<![CDATA[Tego Calderon]]> http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/calderon_tego/artist.jhtml (c) 2007 MTV Networks. (c) and TM MTV Networks. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See http://www.mtv.com/sitewide/mtvinfo/terms.jhtml for terms and conditions. http://www.mtv.com/sitewide/images/u/mtv-logo.gif MTV http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/calderon_tego/artist.jhtml 65 44 Music en-us 15 <![CDATA[New Releases: Jessica Simpson, Method Man, Tego Calderon, Pete Yorn, Too Short, Bob Dylan & More]]> Also due Tuesday: Beenie Man, Young Dro, Ray LaMontagne, Támar Davis, M. Ward, Hatebreed.
By Kurt Orzeck


Jessica Simpson's <I>A Public Affair</I>
Photo: Sony Music

Finally Going Public: Jessica Simpson fans better have slipped into their dance shoes a bit early in anticipation of her new album, A Public Affair. Those who preordered were rewarded with not just a collector's DVD, but also a free download of the same-named single, a preview of two more cuts and entry into the "Hang With Jessica" sweepstakes. Still, anyone who picks up the LP will be able to use it to unlock an extra tune, "I Belong to Me," as a Windows download. Although Jessica's writing contributions don't surface until later in the album, she executive produced the whole shebang with father Joe Simpson. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced three tracks, including "Push Your Tush," while Simpson does the throwback thing by borrowing from the Cars, Stevie Nicks and the Ohio Players elsewhere. Hot stuff.

A New Method: For 4:21 ... The Day After, Method Man dug up the ashes of Jimi Hendrix by recording in Electric Lady Studios, which the guitarist breathed more than just life into in the '70s. But this Man's effort is pure hip-hop, cemented by contributions from Lauryn Hill, Fat Joe, producer Scott Storch, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Ginuwine, Raekwon, Erick Sermon, Havoc and the RZA. Quite the party.

Reggae's Undisputed Champ?: Beenie Man is feeling pretty social these days too, ushering in a handful of R&B heavyweights for his distinctly dancehall record, Undisputed. Janet Jackson pays a visit on the Neptunes-produced "Feel It Boy," Akon helps him take care of "Girls," Scott Storch touches up "Dutty Wine Gal," and Lady Saw chimes in on "My World."

Tego to Go: While Beenie is one of reggae's biggest names these days, a pioneer of one of the genre's offshoots, reggaetón, is also checking in this week. Tego Calderón's The Underdog/ El Subestimado might seem like a bilingual effort, but it's almost all sung in Spanish, save the Buju Banton-featuring "Bad Man" and "Chillin' " with Don Omar. A sample of Jimmy Cliff's "Sooner or Later" also crops up on the record, half of which was recorded in Miami.

Blow-in' It: Too Short makes this week's competition even stronger by dropping Blow the Whistle, his first proper release since 2003's Married to the Game. David Banner bolsters "Baller," and Jazze Pha partakes in "16 Hoes," but Too Short proves he can hold his own with "I Want Your Girl," "Pimpin' Forever," "Call Her a Bitch" and other instructional songs.

Game On: With all the rap heavyweights dishing up new slices this week — there's also Young Dro (Best Thang Smokin') and Loon (No Friends) — the Roots' diverse Game Theory will be a breath of fresh air. The Philly phenoms sample the Jackson 5's "All I Do Is Think of You" on "Can't Stop This," which Jay Dee produced before he died earlier this year. And the record becomes even more eclectic as Black Thought, ?uestlove and the squad tap into Radiohead's "You and Whose Army" and Sly & the Family Stone's "Life of Fortune and Fame."

Singer/Songwriter Stew: Among all the hip-hop activity, a smattering of singer/songwriters are chiming in as well, and the truly varied crew is challenging the limitations of the term. Probably the best-known singer/songwriter of them all, Bob Dylan, tallies his first studio LP in five years, Modern Times. Fans will want to scoop up the limited-edition deluxe version, which has an expanded booklet, previously unreleased photos and a DVD with four goodies: a performance of "Cold Irons Bound" that was shot during the making of the 2003 bomb "Masked and Anonymous," a rendition of "Love Sick" from the Grammy Awards and videos for "Blood in My Eyes" and "Things Have Changed." There's also another DVD, "Bob Dylan 1966 - 1978: After the Crash," which was produced in conjunction with the well-regarded Dylan fanzine Isis and culls phone conversations, rarely seen material and interviews with his collaborators.

Fellow Columbia artist Pete Yorn — who appeared alongside Dylan on the 2001 "Bandits" soundtrack — brings to a close the three-album trilogy that launched his career with Nightcrawler, which he's been hyping with a litany of in-store and club performances. Fans who preordered were gifted with the bonus limited-edition EP Westerns, which he has said was inspired by Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, but everyone will be able to enjoy "Bandstand in the Sky," "Policies" and "The Man," which features Dixie Chick Natalie Maines.

