Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber Made A 'Smash' With Far East Movement

16 Feb 2012 16:49:59 EST

Producer RedOne opens up to MTV News about recording session.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Kara Warner

Justin Bieber performs at the 2011 American Music Awards
Photo: Getty Images

Justin Bieber might be singing hooks like a G6 in the very near future. Super-producer RedOne told MTV News that he recently hit the studio with the teen star, and it involved dance-floor phenoms Far East Movement.

"The Bieber thing, I don't know if I'm allowed to mention it right now, but ... I did a few songs with Far East Movement, and one of the songs ... to me, it's a smash," he told us in his Los Angeles-area recording studio. "And Justin sang the chorus. It's a really good song, and I think people are gonna dance like crazy to it." While any other details about the project are top-secret, Red did praise the 17-year-old's work ethic, maturity and musicality. "He's very positive and he's an amazing singer," he said. "Amazing everything! He's Justin Bieber. He's a sensation. I think he's becoming a man with his voice. He's an incredible singer. So it's not just the dance or the looks or the 'Justin' factor. He's a real singer musician ... He's a real artist." Currently, Bieber is busy recording his 2012 release, Believe, and there's a chance RedOne could be involved in the album. But it will only happen if the twosome can cook up a choice track. "We're trying to figure out some smashes together for his album," he said. With RedOne's part on the album still up in the air, there are plenty of other folks onboard with Bieber for the release, including producers Pharrell, Timbaland and will.i.am and rappers Drake and Lil Wayne. Believe will be released later this year. What are you hoping to hear from Justin's new music? Let us know in the comments!

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Justin Bieber Leaves Valentine's Day Visit 'Really Inspired'

14 Feb 2012 10:35:03 EST

Meeting 'Mrs. Bieber,' a 6-year-old fan battling cancer, 'one of the best things I have ever done,' teen superstar tweets.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber visits a 6-year-old fan battling cancer
Photo: MSNBC

Justin Bieber spent the day before Valentine's Day with a special girl. No, he wasn't with his lady love, Selena Gomez — instead he visited Monday with a 6-year-old Belieber, Avalanna Routh, who is suffering from an aggressive form of cancer. In a photo posted to his Twitter account, Bieber is seen hanging out with the young fan, dubbed "Mrs. Bieber." And the experience seems to have really affected him. "Hangin out with a special little girl. #MrsBieber," he tweeted about the meeting. "That was one of the best things i have ever done. She was AWESOME! Feeling really inspired now! #MrsBieber." Avalanna's dream came true after her family started a Facebook campaign for her to meet Bieber, which, along with her pretend marriage to the teen superstar, was reported by a Boston-area news outlet. When the always-charitable Bieber caught wind of the marriage and her family's efforts, the "Today" show reports, he flew Avalanna and her family to New York. The 6-year-old, whose "marriage" to Bieber was orchestrated by the charity the Jimmy Fund, has had an incredibly rare form of cancer called AT/RT since she was a baby.

"Got some really great ideas from today. ways to #giveback. #MrsBieber really inspired me. Really," he said, adding, "BEST PART OF MY DAY." Bieber is involved with several charities through his Believe charity drive, including Pencils of Promise, the organization started by Adam Braun, brother of his manager Scooter, that builds schools for children around the world. The pop star also made headlines recently when he tweeted about a fan who needed an organ donation, skyrocketing registrations at the Trillium Gift of Life Network donor bank in Ontario, Canada.

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Justin Bieber And Esperanza Spalding: One Year Since Their Grammy Showdown

11 Feb 2012 09:46:18 EST

MTV News looks at what the artists have been up to since Spalding beat out Bieber for Best New Artist at the 2011 Grammys.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber performs at the 2011 Grammy Awards
Photo: Lester Cohen/ WireImage

Last year, Esperanza Spalding beat out sure bets like Justin Bieber, Florence and the Machine and Drake when she won the Best New Artist prize at the 2011 Grammy Awards. The loss was particularly hard on Bieber, who spoke to MTV News shortly after the loss. "I had no clue what was going to happen; I worked really hard these past few years, and you know, I'm not going to lie — I was disappointed," Bieber told MTV News at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. "But, you know, I'm gonna come back [next year] and we'll take a few home. ... I'm inspired to work harder than I did last year. It's going to be hard, but I'm going to try."

