WWE superstar gives props to band’s ‘in-your-face, time-to- fight music.’ Voting in round two ends Sunday at midnight! By James Montgomery, with reporting by Rob Markman John Cena Photo: MTV News Voting in the second-round of MTV’s Musical March Madness is entering the home stretch and, well, it’s not looking good for Metallica. After disposing of fellow titans Guns N’ Roses in round one , James Hetfield and company currently trail upset-minded Sum 41 by an “Unforgiven”-size margin … and appear headed for the void. Of course, there’s still plenty of time to change things — voting in all second-round matchups closes Sunday at midnight ET — and, as luck would have it, Metallica are getting support from a rather unlikely source: WWE superstar John Cena, who would like to strongly encourage you to vote for his favorite band. And we mean strongly. “If you don’t vote Metallica strong, you ain’t been around music. They’re my vote to take it,” Cena told MTV News. “Because, like I say, I use music for energy. I’m involved in a lot of physical activity, a lot of times when you’re tired, you need to find energy from somewhere, and music evokes emotion. And Metallica, I don’t care who you are, they play ‘Enter Sandman’ at Yankee Stadium, and it’s a wrap.” So no offense to Sum 41, but for Cena, there’s nothing quite like the surge of “Sandman.” And while he’s probably got his mind on other things (like his year-in-the-making match with the Rock at WrestleMania XXVIII), he’ll be pulling for Metallica to make a comeback and advance to the Sweet 16. Why? Vote for your favorite band, discuss and share on Facebook and Twitter in the MTV Musical March Madness interactive bracket! “[Their music] transcends race, creed, color, sex, age; it’s just hard-hitting, in-your-face, time-to- fight music,” he snarled. “That’s my type of stuff right there.” And who’s man enough to disagree with that? MTV’s 2012 Musical March Madness tournament has reached the second round. Voting runs until midnight ET on Sunday, March 25, and winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite act is still alive, it’ll be up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM or by downloading one of our custom badges — but get ready, it only gets more difficult from here on out. Related Videos Musical March Madness Heats Up! Related Photos MTV’s Musical March Madness 2012 Related Artists Metallica
‘I love working with the ‘Jackass’ crew — just fun all day,’ Jasper Dolphin tells ‘RapFix Live’ working on OF’s new show ‘Loiter Squad.’ By Rob Markman Odd Future on “RapFix Live” Photo: MTV News Apparently music isn’t enough for the Odd Future Wolf Gang collective. Only days after OFWGKTA released their The OF tape, Vol. 2, the crew is getting set to terrorize television sets with their new sketch comedy series “Loiter Squad” on Cartoon Network. The show is set to premier March 25 at 11:30 p.m. ET during Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim programming block. The show centers primarily on OF de facto leader Tyler, the Creator, Jasper Dolphin, Taco and Lionel Boyce. Fans can expect to see familiar characters like Thurnis Haley, the golf-loving whack job that Tyler played to promote his 2011 Goblin album. “Thurnis gonna be on there, he got a couple of skits, but it’s mostly about me, though,” Jasper said jokingly when the crew appeared on “RapFix Live” on Wednesday .”It’s like what I do on my day. I wake up, I take a shower, I eat and then you see them in the background.” To put the show together, the Wolf Gang hooked up with Dickhouse Productions, the same company responsible for MTV’s hit series “Jackass.” “When we went to Cartoon Network, they contacted them to do the show for us,” Lionel said of how Dickhouse and Odd Future crew hooked up. One could only imagine the antics that occurred on set, though OF would only say that they had a good time putting the show together. “I love working with the ‘Jackass’ crew just fun all day,” Jasper said before calling on all of the group’s fans to tune in. “Watch me on TV; I need the money.” Are you planning on watching “Loiter Squad”? Let us know in the comments section! Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ Has An Odd Future Related Artists Odd Future
