MTV Buzzworthy Blog › N.E.R.D.

If you guys didn't get your invite to appear in Sara Bareilles' latest music video, "Uncharted," from her album Kaleidoscope Heart, don't worry, we didn't either. But from the looks of it, we're the only ones. Everyone is in this video. Everyone!

"Uncharted" is shot DIY style, and it features a bunch of Sara Bareilles' famous fans lip-synching along to the song. Here's just a handful of celebs to look out for in the video: Ben Folds, Maroon 5's Adam Levine, N.E.R.D.'s Pharrell, Tegan And Sara, Vanessa Carlton, Ryan Tedder, Josh Groban, Ingrid Michaelson, and reigning Internet lip sync king Keenan Cahill. (Can we just put him in every music video please?) Missing from most of "Uncharted," though, is Sara Bareilles herself. But she's on tour with Maroon 5 right now, so she probably needs a little bit of a break.

It must be really tough to be Sara Bareilles -- scrolling through the VIP address book in your cell phone and deciding who to call to help make your video. "Well, Beyonce's on vacation this week. And I couldn't make Justin Bieber's birthday party so I don't want to ask him for a favor..." We hate you, Sara! JK, we love you. It's just that we're jealous, you see.

+ Watch Sara Bareilles star-studded "Uncharted" video.

Tags Adam Levine, Ben Folds, Josh Groban, Maroon 5, N.E.R.D., Pharrell, Ryan Tedder, Sara Bareilles, Tegan & Sara, Vanessa Carlton, video

(Credit: Social Trust)

It's always pretty exciting when a production team decides to step out from behind the mixing board and flex their artistic muscle under their own name. Whether it's N.E.R.D. or, more recently, Far East Movement, the results are typically both surprising and expertly produced.

Which brings us to The Midi Mafia. After crafting hits for Justin Bieber, 50 Cent and Jennifer Lopez, this duo, made up of Brooklyn-born Bruce Waynne and Canadian Dirty Swift, has struck out on their own, releasing their debut EP, Vegas Lights.

Like their production work, Vegas Lights leans heavy on party-starting anthems. But, in a sign of changing with the times, Midi Mafia's evolved past their R&B-heavy past work, instead crafting a grip of thunderous dance-pop tracks.

While Vegas Lights tracks like "Blinded By The Lights" and "Phamous" will certainly make any wallflower blossom into a party animal, Midi Mafia's hottest track is "Lucky," featuring Internet sensation Dave Days, and it's a club banger that will be featured on tonight's episode of "Jersey Shore."

Listen to Midi Mafia's dance track, "Lucky" below, plus check out their "Phamous" video featuring "Fantasy Factory"'s Chanel and their "2 Piece (So Cosmo)" video. And be sure to listen for "Lucky" on tonight's episode of "Jersey Shore." Vegas Lights is out now.

Tags 50 Cent, Dave Days, Far East Movement, Jennifer Lopez, Jersey Shore, justin bieber, Midi Mafia, N.E.R.D., The Buzz On, video

Last night I got a super-fun invite to the opening party for the brand-new H&M location on 86th Street and Lexington Avenue in New York's Upper East Side.

I cruised past the free drinks, chicken-curry-pea-wrap things, cross-dresser Andre J in heels and full beard (whatever it takes), Estelle in a peacock dress (hooray!), and lots of look-at-me-type doe-eyed girls dressed like Alexa Chung to get an up-close-and-personal look at Tokio Hotel's H&M x Fashion Against AIDS collabo t-shirt, which are in stores today, along with more designs by Katy Perry, Estelle, Yoko Ono, Dangerous Muse, N.E.R.D., Robyn, and more musicians, designers, and noteworthy names.

So, here's the Tokio Hotel t-shirt, in all of its glory!

The shirts say "Rock Hard, F+++ Safe," and they retail for $16.90. AND, they were right on the same table next to Cherry Tree Records labelmate/ Buzzworthy idol Robyn!

Aside from free condoms (weeeee!), there were also little boxes of pins with Bill and Tom on them. Don't think for a second that I didn't swipe a couple of those...

+ More photos after the jump...

Read more...

Tags Alexa Chung, Bill Kaulitz, Estelle, Katy Perry, N.E.R.D., Robyn, Tokio Hotel, tom kaulitz

Tokio Hotel's new album is STILL not out yet (alas!), but at least you can get a little piece of the guys when they release their new use-a-conner t-shirts for H&M.

