Tag Archives: artists

Man Kills 200,000 Ants To Make Artistic Statement

Photo via Snap While it doesn’t rank on par with killing an endangered animal like a tiger or bluefin tuna in the name of art, killing 200,000 ants to create a piece of art is still falls on the odd, and cruel side. Chris Trueman from California bought batches of ants at a cost of $500 per 40,000. After killing them with cotton balls soaked in nail polish remover, he used them to create a picture. What might be more jaw-dropping is that the 48-inch-by-42-inch work was priced at $35,000 when he completed it. … Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Man Kills 200,000 Ants To Make Artistic Statement

Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco And Jadakiss Hit The Court, Talk Music

‘Everybody’s hot right now,’ T.O. tells Mixtape Daily about his favorite music. By Shaheem Reid Jadakiss Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images Celebrity Favorites: Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco and Jadakiss Harlem’s Rucker Park is a necessary destination for hip-hop and basketball royalty. Top NBA stars — from Kobe Bryant to Allen Iverson — have all come uptown to 155th Street to hoop it up over the years at the Entertainers Basketball Classic, while top-tier performers such as Jay-Z, Fat Joe and the Ruff Ryders have all had basketball teams rep them. A couple of days ago, it was the NFL’s chance to show love. Friends, VH1 reality stars and Pro Bowl athletes Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco came out. “The first time, I didn’t really know what to expect,” said T.O., who was suiting up to play. “It’s been some years. I had always heard about Rucker Park and all the And 1 guys that have come through here. A lot of legends have been out here and played on this court, from Kobe, J.R. Smith, all those guys. I’m no different. I’m just out here trying to fit in. I play all the time. I been working out and training out in L.A. A number of NBA guys train out there.” Ochocinco coached the team opposing T.O. The man formerly known as Chad Johnson said he couldn’t play because training camp is next week. “This is how I grew up, in the ‘hood.” the Cincinnati Bengals star said. “It’s always a good chance to give back. This is the first time I’ve had to be graced with the presence of the famous Rucker Park. It’s a pleasure for me to be here. A lot of great ones came through here. I don’t play no basketball, but it’s a pleasure to be here.” Jadakiss played for Ochocinco’s team. “I might suit up,” Jada said with a smile. “It’s good for the people. They wanna see your boy. I might go out there and run a little bit. Plus, I got my tournament next week up in Yonkers. I usually don’t bring the bigwigs to the playoff time. I’m pretty sure to have Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans. Hopefully John Wall, [DeMarcus] Cousins. All of the phenoms. It’s good for the kids, just to bring them out. It’s good for the community.” Ochocinco lists Jada as one of his favorite MCs right now. “Right now I’m on that Albert Anastasia, I’m on my dawg Ricky Ross real hard right now,” Ocho said. “I tweeted Jadakiss a couple of days go, showing him the love for everything he got going on. I listen to everybody, especially what’s coming out of New York. I really listen to what everybody has to say. I like lyrical content. I support everybody. I don’t care who you are. If you come out, I’mma get you.” T.O., who also DJs in his spare time, has a listening taste that varies as well. “I’m flexible. Everybody’s hot right now,” Owens said. “Got my man Jada, Young Jeezy, Drake, Weezy. I mean, dude, it’s so much music out. Keri Hilson. Everybody’s got some hot stuff out right now.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc .

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Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco And Jadakiss Hit The Court, Talk Music

