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B.o.B. Breaks Through: A VMA Cheat Sheet
After nearly quitting the music business last year, the eclectic MC and songwriter from Atlanta shot to the top of the pop charts.
By Jayson Rodriguez
B.o.B
Photo: ABCB.o.B. isn't like most pop stars. He really isn't like most rap stars, either. But the guitar-strumming MC's mix of melodic rhymes and earnest songwriting has him up for a few Moonmen at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, which air live on September 12 at 9 p.m.
Here's how he did it.
The lanky lyricist grew up on a diet of Michael Jackson and Tina Turner, but when he got older his tastes widened to include everything from the Beatles to Björk.
That range wasn't necessarily evident on his early productions, but his woozy "Cloud 9" proved to be an underground gem that garnered the attention of key music industry folks, including T.I. and Atlantic Records; the Atlanta upstart is signed to that label through Tip's Grand Hustle imprint.
B.o.B. had been championed as an heir to OutKast's Andre 3000 after he released a slew of mixtape material in the past few years that earned him a solid reputation within the hip-hop community.
"I'll Be In The Sky," "Haterz Everywhere," and "Lonely People" were among the notable numbers from his street projects, which include the DJ Smallz-helmed Cloud 9, Who the F#*k is B.o.B. and B.o.B. vs Bobby Ray, which was backed by DJ Green Lantern and Don Cannon.
As he sat in an incubation stage, however, B.o.B. soon found himself at the center of swirling rumors last year that he was quitting the music biz before his first album could be released.
But that turned out to be a small speed bump on his road to pop stardom.
In 2010, the eclectic rapper — who late last year announced he would also go by his birth name, Bobby Ray — found everything finally coming together for him.
His Bruno Mars-assisted "Nothin' on You," with its saccharine-sweet vocals and flirtatious verses, shot to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. His debut album The Adventures of Bobby Ray took a similar path, debuting at #1 on Billboard's album chart.
His single with Paramore's Hayley Williams, "Airplanes," was a top five hit and his collaboration with Rivers Cuomo, "Magic," just entered the top 10.
After opening for Jay-Z and Emimen on Thursday (September 2) night, it seems like B.o.B. can do no wrong these days.
He earned a total of five VMA nominations: Best Male Video, Best Collaboration, Best Hip-Hop Video, Best Pop Video, and Video Of The Year.
We bet B.o.B. will tell you himself that it pays to play different.
Do you think B.o.B will take home some hardware on September 12? Let us know in the comments!
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for the winners in general categories, including Best New Artist, from Tuesday (August 3) through September 12.
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Eminem, Jay-Z Joined By Dr. Dre, Drake At Historic Detroit Concert
D12, 50 Cent and G-Unit, Young Jeezy also hit Comerica Park stage as Em, Hov unleash flurry of hits on first stop of Home and Home Tour.
By Shaheem Reid
Eminem and Jay-Z perform in Detroit on Thursday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImageDetroit hasn't screamed this loud at a baseball park since Kirk Gibson was hitting home runs in the 1984 World Series. Hip-hop history was made as Jay-Z and Eminem co-headlined the Motor City's Comerica Park (home of the D-Town Tigers for the past decade) on Thursday night (September 2), the first of two shows on consecutive nights.
While Jay's high-grossing touring schedule helped him to top this year's Forbes' "Hip-Hop Cash King" list, Eminem took a much-needed sabbatical to deal with a myriad of personal issues. Now beyond his darkest hour, Em had one of his brightest moments ever onstage. Not only did he gift his hometown with a seemingly endless string of hits, he pulled off some major surprises. After D12, 50 Cent and the G-Unit — acts that fans likely expected — came out for performances with Em, Slim Shady pulled off a shocker. Dr. Dre came out, first stunning the people then delighting them with smashes.
After his name appeared on the Comerica big screen, the man heralded by many as the greatest producer of his time came out to the opening notes of his world-famous "Next Episode." Then the familiar first keys of "Still Dre" were played.
"Haters say Dre fell off," the Doc rapped. "How n---a? My last album was The Chronic."
After that, the Shady/Aftermath duo took it back to Dre's Chronic days with "Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang."
"One, two, three and to the fo," Em rapped in Snoop's cadence.
" 'Cause you know we came to rip sh-- up!" Dre spit later.
Dr. Dre appeared to be in the best shape of his life. Wearing a T-shirt with the late Proof's face printed on it, Dre looked strong enough to end the Undertaker's undefeated streak at Wrestlemania.
"Got dammit, Detroit. Do I love you or what?" Eminem asked his fans. "Look what I brought out for you."
Em then told Dre he wanted him to feel the love; Detox chants followed.
"Deeee-tox. Deeee-tox," they yelled from the bleachers to the bullpen. Dre just smiled and said, "I'm Comin'!"
One would-be guest who couldn't attend for obvious reasons was Lil Wayne. But Shady made sure to salute Weezy after "No Love." And the Young Money flag did wave proudly in Detroit as Drake came out for "Forever" and gave a special nod to the Motor City.
"In Detroit, faded off the brown," Drake rapped.
"Nino!!!!" the crowd responded.
"I'm so honored to be here to tonight. This is history in the making. I want y'all to make some noise for the muthaf---in' legend that is Emimem."
Em's legend was largely built off his mastery of music and a catalog made for the kind of environment he played on Thursday: stadiums. The Detroit rapper has been making sing-along anthems throughout his career. Not just tracks you rap in the shower or in the car, but big records like "Sing for the Moment," "Stan" and "Cleaning Out My Closet" — tracks practically begging for an audience of tens of thousands holding lighters up. Em proved he still has that rare connection with his fanbase. Grown men took off their shirts and got rock-n-roll rowdy when he rapped.
"Got dammit, Detroit, I'm back," Em said early on in the night. "Did you miss me?"
It was clear that Em missed his fans as well. He was engaging, lively and energetic on this night. After the "Real Slim Shady" and "Without Me," Em thanked his fans again.
"I love you. This song is for you." "Not Afraid" followed. After screams of "encore, encore," Em brought out the Unit, D12 and Detroit legend Trick Trick who had earlier performed on "Lose Yourself."
Thursday's Home and Home show kicked off with B.o.B, who came back later for "Airplanes, Pt. 2," and set the tone with a quick set that included "Nothin' on You."
The audience was eventually alerted that the Jiggaman was 10 minutes away from showtime. Two clocks filled two oversize screens on the enormous stage while the Beastie Boys' "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" blared from the speakers. When the countdown hit "0," Jay rose from beneath the stage, the lyrically intricate "Dynasty Intro" being played by his band, the Roc Boys. Then a brief snippet of "Lucifer" played before Jay went into his jaw-dropping verse from Rick Ross' "Free Mason."
During "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)," Jay rhymed "this might need a verse from Jeezy." On cue, the Snowman came out for the "Dey Know" remix followed by "Soul Survivor." His mini-set ended with "Put on for My City" and "Lose My Mind."
After that though, it was the Jay hit parade — with assistance from Memphis Bleek. The Brooklyn duo rocked with a flurry of big records, including "You Don't Know," "99 Problems" and "(Originator 99)." During "Big Pimpin'," Jay delivered Pimp C's verse in the late UGK legend's cadence.
"What y'all know about them Deetroit boys?" Hov asked.
A tribute to hip-hop's fallen soldiers ensued, as the audience shouted in unison, "Prrrrrooooooooof!"
"I know y'all going through a lot, but Detroit has heart and Detroit will be back," Jay said.
Hov and Slim Shady shared but a few minutes of stage time as Jay emerged for "Renegade" during Em's set.
