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Jay-Z + 10 More MCs President Obama Should Hire

Posted 10/25/10 4:30 pm EST by in List Mania

By Chris Yuscavage

Jay-Z's busy schedule might be getting a whole lot busier.

According to a report in today's New York Post, U.S. President Barack Obama may consider making a move that would see Mr. S. Carter replace current National Economic Council Director Larry Summers when he begins campaigning for his 2012 Presidential push. Thanks to all of the success Obama enjoyed after an endorsement from Hov during his 2008 campaign, Deputy White House Press Secretary William Burton went on the record recently to announce that the Prez would definitely be open to working with him again in an official capacity when the time is right.

Here at RapFix, we can't say we're particularly surprised. Jay's endorsement prior to the '08 election did play a huge part in Obama getting elected President. But lest Obama forgets, he wasn't the only rapper to lend his name to the cause—so why is he the only one being considered? To help him make his final decision, we came up with a list of 10 other rappers who should be in the running. Vote wisely, Obama.

The Rapper: Young Jeezy
The Official Title He Could Hold: Presidential Music Coordinator
The Job Requirements: We're still a little surprised Obama didn't embrace "My President Is Black" back when Young Jeezy and Nas recorded it in 2008. Nonetheless, Jeezy's official duties as PMC would include recording "My President Is Black 2," carefully selecting Obama's soundtrack for the campaign trail, and throwing more than just Jay-Z, Nas and Lil Wayne onto the Prez's iPod. We already know you can motivate the thugs, Jeezy, now motivate the President.

The Rapper: Diddy
The Official Title He Could Hold: Campaign Slogan Creator
The Job Requirements: Come up with a clever slogan that'll appear on the front of hundreds of thousands of T-shirts that'll undoubtedly show up at flea markets and swap meets across the country. "Vote or Die"? Eh, not so much. What else ya got? Read More...

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Nicki Minaj + 10 Women She Should Work With Now

Posted 10/25/10 7:00 am EST by in List Mania

By Chris Yuscagave

Nicki Minaj's buzz can't get much bigger than it is right now.

Like Drake in the months leading up to the release of his debut, Thank Me Later, Miss Minaj is everywhere and she's not the only one benefiting from it. To capitalize on her buzz, there have been a number of artists, including Usher, Ludacris, Trey Songz, Jay Sean, Sean Garrett and Sean Kingston, who have turned to her to give their singles an extra boost.

But there's another trend going on as well: Female artists asking Nicki for a little girl power on their power ballads. Mariah Carey did it first on "Up Out My Face," then Christina Aguilera reached out for "Woohoo" and, most recently, Keyshia Cole made her long-awaited return to the R&B game by asking Nicki to jump on her new single, "I Ain't Thru."

But why stop there? Nicki Minaj could help a whole bunch of other female artists—and, in the process, help her own career—by working with them in the near future.

To help give her some ideas, RapFix hatched a list of women Nicki should consider recording with soon and put the grrrrrr back in girl power.

Nicki Minaj x Willow Smith

We almost got this when an unauthorized leak of a "Whip My Hair" remix surfaced (Nicki's contribution turned out to be an old verse). But, let's put it this way: If she can hop on a track with a 9 year-old and give us a PG verse that still sounds good, it'd be an impressive feat—and a reason for Disney to give her a shot at recording a song for a soundtrack sometime soon.

Nicki Minaj x Alicia Keys

Why hasn't this happened yet? Well, probably because Ms. Keys (or is it, Mrs. Beatz?) is out on maternity leave right now with little Egypt Dean. But when she gets back, don't be surprised to hear these two rep the Big Apple on a track together. Nicki is from the City That Never Sleeps after all. And Alicia? Well, you already know she's repping NYC, right? Read More...

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Jay-Z + 10 More MCs That Should Be 'Decoded'

Posted 10/22/10 1:30 pm EST by in List Mania

By Chris Yuscagave

Jay-Z wants you to understand exactly what he's been rapping about for all these years.

So, if you still scratch your head every time you hear Jay rap, "If Jeezy's payin' LeBron, I'm payin' Dwyane Wade," on "Empire State of Mind" (please click here if you do), you're in luck! Hova is preparing to release "Decoded," a book that breaks down his lyrics and explains exactly what he meant when he delivered some of his most popular lines. It's currently available for pre-order on Amazon and drops November 16.

