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Beyonce And Jay-Z Unveil First Blue Ivy Carter Photos

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:20:35 EST

'We welcome you to share in our joy,' reads a note posted with the five photos, signed by 'the Carter family.'
By Kelley L. Carter

Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter
Photo: Courtesy of the Carter family

And now we've seen her.

On Friday (February 10), Jay-Z posted the first photos of his and Beyoncé's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, on his Life + Times website.

The rapper and his superstar wife are seen in the photos holding the newborn in a series of five photos. In the first large photo, we see the baby swathed in a polka-dot wrap sleeping. In the remaining images, she has her eyes wide open and is being held by her beaming mother, and in another, her back is to us while she's being held by her smiling father.

Photos: Blue Ivy Carter revealed.

There's a note that reads: "We welcome you to share in our joy. Thank you for respecting our privacy during this beautiful time in our lives. The Carter family."

The baby-picture reveal is just the latest Blue Ivy news. On Thursday, it was confirmed that the high-profile couple filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark Blue Ivy's name. The patent is intended to prevent the use of their daughter's name by non-related parties. The application was filed by Beyoncé's company, BGK Trademark Holdings, and is currently pending. The Washington Post reported that it will likely get approved, considering that parents are legally authorized to trademark the names of minor children.

Earlier this week, Beyoncé revealed her post-pregnancy body, and she's back in fighting shape only a month after the birth of her baby girl. B was photographed twice this week, including at the first night of Jay-Z's two-night charity stint at Carnegie Hall.

What do you think of the first Blue Ivy photos? Let us know in the comments!

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Rick Ross And La The Darkman Top Drake's 'Hottest MCs'

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:35:38 EST

'I'm just trying to make good music,' Drake tells MTV News about his own positioning on the upcoming 'Hottest MCs in the Game' list.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Sam Hendrick

Drake
Photo: MTV News

Picking the "Hottest MCs in the Game" is no easy task — just ask Drake.

Granted, the OVO boss was a bit unprepared for the question when he walked the carpet at the Bing Bar during his trip to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, but Drizzy came up with some favorites.

"Rick Ross, obviously, #1," Drake told MTV News last month before he continued to rattle off more names as they popped into his head. "J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar."

Want to Join the debate? Hit us on Twitter using the hashtag #HottestMC!

Drizzy places bars at a premium, and though it took a few seconds, he name-dropped one of his favorite MCs, calling out an early Wu-Tang Clan affiliate La the Darkman. "Crazy, though, amazing, amazing bars on that," Drake said without naming a specific La mixtape or body of work.

The Take Care MC acknowledged Jay-Z and Kanye's Watch the Throne, as well as Meek Mill and the entire Maybach Music Group. However, he did fail to name his Young Money boss Lil Wayne — though we're sure it was merely an oversight.

When asked to determine what his own positioning on the "Hottest MCs in the Game" list should be, Drake took a very humble road: "Whatever it is, I'm just here, I'm just trying to make good music."

Tune in to MTV2 on Sunday, February 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT to catch "MTV2 Presents: Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts," then watch "Hottest MCs in the Game VII" immediately after at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT before capping the night off with "Sucker Free Certified" at 11 p.m. ET/PT.

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'Adele Fan' Mary J. Blige Rooting For Grammy Nominee

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:01:10 EST

'You really just want that one person to get what they deserve,' hip-hop/soul singer tells us.
By Kelley L. Carter

Adele
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic

Not that there's a bandwagon, but Mary J. Blige says she can't get enough of Grammy-nominated singer Adele.

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul says that something is wrong if the Brit singer doesn't walk away with all six of her nominations at Sunday's Grammy Awards. Adele is up for several big awards Sunday night, including Album, Record and Song of the Year for her work on the critically acclaimed chart-topper 21.

"I'm sure an Adele fan and I love what she's done this year," Blige said on the red carpet before she took the stage. "Her album was amazing. She's amazing and I'm just rooting for her. I'm rooting for everybody. But you really just want that one person to get what they deserve. Finally. And not give it to someone else [just] because. Just win all six of her awards, you know?"

Grammy winner Blige performed at a private pre-Grammy event on Thursday night at Avalon in Hollywood, where she sang 10 songs including "No More Drama" and "Family Affair." She sang live for a few hundred fans (though it also was streamlined on Facebook), including famous faces like Forrest Whitaker, Chelsea Handler, Sophia Bush, Malin Akerman, Kelis, Paris Hilton and Natasha Bedingfield.

Before performing, Blige explained why it is important to give back as a celebrity. She partnered with Belvedere vodka and RED to help raise funds for the Global Fund, the world's leading financier of programs to Fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

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Grammys 2012 Odds Give Adele, Nicki Minaj An Edge

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:07:14 EST

MTV News sought out experts (and the slightly uninformed) to get predictions for Sunday's Grammy Awards.
By James Montgomery

Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News

Ever since the nominees for the 54th Grammy Awards were announced late last year, we've asked everyone from Vegas-tested professionals to cubicle-dwelling amateurs to predict just who will take home the golden gramophones during Sunday's big show. And basically, they keep telling us the same thing: Adele is just going to win everything.

And they're probably right. After all, her 21 album is an unstoppable juggernaut, selling more than 6 million copies in less than a year, spawning two massive singles and almost singlehandedly keeping the industry afloat during dour times. So, yeah, we feel pretty comfortable referring to her as "the favorite."

Still, it's not as if Adele's Grammy-night triumph is a sure thing (not entirely anyway): In three of the so-called "Big Four" categories — Album, Record and Song of the Year — she'll face stiff challenges from the likes of Mumford & Sons, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Kanye West, to name just a few. In the other "Big Four" category (Best New Artist), she's not nominated — mostly because she won it in 2009.