The Home and Home Tour continues Friday night (September 3) at Comerica Park and comes to the Bronx, New York, on September 13 and 14 at Yankee Stadium.
Were you at Jay and Em's Detroit stop? Tell us what you thought of the show!
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Lady Gaga Poses As Lady Liberty On Magazine Cover
Pop star poses alongside Marc Jacobs for the New York issue of V Magazine.
By James Dinh
Lady Gaga on the cover of V Magazine
Photo: V Magazine, LLCAs evidenced by her recent well-publicized attendance at a Mets game and her glorious Madison Square Garden show, Lady Gaga has always repped for her hometown of New York City. So it's no surprise that Gaga is paying tribute to the Big Apple by posing as the Statue of Liberty alongside fashion guru Marc Jacobs on the fall cover of V Magazine.
Posing with Jacobs, a shopping cart and an old TV set, Gaga stands with her mouth slightly open in a black lace bra and panties with a gray dress sliding off her body. With her toned abs and her hair shaped into a crown, the pop star is holding a burning torch, mimicking the New York landmark. And while Gaga does her best impression of the neoclassical sculpture, Jacobs remains serious and firm, sitting on top of the television in a traditional black-and-white suit. In another photo, the singer is seen crouched in the carriage as she's pushed around by the fashion designer with her torch held high. Just last year, the singer appeared on the fall issue of the magazine donning Jacobs-designed pieces.
In the issue, which is on sale now, V Magazine highlights some of New York's most profound figures, people they say "are making the city their own way."
Editor Stephen Gan revealed that he chose the pop star because her representative values parallel those of the magazine. "Just as the Statue of Liberty was France's gift to America, Gaga is, to us, New York's greatest gift to pop culture and fashion," he said in a statement. "She embodies everything V is about, and is also a beacon of the city's creativity and hope. Exactly one year after her first V cover (the first fashion magazine cover she was on), we decided to do the NEW YORK issue, and she was the first person who came to mind to represent our great city."
Gan declared Gaga "a bonafide genius" and credited her as V Magazine's "muse" of inspiration. "Above all, a New York issue should celebrate people who've done great things. We at V are grateful Gaga came along to put the New back in New York!" he concluded.
But the singer doesn't always leave fashion editors with the best impression. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour spoke about the pop star during her stop at "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" on Wednesday.
"We had Lady Gaga this year," she said of the singer's performance at this year's Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala. "She was communing with God and she was praying in the back, waiting for God to tell her it was all right to actually go onstage." Wintour chuckled before revealing that Gaga left the audience waiting for more than 40 minutes.
To learn more about Lady Gaga's crazy road to fashion icon, watch "VMAs: Revealed Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV.
What do you think of Lady Gaga's Statue of Liberty-inspired cover? Sound off below!
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Usher Comes Back For His Crown: A VMA Cheat Sheet
The 'OMG' singer overcame personal drama and proved his staying power on the charts over the past year.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Usher
Photo: Brad Barket/ Getty ImagesUsher has reigned as Pop & B royalty since he hit the scene as a teen crooner in the '90s. Back when his 16-year-old protégé, Justin Bieber, was still a toddler, the ATL singer was making the ladies faint with hits like "You Make Me Wanna" and "Nice & Slow." But his early success was just a prelude to the music-world domination he's achieved with club bangers and deeply personal slow jams in the years since.
Usher's divorce from Tameka Foster was the latest personal development to fueled his 2010 chart-topping album Raymond v. Raymond. Now the singer is set to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards, and his smash "OMG" will battle it out for a Moonman in three categories: Best Male Video, Best Dance Video and Best Choreography. Here's a look at how the singer's recent success has steered him toward VMA accolades:
Following the release of the divorce-themed "Papers," his more upbeat video "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" premiered in January 2010. The clip followed the romantic superstar as he tried to juggle the demands of his professional and personal life.
In March, Usher talked to MTV News about incorporating that balance into Raymond Vs. Raymond. "I think this is the one time where I'm able to put it all in, emotionally and the good times — super-freaky and then also super-emotional."
So, it wasn't a big surprise that when Raymond Vs. Raymond finally landed on shelves after several delays, it landed at #1 on the Billboard 200 with over 300,000 scans during its first week.
He went from romantic to racy, busting out his signature, fluid, hip-swiveling moves in the video for "Lil Freak," featuring Nicki Minaj. The star didn't hold back in the visuals or the lyrics, which both detail a freaky rendezvous with some very game ladies. Usher revealed that this track, like many of his other hits, was inspired by real-life experiences.
The club anthem "OMG" featured Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am and revealed the R&B kingpin's more club-friendly side. The accompanying video showcased Usher's easy swagger and ever-sharp dance skills.
Raymond was such a hit that in August the singer released Versus, an extension of the smash album featuring songs like the Jay-Z collabo "Hot Tottie."
Usher, who has a history of tearing up the VMA stage, will return to the main event this year. He recently reminded his fans that live television paired with his onstage wizardry can result in some seriously unforgettable moments. "You never know what's gonna happen on an MTV VMA stage," he said. "I look forward to making it a night to remember."
The star has also made one of the most savvy moves in recent pop music history by signing teen phenom Bieber, who has gone on to induce global tween hysteria and set YouTube records.
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.
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Jay-Z, Eminem Stadium Show A Victory For Hip-Hop, Critics Say
'What [Detroit] got was an evening that may well go down as a milestone for hip-hop,' Brian McCollum wrote in USA Today.
By Paul Cantor
Eminem performs in Detroit on Thursday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImageIt's one thing to produce a legendary concert, it's another for it to actually go down without a hitch. Jay-Z and Eminem set the bar pretty high for themselves back in May when they announced they'd be performing two nights of stadium shows in each of their respective hometowns. That's literally months of anticipation, and anything could have gone wrong during that time.
But according to early reports, last night's show at Detroit's Comerica Park was nothing short of historical.
"What [Detroit] got was an evening that may well go down as a milestone for hip-hop," Brian McCollum wrote in USA Today. "Rock 'n' roll has its enduring concert superstars, its Springsteens and Stones. But for hip-hop — whose live legacy has been comprised mostly of flash-and-burn young acts and retro-circuit oldies — Thursday's confident, high-quality production represented something unique. It was loud, resounding evidence that hip-hop can do the larger-than-life thing, too."
Aside from the evening being momentous for hip-hop culture, it was also a return to form for one of Detroit's native sons. "Eminem set out to confront his past demons, put them to rest and claim a victorious and potent present," Gary Graff wrote at Billboard.com. "[H]e largely did during an exhaustive, guest-filled 100-minute performance at Detroit's Comerica Park that spanned his entire recording career with full or partial performances of 33 songs."
At Spin.com, Chris Handyside wrote, "Both men stepped up huge with a one-two punch of sets that over four hours encapsulated the hip-hop flavors of their cities and pop music in general. For his part, Jay was at ease delivering a catalog of career-spanning crowd-pleasers from 'The Dynasty' to 'Hard Knock Life' to a majestic 'Empire State of Mind' ... Jay is, simply, a rock star."
But according to Handyside, for all the spectacle Jay's show had, it was merely an alley-oop for Em to slam-dunk the night away. "This was Eminem's night, after all was said and done," he said.
At the MTV Newsroom blog, Kyle Anderson compared the night's festivities, complete with its revolving circus of guest performers — Dr. Dre, D12, 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Drake, Young Jeezy and Memphis Bleek — to the Band's 1976 retirement concert, "The Last Waltz."
