Taio Cruz Working On 'Young Pop' For Justin Bieber

'I don't want to disappoint his fans,' 'Dynamite' singer says. 'They can be angry little 12-year-olds.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Jim Cantiello


Taio Cruz
Photo: Jason Kempin/ Getty Images

Justin Bieber's team is enlisting some of the music industry's biggest stars for his next album. And according to Taio Cruz, working on tracks for the pop star's next album comes with quite a bit of pressure.

"Yes, I am [writing for Justin]," the "Dynamite" singer confirmed to MTV News at Z100's Jingle Ball on Friday. "I was just recently asked to work for Justin Bieber, so that should be good.

"Yeah, he is a big deal," Cruz added. "I don't want to disappoint his fans — they can be angry little 12-year-olds. He's fun. He's young, so we'll keep it in the right arena; just fun, young pop music."

So how did the collaboration between Cruz and Bieber come to be? Cruz explained, "Sometimes the label or someone or management will ask me to write something specifically and they'll give me a few topics, a few things to focus on, and then we come up with ideas."

Not much is known about Bieber's next album, but Justin did share with MTV News in September that it would "probably [come out] fourth quarter next year." "Drake is gonna be on that album; I'm not sure [who else]. I'm gonna ask him if he can get [Lil] Wayne on there," Bieber revealed.

Aside from writing for Bieber, Cruz said that in 2011 he hopes to have a few more radio hits of his own after an impressive 2010.

"I would say next year, just more good songs. Hopefully the fans, and new fans, enjoy the music as much as they are currently," he said. "I've been working with so many amazing people — David Guetta and Swedish House Mafia — and producing more stuff myself, as well. I've got some really, really good songs in the bag."

What do you think a Justin Bieber/ Taio Cruz collaboration will sound like? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1654171/20101213/bieber_justin.jhtml

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Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian Return To Twitter

After helping raise $1 million for AIDS benefit, Gaga tweeted, 'Played the album for label, the rest is History.'
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

After "dying" last week to help raise $1 million for Alicia Keys' Keep a Child Alive organization during World AIDS Day, celebrities from Lady Gaga to Kim Kardashian have returned to the Internet and begun tweeting updates to their fans about all the latest in their busy, glamorous lives now that the organization has reached its $1 million goal.

"I am back from the dead! Thank you all so much for your donations and contributions! I have missed u all so much!!!" Kardashian wrote. "We raised $1mil to help KCA fight AIDS. Thank you so much and never stop buying life!"

Lady Gaga gave her fans a brand-new visual of herself with a close-up photo of the reclining pop star wearing white fur and a big cocktail ring. "Havin a little too much fun on tourbus. Played the album for label, the rest is History. Amen Hooker," she tweeted.

Ryan Seacrest seemed enthused by his return to the social networking site and shared that he was hard at work on "American Idol." "I'M ALIVE! We've raised $1 million to help KCA fight AIDS! Thank u guys SO MUCH for all u did! ... So stoked to be back on twitter!" he shared. "In a meeting with Idol judges now ... we shoot Hollywood Week this week so we are going thru the plan now. 2morrow's a full day: radio show then, we start seeing the contestants that made it 2 hwood for idol. It's the largest group we have ever had."

The woman behind the campaign, Alicia Keys, happily thanked everyone for their support. "Weeee diddddddd itttttt!!!!! thank you sooooooo much for your support and for CARING about what's going on in the world!!!! Big Shout to YOU!! ALL THE ARTISTS involved!!! And STEWIE RAH!!! Together we raised $1M to fight AIDS and SAVE REAL LIVES!!!!!!" she tweeted.

Other celebrities who are now free to tweet again include Justin Timberlake, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Khloé Kardashian, Lenny Kravitz, Jay Sean, Swizz Beatz, Serena Williams and Janelle Monáe.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653692/20101207/lady_gaga.jhtml

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Justin Bieber, Usher Top American Music Awards Winners List

Eminem, Black Eyed Peas, Rihanna also nab trophies.
By Mawuse Ziegbe


Justin Bieber wins Breakthrough Artist, Pop/Rock Favorite Male Artist and Artist Of The Year Award during the 2010 American Music Award
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

The 2010 American Music Awards dished out hardware to many of pop, R&B and country music's biggest names. Like most high-profile awards shows, there were showstopping performances, off-the-runway fashion and emotional moments. Unlike most trophy fests, the AMA winners aren't determined by the inner circle of music-industry professionals, but rather the fans who plunk down cash for hit records.

This year, fans handed over pyramids to the artists who also cranked out many of the biggest hits. Justin Bieber made off with the most AMA booty, nabbing four trophies. Taylor Swift, Rihanna, the Black Eyed Peas, Eminem and Bieber's mentor Usher also snagged AMA loot.

