Minaj will make her solo TV debut during live show at 8 p.m. ET on September 12. By MTV News Staff
Nicki Minaj Photo: Michael Caulfield/ WireImage
Another crucial member of the Young Money crew will be in the house next Sunday during the MTV Video Music Awards. The crew's resident bad girl, Nicki Minaj, will give her first-ever televised solo performance during the pre-show of the big event. The festivities kick off at 8 p.m. (live ET/ tape delayed PT) on September 12, with Minaj warming up the party with a performance of her hit single, "Your Love."
And starting on Tuesday (September 7), Minaj will kick off a Twitter contest in which 10 fans will win a front-row seat to watch her performance. For information on the contest, follow both @NickiMinaj and @MTVTJ. Winners will be announced on Friday, September 10.
"I am truly honored to be a part of this year's VMAs. Just yesterday I was an underground female rapper. See, Barbz? Dreams do come true," Minaj said in a statement announcing her participation in the big show.
MTV News will have the whole night covered from every angle, with correspondents Sway, Tim Kash, SuChin Pak and Jim Cantiello updating you on all of the action from outside the Nokia Theatre as they interview the night's hottest stars on the VMA white carpet. MTV's first-ever TJ (Twitter Jockey), Gabi Gregg, will also be on hand to run MTV News' Twitter Tracker, which will give users a look at the second-to-second chatter about the VMAs on Twitter. Gabi will be checking what people are saying about the VMA nominees, performers and presenters while vetting fan questions and tweeting all the white-carpet action @MTVTJ.
She's not the only new member of the MTV family who will be onboard, as award-winning documentary filmmaker Andrew Jenks, star of the upcoming MTV docu-series "World of Jenks," will visit the pre-show stage with rapper Maino to unwrap a sneak peek of his new series, which premieres on Monday, September 13, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The special post-VMA "World of Jenks" sneak peek, featuring Maino, airs at 11 p.m. ET/PT right after the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.
But wait, there's more. MTV News will also bring audiences a first-look at the hotly anticipated "Jackass 3D" as seen through the eyes of the cast of "Jersey Shore." MTV News threw the cast a screening party of the movie in Seaside Heights and will show audiences the reactions from the cast, plus exclusive scenes from the movie. As a lead-in to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards Pre-show, viewers will get to watch an all-new episode of "Jersey Shore" at 7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. CT. Then during the live pre-show, the cast will hit the white carpet to treat fans to a previously unaired bonus clip from the episode that aired that night.
Then the action will kick off in earnest at 9 p.m., when comedienne Chelsea Handler hosts the awards show, which will feature performances from Eminem, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, B.o.B, Drake, Linkin Park, Usher, Paramore and Florence & the Machine, along with Travie McCoy, Jason Derülo and Robyn, who will take the stage with this year's VMA house artist, deadmau5.
In addition, Ke$ha, Minaj, Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Trey Songz, Ashley Greene, Selena Gomez, Ne-Yo and "The Social Network" stars Justin Timberlake, Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield are confirmed to present awards.
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist through September 12.
Rapper and wife were pulled over after making an illegal U-turn on Sunset Boulevard on Wednesday night. By Gil Kaufman
T.I. Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images
Details are beginning to emerge about the Los Angeles traffic stop that resulted in rapper T.I.'s and wife Tameka "Tiny" Cottle's arrests on charges of felony possession of a controlled substance Wednesday night.
According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Tip (born Clifford Harris Jr.), 29, was pulled over by police when he made an illegal U-turn in his Maybach on Sunset Boulevard around 10:30 p.m. Once officers approached the car on the traffic violation, they reported smelling the odor of marijuana from inside the vehicle, which prompted a search of the car and its passengers.
Sheriff's Department spokesperson Nicole Nishida confirmed that police found a controlled substance in the vehicle described as an unspecified amount of pills that "resembled ecstasy." Police are currently testing the pills and Nishida said she could not confirm where the pills were found. She also confirmed that there were other passengers in the car who were not charged with any crimes.
TMZ has posted pictures of the black-and-gray vehicle T.I. was reportedly driving at the time that show tall white Styrofoam cups in the front and back cup holders. The site speculated that the cups could also point to the presence of codeine syrup, a.k.a. sizzurp, a popular concoction made up of narcotic cough medicine and sometimes consumed in Styrofoam cups. Police have made no mention of codeine so far.
T.I. is on probation following a seven-month prison stint for a felony gun charge, itself a violation of his probation from a previous felony arrest. As part of his release in March, T.I.'s new probation conditions included supervised release for three years, DNA testing and drug counseling, as well as a ban on owning firearms and an agreement to submit to reasonable searches.
An assistant to T.I.'s attorney in the federal gun case told MTV News on Thursday morning (September 2) that a statement would be released later in the day on the matter, but that no details were available before that time on how, or if, the arrest could impact Tip's probation in the previous case. A spokesperson for the probation office handling Tip's case in Atlanta could not be reached for comment at press time.
T.I. and Tiny were released on $10,000 bail early Thursday morning and are due back in court on Friday (September 3).
Learn how Gaga pulled off her unforgettable VMA debut in the special premiering Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV By Mawuse Ziegbe
Lady Gaga at a 2009 VMA afterparty Photo: Amy Sussman/ Getty Images
By most accounts, Lady Gaga turned it out at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Gaga stormed the event with an outrageous performance of "Paparazzi" and a cavalcade of costumes that made her debut one of the most memorable first-time VMA outings in the show's history. In the MTV special, "The VMAs: Revealed - Presented by New 5 React Gum," viewers will get an inside look at how Gaga and her team pulled off the show-stopping fashion extravaganza.
"I told them I wanted to bleed to death for four minutes, and it just went silent. And then they said, 'OK Gaga, if that's your vision we're gonna do it,' " Gaga says in the special, describing her meeting with VMA organizers.
Gaga didn't let her status as a VMA rookie stop her from constructing an awards-show appearance for the ages. The singer got her wish to depict her stylized demise onstage, ending her performance by dangling above her crew of dancers, her skimpy white lace ensemble smeared with blood.
