Congratulations are in order for NBA player Rashard Lewis and Giovanni Fortes, who tied the knot August 13 in California. The couple have two beautiful children together, their son Rashard Jr. who is 13 months and 4-year-old daughter Gianna. The couple have have been together for 11 years — they met when Rashard was playing for the Supersonics and Giovanni was attending college in Seattle. We’ve got all the details on the wedding, which took place Saturday at 6pm at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The bride entered to “Never Felt This Way” by Alicia Keys and the couples’ kids served as flower girl and ringbearer. The couple were married in front of 250 guests (including Matt Barnes and Gloria Govan and Jameer Nelson and his wife Imani) by Reverend Cathleen O’Connell. Keep clicking for lots more wedding photos.
Hyped for Kim Kardashian’s wedding ? Good, because this may be the end of the road for Kimmy’s dating days. In the meantime, we’ll take a look at the many men that were rumored to have chopped down Kimmy’s massive cakes.
Remi opens up about working with Winehouse on third album, which is not complete. By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kim Kane Amy Winehouse Photo: Roger Kisby/ Getty Images Salaam Remi was already an established producer before he met a then-unknown singer named Amy Winehouse, having already created hits for the likes of Nas, the Fugees and Ini Kamoze (to name just a few). But from the minute he was introduced to Winehouse in 2002, his life — and career — were forever changed. Because not only did he produce the lion’s share of her recorded work (her 2003 debut Frank and the follow up, 2006’s iconic Back to Black ) but he became a close friend with the mercurial Winehouse too, a confidant who knew her better than most. So when Winehouse died on Saturday in her London home, it was somewhat fitting that Remi was nearby: in town to attend the wedding of the singer’s former manager. In fact, he had planned on stopping by Winehouse’s apartment that day to catch up and discuss the ongoing sessions for her Back to Black follow-up , which the two had been working on. MTV celebrates Amy Winehouse’s music with a special show tonight. Days after Winehouse’s death Remi spoke via telephone with New York’s Power 105.1 DJ Kim Kane about the loss of his dear friend and the status of her new album. Kane was kind enough to share their conversation with MTV News. “We were working on it; it’s not a complete album,” Remi said, debunking reports that her third LP was finished and slated for release. “We had a lot of things going, there are recordings, but first things first, I think. We’re trying to focus on what’s at hand and what her family wants to do. So those reports [that there is finished material] are false.” Read more about Amy Winehouse’s influence on music beyond “Rehab.” Remi also told Kane that despite near-constant speculation about Winehouse’s health, he believed that she was well enough to complete her new album and was actually using the ongoing recording sessions as a sort of therapy, channeling her emotions and frustrations into her songs. “To put it all in a nutshell, Amy loved to sing, to write … that ability never left her,” he said. “She was very good at channeling her emotions into lyrics, and then being able to sing them. She was in a place to go forward and make it happen. … The way that Amy and I always created was, she would write and we would toss ideas around.” And though details surrounding Winehouse’s death remain murky, Remi said that he’s trying very hard to block out the near-constant media coverage of her passing and focus instead on the private moments the two shared in the studio. Those moments revealed the artist few ever knew: opinionated, funny and, above all else, caring. “Amy had strong opinions on everything. …. She was very opinionated about what she liked. At the end, she was a real person,” he said. “She had a huge heart. We’d be working for hours and she would have everybody in the room snickering. She always had a joke. You could hear a lot of that in her lyrics, she could be sarcastic and she was extremely witty … but more than anything else she was a real person, an individual artist.” Celebrate Amy Winehouse