Spalding was nearly as floored by the win as Bieber. "I really didn't think it was going to be me," she told MTV News backstage. "I was one of those [surprised] people. ... It was so unexpected, that's the truth. I'm grateful to all my people in my big musical family that have given me so much support and help over the years. I don't really think this is for me; it's for all of us. And I wish they could all be here to put one finger on this with me." In the 12 months since last year's Grammy show, Bieber has been everywhere and has certainly lived up to his promise to work hard. He's released new music as well as lots of splashy music videos, gone on an arena-filling world tour, dropped a box-office-busting 3-D concert film, hit the studio for his upcoming album Believe and kept teen girls screaming with an onslaught of various new hairstyles and photo ops. Spalding, on the other hand, has managed to fly under the radar in the time since she took home Grammy gold. However, this March she plans to get back on the scene and release her new album, Radio Music Society, her follow-up to Chamber Music Society, the 2010 album that helped bring national attention to her at the Grammys last year.

"Originally I thought it would be fun to release a double album," she said in a statement about the soon-to-be released album. "One disc with an intimate, subtle exploration of chamber works and a second one in which jazz musicians explore song forms and melodies that are formatted more along the lines of what we would categorize as pop songs. Those are the two things that really interest me, and it intrigues me to think about different presentation approaches while writing each kind of song." As she sets out to celebrate the anniversary of her win, Spalding dropped a new track, "Black Gold," to radio, and earlier this month she premiered the video for it. She'll also hit the road for a tour that kicks off in April and wraps up in June. Interestingly enough, Bieber is also set to drop his new album later this year, for which he's enlisted Drake, will.i.am, Pharrell and Lil Wayne. Could it mean there will be another Bieber/Spalding showdown at the 2013 Grammy Awards? Only time will tell. Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss our Grammy red-carpet live stream this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered for all the Grammy red-carpet fashion, Grammy winners and Grammy news until the hangover wears off!

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Justin Bieber 'Too Humble' To Give The Wanted Advice

09 Feb 2012 14:49:04 EST

U.K. boy band wrapped their first-ever U.S. tour Wednesday night in L.A.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber
Photo: Getty Images

The Wanted landed on U.S. shores last month for their first-ever tour here in America, and what ensued was Beatlemania-like fandom. On Wednesday night, the U.K. boy band wrapped up the trek in L.A., and fans (including the Beckham family) came out in full force when they took the stage at the El Rey.

The five Brits couldn't believe the enthusiasm felt by the crowd, tweeting that the excitement for them was "unbelievable." Even though the tour is over, the interest in the guys has hardly waned. Their song "Glad You Came" (from their 2011 album Battleground) will be featured on "Glee" this season and continues to climb the charts and gain radio play. The guys are prepared for all the attention: Touring with Justin Bieber has shown them what it's like to become an international pop sensation. So what kind of advice has the Biebs given them? "I think he's too humble for that, in that way. ... He's not someone that really gives advice, because I think he just appreciates what happens to him rather than thinks he's God," Max George told MTV News. "And so, I mean, we don't really talk music. When we speak to him, it's more we talk about football or basketball." Bandmate Jay McGuiness added: "I think he knows that we know how to do what we want to do in the same way that we could never tell him how to do what he does, 'cause he does it a lot better than we ever could." The Wanted will head back home to their native U.K. to kick off an arena tour that will run through March. They are also up for Best British Single at the Brit Awards this month for "Glad." Have you been following the Wanted's burgeoning career? Let us know in the comments!

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Justin Bieber Records With Drake For Believe

09 Feb 2012 11:30:53 EST

Bieber's manager confirms on Twitter that the young pop star hit the studio with Drizzy for his upcoming album.
By Jocelyn Vena

Drake and Justin Bieber
Photo: MTV News

Believe it or not, there doesn't seem to be anyone that Justin Bieber isn't getting on his in-the-works next album. It seems that fellow Canadian and Take Care rapper Drake has been tapped to appear on the album, set for release later this year. The news of their collabo was confirmed on Thursday (February 9) by Bieber's manager Scooter Braun on Twitter. But any Belieber could have easily figured out whom Bieber was referring to when he tweeted this message to his devotees: "You really wanna know who im going into the studio with tonight??#bigbro #CANADA."

