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Dave Grohl Wanted To Keep ‘Rope’ Video ‘Really Simple’

Foo Fighters fans will get a Wasting Light preview when their white limo travels the U.S. playing tunes, band reveals during MTV live stream. By Ryan J. Downey, with reporting by James Montgomery Dave Grohl in the Foo Fighters’ “Rope” video Photo: RCA The Foo Fighters spent six hours making the video for “White Limo” and the hilariously lo-fi clip became an Internet sensation with more than 1.2 million views to date. Soon, the clip’s namesake will travel the country giving fans early previews of the band’s forthcoming album, Wasting Light. So when it came time to make the video for “Rope,” the first official single, it only made sense to break out the VHS cameras again. On Thursday night (March 9), the Foos premiered “Rope” on MTV and told fans what inspired their DIY approach during our MTV.com interview, which just happened to stream live from the California backyard of contest winner/Foo fan Shivan. “We like to keep things really simple,” Grohl explained shortly after the video premiere. “The way we made this new record, we did it in my garage. We did it to tape. We didn’t use any computers. We just used our old tape machine. To me, that’s sort of the easiest way to do it. If you’re in an environment where you feel really comfortable and you use really simple equipment, then there’s not a lot that can go wrong, really. It just is what it is, you know?” The concept of the beauty of simplicity fueled the making of the “White Limo” video, which was in turn inspired by old-school, hard-core punk videos like Black Flag’s “TV Party” and “Slip it In.” “They were always done on VHS,” Grohl said. “The lip-syncing was always out of sync. They were really silly. The music was insane but they were funny.” “So, we got this limo and we had Lemmy [Kilmister] from Motorhead drive us around. And it was me directing! So I was just like, ‘Uh, I don’t know, um, drink that whiskey!’ … There’s something about old school VHS. It has this weird resolution that’s almost more high-def than high-def. It makes you look so gross. The lighting is always bad and the colors are always off. There’s just something about it. It’s almost like an effect, you know?” After the online success of “White Limo,” the band elected to take a similar approach to the video for “Rope,” with Grohl back in the director’s chair . “Honestly, it was like, ‘We need a video in a week.’ It was just like, ‘Uh … OK.’ I came up with the idea of this cube and the colors and the silhouettes. I thought all of those things together with that VHS resolution would look kind of cool. It was really easy. We did it in like a day.” “Rope” is currently available as a digital single and the Foo Fighters’ Wasting Light is due on April 12. To find out when the official “White Limo” hits your town, visit the site or follow the stretch limousine on Twitter . Related Videos MTV First: Foo Fighters’ ‘Rope’ Related Artists Foo Fighters

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Dave Grohl Wanted To Keep ‘Rope’ Video ‘Really Simple’

Casey Abrams Is Ready To Be A ‘Heartthrob’ On ‘American Idol’

Singer was called ‘sexy’ by judge Jennifer Lopez. By Gil Kaufman, with reporting by Kara Warner Casey Abrams Photo: Getty Images Jennifer Lopez has made a career of knowing what her fans think is sexy. So when she told bearded “American Idol” top 13 finalist Casey Abrams that she thought he had serious sex appeal, the singer took the praise in stride. The 19-year-old upright-bass player and film-camp counselor almost missed out on last week’s show due to an emergency hospitalization for stomach pains, but he’s had a good time with all the talk about his looks on the show. “Am I ready to be a heartthrob? Yes,” he said at last week’s afterparty for the top 13. “I’m ready. We’ll see how it goes.” Given his embrace of sex symbol-dom, he was asked what his plan was to take on magazine cover boy Justin Bieber. “I guess I’m gonna have to start dancing, I have to learn the drums, I’m gonna have to do this with my hair,” he joked, pulling down his unruly ‘fro onto his forehead in an attempt to approximate the Bieber swoop. The good news is that the multi-instrumentalist already plays the drums, so he can check that off his list, and he hinted that he may pull out an electric bass at some point — or even a sitar! On Wednesday night’s show , Abrams joked that he had the right (read: grizzled) look to take on notoriously disheveled rock icon Joe Cocker’s version of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and on an earlier show, he quipped, “I just want to show the world that guys like me are sexy.” “You’re sexy, Casey,” Lopez assured him last week when Casey performed an unhinged version of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You” to acclaim from the judges’ panel. “Do you know that? Somebody wants it bad,” she added in a nod to what she said was Abrams’ obvious dedication to remain in the competition. Do you agree with J.Lo that Abrams is sexy? Let us know in comments below! 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 Videos MTV News Extended Play: ‘American Idol’ Top 13 Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Top 24 ‘American Idol’ Season 10 Performances

