Wiz will join fellow Pittsburgh MC Mac Miller on ‘RapFix Live’ Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET on MTV.com By Rob Markman Wiz Khalifa Photo: Jason Merritt/ WireImage There’s going to be a Pix Burgh party on Wednesday’s “RapFix Live.” Mac Miller isn’t the only Pittsburgh rapper making his return to the red couch tomorrow, as Wiz Khalifa will also be sitting with host Sway Calloway to talk about his latest and greatest. It’s perfect timing too. On Monday, Khalifa released “Work Hard, Play Hard,” the first single from his sophomore album O.N.I.F.C. (Only N—a in First Class). The catchy track, which was crafted by Stargate and Benny Blanco, finds Young Khalifa flaunting his success in the face of less fortunate haters. Wiz is coming off the heels of his critically acclaimed Taylor Allderdice mixtape. He’s prepping O.N.I.F.C. for an August 28 release, and if that wasn’t enough, Mr. Khalifa and fianc
As they release their U.S. debut, MTV News follows the Wanted to ‘Today’ before their ‘MTV First’ premiere of the ‘Chasing the Sun’ video. By Jocelyn Vena The Wanted atop the Empire State Building Photo: Getty Images NEW YORK — The Wanted happen to be one of the biggest boy bands in the world at the moment. On Tuesday (April 24), the British fivesome released their self-titled U.S. EP with the kind of fanfare only a boy band could pull off as they took over the island of Manhattan for a whirlwind release-day press tour. MTV News was on hand for every minute of it, from sunrise to sunset, capturing the excitement as the boys made their way across the Big Apple to promote the album. We first met up with the guys at 5 a.m. at their hotel to make our way over to “Today.” But, we weren’t the only ones who greeted the guys there: Fans had waited all night outside the hotel to catch a glimpse of the Wanted. Despite the early hour, the guys obliged, signing autographs and smiling for photos with their devotees. Then they hopped into their car and made their way across town to “Today.” So, how do they manage to keep their spirits up at the top of a long day like that? “We prepared for this show this morning by having cups of tea and Cheerios, good for the heart,” Siva Kaneswaran told me before they took the stage to perform. “Basically, just psych each other, gaze into each other’s eyes and get excited, and that’s what gets us through the day.” From there, it was all about greeting even more fans, who had followed the guys from the studio back to their hotel, where the guys regrouped for a bit before more press and appearances. It’s the fans though who make the grueling press tour worth all the work, even if they find sneaky ways to show the guys their love. Recalling a mid-day fan encounter during their downtime, Tom Parker said some fans must have sneaked into the hotel, probably through the front door. “They were following us around. Some girl came up and said, ‘Is it too early to buy you a drink yet?’ ” The answer was “yes” — they did have a full day of press ahead of them! After their very short break, we were back in the car heading to the Empire State Building , where the guys got their photos taken and did several more interviews to hype up their release. Their final stop today will be their “MTV First,” during which they will premiere their video for “Chasing the Sun,” sit down with Sway Calloway to chat about their album and the video, and answer fans’ questions. Well, Sway, I warmed them up for you. I just hope I didn’t tire them out. The Wanted are taking over the Big Apple! Stick with MTV News for updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes photos all day. We’ll tag along with the guys on stops like the “Today” show and the Empire State Building before “MTV First: The Wanted” kicks off at 7:53 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com. Be sure to tune in for the premiere of the “Chasing the Sun” video and a 30-minute interview with the band! Related Videos Exclusive: Follow The Wanted Around NYC! Related Photos Behind The Scenes Photos From The Wanted’s “Chasing The Sun” video Related Artists The Wanted
Rapper says the clip is done and should drop next week. By John Mitchell Nicki Minaj Photo: Getty Images Apparently, getting it just right is more important than keeping it especially timely. Nicki Minaj ‘s smash single “Starships” has been burning up the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks now, peaking at #5 a few weeks back and currently holding it down at #7. The pop-dance track was the official lead single (“Roman Holiday” and “Stupid Hoe” were promo singles) from her new album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, which debuted at #1 two weeks back. All of which makes the fact that there’s been no official video release for the buzz-heavy track seem all the more glaring. Heck, she’s already released the video for “Beez in the Trap,” technically the album’s third single after “Starships” and “Right by My Side” featuring Chris Brown. So when will we finally see the “Starships” video? Pretty soon, according to Minaj. “It’s officially done,” Nicki told the U.K.’s Capital FM . “There was just one tiny little thing I wanted to change, but I know at the beginning of next week you guys will see it.” But watch out, Nicki warns: “It may be too saucy for TV.” Pictures of the rap/pop superstar hard at work on the clip surfaced in mid-March, showing Nicki looking amazing while sporting green hair and a pink bikini as she filmed in an exotic location. At the time, Minaj told MTV News that seeing girls sporting her unique style has been an exciting byproduct of her fame. “I guess I am pop culture, just because what I’m doing seems to be popular. When people want to do what you’re doing, it’s kinda popular,” she said. “I don’t ask girls to wear pink hair; they just do it. It’s not about black or white; I think it’s just a statement. It doesn’t matter which color you are; it’s just a statement of being fearless.” What are you expecting from Nicki’s “Starships” video? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists Nicki Minaj