However, we're pretty sure Jay isn't the only rapper that's left you dazed and confused after dropping a hot 16. In fact, there are plenty of other rappers out there that need to have their lyrics decoded, too. To prove it, RapFix gathered a list of 10 artists and provided sample lyrics for each of them to show you exactly what we mean. Book publishers, we hope you're listening!

RAKIM

Sample Lyrics: "I was a fiend before I became a teen/I melted microphones instead of cones of ice cream," from "Microphone Fiend"

Say What?: Before we get into some of the more ridiculous suggestions, let's start with Rakim, a rapper who actually deserves to have his lyrics decoded. They're not particularly confusing, but he fathered the style that most of today's more lyrical rappers use and he deserves the opportunity to explain exactly how he did it.

GUCCI MANE

Sample Lyrics: "My broads is enormous, my diamonds are humongous/It's Gucci Mane the martian, and everything is gorgeous," from "Gorgeous"

Say What?: Gucci Mane LaFlare's made a living off coming up with clever ways to describe his watches, his cars, his chains and the chicks that enjoy the pleasure of his company. He does it so often that it wouldn't hurt for us to hear exactly how he manages to come up with all the different ways to describe them. And, hold up: Did he really just call himself a Martian in the lyrics listed above? Does that mean he's related to hip-hop's other Martian? Yeah, start explaining, dude. Read More...

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Dear Lupe Fiasco: 10 Tips To Make Lasers Successful

Posted 10/21/10 7:00 am EST by in List Mania

By Chris Yuscagave

Lupe Fiasco did the impossible recently. He got a release date for Lasers!

Though his oft-delayed third solo album has been in the works for nearly three years now, Atlantic Records reportedly refused to release the project or even deliver a projected release date for the Chicago rapper. However, after thousands of Lupe Fiasco fans signed a petition earlier this year to try and force Atlantic to release the album and even threatened to hold a protest outside the Atlantic offices, the label finally caved and gave Lupe a release date: March 8, 2011.

That said, it might seem like the hard work is done for Lupe. All he has to do is sit back and wait for March 2011 to come around, right? Wrong. In fact, the uphill battle for Lupe Fiasco is just beginning. And there are still plenty of things he needs to do if he wants Atlantic to give him the chance to release any more albums after this one.

To help Lupe out, RapFix came up with 10 things he needs to do in order to make Lasers as successful as possible. Let's get to it, Lupe.

1. Keep recording songs for Lasers

We've heard that you submitted a completed version of Lasers to Atlantic months ago. That's all well and good, but there's a good chance your whole experience with trying to get your album out would make for a good song or two. So don't assume that what you submitted is what's going to hit store shelves. Keep recording and give fans the freshest material you've got when the album finally does drop.

2. Call Kanye West, like, NOW

In case you haven't noticed, 'Ye is about to be busy. Real busy. With his new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, dropping next month, he's gonna be on every TV station, radio channel and Web site soon. Before he is, put the bug in his ear that you're looking for a contribution for Lasers. If that doesn't get Atlantic excited about putting your project out, we don't know what will.

3. Drop a mixtape. Immediately.

Last year's Enemy of the State mixtape was dope. Only problem? It was like 20 minutes long. So, um, no offense, Lupe, but 20 minutes isn't enough to hold today's ran fans over for a day—let alone 10 months. Get some new music out and get it out right away.

4. Stop participating in supergroups

Child Rebel Soldier (a group comprised of Lupe, Pharrell and Kanye) and All-City Chess Club (boasting Lupe, B.o.B, Asher Roth and more) both sound like cool projects. But, yo: It's taken you three years to get Atlantic to release your next solo album. Do you really think Atlantic—or any other record label, for that matter—is going to put out an album by either of those two supergroups anytime soon? Yeah, we don't think so. So stay focused on your solo career. At least, for now.

5. Repair your image on the rap blogs

We're not sure if you know this or not, but most of the rap blogs seem to hate you. You don't seem to care, which is cool, but in today's hip-hop culture, you need the blogs to love you (or, at the very least, to blog about you!) in order to be successful. That's just the way it is. If you can't stand a particular blogger, you don't have to cater to him or her. But find a couple you do like and serve them up some fresh material. (P.S. If you want RapFix to do it, just say the word!)

6. Embrace your leaked records

No rapper wants their new songs leaked onto the Internet. It'd be crazy to try and convince you or any other rapper to be happy about it. But if it happens, it happens. Rather than throwing dirt on your own songs or chastising the world when a record leaks, accept it and move on. That's what we call free publicity, sir.

