Tag Archives: artists

Ja Rule Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Rapper, who is headed to jail on a weapons charge, admitted that he failed to pay taxes on $4 million in income. By Gil Kaufman Ja Rule Photo: Mark Mainz/Getty Images Queens rapper Ja Rule pleaded guilty to tax evasion in federal court in New Jersey on Tuesday, admitting that he had failed to pay taxes on more than $4 million in income. According to the Associated Press , the platinum-selling MC (born Jeffrey Atkins) earned the money between 2004 and 2006 while he lived in an upscale northern New Jersey enclave. The plea deal included an agreement by prosecutors to dismiss two counts of unpaid taxes on income earned in 2007 and 2008. Rule, 35, will be sentenced on the three remaining tax evasion charges in June and faces up to one year in prison and $100,000 in fines on each count. Ja Rule pleaded guilty to attempted gun possession in December, stemming from a July 2007 arrest, but his prison sentencing was delayed earlier this month so he could get his finances in order. Lil Wayne, who Ja Rule performed with on that July night at the Cash Money star’s Beacon Theater show, was arrested on the same night and eventually served eight months in prison for the same offense. Rule is now slated to be sentenced on June 8 and has agreed to a two-year prison term in that case. At the time of the sentencing postponement, Rule’s lawyer said the delay would allow her client to resolve his tax issue and maybe work on his next musical project as well. “We want to finish the album, and there’s also a tax issue,” lawyer Stacey Richman said. “Somebody, an accountant, had filed an incorrect form, and this is to correct what was done in the past.” Related Artists Ja Rule

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CyHi Da Prynce On Kanye West: ‘He Pushes Me’

Posted on March 23, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

G.O.O.D. Music MC tells Mixtape Daily, ‘He’ll tell me when my verse is not as hot.’ By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Matt Harper CyHi Da Prince Photo: MTV News Celebrity Favorites: CyHi Da Prynce CyHi Da Prynce likens the G.O.O.D. Music collective to superheroes, but you might be surprised to learn who he compares his crew to. “[Kanye] is Captain Planet and all our powers combined,” the upstart MC told Mixtape Daily, referencing the animated Planeteers. “I’m heart, Big Sean is water, Pusha T is fire and Teyana Taylor is Wind. So if you put it all together, it’s Captain Planet. He’s Captain Planet.” And maybe Mr. Hudson is Earth, but even without the final element, it’s hard not to give ‘Ye a nod for pushing his team to the forefront. The My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy star recently held court down in Texas, where he headlined a ballyhooed G.O.O.D. Music set at the South by Southwest music festival. Push, Cy and Jay-Z joined Mr. West for a formidable lineup. According to Da Prynce, it’s just another example of Yeezy’s hospitality, though, to hear the Georgia rapper tell it, it’s really his mentor’s honesty that sets him apart, for better or worse. “I wish you guys could really be around him,” CyHi said. “The misconception … it’s like this, you know how you say something about somebody behind their back, and then when you see them you have to be politically correct and you don’t say what you want to say to them? I don’t feel like that’s right. Some people have to be honest with each other, ’cause sometimes you can’t let a situation escalate to a point where it’s out of control. “Honesty is the biggest thing to me and that’s what I love about [Kanye],” he continued. “He’ll tell me when my verse is not as hot. Most of your friends will tell you you’re dope because you’re already naturally dope. But he pushes me and challenges me to be better. And he does that in music, art, fashion and so many other things to the point where I take it as constructive criticism. Especially to someone that sold all these records, he didn’t sell them for nothing. Don’t shoot the messenger all the time, just get the message.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Videos Mixtape Daily: Cy Hi Da Prince, Pusha T

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Odd Future’s MellowHype Eat Tacos With Jay-Z

