Chris Brown Denies Calling Jay-Z ‘Cornball’
November 30, 2009
Singer called in to Shade 45 satellite station on Saturday.
By Gil Kaufman
Chris Brown
Photo: Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images
Chris Brown has been doing a lot of explaining lately, but on Saturday he called into DJ Whoo Kid's show on Shade 45 satellite radio to dispel reports that he's been taking shots at Jay-Z.
"My Twitter ain't get hacked," Brown told DJ Whoo Kid about a quickly picked-up post in which the singer appeared to refer to Jigga as a "cornball" during the American Music Awards on November 22 (the tweet was quickly taken down). "People blew [it] out of proportion. ... I was also commenting on certain things that was going on on the AMAs. I was tweeting randomly about what was going on ... so, the homies was at the house and everybody was like, 'He's making an excuse.' All I twittered, I said, 'cornball' — I wasn't talking about homie at all," Brown explained.
"But the funny thing is, my homies was rapping and [I was like], 'Ya'll are just corny,' and so I just typed it in, and at that moment I started seeing the comments: 'Oh, you talkin' about Jay?' I was like, 'Hell naw, what you mean?' I said let me delete this before this be another story. I don't need no more problems right now, I don't need no more people cussing me out."
Brown clarified that he has no beef with Jay — who happens to be Rihanna's longtime mentor. "I've never really talked to homie," he said. "Ain't no beefs. I just get my money, [he] get his."
During the interview, Brown also confirmed that in addition to the 13-track Graffiti that drops on December 8, an 18-track deluxe version will be released on the same day.
Related Photos Related ArtistsSusan Boyle Snags Fastest-Selling Album In U.K. For 2009
November 30, 2009
'Britain's Got Talent' breakout star is poised to hit #1 in the U.S. this week as well.
By Gil Kaufman
Susan Boyle's <i>I Dreamed A Dream</i>
Photo: Sony Music Entertainment
Susan Boyle is mega. The once unknown, shy Scottish singer has completed her rocket ride from obscurity to worldwide fame by landing the fastest-selling album in Britain this year. According to Reuters, Boyle's I Dreamed a Dream entered the British charts at #1 on sales of 410,000, giving her the biggest first-week sales for a debut album in U.K. chart history, beating out earlier big debuts by the Arctic Monkeys and Leona Lewis.
Boyle, 48, recently made news when the album, a mixture of her most famous covers and some holiday-appropriate standards, snagged the record for the biggest global CD pre-order in the 14-year history of Amazon.com. In addition to covers of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" and Madonna's "You'll See," the 12-song disc — which sold more than 130,000 copies in its first day in England — features covers of the hymns "Amazing Grace," "Silent Night," and "How Great Thou Art," the Monkees hit "Daydream Believer," and one original song, "Who I Was Born to Be."
The album has hit #1 in Australia and Ireland and is expected to be #1 in the U.S. this week as well, with experts predicting its 600,000-plus first week will easily outsell its closest competition, Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment. HITS Daily Double pegged potential Boyle sales between 625,000 and 675,000, which would also give Boyle the biggest first-week sales of 2009 in the U.S., easily beating Eminem's 608,000 bow for the eagerly anticipated comeback album Relapse. HITS predicted that Lambert should easily take the #2 position with 210,000 to 230,000 in sales.
Boyle's album has reportedly sold more than 2 million copies in its first week and will be the subject of an upcoming TV Guide Channel documentary, "I Dreamed a Dream: The Susan Boyle Story," scheduled to air on December 13 and feature performances and an interview with Boyle as well as friends and supporters, including mentor and "Britain's Got Talent" judge Simon Cowell.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsMariah Carey To Re-Release Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel
November 30, 2009
Remixed edition will feature collaborations with Swizz Beatz, Tricky, R. Kelly, T-Pain and more.
By Jocelyn Vena
Mariah Carey
Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Mariah Carey is expected to release a remixed edition of her album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel in February, following the disappointing sales of the original. The album will reportedly be available for an exclusive purchase through Target stores.
According to Rap-Up.com, her manager, Chris Lighty, tweeted the news about the album, which was originally released in September. He wrote, "Listen Memoirs remix LP February ... no date set working on Target exclusive." The Web site further reports that the album will feature collaborations with Swizz Beatz and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, as well as Trey Songz, R. Kelly, T-Pain, Gucci Mane and OJ Da Juiceman.
