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T.I. Announces Album Title, Preps New Mixtape With DJ Drama

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I think this is going to be exciting for the streets,’ Drama says. By Shaheem Reid T.I. and DJ Drama Photo: Atlantic T.I. has feen finalizing plans for the release of latest round of music. The Grammy Award-winning MC announced Thursday (April 15) via his Web site that the title of August 24 LP will be King Uncaged. And on Wednesday, Tip released a promo trailer for an upcoming mixtape he has with DJ Drama and DJ MLK, one in the Gangsta Grillz series called F— a Mixtape. While some were confused by the title, rest assured that all parties involved are not turning their backs on the mixtape circuit — after all, the project is a mixtape and both Drama and MLK have several other mixtapes with various other artists on deck in the coming weeks. But Drama declined to elaborate on the meaning behind the title. “Take it how you wanna take it,” Drama, who describes the quality of King Uncaged as being so dope it’s “ridiculous,” said about any controversy the name has caused. “I’mma let Tip explain.” However, Drama did say that he was one of the people championing Tip’s return to the circuit. “We been talking about it for a minute — a long time,” Dram said. “It’s been quite a while since Tip has a done a Gangsta Grillz. I guess The Leak was the last one. When Tip first got home, I had the conversation with him. ‘You home, Gangsta Grillz as a brand is still as hot as it ever was, almost helping breathe back life into the mixtape game. I think it will be right to come back full circle to where you are, to where the brand is.’ That’s how the conversation started.” The tape is around 80 percent done and going through some tweaks. It’s almost all original material thus far. “I’m about to go in and see if I can get Tip to murder a couple of people’s beats real quick,” he continued. “I’m gonna get on his head about that, but for the most part, all original material.” Tip and his P$C family earned status as underground heroes with their In Da Streets series. “Right up there with it,” Drama said of how the new project compares to the classics. “Right up there with it. I think this is going to be exciting for the streets. It’s a lot of sh– that is ’24s’-type Tip. Tip is like a f—ing superstar right now. He makes a lot of big records with a lot of worldly feels — but they gonna love this in Zone One.” Are you looking forward to T.I.’s new album? Let us know in the comments below! Related Artists T.I.

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Ryan Tedder Doesn’t ‘Remember’ Telling Lady Gaga To ‘Be Careful’

Posted on April 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

But the OneRepublic singer does say that, as an artist, ‘you gotta take care of your health first.’ By James Montgomery, with reporting by Akshay Bhansali OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder and Eddie Fisher Photo: MTV News Here’s the thing about OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder’s recent comments about Lady Gaga in People magazine: He doesn’t remember actually making them, but that doesn’t mean he’s backing down from them either. A quick refresher: Late last month, after footage surfaced of Gaga nearly collapsing onstage during a concert in New Zealand (an incident she chalked up to “jet lag”), Tedder supposedly told People that he was concerned for LG’s health. “Gaga has to be careful,” he was quoted as saying. “She’s already larger than life. How do you get larger than that?” It seemed like a fairly harmless comment, though as it began to make its way around various gossip sites, all of that changed. When MTV News spoke to Tedder and his OneRepublic mates last week, we decided to ask him to clarify his statement. And, as it turns out, he did a lot more than that. “I’ve had two or three people ask me about that, and I had friends who picked up People magazine last week or the week before, and they’re like, ‘You’re in People, someone asked you about Lady Gaga,’ ” Tedder said. “I don’t even remember saying that. To be honest, I don’t even know that I did. ” At press time, a rep for People had not responded to MTV News’ request for comment. While Tedder doesn’t recall saying he was concerned about Gaga’s health, he freely admits that he is. After all, he’s been through the wringer a time or two and knows how taxing and tormenting it can be, and he doesn’t want to see Gaga go down the same path he did. “I’ve only met her once, but I had, like, a two-hour conversation with her nonstop the first time that I hung out with her, right before ‘Just Dance’ came out, and thought she was the coolest, smartest [person]. I was like, ‘God, she’s got her crap together.’ She was legit,” he said. “So I don’t know her, I don’t pretend like I know her, but the fact that I, for a moment, connected with her humanity, and I know how hard we work, and I know the schedule after ‘Apologize’ blew up … the longest stretch of time we were home in a row, for about 13 months, was two and a half days. And that can push you to a brink, where your job becomes who you are, and you end up reaching a breaking point, where all of a sudden you hate it, and you just want to quit. “Or you get sick — we pushed it so hard earlier this year, we were touring with Rob Thomas, and every single day was ‘show, promo/press during the day, show that night,’ and I lost my voice and got swine flu,” Tedder continued. “And the doctor was like, ‘Look, I’ve dealt with a lot of you artists. I’ve had Kanye in here, I’ve had R. Kelly, I’ve had all these different people come through my office. … If you don’t slow down, your body will shut you down completely.’ And so, if you’re collapsing onstage, I don’t care how much money [you have] or how much you love your ‘Little Monsters,’ you gotta take care of your health first. For anybody. For us. I mean, we’ve had to slow down.” So while Tedder isn’t trying to preach, he just hopes Gaga will slow things down a bit. But, knowing her reputation, he’s not sure she will. “My hat goes off to her. Nobody works harder than Lady Gaga. Nobody. She is unbelievable. I don’t know how she sleeps, or when or if,” he said. “But I know people who work with her, and they’re like, ‘She is the most dedicated, committed, hardworking person around.’ ” To be honest, Tedder isn’t even upset that something he may (or may not) have actually said has gotten twisted up. Far from it. If anything, he’s sort of used to it by now. “I’ve had different quotes. Like, something involving Simon Cowell a long time ago, and the British press got a hold of it, and it was like me and Simon were fighting,” he said. “And then something recently about me ripping on a producer that did our first album, which never happened. It’s just funny.” What do you think about Ryan’s explanation? Do you think Gaga should take it easy? Let us know in the comments! Related Photos The Evolution Of: Lady Gaga Related Artists Lady Gaga OneRepublic

