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Demi Lovato Releases Missy Elliott, Timbaland Track 'Up All Night'

Posted 9/15/11 3:00 pm EST by in Demi Lovato


"I'm lovin' what you're doing," Demi Lovato proclaims on her latest released track, "Up All Night," off her album Unbroken, which drops in just a few days.

In addition to Demi's sassy, flirty self, the song also features Timbaland and Missy Elliott, who also produced/wrote the song for the pop princess. The track isn't bubble gum pop. It's a pure R&B party jam that would sound perfect on 90's radio.

The track's chorus is super infectious and fun. Demi tells her love interest, "Don't make plans / Come home we'll stay up all night long / I want you bad / Let's keep the party going all night long." Her vocals play well with Tim's vocoded beat box that runs through the entire track. And, Demi's sassy lyrics are only matched by Missy's sassier rhyme, where she spits lines like "You talking how I like / You play daddy, I'll play wife."

While it's certainly a step toward a more mature sound for the 19-year-old, she recently insisted to MTV News that her sound is still intended for her fans of all ages. "The song that Missy and I did together, Timbaland's actually on it, too, and it's fun," she said. "It's about staying up all night long and singing it to the boy that you like, and it's flirty and fun and it's not too grown-up, but it's grown-up enough." Read More...

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A Timeline Of Where Demi Lovato Was When Her Current Collaborators Hit It Big

Posted 7/27/11 11:15 am EST by in Demi Lovato


Demi Lovato is working hard on her new, as-yet-untitled album. The first single from the Sept. 20 release, “Skyscraper,” dropped earlier this month and was a hit with fans and supporters of the recovering young singer, debuting in the Billboard top ten. Its buzzed-about video was directed by Mark Pellington, the man behind clips from Alice in Chains, Bruce Springsteen, INXS, Nine Inch Nails, Public Enemy and, most famously, Pearl Jam’s 1993 MTV VMA Best Video-winning “Jeremy.”

So that’s weird (in a good way)!

The former Disney diva is currently in the studio working on tracks with Timbaland and Missy Elliott. That’s right, not Dr. Luke or RedOne or The-Dream … Timbaland and Missy Elliott. (Which is also kind of strange, isn’t it?)

These guys are pros, of course, and are sure to deliver the goods, but the entire endeavor feels straight out of the early aughts. Maybe that’s what she’s going for? After years of crafting very successful teen pop, Lovato is ready to change things up, and let’s face it, moving from the “Camp Rock” soundtrack to a Dr. Luke jam isn’t much of a change. (It’s pretty much the same trajectory Britney Spears et al took after leaving their Disney days behind … except the Dr. Luke of 1999 was Max Martin.) So she decided to go in a different direction. Go, Demi!

But it got us thinking about where young Lovato was when her most recent collaborators were first making their mark on the music industry. Let’s take a look. Read More...

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Timbaland And Missy Elliott Gush Over Demi Lovato

Posted 7/26/11 3:15 pm EST by in Demi Lovato, Tweet Beat, Twitter


Timbaland and Missy Elliott are kind of a dream team, having put their spastic, edgy stamp on artists like Aaliyah and Destiny's Child. So when Demi Lovato tweeted on Monday night that she was hitting the studio with them, her fans responded with delight that the "Skyscraper" singer was working with the two masterminds on her September release.

"@ddlovato Nice meeting u at the studio tonight! I know ya gonna do ya thang! Working the late hrs! Lol Have fun!" Missy tweeted after the late night jam fest, before taking some questions from fans about what it was like working with the singer.

"@DaRealsebastian she cool peeps! Like we go way bk! Lol! Sweet person! Very talented! Thanks 4 introducing us G!" she told one fan. She also shared, "@ddlovatofan55 Thank u LOVATICS! I C yall *BIGHUGS* 2 all yall!" And had this nugget, "@ddlovatofan55 yes she is very talented. And cool peeps!"

