood and Danny McBride, respectively — on a drunken spree that culminates in an epic dance battle against their future selves (John C. Reilly, Will Ferrell and Jack Black, just in case you’re keeping score at home). But really, it works just as well as a rather-involved exercise in cameo spotting, as seemingly everyone in the universe pops up for a frame or three. Thankfully, the Beasties were nice enough to include a list of co-stars in the closing credits. Our favorites include Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci as the bewildered parents who interrogate the Beasties post-party, Will Arnett as a businessman who gives a shout-out to “Arrested Development” (“COME ON!”) and Orlando Bloom’s inexplicable three-second cameo as a window washer in a Def Jam windbreaker. But there seems to be a batch of uncredited cameos too — we’re pretty sure we saw Danny Masterson and Zach Galifianakis in there. In fact, outside of some of Michael Jackson’s biggest videos (“Liberian Girl” and “Remember the Time” come to mind), “Fight For Your Right Revisited” might very well be the most celeb-heavy video of all time. But, as we said, “Fight For Your Right” is also so much more. And while you were busy trying to keep track of all the cameos, you probably failed to notice some of the film’s subtler moments — nods to the Beasties’ past and present, the majority of which pass by with blink-and-you’ll-miss-it speed. Here are five we’ve noticed. And while we’ve watched the thing no less than a dozen times, we’re sure there are some we missed. Let us know in the comments below! Chateau Ted el Michel D

Lady Gaga Apologizes For ‘Retarded’ Comment

‘To anyone that was hurt, please know that it was furiously unintentional,’ singer says. By Jocelyn Vena Lady Gaga Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images When Lady Gaga dropped “Born This Way” earlier this year, the tune immediately drew comparisons to Madonna’s “Express Yourself.” Shortly after the song was released, Gaga shared with the world that the pop queen liked the song and gave the pop princess her seal of approval. Now Gaga has once again been asked about the comparisons in a new interview with NME . And she didn’t seem pleased by the line of questioning. “That’s retarded. If you put the songs next to each other, side by side, the only similarities are the chord progression. It’s the same one that’s been in disco music for the last 50 years. Just because I’m the first f—ing artist in 25 years to think of putting it on Top 40 radio, it doesn’t mean I’m a plagiarist, it means I’m f—ing smart. Sorry.” The issue hit newsstands on Tuesday and by late Wednesday night the singer had issued an apology to her fans about her choice of words when defending herself and the chart-topping tune. “I consider it part of my life’s work and music to push the boundaries of love and acceptance. My apologies for not speaking thoughtfully,” she said in a statement to Perezhilton.com . “To anyone that was hurt, please know that it was furiously unintentional. An honest mistake requires honesty to make.” She then went on to quote some lyrics from the feel-good dance track: “Whether life’s disabilities left you outcast, bullied or teased, rejoice and love yourself today.” What do you think of Gaga’s apology for using the “R” word? Tell us in the comments. Related Photos The Evolution Of: Lady Gaga Related Artists Lady Gaga

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Lady Gaga Apologizes For ‘Retarded’ Comment

Lindsay Lohan Locks Role In ‘Gotti’ Flick

Actress is set to play mob wife Kim Gotti in the film. By Jocelyn Vena Lindsay Lohan Photo: Jeff Vespa/ WireImage After some momentary drama on Wednesday, when it seemed that Lindsay Lohan’s role in the mob family biopic “Gotti: Three Generation” was in jeopardy, later that day it was confirmed that the embattled starlet would still be in the film. Originally up for the role of Victoria Gotti, Lohan is now set to play the wife of John Gotti Jr., Kim Gotti. “I’m really excited to be back on set and clear up all the misinterpretations about me and show this is what I love to do,” Lohan said about the casting, according to The Associated Press. “I think it’s such an iconic story. I think it’s a great story to be told. I’m honored to be working with John Travolta and Joe Pesci.” The movie’s producer, Marc Fiore, explained to People.com that it was Lohan herself who managed to make sure she got cast in the flick. “She was definitely out as of earlier today, but she really wanted the part,” he said. “She not only is back in the movie, but she single-handedly put it all together. She called me personally and put her team on it, and we came to an agreement.” Lohan, who was originally rumored to be a part of the movie earlier this month, said that she looks forward to playing the role because “you don’t get to see the heart behind the story and the real side of people. I can relate to that because I think that I’ve been portrayed in a certain light. I just want to do my best to show what their family really went through.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos The Highs And Lows Of Lindsay Lohan Related Artists Lindsay Lohan

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Lindsay Lohan Locks Role In ‘Gotti’ Flick

