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Two Five aka Continental Five Ft.Will Sullivan - BIG [2012 Official Music Video] DIR By TTD HD FILMS

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on October 22, 2012 at 11:37am

MTV Rolls Out It's Top 25 Candidates For '2011 Hottest MC' In The Game. Who's Your Pick?

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on February 7, 2012 at 8:00am

Eminem was crowned the 'Hottest MC' in the game for 2010. Will the Detroit rapper be able to hold onto his crown?

MTV has rolled out it's 25 '2011 Hottest MC List' candidates. That number will be pared down to the top 10.

Next week we'll find out 10-6, with the top five coming on a special roundtable show on Sunday, February 19th at 10:30 p.m. EST on MTV2.

Peep the list below.

MTV ‘2011 Hottest MC List’ Nominees:

2 Chainz
50 Cent
Big Sean
Common
Drake
Eminem
Fabolous
French Montana
Jadakiss
JAY-Z
Jim Jones
Kanye West
Lil Wayne
Lloyd Banks
Maino
Meek Mill
Nas
Nicki Minaj
Red Café
Rick Ross
T.I.
Wale
Wiz Khalifa
Yelawolf
Young Jeezy

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Russell Simmons Talks Occupy Wall Street, Starting Def Jam 25 Yrs Ago, Street King & Drug Use

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on November 13, 2011 at 10:47pm

Method Man Talks To Complex About His 25 Most Essential Songs. Recalls Being High On Mushrooms In L.A. W/2Pac, RZA & GZA Writing Ol Dirty Bastards 1st Album & More

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on October 19, 2011 at 3:00pm

When Method Man speaks it's always a good idea to pay close attention. The Wu Tang Clan rapper has seen it all in his 21 years in the business.

With four solo albums, five Wu Tang discs, two Blackout! projects with Redman and last year's Wu Massacre cd with Raekwon and Ghostface Killah under his belt, Johnny Blaze has quite a few stories to tell. Luckily for us he lets us in on more than a few little known secrets in a new interview with Complex, as he breaks down his "25 Most Essential Songs."

Here are just a few of the highlights:

* Wu Tang Clan was originally only supposed to have three members, Ol' Dirty Bastard, GZA and RZA.

* The first time he saw the "Method Man" video on tv he was dead broke, eating white rice with ketchup on Thanksgiving, thinking "this f*cking rap sh*t is weak."

* Raekwon and Ghostface Killah didn't like Notorious B.I.G.

* He was on angel dust when he recorded 'Tical'

* He recorded four different versions of "All I Need"

* Ol' Dirty Bastard's first album was written by RZA and GZA with the exception of "Brooklyn Zoo."

* True Master did a lot of the production on Only Built For Cuban Linx.

* He was high on mushrooms out in L.A. at a party during the height of the Biggie/2Pac beef and feeling uncomfortable. 'Pac approached him and let him know if there was anybody on the East Coast he would f*ck with it would be Wu Tang Clan.

* He lost interest halfway through recording "Extortion" with Mobb Deep because he was so high

There's a lot more to the interview. To read it in full head over to Complex.

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Lil Wayne Announces 25 City I Am Music II Tour, As Promised The Star Rapper Skips New York City [Tour Dates Inside]

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 24, 2011 at 1:30pm

Lil Wayne is wasting no time in getting some show money to line his pockets while he completes work on his highly anticipated, 'Tha Carter IV' album.

In what can only be considered a shrewd business move, Weezy is capitalizing on his fans hunger to see him perform live for the 1st time since since his release from prison. After his new album drops, he will more than likely hit the road again, to perform at some of the very same venues just months apart.

Joining Wayne on the 25-city "I Am Music II" tour will be Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, DJ Mixmaster Mike, Nicki Minaj and Officer Ross.

This tour is a sequel to his 2008-2009 "I Am Music" tour which pulled in $42 million dollars and 800,000 fans according to Billboard.

As promised in his recent interview with Rolling Stone, there is no New York City date. The Young Money rapper has promised to never go back there after catching the gun case that landed him in Rikers.

Tickets for the tour go on sale the weekend of February 4, through Live Nation.

Peep the tour dates below according

3/18: Buffalo, N.Y., HSBC Arena
3/19: Columbus, Ohio, Nationwide Arena
3/20: Baltimore, Md., First Mariner Arena
3/23: Hampton, Va., Hampton Coliseum
3/24: Cleveland, Ohio, Quicken Loans Arena
3/26: Philadelphia, Penn., Wells Fargo Center
3/27: Long Island, N.Y., Nassau Coliseum
3/30: University Park, Penn., Bryce Jordan Center
4/1: Chicago, Ill., United Center
4/2: Detroit, Mich., The Palace of Auburn Hills
4/3: Washington, D.C., Verizon Center
4/6: Miami, Fla., Bank Atlantic Center
4/8: Greensboro, N.C., Greensboro Coliseum
4/9: Atlanta, Ga., Philips Arena
4/10: St. Louis, Mo,. Scottrade Center
4/14: New Orleans, La., New Orleans Arena
4/15: Dallas, Texas, American Airlines Arena
4/16: Houston, Texas, Toyota Center
4/19: Phoenix, Ariz., US Airways Arena
4/23: Anaheim, Calif., Honda Center
4/24: Oakland, Calif., Oracle Arena
4/26: Sacramento, Calif., ARCO Arena
4/28: Edmonton, Canada, Rexall Place
4/29: Vancouver, Canada, Rogers Arena
5/01: East Rutherford, N.J., Bamboozle Festival at Meadowlands Arena

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Madness: 85 Inmates Escape From Prison In Mexico Near Texas Border. 25 People Murdered In Juarez [Video]

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on September 12, 2010 at 11:30am

