Archive: October 2011 (71-80 of 123)

Oct 13 2011 07:09 PM ET

Big Boi avoids jail time for drug bust in plea deal

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Categories: Big Boi, Hip-Hop/Rap, Legal Troubles
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A few months back, Atlanta rapper Big Boi — one half of the legendary Outkast crew — got into a somewhat embarrassing scrape with the law when he was arrested in Miami for possession of a number of drugs, including ecstasy and Viagra, as he was leaving a cruise ship.

He was almost immediately release on bail, and now the 36-year-old rhymer (Antawan Patton to his mom) will also avoid jail time. Earlier today, Big Boi struck a deal that will see his two felony charges dismissed provided that he submit himself to drug testing, $2,000 in charitable donations, and three months of community service.

With that behind him, Big Boi can focus on musical endeavors. Last month, Outkast followed L.A. Reid, their former label boss at LaFace, to Epic Records, and rumors are floating around that both Big Boi and his tag-team partner Andre 3000 are working on solo projects as well as the beginnings of a new Outkast album.

The pair last appeared together on 2006′s Idlewild, the soundtrack to the high-concept film of the same name, and Big Boi most recently dropped his oft-delayed Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty in 2010, which landed on EW’s list of the best 10 albums of 2010; in keeping with his penchant for amazingly awesome names, his new solo collection is supposedly called Daddy Fat Sax: Soul Funk Crusader.

Read more on EW.com:
OutKast’s Big Boi busted for drugs in Miami
Cee Lo Green, Big Boi announce co-headlining ‘Georgia Power’ tour
Review: Big Boi, Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty

Oct 13 2011 02:23 PM ET

Jason Aldean, Zac Brown Band lead American Country Awards nominations

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Categories: Country, Y'all!, Jason Aldean, Scotty McCreery, Taylor Swift, Zac Brown Band
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Image Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Fox has announced the nominees for their 2nd annual American Country Awards—you know, that country music awards show that isn’t the CMAs, ACMs, or the CMT Music Awards—which will be hosted by Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth (can’t wait to see those two stand side-by-side!) on December 5.

Jason Aldean and Zac Brown Band, both of whom have had a pretty stellar 2011, lead the pack with eight nominations each, while newcomer Thompson Square nabbed a whopping seven nominations. The Band Perry and Taylor Swift each scored six.

Fresh off his strong debut week, American Idol winner Scotty McCreery received a nomination for Artist of the Year: New Artist (not to be confused with Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist), another signal that the country community has welcomed him warmly.

On the whole, the nominations are pretty much what you’d expect, but there are a few pleasant surprises. Pistol Annies scored a New Artist nomination, and Ashton Shepherd’s sassy “Look It Up” earned one for Music Video: Female. Both well-deserved.

The only real snub here seems like Blake Shelton’s smash single “Honey Bee,” which easily could have fit right into the Single of Year category.

Check out the nominations below, and let us know what you think: READ FULL STORY »

Oct 13 2011 01:43 PM ET

Bob Dylan buys a set of bagpipes. (Hope you like his new direction!)

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Categories: Bob Dylan, What the...?
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Image Credit: AP Images

While in Glasgow, Scotland, last weekend to play a couple of shows, Bob Dylan bought a new instrument: A set of traditional bagpipes.

“He’s always wanted to learn,” said a spokesperson for the Glasgow’s National Piping Centre, according to Reuters. “It’s a lovely sound when they are played well, and something to be appreciated.”

READ FULL STORY »

Oct 13 2011 12:45 PM ET

Katy Perry announces new perfume, Meow; does its name pass the smell test with other celebrity fragrances? Take our poll

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Categories: Katy Perry, Snap Judgment, Things Nobody Asked For
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Image Credit: George Pimentel/Getty Images

Here, kitty kitty: Just in time for the holidays, Katy Perry announced today that her second fragrance will be called Meow, the sister scent to her debut perfume Purr. And yes, Purr did come in a feline-shaped bottle.

With her fairly literal sexy-cat ad campaign for Purr, I’m nervous excited moderately intrigued to see what Perry has in store for us with Meow.

The pop star has been trying to get fans to guess the new perfume name on Twitter this past week, and with picks ranging from ‘catnip’ to ‘furrytail’ and ‘catberry’, it wasn’t too much of a surprise when she announced the big news by tweeting, “My next fragrance & bestie to Purr is MEOW! She’s very sweet & inspired by that magical place, CANDYFORNIA!” READ FULL STORY »

Oct 13 2011 10:09 AM ET

Betty White rapping! Watch the 'Golden Girl' square off with Luciana in new 'I'm Still Hot' video

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Categories: Good Causes, Music Videos, Things That Are Awesome

If you’re one of the people suffering from Betty White fatigue, then there’s probably something you should know about the beloved 89-year-old actress: She’s still hot, and not just in Cleveland. And she’s letting the world know it — by rapping! — in English pop singer Luciana’s newest music video, “I’m Still Hot.” (Here’s the original.)

But the clip wasn’t made solely to remind us of Ms. White’s everlasting hotness; rather to help raise awareness for two of the Golden Globe-winner’s causes: A senior-citizen life settlement firm called The Lifeline Project and the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association.