Check out the list of AMA winners below:

Pop or Rock Music
Favorite Male Artist
Justin Bieber

Favorite Female Artist
Lady Gaga

Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Black Eyed Peas

Favorite Album
Justin Bieber, My World 2.0

Country Music
Favorite Male Artist
Brad Paisley

Favorite Female Artist
Taylor Swift

Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Lady Antebellum

Favorite Album
Carrie Underwood, Play On

Rap/ Hip-Hop Music
Favorite Male Artist
Eminem

Favorite Album
Eminem, Recovery

Soul/ Rhythm & Blues Music
Favorite Male Artist
Usher

Favorite Female Artist
Rihanna

Favorite Album
Usher, Raymond v. Raymond

Soundtracks
Favorite Album
Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers

Alternative Rock Music
Favorite Artist
Muse

Adult Contemporary Music
Favorite Artist
Michael Bublé

Latin Music
Favorite Artist
Shakira

Contemporary Inspirational
Favorite Artist
MercyMe

Artist of the Year
Justin Bieber

T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist
Justin Bieber

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1652775/20101121/bieber_justin.jhtml

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Lady Gaga's 'Telephone' Is MTV News' #10 Song Of 2010

Epic video and an assist from Beyoncé land the track on our Top 25 Songs of 2010.
By Kyle Anderson


Lady Gaga
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images

Last week, MTV News began the countdown of the Top 25 Songs of 2010 with runs through songs 25-18 and 17-11. Those lists featured heavy-hitters like Lady Gaga ("Alejandro"), Katy Perry ("Teenage Dream"), Rihanna ("Rude Boy"), B.o.B ("Airplanes") and Kanye West ("Monster").

Though all those tunes were vital, they couldn't quite muster the combination of chart success, critical acclaim, fan enthusiasm and cultural impact to break into the top 10. Today, we unveil the first two entries in the top 10, an elite list that reflects the year that was in music.

So what song kicks us off at #10? It's "Telephone," Lady Gaga's epic tag-team collaboration with Beyoncé.

"It was my favorite track from The Fame Monster EP," MTV News' Jim Cantiello said. "It just has so much personality. It's such a good dance pop song and is just so Gaga. It's ridiculous."

"Telephone" came from Gaga's 2009 EP The Fame Monster, an eight song addendum to her mammoth 2008 debut The Fame. The track, which is the only collaboration on The Fame Monster, was formally released as a single back in January and was accompanied by one of the most visually arresting videos of the year (one that won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Collaboration). The track peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and managed to top the charts in the U.K., Ireland, Belgium and Norway.

Produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, "Telephone" was originally written by Gaga and Jerkins for Britney Spears (who turned the track down). The song is built around a twitchy, propulsive disco beat and slathered with police-siren keyboards. It's one of the most manic songs in Gaga's back catalog, and the track's breathless desperation matches the tenor of the lyrics, which find Gaga and Beyoncé insisting that outside forces leave them alone (the key line being "Stop calling/ I don't want to think anymore").

Usually, Lady Gaga's presence is so gigantic that there isn't much room for anybody else — let alone a star the size of Beyoncé (indeed, when the two previously collaborated on "Video Phone," Gaga got a bit lost in the mix). But "Telephone" uses Beyoncé perfectly, tapping into B's "Sasha Fierce" alter-ego for a tough and edgy guest appearance that adds a bit of humanity to Gaga's otherworldliness.

"Beyoncé's guest verse is so out of the box," noted Cantiello. "But it's still Beyoncé in a weird way."

The song's impact was also buoyed by the video. Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the nine-minute epic tells the story of Gaga's escape from prison with the help of Beyoncé. The pair then go on a rampage that is part "Natural Born Killers," part "Thelma & Louise" that ends with the pair driving off a cliff (in the "P---y Wagon" from Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" movies, of all things). The clip was greeted like a big movie premiere, and the result was a colorful, sexy and violent trip through the outer reaches of Gaga's imagination.

And consider this: Despite her sold-out-everywhere Monster Ball Tour, a boatload of MTV Video Music Awards and a number of social-action projects, this was probably considered a bit of a quiet year for Gaga. "2010 wasn't even that big a year for Lady Gaga compared to 2009," notes MTV News pop writer Jocelyn Vena. "But this album was so big on radio and so big in clubs that she maintained a presence that very few pop stars can so early in her career. She's poised to have an even bigger 2011."

Where would you place Lady Gaga's "Telephone" among the top songs of 2010? Let us know in the comments!

MTV News' Top 25 Songs of 2010 countdown continues. Make sure to keep checking back to see what song we've named #1, and don't forget to share your picks with us in the comments below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653554/20101203/lady_gaga.jhtml

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Justin Bieber's 'Latin Girl' Leaks

There's no word yet where the club-ready track will end up or when it was recorded.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber
Photo: Sohyung Kang/ MTV News

Justin Bieber only released one new track, "Pray," on his just-released My Worlds Acoustic, but it seems that he is working on some more music. A track called "Latin Girl" leaked online late Monday with no information about where it came from or when it was recorded.

On the track, Bieber pines for a girl, singing, "I was on the beach, yeah/ I was on vacation/ I was doing nothing/ I was just sittin' patient/ Then you walked by/ You caught my eye/ I said, 'Who's this girl? She's lookin' superfly'/ Hey, miss beautiful, I've never seen you before/ And I would like to be the one to show you I am cool and all/ Hey, little momma, what you got on ya/ Looking so good that I just want to telephone her."

Later on, with a club-ready beat pumping on the Latin-flavored track, he sings, "She's my Latin girl/ Ooh, pretty lady, don't you think it's crazy/ She's my Latin girl/ Oh she tries to fight, but she knows she likes it."

There are two rumored inspirations for the song, both of whom have been romantically linked to the singer: Jasmine Villegas and Selena Gomez.

No further information about where the track will eventually end up was available, and a rep for the singer had not responded to MTV News' request for comment by press time.

Bieber has admitted that he is working on new music for an album to be released sometime in 2011. "[It'll] probably [come out] fourth quarter next year," he revealed to MTV News in September. "Drake is gonna be on that album; I'm not sure [who else]. I'm gonna ask him if he can get [Lil] Wayne on there."

What do you think of "Latin Girl"? Share your reviews in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1653274/20101130/bieber_justin.jhtml

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