Mauldin Brand Agency http://www.mauldinbrand.com Access The Fast Life Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:12:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 Lady Gaga’s Fans Praise ‘Amazing’ ‘Telephone’ Video http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lady-gagas-fans-praise-amazing-telephone-video/ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lady-gagas-fans-praise-amazing-telephone-video/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:12:00 +0000 admin http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633783/20100312/lady_gaga.jhtml 'I can't wait to see what else she has hidden up the sleeve of one of her outrageous outfits,' writes one fan
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga in her "Telephone" video
Photo: Interscope/ LadyGaga.com

Lady Gaga's splashy "Telephone" video premiered Thursday night. The nearly 10-minute clip, which co-stars Beyoncé, is epic. It has amazing costumes, and it also has Lady Gaga naked. It was everything the singer said it would be. It was, as the Haus of Gaga recently declared it, "a masterpiece."

Judging by the comments on MTVNews.com, it seems that Gaga's little monsters agree with the Haus about the quality of the clip. "I thought the video for 'Telephone' was great. Lady Gaga is super-talented but she is also a phenomenal entertainer," Nikki817 wrote. "I think that she is just what the music world needs and I can't wait to see what else she has hidden up the sleeve of one of her outrageous outfits. Yay for Gaga."

LoveAsh87 wrote, "OMFG. That was such an amazing video. I love LADY GAGA, she is so freakin' talent[ed]. And I'm glad I'm one of her lil monsters. I can't wait to see what she brings next. That was freak[in'] rad!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Jhonny loved the video the first time and every time since that he's seen it. "LOVE IT. OMG. It was so comical at the same time too. I was laughing a lot and she was so fierce with her makeup," he wrote. "I first watched it and was like, huh? But watch it three more times and you'll see you missed things you didn't see the first time. Her sister is also in there btw for like a second, and it was just funny and she outdid herself again."

S loved the video, but still can't deny the quality of Gaga's previous video effort. "It was a super-fun, funny, colorful and quirky music video," S wrote. "But 'Bad Romance' still remains her best video. But this is only the beginning; she'll get greater as she goes on."

Perhaps CityBoyfromNY summed it up best for Gaga fans when he wrote, "Who needs crack when you have Lady Gaga!!!!"

Related Artists ]]> 'I can't wait to see what else she has hidden up the sleeve of one of her outrageous outfits,' writes one fan
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga in her "Telephone" video
Photo: Interscope/ LadyGaga.com

Lady Gaga's splashy "Telephone" video premiered Thursday night. The nearly 10-minute clip, which co-stars Beyoncé, is epic. It has amazing costumes, and it also has Lady Gaga naked. It was everything the singer said it would be. It was, as the Haus of Gaga recently declared it, "a masterpiece."

Judging by the comments on MTVNews.com, it seems that Gaga's little monsters agree with the Haus about the quality of the clip. "I thought the video for 'Telephone' was great. Lady Gaga is super-talented but she is also a phenomenal entertainer," Nikki817 wrote. "I think that she is just what the music world needs and I can't wait to see what else she has hidden up the sleeve of one of her outrageous outfits. Yay for Gaga."

LoveAsh87 wrote, "OMFG. That was such an amazing video. I love LADY GAGA, she is so freakin' talent[ed]. And I'm glad I'm one of her lil monsters. I can't wait to see what she brings next. That was freak[in'] rad!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Jhonny loved the video the first time and every time since that he's seen it. "LOVE IT. OMG. It was so comical at the same time too. I was laughing a lot and she was so fierce with her makeup," he wrote. "I first watched it and was like, huh? But watch it three more times and you'll see you missed things you didn't see the first time. Her sister is also in there btw for like a second, and it was just funny and she outdid herself again."

S loved the video, but still can't deny the quality of Gaga's previous video effort. "It was a super-fun, funny, colorful and quirky music video," S wrote. "But 'Bad Romance' still remains her best video. But this is only the beginning; she'll get greater as she goes on."

Perhaps CityBoyfromNY summed it up best for Gaga fans when he wrote, "Who needs crack when you have Lady Gaga!!!!"

Related Artists ]]> http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lady-gagas-fans-praise-amazing-telephone-video/feed/ 0 Lady Gaga’s Fans Praise ‘Amazing’ ‘Telephone’ Video http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lady-gagas-fans-praise-amazing-telephone-video/ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lady-gagas-fans-praise-amazing-telephone-video/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:12:00 +0000 admin http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633783/20100312/lady_gaga.jhtml 'I can't wait to see what else she has hidden up the sleeve of one of her outrageous outfits,' writes one fan
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga in her "Telephone" video
Photo: Interscope/ LadyGaga.com

Lady Gaga's splashy "Telephone" video premiered Thursday night. The nearly 10-minute clip, which co-stars Beyoncé, is epic. It has amazing costumes, and it also has Lady Gaga naked. It was everything the singer said it would be. It was, as the Haus of Gaga recently declared it, "a masterpiece."

Judging by the comments on MTVNews.com, it seems that Gaga's little monsters agree with the Haus about the quality of the clip. "I thought the video for 'Telephone' was great. Lady Gaga is super-talented but she is also a phenomenal entertainer," Nikki817 wrote. "I think that she is just what the music world needs and I can't wait to see what else she has hidden up the sleeve of one of her outrageous outfits. Yay for Gaga."

LoveAsh87 wrote, "OMFG. That was such an amazing video. I love LADY GAGA, she is so freakin' talent[ed]. And I'm glad I'm one of her lil monsters. I can't wait to see what she brings next. That was freak[in'] rad!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Jhonny loved the video the first time and every time since that he's seen it. "LOVE IT. OMG. It was so comical at the same time too. I was laughing a lot and she was so fierce with her makeup," he wrote. "I first watched it and was like, huh? But watch it three more times and you'll see you missed things you didn't see the first time. Her sister is also in there btw for like a second, and it was just funny and she outdid herself again."

S loved the video, but still can't deny the quality of Gaga's previous video effort. "It was a super-fun, funny, colorful and quirky music video," S wrote. "But 'Bad Romance' still remains her best video. But this is only the beginning; she'll get greater as she goes on."

Perhaps CityBoyfromNY summed it up best for Gaga fans when he wrote, "Who needs crack when you have Lady Gaga!!!!"

