Between radio hits, headlining gigs and even his own documentary, the French DJ/producer is a dance-music heavyweight. By Akshay Bhansali David Guetta Photo: Getty Images If he built a bridge between urban music and electronic music last year, in 2011, French DJ/producer David Guetta now presides over a superhighway that extends around the world. In our Best Electronic Dance Music Artists of 2011 coverage, MTV’s roundtable has named Guetta our #2 EDM Artist of 2011 — but that doesn’t begin to explain his impact on the industry. David Guetta is now a pop-music superstar. After collecting a Grammy in February for his remix of Madonna’s “Revolver,” Guetta teased his next opus, Nothing but the Beat, during Miami Music Week in March. His highly anticipated follow-up to last year’s One Love would deliver a feature list on steroids, including Ludacris and Taio Cruz teaming up for first single “Little Bad Girl.” Radio hits came in the form of Nicki Minaj and Flo Rida rapping on “Where Them Girls At” and then the album’s latest single, “Without You,” an emotional track with Usher that David calls “the biggest song” on NBTB. Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson, Sia and Timbaland also all lent their vocals to the double disc. For EDM purists, Nothing but the Beat had plenty to offer, like stellar co-productions with Afrojack (“Lunar” and “The Future”) and Avicii (on the Grammy-nominated “Sunshine”). DJ Mag crowned Guetta the #1 DJ on the planet, and he headlined the world’s biggest festival’s, including Belgium’s Tomorrowland Festival, Miami’s Ultra Music Festival and Las Vegas’ Electric Daisy Carnival. Guetta has also hit screens small and large this year. His documentary with Burn, also titled “Nothing but the Beat,” has been screened in New York and L.A. He’s hit “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” with Usher, and filmed a viral video with Web sensation Keenan Cahill . His American Music Awards performance with Nicki Minaj seems to indicate that “Turn Me On” will be the next single from Nothing but the Beat, and fans can expect a shocking new video (and much more, we’re sure) early next year. MTV will reveal the best artists, songs and movies of the year. Come to MTV News each day to see more big reveals and check out more of MTV’s Best of 2011 music, TV, movies and news coverage. Related Videos Best EDM Artist Of 2011 Debate Related Artists David Guetta
Bieber’s holiday special airs December 22 and will raise money for his Believe charity drive. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: WireImage Justin Bieber has helped light the tree in New York’s Rockefeller Plaza and sang Christmas carols with the president . Now, MTV News has confirmed that the pop star will celebrate the season once more with his very own special, “Justin Bieber: Home for the Holidays.” Bieber will tape the fundraising special at a secret Toronto location before it airs December 22 on MuchMusic and CTV. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Bieber said, “The holidays are a very special time of the year for me and I’m looking forward to coming home and ringing them in with my friends and family.” Funds raised at the show will benefit Bieber’s Believe charity . Portions of the proceeds raised by his holiday album, Under the Mistletoe, also went to the nonprofit. Believe raises money for organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Pencils of Promise, Musicians on Call, Project Medishare for Haiti, City of Hope, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Grammy Foundation. “I am launching the Believe Charity Drive because I know firsthand that if you believe in your dreams, everything is possible,” Bieber said in a statement about the initiative. “The Believe Charity Drive directly benefits charities that are making a difference in the world. You can … donate as little as one dollar, or even donate your time, because everything will make a difference. Please join me in our quest to raise millions of dollars by the release of my new 2012 album, Believe. I know that with your help, we can make a change.” On Monday (December 12), in addition to announcing the holiday special, Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun also tweeted about the overwhelming