andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Last night MTV’s expert panel capped off their top ten “Hottest MC’s” with long-time heavyweight Jay-Z coming out on top. The controversial list was compiled by Hip Hop critics and enthusiasts, and for the first time included the opinion of fans across North America. The criteria: lyrics, flow, impact, buzz, sales and intangibles.

The final list: 1. Jay-Z, 2. Lil Wayne, 3. Drake, 4. Kanye West, 5. Rick Ross, 6. Gucci Mane, 7. Young Jeezy, 8. Fabolous, 9. 50 cent, 10. Raekwon

A few names are mysteriously absent from the list, most notably, Eminem. The rapper should not only have appeared on the list, he should have been in the top five. His recent album wasn’t his best of all time but its popularity continues to grow, and his verse on Drake’s new ‘Forever’ remix was the best on the track.

Kid Cudi’s name has spread like wildfire in the music industry, and TI continues to maintain his popularity; yet neither of them appear on the list.

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MTV has compiled their list of the top ten, “Hottest MC’s in the Game,” and they’re releasing each name one by one.
The criteria for the top 10 list are: lyrics, flow, impact, buzz, sales and intangibles. MTV has put together an expert panel of their most educated hip hop critics to rate the current talent and success of today’s top hip hop artists.
Number 10 on the list is Wu-tang Clan member Raekwon (aka Raekwon the chef). While Raekwon’s public exposure has never been particularly high, he is one of the most talented artists in the music industry. His album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.. Part II, released September 8, 2009, was critically acclaimed by all major music and hip hop outlets; debuting at number four on the Billboard 200. This was his fourth solo album along with the numerous Wu Tang albums to which he was an integral asset. Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Part II reaches back to those Wu tang roots with raw hip hop verses and classic beats (produced by hip-hop giants RZA, Dr Dre, The Alchemist and Eric Sermon and many others).

Number 9 on the list was hip-hop heavyweight 50 cent. While he hasn’t released an official album since Curtis in 2007, 50 released one of the most impressive mix-tapes of the year, War Angel. The mix-tape showed fans that 50 is still first and foremost dedicated to his musical craft. Curtis ‘50 Cent’ Jackson is in the process right now of completing his fourth studio album, “Before I Self Destruct”. The album was scheduled to be released in late 2008, but instead was re-worked and improved for the new release date of November 17. Like Raekwon, Jackson has the top producers in the music industry working on his album including Dr Dre, Timbaland and Eminem, to name a few.If the recently released track Flight 187 is any indicator of the style of this new album, Jackson’s fans will be pleased. The song has a classic 50 cent flow with a relaxed yet cold-blooded tone.

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When it comes to Hollywood, as the old and overused saying goes, there’s no such thing as bad press.

But we know that’s just bull. Such a line is used for people who, let’s face it, crave bad publicity because they realize others have finally caught onto their uselessness and lack of talent.

Lindsay Lohan, I’m looking at you.

Yet somehow, the month of March barely gave us any of these headliners. Quite impressive considering Tinseltown is full of train wrecks and yesterday’s news.

So, as usual, here are the best and worst moments in entertainment, music, and everything else pop culture that this month had to offer.

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Moments after a Northern Georgia District judge sentenced  T.I. to one year and one day in prison on Friday (March 27), the rapper discussed his sentence at a press conference.

His sentence was in connection with felony weapons charges stemming from his October 2007 arrest on the eve of the BET Hip-Hop Awards, reports mtvnews.com.  

“It brings me great pleasure and honor to say to you today that I have begun to close this chapter in my life with, of course, the help and blessings of the U.S. attorneys and the courts of the U.S. government.”

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It was announced on Monday (January 26) that Radiohead would perform on the Grammy Awards show taking place on February 8. The band is up for five Grammys.

The performance at this year’s 51st annual Grammy Awards will mark Radiohead’s first live TV performance in the U.S. since 2000, not to mention the first time the band plays on the award show.

With Radiohead added to the list, three nominees for Album of the Year are set to perform at the award show. However, both Robert Plant and Alison Krauss who are nominated for their collaboration “Raising Sand,” and Ne-Yo have not been confirmed as performers.

Justin Timberlake and T.I. will also be performing at the awards. T.I. will be joining Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kanye West to perform their hit “Swagga Like Us.”

Other acts for the night include Katy Perry – who lends her song “I Kissed A Girl” for this year’s My Grammy Moment – Coldplay, Jennifer Hudson, the Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, Carrie Underwood, among other performers.

T.I. isn’t letting legal troubles – including an upcoming one-year stint in jail – interrupt his acting career.

The rapper, whose real name is Tip Harris, has signed a three-picture deal with Screen Gems that will kick off with the crime drama “Bone Deep.”

The movie, also starring Matt Dillon and British actor-musician Idris Elba, follows a group of bank robbers attempting to pull off a $20 million heist, while dodging the pursuits of a hardened Manhattan cop (Dillon).

T.I.’s second movie for Screen Gems will be a drama called “Boulevard;” the third movie has yet to be determined.

The rapper, whose past acting credits include “American Gangster” and “ATL,” will have to schedule his newest projects around his recent legal woes. He was sentenced in April to 1,000 hours of community service and will head to jail in early 2009 on charges of weapons possession.

Around that time, MTV will air an eight-episode reality show following T.I. through his community service this summer.

T.I.’s new album, “Paper Trails,” is due in stores Aug. 12.

T.I and his alter-ego T.I.P will definitely have some alone-time to work out their differences.

An Atlanta judged ruled in favour of releasing the 27-year-old rapper from jail on $3 million bail but ordered the star be placed under strict house arrest.

T.I (whose real name is Clifford Harris) will be restricted to a suburban home and his movements will be tracked 24 hours a day by a private monitoring service, paid for by the Grammy winner himself. He will only be allowed to leave for hearings and court-approved medical appointments.

T.I. was arrested earlier this month for attempting to purchase three machine guns, two silencers and a pistol.

The self-proclaimed King of the South is no stranger to breaking the law and holds previous convictions on drug charges, as well as several probation violations.

As a convicted felon, it’s a federal offense for the emcee to possess any firearms.

Rapper T.I. halted an exclusive performance at a Hollywood hotel on Tuesday night to confront a fan who threw a cup at him.

The hip-hop star – real name Clifford Harris – was playing to a crowd of celebrities, including Hilary Duff and socialite Brody Jenner, at the Roosevelt Hotel when the incident took place.

T.I. immediately stopped his set, jumped offstage and worked his way through the audience to the guilty fan, who he then reportedly struck with his microphone.

The fan was then ejected from the venue, reports website TMZ.com.

(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

Rapper T.I almost quit music following the deaths of his newborn daughter and personal assistant last year.

The musician, real name Clifford Harris, says the double tragedy made him re-evaluate his life and career.

He says, “This is my life, this is the struggle I had to go through to bring myself to release another album.

“After all the stuff I went through following the success of King (last album), it took a lot to even muster the effort or even care enough about the world outside my circle to even care about doing another album.”

(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

The cast of Ridley Scott’s new film is getting a little help from the world of hip hop.

Variety reports that rappers Common, TI, and RZA will star alongside Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in the director’s crime drama “American Gangster.”

The film centres around Washington, who plays a Harlem crime leader who smuggled heroin into the U.S. via the coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam.

Crowe plays the role of lead investigator into the incident.

The film’s script was penned by Steven Zaillian, know for his writing credits on movies like “Gangs of New York” and “Schindler’s List.”

The film, which has no set release date yet, will be co-produced by Scott and Brian Grazer.