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- How Justin Bieber Found His Hip-Hop Swag
Following the release of his hip-hop-heavy Believe, MTV News looks at the young pop star's swaggiest moments.
By Rob Markman, with additional reporting by Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber
Photo:You'd think a 1995 collaboration between the King of Pop, Michael Jackson and rap's widely recognized G.O.A.T., the Notorious B.I.G., would have made a bigger wave, but when MJ released "This Time Around" with Biggie Smalls 17 years ago, mixing pop with hip-hop was still very taboo. Despite the top billing, the track hit with a relative thud. The truth is it just didn't feel organic, it's not like Mike grew up listening to rap in Gary, Indiana, in the 1960s, the art form as we know it today just didn't exist.
Justin Bieber was a 1-year old when the King of Pop snagged the King of Hip-Hop for a feature. And unlike Jackson, he grew up during an era when rap stars like Biggie, Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur were just as big as their pop counterparts — sometimes bigger. That's why Bieber mixes hip-hop so seamlessly on his new album Believe.
"One, I think they know it's authentic and two, you got to remember Justin's past," JB's manager Scooter Braun told MTV News. "I was the vice president of So So Def Records and then I left and Justin was the second artist I found after Asher Roth. So here's this 13-year-old living in Atlanta, no one knows who he is, and he's just riding around with me and we're in the studio with Ludacris. We're in the studio with T.I. We're in the studio with Big Boi from OutKast, hanging out and he got exposed to that really early."
Ludacris, Drake, Big Sean and Nicki Minaj all appear on the 13-track Believe, but JB's hip-hop jones didn't develop overnight. It's been years in the making. MTV News takes a look back at seven of Justin's defining hip-hop moments.
"Baby" featuring Ludacris
JB didn't have much rapper swag when he dropped "Baby" with Ludacris at the top of 2010, but the track sounded good, especially when Luda dropped his rapid-fire bars over the feel-good track. When he performed a remixed version of the track with fellow Canadian Drake at the 2010 Juno Awards, Justin further proved that he can rock with rap's finest."We Are the World 25 For Haiti"
After the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, Quincy Jones assembled an all-star cast of musicians like Kanye West, Usher, Janet Jackson and Justin Bieber to remake the 1985 classic. During the recording, the Biebs got to kick it with notable MCs like Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes and his long-time friend Nipsey Hussle.The Swaggest GIFs Of Justin Bieber Ever!
"Runaway Love" Remix Featuring Kanye West and Raekwon
Justin Biebs proved he "ain't nothing to f--- with" in August 2010 when he linked up with Kanye West and Raekwon for his "Runaway Love" remix. The Chef and Yeezy rapped on the track which sampled Wu-Tang Clan's dusty underground favorite "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F--- Wit."JB and Nicki Sitting In A Tree
So what do Nas and Justin Bieber Have in common? OK, kissing Nicki Minaj on the cheek at the 2010 Video Music Awards doesn't really give Justin that much rap cred, the voluptuous Nicki could sing country music and we would've been just as jealous."Speaking in Tongues" Freestyle
Let's face it, if you plan on spitting rap bars, the name Justin Bieber just isn't going to cut it. Enter Shawty Mane: JB's swagged-out alter-ego. Back in October 2010, Justin showed that singing wasn't his only talent when he rapped over Vado and Cam'ron's "Speaking in Tongues." The freestyles didn't stop there; Shawty Mane also spit bars over the Throne's "Otis," Gang Starr's "DWYCK" and the Notorious B.I.G.'s "Who Shot Ya?"The Biebs Shuts Up Tyler, the Creator
It takes a lot to quiet Odd Future's resident loud mouth Tyler, the Creator, but when he and JB met in February 2011, the multiplatinum pop star didn't let Wolf Haley get a word in edge wise. "When I got in there, he was talkin' about the 'Yonkers' video and sh--. It was weird, because I was sitting here starstruck, like, 'Oh, f---, it's Bieber. He's asking me questions.' I'm like, 'Shut the f--- up so I can talk to you,' " Tyler told MTV News.Lil Swaggy Is Born
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Not only did 2 Chainz bless JB with a killer verse for his "Girlfriend" remix, the ATL hit-maker also blessed Bieber with a new moniker. "I call him Lil Swaggy," 2 Chainz told MTV News. Sounds like a winner to us.Переслать - 'American Idol' Finalist Jessica Sanchez Headed To 'Glee'
Teenage phenom is in final negotiations for multi-episode arc next season.
By Kara Warner
Jessica Sanchez
Photo:As if there weren't already enough excitement surrounding the slightly restructured fourth season of "Glee," with the characters' story lines picking up after high school, word on the street is that an "American Idol" finalist will be joining the cast in the fall.
According to TV Line, 16-year-old phenom Jessica Sanchez is in final negotiations to join Rachel, Finn, Mr. Schu and the rest of the "Glee" gang for a multi-episode arc. There is no word on what specific role Sanchez will play, or whether she'll be part of McKinley High's National Championship-winning New Directions or will surface in the form of competition at another school.
Because of Sanchez's previous commitments to the summer "Idol" tour, she won't be able to appear on the hit series until closer to the halfway mark of season four. If and when Sanchez's stint on the show is officially announced, the California native will join an illustrious list of famous "Glee" guest stars: Gwyneth Paltrow, Britney Spears, Neil Patrick Harris, Lindsay Lohan and international pop star Charice.
In addition to juggling her responsibilities on the "Idol" tour and the potential gig on "Glee," the pint-sized powerhouse is also hard at work on her first solo album, which she hopes has more of an urban sound.
"I don't want people to just hand me music and be like, 'Here, you sound good on this. Sing it.' I want to be able to say, 'This is me,' " Sanchez told MTV News recently, adding that she has high hopes for some A-list contributors on the album.
"This is going to seem odd, but I love Eminem, because he has so much conviction and emotion in the way he raps; every word that he raps, you feel it," she said. "And I think our talents would mesh. So, hopefully, it could happen, and I would just die if he'd collaborate with me!"