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Six Reasons the World Gets More Attractive When the Sun Comes Out [Lists]

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

It’s spring. Which means inevitably that wherever you are, someone will be asking jovially what it is about sunny days that means everyone gets more attractive. We’re sick of this conversation. So here’s why. After careful scientific analysis, we think that fairly simple factors are behind individuals or groups that seem hotter at a fleeting glance in March than December. Especially in a city like New York. More people: It’s a nice day. Most street corners do not feature a miserable battle for cabs. You’re walking around more. Everyone else is walking around more. You’re all doing it at a more leisurely pace. There will inevitably be more street-based interactions, verbal and non-verbal, with other people. See also… Eye contact: When it’s cold, windy, snowy or rainy your head will naturally be down. It’s the best way to protect your face, with its associated seeing, hearing, tasting smelling and breathing holes. When it’s sunny your head is more often up. You’re looking around. So is everyone else. Eye contact. I think she likes me. ‘Why are there so many hot girls around today?’ Better moods: You’re in a better mood, perhaps even more confident, because you’re not leaping over slushy puddles. The same applies to other people who are not leaping over slushy puddles. Everyone feels more attractive. So they look… perkier. Sunglasses: Literally and figuratively cover a multitude of sins. Firstly, people do not pick sunglasses in which they look bad – a lot of thought has gone into those Hepburn knockoffs. Secondly, the kids these days wear large shades. These cover more of the face in case of busted-ness. More skin: We are, at base, simple animals with simple needs. Many of us have not seen cleavage, or a toned biceps in three or four months. We’ve been judging people almost exclusively, in body terms, by how well their coats and sweaters fit. Obviously the first instance of exposed flesh is going to ring the dust off the attractiveness bell. The thought of that flesh will, at a passing glance, distract from any facial sins that more dispassionate scrutiny might reveal. Memetics: As a critical mass of people talk about how they see more hot people walking around on sunny days, others listen and seek out further evidence to support the theory. If an illicit government group removed all attractive people from the streets on sunny days, it would still take a couple of years for the memetic momentum to die away. We see more attractive people on the streets on sunny days because we assume we will. [ Pic via ]

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Orlando Sentinel – The TV Guy – 'The View': Rielle Hunter upset …

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Benny Hollywood

Barbara Walters this morning talked to Rielle Hunter , the mistress of John Edwards and mother of his child, and relayed the conversation on today’s edition of. Continue reading →

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Lil Wayne Going To Jail Is Like Elvis Being Drafted, Bun B Says

