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Jermaine Paul Crowned On ‘The Voice’ Finale

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Justin Bieber, Flo Rida, Lady Antebellum and Hall & Oates also perform leading up to Team Blake’s victory. By James Dinh Blake Shelton and Jermaine Paul celebrate on “The Voice” Photo: NBC Universal Records added a new artist to their roster Tuesday night (May 8) when Jermaine Paul of Team Blake was named season-two champ during the finale of “The Voice,” which also featured some major star power appearances from the likes of Justin Bieber and Flo Rida. “I just wanted to say thank you for everyone that voted for me,” the former Alicia Keys backup singer said on the sparkler-filled stage, before giving credit to his wife, children and parents. “God bless y’all, man. Nobody but Jesus, man, nobody!” It was a close call, as host Carson Daly revealed just moments before the announcement that only a mere 4 percentage points separated Paul and runner-up Juliet Simms. Kicking off the two-hour episode was a brief contestant introduction with Paul, Simms, singer/songwriter Tony Lucca and classically trained Chris Mann, before segueing into a recap of the previous night’s live final round and some thoughts from each of the judges about their contestant. But it wouldn’t be a big ol’ finale without some collaborative performances from our season’s favorite former contestants, so Paul rallied up Jamar Rogers, James Massone and Pip to lead the pack on a cover of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” It was a solid effort that most importantly proved why Paul stands as the last remaining singer of the bunch and won the contest. After a montage of silly bloopers from the panel (proving that Xtina is surely more than just full of sass) and a quick commercial break, Simms of Team Cee Lo joined Flo Rida for a medley of his singles “Whistle” and “Wild One.” Missing in action was singer Sia, but Simms took over for the Australian crooner’s chorus, temporarily walked away from her rock element and jumped to some fist-pumping Top 40. Team Xtina’s Chris Mann brought back his lady favorites Lindsey Pavao and Katrina Parker for an appropriate cover of the Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” and the couple complemented Mann’s lively onstage urgency. It may have been an intense evening for the contestants, but “The Voice” kept the show lighthearted by dedicating an entire segment to Shelton and Levine’s on-camera bromance with highlights of their cutesy interactions. “It is clear that Adam has a crush on me, and Miranda is a little bit jealous, but I think it’s cute,” Shelton joked about wife Miranda Lambert. Hall & Oates were up next to sing their classic “Rich Girl” alongside the men of the evening: Tony, Jermaine and Chris. As the duo jammed out to their 1977 hit, the trio of finalists crooned on the side as background vocalists to the iconic act. Living out one more performance were former contestants Naia Kete, Cheesa, Kim Yarbrough and Sera Hill with a performance of “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder. Full of energy, attitude and smiles, the quartet blended their distinctive voices for a great number. But it wasn’t enough to outshine Juliet Simms’ group performance alongside Erin Willett, RaeLynn and Jamar Rogers for a cover of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends.” It was the best of the all-star performances and brought all the judges to their feet for standing ovations. NBC doubled up when they brought some buzz for the season finale of “Parks and Recreation” as Cee Lo took to the set of the comedy sitcom and had the cast cater to his guest appearance and, of course, the famed swivel chair. Lady Antebellum repped for country music when they appeared for a performance of “Wanted You More,” but the biggest rumble of cheers went to Justin Bieber, who served up a flashy debut performance of his hit “Boyfriend.” As teased a few weeks ago, the teen superstar took the stage for an elaborate production of his lead single. Entering through the floor, the pop singer walked down an alley of bright lights and spent much of the number as the center of attention for a crew of dancers with misty smoke seeping in between his choreography. Before the Biebster took center stage, Team Adam’s Tony Lucca re-emerged for his main number of the night with Jordis Unga to sing Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way.” It was a friendly throwback to the competition’s battle rounds, as the two played off each other’s lines and catered to different parts of the stage before joining together for an ending hug. What did you think of Jermaine winning “The Voice”? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Justin Bieber

