"I listened to Fat Joe's records. It hurt. I told you people not to listen to his music. Some people didn't listen, and look what happened: Young Buck tried to ride his motorcycle [while] listening to Fat Joe, and look what happened! Fat Joe's record is the worst thing that ever happened to hip-hop. I love hip-hop. It's because his music sucks so bad it's gonna kill people!"

-50 Cent in a funny video that rips rival New York rapper Fat Joe's upcoming album J.O.S.E. 2. For the clip, which was released on the Internet last night, the man born Curtis Jackson dressed up in bandages and made it sound like his voice was broken and weepy, suggesting that Joe's music had actually caused him physical harm. In the very funny clip, 50 also shows footage of skateboarders wiping out and also blames their misfortunes on Fat Joe's music. Fat Joe responded quickly via Twitter. "Tell 50 to get off my d--- already," the Bronx native wrote. "He was sick that my album is so Hot. That real music, not that wack s--- him and clowns are making!!" J.O.S.E. 2 hits stores next Tuesday, October 6, while 50's oft-delayed Before I Self Destruct is currently slated for November 17.

By Cara Alwill

Hip-hop's brightest stars shined on Friday night (September 25) in New York, as they turned out at the AMC Loews Theater on 34th Street to attend the premiere of "Shooting Stars," a documentary on the life and career of legendary celebrity photographer Johnny Nunez, whose client roster includes Russell Simmons, Diddy, Spike Lee, Kimora Lee Simmons, Kelis and many more.

Though celebrity photographers typically have a negative connotation, Nunez is unique, often credited with refusing to print unflattering shots of celebrities. Ask anyone in the hip-hop community about him and they will likely identify Johnny not only as their photographer, but also their friend.

The idea for the film was sparked by producers Daniel Frei and Axel Ebermann, who read a two page spread on Nunez in the New York Times two years ago.

The film, which was shown as a part of BET's Urban Film Festival, was introduced by DJ Cassidy and Fat Joe. Joe recalled early memories of Nunez as being the guy who was at every event, who would "jump over cars and slip in the snow" just to get the perfect shot. I got a chance to catch up with Daniel Frei, one of the filmmakers, who spent one solid year shadowing Nunez, hobnobbing with hip-hop's elite and getting access to VIP events. He told me that this has been one of his favorite projects, given the unique perspective on hip hop culture. "This is the first movie about someone so big that is behind the scenes in the black entertainment industry. This film may be a turning point for that," he said.

Nunez's mantra is, "There are three types of people in this world: Those who wonder what will happen, those who wait to see what will happen, and those who make things happen." It's evident which one of those people he is.

Later this month, "The Simpsons" will jump into its 21st season with yet another entry in the fantastic "Treehouse of Horror" franchise. To celebrate the upcoming milestone and to pay respects to some great hip-hop icons, Format and Moxy Creative have teamed up to produce a series of limited-edition posters that depict 10 famous rappers "Simpsonized." The results are pretty great. As you can see in the posse shot below, some real heavy hitters are represented: Biggie Smalls, Tupac, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, Flavor Flav, Andre 3000, Eminem, Eazy-E and Fat Joe have all been converted into cartoon versions of their former selves.

In addition to the posse poster, each MC gets his own individual poster, complete with a customized "O" in the "No Homer" logo (a clever play on the hip-hop catchphrase "No homo"). Kanye gets the shriveled heart from the 808s & Heartbreak cover, while Flav gets a giant clock and Slim Shady gets a pill.

Though "The Simpsons" has featured dozens of guest stars from the music world during its long run, very few rappers have actually shown up on the show (50 Cent famously made a cameo a few years back). While these posters aren't endorsed by the show, let's hope it's a catalyst for getting a few more hot lyricists actually animated and into the program. Knowing what his real world counterpart is capable of, can you imagine what cartoon Weezy would do? Make it happen, Al Jean!

Man, can I get a minute to land?

Coming back from the Grammy Awards early Tuesday morning — like, 1 a.m. — turned into a very anxious few hours. I was sitting right behind Lupe Fiasco while my man Sway was a few rows up sitting by Robin Thicke and Ashford & Simpson (you should have seen how many Louis Vuitton bags the legendary pair pulled off the luggage conveyer belt).

I'm getting too far off the subject now. Right before I got to baggage claim, I got the call from a homie in L.A. saying that the local news was reporting that Chris Brown was involved in a car chase with the cops and he had a gun to his head threatening suicide. I damn near lost my breath.

Fortunately, that rumor was quickly debunked ... only to be replaced by another rumor. By the time I get home, I got an e-mail saying that the Cali news was reporting that DJ Khaled was driving the Bentley being chased by the cops. Damn. This night is never going end. Read more...

Oh, Curtis.

MTV News' Chris Harris slaves away every week to decipher the numerical glory that is the Soundscan album sales chart, but this Curtis Jackson guy could very well have a future in the same game. Especially if this rap thing doesn't work out for him.

Anyway, in a video he released last night, Fitty "buries" Fat Joe in a tearful ceremony that makes reference to Joe's woeful sales numbers this week (Frankly, we in the newsroom were a little surprised at the number - 46K - but maybe we are just stuck in old-world thinking and Fat Joe actually has a master plan. Or a hot single), and also gives props to Ricky Raaawwws. Plus some other stuff that had Shaheem Reid making that excellent belly-laugh he does so well.

We'd embed it here but 50 says some of the bad words that we just can't broadcast if we want to keep our jobs, so we'll link to it right here, via our friends at Nah Right.

No doubt, Fat Joe has a busy cadre of photoshop experts, Final Cut editors and savvy web-videographers at the ready to respond.

What’s remarkable about next week’s hip-hop dominated Billboard albums sales chart – at least to those of us who keep an eye on such things – is that somehow, another Now That’s What I Call Music compilation hit stores last week, and failed to open as the chart’s #1. Typically, Now sets almost always enter on top, but that distinction, instead, belongs to Miami rapper Rick Ross (Raaaaaawwwws!), who earns his second-straight #1 debut with his latest, Trilla. The LP sold more than 198,000 copies, according to the latest SoundScan totals, while his 2006 effort Port of Miami sold 187,000 units.

Surprisingly, Ross bested Snoop Dogg, in a battle of hip-hop heavies (literally). Snoop's Ego Trippin’ opens at #3, 137,000 sold; it marks the lowest first-week sales total for any of his previous studio efforts. Sandwiched in between is the 27th installment of the Now series, which shifted 169,000 copies, thanks to the contributions of big name acts like Rihanna, Fergie, Chris Brown, Kanye West, and Paramore.

Meanwhile, Fat Joe’s Elephant in the Room makes its debut at #6, scanning more than 46,000 copies (crazy low!). Only one other new release breached the chart’s top 10 and that album is Hannah Montana’s Best of Both Worlds Concert LP, which bows at #10 with 34,200 sold.

Other notable newcomers include “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson’s Randy Jackson’s Music Club, Vol. 1, which enters at #50 with nearly 13,000 snatched up, and opening at #59 with 11,400 sold, its Meshuggah’s obZzen. As for the rest of the top 10, Jack Johnson’s Sleep Through the Static finishes at #4 (selling another 55,300 copies) while Alan Jackson’s Good Time follows at #5 (53,000 sold). Sara Bareilles’ Little Voice holds at #7 (with 40,000 scans), and Janet Jackson’s Discipline comes in at #8 (37,500). Last but not least, Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) -- and a Newsroom favorite -- falls three spots to #9, having sold a reported 34,800 units.

In an interview with our own Shaheem Reid (known 'round these parts as S-Dot), Fat Joe copped to being a political junkie, specifically that he can't get enough of C-Span and CNN. When asked whether he would run for office (gotta love Shaheem for asking), Fat Joe - WHO HAS A NEW ALBUM OUT THIS WEEK, FYI - said, "Oh No!"

I mean, look at what happened to Spitzer, he said!

(Also, I don't think anyone who's nickname is "Joey Crack" is someone we want to speculate on).