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Assessing Coachella 2012: Expected Headliners Lead An Awesome Undercard

Posted 1/10/12 12:27 pm EST by in Coachella, Dr.-Dre, Radiohead, Snoop-Dogg


Here's my take on the lineup for Coachella 2012, which was revealed Monday night: At least it's not the fake one that was making the rounds in November.

Back then, the rumored headliners were No Doubt, Foo Fighters and Radiohead, with acts like Chris Cornell, Feist and LMFAO (!) on the sub-ledger. It was a pretty good guess (I mean, they got Radiohead), but would have made for a pretty bland weekend … which is why it comes as a great relief that the actual Coachella lineup does not feature a single member of Berry Gordy's extended family. Instead, we get headliners the Black Keys, the aforementioned Radiohead and the double-bill of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg — all solid, all worth the price of admission and all filling various slots (the new kings of rock, the established, professorial legends and, uh, the hip-hop act) — and an undercard that ranks amongst the best in the fest's history.

Of course, the usual suspects are all accounted for (Bon Iver, Beirut, the Shins, Florence and the Machine, Justice, et al), but it's the spate of reunited acts — always a Coachella tradition — that really makes this year's edition truly special: Britpop titans Pulp, the gauzy, gorgeous Mazzy Star, doomy instrumentalists Godspeed You! Black Emperor and a pair of proto-punk stalwarts — art-damaged Texas thrusters At The Drive In and Sweden's Refused, who, with their oddly prescient 1998 album The Shape Of Punk To Come, basically predicted the next ten years of angular, angsty rock — all of whom elevate Coachella 2012 to can't-miss status. Read More...

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Albums We Hope To Hear In 2011

Posted 6/23/11 10:30 am EST by in listicle


Lil Wayne

By Zachary Swickey

Talking with Zane Low on BBC Radio 1, The Killers revealed they have begun work on their fourth album. Asked if they had started writing the follow-up to ‘08’s Day & Age, frontman Brandon Flowers responded, “We have about four or five [songs]. We’ve put them up on a board and they’re sounding good. We think they’re strong.”

The Killers’ last album was ambitious and took the group’s core sound to the next level. We look forward to hearing what the guys have up their sleeve, but it got us thinking about all of the other new albums that we hope to hear before our final year on earth (2012, from what I hear). These albums are “supposed” to come out in 2011, but we’re just going to have to wait and see.

Jay-Z and Kanye West, Watch the Throne

A joint album from the two biggest names in hip-hop is bound to get even the most casual fans excited. The effort was first envisioned as an EP to be released by the end of 2010. Then it graduated to a full-length album with a hopeful release date sometime in March, but as of today, it’s still “TBD.” The single that has seen the light of day, “H.A.M.”, is a solid jam from the two, but it’s not as good as the sum of their parts should be. Perhaps they realized this, and are taking their time making an album that is worthy of their talents.

Blink-182, Untitled Sixth Album

I recall Blink-182 being listed as presenters at the ‘09 Grammys and thinking, “Oh, well they’re getting back together,” which is exactly what they announced at the awards. A reunion tour soon followed that summer and the band mentioned writing a new song that they would play on the road (which they never played). Throughout the second half of 2010, Blink provided updates with hopeful release windows that have all come and gone. They canceled their European tour for this summer, because the album is still incomplete. The group has until July 31 to hand their work over to Geffen Records, and since they’re headlining the Honda Civic Tour with My Chemical Romance later this summer, it better be ready.

Lil Wayne, Tha Carter IV

It hasn’t been all that long since we’ve heard from Lil Wayne – it never is, considering he guest appears on every other rapper’s song (I’m counting 13 so far in ’11). He released two albums in 2010, neither of which were particularly well-received (compared to his past work), but neither of those were bearing the banner Tha Carter either. Weezy’s The Carta IV is sure to wow us and be the best thing we’ve heard in rap since Kanye’s Dark Twisted Fantasy. It will likely feature some other huge names in hip-hop, like Drake, Rick Ross and Yeezy himself. After 3-4 delays, the current “hopeful” release date is August 29. Fingers crossed!

Read on for more. Read More...

