MTV Featured Artist

MTV PUSH Artist of the Week: Mac Miller

Posted 6/20/11 6:02 am EST by Jason Newman in Celebrity, MTV Featured Artist, Music, PUSH, Videos

Off the strength of multiple, well-received mixtapes, 19-year-old MC and MTV PUSH Artist of the Week Mac Miller has established himself as a leader of the revivalist strain of modern hip-hop. Eschewing gangster posturing for emotional vulnerability and honesty, Miller's playful beats and fun-loving vibe hearkens back to the mid-'90s Golden Era of hip-hop, when creativity and reflection trumped machismo. Months ahead of the release of his official debut album (as yet unnamed), the Pittsburgh native is already selling out venues across the country, and we've got a slew of videos to bring you up to speed.

Underscoring Miller's nice-guy image, the rapper discusses the universal appeal of the "thumbs-up" gesture, followed by his take on his seemingly overnight, but long-gestating, career ascendancy. The rapper also talks about the need to be true to himself in his lyrics, noting that no matter what he says, someone's going to accuse him of lying.

And like Wiz Khalifa, the other Pittsburgh emcee doing it big, Miller's got a soft spot for his home city and is happy to share what sets Pittsburgh apart from every other American city. Finally, check out a very hyper Miller backstage in Boulder, Colorado, as well as a live performance of crowd favorite "Donald Trump." After checking out Mac Miller's videos, we know who'll be on repeat in the iPod this week.

Related Content The Buzz On: Mac Miller, Follow Buzzworthy on Twitter

Tags Mac Miller, MTV Push, MTV PUSH: Mac Miller, PUSH, PUSH: Mac Miller, video

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MTV PUSH Artist Of The Week: A Day To Remember

Posted 6/13/11 6:00 am EST by Jason Newman in Celebrity, Interviews, MTV Featured Artist, Music, PUSH, Videos

Florida punk-pop/metalcore quintet A Day to Remember have already shown us they can stand up to bullies, but as their MTV PUSH Artist of the Week videos below demonstrate, there's much more to A Day To Remember than just courage. After releasing their debut album, And Their Name Was Treason, independently in 2005, the group was quickly scooped up by emo/hard-core label Victory Records, who released the band's subsequent albums. Last year's What Separates Me From You, the group's fourth album, deftly blended emo, metalcore and punk. The result was their highest-charting album to date, positioning the group as leaders in the metalcore movement.

We've got a ton of videos to keep you updated on the group, including exclusive behind-the-scenes clips from their new video "All Signs Point to Lauderdale" and footage of the band's recent trip to Australia. A Day To Remember already told us all about their die-hard fans, but now we have the video proof. "We have 4,000 people... in Atlanta, and it's going to rain and hail all over," guitarist Neil Westfall says in the first video shot before a recent gig. A minor onstage flood does nothing to deter both the band's and crowd's energy. "That was one of the most fun shows I've ever played in my entire life," says singer Jeremy McKinnon. "We broke amps. We got electrocuted."

After you watch the band hang out with koalas in Adelaide, Australia, check out some behind-the-scenes footage from the group's latest video "All Signs Point to Lauderdale." You can find out where the video was shot, see alternate angles of McKinnon getting (fake) beat up and learn which band member was glad he wore underwear that day. Ummm, it all makes sense in the video.

Finally, we've got a live version of "Lauderdale" involving audience sing-alongs and lots and lots of toilet paper. Young bands, take note: That's how you put on a show.

Watch exclusive behind-the-scenes videos of A Day To Remember on tour, watch A Day To Remember in the studio in Ocala back in December, when they recorded the 7” vinyl acoustic version of "All I Want" for Record Store Day, and watch MTV's "The Truth Below" on Thursday, June 16 at 10/9c to hear "If I Leave" and "Sticks And Bricks.”

Tags A Day To Remember, MTV Push, MTV PUSH: A Day to Remember, PUSH, PUSH: A Day To Remember, video

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MTV PUSH Artist Of The Week: Miguel

Posted 5/16/11 6:02 am EST by Jason Newman in Celebrity, MTV Featured Artist, Music, PUSH, Videos

Credit: Kai Regan

Multihyphenate MC/singer and MTV PUSH Artist of the Week Miguel may seem like an overnight sensation, but his star's been steadily rising pretty much since birth. After penning his first song at age 8, the Los Angeles native signed his first production deal at 13. Now, at age 24, with the recent release of his debut album All I Want Is You, the man who wrote Mary J. Blige and Musiq's "If U Leave" and cowrote Usher's Raymond v. Raymond is very much ready for his close-up.

