Amy Winehouse Works The Bar At Local Pub

Oh Amy Winehouse… Amy Amy Amy Why does her camp still allow her to be around drugs and alcohol? She needs to hire a new team. Here’s Miss Winehouse frequenting her favorite pub, The Hawley Arms. Not only did she … Continue reading

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/03/24/amy-winehouse-works-the-bar-at-local-pub/

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Usher Collaborator Rico Love Calls Kelly Rowland's 'Motivation' 'Truly Organic'

Lil Wayne 'jumped on it,' Raymond v. Raymond writer tells Mixtape Daily.
By Alvin Blanco, with reporting by Rob Markman


Rico Love
Photo: TTLL

Behind the Beats: Rico Love

If more people read the credits behind some of R&B's biggest hits, Rico Love should be a household name. Born Richard Preston Butler Jr., the former Florida A&M University student is now one of the music industry's most-sought-after singer/songwriters.

After writing hits for Usher ("There Goes My Baby"), Beyoncé ("Sweet Dreams") and Diddy-Dirty Money ("Hello Good Morning"), to name a few, one of Rico's biggest hits to date is Kelly Rowland's "Motivation."

"It came about in a truly organic way," Rico told Mixtape Daily of the Jim Jonsin-produced "Motivation." "We had this meeting in New York: myself and Sylvia [Rhone] and Kelly. And they just were saying, 'We need to find that single; we need that big single.' Everybody was asking for an uptempo, actually.

"I flew down to Miami the next day, and that Tuesday, we got back in the studio, and Jim started playing these chords, and then coming up with these little sounds — the signature sounds that Jim comes up with. I just told him to lay it like a skeleton idea, and I jumped in the booth, and I started with the verse, and I kind of sang my way all the way through the record."

Rowland, formerly of Destiny's Child, was in the studio while Rico was laying down the reference track and made her regard for the song known immediately. "Kelly was there and watched the whole process," Rico recalled. "As soon as I finished singing the demo, usually an artist wants to live with it or listen to it for a little while. She just said, 'I want to cut it right now.' So she jumped in the booth, and we cut the record."

"Motivation" became the lead single for Rowland's third album, Here I Am, which was released in April. The song, which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, features a verse from Lil Wayne.

"Lil Wayne got out of jail a few days later, and as soon as he got out of jail, [Rowland] went to see him, and he jumped on it," Rico explained. "It was the most organized situation ever. It was nothing contrived about it."

There's been nothing manufactured about Rico's accomplishments either. Starting his musical career as a rapper, he has signed former Roc-a-Fella rapper Young Chris to his Universal/Motown-distributed Division 1 label.

After leaving Florida A&M to pursue music, Rico caught the attention of Usher, and penned songs for the R&B singer, including "Throwback." Other artists soon benefitted from his songwriting, including T.I., Pleasure P and Mario. Rico takes pride in being versatile with his talents, preferring not to make specific songs intended for specific artists only.

"Sometimes, when you keep an artist in mind, you'll limit yourself," Rico explained. "You won't go a place that they probably would go because you're thinking, "Nah, she wouldn't say this," or "He wouldn't do this," or "He wouldn't say this," and "This melody is out of the way for them."

"When I get a chance to just get into the studio and just write music and just produce music and sit at the piano and tell a guy where I want to hear the chords and create the progressions and just freely make music, it's a lot more fun."

Lately, Rico has been back in the studio with Usher. In 2007, he was signed to the singer's former US Records via J Records. But his debut album was never released, and he and Usher went their separate ways.

But as Rico become a songwriting force, the two eventually started working together again. The first song they recorded was the Grammy-winning "There Goes My Baby" from 2010's Raymond v. Raymond. Now, Rico is working on Usher's forthcoming album and embracing the pressure of surpassing its predecessor's platinum sales and critical success.

"I feel like this is what separates the boys from the men," Rico said of working with Usher. "This week, we been creating records together. We had two mics, two headphones set up in the booth, and we just sit there and vibe out.