7. Be open to trying everything to land on a hit single

You passed over on B.o.B's "Nothin' On You." Cool, you weren't feeling it. But be open to doing whatever you can to find a hit that'll propel your album into the next stratosphere. That doesn't mean you have to sell yourself out or work with someone you don't want to. But if you're not gonna do that, think outside the box to land on a single that'll make you proud.

8. Take cues from your labelmate B.o.B.

Speaking of B.o.B, look no further than B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray to hear how you can make the album you want to and keep your label happy. B.o.B might have a few songs on there that you wouldn't necessarily record, but it's safe to say he's also got plenty of songs on there that he truly wanted to release to the world. Use that as your blueprint.

9. Appreciate your old fans—but try to find some new ones

You have a diesel fan base. Kids were willing to sign a petition and even take time out of their busy lives to come and protest on your behalf. You need to keep them around. But you also need to branch out and realize that not everyone is happy with the way you've handled your label politics. Do whatever it takes to get them back on your side through your music.

10. Keep rapping your ass off

Good music trumps everything. So whether you drop a mixtape tomorrow or start recording a couple freestyles every week, use your voice to give yourself a voice in the hip-hop community. If you do that, Lasers will shine brightly.

Until then... *clicks play on "I'm Beaming"*

Are you looking forward to Lupe Fiasco's Lasers? Tweet us at @MTVRapFix or tell us in a comment below!

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Nicki Minaj to Lil Wayne: 10 Hopeful Willow Smith 'Whip My Hair' Remixes

Posted 10/20/10 2:30 pm EST by in List Mania

By Chris Yuscavage

She may only be 9 years-old, but Willow Smith already has a full-fledged hit on her hands.

Her debut single, "Whip My Hair," recently reached No. 17 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. She just dropped a video for the song, which features the offspring of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith whipping it real hard and boasting a sick fashion sense. And a ton of celebrities, including pop singer Katy Perry and Snooki of Jersey Shore fame, have publicly embraced the song for its catchy chorus.

But we fully expect the song to get another boost this fall when a whole bunch of rappers turn up on the "Whip My Hair" beat. Of course, not everyone can rock it. If you're sporting a baldy (sorry, Jadakiss and Young Jeezy!), you're banned from this one. Same to those who got rid of their braids (what up, Ludacris and Slim Thug. But there are still a ton of eligible MCs so RapFix hatched a list of rappers who should hop on Willow's wacky song ASAP.

Nicki Minaj

We thought this was a done deal when a song that sounded like a "Whip My Hair" remix popped up on the Internets a couple weeks back. Turns out, it featured an old Nicki verse. A remix with these two (along with every wig Nicki owns!) is almost inevitable at this point, though, right?

Waka Flocka Flame

What up, Mr. #8 on MTV's Hottest MCs list?! How you livin'? Pretty good, we imagine. Why don't you celebrate by hopping on the "Whip My Hair" remix and shaking those dreads all over the place? FLOCKA!

Wale

Now that his little beef with Kid Cudi seems to be dying down, Wale sounds like he's ready to start terrorizing other peoples' instrumentals again (anyone catch "Mike Tomlin" over Wiz Khalifa's "Black & Yellow" last night? No? Go listen to it now!). It's only a matter of time before he lands on this one.

Busta Rhymes

Yeah, yeah, we know. Busta trimmed his locks off a couple years ago, right? But, doesn't he still have 'em tucked away in a plastic bag somewhere? We know he does! And is there going to be a better occasion than a "Whip My Hair" remix to pull them out for old times' sake? Yo, Busta: Put your hair where our eyes can see!

Pusha T

Because Kanye must be running out of G.O.O.D. Friday tracks by now...

Snoop Dogg

Somehow, we get the feeling Snoop knows how a real gangster would whip his hair—if real gangsters did that sort of thing.

T-Pain

Okay, so T-Pizzle isn't technically an MC. But, come on: Don't you want to whip your hair ... in Autotune?!

50 Cent

Didn't Fif say he's not cutting his hair until his next solo album is finished? Hmmm ... Sounds like he could a perfect fit for this song anyyyyday now. Plus this is hotter than YG's "Toot It And Boot It"—a remix we also appreciated.

Asher Roth

Hey, white boys know how to whip it, too!

Lil Wayne

Oh, you think this is too soft for Weezy? Long hair don't care!