"There's gonna be remixes to everything," Stewart recently told Rap-Up. "I'm actually doing some remixing myself currently 'cause some of these records were so much fun to make. It's easy to go in and do a remix."
The producer said that there's one track he really wants to get his hands on. "I'm gonna do a remix to 'I Want to Know What Love Is' myself," he said. "I'mma raise the tempo up. I'mma try to make it into something else. ... Once I get the beat and if it calls for the right person, I can get anybody on the phone I want to right now, so I will be using my Rolodex for that."
Songz also dished to the Web site about collaborating with Carey, saying that he worked with her on the song "Inseparable." "I actually only had a day to do it. I did it on my day off. [They were] very professional, very adamant on wanting to get it done," Songz explained. "They made sure we had all we needed. I just went in and got it done."
Related Artists‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ DVD To Hit Shelves On January 26
November 30, 2009
Concert documentary will feature an hour of extra footage on DVD, even more on Blu-Ray.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson's <i>This Is It</i>
Photo: Epic
First, Michael Jackson fans couldn't wait for the "Michael Jackson's This Is It" documentary to begin its limited run in theaters around the globe. Then, even before it hit thousands of screens, they began clamoring for a DVD release date of the final artistic statement from the self-proclaimed King of Pop.
That wish was granted over the Thanksgiving weekend, when Sony Pictures announced that "This Is It" will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on January 26. According to Home Media Magazine, the DVD version will include an hour of extra footage in the form of featurettes on the making of the film, costumes, dancer auditions and the performers' memories of Jackson. The Blu-Ray will contain that footage, plus an additional half hour that includes alternate versions of videos of "Smooth Criminal" and "Thriller."
"This Is It" was originally scheduled for a two-week limited run in theaters, with hopes of a DVD version in stores by Christmas. But due to the popularity of the movie and complaints from theater owners that the Christmas release window was too soon, the run was extended by a month and the DVD release was pushed back, according to the Los Angeles Times. The film has taken in more than $70 million at the U.S. box office since opening on October 28.
In other "This Is It" news, the film did not make it onto the short list of 15 films eligible for Best Documentary Oscar nominations, because it was not released before the September 30 for that category. But it is reportedly still a potential contender in other categories, including Best Picture.
Check out everything we've got on "Michael Jackson's This Is It."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ DVD To Hit Shelves On January 26
November 30, 2009
Concert documentary will feature an hour of extra footage on DVD, even more on Blu-Ray.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson's <i>This Is It</i>
Photo: Epic
First, Michael Jackson fans couldn't wait for the "Michael Jackson's This Is It" documentary to begin its limited run in theaters around the globe. Then, even before it hit thousands of screens, they began clamoring for a DVD release date of the final artistic statement from the self-proclaimed King of Pop.
That wish was granted over the Thanksgiving weekend, when Sony Pictures announced that "This Is It" will be released on DVD and Blu-Ray on January 26. According to Home Media Magazine, the DVD version will include an hour of extra footage in the form of featurettes on the making of the film, costumes, dancer auditions and the performers' memories of Jackson. The Blu-Ray will contain that footage, plus an additional half hour that includes alternate versions of videos of "Smooth Criminal" and "Thriller."
"This Is It" was originally scheduled for a two-week limited run in theaters, with hopes of a DVD version in stores by Christmas. But due to the popularity of the movie and complaints from theater owners that the Christmas release window was too soon, the run was extended by a month and the DVD release was pushed back, according to the Los Angeles Times. The film has taken in more than $70 million at the U.S. box office since opening on October 28.
In other "This Is It" news, the film did not make it onto the short list of 15 films eligible for Best Documentary Oscar nominations, because it was not released before the September 30 for that category. But it is reportedly still a potential contender in other categories, including Best Picture.
Check out everything we've got on "Michael Jackson's This Is It."
For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsChris Brown Sits Down With ABC’s Robin Roberts For In-Depth Interview
November 30, 2009
Brown expected to discuss February assault of Rihanna on 'GMA' and '20/20.'
