Archive for January, 2010
Beyonce, Jay-Z, Eminem Win Early Grammys
by on Jan.31, 2010, under Eminem
Awards have been handed out for some R&B, rap and pop categories.
By Eric Ditzian
Jay-Z
Photo: Scott Wintrow/Getty Images
Following on early dance and country Grammy wins by artists like Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, a collection of some of the biggest names in hip-hop, pop and R&B were honored with statues before the show kicked off. The winners include Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Rihanna, the Black Eyed Peas and Eminem.
Nominated for 10 total awards — the most of any artist this year — Beyoncé took home four early awards. For Best R&B Song, her “Single Ladies” triumphed over Jamie Foxx and T-Pain, Maxwell and Jazmine Sullivan. Beyoncé also beat T-Pain and Foxx for Best Contemporary R&B Album (I Am … Sasha Fierce). In the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category, the singer’s “Single Ladies” beat out tunes from Melanie Fiona and others. Her “At Last” cover came out on top for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance over songs from Anthony Hamilton and Ann Nesby.
Beyoncé’s husband also took home some pre-show awards. Jay won for Best Rap Solo Performance (”D.O.A. [Death of Auto-Tune]“) and Best Rap Song (”Run This Town). He shared that second award with Kanye West and Rihanna.
Eminem won twice as well: Best Rap Album ( Relapse) and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (”Crack a Bottle”), along with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent.
The Black Eyed Peas already have a slew of wins, from Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals (”I Gotta Feeling”) to Best Pop Vocal Album (The E.N.D.) to Best Short Form Video (”Boom Boom Pow”).
Earlier in the evening, Gaga nabbed two wins (Best Dance Recording and Best Electronic/Dance Album), as did Taylor Swift (Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song category). The “Twilight” soundtrack lost out twice to sounds from “Slumdog Millionaire.”
Stick with MTV News for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards! We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more from the big show!
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Beyonce, Jay-Z, Eminem Win Early Grammys
by on Jan.31, 2010, under Black Eyed Peas
Awards have been handed out for some R&B, rap and pop categories.
By Eric Ditzian
Jay-Z
Photo: Scott Wintrow/Getty Images
Following on early dance and country Grammy wins by artists like Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, a collection of some of the biggest names in hip-hop, pop and R&B were honored with statues before the show kicked off. The winners include Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Rihanna, the Black Eyed Peas and Eminem.
Nominated for 10 total awards — the most of any artist this year — Beyoncé took home four early awards. For Best R&B Song, her “Single Ladies” triumphed over Jamie Foxx and T-Pain, Maxwell and Jazmine Sullivan. Beyoncé also beat T-Pain and Foxx for Best Contemporary R&B Album (I Am … Sasha Fierce). In the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category, the singer’s “Single Ladies” beat out tunes from Melanie Fiona and others. Her “At Last” cover came out on top for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance over songs from Anthony Hamilton and Ann Nesby.
Beyoncé’s husband also took home some pre-show awards. Jay won for Best Rap Solo Performance (”D.O.A. [Death of Auto-Tune]“) and Best Rap Song (”Run This Town). He shared that second award with Kanye West and Rihanna.
Eminem won twice as well: Best Rap Album ( Relapse) and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (”Crack a Bottle”), along with Dr. Dre and 50 Cent.
The Black Eyed Peas already have a slew of wins, from Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals (”I Gotta Feeling”) to Best Pop Vocal Album (The E.N.D.) to Best Short Form Video (”Boom Boom Pow”).
Earlier in the evening, Gaga nabbed two wins (Best Dance Recording and Best Electronic/Dance Album), as did Taylor Swift (Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song category). The “Twilight” soundtrack lost out twice to sounds from “Slumdog Millionaire.”
Stick with MTV News for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards! We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more from the big show!
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Justin Bieber, Ke$ha Look Forward To 2011 Grammys
by on Jan.31, 2010, under Justin Bieber
The Best New Artist presenters admit they’d like to be nominees next year.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Bieber at the pre-Grammy gifting session
Photo: MTV News
WEST HOLLYWOOD — When Ke$ha presents Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night with fellow newbie Justin Bieber, she’s hoping that she makes enough of an impression that voters remember her when ballots for the 2011 awards are sent out.
“I’m presenting for best new artist … so I have a secret favorite,” she told MTV News while checking out the goods at the Grammy Awards Styling Suite on Saturday afternoon. While she wouldn’t divulge which nominee she was pulling for — Zac Brown Band, Silversun Pickups, Keri Hilson, MGMT and the Ting Tings are up for the award — she did mention that she’s a huge Hilson fan, so that might be a clue.
