Title of sophomore album stands for ‘Only N—-a in First Class,’ Wiz explains on ‘Sway in the Morning.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Wiz Khalifa Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images Wiz Khalifa is riding high off of his success, but it isn’t all good. On his sophomore album, O.N.I.F.C., Wiz will celebrate his victories, but he promises to give fans the other side, too. “It’s the Only N-Word in First Class,” Wiz said, breaking down the much-speculated acronym when he appeared on “Sway in the Morning” on Shade 45 on Friday (February 3). “It’s inspired by Prodigy’s H.N.I.C. When he dropped that, I felt like that sounded so strong.” When broken down, the title of Prodigy’s 2000 debut stands for “Head N—a in Charge,” so for his Only N—a in First Class, Wiz took cues from the Mobb Deep MC. There is a clean version of the album, too: One Night in First Class. Still, for Wiz the explicit title has so much more meaning. “I was just talking about me being a young rich dude and being black,” Wiz told Shade 45 hosts Sway and Devi Dev about his experience in airports. “It looks crazy to them when I walk up to them and show them my ticket or I’m going in priority seating, They’re like ‘You’re sure?’ ” On one hand Khalifa is glad that he’s made it; on the other, the racism that he’s experienced has left a bad taste in the rapper’s mouth. “It’s a good feeling and then it’s like a bad feeling because it’s like, ‘Damn, why do you feel like that about me,’ ” he said. Wiz Khalifa wants to motivate Pittsburgh artists with his success. Earlier in the interview, the Pittsburgh spitter told Sway how his next album will differ from his first. “When I did Rolling Papers, I was like, I’m gonna make these big songs, I’m gonna make these big records,” he said. “What I did before when I made my music was I just went in there and made music and it was what I really liked and what I felt at the time. I kinda developed a pattern of what I was going towards and that’s what I did on this album.” No word on when O.N.I.F.C. will be released, but Wiz says it is pretty much done. He didn’t confirm any guests, but he did reveal that he worked with at least one pretty accomplished producer. “I got production from Pharrell on there. I worked with a lot of different people on this one, but I kept the sound really consistent,” he said. “I made sure everybody that I worked with and everything that I did, they all came to my world with it.” Catch MTV News’ Sway Calloway on “Sway in the Morning,” on Sirius XM Radio’s Shade 45 , Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon ET. Related Artists Wiz Khalifa
‘Give Me All Your Luvin’ ‘ debuts Friday (February 3) in multimedia event preceding Queen of Pop’s Super Bowl halftime performance. By John Mitchell Madonna Photo: Getty Images Madonna debuted her new single, “Give Me All Your Luvin’,” on Friday (February 3) as part of a massive multimedia push ahead of her halftime performance at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Indiana, and has also revealed the track list for her much-anticipated 12th studio album, MDNA . The Queen of Pop’s single was rolled out across Clear Channel’s many platforms, a promotional push that the company estimates will reach 150 million people around the world. In addition to radio, the song hit online venues like iHeartRadio.com, Clear Channel’s customized online radio service, and 1,600 digital billboards in the United States, France, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Singapore, Belgium, Finland and the United Kingdom, according to NPR . “This first-of-its-kind multimedia premiere with Madonna demonstrates the unequalled scope and strength of the entire Clear Channel platform,” Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman said in a statement. The full-length Megaforce-directed video for the track also hit the Web Friday and features Her Madgesty and collaborators Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. taking to the streets in cheerleader-chic attire. “Luvin’ ” is a bouncy dance-pop track reminiscent of Madonna’s Grammy-winning “Beautiful Stranger.” Driven by glittery synths, marching band drums and claps, the song features guest raps from Minaj and M.I.A. and a deep nostalgia streak. With its simple, impossibly catchy chorus and “dance our lives away” message, the song, which was written and produced by Madonna and dance music master Martin Solveig, feels like classic Madonna re-imagined by the production dynamic that brought her widespread acclaim beginning with her 1998 electro-dance album Ray of Light . On her official website , Madonna revealed the track titles that will be featured on the deluxe edition of her new album, MDNA, which hits stores March 26 and features production work from Solveig and Light producer William Orbit. The deluxe edition will include 15 songs:
