marionbreen7: February 2012

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Photos | Snoop Dogg Tweetpics: The Tattooed Tribute To Nate Dogg

Snoop Dogg Tweetpics: The Tattooed Tribute To Nate Dogg

Related Artists

Snoop Dogg

Source: http://www.mtv.com/photos/snoop-dogg-tweetpics-the-tattooed-tribute-to-nate-dogg/1660800/5973557/photo.jhtml

Emmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Vaugier Emmy Rossum Erica Leerhsen Erika Christensen

Avril Lavigne Describes The 'Magic' Of Working With Max Martin

Singer talks about recording Goodbye Lullaby with Swedish pop producer.
By Jocelyn Vena

Avril Lavigne
Photo: MTV News

<a href="/news/articles/1656250/avril-lavigne-really-excited-to-be-back-with-what-the-hell.jhtml">Avril Lavigne asked "What the Hell"</a> on her Goodbye Lullaby lead single, and she had a little help from a pretty impressive music-industry vet. For her fourth studio album, out Tuesday (March 8), Lavigne jetted off to Sweden to work with legendary pop producer Max Martin. <div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:629920.id:1659476" width="240" height="211"></div> "What was really great about working with Max was, I flew out to Sweden for a couple weeks, sat down, played him my record, got to know each other, wrote some songs together, and then I was out," she told MTV News. "It switched it up for me. It was a new creative space, a new relationship, and we got a lot done. He's very talented." Martin, who has worked with everyone from Britney Spears and Kelly Clarkson to Katy Perry, really seemed to click with the pop/punk princess. "He said some really kind things that really meant a lot to me," she said. "He worked with so many people and he's an artist, he's very sensitive. We wrote a couple really special songs together." In the process of writing those tracks, it seems that Martin and Lavigne forged quite a bond. "It's kind of hard to work with someone new, and when I went in and did vocals on 'Wish You Were Here,' I did my first take, and then Max stood up and was like, 'I'm so honored that you're here.' "And it was a really special moment, where he understood me and I understood him," she continued. "We connected and had a really great time. And it was really magic my first trip there. He's sweet." What do you think of Avril Lavigne's new music? Let us know in the comments!

Related Videos

Extended Play: Avril Lavigne's 'Goodbye Lullaby'

Related Artists

Avril Lavigne

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659477/avril-lavigne-goodbye-lullaby-max-martin.jhtml

Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns

Metallica - The Day That Never Comes

The Day That Never Comes

Artist: Metallica
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Director: Peter Hjors/Thomas Vinterberg

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=995&vid=271663

Aki Ross Alecia Elliott Alessandra Ambrosio Alexis Bledel Ali Campoverdi

Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu To Party At Black Girls Rock!

Jill Scott, Estelle, Melanie Fiona and more also hit the stage to celebrate 'brilliance' of black women at show airing Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on BET.
By Rebecca Thomas

Mary J. Blige performs at BET's 2011 Black Girls Rock!
Photo: Scott Weiner/PictureGroup

NEW YORK — On a windy Saturday last month, the Paradise Theater in the Bronx was an undulating sea of sequins, stilettos and star power as the 2011 edition of <a href="http://www.bet.com/shows/black-girls-rock/2011.html" target="_blank">Black Girls Rock!</a> got under way. An annual celebration of the accomplishments of black women in a myriad of spheres, from science and technology to the arts and politics, the event is the brainchild of philanthropist Beverly Bond, a onetime model/DJ. Imagine balling up the sentiments of your favorite empowerment anthem into a fist and then sprinkling them like confetti over a gathering of girls, and you might begin to get an idea of what it felt like to sit in that majestic theater during the taping of the show that night. You'll get to see for yourself when it airs Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET on BET. Actresses Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King opened their co-hosting gig — dressed in an ebony gown and an ivory sequined pantsuit, respectively — with some funny banter about their mutual connection to all-grown-up "Cosby" kid Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Ellis Ross plays Warner's wife on the brand-new BET sitcom "Reed Between the Lines," while King is his real-life leading lady). Over the course of the night, with assists from a series of celeb presenters like former MTV VJ LaLa Anthony and model Alek Wek, "BGR" '11 gave special nods to some much-deserving honorees. MTV News rode the D train to the Grand Concourse in the BX and previewed some of the highlights for you. <big>The Anthems</big> Any R&B diva worth her salt has at least one love-yourself tune to her credit, but if you're <a href="/music/artist/blige_mary_j/artist.jhtml">Mary J. Blige</a>, the undisputed queen of hip-hop/soul, then you've got a catalog full of certified classics guaranteed to cure Superwoman syndrome. Fans were treated to a rousing, show-closing set that included MJB's "My Life" and "Just Fine." Soul sisters like <a href="/music/artist/scott_jill/artist.jhtml">Jill Scott</a> (the poetic "Womanifesto") and <a href="/music/artist/badu_erykah/artist.jhtml">Erykah Badu</a> (an intergalactic "On and On") are just a few of the stirring performers who pass the baton to upstarts like Elle Varner and Melanie Fiona. <big>Who Run the World?</big> Yes, there was a 70-something gospel legend and a duo of trailblazing activists battling violence against women as part of the <a href="http://www.rebeccaproject.org" target="_blank">Rebecca Project</a>, but some of the most impressive award recipients were girls barely out of their tweens. M.A.D. (Making a Difference) Girl honoree Leanna Archer, became CEO of her own natural hair-care products company at 13, and now just 15, heads up a foundation devoted to helping underprivileged kids in Haiti. <big>Girl 'Power'</big> While some of us are confronting the so-called "quarterlife-crisis" or maybe <a href="/news/articles/1672584/occupy-times-square-occupation-party.jhtml">occupying Wall Street</a> at 25, Angela Davis had just hit the quarter-century mark when she began building a formidable career as an activist, aligning with movements like the Black Panther Party. The Brandeis-educated Davis went on to spend the next few decades crusading for marginalized groups like African-Americans, women and prisoners. The winner of this year's Icon Award admitted she used to feel "embarrassed" seeing her face staring back at her from T-shirts until she realized that the garments represented the "translation of the success of a movement." That's real girl power, and theatergoers thanked her (fists raised) with a standing ovation. <big>Screen Stars</big> Co-hosts Ellis Ross and King weren't the only big- and small-screen stars to grace the stage. Taraji P. Henson was honored with the Star Power prize. The actress was already a young mom to a son when she got to Hollywood, but it was her fictional role as mom to A-lister Brad Pitt in the "Curious Case of Benjamin Button" that earned her an Oscar nod in 2008 for Best Supporting Actress. In an upbeat acceptance speech, the extroverted Henson reminisced about praying for "longevity" back in those early casting call days. Catch "Black Girls Rock!" Sunday on BET at 8 p.m. ET.

