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Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale Debuts At #1 On Billboard

Wiz Khalifa’s Rolling Papers comes in at #2. By Gil Kaufman Britney Spears Photo: Jive Make it an even half dozen. With the chart-topping bow next week of Femme Fatale, Britney Spears will notch her sixth Billboard 200 #1 debut thanks to first-week sales of 276,000 for the pop diva’s seventh studio collection. Though it’s nearly half the 505,000 in sales the singer put up with 2008’s Circus, the debut easily outpaces the week’s #2 showing by Wiz Khalifa, whose Rolling Papers moved 197,000, according to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan. Among the other debuts in the top 10 are the physical release of Radiohead’s latest, King of Limbs (#6, 69,000), Snoop Dogg ‘s Doggumentary (#8, 50,000) and Mary Mary ‘s Something Big, which rounds out the new titles at #10 on sales of 42,000. The rest of the top 10: Adele , 21 (#3, 94,000), Chris Brown , F.A.M.E. (#4, 91,000, down 66 percent), Songs for Japan (#5, 71,000), Jennifer Hudson , I Remember Me (#7, down 66 percent) and Kirk Franklin , Hello Fear (#9, 46,000). After debuting at #4 last week, the Strokes take a bit of a dive down to #18, as sales of Angles leveled off by 76 percent to 21,000. The hard-charging soundtrack to the critically panned fantasy film “Sucker Punch” actually rises nine spots in its second week to #22 on sales of 20,000. The soundtrack to the “Grey’s Anatomy: The Musical Event” episode comes in at #24 (19,000), while Sum 41 ‘s Screaming Bloody Murder inches on to the charts at #31 (15,000) and Panic! at the Disco plunge 25 places in week two to #32 with Vices & Virtues (15,000). A number of indie darlings also make their chart debuts, including the Mountain Goats with All Eternals Deck (#71, 9,000), the Pains of Being Pure at Heart , Belong (#91, 6,000) and Peter Bjorn and John , Gimme Some (#108, 6,000). Britney also tops the iTunes albums chart, edging out the Songs for Japan compilation, followed by Khalifa, Adele, the “Grey’s Anatomy” album, Mumford & Sons ‘ Sigh No More and albums by Brown, Radiohead, the self-titled effort from Sara Ramirez and the “Sucker Punch” soundtrack. Black Eyed Peas rule the iTunes singles chart with “Just Can’t Get Enough,” winning out over Katy Perry ‘s “E.T.,” Rihanna ‘s “S&M,” Perry’s “E.T.” without Kanye West, then Khalifa’s “No Sleep,” Brown’s “Look at Me Now,” Jennifer Lopez ‘s “On the Floor,” Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” Cee Lo Green ‘s “Forget You” and Lady Gaga ‘s “Born This Way.” Next week will see new albums from Foo Fighters , TV on the Radio , Paul Simon and Jessie J . Related Videos Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale Related Photos Candid Moments From ‘Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale’ Britney Spears Brings Down The House In Las Vegas Related Artists Britney Spears

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Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale Debuts At #1 On Billboard

Britney Spears Throws Sweaty Dance Party In ‘Till The World Ends’ Video

The pop star escapes the apocalypse in Ray Kay-directed clip. By Jocelyn Vena Britney Spears in her “Till The World Ends” video Photo: Jive Remember when Britney Spears threw a sweaty, dirty dance party in an unfinished apartment and slinked around wearing underwear over her pants in 2001’s “Slave 4 U”? Well, the party is back, and it’s as dirty as ever in the clip for “Till the World Ends,” which premiered on Wednesday (April 6). As befits the song title, the video takes place during the apocalypse, on December 21, 2012. Spears takes her party underground, beneath the sewers of an anonymous big city, somewhere in the world. As the buildings crumble around them and fiery masses fall from the sky, all Britney and her pals want to do is flirt and dance. The video was shot in Los Angeles in mid-March, and though Spears complained to us about the “grimy and gross” shooting conditions in a dank warehouse, her energy never wavers in the finished product. Directed by Ray Kay (Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga) and choreographed by Brian Friedman (who has worked with Britney throughout this current Femme Fatale era), the director’s cut of the video is a sexy mash-up of Spears doing what she does best: groping half-naked guys, giving the camera bedroom eyes and being sassy in a number of leather jackets and skintight bodysuits, including a red one that seems to be a nod to her Martian Queen catsuit from “Oops!… I Did It Again.” She smiles big and bright for the camera, and then looks sultry as she prances around and tosses her hair about like some dystopian siren. A closer look at her frisky pop-and-lock moves will be further explored in a choreography cut of the video to be released later on. While Spears spends much of the party seemingly happy to be away from the dangers of the apocalypse outside, eventually she emerges to a world that didn’t end, smiling as the sun bathes her in its warm glow. What do you think of Britney’s new video? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Videos Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale Related Artists Britney Spears