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Переслать - Owl City Calls Carly Rae Jepsen Duet 'A Happy Accident'
'I feel like every artist is inherently granted one shot to sing about having a good time,' Adam Young tells MTV News of 'Good Time.'
By Jocelyn Vena
Owl City
Photo:When MTV News caught up with Owl City himself, Adam Young, on Thursday (June 21), he called "Good Time," his just-released duet with Carly Rae Jepsen, a "happy accident."
Happy is definitely the right word to describe the feel-good summer track, on which Owl City and Carly Rae sing about listening to Prince and partying until twilight (the time of day, not the movie).
"I feel like every artist is inherently granted one shot to sing about having a good time in his or her life, and six months ago, I realized I hadn't cashed in my chips yet," Young told MTV News. "So I thought, 'I'm gonna sit down and I'm gonna give this a shot ... and get my friend Carly to sing on it.' ... The final product rarely exceeds your expectations, and this thing just kind of happened."
Young's people called Jepsen's people, and from there, "Good Time" became a shimmering duet between the "Fireflies" singer and the "Call Me Maybe" songstress, combining their earworm powers for the ultimate summer sing-along jam.
"It was this whole worlds-collide thing, and it was this kind of dream come true. I can't believe it happened," he said. "[It was] so kind to lend her talent to this song, so yeah, it worked out. ... I feel like it's one of those songs, it kind of always needed to be a duet. That was the initial idea from step one."
Young wrote the track back in the dead of winter, saying he wanted to craft a tune that "anybody from any walk of life can sing." He certainly accomplished that mission, with the song's easy-to-remember chorus ("We don't even have to try/ It's always a good time") and a little bit of a "Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh" anthem to keep you singing and dancing to.
With the song out in the world, up next, Young and Jepsen are slated to shoot a video in New York City, but Owl City actually has a more ideal spot.
"It would have to take place in Hawaii, 'cause it's such a summer song," he said. "So there's probably $1 million in flights right there. But probably somewhere very dreamy and summery and somewhere you can feel like you can take a look around you, and you're already having a good time."
"Good Time" is the lead single from Owl City's next album, The Midsummer Station, due in August.
Related ArtistsПереслать - Lana Del Rey's 'National Anthem' Video: A$AP Rocky As JFK?
New clip, directed by Anthony Mandler, sees the pair portraying the Kennedys.
By James Montgomery
A$AP Rocky
Photo:Lana Del Rey and A$AP Rocky already made minor waves when a song they recorded together, "Ridin'," was yanked from production duo Kickdrums' mixtape at the last minute — reportedly because Rocky liked the track so much, he decided to keep it for his own upcoming full-length, LongLiveA$AP.
But from the sound of things, their next collaboration could make major headlines: The duo will play John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy in the video for LDR's "National Anthem."
Rocky broke the news in an interview with a German reporter, saying the "Anthem" video is sure to get people's attention, even if they probably won't understand what they're seeing.
"We did a video together ... [it's] some swag sh--," he said. "I play JFK, she plays Jackie O, you know, some cool, trippy sh--, some really 2015 sh--. People gonna get it in like three years, and that's the whole purpose of it."
Totally. Of course, in another interview with BBC Radio 1, Del Rey revealed that, in addition to its rather unique take on the Camelot couple, the "National Anthem" video would also be 10 minutes long and directed by Anthony Mandler (who recently helmed Fun.'s epic "Some Nights" clip). "Every so often, I top what I've done, and this video is definitely the most beautiful thing I've ever done," she said. "I wrote a treatment for me and A$AP Rocky, because i just thought he'd be really perfect to star in it. ... I love it."
Sadly, Mandler is about the only person who isn't talking about the video. In an email to MTV News, he said he couldn't speak about the video "until I know when the release is." But rest assured, it's coming soon — and you're probably going to be talking about it for a long time after.
Related ArtistsПереслать - Radiohead Postpone European Shows After Stage Collapse
Band postpones shows in Italy, Germany and Switzerland after a stage collapse killed its drum tech and destroyed some of its light show and equipment.
By Gil Kaufman
Radiohead's Thom Yorke
Photo:Radiohead have been forced to postpone a string of seven European tour dates in the continuing fallout from a June 17 stage collapse at Toronto's Downsview Park that took the life of their drum tech, Scott Johnson.
"As you will probably have heard the roof over the stage collapsed at our show in Toronto killing crew member Scott Johnson and injuring three other crew members," read a statement from the band released on Thursday (June 21). "The collapse also destroyed the light show - this show was unique and will take many weeks to replace. The collapse also caused serious damage to our backline, some elements of which are decades old and therefore hard to replace."
In addition to grieving for their friend and those injured in the accident, the band has been forced to deal with "many practical considerations" that have caused them to postpone a series of shows. Among those affected is a June 30 date at the Hippodrome Capanelle in Rome, as well as six other European dates in Italy, Germany and Switzerland that run through July 9. The band said they are going to try to reschedule the show, with the goal of naming new dates for them on June 27.
The current plan is to start playing live again on July 10 at Les Arenes in Nimes, France. Inspectors from Ontario's Ministry of Labour have been inspecting the wreckage to determine the cause of the collapse but have yet to release their findings.
Related ArtistsПереслать - Akon Passed On Signing Drake, Kardinal Offishall Says
'It's one of those things that worked out beautifully for Drake with YMCMB. He's got a good camp,' Kardi tells 'RapFix Live.'
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Drake
Photo:Akon sure has an ear for top-notch talent; just ask T-Pain and Lady Gaga. Still, even the best music execs miss out from time to time, and on Wednesday's "RapFix Live," Kon's buddy Kardinal Offishall revealed the "Locked Up" singer's most notable miss.
"The biggest one that he passed on, I told him about Drake early," Kardi revealed. "I said, 'Kon, this kid is a T.V. star... and this kid is crazy.' "
Kardinal, like Drizzy, hails from Toronto, but was able to establish himself as a notable rap talent years before Drake broke out with 2009's So Far Gone."I had met him years before he started with his first mixtape," Offishall said. "The thing that's dope about Drake is that I remember, like he was just hungry because he wanted to make that transition from the acting to the rapping."