Related Artists ]]> 'I can't wait to see what else she has hidden up the sleeve of one of her outrageous outfits,' writes one fan
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga in her "Telephone" video
Photo: Interscope/ LadyGaga.com

Lady Gaga's splashy "Telephone" video premiered Thursday night. The nearly 10-minute clip, which co-stars Beyoncé, is epic. It has amazing costumes, and it also has Lady Gaga naked. It was everything the singer said it would be. It was, as the Haus of Gaga recently declared it, "a masterpiece."

Judging by the comments on MTVNews.com, it seems that Gaga's little monsters agree with the Haus about the quality of the clip. "I thought the video for 'Telephone' was great. Lady Gaga is super-talented but she is also a phenomenal entertainer," Nikki817 wrote. "I think that she is just what the music world needs and I can't wait to see what else she has hidden up the sleeve of one of her outrageous outfits. Yay for Gaga."

LoveAsh87 wrote, "OMFG. That was such an amazing video. I love LADY GAGA, she is so freakin' talent[ed]. And I'm glad I'm one of her lil monsters. I can't wait to see what she brings next. That was freak[in'] rad!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Jhonny loved the video the first time and every time since that he's seen it. "LOVE IT. OMG. It was so comical at the same time too. I was laughing a lot and she was so fierce with her makeup," he wrote. "I first watched it and was like, huh? But watch it three more times and you'll see you missed things you didn't see the first time. Her sister is also in there btw for like a second, and it was just funny and she outdid herself again."

S loved the video, but still can't deny the quality of Gaga's previous video effort. "It was a super-fun, funny, colorful and quirky music video," S wrote. "But 'Bad Romance' still remains her best video. But this is only the beginning; she'll get greater as she goes on."

Perhaps CityBoyfromNY summed it up best for Gaga fans when he wrote, "Who needs crack when you have Lady Gaga!!!!"

Related Artists ]]> http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lady-gagas-fans-praise-amazing-telephone-video/feed/ 0 Madonna, Ricky Gervais Give ‘Advice’ In ‘Marriage Ref’ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/madonna-ricky-gervais-give-advice-in-marriage-ref/ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/madonna-ricky-gervais-give-advice-in-marriage-ref/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:34:34 +0000 admin http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633780/20100312/madonna.jhtml Duo, with Larry David, made up panel on Jerry Seinfeld's new show.
By Jocelyn Vena


Madonna (file)
Photo: MTV News

Madonna has been married and divorced twice. Larry David just recently got divorced. And Ricky Gervais, despite having been with his partner for the last 25 years, has never actually been married. Still, Jerry Seinfeld called on these three superstars to hand out marriage advice to troubled couples on his new show — on which he himself doesn't actually appear — "The Marriage Ref," hosted by comedian Tom Papa.

Each week on the show, celebrity guests dole out advice to husbands and wives who find themselves in stressful yet often humorous (to outsiders, anyway) conflicts with their spouses. On Thursday's show, one husband had a problem with his wife keeping her dead previous husband's prosthetic leg in their closet. Gervais' reaction? "This is insane, what I just watched." David, meanwhile, wanted to pass on this couple, saying, "They're so moronic, I don't want to help them."

The show and the hosts turned against each other at one point when the panel was faced with a couple with sex issues. Apparently the wife didn't want to have sex with her husband because of his uncleanliness. David accused Madonna of hating men, to which Madonna shot back, "No, I hate you."

Then there was the husband who let his overbearing mother have too much control in his life. "This is the Oedipus complex run amuck," David said. "He's in love with his mother; he should start sleeping with her."

Perhaps Gervais summed up the night's festivities best when he said, "This is the weirdest show I've ever been on."

Related Artists ]]> Duo, with Larry David, made up panel on Jerry Seinfeld's new show.
By Jocelyn Vena


Madonna (file)
Photo: MTV News

Madonna has been married and divorced twice. Larry David just recently got divorced. And Ricky Gervais, despite having been with his partner for the last 25 years, has never actually been married. Still, Jerry Seinfeld called on these three superstars to hand out marriage advice to troubled couples on his new show — on which he himself doesn't actually appear — "The Marriage Ref," hosted by comedian Tom Papa.

Each week on the show, celebrity guests dole out advice to husbands and wives who find themselves in stressful yet often humorous (to outsiders, anyway) conflicts with their spouses. On Thursday's show, one husband had a problem with his wife keeping her dead previous husband's prosthetic leg in their closet. Gervais' reaction? "This is insane, what I just watched." David, meanwhile, wanted to pass on this couple, saying, "They're so moronic, I don't want to help them."

The show and the hosts turned against each other at one point when the panel was faced with a couple with sex issues. Apparently the wife didn't want to have sex with her husband because of his uncleanliness. David accused Madonna of hating men, to which Madonna shot back, "No, I hate you."

Then there was the husband who let his overbearing mother have too much control in his life. "This is the Oedipus complex run amuck," David said. "He's in love with his mother; he should start sleeping with her."

Perhaps Gervais summed up the night's festivities best when he said, "This is the weirdest show I've ever been on."

Related Artists ]]> http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/madonna-ricky-gervais-give-advice-in-marriage-ref/feed/ 0 Corey Haim’s Death: Did Medications Play A Role? http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/corey-haims-death-did-medications-play-a-role/ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/corey-haims-death-did-medications-play-a-role/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:11:00 +0000 admin http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633778/20100312/index.jhtml Police reportedly found Vicodin, Valium, muscle relaxers and antipsychotic medicines near body.
By Gil Kaufman


Corey Haim
Photo: MTV News

After Thursday's news that the Los Angeles County Coroner's office told actor Corey Haim's mother that his likely cause of death was pulmonary congestion, TMZ reported that strong medications were found at the troubled "Lost Boys" star's bedside.

The coroner's office said Haim had pulmonary congestion, an enlarged heart and water in his lungs, but, according to TMZ, that has not been definitively pinpointed as the cause of death in the 38-year-old actor's demise on Wednesday. Though toxicology tests are still pending, the site said police also found pill bottles containing the powerful painkiller Vicodin, the tranquilizer Valium, an antipsychotic medication (Haloperidol) and Soma, a muscle relaxer, in the apartment Haim shared with his mother.

