Tag Archives: artists

Nate Dogg’s Death Was ‘A Crushing Blow,’ Warren G Says

‘I’m hurting,’ Warren tells MTV News after raucous SXSW tribute to late friend. By James Montgomery Kurupt and Warren G Photo: MTV News On Saturday night at South by Southwest, Warren G , Daz, Kurupt and Snoop Dogg paid homage to their late friend Nate Dogg with a raucous tribute show that celebrated the music of a man who lived every day to the fullest. And while the mood onstage was definitely joyous — the quartet performed many of the songs Nate leant his voice to, in a poignant tribute to his talents — backstage at Austin’s Venue 222, things were much more muted. In fact, when Warren G spoke to MTV News about his late cohort, he didn’t hide the fact that he (and everyone who ever knew Nate Dogg) was still hurting inside. In fact, starting with the moment he heard the news of Nate’s passing, things have been far from normal. “I was out on the Sweat Tour with Snoop, and we had got the word from his family on what was going on, and it was just a crushing blow for us,” Warren said. “Just, from going to see him and lifting his spirits up when he was in therapy, and stuff like that, it’s just crazy for that to happen. And I still don’t believe it, you know what I’m saying? “It kind of hurts me when I look at this shirt [the organizers of the SXSW tribute show sold Nate Dogg T-shirts, with proceeds going to the late singer’s family], it’s like, ‘Damn, that’s my homeboy on this shirt,’ ” he continued. “And I’m hurting, and you know, a lot of people are showing tons of support for his family, for his homeboys, and we really and truly appreciate that. It’s real love.” And though they took the stage that night with a heavy heart, Warren and his cohorts also did it knowing that their friend was with them in spirit, and that by honoring his music, they were also honoring a man they all knew and loved. “It means a lot, you know, because this is something that’s being done for a person that we really love. It’s deeper than music, that’s a brother to us, to me and Kurupt and Snoop and Daz … it’s really deeper than that,” he said. “I mean, like, I’m not a psychic or a genie or a gypsy or anything, but I know deep down in my heart he’s around us, he’s with us … he’s with us in spirit. Everything we do, he’s a part of it.” Related Photos 2011 SXSW Music Festival Nate Dogg: A Life In Photos Related Artists Nate Dogg Warren G

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Nate Dogg’s Death Was ‘A Crushing Blow,’ Warren G Says

Lady Gaga Wraps Up Born This Way, Plans Tour

Now that the ‘spectacular’ album is done, tour plans are next, creative director Laurieann Gibson tells MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena Lady Gaga Photo: Tom Briglia/ WireImage Over the weekend, Lady Gaga tweeted that her May release, Born This Way, was nearly complete. “In Nebraska, finishing up record today,” she wrote. “I’m so proud of the album: I keep dancing+drinking: metal/techno rock journey of a woman on the run.” Now, with eight weeks left until it officially drops, Gaga’s creative director, Laurieann Gibson, revealed that this album will have the Little Monsters going, well, gaga. “This new album is spectacular,” Gibson told MTV News. “And I got to tell you, you got to really stand by and take notice, ’cause the album is excellent. It’s of such excellence that I think that everyone’s going to be really impressed and affected.” The first single from the album, the title track, has sat at the top of the charts for weeks, and as Gaga readies the release of a second single, the RedOne-produced “Judas,” Gibson said it’s just the beginning. “The records are so visual and large and the concept of birthing has so many levels to it and the dance is never limited, that you’re just gonna keep seeing an extension of this story,” she explained. “And hopefully [we] get humanity to a place where we can effect change.” With the album basically done, plans for the tour are under way. “We did a theater in an arena and it worked [for the Moster Ball Tour]. … How do we take it to the next level?” Gibson teased of Gaga’s next outing. What are you expecting from Gaga’s album and tour? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Lady Gaga Creative Director Laurieann Gibson Related Photos Lady Gaga’s Madison Square Garden Performance Related Artists Lady Gaga

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Lady Gaga Wraps Up Born This Way, Plans Tour