Kardi recalled a specific meeting where the OVO spitter played him an early mixtape, which he was instantly impressed with. The two even collaborated on "The Last Hope," a song off of Drake's 2007 mixtape Comeback Season. It would take a number of years, but by the time Drake officially arrived with So Far Gone, there was little doubt that he was going to be huge. "After he blew, I went back and said, 'See Kon, I told you,' " Kardinal said. "But it's one of those things that worked out beautifully for Drake with YMCMB. He's got a good camp."
Where do you think Drake's career would be today if he had signed with Akon? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsПереслать - Kim Kardashian Explains Why It Took 'So Long' To Date Kanye West
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the reality star explains why their longtime friendship just recently turned romantic.
By Christina Garibaldi
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Photo:Kim Kardashian seems to finally have found her Prince Charming in Kanye West. The two have been parading around Paris, proving along the way that their relationship is not merely a publicity stunt.
Kim is now opening out about her blossoming relationship to Oprah Winfrey in the second part of her Kardashian family interview on "Oprah's Next Chapter." In an excerpt from the upcoming episode, the talk-show host asks Kim if her relationship with Kanye is her new fairytale, a question that immediately makes her blush.
"We met maybe almost a decade ago, I've known him for a really long time, we've been friends for like six or seven years, so it's very comforting to have someone that knows everything about you that respects you, understands, has gone through similar things," Kim said. "I can really relate to his mother passing, he can really relate to my father passing. I mean, there's so many similarities in our life that I feel like I'm at a really happy, good space."
While the two could have started dating a while ago, Kim said she feels that her experiences, namely her divorce from Kris Humphries, were things she had to go through in order to be ready for this relationship.
"I don't know why it took so long for us to kind of get together," Kim said. "But I think I needed to go through all my experiences and some that he's gone through."
In addition to questioning Kim on her relationship, Winfrey also sat down with her sister Khloé and her husband Lamar Odom. The two, who married in 2009 after dating a month, were asked if they feel the pressure from the public to make their marriage work.
"I don't feel the pressure by outsiders," Khloé said. "I'm not someone who is easily influenced by the public. This is my marriage, this is my real life. I feel the pressure from me from myself to be a great wife."
Khloé and Odom have had to deal with their fair share of hardships this past year. After moving from Los Angeles to Dallas for his basketball career, Odom parted ways with the Dallas Mavericks, their reality show "Khloé & Lamar" went on hiatus and there are constant rumors that Khloé is pregnant. But they try not to pay attention to all the gossip.
"I don't get tabloids, I try to not go on blogs, but does it come to me through, of course, our publicists or this or that or my sisters," Khloe said. "Even my grandmother will text me and be like 'You're having twins?' I'm like, 'Not yet, I'm sorry.' "
Related ArtistsПереслать - Laura Jane Grace's Transgender Life: How Has It Affected Her Family?
'My wife has been my rock,' Against Me! frontwoman says, but adds her new life 'has completely ended' her relationship with her father.
By James Montgomery
Laura Jane Grace
Photo:Last month, Laura Jane Grace very publically came out as transgender in a Rolling Stone feature, bringing to close 31 years of living with a carefully guarded secret and effectively beginning a brand-new life.
Of course, things weren't quite as simple as that: Laura's revelation only came after an intense year-long period of self-evaluation and open, often painful honesty. And when she and her Against Me! mates sat down with MTV News for their first on-camera interview since the Rolling Stone story broke, they spoke at length about just how she came out to the band.
But that's only part of the story. Because before Laura shared the news with her friends, she had to come out to her family, including her wife, Heather. And, as is often the case with life-altering events like this, there's been some collateral damage along the way — including the unwanted attention Laura's transgender life has brought on Heather and their daughter, Evelyn.
"I mean, my daughter is my biggest worry of it all. Heather, my wife, has been my rock; she's shown me support and love beyond my wildest expectations. On this tour in particular, it's our first family tour, and she has, from the get-go, made sure people realize it's Laura, to use the correct pronouns, and has been my biggest advocate and supporter. And whenever I'm feeling like I need any kind of strength, I look to her for that," Laura told MTV News. "For my daughter, I'm hoping it doesn't affect her in any negative way, as far as kids can be cruel to each other, once she starts school. It's already weird enough when your dad is in a band, explaining that to other kids, but when your dad is transsexual as well ... I just hope people are kind to my daughter."
In the Rolling Stone piece, Laura also expressed doubts over just how Heather's parents would handle the news — they're described as "somewhat conservative" — though, as she revealed, she's been overjoyed by the support they've shown her.
"I saw them actually, for the first time [since the RS story published] when we played in Chicago," she said. "I woke up on the bus and they were all in the front lounge, and I came out wearing last night's makeup, my hair was all disheveled, and it was like, 'OK, here's everybody! Good morning!' But they all couldn't have been more supportive and couldn't be cooler about the whole thing."
Sadly, the same can't be said for Laura's father, a retired Army major with whom she's never truly been close. At the conclusion of the RS story, Laura said she still hadn't told her father she was transgender — though obviously, since the news came out, he's aware, and he's had a difficult time coming to terms with her new life. Though, tellingly, Laura isn't letting that stop her on her new path. If anything, it's inspired her to continue — if not for her sake, then for her daughter's.
"It has completely ended my relationship with my father. It is what it is," she said. "For me, there were so many things leading up to this decision to come out to this publicly. Having my daughter, like, I had never had that close of a relationship with my father, and when I had my daughter, my father tried to become more a part of my life, because he obviously wanted to have a relationship with his granddaughter. And as I saw that develop, and as we became closer, because of that it was something that started to tear me up inside.
"It was like, 'OK, here we are, I'm building this relationship and setting this example for my daughter, and what are the ramifications of that if this person doesn't even accept their son? And then they're going to develop a relationship with my daughter; what kind of example is that setting to them?' " she continued. "I wanted this in so many ways to be a line in the sand with people, as far as 'This is me. If you have a problem with this, then get out of my life.' And if that's the way it is. It's unfortunate, but what can I do about it?"
Related Videos Related ArtistsПереслать - 'American Idol' Top 10 Tune Up For Idols Live! Tour
'It's going to be a big learning experience,' says 'Idol' champ Phillip Phillips of the 45-city tour.
