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Akon Calls Nick Cannon ‘Famous’ Collabo ‘Overdue’

‘He does a lot of family-friendly stuff and I’m trying to go into that realm,’ ‘Kon tells MTV News. By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Kelly Marino Akon Photo: MTV News Akon ‘s year in music may seem like it’s off to a slow start, but expect the Senegalese-American artist’s name to be back to music industry ubiquity shortly. MTV News recently caught up with the singer/producer/executive on the set of Nick Cannon’s video for “Famous,” where Akon told us linking up with the actor/rapper (who’s expecting twins with wife Mariah Carey ) was opportune. “I listened to [‘Famous’] and I actually liked it,” Akon said. “He does a lot of family-friendly stuff and I’m trying to go into that realm right now. I want to do a lot more family-friendly stuff, and Nick is the best at that. I feel like this was a collaboration way overdue.” On the set, Akon was friendly as always but didn’t divulge any new details about his upcoming album, Stadium, which he hopes to release in September. Last year, the “Sexy Chick” singer revealed to MTV News that producer David Guetta had contributed to the project. For now, Akon plans to go on mini-tours and release new music just to whet the appetites of his fans. But he still isn’t sure which song he’ll drop first. “I don’t know what to release first,” he said. “I’m so excited about the project itself, I’m like, ‘OK, which record do I want to put out first?’ I haven’t quite decided but by the end of April I’ll know exactly what I’mma do with the record.” ‘Kon was more assured in his reverence for Dr. Dre. Last year’s “Kush,” the official lead single from Dre’s long-awaited Detox album, featured a vocal from Akon. “Dre is one of those guys … he’s a perfectionist in his own [right],” Akon said. “You feel confident working with him because he’s not going to let nothing go undone. In a way, that’s great. But sometimes you’re anxious too, like, ‘Man I can’t wait to let everybody hear this.’ Ultimately, working with Dre was just amazing. Dre is very picky about who he decides to work with too. For him to call me and do [multiple] tracks on the record and be involved in more than one record on that album, it said a lot. It shows how much he really appreciated what I’m doing.” Are you excited to hear new tracks from Akon? Tell us in the comments! Related Artists Akon Nick Cannon

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Akon Calls Nick Cannon ‘Famous’ Collabo ‘Overdue’

Mark Hoppus Says Blink-182 Are ‘Working Very Hard’ On New Album

Backing up drummer Travis Barker’s recent claims, the bassist maintains that Blink’s long-awaited new album will hit stores this summer. By James Montgomery Blink-182’s Mark Hoppus Photo: MTV News Back in February, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker told MTV News that his band’s long-in-the-works album would finally be finished in “June or July,” an announcement that was greeted with much joy — and skepticism — from fans who have seemingly been waiting forever to hear new music from the trio. Because, truth be told, they’ve heard talk like this before … in fact, at this point, the project carries with it a timeline that stretches all the way back to February 2009 — when Blink-182 announced that they were not only reuniting, but “in the studio writing and recording a new album” — and has included supposed release dates in 2010 and 2011 . But now, it really, truly seems like the still-untitled album is entering the home stretch. Not only did Mark Hoppus post a brand-new studio clip on his Facebook page late Tuesday, but when MTV News spoke to the bassist last week — back when Blink-182 were still in the hunt for the Musical March Madness championship — he backed up Barker’s claims of a summer release. For real. “The timeline! The Blink-182 timeline! Always an interesting point of discussion!” Hoppus laughed. “We are still planning for an early-to-midsummer release, we’re working very hard at it. Right now Travis is back on the road, so I’m back in L.A. working on the record, [guitarist Tom DeLonge’s] working on the record, we’re sending stuff to Travis; as soon as [he] gets back, hopefully Tom and I will have the album in a shape where Travis can come in and we can spend, you know, a month, month-and-a-half working really hard on pounding out the album and get it done.” Hoppus explained that most of the recording’s delay has been due to the way Blink have chosen to work this time around — in bits and pieces, alone and together, in a pair of California studios — which has everything to do with each member’s rather, uh, busy schedules. “It’s definitely a very different process … before, at least we were all in the same room at the same time,” he said. “With this, with Travis having his solo record, me being in L.A., and Tom doing his stuff and also being in San Diego, at first it felt like maybe it was a bit piecemeal, but now it feels like we’re getting into a good rhythm. “Between sending songs back and forth to each other, we’ll all meet up in the studio every few weeks and go over everything, listen down to everything and I’ll say, ‘OK, I love what you did with this idea. Let me take this song for a week and try some ideas on it,’ ” he continued. “And I’ll take a song for a week, try a bunch of stuff on it, present it back to everybody else, they’ll make their comments and then move on from there.” So, yes, Blink are holding fast to a summer release. And in spite of their packed schedules — and despite everything you may think — they are making progress toward that goal. One song at a time. “It really depends on the day how finished songs are … there’s songs that I think are finished that we go back and work on some more, there’s songs that I think are going to take a long time and they end up progressing pretty quickly,” Hoppus explained. “I feel like we’ve worked on about 16 tracks, of which 12 of those are making the cut. When songs don’t seem to be working, we let them fall by the wayside, and I think we’re pretty good about putting the better songs forward. So, we’re working on 12, five or six of those are in states that are near completion, and the other ones are formed ideas with structures and parts — they just need filling in. The skeletons are all there, we just need to fill in the pieces.” Are you excited about possibly finally getting the chance to hear new music from Blink-182? Tell us in the comments. Related Artists blink-182 Mark Hoppus