While Yorn's Nightcrawler is a distinctly rock record, Ray LaMontagne tones it down with Till the Sun Turns Black, produced by Ethan Johns (2004's Trouble, Ryan Adams). Expect stripped roots-folk throughout from the RCA Records artist, including "Truly, Madly, Deeply," "Barfly" and "Three More Days."

Continuing to buck the major labels is M. Ward, whose fifth record features guest spots by My Morning Jacket's Jim James, Neko Case and Saddle Creek Records production stalwart Mike Mogis. Post-War boasts "Today's Undertaking," "Neptune's Net" and "Chinese Translation."

You Hear It First artist Támar Davis injects some guitar soul into the mix with Milk & Honey, which is bound to be mixed up with John Lennon's album of the same name as it hits the record racks. "Beautiful, Love and Blessed" pits her with Prince, but people ranging from Naomi Judd to Arsenio Hall have been singing her praises.

Also stepping up to the plate is Bostonian Catie Curtis, whose 12-song Long Night Moon features Mary Chapin Carpenter and the Push Stars' Chris Trapper; Iowan William Elliott Whitmore, whose nine-track Song of the Blackbird finds him reinterpreting "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"; and New Yorker Sasha Dobson, whose Modern Romance sees her branching out into Brazilian music, folk and pop.

Song Title of the Week:

"Konichiwa Bitches" from Method Man's 4:21 ... The Day After

Other Notables:

Various artists' "Kill Your Idols" DVD: After winning the Tribeca Film Festival's rather narrow Best New York Documentary Feature honor but only getting a brief theatrical run, the underground-music film gets upped with bonus interviews and live-performance clips in the DVD version. If you've always wondered what was up with your brother's No Wave fascination, or give a hoot about Sonic Youth and the scene that spawned them, here's your chance.

The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds - 40th Anniversary: If you've been waiting to find the right time to get familiar with one of the most important pop records of all time, now's your chance. The limited-edition set, which is boosted by a DVD documentary, has four different mixes of the album, plus a photo gallery and suede digipak case. If you want to get even more authentic, look for the double-colored vinyl version, for which just 10,000 pressings are being made.

Motörhead's Kiss of Death vs. John Lithgow's The Sunny Side of the Street: This record probably won't spell doom for one of heavy metal's most enduring acts, as Lemmy and the gang hang tough with "God Was Never on Your Side," "Sucker" and "Devil I Know." Also included as a bonus is a newly recorded version of the band's 1991 punk salute "R.A.M.O.N.E.S.," further cementing Lemmy's affinity for the punk gods. Probably the most polar opposite disc to Kiss of Death is Lithgow's children's album, which immortalizes the actor's take on "Inka Dinka Doo" and "I Always Say Hello to a Flower." It's another bright move, so to speak, from the former "Third Rock From the Sun" castmember.

New Releases:

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

  • Bernard Allison - No Mercy (MVD Audio)
  • America - Struttin' Our Stuff (MVD Audio)
  • Beach Boys - Pet Sounds - 40th Anniversary (limited-edition fuzzy package with DVD; Capitol)
  • Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart in San Francisco, MTV Unplugged, Perfectly Frank, Tony Bennett's Greatest Hits of the '50s and Tony Bennett's Greatest Hits of the '60s (RPM/ Columbia/ Legacy)
  • Terri Clark - Definitive Collection (Hip-O)
  • Billy Cobham - Live: Flight Time (MVD Audio)
  • Roger Daltrey - Daltrey, One of the Boys and Ride a Rock Horse (Hip-O)
  • Sammy Davis Jr. - Definitive Collection (Hip-O)
  • Steve Earle - Definitive Collection (Hip-O)
  • Humble Pie - Definitive Collection (Hip-O)
  • James Hunter - ... Believe What I Say (Hepcat)
  • Julio Iglesias - 1100 Bel Air Place and Tango (Columbia/ Legacy)
  • Millie Jackson - Still Caught Up (Southbound)
  • Waylon Jennings - Waylon Jennings Sings Hank Williams (Hip-O)
  • Daniel Johnston - Continued Story/ Hi, How Are You and Yip/ Jump Music (High Wire)
  • Tom Jones - Definitive Collection (Hip-O)
  • Kingston Trio - The Essential Kingston Trio (two CDs; Shout! Factory)
  • Leah Kunkel - Leah Kunkel (Rev-Ola)
  • Shelby Lynne - Definitive Collection (Hip-O)
  • Kawabata Makoto & the Mothers of Invasion - Hot Rattlesnakes (MVD Audio)
  • Marillion - Marbles Live (MVD Audio)
  • Dave Mason - Definitive Collection (Hip-O)
  • Kathy Mattea - Definitive Collection (Hip-O)
  • Rudy Ray Moore - The Best of Rudy Ray Moore and Friends (The Pen)
  • Iggy Pop - 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (A&M)
    Buy Now: 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (A&M)
  • Primitives - Buzz Buzz Buzz (United States Distributors)
  • Queensrÿche - Q2K (Rhino)
    Buy Now: Q2K (Rhino)
  • Diana Ross - Definitive Collection (Hip-O)
  • Stereolab - Serene Velocity: A Stereolab Anthology (Rhino)
  • Pete Townshend - Another Scoop, All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes, Deep End Live!, Empty Glass, The Iron Man the Musical by Pete Townshend, Psychoderelict, Rough Mix, Scoop, Scoop 3, White City and Who Came First (Hip-O)
  • Tanya Tucker - Definitive Collection (Hip-O)
  • Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues - Collectors Edition (limited edition with bonus CD; Capitol)
  • Bob Willis & His Texas Playboys - Legends of Country Music: Bob Willis & His Texas Playboys (three CDs; Columbia/ Legacy)
  • Various artists - Chill Lounge (Water)
  • Various artists - Dave Hamilton's Detroit Funk: Rare and Unreleased Twisted Funk 1967-1973 (BGP)
  • Various artists - The Greatest Songs Ever: Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, France, Greece, Gypsyland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Portugal, Middle East, Spain and Turkey (Petrol/ EMI America)
  • Various artists - Highway South: Southern Rock (Time Life)
  • Various artists - UFC: Ultimate Beatdowns, Vol. 1 (enhanced; Nitrus)