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Who Is ‘The Voice’? Tony, Juliet, Jermaine And Chris Duke It Out

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Final four also perform with their judges before the winner is chosen Tuesday night. By John Mitchell Jermaine Paul performs on “The Voice” Photo: NBC The final night of competition proved intense and tough to call Monday night (May 7) on “The Voice” as rocker Juliet Simms, singer/songwriter Tony Lucca, former R&B backup singer Jermaine Paul and classically trained Chris Mann brought everything they had to the stage hoping to land enough votes to take home the title in Tuesday’s live grand finale. But it wasn’t all business, as each of the final four also took the stage with their respective coach for a series of powerhouse performances that showcased the onstage chemistry born from both compatibility — looking at you, chill rocker boys Adam Levine and Lucca and vocal dynamos Christina Aguilera and Mann — and unlikely pairings (think country crooner Blake Shelton and Paul and funky soul man Cee Lo and Simms). First up was Team Blake’s Jermaine, who wasn’t taking any chances with his song choice, going straight for a mid-’90s jam that has practically become an R&B standard, R. Kelly’s inspirational “I Believe I Can Fly.” His simple, clean and emotional performance — Adam called it “elegant” — earned plenty of praise, with Christina admitting, “That song was made for you. You came out classy and positive.” Blake couldn’t have been more pleased, adding, “My heart is in my throat right now. I’ve heard that song a million times, but I don’t feel like I’ve ever really heard it before tonight.” As a surprise thank you to their coaches, the final four also hit the stage to sing one of their mentor’s biggest hits. Juliet Simms, looking great with newly raven locks and powering through throat issues that Cee Lo revealed at the top of the show, was up first with a rocking take on Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.” She was followed later in the show by Chris Mann singing Christina’s emotional ballad “The Voice Within,” Paul’s clean take on Shelton’s country hit “God Gave Me You” and Tony’s faithful rendition of Maroon 5’s “Harder to Breathe.” When it came time for the first coach/contestant pairing, Christina and Chris found a song that was so clearly recorded specifically for them to sing live on “The Voice” tonight, we wonder if Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion had a crystal ball with them when they hit the studio. That song was “The Prayer,” and Xtina hit it on the nose during the rehearsal montage, saying, “We connected so perfectly together, it was effortless.” And they did, of course; the two were meant to perform together. The next competitive performance came from Team Adam’s Tony Lucca, who Adam admitted needed “another moment” (like his rock remix of Britney Spears’ ” … Baby One More Time” a few weeks ago) to increase his shot at winning the competition. He found it in a rockabilly reimagining of Jay-Z’s “99 Problems,” complete with a harmonica and washboard (like you’d use for laundry) for accompaniment. Unsurprisingly, Christina, who has taken issue with her former “Mickey Mouse Club” co-star often in the past, found fault in Lucca’s song choice, saying the B-word that Lucca muted from the song (but which we all know is there) was disrespectful to women. Adam was smartly ready for Christina to slag on Lucca, explaining that the term was more of a metaphor for all the things that drag you down. Indeed, Christina’s criticism of Lucca was so anticipated by Adam that while explaining the song choice, he ripped off his flannel to reveal a sparkling “Team Xtina” T-shirt that forced even the temperamental Aguilera to laugh off the obviously good-natured snarking. (Also, we’ll be needing one of those T-shirts. As a superstar musician, Adam, we have a feeling you know how to find us at MTV HQ in New York City.) Like Xtina and Chris, Cee Lo and Juliet managed to find a perfect song for their coach/contender performance, Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild.” Their take on it, despite an abundance of studded leather and onstage motorcycles, however, fell kind of flat. (Lucky for Juliet, this wasn’t the performance that really counted for her.) We’re starting to wonder if Blake is getting jealous of Lucca, because it seems his bromance with coach Adam blossoms more and more each week, coming to a chemistry-filled fruition when the two hit the stage together to sing the Beatles’ “Yesterday.” Tony plucked the guitar, both crooned and, in all seriousness, the pair delivered a simple, clean take on the classic that left both grinningly pleased when they reached those key final chords. For his competitive performance, Mann went for his nearest peer in popular music, Josh Groban. It’s no surprise that Mann nailed “You Raise Me Up,” bringing his coach Christina to tears. Cee Lo called his voice “incomparable,” and it’s a fact that no one can argue. For their joint performance, Blake, who throughout the show has always proven a little more willing than the other judges (save maybe music Renaissance man Cee Lo) to step outside his comfort zone, leapt off the deep end and joined Jermaine for a funky, horn-filled “Soul Man” that was anything but country. It was a joyous and lively performance that makes us wonder if Adam is the one who should be jealous. There was definite onstage chemistry between Blake and Jermaine — and so another “Voice” bromance (we know, they hate that word, but we don’t care) is born. The night ended on a high note: Juliet Simms’ blistering tear into Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.” The only woman in the final four, Simms stunned in a Florence Welch-esque gown and cape that Christina Aguilera gave props to. From one diva to another, Xtina also offered Juliet words of encouragement, as she was also under the weather — though you might not know it from her performance. Juliet tore the song up, and along with an amazing accompanying guitar riff, it was a performance that simply screamed “rock star.” She earned a standing ovation from her judge Cee Lo, but it was Adam that perhaps gave the most astute observation, saying, “I have no grit in my voice and you have all of it.” Don’t knock yourself down, Adam, but you are right &8212; Juliet’s voice is one of a kind. With a Universal Republic Records contract on the line, we’ll learn Tuesday who America has chosen as “The Voice.” Which performance was your favorite of the night? Let us know in the comments below!