When he wasn't touring with Mary J. Blige and Usher on their "Music Saved My Life" and "OMG" tours, respectively, the eclectic songwriter was busy working on All I Want Is You, a diverse album rooted in R&B and hip-hop, thoughtfully laced with elements of classic rock, funk and electro.

We've got a bunch of interviews and videos to get you familiar with the up-and-coming star. In the first video, Miguel discusses his definition of success, how L.A.'s Venice Beach can be inspirational and how he almost didn't share "Sure Thing," his first single, with anyone else.

We've also got an exclusive interview where Miguel explains why it took so long for his debut album to come out, what it was like working with MC J. Cole and super-producer Salaam Remi, and how Queen's Freddie Mercury became one of his biggest influences.

Miguel also explains how he's encouraged by feedback from both mentors and fans, what he means when he describes his music as "eclectric" and how he's so focused on being the best "me that I can be" that finding love's going to have to wait for a while. "Right now, I'm enjoying my quickies here and there," adds the singer. We just assumed that, man.

When you're all caught up, check out the official videos for "Sure Thing" and "All I Want Is You" below.

Tags Miguel, MTV Push, MTV Push: Miguel, PUSH, Push: Miguel, video

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MTV PUSH Artist of the Week: Tyler, The Creator

Posted 5/9/11 6:02 am EST by Jason Newman in Celebrity, MTV Featured Artist, Music, PUSH, Videos

Credit: Julian Berman

With the May 10 release of his major-label debut, Goblin, nobody's grabbing more music headlines right now than L.A. hip-hop collective Odd Future frontman and MTV PUSH Artist of the Week Tyler, The Creator. The 20-year-old MC/producer/possible madman is spearheading a drastic sonic and lyrical shift in hip-hop. Far removed from the prosaic, willing-to-please, party aesthetic of commercial hip-hop, Tyler, The Creator's lyrics intentionally shock and provoke, referencing constant drug use, violence, and, on occasion, murder. It's admittedly uncomfortable music to hear, but like Wu-Tang Clan -- the group Odd Future is most often compared to -- Tyler and the group's dark, ominous sound and tales of depravity overshadow enormous reserves of creativity and vulnerability.

We've get a ton of info to transform you from "Who's that?" to "Well, obviously" in minutes. MTV News traveled with Tyler, The Creator and Odd Future on a bus from New York to Philly, where the charismatic, mile-a-minute MC talks about dealing with haters, protecting his individuality, and his humble goals. "I want Grammys. I want f**kin' VMAs. I want to perform at a Super Bowl. I want to be a f***in' icon. I want to be on Kanye West's level," says Tyler.

Beneath the near-constant swearing and seemingly hostile demeanor is one of the most honest rappers we've seen in years. "It's just me saying what I want and what I think on a daily basis," says Tyler, for whom self-censorship is clearly a non-issue, in one of the below videos. "So to get the success that I have from being who I am every day, there's nothing f**kin better."

We've also got Tyler, The Creator's official video for his first single "Yonkers" -- the ingestion of a cockroach will immediately reveal where much of that buzz comes from -- as well as Odd Future's performance of "Yonkers" and "Sandwitches" at the 2011 mtvU Woodie Awards. And if that's not enough, MTV News got to see a day in the life of Odd Future -- scaring of Jimmy Fallon's guests included -- and talked to Tyler about why he chose music over college.

Here's Tyler, The Creator. You're welcome.

+ Watch more Tyler, The Creator interviews after the jump.
Read More...

Tags MTV Push, MTV PUSH: Tyler the Creator, PUSH, PUSH: Tyler the Creator, Tyler The Creator, video

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MTV PUSH Artist Of The Week: The Limousines

Posted 5/2/11 6:00 am EST by Jason Newman in Celebrity, MTV Featured Artist, Music, PUSH

Credit: Jasmine Safaeian

Electropop duo The Limousines hadn't even met face-to-face when they started e-mailing lyrics, melodies and beats to each other in 2007. Now they're the MTV PUSH Artist of the Week and have seen their profile go from small local shows to major festivals around the world.