Vince Vaughn And Wife Kyla Weber Expecting A Baby

The actor and his wife will be first-time parents, People magazine reports. By Mawuse Ziegbe Kyla Weber and Vince Vaughn Photo: Jonathan Daniel/ Getty Images Vince Vaughn , the star of bachelor-friendly flicks like Wedding Crashers and Swingers, is starting a family. The actor tied the knot earlier this year with Kyla Weber, and People magazine confirms the newlyweds are expecting their first child together. “They’re having so much fun together and they’re so excited to be first-time parents!” a source told the magazine. Although Vaughn is known for fast-talking his way through bromance-themed flicks, he told People last year that he was ready to settle down. “It’s the first time that I really want to have kids,” Vaughn said. “I’ve been very fortunate in my career, and my life has been about that for so long that you get bored of it. You’re ready for your life to be about other people and other things.” A new baby isn’t the only development in the actor’s life. According to recent reports, Vaughn will star in the Ron Howard-directed “Cheaters,” teaming up with fellow funnyman Kevin James for the comedy. But while the actor is entering a happy chapter in his personal life, he’ll juggle a moral dilemma onscreen: Playing James’ best friend, Vaughn’s character can’t decide whether to tell his friend that his wife is cheating on him. Share your congratulations for Vince and his family in the comments below! Related Artists Vince Vaughn

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Vince Vaughn And Wife Kyla Weber Expecting A Baby

Nicki Minaj Reveals That She’s A ‘Hills’ Fan

‘I was SO mad wen Justin bobby cut his hair!’ the MC tweets before tonight’s series finale. By Mawuse Ziegbe Nicki Minaj Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images The drama the ladies of the “The Hills” have grappled with for six seasons has captivated millions of fans, including one hip-hop diva in particular: Nicki Minaj. Minaj recently revealed via Twitter that not only does she watch the show — which signs off on Tuesday (July 13) — but she has strong opinions about the goings-on of the cast. Apparently, the MC has been keeping up with the antics of Audrina’s (and Kristin’s) on-and-off boy toy, Justin “Bobby” Brescia. When a fan pressed Minaj on Twitter about whether she watches “The Hills,” the star tweeted , “Yes! I was SO mad wen Justin bobby cut his hair!” Her taste in TV isn’t the only thing the star has revealed on the social-networking website. Last week, the Young Money MC announced the release date of her hotly anticipated debut album on Twitter. “Yes. It’s time. November 23rd,” the star tweeted Thursday. When MTV News caught up with the “Your Love” rapper on the set of the video for her #1 track , Minaj called the material she was working on with producer Swizz Beatz “magical” and was generally amped about the album. “When people hear the album, they’re going to get to know Onika [her birth name is Onika Maraj]. And no one knows Onika,” Minaj said. “I really didn’t think I would be this excited about the songs that I’m coming up with. I’m really, really proud.” Swizzy was also excited about his work with Minaj. “We have a lot of small conversations that end up [turning] into big musical moments,” the producer told MTV News. “When you hear Nicki on my track, you’re gonna see that ‘Wow, she just went from here to there.’ I’m happy to be a part of that.” Are you surprised to hear that Nicki is a “Hills” fan? Let us know in the comments! Join MTVNews.com on Tuesday, July 13, at 8 p.m. ET for a live stream from the red carpet of Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel, where the stars will gather for “The Hills Live: A Hollywood Ending.” Then tune in for the series finale at 10 p.m. ET on MTV and “The Hills Live: A Hollywood Ending After Show” at 11. Related Videos Saying Goodbye To ‘The Hills’ The Hills | Most Memorable Moments Related Photos Red Carpet Radar: ‘The Hills’ Best Looks Related Artists Nicki Minaj

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Nicki Minaj Reveals That She’s A ‘Hills’ Fan