This Drizzy collabo has been a long time in the making. At the 2010 VMAs, Bieber shared with MTV News that he wanted to get his pal on his next proper (non-holiday) album. Then, in a radio interview late last year, he confirmed that Drake, along with Kanye West, was in talks to work on Believe. However, as the list of collaborators for the album grows, one more name is being tossed about as a potential collaborator. Sources tell Hollywoodlife.com that Ke$ha may appear on Believe. The source says that K-dollar sign "would also be a part of the song in a duet capacity." The duet has yet to be confirmed, and K is busy in the studio working on her own rock and roll-inspired album. This wouldn't be the first time Bieber and Ke$ha have paired up. They appeared together at the 2010 Grammy Awards, where the newbies presented the award for Best New Artist to the Zac Brown Band. Super-producers Pharrell, will.i.am and Lil Wayne (who recently visited Bieber in the studio) are among the other names that have been tossed about as possible folks working with Bieber on the album. Believe is the follow-up Christmas-themed Under the Mistletoe, which was released in late 2011. What collaborations do you hope to see on Believe? Leave your comments below!

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'Punk'd' Taps Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus For Comeback

08 Feb 2012 13:58:49 EST

MTV's legendary hidden-camera show will re-launch with rotating cast of guest hosts on March 29 at 10 p.m. ET.
By Gil Kaufman

"Punk'd" Logo
Photo: MTV

One of MTV's most beloved series, "Punk'd," is gearing up for a fresh round of hidden-camera celebrity gotchas when it re-launches next month with a whole new look and feel.

The prank show from mastermind/ executive producer Ashton Kutcher, which originally aired from 2003 to 2007, will hit the air at 10 p.m. ET on March 29 as part of a new hour-long block of original programming that will also include a "Jersey Shore" spin-off show entitled, "The Pauly D Project." Check out the 15 most memorable moments from the original "Punk'd" show here. While Kutcher enjoyed taking down his pals and unsuspecting celebrities last time, the 2.0 version of "Punk'd" will feature a rotating cast of celebrity hosts each week. Among those lined up to fill the "Two and a Half Men" star's shoes are: Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Kellan Lutz, Hayden Panettiere, Bam Margera and "Punk'd" alum Dax Shepard, among others. They will prank their fellow Hollywood pals, including Khloé Kardashian Odom, "Teen Wolf" star Tyler Posey, Demi Lovato and many more. Not only will the celebrity hosts take the punking to a new and unnecessarily complex level, but for the first time in series history, viewers will also get a behind-the-scenes peek at what it takes to pull off these elaborate pranks. During its initial run, "Punk'd" pulled some all-time classic gags on such unsuspecting targets, one of which occurred in the series premiere, when a then-22-year-old Justin Timberlake broke down in tears when he thought government agents were seizing his home because of $900,000 in unpaid taxes. Other classic bits included one in which Beyoncé is tricked into believing that she caused a giant Christmas tree to topple over on some presents intended for a group of underprivileged children, ruining their holiday. Catch "Punk'd" when it returns on Thursday, March 29 at 10 p.m. ET on MTV. For more on the return of MTV's "Punk'd" check out the Remote Control blog.

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Justin Bieber, Drake Land Juno Nods

07 Feb 2012 15:17:14 EST

Avril Lavigne, deadmau5 and Nickelback were also nominated for Canadian music awards.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/ Getty Images

Just days before the Grammy Awards are handed out here in the States, the nominees for the Canadian version of the music awards show, the Juno Awards, were announced on Tuesday (February 7) with Drake, Justin Bieber and Michael Bublé all landing nods. Some of Canada's biggest acts will face off in the Album of The Year category: Avril Lavigne for Goodbye Lullabye, Drake for Take Care, Justin Bieber for his Christmas-themed Under the Mistletoe, Michael Bublé for his holiday album Christmas and rockers Nickelback for Here and Now.