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Adam Yauch: Remembering A Beastie Boy’s Life And Career

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

MTV News takes a look back at Yauch’s music, spirituality and impact during hour-long special. By Kara Warner Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch Photo: Fred Duval/ Getty Images With the world still reeling from the news of Adam Yauch’s death on Friday (May 4), MTV News took to the airwaves with the one-hour special “Adam Yauch: Remembering a Beastie Boy” to honor the life and impact of the influential artist, one of the founding members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted rap trio. MTV’s own Sway Calloway began the tribute by reading celebrity reactions to Yauch’s death from artists including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Travis Barker, Weezer and Jack Black, all of whom expressed feelings of sadness and respect for the influential MC. “Adam Yauch brought a lot of positivity into the world, and I think it’s obvious to anyone how big of an influence the Beastie Boys were on me and so many others,” Em said in a statement to MTV News. “They are trailblazers and pioneers, and Adam will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, Mike D., and Ad-Rock.” The tribute then turned toward Yauch’s indelible impact on the music industry, beginning with a look at one of the Beastie Boys’ most famous and critically acclaimed music videos, “Sabotage,” directed by Spike Jonze, followed by the group’s festive performance of “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)” on MTV’s New Year’s Eve show in 1986. Other clips featured in the 60-minute special included their 1998 VMA performance of “Intergalactic,” the year the group took home the Video Vanguard award, as well as more of their iconic music videos, including “Hey Ladies.” Sway touched on the evolution of Yauch’s spirituality throughout his career, which led to his founding of the Tibetan Freedom Concert, the first of which drew influential acts like the Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against the Machine. We dug through our archives to find the Beastie Boys’ performance of “Root Down” at the 1996 concert in San Francisco, followed by their star-studded, 2011 VMA-nominated music video “Make Some Noise,” which earned Yauch an award for Best Director. The tribute closed with a few more celeb tribute tweets and the Boys’ 2004 MTV Movie Awards performance of “Ch-Check It Out.” Share your memories of Adam on Twitter using the hashtag #RIPMCA. Related Videos Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch: 1964-2012 Adam Yauch: Remembering A Beastie Boy Related Artists Beastie Boys

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Elizabeth Berkley’s Showgirls Dream Revisited

