From backstage pics to minute-by-minute scoop on VMA trending topics, we want you in on the conversation Sunday night! By Kara Klenk Jim Cantiello and the Twitter Tracker Photo: MTV News The 2010 VMAs famously sparked more than 2 million tweets. But with Sunday’s show set to kick off live with an opening set from Lady Gaga , plenty of superstar performances by nominees like Lil Wayne and Beyonc
From backstage pics to minute-by-minute scoop on VMA trending topics, we want you in on the conversation Sunday night! By Kara Klenk Jim Cantiello and the Twitter Tracker Photo: MTV News The 2010 VMAs famously sparked more than 2 million tweets. But with Sunday’s show set to kick off live with an opening set from Lady Gaga , plenty of superstar performances by nominees like Lil Wayne and Beyonc
‘I was not missing the VMAs for nothing,’ Pauly D tells MTV News. By Eric Ditzian Sammi, Ronnie, Pauly D and Vinny Photo: MTV News As Hurricane Irene bore down on the East Coast and the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards heated up on the West, “Jersey Shore” stars Snooki, Vinny, Deena and Sammi, hopped a last-minute private jet from New Jersey to Los Angeles. Nothing was going to stop them from missing the VMAs. “We had to get out here for the VMAs,” Vinny told MTV News hours after touching in Los Angeles. “MTV did whatever they could to get us out here. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.” His pal Pauly D, meanwhile, had been safely kicking back in Oklahoma City after an earlier brush with the hurricane in North Carolina while touring with Britney Spears . “Irene got nothing on my blowout,” he declared, while acknowledging the storm poses a serious risk to the public. “I was nervous. This storm’s no joke,” he said. “Immediately I texted Vinny, because I didn’t think we were going to make it. … I thought I was going to have to fill in for everybody. I can’t talk for everybody. I talk a lot. But it was no joke, and I was not missing the VMAs for nothing. Seriously, I was coming here. I didn’t care how I was coming here, but I was going to make it.” It’s no doubt going to be a big night for the “Shore” kids. The highly-anticipated episode showcasing the resolution of Ronnie’s dustup with the Situation is set to air at 7 p.m. ET immediately before the VMA Pre-Show . And as soon as “Jersey Shore” ends, the cast will be making their way down the VMA Pre-Show black carpet and settling into prime seats for the main event . But while they kick back and enjoy all the VMA craziness, they’ll be thinking of their friends and family back home. “Our prayers go out for everyone on the East Coast,” Vinny said. “We’re looking out for them, but I think they’re going to be all right.” The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday from Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year’s highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com . Related Videos 2011 VMAs: Behind The Scenes Related Photos VMA 2011: Behind The Scenes
‘She probably gonna kill it,’ Chiddy Bang’s Xaphoon Jones predicts. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway Adele in her video for “Rolling in the Deep” Photo: Columbia LOS ANGELES — Chiddy Bang won’t be performing at this year’s big show, but the hip-hop breakout duo got a chance to warm things up alongside Swizz Beatz at the Taco Bell Feed the Beat MTV2 VMA concert on Friday at the Music Box. And when asked which act they were most excited to see at Sunday’s Video Music Awards , both group members agreed that Adele tops the list. “Man, we saw Adele at the Brit Awards in the U.K., which is like the British Grammy Awards, and she just made everyone weep with her strong vocals,” the group’s MC, Chiddy, told MTV News’ Sway. The other half of Chiddy, producer Xaphoon Jones, also recalled the February awards show, which featured performances by Tinie Tempah, Cee Lo Green, Rihanna and Adele, who sang “Someone Like You,” the second single from her wildly successful 21 album. “Adele just came out there with just a piano, and she was just making obese, grown British men just cry. It was unbelievable,” Jones said, before speculating on what the British singer might do at the VMAs. “She probably gonna kill it again.” The “Rolling in the Deep” singer’s spirited stage show has provided some unique inspiration for Chiddy Bang. “That’s something I aspire to down the road,” Xaphoon joked, “I just want to make British dudes cry, pretty much.” The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year’s highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com . Related Videos 2011 VMAs: Behind The Scenes Related Photos 2011 MTV Video Music Awards Performers Related Artists Chiddy Bang Adele
Miami MC says the dancers in his performance on Sunday night will ‘create Pandora’s box.’ By Rob Markman, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Pitbull rehearses for his 2011 VMA performance Photo: John Shearer/ WireImage Pitbull gets pretty demanding on his hit “Give Me Everything,” , but for his 2011 VMA performance, Mr. 305 looks to turn the tables and offer fans a taste of Miami. “I did get the most beautiful women from Miami to come over and create Pandora’s box,” Pit told MTV News. “So if you’re bringing your wife, your girlfriend, boyfriend to the show, you might lose ’em.” MTV News was present at Mr. Worldwide’s VMA rehearsal on Thursday at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, and the rapper comes through as promised. Pit and collaborators Ne-Yo and Nayer ran through their number, flanked by approximately 60 curvaceous female dancers. “We have some backup dancers: one or two or 60,” Ne-Yo teased . “And two of the best-dressed men in the business. What more can you ask for?” Lindsay Lohan’s lawsuit hasn’t dampened Pit’s party plans. The troubled actresses filed suit against the Cuban pop sensation, claiming that his lyrics on “Give Me Everything” were defamatory. But during the run-through, Mr. 305 didn’t bite his tongue as he freely rapped the line in question without censoring himself. “I got it locked like Lindsay Lohan,” Pit spit. On Thursday, Pit addressed the suit in a video on his Planet Pit