‘I’m telling you, this album is gonna be so well worth the wait,’ Mystikal says of his upcoming Original on ‘RapFix Live.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Mystikal on “RapFix Live” Photo: Natasha Chandel/ MTV News It’s been 11 years since Mystikal ‘s last album, but when his 2012 album Original finally does drop, the energetic bounce master promises that he will deliver in a big way. “I’m telling you, this album is gonna be so well worth the wait, Sway, believe that,” Mystikal told MTV News’ Sway Calloway on Wednesday’s “RapFix Live.” The truth is, even if it wasn’t “worth the wait,” would a rapper really say otherwise? Mystikal acknowledged that his boasts may seem clich
Grand Hustle artists were joined by Wale, Meek Mill, Curren$y at Warner Music showcase. By Nadeska Alexis T.I. and B.o.B perform at SXSW Photo: Universal Pictures AUSTIN, Texas — There was no shortage of options in Austin, Texas, on Thursday night if you happened to be a hip-hop fan at SXSW on the hunt for a good show. While Lil Wayne and YMCMB put their talents on display at Austin Music Hall, just five minutes down the road T.I. , B.o.B , Wale , Meek Mill and Curren$y brought down the house at the Warner Sound showcase. MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway hosted the event at La Zona Rosa, where Grand Hustle Records had a triumphant night and Maybach Music Group continued to rep their expanding roster. Curren$y, Kirko Bangz and XV got the packed house adequately warmed up for a night that easily stretched into the wee hours of Friday morning (March 16). Grand Hustle announced their arrival with B.o.B’s raucous entrance to “Beast Mode,” backed by a live band. His next number, “How Bout Dat,” commanded a fleet of backup dancers. He followed that with the upbeat single “Magic” off his debut album, B.o.B. Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. The song faded into a dubstep beat, pushing the dancers front and center to showcase their moves before the venue finally went dark. With nothing to see or hear, the crowd hung back, wondering what would be next. That would be Mr. Grand Hustle himself. “They say Grand Hustle is in the building,” Tip announced over the mic, followed by a long pause before “I’m Back” came booming through the speakers. “Rubberband Man” was a natural choice to follow, sending the crowd soaring along with “U Don’t Know Me.” Tip took a break only to plug his upcoming eighth album, Trouble Man, which is tentatively due out this summer, before continuing with fan favorites like “What You Know” and one of his more recent singles, “Pyro.” From there, B.o.B and T.I. continued to tag-team the set, and Tip was proud to announce that this was the first time he and his signee had “done a full show together.” Playboy Tre was on hand for “Bet I Bust.” “Don’t Let Me Fall” was delivered on acoustic guitar, and T.I. even threw in “Whatever You Like” to round out Bobby Ray’s “Airplanes” and “Strange Clouds,” the title track of his upcoming album. It was already after midnight when MMG rappers Meek Mill, Stalley and Wale finally took the stage. Meek and Stalley were up first, with energetic singles like “I’ma Boss” aiming to keep the crowd going. Wale did his part to keep the energy alive, performing his hits “Lotus Flower Bomb” and “Slight Work” and commanding a guest appearance from Travis Porter. The D.C. rapper closed out the night with his street anthem “Bait” and the cult favorite “No Hands.” Related Artists T.I. B.o.B Wale Meek Mill
Mystikal, Birdman, Cory Gunz and others help Weezy kick off his Mountain Dew partnership in Austin. By Nadeska Alexis Lil Wayne performs at SXSW on Thursday Photo: Hutton Supancic/ Getty Images YMCMB. Trukfit. DeWeezy. And repeat. When Lil Wayne took over the Austin Music Hall for his SXSW show in Texas on Thursday night, the rapper-turned-skateboarder had the venue draped in banners upon banners, shouting out his team, his new clothing line and his new partnership with Mountain Dew. Earlier in the day, Wayne invited his pro skateboard friends — including Paul Rodriguez and Theotis Beasley — to get their grind on on the top floor of the venue while the Mountain Dew-sponsored show was being prepped. By showtime later that night, the boys were all freshly prepped for their closing appearance at the concert. (For photos from the concert, click here.) And while Wayne saved his skateboard family to wrap the night, his YMCMB family members came out to open the show and made brief appearances throughout his set. U.K. singer Jay Sean hit the stage early, along with Lil Chuckee and recent Cash Money signee Mystikal, who gave the crowd a taste of his hits including “Here I Go” and “Shake Ya Ass.” Wayne finally hit the stage around 12:30 a.m., decked out in his Trukfit gear, with skateboard in hand, bringing a burst of energy for fans who’d already started a few “Weezy” chants in anticipation of his performance. He kicked things off with “I’m Goin’ In,” and “A Milli,” with head banging and dreads flying everywhere. During his one-hour set, Wayne gave the crowd some words of inspiration on falling and getting back up. “Life is like skateboarding,” he said. He later dropped another one-liner, “It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it,” admitting to the crowd that they’d just participated in a commercial shoot for his new DeWeezy campaign with Mountain Dew. With that out of the way, there were still plenty of hits left to go around, including “She Will” and “Blunt Blowin’,” plus a few more guest appearances. Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga were all noticeably absent from the show, but after giving them a shout-out, Wayne brought out a few more YMCMB members including Shanell, Bow Wow, Gudda Gudda, Mack Maine and Birdman, who performed his single “Y.U. Mad.” Despite Drake’s absence, Wayne delivered his verse on “The Motto” and saved Tha Carter IV single “6 Foot, 7 Foot” for the finale. Maybe the most surprising cameo of the night came from rapper Cory Gunz, who was recently arrested for gun possession. The young Gunz joined Wayne and his crew of pro skateboarders onstage to assist on the track before calling it a night. Related Videos South by Southwest 2012 Related Photos SXSW 2012 Related Artists Lil Wayne B.o.B T.I.