When the "Poker Face" singer won the Moonman for Best New Artist, she thrust the trophy in the air and declared, "This is for God and the gays!" But for the most part, Gaga let her outfits do the talking for much of the show. In addition to the head-to-toe crimson lace number she donned to accept the award, Gaga hit the carpet and held court in the audience in a bevy of OMG-inducing looks. She was snapped in a corseted Victorian-era Jean Paul Gaultier creation replete with black feathers and a gilded mask. She later showed off her trophy as a vision of Jetson chic, in a space-age lavender bodysuit with three-dimensional details.
Gaga owned VMA night when it came to daring style but executing her elaborate fashion show within an awards show was a major enterprise. To learn how it all went down, catch"The VMAs: Revealed - Presented by New 5 React Gum" Saturday at 11 a.m. on MTV.
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.
Weezer frontman and B.o.B entertain a house party in clip, premiering Thursday at midnight on MTV.com. By James Montgomery
Rivers Cuomo and B.o.B (file) Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/ Getty Images
Rather famously, despite having one of the biggest songs of the summer, B.o.B and Paramore's Hayley Williams have never actually met. They've never even been in the same room, for that matter, even though they both appear in the video for their massive hit, "Airplanes."
So, when it came time for B.o.B to shoot the video for his next single, "Magic," he decided to pull a complete 180. This time he actually had the song's co-star, Weezer's Rivers Cuomo, present when he filmed the clip.
"Rivers will be there. Rivers, you better be there, man," B.o.B told MTV News last month at Lollapalooza. "We're going to be there at the same time, so it'll be different for me"
And, lo and behold, the "Magic" video — which premieres Thursday night at midnight on MTV.com — actually does feature both B.o.B and Cuomo, as the duo take the stage and rock a particularly raucous house party. In a way, the scene is fitting: After all, the first time the rapper actually met Cuomo, it was onstage, seconds before they performed the song live. Which, thanks to all his success (and an increasingly hectic schedule) is sort of the way B.o.B is meeting everybody these days.
"The first time I met Rivers was onstage, in L.A., at the House of Blues, and we did 'Magic' for the first time. He walked onstage and that was my first time meeting him, like 'Hey, Rivers Cuomo!' " he laughed. "So, it's so hectic, so busy there's a lot of artists you never see until you actually are backstage, or in a dressing room, you know?"
Director Anthony Mandler wanted to let R&B superstar take viewers 'on a journey, not a ride.' By Jayson Rodriguez
Usher in "OMG"
For a video as forward thinking as Usher's "OMG" -- with its laser beams and light flashes -- director Anthony Mandler actually looked back for inspiration.
"The original idea was kind of Max Headroom," Mandler told MTV News, citing the animated science-fiction character from '80s British TV. "That's where it came from -- the TV flickering on and there's this character. We just wanted to bring it up to date."
"Max Headroom was always in his room," he continued, "this unidentifiable room, '80s shapes. I used that for inspiration."
The formula worked: "OMG" is among the Best Male Video nominees for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. The clip is up against Drake's "Find Your Love," Jason Derulo's "In My Head," Eminem's "Not Afraid" and B.o.B.'s "Airplanes." Mandler is a multiple nominee, having also helmed Drake's video.
"OMG" is the first time Usher and Mandler -- who's worked with Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, and Rihanna -- collaborated on a project.
Usher said he knew the video would be a challenge and wanted to make sure the director was up to the task.
"When I first shot the song to him, I was like, 'Are you sure you're gonna be able to catch this one?' And he said, 'I got it,'" Usher explained.
"We wanted to bring into my world," he continued. "Obviously, the international sound and look and feel has already been set, but we wanted to do something theatrical, fun and energetic to show us working off of each other and playing off of each other as artists, but the cinematography would be artistic and incredible."
Mandler described the visuals as "Hitchcock-ian." Though the style of the shot was important to the director, he had a simpler goal in mind: to capture Usher in his element. He said the key to the clip was simply letting Usher's talent take over.
"The concept was to create a world where we put Usher in a space where he does what I think he does better than anyone else in the world, which is perform at a level and magnitude of a superstar and take us, the viewer, whether audible or visually, on a journey, not a ride," the director said. "And, in that, I wanted to create an unpredictability, so one set leads to another and another, and you never know what's gonna happen. Along the way, Usher becomes our guide. We're so focused on him, we don't notice the change. The thing is unfolding little by little, and you can't quite see far enough ahead to know what's gonna come next."
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if you are a Verizon subscriber) to vote for the Best New Artist video through September 12.
Greg Strause addresses Sony's accusation that he stole 'Battle: Los Angeles' ideas. By Eric Ditzian
A scene from "Skyline" Photo: Universal Pictures
The geeks packed into the San Diego Convention Center in July were prepared for "Green Lantern" and "Thor" and "Captain America." They knew to expect lots of cool footage and A-list panels, and their expectations were more than fulfilled. What almost no one had on their radars was "Skyline," an independent alien-invasion flick that swooped into Comic-Con virtually unnoticed and came away with the some of the festival's most positive buzz.
Greg Strause, who co-directed the flick with his brother and fellow founder of visual effects house Hydraulx, said that he met that skeptical-turned-astonished viewpoint again and again during the production process.
"People would be like, 'What are you doing next?' " he told MTV News. "And we'd be like, 'Shooting this little indie we're financing ourselves. We're shooting it in my house.' So you tell all these people, and they say, 'Oh, that's cute.' And when they actually see it, their jaws drop."
Among the jaws that dropped were those at Sony Pictures, which had hired Hydraulx to do effects work on "Battle: Los Angeles." Both films feature aliens invading Los Angeles, and Sony accused Hydraulx of stealing equipment and ideas for use on "Skyline," according to TheWrap.com. Those are charges Strause strenuously denies.
"It's total bulls---," he said. "We work on a movie with aliens involved with it, if not every year, then every other year. We worked on 'Avatar,' 'The Day the Earth Stood Still,' 'Invasion.' It's all about aliens. That's what our company does. And everyone knows that."
