Diddy-Dirty Money Debut ‘Hello, Good Morning’ On ‘American Idol’
March 31, 2010
Trio accompany their Last Train to Paris track with an impressive light show.
By Christopher Campbell
Diddy-Dirty Money perform on "American Idol" Wednesday
Photo: Fox
Ahead of Wednesday night's (March 31) results show, "American Idol" viewers were warned about and promised "a strobe-light effect like you have never seen before!" And for those without photo-sensitivity issues, the 10-second spectacle was quite stunning during Diddy-Dirty Money's debut performance of "Hello, Good Morning."
As a sort of inverse to Usher's performance earlier in the show, Diddy arrived on a staircase dressed in all white, at first bathed in a heavenly light from above while live violins and timpani kicked off the rocking new single from the upcoming album Last Train to Paris.
Diddy was then met on a smoky stage by his Dirty Money mates Dawn Richard and Kalenna, who impressively kept up with their energetic frontman. Halfway through the song, the light show was introduced with an address to those watching at home.
"America," Diddy shouted out, "right about now I want you to turn your televisions up and your lights down. And rock with us!"
The strobe lasted only a few seconds, and it was likely even more impressive to the crowd in the studio, but this was a stunt and a performance worthy of the popular TV series in a season when viewers have been their most critical.
In the end, Diddy came off like an angel, bathed again in an even greater stream of heavenly spotlight. Then, never one to stand still for too long, he ran out into the audience, where he was met with screams of approval from his fans.
What did you think of Diddy-Dirty Money's performance? Let us know in the comments below!
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Related ArtistsUsher And Will.I.Am Heat Up ‘American Idol’ With ‘OMG’
March 31, 2010
R&B week mentor shows off his own chops on the 'Idol' stage after doling out advice to the top 10.
By Christopher Campbell
Usher and Will.I.am perform on "American Idol" Wednesday
Photo: Fox
Wednesday night's (March 31) "American Idol" results show brought R&B week mentor Usher back to the stage to show off his new music following Tuesday night's advice to the final 10 contestants.
First, though, Justin Bieber made an appearance to praise his own idol from the audience. "He's been a great influence," Bieber said of Usher, who won a bidding war with Justin Timberlake to sign the teen superstar. "He's kinda shaped who I am as an artist."
Then the man himself sashayed in silhouette down the stairs and onto the stage to perform "OMG," the new single from his album Raymond v. Raymond, which dropped Tuesday.
Wearing a black bowler and matching black suit with silver lapels, Usher looked like a more stylish member of the gang from "A Clockwork Orange." But his companions were dancers, not droogs, as well as Black Eyed Peas mastermind Will.I.Am, reprising his verse on the poppy Auto-Tune number.
The audience joined in on the tune, singing and clapping along to the chorus as flames and other pyrotechnics blasted behind the performers. While "OMG" doesn't highlight the singer's vocal talents, Usher more than made up with a kinetic showcase of nonstop dancing.
"Part of the reason why I did this album was so you can understand the full spectrum of who I am as an artist," Usher told MTV News recently about Raymond v. Raymond. "My life has been kinda played out as a journey and going through different chapters, with the albums representing the chapters. It's the sixth album for me. And when I look back to the people that I admire, I admire people who take you on a journey to where they have been, musically, places they have gone; the culture of that time that affected them, the cultural movement. All of that, they figured out a way to encompass it in the music they made. That's what this album is."
What did you think of Usher's performance? Let us know in the comments below!
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Related ArtistsDidi Benami Sent Home On ‘American Idol’
March 31, 2010
Tim Urban and Katie Stevens survive the bottom three amid performances by Usher, Diddy-Dirty Money and Ruben Studdard.
