DJ/Producer tells MTV News he’s ‘super-happy’ and looking forward to another ‘bleepy’ year. By Akshay Bhansali Afrojack Photo: Getty Images Sure, Skrillex clenched the #1 spot on MTV’s Best EDM Artist of 2011 list, but Nick van de Wall, stage name Afrojack is still celebrating. The DJ/producer had a near-perfect year, and he continues the trend with his latest accolade: a #5 ranking in MTV’s top 10. “Yooooo! I’m amazed MTV voted me #5 Best EDM Artist of 2011,” Afrojack told MTV News in a statement. “Super-happy that you guys dig my stuff so much. I’m gonna try and make your radio a little more fresh, and your clubs extra bouncy, and bleepy, in 2012. Thanks for all of [your] support and see you in 2012!!” Save for mentor David Guetta , Afrojack had more hits on U.S. radio in 2011 than any other artist in electronic dance music. Beyonc
Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown’s former drug dealer is spilling the beans about the couple’s drug use back in the day. Joey Diaz who claimed he used to sell cocaine to Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown went on the radio and talked about the coke he sold them in the 90′s. Joey Diaz told The Joe Rogen Experience that he used to sell Whitney and Bobby 14 grams of coke a day and that he would pinch an eight ball off each sack for himself and that pretty soon he had so much pilfered coke he couldn’t snort it all. Take a listen: SOURCE Whitney Houston On Aaliyah: “My Sparkle Has Gone” [VIDEO] Whitney Houston Almost Kicked Off Flight For Refusing To Buckle Seatbelt
‘Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ and ‘Descendants’ also year-end highlights for MTV Movies’ Josh Horowitz. By Josh Horowitz Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan in “Drive” Photo: FilmDistrict Any year that can includes a half-dozen superhero films and an Oscar front-runner that’s a black-and-white silent film ( “The Artist” ) needs to be given at least a bit of credit for breadth. I’ll go one further and say 2011 has been a year filled with plenty of cinematic delights. Hell, if I couldn’t even squeeze one of two Spielberg films or Terrence Malick’s meditation on our existence on my top 10, that’s got to say something. Without any further ado, my top 10 movies of the year — completely accurate as of the moment I wrote it. (What can I say? Moods come and go.) 10. “Attack the Block” It could qualify as one of the year’s best comedies, thrillers and sci-fi flicks. That Joe Cornish’s genre mash-up is all of the above more than earns “Attack the Block” a spot in my top 10. Stick with the indecipherable accents and dialects for a few minutes and you’ll be richly rewarded by one of the most consistently surprising and pleasurable moviegoing experiences of 2011. 9. “Moneyball” It’s one of the greatest baseball films of all time, and all I can think of is Brad Pitt driving around listening to the radio and watching his daughter play him a song. Don’t worry; that’s a good thing. Pitt turns in a leading-man role like he’s never delivered before, saying so much even when he says so little. 8. “X-Men: First Class” From Kevin Bacon’s deliciously hammy villain to Michael Fassbender’s steely, take-no-prisoners attitude as Magneto, “X-Men: First Class” emerged as the superhero film of the year. Between his Nazi-hunting pub visit and his memorable bar exit in “Inglourious Basterds,” Fassbender might want to sign up for the “Cocktail” remake. 7. “50/50” How many different ways could a cancer comedy have gone wrong? Instead, Jonathan Levine directed Will Reiser’s life-inspired tale with grace and wit, drawing out winning performances from everyone in his stellar ensemble. Funny and moving, “50/50″ stands as a truly unique and impressive piece of entertainment and pathos. 6.”Take Shelter” A dash of Stanley Kubrick and a dollop of Terrence Malick. Not a bad couple of filmmakers for a movie by a young director like Jeff Nichols, right? I admired Nichols’ festering creepfest, but what truly sent “Take Shelter” into the middle of my top 10 was a searing, brilliant performance by the remarkable Michael Shannon. He owns this movie. It’s a piece of acting that’s haunted me since I saw it in January. 5.”The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” It’s a dark and depraved world, and that’s just the way David Fincher likes it. Can a movie that clocks in at nearly three hours really feel propulsive and unrelenting? This one does. Know the story already? Who cares? Anchored by top-notch performances by Rooney Mara (nice call, Mr. Fincher) and Daniel Craig, the film makes me more than ready for volume two. 4. “The Descendants” You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll wonder where the hell Matthew Lillard’s been. But most of all, you’ll marvel at director Alexander Payne’s gentle touch, Shailene Woodley’s where-the-hell-did-that-come-from performance and George Clooney’s heartbreaking goodbye to a long-lost love. 3. “Hugo” On paper, this looked to be the Martin Scorsese movie that time would forget (or willfully ignore). Children’s film? Parisian train station? Blech. In reality? A sumptuous 3-D meditation on escaping and ultimately embracing our past, not to mention the greatest cinefile’s love letter to the medium he truly is the master of. 2. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” I’m as surprised as anyone that a “Harry Potter” film landed so high on my list. It’s far and away the finest of the franchise’s eight installments. But let’s set aside all that for a second and call this what it is: an awesome movie. David Yates directs the franchise finale with a lean, mean efficiency (it’s the shortest of all the Potter films). And when he does slow the action — for a riveting exchange with a goblin or a long, mysterious gaze by the likes of Alan Rickman — it’s with purpose and to great effect. I could go on and on about the memorable moments in this film, including Professor McGonagall’s rousing defense of Hogwarts, Snape’s tragic flashback, Harry Potter’s reassurance to his son as he sends him off to Hogwarts. Is there a spell to stop me from getting misty-eyed? What do I look for in my favorite movie of the year? Simple: I want something special. And there was nothing even close to “Drive” for me this year. I’m in unabashed love with everything about the film. Sure, it oozes cool, but cool only gets you so far. How about these adjectives? Riveting. Hypnotic. Sexy. Fun. Brilliant. Masterful and confident direction from Nicolas Winding Refn, Ryan Gosling at his absolute best and a gaggle of great supporting turns, it all added up to a movie permanently lodged into my cerebral cortex. Now let me give that soundtrack one more listen. All this week, watch “AMTV” on MTV every day at 8 a.m. ET for our Best of 2011 lists. Then, come to MTVNews.com at 5 p.m. as we reveal our top picks of the year! Check out everything we’ve got on “Drive.” For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com . Related Videos Best Movies Of 2011 Debate
MC began dominating Atlanta airwaves this summer with the help of big names like T.I. — vote in our Hottest poll now! By Steven Roberts Future Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News A few months ago, if you didn’t live in or near Atlanta, you would be hard-pressed to know who Future was. However, if you did live in or near Atlanta, you be hard-pressed not to hear one of his songs on the radio every five minutes with “Magic,” “Ain’t No Way Around It,” “Go Harder” and “Never Been This High,” to name a few. Now, he’s getting national recognition as a contender for MTV News’ Hottest Breakthrough MC . Future was the hook man on YC ‘s “Racks,” which was probably the most infectious track of the first part of this year. However, the rest of the country got the memo in early July when Drake hopped on a remix of the ATL-ien’s “Tony Montana.” The song features Future rhyming in a faux accent as if he were the beloved upstart Cuban drug lord. Drizzy not only adds a verse, but he seemingly adds his stamp of approval to what Future has been building. While their relationship seems to have soured , it hasn’t stopped Future from spreading his name. The MC dropped a number of mixtapes this year (including Dirty Sprite, True Story, Streetz Calling and Free Bricks with Gucci Mane), which helped him build his base and dominate the ATL airwaves. Even Atlanta stalwarts like Gucci, Young Jeezy, T.I. and Big Boi jumped on tracks with the Astronaut Kid to help maintain their own buzz in the city. At the same time, their co-signs helped him get nationwide attention. Future also comes from a sort of hip-hop royalty. He is the cousin of Organized Noize’s Rico Wade. Organized Noize have produced tracks for the likes of Outkast, Ludacris and TLC. It’s a part of Atlanta’s iconic Dungeon Family, making Future a second-generation Dungeon Family member. While their members are known for their lyrical prowess, few people would put Future in their weight class. But he promised his mixtapes weren’t a reflection of what fans could expect on his debut album, Pluto. Only time will tell how bright his future truly is. Hottest Breakthrough MCs was established by MTV News in 2010 as a fan-driven initiative that spotlights, celebrates and cultivates new talent. MTV News chose a pool of young rappers and urged fans to vote for their favorite. When it was all said and done, Wiz Khalifa emerged as the Hottest Breakthrough of last year. The competition was tough, but the Taylor Gang General beat out runner-up Nicki Minaj, ATL group Travis Porter, Diggy Simmons and J. Cole. This