Usher Comes Back For His Crown: A VMA Cheat Sheet
The 'OMG' singer overcame personal drama and proved his staying power on the charts over the past year.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Usher
Photo: Brad Barket/ Getty Images
Usher has reigned as Pop & B royalty since he hit the scene as a teen crooner in the '90s. Back when his 16-year-old protégé, Justin Bieber, was still a toddler, the ATL singer was making the ladies faint with hits like "You Make Me Wanna" and "Nice & Slow." But his early success was just a prelude to the music-world domination he's achieved with club bangers and deeply personal slow jams in the years since.
Usher's divorce from Tameka Foster was the latest personal development to fueled his 2010 chart-topping album Raymond v. Raymond. Now the singer is set to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards, and his smash "OMG" will battle it out for a Moonman in three categories: Best Male Video, Best Dance Video and Best Choreography. Here's a look at how the singer's recent success has steered him toward VMA accolades:
Following the release of the divorce-themed "Papers," his more upbeat video "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" premiered in January 2010. The clip followed the romantic superstar as he tried to juggle the demands of his professional and personal life.
In March, Usher talked to MTV News about incorporating that balance into Raymond Vs. Raymond. "I think this is the one time where I'm able to put it all in, emotionally and the good times — super-freaky and then also super-emotional."
So, it wasn't a big surprise that when Raymond Vs. Raymond finally landed on shelves after several delays, it landed at #1 on the Billboard 200 with over 300,000 scans during its first week.
He went from romantic to racy, busting out his signature, fluid, hip-swiveling moves in the video for "Lil Freak," featuring Nicki Minaj. The star didn't hold back in the visuals or the lyrics, which both detail a freaky rendezvous with some very game ladies. Usher revealed that this track, like many of his other hits, was inspired by real-life experiences.
The club anthem "OMG" featured Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am and revealed the R&B kingpin's more club-friendly side. The accompanying video showcased Usher's easy swagger and ever-sharp dance skills.
Raymond was such a hit that in August the singer released Versus, an extension of the smash album featuring songs like the Jay-Z collabo "Hot Tottie."
Usher, who has a history of tearing up the VMA stage, will return to the main event this year. He recently reminded his fans that live television paired with his onstage wizardry can result in some seriously unforgettable moments. "You never know what's gonna happen on an MTV VMA stage," he said. "I look forward to making it a night to remember."
The star has also made one of the most savvy moves in recent pop music history by signing teen phenom Bieber, who has gone on to induce global tween hysteria and set YouTube records.
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.
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How Tadanobu Asano plans to crack Hollywood
Tadanobu Asano is sat relaxed and composed over a huge desk at his management company's offices in Harajuku. His hair is neat and trim, his knit jacket and jeans a picture of a man calm and content. He looks anything but the roguish bad boy that has filled the lead roles of so many indie Japanese films. He'll hate me to say it, but he actually looks like a star.
Asano, 36, is giving his first major English interview since 2002 and is keen to discuss his various activities while here to promote his two latest Japanese films. Once a reluctant star, he has reconsidered his life and is now taking on new challenges -- including breaking into the United States.
Source: http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/life/how-tadanobu-asano-plans-to-crack-hollywood-497369
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Michael Jackson Ranks As Richest Dead Celebrity
Late pop icon's estate brought in more than $275 million in 12 months, according to Forbes.
By Gil Kaufman
Michael Jackson
Photo: Peter Still/ Getty Images
In life, Michael Jackson was forever dogged by rumors of financial struggles. But in death, the late pop icon has vaulted to the top of the list of celebrities whose estates generate millions. In fact, according to a new Forbes magazine list, Jackson is by far the richest dead celebrity, with an estate that brought in more than $275 million over the past 12 months.
Jackson's music and "This Is It" documentary have been so lucrative that he outearned the combined hauls of megastars Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Madonna and Jay-Z. Not only that, but Jackson also outpaced the combined earnings of all of the other late celebs on the list.
How did he do it? A combination of smart licensing deals cut by the executors of his estate, a huge spike in sales of the singer's catalog since his June 2009 death and, most important, the $250 million worldwide box-office receipts of the tour rehearsal film "This Is It," including a $60 million advance from Sony Pictures. Music sales alone brought in $50 million thanks to heavy radio play and album sales, along with receipts from a Jackson-themed video game and the re-release of his autobiography, "Moon Walk," which added another $50 million to the pile.