By Gil Kaufman
Didi Benami on "American Idol" Wednesday
Photo: Fox
It was another week with no save on "American Idol." Didi Benami's ride to potential stardom screeched to a halt Wednesday night (March 31) when even a strong reprise of her signature Fleetwood Mac cover wasn't enough to keep her in the game. The action-packed hour featured performances from Usher, season-two "Idol" champ Ruben Studdard and Diddy-Dirty Money, as well as a visit from Justin Bieber, but all eyes were on the top 10, as nearly half the finalists were potential bottom-three fodder after an uneven night of R&B performances on Tuesday.
It's on to the next one, though, for Lee Dewyze, Casey James, Aaron Kelly and Siobhan Magnus, who survived after her wobbly take on Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire" elicited a thumbs-down across the board from the judges. Also safe were Crystal Bowersox, Andrew Garcia and Michael Lynche, who celebrated his luck with a near body slam of Ryan Seacrest after the host tried to fake him out.
Teen Katie Stevens had no such luck, taking another trip to the bottom three after the judges had mixed reviews for her cover of Aretha Franklin's iconic "Chain of Fools." She was joined, not surprisingly, by Benami, who got mostly poor notices for her jazzy attempt at "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted," a departure from her singer/songwriter lane that drew predictions of a trip home from our "Idol" experts.
Joining them was perma-grinning "Teflon" Tim Urban, who got flamed for his shambolic attempt at Anita Baker's "Sweet Love." He took the time to explain that the reason he's always smiling onstage is that he appreciates the opportunity to sing for millions, and if it's his last chance to do so, he doesn't want to leave the stage wearing a frown.
The sojourn in the cellar was short for Stevens, who was the first one sent back to safety, followed by the seemingly bulletproof Urban, who busted out his signature smile upon hearing the news.
Benami gave it one more chance, taking another swing at her well-received folky ramble through Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon," which she imbued with the coffeehouse flavor that made the judges fall in love with her the first time. Though she flubbed a note near the end, the performance was a mostly strong one, but, alas, not enough to keep her in the mix.
After not even considering the save last week when they sent Paige Miles packing, Simon Cowell seemed torn over whether to bust it out this time. "It's bad news, sweetheart. We're not going to save you," he said with a frown. "[But] it was a million times better than what you did last night."
Benami took a gracious bow and smiled as she watched her farewell montage before breaking into tears as her fellow finalists crowded around for a warm group hug.
At the top of the show, producers amped up the drama in a whole new way, intercutting footage from the upcoming "Clash of the Titans" remake with clips from Tuesday night's performances, setting up the night's eliminations as a battle between the monolithic judges and the starry-eyed contestants.
Among the performers was nearly slim season-two champ Studdard, who spread some velvet-teddy-bear love with his silky ode to the perfect lover, "Don't Make 'Em Like You No More," working the stage like an old-school soul veteran and encouraging the audience to get into it as he swayed and bobbed to the beat.
Also in the house was Justin Bieber, who was on hand to see a performance from his musical guru, this week's "Idol" mentor, Usher. Wearing a dark suit with silver lapels and a black bowler hat, Ush popped and locked his way through his new single, the spare dance anthem "OMG," with help from Will.I.Am.
Making his "Idol" debut was Diddy, with Dirty Money, performing their new single "Hello, Good Morning" in public for the first time. The throbbing Euro-disco club burner with a Timbaland-style beat found the Bad Boy boss busting out his signature shoulder-shrugging dance moves while sporting a white leather suit and bouncing across a fog-enshrouded stage.
Next week, the top nine will take on the Lennon/McCartney songbook as they sing Beatles songs.
What did you think of tonight's elimination? Did America send the right singer home? Leave your comments below!
Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.
Related Photos Related ArtistsErykah Badu ‘Wanted To Get Arrested’ Over Naked ‘Window Seat’ Video, Director Says
March 31, 2010
Coodie reveals that he and co-director Chike collected bail money in advance just in case.
By Gil Kaufman, with additional reporting by Shaheem Reid
Erykah Badu in her video for "Window Seat"
Photo: Universal Motown
Erykah Badu knew that her salacious "Window Seat" video shoot was a risky proposition, but she was so committed to the concept that she was willing to give up her freedom to pull it off.
