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The Wanted: A Whirlwind Day With The Boy Band

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

As they release their U.S. debut, MTV News follows the Wanted to ‘Today’ before their ‘MTV First’ premiere of the ‘Chasing the Sun’ video. By Jocelyn Vena The Wanted atop the Empire State Building Photo: Getty Images NEW YORK — The Wanted happen to be one of the biggest boy bands in the world at the moment. On Tuesday (April 24), the British fivesome released their self-titled U.S. EP with the kind of fanfare only a boy band could pull off as they took over the island of Manhattan for a whirlwind release-day press tour. MTV News was on hand for every minute of it, from sunrise to sunset, capturing the excitement as the boys made their way across the Big Apple to promote the album. We first met up with the guys at 5 a.m. at their hotel to make our way over to “Today.” But, we weren’t the only ones who greeted the guys there: Fans had waited all night outside the hotel to catch a glimpse of the Wanted. Despite the early hour, the guys obliged, signing autographs and smiling for photos with their devotees. Then they hopped into their car and made their way across town to “Today.” So, how do they manage to keep their spirits up at the top of a long day like that? “We prepared for this show this morning by having cups of tea and Cheerios, good for the heart,” Siva Kaneswaran told me before they took the stage to perform. “Basically, just psych each other, gaze into each other’s eyes and get excited, and that’s what gets us through the day.” From there, it was all about greeting even more fans, who had followed the guys from the studio back to their hotel, where the guys regrouped for a bit before more press and appearances. It’s the fans though who make the grueling press tour worth all the work, even if they find sneaky ways to show the guys their love. Recalling a mid-day fan encounter during their downtime, Tom Parker said some fans must have sneaked into the hotel, probably through the front door. “They were following us around. Some girl came up and said, ‘Is it too early to buy you a drink yet?’ ” The answer was “yes” — they did have a full day of press ahead of them! After their very short break, we were back in the car heading to the Empire State Building , where the guys got their photos taken and did several more interviews to hype up their release. Their final stop today will be their “MTV First,” during which they will premiere their video for “Chasing the Sun,” sit down with Sway Calloway to chat about their album and the video, and answer fans’ questions. Well, Sway, I warmed them up for you. I just hope I didn’t tire them out. The Wanted are taking over the Big Apple! Stick with MTV News for updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes photos all day. We’ll tag along with the guys on stops like the “Today” show and the Empire State Building before “MTV First: The Wanted” kicks off at 7:53 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com. Be sure to tune in for the premiere of the “Chasing the Sun” video and a 30-minute interview with the band! Related Videos Exclusive: Follow The Wanted Around NYC! Related Photos Behind The Scenes Photos From The Wanted’s “Chasing The Sun” video Related Artists The Wanted

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The Wanted Perform ‘Glad You Came,’ ‘Chasing The Sun’ On ‘Today’

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It was average at best,’ Jay McGuiness joked, as MTV News follows the band all day leading up to their ‘Chasing the Sun’ video premiere. By Jocelyn Vena ‘The Wanted’ rehearse before ‘Today’ performance Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News NEW YORK — The Wanted made their “Today” show debut on Tuesday (April 24), the day of their debut U.S. EP release. The fans’ energy was predictably high when the guys stepped outside to the famed Rockefeller Plaza. Before their scheduled performance, the group greeted their devoted female legion of fans, who had made up signs to welcome the guys to the show. All five fellas happily took the time to pose with fans and sign autographs in the moments leading up to their performance. Then they sang not only their chart-topping track “Glad You Came” but also their new single, “Chasing the Sun.” “We’ve done two albums so we’re trying to catch people up in America,” Wanted member Tom Parker told co-host Ann Curry about the EP, their first official Stateside release. They then launched into “Glad,” clad in leather jackets and displaying their boy-band bravado. After they left the stage, they shared with MTV News that they were thankful to all the people who showed up. “It was average at best,” Jay McGuiness joked about the performance, teasing that “Chasing the Sun” was a “hot mess like Lindsay Lohan.” The “Today” show was the first of many media appearances the Wanted will make on Tuesday, leading up to their “MTV First” special airing tonight at 7:53 p.m. on MTV. They will sit down with MTV News’ Sway Calloway to debut the “Chasing the Sun” video and chat. Immediately following the MTV premiere, the fivesome are hanging around for an additional 30-minute live Q&A session with Sway on MTV.com. Fans can get in on the action by submitting video or text questions via MTV.com or @MTVNews on Twitter, using the hashtags #MTVFirst or #AskTheWanted. The guys are also one of the 32 boy-band hopefuls in MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands , which pits some of the greatest boy bands of all time against one another, until fans vote their favorite group to #1. The battle kicked off on Monday at BBB.MTV.com , with the first round ending on Thursday. Fans can weigh in on the matches on Twitter using the hashtag #BBB. The winner of Battle of the Boy Bands will be announced on Monday, May 7, live on “AMTV” on MTV. The Wanted are taking over the Big Apple! Stick with MTV News for updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes photos all day. We’ll tag along with the guys on stops like the “Today” show and the Empire State Building before “MTV First: The Wanted” kicks off at 7:53 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com. Be sure to tune in for the premiere of the “Chasing the Sun” video and a 30-minute interview with the band! Related Videos Exclusive: Follow The Wanted Around NYC! Related Photos ‘The Wanted’ Take Over NYC, MTV News Tags Along! Related Artists The Wanted

