MUSICBLOGR – Music Video Blog

‘I could get whatever I want,’ 21-year-old Harlem rapper tells MTV News about her new record deal with Kanye West.
By Nadeska Alexis

Teyana Taylor

Photo: MTV News

Teyana Taylor collaborated with Kanye West on his 2010 album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and now, as an official member of the G.O.O.D. Music team, the Harlem rapper confirms that she will also appear on the upcoming G.O.O.D. compilation album.

When MTV News caught up with Taylor after news broke that she’d officially been added to the Def Jam roster, she said the deal was finalized in April. “I had been actually working with the whole G.O.O.D. Music family for quite a while,” she explained. “Around the time we did the ‘Dark Fantasy’ song, I was still in my contract with Star Trak/Interscope Records, and I asked for release because I wanted to find myself as an artist. I had options to go to different labels, but I felt like G.O.O.D. Music was where I wanted to be, where I fit in.

“This is the second go ’round for me, and hopefully, the second time’s the charm,” the 21-year-old continued. “I signed to Star Trak with Pharrell when I was 15, and now I’m at a new chapter in my life where I’m signed to G.O.O.D. Music, and I’m blessed and happy to be part of the team.”

The rapper, singer, writer and actress said the new deal will definitely improve her worth ethic. “Being signed to G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam has opened more doors now that I finally have a team behind me that can push me to work harder,” she said.

Taylor has already recorded her tracks for the upcoming G.O.O.D. Music album, another humbling experience. “Recording ‘Dark Fantasy’ and recording the G.O.O.D. Music album was both crazy,” she shared. “When we did ‘Dark Fantasy,’ the album had to be turned in in three hours, so that was a song that we made happen so last minute, which happened to be the first song on the album, so that was very exciting.

“The same amount of work, same amount of pressure, same amount of heart, intensity, passion [went into recording the G.O.O.D. Music LP]. It was a great experience to be able to work with someone like Kanye and with Pusha T, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, Common and the whole G.O.O.D. family. When it’s time to do something, we all come together, we make it work, everyone’s focused.”

Taylor recorded with West in both Los Angeles and New York, laughing off rumors that the crew ticked off the Royal Family while recording in London.

Right now, Taylor is simply enjoying her new family circle. “I am the princess of G.O.O.D. Music, the first lady of G.O.O.D. Music, the baby of G.O.O.D. Music,” she said, laughing. “I’m kinda the spoiled brat right now. I could get whatever I want.”

Related Artists

• Teyana Taylor
• Kanye West

Emma Watson (who tweeted the news) will be on hand with Logan Lerman and Ezra Miller to present the sneak peek Sunday, June 3.
By Kara Warner

Emma Watson and Logan Lerman in “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”

Photo: John Bramley/Summit Entertainment

We’re less than a month away from everyone’s favorite cinematic-themed awards show — the 2012 MTV Movie Awards — and with only weeks away from our June 3 show date, you can expect special announcements to start flooding in with teases of this year’s special guests, presenters and pre-show moments.

Speaking of pre-show moments, we’re pleased to announce that the star-studded cast of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” will be on hand to help present the trailer for the highly anticipated film during our pre-show. The lovely Emma Watson helped break the news via her Twitter account on Wednesday (May 16).

#PerksOfBeingAWallflower Trailer is going to show at the @MTVMovieAwards pre-show! @LoganLerman and Ezra and I will be there to present. : )

— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) May 16, 2012

“#PerksOfBeingAWallflower Trailer is going to show at the @MTVMovieAwards pre-show!” Watson wrote. “@LoganLerman and Ezra and I will be there to present. : )”

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is based on the popular Stephen Chbosky novel of the same name. The story revolves around introverted high school freshman Charlie (Logan Lerman) as he slowly comes out of his shell thanks to new friends, siblings Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller).

Watson will not only be attending the show as part of the “Perks” trailer presentation, but will also be representing “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2,” for which the lovely actress is a double nominee in the Best Female Performance and Best Kiss categories. “Deathly Hallows, Part 2″ has a chance to take home major Movie Awards gold given their six nominations but faces fierce competition from “The Hunger Games” and “Bridesmaids,” which are the most-nominated movies this year.

The MTV Movie Awards will air live from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, on Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

Head over to MovieAwards.MTV.com to vote for your favorite flicks now! The 21st annual MTV Movie Awards air live Sunday, June 3, at 9 p.m. ET.

‘When she walks into a room, her energy picks you up,” Hov tells MTV News of his Roc Nation signee.
By Rob Markman

Jay-Z

Photo: MTV News

Jay-Z sure knows how to make dreams come true. Through the years, Hov has provided platforms for quite a few key artists like Kanye West and Rihanna — maybe you’ve heard of ‘em. He has also lent a hand to a few less notables — Rell, anyone? — but when it comes to Roc Nation’s new pop starlet Rita Ora, Hova has high hopes.