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Britney Spears Throws Sweaty Dance Party In ‘Till The World Ends’ Video

Mumford & Sons Announce Summer Tour Dates

The band’s June jaunt will follow their vintage rail car tour of the U.S. kicking off in April. By James Montgomery Mumford & Sons Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images Mumford & Sons are perhaps the most unconventional British act to break through in the States in quite some time, so it made sense when they announced an equally unconventional Railroad Revival Tour last month. That jaunt will see them, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and Old Crow Medicine Show travel from show to show (and slowly through the Southwest) using only vintage trains … a nod to the barnstorming days of old. And, in an age of mobile-phone-sponsored mega-tours, it is a rather unique idea, to say the very least. Of course, their fans responded to the news quickly, and since most of the Railroad Revival dates are already sold out, Mumford have announced another run of U.S. shows, though these are of the more traditional variety (i.e., they will not be traveling via the power of the locomotive). Their new tour kicks off June 3 in Kansas City, Missouri, and runs until June 16, when they’ll conclude a two-night stand at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver. Support for the trek will come from a number of bands, including Matthew & the Atlas, Nathaniel Rateliff, Cake and the Low Anthem. Tickets for all dates go on sale Friday, April 8, through Mumford’s official site . Mumford’s Railroad Revival Tour gets under way April 21 in Oakland, California, and wraps on April 27 in New Orleans. On April 13, the band will be in New York to film an episode of VH1’s “Unplugged,” and they’ll play the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 16, along with the likes of Kanye West, the Kings of Leon and the Arcade Fire. Mumford & Sons summer tour dates, according to the band’s website:

Ludacris ‘Inspired’ By Aspiring MCs At ‘Live Large’ Competition

‘It’s all about competition,’ he tells MTV News about Magnum-sponsored freestyle contest whose winner will get to perform with Luda. By Alvin Blanco Ludacris at the “Live Large Project 2” competition on Monday Photo: Dave Kotinsky/ Getty Images Ludacris is a marquee hip-hop artist but he has no problem lending aspiring rappers a hand. On Monday, the Atlanta-based MC/actor was at New York City’s Highline Ballroom for the Magnum-sponsored Live Large Project 2, a hip-hop/freestyle competition that gives contestants a shot at a cash prize and the chance to perform alongside Luda at Springfest 2011 in Miami. It’s the second year Luda has participated in the event, and the Disturbing Tha Peace Records founder said it always makes him remember his days as a hungry unknown. “I remember being an aspiring artist and up-and-coming rapper and wishing I had opportunities like the one that Magnum Live Large Project is giving out — $5,000, a trip to Miami, able to perform — all of these different things is good, man,” Luda told MTV News. “It’s all about competition. That’s what hip-hop is all about anyway.” The Highline stop was just one of four regional events that span the West Coast (Bay Area), South (Miami) and the Midwest (Detroit). The top three contestants from each region, as well as a fifth selected via YouTube, will make the trip to Miami to compete for the $5,000 prize. New York’s top three winners were Perelli, Renegade and Pumpkinhead, who won $1,000 for being the fan favorite. According to Ludacris, anyone who’s achieved his level of success should feel obligated to support events like this one and serve as a source of inspiration. “It’s definitely important for me to give back to MCs coming up,” he said.”That’s part of the reason we do what we do. You can never forget where you come from or how you came up. I’m very excited to be doing this. And don’t get it twisted, I’m getting inspired my damn self by watching the up-and-coming rappers and it’s making me realize and remember back in the day when I was the same way.” A rap industry neophyte that Ludacris thinks highly of and can relate to is Big K.R.I.T . After making strides independently, the Meridian, Mississippi, rapper and producer signed with Luda’s label home, Def Jam, last year and recently released a new mixtape, Return of 4Eva. Luda, along with Bun B, makes an appearance on the remix of “Country Sh–.” “When [Big K.R.I.T.] speaks, you can feel his heart,” Luda told us. “His heart is on the outside of his chest. He’s talking about his experience and being from the South and being from Mississippi. Just respecting the fact that he’s the production side as well as spilling his heart out on the beats, I can respect that.” Ludacris is working on his eighth album, Ludaversal, due out later this year. Related Artists Ludacris