According to Chike and Coodie, the directors of the clip — in which Badu slowly strips off her clothes while walking through famed Dealey Plaza in her native Dallas — the singer was aware of the potential consequences but wanted to roll the dice anyway. A Dallas Police Department spokesperson told MTV News on Tuesday that Badu could have been arrested and jailed for up to a year if an officer had caught her in the act. Chike says that nearly happened.
"We already had planned for Coodie to make a certain move with the camera so that she would have the time to get up and do what she had to do to come for the rebirth for the last scene," he said of the jump-and-shoot guerilla shoot that was carried out without any official permits or clearances. "But then after that it was more like, 'Where's the van?' The van wasn't where we all thought it was supposed to be."
But luckily, moments later it screeched up across the street and everyone turned around and made a run for it. "Rushed in the van and she broke," said Chike of Badu's escape, which came as a few shocked bystanders made some noise about calling the cops. (Police told MTV News that they have no record of any 911 calls about the incident.)
"It was nothing but two or three people, it was nothing that crazy at all," added Coodie of the protests. "There was that one lady, though, that was really just crazy with her missing teeth. She was like, 'That was so offensive!' I was like, 'Your teeth are offensive!' I was bugging because Erykah was mad at me for that."
Because the filming took place in a crowded public plaza near a federal building — not to mention that it ends with Badu re-enacting the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy on the same spot where he was gunned down — Chike said everyone involved was on the lookout for any police cars or the sounds of sirens. "I just remember hearing a siren, or every minute looking up and seeing some kind of sheriff's car or something," he said. "So I was like, 'This is gonna be interesting.' "
Though no cops rolled up on them, Chike said Badu was prepared if the authorities nabbed her. "Her contingency plan was get arrested," he said. "She was big on doing it."
Coodie revealed that the directors had already collected bail money just in case. "I think she really wanted to get arrested, even make a bigger message," he said.
"There was definitely no fear as far as that was concerned, as far as she was [intent] on getting her message across, which I can respect," Chike added. "I feel like all people who have done great things in the past — when they set their mind to it there was already no going back. And they were already ready to deal with the ramifications of ... their actions. She was already prepared to deal with whatever consequences because she knew she believed in what she was doing."
Related Photos- The Evolution Of: Erykah Badu
- Erykah Badu's 'Window Seat' Bystanders
- Erykah Badu's 'Window Seat': Shot By Shot
Matt Damon To Appear On ’30 Rock’
March 31, 2010
Actor will play a love interest for Tina Fey's character later this season.
By Christopher Campbell
Matt Damon
Photo: Steve Granitz/ WireImage
Matt Damon is set to appear in a late-season episode of "30 Rock," according to Entertainment Weekly reporter Michael Ausiello, who's taking credit for the casting.
In December, Ausiello quoted the movie star at the "Invictus" premiere regarding a potential guest spot on the NBC sitcom, per Tina Fey's wishes:
"I would do ['30 Rock'] in a heartbeat if they asked me to come on," he said at the time. "I have not been approached about doing it. She should call my people — or, even better, me. Or I could call her. Let's make this happen. Tina is a brilliant comedy writer. My wife and I download that show in bulk. That's actually one of the downsides to working so much this year; I have fallen behind on this season. But we love that show, so if she has a part for me, I'm game."
E! News has since confirmed Damon's "30 Rock" appearance with the network and reports that the Oscar winner will be playing a love interest for Fey's character, Liz Lemon. Currently, only one episode is guaranteed, but NBC hopes for a multi-appearance arc if Damon has the time.
This won't be Fey and Damon's first collaboration. Both provided their voices to characters in the English-language dub of the recent Japanese animated film "Ponyo." Damon also hosted "Saturday Night Live" back in 2002 when Fey was still co-host of the "Weekend Update" segment and an "SNL" writer. His only other sitcom role was a guest spot on "Will & Grace" as a straight actor pretending to be gay.