“She’s one of the people that, if you were in the position, you say, ‘I’m gonna help her get her dream out and then we’ll see what happens,’ ” Jay-Z told MTV News about the Kosovo-born, West London-bred singer when we caught up with him in Philadelphia on Monday. “I think her energy is infectious, because out the gate, two #1s in London and she’ll just continue to grow from there.”

The later of the two #1s that Jigga references is her current single “R.I.P.,” a track that was co-written by Drake and features Tinie Tempah. The fiery electro-love ode finds Ora staking her claim in a convoluted love triangle, making sensual offers that her boo simply can’t refuse. “R.I.P. to the girl you used to see,” she sings with a sexy wit.

What’s not to love about Rita? She perfectly balances over-the-top talent with a simple, around-the-way-girl charm. Her debut U.S. single “How We Do (Party)” is a nod to the Notorious B.I.G.’s 1991 underground track “Party and Bullsh–,” doesn’t get more around the way than that. (She told us last month she’s a ” huge Notorious B.I.G. fan.”)

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a bigger B.I.G. fan than Jay, and it just so happens he’s pretty fond of Rita as well. “She was the cool girl that worked in the sneaker store in the hood and everyone knew of her. She was just in there dreamin’ and she just wanted it so bad,” he said, describing Ora with awe. “You could just feel the excitement and the energy when she walks in the room, the room really changes. I know a lot of people say that and it gets to be cliché, but when she walks into a room, her energy picks you up.”

Are you into Rita Ora’s energy? Let us know in the comments

Related Artists

• Jay-Z
• Rita Ora

Bieber’s mentor and dance-off foe will debut his new track ‘Twisted’ on ‘MTV First: Usher,’ airing tonight at 7:54 p.m. on MTV.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway

Justin Bieber

Photo: Valery Hache/ AFP/ Getty Images

Justin Bieber and his mentor, Usher, believe it or not, have engaged in a dance-off or two. While Bieber is certainly known for his ability to cut a rug, he noted that his pal has the smoother of the dance moves.

“Dance-offs? We had one the other night. He did this little show in New York,” Bieber explained to MTV News earlier this month about facing off against Usher during his stint in the off-Broadway “Fuerza Bruta” in April. “Mid-show, he comes in the middle of the dance floor and does a dance battle with me. And I’m like ‘I’m too tired for this.’ He pulls out moves and I can’t not dance battle Usher.

“So I go in there, do my whole thing,” he recalled. “I’m pretty sure I lost, but it’s all good.”

When they aren’t battling it out on the dance floor, it seems Usher is offering up some sage advice to the 18-year-old singer. “He’s just given me the advice of ‘Always keep the people that were there in the beginning, keep them with you because those are the people that really care. They want to see you succeed,’ ” he said. “I think that’s probably pretty much the main thing he’s always told me.”

Usher has even more to share about working with his superstar mentee. He will open up during “MTV First: Usher,” set to take place tonight at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV. He will introduce exclusive footage from “Fuerza Bruta” and his new single, the Pharrell-produced “Twisted,” and will stick around for an interview with MTV News’ Sway Calloway to discuss it all, including his new June release, Looking 4 Myself, on MTV.com afterward. Fans can submit questions via MTV.com or Twitter @MTVNews with the hashtag #MTVFirst or #AskUsher.

Don’t miss “MTV First: Usher” tonight at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by an interview with the singer on MTV.com!

Related Videos

• Get Ready For ‘MTV First: Usher’!
• MTV First: Justin Bieber

Related Artists

• Usher
• Justin Bieber

‘I can’t even begin to think who the final is going to be between,’ Nigel Lythgoe tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena

Nigel Lythgoe

Photo: MTV News

And then there were three. The final trio of contestants will face off this week on “American Idol,” and if you think you know who might win, “Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe points out that there’s really no way to predict the winner.

With it all down to Phillip Phillips, Jessica Sanchez and judge-favorite Joshua Ledet, the chances of predicting who will be the season 11 champion is nearly impossible, especially given the show’s history.

“I guess I was shocked at Colton [Dixon] going so early. I thought he might even make the final. We’ve had very talented singers all this season. I’m thrilled with the three people who are left,” he told MTV News at an event announcing Fox’s fall lineup on Monday. “I can’t even begin to think who the final is going to be between.

“And then whichever combination you look: If Joshua is sent home, where does Joshua’s votes go to, Jessica or to Phillip? Where does Jessica’s votes go, if she’s sent home? Where do Phillip’s votes [go]?” he continued about any final combinations ahead of the May 23 finale. “So… I still don’t know with the combination of just moving it around who is going to win.”

That being said, Lythgoe must have some gut feeling about who will join the ranks of Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Kris Allen as the “Idol” victor this time around? “I don’t have to use my gut,” he said. “I know the results every week and nobody has won two weeks on the run. It’s so dependent, I think, on song choice now and how they do. The judges can critique, America makes its own decision at the end of the day.”

Do you think you can predict the next American Idol? Leave your comment below!

Related Photos

• ‘American Idol’ Season 11 Performances