Video After The Jump CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Gunmen killed 25 people in a series of drug-gang attacks in Ciudad Juarez, marking the deadliest day in more than two years for the Mexican border city. Farther east on the border, 85 inmates scaled the walls of a prison and escaped Friday in Mexico's biggest jail break in recent memory. Despite the violence, President Felipe Calderon hotly disputed a statement this week by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying Mexico resembled Colombia two decades ago. "These kind of comments like the ones made by Secretary of State Clinton ... so careless, so lacking in seriousness, are very painful for Mexico, because they damage Mexico's image terribly," Calderon told the Spanish-language network Univision. "I think the main thing we have in common with Colombia is that both of our countries suffer from U.S. drug consumption," Calderon said. "We are both victims of the enormous American consumption of drugs, and now the sales of weapons." The toll in Thursday's attacks in Ciudad Juarez included 15 people killed when attackers stormed four homes in three hours, said Arturo Sandoval, a spokesman for the Attorney General's Office of Chihuahua state, where Ciudad Juarez is located. In the worst of those attacks, gunmen burst into a house and killed two young men — then killed four others for being witnesses. Sandoval said it was the highest single-day murder toll in the city across from El Paso, Texas, since March 2008. He did not give more details of how many died back then, or say what day. Two graffiti message appeared in Ciudad Juarez threatening Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, the fugitive head of the Sinaloa drug cartel. "You are killing our sons. You already did, and now we are going to kill your families," one sign read. In the border city of Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Texas, 85 inmates — 66 of whom were convicted or on trial for federal charges like weapons possession or drugs — scaled the Reynosa prison's 20-foot (6-meter) walls using ladders, said the Tamaulipas state public safety secretary, Jose Garza Garcia. Garza Garcia said 44 prison guards and employees were under investigation. Two were missing. "The guards evidently helped in the escape," he said. So far this year a total of 201 inmates have escaped from prisons in Tamaulipas. Friday's escape was the largest single mass prison breakout in recent years. In 2009, armed assailants believed to be working for the Zetas drug gang broke 53 inmates out of a prison in the northern state of Zacatecas while guards stood by and did nothing to stop them. Ciudad Juarez, with a population of 1.3 million, has become one of the world's most dangerous cities amid a turf war between the Sinaloa and Juarez cartels. Violence has continued unabated despite the deployment of thousands of soldiers to the city this year. Federal police, including a special investigative unit, later took over security in the city as part of a new strategy announced by President Felipe Calderon. More than 2,100 people have been killed this year in Ciudad Juarez, putting the city on pace to surpass its previous high of 2,700, set last year. Daily homicide tolls routinely reach double digits in Juarez; 24 people were killed Aug. 15. Also Friday, Sandoval confirmed that a U.S. resident kidnapped in Ciudad Juarez last month was found dead. Saul de la Rosa, 27, was abducted along with two other people when he crossed into Ciudad Juarez on Aug. 28. All three bodies were found Sept. 2, and Sandoval said documents found on De la Rosa indicated he was a U.S. resident. Elsewhere in Mexico, at least five people were killed in the southern Pacific coast state of Guerrero, where various cartels are also fighting for territory, state police reported. One body was found floating in the ocean in a beach town just north of the resort city of Acapulco, his hands and feet bound. In central Morelos state, a prison riot left one inmate dead and eight wounded. Guerrero and Morelos state have both been battlegrounds for control the Beltran Leyva cartel since its leader, Arturo Beltran Leyva, was killed in a December shootout with Marines. One of the alleged kingpins fighting for control of Morelos, U.S.-born Edgar "La Barbie" Valdez Villarreal, was captured Aug. 30 by federal police, but different accounts of how he was caught have since emerged. The Mexican government has said the arrest was the result of a 1 1/2-year investigation and a carefully planned raid involving agents specially trained abroad. But a copy of the booking report obtained by The Associated Press and other media outlets Thursday indicates the officers who arrested him did not initially know who they had caught. The officers' report says they detained Valdez after chasing him in a suspicious three-vehicle convoy for several miles. On Friday, Valdez's U.S. lawyer, Kent Schaffer, told The Associated Press that Mexican authorities lured Valdez to a business 10 miles from his ranch by having a detained associate call and ask to meet him. He said Valdez drove to the place, got out of the car and found himself surrounded. Schaffer said Valdez told him the associate was forced to make the call at gunpoint. "He wasn't pulled over for traffic. He wasn't chased at all," Schaffer said. "From what I understand, an associate of Mr. Valdez was ordered at gunpoint to send him a message telling him to come meet." A federal police spokesman, who was not authorized by department rules to be quoted by name, said an associate of Valdez's apparently did call Valdez just before he was caught, but said that happened while police were tailing the associate's car in Mexico City. When the associate noticed the police, he opened fire and was killed in the ensuing gunbattle near a major shopping center, the spokesman said. Also Friday, Mexico's attorney general said video tapes distributed by authorities showing Valdez giving a rambling account of his drug dealings are considered "interviews," and could not be formally submitted as evidence because his lawyer was not present. Attorney General Arturo Chavez said that in formal statements with his lawyer present, Valdez did not admit to the activities he acknowledged on the tapes. Schaffer also said he filed an official request with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City asking that the U.S. government request Valdez be deported to face trial in the United States, where he faces charges in three states for allegedly trucking in tons of cocaine. A Mexican judge last week ordered Valdez held for 40 days while prosecutors here decide whether to formally file organized crime and other charges. Mexican authorities have said deportation is a possibility but have made no decision. Associated Press writers Alexandra Olson and E. Eduardo Castillo contributed to this report. Source: AP

In Addition To 1st Degree Murder Charge, Lil Boosie Being Investigated For Ties To String Of Homicides Including Rap Rival "Nussie" [Video]

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on June 19, 2010 at 7:30am

Video After The Jump

As he was being transferred from Hunt Correctional Facility to East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Friday following his indictment on 1st degree murder charges Thursday, Lil Boosie told tv cameras "I'm innocent."

The indictment is for the murder of Terry Boyd. In addition Boosie, real name Torrance Hatch is alleged to have been part of a drug ring in prison. And is charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute codeine, ecstasy and marijuana. He was also indicted on three counts of conspiracy to commit possession with intent to distribute narcotics and two counts of conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal institution

Those charges are just the tip of the iceberg. The Louisiana rapper may be in even deeper trouble as police probe his ties to a string of additional murders.

Police have arrested a total of nine men, six on charges of murder for the killings of six people in the Baton Rouge area. Police allege that Boosie was a part of this crew.

Adrian Pittman, 36, Jared Williams, 20, Kendrick Johnson, 19, Johnathan Rogers, 17 and Ryan “Sneaks” Carroll, 16, Michael Louding, 17, Reginald Youngblood, 32, Joshua Wilson, 27 and Stacy Riley, 36 are all in police custody.

Wilson, a prison guard faces one count of conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal institution.

Riley, a prison inmate faces one count of conspiracy to introduce contraband into a penal institution

The other seven men were involved with or charged for the murders of Charles Matthews, 37, Terry Boyd, 35, Chris “Nussie” Jackson, 33, Darryl “Bleek” Milton, 25, Marcus Thomas, 20 and Michael Smith, 19

The FBI received tips on Boosie, who allegedly ordered a hit on Chris "Nussie" Jackson, a local rapper, offering to pay $30,000 for the hit. Antony Jung, a federal agent, testified under oath, that he knew Lil Boosie had sent out the order for a hit on Nussie.

Boosie and Nussie had been beefing for a while over industry competition. Boosie recorded a song "What Goes Up Must Come Down" that supposedly contained a threat to Nussie.

Nussie, real name Chris Lynell Jackson released his last album 'The Champ Is Here' in April 2008.

Louding, who was 16 at the time, is a hired assasin and is believed to have shot Nussie February 9, 2009 inside his home.

Louding, the only one directly linked to all six slayings has been charged with 5 felony counts of murder, one count of second degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder .

Boosie's 25 year old girlfriend, Walnita Decuir, faces the same drug charges he does. She surrendered herself to police on Friday.

The D.A. says Boosie could be facing the death penalty

Contributing information to this article came from AllHipHop and WAFB.

