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Britney Spears’ Tourmates Nervo Tease New ‘Club Records’

Aussie twins tell MTV News they haven’t strayed from dance music roots in spite of ‘amazing’ Femme Fatale Tour experience. By Akshay Bhansali Nervo Photo: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images With Britney Spears ‘ flashy Femme Fatale Tour closing out its remaining North American dates later this month, it’s fair to say that many of Ms. Spears’ concert-going fans have gotten to know Olivia and Miriam Nervo pretty well. In fact, when Brit first announced her Femme Fatale lineup back in April, promising on her website, “Nervo will get everyone on the dancefloor,” dance music fans were ecstatic about the inclusion of the DJ/producer twins whose writing credits include a song for Spears and David Guetta and Kelly Rowland’s “When Love Takes Over.” MTV News recently caught up with the Australian sisters (and former models), and they told us that bussing across the States and sharing the stage with Nicki Minaj, Jessie and the Toy Boys, and Brit herself, has been a stellar opportunity. “We’ve definitely seen both the girls, [Britney and Nicki], and we interact with them,” Miriam, a.k.a. Mim, told us. “You are traveling to each city and you see the same people every day and it really becomes a family. So it’s been an amazing experience.” “It’s an amazing show,” Liv added. “The girls, the lineup really works well together. You’ve got Britney, who I think is looking the best she’s looked in a really long time and who really gives it her all on this tour. And then you’ve got Nicki, who definitely brings her edge to it. I’d never seen Nicki live, and I’m just so blown away. The girl can sing, rap — total respect to her!” As the Femme Fatale Tour winds down Stateside before heading to Europe, Nervo are now looking to expand the fanbase they’ve built in the U.S. But while Liv and Mim have been a part of what might be considered the mother of all pop music tours, the duo insist that they intend to remain true to their dance music and DJ roots. “When we signed the record deal, it was really important to us that we could take our DJing seriously and release club records,” Liv explained of their Astralwerks label. “Yeah, we want to be DJ artists,” Mim added. “That’s what we love so, luckily, we can release some club records alongside our Astralwerks album,” Liv said. “It just so happens that the Astralwerks single that we’re coming out with is with two major club guys: Afrojack and Steve Aoki . It’s called ‘We’re All No One.’ We love it!” While Liv and Mim do the singing on “No One,” the beats are delivered by hard-hitting EDM producer Aoki and David Guetta prot

Styles P Preps World’s Most Hardest MC Mixtape

LOX partners Jadakiss and Sheek Louch will be featured on release, the Ghost tells Mixtape Daily . By Rob Markman Jadakiss and Styles P Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables

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Styles P Preps World’s Most Hardest MC Mixtape

Styles P Preps World’s Most Hardest MC Mixtape

LOX partners Jadakiss and Sheek Louch will be featured on release, the Ghost tells Mixtape Daily . By Rob Markman Jadakiss and Styles P Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables

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Styles P Preps World’s Most Hardest MC Mixtape

Styles P Preps World’s Most Hardest MC Mixtape

LOX partners Jadakiss and Sheek Louch will be featured on release, the Ghost tells Mixtape Daily . By Rob Markman Jadakiss and Styles P Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/ WireImage Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables

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Styles P Preps World’s Most Hardest MC Mixtape

Chris Brown Video Director Calls VMA Noms ‘Crazy’

Colin Tilley tells MTV News it’s ‘really cool’ to see clips he helmed for Breezy and Justin Bieber getting awards-show nods. By Rob Markman, with reporting by Steven Roberts Chris Brown Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images Colin Tilley has been having a heck of a year directing videos for Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Diddy-Dirty Money and Justin Bieber. Now, the California native finds two of his works nominated for the 2011 VMAs . Tilley’s clip for Chris Brown’s “Look at Me Now” is up for Best Hip-Hop Video and Best Collaboration, while his video for Justin Bieber’s “U Smile” garnered a nod in the Best Male Video category. “It’s crazy to see the videos that we’ve been doing getting awards, actually nominations in general, from the VMAs. It’s pretty amazing,” Tilley told MTV News on Tuesday when we visited the set of Wiz Khalifa’s upcoming “No Sleep” video. “As far as the hip-hop [category], ‘Look at Me Now,’ in general, is an amazing song. I remember when I got that song, I was like, ‘Jeez, this is a hit right here. This is just going to win some awards,’ as soon as I even I heard the song,” Tilley recalled of the vid that features both Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes. “The video just naturally and very seamlessly came together and we created something that I think is really cool.” While the director has worked most frequently with Brown — directing a number of his videos, including “Deuces,” “She Ain’t You” and “No BS” — Tilley also built a nice working relationship with Bieber after directing his 2010 visual for “Never Let You Go.” ” ‘U Smile’ was a very special video because I got to see Justin grow up. So we definitely went for this cinematic, stylized feel that really just showcased him as an iconic artist, as an icon in general,” the lens master said. “That was a really special experience. I remember the night before he had some award and he came to the set and he was really feeling himself. It was awesome.” You can vote for general VMA categories, including Best New Artist , by visiting VMA.MTV.com or m.mtv.com on your mobile phone. In addition, you can get in on Best New Artist text voting by texting BNA to 66333 on your wireless phone. Voting continues through the show, which airs live August 28 at 9 p.m. ET. (Verizon subscribers can vote on all categories via SMS by texting VMA to 66333; standard message rates apply.) The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live on Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT. See the list of nominees, revisit last year’s highlights and vote for your favorites in the general categories by visiting VMA.MTV.com . Related Videos The 2011 VMA Nominations Live Related Photos 2011 Video Music Award Nominees