Asked if perhaps by having her present Best New Artist, the folks behind the Grammys were giving her an early inside line on a 2011 nod, the singer smiled sweetly and said maybe. “They’re alluding to something; I hope so,” she said. “Perhaps, maybe next year, maybe I’ll be up for it.”
Getting psyched to attend his first Grammys, Bieber said he was just excited to see all the big-name artists, especially one he’s got a major thing for. “I’m looking forward to looking at Beyoncé,” he said with a smile. “I have a little crush on Beyoncé. But she’s got a man. … It’s a little inappropriate.”
While the 15-year-old’s debut, My World, came out too late to be considered for Best New Artist this year, Bieber said he also hoped he could maybe make the cut in 2011. “I’m looking forward [to the Grammys],” he said. “Growing up, I watched the Grammys. … It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to a lot of good energy, the good vibes in the room.”
With Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga up for a combined 23 awards on Sunday night, Ke$ha was also psyched for a dose of female power at the show, and she agreed with Bieber about which lady she was keeping an eye on. “I think that ‘Single Ladies’ was one of the best songs of last year,” she said. “I’m a huge Beyoncé fan. I think she’s just the classiest woman in music. I’m really excited to maybe meet her. … I think it’s an exciting time for women. A lot of strong women are out there. It’s cool to be a part of that.”
Stick with MTV News all week for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards. We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more leading up to and during the big show Sunday (January 31) at 8 p.m. ET.
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Ke$ha, Justin Bieber Get Glammed Up At Grammy Style Studio
by on Jan.31, 2010, under Justin Bieber
Kara DioGuardi, Sean Paul, Megadeth also hit up the swag stations in preparation for Sunday’s show.
By Gil Kaufman
Ke$ha at the Grammy gifting session
Photo: MTV News
WEST HOLLYWOOD — The dance tunes were pumping, the champagne and wine were being poured generously, the sparkling dresses were hung with care, and everyone was at the ready to indulge the shopping wishes of a parade of celebrities at the official Grammy Awards Styling Suite at Smashbox Studio on Saturday.
“I’m wandering around, having a good time looking at some amazing pieces by new designers,” said early arrival Ke$ha, pointing to a glittering collection of cocktail dresses by Nicolas Jebran that drew her eye the minute she walked in. The sparkling floor-length gowns with sexy cut-outs were a bit more upmarket than the black biker boots, black booty shorts and shredded T-shirt the “Tik Tok” singer wore to the event. But within hours, her crew was loaded up with shopping bags full of sunglasses, clothes and jewelry.
Before shopping, though, she made a bee-line for the makeup studio to get a Ke$ha-propriate makeover. Sitting in a chair next to her songwriting partner/mom, she had a thick layer of gold glitter added to her eyelids and some candy-colored sparkles applied on the side of her right eye.
“You might see me on the red carpet with something,” she said with a wink, hinting at what she would model on Sunday night, when she’ll present the Best New Artist Grammy with fellow newbie Justin Bieber.
While everyone waited for the next celeb to sweep in, champagne and Starbucks were being served from a circular bar in the middle of the room. Jay-Z and Lady Gaga pumped on the stereo, and everyone kept checking themselves out in the full-length mirrors sprinkled throughout the loft-like photo studio.
Also making laps was “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi, who expertly worked the room, picking up some color-splashed 6-inch heels, testing out some Japanese sake drinks and taking long looks at a number of jewelry stalls, including Pennyroyal Silver. The rep told her that “Idol” alums Jordin Sparks and Adam Lambert are about to release signature pendants as part of a music collection that will benefit Haiti relief. An hour later, rapper Sean Paul would also stop by the booth and sketch an impromptu design for his own pendant, which pictured a very happy man with a hand-rolled, um, cigarette dangling from his lips.
Metal gods Megadeth also walked through, and, like Sean Paul, they appeared to be on the prowl for some flashy formal wear and new kicks. Surprisingly, though DioGuardi logged a few serious hours working the room, and a tired-looking but excited Bieber came late in the day to pick up some swag, it was the stylishly disheveled hard rockers who appeared to put in the most time browsing the racks. Each member left the studio weighted down with several full shopping bags.
Stick with MTV News all week for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards. We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more leading up to and during the big show Sunday (January 31) at 8 p.m. ET.