Lil Boosie Tied To String Of Murders

Lil Boosie "What Goes Up Must Come Down" (Nussie Diss)

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25 Dead, 4 Missing In West Virginia Mining Accident [Video]

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on April 6, 2010 at 6:00am

Videos After The Jump

MONTCOAL, W.Va. -- Rescue teams planned to search again Tuesday for four workers missing in a coal mine where a massive explosion killed 25 in the worst U.S. mining disaster in more than two decades, though officials said the chances were slim that the miners survived, and the search may not be able to start again until evening.

The suspended rescue mission would resume after bore holes could be drilled to allow for toxic gases to be ventilated from Massey Energy Co's sprawling Upper Big Branch mine about 30 miles south of Charleston, state and federal safety officials said

Gov. Joe Manchin said at an early morning news briefing that while drilling on at least one of the three holes was slated to begin soon, it would take perhaps 12 hours before the drilling was complete and rescue teams could be sure of their safety in the mine, meaning the search wasn't expected to resume before 6 p.m.

"It's going to be a long day and we're not going to have a lot of information until we can get the first hole through," Manchin said.

The drills need to bore through about 1,100 feet of earth and rock, he said.

"All we have left is hope, and we're going to continue to do what we can," Kevin Stricklin, an administrator for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, said at a news conference. "But I'm just trying to be honest with everybody and say that the situation does look dire."

Source: Forbes

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Kobe Bryant Becomes Youngest Player In NBA History To Reach 25,000 Points

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 22, 2010 at 4:27am

Video After The Jump There are numbers in sports and then there are numbers in sports. 56. Joe DiMaggio. 88. UCLA basketball. 8. Michael Phelps. 18. Jack Nicklaus. 100. Wilt Chamberlain. 511. Cy Young. 38,387. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (We'll leave 73, 70, 66 and 762 out of the conversation for obvious reasons.) You don't need me to tell you if we're talking about hits, or gold medals, or majors, or points, or wins, or homeruns. You already know. Kobe Bryant already owns one of these iconic numbers thanks to that January night four years ago when he hung 81 points on the Toronto Raptors. Now he owns another. Bryant reached 25,000 career points on Thursday, a staggering total that just 14 other players have reached in the 63-year history of the NBA, with a free throw in the second quarter against Cleveland. "That's what I do best," Bryant said on Sunday. "Steve Nash is a great passer, I'm a great scorer. It's what I do." It's what he does oh so well. With flair and pizzazz. With precision and panache. With first-quarter free throws and fourth-quarter game winners. From darn-near half court against Miami and from literally behind the backboard against Oklahoma City. On the block and on the wing. A pull-up jumper off the glass and a spin move into a finger roll. While the rest of his peers in the league are racking up followers on Twitter, he is amassing points. He scores. Always has. Always will. "I think it just came easiest to me because, at an early age [when I was] five or six years old, I could put it in my left hand, put it in my right and that age, if you can go left against those kids it's like shooting fish in a barrel," Bryant said about his earliest scoring memories. "I just became more curious about it the better I got at it all the way until now." "This is a guy that uses the open floor well," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said when asked to sum up Bryant's offensive assault. "He knows how to post up. He drives. He can shoot it -- he increased his shooting range and capabilities over the years. He finds a way to score. It's not the most important thing but he knows it carries a lot of weight. He has the invincibility idea that there's no one out there that can stop him [&] he carries that attitude with him." Pau Gasol also praised Bryant's mentality. "He's got tremendous will," Gasol said. "Obviously his skill level and athletic level allow him to be so effective with it, but the will that he's got to be able to score and decide games and carry the team offensively is incredible." Bryant turned 31 years old in August and is playing even better than when he entered the league with springs for legs 14 seasons ago. His 28.8 points per game this season is the fourth-highest scoring output of his career. "What he's accomplished is hard to put into words," Derek Fisher, who reported to rookie camp with Bryant all the way back in 1996, said. "I think what separates him from just about everybody is that he is one of the few guys who was supposed to do what he's doing. Jerry West [had strong] feelings about what he could accomplish as a player and he's actually done them, accomplished it, maybe even surpassed it, yet he still has room to grow." While the nets continue to snap for Bryant at the same rate, his game has evolved. He spent part of his offseason working on pivot moves with Hakeem Olajuwon, and the former slam dunk champion only has 26 dunks on the season, one less than Sacramento's Spencer Hawes. His recent string of injuries may have slowed him down a bit, but they have never stopped him. Bryant credits his health just as much as his step-back jumper or quick first step as the reason he achieved the feat. "I've been very fortunate not to have to deal with serious injuries and having my career cut short," Bryant said. "I think it's a testament to that." Bryant became the youngest ever to reach the mark at just 31 years old and 151 days, passing Wilt Chamberlain who did it at the age of 31 years, 186 days. Chamberlain, No. 4 on the all-time scoring list, is one of the 11 players in the Hall of Fame with 25,000 points. The other three -- Karl Malone, Reggie Miller and Shaquille O'Neal -- aren't eligible yet, but will be first-ballot selections when the time comes. Meaning, if you stripped Bryant of the titles, awards and All-Star games, he'd still be headed to Springfield on his scoring ability alone. The 25,000 points club is as elite of a society as there is in sports. Bryant will grow the group to 15. In Major League Baseball, 27 players have 3,000 hits, 25 players have hit 500 homeruns and 24 pitchers have 300 wins. In the NHL, 17 players have scored 600 goals. In the NFL, 15 quarterbacks have thrown for more than 35,000 yards. There's a chance that Bryant will retire at the head of that society with the most points of all time and surpass Abdul-Jabbar's mark. If he maintains his scoring clip this season, he'll finish 2009-10 with approximately 26,200 points -- about 12,200 behind Kareem. To catch The Captain, he would need to average 25.3 points (his career average) for 483 games. That works out to be six more seasons and would give Bryant 20 years in the league and put off his retirement until 2017 when he'll be 39 years old. "I don't know how long I'll play," was all Bryant would say when asked if he has run at Abdul-Jabbar in him. He's been the answer to the questions, "Which player is the best at getting his own shot?" and "Which player would you want taking a shot with the game on the line?" in NBA.com's annual GM Survey for the last five years, or every year since those queries were included in the piece. Picking the most impressive scoring feat by Bryant is like trying to pick Will Ferrell's funniest skit on Saturday Night Live. There are too many to choose from. His 103 career 40-point games rank him third all-time behind Chamberlain (271) and Michael Jordan (173). His 24 career 50-point games also put him behind only Chamberlain (118) and Jordan (31). In February of 2003, Bryant scored 40 or more in nine straight games, again putting him third behind Jordan (nine in 1986) and Chamberlain with two streaks of 14 in the 1961-62 season and as well as a run of 10 in '62-63. He has five 60-point games. He's scored 30 points in a quarter twice. He is tied with Donyell Marshall for the record of 12 3s in a game. If he wins the scoring title this season (he is currently fourth, 1.2 points behind the leader, Carmelo Anthony), it will be his third title. Only Jordan (10), Chamberlain (seven), Allen Iverson (four) and George Gervin (four) have more. His 25.3 points per game scoring average is only 10th all-time, but if you don't count his first three seasons in the league -- consider it his college adjustment period he missed by coming straight out of high school -- then his career average jumps to 28.19, which would put him third behind only Jordan (30.12) and Chamberlain (30.07). But one stat stands above the rest today. 25,000. Kobe Bryant. The Elias Stats Bureau and Mark Simon from ESPN Stats & Info contributed to this report.