By Gil Kaufman, with reporting by Kelly Marino
Phillip Phillips at the 'Idols Live' Rehearsals
Photo:It's hard enough for bands with one singer to get their musical heads together for a major summer tour. Just imagine coordinating a band with 10 lead singers and you can begin to see how much work goes into getting ready for this summer's American Idols Live! Tour featuring the top singers from season 11.
The top 10 have begun getting things together for the tour, which kicks off on July 6 in Detroit. They gathered in a studio in Los Angeles on Wednesday to continue getting their act together. During an a cappella run through One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" a smiling Phillip Phillips stood in the back of the pack as fellow finalist Colton Dixon mussed up his pal's hair.
"I'm really excited, you know it's all of our first time being on a real tour ... it's going to be a big learning experience," said Phillips, just a few weeks removed from surgery to repair a chronic kidney problem . "I'm feeling good," he assured MTV News of the surgery, which followed eight surgeries during the run of the show to deal with recurring stones. For a period it was unclear if Phillips would be healed in time for the tour, but he's clearly healed quickly enough make the trek.
Phillips recently told the Associated Press that he's "getting better each day, so that's a good thing. I'm just walking around, getting my strength back together. It was tough, you know, those first few days, but I'm getting to where I can pick the guitar back up and write a little bit."
Runner-up Jessica Sanchez was reveling in getting the old crew together again. "It's so much fun ... it's just like the old days when we were first auditioning and everyone was just a big family and just jamming out." Her pal, country gal Skylar Laine, added, "Every day we come in here and rehearse and just sing our songs and do our group songs and it's a blast."
Dixon promised that the live show is "completely different" from what viewers saw on TV. The experience will also be new for the singers, since instead of a few thousand in a studio audience, they will be looking at more than 10,000 screaming fans in arenas. "We're gonna be like, 'what do we do with that?'," he said. Rocker chick Elise Testone promised that you will see the contestants singing backup for one another, performing duets and group songs and putting more of their personalities into the songs.
"It's a perfect mix between favorite moments form the show .... And a whole mix of new stuff too," Erika Van Pelt said.
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Related PhotosПереслать - Justin Vs. Justin: Can Bieber Take Timberlake's Crown?
Justin Bieber and Justin Timberlake have more in common than a first name, but how do their solo careers stack up?
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber vs. Justin Timberlake
Photo:It's hard to remember now, but there was a time a decade ago when Justin Timberlake elicited the same kind of screaming mobs of young girls that Justin Bieber does now. But these two pop icons have way more in common than just the same first name and the undying devotion of the ladies.
Both have conquered the pop music universe in a massive way, sold millions of albums and helped fundamentally change what is considered appropriate material for young male singers.
"I think .. the comparison is a huge honor," Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, told MTV News about the numerous reviews comparing Bieber's evolution and sound to Timberlake's. "That is an iconic artist and someone who, when I was growing up, really set the tone for stars the same way Justin Bieber is for his generation ... A compliment of that nature is something that we embrace, but at the same time I think it's the easy comparison. I like to say things no one else will say: They're both white and both their names are Justin. That's the thing that everyone thinks but they won't say out loud. And I think the two of them feel that way."
To celebrate the release this week of Bieber's second full-length album, Believe, we thought we'd take a look at how the Justins' careers stack up against each other.
Sales: Though he's only released two solo albums in his 10-year career outside of 'NSYNC, Timberlake has hit it big both times, moving more than 10 million units of 2002's Grammy-winning Justified and an equal number for 2006's FutureSex/LoveSounds. Bieber busted out of the box in 2009 with the EP My World, which sold 3.2 million copies in the U.S. He followed with another EP, My World 2.0, which sold another 3.1 million copies in the U.S. His Christmas disc, Under the Mistletoe moved around 1.5 million and total world sales have put him in the 15 million range. But, given that Timberlake is semi-retired from music and Believe is expected to be one of the year's best sellers, it won't be long before the student should overtake the master. Advantage: Timberlake (for now)
Social Media: Timberlake may have Bieber on sales at the moment, but nobody has leveraged social media more than the kid who got discovered on YouTube. Bieber's social media numbers are gawdy: 23.6 million Twitter followers, 44.5 million Facebook likes, more than 2.9 billion YouTube views, including nearly 750 million for the video for his breakthrough single, "Baby" and another 321 million for "Never Say Never." By contrast, Timberlake has staked out a smaller social media presence, amassing 12 million followers on Twitter, 16.1 million likes on Facebook and nearly 240 million YouTube views of his videos. Advantage: Bieber
Big-Screen Success: Bieber's concert movie, "Never Say Never," has taken its place as the highest-grossing concert movie of all-time with more than $73 million to date. While Bieber is expanding his movie palette with an upcoming debut dramatic role in a Mark Wahlberg basketball movie, Timberlake has already blazed a formidable trail in acting, which has become his primary focus. Counting animated films featuring his voice and such hits as "The Social Network" ($96 million), "Bad Teacher" ($100 million) and "Yogi Bear" ($100 million), Timberlake's films have grossed nearly $450 million to date. Advantage: Timberlake
Expanding the Brand: While neither Justin has gone all-in on merchandising their name like some other pop stars (50 Cent, Jennifer Lopez), both have extended their brands in interesting ways. Bieber has released two perfumes (Girlfriend and Someday), a line of nail polish, a doll and a book. Timberland has a successful clothing line (William Rast), scents for men and women (Play for Him and Play for Her) a record label (Tennman Records), a golf course in his hometown of Memphis (Mirimichi), restaurant (Southern Hospitality) and a line of tequila (901). Advantage: Timberlake
Precociousness: Sure, Timberlake got there first thanks to his time on the Mickey Mouse Club and in 'NSYNC, but he was an ancient 21 years old when he released his solo debut. Bieber is just 18 and is already on his fourth release, with a movie, books, several sold-out world tours under his belt and, like, Timberlake (Britney Spears), a very public romance with a fellow pop star (Selena Gomez). The comparisons will keep coming, but at the torrid pace he's moving, Bieber is well on his way to eclipsing Timberlake by the time he's old enough to drink. Your move, T. Advantage: Bieber
How do you think the careers of Justin Timberlake and Justin Bieber compare? Leave your comments below!