year, you can vote for Future (or your favorite up-and-comer) over at RapFix.MTV.com , and be sure to check back for daily updates and poll results. Each day, we’ll spotlight a new Hottest Breakthrough MC before we conclude Tuesday (December 13) when the polls close at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC will be revealed during Wednesday’s “RapFix Live,” during which the winner will appear as our in-studio guest. There will also be a special announcement about MTV News’ upcoming Hottest MCs in the Game list and debate. To be considered a Hottest Breakthrough MC, an artist cannot have released a major-label full-length album. Finalists from 2010’s Hottest Breakthrough MCs poll will not be eligible for 2011 consideration, so unfortunately, Diggy Simmons and Travis Porter won’t be part of this conversation. Who do you think should be 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MC? Share your picks in the comments! Stick with MTV News as we profile the 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs before announcing the winner Wednesday on “RapFix Live” — vote now! Related Videos 2011 Hottest Breakthrough MCs Related Artists Future
It’s another chance for fresh starts, love and forgiveness in the holiday rom-com New Year’s Eve . Halle Berry, Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”) and Ludacris are part of an all star cast that follows the lives of several couples and singles in New York, intertwining on the last day of 2011. New Year’s Eve is notable for its use of some of New York City’s most interesting and historic locales. The Urban Daily lists five New York City landmarks featured in New Year’s Eve worth checking out during the holiday season. Brooklyn Museum 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn NY 11238 www.brooklynmuseum.org The Brooklyn Museum, housed in a 560,000-square-foot, Beaux-Arts building, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the country. Only a 30-minute subway ride from midtown Manhattan, with its own newly renovated subway station, the Museum is part of a complex of nineteenth-century parks and gardens that also includes Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Prospect Park Zoo. Exhibits to check out: African Innovations –a complete reinstallation of roughly 200 works from the Brooklyn Museum’s world-renowned collection of African art, African Innovations is a dynamic and diverse range of objects that includes wood sculpture, metal casting, terracotta, textiles, and beadwork, African art has a long history of adaptation to and exchange with cultures near and far. Sweet Funk—An Introspectiv e: New York based artist Sanford Biggers challenges and reinterprets symbols and legacies that inform contemporary America. Pieces include Kalimba II (2002) , named after an African percussion instrument, incorporates a piano bisected by a wall and Blossom, Lotus (2007) combines references to Buddhism and to slavery: a lotus etched in glass contains in each petal diagrams of human bodies placed in the cargo hold of an eighteenth-century slave ship. Queens Museum of Art New York City Building, Flushing, NY 11368 Queensmuseum.org The New York City Building was built to house the New York City Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair. This past April, the museum hosted a groundbreaking ceremony, marking the commencement of the expansion project that will double the size of the institution, adding 50,000 square feet of new galleries, classrooms, public events spaces, a café and museum shop. Exhibit to check out: The Panorama of The City of New York– The Panorama is the jewel in the crown of the collection of the Queens Museum of Art. . Built by Robert Moses for the 1964 World’s Fair, this 9,335 square foot architectural model includes every single building constructed before 1992 in all five boroughs; that is a total of 895,000 individual structures. Grand Central Station Terminal 42nd Street and Park Ave. New York, NY www.grandcentralterminal.com One of New York City’s most iconic landmarks, Grand Central is the largest train station in the world. The terminal includes a dining concourse, The Campbell Apartment, an elegantly restored cocktail lounge, and plenty of retail therapy with their shopping mall, which includes the newly opened Apple store. The annual Grand Central Holiday Fair, Located in the Terminal’s historic Vanderbilt Hall, has the city’s best holiday shopping experience featuring 76 vendors with a wide array of goods at all price levels. The fair features artisans selling unique crafts, jewelry, clothing, home furnishings, children’s gifts, and more. Rockefeller Center, West 49th Street & 5th Avenue www.rockefellercenter.com Rockefeller Center, originally known as Radio City is a complex of buildings