Odd Future head reveals on ‘RapFix Live’ that MellowHype’s ’50’ is on the production schedule. By Rob Markman Tyler, The Creator Photo: MTV News There is no video director in the game quite like Tyler, the Creator . As Wolf Haley, the Odd Future head has already put out a number of memorable vids, including his critically acclaimed “Yonkers,” which helped him win a VMA in 2011. Most recently, Wolf directed and dropped two videos off OFWGKTA’s new album, The OF Tape, Vol. 2 — “Rella” and “NY (Ned Flander)” — and he’s now debating which track he should shoot next. “I kinda wanna do ‘Analog 2′ for sure, but the MellowHype ’50’ song, I have an idea for that that would be awesome,” Tyler said when he and the rest of the OF crew appeared on Wednesday’s “RapFix Live.” “That song, just g–damn, that song’s crazy.” “Analog 2” is a Frank Ocean- and Syd the Kid-assisted sequel to the original track which appeared on Tyler’s Goblin album last year — well, kind of. “I didn’t go in to make a sequel for a song, I just went in to make a song and I didn’t have a name for it and just called it that,” Tyler said. “That wasn’t intentional to be part two, I just called it that because I couldn’t come up with another name and I was lazy.” There are some distinct similarities between the two songs, however. On “Analog 2,” Frank Ocean lovingly sings, “Could you can meet by the lake,” echoing the words that Tyler utters on the hook of the original “Analog.” “It wasn’t that I was gonna make I part two to this, nah, it was just not being creative,” Tyler insisted. Wolf wouldn’t give up any details on his video treatments, though, saying he had to protect his ideas. “See, I can’t tell you. I don’t tell my business like that son,” he said. “I might say some sh–, then some n—a might steal that idea, put that sh– out and then I’m f—ed.” What should be the next video from Odd Future’s The OF Tape, Vol. 2 ? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Watch ‘RapFix Live’ With Odd Future Now! ‘RapFix Live’ Has An Odd Future Related Artists Tyler The Creator Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All
Second sequel to smash comedy will be finale of the trilogy. By Gil Kaufman Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper and Zack Galifianakis in “The Hangover Part II” Photo: Warner Bros. Nothing beats a classic movie trilogy. And while nobody is rushing to compare “The Hangover” to “Star Wars,” director/producer Todd Phillips is aiming to end the hugely successful morning after comedy franchise with a third and final chapter next summer. According to The Hollywood Reporter , Phillips confirmed on Thursday that “The Hangover Part III” will indeed wrap up the series when it’s released next summer. “We’re going to surprise a lot of people with the final chapter we have planned,” Phillips said. “It will be a fitting conclusion to our three-part opera of mayhem, despair and bad decisions.” The movie is slated to hit theaters on May 24, 2013, hoping to capture some of the same box office magic that the second installment grabbed when it launched on that same weekend in 2011 on its way to a massive $581.5 worldwide gross. Additional good news came with the confirmation that after extensive negotiations, stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zack Galafianakis are all on board for the third go-round. To date, the first two movies have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, a rarity for an R-rated comedy franchise. It was such an unexpected smash, in fact, that the Reporter noted that Warner Bros. studio didn’t even sign the stars to option deals for sequels because no one expected the original 2009 film to gross more than $467 million. That resulted in the “Wolfpack” trio getting “hefty” raises for the second film and a reported $15 million each for the third movie. Phillips will again work on the script with “Part II” co-writer Craig Mazin, but he would not tip his hand as to where the third movie will take place. The magazine reported that a recent draft of the script indicated that it was set in Los Angeles and that it deviated from the “what happened to us last night?” formula of the first two films. Star Cooper recently lent credence to the script speculation when he revealed in a December interview, “We adhered to the formula in the second one, for those of you who’ve seen it, and the third one, which would close the whole sort of trilogy, which now it would be a trilogy — even though we thought we would never make a second one, let alone anybody see the first one — I think it will take place in Los Angeles and maybe not adhere to the structure. It might be different.”
