(Credit: Hugh Williams/LE/Splash)
If you don't know who Donald Glover is yet, start paying attention. The actor/rapper is killing the Internet right now with his newly released video for his song "Freaks and Geeks." Donald is known for his role as Troy Barnes on NBC's hilarious "Community," but his rapper alter ego Childish Gambino could be what really puts him on the map. AND he's hosting the 2011 mtvU Woodie Awards.
Not that he's exactly off the map. At 27, Donald Glover is an accomplished writer (he was nominated for a Writers Guild Of America award for his work on the NBC show "30 Rock") and comedian, who has headlined his own special on Comedy Central. After a handful of albums and EPs, he's continuing to make a name for himself in the rap arena, and we're really liking what we're hearing. (And what we're seeing... Buzzworthy's crush-o-meter is working overtime.) To top it off, he gives great tweet.
Don't kill us here, but will we get in trouble if we say that Donald Glover's "Freaks and Geeks" verses kind of remind us a little bit of Kanye West? He's got the swag and the charisma, but not in the grab-the-mic-from-you kind of way. That was meant to be a compliment, Donald. (P.S. Call me.)
+ Check out Donald Glover/Childish Gambino's "Freaks and Geeks" video. (Language NSFW.)
Tags Childish Gambino, Donald Glover, Kanye West, We Have To Say Something
Last night Justin Timberlake spent some time emitting his inner glow at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. Here we see him on the red carpet, clearly consumed with thought. Here we try to guess what was on the mind of Justin Timberlake.
(Credit: Splash News)
"Oh man, did I forget to DVR 'Undercover Boss'"?
(Credit: Splash News)
"I totally forgot to DVR 'Undercover Boss'! What is wrong with me. I'm gonna have to name my next album, FutureSex/LoveSounds/Imforgetful"
(Credit: Splash News)
"Whew. Jesse Eisenberg totally DVR'd 'Undercover Boss.' Crisis averted. Another win for JT."
Tags Justin Timberlake, Star Spotting
(Credit: Daniel Boczarski/Redferns)
While we were a little disappointed to hear about former Fall Out Boy member Patrick Stump's decision to push back the release of his solo debut, Soul Punk, all has been righted with the release of his Truant Wave EP and, today, his "Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia)" video.
A while back Stump released two versions of "Spotlight." This video is for the more restrained, melancholy version of "Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia)" as opposed to the more lush, up-tempo "Spotlight (New Regrets)." But there's nothing morose about the video.
There's been an element of celebration surrounding Stump's entire solo endeavor. After Fall Out Boy called it quits, he's seemed to get back in touch with what he always enjoyed about music (see the a cappella medleys he released around Grammy time). And the video for "Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia)" is, in a way, a continuation on that theme of celebration.
Featured in the rather lo-fi video is footage of people doing undeniably fun things -- Pogo-ing, riding BMX bikes, twirling pens, whatever. It's about doing what you love and loving what you're doing.
Patrick Stump's Truant Wave is out now.
+ Watch Patrick Stump's "Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia)" video.
Tags Fall Out Boy, Patrick-Stump, video
Another day, another Britney Spears song preview! This time, it's "The Big Fat Bass," a collaboration between Britney and Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am, off her much-anticipated upcoming album Femme Fatale, due out March 29. You guys will never believe this, but the best part about this song is... the big fat bass!
"The Big Fat Bass" is totally '90s, and we mean that in the best way possible. The song features a dramatic piano/house music intro, which reminds us of the '90s club classic "Another Night" by The Real McCoy. (Yes, that Real McCoy.) Britney sings, "I can be the trouble, baby/You can be the bass, you can be the bass, you can be the bass," which is a play on the words "treble" and "bass." I had no idea Britney was so into puns. She must be a stellar crossword puzzle solver.
"The Big Fat Bass" is the fourth song we've heard from Femme Fatale so far, and with each preview Britney releases, the more excited we are about her album. But until we can obsessively repeat listen to the album from start to finish, we're living off these snippets, Brit. MOAR PLZ!!
+ Listen to a preview of Britney Spears' "The Big Fat Bass."
Tags Britney Spears, Will.i.Am
(Credit: Jeff Schear/WireImage)
UPDATE: Watch Willow Smith's "21st Centuray Girl" video below!
You always sort of knew in the back of your head that Willow Smith wasn't going to be a one-hit-wonder. There's just something about her that suggested "Whip My Hair" was only the beginning. And now we get Willow Smith's chapter two with her new single, "21st Century Girl."
On "21st Century Girl," Willow Smith is "on a mission with no restrictions." It's a bubbling piece of techno pop that doesn't sound unlike a tamer, more well-groomed version of Ke$ha.
Where "Whip My Hair" had a bit of electro-hip-hop swagger, "21st Century Girl" shows off Smith's pop side. The chorus is a kind of manifesto, really, with Smith singing, "Twenty-first century girl, I do what I like. Twenty-first century girl, I'm taking you for a ride."
She's got a point. There is something kind of new and unique about Smith; her retro-futuro style and her preternatural calm. It's her century; we're just living in it.
