After four installments of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, Johnny Depp reunites with director Gore Verbinski for a decidedly different sort of adventure — a western — in "The Lone Ranger." Although the prospect of joining Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer was no doubt tantalizing, Depp revealed that he felt a personal motivation for playing the iconic role of Tonto.

"It was something I felt a pretty intense passion for, for a long time," Depp told MTV News. "Just taking into consideration the way that Native Americans have been portrayed in old-school TV series as sidekicks or savages. I just thought it was a way to flip it completely on its head and an opportunity to send great respect and thanks to the Native Americans for all they've lived through and went through in their existence. I guess it was to portray the Native American with the integrity and dignity that they deserve."

Depp famously brought so many unique elements to his portrayal of Jack Sparrow in the "Pirates" movies, which might lead one to believe he's self-sufficient when it comes to performing onscreen. But Depp said he truly enjoyed the interplay he experienced with co-star Armie Hammer, who plays the Ranger himself.

Johnny Depp's 'Lone Ranger' Makeup Had Stars Asking 'Who Is This?'

"When you're in the ring and the camera's rolling, you're out there with your character and your partner, you never know what's going to happen," Depp observed. "Nothing's ever really planned; you just go out there and do your stuff and see what happens — and ...

Katy Perry found a kindred musical spirit in pop singer/songwriter Bonnie McKee. So when the "Fireworks" singer started working on her follow-up to 2010's Teenage Dream, she enlisted the help of her "California Gurls" co-writer to cook up some of that old magic.

"We were just in [Katy's hometown of] Santa Barbara and we wrote three or four songs, I guess. So I have four songs with her coming out," McKee told MTV News.

Perry seemed to be returning the favor when she appeared in McKee's first-ever music video, for off her upcoming debut album. The twosome had already penned four #1 singles together: "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" and "Part of Me." And McKee says their long list of hits comes from their deep personal connection. In fact, at one point they both wrote songs called "The One That Got Away," both meant for Perry, without even realizing it. (Perry's own version made the cut for TD, meanwhile of a version of McKee's went to Miranda Cosgrove.)

She recalled, "Katy and I are really similar. That's kind of how we became friends. We met at Wasteland on Melrose [Avenue in Los Angeles], a thrift store. We just are totally on the same level... We're just soulmates in that way, I guess."

The two also teamed up for the more reflective "Wide Awake."And it seems that Perry is continuing to dig deeper on her upcoming album. Since Teenage Dream, Perry married and divorced Russell Brand and made headlines with her on-again, off-again relationship with John ...

Jay-Z is out to rewrite the rules on Magna Carta Holy Grail, a task he seems well qualified for as he approaches the release of his 12th solo album. To celebrate the big moment, MTV News is digging in the crates to unearth old footage that documents Hov's eventful journey to the present.

Our first clip, from 2000, finds the Brooklyn rapper explaining how he and Pharrell linked up to create the hit "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It To Me)," the lead single from The Dynasty: Roc La Familia.The moment is extra special considering that now, 13 years later, Pharrell is lending his musical expertise to the Roc Nation CEO's latest LP.

"I [had] 'Parking Lot' up and running. It's an incredible, hot song," Jay-Z says in the interview, explaining that he'd already chosen a lead single. "I was all ready to go with it but the next day I made this song and it was just the vibe. The vibe of everyone in the studio...the immediate reaction, people were singing it by the time the second hook came on."

"I knew right there, those type of songs I know — I made a couple of 'em — so I know what type of song this is right here," he said, of immediately knowing that he'd found a hit. "It's no stopping; I'm unstoppable right now with this song."

Jay's confidence and sense of humor shine through in the clip, as he predicts that he has a smash hit coming. But even more interesting is the fact that he shouts ...

Jay-Z promised to force some #newrules on the music industry when he announced his ground-breaking deal with Samsung electronics last month. And now, just weeks after springing the news about his 12th solo album on the world in a series of high-profile commercials, he's already changed the game.

On Monday (July 1), the director of the Recording Industry Association of America, Liz Kennedy, announced that the music industry's trade organization would change its long-standing rules to meet the challenge of Jay's roll-out.

"We think it's time for the RIAA ... to align our digital song and album certification requirements. That's why today we are officially updating this rule in our G&P Program requirements," Kennedy said of the organization's gold and platinum certification program, which typically requires a 30-day wait from release day to tally sales certifications. "Going forward, sales of albums in digital format will become eligible on the release date, while sales of albums in physical format will still become eligible for certification 30 days after the release date."

The rule switch was inspired by Jay's deal, which includes a pact with Samsung to buy 1 million copies of the album and offer it early to consumers who download a special app.

"It is a novel and creative marketing move and it has rightly stimulated a healthy conversation about the sale's meaning and implications for the modern music business," Kennedy wrote about the scheme. "For us, the move prompted a re-examination of our historic Gold & Platinum (G&P) Program award rules. As we dug through the records of audits, ...