Related Photos

Hot Performances From Black Girls Rock! 2011

Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis

Benedict Cumberbatch On 'Star Trek 2': It's 'Great Fun'

It's easy to see why the cast of "Star Trek 2" is thrilled to have Benedict Cumberbatch join their movies. The "Sherlock" star has made a splash onto the Hollywood scene this year in movies like "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "War Horse," and his presence definitely helped improve both films. "Star Trek" star Chris [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2012/02/29/benedict-cumberbatch-on-star-trek-2-its-great-fun/

Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich Amber Heard Amber Valletta

Avril Lavigne, Brody Jenner Tweet About Bar Brawl

'I got attacked by 5 people last night out of nowhere. Not cool,' Lavigne writes.
By Jocelyn Vena

Avril Lavigne at the 2010 AMAs
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/ Getty Images

<a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/lavigne_avril/artist.jhtml">Avril Lavigne</a> and her boyfriend, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/shows/the_hills/season_6/cast_member.jhtml?personalityId=14038">former "Hills" star Brody Jenner</a>, were reportedly in a bar scuffle over the weekend in Los Angeles. Jenner was injured while trying to break up a fight at the Roosevelt Hotel, according to <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2011/11/06/brody-jenner-avril-lavigne-fight/?adid=recentlyupdatedstories" target="_blank">TMZ</a>. The fight took place early Sunday morning between an unknown woman and Lavigne. The site reported that law enforcement sources say that hotel security broke up the altercation and that Jenner and several others were detained. Police have listed Jenner as a victim in the scuffle. Also according to the report, Jenner was the only one involved who spoke to police; Lavigne and the others had already left by the time investigators arrived. The site also posted a photo of Jenner sporting a <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2011/11/06/brody-jenner-photo-bloody-forehead/" target="_blank">head injury</a>. Both Jenner and Lavigne addressed the reports on their respective Twitter accounts. "I don't fight. I don't believe in it. To clear things up, I got attacked by 5 people last night out of nowhere. Not cool. My face is f---ed," Lavigne <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/avrillavigne" target="_blank">tweeted</a>. "As in black eye, bloody nose, hair ripped out, scratches, bruises and cuts. So not ok to be abusive to others. Violence is NEVER the answer." Jenner also used the social networking <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/BrodyJenner" target="_blank">site</a> to open up about his injuries. "Interesting Saturday night ... Just got of the hospital with a new scar on my face. Charges/chargers!!!" he wrote. In a tweet posted before the fight, Jenner seemed more optimistic about his time hanging out with Lavigne. "Having the best night with the love of my life @AvrilLavigne so happy right now!! ... #Movember CRUSH!! Haha," he wrote, tweeting a photo of himself with Lavigne. When contacted by MTV News, reps for the LAPD and the Roosevelt had no further information on the report. Reps for Jenner and Lavigne had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment by press time. On Monday morning (November 7), Lavigne seemed to be nursing her wounds. "Thank you @EvanT for coming over to visit me today and bringing me a hello kitty ice pack. I'm so lucky to have a friend like you," she said in an update. This isn't the first time Jenner has been in a highly publicized bar fight. Back in August 2009, <a href="/news/articles/1619776/brody-jenner-tased-in-bar-fight-with-joe-francis.jhtml">Jenner and then girlfriend Jayde Nicole</a> got into a bar fight with "Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis.

Related Artists

Avril Lavigne

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1673830/avril-lavigne-brody-jenner-bar-fight.jhtml

Alicia Keys Alicia Witt Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum

Is Britney Spears Getting Closer To Being 'X Factor' Judge?

'I'm fascinated by her,' Cowell says of singer, who's rumored to be contender to join show.
By Jocelyn Vena

Britney Spears at the World Premiere of Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story 3" on June 13, 2010 at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California
Photo: Eric Charbonneau/ Le Studio/ Wireimage

There are several women's names currently being tossed around as potential judges for the upcoming season of "X Factor." Avril Lavigne, <a href="/news/articles/1679730/x-factor-new-judges-hosts.jhtml">Janet Jackson and Britney Spears</a> are the leading rumored contenders to replace <a href="/news/articles/1678191/paula-abdul-exits-x-factor.jhtml">Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul</a> for the show's completely revamped second season, which kicks off later this year. In a recent press call, Simon Cowell would not confirm whom producers were talking to, but he did not deny that Jackson was on the table. "You can probably count on two girls," fellow judge L.A. Reid added. "That we can confirm." Cowell recently addressed the Britney buzz on Billy Bush's <a href="http://www.accesshollywood.com/billy-bush/simon-cowell-x-factor-would-be-a-walk-in-the-park-for-britney-spears_articletab_61327" target="_blank">radio show</a>, continuing to play coy about the chatter. "Well, I'm fascinated by her. The fact that she's still one of the most talked-about — not just pop stars, but people — in the world today means that you've got this star power. This girl's got resilience, and the fact that she's survived this and she's still hot, she's still having hit records and she's still controversial ... there's a reason for that. "I would think that if she's managed to sustain in a family, a career, which is tough, this is a walk in the park," he added, noting that he believes she would be a good judge. While Cowell seems to be dancing around the issue, British "X Factor" judge Louis Walsh may have let the cat out of the bag in an <a href="http://www.breatheheavy.com/2012/02/uk-x-factor-judge-confirms-talks-with-britney/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed" target="_blank">interview</a> on U.K. talk show "Craig Doyle Live." He shared that Spears was indeed talking to producers about possibly joining the show. "I know he is talking to Britney. I know he's definitely talking to Britney to do the American show. Absolutely true and maybe Janet Jackson," he said. In the end, Cowell summed up the current spate of rumors on that conference call. "There's a load of speculation, some true, some not true. It's true to say that a lot more people have entered the frame this year. We were waiting to see who was going to contact us before we actually contacted people," he said last week. "We're in that place right now, which is a good place to be in. We will meet a number of people over the next few weeks, mainly to explain to them that this is a big commitment when you do a show like this because of the mentoring aspect."

Related Videos

MTV News Extended Play: 'X Factor' Judges Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid

Related Artists

Britney Spears

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1680114/britney-spears-x-factor.jhtml

Elena Lyons Elisabeth Röhm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin

Snoop Dogg - Let's Go To Vegas

Let's Go To Vegas

Artist: Snoop Dogg
Label: True Vision Entertainment
Director: Doll Phace, Ben Griffin
Album: El Hombre Merengue

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1133&vid=636701

Brittany Murphy Brittany Snow Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle Brooke Burke

Nicki Minaj Drops Fist-Pumping 'Starships' Single

'There was so much love surrounding the making of the song,' she says about Roman Reloaded track.
By Jocelyn Vena

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

<a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/minaj__nicki/artist.jhtml">Nicki Minaj</a> channels her inner pop princess for her just-released single "Starships." The fist-pumping song dropped on Tuesday (February 14), and it's club-ready and poised for crossover success. Thanks to its bouncy beat, Minaj's sing-songy chorus and producer RedOne's eye for Euro house-influenced pop music, Minaj may have a new "Super Bass." It's a blast of pop goodness in which Nicki raps and sings about partying and doing what feels good for you. The song is also full of signature Minaj sass and bravado. <div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:733150.id:1679087" width="240" height="211"></div> "Starships were meant to fly/ Hands up and touch the sky/ Can't stop 'cause we're so high/ Let's do this one more time," she declares on the feel-good chorus, before it repeats and evolves to a smashing, dance-floor-busting grind of beats, shouts and noises that are certain to get her Barbz on the floor. Minaj shines like a pop star the likes of Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Jennifer Lopez on the genre-busting track. But the song is also signature RedOne thanks to his keen ear for world music. That influence is felt on the song's breakdowns, which recall smashes he's made for J.Lo and Enrique Iglesias. "There was so much love surrounding the making of the song, because RedOne is just so sweet to work with," Minaj told <a href="http://ryanseacrest.com/2012/02/14/world-premiere-listen-to-nicki-minajs-new-single-starships-audio/" target="_blank">Ryan Seacrest</a>. "He just sent me that one day and he said, 'Hey, I got something for you!' I was like 'You got to be kidding me, right?' I went to the studio and started writing ... scratch that ... I didn't even write the first verse! That was just me mumbling and just saying the first thing that came to my head, and we recorded it, because I just felt like, let's go to the beach ... let's go get away. It was just so good. It feels good!" "Starship" is the latest track to get a preview before Nicki drops <a href="/news/articles/1677676/nicki-minaj-pink-friday-roman-reloaded-album-delay.jhtml">Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded</a> on April 1. On Sunday, she gave fans an over-the-top taste of "Roman Holiday" when she <a href="/news/articles/1679164/nicki-minaj-grammys-2012-performance.jhtml">performed it during the Grammy Awards</a>. During the interview with Seacrest, Minaj shared that Reloaded will focus on the many sides of Nicki — and it's clear "Starships" shows her pop side. "I've never had this much fun recording music in my life. My first album, I was very guarded," she said. "I felt like I was making music to please everyone else. I had to be politically correct, but this album I am just creating music, and there's such a big difference. Literally, in the studio we were cracking up laughing, having fun and enjoying ourselves. The music itself, you're going to get every side that I've ever shown and then a little bit extra. I've tried to make it very, very balanced, because I don't ever want to be boxed in, and that's always what drives me. So I made a very diverse album."

