by Rob Markman 34 mins ago

The 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards was the ultimate rap party, but not every moment was dedicated to the turn up.

Common and Vince Staples surprised fans at the Civic Center in Atlanta when they brought out Jay Electronica to perform the remix for their track “Kingdom,” and then brought everyone to their feet when they welcomed the parents of slain Ferguson, Missouri teen Mike Brown to the stage.

Common started his set, which aired on television on Tuesday night (October 14), backed by a church choir, before bringing out Vince Stapes and Jay Elec to rap their verses.

It wasn’t until the end when he welcomed Brown’s parents to the stage to salute all the “fallen soldiers.” Without a prompt, the crowd put their hands up in support of the Ferguson protests and held a moment of silence and reflection.

Powerful.

by Adam Fleischer 4 mins ago

The 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards, which aired Tuesday night (October 14), are often buzzed about for their performances and cyphers. And rightfully so. The annual event bring some of the game’s hottest MCs to the stage, and give fresh faces and veterans alike a chance to show off their skills on the mic.

But let’s not forget: There are winners who walk away with trophies for their accomplishments over the last year.

Many of the usual suspects took home awards this year, though there were a few surprises. Check out the full list of winners below.

Getty Images

Album of the Year
Drake, Nothing Was the Same

Best Club Banger
Future, “Move That Dope”

Best Collab, Duo or Group
YG featuring Jeezy and Rich Homie Quan “My N—a”

Best Hip Hop Video
Drake, “Worst Behavior”

Best Live Performer
Kanye West

Best Mixtape
Wiz Khalifa, 28 Grams

DJ of the Year
DJ Mustard

Hustler of the Year
Dr. Dre

Impact Track
Common featuring Vince Staples, “Kingdom”

Lyricist of the Year
Kendrick Lamar

Made You Look Award
Nicki Minaj

MVP of the Year
DJ Mustard

Producer of the Year
DJ Mustard

Sweet 16: Best Feature Verse
Kendrick Lamar, “Control”

Track of the Year
YG featuring Jeezy and Rich Homie Quan “My N—a”

Video Director of the Year
Hype Williams

Who Blew Up Award
Iggy Azalea

Best Hip Hop Online
WorldStarHipHop

by John Walker 5 mins ago

Because idle fans are the Devil’s playthings, Taylor Swift has begun teasing lyrics to a new song off of her upcoming fifth studio album, 1989.

Remember, it hasn’t even been a full day since the “Shake It Off” singer debuted “Out Of The Woods.” I think I speak for Swifties everywhere when I say: REST IN PEACE, ME. R.I.P., ME. I DIED. DEAD.

Taylor Instagrammed the words to the as-yet-unnamed 1989 song on Tuesday (October 14). Under a city skyline sketched with pen on lined paper, she has written: “It’s a new soundtrack/ I could dance to this beat/ …forevermore.” In the caption, she notes that it will be “Track 1.”

Instagram (@taylorswift)

Over on Twitter, some fans are speculating that it’s an ode to the singer’s new hometown, New York City. Tay has been completely Big Apple-obsessed ever since she moved to her newly acquired penthouse in Tribeca earlier this year. And why wouldn’t she be obsessed? She lives in a penthouse in Tribeca.

Does this mean Taylor’s going to reveal a new batch of lyrics on Instagram every day until she’s teased all 13 songs from 1989? I already don’t know what to do with my body.

Big Machine

by Maurice Bobb 58 mins ago

U2 get digitally psychedelic for their new music video, “The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone).”

The streaming clip premiered Tuesday (October 14) on — yep, you guessed it — iTunes, the very same platform that automatically placed the band’s new album, Songs Of Innocence, on every Apple user’s Cloud at latest product launch.

Users weren’t exactly onboard with all that unwarranted free music, but this new clip might just change their minds.

Related: Bono’s Response To That Whole Free Album Thing? “Oops”

If fans think that the video looks eerily familiar to Apple’s “Echoes” commercial that debuted last month, don’t worry — you’re not crazy. The performance footage was spliced with classic video of the late Joey Ramone, the influential punk rocker who fronted The Ramones.

Back in September, Joey’s brother, musician Mickey Leigh, spoke with MTV News about his reaction to the song. “I’ve been working on a letter to express… I’m not sure grateful is the right word, but awestruck is a better description.”

He said that worked with Apple for weeks to gain approval for the use of Joey’s image without knowing exactly what it was being used for. “It made me feel so good… [When I] finally found out what it was all about, my jaw dropped right away.”

by Maeve Keirans 13 mins ago

As we’re all well aware by now, Halloween is rapidly approaching. Costume decisions need to be made soon to ensure ample time to order outfits, accessories, makeup, etc. One of the best ways to make an ~impact~ with your costume is to travel in a group. What better way to do that than with a group from one of 2014′s most popular music videos? That’s right—there’s no better way.

Related: Here’s A Way You And All Your Friends Can Be Beyonce For Halloween

Yesterday we showed you how to cop Beyonce’s visual album outfits for you and your frandz, and since today is all about Taylor Swift anyway, we figured a “Shake It Off” group costume couldn’t be better timed. Taylor transforms her look a ton of times throughout the video, which means there are plenty of options for you and your closest T.Swift-loving pals.

Invite ‘em over, pick with TS you wanna be on October 31, and get shopping!