Timbaland was equally enchanted by the singer and what she brought to the session, even sharing that the pair had recorded vocals for the track. "4 this demi and timbo duet yall really need 2 thank my brother @darealsebastian and @byrd757 4 makin this happen. now lets make history," he wrote on Twitter. "yo @ddlovato you killed dat song i gave u. i just pick 2 more for you from one of the producer out my camp @wizz_dumb for u to do 2morrow."

So, how did the song turn out? Read More...

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Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott Gets Fly: Wake-Up Video

Posted 7/15/10 9:00 am EST by in Wake-Up Video


The world became a little more funky on this day in 1997, as it was the day when Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott released Supa Dupa Fly, her stunning, instant-classic debut that changed the way people thought about mainstream hip-hop. In dropping Supa Dupa Fly, Elliott — along with friend, producer and regular tag-team partner Timbaland — created a whole new universe full of syncopated beats, twitchy dance grooves and stream-of-consciousness lyrics that often flirted with the absurd.

Elliott and Timbaland had already been making waves behind the scenes before the release of Supa Dupa Fly, most notably on Aaliyah's One in a Million (she had also written and produced tracks for Jodeci, SWV and 702). Elliott had also become a coveted guest artist, dropping in on tracks and remixes for the likes of New Edition, LSG and MC Lyte. All the while, Elliott and Timbaland were hard at work crafting their own set of bizarre tracks destined to become Supa Dupa Fly.

Supa Dupa Fly is a tremendously well-balanced album, full of thick beats and hook-filled grooves that often have two or three independent snatches of melody all working together and blurring the line between straight-up hip-hop and sultry R&B. There's the menacing "Sock It 2 Me" (featuring a tongue-twisting guest appearance by Da Brat), the fluttering "Beep Me 911," the swirling "Izzy Izzy Ahh" and the deceptively deep "Pass da Blunt." But Supa Dupa Fly's greatest contribution (and the main reason why it sold over one million copies) was "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)," a strange, hypnotic bit of icy funk that featured Elliott's strange flow, Timbaland's penchant for shape-shifting bass grooves, mysterious bits of melody and the immortal line "Beep beep/ Who got the keys to the jeep?/ Vroom!" It also gave birth to one of the greatest hip-hop videos ever made, which features lots of fish eye lenses, jagged dancing and Elliott's famous "trash bag" costume.

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If Kevin Eubanks Leaves 'The Tonight Show,' Who Should Be His Replacement?

Posted 2/17/10 1:35 pm EST by in Music, Television


Trouble just keeps following Jay Leno. Now that his primetime experiment is over with and he is returning to late night as the host of "The Tonight Show" once the Winter Olympics wrap up, he was probably hoping for a smooth transition back behind his old desk. Unfortunately, that may not be the case. There are reports out there that longtime "Tonight Show" bandleader Kevin Eubanks will not be returning to the show. (Keep in mind that the same report cites sources who say that Eubanks will indeed be back, so do with that information what you will.)

While Eubanks has never been the sort of dynamic force that Max Weinberg or Paul Shaffer has been for Conan O'Brien and David Letterman, he still has an easy chemistry with Leno, and any interruption in that chemistry could derail Leno's delicate re-introduction to the late night fold. The new bandleader would have to be an absolutely perfect fit.

Then again, maybe this is the opportunity for Leno to reinvent himself and evolve a bit. The report that said Eubanks was exiting also says that former Hootie and the Blowfish frontman and current chart-topping country star Darius Rucker is rumored to be Eubanks' replacement. While that wouldn't be a terrible decision, it's a little safe. (Plus, why would Rucker — who has carved out an incredible second career for himself as a country star — want that job?) Here are six suggestions for Eubanks' replacement (if he is indeed flying the coop).

Lyle Lovett
Honestly, this is the consensus pick in the MTV Newsroom. Lovett can be everything to everyone: He's a recognizable face, a country outlaw, an accomplished actor and a killer musician. He would be able to lead the band, joke around and — as Max Weinberg has proven — still continue on with his primary music career. It's a perfect match that would appeal to young and old alike.

Ben Folds
This is the other favorite pick in the Newsroom. Read More...

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Mark McGwire Comes Clean, But When Will Glenn Danzig?