Related Artists

Nicki Minaj

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1679235/nicki-minaj-starships.jhtml

Christina DaRe Christina Milian Christina Ricci Chyler Leigh Ciara

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Welcome a Son

The couple have welcomed a son in Santa Monica, a source confirms to PEOPLE.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/fzppkkolqzE/

Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler Cheryl Burke China Chow

Eminem, Lil Wayne Named 'Gods Of Rock' By GQ

Hip-hop duo featured on November cover alongside Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.
By Rob Markman

Eminem, Keith Richards and Lil Wayne on cover of GQ magazine
Photo: Mark Seliger/ GQ

<a href="/music/artist/eminem/artist.jhtml">Eminem</a> might rap for a living, but when you examine his career trajectory, it reads more rock star than hip-hop heavyweight. No surprise, then, that <a href="http://www.gq.com/music/201111/survivors-music-portfolio-eminem-rap" target="_blank">GQ</a> magazine named him a God of Rock and placed him alongside <a href="/music/artist/richards_keith/artist.jhtml">Keith Richards</a> and <a href="/music/artist/lil_wayne/artist.jhtml">Lil Wayne</a> on their November cover. <a href="/news/articles/1665588/bonnaroo-2011-eminem-lil-wayne.jhtml">Em and Lil Wayne</a> were shot for the cover at the 2011 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in June, while the Rolling Stones guitarist was shot separately in New York. In a portfolio consisting of 43 such Gods of Rock, Eminem's story and photographs particularly stand out. In his feature, the 39-year old rhyme icon talked about his downward-spiraling addiction, which began with his 2000 album The Marshall Mathers LP and peaked during the recording of his fourth album Encore. "Five or six songs leaked from the original version of Encore," Em told GQ Senior Editor Will Welch in an interview. "So I had to go in and make new songs to replace them. In my head, I was pissed off: 'Oh well. Songs leaked. F--- it. I'm just going to take a bunch of f---ing pills and go in there and have a party with myself.' I'm sure the more pills I took, the goofier I got." The multiplatinum rapper now embraces his sobriety and utilizes his natural quirks to fuel his music. "The same way that his brain was wired that gave him problems with substances also sort of makes him a virtuoso," Welch told MTV News. "I've realized that the way I am helps with the music. Sporadic thoughts will pop into my head and I'll have to go write something down, and the next thing you know, I've written a whole song in an hour," Em said in the magazine. "But sometimes it sucks, and I wish I was wired like a regular person and could go have a f---in' drink. But that's the biggest thing about addiction: When you realize that you cannot — for f---'s sake, you can not — f--- around with nothing ever again." Em, however, is just one of several survivors <a href="http://www.gq.com/entertainment/music/201111/survivors-music-portfolio" target="_blank">GQ</a> spotlights in a special portfolio, which was shot by Mark Seliger. Metallica, Robert Plant, Beck and Erykah Badu also appear. As for the three cover subjects, GQ wanted to pick prime examples of musical perseverance. "We wanted to answer the question: Who are the living legends out there that have survived against all adversity?" Welch explained. "It has to be people who are still incredibly influential. It can't be somebody who has been through hell and back and reached a zenith in their career in 1976 and isn't still relevant and isn't still making music." GQ's November 2011 issue goes on sale October 25 nationwide.

Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville Gina Carano Gina Gershon Gina Philips

BeyoncÃ© - Run The World (Girls)

Run The World (Girls)

Artist: BeyoncÃ©
Label: Columbia
Director: Francis Lawrence

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236911&vid=654804

Brittny Gastineau Brody Dalle Brooke Burke Brooke Burns Busy Philipps

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The New West: An In-Depth Look At L.A. Hip-Hop

Odd Future's Tyler, the Creator
Photo: Getty Images

Evangeline Lilly Eve Fergie Foxy Brown Freida Pinto

Artist: Michael Jackson
Label: Epic
Director: Wayne Isham

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1102&vid=634970

Carol Grow Carrie Underwood Cat Power Catherine Bell Chandra West

T.I. To Celebrate New Year's Eve With New Mixtape

'New year, new money. That's that,' Tip tells MTV News.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by FLX