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Casey Abrams Is Ready To Be A ‘Heartthrob’ On ‘American Idol’

Gucci Mane Just Can’t Commit In ‘I Don’t Love Her’ Video

But Mr. La Flare, Webbie and Rocko find things to love about the ladies in new clip, which premiered on ‘RapFix Live.’ By Alvin Blanco Gucci Mane in his “I Don’t Love Her” video It’s Gucci time. Atlanta’s Gucci Mane debuted his new video for “I Don’t Love Her,” featuring Webbie and Rocko, on Thursday’s (March 10) edition of “RapFix Live.” The video features Gucci, Webbie and Rocko lyrically asserting what they love about their women, without necessarily admitting they ever fall in love with them. Directed by Mr. Boomtown, the majority of the video’s scenes take place in a dark club, where the song’s players are surrounded by numerous, gyrating video vixens. “I love things about her (but don’t love her)/ I love the way she treat me (but don’t love her),” Rocko says on the most-PG portion of the song’s hook. “I Don’t Love Her” is produced by Zaytoven and will appear on Gucci’s upcoming street album, The Return Of Mr. Zone 6, due in stores on March 22. Earlier this week, Gucci released another song from the project, “Brinks,” with rhymes from veteran rapper and music mogul Master P. Other features on the album include Wale, Birdman, OJ Da Juiceman and Waka Flocka Flame, among others. Lately, Gucci has been getting more attention for his legal dilemmas and questionable taste in body art than his music. In January, Gucci made headlines when photos of his new tattoo — an ice cream cone with three scoops and the word “Brrr” beneath it on the right side of his face — hit the Internet. That same month, Gucci La Flare was arrested for a parole violation and it was revealed that he had filed a “special plea of mental incompetency.” What do you think of Gucci Mane’s new video? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Yelawolf Related Artists Gucci Mane

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Gucci Mane Just Can’t Commit In ‘I Don’t Love Her’ Video

Michael Rapaport Says Sony Purchased A Tribe Called Quest Documentary; Q-Tip Says Otherwise

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In a press release circulated today, Michael Rapaport claims that Sony Pictures Classics purchased the rights to his documentary on A Tribe Called Quest . The documentary premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Who Are The Top 5 Wealthiest Hip-Hop Artists In 2011? Celebrate Mardis Gras With Bob James Despite the press release, which appeared on Indiewire.com , Q-Tip hopped on Twitter to refute the claims.   In a reply to a tweet about the acquisition made by RapRadar’s Elliott Wilson, Q-Tip simply called the press release “bullsh*t.” RELATED: Q-Tip Checks Michael Rapaport Over Documentary Comments RELATED: Q-Tip Explains Why He Doesn’t Support Tribe Documentary [AUDIO]

Michael Rapaport Says Sony Purchased A Tribe Called Quest Documentary; Q-Tip Says Otherwise

