MTV Newsroom ›

With the release of their new single "Straight Through My Heart" and the excitement that coursed through the Newsroom when it all happened, it seems that, at least among a few of us MTV News staffers, there is some excitement for the new Backstreet Boys album, This is Us, which is due out on October 6.

For the album, the guys worked with producer RedOne on the single and hooked up with longtime collaborator and pop mastermind Max Martin. They also worked with T-Pain, and Brian Littrell talked to MTV News about working with the rapper (much) earlier this year.

"T-Pain is the hottest thing since sliced bread," he said, adding that the album is "BSB doing what we did when we started together, when we made a name for ourselves we were a vocal group. There are no boy bands left other than us and we're going back to the vocals. We're going to showcase how well we can sing."

So in honor of the release, we are counting down our favorite BSB singles of all time.

10: "Incomplete": It's Kevin's last single with the group. And we are forever incomplete. Read more...

Tags backstreet boys

By Sohyung Kang

Everyone has that one album that can define their youth. For me, that album was Green Day's Dookie. I played it on repeat so often, my brother physically pried it from my hands one day because it was driving him crazy. I was 11 years old when the record came out and established Green Day as a breakthrough punk rock band. It took me fifteen years, but I finally got to see them live last night at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The concert was just as I'd imagined it would be: Lots of stunts, pyrotechnics, fierce drumming by Tré Cool, plenty of joking around by Billie Joe and enough songs from Dookie to please the older folks like myself.

Yet there were still plenty of surprises. Read more...

Tags green-day, photo

After executive producer Al Jean mentioned it last week, representatives of the band confirmed today that Coldplay would make a guest appearance on an episode during the upcoming season of "The Simpsons." They'll join an impressive list of bands who have gone yellow for the show, including U2, the Ramones, the Who, Smashing Pumpkins and Metallica. Coldplay don't necessarily have the same cool cred as the bands above, but are they the most mediocre act to ever play a note with yellow skin? Here are the musical guests that give them a run for their money.

Shawn Colvin: Remember Colvin? She had a brief bit of success during the Lillith Fair era with her hit "Sunny Came Home," and she's one of the few musicians to appear on "The Simpsons" as a character and not herself. She played a singer in a Christian rock band who wooed Ned Flanders following the death of his wife Maude. Verdict: She appeared well after her caché had expired, though she was in the guise of a character and not herself, making it seem more like an acting performance than anything else. Plus, she appeared in more than one episode — no small feat for a "Simpsons" guest star.
Read more...

Tags Coldplay, Ramones, red-hot-chili-peppers, The Simpsons

Last night, the America's Most Wanted tour kicked off in Scranton, Pennsylvania with blistering sets from Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Drake and the artist celebrating a birthday today: Soulja Boy. The man known on his tax returns as DeAndre Ramone Way was born today in 1990, making one of the most buzzed-about MCs in the game a mere 19 years old. Soulja exploded onto the scene back in 2007 when his hit "Crank That" (and the dance associated with said song) went from an underground hit to a chart-topping smash and ended up netting him a Grammy nomination.

Though "Crank That" had the DNA of a novelty hit, Soulja Boy managed to defy the odds with his follow-up album iSoulJaBoyTellEm, which he dropped late last year and made way for the hits "Turn My Swag On" and "Kiss Me Thru the Phone." In addition to his work as a rapper, he's also shown remarkable prowess as a producer (he's a student of Southern snap mastermind Mr. Collipark, who gave the world Ying Yang Twins and Hurricane Chris).

Stay tuned to MTV News for the complete report from last night's America's Most Wanted tour kickoff show. Hopefully somebody gave the guy a slice of cake and a pointy hat, but if not, consider the video for "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" his official birthday celebration.

Tags Americas Most Wanted, drake, Lil Wayne, Mr. Collipark, Soulja-Boy, video, Young-Jeezy

By Rahman Dukes

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania — On our way to the Toyota Pavilion, we couldn't help but notice the chaos that had arrived on the once-sleepy Davis Street. Just 24 hours earlier, the strip was so quiet that the only thing noticeable was a deer in plain view. But now, there was bumper-to-bumper traffic and police escorting the growing number of cars.

What's all the fuss about, you ask? Fans are making their way to the Toyota Pavilion to watch some of hip-hop's finest, including Lil Wayne, Drake, Young Jeezy and many more, on Young Money Presents: The America's Most Wanted Music Festival.

"We came to see Weezy and Soulja Boy," said Mary Kate, who drove two hours from Philadelphia with three friends. "If I gotta pick one, then it has to be Weezy. My favorite song is [Young Money's] 'Every Girl,' featuring Drake."

But were the fans more excited about the show or when they caught a glimpse of our driver? "Holy s---, is that Sway from MTV?" said an amazed Lil Wayne fan as me and my partner Shaheem were caught in traffic with Sway at the wheel.
Read more...