Are you excited for Damon's cameo on "30 Rock"? Let us know in the comments!
Related PhotosKe$ha’s Singing Is ‘Awesome,’ Taio Cruz Says
March 31, 2010
'Tik Tok' singer has a 'very unique-sounding voice,' Cruz says.
By Akshay Bhansali
Ke$ha
Photo: FOX
MTV News recently caught up with British pop artist Taio Cruz, fresh from a visit to Miami's annual Winter Music Conference this past weekend, a visit that saw him meeting the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Steve Aoki and old buddy David Guetta. Now back in New York, little has changed — he still holds the record for the largest jump for a debut artist in Billboard history. His first single, "Break Your Heart" (featuring Ludacris), jumped 52 places, landing at the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 two weeks ago. Not bad for a newcomer from England who has yet to release his debut album in the U.S.
"It was quite unbelievable," Cruz gushed. "Obviously 'Break Your Heart' did very well in the U.K. It was #1 in the U.K. for three weeks, and that was exciting in itself. My manager and I, we were all staying in a cool apartment overlooking the Hollywood sign — so we're standing out on the deck going, '#1! This is awesome!' The Billboard #1 came about a week later and the massive jump — being the biggest jump in the history of Billboard — it's insane. It feels good."
"Break Your Heart" is still a top-five single, but that hasn't stopped Cruz from letting his new U.S. fans know that they can look forward to Ke$ha being featured on his next single, a song provocatively titled "Dirty Picture."
"The song is actually about sending sexy pictures to your significant other," Cruz explained. "If you miss each other and you can't see each other, you're far away from each other, you send pictures to remind each other of how sexy you are."
Cruz said that while Ke$ha's name wasn't the first to come to mind as far as collaborators go, she seemed to be the best fit for the song.
"I was thinking about Lady Gaga at first," Cruz offered. "Then I went to a meeting with Dr. Luke and he was telling me about this new girl he was working with. She hadn't done 'Tik Tok' or anything like that at that point. But I just thought she sounded really cool. A very unique-sounding voice. I like that with artists, that as soon as you hear them on a song on the radio, you know immediately who that is without having to be told.
"She looked really sexy, and I just thought she was talented. Her voice was awesome. It had this — I hope she won't mind me saying this, but her voice has this kind of yodely quality to it, the way that she does things and the way that she ends words. I just loved that quality about it."
Fans can expect "Dirty Picture" to hit radio some time in June, with the U.S. debut of Cruz's Rokstarr album tentatively set for release on May 18.
Are you looking forward to hearing Taio Cruz's album? Let us know in the comments!
Related ArtistsJennifer Lopez Says ‘Now Is A Real Girl Time’ In Music
March 31, 2010
'It is great to be seen as somebody who was at the forefront of that little girl movement,' she tells MTV News.
By Larry Carroll
Jennifer Lopez
Photo: MTV News
You might think Lady Gaga is a big deal. Maybe Taylor Swift seems about as famous as a person can be, or Beyoncé ranks as high as you could imagine.
All these years later, it's still a bit hard to comprehend how absurdly famous Jennifer Lopez was in 2001, when she became the first woman to ever have a film ("The Wedding Planner") and album (J.Lo) both debut at #1 in the same week.
Now, Lopez has a new movie ("The Back-Up Plan") and album (this summer's Love?) on the way and is still going strong. But she happily looks back on that crazy time and the path she blazed for today's female artists.
"Gosh, I love all the girls out," Lopez said of today's female artists. "[Husband] Marc [Anthony] and I were just talking about this the other day, because obviously we're both into music and we make records and stuff.
"All the way from Taylor Swift to Lady Gaga to Madonna to Britney to Beyoncé and Rihanna and myself — there's just so many people who are on the scene and really doing their thing, and it's nice," she added. "It's nice to see."
