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'Mad Men' Returns: Wake-Up Video

Posted 7/26/10 8:30 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


On any given day, this space is usually reserved for some sort of commemoration of an important moment in music history, be it an ascension to the top of the charts, a concert debut or an album release. Sometimes there are memorable sports moments that need to be honored, and occasionally there is the odd historical fact that needs to sneak in. But since there's no real historical excitement today (it's difficult to get wound up about the resignation of Winston Churchill) nor any particularly significant musical milestone (there isn't very much to say about the release of Jason Mraz's Mr. A-Z), so with that in mind, let's talk about "Mad Men," the best show on television (sorry, "True Blood," "Breaking Bad" and "Burn Notice," whatever you are) that saw its fourth season premiere on Sunday night (July 25) on AMC.

Based on the show's (admittedly hazy) time line, the fourth season of "Mad Men" opened a handful of months after the events of the last season's final episode. The new agency set up by Don Draper (Jon Hamm), Roger Sterling (John Slattery), Bertram Cooper (Robert Morse) and Lane Pryce (Jared Harris) has moved out of a hotel suite and into an office downtown (with a mythical second floor). Though the energy is vibrant (Pete Campbell — played gamely by Vincent Kartheiser — seems especially upbeat), the new company is struggling to pull in clients despite a recent victory with a narrative-driven television ad for a floor wax.

All of the wheels were set in motion last night: Peggy Olson's (Elisabeth Moss) continued drive, Draper's complicated relationship with ex-wife Betty (January Jones) as well as his evolving personal life (which involves taking out a 25-year-old actress for a date and hiring a prostitute to slap him around during sex on Thanksgiving). Though the narrative was pretty straightforward (the episode revolved around Draper's inability to give a decent interview and his unwillingness to kowtow to a prudish client who wants to make a two-piece bathing suit appeal to "modest" people), it reminded the world why the show gets nominated for so many awards and why wonks like me write about it so lovingly. Plus, they lost the jai-alai account!

In honor of the return of "Mad Men," we celebrated with Handsome Boy Modeling School's "The World's Gone Mad." Just because.

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Eminem, Justin Bieber And Katy Perry Laid Bare: This Week's Deep Cuts

Posted 7/23/10 5:30 pm EST by in Deep Cuts


It has been so hectic in the MTV Newsroom this week that we almost forgot that it was Friday afternoon and time to look back on the last five days. But can you blame us for losing track of time? MTV News has been all over the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con (you can follow all the latest developments all weekend at MTV Movies Blog and at Splash Page) and spent time with the likes of Travis Barker, Travie McCoy and the Boss himself, Rick Ross.

In addition to all that live-streaming goodness, we've also been covering Lindsay Lohan's incarceration, Eminem's rise up the Billboard Hot 100 and the continued anticipation over Katy Perry's new album. So before you head out to see Paramore on the Honda Civic Tour (which launches this weekend) or check out "Inception" for the third time, take a look at all the goodness you might have missed on the MTV Newsroom Blog.

» Katy Perry continued to build buzz around her new album Teenage Dream. This week, she unveiled the album cover, which features a nude Perry on a bed of cotton candy.

» Eminem continued his assault on the charts, as his single "Love the Way You Lie" found its way to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

» Selena Gomez celebrated her 18th birthday this week. Did you remember to send a card?

» Lindsay Lohan reported to jail this week, and we brought up the fact that she doesn't have to necessarily give up Twitter.

» Lohan joined Frank Sinatra, 50 Cent and others on the list of famous celebrity mug shots.

» Justin Bieber's "Somebody to Love" — his tag-team with mentor Usher — was voted his best collaboration.
Read More...

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Nicki Minaj Fans Take Note: Rah Digga Returns With 'This Ain't No Lil' Kid Rap' Video

Posted 7/23/10 5:00 pm EST by in Music


As Nicki Minaj climbs up the charts with her hit "Your Love," an almost-forgotten female MC is primed to make her comeback. Rah Digga, formerly the feminine voice of Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Squad (and secretly the most talented MC in the bunch), is back with a new album called Classic in September. It's Digga's first solo joint in a decade (she took time off from the rap game to raise her daughter and go back to school to learn film editing), and she just dropped the video for the album's first single, "This Ain't No Lil' Kid Rap." And, of course, it absolutely rules.