So with music's biggest night just around the corner, here's a refresher on just who our expert oddsmakers — and resident awards-show expert (uh, me) picked to win at the 54th Grammys:

Record of the Year
Not surprisingly, the U.K.-based oddsmakers at Ladbrokes like Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" here, installing it as the favorite at 2/1 odds. Mumford & Sons' "The Cave" was next, at 9/4 odds, followed by Bruno Mars' "Grenade" at 4/1. I decided to go out on a limb and predict Bon Iver's "Holocene" would build on Arcade Fire's unlikely Album of the Year win at last year's Grammys and shock everyone by winning ROTY. Who's right? Well, probably the pros, but we'll just have to wait until Sunday to know for sure.

Song of the Year
Ladbrokes once again goes for Adele, giving "Rolling in the Deep" 1/1 odds to win. Kanye West's "All of the Lights" is next at 2/1, followed by Mumford & Sons' "The Cave" at 5/1. Me? I'm taking "Deep" too — mostly because it was the year's biggest track, and one look back at previous SOTY winners ("Rehab," "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," etc.) shows you which way this category tends to go.

Album of the Year
Ladbrokes has Adele's 21 as the slight favorite here, giving the disc 11/8 odds. Close behind are Bruno Mars' Doo Wops & Hooligans and the Foo Fighters' Wasting Light, each of whom got 3/1 odds. I also picked 21 to win, but unlike the betting Brits, I didn't think this one would even be close.

Best New Artist
Absent of Adele, BNA may very well be the night's most-competitive category. Ladbrokes certainly seems to agree with that sentiment, as they've installed Nicki Minaj as the slight favorite (6/4 odds), but also kept the Band Perry (9/4), Bon Iver (4/1) and J. Cole (5/1) within striking distance. As for me, I took Minaj too, though I'm not sure how confident I feel about it now. I could certainly see the Band Perry winning instead, though my gut tells me that perhaps it'll be Bon Iver who takes this one home — we'll just have to wait until Sunday to see.

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Nicki Minaj Deserves Best New Artist, Ludacris Says

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:14:16 EST

Rapper also looks back on his own past Grammy wins and says he's 'coming right back at 'em soon.'
By Kelley L. Carter

Nicki Minaj
Photo: D. Dipasupil/FilmMagic

Ludacris knows how good it feels to win a Grammy.

The Atlanta-based rapper has three in his collection, and he's hoping his eighth studio album, Ludaversal, brings him a few more. No release date has been set, but it's expected sometime this year.

Luda won his first Grammy for his collaboration with Usher for 2004's contagious single "Yeah."

"Man, it was a great feeling. I'm happy to be working with Usher again on the Ludaversal album so we can come back and win yet another Grammy," Luda told MTV News on Thursday. "My best Grammy experience was winning Best Rap Album for Release Therapy (which was released in 2006). I worked hard on that album specifically to win a Grammy, and I accomplished my goal. So no words can explain how great that felt. But we're coming right back at 'em soon."

His pick for Sunday night is clear: He wants to see Nicki Minaj to win Best New Artist. He worked with the MC on 2010's "My Chick Bad," off his Battle of the Sexes album.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Nicki Minaj. I love her. I'm glad I got a chance to work with her. I'm extremely proud of her," he said. "She's just scratching the surface of what she's capable of. So Nicki: keep doing your thing, girl."

Should Nicki Minaj win Best New Artist? Leave your comment below!

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'Spider-Man' Star Feeling Pressure Of Playing Iconic Character

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:14:10 EST

'It's a huge responsibility for me to be in that suit and to take on the mantle from a fantastic actor,' Andrew Garfield tell MTV News.
By Kara Warner, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Andrew Garfield in "The Amazing Spider-Man"
Photo: Sony Pictures

The upcoming reboot "The Amazing Spider-Man" is a prime example of the pressure filmmakers and studios are under to deliver the best adaptation possible. Anyone who's familiar with comic book movies and the corresponding hoopla that surrounds them is more than accustomed to the demands of their fervent fan communities. If that movie is good, it wins support for life. If it's bad, fans have various ways of expressing their disappointment and are not afraid to do so.

Perhaps no one is feeling that pressure at the moment more than the movie's star himself, Andrew Garfield.

When MTV News caught up with Garfield recently before a screening event for the film, we asked him if his level of stress and anxiety is higher now that the release date is approaching or back when he was first cast in the role.

"It's always the same. It's always a [level] 10 inside. It's just a question of whether you acknowledge it or try to ignore it or try to suppress it, or try to pretend like it's not there or act like you don't care," he said. "I'm at a 10 constantly."

Garfield went on to emphasize how much being a true fan informed his performance, in both positive and negative ways.

"It's a huge responsibility for me to be in that suit and to take on the mantle from a fantastic actor previously and from fantastic artists and writers and ultimately Stan Lee. That's where it came from," he said. "I feel lucky and unlucky that I'm a fan first. That's what I am, I'm a Spider-Man fan at my core. I feel lucky in the sense that I feel like I know Peter Parker, because I grew up with him. I feel unlucky in the sense of how disappointed I am that I'm playing him.

"I don't' mean that in a self-deprecating [way]," he added. "No actor could ever live up to the character for me, and that's weird to say because I'm the actor playing this particular incarnation, I can't wait for another actor to take it on so I can judge."

Check out everything we've got on "The Amazing Spider-Man."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Grammys Live Stream: What Shocking Entrances Will We See?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:32:15 EST

How will Lady Gaga arrive this year? Join Sway and James Montgomery on the red carpet, starting 5 p.m. Sunday on MTV.com.
By Gil Kaufman

Jennifer Lopez at the 2000 Grammys
Photo: Getty Images

What's the point of getting all dolled up for the Grammy Awards if no one notices your outfit? Since not everyone can earn a nomination or score a performance slot, sometimes you have to make your own news by crashing the red carpet with an eye-popping outfit that is sure to get tongues wagging.

It's anyone's guess what this year's attendees will be wearing on Sunday night at the 54th annual awards show, but MTV News will be camped out on the carpet for a full three hours before the festivities kick off and we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for all the outrageous looks and fashions.