Strause and his brother, Colin, directed the much-derided "Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem," and Greg finds it particularly frustrating to be the target of such accusations at a time when one of his directorial projects is finally getting such great buzz. "Colin and I catch a lot of crap for 'AVPR,' " he said. "And ['Skyline'] is us. It's us."
What the brothers have accomplished is no doubt impressive. Inspired by Oren Peli's "Paranormal Activity," they set out to make a low-budget version of an alien invasion movie that never once felt low-budget. Aided by the capabilities of their effects company and top-of-the-line digital cameras, they holed up in a house in Marina del Ray, California, and filmed the bulk of their story, which focuses on how a group of friends react to the arrival of nefarious aliens. The finished film contains 800 visual effects and employed just one day of green-screen work.
"We have a character drama that plays out in this claustrophobic space," Strause explained. "Whenever we do leave the space, we have huge shots. The teaser [trailer] is the big, epic, visual side of it. When you see the next trailer, you'll get a sense of the claustrophobic, character side."
'Nobody stands a chance against him,' one die-hard Belieber says of Best New Artist nominee. By Rya Backer
Justin Bieber Photo: Mark Von Holden/ Getty Images
Justin Bieber has had a landmark year, earning among other accolades a friendship with Kim Kardashian, a #1 album, a sold-out tour and a multitude of hits. And now, in addition to performing at the 2010 Video Music Awards on September 12, he's also been nominated for Best New Artist for "Baby."
MTV News hit Madison Square Garden before Bieber's sell-out gig on Tuesday and asked Bieber's fans about his chances of winning. The Beliebers, who are famous — and at times infamous — for their rabid devotion, not surprisingly, predicted very little competition for their hero from his fellow nominees, including chart-toppers Ke$sha and Nicki Minaj. Because the Best New Artist is decided by the public, Bieber's fans said they'll see to it that he takes home his Moonman.
"Most of the fans that he has are really big fans, so if they vote for him, they'll vote for him every single day," Bailey Solomons explained. Solomons, along with two friends, did not have tickets for the MSG show, but dressed up in their best Bieber garb hoping to be invited in. Another fan, Alexa Summerlin, affirmed Bailey's sentiment, saying, "Justin has a big fanbase and the people are gonna vote for him."
"Nobody stands a chance against him, if they did, I would be so shocked," said Taylor Carro, a fan who plans on voting before the September 12 deadline.
Other fans had a simpler argument for why Bieber stands to pick up the award. "He's amazing and everyone loves him!" Diana Rossi gushed. "All the teenagers and kids love him," Danicka Przchowski added.
Be sure to catch the Video Music Awards September 12 to see if Bieber's fans got out the vote!
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for the Best New Artist video through September 12.
Twice-nominated pop star owns the summer of 2010 with just-released album. By Jocelyn Vena
Katy Perry in her "California Gurls" video Photo: Capitol Records
Katy Perry kissed a girl and liked it back in 2008, but since then, she's proven that she's more than just a pop singer who dresses like a pinup and makes kooky little tunes. Perry has established herself as a woman to be reckoned with, and she has two chances to take home a Moonman at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, airing live September 12 at 9 p.m.
Shortly after performing the opening number at the 2009 VMAs — and publicly flirting with her now-fiancé and the show's host Russell Brand — Perry set herself up to become one of the biggest pop stars on 2010 thanks to catchy tunes, sexy wardrobe choices and her fun, colorful personality.
After taking the stage at Radio City Music Hall last year, Perry went on to host the MTV Europe Music Awards, perhaps taking some hosting cues from Brand. After she took her act to Europe, the "Waking up in Vegas" singer found out she had been nominated for a Grammy (spoiler alert: she didn't win).
Soon, 2010 would prove to be the year of Katy Perry. She was cast in the "Smurfs" flick, got slimed at the Kids' Choice Awards, topped Maxim's Hot 100 and began her reign as pop's ruling princess when she took the stage at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards and the world became obsessed with her "California Gurls." Fans became equally obsessed with the VMA-nominated video for the track, which not only has Perry wearing a whipped-cream bra, but also hanging out naked in a cotton-candy cloud, all in the name of defeating evil Snoop Dogg.
The "California Gurls" video would help make the summer of 2010 the summer of Katy Perry, complete with a mini-beef with Lady Gaga over her use of religious imagery in her "Alejandro" video. Once a preacher's daughter, always a preacher's daughter.
Nonetheless, her song reached the top of the charts and set up Teenage Dream to dismiss all sophomore-slump fears and debut atop the Billboard 200. But not before she hosted the Teen Choice Awards with some help from the guys of "Glee," released a sexy clip for "Teenage Dream" and was nominated for Best Pop Video and Best Female Video at the VMAs. It certainly seems like she's living a teenage dream.
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for the winners in general categories, including Best New Artist, from now through September 12.
ATL rapper's spouse thanks supporters, as 50 Cent gives the couple his two cents on Twitter as well. By Mawuse Ziegbe
Tiny and T.I. Photo: Eugene Gologursky/ Getty Images
After getting arrested with her husband, T.I., on Wednesday night for possession of a controlled substance, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle took to Twitter to thank fans for the e-support.
"Jus wanted 2say thank u 2every1 dats been leaving encouraging msgs & prayers!" Tiny tweeted on Thursday (September 2). "We love u guys:) going 2bed now! So glad 2b n a nice clean bed."
Tiny and her new hubby were picked up in Los Angeles after police stopped T.I. (born Clifford Harris Jr.) around 10:30 p.m. for making an illegal U-turn in his Maybach, according to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. When the officers approached the vehicle, they apparently smelled the scent of marijuana wafting from the car and then searched the passengers and the automobile. Police found an unspecified number of pills that "resembled ecstasy."
T.I. and Tiny were not traveling alone but the Sheriff's Department spokesperson said the other passengers in the car were not charged with a crime. The duo posted $10,000 bail each and were released early Thursday morning. They are due in court on September 3.
Other celebs have weighed in on the alleged drug bust as well. 50 Cent suggested that Tiny take the fall for Tip, who was released from prison earlier this year after completing a jail bid stemming from weapons charges.
"Man TI and tiny done got picked up agin for methamphetmines and ecstacy dam man," 50 tweeted. "Tiny gotta take that charge. Say it was yours, Baby."