success Under the Mistletoe has had since its November debut. “@JustinBieber’s christmas album ‘Under The Mistletoe’ is the biggest selling International Christmas album for UMG in a decade!!” he tweeted. “That makes it the biggest selling holiday album on Universal in the last decade moving ahead of Andrea Bocelli. very proud and at this rate by Christmas @justinbieber’s ‘Under The Mistletoe’ will be the biggest 4th qtr album release of the entire UMG-EMI system!” Bieber recorded several classic tunes for the album, as well as original songs, including lead single “Mistletoe.” He worked with artists like Mariah Carey, Usher, the Band Perry, Busta Rhymes and Boyz II Men on the project. “Thank u to everyone supporting this incredible album,” Braun added. “All the stats are amazing but what Im most proud of is the music. REALLY GREAT MUSIC.” Related Videos MTV First: Justin Bieber Related Photos Justin Bieber, President Obama And More Celebrate ‘Christmas In Washington’ Related Artists Justin Bieber
DJ/producer cements his breakthrough year with five Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. By Akshay Bhansali Skrillex Photo: Getty Images Back in late 2010, EDM superstar DJ/producer deadmau5 told MTV News a star was on the rise. He said his friend and former post-hardcore/emo rocker Sonny Moore — producing and performing under the name Skrillex — was going to be a force to be reckoned with. “He’s taking over — I think he’s going to outdo me,” deadmau5 told MTV News at the time. “I think he’s going to be the first artist on Beatport to eat my lunch and take over the top 10. I don’t think anyone in Beatport history has ever done it, but if he does it, I’ll be so proud of him, the little goblin!” Now, the ever-prophetic ‘mau5 has more to be proud of. A lot more. In our Best Electronic Dance Music Artists of 2011 coverage, MTV’s roundtable has named Skrillex the #1 EDM Artist of 2011, underscored by his most recent series of accolades: He scored a whopping five Grammy nominations, including being the first DJ to land a Best New Artist nod. Indeed, Moore’s musical background — both on his own and as a member of his former group, From First to Last — has carried over into Skrillex’s brand of fiery electronica. Skrillex has garnered an audience the world over that includes ravers, house heads and rockers alike. In today’s laptop generation of music, Skrillex is the new “rock.” From his remix of Benny Benassi and Gary Go’s “Cinema” to the recent Avicii pop song “Le7els” (not officially released yet), Skrillex dropped massive re-workings in ’11, in addition to his More Monsters and Sprites EP. He scored video games, produced records for Korn, launched his own OWSLA label and hit almost every major festival in the States, including Coachella and Lollapalooza. An exceptional catalog of releases coupled with an incessant touring schedule has made Skrillex the biggest EDM star of the year. In 2012, he plans to tour 322 of the 365 days. While he didn’t expect to become recognized as this year’s biggest success story, Skrillex’s peers say the swell of critical and fan support is fitting. “He definitely deserves it,” former OWSLA tourmate, DJ/producer Porter Robinson, told MTV News. “I’ve been saying it all year: He’s the most influential musician of this year, in any genre. Incredible sound designer. Incredible songwriter. Amazing performer.” “He’s been in bands before,” EDM artist and collaborator Sofi told us. “He’s an excellent songwriter. He can sing. He’s just so versatile that I think that comes through in his music. He kind of brought this ‘rock,’ ‘raw’ element into electronic music. He’s the punk rock of the new generation.” Even industry veteran David Guetta, who lands at #2 on our list of the Best EDM Artists of 2011, agreed with all the praise heaped on Skrillex. “He’s extremely talented, and I’m very happy for him,” Guetta said of Skrill’s Grammy noms. “It’s a statement: I think it’s really good that an artist from our community is nominated just as ‘an artist.’ Not as a ‘dance’ artist, you know? I think that it’s good that [our] music is now getting the attention and the respect that all the other styles of music, like hip-hop, are getting.” MTV will reveal the best artists, songs and movies of the year. Come to MTV News each day to see more big reveals and check out more of MTV’s Best of 2011 music, TV, movies and news coverage. Related Videos Best EDM Artist Of 2011 Debate