Boy band’s debut album is amping up for a #1 debut on Billboard albums chart next week. By Jocelyn Vena One Direction Photo: Larry Busacca/ Getty Images Adele lost the top spot on the Billboard chart this week to Bruce Springsteen, and it seems that five British boy-banders are also eyeing the crown for next week’s chart. One Direction ‘s U.S. debut, Up All Night , is looking to sell big and give the big-voiced British songstress and the Boss a run for their money. “There didn’t seem to be much hype until all of a sudden it sort of exploded,” Keith Caulfield, associate director of charts at Billboard, told MTV News about the tween phenomenon hitting the mainstream. “The album should do somewhere in the range of 160,000 to 180,000, that’s what we’re projecting right now. It’s a little hard to gauge just because they’re so youth-appealing and because they’re basically a boy band, it’s hard to project how consumers will react to the album. It could go higher; it could go a little lower. So, it has a definite shot at #1. And if it does debut at #1, [we’re reporting that] it would mark the first time a British group’s first album has debuted at #1. “But Adele could still pull it out and block them. It’s kind of up in the air right now,” Caulfield added. “It’s kind of a race.” What may help them keep that longevity alive is the onslaught of American love they have been receiving lately. Nickelodeon confirmed that the guys now have a development deal with the network and are set to appear on one of its biggest shows, “iCarly,” next season. “One Direction really worked social media and were really active at getting their fanbase energized,” Caulfield said. “It really depends on how far they can reach outside of their core base [to continue selling records and sustain that momentum]. Will they be able to be accepted on radio? Will they become a pop culture phenomenon outside of [teen girls]? With all the right moves, they can do it.” But as soon as the 1D wave washes over the charts and a Boy-band bonanza continues, another, brasher group of lads is also eyeing chart domination. The Wanted will drop their self-titled U.S. debut on April 24. So, can they sell just as big? “The Wanted skew older. Their music is more mature in its content, so naturally they are going to skew a little older,” Caulfield told us, noting that One Direction’s tweened-out fandom won’t be replicated with the Wanted. “Does that mean they won’t sell as much? Well, no, they’re going to appeal to a different group of people. So, it’s too early to tell what the Wanted will do, but considering the single [‘Glad You Came’ is] doing so well, that at least gives positive energy towards what the album will do,” he said. “We didn’t know what One Direction was going to do until this week. One Direction has that [tween] appeal that makes people want to invest in that phenomenon.” Who do you think will take the #1 spot next week: One Direction, Adele or Bruce Springsteen? Leave your prediction in the comments section below! Related Artists One Direction
Bieber will let his fans pick which photo he uses for the song, out March 26. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: Valery Hache/ AFP/ Getty Images Ever dreamed of being Justin Bieber ‘s art director? Well, the singer is giving his fans that opportunity. Bieber has released two photos and requested that fans choose which will be the official art for his next single, “Boyfriend.” The photo that receives the most fan tweets wins. Biebs dons a gray checkered top over a gray T-shirt in both photos, but it’s the pose that really differentiates the two shots. In one, he stands looking away from the camera, his hands at his side. In the other, he’s looking to the camera, his hand running through his famous hair. The Mike Posner-produced track will drop on March 26. It’s the first single off his forthcoming album, Believe , out later this year. Bieber hit the studio with a number of A-listers for the album, including Maroon 5’s Adam Levine and super-producers Diplo and Ryan Tedder, plus will.i.am, Drake and Lil Wayne. “You can’t really expect anything from my album. It’s really, really different,” Bieber told MTV News. “And it’s new; it’s not the same thing everyone’s used to hearing right now on the radio. It’s really exciting for me, ’cause I’m able to break out of my shell and show my fans what I’m all about and show other people who might not like my music that maybe they can like my music. “I’m not trying to lose any of my young fans,” he continued. “I’m not trying to lose any of my fans, I’m just trying to gain fans, and I think that’s the best way to do it. Rather than try to grow up and lose your fans, you can get better and evolve and gain respect from more people.” Which Bieber photo do you think he should use as the cover art for “Boyfriend”? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Happy Birthday, Justin Bieber! Related Photos Justin Bieber’s Birthday: Celebrating 18! Related Artists Justin Bieber