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Ludacris ‘Inspired’ By Aspiring MCs At ‘Live Large’ Competition

Katy Perry Says Her ‘Honest’ Anthems Are Highlight Of Arena Shows

‘When I’m playing ‘Firework,’ the whole arena literally moves up and down,’ she tells MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway Katy Perry Photo: MTV News Katy Perry has been hitting the road on her California Dreams World Tour , which hits the States in June. Her colorful live show includes costumes to match and choice cuts plucked from the singer’s repertoire. Some of those tunes, specifically songs from last year’s Teenage Dream, are proving to be more than just a good time for fans — they’re also inspirational. “I always want to be completely honest and, for this record in particular, I knew from the outside world, a lot had changed. [But] I was hoping that I was still the same me, [the] kind of quirky, weird-perspective girl that I’ve always been,” she told MTV News recently. “But you know, there was a lot of distraction and glitz and glam. When you get to a certain point, you have to push it all away and remember what your core is, and that’s what I did for this record.” So, before she hit the road or the recording studio, Perry headed home to Santa Barbara, California, and took it all back to the beginning, before she was a famous pop star with an over-the-top life. “I started writing songs like ‘Firework’ and ‘Teenage Dream’ and songs that I think now are anthems for people,” she explained. “When I’m playing ‘Firework,’ the whole arena literally moves up and down. It’s the song that people are holding onto and inspired by.” Perry admitted that something as simple as a Hollywood party can be fun fodder for a song, but these days she likes to go a little deeper. “I feel really happy that I took that time to not write about DJs and fame, the materialistic world, which is great ’cause I love those glitz-and-glamour bells and whistles, but I know people connect to more substantial [lyrics].” Which Katy Perry song are you most eager to hear her perform live? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Katy Perry Related Artists Katy Perry

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Katy Perry Says Her ‘Honest’ Anthems Are Highlight Of Arena Shows

Katy Perry Says Her ‘Honest’ Anthems Are Highlight Of Arena Shows

‘When I’m playing ‘Firework,’ the whole arena literally moves up and down,’ she tells MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway Katy Perry Photo: MTV News Katy Perry has been hitting the road on her California Dreams World Tour , which hits the States in June. Her colorful live show includes costumes to match and choice cuts plucked from the singer’s repertoire. Some of those tunes, specifically songs from last year’s Teenage Dream, are proving to be more than just a good time for fans — they’re also inspirational. “I always want to be completely honest and, for this record in particular, I knew from the outside world, a lot had changed. [But] I was hoping that I was still the same me, [the] kind of quirky, weird-perspective girl that I’ve always been,” she told MTV News recently. “But you know, there was a lot of distraction and glitz and glam. When you get to a certain point, you have to push it all away and remember what your core is, and that’s what I did for this record.” So, before she hit the road or the recording studio, Perry headed home to Santa Barbara, California, and took it all back to the beginning, before she was a famous pop star with an over-the-top life. “I started writing songs like ‘Firework’ and ‘Teenage Dream’ and songs that I think now are anthems for people,” she explained. “When I’m playing ‘Firework,’ the whole arena literally moves up and down. It’s the song that people are holding onto and inspired by.” Perry admitted that something as simple as a Hollywood party can be fun fodder for a song, but these days she likes to go a little deeper. “I feel really happy that I took that time to not write about DJs and fame, the materialistic world, which is great ’cause I love those glitz-and-glamour bells and whistles, but I know people connect to more substantial [lyrics].” Which Katy Perry song are you most eager to hear her perform live? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Katy Perry Related Artists Katy Perry

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Katy Perry Says Her ‘Honest’ Anthems Are Highlight Of Arena Shows