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

When you get a chance, go read Dennis Hensley’s interviews with Elizabeth Berkley and Paul Verhoeven from the days before Showgirls was a cult cause célèbre. It’s worth every minute: “Oh my God, I just saw it like a week ago. You have to understand, I’ve been working at this since I was like 5 years old so it was pretty overwhelming. I sat in the screening room by myself. The lights went down and I started to cry because it was just overwhelming at first. I’m such a perfectionist, but a certain point, was able to get lost in the story, which was a good sign to me. I really thought that I was watching another girl.” Oh, you wish , honey. [ Dennis Hensley via The Hairpin ]

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Adam Yauch Dead at 47 [UPDATED]

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Tragic, shocking news out of New York just now: Adam Yauch — a.k.a. MCA, one-third of rap legends the Beastie Boys, influential filmmaker and music-video director, and founder of independent-film distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories — has died following his long battle with cancer. He was 47. Movieline will have more on Yauch’s passing, including official comment from Oscilloscope and appreciations of Yauch’s artistic legacy, throughout the day. Developing… [via Global Grind , Rolling Stone ] UPDATE [3:56 p.m. EDT]: Movieline received this statement from Yauch’s Oscilloscope Laboratories colleagues Dan Berger, David Fenkel and David Laub on behalf of the entire company: “We are deeply, deeply saddened by the passing of Adam Yauch – an amazing leader, a dear friend and an incredible human being. Today we are heartbroken at Oscilloscope as we take in this awful news and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. Adam’s legacy will remain a driving force at Oscilloscope – his indomitable spirit and his great passion for film, people, and hard work – always with a sense of humor and a lot of heart.” And this followed from the Beastie Boys’ management company Nasty Little Man: It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam “MCA” Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Yauch taught himself to play bass in high school, forming a band for his 17th birthday party that would later become known the world over as Beastie Boys. With fellow members Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Adrock” Horovitz, Beastie Boys would go on to sell over 40 million records, release four #1 albums–including the first hip hop album ever to top the Billboard 200, the band’s 1986 debut full length, Licensed To Ill –win three Grammys, and the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award. Last month Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Diamond and Horovitz reading an acceptance speech on behalf of Yauch, who was unable to attend. In addition to his hand in creating such historic Beastie Boys albums as Paul’s Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty and more, Yauch was a founder of the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and activism regarding the injustices perpetrated on native Tibetans by Chinese occupational government and military forces. In 1996, Milarepa produced the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, which was attended by 100,000 people, making it the biggest benefit concert on U.S. soil since 1985’s Live Aid. The Tibetan Freedom Concert series would continue to stage some of the most significant benefit shows in the world for nearly a decade following in New York City, Washington DC, Tokyo, Sydney, Amsterdam, Taipei and other cities. In the wake of September 11, 2001, Milarepa organized New Yorkers Against Violence, a benefit headlined by Beastie Boys at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, with net proceeds disbursed to the New York Women’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) September 11th Fund for New Americans–each chosen for their efforts on behalf of 9/11 victims least likely to receive help from other sources. Under the alias of Nathanial Hörnblowér, Yauch directed iconic Beastie Boys videos including ‘So Whatcha Want,’ ‘Intergalactic,’ ‘Body Movin’ and ‘Ch-Check It Out.’ Under his own name, Yauch directed last year’s Fight For Your Right Revisited , an extended video for ‘Make Some Noise’ from Beastie Boys’ Hot Sauce Committee Part Two , starring Elijah Wood, Danny McBride and Seth Rogen as the 1986 Beastie Boys, making their way through a half hour of cameo-studded misadventures before squaring off against Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as Beastie Boys of the future. Yauch’s passion and talent for filmmaking led to his founding of Oscilloscope Laboratories, which in 2008 released his directorial film debut, the basketball documentary Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot and has since become a major force in independent video distribution, amassing a catalogue of such acclaimed titles as Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy , Oren Moverman’s The Messenger , Banksy’s Exit Through The Gift Shop , Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze’s Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait Of Maurice Sendak , and many more. Yauch is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents Frances and Noel Yauch. UPDATE [5:20 p.m. EDT] Here’s Movieline partner ENTV ‘s dispatch on Yauch:

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Adam Yauch’s Journey From Cancer Diagnosis To Rock Hall

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Beastie Boys rapper kept his fans in the loop over the past three years since he was diagnosed. By John Mitchell The Beastie Boys’ Adam “MCA” Yauch Photo: Getty Images Adam Yauch, one of the founding members of the pioneering hip-hop trio the Beastie Boys, died Friday (May 4) at the age of 47 following a long battle with throat cancer. Yauch’s death has rattled the music world to its core, with tributes already pouring in from the likes of Justin Timberlake and Russell Simmons to fellow hip-hop pioneers Run-DMC. Since his 2009 cancer diagnosis, Yauch has stayed away from the public eye, often communicating with concerned fans through email, but during a period of remission, the Grammy-winning rapper stepped forward with his bandmates to release what would be his final album with the Beastie Boys, Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, and even won an MTV Video Music Award for his direction of the Beasties’ “Make Some Noise” video. Though he fought his battle with cancer privately, Yauch, a practicing Buddhist, always maintained a tight connection with the Beasties’ fans and continued to work despite the difficult surgeries and treatments he faced. Below, we’ve taken a look back at the last few years of Yauch’s life to showcase the one-of-a-kind music legend’s perseverance in the face of such a difficult battle. July 20, 2009 : Yauch announced in a video posted to BeastieBoys.com that he’d been diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland, a salivary gland in the throat. “The reason we’re here talking is because I have some pretty heavy news to say,” Yauch said in the video. “About two months ago, I started feeling this little lump in my throat, like what you would feel if you have swollen glands or something like that, and so I didn’t really think it was anything. … They did tests, and I actually have a form of cancer in the gland that’s over here, in the parotid gland, and it’s also in the lymph node right in that area.” Yauch had surgery to remove the tumor and began radiation that same week. Due to his treatment, the Beastie Boys were forced to cancel their summer touring plans, including headlining gigs at the All Points West Festival and Lollapalooza, in addition to delaying the release of their album Hot Sauce Committee: Part One. The album was finally released in May 2011 under the title Hot Sauce Committee Part Two with a slightly altered track list. August 5, 2009 : In an email to subscribers of the Beastie Boys’ newsletter with the subject line “What I did over my summer vacation,” Yauch provided fans with an update on his treatment , writing, “So I’m about a week-and-a-half out of surgery now and rapidly recovering from it. … My neck and jaw are still pretty stiff from the surgery, but it gets better every day. Had the stitches out this past Monday … so things are moving along.” October 7, 2009 : In another email to fans, Yauch wrote about his trip to Dharamsala, India, where he had traveled to see some Tibetan doctors and ended up attending a three-day seminar taught by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. “I’m feeling healthy, strong and hopeful that I’ve beaten this thing, but of course time will tell,” Yauch said in the letter. March 9, 2010 : Yauch attended the Independent Spirit Awards and told reporters that while his recovery had been difficult, he was ready to get back to work . “I feel better. It was touch-and-go there for a while, but I am finally getting my energy back,” Yauch said. “It was really disappointing to have to hold the record and postpone the tour, but doctor’s orders. We may or may not [release the album], depending on how my health is come September. We want to, but we have to play it by ear.” September 28, 2010 : The Beastie Boys receive their first nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. January 21, 2011 : “Fight for Your Right Revisited,” a short film directed by Yauch that picks up immediately after the events of the Beastie Boys’ classic “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)” video, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival . In the film, Elijah Wood plays Ad-Rock, Seth Rogen portrays Mike D and Danny McBride slips on Yauch’s classic leather jacket to become MCA. “Revisited” begins with the Beasties crawling out of the trashed apartment while the original ’87 tune plays in the background. They head down the stairs and immediately run into the parents of the kids whose party they crashed, played by Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci. April 20, 2011 : The video for “Make Some Noise,” the lead single from the Beastie Boys’ Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, debuted, marking the band’s first new musical release since Yauch’s cancer diagnosis. The clip was cut from Yauch’s “Fight for your Right Revisited” short film. May 3, 2011 : Hot Sauce Committee Part Two hits stores nearly two years after the initial planned release of the project. It’s still unclear which songs from the unreleased Part One made it onto the sequel. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard albums chart. July 20, 2011 : “Make Some Noise” scores MTV Video Music Award nominations for Video of the Year and Best Direction for Yauch. The nominations brought the Beastie Boys’ career total VMA noms to eight, which include a Video of the Year nod for the Beasties’ 1994 Spike Jonze-directed classic “Sabotage.” August 28, 2011 : Yauch wins the VMA for Best Direction for “Make Some Noise.” The win is the third for the group, which previously scored a 1999 VMA for Best Hip-Hop Video for “Intergalactic” and the Video Vanguard Award in 1998. December 17, 2011 : It is announced that the Beastie Boys will officially be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. April 14, 2012 : The Beastie Boys become the third hip-hop act inducted into the Rock Hall during a ceremony at the Cleveland, Ohio, museum. Though he was unable to attend the ceremony because he was receiving treatment for a recurrence of his cancer, his bandmates paid him a warm tribute and read a letter written by Yauch to the crowd. Fellow inductees the Red Hot Chili Peppers dedicated their performance at the ceremony to Yauch. Tune in to MTV tonight at 8 p.m. for “Adam Yauch: Remembering a Beastie Boy,” an hour-long special hosted by Sway celebrating the life and career of Adam “MCA” Yauch, including his biggest moments and remembrances from his friends and peers. Check out mtvU now for classic Beastie Boys music videos. Related Videos Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch: 1964-2012 Related Photos The Beastie Boys’ Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch: A Life In Photos Related Artists Beastie Boys