Click for photos of our most-shocking Grammy red carpet moments!

In the meantime, we thought it was worth a look back at some of the legendary entrances from Grammys past:

Lady Gaga egg: Sure, Justin Bieber toted his pet snake to last year's show, but it was, of course, Lady Gaga who turned the most heads by getting carried down the carpet in a giant, see-through egg that she incubated in before emerging later in the night for her performance of "Born This Way."

Britney gets bodied: Britney Spears has long prided herself on wearing what she wants, when she wants. But someone should have pulled her aside in 2010 before she exited the car in an oddball Dolce & Gabbana bodysuit overlaid with a lace dress that turned heads for all the wrong reasons.

M.I.A.'s pregnancy chic: With her middle finger firmly tucked into place, the rapper/singer made her way into the 2009 show while nine-months pregnant in a cartoony, ruffled blue maternity dress and matching sneakers.

Coldplay play dress up: It was kind of cool when Coldplay stuck with their bold Sgt. Pepper's-style suits for the whole Viva La Vida tour. But when they wore them to the 2009 show, it just felt ... silly.

OK Go ... back to the drawing board: Viral icons OK Go are experts at drawing attention to their music with trippy, how-did-they-do-that videos. They drew mostly sniggers, though, when they donned matching brocade curtain-looking red-and-gold suits to the 2007 show. Their smartest move may have been to cover their faces with red cloth.

R. Kelly, man of mystery: Kels has made a career out of being inscrutable , but his bold sartorial choice at the 2004 Grammys was, well, weird. From the neck down he wore an elegant three-button black suit and tie, but the matching Robin mask? Who knows?

Alicia Keys gets funky: Nobody really knows what Keys was thinking in 2002 when she walked the carpet wearing embroidered jeans, sandals, a white tank and a sheer green sari-like shift with a built in, bedazzled headdress.

Toni Braxton lets it all hang out: Sometimes it's what you don't wear that gets attention. In 2001, singer Braxton sported a barely-there white "dress" that hardly covered her assets with strips of material that dangled in the front and back.

Jennifer Lopez's plunging neckline: Way before she was an "American Idol" judge, Lopez sent hearts racing in 2000 with her instantly infamous plunging neckline Versace gown.

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss our Grammy red-carpet live stream this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered for all the Grammy red-carpet fashion, Grammy winners and Grammy news until the hangover wears off!

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Nicki Minaj Admits She's 'Becoming More Guarded'

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:04:29 EST

'Now that so many eyes are on me, I feel I have to deliver,' rapper says in interview with Paper magazine.
By Tomika L. Anderson

Nicki Minaj
Photo: Getty Images

Fame is beginning to go to Nicki Minaj's head, but not in the way you might think.

The Grammy-nominated rapper revealed to Paper magazine that the more successful she becomes, the more pressure she feels to deliver — and that all that stress is taking a psychological toll.

"Ugh! I have been working so much," the 29-year-old tells interviewer Simon Doonan, Barneys New York's creative ambassador at large. "Success came, and now that so many eyes are on me, I feel I have to deliver. And it's a business. No joke. I guess I'm stressing more than I should be, and I think I am becoming more guarded."

To relax, Ms. Minaj admits to indulging in reality TV — and apparently, a lot of it. "I love ['Mob Wives' star] Big Ang ... And I love the way those girls talk to each other: 'Don't YOU be coming at ME!!!' I love every freakin' moment. And I watch 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' and '[The Real Housewives of] Beverly Hills.' "

Music, of course, is also an emotional outlet for the rap star. She says the process of recording her upcoming album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, made her feel "very free."

"The album is like a collage of all my emotions. I'm not sticking to any particular style. I am doing what I feel without restrictions. So it's very free and very me."

The issue hits stands on February 20.

Meanwhile, look for Minaj this Sunday at the Grammys, where she is expected to perform her new single "Roman Holiday." She is also up for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance for "Moment 4 Life" with Drake.

Are you excited to hear "Roman Holiday" at the Grammys? Leave your comment below!

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John Legend 'Disappointed' Kanye Isn't Up For Album Of The Year Grammy

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:36 EST

'It had hit songs and just had quality tracks all the way through,' Legend says of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
By Kelley L. Carter

Kanye West
Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

John Legend is bummed that his buddy and collaborator Kanye West isn't up for one of the biggest awards at the Grammys. The rapper and producer is the most nominated musician going into Sunday, but his work is missing from the coveted Album of the Year category.

"Well, I was rooting for Kanye and Jay-Z [Watch the Throne] to be nominated for album of the year or Kanye's album [My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy] to be nominated for album of the year. So I'm a little disappointed that it's not," Legend told MTV News. "I really thought [MBDTF] was the best work that was done in popular music this year, as far as a great album that you could listen to all the way through and really enjoy. It had some hit songs and just had ... quality tracks all the way through."

That said, he's tossing his support behind critical favorite Adele. The Brit has many celebrity fans, and many of her musical colleagues are rooting for her to take home the night's top prize.

"I'm really happy for Adele. I think she's an amazing artist and she seems to be the odds-on favorite to win a lot of awards and she deserves it. And we'll see what else happens," Legend said. "It's hard to call these awards. Sometimes you think you know who's going to win, but they surprise you."

And what about West? Is he upset that his work didn't get nominated for Album of the Year?

"I don't want to speak for him," Legend said, adding, "I was upset that he didn't. I really felt like I heard a lot of music this year and this was my favorite album. I just think he made two exceptional albums that were both eligible this year. ... Maybe they canceled each other out. I wish he was up for Album of the Year."

Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys; red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

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David Guetta, deadmau5 Get EDM Some Grammy Shine

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:55:26 EST

Skrillex, Avicii, Duck Sauce, Swedish House Mafia and Robyn also contenders for Best Dance Recording at Sunday's show.
By Adam Stewart

David Guetta
Photo: Larry Marano/ Getty Images

Kudos to the Academy. They've pretty much nailed it when it comes to the Grammy nominees in what's arguably the most-important dance-related category Sunday night: Best Dance Recording. In 2011, the U.S. EDM market saw an explosion the likes of which hadn't seen since the punk rock revolution back in the '90s, and those given the nod are a testament to its abounding success.

A category once graced by Madonna, Britney and Gaga is now overrun by the Prince of Dubstep, a monstrous mouse, a turntable whiz and his NYC cohort, three rock stars of house, a Frenchman with a Swedish prodigy and a girl who originally showed us love in the '90s. Each one of the nominees was not only at the helm for producing a killer track, but was at the forefront of a movement that is changing the tastes of the American mainstream and truly defining cool culture.

In further recognition of EDM's explosion, the Grammys have lined up an all-star crew for a dance-music performance Sunday night in a tent outside Staples Center. Chris Brown, the Foo Fighters and Lil Wayne will join EDM superstars deadmau5 and David Guetta for a genre-busting performance that will highlight dance/electronica music. This marks the first Grammy performance to shed light on the increasingly popular genre, which has recently seeped into every form of music.

For anyone still getting their feet wet in the scene, fear not: We've broken down the Best Dance Recording noms, put together a little prediction of who will probably win, based on how these things have gone in the past, and who should win — as in, what might best be accepted and respected by the EDM masses. It could very well be a pivotal year for the Grammys — if they get it right.

Best Dance Recording Nominees
deadmau5 and Greta Svabo Bech, "Raise Your Weapon": deadmau5 went dubstep with this little experiment, and it earned him high marks. The angelic vocals of Bech, juxtaposed with signature ruff and rugged dubstep riffs, this track catapulted itself into a monster. deamau5 again showcased his versatility while (for the most part) maintaining that signature deadmau5 sound, but was it original enough for what we usually expect from this seemingly unconquerable musical madman?

Duck Sauce, "Barbra Streisand": In 2009, iconic NYC house-music icon Armand Van Helden paired up with Canadian spin master A-Trak in a collaborative effort named after the most popular of all condiments in pan-Asian cuisine. Since then, they've become one of the most popular dance acts around, in large part due to this crossover smash that pays homage to one of America's most beloved entertainers. The tune is decked out with a spirited house groove and a vocal hook that everyone knows the words to. You'd have to have lived on the moon to not have heard this one, and have no soul to do anything but love it.

David Guetta and Avicii, "Sunshine": True EDM fans can't complain on this one. It's progressive house at its finest. EDM loyalists all the world over were ecstatic to see Guetta distancing himself from the Peas and picking up on Avicii, who is simply one of the most insanely talented producers out there. Try listening to this tune and not smiling ear to ear. It combines Avicii's signature piano riffs and progressive charm with Guetta's thunderous big room house and ability to produce bangers at a moment's notice. The production value of "Sunshine" is precise, clean and harmonious. If the Academy is properly tuned in, this thumper has a good chance of coming out the victor.

Robyn, "Call Your Girlfriend": Taking nothing away, this is a killer tune by one of the key players in the dance-music crossover. However, it was Kaskade's remix (un-nominated) that truly resonated with the EDM masses. Regardless, the original was a monster in the mainstream, and the killer cut off the third installment of Body Talk has absolutely taken Robyn to new heights and solidified her place as one of the all-time dance-music greats.

Skrillex, "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites": This track was Dubstep 101 to anyone who'd never heard the genre. Call it "brostep" if you will, but you can't deny that it expanded the sonic pallet of anyone who dared to listen to it. Some would say EDM noobs as a whole probably think the track defines the movement as a whole, which is less than accurate. Never the less, Skrillex and "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" is a very fitting example of what helped push dance music into the spotlight in 2011. Don't be surprised to see Skrillex walking away with the golden gramophone.

Swedish House Mafia, "Save the World": The year 2011 was perhaps an incubation period for the rock stars of house. Having released just a pair of tracks in the calendar year, the Swedes went a little more pop on this than they had in the past, but nevertheless, still gave their loyal following what they wanted with a killer hook and an impossible-not-to-sing-along vocal provided by fellow Swede John Martin. If videos were involved in the selection, this would certainly take the prize. Heroic puppies and house music? A match made in heaven.

Who Should Win
David Guetta and Avicii, "Sunshine"

Who Probably Will Win
Skrillex, "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites"

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Romeo Santos, Former Aventura Frontman, Ventures Solo

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:17:11 EST

Bachata star tells MTV News his first solo tour will present 'nearly every single song on my new album, Formula, Vol. 1.'
By Christina Garibaldi

Romeo Santos
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

For over 15 years, Romeo Santos was the lead singer of the popular bachata group, Aventura. They performed across the globe, won 21 Billboard Latin Music Awards and released six studio albums — but now, Santos is stepping out on his own.

The Bronx, New York, singer is returning to his hometown to play three sold-out shows at New York's famous Madison Square Garden, a venue he sold out numerous times with his former band.

"I love performing in New York," Santos recently told MTV News. "Just something about the energy that the crowd gives you, you give it back, a lot of interaction. I'm looking forward to it."

Yet, this time, it will be a different experience for Santos, since he will be performing on his own. This past November, Santos released his debut solo album, Formula, Vol. 1, which mixes his famous bachata style with R&B. On Friday (February 10), Santos will kick off his tour at MSG, performing for the first time in over a year. So, what can this sold-out crowd expect?

"A lot of energy," Santos said. "I don't like to plans things a lot. It's gonna be a show with a little bit of everything. You're gonna hear some of my Aventura classics, nearly every single song on my new album, Formula, Vol. 1, and what I do is I go onstage and I just ride it out. I don't like planning what am I gonna say to the crowd. Sometimes the show takes a whole different twist."

