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Mariah Carey 'Had A Human Moment' At Memorial, Nick Cannon Says

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 11:46:00 EDT

Carey's husband thinks she didn't need to apologize for being emotional at Michael Jackson's service.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Matt Elias

Nick Cannon
Photo: MTV News

On Wednesday, Mariah Carey told "Today" and her Twitter followers that she thought she "let everybody down" when her voice cracked when she sang "I'll Be There" at Michael Jackson's memorial. But Nick Cannon didn't think his wife had anything to apologize for, saying that her performance was "all about the emotion."

"To be able to see [the memorial for] not only someone who influenced music and the world, but someone who was a close friend, to have to sit there and perform, it's just a little tough," he told MTV News on Wednesday.

Cannon also noted that Carey wasn't the only performer who got emotional during their tributes to the late King of Pop. "It's tough on anybody," he said. "We seen all the performances, and everybody was emotional, so I think she was just trying to say she had a human moment and that was one of those things. It wasn't about the entertainment. It was about just having that moment."

The "America's Got Talent" host said he felt that Tuesday's performances were all equally touching, and none stood out above the rest. "It was one of those things where it was raw emotion in the entire place. Nobody was up there faking," he said. "Nobody was up there trying to showboat or make it about them. Everybody had a magical moment."

Cannon said he was also moved by how the Staples Center that day was "packed, but it was still silent. It was one of those things where everybody was there to pay respects to the greatest entertainer that ever lived."

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Jay-Z Tops Forbes' Hip-Hop Cash Kings List

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 04:42:00 EDT

Kanye West, Diddy and 50 Cent trail behind Jay's $35 million 2009 earnings.
By Kyle Anderson

Jay-Z
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage

The economy has been rough on everybody, but as Forbes' Hip-Hop Cash Kings list proves, it still pays to be a huge mainstream rapper with multiple business ventures.

Even though he took a 57 percent pay cut compared to last year, Jay-Z still managed to come in at #1 as the richest rapper of the year. By Forbes' estimate (based on earnings between June 2008 and June 2009), Jigga pulled in $35 million in the past year, owing mostly to his international tour and his ownership stakes in the NBA's New Jersey Nets and New York's sports/strip club 40/40. Why did Hova take such a huge pay cut? Because last year's figure was boosted heavily by the $150 million deal the rapper signed with Live Nation, which provided him with an immediate cash windfall.

Last year's winner, 50 Cent, slipped to fourth place with $20 million. Again, 50 owes most of his fortune to diversification, such as his Vitamin Water deal, G-Unit clothing line and numerous licensing deals (including a video game). Between 50 and Jay stands Kanye West (who cashed checks on his multiplatinum album 808s & Heartbreak and his juggernaut Glow in the Dark Tour) with $25 million and Diddy (whose ever-expanding portfolio includes a brand of premium vodka and his Sean John clothing line) with $30 million.

The rest of the list proves that rappers are making a great deal of money doing things that have nothing to do with actual rapping. Even the producers on the list — like Pharrell Williams ($16 million) and Timbaland ($17 million) have their hands in accessory lines and film production. If all else fails, you just need to create a timeless album, which is how Dr. Dre came in at #11 on the list. Though he executive-produced Eminem's platinum Relapse, the producer's $13 million came primarily from royalties collected on classic releases like The Chronic.

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Beyonce Gets Crazy, Sexy, Cool In 'Sweet Dreams' Video

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 07:10:00 EDT

B dons flashy clothes and finds new ways to contort her body in her newest clip.
By James Montgomery

Beyoncé in "Sweet Dreams"
Photo: Sony

It all started with "Ring the Alarm," then picked up steam with subsequent singles (and videos) like "Get Me Bodied," "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" and "Diva." The theory that, somewhere beneath her media-trained demeanor and her well-buffed veneer, Beyoncé was harboring the soul of a wild woman, one who yearns to break free and run screaming through the streets and burn up dance floors and take hostages and drink the blood of her detractors.