The site reported that a well-known but unnamed Los Angeles psychiatrist prescribed all the medications to Haim on the same day, just days before he died. Haim publicly struggled with an addiction to drugs and alcohol for much of his career, and prominent addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky told MTV News in the wake of the actor's death that addicts sometimes are fooled into thinking that because they're taking legal medications prescribed by a physician, they are not subject to the same abusive tendencies.

"It's so easy to get these medications, and sometimes well-meaning physicians who don't understand addiction prescribe them for legitimate reasons," said Pinsky, who did not treat Haim and did not have any firsthand knowledge of the circumstances of his death. "But they start taking them and don't realize the trouble they're getting into."

Shortly before his death, Haim had complained of flu-like symptoms and had spiked a high fever. He collapsed at his mother's bedside early Wednesday morning and died a short time later. His manager, Marc Haislip, told Us Magazine that Haim will be buried in his native Canada in Toronto, Ontario, where he was born. Haim's family "want to do it back home," he told the magazine. "But there will be a memorial in L.A." No dates for either event have been announced yet, but it was reported that the family plans to reach out to friends in Hollywood for donations to fund the burial and service, as Haim was reportedly destitute at the time of his death.

Haim's family, including sister Cari and father Bernie, have reportedly joined his mother Judy, who is very ill with cancer, in Los Angeles.

Related Videos Related Photos ]]> Police reportedly found Vicodin, Valium, muscle relaxers and antipsychotic medicines near body.
By Gil Kaufman


Corey Haim
Photo: MTV News

After Thursday's news that the Los Angeles County Coroner's office told actor Corey Haim's mother that his likely cause of death was pulmonary congestion, TMZ reported that strong medications were found at the troubled "Lost Boys" star's bedside.

The coroner's office said Haim had pulmonary congestion, an enlarged heart and water in his lungs, but, according to TMZ, that has not been definitively pinpointed as the cause of death in the 38-year-old actor's demise on Wednesday. Though toxicology tests are still pending, the site said police also found pill bottles containing the powerful painkiller Vicodin, the tranquilizer Valium, an antipsychotic medication (Haloperidol) and Soma, a muscle relaxer, in the apartment Haim shared with his mother.

The site reported that a well-known but unnamed Los Angeles psychiatrist prescribed all the medications to Haim on the same day, just days before he died. Haim publicly struggled with an addiction to drugs and alcohol for much of his career, and prominent addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky told MTV News in the wake of the actor's death that addicts sometimes are fooled into thinking that because they're taking legal medications prescribed by a physician, they are not subject to the same abusive tendencies.

"It's so easy to get these medications, and sometimes well-meaning physicians who don't understand addiction prescribe them for legitimate reasons," said Pinsky, who did not treat Haim and did not have any firsthand knowledge of the circumstances of his death. "But they start taking them and don't realize the trouble they're getting into."

Shortly before his death, Haim had complained of flu-like symptoms and had spiked a high fever. He collapsed at his mother's bedside early Wednesday morning and died a short time later. His manager, Marc Haislip, told Us Magazine that Haim will be buried in his native Canada in Toronto, Ontario, where he was born. Haim's family "want to do it back home," he told the magazine. "But there will be a memorial in L.A." No dates for either event have been announced yet, but it was reported that the family plans to reach out to friends in Hollywood for donations to fund the burial and service, as Haim was reportedly destitute at the time of his death.

Haim's family, including sister Cari and father Bernie, have reportedly joined his mother Judy, who is very ill with cancer, in Los Angeles.

Related Videos Related Photos ]]> http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/corey-haims-death-did-medications-play-a-role/feed/ 0 Andrew Garcia Profile: Can He Break Out Of The ‘Straight Up’ Straitjacket? http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/andrew-garcia-profile-can-he-break-out-of-the-straight-up-straitjacket-3/ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/andrew-garcia-profile-can-he-break-out-of-the-straight-up-straitjacket-3/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:53:00 +0000 admin http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633777/20100312/index.jhtml 'American Idol' Top 12 cheat sheet looks at Garcia's strengths and weaknesses.
By Jim Cantiello


Andrew Garcia at the "American Idol" top 12 party
Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage

On Thursday night, "American Idol" revealed its Top 12 Finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each candidate's journey thus far. He also got the "Idol" hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night's Top 12 Party in Hollywood.

Andrew Garcia

If the "American Idol" judges are to be believed, this season is all about the girls. Yet Andrew Garcia has quickly established himself as a contender for the "Idol" trophy with unexpected stripped-down acoustic interpretations of pop songs, ranging from a Fall Out Boy hit to a Paula Abdul classic.

Best Performance: Garcia's Hollywood Week spin on Abdul's "Straight Up" was a rare highlight for this year's unimpressive cast of boys. He's never been more playful or imaginative on the show. Three weeks into the live episodes, "Straight Up" is still one of the most talked-about performances of the season.

Weakest Performance: In week two of the semi-finals, Garcia ditched the guitar and delivered a straightforward take on James Morrison's "You Give Me Something." The lackluster results exposed his fatal flaw: Without an instrument, Andrew Garcia was a dreadful bore. Somehow, the buzzed-about dude with stylish glasses and a neck tattoo managed to blend in with the crowd.

Sad Backstory: Garcia's mom and dad used to be Los Angeles gang members. Now they're adorable, supportive (and weepy) "Idol" parents. Plus, he has a precious toddler and a cute wife with a hip haircut cheering him on from home. Recently, he suffered personal embarrassment when he decided to sing Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" on live television.

Why He Will Win: His "Straight Up" turned him into a household name and a Google Trend, which translates into media attention. The more people search his name, the more people like us are likely to write about him. Perhaps even more noteworthy? Garcia has a significant pre-"Idol" fanbase from his YouTube channel, where he posted popular acoustic cover songs. (Those videos have all been removed.) A devout built-in following equals an active online street team who will do everything they can to remind people to vote for their man.

Why He Will Lose: It's always dangerous to emerge as the front-runner too early in the season. (See: Danny Gokey, Tamyra Gray, Melinda Doolittle, Chris Daughtry.) Backlash is inevitable. The tide is already turning against him with the judges, who have grown impatient with his "indulgent" song choices and worry that his "Straight Up" set the bar too high too early. There's only so far Andrew can ride the "acoustic cover" train before viewers get bored, and his bizarre "Genie in a Bottle" showed that he can't even do that trick that well anymore.