Lady Gaga Wraps Up Born This Way, Plans Tour

Now that the ‘spectacular’ album is done, tour plans are next, creative director Laurieann Gibson tells MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena Lady Gaga Photo: Tom Briglia/ WireImage Over the weekend, Lady Gaga tweeted that her May release, Born This Way, was nearly complete. “In Nebraska, finishing up record today,” she wrote. “I’m so proud of the album: I keep dancing+drinking: metal/techno rock journey of a woman on the run.” Now, with eight weeks left until it officially drops, Gaga’s creative director, Laurieann Gibson, revealed that this album will have the Little Monsters going, well, gaga. “This new album is spectacular,” Gibson told MTV News. “And I got to tell you, you got to really stand by and take notice, ’cause the album is excellent. It’s of such excellence that I think that everyone’s going to be really impressed and affected.” The first single from the album, the title track, has sat at the top of the charts for weeks, and as Gaga readies the release of a second single, the RedOne-produced “Judas,” Gibson said it’s just the beginning. “The records are so visual and large and the concept of birthing has so many levels to it and the dance is never limited, that you’re just gonna keep seeing an extension of this story,” she explained. “And hopefully [we] get humanity to a place where we can effect change.” With the album basically done, plans for the tour are under way. “We did a theater in an arena and it worked [for the Moster Ball Tour]. … How do we take it to the next level?” Gibson teased of Gaga’s next outing. What are you expecting from Gaga’s album and tour? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos MTV News Extended Play: Lady Gaga Creative Director Laurieann Gibson Related Photos Lady Gaga’s Madison Square Garden Performance Related Artists Lady Gaga

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Lady Gaga Wraps Up Born This Way, Plans Tour

Will Nicki Minaj Or Taylor Momsen Join ‘X Factor’ Judges’ Panel?

Simon Cowell has not announced full lineup yet. By Gil Kaufman Nicki Minaj Photo: Jason LaVeris/ Getty Images Simon Cowell knows how this hype game works. As his old cronies at “American Idol” chug along just fine without him, the former Minister of Mean has managed to stoke the fires for months with speculation about who might sit on the judging panel of his upcoming U.S. version of the “X Factor” reality singing competition. The latest names thrown into the mix are the most unlikely to date: Nicki Minaj and bad girl singer/actress Taylor Momsen. An “X Factor” spokesperson did not return requests for comment, and both artists’ camps offered a “no comment” on the rumors. The New York Post. claimed Minaj met with Cowell a few weeks ago in Los Angeles and that the meeting went well and Cowell thought she fit in well with his plan to find a next-generation musical talent on what he has promised will be the “best judging panel” on TV . Among the other names that have been tossed in the hopper over the past few months: former Pussycat Dolls leader Nicole Scherzinger, Rihanna, Enrique Iglesias, Cowell’s former “Idol” sparring partner Paula Abdul, Jessica Simpson, ex-Spice Girl Mel B, former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland, fallen star George Michael, British pop singer Cheryl Cole and ex-Sony boss Tommy Mottola. Celebuzz claimed that former “Gossip Girl” bad girl Momsen is also in the running. The 17-year-old Pretty Reckless singer is apparently also being considered because she would bring a “young, hip and edgy” vibe to the show. With auditions for the show kicking off Sunday in Los Angeles, only one judge’s seat has been filled. Last week, it was announced that famed producer and former Island Def Jam CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid had joined the show, though one of Reid’s former prot

Will Nicki Minaj Or Taylor Momsen Join ‘X Factor’ Judges’ Panel?