Or, you know, something like that.

Needless to say, B would probably be a pretty interesting gal to have a few drinks with. There is no pop star of her level or pedigree that releases the kinds of singles she does — glitchy, careening, hip-shuttering dance tracks — and pairs them with videos that look like Fellini films on fire. She is either the most adventurous megastar on the planet or the most insane. Possibly both.

But aside from the battiness, most of Beyoncé's recent singles — the high-energy ones, at least — have something else in common: They are all great. "Ring the Alarm" and "Bodied" were departures, sure, but they were undeniably catchy tunes, and "Single Ladies" placed second on my Best Songs of 2008 list (and I wasn't the only one to fall in love with its mechanized whomp and mind-melting video — Rolling Stone put it at #1 on their list.) And now you can add another one to her hit list: the just-released "Sweet Dreams."

The song itself isn't particularly new — it actually leaked before the release of Beyoncé's 2008 album I Am ... Sasha Fierce, only back then, it was called "Beautiful Nightmare" — but it's been tapped as the latest single, and in keeping with grand B tradition, it's accompanied by an eye-popping, herky-jerky, high-fashion video, this time directed by Adira Petty (whose résumé includes clips for Duffy and Regina Spektor).

So, once again, we get Beyoncé popping her pelvis in ways never imagined. We get Beyoncé strutting with her two doppelgängers (Ebony Williams and Ashley Everett). And we get Beyoncé wearing about a million flashy, asymmetrical costumes. She expands on her burgeoning robot fetish (which I think is supposed to symbolize her Sasha Fierce alter-ego), flashes the crazy eyes and contorts her body in downright unsettling ways. All of which is to say that "Sweet Dreams" is just like every amazingly crazy Beyoncé video from the past three years, which — to extend the point — also means that it's pretty great.

Oh, and the song — it's great too. The gnarly low end (which kind of sounds like Michael Jackson's "Beat It" for about half a second), the spare snare kicks, the expansive-yet-molecular chorus — sonically, it's as adventurous as anything she's ever released. And her vocals — icy and cool, slippery like mercury — are nothing to scoff at either. All in all, it's another undeniable smash ... sort of unsettling, kind of crazy, totally unlike anything anyone else is doing right now (sorry Gaga). There's truly no one else in the game like Beyoncé, especially when she gives us a peek at her inner freak.

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Drake Explains His Balance Between Rapping, Singing

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 03:23:00 EDT

'It allows people a break from just constant rapping, rapping, rapping,' he says of crooning on his tracks.
By Shaheem Reid

Drake
Photo: MTV News

While Drake works on his debut LP, Thank Me Later, the Toronto MC said there is no method to any of his madness. If he gets inspired to spit rhymes on a track, he'll get to it. If he wants to croon to a beat, that's what it will be.

"The balance of singing and rapping has been blurred ever since I did So Far Gone," he said of his breakthrough mixtape. "I mean, I don't really have a formula for that. I don't say, like, 'OK, I can only sing this hook or I want to rap this.' I just really hear a beat, and it's like, 'If I can write to it on a hip-hop level, if I can pen some raps to it, then that will work.' And then maybe after I do that, I'll get in the booth and sing a little part of the verse.

"I like to do that," he continued. "I like to incorporate singing into my verses. And then I feel like it allows people a break from just constant rapping, rapping, rapping, you know? I think it's great to incorporate melodies into the songs that I write. And yeah, my goal is just really to make a song that after I listen to it, I'll just be like, 'Man, people are going to know the words to that.' That's the best thing. I think I'm doing it right, 'cause when I go to the shows, people know the words to the songs, and that's good."

Drake has the video for "Best I Ever Had" out right now and says he'll probably be appearing in front of the cameras for more clips soon.