Lady Gaga Upsets Beatles Fans By Playing John Lennon’s Piano

Lennon’s son Sean posted a photo of Gaga playing the piano, later removing it after fans complained. By Mawuse Ziegbe Lady Gaga plays John Lennon’s white piano Photo: Sean Lennon/ Twitpic Lady Gaga has once again stirred up fans with another one of her unique performances. However, this time, it’s not her little monsters who are getting riled up but rather fans of John Lennon, who are upset that Gaga played the late Beatles legend’s white piano. The brouhaha began when Lennon’s son Sean posted a picture of Lady Gaga tinkling the ivories — in a skimpy bodysuit and fishnet stockings — on his Twitter page , accompanied by the caption, “With gaga at mom’s house, she’s belting on the white piano.” Sean later removed the picture after fans complained that Gaga shouldn’t have been allowed to jam on the instrument, which was a gift to Lennon’s wife and Sean’s mother, Yoko Ono. One tweeter in particular blasted Sean , writing, “WHY WOULD YOU LET LADY GAGA PLAY ON JOHN’S PIANO? I’m disappointed,” capping off the tweet with a frowning emoticon. The tweeter insisted Gaga was not up to snuff and later added, “Would you let just anyone play it? I mean geez, c’mon.” Although he removed the offending pic, Sean defended Gaga from the haters. “Pianos meant are to be played. Why is everyone so uptight? What should we do, lock it away in a dusty room? So judgmental,” Sean tweeted . The musician also replied to another fan, insisting that John wouldn’t be bothered by Gaga taking to the keys. “Firstly, he gave that piano to my mother for her birthday, it is hers, secondly, he was not uptight the way you seem to be,” Sean tweeted. Ultimately, the musician called for the offended fans to calm down and focus on other issues. “Come on, lighten up … life’s too short, there’re enough real problems in the world.” Are John Lennon’s fans being “uptight,” or is the piano too sacred to be played by current pop stars? Sound off in the comments. Related Photos The Evolution Of: Lady Gaga Related Artists Lady Gaga John Lennon The Beatles

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Lady Gaga Upsets Beatles Fans By Playing John Lennon’s Piano

A Look Back At Live Aid, By The Numbers

We celebrate the 25th anniversary of the groundbreaking charity concert by breaking out the calculators. By James Montgomery Bono performs at Live Aid on July 13, 1985 Photo: Peter Still/ Redferns Twenty-five years ago Tuesday (July 13), Bob Geldof and Midge Ure moved mountains, arranged satellites and assuaged rock-star egos to pull off one of the most monumental concerts in history. Live Aid, the transatlantic charity bash , brought together the biggest names in music — all of whom played for free — on two massive stages in London and Philadelphia, beamed their performances out to the entire world (including here in the U.S. on a fledgling cable network called MTV) and managed to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for famine relief in Ethiopia. It was, shall we say, a pretty incredible event — one Geldof rather shockingly booked in roughly three weeks, mostly on a whim (he was knighted for his efforts). And it’s not exactly hyperbole to say that it changed the world and defined an entire generation. So in celebration of Live Aid’s 25th anniversary, we decided to break out the calculators and crunch the numbers a bit. Here are some of the figures that helped make history. 1.5 billion : The estimated number of viewers who tuned in to watch the concerts, in 100 different countries. 150 million pounds : The amount that Live Aid raised for famine relief in Ethiopia. It works out to some $245 million U.S. 162,000 : The number of people who attended the two main Live Aid concerts — 72,000 in London’s Wembley Stadium and 90,000 in Philadelphia’s JFK Stadium. There were, of course, other concerts held in conjunction with Live Aid, in Sydney (OZ for Africa) and Cologne, Germany, to name a few. Bands also taped performances from Moscow, Japan, Austria, Norway and Yugoslavia. 70 : As best as we can count (using detailed Live Aid sites like this one ), this was the total number of acts/artists that performed on the stages in London and Philadelphia. It’s a list that includes Madonna, U2, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Elton John, Queen, Black Sabbath, Run-DMC, Santana, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Neil Young, the remaining three members of Led Zeppelin, Duran Duran, Bob Dylan and Tina Turner. Of course, we’re not counting the prince and princess of Wales (who appeared at Wembley), any of the celebs who introduced all the acts, everyone who joined in for the group finales at either concert or the artists who appeared in taped performances from around the globe. If you really want to get technical, here’s a list of everyone — musician, actor, comedian, royalty — who participated. 16 hours : The continuous length of the entire Live Aid concert. The show in London started at noon and ended at 11 p.m. In Philadelphia, things got under way at 8:51 a.m. and ended at 11:05 p.m. (4:05 a.m. in London), meaning that the entire thing ran for 16 hours. Though, as you can see, between London and Philly, there were actually more than 27 hours of total performances. 1 : The total number of artists who appeared at both the London and Philadelphia concerts. It was Phil Collins, who, after performing at Wembley, took a helicopter to Heathrow Airport, hopped on the Concorde and made it to JFK Stadium to do a second set — and play drums for Eric Clapton and the reunion of the former members of Led Zeppelin. He also reportedly convinced Cher — whom he met on the Concorde — to take the stage in Philly. What can we say? The man was dedicated. What are your memories of Live Aid? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos A Look Back At The Live Aid Concert, July 13, 1985