Simon Cowell has not announced full lineup yet. By Gil Kaufman Nicki Minaj Photo: Jason LaVeris/ Getty Images Simon Cowell knows how this hype game works. As his old cronies at “American Idol” chug along just fine without him, the former Minister of Mean has managed to stoke the fires for months with speculation about who might sit on the judging panel of his upcoming U.S. version of the “X Factor” reality singing competition. The latest names thrown into the mix are the most unlikely to date: Nicki Minaj and bad girl singer/actress Taylor Momsen. An “X Factor” spokesperson did not return requests for comment, and both artists’ camps offered a “no comment” on the rumors. The New York Post. claimed Minaj met with Cowell a few weeks ago in Los Angeles and that the meeting went well and Cowell thought she fit in well with his plan to find a next-generation musical talent on what he has promised will be the “best judging panel” on TV . Among the other names that have been tossed in the hopper over the past few months: former Pussycat Dolls leader Nicole Scherzinger, Rihanna, Enrique Iglesias, Cowell’s former “Idol” sparring partner Paula Abdul, Jessica Simpson, ex-Spice Girl Mel B, former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland, fallen star George Michael, British pop singer Cheryl Cole and ex-Sony boss Tommy Mottola. Celebuzz claimed that former “Gossip Girl” bad girl Momsen is also in the running. The 17-year-old Pretty Reckless singer is apparently also being considered because she would bring a “young, hip and edgy” vibe to the show. With auditions for the show kicking off Sunday in Los Angeles, only one judge’s seat has been filled. Last week, it was announced that famed producer and former Island Def Jam CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid had joined the show, though one of Reid’s former prot

New ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ Trailer: Five Key Scenes

The new preview gives us a few clues about Jack’s journey to the Fountain of Youth. By Eric Ditzian Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow Photo: Disney We’ve just crossed the two-month mark; there’s now a mere 59 days until “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” shoves off and into theaters. What’s more, there’s now a brand-new trailer for Johnny Depp’s seafaring 3-D adventure flick, giving us important pieces of plot info and raising all new questions about what we’re going to see when the movie debuts. As we continue to count down the days until that premiere, let’s take a look at the new trailer’s five key moments. Looks Like They Took a Wrong Turn We’ve already seen a variation of this scene — Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow walking under some kind of stone archway on an island — but in the new trailer, we see the camera push forward a little, giving us a peek at what’s on the other side: a ship perched on a cliff high above the water line. How’d it get there? Well, as we see throughout the new footage, the laws of physics get twisted in all sorts of funky ways. Just as compelling a question as what the ship is doing up there is: Whose ship is it? Speaking of ships, the Black Pearl is back in the mix, though this time it seems to be in the hands of nefarious Blackbeard (Ian McShane). And as Captain Barbossa explains, Blackbeard has made some unconventional improvements to the craft. “The rigging had come to life. Our own ship turned against us,” he tells Jack as we see shots of ropes whipping around like tentacles and plucking up pirates. What sort of dark magic does Blackbeard wield? A confusing one, no doubt, because after Sparrow gets caught up in the ship’s new powers, he blurts out, “Captain, I wish to report a mutiny. I can name fingers and point names!” We’ve seen plenty of mermaids floating through previous “Pirates” footage, but the new trailer gives us the most information yet about how these creatures fit into the storyline. Turns out, a mermaid is needed to locate the fountain of youth — that mythical place everyone in “On Stranger Tides” is trying to find. That explains why, as in earlier footage, we see a shot of a mermaid trapped in a seriously large fish tank. Captivity, however, can kill a mermaid. Given that under his tattoos and dreadlocks, Sparrow is a very moral guy, we suspect Jack might go from capturing a mermaid to setting one free. From the very first official “On Stranger Tides” photos , we’ve seen Jack being dragged into Old Royal Naval College by King George II’s guards and offered the job of finding the fountain of youth. But the captain isn’t one take to orders. How does he slip away from King George’s men? A clue seems to arrive in the form of Jack wearing a musty old wig and a bright red robe, just like a British judge: nothing like a clever disguise to help a pirate escape. As we mentioned, Jack’s quest for the fountain brings him into contact with lands in which the laws of physics don’t entirely apply. Early in the new trailer, for instance, a drop of water seems to fall upwards, hitting Jack’s hands as it goes. Here we see our hero in a sort of cave that has a roof of water. How exactly does something like happen? And, furthermore, how is he pulled up into the water as if by reverse gravity? We likely won’t get the full answer until the movie arrives on May 20. Check out everything we’ve got on ” Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos Top Five Scenes In The New ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ Trailer

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New ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ Trailer: Five Key Scenes

New ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ Trailer: Five Key Scenes