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The Wanted Perform ‘Glad You Came,’ ‘Chasing The Sun’ On ‘Today’

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Gotye Changes Tune On ‘Glee’ Cover

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Singer says the show’s version of ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ was not ‘dinky,’ but ‘clever.’ By Gil Kaufman Gotye Photo: MTV News Did Australian singing sensation Gotye say he thought the “Glee” cover of his breakthrough hit “Somebody That I Used to Know” was “dinky and wrong” , “ultra-dry” and sounded like “it’s playing to you from a cardboard box?” Well, what he actually meant was that the version performed by Darren Criss and Matt Bomer on last week’s episode was “really clever.” According to The Hollywood Reporter , during a private performance at a Los Angeles club on Monday afternoon Gotye clarified his comments. He explained that, “The nature of using reverb and space in a recording can change your perception of how a sound appeals to you.” That was after he originally said, “They did such a faithful arrangement of the instrumentals but the vocals were that pop ‘Glee’ style, ultra-dry, sounded pretty tuned and the rock has no real sense, like it’s playing to you from a cardboard box,” which was actually meant as a compliment. See, what Gotye was referring to was, “This xylophone hook in my song — it’s kind of dinky not just in the cover version but the original song.” Aha! Furthermore, Gotye said he thought the interpretation of his hit on the choral drama was, “Really clever to transpose the song to two guys … It was a great idea.” Whatever Gotye thought of it, the cover was just what “Somebody” needed to get over the hump and top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. And Gotye wasn’t the first singer to slam the show (and/or creator Ryan Murphy), joining a list that includes the Foo Fighters 
, former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash and Kings of Leon 
. Related Artists Gotye

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Katy Perry Spotted With New Man At Coachella

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Singer is seen kissing Florence and the Machine guitarist Robert Ackroyd. By Jocelyn Vena Katy Perry and Robert Ackroyd at the second weekend of the Coachella festival in California Photo: PacificCoastNews.com It was more than just the music that Katy Perry took in over the weekend at Coachella in California. The single pop star was seen also taking in the affections of what appeared to be a new boyfriend. The singer was spotted holding hands, kissing and generally canoodling with Florence and the Machine guitarist Robert Ackroyd. This was the second weekend in a row that Perry was at Coachella. She debuted her new hair color at last week’s festivities, and this week, it looked like she was debuting her new love. Click for pix of Katy and Robert canoodling at Coachella The couple were photographed Sunday. Perry was in a lavender romper to match her brand-new purple locks, while Ackroyd sported a plain, white T-shirt and jeans. When Perry tweeted about this past weekend’s festivities, she made no mention of her new beau, instead writing about Radiohead and her dream to make a Sublime hologram happen,

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Boyz II Men: The ‘Battle Of The Boy Bands’ Forefathers

