Jay-Z, Kanye West leak their new track, 'Otis'

Jay-Z and Kanye West have something new in the world: The latest cut from their forthcoming "Watch the Throne" album, a tune called "Otis." In it, the two modern-day monarchs of hip-hop step aside to make room for true soul music royalty: Otis Redding.

The sample-driven banger premiered Wednesday on New York radio station Hot 97 FM (97.1), courtesy of DJ Funk Master Flex.

With grainy snare snaps, greasy organ and a stomping floor-tom pulse, the song pays homage to Redding’s gravelly baritone with a sample of "Try a Little Tenderness" while the two titans of braggadocio trade verses that champion street-level cockiness wrapped in the elegance of a three-piece suit.

"Photo shoot fresh, lookin' like wealth/ I'm about to call the paparazzi on myself" Hova raps while Yeezy talks about "writing his curses in cursive." Though the duo's knack for flossing takes precedence over most of the track, Redding's raw power screams through in the final seconds like a rude wakeup call, reminding us that "Watch the Throne" is positioning itself for a chart takeover.

"Otis" follows the Lex Luger-produced "H.A.M.," which made its way to the tweetosphere in January.

The digital version of the album drops Aug. 1, with the physical version out four days later. Take a listen to the track here (there's some strong language -- scroll down for the audio link) then tell us what you think.

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-- Nate Jackson
twitter.com/natejLAT

Photos: Kanye West, left, and Jay-Z. Credits: George Pimentel / Getty Images, left; Andrew Gombert / European Pressphoto Agency, right.

Kids' Choice Awards: Will.i.am wants to do a 'sci-fi, fantasy musical' movie [Video]

Will.i.am, the lead singer in the Black Eyed Peas, has earned a reputation for his outlandish get-ups. At the Kids' Choice Awards on Saturday, the artist sported a pair of a electric orange sunglasses that he said allowed him to observe any action occurring behind him.

The Black Eyed Peas gave the opening performance on the Nickelodeon show this year -- but the frontman seemed more excited about his upcoming voice role in the animated film "Rio."

"I want to do more movies. I want to write films. I want to do a musical. In the vein of fantasy. Fantasy musical. I haven't seen that yet," he said, getting increasingly excited at the thought. "Like a sci-fi, fantasy musical. If you were to take 'Harry Potter,' 'Tron,' and 'The Wizard of Oz' -- but today."

Any plans to actually make that happen, we asked?

"Just thought about it right now," he smiled.

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--Amy Kaufman

Twitter.com/AmyKinLA

Christina Aguilera got 'caught up in the moment' during national anthem

Christina Aguilera has been America's punching bag for just over 24 hours now, since she flubbed the national anthem before the Super Bowl. However, the diva did issue a statement explaining and apologizing.

"I got so caught up in the moment of the song that I lost my place," the "Burlesque" actress said Sunday night. "I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through."

A source told E! News that Aguilera, who's been singing the national anthem publicly since she was 7, was "visibly upset," skipped the Super Bowl after-parties and caught a plane right back to L.A. Those who doubt that the New York native knows the lyrics can check out the second and third videos in this post, showing her knocking it out at age 11, and just last year for the NBA Finals.

"It's such a huge venue, your nerves take ahold of you. I completely understand," the Black Eyed Peas' Fergie said, defending Aguilera during a radio interview Monday and mentioning some issues with her own performance -- though maybe not mirroring exactly what some of the game's 111 million viewers took away from the Peas' halftime show.

"Some of my notes were pitchy to me," Fergie said -- but hey, she had a great time.

Some stories have circulated lately about erratic behavior from Aguilera, but really, who wouldn't be off their game if they had to live with an estranged husband and a new boyfriend? Xtina filed for divorce from Jordan Bratman in October, and has been dating Mark Rutler, who according to TMZ moved in before Bratman's stuff was hauled away in January.

Rutler accompanied Aguilera to her Super Bowl pregame performance.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

The Associated Press contributed to this post.

Photo: Christina Aguilera and boyfriend Matthew Rutler at the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLV Pregame Show at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 6, 2011. Credit: Christopher Polk / Getty Images

Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl halftime show: Um, thoughts? [poll]

The Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl halftime show seems to have left some folks less than impressed, if the, um, impassioned comments on our related 2011 Super Bowl posts are any indication.

Personally, the Ministry sort of loved the light-up dancing people and would like to keep one as a pet. Then again, we always like shiny things. Plus, Guns N' Roses' Slash showed up, and he looks cool no matter what. (Never mind that you won't be hearing any GNR tune in the "Glee" episode after the game, or any other "Glee" episode, for that matter.)

Regarding the music, however -- was being three-sheets-to-the-wind drunk a requirement to enjoy this Super Bowl halftime show? Are the folks who said it's still cool to like the Black Eyed Peas eating their words? Do you sympathize with the not-an-old-fart-at-all editor who sent me a frantic note about that "horrific caterwauling by Fergie," proclaiming her ears had been violated? 

Did the Peas suddenly make lyrics-flubbing Christina Aguilera look ... good? You might want to read Todd Martens' take on the Peas, "Pop Absurdity at Its Finest."

Take the poll, and post your own review in comments. (Keep it clean!)

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Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl halftime show promises a party vibe minus malfunctions

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: The Black Eyed Peas perform during halftime at the 2011 Super Bowl XLV on Sunday in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 6, 2011. Credit: Charlie Krupa / Associated Press

Black Eyed Peas' Super Bowl halftime show promises a party vibe minus the malfunctions

When she takes the stage with the Black Eyed Peas for the Super Bowl XLV halftime show this Sunday, Fergie will be the first female to perform there since Janet Jackson had her infamous "wardrobe malfunction" with Justin Timberlake.