The Black Eyed Peas Talk will.i.am’s Dancing Skills

Group laughs off frontman’s lack of onstage moves. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway The Black Eyed Peas Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images While will.i.am used to cut a rug, these days, when he and the rest of the Black Eyed Peas hit the stage, will’s dancing skills are noticeably absent from the show, which usually includes a slew of other eye-catching props like over-the-top costumes and lasers. “I’m the only one dancing now,” apl.de.ap laughed to MTV News when we caught up with the group at Terminal 5 in New York, where they were taping a show set to air Friday at midnight ET on MTV . But will.i.am has a good reason for his recent lack of dancing: competition with himself. “I like to allow the old me to have the crown somewhere, because me versus the old me — I’m a better businessman now than when I was 22, I’m a better producer than I was when I was 23, so I got to let the old me beat me somewhere,” will.i.am said. Fergie, meanwhile, had this explanation: “The pants got tighter.” The MTV special might not show off too much of will’s dancing, but it will feature some of the group’s biggest hits. “Before we had ‘I Gotta Feeling,’ it was like, ‘We know we gotta play “Pump It” and “Let’s Get It Started,” ‘ ” will.i.am explained. “We used to do ‘Let’s Get It Started’ at the end, because that was our big finale, which didn’t really make sense. And for a while, [we did] ‘My Humps’ and then it got to the point where we didn’t want to play ‘My Humps’ no more. You know, ’cause ‘I met a girl down at the disco,’ I just didn’t want to say that no more, lyrically. “It wasn’t like my best lyrically, but it was fun,” he continued. “It wasn’t lyrical miracles, but the beat was rocking, so we throw the beat in there and just let the beat linger, but now ‘I Gotta Feeling’ is like ‘What?’ and when we perform it, in my mind, I’m like, ‘Where did that song come from?’ I can’t believe this is us, and look at all these people singing it like it’s theirs.” Don’t miss the Black Eyed Peas’ performance Friday at midnight ET on MTV. Related Artists Black Eyed Peas

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The Black Eyed Peas Talk will.i.am’s Dancing Skills

Demi Lovato Has Bipolar Disorder

Singer opens up about her struggles in an interview with People. By Jocelyn Vena Demi Lovato Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images Nearly a week after she tweeted her support for Catherine Zeta-Jones’ decision to get treatment for bipolar disorder , Demi Lovato revealed her own struggle with the illness. “I never found out until I went into treatment that I was bipolar,” Lovato told People magazine. “Looking back it makes sense. There were times when I was so manic, I was writing seven songs in one night and I’d be up until 5:30 in the morning.” She added that she has “battled depression from a very young age.” Recently, Lovato has been open about her issues with eating disorders and self-mutilation. “I feel like I am in control now where my whole life I wasn’t in control,” she said of her life post-treatment. In order to stay healthy, Lovato made the decision to leave Disney Channel’s “Sonny With a Chance” and work on music instead. Her focus is not only this new chapter in her career, but also the ability to connect with others who might be dealing with the issues she struggles with. “What’s important for me now,” she said, “is to help others.” Lovato will also discuss her issues in an interview airing Friday on “Good Morning America” and “20/20.” Regardless of what she’s dealing with now, she’s made it clear that she’s hoping to help her fans. “The real reason why I’m sitting down with you is to open up the eyes of so many young girls, that it doesn’t have to be this way,” she said in the chat with Robin Roberts. Related Artists Demi Lovato

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Demi Lovato Has Bipolar Disorder

Exclusive Trailer: Watch Emma Roberts In ‘The Art Of Getting By’

We’ve got a sneak peek at the trailer for the Sundance favorite formerly known as ‘Homework.’ By Eric Ditzian Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts in “The Art of Getting By” Photo: Fox Searchlight Back in January, when it was still called “Homework,” Emma Roberts’ indie coming-of-age tale became one of the Sundance festival’s most buzzy films, selling to Fox Searchlight for reportedly more than $3 million on the same day of its premiere. “That was our dream!” Roberts said when we caught up with her at Sundance. “I can’t believe it happened the day it premiered. I got the call and I freaked out.”

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Exclusive Trailer: Watch Emma Roberts In ‘The Art Of Getting By’

Willow Smith’s Album Is Coming ‘Very Soon,’ Teyana Taylor Reveals

Songs are ‘very her,’ Taylor says at ‘Madea’s Big Happy Family’ premiere. By Kara Warner Teyana Taylor Photo: MTV News With the crazy amount of success, downloads and radio plays derived from Willow Smith’s chart-smashing “Whip My Hair” and follow-up single, “21st Century Girl,” the precocious little 10-year-old has a lot of people wondering exactly when she’ll drop a full-length album. According to musician/actress Teyana Taylor, who is writing a few tracks for Smith, that release date is inching closer and closer, and fans of “Whip My Hair” will love what they hear. At the premiere of “Madea’s Big Happy Family” on Tuesday night, Taylor told MTV News of her work with Smith, “It’s coming along great — very her. When you hear it, you’re gonna love it.” Though she’s grown up in and around Hollywood, with her parents being Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow is still a newbie to the music biz. Taylor, who appeared on MTV’s hit “My Super Sweet 16,” said she sees a little of herself in the young Ms. Smith. “She reminds me of a little me,” Taylor said. “I love her style. She’s amazing, so [I’m] very excited.” Taylor revealed that the tracks she is working on will be in the same vein as Smith’s previous singles, describing them as “up-tempo, fun, dance, young, fresh, new, in the now.” And when we might hear that album? “Very soon,” Taylor promised. “Sooner than you know.” Smith has been a very busy bee over the past few months. Since releasing “21st Century Girl” and its video, she has been touring Europe with Justin Bieber. Are you excited to hear a full album from Willow Smith? Tell us below! Related Artists Willow Smith

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Willow Smith’s Album Is Coming ‘Very Soon,’ Teyana Taylor Reveals