Kid Cudi to Star in “Need for Speed” Film

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi has landed his next acting project…

The 28-year-old part-Mexican American singer/music producer-turned-actor has been cast in DreamWorks’ Need for Speed, the film adaptation of the EA video game to be directed by Scott Waugh.

Need for Speed, which stars Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper and Imogen Poots on ’70s-style fast-paced high-octane cars. Paul plays Tobey Marshall, who races cross country at impossible speeds from New York to Los Angeles to get revenge on the man who killed his best friend.

Mescudi will play Paul’s best friend in the film.

Kid Cudi, as he’s known in the music world, made his acting debut in HBO’s How To Make It In America and most recently appeared in the indie film Two Night Stand. He’s also had a guest-starring roles on The Cleveland Show and One Tree Hill.

Mescudi, who has worked with Kanye West, David Guetta and most recently Jaden Smith, has contributed to soundtracks for DreamWorks’ Fright Night and The Hunger Games, which earned him an MTV Movie Award nod.

Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven” Makes Billboard History…

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Bruno Mars has notched another first on the Billboard charts…

The 27-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer’s “Locked Out of Heaven” remains at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for a third week, and crowns the Radio Songs chart for the first time.

Since Mars occupies the top spot on the Digital and On-Demand Songs charts, the song becomes the first to top all four tallies at the same time, dating back to the launch of the On-Demand chart’s launch in late March.

As “Locked Out of Heaven” earns the honor of being the first title to rank No. 1 on the Hot 100, Radio Songs, Digital Songs and On-Demand Songs at the same time, it’s the first track to crown the more established Hot 100, Radio Songs and Digital Songs charts simultaneously since Rihanna‘s “We Found Love,” featuring Calvin Harris, the week of December 3, 2011. Maroon 5‘s “Moves Like Jagger,” featuring Christina Aguilera (two weeks), Adele‘s “Rolling in the Deep” (three) and Katy Perry‘s “E.T.,” featuring Kanye West, also scored such a hat trick last year.

But “Lock Out of Heaven” is the first song by a male solo artist to lead the Hot 100, Radio Songs and Digital Songs simultaneously since Eminem‘s “Love the Way You Lie,” featuring Rihanna, back during the week of August 28, 2010.

“Heaven” moved up to the top spot on the Radio Songs chart with a 4% increase to 140 million all-format audience impressions (up 4%), according to BDS. The song is Mars’ fourth Radio Songs No. 1, tying him with Sean Paul and T.I. for fifth-place among males in the chart’s 22-year history. Among men, only Usher (seven), Ludacris, West (six each) and 50 Cent (five) boast more. Mariah Carey leads all acts with 11 Radio Songs No. 1s.

Kid Cudi to Star in “Two Night Stand”

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi has lined up his next acting gig…

The 28-year-old part-Mexican American hip-hop singer has joined the cast of Two Night Stand, an indie romantic comedy starring Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton.

The film, to be helmed by Max Nichols in his feature directorial debut, centers on two people who meet online and get together for a one-night stand. The couple gets snowed in the next morning and is forced to spend more time together.

Mescudi will play the boyfriend of Tipton’s roommate, played by Jessica Szohr, who is endlessly amused by her romantic difficulties.

The film is currently shooting in New York.

Mescudi, who has worked with Kanye West and David Guetta, made his acting debut on HBO’s How to Make It in America and recently wrapped Goodbye World, an indie with Entourage’s Adrian Grenier.

In addition to his acting work, the multi-hypenante has also contributed to soundtracks for DreamWorks’ Fright Night and Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games.

Pitbull Receives Two MTV EMA Award Nominations

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

It’s no wonder he’s the self-proclaimed Mr. Worldwide…

Pitbull has picked up two MTV Europe Music Awards nominations—the only Latino artist to earn any nods this year.

The 31-year-old Cuban American rap superstar is nominated in the Best Male category, where he’s competing against Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Jay Z and Flo Rida.

Meanwhile, Pitbull’s dancetastic collaboration with Chris Brown “International Love” is up for Best Song. The other contenders include Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe,” Rihanna’s “We Found Love” featuring Calvin Harris, Goyte’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” and fun.’s “We Are Young” featuring Janelle Monáe.

The nominations bring Pitbull’s MTV EMA nod count to three. He was previously nominated for Best Hip Hop Artist last year, the same year that saw Selena Gomez serve as the show’s hostess.

MTV has yet to announce this year’s MTV EMA Awards host, performers and presenters.

The MTV EMAs will take place on Sunday, November 11 at the historic Festhalle Frankfurt arena in Germany, and will be broadcast on MTV channels around the world at 9 p.m. central European time.

Miguel Receives Two BET Hip-Hop Award Nods

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel’s music career continues to bloom with critical acclaim and recognition…

The 25-year-old half-Mexican singer/songwriter received two nominations on Wednesday for the seventh annual BET Hip-Hop Awards for his collaboration with rapper Wale.

The pair’s single “Lotus Flower Bomb,” which peaked at number one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart, has been nominated for Best Hip Hop Video and the Reese’s Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo).

“Wale and Miguel hit Marvin Gaye-like levels of smoothness and seduction with the boudoir visuals for their hit collabo from Wale’s Ambition,” reads the BET Hip-Hop Awards nomination page.

Earlier this year, Miguel and Wale picked up the award for Best Collaboration at the BET Awards for their work on “Lotus Flower Bomb.” It was Miguel’s first BET Award.

Kanye West leads the overall pack of BET Hip-Hop Awards nominees with a whopping 17 nods, including Best Live Performer and MVP of the Year.