"It is a challenge because you want to give a little sex appeal but you don't want to get into any trouble," Fergie said Thursday at a Super Bowl press conference in Dallas.

Jackson's 2004 nipple debacle earned CBS a $550,000 fine from the FCC. This year's Super Bowl is being broadcast on Fox.

"We're very particular about the wardrobe," Fergie asserted. "There will be no more malfunctions."

But last we checked, performers don't usually plan for their clothes to go haywire, right? Fighting words, Fergie-Ferg.

Mrs. Josh Duhamel, who revealed that she's also a minority owner of the Miami Dolphins, said the group plans to perform "sports anthem type songs" that make people want to party.  

"We're taking football places where it is not part of their culture, but this is part of our culture and I am so proud," Will.I.Am said about performing on the "unofficial American holiday." 

'Glee' star Lea Michele will sing at the Super Bowl

Lea Michele will sing "America the Beautiful" before Super Bowl XLV on Feb. 6, joining  pregame festivities set to star Christina Aguilera belting the national anthem.

The small-screen diva's Super Bowl appearance, first reported by E! News, will be bookended after the game by a special episode of "Glee" featuring a remake of Michael Jackson's "Thriller."

"The whole episode is big," costar Dianna Agron told Parade.

"There are really big dance numbers and pyrotechnics and zombies and fog. And a lot of Jane Lynch, which is always good."

Any thoughts on this year's Super Bowl entertainment lineup, which has the Black Eyed Peas on tap for halftime, in addition to Michele and Aguilera before the game?

RELATED:

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Harry Shum Jr., the 'other Asian' on 'Glee,' goes topless

Justin Bieber finally makes the Super Bowl worth watching

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Lea Michele performs onstage as Janet during a "Rocky Horror Picture Show" 35th anniversary benefit at the Wiltern on Oct. 28, 2010. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

 

 

World Cup opens with a touch of sadness after death of Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter

The 2010 FIFA World Cup kicked off Friday morning with bold opening ceremonies and the opening game between Mexico and South Africa, following a Thursday night kickoff concert in Johannesburg featuring Shakira, the Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Alicia Keys and a host of other performers, among them Somali-born K'Naan singing "Wavin' Flag.

Nelson Mandela did not attend the opening ceremonies or game, however, after one of his nine great-grandchildren was killed in a single-car crash early Friday morning coming home from the concert.

Zenani Mandela, 13, was a passenger; authorities suspect the unidentified male driver was intoxicated and said he may face a homicide charge, the Fabulous Forum reports. The Associated Press quoted a police spokeswoman as saying, "He lost control of the vehicle, and it collided with a barricade."

This sadness comes after lighter news that Fergie of the Peas was delighted after sharing a "flirty" moment with the anti-apartheid leader during her trip to the country to perform.

Click here for full L.A. Times sports coverage of the World Cup. EW.com's Music Mix has more concert clips here.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip:

Shakira rocks the World Cup's Waka Waka with schoolkids in South Africa

PREACH IT! Comic book + David Beckham = new category: Gratuitous Geekcake

No shirt, no pants, no problem: Cristiano Ronaldo steams up Vanity Fair

Shakira stops by the White House to say hello

Shakira's boyfriend thinks his 'She Wolf' is too sexy -- and we respectfully disagree

Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter (we're @LATcelebs) or 'Like' us into your Facebook news feed when you visit our Facebook page. Not all our headlines are steamy, we promise.

Perez Hilton, Black Eyed Peas manager settle civil suit

A settlement has been reached in a civil lawsuit filed by Perez Hilton against Liborio Molina, the Black Eyed Peas manager who allegedly punched the blogger in a Toronto nightclub last year, and a judge is dismissing the case.

Terms were not discussed, but TMZ reports that the money will be given to charity.

Perez, meanwhile, continues his good works on the interwebs: His "Quote of the Day" today is from Paul Reubens, a.k.a. Pee-wee Herman -- a quote highlighted presumably because, out of context, it's titillating, and it actually includes the word "titillating." Perez's website attributes the "Quote of the Day" to a Details magazine article.

Seems Team Perez has slow readers, however ...

Sightings: Music superstars gear up for the Grammys

With Sunday's 52nd Annual Grammy telecast fast approaching, the biggest stars in music are invading Los Angeles, and the Ministry has eyes everywhere. 

From cocktails with Thom Yorke to charity jams with Taylor Swift, see who is hitting high notes or keeping it low-key, in our sightings...

Grammy nomination shock! Or not? Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift ...

The shape of the trophy may change, but the names remain the same. After the Grammy Award nominations were announced at a "disappointingly staid" telecast/concert Wednesday night, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga had combined to snag 23 nods.

And all three showed up in the top Grammy categories of album, record and song.

The Black Eyed Peas, R&B singer Maxwell and rapper Kanye West collected six each, so it's not as if the ladies were totally grabby-greedy.

Pop & Hiss has the play-by-play; check out the details there. The 52nd annual Grammy Awards will take place on Jan. 31.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: The Black Eyed Peas perform at the Grammy Nominations Concert Live in L.A. Credit: Robyn Beck / AFP/Getty Images

The Ministry of Gossip is pleased to present related dispatches on Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Kanye West. Happy clicking.

Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Facebook and Twitter (we're @LATcelebs).