Singer Eric Victorino and producer/multi-instrumentalist Giovanni Giusti had already written sketches for numerous songs via email before getting into the studio to record Get Sharp, their debut album released last year (and re-released by Dangerbird Records in 2011). On Get Sharp, tracks like the "Internet Killed the Video Star" -- a nod to MTV's first ever video, The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" -- and "Very Busy People" showcase the group's love of anthemic synth-pop and vintage drum machines.

There's a shiny gloss found all over Get Sharp, showcasing the duo's ability to craft catchy, dancefloor-friendly melodies à la MGMT while still retaining a lyrically critical edge. Their self-awareness could only exist in the internet age, yet the music recalls classic 1980s bands such as Speak & Spell-era Depeche Mode and The Human League.

Check out some behind-the-scenes photos from the "Internet Killed the Video Star" video, and watch the David Dutton-directed video below, plus a few other clips.

+ "Internet Killed the Video Star"

+ The Limousines discuss the zombie-filled storyline for the "Internet Killed the Video Star" video.

+ "The Future" (live)

Tags MTV Push, MTV Push: The Limousines, PUSH, PUSH: The Limousines

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MTV PUSH Artist of the Week: Foster The People

Posted 4/25/11 6:01 am EST by Jason Newman in Celebrity, Interviews, MTV Featured Artist, Music, PUSH, Videos

Credit: Pamela Littky

We've had "Pumped Up Kicks," the standout track from MTV PUSH Artist of the Week Foster The People, stuck in our heads since its release last year. Now, with the upcoming release of the L.A. indie rock group's debut LP Torches, it's time to bring you up to speed on this rapidly ascending group.

In 2010, the group's three-song EP started making the rounds on countless blogs, fueled by the popularity of "Pumped Up Kicks" on The Hype Machine. A series of well-received South By Southwest shows solidified the group's official buzz band status. Since then, they've spent the rest of the year touring and working on material for their proper debut, which has earned early comparisons to psychedelic soul artists MGMT.

We've got a ton of interviews for those of you still unfamiliar with your soon-to-be musical obsession: check out the guys discussing the loose nature of their songwriting process and see which romantic tearjerker drummer Mark Pontius watches when he has writer's block. In the second video, the band waxes on their influences, drawing on everything from electronic music to Beach Boys to Motown. "We're always on the verge of experimenting with different sounds," says lead singer Mark Foster. "Electronic music is so versatile like that... Part of the fun of it is trying to come up with sounds that people haven't heard before."

Finally, "120 Seconds" host Matt Pinfield got Foster on the chair to grill him on the band's success, Twin Shadow and his own listening habits. Oh, and there's a group discussion about clarinet battling with Kenny G., but you kinda just need to see that one for yourself.

+ Watch Foster The People's MTV interviews and their "Pumped Up Kicks" video below.

Tags Foster The People, MTV Push, MTV PUSH: Foster The People, PUSH, PUSH: Foster the People, video

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MTV PUSH Artist of the Week: Tinie Tempah

Posted 4/18/11 6:02 am EST by Jason Newman in Celebrity, Interviews, MTV Featured Artist, Music, PUSH, Videos

British rapper Tinie Tempah is already a star in his home country, and he's also this week's MTV PUSH Artist Of The Week. The recent BRIT Award winner for Best Breakthrough Act and Best Single is set to take over America with his fusion of hip-hop and anthemic rock, R&B and drum 'n' bass.

Tinie Tempah got his start in the UK grime and dubstep scene with his standout single, "Wifey," which helped him garner a massive following on his Disturbing London label. After that, he dropped his debut album, Disc-Overy -- featuring larger-than-life hits like "Frisky," "Written In The Stars" and "Pass Out" -- which debuted last year at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and has since gone platinum, making him the biggest selling UK newcomer of 2010.

But if you're still new to Tinie Tempah, we've got a whole bunch of videos below to earn you Instant Expert status. The first is Tinie Tempah's "Written In The Stars" performance at MTV's South By Southwest showcase in March. Plus, watch Tinie talk about his heavy reliance on -- OK, obsession with -- his BlackBerry, and how he uses social networking to advance his career (smart man), including a very British choice of YouTube user names. Once you have that down, see Tinie Tempah offer a handy UK-American translation guide -- Jogg'n bottoms? Cuppa? Pissed? -- and learn about Tinie's "vintage-meets-street-cool" style.

And for the complete history of how he got to this point, MTV2's "Sucker Free" got Tinie to discuss his rise from anonymity to becoming the grime scene's darling to reaching UK superstar status.