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Also, the duo’s Hodgy Beats tells MTV News, ‘We’re trying to put out two albums this year.’ By Steven Roberts, with reporting by Christopher “CJ” Smith and Dominic Masi While Tyler, the Creator may be Odd Future’s outspoken mouthpiece and (currently missing) Earl Sweatshirt the group’s most intriguing member, MellowHype’s Hodgy Beats and Left Brain are no less talented and the pair are primed to start making a lot of noise themselves. MellowHype consists of producer Left Brain and rapper Hodgy Beats, and they performed alongside Tyler during OF’s watershed moment on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” in February. The duo first met in high school and went on to release two albums, YelloWhite and BlackendWhite, last year, while Hodgy released his solo The Dena Tape in 2009. Both MellowHype projects were well-received and they plan to re-release a re-mastered version of BlackendWhite through their new label, Fat Possum. And that’s not all. When MTV News caught up with the duo in Austin during South by Southwest, Hodgy said they planned to drop a lot more material. “We’re trying to put out, like, two albums this year, even if it’s not put out, we’re trying to make two albums. I’ll have my solo album, so for me it will be like three albums,” Hodgy said. “We’re pretty much already finished with the new MellowHype project, which is called MellowHype Numbers. We have 2 more songs to record and then it’s done.” Hodgy said they had been working out of the studio in engineer Syd’s house for the last four years, typically crank out three songs a day. “I’ll sit there, we’ll build and the next thing you know we have a song. We have the chorus, we have the ad-libs finished, we have the hook, we have everything we want. It’s not hard, because I’m not working. I’m just enjoying my task.” Despite the whirlwind Odd Future has been swept up in over the last few months, Hodgy said he was shocked by the impact their music has made. The L.A. group has appeared in and on the cover of several magazines, got “signed” in a Funny or Die video and arguably made the most noise coming out of Austin for SXSW . For Left Brain, the highlight of his time in Texas was when the group enjoyed some “good-ass tacos” with Jay-Z. (The group first met with Jay, weeks ago, during their brief East Coast tour.) “It was hard for me to look at Jay-Z for 10 minutes. Like, real sh–, this is the godfather of music,” Hodgy said. ” ‘I just shook his hand in his house.’ Honestly, it made me want to work harder. Jay-Z is amazing.” What are your thoughts on Odd Future offshoot MellowHype? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All Jay-Z

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Chris Brown’s ‘Beautiful People’ Video Premieres

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

New video debuts same day Brown made headlines for ‘Good Morning America’ outburst. By James Montgomery Chris Brown in “Beautiful People” Photo: Jive Chris Brown’s new album is called F.A.M.E., an acronym for “Forgiving All My Enemies.” Of course, as his actions on Tuesday’s (March 22) “Good Morning America” proved, if his post-show outburst was even half as extreme as reports have made it out to be, he might not have taken that title to heart just yet. The timing of his behavior following “GMA” was problematic, to say the least: Not only did it occur on the day F.A.M.E. hit stores, but it also happened hours before he was set to premiere the video for his latest single, “Beautiful People,” during MTV’s “The Seven.” Somewhat understandably, given the backlash that followed his alleged window-smashing at ABC’s studios, Brown canceled his appearance on MTV’s show, but the “People” video premiered nonetheless. Much like everything involving Brown since his 2009 assault on then-girlfriend Rihanna , how you feel about him will probably affect how you feel about his new clip. Some may see its scenes of Brown hamming it up in the studio with the likes of Pharrell and Timbaland as nothing short of garish, while others could view them as glimpses into a man who has made his penance and now is trying very hard to move on with his life. His detractors can never forgive him for his past indiscretions, and his supporters — having already forgiven him — want nothing more than to see him smile occasionally. And both sides are right. So while the “Beautiful People” video is sure to be divisive, the song most certainly is not. Because it’s totally great: a throbbing, nocturnal knocker of a track that’s dipped in equal parts swagger and studio lacquer. Producer Benny Benassi leaves his clubby touches all over the song, infusing it with house thump and a touch of Italo-boogie. Brown’s vocals are almost an afterthought; smoothed out in the studio and downright supple, his voice is almost like the lightweight chassis atop a very expensive, very fast foreign sports car. It speeds along and handles beautifully. It’s not a stretch to call “Beautiful People” not only one of the year’s most unexpected singles, but also one of the best. Of course, some folks might not even listen to it or watch the video. That’s a shame, but in some regards, I can’t blame them. Then again, sometimes it’s best to leave the judgment up to the court of public opinion and focus instead on the product at hand. Love him or hate him, with “Beautiful People,” Chris Brown has proven that he’s not going anywhere for a while, whether you like it or not. What do you think of Brown’s new video? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Chris Brown Related Artists Chris Brown