Which MC do you want to hear rap over Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" beat? Tweet us at @MTVRapFix, tell us in a comment below or VOTE!

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Big L to 2Pac: 10 Memorable Posthumous Rap Albums

Posted 10/20/10 7:00 am EST by in List Mania

By Chris Yuscavage

Rappers don't die.

Well, let us clarify that. Thanks to their discographies, rappers live on through their music long after they pass away and leave the earth. If you don't believe us, try walking through Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, N.Y. on a Saturday afternoon without hearing a single Biggie song or cruising through Los Angeles on a Sunday afternoon without hearing a neighboring car playing 2Pac. It's damn-near impossible.

But what's even more astounding is, even in the afterlife, there are plenty of rappers who have released albums featuring brand-new music. Unlike other genres of music, rappers tend to record dozens—sometimes even hundreds—of songs when they're recording an album, meaning there are plenty of extra joints left on the cutting room floor when they're finished. And when a rapper passes away, many of those songs reemerge to help continue that rapper's legacy.

The latest example is Big L. More than a decade after his death in 1999, L's family recently announced that they're planning on releasing his second posthumous album, The Return of the Devil's Son, at the end of next month. The first single, "Zone of Danger," even leaked out to the Internets last week. So RapFix took a look back at 10 of the most memorable posthumous rap albums of all-time. Some were good, others not so much, but they all helped rap fans remember their fallen heroes.

The Artist: Notorious B.I.G.
The Album: 1999's Born Again
The Result: Before the guest-heavy Duets: The Final Chapter dropped in 2005, there was Born Again—the last collection of new, full B.I.G. songs (the aptly-titled Duets featured new verses but few completed Biggie tracks). Not surprisingly, it was nowhere near as strong as B.I.G.'s first two solo albums but it did give birth to the vicious "Dead Wrong," featuring Eminem, and breathed more life into B.I.G.'s legacy.

The Artist: 2Pac
The Album: 1996's  The 7 Day Theory
The Result: Many rap fans consider 'Pac's 1996 double-album, All Eyez On Me, his best work ever, but The 7 Day Theory, which he recorded until the alias Makaveli was just as strong, if not stronger, than that project. It was the last official studio album he recorded, but his estate has gone on to record eight more posthumous records as well.

The Artist: J Dilla
The Album: 2006's The Shining
The Result: Though Dilla didn't live long enough to complete The Shining, Detroit producer Karriem Riggings completed the legendary producer's sophomore album for him after his death. Featuring Busta Rhymes, Pharoahe Monch, Common and more, it was highly-acclaimed despite the fact that he didn't have a hand in finishing it.

The Artist: Eazy-E
The Album: 1995's Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton
The Result: Eazy originally intended his second full-length LP to be a double-disc, but he passed away from AIDS in early 1995 before he had to chance to finish it. Though there are still rumored to be unreleased tracks from the recording sessions for the album, it was well-received and added to Eazy's legacy as a West Coast rap pioneer.

The Artist: Big Pun
The Album: 2000's Yeeeah Baby
The Result: Just two months after his death in February 2000, Pun's final studio album—which he completed before his death—was released. A second posthumous release, 2001's Endangered Species, also gathered together most of Pun's most memorable appearances and featured the Ashanti-laced hit single, "How We Roll."

The Artist: Pimp C
The Album: 2010's The Naked Soul of Sweet Jones
The Result: Big L isn't the only deceased rapper releasing a posthumous album this year. A Pimp C posthumous album was released earlier this month as well. Featuring production from Boi-1da, Trill Entertainment's Mouse and Jazze Pha as well as guest appearances from Drake, Chamillionaire and, of course, Pimp's former partner-in-rhyme Bun B, it served as a well-deserved send-off for the legendary Southern rapper.

The Artist: Mac Dre
The Album: 2008's Dre Day: July 5th 1970
The Result: One of the pioneers of hyphy music in the Bay Area, Mac Dre's accumulated more than a dozen solo releases now. His last posthumous one, released in July 2008, is more than just a bunch of unreleased tracks, though. It features guest appearances from a handful of rappers that were influenced by Mac during his life.

The Artist: Ol' Dirty Bastard
The Album: As-yet-unreleased A Son Unique
The Result: This is the only album on this list that hasn't been released yet, but it's still worth a mention. Recorded in 2003 and 2004, it was scheduled to be released by the Dame Dash Music Group and featured the single, "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," featuring Macy Gray. It's been pushed back repeatedly, but if you look hard enough, most of the songs from the album are available on the Web.