Days before her big halftime show, MTV News counts down the Queen of Pop’s most-iconic moments on our stage. By John Mitchell Madonna at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards Photo: Getty Images America will be the first audience for the Queen of Pop in over two years when Madonna takes the stage at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis as the halftime act for Super Bowl XLVI . If her history with MTV is any indicator, she’s likely to blow the roof off the joint. Madonna is known for her over-the-top live performances and will most assuredly have her game face on with the world watching this Sunday. Not that she ever slacks in the live performance department: Her most recent tour, Sticky & Sweet, was the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo artist and the fourth-biggest tour of all time. From Live Aid in 1985 to Live 8, 20 years later, she’s headlined some of the biggest musical events of the past quarter century. Check out photos of Madonna’s iconic MTV performances! Some of her best and most-iconic performances, though, have taken place on MTV. Her relationship with the channel has been a symbiotic one: We gave her a nice big platform early in her career and she ran with it, writhing onstage to “Like a Virgin” at the 1984 Video Music Awards, earning heaps of press for herself and our first big show while helping to establish the VMAs as the performance event they are today. She’s since thanked us by returning again and again to tear up the stage with some of her biggest hits. As we gear up for Madonna’s big gig at the Super Bowl, we take a look back with a countdown of her biggest and best MTV performances. 5. “Hung Up,” 2005 MTV EMAs Less than three months after a fall from a horse broke her collarbone, hand and three ribs, Madonna opened the 2005 MTV Europe Music Awards with a performance of the lead single from her Grammy-winning Confessions on a Dance Floor . Wearing a purple leotard and matching leather boots, Madonna emerged from a massive disco ball looking and sounding as strong as ever to perform the Stuart Price co-produced track, which went on to become her 36th top 10 hit in America and topped the charts in 41 countries. Madonna’s dancing and energy here proved what we’ve long suspected — that she is a real-life “X-Men” character with superhuman regeneration powers. How else do you explain the then-47-year-old’s ability to put on a show-stopping performance after a fall that would have sidelined far-younger performers for much longer? 4. “Like a Virgin/Hollywood,” 2003 VMAs Yeah, you knew it was coming. It was the kiss heard ’round the world. The performance opened as a tribute to Madonna’s iconic 1984 VMA take on “Like a Virgin” (more on that below) with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera trading vocals before segueing into a performance of “Hollywood” from American Life . The audience rose to its feet as Her Madgesty descended from atop a wedding cake, dressed in a feminized tuxedo, to dance, sing and, yes, smooch, Spears and Aguilera. The kiss caused a firestorm of controversy and remains one of the biggest pop-culture moments of the past decade. 3. “Like a Virgin,” 1984 VMAs There she was: Then an up-and-coming singer with a few hits (“Holiday,” “Lucky Star”) under her trademark “Boy Toy” belt, wearing a wedding gown and shimmying her way down a wedding cake at the first-ever MTV Video Music Awards. It remains arguably one of the most landmark live musical performances in history and was a fitting national introduction to Madonna. Oh, and her famous roll-on-the-floor dance move, you know the one — M rolling around onstage with her dress up over her head — well, Madonna didn’t mean for that to happen. As she told Jay Leno earlier this week, she lost her shoe as she was descending the wedding cake set piece and, in an effort to dive for it without being obvious, she rolled across the stage. After she came offstage, her then-manager Freddy DeMann told her that she’d gone too far and her career was over. What do you think about that now, Freddy? 2. “Express Yourself,” 1989 VMAs It might not be as iconic as her VMA debut or as controversial as “The Kiss,” but Madonna’s simple, full-voiced performance of “Express Yourself” at the 1989 VMAs is one of her best and serves as a roundup of everything we loved about ’80s Madonna (that hair, those baggy pants!) and a preview of what was to come in the ’90s. Unlike many of her performances, this take on “Express Yourself” feels very stripped down — just Madonna, two backup singers (longtime touring collaborators Niki Haris and Donna DeLory) and a light-up staircase. The choreography and staging largely foreshadowed how Madge tackled her tune as the opening number for her legendary 1990 Blonde Ambition World Tour, but late in the performance, she gives the audience their first taste of voguing months before “Vogue” actually hit radio in 1990. We also get a pre-cone-bra look at Madonna in a Jean Paul Gaultier bustier, a look she would rock well into the new decade. Perhaps best of all, as she walks offstage knowing she just nailed it, we get a glimpse of that signature Madonna confidence when the pop superstar high-fives Haris and DeLory and simply proclaims “Yeah!” as she disappears offstage. 1. “Vogue,” 1990 VMAs A year later, Madonna returned to the Video Music Awards to present what could be the most-influential pop performance in the awards’ history. With the stage ornately decorated to resemble an 18th century French parlor and her dancers in period grab, Madonna took the stage dressed, massive powdered wig and all, like Marie Antoinette to launch a full-on performance-art spectacle set to her #1 hit “Vogue.” Backed by her Blonde Ambition dancers as well as Haris and DeLory, Madonna lip-synched and fan-danced her way through the elaborate, sexy and innovative act with so much superstar swagger that it practically radiated from the TV. And 21 years later, you can see the impact of this performance — and more broadly, this period of Madonna’s career — everywhere, from Lady Gaga’s VMA performance of “Paparazzi” in 2009 to just about every tour any female pop star has launched since. Madonna didn’t just give her peers license to put on theatrical concerts and over-the-top TV performances, she made it a pop necessity. Share your predictions about Madonna’s Super Bowl halftime show in the comments below! Related Videos Madonna’s Top MTV Performances MTV Rough Cut: Madonna