Rep for Ray J said he was upset about claims that he was Houston’s enabler. By Gil Kaufman Ray J and Whitney Houston Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage Just hours after the world learned that the Los Angeles County coroner determined that Whitney Houston died as a result of accidental drowning with cocaine use and heart disease as contributing factors, the finger pointing began. Leolah Brown, the sister of Houston’s ex-husband, Bobby Brown, went on the “Dr. Drew” show on HLN on Thursday night and made some salacious allegations aimed at Houston’s frequent companion, singer Ray J. Leolah claimed that she saw Ray J leaving Houston’s hotel room in a hurry on the night of her death in February. “I saw Ray J coming out of the hotel, hiding his head, being pushed into the car,” she told Drew. “Why? I looked and I said, ‘why is he hiding his face?’ He’s always trying to show his face when he’s around Whitney. Why now? Why are you trying to hide now Ray J?” She went on to allege that Ray J was never Houston’s boyfriend, as widely reported, but that he was her “runner boy,” and that he often fetched and gave her drugs. Drew said that CNN/HLN could not independently confirm Leolah Brown’s claims. But a spokesperson for Ray J denied the allegations, telling TMZ that he had no knowledge that Houston was using again before her death. Furthermore, the unnamed rep said Ray J was not even with Houston on the day she died, but was in San Diego. While a final coroner’s report is not due for two more weeks, the initial report claims that traces of cocaine were found in Houston’s system at the time of death along with anti-anxiety drug Xanax, muscle relaxant Flexeril, marijuana and Benadryl, which officials said played no role in her death. No cocaine was found in the singer’s room when she died, but coroner spokesman Craig Harvey noted that cocaine metabolites were found in her system, leading them to conclude that Houston was a chronic user of the drug. A number of prescription pills were recovered in the Beverly Hills hotel room, but officials from the coroner’s office said there wasn’t an unusual amount of medication. Related Videos Farewell To A Legend: Whitney Houston’s Funeral Related Artists Whitney Houston Ray J
‘Welcome to the World Luca Cruz Comrie!’ Duff tweets about first child. By Christina Garibaldi Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage Hilary Duff is now a mom! The former Disney star and her husband, Mike Comrie, welcomed baby boy Luca Cruz Comrie into the world Tuesday. Duff took to her Twitter page to break the happy news. “Welcome to the World Luca Cruz Comrie!” she tweeted . “Tuesday evening, we became proud parents of a healthy 7 pound 6 ounce beautiful boy.” She followed it up by tweeting , “We are overjoyed and feel like the luckiest parents in the world. He is surrounded by so much love!! Mom and baby are both doing extremely well.” Duff and Comrie , who recently retired from the NHL, revealed they were expecting their first child back in August, one year after their wedding anniversary. They announced the news on Duff’s website , writing, “We are extremely happy and are ready to start this new chapter in our lives.” In October, Duff — who was more than four months pregnant at the time — sat down with MTV News and told us she had a feeling that she was expecting a baby boy . “Everyone else says it’s a girl, but I think it’s a boy,” Duff said. “I’d be happy with a girl, but my sister’s like, ‘You can’t keep saying that, because then when it’s a girl, everyone’s gonna be like, “You really wanted a boy!” ‘ I don’t care what I get, but every time I think about it or dream about it, I see a boy.” At the time, Duff was in the process of making a very tough decision: picking a baby name. “If we give the baby kind of a unique name, we need to give it a normal middle name in case it hates it and wants to, like, fit in better, and then maybe we just need to go totally traditional,” Duff said. “And we’re like, ‘How can we be naming it before we even see it?’ There’s so much to think about!” The former “Lizzie McGuire” star got lucky during her first pregnancy, saying that other than the lack of sleep, it’s been a relatively calm experience. “I feel really good. It’s been pretty easy, and I haven’t gotten sick at all, and I don’t have too many cravings,” Duff told MTV News. “It’s so different. It’s literally like an alien has taken over your body. One day I’ll have a good day, and one day I’ll have a bad day, and it kinda goes like that.” Leave your well-wishes for Hilary and Mike in the comments below! Related Photos Lovebirds: Hilary Duff And Mike Comrie Related Artists Hilary Duff