The new preview gives us a few clues about Jack’s journey to the Fountain of Youth. By Eric Ditzian Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow Photo: Disney We’ve just crossed the two-month mark; there’s now a mere 59 days until “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” shoves off and into theaters. What’s more, there’s now a brand-new trailer for Johnny Depp’s seafaring 3-D adventure flick, giving us important pieces of plot info and raising all new questions about what we’re going to see when the movie debuts. As we continue to count down the days until that premiere, let’s take a look at the new trailer’s five key moments. Looks Like They Took a Wrong Turn We’ve already seen a variation of this scene — Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow walking under some kind of stone archway on an island — but in the new trailer, we see the camera push forward a little, giving us a peek at what’s on the other side: a ship perched on a cliff high above the water line. How’d it get there? Well, as we see throughout the new footage, the laws of physics get twisted in all sorts of funky ways. Just as compelling a question as what the ship is doing up there is: Whose ship is it? Speaking of ships, the Black Pearl is back in the mix, though this time it seems to be in the hands of nefarious Blackbeard (Ian McShane). And as Captain Barbossa explains, Blackbeard has made some unconventional improvements to the craft. “The rigging had come to life. Our own ship turned against us,” he tells Jack as we see shots of ropes whipping around like tentacles and plucking up pirates. What sort of dark magic does Blackbeard wield? A confusing one, no doubt, because after Sparrow gets caught up in the ship’s new powers, he blurts out, “Captain, I wish to report a mutiny. I can name fingers and point names!” We’ve seen plenty of mermaids floating through previous “Pirates” footage, but the new trailer gives us the most information yet about how these creatures fit into the storyline. Turns out, a mermaid is needed to locate the fountain of youth — that mythical place everyone in “On Stranger Tides” is trying to find. That explains why, as in earlier footage, we see a shot of a mermaid trapped in a seriously large fish tank. Captivity, however, can kill a mermaid. Given that under his tattoos and dreadlocks, Sparrow is a very moral guy, we suspect Jack might go from capturing a mermaid to setting one free. From the very first official “On Stranger Tides” photos , we’ve seen Jack being dragged into Old Royal Naval College by King George II’s guards and offered the job of finding the fountain of youth. But the captain isn’t one take to orders. How does he slip away from King George’s men? A clue seems to arrive in the form of Jack wearing a musty old wig and a bright red robe, just like a British judge: nothing like a clever disguise to help a pirate escape. As we mentioned, Jack’s quest for the fountain brings him into contact with lands in which the laws of physics don’t entirely apply. Early in the new trailer, for instance, a drop of water seems to fall upwards, hitting Jack’s hands as it goes. Here we see our hero in a sort of cave that has a roof of water. How exactly does something like happen? And, furthermore, how is he pulled up into the water as if by reverse gravity? We likely won’t get the full answer until the movie arrives on May 20. Check out everything we’ve got on ” Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Photos Top Five Scenes In The New ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ Trailer

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New ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ Trailer: Five Key Scenes

Kelly Clarkson ‘Will Sing Her Butt Off’ On New Record, Songwriter Says

‘When it comes out, the fans will be happy … it’ll be good times,’ Claude Kelly says. By Jocelyn Vena Kelly Clarkson Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage While fans may have to wait until September to hear Kelly Clarkson ‘s new album , songwriter Claude Kelly is revealing some details about what fans will hear once the album drops. He recently worked on the album with Clarkson, and while he’s not completely sure which tracks will make the final cut, he said that Clarkson will be back bigger and better than ever. “I’m not surprised ’cause the music industry is full of unexpected things,” he said of the delay. “I will say that I’d be willing to bet that the reason it was pushed back was not for anything as horrible or earth-shattering as people think — it’s probably [just] a better setup.” Describing the current pop scene as “congested,” Claude Kelly thinks that a slightly delayed release will work in Clarkson’s favor. “They want to make sure that the arena is clean for Kelly Clarkson’s return, ’cause when she comes back, she always comes back pretty big,” he said. “They want to make sure when her first single comes out, there’s nothing out there that’s competing with it. I don’t know for sure, but Kelly always does it big, so when it comes out, the fans will be happy and she’ll sing her butt off and it’ll be good times.” Kelly and Clarkson have been working on some fun up-tempo tracks for the album. “The songs I did write for her were in true Kelly Clarkson form, singer records that showcase her voice, but also show her edge and her attitude and her personality,” he explained. “[It’s] always up-tempo for me when it comes to Kelly. I like to hear her in kick-butt mode. She has an edge to her voice that you want to hear her sing high and get in your face.” Over the weekend, Clarkson debuted a ballad titled “Why Don’t You Try” at Muhammad Ali’s 17th Annual Celebrity Fight Night in Arizona and it definitely displayed big voice. The track is a cover of songwriter Eric Hutchinson’s 2009 tune. Related Artists Kelly Clarkson