What He Should Sing: Four words: Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance."

On The Theme Week He's Most Stoked For: "Country week! I'm kind of looking forward to it. I never did country so I want to do something!"

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Videos ]]> 'American Idol' Top 12 cheat sheet looks at Garcia's strengths and weaknesses.
By Jim Cantiello


Andrew Garcia at the "American Idol" top 12 party
Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage

On Thursday night, "American Idol" revealed its Top 12 Finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each candidate's journey thus far. He also got the "Idol" hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night's Top 12 Party in Hollywood.

Andrew Garcia

If the "American Idol" judges are to be believed, this season is all about the girls. Yet Andrew Garcia has quickly established himself as a contender for the "Idol" trophy with unexpected stripped-down acoustic interpretations of pop songs, ranging from a Fall Out Boy hit to a Paula Abdul classic.

Best Performance: Garcia's Hollywood Week spin on Abdul's "Straight Up" was a rare highlight for this year's unimpressive cast of boys. He's never been more playful or imaginative on the show. Three weeks into the live episodes, "Straight Up" is still one of the most talked-about performances of the season.

Weakest Performance: In week two of the semi-finals, Garcia ditched the guitar and delivered a straightforward take on James Morrison's "You Give Me Something." The lackluster results exposed his fatal flaw: Without an instrument, Andrew Garcia was a dreadful bore. Somehow, the buzzed-about dude with stylish glasses and a neck tattoo managed to blend in with the crowd.

Sad Backstory: Garcia's mom and dad used to be Los Angeles gang members. Now they're adorable, supportive (and weepy) "Idol" parents. Plus, he has a precious toddler and a cute wife with a hip haircut cheering him on from home. Recently, he suffered personal embarrassment when he decided to sing Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" on live television.

Why He Will Win: His "Straight Up" turned him into a household name and a Google Trend, which translates into media attention. The more people search his name, the more people like us are likely to write about him. Perhaps even more noteworthy? Garcia has a significant pre-"Idol" fanbase from his YouTube channel, where he posted popular acoustic cover songs. (Those videos have all been removed.) A devout built-in following equals an active online street team who will do everything they can to remind people to vote for their man.

Why He Will Lose: It's always dangerous to emerge as the front-runner too early in the season. (See: Danny Gokey, Tamyra Gray, Melinda Doolittle, Chris Daughtry.) Backlash is inevitable. The tide is already turning against him with the judges, who have grown impatient with his "indulgent" song choices and worry that his "Straight Up" set the bar too high too early. There's only so far Andrew can ride the "acoustic cover" train before viewers get bored, and his bizarre "Genie in a Bottle" showed that he can't even do that trick that well anymore.

What He Should Sing: Four words: Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance."

On The Theme Week He's Most Stoked For: "Country week! I'm kind of looking forward to it. I never did country so I want to do something!"

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Videos ]]> http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/andrew-garcia-profile-can-he-break-out-of-the-straight-up-straitjacket-3/feed/ 0 Andrew Garcia Profile: Can He Break Out Of The ‘Straight Up’ Straitjacket? http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/andrew-garcia-profile-can-he-break-out-of-the-straight-up-straitjacket-2/ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/andrew-garcia-profile-can-he-break-out-of-the-straight-up-straitjacket-2/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:46:20 +0000 admin http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633777/20100312/index.jhtml 'American Idol' Top 12 cheat sheet looks at Garcia's strengths and weaknesses.
By Jim Cantiello


Andrew Garcia at the "American Idol" top 12 party
Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage

On Thursday night, "American Idol" revealed its Top 12 Finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each candidate's journey thus far. He also got the "Idol" hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night's Top 12 Party in Hollywood.

ANDREW GARCIA

If the "American Idol" judges are to be believed, this season is all about the girls. Yet Andrew Garcia has quickly established himself as a contender for the "Idol" trophy with unexpected stripped-down acoustic interpretations of pop songs, ranging from a Fall Out Boy hit to a Paula Abdul classic.

Best Performance: Garcia's Hollywood Week spin on Abdul's "Straight Up" was a rare highlight for this year's unimpressive cast of boys. He's never been more playful or imaginative on the show. Three weeks into the live episodes, "Straight Up" is still one of the most talked-about performances of the season.

Weakest Performance: In week two of the semi-finals, Garcia ditched the guitar and delivered a straightforward take on James Morrison's "You Give Me Something." The lackluster results exposed his fatal flaw: Without an instrument, Andrew Garcia was a dreadful bore. Somehow, the buzzed-about dude with stylish glasses and a neck tattoo managed to blend in with the crowd.

Sad Backstory: Garcia's mom and dad used to be Los Angeles gang members. Now they're adorable, supportive (and weepy) "Idol" parents. Plus, he has a precious toddler and a cute wife with a hip haircut cheering him on from home. Recently, he suffered personal embarrassment when he decided to sing Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" on live television.

Why He Will Win: His "Straight Up" turned him into a household name and a Google Trend, which translates into media attention. The more people search his name, the more people like us are likely to write about him. Perhaps even more noteworthy? Garcia has a significant pre-"Idol" fan-base from his YouTube channel where he posted popular acoustic cover songs. (Those videos have all been removed.) A devout built-in following equals an active online street team who will do everything they can to remind people to vote for their man.

Why He Will Lose: It's always dangerous to emerge as the frontrunner too soon in the season. (See: Danny Gokey, Tamyra Gray, Melinda Doolittle, Chris Daughtry.) Backlash is inevitable. The tide is already turning against him with the judges, who have grown impatient with his "indulgent" song choices and worry that his "Straight Up" set the bar too high too early. There's only so far Andrew can ride the "acoustic cover" train before viewers get bored, and his bizarre "Genie in a Bottle" showed that he can't even do that trick that well anymore.

What He Should Sing: Four words: Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance."

On The Theme Week He's Most Stoked For: "Country week! I'm kind of looking forward to it. I never did country so I want to do something!"

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Videos ]]> 'American Idol' Top 12 cheat sheet looks at Garcia's strengths and weaknesses.
By Jim Cantiello


Andrew Garcia at the "American Idol" top 12 party
Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage

On Thursday night, "American Idol" revealed its Top 12 Finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each candidate's journey thus far. He also got the "Idol" hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night's Top 12 Party in Hollywood.

