by Adam Fleischer 20 mins ago

So, a bunch of people thought Your Old Droog was actually Nas when the unknown rapper dropped his mixtape online earlier this summer. There weren’t any pictures or video of the neophyte, and there were similarities in the sonics, so conspiracy theories abounded. And then he dropped a video a little over a week ago, which basically put those rumors to rest.

But for anyone still doubting, the undeniable truth came to light on Wednesday night, when the Coney Island native performed his first show, at Webster Hall in New York City.

As you can see in the video above, the up-and-comer performed cuts from his recent release to the sold out crowd. Included in that group of fans, according to The New York Times, was MSNBC host Tamron Hall — whom Droog named a song after.

He also addressed those Nas comparisons.

“There was so many dope f–kin’ rappers out there,” he said of years past. “Now, it’s so much trash, some dope sh– come out, it’s like, ‘Yo, it can’t be dope on it’s own; somebody else did it.”

He wasn’t upset with the kind of chatter the theories generated, though. “Good lookin’, though,” he said. “Y’all my street team.”

by Adam Fleischer 1 min ago

When you’ve got one of the biggest rap songs of the summer, why not go soak up some sun and live it up on the beach? That’s exactly what Rae Sremmurd did for the video for “No Type,” their “No Flex Zone” follow up.

Kickin’ it by the water, walking the boardwalk, hanging out with some lovely ladies — life looks pretty good for the duo from Mississippi. And why not? After all, they did just drop the “No Flex Zone” remix featuring Nicki Minaj and Pusha T.

The Mike Will Made It-signed brothers are getting ready to drop their debut EP, SremmLife, though there’s still no exact date on the project.

by Caitlin White 41 mins ago

Like many Apple customers, I’ve been coping with a cracked iPhone 5 screen for months now, waiting in anticipation for the company’s new iPhone release, and according to The New York Times, we won’t be waiting much longer.

The new products will be unveiled next Tuesday (September 9) in the official keynote conference that iPhone aficionados have come to expect each fall, but some of the details have already been confirmed for two new models of the iPhone 6 and a brand new, wearable computer that’s been dubbed the “iWatch.”

Rumors about the wearable computer watch have been swirling for a few months now, but the Times report confirms earlier revelations from the Wall Street Journal—so it’s pretty much safe to say the iWatch is a go. However, the Times’ sources say the watch probably won’t be available until next year.

Both the watch and the two new iPhone models will feature near-field communication — or NFC — which is essentially an e-payment system that allows users to purchase things wirelessly. It’s akin to the tap to pay system that’s been rolled out in devices made by several other media companies like Samsung, but never adopted by Apple until now. The inclusion of NFC allows the iWatch to go beyond the fitness and health functions that competitors have zeroed in on for similar devices, although it will also include fitness-related features.

The smartwatch will also re-charge through wireless technology—earlier ...

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by Alex Zalben 12 mins ago

Congrats are in order for “Avengers” star Scarlett Johansson, who has given birth to a baby girl named Rose! This is the first child for the actress and her fiance, Romain Dauriac.

According to a statement from the actress’ rep sent to the AP, the mother and child are doing well, and “the couple is seeking privacy and are supporters of the No Kids Policy, the celebrity effort to keep famous folks’ children out of the public eye.”

Johansson has had a blockbuster year with appearances in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Lucy,” and “Chef.” Next year she’ll appear in the “Avengers” sequel “Age of Ultron,” which had its filming schedule switch around to accommodate her pregnancy.

There was no statement at this time on whether they named the baby Rose because that’s another shade of red, like Scarlett. Just saying.

by Adam Fleischer 10 mins ago

ILOVEMAKONNEN has already collaborated with one of the biggest names in music when Drake showing up on his “Club Going Up On A Tuesday” remix. But the Atlanta-based upstart also has some music in the stash with another pop juggernaut.

“Me and Miley Cyrus are friends; I don’t have her number, but we’re friends,” the singer and rapper said with a smile in a recent interview with MTV News. “We’re online friends and in-person friends.”

That personal relationship is also a working one, it turns out.

“I got a song with her — wrote a few songs for her,” he said. “Working on her new album. Doing some stuff with Mike Will and her.”

“It’s almost like a Grammy nomination song, because it’s kind of heartfelt, and almost country,” he added. “It’s gonna be deep when it comes out. It’s definitely not like the clubby type of poppy record. It’s more like a real timeless, heartfelt record that’s gonna be picked up in movies and sh–. Girls are gonna cry over their ex-boyfriends to it, and the same for guys crying over their girl.”

There’s another track, where the newbie — recently signed to Drizzy’s OVO Sound — takes the lead. “We have one where I’m more of the lead on the vocals, and it’s… relationship based and like, ‘Alright, you wanna leave me, then go ahead and leave me. But I loved you.’”

As for when we’ll hear these records?

“Whenever RCA gets that goddamn sh– out,” ...

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by Abby Devora 12 mins ago

Going back to school isn’t always fun. In fact, a lot of the time it’s really hard and stressful. But these tips to get you through the school year should make it more bearable, and possibly even make it the best time ever.

So put down your books (only for a minute) and study up on 12 tips — in GIF form, no less — that I collected from some of your favorite classroom-inspired music vids:

1. Study.

“You Belong With Me”- Taylor Swift

2. Keep your voice down in the library.

Even if you’re not studying, some people are.

