Video After The JumpThere 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 PointESPN
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Video After The JumpTokyo, Japan (CNN) -- The Buddhist religion has largely remained the same over the past few centuries, but a group of monks in Japan are spicing things up by turning to alcohol and rap music to lure in followers.
The monks are calling it Buddhism 2010.Kansho Tagai, who is a Buddhist monk, believes it's time to change for the future and doesn't mind if it means dropping the chants and bringing on the rap music.
Tagai also prefers to go by his street name -- Mr. Happiness.
Many argue that the Buddhist mantra is hard to understand, but if it's interpreted in a modern way sung as a rap, then more young people might accept the Buddhist faith, according to Tagai.
"Getting the young people back to religion is key to Buddhism's survival," Tagai told CNN.
"In Japan, it's a religion in crisis."
Each year, hundreds of temples close in Japan and it's a similar struggle seen by other religions around the world.
The number of Christians in the U.S. fell by 11 percent in the course of one generation.
Another idea that monks hope will help get more young people involved is mixing faith with fun at something called the Monk Bar.
This modern day bar serves up alcoholic drinks while teaching the Buddhist mantra, according to Zenshin Fujioka.
"This is closer to what Buddhism was intended to be," Zenshin said.
"Today's temples are disconnected from the ordinary person."
Like most monks, Zenshin is trained in an ancient language most Japanese don't quite understand, but in a modern bar setting, the monks say the faithful talk at ease about their problems.
While many traditionalists may criticize both the Monk Bar and hip hop rapping styles, it seems their ideas are paying off.
"Twice as many people, especially the young, are now visiting the temple," Tagai said.
"Other monks are even calling me up for advice."
CNN
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Download Link After The JumpI don't know where this beef started, but Brisco comes out guns blazing on this one.
He pokes fun at Wacka Flacka Flame for recently getting shot and goes in on both Oj Da Juiceman and So Icey Entertainment CEO Gucci ManeI'm not taking sides either way. I like Brisco and the So Icey Camp. But I do agree with Brisco on one point, it's better to give up your jewelry and live to breather another day as opposed to getting shot for it.Download HereRead more…
THESE LADIES WHERE AMAZING.AS A VETERAN INTERVIEWER, I WORKED WITH THE ELITE SUCH AS RUSSELL SIMMONS, KERI HILSON, AND MORE, I HAD'NT FELT SO BLESSED TO EXPERIENCE THE BEGINNING STAGES OF THIS BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY THAT THESE GIRLS HAVE DRIFTED INTO... THANK YOU..WATCH AND SEE THEY ARE DEFITNITLY RISING ABOVE THE GROUND!!*BEST WISHES*
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It looks like the actions of Kanye West in the past and his constant issue with checking his ego at the door hasn't paid off for the rapper even now.
In an attempt to bring as many supporters as possible to aid in the relief of Haiti, there have been countless telethons being conducted to raise awareness and donations for the country after the devastation that it's suffered.
Actor George Clooney is doing his part with his own telethon, but reports are saying that he won't allow West to participate in the fundraiser which will be broadcasted tomorrow.
Sources have added that they are going out of their way to ensure that West doesn't make an unwanted appearance, courtesy gawker.com.
“After what he said on the Katrina telethon and the way he behaved at the MTV Video Music Awards, everyone agrees it's just best that he does not participate,” said a producer.
Where some blame it on his passion, others look at it as a little kid trying to just get everyone's attention while embarrassing others in the process.
“Kanye has to make everything about himself. He will do anything to steal the spotlight, and, well, this night it's just not about him.”
There have been no statements released by West.
Damn, first President Obama calls him a ‘jackass' and now he's not allowed to help raise funds for Haiti…smh…the past always finds a way to catch up.
Source: HipHopWired
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Video After The JumpFire Starter: Chalie BoySo arrogant, but so catchy and lucrative for Chalie Boy: "On my mama, on my 'hood/ I look fly, I look good/ Touch my swagga, wish you could/ I look fly, I look good."
"It's all about style, fashion, swagger. A lot of name-brand clothing, how everybody wanna step out in the club," Chalie said of his song "I Look Good." "It makes you wanna move."
After 10 years of paying his dues on the Texas underground scene, Chalie finally has a record that is moving nationally and getting love in the clubs.
