The Chicago rapper’s Las Vegas spring break gig airs Tuesday night on MTV. By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway Lupe Fiasco Photo: MTV News When you combine spring break and Las Vegas, things are bound to get exciting — or out of control. For the MTV Spring Break 2011 performers — Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Pitbull and Lupe Fiasco — the challenge is to keep the crowds entertained when shots, lost tops and sunny weather threaten to steal their attention. According to Lupe Fiasco, though, it doesn’t matter to him whether he’s performing at a spring break gig or a room of Timberland-wearing concertgoers — the show goes on. “It’s no different,” the Chicago rapper told MTV News recently. “I did a show for the hardcore [fans] yesterday and it was the same thing. The same energy. At the end of the day, it’s about getting in touch with the energy — I don’t want to sound too mystical — but that human energy. It don’t matter if you black, white, Italian, Asian or in a bikini or have a fitted hat on thugged out, everybody wants to hear something and be moved by something, so for us, we want to take it to you as energetic as we possibly can.” On Monday, Wiz Khalifa’s MTV Spring Break 2011 performance aired as the Pittsburgh star hit the stage for his breakout tune “Black and Yellow.” Later in the week, Snoop Dogg and Pitbull’s spring break performances will be shown on MTV, MTV2 and mtvU. Catch Lupe Fiasco performing in Las Vegas during MTV’s Spring Break on Tuesday night (March 29) on MTV at 9:50 p.m. ET. Related Videos Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, Lupe Fiasco, More Take Over MTV Spring Break 2011 Related Photos Spring Break 2011 | Live Performances Related Artists Lupe Fiasco
Spears tells ‘Good Morning America’ the tour will start in June. By Jocelyn Vena Britney Spears performs at her “Good Morning America” concert Photo: Flanigan/ FilmMagic After rumors hit the Internet about Britney Spears’ forthcoming summer tour, on Tuesday morning (March 29), the singer confirmed the news. In between songs at her pretaped San Francisco show on “Good Morning America,” the singer made the huge announcement. Hanging out backstage with her dancers, wearing a billowing white shirt and jeans, she told the show’s host, Robin Roberts, “I’m going on tour with Enrique Iglesias in June.” Fans gathered at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium to watch Spears shimmy her way through Femme Fatale tracks “Hold It Against Me,” “Big Fat Bass” and her latest single, “Till the World Ends,” in varying body-hugging sexy costumes. “Thank you so much for all your love and support. You guys are beautiful,” she told the audience. “I love it. I love music. It’s my world. It’s my everything.” Before Britney even hit the stage in San Francisco, the room was kept entertained by five local drag queens , who explained to MTV News after Spears left the building that the performer really proved that she is still the pop star everyone knows and loves. “As a huge Britney fan, it was amazing,” Pollo Del Mar told us. “I was excited just to have Britney Spears here in San Francisco, but to participate and be a part of it was amazing. “It shows why she’s a superstar and certainly, I think that the crowd response showed that she’s beloved. … The reason I love Britney Spears is, throughout her career, she’s shown she’s human, she’s fallible … I think that makes her someone people can rally behind and love.” Spears’ Femme Fatale album drops today. Watch the trailer for the upcoming MTV special “Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale” Tuesday night at 7:58 p.m. Related Artists Britney Spears
Closing the second night of the I Am Still Music stop at Nassau Coliseum, Weezy gives a shout out to his Rikers COs. By Rahman Dukes Lil Wayne performs in Long Island on Monday Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage UNIONDALE, New York — It’s been roughly two weeks since Lil Wayne returned to the big stage with his I Am Still Music Tour . He’s been tearing up venues across the country in the days that followed, but there was something sentimental about his two nights of sold-out shows at Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum. After all, just a few months ago, a little more than 20 miles away, Wayne was doing hard time at Rikers Island , serving a one-year prison sentence on weapons charges stemming from the 2007 arrest that followed his show at New York’s Beacon Theatre. On Monday night, Wayne exchanged the 8-foot cell he was housed in at the Eric M. Taylor Center for a hockey arena and thanked fans for their support during his down time. “A few months ago, I was stuck in this island,” Wayne told to the audience. “This place called Rikers Island. It was people like Drake and people like y’all who made me feel