"[T]he cameos were piling up like the junker cars that lined Em's set," Adam Graham wrote in The Detroit News. "Drake joined him for 'Forever,' returning a favor for when Em appeared at the Toronto rapper's hometown performance earlier this summer; 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks came on for mini-set of 50 Cent songs, including 'Patiently Waiting' and 'In Da Club'; and Dr. Dre appeared — wearing a Proof shirt, no less — and did a small set of songs with Em, including 'Nuthin' but a G Thang' and 'Still D.R.E.' Em got the crowd to chant for Dre's long-delayed Detox LP as Dre left the stage, and the reclusive star promised, 'I'm comin'!' "
But Graham also wrote that Em's performance dragged a bit during a D12 mini-set. He also noted that Jay-Z has played a lot more shows in the past few years, and hints that as a result, Jay's show seemed a bit more refined. "Unlike Eminem," he wrote, [Jay-Z] didn't seem to be relying on pre-recorded tracks to bolster his vocals."
Could be much ado about nothing, though, as Handyside felt differently. "Where Jay put on a full-on polished show," he wrote, "Em hosted a loose cannon revue and seemed to enjoy every minute of it. He's made clear that he's through with the 'game' element of hip-hop. And Thursday he let it be known what that looked like."
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'Going The Distance': The Reviews Are In!
'E.T.'s girlfriend and the Mac Guy ooze a laid-back, goofy charm through their pore-less skin,' The Washington Post's Michael O'Sullivan writes.
By Eric Ditzian
Drew Barrymore in "Going the Distance"
Photo: Warner Bros.I'll go ahead and say it: I really liked "Going the Distance." Frankly, I'm surprised more early viewers didn't, as the Drew Barrymore comedy is currently at a meager 49 percent freshness at the Rotten Tomatoes review aggregator.
What else do we want in our romantic comedies, people? I'll surely sound like a PR flack for saying this, but "Going the Distance" has something for everyone. It's got the aw-shucks love story, realistically drawn central characters, some fabulously raunchy supporting players in Charlie Day ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia") and Jason Sudeikis ("Saturday Night Live"), a plot that really does manage to avoid rom-com clichés, and it's pretty darn funny.
I walked into the screening room with low expectations and walked out giggling. But clearly I'm in the minority. Without a big name co-star beside her, Barrymore's films tend to open small, and "Going the Distance" will likely be no different, grossing in the $12-million-to-$15-million range. The movie deserves more love. Here's what the critics are saying.
The Story "The movie focuses on Erin (Drew Barrymore) and Garrett (Justin Long). She is a journalism grad student wrapping up a summer internship at a New York newspaper; he works for a record company based in the city. ... Erin and Garrett meet over a vintage video game, get stoned, have sex and become a couple. But once her internship ends, she heads back to California and the two struggle to make a long-distance relationship work. Texting goes only so far; what about physical contact? Temptations are tossed in, in the form of flirty, understanding co-workers of the opposite sex." — Randy Cordova, The Arizona Republic
The Stars "Drew Barrymore and Justin Long make one cute couple. Whether or not the actors' on-again-off-again real-life romance helped their performances as lovers frustrated by geography — he's in Manhattan, she's in San Francisco — it's clear they have chemistry. E.T.'s girlfriend and the Mac Guy ooze a laid-back, goofy charm through their pore-less skin. They're a modern-day Hepburn and Grant." — Michael O'Sullivan, The Washington Post
The Direction "Nanette Burstein, whose previous films have been well-regarded documentaries ('American Teen,' 'The Kid Stays in the Picture'), doesn't direct with the surest hand — at times, her camera performs distracting tricks unrelated to the material. But she knows how to let things happen between actors. Unlike the majority of wisecracking but dead-eyed rom-com couples, Barrymore and Long seem to take real joy in each other's company. I'll take that as an excuse to cling to the hope that romantic comedy, that poor, maligned, once-glorious filmic genre, may someday rise again." — Dana Stevens, Slate
The Haters "[T]his uneven movie is more a compilation of contemporary images and concerns peppered with derivative raucous scenarios, à la Judd Apatow movies, than an involving romantic comedy. There are the formulaic montages — lots of scenes of Barrymore and Long making out all over Manhattan — and predictable moments like getting high amid giggles and prattling on about their favorite movies. When Long goes to the tanning booth, it's hard to keep from groaning, given how many rom-coms feel the need to insert a tanning casualty scene. Long, in goofy shower cap, gamely manages to make this sequence funnier than previous on-screen tanning debacles. In his first romantic lead, Long gets the most laughs, his pleasantly offhand and quick wit coming off in an almost improvisational style. He and Barrymore are both convincing as best friends who fall in love. They needed a better playing field." — Claudia Puig, USA Today
The Final Word "First-time writer Geoff LaTulippe could have written Erin as nothing but a male fantasy of the 'cool' girlfriend, but guided by his smart script, directed by Nanette Burstein and played by the timelessly appealing Barrymore, Erin turns into a real, vulnerable, relatable person. The same goes for Long as Garrett, and the rest of the movie for that matter — 'Going the Distance' is by no means perfect, but it's light years beyond the average rom-com, bracingly honest and genuinely funny about the ups and downs of relationships. Barrymore and Long, once a real-life couple and now who-knows-what, have a real chemistry that complements their well-written, realistic characters, and even when the movie falls apart around them in the third act, we root for these two crazy kids and their shot at romance. They elevate the story beyond its more flawed moments, but really, 'Going the Distance' is pretty special all on its own." — Katey Rich, Cinema Blend
Check out everything we've got on "Going the Distance."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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'Jersey Shore' High Five: Watermelons and Ferraris
From JWoww and Sammi's fisticuffs to the Situation's version of 'The Crying Game,' we recap this week's episode of 'Jersey Shore.'
By Jim Cantiello
Vinny and Snooki on "Jersey Shore"
Photo: MTV"I look like an idiot," Sammi said on Thursday's episode of "Jersey Shore."
"It's none of their f---in' business," responded Ronnie. "We got over that hump."
Over that hump? Probably not the best choice of words, Ronnie. Here are my five favorite moments from this week's "Jersey Shore."
#5: Snookilocks and the Three Guidos
Once upon a time there was a girl named Snookilocks. She wandered into a house and tried to find the perfect bed. Pauly's bed was too small. The Situation's bed was too big. And Vinnie's bed was really too big. No, seriously. Like huge.
"Sam, you have no idea how big this thing was," Snooki dished. "Like, this big. It was like putting like a watermelon into a pinhole."
I don't know, Snooks. Something tells me it's more like putting a watermelon into a slightly smaller watermelon.
#4: The Situation's "Crying Game"
At the club, the Situation found a girl with a blurry face. And you know what that means.
"The Situation's spending a lot of time with this girl that has all the clues that lead me to believe she's a man," said Pauly. "She was wearing something to hide that Adam's apple, she had something on her hands. So we think the Situation mighta got himself into a situation with a tranny out here."
The rest of the kids seemed to agree, as they all recited their Miami mantra: "If you have to think about it ... it is."
Yes, if you have to think about it, stay away. This philosophy has also helped the "Jersey Shore" cast avoid algebra, English, science and certain complicated doorknobs.
#3: Non Sequitur of the Week
And now it's time for the "Jersey Shore" non sequitur of the week!
"Let's go to the bathroom. I need to dance. I'm angry," said Snooki.
Answered JWoww: "You have to go to the bathroom to dance??"
#2: J-Poww
Hey, you know how we've all been screaming at Sammi through our televisions from the comfort of our living rooms because we're so frustrated with this lame Sammi/Ronnie drama? Yeah, well this week, JWoww spoke for all of us.
"F--- you! Get outta here!" she told Sammi. You're a naive bitch while your man's putting his di-- in other vaginas!"