The Artist: Camu Tao
The Album: 2010's King of Hearts
The Result: He may be the least known rapper on this list, but underground rapper Camu Tao was supremely talented both on the mic and behind the boards. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, he was signed to indie label Definitive Jux and released a handful of solo and collaborative projects before succumbing to lung cancer in 2008. His final album, King Of Hearts, was uncompleted at the time of his death but his labelmates helped resurrect it into a presentable project.

The Artist: Big L
The Album: 2000's The Big Picture
The Result: The Return of the Devil's Son isn't L's first posthumous project. Shortly after his death in 1999, Rawkus Records reworked some of the music he was working on prior to his death and released The Big Picture, which featured guest appearances from 2Pac, Fat Joe, Kool G. Rap and Big Daddy Kane. Even after his death, L—and everyone else on this list—used a posthumous album to show that he could still get live on the mic.

What is your favorite posthumous rap album of all-time? Tweet us at @MTVRapFix or tell us in a comment below!

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Jay-Z And Memphis Bleek To Cam'ron And Vado: 10 Rap Protégés

Posted 10/19/10 7:30 am EST by in List Mania

By Chris Yuscavage

Being a protégé to a big-name rapper is a blessing and a curse.

On the one hand, you have a wealth of knowledge, experience and, most importantly, a co-sign on your side. For a new rapper, this is invaluable and can often be the difference between achieving some light buzz with a mixtape and actually releasing a debut album through a major record label. On the other hand, most rap protégés fail to live up to their potential thanks to the monstrous success that their mentors have enjoyed (see: Jay-Z) and his protégé Memphis Bleek.

However, there have been a handful of rap protégés over the last few years that have enjoyed commercial and critical success in spite of the fact that they've had to endure a lot of pressure early on in their careers. Most recently, Cam'Ron's protégé Vado released his debut album Slime Flu after building a healthy buzz through the DJ Drama-hosted Boss of All Bosses mixtape series alongside Killa Cam.

To help celebrate the release, RapFix collected a list of 10 more rap protégés who have used a co-sign from a big-name rapper to get their foot in the door—and then broken it down by showcasing their own skills on the mic. So far, these folks have definitely done their mentors proud.

The Protégé: Drake
The Mentor: Lil Wayne
The Result: Though Drizzy's standout 2009 mixtape, So Far Gone, was stellar on its own merits, it's safe to say he caught the attention of plenty of people thanks to the fact that he included Weezy on the tape and more than held his ground rapping alongside him. Since then, he's gone on to become one of the biggest names in rap and continues to show love to the CEO of Young Money on most of what he records.

The Protégé: Kid Cudi
The Mentor: Kanye West
The Result: While Lil Wayne was busy molding Drake into a superstar, Kanye West was preparing a protégé of his own. After his 2008 mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi, spawned the smash hit, "Day 'n' Nite," Cudi appeared on Kanye's 808s & Heartbreaks and rode the success (and the Kanye co-sign!) all the way to his 2009 debut, Man on the Moon: The End of Day.

The Protégé: J. Cole
The Mentor: Jay-Z
The Result: Okay, so Cole hasn't released a proper debut album. Yet. It's only a matter of time, though, for the Fayetteville, N.C.-born MC, who caught his first taste of national success after appearing on "A Star Is Born," a track from his mentor's last album, The Blueprint 3. After that, a star was born.

The Protégé: Waka Flocka Flame
The Mentor: Gucci Mane
The Result: Say what you want about Waka Flocka—or Gucci Mane, for that matter—but he's gone from "that dude with the dreads in Gucci Mane's videos" to a full-out Southern hip-hop star. With two chart-topping singles to his name ("O Let's Do It" and "Hard In Da Paint") and another one that looks like it might end up there ("No Hands"), Waka has turned himself into a legitimate rapper—whether you like it or not.

The Protégé: Tyga
The Mentor: Lil Wayne
The Result: Another Lil Wayne protégé? Yeah, another one (and, for those keeping count, it won't be the last one, either!). Tyga first got on thanks to a co-sign from his cousin Travis McCoy (you remember "Coconut Juice," right?) but he's currently enjoying success thanks to his affiliation with Wayne's Young Money imprint. He may not have Drake's buzz, but we wouldn't be surprised to see his promise grow with the release of his sophomore effort, Careless World.