Santos, who said he's more anxious than nervous to take the stage without his Aventura bandmates, will be on the road until the end of March, and is humbled by the positive response he's received from his fans.

"I'm really, really grateful. I don't take anything for granted," Santos said. "I've been working very, very hard. I was very focused on this last production. I wanted it to represent a lot and not abandon my genre, my roots. "

Santos, who teamed up with Usher and Lil Wayne on his debut album, is not ruling out the possibility that these two might join him onstage during his tour.

"It's possible," he said. "What I normally do is keep it a surprise, but it's a possibility."

Are you excited to see Romeo Santos in concert? Tell us in the comments.

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Obama Campaign Playlist Includes Wilco, U2, Al Green

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:44:08 EST

Ricky Martin, Bruce Springsteen, Dierks Bentley and Sugarland also in the mix.
By Gil Kaufman

Barack Obama
Photo: Shahar Azran/WireImage

We already know President Obama likes to listen to (and occasionally sing) Al Green songs. And he's told us that his iPod has a bit of Jay-Z and Lil Wayne on it. But with the toughest re-election campaign of his career on the horizon, what music will Obama 2012 be using to pump up crowds at rallies?

Judging by a playlist uploaded to Spotify this week, it looks like a cheerful, noncontroversial mix of classic rock, country, soul and R&B, but, alas, no hip-hop.

Instead, in a clear bid to appeal to the broad middle, Obama chose songs by beloved soul acts like Booker T. & the MG's ("Green Onions"), Earth Wind & Fire ("Got to Get You Into My Life"), The Impressions ("Keep on Pushing") and, yes, Green (the pleading "Let's Stay Together").

From the rock pile, he went with Wilco ("I Got You"), Arcade Fire ("We Used to Wait"), U2 ("Even Better Than the Real Thing") and the new blue-collar recession anthem from Bruce Springsteen ("We Take Care of Our Own"). For those visits to the heartland, he loaded up on country goodness from Sugarland ("Stand Up" and "Everyday America"), Darius Rucker ("This"), Zac Brown Band ("Keep Me in Mind") and Dierks Bentley ("Home").

There are a few oddball picks in there as well, including a deep cut from No Doubt ("Different People"), a very literal AM radio staple from REO Speedwagon ("Roll with the Changes"), a cover of the Band's "The Weight" by Aretha Franklin, some indie rock from Noah and the Whale ("Tonight's the Kind of Night") and a Ricky Martin/ Joss Stone duet ("The Best Thing About Me Is You").

While likely GOP opponent Mitt Romney takes the stage to the rousing strains of Kid Rock's Americana anthem "Born Free," Obama plans to get crowds pumped with the likes of modern R&B master Raphael Saadiq ("Keep Marchin' "), Florence and the Machine ("You've Got the Love") and afro-era prog popsters Electric Light Orchestra ("Mr. Blue Sky").

Rounding out the list is obscure jam act AgesAndAges, whose "No Nostalgia" is a handclapping ditty that just begs for a group hug, Jennifer Hudson's "Love You I Do," Ledisi's self-explanatory "Raise Up," James Taylor's feel-good "Your Smiling Face," country duo Montgomery Gentry's small-town homage "My Town" and Ray LaMontagne's tear-in-your-beer lovefest "You Are the Best Thing."

It might sound tame, but don't forget that back in 2008 when he was still just Candidate Obama, the president's taste in music was pretty similar. At the time, the future boomer-in-chief said he listened to everything from Bob Dylan, Elton John, Earth Wind & Fire and the Rolling Stones to Sheryl Crow, Springsteen and a number of jazz and classic giants, including Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Yo-Yo Ma.

What songs would you add to the president's playlist? Let us know in comments below!

Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage of the primaries and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season.

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Grammy Rehearsals: Rihanna, Katy Perry Sit Front Row

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:30:51 EST

From seating-chart plotting to all-star sound checks, we take you behind the scenes at Grammy run-throughs.
By James Montgomery

Adam Levine rehearsing for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards
Photo: Rick Diamond/ WireImage

LOS ANGELES — Everywhere you turn inside Staples Center, there are people (and things) in motion: Set pieces are being noisily constructed (and just as noisily deconstructed), lights are raised to the ceiling, focused, then lowered again, cameras on cranes swoop in and nearly scrape the stage, walkie-talkies crackle, security guards shift their weight from one foot to the other, musicians scramble down hallways, techs assemble drum kits and tune guitars, directors shout instructions and stare intently at their clipboards. If there's a method to all this madness, it is not readily apparent. Mostly, you just try to stay out of the way.

It's all in preparation for Sunday's 54th Grammy Awards, of course, and if everything goes according to plan, you probably won't even notice the intricate details (camera movements, presenter cues, etc.) that were rehearsed time and time again or think twice about just how they get all those massive video screens to work in perfect synchronization. The goal is to make these things all appear to be seamless, effortless, nearly invisible. Which is why, in the days leading up to the big show, the Staples Center is one continuously buzzing hive of activity.

Onstage, Foster the People, Maroon 5 and the recently reunited Beach Boys are working out the kinks for their Sunday-night performance, which, at the moment, include monitor malfunctions, a de-tuned organ and a wayward timpani drum. Maroon frontman Adam Levine stands stage left, fiddling with his in-ear and humming his harmonies over and over again. At one point, a stagehand saves him from being smashed by a gigantic LED screen, which is being lowered directly above his head. Stage right, Mark Foster has his arms crossed, a gigantic smile creased across his face, marveling at the sheer spectacle of the thing. Eventually, after an army of producers and techs have crisscrossed the stage, the Beach Boys amble up, take their places and, without a moment of rehearsal, positively nail the wide-screen harmonies of "Good Vibrations." Levine can't help but laugh at the display, and as the song lilts along, he mimes the crashing timpani drums and mouths the chorus.