Music DVDs:

  • Black Crowes - "Who Killed That Bird Out on Your Window Sill ... the Movie" (Rhino)
  • Roger Chapman - "Family & Friends" (MVD Visual)
  • Sandy Denny - "Under Review" (MVD Visual)
  • Dream Theater - "Score: 20th Anniversary World Tour Live With the Octavarium Orchestra" (two DVDs; Rhino)
  • Bob Dylan - "Bob Dylan 1966 - 1978: After the Crash" (MVD Visual)
  • E-40 - "E-40 & the Hype on Hyphy: Town Bizness From the Yay" (Warner Bros.)
  • Ian Gillan Band - "Live at the Rainbow 1977" (MVD Visual)
  • Green on Red - "Valley Fever: Green on Red" (MVD Visual)
  • The Korgis - "The Korgis DVD Kollection" (MVD Visual)
  • Queen - "Under Review: 1980-1991" (MVD Visual)
  • Barbra Streisand - "A Happening in Central Park" and "Barbra Streisand ... And Other Musical Instruments" (Rhino)
  • Pete Townshend - "Psychoderelict Live in New York" (Hip-0)
  • Various artists - "Jazz Shots From the West Coast, Vol. 1" (MVD Visual)
  • Various artists - "Kill Your Idols" (Palm Pictures)
  • Various artists - "Roots Daughters: The Women of Rastafari" (MVD Visual)

Coming Attractions:

September 5:

September 12:

September 19:

Related Artists ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1539627/20060828/simpson_jessica.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1539627/20060828/simpson_jessica.jhtml 29 Aug 2006 06:00:00 EDT <![CDATA[For The Record: Quick News On Jessica Simpson, Beyonce, Notorious B.I.G., Tego Calderon, Harry Potter & More]]> Jessica asks fans to choose second single; Beyoncé picks her own; Biggie family loses bid.
By MTV News staff report


Jessica Simpson
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images

Jessica Simpson is asking fans to help determine the second single from her new album A Public Affair, due August 29. Fans can listen on her Web site and vote between "If You Were Mine," "The Lover in Me," "I Belong to Me," "B.O.Y.," "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" and "I Don't Want to Care." ...

As Beyoncé's September 5 B'Day draws nearer (her actual birthday is one day earlier), the singer has "Ring the Alarm" set as the second single from her second solo album. The video for "Alarm," directed by Sophie Muller (Shakira, No Doubt), is scheduled to premiere this month. ...

A judge denied a bid by the family of Notorious B.I.G. to expand its wrongful-death lawsuit against the city, The Associated Press reported Friday (August 11). The family requested last month that the lawsuit also include claims that an on-duty police officer was at the site where the killing occurred, but U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper denied the motion. Cooper said there was "no admissible evidence that [the officer] was on duty ... at the scene of the murder." ...

Tego Calderón has firmed up an August 29 release date for his Atlantic Records debut, The Underdog/ El Subestimado. Reggae king Buju Banton and reggaetón guru Don Omar are among the guests. ... Wyclef Jean is teaming up with Asian pop star Sun. The Fugees rapper is producing the singer's next album. ...

NBA star Ron Artest, fresh off touring with Fat Joe, will release his debut hip-hop album, My World, on October 24. Mike Jones and Allure are among the guests. ... Aly & AJ's "Chemicals React" has been translated into the Sims' native language of Simlish for "The Sims 2: Pets," due October 17. A video for the track is featured on the group's new deluxe edition of Into the Rush. ... Actress/model Jaime King is the new face for Jay-Z's Rocawear line, joining supermodel Naomi Campbell. She is currently featured with Naomi and Jay in the fall holiday ad campaign, which was shot in Aspen, Colorado. "Jay-Z thinks they are two females that represent the Rocawear lifestyle," a Rocawear rep said. ...