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Chris Brown Shares His Favorite F.A.M.E. Tracks

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

From ‘Look at Me Now’ to ‘Bomb,’ the singer describes his album’s creation. By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Rebecca Thomas Chris Brown Photo: MTV News On Tuesday (March 22), the day his album F.A.M.E. was released, Chris Brown struggled , and failed to keep the conversation on “Good Morning America” about his music. And while it is impossible to ignore his reported outburst backstage, following a line of questioning about Rihanna, the music is still worth talking about too. On F.A.M.E., Brown showcases his saccharine vocal pipes, and the accompanying production is designed to put swift feet in motion. Here, he shares his favorite tracks with MTV News:

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Wiz Khalifa Says ‘Taylor Gang’ Is ‘Not A Departure’

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Rapper responds to critics who say he’s gotten aggressive: ‘I don’t do anything that’s inappropriate for my style.’ By James Montgomery Wiz Khalifa Photo: MTV News AUSTIN, Texas — In recent months, first with the chart-topping success of “Black and Yellow” and then with his underground hit “Taylor Gang,” Wiz Khalifa seems to have gotten aggressive, a move that some see as a departure from his stony, laconic roots. But Wiz is not one of them. ” ‘Taylor Gang’ is not a departure for me or my style. Anybody who’s been connected to my whole career, they know the variations of where I go and my beat selections,” he told MTV News backstage at the Woodie Awards during South by Southwest. “Lex [Luger, who produced ‘Taylor Gang’] has been a real big fan since back in the day, and I’ve been up on his music for a long time as well, so it’s just been bound to happen. He’s a great guy and he’s really talented, so it’s just good to see him getting the shine he deserves.” And to anyone who still doesn’t agree with him, Wiz would like to point out that he’s actually been working with Luger for a while now — he produced a handful of songs on Wiz’s Cabin Fever mixtape — and that he wouldn’t sign on to work with anyone if he doesn’t feel like it would complement his music. “I just find that little pocket where it matches up. I don’t feel like I do anything that’s inappropriate for my style, and he’s always going to stay consistent as well,” he said. “So when we meet up, you know, that’s when it makes that magic. Cabin Fever has, like, six songs from Lex Luger on there, and people love that tape.” And with his hotly anticipated Rolling Papers album set to hit stores March 29, Khalifa said he’s hoping fans won’t bail on him just because he’s gotten a bit aggro as of late. Though, if they do, he’ll still continue doing what he does. “It’s definitely aggressive, but I’ve got songs on the album like ‘On My Level,’ ‘Black and Yellow’ is not really a calm song, so … they’ve got to keep listening,” he smiled. “Or, you know, they can stick there, but at the end of the day I know what I’m doing.” What do you think of Wiz’s new music? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Wiz Khalifa

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Nicki Minaj Explains Postponing Rihanna ‘Fly’ Video

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

With her ‘Super Bass’ video set for release, Nicki says she wants to give Rih’s current singles their ‘moment.’ By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway Photo: MTV News Nicki Minaj may be on top right now but that doesn’t mean the Pink Friday star won’t share the spotlight. Her song “Fly,” featuring Rihanna , was slated to be her next single, but now Minaj has decided to change course: Since her and the Loud singer’s albums were released within a week of each other, she wanted to let her collaborator’s tracks breathe. So the “Fly” clip won’t see the light of day until around Memorial Day, according to the Lil Wayne prot

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Gwyneth Paltrow To Duet With Matthew Morrison On His Debut Album