Bieber scored his second nomination in the Fan Choice Award category along with Arcade Fire, Lavigne, City and Colour, deadmau5, Drake, Ginette Reno, Hedley, Bublé and Nickelback. He, however, didn't manage to land any nods in other major categories like Artist of the Year. His pal Drake did nab a nom in the Artist of the Year category, along with Feist, Bublé, City and Colour and Deadmau5. While the roster of nominees for the show is uniquely Canadian, Drake's Stateside crossover makes him the most high-profile nom in the Rap Recording of the Year category. His Take Care will face off against Classified's Handshakes and Middle Fingers, D-Sisive's Jonestown 2: Jimmy Go Bye Bye, Kardinal Offishall's Anywhere (Ol Time Killin Part II) and Swollen Members' Dagger Mouth. Nickelback, Feist and Deadmau5 are among the artists set to perform at the show, which takes place on April 1.

A number of Juno nominees are also Grammy-nominated. Deadmau5, for instance, won't have to wait until April to find out if his hard work has paid off. He is also up for several Grammy Awards including Best Dance/Electronica Album for 4x4=12. Drake's work on tracks with Rihanna and DJ Khaled and Nicki Minaj has shined some Grammy light on him this year as well. And, Bieber's "Born to Be Somebody" from his movie "Never Say Never," is up for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Who should take home prizes at the Juno awards? Leave your picks in the comments section below! Chaos! Profanity! Wardrobe malfunctions! Don't miss Sway and James Montgomery live from the Grammys red carpet this Sunday, February 12, for a full three hours of mayhem, starting at 5 p.m. ET on MTV.com. And the fun doesn't end Sunday: MTV News has you covered until the Grammy hangover wears off!

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Justin Bieber's Bodyguard Scuffles With Paparazzo At LAX

07 Feb 2012 10:18:10 EST

Altercation occurred when photographer refused to stop snapping shots of Bieber, who was at airport to pick up family.
By Jocelyn Vena

Justin Bieber
Photo: Getty Images

Justin Bieber's bodyguard got into a scuffle with a paparazzo at LAX airport on Monday. According to reports, the bodyguard intervened when the photographer refused to stop snapping the pop star's photo.

"Today at approximately 2:15 p.m., Los Angeles Airport Police observed what appeared to be a crowd control incident at Terminal 4 on the upper departures level involving Justin Bieber. An investigation revealed an altercation occurred between an unnamed body guard (victim) and a photographer (paparazzi) at the location," a Los Angeles Airport Police official told E! News about the incident. In the same statement, the police official explained that the paparazzo was ultimately detained by officials. "[The] twenty-one-year-old ... photographer, a resident of Van Nuys, Calif., was arrested and transported to the Airport Police Station for pre-booking procedures," the statement reads. "He was later transported to the LAPD Pacific Division Jail and booked for California Penal Code Section 245 — Assault with a Deadly Weapon — a felony." In footage obtained by TMZ, the photographer and Bieber's bodyguard are seen tussling with each other before the bodyguard punches him in the face. Later on, officials arrived and handcuffed the photographer. Bieber was at the airport picking up his family. He tweeted about meeting up with them, but never mentioned the incident. "I have my family with me...been a while. BEST FEELING. I love being a BIG BROTHER! #FAMILY," he wrote. Bieber recently tweeted about another incident that took place at an airport. When it was reported that he had ignored his fans, he wanted to clarify that that's not what happened. "The other day in the airport i got surrounded by 20 paps. I dont like small spaces and i just wanted to get on the plane. I ran to get thru the gate and there is a video of me running by fans and on the other side you dont see the 20 paps. I would never run by my fans... and for those that i did pass that day I AM SORRY. I know my fans are my everything. I know my responsibility to them. I LOVE MY BELIEBERS," he said of the incident, which took place in late January. "So as i get older i know i will learn to deal with these things better and better just still learning," he added. "Still human. just had to get that out." Bieber has always had an interesting relationship with the paps. In March 2011, he gave them the middle finger after being surrounded by photographers following a birthday dinner with his girlfriend, Selena Gomez. He later apologized for the incident.

