“The breakup is a heart breaker,” Hugh Hefner said, “but better now than after the marriage.” “Since we#39;re not getting married on Saturday, I#39;ve scheduled a movie: Runaway Bride,” Hefner, 85, Tweeted Tuesday night, just hours after news broke that his bride-to-be Crystal Harris, 25, had a change of heart about their upcoming nuptials. “Seems appropriate.” Now that his wedding is officially called off, Hugh Hefner has made other plans for the weekend. By Hefner#39;s side through the hear
Singer’s manager, Guy Oseary, confirms her plans to begin recording next month. By Jocelyn Vena Madonna Photo: Getty Move over Gaga and Britney, the Queen of Pop is back! Madonna has confirmed that she will begin work on her next album this summer. Her longtime manager, Guy Oseary, took to Twitter to share the news that Madge will hit the studio in July. “Madonna goes into the recording studio next month to begin work on new album …,” he wrote, sharing little else about what the Material Girl has up her sleeve. But Oseary did have a few little nuggets of information for Madge’s most devoted, writing, “She has a good idea of which producers she will be working with … lots of questions about what kind of music it will be … stay tuned.” This announcement comes six months after Madonna teased her fans with the prospect of beginning work on her next album on her Facebook page. In December, she wrote, “Its official! I need to move. I need to sweat. I need to make new music! Music I can dance to. I’m on the lookout for the maddest, sickest, most badass people to collaborate with. I’m just saying …” Since releasing Hard Candy back in 2008, Madonna has been keeping busy doing everything but recording new music. OK, she did release a greatest hits album, Celebration, in 2009, but it seems her focus has been on anything but music. She wrapped up work on her movie “W.E.,” which was just picked up by the Weinstein Company. She also launched a clothing line with her daughter, Lourdes, aptly titled Material Girl, and even found time to open up her own line of gyms around the world called Hard Candy . Are you excited about Madonna getting back in the studio? Tell us in the comments. Related Artists Madonna
‘We’re looking to do that around September 13,” Fab says of his forthcoming album. By Rob Markman Fabolous (file) Photo: Jonathan Leibson/ WireImage Time flies when you’re making hits. On September 11, 2001, Brooklyn rapper Fabolous graduated from a slick-tongued mixtape MC to a bona fide platinum rap star with the release of his debut album, Ghetto Fabolous. To celebrate his 10-year run, Fab plans to release his sixth studio album, Loso’s Way 2: The Rise to Power , on September 13. Mr. F-A-B-O revealed his plans to morning show radio jock Vezzy Parmesan of Rhode Island’s Hot 106.3. “That’s coming in September, we’re looking to do that around September 13 actually,” Fab said of Loso’s Way 2 from backstage at Hot 106’s all-star Hot Night concert. “September 11 was when my first album dropped, 10 years ago. That was also the tragic day of 9/11. So my album dropped that same day and we kinda want to do like a 10-year-anniversary sort of feel.” Fab Pitt, whose last album, Loso’s Way, featured collaborations from The Dream, Lil Wayne, Trey Songz and Ryan Leslie, wouldn’t confirm who he will be working with on this album, but he did reveal a short wish list of artists he’d like to contribute in the future. Among those names are Eminem, Nas, Rick Ross and Fergie, but beyond that, Fab kept it tight-lipped. “I’m working with a lot of guys right now. It’s still in the baby stages, so I don’t want to give too much of the info right now, but it’s soon to come.” Dropping the album 10 years after his first effort is symbolic for the rapper. He told Parmesan that the release of his debut remains his top career highlight. “To finally get to a point when you release your first album, it’s like having a baby,” he said. “It’s like having your first baby, even just accepting it was happening at first.” Although Fab’s shining moment was marred by the tragedy of 9/11, he eventually learned to embrace it. “I woke up that day and some planes flew into some buildings. That’s another thing that makes it so monumental to me too, is that you were destined, even [with] what happened, you still prevailed and you’re here today.” Related Videos ‘RapFix Live’ With Fabolous Related Artists Fabolous