New York's Radio City Music Hall is big, but not big enough to contain all of Harry Potter's fans. Millions missed out on J.K. Rowling's juicy question-and-answer session earlier this month at the "An Evening With Harry, Carrie & Garp" charity event benefiting the Haven Foundation and Doctors Without Borders. MTV News gave the scoop on Rowling's talk last week (see "J.K. Rowling Reveals Further Details About Final 'Harry Potter' "), but if you want to experience it for yourself — along with readings by Stephen King and John Irving — the event is being streamed in its entirety on Friday at Video.MSN.com. Select highlights will be available on demand starting Saturday. ...

When Paris Hilton first created her watch line, she designed a limited-edition selection of luxury timepieces priced in the $100,000 range — fair for an heiress, but a little out of regular folks' reach. Now Hilton and Abazias Diamonds are branching out with a ready-to-wear range of watches priced from $138-$230 with style names including Love Horseshoe, Naked Eyes and Bikini — that one has two faces. ... A previously unreleased solo track from Dave Grohl is among the songs featured on the soundtrack to "Rising Son, the Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi," due November 14. New Slightly Stoopid and Murs songs are also included, alongside contributions from Queens of the Stone Age and Gnarls Barkley. ... Kanye West isn't the only star lending his shine to the Rolling Stones' A Bigger Bang fall tour. Dave Matthews Band and Van Morrison are joining the Stones as openers for select dates of the band's latest North American leg. DMB will support the group's Seattle (October 17) and El Paso, Texas (October 20), stops, while Morrison will open in Vancouver, British Columbia (November 3), and Oakland, California (November 5). West's previously announced opening spot for the Stones in Halifax, Nova Scotia, will be boosted by performances by Alice Cooper and Sloan. ...

Portishead's Geoff Barrow is a bit of a thorny curmudgeon — and he's the first to admit it. After fans suggested that au courant beatmaker Danger Mouse produce the long-awaited follow-up to Portishead's self-titled sophomore disc, issued in 1997, Barrows took to the band's MySpace blog to scoff at the idea (in poorly written fashion). "I'd rather poo in my mums suday roast than have Danger Mouse produce a Portishead record, no offence like," he wrote. A few days later, cooler heads prevailed when he appeared contrite — or at least somewhat. "Just to let you know after my rants the other day that were reported about a certain producer. I dont rate myself better or above anyone else. It was purely in responce to a message that suggested he should produce our album and also to be honest I'm a grumpy old f--- who hates everything and Gnarls Barkley." ... "Sleep Well, Drive Carefully: On the Road with Death Cab for Cutie" will kick off Starz Cinema's monthly music series. The documentary, directed by Justin Mitchell and featuring a backstage peek at life on tour, will air August 28 at 10 p.m. ... Jane's Addiction, Mastodon, Seemless, Codeseven and the Fall of Troy are among the artists whose music will be featured in the Xbox 360 game "Saints Row," which will land in stores August 29. ...

New York indie-rockers the Walkmen just released their third album, A Hundred Years Off, in May. But during the arduous recording of that disc — in their downtime — the 'Men recorded another LP: an entire reworking of Harry Nilsson's classic 1974 album Pussy Cats (produced by John Lennon). The note-for-note re-creation, Pussycats Starring the Walkmen, is due October 24. ... Connecticut hardcore stalwarts Hatebreed will be forced to skip the last date on this summer's Ozzfest. Hatebreed are missing the August 13 show in West Palm Beach, Florida, due to a death in bassist Chris Beattie's family. "[Beattie's] grandfather George had become ill and subsequently passed away yesterday," a statement from the band read. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris, his family and those who were close to George. May he rest in peace. Please understand our circumstances." ... And now an indie-rock riddle: What do you get when you add a member of Destroyer and the New Pornographers (Dan Bejar), the singer of Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown (Spencer Krug) and a founder of Frog Eyes (Casey Mercer)? The answer is Swan Lake. The newly formed group will release its debut full-length, Beast Moans, on November 21. The 13-track disc was produced by the bandmates and friends — who are also former roommates.

08.10.2006

Lil' Kim's entertainment attorney has responded to rumors that the rapper has been dropped from Atlantic Records following her early release from prison last month. "We are having discussions which I cannot confirm the details [of] at this time. However, we do wish Atlantic would release and simply free Kim," L. Londell McMillan said in a statement. ...

Carmen Electra filed for divorce from Dave Navarro on Thursday (August 10), The Associated Press reports. She cited "irreconcilable differences." The couple announced their split in mid-July. ...

Dave Chappelle, coming off a sold-out 15-show residency at San Francisco's Punch Line comedy club, has quietly booked a tour that will keep him in theaters across the country through August. The outing begins Friday in Norfolk, Virginia, and ends in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with a pair of gigs on the 25th and 26th. ...

Method Man has set August 29 as the new release date for his upcoming album 4:21 ... The Day After. The LP, which will feature "Say" featuring Lauryn Hill as its first single, was originally due July 18. ...

