Lupe Fiasco Talks Spring Break Performance
The Chicago rapper's Las Vegas spring break gig airs Tuesday night on MTV.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with reporting by Sway Calloway
When you combine spring break and Las Vegas, things are bound to get exciting — or out of control.
For the MTV Spring Break 2011 performers — Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Pitbull and Lupe Fiasco — the challenge is to keep the crowds entertained when shots, lost tops and sunny weather threaten to steal their attention.
According to Lupe Fiasco, though, it doesn't matter to him whether he's performing at a spring break gig or a room of Timberland-wearing concertgoers — the show goes on.
"It's no different," the Chicago rapper told MTV News recently. "I did a show for the hardcore [fans] yesterday and it was the same thing. The same energy. At the end of the day, it's about getting in touch with the energy — I don't want to sound too mystical — but that human energy. It don't matter if you black, white, Italian, Asian or in a bikini or have a fitted hat on thugged out, everybody wants to hear something and be moved by something, so for us, we want to take it to you as energetic as we possibly can."
On Monday, Wiz Khalifa's MTV Spring Break 2011 performance aired as the Pittsburgh star hit the stage for his breakout tune "Black and Yellow."
Later in the week, Snoop Dogg and Pitbull's spring break performances will be shown on MTV, MTV2 and mtvU.
Catch Lupe Fiasco performing in Las Vegas during MTV's Spring Break on Tuesday night (March 29) on MTV at 9:50 p.m. ET.
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Richard LaGravenese to Adapt Laura Hillenbrand's 'Unbroken'
Jay A. Fernandez The scribe is reteaming with his "Water for Elephants" director for the survival tale of Louis Zamperini.
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How to score Mumbai Indians IPL tickets ahead of the curve
The fourth season of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament kicks off on April 8, and the Mumbai Indians' first home game is at Wankhede Stadium on April 15 against team Kochi.
Here's a great tip: Mumbai Indians (MI) fans with MasterCard credit cards have a pre-purchase window for all the MI home games at Bookmyshow.com till about April 1. Buy tickets, here.
No fooling -- that's almost a week before tickets go on sale to the general public, and neither will on-ground sales commence until this deal closes.
Source: http://www.cnngo.com/mumbai/play/how-score-mumbai-indians-ipl-tickets-first-088595
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Google swings into action with earthquake crisis response hub
Anyone still looking for ways to keep on top of important information coming out of Japan about the March 11 earthquake and tsunami now has a central hub to consult, in the shape of a dedicated page from the Google Crisis Response project.
The resources listed include the Person Finder we?ve seen before, links to the latest information from the domestic utilities, such as Tokyo Electric (TEPCO), government agencies, and a comprehensive list of transit providers.
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'Captain America' Trailer: Five Cool Moments
Take a closer look at the super-soldier as we break down the upcoming action movie's first full trailer.
By Eric Ditzian
Chris Evans and cast in the "Captain America: The First Avenger" trailer
Photo: Marvel
Before becoming the engineered superhero called Captain America, Steve Rogers attempts to join the Army five times in five cities, only to be rejected for being a pipsqueak with a ton of heart but not nearly big enough biceps. In a similar series of false starts, we've been treated to a slew of teasers for "Captain America: The First Avenger," from a 30-second Super Bowl spot to a bunch of seconds-long video snippets parceled out over the last few days.
Now, finally, we're getting a shot of cinematic super-serum with the Marvel adaptation's first full trailer. Here are our picks for the five coolest moments:
The Shield ... Kinda
Here we see Rogers (Chris Evans) in pre-conversion twerp mode. Chased into an alley, he attempts to defend himself with a trashcan lid — a none-too-subtle nod to the red-white-and-blue shield he'll soon wield as the Captain. Sure, he's a scrawny fellow, but he's brave. And as Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) will tell Steve before transforming him into a superhero, "A weak man knows the value of strength, knows the value of power." In terms of historical context, this shot also gives us a glimpse of around when the story begins. A poster in the alley shows the date: May 29, 1943.