like I was in a paradise of love. Shout out to the COs I’m cool with, but tell the warden to kiss my ass.” But in reality, Weezy showed no signs of bitterness towards the state he unwillingly called home for the majority of 2010. The larger-than-life MC appeared on stage sporting a blue and orange New York Knicks cap, his signature polo shirt and black leather pants. Wayne closed out his New York run backed by a live band, unearthing a catalog of smash hits including “Mrs. Officer,” “Go DJ” and “Got Money” as well as mixtape cuts such as “I’m Single” and “Bill Gates.” With appearances by Lil Twist, Mack Maine, Shanell and Nicki Minaj, Weezy continued to make the point that his Young Money movement was reminiscent of previous rap powerhouse cliques who made their marks in the hip-hop game. “Remember how Diddy had his artists? And Jay had Roc-a-fella, and Baby had all his artists?” Wayne asked. “Well, I have all my artists.” Halfway through his set, Wayne introduced Minaj, and the Queens MC ripped through her own records for her hometown crowd. Nicki ignited the audience with hits “Roman’s Revenge” to “Did It on ‘Em” to the celebratory “Right Through Me” anthem, for which she donned a wedding dress. And as she assisted Wayne on “Roger That” he appeared to be stunned by Nicki’s tight, ripped-up jeans. “Make some noise for the best rapper aliiive,” Nicki yelled at the crowd, referring to Wayne as she exited the stage. “Make some noise for them pants!” Wayne shot back. Preceeding Wayne’s set, Rick Ross also ignited the coliseum with his array of hits and a surprise guest appearance by close friend DJ Khaled, who joined him for “We Takin’ Over.” Khaled also showed his New York support wearing a New York Yankees clubhouse jacket. The show had emotional moments in between songs too. Wayne took time to send prayers for earthquake victims in Japan and acknowledged members of the military in the audience who came out to support the MC in their uniforms. “We got a couple soldiers in here; make some noise for these men,” Wayne said, removing his tinted shades as the house lights spotlighted the warriors. On the night of his arrest years ago, Weezy vowed to never return to the Big Apple. But judging by the diamond-studded grin he flashed throughout the night as the crowd chanted “Weezy’s Home,” it’s a safe assumption that the MC was happy to be back in New York. “New York always showed us love,” said Birdman, sitting in his tour bus following the show. “It was just unfortunate he had to come out here and do time. But the people always showed us mad love. New York is probably one of our biggest markets. They always supported us, and we always showed them love.” Related Photos Lil Wayne Brings ‘I Am Still Music’ Tour To New York Related Artists Lil Wayne
‘I’m speaking my album into existence this year,’ MC tells Mixtape Daily of The Hard Way Musical. By Jayson Rodriguez CyHi Da Prynce Photo: MTV News Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables Mixtapes : The Allies and Royal Flush 2 Headliner : CyHi Da Prynce Key cameos : Big Sean, Pusha T, J. Cole, etc. Essential info : CyHi Da Prynce knows what his next two projects are (a pair of mixtapes), but the Georgia rapper is calling on a higher power when it comes to getting a release date for his debut album. No, he’s not calling on mentor Kanye West; rather, the “So Appalled” star is seeking an answer in the biblical sense. “At the end of April, I want to put out Royal Flush 2 and I wanna release The Allies when school is coming back in,” CyHi told Mixtape Daily. “Those two projects, I want them to be my last mixtapes that I put out before my album. I’m speaking my album into existence this year. God says, ‘If you ask, you shall receive,’ so I’m asking, and hopefully I’ll receive it sometime soon. I’m sending a pigeon or something, even a text message.” For his debut, The Hard Way Musical, the G.O.O.D. Music artist is already a few songs in. “My album is a lot of storytelling. It’s heartfelt, but at the same time it’s hip-hop to the T,” he said of the collection. ” Royal Flush is more so the different parts of me, but my album is gonna be more the story of me.” Other Heat This Week