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Adam Yauch Of Beastie Boys Dead At 47

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Rapper has been battling cancer since 2009. By Gil Kaufman Adam Yauch Photo: Mick Hutson/ Getty Images Adam Yauch, one of the founding members of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rap trio the Beastie Boys, died on Friday (May 4) at the age of 47 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The news was announced on the Global Grind website, which is run by Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons, the man who signed the Beasties to their first label deal. “GlobalGrind is confirming this very sad news,” read the post. “One of our heroes, Adam Yauch aka MCA of the Beastie Boys has passed this morning after a long bout with cancer. Our prayers go out to the family of Adam and the entire Beastie Boys crew.” For photos of Yauch through the years, click here. Rumors about Yauch’s ongoing battle with cancer were sparked anew last month when the rapper was not present alongside fellow band members Adam Horovitz and Michael Diamond at the group’s induction into the Hall of Fame 
 as just the third rap group to ever achieve that honor. Yauch had been off the public scene since 2009 when he was diagnosed with cancer after a tumor was discovered on his salivary gland 
. His treatment delayed the release of the group’s 2011 album, Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2 
 and it had kept the normally tour-happy trio off the road for the past three years. With his gravelly voice and laconic rapping style, Yauch stood out in the trio, whose other members tended to have faster, more nasal flows. He formed the B-Boys in 1979 while still in high school as a hardcore punk band, but their sound progressed over the years until they emerged as one of the most successful rap groups in history. After getting signed to Def Jam in 1984 they released the smash Licensed to Ill , which included such hits as “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right To Party,” “Brass Monkey,” “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” and “She’s Crafty.” Their next album, the psychedelic1988 release Paul’s Boutique set a new high-water mark for the art of sampling and stands today as one of the finest examples of the art. Like their label mates and friends in Run-DMC, the B-Boys excelled at seamlessly interweaving their vocals, trading off lines and verses at lightning speed. Amid the barrage of verbal gymnastics, though, Yauch’s voice stood out for its world-weariness and unhurried cadence on tracks like “High Plains Drifter” and his tongue-twisting, double-time disco breaking showcase midway through the 12-minute Boutique epic, “B-Boy Bouillabaisse.” Though all three Boys emerged on the national scene with snotty, party hardy attitudes, it was Yauch who grew into the most centered and serious member of the group. In addition to playing bass, he also directed many of the group’s videos under the pseudonym Nathaniel Hornblower. Rarely seen in public, Hornblower made a legendary appearance at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards, bum rushing R.E.M. as his alter ego after they took the Best Direction award over Beastie pal Spike Jonze for his landmark work in their cop-show spoofing clip “Sabotage.” He was also instrumental in organizing a series of all-star concerts between 1996 and 2001 to raise awareness of the repression of the Tibetan people. The shows, which combined activism and music, featured sets from traditional Buddhist acts and speakers as well the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, De La Soul, Beck, Foo Fighters, U2, Radiohead, Dave Matthews Band, R.E.M. and Pearl Jam. Yauch, a practicing Buddhist who revised some of his young and wild lyrics in concert later in life, went on to direct many more video for his band, as well as the kaleidoscopic 2006 Beasties live movie, “Awesome, I F—in’ Shot That!” He also formed Oscilloscope Laboratories, a film company that distributed a number of documentaries and features, including “We Need To Talk About Kevin,” “Dark Days,” “Meek’s Cutoff,” “Beautiful Losers” and the Banksy doc “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Share your thoughts about Adam Yauch in the comments section. Related Photos The Beastie Boys’ Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch: A Life In Photos Related Artists Beastie Boys