ANDREW GARCIA

If the "American Idol" judges are to be believed, this season is all about the girls. Yet Andrew Garcia has quickly established himself as a contender for the "Idol" trophy with unexpected stripped-down acoustic interpretations of pop songs, ranging from a Fall Out Boy hit to a Paula Abdul classic.

Best Performance: Garcia's Hollywood Week spin on Abdul's "Straight Up" was a rare highlight for this year's unimpressive cast of boys. He's never been more playful or imaginative on the show. Three weeks into the live episodes, "Straight Up" is still one of the most talked-about performances of the season.

Weakest Performance: In week two of the semi-finals, Garcia ditched the guitar and delivered a straightforward take on James Morrison's "You Give Me Something." The lackluster results exposed his fatal flaw: Without an instrument, Andrew Garcia was a dreadful bore. Somehow, the buzzed-about dude with stylish glasses and a neck tattoo managed to blend in with the crowd.

Sad Backstory: Garcia's mom and dad used to be Los Angeles gang members. Now they're adorable, supportive (and weepy) "Idol" parents. Plus, he has a precious toddler and a cute wife with a hip haircut cheering him on from home. Recently, he suffered personal embarrassment when he decided to sing Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" on live television.

Why He Will Win: His "Straight Up" turned him into a household name and a Google Trend, which translates into media attention. The more people search his name, the more people like us are likely to write about him. Perhaps even more noteworthy? Garcia has a significant pre-"Idol" fan-base from his YouTube channel where he posted popular acoustic cover songs. (Those videos have all been removed.) A devout built-in following equals an active online street team who will do everything they can to remind people to vote for their man.

Why He Will Lose: It's always dangerous to emerge as the frontrunner too soon in the season. (See: Danny Gokey, Tamyra Gray, Melinda Doolittle, Chris Daughtry.) Backlash is inevitable. The tide is already turning against him with the judges, who have grown impatient with his "indulgent" song choices and worry that his "Straight Up" set the bar too high too early. There's only so far Andrew can ride the "acoustic cover" train before viewers get bored, and his bizarre "Genie in a Bottle" showed that he can't even do that trick that well anymore.

What He Should Sing: Four words: Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance."

On The Theme Week He's Most Stoked For: "Country week! I'm kind of looking forward to it. I never did country so I want to do something!"

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Videos ]]> http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/andrew-garcia-profile-can-he-break-out-of-the-straight-up-straitjacket-2/feed/ 0 Andrew Garcia Profile: Can He Break Out Of The ‘Straight Up’ Straitjacket? http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/andrew-garcia-profile-can-he-break-out-of-the-straight-up-straitjacket/ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/andrew-garcia-profile-can-he-break-out-of-the-straight-up-straitjacket/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:46:20 +0000 admin http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633777/20100312/index.jhtml 'American Idol' Top 12 cheat sheet looks at Garcia's strengths and weaknesses.
By Jim Cantiello


Andrew Garcia at the "American Idol" top 12 party
Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage

On Thursday night, "American Idol" revealed its Top 12 Finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each candidate's journey thus far. He also got the "Idol" hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night's Top 12 Party in Hollywood.

ANDREW GARCIA

If the "American Idol" judges are to be believed, this season is all about the girls. Yet Andrew Garcia has quickly established himself as a contender for the "Idol" trophy with unexpected stripped-down acoustic interpretations of pop songs, ranging from a Fall Out Boy hit to a Paula Abdul classic.

Best Performance: Garcia's Hollywood Week spin on Abdul's "Straight Up" was a rare highlight for this year's unimpressive cast of boys. He's never been more playful or imaginative on the show. Three weeks into the live episodes, "Straight Up" is still one of the most talked-about performances of the season.

Weakest Performance: In week two of the semi-finals, Garcia ditched the guitar and delivered a straightforward take on James Morrison's "You Give Me Something." The lackluster results exposed his fatal flaw: Without an instrument, Andrew Garcia was a dreadful bore. Somehow, the buzzed-about dude with stylish glasses and a neck tattoo managed to blend in with the crowd.

Sad Backstory: Garcia's mom and dad used to be Los Angeles gang members. Now they're adorable, supportive (and weepy) "Idol" parents. Plus, he has a precious toddler and a cute wife with a hip haircut cheering him on from home. Recently, he suffered personal embarrassment when he decided to sing Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" on live television.

Why He Will Win: His "Straight Up" turned him into a household name and a Google Trend, which translates into media attention. The more people search his name, the more people like us are likely to write about him. Perhaps even more noteworthy? Garcia has a significant pre-"Idol" fan-base from his YouTube channel where he posted popular acoustic cover songs. (Those videos have all been removed.) A devout built-in following equals an active online street team who will do everything they can to remind people to vote for their man.

Why He Will Lose: It's always dangerous to emerge as the frontrunner too soon in the season. (See: Danny Gokey, Tamyra Gray, Melinda Doolittle, Chris Daughtry.) Backlash is inevitable. The tide is already turning against him with the judges, who have grown impatient with his "indulgent" song choices and worry that his "Straight Up" set the bar too high too early. There's only so far Andrew can ride the "acoustic cover" train before viewers get bored, and his bizarre "Genie in a Bottle" showed that he can't even do that trick that well anymore.

What He Should Sing: Four words: Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance."

On The Theme Week He's Most Stoked For: "Country week! I'm kind of looking forward to it. I never did country so I want to do something!"

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Videos ]]> 'American Idol' Top 12 cheat sheet looks at Garcia's strengths and weaknesses.
By Jim Cantiello


Andrew Garcia at the "American Idol" top 12 party
Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage

On Thursday night, "American Idol" revealed its Top 12 Finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each candidate's journey thus far. He also got the "Idol" hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night's Top 12 Party in Hollywood.

ANDREW GARCIA

If the "American Idol" judges are to be believed, this season is all about the girls. Yet Andrew Garcia has quickly established himself as a contender for the "Idol" trophy with unexpected stripped-down acoustic interpretations of pop songs, ranging from a Fall Out Boy hit to a Paula Abdul classic.