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Mark Hoppus Says Blink-182 Are ‘Working Very Hard’ On New Album

Happy 38th Birthday Pharrell!

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Pharrell Williams , one-half of The Neptunes production team, celebrates his 38th birthday today.  Pharrell may have only fully been part of the mainstream music consciousness for the last 10 years, but he’s been hard at work for nearly 20 years. Take a look back at some of Pharrell’s early work! In 1992, Pharrell wrote Teddy Riley ‘s rap in the hit Wreckx-N-Effect single “Rump Shaker.”  The song sold over 2 million copies and hit number 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. In 1992, Pharrell rapped on a rare remix of SWV’s “Right Here.”  Part of his verse was later chopped up and used on the hit “Right Here/Human Nature” remix. Pharrell also co-wrote and co-produced Blackstreet’s 1994 single “Tonight’s The Night” featuring SWV and Craig Mack. Pharrell’s work with SWV continued on their 1996 single “Use Your Heart”, which Pharrell and his Neptunes cohort, Chad Hugo, wrote and produced. Pharrell and Chad Hugo co-wrote and produced Total’s single “When Boy Meets Girl” in 1996, which became a minor R&B hit. However, the distinctive Neptunes sound began to really take shape with Ma$e’s 1997 single “Lookin’ At Me.”  The song was a top 10 hit and helped make Ma$e a household name. The Neptunes hit-making streak really kicked into high gear with Nore’s “Superthug,” released in 1998. From that point on Pharrell became unstoppable, helping produce, write, or remix songs for artists ranging from Jay-Z to Britney Spears to Ol’ Dirty Bastard to Prince, as well as his own solo album and the N*E*R*D projects.  Pharrell also began nurturing talent, beginning with Kelis in 1999, whose first two albums were produced entirely by The Neptunes. Around the same time that Kelis’ debut album, Kaleidoscope , came out, Pharrell was working with Clipse on their first album, Exclusive Audio Footage , which remains unreleased to this day, though one single, “The Funeral,” was released from the project. The story of Pharrell and the Neptunes continues to this day as Pharrell has diversified his interests into clothing lines (Billionaire Boys Club), websites ( Kidult.com ), and furniture design.  We look forward to all of Pharrell’s future projects! RELATED: Pharrell & Daft Punk “The Game Has Changed” [NEW MUSIC] RELATED: Was Pharrell Marching Like A Nazi On Stage? [VIDEO]

Happy 38th Birthday Pharrell!