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Chris Brown Video Director Calls VMA Noms ‘Crazy’

Wiz Khalifa Felt ‘It Was Time’ For Big Sean, Curren$y Collabos

‘We’ll see what comes of it,’ Wiz tells MTV News about rumors of a joint mixtape. By Steven Roberts Wiz Khalifa Photo: MTV News Getting a gold plaque is a big deal these days. The music industry has changed drastically in the past 10 years, and rappers are more likely to rack up download sales for singles than for entire albums. So when Wiz Khalifa learned that his debut, Rolling Papers, had gone gold, selling more than 500,000 copies, he was ecstatic. “The album going gold, that’s crazy, just because these days, I know how much doesn’t sell and I know how hard it is to get to that point,” Wiz told MTV News on the set of his upcoming “No Sleep” video. “It’s a big deal for me, and with ‘Black and Yellow’ being triple-platinum, ‘Roll Up’ being platinum, it’s just all going towards what I said before: my fanbase and my underground love transitioning into sales and numbers, which people really respect in the end.” Wiz has had a very successful year and a half. In addition to the new plaques adorning the walls of his bakery, Wiz is one of the front-runners for the Best New Artist award at the 2011 VMAs . And in spite of the success the Taylor Gang general has been enjoying, he’s still not above giving back to his fans. He recently released five new tracks via his Twitter, featuring partner in crime Curren$y , his Rolling Papers tourmate Big Sean and Wiz himself. The Pittsburgh MC’s team at ID Labs produced all of the tracks (“O.T.T.R,” “Weed Brownies,” “Dot Dot Dot” and “Flowers” are produced by Big Jerm; the fifth track, “Proceed,” was produced by Cardo). The new releases only increased speculation that a joint mixtape — maybe even an album — with all three MCs might be in the works. But Wiz said he wasn’t sure what exactly would come of the material because they recorded them just for fun. “It’s always fun to be in the position where we could make music that sells to people, videos that people enjoy, and still just drop free music that we feel like is just good stuff,” Wiz said. “And at the end of the day, we weren’t hearing anything like what we make and I felt like it was time for that. Me and Spitta, we talk all of the time, and it was just a thing where he called me and he was like, ‘Yo, we need to do something,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, we should do something. We should do this,’ and he was like, ‘Perfect.’ ” Wiz said he thought Sean would be a perfect fit, adding something new to what he and Curren$y have previously done. “We’ve done that before, so if we did it again, we would just be doing it over,” Wiz said of his and Curren$y’s collabos. “We wanted to do something new, add that new element, and it ended up being real fun. It’s definitely not How Fly 2, but we’ll see what comes of it.” What do you think of Wiz’s latest tracks with Curren$y and Big Sean? Share your reviews in the comments! Related Artists Wiz Khalifa Big Sean Curren$y

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Wiz Khalifa Felt ‘It Was Time’ For Big Sean, Curren$y Collabos