Best Performance: Garcia's Hollywood Week spin on Abdul's "Straight Up" was a rare highlight for this year's unimpressive cast of boys. He's never been more playful or imaginative on the show. Three weeks into the live episodes, "Straight Up" is still one of the most talked-about performances of the season.

Weakest Performance: In week two of the semi-finals, Garcia ditched the guitar and delivered a straightforward take on James Morrison's "You Give Me Something." The lackluster results exposed his fatal flaw: Without an instrument, Andrew Garcia was a dreadful bore. Somehow, the buzzed-about dude with stylish glasses and a neck tattoo managed to blend in with the crowd.

Sad Backstory: Garcia's mom and dad used to be Los Angeles gang members. Now they're adorable, supportive (and weepy) "Idol" parents. Plus, he has a precious toddler and a cute wife with a hip haircut cheering him on from home. Recently, he suffered personal embarrassment when he decided to sing Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle" on live television.

Why He Will Win: His "Straight Up" turned him into a household name and a Google Trend, which translates into media attention. The more people search his name, the more people like us are likely to write about him. Perhaps even more noteworthy? Garcia has a significant pre-"Idol" fan-base from his YouTube channel where he posted popular acoustic cover songs. (Those videos have all been removed.) A devout built-in following equals an active online street team who will do everything they can to remind people to vote for their man.

Why He Will Lose: It's always dangerous to emerge as the frontrunner too soon in the season. (See: Danny Gokey, Tamyra Gray, Melinda Doolittle, Chris Daughtry.) Backlash is inevitable. The tide is already turning against him with the judges, who have grown impatient with his "indulgent" song choices and worry that his "Straight Up" set the bar too high too early. There's only so far Andrew can ride the "acoustic cover" train before viewers get bored, and his bizarre "Genie in a Bottle" showed that he can't even do that trick that well anymore.

What He Should Sing: Four words: Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance."

On The Theme Week He's Most Stoked For: "Country week! I'm kind of looking forward to it. I never did country so I want to do something!"

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Videos ]]> http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/andrew-garcia-profile-can-he-break-out-of-the-straight-up-straitjacket/feed/ 0 Lady Gaga Talks Hidden Meanings In Epic ‘Telephone’ Clip http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lady-gaga-talks-hidden-meanings-in-epic-telephone-clip/ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lady-gaga-talks-hidden-meanings-in-epic-telephone-clip/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:41:00 +0000 admin http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633776/20100312/lady_gaga.jhtml Gaga said jailhouse heat video worked because she and Beyonce 'both like women.'
By Gil Kaufman


Lady Gaga in "Telephone"
Photo: Interscope Records

Lady Gaga wears a series of barely there outfits in the nine-and-a-half minute video for "Telephone" that debuted on Thursday night, including one that's no more than discretely applied electrical tape and a pair of torn fishnets. But the singer said despite the acres of provocative flesh (not to mention copious product placement) on display in the "Thelma and Louise"-style revenge fantasy co-starring Beyoncé, her aim, as always, is to embed some deeper, less obvious meaning in her videos.

"There's certainly always a hidden message in my music videos," Gaga told E! News in a sit-down during which she wore her signature round sunglasses and a lingerie-like black leather and lace bodysuit. "But I would say most predominately, I'm always trying to convolute everyone's idea of what a pop music video should be."

After hooking up with Beyoncé on the set of "Videophone," Gaga said she was excited to re-team with the R&B diva, who shows of a more foul-mouthed, edgier persona in the clip than she has in the past, including the pivotal scene in which she poisons co-star Tyrese Gibson and calls him a compound nasty name. "We had an amazing time working together on her video and it just kind of works out because we both like women," Gaga said provocatively of the "Telephone" clip, the first half of which takes place in the sexiest/scariest women's prison on the planet.

Gaga also explained how the infamous "Pussy Wagon" from Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill Vol. 1" ended up making a very prominent cameo. "We were having lunch one day in Los Angeles and I was telling him about my concept for the video and he said, 'You gotta use the Pussy Wagon!,' " she said of the director's reaction to the pulpy look and feel of the video.

"There was this really amazing quality in 'Paparazzi,' where it kind of had this pure pop music quality but at the same time it was a little bit of commentary on fame culture," she said of her first hook-up with director Jonas Åkerlund, who also helmed the "Telephone" mini-movie. "I wanted to do the same thing with this video — take a decidedly pop song, which on the surface has a quite shallow meaning, and turn it into something deeper: the idea that America is full of young people that are inundated with information and technology and turn it into something that is more of a commentary on the kind of country that we are."

What do you think of Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video? Let us know in the comments below!

Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists ]]> Gaga said jailhouse heat video worked because she and Beyonce 'both like women.'
By Gil Kaufman


Lady Gaga in "Telephone"
Photo: Interscope Records

Lady Gaga wears a series of barely there outfits in the nine-and-a-half minute video for "Telephone" that debuted on Thursday night, including one that's no more than discretely applied electrical tape and a pair of torn fishnets. But the singer said despite the acres of provocative flesh (not to mention copious product placement) on display in the "Thelma and Louise"-style revenge fantasy co-starring Beyoncé, her aim, as always, is to embed some deeper, less obvious meaning in her videos.

"There's certainly always a hidden message in my music videos," Gaga told E! News in a sit-down during which she wore her signature round sunglasses and a lingerie-like black leather and lace bodysuit. "But I would say most predominately, I'm always trying to convolute everyone's idea of what a pop music video should be."

After hooking up with Beyoncé on the set of "Videophone," Gaga said she was excited to re-team with the R&B diva, who shows of a more foul-mouthed, edgier persona in the clip than she has in the past, including the pivotal scene in which she poisons co-star Tyrese Gibson and calls him a compound nasty name. "We had an amazing time working together on her video and it just kind of works out because we both like women," Gaga said provocatively of the "Telephone" clip, the first half of which takes place in the sexiest/scariest women's prison on the planet.

Gaga also explained how the infamous "Pussy Wagon" from Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill Vol. 1" ended up making a very prominent cameo. "We were having lunch one day in Los Angeles and I was telling him about my concept for the video and he said, 'You gotta use the Pussy Wagon!,' " she said of the director's reaction to the pulpy look and feel of the video.