‘My life is an open book,’ rapper says about tonight’s VH1 special. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Felicia ‘The Poetess’ Morris Game Photo: MTV News Whether through his music or interviews, Game is an open book. The Compton, California, rapper has been candid about his gang affiliations, his tumultuous family life and his beef with rival rappers like 50 Cent. Tonight (March 22) at 9 p.m. ET, Game will once again open up on a new episode of VH1’s critically acclaimed show “Behind the Music.” “I think it’s real big, and I’m so appreciative for VH1 just reaching out to us and sort of just championing my career and appreciating me,” Game told MTV News this morning. Game is a big fan of the show, which has famously profiled musicians like Bon Jovi, Mary J. Blige and Game’s mentor Dr. Dre. “I’ve seen a lot of episodes that were about figures that I thought to be bigger than life. I didn’t think I was halfway there, just 30, and still trying to find my way through hip-hop,” he said. When the show airs, the “Hate It or Love It” rapper will watch on television like so many of his fans. “I haven’t seen any edits or anything. I’m just gonna sit on the couch and watch it with the fam,” he said. “They are so thorough in their interviews and the people they talk to. They went back from the early stages of my life, even earlier from before I was born. They talked to my mom, my parents, my grandmother, so I think there are a lot of things that will be uncovered [that] people will appreciate knowing.” Nas will also be a subject of a “Behind the Music” episode this season, and when thinking about himself in relation to the Queensbridge MC, Game imagines that he is much more open than his friend and frequent collaborator. “I didn’t hold back none. You know me; I don’t hold back anything,” he said. “I can see Nas being a little bit guarded. … You know, Nas is a bit of a thinker. Me, I’m just a little more wild and reckless, so, you know, my life is an open book.” Don’t miss Game’s “Behind the Music” tonight at 9 p.m. ET on VH1. Related Artists The Game
‘It’s not the right time,’ singer tells MTV News. By Christina Garibaldi Fergie Photo: MTV News NEW YORK — Fergie has been lying low since the Black Eyed Peas announced they were going on an indefinite hiatus back in November. Yet on Wednesday, the Internet was abuzz with rumors that she might fill Paula Abdul or Nicole Scherzinger ‘s “X Factor” judging seats. But that’s all news to Fergie herself. “I have no idea how this keeps coming back, it’s crazy!” she told MTV News on Thursday (March 22) at the Voli Light Vodka Brunch in New York. “I know that my managers and agents have been in touch with the ‘X Factor’ both last season and this season, but both times it’s not the right time.” In April 2010, Fergie was mentioned as a potential judge , but much like this time around, she felt she couldn’t give the contestants the commitment they would need from a mentor. “I can’t commit all the energy that these contestants deserve,” Fergie said. “This is their career, and right now, I’ve got different plants in my garden that are going on, and that’s a really big tree that would take a lot of nurturing and energy. It’s just not the right time right now.” It might not be the right time for Fergie, but it could be the right time for Britney Spears. The pop star was reportedly offered $10 million to join Simon Cowell and L.A Reid on the judging panel. So does Fergie think Spears would be a good fit? “I think whatever they do … Simon’s a genius and he’ll make the right decision,” Fergie said. “And it will all work out.” Even though Fergie won’t be mentoring this season’s “X Factor” contestants, that doesn’t mean she won’t be tuning in. “I love Simon and I’ll be watching the show,” Fergie said. “I’m excited to watch — but at home in my pajamas.” Do you think Fergie would make a good “X Factor” mentor? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Fergie
Producer/songwriter tells MTV News the ‘sexier’ track, which drops Monday, will ‘definitely surprise people.’ By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: Getty Images Justin Bieber is days away from dropping his lead Believe single, “Boyfriend,” and its early buzz grew even louder on Wednesday when Bieber released the lyrics for the track. While fans will have to wait until Monday to hear the song, MTV News got a little bit of a tease from one of the guys who worked with the teen sensation on the track. “This record is different in a very good way,” “BF” co-producer and co-writer Mason Levy told MTV News. “Definitely edgier, it’s more grown-up, it’s more developed and it’s sexier. It’s just like really dope. It’s gonna definitely surprise people. People aren’t really expecting that they’re going to like it.” Levy thinks pretty much everyone is destined to like it, thanks to a sound that reaches far beyond that of Bieber’s tweeny pop days. “It’s more of something that everyone can drive around and listen to it, whether they’re guys or girls or older,” he said. Bieber has said he wanted to grow up with this album and the Mike Posner-produced song. His model was the post-‘NSYNC Justin Timberlake. From the sound of it, he might have hit that nail on the head. “It’s more just the verses [that he raps on] and the rest he’s singing,” he said. “It’s dope. It’s hip-hop, but with great acoustic R&B, pop guitar with very hip-hop, clubby drums and really dope Justin Timberlake-y melodies.” The creation of the song was pretty organic, Levy said. “We got together and started messing around. It was one of those things where you didn’t have to struggle too much. It just kind of happened,” he said. “He always goes in and does melodies and he’s involved in lyrics and everything.” “Boyfriend” will set the tone for the album, set for release later this year. “There’s definitely lots of diversity on the album. There’s really ballad-y stuff and there’s more stuff like this. I would say [‘Boyfriend’] is harder,” Levy added. “He’s very open to everything.” Are you excited to hear a “grown-up” Bieber on “Boyfriend”? Leave your comment below! Related Videos Happy Birthday, Justin Bieber! Related Artists Justin Bieber
