Archive: April 2011 (61-70 of 124)

Apr 13 2011 04:22 PM ET

FBI releases documents on Tupac Shakur and terrorist threats the late rapper received

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Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, R.I.P., Tupac Shakur
tupac

Image Credit: Ernie Paniccioli / Retna

Following last week’s release of documents on the investigation of Notorious B.I.G.’s 1997 murder, the FBI let files on fellow iconic rhymer Tupac Shakur loose today.

His papers, however, focus more on death threats he and his California peers received from the Jewish Defense League, a pro-Israel domestic terrorist organization, than his own 1996 murder.

The September 1997 findings reveal that the “JDL and others yet identified have been extorting money from various rap music stars via death threats.” The JDL apparently would contact artist—Shakur included—by phone, claiming that their lives were in danger, then offer their protective services for a fee.

Before being shot to death Sept. 7 in Las Vegas after attending a Mike Tyson fight, Shakur had been called by the group, though a conclusive connection to his death has not subsequently been made.

READ FULL STORY »

Apr 13 2011 02:26 PM ET

Demi Lovato speaks about treatment for eating disorder: 'It was an intervention. I wanted freedom from the inner demons.'

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Categories: Ah, Youth, Buzzworthy, Demi Lovato, Ladies, Music, Television
Demi-Lovato

Image Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Disney star Demi Lovato is speaking out for the first time since she released a statement on video last month, following her admission to a treatment facility in November.

Talking to Seventeen, Lovato explained to fans: “I basically had a nervous breakdown. I was really bad off. My parents and manager pulled me aside and said, ‘You need to get some help.’ It was an intervention. I wanted freedom from the inner demons. I wanted to start my life over.”

Lovato’s interview with the magazine seemed aimed at helping young girls avoid similar problems. “If you are going through that dark period, go to your family and closest friends,” Lovato urged her fans. “Don’t put yourself in danger. It’s very crucial that you get your feelings out—but don’t ever inflict harm on you body because your body is so sacred. I wish I could tell every young girl with an eating disorder, or who has harmed herself in any way, that she’s worthy of life and that her life has meaning. You can overcome and get through anything.”

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Apr 13 2011 02:13 PM ET

Who are Hollywood Undead, and what are they doing with the fourth-biggest album in the country?

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Categories: Charts, Hollywood Undead, Things That Are Loud
Hollywood-Undead

This week’s Billboard album chart tosses out a few curveballs—notably Adele‘s return to the top spot, besting Britney Spears’ second-week Femme Fatale sales nearly seven weeks out from her sophomore album’s Feb. 22 release.

But the biggest shocker sits at number four, where Hollywood Undead‘s American Tragedy has set up shop with around 67,000 copies sold in its debut week.

So what exactly is Hollywood Undead, and how did they crash the charts? READ FULL STORY »

Apr 13 2011 01:15 PM ET

Rihanna, Eminem, Lady Gaga lead 2011 Billboard Awards nominees

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Categories: Billboard Music Awards, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Rihanna
rihanna-eminem

Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/EM/WireImage.com

Rihanna is having a pretty good year, between the handful of smash singles spawned by her fifth album, Loud (including the current hit “S&M,” which just got a remix featuring none other than Britney Spears), and her attendant tour this summer.

Now, she can add a whopping 18 nominations for the 2011 Billboard Music Awards to her ever-growing resumé.

The full list of nominees dropped today, and the Barbadian singer leads all artists with nods in most of the major categories, including Top Artist, Top Female Artist, Top 100 Artist and Top R&B Artist. Former collaborator Eminem is just behind her with 16 noms, including half a dozen for their chart-topping tag-team effort “Love the Way You Lie.”

Lady Gaga will also have the chance to score up to twelve statuettes when the 2011 BMAs are handed out on Sunday, May 22 (8 P.M. EST on ABC). Other finalists include Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, Drake and Ke$ha.

The full list of artist award nominations is after the jump, and for a complete list of all noms, head over to the awards’ official site.

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Apr 13 2011 12:30 PM ET

Adele's 21 return to No. 1 on Billboard 200 albums chart, goes platinum

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Categories: Adele, Britney Spears, Charts, Divas!, Pop, R&B, Radiohead
adele

Image Credit: Lauren Dukoff

British siren Adele returns to the top spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart this week.

With 88,000 copies of her sophomore set, 21, sold this week, not only does she regain her No. 1 seating, but the set has now sold over a million records, making her the first artist to score a platinum album in 2011.

Last week’s No. 1, Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale, slips a slot to No. 2. Its sales dropped 73% for 75,000 sold, while Radiohead’s The King of Limbs comes in at No. 3 with 67,000 units moved. Check out the top 10 after the jump.