"There's talk to do a 'Successful' video," Drake said. "Also, you know, I'm shooting the video to 'Digital Girl' with Jamie Foxx and Kanye West and The-Dream. And then there is another song that we have that we might shoot a video for, for the album. So as far as videos go, there is some more potential chances to see [me]."

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Fabolous Gets Support From Nas, Jay-Z For New Album

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 07:10:00 EDT

Plus: Def Jam exec Lenny Santiago explains Ghostface Killah's upcoming 'R&B' album, in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid

Jay-Z and Fabolous
Photo: Def Jam

Executive Decisions: Power Moves Behind The Scenes

Lenny Santiago has a rich history in the rap game. His hands have been in almost all Roc-A-Fella Records releases (sans Kanye West's), and now he's running things over at Def Jam as vice president of A&R. He signed DJ Khaled and also spearheaded the A&R work on Jadakiss' The Last Kiss and Fabolous' upcoming Loso's Way (due July 28), and his big fall project is the new one from Ghostface Killah.

But hold up: There's been some controversy over whether Ghostface will really live up to early descriptions that the record that will be an R&B album. Tony Starks giving up rapping for crooning? Santiago says no.

"The new album is called The Wizard of Poetry," Santiago said. "It is an R&B album. When I say that, this is what I mean: Ghostface usually raps over melodic, soulful R&B tracks. This time, we came around and I had him rhyme over the same type of tracks, but we matched him with great R&B stars. John Legend is on there. Raheem DeVaughn is on there. Estelle is on there. Musiq Soulchild is on there. Lloyd is on there. We just paired him up. It's the same Ghost, the same gritty host, the same Ghost that talks to the ladies in that soulful voice along with R&B hooks."

The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

Great food, great conversation and the music is banging. Fabolous invited us to dinner earlier this week at Philippe Chow's to hear Loso's Way. Alongside MTV News, our Hot 97 homie Miss Info was among the short list of guests, as well as DJ S&S and Nas. S&S told some wild stories about him bootlegging some of the music from the early Illmatic recording sessions; luckily, Nas has let bygones be bygones.

Esco particularly loved a Fab song called "Pachanga," on which he flips some of Nas' famous lyrics: "Love changes, a thug changes and best friends become strangers/ Pachangas!"

Another legend in Fab's corner is Jay-Z. Fab took a record Jay had for American Gangster called "When the Money Goes."

"Me and Jay built a connection through Def Jam," Fab told us on the video set for "Throw It in the Bag." "Through working together executive to artist [when Jay was Def Jam president], we built a different relationship as well. Maybe artist to artist we was in a little different space. You didn't know where each other was at. We work well. When I needed help with the [new] album and I was reaching out for people for joints for the album, he was one of the people that was like, 'Hear this.' That's where that joint came from. We got a connection. He's from Brooklyn, I'm from Brooklyn — that's enough of a connection right there."

Look for a "Loso's Way" movie to come with the album when it drops July 28.

"We came up with the songs first," he said. "I made the songs to the scenario I thought of. Then I wrote a story [for a film]. Even when I was writing the story, I could hear certain songs coming up in those scenarios, in those scenes. That's why it meshed well."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Monday, check out Mixtape Mondays Headlines.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Rejects Michael Jackson Resolution

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 02:36:00 EDT

'I don't think it's necessary,' Pelosi says.
By Gil Kaufman

Nancy Pelosi
Photo: Paul Morigi/ Getty Images

During the Michael Jackson memorial on Tuesday, Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas proudly proclaimed her support for House Resolution 600 in praise of the King of Pop, even holding up a copy of her proposal honoring the singer for his humanitarian efforts during a lengthy, loving speech about the singer.

A number of Republicans in the House — most notoriously New York Representative Peter King — were quick to shoot down the effort and on Wednesday, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined the chorus. While she said she would allow fellow House members to express their sorrow over the pop icon's passing, Pelosi stated emphatically that she didn't think a resolution was necessary.

