DJ/producer calls their collabo the 'biggest record' on his just-released Nothing but the Beat.
By Akshay Bhansali
Usher
Photo: Todd Williamson/ WireImage
David Guetta recently told MTV News that the Usher collabo "Without You" is the "biggest record" on his just-released Nothing but the Beat.
It's a rather bold statement, considering his latest album also features Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, will.i.am, Akon, Timbaland, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Hudson, just to name a few. But Guetta has a soft spot for the cinematic team-up with Ush, which he says is equal parts sentimental and hands-in-the-air euphoric.
"It's just totally emotional," Guetta said. "Some of the record is a proper ballad, and then it goes to that crazy dance beat. It's perfect for him, because he's famous for his ballads. And he's also now famous for those big club records that he comes with. He's an amazing dancer, so I felt like he was the artist that I needed."
Usher and Guetta first previewed the song in Ibiza, Spain, earlier this summer, with the crowd demanding an encore performance of the sure-to-be-hit song.
"It was amazing," Guetta gushed. "We were not supposed to do this. I always do these kinds of stupid things, playing records when I'm not supposed to play them. And Usher was so excited for this time to be in Ibiza performing in front of those people. He called me onstage and said, 'Come on. Let's do it.' So we did it, and, yeah, they loved it. We had to do it again! They asked for one more."
For some, the combination of Usher and Guetta might seem out of left field. While the DJ/producer works with a variety of artists, he has a pretty tight-knit musical family — but it may come as a surprise that Guetta has known Usher the longest.
"I actually speak very often about how thankful I am to will.i.am because he called me to produce 'I Gotta Feeling'; Akon, when we started to work together, because I wasn't famous in America; Kelly Rowland and all those guys that came to me when I was not known yet," Guetta said. "But I have to say that the very first time when someone big from America asked me if I want to work with him, it was Usher. Like, a really long time ago, but we never had the time to do it. So I was so happy to be finally in the studio with him, because he spotted me when I was really not famous yet."
Usher and Guetta already shot the video for "Without You" in Ibiza. The song will follow up Guetta's current single, "Little Bad Girl," which features Ludacris and Taio Cruz.
Related ArtistsBodog oddsmaker also likes Lady Gaga's chances at Sunday's big show.
By James Montgomery
Photo: Getty Images/ MTV News/ Jessica Hyndman
Earlier this week, we tried our hand at picking the winners for the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, but with the big show just around the corner -- airing live from Los Angeles this Sunday at 9 p.m. — we figured it was time to let the pros have their say.
We reached out to the folks at the Bodog Sportsbook to get their take on Sunday's show ... and, as it turns out, much like us, they see it being a big night for Katy Perry. But it definitely won't be a clean sweep for the California Gurl; they also like Justin Bieber's and Lady Gaga's chances too.
So here, for your wagering pleasure, are Bodog's odds for the 2011 VMAs. Remember, it's only considered a "gambling problem" if you lose.
Best Male Video
» Justin Bieber, "U Smile," 7/5
» Cee Lo Green, "F--- You," 7/4
» Eminem (featuring Rihanna), "Love the Way You Lie," 7/2
» Kanye West (featuring Rihanna and Kid Cudi), "All of the Lights," 9/2
» Bruno Mars, "Grenade," 12/1
Bodog's Take: "Justin Bieber makes millions of girls smile, which in turn makes his record company smile," Bodog Sportsbook manager Richard Gardner says. "Over at Bodog's online sportsbook, we're inclined to think that Bieber Fever is still running high."
Best Female Video
» Lady Gaga, "Born This Way," 6/5
» Katy Perry, "Firework," 11/4
» Adele, "Rolling in the Deep," 11/4
» Nicki Minaj, "Super Bass," 9/2
» Beyoncé, "Run the World (Girls)," 8/1
Bodog's Take: "Lady Gaga has just been awarded the #1 spot on Forbes' Celebrity 100, #1 Social and #1 Web lists; she also owns the #2 position in Press, #3 in TV/Radio, #8 in Money and is sitting pretty at #11 on their 'World's Most Powerful Women' list," Gardner says. "This woman has to be a clear favorite to win Best Female Video."
Best Rock Video
» Mumford & Sons, "The Cave," 7/4
» Foster the People, "Pumped Up Kicks," 9/4
» Foo Fighters, "Walk," 3/1
» The Black Keys, "Howlin' for You," 4/1
» Cage the Elephant, "Shake Me Down," 6/1
Bodog's Take: "If Noel Gallagher loves [Mumford & Sons], then that's saying something, right?" Gardner says. "And what about Marcus Mumford and Carey Mulligan's recent engagement? That's huge. The awards they've picked up along the way for 'The Cave' are added insurance for our bettors."