‘I was trying to destroy myself physically,’ McElhenney says of gaining 50 pounds to play Fat Mac, one of MTV News’ Top 50 TV Characters of 2011. By James Montgomery Rob McElhenney as Fat Mac in “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Photo: Joey L./ FX Gregor Samsa became an insect. Hulk Hogan dyed his beard black and joined the nWo. Metallica used to be awesome. Transformations are as much a part of life as eating, breathing and making fun of Lulu, yet rarely are they as unexpected as the grand, grotesque metamorphosis Rob McElhenney pulled off on the seventh season of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” when he turned the formerly fitness-obsessed Mac into a bulbous, bloated buffoon … mostly because he thought it would be funny. But McElhenney was also making a deeper point, too. By gaining 50 pounds of solid fat, he took a not-too-subtle jab at one of TV’s oldest tropes: Namely, that as shows go on, characters don’t age and they seemingly get better-looking. It’s the kind of deconstructionist slant that has made “Sunny” a cult favorite and made Fat Mac one of the year’s best characters. Because while, sure, it was funny to watch him inject insulin into his ginormous gut, you couldn’t help but ask yourself why there aren’t more characters like him on network shows. So, in celebration of Fat Mac’s inclusion in MTV News’ Top 50 TV Characters of 2011 , we spoke to McElhenney about piling on the pounds, the silky comfort of Tommy Bahama shirts, and how, someday, he hopes to be considered “the De Niro of basic-cable comedy.” MTV News : First off, congratulations on making our list of the Top 50 TV Characters of 2011. Fat Mac actually came in at #8 on the list. Rob McElhenney : I made the top 10? F— yeah! That’s really awesome. Who was ahead of me? [We start reading McElhenney the list, but he makes us stop when we reveal that Snooki came in at #3.] What? Are you f—ing kidding me? I refuse to hear anything else. Jesus Christ. MTV : Mac’s transformation was one of the television highlights of the year, and not just because it’s funny to see him, you know, lug around a garbage bag filled with chimichangas. You just don’t see characters put on that kind of weight on sitcoms now, or really ever before. McElhenney : Yeah. Vanity is such a huge part of television, and if you watch any average sitcom, you notice that the actors get better-looking as the years go by. And I caught myself sitting in the editing room last year, looking at myself, and I said, “Man, I don’t look very good in this scene; I should try to find a different shirt or something next time.” And I realized, “Wow, that is the first time I’d ever really thought that.” So I realized I needed to go in the extreme opposite direction. It’s always been our goal to do the opposite of what any sitcom on network television would do, so that’s what I did. MTV : So it went beyond, just, “It would be funny to see Mac gain an obscene amount of weight …” McElhenney : It wasn’t just a stunt. I thought, if we were being true to the characters, and we were really showing what these people would look like if they lived the way that they claimed to live, this is what we would look like. All we do is sit around and drink and eat terrible food, and there’s certainly no exercise going on, and we don’t seem to really care about our health. So when you hit a certain early-30s, mid-30s range, it’s going to start to fall apart. So, to me, it was less of a stunt or a gag and more of an actual representation of what Mac really might look like at this point in his life. MTV : So once you decided you were going to gain the weight, how’d you go about doing it without, you know, totally destroying your body? McElhenney : Oh, I was basically trying to destroy myself physically as much as I possibly could. I was trying to eat around 5,000 calories a day, and at first I was doing it as healthy as possible, but after like the 3,000th calorie of grilled chicken breast and rice, you realize you literally have to consume twice as much volume as opposed to just eating a