Kobe Bryant Scores 25,000th Point ESPN Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper

Complex Magazine's Top 25 Most Anticipated Albums Of 2010

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 20, 2010 at 4:00pm

In a business where release dates shift for multiple years before an LP actually drops, it’s tough to really get excited for an artist’s new album. But we’re starting the new year off with an optimistic attitude—2010 is gonna be filled with some fuckin’ amazing albums. Halfway through January, we’ve already seen a few solid releases (Vampire Weekend’s Contra and Kanye’s Storytellers), but the best is yet to come. To let you know what’s in store for 2010, we rounded up all the albums we’re expecting this year (key word being expecting—forget pipe-dream releases like Detox), including everything from the psychedelic indie rock of Yeasayer to Drake’s long-awaited debut. See who made the cut with Complex’s 25 Most Anticipated Albums of 2010…

#25: Beastie Boys Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 1 RELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Nas, Santigold WHAT WE KNOW: The iconic NYC trio’s first proper album in 5 years was originally supposed to drop last fall, but was delayed after MCA was diagnosed with cancer. Expect the boys to build on the retro style of To The 5 Boroughs for an album they described as “strange” and “bizarre” in a BBC interview. After their Nas duet “Too Many Rappers” got a good buzz going last summer, we’re eager to see what they drop next.

#24: Nicki Minaj TBD RELEASE DATE? Third Quarter PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Polow Da Don (rumored), JR Rotem (rumored), Young Money WHAT WE KNOW: Fresh off a hit mixtape and some song-stealing verses on the Young Money album, our recent Hot Complex is easily the most buzzed-about female rapper in a decade. She recently took a break from touring to focus on finishing her debut, and teased the fact that she might leak a single called “Married In The Club” (nope, no sign of it yet). With mixtape records like “I Get Crazy” and “Itty Bitty Piggy” still getting burn, expectations for her debut are high.

#23: Pac Div Grown Kid Syndrome RELEASE DATE? Summer 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Swiff D, The Neptunes (rumored) WHAT WE KNOW: These three Cali kids had everyone bumping their Church League Champions mixtape last year (even Diddy…in the lambo!), and their new mixtape “Don’t Mention It” should be dropping any day. Their official debut is now slated for some time this summer—expect more futuristic boom-bap goodness from in-house producer Swiff D, along with whatever came out of that week they spent in Miami with Pharrell.

#22: Common The Believer RELEASE DATE? Summer 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Kanye West, No I.D. WHAT WE KNOW: Right around the time Common’s last LP, Universal Mind Control, dropped and people didn’t like it so much, due to its dance faux-future feel, he began talking up his next endeavor: an entirely No I.D. and Kanye West produced album. While no details have leaked, Common has clearly made the best music of his career with these guys so The Believer will hopefully recapture that magic.

#21: Hot Chip One Life Stand RELEASE DATE? February 8, 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: N/A WHAT WE KNOW: The kings of British electropop never disappoint, so we’re expecting their fourth album to bring them even more mainstream exposure than their 2008 album Made In The Dark (are we the only ones who want them to cross over?). In fact, the new LP leaked last week, led by the single “One Life Stand,” and from our first listen, it seems like their most pop-friendly album to date

#20: The-Dream Love King RELEASE DATE? May 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Tricky Stewart, Los Da Mystro WHAT WE KNOW: His first two albums—2007’s Love/Hate and 2009’s Love Vs. Money—were R&B masterpieces (LVM was our #2 album of 2009), so it’s pretty safe to say that the third installment in the trilogy will be more of the same (which is a good thing). Love King—Dream’s supposed “final album”—was being mixed last weekend, so expect a lead single to leak any day now.

#19: Justice TBD RELEASE DATE? “Early 2009″ PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: N/A WHAT WE KNOW: Three years ago, their gritty electro-house debut peeked its head up into the mainstream and warmed a hell of a lot of indie rock and hip-hop kids to dance music for the first time. But after touring, releasing a live album and a handful of dope remixes in ’08, the duo went radio silent. Last summer, Billboard reported that they would be a part of the relaunched Elektra Records roster, with a new album in “early 2010.” Whenever it comes out, we’re expecting something next-level. “We are at the beginning of knowledge about production and music-making,” Xavier de Rosnay told Pitchfork about their new material back in ’08. “It’s changing every two months.”

#18: Gorillaz Plastic Beach RELEASE DATE? March 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: De La Soul, Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Barry Gibb, Bobby Womack WHAT WE KNOW: Our favorite animated band is ready to take over 2010 with their first new album in 5 years and a headlining performance at Coachella. It’s gonna be hard for Damon and Jamie to top the success of their first two—which sold a whopping 15 million combined—but it will no doubt be another genre-bending mix with mass appeal. Damon premiered some rough demos on Radio 1 last January, before going off to record with the Syrian National Orchestra. The requisite eclectic guest list was announced, and Mos Def said a track he’s on is “one of the greatest thing’s I’ve ever done.” Okay, we’re excited.

#17: B.o.B. The Adventures of Bobby Ray RELEASE DATE? May 25, 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Eminem, Lupe Fiasco, T.I., Rivers Cuomo, JR Rotem WHAT WE KNOW: It seems like we’ve been waiting on B.o.B.’s album for years (listen to Shake’s excellent compilation Should Have Been The First Album to hear all the hits he’s made in the meantime) but it looks like his debut is finally dropping at the end of May. After sorta changing his name, aligning with Grand Hustle, and dropping a pop-friendly single “Nothin’ On You,” all the stars finally seem to be aligning. He’s been working with everybody, and he’s one of the most versitile artists in hip-hop, so it’s hard to say exactly what will end up on the finished product. Expect the unexpected.

#16: Ghostface, Raekwon & Method Man The Wu-Massacre RELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: RZA, Inspectah Deck WHAT WE KNOW: If there’s one thing we learned from the fuckery of 8 Diagrams, its that a Wu-Tang reunion is a bad idea. Luckily, Raekwon went a long way towards repairing the Wu brand last year with his shockingly good Cuban Linx sequel, setting the stage for another dream Clan fan project: The Wu-Massacre. Let’s face it, Rae, Ghost and Meth have always been the crew’s real stars, each as lyrically sharp as they are charismatic, so an album with all three should be an easy win for Def Jam. P.S.— they’re looking for a group name!

#15: Yeasayer Odd Blood RELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: N/A WHAT WE KNOW: Their 2007 debut put this Brooklyn crew on the indie map, but their stock rose last year thanks to work on the Bat For Lashes album and a high-profile performance at the Guggenheim. Fortunately (for us, anyway), their sophomore LP Odd Blood leaked back in December, and it’s pretty clear that they have the talent to back up the hype. No matter what your normal listening habits are, we guarantee you’ll fuck with their irresistible mix of psychedelic electro-rock. Odd Blood is definitely worth picking up when the official version drops next month.