Ariana Grande has long been a favorite artist for the legion of tween and teen fans who know her from her work on Nickelodeon. But earlier this spring, the actress became one of the hottest new voices in pop when she dropped her debut single, a flirty love jam featuring pal Mac Miller.

As she preps the August release of her debut album, Daydreamin', MTV News spoke to her manager, Scooter Braun, about why he wanted to add the "Sam & Cat" actress to his roster of A-list musical talents. "She reminds me of both Mariah [Carey] and Christina [Aguilera]. Christina was this young, petite girl with this gigantic voice and Ariana kind of has the same thing," he explained about the 20-year-old actress/singer. "And her tone and her range remind me of Mariah."

Braun, who manages Justin Bieber, Psy, The Wanted and Carly Rae Jepsen, knew he wanted to work with her as soon as he heard that signature voice.

"I kept seeing this girl online. And I knew she had a show that she was involved in on Nickelodeon, ['Victorious,'] and I would see her at different award shows and there was something very charismatic about her," he explained. "I started watching videos and I started getting blown away by what an incredible voice she had. There's kind of a natural beauty about her and this charisma that make you gravitate towards her. She kind of has this warmth that makes you want to root for her, and that's what you want with an artist. The fact that ...

Meet the new Kim, same as the old Kim? The Pixies have announced that Kim Shattuck, of Los Angeles rock band the Muffs, will replace bassist and singer Kim Deal on their upcoming European tour this fall.

The Pixies announced founding member Deal's departure from the band on June 14, just a few weeks before the band released a new song, "Bagboy," on their Artist Platform page June 28. The jam — their first since 2004's "Bam Thwok" — is a driving, debauchery-tinged thumper and is accompanied by a chaos-filled music video. Neither Deal nor Shattuck appear on the track; the bassline is covered by musician Jeremy Dubs, according to Rolling Stone.

The band wrote on their website that they plan to play more new material on their tour, which kicks off on September 29 and marks their first in two years.

"Along with everyone's favorites, we'll be playing songs that we haven't played in ages or never played live before," said frontman Black Francis on the band's blog. "Songs like 'Brick is Red,' 'Havalina,' 'Tony's Theme.' and 'Sad Punk.' We've probably rehearsed some 80 songs, so we'll be able to change up the set at the last minute if we feel like it. We're all really looking forward to this tour."

The tour will span three months in more than 10 countries, wrapping up in the U.K. on November 24. Check out all the tour dates on the band's website.

Justin Bieber has fans on their edge of their seats to hear his new single, which he first announced last month. No date has been confirmed for when it will hit the streets, but Bieber's manager, Scooter Braun, noted that when it does finally get its first play, it will quiet everyone down, especially the 19-year-old's biggest critics.

"I'll just tell you that we're gonna release music it in a very, very different way with him," he told MTV News about Bieber's new song and album, billed as his "And people and fans should be very excited for the end of this year because he's just written so many songs on the road. And we decided there needs to be a way to release these songs in a different way than the normal album and be able to allow him to express himself in music while dealing with so many different bullsh-- stories every single day."

Bieber has become the subject of many tabloid stories in the last several months, with the headlines focused on his personal life instead of the music. Among the many hot topic items are his on-again, off-again relationship with Selena Gomez and his on-going car troubles, including reported feuds with his Calabasas, California, neighbors over speeding around town.

But Braun hopes that the new music and the highly-anticipated "Heartbreaker" will silence it all because Bieber will finally have the chance to address the very public ups and downs.

"So we're hoping the witch hunt [is] gonna end when he really just speaks ...

2 Chainz probably never meant to be prophetic, but given everything that's come out over the past month about the National Security Agency, well, it turns out the Feds have been watching ... or at least listening.

But rather than be dismayed by that, Chainz has decided to celebrate the fact that he's inadvertently written the anthem of these paranoid times ... by renting out Jackie Treehorn's house, pulling on a brand-new pair of snakeskin pants, and surrounding himself with a bevy of beauties. Oh, and he's letting Pharrell crash on the couch. Hey, it sure beats writing your Congressman.

Yes, much like the song itself, the "Feds Watching" video is a big, bold, bodacious thing, essentially a non-stop ode to excess. Why get one model when you can have ten? Why shoot at a mansion when the space-aged bachelor pad in the hills is available? There are, of course, some subtle jabs at said Feds, like when a bad-ass female smashes a camera, places a single stiletto atop a patrolmen's helmet and defiantly stares down a hovering helicopter, but mostly, this is a video about living the good life, and not caring who notices. In fact, the more folks paying attention, the better.

It's a cool, confident clip, and while those are a dime a dozen these days, what separates it — and, really, 2 Chainz himself — from the rest of the field is that the "Feds Watching" video is also quite clever. All of these excesses are presented with a sly wink, as ...