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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
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Brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams have proven they can take a small business from scratch and turn it into a multi-million dollar empire. As witnessed by their success with Cash Money Records.
Now they look to do the same thing in the oil and gas field by starting an independent company called Bronald Oil & Gas..
The "About Us" section on their website reads:
"Bronald Oil & Gas, LLC is an independent oil and gas company focused, on the exploration, production and development of oil and gas reserves from conventional and unconventional formations. The Company is initially focused on exploration and development properties in Osage County, Oklahoma, as well as in Texas, Louisiana and Florida in the United States and in Central America.
Bronald’s long-term strategy is to grow through development and via the acquisition of prospective acreage that complements its existing assets and exploits the abilities of the Company’s technical resources. Bronald is committed to working cooperatively with governments and private enterprise to recover energy from known oil and gas reserves throughout North and Central America in an environmentally friendly manner. Bronald intends to utilize both historically successful technologies and means, as well as new innovations and technology, to recover energy resources in both and economic and environmentally efficient manner.
Bronald is committed to preserving the environment, promoting worker safety and maximizing the potential output of various oil and gas assets. "
Sounds like more money in the bank to me, congrats gentlemen.
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Video After The JumpEverybody's doing and singing "Pants On The Ground" including Brett Farve of the Minnesota Vikings. Nobody could be happier than the man who wrote the song and performed it on American Idol making it an instant viral sensation. There are two problems though. He didn't copyright the song and he isn't getting paid a dime while the song is being performed coast to coast.
TMZ is reporting the "General" has hired a lawyer hoping he can cash in before his 15 minutes of fame is up. He is even hoping Brett Favre might want to do a duet.
Here's hoping he gets his money.
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Videos After The Jump
Superstars Maxwell and Rihanna both donated their time and talent to Oprah Winfrey's Haiti Special Wednesday (January 20).
Rihanna covered Bob Marley's classic "Redemption Song. While Maxwell sang "Fistful Of Tears". Both songs are available for a limited time on Oprah.com for download with all proceeds going to Haiti Relief. You can also find the Rihanna song on iTunes and RihannaNow.com.
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01 Intro
02 Wasted
03 O Let’s Do It
04 Patna Dem f. Rich Kids
05 Conjure Commercial
06 All the Way Turnt Up
07 Born An OG f. Ace Hood
08 Atlanta, GA f. Shawty Lo, Gucci Mane & The-Dream
09 Conjure Commercial 2
10 Everybody Wit Me
11 Bulletproof f. Raheem DeVaughn
12 Conjure Commercial 3
13 Don’t Trust Her f. Gucci mane
14 Addicted to Money f. Lil Scrappy
15 We Gettin’ Rich f. Playaz Circle
16 Conjure Commercial 4
17 Regret f. LeToya
18 Sex Therapy f. Robin Thicke
19 Outro
The tape actually features 20 tracks. With the Pennies (rmx) w/ The Cool Kids & Bun B and Ya Heard w/ The Game both being featured on number 20.Download Here
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AspenTimes just announced that Rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson will be performing during the Winter X Games at Aspen for about half and hour.The Concert will take place at Buttermilk on January 30th from 1 to 1:30 p.m. and is part of sponsorship Event.According to ESPN representative Vanessa Anthes it is expected that around 1,000 to 1,500 people will show up just to see the 30-minute show.Source: AspenTimesRead more…
MTV reality star Markice "Kesan" Moore has finally turned himself into police for brutal assault on his one year old daughter that left her with numerous broken bones and fractures.
Before turning himself in, he spoke with TMZ. Telling them his daughter did not suffer the broken arms, leg and ribs while under his care.
He would only take responsibility for a broken wrist his daughter suffered when she supposedly fell out of bed last July while he was watching her.
The "From G's To Gents Star" is now in the custody of Cobb County, Georgia police awaiting booking.
His bail is set at $20,000 dollars
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Brock Lesnar is ready to resume training to defend his UFC heavyweight title after a serious intestinal problem derailed his career and endangered his life.
Lesnar hasn’t been in the octagon since UFC 100 last July, when he beat Frank Mir in the biggest event in mixed martial arts history. He struggled through several months of pain and confusion with an illness eventually diagnosed as diverticulitis.
UFC president Dana White expects Lesnar to return this summer, likely fighting the winner of Mir’s March 27 bout against Shane Carwin in Newark, N.J.