The Protégé: B.o.B
The Mentor: T.I.
The Result: Patience pays off. Need proof? Check B.o.B, who spent nearly three years trying to land on the right single for his debut album, B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray, before finding the hit "Nothin' On You." We're not sure how involved Tip actually was in helping him find it (sounds to us like Lupe Fiasco passing up on the opportunity to record the song is what actually helped him land it) but the Grand Hustle CEO gets credit for sticking with the talented rapper/singer through the good and bad.

The Protégé: Diggy Simmons
The Mentor: Rev Run
The Result: You might think that when your dad is a rap legend, you're destined to have a long and fulfilling rap career. But, um, you guys have heard Diggy's older brother JoJo rap, right? Yeah, so let's give credit where credit's due: Diggy deserves props for bringing a fresh style into the rap game—and Rev Run deserves credit for deciding that he wanted to have kids in the first place. Either way, both the protégé and the mentor win.

The Protégé: Lil B
The Mentor: Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
The Result: We can't say Lil B's made much of an impact offline yet, but he has built his name on the Web and become more than just another member of The Pack thanks to his viral presence and SB's relentless Internet grind.

The Protégé: Big Sean
The Mentor: Kanye West
The Result: Kid Cudi isn't the only rapper who's done well after getting a co-sign from Mr. West. Detroit rapper Big Sean also built a buzz, created a style of dropping similes that's been utilized by Drake and Nicki Minaj (think: "It's going down, basement!") and nearly made himself a household name without dropping a debut album. He hasn't landed on a strong radio-friendly single yet. But when he does, expect Big Sean's name to get even bigger.

The Protégé: Nicki Minaj
The Mentor: Lil Wayne
The Result: Come on, you didn't seriously think we'd do an entire list of rap protégés and leave Nicki Lewinsky off it, did you? Though she built her early buzz up on the streets of New York City, Nicki got her first real commercial co-sign from Wayne and parlayed it into more than a dozen guest appearances on other artists' records and a deafening buzz in preparation for her debut album, Pink Friday. The lesson from all this? Lil Wayne's protégés pretty much always win. Word to Curren$y!

Who is your favorite rap protégé of all-time? Tweet us at @MTVRapFix or tell us in a comment below!

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Kanye West + 10 Rap Album Covers That Should Be Banned

Posted 10/18/10 6:00 pm EST by in List Mania

By Chris Yuscagave

If you haven't heard by now, Kanye West took to his Twitter account Sunday afternoon to announce that the cover for his forthcoming album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, has been banned. By who, you ask? We're not sure since 'Ye didn't specify whether it was his record label Def Jam, retailers like Walmart or some other corporate entity that decided to can the concept behind his latest artistic effort.

"So Nirvana can have a naked human being on they cover but I can't have a PAINTING of a monster with no arms and a polka dot tail and wings," he tweeted in reference to the grunge band's infamous 1991 album cover, Nevermind.

Either way, one thing remains clear: The cover for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is apparently a little too twisted for someone out there. But if we're going to start banning rap album covers because they could potentially be offensive to consumers, why stop there? Why not ban all album covers that could be harmful to the eyes of some? With that in mind, RapFix gathered 10 recent rap album covers that could be construed as offensive.* Cover your eyes.

The Album Cover: Jay-Z's The Hits Collection Vol. 1
The Image: A photo of Hova's recognizable Dynasty diamond symbol
Who Might Be Offended: People who believe in conspiracy theories

What's gonna be on the cover of Vol. 2? A picture of Hov and the rest of the Illuminati kicking it with the devil in Area 51? A blueprint for another government-inspired 9/11-like event? A map to Jimmy Hoffa's whereabouts? Seriously: How far are you gonna take this, Jay?

The Album Cover: Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday
The Image: A photo of Miss Minaj dressed up as a Barbie-like ballerina with super-long legs and no arms
Who Might Be Offended: People with no arms and/or brain damage

There's a lot going on on Nicki's cover for her forthcoming debut. She's (of course) got on a pink wig and pink shoes as she sits against a pink background. But she also has no arms. And, judging by her facial expressions, there's not much going on upstairs—if you know what we mean. Is she making fun of people with disabilities here?

The Album Cover: Waka Flocka Flame's Flockaveli
The Image: A photo of a shirtless Waka Flocka covered in blood
Who Might Be Offended: People who need blood transfusions

So, Americans donate blood every day to try and help others who might need it—and Waka Flocka is just out here wasting blood like it grows on trees? Good grief. Get this thing off stores shelves NOW!