Top 10 takes on the songs of Billy Joel with mixed results on Wednesday night’s show. By James Montgomery Erika Van Pelt on Wednesday’s “American Idol” Photo: FOX It was difficult to decide what was the most shocking part of Wednesday night’s “American Idol” : Erika Van Pelt’s new “Little Nicky” hairdo? The fact that Elise Testone may have finally found her way out of the bottom three? Or that, with the full Billy Joel catalog at their disposal, none of the contestants decided to take on “The Stranger” or ” I Go to Extremes “? Nah, we’re gonna say it was whatever Heejun Han was attempting to do with his mid-set strip show (just in case you haven’t watched yet, boy was this a special episode of “Idol”). Anyway, while we’re still scrubbing H.H. from our collective consciousness, we took a minute to hand out some grades for a truly Joel-a-riffic night. Who rode high on the River of Dreams ? Who drove their car into a house in the Hamptons? Read on to find out! Jessica Sanchez : She’s the one to beat, and now she seems to know it, as evidenced by her thorough throttling of “Everybody Has a Dream.” It was perhaps a bit too literal (like, we get it, this is your dream), but dang, when she lets it rip, there’s really no one else who even comes close. Standing ovation, massive praise from the judges, the overwhelming desire to just give her the crown right now … with Sanchez, it’s the same every week, just like our grade for her performance. A Elise Testone : It only took her three weeks, but Testone finally found her groove, positively killing “Vienna” (wait, that sounds weird). Her full repertoire was on display, and she even worked in some of those goofy hand gestures that all the great divas make when they know they’re on point. And she was. She earned a richly deserved standing ovation for her efforts, and if she’s in the bottom three again this week, America is officially the worst. A Erika Van Pelt : Her newly darkened hair only added to her attitude, and there was plenty of it on display during her version of “New York State of Mind.” Sultry and soulful, if perhaps a touch too lounge singer for our liking, but still, she was miles above pretty much everyone else on this night … and for once, people are actually talking about her. Even if it is because of her hair. Small victories, folks. B+ Skylar Laine : She’s got a great voice, and the fact that she’s still standing in the competition is proof that she’s a survivor, but still … it would be nice to see her step outside her country comfort zone for once. Shoot, she did Garth Brooks’ version of “Shameless.” Kinda screechy in parts, but a solid ending probably ensures she’s safe for another week. The judges didn’t do her any favors, though. B- Hollie Cavanagh : Another week, another big ballad from the pint-sized powerhouse. This time it was “Honesty,” and yes, as Steven pointed out, it was plenty pitchy. Randy also got in on the act, giving her the dreaded “come on now.” Yowch. Perhaps the cracks are starting to show. Also, it would be nice to see her change things up a bit, provided she’s still here next week, of course. C+ Joshua Ledet : His roller-coaster ride through “Idol” (The highs! The lows! The Mantasia!) bottomed out this week, as he struggled to connect with “She’s Got a Way.” Still, he battled through, hit some nice notes (and some not-so-nice ones, too), but we have a creeping suspicion the Josh-a-coaster might be entering its final turn, which is a shame, considering all he’s capable of. Like the suddenly sage-like Randy said, “Never ever feel defeated!” C Deandre Brackensick : He kicked off the show with an even — if forgettable — version of “Only the Good Die Young,” and after three weeks of live performances, “even” and “forgettable” are about par for the course for him. Earned polite praise from the judges, a few screams from the crowd, wore a cool vest thingy, but perhaps this is the week the somewhat-good really do die young. C- Colton Dixon : Oh, no way, he did ” Piano Man “! Shocking. Also, lyrical content aside, isn’t this song supposed to be fun? Not in Colton’s world, apparently. Gave J.Lo goosies, probably because she was sitting on an air conditioner or something. The girls in the audience liked it, too, so once again he’ll be safe, but c’mon man, lighten up a bit. And change your hair. It’s not 2003 and Warped Tour doesn’t kick off for a few more months. C- Phillip Phillips: Totally “Phillip Phillps’d” (thanks Steven!) “Movin’ Out,” which basically means he slowed the thing down to a dirge and growled a bunch. Congrats, dude, you proved it’s possible to suck the life out of even the most jovial of tunes! Randy, who was apparently watching a different show or something, called it “one of the best renditions of the song ever.” Go buy a house out in Hackensack, dawg. D Heejun Han : He mystified both Diddy and Tommy Hilfiger, which hasn’t happened since Nelly decided to get into the clothing game, then went out and mystified everyone watching “Idol” with his goofy version of “My Life.” Apparently it was supposed to be funny or something. Gee, it’s a good thing the judges decided to keep him and not, you know, someone who actually wanted to win this thing. Note to Heejun: You’re not as clever as you think. F- Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists Billy Joel
