Former Jay-Z Protege Tru Life Gets Eight Years In Jail

Former Jay-Z protégé Tru Life has reached a plea deal with Manhattan prosecutors that will land the rapper in jail for eight years, MTV News has learned. The New York native was offered a deal last week stemming from a 2009 incident that resulted in the stabbing death of a 20-year-old man, Christopher Guerrero. Tru Life, born Roberto Rosado, and his brother Marcus Rosado were accused of the crime, but the rapper pleaded down to second-degree gang assault, while Marcus pleaded to first-degree manslaughter and will serve 10 years behind bars. "Robert and Marcus Rosado accepted...

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Ciara Says Online Post About Label Woes 'Came From A Real Place'

Ciara took to her Facebook page last week to address fans and ask her label, Jive Records, to release her after two lackluster albums. When MTV News caught up with the R&B singer recently, we asked about the headline-making post. "My letter was a message to my fans, and it came from a real place and I just wanted my fans to know where I was," she explained. The 25-year-old singer, who has had chart-topping hits such as "Goodies" and "1,2 Step," wrote in the post, titled "My Time to Speak": "It is true that I have asked and I pray that my label will release me. I have had...

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Nicki Minaj: My Appeal Lies In Showing It's 'OK To Be Weird'

Nicki Minaj is a platinum-selling rapper but she's still adapting so many aspects of fame. The Young Money MC says she's learning that she has to censor herself and that not all of her followers are fans. "I have to watch my mouth sometimes," she tells BlackBook magazine in a new interview. "All of those people who follow me on Twitter? They aren't my friends. Some of them are fans, but many of them are people who hate my guts and are just waiting for me to tweet something that they can put on their blogs. It's easy to see 2 million followers and think, 'Look at all these...

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Lindsay Lohan 'Will Be Going To Jail' If She Accepts Plea Deal

Lindsay Lohan arrived at Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday morning (February 23) facing the possibility of jail time, after being offered a plea deal related to her alleged theft of a $2,500 necklace on January 22. She left without accepting the deal, and with the prospect of jail still very much in the cards. Lohan, who wore a low-cut black top to the proceedings, was told by Judge Keith Schwartz that if she does accept Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Danette Meyers' offer to settle the case, she "will be going to jail." According to TMZ, the deal is for...

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'Glee'-Cap: Rachel Berry Drives Us To Drink

This week's "Glee" seems to have inspired a one-man party here in the MTV Newsroom. After Rachel's wild party, our own Jim Cantiello seems to have hit the sauce and, well, to quote Jamie Foxx, if you can't follow along with this song, blame it on the alcohol. Rachel Berry's dads left her alone in a big empty house.They're off on Rosie's gay cruise.Her songwriting sucks, she says, "Aw shucks, I live like a church mouse; It's time for me to drink some booze." They play Spin the Bottle,Rachel and Blaine kiss.His loins start to throttle,Does it mean he's into misses? Kurt...

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Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Teaches Fans To 'Be Proud'

Fans have been donning their best Lady Gaga costumes for the first three stops on the latest leg of her Monster Ball Tour, and MTV News has been there all the way. Gaga's dedicated Little Monsters have been turning out in droves to see their Mother Monster belt out her hits, including her latest smash, the anthemic disco number "Born This Way." Fans told MTV News that the song's feel-good message has resonated with them. "I think it's fantastic that she decided to put that song out first before any other more noteworthy songs she might have," Juliana explained. "Because it...

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'Spider-Man' Musical Star Talks Production Delays And Fighting Fear

"Things are constantly changing. It's a very creative process," T.V. Carpio told MTV News, explaining the seemingly ever-shifting nature of "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark." For some observers on the outside looking in, that might come off as spin, an "it's all good" mentality meant to calm the public while inside the musical's playhouse, "Spider-Man" continues to struggle to find its creative footing. But to Carpio, it's all part of the inspirational process of working with Julie Taymor, the visionary behind the "Lion King" musical and films like 2007's "Across the Universe."...

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Snoop Dogg And R. Kelly Strive For 'Greatness' On 'Platinum'

West Coast icon Snoop Dogg and Chicago R&B veteran R. Kelly teamed up with production whiz kid Lex Luger for the booming track "Platinum." Snoop sat down with MTV News to talk about the track, which will be featured on his 11th studio album, Doggumentary, saying his and R. Kelly's approach to music is what made their partnership a natural and familiar fit. "I think me and Kells understand who we are and what we do to make each other better," Snoop said. "He has a deep love for music, and sometimes he goes over the head of the people that's listening just like myself, because...

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Justin Bieber's Haircut: Fans Weigh In!