Frequent T.I. collaborator DJ Drama did not directly reference the arrests, but did tweet, "So I wake up to the news .... damn..."
Former 'Hills' star says everyone's looking forward to meeting the Situation. By Kara Warner
Audrina Patridge Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
With such an eclectic group of personalities, fans seem to be clamoring to find out more about the dynamics of the Season 11 "Dancing With the Stars" cast and how they're adjusting to the hard work and long rehearsal hours leading up to their next big roles.
When MTV News caught up with Audrina Patridge recently, she dished on her "amazing" partner Tony Dovolani, but also humbly revealed a few sore muscles and what everyone is saying about "The Situation."
"I have discovered muscles I never knew existed on my body," Patridge admitted. "The muscles right behind my knees are killing me, my calves, my arms, my thighs, everything."
When asked which castmember she was excited to meet at the show's big reveal on Monday, the former "Hills" star gushed about two longtime idols.
"I loved meeting Jennifer Grey," Patridge said. " 'Dirty Dancing' is one of my favorite movies, and she is such a nice person and she's beautiful. Florence [Henderson], from 'The Brady Bunch.' She is awesome. I love her. She has the best energy."
Everyone in the cast is "really cool," she added. "They all have great personalities. Everyone is really supportive, and we're all in this together."
Patridge went on to say that she and her fellow female castmembers shared their anxiety about performing in front of a live audience. "It's a little scary," she said. "But we're all pumping each other up and giving each other advice, so it's really good." And what does she think of fellow MTV star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino?
"I haven't met him yet, but the talk on set is all about his abs," Patridge said, laughing. "So everyone is really looking forward to meeting him."
As he dives into other projects, Eisenberg hasn't paid attention to anticipation for this fall's Facebook flick. By Eric Ditzian
Jesse Eisenberg and Joseph Mazzello in "The Social Network" Photo: Sony Pictures
Jesse Eisenberg doesn't have a lot of free time at the moment. He's holed up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, filming the action/comedy "30 Minutes or Less," and when he's not on set — as happened on a recent Sunday evening — he's often writing term papers as part of the undergraduate anthropology degree he's pursuing.
That, at least in part, explains why the 26-year-old hasn't been paying close attention to the buzz — from beguiling teaser trailers to early rave reviews — about his upcoming turn as Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network," the David Fincher-directed film about the founding of Facebook.
"I'm really immersed in this movie," Eisenberg told us on the "30 Minutes" set. "My sister did send me a text message saying that there were posters up in New York (for 'Social Network')."
But that explains only part of it. The other explanation is that Eisenberg simply can't stand to watch his own performances until time has passed and he has enough emotional distance from what he was attempting to accomplish in a role.
"I don't like to watch the movies I've been in when they first come out because to me it's only disappointing, even if the movies are great," he admitted. "I've gotten to be in some great movies, but I feel personally disappointed with myself, so I like to wait until the initial attention dies down and it's a little more comfortable to watch them."
"Social Network" arrives October 1, so it will be a while until Eisenberg sits down to watch what has become one of the most-anticipated films of the year. Based on Ben Mezrich's bestseller "The Accidental Billionaires," the movie brings together some of Hollywood's leading talent: Fincher, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, Andrew Garfield, who's just been named the new Spider-Man, and Rooney Mara, who nabbed the starring role in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." Its pitch-perfect trailers have only served to increase the buzz, and, according to The New York Times even Facebook itself is said to be worried that the film — which presents the founding of the company in a less-than-flattering light — will have a long-term negative impact on its core business.
At the center of it all is Eisenberg, an actor who certainly fits the portrait of Zuckerberg constructed in "Accidental Billionaires": nebbish, introverted, quietly confident. To capture all of these traits, Fincher would often film hundreds of takes of each scene, leading to a two-and-a-half-month production.
"Why actors love working with him and why I loved working with him is because you try a scene in 200 different ways, you know he is able to edit together several different performances for each role," Eisenberg said of Fincher. "One of the interesting aspects of my character was disengagement, so the character is kind of a little aloof and emotionally, really quite reserved. For my collaboration with the director on that movie, we would be often doing half the scene 60 times one way, then 60 times a little more engaged.
"It's kind of a wonderful experience for an actor," he added, "because you get to experiment within the scenes in a way that, on any other movie set, may be seen as indulgent and asking for too much."
From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.
Knowles denies rumors that he will no longer manage Beyonce's career. By James Dinh
Beyoncé Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ WireImage
Jay-Z may be Beyoncé's husband, but the hip-hop heavyweight will not be managing the pop star anytime soon. According to a statement posted by the singer's management website, Music World Entertainment, Beyoncé's father, Mathew Knowles is not being replaced by Jay-Z or anyone else as her manager.
"Contrary to false rumors online, Beyoncé and her manager Mathew Knowles unequivocally have had and continue to have a close personal and business relationship. Mathew Knowles is the sole and exclusive manager of Beyoncé," the statement reads.
Mathew Knowles has always played an important part in his daughter's career, dating all the way back to her days in Destiny's Child. When the group split in 2005, Mathew continued managing Beyoncé as well as Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. But Rowland and Williams recently parted ways with Knowles and his Music World Entertainment team. Earlier this year, he also denied claims that the trio were in talks to reunite Destiny's Child.
In addition to refuting the online rumors, the management company confirmed that the singer is working on upcoming music projects. "Furthermore, Beyoncé is readying the release of her new, highly anticipated DVD and has started the recording process for her new album," the statement concluded.
One producer that the singer may be reuniting with for her next record is Ne-Yo. The pair previously worked together on her hit single "Irreplaceable" back in 2006. Just last week, the soon-to-be father tweeted, "Mornin' NY!!! Studio with Mary J Blige last night, Beyonce tonight. I LOVE MY JOB!!! Shout out Jerry Wonder!!"
How do you think Mathew Knowles does at managing Beyoncé? Share your thoughts below.