"The cash flow on an annual basis is tremendous," Donald David, an estate lawyer who handled the finances of rapper Tupac Shakur after his death, told the magazine. "Sure, it's going to decline eventually, but it's going to be a huge amount in the foreseeable future. [Jackson's] kids are going to have grandkids before that money's gone."
The unprecedented numbers could continue, as a deal with Sony Music to issue unreleased recordings — the first album is due in November — is worth another $200 million to $250 million over the next seven years. Money will also keep flowing in as a result of Jackson's ownership of half of the Sony/ATV catalog, which contains a half a million songs by a stunning array of artists, including Lady Gaga, Elvis Presley, Eminem, Bob Dylan and Beyoncé. That deal alone could rake in $25 million to $50 million a year.
Coming in at #2 on the list is perennial top deceased earner Presley, whose receipts shot up $5 million to give him $60 million in the past year thanks to the newly launched Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show featuring his music as well as the boost in licensed products and merchandise in honor of what would have been his 75th birthday.
The estate of "Lord of the Rings" author J.R.R. Tolkien banked $50 million, mostly due to the sales of 500,000 books over the past year, followed by the estate of "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz ($33 million) and, rounding out the top 5, late Beatle John Lennon ($17 million), whose earnings ballooned 30 years after his murder as a result of the re-release of his solo catalog, licensing deals with Cisco and Mont Blanc and receipts from "Beatles Rock Band."
The rest of the top 10: "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" author Stieg Larsson ($15 million), Dr. Seuss (born Theodor Geisel) ($11 million), Albert Einstein ($10 million), New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner ($8 million) and "My Funny Valentine" songwriter Richard Rodgers ($7 million).
Are you surprised at how much money the King of Pop's estate has generated since his death? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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Nicki Minaj To Follow Pink Friday Fans On Twitter
Contest asks fans to wear pink, display sign promoting Young Money star's upcoming album.
By James Dinh
Back in the day, fan mail used to be the basic means of communicating with your favorite stars, but with the dawn of Twitter, having them follow you is pretty much the equivalent. While some celebrities may be hesitant to accept their legion of fans onto their timeline, Nicki Minaj is an exception.
On Thursday (November 4), the Harajuku Barbie announced a Twitter contest where she'll follow 100 lucky fans who help promote her forthcoming album, Pink Friday.
"TMRW I'm follwng 100 ppl. Take a pic wearing pink, holding a sign that says #itspinkfridayhoe & tweet #NickiMinajPinkFriday. Starts 9amEST," she tweeted.
The Young Money MC was playful, telling fans how to get an edge over their competitors: "Thongs will get special consideration in tmrw's competition but u MUST be 18 & Over to show ur ass cheeks. (Goes for boyz & BARBZ) lmaooooo."
Minaj has been known to use her Twitter account for more than just direct fan communication. In August, the lyricist teamed up with Drake to play a little joke on their fans, announcing that the two had tied the knot. The news set the blogosphere on fire until the duo revealed their innocent intentions and annulled the Twitter marriage.
Recently, Minaj admitted she'd been afraid to release her debut album, Pink Friday, which comes out November 22. Regardless of her early fears, the Young Money rapper told YRB magazine that the completed product erased any hesitation.
"I know that Pink Friday is a classic album. I have never been this proud of anything in my life," Minaj said. "I just think that it's such a dynamic body of work. I'm no longer afraid to drop it. Now, I know it's time."
Will you enter Nicki Minaj's Twitter contest? Tell us in the comments below!
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'Megamind' Gets Us Thinking About The Best Animated Villains Of All Time
Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/11/04/best-animated-villains-megamind/
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Dexter
You know when you're hanging around, at the bank or in line somewhere... do you ever find yourself worrying about Dexter Morgan?
I'm just so worried he's going to get caught.
Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2010/10/25/dexter.html
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Roadside Attractions Grabs U.S. Rights to 'Hemingway's Garden of Eden'
Roadside Attractions has acquired U.S. rights to "Hemingway?s Garden of Eden," a feature adaptation of Ernest Hemingway?s final, posthumously published novel. The indie distributor will release it in theaters Dec. 10.
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'Cast in Metal: Final MTV Interview with Ronnie James Dio
Source: http://blog.mtvmusic.com/2010/05/27/final-mtv-music-blog-interview-with-ronnie-james-dio/
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