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Archive: March 2011 (31-40 of 151)

Mar 25 2011 02:38 PM ET

Madonna's Raising Malawi scraps school-building project after sinking in $3.8 million

by Joseph Brannigan Lynch

Categories: Charity, Let's Argue!, Madonna, Things That Really Could Have Been Avoided

Image Credit: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Madonna’s high-profile effort to build a $15 million school in the impoverished country of Malawi has collapsed after her organization put $3.8 million into the now-abandoned project.

Raising Malawi—the charity Madonna co-founded with fellow Kabbalah enthusiast Michael Berg—announced that in spite of the $18 million raised thus far, the project has been shelved.

“A thoughtful decision has been made to discontinue plans for the Raising Malawi Academy for Girls, as it was originally conceived,” Berg said in an email to past contributors. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 25 2011 01:39 PM ET

Chris Brown and publicist part ways

by Brad Wete

Categories: Chris Brown, R&B, Things That Make Us Go Hmm

Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Obviously, trying to make Chris Brown‘s image a positive one around the clock is a tough task.

This morning, publicist Tammy Brook revealed that the job is no longer hers. Brook, whose firm also handles stars like Mike Tyson and Kelly Osborne, has spent the last year gearing up Brown’s new album F.A.M.E.—released Tuesday and expected to top the charts with upwards of 250,000 in sales—and as of this week, has parted was with the star. One might assume Brown’s recent antics at GMA scared off the PR wiz, but in a statement released to TMZ, Brook stresses that her time is simply up contractually and that her goals have been accomplished. She did not quit. Nor was she fired.

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 25 2011 12:16 PM ET

Kanye West's G.O.O.D. talent Big Sean celebrates his journey in 'My Last' video: Watch here

by Brad Wete

Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, Kanye West, Music Videos, Things That Are Awesome

A debut release from G.O.O.D. music artist Big Sean has been in the making for a while now. But almost four years after Kanye West announced that he’d signed the witty Detroit lyricist, it seems like Sean’s Finally Famous album is ready to go.

Weeks ago we proudly threw the first official single, inspirational cut “My Last,” on our Must List. And last night he released its partnering video.

In this New Edition-sampling cut, Sean rewinds to when he was a newly signed artist, likely assuming success was just inches away. Obviously, it took a lot longer to build his buzz and progress the way he has. Leaping to present day, his clothes are fly-er and jewelry brighter. He appreciates his journey to, well, not necessarily the top, but he’s glad to be in a position where he can enjoy the fruits of his labor—partying and spending because he deserves it all: READ FULL STORY »

Mar 25 2011 11:52 AM ET

All-star Japan Relief album on iTunes now: Madonna, Gaga, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Eminem, U2, Elton John, Justin Timberlake, and more contribute 38 hits to $9.99 comp

by Leah Greenblatt

Image Credit: Lennon: Susan Wood/Getty Images; Timberlake: Bob Charlotte/PR Photos; Beyonce: Janet Mayer/PR Photos

Dozens of the world’s best-known recording artists have come together for a digital-only album—downloadable today on iTunes for $9.99—with 100% of profits dedicated to relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Japan. (To preview or purchase, click here.)

Songs for Japan features 38 tracks, the majority of them well-known hits, from a remastered version of John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Bob Dylan’s “Shelter from the Storm” to Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” and Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable.”

Find a full tracklisting after the jump: READ FULL STORY »

Mar 25 2011 10:49 AM ET

Lady Gaga hatches 'Country Road' version of 'Born This Way': Listen to it here!

by Christian Blauvelt

Categories: Country, Y'all!, Lady Gaga, Reissues

Hard to believe it was only six weeks ago that Lady Gaga gave birth to “Born This Way.” And that we were all hung up on its similarity to Madonna’s “Express Yourself.”

But six straight weeks atop Billboard’s Hot 100 later, “Born This Way” is the fastest-selling hit of Gaga’s career. Clearly, it was the right track, baby. Now she’s getting her twang on with a “Country Road” version of her megahit.