Though we’d seen traces of White’s rapping granny capabilities before, she’s now proved once and for all that she can do everything. Watch the full video below to see for yourself as “Betty from the Block” feeds beefcakes her cheesecakes, break dances, and wears a track jacket that reads “White Hot” on the back. (Sample lyric: “I’m still a Golden Girl /I may be a senior, so what, I’m still hot.”) Make sure you stay through the end very funny closing credits to watch White call Luciana a “skinny little…” READ FULL STORY »

Oct 12 2011 04:32 PM ET

Nicki Minaj surprises pint-sized superfans turned viral video stars on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' -- watch it here

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Categories: Ah, Youth, Nicki Minaj, Things That Are Awesome, Things That Are British

Since posting a video on YouTube in mid-September, eight-year-old British schoolgirl Sophia Grace Brownlee has become a viral video star with her beyond-impressive rendition of Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass.”

The clip, which also features Sophia’s 5-year-old cousin, Rosie, has already reached 7 million views and counting, landing the two little girls a spot on today’s Ellen. And let me just say, I loved everything about it.

Sophia and Rosie, decked out in their pink princess outfits(!) from the original video, chatted with Ellen about their love for Ms. Minaj and learning all those words to the famous tune — it only took them two days — and performed the song for the Ellen audience, before getting the surprise of their very young lives: an appearance by Minaj herself.

Watch the ensuing freakout below, and Nicki’s very wise advice to both girls: READ FULL STORY »

Oct 12 2011 02:10 PM ET

Scotty McCreery sells 197,000 copies in first week: How does he stack up against other 'Idol' winners?

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Categories: American Idol, Blink 182, Country, Y'all!, Jack's Mannequin, Music Biz, Scotty McCreery
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Apparently, you love him this big!

Scotty McCreery’s debut disc Clear As Day debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 this week, selling 197,000 copies in its first week.

That makes McCreery, 18, the first American Idol winner to top the chart since Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard’s Soulful opened at number one back in 2003. It also provides the Idol franchise a much-needed success story.

McCreery’s strong sales week improves greatly upon the 39,000 debut tally that Lee Dewyze’s Live It Up notched last year, as well as the 80,000 first week sales of Kris Allen’s self-titled 2009 offering.

Of course, McCreery didn’t sell as many albums as past winners Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson, but considering the current state of the record industry, the fact that David Cook and Jordin Sparks’ sophomore albums both recently floundered, and the musical irrelevance of Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks these days, Idol was in dire need of a fresh star, and it looks like it’s got one with McCreery. READ FULL STORY »

Oct 12 2011 01:32 PM ET

Kelly Rowland gets naughty, dancey in new 'Lay It On Me' video -- watch it here

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Categories: Divas!, Kelly Rowland, Pop, R&B, Things That Are Sexy

Destiny’s plan for this Child? Apparently, it involves getting extra-sessy with a Slinky, reclining in a chaise lounge made of hairless men, and dancing in what looks like a hot Grecian diaper onesie.

Also, trunk-stroking action with an elephant, some casual vogue-ing inside a silver Mylar party balloon, and a smidge of Remy Martin product placement. Plus guest Big Sean, wearing a demure 18 pounds of gold chain.

So much to parse! Click to see it all after the jump: READ FULL STORY »

Oct 12 2011 12:23 PM ET

Toby Keith releases 'Red Solo Cup' video -- but are you still sipping what he's pouring?

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Categories: Country, Y'all!, Let's Argue!, Things That Are Frustrating, Toby Keith

Toby Keith, what happened to you?

You used to be the biggest superstar in country music, selling millions of records and raising just as many eyebrows, but these days, rather than making music for the masses, it seems like you’re more willing to scrape the bottom of the buffoon barrel and simply pander to your “Trailerhood” audience.

Don’t get me wrong, I admire your audacity—you say what you think and you don’t care who you offend—but must you sacrifice your musicality in the process? I mean, your latest single is an ode to the “Red Solo Cup” and you claim that men “do not have testicles if [they] prefer drinking from glass.” Is that really single-worthy?

It’s tough for me to write this because I really liked your music growing up. “Should’ve Been A Cowboy”? Classic. “How Do You Like Me Now”? Delightful. “My List”? Touching. But I became a super-fan when you released your honest and honestly angry 9/11 response “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” READ FULL STORY »

Oct 12 2011 11:30 AM ET

Tom Hanks' rapping son Chet Haze drops first video for 'Hollywood': Watch it here

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Categories: Hip-Hop/Rap, New Stuff, Singers with SAG cards

As an actor, Tom Hanks has given the world unforgettable performances in such modern classics as Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, Cast Away, and Saving Private Ryan.

As a producer of other human beings, he has given us both Colin Hanks (currently playing a creepy killer on the new season of Dexter) and Chester Hanks, a Northwestern student who moonlights as a rapper/crooner known as Chet Haze, and who just released his first official music video.

On “Hollywood,” Haze croon-raps his offer to be both a woman’s manager and director in a private film that involves “no extras,” which probably means it’s a tribute to My Dinner With Andre or something minimalist like that. Right?

As for the song itself, Haze’s vocals seem to be distorted and slowed down to extra-syrupy levels, as though the mixing board was having transmission problems.

Check out Haze’s “Hollywood” debut below. READ FULL STORY »

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