Tags Ke$ha, video, Willow Smith
(Credit: WireImage)
Lady Gaga's brand-new video, "Born This Way" features unicorns, Juggalo faces, afterbirthy goo, intense dance orgies and Barbie wig. It pushes the envelope in ways that feel subversive even for Lady Gaga. That's right. Lady Gaga may have actually out-Gaga'ed herself on "Born This Way."
The 7-minute video begins with Lady Gaga dressed as a religious figure, seated like the Buddha and floating in space. Lady Gaga introduces the song by speaking for 3 minutes over some 1950s sci-fi movie music about what can only be described as the "Gaga Creation Myth" -- how the universe began and the never-ending struggle between good and evil. We even see Gaga as a Mother Earth figure giving birth. And it's a pretty authentic birth, staying just within the SFW lines, but there's, like, gross goo and stuff. And the willowy, billowy silky floating oracle figure feels like an homage to Alexander McQueen.
When "Born This Way" finally kicks in, Lady Gaga appears to lead her Little Monsters in a synchronized dance routine wearing nothing but super tiny undies (not even her signature 12-inch heels), and it's clear that this woman is hitting the P90X hard. On the second verse, Gaga shows up in a "Billie Jean" inspired suit, with Misfits makeup, "Thriller" eyes, and a huge Barbie-pink ponytail. (And the girl-on-boy dancing feels a little bit like one of the last dance sequences of Madonna's "Vogue," where Madonna cheekily peacocks around a male dancer and then elbows him.) The video closes with Lady Gaga riding a unicorn toward the horizon under a rainbow in a the middle of a neon pink triangle. Gay rights reference? Duh.
+ Watch Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" video and let us know what you think!
Tags Lady Gaga
(Credit: @ChrisBrown/@LadyGaga)
Big weekend in hair, fellow celeb watchers. Two stars decided to take locks into their own hands and switch up their looks, as Chris Brown dyed his hair platinum blond and Lady Gaga darkened her bangs. I know, we can hardly believe it ourselves.
First, Chris Brown. The "Yeah" singer jumped on Twitter, posting a photo with the simple caption, "look at me now." So we did. Because he told us to! And there we see Breezy rocking what can only be described as the male version of the Amber Rose -- close-cropped and platinum blond.
Lady Gaga, on the other hand, was probably sitting around all weekend, making snack food for an Oscar party and waiting for her "Born This Way" video to debut when she decided to switch up her look a little bit. To be fair, Gaga switches up her look a little bit pretty much every waking hour of her life. But her dye job, turning her bangs dark brown, looks adorably DIY. Plus, extra points for her sorta neo-Brenda Walsh denim outfit!
What do you think of Chris Brown and Lady Gaga's hair adventures? Let us know in the comments!
Tags Amber Rose, Chris Brown, Lady Gaga, Twitter
This week's MTV's PUSH Artist of the Week is Brooklyn band Cults. Made up of Brian Oblivion and singer Madeline Follin, the duo's become indie darlings in a matter of months, crafting gorgeous neo-girl group pop with a dark underbelly.
After meeting in San Diego and bonding over their shared music tastes, Oblivion and Follin relocated to New York and began recording as a lark, with Follin singing over Oblivion's compositions. After posting a few songs to the Internet, the lark turned into a loud buzz, as listeners quickly became fans, enraptured by a sound that feels like The Ronettes singing Nick Cave songs.
One of Cults' songs, "Go Outside," was recently used as music in the latest of MTV's "Supervideos." And watching Dave Franco romance a spectral Emma Roberts illuminates the cinematic nature that Cults' music creats.
In the interview clips below, hear how Cults feel about the commodification of music, find out about Madeline's obsession with reptoids, hear what Cults want you to get out of their music and get an inside look at a Cults rehearsal.
Cults are currently prepping their self-titled debut album.
Tags Cults, Nick Cave, PUSH, PUSH: Cults
(Credit: Splash News)
We hadn't really seen or heard from Taylor Momsen recently, so we thought it might be an appropriate time to check in! And we were right! Here we have Taylor Momsen, looking like a combination of Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark and Glen Danzig's little sister.
Momsen can be seen above, strolling through the night in Montreal. Never one to overdo it with layers, we have to offer some concern for Momsen's nearly bare-thighed confrontation with the Canadian winter; that cannot be warm enough, girl.
Taylor was in Montreal, playing some gigs with her band, The Pretty Reckless. It's been a kind of "evil" trip through Canada for Taylor, as she was spotted rocking a rather profane T-shirt in support of Satan while playing in Toronto. Man, kids today!
Check out another shot of Taylor Momsen braving the cold below.
Tags Glenn Danzig, Star Spotting, taylor momsen, The Pretty Reckless
(Credit: Michael Buckner/WireImage)
+ Justin Bieber hit up the rather exclusive Vanity Fair party following last night's Academy Awards with rumored girlfriend Selena Gomez in tow. (MTV News)
+ Also in attendance at the Vanity Fair party? Selena Gomez pal Taylor Swift! (Celebuzz)
+ Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor took home the Oscar for Best Original Score. (Rolling Stone)
+ Rihanna and Ciara recently had a very public disagreement over Twitter. Feelings might have been hurt, but it was good reading! (Idolator)
+ Chris Brown has dyed his hair platinum blond, drawing rather mixed reactions. (TheFABlife)
Tags Chris Brown, Ciara, justin bieber, Nine Inch Nails, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift, Trent Reznor