Rah Digga - This Ain't No Lil' Kid Rap from Raw Koncept on Vimeo.

Digga began her career as an MC as a member of the New Jersey-based collective the Outsidaz. Their affiliation with the also-Jersey-based Refugee camp earned them a guest spot on the Fugees' "Cowboys" (from the Grammy-winning classic album The Score). Digga used to hang out at the legendary Lyricist Lounge, which lead to a meeting with Busta Rhymes and a spot in Rhymes' crew, the Flipmode Squad. Not only did Rah get a featured spot on a bunch of Rhymes tracks, but she also was the standout star of the posse's only album The Imperial, which hit stores in 1998.

Digga dropped her own solo album Dirty Harriet two years later. Her approach on Dirty Harriet was incredible, as the album was polished enough for commercial rap radio but raw enough to appeal to hardcore lyrics-mongers. Digga has always been an MC's MC, obsessed with the power of the poetry and the impact of the flow. It's a tradition she continues on her latest joint. "Type of pen game most rappers be afraid of/ Some even call me the boom-bap savior/ New pledges beware/ I might have to haze you," she spits on "This Ain't No Lil' Kid Rap."

After both her second solo album and the second Flipmode album got caught up in label nonsense, Digga ducked out of the rap world. (If you search hard enough, you can find her second solo album Everything Is a Story in various bootleg forms online.) But even after 10 years, she hasn't lost a step, and now that she's back, it has become abundantly clear what the game has been missing.

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Happy Birthday, Slash!

Posted 7/23/10 4:30 pm EST by in Music


On this day in 1965, Saul Hudson was born in Hampstead, England. Later, he came to the United States and became world-famous as one of the greatest guitar players to ever live, and he did it under one of the most killer stage names in the history of rock: Slash.

No matter how he celebrates his birthday, he can stand by the fact that not only does he have a handful of releases in his back pocket that are unequivocal classics (Guns N' Roses debut Appetite for Destruction could easily be considered one of the best rock albums of all time, mostly thanks to his muscular riffs and adroit solos), but he's also still making great music. Earlier this year, he dropped his first solo album, a collection of awesome, stadium-sized rock tunes featuring a revolving cast of guest vocalists (everybody from Ozzy Osbourne to Chris Cornell to Kid Rock to Fergie lent their pipes).

But while Slash has remained on the cutting edge of rock for nearly three decades, one of his birthday wishes is undoubtedly some kickass riffs from other people. When Slash stopped by the MTV News office last month, he named off a handful of groups who have impressed him recently (including epic Australian monsters Karnivool), but when asked if he thought we were in the middle of a good era for rock, he was frustrated and frank. "It's a lousy era for rock," he said. "Are you kidding?"

Slash added that he did think that the music industry was cyclical, and that it was only a matter of time before somebody managed to figure out something unifying and galvanizing. In the meantime, he'll continue doing exactly what he has been doing for years: Turning the volume on his amp way, way up and cranking out some of the most classic riffs in history.

What would you get Slash for his birthday? Let us know in the comments!

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The Situation Dons A Turtleneck, Pulls A Prank: The MTV News Quote Of The Day

Posted 7/23/10 3:30 pm EST by in Television


"Back when I was 17, I decided to pull a senior prank. I decided to organize a couple of my closest buddies that I could trust. At noon, it was time for everybody to let their mouses out into the lunchroom. People were screaming. There was mices everywhere. It was insane. Mayhem!"

-"Jersey Shore" star Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, explaining the ins and outs of his senior prank. The story comes from the upcoming brand new episode of "When I Was 17," which airs this Saturday (July 24) at 11:00 a.m. on MTV. His master plan was to unleash an army of mice during lunch, which sent the students of his high school running in a panic. "I was going to do it bigger than the seniors the year before, the year before that and even before their grandpappy," he said.

Not only will you get to hear stories about the Situation's high school years, but you'll also be able to hear tales about him from his friends and family. In addition, you'll be able to catch a look at exclusive vintage photos and video of the "Jersey Shore" star, including the photo above (which depicts the Situation posing with some family members while wearing a turtleneck sweater, a photo that set the Internet on fire on Friday).

The Situation's story is part of the newest episode of "When I Was 17," which airs this Saturday (July 24) at 11 a.m. on MTV. The show also features his "Jersey Shore" pals Jenni "JWoww" Farley (who explains how she managed to finish high school early and got into bowling) and Paul "DJ Pauly D" DelVecchio (who explains his teenage motorcycle obsession). Of course, the entire "Jersey Shore" crew will be back for a new season of the show next Thursday night, July 29 on MTV.

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Bizzy Bone Becoming The Latest Rap-To-Metal Crossover

Posted 7/23/10 2:30 pm EST by in Music


After years of hits, trials and tribulations, Cleveland's own Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have managed to retain a hardcore following in the hip-hop world. Now it appears as though one of its key players is trying to branch out. Bizzy Bone has signed on to the roster of Sumerian Records, a small Washington, D.C.-based imprint known best for hardcore and post-hardcore bands like Asking Alexandria, Veil of Maya and the Faceless. Bizzy is about to release his latest album Crossroads 2010 (a reference to his group's 1996 smash hit "Tha Crossroads") via the label, and the album is a fusion of rap and rock styles featuring a number of players from the Sumerian roster contributing music. (You can check out samples of the music at Bizzy's official MySpace page.)

Bizzy Bone isn't the first rapper to dip his toe into the world of hard rock and metal. What other hip-hop denizens have made the journey into the world of guitars? Glad you asked!

Run-DMC
Two years before Rev Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay teamed up with the men of Aerosmith for the genre-bending re-creation of "Walk This Way," the trio dropped "Rock Box," which appeared on their 1984 self-titled debut. "Rock Box" not only had a ton of heavy riffage care of Eddie Martinez (who worked with David Lee Roth and Meat Loaf) but was also the first rap video ever played on MTV.

Ice-T
Perhaps the first rapper to ever completely cross over into the metal world, Ice-T made the transition from stone cold pimp to in-your-face power player. "Cop Killer," from Body Count's debut album, remains the blueprint all other rap-rock crossovers followed later.

Beastie Boys
New York's favorite sons have always managed to keep one foot in everybody's old school, be it straight hip-hop or savage hardcore. Read More...

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The FreeCreditScore.com Band Search: The Final Four!

Posted 7/23/10 1:30 pm EST by in Music


After a cross-country search that yielded dozens of entries from some of the hottest and most talented unsigned bands in the nation, the FreeCreditScore.com band search is down to its final four entrants.

The four finalists selected to compete for the grand prize — which includes $10,000, a set of instruments from Gibson, free studio time, a spot on the MTV VMA Tour, an opportunity to walk the red carpet at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles and the honor of having their first music video premiere during said broadcast — offer an impressive array of styles, sounds and interpretations of songs. They include I Love Monsters (a delightfully twitchy indie rock combo from New York), the Poets Dance (a hard-driving, keyboard-kissed combo from Chicago), Evolove (a female-fronted, punch-packing group from Los Angeles) and the Victorious Secrets (a groovy team of rockers from Detroit). They got the opportunity to show off their skills to the world at the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Anaheim, California a few weeks ago, and MTV News' Tim Kash was live on the scene.

You can vote for your favorite of the final four at FreeCreditScoreBand.com, where you can register your endorsement for your favorite every 24 hours until August 9. The winner will be announced shortly thereafter. Which group will rise to the top of the heap? Only you can decide! So head over to FreeCreditScoreBand.com to listen to the music, learn about the bands and help pick the grand prize winner!

Who is your favorite band in the FreeCreditScore.com Band Search? Let us know in the comments!

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Join Rick Ross And Sway On 'RapFix Live'

Posted 7/23/10 12:35 pm EST by in Music


Do you love Rick Ross' new album Teflon Don? Want to know what Ricky Rozay has to say about the tracks on the album? Curious about how he works with producers? Ever want to pitch a collaboration to him? Eager to get his insight on the BP oil disaster? You'll be able to get those questions answered — plus a whole lot more — when Ross appears as the special guest on the premiere of "RapFix Live," a new live-streaming Web show produced by MTV News. Sway will sit down with Miami's biggest boss to talk about Teflon Don, the Miami Heat and whatever else is on the mind of one of hip-hop's most talented, dynamic names.

You can check out the live stream right here at the MTV Newsroom Blog starting at 1 p.m. ET, or you can roll over to this page. Want to weigh in on Ross' work or ask the big man himself a question? Fire up your Twitter account and blast a tweet @MTVNews using the hash tag "#RapFixLive." Your question might get read live on the air and answered by Ross himself, live and unedited!

Check out the live-stream below starting at 1 p.m. ET. And be sure to stay tuned to MTV News for more updates on Rick Ross and the juggernaut that is Teflon Don (which is expected to knock Eminem's Recovery off the top of the Billboard album chart). And for daily servings of the freshest hip-hop news and insight, be sure to get excited for the launch of MTV News' latest blog RapFix, which will blow up worldwide on August 2.

Got a question for Rick Ross? Tweet us @MTVNews and use hash tag #RapFixLive!

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Spotted: Sheryl Crow Earns One New Fan In Central Park On 'Good Morning America'

Posted 7/23/10 11:30 am EST by in Music


Every day a multitude of stars wander through the halls of MTV News to talk about their latest projects and goof around with our intrepid correspondents. But sometimes we catch stars elsewhere, and that's why we put together Spotted!, a daily compendium of stars in the wild.

It's always difficult to keep cool in New York City in the summer, and this particular season has been especially brutal. The humidity has been heavy and the sun has been unwavering, which has made basic actions like walking and eating extremely difficult. Quite frankly, it seems impossible that any artists are able to perform outdoors in the heat, yet many — from Justin Bieber to Lady Gaga to Faith No More — have braved the elements to deliver some incredible sounds. Sheryl Crow is the latest to face the persecutions of the sky, as she was the special performer on Friday morning's (July 23) edition of ABC's "Good Morning America." Crow, whose new album 100 Miles from Memphis sees her focusing on more of a soul sound, was able to cool off the crowd with her earthy, swinging rock, though she needed an assistant to fan her down in between tracks.

Crow wasn't the only star breaking a sweat, as Amy Winehouse was spotted around London and stars continue to pour in and out of San Diego for the 2010 Comic-Con (which you can follow at MTV Movies Blog and Splash Page for all the latest updates). Click here for these photos as well as the entire "Spotted" archive, which features over 400 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Jay-Z, the Jonas Brothers, Adam Lambert, Madonna, Katy Perry, 50 Cent, Lady Gaga, Shakira, Drake and Diddy!

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The 'Salt' Playlist: Rihanna, Madonna The Bravery Have Secrets

Posted 7/23/10 10:30 am EST by in Music


If this weekend sees you traveling to the cinema, you have a handful of excellent options. For the family, there is "Ramona and Beezus." For anybody who wants to catch up with the dominant conversation in film at the moment, "Inception" is still readily available for you. And for an action-packed spectacular featuring one of the most talked-about stars in the world, there is "Salt." The Angelina Jolie-lead spy flick packs in a ton of twists and turns as well as a series of amazing car chases, explosions, fights and stunts. In the wake of the actual Russian spy case that just went down in the news, "Salt" seems like a particularly timely tale of espionage. Plus, nobody kicks ass quite like Jolie.

In fact, in order to prepare for the intensity, you should probably take a spin through the video playlist below. It pays tribute to "Salt" in a number of different ways, with nods to secrets (Madonna's "Secret," Queens of the Stone Age's "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret"), Russia (Rihanna's "Russian Roulette") and lots of songs about sodium chloride (the Thermals' "Pillar of Salt," Band of Horses' "The Great Salt Lake," Modest Mouse's "Ocean Breathes Salty").

But we kick things off with a tribute to the woman who has made "Salt" possible. Jolie has been a top-level star for years and an incredibly adventurous actress, but it's the badass roles in movies like "Wanted," "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" and "Hackers" that have made her a true superstar. The Bravery probably agree.

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