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‘Avatar’ Wins Its Seventh Weekend In A Row In The Sunday Box Office Report
by on Jan.31, 2010, under MTV Movies Blog
1. “Avatar” ($30 million)
2. “Edge of Darkness” ($17.1 million)
3. “When in Rome” ($12.1 million)
4. “Tooth Fairy” ($10 million)
5. “The Book of Eli” ($8.8 million)
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, “Avatar” once again topped the box office charts this past weekend for its seventh straight weekend victory. Following the $30 million haul, James Cameron’s latest film sits atop a domestic money pile worth $594.5 million and is well within days of eclipsing “Titanic’s” current record of $600.8 million.
Beating “Titanic” at the domestic box office is more or less the last meaningful record that “Avatar” has to break. Early last week, the science fiction epic secured its place as the highest grossing film of all time, having brought its worldwide tally up to $2.04 billion. Despite the victory, many are quick to point out that “Avatar’s” current record isn’t adjusted for inflation or the significantly higher cost for 3-D ticket purchases. But even with those exceptions in mind, there’s absolutely no denying the unprecedented success this movie has enjoyed in only seven weeks in theaters.
In the world of non-”Avatar” news, Mel Gibson’s return to the spotlight in “Edge of Darkness” wasn’t able to slow down the 3-D epic’s momentum, taking home a $17.1 million second place medal. Newcomer “When in Rome” and holdover “Tooth Fairy” took the third and fourth place slots while Denzel Washington’s “The Book of Eli” earned a fifth place finish worth $8.8 million.
Although it didn’t crack the top five, “Crazy Heart” nonetheless left the weekend with a solid $2.3 million over just 239 theaters, translating to a $9,414 per screen average. On the opposite end of the spectrum was “Extraordinary Measures,” the Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser film that earned only $2.6 million from Friday to Sunday, a 57% drop from its debut last weekend.
Tell us what you think of the box office results in the comments section or on Twitter!
Perez Hilton Predicts Grammy Wins For Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift And Beyonce
by on Jan.31, 2010, under Beyoncé
‘I know what Gaga’s doing. Want me to tell you?’ gossip blogger teases.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Brendan Kennedy
Perez Hilton
Photo: MTV News
Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift have all had phenomenal success over the past year, as evidenced by their multiple Grammy Awards. But by the end of Sunday’s awards show only one of these ladies can go home as the ultimate Grammy diva. Gossip blogger Perez Hilton told us his predictions about the epic ladies’ night.
“I definitely have my Grammy favorites,” he told MTV News. “Most definitely: number one Lady Gaga and number two Taylor Swift and number three Beyoncé. It’s all about the ladies this year.”
But who will win the most? “What’s great is Beyoncé, Gaga and Taylor Swift were nominated for so many awards each, they probably will all win,” he said. “So it’s going to be a night of all winners and no losers, unless somebody gets snubbed and wins zero awards. That would be bad.”
The only guarantee come Grammy night is that there will be some really interesting fashion on the red carpet. And Gaga will no doubt do something to have everyone buzzing. “It will be a whole bunch of dresses and a lot of fabulosity,” he said. “I know what Gaga’s doing. Want me to tell you? No, I can’t!”
But while Gaga, Swift and Beyoncé may be sweeping up the statues, Perez thinks one lady didn’t get enough recognition. “I think Katy Perry got snubbed for the second year in a row, unfortunately,” he said about his friend, who has a Best Female Pop Vocal Performance nod for “Hot ‘n Cold.” “It’s a bit of a bummer.”
Who do you think will take home more prizes: Lady Gaga, Beyoncé or Taylor Swift? Who do you think got snubbed? Let us know in the comments below, or upload a video to Your.MTV.com!
Stick with MTV News all week for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards. We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more leading up to and during the big show Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
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Travis Barker Talks Grammy Performance With Eminem, Lil Wayne, Drake
by on Jan.31, 2010, under Lil Wayne
‘I have yet to rehearse,’ Blink-182 drummer tells MTV News of his performance at Sunday’s show.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kelly Marino
Travis Barker
Photo: MTV News
Travis Barker is eternally busy. Blink-182. Solo album. Clothing company. You name it, he’s probably got his hand in it. That’s why you can’t blame him if he’s not totally up to speed on his performance with Drake, Lil Wayne and Eminem at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Sometimes, these things tend to pile up.
“I have yet to rehearse [with anyone]. I got a call, like, on Tuesday. Everyone found out a day after I did. So, I don’t know exactly what I’m doing yet,” Barker told MTV News on Friday (January 29) in his Los Angeles studio. “I’m just a part of it. I know I’m playing drums. I know it’s a performance with Eminem, Drake, myself and Lil Wayne. I think it might be ‘Forever.’ ”
That seems likely. After all, both Em and Wayne contributed verses to Drake’s “Forever,” and Barker contributed a blazing remix of the song earlier this year. But the Blink drummer’s night won’t just stop there. He’s apparently also set to perform with Wayne on a version of “Drop the World,” from Weezy’s upcoming Rebirth album (that track also features Em), which makes it sound very much like there’s a medley on tap.