Remi opens up about working with Winehouse on third album, which is not complete. By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kim Kane Amy Winehouse Photo: Roger Kisby/ Getty Images Salaam Remi was already an established producer before he met a then-unknown singer named Amy Winehouse, having already created hits for the likes of Nas, the Fugees and Ini Kamoze (to name just a few). But from the minute he was introduced to Winehouse in 2002, his life — and career — were forever changed. Because not only did he produce the lion’s share of her recorded work (her 2003 debut Frank and the follow up, 2006’s iconic Back to Black ) but he became a close friend with the mercurial Winehouse too, a confidant who knew her better than most. So when Winehouse died on Saturday in her London home, it was somewhat fitting that Remi was nearby: in town to attend the wedding of the singer’s former manager. In fact, he had planned on stopping by Winehouse’s apartment that day to catch up and discuss the ongoing sessions for her Back to Black follow-up , which the two had been working on. MTV celebrates Amy Winehouse’s music with a special show tonight. Days after Winehouse’s death Remi spoke via telephone with New York’s Power 105.1 DJ Kim Kane about the loss of his dear friend and the status of her new album. Kane was kind enough to share their conversation with MTV News. “We were working on it; it’s not a complete album,” Remi said, debunking reports that her third LP was finished and slated for release. “We had a lot of things going, there are recordings, but first things first, I think. We’re trying to focus on what’s at hand and what her family wants to do. So those reports [that there is finished material] are false.” Read more about Amy Winehouse’s influence on music beyond “Rehab.” Remi also told Kane that despite near-constant speculation about Winehouse’s health, he believed that she was well enough to complete her new album and was actually using the ongoing recording sessions as a sort of therapy, channeling her emotions and frustrations into her songs. “To put it all in a nutshell, Amy loved to sing, to write … that ability never left her,” he said. “She was very good at channeling her emotions into lyrics, and then being able to sing them. She was in a place to go forward and make it happen. … The way that Amy and I always created was, she would write and we would toss ideas around.” And though details surrounding Winehouse’s death remain murky, Remi said that he’s trying very hard to block out the near-constant media coverage of her passing and focus instead on the private moments the two shared in the studio. Those moments revealed the artist few ever knew: opinionated, funny and, above all else, caring. “Amy had strong opinions on everything. …. She was very opinionated about what she liked. At the end, she was a real person,” he said. “She had a huge heart. We’d be working for hours and she would have everybody in the room snickering. She always had a joke. You could hear a lot of that in her lyrics, she could be sarcastic and she was extremely witty … but more than anything else she was a real person, an individual artist.” Celebrate Amy Winehouse
‘I think she has a distinct sound when she raps,’ Spears says of Femme Fatale Tour opening act. By Christina Garibaldi Britney Spears Photo: MTV News When the news that Britney Spears was taking MC Nicki Minaj on the road with her hit, fans — and Brit herself — couldn’t have been more excited. The Femme Fatale Tour is now in full swing, with both women bringing their A-game to each performance. And along the way, it seems as if these two have sparked a friendship. “I think she’s great,” Spears told MTV News of Minaj. “She’s a great artist in every way and I’m really happy for her.” Minaj, who is nominated for three Video Music Awards , brings her own flair to the girl-power tour, adding her eccentric style, her fiery wigs and, of course, her signature beats. “I think she has a distinct sound when she raps,” Spears said. “It really stands out and sets her apart from everyone else. I’m happy she’s able to be on tour with me because that’s just amazing.” Last month, we caught up with Minaj just before she hit the road with the pop veteran, and she was ready to take that distinct sound to a whole new fanbase. “I’m just trying to put more theater on that stage. So much to me is music, but it’s also about putting on a show, so that’s my goal: to truly put on a show and incorporate theater and dance,” Minaj said. And if you’re lucky, you might just catch Spears and Minaj team up for a special performance of the remix for “Till the World Ends.” “At the end of the show, the last song she comes on every once in awhile,” Spears said of Minaj joining her onstage. “Not every show, but it’s usually special when she does it.” Will you see Britney and Nicki on tour this summer? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale Related Artists Nicki Minaj Britney Spears