The Album Cover: Canibus's C of Tranquility
The Image: A photo of Canibus written upside-down and backwards
Who Might Be Offended: People who don't have dyslexia

The concept of this album cover is simple, Canibus (by the way, you're still putting out albums?!), but the whole upside-down and backwards spelling of stuff makes reading the title of your album difficult for anyone without a learning disability. Therefore: !dennad need ev'uoY

The Album Cover: Joe Budden's Mood Muzik 4: A Turn 4 The Worst
The Image: A photo of Joe Budden taking a drag from a cigarette
Who Might Be Offended: People who are trying to quit smoking

Oh, so while millions of Americans are out here trying to kick the habit, you're just gonna light up right in front of them, Joey? Disgraceful. Stay over in the smoking section if you're gonna be like that.

The Album Cover: Vado's Slime Flu
The Image: A photo of Vado wearing a suit and exhaling smoke
Who Might Be Offended: People who are trying to quit smoking!

Don't you guys get it, guys?! NO. MORE. SMOKING!

The Album Cover: Gucci Mane's The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted
The Image: A photo of five different Gucci Manes standing in a police lineup
Who Might Be Offended: People with multiple personality disorder.

"I'm Gucci Mane!" "No, I'm Gucci Mane!" "No, I'm Gucci Mane!" "No, Iiiii'm..." Um, yeah. Gucci took Lil Wayne's "I got so many styles, I am a group" lyric from Drake's "Miss Me" to a whole other level on this album cover. It's like we don't even know who you are anymore, dude.

The Album Cover: Chingy's Success & Failure
The Image: A photo of Chingy standing in front of the city of St. Louis
Who Might Be Offended: People who believe everything they see

Attention, major label artists: This is the type of cover you can expect if you ever sign to an indie label. Sorry, Chingy, but the whole city is not behind you. At least not in this picture. Word to Photoshop.

The Album Cover: The Pack's Wolfpack Party
The Image: A photo of the four members of The Pack standing behind four young ladies who have had their faces blurred out for some reason
Who Might Be Offended: People who do not support censorship

Talk about a Photoshop FAIL. Looks like someone either forgot to get these ladies' consent forms signed. Either way, their digitally-altered mugs give a whole new meaning to the idea of a "censored CD"—and some people might not like that.

The Album Cover: Big L's The Return of the Devil's Son
The Image: A photo of Big L throwing up a peace sign amidst a chaotic background
Who Might Be Offended: People who think Jay-Z's The Hit Collection Vol. 1 is offensive

More allusions to the devil? Oh, hell no! If Jay and L think they're going to get over on us with all this devil talk, they've got anything thing coming.

*Obviously, we're kidding. Walmart, Best Buy, moms-and-pops record shops— please don't ban any of these albums! We're just trying to make a point. If Kanye West wants to put that weird painting on the front of his next album, we say, 'Why not?' It's his Dark Twisted Fantasy, after all, right? Trust us: We've seen way worse!

Have you ever been offended by an album cover? Do you think Kanye West's album cover should be banned? Tweet us at @MTVRapFix or tell us in a comment below!

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Bieber Fever?: 10 Rap Songs That Need A Justin Bieber Freestyle

Posted 10/15/10 3:00 pm EST by in List Mania

By Chris Yuscagave

Don't front, you know you caught Bieber Fever when you saw the video of teen popstar (aka Shawty Mane!) dropping a hot 16 over Cam'ron and Vado's song "Speaking In Tungs" earlier this week. That passion, that intricate lyricism, that ... hair!

OK, obviously we're joking. Bieber's lighthearted approach to the araabMUZIK-produced song and his laughable lyrics ("My new chick, she's a yellow bone!") didn't exactly inspire much confidence in the teen's chances of launching a rap career. However, it did leave us wondering what Bieb—ahem—Shawty Mane might sound like over a few other popular rap songs.

With that in mind, here's a collection of hip-hop ditties that might "Shawty's" sound. He's already put himself out there, so why stop now?

When you see him freestyling over these beats sometime over the course of the next month, remember where you heard it first ... and beware of the Bieber Fever!