By Gil Kaufman
Chris Brown (file)
Photo: BET
Though last week ABC canceled a "Good Morning America" performance by "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert after his controversial set at the American Music Awards, the network announced that it had taped an interview with singer Chris Brown for "20/20," excerpts of which may air on "Good Morning America."
The Associated Press reported that Brown's interview with "GMA" anchor Robin Roberts, who recently spoke to Janet Jackson, will air on "20/20" on Friday, December 11.
The in-depth interview will find Brown discussing his assault on former girlfriend Rihanna in February, and through clips of the talk may appear on "GMA," a network spokesperson said Brown will not perform on the program. ABC's Diane Sawyer spoke to Rihanna earlier this month, when the singer gave the most detailed account to date of the attack by Brown, who pleaded guilty to felony assault in the case in June.
In preparation for the release of Graffiti, his first new studio album since the incident, Brown has done a series of interviews, including a talk with MTV News' Sway Calloway. But so far, he has declined to discuss the details of the incident out of what he has said is respect for Rihanna's privacy. E! Online reported that Brown will break that silence in the interview with Roberts. Spokespeople for ABC and Brown could not be reached at press time.
Related Videos Related ArtistsDeath Cab For Cutie Enjoy Their ‘New Moon’ Fame At The Woodie Awards
November 30, 2009
'I don't think we've ever done anything like this,' guitarist Chris Walla says of the band's inclusion on the blockbuster soundtrack.
By Kyle Anderson, with reporting by James Montgomery
Death Cab for Cutie at the 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images
Though they didn't walk away with any slabs of timber under their arms, it could be argued that Death Cab for Cutie were the all-stars of the 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards. The awards show that celebrates independent music of all types welcomed back a true rags-to-riches story in the quartet, who toiled tirelessly on the margins for years before graduating to arena-rock size and scope. They delivered the evening's centerpiece performance, a run-through of their current single "Meet Me on the Equinox," which has garnered the band quite a bit of attention as it's on the soundtrack to current box-office juggernaut "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."
In fact, the band's newfound vampire-assisted success is just another twist in what has been a career full of unusual turns. "I don't think we've ever done anything like this, where it's a real dynamic, changing thing," explained guitarist and resident "Twilight" fan Chris Walla. "I love it. I was at the premiere two nights ago and it was great. The movie is awesome." Walla even approves of the film's campier aspects. "There are a lot of shirtless dudes," he admits. "When the shirtless-dude factor happens, it seems a little wink-wink, nudge-nudge. But it's a high beefcake quotient — an HBQ."
Death Cab for Cutie's stunning (and fully shirted) rendition of "Meet Me on the Equinox" — as well as other jaw-dropping performances from Matt and Kim, the Dead Weather, Passion Pit and the Clipse — can only be seen on the 2009 mtvU Woodie Awards, which air this Friday, December 4, at 10 p.m. on MTV, MTV2 and mtvU.
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsAdam Lambert Had An Identity Crisis Before Recording For Your Entertainment
November 30, 2009
'I was just like, 'I don't really know what direction I need to go in,' ' singer says.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jim Cantiello
Adam Lambert
Photo: MTV News
While Adam Lambert certainly seems to have a strong sense of who he is and who he wants to be (as evidenced by his controversial performance on the American Music Awards last week), the "American Idol" runner-up admits that when he first sat down to start work on his debut album, For Your Entertainment, he wasn't sure what he should sound like.
"For a second there, I was like, 'Wait a minute?' " he told MTV News. "Right after 'Idol' [I didn't know what to do] because that's when we started planning the album. And I was just like 'I don't really know what direction I need to go in. I don't know if I should be doing straight-up rock music because I got a lot of my cred on 'Idol' doing '70s rock, or if I should be doing the electro-pop dance stuff that I love, that I listen to now," he explained. I couldn't decide: Do I do what I love to listen to or what I'm best at or what am I best at?"
So he opted for a combination of all the styles he loves. "It was a moment of kind of tossing it around and then I thought to myself, 'Why not throw it all together in a big melting pot and come up with my own thing, so that's what we did," he explained.
He was also quick to say that his team was on board every step of the way.
"It came to me and I was like, 'Alright, that's what we should do," he explained about the album's sound. "And I was also heavily assisted by my management and RCA, I bounced ideas off of them. It was a team effort, for sure."