Best Pop Video
» Katy Perry, "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)," 6/5
» Adele, "Rolling in the Deep," 7/5
» Pitbull (featuring Ne-Yo, Nayer and Afrojack), "Give Me Everything," 5/1
» Bruno Mars, "Grenade," 7/1
» Britney Spears, "Till the World Ends," 14/1
Bodog's Take: " 'Last Friday Night' made Billboard history last week as it made Katy Perry the first woman to hit five #1 spots with one album," Gardner explains. "Clearly, Perry is the reigning pop princess."
Best Hip-Hop Video
» Kanye West (featuring Rihanna and Kid Cudi), "All of the Lights," 2/1
» Nicki Minaj, "Super Bass," 9/4
» Lil Wayne (featuring Cory Gunz), "6 Foot 7 Foot," 5/2
» Chris Brown (featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes), "Look at me Now," 3/1
» Lupe Fiasco, "The Show Goes On," 12/1
Bodog's Take: "Kanye may have fallen onstage while performing this song in Norway, but he'll get the last laugh when he picks up the award for 'Best Hip-Hop Video' at this year's MTV Video Music Awards," Gardner says. "At least that's how we think this one will go down with bettors."
Best New Artist
» Wiz Khalifa, "Black and Yellow," 7/5
» Kreayshawn, "Gucci Gucci," 7/4
» Tyler, the Creator, "Yonkers," 3/1
» Foster the People, "Pumped Up Kicks," 6/1
» Big Sean (featuring Chris Brown), "My Last," 12/1
Bodog's Take: "Khalifa's $11 million haul over the past year earned him the #11 spot on Forbes' annual Hip-Hop Cash Kings list," Gardner pointed out. "But it was when 'Black and Yellow' became the Pittsburgh Steelers' anthem during their Super Bowl run ... that's what our bettors will be counting on."
Video of the Year
» Katy Perry, "Firework," 6/5
» Adele, "Rolling in the Deep," 7/4
» Beastie Boys, "Make Some Noise," 4/1
» Bruno Mars, "Grenade," 9/2
» Tyler, the Creator, "Yonkers," 16/1
Bodog's Take: "This one comes down to basic math. Katy Perry has been nominated for 10 [awards]," Gardner explained. "While there's no such thing as a sure thing, she's cutting it pretty darn close with this one."
The 28th annual MTV Video Music Awards will air live Sunday, August 28, from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET/PT, following the Selena Gomez-hosted pre-show at 8. See the list of nominees, revisit last year's highlights and vote for Best New Artist by visiting VMA.MTV.com.

Brody Dalle Cinthia Moura Christina Milian Brittny Gastineau
In her 'Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale' special, she calls the 'OMG' singer 'really hot right now.'
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway
Sway Calloway and Britney Spears
Photo: MTV News & Docs
What do Britney Spears and Usher have in common? Well, they are both global superstars with a back catalogue of tunes that have kept fans dancing for a really long time and they both recently hooked up with will.i.am for tracks on their latest releases (the Black Eyed Peas mastermind worked on the pop vixen's Femme Fatale tune "Big Fat Bass"). And, if Spears has her way, she and the "OMG" singer could be hitting the road together.
When Spears sat down to talk with Sway Calloway for her "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale" special — airing Sunday (April 3) at 9 p.m. ET on MTV — the singer revealed that Usher is first on her list of artists she'd like to join her on tour.
"Oh, I'm so excited. I'm really excited about going on tour, very," she explained about her forthcoming summer trek, which happens to have a spot open on the bill now that Enrique Iglesias has pulled out of the gig. "I think Usher's really great right now. I think he's really hot right now. That would be cool [to tour with him]."
The North American road trip is expected to kick off June 17 in Sacramento, California, and will run for 26 dates, winding up on August 13 in Toronto. More details will be announced soon.
The "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale" special is a mixture of behind-the-scenes footage of the singer as she wraps up production on her album, which dropped this week, as well as an inside look at her life and fans. In addition, those who couldn't make Spears' recent nightclub show in Las Vegas will get to see her as she takes the stage in her latest pop incarnation.
Don't miss "Britney Spears: I Am the Femme Fatale," airing Sunday (April 3) at 9 p.m. ET on MTV.
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