Posted 1/12/10 2:30 pm EST by in Music


To even the most casual of baseball fans, Mark McGwire's admission that he used steroids wasn't particularly shocking. All you had to do was watch any of the 135 home runs he hit between the ages of 34 and 35 (some of still haven't made their way back into Earth's atmosphere) to know something was amiss. Also, there was that time he hoisted an armored truck above his head in Pittsburgh. That probably should've been a dead giveaway.

And while the scourge of steroids in baseball is well documented, there are frighteningly few reports on their role in the world of music. But make no mistake about it, steroids — and all performance-enhancing drugs — have found their way into the recording studios and tour buses of some of the biggest names in the business. Over the past decade, we've seen artists bulk up at an alarming, seemingly unnatural rate. We've seen previously unobtainable records fall with ease. (Who can forget Pete Wentz clubbing 53 homers in 2007?) And frankly, we're amazed no one has made an issue of this before. (And yes, we're aware of this report, but we're rolling here.)

So in an effort to keep the sacred game of Rock and Jock Celebrity Softball pure, we've decided to name names. McGwire's mea culpa might not have been shocking, but it gives us an opportunity to shine a light on this sordid subject. So here, for your witch-hunting pleasure, are 10 artists we suspect are on the juice. Proof? Who needs it when you've got pure suspicion?

Dr. Dre
He has spent most of the last decade working on his much-anticipated Detox album, and, in the process, somehow got totally jacked. He appeared at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards looking very much like a boulder in a blue sweater. Seriously, just look at those traps.

Trent Reznor
Dude went from the skinny Prince of Darkness to the really buff Prince of Darkness seemingly overnight. Fans pointed to his clean-livin' ways, but seriously, nobody gets pipes like that without some serious PED use. Then again, when you're married to someone who looks like this, perhaps getting ripped is just the next logical step.

Timbaland
A few years ago, he got so bulky so quickly that people began to wonder how he even fit in the studio. When whispers of his PED use began to spread, he cycled off the stuff and showed up at the 2009 American Music Awards sporting what was rather accurately described as "a pack of franks on the back of his neck." Fittingly, McGwire's neck was subject to the same critique following his live interview with Bob Costas.

Glenn Danzig
Okay, so dude was pretty jacked even back in the Misfits days, but he's been so ripped for so long now that we can't help but be suspicious. At age 54, he's still rocking, and now bizarrely resembles Wolverine (and we all know that Adamantium is a banned substance).
Read More...

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Timbaland Wants Everybody To Just Be Cool: The MTV News Quote Of The Day

Posted 1/5/10 4:20 pm EST by in Music


"The world needs to check themselves. Leave them people alone. Leave me alone. I don't have beef with nobody. I have real friendships, and real friendships are meant to not always be on the right page, if you are real friends with somebody. OK, America? Don't get in my personal life. I have too much money, I will find you. ... Leave me alone. If you don't know about Tim Mosley, don't talk about Tim Mosely. All them Facebooks, Twitter, whatever, whatever, don't be talking. All that talking behind people's back ... I'm a grown man. I ain't got time for all that you say, she say. C'mon, man. Stay outta people's business and just love music."

-Producer and rapper Timbaland, speaking to MTV News about the online chatter regarding his relationship with Jay-Z. The mogul also wants people to lay off Tiger Woods. "That's his personal business," he told MTV News' Shaheem Reid. "You don't know if his wife don't make him happy. You don't know what's going on with that man. She could be trying to stab him at night. But do you know that? All y'all see is that he is a black man, he's a top celebrity. To me, it's political and it's prejudice in the game. ... Same thing they did with A-Rod. Just wanna ride people out. It's ridiculous man. Leave stuff alone. Don't have a [public] debate like, 'Should she leave?' or, 'Should he leave?' You're forgetting they have kids. You don't get involved with people who have kids, regardless of what she done or what he done." While you're letting Tim and Tiger Woods live their lives, the producer suggests you check out his album Shock Value 2, which dropped in December.

