The Pittsburgh Steelers may have lost to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday in Super Bowl XLV, but their rapping hometown kid has plenty to smile about this week. Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow” jumps to the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart today, up three slots. Last week’s No. 1, Bruno Mars’ “Grenade,” slips to No. 2. Meanwhile, Katy Perry’s “Firework” holds at No. 3.
Check out the the full top 10 after the jump.
On Saturday evening, amid a night of new episodes of Victorious and True Jackson VP, Big Time Rush — the fledgling boy-band created by Nickelodeon via the teen-bopping series of the same name — debuted their latest music video for their pop ditty “Boyfriend,” a collaboration with Snoop Dogg. (See EW’s First Look at the Snoop’s guest spot on the series back in November.) And you know what? The song is actually kinda totally infectious and fun — so much so that I can’t get it out of my head for days and days afterward. What I’m saying is: I’m a fan of Big Time Rush. Yes, yes, in the scheme of boy bands of all time, it remains to be seen if Big Time Rush will be remembered like the greats New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys and ‘NSYNC. (The real meter of success is: Will I be karaoking “Boyfriend” in 10 years like I karaoked “I Want It That Way” last Saturday night?) But, truly, you never know what Big Time Rush could become, right? Super stardom is possible. Heck, they’re working with Snoop, which is always a good sign.
So with that, I’m happy to bring you a little behind-the-scenes video from the “Boyfriend” music video shoot. In it, the cuties — that’d be Kendall, 20; James, 20; Carlos, 21; and Logan, 21—tell us how and why they made the music video, what it was like working with Snoop, and lots more. And beyond that — in true, teen-zine fandom craziness! — you’ll find some candid answers from the guys on a number of hot-hot-hot topics, ranging from their vices while recording and dream collaborators to what kind of music they listened to while growing up and what boy bands they love. Enjoy!
Another day, another piece of Gaga-related news. After yesterday’s reveal of the album cover for the pop star’s highly anticipated Born This Way, chatter is now surfacing that the cover is a blatant, albeit black and white, copy of the cover for Kylie Minogue’s 2007 release 2 Hearts. (see here for both in B&W.)
After a side-by-side inspection, it’s hard to deny some of the similarities. Side angle pose? Check. Dramatic winged eyeliner? Check. Jagged, graffiti-like font? Check, check, check. But at least Gaga switched up her mane from Minogue’s Dynasty-style updo. I much prefer the smacked-in-the-face-with-a-fan look.
This isn’t, of course, the first time two album covers have echoed one another. Though for an artist like Gaga who prides herself on individuality, this seems like the ultimate act of (non Madonna-related) treason.
What do you guys think? Is it a rip-off? Or is it just an artist exercising her freedom to pose in a profile shot?
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More on EW.com:
Lady Gaga releases cover art for ‘Born This Way’ single: It’s fierce
Lady Gaga tweets that ‘Born This Way’ single will now debut this Friday, Feb. 11
Image Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Gabriel Bouys/Getty ImagesShe’s minding her Peas and Q’s, y’all.
According to a post on Britney Spears’ official Twitter today, the singer is currently Holding It Against the BEPs mastermind and thwarted Super Bowl halftime tweeter will.i.am: “In the studio with @iamwill…you guys are gonna love this one.”
It’s been a busy week for la Brit, who also announced the premiere of her Jonas Akerlund-directed “Hold It Against Me” video, set to air Feb. 17 at 9:56pm EST before a new episode of Jersey Shore (and simultaneously online on Vevo). Her upcoming seventh album, Femme Fatale, is due for release March 29.
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More on EW.com:
Black Eyed Peas perform at Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show: Missing the feeling
Britney Spears Tweets a first look at ‘Hold It Against Me’ video: See it here!
The Queen of Soul will be honored with a full-on diva jamboree at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards this Sunday: Christina Aguilera, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride and Florence and the Machine’s Florence Welch have been announced as performers in an Aretha Franklin tribute intended as a “valentine” and “get well” card for the recently ailing legend—an 18-time winner and current nominee for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals.
