More interviews Live from the BMA's in Las Vegas!!
Things are winding down here in the busy MGM Grand pressroom as artists get ready for final runthroughs and presenters start memorizing teleprompter lines. On their way out the doors, we grabbed Three Six Mafia, last year's notable Oscar winners for Best Song "Hard Out There for a Pimp" who are announcing Ludacris and Pharrell tonite. They let us know that they are still in the soundtrack song game and were asked to write a themesong for the new "Rocky Balboa" movie. "It's all gravy now". The guys were thrilled to meet Sly Stallone. DJ, and Juicy J sat down briefly with us.. Man these guys are colorful in bling and DJ in super bright jacket, Juicy in black hoodie with copper and gold lettering. Can we say glow in the dark? DJ says among his early faves as a kid were NWA, Public Enemy, Willie D and Luke Skywalker. Juicy says "as far as soul artists, BB King, Isaac Hayes, Al Green, a lot of those for me"
We asked the guys what they'd say to kids and teens who look up to them and want to rap or write hit soundtracks. Juicy says "be true to yourself, pray on it, work hard and don't listen to what nobody is saying. Dreams do come true if you work hard. Just do what you do not what somebody else does". DJ pops in with "and finish school first. A lot of them think 'oh, I'll become a rapper and be rich so I don't have to finish school'. Ya gotta finish school because rappin' is 95 percent business and 5 percent music. You can make some words that rhyme but if you don't know how to count the money that you're makin' somebody will take it from you. School is first. Please finish school!"
The guys want us to know that the last Wed. in Jan 2007 is the premiere of the Three Six Mafia new reality show called "Adventures in HollyHood" so check that one out.
Did the guys meet any friends in Vegas.. anybody new.. DJ says "we're always happy to meet up with old and recent friends". Juicy says "I just saw Rihanna. She's so beautiful". DJ jumps in with "Rihanna just kissed me on the cheek and I'll never wash my face again". Juicy tells us, "We just saw Chingy over there. He's our homeboy and Ludacris". "We're goin' out later to party with the stars. We're so happy to be here and announce our friends Pharrell and Ludacris and we're happy to talk to you and the teens out there, Hello TeenMusic!!" Thanks, Juicy!
Here comes Latino heartthrob R & B dude Frankie J. He comes from a musical family. One family member played violin in church. The Tijuana native has made his 3rd English album "Priceless" and the second single "Daddy's Little Girl" follows "That Girl" . Frankie has just made the video in L.A. He's got R&B in his soul but art would be a fallback career.. He'd love to design his own album cover soon. He's rooting for Mary J. Blige and Ne-Yo to win tonite as well as Chris Brown.. Who would show Frankie around Vegas in a fantasy nite? Well Mary J. of course. "She's so classy".
Be Sure Not to Miss the Billboard Music Awards, Live Tonight from the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas 8/7CENTRAL TIME
***
Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.