Yelawolf Recalls Meeting Eminem For The First Time

Shady Records rapper also tells MTV News’ ‘RapFix Live’ that Em got him to curb his drinking. By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway When Yelawolf first met his new boss, Eminem, the meeting couldn’t have been more casual. “He said, ‘What’s up? I’m Marshall,’ ” Yelawolf recalled to MTV News on Thursday’s (March 10) “RapFix Live.” The meeting obviously went well: Yela is the latest recruit to Em’s Shady Records empire , along with Slaughterhouse (Joe Budden, Crooked I, Joell Oritz and Royce Da 5’9″.) Yela and Em talked in Detroit after producer Jim Jonsin and Eminem’s manager urged the rapper to listen to the upstart’s music . They shared similarities in their upbringing, and the partnership paid off immediately when the Grammy-winning superstar bestowed the young lyricist with advice, according to Yela. “I’m a drinker; I drink a lot,” he explained. “My management was concerned about some advice he could give me about slowing down so I don’t get caught up in that life. He told me if it gets to the point where you need a drink before you go onstage, like you require that to function, is when you need to check yourself. And honestly, that’s where I was at that point. And I’ve changed. I don’t drink before I perform anymore.” The Alabama rapper will stick knock back a beer, but he’s given up overdoing it before shows. Now, he says, he’s enjoying himself more and his confidence has grown. And that courage helped when he first played Eminem his debut album. “I’m super excited about the music and fully confident that it’s jamming,” he said. “I was a little nervous, but after we broke the ice and really chopped it up, he seemed excited about it. So that makes me twice as excited now.” What do you think of Yelawolf’s music? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Yelawolf Related Artists YelaWolf Eminem

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Yelawolf Recalls Meeting Eminem For The First Time

Lady Gaga’s Scrapped Deal Leaves Target ‘Surprised And Disappointed’

Gaga dissolved relationship with retail giant over reported political contributions made to antigay gubernatorial candidate. By Jocelyn Vena Lady Gaga Photo: Tom Briglia/ WireImage Retail giant Target has issued a statement in reaction to the news that Lady Gaga has decided not to release an exclusive deluxe edition of Born This Way, due May 23, through the store as originally planned. In a statement released to MTV News, Target explained that Gaga’s reservations about working with the company came as a shock. Gaga had reportedly dissolved her relationship with the chain megastore after LGBT groups began investigating certain donations the store made, including a 2010 donation of corporate funds to MN Forward, a political action committee that supported antigay candidate Tom Emmer in his 2010 run for governor of Minnesota. “We were very surprised and disappointed by the statements made by Lady Gaga’s organization related to her partnership with Target,” the company wrote. “Target remains committed to the LGBT community as demonstrated by our contributions to various LGBT organizations, our recently established Policy Committee to review our political giving and our respectful, inclusive workplace environment.” Gaga, an outspoken gay activist, had previously addressed concerns about Target’s political leanings but hoped that they would be able to work to expand their LGBT horizons with her onboard. “That discussion was one of the most intense conversations I’ve ever had in a business meeting,” Gaga said. “Part of my deal with Target is that they have to start affiliating themselves with LGBT charity groups and begin to reform and make amends for the mistakes they’ve made in the past. … Our relationship is hinged upon their reform in the company to support the gay community and to redeem the mistakes they’ve made supporting those [antigay] groups.” Related Videos Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ Video Premieres Related Photos Lady Gaga’s Runway Debut At Mugler Fashion Show Related Artists Lady Gaga

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Lady Gaga’s Scrapped Deal Leaves Target ‘Surprised And Disappointed’

Kanye West Recruits Drake, Big Sean For ‘All Of The Lights’ Remix

Drizzy verse is reportedly different from the one he recorded for earlier version. By Jayson Rodriguez Kanye West Photo: Getty Images Kanye West has been quiet, by his standards, ever since releasing his last album, and most assume the MC/producer went off the radar to finish working on his collaboration album with Jay-Z, Watch the Throne. But now, it seems, ‘Ye has more in store than just his project with Hov. According to a tweet by Los Angeles spin doctor DJ Franzen, West has recruited Big Sean and Drake for the remix to his current single, “All of the Lights.” “Drizzy murdered the ‘All of the Lights’ remix with @kanyewest,” the DJ wrote . “He played it at the Suite Party last night! I heard it 1st last Sat.” A verse from the Thank Me Later star originally appeared on an early version of “All of the Lights” that landed online before the release of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. But on the album version, Drake is one of a many vocalists, including Rihanna , Elton John, Fergie, La Roux , John Legend and more, and his voice is indistinguishable from the others on the track. Drake’s earlier verse will reportedly be replaced with a new set of rhymes for the remix, according to Complex magazine. Last last year, in an interview with Eminem’s Shade 45 satellite radio show, Drake talked about his “All of the Lights” contribution not making Yeezy’s album. “Kanye’s creative process is ever-changing,” Drake explained. “We make music differently. I make what comes to me and I hate changing it, whereas ‘Ye will change something 30 or 40 times to get it perfect. To each their own, and the change was to put all those people on it, and I wasn’t one of them. That’s completely OK.” Check out what fans are already saying about anticipating the “All of the Lights” remix on Rapfix . Related Artists Drake Kanye West