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Adam Yauch Remembered By Justin Timberlake, Travis Barker

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Tributes for the late Beastie Boys MC flooded Twitter on Friday. By Jocelyn Vena Adam Yauch in 1999 Photo: Mick Hutson/ Getty Images Beastie Boys founding member Adam Yauch, a.k.a. MCA, died Friday (May 4) at age 47 after a nearly three-year battle with cancer. The MC’s death quickly spread across the Internet, and the tributes that flooded Twitter showed the impact his music had on artists from all areas of entertainment. “Crushed to hear the news of Adam Yauch’s passing,” Justin Timberlake tweeted . “A true pioneer of art. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.#RIPMCA” He’s not the only member of the pop world feeling the loss: The Ryan Tedder-led band, OneRepublic, also expressed their shock over his death. “R.I.P Adam MCA,” the band wrote . “Beastie Boys remain untouchable.” DJ Steve Aoki expressed his sadness,

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Family Matters: Bobby Brown & Bobbi Kristina Reunite For The First Time Since Whitney Houston’s Funeral

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

We wonder if her boo/brother was there too SMH Bobbi Kristina Brown and Bobby Brown had some quality father-daughter bonding time in the Big Apple on Tuesday and the late Whitney Houston’s daughter and ex-husband didn’t exactly pick a low-profile spot for their reunion: A witness tells Us Weekly exclusively that Bobbi Kristina, 19, and her R&B singer dad, 43, had lunch at Blue Fin, located in the heart of Times Square. The somewhat estranged twomsome were joined by Brown’s longtime girlfriend, Alicia Etheridge and three other unidentified pals. The group’s Blue Fin lunch lasted about an hour and a half and, according to the witness, Bobbi Kristina “was on her phone and texting a crazy amount. She didn’t seem too thrilled to be there, in all honesty.” Bobbi Kristina — who briefly checked into the hospital following her mother’s shocking Feb. 11 death at age 48 — has kept a fairly low profile in the past month. Appearing calm in a March interview with Oprah Winfrey, she said “I’m doing as good as I possibly can at this point. I’m just trying to keep going. . . I feel [my mom] pass through me all the time. I wake up at night.” She raised eyebrows later that month, when she stepped out holding hands with and kissing Nick Gordon, whom Houston informally adopted when he was just 12 year old. A source told Us the pair have been “living like a couple” in Atlanta. “Bobbi Kristina is still so vulnerable since her mother passed away,” the source added. “But Nick has become like her rock.” We hope Bad A$$ Bobby can stay out the clink and get back into his daughter’s life! Source More On Bossip! Stop The Violence: A List Of The 10 Most Dangerous States In America! Where’d Our Childhoods Go? A Gallery Of All Our 90s R&B Stars That Fell Off…Super Hard Eff A Criminal Record: A Gallery Of Mugshots From Women That Could Still Get The Business…Or Can They? Making It Rain On Them Hoes: People Magazine Names Mommy Banger BeyBey “World’s Most Beautiful Woman”