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Boyz up against longtime rivals Jodeci in round one; voting open now! By John Mitchell, with reporting by Jocelyn Vena Boyz II Men Photo: Jeff Fusco/ Getty Images Our Battle of the Boy Bands got off to a roaring start Monday as fans of new groups like the Wanted and One Direction and legacy acts like ‘NSYNC and New Kids on the Block hit our bracket hard to push their favorites on to the next round. One group that is in it to win it is Boyz II Men , who told MTV News they were among the “progenitors” of the entire boy-band genre. “We were kind of like the progenitors, the torch holders of a lot of the artists, of a lot of the boy bands that came about,” Nathan Morris told us. Highest Chart Achievement In the mid-’90s, Boyz II Men ruled the charts. That’s not hyperbole, either — three of the top-10 longest-running #1 singles in the history of the Billboard chart belong to the band. Their top song, though, is actually a duet, and with 16 weeks spent atop the chart, it’s also the biggest single ever: “One Sweet Day” with Mariah Carey. Boyz II Men are one of just four artists or groups to have held the #1 spot for at least 50 weeks cumulatively. On the all-time list, they fall at #4, behind only (ahem!) Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Carey. (With 47 weeks, Usher falls just short at #5.) Clearly, the band has quite a few chart achievements under its belt. Standout Video The Boyz made a series of great videos for their hits “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You” and “Water Runs Dry,” but for its cameos alone, “On Bended Knee” rises above. In the clip, each band member breaks up with and eventually reconciles with a girlfriend, played by four famous actresses: Victoria Rowell, Ren

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Rick Ross Still Going For Broke With Rich Forever Mixtape

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I feel for you to be rich forever, you have to be rich with ideas,’ Rozay tells Mixtape Daily of his 2012 standout. By Rob Markman Rick Ross Photo: MTV News Main Pick Headliner : Rick Ross, DJ Scream, Shaheem Reid Representing : Miami, Florida Mixtape : Rich Forever Real Spit : Sometimes differentiating between a mixtape and an album can be difficult, especially when a mixtape is crafted with such care, like Rick Ross ‘ Rich Forever . The 19-song opus dropped at the top of the year as an appetizer for Rozay’s upcoming God Forgives, I Don’t LP. But almost four months later, it is clear that the Maybach Music Boss has created a tape that will transcend the shelf life of most free Internet downloads. “As far as the title of the mixtape goes, it’s Rich Forever. It’s a lyric that I’ve used in the past, several times. Not only that, I really believe it,” MTV’s most recent Hottest MC in the Game crown holder told Mixtape Daily. “I feel for you to be rich forever, you have to be rich with ideas, rich with concepts, rich with thoughts; to me that’s what being rich forever is.” Rozay didn’t just rely on his own wealth, he recruited a flock of well-to-do friends like Diddy, Nas, John Legend, Birdman and Kelly Rowland to contribute. “Stay Schemin’,” which features Drake and French Montana, has crossed over and made a dent on Billboard ‘s R&B Chart , so far peaking at #49. While “Schemin’ ” may be the most identifiable song off of Rich Forever, the tape is filled with a number of standouts. “Ring Ring” with Future is a playful ode to the ladies, and on “Holy Ghost,” Diddy prays to God to keep his bank account intact while Rozay denounces the devil and other speed bumps on his road to riches. “Yella Diamonds” is another pledge to money, this time featuring Cash Money CEO Birdman. “My dough be shinin’ like it’s yella diamonds,” Ross raps on the song’s rambunctious hook. The Bawse keeps things lively but does slow it down on the tape’s title track. With R&B crooner John Legend in tow, Ross runs down his career in retrospect. “Def Jam on my heels, should I sign to it?/ Million-dollar advance for me to rhyme fluent/ Every day I’m hustlin’ on every corner boomin’/ Back of the Phantom, I couldn’t fathom/ I was such a student,” he spits about the circumstances leading up to his 2006 debut album Port of Miami. Ross has grown significantly in the six years since dropping his first LP, and Rich Forever more than proves it. No longer a hustler on the come-up, Rick Ross now runs the game with enough riches to last him a lifetime. Joints to Check For

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Juvenile Down For Hot Boys Reunion With Lil Wayne