‘I think she has a distinct sound when she raps,’ Spears says of Femme Fatale Tour opening act. By Christina Garibaldi Britney Spears Photo: MTV News When the news that Britney Spears was taking MC Nicki Minaj on the road with her hit, fans — and Brit herself — couldn’t have been more excited. The Femme Fatale Tour is now in full swing, with both women bringing their A-game to each performance. And along the way, it seems as if these two have sparked a friendship. “I think she’s great,” Spears told MTV News of Minaj. “She’s a great artist in every way and I’m really happy for her.” Minaj, who is nominated for three Video Music Awards , brings her own flair to the girl-power tour, adding her eccentric style, her fiery wigs and, of course, her signature beats. “I think she has a distinct sound when she raps,” Spears said. “It really stands out and sets her apart from everyone else. I’m happy she’s able to be on tour with me because that’s just amazing.” Last month, we caught up with Minaj just before she hit the road with the pop veteran, and she was ready to take that distinct sound to a whole new fanbase. “I’m just trying to put more theater on that stage. So much to me is music, but it’s also about putting on a show, so that’s my goal: to truly put on a show and incorporate theater and dance,” Minaj said. And if you’re lucky, you might just catch Spears and Minaj team up for a special performance of the remix for “Till the World Ends.” “At the end of the show, the last song she comes on every once in awhile,” Spears said of Minaj joining her onstage. “Not every show, but it’s usually special when she does it.” Will you see Britney and Nicki on tour this summer? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale Related Artists Nicki Minaj Britney Spears
‘The crowds have been so good each night and that gives you the adrenaline you need,’ Brit tells MTV News. By Christina Garibaldi Britney Spears Britney Spears is currently in the midst of her Femme Fatale Tour . And now that the pop princess has shaken off all those pre-tour nerves, she’s been giving fans a dance-heavy spectacle that some have called her “flashiest” yet. When MTV News recently caught up with Spears, she opened up about life on the road. “Good, really good,” Spears said of how things are going on her seventh concert tour. “It’s like every other day we have another show, so we are really busy. It’s a lot of fun. I like being busy.” Spears — who is nominated for Best Pop Video and Best Choreography at the 2011 Video Music Awards — gave credit to her fans for making each show so memorable. “The shows have been equally amazing,” Spears said. “The crowds have been so good each night and that gives you the adrenaline you need to get through the show. It just pumps you up. Every night is a blast.” And before Brit hits the stage each night, she and her dancers always get together for a pre-show ritual. “We always say a prayer before the show; sometimes a really long prayer, sometimes a short prayer. We just do it; we grab each other’s hands and go do it.” On Monday, the Femme Fatale Tour added another opening act: “Jersey Shore” star DJ Pauly D confirmed he’ll be hitting the road to open for Spears on six of her August dates. “Yes, that’s interesting!” Spears gushed about Pauly D joining opening acts Nicki Minaj , Jessie and the Toy Boys, and Nervo. So will Spears tune into the upcoming season of “Jersey Shore”? “It’s a guilty pleasure,” she admitted. “I’ve seen two or three episodes; it’s cool.” Will you catch Britney on tour this summer? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Britney Spears: I Am The Femme Fatale Related Artists Britney Spears
‘You’re gonna kill yourself, man,’ Margera recalled warning ‘Jackass’ co-star about his driving. By Gil Kaufman Ryan Dunn and Bam Margera Photo: Peter Kramer/ Getty Images A week after attending a memorial service for his friend and “Jackass” co-star Ryan Dunn , Bam Margera sat down for an interview with E! Online to discuss the car accident that took the lives of Dunn and friend Zachary Hartwell and talk about the final message he got from his fellow daredevil. “He was my best f—ing friend in the world. It’s been five days now, and I can’t stop crying, man,” Margera said. “I just don’t think it should’ve been him.” Looking drawn and tired, with wife Melissa Rothstein by his side holding his hand, Margera said the phone call he received about the accident was “pretty much the worst news I’ve ever heard in my life.” The call came while he was asleep in Arizona, with Margera’s friends urging him to get on the line with his brother right away to discuss the news. Sounding and looking a bit woozy, Margera remembered that he was a passenger in a car Dunn was driving in 1996 that flew off the road in the same spot. “He flipped me in a car eight times at the same exact spot in 1996,” Margera recalled. “Thank God I had my seat belt on, because [“Jackass” contributor] Chris Raab put one on me, but my brother didn’t have one on. He flew 40 feet. Thank God he’s alive. But like, Dunn was always a maniac at driving.” Asked to recall the final words he spoke with Dunn, Margera pulled out his phone and read a series of texts the pals exchanged on the night that Dunn drank with friends at a Pennsylvania bar. “Are you all right, need me to come over there and get people out of there?” he read, laughing about a string of jokes the two had shared over the legal travails of former baseball star Lenny Dykstra. “Stopping for a beer, be there when I can,” read the final message he got from Dunn, who was annoyed by the local traffic in West Chester, Pennsylvania, that night due to a local running