According to a transcript of her weekly press conference provided by her office, when asked at a news conference if she would support the resolution, Pelosi said, "Michael Jackson was a great, great performer ... [there's] lots of sadness there for many reasons."

She went on to say there is plenty of "opportunity on the floor of the House to express their sympathy or their praise any time that they wish. I don't think it's necessary for us to have a resolution." She added that a resolution would open up Jackson's life to "contrary views that are not necessary at this time to be expressed in association with a resolution whose purpose is quite different," seemingly referring to the more sordid elements of Jackson's life, including two allegations of child molestation and allegations that he abused prescription medication.

The non-binding resolution proposed by Jackson Lee — who noted during her speech on Tuesday that Jackson was acquitted on criminal charges of sexual molestation of a child in 2005 — would have been a symbolic gesture from lawmakers with no legal or political implications. Pelosi's spokesperson said the House Speaker was not available at press time for further comment and a spokesperson for Jackson Lee could not be reached for comment.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Michael Jackson Memorial Draws 31.1 Million U.S. Viewers

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 09:24:00 EDT

Total is less than Obama inauguration, about the same as 'American Idol' finale numbers.
By Gil Kaufman

Fans hold up messages outside the Michael Jackson Memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Photo: Mark Ralston/ AFP/ Getty Images

With 18 U.S. TV networks and cable outlets broadcasting the nearly three-hour Michael Jackson memorial service on Tuesday, just over 31.1 million people tuned in. Nielsen Media Research reported that despite the global attention paid to the death of the pop icon and the breathless anticipation of his final sendoff, the U.S. numbers for the event were lower than the figures in this country for the 2004 funeral of ex-president Ronald Reagan (35.1 million), the 1997 funeral of England's Princess Diana (33.3 million), the inauguration of President Barack Obama in January (37.8 million) and the president's first White House news conference in February (49.5 million).

By comparison, last year's "American Idol" finale drew 31.7 million viewers, and the Super Bowl typically draws nearly 100 million viewers.

While the Jackson numbers did not break records, thanks to the widespread pickup by so many networks and stations the event had an audience share of 56, Nielsen reported. That figure means that 56 percent of the TVs turned on at the time were tuned in to the Jackson memorial, an astronomical figure for daytime television, which typically has much lower figures than prime-time programming.

Reuters reported that the numbers for the memorial — which featured performances from Usher, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Hudson, as well as a touching message from the late singer's daughter, Paris Jackson — did not include figures for the estimated millions who watched the event online or in replays. They also don't take into account the many community gatherings and the nearly 100 movie theaters that screened the event across the nation.

Akamai, an Internet company that handles 20 percent of the world's web traffic, reported that it handled nearly 2.8 million audio and video streams during the Jackson memorial, making it the most widely viewed Internet event since Obama's inauguration.

In England, however, where Jackson was slated to kick off his 50-date This Is It residency at London's O2 Arena next Tuesday, the Guardian estimated that 6 million people tuned in to the service.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Lady Gaga Explains Odd Mask She Wore In Malta

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 12:53:00 EDT

'It's not just a mask, it's a contemporary art piece,' Gaga told reporters.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lady Gaga at her press conference in Malta on Wednesday
Photo: Rene Rossignaud

At a press conference for the "Isle of MTV Malta Special" in Floriana, Malta, Lady Gaga displayed her latest fashion accessory.

Known for her unusual and eccentric accoutrements, on Wednesday, Gaga showed up to her press conference in a halter dress, one leather opera-length glove, one fingerless glove and, most notably, a mask — but it wasn't a statement, it was art.




	Lady Gaga Shocks At Malta Press Conference

"It's not just a mask, it's a contemporary art piece," Gaga told reporters in Malta, adding that it was made by a designer friend of hers.

It seems, though, that the inspiration for the mask came from her current fashion obsession. "I love all designers. I appreciate a life devoted to fashion," she said. "Right now, I'm having a very strong obsession mostly with clothing found in sex shops. I would venture to say that all that clothing was designed by gay men."