Later, things got physical between the two of them, but we only saw two seconds of the fight and will have to tune in next week to see how it plays out. Oh MTV. Why you gotta do this to us? You've been teasing that fight in promos all week! Not cool! I think I'm done.
Anyone else done?
"I'm done with it," said Sammi. "It's done."
Anyone besides Sammi?
#1: Thanks for Coming
Some people say foreplay is like an appetizer. For the Situation, foreplay is literally the appetizer.
"I'm not ready to perform right now," he said after bringing a girl home. "I'm like a Ferrari. I'm high maintenance, OK?"
So he made himself a late-night dinner.
"Let me ask my girl if she's hungry," he said. "Hey baby, you hungry, you want anything? Ice cream or something?"
Apparently not, because Mike dined alone.
Then for dessert, he brought his girl a slice of key lime get the f--- out.
"I got a taxi for you," he said, before walking her out.
"Thanks for coming!" Ronnie giggled.
"And that's how you get 'em out," declared Mike.
That's also how you get genital warts!
Watch "Jersey Shore" Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on MTV.
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Chelsea Handler Refuses To Sing Or Dance At VMAs
'I'm not a dancer and I'm not a singer, and I don't have the kind of ass that should be mooned,' comedian says.
By Gil Kaufman
Chelsea Handler
Photo: MTV NewsVMA host Chelsea Handler is good at certain things, like telling cutting jokes, writing hilarious books and making her male staffers get dolled up in clothes from Madonna and Lourdes' Material Girl line.
But the "Chelsea Lately" host knows her limitations.
"I've actually watched a bunch of the VMAs from over the past few years and there was definitely a lot of singing and dancing," she told MTV News' Jim Cantiello about her first time hosting the MTV Video Music Awards, which air on Sunday, September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. "I'm not a dancer and I'm not a singer, and I don't have the kind of ass that should be mooned. I mean it's sweet, it's a sweet ass, but it's little and it's white."
Handler's plan is to leave the singing and dancing to the professional musicians on the bill, such as performers Usher, Eminem, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, B.o.B, Drake, Linkin Park, Nicki Minaj, Paramore and Florence & the Machine — along with Travie McCoy, Jason DeRulo and Robyn, who will take the stage with this year's VMA house artist, deadmau5.
"I'm there to be funny, kind of, so hopefully I'll just kind of doing that," she said. She will, of course, bring along her trusty "little nugget" sidekick, Chuy Bravo, who, she realized, is a good dancer and might just show off his moves during the show. "He's like a Moonman," she said. "He's great to look at. It's, like, very easy to start laughing once you see him."
As for any pressure she might be feeling to top past hosts such as fellow comedians Chris Rock and two-timer Russell Brand, the veteran stand-up said she's not sweating it. "I don't think you can really try to top anyone, you just kind of have to do your thing. It's gonna be great, it's gonna be fun. It's the perfect kind of loosey-goosey environment for me to get away with what I do."
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.
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Jack Black Calls 'Gulliver's Travels' A 'Powerful Gem'
Jack Black in "Gulliver's Travels"
Photo: 20th Century FoxIf there is one role Jack Black seems perfectly suited for, it is that of Jonathan Swift's beloved Lemuel Gulliver from "Gulliver's Travels."
The classic tale has been retold by plenty of television shows and films. But this version, which arrives in theaters December 22, stars Black, Amanda Peet, Emily Blunt and Jason Segel — and, according to Peet, it showcases .
When MTV News caught up with Black recently, we had a hard time keeping him on topic (chocolate-covered Gulliver candy bars, anyone?). But what we did learn is that the flick is going to be "good times" and that the 3-D is 90% awesome.
MTV: What can I expect from 'Gulliver's travels'?
Jack Black: It's a powerful gem. It's the old classic tale faithfully retold! We've taken some liberties. We've updated it; we've modernized with a pinch of spice as well.
MTV: I feel that you are the "King Kong" in this scenario.
Black: Exactly! Now I get to be the beast. But I'm a sweet beast; I don't rip the heads off innocent bystanders. We might actually add that to the title ... "Gulliver's Travels: The Sweet Beast." Would you see that?
MTV: That sounds like a date night movie to me!
Black: That could also work in with a merchandise tie-in, like a candy bar that's called Beasts. And shaped like me — you can eat me!
MTV: Would you want to eat yourself?
Black: Well, I eat myself. I chew my fingernails.
MTV: Right. So why not eat yourself covered in chocolate.
Black: Man, if I could eat myself I would!
MTV: So did you read the original Jonathan Swift book, or no?
Black: Of course! Are you kidding me? And let me tell you something, if I hadn't, I would have never have sent it to you. No, I hadn't, actually, when I was first offered the project. But I quickly read it and was blown away by it. One of the great masterworks of fantasy and fiction.
MTV: Like myself, you're not the tallest guy on the planet. Is it refreshing for you to be the big guy?
Black: Totally. This is gonna really appeal to all of those guys out there who have a bit of a Napoleonic complex.
MTV: Right.
Black: How tall are you?
MTV: I'm about 5'8".
Black: You're 5'8"? Ok come on, you're with me, baby. This movie is for you and me!
MTV: That's what I'm saying. I'm excited! So how is the effect stuff? Are you by yourself, or are you doing scenes with Jason and Emily and everybody?
Black: Sometimes, yeah, sometimes I was. Sometimes you're just remembering what we did on the other side of it. I was there for all their little stuff, but when they turned the cameras on me six months later, most of the people were gone and I was just acting to a tennis ball.
MTV: Is Emily a love interest for you? Because that would present a physical problem.
Black: No. She and Jason Segel have a bit of heat. Horatio is like my best buddy in Lilliputia, in the land of tiny people. Horatio, that's Jason Segel. And he's too nervous to ask her out, so I teach him the ways of the Casanova, and I help him to woo her.
MTV: Are they an advanced people, or a backward society?
Black: No, it's an alternate universe, where it's kind of like 18th-century architecture, but with super-skillful builders so they have a lot of technology but not. It's like steampunk. It's like if computer technology had been invented in Egyptian times! It's both! It's future and past at the same time.
MTV: How do you feel about looking at yourself in 3-D?
Black: The only people who have seen themselves in 3-D are people who have been in 3-D movies, because all you can do is look at [yourself] in a mirror reflection. Your hand's in 3-D. You can see the corners of your nose in 3-D, kind of. You can see your lips and your tongue if you stick it out really far. But besides that, you don't see your face in 3-D.
MTV: What's it like?
Black: It's a trip! Didn't know how handsome I was until I saw myself in 3-D!
MTV: Right. How would you characterize this guy?
Black: Let me just say, though, before we go any further, I noticed a little something in your voice when you talked about the conversion into 3-D, how do I feel about that? I just wanna say, most of this movie is CGI-generated images, you know what I mean? Like every shot has computer generated animation? To make the giant and tiny mix together you need to have tons of that stuff in there. And those things can be true 3-D, there's not really a conversion there. It's really just ... like an animated film isn't shot in 3-D, but it's converted, because they do it in post, and it's real true 3-D, so most of the movie will be real and true 3-D. It's terrifying!
MTV: Are you a 3-D snob? Do you like 3-D?
Black: Yes I am a 3-D snob, and I just want to clarify: Only 10% of this movie will be lame 3-D. The other 90% will be the best 3-D that money can buy!
MTV: Which will overcompensate for the 10%?
Black: That's right.
MTV: What do I need to know about your character in this movie?
