Though it's still just a rumor, Sports Illustrated is reporting that it's likely that the Who will perform at Super Bowl XLIV, which will be held in Miami on February 7, 2010. The classic British rock band — which consists of guitarist Pete Townshend and singer Roger Daltrey, the only two members who are still alive — would be playing their first show in North America in two years and would continue the recent tradition of featuring older legends during the most-watched television broadcast of the year. The past few years have included Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Prince, the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney.

Some would say that these acts are a great coup for the NFL and the networks who broadcast the big game (the honor this year goes to CBS), but it seems like they may be in a bit of a rut. Plus, they're going to run out of classic bands pretty soon (assuming they don't want to dip into any one well a second time). Unless they can convince Led Zeppelin to do it (and odds are against that), there aren't many left who could qualify.

Which is why the producers of the Super Bowl halftime show should switch up their approach. The Who are excellent (it's hard to argue with the band that brought the world "Baba O'Riley"), but the halftime show could use some new blood. But they also need a storyline and an opportunity.

That's why Kanye West should play the Super Bowl halftime show.

Think about it: He's one of the biggest young stars in music. He's got a parade of TV-friendly hits. He could invited any number of artists out on stage with him. His performances are visually interesting. Plus, it would be a fitting end to his current storyline. America loves a good comeback, and what better place to re-emerge in the public eye than at a distinctly American event like the Super Bowl? West could even invite Taylor Swift along to interrupt his performance, just to bring it full circle and completely bury the "Kanye West Interrupts" meme forever.

So get on it, NFL. Tell Townshend and Daltrey that they'll have to wait until next year, because this year belongs to Mr. West. And if Kanye says no, you're still in Miami, which is full of artists who can reflect the spirit of the city and the event better than the Who. Rick Ross and Jennifer Lopez are probably both available.

What do you think? Who should perform at the Super Bowl in 2010? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Floyd "Money" Mayweather calls himself a living legend in the boxing game, and it's hard to argue with him. He has yet to lose a fight in his career and has held world championships in five different weight classes. He's as much an icon outside of the ring as in, known for flashing around giant stacks of money and wearing flashy bling (it's no wonder he fit right in as a character on WWE programming back in 2008). So when MTV News' Tim Kash asked Mayweather who in the music world most inspired him, his answer made perfect sense.

"Michael Jackson," the former champ said. "Flashy. Diamond socks. Glitter glove. Just like I brought to the sport of boxing, he brought something totally different." For a tough guy, Mayweather's take on Jackson's greatness is awfully poetic. "He was an artist who painted a picture when he danced," he said. "Today, you still play his songs and you get a chill through your body. Just like me in the fight game — I do the same thing."

Like a lot of other athletes, Mayweather draws a lot of inspiration from a number of musicians. During his sit-down, he called Drake "tough" and also praised the work of Jay-Z and Kanye West. He also addressed the feud between himself and rapper Rick Ross. "When you're on a certain level, you just let things go by," he said of the situation, which began when Ross baited Mayweather with a lyric in the song "Mafia Music." "I'm gonna stay in my lane and he's gonna stay in his lane." He even counts Ross as a fan, saying that he was in the audience when Mayweather fought Ricky Hatton. "Whether you pay to see me win or pay to see me lose, you still pay, so I thank Rick Ross for his donation."

Last night's annual "VH1 Hip-Hop Honors" show tipped its pimp hat to Def Jam Records, perhaps the most influential hip-hop company in history. When Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons launched Def Jam from Rubin's NYU dorm room 25 years ago, they surely could not have anticipated that they would nurture some of the greatest talent the hip-hop world has ever seen, from LL Cool J and Public Enemy to Ludacris and Young Jeezy.

In addition to more than two decades of killer music, artists on the Def Jam label have also focused on having a keen visual sense. As a result, some of the clips the label has put out over the years have become cornerstones of the video genre. From the punk-rock simplicity of the Beastie Boys' "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)" and LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out" to the grimy savagery of Redman's "Blow Your Mind" and Onyx's "Slam" to the widescreen gloss of Young Jeezy's "My President" and Rick Ross' "Magnificent," Def Jam videos have been eclectic and occasionally surreal but always memorable.

Def Jam's video history reveals some interesting wrinkles in the label's history. For example, Slayer's iconic album Reign in Blood was originally put out by the label (not shocking, considering Rubin's affinity for metal) and "Raining Blood" makes for a fascinating entry in the label's history. And even though Def Jam was always primarily identified as an East Coast label, they put out one of the bigger records of the early-'90s West Coast gangsta era in Warren G's Regulate ... G-Funk Era, which meant that the clip for "Regulate" (featuring a breakout performance from Nate Dogg) was a Def Jam original.

So take a look at the 20 videos that make up Def Jam's history, from oft-forgotten clips like Oran "Juice" Jones' "The Rain" and EPMD's "Headbanger" to more high-profile clips like Sisquo's "Thong Song," Ja Rule's "Holla Holla" and, of course, the Beastie Boys.