Death Cab For Cutie Pull Off Live ‘You Are A Tourist’ Video

The clip, shot in one continuous take, premiered Tuesday night. By James Montgomery Death Cab For Cutie’s “You Are A Tourist” video Photo: Atlantic Records Well, they pulled it off. One week after announcing plans to shot a live live video for “You Are a Tourist,” the first single from their upcoming Codes and Keys album, and after a full day of slightly tense rehearsals , Death Cab for Cutie were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Not only did “Tourist” — which was shot live, with multiple cameras, in one single take and broadcast for the entire world via YouAreATourist.com (and several other sites, including MTV.com) on Tuesday night (April 5) — come off without a hitch, but Death Cab looked like they were having an absolute blast making it. Directed by Tim Nackashi and based on a concept by frequent collaborator Aaron Stewart-Ahn, the video was artful, eye-catching and ambitious, to say the very least. Featuring an intricate, whimsical set, expert use of projections, a bevy of background actors and a dozen dancers who engaged in some seriously kaleidoscopic Busby Berkeley dance sequences, “Tourist” followed Death Cab frontman Ben Gibbard and his bandmates as they wandered through the controlled madness — and wore some genuinely nifty light-up suits too. Despite the fact that they were filming it live, there wasn’t a single noticeable screw-up. Gibbard and his mates hit all their marks (and tried their best to hide some actual “I can’t believe this is really happening grins), the dancers were perfectly synced, the cameras were on cue and, at the very end — perhaps recognizing this — everyone, from the band to Nackashi to the dancers stood in the center of the stage, clapping and cheering wildly, as Gibbard thanked everyone for their hard work. Really, despite the fact they were doing this live before the entire world, DCFC weren’t really all that nervous — even though, as they told MTV News on Monday, the potential to screw it all up was enormous. “I think the trick here, or the balance here, is to try to have there be a legitimate amount of choreography involved but not so much that if one thing goes wrong, the whole thing topples like a house of cards,” Gibbard laughed. “And there are some very kind-of tight moves throughout the video, but nothing that, you know, if I’m not standing here at this one point, the Rube Goldberg kind of thing falls apart and you’re standing there for the next three minutes looking like a moron.” Luckily, that didn’t happen. What did you think of the Death Cab video? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Death Cab For Cutie To Shoot Single-Take Video Live On The Web Related Artists Death Cab For Cutie

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Death Cab For Cutie Pull Off Live ‘You Are A Tourist’ Video

Miley Cyrus And Charlie Sheen Trade ‘Epic’ Posts On Twitter

‘Always felt you were epic! Now you proved it!’ the ‘Two and a Half Men’ star tweets at Miley. By Aly Semigran Miley Cyrus Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images Winning? In what can only be described as one of the more bizarre friendships to originate on Twitter, Miley Cyrus and Charlie Sheen have formed something of a bond on the social networking site. Cyrus, who just recently returned to Twitter — she left back in 2009, telling followers it was at the suggestion of on-again, off-again boyfriend Liam Hemsworth — has become one of the former “Two and a Half Men” star’s record-breaking 3.4 million-plus followers. On Sunday, Cyrus tweeted from her new account, @gypsyhearttour: “Do not fear…the Sheenius is here!’ I’m not gonna lie. I came back to twitter for 2 reasons. My fans and to follow Charlie Sheen.” Since then, the 18-year-old has been trading tweets with the troubled 45-year-old actor, who is currently on the road with his shaky My Violent Torpedo of Truth tour. “Dear Miley, Welcome back to Twitter! Always felt you were epic! Now you proved it! Thanks for the love,” Sheen wrote in response to Cyrus, to which she replied, “I always felt the same about you! You have taught me everything I know about WINNING. Duh!” Cyrus, who won the Favorite Movie Actress at the Kids’ Choice Awards over the weekend, shared on Monday, “Makin dinner for my fam right now. Honey sesame chicken, garlic rice & salad. There’s only one thing missing & that’s Charlie Sheen.” Cyrus even gave a shout-out to Conan O’Brien in one of her Sheen-based tweets, when she posted, “The only person that even comes close to winning as hard core as @charliesheen is @ConanOBrien =] I will see ya tonight @ 11 COB! TWEET ME!” Of course, this isn’t the first time the former “Hannah Montana” star has caused a stir with her Twitter conversations. In October 2009, she aired out what was believed to be a fued with fellow Disney starlets Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez . Cyrus posted a picture of herself with Lovato, who had become close to Gomez, and wrote, “Now this is what true friendship looks like. None of that hollywood crap. @ddlovato I miss you = ]” Cyrus also had a minor Twitter battle with ex-boyfriend Justin Gaston that year. In one post Gaston wrote, “People mistake stupidity for bravery way to easily.” The “Party in the USA” singer then shot back, “Yeah. I love when people mistake bravery with writing a few stupid tweets trying to make it seem like they don’t care. You’re afraid to love.” What do you think of Miley Cyrus and Charlie Sheen chatting on Twitter? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Miley Cyrus