‘Philandering has rarely, if ever, hurt anyone’s career in Hollywood,’ one expert tells MTV News. By Eric Ditzian Arnold Schwarzenegger Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images As Arnold Schwarzenegger makes plans to resurrect his career in Hollywood after seven years in the California governor’s mansion, the 63-year-old actor-turned-politician-turned-actor again made the startling revelation that he’d fathered a child with a member of his family’s household staff . In recent weeks, Schwarzenegger’s name had cropped up in a number of potential projects, some more realistic than others, from the Brad Furman-directed drama “Cry Macho” and a fifth “Terminator” to a wild rumor about a sequel to the 1988 comedy “Twins.” The question now is how, if at all, Arnie’s revelation — following news that his wife of 25 years, Maria Shriver, was leaving him — will affect his plans to kick-start a movie career. “This will, essentially, go away,” said David Poland of Movie City News. “He’ll be on ‘Leno’ next week to put this all behind him. Maybe two weeks — depends on how much the kid looks like him and how many weeks the tabloids run the photo on the front page. But eating this privately is not his way.” Disclosures about Schwarzenegger’s bad behavior, of course, are nothing new. As Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere put it, “It’s been an industry legend for a long time that Arnold Schwarzenegger is a hound.” Back in 2003, during his recall election to unseat then-Governor Gray Davis, stories abounded about Schwarzenegger’s boorish behavior with women “on movie sets, in studio offices and in other settings over the last three decades stories,” as the Los Angeles Times wrote at the time. Those allegations didn’t prevent Arnie from winning the election and serving as governor for two terms, and industry insiders suggest this latest development is unlikely to trip up his moviemaking potential. “Philandering has rarely, if ever, hurt anyone’s career in Hollywood,” said Jeff Bock, box-office analyst for Exhibitor Relations. “He has already taken the proper steps by admitting his transgressions and facing the press directly. And on his career side, his role as the Governator only stoked his box-office cred, as he is hotter than ever, moving forward with several high-profile film projects. I don’t think this comes as a shock to anyone, as people have known for quite some time that Schwarzenegger is something of a lady’s man.” The point is that, from politicians to actors and beyond, people tend to be forgiven over time for their sexual misadventures. The public is less merciful when scandals involve matters beyond the bedroom. Just ask perhaps the most toxic man in Hollywood. “The Mel Gibson controversy hung around because of how shocking it was,” said Phil Contrino, editor of BoxOffice.com. “Arnold made a very human mistake here, and I think people can forgive something like this relatively easily.” If anything, the real challenge for Schwarzenegger is not if he can withstand this scandal, but how successfully he can transform his career at age 63. Should he follow the path of someone like Clint Eastwood, who transitioned from gunslinger to Oscar darling? Or perhaps Sylvester Stallone, who continues to churn out action-oriented fare well into his 60s? On this question, Hollywood observers are split. “He needs to figure out what his onscreen character will be for this, his third act in the movie biz,” Poland said. “Young and dumb was first. In control was second act. And now? Figuring out who the audience wants him to be is really his biggest challenge.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .
Aw shiggidy, it looks like MC matrimony-dom is on the rise. Can you guess which of these famous rappers says he’s ready to make an honest woman out of his baby mama? The Game came to his senses this weekend during the Australian Supafest tour, where he was performing alongside the likes of Ciara, Keri Hilson, Snoop Dogg, T-Pain, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Bow Wow and Nelly. And he tweeted his plans to wed the mother of his two youngest children: Mind you, this happened just days after ol’ girl told him she would be f*cking somebody else while he was on the road. See ladies, threats and ultimatums can be very effective!
