Usher Says New 'Rev Pop' Project Is A 'Movement'

Singer teases his new project by pointing to past hits like 'Yeah!' and 'OMG.'
By James Montgomery


Usher
Photo: MTV News

With the success of songs like "DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love," "Hot Tottie" and "OMG," Usher had himself a fairly massive 2010. But rather than rest on his laurels, he's looking to build on his big year, not with an album, but with a "movement."

It's something he's calling "Rev Pop" — or, simply, "Rev" — and though he's already teased his idea in a video with David Guetta (Akon is also involved), he has yet to speak in full about it. So when MTV News caught up with Ush before the 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the (Belvedere) RED launch party, we asked him about his next musical endeavor. And though he didn't reveal much, he did let it be known that "Rev" isn't exactly something new. In fact, he's been doing it for a while now.

"I'll give it to you this way: At a later date, I'll tell you more about Rev Pop, but if I were to give you a flash: I've done it before, I did it with 'Yeah!' " he said, "taking a cultural experience, and also worldwide recognition of a feeling, and putting the soul in the middle of it. Not allowing it to shift heavily to R&B genre, or pop. I did it again with 'OMG,' once again putting the soul in the middle of it, which was an electric-pop experience, with the soul.

"It's bringing those elements together to tell a story, that was born here," he said, gesturing toward his heart, "And that's what Rev Pop is. There's more, I mean, I could really elaborate, but that's just what I'm going to tell you right now. 'Rev' is what it's called ... the movement is called Rev."

Usher wouldn't say just when his fans would be getting their first taste of Rev, but whenever they do, it sounds like they're going to be impressed ... if not a little shocked.

"Stay alive," he smiled, "Because you're definitely going to be in for a surprise."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658043/usher-rev-pop.jhtml

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Paul Walker Says Brazilian People Were 'Excited' To Host 'Fast Five'

'I love to travel, and that's one of those places that, on my own, I would have never have ventured,' he tells MTV News.
By Kara Warner


Paul Walker and Vin Diesel in "Fast Five"
Photo: Universal Pictures

For those heading to the theaters this weekend to see the action-packed, souped-up-car-gasmic "Fast Five," there are only a few things you should know going in: The cast is teeming with members from all four previous films (Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris are all back) and the movie was filmed all over the world, including in Puerto Rico, Arizona, Georgia and California, but mainly in and around the illustrious city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — including the storied and dangerous favela districts.

When MTV News caught up with Walker, we asked him how the crew managed to get clearance to film in such tough areas.

"That's the best part about the job, is we have a VIP card," Walker said of the production's exempt status. "For most people, especially the tourists, the favela is off limits, but we got permission basically from the drug lords to come up there and film," he revealed. "We got cops with us, but everyone knows the reason we're there isn't because the cops said, 'Go ahead and come up and in'; it's the cooperation with the drug lords."

Walker said he hung out with people from the area, as did the film crew, and everyone had a great time during the shoot.

"That's one of the best aspects of my job. I'm up there hanging out, and the people are friendly and I don't have anything to worry about. People are just excited we're there," he said. "I love to travel, and that's one of those places that, on my own, I would have never have ventured, but because we're here doing this, it made it all possible."

Check out everything we've got on "Fast Five."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663030/fast-five-paul-walker.jhtml

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Wiz Khalifa Plays Bamboozle Fest, Denies Feud With Kanye

'It's fun to talk about it and make jokes about, but in all reality, that didn't even exist,' Wiz tells us about alleged altercation.
By Steven Roberts


Wiz Khalifa
Photo: MTV News

EAST RUTHERFORD, New JerseyWiz Khalifa is riding high — pun not intended, even though it kind of works — off the success of his debut album, "Rolling Papers," and a stage show that is quickly garnering a lot of praise. But Wiz can't seem to escape the gossip that doggedly follows him and girlfriend Amber Rose around.

Rumor has it that Wiz confronted Kanye West over a jab West took at Rose during his show-stealing set at Coachella. During his performance of "Stronger," West slightly altered the lyrics from "I'll do anything for a blonde dike and she'll do anything for the limelight/ We'll do anything when the time's right" to "I did anything for a blonde dike and she did anything for the limelight/ And we did anything when the time's right."

An altercation allegedly occurred after West's performance, but when MTV News caught up with Wiz before his set at this weekend's Bamboozle Festival, he said the entire backstage incident was fabricated.

"I did my set and we hung around for a bit, but we weren't even there when fam was onstage," Wiz said. "Somebody made that up. I think they just wanted it to be that type of situation or they wanted to see something go down. It's fun to talk about it and make jokes about, but in all reality, that didn't even exist."

Wiz said he did hear Kanye's lyrics though. He thought it was a low moment, that many people who look up to West may have been turned off by his lyrical alteration. He harbors no ill will, however.

"It is what it is, and I'm doing my business and she's doing her business and he's doing his business and that's what it is. I'm all about positivity and I'm going to keep it that way."

Wiz kept things moving, co-headlining Bamboozle Friday night along with 30 Seconds to Mars. Wiz is currently on the College Consciousness Tour with fellow Steel City native Mac Miller, and he plans to head out with the Motor City's own Big Sean next month for the Rolling Papers tour. But he's happy to perform wherever his fans — or soon-to-be-fans — may be.

"I think my crowd, they kind of just go everywhere and wherever I'm at. I kind of just entertain them as well as make new fans. Some of the people that come to my shows, they just know me for one or two songs, so even the people that don't know me at all at shows like Bamboozle, I get to make them new fans."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662950/wiz-khalifa-kanye-west-feud.jhtml

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Beyonce's New Single, 'Girls (Who Run The World),' Leaks Online

A demo version of the girl-power track hit the Net late Monday.
By Jocelyn Vena


Beyoncé
Photo: Al Pereira/ WireImage

A version of Beyoncé's forthcoming single "Girls (Who Run the World)" has hit the Internet, and as you might guess from the title, it's a thumping girl-power anthem. It samples Major Lazer's "Pon de Floor" and serves as B's lead single off her forthcoming new album, set for release later this year.

A rep for the singer had not returned MTV News' request for comment regarding the leaked track or the final version's release date as of press time.

The song opens with a keyboard and a heavy club beat as Beyoncé chants, "Girls!/ We run this mutha/ Girls!/ Who run the world." The club banger delivers on what Beyoncé has teased about the album: "I'm mixing every type of genre that I love and I'm inspired by every type of genre. ... I'm not in a box. It's not R&B. It's not typically pop. It's not rock. It's just everything I love all mixed together in my own little gumbo of music."

Beyoncé sings in her signature staccato style on the track. "It's hot up in here/ DJ don't be scared to run this, run this back/ I'm repping for the girls who taking over the world/ Have me raise a glass for the college grads," she sings.

"Boy you know you love it/ How we're smart enough to make these millions/ Strong enough to bear the children/ Then get back to business/ See, you better not play me/ Don't come here, baby/ Hope you still like me/ If you hate me," she goes on to declare. "My persuasion can build a nation/ In this hour/ Our love we can devour/ You'll do anything for me." Her vocals fade out as the song closes. But the song's message is clear.

"It'll be big. It'll probably be one of the bigger Beyoncé music videos ever done," director Francis Lawrence said of the video for the song. "And I can say that I think the song is unbelievable." He added, "It is a fantastic song, so I really hope that song catches for her, and I think the video's gonna be really fun and cool and different for her."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662236/beyonce-single-leak-girls-who-run-the-world.jhtml

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