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Kanye West Recruits Drake, Big Sean For ‘All Of The Lights’ Remix

Adele Makes It Two In A Row Atop Billboard 200

Former Floetry member Marsha Ambrosius lands at #2 with solo debut. By Gil Kaufman Adele’s 21 Photo: Columbia Records Cracking the American market has always been a challenge for British acts, but U.K. soul singer Adele is making it look easy. After her second album, 21, topped the Billboard 200 chart last week, she will do it again next week, holding onto the top spot with sales just shy of 168,000. According to figures provided by Nielsen SoundScan, sales were down 52 percent, but that was still enough to beat out the #2 album, the solo debut by former Floetry member Marsha Ambrosius , Late Nights & Early Mornings, which had a good showing thanks to 96,000 units moved. The only other newcomers in the top 10 are the latest from Irish rockers Dropkick Murphys , Going Out in Style, which comes in at #6 (43,000), and Staind singer Aaron Lewis ‘ solo effort, Town Line, which is just behind at #7 (38,000). The rest of the top 10: Mumford & Sons , Sigh No More (#3, 54,000), Justin Bieber , Never Say Never – The Remixes (#4, 53,000), NOW 37 (#5, 44,000), Bieber’s My World 2.0 (#8, 33,000), Bruno Mars , Doo-Wops & Hooligans (#9, 32,000) and Pink , Greatest Hits So Far!!! (#10, 31,000). The latest sales totals for Mumford make them the first English band since 2009 (Coldplay, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends ) to sell 1 million copies of an album in both the U.K. and U.S. One of the most notable chart climbs belongs to the left-for-dead soundtrack to the Christina Aguilera/ Cher big-screen flop “Burlesque,” which rockets up 122 spots in the wake of Aguilera’s arrest for public intoxication , the movie’s release on DVD and the announcement that Aguilera will join the judging panel of “The Voice.” Also getting a boost following its Oscar win is the soundtrack to “The Social Network” by Nine Inch Nails leader Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross , which climbs 66 slots to #59 (9,000). Further down the line, Different Gear, Still Speeding, the debut from former Oasis singer Liam Gallagher’s new band, Beady Eye , lands at #31 on modest sales of 13,000, and Swedish singer Lykke Li ‘s second album, Wounded Rhymes, debuts at #36 (12,000). Lady Gaga still rules the singles chart on iTunes, topping the list with “Born This Way,” followed by “American Idol” judge Jennifer Lopez ‘s smash dance hit “On the Floor,” Cee Lo Green ‘s “Forget You,” Rihanna ‘s “S&M,” Ke$ha ‘s “Blow” and Dr. Dre ‘s “I Need a Doctor.” The tally is rounded out with #7 hit “F—in’ Perfect” by Pink , Katy Perry ‘s “E.T.,” Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and Britney Spears ‘ “Till the World Ends.” Adele continued her winning ways on the iTunes albums chart, holding down the #1 spot, followed by Ambrosius, Mumford, Luke Bryan ‘s Spring Break 3 … It’s a Shore Thing, the Murphys, Lewis, Pink, Bieber’s 2.0, Beady Eye and pre-orders for Foo Fighters ‘ Wasting Light. Look for chart debuts next week from Lupe Fiasco , Avril Lavigne , R.E.M. , Raekwon and the latest “Glee” soundtrack. Related Artists Adele