Best New Artist nominee Esperanza Spalding has also been added as a performer, and Marc Anthony, Jamie Foxx, John Mayer and Donnie Wahlberg have all been added to the presenters roster.
(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)
More Grammys news on EW.com:
Barbra Streisand to sing at Grammys
Mick Jagger to take the stage at the Grammys
It took 11 weeks, but rapstress Nicki Minaj’s debut set Pink Friday is No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Moving up two slots, it sold 45,000 this week and pushed its grand total to 1,035,000. Friday originally debuted at No. 2 behind Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy last November. Christian rock band Red debuts at No.2, selling 43,000 copies of their Until We Have Faces. And Ricky Martin’s Musica + Alma + Sexo opens third with 32,000 sets purchased.
Check out the full top 10 after the jump.
Rihanna, Lenny Kravitz, Cee-Lo Green and Josh Groban will perform during the NBA’s All-Star weekend in Los Angeles later this month. According to Billboard, Rihanna will sing two hits from her album, Loud, during halftime of the Feb. 20 showcase, and Kravitz will play his new single, “Come On Get It,” when the teams’ rosters are introduced. Groban will sing the American national anthem; and Melanie Fiona will present the Canadian anthem.
Keri Hilson and Bruno Mars will perform during the pregame festivities, and Hilson will also sing the national anthem before the NBA slam-dunk contest on Feb. 19, which will also feature songs from Green, Far East Movement, and Cali Swag District.
Image Credit: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesSeems as if the music industry’s favorite autobot is having trouble transforming his new songs into chart-toppers. Rapper/singer T-Pain recently hopped on Twitter to explain why his oft-delayed set Revolver hasn’t hit stores yet. Pain — who breathed new life (and unfortunate popularity) into Auto-Tune voice adjusting technology with smashes like “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’)” years ago and contributed to hits for the likes of Chris Brown (“Kiss Kiss“), Lil Wayne, and Kanye West — is frustrated that his new singles aren’t catching fire the way they used to. So much so that he’s about ready to leak Revolver track by track on his own.
Wow, could the run-up to the release of Lady Gaga’s forthcoming single “Born This Way”—and the album of the same name—be any more drawn out? The pop diva has released the lyrics to the song; moved the premiere from Grammys Sunday to this coming Friday; told us that Born This Way is going to be the “greatest album of the decade”; and released the artwork for the album as a whole. Whew! And today—shown here at the left—we are seeing the cover art for the single for the first time. (Perez Hilton officially debuted the cover.) And it’s quite the doozy of a photo: Doesn’t Gaga look almost animalistic in this shot? It’s—dare I say the word, especially after Perez used it to describe the art, too—totally and completely fierce. And really, would you expect anything less? Gaga’s hair flows mane-like, and it almost seems like you might find the creature she’s channeling somewhere in the African jungle. I’m really digging it. Now, can we just hear the song?
What do you think? Loving it? Hating it? Sound off below…
Tanner on Twitter: @EWTanStransky
The Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix
More from EW.com:
Lady Gaga tweets that ‘Born This Way’ single will now debut this Friday, Feb. 11
Lady Gaga releases full lyrics to forthcoming single ‘Born This Way’: Read them here
Lady Gaga’s bare-bottomed ‘Born This Way’ artwork: What do you think?
Lady Gaga promises ‘Born This Way’ will be ‘the greatest album of this decade’
Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ gets release date
Behold, the Oceans 11 of indie rock and alt comedy: A video so stuffed with stars of stage, screen, and stand-up that it can hardly be contained by the mere parameters of YouTube—or, apparently, the confines of Paul Rudd’s third-trimester-preggo belly.
Watch below as Rudd, Kevin Corrigan, SNL‘s Bil Hader and Horatio Sanz, Community‘s Donald Glover, Daily Show-ers John Hodgman, Jon Oliver, and Wyatt Cenac, and many others (that’s a rough wig game, Ted Leo) gather for Canadian collective the New Pornographers‘ anthemic jangle “Moves”—a cocaine-pizza-fueled fable of show business “rise and rise”: READ FULL STORY »