Does Lopez see herself as a trailblazer since she was topping the charts long before Gaga and Rihanna came along? "I don't really think of myself that way," Lopez said. "I just always thought of myself as somebody who was out there [trying something unique], and that's what I love about [the music industry]. There's room for all these different kinds of artists."
Although music-buying dollars undoubtedly have fans torn between whether they should drop their bucks on Gaga, Madonna, Taylor Swift or someone else, J.Lo said the ladies are all rooting for one another.
"It's not a competition type of thing," Lopez insisted. "But it is great to be seen as somebody who was at the forefront of that little girl movement.
"[We've seen] such an onslaught of so many different women, girls taking over the music scene, and it's nice," Lopez said of the last decade in music. "There was a time where it was just boy bands and rock-and-roll stars and all that bull. But now is a real girl time."
What do you think of the girl-power movement in music? Do you think J.Lo was a trailblazer for today's stars? Let us know in the comments below!
Related ArtistsAdam Lambert Says ‘Unplugged’ Covers Let Him ‘Play With The Melody’
March 31, 2010
'When we created the songs, we actually started on the computer, so doing it unplugged, this is the first time for that,' he says.
By Jocelyn Vena
Adam Lambert
Photo: MTV
Adam Lambert took the dance-floor-friendly tracks from his debut album, For Your Entertainment, and gave them the acoustic treatment for "Unplugged."
For the special, he performed "Whataya Want From Me," "Down the Rabbit Hole," "Broken Open" and "Music Again." He also did an acoustic version of his "Idol" fan favorite, "Mad World."
"It's something new," he said of the stripped-down tunes. "When we created the songs, we actually started on the computer, so doing it unplugged, this is the first time for that. It actually allows you to play with the melody even more."
During "Unplugged," Lambert talked about his love for Muse. "If I can be in any other band, Muse's music is pretty incredible," he said. "I love their music. I love the way [Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy] sings. It's kind of a throwback style. I think they're poised to be a legendary group."
Speaking about his own music, he explained how his single "Whataya Want From Me" came to be. "It was recorded here in New York, actually, in one day. I was on the Idols Live! Tour over the summer. I flew in the night before. ... I think the song is really fantastic lyrically. It's so universal. You're in love with the person, but you're confused and you're not quite sure how to navigate it.
"It can also be interpreted as me almost asking society and the media: 'Look, I'm doing the best I can,' " he added. "It's an amazing adventure, but it's scary sometimes."
What do you think of Adam's stripped-down songs? Let us know in the comments below!
Related Videos Related Photos Related ArtistsErykah Badu’s Naked ‘Window Seat’ Shoot ‘Shocks’ Dallas City Councilman
March 31, 2010
'It was not the right choice to go and perform the video as it was performed,' Dwaine Caraway tells MTV News.
By MTV News staff
Erykah Badu in her video for "Window Seat"
Photo: Universal Motown
Dallas City Councilman Dwaine Caraway knows Erykah Badu, and he's always been impressed by the Texas native's philanthropic ventures and support of D-town causes. But Caraway had to shake his head when news broke that one of the city's favorite daughters ran buck naked down the streets of downtown while filming the viral Molotov cocktail that is her "Window Seat" video.
"I'm a fan and personally know Erykah, and she's a trooper here for our city," Caraway said. "However, governing the city as we are expected to, it was not the right choice to go and perform the video as it was performed." Despite his praise for her civic pride and engagement, Caraway — the man behind the local "Pull 'Em Up" campaign to stop sagging pants — said he and fellow City Council members were definitely taken aback by Badu's permit-free guerrilla action on St. Patrick's Day.
"There should have been a permit issued for the filming," he said. "Had there been a permit, then certain boundaries would have come into play and it wouldn't be such outright shock." Dallas Police told MTV News that had Badu's actions been observed by one of their officers, she might have faced both a $4,000 fine and up to a year in jail, a sentence the video's directors said she was more than willing to deal with in order to get her message across.