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘As long as Juvie living, it’s definitely possible,’ MC tells ‘RapFix Live.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Juvenile on “RapFix Live” Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News Before Lil Wayne became the solo rap superstar he is today, he was making his mark as a member of a noted hip-hop group: The Hot Boys consisted of Juvenile , B.G., Turk and a teenaged Tunechi, and together they broke down doors for independent Southern artists everywhere by establishing Cash Money Records as a musical powerhouse. The quartet dropped their debut LP, Get It How U Live!!, in 1997, which they followed two years later with their platinum sophomore album, Guerilla Warfare, but the group was rendered defunct after Juvie, B.G. and Turk left Cash Money to take on new ventures. Fans have since longed for a reunion. On Wednesday’s “RapFix Live,” Juvenile said of a reunion, “It’s possible. As long as Juvie living, it’s definitely possible.” Though he isn’t signed to YMCMB, Juvie maintains a relationship with both Wayne and Birdman. “I got a relationship with Cash Money; me and Baby still cool. We don’t talk every day, but we do talk, and we can stand in a room together. It’s not a situation where I’m beefed out with them,” he explained. Add DJ Khaled to the list of folks awaiting a comeback for the group. Sitting next to Juvenile on the “RapFix Live” couch, Khaled said, “I’m a fan first when it comes down to the Hot Boys, and it’s the whole Cash Money era, so Juvie already know and Bird already know, I would love to see that.” Unfortunately, there won’t be a full Hot Boys reunion any time soon because both Turk and B.G. are currently imprisoned. In 2005, Turk was convicted of multiple firearm-possession charges after a 2004 shooting incident with a police officer. In December of last year, B.G. plead guilty to felony weapons-possession charges stemming from a 2009 arrest. “B.G. got dealt a bad hand,” Juvie said. “He’d had his run-ins with the law through the years, so I guess this one caught up with him.” What’s your favorite Hot Boys song? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos DJ Khaled And Juvenile Take Over ‘RapFix Live’ Related Artists Juvenile Hot Boys

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Wiz Khalifa Drops First O.N.I.F.C. Single, ‘Work Hard Play Hard’

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Pittsburgh MC confirms to MTV News video was shot in his hometown. By Rob Markman, with reporting by James Lacsina Wiz Khalifa Photo: MTV News If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. After Wiz Khalifa and Stargate found success with the 2010 #1 hit single “Black and Yellow,” why wouldn’t they team up again for Khalifa’s upcoming O.N.I.F.C. LP? On Monday (April 23), Wiz dropped “Work Hard Play Hard,” the first single from O.N.I.F.C. The new track isn’t as bright as “Black and Yellow” or “Roll Up,” the second Stargate-produced Rolling Papers hit, but it is still as effective. “It’s crazy. We shot the video in Pittsburgh,” Wiz told MTV News last week on the set of Maroon 5’s “Payphone” video . “It’s wild, just linking back up with Stargate, making another hit and gearing up for the second album, O.N.I.F.C. We’re about to do it all over again.” The bouncy track begins with a kinetic drum pattern that builds as the producers add a booming bass and dark synth melodies. “Diamonds all on my brain n—a/ Gold watches, gold chain n—a/ Yeah, my money insane n—a,” Wiz spits, clearly enjoying the spoils of his success. When he first arrived as a certified rap star in 2010, with his Taylor Gang fanbase in tow, Wiz sported an array of tattoos, tank tops, camouflaged shorts, Converse sneakers and rolled marijuana joints as his uniform. It is a style the Pittsburgh rapper feels many have adopted from him, and now he is ready to switch. He makes note of that on “Work Hard Play Hard” when he rhymes: “If I’m in the club, I get a 100 stacks/ I’m always rollin’ up, so I get love for that/ Them n—as stole my swag, but I don’t want it back.” While the song’s verses are filled with rapper angst, Khalifa shows that he hasn’t lost his penchant for delivering catchy and melodic hooks. “The bigger the bill, the harder you ball/ Well, I’m throwin’ mine, ’cause my money long,” he sings on a chorus that is sure to stick in the brains of his dedicated fans. O.N.I.F.C. isn’t scheduled to drop until August, but already, the TGOD captain is promising a fun ride. He has already secured guest spots from Chris Brown, Cam’ron, Pharrell and, of course, the members of his Taylor Gang crew. About the album, Wiz said, “It’s gonna be amazing. People should look for the complete package, so I don’t wish to separate anything from anything. The single is amazing, ‘Work Hard Play Hard.’ It’s gonna be stupid.” What do you think of Wiz Khalifa’s “Work Hard Play Hard”? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Wiz Khalifa