T.I. at the 2011 BET Awards
Photo: Chris McKay/ Getty Images

<a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/t_i_/artist.jhtml">T.I.</a> has a lot to celebrate this New Year's Eve. This time last year, the King of the South was locked up, serving an 11-month sentence for a probation violation, but since his <a href="/news/articles/1671754/ti-released-halfway-house.jhtml">September release</a> Tip has been on a tear, dropping a ton of new music and landing a <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/11/30/watch-the-season-premiere-of-ti-tiny-the-family-hustle/)">reality show with his wife, Tiny</a>, on VH1. <div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:722465" width="240" height="211"></div> Tip has some big plans for ringing in the new year, even though he tries to downplay things. "For New Year's I'm gonna be waitin' on F--- da City Up to drop. We got a party poppin' off down here in Atlanta, 200 Peachtree. We gonna turn up and it's basically that," he told MTV News nonchalantly. "Between the party and the mixtape, that's all I got going. New year, new money. That's that." Tip has been dropping viral teasers for F--- da City Up for about a week; the latest one, which dropped on Tuesday, shows T.I. in the studio <a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/12/27/ti-gets-studio-time-with-dr-dre-mixtape-trailer/">with Dr. Dre</a>. "Dre was here. He sent for me, and of course I answered. We really just turned up more than anything else. It was about creating chemistry," T.I. told MTV News while in Atlanta preparing for the release of the tape. On New Year's Eve, T.I. and his Grand Hustle fam will host a party in the Grand Atrium at <a href="http://200peachtree.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank">200 Peachtree</a> in downtown Atlanta from 9 p.m. ET to 3:00 a.m. Sounds like fun. For those who want to snuggle up on their couch and avoid all the partying madness, MTV has your back. This year Demi Lovato, Mac Miller, Selena Gomez, J. Cole, Jason Derulo and more will be on hand for "<a href="http://www.mtv.com/shows/new_years_eve/series.jhtml">NYE in NYC 2012</a>," which will air live at 11 p.m. ET on Saturday (December 31) from Times Square, where the famous ball drops on, you guessed it, MTV.

Related Artists

T.I.

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1676615/new-years-eve-ti-mixtape-f-da-city.jhtml

Arielle Kebbel Ashanti Ashlee Simpson Ashley Greene Ashley Olsen

A Guide To The Grammys 2012

Lady Gaga
Photo: Getty Images

Esther Cañadas Eva Green Eva Longoria Eva Mendes Evangeline Lilly

Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Celebrity Pumpkins

MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Celebrity Pumpkins

Autumn Reeser Avril Lavigne Bali Rodriguez Bar Refaeli Beyoncé

John Mayer Announces Spring Tour

His new album, Born and Raised, is also slated for the spring.
By Jocelyn Vena

Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

<a href="http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/09/19/get-well-john-mayer-throat-problems-delays-album-release/">John Mayer announced he needed vocal surgery</a> last fall, and now he's back and ready to hit the road. On Monday (February 27), the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter announced plans for a spring <a href="http://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/JohnMayer/view/41504/" target="_blank">tour</a>, his first outing in nearly two years. The 18-date trek will kick off April 9 in Bloomington, Indiana, before wrapping up May 6 in Phoenix. The tour will be in support of his forthcoming new album, Born and Raised, which will be released sometime around the outing. The album's lead single, <a href="http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/02/17/john-mayer-shadow-days-new-song-snippet/">"Shadow Days,"</a> hits radio Monday. The tour will help raise funds and awareness for the Northern California Institute of Research and Education, which "provides veterans with a healthy reintegration into civilian life." Mayer will auction off tickets to the shows to help raise money for the organization. Born and Raised will feature production from Don Was, and Mayer will get some vocal and instrumental help from singers David Crosby and Graham Nash, keyboardist/pianist Chuck Leavell, bassist Sean Hurley and drummer Aaron Sterling. On tour, Mayer will be joined by guitarist and vocalist David Ryan Harris, guitarist Doug Pettibone and percussionist Michito Sanchez. Previously, <a href="http://newsroom.mtv.com/2012/01/19/john-mayer-says-new-album-will-feature-cowboy-songs-written-under-the-stars/">Mayer described the album</a> as having "organic cowboy guitar sounds," adding that he had this very romantic thought when it came to the album's vibe: "What would it sound like if I wrote an album of cowboy songs on this guitar under the stars?" "Every new record I start, a new aesthetic comes in. I can't help it," he said about the project. "I think it's gonna be more organic, more natural lyrics and chords and artful simplicity." Will you check out John Mayer on tour? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

John Mayer

Source:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1680059/john-mayer-tour.jhtml

Amerie Amy Cobb Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann

Beyonce And Jay-Z Unveil First Blue Ivy Carter Photos

'We welcome you to share in our joy,' reads a note posted with the five photos, signed by 'the Carter family.'
By Kelley L. Carter

Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter
Photo: Courtesy of the Carter family