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A Look Back At Live Aid, By The Numbers

Tony Yayo Urges Fans: ‘Don’t Forget’ About Haiti

‘Keep donating,’ says the G-Unit rapper, who is of Haitian descent. By Shaheem Reid Tony Yayo Photo: Getty Images While reflecting on the tragic earthquake and aftershock in Haiti just a half a year later, Tony Yayo said he has a message for everyone: “I want to tell people it’s only been six months,” he told MTV News on Tuesday (July 13). “Don’t forget what happened. And all the people that donated [before], keep donating and do what you got to do.” Yayo — who is of Haitian descent — suffered the loss of a relative and some friends in the disaster but said he and his family are just like the rest of the people in Haiti: recovering. “My family is good. We lost one cousin. That was tragic. But everybody is kinda taking it in stride,” Yayo said via phone from Brazil, where he’s on tour with 50 Cent , Lloyd Banks and DJ Whoo Kid. “I was watching CNN the other day, and one of the things I saw was all the Haitians happy about the World Cup,” Tony continued. “That was amazing that a soccer game could uplift, that people that were in a tragic situation could be happy over a soccer game.” Yayo acknowledges the recovery efforts going on in Haiti but feels more can be done — by himself and others. “It’s crazy, man, because they said there are [hundreds of millions of dollars]. I’m not sure of the number, but they say they can’t touch some of the money yet,” Yayo said. “I don’t understand that, but it’s crazy the relief efforts generated that much money. “Last time, we did Funkmaster Flex’s car show and Wyclef came onstage with me, 50 and Banks,” he added. “I’m sure you’ve seen that. The mission now is for [the G-Unit] to get to Haiti. That’s our thing, is to get down there, but we want to send clothes and more stuff down there.” Wyclef Jean blogged about continued earthquake-relief efforts for CNN on Tuesday, asking that progress be expedited because it’s “being made at the speed of a turtle.” What more can be done to help Haiti? Share your ideas in the comments. Related Artists Tony Yayo

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Tony Yayo Urges Fans: ‘Don’t Forget’ About Haiti