Before their Home and Home Tour kicks off, we size up the superstars' stats. By Gil Kaufman
Eminem and Jay-Z Photo: Kristian Dowling/ Getty Images
Cincinnati Bengals wide-receiving duo Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens refer to themselves as the Batman and Robin of the NFL, but in the hip-hop world, Jay-Z and Eminem are more like the Batman and Superman of music. And just like it's rare to see the two titans of comics together in the same panel, you know it's a special occasion when Slim Shady and Jigga team up for a live show.
That's why fans are freaking out about the first of four planned joint concerts between the dynamic duo, which kick off at Em's hometown stadium, Comerica Park, on Thursday night (September 2) and wind up next weekend in Jay's backyard at Yankee Stadium on September 12 and 13. Nobody knows who the pair will bring onstage as special guests or what they'll play, though we did learn Wednesday that VMA nominee B.o.B will open all four dates.
But how do the massive careers of these two titans measure up? Both have sold tens of millions of albums and played to hundreds of thousands of fans during their decade-plus in the public eye, and each brings a unique strength and style.
Let's break down their numbers to get a sense of what led up to this historic collabo:
On the Charts Eminem has been a chart titan for his entire career, posting six #1 albums in a row on the Billboard 200, along with four #1 singles on the Billboard singles chart. According to Nielsen SoundScan, his U.S. album sales are 38.3 million, with an additional 30.5 million U.S. downloads on songs where he's the lead artist.
His best-selling download to date is "Lose Yourself," which SoundScan reports has sold 2.9 million copies, while his feature on the Akon tune "Smack That" pads his résumé with another 3 million in downloads credited to 'Kon. Marshall's best-selling album is The Marshall Mathers LP, which has banked more than 10 million copies.
Jay has some equally gaudy numbers, beginning with a jaw-dropping 11 #1 albums on the Billboard 200, along with four #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, though that includes only one solo #1, "Empire State of Mind," and three features.
Though Eminem has stronger overseas sales, Jigga's not far behind in total U.S. album sales, with Nielsen SoundScan reporting that the Yankees fan has sold 31.4 million discs to date, including collaborative works with R. Kelly and Linkin Park. He's also no slouch in the download department, clocking 21.4 million downloaded tracks as a lead artist, with the Alicia Keys-featuring track "Empire State of Mind" ringing up his biggest digital numbers at 3.9 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Vol. 2 ... Hard Knock Life stands as Jay's best-selling album to date, with more than 5.3 million units shifted.
When Nielsen SoundScan released the list of the best-selling artists of the decade so far, Em topped it at 31.1 million, with Jay rounding out the top 10 at #10 with 19.4 million.
The pair are almost even when it comes to Grammys, with Eminem edging out Jay 11-10. But when you tally up total worldwide sales, it's clear that Slim Shady holds the crown, with more than 80 million units shifted to Jay's 40 million.
On the Stage "Rap, as a genre, does not translate as well to a concert stage as bands in the recorded music world," Pollstar Editor in Chief Gary Bongiovanni said. "And not a lot of acts have that strong a touring career, but among touring rap artists, I'd have to say these two, along with 50 Cent, are among the most successful touring rap artists of their time."
Eminem has the lighter touring résumé, according to Bongiovanni. Unlike Jay, who has toured more than half a dozen times in this decade, Em, 37, has only really had a handful of major outings, starting with some non-headlining dates in 2001 on the Up in Smoke Tour, as well as taking the lead on the inaugural dates of his Anger Management package.
In 2002, he headlined the second Anger Management outing, hooking up with Papa Roach, Ludacris and Xzibit and the X-Ecutioners, which Bongiovanni said averaged around 23,000 fans per show and grossed $1.3 million per date and, like the first effort, also went overseas for some European dates.
There were a few sporadic shows in 2003, and then Em brought Anger Management back in 2005 with Ludacris, G-Unit, Lil Jon and 50 Cent for a 24-show swing that, according to the data on the 22 shows reported to Pollstar, averaged more than 15,000 fans and grossed more than $1 million per show. The planned European dates were scotched when Em checked into rehab for treatment of an addiction to prescription medication.
Since then, Shady has only performed a handful of times. "There's something to be said for pent-up demand," Bongiovanni said of Eminem's success at drawing major crowds during his sporadic touring career.
Jay, 40, on the other hand, has lately made touring an intricate part of his career. He's gone from headlining 3,000- to 6,000-seat venues in 2001 to playing to an average of more than 10,000 on his aborted Best of Both Worlds double-bill with R. Kelly in 2004 — which grossed more than $1.4 million per stop — and right around that for his 2009 Blueprint 3 Tour with N.E.R.D., Wale and J. Cole. That tour hit arenas and played to an average of 8,500 fans, grossing $543,000 per show.
While he continues to be a big draw in Europe, with his high-energy, full-band presentation, Jay solidified his place as one of the premier rap touring acts in the U.S. in 2010 by hooking up with Young Jeezy and Trey Songz for a sold-out arena tour that averaged 12,900 fans and around $1 million per show, according to Pollstar. Jay will also open some dates for U2 in November and made stops at the Coachella and Bonnaroo festivals this summer.
The Scorecard That puts the two rap giants around even, so you can expect them to bring the goods at what promises to be a historic four-night stand.
What special guests do you hope Em and Jay will bring out at the hometown shows? Let us know in the comments!
Host of the 2010 VMAs is jealous of Bieb's flirtation with Kim Kardashian. By Kyle Anderson, with reporting by Jim Cantiello
Chelsea Handler Photo: MTV News
Though 2010 MTV Video Music Awards host Chelsea Handler likes to joke that she will have no idea who anybody is when she plays the ringmaster of the biggest party of the year on September 12, she has quite a history with a handful of the artists who will be sharing the stage with her. She says most of the hip-hop stars on the show have "slapped her ass," and one of her more notable guests on her E! talk show "Chelsea Lately" has been none other than Justin Bieber.
The last time Bieber appeared on the show, the 16-year-old joked that the two of them should get together. "You know, last time I was serious about that date too and it never happened," he told the host, referencing his first appearance on the show a few months prior.
But if Handler was seduced before, she has certainly changed her tune now. "He's a two face is what he is," Handler joked to MTV News' Jim Cantiello during a conversation backstage at Handler's show this week. "He acted like we were in a committed relationship, and then he was prancing around with Kim Kardashian on the beaches like they're a couple."