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I don’t think anything like this has happened in music since Elvis got drafted into the Army,’ he says. By Shaheem Reid Bun B Photo: MTV News Bun B has been friends with Lil Wayne since he was a teenager. The Houston legend said having Wayne out of the music game for a year will be a greater loss than people are realizing. “I feel bad, because I don’t think anything like this has happened in music since Elvis got drafted into the Army,” Bun B said. ” … Let’s just keep it real: Lil’ Wayne is not just the biggest rapper, Lil Wayne is the biggest pop star right now. Maybe Susan Boyle is on his level. But when you talk about music, nine times out of 10, Lil Wayne’s name is gonna come into the conversation. I feel bad for any brother or any sister that’s gotta go to jail. I feel especially bad for a person like Lil Wayne who’s really riding the wave right now. But he don’t have a lot of time. He’s doing it on the Island . As wild and as ill as the Island is, I think at the same time, he’ll be all right. When you in that state jail and you dealing with those lifers, you got a lot of other issues at hand.” While in jail , Wayne should just focus on serving his time productively and not worry about fellow inmates, Bun said. , Wayne should just focus on serving his time productively and not worry about fellow inmates, Bun said. “I don’t think it will be smart for him to go to general population,” he said. “A person like Lil Wayne doesn’t have to prove anything to anybody in general population exposing themselves to that yard. It’s not about being real. It’s too many people who have way too much to gain, and [there is] so much he could lose by trying to prove something. … That’s nota good look. … It’s a little bit different when a person like Lil Wayne goes to jail. All we can do is pray for him. Pray for his spirit.” Bun, who championed his late musical brother Pimp C years ago when Pimp was in prison, said he admires the attitude Wayne’s musical family has in this tough time. “I just left Miami. People [were] trying to keep their heads up and sprits up while the young man was around, but they are hurting,” Bun said. “One thing I noticed from the Young Money camp is that they’re not being down because of their careers and they’re worried about a co-sign. They are worried about a friend. That’s what I see from Drake, Nicki, Stunna. … These people are concerned about a friend going to prison.” Related Videos Lil Wayne Goes To Jail: Celebs React Related Photos Lil Wayne’s Battle With His Gun Possession Case Related Artists Bun B Lil Wayne

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Billy Corgan Discusses His ‘Love’ For Jessica Simpson, Smashing Pumpkins Breakup

Posted on March 5, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I think if people knew her like I knew her, they would love her like I do,’ Corgan tells Rolling Stone. By Jocelyn Vena Billy Corgan (file) Photo: MTV News While Billy Corgan was mum about his relationship with pop star Jessica Simpson when he spoke to The Chicago Tribune last month, the Smashing Pumpkins frontman was a bit more forthcoming to Rolling Stone about the nature of his relationship with the singer, who recently appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and ex-boyfriend’s discussed John Mayer’s controversial comments about her in Playboy. “If I go, ‘Oh, we’re just friends,’ then it’s like, ‘Did they go out, did he dump her or she dump him, what happened?’ It has nothing to do with any of that. Sometimes people just like being around each other, and good things come out of that,” he told the magazine. “My goal in life is to love whoever I think is worth loving, and I think if people knew her like I knew her, they would love her like I do. It’s really simple.” He had harsher words for his former bandmates in the Smashing Pumpkins. “Rather than break up the band, what I should have done is chuck James [Iha] out,” Corgan explained. “I should have just said to Jimmy [Chamberlin], ‘You go to rehab, and we’ll continue, and James, get the f— out of here.’ Instead, I fell on my sword for James, for what I thought was a friend.” He also opened up about his career now and his ongoing work on the Pumpkins’ Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, a planned 44-track collection he’s gradually releasing over the course of three years via free download from his Web site. “There’s a lot of days where you feel forgotten,” he said. “Do I belong in the conversation about the best artists in the world? My answer is yes, I do. I’ve been too productive for too long, and despite what anybody wants to strip away from me, I am influential. I am. So all the Pitchforks in the world [referring to the popular indie-rock Web site] can try to strip me of every ounce of dignity, but I belong.” Related Artists Billy Corgan Jessica Simpson The Smashing Pumpkins

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As Lil Wayne’s Jail Sentence Approaches, A Look Back At Snoop’s, T.I.’s, Shyne’s Comments On Prison

Posted on March 1, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

These MCs and others have talked about their feelings as they faced prison. By James Montgomery T.I. Photo: Moses Robinson/ Getty Images On Tuesday, Lil Wayne is scheduled to surrender to New York authorities and is expected to begin serving a one-year prison sentence , stemming from a July 2007 attempted gun possession arrest. Wayne is certainly not the first artist to go down this path, especially not in recent years. And, much like those before him, he’s addressed the situation, in the form of a Web video last month (when he was originally expected to begin his term, before the sentencing was delayed due to dental surgery ), in which he thanked his fans for their support and asked them not to forget about him while he serves his sentence, “because I will forever think about you. I cannot wait for you to see me again.” More recently, he’s been sending MTV News videos that document his activities leading up to his court date on Tuesday. As in the past, MTV News has been following Wayne’s legal situation every step of the way. And over the years, we’ve managed to speak to many of his fellow artists as they faced the prospects of jail time, or breathed a sigh of relief after being acquitted of very serious charges. Two of the most famous instances were a 1996 interview with Snoop Dogg , one day after he was found not guilty on a murder charge, and an in-depth conversation with Sean “Diddy” Combs, following his acquittal on bribery and gun-possession charges. In our 1996 conversation with Snoop, he told us what was going though his mind as he stood waiting for his verdict to be read. “I left it in God’s hands. That’s why I looked it, so stone-faced. I was just, I didn’t have no expressions. You know what I’m sayin’? It was all inner. I prayed on it. My family prayed on it,” Snoop said. “[My attorneys] did what they were supposed to do, and they gave the baton to the jury, and I couldn’t do nothin’ but just bank on them and worry about what the outcome was gonna be, as far as to just sit there and hold my position, and to keep my head up high. And just, you know, wait for the outcome.” In 2001, MTV News’ Sway Calloway sat down with Combs , who had just been cleared of all charges after a six-week trial (and 15-month media firestorm) that stemmed from his then prot