cheeseburger. So after a while, I started eating a lot, a lot of doughnuts. It was really hard, man. The key to it was force-feeding myself this milkshake that I made every day that had weight gainer, chocolate milk, chocolate ice cream, and creatine, which creates bloating, and force-feeding myself two of those every day, and those were about 1,000 calories a piece, and that’s what really put it over the edge. MTV : You know, it’s funny, because you hear about all these actors gaining or losing weight for roles, and they’re almost always lauded for doing so. Does it bother you that, after going through so much, people only see Fat Mac as this sort of stunt? McElhenney : Well, I’d like to enter that conversation. You know, “the De Niro of basic-cable comedy.” [ He laughs. ] Nah, it doesn’t bother me. We’re not that kind of show. But I don’t think people understand how hard it was to just gain all this weight. I started at 162 and I got up to 212 … and I was also working out, just doing, like, powerlifting, because I noticed that most of my weight was just going to my gut, and it wasn’t filling out everywhere else and it wasn’t really playing, so to create that sort of non-defined, smooth look, I had to lift weights, and then the fat just sort of sat on top of the muscle. I was trying to create David, and as we all know, Michelangelo had to start with a slab of marble and then whittle it down. So I was just creating the slab. MTV : Another great thing about the character this season is that he introduced the Tommy Bahama shirt into the national conversation. McElhenney : [ He laughs. ] I see a lot of people wearing them. And I think middle-aged guys wear them because they think it hides their gut, and it doesn’t. In a bizarre way, it makes them look bigger, and originally I was wearing these super-tight T-shirts, and since my fat was kind of rolling out from underneath it, you would think that you would look bigger onscreen that way, as opposed to this big, flowing shirt. But for whatever reason, they actually accentuate the size. They’re like a muumuu. And the truth is, once you slip one of those bad boys on, they’re unbelievably comfortable. They’re made out of silk, and they really just flow and they breathe, and I was like, “Goddamn, I kind of really love these shirts.” I took some home, but my wife [“Sunny” co-star Kaitlin Olson] wasn’t having it. MTV : One of the key episodes this season was “How Mac Got Fat,” which, as the title implies, explained why he put on all the weight. There are scenes of you in flashback when you were skinny. Can you explain the backstory of that episode? McElhenney : We shot it last season, and it was a completely different episode and we were going to air it this year, because we had one less slot last year. So that was always the intention, and then as we started the season, and I went through this endeavor, we realized we couldn’t just air this episode because it wouldn’t make sense anymore. So we sort of broke down the episode and said, “How can we tell this as a flashback, and create this as being the reason why Mac did this in the first place?” So we rewrote it, based on the cut and based on the footage we had, and then we went back and created this completely different episode. It was literally the last thing we shot this season. MTV : So, finally, we know you’ve dropped most of the Fat Mac weight now. Looking back, how do you feel about the entire endeavor? McElhenney : Yeah, I’ve dropped almost all of it. I think the remaining 10 to 12 pounds are probably just going to stay. I’m OK with that. [ He laughs. ] And, you know, I’m really happy I did it. It was hard, but it was worth it. I can tell you right now that this never would’ve happened on network television. Because when I would’ve gone in to pitch it to the network executives, they would’ve said, “Absolutely not.” Because the glamour is such an important part of how they sell their shows, so trying to make the actors look as good as they possibly can is an important part of the process. And our show has never been about that. MTV will reveal the best artists, songs and movies of the year. Come to MTV News each day to see more big reveals and check out more of MTV’s Best of 2011 music, TV, movies and news coverage.