Black: Gulliver works at a newspaper in New York City, in the mailing room. He's a small potato, he's a small fry and he's very insecure. And he's a small man in a big man's world. He's got big dreams of becoming a big travel writer someday but he's too insecure to make the move. And he's also in love with the travel editor, the gorgeous Amanda Peet. He's too terrified of rejection to make the move. And an opportunity comes up to do a story on the Bermuda Triangle, to prove that it's bogus? That there are no, you know, supernatural forces in the Bermuda Triangle, that take people away to a different dimension. You know the legend to the Bermuda Triangle, right?
MTV: Of course. Everyone knows you don't mess with the Bermuda Triangle.
Black: Well, yeah. Gulliver goes headlong into it just to impress everybody back at the newspaper and hopefully get a date with that hot, hot gorgeous love of his life. Only problem is? The Bermuda Triangle is real, man! And it sucks him in and spits him out in Lilliputia, a land of tiny, tiny little creatures and people. And it's a bummer at first when he gets there, because they enslave him. And it turns out that he rescues the whole country from their enemies. He's a giant so he can save them. And all of a sudden he's the big shot that he always wanted to be. It's a wish fulfillment movie. You pickin' up what I'm layin' down?
MTV: I got it, man.
Black: I guess what I'm saying is, it's good times.
From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.
Check out everything we've got on "Gulliver's Travels."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Insane Clown Posse Talk Tila Tequila, Method Man Incidents At The Gathering
'We've got nothing but love for Method Man and Redman,' Violent J tells MTV News.
By Kyle Anderson
Insane Clown Posse's Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope
Photo: MTV NewsBack at the beginning of August, one of the biggest music festivals of the year took place over a long weekend in Illinois. No, not Lollapalooza — the 11th annual Gathering of the Juggalos, the four-day extravaganza curated by and starring the Insane Clown Posse.
The festival has grown in both size and stature over the past few years, in part because of the online success of trailers that tout the festival and in part because of its increasingly eclectic lineups.
But this year, the Gathering picked up some attention for more negative reasons. A good portion of the mainstream media coverage of the festival reported on the injuries suffered by reality star and sometimes rapper . She suffered a number of injuries and threatened to sue ICP, though according to Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J, nothing of that sort has happened.
The pair regret what happened to Tequila and are still trying to figure out her motivation. "The only reason she got hurt was that she stayed up on stage. It was obvious they didn't want her there, so why did she stay up there?" ICP member Violent J told MTV News.
"It was a shame, because all she had to do was get off the stage," he continued. "Nobody said, 'You have to get on there and stay up there to get paid.' The way I understand it, they paid her before she got up there and they said, 'There's a rumor you're not wanted here, and you're free to take off if you like.' She went up there and stayed up there anyway."
Legendary Wu-Tang Clan rapper Method Man also suffered a facial laceration after getting hit with flying debris during his performance with partner Redman. That bothered the men of ICP, because they feel it misrepresented the tenor of their fans. "What happened to Method Man — that shouldn't even be discussed, because that was one a--hole," Violent J said. "One d---head threw something, and by chance, it hit [Method Man] in the face. But he wasn't speaking for Juggalos or for ICP or the Gathering. And they weren't getting bombed up there — it was one a--hole."
"That kid shouldn't have thrown something and should have played the lottery instead," added Shaggy 2 Dope. "Same chances."
But while ICP aren't sure what their status is with Tequila, their relationship with Meth is copacetic. "We've got nothing but love for Method Man and Redman, and we've talked to them since then. We talked to them that night and we talked to him just the other day," J told MTV News. "And if we had caught the kid who threw that, he'd a got it."
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'Machete': The Reviews Are In!
Most critics give high marks to Robert Rodriguez's mix of exaggerated violence and political satire.
By Eric Ditzian
Danny Trejo in "Machete"
Photo: 20th Century Fox"Machete" is everything "The Expendables" could have been but isn't: vicious, witty, funny, ridiculous, engrossing.
The sight of Sly Stallone cavorting with Dolph Lundgren and Jet Li in "Expendables" wears off pretty quickly, and what you're left with is dull dialogue, explosions-by-numbers action sequences and characters that you never get to know enough to actually care about. "Machete," by contrast, springs from the same creative well as "Expendables" — wacky and hyper-violent and fanboy-friendly — but there the similarities end. As nutty as "Machete" is, it's actually smart, with snappy dialogue, clever kills and a story line crackling with social commentary about the heated immigration debate in North America.
Why, then, did "Expendables" open to $34.8 million in ticket sales, while "Machete" won't even cross the $20 million mark over this Labor Day weekend? Credit Stallone and his '80s action pals. All we can say is that "Machete" delivers one of the most purely fun movie experiences of the summer. And most of the critics agree. Here's what they're saying about the film, which should hold the #1 box-office spot after the weekend.
The Story
"Three years after his wife and daughter were murdered by the druglord Torrez (Steven Seagal), the deadly Mexican Federale known as Machete (Danny Trejo) is working as a day laborer when he's hired to assassinate the racist Texas Senator McLaughlin (Robert De Niro) in a plot to take down the network of illegal immigrants by the mysterious Shé. With the help of an immigration agent (Jessica Alba), a cook named Luz (Michelle Rodriguez), his preacher friend Padre (Cheech Marin) and a socialite named April (Lindsay Lohan), Machete must get to the bottom of the Senator's plan to put up a fence separating the United States and Mexico." — Edward Douglas, ComingSoon.NetMachete Himself
"Danny Trejo plays the long-haired, craggy-faced titular Machete with a combination of swift ferocity and baleful kindliness. And the ladies love it. ... Trejo invests his character with an engaging blend of swagger, gravity and terse humor. When Alba's INS agent instructs him to contact her, he snarls, 'Machete don't text.' It's an instant catchphrase." — Claudia Puig, USA TodayThe Supporting Players
"Other bits that get a giggle are the casting of action-icon Steven Seagal as a Mexican drug lord and Robert De Niro as a murderously xenophobic U.S. senator whose abortive assassination Machete is framed for, setting the bloody, ridiculous plot in motion. You read that right. The Academy Award winner — De Niro, not Seagal — tears into the part of Texas Sen. John McLaughlin with all the relish and finesse of a starving man given a burrito. He has great, messy fun playing a corrupt politician whose aide (Jeff Fahey) arranges for him to be shot at in order to stir up anti-Mexican sentiment, and get him reelected. So, for that matter, does Cheech Marin as a foul-mouthed, gun-toting priest. He's Machete's brother. What did you expect? But just wait until you see Lindsay Lohan. Playing a campier, trampier version of herself — or at least her tabloid image — she at one point gets to dress up as a nun and shoot people. Don't ask. It's complicated (not to mention fairly random). For much of the rest of her 'performance,' she's naked." — Michael O'Sullivan, The Washington PostThe Dissenters
"An aggressively overstated mashup of testosterone-fueled melodrama, comically exaggerated violence and babe-o-licious action femmes, 'Machete' marks yet another attempt by multihyphenate Robert Rodriguez to simultaneously revive and burlesque the excesses of '70s exploitation pics. Heralded three years ago with a fake trailer in 'Grindhouse,' then developed into a standalone feature, this slam-bang B-movie pastiche is wildly uneven as it doggedly strives (sometimes with obvious strain) to sustain a free-wheeling, anything-goes air of exuberant junkiness." — Joe Leydon, VarietyThe Final Word
"[R]est assured that the political satire and commentary merely provide backdrop for flying bullets, swinging blades, spurting arteries, naked babes and tough-guy one-liners ("Machete don't text" is tattoo-worthy). The film takes absolutely wild-eyed delight in viscera, gore and grotesquerie (to wit, one poor fellow's intestine is used as an escape rope, while another man is quite explicitly crucified). ... You can't always count on Rodriguez to get the balance of lunacy, competence and coherence right. But here he more or less gives you exactly what you were looking for: 100 or so minutes as bloody, excessive and ridiculous as those initial 150 or so seconds." — Shawn Levy, The OregonianCheck out everything we've got on "Machete." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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Snoop Dogg Says Katy Perry Will Appear On His Next Album
The 'California Gurls' pair will reunite for the upcoming Doggystyle 2: The Doggumentary.