Meet Your Super-Serum
So it's that goopy blue stuff that transforms Rogers into a super-solider. We see Erskine in the laboratory, as well as Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper), who just so happens to be the father of a certain iron-suited hero played in other Marvel movies by Robert Downey Jr. The serum doesn't look that pleasant going in, but what a difference it makes: Rogers goes from zero to world-saving hero.
Captain Action
Listen, it's hard out there for a super-solider. Even when an Army colonel (Tommy Lee Jones) is driving at top speed in a convertible and the Captain looks like he's about to jump out and whup some Nazi butt, he pauses for a little smooch from Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). Pimp!
Army of the Damned
Check them out in all their blue-glowing glory: the HYDRA army controlled by Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), Hitler's head honcho of weaponry and general evilness. It's these soldiers who will face off against the Captain and his crew with the fate of the world in the balance.
The Boys
We'd sleep easier knowing this collection of dudes — Captain America and the much-hyped Howling Commandos — is protecting the nation. In addition to the Captain, you've got sidekick Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Union Jack (JJ Field) and Dum Dum Dungan (Neal McDonough). That's a hero shot if we've ever seen one. "It's an amazing costume," Evans told us last year of his look. "Given the fact that his costume is red, white and blue, and it's tight, and it could be kind of flash and over the top — and given the fact that the movie takes place in the '40s and '50s — they've done a really good job of making it look really cool."
What were your favorite moments? Share them in the comments below!
Check out everything we've got on "Captain America: The First Avenger."
For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.
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Linkin Park? U2? Ke$ha? Behind MTV's Musical March Madness Selection
With the tipoff of our tournament set for Monday, Bigger Than the Sound breaks down your favorite band's chances of busting the bracket.
By James Montgomery
Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda and Chester Bennington
Photo: Frank Hoensch/ Getty Images
Last year, when we launched the inaugural Musical March Madness tournament, we did it largely on a whim.
As I wrote when I revealed my original (handwritten) bracket, the basic idea was to combine my love of college basketball, gambling and rock music (and superfluous lists) into one magical event, and it really didn't matter that I hadn't figured out how bands would advance in the tournament or even what they'd get for winning. All I knew was that it seemed like a fun idea (especially since I didn't have anything else to write my column about that week) and that somewhere, there had to be someone who cared about these seemingly disparate things nearly as much as I did.
As it turned out, there were a lot of people who cared, and when it was all said and done — thanks to the efforts of a whole lot of folks, including Newsroom blog editor Kyle Anderson, who basically decided "You know what? People should vote on this!" — not only was Musical March Madness a certified success, but we somehow even managed to get an actual trophy to present to the winners, Coheed and Cambria, too. So, really, everybody won.
Of course, given the success of the original MMM, attention quickly shifted to the 2011 tournament. Last year, I basically just threw together a list of 64 bands (65, actually; who could forget the epic Against Me!/ Creed play-in battle?). For the 2011 tournament, however, I did research, monitored album sales and basically became a Selection Committee of one. And, yes, it took way longer than I ever could have imagined.