Tokio Hotel, along with Katy Perry, Estelle, Yoko Ono, Robyn (Robyn!!!), N.E.R.D., and more -- like Rihanna last year -- were tapped to designed safe-sex t-shirts as part of H&M and Designers Against AIDS' Fashion Against AIDS 2009 campaign.

The shirts, which are available in male and female versions (but feel free to change that up depending upon your gender-bending preferences), will hit H&M stores worldwide (great news!) on May 28. Twenty-five percent of the campaign's proceeds will fund HIV/AIDS youth awareness projects.

Lovingly, Tokio Hotel's shirts say "Rock Hard, F*** Safe." Gotta respect that kind of forwardness. Oh, and Tokio Hotel was photographed for the campaign by Daniel Jackson. Because I know you keep track of that sort of thing.

I will now leave you to your fantasies...

Tags Estelle, H&M, Katy Perry, N.E.R.D., Rihanna, Robyn, Tokio Hotel

I had a conversation recently with one of the bands who played MTV Spring Break 2009 -- probably better not to tell you which one -- and among the glory stories, was one of waking up on the beach between two beautiful women, both of whom were rubbing his head affectionately. If that's what the morning is like at Spring Break, can you imagine the night?!? Well, you won't have to imagine anything much longer. Tonight FNMTV returns to take you directly to the thick of this year's Spring Break at its baddest!

I can't promise that you'll get your head rubbed. That's up to you. But I can absolutely guarantee that you'll be throwin' elbows and your head back as the crowd gets down to live performances by...

Lil Wayne

Asher Roth

Jim Jones

Kid Cudi

N.E.R.D featuring Santigold

Flo Rida

All-American Rejects

3OH!3

You'd have a hard time coming up with a lineup that good on the bestseller rack at a record store. But then, I guess you'd also have a hard time finding a record store! OH SNAP! But who needs one when all the hottest action on earth is cookin' out in that Panama City Beach sunshine, just waiting for you to join in?

Keep an eye on Buzzworthy next week for more tastes of what's to come, including exclusive reports from Lil Wayne, Young Money, Asher Roth, Kid Cudi, Jim Jones, and 3OH!3. Then tune in tonight at 8pm ET to see what it's all been building up to! And just because I know you're a glutton for instant gratification, here's Jim Jones doing "Na Na Nana Na Na," live from Panama City Beach!

Tags 3OH!3, All-American-Rejects, Asher Roth, Flo Rida, FNMTV, Jim Jones, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, N.E.R.D., Santigold, Santogold, Spring Break, Young Money

Pharrell, Chad Hugo, and Shay's latest N.E.R.D. joint is so of-the-now fresh that they could've made it like five seconds ago.

Their "Sooner Or Later," video, which takes place in a downtown L.A. monster bank tricked out to look like Ye Olde stock exchange, is directed by the famous Malloys (Avril Lavigne, Metallica) who didn't have to look far for inspiration. They found it on the nightly news! Hearts seize up, suits are dragged off in cuffs, and it rains worthless, bottomed-out dollar bills. The video even features a hilarious, last-second cameo from MTV skate hero, Rob Dyrdek. Look close...

Finally, this is unconfirmed, but does anybody else hear a piano line borrowed from Crosby Stills Nash & Young's "Our House" in there? It would make sense. That old '70s Kraft Single about the so-called American Dream ("Our house is a very, very, very fine house, with two cats in the yard...") would make the perfect backdrop for this sarcastic but hopeful look at the undoing of our economy.

Watch N.E.R.D.'s downer video, and then see how they made it (c/o Rap-Up). Not to be a bummer or anything... Right. Have a great weekend!

Sooner Or Later - Behind The Scenes

Tags CSNY, N.E.R.D., Pharrell, Rob Dyrdek, The Malloys

There were so many amazing videos this year that we decided to commemorate our fave three by doing a mini Buzzworthy Countdown. (Sorta like MTV's Best of 2008 lists, except shorter!) Read on to find out my #2 pick for 2008, and stay tuned for #1 coming atcha later on this week!