Madonna fans were treated to a preview of her newest music video for “Give Me All Your Luvin” during Thursday’s “American Idol.” In the short clip, Madonna was joined by Nicki Minaj and MIA , who are rumored to be joining her during Madge’s Super Bowl halftime show performance on Sunday. Broadcasting platform : DailyMotion Source : Gossip Cop Discovery Date : 03/02/2012 02:57 Number of articles : 2
Viewers of “American Idol” were treated to a sneak peek of Madonna’s new music video for ‘Give Me All Your Luvin,’ the song she’ll debut… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : PopEater Discovery Date : 03/02/2012 03:16 Number of articles : 2
‘I am like my character in that I am black,’ Jordan Carlos jokes to MTV News before tonight’s premiere. By Jocelyn Vena Sunkrish Bala, Elisabeth Hower and Jordan Carlos Photo: MTV News The characters on MTV’s new scripted series “I Just Want My Pants Back” are young, occasionally romantically challenged and always up for a good time. The show, set in New York, is a nonstop party that follows the lives of several twentysomethings trying to find love and find themselves in the Big Apple. The characters each play a role (sassy, neurotic, lustful) in their circle of friends, the same way that those other “Friends” did back in the 1990s. The show focuses on Jason, Tina and the rest of their Brooklyn-dwelling crew as they struggle with unemployment and general disaffection. But are the actors anything like their characters on the show? MTV News investigates. Jordan Carlos and Elisabeth Hower play the show’s only couple. Their characters, Eric and Stacey, are extremely driven (she goes to law school, he goes to med school) and very much in love, but for Carlos the similarities begin and end with only one trait. “I am a black person,” he joked. “I am like my character in that I am black.” Hower, almost on cue, added, “I am also a girl in real life,” before noting that there’s some part of those people in their real-life personas. “No, I think there’s a little bit of all of us in the characters. We all have to connect to our characters.” Meanwhile, Sunkrish Bala plays Bobby, the gang’s pal and the owner of their local bodega. Always quick with some sassy advice, Bala notes that, well, he’s not quite like Bobby. “I’m nothing like my character,” he said. “But I know a lot of guys like [him]. I have a relationship with guys [like that].” While one half of the cast finds it harder to relate to their small-screen counterparts, Kim Shaw and Peter Vack seem to relate a bit more to their characters on the show. With notes of “Sex and the City” thanks to the characters’ ups and downs in the romance department, Shaw plays the sexy, Samantha-esque Tina, while Vack plays Jason, the male hipster equivalent to Carrie Bradshaw. “We’re probably too much like them!” Shaw laughed. “I wish I was a little quicker with my words like Tina is. She says exactly what she’s thinking all the time. I think [Vack is] not as sexually deviant as Jason is on the show.” “Jason’s not a sexual deviant,” Vack protested. “I’m a romantic like Jason.” “I Just Want My Pants Back” premieres tonight at 11 p.m. ET, right after “Jersey Shore.” Stick with MTV’s Remote Control blog for more coverage of the show. Related Videos I Just Want My Pants Back | Sneak Peeks
Story focuses on a woman outcast from the English aristocrat and her ‘incredible’ romance with a Bedouin. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Madonna Photo: MTV News Madonna has examined love a lot over the course of her career. She’s written numerous songs on the subject. So, it comes as no surprise that when it comes to her work as a film director, the pop superstar enjoys breaking down complex, historical romances. Her new film, “W.E.,” which opens Friday, is all about one very famous, scandalous romance. It focuses on the tabloid romance between American divorc
‘It bothers me when music is appropriated in the wrong way,’ rapper tells MTV News about Romney’s use of ‘Waving Flag.’ By Uptin Saiidi K’Naan Photo: Getty Images Don’t expect to hear any more K’Naan songs at Mitt Romney’s campaign events as the Republican presidential hopeful heads into the Nevada and Maine primaries this Saturday. The Somalian/Canadian rapper released a statement Wednesday that he planned to seek legal action if Romney’s camp continued playing his song “Waving Flag” at events. A spokesman for Romney’s campaign told CBS News that although the song has been used through the campaign’s regular blanket license, they’ll stop playing it out of respect for K’Naan’s wishes. When MTV News caught up with K’Naan via Skype on Thursday (February 2), he said his song has nothing to do with Romney’s political views. “Mitt Romney makes the sort of statements that are the antithesis of the very music that I make,” K’Naan said before referencing a comment Romney made to CNN on Wednesday after his Florida primary win that he isn’t worried about the very poor. ” ‘I’m not very concerned with the very poor’ — my music is concerned with the very poor.” While this certainly isn’t the first time an artist has taken issue with their music being used during campaign events, K’Naan felt Romney’s use of the track was distorting the mood it had come to represent — including being used as Coca-Cola’s theme song for the 2010 World Cup . “It bothers me when music is appropriated in the wrong way. It’s not in the same spirit that I create the feeling and the statements that I get from his campaign.” K’naan, however, does not mind his song being used at political events as long as a candidate’s values align with his own. “President Obama has ideas and convictions that I can get behind,” he said. When asked if he had any message for Mitt Romney, the artist thought for a second before smiling, “Romney, we might disagree with policy, but you have a good choice in music.” Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage of the primaries and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season. Related Artists K’NAAN
Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. open 60-second ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’ ‘ video preview, which premiered on ‘American Idol.’ By Adam Graham Madonna Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images Madonna definitely has football on her mind — not only for her upcoming performance at Sunday’s Super Bowl , but also in the video for her new single “Give Me All Your Luvin’.” A 60-second preview of the video, which premiered on Thursday’s (February 2) “American Idol,” opens with the track’s guest stars, M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj, dressed in cheerleader uniforms and spelling out “L-U-V Madonna! Y-O-U, you wanna?” Madonna then appears, kicking down the door of a suburban home, clad in a long rain coat, sunglasses and fingerless gloves, pushing a baby stroller. She turns onto the street where Nicki — who appears to have Adidas logos covering her breasts — and M.I.A. are waiting for her along with a team of cheerleaders. As Madonna prances down the street, a football player appears and barrels through a street-hazard marker in her way. A phalanx of football players then appear with umbrellas, shielding her from what looks like a storm of acid rain, and lay down their coats for her on the sidewalk as she struts in the slinky black outfit she had on underneath her coat. They’ll do anything to make sure her path is clear, even tearing apart a taxicab that’s in her way. She leans back and lets them lift her above their heads, and they prop her up against a wall that she appears to walk along sideways. The suburban football scenes are cut against flashes of Madonna, an oversize cross around her neck, performing and shaking her booty in front of a brick wall, lit by a spotlight. The video, for the first single from Madonna’s upcoming M.D.N.A., was directed by Megaforce , who has helmed videos for Kid Cudi, Two Door Cinema Club and more. The full video is scheduled to debut Friday at 9 a.m. ET on Madonna’s YouTube channel. What did you think of Madonna’s “Give Me All Your Luvin’ ” video teaser? Let us know in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Madonna Related Artists Madonna
Madge will preview ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’ ‘ clip on Thursday’s ‘Idol.’ By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Jennifer Lopez Photo: MTV News On Thursday (February 2) night, Madonna will world-premiere a teaser for her highly anticipated new video on “American Idol.” The preview of “Give Me All Your Luvin’ ” comes in advance of the clip’s official Friday-morning debut. But if you think that the “Idol” judges are getting any special treatment and are seeing it first, think again. “I have not seen it yet,” Jennifer Lopez told MTV News earlier this week. “I’ll see it with all you guys on Thursday.” When asked whether she’d even heard any of the finished track, she further dished that she hasn’t heard a thing — and that includes a leaked version of the song that hit the Internet last fall. “I hate when the demos leak,” J. Lo added. “It’s so unfair.” Now that Madonna is in the “Idol” family, is there any chance she might come on the show to mentor the contestants before her album, MDNA, drops in March? “I don’t know. I mean, that would be awesome,” Lopez said. “And if it was me, she would be the one person I’d probably want to come and mentor me if I was a contestant on ‘Idol.’ ” With so much mystery surrounding the track and the video, which also feature Nicki Minaj and M.I.A., MTV News got some exclusive insight into the vibe of the clip from its directors, Megaforce . “We said, ‘Wow, it’s quite interesting that it’s a mix between these three artists.’ They are not a part of the same universe for us,” Raphael Rodriguez said of the Martin Solveig-produced track. “So it was interesting to hear this mix and different kind of music.” He later described the video as “about happiness and something really sunny.” Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Artists Jennifer Lopez Madonna