By Jayson Rodriguez
Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ Getty ImagesSnoop Dogg is in a "let's do it again" type of mood.
The rapper announced plans to work with Katy Perry again after the pair's "California Gurls" collaboration shot to the top of the iTunes singles chart this week. (Perry's album, Teenage Dream, also hit #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week.)
"We're trying to get together and do something on my new album ... so [I'm] definitely in contact with her," Snoop told OK! magazine about Perry. "She's a sweet girl and I had fun making the record with her. Like I said, I'm looking forward to her being on my record as well."
The album in question is Doggystyle 2: The Doggumentary.
Snoop announced he's revisiting his classic debut album in a BubbleTweet video message sent over Swizz Beatz's Twitter account.
Snoop and Swizz were in a studio session and revealed they had recorded upwards of 18 new tracks together.
"Man, this is big Snoop Dogg coming to you live from the studio somewhere," Snoop said in the clip. "With Swizzle, and he just laced my boots up for my new record. He gave me some gangster sh--, some Crip sh--, some R&B sh--, some hip-hop sh--, some hard sh--, some mean sh--."
The Los Angeles lyricist then revealed the name of his next album before the clip cut off.
Snoop's Doggystyle was released in November 1993. The collection was produced by Dr. Dre and, along with Dre's The Chronic, helped solidify the West Coast's reign atop the hip-hop game. It still remains one of the best-selling debuts in hip-hop history.
Last month, Snoop revisited his debut project as a part of this year's Rock the Bells tour, which had performers playing seminal albums in their entirety. Also on the bill were Lauryn Hill (The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill), A Tribe Called Quest (Midnight Marauders), KRS-One (Criminal Minded), Rakim (Paid in Full) and the Wu-Tang Clan (Enter the Wu-Tang [36 Chambers]).
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Eminem's Return Thrills Detroit Fans
Surprise guests and solid performances cap Shady's homecoming show at Comerica Park.
By Rahman Dukes
Eminem performs in Detroit on Thursday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImageDETROIT — Thursday (September 2) was a night that the people of Detroit will never forget. Eminem, who hadn't performed in his hometown for years, co-headlined a show at Comerica Park with Jay-Z. And if you ask Em's fans, it was more than worth the wait.
"It was pretty sweet," said Jon Bitz. "Eminem was out there, doing his thing. I thought it was pretty much the best concert I've ever been to."
Jay-Z and Eminem pulled out all the stops at the show, which was chock-full of surprise guests. Local resident Juvenal Gutierrize said the re-emergence of Dr. Dre sent a number of ladies into a frenzy. "It went crazy when Dr. Dre came out. A bunch of girls lost their panties," said Gutierrize. "There was panties flying all over."
Gutierrize was also happy to see the return of D12. "It was also good to see D12 back together and [hear] them talk about Proof," he said. "Rest in peace, Proof."
"Seeing Dre was probably my best part," said Anthony Crachiola. "I definitely love Eminem."
Sara Ohle and Gioviani Villannava celebrated their birthdays at the show, and they wouldn't have missed it for the world. "We came out here all the way from Riverside and Corona, California, just to see Jay-Z and Eminem — mostly Eminem," said Ohle, who missed a flight from the West Coast but still managed to make it to Detroit on time for the show. "We loved him. He topped all of our dreams and everything that we could expect."
While the whole night was one to remember, it was Eminem who especially thrilled his hometown fans. "Jay-Z came out and he ripped it. He did it big," said Edward Richardson. "But basically Eminem finished the show. He shut it down."
Thursday night's concert was first of two sold-out shows with Em and Jay as headliners, and the show on Friday will likely draw more than a few repeat visitors.
"Best rap show in history," said Jordan Degeorge, who traveled from Wisconsin to be at Comerica Park. "You've got everyone — Eminem, 50 Cent, D12, Dr. Dre, Drake, Jay-Z, Young Jeezy. Best show of all time."
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Rihanna Set To Premiere 'Only Girl (In The World)'
New single, produced by Stargate, will premiere Tuesday on RyanSeacrest.com.
By James Dinh
Rihanna
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/ WireImageRihanna may be in the midst of filming "Battleship," her Hollywood debut, but that doesn't mean that the pop star won't be focusing on her music. Just less than a year after the release of her last album, Rated R, the singer is already set to debut a new single called "Only Girl (In the World)" from her fifth studio album.
The song, which was produced by Stargate, will premiere on Tuesday (September 7) on RyanSeacrest.com at 3 a.m. PT/6 a.m. ET. This isn't the first time the Barbadian songstress has worked with the Norwegian producing team. She has collaborated with the duo on earlier hits including "Please Don't Stop the Music," "Hate That I Love You" and, most recently, "Rude Boy."
Just days after joining Twitter, the singer hinted at the single in a tweet directed at Seacrest. "@RyanSeacrest Soon! In less than 10 dayz ima send u sumn special, and ur gonna play it OVER and OVER, like I'm the only girl in the world!" she said.
In addition to Stargate, the singer has also been working with Sean Garrett. Back in June, the producer spoke to MTV News about the new album, which he said is going to be more uplifting than the darker material on Rated R. "I can definitely say that her album is definitely gonna be way more exciting, happy," Garrett told MTV News. "I hope she doesn't mind me saying this. I love Rihanna. She's fun, she's like a sister, and I tend to think she doesn't really take herself too seriously. And I think that's what this album is gonna be about."
While not much else is known about the project, Rihanna has also reportedly recorded a song called "Cheers," with production by the Runners.
What do you think "Only Girl (In the World)" is going to sound like? Share your thoughts below!
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'Camp Rock 2' Cast Excited For Musical Showdown
Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato return to camp and face off against new rivals.
By James Dinh
The Jonas Brothers at the "Camp Rock 2" premiere
Photo: Andrew H. Walker/ Getty ImagesBefore the summer ends, the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato will return to the wilderness one more time in "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam." While on "Good Morning America" and on tour, they've teased fans with new songs from the movie's soundtrack. But what's the most exciting thing about the flick itself? MTV News caught up with some of the "Camp Rock 2" stars to find out.
"I'm excited for everybody to see the dance numbers and performance numbers," Matthew Finley said. "I feel like we worked really hard. There were several genres of music in there. Listening to the soundtrack gets me amped and excited, so I'm ready to see it with action and with the movie."
In the sequel to 2008's "Camp Rock," Lovato and her fellow campers are heading toward a showdown with their rivals in Camp Star. "We just battle it out and see which camp wins and there's a lot of cool, fun songs and dances," Jasmine Richards said.
But it wouldn't be summer without a little romance either. Chloe Bridges, who plays Nick Jonas' love interest, said that the movie will surprise people.
"It doesn't lack realness and emotionality, which might not be what people are expecting because there's obviously very fun entertainment," Bridges told MTV News. "It's fun to watch. Its big dance numbers and fun music, but there's also very real moments — especially with the romance, which is where I come in. So it's really cool."
Roshon Fegan said, "I'm just looking forward to the fans' response. I want to know what they think about it. I think that's what we all are really excited for."