Handler resolved to no longer be seduced by the Canadian pop sensation's charms. "He's using the flirty card with everybody he meets, and I'm not gonna fall for that," she said. "I'm 35 years old. I only have about five good years left in me, and I'm not going to waste my time on that guy."
The love triangle could come to a head at the VMAs, as Kardashian recently tweeted that she will be appearing on the show. Still, Bieber has been one of Handler's most reliable foils on her show, so the combination of the two at the VMAs should make for some interesting television.
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12 at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 for Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.
Pop star shoots 90-second commercial to current single as she channels characters including Marilyn Monroe. By James Dinh
Katy Perry in her commercial for German TV channel ProSieben's "Star Force" Photo: Capitol/ ProSieben
From whipped-cream-loaded bras to pink cotton candy clouds, Katy Perry has delivered her share of eye-catching visuals throughout the unveiling of her Teenage Dream album. And in a new commercial for German TV channel ProSieben's "Star Force," she keeps the momentum going as she cranks up the colors and jumps into the future.
In the 90-second spot, which is basically an alternative, shortened mini-video for her single "Teenage Dream," the singer plays a sort of singing robot inside the walls of a beaming city building from the future. As it begins, we see a woman with lots of frosted makeup robotically walk alongside people in skintight space outfits towards a moving door. They approach a still figure, who appears to be "turned off," until a jukebox turns on and plays the familiar tune.
Katy Perry comes to life, channeling a futuristic Marilyn Monroe in a red dress that mimics the iconic white one in "The Seven Year Itch." The singer then transforms into a 1960s housewife with a polka-dot geometric dress. But with a blink of an eye, that look is gone in favor of a superhero-gone-sex-kitten look. Riding a flaring rocket that floats before a building window, Perry shoots into the city lights before doing her spokesperson drop: "We love to entertain you."
The commercial serves as a drastic change from the singer's official video for "Teenage Dream," which depicts her driving around the sunny hills of California and canoodling and dancing the day away in an empty parking lot. In one clip, she serves up a plastic, robotic image, while the other plays up her flirty persona. Even though both clips remain vastly different from one another, the carefree atmosphere is still apparent. Whether they're dancing around a beach half-naked or decked out in retro attire, Perry is surrounded by a party you could only wish to be part of.
Which "Teenage Dream" concept do you prefer: the road trip romp or the futuristic extravaganza? Share your thoughts below!
Rivalry between Detroit artists was quashed by late D12 member Proof, says Violent J. By Kyle Anderson
Insane Clown Posse's Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope Photo: MTV News
Eminem and Jay-Z will take the stage at Comerica Park in Slim Shady's hometown of Detroit on Thursday (September 2) for the kickoff of the unprecedented Home and Home concerts. The shows feature arguably the world's two biggest MCs onstage together in baseball stadiums in each of their respective birthplaces. There was a time back in the day when the idea of Eminem representing Detroit would have called forth the ire of fellow Motor City madmen Insane Clown Posse, but that is now water under the bridge.
"The beef we had with him was 11 years ago," Shaggy 2 Dope explained. "That's like beefing with somebody in high school and going to your 20th high school reunion, and you still have heat with that kid?"
In fact, the proverbial hatchet between Em and ICP has been buried for quite a few years, and the credit for that goes to late D12 member Proof. "Proof squashed that beef before he passed away," Violent J said. "He contacted us and we had a bowling game — it was really cool. We're something different. They could have skipped over us and said forget them, but they included us and said let's squash it."
ICP have even been enthusiasts of Eminem's later work. "Some people call it horrorcore, we call it the wicked sh--, but it was cool to see him dabbling with that again on the first Relapse record, with '3 A.M.' and stuff like that," Violent J added.
Though their lyrics remain as intense as ever, ICP have clearly mellowed a bit. They have good reason to, as the 20-year veterans have legions of followers (the Juggalos), a minor merchandising empire and their very own annual festival. Their latest project is a just-released film called "Big Money Rustlas," comedy-western and a spiritual prequel to their cult hit "Big Money Hustlas."
With their focus on a number of different business ventures, ICP are goal-oriented. And though they're cool with Eminem putting a face on the city they call home, they've got goals of their own. "We're not really looking at how well he's representing Detroit, because we're representing Detroit ourselves," Violent J said. "So we got our eye on that prize."
Rapper's Wednesday arrest for drug possession was just the latest of several offenses. By Jayson Rodriguez
T.I. Photo: Ethan Miller/ Getty Images
T.I.'s brilliant career has seen its fair share of interruptions, primarily due to legal troubles that have forced the rapper to take time away from the stage in order to sit behind bars.
The arrest is the latest in a series of offenses T.I. has been involved in during his lifetime.
He was released from prison earlier this year stemming from an October 2007 arrest after he was busted attempting to illegally purchase firearms.
T.I.'s 366-day sentence was his most infamous to date. Although he served less than a year in prison and finished his sentence at a halfway house, the case not only threatened to derail his career but, because he initially faced a lengthy sentence, could have seen him spend a large portion of his life incarcerated.
Prior to his most recent prison term, T.I. found himself on the wrong side of the law on more than one occasion. He's often referred to himself as a multiple felon in his rhymes.
But T.I. has rarely been arrested on drug-related offenses; most of his troubles stem from gun busts.
In fact, prosecutors in T.I.'s 2007 weapons case argued that the rapper had not faced the full-on consequences for a number of past offenses.
They cited a December 2001 arrest for gun possession, a November 2002 instance where he was carrying a 10mm pistol and a 2004 bust during which authorities found a silencer-enhanced weapon, loads of ammunition and photos of T.I. handling guns.
In 2004, T.I.'s pre-rap dealings finally caught up with him when he was busted on a parole violation just as his career was taking off on the heels of his breakout number, "Rubber Band Man."
The violation was in relation to a 1998 arrest and conviction in Georgia for distribution of cocaine, manufacturing and distributing a controlled substance and giving authorities a false name. T.I. was sentenced in that case to three years in prison and was released after serving one year.