I'm not gonna lie: I put an insane, almost-embarrassing amount of thought into choosing my second most-favorite video of 2008. But here's the thing: although I knew I wanted hip-hop, the more I carefully weighed my options, the more it started to seem as though I had an ulterior motive behind every single pick.

Take, for instance, Kanye West's "Stronger," which very nearly made the cut -- until I started being honest with myself, and admitted that my favoritism had less to do with 'Ye's powerful cinematography and more to do with the fact that I worship the line "Since O.J. had Isotoners." Genius!

Then I went through a brief Ludacris "What Them Girls Like" phase (before deciding my objectivity was compromised by my Chris Brown obsession), duly dismissed T.I.'s "Whatever You Like" (in retrospect, it was sorta hokey), and then, feeling equal parts decisive/mad with power, rejected Estelle's "American Boy" (too jet lag-inducing), Lil Wayne's "A Milli" (too venereal disease-y) and N.E.R.D.'s "Everyone Nose" (it makes me have to pee) in quick, rapid-fire succession.

Which left me ... right back where I started ... at which point, I decided 'Screw the whole moral superiority thing,' and picked Flo Rida's "Low" because it reminded me of the bald, fat-suit-wearing Tom Cruise dancing scene from Tropic Thunder. Enjoy the flashback.

+ Missed my #3 pick? Get up to speed now, plus find out which video my editor/partner-in-crime Tamar Anitai chose as her third fave.

Tags Chris Brown, Estelle, Flo Rida, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, N.E.R.D., T.I., Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder

We're still recovering from that crazy, sleep-deprived time in our lives we like to call the 2008 VMAs (and, more recently, from VH1's Hip Hop Honors bonanza), but that doesn't mean we're not already gearing up for the next big televised awards show. Fortunately, we don't have long to wait, seeing as the mtvU Woodie Awards kick off Wednesday, November 19th.

And whether you're a sorority girl (like Elle Woods!) a pre-frosh (like Serena and Blair!) or someone who religiously watches Hannah Montana, we have a feeling you're not gonna want to miss THE definitive college awards show (where all the nominees are chosen by poor, ramen-noodle-eating university types!) And since the polls are officially open from now through November 7th, here's a painstakingly complete list of the categories and nominees. You're welcome!

+ Lil Wayne, Paramore, Tokyo Police Club, MGMT and Santogold duke it out for Woodie of the Year. Note that as much as we would love to see the nominees breakdance fight, the winner for this category (and all subsequent categories) will be chosen solely on the basis of your votes.

+ We love charity. Just today, we selflessly scarfed down three oatmeal raisin cookies (purchased from a Breast Cancer Bake Sale!) all in the name of good health -- and late-afternoon sugar rushes. Now, cheer on your fave do-gooders as Eddie Vedder, Ludacris, Jack's Mannequin, Mary J. Blige and Emmanuel Jal fight for the right to take home the Good Woodie.

+ Ever heard that song "Video Killed the Radio Star?" Yeah, that's a bunch of bull. So hit the polls to see Adele and Motion City Soundtrack take on heavy hitters like Gnarls Barkley, Vampire Weekend and Erykah Badu for the Best Video Woodie.

+ We've always had a secret soft spot for the New Kid. So we'll definitely be checking back to find out which of these rookies (All Time Low, We The Kings, There For Tomorrow, Lykke Li and Tyga) is gonna walk out of here with the title of Breaking Woodie.

+ You know those amazing can't-live-without artists you never heard of 'til, like, yesterday? Well, you still have three more weeks to choose between No Age, Chromeo, Yelle, She and Him and The Cool Kids for Left Field Woodie.

+ And you gotta give it up for the performers who ALWAYS know how to put on a good show. Or as we like to call them, "the Michael Jordans of music." Yeah, we're talkin' about you, Kanye West, Atmosphere, N.E.R.D., The Ting Tings and Simian Mobile Disco. May the best one win! A Performance Woodie, that is.

****Psssst! Not only can you vote for your favorite artists -- you can also campaign for them on your Facebook/MySpace pages(!!) For more details about voting, campaigning and general Woodie goodness, go to mtvU's official Woodies Awards site. GO WOOD!