Keanu Reeves Wants ‘Man Of Tai Chi’ To Be A ‘Solid Kung Fu Movie’

‘Good story, good plot — but let’s get some good kung fu going!’ he tells MTV News of the film, which he plans to direct. By Eric Ditzian, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Keanu Reeves Photo: MTV News While Keanu Reeves pushes forward with work on “47 Ronin,” his samurai- and ninja-filled revenge story, he’s also trying to get another martial-arts film off the ground — and this one he wants to direct himself. The 46-year-old actor first told us about the project at the Toronto Film Festival last fall, but when we caught up with him recently as he promoted the indie comedy “Henry’s Crime,” Reeves spilled some additional details. “It’s called ‘Man of Tai Chi,’ ” he said. “We want to do it in Chinese and English, do it as kind of a co-production with CFG perhaps, which is a Chinese film group, kind of a studio. It’s tricky. “I would play the villain,” he added of the story, which would be set in the modern day but pay homage to kung fu films of the past. Though Reeves and his partners haven’t yet bankrolled the production, they’ve got a script in place — one that will contain a ridiculous amount of fighting. “There’s 18 fights. We’ve timed it out. It’s about 40 minutes of fighting,” he said. “I want to make a good, solid kung fu movie. Good story, good plot — but let’s get some good kung fu going!” While Reeves waits for financing to come together, he’s gearing up to shoot “47 Ronin” in 3-D . “I call it a story of revenge and impossible love,” he said. “The samurai become outcast and decide to enact revenge on the person who is responsible for the death of their lord.” Check out everything we’ve got on “47 Ronin.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: Keanu Reeves

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Keanu Reeves Wants ‘Man Of Tai Chi’ To Be A ‘Solid Kung Fu Movie’

First-Person Footage Of Multiplayer Mech Combat Game Hawken (Eric Caoili)

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Indie outfit Adhesive Games posted a new trailer for Hawken , its much buzzed about multiplayer online mech combat game, demonstrating what the small, Los Angeles-based team has accomplished so far after working on the project for around nine months. While the last, gorgeous clip was mainly third-person in-game footage and a few seconds of first-person action, this new video is all shot from inside… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : GameSetWatch Discovery Date : 31/03/2011 13:40 Number of articles : 2

First-Person Footage Of Multiplayer Mech Combat Game Hawken (Eric Caoili)

First-Person Footage Of Multiplayer Mech Combat Game Hawken (Eric Caoili)

http://www.youtube.com/v/udEAEARD-Fo

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Indie outfit Adhesive Games posted a new trailer for Hawken , its much buzzed about multiplayer online mech combat game, demonstrating what the small, Los Angeles-based team has accomplished so far after working on the project for around nine months. While the last, gorgeous clip was mainly third-person in-game footage and a few seconds of first-person action, this new video is all shot from inside… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : GameSetWatch Discovery Date : 31/03/2011 13:40 Number of articles : 2

First-Person Footage Of Multiplayer Mech Combat Game Hawken (Eric Caoili)

Jagged Edge “The Remedy” Tracklist & Release Date Revealed

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Jagged Edge’s seventh studio album “The Remedy” has been confirmed for a release date of June 21st via Slip N’ Slide Records. “The Remedy” features current single “Baby” and future release “Lipstick” featuring Rick Ross. The music video for “Baby” will be shot in April. Jagged Edge granted TheUrbanDaily an exclusive interview about the new album, celebrity crushes and even sang for me. Jagged Edge Share Their Celebrity Crushes [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO] A detailed track-listing has also been revealed: 1) Intro Produced by: Brandon and Brian Casey Written by: Brandon Casey, Brian Casey 2) Love On You Produced by: Brandon and Brian Casey Written by: Brandon Casey, Brian Casey 3) Baby Produced by: Lamb for Lamtrak Productions, Inc. Written by: Cainon Lamb, Taurian Osborn 4) Flow Through My Veins Produced by: Jim Jonsin for Rebel Rock Entertainment Written by: Brandon Casey, Brian Casey, James Scheffer 5) My Girl Produced by Big D and Brass Knuckles Written by Brandon Casey, Brian Casey, Danny D’Brito, Anthony Livado and Derrick Baker 6) I Need A Women Produced by: Lamb for Lamtrak Productions, Inc. Written by: Brandon Casey, Brian Casey, Cainon Lamb 7) Lipstick Featuring Rick Ross Produced by Big D and Brass Knuckles Written by: Brandon Casey, Brain Casey, William Roberts, Danny D’Brito, Anthony Livadas and Derrick Baker Spaceship Produced by: Brandon and Brian Casey Written by: Brandon Casey, Brian Casey 9) Lay You Down Produced by: Cool and Dre for Record Room Productions Written by: Marcello Valenzano and Andre Lyon for Dade Co Project Music Inc., Bradon Casey, Brian Casey, Eddie Montilla 10) Let’s Make Love Produced by: Brandon and Brian Casey Written by: Brandon Casey, Brian Casey 11) When The Bed Shakes Produced by: Gorilla Tek Written by: Brandon Casey, Brian Casey and Tony Castillo 12 ) Mr. Wrong Produced by: Brandon and Brian Casey Written by: Brandon Casey, Brian Casey Definitely looking forward to hearing that good ole’ R&B again!