#14: J. Cole TBD RELEASE DATE? Late Spring/Summer 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: No I.D., Syience, Pharrell WHAT WE KNOW: Roc Nation’s marque act has been busy since dropping his mixtape The Warm Up this past summer; between promoting his “Lights Please” single, touring with Jay-Z on the Blueprint 3 tour, making records with vets like Reflection Eternal and Mos Def, and stealing the show on Wale’s “Beautiful Bliss.” His debut will feature production from himself, No I.D., and his characteristic deep, hard-hitting rhymes. Pictures recently surfaced of him working with Pharrell. Cole’s rhymes over Skateboard P beats? Yessir, indeed.

#13: T.I. TBD RELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Jim Jonsin WHAT WE KNOW: The high-drama of T.I.’s legal troubles over the last few years were played out perfectly in the music (and marketing) of his last album Paper Trail, an introspective step forward that hinted at the next phase in Tip’s career. He toned down the tough-talk, completely removing any references to guns, and remarkably, it worked—Paper Trail was Tip’s most commercially successful album to date, and one of his best. Producer Jim Jonsin recently revealed that Tip is working on the follow-up while staying in a halfway house, and we have no doubt that he’ll be coming back with a bang…just not from a gun.

#12: Jay Electronica Act II: Patents of Nobility RELEASE DATE? First Quarter PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Just Blaze, Nas, Mos Def, Eminem (rumored) WHAT WE KNOW: He’s dropped only two songs in the last 12 months, but we can’t front, they’re good enough that we’re literally chomping at the bit waiting for more. Long teased, Act II is something between an EP, a mixtape and a video art project, but will certainly be a compelling piece of rarely heard lyricism. Add to that the best beats Just Blaze can craft, and appearances by Nas and Mos Def (and possibly even Eminem… to hear Jay tell it, at least), and you have an effort that should occupy real rap fans’ iPod’s for the rest of the year.

#11: Lupe Fiasco Lasers RELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Soundtrakk WHAT WE KNOW: Lupe keeps getting better and better and all signs point to Lasers being his best full-length to date. There aren’t a lot of hard facts about the effort available, but his mixtape Enemy of the State proves his lyrics are better than they’ve ever been, and between his Twilight joint and his Japanese Cartoon material it’s clear that his palatte is expanding with his ear. An early single “Shining Down” leaked last summer, and now it seems another leak called “I’m Beaming” is getting a proper single release.

#10: LCD Soundstsyem TBD RELEASE DATE? April 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: N/A WHAT WE KNOW: Little has been said about UK dance-punk group’s new album—so far we have the faux title: ‘Internet Sensation!’ and the band’s cover of Alan Vega’s “Bye Bye Bayou” (which will not appear on the album) to hold us over. We do know recording has taken place in LA and New York with work from members Al Doyle, Pat Mahoney, and Gavin Russom. Most recent word from front man James Murphy (as told to NME) is that the new album is “definitely better than the other two” and will have a “wider palette of sound” than the group’s self-titled debut and wildly influential Sound of Silver album.

#9: Kid Cudi Cudder: The Revolution of Evolution RELEASE DATE? Second Quarter PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Kanye West, The Neptunes, Snoop Dogg WHAT WE KNOW: Party time, excellent! See, it’s like this: Kid Cudi’s life has changed and his new album will reflect it. Where MOTM was maudlin, thoughtful and self-deprecating, Cudder will be buoyant and exuberant. And where MOTM had barely any guests, and was produced mostly by his in-house team, Cudder will feature the likes of Snoop and beats by The Neptunes. Yeah. That happens when you score a number one record, fuck mad hoes, and cop a crib in Tribeca. Trust us. We know.

#8: MGMT Congratulations RELEASE DATE? Spring 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Sonic Boom, Dave Fridmann, Chemical Brothers (rumored) WHAT WE KNOW: Having ridden to improbable success in 2008, the boys from Brooklyn (by way of Boston burbs) are ready to follow up the album that spawned anthems like “Kids” and “Time To Pretend.” But don’t a hit parade—in fact, they have no plans to even release singles from their sophomore album. “We’ve been talking about ways to make sure people hear the album as an album in order,” Ben Goldwasseer recently told NME. “Not just figure out what are the best three tracks, download those and not listen to the rest of it.” Early rumors had them working with the Chemical Brothers, but all recent reports say the album was created with their old producer Dave Fridmann, along with Spacemen 3’s Peter Kember (aka Sonic Boom).

#7: Lil’ Wayne Tha Carter 4 RELEASE DATE? 4th Quarter PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Deezle WHAT WE KNOW: During last summer Universal said this record would be released in the 4th quarter of 2009, after Rebirth, so clearly there are songs recorded. But with Rebirth’s release at a standstill due to lack of interest and the Best Rapper Alive ‘pon lock for most of 2010, we’re thinking Universal, and more importantly their shareholders, are gonna force this LP’s release by the end of the year. The big question is, will it be a frankenstein of the rap records he’s made post-Rebirth, or will he scrap everything when he gets out of jail and put together an entirely new LP reflecting his presumably changed world view?

#6: Santigold TBD RELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Pharrell, Diplo, Switch, Spank Rock (rumored) WHAT WE KNOW: Santigold has been busy as hell since her ’08 debut blew up, battling informercial jeweler Santo Gold over her name, touring with Coldplay, and popping up in a million commercials. While we haven’t heard any of the new music, she’s been producing for Devo, co-writing for Christina Aguilera’s upcoming Bionic album, and working with everyone from the Beastie Boys to Basement Jaxx. Last summer she told Nylon about some potential producers, but we’re still waiting for more concrete info on the album that could really take her to the next level.

Young Jeezy Thug Motivation 103 RELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Kanye West (rumored), Drumma Boy (rumored), Tha Bizness (rumored) WHAT WE KNOW: Young Jeezy is like Ghostface, Redman, Too Short and AC/DC before him: Every album hits basically the same notes, and is basically a great listen, too. A year ago Jeezy teased that he’d done 7 songs with Kanye West behind the boards, which might indicate a slight change in sound, but then the two records he’s leaked thus far have been straight back to the trap. However it breaks, though, Jeezy has a consistent track record and shows no signs of chasing crossover hits.

#4: M.I.A. TBD RELEASE DATE? Summer 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Blaqstarr, Rusko WHAT WE KNOW: M.I.A.’s whole world has changed since her anti-crossover album Kala crossed over, thanks to the Grammy-nominated, boundry-smashing anthem “Paper Planes.” She’s had a baby and hunkered down with Baltimore producer Blaqstarr for most of her third album (which is rumored to be titled Mission.Impossible.Area), which will include the recently-leaked track “Space Odyssey” and a song called “I’m Down Like Your Internet Connection” that reportedly features an actual Verizon customer service employee on the hook. “Paper Planes” might have been a pop radio fluke, but you can bet whatever she does will be one of the year’s most original albums.