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Adele Makes It Two In A Row Atop Billboard 200

Dave Matthews Band Announce Festival Details

Band will headline four three-day festivals this summer, beginning in Atlantic City in June. By Aly Semigran Photo: 2011 Kevin Mazur/ GETTY For many, the Dave Matthews Band is summer. So, after a 20-year kinship with the band on the road, what exactly would a DMB-less summer look like for devoted fans? Lucky for “Dave heads,” they’ll no longer have to ponder that prospect. In 2010 the band announced they would be taking a hiatus from touring in 2011, but in the months that followed, an announcement was made that the multifaceted group — which includes Dave Matthews, Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard and Boyd Tinsley, as well as Rashawn Ross, Tim Reynolds and Jeff Coffin (who stepped in after the death of founding member LeRoi Moore) — would be headlining a four-stop, multi-act Caravan festival from June to September. On February 22, members of DMB’s fan club, the Warehouse, received a cryptic “save the date” e-mail informing them that from June 24 to June 26 Dave and co. would be in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region and from July 8 to July 10 they’d be in the Midwest. The e-mail also alerted fans that the band would bring the tour out in August and September, but no locations or dates have been listed. Now fans can start making some concrete plans, as details for the first part of the festival have officially been announced. From June 24 to June 26, the Dave Matthews Band will headline three shows at Bader Field in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In addition to closing sets from the band each evening, as well as an acoustic set featuring Matthews and Reynolds, concertgoers will see scheduled performers David Gray, Ray LaMontagne, the Flaming Lips, O.A.R., Damian Marley, Bassnectar, Dr. Dog, Amos Lee, Thievery Corporation, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Warren Haynes Band, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Guster, Lotus, Rebelution, Fitz and the Tantrums, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Lisa Hannigan, Punch Brothers, From Good Homes, Delta Spirit, Big Gigantic, Alberta Cross, Mariachi El Bronx, TR3, Vusi Mahlasela, the Budos Band and Bobby Long. Tickets, which will only be available as three-day passes, go on sale to the general public Friday, March 25, at 10 a.m. However, members of the Warehouse will get the option of making ticket requests from Monday, March 14, to Monday, March 21, and Citi Card members will have access to pre-sale tickets on Monday, March 21. Will you be attending the Dave Matthews Band’s Caravan festival this summer? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Dave Matthews Band Dave Matthews

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Dave Matthews Band Announce Festival Details

Lupe Fiasco Says He’s ‘Joyous’ That Fans Rallied For Lasers Release

‘To have my fans support it in a major way feels really good,’ rapper tells MTV News. By Jayson Rodriguez Photo: MTV News Six months ago, Lupe Fiasco’s Lasers LP was in limbo and in danger of being ignored by his record label. The Chicago rapper and Atlantic Records were at odds over creative and business decisions. But then Lupe’s fans mobilized to organize the “Fiasco Friday” protest , resulting in the long-delayed Lasers, Lupe’s third album, finally getting a release date, which came earlier this week. The effort of his fans was not lost on the rapper. “I’m joyous, it’s happy times. It’s something that’s never been done before in hip-hop, to have fans protest for the release of a record,” he told MTV News. “That’s never been done before, so that milestone in itself is something to be happy about. The other side of it is that it’s another Lupe Fiasco record. It always feels good to put new music out there.” With Lasers, the talented lyricist aimed to target a larger audience, as evident by his current single, “The Show Goes On.” “For this record, being a more popular record and being the goal of this record from its inception, no matter what changes and phases and label battles that it went through, it was always about, ‘Let’s take it to another level,’ ” he told MTV News. That his devoted fanbase stayed on the board touched the rapper. “Getting a chance to introduce my message and my movement to a wider audience is always a good thing, but at the same time, to have my fans support it in a major way feels really good,” he said. Related Artists Lupe Fiasco

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Lupe Fiasco Says He’s ‘Joyous’ That Fans Rallied For Lasers Release