It's a little embarrassing to admit, but even with both the gorgeous Eliza Dushku and Olivia Wilde passing through our office this week, the one person I was most excited to meet was a dude. With a total of 40 fights, 40 wins and 25 KOs, Floyd "Money" Mayweather is an undeniable force in the world of boxing, with an almost perfect combination of lightning quick speed, real knockout power and incredible showmanship. He's my favourite fighter in the world of boxing, and yesterday he stopped by the MTV News studios for the first time.

What's funny is that with all the rappers, pop stars, actors and actresses who drop in for interviews, the only time some of the fellas in the office (naming no names, except for Nick, Monty and Sean) get even slightly impressed is when an athlete (or Mr. T) walks into the building. Today was one of those occasions.

Floyd is in New York for the next few days on the grind looking to expand his ever-growing empire. With concert tours, boxing events, real estate and music, it's not difficult to see why they call him "Money." Floyd is a lot shorter than I expected (he stands at 5 feet, 7 inches), but made up for it with a big personality and an even bigger entourage (I counted 10), some of whom I recognised from one of my favourite shows: the HBO behind-the-fight documentary series "24/7."

Dressed in a brand new Gucci leather jacket (we saw him pop the tags), Floyd was game to answer pretty much every question I threw, from the ever-controversial Hottest MCs list to his thoughts on Rick Ross and Shane Mosley.

It was only last month when Ross dropped the track "War," which took a few jabs at Mayweather (who is a close ally of 50 Cent), so I had to ask Floyd about his thoughts on Ross. Someone else who would love to trade jabs with Mayweather is boxer "Sugar" Shane Mosley, who famously stepped into the ring to bait Mayweather into a match-up moments after Floyd's recent decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez. I asked the obvious question: Will they ever face off in the ring? Let's just say Floyd had some choice words for Shane.

For the boxing fans, we spoke about Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao, and for the hip-hop heads I asked Floyd who his favourites in the rap-game are. He named all of the top five on the list of Hottest MCs in the Game, gave extra props to Drake and said that Young Jeezy's album Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 is the pick before a big fight!

Look out for all of this and so much more coming soon, so stay tuned to MTV News for more from Floyd "Money" Mayweather.

By Elliott Wilson, Founder and CEO of RapRadar.com

While Raekwon was probably elated to be included on MTV's Hottest MCs list, I'm sure that 50 Cent is none too pleased with his placement in the nine spot. For him, the standards are way higher than that. As the former Editor-In-Chief of XXL magazine, I bore witness as the man born Curtis Jackson redefined hot in 2002 and 2003, revolutionizing the mixtape market along the way. His chokehold on the rap game culminated in the classic debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. That is the standard by which Fif lives in 2009.

So although his constantly delayed album Before I Self Destruct has had more false starts than an old DeSoto, 50 has kept himself omnipresent in the hip-hop scene. It's hard to argue with his enduring relevance. He returned to the mixtape game with equal parts fury (War Angel) and finesse (Forever King). He crafted an endlessly entertaining and oft-comedic battle with rap heavyweight Rick Ross. And, most importantly, despite my occasional issues with his peanut gallery of bloggers, ThisIs50.com has set the blueprint for artists planting their flag in the new media world. Hate him or love him, Curtis ain't goin' nowhere. Only God can judge him.

Birdman's new album Pricele$$ comes out at the end of October, and he's already dropped the second video from the album (the Lil Wayne team-up "Money to Blow"). It's an excellent clip, but it doesn't match the majesty of their previous collaboration "Always Strapped." The track is a rock-inflected bounce track that piles on the New Orleans swagger like the vintage Cash Money albums of yore, and since the sound is a bit of a throwback, they must have figured the video should be as well. It utilizes a classic hip-hop video style we like to call "The Arrival," wherein it seems as though the rappers are making an entrance to a club/party/barbecue/warzone for the entire length of the clip. In between, there are scenes of Weezy rapping in a parking lot, shots of stacks of cash and a cameo by Rick Ross. (Not surprisingly, it's directed by Lil X, the Hype Williams protégé who is responsible for such over-saturated epics as Usher's "Yeah!" and Redman's "I'll Bee Dat.")

But there are two key frames from the video that tell the whole story. They both come pretty early in the clip to help establish the vibe of the whole clip. The first is a cool backlit shot of Birdman slowly putting on his sunglasses while standing in a crowd of women. The shot uses that same flare effect that showed up in this summer's "Star Trek" movie, which suggests that Birdman is actually going to party somewhere on the Enterprise.

The other scene needs no introduction. Read more...

By Hillary Crosley

Who knew a record label started in a New York University dorm room could become so successful? Apparently Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. The two created Def Jam Records 25 years ago, and it's become one of hip-hop's premiere labels, housing some of the brightest stars, with Nas, LL Cool J, etc etc among the artists in its legendary catalogue. So it's no surprise that "VH1's Hip Hop Honors" is celebrating the storied label this year.

MTV News checked out the rehearsal for the big show, which tapes on Wednesday night (September 23) at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and airs on October 13. For the third year in a row, Tracy Morgan will serve as host. Morgan's comedy skits appear between behind-the-scenes interviews with Jay-Z, Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Antonio "LA" Reid, Russell Simmons, Rick Rubin and former Def Jam executives Lyor Cohen, Julie Greenwald and Kevin Liles.