The boy band will premiere the full video tonight at 7:53 ET during ‘MTV First: The Wanted.’ By Christina Garibaldi The Wanted’s “Chasing the Sun” music video Photo: Universal Music Group The Wanted are set to premiere their much-anticipated video for their second U.S. single, “Chasing the Sun,” tonight on MTV. And before the British boy band introduce the full clip and answer fans’ questions, they gave us a little teaser. In the 30-second clip, the fivesome travel the streets of Los Angeles in the middle of the night, with a pack of girls clinging to each of the boys. Intercut with shots of the band on a rooftop singing the chorus of the track, it seems as if the group is literally chasing the sun. Coming up to a gated door, member Tom Parker flashes what looks to be a sun tattoo on his hand, and the guard lets him pass into the sunlight. Not much of the plot is given away in this clip, but when we caught up with the group on the set of the video earlier this month, they teased to their fans what they can expect. “Our song ‘Chasing the Sun’ is basically about the party that keeps on going,” Jay McGuiness said, with pal Max George giving a bit more insight into how that will manifest in the clip: “There’s certain shots which we’ve just done now which are on a rooftop, and then we’re filming all night until 6 in the morning, and then the last shot, I think, will be us just kind of walking away looking rather disheveled,” George explained. This is the third video of the Wanted’s that has been helmed by Director X, who previously worked on the video for their smash single, “Glad You Came.” “You always want to do better than your last song, and we’ve always set a really high standard with ‘Glad You Came’ already,” McGuiness said. “But I think we know now from the singles we’ve got in our pocket, there’s no way we’re going anywhere. We’re here to stay, and our songs are going to get better and better. I’m just bragging right now so hard.” Well, see if the Wanted live up to their expectations when they down with MTV News’ Sway Calloway tonight at 7:53 ET on MTV during “MTV First: The Wanted.” Immediately following the premiere, the band will stay for an additional 30-minute live Q&A on MTV.com and will be taking fan questions, so make sure you submit them via MTV.com or @MTVNews on Twitter, using the hashtags #MTVFirst or #AskTheWanted. Are you excited for the premiere of “Chasing the Sun”? Let us know in the comments. The Wanted are taking over the Big Apple! Stick with MTV News for updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes photos all day. We’ll tag along with the guys on stops like the “Today” show and the Empire State Building before “MTV First: The Wanted” kicks off at 7:53 p.m. ET on MTV and MTV.com. Be sure to tune in for the premiere of the “Chasing the Sun” video and a 30-minute interview with the band! Related Videos Exclusive: Follow The Wanted Around NYC! Related Photos The Wanted Take Over NYC, MTV News Tags Along! Behind The Scenes Photos From The Wanted’s “Chasing The Sun” video Related Artists The Wanted
MTV News chills in the ‘Today’ green room with the band on the day of their EP release. By Jocelyn Vena The Wanted rehearse before “Today” performance Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News NEW YORK — “Oh my god, they’re so normal!” one fan declared as she caught a glimpse of the Wanted leaving their hotel this morning. It was one of many exciting fan encounters the band would have on Tuesday (April 24), as they were out in New York City promoting their self-titled U.S. debut EP and the release of their new video, “Chasing the Sun.” MTV News was on hand with the guys in the early hours Tuesday while they chilled in the “Today” show green room chatting, eating breakfast and goofing around with a fat cat and a dog named Ted, both of whom were on the show today as well. “We just arrived and we saw a 40-pound cat crawling across the floor,” group member Siva Kaneswaran told MTV News about the early morning wakeup call and the show’s other guest, a cat who is currently having his own moment chasing the sun. “This is the kind of stuff that happens to the Wanted. It’s too early for this,” he continued. “There’s lots of big stuff happening today and were gonna do some crazy things.” Before they performed “Chasing” and their hit single “Glad You Came” on the morning news show, Siva explained how the guys prep for an appearance on a show like “Today.” “We prepared for this show this morning by having cups of tea and Cheerios, good for the heart,” Siva, who declared he is not a morning person, shared. “Basically, just psych each other, gaze into each other’s eyes and get excited, and that’s what gets us through the day.” The “Today” show was the first of many media appearances the Wanted will make on Tuesday, leading up to their “MTV First” airing tonight at 7:53 p.m. ET on MTV. They will sit down with MTV News’ Sway Calloway to debut and chat about the “Chasing” video. Immediately following the MTV premiere, the fivesome are hanging around for an additional 30-minute live Q&A session with Sway on MTV.com. Fans can get in on the action by submitting video or text questions via MTV.com or @MTVNews on Twitter, using the hashtags #MTVFirst or #AskTheWanted. MTV News will be on hand with the guys all day , so stay tuned for more Big Apple dispatches. Related Photos ‘The Wanted’ Take Over NYC, MTV News Tags Along! Related Artists The Wanted