event. He also revealed that the high-speed crash — police estimate that Dunn was driving in excess of 130 m.p.h. in a 55 zone and had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit at the time — was just a block or so from Hartwell’s house. “And he must have just missed the exit,” Margera speculated. “He should have just f—ing turned around, but he skidded out and ran right into a thing … and seeing all these burnt, f—ing pieces of tree … that was tough for me. I went twice.” Asked if the press focus on Dunn’s blood-alcohol level is a “disservice” to the stuntman’s memory, Margera said, “That doesn’t really matter at all. … First of all, I’ll say it about myself, it will take me three beers to even feel normal. If you drink three beers and then three girlie shots, whatever, it has nothing to do with that. He is a maniac in a car. He has a goddamn Porsche and he drives fast.” Margera went on to explain that Dunn’s Porsche was the “lightest one possible,” outfitted with a Lamborghini engine, a turbo booster and nitro boosts, which he said caused the car to fishtail when it sped down the road. “I said, ‘You’re gonna go right into a pole, dude,’ ” he recalled warning Dunn. ” ‘You’re gonna kill yourself, man,’ ” he responded when Dunn joked that he was a race car driver. If he could go back to that night, Margera said he would have told Dunn, “Give me your goddamn keys, you idiot.” Related Videos Remembering Ryan Dunn Related Photos Fans Pay Tribute To Ryan Dunn Ryan Dunn: A Career In Photos
L.A. rapper made the honor roll while on the road, his mom and teacher share. By Steven Roberts, with additional reporting by Matt Elias Casey Veggies and his mother, Cynthia Jones Photo: MTV News The last year has been a breakout one for Los Angeles MC Casey Veggies , who released his third mixtape, Sleeping in Class, in December and toured with fellow up-and-comer Mac Miller in January. What’s more amazing is that while this was going on, he was still in school. And on June 16, Veggies (or, as his diploma says, Casey Jones) graduated from Inglewood High School on the honor roll. “On the first week of school, he gave me a link to a video of one of the songs that he has [on Sleeping in Class ], so my first impression of him was good, but I was a little concerned, because of the lyrics to the song,” Casey’s senior-year English teacher Shannon Kirk told MTV News. “It’s actually kind of ironic because [sleeping in class is] the last thing he would do in class. “Casey balances his work life and his school life better than I probably would have at his age,” Kirk added of her student, who did independent study while he was on the road. “He’s pretty mature for his age, and he was able to do pretty well. [He] was one of the top students in my class.” Veggies realized that he could have quit school to pursue his dreams, but he never felt the need to. He knew he could handle it, so why not get school done? As for college, though his mother says he was accepted to four schools, he’s postponing those plans while he sees where his rap career goes. “At the end of the day, I’m just dreaming right now,” Casey said. “I’m going to stay in my dream and don’t plan on waking up. If I do, maybe I’ll grab a college degree, but right now, I’m in my own world.” Kirk wouldn’t tell us Casey’s grades, but his mother, Cynthia Jones, was thrilled that her son made the honor roll. She said that education meant everything to her and her husband, and their goal was always for Casey and his older brother, Corey, to graduate high school and attend college as they had. Corey is currently a freshman at UC Riverside, but Casey had to convince her that he could take another route. “I had no idea that his music thing was going to come about the way it has,” Jones said. “This is different to accept, but he’s doing really well, so you have to let a person follow [their dreams]. You’re only young once. “I’m excited, I’m happy for him,” she continued, “and then I’m happy he doesn’t have to juggle these two lives, because it has been a juggle for him, so now he can concentrate on one thing.”
For those of you still puffing on those Newport 100′s , please have a gander at these new cigarette warning labels released from the FDA: In the most significant change to U.S. cigarette packs in 25 years, the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday released nine new warning labels that depict in graphic detail the negative health effects of tobacco use. Among the images to appear on cigarette packs are rotting and diseased teeth and gums and a man with a tracheotomy smoking. Also included among the labels are: the corpse of a smoker, diseased lungs, a mother holding her baby with smoke swirling around them. They include phrases like “Smoking can kill you” and “Cigarettes cause cancer” and feature graphic images to convey the dangers of tobacco, which is responsible for about 443,000 deaths in the U.S. a year. Have a flip thru to peep the imagery…