Gaga also reflected on her other inspirations, from moonlight to slasher films. "I am inspired by so many things. My favorite book, 'Letters to a Young Poet.' I was inspired by Helmut Newton for the 'Paparazzi' video. I'm inspired by fashion. I'm inspired by the moonlight. I'm inspired by sex and pornography and slasher films."

"It's been a very remarkable year," she added about her meteoric rise to fame since the release of "Just Dance" last year. "And I feel very blessed. I lived an isolated lifestyle before the media. I lived a life of solitude and loyalty and commitment to my work. I just don't prioritize my life in the same way that other people do. The only thing that matters is my music and my performance."

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Michael Jackson Memorial Costs Los Angeles $1.4 Million

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 08:47:00 EDT

Cash-strapped city had to pay for law enforcement, sanitation, traffic control.
By Gil Kaufman

a portrait of Michael Jackson displayed at the Memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday
Photo: Gabriel Bouys/ AFP/ Getty Images

Tuesday's memorial service for Michael Jackson cost the cash-strapped city of Los Angeles $1.4 million, a figure that includes paying for more than 3,000 police officers (nearly one-third of the entire force), trash pickup, other sanitation and traffic control.

Despite fears that more than 1 million unticketed fans would descend on the city and gather outside the Staples Center to be near the event, most reports had the crowd in the vicinity of the arena at just a few thousand. According to the Los Angeles Times, the city, which is $530 million in debt, is not likely to defer much of that cost through a PayPal donation site set up for public donations, which has collected only $17,000 to date.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's office said that low figure was caused by "frequent and prolonged server crashes" on the site due to a huge rush of traffic Tuesday morning, and then another crash that took the site offline for another 12 hours on Tuesday evening and again for long periods on Wednesday.

A spokesman for Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich told CNN that taxpayers should not be on the hook for a private event during a time when city workers are being furloughed or laid off due to the financial crisis. During the NBA's celebration for the Los Angeles Lakers last month, the city called in 2,000 police at a cost of $2 million, which was mostly repaid by the Lakers and private donations.

But there could be a bright side for the city. One economist told the Times that the massive influx of media from all over the world and others in town for the event likely brought $4 million into the city in the form of food sales, parking, shopping and hotel stays.

For complete coverage of the life, career and passing of the legendary entertainer, visit "Michael Jackson Remembered."

Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.

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Young Jeezy Is Working On Thug Motivation 103 'Right Now'

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 07:10:00 EDT

'I'm going back and picking up a little where I left off,' MC says of next album.
By Shaheem Reid

Young Jeezy
Photo: MTV News

Young Jeezy is continuing his Thug Motivation series with the third installment: Thug Motivation 103 is slated for release in the coming months.

"It's coming as soon as it's done. I'm working on it right now. I'm working on [my artist] J.W.'s album, Boo Rossini's album , Slick Pulla's album, U.S.D.A. project — rest of the family."

But first up, the Snowman told us about his new LP.

"Thug Motivation 103 — I'm going back and picking up a little where I left off," he told us recently. "Right now, people having a lot of money problems, but it ain't recession- wise — it's hustlin'-wise. It ain't what you got, it's what you keep. I know it because I really been through this. I been out there. I'mma help cats through this. So by the time Thug Motivation 103 is over with, we gonna be getting money again like when we used to blow 100, 200 thousand dollars in the club like it wasn't nothing. [Money in the] plastic bags!"

This summer, Jeezy goes out on tour with Lil Wayne, Drake, Soulja Boy and the recently added Jeremih on the Young Money Presents: America's Most Wanted Music Festival.

"It's gonna be different," he said. "Me and Wayne decided to go out together. It's definitely gonna be different. I'm used to going out on a different type of tour, but it's gonna be different. Everybody loves Wayne. Even little kids 3 years old love Wayne. But I'mma take Thug Motivation there too — they need some Thug Motivation too."

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