Jean Grae, DJ Drama Bring ‘Worlds Together’ On Mixtape

Cookies or Comas ‘opened me up to another audience,’ Grae tells Mixtape Daily. By Rob Markman Jean Grae Photo: Getty Images / MTV News Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables Mixtape : Cookies or Comas Headliner : Jean Grae Key Cameo : “R.I.P.” featuring Styles P and Talib Kweli Real Spit : DJ Drama’s Gangsta Grillz mixtape series gets a bad rap. Not in a qualitative sense — actually the Atlanta-based DJ has many well-regarded mixtapes under his belt with the likes of Young Jeezy, Gucci Mane and T.I., all which conjure up imagery of Southern trap houses, where drug-dealing raps dominate. So when New York-based lyricist extraordinaire Jean Grae announced that she would be partnering up with Mr. Gangsta Grillz for her latest mixtape, Cookies or Comas, many hip-hop purists let out a collective groan. “He’s definitely a hip-hop dude, and perception is always very interesting,” Grae told Mixtape Daily . “It was interesting to see the reaction to people, even just announcing the mixtape before even putting out. It was already like, ‘I don’t wanna hear it.’ I’m like, ‘Really? You’re kinda just making an uninformed decision. You can’t say no to something, you haven’t even heard it yet, you haven’t even tried.’ ” Cookies or Comas is vintage Jean. In addition to her playful flows and humorous ad-libs, Grae brought her celebrated lyrics to the table as well. On “R.I.P.” featuring Styles P and Talib Kweli, JG trades bars with the two veteran rappers over a hard-hitting Run DMC-sampling beat. She then recruits Pharoahe Monch for the punch-line packed “Killing Em,” proving that she hasn’t switched up a thing. “What was great about it was after getting it, they were like, ‘Oh well, that’s not what I expected at all, and I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry. I thoroughly enjoyed it,’ ” Grae said mockingly. “It was great to kind of watch people apologize for it. You don’t have to say that you love it, but at least give something a chance without going to a snap judgment. I think it was a great idea, and of course it opened me up to another audience that probably wouldn’t have any idea that that mixtape came out at all. It kind of brought a couple of worlds together.” For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines . Related Videos Mixtape Daily: Jean Grae’s Cookies Or Comas Related Artists Jean Grae DJ Drama

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Jean Grae, DJ Drama Bring ‘Worlds Together’ On Mixtape

5 Ways To Find Your Body’s Best Bedtime

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When was the last time someone told you what time to go to bed? Most of us where probably less than 10 years old. As an adult, our parents are no longer responsible for setting our bedtimes, we often fall asleep whenever we feel like our work for the day is done. But health reports prove that a healthy adult with an active lifestyle needs a certain amount of time to get their sleep on in order for our sensitive bodies to be productive mentally, physically, emotionally and even spiritually. Top 5 Super Fruits To Enhance Your Sex Drive Typically our “wake-up” times are socially determined. We have to get up for work or school, get the kids ready — you know the drill. So our wake-up time is pretty consistent. However, the time we are able to get into bed can vary and can actually be within our control. HERE’S HOW TO FIND YOUR BODY’S BEST BEDTIME: 1. Determine what your typical wake up time will be. 2. Count back five 90-minute cycles or 7.5 hours. Each sleep cycle on average is 90 minutes long and the average person has five of them per night. 3. Set your alarm clock or cell phone to tell you when to go to bed (but remember to reset it for your morning alarm). 4. If you wake up within 10 minutes of your morning alarm after three days of going to bed at your chosen bedtime, you’ve found your perfect bedtime! 5. If not, and you still need your morning alarm to wake up, then move your bedtime alarm back by 15 minutes every three days until you wake up just before your morning alarm. When you wake up before your morning alarm, you have found your perfect bedtime. 13 Tips To Keep Healthy, By Expressing Your Creativity 5 Ways To Motivate Yourself To Clean

5 Ways To Find Your Body’s Best Bedtime

Kendrick Lamar Puts A Price On Section.80

New West Coast rapper tells Mixtape Daily why he’s charging for his latest release. By Rob Markman Kendrick Lamar Photo: MTV News Don’t Sleep: Necessary Notables Headliner : Kendrick Lamar Album : Section.80 Key Cameo : “No Make-Up (Her Vice)” featuring Colin Munroe The best things in life aren’t always free, and while New West Coast representative Kendrick Lamar started his career offering up free Internet-only mixtapes, the Compton, California, rapper is setting a new standard with his latest album, Section.80 . “It was something that I had to understand, that my company had to make me understand. I’m putting out this free music, constantly putting it out,” Lamar told MTV News of his old way of thinking. “My whole thing is bringing music back to where people actually buy it, but at the same time, you know what? I don’t think I’m ready yet to start selling my project because I feel the world don’t know me yet.” Since changing his name from K.Dot, he released The Kendrick Lamar EP at the end of 2009 and Overly Dedicated in 2010. Both projects were available for free throughout the hip-hop blogosphere, but Section.80 does not follow that same model. The change in Lamar’s feelings on free music is largely due to the urging of the heads of his record label, Top Dawg Entertainment. “Top Dawg is always telling me, ‘They’ll never know you [and you’ll never] get a chance to bring music back to its original roots because you aren’t demanding to go out and buy it,’ ” Lamar said of the advice he was given. “That made sense to me.” Section.80 is a densely packed affair, where the rapper displays his lyrical dexterity and storytelling ability. There are no songs that fit the traditional radio format; instead Lamar focuses on the ills of the crack epidemic ( “Ronald Reagan Era” ), the hardships young women face (“Keisha’s Song”) and religion (“Kush & Corinthians”). Barring any support from radio and major marketing companies, the success of Section.80 will depend on his ever-growing fanbase. “People out here, they really gotta go out and support that last music that’s alive as far as hip-hop, because we’re a dying breed now,” he said. “Truthfully, it’s up to the world.” Related Artists Kendrick Lamar