Mel Gibson Berates His Ex, Uses Racial Slur On Another Leaked Tape

Friend tells People magazine that troubled actor has been in therapy. By Gil Kaufman Mel Gibson Photo: Toby Canham/ Getty Images Yet another snippet of tape has emerged in which Mel Gibson is heard berating his ex-girlfriend with a breathless string of expletives and racist and sexist taunts. So far, the Academy Award-winning actor/director’s spokesperson has offered a terse “no comment” on the rants — though he has not denied that it’s his client’s voice on the tapes — and Gibson has made no statements. Speaking to People magazine, an unidentified friend of Gibson’s said the relationship with ex Oksana Grigorieva, mother of the couple’s 8-month old daughter, got so bad earlier this year that the “Lethal Weapon” star sought professional help. “He realized how unhealthy the relationship was and recognized that they were in a bad place and he was getting his buttons pushed,” the friend told the magazine about Gibson’s reported efforts to seek therapy. Gibson, who has openly struggled with alcoholism during his career, “wanted to figure out how to extricate himself from this unhealthy relationship peacefully and calmly. Which is what he did.” It’s unclear if the move came before or after the recordings were made, but in the excerpts released so far, Gibson is heard viciously excoriating Grigorieva, showering her with a string of foul and violent language, including apparent threats on her life and a seeming admission that he physically attacked her. Police in Los Angeles have opened a domestic-violence investigation into an alleged incident in January, in which Gibson is reported to have struck Grigorieva, knocking out several teeth. TMZ reported Tuesday (July 13) that the star witness in a possible domestic-violence trial could be Grigorieva’s dentist, Dr. Ross Shelden. Unnamed sources familiar with Grigorieva’s treatment claim Shelden took photos of her mouth the day after the couple’s alleged January fight and that the images have been turned over to her attorney, though he did not report the incident to police at the time because Grigorieva asked him to keep it confidential. Though Gibson’s side has allegedly claimed that Grigorieva simply lost her veneers, her camp says Shelden’s conclusion was that she lost one tooth and had another one chipped. A source told People magazine that the phone arguments were recorded in February, not long after the alleged January incident. The couple reportedly split around March, and People reported that a custody settlement, which Gibson’s lawyer described as “very generous” with an eventual 50/50 custody split, was signed in May. But Grigorieva, 40, has alleged that the payments have stopped coming recently. After a tape emerged Monday in which Gibson appears to threaten Grigorieva’s life — leaked just days after he was dropped by his longtime talent agency — the new six-minute recording Radar Online posted Tuesday finds the couple fighting over a Latina housekeeper, whom Gibson, 54, refers to with the racist epithet “wetback.” The latest ethnic slur comes on the back of earlier recordings in which Gibson used the word “n—er.” The couple appear to be sparring over a housekeeper who works at both their homes, with Grigorieva claiming she needs extra help because of the baby. Gibson refuses, saying, “I will fire [name omitted] if she’s at your house. I will make it known and fire her. I’ll report her to the f—ing people that take f—ing money from the wetbacks, OK?” While Grigorieva repeatedly denies Gibson’s claims that she’s a gold digger, at one point the divorced actor — who is reported to have made tens of millions or more from his self-financed film “The Passion of the Christ” — screams, “I’m paying my tax money instead of the credit card [bill]. Don’t you get it?” The aspiring Russian singer, whose career was reportedly fueled in part by Gibson’s money, also complains of financial problems, telling her ex, “You made me moneyless. … I used to have $100,000 a year when you met me. You took me, you possessed me, everything I am. You own me, with my liver and my kidneys and my thoughts and my soul. Everything! My career, whatever it is. Pathetic career. Whatever it is, it’s yours. You control me like marionette. I don’t belong to myself, only to you. I can’t do anything, and I walk on eggshells always with you!” He responds, “That’s because you’re a f—ing using whore! Now, I own you.” The staunchly Catholic actor later accuses Grigorieva of cheating on him during their three-year relationship; Gibson’s wife of nearly 30 years filed for divorce from him last year. Grigorieva tells him he’s mentally ill and that she knows she has no claim to his fortune. “I’m not the whore and I’m not the bitch and I’m not the cu– and I’m not the user and I’m not the thief and all those words,” she says. “And I’m not a liar. All this, all this lies. All this lies. I’m not a whore or cu– or thief or prostitute or anything that you call me. I’m not a user. I’m not a gold digger. I don’t have any money and no property assigned to me. That’s a gold digger for you? Are you insane? Yes, you are, of course. We can hear that, because you’re screaming.”

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Mel Gibson Berates His Ex, Uses Racial Slur On Another Leaked Tape

Clipse’s Pusha T Readying Solo Mixtape Fear of God

The Virgina rapper will drop a tape on September 14, as rumors swirl that he’ll also join Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music collective. By Mawuse Ziegbe Pusha T Photo: Neilson Barnard/ Getty Images Clipse’s Pusha T is preparing to make a move as a solo artist with the release of a new mixtape set to drop in the fall. Clipse manager Steve Victor confirmed to MissInfo.tv that Pusha has set a September 14 release date for his solo tape. The Virginia MC even shouts out the title, Fear of God, in his “Bidding War” freestyle, which recently surfaced on the Web. The mixtape due date is an intriguing choice as rumors have been swirling that Push might be joining Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. music collective, many of whom — ‘Ye, Kid Cudi, Consequence and Big Sean — are dropping albums on the same day. Pusha T, with his brother and partner-in-rhyme, Malice, dropped their latest album, Til the Casket Drops, on December 8, 2009 , a date also crowded by a spate of new hip-hop releases from artists such as Gucci Mane and Snoop Dogg. While readying the release of Casket, Push opened up to MTV News about his favorite track on the album. ” ‘Freedom’ is a redemption song,” Push told us. “It’s an apology; it gives a rhyme and reason for some of the things and some of the attitudes of the Clipse. It says ‘sorry’ just as much as it says we’re better [than other rappers], and we’re still the best … ever.” Malice has also been keeping busy. The MC recently released the video short “This Is Only a Test,” in which he weaves spiritual rhetoric into his narrative about a man grappling with street life. Clipse are also scheduled to hit the stage at this year’s Rock the Bells Tour , kicking off August 21. Are you surprised Pusha T is going solo on his next effort? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Pusha T