‘I’m speaking my album into existence this year,’ MC tells Mixtape Daily of The Hard Way Musical. By Jayson Rodriguez CyHi Da Prynce Photo: MTV News Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables Mixtapes : The Allies and Royal Flush 2 Headliner : CyHi Da Prynce Key cameos : Big Sean, Pusha T, J. Cole, etc. Essential info : CyHi Da Prynce knows what his next two projects are (a pair of mixtapes), but the Georgia rapper is calling on a higher power when it comes to getting a release date for his debut album. No, he’s not calling on mentor Kanye West; rather, the “So Appalled” star is seeking an answer in the biblical sense. “At the end of April, I want to put out Royal Flush 2 and I wanna release The Allies when school is coming back in,” CyHi told Mixtape Daily. “Those two projects, I want them to be my last mixtapes that I put out before my album. I’m speaking my album into existence this year. God says, ‘If you ask, you shall receive,’ so I’m asking, and hopefully I’ll receive it sometime soon. I’m sending a pigeon or something, even a text message.” For his debut, The Hard Way Musical, the G.O.O.D. Music artist is already a few songs in. “My album is a lot of storytelling. It’s heartfelt, but at the same time it’s hip-hop to the T,” he said of the collection. ” Royal Flush is more so the different parts of me, but my album is gonna be more the story of me.” Other Heat This Week
Sneak peeks of Brit’s upcoming MTV special will air all day before full trailer airs at 7:58 p.m. By Jocelyn Vena Britney Spears on the set of her “Till the World Ends” video Photo: MTV News & Docs All day, Britney Spears is taking over MTV. That takeover includes a trailer for MTV’s upcoming special about the pop star, “Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale,” which will take fans inside Britney’s life to see what it’s like to release a highly anticipated album. Before the trailer premieres tonight at 7:58 p.m., teasers will air throughout the day. In the sneak peeks, fans get to see Spears work on the just-released Femme Fatale, including going over final production with will.i.am on their collabo . “I did some tweaking to ‘Big Fat Bass,’ ” the Black Eyed Peas mastermind tells Spears as she gives the song another listen. While on the way to rehearsals for her pre-album performances — including her set this past Friday at the Palms in Las Vegas , which will be included in “Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale” — Spears admits to having some “jitterbugs.” It is, after all, her first time back onstage since the Circus Tour. In another intimate look at the singer’s life, fans get to see Spears and her assistant as they go to Starbucks to take a minute for themselves in the hustle-and-bustle of a hectic schedule. “It’s nice to have a peaceful moment just to sit down,” Spears says. “It’s nice to relax before the chaos.” That chaos included getting fans excited for her album release. On top of taking the stage in Vegas for a set full of pyro, shimmering bodysuits and flirty dance moves, Spears also pre-taped today’s “Good Morning America” performance in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood. “I totally loved how her bustier was lit up,” fan Corina Andrati excitedly told MTV News moments after Spears wrapped her three-song set. “I’m so blessed to be here.” Have you heard Britney’s new album yet? Share your favorite tracks in the comments! Related Videos Exclusive Preview Clips Of ‘Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale’ Related Artists Britney Spears
Justin Timberlake also wanted to sign Bieber, ‘Never Say Never’ star said in 2009. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News Just as the world was learning who Justin Bieber was, MTV News caught up with the shaggy-haired singer in September 2009. He was gearing up to release his debut album, My World , and plotting his pop-world domination. In the year and a half since that interview, Bieber has done the nearly impossible, launching himself into the pop mega-sphere. In the chat, Bieber recalled how he and his manager, Scooter Braun, met and eventually got big names interested in signing the teen. “My manager found me on YouTube. He flew me out to Atlanta for the first time — I’d never actually been on a plane before. He flew me to Atlanta where i was going to the studio to meet some people,” he recalled. “And Usher happened to roll up in his Range Rover. I ran up to him, and I was like, ‘Usher, I love your songs. Want me to sing you one?’ The politest possible way he could say no, he did. … I took the hint. I didn’t get to sing for him: He had to run into a studio session.” But later, Usher was beckoning the teen back to the ATL. “He actually watched my videos — after my manager got to talking to him — and was like, ‘I should have let this kid sing,’ and flew me back to Atlanta where I got to sing for him in a proper setting. A week later, I had a meeting with Justin Timberlake, who also wanted to sign me, so they both kind of wanted me.” As the story goes, Bieber went with Usher, and the two never looked back. “As far as Usher being my mentor, he’s definitely given me words of wisdom. I hear it from everybody, but definitely to hear it from Usher is great, just to stay humble and grounded is very important,” he explained. “There’s a lot of people, especially young stars, that have gone down the wrong path, and I definitely plan to stay humble and stay grounded and keep my family first, because that