The ceremony will be taped on September 29 at Atlanta’s Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center with actor and comedian Mike Epps serving as host for the fourth straight year.

The BET Hip-Hop Awards will be televised on Tuesday, October 9 at 8:00 pm ET on BET.

Vergara to Play Tia Sofia on “The Cleveland Show”

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Sofia Vergara is heading to Cleveland this fall…

The 40-year-old Colombian actress—who just earned her third consecutive Primetime Emmy nomination for her role on ABC’s Modern Family—will be lending her voice to Fox’s animated series The Cleveland Show.

Vergara, currently the highest paid actress on television, will play Tia Sofia, who attempts to convince Cleveland to throw a quinceñera for Cleveland Jr.’s 15th birthday.

In addition, she’ll make a cameo as Peter Griffin’s fantasy love interest in an upcoming episode of Family Guy, according to Entertainment Weekly. In a cutaway gag featuring Peter as a telenovela lothario, Vergara will voice his oh-so-sexy and sassy lover. And that’s not her only role in the episode; she’ll also play a woman selling roses in a restaurant where Quagmire is “wooing” Peter so that Peter will do him a big favor.

Meanwhile, as previously reported, Bruno Mars will appear in the season premiere of The Cleveland Show, along with Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, The Roots’ ?uestlove and will.i.am. They’ll star as characters in a secret hip-hop society that Cleveland discovers in the season premiere.

A subsequent episode will feature Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who recently became the 49th player in major league history to reach 400 home runs.

On The Simpsons, the 24th season of the Fox comedy will feature Portlandia‘s Fred Armisen, while Family Guy will see The Voice’s Christina Milian voice an upcoming role.

Mars to Guest Star on “The Cleveland Show” Next Season

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

He’s known for his high-octane performances… But Bruno Mars is about to get animated in a different way.

The 26-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer-songwriter will be appearing as a character on Fox’s The Cleveland Show.

In the episode titled “Menace II Society,” Mars will be joined by Kanye West, The Roots drummer ?uestlove, Nicki Minaj and Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am.

“We have a couple of original songs with Kanye and Will and Bruno [Mars], I mean, all of them, it was great,” says the show’s executive producer Rich Appel.

The episode depicts the guest stars as members of the “rap illuminati,” who control pop culture.

“Cleveland inadvertently breaks into it and then it’s how he will either bring them down or they’ll bring him down,” adds Appel.

No word yet on when the episode is slated to premiere.

Miguel Receives Three 2012 BET Awards Nominations

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

The nominations for the 2012 BET Awards have been unveiled… And, rising star Miguel leads the Latino pack of nominees with three nods.

The 25-year-old half-Mexican R&B singer/songwriter has received a nomination in the Best Male R&B Artist category. He’ll face off against fellow Latino singer Bruno Mars, as well as Chris Brown, Trey Songz and Usher.

In addition, Miguel has been nominated in the Best Collaboration category with Wale for their song “Lotus Flower Bomb.” Other nominees include Beyonce f/ J. Cole – “Party,” Big Sean f/ Kanye West & Roscoe Dash – “Marvin & Chardonnay,” DJ Khaled f/ Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne – “I’m On One,” Drake f/ Lil Wayne & Tyga – “The Motto,” The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) f/ Otis Redding – “Otis.”

Miguel’s final nod comes in the Coca-Cola Viewer’s Choice Award category for his same collaboration with Wale on “Lotus Flower Bomb.” The pair will face off against Beyonce – “Love On Top,” Chris Brown – “Turn Up the Music,” Drake f/ Lil Wayne & Tyga – “The Motto,” Mindless Behavior – and “Hello,” The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) f/ Otis Redding – “Otis.”

But Miguel and Bruno Mars aren’t the only Latino artists getting nominations… Zoe Saldana received a nod in the Best Actress category, while New York Giants’ star Victor Cruz was nominated in the Subway Sportsman of the Year category.

The 2012 BET Awards, which will be hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, will be held on July 1 at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium. Last year’s awards show drew 7.7 million viewers on BET.

5/22

Shakira Signs with Jay Z’s Roc Nation

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Shakira is switching teams… Management teams, that is.

The 35-year-old Colombian superstar is reportedly no longer under the management of Epic, according to XXL magazine.

Shakira has allegedly signed a management contract with Roc Nation, joining the likes of such artists as Rihanna, Melanie Fiona, J.Cole and Willow Smith.

The move presents Shakira with a great opportunity to expand her musical horizons and gives her a great pick of collaborators for her next music project.

Roc Nation—which was founded by Kanye West and Jay Z, the husband of Shakira’s “Beautiful Liar” collaboration partner Beyonce—also represents Santigold, Alexis Jordan and Jay Electronica.

Pitbull to Perform at NBA All-Star Game…

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Mr. Worldwide is about to get his (all-star) game on…

Pitbull has signed on to perform at the NBA All-Star Game at the end of the month.

The 31-year-old Cuban American—who gave a high-octane performance In New York City’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve—will team up with Ne-Yo to perform their hit single “Give Me Everything” during the All-Star Game halftime show.

Pitbull will be following in the footsteps of Rihanna, Drake and Kanye West, who rocked the halftime show at last year’s NBA All-Star Game.

Before the big game, Nicki Minaj will perform a medley of her singles, including her brand new track “Starships” and her smash hit “Super Bass,” during the All-Star Game introductions.

Meanwhile, Mary J. Blige will perform the U.S. national anthem prior to the game, with pop group Neverest delivering the Canadian anthem.

Taking place in Orlando on February 26, the showdown between the NBA’s all-star teams will be broadcast on TNT.

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