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Clipse’s Pusha T Readying Solo Mixtape Fear of God

‘The Hills’ Musical Legacy: Natasha Bedingfield, Lady Gaga And More

Artists from Hilary Duff to Journey owe a debt to ‘Laguna Beach’ and its spin-off. By Kyle Anderson Lady Gaga on “The Hills” Photo: MTV Tuesday night (July 13) represents a huge moment in the history of MTV programming and reality television in general. After six seasons, “The Hills” is coming to a close with a two-hour grand-finale event, beginning at 8 p.m. on MTV. It has been a watershed program, as it first established the sort of hyper-real aesthetic that many reality shows (and a handful of fictional dramas) copied. But “The Hills” and its predecessor, “Laguna Beach,” also left their mark in the music world. Each of the shows had theme songs that helped spark massive career moves for the artists behind them. The theme song to “Laguna Beach” was Hilary Duff’s “Come Clean,” co-written by Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks. Though it originally appeared on Duff’s 2003 album, Metamorphosis, and was released as a single in early 2004, it really picked up steam once it accompanied the premiere of “Laguna Beach” in September of that year. It peaked at #9 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart and earned Duff a shortlist recommendation (though no actual nomination) for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards. “The Hills” theme song did even better by its artist. When Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” debuted as the tune that introduced the world to “The Hills” in May 2006, it stormed up the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #5. In fact, because of its crossover appeal, “Unwritten” became the most-played song on the radio in the United States in 2006. Not bad for a track that was originally released in 2004 on Bedingfield’s debut album of the same name. “The Hills” also gave the world some early exposure to Lady Gaga . Before Gaga’s debut album, The Fame, took over the airwaves, she performed at a fashion show where Conrad and friend Whitney Port styled her. Gaga was even the subject of a minor plot in that episode, as the zipper of her catsuit broke, forcing Conrad to repair it and save the day. But perhaps the most lasting musical legacy of “The Hills” is actually a moment from “Laguna Beach.” The second-season premiere of “Laguna Beach” (which aired in July 2005) featured a scene wherein castmember Stephen Colletti picks Conrad up for a date. The song playing in Stephen’s car during the scene? Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” which had yet to receive its second renaissance thanks to the series finale of “The Sopranos” (which didn’t air until two years later). Exposure on “Laguna Beach” (along with its appearance on a “Family Guy” episode the same week) sent the track skyrocketing into the iTunes Top 10, an amazing feat for a song that was nearly 25 years old. What was your favorite musical moment from “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills”? Let us know in the comments! Join MTVNews.com on Tuesday, July 13, at 8 p.m. ET for a live stream from the red carpet of Hollywood’s Roosevelt Hotel, where the stars will gather for “The Hills Live: A Hollywood Ending.” Then tune in for the series finale at 10 p.m. ET on MTV and “The Hills Live: A Hollywood Ending After Show” at 11. Related Videos Saying Goodbye To ‘The Hills’ Related Photos The Boys Of ‘The Hills’ ‘There Are No Small Parts’: ‘The Hills’ Supporting Cast Related Artists Lady Gaga Natasha Bedingfield Journey Hilary Duff

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‘The Hills’ Musical Legacy: Natasha Bedingfield, Lady Gaga And More