Gwyneth Paltrow thinks Nicole Richie is "super cute" — so she told Bazaar magazine for its latest cover story. (See pics from the piece right here.) The seemingly mild-mannered actress also revealed that she's not so demure behind the wheel: "I curse when I drive," she said. "I'm like a horribly aggressive New York driver. I'm always yelling, 'F--- you!' at truck drivers and honking my horn!" ...

Poor Sean Preston — he isn't even a year old and he's already made a worst-dressed list. The September issue of Esquire puts Britney Spears and Kevin Federline's toddler son — who's a bit young to have much of a say in his wardrobe — in the fashion-disaster ranks alongside Axl Rose and Marc Anthony. The new face of James Bond, Daniel Craig, sits at the other end of the style spectrum with a best-dressed nod, followed by runner-up John Legend. Actors Terrence Howard and Jake Gyllenhaal and Australian rocker Nick Cave round out the men's magazine's top-five fashion stars. ...

Kelly Clarkson is heading back into the recording booth — with Congress, on Capitol Hill. The singer is headlining the Recording Academy's Grammys on the Hill advocacy events, set for September 6 in Washington, D.C. Clarkson will lead a group of musicians, songwriters, producers and engineers who will join the Congressional Grammy Band — featuring members of Congress who are also musicians — for a recording session. That night, Clarkson, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Representative Mark Foley will be honored by the Academy at a gala dinner. ...

Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts are getting a fresh boost. Matthew McConaughey just auctioned his 1971 Corvette Stingray convertible on eBay, and he'll be forking over the $61,600 winning bid to Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network for Katrina and Rita recovery efforts, AP reports. Mississippi rockers Three Doors Down visited the Gulf Coast earlier this week to dole out money raised from a benefit auction held last year, while Dr. Phil just taped episodes of his TV show in New Orleans that will air at a later date. ...

No Doubt have donated an autographed guitar to benefit Orange, California's Providence Speech and Hearing Center. A chance to win the black Slammer Special by Hamer, signed by Gwen Stefani, Tom Dumont, Tony Kanal and Adrian Young, costs $100. To enter the charity raffle, visit PSHC.org. ... Song titles like "Promiscuous" and "Maneater" don't sound like the work of a quilter, but Nelly Furtado is getting crafty to create the center square of a custom quilt to be auctioned off to benefit environmental charity the Land Conservancy. Furtado is counting on fans to fill out the quilt with their own 12-inch square creations. Participants whose panels make the cut will earn an autographed photo of the singer. Head to NellyFurtado.com for more information on the project. ...

Alicia Keys, Bow Wow, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Hoobastank and Sara Evans all agreed that Arcata, California, high school student Laurel Dammann knows how to express unity through music. The 16-year-old's "Through the Fall" was unanimously chosen by the panel of judges as the winner of the "come together" themed 2006 Songwriting Contest for Teens, sponsored by USA Today and Billboard. "It's about prejudices and differences," Dammann explained to Billboard. "The problem is, some don't look past the differences to see the person." ... Have you considered trying out for "American Idol" but fear that Simon Cowell would say you're better suited for Broadway? Do you dream of being the next John Travolta or Olivia Newton-John? There's finally a televised talent search that fits the bill. "You're the One That We Want," set to air as a midseason addition to NBC's 2006-07 season, is seeking Danny and Sandy wannabes to lead the cast of a Broadway revival of "Grease" set to bow in June. ...

Tommy Lee, Papa Roach and Tiesto are among the artists participating at the second Bacardi Global Gathering, a three-day concert taking place at Las Vegas' Palms Casino September 1-3. The first Global Gathering was staged in Miami in March and featured Nine Inch Nails, Rob Zombie and Sasha and Digweed. More performers for the second one will be announced in the coming weeks. ... Portishead fans who have been waiting nine years for the band's third studio album are going to be left hanging even longer. According to a post on drummer Geoff Barrow's MySpace page, the eight-years-in-the-making LP isn't coming along as planned. "Work ain't good at the moment," he wrote. "We've got stuck. Just a few more months and we can really go at it. ... It's really hard not to sound like you're doing a bad impression of yourself." ...

DJ Shadow will tour this fall in support of The Outsider, his forthcoming album slated for September 12 release. After a tour of Europe and Japan, DJ Shadow will kick his U.S. run off September 20 in Seattle, and hit Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, New Orleans and Chicago before wrapping things up in New York on October 18. ... Kaki King will be headlining the fourth annual Yellow Umbrella Tour, which will make 33 stops across North America to raise awareness of cervical cancer and the virus that causes it, HPV. Best known for her acoustic-guitar instrumentals, King has enlisted a band for the tour, which will feature music from her recently released third album, Until We Felt Red — which takes her sound in a new direction with electric guitar and vocals. The Yellow Umbrella Tour kicks off September 7 in New York and wraps up October 23 in Boston. Cervical cancer survivor and tour founder Christine Baze will open for King on the road trip.

Related Artists ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1538412/20060811/simpson_jessica.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1538412/20060811/simpson_jessica.jhtml 11 Aug 2006 09:13:00 EDT <![CDATA[Kanye, Paul Wall Urge Rappers To 'Bling Responsibly' In Documentary]]> 'Bling: A Planet Rock' looks at hip-hop's impact
By James Montgomery


Paul Wall shooting "Bling: A Planet Rock" on location in Africa
Photo: article19films

When Raquel Cepeda first learned of the conflict in Sierra Leone back in 2001, she was working as the editor in chief of Russell Simmons' now-defunct One World magazine. In keeping with the publication's theme, she would find places around the globe where hip-hop had taken a foothold, and Sierra Leone's burgeoning scene grabbed her attention.

But almost immediately, she knew a mere magazine article would not do the country's story justice. After all, this was a nation just emerging from a savage 11-year civil war — a conflict fueled by the diamond trade — and was in the early stages of recovery, picking through the rubble and trying to rebuild.

And seemingly no one was paying attention.

"I felt that Sierra Leone was more than an article, because I saw these fascinating parallels," Cepeda said. "It was formed by freed slaves, and just at the time hip-hop started to become commercially successful here in the United States — in 1991 — [the Los Angeles district] Watts was burning, and this bloody civil war was beginning in Sierra Leone. So as the conflict was ending, and the aftermath was everywhere, I felt like it would be an interesting social experiment to have some rappers go there as goodwill ambassadors. Because hip-hop has affected every crevice of the world, and I wanted rappers to know that."

And so Cepeda decided to make a documentary that would do just that: show rappers — and hip-hop fans — the connections between hip-hop and the Sierra Leone conflict.

While her film does focus on the role music has played in the country's recovery — there's a vibrant hip-hop scene in the capital city of Freetown, highlighted by artists like Daddy Saj and Jimmy B — it's more concerned with the implications that came with the genre's bling obsession. She decided to call the film "Bling: A Planet Rock," because the insatiable thirst for diamonds was indirectly affecting the war in Sierra Leone.

"It's important to have it out there that the very uncivil war in Sierra Leone was not started over diamonds," Cepeda said. "It was fueled by them."

In early 1991, a militant group called the Revolutionary United Front launched an insurgence against the government in Sierra Leone, attacking villages and committing unspeakable acts of barbarism against women and children. The militants hoped to throw the nation into a state of chaos, taking over the nation's diamond mines and using their riches to purchase drugs and weapons from neighboring nations. These diamonds became known as "conflict diamonds" — or blood diamonds — the same rocks Kanye West raps about in his song "Diamonds From Sierra Leone."

"The film is not intended to make people stop wearing diamonds, because if we boycotted them, it would impair the fragile economy of Sierra Leone and would end up hurting these people," Cepeda said. "It's nobody's fault — the rappers, anyone — if they don't know they're wearing conflict diamonds. So we wanted to raise awareness about the whole issue. We wanted people to bling responsibly. We want rappers to rap about how it's cool to wear cruelty-free diamonds. And Kanye helped with that."

West is interviewed in the film, as is Jadakiss, though neither artist was able to make the trip with Cepeda to Sierra Leone due to scheduling conflicts. But thanks to funds secured from the United Nations and VH1, she was able to secure three other hip-hop figureheads that knew very little about the country but were willing to learn: Paul Wall, Raekwon and reggaetón star Tego Calderón.

"Raekwon really bonded with everyone he met," Cepeda said. "He didn't know what to say at some points, because what he saw in Freetown or in the amputee villages left him speechless. Tego was amazed by what he saw, and Paul was literally walking around with his eyes wide open."

Wall — who's gained acclaim not just for his rapping but for his diamond-encrusted grill — said he was amazed by what he saw, and he hopes the film will raise awareness about the past, present and future of Sierra Leone.

"Up until I heard Kanye's song 'Diamonds From Sierra Leone,' I had never even heard of the country," Wall said. "But once I did, I wanted to find out more, and I wanted to try to help out. So we went to Sierra Leone — me, Raekwon and Tego Calderón — and it changed our lives. We saw the diamond mines and the amputee camps, and it was hard to believe that especially in 2006, people can be living like this.

"When we were over there, it shocked and kind of embarrassed us as jewel wearers, but the people over there told us not to stop wearing them," he continued. "The thing is, that's how people eat. Even to this day, there's a large percentage of illicit diamonds in the marketplace, even though the conflict in Sierra Leone is over. So you want to be careful and get them through the proper channels. I know I'm trying to do that now."

Cepeda will wrap production on "Bling" later this year, and she hopes to make the festival rounds in the winter.

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Related Artists ]]> http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1536572/20060718/story.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1536572/20060718/story.jhtml 18 Jul 2006 02:50:00 EDT <![CDATA[Behind The Scenes At 'My Block: Puerto Rico']]> A young MTV cameraman's experiences include directing traffic, eating lunch with hitmaker's mom.
By Ignacio Guzman


Daddy Yankee poses with the "My Block: Puerto Rico" MTV News team (Ignacio Guzman, this article's author, kneeling)
Photo: Will Miller

The assignment? Go to Puerto Rico and follow reggaetón's royalty for the latest edition of the "My Block" series.

I looked at it not only as an opportunity to gain valuable field experience, but also a chance to bring greater exposure to a genre I have been preaching about here at MTV News since 2003. The role I played in Puerto Rico was that of shooter/production assistant and my team's translator — and it definitely led me into some interesting situations.

We got to work immediately after arriving on the island, and I soon found myself in a neighborhood where homes were painted the color of tropical fruit and seemed safe, but there was plenty of evidence of mean streets: Half a block from the sherbet-colored home where we were shooting were the charred remains of an abandoned car. The house belongs to the mother of Luny (a.k.a. Francisco Saldana), who — with his partner Tunes (a.k.a. Victor Cabrera) — is Luny Tunes, the reigning hitmakers of reggaetón. Incredibly, they've crafted hit after hit in a tiny studio they built themselves in back of the house.

Due to space limitations in the small studio, a couple of us on the team waited outside while the interview was conducted. But once it was over, Luny's mother treated us to a feast fit for a king: Rice, beans, chicken, plantain and even glazed donuts were included in epic meal. Even though I'm not Puerto Rican (I'm Dominican), I felt perfectly at home in this Latin/ Caribbean family setting.

The next day, when Don Omar and his posse arrived at the popular beach destination Paseo Piñones for our shoot, it was like a scene from DMX's "Ruff Ryders Anthem" video: I was surrounded by a huge platoon of buzzing motorcycles and ATVs. Probably thanks to the ruckus, word spread quickly that Don Omar was in the area, and before long we were surrounded by such a large crowd that cars couldn't get through. I was smack in the middle of this madness when I was very surprised to hear my head producer ask me to clear the way. I shouted in Spanish, "Por favor dejen que los carros pasen" ("Please let the cars pass"). I was expecting to be ignored, but before I could blink the crowd parted like the Red Sea.

The following day, we interviewed the man most responsible for exposing reggaetón to the U.S.: Daddy Yankee. Despite his iconic status on the island, he was chill and very down to earth.
Take it to the streets with Voltio, Tego Calderón, Calle 13 and Sway in these hot clips.

The shoots took place at El Morro (a beautiful, enormous fort with a rich history dating back to 1539) and then moved on to Santiago Iglesia, an old baseball field where Daddy Yankee played as a child. It was completely empty when we arrived, but as soon as word spread that El Cangri was in the area, throngs of kids arrived — and it was my job to keep them away from Yankee so the shoot could progress. Throughout the interview, the kids tried their best to get onto the field but I held them back. The kids were good sports about it, and were rewarded when Yankee came over to meet them after the shoot.

After leaving the crowded location with a high-drama exit that would make James Bond proud, we headed to one of Yankee's old 'hoods — and wherever this man goes, a large crowd soon follows. This time, along with school kids, there were senior citizens, men on bikes and even a man trying to sell Yankee a baby alligator! We'd barely finished shooting before heading off to yet another location, following Yankee in his Bentley to Hiram Bithorn Stadium, where the World Baseball Classic was taking place. Puerto Rican pride was in full swing: When Yankee threw the game's honorary first pitch, the crowd roared louder than any I've ever heard.

As if Daddy Yankee weren't exciting enough, the fourth day brought our interview with Tego Calderón — the man whose music first got me into reggaetón. Yes, I'll admit it: I've been exposed to the music since 1994, but I hated it until I heard his El Abayarde and his unofficial second album, El Enemy De Los Guasibiri. I confess I was a bit nervous to meet him, but he quickly calmed my nerves: Like Yankee, he was just one of the guys, mingling with the crowd, signing autographs and never once complaining.

The first leg of the interview took place at Tego's favorite food stand in Loiza. It wasn't the most sanitary cooking operation — the cooks smoked cigarettes over the meals they were preparing — but it was so delicious. While we ate, a few guys from Tego's entourage began playing congas and the place livelied up in a hurry: Sway was dancing with members of the crowd that had gathered.

Later in the day, we headed with Tego's crew for a shoot in one of the most dangerous 'hoods in PR, Tocones. Due to an ongoing drug-related gang war, the area is so dicey that we'd been warned not to enter the location without getting a " 'hood pass" — which we finally obtained, via various friends and acquaintances of friends, on the condition that only one of our cars enter the neighborhood. (Word had it that our cars would have been shot at if we'd entered without clearance.) I wasn't in that car, and the rest of us headed to a more neutral location nearby where, after just a few minutes, the congas came out in full force and another block party was soon under way.

Day five was my last full day on the island, and with two interviews to shoot, I knew it would be a long one. The first, a lighthearted talk with the legendary reggaetón DJ Nelson, went off without a hitch — in stark contrast to what was awaiting us later in the day.

The second shoot took us to an area called La Perla with the group Calle 13. This area is regarded as one of the poorest, most drug-infested 'hoods on the island, and again we found ourselves making calls to get our 'hood pass — there is only one roadway leading into and out of the area.

