MTV Buzzworthy Blog › Kevin Rudolf

Unfortunately, electro-pop sextet Lights Over Paris has no obvious connection to the City of Lights. Rather, the Los Angeles-based band eschews Parisian disco and Euro house in favor of an anthemic blend of pop, rock and electro reminiscent of Kevin Rudolf and Cobra Starship.

After releasing a self-titled EP last year, the band is currently working on their as-yet-untitled debut LP, set for release this summer. In the meantime, you can get a taste of the group on their first single "I'm Not a Gangsta," produced by Dr. Luke acolyte Ammo, who has also produced tracks by Britney Spears, Ke$ha, Katy Perry and Pitbull.

"Gangsta" features L.A. rapper Game and highlights tongue-in-cheek lyrics that have become part of the band's M.O. "I'm not a gangsta," sings frontman Robb University. "But I would ride for you/And if it came down to it I would die for you/I'm not a gangsta/But I'd get high with you/I would throw away my whole freakin' life for you." Poetry. Apparently, the single began as a straight-ahead rock song before morphing into the hip-hop/pop/rock final version.

Watch for the band's full-length, which features production by Kool Kojak (Flo Rida, Travis Barker) and Matt Squire (3OH!3, Ke$ha, Panic! At The Disco), this summer.

+ Listen to Lights Over Paris.

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Tags 3OH!3, Britney Spears, Cobra Starship, Flo Rida, Game, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Kevin Rudolf, Lights Over Paris, Panic At The Disco, Pitbull, The Buzz On, Travis Barker

(Credit: Gregg Delman)

Kevin Rudolf is pretty much a one-man anthem factory. Whether he's writing and producing them for the likes of Lifehouse, Cobra Starship, Selena Gomez or Lil Wayne, or making them himself, as a solo artist with hits like "I Made It," the Cash Money rocker is pretty much an authority on the kind of songs that make you want to roll the window down and sing at the top of your lungs.

Because Rudolf is already an expert on the subject -- and given his new album, To The Sky, drops today -- we couldn't think of anyone better to give us their top 5 favorite summer anthems. Take it away, Kev:

1. LL Cool J "Around The Way Girl" -- Best New York City summertime video ever! LL walks up to random girls all over the streets of New York with a video camera.

2. Tom Petty "Free Fallin' " -- It's one of those universal summer songs you have to love.

3. Cobra Starship, "Good Girls Go Bad" -- I produced and co-wrote this with the guys, and we had a lot of fun on this one.

4. Jackson Browne, "Somebody's Baby" -- "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Best summer movie of all time. Need I say more?

5. Kanye West, "Good Life" -- I loved this song from the first time I heard it. It has a real feel good summer vibe. It has one of my favorite lines in it ever - "money ain't everything that not having it is."

+ Check out Cobra Starship's "Good Girls" below.

Tags Cobra Starship, Jackson Browne, Kanye West, Kevin Rudolf, Lifehouse, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Selena Gomez, Tom Petty, video

Whoa, I smell a Three Amigos remake in the making. Brothers and sisters, I present to you the latest piece of wonderfully pompous Cash Money extravagance (rock-pop sub-division): Kevin Rudolf's "I Made It," featuring Cash Money majordomo Birdman, Lil' Wayne and Brit R&B sensation (and CM signee) Jay Sean.

This thing is basically a DJ Khaled song/video (think "Out Here Grindin'") rendered in a rock format. Bombastic synths, even more bombastic attitude.

And the thing is...it works! The "Let It Rock" singer really fits well with Birdman and Jay Sean (Lil' Wayne bats cleanup towards the end). These guys are all basically like, "LOL, I'm rich!" with a little bit of overcoming adversity thrown in to make you tear up.

Kevin Rudolf's untitled second full-length is due out this year. Check out the song (as well as some bonus DJ Khaled insanity because...well why not!?) below.

+ Listen to "I Made It" by Kevin Rudolf, featuring Birdman, Lil' Wayne and Jay Sean here.

Tags Birdman, DJ Khaled, Jay Sean, Kevin Rudolf, Lil Wayne, Song You Need To Know, video

FACTS (that you probably already know):

+ Cobra Starship, Kevin Rudolf and American Idol's Kara DioGuard wrote "Good Girls Go Bad" together, and then Leighton Meester (BLAIR!) jumped in on the vocals!