developed in the midst of the Great Depression. During the holiday season Rock center offers a larger than life Christmas tree, ice skating rink and Radio City Hall, home to the world famous Rockettes. Check out: The Radio City Christmas Special features a 3-D live video game adventure, dazzling new Rockette numbers and classic favorites like The Parade of The Wooden Soldiers and The Living Nativity. Johnny Rockets 1134 First Avenue New York, NY www.johnnyrockets.com Johnny Rockets is a trip to yesteryear when the local burger joint reigned supreme. The first Johnny Rockets opened on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles in 1968, offering guests friendly service and great food in a fun and nostalgic atmosphere. The menu boasts great tasting food from a menu of favorites including juicy hamburgers, classic sandwiches, and hand-dipped shakes and malts. Guests also enjoy an all-American look and feel, tabletop jukeboxes and authentic decor. Check out: The Oreo Cookies & Cream Milkshake, The Route 66 Burger (Swiss cheese, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions & mayonnaise) and The Perfect Brownie Sundae. Johnny Rockets ROOOCKS !!! by magie2rue
Sorry for the long video, we typed it out at first, but that would take even longer to read so we made a video instead! It was the BEST WEEK OF OUR LIVES! We love you Justin. Thank you @kissFMuk for making our dreams come true! Justin also gave us a shout us on the radio, skip to 3:10. -@ellsaskia and @aoifebay Read more: Sorry for the long video, we typed it out at first, but that…
Producer Fernando Garibay tells fans to ‘use your imagination’ for Mother Monster’s upcoming tour. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias and Vanessa WhiteWolf Lady Gaga Photo: John Shearer/ WireImage When Lady Gaga released Born This Way earlier this year, she had just wrapped up the Monster Ball Tour . Now, with 2011 coming to an end, it’s only a matter of time before she launches her next stage spectacle. So what should fans expect? Anything and everything. “This album was the most personal [because of] the amount of detail that went into this record, the amount of passion [and] emotion from her and the team,” Fernando Garibay, Gaga’s producer, told MTV News last week. “Every song was a story towards the Born This Way theme. We’re excited now, putting that into the tour and expressing that on a live performance level. “You can imagine what happened on the Monster Ball, so use your imagination,” he said. “That’s what’s going to happen, exaggerated.” For now, Gaga is playing radio shows — smaller shows like KIIS-FM’s Jingle Ball in Los Angeles, which she headlined last weekend. “I would love to go out there and do my entire new album, but everyone out there wants to hear the songs that [radio] has made hits for me over the years,” she told us backstage at Jingle Ball. “So I wanted to honor the radio station as well as the fans tonight and give them a little bit of my new record, but also all the songs from the past three years.” She explained to MTV News that these mini-gigs are a good tease of what fans will see on the Born This Way trek. Gaga’s recent performances have been pop shows full of spectacle, including bouncy, hospital-themed dance numbers (an homage to the “Marry the Night” video ) and dedications to metal culture with gang-inspired fashion that certainly reflects the looks she wore on parts of the Monster Ball Tour. But they are on such a smaller scale that Gaga admitted she couldn’t do everything she wanted to do. “I couldn’t fit my Olympic-size moon onto [the] stage,” she laughed. “It’s going to have the feeling of it in some ways. It’s hard to explain. It’s very different aesthetics. But the vision of the show tonight is sort of a continuation of this junkyard motorcycle gang mixed with a dark Christmas. I’m excited; we worked really hard on it.” In addition to beginning to conceive the Born This Way Tour , Gaga just dropped her “Marry The Night” video , is up for three Grammys and is beginning to work on her next album . Related Artists Lady Gaga
Saturday Night Live didn’t waste any time poking fun at one-time Presidential candidate Herman Cain’s decision to end his bid for the GOP’s nomination. Cain announced that he was dropping out of the race after a woman named Ginger White alleged that she had a 13-year-long affair with Cain and several other women claimed that they were sexually harassed by the Georgia businessman. Cast member Kenan Thompson revisited his spot-on impersonation of Cain, joking that “I scheduled an appointment with my wife. We had a productive discussion while she glared at me listening to Mary J. Blige .” RELATED POSTS: SPOOF: Mike Tyson Finds His Inner Herman Cain [VIDEO]
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