Singer is adjusting to the fame that’s followed the success of ‘Somebody That I Used to Know,’ her collabo with Gotye. By Christina Garibaldi Kimbra Photo: Getty Images You may have heard her voice on Gotye’s smash hit “Somebody That I Used to Know,” but everyone will soon be familiar with her name: Kimbra. The New Zealand pop singer will take the stage Thursday (March 15) at the 2012 mtvU Woodie Awards Festival during SXSW. So what can fans expect from this newcomer when she hits the stage? Well, MTV News caught up with Kimbra last month in New York, and she told us all about her live performances. “Live experience is definitely quite different,” she said. “I think the record shows a more intimate or reflective side of what I do, but the live show is all about showing more of that aggression.” After working on her debut album for more than three years, the 21-year-old singer/songwriter released Vows in Australia in 2011. It includes catchy and diverse songs like “Cameo Lover” and her latest single, “Good Intent.” Kimbra is set to release Vows in the U.S. on May 22; this version will feature additional songs that she recorded Stateside. “I started working on it when I was 17; now I’m 21,” Kimbra said of the LP. “I think there was a lot of development that needed to happen before I felt like I had something to say musically and lyrically. So yeah, there were some frustrating moments making the album, but I’m glad I took the time I did to make it, and I’m happy with it now. I definitely explore a lot on the album. It’s called Vows, so it talks a bit about the idea of commitment and making promises, but also breaking promises and how you deal with that.” Kimbra has a refreshing yet soulful sound, which she credits to her eclectic taste in music. “It’s hard to describe in a few words,” she said of her sound. “But I’m definitely influenced by some R&B. I also loved musical theater as a kid, so I think that’s what brings more theatrical elements to the music. I’d like to think it’s Prague-pop or something like that. I like to think it’s progressive in some way, but still pop music at the end of the day.” Kimbra is still trying to get used to the newfound fame that’s come with the success of Gotye’s hit. The video, which features the pair without clothing, currently has over 111 million views on YouTube . “We did vocals to that song, at least my verse, in my bedroom, [and] really chilled out,” Kimbra said of recording the track. “I think at the time we were like, ‘Yeah, it’s a cool song,’ but we didn’t think it would be quite what it’s been, so I think it’s a humbling experience for both of us.” Following her performance at the Woodies fest, Kimbra will be hitting the road with Gotye in March and will be back on tour in May with Foster the People . The Woodies invade SXSW on March 15 with the Woodies Festival. The best of the 2012 mtvU Woodies will air on MTV and mtvU on March 18 at 8 p.m. ET. Related Videos 2012 mtvU Woodie Awards Festival Performances Related Photos 2012 mtvU Woodie Awards Festival: Performances 2012 mtvU Woodie Awards Nominees Related Artists Kimbra
MTV News gets to know the 26-year-old ‘Call Me Maybe’ singer, who has suddenly found herself in the big leagues. By Natasha Chandel Carly Rae Jepsen Photo: MTV News Carly Rae Jepsen has suddenly found herself in the big leagues. Justin Bieber recently signed the YouTube pop starlet to his Schoolboy Records label, much like his mentor, Usher , helped catapult him into superstardom when the R&B icon took Bieber under his wing. It all started when Bieber tweeted, “Call me maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen is possibly the catchiest song I’ve ever heard,” creating an immediate runaway hit of the track off Jepsen’s EP Curiosity. And now, a music video spoof of the song, featuring heavy pop hitters like Selena Gomez , Ashley Tisdale and, of course, Bieber, has likely made “Call Me Maybe” the song of the season. “I have no idea why Justin Bieber picked me out of everyone he could have picked, but I’m so glad he did,” Jepsen told MTV News recently. So, who is the girl who wants you to call her, maybe? We already know the 26-year-old Canadian singer has fans in high places, and her track is in the top 10 on the iTunes singles chart, alongside the likes of Adele and Katy Perry. But there is much about this up-and-coming pop singer that you might not know, and MTV News would like to acquaint you with some lesser-known facts about Carly Rae Jepsen. 1. She is an “Idol” alum. In 2007, Jepsen placed third in the Canadian version of the popular “Idol” competition, touring across the country for the “Canadian Idol” Top 3 Concert Tour. During her first audition, Jepsen impressed the judges so much, singing original material, that one judge proclaimed his wish for her not to move forward in the show so he could sign her to a record deal right there and then. 2. She might collaborate with Justin Bieber. The Bieb is certainly “paying it forward.” This past Christmas, Usher recorded a song with his prot