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Apr 13 2011 12:26 PM ET

Is James Taylor the coolest uncool guy ever? On the scene at Carnegie Hall's 120th anniversary with Taylor, Sting, Bette Midler, Bill Clinton(!) and more

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Categories: Concert Reviews, Steve Martin
James-Taylor

Image Credit: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Last night, those fortunate to be on the New York fundraiser circuit (or fledgling EW reporters) were treated to an intimate concert at Carnegie Hall headlined by none other than the king of soft folk-rock himself, James Taylor.

Taylor was there to help the famous venue, founded in 1891 and celebrating 120 years of being NYC’s premier concert hall by welcoming back some of its most famous performers. The roster included Bette Midler, (Carnegie debut, 1972) Steve Martin, (1971) Barbara Cook, (1961) Dianne Reeves, (1989) and Sting (1991).

While the gala crowds at the Carnegie last night probably wouldn’t be defined as musical trailblazers, they did love them some James Taylor. By the time the musician strode out at about a quarter past 7 p.m., the house was packed. I didn’t check the rafters to see if people were hanging from them, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if some ball-gowned “Country Road” enthusiasts had sneaked their way past security. READ FULL STORY »

Apr 12 2011 06:33 PM ET

BFFs Gwyneth Paltrow and Jay-Z interview each other for their blogs

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Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, Jay-Z, Things That Are Awesome, Things That Are Odd
Gwyneth-Paltrow-Jay-Z

Image Credit: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images; Michael Buckner/WireImage.com

“Oscar-winning actress and my sister Gwyneth Paltrow emailed me,” Jay-Z begins in a blog post he published this morning, “and said, ‘I love your new site. Can I ask you five questions about it?’”

The site Jay’s “sister” is talking about is his newly launched Life + Times. That’s right. The guy who said, “I don’t do too much blogging” has thrown his Yankee cap into the interweb. It features Q&As, videos, music, art, tech pieces and whatever else piques the legendary rhymer’s interests.

Ever the shrewd businessman, Jay wasn’t just going to let Paltrow interview him for her site, GOOP, without having the actress return the favor. “I said, ‘I’ll show you mine if you let me see yours’,” he jokingly reveals. So the two besties have brief, albeit amusing Q&As on their respective sites. Paltrow’s interview with Jay is a slightly bland “What made you start a website” convo.

Jay says he began thinking about creating a Life + Times over a year ago after “seeing other sites and being either inspired or saying, ‘That’s s—. I would do it like …’” Other things we learn are that Jay, like Gwyn, enjoys Mario Batali dining, and says the women in his life keep him cool. “The hotter the chick, the cooler the guy,” he declares. Obviously, being married to Beyoncé makes him ice-cold.

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Apr 12 2011 03:13 PM ET

Low premiere new video 'Try to Sleep' starring ... John Stamos? Yes! Watch it here -- EXCLUSIVE

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Categories: An EW Exclusive!, Indie Rock, John Stamos, Low, Strange Bedfellows, Video Exclusive
Try-to-Sleep

Duluth, Minnesota band Low have spent the last two decades crafting moody, minimalist soundscapes that provide backdrops to their narratives of heartbreak and loss.

John Stamos has spent those same decades raising the Olsen twins, hitting “Kokomo” sticks for the Beach Boys, carving out a Broadway career, and becoming a beloved component of Glee.

Those two disparate forces have come together for Low’s new video “Try to Sleep,” which stars Stamos. You can check out the exclusive premiere of the clip after the jump.

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Apr 12 2011 01:52 PM ET

My Morning Jacket debut epic new song 'Circuital': Hear it here

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Categories: My Morning Jacket, New Stuff
my-morning-jacket

Image Credit: Erika Goldring/Getty Images

With 2008′s Evil Urges, My Morning Jacket elevated themselves from jam-friendly indie favorites to full-fledged arena-filling classic rockers. They’ve been hard at work on their new album Circuital (which comes out May 31), and today they unleashed the title track: READ FULL STORY »

Apr 12 2011 01:30 PM ET

Should Britney Spears set up shop in Las Vegas? Celine Dion thinks so

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Categories: Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Divas!, Pop, Stage
Britney-Spears-Celine-Dion

Image Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images; Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com

Last month, Celine Dion launched her latest venture in Las Vegas, a three-year, 210-performance slate of shows at Caesars Palace called simply Celine.

It promises to be as wildly successful as her previous stint in Sin City, which saw her play around 600 shows over the course of four years, playing to over three million ticket-buyers and grossing somewhere in the neighborhood of $400 million. That buys a lot of rock shrimp at the buffet.

Now Dion wants to share the wealth; in an interview with Britain’s Daily Star, she encouraged both Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue (both of whom have been rumored to be setting up shop in the Nevada desert) to put down stakes on the Strip. READ FULL STORY »

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