Eminem Relapse 2 RELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Dr. Dre, Just Blaze WHAT WE KNOW: Our current cover star is extremely focused and has moved on from the punchline driven shock-rap that dominated Relapse, for a more enduring, emotive sound. Working for the first time in years with outside production, courtesy principally of Just Blaze, we expect Em’s attention on the intricacy of the rhymes, and the candor of the sentiment. Given Em’s vocal appreciation of T.I.’s Paper Trail, and Blaze’s involvement, perhaps he’s sitting on a “Live Your Life” meets “Lose Yourself” type anthem.

#2: Kanye West TBD RELEASE DATE? 3rd Quarter PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Kid Cudi, Consequence, Common, Mr. Hudson, Drake, No I.D., Tony Williams WHAT WE KNOW: Rap! That’s what we expect from Kanye’s much-anticipated follow up to 808s & Heartbreak. If his last LP embodied the emotional rollercoaster he went through in ‘07 and ‘08, it seems likely his forthcoming effort will address his chaffing discomfort with the mainstream (yeah, you MTV.) with aggressive and dangerous RAP! Never a slouch on the mic, since 808s release ‘Ye has made a pointed effort to blaze all of his cameo verses, so we’re expecting some very forcused, very articulate vitriole on a variety of topics, along with his usual memorable one-liners, etc… Recorded mostly in Hawaii (so far), it seems ‘Ye has surrounded himself and all of his key collaborators (Kid Cudi, Consequence, Common, Mr. Hudson, Drake, No I.D., and Tony Williams) in seclusion. There haven’t been indicators of where ‘Ye’s taking the beats these days, but each of his albums has been one-half departure, one-half evolution, so we’re imagining tracks in the vein of 808s with a decidedly more aggressive, hip hop edge.

#1: Drake Thank Me Later RELEASE DATE? March 2010 PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Boi-1da, 40, The-Dream, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Sade WHAT WE KNOW: He absolutely owned 2009 with a classic mixtape and a slew of guest appearances, so expectations could not be higher for Drizzy’s long-awaited debut. By sticking with his trusty in-house producers and sprinkling in a few superstars, he should be able to match the perfect balance of punchlines and R&B that made So Far Gone such a hit. At this point, 2010 is his to lose. Complex Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper

Askmen.com's Top 25 Most Desirable Women Of 2010. See Pics Inside

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 21, 2010 at 5:30am

The popular men's Web site Askmen.com has released the results of its annual Top 99 Most Desirable Women poll, which asked 6 million readers, "What does the modern man look for in his ideal companion?" So who came out on top? Click through to see the top 25 ladies ..

#25: Layla Kayleigh The co-host of MTV's "Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew," who gave birth to daughter Melody Rain Covino less than three months ago, is up from #37 on last year's list.

#24: Adriana Lima Victoria's Secret Angel Adriana Lima may have dropped from #19 since 2009, but the Brazilian bombshell is still sitting pretty -- she got married to Memphis Grizzlies' shooting guard Marko Jaric last February and is one of the highest-paid supermodels in the world.

#23: Scarlett Johansson The lovely Johansson, seen here in a glamorous Dolce and Gabbana ad, also has a red-hot career and personal life. The actress and singer has been laying relatively low since tying the knot with fellow actor Ryan Reynolds in 2008, but she'll be back on the big screen to play the Black Widow in "Iron Man 2."

#22: Keeley Hazell You may not have heard of this British Page 3 Girl and glamor model, but 23-year-old Keeley Hazell has graced the pages of many a men's magazine, including Maxim and FHM.

#21: Kristen Stewart This is Kristen Stewart's first year on Askmen.com's list, but what a year it's been! The 19-year-old stars as Bella in the "Twilight" films, and has become many a teenage hipster's dream girl

#20: Paz Vega Spanish actress Paz Vega got her big break in "7 Vidas," the Spanish equivalent of "Friends," but she's managed to make it stateside as well. She's played Adama Sandler's hot nanny in "Spanglish," and also starred in "The Spirit" alongside Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johansson and Jamie King.

#19: Monica Bellucci This 45-year-old Italian beauty proves age is just a number, only slipping one spot from last year's list. Bellucci is best known in the U.S. for her role as Persephone in "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions," but the actress will soon be seen in the upcoming thriller "1:30 Train." She's also expecting her second child with "Oceans Thirteen" star Vincent Cassell.

#18: January Jones She's on one of TV's hottest T.V. shows, but she's not stopping there. "Mad Men" star January Jones plays complex housewife Betty Draper on the Golden Globe-winning series, but will soon be seen in the 2010 flick, "The Hungry Rabbit Jumps" with Nicholas Cage.

#17: Natalie Portman It's good to know men value brains as well as beauty. And while Natalie Portman may be one of the sexiest women alive, she certainly doesn't rest on her looks. Portman took a break from Tinseltown to get her undergraduate degree in psychology from Harvard, but she's back and better than ever in the flick "Brothers."

#16: Kelly Brook Another gorgeous British import makes the top 20. A model, actress and TV personality, Kelly Brook also co-wrote the book, "Life Style: How to Pin Down the Pin-up within You."

#15: Padma Lakshmi The sexy hostess of Bravo's "Top Chef," Padma is also the author of two cookbooks, "Easy Exotic" and "Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet," and was married to author Salman Rushdie from 2004 to 2007. On making this year's list for the first time, the mom-to-be says, "I'm delighted that the readers of AskMen.com have chosen to include me on their list. I'm extremely flattered."

#14: Erin Andrews Although ESPN reporter Erin Andrews has had a bit of a tough year, the gorgeous sportscaster has a ton going for her. She's become wildly successful in a male-dominated industry, and was even voted America's Sexiest Sportscaster by Playboy in 2007 and 2008.

#13: Bar Rafaeli Israeli supermodel Bar Rafaeli has made a name for herself as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover model, as well as Leonardo DiCaprio's on-again-off-again girlfriend. Rafaeli was also awarded the "World Style Award" at the Women's World Awards.

#12: Gisele Bundchen Speaking of hot models, Brazilian beauty Gisele Bundchen may be #12 on Askmen.com's list, but Forbes named her the top earning model of 2009, for the $25 million she made last year.

#11: Megan Fox "Jennifer's Body" star Megan Fox was #2 on the list last year, but the foxy actress has dropped to a lowly #11 this year. However, with sexy billboards like this ad for Emporio Armani underwear, we can't imagine she'll be down and out for long.

#10: Miranda Kerr Victoria's Secret Angel Miranda Kerr has that sweet look that you can't help but fall in love with. On making the coveted top 10, the Aussie says, "It is such a big compliment to be given. I would love to send a big thank you to everyone that voted on Askmen.com. I really do appreciate the support."