The Jonas Brothers described the sequel to the 2008 film as "next level", in part because of where the film was shot. "The staging was phenomenal for the film. We were always filming somewhere different. Every other day was a new location. For us, that was really exciting because for the first one we stuck to about three different sets, and this time probably having 15, 16 different sets, for us, that was really exciting," Joe Jonas explained.
"Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam" airs Friday (September 3) on the Disney Channel.
Are you looking forward to "Camp Rock 2"? Let us know in the comments!
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Kings Of Leon Release Come Around Sundown Art, Track Listing
First single, 'Radioactive,' will premiere on band's website on Wednesday.
By Kyle Anderson
Kings of Leon
Photo: Gareth Cattermole/ Getty ImagesThough they faced scathing reviews from a pack of pigeons in St. Louis in July, most of the rest of the rock world is eagerly awaiting the fifth album from Kings of Leon. The wait is finally coming to an end, as Come Around Sundown is set to drop on October 19, with the first taste — a single called "Radioactive" — coming out next week.
"Radioactive" will see its video premiere on Kings of Leon's official website on Wednesday, September 8. It will then move to radio on Monday, September 13, and to iTunes the next day. As with most high-profile rock releases, two versions will be made available: the standard album as well as a deluxe edition that will include bonus tracks.
Come Around Sundown contains 13 tracks, several of which have been road-tested by the band during its summer tour. In keeping with tradition, the new Kings of Leon tunes unveiled on the tour combine bluesy, hard-rocking sensibilities with just the right amount of Americana twang (especially "Mary," which has quickly become a live staple). Meanwhile, the new single "Radioactive" is a fantastically kinetic uptempo rocker that features a giant sing-along chorus.
In addition to the track listing and single release dates, Kings of Leon also released the cover art to Come Around Sundown. It features a photo of a small island with a pair of palm trees at sunset. Shot from the sea, it's a warm, wistful image that serves the title of the album extremely well.
Kings of Leon's summer tour continues through September 25, when they will make up the Missouri show that they had to cut short because of pigeon droppings.
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Ol' Dirty Bastard's Son Talks Touring With Wu-Tang Clan
'They the gods and I'm the young god,' Boy Jones says in Mixtape Daily
By Shaheem Reid
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Photo: Chi Modu/ diverseimages/ Getty ImagesFire Starter: Boy Jones
Just looking at 21-year-old Boy Jones, it's clear he's his father's son. Jones wears a T-shirt with an image of his pop, the late great Ol' Dirty Bastard, taking up most of the real estate on the front.
It's late August, the day before the Rock the Bells tour kicked off its four-city run. Jones is in San Bernardino, California, at the NOS Events Center. Snoop Dogg is at one side of the park rehearsing and members of the Wu-Tang Clan are inside at another part. GZA is playing chess, and RZA is onstage, guiding his cousin the Young Dirty Bastard through a Wu classic, "Shame on a N---a." It's a signature song from the Shaolin Swordsmen's 1993 debut LP, on which Dirt McGirt stole the show.
The next night, while the real performance was going, Young Dirty brought high energy for "Shame," and during a tribute to Dirty senior, for which Boy Jones performed "Shimmy Shimmy Ya," the youngster ran out with no shirt and jumped into the audience.
" 'Shimmy Shimmy' with no shirt on? I couldn't help it," Jones said a week later, this time at New York's Governors Island. "It's like a baby running around naked. Once you start, you have to let go of everything. Be a free spirit. Surprise yourself. The fans give you the energy. I'mma get naked regardless."
Sound familiar? Jones — even at a young age — has that unorthodox wisdom his dad was famous for. He also shares the same unpredictable energy and even the same hairstyle. YDB sports the braids sticking straight up in the air like ODB had.
"He looks just like him. Scrappy Doo to the fullest," Raekwon the Chef laughed. "Dirty was Scooby and his son is Scrappy all the way. He looks just like his father. When I tell you he's got his father's style down pat, am I lying? Nope. He's his father to the maximum. When I see him, I see his father."
"I love Boy Jones," Method Man said after the Wu performed at Governors Island. "His grandmother is here, Dirty's mother. I know she's lookin' up and she's proud of him. I'm proud of him, too."
"It feels great," Jones said about performing with his dad's squadron. "It's me. It's his son. A son is like a father, he always gotta do what his father does. He's born in that type of way. It ain't nothing else to it. I got the call from RZA [to go on tour] when I was feeding my babies baby food. 'You going on the tour.' I'm running. I need that bread. Young Dirty Bastard raps hard, too. I ain't doing it for free. I need money and I rap hard.
"They the gods and I'm the young god," Dirty added about what he's learned from traveling and performing with Wu-Tang. "It's like when you go to school for the first time and you're really scared, but you have teachers who really teach you. You can't know anything without somebody giving it to you. They give it to me real. They don't tell it to me fake. I might break a few rules and they put me in check. They teach me. I'm the young god."
Young Dirty is working on his first big mixtape. Besides Meth, Rae and Ghostface, he wants to work with 9th Wonder. Boy is talking to DJ Absolut about hosting the project.
"My music is coming with an Ol' natural style," Jones explained. "Ol' Dirty Bastard had the sh--. I'm just the new sperm of the generation. And you know I'm gonna have it. I'm born with it."
The Streets Is Talking
A few days ago, Raekwon leaked the trailer for the "Ason Jones" video. The Chef said paying tribute to his friend was always in the plans.
"As far as the video is concerned, it's something I wanted to add to the collection of videos I got out there. Dirty is my heart. Same way how everybody got fallen soldiers around them or in their circle that they lost, he is one I really appreciate. At the end of the day, I'm always keeping him right here."
For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.
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B.o.B Is Living The Dream In 'Magic' Video -- Watch It Here!
Upstart VMA-nominee is joined by Weezer's Rivers Cuomo at raging house party in new clip.
By Jayson Rodriguez
B.o.B in his 'Magic' video
Photo: Warner Music GroupYou can't blame B.o.B if he wanted to pinch himself.
The VMA-nominated newcomer is riding an enormous wave via his debut album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray, which has spawned three consecutive top 10 singles, "Nothin' on You," "Airplanes" and his latest, "Magic." And for his "Magic" clip, the Atlanta rapper recruited director Sanaa Hamri (Jay-Z, Christina Aguilera) who put B.o.B in the middle of a raucous house party.
But in the video, which premiered Thursday (September 2) at midnight on MTV.com, Bobby Ray can't seem to believe his good fortune. As he and his "Magic" collaborator, Weezer's Rivers Cuomo, jam in the backyard, B.o.B mentally traces back to earlier in the day when the young rapper first wakes up. B.o.B tries to shake awake a sleeping version of himself but to no avail.
The girls, the party, all the happenings do seem to be going on — and all for him. Partygoers run through the house and Bobby Ray snaps pictures with the girl of his dreams. But in an instant — as quick as he's been clicking Polaroid pictures — the party is over and B.o.B awakens.
Turns out he was dreaming.
The sleep-eyed MC, however, takes a look around his bedroom and notices two photos on the ground: two snapshots of him and his leading lady. He's got the magic, indeed.
Last week, "Magic" landed on the Billboard Hot 100 at the #10 position. The track follows "Nothin' on You," which went to the top of the chart, and "Airplanes," a top 5 hit. Also on Thursday, B.o.B opened for Eminem and Jay-Z during the superstar MCs' Home and Home concert series in Detroit; he's scheduled to open for the pair again on Friday (September 3), and later this month in New York.
What do you think of B.o.B's "Magic" video? Tell us in the comments!