And now we've seen her. On Friday (February 10), <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jay_z/artist.jhtml">Jay-Z</a> posted the first photos of his and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé</a>'s daughter, <a href="/news/articles/1676906/beyonce-jay-z-baby-born-ivy-blue.jhtml">Blue Ivy Carter</a>, on his <a href="http://lifeandtimes.com/glory" target="_blank">Life + Times</a> website. <div class="player-placeholder right" id="id:1676907" width="240" height="211"></div> The rapper and his superstar wife are seen in the photos holding the newborn in a series of five photos. In the first large photo, we see the baby swathed in a polka-dot wrap sleeping. In the remaining images, she has her eyes wide open and is being held by her beaming mother, and in another, her back is to us while she's being held by her smiling father. <a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/thumbnails.jhtml?fid=1679016&view=thumb">Photos: Blue Ivy Carter revealed.</a> There's a note that reads: "We welcome you to share in our joy. Thank you for respecting our privacy during this beautiful time in our lives. The Carter family." The baby-picture reveal is just the latest Blue Ivy news. On Thursday, it was confirmed that the high-profile couple filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to <a href="/news/articles/1678877/beyonce-jay-z-blue-ivy-trademark.jhtml">trademark Blue Ivy's name</a>. The patent is intended to prevent the use of their daughter's name by non-related parties. The application was filed by Beyoncé's company, BGK Trademark Holdings, and is currently pending. The Washington Post reported that it will likely get approved, considering that parents are legally authorized to trademark the names of minor children. Earlier this week, Beyoncé revealed her post-pregnancy body, and she's back in fighting shape only a month after the birth of her baby girl. <a href="/news/articles/1678670/beyonce-post-baby-appearance-jay-z.jhtml">B was photographed twice</a> this week, including at the first night of <a href="/news/articles/1678669/jay-z-carnegie-hall.jhtml">Jay-Z's two-night charity stint at Carnegie Hall</a>. What do you think of the first Blue Ivy photos? Let us know in the comments!

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Metallica, U2, Bruce Springsteen To Perform At Rock Hall Anniversary

Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin also on the bill.
By Gil Kaufman

Metallica at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday
Photo: Kevin Kane/WireImage.com

The <a href="http://www.rockhall25.com/" target="_blank">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a> will celebrate its 25th anniversary in style on October 29 and 30 with a pair of all-star shows at Madison Square Garden. On the bill for the first night are <a href="/music/artist/springsteen_bruce/artist.jhtml">Bruce Springsteen</a> and the E Street Band; Simon & Garfunkel; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Friends; Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder. The next night will feature sets from <a href="/music/artist/metallica/artist.jhtml">Metallica</a>, <a href="/music/artist/u2/artist.jhtml">U2</a>, Eric Clapton and Aretha Franklin, plus more performers to be announced in the coming weeks. All the acts on the bill are Rock Hall inductees, and the announcement of the show promises that the "music legends and their special guests will be your guides through 60 years of rock and roll history." Net proceeds from the show will go to create a permanent endowment for the Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. A highlight special from the two-night show will be screened on HBO. General-public tickets will go on sale August 3, but title sponsor American Express is offering cardholders a presale from July 27 to August 2 that features VIP packages priced from $750 to $100,000. <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/07/22/bruce-springsteen-u2-metallica-eric-clapton-more-set-for-all-star-rock-hall-celebration/" target="_blank">Rolling Stone</a> magazine reported that the shows will feature a number of collaborations, including CSN sharing the stage with other California-based artists, Metallica leading a hard-rock jam, and Wonder and Franklin fronting a soul revue backed by Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra. As noted in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/arts/music/23arts-ROCKANDROLLH_BRF.html" target="_blank">The New York Times,</a> the math on the anniversary date is a bit fuzzy, as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was founded in 1983 and the first induction ceremony was in January 1986. Among the creative consultants on the show are actor Tom Hanks, filmmaker Cameron Crowe, rock icon Robbie Robertson and Rolling Stone magazine boss and Hall chairman Jann Wenner. Event executive producer Wenner said in a statement, "Twenty-five years ago ... Ahmet Ertegun created this foundation to recognize and celebrate the music and careers of artists whose music helped shape and define our generation. These once-in-a-lifetime concerts are designed to celebrate the artists and their music."

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Beyonce Makes First Post-Pregnancy Appearance At Jay-Z Show

Singer makes an entrance at Jigga's Carnegie Hall show in a form-fitting red dress.
By Gil Kaufman

Beyoncé leaves 40/40 Club
Photo: Splash News

There was no way <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/knowles_beyonce/artist.jhtml">Beyoncé</a> was going to miss hubby <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jay_z/artist.jhtml"_blank">Jay-Z's</a> first gig at <a href="/news/articles/1678669/jay-z-carnegie-hall.jhtml">Carnegie Hall</a>  on Monday night. The new mom made a huge splash just walking into the show, her first public appearance since the birth of <a href="/news/articles/1676906/beyonce-jay-z-baby-born-ivy-blue.jhtml">Blue Ivy Carter</a>  last month. <div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:731725" width="240" height="211"></div> Wearing a form-fitting Alice by Temperley dress, 4-inch Christian Louboutin heels and holding a gold Alexander McQueen clutch, the singer looked in fighting form for her big night out. According to the <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/beyonce-steps-giving-birth-jay-z-benefit-carnegie-hall-article-1.1018364" target="_blank">New York Daily News,</a> at an afterparty at Jay's 40/40 club, she reportedly said, "It was amazing," when asked about Jigga's show. The newspaper said he chilled out after the concert by having a celery-and-champagne snack and threw his arms around Bey as she greeted him in the middle of the club just before midnight. They then went up to the VIP section and hung out with Nas and Santigold. It was the capper to a historic night for Jay, who filled the Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall for the first of two benefit concerts for the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation and the United Way to raise money for gifted high school students who need financial assistance to attend college. Backed by a full orchestra that included Roots drummer ?uestlove and Young Guru playing DJ, Hov took the stage just before 9 p.m. in a white tux jacket and holding a bottle of champagne. Jay began the night by shouting the iconic line from his 2003 song "Public Service Announcement" in which he declares "allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Hov." Among the guests who joined him over the course of the show were Alicia Keys and Nas, but the one cameo everyone was waiting for was Blue's cooing in the song <a href="/news/articles/1676945/blue-ivy-carter-new-jay-z-song-glory.jhtml">"Glory,"</a>  which Jay released just days after his daughter's birth. <center><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:725377/cp~id%3D1676907%26vid%3D725377%26uri%3Dmgid%3Auma%3Avideo%3Amtv.com%3A725377%26instance%3Dmtv" width="460" height="260" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" base="." flashVars=""></embed></center>