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Miley Cyrus And Charlie Sheen Trade ‘Epic’ Posts On Twitter

Mary J. Blige Announces My Life Sequel Release Date

Follow-up to MJB’s seminal disc, My Life II, The Story Continues, is set to drop September 20. By Alvin Blanco Mary J. Blige Photo: Brian Ach/ WireImage Fans can mark September 20 as the day that Mary J. Blige returns with her 11th album, My Life II, The Story Continues. By the time of the album’s release — a sequel to Blige’s triple-platinum My Life album — it will be almost two years since the Queen of Hip-Hop/R&B delivered her last project, Stronger With Each Tear. “From me to you, My Life II … our journey together continues in this life,” Blige said in a statement. “It’s a gift to be able to relate and identify with my fans at all times. This album is a reflection of the times and lives of people all around me.” Blige’s sophisticated and sample-driven My Life was released in 1994, and was executive-produced by Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was then going by Puff Daddy. And it’s probably no coincidence that Diddy is featured on the sequel’s lead single, “Someone to Love Me (Naked),” which also features a verse from Lil Wayne. The single’s groove is courtesy of Wyclef Jean’s cousin, the accomplished producer Jerry “Wonder” Duplessis. Other notable producers set to contribute to Blige’s forthcoming album include Kanye West, Stargate (Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow”) and Swizz Beatz. The original version of “Someone to Love Me” appeared on Diddy-Dirty Money’s Last Train to Paris. The version with Blige on it dropped at the top of the year and, at the time, it was thought to be just a remix. But a mastered version is available now on iTunes and although Blige tweeted that the Collin Tilley-directed video would debut April 8, the clip began making the Internet rounds on Monday. Blige has also been cast in the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical “Rock of Ages,” which is set to star Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin and Diego Boneta. Related Artists Mary J. Blige

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Mary J. Blige Announces My Life Sequel Release Date

Mary J. Blige Announces My Life Sequel Release Date

Follow-up to MJB’s seminal disc, My Life II, The Story Continues, is set to drop September 20. By Alvin Blanco Mary J. Blige Photo: Brian Ach/ WireImage Fans can mark September 20 as the day that Mary J. Blige returns with her 11th album, My Life II, The Story Continues. By the time of the album’s release — a sequel to Blige’s triple-platinum My Life album — it will be almost two years since the Queen of Hip-Hop/R&B delivered her last project, Stronger With Each Tear. “From me to you, My Life II … our journey together continues in this life,” Blige said in a statement. “It’s a gift to be able to relate and identify with my fans at all times. This album is a reflection of the times and lives of people all around me.” Blige’s sophisticated and sample-driven My Life was released in 1994, and was executive-produced by Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was then going by Puff Daddy. And it’s probably no coincidence that Diddy is featured on the sequel’s lead single, “Someone to Love Me (Naked),” which also features a verse from Lil Wayne. The single’s groove is courtesy of Wyclef Jean’s cousin, the accomplished producer Jerry “Wonder” Duplessis. Other notable producers set to contribute to Blige’s forthcoming album include Kanye West, Stargate (Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow”) and Swizz Beatz. The original version of “Someone to Love Me” appeared on Diddy-Dirty Money’s Last Train to Paris. The version with Blige on it dropped at the top of the year and, at the time, it was thought to be just a remix. But a mastered version is available now on iTunes and although Blige tweeted that the Collin Tilley-directed video would debut April 8, the clip began making the Internet rounds on Monday. Blige has also been cast in the big-screen adaptation of the Broadway musical “Rock of Ages,” which is set to star Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin and Diego Boneta. Related Artists Mary J. Blige

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Mary J. Blige Announces My Life Sequel Release Date