#9: Eva Mendes Eva Mendes is one of those women that just oozes sex appeal, which likely helped her take the #1 spot in last year's poll. The actress and face of Calvin Klein can soon be seen opposite Will Farrell and Mark Wahlberg in the upcoming comedy, "The Other Guys." She's also an avid PETA supporter.

#8: Cheryl Cole Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole may not be so well-known stateside, but in England she's been called "the nation's new sweetheart."

#7: Penelope Cruz What would a list of the most desirable women be without including Penelope Cruz? The stunning Spanish actress won an Oscar for her role in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," and is currently channeling her naughty side in the star-studded film, "Nine."

#6: Beyonce So what if she's a married woman? "Single Ladies" singer Beyonce is all about keeping her private life with Jay-Z very hush, hush, but she's certainly no wallflower when it comes to performing. The VMA "Video of the Year" winner was also ranked #1 on Forbes' list of the Best-Paid Celebs Under 30 in 2009. Not bad, B!

#5: Jessica Alba Jessica Alba is one sexy mama ... literally. The "Sin City" actress has kept her "Dark Angel" figure despite giving birth to daughter, Honor Marie, in 2008. Her next role is in the highly-anticipated flick "Valentine's Day."

#4: Alessandra Ambrosio Don't hate this Victoria's Secret model because she's beautiful. Hate her because she's freakishly fit -- the Brazilian made headlines back in 2008 for getting back to her pre-baby bod for the that year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show just three months after giving birth to a baby girl.

#3: Kate Beckinsale It seems Kate Beckinsale is topping everyone's list these days, as she was also named Esquire magazine's "Sexiest Woman Alive" in 2009. But don't think she's just a pretty face -- the British actress has also appeared in films such as "Van Helsing," "Serendipity," "Pearl Harbor," and, most recently, "Everybody's Fine."

#2: Marisa Miller Yet another Victoria's Secret model on the list is the lovely Marisa Miller. "My fans rock! I'm always very humbled to see the support my fans have for me. Thank you AskMen.com!"

#1: Emmanuelle Chriqui Emmanuelle Chriqui, the brunette bombshell who plays L.A. socialite Sloane on "Entourage," received the top honor based on traits that the site says men value "most in a potential companion, such as intelligence, humor, talent and character." "Hearing what the Top 99 vote is made of is the biggest compliment of all because it's not just about being 'hot' but about being a well-rounded woman," Chriqui told AskMen.com. "That's really empowering and is just a massive compliment to me – people recognize that I care about other things." Sources: AskMen.com and NY Daily News Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper

Amanda Bynes Covers February Maxim. Peep The Pics Inside

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 8, 2010 at 5:30pm

America's sweetheart Amanda Bynes wants to show the world she's all grown up and ready to take on more adult oriented movie roles. I would say doing a Maxim cover and photo shoot is a good way to get that started. If you're wondering where you have seen the 23 year old actress before. She starred on the Nickelodeon show 'All That' before moving on to teen flicks 'She's The Man' and 'Hairspray' Amanda says of her Maxim spread 'I want to show people who I am. My parents were like, “Does this mean you’re gonna do sexy movies now?” I said, “Well, if they’re done the right way, then maybe!” I mean, I’m not gonna do porn, but if it’s a Leonardo DiCaprio movie or whatever. It's time for me to start making my own decisions' We applaud you Amanda, do your thing. The February 2010 Maxin hits stands January 19.

Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper

MTV's Top 25 Songs Of 2009

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on December 9, 2009 at 7:59am