Internet stars Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan say filming first major-label video is ‘a little bit different.’ By Jim Cantiello Karmin on the set of “Crash Your Party” Photo: MTV News LOS ANGELES — The Internet has launched dozens of stars in 2011 for the wrong reasons (see: Courtney Stodden, Rebecca Black), and then there’s Karmin , a scary-talented couple whose infectious and clever covers of hip-hop songs blew up your inbox back in April. Their reinterpretation of Chris Brown’s “Look at Me Now” got them on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and, more importantly, snatched up by L.A. Reid as he took over Epic Records this summer. On the set of Karmin’s brand-new music video for debut single “Crash Your Party,” longtime lovebirds Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan were still trying to wrap their heads around their up-and-up career trajectory. “We feel a lot different than we used to with [us] making the videos at home in the living room,” Heidemann told MTV News. “We were joking about it earlier, how we used to run over to the camera and push record and run [back] and be like, ‘OK, ready?’ ” “And then we had to turn the air off so it was always, like, 106 degrees in there,” Noonan recalled. “This is a little bit different.” “A little bit different” is putting it mildly. The set was packed with a massive crew, multiple sets, child actors and stage parents and wardrobe changes, and the air conditioning was keeping it all at a bearable temperature. No wonder Heidemann used the word “overwhelmed” to describe their feelings in the midst of a 21-hour shoot. The just-premiered clip, directed by Syndrome, features Heidemann and Noonan rocking out on YouTube before the pair climb into a magical suitcase that transports them to strangers’ kitchens, children’s birthday parties, karaoke bars and, ultimately, a massive stage where they are performing for adoring fans. “It’s kind of our story, in a strange way,” Heidemann said. What do you think of Karmin’s new video? Share your reviews in the comments below! Related Photos MTV.com Exclusive: Karmin Related Artists Karmina
In this week’s Hobnobbing, we reflect on the movie’s milestones from the past year. By Amy Wilkinson Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games” Photo: Murray Close If any film caught Internet fire this year, it was most certainly the big-screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ young-adult novel ” The Hunger Games .” Though the film had been optioned by Lionsgate way back in 2009, 2011 was the year fans finally saw all the pieces come together, from casting the titular tournament’s 24 tributes to a teaser tidbit and full-length trailer. As such, MTV News is taking a look back at all things “Hunger Games” with a list of the franchise’s best moments from 2011 (in chronological order). Let the Games begin! X Marks the Release Date The year began with a bang when Lionsgate announced in late January that “The Hunger Games” would swoop into theaters March 23, 2012 . Lionsgate set that particular date in its crosshairs hoping to capitalize on spring breaks and Easter weekend for the (mostly) family-friendly release. Jennifer Lawrence Is Katniss Everdeen The Reaping then began in earnest, with seemingly every young Hollywood actress vying for the coveted role of District 12’s female tribute. Would it be Hailee Steinfeld? Kaya Scodelario? Abigail Breslin? In the end, MTV News had the pleasure of revealing that then-20-year-old Jennifer Lawrence, who nabbed an Oscar nomination for her work in 2010’s “Winter’s Bone,” would enter the arena as the much-loved heroine. But Who Will Play Peeta and Gale? Similar speculation followed the casting of Katniss’ two love interests — fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark and hunting buddy Gale Hawthorne. Nine young actors were reportedly in contention for one of the two roles, including “Weeds” star Hunter Parrish and “Wizards of Waverly Place” actor David Henrie, but, ultimately, Josh Hutcherson landed the role of Peeta while Liam Hemsworth won Gale. First Look at Lawrence as Katniss Salivating fans didn’t have to wait too long for their first taste of Lawrence as Katniss, as she posed for the cover of Entertainment Weekly, flaunting the tribute’s soon-to-be-iconic uniform . The styled snap quieted many critics who’d said the actress was too blond, too tall, too pretty or too whatever for the role. Cinna Will Rock There were no shortage of casting announcements in spring 2011, but none seemed to catch watchful fans off guard more than that of Lenny Kravitz landing the role of Katniss’ stylist Cinna. But, really, it made a lot of sense, considering the musician’s fondness for fashion. “I like clothes, and I like playing with clothes. Every now and again, you go south. It’s all good. I enjoy fashion as an art,” he told MTV News . The Mockingjay Catches Fire In a nifty bit of promotion, Lionsgate released the first “Hunger Games” poster in July, and it was literally on fire. Well, sorta. The one-sheet depicted Katniss’ infamous talisman — a mockingjay pin — wreathed in glowing flames. The eye-catching motion poster definitely gave fans something to chew on while they waited for more first looks. We