Tags Adele, All Time Low, Atmosphere, Chromeo, Eddie Vedder, Emmanuel Jal, Erykah Badu, Gnarls Barkley, Jack's Mannequin, Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Lykke Li, Mary J. Blige, MGMT, Motion-City-Soundtrack, N.E.R.D., No Age, Paramore, Santogold, She and Him, Simian Mobile Disco, The Cool Kids, The Ting Tings, There For Tomorrow, Tokyo Police Club, Tyga, Vampire Weekend, We the Kings, Woodie Awards, Yelle

There are like 18 brillion videos eligible for a spot on the Video of the Year nominee leaderboard, and I sure as shoot ain't got time to talk you through each of them. Do that on your own time and your own dime, okay? But since this is such a maje category, here's a look at 20 standouts. Vote now! You only gots a few more hours, and after that, you've only got regret.

Oh, and don't miss this Friday's installation (like that? it sounds like a work of art) of FNMTV to see who the final nominees are.

+ 50 Cent featuring Justin Timberlake, "Ayo Technology" -- A glossy, Bond-meets-Bourne video that looks really cool but, I think, is basically about switching cell providers or something.

+ Ashlee Simpson, "Outta My Head" -- Surrealism and Santogold songwriting! Sweet!

+ Alicia Keys, "Like You'll Never See Me Again" -- Serious. Bawl. Sesh.

+ Boys Like Girls, "Thunder" -- I so did not go to high school or high school parties with guys this hot.

+ Common, "Drivin' Me Wild" -- You dressed up Lily Allen as an astronaut because you are awesome, and you look extra hot in a white tux because you are extra hot.

+ Erykah Badu, "Honey" -- Viva la mom and pop y la homage!

+ Foo Fighters, "Long Road to Ruin" -- Ohhhhhhhh Dave Grohl. When oh when oh when will you finally realize we're meant to be together? Oh wait, sorry. This is supposed to be about the video, right? Right. That rules too. (I LOVE YOU, DAVE!!!!!)

+ Ingrid Michaelson, "The Way I Am" -- Weren't scared of clowns before? You are now.

+ Jonas Brothers, "Burnin' Up" -- The JBs get all action-adventure on us. (And after chasing them around for two days, their video's starting to feel less like satire, more verite.)

+ Last Shadow Puppets, "The Age of the Understatement" -- Cold! Grey! Soviet!

+ Missy Elliott, "Ching-A-Ling" -- 3D's cool, but now my heady hurty.

+ No Age, "Eraser" -- Heady, confusing, beautiful.

+ N.E.R.D., "Everyone Nose" -- Livin' la video Lohan! (But remember... this is not a song "about" cocaine ... it's about... people... who do cocaine.)

+ Panic At the Disco, "Nine In the Afternoon -- Crazy 'staches, papier-mâché fishies, dudes in those olde-tymey onesies.

+ Paramore, "crushcrushcrush" -- Something is seriously wrong with the world if these guys (and girl) don't get nominated. I will blame you.

+ Phantom Planet, "Do the Panic" -- California... wait... did we make a wrong turn back there?

+ Pussycat Dolls, "When I Grow Up" -- Boobies! Groupies! Groupie boobies!

+ Tally Hall, "Good Day" -- Adorkable!

+ Vanessa Hudgens, "Sneakernight" -- Mama needs a new pairah shoes!

+ Weezer, "Pork and Beans" -- UhDUH.

More VMAs here.

Tags 50 Cent, Alicia Keys, Ashlee Simpson, Boys Like Girls, Celebrity, Common, Erykah Badu, FNMTV, ingrid-michaelson, Jonas Brothers, Last Shadow Puppets, Lily Allen, Missy Elliott, Music, N.E.R.D., No Age, Panic At The Disco, Paramore, Pussycat Dolls, Santogold, Tally Hall, Vanessa Hudgens, VMAs, Weezer

Missed N.E.R.D. on the "Glow In the Dark" tour? Boo. So did we, though on one hand, we consider ourselves lucky since we avoided getting knocked upside the head by Angry Kanye's MacBook Air. Anyway, N.E.R.D. just dropped their latest clip, "Spaz," so this is as close as you're gonna get unless they release a live DVD. And speaking of missing, you won't catch any nose candy odes, A-list cameos, skateboards, low-riders or neckpieces in this video. Despite the "Spaz if you want to" call to action, the video is a stripped-down, perfunctory performance piece with just a few light trail effects and paint splatters. More like "Chill if you want to."

Tags Celebrity, Music, N.E.R.D., video, Videos