In 2009, we killed Auto-Tune, we partied in the U.S.A., and we howled "Awooo!" at the moon (en español, no less). And those were some of the more normal moments of the year: Seriously, there is no way to sum up a year that had so many bizarre and scandalous moments, so let's have the songs do it for us. These are my picks for the Best Songs of 2009: odes to abstinence and combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bells, songs of sadness and beauty, tunes about getting loaded and getting revenge. They're all important in some way, and they all helped guide us through the tumultuous past 12 months. But that's enough from me, let's get to the songs ... 25. Black Eyed Peas: "I Gotta Feeling" Twenty million Peas fans can't be wrong — and certainly not in this case. The song that dominated the Billboard Hot 100 (#1 for 14 straight weeks) also happens to be an effervescent, electro-tinged blast, managing to capture the promise of a million Saturday nights. Also, it's the only song on this list to feature the phrase "Mazel tov," which counts for something. 24. Mastodon: "The Last Baron" Thirteen minutes of doomy, interlocking guitars, pummeling drums and whiplash-inducing time changes that climaxes with the best guitar solo of the year — a fiery, fret-wrecking two minutes that will make your skull explode. It's about inter-dimensional time travel, just in case you were wondering. 23. Ke$ha: "TiK ToK" On the basis of this song alone, Ms. Sebert seems like she'd be a fun girl to party with. 22. Wale: "Chillin' " A lean, mean slab of swagger-hop from our nation's capital. Spindly, urgent beats floating above a chopped-up sample of Steam's "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye," Lady Gaga on the hook (channeling M.I.A.) and some deft wordplay from Wale himself ("I remain a Giant, and you're Jeremy Shockey") make this one great. And the Ben's Chili Bowl cameos in the video are a nice touch, too. (R.I.P., Ben Ali.) 21. Franz Ferdinand: "No You Girls" The swaggering soundtrack to your favorite Saturday night activities (knife fights, sex in bathroom stalls, shame), from a group of Glaswegian guys who are apparently well versed in all three. It's great, strutting guitar rock, and why this song — and its accompanying album, Tonight — weren't bigger deals is beyond me. 20. Miley Cyrus: "The Climb" You want a classic, throwback pop ballad? You got it, courtesy of Ms. Cyrus. Somber piano? Trilling strings? Nondescript-yet-inspirational message about overcoming adversity? This song's got it all, and it bears mentioning that Miley sings the bejeezus out of it, too. 19. The Flaming Lips: "Watching the Planets" A pounding, primal song about all the nebulous, intangible things we rolled into 2009 talking about ("hope," "change," etc.) that's also one of the first to suggest that perhaps none of it holds any water. When Wayne Coyne yelps "Oh oh oh oh oh/ Finding that there ain't no answers to find," he isn't just talking about black holes, you know. 18. Brand New: "At the Bottom" Ominous, snarling rock about death and burial and prescription drugs and other cheery topics of that sort. Full of loud/soft crashes, blurry fretwork and a positively crushing chorus, it's feel-bad music for feel-bad times. 17. Kelly Clarkson: "I Do Not Hook Up" Originally written for Katy Perry, it's probably a good thing she passed on it, since I can't imagine anyone other than Clarkson doing it justice. It's breakneck electro-pop with a big, rushing chorus and vocal fireworks galore. The best Kelly Clarkson song in years, from the best Kelly Clarkson album in years (All I Ever Wanted). We all win, even Katy Perry. 16. Lady Gaga: "Bad Romance" Deliciously over-the-top pop, as only Lady Gaga can do it. From the opening techno haze (which sounds like it could've been lifted off a Ministry of Sound comp) to Gaga's delightfully silly vocal ticks (the whole "Ga-ga, ooh-la-la" thing) to the whirring, wooshing backing beat, this is decidedly arty fare, with a bizarre video to match. Only, there's the chorus, a wondrous thing that can convince a million soccer moms to click the download button (or have their daughters do it for them) ... 15. Kid Cudi: "Pursuit of Happiness" A molasses-thick beat courtesy of the guys in Ratatat, a slurry, slippery delivery by Cudi, a knocking chorus and a cameo by MGMT. It's like a blog decided to make a posse cut, minus all the negative comments! 14. Thom Yorke: "All for the Best" Thom and his brother Andy cover the Miracle Legion, turn the song into a swooning, somber electronic daydream. It's take-a-picture pretty, like that image of your loved one in bed on a Sunday morning, laughing, sun streaming through her (or his) hair — perfect in ways only you can understand. When Yorke sang, "This will be on my video tape," this is probably what he was talking about. 13. Lily Allen: "Not Fair" Over the course of one week, I heard this song on the radio in New York, Paris and Rome, and each time, all the women in the immediate vicinity nodded in agreement to Lily's razor-sharp dissection of a less-than-giving lover. Then they all laughed at the oral-sex line — it seems dissatisfaction is universal! 12. Paramore: "All I Wanted" The 2:40 mark: That's when it happens. All the din falls away, and Hayley Williams — all five feet of her — is left by her lonesome. The tape is rolling, the clock ticking, and the engineer is peering at her from the other side of the glass. So she draws a breath and positively empties herself into the chorus, going bigger and getting higher than she's ever been before. You can practically hear the heads exploding in the room. It's the best vocal moment of 2009, signifying not only Hayley Williams' transformation from a kid with Kool-Aid-colored hair to a full-grown woman, but her arrival in the pantheon of truly great rock vocalists. Welcome to the club. 11. Rihanna: "Russian Roulette" We spent the second half of 2009 waiting to see how Rihanna would respond artistically after Chris Brown's assault on her, and with "Russian Roulette," we finally got our answer: She's hurt but strong — and changed. This is a sonorously sad song, full of self-doubt and self-eviscerating lyrics, proof that Rihanna has depths we never thought possible. And that she's human, just like the rest of us. 10. Das Racist: "Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (Wallpaper. Remix)" Gloriously garish joke-rap, or slyly brilliant commentary on the twin evils of capitalism and globalization? Yes! As someone smarter than me commented, " 'Pizza Hut' is either the track we, as a culture, need right now, or the track we, as a culture, deserve — or both" My favorite version is the (somewhat derided) "Wallpaper. Remix," which sets the dumb banter ("I got that pizza butt/ I got that pizza butt") to blaring sorta-sax and a cheesy Casio/ Eurotrash backbeat, which seems strangely perfect to me ... 9. Miley Cyrus: "Party in the U.S.A." OK, so I took Miley to task earlier this year for this song not meeting all the requirements of a party anthem — but it's still a great single! All that matters here is the sentiment: that a good song can make all the difference, that a DJ can save your life, and that the butterflies really can fly away. Really, what more could you ask for from a pop song? A deliriously catchy robo-beat? Vague notions of patriotism? A Daisy Duke-fueled video? Well "Party's" has all that, too. More proof that this is the greatest nation on earth. 8. Jay-Z (featuring Alicia Keys): "Empire State of Mind" This was a pretty good song before the Yankees ruined it (more reason for us Red Sox fans to hate A-Rod) ... 7. Phoenix: "1901" Ridiculously catchy indie-pop, "1901" bobs and weaves and pumps its fists, but not before it checks its hair in the mirror first. Fashionable, smart stuff that re-imagines bookish subjects like "post-modernism" and "neo-classicism" as danceable, radio-ready rock (and sounds like it was lifted from every John Hughes movie ever made) — nobody did it better than Phoenix in 2009. From the library to the club, without a moment to spare, although of course, they're French ... 6. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: "Zero" I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a big fan of It's Blitz, but there's no denying the catchiness of its first single, a strutting, joyous thing that builds to a positively giddy crescendo. This is basically a smart and sexy disco song, complete with Karen O's vocal coos and a pounding backbeat. 5. Matt & Kim: "Daylight" I think this actually came out late last year, but it definitely made its mark in 2009. Homemade spaz pop from a pair of Brooklyn dumpster divers, "Daylight" is fuzzy and hissy, yet outshines songs that cost four times as much when it comes to sheer bliss. You'd be hard pressed to match the wide optimism of Mr. Johnson and Ms. Schifino, and with their shout-sung vocals and ham-fisted drumming, they've created a tune that proves you can get high on life. 4. Grizzly Bear: "Two Weeks" A sunny, shiny creature with a deceptively dark heart beating beneath its skin, "Two Weeks" is perhaps the best example of Grizzly Bear's brand of hazy dream pop, all pitch-perfect vocal harmonies and casually plinked piano. But like I said, there's something more here. Maybe it's the ultra-creepy video, or the ghostly, otherworldy quality of the song, but this also sounds like the kind of thing that plays on repeat in Charles Manson's brain. Then again, maybe that's just me — the best songs make you think, after all. 3. Shakira: "She Wolf" The battiest song released by a major artist this year, "She Wolf" is wondrous for innumerable reasons: the Italo-disco boogie, the "Awooos," the fact that Shakira compares herself to a coffee machine in an office. It's a delightfully strange pop song, no bones about it, and proof that perhaps Shaki is wackier than you might have thought. And while all of that is well and good, what I like best about it is that Shakira was brave enough to release it — sometimes you've just gotta applaud that kind of determination, and dance to it, and watch the video over and over again. 2. Animal Collective: "My Girls" The indie song of 2009, and the soundtrack to a million acid flashbacks, "My Girls" represents one of the most important rock acts of the decade finally realizing their potential. Having explored the depths of avant garde, AC turned their attention to pop music and discover, "Hey, we're pretty great at this, too." Icy synthesizers, pounding drums, vocal "Wooos!" and other sundry, "My Girls" recalls all seasons and all eras — but mostly, it just sounds like tomorrow. You'll be hearing this blasting out of the trunks of hovercars for decades to come. 1. Jay-Z: "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" Jigga might not have eradicated Auto-Tune in 2009, but you've got to commend the guy for trying. And that's why "D.O.A." is the best song of 2009: Jay's thinking globally but acting locally, and he's getting angry in the process. The No-I.D. beat — the angular guitars, the Klezmer breakdown — sounded like nothing else on the radio, even if Jay didn't intend for the song to get played on the radio in the first place. Which is more proof of his reach as an artist, of his stature as the biggest name in hip-hop: He's so huge he can put his fellow artists (not to mention the whole industry) on blast, and they still line up to pay their respects. To anyone else, a song like this would be career suicide, but it only made Jay stronger. From here, anything is possible. And if he's claiming he'll only wear black for a year straight, it's probably because he murdered everyone else in the game ... MTV Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper

Mazaradi Fox Dissing Two Five,Max-B & Young Jeezy !!

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on June 22, 2009 at 7:15am

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