Tags MTV Push, MTV PUSH: Tinie Tempah, PUSH, PUSH: Tinie Tempah, Tinie Tempah, video

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MTV PUSH Artist Of The Week: Lykke Li

Posted 4/11/11 6:01 am EST by Tamar Anitai in Celebrity, Interviews, MTV Featured Artist, Music, PUSH, Videos

Credit: Roger Deckker

Swedish singer Lykke Li is this week's MTV PUSH artist. She recently graced us with a stunning MTV "Unplugged" performance, and it was a haunting, ethereal otherworldly occasion that reminded us exactly what an "Unplugged" performance should be. It's not just about the hushed environment, the candles and the expensive rug. It's a closely held, carefully kept intimate experience that opens a window into the artistic experience.

And if you want to know more about the mysterious force behind her moody, moving music, we've got exclusive interviews with Lykke Li, who reveals that her desire to escape the unhappiness of her youth in Stockholm influenced her early on, how she translates her very visual imagination into her music, and how her restlessness informs her creative spirit.

Watch exclusive interviews with Lykke Li, watch "Possibility" from her MTV "Unplugged" performance, check out her "Get Some" video from her Wounded Rhymes album and watch her entire MTV "Unplugged" performance.

Tags Lykke Li, MTV Push, MTV PUSH: Lykke Li, PUSH, video

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MTV PUSH Artist Of The Week: Oh Land

Posted 4/4/11 6:02 am EST by Jason Newman in Celebrity, Interviews, MTV Featured Artist, Music, PUSH, Videos

We know we've already told you a lot about about MTV PUSH Artist of the Week Nanna Øland Fabricius -- better known as whimsical Danish pop singer and style icon Oh Land. But when someone's on the brink of superstardom, we'll scream until our voice is shot.

The former Royal Danish Ballet student and daughter of an opera singer and composer recently released her self-titled debut full-length, a mix of shimmering electro- and synth-pop, which earns her a spot alongside genre-bending pop females like Lykke Li, Robyn and La Roux, who are pop music's future.

After a career-ending dance injury, referenced in the song "Break the Chain" ("She said sorry, but you're never gonna dance again/But my feet just keeps me moving/Trying to break the chain"), the 25-year-old Brooklyn resident turned to music, and with her expansive vocal range, supermodel good looks, playful demeanor and exuberant live show, has blown up among music lovers and the fashionista set alike.

But enough talk. Last week, we brought you Oh Land interviews, featuring the singer dishing about her move to Brooklyn, her dance history and how she defies musical categorizations. And now, we've got live performances of her two biggest songs, "Sun of a Gun" and "White Nights," below, as well as clips of Oh Land discussing her love of vintage and thrift stores, why there's nothing romantic about a tutu and how she describes her personal style. "It's a dreamlike quality with surreal elements," she says of the latter. Funny, we'd say the same thing about her music.

Tags La Roux, Lykke Li, MTV Push, MTV PUSH: Oh Land, Oh Land, PUSH, Push: Oh Land, video

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MTV PUSH Artist Of The Week: Lil B

Posted 3/21/11 6:00 am EST by Jason Newman in Celebrity, Interviews, MTV Featured Artist, Music, PUSH, Videos

This week's MTV PUSH Artist of the Week is Lil B, the prolific Berkeley, California MC whose work both as a solo artist and member of hip-hop group The Pack have made the 21-year-old wordsmith a nationwide phenomenon.

The prolific rapper, who earned a Left Field Woodie nomination at this year's mtvU Woodie Awards, has released a staggering 15 mixtapes and four solo albums since 2009, and that's not even counting his two full-lengths with The Pack. Has this dude figured out a way to record in his sleep or something?

The MC, who somehow finds time in his schedule to tweet 3,000 times a day and inadvertently create Internet memes that'd make your mom blush, has both hip-hop critics and fans fawning over him. And in his Based God movement, which he explained to us recently as staying true to yourself and not caring what others think of you (though that's a broad definition at best), the MC has practically created a religion around him. Oh, and in his spare name, he invents dances via YouTube that have collectively garnered millions of hits.

But if you still don't know Lil B, we got you. Check out Lil B's videos below to see the rapper answer critics of his music, perform to a frenzied crowd, get bombarded with a flurry of hats, sneakers and who knows what else to sign for fans, and discuss how "everything [he] says is for a reason."

Tags Lil' B, MTV Push, MTV PUSH: Lil B, PUSH, Push: Lil B, video

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