So, with the 2011 Musical March Madness set to tip off Monday — when we reveal our full bracket of 64 bands and launch voting in first-round matchups — I decided to pull back the curtain on that selection process. Some teams have all but locked up their spots in the 2011 tournament, while others still have some work to do. In the spirit of all things bracketological, here's my up-to-the-minute look at where your favorite bands stand for this year's MMM:
The #1 Seeds
The biggest bands in the land. Last year, I gave out #1's to Nickelback, Coldplay, Blink-182 and the Kings of Leon. Somewhat surprisingly, three-quarters of them ended up losing in the opening round of the tournament (only Blink survived, making it to the round of 32 before losing to 30 Seconds to Mars). Obviously, I overestimated the popularity of some of those acts, which means that, in 2011, to be a #1 seed, you have to have proven yourself as not only a rock-solid commodity, but an actual threat to win the championship too. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt to have an album either in stores or coming soon. So here are my latest contenders for top seeds:
» Foo Fighters
» 30 Seconds to Mars
» Linkin Park
» My Chemical Romance
» Arcade Fire
» Vampire Weekend
» Muse
» The Black Keys
» Blink-182
» Radiohead
» Coldplay
» Mumford & Sons
The Foos have a hotly anticipated album coming down the pipeline, as does Coldplay. Are expectations enough to make them #1's? Or will the committee recognize the breakout success of the Black Keys, Muse and Mumford? Does a #1 album and a shocking Grammy win earn the Arcade Fire a top seed? Linkin Park and MCR both scuffed a bit with their latest albums, but does that matter, especially since they're both legacy acts with loyal fanbases (and, in the case of My Chem, are tournament-tested)? And will the committee ignore the fact that, by most accounts, Radiohead's latest was a bit of a letdown or that Blink-182 may never actually release their new album? As you can see, there are still plenty of questions left to be answered.
The Old Guard
Legacy acts with something left in the tank. In 2010, time-tested faves like Slipknot, the White Stripes, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sublime, Pearl Jam, U2 and the Dave Matthews Band all got invites to the big dance based largely on reputation alone (just think of them as the Dukes or Kansases of MMM). Of course, nearly all of them got knocked off in the first round, which means that this time around, reputation isn't going to be enough to punch their tickets. Shoot, some of these acts aren't even around anymore, which means that some deck-shuffling is in order. Here are the established acts that are still fighting for their tournament lives:
» Green Day
» Dave Matthews Band
» U2
» Red Hot Chili Peppers
» Rage Against the Machine
» Kid Rock
» Pearl Jam
» R.E.M.
Some (like the Chili Peppers and U2) have announced new albums this year, while others (like DMB) are planning to take 2011 off entirely. Still, whatever their status may be, the old guard remain forces at the cash registers and on radio, even if their latest albums didn't exactly light the world on fire. And ignoring that entirely just isn't possible. So how does the committee decide which make the field of 64? Good question. I'm still trying to figure out the answer.
The New Blood
Upset-minded young guns. The 2010 MMM featured up-and-coming acts like the Young Veins, 3OH!3, Owl City and MGMT. One year later, none of them are even on the radar. Picking new bands for MMM is always a challenge, though in 2011, there seem to be a handful who have all but secured their spots in the tournament, thanks to their breakout successes. I'm talking about the likes of:
» Mumford & Sons
» Florence and the Machine
» The Black Keys
» Cage the Elephant
» Sleigh Bells
» Adele
If the tournament started today, all of the above have been in (and some may even earn high seeds). But do any of them have enough to actually win the tournament? We'll just have to wait and see.
The Bracket Busters
Bands with solid, if not spectacular, résumés (weak out-of-conference schedules, etc.). Last year, this included eventual champs Coheed and Cambria, Final Four acts like Tokio Hotel, Elite Eight bands like Panic! at the Disco and Owl City, and even Patrick Stump, who rumbled all the way to the Sweet 16. In other words, the 2011 champion could very well come from this group. Here's my list of under-the-radar threats:
» Panic! (once again)
» Weezer
» The Decemberists
» Cake
» Paramore
» Avril Lavigne
» Crystal Bowersox
» Adam Lambert
» Death Cab for Cutie
» All Time Low
Two of the above — Cake and the Decemberists — have recent #1 debuts under their belts, while others have new albums on the horizon (DCFC, ATL, Avril). Others, like Bowersox and Lambert (who made the Sweet 16 last year), command insane fanbases, which make them dangerous on any day. Lavigne and ATL still have some work to do, but I'd consider all of the acts I just mentioned as safe for now.