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50 Cent’s Big Sex Tape Mess

Posted on February 25, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Everybody who’s anybody in Hollywood has a sex tape. So no wonder 50 Cent felt the need to join da club. But now the MC is in a heaping pile of trouble for allegedly splicing himself…

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American Idol Judges Jealous of Simon Cowell’s Fancy Trailer

Posted on February 25, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Ryan Seacrest had Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi on his morning KIIS-FM show to talk about American Idol’s lackluster dude night. While the conversation mostly centered around…

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John Mayer’s Playboy Interview Begs: Is There Such A Thing As TMI?

Posted on February 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Mayer unquestionably went too far, but is it better to have an outspoken celebrity than an edgeless one? By Kyle Anderson John Mayer Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images In this era of super-social connectivity and 24-hour celebrity news, the filter between stars and the audience has shrunk to nothing. By John Mayer’s own admission , he went too far — way too far — with his use of the N-word in his recent, much-maligned Playboy interview , and his use of the word was indefensible. However, part of Mayer’s appeal is that he says outlandish things during interviews, on his Twitter and in his sporadic appearances on the stages of stand-up comedy clubs. The size of his Twitter following audience alone (Mayer has over 3 million people tracking him, which ranks him up there with stars like Ashton Kutcher and Britney Spears) suggests that his verbal unpredictability excites fans and leaves them hanging on his every tweet. Since an initial round of apologetic tweets about the interview , Mayer’s Twitter account had been silent at press time. In the meantime, he has sparked yet another conversation that features fair points on both sides. Is it better to have an honest rock star than an edgeless, overly-managed automaton? “I’d say it’s better to have a rock star who isn’t afraid to open his mouth, but it’s a social contract,” said Caryn Ganz of Rolling Stone, a magazine that has tracked Mayer’s growth from minor singer-songwriter to celebrity guitar hero. “We know he’s going to say some uncomfortable stuff, and he knows he’s going to have to pay the price sometimes. He made a mistake with the racial comments, but in general, I appreciate his unmediated honesty.” Spin Deputy Editor Steve Kandell concurs, but with a caveat. “I mean, of course it’s more entertaining to watch someone put his foot in his mouth,” he said. “Or, better yet, put his foot in his mouth, then set his foot on fire and hop around while shooting himself in his other foot.” Kandell said that having no filter certainly makes stars more interesting, but he worries about fatigue. “It’s human to be that much of an idiot, and right now, it’s still entertaining. But by, I don’t know, Monday? To me, all this is a bigger problem for what we do than the music industry’s woes or the death of print. There’s no one you want to read about.” But the big question is: Does wanting to read about an artist translate into interest in engaging in that artist’s work? “I think being open and unfiltered generally helps the music and is good for album sales — up until you say something racist,” says Lane Brown, editor of New York magazine’s pop culture blog Vulture . Referencing Kanye West’s interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech during last year’s MTV Video Music Awards, he added, “That will be more difficult to come back from than interrupting an acceptance speech at an awards show.” Even if such notoriety doesn’t translate directly into sales for somebody like Mayer, interest in him remains. “I don’t know a soul who’s ever listened to a John Mayer album, but I’ll read about him,” Kandell admitted. Ganz concurred. “I don’t listen to his music, but I respect him for having an opinion,” she said. “He hasn’t converted me, but he has almost certainly convinced people to buy his albums based on his ability to speak his mind.” For his part, Mayer has said he wants to pull back from the “soundbite game,” limit his media appearances and cut down on Twitter. The coming weeks and months will reveal how he’ll adjust. Tell us what you think: Will you still be interested in John Mayer in the wake of this controversy? Do you prefer your pop stars open and honest, or are they better off leading more guarded lives? Related Artists John Mayer

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