Public Enemy, the Roots and Street Sweeper Social Club (comprised of Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and the Coup's Boots Riley) practiced for their performance first. Ashanti followed, reuniting for two jams with her longtime partner-in-crime Ja Rule. Rule looked and sounded just as he did in 2001. Ashanti even helped out Rule on one song, rapping his lyrics in a faux-gravely voice to a giggling set full of dancers.

Up next, Warren G and Trey Songz performed a remix of one of Warren's biggest hits (which we can't reveal). During their performance, Ghostface was sitting at a table taping a segment called "What Would Ghostface Do?" where MCs stop by and ask Ghost for advice. As he wrapped up a session with Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes, Ghost spotted Warren G and gave him a big hello. Meanwhile, Travis went back to hosting a VH1 trivia segment where all of the performers are quizzed on their Def Jam history. Who knows their hip-hop math? Let's just say that Rick Ross might be the subject's star pupil.

Back on the stage, Ludacris (who'd just gotten off a plane) hopped on stage with Southern rap legend Scarface for two cuts that you haven't heard in awhile. Read more...

Right now, there's no place I'd rather be than here in New York City. There are two great reasons. First, the Video Music Awards are in town this whole week, with the big awards show taking place on Sunday night. But it's also the start of New York's Fashion Week. It all kicked off last night with New York's famous Fashion Night Out, where stores from Bloomingdale's to BAPE all kept there shop fronts open until late to showcase new designers and clothes.

Outside the Billionaire Boys Club boutique store in Soho, hundreds of kids were lining up, eager to get their hands on some exclusive limited edition gear. Inside the store, there was a special guest cashier: Pharrell Williams. We ducked into the store to talk to Pharrell about why he was manning the till, his take on the nominees at this years VMAs and who he thinks are the hottest MCs in the game right now (Kanye, Drake, T.I., Jay-Z, the Game, Rick Ross — he says hip-hop is in a good place right now). He broke down what it was like working with Jay-Z on The Blueprint 3 and how "So Ambitious," arguably the best track on the album, came together. He talked about working with Drake — who he called "The Truth," which is a huge compliment coming from a producer of his stature.

Before we left him to meet the hundreds of waiting fans, we grilled him with the Ultimate VMA Quiz. I wouldn't say he cheated his way to getting everything right, but imaginary-phoning a friend might be bending the rules just a little bit.

Every day a multitude of stars wanders through the halls of MTV News to talk about their latest projects and goof around with staff members. But sometimes we catch stars elsewhere, and that's why we put together Spotted!, a daily compendium of stars in the wild.

We're now at the point where Justin Timberlake might actually be obsessive compulsive. Sure, he has made a name for himself as a singer, dancer, actor and comedian, but lately he's been casting his net especially wide. Having just opened up his first golf course, Timberlake apparently has his heart set on becoming a member of Hell's Angels. The multi-talented star was spotted leaving Los Angeles eatery Cafe Med on his motorcycle, which is a custom Harley Davidson.

(Click here for the entire archive of Spotted! photos, including Beyoncé, Britney Spears, the Jonas Brothers and more!)

He's not the only former "Mickey Mouse Club" cast member to enjoy two-wheeled action, as actor Ryan Gosling has been seen cruising around town on a vintage Honda motorcycle.

Elsewhere in today's update: Rick Ross exits his New York hotel (he would later join John Legend on stage at Madison Square Garden), Joe Jonas runs (and sweats) in a charity race, Paula Abdul gets some medical attention in Los Angeles and the freshly-impregnated Kourtney Kardashian pays a visit to BET's "106 & Park." Check out these photos — as well as the entire ongoing archive — in MTV News' "Spotted!" photo gallery.

By Ayana Allen

John Legend has performed in huge stadiums to massive crowds at the Super Bowl, WrestleMania, political conventions and at Live Earth. He's a guy who by now should be comfortable with fame and attention. But last night during his performance at New York's Madison Square Garden — the first time he has ever headlined the iconic arena — he seemed just slightly overwhelmed by the energy of it all.

"I used to sing this song in clubs," he said before launching into "Stay With You," the final song in his set. "And I couldn't wait for the day I got to sing it in Madison Square Garden."

(Click here for more photos from from John Legend's performance at Madison Square Garden!)

Legend certainly treated the show like a huge event, welcoming friends Kanye West, Rick Ross, Estelle, reggae legend Buju Banton and opening act India.Arie to the stage for some all-star collaborations.

"This is a star-studded event!" Legend announced following his opening number, a spot-on take on Bob Marley's "Redemption Song," which he crooned from the audience. He made his way up to the stage and rolled out hit after hit, climaxing in the appearance of Estelle and West for an extended version of the trio's hit "American Boy."

For one lucky fan, the highlight came when Legend invited her up on stage for a slow dance during (obviously) "Slow Dance." Though she looked like she was about to faint, she maintained her composure and walked away with a kiss on the cheek, a long-stemmed red rose and an unforgettable memory for her trouble.

But fans didn't need to dance with the man to appreciate the evening. By the time he ended the show with "Green Light," he had managed to seduce everybody at MSG.