This week Justin Bieber made headlines thanks to a new haircut. The Biebs had his famous swooping bangs cut into a shorter, cropped look, and he told talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres he doesn't "really care" what people have to say about his 'do. But his fans have been weighing in on the new hairstyle anyway, and many of them approve of the haircut. "I really like it and it actually makes him look older!!!! And for all u down there hating on Bieber well if it was Angelina Jolie I'm sure you'd have something to say so don't hate 'cause he's sexy and he ain't even legal yet,"...

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Justin Bieber's <i>Never Say Never - The Remixes</i> Tops <i>Billboard</i> Chart

In a week in which the post-Grammy sales boom finally took hold, sending several long-dormant albums rocketing back up the charts, it was the kid who got shut out at the big show who ended up topping the charts. Justin Bieber's Never Say Never - The Remixes debuts at #1 on next week's Billboard top 200 albums chart, giving the pop star the second chart-topping bow of his young career. The album sold more than 161,000 copies, easily surpassing Mumford & Sons' breakout Sigh No More, which benefited from the group's Grammy-night performance with Bob Dylan (and the Avett Brothers),...

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Ke$ha To Release Dance Remix Album In March

Ke$ha has made a name for herself as a party girl who makes party songs. But maybe you find the choice tracks on her debut, Animal, and the follow-up, Cannibal, not quite up to snuff for your dance-floor needs. And maybe that's why the singer has decided to release her first ever remix album, I Am the Dance Commander + I Command You to Dance: The Remix Album, on March 22. For the album, Ke$ha hooked up with a number of dance DJs and producers, as well as a few notable guests. The track listing includes: "Blow" (Cirkut Remix), "The Sleazy Remix" (which includes an appearance...

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Paul McDonald Brings Nashville Cool To 'American Idol'

The coolest contestant of season 10's "American Idol" has stepped out in the form of Paul McDonald. The 25-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee, was voted through to the "Idol" top 24 on Wednesday's (February 23) episode, and his laid-back, easygoing style makes him an early standout among the semi-finalists. The scruffy-bearded McDonald, who auditioned for "Idol" in his hometown of Nashville, was first seen on Wednesday singing the Beatles' "Blackbird" during the Las Vegas round with his duet partner Kendra Chantelle. McDonald's smooth vocals — which have sort of a Jason Mraz-meets-Mike...

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Emma Roberts, Dave Franco Get Cozy In Cults' 'Go Outside' Supervideo

On Tuesday, a supervideo for Cults' "Go Outside" starring Dave Franco and Emma Roberts debuted on MTV.com. In the video, Franco plays a character obsessed with 1960s Jean-Luc Godard films. His obsession comes to life when French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot (played by Roberts) steps out of his favorite Godard flick, "Contempt," and into his living room. The two embark on a nightlong romantic escapade throughout Los Angeles, and providing the soundtrack is the dreamy "Go Outside" by New York duo Cults. The supervideo is actually the second effort in a partnership between MTV...

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Junior Sanchez Cuts Right To The 'Raging' On <i>Seize The Fewcha</i>

Hip-hop heavyweights aren't the only ones making waves with mixtapes these days. Dance music has taken the States by storm, and world-class DJs are having a field day with the seemingly endless supply of fresh beats and distinctly unique sounds. One of the best in the biz is veteran DJ/producer Junior Sanchez. After the massive success of "Where You Are," his collaboration with Harry "Choo Choo" Romero and Alexander Technique, and the forthcoming release "I Believe In," slated for Miami in March (both released on Steve Angello's Size Records), Sanchez has positioned himself...

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'American Idol' Reveals First Batch Of Top 24

In its 10th season, "American Idol" has already gone coast-to-coast (and, uh, Milwaukee), in search of the next pop superstar. So when it came time to whittle their list of hopefuls down to the top 24, a few additional miles probably weren't going to hurt anyone. On Wednesday night's (February 23) show, "Idol" trekked from Hollywood to Las Vegas — where the 61 remaining contestants were hacked down to just 40 — and then back to the show's hometown of Los Angeles, where, at long last, the voyage came to a close with the unveiling of the 24 singers who will compete for this...

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Oscar Preview: Will Natalie Portman Fly High? Can Colin Firth Be Stopped?

Last year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences coalesced around two ideas in the lead acting categories: for Best Actor, it was time to anoint a man whose time had come; for Best Actress, a populist favorite deserved the career thumbs-up that only a small golden statue can deliver. And so five-time nominee Jeff Bridges finally triumphed for his unfettered turn in "Crazy Heart" and Sandra Bullock, long an American sweetheart but hardly an enduring critical fave, took home the win for her uplifting and cheesiness-eluding performance in "The Blind Side." Oscar, of...