Want to hear the lyric “Don’t be a drag, just be a queen” set to an electric guitar and harmonica? Well, look no further:

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 25 2011 09:25 AM ET

The Ready Set and Pete Wentz parody 'The Godfather' in new video-EXCLUSIVE

by Joseph Brannigan Lynch

Categories: EW Exclusives, Pete Wentz, Rock Stars Say the Darndest Things, Video Exclusive

Has The Ready Set—a.k.a. Jordan Witzigreuter, the artist behind the clap-your-hands-and-sing-along “Love Like Woe”— allowed his Top 40 success to go to his head?

Probably not, but he has let his obsession with The Godfather run rampant in a new video guest-starring pop-punk poster boy Pete Wentz that is exclusively available at EW: READ FULL STORY »

Mar 24 2011 06:21 PM ET

Sade returns with U.S. summer tour and a greatest-hits disc, featuring a new Jay-Z duet

by Brad Wete

Categories: Buzzworthy, R&B, Things That Are Awesome, Things That Are Sexy, Tours

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Child/WireImage

If it isn’t about her music or performing it, chances are you won’t hear a peep from Sade. The notoriously reclusive R&B icon prefers to live her life rather than being interviewed about it.

Thankfully, the Nigerian songstress will be Stateside this summer on tour along with opening act John Legend. And as she announced Wednesday, she’ll be releasing a greatest hits record titled The Ultimate Collection on May 3. The 28-track double album will feature classics ranging from her 1984 Diamond Life debut to 2000′s Lover’s Rock and 2010′s seventh best selling effort, Soldier Of Love.

READ FULL STORY »

Mar 24 2011 04:17 PM ET

Lil Wayne sued for $20 million by unpaid 'Lollipop' producer

by Brad Wete

Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, Lil Wayne

Image Credit: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

Producer Darius “Deezle” Harrison claims Lil Wayne and his record labels, Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records, are past due on payments for his hit-making services.

MTV reports that Harrison has filed a $20 million lawsuit against them, claiming he’s yet to see the loot from co-crafting several jams on Weezy’s 2008 album Tha Carter III, including “Mrs. Officer,” “Let the Beat Build,” and the Grammy-winning Hot 100 chart-topper “Lollipop.”

$20 million is a ton of green. But considering the album’s sold six million copies to date, maybe it’s deserved? Probably not. He helped make the songs, but he wasn’t the producer on any of them. His asking price and lawsuit is likely one that will be settled for a far smaller amount. Time will tell.

What do you think of Harrison’s suit? Let us know in the comments section below.

(Follow the Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

Mar 24 2011 01:32 PM ET

Rebecca Black Q&A: EW talks to the 'Friday' viral video star about getting compliments from Gaga, donating her song profits to Japan, and using her dad as a 'bodyguard'

by Joseph Brannigan Lynch

Categories: Charity, Kids Do the Darndest Things, Lady Gaga, Q&A, Rebecca Black, YouTube Delights

In the two weeks since since it began its viral rise to Internet infamy, Rebecca Black’s “Friday” music video has amassed a staggering 42 million views on YouTube and shows no sign of slowing down.

That’s an absurdly high number of hits for any singer, but it’s jaw-dropping when you consider that Black is an unsigned 13-year-old from Orange County who only made the video for fun with her friends (and a little help from a vanity production company).

With her song in the iTunes Top 40 and a guest spot on The Tonight Show under her belt, we caught up with Rebecca (after she got finished school for the day, naturally) and talked to her about what she’s doing with all this money, how her dad scares off gawkers in public, and how she felt to hear Lady Gaga call her a “genius.”

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: On Leno you said that you are donating most of your YouTube and iTunes proceeds to earthquake and tsunami disasters in Japan. That’s really cool. What made you decide to do that? I don’t think anyone would hold it against a 13-year-old for keeping the money from her first hit record. READ FULL STORY »

Mar 24 2011 12:16 PM ET

Lady Gaga spends sixth straight week at No. 1 on Billboard hot 100 singles chart

by Brad Wete

Categories: Charts, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Rihanna

Image Credit: Michael Caulfield/WireImage.com

While several acts move in or exchange places on the Billboard hot 100 singles chart, altering last week‘s showing, Lady Gaga remains on top at No. 1.

For the sixth time in as many weeks, her “Born This Way” resides at the summit. Katy Perry’s “E.T.” follows at No. 2, and Rihanna’s “S&M” rises a spot to No. 3. Check out the full top 10 after the jump.

READ FULL STORY »