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Justin Bieber's Haircut And Thom Yorke's Dance Moves: This Week's Deep Cuts

Posted 2/25/11 5:30 pm EST by in Deep Cuts


Another week is over and another huge batch of stories and events have unfolded in the pop culture universe. There was a new music video from Dr. Dre, a new hair style for Justin Bieber and a new group of people to vote for on "American Idol." And for those of you who are movie buffs, we're going to keep delivering stories all weekend, as the next two days brings the Independent Spirit Awards (which MTV News will be at on Saturday night, February 26) and the Academy Awards (which will air Sunday, February 27, preceded by a live stream hosted by "After Hours" host Josh Horowitz that will be live on MTV News). Along the way, there will be no shortage of results, interviews, analysis and party reports from the red carpets and back stage at some of the biggest film events of the year.

But before you finalize your Oscar picks and start preparing your seven layer dip that somehow pays homage to "Winter's Bone," check out what you might have missed this week on the MTV Newsroom blog.

» Justin Bieber trimmed his trademark locks this week, likely with the hope that he'll end up on the left side of this handy hair-based infographic.

» The Bieber haircut was the talk of the Internet for most of the week, and it reminded us of when Joe Jonas made his own dramatic decision about his mane.

» Bieber's follicles weren't the only conversations happening online this week — in fact, a lot of them were devoted to videos of Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke dancing. (We still haven't gotten tired of that conversation.)

» After weeks of seemingly endless auditions, we finally know the 24 people who are this season's "American Idol" finalists.

» Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" continued its assault on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, spending another week at the top spot. Will anything be able to unseat it?

» The NBA trade deadline passed this week, but not before a flurry of deals, one of which sent Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks.
Read More...

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Dr. Dre's 'I Need A Doctor' Video: The Key Scene

Posted 2/25/11 10:30 am EST by in Music


Even though the anticipation for Dr. Dre's upcoming album Detox has been building for the better part of a decade, the excitement surrounding the initial releases from that album has been tepid at best. "Kush" was greeted with muted interest, and though the music video was a flashy, elaborate piece of cinema, it still didn't stir the masses the way it probably should have. But all that has been reversed for "I Need a Doctor," the new single from Detox that features Eminem and Skylar Grey. On Thursday evening (February 24), the expensive, high-concept video for "I Need a Doctor" premiered on MTV News' "RapFix Live," and the hip-hop world exploded with excitement.

In the eye-popping clip, Dre begins on a beach and recollects some of his career highlights, including a ton of old footage featuring the members of N.W.A, Snoop Dogg and a young Eminem. After climbing into a Ferrari, he flips the car over and the clip jumps forward "years later." Dre is in some sort of medical facility being worked on by scientists. Eminem walks in to try to revive him with the power of his rapping, and the spirit of Skylar Grey floats above his prone body to croon the chorus. In the clip's key scene, Mr. Mathers urges Dre to emerge from his water-filled suspended animation chamber while Grey dissolves into the ether.

"I Need a Doctor" currently sits at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, and the premiere of the video could give the track the surge it needs to take over the top slot. In the meantime, Dre has yet to name an official release date for Detox, though it is expected very soon — and based on the excellence of "I Need a Doctor," it was well worth the wait.

What do you think of Dr. Dre's "I Need a Doctor" video? Let us know in the comments!

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Will Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Be Billboard's 1,000th Chart-Topper?

Posted 2/10/11 12:30 pm EST by in Music


In addition to becoming the first Super Bowl anthem to hit the top of the chart, Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow" has also become the 999th chart-topping song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. That means that the next song to ascend to the top spot will be the 1,000th chart-topper in the history of the chart. It has been a long road since Tommy Dorsey's "I'll Never Smile Again!" became the first number one in the history of the Hot 100 in 1940 (it spent 12 weeks in that spot before getting knocked off by Bing Crosby's "Only Forever"), but the next chart-topper will certainly live forever as an iconic milestone.

But what song will find its way to the top? Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" will make its debut this Friday (February 11), and between the excitement over her new music and her performance at this Sunday's (February 13) Grammy Awards, it could very well debut at the top spot. It would not only make it the 1,000th Hot 100 chart-topper but also the 20th song to debut at the top of the chart.

However, Gaga's ascension isn't automatic, as the Grammy Awards could create buzz for any of the tracks that have not topped the chart yet. Dr. Dre and Eminem's "I Need a Doctor," which currently sits at number five, will probably continue to sell big numbers in the digital realm and will get some huge exposure on the Grammys. And though it would have to make a pretty dramatic leap to the top, it's possible that Cee Lo Green's "F--- You" could elevate to the number one position (especially after the Gwyneth Paltrow and Muppet-fueled performance he will be unleashing on Sunday). And there's always Pink's "F---in' Perfect," which sits at number four and continues to pick up buzz (mostly thanks to a truly excellent video).