“Everybody has got life-changing experiences, and this is one of them for me,” Lesnar said in a phone interview Wednesday. “I believe things happen for a reason. It gave me a different perspective on life and my family. I considered myself a healthy human being, and for something like this to happen to me, I need to re-evaluate. I have to make some changes.”
After just four fights over less than two years with UFC, Lesnar is considered the league’s top pay-per-view draw. The former NCAA wrestling champion and WWE professional wrestler is thrilled to resume his MMA career after thinking he might be forced to retire by major abdominal surgery.
“The heavyweight division should be back on their toes again,” Lesnar said.
He spent several months struggling with diverticulitis, a swelling of pouches in the intestinal wall. Lesnar said he had abscesses in his intestines that became infected — and he also apparently tested positive last fall for mononucleosis, which might have delayed getting the proper diagnosis of his intestinal woes.
Lesnar withdrew from his scheduled fight against Carwin at UFC 106 last November, but didn’t yet know why he was exhausted and losing weight. Although Lesnar is vague about the dates and locations of his health woes’ progression, he lost 40 pounds and eventually had a major scare while at a hunting lodge in Canada, when he became delirious and passed out from pain while at least three hours from medical treatment.
After a stint in a Canadian hospital that left him criticizing the entire Canadian medical system and railing against U.S. health reform Wednesday, he returned to North Dakota and was diagnosed with diverticulitis after a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. But after originally being told he would need surgery, a colonoscopy on Jan. 5 revealed the problems apparently had healed with the help of antibiotics.
“The Mayo Clinic said, ‘You’ve got a winning lottery ticket,’” Lesnar said.
White said Lesnar will return in the summer, giving a boost to the ever-growing company after a series of injury postponements and cancellations over the past several months. If an injury prevents the winner of Mir’s bout with Carwin from being ready, Lesnar is likely to fight the winner of a Feb. 21 bout in Australia between Cain Velasquez and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Lesnar has altered his diet, moving away from an “all-protein” approach befitting his weightlifting program and adding more fiber and greens. He’ll return to his gym for training on Thursday morning after raising his weight from a low of 248 — which he hadn’t weighed “since second grade” — to 273.
“I think it’s raised my conditioning level, because I was really at the bottom,” Lesnar said. “Now I’m back in the gym, and I feel great. I feel like my old self again.”
Houston Chronicle
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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. 1RELEASE 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 TBDRELEASE 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 SyndromeRELEASE 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 BelieverRELEASE 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 StandRELEASE DATE? February 8, 2010PRODUCERS/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 KingRELEASE DATE? May 2010
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Tricky Stewart, Los Da MystroWHAT 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 TBDRELEASE DATE? “Early 2009″
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: N/AWHAT 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 BeachRELEASE DATE? March 2010
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: De La Soul, Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Barry Gibb, Bobby WomackWHAT 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 RayRELEASE DATE? May 25, 2010
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Eminem, Lupe Fiasco, T.I., Rivers Cuomo, JR RotemWHAT 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-MassacreRELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: RZA, Inspectah DeckWHAT 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 BloodRELEASE 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 TBDRELEASE DATE? Late Spring/Summer 2010
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: No I.D., Syience, PharrellWHAT 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. TBDRELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Jim JonsinWHAT 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 NobilityRELEASE 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 LasersRELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: SoundtrakkWHAT 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 TBDRELEASE DATE? April 2010
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: N/AWHAT 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 EvolutionRELEASE DATE? Second Quarter
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Kanye West, The Neptunes, Snoop DoggWHAT 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 CongratulationsRELEASE 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 4RELEASE DATE? 4th Quarter
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: DeezleWHAT 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 TBDRELEASE 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 103RELEASE 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. TBDRELEASE DATE? Summer 2010
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Blaqstarr, RuskoWHAT 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 2RELEASE DATE? First Half of 2010
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Dr. Dre, Just BlazeWHAT 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 TBDRELEASE DATE? 3rd Quarter
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Kid Cudi, Consequence, Common, Mr. Hudson, Drake, No I.D., Tony WilliamsWHAT 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 LaterRELEASE DATE? March 2010
PRODUCERS/COLLABORATORS: Boi-1da, 40, The-Dream, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, SadeWHAT 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
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