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Family Matters: Bobby Brown & Bobbi Kristina Reunite For The First Time Since Whitney Houston’s Funeral

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Axl Rose Isn’t First To Blast Rock And Roll Hall of Fame

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Black Sabbath, Kiss and the Sex Pistols have also blasted the institution. By Gil Kaufman Guns N’ Roses’ Axl Rose Photo: Getty Images Suffice it to say that in his lengthy, lawyerly letter to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this week refusing his induction 
 as part of the classic line-up of Guns N’ Roses , singer Axl Rose had a bone (or two, or six or 20) to pick with the process. It’s hard to say who the enigmatic hard-rock icon was most mad at, but his steadfast refusal to attend the induction, or even acknowledge the honor, put him in a long tradition of rock legends who’ve either bashed the RRHOF for not including them (only to change their tune once their number came up) or refused to show up , not to mention the fans who’ve raised holy hell when their favorite bands couldn’t make the cut. MTV News’ James Montgomery penned his own open letter to Axl and the group’s fans. 
 Among the other hell-raisers: Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath : Before the group got the call in 2005 
, the Blizzard of Ozz had been very vocal about how little he wanted to do with the Hall. In a 1999 letter to the Hall of Fame, Ozzy famously told the institution, “Just take our name off the list. Save the ink. Forget about us. The nomination is meaningless, because it’s not voted on by the fans. It’s voted on by the supposed elite for the industry and the media, who’ve never bought an album or concert ticket in their lives, so their vote is irrelevant to me.” He added, “Let’s face it, Black Sabbath has never been media darlings. We’re a people’s band and that suits us just fine.” John Lydon/Sex Pistols : Lydon (aka “Johnny Rotten”) was his typical snotty self when his pioneering punk band made the short list in 2006. In a cheeky letter, the perennially put out Lydon wrote, “Next to the Sex Pistols rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Your museum. Urine in wine. We’re not coming. We’re not your monkey and so what?” Needless to say, the band did not show up for the ceremony. Gene Simmons/Kiss : The kabuki theater bass player is never at a loss for words. And nothing makes him angrier than the fact that the “greatest band in the world” has never been invited to the party. He’s lashed out at the Rock Hall repeatedly in the 12 years since his group became eligible. “There are disco bands, rap bands, Yiddish folk song bands, but not Kiss,” he said in 2008. David Lee Roth/Eddie Van Halen/Van Halen : The longest-running soap opera in rock was kicked up a notch in 2007 when VH was slated for induction. Original singer Roth had been rehearsing for the event and speculation swirled for months about who would show up and if replacement singer Sammy Hagar would be on hand as well. Then, in classic VH fashion, Eddie and Dave both bailed and it was left to Hagar and now-former bassist Michael Anthony to accept on the band’s behalf. And then there are the fans. In addition to the unending volley of complaints from the Kiss Army, followers of Canadian prog rockers Rush have been bellyaching for the past decade of the band’s eligibility that the wizardly trio deserve their spot in the Hall. They’ve picketed, launched petitions and all but drawn their broadswords and threatened to storm the I.M. Pei-designed glass pyramid in Cleveland to rectify this grave injustice. All to no avail. Are you disappointed that Axl Rose won’t be at this weekend’s Hall of Fame ceremony? Let us know in comments below. Related Artists Guns N’ Roses Black Sabbath

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