The Song: "So Appalled" by Kanye West feat. Jay-Z, Pusha T, CyHi The Prince, RZA and Swizz Beatz
The Sample Lyrics: "I'm so appalled, so appalled by y'all/I freestyle for free, you make fun of me on your Facebook wall"

Let's face it: Everyone sounded good on Kanye's recent G.O.O.D. Friday posse cut. RZA grabbed the mic and talked all over the beat and even he sounded good! If Bieber sticks to the basic format of the song, we think he'll avoiding appalling any of us, regardless of what he raps about.

The Song: "Start It Up" by Lloyd Banks feat. Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Ryan Leslie and Fabolous
The Sample Lyrics: "My top down, I'm flashin' on 'em/Pull over, smile for the cameras, me and Kingston spazzin' on 'em"

Remember when Bieber got his driver's license a couple months back and decided that picking up fellow teen singer Sean Kingston for an impromptu shopping spree in his brand-new Lambo would be the look? Well, now he can interject that experience right into a rap song! See how this works, kid?

The Song: "Like A G6" by Far East Movement
The Sample Lyrics: "Sippin' on, sippin' on Sipps/I'ma ma-make it fizz/Girl, I keep it gangsta, poppin' birch beer at the crib"

We haven't really been keeping tabs, but how big is Bieber's buzz out in the Far East? Probably not as big as it is here in New York, huh? Well, by taking the Far East Movement's current smash hit and dropping a hot 16 over it, he's sure to fix that problem in no time. Pop those bottles!

The Song: "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" by Rick Ross feat. Styles P
The Sample Lyrics: "I think I'm Justin T, Nick Carter/No boy band, my solo stuff is harder/One nation, under God/Got your daughter screaming for me from the f--king start!"

Come on, dude: You can't hop on the biggest street single of the summer and keep it PG-13. Man up and tell us that you're the best teen pop star of all-time!

The Song: "Miss Me" by Drake, featuring Lil Wayne
The Sample Lyrics: "I love Selena Gomez, I told her I'd admit it/I hope one day we go to the movies, just to say that, yeah, we did it/And girl I'm really serious, I'm with it if you're with it/I'll even buy the popcorn and watch a chick f-li-ick"

Drizzy swirled up a bunch of controversy (and, in turn, got himself a bunch of extra publicity) by inserting a marriage proposal to Nicki Minaj into his latest single. If he wants, Bieber can do the same to catch the ear of fellow tween singer Selena Gomez. We're just sayin', Justin—chicks dig guys who name-drop them in songs.

The Song: "Fancy" by Drake
The Sample Lyrics: "I'm gettin' ready, so you know I'm gon' be here awhile/In the bathroom with a flat iron for my hair style"

Sometimes, we wonder how the hell you get your hair to do what it does. Like, does it take you an hour every morning? A half hour? Ten minutes? Oh, you fancy, huh? Shed some light on the subject, Bieb. The rest of the country is just dying to know!

The Song: "Who Dat" by J. Cole
The Sample Lyrics: "Who dat? Who dat? The kid that you been waitin' for/I mean, the rap game was all bad just a week ago/Rap blogs is BSin', F it, I ain't hatin' though/'Cause now Bieber Fever hot enough to mess with one of Satan's flows"

Aren't you mad at all the rap blogs taking shots at you? Don't you want to show them that you're serious about pursuing this rap thing? What are you waiting for?! Tell 'em why you mad, son!

The Song: "Not Afraid" by Eminem
The Sample Lyrics: "You can try and read my lyrics off of this paper before I lay 'em/But you can't get your hairs to look like mine after I spray 'em"

Had enough of the Bieber hair jokes yet? Yeah, yeah, us too! Sorry. Moving along...

The Song: "I Love College" by Asher Roth
The Sample Lyrics: "That party last night was awfully crazy, I wish we taped it/I had this one girl make me a cupcake and bake it/Drink my milk, eat my candy and all my friends were feeling fine and dandy"

Asher and Bieber were both discovered by the same guy, so it's only right for Bieb to jump on his comrade's first hit single, right? Party, party, party, let's all get ... well, let's all have some good, clean, sober fun. How's that sound?

The Song: "It's Gucci Time" by Gucci Mane
The Sample Lyrics: "Little Shawty, chicks call me Slick Shawty/If she's under 18, you know that's my shawty"

It's only right Shawty Mane and Gucci Mane get on a track together! The best part? We're pretty sure Gucci wouldn't be opposed to do an actual remix, either. It's Bieber time!

What did you think of Justin Bieber's rap? Are there any other songs you think he should freestyle over? Tweet us at @MTVRapFix or tell us in a comment below!

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