Round-one voting opens Monday — does the British fivesome have what it takes? By Jocelyn Vena The Wanted Photo: Getty Images Our Battle of the Boy Bands kicks off Monday, and while we imagine you will spend the entirety of your weekend weighing the pros and cons of your fave groups, MTV News reached out to some of the contenders so they could tell you why they deserve your vote. But before we hear from the Wanted, we wanted to take a look at some hard facts. Hey, this is basically an election, so we need to know where they stand on the issues! Highest Chart Achievement While “Glad You Came” peaked at #3 on the Hot 100, they went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart earlier this month. Standout Video Partying on the beach? Hanging with hot girls? Dancing and having a good time? The band’s “Glad You Came” video is a snapshot into the five Brits’ favorite things to do. (Next up, they will explore similar themes in their “Chasing the Sun” video .) Defining Tune Cheeky, dance-floor-ready and full of euphemisms (really think about it, guys), “Glad You Came” introduced America to the British fivesome. It seems we Americans are pretty glad they came. Debut Album While they have yet to drop their self-titled U.S. EP (it’s out Tuesday), the guys did release their first album, The Wanted, abroad in October 2010, and it peaked at #4 in the U.K. Biggest Competition They are currently trying to fend off One Direction in a race for the hearts of American girls. It’s the Sophie’s Choice of boy-band brawls. So why do the guys think you should vote for them? Their answer might surprise you! “We think you should vote for us because everything that we’ve ever been nominated for that goes to public vote, we’ve never won,” Max George pleaded. “And also, you should vote for us because we are the worst-looking boy band of all time,” Nathan Sykes added. The guys even weighed in on their favorite boy bands of all time. Siva Kaneswaran said, “My favorite boy band of all time is the Backstreet Boys. I have to say Backstreet Boys, because they showed me the reason for being lonely.” “My favorite boy band of all time has to be the Jonas Brothers,” George chimed in. “Have you seen ‘Camp Rock’? Sick film.” Voting in round one of MTV’s Battle of the Boy Bands begins Monday, April 23, at 7 a.m. ET and runs until noon ET on Thursday, April 26. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite band made the cut, make sure you keep voting. Spread the word on Twitter using the hashtag #BBB and like us on Facebook for updates! Related Videos Battle Of The Boy Bands Related Artists The Wanted
Kelly Clarkson, The Fray and LL Cool J also on tap for inaugural summer music festival at Pennsylvania’s Hershey Park. By Jocelyn Vena Pauly D Photo: Getty Images Hey, pop fans: Hankering to party at your own summer music festival? Well, the spankin’ new MixTape Fest has your back. The festival, set to take place August 17-18 at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania, will bring together an interesting array of artists ranging from old-school acts like LL Cool J to newbies the Wanted. Over two days and two stages, nine artists are set to perform. This marks the first year of the festival. The Friday show will include performances from Kelly Clarkson, The Fray (both acts will also be on their own tour at the same time), New Kids on the Block, DJ Pauly D and Steel Panther. NKOTBSB, LL Cool J featuring Z Trip, the Wanted and the Dan Band all will take the stage for the Saturday show. According to a press release, this will be the only North American date for boy-band mega-group NKOTBSB after they wrap up a tour abroad. “It’s an honor for us to be a part of the inaugural year of MixTape,” New Kids on the Block said in a statement about the festivities. “To share the stage with such mega-artists as Kelly Clarkson, LL Cool J and the Fray is really exciting. “With the artist selection, and all of the amenities and accommodations offered, this festival is raising the bar to the next level. We couldn’t think of a better way to spend our weekend than with our amazing fans, and there couldn’t be a better setting than such a fun-filled festival with such an amazing bill of artists.” Tickets will go on sale April 27. More information about the festival can be found on the MixTape Fest 2012 official website . Related Artists The Wanted NKOTBSB
Jay McGuiness tells MTV News the clip is ‘about the party that keeps on going.’ By Jocelyn Vena The Wanted on the set of “Chasing the Sun” Photo: MTV News The Wanted just wrapped up production on the video for their new single, “Chasing the Sun.” And if you thought listening to the track was a big party, the guys are making sure to extend that invitation to the music video. When MTV News caught up with the fivesome on the L.A. set for the clip, they teased just what their fans can expect. “Our song ‘Chasing the Sun’ is basically about the party that keeps on going,” Jay McGuiness said, with pal Max George giving a bit more insight into how that will manifest in the Director X-directed clip: “There’s certain shots which we’ve just done now which are on a rooftop, and then we’re filming all night until 6 in the morning, and then the last shot, I think, will be us just kind of walking away looking rather disheveled,” George explained of the video, which should drop in the very near future. With the amount of success the Wanted have already had with their single “Glad You Came” here in the U.S., the guys are hoping they can dominate the airwaves with this new equally dance floor-ready track. “You always want to do better than your last song, and we’ve always set a really high standard with ‘Glad You Came’ already,” McGuiness explained. “But I think we know now from the singles we’ve got in our pocket, there’s no way we’re going anywhere. We’re here to stay, and our songs are going to get better and better. I’m just bragging right now so hard.” “Chasing” is the second single off their self-titled U.S. debut , hitting the streets next week. The guys said the song is definitely an extension of where they are going next. “I think the songs suggest about our musical growth. We’re always willing to change it up,” Tom Parker shared. ” ‘Glad You Came’ set the precedent for America, but we’ve got big songs like ‘Warzone’ in the U.K., which is going to be on the EP, and that’s a ballad with dubstep — something that a boy band has never done before. And we took a bit of a risk. I think everyone loved it, so we like to take risks with our music.” Are you looking forward to the “Chasing the Sun” video? Tell us in the comments!