stuff really is important in life.” On Friday, Justin Bieber’s 3-D documentary, “Never Say Never,” opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music. Related Videos Discovering Justin Bieber MTV Rough Cut: Justin Bieber Related Photos Photos From Justin Bieber’s Interview With Sway Related Artists Justin Bieber Usher Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657425/justin-bieber-usher-video.jhtml Shannyn Sossamon Shiri Appleby Sienna Guillory Sienna Miller Simone M¸therthies Related posts: Justin Bieber’s Next Album To Capture Justin Timberlake’s Magic Photos | Justin Bieber’s AMA Night Photos | Justin Bieber’s AMA Night Justin Bieber Passes Michael Jackson’s Box-Office Record Justin Bieber Causes Fan Frenzy In Liverpool, England
All-star lineup of Erick Morillo, Wolfgang Gartner, Laidback Luke, will.i.am, Diddy, Chemical Brothers and many more close out three-day bash. By Akshay Bhansali David Guetta and Flo Rida perform at Ultra Music Fest Photo: MTV News MIAMI — On its third and final day, the Ultra Music Festival delivered a blazing one-two punch of trance and house star power for the 50,000 fans in attendance on closing day of the annual get-together held at Bicentennial Park. The Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am joined an impressive roster of house-music performers that included Laidback Luke, Steve Aoki, Erick Morillo, Robbie Rivera , Wolfgang Gartner and David Guetta. Dutch trance music star Armin van Buuren celebrated the 500th broadcast of his A State of Trance show, this time dubbed ASOT 500, in honor of the milestone. The show filled in the slot normally taken by Carl Cox’s stage on Friday and Saturday, and van Buuren brought some well-known trance-DJ friends like Cosmic Gate, Gareth Emery, Ferry Corsten, ATB and the night’s closer, Sander Van Doorn, all of whom helped to pack a few thousand fans into the tent, chest to back, to capacity. Just before 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, AVB joined friend/countryman/collaborator Corsten onstage. But a hug and a few jokes later and it was van Buuren’s turn to steer the ASOT 500 ship, and he throttled into his set. Van Buuren also held down hosting duties throughout the night, revealing in an on air-interview with ATB the pair have collaborated on a track titled “Vice Versa.” On the main stage, Gartner didn’t just hit fans with hits like “Spacejunk,” “Illmerica,” and his deadmau5 collabo, “Animal Rights.” He also tested out a few new songs, including still-unreleased gems “818,” and his next single, the electro-house banger “Forever,” which features vocals by will.i.am. Later, house legend Morillo blessed the crowd with three top-notch vocalists: Rachel Starr, former Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta, and powerhouse singer Shawnee Taylor took turns joining him onstage. Fans sang along with Taylor as she belted the hits “Stronger” and “Live Your Life” among others. Finally, Diddy joined his buddy Morillo onstage, dropping his bars from Dirty South’s remix of Diddy-Dirty Money’s “Coming Home,” a Miami Music Week DJ-set staple. David Guetta was feeling particularly electro-clubby. He hammered fans with hair-raising renditions of his material, kicking things off with “Gettin’ Over You,” and then a baritone horn-driven thumper of a tune that some fans may have heard days before at Mansion. Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am joined Guetta onstage at various points of the night, adding vocals to Guetta’s remixes of BEP hits “The Time,” and “I Gotta Feeling.” But probably the more unexpected cameo was Flo Rida, who showed up with an entourage of Super Soaker-wielding friends and charged onto the stage for the Guetta/Flo hit “Club Can’t Handle Me.” Perhaps the most moving moment of the day came when rising star Afrojack joined Guetta and addressed the audience. “Miami, last year, I played here for the first time, through David,” Afrojack said. “I had a great time. David is all about the love. David, I love you. Miami, I love you. This guy is the f—ing sh–! So Miami, make some noise for David Guetta!” Needless to say, the crowd seemed to agree with the 22-year-old Dutch phenom. They returned his request with a roar. Did you attend Ultra Music Festival in Miami this year? Tell us about your experience in the comments below! Related Videos Pump Your Fist For Miami Music Week Related Photos Miami Music Week Related Artists David Guetta Flo Rida Armin Van Buuren