Of course, the action onstage is only part of the production (though it is a part that truly never ends; LL Cool J and Nicki Minaj are set to rehearse Friday (February 10), and there are rumors that both Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen will share the stage at some point too). While instruments are tuned and harmonies perfected, an army of production assistants are busy plotting the Grammy seating chart — a bit of well-planned politicking that's nearly as important to the attendees as actually winning a gilded gramophone. Seatmates are meticulously plotted by producers, and how close you sit to the stage itself (and who you're sitting with) is a pretty good representation of just how much clout you've got.

Which means that, on Sunday, the front row will be populated by Katy Perry, Rihanna and Fergie. Heavily-favored Adele will sit in row two, next to Bruce Springsteen. Taylor Swift shares a row with Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga is seated next to Miranda Lambert, Bon Iver is across the aisle from R. Kelly (imagine the possibilities!), and Chris Brown will rub elbows with the indomitable Diana Ross.

Of course, all of this could change — these are just the rehearsals after all. And as the countdown to the big show continues, there's still a whole lot of rehearsing to do. Even after the show goes live, that constant blur of motion inside Staples is likely to continue unabated. This is music's biggest night, after all.

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Zooey Deschanel Excited To Scratch 'SNL' Off Her Bucket List

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:48:33 EST

Actress tells MTV News hosting 'Saturday Night Live' 'will definitely be a highlight of my life.'
By John Mitchell, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

Zooey Deschanel
Photo: MTV News

Zooey Deschanel will get to scratch off one more item from her bucket list when she takes the stage to host this weekend's "Saturday Night Live" with musical guest Karmin.

The Golden Globe-nominated star of Fox's hit sitcom "New Girl" is a longtime fan of the legendary sketch comedy show and remembers watching Mike Myers and Dana Carvey create classic characters when she was a kid. "I think the cast is so strong right now," Deschanel told MTV News. "It's really great to be here right now."

Indeed, her regard for the cast is so great she wouldn't reveal her favorites, insisting she couldn't wait to hit the famed Studio 8H stage at 30 Rock with each and every member of the current "SNL" team.

"This will definitely be a highlight of my life," she said. "For sure, the bucket list."

With booking "SNL" scratched off her to-do list, the actress can focus on the business of hosting the show, which includes a lot more work than what you see on camera. "They ask you if there's anything you'd like to do, if there're any impressions you can do, and, you know, characters — sort of talk about stuff you're capable of doing," Deschanel says of the "SNL" writing team, who take all that info and, in an all-night writing session, churn out the first draft of the script.

"Once you do the read-through is sort of when you can see what's working and not," she said. "But it's not really until you read it out loud that you really know."

And she can't wait to break out some of the impressions she's been working on in the lead-up to Saturday night. "I'm an actor and that's one of the things you do," Deschanel said.

Are you planning to check out Zooey on "Saturday Night Live"? Let us know in the comments below!

Kanye West Isn't Only Grammy Album Of The Year Snub

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:59:44 EST

Rapper's critically acclaimed My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy didn't make the cut for Sunday's top prize, and it's in good company.
By Gil Kaufman

Kanye West
Photo: Getty Images

One of the favorite parlor games the morning after the Grammy Awards is the predictable bellyaching about which artists got robbed during the big show. And the category that typically draws the most Monday-morning quarterbacking is the biggest one of the night: Album of the Year.

Long before the 54th annual ceremony Sunday night, the drumbeat had already begun about an album that failed to make the list despite its wide critical acclaim and deep musicality. Though he's the leading nominee at this year's ceremony with seven nods, Kanye West's career-defining My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy failed to make the cut for the night's top prize.

Take a closer look at this year's Grammy nominees through photos!

Hip-hop heads grumbled that it was a continuation of the Recording Academy's inability to think outside the mainstream box when awarding a hip-hop album with its highest honor. While Lauryn Hill and Outkast have won in the past, the denial of West's richly textured, musically adventurous album puts him in pretty good company when it comes to landmark works that either never got a nomination for the award or failed to close the deal.

Among the other (in)famous Grammy Album of the Year snubs:

1992: If any album over the past 20-plus years could be said to completely define its era — not to mention igniting a complete reordering of the musical world — it was Nirvana's Nevermind. Released in time to be considered at the 1992 Grammys, the landmark album wasn't even nominated in a year when the winner was Natalie Cole's Unforgettable ... With Love tribute to her late father. Instead of honoring Nirvana, Grammy voters nominated Christian lightweight Amy Grant, Bonnie Raitt, R.E.M. and Paul Simon. Among the other important works that didn't even make the list: Guns N' Roses' ambitious Use Your Illusion double album set, Ten by Pearl Jam and Achtung Baby by U2.

2001: In one of the all-time Grammy head-scratchers, that year's honors went to the first album in 20 years from studio-rat duo Steely Dan, Two Against Nature. The pick was especially galling for rock and rap fans, as it meant that another career-pinnacle work, Radiohead's twisty Kid A and Eminem's massive The Marshall Mathers LP, had to settle just for being nominated.

2008: In a year when West garnered his third Album of the Year nod, the Grammys went old-school again, shocking the world by giving the award to veteran jazzman Herbie Hancock's 47th studio album, the Joni Mitchell tribute River: The Joni Letters. What albums were passed over in the process? Oh, nothing major, just Amy Winehouse's hugely influential smash breakthrough Back to Black and West's Graduation.

2009: The Academy had another chance to make it up to the hip-hop world the following year when Lil Wayne's massive Tha Carter III was up for the big one. And even though Radiohead's In Rainbows and Coldplay's Viva la Vida, or Death and All His Friends were solid contenders, the prize once again went to a lesser-heard disc by a veteran, Raising Sand, a folky collaboration between former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and bluegrass star Alison Krauss.

Do you have an all-time favorite Album of the Year snub? Let us know in comments below.