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Mac Miller To Make Return To ‘RapFix Live’

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The 20-year-old Pittsburgh MC is currently on tour for his Macadelic mixtape. By Rob Markman Mac Miller Photo: MTV News Mac is back, so you can expect a Most Dope “RapFix Live” when Mac Miller returns to the red couch on Wednesday. It’s been a hell of a ride for the 20-year-old spitter, and he doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. After landing the #1 album in the country last November with his debut LP Blue Slide Park, Mac has been moving at an accelerated pace. He concluded his 80-date, sold-out BSP tour in December and immediately hit the lab to cook up his Macadelic mixtape , which he dropped as a free Internet download in March. “It’s like the story of someone who is growing up, trying to figure out who he is and trying to figure out what he’s supposed to do in the world and how he’s gonna change it,” Mac told Mixtape Daily of Macadelic. “I think it’s a great piece because it’s a great part of my career, it’s a great time right now and I feel like I been making mixtapes for five years, so this one is very special to me.” The tape features contributions from Cam’ron, Kendrick Lamar and Lil Wayne on the soul-bearing “The Question.” “This song is a real meaningful song to me, man, and I wanted to make sure I got Wayne on something that was heartfelt,” he said of “The Question.” “I got him on a record that I was saying something and not just talkin’ sh–, so this record right here really kinda deals with a question that I’ve been goin’ through in my own head.” Mac is currently out on tour in support of Macadelic, but that didn’t stop him from announcing his next run: the with Wiz Khalifa, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and Chevy Woods. “It means everything, Mac’s my little homey. It’s good for his fans; it’s good for everybody who’ve been wanting to see us do what we do together,” Wiz told MTV News of the joint summer tour last week while on the set for Maroon 5’s “Payphones” video in L.A. Catch Mac Miller on “RapFix Live” Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com, and be sure to join the Twitter conversation using the hashtag #RapFixLive. Send your questions for the artists @MTVRapFix! Related Artists Mac Miller

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One Direction Vie For Your Battle Of The Boy Bands Vote

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Round one is in full swing. Can these Brits go all the way? By Jocelyn Vena One Direction Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images The Battle of the Boy Bands is on, and that means fans can vote now on which of the 32 contenders can rise to the top and win the honor and distinction of being the fan-voted Best Boy Band of All Time. With so many bands in the running, MTV News caught up with the guys from One Direction, who weighed in on their chances of going all the way. But before the guys explain why you should vote for them, we have some facts about the fivesome that may help you decide if they’re your ultimate boy band in the battle: Highest Chart Achievement The guys broke a record with their debut album, Up All Night, when they released it in the U.S. last month. Selling 176,000 copies, the band became the first British group to have their debut album enter the chart at #1. Standout Video Their sunny, beachy clip for “What Makes You Beautiful” is their biggest entry into the world of music videos so far and certainly sets the tone for the five fun-loving lads. The Brits definitely won over American girls with the video’s SoCal vibe. Defining Tune The guys have won the hearts of teen girls across our great land thanks to the feel-good anthem “What Makes You Beautiful,” about loving a girl who doesn’t know how beautiful she really is. Debut Album Up All Night dropped internationally in November 2011, and just like its chart success here in the States, it sold big, debuting at #2 with 138,631 copies in the U.K., which was enough to give it the highest sales for a #2 album in the U.K. for 2011. Biggest Competition Mostly the guys from the Wanted, who are the bad-boy answer to One Direction group of nice guys. So why do One Direction think they should win our Battle of the Boy Bands? “You should vote for us to be the ultimate boy band if you like us,” Liam Payne said, with Louis Tomlinson adding, “If you like our music, then feel free to vote for us as the ultimate boy band. We’re just us.” Harry Styles had this final bit of advice: “We like to have a lot of fun.” Voting in round one of MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands is now open and runs until noon ET on Thursday, April 26. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite band made the cut, make sure you keep voting. Spread the word on Twitter using the hashtag #BBB and like us on Facebook for updates! Related Videos Battle Of The Boy Bands Related Artists One Direction

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