Nick Cannon and Heather Morris have also been added to the list of big-name hosts for the series, which returns March 29. By John Mitchell Lucy Hale Photo: Getty Images In the early aughts, the MTV series “Punk’d” became a pop-culture phenomenon, and now, the sneaky celebrity pranksters are back for more. “Punk’d” returns for an all-new season on Thursday, March 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, featuring a new celebrity host each week and guaranteeing the most hilarious moments in the show’s history. Nick Cannon, Lucy Hale, Mac Miller and Heather Morris will join the ranks of previously announced celebrity hosts Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Kellan Lutz, Bam Margera, Hayden Panettiere, “Punk’d” alumnus Dax Shepard and Tyler, the Creator, and they all have one goal in mind: to pull a killer prank on their unsuspecting celebrity friends. So, who are this season’s unsuspecting celebrity marks? Well, we already know that Rob Dyrdek, Liam Hemsworth, Khlo
Rookie MC tells Mixtape Daily he wrote The Blue Album in four days because ‘something just hit me.’ By Rob Markman Jon Connor Photo: MTV News Fire Starter: Jon Connor When inspiration strikes Flint, Michigan, rap rookie Jon Connor, he just runs with it. His latest mixtape only took him a few days to write, and after he released The Blue Album on Valentine’s Day, Jon Connor sat down with Mixtape Daily and vowed to never slow down his output. “Maybe I’m biased, but I love The Blue Album . I did it in actually four days, wrote the whole Blue Album in four days because something just hit me,” he said. “I have such a hunger for respect and I want to be the best in the world, I’m gonna be the best in the world, that’s the way I look at it.” The Blue Album is a 14-track dedication to Jay-Z ‘s trilogy of Blueprint albums, with Connor taking instrumentals from each of the three albums and using them to suit his own needs. On “Takeover,” the self-proclaimed People’s Rapper commandeers Jigga’s track of the same name, but instead of throwing shots at specific rival rappers like Hov did, the newcomer keeps his darts ambiguous but still potent. “Best in the World” is a retread of “Hovi Baby,” the TLC-sampling track from The Blueprint 2, and the horn-laced “Thank You” pays homage to Jay’s 2009 The Blueprint 3. To craft an entire mixtape using only Jay-Z beats is a tall order for any rapper, much less the still largely unknown Jon Connor, but the nimble lyricist consistently delivers impressive bars throughout. “I feel that there’s people that know about me, but at the same time it’s still people that’s sleeping,” he said. “I had an epiphany, it’s like if I have to drop a tape every two months to make people respect me or bring people in to where I’m at, then that’s what I’m gonna do. Nothing is gonna stop me, and I think that’s what people are gonna get from The Blue Album. ” What do you think of Jon Connor’s The Blue Album ? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Jay-Z
‘Yes, I want kids, I want a soccer team and I want a husband,’ singer tells the talk show maven. By Jocelyn Vena Lady Gaga on “Oprah’s Next Chapter” Photo: OWN/Harpo Inc. Lady Gaga has never come across a topic that she won’t open up about. And in a new, candid interview with Oprah Winfrey on her show ” Oprah’s Next Chapter ,” Mother Monster chats about someday actually becoming a mother. “Yes, I want kids, I want a soccer team and I want a husband,” she said in the special, which airs Sunday on Winfrey’s OWN cable network. “Yeah, I do. Well, you know, I’m being superfluous. I don’t want to have one kid. I want to have a few.” Gaga, who is currently planning her Born This Way world tour , noted that her plan to be a mom won’t happen anytime soon. “I want to experience that,” she said making a baby bump with her hands and laughing, “[but] not yet.” Most of the special was filmed in Gaga’s native New York City, but part was also filmed at Harvard University last month. The singer and the talk show host were on hand at the prestigious college to launch Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation . “I just have one thing to say before we get started: We got Oprah! … Thank you from all of us — from my entire team, from my mother, from the bottom of the hearts of so many people who believe in what we’re doing today,” Gaga said at the launch. She explained that the foundation seeks to empower the youth of America, adding, “How can we inspire young people to know they have the power to be brave?” Related Artists Lady Gaga
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