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Justin Bieber Gets Studio Visit From Lil Wayne

01 Feb 2012 15:58:31 EST

'Big bro came thru,' Bieber tweets after Weezy's visit.
By Jocelyn Vena

Lil Wayne and Justin Bieber
Photo: Justin Bieber via Photobucket

Justin Bieber knows a thing or two about "swag," so it's no surprise that the one and only Lil Wayne visited the young star while he was deep in the recording process for his next album, Believe.

"Good time in the studio last night. back at it tonight. oh yeah...and big bro came thru...," Bieber tweeted, linking to a photo of him and Weezy chilling out and skateboarding together. In case his fans didn't get the message, he followed it up with another tweet and picture: "and when i say big bro i mean @LilTunechi . #BELIEVE IT #family." While it's unknown whether Wayne will appear on Bieber's album, a certain super-producer is definitely in the mix, according to another tweet: "in the studio with @timbaland and the crew. #creating... got a lot of things i want to write about. ready to make music." Bieber has said he hopes his new album will have a Justin Timberlake vibe, similar to what Timbaland created on FutureSex/LoveSounds. And for those wondering how it all went in the studio, Bieber's longtime manager, Scooter Braun, filled fans in. "got great reports on the first night with @justinbieber and@timbaland," Braun tweeted. "Exciting stuff. heard YMCMB stopped by too. gonna be interesting."

Believe is set to drop later this year. Bieber has already worked with Black Eyed Peas mastermind will.i.am, who will reportedly produce a song for the album. Whether Weezy will have any part on the album, Bieber has said he's been in talks with other MCs, like pal Drake and Kanye West, to make appearances on the album. "The only conversation we've had about Justin's album that we're about to do is, it's really important that it's the proper transition, because we've seen him [with] 'Baby,' now we're watching him grow up," vocal producer Kuk Harrell told MTV News. "And we can't just throw him into the adult game right away. It has to be the proper transition. There's a record in between." What are you expecting from Bieber's next album? Let us know in the comments below!

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Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber Share A Dating 'Philosophy'

31 Jan 2012 14:43:49 EST

'If you're in love, you're in love to the fullest,' singer/actress tells Cosmopolitan.
By Jocelyn Vena

Selena Gomez on the cover of Cosmopolitan
Photo: Cosmopolitan

Selena Gomez turns the big 2-0 later this year, and she seems to be leaving her tween image behind. The 19-year-old is the latest teen star to appear on the cover of Cosmopolitan, following last month's issue of the women's magazine, featuring 17-year-old Dakota Fanning. For her first cover for the magazine, Gomez dons a low-cut, floral-print dress as she looks rather seductively into the camera. She's sitting with her one leg perched in front of her body, displaying a saucier side of herself than fans might be used to seeing.

Inside the issue, she's talking all about love, opening up about her longtime boyfriend, Justin Bieber. "I'm just like every 19-year-old girl," she said. "If you're in love, you're in love to the fullest, and you just want to go to the movies, hang out, and be as normal as possible. I'm fortunate that I've found someone who has that philosophy." In another Cosmo quote floating around online, Gomez dishes on a past boyfriend (Taylor Lautner? Nick Jonas?) who didn't make things as easy on her. "I was in a relationship previously where I had to hide everything and it wasn't my choice. I had to go through different exits and take separate cars and do the craziest things, and it just really wasn't worth it," she explained. "It was like a year of my life completely wasted." The more mature magazine cover comes as Gomez prepares for the next phase of her career. In the coming weeks, she'll hit the set for her next film, the more adult-themed "Spring Breakers," which follows a group of college girls who rob a restaurant to pay for their spring break. When they land in jail, a drug and arms dealer bails them out, and they quickly become entangled with him and his business. "It's a different character than I have ever played before," she told MTV News about the film, which will be directed by "Kids" mastermind Harmony Korine. "It's a different kind of vibe I think than people are used to seeing me in. What you're going to see is more raw, I think. It's going to be raw and more about acting." What do you think about Selena's grown-up image? Let us know in the comments!

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