But, because no officer witnessed the naked shoot, no charges are likely to be filed, and Caraway said no sanction will be forthcoming from the Council because no complaints have been lodged over the incident from witnesses. The councilman hasn't reached out to Badu to speak to her about the stunt, but he said once his fellow council members are back from spring break next week, he expects some vigorous debate about the video.
"I'm sure something will come up for discussion, and there will be some talk about changing the rules and putting some preventatives in place, and I'm certain something will come from it," Caraway said.
That said, given the worldwide attention "Window Seat" has garnered, Caraway figured that the video accomplished what Badu set out to in terms of hyping the release of her new album, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). "It's a win-win for her," he said. "Even if we were to fine her a million dollars, she'll probably make $200 million."
Do you think Dallas should take any action against Badu's video? What did you think of the "Window Seat" clip? Let us know in the comments below!
Related Photos- The Evolution Of: Erykah Badu
- Erykah Badu's 'Window Seat' Bystanders
- Erykah Badu's 'Window Seat': Shot By Shot
Nicki Minaj Goes Big For ‘Massive Attack’ Video
March 31, 2010
Video premiering Wednesday is dedicated to Lil Wayne, 'because he's not here.'
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Matt Elias
Nicki Minaj on the set of her video for "Massive Attack"
Photo: MTV News
On the set of her video for "Massive Attack," Nicki Minaj said she wanted to dedicate the production to her musical family, especially the head of the squad, Lil Wayne.
"I wanna say shout-out to my baby Wayne, because he's not here," Minaj said, sitting in the video's pink Lambo a couple of weeks ago. "This means the world to me, because Wayne was one of the first people that believed in me. He's not here to see my first video. But he's here in spirit, obviously. I wanna tell him, 'I love you very much. Thank you for everything you've done for me thus far.' And to my whole team, Young Money, I love you guys. This is for Wayne and this is for my whole team. Young Money/ Cash Money, we in the building."
"Massive Attack" dropped earlier this week, and the video lands everywhere on Wednesday night (March 31).
"I brought my BFF Amber Rose out here," Nicki said on the set earlier this month. "This is a massive attack. We shot the helicopter scene. Obviously, I had to have a hot-pink Lamborghini. We're having fun in the car, and we see a freakin' helicopter chase us. So we get on the walkie-talkie, like, 'Mayday! Mayday!' It's really fashion and beauty shots, and we're acting like we're doing something important.
"We did a mud scene that's gonna be spectacular," she added. "We did a crawling forest scene that was dope. That was shot at night. It's just beautiful. The clothes, the ambience, it's really, really pretty. All the girls that like to play dress-up, they're gonna love this one. We wanted to make it pretty in the dirt. We wanted to have a very crazy contrast. I didn't want to do everything clean. I like the dirt. All that pink stuff looks even prettier in the dirt."
"It doesn't get much bigger than this," a shirtless Sean Garrett, who collaborated on the track, said on the set. "This is the year we start to take off and take it to another level. 'Massive Attack,' man, we ain't playing no games. We had to deliver something incredibly huge for Nicki, because as you know, her personality is enormous and the records that she's been on in the past have been very, very hot, but very street records.
"We wanted to give her something that was global," he continued. "We wanted to give her something that was urban; we wanted to give her something that was mainstream pop, you know what I mean, that the world could get a chance to see her out on this pedestal. And of course, you know, I had to come along with her, because I've got an album dropping soon."
"I'm glad she's a part of us, part of our team," the Birdman said on set, adding that as Nicki continues to blow up, the door will open for more of her female peers.
"You gotta be solid built for this, if you want it for a long time," Birdman said. "I think you will see more women now, though. I think it's needed. The women bring a different vibe to hip-hop. I think it's needed; women bring more women."
Nicki is still working on her debut album, which has no release date or title as of yet.
Are you excited to see the video? What do you think of "Massive Attack"? Let us know in the comments below!
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