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Переслать - 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter' Cast Share Slo-Mo Acting Tips
'Be willing to look stupid,' Anthony Mackie, who plays Lincoln's best friend in the film, warns.
By Kevin P. Sullivan
Benjamin Walker in "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter"
Photo:Working with a director like Timur Bekmambetov guarantees a few things. You'll probably take part in some insane action sequences. And there will definitely be slow-motion.
When MTV News sat down with Benjamin Walker and Anthony Mackie, from Bekmambetov's latest film, "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," they shared some helpful hints about how to properly act in super-slo-mo.
"Don't think about it," Walker said right off the bat. He probably had the most to do at the slow speed as our 16th president and first commander in vampire slaying, Abraham Lincoln.
But it's never that simple, as Mackie was able to attest. "Be willing to look stupid," he warned.
The final sequence of the film finds Abe and his best friend, Will Johnson (Mackie), atop a locomotive, riding along a burning bridge. It required a lot of slow-motion running and jumping. Mackie couldn't help but exaggerate his movement as he leapt from car to car.
"There's that whole sequence where we're jumping from one car to the other when the bridge is burning up, and I literally couldn't stop doing the 'swim' move when I was jumping. So Timur was like, 'Don't do the swim move,' and I was like, 'Sh--,' " he said. "So we're on the train, and he's like, 'Don't think about it,' and I'm like, 'All right, all right, all right.' Action, jump, swim. In order not to do the swim move, I do a shot-put move. Needless to say, I'm glad it looked all right in the movie, because I thought I was going to look like an idiot."
Similarly, during something as simple as a ballroom-dancing scene, Walker couldn't help act out the slo-mo. "When we were shooting the ballroom scene, it was in slow motion," he said. "I knew it in my mind, so I start kind of slowing down. He goes, 'No, stop. We'll slow it down later.' "
But if it came down to it, Mackie had one big piece of advice. "It's all about your face," he said. "They always say, 'Be careful about your face.' "
Check out everything we've got on "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related VideosПереслать - 'Taken 2' Trailer: Five Key Scenes
Liam Neeson is back as international badass Bryan Mills in a brand-new trailer for the hotly-awaited 'Taken' sequel.
By Josh Wigler
Liam Neeson in "Taken 2"
Photo:Liam Neeson has a very particular set of skills. Skills that make him a nightmare for people like you — unless you're a fan of ex-CIA operatives who remain unreasonably badass in their golden years. In that case, Neeson is something of a dream come true.
The Oscar nominee remains in perfectly hardcore form in the first official trailer for "Taken 2," the sequel to the 2008 action flick that kick-started a surprising new phase in Neeson's career. Since his turn as former spy Bryan Mills in the Luc Besson-produced thriller, Neeson has become the go-to guy for older-man-kicks-so-much-ass action movies like "The A-Team," "Unknown" and "The Grey." But it's "Taken" that remains the decisive favorite for Neeson fans, and seeing him run around in that particular world once again is the action-movie equivalent of comfort food: a bit familiar, yes, but gloriously so.
Here are five key scenes from the "Taken 2" trailer.
A Job for Boris the Blade
When you need a vaguely Eastern European bad guy to add gravitas to your film, call Rade Serbedzija. With bad-guy credits including "Snatch," "24," "X-Men: First Class" and more, he's the man for the job. In "Taken 2," he'll be the one giving Mills hell, concocting an elaborate scheme to get revenge for his son, who was killed by Mills in the first "Taken" film. "He slaughtered our men," he scowls in the trailer. "Our brothers. Our sons. We will find him. And we will have our revenge."Family Reunion
Our villain's vengeance will take him and his men to Istanbul, where Bryan's ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) and daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) pay him a surprise visit. Bad timing, considering the spit-storm headed Mills' way. But there's a silver lining: Bryan's relationship with his daughter seems much smoother than ever before, and it even looks like he might have another shot at love with Lenore ... assuming they survive their next ordeal.Phoning It In
The "Taken 2" trailer is fantastically familiar, even if the tables are somewhat reversed this time: It's not Kim being taken, but Lenore and Mills himself. When he gets on the phone to once again instruct Kim on what to do next, his directions are different, but the tone remains the same. With Mills and Lenore at the mercy of terrorists, it's going to be a whole new ball game in "Taken 2," their lives depending heavily on help from ...Saving Grace
Traditionally the character who mucks everything up for her surrounding cast (see "Lockout," "Breaking Dawn," "Lost" and so many more), Maggie Grace will finally get her opportunity to shine as a bona fide badass in "Taken 2." She's seen in the trailer jumping from rooftops and facing down guns with (almost) no tears, a marked improvement from the Kim of the last "Taken." But as she told MTV News just a few weeks ago, Kim is "empowered ... [but] she doesn't morph into La Femme Nikita." So temper your expectations just a little bit."You'll Just Have To Die"
Frankly, Kim doesn't really need to step up her game. Even if he's captured early on in the film, Neeson's ex-spook won't be sitting on the sidelines throughout the proceedings, as the trailer clearly illustrates. He spends the final few seconds of the trailer breaking necks, shooting thugs and making explicit death threats over cell phones, as he's wont to do. Old dog, same tricks — and we wouldn't have it any other way.Tell us what you think of the new "Taken 2" trailer in the comments section below!
Related PhotosПереслать - Justin Bieber Headed For Year's Biggest Debut With Believe
Singer's second full-length studio album of original material predicted to sell more than 410,000.
By Gil Kaufman, with additional reporting by Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber on his "Believe" album cover
Photo:You'd be a fool to expect Justin Bieber to debut anywhere but the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart next week. But experts are predicting that not only will JB top the tally, but he's headed for his best first-week ever and the likely crown of the year's biggest debut.