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Jay-Z, LeBron James Talk Two Kings Charity, Doing 'Good All Over'

Jay-Z and LeBron James don't just want to hold a can of soda and smile for the cameras. The two men prefer to be hands-on when it comes to giving back to the community. So during NBA All-Star weekend festivities this past Saturday, Hov and King James personally greeted children at the Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles and unveiled a newly renovated gymnasium at their facility. For the third year in a row, Jay-Z and LeBron's Two Kings charity teamed up with Sprite to promote a worthy cause at All-Star Weekend. MTV News spoke to James and Jay about their participation. "If...

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Justin Bieber Is 'Really Growing Up,' Says 'Never Say Never' Director

MTV News first interviewed Justin Bieber in September of 2009, when the pint-size pop singer was on the cusp of breaking beyond his core audience into mainstream pop stardom. Then 15 years old and relatively new to the national media spotlight, Bieber wasn't nervous so much as generally tentative, a bit clipped and repetitive in his answers. When Bieber walked into the MTV Newsroom earlier this month to promote the difference in his on-camera demeanor couldn't have been more different: He projected a breezy confidence, at times humorous or eye-on-the-prize focused, and was...

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Anne Hathaway & James Franco Do Grease's 'You're The One That I Want'

Is James Franco the one that Anne Hathaway wants for the Oscars? Apparently so, as the Academy Awards co-hosts reenact the iconic carnival scene ("You're The One That I Want") from 1978's Grease in a YouTube clip that the Oscar-nominated actor posted on Twitter Wednesday afternoon. In the 19-second video, Franco slicks back his hair a la John Travolta's Danny Zuko and Hathaway shakes her tush – clad in the skin-tight leather pants made famous by Olivia Newton-John's Sandy Olsson. Will this homage to Grease be included in their Oscars telecast? You'll have to tune into the...

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Tonya Harding Welcomes a Son

Tonya HardingDonald Kravitz/GettyFormer figure skating champ Tonya Harding is a mom. Harding, 40, gave birth to a boy on Saturday in a Washington State hospital, The Oregonian reports. "Everybody's healthy and happy," her friend Don Horn tells the newspaper. "She's always wanted a baby," Horn adds. "She was told she could never have a child ... and guess what? It really is a...

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INSIDE STORY: How Dreams Turned Deadly for Hijacked American Sailors

Phyllis Mackay and Robert A. RiggleJoe Grande/APThe mood was somber at the Del Rey Yacht Club in Los Angeles Thursday, and the flag was flying at half-staff. It was here that California couple Jean and Scott Adam, world travelers who loved the water, often moored their boat Quest when they were in town. "The Del Rey Yacht Club was their home away from home," Club Commodore Gary...

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Kim Kardashian: No Babies for Me - Yet

Kim Kardashian Mathew Imaging/WireImageKim Kardashian has a new boyfriend, but don't expect her to rush into the marriage-and-baby stage. When asked in a new interview about her plans to have kids, she told Extra, "Not anytime soon." She did confess that she's left herself a little wiggle room, adding, "But I never know what the future holds."??Kardashian, 30, seems smitten with...

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Does James Franco Have Anne Hathaway's Oscar Vote?

Franco (left) and HathawayAP(2)James Franco will be pulling double duty at this year's Academy Awards, as both a host and a nominee. So will fellow emcee Anne Hathaway show him some love by throwing her vote his way for Best Actor in 127 Hours? Unfortunately for Franco, she's not saying. "Actually, the ballot says on the front: 'Important, do not tell anyone, especially The Hollywood...

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New Details of Jennifer Aniston's 'Sexy' Hairstyle

Jesus Aparicio/BuzzFotoJennifer Aniston may no longer be sporting “the Rachel,” but the fascination with her every strand of hair continues. Aniston caused quite a stir this week by chopping her luscious long locks into a sexy bob, so it’s no surprise that the world wants to know all the nitty gritty details of her perfectly cut coif. Aniston’s longtime stylist Chris McMillan...

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FIRST LOOK: Daniel Radcliffe Sings & Dances on Broadway!

By Stephen M. SilvermanWednesday February 23, 2011 04:00 PM EST Daniel Radcliffe (front and center), rehearsing How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, with John Larroquette behind himAri MintzJon Hamm, move over. The latest looker to leap back into the 1960s: Daniel Radcliffe, who is assuming the musical role of quintessential company man J. Pierrepont Finch in the...