"There was this really amazing quality in 'Paparazzi,' where it kind of had this pure pop music quality but at the same time it was a little bit of commentary on fame culture," she said of her first hook-up with director Jonas Åkerlund, who also helmed the "Telephone" mini-movie. "I wanted to do the same thing with this video — take a decidedly pop song, which on the surface has a quite shallow meaning, and turn it into something deeper: the idea that America is full of young people that are inundated with information and technology and turn it into something that is more of a commentary on the kind of country that we are."

What do you think of Lady Gaga's "Telephone" video? Let us know in the comments below!

Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists ]]> http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lady-gaga-talks-hidden-meanings-in-epic-telephone-clip/feed/ 0 Crystal Bowersox Profile: ‘I’m Not Letting Anything Go To My Head’ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/crystal-bowersox-profile-im-not-letting-anything-go-to-my-head/ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/crystal-bowersox-profile-im-not-letting-anything-go-to-my-head/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:21:00 +0000 admin http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633775/20100312/index.jhtml 'American Idol' Top 12 cheat sheet looks at Bowersox's strengths and weaknesses.
By Jim Cantiello


Crystal Bowersox
Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage

On Thursday night, "American Idol" revealed its Top 12 Finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each candidate's journey thus far. He also got the "Idol" hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night's Top 12 Party in Hollywood.

Crystal Bowersox

Crystal Bowersox is as obvious a choice for "American Idol" as Ellen DeGeneres. The Ohio native seems like she'd be more at home on AM Radio circa 1976 than a highly rated reality competition. But somehow, the dreadlocked singer/songwriter has captured the imagination of "Idol" viewers and judges alike with her so-retro-it's-cool-again vibe and fish-out-of-water attitude.

Best Performance: Bowersox wowed with a passionate gospel-tinged "Long As I Can See the Light"by Creedence Clearwater Revival, made all the more poignant and emotional thanks to a headline-grabbing health scare that almost resulted in the show's first-ever medical disqualification. But her recent Tracy Chapman cover gave us even more reasons to chant "BOWERSOX! BOWERSOX!"

Weakest Performance: Alanis Morissette's "Hand in My Pocket" seemed like a good idea at the time. The song fit her troubadour aesthetic and she got to flaunt her harmonica skills. (Take that, Taylor Hicks!) But it ended up feeling too predictable and safe, leaving Simon to gripe that there are thousands of street performers doing the same thing all over America. Ouch.

Sad Backstory: After last week's dramatic hospital visit, Crystal's struggle with diabetes made its way into her narrative on the show. And like fellow front-runner Andrew Garcia, Bowersox is the parent of an adorable toddler.

Why She Will Win: Bowersox recalls past "Idol" fan favorites like Jason Castro and Bo Bice, yet she's been able to carve out an identity all her own. She's also showing more personality the longer she's on TV, and it sparkles. (Her swipe at Simon for having a two-story trailer was hilarious without being disrespectful.) On a superficial level, her name is a memorable one, particularly when uttered by Simon Cowell on various talk shows (he's a fan).

Why She Will Lose: Bowersox had never watched "Idol" before, so she may be thrown for a loop when she's expected to sing a disco tune or a Broadway number. If she's smart, she'll watch every single Adam Lambert and Kris Allen "Idol" performance. Those two had a knack for picking songs and arrangements that fit their specific identities. (Well, perhaps Crystal should avoid Kris' Don Henley number. We're still not sure what happened that week.)

What She Should Sing: To help Crystal avoid turning into a '70s jukebox cliché, she should attempt a current hit. A slow, thoughtful, acoustic take on Pink's "Don't Leave Me" could do just the trick.

On Being Considered The Front-runner: "It's flattering. I'm not letting anything go to my head, though. It's definitely up for grabs, it's still up in the air. We don't know who's gonna win! But it's flattering to hear. Everyone's really talented."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Videos Related Photos ]]> 'American Idol' Top 12 cheat sheet looks at Bowersox's strengths and weaknesses.
By Jim Cantiello


Crystal Bowersox
Photo: Jesse Grant/ WireImage

On Thursday night, "American Idol" revealed its Top 12 Finalists for the ninth season of the hit show. MTV News "Idol" expert Jim Cantiello whipped up a handy cheat sheet for each finalist, breaking down each candidate's journey thus far. He also got the "Idol" hopefuls to weigh in when he caught up with them at Thursday night's Top 12 Party in Hollywood.

Crystal Bowersox

Crystal Bowersox is as obvious a choice for "American Idol" as Ellen DeGeneres. The Ohio native seems like she'd be more at home on AM Radio circa 1976 than a highly rated reality competition. But somehow, the dreadlocked singer/songwriter has captured the imagination of "Idol" viewers and judges alike with her so-retro-it's-cool-again vibe and fish-out-of-water attitude.

Best Performance: Bowersox wowed with a passionate gospel-tinged "Long As I Can See the Light"by Creedence Clearwater Revival, made all the more poignant and emotional thanks to a headline-grabbing health scare that almost resulted in the show's first-ever medical disqualification. But her recent Tracy Chapman cover gave us even more reasons to chant "BOWERSOX! BOWERSOX!"

Weakest Performance: Alanis Morissette's "Hand in My Pocket" seemed like a good idea at the time. The song fit her troubadour aesthetic and she got to flaunt her harmonica skills. (Take that, Taylor Hicks!) But it ended up feeling too predictable and safe, leaving Simon to gripe that there are thousands of street performers doing the same thing all over America. Ouch.

Sad Backstory: After last week's dramatic hospital visit, Crystal's struggle with diabetes made its way into her narrative on the show. And like fellow front-runner Andrew Garcia, Bowersox is the parent of an adorable toddler.

Why She Will Win: Bowersox recalls past "Idol" fan favorites like Jason Castro and Bo Bice, yet she's been able to carve out an identity all her own. She's also showing more personality the longer she's on TV, and it sparkles. (Her swipe at Simon for having a two-story trailer was hilarious without being disrespectful.) On a superficial level, her name is a memorable one, particularly when uttered by Simon Cowell on various talk shows (he's a fan).

Why She Will Lose: Bowersox had never watched "Idol" before, so she may be thrown for a loop when she's expected to sing a disco tune or a Broadway number. If she's smart, she'll watch every single Adam Lambert and Kris Allen "Idol" performance. Those two had a knack for picking songs and arrangements that fit their specific identities. (Well, perhaps Crystal should avoid Kris' Don Henley number. We're still not sure what happened that week.)