Tags Americas Most Wanted, drake, Lil Wayne, Soulja-Boy, Young-Jeezy

There have been no shortage of tributes to Michael Jackson since the singer's death several weeks ago. Many singers and rappers have released songs and saluted the legend's memory in performance, which seem like appropriate responses to a man who did so much to change music. But some people express themselves differently, which is where the Germans come in. A shopping mall in Berlin is currently hosting a sand sculpture that acts as a tribute to Michael. It tracks the various stages of his career, from his Jackson 5 days to the Thriller years to the over-the-top HIStory era.

The centerpiece is Michael's form — dressed in what appears to be his Dangerous era military garb — towering triumphantly above the rest of the piece. The structure consists of 200 tons (that's tons — a total of 400,000 pounds) of sand and took a grand total of ten days to put together. It's a shockingly intricate development, with artwork from various album covers and Jackson-related imagery mixed in with the forms of Michael and his brothers. Also included in the sculpture: A sign declaring Jackson as "The King of Pop" and at least one image of Bubbles the Chimp. Like many of the Jackson memorials set up since the singer's death, the sand sculpture has become a hub for fans who want to leave remembrances and mementos of the singer's life and career.

Tags Michael Jackson, photo

"Who is not Team Edward? There's not a girl in the world who is not Team Edward. If they're not, then they're not girls — they're aliens from another planet. Listen, Edward can fly you through the forest. He's like Aladdin with vampire teeth. I want a part [in the movies] so bad — any part is fine. I'll be the vampire who carries Robert Pattinson's luggage in the airport."

-Jennifer Love Hewitt discussing her steadfast devotion to the "Twilight" series at San Diego Comic-Con 2009. Hollywood Crush approves of that particular arrangement, especially considering it would create a de-facto "Can't Hardly Wait" reunion between Hewitt and Peter Facinelli. MTV News' Josh Horowitz did not bring up any future music plans with Hewitt, who hasn't released an album since 2002 but whose brand of punchy pop would probably play well in today's current climate (check out the woefully underrated single "Barenaked" for proof).

Tags comic-con, Jennifer Love Hewitt, robert-pattinson, twilight

By Selina Kaye

I love all things Prince — his music, his movies, his clothes and his hair. Most of all, I have a very special appreciation for "Purple Rain," because my parents went on their first date to see the movie. So on the 25th anniversary of the opening of the film, this is my official thank you to Prince for bringing my parents together. I couldn't have made it here without you.

When Prince first hit the music scene in 1979, he was eccentric, daring and reclusive. Read more...

Tags Prince, Purple Rain, video

By Rahman Dukes

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania — Fresh off a flight, Atlanta's trap star, Mr. 17.5, Young Jeezy himself arrived at the Toyota Pavilion Center with his CTE crew not far behind. Draped in his usual Dickies garb and navy blue Chucks, a tired-looking Jeezy sat down to chop it up with Sway for a few following his rehearsal for tonights show.

"How long this gonna take?" Jeezy asked Sway. Who could blame him? Jeezy wanted to make sure he got a decent amount of rest before he hit that stage tonight just before 8 p.m. I've had the pleasure of witnessing a few shows from the man myself, and I must say he delivers.

While you'll be sure to catch much more of our interview with Jeezy, one of the highlights that stood out (and may not make the final cut) was Jeezy's guarantee that he will make the annual MTV News "Hottest MCs in the Game" list. "I been on that a few times," he said with a smirk. When Sway posed the question as to who his vote for hottest MC was, he responded that it probably was a few names that mainstream media wouldn't necessarily agree with, including Lil Boosie. "We could have our own roundtable and chop it up over some Swisher Sweets," he said. I'll take that deal any day, my friend.

After we let Jeezy go, we finally recieved our credentials (can't you feel the excitement coming off of Sway's face in that picture?). Now it's back to the hotel we go. We've still got the Soulja Boy interview on deck, and then it's showtime. Stay tuned and we'll holla at you again soon.

Tags Americas Most Wanted, Lil Boosie, Souljah-Boy, Young-Jeezy

By Katie Byrne

Grace Jones' Hurricane tour stormed into the Hollywood Bowl last night, and one thought kept coming to mind: Lady Gaga wishes she were half as badass as Grace.

Let's back up a second. It's been awhile since the striking model/actress/musician/all-around performance artist has been in the public eye, so it's safe to assume that JoBros fans and Twilighters aren't familiar with her. But Grace has been working alongside big names for quite some time, like Eddie Murphy in "Boomerang," James Bond in "A View to a Kill" and California's governor in "Conan the Barbarian." Her music has made just as big an impact, starting with three disco albums in the late '70s and continuing through this year's Hurricane.

Which brings us to now. When Jones appeared onstage last night, she looked like a 10-foot-tall, rectangular, silver ghost. She sang her first song, "This Is," standing on a pedestal, covered in a silver sheet, and the crowd went insane. She removed the sheet to reveal a zebra bodysuit and a white headdress/mane that she whipped around like a wild animal. Her startling contralto voice perfectly matched her severe costumes and stage presence, and her larger-than-life presence filled up the massive Bowl.

And that was just the first two songs.
Read more...

Tags Grace Jones, Lady Gaga