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LL Cool J's Journey From 'Krush Groove' To The Grammys

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:51:59 EST

LL Cool J will become the second hip-hop artist to host the Grammy Awards on Sunday.
By Rob Markman

LL Cool J in the mid-1980s
Photo: Paul Natkin/ WireImage

Box. All it took was a simple three-letter word to jumpstart the illustrious career of a hip-hop legend. LL Cool J was unknown when he made a cameo in the 1985 film "Krush Groove" but it wouldn't be long before the rap world began buzzing about the 16-year old boy in the baby-blue Kangol.

In the flick, which was based off the formative years of seminal hip-hop record label Def Jam, LL walked into an office to showcase his talents for label brass and top talent Run-DMC. After he was denied an audition, the Hollis, Queens MC simply said, "Box," signaling his entourage to cue the oversized boombox and start the music. It was then that LL began rapping his debut single "I Can't Live Without My Radio," an ode to the ghetto blasters that ruled the 1980s.

Fast forward 27 years and that cocky kid in the baby-blue bucket hat has conquered every avenue in music, set new benchmarks in Hollywood and is now hosting the 54th Annual Grammy Awards. But LL Cool J (born James Todd Smith) isn't the first hip-hop artist to host the Grammys. Queen Latifah had the honor before him, but the Grammys didn't officially start recognizing hip-hop as a legitimate genre until 1989, when DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince's "Parents Just Don't Understand" won for the untelevised Best Rap Performance.

Hip-hop has certainly come a long way. "When we first started the music, they didn't even play it on the radio in the daytime," LL told MTV News in October when he walked the carpet at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards, acknowledging the network for dedicating an entire show to rap music. "Hip-hop was two hours at night or an hour at night on the weekends, and that was it. So to go from an hour or two hours at night to entire award shows and whole generations of people whose lives have been changed just because they're involved with the music, that's a big thing."

Just as hip-hop has grown, so has Smith. Back in the 1980s, when he first started his career, many considered rap to only be a passing fad. (MCs who clocked more than three albums in their discographies were thought to be anomalies.) LL has put out 14 albums if you include his two greatest hits LPs, 1996's All World and 2009's All World 2. There was his classic 1985 debut Radio and his critically acclaimed 1990 album Mama Said Knock You Out, which spawned the Grammy Award-winning single of the same name. In the mid-1990s, he once again proved his dominance with Mr. Smith and took his hit-making skills into the new millennium with his 2002 single "Luv U Better" off of his 10 album.

Check out photos of LL throughout his career!

If Uncle L's music accolades aren't enough, his strides in Hollywood have surely made him not just a hip-hop icon, but a permanent fixture in American pop culture. He started in "Krush Groove" with a brief cameo playing himself, but quickly followed up with an appearance in Goldie Hawn's "Wildcats" the next year. Since then, he has starred in major motion pictures like "Deep Blue Sea" with Samuel L. Jackson, "Any Given Sunday" alongside Al Pacino and "S.W.A.T." with Colin Farrell. LL also held it down in his own television series, "In the House," and now stars as Special Agent Sam Hanna in the police drama "NCIS: Los Angeles."

It's been quite a ride for LL Cool J, and when music fans watch him Sunday night at the Grammys, they will surely see a well-accomplished musician, actor and business man, while those who have followed since day one will see that 16-year-old kid in the baby-blue Kangol and say, "Wow, he's come a long way."

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Drake And Rihanna Take Care Video Coming Soon

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:56:19 EST

Duo shot much-anticipated clip in Los Angeles, director Yohann Lemoine confirms.
By Tomika L. Anderson

Drake
Photo: John Shearer/ Getty Images

Be on the lookout for that long-awaited video from Rihanna and Drake.

While there's still no official release date for the clip for the emotionally revealing "Take Care," the title track off Drake's sophomore album, video director Yoann Lemoine assures fans it has been shot ... and it's on the way.

"I just shot Drake & Rihanna's 'Take Care,' video," he tweeted early Friday (February 10). "Beautiful track, amazing artists. EDITING NOW!"

As further proof that a vid for the dreamy track was under way, the director tweeted a picture of the three of them on the Los Angeles set. Rih and the Young Money star apparently shot the video while in town for the 2012 Grammys on Sunday. The result will be Rihanna and Drake's first video collaboration since "What's My Name."

Lemoine's previous credits include Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream," Taylor Swift's "Back to December" and Lana Del Ray's tiger-featuring "Born to Die" clip.

Drizzy — who's gearing up to present at Sunday's awards show — is up for Best Rap Performance for "Moment 4 Life," with Nicki Minaj, while Rihanna is up for Album of the Year for Loud. Meanwhile, Rih is slated to perform with Coldplay on the big night.

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One Direction, Big Time Rush Talk Joint Tour

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:47:44 EST

'We can't wait to hit the road with them,' One Direction tell MTV News of BTR.
By Jocelyn Vena

Big Time Rush and One Direction
Photo: Nickelodeon

Having already taped their "iCarly" appearance, the guys of One Direction will move another step closer to U.S. domination when they kick off their tour with Big Time Rush later this month.

The two boy bands will meet up for the joint trek on February 24, just 10 days after U.K. natives One Direction drop their Valentine's Day-timed single, "What Makes You Beautiful," here in the States. MTV News got some exclusive scoop about the two bands' first meeting, which went down last weekend in the City of Angels.

"We met Big Time Rush for the first time last weekend on the set of their show in L.A. They are really great guys and could not have been more welcoming and supportive," One Direction said in a statement to MTV News. "We also shared a lot of laughs! We can't wait to hit the road with them in the U.S. and having never been to New York before, the Radio City show is one we are all incredibly excited about!"

BTR shared in 1D's excitement about the forthcoming jaunt. "We're excited to have One Direction come on tour with us in the U.S.," BTR's Carlos Pena Jr. added. "We are actually very similar on and off camera and we can't wait to have some fun on the road." (BTR officially kick off their tour on February 17, days before 1D are set to join them.)