According to Billboard, Believe is on course to move between 410,000-440,000 units by the end of the reporting week on Sunday. If Bieber reaches those heights, he will move past the year's biggest debut to date, Madonna's MDNA, which opened with 359,000. Those kinds of numbers would also give Bieber his biggest first frame so far, beating the debut of 2010's My World 2.0, which moved 291,000 units in its first week.
Before the expected numbers hit, Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, was already feeling bullish about the prospects. "I think it's gonna do well because I think people are really giving it a shot," he said of the album that critics have been praising for its maturity. "At the same time, I think that's my biggest hope that people judge him on the music. That they go and they listen to the album and they don't go in with any expectations. There's a lot of hype around him because of who he is and just shut your eyes, put on your headphones, and put on the music and then just decide if this album is worthy of your time."
Bieber is also hustling hard to make sure he makes the biggest impact possible with Believe, from his drama-filled prime-time NBC special to an MTV "Bieber Live" show that harkened back to the old "Total Request Live" era that helped make Timberlake a superstar. Those appearances, plus his worldwide promo tour and a string of co-signs from some of raps biggest names, could help Bieber land the biggest debut sales week of the year.
Even though he's burning the oil to get the word out to as many people as possible, Bieber is adamant about not sacrificing his art in the process. "I was very involved in the process [of making this album] -- I played instruments, produced, wrote -- so I want people to know it's not all hype," he said during the "Live" show. "I want people to know I've been working hard on my music. Focus on the music. Don't think I'm just this product pushed out there. I work hard, and music is really important to me. I see a lot of hate online, which is inevitable, but at the end of the day, I'm just trying to prove them wrong by making good music."
Maybe he's a bit biased (okay, of course he is), but Braun said that if people follow his advice and give Bieber a fair shake, "I think nine-and-three-fourths out of 10 people will say yes." We will find out on Wednesday when the new Billboard 200 is revealed.
Related Videos Related ArtistsПереслать - Green Day Go Power-Pop On Uno!, Dos!, Tre! Trilogy
'The last record got so serious. We wanted to make things more fun,' Billie Joe Armstrong tells Rolling Stone.
By James Montgomery
Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong
Photo:As if the prevalence of phrases like "It's F--- Time!" (or the fact that it's three separate albums) weren't already evidence enough, Green Day are letting it be known that their upcoming ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, ¡Tré! trilogy is going to be a departure from their recent work.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong says that Green Day are moving away from the massive sound (and scope) they explored on American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown in favor of leaner, meaner rock.
"The last two records were studio albums. This one, we started rehearsing every day, constructing these songs together," Armstrong told RS's David Fricke. "It felt like we were all in a room jamming ... everyone in the mix, throwing out ideas. If you listen to it, it feels grand. But it also feels like a garage band."
And while the upcoming trilogy, produced by Rob Cavallo (the first installment, ¡Uno!, is due September 25), may signal a return to the raw, don't expect Green Day to rehash the scruffy punk of their earlier albums. Instead, Armstrong said the band is focused on honing their sound.
"My son asked me, 'Dad, would you ever go back to playing songs like from Dookie or Kerplunk?' I love those records. I love the punk stuff I grew up on. But there are so many bands who make the mistake, 'We're going back, old-school.' Well ... you already did it," he said. "So we're changing the guitar sound. We're not going with the big Marshall-amp thing. We wanted something punchier, more power-pop. Somewhere between AC/DC and the early Beatles."
And yes, Green Day are aware their new albums warrant comparison to some previous over-the-top efforts (the Clash's triple-LP Sandinista!, Kiss' four solo albums), but that's not stopping them for going for greatness with ¡Uno!, ¡Dos! and —Tré!
"The songs just kept coming, kept coming. I'd go, 'Maybe a double album? No, that's too much nowadays.' ... And one day, I sprung it on the others: 'Instead of Van Halen I, II and III, what if it's Green Day I, II and III, and we all have our faces on each cover?' " Armstrong said. "The last record got so serious. We wanted to make things more fun."
Related ArtistsПереслать - 'Dredd' Trailer: Five Key Scenes
Karl Urban makes his debut as the helmeted arbiter of justice in the first official trailer for 'Dredd,' in theaters September 21.
By Josh Wigler
A scene from "Dredd"
Photo:He says he's the law — but do you believe him? Longtime "Judge Dredd" fans (heck, anyone old enough to have seen an R-rated movie in the 1990s) have plenty of reasons to be skeptical about "Dredd," the Pete Travis-directed adaptation of the "2000 AD" comic book, judging purely on how the Sylvester Stallone film of 1995 was handled. By all accounts, "Dredd" is not that film. It takes its inspiration from sources much closer to the original text and has a leading man — Karl Urban — who takes his job very seriously.
So did the "Dredd" trailer do it for you? It did it for us ... mostly. Here are five key elements from the "Dredd" trailer that informed our verdict.
Welcome to Mega City One
Gritty, impossibly huge and absolutely the last place on the planet you would ever want to live: that's Mega City One, and from the opening moments of the trailer, all of those points are clearly established. Hooligans run amok fueled by all kinds of illicit drugs, with one in particular gaining new traction: Slo-Mo, a dangerous product that "makes the brain feel as though time is passing at 1 percent of the normal speed." Why anyone would want to be on such a drug in the middle of Mega City One is beyond us, but it's certain to pave the way for some fantastic action, based on the trailer alone.Big Ma-Ma's House
A hero is only as worthy as his villain, and in the case of "Dredd," the quality of the nemesis won't be a problem. Lena Headey of "Game of Thrones" fame is the bad guy here as Ma-Ma Madrigal, ruling the roost of a drug empire with enough ruthless efficiency to make Queen Cersei Lannister blush. Her scarred visage and crystal-clear goals — "If we play this right, we can take the whole city," she tells her underlings — make her a force to be reckoned with, and Headey seems to be having a ball in the role.Judge and Be Judged
We'll get to Urban specifically in a second. In the meantime, look at all of the judges! Dredd explains their role in Mega City One thusly: "800 million people living in the ruin of the old world, and only one thing fighting for order in the chaos: the men and women of the Hall of Justice." Though "Dredd" will center mostly on the titular judge and his new trainee Cassandra Anderson (played by a bleach-blond Olivia Thirlby), it's nice to see some attention paid to the greater gaggle of law enforcers.Fifty Shades of "Raid"
If you thought the plot of "Dredd" seemed a little familiar after watching the trailer, you're not losing it. There are undeniable similarities between this and "The Raid," the incredible Indonesian martial arts film from Gareth Evans that debuted this past spring. Ma-Ma Madrigal has her drug operation holed up in one massive tower that she has full control over, not unlike "The Raid" drug kingpin Tama. Also not unlike Tama, Madrigal commands all the tenants of her building to seek and destroy Dredd and Anderson. So, yes, the similarities are there, but there are more than enough differences in the setting, genre and characters — not to mention the action-dictating Slo-Mo — that we're more than happy to look the other way. (Besides, we'll take another "Raid" movie however we can get it, even if it's called "Dredd.")Is He the Law?