The Bubble Bands
On-the-verge acts that need a little help to make it in. Maybe they win their conference championship, or maybe they PayPal the selection committee some cash, but these are the bands on the brink. In 2010, that included Panic! (no new album or single), the Gaslight Anthem (up-and-comers just learning to play together) and Coheed (largely ignored by mainstream radio). Most of those bands managed to do quite well in the tournament, while others, like Hollywood Undead, Lil Wayne, Them Crooked Vultures and the National, all flamed out in the tournament's opening round. Somewhat fittingly, it's a real feast-or-famine type of thing. Here's my updated list of bubble bands:
» Cobra Starship
» Ke$ha
» Tokio Hotel
» MGMT
» Train
» Adele
» Bret Michaels
» Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
» Taylor Swift
Right off the bat, neither Ke$ha nor Swift really rock (though Ke$h does use Jack Daniels as mouthwash), which makes them long shots. Tokio Hotel have done next to nothing since last year's tournament, but was their success enough to earn them a spot this year? Bret Michaels is basically indestructible at this point, so I'd consider him a lock. Cobra Starship are largely dormant but command a big enough fanbase to warrant consideration. MGMT's last album stiffed in spectacular fashion, which places them squarely on the soapy surface of the bubble.
So, will your favorite band make the cut for the 2011 Musical March Madness tournament? As you can see, the Selection Committee still has plenty of work to do — which means that, between now and Monday, I'll be burning the midnight oil, busting out the brackets and then re-busting them once again. It'll be a chore, but I bet it will be worth it. And I hope you'll be along for the ride. Your band needs you, after all.
MTV's 2011 Musical March Madness Tournament begins Monday, March 14, when we reveal the full field of 64 bands that will battle for the championship. Winners are determined by fan votes, so if your favorite act makes the cut, it'll be up to you to guide them to glory. You can rally the troops on Twitter using the hashtag #MMM — but get ready, it's gonna be a war.
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Lady Gaga Gets Birthday Wishes From Friends, Fans
'You are all the present I need in the world,' she tweets to fans upon turning 25.
By Jocelyn Vena
Lady Gaga
Photo: C Flanigan/FilmMagic
On Monday (March 28), Lady Gaga reached another milestone in her life, turning 25. And it seems that all her pals didn't forget their Queen Bee on her big day. In fact, the singer even got some birthday love from ... herself.
"Drawing on table at restaurant. If I had to give it all back, but got to keep my fans, that'd be ok," she wrote on Twitter. She included a photo of a drawing she made that reads "Happy Birthday Me" with hearts all around it.
As a birthday treat, her fans trended the hash tag "#bornthisday" in honor of their Mother Monster. In another tweet, she thanked her fans for making her a trending topic on Twitter in honor of her big day. "Thank you for trending #BornThisDay monsters! The sweetest tweet! You are all the present I need in the world. I'll be 25 in about 4 hrs!"
Her "Born This Way" producer, Fernando Garibay, also tweeted some love for Gaga. "Happy Birthday @ladygaga; cause you were Born This Day!!!!" Nicola Formichetti, Gaga's loyal stylist and Thierry Mugler creative director, teased the kind of fun the group was having in honor of Gaga. "So much fun!!!" he wrote. "What a party!! happy birth day my love, gaga!!! #mother monster."
Fellow Gaga collaborator DJ White Shadow, who worked on the track "Government Hooker," shared a similar sentiment, adding, "Fun birthday party tonight."
Gaga pal Perez Hilton, who celebrated his birthday just days ago, sent some love to the pop star on his Twitter. "Hey @ladygaga! Happy birthday, bitch!!!!" he wrote. "BornThisDay LOVE YOU!!!! xoxo"
When MTV News caught up with Hilton at his birthday bash, he had this wish for his birthday: tons more success for Gaga. "My birthday wish for this year is for Lady Gaga's new album, Born This Way, to sell over 1.2 million copies the first week," he said. "That would beat Taylor Swift's 1.1-something!"
In addition to all the birthday love from her inner circle, it was announced on Monday that Lady Gaga would be receiving the "Always Next, Forever Now" Award at Logo's NewNowNext Awards, which air on the network on April 11. She receives the prize three years after she performed for the first time on television during the 2008 show.
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