“Yeah, I think we’re doing a medley, a couple of songs,” Barker laughed. “I think ‘Drop the World’ is in. Maybe.”
And while a combo of Barker, Drake, Eminem and Wayne would certainly rival the “Swagga Like Us” performance at last year’s Grammys (which featured Jay-Z, Kanye West, T.I., Weezy and M.I.A. sharing the stage), there’s still one big question: Will West — who has been lying low since his infamous outburst at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards — show up on Sunday to perform his verse on “Forever”? Not surprisingly, Barker isn’t exactly sure.
“I don’t know. Someone said he’s in Hawaii, writing an album,” he smiled. “I would stay there.”
Stick with MTV News all week for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards. We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more leading up to and during the big show Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
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Justin Timberlake, Drake, More Join Timbaland At L.A. Concert
by on Jan.31, 2010, under Drake
Game, Keri Hilson, Brandy also take the stage.
By Gil Kaufman
Justin Timberlake and Timbaland perform in Los Angeles on Friday
Photo: Gil Kaufman/MTV News
LOS ANGELES — Membership has its privileges. And when that exclusive association happens to be Timbaland’s Beat Club, you never know who might flash their membership card when he takes the stage.
At the packed House of Blues in Hollywood on Friday night, the roster was a who’s who of Timbaland’s pals, from Justin Timberlake and Drake to Keri Hilson and Brandy. The two-hour throwdown was a star-studded hit parade that only someone with Tim’s clout and deep address book could pull off.
The night started off simply enough, with the master producer walking out wearing his Beats by Dr. Dre headphones and punching up some chest-rattling rhythms as his six-piece band laid down a slow rolling funk bedrock for “Timothy Where You Been.” It wasn’t long before Drake came ambling out for “Say Something,” from Timbaland’s Shock Value II LP, throwing the crowd into a frenzy as he bounced across the stage, seemingly completely healed from his knee injury last year.
The nimble rapper slid into his hit “Forever” without compatriots Eminem and Lil Wayne, who are expected to join him for a rendition of that song — along with Travis Barker — at Sunday night’s Grammys.
The crowd might have been happy enough with Drake, but as soon as the rapper left the stage, L.A. native the Game hustled on with his posse, rolling hard to “Put You on the Game,” then dropping an X-rated freestyle before giving the stage back to Tim. He wasn’t alone long, though, as Hilson was up next, strutting in wearing a shimmery silver crop-top over a black catsuit and trading verses with Tim on “The Way I Are,” then sticking around for her own “Turnin’ Me On,” “Knock You Down” and a funky taste of Bobby Brown’s “Don’t Be Cruel.”
The crowd went crazy when Timbaland gave a shout out to “Twilight” — which he’s said was an influence on Shock Value II and, given all the guests thus far and the fact that he was showing images of Robert Pattinson on the big screen behind the stage, might have led them to believe that a castmember was coming out — but they were just as happy when he performed “Morning After Dark.” The cavalcade of guests didn’t stop there, as female rapper SoShy came out and reprised her bit in the song before Tim led the band into an instrumental breakdown where he gave everyone a bit of shine, James Brown-style.
Alas, Katy Perry was only there in spirit (i.e. on the big screen), singing a virtual duet on “If We Ever Meet Again,” but after an extended salsa jam, star time revved up again as a sassy Brandy (a.k.a. rapper “Bran’ Nu”) walked out for the heavy funk of “Meet in the Middle.” Wearing black hot pants, a black leather top and black suit coat with silver lapels, Brandy was almost unrecognizable as she broke into a freestyle over Timbaland’s beatboxing, swinging her long black braid from side to side and boasting about being “born in Mississippi but raised in Cali.”
And just when it seemed like there was no one else Tim could bring out, he kicked into the rib-rattling intro to “Carry Out.” Now, at this point, the crowd had seen way more than it bargained for, so even just peeping video footage of Justin Timberlake on the big screen made them go crazy. But when JT strolled out, the place exploded. The old pals ripped it up for the sexual innuendo-heavy tune, then slid into JT’s “SexyBack” and “My Love,” which only served to remind the crowd just how much they adore the singer with the effortless vocals, fleet-footed finesse and serious beatboxing skills.