Bed Red Machine/Hanes/Staples/Forever 21/ASOS

+ Sweatshirt: Hanes white sweatshirt ($5)
+ Marker: Black Sharpie permanent marker ($7/dozen)
+ Leotard: ASOS going out strappy body ($13)
+ Leggings: Forever 21 high-waisted leggings ($10)

Big Red Machine/Dr. Jays/Forever 21/ASOS/Staples/Spirit Halloween

+ Varsity Jacket: Vegan varsity jacket ($31)
+ Leggings: Forever 21 faux leather leggings ($16)
+ Marker: Black Sharpie permanent marker ($7/dozen)
+ Leather Cap: Reclaimed vintage leather ...

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by Jessica Hyndman 1 min ago

If there’s one thing we know about Miley Cyrus, it’s that she’s always down for more tattoos. While in Australia for her Bangerz Tour, the pop star tapped Aussie tattoo artist Lauren Winzer of Hunter & Fox Tattoo to lay down some fresh ink on her and her crew.

The “Adore You” singer opted to refresh some of her more worn-down hand tats, and she added a few extra charms to her digits, too.

Miley’s hand tats are like the Lucky Charms of our wildest dreams hallucinations.

The alien head and watermelon slice appear to be new additions, while the heart symbol was glitter-ized and the evil eye restored to its former glory.

Miley’s heart ink was the first to appear on her hand, and it represents the bond the Cyrus family shares. (Everyone in the fam has a copy of it.)

You’ve come a long way since stick ‘n’ pokes, baby.

Winzer (wisely?) handed her tattoo gun over to Cyrus, which makes her the second tattoo artist brave enough to allow Miley to permanently ink up their skin. Earlier this year, Miley gave New York City’s Bang Bang a crescent moon on his thumb.

“Tat swap with the realest pineapple in the game,” Winzer wrote.

by Matthew Scott Donnelly 27 mins ago

The drama department might be the subject of punch lines at your school, but at Hester High, it’s a HUGE deal. And on tonight’s “Faking It” episode, Laverne Cox is taking the reins.

The “Orange is the New Black” star will play the inimitable Margo, a Hester alum and the school’s current head of theater, in an episode that will find some of your favorite students competing for a single spot on the esteemed HHS drama roster. After some stunning auditions, Margo will have a tough time making her pick, but Cox said that playing the character was a no-brainer.

“Margo is so much fun,” she says in the MTV News interview clip below. “I’ve never gotten to play a part like her before, and I grew up with these really amazing, over-the-top ballet teachers and acting teachers, and this performance really is a tribute to all of them.”

Cox adds the allure of a “wonderful, alternative universe” in which LGBT youth are top dogs was too tempting an offer to pass up. Represent, Austin!

Check out the video, and see Cox’s “Faking It” episode — entitled “Lying Kings and Drama Queens” tonight — at 10:30/9:30c. Plus, be sure to watch the actress’ upcoming special “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word,” a documentary that explores the lives of seven different young transgender people, on October 17 at 7/6c on MTV and LOGO!

by Brenna Ehrlich 6 mins ago

Remember when U2 gave us all their new album, Songs of Innocence, for free via iTunes? Remember how some people got a little PO’d that it had automatically popped up in their music libraries? Well, that all came to a head this week when Bono officially apologized for… giving people music for free. The horror.

In a Q&A posted to Facebook, a fan asked Bono, point-blank: “Can you please never release an album on iTunes that automatically downloads to people’s playlists ever again? It’s really rude.”

Related: Was U2′s Apple Album Release A Good Idea? We Asked The Experts

Bono, rather sheepishly, responded, “Oops. I’m sorry about that. I had this beautiful idea — might have gotten carried away with ourselves. Artists are prone to that kind of thing. A drop of megalomania, a touch of generosity, a dash of self-promotion, and deep fear that these songs that we poured our life into over the last few years might not be heard. There’s a lot of noise out there. I guess, we got a little noisy ourselves to get through it.”

U2 made history when the band made a special appearance during Apple’s latest product launch and gave away their record for free via Apple’s music services: iTunes, iTunes Radio and Beats.

The album reached 500-million people, 26 million of which downloaded it to their devices. Some users were displeased with the record’s existence on their phones, however, and Apple set up a dedicated site that allowed people ...

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by Marissa G. Muller 11 mins ago

Pharrell can’t stop, won’t stop. In the midst of Pharrell Week at Colette in Paris, Skateboard P is gifting us with even more of his designs. This time, he’s remaking his three track jackets for Adidas in brand new colors. The latest additions, which come in new perforated leather—a move that makes it feel a little more like an athletic garment (baby steps)—have a tropical feel.

Related: Pharrell’s Adidas Collaboration Is Coming Sooner Than You Think

Adidas

If you’re up for a challenge, there’s a kiwi green jacket which will keep you entertained for hours as you try to find a place for it in your current wardrobe.

Adidas

Then there’s a bright orange one which would go great with jeans.

Adidas

And, for all of our summertime and springtime leather needs, Pharrell made the jacket in white.

Related: Pharrell Poses In A Rainbow of Stan Smiths, But What Does It Mean?

Considering Pharrell recently shared a colorwheel of Adidas sneakers with the #Supercolor, we’re guessing the matching shoes are on the way. And we won’t be surprised if Pharrell has even more Adidas jackets and sneakers in the works.

by Kase Wickman 29 mins ago

Art by Kurt Woerpel

We’re always hearing about how the past was a simpler time. We’ve heard it so much, in fact, we think it probably holds true for mutants as well.

So to celebrate today’s DVD release of the time-hopping movie “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” we gave some of our favorite mutants’ powers the minimalist treatment. Can you match the power to the mutant?