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The ‘Country Strong’ star and the ‘Glee’ actor have recorded a version of ‘Over the Rainbow’ for his upcoming release. By Aly Semigran Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Morrison Photo: GETTY/ Michael Tran Holly Holliday will be making sweet music with Will Schuester once more. Translating from Gleek speak, Oscar-winning-actress-turned-singing-staple Gwyneth Paltrow will be crooning yet another number with Matthew Morrison. Entertainment Weekly reports that Paltrow will appear on Morrison’s upcoming solo album, which is due out on May 10. On “Glee,” recurring guest Paltrow — who plays flaky substitute teacher Holliday — has covered Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide,” Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You” and Prince’s “Kiss,” the latter of which she performed with Morrison’s Mr. Schue. Now, the Golden Globe-nominated Morrison is having the “Country Strong” star help him out on his debut record, on a tune that’s become almost synonymous with his “Glee” character: “Over the Rainbow.” As Morrison told EW, “People kind of know me for that song now.” The Broadway-trained actor not only used the timeless “Wizard of Oz” number for his “Glee” audition, but also sang it with co-star Mark Salling (who released his own solo effort, Pipe Dreams , in 2010) during the season 1 finale — both times accompanying himself on ukulele. “I wanted to do a duet with a female. I thought that was a good song to do, and we really did a different arrangement of it,” Morrison explained about the version he recorded for his album. “It’s a lot of strings, and it’s beautiful.” Morrison admitted that he felt nervous about approaching Paltrow to see if she’d participate in the recording. “The hardest part of doing this album was asking these people favors, like Elton [John] and her,” he said. “I’m so not that guy.” In addition to Paltrow and John, Morrison also has ‘NSYNC member JC Chasez lined up for a duet on a song titled “Dancing in the Rain.” While there’s no word yet on who, if any, of his “Glee” castmates will appear on the record — both had championed to get their own duets on the album — co-star Jenna Ushkowitz has already been singing its praises . Ushkowitz, who plays glee-club member Tina Cohen-Chang on the show, told MTV News on the red carpet of the Screen Actors Guild Awards in January, “His music is really great.” She went on to say that Morrison “made his own sound” on the album, while adding that it was “a little bit of Justin Timberlake … [and] symphonic-sounding.” Morrison has yet to announce a title for album, though the actor did reveal to MTV News at Clive Davis’ post-Grammy bash in February that ” My Name ” has been considered as a possibility. Will you be listening to Matthew Morrison’s solo album when it’s released? Tell us in the comments. Related Artists Matthew Morrison Gwyneth Paltrow

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Jennifer Hudson Says I Remember Me Reflects ‘Different Chapters’

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘In 29 years, I’ve lived four different lives,’ she tells MTV News about title of her just-released album. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Christina Garibaldi Jennifer Hudson Photo: MTV News Jennifer Hudson is declaring I Remember Me on her new album, which drops this week. The album is the singer’s follow-up to her lauded 2008 self-titled debut, but this time around Hudson’s life is much different than it was three years ago. Hudson has a fianc

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Liv Tyler ‘Proud’ Of Steven Tyler’s ‘Idol’ Gig After ‘A Rough Few Years’

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘He’s enjoying himself so much,’ judge’s daughter tells MTV News. By Kara Warner Liv Tyler Photo: MTV News One of the unexpected pleasures and surprises during this new season of “American Idol” has undoubtedly been the addition of judge Steven Tyler . Whether waiting for his next endearing words of encouragement or recapping his numerous outlandish and creative expletives , America is having as much fun watching Tyler as he seems to be having himself. And aside from Tyler’s newfound fans, via “Idol,” no one is more thrilled for his resurgence in popularity than his daughter Liv. When MTV News caught up with her while promoting her new film “Super” recently, we asked for her thoughts on her dad’s new gig. “I haven’t been watching every single [episode], which I feel really bad about, but I’ve been watching a lot and I love it,” Tyler revealed. “I feel really proud of him and happy for him. He’s had a rough few years, a couple of years in particular, and I’m really happy for him that he’s enjoying himself so much,” she said.” Liv went on to say that she always knew how much fun he was, but she is glad everyone else is getting to see the other side to his rock-star persona too. “He’s so happy and naturally good at what he’s doing, it’s really nice,” she said. “It’s so funny for me, everybody keeps coming up to me going, ‘Your dad, he’s so sweet and he’s so funny!’ And of course it’s the man that I’ve known my whole life, who tells all those kinds of jokes and has that big heart,” Tyler said with a smile. “I’m really happy for him.” Don’t miss “Idol Party Live” every Thursday on MTV.com, following the “American Idol” results show, for analysis, celebrity guests and even some karaoke — get in the conversation by tweeting with the hashtag #idolparty ! In the meantime, get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists Steven Tyler

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