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Kendrick Lamar Puts A Price On Section.80

5 Ways To Start Thinking More Clearly

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Sometimes, the morning light can seem piercing to your eyes and on that particular morning, it may be extremely hard to get up to start your day. The blanket might feel like a second skin and the urge to go back to sleep might be strong, but when there are important tasks to be accomplished, you force yourself out of the covers and into the daily grind. For self-professed night owls, the one thing worse than getting up early to start the day is being rushed through the process of waking up. The difficulty of facing the morning sun can be made significantly worse if you do not leave enough time to get your bearings before making a mad dash out the door. Perhaps you don’t have time to grab a cup of coffee before you go to work or you have to forgo your daily shower so you can make it to the office on time. If you are not fully prepared to be all that you can be, how can you expect to be able to wade through any tasks when your body is protesting and your mind is underwater? In order to start thinking more clearly, you have to be on top of your game and take full advantage of all of the opportunities you have to improve yourself. Here are some ways you can grab that inspiration and better balance your life: 1. Get to sleep at a regular time every night. While this may be difficult for those without a concrete sleep schedule, getting a consistent amount of hours of sleep every night can make the mornings seem much clearer. Maybe you never noticed the beauty of the morning sky until you actually felt alive enough in the daylight to observe it. This is your chance to take advantage of every hour you are awake and not continually waste the time that you are given! Even if you have to start slowly in backing up your sleep schedule, resetting your internal clock is an important step in the right direction. After a few weeks, you will find your ideal sleep time and feel much more refreshed as a result! 2. Set your alarm to earlier than you think for maximum time getting ready. If you are rushing through your daily shower and coffee, how is that helping you wake up in a calm and relaxed way? Even if you are just sitting in your kitchen slugging down black coffee before you drive to work, that is not the best plan to ensure that you will get to work on time with a refreshed attitude and clear head! Even if you have to set three separate alarms and it’s the third one you always respond to, it’s a significantly better system than hitting the snooze button once on a single alarm and oversleeping. Find the alarm system that works best for you and run with it – if you leave yourself ample time to adjust your outfit choice and fix your make-up, you will feel much better hitting the pavement and starting the day! The Importance Of Seeking Out Connections With People 3. Leave yourself open to interaction during the morning hours. Even if you aren’t usually the chattiest person before noon, make an effort to get involved in conversations around your morning haunts. If you never made an effort to talk to the people you work with, for example, they might think you’re not very friendly, even if it just isn’t your natural inclination to make conversation on a whim. Start small by asking a co-worker to lunch or inquiring on what the person next to you is is working on. Opening yourself up to the world around you might be just the push you need to make the morning hours more pleasant and productive! 4. Drink more water. Even if you are the biggest caffeine addict you know and barely drink anything that does not give you a boost, drinking water can be just what you need to feel better during the day. As most coffee drinkers know, caffeine crashes can be ugly and have the propensity to mess with your internal clarity. If you replace that second cup of coffee with a glass of water, or start by slowly cutting caffeine out of your diet, it may be just the stepping stone you need to feel more cleansed and refreshed during the day! Even if you slowly incorporate water into your daily liquid intake, a small bit of detox is better than none! 5. Take some time to yourself to reflect on your mood. Even if it’s just a short walk outside during your lunch break or a stolen moment to listen to music, take advantage of any quiet time to meditate and center yourself before searching out other people. Be conscious of how you can improve your mental state in order to stay alert and fresh throughout the day, as keeping yourself productive and busy are always second to your health and well-being. Take care of yourself and seek reflection when you need it, as it can be vital to your success and clarity as a whole! Having mental clarity and being productive are generally not synonymously linked, which is a definite problem – people often burn the candle at both ends in order to be successful, yet they sacrifice their mental stability and sleep patterns in order to get the job done “right.” However, it is often much smarter to get your sleep schedule and caffeine intake on track, as well as drink more water, interact with the outside world, and take some time for yourself in order to have the faith to keep moving! Consistently putting health and well-being forefront in the realm of productivity might be overlooked, but it’s never too late to incorporate some of these tips into your life. You can work hard and still have the sanity you crave if you make your promises small enough to handle while committing to a system that works individually for you! Go out there, girls, and start living stronger and healthier lives! 5 Ways To Start Living Up To Your Values

5 Ways To Start Thinking More Clearly