Jagged Edge “The Remedy” Tracklist & Release Date Revealed

Amy Adams: From ‘June Bug’ To Lois Lane

We take a look at the eclectic list of roles the Oscar-nominated actress, and new Superman love interest, has played. By Eric Ditzian Amy Adams Photo: Getty Images Henry Cavill might have been getting a little lonely in Metropolis. Two months after landing the role of Superman in Zack Snyder’s reboot of the superhero franchise, the 27-year-old actor still hadn’t found out who’d become his Lois Lane. The answer arrived on Sunday: Amy Adams will be play the Daily Planet reporter and Superman love interest . In a statement, Snyder called Adams “one of the most versatile and respected actresses in films today.” That’s hardly an overstatement: The 36-year-old star has performed in indies and blockbusters, musicals and animated fare, solemn dramas and bawdy comedies. Along the way she’s managed to earn three Oscar nominations, the latest for her supporting turn last year in “The Fighter.” A former Hooters waitress, Adams made her debut in 1999’s “Drop Dead Gorgeous” as a dim and cheerful beauty-pageant contestant. Supporting roles on the big and small screen followed, but her next step up the Hollywood food chain didn’t arrive until Steven Spielberg cast her as Leonardo DiCaprio’s love interest in 2002’s “Catch Me If You Can.” While things were undoubtedly going well for the actress, she then took a step back from the spotlight over the next few years and only fully resurfaced in very unlikely fashion. “June Bug,” a sort of “Meet the Parents” for the art-house crowd that starred Adams as a wide-eyed gal named Ashley who’s days away from giving birth and seemingly miles away from planet earth, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2005. The performance won her a special jury prize for acting — and a year later she earned her first Oscar nod for the part. The decision to avoid mainstream fare turned out to be just what Adams’ career needed. “If you love the project, you love the project, and you could be making millions of dollars and have millions of dollars to spend or no money to spend and making no money,” Adams told us at the time . “But it’s about the script and it’s about the people and it’s about the story.” From there she began mixing studio pictures (“Talladega Nights”) with indie roles (“Sunshine Cleaning”), and ended up wowing critics and audiences in “Enchanted,” a film that managed to breathe new life into movie musicals while at the same time paying deep respect to the genre. There was also a short but satisfying arc on “The Office” as Jim Halpert’s (John Krasinski) handbag-slinging girlfriend. By the start of 2009, Adams would earn her second Oscar nod — this one for playing a 1960s-era nun in “Doubt” — and yet she couldn’t quite get used to the idea that she was indeed a movie star. “You see yourself onscreen, or you see pictures of yourself, and it can get really heady. I don’t think human beings are supposed to look at themselves that much,” she said in a 2009 Allure interview , adding that she used to think of herself as “homely” and “painfully small, short, with too much blue eye shadow because I thought, ‘It matches my eyes, so why not?’ ” Perhaps by now, following her third Oscar honor, she’s more comfortable with the notion of celebrity. Hopefully. Because her star is about to rise to a whole new level. There’s her turn as Jason Segel’s girlfriend in “The Muppets,” set to premiere later this year, and she wrapped production last year on “On the Road” opposite Kristen Stewart. In addition, she’s attached to play Janis Joplin in a big-screen biopic . But none of that will compare to the exposure the new “Superman” movie will bring her when it premieres in December 2012. Snyder, for one, couldn’t be happier with the choice. “Amy has the talent to capture all of the qualities we love about Lois,” he said. “[S]mart, tough, funny, warm, ambitious and, of course, beautiful.” What’s your favorite Amy Adams performance? Tell us in the comments. For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com .