Although La Perla is just a five-minute drive down the coast from the tourist-heavy El Morro, the people live in extremely harsh conditions: Many buildings in the area are either abandoned or seemingly were never finished, and the aroma of marijuana is everywhere. The members of Calle 13 were completely unfazed — one who calls himself Residente, fittingly enough, said his grandmother used to live there — chatting easily during the interview. Despite the neighborhood's rough conditions, it has a remarkable beauty that's hard to put into words. Like so much else in La Isla del Encanto, you have to see it for yourself.

To chill on the baseball field and in the barrio with Daddy Yankee, check out "MTV News Raw: Daddy Yankee."

Related Photos Related Artists ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1529245/20060421/yankee_daddy.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1529245/20060421/yankee_daddy.jhtml 21 Apr 2006 02:14:00 EDT <![CDATA[My Block: Puerto Rico]]> See Tego Calderon explain his block's African heritage, trek through Calle 13's tough 'hood and catch Sway's Spanglish bloopers in these bonus clips


Photo: Courtesy of White Lion Records

Related Artists ]]> http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1528699 News Article http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1528699 16 Apr 2006 01:47:00 EDT <![CDATA[Preview My Block: Puerto Rico]]> Bring on the reggaeton with Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderon and more of San Juan's finest Sunday at 2 p.m. on MTV2. Stick it right here on Overdrive for the after show.

Related Artists ]]> http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1528430 News Article http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1528430 12 Apr 2006 10:12:00 EDT <![CDATA[Reggaeton Superstar Tego Calderon Headlines AIDS-Awareness Concert]]> This year's concert aimed at Latino population.
By Hillary Crosle


Tego Calderón performs at LifeBeat on Thursday
Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images

With Tego Calderón's El Abayarde album selling more than 350,000 copies, mainstream recognition for reggaetón — a Spanish-language blend of hip-hop, salsa and dancehall reggae — may not be far away. The non-profit AIDS-awareness organization LIFEbeat utilized the genre's popularity at its third Hearts & Voices AIDS Benefit Concert at the New York nightclub Spirit on Thursday night, presenting reggaetón heavyweight Tego Calderón and Dominican boy band Aventura as headliners.

Aventura, accompanied by a seven-piece band, took the stage first amid screams and flying undergarments. Fusing R&B and hip-hop with the Dominican style of bachata, the four singers crooned and swooned through a 30-minute set. Belting out primarily uptempo songs like "Hermanita" and "Cuando Volveras," the group paused the show to pull a female fan from the audience, and then danced with her (rather lewdly). Ending their set with a nod to the evening's message, lead singer Anthony Santos exclaimed, "Sex is the best sh-- — but it's not worth dying for. Latinos, I love you!"

Short sets from acts including MP3, Sucio and Solito followed, but were often interrupted by shouts of "Tego! Tego! Tego!"

Finally, reggaetón's lackadaisical superstar took the stage, with his trademark sunglasses and his afro squeezing out of his fitted Yankees cap. With a mischievous smile, the veteran tore through songs like "Aballarde" and "Bailalo Como Tu Quieras," walking slowly across the stage surrounded by an entourage that grew larger and larger as the set went on. Ironically donning a track jacket that read "Jamaica," the Puerto Rican star pulled a fan onstage and took a slug from her bottle of Hennessy as she shook uncontrollably from either nerves or excitement.

Meanwhile, Calderón finished off the set by rhyming over his remixes of Terror Squad's "Lean Back" and 50 Cent's "Pimp," and attempted (unsuccessfully) to crowd surf. Instead, the fans pulled him down while he let loose his trademark cackle, made famous on "Lean Back."

According to LIFEbeat Executive Director John Cannelli, the Latino community was the focus of this year's concert because Latinos represent 19 percent of newly diagnosed AIDS cases in the U.S., while they comprise 14 percent of the population.

Past participants in the Hearts & Voices concert series include Kanye West, Young Gunz, Memphis Bleek, State Property and Mario Winans.

Related Artists ]]> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1499445/20050401/calderon_tego.jhtml News Article http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1499445/20050401/calderon_tego.jhtml 1 Apr 2005 04:46:00 EST <![CDATA[Tego Calderon - Chillin']]> Tego Calderon - Chillin'

Chillin'

]]> Videos http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236920&vid=129320 http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236920&vid=129320 23 Jan 2007 12:00:00 EST <![CDATA[Tego Calderon - Los Maté]]> Tego Calderon - Los Mat&#233;

Los Mat&#233;

]]> Videos http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236920&vid=113926 http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1236920&vid=113926 18 Oct 2006 12:00:00 EDT <![CDATA[Photos | Mi TRL f/ Don Omar, Tego Calderon, Obie Bermudez and Efren Ramirez]]>

Mi TRL f/ Don Omar, Tego Calderon, Obie Bermudez and Efren Ramirez

Related Artists ]]> Photos http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1542175 http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1542175 2 Oct 2006 12:00:00 EDT