What She Should Sing: To help Crystal avoid turning into a '70s jukebox cliché, she should attempt a current hit. A slow, thoughtful, acoustic take on Pink's "Don't Leave Me" could do just the trick.

On Being Considered The Front-runner: "It's flattering. I'm not letting anything go to my head, though. It's definitely up for grabs, it's still up in the air. We don't know who's gonna win! But it's flattering to hear. Everyone's really talented."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Videos Related Photos ]]> http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/crystal-bowersox-profile-im-not-letting-anything-go-to-my-head/feed/ 0 Lupe Fiasco Reaches Out To Jay Electronica, Explains Jay-Z Comment http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lupe-fiasco-reaches-out-to-jay-electronica-explains-jay-z-comment-2/ http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lupe-fiasco-reaches-out-to-jay-electronica-explains-jay-z-comment-2/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:51:00 +0000 admin http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1633756/20100311/fiasco__lupe.jhtml 'Everybody thinks because you're black and you're from the 'hood, you wanna be Jay-Z,' Lu tells Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by James Montgomery


Lupe Fiasco
Photo: Atlantic

Celebrity Favorites

Please respect our exclusive game. Just a couple of weeks ago, we told you how one of the underground's favorites, Jay Electronica, said he wanted to make an album with Lupe Fiasco. He also said he wanted to go in on projects with Nas, Mos Def and a slew of others, but who's counting?

On Wednesday night in Manhattan, Lupe popped up on the red carpet for the MTV documentary "Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro," which airs Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV. Not only did Lu say he was down with collaborating with Jay, he's initiating things.

"I reached out to him a couple of days ago with some real serious ideas," Lupe said. " 'Let's put a program together. Something that works out and makes sense for the both of us.' He's a very talented MC. One of the few MCs that I actually listen to what they're saying. I don't listen to 98 percent of the rappers out there. But he's one of the MCs I listen to and I'm inspired to do so. A collaboration is in the works."

Lupe also clarified the comments he made to TheAge.com, when he said he did not want to be like Jay-Z.

"There's a misunderstanding with my fanbase,'' The Age quoted him as saying. ''People [at Warner] feel they know my fans more than I do. They want me to step out of my comfort zone and step into theirs. I don't have necessarily the celebrity success they want me to have, but it's more social success and being able to speak at a college about world affairs. That's a success to me. I don't want to be Jay-Z and be worth $400 million and perform on every awards show. It's getting in touch with somebody who needs to improve their self-esteem as opposed to driving a Bentley and putting some chains on."

Lupe told us he didn't mean any malice toward Jigga but was speaking up for individuality.

"Jay-Z's a personal friend of mine. [He] executive-produced my first album," Fiasco said. "[My comments were] just an example using him of how people rate success. There's an idea of the status quo that every rapper wants to be Jay-Z. Nah. Every rapper does not want to be Jay-Z. Every rapper don't wanna be Kanye West. Everybody don't wanna be Lil Wayne. They wanna be who they are. ... You're a fool trying to chase that success down and manage it like that. I always look at my success as further than a dollar sign, further than record sales. ... Everybody thinks because you're black and you're from the 'hood, you wanna be Jay-Z. There's kids who wanna be astrophysicists and don't care about rap. That should be OK. You should be OK just being you, working your regular job and being happy. That's why I made that statement. I felt it need to be said."

Don't miss "Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro," airing Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV. And find out what you can do to help solve the global water crisis now at the "Summit on the Summit" Web site.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Related Videos Related Artists ]]> 'Everybody thinks because you're black and you're from the 'hood, you wanna be Jay-Z,' Lu tells Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by James Montgomery


Lupe Fiasco
Photo: Atlantic

Celebrity Favorites

Please respect our exclusive game. Just a couple of weeks ago, we told you how one of the underground's favorites, Jay Electronica, said he wanted to make an album with Lupe Fiasco. He also said he wanted to go in on projects with Nas, Mos Def and a slew of others, but who's counting?

On Wednesday night in Manhattan, Lupe popped up on the red carpet for the MTV documentary "Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro," which airs Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV. Not only did Lu say he was down with collaborating with Jay, he's initiating things.

"I reached out to him a couple of days ago with some real serious ideas," Lupe said. " 'Let's put a program together. Something that works out and makes sense for the both of us.' He's a very talented MC. One of the few MCs that I actually listen to what they're saying. I don't listen to 98 percent of the rappers out there. But he's one of the MCs I listen to and I'm inspired to do so. A collaboration is in the works."

Lupe also clarified the comments he made to TheAge.com, when he said he did not want to be like Jay-Z.

"There's a misunderstanding with my fanbase,'' The Age quoted him as saying. ''People [at Warner] feel they know my fans more than I do. They want me to step out of my comfort zone and step into theirs. I don't have necessarily the celebrity success they want me to have, but it's more social success and being able to speak at a college about world affairs. That's a success to me. I don't want to be Jay-Z and be worth $400 million and perform on every awards show. It's getting in touch with somebody who needs to improve their self-esteem as opposed to driving a Bentley and putting some chains on."

Lupe told us he didn't mean any malice toward Jigga but was speaking up for individuality.

"Jay-Z's a personal friend of mine. [He] executive-produced my first album," Fiasco said. "[My comments were] just an example using him of how people rate success. There's an idea of the status quo that every rapper wants to be Jay-Z. Nah. Every rapper does not want to be Jay-Z. Every rapper don't wanna be Kanye West. Everybody don't wanna be Lil Wayne. They wanna be who they are. ... You're a fool trying to chase that success down and manage it like that. I always look at my success as further than a dollar sign, further than record sales. ... Everybody thinks because you're black and you're from the 'hood, you wanna be Jay-Z. There's kids who wanna be astrophysicists and don't care about rap. That should be OK. You should be OK just being you, working your regular job and being happy. That's why I made that statement. I felt it need to be said."

Don't miss "Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro," airing Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on MTV. And find out what you can do to help solve the global water crisis now at the "Summit on the Summit" Web site.

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

Related Videos Related Artists ]]> http://www.mauldinbrand.com/index.php/2010/03/lupe-fiasco-reaches-out-to-jay-electronica-explains-jay-z-comment-2/feed/ 0