Spy Two “Hunger Games” Hotties Following in co-star Lawrence’s footsteps, the men of “The Hunger Games” landed their own EW cover story , in which Hutcherson took the opportunity to quiet a few nagging concerns about his stature.”Jennifer’s not 2 feet taller than me!” he told the magazine. “If anything, maybe she’s a half-inch taller.” November 2013 Is “Catching Fire” We hadn’t even seen a frame of the first film yet, yet Lionsgate announced a November 22, 2013, release date for the follow-up, “Catching Fire.” With “The Twilight Saga” taking its final winter bow in 2012, it looks like “The Hunger Games” is poised to be the new holiday tentpole. A Tasty Tease All those cover images and promotional stills went only so far to sate fans’ appetites. A cinematic preview was in order, and we at MTV were happy to deliver. During the closing moments of this year’s Video Music Awards, viewers were treated to a 30-second sneak peek , following Katniss as she sprinted through the arena’s blazing forest, with Gale’s words of encouragement resounding in her ears. Sure, the bite was short, but it was still satisfying. First Full-Length Trailer Nearly three lean months followed before the first full-length trailer made its entrance into the arena. And boy, was it worth the wait. From the tearful reaping to the Games’ taut opening moments, the clip was one of our top teases of the year , offering a promise of the big-screen awesomeness to follow. What were your favorite “Hunger Games” moments this year? Sound off in the comments below and tweet me @hollywoodcrush with your thoughts and suggestions for future columns! Check out everything we’ve got on “The Hunger Games.” For young Hollywood news, fashion and “Twilight” updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com . Related Videos Reactions To The First ‘Hunger Games’ Trailer
Actor pulls back the curtain on his Adam Demamp, who was just named one of MTV News’ Top 50 TV Characters of 2011. By Rya Backer Blake Anderson, Adam Devine and Anders Holm in “Workaholics” Photo: Comedy Central Adam DeVine is one-third of the sophomoric (and absolutely hilarious) buddy/stoner comedy “Workaholics.” On the Comedy Central show, DeVine plays a character named — wait for it — Adam, a twentysomething with no aspirations other than getting weird with his two best friends when they’re not idling at their generic, low-rung desk jobs at TelAmeriCorp. Since the show’s debut earlier this year, DeVine has created his own catchphrase and graced the audience with such sight gags as becoming a bodybuilder for a day, getting dragged by a car after he’d harpooned its tire and, most shockingly, tucking in a part of his body that … well, we’ll let him explain. Now that MTV News has named DeVine’s Adam Demamp one of the Top 50 TV Characters of 2011 , we caught up with the funnyman to pull back the curtain on his “Workaholics” alter ego: On his favorite scene to shoot : “The bodybuilding episode from season one was probably one of my favorites, only because I’ve always had one of those weird little things in the back of my head saying that if I didn’t want to be an actor and be someone that is an actual human being that can assimilate in society, I would want to be a bodybuilder and just get weirdly tan, grease my muscles, wear a Speedo. So the fact that I got to play one on TV really, really brought the inner child out of me.” Check out our Top 50 TV Characters of 2011, 21-30, including a depressed meth cook and a football coach with a heart of gold. On his catchphrase, “Oh, I like that” : “I like ‘Oh, I like that’ only because that’s something my dad always said, and I’ve since incorporated it into the show, which he gets a kick out of. It’s all for Mom and Dad. Surprisingly, they love the show. My Thanksgiving was weird: It was all about keeping the turkey ‘tight butthole’ and the string-bean casserole getting my cousins ‘torqued.’ ” On the mangina : “That was one of the things that we were so surprised that they, 1. Let us do, and 2. Let us show it. It was like, we wrote it, thinking they were going to turn it down, and they were like, ‘Well, we can just blur it out.’ And then we shot it, and we sent over a cut to Comedy Central to approve, and we sent over a cut that was un-blurred just for shock value, and they were like, ‘We love it! We’re gonna fight for it! We’re gonna talk to the censors and make sure we can do it!’ There’s a part of me that’s like, ‘Yeah! We beat the censors!’ Then there’s a part of me that’s like, ‘My pubic bone is gonna be exposed to the world.’ And then that part of me got really excited, because I have a really handsome pubic bone. I think it’s a cable-television first. I mean, ‘Frasier’ used to do it all the time, so it’s been on network TV. Niles was always tuckin’ back to impress Roz.” On resembling his television character : “I think Demamp comes out on beer six and then leaves my body at beer 11. I’ll get real wild after beer six to beer 11. And then after my 11th beer, I’ll just get really quiet, whereas Adam Demamp I think would start a house fire.” MTV will reveal the best artists, songs and movies of the year. Come to MTV News each day to see more big reveals and check out more of MTV’s Best of 2011 music, TV, movies and news coverage.