Clearly having a blast, the pair then served up “Crazy Girl,” which was recorded for but didn’t make the final cut of Shock Value II — a shame, because Timberlake was in fine falsetto form. The two looked out into a sea of cameras snapping photos of their superstar summit, gave a taste of JT’s “LoveStoned,” and then called it a night.
Stick with MTV News all week for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards. We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more leading up to and during the big show Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
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Travis Barker Talks Grammy Performance With Eminem, Lil Wayne, Drake
by on Jan.31, 2010, under Drake
‘I have yet to rehearse,’ Blink-182 drummer tells MTV News of his performance at Sunday’s show.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kelly Marino
Travis Barker
Photo: MTV News
Travis Barker is eternally busy. Blink-182. Solo album. Clothing company. You name it, he’s probably got his hand in it. That’s why you can’t blame him if he’s not totally up to speed on his performance with Drake, Lil Wayne and Eminem at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Sometimes, these things tend to pile up.
“I have yet to rehearse [with anyone]. I got a call, like, on Tuesday. Everyone found out a day after I did. So, I don’t know exactly what I’m doing yet,” Barker told MTV News on Friday (January 29) in his Los Angeles studio. “I’m just a part of it. I know I’m playing drums. I know it’s a performance with Eminem, Drake, myself and Lil Wayne. I think it might be ‘Forever.’ ”
That seems likely. After all, both Em and Wayne contributed verses to Drake’s “Forever,” and Barker contributed a blazing remix of the song earlier this year. But the Blink drummer’s night won’t just stop there. He’s apparently also set to perform with Wayne on a version of “Drop the World,” from Weezy’s upcoming Rebirth album (that track also features Em), which makes it sound very much like there’s a medley on tap.
“Yeah, I think we’re doing a medley, a couple of songs,” Barker laughed. “I think ‘Drop the World’ is in. Maybe.”
And while a combo of Barker, Drake, Eminem and Wayne would certainly rival the “Swagga Like Us” performance at last year’s Grammys (which featured Jay-Z, Kanye West, T.I., Weezy and M.I.A. sharing the stage), there’s still one big question: Will West — who has been lying low since his infamous outburst at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards — show up on Sunday to perform his verse on “Forever”? Not surprisingly, Barker isn’t exactly sure.
“I don’t know. Someone said he’s in Hawaii, writing an album,” he smiled. “I would stay there.”
Stick with MTV News all week for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards. We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more leading up to and during the big show Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
Related Artists
Travis Barker Talks Grammy Performance With Eminem, Lil Wayne, Drake
by on Jan.30, 2010, under Eminem
‘I have yet to rehearse,’ Blink-182 drummer tells MTV News of his performance at Sunday’s show.
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Kelly Marino
Travis Barker
Photo: MTV News
Travis Barker is eternally busy. Blink-182. Solo album. Clothing company. You name it, he’s probably got his hand in it. That’s why you can’t blame him if he’s not totally up to speed on his performance with Drake, Lil Wayne and Eminem at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Sometimes, these things tend to pile up.
“I have yet to rehearse [with anyone]. I got a call, like, on Tuesday. Everyone found out a day after I did. So, I don’t know exactly what I’m doing yet,” Barker told MTV News on Friday (January 29) in his Los Angeles studio. “I’m just a part of it. I know I’m playing drums. I know it’s a performance with Eminem, Drake, myself and Lil Wayne. I think it might be ‘Forever.’ ”
That seems likely. After all, both Em and Wayne contributed verses to Drake’s “Forever,” and Barker contributed a blazing remix of the song earlier this year. But the Blink drummer’s night won’t just stop there. He’s apparently also set to perform with Wayne on a version of “Drop the World,” from Weezy’s upcoming Rebirth album (that track also features Em), which makes it sound very much like there’s a medley on tap.
“Yeah, I think we’re doing a medley, a couple of songs,” Barker laughed. “I think ‘Drop the World’ is in. Maybe.”
And while a combo of Barker, Drake, Eminem and Wayne would certainly rival the “Swagga Like Us” performance at last year’s Grammys (which featured Jay-Z, Kanye West, T.I., Weezy and M.I.A. sharing the stage), there’s still one big question: Will West — who has been lying low since his infamous outburst at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards — show up on Sunday to perform his verse on “Forever”? Not surprisingly, Barker isn’t exactly sure.
“I don’t know. Someone said he’s in Hawaii, writing an album,” he smiled. “I would stay there.”
Stick with MTV News all week for our coverage of the 2010 Grammy Awards. We’ll have reports on your favorite nominees, party photos, behind-the-scenes video and much more leading up to and during the big show Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
Related Artists