Which song do you think will be the 1,000th Hot 100 chart-topper? Let us know in the comments!

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Wiz Khalifa's 'Black And Yellow' Conquers The Billboard Hot 100 Despite Steelers Loss

Posted 2/10/11 10:30 am EST by in Music


Last Sunday (February 6), the Pittsburgh Steelers failed to win the franchise's seventh Super Bowl, falling to the Green Bay Packers by a score of 31-25. However, the excitement over the big game and the fervor surrounding the Steelers certainly worked out for Pittsburgh native Wiz Khalifa, whose "Black and Yellow" became an accidental Steelers anthem and is at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 this week.

"Black and Yellow" displaced Bruno Mars' "Grenade" at the top of the chart (Mars' track sits at number two this week). It's a great accomplishment for the rapper, whose major label debut album Rolling Papers is set to hit stores in March. Aided by a huge boost in digital sales, a giant uptick in radio play, a killer remix and a mixtape-ready beat that dozens of MCs have been jacking, "Black and Yellow" turned into something of a cottage industry for the 23-year-old. It even inspired an answer song from Lil Wayne in the form of "Green and Yellow" (his endorsement of the Packers).

It was a big week for hip-hop on the Hot 100, as Dr. Dre's "I Need a Doctor" (a collaboration with Eminem and Skylar Grey) debuted at number five this week. After the tepid performance of "Kush" (it topped out at number 34 on the chart), it seemed like perhaps Dre had waited too long to unveil new music from the long-in-development album Detox. But clearly the fans are hungry for more (or perhaps just galvanized by Eminem's involvement), as "I Need a Doctor" was the top-selling digital download last week, even besting "Black and Yellow." With the confirmation that Dre will be performing at the Grammys this weekend, the road to Detox just got all the more exciting.

There was one more big debut this week, as Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now" (which also features Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes) entered the chart at number 11. Brown's singles have been gradually attracting more and more attention (in fact, his "Yeah 3X" is still sitting comfortably at number 17), and "Look at Me Now" promises to be the singer's biggest chart hit in years.

The rest of the chart was pretty static, as no songs really made any big moves, nor were there any huge debuts (though in a short week, the "Glee" versions of "Thriller" and "Need You Now" managed to inspire enough digital sales to break them into the chart at 72 and 75, which means the show will again be making a big impact on the chart moving forward).

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50 Cent Is Looking Forward To Dr. Dre's Detox: The MTV News Quote Of The Day

Posted 1/25/11 3:30 pm EST by in Music


"When you got a producer that has that kind of production track record, you even have to credit both Eminem's success and my success to Dr. Dre as a producer. My first single off of Get Rich or Die Tryin' — people constantly tell me it was a classic — was produced by Dr. Dre, 'In Da Club.' Without that momentum from that song, I'm not sure they would have taken to 'P.I.M.P.' the same way or '21 Questions' or any of the other hit records I released following that."

-Multi-platinum rapper 50 Cent, discussing how much influence Dr. Dre has had on his ultra-successful career. Though the actual released date is in doubt (the rumors about the album dropping on April 20 have been established as false), it appears as though Detox will be showing up on the streets before 2011 has walked out the door. There are plenty of good signs, as the first single "Kush" has already premiered (along with a great video) and the second single "I Need a Doctor" (which features production by Alex Da Kid and some verses from Eminem) is about to drop any day.

Meanwhile, 50 Cent is also expected to drop an album this year (the hotly-anticipated Black Magic) and also has two finished films in the can (one called "Vengeance" that stars Danny Trejo and a second called "Blood Out" that is headed by Val Kilmer). He was recently spotted hanging out in Park City, Utah with the cavalcade of stars celebrating the Sundance Film Festival (which is where MTV News caught up with him).

Are you more looking forward to new music from 50 Cent or Dr. Dre? Let us know in the comments!

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Spotted: Dr. Dre Watches Kobe Bryant Get Ejected In Los Angeles

Posted 12/22/10 12:30 pm 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.