‘Anytime Britney comes to the Palms, we always welcome her with open arms,’ George Maloof tells MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena Britney Spears performs in Las Vegas on Friday Photo: Splash News Online Last Friday, Britney Spears brought her own razzle-dazzle to the already-glittering city of Las Vegas. She played a fan-pleasing three-song set at Rain nightclub at the Palms Hotel and Casino, where the show was being taped for an MTV special airing this week. Hours before Britney took the stage, MTV News caught up with Palms owner George Maloof, who gushed about how awesome it was to have Britney on hand for her first Femme Fatale live performance. “I think this one’s going to be really over-the-top,” he said of Spears’ show, which will be included in the MTV special. “And we’re all excited about her new album, and I heard it’s spectacular, so here we go: Britney Spears at the Palms.” Spears hyped the release of Femme Fatale in a big way during Friday’s nightclub set, performing lead singles “Hold It Against Me” and “Till the World Ends” while also debuting the will.i.am-produced “Big Fat Bass.” Each track required a new body-hugging costume — including a black latex catsuit covered in red LED lights — to accommodate her trademark dance moves. Check out photos from Britney’s Las Vegas show . Maloof, who has known Britney for the better part of the last decade, said that while he’s friendly with the star, he’s still excited that she chose his hotel for the performance. “It’s the biggest star in the world, so it’s an honor for us. And anytime Britney comes to the Palms, we always welcome her with open arms, so it’s going to be great,” he said. “We try and keep it a secret. It’s pretty difficult in this day and age, but there’s so much anticipation.” Spears wasn’t the only big name on the marquee for the show. “Jersey Shore” star DJ Pauly D was also on hand to warm up the crowd. “Pauly D is one of our resident DJs, so we bring the Palms and Pauly D, pop culture together here with Britney Spears, and it’s going to be a madhouse.” For fans who couldn’t be at the Vegas show themselves, Maloof set the scene: “I think they’re going to see pyrotechnics. I think they’re going to see a very sexy show in a very unique and intimate venue that’s one-of-a-kind. … It’ll be a lot of fun. I want to hear the songs. I’m excited about the album, so that’s what I’m looking forward to. I know she can perform, I know she can dance, and I’m just waiting for this great album.” After months of video and song teasers, Spears’ Femme Fatale is due in stores Tuesday, which will also be “Britney Takeover Day” on MTV. Will you be first in line for Britney’s new album on Tuesday? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos Britney Spears Brings Down The House In Las Vegas Related Artists Britney Spears
Band will release charity version of latest single and fan-fueled video, with all proceeds going to Red Cross efforts. By James Montgomery My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way Photo: Samir Hussein/ Getty Images My Chemical Romance have announced plans to release a charity version of their song “Sing,” with all proceeds going to the Red Cross’ disaster relief efforts in Japan. But they’re not doing it alone. Instead, they’re reaching out to members of their MCRmy to help the cause. The band is asking fans to submit videos, pictures, drawings and written messages to the people of Japan through social sites like Twitter — using the hashtag #SINGItForJapan — which they’ll then compile into a video to be paired with the song. “We’d like to send messages of hope to Japan from people all over the world. … Go wherever your creativity and heart takes you. It could be as simple as you holding up a sign with ‘#SINGItForJapan’ written on it, or anything else you can dream up,” guitarist Ray Toro wrote on the band’s official site. “From what we’ve seen on tour, we know you guys can dream bigger than we ever could. Don’t be afraid to get your families involved. If you are inspired to do something alone, that’s great too. But we encourage you to get a big group of people from your community together. We want Japan to know just how many people are behind them.” Toro added that the band got the idea after noticing that, in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunamis that ravaged Japan, fans were sending messages of support to the nation using the hashtag. “After the news of the earthquake and tsunami spread, I did what most people did. I stopped and stared at the TV. I sat at the computer, constantly refreshing CNN in hopes of some good news,” he wrote. “And I went to Twitter to see what people were saying. I noticed a hashtag, ‘SINGItForJapan,’ where you kids were writing messages of hope, saying prayers and sending your condolences and well wishes to survivors. It moved me in a profound way.” The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, March 30, at 8 p.m. ET. There’s no news on just when the band’s new version of “Sing” will be made available, but for more information — and to submit material for #SINGItForJapan — check out My Chemical Romance’s official site . Related Artists My Chemical Romance