The ex-2 Live Crew rapper says his record-business experience ‘is allowing me to be able to run for a public office like this.’ By Alvin Blanco Luther Campbell Photo: Bennett Raglin/ WireImage It’s politics as usual for Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell. On April 12, the former 2 Live Crew frontman, along with 10 other candidates, formally applied to run for mayor of Florida’s Miami-Dade County after a recall vote kicked then-mayor Carlos Alvarez out of office a month ago. MTV News caught up with the pioneering hip-hop artist and businessman to discuss his political ambitions. Campbell said he planned on running for mayor of Miami in 2012, but that Alvarez’s departure sped up his plans to “get off the bench and get in the game, get off the sideline.” Campbell’s platform includes economic development to revitalize small businesses, job creation, public safety and affordable housing, among other initiatives. While mainstream outlets with a superficial understanding of his career may dismiss him as just a former rapper trying to get into politics, Campbell insists his career has granted him just the right experience. “Look at my history. When you talk about rapper, at the end of the day you can say 2 Live Crew, but who owned the company?” Campbell told MTV News. “I explain to people that I am a businessman, as a kid I DJ’d, and then owned that company, and then 2 Live Crew. I give them the story about it. I let people know I did that on the weekends. I wasn’t able to go on long tours like Run-DMC and everybody because I had to run the business. I had to make hip-hop act] H-Town gold and platinum, I had to go and produce Pitbull and Trick Daddy and all these different artists. People just don’t understand that the music business is a business. It is a global business. That experience is allowing me to be able to run for a public office like this.” Campbell claims that his Luke Records was the first black-owned hip-hop label, releasing music from 2 Live Crew, H-Town, Poison Clan and his own solo material. Campbell also was instrumental in launching the careers of Trick Daddy and Pitbull. In recent years, the “I Wanna Rock” rapper has dialed back on his “Uncle Luke” reputation. He starred in a VH1 reality series called “Luke’s Parental Advisory” in 2008, and has performed community service and founded youth programs throughout Miami-Dade County for years. In the meanwhile, Miami has become a hotspot for the hip-hop world and the entertainment industry in general. Campbell had a hand in raising Miami’s profile via his artists’ videos and the groundwork he laid for the city’s current crop of hip-hop talent, like Rick Ross and DJ Khaled. Along with being a Miami native, Campbell believes that he possesses a greater affinity for the needs of its residents. “Right now the entertainment industry is a major economic boost for this city,” Campbell said. “These are some of the things that I created and I did, and I’m proud of that. So when I look at where we need to go as a community, who best has the ideas? Me. Some other guy who really is just in there just to take money from contractors and special interest groups, he’s in there to make money. I’m not in there to make money. I’m all right. I just want to make the haves and the have-nots all be able to participate in this beautiful city and get jobs and live comfortable.” What might not sit so well with Miami citizens, and what Campbell’s opponents will be sure to point out, are the past controversies surrounding his music. One infamous case was in 1990, when the American Family Association went after 2 Live Crew over the sexually explicit lyrics of “Me So Horny.” 2 Live Crew and Campbell defended themselves by citing their first-amendment rights to free speech and the case went all the way to the Supreme Court, where it was dismissed. Campbell defended his rights in court frequently, and being familiar with the justice system is another reason he believes he is qualified to run the affairs of his hometown. “One thing people know about me, I’m a fighter,” insisted Campbell, who listed Sonny Bono, Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger as examples of entertainers that became politicos. “Controversy comes with politics. All my controversy was based around politics. Tipper Gore came after me — that was politically motivated. When the vice president had something to say about us, when it’s time for me to go to the Supreme Court, all of that is politically motivated. So I understand politics as is.” Do you think Luther Campbell running for Miami-Dade mayor is a good idea? Share your opinions in the comments. Related Artists 2 Live Crew Luther Campbell
Akon will release his first album in nearly three years this fall. Stadium , Akon’s fourth album, will hit stores on September 13th. “I’m bringing the whole energy of people gathering worldwide in one location,” Akon says about the new album. Stadium has faced several delays, in part to singles like “Angels” and “Give It To’Em” featuring Rick Ross failing to make an impact with audiences. Akon’s previous albums, 2004′s Trouble , 2006′s Konvicted , and 2008′s Freedom have all sold at least one million copies each. RELATED: Michael Jackson & Akon “Hold My Hand” [VIDEO] RELATED: Akon Plans To Build University, Hospitals For Under Privileged
The Fugees reunion may happen! Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis, a hit producer who worked with the band on their 1996 Grammy-winning album The Score , claims that it’s only a matter of time before Lauryn Hill , Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel reignite the Fugees flame, according to Rap-Up.com . He told the, “I believe there will be a day when the Fugees get together, but everyone in the group’s gotta be ready … The Fugees are definitely going to get back together. The time will come. You’ve gotta wait, man.” Just last week he set the Twitter-verse alight with an April Fools Day prank claiming that a Fugees tour was imminent, tweeting, “BIG NEWS!!! What we’ve been waitin for!!!! @MsHillMvngTrgt @wyclef @prasmichel got offered $50 mill with @LiveNation!!” While sadly, he was just messing around, the reaction to the prank shows just how much people want the Fugees to get back together. “People all over the globe were saying, ‘Is it true? We really want the Fugees!’ …. Lauryn was getting phone calls. Wyclef was getting phone calls. Pras was getting phone calls. I felt that if tickets had gone on sale, it would have been sold out in two hours—globally.” Although there was talk of a reunion a while back, the plans were stalled, with Wyclef publicly criticizing Lauryn for holding up the process and calling her “mentally ill.” Ouch! Hopefully though, now that the band know just how many fans they still have, (even after Lauryn’s erratic attitude and turning up hours late for solo appearances recently) it will put a jump-start on their plans to regroup! Oh, I hope this one turns out to be true, and sooner rather than later! Lauryn Hill Pens Letter To ATL Fans After Arriving Late To Own Show Lauryn Hill Reveals In Rare Interview Why She Left Music & Why She’ll Return Wyclef Jean Shot In Haiti Before Presidential Election Should Lauryn Hill Be Re-Educated?