"These first few days have been amazing. We got four records cut so far that sound super amazing. I'm super excited about it. I'm just anxious for the world to hear it."

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667790/rico-love-kelly-rowland-motivation.jhtml

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Celebrities Including Vanessa Hudgens, Paris Hilton And Uma Thurman Attend Exclusive Chanel Pre-Oscars Party

Celebrities including Joanna Garcia, Uma Thurman, Rosanna Arquette, Camilla Belle, Ryan Phillippe, Vanessa Hudgens, Russell Brand, Haley Bennett, James Marsden, Nicky Hilton, Paris Hilton, Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Marisa Tomei, Emma Roberts, and Hayden Panettiere attended an exclusive Chanel Pre-Oscars … Continue reading

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/02/27/celebrities-including-vanessa-hudgens-paris-hilton-and-uma-thurman-attend-exclusive-chanel-pre-oscars-party/

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Photos | MTV Buzzworthy Blog: Pop Stars At The Airport!

Usher And David Guetta 'Proud' Of 'Without You'

'When you see R&B and pop and house, as well as electronic, come together, that's the reality of what music is,' Usher tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena, with additional reporting by Jim Cantiello


Usher
Photo: MTV News

When Usher and David Guetta hooked up for the French DJ's latest album, Nothing but the Beat, the two superstars created a chart-topping smash, "Without You," that combines Guetta's ear for house beats and Usher's ability to convey a range of emotions with his voice. It's a song that has really stuck with fans of all genres of music.

The track — a swirling pop ode to not giving up on love in the face of adversity — struck Usher with its emotional core.

"David Guetta is an amazing artist," he told MTV News last week at a Pencils of Promise charity event. "We talked for many years about working together, and we found a record that was incredible."

Usher said it was a song that resonated with him personally. "I think the world wanted a record like that. That [song] really spoke to the journey that I've actually been on in the last three years," he said. "Traveling all around the world, music sounds different. There's many different genres, and when you see R&B and pop and house, as well as electronic, come together, that's the reality of what music is."

When MTV News talked to Guetta on the American Music Awards red carpet Sunday, he said "Without You" is a standout track on the album. The LP dropped earlier this year and also includes Nicki Minaj, who performed with Guetta at the AMAs.

"It's one of my favorite songs," he said. "It's just, I'm a DJ, so I want to make people dance always, but I also want to give emotions. When it comes to that, 'Without You' is probably one of the most emotional songs that I've done, and yes, I'm very proud of that record."

What do you think about "Without You"? Share your reviews in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1674782/usher-david-guetta-without-you.jhtml

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Poll Names The Most & Least Desirable Celebrity Spouses

There are lists and polls for just about every category under the sun, but it seems no matter how many there are – I’m amused by them. MY OK! Wedding magazine took a poll and has given the results for … Continue reading

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/01/31/magazine-names-the-most-least-desirable-celebrity-spouses/

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Jeremy Renner: 'Hansel And Gretel Witch Hunters' Is 'Gritty' And 'Fun'

Films like "Snow White and the Huntsman," "Jack the Giant Killer" and last year's "Red Riding Hood" all are part of Hollywood's recent trend in taking popular fairy tales and turning them into grown-up fare. Not to be exempt from the fun, Hansel and Gretel turn their interests from eating candy to killing witches in [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/12/02/jeremy-renner-hansel-and-gretel-witch-hunters-is-gritty-and-fun/

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First Look: Katherine McPhee Covering ?Beautiful? For ?Smash?

Have you heard about NBC’s new show, ‘Smash,’ which will debut in February? Katherine McPhee is in it, playing the role of Karen Cartwright, a girl from Iowa who is competing for a breakout role in a Broadway musical about … Continue reading

Source: http://www.imnotobsessed.com/2011/11/25/first-look-katherine-mcphee-covering-beautiful-for-smash/

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