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Kelly Clarkson ‘Will Sing Her Butt Off’ On New Record, Songwriter Says

Ricky Martin, ‘True Blood’ Win GLAAD Awards

Tina Fey was also on hand to accept the Outstanding Individual Episode award for ’30 Rock.’ By Jocelyn Vena Ricky Martin at the GLAAD Awards on Saturday Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage Tina Fey, “True Blood” star Denis O’Hare and Patrick Wilson are just of few of the celebrities who gathered at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards , hosted by Bravo’s Andy Cohen on Saturday in New York. The awards honor “fair, accurate and inclusive representations” of the LGBT community in television and journalism. Big winners of the night included “True Blood,” which won for Outstanding Drama Series, and “30 Rock,” which won for Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without a regular LGBT character) for its “Klaus & Greta” episode. Entrepreneur Russell Simmons was honored with the Excellence in Media Award. Ricky Martin took home the Vito Russo Award, which is presented to a “lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality for the LGBT community.” In his speech, Martin credited GLAAD for helping him cope in the wake of his public coming out last year on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” He then went on to push for Latin American gay rights and asked that GLAAD stand up for those who can’t in that community. “I just want to be free. I can say today I’m free,” he said at the event. “And for that I definitely need to thank my parents for being so supportive, my mother and my dad for their unconditional love, and my friends, my family, my fans. And my partner in crime and my boyfriend Carlos.” That was only the beginning of the accolades for those projects and people nominated, with additional GLAAD awards scheduled to be handed out in Los Angeles on April 10 and in San Francisco on May 14. Related Photos The Evolution Of: Ricky Martin Related Artists Ricky Martin

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Ricky Martin, ‘True Blood’ Win GLAAD Awards

Justin Bieber Passes Michael Jackson’s Box-Office Record

‘Justin Bieber: Never Say Never’ has outgrossed MJ’s ‘This Is It’ in U.S. By Gil Kaufman Justin Bieber in “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” Photo: Paramount Pictures Michael Jackson may have dubbed himself the King of Pop, but the late icon didn’t hold the box-office crown for long. Less than a year after the posthumous MJ documentary “This Is It” became the most successful concert-themed film in U.S. history, Justin Bieber is poised to snatch the mantle. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” has earned $72.2 million in domestic box office so far, passing Jackson’s $72.1 million haul. And while Bieber has racked up those impressive numbers in just six weeks, he’s got a long way to go before he laps the global receipts for the MJ doc. “This Is It” has grossed $189.1 million overseas for a global total of $261.2 million. Music films don’t typically play well overseas, and THR noted that “Never Say Never” has grossed a more modest $10.8 million overseas so far, with Paramount executives predicting that it could top out around $20 million internationally. The impressive U.S. numbers were likely goosed by the re-release of the film recently with 40 additional minutes of bonus footage from director Jon M. Chu . Bieber still has a little way to go to climb the list of the top-grossing documentaries of all time. “Never Say Never” is currently stalled out at the #3 position, around $5 million behind “March of the Penguins,” according to Box Office Mojo , and well short of the all-time record held by Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which has taken in $119.1 million to date. Bieber set off a classic MJ-style fan frenzy a few weeks ago when he visited Liverpool, England, for his world tour. And just a week later, he posed with his new wax figure at London’s Madame Tussauds , checking off another item on the list of milestones to an MJ-like career. Related Videos ‘Justin Bieber: Never Say Never’ Sneak Peeks Related Photos Justin Bieber’s ‘Never Say Never’ L.A. Premiere Related Artists Justin Bieber Michael Jackson

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Justin Bieber Passes Michael Jackson’s Box-Office Record