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Taylor Swift's Kanye West Recovery Uncovered On 'VMAs: Revealed'
Find out how singer bounced back just in time for 2009 subway performance, in special airing Saturday at 11 a.m.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Kanye West and Taylor Swift at the 2009 Video Music Awards
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagicWith one swift swipe of the mic, Kanye West went from just another tipsy rapper at an awards show to a pop-culture pariah at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Jaws dropped and boos were lobbed when Kanye infamously interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Female Video, leaving behind a shell-shocked teen country starlet.
Swift composed herself and gracefully left the stage but the experience was apparently as hard for the Grammy-winner to take as it was for viewers to watch. And to pile on the pressure, Swift was set to pull off a complex performance of "You Belong With Me" involving scores of extras raging through a New York City subway station just minutes after the onstage debacle. In addition to her preternatural professionalism, Swift had a secret weapon to help her through the set: her fans.
"The fans behind her were going crazy," choreographer Danielle Flora recalls in the special "The VMAs: Revealed - Presented by New 5 React Gum," which premieres Saturday at 11 a.m. Dancer Keltie Colleen agreed: "It was like they were her army."
Eventually, it all worked out. Beyoncé, who appeared almost as uncomfortable as Swift when 'Ye insisted the 'Single Ladies' singer deserved the Best Female Video Moonman, asked the country star to finish her acceptance speech when she later won for Video of the Year. Swift went on to lampoon the drama on "Saturday Night Live" and West has used the incident as material for some of his latest work.
To learn exactly how Swift pulled off one of the craziest performances in VMA history, tune in to "The VMAs: Revealed - Presented by New 5 React Gum."
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Danny Boyle Says 'The Wrestler' Inspired His '127 Hours'
Oscar-winner says he's made story of a man who can't move into an action movie.
By Josh Horowitz
Danny Boyle
Photo: Jordan Strauss/WireImageAt the 81st Academy Awards in early 2008, Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" took home eight awards, including Best Director, while Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" lost both categories in which it was nominated.
But that didn't stop Boyle from wanting to emulate Aronofsky's cinematic approach for his next project. Thus, "127 Hours" follows one central character, in much the same way that "The Wrestler" focused on Mickey Rourke's damaged grappler. Boyle's new film is based on the true story of an avid outdoorsman who becomes trapped under a boulder in the wildness and is forced to saw off his own arm to escape. James Franco plays the unfortunate hiker.
The film is one that Boyle has wanted to make for years. Only after virtually sweeping the Oscars, and being inspired by Aronofsky's style, though, did he move forward with the project. As part of MTV News' Fall Movie Preview, Boyle called us to chat about how his career has changed since "Slumdog," the challenges of making a film about a man who can't move, and why "127 Hours" may not be the ideal date movie.
MTV: How are you?
Danny Boyle: Good. We're mixing "127 Hours" at Pinewood, and we've been kicked out of the big theater by "Harry Potter." We're next door in the little theater.
MTV: I guess if you're going to be kicked out by anybody, they have a big thing going on.
Boyle: They're not even here! Do you know what they do? It's a big bank holiday this weekend here in Britain, and we're working right through the weekend to get it ready, and what they do is they book the theater for months and nothing happens! It's like, "Really?"
MTV: Well, it is great to talk to you. So, you had, you know, a little bit of success with "Slumdog Millionaire." Coming off of that, why this one?
Boyle: I'd always wanted to do it. The story has an instant tension that draws everyone's attention to it. So many people remember it vaguely. But it wasn't that. I wanted to make the film and I tried to get it going. Of course, it's a tough subject, but I had a way of doing it that wasn't what you think. It would be compelling and would occupy you completely as a viewer so that the whole barrier — it's just one guy stuck in one place — that wouldn't become an issue because you'd be with him. You would be him, in effect. That was always my take on it.
Anyway, once "Slumdog" kicked off, [producer] Christian [Colson] and I thought, "This is our chance to make this." There's no other moment in our careers when we'll get a chance to make something like this, which is really a tricky prospect for any studio or financier. So we worked on it, we prepared a script, and then we had to find an actor. That's the key to this. Beyond our vision of it, you have to have someone who's not only going to share the vision but actually going to carry it much more than any film like "Slumdog" or a thriller or a big love story or anything that has a plot or the dynamics changing between two people. It's just one guy. We got Franco. He's amazing in it.
MTV: There are a couple ways to go off something like "Slumdog." Either you go with the project you've been wanting to make, or I'm sure you were offered every project under the sun.
Boyle: I don't think like that. It's such an amazing thing that happened that you have to take advantage in the right way. It's why we wanted to get ["127 Hours"] ready for Toronto, because that's where we started with "Slumdog." We wanted to take back there a film that had been made in its shadow. It's wonderful to do that, because suddenly it's not an intimidating shadow, it's liberating because it's a success that's allowed you to make something you've always wanted to make and you believe but wouldn't get made otherwise. Even though people, before they see the film, might think it a peculiar choice, but the film is really accessible. Whether they can get people into [the theater], I don't know. If you want to take a girl on a Friday and say, "What should we go and see?" it's tough to say, "It's a film about a guy who cuts his arm off. What do you think?" But once you're in there, it's a big story for everyone. It's a very universal thing.
MTV: What are the challenges for you as a filmmaker, keeping things dynamic, and the challenges for an audience? Do you imagine them feeling what Franco is feeling for the length of the movie?
Boyle: I always thought of it as the opposite of inert. Superficially, it looks inert, because he's stationary. But I'd always thought of it as an action movie. He can't move, but it's an action movie. That's what we've tried to do. I'm not going to brag now. You guys will have to decide whether we've succeeded or not, but that was the intention. I remember when we were doing "Slumdog," and Darren Aronofsky showed up with "The Wrestler." It's one of those films that you look at as a director and think, "That's it. You just follow this one actor around." It's different from his other movies, and it's different from my other movies, but I wanted to make one like that, where it's just you and an actor.
MTV: I heard you talk about the videos that the hiker, Aron Ralston, took when he was stuck, and how he changed over those few days as he became dehydrated. Was the physical transformation difficult for Mr. Franco? How do you accomplish that in the film?
Boyle: You can't, because you can't do it safely. It's not like carbohydrate loss. You hear about an actor losing weight or putting on weight for parts. You can't do that, because it happens over six days. He starts as an incredibly healthy young man and then this footage I saw by the end, when he'd been without water, the difference is shocking. It's a vanishing. The only way you could do it is through CG, and we didn't want to take that approach. We didn't want to use makeup, but so much of the film is so close. It's an intimate film. We tried to shoot in sequence to let James internally track it. We've not been able to move stuff. He was there for six days, and we'd go, "Can you move that line from day two to day four?" You can't move it, because the journey is no nuanced. He becomes completely different. He's a different person on each day. We've done it through James, rather than CG or weight loss.
MTV: What about the moment when he slowly cuts off his own arm? How long a sequence is that in the film? How much do we see and experience?
Boyle: It takes him 45 minutes in reality. It is in the film, obviously. The time it takes is respected by the filmmakers. We don't cut away, pardon the expression, and come back and it's gone. But it is cathartic, and that's the key thing. The whole idea of the film is you enter the journey with him and you don't cut away to a lot of people looking for him. It's an immersive experience, and it's cathartic when he does it because it's a relief for everyone and a triumph in some way as well.
MTV: In terms of the music, it's A.R. Rahman doing the score again after "Slumdog." Can you speak a little about what he's done?
Boyle: We've got a couple of songs, and the rest of the work is more guitar-based. Some of it is solo guitar, which felt appropriate given the nature of the story. Got a couple of wonderful songs. Free Blood ("Never Hear Surf Music Again") at the beginning, which we used for the trailer. Music has always been a big part of a movie for me, and I hope we've done another one justice we've what we've used.
From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.
Check out everything we've got on "127 Hours."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
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