“In The Sun”-She & Him

3. Get on your teacher/professor’s good side.

“…Baby One More Time”-Britney Spears

4. Be focused AND fashionable.

“Fancy”-Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX

5. Update your look.

“Lip Gloss” – Lil Mama

6. Join school activities like the step team.

“Kiss Kiss”-Chris Brown ft. T-Pain

7. Don’t skip gym class, especially if Beyonce’s your instructor.

“Move Your Body”-Beyonce

8. When possible make your voice heard.

“Little Things”- Good Charlotte

9. Stay out of trouble.

“Popular”-Nada Surf

10. Remember you don’t have to be friends with everyone…

…but some people can surprise you.

“Teenage Dirtbag”-Wheatus

11. Have the guts to ask out that person who caught your eye.

“Say Somethin’”-Austin Mahone

12.Make sure you go to/throw a party with a cool band.

Bonus points if they’re from the ’90s!

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by Alex Zalben 1 hour ago

Joan Rivers, the legendary comedian best known for her biting quips and fashion prowess, has died today (September 4) according to the AP. She was 81.

Rivers was undergoing throat surgery at a clinic on August 28 when she reportedly stopped breathing and suffered a cardiac arrest. After being taken by ambulance to Mount Sinai hospital in New York, and listed in critical condition, she was placed in a medically induced coma on life support.

Though reports varied on how well Rivers was doing including several positive seeming updates on September 2 and September 3, ultimately she passed on.

Born in Brooklyn in 1933, Rivers first came to prominence with her appearances filling in for host Jack Paar on “The Tonight Show.” This kicked off a lifetime of talk show appearances, and her own hosting gigs, including “The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers” and “The Joan Rivers Show.”

In 1994, Rivers began co-hosting E!’s live coverage of red carpet events with her daughter Melissa, which became a mainstay of the award show experience and appointment viewing in its own right. By 2010, Rivers was hosting “Fashion Police” for the channel, a show whose future is left in doubt after today’s events.

Never one to shy away from a joke, Rivers often came under fire for cracks about singer Adele’s weight, the Holocaust, and more. Still, Rivers also knew how to take a joke, as she was roasted on Comedy Central in 2009, and appeared in a self-mocking appearance as herself ...

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by Alex Zalben 3 mins ago

Sorry, Liam Neeson. “Arrow” has cast its Ra’s al Ghul, and they’ve gone with an actor who hasn’t played the DC Comics supervillain before. Instead, The CW show has enlisted Matt Nable (“Riddick”) as the head of the League of Shadows.

Ra’s al Ghul has been teased on “Arrow” pretty much since the first season, with the League of Assassins first rearing their heads in Season two. It was recently announced that al Ghul, who previously appeared on screen portrayed by Liam Neeson in “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight Rises,” would be the big bad of season three, though no actor had been cast.

The description of Ra’s differed from Neeson’s portrayal, calling for a more physically imposing presence (nothing against Neeson), and Nable seems to fit that bill.

Though we don’t know much more than that, we do know that Ra’s will rear his head some time before the show’s sixth episode, and the season’s theme will be “identity,” according to Executive Producer Marc Guggenheim.

Given in “Batman Begins” Ra’s wasn’t exactly who he said he was, could Nable only be the first actor cast as Ra’s? We’ll just have to watch “Arrow” when the show returns on October 8 to find out.

What do you think of Nable’s casting?

by Brenna Ehrlich 2 mins ago

The majority of rapes go unreported to the police — 60% according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. That means the average survivor stays silent. Well, Emma Sulkowicz is anything but average.

The Columbia University senior is carrying a mattress around campus — as part of a performance art piece — until her alleged rapist leaves the school. Her decision to do so has garnered her an overwhelming response from the press, fellow survivors and detractors alike, putting her life, past and troubles under an unprecedented kind of microscope.

The visual arts major went through all the traditional channels after she was allegedly raped by a serial offender during her sophomore year — but after the school failed to bring her attacker to justice, then the police and now, potentially, the government (she is one of 23 students who have filed federal Title IX complaints against Columbia in April for mishandling sexual-assault cases), she decided it’s more important to be heard than to win.

MTV News caught up with Sulkowicz Thursday (September 4) in the midst of the media blitz around her thesis project, titled “Carry That Weight,” to see what it’s like to be one of the 40% that has decided not to stay quiet.

So what exactly is going on with your case now? Is anything currently being done? So right now my case is closed. I reported it near the end of my sophomore year and then the case was closed ...

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by Brenna Ehrlich 12 mins ago

Laura Jane Grace’s new documentary series, “True Trans,” may feature footage from her band Against Me!‘s tour around Transgender Dysphoria Blues. But judging from a trailer for the upcoming program, it’s about way more than concert footage. It’s about Laura’s own battle with gender dysphoria — in addition to the battles of others.

“By the time I was 30 years-old I had done everything I had set out to do,” the singer says in the trailer. “But when it came down to it, that didn’t make the dysphoria go away.” She then expounds on her experience coming out as a transgender woman — something she did via a 2012 interview with Rolling Stone — and shares the stories of a cadre of other trans people.

The show, which will premiere online on AOL on October 10, is just the latest in revealing projects by Grace. First, she did the aforementioned interview with RS, then she spoke with MTV in her first-ever on-camera interview, and then, of course, there was Against Me!’s most recent record, Transgender Dysphoria Blues.

Check out the trailer below: