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50 Cent And G-Unit Conquer The Best Hip-Hop Posse Album Poll

Posted 2/24/10 1:10 pm EST by in Music


On Tuesday (February 23), the MTV Newsroom blog asked whether the showcase album from Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment was the finest hip-hop posse album of all time. Based on the comments, it seems as though the concept was a little confusing. The poll was meant to focus on albums from groups who were introduced after the team's alpha dog had already become famous. So while Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers is far superior to all the albums we mentioned in the poll, it doesn't count because those MCs made their debuts as part of a group. (However, if Method Man had released Tical before Enter the Wu-Tang had dropped, the it would have easily taken first place.)

With that in mind, the poll ended up being a two horse race. 50 Cent's G-Unit crew ended up in the top spot, with their 2003 album Beg for Mercy snagging a whopping 43 percent of the vote. Lil Wayne's Young Money group came in just a few steps behind with 38 percent. After that, the drop off was significant: Ruff Ryders' Ryde or Die Vol. 1 picked up six percent and Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s Conspiracy only grabbed three percent. Tragically, Flipmode Squad's The Imperial brought up the rear with only one percent of the vote — a disappointing showing considering the consistency and quality of that record (seriously, listen to "We Got U Opin (Part 2)" and try not to be knocked out).

One commenter brought up a pair of albums that made for excellent suggestions. We totally forgot about Dungeon Family's Even in Darkness, which is a little big spotty but contains some killer production and excellent outer space rhymes from the members of Outkast and Goodie Mob. That same commenter also brought up the Diggin' in the Crates Crew, which is something of a strange case because their one great album as a collective (2000's D.I.T.C.) came out after one of the group's key members (Big L) died. Plus, star member Fat Joe didn't have his commercial breakthrough until 2001. D.I.T.C. is a great album regardless, but probably not eligible in this context. (However, Joe's albums with Terror Squad definitely fall into this category, and we probably unfairly overlooked 2004's True Story.)

In fact, for the benefit of paying respect to the group albums that are simply great because of the people involved, answer this question: Which is the best hip-hop group album of all time? It's easy to cite the best solo records in history (Jay-Z, Nas, Biggie and the rest), but what teams stand tall? Let us know in the comments!

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Kaylin Richardson Didn't Win Gold In Vancouver But Is Trying To Score The 'Most Fun Athlete' Award

Posted 2/24/10 11:45 am EST by in Sports


MTV News dispatched a team to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics, and not only got the inside scoop from some of the top athletes at the games but also made some friends along the way. We asked skier Kaylin Richardson — who competed in the Ladies' Super Combined event — to write about her experience on the slopes in Vancouver.

By Kaylin Richardson

Four years of preparation. One day of racing. That is the name of the game at the Olympics. Every athlete has worked incredibly hard to fulfill her destiny on the world stage in pursuit of a glory that occurs only once in a lifetime. We throw ourselves down mountains, skate on razor sharp weapons and — perhaps most crazy of all — we wear ridiculously tight, unflattering outfits. We are the superheroes of reality.

I have had the opportunity to fight crime and unseat super-villains on two U.S. Olympic teams. In Torino four short years ago, I competed in the Alpine Combined event and owned ... 17th place. After 2006, I evaluated my place in this crazy elite world of winter sports and decided to commit myself to ski in the 21st Olympiad in Vancouver.

Like I said above, over the last four years much of what I did revolved around that singular goal. And now, for me, the long road I've traveled reached its destination. I competed in the Alpine Combined Event on February 18. I came. I raced. I conquered ... 17th place. Sound familiar?

Don't jump to conclusions — it was expertly orchestrated. Coordinating my movements just so to have a repeat performance was extremely complicated.

OK, I jest, but in all honestly I am very proud of myself. Due to uncooperative weather, I only got one fractured training run on the Downhill course (I really could have used the three that were originally scheduled). Having watched the Downhill race, I was privy to the nerves (and "Holy s---!" reactions) that accompany viewing your contemporaries wreck left and right. It wasn't the most calming pre-race affair, but the next day I made it down with the moves of a jungle cat. My respectable 17th aside, the U.S. Ski Team reigned victorious again with Jules (Mancuso) sitting pretty on her second silver medal in two days. I am always one to give credit where it is due. I am one of the best skiers in the world, although it also feels very cool to be associated with the best U.S. Ski Team in history.

Now this blog seems to be all business, but the last few days have been anything but. My new (and arguably more intense) quest after racing in my event has been claiming the indisputable "Most Fun Athlete" award at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. As of right now, it has only been self-proclaimed, but after having a dance-off with Russian silver medal-winning figure skater Evgeni Plushenko and being mistaken for gold medalist and media-darling Lindsey Vonn on multiple occasions (one of which supplied my crew and I with a very generous bottle of champagne), I am gaining more and more support by the minute.

I will nobly continue to sway the good people of Whistler with my enthusiasm and entertaining antics. Every giggle can make a difference, so please get behind my campaign.

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Jennifer Hudson's Fiancé David Otunga Makes His Debut On 'WWE NXT'

Posted 2/24/10 10:50 am EST by in Television


The 2010 Winter Olympics soldiered on Tuesday night (February 23), with figure skating, hockey and giant slalom skiing grabbing most of the headlines. But there was another athletic competition that made its debut that likely drew a slightly different audience. Wrestling fans tuned into SyFy to see the premiere of "WWE NXT," the new show that pairs up current superstars (like Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho and former MTV reality star Mike "The Miz" Mizanin) with up-and-coming talent looking to break into the top level in the world of professional wrestling.

One of those up-and-comers is David Otunga, who some will recognize as "Punk" from the VH1 reality series "I Love New York 2" but who more will remember as former "American Idol" contestant and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson's fiancé. Otunga has been training to be a professional grappler and has been wrestling in the WWE's developmental league Florida Championship Wrestling since singing a development deal with them in 2008.

On the debut episode of "WWE NXT" (which replaces "ECW" in the WWE television lineup), Otunga introduced the world to his personality, which is half Hollywood and half Harvard (he holds an actual degree from Harvard Law School). In fact, his combination of star power, brains and brawn has lead to him proclaiming himself as "the Kanye West of the WWE." They showed photos of him with Hudson as well as shots of him with Barack Obama and Jesse Jackson.

His entrance was particularly electric, mostly because he had WWE star R-Truth (who raps as part of his gimmick) as his hype man. He then came out and dominated fellow cast member Darren Young with an elbow, a kick, a clothesline and a one-handed spinebuster that he calls "The Verdict." (You can check out his entire performance at WWE's official site.)

WWE is clearly banking on Otunga being one of the huge breakout stars of the show (along with indie veteran Bryan Danielson, who is wrestling on "WWE NXT" under the name Daniel Bryan, for some reason). He does have the total package: An impressive physique, athletic skills and unending fountains of charisma.

Did you catch David Otunga on "WWE NXT" on Tuesday night? What did you think of his performance? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

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'American Idol' Recap: The Top 12 Women Kick Off The Real Competition

Posted 2/24/10 8:47 am EST by in Music, Television


After weeks and weeks of auditions, and after weeks and weeks of hearing Randy, Simon, Ellen and Kara talk about how a girl is going to win this year hands down, the "American Idol" ladies finally premiered Tuesday night (February 23). And the verdict? It was a lot like seeing "Slumdog Millionaire" three months into its theatrical run: Everyone you know talked it up, it was nominated for like 55 Oscars and then you pay your $12.50 and you watch the little kid get covered in excrement and you walk out of the theater going, "Really? That was it?"

We've got 12 performances to rip through, so before I go on a rant about how offensive I found Ellen and Simon's "Sexual Harassment Is Acceptable (And Hilarious) If Your Co-Worker Is A Lesbian" sketch, let's get right to the performances.

Paige Miles
Song: "All Right Now" by Free
Verdict: Wrong By A Mile(s)
We hadn't heard a peep from Paige during the "Idol" pre-season, which is a crying shame since her final Hollywood Week performance looked as though it brought the house down. The tiny hints of personality we saw suggests she could have actually had a little following going into these semi-final shows if "Idol" weren't so fixated on grandmothers with Alzheimer's. Instead, viewers were left with an uneven rock/soul vocal that was more "wedding" than a "Bridezilla" marathon. Simon called out her rough song choice but Kara DioFakeTan thought it was a "brilliant" decision. (This coming from a woman who thought hiring Evan Lysacek's costume designer to make her earrings was brilliant, too.) And as if going first on the show (always a death spot — just ask Rudy Cardenas) and getting zero screen time until Tuesday wasn't insulting enough, her segment ended with Seacrest all but forcing the Eartha Kitt lookalike to admit that she had been sewn into her dress and couldn't pee for five hours. Yikes. (Also, sewn into a dress? What, is "Idol" holding "Project Runway" challenges backstage now?)

Ashley Rodgriguez
Song: "Happy" by Leona Lewis
Verdict: Depressing
The Jordin Sparks-obsessed Ashley thought it would be a good idea to swallow the distractingly shiny microphone. Add the poor audio mix into the equation (think 95 percent vocals, five percent tinny board feed from the band) and the result was a dreary, labored take on a dreary, labored Leona Lewis ballad. (Fun Kara fact: Leona Lewis is this generation's Mariah Carey!) Randy, Kara and Ellen all pussyfooted around how forgettable Ashley was but Simon was straight with her. "No originality," he proclaimed. What will do without him next year? They might as well put three puppies on the panel that Seacrest could fake out with an invisible stick after every performance. Hell, it'd be a lot more entertaining to watch.

Janell Wheeler
Song: "What About Love" by Heart
Verdict: What about pitch?
The pretty blond who sang "American Boy" in Hollywood week (as opposed to the pretty blond who sang Kara DioGuardi in Hollywood week or the pretty blond whose parents are divorced) turned me off the second she said in her pre-performance interview that she was going to do what she's been told she does best: "Light up the stage." Read More...

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Siobhan Magnus Resurrects Chris Isaak's 'Wicked Game' On 'American Idol'

Posted 2/24/10 8:06 am EST by in Music


Tuesday night's (February 23) episode of "American Idol" was full of notable moments, including the real judging debut of Ellen DeGeneres (more on her later) and attention-grabbing performances care of Katelyn Epperly and Paige Miles. But the highlight of the night was undoubtedly Siobhan Magnus' performance of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game."

Magnus' performance of the song was only so-so (Simon described it as "a bit dark"), but she deserves credit for taking on an unusual and difficult tune. "Wicked Game" is an extremely tough song with a twisting melody that is more about tone and mood than Isaak's vocal performance. Originally released in 1989 on the album Heart Shaped World, "Wicked Game" became Isaak's breakthrough hit after being featured in the David Lynch film "Wild at Heart" (which came out in 1990 and starred Nicolas Cage and Lynch favorite Laura Dern). Since then, it has been somewhat ubiquitous in pop culture, scoring numerous television shows (including key moments on "Beverly Hills, 90210," "Friends" and "Melrose Place") and has been covered by everybody from Giant Drag to H.I.M. to R.E.M. to Stone Sour.

But perhaps the most notable aspect of "Wicked Game" is the incredibly sexy video that accompanied the song's rise to the upper echelon of the Billboard charts. The clip, directed by legendary fashion photographer Herb Ritts (Madonna's "Cherish," Michael Jackson's "In the Closet") features Isaak writhing around on a beach with barely-clothed model Helena Christensen. Shot in black and white, it became an MTV staple for a brief time and scored Isaak three VMAs. It regularly shows up on lists of the greatest videos ever made, and it's extremely easy to see why.

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Charlie Sheen Joins A Long List Of Famous Repeat Rehabbers

Posted 2/23/10 9:42 pm EST by in Television


By Ryan J. Downey

Charlie Sheen, who just entered rehab for the third time, isn't the only repeat rehabber in pop-cultural history. Addictions of all kinds are tough to beat, and stars, like regular people, often find themselves returning for treatment.

Lindsay Lohan
The troubled actress went to rehab three different times in 2007. She checked herself into the Wonderland Center in January 2007, where she stayed for 30 days. In May of that same year, she was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and checked into the Promises Treatment Centers. In August, she entered a treatment facility in Utah after failing a field sobriety test the month before.

Britney Spears
Britney was first in rehab for less than 24 hours in January 2007. After famously shaving her head, she entered rehab for a much longer stay in March of the same year.
Read More...

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Lady Gaga Covers: The Good, The Bad And The Monstrous

Posted 2/23/10 6:00 pm EST by in Music


By Joel Hanek

We all know you can't step two feet into the Internet without getting a Lady Gaga cover all over your shoes. The cover phenomenon isn't anything new — in fact, it happens every couple of years: One massive song is the catalyst for a whole spawn of other artists to remake, cover and call their own. A few years ago it was Rihanna's "Umbrella," and before that we had a thousand versions of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy."

With Lady Gaga, it's not just one song that other artists love to cover — it's her whole catalog. While there are a million videos and sites on the series of tubes dedicated to cover songs (like the genius Our Hit Parade), here's a quick little list of Gaga tributes that what we've come across (for better or worse).

We The Kings, "Paparazzi"
This group of sensitive pop-punkers recently performed a stripped-down version of Lady Gaga's obsessive love song, taking the dark pop anthem from synthy to sensitive.

The Demonstration, "Bad Romance"
The growling and distorted guitars over Gaga's original vocal track made such an impression on the Clawed Lady that she even tweeted about it.

Maximo Park, "Just Dance"
These British indie darlings croon their way through this club track. It almost sounds like the bastard child of Ian Curtis and Lady Gaga.

Set Your Goals, "Just Dance"
Although all the instruments in this song were replaced with kazoos, any cover with the audacity to include an all-kazoo orchestra deserves to make the list.

Chris Daughtry, "Poker Face"
Here's something novel: An "American Idol" alum covering something! Read More...

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Taylor Swift Photo Blogs About Trip To Australia, Japan

Posted 2/23/10 5:00 pm EST by in Music


If the country seemed less charming for a few weeks there, it was probably because pop country superstar Taylor Swift was on the other side of the world playing shows in Australia and Japan. She was so excited about her international travels and her experiences in foreign countries that she logged onto her MySpace blog to share some photos and memories with her fans all across the Internet.

The photos begin in Sydney, with Swift taken in by the city's bright lights and stunning architecture. "I remember last year when we were in Australia for the first time, we went to go see a Coldplay concert on one of our days off," she wrote to accompany one of the photos. "It was at the giant arena there, and I remember thinking 'Wouldn't it be amazing if someday down the line, we could play in this arena?' Playing two nights in that arena less than a year later was something I'll never forget. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Sydney."

Swift didn't just take tourist photos — she also included some performance shots and some backstage pictures of her band, her crew and her friends. There are also a handful of photos from a trip to the beach in Melbourne.

Following seven shows in nine days Down Under, Team Swift made its way to Japan, where the singer played some shows, ate with chopsticks and visited a restaurant that appeared in Quentin Tarantino's film "Kill Bill." She had nothing but warm feelings for the trip to the Far East. "The show in Tokyo was unbelievable and the fans were so welcoming to us everywhere we went," she wrote. "I loved the presents and the letters. I can't wait to go back and play more shows."

She wrapped up the blog with a note that she was glad to be back home, she was writing a lot of songs and that the tour would resume in the U.S. soon.

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Lady Gaga Topless Photos Confirm She Is Indeed A Lady: The MTV News Quote Of The Day

Posted 2/23/10 4:15 pm EST by in Music


"We all know that one of the biggest talking points of the year was that I have a d---, so why not give them what they want? I believe in certain institutions: cooking, serving dinner, taking care of my family. So I consider myself quite the lady."

-Fashion-forward international pop superstar Lady Gaga, talking to British music magazine Q about the rumor that she is a hermaphrodite and whether or not she considers herself a true lady. The interview, which hit newsstands on Tuesday (February 23), also delves into why she avoided the traditional pop star persona when coming into her own as a performer. "The last thing a young woman needs is another picture of a sexy pop star writhing in sand, covered in grease, touching herself," she told the magazine. "My image was an issue at my record label. I fought for months and cried at meetings. I got criticized for being arrogant because if you're sure of yourself as a woman they say you're a bitch whereas if you're a man and you're strong-willed it's normal."

Of course, the most notable headline-grabbing aspect of the feature is the accompany set of photos. Gaga appears topless on the cover of the issue, and she appears to have a bulge in her pants in several shots (a reference to the questions about her sexual biology). Despite the pointy gloves and mesh tops that occasionally cover her chest, you can clearly see her Gagas in most of the photos. The U.K. will get plenty of time with Gaga over the next few weeks, as the singer will be making her way through England next month.

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Lil Wayne And Justin Bieber: What Their Collaboration Might Sound Like

Posted 2/23/10 3:20 pm EST by in Music


Justin Bieber has already surrounded himself with a number of great collaborators and influences, from Usher to Ludacris to Drake to The-Dream. There's one collaboration that will have to wait, though. During an event at a high school in California, Bieber told E! that he wants to collaborate with Lil Wayne once the rapper is released from prison.

For his part, it seems like Weezy is amenable to the idea, as he gave Bieber a shout-out on a Ustream session (not to mention Bieber acknowledged the nod on his Twitter).

We've got at least a year before the two will be able to tag team, which gives us plenty of opportunity for speculation about what such a track could sound like. Here's what we would put on their mash-up EP in the meantime.

"Drop Down to Earth"
Combination: Weezy's "Drop the World" (from Rebirth) and Bieber's "Down to Earth"
Sample Lyric: "Just hope you're heaven sent/ And you're hell-proof/ I never thought that it'd be easy/ 'Cause we're both so distant now/ And the walls are closing in on us/ And we're wondering how?"
Analysis: You can't tell whose lyric is whose, can you? The strangely intense words from Bieber's song would meld nicely with Weezy's Rebirth single. Also, it would mark a nice transition into rock for Mr. Bieber.

"One Less Lollipop Girl"
Combination: Bieber's "One Less Lonely Girl" and Wayne's "Lollipop"
Sample Lyric: "Don't need these other pretty faces like I need you/ She ain't never had a love like mine/ And I ain't never seen a ass like hers"
Analysis: Every combination needs a slow jam, and Weezy and Justin could become the 21st century version of K-Ci and JoJo.

"Crazy First Dance"
Combination: Lil Wayne's "Crazy" (from the Da Drought 3 mixtape) and Bieber's "First Dance"
Sample Lyric: "When I close my eyes I see me and you at the prom/ No red lights inside/ Just a bare room with green lights"
Analysis: The ultimate mash-up, as it combines Weezy, Bieber, the beat from Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy," Usher and whatever else happened to pop up in the studio that day. Come on, don't pretend like you don't wish this was on a mixtape right now.

Or maybe it would go a little something like this.

What would you like to hear from a Weezy/Bieber collaboration? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

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