MTV EMAs 2018: Camila Cabello, Nicki Minaj & Janet Jackson Steal the Show
Nicki Minaj opened the show with a commanding, pyrotechnic-accompanied run through “Good Form” before British pop group Little Mix joined her onstage to perform the band’s new single “Woman Like Me,” which features a guest spot from the rapper.
Minaj also took home awards for best hip-hop and best look at the 25th MTV EMAs, which were held at Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Spain. “I want to thank all my fans around the world,” said the rapper upon receiving the best hip-hop title.
Camila Cabello, who did not perform at the awards show but was present in Bilbao, won four awards, including best artist, best song and best video for “Havana” ft. Young Thug.
“I know what it's like to be a fan," she said after receiving her first honor of the night. "I remember when I was 14-years-old watching these shows, waiting for my favorite artists to come on. I know how special that bond is between a fan and their favorite artist and I know special the bond I have with is with my fans."
Other big winners included Dua Lipa, who was named best pop act, and Cardi B, crowned best new artist. Shawn Mendes, who dominated last year’s EMAs in London, won best live act, while 5 Seconds of Summer took the title for best rock.
Ariana Grande the second, most nominated artist going into the night, behind Cabello didn't take home a win in any of her five categories.
Hosting the event was Oscar-nominated actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld, whose charisma and stage presence made her one of the more accomplished presenters in recent EMA history, helped by a noticeable decrease in the type of lame skits that are normally a standard feature of EMA shows.
One sketch that did hit the mark was an opening art heist sketch that saw Steinfeld raid an art gallery (clearly inspired by Bilbao’s world famous Guggenheim Museum) and culminated in Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon Urie climbing down the venue walls and emerging through the ceiling to perform “High Hopes” alongside his band mates, which he also performed at the 2018 MTV VMAs back in August.
Later in the show, Steinfeld gave a strong plug for her upcoming role in Transformers spinoff Bumblebee by singing her new track “Back To Life” from inside a giant human "vehicle" created by more than 20 dancers.
Other standout performances included Spanish modern Flamenco star Rosalía, last year’s host Bebe Rexha singing “I’m a Mess” joined by 100 dancers wearing hospital gowns, and global icon honoree Janet Jackson delivering a knock-out three song medley of “Made For Now,” “All for You” and “Rhythm Nation” atop an elevated stage accompanied by drummers, torch carriers, pyrotechnic explosions and dozens of dancers.
“I feel moved to speak for women’s voices who have been stifled,” said Jackson in a powerful heartfelt acceptance speech. “I am one of those women. Women who have been gagged, both literally and emotionally. Women who have been abused. Women who have been intimidated. Women who have lived in fear.
"I stand with you. You are my sisters,” she went on to say, calling for women to speak out for justice and the “spirit that crosses all borders, recognizes the dignity of all people and affirms the beauty of all faiths.”
“Speak out for acts of true charity, small and large," she continued. "Speak out for an all-embracing love because its love that will heal our wounds."
If Jackson’s performance represented fire, Halsey’s was all about water as the singer passionately belted out “Without Me” while chained to a stake in the ground as rainfall fell around her.
Also making their EMAs mainstage debut was US pop rap duo Jack & Jack, who soared high above the crowd on wires during “Rise” before crash-landing into a living room set where they were joined by dozens of dancers.
As the event drew to a close, Minaj returned to the stage to join Jason Derulo and David Guetta for an energetic run through their collaboration “Goodbye.”
The show ended with two songs by best electronic winner Marshmello, beginning with “FRIENDS” alongside Anne-Marie. Bastille then joined the DJ and Anne-Marie for the rousing “Happier,” and were accompanied by giant inflatable Marshmello heads and exploding confetti canons. Source: BillBoard
2016-09-07
Gucci Mane Teases New Music With OutKast, Lil Wayne & More
Gucci Mane has long built a reputation as one of the hardest-working rappers in the game, and following his release from federal prison in late May of this year, he's gotten right back to business. In a Snapchat video posted over the weekend, Gucci claimed to have recorded verses with Lil Wayne, Project Pat, Boosie Badazz, E-40 and OutKast, all in one day.
Slight work for Guwop, perhaps, but alarm bells went off for fans at the mention of OutKast. Big Boi and Andre 3000 haven't appeared together on a record since the 2007's collaborative record "International Players Anthem (I Choose You)" with UGK, and while the ATLiens' 2014 reunion tour sparked rumors of a new release, nothing has materialized so far. Lately, however, Three Stacks has been more active than usual with guest appearances on albums from Frank Ocean and Travi$ Scott, while Big never truly faded from the scene, having release two solo albums and a collaborative project with Phantogram in recent years.
So Gucci's assertion that he did a record for OutKast (as opposed to with OutKast) seems like it could be significant; or it could just be a slip of the tongue. After all, it's possible that any of these collabs could wind up on Gucci's own upcoming project, Woptober, which will be his second full-length release since becoming a free man once again.
After featuring just Young Thug, Kanye West and Drake on his comeback LP Everybody Looking, Gucci's been getting back in the saddle in terms of doling out verses, contributing to cuts from West, Dreezy, Rae Sremmurd, Kodak Black, DJ Khaled and more in recent months. But if he can get Andre and Big Boi back on the same track again for the first time in almost a decade, it could be his greatest accomplishment to date.
But before fans get too excited, Gucci's claim was tempered by a rep for Andre 3000, who tells Billboard, "There is no OutKast album in the works."
XXL captured the snap on Instagram.
Gucci Mane's 50 pound weight loss Source: BillBoard
2016-08-09
Watch Usher Bust a Move (Or Three) in "No Limit" Video Feat. Young Thug
Usher doesn't skimp on choreography in his latest visual offering for the Young Thug collaboration "No Limit." Whether he's winding up his fist Sugar Ray Leonard-style or grabbing his crotch while crooning "Got that Master P," Ursha spices up his routine alongside a diverse dance ensemble.
Fellow Atlanta native Thugga also expressed his thanks to Usher on Instagram with a behind-the-scenes clip, saying, "Can't say thank u enough@usher but,.. Just no I'm thankful ..#NoLimit."
"No Limit" could be a single off Usher's forthcoming album Flawed. He recently discussed the LP name's significance with Billboard at Cannes Festival in June.
"I find the inspiration every time I find a word: What is 'flawed'? It's something that is not perfect," he explained. "It's a future relic of some sorts, to grow and blossom and gain texture. But it is those things, those tumultuous occurrences and things that happen in your life that define what it is, and in our country and us as people. All of these things are standards, and I became the inspiration. Now I can't tell you yet at the end what it's gonna be, but right now it's Flawed."
Watch him say uhh in the "No Limit" video Source: BillBoard