That's the big question, isn't it? On paper, Karl Urban is a fantastic choice for Judge Dredd. In motion? That might be another story. His Dredd spits out a few too many one-liners for some folks' tastes — "negotiations are over," "the sentence is death," etc. — but he's got the look, the voice and the attitude down by our estimation. Whether or not that all adds up to a fully formed Dredd remains to be seen, but the trailer leaves us cautiously optimistic, if not fully sold, on Urban's performance."Dredd" is set to hit theaters on September 21.
What do you think of the "Dredd" trailer? Tell us in the comments below!
Check out everything we've got on "Dredd."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
Related PhotosПереслать - Ween's Former Frontman Addresses Band's Split
'My decision to leave Ween .... was absolutely not made in haste,' Aaron Freeman tells Rolling Stone.
By James Montgomery
Aaron Freeman
Photo:Last month, much to the consternation of those who worship at the altar of the Boognish, Ween's Aaron Freeman announced — rather matter-of-factly — that he was ending Ween, telling Rolling Stone "It was a good run."
That was apparently a surprise to Freeman's longtime musical partner, Mickey "Dean Ween" Melchiondo, who wrote on his Facebook page that the breakup "is news to me, all I can say for now I guess."
But now, in a new statement to Rolling Stone, Freeman addressed the split — and Ween's fans — letting it be known that his decision was not a rash one.
"I want to thank each and every one of you all for your kind words and support. It means a lot. My decision to leave Ween, however interpreted, was absolutely not made in haste," Freeman's statement reads. "It's evolved over a decade's worth of internal and external struggle." Freeman didn't elaborate on those struggles, but did add that he has no bad blood with Melchiondo, whom he founded Ween with more than 25 years ago. And he closed by saying that he'll continue to make music ... minus the Gene Ween moniker.
"Know that I am extremely proud of all that is Ween. And while Mickey and I are going our separate ways, I wish him only the best. I will always have nothing but love and respect for what we created together," the statement reads. "I need to now move on for myself and for my family. I still, as always, look forward to a future filled with music as Aaron Freeman."
Related ArtistsПереслать - Trae Tha Truth In 'Pain' After Death Of Dinky D
Houston MC is 'grateful to be livin' ' after a shooting that left his friend dead at the scene.
By Rob Markman
Trae Tha Truth
Photo:Trae tha Truth is on the mend after being shot early Wednesday morning, but the Houston rapper is more hurt by the death of his friend Dinky D.
On Wednesday, Trae tweeted "I Appreciate All Tha Prayers, Calls, & Luv.. I'm Ok ... I'm On The Road To Recovery... I Love Y'all..... #Amen," but on Thursday (June 21), he began to express his grief.
"Sitting Here Thinking & Being Greatful To Be Livin... But Can't explain Tha Pain Felt For Those Who Died #GodBlessTheDead ...," he wrote. "I done been through hell and back these last 3 years..& Thinking of Dinky Fighting for his last breath knowin nothing can be done... Damn."
Houston's self-proclaimed "King of the Streets" was rushed to the hospital and treated for his gunshot wound on Wednesday morning following a shootout at an after-hours club in Southwest Houston. While Trae has since been treated and released, three victims, including ABN crew member Dinky D and affiliate Poppa C, died at the scene.
"The injury that Trae Tha Truth sustained last evening in the form of a gun shot wound at Scores Night Club in Houston, TX, does not nearly compare to the wound he feels in his heart for the lives that were lost," read a press release that was sent to MTV News on behalf of the MC.
The shooting has not only affected family and friends but the Texas rap community as well. "RIP Dinky D and Poppa c," Bun B tweeted on Wednesday. Slim Thug followed with his own message. "Im just waking up hearing all this, we was all together yesterday prayers out to the whole #ABN I can't believe Dinky died #RIP Dinky."
Trae's press release urged that the rapper was not the intended target. "This shooting is nothing more than an extremely unfortunate incident in which Trae also fell victim to a random act of violence; the same act that Trae tirelessly attempts to prevent and protect Houston citizens through his 501(c)3 non profit organization, Angel By Nature," the statement read.
In an interview with XXLMag.com, Trae painted a picture for the horrific incident. "I'm not sure exactly what the altercation was necessarily about, but long story short, whatever transpired, they ran in my direction, so in the process of running in my direction, that kind of had everybody in the open," he said. "So as the altercation came my way, shots were being dispersed, but since it was coming our direction, it was a crowd of people. Everybody was wrong place, wrong time."
The death of Trae's close friend Clip D last November weighed heavily on the rapper. "I kinda went back in a shell. I got back in that zone where it was F the world, I didn't want to be bothered, I didn't want to look at nobody," Trae told Mixtape Daily during a February interview in Orlando, Florida.
No arrests have been made in connection to the shooting.
Related ArtistsПереслать - Justin Bieber's Concussion Drama Plays Out On TV
Bieber falls hard after crashing into a glass wall in Paris, in part one of NBC special.
By Jocelyn Vena
Justin Bieber
Photo:Justin Bieber took it "All Around the World" for his NBC special, named after the song of the same name. In it, Bieber heads to London, Norway and Paris to spread the gospel of his new album Believe. But before he started promoting the album, fans were treated to footage of him in the recording studio with the likes of pals Big Sean and Drake.