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Monday, February 27, 2012

Nicole Richie: Harlow Doesn’t Know About Her Namesake Lines

"She has no idea that she has two lines named after her - I try and let her be a kid," says Richie, who'll be a celebrity mentor on NBC's upcoming series Fashion Star.

Source: http://feeds.celebritybabies.com/~r/celebrity-babies/~3/b89cAN2QyI8/

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12 Best Hip-Hop Christmas Songs Of All Time

From a Run-D.M.C. classic to raps with not-so-merry sentiments, here's MTV News' nontraditional playlist.
By Rob Markman

Kanye West performs at the 84th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving day parade rehearsal at Macy's Herald Square on November 22, 2010 in New York City
Photo: Ben Hider/Getty Images

Sure, <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/michael_buble/artist.jhtml">Michael Bublé</a> and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/bieber_justin/artist.jhtml">Justin Bieber</a> are the current <a href="/news/articles/1676374/michael-buble-christmas-sounscan-chart.jhtml">Christmas crown holders</a>, but what if your yuletide tastes require a harder edge? While rappers aren't exactly known for spreading holiday cheer, hip-hop has given fans plenty of rap carols. <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/run_dmc/artist.jhtml">Run-D.M.C.</a>'s 1987 classic "Christmas in Hollis" may be the most-popular, but new-schoolers like <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/ludacris/artist.jhtml">Ludacris</a> and <a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/west_kanye/artist.jhtml">Kanye West</a> have kept rap's Xmas tradition alive. If you've grown tired of listening to Nat King Cole's 1946 "The Christmas Song" or even Mariah Carey's more recent 1994 hit "All I Want for Christmas Is You," MTV News has compiled a 12-song playlist of rap's best Christmas-themed hits. <div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:26632.id:1676439" width="240" height="211"></div> <big>"Christmas in Hollis," Run-D.M.C.</big> No doubt the greatest rap carol ever recorded, this 1987 classic found Run and partner-in-rhyme D.M.C. rapping about Christmas in their Hollis, Queens, New York, neighborhood. Who could forget Run spitting about finding Santa's wallet with $1 million in it? Or D.M.C.'s verse that toasted his mother's collard-greens-and-mac-and-cheese Christmas dinner? <big>"Christmas Rappin'," Kurtis Blow </big> Run-D.M.C. may have done it best, but Kurtis Blow did it first when he recorded "Christmas Rappin' " in 1979. It's not hard to figure out how Kurtis Blow became rap's first bankable solo star — he represented something fresh and original. Putting a new twist on the Christmas carol, Blow rapped, "Don't you give me all that jive about things you wrote before I was alive/ 'Cause this ain't 1823 or even 1970." Take that Santa! <big>"Christmas in Harlem," Kanye West featuring Big Sean, Pusha T, et al</big> Leave it to Kanye West to present the grandest rap carol with "Christmas in Harlem." Not only did the song feature the Louis Vuitton Don and his G.O.O.D. Music team, 'Ye also grabbed Dipset MCs Cam'ron, Jim Jones and Vado in addition to Musiq Soulchild, Cyhi da Prynce and Teyana Taylor to join in on the festivities. Produced by Hit-Boy, the six-minute, 32-second track found each of the rappers giving a different take on the holidays. Yeezy, who plays Bad Santa, recounts a December 25 sexual escapade, while Jim Jones goes on a shopping spree. Sounds like a hodgepodge, but in the end it all came together quite nicely. <big>"Christmas Rap," the Treacherous 3</big> Every hip-hop fan should watch the 1984 cult classic "Beat Street" at least once in life. Kudos to those old enough to remember the Treacherous Three's hilarious "Christmas Rap," on which the Bronx, New York, MCs collaborated with Doug E. Fresh and dissed Santa for putting bootleg gifts under the tree. <big>"Ludacrismas," Ludacris</big> If Ludacris was cast in the 2007 holiday film "Fred Claus," why wouldn't he add to the movie's soundtrack? On "Ludacrismas," the ATL MC gets busy by rapping lyrics like, "I tell 'em all I want for Christmas is two gold front teeth." If not for the beat's persistent sleigh bells, this one could bang all year round. <big>"Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto," Snoop Dogg</big> Who says gangstas can't roast chestnuts on an open fire? In the 1990s, Death Row Records made their bones making murderous music, but even the label's menacing Suge Knight got into the holiday spirit. In 1996 he dropped the amazingly titled Christmas on Death Row. While the album's cover featured Santa in an electric chair, the actual disc had some more appropriate holiday tunes. Snoop Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound and the late Nate Dogg collaborated on the funky "Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto." Looks like murder wasn't always the case. <big>"Deck da Club," the Ying Yang Twins</big> Leave it to the Ying Yang Twins to transform "Deck the Halls" into a crunk club anthem. The highlight is when Kaine and brother D-Roc take the melody from "Jingle Bells" and apply it to the gentlemen's club, singing, "We gonna keep on spendin' that dough, just to see her do her thang/ Makin' her booty roll, but just don't spill my drank." Strippers celebrate Christmas too. <big>"Bad Santa Intro," Jim Jones featuring Sen and Shoota</big> No rapper has consistently represented more for St. Nick than Dipset's Jim Jones. In 2008, Jimmy dropped A Tribute to Bad Santa the second holiday album in his catalog. It was totally street though and included the standout "Bad Santa Intro," where Capo rhymed about sending commissary to his friends locked in prison and the rising price of snow and poverty in the 'hood. <big>"Jingle Bellz," Juelz Santana and Starr</big> Jim Jones isn't the only Dipset MC who gets into the holiday spirit. Juelz Santana got cozy with R7B singer Starr on a remixed version of "Jingle Bells" — with a z at the end, of course. I mean, who wouldn't want to go dashing through the snow in a four-door white Bentley? <big>"Cold Chillin' Christmas," the Juice Crew</big> In the 1980s, Marley Marl's Juice Crew was a lyrical juggernaut. Comprised of MC Shan, Roxanne Shanté, Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace, Craig G and Kool G. Rap, the Juice Crew released some of the rawest raps in their day. They also showed diversity in 1988 by releasing "Cold Chillin' Christmas." Definitely worth a listen. <big>"The Christmas Song," David Banner</big> Mississippi MC David Banner has never been one to bite his tongue, and on "The Christmas Song," he stays true to form. On December 23, 2003, Banner released his second solo album, MTA2: Baptized in Dirty Water, and on it was the grim-sounding "Christmas Song." Don't let the song title fool you: DB did not spread any holiday cheer. Instead, on the song's hook, he sings, "It's wintertime and we still cannot find a job/ We fill out applications but you treat us like we're slobs/ So we rob and we steal 'cause we're tryna get a meal." Santa better watch his back. <big>"Merry Muthaf---in' Xmas," Eazy-E</big> Now you know Eazy-E couldn't just do a traditional Christmas carol. The West Coast legend did make a classic, however, when he recorded "Merry Muthaf---in' Xmas," a pornographic yet hilarious interpolation of "Jingle Bells." Trust us, it's not for the squeamish. Which is your favorite Christmas hip-hop song? Tell us in the comments!