DJ talks to MTV News about the rise of dance music in the U.S. and beyond. By Adam Stewart Pete Tong Photo: MTV News It is nearly impossible to picture the dance music landscape without the finely tuned ear, and of course, the iconic voice of the legendary Pete Tong. After over 1900 broadcasts, the DJ kicks off his 20th anniversary celebration on BBC Radio 1 on Friday (at 3 p.m. ET), rolling out the Top 20 tracks of the past two decades, as voted on by his listeners. After DJ’ing at various smaller stations in his early years, Tong burst onto BBC Radio 1 in 1991 with his weekly “Essential Mix” broadcast — which has since become the Holy Grail of dance music aficionados across the globe. Tong admits, however, that it was a touch of luck that put him in the chair as one of the most influential names in dance music. “It was a little bit of being in the right place at the right time,” Tong told MTV News recently while in Miami, where he again hosted his massive Radio 1 Pool Party at the Surfcomber. Unlike corporate American radio, British DJs have more freedom to play what they see fit; they are the eyes and ears of the culture burgeoning around them, and are tasked with bringing the next big sound out in to the open. This in turn gives underground talent a chance to flourish and be exposed to the dance music audience that has grown massive since its beginnings in the late 1980s. “They didn’t have anyone to speak to the biggest youth culture movement since punk rock,” he explained. “I landed on my feet at Radio 1 in ’91, with a big audience ready to go, and we were off and running.” Now, to be featured on Pete Tong’s weekly radio show, broadcast/streamed to millions around the world, is truly an anointment of success. You don’t go anywhere without Pete’s blessing, and his influence has even helped usher in a new age of dance music here in the States. But he’s also ready to credit others with the genre’s recent growth. “You’ve got to celebrate the acknowledgement and success and all of the doors that have been opened by someone like David Guetta; it just makes the whole scene bigger,” Tong said. “But like any scene, not everybody in it is going to like the same thing. And for the extreme right wing, there’s always going to be a left-wing reaction. What I think is most positive is for all the excitement and headlines that have been generated by David Guetta’s collaborations with the likes of will.i.am. “I’ve been around a long time, and I’ve seen America flirt with dance music before, back in the days when the Prodigy had broken out and it was straight on to Lollapalooza,” Tong observed. “Everyone was getting really, really excited, [but] the thing about that is everyone got excited on a festival level, and it never really leaked down into the roots of society, whereas it definitely has more of a hold now.” Tong said one difference now is that pop and hip-hop artists are incorporating dance music in their work. “[M]ost VIP rooms were playing hip-hop across the country a few years ago, and now everyone wants to book electronic acts and dance music acts,” he said. “I can only commend people like David [Guetta] for knocking that brick wall down, and everyone runs in behind him, and it will be like the tower of Babel: Everyone’s going to be speaking a different language, which can only be a good thing!” Tong will embrace this movement when he releases a trio of new mix albums over the next several months. First up is a Future Underground mix with Riva Starr, due out April 11. Then he’ll release a summer mix to complement his new Friday night “All Gone Pete Tong” residency at Pacha Ibiza, after which he’s dropping his first ever studio Essential Mix, slated for August 8. In the meantime, we’ll hear his new single, “Dawn” (working title), an epic piano anthem he teased while in Miami last month.