This marks a busy time for both bands. One Direction's debut album, Up All Night, drops March 13. Meanwhile BTR's original TV movie, "Big Time Movie," debuts on Nick on March 10. In it, the guys will cover classic Beatles tracks like "Help!," "A Hard Day's Night" and "We Can Work It Out," as well as songs from their album Elevate.

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Exclusive: Taylor Swift Gets Moody In 'Safe & Sound' Video Tease

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:47:29 EST

Get a sneak peek at the 'Hunger Games' soundtrack video before it premieres Monday at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV.
By Jocelyn Vena

Taylor Swift in her "Safe & Sound" video
Photo: Big Machine

On Monday, Taylor Swift will debut the video for "Safe & Sound," her Civil Wars-assisted single from the "Hunger Games" soundtrack, during "MTV First: Taylor Swift" at 7:54 p.m. ET on MTV, followed by an exclusive chat with Swift herself on MTV.com. But you don't have to wait until Monday to catch a sneak peek of the emotional video.

In a mini-tease, Swift is wearing a long, white dress. Her hair and makeup are not done — it's a far cry from the red-carpet-ready Taylor fans are used to seeing. She sings the moody track while she walks through the woods — an obvious connection to the "Hunger Games" film and book that inspired the track.

After Monday's video premiere — which will also air live on MTV's channels in Canada, Europe, Latin America, Australia, Asia and Africa — the Grammy-nominated singer will sit down with MTV News' Sway Calloway for a 30-minute interview on MTV.com. Fans of the superstar can get in on the action by submitting questions via Twitter @MTVNews with the hashtags #AskTaylor or #MTVFirst.

CMT will air "Safe & Sound" at 8 p.m. ET, the same time the music video will debut exclusively online at MTV.com, CMT.com, VH1.com and MTV's international sites. On Tuesday morning, VH1's "Big Morning Buzz Live" will feature the video at 10 a.m. ET/PT.

The "Hunger Games" soundtrack, which also features Arcade Fire and the Decemberists, drops March 20; the movie hits theaters days later, on March 23.

And for those non-Swifties wondering why Taylor chose Monday to drop the video, it's the 13th and that happens to be the star's lucky number.

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Lady Gaga's Path To Album Of The Year Race

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:45:14 EST

MTV News looks back on Mother Monster's huge year and her genre-busting, Grammy-nominated album.
By Gil Kaufman, with additional reporting by Kara Warner and Vanessa White Wolf

Lady Gaga
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/ Getty Images

Some artists, like Adele, release albums that are pure Grammy catnip thanks to instant-classic sounds that resonate with the Recording Academy's way-back contingent. Then there's Lady Gaga.

She's been a bridesmaid twice for Album of the Year at the Grammys, losing out on her first two releases. But with her third bid on Sunday, for Born This Way, Gaga appears to have made the kind of career-defining, big-idea album that Grammy voters could not deny.

It had all the things the Academy loves in an Album of the Year nominee: ambition, deeply personal tracks that provide a glimpse at the artist's psyche, bold musical explorations, strong sales and chance to prove that they're hip enough to get what the kids are listening to. (Or, in some cases, a new album by Steely Dan.)

And, indeed, BTW did have it all, from the jackhammer electronica of "Marry the Night" to the tango-lite grooves of "Americano," the techno attack of "Heavy Metal Lover," hints of biography in "Hair," the lighter-raising ballads in "Yoü and I" and "The Edge of Glory" and, of course, the title track, which served as both a dance-floor phenomenon and an empowerment anthem for the ages.

The album, one of the most anticipated of 2011, not only crashed the charts with stellar sales figures of more than one million in its first week, but it also managed to once again bend the will of the music-buying public to meet her quirky, unpredictable muse. Gaga promised her fans that she was pouring everything she had into the disc and when it arrived, complete with a series of trippy, provocative videos that also pushed the envelope, they couldn't have asked for any more from their Mother Monster.

Frequent musical collaborator producer Fernando Garibay said the recognition from the Recording Academy was a nice cherry-topper to a year of hard, hard work. "We worked on this album for so long and it was like our baby so it was more about if the fans would love it; that was the most important thing.," he told MTV News. "But of course, nominations, yeah, that's cool."

The first full-length effort from Gaga since her rise to international stardom, Born This Way allowed the singer to exorcise some demons, comment on her newfound fame and, of course, create the kind of over-the-top tracks that would lend themselves to equally eye-popping live performance.

"This album was the most personal, the amount of detail that went into this record, the amount of passion and emotion from her and the team," Garibay said. "We all followed her lead on this, on every song ... how intense every avenue of making this record was for us, protecting the record, creative, conceptually, every song was a story towards the Born This Way theme."

The video for the title track took the Best Female Video and Best Video With a Message at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. In a year in which she kept turning heads with ever-more-insane red carpet walks, Gaga fittingly raised the bar further at the show, where she performed and accepted the Female Video Moonman as her male alter ego, Jo Calderone. In between those appearances, Gaga also managed to circle the globe with the Broadway-worthy Monster Ball Tour, on which she brought the new songs to life every night in a spectacle that was the visual equal of her studio experiments.

Though she worked with her core team, which includes Garibay, producer RedOne and DJ White Shadow, Gaga also opened the doors to collaborations with late Bruce Springsteen saxophonist Clarence Clemons and classic rock producer Robert "Mutt" Lange and Queen guitarist Brian May, who helped give "Yoü and I" its epic, AM radio majesty.

Gaga was so excited to record the album that she insisted on having a portable studio with her at all times to work on new music even as she toured the world for The Fame Monster, RedOne said. The road work paid off, as the album has sold more than 8 million copies worldwide, spinning off a bevy of hits, including the title track, "Marry the Night," "Judas," "Yoü and I" and "The Edge of Glory."

And though he's been there before, RedOne added that getting another nod for the biggest Grammy honor of all is new every time. "It's an amazing thing to be nominated for the biggest thing in music industry," he said. "It's always a big honor. I get happy and I never want to get used to it."

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