Related Videos Related ArtistsBeanie Sigel Calls Rift With Jay-Z ‘A Defining Moment’
November 30, 2009
Beans also updates Mixtape Daily on working with 50 Cent and possibly joining G-Unit.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes and Tim Kash
Beanie Sigel
Photo: Roc-A-Fella
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
Who's wrong and who's right in the unfortunate saga of Beanie Sigel vs. Jay-Z? That's between those two gentlemen. We hate to see them at odds, but we will thank the Roc and State Property for giving us some of the best music in the last 10 years. Backstage at the Highline Ballroom last week for the 50 Cent concert, Beanie told MTV News that he's telling a story about Jay with his dis records.
"I couldn't tell you that," he said of his ultimate plan. "I'd be defeating the purpose on what I was doing if I tell people what's my strategy, what my plan is gonna be. But then again, I could tell you what's my strategy, my plans, because you can't stop it. It was willed already. This moment right here is a defining moment. ... What I'm about to do is set a timeline to show people in my music where this at. This is not nothing new. Now it's time to go back to those albums that people overlooked or didn't get an opportunity to really grasp and hold on to 'em because there was that wall in front of it. And when I go back and start to pick out the music like, 'When I said this, this what I was talking about,' for this moment that's here today right now."
As far as joining the G-Unit, Sigel isn't an official member yet. They're still in talks about a deal.
"We're gonna figure that out," the Broad Street Bully said.
Deal or no deal, Beans is still making songs, saying that his goal is "just to put out good music like I always did, just without interference. ... Just me being able to do what I'm capable of doing, what I did my whole career, without just, you know, the blockage of people stopping my music and my product from going to the heights it should go and it's capable of going."
And he promised that his songs are going to be as intense as ever.
"Because the world is aggressive," he said. "Everything that's out is aggressive, you know what I mean? Even if you look at what people would say [about] the recession — 'It came so aggressively,' you know what I mean? Everybody gotta move and be aggressive, and even in just a work space by being able to hold down your job you gotta go extra hard with everything, so that's just what I do. My music reflects what's going on today."
Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and Yo Gotti are among the rappers the Philadelphia street lord wants to work with on his next LP. Obviously, 50 Cent also looks like he's going to be in the mix.
"Well, actually, we haven't had the chance to sit down and get in the studio together," Sigel said. "We did do a record. We got a record, that 'I Go Off' record, but that was just a record that I had just sitting around and it ain't have no hook. ... I played him some music and he liked it, and in between doing all this press and everything he was doing, when he heard the record — that same day — he got on and laid the hook. As soon as he heard it."
For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.
Related Videos Related ArtistsNelly Says ‘Doubt’ Fueled His New Album
November 30, 2009
'I work best with two strikes, two outs,' MC says of working on his follow-up to 2008's Brass Knuckles.
By Shaheem Reid
Nelly
Photo: MTV News
NEW YORK — After the lukewarm reception Nelly received on the albums Sweat and Suit (two albums released on the same day in 2004) and the follow-up Brass Knuckles, the hip-hop Mayor of St. Louis has been back in the studio focusing on sounding better than ever.
"The thing is, I work best with two strikes, two outs," Nelly said recently. "I really think I do. As an artist, you want to wake up every day and feel like you're doing something people don't think you can do. Now I feel like I've been put in that position again, where it's more doubt than expectancy. The doubt is what fuels me, so to speak. I've been real fortunate where I have great people around me. Everybody wants to freakin' work with me — not that everybody didn't [before], but it's different because I didn't work with a lot of people. Coming into this situation, it's beautiful."
Nelly worked with producers Play-N-Skillz on a track called "Angel Eyes," a record that samples Kim Carnes' classic "Bette Davis Eyes." Mr. Pimp Juice also says he has some samples of jazz great Miles Jaye as well as Notorious B.I.G. on a track called "Thousand Stacks." Diddy, Jim Jonsin and Rico Love also produced on the album.
"In the booth right now, it's kind of different," he said about his guest stars. "I got Sean Paul, Akon ... as far as the rappers go, Plies. Me and Jeezy talking about some things now. I'm not finished, but I'm a good portion on the way."
Nelly's album is still untitled.
Related Artists