Before his most recent stint in jail, T.I. seemed to place his past in the context of his bright future in hip-hop.
"Although I am not thrilled about my next year and a day, I am pleased that I am beginning the process of putting this all behind me," he said. "Thank you, and I apologize to my family, to the young men, young women that I mentor. I hope that I can keep at least one, if not a million or more, from going down a similar path. I just want to say thank you."
Since he's been free, the rapper has repeatedly owned up to his mistakes and vowed to stay on the straight-and-narrow path.
Just last month while appearing on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" to promote his movie "Takers," T.I. opened up about his time behind bars.
The rapper said he mentored other inmates in an effort to get them to make smarter choices upon their releases.
"In my stay there, while I was there, I just noticed that so many cats that I was around was like, 'When I get out I don't know what I'm gonna do,' " he explained.
T.I. then said he went to the warden and proposed a class that hoped would "change criminal ways of thinking."
'I think pressure is always a good thing,' Phillips says about expectations for Robert Downey Jr. flick. By Eric Ditzian
Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis in "Due Date" Photo: Warner Bros.
Robert Downey Jr. is convinced that "Due Date" is a better movie than "The Hangover," for the simple reason that, as director Todd Phillips explained to MTV News, "Due Date" is about something, whereas "Hangover" just follows a bunch of groggy dudes around Las Vegas.
Phillips doesn't necessarily agree with Downey, but he'll take the compliment, just as he accepts the pressure of following up the $467 million worldwide success of "Hangover." His mission after that flick broke big last year was to get right back to work. For that task, he hauled Zach Galifianakis back into the mix and recruited Downey. "Due Date" follows Downey's character, Peter Highman, whose wife is about to go into labor, forcing him to hitch a ride with Ethan Tremblay (Galifianakis) in an attempt to get to the hospital before his child is born. Their road trip does not, to say the least, go smoothly.
As part of MTV News' ongoing Fall Movie Preview series, Phillips called us up to chat about working with Downey on a straight comedy, the "anti-chemistry" of his two stars and the difficulty of pulling off a cinematic stunt as surprising as the naked Asian who jumped out of a trunk in "The Hangover."
MTV: I take it you've locked picture a while ago, right?
Todd Phillips: Yeah, we have. This movie could have come out in the summer, but because of "Iron Man 2" and Robert's press requirements for a movie that size, we had to space them out.
MTV: If it's been done for a while, do you ever wake up and say, "Crap, I need to use a different take! I should have done this differently!"
Phillips: It's funny you say that, because just yesterday we watched one of the release prints at the Arclight [theater in Los Angeles]. You want to see how the prints look, so you go to a regular theater. There was actually a little sound issue. So we went back in and fixed something with the sound. But that was more of a technical thing than a creative choice. When you look back at movies, you always go, "God, I would have done that differently, or I wished we had tried this," but this one is still too close for me to do that.
MTV: Right, it's when "Road Trip" comes on TBS that you go, "Damn!"
Phillips: Right. I'll see "Old School" sometimes on TV and I'm like, "Oh, if only we'd had more time that day we could have done that better."
MTV: You do have this great history with Warner Bros. and you're coming off the huge success of "The Hangover." When you said you wanted to do "Due Date," were they ever like, "Todd, man, maybe hit 'Hangover 2' first?"
Phillips: You know, being at Warner, not to sound like a corporate kissass, but Warner Bros. is like being on the Yankees.
MTV: I'm a Mets fan, my friend.
Phillips: It's still like being on the Yankees! They just have it so wired. The filmmakers that they choose to work with they support wholeheartedly, as evidenced by gambling on a movie like "Inception," which was so brilliant but so big a gamble in studio terms. But they trust Chris Nolan because he's f---ing amazing and they just let him do it. It's pretty much the most supportive studio I've ever been involved with. They were excited to do "Hangover 2," but once I had spoken to Robert Downey about "Due Date," they totally got it.
MTV: Getting someone like Downey, does that alleviate some pressure — if there is any — about following up such a massive hit?
Phillips: I think pressure is always a good thing. A lot of guys make a big hit movie on the size of "The Hangover" and they get gun-shy. They wait a few years in a weird way, and I wanted to do the opposite. I wanted to do something again and not worry if it was going to be as big as "The Hangover" because "The Hangover" was lightning in a bottle. You can't judge other successes or other movies based on it. I just didn't want to get into that headspace. That was part of the reason for striking out and doing something real quick like "Due Date." It's something I had been developing — it's not like it's rushed — but it went quicker because I was like, "Let's just go do it." For me, I choose movies based on who I can get in it. Comedies are so about casting. Obviously I wanted to work with Zach again after "The Hangover" and Downey is pretty much the best there is out there. Once he said yes, we were like, "Let's just go."
MTV: We haven't seen Downey do much straight comedy in a long time. I guess you could say "Tropic Thunder," but that's hardly something typical and straightforward.
Phillips: Yeah, you haven't seen Robert Downey be Robert Downey. A lot of great actors — you see this with someone like Johnny Depp, who's a huge f---ing talent, and Robert Downey — where they play parts where they're putting on masks or accents or hats and wigs. They kind of like to lose themselves in a role. In "Tropic Thunder," which I think is great, he's in blackface and you're not really seeing Robert. What was fun for Robert about this, and what was fun for me to make it, is Robert Downey just being Robert Downey. There's no makeup, wigs. It's just Robert playing such a real character.
MTV: Was that one of the reasons he signed on, to get back to something with less artifice?
Phillips: I'm not sure why he makes his choices. I know he loved "The Hangover." I know he loves Zach and was a fan of my films. Actors like to play. For a guy like Downey, he loved the idea of not being on a green screen for 60 days and just coming in and f---ing around with a guy like Zach and a guy like me. It's a real loose environment, as opposed to something like "Iron Man 2," just by nature of the effects.
MTV: A movie like this lives and dies on the chemistry of those two dudes.
Phillips: Or the anti-chemistry, in this case. It's interesting, because before "The Hangover" came out, people could dismiss it or say, "Oh, it's a movie about bachelor parties and Vegas. I've seen that before." And a movie like this, you go, "Oh, it's two guys on the road. It's 'Tommy Boy' or it's 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles.' " And it's really not. It works on this whole other level that I think people are going to be surprised by. It connects on a different level.