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Brandy (AKA Bran' Nu) Raps With Timbaland Live In Miami

Posted 12/10/09 9:00 am EST by in Music


Timbaland's new album Shock Value II is an excellent mix of styles that features a veritable who's who of hip-hop, R&B, pop and rock stars lending their voices to Tim's futuristic funk. Justin Timberlake, Drake, Keri Hilson, Miley Cyrus, Nelly Furtado, Daughtry and Chad Kroeger from Nickelback all make appearances on the eclectic record. But perhaps the most intriguing guest spots come from Bran' Nu, the rap persona of singer Brandy, who has traded in her silky-smooth coo for a tougher rap sound on Shock Value II's "Meet in tha Middle" and "Symphony."

The new persona — even the name — was created and nurtured by Tim himself. "What I'm doing on the album is a little bit different than what everybody knows me for," Brandy said. "I'm rapping on the album. Timbaland endorsed that. He changed my name to Bran' Nu. He really gave me a shot to be different and be versatile. I can't thank him enough for that. This is a wonderful opportunity. I'm blessed to be here."

Timbaland told MTV News that he hopes that Brandy's new album — which he is producing — will feature an equal balance of singing and rapping. In any case, Bran' Nu acquitted herself nicely at Timbaland's Verizon- and Blackberry-sponsored album release party in Miami Beach last Saturday (December 5). But you don't have to take Tim's word for it — check out her spitting for yourself in the clip below.

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Spotted: Timbaland Goes For 'Shock' In New York

Posted 12/9/09 11:09 am EST by in Music


Every day a multitude of stars wanders 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.

Like the first volume, Timbaland's new album Shock Value II is a star-studded affair full of unlikely collaborations and left-field guest spots all anchored by the producer's innate ability to make every beat sound like a chart-topping hit from the future. Justin Timberlake, Drake, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Daughtry all stop by, each one lending his or her own personality to an eclectic mix. Despite that combination of superstars, no album sells itself, which is why Tim was in New York City yesterday making a bunch of promotional stops (including a visit to the MTV Newsroom). He was also downtown at J&R Music World to shake hands with the people and sign copies of Shock Value II.

Tim wasn't the only star hanging with MTV yesterday, as Chris Brown stopped by for a chat about Graffiti and a handful of Hollywood stars talked to us on the red carpet at the Golden Globes Young Hollywood Party in Los Angeles. Click here for these photos as well as the entire "Spotted!" archive, which features over 300 candid shots of stars like Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, Adam Lambert, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Rihanna!

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Adam Lambert, Snoop Dogg And The Muppets In This Week's 'Late Night Lineup'

Posted 12/7/09 10:46 am EST by in Television


All of the talk shows are back in full swing for the run through the holidays, and with a handful of high-profile albums and a number of Oscar-worthy movies coming out in the month of December, the chat circuit will be busy this week.

The variety of people sitting on couches this week is pretty remarkable. For example, Tuesday night's episode of "The Late Show with David Letterman" features a guest spot from Barbara Walters and will also have a performance from BlakRoc (the awesome new garage hip-hop project from the Black Keys). Letterman also welcomes Tori Amos on Thursday (December 10), who will likely be performing something from her overlooked (but still excellent) album of seasonal songs Midwinter Graces.

Meanwhile, "The Tonight Show" has Snoop Dogg on Wednesday (December 9) and 30 Seconds to Mars on Thursday. "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" welcomes Pee-Wee Herman, the Jacksons and Passion Pit (not appearing together, sadly) on Tuesday, Timbaland on Thursday and Kim Kardashian on Friday (December 11). After taking a week off, Jimmy Fallon will play catch up this week with 50 Cent tonight, the TV-only reunion of Jawbox on Tuesday, BlakRoc on Thursday and Snoop on Friday, making "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" required viewing for music fans this week.

The daytime shows are pretty quiet this week, though Adam Lambert is set to appear on "The View" on Thursday. But the best booking of the week goes to "The Jay Leno Show," which will feature a performance from Andrea Bocelli and the Muppets on tonight's episode. Will they do "Bohemian Rhapsody" or stick to something with a little more Christmas flavor? Only Leno (and Kermit) knows for sure.

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