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Amy Adams: From ‘June Bug’ To Lois Lane

Simon Cowell Looking For ‘Unusual People’ At ‘X Factor’ Auditions

‘I always say, you’ve got to embrace the madness,’ Cowell says of contestants. By Jocelyn Vena Simon Cowell Photo: Brian Ach/ WireImage With only days until the first official “X Factor” audition kicks off, Simon Cowell recently dished to MTV News about what he’s looking for in an “X Factor” contender. And he admits he doesn’t mind if contestants are a bit freaky. “I love unusual people. I always say, you’ve got to embrace the madness,” Cowell laughed. “I like that we’re going to be very open-minded. I think we’re going to have good enough people on this panel that we’re not gonna miss out on anyone who’s got potential.” So far, that judging panel includes famed record executive L.A. Reid , with more names to be announced soon. Mariah Carey reportedly passed on a judging opportunity, and Enrique Iglesias has been rumored to be a potential host for the show. Cowell says that with so much to gain as the winner of “X Factor,” it’s all about going big or going home. “Well, you know, there’s $5 million at stake on this show, we’re guaranteeing a winner a recording contract … so we’re looking for somebody who’s not just gonna be an artist who sells records in America,” he explained about making sure that special someone has global appeal. “We want someone who’s gonna sell all over the world,” he continued. “You look at what’s happened over the last couple of years, I think originality is key and you’ve got to be different to what’s out there already … I would say on this show, we’re much more open to people being ‘out there’ and anything goes, basically.” Audition dates for the show begin on Sunday, March 27, in Los Angeles, and continue on April 7 in Miami, April 14 in Newark, New Jersey, April 20 in Seattle, April 27 in Chicago, and May 26 in Dallas.

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Simon Cowell Looking For ‘Unusual People’ At ‘X Factor’ Auditions

Rachel Zoe Gives Birth To Baby Boy

Stylist and husband Rodger Berman became proud parents to Skyler Morrison Berman on Thursday. By Aly Semigran Rachel Zoe and Rodger Berman Photo: Getty Images This baby news is bananas! Celebrity stylist and reality star Rachel Zoe of “The Rachel Zoe Project” welcomed her first child, a son, with her husband and president of Rachel Zoe Inc. Rodger Berman. Their baby boy, Skyler Morrison Berman, weighed in at 6 lbs., 12 oz., and is 20 inches long. On Thursday (March 24), Zoe and Berman , who have been together since they met in Washington, D.C., in the early 1990s, said in a joint statement released to People , “Mom and Dad ‘LITERALLY’ could not be happier or more in love with their son!” Zoe also shared the happy news via Twitter, saying, “Thank you all so much for your love! @rbermanus and I couldn’t be happier with little Skyler Morrison in our arms … he is everything. XoRZ.” She, Berman and baby Skyler received plenty of warm wishes on the social networking site today, including one from fellow Bravo star Patti Stanger of “Millionaire Matchmaker,” who tweeted, “Mazel tov @rzrachelzoe and @rbermanus ! I can’t wait to see the first pics … love the name. Love & light to the family. X0.” No doubt the tot of the 39-year-old stylist to the stars — her client list includes the likes of Nicole Richie, Anne Hathaway, Lindsay Lohan, and mom-to-be Kate Hudson — who remained fashionable throughout her pregnancy , will be wearing baby clothes to “die” for. Leave your well-wishes for new parents Rachel Zoe and Rodger Berman below in the comments. Related Photos Lovebirds: Rachel Zoe And Rodger Berman

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Rachel Zoe Gives Birth To Baby Boy