Though he is the driving force behind one of the most hotly-anticipated albums of 2011 in Detox, that doesn't mean that Dr. Dre doesn't carve out a little leisure time for himself. On Tuesday night (December 21), Dre broke away from the studio to head over to the Staples Center in Los Angeles to catch the Los Angeles Lakers square off against the Milwaukee Bucks. Perhaps he should have stayed in the studio, because the Lakers put on an all-time terrible performance, falling to the lowly Bucks by a score of 98-79. And on top of that, Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant spent the last two minutes of the fourth quarter in the locker room, as he was ejected after getting a pair of technical fouls. Still, the terrible performance didn't temper Dre's mood, as he happily signed autographs for a handful of fans. Meanwhile, the Lakers will play the Miami Heat on Christmas Day in one of the most high-profile games of the season, so they'll be looking to recover via some yuletide cheer.

Dre wasn't the only star rubbing elbows with the rest of the world, as Lady Gaga continued her takeover of Paris and Jamie Foxx threw a listening party for his new album Best Night of My Life in New York City. Click here for these photos as well as the entire "Spotted" archive, which features over 500 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Eminem, Justin Bieber, Jay-Z, Diddy, the Jonas Brothers, Kanye West, Madonna, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake and Mariah Carey!

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Britney Spears, Eminem, Lady Gaga Play The Self-Reference Game

Posted 12/20/10 5:30 pm EST by in Music


Just about every year in pop music can be defined by a certain trend that tended to permeate a large percentage of the songs floating around the radio. There was the Year That Auto-Tune Blew Up, the Year That Country Crossed Over, the Year That Everybody Collaborated With The Neptunes and the Year That "Mambo No. 5" Ruled The Earth. This year, it's somewhat difficult to figure out exactly what the underlying thread was, though the MTV Newsroom Blog would like to submit 2010 as the Year That Everybody Sang Their Own Names.

Listen to the likes of Jason Derulo (who seems to open most of his songs by singing his own name), Lady Gaga (whose own name makes up the bulk of the chorus of "Bad Romance") and Akon (who croons "Akon and MJ" at the top of the recently-released posthumous Michael Jackson single "Hold My Hand"). It's not a bad plan, really, as since most songs are overheard at the supermarket or coming out of passing cars, it's probably a good idea to identify yourself in the place where a radio DJ used to.

Of course, none of those artists invented the idea of singing your own name. Britney Spears entered the universe with the song-opening "It's Britney, bitch" a few years back, while many rappers treat their own names like brands in the middle of commercial jingles (including Eminem, Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Soulja Boy and countless others).

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Check out the amazing piece of video below, pulled together by our crack production team here at MTV News. It'll give you a good idea exactly how many artists are singing and rapping their own names.

Who is your favorite self-referential artist? Let us know in the comments!

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Dr. Dre's 'Kush' Immediately Becomes One Of The Best Songs About A Certain Plant

Posted 11/19/10 12:30 pm EST by in Music


It has been over a decade since Dr. Dre put out a new album (2001 came out, somewhat ironically, in 1999) and even longer since his breakthrough album The Chronic (that was way back in 1992; if you brought home a newborn kitten the same day you bought The Chronic, that kitten is most certainly in kitty heaven). But we appear to be getting close to the long-in-gestation Detox, which has rivaled Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy for time worked on and blown release dates (though it has been far less of a fiasco). Earlier this week, "Kush" found its way onto the Internet. Unlike previous Detox-related links, "Kush" (which features guest spots from Snoop Dogg and Akon) is a real single that is both complete and official.

"Kush" feels like vintage Dr. Dre, with a heavy low end, a cinematic piano riff, a parade of buzzing synths and, perhaps most important of all, a lyrics sheet devoted entirely to marijuana. Plenty of songs have been devoted to the wacky weed over the course of music history, but "Kush" immediately jumps onto the list of the best ever (which is no small feat, especially considering the number of songs both Dre and Snoop have written about the joys of the sticky icky). Here's the rest of the list — which you should use for medical purposes only.

Cypress Hill, "Dr. Greenthumb"
Just about every song Cypress Hill ever wrote has been about ganja, but this one stands out because it's just a little more jittery and lively than a lot of their other tunes (though "Hits From the Bong" would also easily fit on this list).

Peter Tosh, "Legalize It"
Would reggae exist without marijuana? It's possible, but unlikely, and Tosh's jam is not only a definitive weed song but also a great reggae classic.

Dr. Dre, "The Next Episode"
It has a great, oft-stolen beat and some great verses care of Dre and Snoop, but "The Next Episode" is immortal because of Nate Dogg's intonation at the end of the song: "Hey-ey-ey-ey-ey/ Smoke weed every day!"
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