+ Gabe Saporta's a HUGE Gossip Girl fan.

+ AND Leighton Meester's on Gossip Girl!

+ Together, Gabe and Leelee (she told me to call her that) would have very beautiful children... But they don't have time for that right now, because their "Good Girls Go Bad" video, in which Leighton plays a hot but meanie New York City club owner -- meanwhile, Cobra owns the deli upstairs; don't you love it? -- is almost ready.

+ The "Good Girls Go Bad" video isn't out yet (it's a fact!), but Buzzworthy's got an exclusive "Good Girls Go Bad" sneaky peeky video preview, including behind-the-scenes stuuuufff, interviews, hanging meat, dice, and more. Watch it below. IT'S A TRUE FACT!

+ Plus: Check out photos of Leighton Meester at the 2009 MTV Movie Awards. And, watch an exclusive Buzzworthy COBRA CAM video!

Tags Cobra Starship, Gabe Saporta, Kara DioGuardi, Kevin Rudolf, Leighton Meester

As you probably already know, Jadakiss's new album, The Last Kiss, used to be called Kiss My Ass. Angry! Know why? Well apparently Jadakiss has been having a frustrating year. Not only do we have video of the man explaining what's got him so hostile, we also got him doing your favorite feature, "The 5."

Jadakiss did us the favor of narrowing the "hunormerormous" number of factors that went into the creation of The Last Kiss down to five. Among them: South Beach. Wasn't that one of Kevin Rudolf's "5," too?

Due out April 7, the new record features the already burning singles, "By My Side" and "Can't Stop Me." So, little math here -- we got one exclusive interview (after the jump!), five things on "The 5" and two singles in circulation. That's eight of the hunormerormous reasons you need The Last Kiss, right here at your fingertips. Look!

Read more...

Tags Jadakiss, Kevin Rudolf

Kevin Rudolf will rarely let you see his eyes or neck, but he will "Let It Rock." Can you live with that? Well, you're gonna have to. The first-ever Cash Money rock artist keeps close tabs on his sunglasses and his scarves. It's also rare to see him without a hat covering most of his head. So mysterious!

That's why you should be stoked that Kevin Rudolf is finally ready to open up and dish on what went into the making of his debut album, In The City.

Not to totally spoil it for you or anything, but did you know it was a concept album? And guess what? The concept is not just to "Let It Rock." Homeboy's got feelings and visions, and he's sharing them with you. Are you ready to share with Kevin Rudolf? Find out what's so important about Virginia Beach, family, and having the option to play checkers on your own chest (so underrated!) when you watch Kevin Rudolf on "The 5."

+ Exclusive Kevin Rudolf photo album

Tags Kevin Rudolf, The 5

He's got that Miami flavah, but Kevin Rudolf's a straight-up New Yorker through and through, as evidenced by the title of his album, In The City. And you KNOW "Let It Rock" (his monster single with Lil Wayne) has been popping up in your head intermittently for weeks now. And now it's jamming up your brain again! You're welcome!

Check out Kevin Rudolf backstage at MTV right before his New Year's Eve performance, and get more MTV New Year's Eve 2009 footage, photos, and more here!

Tags Kevin Rudolf, Lil Wayne, New Year’s Eve 2009

Last week, we were psyched to catch up with Jess and Lis Origliasso of The Veronicas... and even more psyched to hear that Jess shares our massive crush on Twilight star Robert Pattinson.

But this week, the girls have some even bigger news: they just lined up the BESTEST DATE EVER for New Year's Eve: The twinsies have been tapped to co-host MTV's star-studded New Year's Eve special, along with Miley Cyrus! Which means, they'll be ringin' in '09 with MyCy (obvz) AND getting up close and personal with the guys from The Academy Is..., All Time Low, Metro Station and Kevin Rudolf who will ALL. BE. PERFORMING. LIVE.

Watch The Veronicas jump (and shriek! and clap!) for joy at the news that they'll be thisclose to the stage for TAI's (live!!) performance, and tune in December 31st from 8-9:30pm EST to catch Lis and Jess rocking Times Square on FNMTV Presents: A Miley-Sized Surprise ... New Year’s Eve 2009.

Tags All Time Low, Jessica Origliasso, Kevin Rudolf, Lisa Origliasso, Metro Station, Miley Cyrus, New Year’s Eve 2009, Robert Pattinson, The Academy Is, the veronicas, Twilight