website, inviting La Lohan to join him at the VMAs . “We’ll be performing [‘Give Me Everything”] at the VMAs and, as a matter of fact, I’d like to send out an invitation to Lindsay Lohan,” Pitbull said. “Hopefully she can come with me to the VMAs, and we can figure this out.” According to TMZ , however, the actress has declined. Still, Pit’s offer stands. “I said it, I meant it, and if she takes it, great. If she doesn’t, cool. But she will have her tickets at will call,” he told MTV News. In the meantime, the show goes on, and if the bilingual hit-maker’s practice run is any indication, Pit plans to leave everything he’s got on the stage, proving that it’s better to give than receive. Que rico! The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year’s highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com . Related Photos 2011 MTV Video Music Awards Performers VMA 2011: Rehearsals VMA 2011: Behind The Scenes Related Artists Pitbull
Urban music’s top creators shared the stage August 26 at BMI’s Urban Awards at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. The annual event celebrates the songwriters, producers and music publishers of the past year’s most-performed r&b, rap and hip-hop songs in the BMI repertoire. The 2011 ceremony featured high-wattage star power and broke BMI records. The incomparable Snoop Dogg was honored as a BMI Icon. With seven songs among the most-performed, Drake accepted his first BMI Urban Songwriter of the Year crown. At 22, B.o.B. became the youngest songwriter ever to win BMI Urban Song of the Year thanks to his “Nothin’ on You,” featuring Bruno Mars. Only 20 years old, Lexus “Lex Luger” Lewis carved out his own place in BMI history, becoming the youngest ever to be named BMI Urban Producer of the Year. In addition to Luger, BMI honored Top Producers Polow Da Don, Daniel “Kane Beatz” Johnson, R. Kelly and Kanye West. Universal Music Publishing Group scored 13 songs among the year’s most-performed and claimed the BMI Urban Publisher of the Year crystal. Click Here To Read The Rest And See Photos From The Event At HipHopWired.com
Video Music Awards Best New Artist nominee originally didn’t want to record the Chris Brown-assisted single. By Rob Markman Big Sean Photo: Joe Scarnici/ WireImage On his 2011 MTV Video Music Awards nomination for his single “My Last,” Big Sean told MTV News, “If I win Best New Artist, I’m gonna go crazy, because I really worked hard as hell.” The funny thing is that as big as the Chris Brown -assisted single was for him, Kanye West’s understudy originally bucked at the idea of recording the poppy single. “When No ID gave me that beat for the song ‘My Last,’ I did not want to do it at all ,” the Finally Famous MC revealed. Luckily for Sean, he was convinced otherwise. The song shot up the charts and peaked at #1 on the Billboard rap chart and #4 on the R&B/hip-hop chart. Ultimately, the single’s success helped the Detroit rapper land the #3 album in the country, finishing behind Beyonc
Creative director Laurieann Gibson talks Gaga’s upcoming performance and male alter ego Jo Calderone. By Kelley L. Carter, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Lady Gaga performs at the 2009 Video Music Awards Photo: Christopher Polk/ Getty Images Jo Calderone is an acquired taste. The male alter ego of Lady Gaga — he first surfaced in Vogue Hommes Japan last year — was last seen in the Laurieann Gibson-directed “Yo
Dick Bagwell and Vincent Twice — who may or may not be in Cobra Starship — sound off on 2011 nominees. By James Montgomery VMA “experts” Dick Bagwell and Vincent Twice Photo: MTV News In addition to looking a whole lot like Cobra Starship’s Ryland Blackinton and Alex Suarez, world-renowned journalists Dick Bagwell and Vincent Twice are also the go-to guys for hot scoops and slightly unnerving personal revelations. So it makes sense that they’d be in Los Angeles this week: After all, it’s the location of the 2011 Video Music Awards . After a few hours spent marinating in the SoCal sun, boy, do the revelations get personal. Earlier this week, as Cobra Starship were rehearsing for their VMA Pre-Show performance , MTV News was lucky enough to catch up with the dynamic duo to get their take on the field of nominees for the big show. Much like our previous encounters , Bagwell and Twice had an awful lot to say. For example, both are beyond excited to see what Lady Gaga will do in her VMA-opening number (“If I could put my money on it, I’m gonna bet she’s gonna be walking out in somebody else’s skin!” Twice enthused), and both can’t wait to see who takes home the Moonman for Best Male Video (Bagwell is partial to Cee Lo Green’s “F— You,” since “[It’s] how my ex-wife Teresa says good morning to me!”). And while they seemed mystified by most of the VMA noms — in response to Nicki Minaj’s Best Female Video nod for “Super Bass,” Bagwell let it be known that he’s “more of a tilapia fan,” and Twice was convinced that not only were the Foo Fighters Asian, but their Best Rock Video-nominated “Walk” clip was actually spelled “Wok” — they both agreed on a favorite in the night’s biggest category, Video of the Year. “I’m going to have to go with [Tyler, the Creator’s] ‘Yonkers,’ ” Bagwell enthused. “I once dated a gal who lived up there whose [ censored for your protection ]. I miss you, Cheyenne. Give me a buzz sometime.” You know what? Perhaps it’s best if you just watched it all for yourself. Check out the video above for Bagwell and Twice on the 2011 Video Music Awards. View at your own peril. The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year’s highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com . Related Videos 2011 VMAs: Behind The Scenes Related Photos 2011 Video Music Award Nominees VMA 2011: Behind The Scenes Related Artists Cobra Starship Lady Gaga Cee-Lo Green Nicki Minaj
Before Jennifer Lawrence introduces the first-look footage on Sunday, we have a taste for the Tributes. By Eric Ditzian Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games” Photo: Lionsgate The 2011 MTV Video Music Awards are all about the ladies: Gaga, Adele, Beyonc
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