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Taylor Swift Not Ready To 'Put Down' Speak Now Tour

'I loved this show so much ... that I didn't necessarily want to put it down,' she tells MTV News of taking the tour to Australia and New Zealand.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Taylor Swift
Photo: Getty Images

<a href="http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/swift__taylor/artist.jhtml">Taylor Swift</a> will launch the next leg of her highly successful <a href="/news/articles/1667555/taylor-swifts-speak-now-tour-brings-honky-tonk-to-nj.jhtml">Speak Now Tour</a> next month, and she's excited by all the possibilities the trek will bring this time around. "We're going to Australia and New Zealand, because we are never done touring," she joked to MTV News during <a href="/news/articles/1679207/taylor-swift-safe-and-sound-music-video-premiere.jhtml">"MTV First: Taylor Swift,"</a> when she premiered her new video for the "Hunger Games" track "Safe & Sound." <div class="player-placeholder right" id="vid:733492.id:1678910" width="240" height="211"></div> "I'm really excited about going back to Australia and New Zealand because, well, New Zealand, it's the first time I've ever been there, and the Australian fans have been so good to me," she continued. "And this will be my third time going back there. I loved this show so much, the Speak Now Tour, that I didn't necessarily want to put it down. I hope they like it. I love going there. It's always really wonderful. The people are so nice." The last time she hit the road, she was joined by a laundry list of A-listers, <a href="/news/articles/1672570/taylor-swift-ti-duet.jhtml">including T.I.</a>, Flo Rida, Usher and Paramore leading lady Hayley Williams, to name a few. And she still can't believe all those people agreed to perform with her. "It's been crazy. Between all the guest artists that have come out and come onstage and surprised the audience, that was, I think, my favorite part of touring this year, because the audience never knew what they were going to get," she said. "And I loved that experience, and even walking around L.A., people come up to me, these girls will come up to me [like] 'I was at the Staples show where Justin Bieber came out' [or] 'I was at the one where Ellen and Nicki Minaj came out,' and it's just really fun, because you start to realize that concert meant something to them, and that's nice." Not only did all those famous faces perform with Swift, but she also had one of the <a href="/news/articles/1676586/u2-highest-grossing-tour-2012.jhtml">top-grossing tours of the year</a>. "That's the fans doing that," she said. "I'm kind of blown away by that." Did you check out the Speak Now Tour? Share your reviews in the comments!

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