MTV: It's probably hard to put into words what that level is, but what were you aiming for?
Phillips: This is how Robert explains it, which is sort of a backhanded compliment. He goes, " 'Due Date' is a better movie than 'The Hangover' because 'Due Date' is about something." I know what he means. There's another dimension. As proud as I am of "The Hangover," it's a two-dimensional film. It's a comedy that works as good as any comedy could work. But there are some character moves in "Due Date" that Robert and Zach go through that I think will be surprising on a film that you think you have figured out by the trailer or the poster.
MTV: You mentioned that people look at it and think "Planes, Trains" or "Tommy Boy." Did you go back and look at any of those road trip movies for inspiration or in terms of what to avoid?
Phillips: I love "Planes, Trains," and I seriously love "Tommy Boy," which is one of my favorites. But one movie all three of us looked at is "Midnight Run." That might be the best of the bunch. It's not so much to emulate or avoid, it's just to be inspired in some way. "Midnight Run" was a big one for me.
Phillips: The Dan Band is not in "Due Date," and it's just by the nature of what the movie is about and where it winds up. There was no way without it feeling incredibly forced. But you could argue it's a little forced in "The Hangover." But I love them so much. They're the best.
MTV: I don't know if this is one of those questions you get a lot, but where do you go from a naked Asian man jumping out of a trunk in "The Hangover"? How do you top that?
Phillips: That is a tough one to top. The key with comedies in general is they work when there are surprises. So a naked Asian man jumping out of a trunk is a perfect example of a surprise. It goes back to what I was talking about before with even just the nature of "Due Date." There are a lot of surprises in the film that I think take the movie to another level. The surprises won't be a naked Asian man or the Dan Band, but I think there are enough surprises that it will connect with people. But that is the challenge, because comedies work so well when they are surprises.
From the saucy Jessica Alba in "Little Fockers" to James Franco's grueling journey in "127 Hours," the MTV Movies team is delving into the hottest flicks of fall 2010. Check back daily for exclusive clips, photos and interviews with the films' biggest stars.
Photos of the singer from the movie's set surface online. By James Dinh
Rihanna on the set of "Battleship" on Wednesday Photo: Splash News
While rumors of a new single spread across the Internet, Rihanna is already beginning work on the set of her feature film debut in "Battleship." Photos of the Barbadian songstress surfaced online yesterday showing a brunette Rihanna dressed in character.
Donning a traditional U.S. Navy getup with gloves and work boots, the singer was spotted in Hawaii on the set of the Peter Berg-directed science-fiction movie, wearing a nametag with the name "Raikes." The board-game adaptation is the story of naval officers who use Earth's ships to fight against alien intruders.
According to one of Rihanna's latest tweets, the singer is scheduled to continue work in Hawaii for two weeks. "HAWAII...Hawaii...hawaii......who wouldn't want to work here for 2 weeks," she tweeted, along with a photo of her posing on a balcony.
In addition to the pop star, the film's cast lineup includes "True Blood" star Alexander Skarsgård, Taylor Kitsch of "Friday Night Lights" and bombshell supermodel Brooklyn Decker.
Skarsgård told MTV News that the film will be "quite different from the board game," and added that he doesn't think "Battleship" will follow the latest trend of filming in 3-D. Skarsgård will play a commander of one of the Navy destroyers in the film.
Universal has set "Battleship" for May 25, 2012, release.
What type of character do you think Rihanna will play in the movie? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Tyga explains success of 'Deuces' to Mixtape Daily: 'The people chose the record.' By Shaheem Reid
Chris Brown and Tyga Photo: Courtesy of Young Money
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive
Chris Brown is in the #1 film in the country, "Takers," and now that he's done with Hollywood (for now), he's going back to the lab.
"Me, I'm definitely writing on other people's projects. A lot of in-house stuff," Brown said recently in L.A. "I got a lot of artists coming out. The single 'Deuces' features one of my artists K-Mac and Tyga [from Young Money]. I'm pushing forward. The movie's out, so I'mma have fun."
"Deuces" is in the top 30 of Billboard's Hot 100 charts and #1 on urban radio. The record's success is simply due to fan support. It's part of Brown and Tyga's Fan of a Fan mixtape and skyrocketed once the video hit virally and on MTV Jams.
"That was actually Chris' idea," Tyga told us about putting out a visual for the song. "I thought the record was dope. I thought it was dope for us to do that video. He got to explain his situation. It connects to his fans. His fans miss that from him.
"I think the people chose the record," Tyga added. "We put the mixtape out, and we asked them: What record do you like the most? They was like, 'Deuces.' It was always coming up. It was growing on YouTube as well, like 100,000 views a day on YouTube. It was his idea to shoot the video. My homie Colin Tilly, he's done all my videos. He's done everything. All my mixtape stuff to the bigger stuff I'm doing now. He got it right. It's what people wanna see, what they wanna hear."
Despite the overwhelming success of Fan of a Fan, Tyga said he and Chris aren't planning an official LP, but they are hitting the road together.
"I don't think you wanna drown people too much," Tyga said about making a full album with Brown. "We've been doing a lot of stuff, though. He's on my album. We're actually working on a tour right now. A Fan of Fan Tour at the end of the year. It'll be dope."
Tyga has an album coming out soon; it doesn't have a release date yet. But his next mixtape, Well Done, will hit within the next couple of weeks. It's going to be a Gangsta Grillz edition.
"I feel like I had to deal with [DJ] Drama. He reminded of Wayne, when he did Dedication with him," Tyga explained. "[Wayne] was going in on every beat. All the mixtapes I've been dropping, they're close to albums. They're more songs. They have more content. This one, I wanted to rap on everybody's beat and murder every beat that's out. It's fun to do that. It's easy. I can knock that out real fast. I think Drama is dope when you wanna link up and murder beats like that."
Some of the tracks Tyga is pilfering are Soulja Boy's "Pretty Boy Swag" and Nicki Minaj's "Your Love."