‘There’s an American rapper, potentially, and he’s very good and I can’t mention who he is,’ Tom Parker hints to MTV News. By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kelly Marino The Wanted Photo: MTV News The Wanted dropped their swagged-out party track “Chasing the Sun” this week, and despite any literal interpretations one might expect from a video for a song with that title, the guys say they want to go a bit more fun and less obvious. “We’re gonna be flying through space, literally, running after the sun the whole three minutes,” Nathan Sykes joked to MTV News after they stepped off the “American Idol” stage Thursday night. But bandmate Jay McGuiness quickly clarified that’s not the case at all. “We saw a lot of treatments and a lot of them took it literally, somewhere chasing the sun,” he said. “But we decided we weren’t into that. We worked with a director called Director X, so we know it’s going to be a good party. But we’ll leave the details until we release it.” Director X has already hooked up with the guys on two of their videos, the sun-drenched “Glad You Came” and the darker clip for “Warzone.” “Chasing the Sun” is the lead single from the Wanted’s forthcoming U.S. debut , set for release later this month, and Max George is counting down the days until it drops. “We’ve got an EP coming out in the 24th of April that’s all ready to go. I wish it was out now, really,” he said. “We’re really excited for it to come out. Hopefully all our fans will love the other songs. We’ve got some singles we’ve done in the U.K. We’ve got some new songs we’ve written. I think they’ll like it, I hope.” And while the album is done, Tom Parker noted there could be a last-minute guest on it. “For ‘Chasing the Sun’ there’s an American rapper, potentially, and he’s very good and I can’t mention who he is,” he teased. The guys added he’s someone who loves cats but noted it’s not Cee Lo Green, who frequently chills with his cat Purrfect on “The Voice.” Sykes said the rapper would appear on “just the single version; the full version of the track will be on the EP. Potentially the single version is with this unnamed rapper. He’s very talented.” What is your favorite song by the Wanted? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists The Wanted
1D’s Niall Horan weighs in on rumors of a boy-band rivalry, saying the Wanted are ‘really nice guys.’ By Jocelyn Vena One Direction Photo: Astrid Stawiarz/ Getty Images There’s something happening right now. That something is a British boy-band explosion , led by One Direction and the Wanted . While 1D touts candy-coated love affairs in their music, the Wanted are selling ones that are enjoyed best with an adult beverage. While they each cater to different audiences, one thing they have in common is that girls absolutely love them. As both bands bring their signature charms to the States, having already conquered their native U.K., many fans are wondering if there’s any rivalry, friendly or otherwise, brewing between the two. One Directioner Niall Horan assures MTV News that everything’s cool between the two groups. “We all know each other. It’s the same in the U.K. as it is here, everyone knows each other,” he explained. “And, we haven’t seen the Wanted in a while. We just haven’t been in the same place at the same time. They’re really nice guys. And every time we’ve met them, we’ve had a good laugh with them. The more, the merrier! Let’s bring the British invasion over here and show them what we got, I suppose.” One Direction dropped their debut album, Up All Night , this month and became the first English act to debut at #1 on the Billboard albums chart. Meanwhile, the Wanted will drop their U.S. self-titled debut next month, riding the wave off their hit single, “Glad You Came.” But, it’s not just boy bands that U.S. audiences are buying and loving: There’s a full-on British invasion, as Horan called it, which reaches far beyond just pop groups, and also includes chart-topping pop divas. “It’s pretty cool,” he said. “Adele and us and Jessie J and the Wanted, it’s all very good.” Related Artists One Direction
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