"I think Believe is so cool. 'Believe' can be used in so many different ways," he said of the album's feel-good title. "Whether you believe in your dreams, believe in yourself."
Once the studio sessions for the album wrapped, Bieber hit the road for not only a worldwide promotional tour in support of his new music, but also to put on free shows for his fans. First, he's shown in Norway, where fans famously got a bit too excited over his appearance in Oslo. "I guess I'm cool with being a heartthrob," he said. "I'm 18 and having a lot of girls like me isn't a bad thing."
"I've never experienced anything like it. I'm experiencing what the Beatles went through, what Michael Jackson went through ... it's crazy," he said of the mayhem that took place.
Next up, Bieber and his team headed to London where he encountered a major snag: He got caught in an elevator, and his claustrophobia only amplified the situation. "I nearly just died guys!" he later said to his crew while getting into his car to head to a festival show in London.
Kelly Clarkson visited the pop star and joked about being a 30-year-old stalker hounding him for a picture. Later Bieber is seen greeting Katy Perry, whom he hugged and then joked, "We can just do that forever if you want."
While there are a lot of fun moments in his life of celebrity, Bieber does open up about sometimes wishing he could have quieter moments to himself. "There's times when I want to go back home and do nothing," he said. "At the end of the day, I feel like I have a responsibility."
The big moment in the special came when Bieber made his way to Paris. After serenading crowds of girls with a French version of "One Less Lonely Girl," the infamous concussion incident took center stage.
Leading up to the incident, Bieber was seen joking around with singer John Mayer, and everyone was excited for him to perform at the glass-enclosed building, the tallest in Paris.
After performing the track "Be Alright" (irony?), Bieber exited the stage and hit a glass wall but decided to continue his performance anyway.
Later on, Bieber is seen looking a bit hurt when he fainted walking down the stairs after the incident. An ambulance was called and everyone in his camp looked pretty worried about the star. Fans would later learn that he suffered a concussion.
Part one of the special aired Wednesday night on NBC, one day after Bieber officially dropped his album Believe. Part two will air Thursday night (June 21), when the rest of the concussion drama will play out.
Related Videos Related ArtistsПереслать - Carly Rae Jepsen, Owl City Stay Up All Night On 'Good Time'
Feel-good party track will be the lead single off Owl City's August album release.
By Jocelyn Vena
Carly Rae Jepsen
Photo:Blinking synths, a summery guitar riff and a funky club beat highlight the Owl City/ Carly Rae Jepsen feel-good jam "Good Time," a song all about the power of parties and letting loose.
Lyrically, the track touches on the type of material that Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night" and the Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" covered, with references to sleeping in their clothes after all that partying, staying up all night (until twilight, to be more specific) and generally pledging to have fun.
Given how much success Owl City and Carly Rae have had as solo artists, it's only a matter of time before this track begins to burn up the charts. It certainly has all the makings of a hit, especially one designed for the summer. It's easy to sing along to, even easier to dance with and just sounds like it was designed to be played at the beach.
"We don't even have to try," they chant, "It's always a good time." Adding to the sing-along nature of the single, there's also a "Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh" refrain thrown in for good measure, matching the song's SoCal, fist-pumping vibe, during which Owl City wonders "What's up with this Prince song stuck in my head?" This track will certainly have pop fans wondering the same thing about this song.
"Good Time," produced by Emily Wright and Stargate, is the lead single off of Owl City's next album, The Midsummer Station, due in August. Bilboard.com reports the song will hit radio on June 26. The album is a follow-up to 2011's All Things Bright and Beautiful.
No word on if it will also be featured on Carly Rae's debut album, which is slated for release in September. Her release is also expected to include a duet with her "boss," Justin Bieber.
Related ArtistsПереслать - Pusha T Denies 'Exodus' Is A Lil Wayne Dis
'I've never seen one record that didn't say a name cause so much of a firestorm,' Pusha tells Hot 97's Funk Master Flex.
By Rob Markman
Pusha T
Photo:On Wednesday, the temperature in New York City touched the 90-degree mark on the same day Pusha T trekked up to Hot 97 to dish out heat of a different kind when he announced G.O.O.D. Music's Cruel Summer album will be released August 7.
That wasn't all the Virginia lyricist spoke about, however: While the rap world has been buzzing for weeks about a Pusha/Lil Wayne rap battle, the Clipse spitter opened up for the first time on the subject with DJ Funk Master Flex. While Lil Wayne and an army of bloodthirsty rap fans speculated Pusha's "Exodus 23:1"contained veiled disses for Weezy and Drake, the "My God" MC challenged Flex to point out the offending references. "I've never seen one record that didn't say a name cause so much of a firestorm," he argued.
The veteran DJ picked out the questionable lyric, which has been heard as a shot at the multi-tiered business structure of YMCMB and Universal Records: "You signed to one n---a, that's signed to another n---a, that's signed to three n---as, now that's bad luck."
Pusha denied it was a dis, pointing out that he, like a number of other rap artists, is signed to a similar deal. "Why would that relate to Wayne or Drake?" he questioned. "I'm signed to Kanye, who's in turn signed to Roc-A-Fella."
Regardless of Pusha's intent, Wayne surely took offense. On May 25, just two days after Push dropped "Exodus," Weezy volleyed back with a response in "Ghoulish," in which he spits, "F--- Pusha T and anybody that love 'em," on the opening line.
To Push, "Ghoulish" wasn't potent enough to warrant an answer. "It was horrible, it was trash, it wasn't good," he said. "I haven't said anything about it because I didn't think it was good enough to respond to."
In an interview with the Associated Press earlier this week, Wayne admitted that "Ghoulish" was a simple reaction, but he didn't apologize, nor did he recant any of his dis. Tunechi said there was no beef with Pusha T, and he would be moving on.
"At the end of the day, I think him saying what he said yesterday, that was in his best interest," Pusha said. "To admit that you were emotional and reacting to something, I still want to know what part pertained, what hit you? I want to know. I don't want to guess — somebody gotta tell me."
Do you think "Exodus 23:1" was meant to insult Lil Wayne and Drake? Sound off in the comments!
Related ArtistsПереслать
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