Band’s triumphant set at Fueled by Ramen anniversary show captures powerful bond with family of fans — vote now! By James Montgomery Paramore’s Hayley Williams performs at the Fueled by Ramen 15th anniversary concert in September Photo: MTV Paramore had what could charitably be described as an interesting 2011, recovering from the departure of founding members Josh and Zac Farro , rediscovering the joy of playing music in the midst of a South American tour , and reconnecting with fans through the debut of their song-a-month “Singles Club.” In short, it’s been the kind of year that would break lesser bands, and yet, Paramore persist, with a reinvigorated sense of purpose and plans for a new album in 2012. And they make no bones about the fact that both of those things are due in no small part to the fervent support of their fanbase. Theirs is a bond that goes beyond mere fandom; they are, as frontwoman Hayley Williams told MTV News earlier this year, “family.” So it is somewhat fitting that, in a year where so much was focused on the inner workings of the band, we bring 2011 to a close by showcasing Paramore playing what amounted to one huge family gathering: their headlining performance at September’s Fueled by Ramen 15th anniversary show , a rousing run-through of their biggest hits (and a couple new tunes) in front of a sold-out, spirited crowd. It was cathartic, it was energetic, and yes, it was plenty sweaty. In a year when MTV featured plenty of performances, it remains one of the highlights. So it’s equally fitting that Paramore’s “Brick by Boring Brick” is in the running for the Best MTV Live Performance of 2011 , up against the likes of Adele’s chill-inducing VMA moment and Beyonc
Young Money’s Drake , Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne all had big hits this year, but did one of them have the top hip-hop song of 2011? Take a look at the biggest songs of the year starring rappers, based on radio airplay data provided by Mediabase. Check out the list of the top 10 hip-hop songs of the year, and vote for your favorite in our poll below. See Who’s Nominated For Grammys! 10. Big Sean “Marvin & Chardonnay” 9. Waka Flocka Flame Feat. Roscoe Dash & Wale “No Hands” 8. Rick Ross Feat. Drake & Chrisette Michele “Aston Martin Music” 7. Kanye West Feat. Rihanna “All Of The Lights” 6. Lil Wayne “How To Love” 5. Lil Wayne Feat. Cory Gunz “6 Foot 7 Foot” 4. Big Sean Feat. Chris Brown “My Last” 3. Nicki Minaj Feat. Drake “Moment 4 Life” 2. DJ Khaled Feat. Drake & Rick Ross “I’m On One” 1. Chris Brown Feat. Feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne “Look At Me Now”
Young Money’s Drake , Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne all had big hits this year, but did one of them have the top hip-hop song of 2011? Take a look at the biggest songs of the year starring rappers, based on radio airplay data provided by Mediabase. Check out the list of the top 10 hip-hop songs of the year, and vote for your favorite in our poll below. See Who’s Nominated For Grammys! 10. Big Sean “Marvin & Chardonnay” 9. Waka Flocka Flame Feat. Roscoe Dash & Wale “No Hands” 8. Rick Ross Feat. Drake & Chrisette Michele “Aston Martin Music” 7. Kanye West Feat. Rihanna “All Of The Lights” 6. Lil Wayne “How To Love” 5. Lil Wayne Feat. Cory Gunz “6 Foot 7 Foot” 4. Big Sean Feat. Chris Brown “My Last” 3. Nicki Minaj Feat. Drake “Moment 4 Life” 2. DJ Khaled Feat. Drake & Rick Ross “I’m On One” 1. Chris Brown Feat. Feat. Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne “Look At Me Now”