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Justin Bieber's Hairstylist: He Was Ready for a New Look

CBS/INFJustin Bieber revealed his newly cropped do earlier this week, inciting a national debate over the singer’s new look (admit, you miss the trademark hair swoosh just a little). To get to the root of the matter, PEOPLE chatted with his longtime hairstylist, Vanessa Price, to see what prompted the change. “He was ready,” she explains of the more mature style. “Cutting your...

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Rachel Zoe Celebrates Her Baby Shower

On Saturday, Rachel Zoe celebrated the upcoming March arrival of her baby boy with a shower in her honor. The intimate affair was hosted by close friend Pamela Skaist-Levy and the stylist’s sister, Pamela Glassman.Accompanied by husband Rodger Berman, Zoe, 39, wore a dress by The Row, paired with an Oscar de la Renta necklace. In lieu of gifts, guests were given the option...

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Why Is Ace Frehley So Sad?

Posted 2/21/2011 at 1:00 pm by Adam Tod BrownIn the name of full disclosure, we’ll kick this off by stating that we aren’t 100% sure if this really is former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley in the above photo. Hopefully any die-hard KISS fans reading this can forgive us for that. The band wears full makeup and we’re not nearly into them enough to make a positive identification based...

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Michigan Man Facing 20 Years in Prison for YouTube Video

Posted 2/21/2011 at 9:00 am by Adam Tod BrownThe title of this article might sound crazy, but there are plenty of things you could do in a YouTube video that would be worthy of a lengthy stint in prison, like abusing animals or vandalizing property or professing your love for Nickelback. All of those acts are morally reprehensible and committing them to video is just begging for...

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Viral Outbreak: The Honey Badger Don’t Care!

Posted 2/18/2011 at 12:00 pm by Adam Tod BrownYou would never guess it due to its pansy sounding name, but the honey badger is often referred to as “the most fearless animal in the world.” With a reputation like that, you better live up to the hype once the cameras start rolling. And don’t get us wrong, when we first saw this amazing animal in action, we had no complaints about...

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Paz Vega’s Sexy New Cat Run Movie Poster

Posted 2/18/2011 at 11:30 am by Adam Tod BrownYou might remember Paz Vega from her star turn in the Adam Sandler flick Spanglish. This April, she makes a welcome return to the silver screen in the violence infused action-comedy Cat Run.In the film, two friends find themselves at that point in life where career options are at a minimum and, like we all wish we could do, they start...

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Britney Spears, Girls Gone Too Wild, Blake Griffin and More

Posted 2/21/2011 at 7:00 am by Adam Tod BrownMorning Dump is your AM guide to the best links on the web.American Awesomeness, Long Butts, Oregon Cheerleaders and More Posted 07/01/10 Johnny Cash’s To Do List, Halloween Madness, Literal Tramp Stamp and More Posted 10/29/10 Steroids Suck, Sex Tape Tips, Snoop Dogg as a Lady Sprinter and More Posted 07/30/10 SI Model Twitpics, Sexy...

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A Comic’s Take on Getting Into Sporting Events for Free

Don’t let a lack of spendable cash keep you from living the high life. In this weekly column, standup comic Danny Lobell explains how to live a Playboy lifestyle on a welfare budget. This…is Budget Ballin’.I have found that the greatest way to watch live sports is for FREE. Free, you ask? How do you do that?! And the answer is, of course, it’s all about who you know. Here is the...

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Atlas Shrugged and So Did We, Plus More Movie Trailers

Posted 2/18/2011 at 9:00 am by Tyler TrykowskiIn this week’s trailer park we confront the paranormal, the abnormal and Ayn Rand. We can’t decide which of those three is scarier to confront- probably Ayn Rand, though. In any case, these trailers are thoroughly confusing, and mildly frightening. So, they’re probably going to be blockbusters. Enjoy a Diet Coke, why don’t you, and...

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Viral Outbreak: Arcade Fire Hipster Attack

Posted 2/17/2011 at 3:00 pm by Adam Tod BrownWe spent a little time discussing Justin Bieber’s epic Grammy upset earlier today, but he wasn’t the only artist involved in an award show shocker that night. In a win that nobody saw coming, Canada-based indie band Arcade Fire walked away with the biggest prize of the night for Album of the Year.They aren’t quite as obscure as Esperanza...

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Girl on Girl: Kimberly Heart and Jessica Vaugn

When I think about great asses, Kim comes to mind. Not JUST Kim Kardashian, but Kim Heart too! I met Kimberly Heart in the middle of 2010 for a lighting and retouching seminar we both modeled for. I didn’t know what to expect, but five minutes into the day, as I was doing her hair and makeup in a cramped hotel bathroom, we really hit it off! Ever since that day this Italian beauty...

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